Hey, guys! Thank you so much for the reviews, guys! I love hearing from you, and this chapter came so much easier once I had your response to inspire me! So I hope this chapter is good, and please, keep the reviews coming!
Derpulies: Thanks! Don't worry, her story gets better. ;)
Lynn: I was hoping everyone understood what I was trying to show, and you proved that! There's one month left for her history to come to light, so you bet she's going to have a few more secrets slip.
When the others were being called on mentally to destroy the lacrima, Guildless could hear. She heard their determination, their pleads for help. She managed to open her eyes, the world bright despite it being nighttime.
We're all so weak... How do they plan to have us destroy several lacrima? Whoever gets to the lacrima with Zero's a dead man.
Yet out the corner of her eye, she could see through the hole she'd made that the Fairy Tail wizards were rousing, making their way to the highest position they could reach.
They get up, even if they don't have the strength. She tried to move her arms, though they felt like lead. I don't understand how, but if they can find the strength, so can I. I've lived this long, I'm not about to let this be the end of me.
Her arms were stiff and heavy as she lifted them, pushing herself shakily to a sitting position. She muttered, "Might as well help, since you woke me up."
Hebiki smiled as responses came, all five (counting the cat) reported their consciousness. "Guys, my telepathy's about to cut out. But awhile ago, I uploaded a map to each of your minds. I numbered the lacrima so you could find them. Everybody choose a number, okay? Then split up and-"
Natsu growled, "I'll take one."
Gray continued, "Two."
Lucy groaned, "Guess I'll take three. Please don't let Zero be there."
Guildless answered, "Then four is mine."
Erza volunteered, "I can take number five."
Natsu got to his feet. "Erza! Guess you're feeling better, huh?"
Erza responded, "Yeah, it's all thanks to you guys."
Ichya chimed, "I'd get six... But I've sort of fallen off of Nirvana."
A foreign voice started, "That leaves me with-"
"You're left with number six." Erza finished.
Natsu demanded, "Who's voice did I hear just now? Is there someone there with you?"
Guildless cut in, "Does it matter? He can destroy a lacrima. That's all we need to know for right now."
The connection suddenly snapped, Guildless pushing to her feet, looking out as Christina crashed to the ground. She tried not to think about it. She still had a job to do. "Come on!" The Fairy Tail wizards inside turned to see her, though she turned slightly so they couldn't see her cracked mask that showed her lower face. "Those lacrima won't blow up on their own, guys. Whoever gets Zero, you'd better hope you've got some power left."
The wizards split up, making their way to their respective lacrima.
Guildless used the wall for support to conserve her energy until she reached the lacrima. He won't be at this lacrima. I know he won't. He'll be at number one, with an ego like his. Damn it, Dragneel probably knew, with that nose. I guess I just have to hope that he's got enough guts to him to pull a victory out.
A flash of a young, pink-haired boy grinning with a giant blue and white egg in his hand appeared in her eyes. No. No thinking about the past. Yet next she saw a dark-haired boy in nothing but his boxers. Her free hand gripped her forehead. No! Focus. Forget you ever saw them back then.
She looked up to see the lacrima in front of her, no Zero. "Great, someone else has to deal with him."
She sat down in the doorway, counting down the seconds with the counter, but it wouldn't keep her mind off the past.
15 and 46, 15 and 45, 15 and 44...
A redhead in armor.
13 and 59, 13 and 58, 13 and 57...
A white-haired trio.
10 and 32, 10 and 31, 10 and 30...
A card dealing brunette.
8 and 10, 8 and 9, 8 and 8...
A teenage blonde with a lightning scar over his eye.
She gave up on counting, gripping her temples with both hands. "I don't need to be thinking about this... Ugh, this is hard enough already..."
I need to focus. I haven't gotten this distracted by my past in the past nine years. Why is it so hard now? It's not like they know who I am... Lucy wouldn't tell them about me, she has too much honor in her word. Natsu's nose is good, but I've changed. Even if they saw my scars, they might not really recognize it as me. I mean, it was so long ago...
Yet horror gripped her as this thought came. Maybe they forgot me. 9 years is a long time. It's for the best, I guess. Still, I wish I didn't have to break my promise.
The countdown hit three, knocking her from her thoughts. She softly chided herself, "Stop distracting yourself. They need you now, not in the past." She stood, swaying slightly. "I hope the others have gotten around safe."
She kept all other thoughts out by thinking only of her protected guild's safety. I'll shatter this entire place if I have to. The only thing that matters is I keep them safe. Even if it means letting a little loose.
She grabbed one of the bandages on her wrists, unwrapping it from around her hand and wrist. On the inside of her wrist, just before the joint to her hand, a small fleck of what appeared to be black stone beneath her skin. No bigger than a pebble, it lay beneath her skin like a black diamond in a sword's hilt.
She shed the other bandage on her other hand, a matching stone in her wrist. Letting her bandages flutter to the ground, she hit her fist into her palm, then slid her palm up her arm to support the other at the bicep. A magic circle opening like a flower at her feet, a sphere of black appearing at her fist.
She took the last thirty seconds to charge her power to maximum to make sure that it would be destroyed. At the count of three, she roared, "Arc of Night: Concentrated Blackout!"
The sphere turned into beam of black, striking the lacrima with such force, it shattered into pieces smaller than the stones in her wrists. She waited, smiling when the lacrima didn't repair. "Good job, boys and girls."
Yet almost immediately the entire room began to crumble. Quickly gathering up her black cloth, she rapidly and sloppily rewrapped her hands as she walked as fast as she could through the corridor. I always forget how powerful I feel when I don't suppress my lacrima. It's still so tempting just not to wear these at all...
Yet she completely covered her lacrima, her surge of strength cut off. She swayed into the side of the hall, gritting her teeth. "Damn it..."
Yet she staggered on, through the crumbling passage until her path met another's. "Gray!" She tipped her head forward so her wild hair would cover the missing section of her mask
She tipped her head forward so her wild hair would cover the missing section of her mask as the wizard greeted, "Nice to see you, but we got to get out of here!"
Guildless nodded, holding out her hand. "I've got the power for one spell."
Gray hesitated before taking her bandaged hand. What little energy she had left, she dedicated to a single spell. "Shadow Form!" Her wings appeared, quickly beating and sending her forward, nearly yanking Gray's shoulder from his socket as she did so.
The two glided through the passage, swerving to avoid rocks until the night shone at the end of the passage.
Guildless pulled Gray up with all her strength so he wasn't so close to the ground. "Brace yourself!"
Gray grabbed her around the waist so she wouldn't have to hold him one-handed, not thinking about their position.
As they soared out into the night, Guildless folded her wings around herself and Gray, her spell taking the brunt of the attack until it gave out, the two tumbling after each other.
Groaning, Guildless lay on her back, only partially conscious of a weight on her chest. Gray opened his eyes to darkness and... warmth around his head. He quickly pulled away, red with horror of where his head had fallen.
Guildless slowly sat up and Gray could see a tiny bit of red through her hands shielding her face. She asked slightly pleadingly, "Never happened?"
Gray agreed, "Never." He stood, looking at Nirvana. "It's going down fast. I hope the others are okay."
Two figures can from the smoke, Erza and a now strangely buff Ichya. Erza cried, "Gray!"
"Erza! And..."
Ichya came pounding in. "I'm so glad you made it out safely, my blazing haired beauty!"
The Fairy Tail wizards screamed in surprise, Erza pointing a spear. "Who are you?!"
Guildless muttered, "It's Ichya, Ginger-spice. Let me guess: you used one of your potions to increase your physical strength?"
Ichya grinned. "Yes, my parfum of strength made my body reflect the man within!" Guildless rolled her eyes as he continued, "I used the parfum hoping to come aboard Nirvana and help, but it seemed you had the situation under control, my honey."
Erza muttered, "I'd kick him out of the alliance, but he's so dependable..."
"OHHH!"
A grandfather clock fell from the falling city, a wizard and cat stuffed inside. It mimicked, "So dizzy, she says in a warbled tone."
"An enemy!"
Erza ordered, "No, stand down."
Gray agreed, "Yeah, it's just one of Lucy's spirits."
Lucy crept out of the clock. "Thanks for saving us, Horologium. But I don't even remember summoning you."
Guildless interjected, "Your spirits have power too, kid. They are just as capable of opening a gate as you."
Lucy blinked. "You know about Celestial spirits?"
Guildless shrugged, turning her head away so her lower face was shadowed. "Had experience with them. To be honest, you're the only one I've met that doesn't make me want to shoot myself."
Lucy looked at her strangely. From Guildless, that's almost a compliment. Happy chimed, "Well, you're welcome to rescue us anytime you feel like it! Thanks!"
Jura's bass came from another path, Wendy and Carla with him. "Thank goodness you're alright."
Carla admitted, "Even that silly blue tomcat."
Wendy excitedly called, "Natsu and Jellal! Are they here?"
Guildless smiled slightly at the young girl. "No, but from what I know of Natsu, we'll be seeing the explosion soon." Still, worry crept into her thoughts. You're failing again. You can't do this to them for the second time.
Lucy put a hand to her mouth. "Now I'm worried."
Gray assured, "He's probably lost in the Woodsea, knowing that flame for brains."
Wendy called, "Hey, Natsu!"
Happy ran across the ground, yelling, "Where are you buddy- ah!" The ground under his feet shifted, rising into the air. Hoteye, a spiky-haired wizard in each arm, stood where the ground had changed.
Guildless let out the breath she'd been holding. Good. I don't know if I could've gone back to Makarov without one of his kids.
"Love drives us to save our friends- oh yeah!"
Gray smiled. "There he is, always with the dramatic entrance."
Wendy had tears welling in her eyes. "You're okay."
Carla cried, "What on earth is he doing here?! He's one of the Oracion Seis, isn't he?"
Jura promised, "Yes, but he's on our side now. It's a long story. I'll explain later."
Wendy excitedly tackled Natsu in a hug, crying his name.
Guildless almost cried. How? How does she remind me so much of Gale? The wind magic, the tendency to cry... This shouldn't be so distracting!
Luckily, there was something else to distract her. Now, being out in the night with the moon and stars to fuel her, her Arc of Night was at its peak, even if her magic power wasn't, it still met with a spike. She couldn't cast a spell, but she could sense massive movement down a large path, coming their way. With the aligned footsteps and carriage, she knew what was happening.
She didn't explain- her wizards wouldn't be in trouble, and even if they were, she would intervene. But she couldn't get caught. If the new council was anything like the old, they wouldn't approve of her vigilante style.
She stood completely, racing off toward the trees without a word.
Erza called, "Guildless, where are you going?" Yet she had no answer, the other girl disappearing into the treeline. "What's she doing?"
Jura narrowed his eyes. "I have been suspicious of her since her many charges of being a part of the Demon's Shadow guild."
Hoteye protested, "I only recently left the Seis and yet I have been deemed trustworthy. Guildless has been separate from her guild for several years now."
Gray demanded, "You mean she's really a part of Demon's Shadow?"
Hoteye admitted, "To my knowledge, yes, but she's caused much trouble to the guild lately. Brain even asked their guildmaster to send a member to remove her from today's battle."
Natsu glared off after her as Hoteye continued, "Do not be quick to judge, my comrades. People change, and I believe both Guildless and I have changed for the better- oh yeah!"
Natsu growled, "As long as she doesn't mess with our guilds, then it doesn't matter to me."
Lucy frowned. "She wouldn't leave us if something dangerous was coming. So why'd she go?"
Ichya whined, "Perhaps she also had to make a letter of the alphabet."
He turned to leave their clearing, but hit an invisible barrier. "Or perhaps she saw this coming."
The Rune Knights arrived, taking Hoteye and Jellal, the latter with much protest. In the end, Lahar looked around, scowling. "Damn it." He glared at the guild wizards. "If I find that you are keeping Guildless from justice, the Rune Knights will return."
Natsu growled, "That a threat, buddy?"
Lahar corrected, "A promise. Guildless has been dispensing vigilante justice for three years, and three years too long. I will be the one to bring her to justice." With this, he left.
A few minutes later, Guildless slunk back into the group after Erza had gone off to be alone, Wendy soon going after her. "Thought they'd never leave."
Natsu growled, "Where the hell did you go?!"
Gray glared. "And I think there are a few things you should share. Such as your guild affiliations."
Guildless wanted to scream curses. Why? WHY?! She sighed. "I left because I didn't want to spend my life in jail. I don't get along with the law. As for all this crap about me being in Demon's Shadow..." She closed her eyes, bowing her head slightly.
"It's true."
The group tensed as she put her hands up to show she meant no harm. "Calm down, I was in Shadow. But I left. The guildmaster of Shadow told the world that I'm simply a little uncontrollable, but in reality, he's trying to cover up that I defected."
Gray snapped, "So why should we trust you?"
Guildless simply answered, "You don't need to. I'm in more danger in this situation than any of you. Shadow'd be overjoyed to find me in such an exposed place as a guild. I've completely separated myself from them, I swear on my life." Her voice was completely sincere, her tone going dark. "I'd take death over going back to that guild any day."
Natsu growled, "I'll hold you to that."
The group calmed slightly, but they'd been riled by her secrets. She obviously wasn't telling them everything- even Natsu could tell that. But it didn't seem she would tell more. The girl added, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell every person you know and their cousin about this. I go by an alias and hide my face for a reason. Now you know. If I suddenly had rumors flying around about what I'm from, it could lead to Shadow finding me."
Jura nodded. "We will keep your secret, Guildless. By the way, I wondered, do the dark guilds know that you are Guildless?"
Guildless nodded. "Yeah. I had an unfortunate run-in a year back and screwed up. Now every dark guild knows that Guildless started from Shadow."
Jura nodded. "Then we will take even more care with your name. You are free to remove your mask now. We will not speak."
Everyone stared as the section of Guildless' face that was visible through her broken mask turned pure white. "No!" Her shade changed again, tinted pink. "I mean, I could put all of you at risk. Demon's Shadow doesn't like deserters. If they found out you'd seen my face, they'd come for you."
Natsu grinned. "We can take 'em! Let them come!"
Lucy deadpanned. "We just finished fighting the Oracion Seis and you already want to fight another one of the Baram Alliance?"
Guildless quickly cut, "No. My old guild isn't like the Seis. They're..." Her voice failed, and for the first time, it was laced with fear. Something horrible enough to scare Guildless was enough to put all of the wizards on edge. "They're unlike anything else. Power is all they desire, and they'll kill anyone to get it."
The guild wizards couldn't help but take a slightly hidden message that was in this: "I was one of them. I'll still kill anyone to get what I want."