Okay, this chapter gets a little potty-mouthed at the end, because, ahem...

JELLAL IS SUCH A STUPID, NAIVE, BITCHY, IMMATURE BAKA!

Yeah, had to get that out...

Anyway...

Inner Moka: This chapter sounds interesting.

Me: What are you doing here? I mean, thanks and all, but this isn't your anime...

Inner Moka: Well, I got impatient. You haven't posted your Rosario + Vampire story yet!

Me: Eh... sorry... I'll do it someday...

Yuffie: What about your Yuffitine?!

Me: Woah, you're not even from anime! If you must know, its undergoing editing.

Yuffie: As it has been for a week!

Me: Look guys, it'll get done. But these people need their chapter that has NO romance in it whatsoever, no matter what you think! (Yeah, that's sarcasm) Quick, start reading before Yuffie says anything else!

Wendy Marvell

"Oi, Wendy!"

I turned to see Romeo, beckoning me to his table. "Oh, hello Romeo-san." I said politely, "How are you?"

"Fine. How 'bout you?"

"Very well, thank you."

He laughed. "You're so polite, Wendy. There's no need to be so formal. I..."

"Everyone!"

Makarov stood on the stage, with his arms crossed. "Everyone, I need your attention!"

The chatter ceased, and everyone turned to the small figure on the stage. "Now," he started, clearing his throat, "I must speak to you about a very important matter."

He turned to me. "Wendy, you have to tell them what you told me."

No... he couldn't mean that. Surely he doesn't expect me to tell them that... "Tell them what, milord?"

"Where you came from."

"What?" I asked, "I don't think I heard you quite right, sire."

"Tell them your past."

"But... why?" I asked, straining to keep a smile on my face.

"War is brewing, and the guild not knowing your past could lead to suspicion. An open door for people to use that to your disadvantage. Wendy, I know this will be hard for you... but please..."

I've never seen that expression on his face before. Desperation, guilt, and a little bit of pain. Why does h want me to tell them so badly? I... he knows I can't!

Tears threatened to emerge, but I held them back. "No!" I stated defiantly, "You know I... can't..." My voice started to crack, and the tears cruelly decided to fall. "I can't! You want me to tell them... why? Why are you making me do this?"

His expression softened. "I won't, Wendy. I'll tell them." No, you can't...

But I couldn't speak. All I could do is sit there and listen, listen to painful memories all but forgotten. I wanted them to be buried in the past, but because of this impending war that might not even happen... he was telling them. Telling them how Totomaru's flames killed my family and friends, how Sol's earthquakes shattered our churches and houses, how Aria's wind blew away our soldiers' spears, like feathers. I couldn't take it. I couldn't face my past. I ran from the room, away from my past, that pursued me nevertheless.

I didn't want to be remembered as the girl with a tragic past and a pain in her heart everyday, but Wendy, the girl who was just there for some reason, with no past sin or existence remembered. Why didn't the dragon just let me die?

Mest Duranbolt

I would have never guessed that Wendy of all people would have such a history. How could someone who laughs like that, smiles that much, have such a morbid past and be so broken inside? Wendy...

She was so strong. She carried the weight of her past without anyone's help, and could still crack a smile.

If only everyone could do that.

Wendy suddenly turned and ran out into the hallway. "Oi, Wendy!" I called, but she ignored me. Romeo pulled my sleeve. "You should talk to her."

"Nani? Why me? I thought she liked you better."

Romeo rolled his eyes. "As if. All she seems to talk about is 'what a great time she had with Duranbolt'."

"She calls me Duranbolt?"

"No, of course not. She's much to polite for that. See, I called you Dur-Dur, but she said it as mean so now I call you Duranbolt. It's a lot nicer, right?"

"Ah. Well, Mest works too, in case you were wondering."

"Yeah, yeah. Go talk to her already. Seeing a girl like that cry is really depressing, you know?"

I sighed. "Fine. I'll go."

I walked into the dark hallway, letting the softly glowing moon light the hall. A shape emerged from behind one of the pillars. "Oi, Mest."

"Natsu?"

"Yeah. Make her feel better, kay? I don't want to see her like this ever again."

"No one does."

I walked past him and continued to walk blindly down the hall, till it came to a stop. In the corner, Wendy sat huddled in a corner, hugging her knees. "Wendy," I asked, knowing the answer well, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be better in a few moments. Back to my normal self..."

I leaned down and held her tightly in a warm embrace. She froze then hesitantly returned it, crying in my shoulder. I never imagined that it would be Wendy doing this. A girl raised in shattered peace and held in the protective arms of a dragon.

Gradually her sobs ceased, and her breathing steadied. She fell asleep. Damn. Unsure of what to do, I hoisted her on my back and carried her to her bedroom. I started to walk away after placing her on the bed, then thought against it. I didn't feel that I should just leave her alone in the dark.

I seated myself at a chair next to the nightstand. Just till she wakes up...

Erza Scarlet

"Jellal, no! Don't give up! We can still find our lives again! We can escape and go back to the villages we came from. We still have hope, you know. We can still fight for our freedom."

He shook his head. "No, Erza. There's no such thing as freedom in this world. Your hope is false, nonexistent. In this world, the word 'love' has no meaning."

"Jellal, I don't want you to stay here. 'I'm going to to escape someday, Erza'... you didn't mean that, did you? I will fight for my freedom. I don't want to fight you, but I will."

Simon raised his head. "Jellal, you were my friend. But you, the strongest of us all, slipped into Zeref's darkness. I will never forgive you! I will show no mercy to a traitor like you!"

He chuckled. "The same to you, Simon, you foolish warrior. I will show no mercy to those who preach of freedom and light..." He glared at me. "Even if it is you, Erza."

I drew my sword. "Then we fight."

I lay in pools of my own blood, glaring at the man who was once my savior. "You bastard. You would kill Simon, your own friend... why do you hesitate to plunge that dagger through my chest right now?"

He smiled and thew the dagger aside. "I could never kill you, Erza."

The world spun and blackened, till my hope, light, was extinguished.

"Erza?"

Natsu's concerned voice brought me back. "Erza, you're still crying..."

I quickly wiped my tears away. "I'm fine, Natsu. I just... need to be alone for awhile."

I turned to walk away, but Natsu grabbed my shoulder. "Erza, it's that Jellal bastard, isn't it? He doesn't deserve your tears, so please... stop crying."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Natsu. I'll be fine."

He grinned. "Good. I gotta teach Ice-Brain a lesson for strippin' in front of a lady."

"Oi, what did you call me?!"

Gray stormed up to Natsu, but all he did was glare. "You heard me, stripper!"

"Flame-brain!"

"Ice-freak!"

"Dragon-breath!"

I walked out of the room. I wish I would've stayed, though, so I could hear all the insults. From what I heard going down the hallway, they were getting... colorful.

Juvia Lockser

"We're going to strike Fairy Tail to night." Totomaru announced, coming out of the throne room.

"Who's leading the attack squad?" Sol inquired, waving side from to side in his usual manner.

"Actually, we all are. Lord Jose seems very desperate to win this war. We're going to attack the castle itself," he explained, "Juvia is going with Lyon and about fifty men and take care of the guard on the left half, then Lyon and Juvia are going to go inside the castle and look for Princess Lucy Heartfillia. Take her if you see her and bring her back. Sol is going to take two-hundred men and attack on the front, with support from fifty men, me, and Aria. Aria and I, however, will only be there for a short time because we'll be going into the castle. The men already know who and where they're assigned to. Does everybody understand?"

"Yes," I said, "But why is Juvia with Lyon? Isn't it Gajeel's job as Accompanist?"

Totomaru grinned. "Yes well, he insisted."

I blushed. Of course he did.