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Chapter 12

The beginning of the end.

During the next few days, my mother mostly stayed in her room; resting and taking care of her baby girl. Since our last encounter in which I had refused to answer her question, we were not really on speaking terms. I couldn't blame her for that. I knew that she had tried to get the truth from Makarov who hadn't told her anything. I knew she had talked to Natsu, Gray and Lucy, but, since I hadn't told them anything, they couldn't spill the beans either.

I went to see her a few times, but she always seemed to be sleeping when I approached her. I suspected her to fake it. Obviously, she didn't want to talk to me and I could understand it. She knew I would remain silent because I had told her I would. She knew I was her daughter and she probably suspected that I was as stubborn as she was...

Every time I went in her room, I stopped near the cradle. I had trouble believing that I had been so tiny and so calm. I had been a good baby; satisfied and comfortable. Obviously, my mother was taking good care of me. Lucy had told me that Erza hadn't named her daughter yet. She had told her friend that she was waiting for Jellal to come back so they could choose her name together.

I had spent the next days with Lucy, Gray and Natsu. They had spent a lot of time training me. They didn't let me rest; they clearly wanted to be sure that I was strong enough to achieve my mission.

One day, a scream woke me up. I immediately sat in my bed. I quickly stood up few seconds later. I walked near the door where I heard people speaking in the hallway. Without waiting, I opened the door and got out of my room. In the hallway, I came face to face with Natsu who looked chocked.

''Erza's gone!'' said Natsu, puzzled.

I looked at him, calmly. Time has come...

Few seconds later, Gray and Lucy joined us.

''She left a note.'' said Lucy, crying.

I quickly snatched the note from Lucy's hands and I read it.

Lucy, Gray and Natsu,

I am asking you to take care of my two girls while I am gone. Please, watch over my little one and keep Emma from rescuing me. I've been resting for a week and I am now strong enough to go finding Jellal; I won't come back without him. Then, we will be a happy family, all together. But, If I don't come back; take care of them. And tell them I love them both...

She had not taken the time to sign it.

As I was about to give back the paper to Lucy, Gray took it from my shaking hands. After a minute, Natsu snatched it from him. After they had all seen my mother's note, they all looked at me.

Their looks scared me. Could they change their mind and accept to help my mother instead of me? No, they had given me their words! They couldn't take it back, could they? I looked at their expressions; they seemed troubled as if they were torn. So, I had to help them choose their side... I cleared the throat and spoke.

''I knew she would go and I know where she is going; I have to go so she can be back.'' I said as firmly as I could.

My words didn't seem to convince them so I decided to give them a bit of information.

''If you don't let me go, Erza will die. She is going to die in a filthy cave and Jellal will bring back her corpse in few days. You'll bury her in a pouring rain! Is it what you really want?'' I said, trying to make their decision easier.

Even then, they didn't seem totally convinced.

''What will happen to you?" asked Gray, sincerely concerned.

When they heard Gray's question, Lucy and Natsu stared at me.

''Erza's daughter is born, she has to grow up and I got to go. I don't belong here; I have to fade out.'' I said, sadly, even though I knew it was the truth.

''It isn't true! You have your place among us.'' said Gray, sincerely.

When he had talked, he reminded me of Sunny. It made me miss my friends; I missed my family! They were my family, kind of... Even if my emotions were trying to take over me, I had to stick to my plan.

''Yes, one day, I will, but not now. Now, it is time to save Erza. You must let me go.'' I said softly. Surprisingly, these words have had the bigger impact.

They hadn't spoken yet, but they had stepped back. Clearly, they were letting me go and I did.

I went to my room and took my father's cloak. Then, I went back in my mother's room and I approached the cradle. The baby was sleeping peacefully in her cradle. Slowly, I slid my index between her tiny fingers.

''Sleep tight, your mom will be back before you wake up little EJ." I said to her, sweetly.

When I let go of her tiny fingers, I turned toward the doorway where Lucy, Natsu and Gray were standing. No, they couldn't have changed their mind...

Taking a deep breath, I walked toward them. As I approached them, they didn't move; it scared me. Then, Natsu took a step back to let me pass. My father's cloak in hand, I seized that opportunity and I walked down the stairs. As I was going down the stairs, I felt presences behind me. When I glanced behind me, I saw that Gray and Natsu were following me. I crossed the hallway, but, before leaving the building, I turned to face them.

''I want to thank you for what you did for me; twice. You've raised me, you taught me a lot; I owe you a part of the person I am today; you are my family and you will always remain.'' I said, at the verge of tears.

Quickly, the two guys nodded.

Before leaving, I put my father's cloak on and I lifted my eyes in direction of my mother's room window. Lucy was there, she was holding the tiny human being. She was crying while she was looking at me. After forcing a smiling toward them, I turned myself toward the road and I started to walk.

I walked for few minutes. Then, I turned around to see them one last time. When I turned myself, I saw that Master/Counsellor Makarov was with Gray and Natsu. Surprisingly, these two didn't seem too sad anymore, as if they knew something I didn't! Now, they were waving hands at me, vividly. I wondered what Makarov had told them…

But, it wasn't the time to think about that. I had to focus on something more important; saving my mother from Zeref's hands.