Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRYTAIL

Recap

"So your to be my partner in the arena huh?" he said.

responded with a nod of my head.

"Well my name is Khara, Don't bother telling me yours until you survive this fight then you will be worthy"

I looked at him and gave him a smile that said 'don't worry I will definitely watch your back'

The gates opened and me and Khara stepped into the bright roaring light of the arena.

(Eastern Sands: the Pits)

Flashback continues

Baron POV

I stepped into the bright light of the arena and squinted trying to adjust my eyes to what I saw. The arena was a circular area with plenty of space and at least a dozen different gates evenly spaced out around it. Along the top rim of the arena stood iron bars protruding over the arena about 6 feet inward and ended with sharp spikes. Spaced between these spikes where iron bars all around with bits of sharp iron sticking out of them. Must be to prevent contestants from climbing out I thought to myself. As I continued to the center of the arena the crowd roared awaiting the blood bath that was sure to come. The sand I walked on was heated to near unbearable temperatures and covered in dry blood.

"Look over there" Khara said quietly as he drew his two axes he had hanging at his waist. I turned my attention to the gates opposing us as our two opponents stepped out smiling maliciously with their weapons drawn. The one on the left held a cruel looking mace with a shield and had grimy slicked back black hair as the one on the right held two short swords with a similar haircut. Both wore identical leather armor looking like it was made from human skin. I shuddered at the thought. As they neared us in the arena I noticed that they were weak underfed and tired despite their confident appearance.

Khara turned to me and said "Newbie you think you can take these two they are weaker than they look"

"I noticed that as well I can handle it" I said with a grim expression.

"You know youll have to kill them"

I turned to face him surprised.

Khara sighed and said "I don't like it either but if you don't kill them they will definitely kill you and if they don't the slavers will its how it works"

I grimaced I had never taken a life despite my skill. I turned to face their jeering faces.

"Looks like we got a new addition to our armor Lika" The one on the right said.

"Aye that we do Lvik" said Lika smiling.

Suddenly a voice boomed over the crowd. "Attention all spectators the fight will begin shortly however it would seem your favorite contestant Khara would like to test our newcomer so please direct your attention to the arena as we are about to start"

I placed my feet and readied my hands.

"Oi you want to draw your weapon? We wont go easy if you don't" Lika said frowning slightly.

"Don't worry about going easy give it all you got"

Then the voice began to count down.

"5"

"4"

I slowly moved my foot backwards planting it firmly in the sands. I knew that if I didn't and lost my footing it would mean the fight was over before it even began.

"3"

Both my opponents readied their weapons.

"2"

"1"

Both my opponents kicked up dust as they launched themselves at me grinning madly. Bad decision.

"FIGHT!"

As the two brothers (that's what I assume they are) swung their weapons at me I grabbed the shaft of the mast and twisted his arm sending Lvik spinning through the air and instentaniously spinning while crouched kicking sand into his eyes before grabbing Lika's ankle and pulling it from under him making him eat dirt. After I let go of both of them one on the ground and one landing I jogged a bit farther away before drawing my two handed sword from its baldric.

Both brothers coughed as they stood up furious and turned to face me before charging. As Lvik swung his mace I raised my sword and let the attack slide off the edge still moving forward sending him stumbling past then crouched again under Lika's swords before spinning fast and cutting his hamstrings on both legs sending him to the ground incapacitated and bleeding.

"Brother!" Lvik shouted eyes widened seeing his brother on the ground writhing in pain. He turned his gaze back to me a bit fearful and readied his shield facing me going into a defensive stance. Seeing this I began to jog at him from my distance. As I was around 15 feet away I began swishing my steps side to side kicking dirt up on either side making it hard to see my footing. Lvik crouched lower and raised his shield. Foolish. I launched myself in the air and launched my sword from under me meaning to hit his legs but I missed. I missed bad. The sword plunged through his chest pinning him to the earth.

I stood and looked shocked at the bleeding corpse of Lvik. I killed. I killed armed men who would have done the same but I knew I couldn't use that as a excuse. It went against all I was taught. I also knew that the fight wasn't over until Lika was dead as well so grimacing I walked over to Lviks dead corpse trying not to look into his lifeless eyes as I pulled the sword from his chest allowing his body to tumble back onto the burning sands.

I turned to face Lika and walked to him. He was probably crippled after this fight for life so killing him would be direct or indirect considering the jailers would toss him to the animals in the cages. Without looking I swiftly sliced my blade across his throat quickly ending him before tossing my blade to the sands. I don't want that thing in my hands.

Khara had approached me as I ended the fight. "I know its hard your first time-"

"Baron"

"What?"

"You said I could tell you my name after the fight well its Baron" I turned and gave him a hollow smile. He only smiled back in understanding knowing I didn't want to talk about it. We silently made our way out of the arena toning out the roaring cheers and the announcers voice before they finally shut the gates.

"My cell is down here you clean yourself up Baron I think we are gonna end up being good friends" Khara said with a small smile before departing with a clap on my shoulder.

I turned and made my way to my cell unstrapping my armor all the way. I was empty no feeling no regards for anything around me. Killing those two men it felt... like nothing. And that's what scared me. The fact I didn't feel sorrow,pain,joy, or even horror that I slaughtered two people. I felt nothing. I shuddered as I entered the cell I shared with Valia. I made my way to my original position tossing my unstrapped armor into the corner before pushing my back against the wall. Slowly sliding down I heard Valia awake from the sleeping state she was in when I entered.

Valia turned to look at my expression and smiled sadly before making her way over to me and sitting down beside me.

"Your first huh?"

I only nodded slowly.

"It hurts to talk about it but trust me it helps" she laid her head back on the wall grimacing "I killed my first by beating them to death, I had nothing but my fists no choice" she shook her head frowning. She looked at me and saw my hollow eyes.

"It gets no easier Baron trust me"

"They where no match for me" I said quietly astonished "They weren't even fed properly they could barely stand!" I slammed my fist on the floor in anger "They didn't even stand a chance and I just... cut them down" I shuddered and continued Valia still looking at me understanding shining in her eyes.

"The first pass I just put them both on the ground trying to incapacitate them second round I cut ones hamstrings" Valia shuddered at the thought of that large amount of pain "Then the third round I jumped over the second and threw my sword meaning to impale his leg but I missed and it...it... went through his chest" I shivered and leaned my head forward covering my eyes with my bangs.

Suddenly a loud clanging noise echoed through the cells. I turned my gaze to the left seeing a large muscled man with short cut blonde hair walking into his cell covered in scratches and foreign blood.

"Yo sis I'm back!" he shouted before turning to look at me then eyes widened.

Valia turned to look at the guy before saying "His first"

"Oh shit man sorry Ill be quiet for a bit" he said eyes flashing in understanding.

Valia turned back to face me with a small smile "That's Barok my younger brother hes a block head but they call him the bane of the arena"

I chuckled. It reminded me of someone back at Fairy Tail. Suddenly out of nowhere I felt a arm wrap around my shoulders and pull me close.

"It never gets any easier Baron know that but in order to survive to escape even you have to kill to live its the way this place works" she had a quiet tone and her eyes where deep with regrets and sorrows.

I later found out. That was the truest state I ever heard.

It never got easier.

(the pits two years later)

It had been two years since I fell into this hell hole. I had done what was necessary to survive its horrors, two years of killing boys and men, fathers and sons. I would have broken a long time ago if it wasn't for Valia. Over the past two years me and her had grown considerably closer in fact I fell in love with the girl and she knew it. Then it happened.

The match.

The Wraith vs. The Golden Witch

I never knew why they did it and we never saw it coming. Over the years I gained the name The Wraith in the arena mostly because my magic was invisible to the naked eye. I had learned to use it to boost my physical attributes like speed and strength giving me the upper hand. Then one day the day of the match they told us we had to fight and it was to the death.

I stood there holding Valia in my arms her hands cupping my face.

"Valia you know that I will not allow you to die in there right?" I whispered gently looking into her eyes " I cant because I love you its a bit late but its true and I mean it from the bottom of my heart"

She smiled and leaned up on her toes and kissed me on the lips. Despite her years in this hole and all her scars and muscles it was the only soft spot still on her body. I can still remember the feeling.

"About time" she whispered gently pulling back smiling small. Then shortly after we where torn apart and dragged to our gates. My plan was simple the first strike of the match I would let her slip past my block and cut me down. That way they couldn't punish her for ending it to quickly because it seemed like a accident. Then the gates opened and I stepped out onto the sands and stared across at Valia. The arena was silent this wasn't a anticipated match. It was well known that we had a relationship and maybe that's why they did it. to break us. Then in sync we began to run at one another the match being unannounced meaning it started as soon as we stepped onto the sand.

As we neared one another we swung and I lowered my strength so she could slip by.

Then blood splashed on the sands.

My eyes widened with horror at the sight before my eyes. My sword was buried in Valia's chest. No. NO NO NO NOO! I frantically pulled my sword out and tossed it to the side. She had dropped her guard completely I never expected her to throw the match like that.

"Valia no" I whispered holding her body in my arms

"Baron" she said my name blood dripping out of her mouth slowly as she raised her hand to stroke my tear stained cheek.

"Listen to me Baron, Live on, The fact you are here today means that somewhere someone is waiting for you to be theirs, so never give up live on for me and for them, I cant tell when you will find them but they will be there trust me" she coughed blood spraying from her mouth as I sobbed " The last thing I have to teach you Baron."

"Never give up the fight"

Then I watched as the woman I loved died before my eyes.

Flashback End

Normal POV

Erza sat on the couch watching Baron tears forming in her eyes. She never knew and she had unwittingly pried at the past. Then she saw a tear fall down from Barons chin.

"I killed her Erza" he said quietly his voice shaking " She died by my hands"

A loud smack resounded through the whole forest.

"OW! what the hell Erza?!" Baron shouted.

Erza had smacked him on the back of the head before pulling him into a embrace.

"She told you to live on! so don't hold onto the past! she wouldn't want that would she!? Besides if there is one thing I can say for certain is that you have changed my life completely" she finished in a whisper.

Baron sobbed into her shoulder until eventually he pulled back.

"Remember one thing Baron from that place" Erza said quietly before pulling his head forward and placing her head on his "Never give up" she whispered.

Baron smiled genuinely for the first time in a long time.

'Valia' he thought smiling 'Thank you, I think I found who you where talking about'

Baron was content

He had found his reason for surviving.

Erza Scarlet.