Broken Fairies

by EnergyMageFrea

Light Magic has won over Dark in the battle to decide the Balance of the world, but shadow has never settled so thickly over the Fairy Tail Guild as it has now, and that darkness does not seem to want to leave. Is it possible, after all the evil and the pain suffered, lived through and triumphed over by the Guild- that Fairy Tail has finally broken? {Fourth Story in Series!}

10. Chapter 10- New Day?

Chapter 10

New Day?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's, Energy Magic, and Ideas

.:+:.

She found herself staring up at the ceiling for a long while after her mind pulled away from sleep and the waking world came into full focus, her ears trained to the sound of the few people in the Guild for the morning. She focused on the soft humm of their voices and their feet across the floor whilst doing her best to ignore the constant, incessant throb of Energy from all places, and places too many pricking against her skin on a loop.

I slept all the way till the next day, huh...?

She let out a low breath, her eyes falling closed a moment.

... I was exhausted... but that's the first night I've slept that well...

Her hands moved up slowly, pushing her bangs and tendrils of her hair from her face, eyes narrowed at the roof again.

She smiled faintly, her hands moving away from her face as she grumbled, hissing under her breath as she sat up, her hands moving behind her to push herself into a sitting position, one of them moving to land gingerly over her stomach as she stifled the wince coming up her throat.

She sighed, coming to a halt and sweatdropping slightly, the sheets falling into her lap and Laxus's coat among them, though she hardly noticed it- her attention had cast toward the four Energy Signatures getting closer and the feet she heard outside in the hallway.

"Good morning, Erza." Wendy's bright, quiet voice reached her ears from the hallway. "I didn't expect you at the Guild so early."

"You look as if you've been waiting." Carla's voice spoke up too.

"... yes, I was just wondering if Frea will be awake. I wasn't sure if I should intrude so early, though... so I've been waiting a little while." Erza's voice replied quietly, almost a bit nervously- Frea could feel the embarrassment sparking from her easily enough.

"Ah that's right, you came to see her yesterday while she was asleep. " Moon's voice replied, Frea blinked.

"Yes. I was hoping to see her today, if she is awake now." Erza replied softly,

"I'm sure she'd appreciate the visit." Wendy replied brightly, "We're about to go check in, you wanna come with?" There was no reply so Frea had to assume it had been a nod that Wendy received in response to the question.

"Did Kagura and Millianna go home?"Carla asked,

"No, they were asleep when I left is all." Erza replied, "And Sherria?"

"Oh, she went to see Lyon and Jura-san this morning, she should be back in a little while."

"What did she go to see them for?"

"I think she mentioned something about their Guild Master getting called away, though I'm not really sure what about."

Frea bit the inside of her lip at the words though, her eyes narrowed down at her hands a moment.

... So they've already started, huh...?

She forced herself to shake the thoughts away lest what good and calm sleep managed to get destroyed by unwanted thoughts and emotions.

Her hands moved up to brush her hair from her face and over her shoulder, grimacing inwardly in slight irritation at the way too long length- a part of her wondered if she might ask Lucy and Cancer to cut it short again when she got the chance. She never liked her hair longer than shoulder length, and as it was now with Dragon Force and All Magic, it easily reached her lower back and she hated it. It got in the way and bothered her to no end, even with her not having to move around or do anything for it to get in the way of.

She shook that irritation off too, her eyes moving toward the window and the morning light slowly getting brighter in a chilly, damp Magnolia outside. Her attention landed on the distant outline of trees up the slope a little ways, blinking to see the leave turning red and orange and falling too.

... That's right... I almost forgot it was fall... It'll be winter too soon...

She'd had so much going on she hadn't even... Noticed...

The sound of the door latch clicking against the frame made her turn her eyes away from the outside, Wendy peeking in around the door- her eyes lighting up as her gaze matched with Frea's. Frea lift a hand, smiling slightly with a small nod in the Little Dragon Slayer's direction,

"Morning."

"Frea!" Wendy beamed, pushing inside in a sudden rush of excitement, the figures of Carla, Moon, and Erza behind her pulling into view as the door opened all the way to allow them in. "Oh, ah- good morning!" Wendy replied quickly, drawing up beside the bed happily, Frea laughed lightly under her breath.

"You're looking better." Moon murmured, hands on her hips and letting out a small breath of relief. Frea blinked, her head tilting slightly, "Sleep well?"

"Yeah, better than in a long time, actually." Frea replied, smiling slightly.

"That's good to hear." Both Carla and Wendy said in unison,

Frea's eyes trailed away from them toward the redhead who had slowly, stiffly, started walking in the door after having halted in the doorway for a moment- looking slightly stunned at having found Frea awake, and in all honesty- a little pained too, her eyes falling immediately to the bandages and the bruises and the damage. It had been bad since the beginning, but they were more visible now that Frea had sat up and the sheets weren't hiding the injuries as well.

Frea could feel the concern and the ache flicker from Erza easy enough, hesitation too- she smiled, throwing that smile Erza's way and earning a blink from the redhead.

It wasn't often Erza hesitated, and aside from that there was another emotion Frea had hardly ever felt from her too- Erza was anxious, very, very much so.

"Morning, Erza." Frea murmured brightly, "Long time no see, huh?"

Erza blinked, looking a little lost at the greeting, her eyes glinting slightly. Frea tilted her head slightly, smiling still as Erza seemed to hesitate a moment or two more.

Frea stiffened slightly, Erza leaning forward as she wrapped her arms around Frea ever so lightly, as if she was afraid of the contact and what pain could become of it- though at the same instant she almost didn't want to let go either. Frea blinked, sweatdropping and her heart jumping slightly at the rather uncommon action from the redhead, her arms moving up slowly to lightly rest on Erza's lower back as the redhead buried her nose in the crook of her neck.

"I am so relieved you're awake, Frea." Erza whispered, her voice low. Frea swallowed, feeling happiness and relief spark from her in tandem with pain and worry.

Just like everyone else in the Guild... Just like Chase, Wendy. Carla, and Moon, Gajeel... Master.

She had to work hard not to flinch at that icy pain that flashed through her heart in the next instant, Erza would tell- and as it was the redhead easily felt the Energy Dragon Slayer stiffen underneath her, just a little. She wasn't quite sure why though.

"... yeah." Frea murmured softly, taking in a small, shallow breath to try and tone down the sudden throbbing. "... Sorry to worry you."

Erza pulled back slowly, shaking her head slightly as her hands fell on the bedside softly, "Don't be." Frea let out a silent breath at that, "How are you feeling?"

That question again

"Better." Frea smirked, tilting her head in Moon's direction. "Though Moon already answered that for me." She chuckled, stifling the wince that threatened to break through, and the itch of the cough that threatened to form as well. Erza's eyes flashed, sweatdropping slightly at the way Frea stiffened, if only for a split second- concern sparking anew to flicker against Frea's skin. "... Trust me, it's not as bad as it looks." Frea added in lightly.

Erza blinked, so did Carla, Wendy, and Moon- and though the latter three didn't say it out loud; but her injuries were probably worse than they looked on the outside. They knew Frea was simply trying to reassure Erza, though it didn't make the reality of her injuries any less true.

Frea's eyes broke away from Erza toward Carla, who had floated up toward her and pressed a paw lightly to her forehead, smiling slightly.

"Well, at any rate your fever's nearly settled." Carla commented lightly, Frea nodded.

"Mhmm," And about time too, she was honestly getting tired of feeling like she was freezing all the time, it was uncomfortable... Not that 'comfortable' was up for grabs at the moment anyway, but not feeling like she was freezing all the time because of a fever was better than nothing. "I really am feeling much better today, you can stop looking so skeptical." She smirked, earning blinks of slight surprise, and faint smiles from Wendy, Moon and Carla alike.

There were a few seconds of silence... awkward silence, Frea sweatdropped slightly. There hadn't been much time between waking up and falling asleep again for long, drawn out conversation- and really, what normal conversation topics were available? She knew the Guild had questions, she knew they had tons- and she also knew that with what happened... well, everyone was going to be walking on eggshells around her. Thus, the sudden, cringe-worthy moments of silence that suddenly stretched out between them. Weeks that had been spent worrying and thinking she wasn't going to come back from all of it, was suddenly broken apart by the realization that- for now anyway- she was healing. She was getting better (albeit very, very slowly) and dying was no longer a concern. And in way of that came questions and thoughts of everything, everything that happened, that she did, that Mordren did... No one knew what to say really, and they wanted to ask, they just didn't know if... anytime, was the right time to bring it up.

There probably was never going to be a right time, though.

"... Frea." Erza murmured quietly, her face neutral though there were fainted hints of tenseness that crept into the redhead's shoulders. Frea took special note of the way Erza's hands had folded together tightly in front of her, a subtle, slight movement... but it was more than enough to guess where her thoughts had gone.

"What... what happened... with..." Erza's voice grew so low, so tense- Frea had seldom heard her voice shake, and it did just then. She broke off, swallowing, as if even muttering the name would break what barrier Erza and the rest of the Guild would have set up- a wall that was meant to try and keep the memory at bay.

He made them watch

If seeing her strung up on the Guild Hall doors and beaten half to death by Tomaru had been bad, watching Mordren? Watching him kill her?

She died, literally died, and they all saw it. They were forced to sit back, helpless, and watch him do it.

There were a number of things people would never forget. Each person in the Guild had their own few times, their own memories that were forever etched into their minds and for their own reasons. Seeing what Tomaru did would never leave, though it could fade... but what Mordren did would remain just as fresh and just as painful as the day it happened, forever.

"... I am... so sorry..." Erza hissed, her face falling from view as she bowed toward Frea, Wendy and Carla's eyes fell, while Moon's ears dropped a little, her pale blue gaze glittering as she watched Erza quietly. Frea's eyes flashed slightly, her face neutral and unmoving as Erza remained rigid and bowed.

"... I wanted... to help you... to stop him... but... damn it..." Erza's voice was shaking badly now, cracking in a way that was painful to hear, Frea swallowed against it. "... we... I... couldn't... break free... and he..."

Frea's eyes cast away from Erza to see the same tenseness in the redhead appear in everyone else in the room, all eyes dropping to the floor and sweatdropping as guilt and pain sparked from the lot like a hundred bolts of lightning.

"... we... we should have... helped you... we should... have... s..stopped...him..."

They all thought that, Moon, Carla, Wendy- the whole damn Guild thought that. They'd thought it a hundred times over and it kept persisting, the guilt, the failure- they shouldn't have been so helpless. They should have done more, should have tried harder- should have done something.

Anything

Frea's eyes softened slightly, letting out a low, silent breath as her eyes cast away from scanning that solemn set of people in front of her and toward the door- toward where the Guild was slowly filling up, and toward where she knew that two people had made their way down the hallway, only to halt outside and not move another inch, but she knew they were listening. And she felt guilt and pain and anger flare from them all the same.

But the last thing any of them needed was this. To have the Guild and everyone blame themselves, hate themselves because they hadn't helped her. Because there was nothing to be done, there was nothing they could have done and a part of her felt they knew that- and they just hated it.

"Whatever happens, who cares?" Natsu growled, "We'll kick its ass into next week! Ain't nothing's gonna beat us!" He grinned, earning small smiles and shakes of their heads from everyone else. Frea glanced toward the pinkette in silence, before he looked right at her and gave her a toothy smirk. "If this Thing comes after you or anyone in the Guild, Frea- I'm gonna help stop it no matter what!" Gray smiled at the words,

"You got it, the Pyro's right. We've faced stuff like this before, we can get through it no problem." Gray smirked,

"Giihee... Piece of cake. This thing should no better than to underestimate Fairy Tail." Gajeel snickered,

"With this Guild who would be worried? We've got this!" Lucy smiled,

"We're with you Frea." Wendy gave the Energy Dragon Slayer a nod and Frea smiled slightly,

"Well sounds like that's settled..." Gildarts said lowly, smiling himself. Everyone else nodded in agreement, the mood lightening indefinitely as Frea nodded and sighed.

"Thanks, I know I can count on you all." She smirked,

They'd promised. They'd talked to her about the incoming danger, they'd told her they would stand with her to face it- and worst of all?

She had agreed- she smiled and accepted their vow of help, and she did it knowing it was a lie.

She had done a lot of things in her life that were questionable. And a lot of things that were wrong- and that? That was wrong... But she had been right in the end.

She smiled and agreed even though she knew she'd be alone in the end.

She just never expected Mordren to force the Guild to watch. She couldn't have guessed he would, and she hated it.

"... Enough." Frea murmured softly, her hand raising as it fell lightly stop Erza's still bowed head, the other falling atop Wendy's as she felt both girls stiffen under the contact. "...all of you... Just... Enough." Her hands remained where they were for a few moments that seemed to stretch to hours, before she pulled away and they glanced up toward her warily,

"Don't start thinking that, and don't blame yourself for not helping. There was absolutely nothing you could have done, and I know that. And it's fine." Frea murmured gently, "... I know you wanted to help, and I know you all would have done anything and everything to do it. You don't need to feel guilty- Mordren had all of you trapped and you didn't have any chance to get passed him. But I know you did your best." She smiled slightly, just for a split second. "... You were all so determined to oppose him, even after what he did. You wouldn't have backed down, not over anything, you were so serious and determined and I know you were ready to fight with every little bit you had. You were all incredibly brave to even think about standing up against someone like that- even after all you saw him do."

They all stiffened, eyes widening slightly and a little taken aback by the soft, ever so gentle words all of a sudden... wait, did Frea somehow know...?

"Y-you... You can't win!" Moon snapped, "The world isn't just gonna bow down to you!"

"We're still here, and we'll sure as hell kick your ass for what you've done!" Gray joined in,

"We'll not bend to you, regardless of your Power, or your ridiculous 'rite'!" Erza snapped angrily,

"You ain't gonna take the rest of us down!" Gajeel snapped,

"We'll fight you with everything we have!"

"You're not gonna take the world!"

"You're gonna pay!"

"We're not giving up, never!"

There was a sudden uproar of angry insults and shouts sent out, indignation flaring as they were all suddenly faced with the very real possibility that the world would be consumed as they knew it, and all they knew was going to be shattered... more than it already had. They were faced with something too big, too big to beat, and yet they couldn't simply give up, they couldn't... they had to try, they had to fight until they couldn't.

Frea knew that...

"Energy God Slayer or whatever, we won't let you win!"

"What gets you off, acting so high and mighty? So what if you're older than Zeref? That doesn't change a damn thing!"

"Just because you can jabber on about 'Forces of Creation' and all that nonsense doesn't mean a thing!"

"No one is unbeatable, and you're gonna find that out the hard way!"

... but... she had been... when they...

"You did your best." Frea murmured softly, "That's all I can ever ask of you, and you gave it. Don't blame yourselves, don't feel guilty- you've no reason to. I know how hard you fought, how much you wanted and hoped and put your faith in me even when it hurt. You did nothing wrong. You did everything you could have, and it was enough. You didn't fail."

Especially not when I lied... Not when I knew.

It was always just going to be me.

"You and everyone else in the Guild, you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty nor sorry for." What unusual gentleness had been in her voice that whole time suddenly grew a bit firmer, just for that little moment. "Having you there was enough. I couldn't let Mordren get to you guys, having you there helped me- pushed me to try harder, to work harder to keep you safe. Feeling how determined all of you were to fight him even after he hurt me- that was that extra push I needed to get back up, and to win. I could feel your emotions the whole time, having you there helped keep me up, kept me focused, kept me going." They looked frozen, their gazes riveted and hardly daring to breath as they just listened.

She really needed them to just... Trust, trust what she said. Maybe alleviating their guilt would help lessen what guilt she felt herself... Maybe.

Hopefully

"You all did everything you could, and it was enough." She said softly, firmly and with a small, faint nod toward them. "I know it was hard, and I know it hurt... But Mordren's gone. Even with all the bad that happened, everyone got out alright. I'm still around, and I'm going to be fine."

But will I really...?

"So please, all of you- quit feeling so guilty and angry with yourselves. Alright?" She murmured lightly, smiling ever so slightly as her silver gaze rest so steadily on each of them in their shocked silence.

She knew they'd still doubt it. She knew they'd still think they could have done more. There was honestly nothing she could say that would just get rid of what they were feeling- her aim was to lessen it, if she could.

It wouldn't do to dwell.

... Maybe she ought to try taking her own advice, though.

They nodded, slowly, slightly as if they weren't so sure. They were taken aback, by the words, by the assurance... By how much Frea really seemed to mean it.

And if it was possible, what she said made them feel... Better. And worse all at once.

"Hmm, promise me you'll quit blaming yourselves?" Frea murmured, they stiffened.

Something about that small smile Frea was wearing, coupled with the words, with what she said.. They didn't even know what exactly. Why it felt warmer in their chests, why it made them want to relax and yet it ached so badly all at once? A part of it could have been relief, some part of their hearts worrying that they had failed her- that part destroyed the instant she made it clear she didn't feel that way. She didn't blame them, she didn't even dwell on how alone she had been.

And then it hurt again, because how? How couldn't she? How the hell was she so calm about all of it? How the hell could she even think of looking past how helpless they had been for her? How useless?

And how could she even suggest they helped her at all? Even being there? By just being there, trapped and powerless- how the hell could that help?

How could Frea be so... Genuine... About...

... How can she say that? That they did 'enough'?

Frea had always- without fail- been there for each and every one of them. In everything, she jumped in, placed herself between them and whatever danger threatened them, and she had always done it without question, and always regardless of what consequence it would land her. For all the hundreds of times she'd stood up and stood in front of Wendy and Carla, between Erza and what threatened her- and Tomaru, with Moon. it was near instinct for her, there wasn't a moment anyone in the Guild couldn't remember Frea not stepping up to protect them when she was near.

And yet they hadn't even managed that. She deserved to have someone step up for her, guard her, help her, and none of them could when Frea had needed it more than ever.

Mordren beat her. He threw Magic at her, waves of immeasurable power, he broke her down, threw her around and tore her apart. He sent his Magic ripping through her body like paper, over and over again and they just watched him do it. He did everything he could to kill her, beat her down again when she got up until she couldn't. She'd been lying in that bed for weeks barely alive and with her body more fractured parts than whole. She must have been in agony, in sheer torture and felt like such utter shit even then it would have been mind-numbing, if not maddening.

After all of that pain and suffering, how could she smile and promise them they weren't guilty or to blame? That even trapped and unable to lift a damn finger to try and stop that bastard from hurting her, that they had helped?

... How... What.. What did they do to deserve having someone like that in the Guild? As Family? What the hell did they do to deserve someone so kind, so forgiving?

What did they do to deserve to even know someone like that..? Who could be beaten and nearly die and still find some way to make it all seem better...? ... to somehow manage to start to ease their hearts, and so easily..?

Even with doubt, even still hurting, even though it ached to just look at her and how badly hurt she was- that gentleness that appeared in her then had them reeling. Gentleness and tenderness that had seldom been seen from that usually fiery, stubborn Energy Dragon Slayer, softness that crept it's way into her eyes and her smile that had their tensions just melting away so, so easily. Something about her just seemed to banish their hurt, and their worry and their uncertainty- like some odd, powerful aura she just gave off naturally.

And Frea smiled still as she waited for a response, none surprised with the silence and what stunned expressions she was receiving. She would have to relay this same message to the Guild in it's entirety of course, but unable to move from that bed, it would have to do to make the point clear with those few in earshot of the words. If she managed to ease their concern, that was enough, and she'd eventually manage with everyone else... she had to try.

But she wouldn't fool herself into thinking things would ever go back to how they were before, things had gotten too far out of hand... too much had changed.

But it was a new day, she'd slept well for the first time in too long a time, and she honestly needed something normal, something content. She needed the Guild happy, that had always made her feel better, that had always been one of the things she wanted above anything else... and she really, really needed them to be right now.

"Promise?" She murmured again, earning blinks and glittering gazes as they all seemed still rather lost for words. "It all turned out alright in the end. You should focus on that, instead of letting yourselves get sucked up by the past. It's a new day, and there's no reason to stay all worried. You can relax."

And it needs to be a better day... I need a few better days. Badly.

Their eyes shone, stunned and motionless for a few more moments as they just looked at her- taken aback and speechless and hardly able to come to terms with what they were feeling and even what she was asking. And what sudden change in the mood it had brought on. Thoughts and emotions whirled in their heads like wildfire, unsure how to react or even how to feel to what those words that were so genuine and kind and even-

Frea found herself reeling slightly in the next instant though, her smile breaking off and blinking in sheer surprise as all four of those before her suddenly moved.

Erza, Wendy, Carla and Moon alike had moved closer without a word and without any warning, a mess of arms and bodies pressing closer as Wendy wrapped her arms around Frea's torso and Erza wrapped her's around her neck and shoulders, leaning slightly on the bedtop as Carla and Moon pressed close to her where Wendy had taken hold- all of them holding to her firmly and so lightly, trembling against her as Frea felt their bodies shake with what silent tears had emerged in seconds. Frea stiffened in surprise at the contact, biting down on the inside of her cheek at what ache and pain flared to life with it- though she did absolutely nothing to let it show, lest they spring back for fear of having hurt her on accident.

Frea swallowed slightly, her eyes glinting as she heard Wendy sniff, trying to quell her crying but failing as it seemed Moon and Carla were, Erza too- though the redhead made absolutely no noise to let anyone know of those glittering drops falling down her cheeks. But Frea could feel them splash against her neck and shoulder, and smell their salty tang on the air easily enough.

Frea felt her heart clench painfully at it though, she hated to see anyone upset or crying, least of all the Guild, Wendy, Carla or Moon. And it was a very rare thing to see from Erza, and that stung more deeply than anything else. Almost as deeply as when Master-

Frea's eyes fell, her arms falling lightly around the four regardless of what pain moving brought on.

"... F... Frea..." Wendy stammered quietly, her voice muffled. "... I...I just... I'm sorry..."

"... The thought... Of losing you... We've just... Been so worried...!" Carla's voice cracked painfully as she picked up where Wendy seemed unable to finish.

"... And there's... Been so little... That any of us... Could do... We've... Just felt... F..freaking useless...!" Moon growled so lowly Frea had a hard time hearing her, but the sudden rush of emotions that came from her Exceed Partner were sickeningly familiar. The same wash of anger and guilt and helplessness that had snatched hold of Moon when Tomaru and DeathBolt came into play, and that same mix of emotions she wished Moon would never have to live through again- least of all because of her. "... Damn... I..it..."

"... I do not know... How you can even... forgive us..." Erza's voice came next, shaking so badly and lower than Frea had heard it go. "... Or how... You can... Be so... So calm... About all of it... How can you even... Begin... To try and... Reassure us... When...?" Erza's hold tightened a little, so faintly it was likely she didn't so it consciously. Frea blinked,

"... You... You fought so hard... And Mordren just..." Wendy sniffed,

"... seeing him... Do that, to you..."

... Damn it, Mordren...

"... I know." Frea breathed, her voice level and soft as she did her best to give them all a small squeeze, a gesture meant to be reassuring as she held them a bit closer to her body that ached and stung at every little bit of contact, and she ignored it. "... Honestly, it really is fine. What happened was... Bad... But it's alright. I'm alright... and more than anything I am so glad that Mordren never got to any of you." She bit the inside of her cheek a moment,

"... All I wanted was to make sure he didn't touch you guys." Her voice dropped to something shy of a whisper. "... even with all the bad... It's over. He lost. And everything is going to be fine, I promise."

They all felt their hearts jump at that, 'I promise'.

... But... She was the one who had asked them to...

"Trust me, ok?" Frea asked lightly, her tone changing to something that was so soothing in tandem with her arms around them that they couldn't help but start to relax, their tears drawing to a slow, certain halt. They didn't reply outside of nodding their heads a little, but it was enough and she simply let it be as they remained that way for a long while.

"... Frea... Thank you... For all of it. Everything you did.. How hard you fought for... All of us." Erza murmured softly, "...thank you..."

"... You got it." Frea smiled slightly, leaning her head against Erza's still resting in the crook of her neck. "... What else is family for?"

Erza blinked, her eyes glittering as her hold on the Energy Dragon Slayer tightened again subconsciously.

Family... And it would be a broken family without Frea, that had never been so clear until then. She just meant too much to everyone.

Those two people who Frea took note approaching the door before halting, hadn't moved, not an inch. They stood in rigid silence outside the door, ears trained inside and hardly daring to breath as they listened to every single word with the utmost attention. They hesitated going in from the start- having followed slowly and silently after seeing Erza, Wendy, Carla and Moon disappear down the hall- and they found themselves unable to move now.

That same guilt and regret had been biting at their heels the same as it had the rest of the Guild. It sunk its teeth in so deeply and so sharply they felt like their hearts were getting torn apart- and the more it happened, the more angry they got with it, with themselves. Having been trapped and helpless went so far against their nature to rush in and guard the Guild it was agonizing. A hundred times over they had cursed themselves and wished they'd done more- in their cores they knew that they needed to have done something, and they hated themselves for being unable to do anything at all.

Frea deserved better than that.

Bu hearing her say all of that about them not being to blame? About it all being ok?

Gray's eyes fell to his feet as his forehead pressed up against his arm he had moved to lean against the wall, eyes closed and grimacing with hunched shoulders and taught features. Natsu on the other side of the door, leaning against the wall with his back opposite the Ice Mage looked no more relaxed, his onyx gaze fixed to the door and sweatdropping heavily as he bit the inside of his cheek.

How can she even... Act like it's... Just fine...?

"...tch..." Gray hissed under his breath, "... She's... Unbelievable..."

"... Yeah..." Natsu replied quietly, his eyes flashing.

But their was no conviction in either of the two boys, there couldn't be. Not when that same warmth that crept into Erza, Wendy, Carla and Moon's hearts, managed to dig in and find a small spot in Natsu and Gray alike.

It took a little while for them to pull back, a while where Frea simply sat in silence and kept her arms wrapped around all four girls regardless of how quickly her body was starting to throb at the extended contact. But they backed up, slowly, sinking into the chairs pulled up by the bed in Wendy and Erza's case, while Moon settled to sit on the bedside and Carla took a seat on the nightstand. They rubbed their eyes in silence to try and get rid of the wet, before glancing warily up toward Frea again- who smiled at them with ease. Her arms moved slowly to hold her stomach out of what was becoming near habit- they noticed it but said nothing of it.

"Cheer up a little, alright?" She murmured brightly. They blinked, before nodding slightly.

"... We will certainly try." Erza replied quietly, the other three nodded in quiet agreement.

Frea smirked slightly, nodding toward the four.

"Thanks. The more you guys start feeling better, the more I will too." Frea murmured, earning smaller nods this time around and glittering eyes.

Frea didn't pause for a minute though, her smile spread a little wider even though the weariness was creeping up again fast.

"Now, since I've got you here, would you care to do me a favor?" She asked, earning looks right surprise and question from the lot.

"... Ah, well... yes." Wendy murmured uncertainly.

"What would you ask?" Carla murmured,

Frea sweatdropped, what light-hearted mood she brought up dining slightly to be replaced with something very near to embarrassment and... Frustration?

---

"...hmm..." Levy hummed under her breath lightly as her gaze scanned the bookshelf before her, trailing over titles as when remained focused on trying to find what she was looking for.

All manner of Magical Theories and Legends, many of them dating back to the time Zeref had reigned, and Acnologia with him... But these were far and few, what war there had been with the Dragons had rare anything written. And certainly the Library contained nothing that went further, beyond Zeref and before him- as is what she was looking for, unfortunately.

It seemed such an impossible idea that there had been some powerful Mage before Zeref himself- who until recently had been the oldest, most ancient Wizard she had known of... Until Mordren.

How much stock could really be put in the things he said was debatable, but honestly? What reason was there for him to have been lying about all of it?

Regardless of authenticity, lies, nonsense or whatever- she shivered at the memory despite herself. There was no debating how powerful he'd been, and there really wasn't any doubt that he very well could have conquered the country, and further.

With how easily he had gone after Chase and Frea-

Levy's grip on the book in her hands tightened slightly, her eyes narrowed and sweatdropping heavily as she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat.

... He...

Levy jumped slightly, her eyes snapping upward and her heart racing as someone tapped her on the shoulder- breaking what silence had engulfed the Library when she let a none too flattering yelp of surprise and shuffled away.

Her attention found Gajeel, who blinked, a studded eyebrow quirking at how quickly she had jumped away.

"Don't gotta freak out like that, it's only me, Shrimp." He huffed slowly, Levy blinked, her eyes growing a bit wider as she registered it really was him-

"Y... You idiot!" She snapped, the book in hand promptly smacking against his shoulder with a painful thud, "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Oi! You don't gotta hit me, damn it!" He grumbled, his hand snapping up to catch the book at stall her movement before she hit him with it again. "You did that enough yesterday, and I'm not givin' you anymore freebies."

Levy's eyes fell, her grip on the book slackening slightly as her arms sagged a little too- Gajeel could feel the weight of them through his hold on the book, and he blinked.

"... I wouldn't have hit you yesterday if you hadn't worried me so much." Levy mumbled, Gajeel stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to swallow.

"... come on Shrimp." Gajeel mumbled, his eyes flicking away from Levy almost nervously as she glanced up his way again. His other hand lift to rub the back of his neck, their hands and the book falling as he glanced away, his grip on the book failing as Levy held it lightly. "... I already said sorry, yeah? You don't gotta keep bein' all worked up..." He grimaced slightly, Levy blinked.

Her eyes softened slightly, her eyes falling to the book in her hands a moment.

He had, or at least... as well as Gajeel could manage an apology. Levy couldn't honestly say she had expected him to apologize at all, even as poorly as he managed it-

"... sorry... ya know... fer... disappearing..." He grumbled lowly, his eyes finding nearly everything else in the room but her. His voice was quiet and almost strained in a way, as if saying any of it was painful for him- and Levy just stared, still scowling and fists still clenched furiously at her sides from having been pounding them against him in her sudden anger and agitation. He'd gone and just popped up out of nowhere in her damn apartment, with no warning and no reason that morning (yesterday morning, as of now). She's walked out of her room to find him munching away on her silverware,

He usually wasn't able to enter Fairy Hills, as there was warding and runes around the building to prevent any boys from coming in... but Levy might have pulled the warding down a few days prior.

"... I didn't mean... ta worry ya... Lev..." He mumbled, huffing a little and clearing his throat as she looked up at him in near stunned shock. He almost looked like... he was blushing.

The look disappeared as he growled, his eyes flashing as he gave her a small half-glare. "... now quit hittin' me already, Shrimp...!"

And then after that he hadn't apologized, not another sorry, he seemed intent on changing the subject.

But it was a very weird thing for him to do, Levy hadn't ever really heard him outright apologize for anything. Never out loud and never to her face, it seemed painful for him to even try and do it- and the fact that he was had caught her off guard.

Especially so, because she could tell he was genuinely sorry for running off like he had- if he didn't say it through words, he had done everything he could to cheer her up, do what she wanted and he kept close to her relentlessly. He'd let her hit him several times over, and snap his head off, and he just took it. Small little things, all subtle, but she hadn't been so relaxed nor relieved when he came back... and that was plenty enough.

But a part of her felt that there was some reason more he had showed up out of the blue. She'd told him about Frea and he hadn't been surprised about it, which she thought a little odd. He hadn't been as tense as she had expected, like the Guild had been. What fear and worry that had taken firm hold of everyone in the Guild seemed a little lacking in the Iron Dragon Slayer, like they'd already been mostly shifted away by the time he popped up in her room at Fairy Hills without warning. He'd seemed pretty sure of himself and pretty adamant on sticking close to her since then, like he didn't want to leave her alone again... guilt maybe, but that wasn't quite what feeling she got from it. It was more like... determination, in a way.

She got the feeling something more was behind how determined he was to stick close to her. She just wished she understood what it was, because there was this sudden, slight change in Gajeel so suddenly... and it was a nice one. She simply wished she knew what had brought it on.

"... seriously, Shrimp... relax. I'm not goin' anywhere, alright?" He mumbled softly, Levy felt the breath catch her in throat slightly.

"... stupid Gajeel..." Levy whispered, "... what's gotten into you?" Gajeel stiffened, his red eyes flashing.

"... tch... what do ya mean...?" He asked slowly, looking a little nervous for a moment at the question. Levy wrapped her arms around the book, hugging it to her chest as she settled him with a flat stare.

"... you've been acting off." She replied softly. "... aside from sticking to me like glue, you weren't even surprised when I told you what Porlyusica said about Frea's condition yesterday- and you didn't ask about it either. And when I asked where you were all this time, you changed the subject." He sweatdropped slightly, looking nervous as she tilted her head at him, her eyes narrowing as worry spread across her face. "... did something happen?"

"... mmm... it's not like that, alright Shrimp?" Gajeel mumbled, "... nothin' bad happened, not outside of... Mordren and..." he grimaced at the thought, shaking his head slightly. "... look, it don' matter where I was. I'm not gonna ditch ya again, and I ain't been hoverin' either damn it... I was just... tch..." He seemed to be getting agitated with how hard it seemed to be to answer the question, enough so she saw his shoulders tense and his fists ball at his sides.

"... damn it..." He growled under his breath, "... I know you're still angry, Lev-"

"Stupid Gajeel!" Levy interrupted instantly, her voice cutting him off as he jumped slightly, eyebrow quirked at her as she huffed hotly. "I'm not angry at you!" She hissed, her eyes flashing. "I was angry and hurt that you'd run off without saying anything, or letting me help you, but I stopped being angry the minute you got back." She told him sharply, Gajeel blinked, his jaw dropping slightly and looking rather stunned, Levy's arms wrapped tightly around the book and face pulled tight in an agitated frown as she set those glittering eyes on him so stonily.

There was a sudden wash of silence that fell between the two of them for a few minutes, Levy's eyes never leaving Gajeel as he simply stared at her in near dumbfounded silence.

But that silence was promptly shattered when he laughed, just once, and quietly under his breath, his hand coming to a halt on the back of his neck and the other resting on his hip as his red eyes fell closed. He smiled slightly, almost in near exasperation as she narrowed her eyes up at him.

"...heh... damn, Silver was right about that too, huh..." He mumbled under his breath, Levy's head tilting at the incredibly odd string of words, more questions beginning to burn brightly in her head. He shook his head slightly, looking back her way. "... Eh... Truth is, I didn't react when ya told me what the Old Lady said about Silver, because I already knew." He explained quietly, Levy blinked in surprise. "... That cat... Iki, found me and told me, the night before I showed up at your place."

"...Iki...?" Levy echoed, "... How did he know where to find you...?" Gajeel stiffened at that, glancing away as he hesitated for a split second.

"... Silver... Told him where to look." get replied slowly, almost grudgingly in a way. Levy's eyes widened,

"... But... How would Frea even... Know...?" Levy stammered, "Wait, doesn't that mean that- Iki had to have talked with her then, right? She was awake then?" she asked quickly, Gajeel blinked.

"... Yeah...?" He mumbled,

"But... That was the night that Wendy, Porlyusica and Sherria went in to work on her injuries." Levy breathed, her eyes flashing. "Wendy said she'd been in so much pain by the time they were done, Frea was exhausted and in a considerably shaky state! And she still woke up that same night to talk to Iki and tell him where to find you? I can't imagine she had the strength to even stay awake, let alone hold a conversation." Levy grimaced slightly, worry working its way into her features as Gajeel blinked. "Atop that, Frea's been hardly conscious even the last few days, and with how hurt she is... How could she even know where to find you?"

"... You sayin' Silver had Granny and the kids working on her two days ago?" Gajeel grumbled, Levy nodded.

"... They had to fix some of the stitches, and rewrap her injuries, among several other things- from what Wendy said." Levy replied, she blanched slightly, biting the inside of her cheek. "... Wendy said Frea was shaken up rather badly by just doing that, her health is in such a delicate state right now... That's why I'm so shocked she managed to tell Iki where you were, after all of that earlier in the day." Gajeel stiffened slightly,

"... Tch... Damn Silver... What the hell was she thinking...?" He growled, but inwardly he cringed. She had looked like utter shit when he talked to her- but he hadn't any clue she had stayed up to snap at him so late the same day she had had her injuries sewn up and treated again. That could not have been fun and it honestly did not surprise him at all that Wendy would have told Levy Frea had been hit hard by it, it did piss him off though Frea had pushed it so much to stay up and scold him. She must have already felt like hell on a regular day, but after having the Old Lady and the Sky Kids poke and prod at her injuries- she must have felt like some new sort of hell, and still she'd forced herself awake and sitting up to drag him to the Guild in the middle of the damn night.

It agitated him to no end, seriously, what had she been thinking?! Idiot!

"... Oh I really hope she didn't push herself too hard." Levy mumbled quietly, sweatdropping slightly. "... That may have been the reason she slept through all of yesterday..."

"...tch... What an idiot...!" Gajeel snapped, Levy blinked up at him in surprise at the sudden outburst. "...grrahhh... Why doesn't she just worry about herself more than everybody else?" He growled lowly, Levy smiled faintly at him.

He really did care about Frea, else he wouldn't have been acting the way he had. And Levy knew well enough there were few people on the Guild that Gajeel trusted without pause, or even considered close friends- it was nice to know he cared about her as much as Frea did about him.

After all, Frea had been the first and possibly only person in the entire Guild not to give into mistrust and hatred for him for what happened during the Phantom Lord mess. Frea had been the only one to treat him nicely for the longest time, and she had done so the instant she had come back. From the very beginning she hadn't seen him as the outcast from Phantom Lord- Levy was entirely certain Frea had never looked at Gajeel at any time and seen him as anything other than a true, serious member of the Fairy Tail Guild, and she'd accepted him so easily.

"... She does have a bad habit of that." Levy intoned softly. Though inwardly she felt Gajeel had a bad habit of looking after everyone else before himself too, and maybe that was one of the reasons he and Frea got along so well...

Her eyes left Gajeel as she turned, setting the book in her arms back down on the shelf softly. "... With everything that happened it's probably passed time she look after herself more than other people. She did so much on the latter end already." She sighed slightly, though Gajeel nodded stiffly in agreement with the words.

"... I've been trying to piece it together... Everything that Mordren was talking about, with the Forces of Creation and what Frea did with her Magic..." Levy murmured softly, her fingers trailing along the book's cover as she bit the inside of her cheek. "... It all seems so impossible... I can't really wrap my head around any of it and I haven't found nearly anything to back it up, but I also have a hard time believing that he was lying... Especially so, since it sounded like Frea knew what he was talking about."

"... when I joined the Guild Frea told me all about her Magic. She answered any questions I had, and I was so curious to learn anything I could about a Magic I hadn't ever heard of before. And she always seemed happy to talk with me, like she enjoyed having someone to explain it to." She let out a small breath, "... There's a part of me that wants to ask her all I can... But I don't think I should." Gajeel blinked, his eyes flashing slightly as Levy remained with her hands resting lightly on the edge of the shelf, her eyes downcast toward the book she had set down.

"... She's so hurt... And I'm a little afraid... Bringing it up will hurt her more..." Levy whispered, "... I can't imagine that she... Could even stand, to think about any of that again... And I wouldn't want to force her to..."

"... But she ain't gonna have a choice." Gajeel's soft reply earned her eyes. "... Look, Shrimp. I get it... but Silver ain't gonna have any choice but to talk about what happened eventually, you ain't the only one looking for answers. The Old Man probably has more to ask then you do." Levy grimaced slightly, "... I'm sure Silver's got no real want to touch that stuff too... But I think she'll handle it fine. She's tougher than you give her credit for."

Levy blinked, pausing a few moments, before nodding slightly.

"... I suppose you're right." She agreed quietly. "... But I think I'll hold off on asking anything, until she brings it up first." He nodded slightly, his arms crossing over his chest as cast him a small smile.

"You gonna stay down here all day?" He asked, she shook her head slightly.

"No, I'm supposed to meet up with Lu in a little. And I don't think I'm gonna find anything in here anyway... I've been looking for a long while and haven't turned anything up." Levy replied, her hands falling to hook behind her back. "... Where's Lily?"

"He's out cold at home." Gajeel murmured, "It seems like he's been keeping such a close eye on Moon that he's pretty beat. She told him to take the day off."

"Its good he's taking a break." Levy smiled faintly, "Did Moon get here at the same time you did?"

"Nah, she said she was headed over to see the Sky kid first." He replied, his head tilting slightly as his eyes flirted up toward the roof overhead. "... And I'm pretty sure she got here before me. I think I can hear them talking upstairs." Levy nodded slightly in understanding.

"Alright, lets head upstairs." She smiled softly, tilting her head away from him as she started to take a few steps back. "I'm sure Lucy will be here soon." Gajeel didn't say anything in reply outside of huffing, but that was answer enough as hell started following Levy back down the aisles.

"... And maybe we can stop by the Infirmary too, to check in." She added a bit more softly. Gajeel blinked at that, his red eyes flashing slightly as he bit the inside of his cheek.

"... Fine."

"... Thank you, for sticking so close to me, Gajeel." Levy added quietly, Gajeel stiffened. "... I appreciate the company. It's nice to have you around so much, keeping me busy." She cast a bright, cheery smile over her shoulder at him. He felt his face heat up, glancing away quickly as he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.

"... You got it..."

... It's like Silver... Just knew, how Levy would feel on instinct...

---

"... it was really starting to drive me insane." Frea mumbled softly. "... It'll be much better with it out of the way. So thanks."

"You're welcome," Erza replied softly,

"... but are you sure you're alright sitting up like this?" Wendy asked, smiling slightly though she was clearly concerned still.

"Yes, you still are looking a bit pale." Carla commented from where she was sitting in front of the Energy Dragon Slayer, Moon sitting beside her.

"I'm fine, really." Frea replied, her eyes closed and arms crossed in her lap, slightly bent over though not too badly. She had sat up all the way, the pillows behind her moved away now as Wendy and Erza sat on either side of the bed behind her- their hands moving and fingers gliding through those long silver strands of her hair and working to braid it. It was taxing having to sit up all the way in the first place, and her body ached at staying that way, but she was content and in a relatively comfortable position despite it- if she didn't shift too much. And the feeling of their hands working to gently comb through the tangles and their fingers brushing ever so lightly against her back every once in awhile was rather relaxing in itself, she almost found herself struggling to keep focus and not let her mind wander.

"... Alright.. But tell us immediately if you start getting tired or your pain gets worse, ok?" Wendy murmured, Frea hummed lightly.

"Will do." She murmured calmly, her ears and attention cast toward the door, sighing to herself in slight exasperation.

What idiots... They could just come in.

"... I haven't ever played with your hair, Frea." Wendy mumbled after awhile of content silence, smiling slightly. "... It's so nice and pretty." Erza smiled slightly beside her,

"... indeed." Erza said softly, "... I haven't done this since we were children."

"Hmm, that's when you needed someone to experiment on other than yourself." Frea hummed softly, smiling in weary amusement. "... Hehe... You had the hardest time getting braids right for a long while." Moon, Carla and Wendy blinked in surprise at the words while Erza blushed slightly.

"... I had never had someone teach me." Erza mumbled,

"... Me either." Frea smiled. After all, Dragon's weren't known for their skills in hair styling, and in her life before Chaitanya she had never gotten the chance to be taught before-

Frea halted, her breath catching in her throat and silently cursing herself in her head for even letting her thoughts wander in that direction. Not when it made her chest and her heart ache so badly all at once.

"... You had to work up the nerve to ask Mira to show you, if I am remembering right." She murmured softly, steering her thoughts back to where they should have stayed.

"... She didn't let it go for a few weeks after that." Erza replied softly, smiling slightly as Wendy turned a confused look on her. "... Believe it or not, Mirajane and I used to be quite the pair of rivals when we were younger. We never got along." Wendy's eyes grew wide in surprise at the words, "She held it over my head that I had asked her for her help, for a long while."

"You guys are such good friends now though, its a little hard to believe you were rivals." Wendy smiled nervously,

"They fought just we often as Gray and Natsu do." Frea chuckled lightly, "I had to pull them apart before they destroyed the Guild too much, I wouldn't be surprised if the boys learned it from watching them go at it." Erza blushed a little more in embarrassment,

"Natsu and Gray are plenty destructive on their own. They needn't be taught." Erza replied shortly,

"OI! SHUT UP!"

Gray and Natsu's voices rung on the air as the door to the infirmary slammed open, faces pulled into annoyed scowls and completely riled up at the statement from Erza in just seconds.

"Who are you to talk, Erza?!" Natsu snapped,

"Yeah! You wreck just as much as we do on a regular basis!" Gray snapped in tune,

"Don't go blaming us for something you do too!" They snapped in unison, scowling and veins ticked on their foreheads in sudden anger and annoyance, standing just inside the doorway and looking ready to start a fight. What earlier hesitation that had kept them outside the door and afraid of coming inside was gone in a wash of annoyance.

Moon, Wendy and Carla had all nearly jumped out of their skin at the sudden interruption, the two Exceeds whirling around and Wendy's fingers fumbling slightly with her hold on a section of Frea's hair. Erza hadn't moved at all but her eyes flicking toward the pair in sheer, dead silence- the same sort of silence that fell over the room in the next few instants.

Frea laughed, her arms folding around her torso tighter as she cringed, though the smile didn't fade any as she chuckled under her breath, wincing in between a few of them. Everyone around her paused, eyes glittering and wide in surprise as Frea shook her head a little, hissing under her breath again, but laughing all the same.

"... Oooh... Oww... Hehe... of course that's what got you to in here... Hehe... Owwww... You're such idiots... Haha...!" Frea laughed, holding her torso lightly and wincing still though her mood didn't seem to dampen at the obvious pain. She smiled their way, silver eyes glittering in amusement as they stared back, completely dumbfounded at a response that was so lighthearted- and honestly, it was a bit of a shock to hear her laughing after so much bad. Everyone else seemed just as taken aback as the boys did, eyes widening and breathless as Frea's laughs continued for a little while longer, before dying down as she let out a small, steadying sigh. "...mmm... You really shouldn't make me laugh like that, hehe..." She winced again, just barely.

They seemed lost for words, and she simply cast them a toothy smirk.

"But seriously, I'm glad you're not sitting outside the door like creeps anymore." She told them brightly, a hint of teasing in her voice. They grimaced at that, looking annoyed again.

"Shut up!" They snapped in agitation, Frea sighed with a small shake of her head.

"You were sitting outside the door?" Moon echoed, her head tilted and eyes narrowed in intrigue.

"None of your business!" They huffed in agitation,

"Enough yelling." Erza's steely order had Natsu and Gray shutting their mouths with an audible snap.

Frea smiled a bit more at the reaction, her eyes shifting sideways toward Erza and the sound of her voice though she didn't turn her head to look at the redhead.

"If I was not preoccupied I would throw you out for your noise." Erza growled, earning a slightly nervous smile from Wendy, who had turned her attention on braiding Frea's hair again, as had Erza- though Natsu and Gray still felt like her icy glare was set on them when it wasn't.

"If you plan to stay however, you should probably tone it down." Carla added, both Natsu and Gray seemed to stiffen at that, looking hesitant.

"And you can stay." Frea added softly, feeling the nervousness and uncertainty sparkling from them both in the next instant. She cast them a small smile, "I won't complain having you two around, so don't feel like you should leave." They blinked, a little taken aback by how easily she knew what they were thinking.

"... Y... Yeah, alright." They mumbled, sweatdropping slightly as Frea hummed under her breath in slight amusement.

They moved slowly, still looking a bit out of place as their eyes dropped away from her altogether, like they couldn't bring themselves to look at her- which they really couldn't. It hurt, seeing the bandages and the bruises and the cuts all over. It hurt even more to hear the way her breathing rattled, and how shallow it was- even with her trying to keep it steady, she couldn't help it. Natsu came to a halt by the bed while Gray stopped at the foot of it, their eyes drawn on the floor and stiff in silence. Natsu crossed his arms about his chest while Gray's hands fell atop the footboard quietly, Moon and Carla alike watched them in silence, casting eachother quick glances.

Frea blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she bit the inside of her cheek.

She really hoped everyone in the Guild would stop acting so nervous and edgy around her, and soon... it was tiring, and it was so unlike them. She didn't blame them for acting that way, no, she understood exactly why they were so off and so somber, and why they seemed to be walking on eggshells around her. And the more on edge they were, the more on edge she was- and to be entirely honest, she was already wound up and stressed out enough all on her own.

Her jaw clenched, her eyes falling shut as that same icy pain that had been rearing it's head without end, ran through her core again. Throbbing incessantly as she felt the chill grow a bit firmer in her heart- it happened, again, right there with all of them and she had to do everything she could not to wince out loud. Because what explanation could she come up with? She was hurt, she was wounded- but this pain came from something else, from something she doubted they would really understand, and it wasn't something altogether tangible either.

That darkness was eating away at her, always, and when it hurt so bad like this? It was like it had ripped off another piece and started chewing.

Erza and Wendy noticed Frea tense up under them instantly, their eyes flashing and hearts jumping in surprise. Their work on winding the braids they had been working on together halted, Wendy's hand falling lightly on Frea's back as her eyes narrowed in shock and concern, she could sense the pain that had flared up in Frea, and with little warning- though she found she couldn't place what wound and injury it came from specifically... almost like it didn't. It was just pure, individual pain that seemed an entity of it's own, and a lot of it.

Wendy blinked, her eyes widening slightly as that odd pain seemed to disappear as quickly as it came, she felt it fade in Frea's body under her hand and her Magic, though Frea still seemed to feel the lingering effects of it regardless. But it wasn't normal, and Wendy didn't know why.

"... are you ok, Frea...?" Natsu's voice caught her attention, his voice low and his eyes managing to flicker up toward her. She blinked, cursing herself in her head for the fact her breathing had sharpened enough to have him notice it immediately. She swallowed back the throbbing running over every inch of her person, nodding slightly. She could feel everyone else's eyes on her, searching.

"... Yeah... I'm just pretty sore." She replied softly, Wendy bit the inside of her lip at the reply, her eyes fixed to her hand still resting ever so lightly against the Energy Dragon Slayer's back. She missed the look Erza shot her way, the redhead easily seeing the concern and confusion work it's way into Wendy's expression faintly.

Natsu blinked, his expression tense for a minute- as if he was trying to work himself up into believing that was an honest answer or not. Frea smiled faintly, her eyes moving sideways in the direction of Erza and Wendy- having already noted them come to a halt.

"... Really... I'm OK, you guys don't need to be so tense." She assured quietly, "... I already promised I'd tell you if I needed to stop. And I'm still doing fine."

"... Are you sure?" Erza asked quietly,

"Yes, I'm sure." Frea smiled gently, and without skipping a beat in replying. "... Really guys, relax. At this rate you're gonna start stressing me out, hehe." She added in slight amusement, the lot of them blinking in surprise at the words.

"... It's easy to forget that you can actually feel our emotions." Moon mumbled quietly, and more so once she remembered what Frea said about her senses heightening again.

"I know." Frea replied easily, her eyes glittering in faint amusement still. "I don't blame you either, it's not something normal for most people to be able to feel emotions. I'd probably forget if I was in your place, in all honesty." She let out a low breath, her eyes dropping closed as Erza and Wendy started to work again, Wendy's hand leaving Frea's back slowly.

"... Energy Mages are weird, when you think about it..." Frea hummed under her breath, nearly to herself. "... it's not the sort of Magic that even... seems like it could work..."

And when you really delved into it, Energy Magic seemed impossible. But a lot of things seemed that way and weren't... Naraka, for instance. Mordren too.

... and me.

"... So what are you doing?" Natsu asked lowly, his hands in the chair between his legs and leaning in a little. Frea cracked an eye open to look his way,

"Hmm?" Frea hummed,

"Erza and Wendy, with your hair." He replied,

"It's been bugging me," Frea replied easily, "Even if I'm not running around, it still gets in the way. There's a reason I've never let my hair grown out."

"How the hell did it get so long like that?" Gray mumbled,

"Well I didn't do it on purpose." Frea replied, "... honestly... I don't even know how I did it. It must have had something to do with Dragon Force kicking in on full power." She murmured, shrugging slightly and immediately regretting it when she winced. "... I've never activated Dragon Force all the way until I was fighting Mordren, so it's a surprise for me too. I just wish it hadn't stuck after it was over."

"I like it longer, Frea." Wendy replied brightly, "It looks pretty on you." Frea sweatdropped slightly at that,

"I agree." Erza said, Frea grumbled slightly under her breath. Somehow she had the feeling she wouldn't be getting rid of the length for awhile yet, just based on how quick Wendy and Erza were to tell her it looked nice.

"You look like a girl." Natsu and Gray deadpanned slightly,

"She is a girl, you know." Moon and Carla replied evenly, they grimaced slightly,

"That's not what we meant." Gray huffed, "You just look more girly,"

"Yeah, it's... different." Natsu mumbled, Frea nodded slightly.

A lot is different though, not just my hair... and they all saw so much change when it all happened.

She could tell Natsu broke himself off before he went further on the thought though, Gray had earlier as well. They hesitated, they didn't ask... everyone wanted to but were afraid of doing so. And a part of her appreciated they didn't bring it up just yet, it would be nice to have just a little while of calm.

"Don't say it like it's a bad thing, Flame-Brain." Frea sighed, he stiffened.

"It's not!" He replied quickly, looking a little unsure if Frea was annoyed with the response or not- which she really wasn't, but his reaction made her smirk slightly.

"Hehe, and don't call me girly, Popscicle." Frea shot Gray's direction, he grimaced slightly, he couldn't tell if Frea was serious or not either.

"..R..right."

"Hmm, you two haven't been causing fights with the other Guilds, have you?" Frea asked slyly, steering the conversation in another direction. "You two and your destructive natures, you haven't torn up the Guild Hall already have you?" They bristled,

"As if!" They snapped lowly,

"You know you wreck just as much as us!" Natsu growled hotly,

"And you're worse than we are!" Gray huffed,

"But I don't start fights wherever I go." Frea replied lightly,

"You started one now!" They snapped back, tempers and spirits blazing suddenly as all tenseness, discomfort and hesitation melted between them. Frea smiled still, not at all perturbed by the reaction.

"Yeah, and you can't do anything to win." Frea replied cheekily, "You can't actually fight me, so I win by default."

"That's not fair!"

"I make the rules." Frea hummed, they let out agitated huffs- but smiled none the less.

"Heh, only cause you're hurt." Natsu smirked,

"But once you're all healed up, you're gonna have to put your Magic where you're mouth is." Gray chuckled,

"And we're gonna win!" They both said in unison, Frea smirked.

"Hehe, I'll look forward to it." Frea chuckled. They smiled, a little softer this time around and eyes gleaming as they nodded a little at the reply,

"It's good to have you back, Frea." Gray murmured, Natsu nodding happily as Frea smiled in return.

"Hehe, what would you do without me?" Frea sighed in amusement,

Moon, Wendy, Carla and Erza smiled to themselves, their eyes softening as Frea, Natsu and Gray alike started talking back and forth, all three smiling and all three looking relaxed and content- a mood that hadn't flared in the Guild enough as of late. It took little for them to tell that Frea had riled them up on purpose, in the hopes of lightening the mood- and it worked. Frea had always been good at knowing how to cheer people up, and she did it effortlessly.

"Probably go without losing their dignity everytime they lose against you." Moon piped in, her paws crossing over her chest and letting out a purr of amusement.

"I do think you two have never won a match against Frea." Carla commented,

"Shut up!"

"She's not wrong." Moon chuckled, "As long as I've been around I haven't seen you win."

"I don't recall either of you winning a match either." Erza said evenly,

"Yeah, well we're gonna change that!"

"All done." Wendy smiled cheerfully, her and Erza coming to a halt as they finished gently braiding their own separate braids together, leaving the pieces neatly woven together and resting against her back lightly, tied off at the end with the ribbon she had gotten from Virgo oh so long ago (and that Moon had dug out of Frea's bag in the corner of the room, which now rest against a chair pushed up against the wall- Laxus' coat hung over the back of it).

The both of them moved from behind her, replacing the pillows where they had been while Frea let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, much better." Frea replied, her eyes landing on them both as they stood at the edge of the bed on opposite sides from one another, they nodded.

"You're welcome."

Frea bit the inside of her cheek as she slowly let herself lay back against the pillows again- enough she was using them for support though she was still fairly upright- wincing slightly under her breath at the pain that flared with it, but it was easier than holding herself up- that had been tiring, though she wouldn't let it show. Her hand landed on her stomach lightly, her eyes closing against the sharp pain that traveled through every inch of her person in the next instant, before it faded as her movement stalled again. The sudden argument and conversation that had sprung up between the boys and the Exceeds didn't cease as she shifted, her eyes opening again to see them still chatting away,

Erza's hand landed lightly on her shoulder, earning Frea's eyes as the Energy Dragon Slayer glanced up toward her. Erza smiled softly, her lips barely raised at the corners and eyes glittering,

".. they are right." Erza murmured, "It is very good to have you back, Frea. I'm not sure what the Guild would do without you, you mean so much to all of us." Frea blinked, "Thank you, for everything... for coming back."

Frea nodded slightly, her eyes flashing in the sunlight filtering through the window.

"... of course."

"-Speaking of Happy, where is he?" Carla's voice broke her attention only slightly, Erza's eyes closing as she smiled a bit more and her hand moved from Frea without a word.

"He was with Lucy and Solana." Natsu replied,

"... who are outside the door..." Frea mumbled under her breath, earning a blink of surprise from Wendy and Erza upon hearing her say the words. Frea's eyes had trailed past Erza toward the door, locking to the sudden Energy Signatures that managed to catch her attention.

"What is with all the noise in here? Didn't you hear what Master said about being quiet?" Lucy's voice asked, the sight of her blonde hair flashing in the sunlight came to view as she pushed the door open cautiously. Her eyes locked inside the room toward the collection of people around the bed, Happy and Levy's faces popping into view behind her, with Solana, Juvia and Gajeel not far behind.

"We weren't bein' that loud." Natsu mumbled, glancing over his shoulder toward the door.

"I could hear ya yappin' all the way in the library." Gajeel grumbled, though his voice got drowned out by the gasps of surprise and excitement that Levy, Lucy, Happy and Juvia let loose in the next instant.

"Frea!"

There was a sudden rush of bodies through the doorway and inside the room, a wash of excited and relieved smiles and glinting eyes as the afore mentioned four came inside quickly, crowding around the bed and leaning in. Happy meanwhile floated forward faster than any of the rest, looking ready to crash into Frea for a hug- remembering at what seemed like the last second to slow down, and instead of ramming into her, he slowed up and wrapped his arms around her neck lightly, tears in his eyes and smiling as his tail wagged in animation.

"Frea! I'm so happy to see you!" He cheered, Frea winced at his voice in her ear but smiled none the less.

"It's so good to see you awake!" Levy smiled, her hands falling on the bedtop as she leaned in.

"We've been so worried!" Lucy breathed, "It's great to see you up and talking!"

"Juvia is so happy you're getting better!" Juvia smiled, her hands folded together and pressed to her chest.

"How are you? Are you ok?" Levy asked quickly, "Oh- Your hair's been braided! It looks wonderful!"

"You're looking a little better too." Lucy smiled,

"Are you feeling better?" Juvia asked,

"You gave everybody a huge scare." Solana murmured, her arms crossed over her chest and stopping at Natsu's shoulder with a small, slight smile and glinting eyes. "... but it's good to have you back, Frea."

"Ah, yeah... Sorry... And I'm alright, thanks." Frea stammered slightly, attempting to reply to what slew of questions and comments that was. "Ah-"

She got cut off, her eyes darting from them toward the door and smiling nervously.

"What's with the party?" Cana poked her head in the room next- having heard the commotion when the second group came in. Her eyes gleamed, smirking as her gaze landed on Frea, moving inside the room and leaning an elbow on Juvia's shoulder, waving in the Energy Dragon Slayer's direction. "Hey Frea, good to see you, girl."

"Hey, Frea!" Laki and Kinana had followed behind the brunette closely,

"You're awake!" Jet and Droy were next, tumbling inside the doorway in a heap with Max, Warren, Vijeeter and Nab.

"W-we're so glad..!"

"Frea..! You're the best, you know...?!"

"You didn't leave us...!"

"I have a dance prepared..!"

Frea blinked, a little taken aback by how many people had popped into the room in near moments- before her attention snapped to a new voice, and a whole new collection of people that seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Frea!" Elfman came next, grinning as he easily pushed passed the heap of boys. His eyes filled with tears and beaming, drawing up around the bed too. "Y-you're the man, you survived everything thrown at you!"

"Please don't cry, Elfman." Lisanna smiled slightly, having entered the room after her brother and stopped beside him. "And she's a girl." Her blue eyes cast toward Frea though, "It's good to see you, Frea."

"You're looking much better." Reedus' soft voice sounded, nodding her way from beside the group of Jet, Droy, Nab, Warren and Max- all of whom were smiling away with teary eyes, smitten almost.

"Indeed, given your reputation it should come as no surprise, your strength." Lyon murmured, stopping beside Gray and Juvia with a kind smile. "I am still glad to see you're healing, however." Gray nodded in agreement.

"Should have known nothing could keep you down." Wakaba smirked, his hands in his pockets with Macao beside him, the both of them stopping near the window with nods in her direction.

"Good to see you up!" Macao grinned,

"You're amazing, Frea!" Romeo smiled, leaning against the end of the bed with a toothy grin. "You're so strong! Probably the strongest in the whole Guild! I knew you'd be ok!"

"And we're all very relieved you're pulling through." Lily's voice caught her and several other people off gaurd, as the black tom-cat lighted down on the bed beside Moon with a small smile and nod her way.

"I thought you were at home, Lily." Moon murmured, her head tilting slightly in question as he shrugged.

"I was, but I was having trouble staying asleep, and figured I would check in. And seems I was not the only one with the idea." Lily replied lightly,

"Oi! Quit pushin'!" Gajeel grumbled hotly, moving to the side a little as people continued to flood in.

"... Oh... So many people..." Wendy mumbled nervously, the little Dragon Slayer still stationed at Frea's right, sticking close to the Energy Dragon Slayer and casting nervous looks from her toward the growing crowd.

"What's up?" Iki and Uno smirked, floating at the end of the bed and above the heads of Gray, Juvia and Cana. They waved their paws in Frea's direction, purring slightly.

"Good Morning." Iki hummed,

"You're popular today huh?" Uno chuckled,

"Am I late?" A shimmer of gold gave way to the figure of Loke, appearing beside Solana as he pushed his glasses up his nose slightly, casting Frea a gentle smile and a small nod. "Hey, Frea. It's great to see you getting better, you had me worried there for awhile ya know."

"Are you feeling OK, Frea?" Bisca smiled gently, moving inside the room with Alzack and Asuka in tow beside her.

"You've certainly attracted quite the crowd." Alzack sighed, smiling none the less as Asuka inched her way in, eyes wide and transfixed as she stopped at the edge of the bed. "Gentle now, Asuka." Bisca and Alzack reminded softly,

The little girl peered upward toward Frea shyly, her hand stretching forward to lightly land on top of Frea's. "I hope you're feeling better!" She chirped quietly, her hand patting Frea's gently before pulling away, smiling brightly if a bit nervously.

"It's a relief to see you pulling through, Men~!" Ichiya's recognizable voice broke through too,

"You are truly quite the strong woman, Frea." Hibiki murmured lightly,

"It's good to know you'll be alright, Frea." Eve murmured kindly, Ren beside him nodding in agreement.

"Hey!"

"Watch it!"

"FREA!"

The crowd shifted, people stepping back to clear a path as two people pushed their way through. Frea's attention hadn't found the stumbling crowd though, her eyes found the two blobs of pink and red that were headed straight for her,

"W-wait! Don't ram into her!" Moon warned quickly, Lector and Frosch struggled to pull up at the sound of Moon's voice, bumping into one another as Lector held his arms out to stop Frosch, but they slowed to a stop at the edge of the bed, both of them with shining eyes and weak smiles.

"It's so good to see you getting better!" Lector cheered softly,

"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch mewed,

"Fre-ummmph?!" The two next voices caught off with the sound of a painful THUD.

Sting and Rogue had pushed their way through the crowd, before stumbling over their own feet or someone else's it wasn't clear- until they landed face flat on the tile not a foot from the edge of the bed. They groaned in union, quickly picking themselves up enough only to see past the lip of the bed, on their knees and arms crossing over the bedtop in breathless, panicked excitement. People around them chuckled and shook their heads in exasperation at the rushing from the two Saber Wizards.

Sting and Rogue both looked up with shining eyes and wide smiles as their gaze locked on Frea,

"We're so relieved you're getting better, Frea! We were so worried!" They said in unison, eyes bright and smiling in sheer relief.

"We're so happy you made it through!"

"Hey, we miss the fun?" Bixlow smirked, his tongue sticking out as he stopped inside the doorway with Freed and Evergreen at his shoulders. Their small group halted not far from the doorway, their voices lost to the drone and the excitement though they hardly cared. They'd come when they heard the noise, as most people had- all of them filtering in toward the room and completely forgetting what warning they had not to bunch in all at once.

"It's grown quite busy in here." Freed murmured, his arms crossed about his chest and smiling slightly as his eyes trailed over the gathered crowd.

"Didn't the Master say something about not crowding in all at once?" Evergreen smirked, hip cocking as she rest her hands on her hips lightly.

"I don't think anyone's worried about it." Bixlow chuckled,

"Nope! Nope!" His Tiki Dolls cheered brightly, spinning over the heads of the crowd with little anyone noticing.

"Indeed, its been too long since the Guild looked so content." Freed replied softly,

"Everyone's all smiles, hmm? They've all been dying to see her up... And it looks like near everyone's here." Evergreen hummed, Bixlow and Freed nodded. Evergreen pushed her glasses up her nose, her eyes trailing from Frea, over the crowd and back toward the door. "... Laxus has yet to make an appearance."

"It would seem so." Freed replied lightly,

"The Boss has made up for it though, since he's been spending more time with her than everyone else." Bixlow chuckled lowly, his grin the slightest bit cheeky,

"He's been just as concerned as the rest of us." Freed murmured, "And he's certainly been keeping a close eye on Frea the last few weeks."

"He's been a bit more than just watchful." Evergreen commented lightly, smiling slyly. "Don't think I didn't notice how he 'forgot' his coat with her." Bixlow and Freed both smiled a bit more at that.

"They've gotten quite a bit closer with one another." Freed murmured,

"Super close, specially since they used to not be able to be in the same room without trying to kill one another." Bixlow chuckled lowly,

"It is quite the change." Freed agreed,

"Hmph, I'm very partial to the idea that someone else could get more attention than I do." Evergreen murmured quietly. "... But I think I can go along with Frea earning the spotlight..."

"Hehe, that your vote of approval, Ever?" Bixlow asked slyly,

"Hmph." She didn't reply, other than smiling just faintly.

"Oh my." Mira's voice caught their attention, their eyes turning in the direction of the door they had stepped to the side of, the Take-Over Mage stopping near to them with a tray in hand, and a pitcher of water and cups sitting atop it. Her blue gaze passed over the bustling room and the rumble of voices in surprise, "... I wondered where everyone had gone to... I wasn't expecting all of them to be here, though."

"Everyone seems to have been caught up in a rush." Freed murmured, smiling slightly in Mira's direction as the barmaid cast a glance his way. "They're all so excited they've already forgotten the Master's rules and warnings." Mira smiled slightly in amusement,

"It seems that way." She hummed, her blue eyes landing away toward the Energy Dragon Slayer in the center of everyone's sudden attention. "... as long as Frea seems alright with it, I won't have the heart to shoo them off."

"She seems more surprised than anything." Freed replied easily, taking note of the lack of reply or response from Frea in the midst of it all- not that she had had time to reply, mind you. Everyone had poured in and started talking all at once, anyone would be reeling under all that attention.

Frea blinked, sweatdropping slightly at the torrent of comments and questions so suddenly- as well as the sudden increase of people in the room. She heard near everyone say something, some light, happy comment- some heartfelt exclamation, a murmur of how good it was to see her, how happy and relieved they all were that she was up and that she was starting to get better. She hadn't any time to garner a response to any of the comments, nor the questions- her attention and her gaze flitting all around the room and over every new face and new smile as they appeared all at once. She only managed to nod slightly, smile faintly every once and now before her attention caught someone else- until a small, brief pause came and it seemed everyone who was coming into the room had managed to make it in- and now all stood around that bed, pushed together, shoulder to shoulder and all bright, shinning eyes on her. All smiles.

The mood brightened of course- what Negative Energy had been hanging over the Guild like a blanket was being torn apart as everyone came together, saw her, called out their greetings and smiled her way... but it was a lot all at once and despite herself- she felt her head start spinning and for a small, brief second, the room blurred and she blinked a few more times to get rid of the haze. She felt the ache and flare all over her body sharpened just a little more as her energy continued to drain every moment spent awake and focused.

Frea nodded a little, swallowing slightly.

It was hard enough trying to block out Erza, Wendy, Carla and Moon's Energy Signatures around her, and their emotions- with how heightened her Senses had actually become, it took little to make the world and her head seem a mess of color and feelings until she couldn't pick them apart and her head felt ready to explode. It was a chore a bit worse when Natsu and Gray came in, the throbbing in her head got worse. Now with all the new people, new Energy Signatures, and a whole new wash of emotions ramming into her all at once- she felt the headache that had been lurking suddenly hit full force, and the fuzziness got worse too... as well as the tiredness. Her vision blurred again as her center seemed to flip, leaving her a little queasy.

She smiled though, her eyes glittering as she glanced around all those smiling and expectant faces, the pleasant humm of voices and gentle calls of greeting and well-wishes- and felt the exhaustion and the ever persistent pain fade just a little more. Their warmth of happiness and the cool relief flooding her senses heavily, but pleasantly all at once. And though the headache got just a little worse, the pain in her chest and her heart seemed to start melting away.

It was exactly the sort of atmosphere the Guild was most known for, and the one she loved... those bright, familiar faces and Energy Signatures settled so deep in her heart, in a tender, important little place that would stay there no matter what.

Somehow just having them around made her feel a bit better, even when maybe they shouldn't have flooded in all at once. Even when her chest tightened and she felt her breathing hitch a little more, a little bit more strained- but she couldn't care nor notice. The warmth that worked it's way into her core, into her very soul, and hit so hard, so deeply...

This time around, the smile and her happiness wasn't forced- not like she had been faking it, been setting up face.

Geez... this Guild... All of these people... Everyone of them...

And she wavered- wavered on the idea that it would have been better to never see these faces again... to never come back. Hated herself more for thinking it would have been the better option.

Her eyes flashed, her silver gaze glistening ever so faintly as she smiled a bit softer, she swallowed a little against the torrent of emotions suddenly spinning through her center and her heart. Her words hardly louder than a whisper,

"...heh... geez... I love you guys." She murmured softly, gently, and earning surprised looks, wide eyes and small blushes on near everyone around her.

Frea swallowed again, she had to try hard not to let the tears slip through, though she could feel them very near to managing it. She shook her head at herself, taking in a small, silent breath to calm herself down enough- the torrent of emotion, of happiness and guilt, and appreciation, and sadness and love- yes, love, and care- all at once, racing through every inch of her. Her heart ached badly at it, her breaths got just a little shallower with it- but it felt good too.

And maybe this... no. Not maybe, she really, really had needed this. Just them, all of them. Her Guild, her friends, every single person in that room and every single one of them Family.

"... All of you... You're making me feel so much better, just being here. Even the simplest thing... Thank you..." She murmured softly, earnestly, their eyes wide and gleaming in surprise, and looking... touched. If Frea had had the energy, and been able to manage it without it hurting- she would have hugged them all, but just having them pressed close all around was plenty enough.

It had been a long, long while since they had heard Frea say something so honest, and so heartfelt... with so much meaning, so much appreciation, and so content too- but almost painful too. And they hadn't been expecting it, least of all with her no doubt feeling like absolute hell- with her having been through absolute hell- and hardly having made it back through.

But that smile was enough to have their hearts beating faster, a warm glow settling in their core's and warming them up all the way- their hearts fluttering madly at those words many of them had never heard Frea say out loud, and those who had knew how rare an occurrence it was- but they all knew that she meant it, with every inch of her being and her soul. It didn't matter what Guild, Saber, Fairy Tail, Pegasus, Mermaid, Lamia- none of it. Not what past they had, or even how close they were- it didn't matter- because when she said those words she felt them so deeply and earnestly- and they did too.

'I love you'

"... It's good to be back." Frea murmured softly, eyes shinning and smiling brighter than she had in a long, long time.

They nodded, smiling back with gleaming eyes and lighter hearts than they had had in much too long a time. Jura smiled from where he was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed about his chest and Gildarts leaning against the wall across from him, head tilted to the floor and smiling to himself at those words from the Energy Dragon Slayer.

"Hmm, she's always been a tough one." Gildarts hummed quietly, Jura nodded slightly.

Kagura and Milliana smiled too from their spots near the door, Sherria beaming as she popped up next to Wendy and rubbed the top of the bluenette's head affectionately. Moon's paw rest lightly on Frea's knee, her blue eyes glittering as she took in that warm, glowing smile, and how her Partner's entire countenance seemed to shine so brightly and so happy- she couldn't remember the last time Frea had smiled like that, and she felt her heart flutter at it.

"Good to have you back, Frea."

"Hell yeah,"

"We should be the ones thanking you, huh?"

"Yeah, you did save our all our asses after all."

"Not that that's anything new, you've saved all of us plenty of times before."

"You keep showing us up, ya know."

Frea shook her head slightly, smiling still. "You're all more than worth saving, trust me."

People stiffened, eyes wide and a few jaws dropping. Some people blushed, biting the insides of their cheeks and their eyes dropping away from her frantically,

".. tch... what the hell did we do to deserve her...?" A few people mumbled quietly,

"Frea's so nice... and strong...!" Max and Warren stammered,

"Y-yeah..." Jet and Droy stammered, eyes streaming in tears and smiling despite it.

"Frea's always been great, even when she was just a little kid...!" Wakaba and Macao murmured quietly, "Of all the bratty little kids that walked in, she's always been so freaking great...!"

"She's so cute," Eve smiled,

"And incredibly kind." Hibiki sighed,

"Frea's such a man..!"

"Y-you're making me blush, Frea..!" Lucy mumbled quietly, her hands holding her cheeks as Levy did the same, Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel staring pointedly at the floor, rigid shoulders and blushing all three of them.

"Y-you're so kind, Frea...!" Rogue and Sting mumbled softly, smiling to themselves, tears pricking at the corners of their eyes and grinning her way. "You're the best friend!"

"Frea...! You're too awesome for us!"

"Thank you, for everything!"

"We owe you big time!"

"You're the best, Frea!"

"And don't ever forget you're worth saving just as much as everyone else!" Moon replied firmly, Frea blinking her way in slight surprise at the words.

"That's right!"

"You mean just as much to us as we do to you." Solana murmured firmly, her green eyes flashing as she nodded in Frea's direction.

"We'd do everything we can to protect you, Frea." Lucy and Levy murmured in unison, along with several others.

"Even if we couldn't do a lot this time, we won't let anything happen to you ever again." Gray murmured,

"We're gonna protect you, just as hard as you did for us." Natsu promised firmly,

"And you sure as hell better believe we won't let anything like this ever happen again, not on anything." Gajeel grumbled lowly,

"We owe you our lives, and much more." Loke murmured softly, "You've always been there, for all of us, whenever we needed you- and even if we didn't think we did."

"You risked everything to save everyone, regardless of who they were. You are selfless, and brave." Rogue told her,

"It's amazing, and we're gonna be just as strong and loyal for you as you've been for all of us." Sting smirked,

"We care about you so much, Frea!"

"And we'd protect you no matter what!"

"You are worth it!"

"Nothing would be the same if you weren't here with us."

"You mean too much to everyone, Frea."

Frea blinked, stunned slightly as the room filled with words and calls, appreciation and thanks and promises- and all so heartfelt and genuine and filled with love and care the air was absolutely dancing with it all.

"We couldn't imagine not having you!"

"We care about you so much!"

"You are definitely worth protecting! And you always will be! No matter what!"

She felt her breath catch slightly, her eyes flashing.

"And don't you ever forget it. No matter what happens, you are worth protecting, Teach."

Through all the calls and the voices she heard that- clear and firm and her eyes snapped away to lock onto the bright blue gaze of Chase. He smiled slightly, his arms crossed over his chest and standing beside Aisha as he nodded her way, she hadn't noticed them come in...

Her heart jumped painfully, sadness, fear, hope- too much.

Frea's eyes moved across every face, every small smile, every shining gaze- and the pain faded a little more, the hurt chipping away and replaced with something better. Her hands moved up toward her, linking together in her lap tightly as her eyes fell on them, she felt her face heat up slightly.

"Listen to all of them, and tell me it'd be better if you hadn't come back, Frea."

Her heart stopped at that, even in the clamor and humm of voices- she heard his voice, way too easily, and the breath caught in her throat. Damn it, he wasn't even in the room, even with everyone else talking away at once, even with her head in a slowly worsening haze- she heard him say it, and he knew she would.

Damn it... and he said.. that...?! B-bastard..?! I-is... is he trying to...?!

Her entwined hands twined together a bit more tightly, her fangs biting down on the inside of her cheek as she shut her eyes tight.

She felt guilty enough already... but she knew that wasn't why he said that, he wasn't trying to make her feel guilty. He didn't say it in that way, it was too low, too gentle a tenor for that. He just knew that she was still doubting herself, still afraid of herself and what was to come, and those words were a small, firm nudge in the direction of convincing her that being alive was better than dead.

And she really, really wanted to believe that. Wanted it so badly it was agony, she wanted that hope, that optimism that she had seemed to have lost quite a long while ago now.

And listening to them...

Moon blinked, her ears perking slightly as her eyes found what few other people did in the next instant. The light filtering through the window glittered off a few, small teardrops that splashed against Frea's hands, the Energy Dragon Slayer's head tilted down for a few moments longer, before she looked up, her silver gaze shinning as she smiled at them all, her fangs flashing as she cast them a small, slightly toothy grin. Most people in the room blinked, eyes widening at that small, faint blush that had worked it's way into Frea's cheeks.

"... this... this is better." Frea mumbled quietly, her voice hardly a whisper as she swallowed, shaking her head a bit. Moon blinked, her head tilting a little at the rather odd words- but Frea never elaborated, and she didn't have time to.

"Frea are you ok...?" The question came from too many people at once to really pinpoint individuals. Frea smiled a bite more, nodding firmly toward them.

"Yes, I'm alright." She replied, "Why wouldn't I be? I've got all of you here looking after me, yeah?" They smiled, nodding in affirmation toward her and calling out small words of promise.

"Always."

"Of course!"

"You bet!"

... Thank you... I needed this... all of you.

---

Master and Porlyusica's instructions not to have too many people in the Infirmary all at once had gone forgotten. The room below him buzzed with talking and conversation and laughter, the building growing lighter and all the more lax as everyone seemed to brighten with the sunlight coming from outside. The conversations steered away from assurances to all things non substantial and whimsical, the same small-talk and chatter that usually took hold of the Guild and brought with it the familiar humm. All topics to keep themselves busy, simple talking, laughing, content. They were having so much fun and were so at ease together in that room just spending time with her no one thought on the unwanted bulk of people all at one time, and it was such a nice change of pace he sure as hell didn't think of breaking it up.

Especially not when it seemed exactly the sort of thing Frea needed right about now- just having everyone around, enjoying them, being near them... something normal.

And it was the very thing that needed to happen, to really convince her, she needed the support of the Guild and everyone of her friends- needed to see how happy they were to have her around and alright. She needed to feel it first hand, it would have never been enough for him to simply just tell her.

"... this... this is better."

And for the first time in two weeks he was absolutely certain that the worst of Mordren and all he'd done had come and gone. And now things could pick up, get better- she could pull together and she would be fine, she just needed time.

Laxus' head turned a little as the front doors opened, the sunlight filtering in as Makarov and Porlyusica drew to a half-halt in the doorway, Master Bob and Goldmine drawing up behind them both and all of them glancing around the empty hall in surprise.

"Oh my, where has everyone gone?" Master Bob murmured,

"You can still here them." Goldmine murmured, his head tilted toward the far wall. He smirked, a little nervously. "... sounds like quite the rabble from the Infirmary."

"Brats!" Makarov snapped hotly, Porlyusica grimacing slightly as she growled under her breath. The both of Makarov and the Old Lady marched in at once, fuming slightly as they headed straight toward the back hallway and completely unaware of Laxus leaning against the railing on the floor above, sweatdropping slightly as he watched them march passed the bar and out of sight.

Goldmine and Bob followed more slowly, smiling slightly to themselves as Laxus let out a small huff.

Master and Porlyusica came to a halt in the doorway, the Old Man's mouth falling open the minute the room came into sight and ready to snap a few choice things before promptly throwing all of them out- the whole damn Guild had crowded into that room and he felt irritation flare brightly- because he had specifically said not to have more than a few people in there at once. Frea's health was in such a delicate state she couldn't possibly entertain nor focus on that many people and he didn't want anything to put more strain on her than they could avoid.

But they faltered for a minute, the rumble of the noise coming through clearly now- and it was filled with bright voices and laughter- the humm of happy people and mirth all around that neither he nor Porlyusica had seen in the Guild in a very long time. There wasn't a single person in that room who didn't look content, nor was there a single person without a smile on their face. Their eyes trailed over everyone slowly, sweatdropping a little and stunned.

Master's eyes flicked over their heads and landed on Frea, his eyes widening slightly as his heart jumping a little in his chest- to that soft, gentle smile and the way her eyes shone as she talked away with everyone around her, the faint blush dusting her cheeks and the way she seemed to glow. She nodded and laughed lightly at everyone, returning their words with her own and nodding toward those she didn't get a chance to reply to before someone else piped in- she looked so relaxed, so happy, happy enough that it was like the wounds and the bruises and the bandages faded from everyone's minds and it was just her- like she always was.

He looked up to meet her gaze as she looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes were shining with happiness that warmed his heart.

In that moment, he had not doubt that he would enjoy having her here in the Guild, for all the time she wished to be here. No matter what her presence brought to the table in the future, it was all wort it to see that happiness right now.

Frea gave him a bright, slightly toothy grin, "Thank you, for giving me a chance, Master."

Master paused, his eyes falling slightly as the memory flared to the surface again, before being replaced with the smile she wore now as she shot a comment in Loke's direction.

He hadn't seen her this happy in much longer than he realized, and his heart clenched at the idea. She'd hadn't been genuinely happy and relaxed for a very long while now, not with everything that had been happening and having the threat of Mordren hanging over her head for so long. Frea dealt with it, patiently, and much better than most people would under that pressure... but he realized maybe now she had lost a bit of her bright, happy self in the process.

But that part of her was shining through now, and it was because of all the people around her, cheering her up- laughing with her, talking.

Regardless of him telling them not to... For a minute even Master faltered on enforcing his own orders. If Frea looked like that with everyone around, it was almost too good to break up.

Porlyusica beat him to it, though.

"What are you fools doing?!" The Old Lady snapped, her hands on her hips and a vein ticking on her forehead. The rabble and the noise of the room cut off in a second, eyes turning toward the pinkette in surprise and with sheepish smiles.

"Busted...!"

"H-hey Granny..."

"Hehe.. what's up?"

"We're screwed."

"Out! NOW!" Porlusica snapped hotly, her hands balling into fists as she started shooing people off and pushing them toward the door, red eyes gleaming in agitation as everyone else laughed and smiled- albeit nervously- jumping this way and that to avoid the broom the Old Woman had started swinging around. "What idiotic- who the hell let you all in here at once?! Out! This Instant! Foolish humans!"

"Hotheaded as ever about her patients, hmm?" Master Bob chuckled under his breath, Goldmine laughed. But they soon got lost in the quake of people scrambling toward the door,

"Looks like the party's over!"

"We'll see ya soon, yeah Frea?"

"Take it easy!"

"We'll be back later, promise!"

"We're going, we're going, hehe~!"

Frea laughed quietly under her breath, nodding and waving toward them as people jumped out and toward the door in droves, with an extremely agitated Porlyusica on their heels- a few people winced as the broom came down on their heads before they could get away. Wendy and Sherria shrunk away on the opposite end of the bed by the window, looking uneasy at the sight of the Old Lady, Carla and Moon on the nightstand beside them with small smiles of amusement.

Erza shot her a small smile and a nod before the redhead was shooed out after the rest too, passing Mira by at the door as the white-haired Mage remained stuck to the spot with the tray in hand, looking just as amused as Frea was with the turn in events. Master beside her let out a small sigh and shook his head, his eyes falling closed as he crossed his arms about his chest, mumbling "Brats.." under his breath.

Porlyusica shut the door to the infirmary with a slam, red eyes narrowed and flinty as she muttered under her breath a few choice things, among them being; "Damn annoying, foolish humans!"

Frea leaned back a little more, her eyes falling halfway as the noise and the buzz persisted into the main hall, the Guild bustling with energy and mirth that probably hadn't been seen in a very long while, there was hardly a shred of Negative Energy left... a relief, of course- but there was so much Energy and Emotion on the air still her head was starting to throb. It was honestly just too much stimulation at once, and she already felt herself getting tired.

... but that... that made it worth it.

"Did I not tell you to keep people from crowding in all at once?" Porlyusica growled, rounding on Wendy, Sherria, Carla and Moon alike. The four smiled nervously, sweatdropping slightly with small nods.

"Sorry Granny, everyone just got so caught up in talking.." Wendy murmured,

"We just sort of forgot.. since we were having so much fun." Carla finished, earning small nods of agreement from Moon, Wendy and Sherria. Porlyusica grimaced at that, looking no more thrilled with the explanation.

"It cannot happen again! I didn't instruct that only a few people come in at a time for nothing!" She growled,

"Yes, Granny... it won't happen again. Promise!"

Frea bit the inside of her lip, contemplating for a moment if she should mention that she hadn't minded everyone all at once- but the Old Lady was so worked up she'd likely just get snapped at too. So she stayed quiet, swallowing slightly at the way she felt her own breathing hitching more and more from all the talking and the laughing. She could practically feel that sticky scarlet sitting in her lungs, making it harder to breath, less room for anything but shallow gasps... It was a miracle she hadn't ended up in a coughing fit yet, but she could feel it creeping up now.

Her eyes trailed left as Mira drew closer, setting the tray and the water pitcher down on the nightstand with a gentle smile Frea's way.

"... good morning, Frea." Mira murmured,

"Morning." Frea replied softly, swallowing when her voice cracked slightly. Mira frowned slightly at the sound, but Frea didn't notice, her eyes dropped closed as she pressed her hand lightly against her chest, trying to steady her breathing a little bit more but it was still as shallow and ragged as ever.

Wendy and Sherria stiffened a little, their heightened hearing easily catching on to how rough Frea's breathing was getting. Wendy took a step forward, her eyes glittering as her hand moved to pick up one of the spare clothes on the nightstand without a word.

Frea's shoulders stiffened slightly, hating how her body reacted when her breathing hitched again- badly, and she ended up coughing where she really, really didn't want to. She was only faintly aware of Wendy moving closer to hand a towel over, most of her world got caught up in bright, fiery pain that ran through every inch of her person as the coughing jostled and shook her broken body. She tasted the metallic tang of her own blood on her tongue in no time, and could smell it as she took the towel from Wendy and pressed her nose into it, coughing into it and sure there was scarlet there in seconds.

She winced after a few minutes, her breathing shaky and snagging but the coughing drew to a close. Her hand fell with the towel in it, her eyes closed and swallowing hard against the pain and the taste of blood, trying hard to lessen how struggled her own breaths sounded on her ears.

Porlyusica had moved forward to stop beside the bed, her eyes narrowed and attention fixed on the Energy Dragon Slayer steadily- who had hunched over now and was gasping more than anyone liked. Their eyes found the smears of red on the towel in Frea's hand uneasily, before those glittering eyes fixed on the Dragon Slayer and the clear pain etched into her face.

Porlyusica's hand fell gingerly on Frea's back, her eyes narrowed and head tilting down slightly as she felt Frea's body trembling and heard how uneven and rattling her lungs were, and the sound of fluid that had hardly lessened the last few days. She sighed slightly, sweatdropping a little as Wendy bit the inside of her cheek at the look that passed over the Old Lady's face.

"... Damn it... Knew... That was coming..." Frea grumbled quietly. Her voice was harsher than she liked, but she couldn't help it. She cracked an eye open to glance sideways toward Porlyusica, who frowned slightly again the words.

"Are you alright?" Master asked softly, his face full of worry as he stopped beside the bed a bit behind Porlyusica. Frea nodded slightly,

"...yeah... I'm good." she mumbled, "... Try not to look so worried, Gramps... I'm pretty tough, ya know..." He smiled slightly, though the concern didn't go away.

"I know." He murmured quietly, "But I will continue worrying, none the less, brat." Frea smiled weakly at that,

Her eyes trailed from the Old Man toward everyone else, and that soft warm glow in her heart got a little brighter.

... I've always hated it when Laxus' right... but... I don't hate it this time... not so much.

"... I kinda figured..."

---

Enjoy your lighthearted chapter! Finally something cheery after all the angst, haha~

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