Chapter 16

Aleuruen

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

.:+:.

"Hmm? Moon?"

Moon jumped, shivers running up her spine and heart racing at the sudden voice behind her just as she closed the door to their room in Fairy Hills, her hands holding a bag filled with clothes and supplies. She nearly dropped all of what she was holding, her body snapping around to see Erza, Mira, Wendy and Carla not a few feet down from the door.

Carla floated forward, her eyes narrowing as Moon bristled. "Where are you headed so early?" She asked, Moon sweatdropped.

"Oh, hey. I was just getting a few things for Frea.." Moon replied, Carla quirked a brow.

"... Aren't you headed in the wrong direction then?" Carla asked evenly, Moon shook her head.

"... No, Frea's not here, actually." Moon replied,

"Did she already head to the Guild Hall?" Erza asked in surprise,

"It seems a bit early, I can imagine how tired she was after coming home yesterday." Mira murmured, Moon smiled a little nervously.

"... She's not at the Guild either." Moon replied, all four girls blinked in question. "Ah... truth be told, when I went to pick Frea up from the Train Station last night, Laxus went with me. Frea seemed fine when she got off the train, if a little tired. We made it to the road that leads through the forest just fine- but she ended up passing out before we even got halfway here..." They all stiffened, their eyes widening and sweatdropping heavily at the words.

"... I think being out all day was too much on her at once, and her health kind of took a turn for the worse." Moon mumbled, her ears folding slightly. "... since we were so far away from here, Laxus just took her back to his place so she could rest up."

"Oh no, is she ok?!" Wendy asked instantly, Moon nodded slightly.

"She seemed fine this morning, when she asked me to grab a few things for her." Moon replied, "I was a little worried with how badly she reacted last night, but I do think she just needed some rest." Wendy's eyes glittered uncertainly, "The excitement was just a little much, but she seemed to have gotten over it."

"But what happened? What do you mean she reacted badly?" Wendy pressed, Moon sweatdropped.

"...uh... well... her temperature dropped pretty low out of nowhere, and she was shaking pretty bad." Moon mumbled, "... she was also pretty out of it, and it kind seemed like her pain got pretty bad for a while..."

"B-but that sounds awful!" Wendy stammered, "T-that sounds really bad! It sounds like she pushed herself too far and she started to get sick, or go into shock, o-or maybe she reopened some wounds, or her heart wasn't holding up, oh n-no..!"

Moon waved her hands in front of her, shaking her head quickly as she saw Wendy starting to go down a rabbit-hole of awful scenarios in her head. "W-wait! You don't need to freak out so much, I promise! She got pretty bad pretty fast, but she really was fine after we got her into bed and got to calm down, and warm up again...!"

"B-but are you sure..?! I was worried something bad might happen if she spent all day in Era, but you said she didn't even make it halfway here..!?" Wendy kept on, Moon let out a silent sigh. "W-what if she got worse after you left?! What if she pushes herself too hard again?!"

"... uh, Wendy... I really don't think Laxus would let her..." Moon mumbled, she seemed to go unheard.

"How did you get her to calm down last night..?! Did you give her medicine or did you just let her sleep...?! Do you know if she opened up any of her wounds too...?! You said she was in pain right, was it just from the shock or was it because she got injured again..?!" Wendy leaned in again, her hands clapping in front of her and looking frantic still. "How long did it take for her temperature to rise again...?! How did you bring it back up...?! And are you sure she didn't have a fever or anything when she woke up this morning..?!"

"Wendy, perhaps you should calm down, child." Carla sighed,

"... We just let her sleep, and uh... as far as I could tell she hadn't gotten injured again. I doubt she did since Master didn't say anything about it last night..." Moon mumbled, her eyes narrowing as she did her best to keep track of all the questions that got asked in such rapid succession, tapping a paw to her chin. "... I think her exhaustion made her wounds throb pretty bad, and since she had been up and about all day that probably had something to do with it... hmmm... and she wasn't really warming up at all until Laxus got into the bed with her, and then after that I dozed off... but I'm pretty sure that it only took about ten minutes or so. And I did feel her forehead this morning before I left and she felt fine to me, though, the only complaint she had was that she was tired and she had a headache still from yesterday... but all in al, I really don't think you need to freak out so much Wendy, it was a little scary at the time but she pulled through pretty well from what I could tell..." Moon's eyes trailed up from the floor as she smiled, her eyes finding the other girls- and then her jaw dropped.

All four of them were standing in rigid succession, their eyes whited out and faces bright red and steaming. Moon blinked several times, her eyes darting between all of them and completely caught off guard,

"W-woah, wait what happened? Why are you all staring at me like that..?!" Moon stammered,

"Y... you... uh..." Carla stammered,

"... I.. I'm sorry... I don't think I heard you right..." Erza trembled,

"... I think maybe I heard you wrong too..." Mira chuckled nervously,

"... M..moon... did you... you said Laxus-san... got into bed... with Frea...?" Wendy asked quietly, her voice nearly so hushed it was gone all the way. Moon paused, Wendy turning even redder as Erza did too. "... as in... they... slept... together...?" Wendy's voice broke off in a slightly shaky squeak, Moon deflated.

"... oh... I said that out loud..." Moon breathed, "... I... didn't mean to..."

"O-Oh my..." Mira smiled nervously, Erza and Wendy both looked ready to pass out.

"H-how... inappropriate...!" Carla hissed,

"W-wait! It's not like that, he was just trying to help warm her up!" Moon stammered,

"That's exactly the sort of excuse I'd expect from Laxus." Erza growled quickly,

"He does have a reputation with women." Mira sighed, smiling a little. "... He's always been something of a ladies' man..."

"Y-you think it was him trying to take advantage of her..?!" Carla snapped,

"W-what...?!" Moon stammered, "Wait, why is that where your minds went...?!"

"Tch... if Laxus has a mind to take advantage of Frea while she's weak...!" Erza hissed, Moon shook her head, her paws waving in front of her in slight panic.

"Wait! I really don't think that sort of thing was anywhere on his mind, at all..!" Moon snapped,

"There's only one way to find out!" Erza snapped, her eyes glinting as she whipped around- blushing still but suddenly on the warpath.

"E-Erza...!" Moon called quickly, "M-Mira..! Please, you know this is ridiculous, right-?!" Moon recoiled, her eyes whiting out at the dark expression on Mira's face out of nowhere.

"Oh I hope he hasn't tried anything, he'll not like what I have to say about it... " Mira grumbled, smiling sickly sweet as Moon's jaw dropped.

"... huh...?!"

"Let's go, quickly!" Erza called, already marching down the stairs as Mira followed her quickly, Wendy and Carla behind them though looking more flustered than miffed.

"Wait!" Moon called, following after them quickly. "Calm down! I really don't think he's gonna do anything like that at all! He totally seemed like he was just trying to help!" She huffed, "You don't even know where you're going!"

"Of course I do!" Erza replied curtly, Moon jumped.

Why does Erza know where Laxus lives..?!

"I will do nothing unless I have evidence of bad behavior- but believe me, I will certainly do something if I find he's fallen into misbehavior in any way." Erza growled, Moon sweatdropped heavily,

"... ugh... this is not how I planned the morning to go..." Moon sighed, "... I really shouldn't have mentioned that whole sleeping in the same bed thing..."

... he's gonna kill me... he told me not to say anything... but I forgot... And now Mira and Erza have mind to kill him...

"... crap..."

Frea grumbled under her breath, her eyes narrowed and fixed down on her hands as she worked to button up some of the buttons on the shirt that was way too big, it hung loosely around her shoulders and nearly all the way passed her shorts too.

Not a surprise, maybe... Considering it wasn't her shirt, but his... Still.

She tilted her head a little, her attention casting toward the the bend in the bathroom- her head throbbed a little less now, with the warmth of the shower- enough she could make out his Energy Signature still sitting there a few dozen feet away. That and she could hear the low rumble of music from his Magic Headphones too,

She grimaced slightly, her fingers pausing.

She'd gotten rid of the bandages before getting in the shower, and she'd managed to reopen a few small places along the stitching in her stomach and her leg- enough they'd started to bleed a little. The other various ones covering her arms and shoulders hadn't opened anew, thankfully- but they were still raw enough she'd need them bandaged again.

The shower did away with the blood, but she knew if she didn't watch it she might earn more- her stomach and leg throbbed pretty badly, along with one wound in particular that dug into the back of her shoulder- it hurt every time she moved her arms (which hurt in themselves, already). She figured the way she'd swung her arms forward when reacting to Serena's attack was the reason it was bothering her so much now- and the water from the shower had irritated it more.

She sighed lowly, moving was hard, and painful... Hit like a train right...?

She shivered, grumbling under her breath when the water dripping from her hair trailed down her back, the moisture leaving the purple shirt darker all down the back and the front as she pulled the long strands over her shoulder, her fingers running through the wavy strands to try and get rid of the tangles.

....mmmm... Even my hair almost reaches passed my shorts... This is ridiculous, I really need to ask Lucy and Cancer to cut it...

She picked her bag up again after putting her dirty clothes away on it, grimacing slightly as she headed back toward the room again- biting down on her tongue and hating how little she could keep herself from limping.

She stepped around the corner and paused at the edge of the bathroom, her eyes narrowed at Laxus as his head tilted back over the armrest of the chair toward her to look at her upside down and not bothering to move, still in the seat he'd been in before and the Energy Magic Book on the floor beside him. She bit the inside of her cheek, he blinked.

That thing... It's way bigger on her than I thought it would be.

His eyes narrowed slightly,

... Or maybe she's just thinner than I realized... A month recovering and hardly eating would do that to someone...

His eyes trailed from the shirt toward her leg, sweatdropping slightly at the large gash there, he'd not seen it before without the bandages... That was gonna probably leave a scar.

She was also tilted slightly, keeping her weight off of it as she glanced toward the door.

"... Is Moon back yet..?" She asked lowly,

"No." He murmured, she growled under her breath.

"... Damn it..."

"...You that worried about a shirt?" He grumbled,

"... No, it's not that..." Frea grumbled, looking a little nervous as she took a step to the side as she tilted that way a little more than she liked, she winced a little. "... I was gonna ask for her help with replacing the bandages..." She grumbled, her eyes falling down toward her leg as she let her hand rest against the entryway slightly. "... I can wait though."

"Sit down."

Frea jumped slightly at the sudden low, firm order out of nowhere. She looked up, seeing Laxus had already gotten up from his seat and settled with a stare, he held out a hand toward her.

"You can't tell me your leg ain't hurting you." He grumbled, "Sit down before you fall down," she paused as he gave her a pointed look. "I will pick you up and make you sit down if you plan on arguing." She frowned slightly at the threat,

"Tch... Fine, stubborn ass." She grumbled, taking his hand lightly as he moved with her the small distance between the bathroom and the bed, her movement less steps than limps. She settled down to sit on the bed with a small huff, sweatdropping slightly as she held her breath against the throbbing in her leg and stomach alike.

Owww...

He gave her a small look, before he turned away and moved toward the bathroom. He heard her let out a low, slow breath behind him as he bent down to open one of the cupboards.

Her hands fell gingerly on her thigh, careful not to let her fingers graze to close as her eyes followed to where Laxus had gone off to in slight interest and wonder.

What is he...?

She blinked in surprise when he got to his feet again, in his hands he held several rolls of bandages, gauze and tape. She felt her heart skip a beat as her eyes widened slightly,

"... what are you... doing...?" She asked quickly,

"No use waiting on your cat." He replied flatly, she grimaced slightly, her heart picking up a little despite herself.

"W-wait, who the hell asked you..?!" She stammered, he shook his head with a small stare.

"I didn't say you had a choice." He replied shortly, stopping in front of her as she leaned away a little, stubbornness flaring out of nowhere in the same instant that... nervousness hit her.

"Seriously..?! Why don't I get a say..?!"

"Because I said so, woman." He grumbled lowly, if there was ever a tone of voice that left no room for argument- that was it. She grumbled slightly, giving him a half-hearted glare as she fell silent, he quirked a brow, smirking slightly. He set the supplies down on the bed next to her and settled onto his knee, shaking his head slightly as he chuckled.

"You gave up too easy." He hummed, his hands moving toward her leg with a roll of bandages, Frea leaned back a little, biting down on her cheek as his eyes traced along the wound, forcing her to let her leg slide out a little farther toward him. She let out a small breath, stiffening a little under his touch as his finger brushed lightly against her thigh around the wound- him feeling the heat coming up off around it and seeing it was still swollen, and probably pretty painful. It went straight through, from the top to the back of her leg and had probably shattered the bone- though that had to have been the first thing healed, now it was just the muscle and the skin that wasn't quite healed up yet.

Definitely gonna leave a scar...

"... tch... shut up..." Frea grumbled, he glanced up briefly, seeing she'd averted her eyes from him entirely, leaning back on her hands and looking embarrassed as all hell. He blinked,

"... You did though," He hummed, "... that part of your 'trying harder'?" She sweatdropped, her eyes dropping closed as she frowned,

"... shut up before you make me regret it, Lightning-for-Brains." Frea grumbled lowly, he blinked several times when he noticed she blushed, just slightly.

He chuckled under his breath, just once, his eyes falling back down as he started to wind the bandages around the wound slowly, swallowing slightly when he felt Frea tense up once or twice in discomfort. He let her go slowly once he was done, his attention scanning the other leg for any other injuries and finding none- he shifted, moving to her side a little, his eyes moving up toward her torso and pausing.

"You're gonna have to lift the shirt," He told her flatly, she growled, looking less than pleased. She grumbled something lowly under her breath, her eyes flashing as she shifted to sit on the very edge of the bed, her hands moving from propping her up as she unbuttoned a few of the ones on the bottom- wincing at the soreness in her arms as she slowly lift the shirt and left her stomach bare. She let out a low breath, feeling her face flush slightly as she watched him carefully- he halted, his eyes falling on to her stomach and she felt the shock and concern spark off him in the next instant.

He'd never seen it, he hardly saw her ever without her already being bandaged up- so he halted without meaning to, his eyes landing on the stitches pulling across the skin, holding together what massive, gaping hole it had once been that had torn straight though her like she was paper. Her skin all bruised and flecks of small tears still tracing the outside of the stitches themselves, the edges already darker and already turning into a scar that would last her the rest of her life- his head tilted slightly to the side, catching the same sight on her lower back where the shot had come through- two more scars that were already painting themselves across her body, where two would be as well on her leg.

That ache in his chest came back, after so many weeks of having dulled down- and he swallowed at the sensation of it, letting out a low, slow breath when it was coupled with anger and hatred toward the person to have inflicted them in the first place.

His eyes fell closed as his hands moved to take hold of another roll of bandages, shifting again from her side to settle himself in front of her, slightly between her knees. He set to work again, saying absolutely nothing as he wound the white lengths around her torso as gently as he could possibly manage to do so- aware her arms were shaking the longer she focused on holding the shirt up and out of his way. He could imagine breathing was unpleasant too, though her breaths weren't shaky enough to worry him all the way.

He tied them off, finishing as his hands moved up to grab hold of both her arms, a motion that let her know she could keep from holding them up anymore- she let the shirt fall back down again.

Frea blinked, staring slightly as his hands moved again, landing lightly on her hips as his eyes remained fixed on her stomach, tense all of a sudden and taking her by surprise at the sudden turn in mood.

What... why can't I figure out what he's feeling right now...? It's like his emotions are just... too jumbled, out of nowhere.

His eyes fell closed with a soft sigh, it wasn't... it wasn't fair, in the slightest. None of it was, what had happened was bullshit. Every second of it had been, being trapped, forced to watch her fight for her life, risk her life for everyone... lose it.

The Guild remembered it, that moment when those shots went through her, when she fell- when Mordren declared she'd died. That instant when the tides turned and it looked like they were all done for-

She got up, and everyone immediately thought he was wrong. He hadn't killed her, it had only looked that way... he knew better now. Rified had made that clear, she'd died that day and she'd given up her Chance to come back and to win.

But she still died

And she almost died again, had died again... however crazy it was, time had wound back on that single instant and he'd gone in after her, pulled her up from that crushing black ocean- but the pain of that reality still wasn't going away.

Twice killed, and all by the same person.

Three times gone, when the whole of the Guild and he'd thought she was done after going head to head with Kasumi.

Almost four times... up on that mountain when she'd collapsed, dying for months without saying a damn thing.

And then countless other times she'd gotten so hurt it was a thought that struck all their minds- this time, this time these wounds are gonna be it- she's not gonna come back from this... she always somehow had.

But none of that was fair. None of it at all- not on that person who'd suffered so much even before Fairy Tail, the person who was terrified and sobbing in his arms that other people had died for her- that person who had finally been pushed to the edge and decided she wanted nothing more than to be dead. Scared to death she was going to become the monster that had killed her- who'd torn her to shreds and left so many marks, who's actions now were the leading cause to why she might not be able to control her own Magic.

Why her? Out of all people... why did so much happen to her?

His hands pulled away as he shook his head, his eyes opening again as he backed up, taking her left arm in his hand and sitting beside her as he moved to wrap bandages around the wounds still scoring up the upper portion of that arm around her elbow. Frea watched him in sheer silence, eyes narrowed and glittering- because where had his head gone to just then? Why couldn't she tell...?

He held out a hand for her other one, saying nothing still as she handed it over and he tied a few around her wrist.

He paused again, letting her hand go as he sighed. Frea's head tilted slightly, her eyes narrowing at him- their shoulders brushing up against one another they were sitting so close.

"... are... you ok...?" She asked after a minute, really- what was this mood all of a sudden? It was... somber, almost.

"I'm fine." He replied lowly, climbing to his feet and stepping in front of her again. "Is there anywhere else?" He asked, she blinked.

"... seriously...?" Frea mumbled, "... You got all moody all of a sudden, you can't say you're 'fine'.."

He stopped himself from replying back that that was exactly the sort of thing she did all the time. He just blinked, his expression softening just a little as he held her silver eyes for a few seconds.

She could tell something was off, but she couldn't tell what.

"... It's nothing... Just..." He sighed, his eyes falling closed as he shook his head a little.

He leaned down slightly, his hands coming up to hold onto either side of her face, pressing against her jaw as he let his head tilt forward, their foreheads bumping against one another as Frea's face flushed, eyes wide and glittering at the sudden, completely out of the blue gesture.

W-what the...?!

"... I'm sorry." He sighed, Frea blinked several times at the apology. "... I said it back at the Harvest Festival, but it was a half-assed apology."

The... Harvest Festival...?

Her eyes went a little wider,

... The one he got Excommunicated at...?!

"... It was shitty of me, to bandwagon on Ivan calling you all those names... Shittier still how I treated you, regardless of everything you did to prove you were nothing like the monster Ivan or the Council wanted to believe you were." Laxus sighed, his voice low and his breath hitting her face. "... It wasn't right. You didn't deserve that, and I always knew it... More so, considering all the shit you've done for me."

Frea blinked, completely still ans staring as he stayed where he was, not pulling away again just yet-

"... I never said thank you, for convincing Gildarts to let me in the Guild again. Or for what you did with Ivan... what you said to him."

"How dare you say such things?! How dare you try to hurt him, kill him?!" Frea shouted, Ivan stood motionless- now suddenly looking frightened after his Dolls were destroyed without a single move from her- and the feel of raw power ramming into him continued to rise, to grow stronger. "Everything you said- you are dead fucking wrong! Laxus is not worthless, he's not useless, he's not a waste of space, he isn't weak- he's one of the strongest people I have ever met, and hell- he's been through so much with you alone, its a wonder why he ever put up with your shit! Or why he was loyal to you for so long!" Her voice rose coldly, cutting at the air as her Magic started to show itself again- and the glittering pieces of Magic falling through the air between her and Ivan began to swirl into small streams around her.

"He was loyal to you because Family means something to him- where it clearly means nothing to you! He loved you, and he trusted you- and you don't even deserve a damn thing from him! Laxus is a better person that you ever were, his life means more than yours ever will, he is stronger than you- better than you! Its a shame so much of his time and life was wasted on you- when he was just being your son! His time wasn't worth being wasted on you!"

Had Frea really seen it that way? The reason he had remained so loyal to Ivan when he was younger?

Did she really... Think he was better..?

After everything I ever did to her...?

"And now you're wasting my time. I want that Lacrima back, Ivan- and I'm getting it even if I have to beat you to a bloody pulp. Attacking my Family is the worst mistake you've ever made."

Her eyes burned with such fire and rage, she was angry enough to end him. Kill him...

He never realized... that Frea felt this way... She thought this way about him, she believed this...

He never knew... Her emotion could be that strong... about... Me...

"Laxus deserved a better Father than you."

.:+:.

Frea blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly. How the hell could he know what she said? She hadn't retold any of it at all...

"...or for saving our asses... With Mordren." He murmured quietly, "... I said all that crap, about you not fighting on your own... Even if I didn't know what that bastard planned, you shouldn't have had to do it all by yourself."

"Whatever the hell is going through your head about all this- whether it is that's making you doubt how things are gonna end with all of this- forget about it." He said firmly, catching her completely off guard. "You may not be able to stop what's happening, but you sure as hell can quit being so damn negative about it. You've always had this thing for leaving the Guild out because you don't wanna risk anybody else- and you're doing it now, you're not willing to accept the fact that's everybody here is going to stand next to you and face this head on with you. You're gonna have to learn that you can't keep everyone from getting hurt all the time, and you sure as hell can't shoulder everything your damn self- that will get you killed- and nobody in the Guild is going to the let you go off alone." He gave her a firm look and she simply looked back,

"We will figure out how to kick this Things ass, you're just not willing to really look at every option- because you don't want the options that put somebody other than yourself in the line of fire. You're out of luck in that- so deal with it."

Frea sweatdropped slightly, blinking once. He was so serious about all he was saying... It was odd to see him so hard set on anything of this nature, and it caught her off guard.

"You can't be the only one who gets put in the line of fire- and you won't be. You just need to get that through your thick damn head, and start looking for ways to beat this Thing with the Guild at your side- that's the only way we're gonna win."

"... It wasn't right, you facing him all on your own at the end... While we just... sat back and watched..." His voice dropped slightly, she felt him tense up a little and her eyes softened.

...This again...

"You shouldn't have been forced into doing that on your own... We should have helped... should have done something." His hands held a little tighter under her jaw, just slightly.

... Everyone... They all hate... That...

Her eyes fell slightly, swallowing a little.

... They hate themselves... And he's...

"...Its been one thing after another and you haven't caught a break for so long... I'm just... I'm sorry. Sorry you had to be the one to face all of it, to be put through it... You don't deserve any of it." Laxus told her softly, his voice almost husky in a way and she felt her heart clench a little.

... Apologizing... For things he has no control over...

Was she supposed to tell him that? Tell him he couldn't have done anything? Tell him she knew all along shed be alone in the end?

She really doubted telling him any of that would make him feel better... She doubted anything she did or said ever would. Him or anyone else. It didn't make it hurt any less, though... Not for them, and... Not for me...

... You don't have to apologize...

"... That was it." He mumbled, pulling back after just a single second more, his hands falling from her face. "... 'Moody' or whatever you called it... That's all I had to say."

His eyes opened to settle his aqua-blue gaze on her steadily,

"Now," he said, his voice evening out again and tenseness fading once more. "Forget I even asked that, I smelled blood earlier. I know there's another one on your shoulder." He said firmly, she blinked at the sudden change in direction- before grimacing slightly. He shifted to the side again, moving toward her right shoulder and nose twitching- she knew precisely what he was talking about, but-

"... You don't need to-" She started, he shook his head, easily pulling her hair away and over toward the other side of her neck and settling to sit on his knees on the bed behind her.

"Don't argue, just sit there and let me finish. The less you fight, the quicker we can be done with this." He replied flatly, Frea bit the inside of her cheek, casting him a sideways glance and blushing slightly despite herself. She let out an aggravated growl, before shaking her head.

"... felle... you stubborn... grahh... fine..!" She snapped hotly, he blinked at the first word, but she ignored the questioning look he settled on her, her hands moving up to undo the buttons on the shirt at the top, her eyes keeping from meeting him at all as she blushed a little more. He watched her for a few seconds, before looking away and grabbing some more supplies, as she pulled the shirt down passed her shoulder and slipped her right arm from the sleeve with a hiss of pain- her other hand holding the shirt up to keep her chest as covered as she could, though most of her shoulders and her chest were left bare now so he could get a good enough look.

"...hurry the hell up..." She grumbled, blushing still as he smirked just slightly at her annoyance.

You really are giving up too easy...

His smirk faded as he leaned down a little, his eyes trailing along the scar between her shoulder blades- to which he knew had a pair with it, he saw that one as the shirt fell lower- a scar that stretched across the left side of her chest and all the way through her back where the external injuries had been healed, though he doubted the internal ones were done away with yet. He let his gaze move from there, to the spiral scar on her shoulder-blade itself- Kasumi's work, and right above dug into her shoulder itself- looked like where one of Mordren's bullets had gone in, shredding as it went- but never back out again. It was clearly painful, and raw- that was where he'd smelled blood earlier when he'd been about to-

He blushed himself and growled inwardly at the thought.

"... this one looks pretty deep." He commented lowly, Frea blinked, her eyes fixed on her lap and not him.

"... Granny and Wendy have been focused on other things." Frea grumbled, "... it wasn't a... priority... compared to everything else..." She blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sweatdropped. "... it's not that bad... And it's not like I haven't dealt with worse..." He blinked, sweatdropping slightly himself as he picked up some gauze, dabbing lightly around the wound to wipe away what little blood had welled up since the shower.

She hissed under her breath, flinching back from him a little but catching herself at the last second- he let up a little, going slower as she did her best to keep still and quiet.

Dealt with worse where she shouldn't have ever had to. But he didn't want to go down that train of thought again, and he figured she'd like something of a distraction.

"... Felle?" He murmured, earning a blink of surprise from Frea. "... Sounds like the Dragon Language... Same thing for what you said earlier about that book... Tilme, right?"

"... And...?"

"You've never said all that much about it- or used it hardly, but suddenly you're using it in normal conversations without really thinking about it, from what I can tell." He pointed out, "...What's with the sudden change?"

"... It's... Complicated." She sighed, "... I just... Started remembering more of it... I guess I'm trying to get used it it again..."

Again?

"... So what does 'felle' mean?"

"... It's kinda like swearing... 'Damn it' would probably be closest." Frea hummed, he brought up the bandages and started working to weave them around her arm and shoulder.

"And the other one?"

"... Can't you guess?" Frea hummed, he paused.

"... I don't know any of the Dragon Language, so why the hell would I guess? I wasn't taught by a dragon, remember?" He replied, she shook her head a little.

"... That bit doesn't matter. You're still a Dragon Slayer." Frea replied softly, "... Having an actual Dragon as a teacher or not, you should probably have some sort of basic knowledge... Like instinct." He blinked,

Instinct...?

"There's the life force of a Dragon tucked away inside that Lacrima... There's gotta be something buried in the back of your head because of it, even if you don't really realize it." Frea mused,

Laxus stiffened, her head turning slightly to glance over her shoulder at him.

"... Come on. One word you just know on instinct without even really thinking about it?" She asked quietly, her eyes flashing slightly as he huffed, glancing away.

"Why?"

"I'm proving a point, just think." She replied easily, he grumbled and let his eyes fall closed.

He could simply recant something he had heard her say and be done with it, but somehow... Those seldom few things he'd heard her say were not the first things to pop into his head.

Something else did, out of nowhere, foreign, and something he was sure he'd never heard her or anyone else say before then. But it was there, flaring up right in the forefront of his mind,

He hesitated for a split second, sweatdropping slightly and ever so aware how patiently she was waiting for an answer. Almost like she... Knew.

Mystery as always...

"... Aleuruen." He grumbled slowly, the word felt odd on his tongue and yet so familiar all at once. She blinked, holding his eyes for a few seconds more, before she smirked, looking ahead again. She laughed, ever so lightly and just once- but it was enough he jumped at it slightly, his hands stalling entirely as her eyes closed and she sat there looking... amused.

"... hmm... of course that's the one thing you'd know." She hummed lightly, he quirked a brow at her. She chuckled again, only to break off in a wince.

"...heh... Aleuruen Dragair Slajur..." She mumbled softly, the words sending a shiver down his spine all of a sudden. "... Kinda a nice ring to it, huh..?"

Lightning...? That's what... That means...? And what she just called me...

Lightning Dragon Slayer

"Hehe... Well, point proven I suppose." She smirked, "... Is there anything else floating around in that head of yours? I might actually know what it means... Might being the keyword there, I'm not an expert just yet... But I am trying." Laxus shook his head slightly,

"I'm not playing," He grumbled,

"Aww, no fun." Frea shot back in amusement. "You're just miffed I was right."

"Tch... You didn't tell me what that other word means." He grumbled,

"Book." Frea replied, "You could have probably guessed that if ya tried... But oh well." He huffed, his hands moving back to work again to finish up wrapping her shoulder.

He bit the inside of his cheek, eyes narrowing a little. There was one other word that propped up in the back of his mind, appearing all on its own and from somewhere deep down...

Rannei

"... Figure out how you're gonna tell the Guild about what that Serena guy did...?" He asked after a moment, "... Or the Old Lady, for that matter?"

"Hmm... Not really, they're all gonna freak out about it..." Frea sighed, "... To be quite honest with you I don't know if Master knows about it either..." Laxus paused,

"... You didn't tell him?" He asked lowly,

"... No, by the time we were done I was just... Done." Frea grumbled, "... Its kinda blurry, getting on the train... And I slept the whole way here."

"... He's gonna be pissed too. Just like Porlyusica." Laxus sighed,

"... I know..." Frea breathed, "... I'm pretty sure they're both at the Guild already too..." She trailed off, her eyes scrunching closed as she hissed. He quirked a brow at it, before shaking his head at her.

"Idiot." Laxus grumbled, "If your head already hurts, why are you searching all the way out to the Guild Hall?"

"... it's kinda gotten to be habit... I guess..." Frea mumbled, her eyes closed still as she waited for the sharp prickle of pain to fade away.

"Laxus, are you here-?"

"Yeah, Boss. We thought you'd be first at the Guild Hall today, after yesterday-"

"Did you run off to see what became of Frea last night-?"

Both Frea and Laxus glanced to the left in surprise, eyes widening slightly and caught off guard as the door opened, in the doorway standing suddenly the forms of Freed, Bixlow, and Evergreen- all three of which who had said something in that order. The Thunder God Tribe halted, squeezed together in the doorway and eyes falling on the both of them on the bed. Laxus settled behind Frea who sat there with one of Laxus' shirts hanging from her shoulders so loosely they could see the scar plastered across her chest, his hands resting lightly on her back and her shoulder and her hair damp, dripping little drips of water every once in awhile as both Dragon Slayer's blinked in near tandem with one another.

The Thunder God Tribe stared, their eyes flicking between the both of Frea and Laxus and the sight as their jaws dropped, looking stricken and trembling slightly in utter, complete shock.

Their faces turned bright red, stuttering as Freed grabbed the door and slammed it shut.

"E-Excuse us...!"

"O-oh boy~!"

"P-pardon the intrusion..!"

"H-how... scandalous...!"

"Scandalous! Scandalous!"

"W-we crashed the party, huh...?!"

Frea and Laxus jumped slightly as the door slammed shut, the hushed, stammering voices still on the other side- they could almost practically hear the Thunder Legion as a whole with steaming heads.

Frea sweatdropped heavily, blinking several times at the door. She hadn't even realized they'd come in the house, let alone heard them moving down the hallway- or felt their Energy Signatures.

"... wait." She mumbled, "... I think... they have the wrong idea..." She heard Laxus let out a growl, one of his hands moving to pinch the bridge of his nose in both annoyance and exasperation.

"... shit..." He growled, he tapped her upper arm lightly and got off the bed. "I'm done," He told her without hardly a glance as his attention snapped toward the door. Frea threaded her arm back through the sleeve and did the buttons up again as he cast a glare at the door as he approached it, and yanked it open. "Oi! Quit making shit up!"

They were huddled together just outside the door, blushing still and looking both flustered and ruffled, their eyes snapping to Laxus and jumping as the door swung open. Evergreen flared her fan out, pressing it under her nose as light bounced across her glasses, while Bixlow smirked, his tongue sticking out and leaning in a little- Freed bowed quickly, still red in the face.

"Please forgive us, we did not mean to step in while you two-" He said quickly,

"We weren't doing anything." Laxus growled, cutting Freed off in an instant.

"Didn't look that way, hehe~" Bixlow smirked,

"Nope! Nope!" His Tiki Dolls sang,

"You two look rather cozy in there." Evergreen mumbled, her tone low and almost annoyed.

"It's nothing like that, quit jumping to conclusions." Laxus growled,

"Whatever you say, Boss~!" Bixlow smirked,

"You two can sneak away, but try not to do it while the whole Guild is waiting on her." Evergreen huffed,

"Though it is none of our business." Freed interjected, clearly still nervous as hell and more flustered than his two cohorts. Laxus frowned, a vein ticked on his forehead and getting more frustrated when it was clear no amount of telling them otherwise was working-

"... look, it really isn't what you're thinking."

They blinked, their eyes snapping to Laxus' left as Frea appeared there, stopping at his side and letting her hand rest against the door frame for support as she kept from standing on her right leg too much. Laxus cast her an intent stare, his eyes narrowing slightly at the fact she'd gotten up.

Frea settled her silver gaze on them with a small sigh, "... I get why your minds went there, seeing...that. But he was just helping me wrap my wounds up again. That's it." They blinked and she shook her head a little, "... as for, 'sneaking off'- we didn't do that either. Truth be told, the only reason I am here is because when I got off the train last night I pretty much passed out right away... and I wasn't really in good shape after that."

All three of them blinked, looking surprised and slightly concerned in an instant.

"Give him a break, he's just been helping. And that's it." Frea mumbled, smiling slightly. "Please try to tone it down on... letting your heads run into the gutter. There's really no reason..."

"Are you alright?" Freed asked instantly, stepping a bit closer. "You said you were in bad shape..?"

"Yeah, you look a bit drained, ya know." Bixlow hummed, hands on his hips and leaning over slightly.

"Yep! Yep!" His Tiki Dolls hummed,

Frea smiled slightly, nodding a little. "Yeah, I'm still pretty beat- but I am ok. Don't worry about it too much."

"Are you sure?" Freed murmured, Frea nodded again.

"Yes, I'm sure." she sighed, "... But I'm a little surprised you're here? Do you usually meet each other before heading to the Guild...?"

"Nah, but Ever here wanted to stop by... Something about 'making sure the Boss didn't get up to anything inappropriate' when he stalked off last night?" He stuck his tongue out with a sly smirk and an elbow nudge at Evergreen- who scowled.

"I was simply concerned something had happened when he stalked off after that cat." She replied lowly, Bixlow chuckled. Laxus quirked a brow at that,

"It seems something did." Freed sighed, "I take it your day was long as well as exhausting yesterday, if your health ended up falling at the end." Frea let out a breath,

"... It was definitely... Something." She mumbled,

"Regardless, nothing should justify you looking like this." Evergreen grumbled, earning blinks of surprise from everyone. "A lady shouldn't be walking around with her hair in such a mess-"

Frea blinked, stiffening slightly in surprise when Evergreen suddenly grabbed light hold of her wrist and started leading her down the hallway- frowning slightly still and looking slightly displeased. Frea followed closely, limping slightly though Evergreen didn't move too quickly at all- and the way she was being pulled was surprisingly... Gentle.

"- you can't very well show up at the Guild with it looking like that." She finished lowly, not casting Frea a single glance as the men were left behind in stunned silence. Frea was just as confused as they were, Evergreen not slowing up until reaching one of the couches back in the living room.

"Sit down, I'll make it presentable." She ordered lowly, Frea did as she was told, watching Evergreen with slightly wide eyes. The other woman waved a hand, "You might as well detail to us what went on yesterday while I work, if only to pass the time."

She cast a narrowed glance down the hallway, huffing a little. "Well? Are you three coming or not?" Evergreen asked curtly, Frea's head tilted slightly up at the other woman- quite unsure why she had snatched her away like that or even why she was acting so... I don't know.

Evergreen and Frea had never been the closest of people in the Guild, it was that way with the rest of the Thunder Legion- and it was mostly because of how her relationship with Laxus had been for so long. They knew one another, but never spent time talking nor hanging around one another- and certainly not... Doing her hair...?

Evergreen turned on her heel and toward Frea again, stepping behind her and pulling her hair back in her hands. Frea cast a glance over her shoulder at the other woman, earning a small glare.

"Sit still." Evergreen ordered lowly, Frea halted, her eyes locked ahead and sweatdropping slightly. She watched the three men file down the hall, giving them a confused look as Bixlow smirked and Freed simply shrugged- Laxus never met her eyes he was giving Evergreen a small stare.

"... Well, if we are to wait we wouldn't mind hearing the story... If you are up for it." Freed told her softly, taking a seat on a couch across from her and Evergreen. Bixlow stood with his hands on his hips to Freed's right while Laxus sat down with a huff and another narrowed glance toward Evergreen, taking his place in an armchair to Frea's right a ways.

"... Might as well, you can be my test run." Frea hummed, "... Plus I'm still waiting on Moon anyway..."

Freed, Bixlow and Evergreen blinked, test run?

"... So what happened?" Freed murmured, "Jynx told us you had convinced the Council of your innocence, but she didn't tell us how you managed such a thing."

"... Well to start with, I gave them the Scans Porlyusica made of my injuries. And had them take another yesterday to compare and prove that the injuries weren't a story the Guild had made up or anything." Frea murmured, her eyes dropping halfway as Evergreen started through brushing through her hair. She could see them stiffen a little at the explanation, "... Once they were convinced that the injuries weren't a lie, they tried to turn it around on the premise that I wasn't powerful enough to have contended with him and won. Which... is completely logical to assume, given how much Power Mordren actually had." Frea sighed,

"... I ended up telling them it was me behind the 'Magic Anomalies' to try and work them around to the idea, and they were a little... Shocked." Frea murmured, "I was asked to explain why I had caused them in the first place, and it looked like it was working to convince them pretty well. With both the Council and the Wizard Saints."

"So they did gather together all of the Wizard Saints?" Freed asked, Frea nodded. "... Even the one that Master and Aisha alike thought wouldn't show?"

"Yeah, that Serena guy?" Bixlow asked, Frea sweatdropped.

Time for the test run on that end, it seems...

"... He did show up, but... Not really with the intention of listening to the Hearing itself..." Frea mumbled, they tilted their heads slightly. "... He popped up out of nowhere, and the minute he did... He went after me."

Their eyes widened, their jaws dropping slightly and Evergreen halting in her work behind her.

"W-went after you..? As in he attacked you?" Freed asked instantly, Frea nodded.

"Did he get ya?" Bixlow asked, Frea shook her head at that with a small, slightly nervous smile.

"Uh, no- he never touched me. When he tried to use Magic against me I reacted to it...and destroyed it. While also throwing him through a wall... heh.." Frea went on,

"... you...what...?" Freed mumbled, looking a little lost if not stunned.

"Hehe, really...?! Way to go~" Bixlow smirked,

"That was reckless of you." Evergreen huffed, Frea sweatdropped. Those were three very different reactions,

"Yeah well, it was self-defense." Frea replied softly, "... even though using Magic after so long is probably what hit me the hardest last night.." Freed nodded slightly, Bixlow shrugged a little and Evergreen went back to work.

"I am a little surprised though that a Wizard Saint would fall into such behavior..." Freed mumbled, Frea shook her head a bit.

"... he didn't strike me as... balanced." Frea grumbled, "... none of the other Saints seemed really impressed with him, to be entirely honest with you. Jura and Saige had to step in and they looked about ready to throw him through a wall themselves."

"Saige?" Freed asked,

"Yeah- ain't that the guy who sent Master a letter last night?" Bixlow hummed,

"Yeah! Yeah!" His Tiki Dolls murmured, dancing around their heads.

"How are you two acquainted?" Freed asked,

"He got in touch with me a bit before the fight with Mordren. He's been trying to help me out, though we really don't know one another all that well." Frea replied, "He's sort of... reserved, I guess. But he's not a bad person, I can tell that at least." Freed nodded slightly in understanding,

"... so after Serena, they were pretty much convinced I had no other connections with Mordren other than his plan to enact that stupid 'Rite' of his. So for the rest of the Hearing they just had me answering as many questions as I could about it all. About who Mordren really was, where he came from, what his Rite was supposed to be about, the hubs for Magic, the Forces of Creation... all of that. It took a really long time since there was so much to go over." Frea went on, "But for the most part what I told them is nothing less than what I've already told everybody at the Guild. So on that end nothing new came up,"

"On that end?" Bixlow murmured,

"Meaning there is something else?" Freed asked,

"... Wow, can't get anything passed you two huh?" Frea hummed, her head tilting forward as Evergreen started into separating different strands on the top and on either side and starting to braid them, leaving the bottom half of her hair down.

Frea bit the inside of her cheek, her eyes falling into her lap as her hands rest on her knees lightly. The light filtering though the windows and glass doors glittering for a second off the bracelet and the ring on her thumb.

"... Yeah, after the Hearing was done and over with, they called Master Makarov in so he could be there when the Council made their last decision of the night." Frea sighed, "... Given everything that they learned and saw me do, they decided that they wanted to... Uh, make me a Wizard Saint."

She could feel them stiffen all around her, she smiled nervously and gestured toward the pendant on the bracelet.

"That's why Master got called in... As of yesterday, I am one of the Ten Wizard Saints."

Bixlow's Tiki Dolls hit the floor, earning a series of loud thumps against the hardwood floors. Frea flinched slightly, blinking several times in rapidity as she glanced between the both of Freed and Bixlow as they sat there completely still, Evergreen's hands stilling again as silence settled on the room like a heavy cloud. Frea cast a glance behind her toward Evergreen, but couldn't see her eyes due to the light bouncing from her glasses- when it was clear neither Bixlow nor Freed were giving any reaction she glanced toward Laxus- who looked at her for half a second, before sighing heavily and shaking his head.

'The Guild is gonna lose their shit...'

"... Uh, are you guys... OK..?" Frea asked slowly,

"...y...yes... It's... Just..." Freed mumbled lowly, shaking his head a little like he was trying to shake off a haze.

"... You serious?" Bixlow asked,

"Yeah." Frea smiled slightly, "I know that sounds kinda insane... But it is true."

"That's..." Freed hummed, "... Incredible." Frea blinked,

"That's freakin' awesome!" Bixlow smirked, his Tiki Dolls rattling as they got up from the floor again.

"Awesome! Awesome!"

"Hehe~ That means we're two for two on Saints in the Guild." Bixlow chuckled, "If there's anybody in the Guild good enough to be a Wizard Saint, you're definitely one of them~ hehe!"

"... Hmph, it is certainly a surprise." Evergreen grumbled. "... But I suppose congratulations are in order..?"

"Ah, you don't have to..." Frea smiled slightly,

"But we should, none the less. It is quite an important achievement." Freed told her lightly, "Not every Wizard ever even comes close to being named a Wizard Saint- less ever are." Frea sweatdropped slightly, Freed smiled slightly his head tilting a bit. "... Though you seem less than excited about it yourself."

"... It wasn't really my idea to start with... And to be honest, I'm a little wary of how the rest of the Guild is gonna react to the news." Frea admitted, he nodded slightly.

"I expect there will be a fair amount of noise." Freed sighed,

"You kidding? They're gonna blow the roof off, hehe~!" Bixlow grinned, Frea sighed silently.

Yay...

"They'll certainly be overzealous." Evergreen grumbled, Frea nodded slightly.

"... Well, other than the Wizard Saint thing, and Serena... That was all that happened yesterday." Frea murmured, "We just talked, a lot..."

"Well I am happy that things turned out well, in the end." Freed told her lightly, "It is a relief to know that you are in no real trouble... And more so, now that this tension with the Council can fade."

"Yeah, now they won't be all over us anymore. That'll be great~" Bixlow hummed,

"... I hate that the Council was so adamant on pushing all of this." Frea grumbled, "... You're right, it'll be good to not have them breathing down our necks anymore."

"I am done." Evergreen murmured, her hands tying off the end of the braid she'd woven together around the sides like a crown, and letting it fall into the river of blonde and silver locks the she had left down and free- and were now curling slightly at the ends and a little wavey.

Evergreen stepped around and to the side, her hands falling on her hips as Frea cast her a small smile.

"Thank you." She hummed,

"It looks great Ever~" Bixlow smirked, "Didn't know ya had it in ya, hehe~!"

"Be quiet." Evergreen shot back at him, Frea and Freed smiled in amusement.

"So where is your cat?" Evergreen huffed, rounding on Frea again. "She went to pick you up last night, and yet she isn't here."

"Oh, ah- Moon went over to Fairy Hills. I asked her to grab some things for me." Frea replied, her head tilting a little toward the front door behind her. ".. Honestly, she probably should be back soon..."

"... Don't." Laxus warned lowly, earning blinks of confusion from the Thunder Legion at the sudden order.

"... I'm paying attention with my ears, not my head, Lightning-Boy." Frea sighed, "... Which maybe you should be too-?"

"LAXUS!"

Frea jumped along with everyone else in the room, the front door slamming open as Erza stood in its doorway, straight-backed and eyes blazing.

"I demand you come here at once! If I find you have done anything unseemly with Frea-!" Erza snapped, her eyes darting from the hallway toward the living room where everyone was in stiff, stunned silence. Her voice broke off when she lay eyes on Frea, who had turned slightly from where she was sitting and blinked as their gazes met, looking confused.

"... Uh, Erza?" Frea mumbled, "... Why the hell are you...?"

"F-Frea..!" Wendy's voice sounded next, the little Dragon Slayer a bit out of breath as her head popped up around the corner of the entrance. Carla was floating close by, looking about as worked up as Erza was. Wendy's eyes widened upon catching sight of Frea, blushing slightly but pushing passed Erza anyway and moving inside the house without a second thought.

The little Dragon Slayer moved straight passed Erza and Evergreen alike, stopping in front of Frea and looking frantic as she started looking her up and down. "O-oh my... M-moon told us what happened last night, are you OK..?! Do you still feel weak or feverish..?!" Wendy leaned forward, her hand pressing itself against Frea's forehead lightly. "Your temperature feels OK, how are your wounds..?! Did you open any up, or...?!" Wendy's hand pulled away as her eyes fell, looking for the wounds and the hurt places quickly.

Frea smiled, catching Wendy's wrists lightly in her hands and earning the girls eyes. "Wendy, breathe. I'm fine." Frea promised softly, Wendy blinked.

"Are you sure? Do your wounds need to be treated again, or rewrapped...?" Wendy asked, Frea shook her head.

"No, no... That's all he taken care of already." Frea smiled, "Laxus helped me with the bandages after I took a shower, you really don't need to worry so much."

"... I brought you a shirt..." Wendy and Frea both looked up, their eyes landing on Moon as she floated beside them, looking nervous and flustered both. She shot Laxus a fleeting look as his narrowed eyes snapped from Erza toward her, and sweatdropped a little, before looking back at Frea. "... I see you borrowed one... And your hair's been done too..?"

"Evergreen did it." Frea smiled slightly, Moon nodded a bit.

"Well it looks nice." Moon purred quietly, casting Evergreen a glance- the woman only huffed and looked away.

"... Why are you here?" Laxus grumbled, casting an annoyed glance at Erza who was still halted in the doorway. "... And why the hell are you kicking in my door?"

Moon sighed silently,

"We were worried." Mirajane's soft voice spoke up as she stepped up behind Erza. "We were concerned when we heard what happened with Frea last night, so we came as quickly as we could." She smiled sweetly, her head tilting to the side. "It seems Frea is in good hands, though." Laxus growled, his eye twitching as he disappeared in a gold haze and jetted across the room to stand right in front of Erza and Mira both as Carla slipped inside after Moon.

He gave both Erza and Mira a hard stare, his eyes narrowed and arms crossed over his chest.

"... You... Helped her with her injuries...?" Erza asked lowly, Laxus quirked a brow.

"Yeah, and?" He grumbled back, she blinked, her eyes casting toward Frea as she sat there facing Wendy with a smile, trying to get both the Dragon Slayer and Carla to settle down a little. Laxus' eyes narrowed more, a vein ticking on his forehead. "... What the hell did you think I was gonna do?" Erza sweatdropped,

"... Apologies." Erza mumbled, "... I jumped to conclusions... That was my mistake." Laxus blinked, shaking his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"... Why the hell does everyone keep going there...?" He hissed, Erza blinked at the words though they clearly weren't directed at her. Mira smiled slightly at the comment, stepping inside the door as she nudged the redhead in ahead of her.

"... You'll have to forgive us for barging in like this, Laxus." Mira smiled softly, "We do appreciate you looking after her, however. She had us quite worried after what Moon told us." Laxus grimaced slightly, Mira smiled at him. "I am glad you were there with her last night, if she really did end up in such bad condition... I can see you've been taking good care of her."

"... You came rushing up here with the same idea as Erza, didn't you?" Laxus growled, Mira blushed slightly in embarrassment.

"... Yes, perhaps a little." Mira admitted quietly, Laxus growled under his breath.

"... Tch... What did that damn cat tell you?" He hissed, Erza and Mira both blushed- and that was all the answer he needed. He cast Moon a glare, the Exceed shivered a little though she never caught his eye.

Damn it.

"Really Wendy, the only real complaint I have is a headache, you don't need to be so worked up." Frea chuckled lightly,

"A headache?" Wendy murmured, "... I can help with that, Frea..."

"... Mmm.. You don't have to." Frea smiled,

"But I want to." Wendy replied instantly, Frea let out a small breath but smiled regardless.

"Alright, go for it. I'm gonna put on that shirt that Moon brought for me," Frea replied lightly, patting Wendy's head a little as she moved to stand up, biting down on her tongue to keep from wincing when pain shot up her leg. Wendy's hands moved up on instinct when she saw Frea shift a little to the left, "Come on Wendy, you can come with me," She smiled at the bluenette, before casting a glance around them room. "We'll be back in a minute... I'm sure the rest of you will wanna hear what when on yesterday."

Erza, Mira, Carla and Moon nodded slightly in agreement to the idea.

"Hmm, Frea?" Moon hummed, handing the bag in hand over toward the Energy Dragon Slayer. Frea took it with a blink of question,

"Yeah?"

"Are you hungry?" Moon asked, Frea paused. "I'm sure Laxus won't mind if we use his kitchen to make something real quick..." Frea's eyes trailed toward said Dragon Slayer, only to see him frown, looking a little annoyed.

"Tch... it's not like anyone's asked a damn thing so far." He shot back lowly, Frea chuckled slightly.

"I'd be happy to help you prepare something for everyone." Freed offered with a smile, looking slightly excited at the prospect of cooking. Moon smiled slightly at him,

"Sounds good to me, I'm starving~!" Bixlow smirked,

"I could go for something as well." Evergreen said lowly,

"I won't object." Erza murmured, moving to take a post near the hallway.

"I'll help you two as well." Mira smiled, Moon and Freed nodded.

"Sounds great, any requests?" Moon purred,

"Pancakes, pancakes!" Bixlow's Tiki Dolls chanted, Moon sweatdropped.

"... I'll leave the pancakes up to Mira and Freed, I think..." Moon mumbled, Frea laughed.

"Good choice." Frea told her lightly, Moon stuck her tongue out at the Energy Dragon Slayer. Frea shook her head a little and started toward the hallway, Wendy following closely.

"...tch... why's my house been taken over...?" Laxus growled as she passed him by, she cast him a soft smile.

"Don't get so worked up." She told him lightly, he huffed at her. "... thanks for not throwing everyone out, I know you probably don't get so many people at once."

"Whatever." He grumbled, Frea smiled and continued down the hallway. Wendy cast a glance up at him as she followed behind, "... you might wanna take a look at her leg, kid." Laxus told the bluenette lowly as she headed past, she blinked at him in question- but he was already moving to take his seat again.

Wendy watched him move away for a few more seconds, before following quickly after Frea again, her eyes glittering and attention immediately moving to watch how she was walking.

... she is limping...

Wendy sweatdropped, moving closer as her hand landed lightly under Frea's hand.

"... Frea..." Wendy mumbled, Frea smiled slightly as they moved inside the last room. She trailed of as Frea took a heavy seat down in the chair to the immediate right of the door, the door itself shutting closed behind them as the Energy Dragon Slayer let out a low, slow breath.

"... Frea, your leg is hurting you, isn't it?" Wendy asked softly, Frea let out a sigh.

"... yeah." She grumbled, "...that's what I get for standing on it all day yesterday..."

"Is there anything else?" Wendy asked, "You need to tell me, if your pain got so bad to do to you what Moon described last night..."

"... everything hurts, kiddo." Frea mumbled softly, Wendy's eyes flashed at that. "... that's nothing new, it just... caught up to me all at once, yesterday. I moved a little too much, a little too quickly, and used Magic on top of it." Wendy's eyes widened at that, "... it was just a lot all at one time."

"... you used... Magic...?" Wendy breathed, "... but Frea, why..? You must have known that wasn't a good idea...!" Frea nodded slightly,

"... yeah, I know. And trust me, I do regret it already." Frea sighed, "... as for why, it'll probably be better to get into the details with everyone else... but basics? I kinda got involved in a fight.." She saw the horror dawn on Wendy's face at the words.

"A fight...?!"

"It only lasted about a minute, and I never got hit... I used my Magic as self-defense without really thinking about it." Frea explained quickly, "It was that fight that ended up hitting me the hardest." Wendy nodded slightly,

"... I assume you had to move pretty fast to avoid getting hit, right?" Wendy asked, "That probably agitated the wound in your leg more than anything."

"Probably."

"... did you reopen any wounds?"

"No, no worries on that end." Frea smiled, "Anything that ended up bleeding was already raw anyway, and all of those have already been wrapped and dealt with. Promise."

"You look tired, Frea." Wendy murmured, "You need to rest more, what happened yesterday clearly wore you out... a lot."

"And I will, but you know as well as I do that the Guild isn't gonna wait too long to hear what happened yesterday." Frea replied, "... I actually slept pretty well, considering everything. I'll get plenty of sleep after telling them what went on... but for now I'm gonna have to... soldier through."

"... alright." Wendy murmured softly, "... I don't really... like it Frea, but if you think you'll be ok to talk to the Guild...?"

"I'll be ok, I promise." Wendy nodded slightly,

"... alright, I trust you. I'll help you with your headache, and your leg too." Wendy promised softly, "... Frea... you know Granny isn't going to be... uh, happy, you used Magic, right? For self-defense or otherwise.."

"Yeah, I know." Frea mumbled, "... She's gonna give me hell." Wendy nodded slightly, her hands lifting as blue light began to glow around them, Wendy's hand fell over Frea's leg. Frea let out a soft sigh as the throbbing started to fade away.

"... um... Frea...?" Wendy mubled after a few moments.

"Yeah?"

"... uh... did you and... Laxus-san... really... uh..." Wendy was blushing already and Frea blinked at her in surprise. "... sleep in the same bed...?"

"... oh." Frea hummed, "... uh... yeah." Wendy went red and Frea smiled slightly, "It really wasn't like everyone seems to be thinking... I swear." Wendy cast her a small glance and Frea's head tilted back.

"... he really was just... trying to help." Frea mumbled quietly,

"... It's nothing... Just..." He sighed, his eyes falling closed as he shook his head a little.

He leaned down slightly, his hands coming up to hold onto either side of her face, pressing against her jaw as he let his head tilt forward, their foreheads bumping against one another as Frea's face flushed, eyes wide and glittering at the sudden, completely out of the blue gesture.

"... I'm sorry."

Frea's eyes flashed slightly, her eyes softening as Wendy blinked at her.

"... and he did..."

"... I really do like your hair like that, Frea."

"Hmm?"

"It looks pretty."

"Heh, well I have Evergreen to thank for that..."

"Did you ask her to do it like that?"

"No, she kinda didn't give me a choice, actually..."

"Huh..."

Erza smiled slightly, her head tilting down the hallway as Frea and Wendy moved down it again- Frea having switched shirts now to a loose pale blue shirt that tied around her neck and the back was left open a bit, before flowing slightly at the bottom and fading into a lighter blue and then eventually white. The shirt had sleeves that reached her elbows, you could see little of the bandages around her stomach from the back, but you could see the scar between her shoulder blades.

"I agree, it looks good on you." Erza smiled lightly, Frea blinked at her as Erza nodded slightly. "I also like this shirt on you." Frea smiled slightly,

"Ah, thanks..." Frea chuckled, "... to be honest with you, I don't even know where Moon found this at all..."

"She probably dug it from your closet when she cleaned things up." Erza replied, Frea nodded.

"Probably." Frea murmured, Erza's eyes fell down toward the bracelet on Frea's wrist and the ring on her thumb.

Frea's nose twitched, immediately catching scent of the food cooking and sweatdropping when she heard her stomach growl. Wendy and Erza blinked, before smiling in amusement as Frea sighed.

"... I'm starving..." Frea sighed, moving passed Erza and toward the living room. "... I haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning..." the two girls followed her and grimaced slightly at the comment,

Frea took a seat down where she had been previously, smirking slightly.

"Well I don't smell burning, so I guess Moon didn't attempt with the pancakes." Frea chuckled, Moon's ears twitched at the comment from where she floated at the bar counter, stacking plates and silverware as Freed and Mira stood behind her, both in aprons and smiling as they cooked.

"Shush." Moon snapped lowly, Frea laughed.

"I take it you attempted and failed on that end before?" Carla hummed, looking amused as well as Moon huffed.

"I'm a great cook, I'll have you know." Moon shot back lightly,

"With everything but pancakes." Frea smirked, Bixlow laughed with her this time as Moon shot them both a glare.

"Hmph."

"... you can sit down, you know." Frea smiled, casting both Erza and Wendy a glance as they stiffened slightly. They paused, before nodding slightly and taking their own seats as they waited for the cooking to finish up. "... I'll get into it, once everyone settles down." They nodded slightly, Frea cast a glance toward where Laxus had moved to sit at the bar, looking disgruntled as he watched everyone move around his kitchen with utter ease.

"... it's quit the tale~!" Bixlow smirked, leaning over and toward Wendy's ear where she had sat down across from Frea. "And one with a big surprise~! Hehe~"

Frea smiled, sweatdropping slightly. "... test run number two."

"Where is that girl?" Porlyusica grumbled hotly, Master sweatdropping slightly from where he was seated on the bar counter.

"... Frea is not at the Guild yet." Master replied softly, the Old Lady quirked a brow. "... much to the... agitation, of everyone else.." He added lowly, glancing passed her and toward the collection of people who were casting quick glances toward the door, all of them fidgeting, all of them on edge. All of them, waiting on the very person Porlyusica was looking for now.

"... she pushed it too far, didn't she?" Porlyusica snapped lowly, Master took in a breath.

"... most likely." Master murmured, Porlyusica growled.

"You don't seem overly concerned." She grumbled,

"... she was in good hands." Master replied softly. "... even if she did, she wasn't alone. If something did happen I am sure she was well taken care of." His eyes narrowed in his lap. "... that boy's been very careful about her recently, and Moon is always keeping an eye out... I trust they both took care of Frea quite well."

Porlyusica blinked her eyes narrowing at the comment.

Boy...?

She took in a breath, her eyes dropping closed as she realized almost instantly who he was referring to.

... that fool of a grandson of yours, Makarov...hmph.

... that boy is near as much fool as she is...

"Mmmm...this isf goodf...!" Frea mumbled around her food, the plate in her lap and smiling as she chewed.

"This is delicious you guys...!" Wendy smiled too,

"Quite splendid." Erza hummed,

"Thanks for the food~!" Bixlow grinned,

"I am pleasantly surprised." Carla smiled slightly, Evergreen nodded.

"You are welcome." Freed nodded,

"My pleasure." Mira smiled softly,

"Yep." Moon purred, nibbling on some toast next to Frea's knee.

Laxus huffed slightly at the bar, chewing on his food. "... It's not bad.." He mumbled lowly, Frea and Moon both smirked at the answer.

Frea continued into the food on her plate in content silence as everyone else around her did the same- enjoying their meals and completely at ease.

As the food on her plate drew to an end she sighed, smiling softly still at the sensation of a full stomach and completely free of a headache thanks to the wonders of Wendy and her Magic- and more so, her leg throbbing was near nonexistent now.

One of Bixlow's Tiki Dolls moved over and scooped her plate up to take to the kitchen, the others following suit as the Thunder God Tribe got to their feet and started to clean things up while Frea straightened up a little.

"... so I guess you'll want to know what happened, hmm?" Frea hummed toward Mira, Erza, Wendy, Carla and Moon alike. They all nodded in turn, Frea shifted to sit crosslegged on the edge of the couch.

"To start with, the Council has been convinced I have nothing to hide and that I wasn't involved with Mordren in any way other than fighting with him." Frea murmured, "To convince them of such, I let them see those Scans Porlyusica made of my injuries. And I also admitted to being the one to cause the Magic Anomalies." They nodded slightly,

"Apart from that, the rest of the actual Hearing was spent answering questions and discussing all of the things including Mordren, the Forces of Creation, and everything I already told the Guild about it full." Frea hummed, "It was a lot to discuss, but that bit at least, was entirely normal."

"That part?" Erza asked lowly, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"You said there was something else, but you told us to drop it yesterday." Moon commented lowly, Wendy sweatdropped a little.

"... yeah, I kinda ended up fighting yesterday." Frea mumbled, they all stiffened at the news.

"What?!" Erza, Carla, Moon and Mira all snapped in an instant.

"One of the Wizard Saints, God Serena... he popped up out of nowhere, and came after me for something like testing his strength against mine." Frea explained,

"Did he hurt you?" Erza asked,

"Are you alright?" Carla said immediately,

"You used Magic yesterday..?!" Moon hissed, her pale blue eyes glittering.

"What did he do exactly? Was it physical or was it Magic..?" Mira murmured, looking concerned and angry all at once.

"He didn't hurt me, he never even touched me." Frea murmured softly, shaking her head a little. Her eyes flicked toward Moon as she sweatdropped a little, "And yeah... I did use Magic. Self-defense, mostly... but I did kind of... throw him through a wall, too.." Moon's ears fell back against her head,

"... He showed up out of nowhere, and immediately threw a bunch of crazy powerful... Water Magic at me." Frea mumbled softly, her eyes flashing as she linked her fingers together in her lap.

Laxus stiffened, his ears trained to her voice behind him and eyes narrowing at the bar counter underneath him, sweatdropping slightly. That she hadn't mentioned, not once- and he could hear the tenseness work its way into her voice, could practically tell she's gone slightly stiff even from halfway across the room.

Water Magic

"I destroyed it all, and lashed back without really thinking about it. That's when I threw him through the wall." Frea mumbled, "After that, Saige and Jura both stepped in and stopped him before he could continue doing anything else. Like I said, he never touched me... but having to move like that and use Magic all at once and so quickly is probably what hit me the hardest last night." Frea's head tilted slightly as she took in a small breath, "That was the bit I was afraid Jynx might have mentioned yesterday... she was there when it happened and she stepped in to try and stop Serena too."

"... you said he attacked you only to test his strength to yours?" Erza murmured lowly, Frea nodded.

"What an insane reason." Carla hissed,

"Wizard Saints are meant to be more... Honorable, than that." Erza growled, Frea sweatdropped slightly.

"Serena didn't really seem like the rest of the Saints... he didn't really seem to me like anything more than a glorified... teenager." Frea sighed, "... he's significantly younger than the rest of the Saints, or well... I guess, was... but he's definitely got the Power check going for him to be the Number One Seat."

"Number One Seat...?" Mira breathed,

"You're serious..?" Erza mumbled softly,

"Hold a moment." Carla grumbled, "You said was, just now." Frea blinked, Carla's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"... that's the last bit... about what happened yesterday." Frea smiled nervously, "- and the reason Master got called in. They decided to make me... a Wizard Saint."

"... I noticed the bracelet..." Erza mumbled, but trailed off as her eyes fell to the floor.

"... oh my.." Mira breathed,

"F-Frea... really...?!" Wendy breathed,

"T-that's... unexpected..." Carla stammered,

"... really unexpected..." Moon mumbled,

"Hell yeah, but ain't that the best part~?" Bixlow smirked,

"I-it's amazing...!" Wendy breathed, smiling slightly as her eyes shone. "Oh my gosh, Frea that is really, really cool...! Ahh... A Wizard Saint...! Like Master!"

"It is truly a surprise, but it is quite amazing." Carla hummed, her hands on her hips. "You must be honored."

"Congratulations." Erza smiled, "I am very happy for you, you certainly deserve it."

"Its quite splendid news, Frea." Mira smiled, her head tilting slightly. "I am proud of you."

"We all are." Moon smiled softly, Frea blinked several times, fidgeting slightly as she glanced down at her hands.

"... Please quit with the... Praises..." Frea mumbled, blushing slightly as embarrassment hit her fill on in an instant. The others around her smiled at the clear embarrassment, chuckling among themselves.

"You're adorable when you're being modest." Mirajane hummed sweetly,

"One would think you'd be used to praise by now." Erza chuckled,

"You are pretty great, ya know." Moon purred, Frea placed her face in her hands.

"... Quit..." She grumbled,

"I hardly ever see you so embarrassed, Frea!" Wendy smiled sweetly, "You are kinda cute when you are..!" Frea felt her face heat up even more,

"Imagine how everyone else is going to react." Mira laughed, "It'll be quite the sight."

"Oi..."

The Thunder God Tribe smiled, looking amused as they watched Frea lean back against the back of the couch, grumbling and looking disgruntled as well as flustered.

"Can I maybe just not go to the Guild today..?" Frea sighed,

"You know they'll start a search party for you if you don't." Moon replied easily.

"...and Granny is going to want to see you too." Wendy piped in quietly.

"She's going to give you quite the talking to." Carla murmured,

"I expect Master will have something to say as well, if he is unaware of what happened with Serena?" Erza hummed, Frea groaned.

"... Kill me now.."

"... So you and Frea have gotten quite close." Erza murmured lowly, her eyes trailing sideways toward Laxus walking beside her- the both of them at the back of the group with Mira on her right. Frea, Wendy, Moon, Carla and Bixlow were ahead at the front up the street a few dozen feet, and Evergeen and Freed bringing up the middle.

The townspeople on the edge of the street around them glanced up and called out good mornings as they went passed, a few of them watching them go by and murmuring among themselves though no one payed any mind to it.

The Lightning Dragon Slayer cast the redhead a narrowed stare, his lips pulling in a tight line. Erza smiled faintly at the look, her eyes moving ahead again.

"At least enough you two seem to have moved passed trying to kill each other every time you entered the same room." Erza went on lightly, "It is quite the change since we were younger."

"What of it?" He huffed lowly, "We were different people back then... people change."

Mira smiled slightly, her eyes softening a little at the comment. Erza smiled a little too, her eyes falling closed as they continued walking.

"... yes, yes they do." Erza murmured quietly, "... you have changed quite a bit, you are no longer the same person I knew growing up. You haven't been for awhile, but I suppose I never saw the full extent until recently." She hummed under her breath, "You've become a better person than I think anyone ever thought you could."

He stiffened slightly at the words, his eyes narrowing to slits at her.

"... but if I am to be honest, of anyone in the Guild who thought you capable of such change... Frea is likely one of the few who felt you ever could." Erza told him softly, "... you have the love and trust of your friends or course, they have stuck with you through so much... and even though you fought you so much, I think Frea has always trusted you too, regardless of anything you did, or fought over." Erza paused a moment,

"... She does trust you, Laxus. I can see it, she trusts you enough to let you help her, to let herself lean on you a little... where she might not otherwise with others. She's relaxed around you, and I never saw it before now." Erza hummed, her lips twitching at the corners a moment. "... I sometimes wish I had the same faith in people as she does..." She shook her head a little, "Thank you for looking out for her, Laxus. Truly. I do hope you two continue to get along as well as you have been... I think Frea needs someone she can be so content around, and you do too."

Mira smiled some more, her hands hooking behind her back and listening in on the words- though her blue eyes fixed on the people ahead of them and nothing else.

"Hmm... that was all I had to say." Erza sighed, smirking slightly his way. "You don't need to glare at me like that." She chuckled, Mira laughed lightly under her breath.

Laxus grimaced, looking away from her quickly and jaw clenching. "Tch..."

Frea shot a glance backward for half a second, her mind pulling away from the light-hearted conversation with Wendy and Bixlow alike when she felt agitation and surprise flicker toward her on the air. She caught a quick glance of the scowl on Laxus' face and the small smiles on the both of Erza and Mira.

Huh... what the hell are they talking about...?

She shook her head slightly, shrugging it off as the Guild came into sight ahead of them.

"... hmmmm... I'm not excited about this." Frea sighed, Moon smiled at her shoulder.

"Is it the attention you're afraid of, or the impending punishment Porlyusica's likely to land you with?" Moon asked lightly,

"... can I say both?" Frea grumbled, Moon chuckled a little.

"It can't be that bad, the way it sounded- using your Magic was justified." Moon murmured, her eyes flashed as her voice dropped a little lower. "... I know using Magic must have been a shock after so long, but... is that all it was? Did it get bad enough to...?"

"No." Frea cut her off softly, "It didn't, It's not that bad... I had help on that end, and I will get into it with you... after I relay what happened with everyone else, ok?" Moon nodded slightly,

"Alright."

Frea slowed up a little as their group headed through the courtyard up toward the Guild's front doors, her eyes flashing as she felt her hesitation settle in heavier. She forced a shrug, letting out a breath as she reached forward to push the doors open.

"Well," She hummed, "Time to meet my fate, I guess..." Bixlow, Wendy, Carla and Moon all smiled in amusement at the words.

She pushed the doors open with ease, walking forward a few paces and casting a small smile at the inside- her hand raising in a small wave.

"Yo~" She called out to the inside,

"Frea!"

"OI!"

"Where the hell have you been!?"

"What's going on?!"

"W-Wait-!"

"Silver!"

Frea jumped slightly, stiffening as a blur of blue and wild black hair moved straight up toward her and something got shoved in her face, paper- actually, with ink. But why it got shoved forward close enough to hit her nose she hadn't a freakin' clue-

"What the hell is this about?!" That gruff voice belonged to the one who had given her that very familiar nickname- and who belonged to that head of wild black hair.

"G-gajeel! You can't expect her to read it if you shove it in her face, stupid..!" That was Levy's voice, Frea growled, her hands moving up to snatch the paper away and shoot the Iron Dragon Slayer a glare. Natsu, Gray, Elfman, Juvia and Lucy had followed him and Levy up with Lily and Happy floating by in tow.

"What the hell is going on, Frea?" Gray growled,

"Yeah! What happened yesterday?!" Natsu asked loudly,

"Well?" Gajeel hissed, Frea growled back at all three of them, her eyes snapping down to the paper in hand and finding it to be the... newspaper.

'The Magic Council, in the late hours of yesterday night- has taken action and named an eighth Wizard Saint among the two seats that have remained empty for seven years now. Many have questioned why the seats remained empty for so long, had no one come about deserving of that honor? Were they afraid two lift someone up to those same heights that the likes of Jose and Seigrein corrupted? We may never have answers to those questions, but now we do have many more;

Little has been released as to why the Council has decided to name an eighth seat after so long- inquiries on the subject have been shot down. Though we received no answer, what we do know is that whomever the Council has named must be someone of great importance, and skill. And perhaps even someone to which has been involved in events that the Council wishes to remain secret... whatever the reason, to suddenly lift the taboo that settled on those two empty seats and with little precedence- the whole country is sure to be wondering just who this new Saint is.

The identity of Fiore's newest Wizard Saint has been withheld, but sources have given rumor that this newest Saint is a member of a Wizards Guild. And the Guild they belong to is likely the rising star fresh out of the Grand Magic Games- Fairy Tail!'

Frea went still, her eyes widening as her jaw dropped slightly.

What the hell... why is this in the newspapers already...?! This happened last night, damn it..! How the hell... if the Council kept who I was a secret how did anyone figure out I was in Fairy Tail...!?

"..y...you've... gotta be fucking... kidding me..." Frea stammered lowly, "... why the hell is this in the paper already...!?"

"You mean it's true?!" Gajeel, Natsu, Gray and Elfman all snapped in an instant.

"Seriously?!" Everyone else in the Building asked in seconds, Frea sweatdropped heavily, her jaw snapping shut as she hissed.

"... yeah." She mumbled, "... that wasn't what I was gonna lead with, but.. yes..."

"You're a Wizard Saint?!"

"... I already said yes..." Frea grumbled, wincing slightly at the sheer noise of the question being shouted by everyone.

"No way!"

"That's insane!"

"Holy crap!"

"That's amazing!"

"C-Congratulations..!"

"You gotta be..!"

"I can't believe it!"

"That's great!"

"Hell yeah!"

"No fair!" Natsu whined, "You can't go around surpassing me on everything Frea!" Frea blinked at him and the sudden smirk, his fists clenching at his sides as flame encircled them. "Wizard Saint or not- I gotta prove I'm still good enough to beat ya! Ready for a brawl?!"

"Hell yeah!" Gray and Elfman smirked,

"I'm down." Gajeel growled,

"W-wait, what?!" Lucy and Levy snapped,

"B-but Frea's still not healed all the way...!" Wendy stammered quickly,

"Gray, Juvia doesn't think-" Juvia started,

It was clear they were all much too worked up at the news to even care, and Frea blinked, her thoughts struggling to click together.

"Not today, and not anytime soon." Moon put herself between the boys and Frea in an instant, her blue eyes flashing as she lift a paw, Natsu blinked in surprise. Frea blinked too, a little taken aback at how quickly Moon reacted to what was quickly going to be an issue- "Sorry for this, Flame-Brain."

"Copy-Cat: Regulus Impact."

Gold light shot forward from the Magic Circle that appeared in front of Moon's paw, hitting Natsu square on with a rumbling boom as he was sent flying backwards. Moon crossed her paws over her chest, completely unperturbed as the Hall shook with the sound of Natau slamming into the floor in a heap.

"Anybody else wanna start a fight?" Moon asked flatly,

Gray, Gajeel and Elfman all stiffened- their eyes widening and sweatdropping as their eyes moved from Moon toward the group still standing behind both her and Frea.

The Thunder God Tribe, Mira, Erza and Laxus alike seemed to loom, their eyes hard, glaring, their faces darkening as their entire countenance seemed to almost dare the boys to try anything else. For half a second they all looked more monsters outlined in the sunlight from outside, than they did people- and in an instant it was clear they'd be taken down the single second they even dared move.

"N-no..." They stammered quickly, Moon smiled slightly.

"Good." She purred, Frea blinked a few times, her eyes casting backwards only to be nudged forward by Wendy's hand on the small of her back.

"... Come on Frea, let's sit down and you can tell everyone the rest of your story." Wendy smiled, Frea nodded.

"..ah... Right."

Bixlow smirked, chuckling under his breath as he and Freed started forward into the hall- Mira and Evergreen shot Elfman a look he flinched at. Erza gave Gray a stare that had him sweating, and Gajeel stood stiff as all hell as Laxus moved passed him with the rest of their group.

"Wizard Saint now?" Chase smiled as Frea moved closer, he looked like he was enjoying himself. Frea gave him a half-hearted glare,

"Shut up, Kid." Frea grumbled, he sighed.

"Not a kid.."

Carla trailed behind the rest of them as the Guild smiled, murmuring congratulations, all of them shifting to settle in around that Energy Dragon Slayer, all of them burning with questions and shock. All of them worked up, and she shook her head slightly in exasperation as she passed Natsu by with Happy nudging the pinkette awake.

Foolishness...

She halted, her eyes widening and a bead of sweat falling down her spine as the familiarity of the Guild and its people faded from before her eyes in an instant.

People were screaming, children crying, terror and fright all arohnd as hundreds of feet pound down against the stone and brick streets... The ground covered in scarlet spray, bodies lying about.

Carla whipped around, horror hitting her like a train as people ran by, not stopping, not halting- leaving their friends behind as they fell, blood pooling around them. There were buildings all around, strong, sturdy- adorned in symbols and paint of all kinds- most of them burning, many collapsed.

Total chaos... And somewhere, in some place she had never seen before. The people were thin, dirty, crying- their clothes strange, their arms banded in tattoos and jewelry, most of them with some sort of cloak, or drape or sash. All of them being chased and gunned down by people in uniforms, their faces hidden halfway.

Who are these people... Where is this...?

Carla's fur stood all on end, her eyes going round as her attention turned up toward the sky. Blood red of the setting sun bleeding into a sheer, utter black vortex swirling high in the heavens- spitting wild, jagged sections of purple and red everywhere as it loomed over a huge mountain, the top set upon by some palace of grand stature- it was crumbling too.

The air shook, the ground shuddering violently as something at the very top exploded, bright, blinding light flooding from the depths of that palace as the highest place on the highest part suddenly collapsed, falling inside itself and the mountainside in all. People around her were screaming, the uniformed people halting in their attacks as all eyes turned on that one place-

The black vortex split open, Magic spilling fast from the depths like some great, pitch black waterfall from the center of the sky. All of it hurtling down toward them, spreading out over the horizon, consuming everything in its path. Someone was screaming, their voice tearing at the air and chilling her to the core-

Everything went black, everything... Silent. Expect one, shaking, bloodcurdling growl.

"Seleyn."

The world slammed back into focus in front of her, but the horror persisted even as all of Fairy Tail came back to her, the Guild and its familiar walls, familiar faces. Her fur was all on end, her heart pounding in her chest as her eyes dropped to the ground.

What... What was that...?

She didn't know, none of that... None of those people, none of it looked right. It wasn't like anything she had ever seen before.

That name... That voice at the end... It sounds like what... Aisha's last name is... Right..?

Aisha Celene

But what... What was that...? Massacre...?

Her fists clenched, her eyes shutting closed as she forced a breath.

... Another premonition...? But... Of what...?

Carla shook herself, not right now. Whatever that was, she had to wait... Maybe another vision would come, maybe something clearer.

Her eyes cast toward Frea as she started into recanting the day priors events, the whole of the Guild listening and entirely unware of the fact she had faded toward somewhere else entirely. Carla swallowed, her eyes falling on the familiar silver hair of Aisha standing beside Chase.

... I'll have to ask her... If I cannot make sense of any of that on my own...

Celene

Hope you enjoyed that chapter! A lot happened, but its time to wrap up the aftermath of Mordren a little and head on forward~

Yea, I pronounce both Seleyn and Celene the same way, just FYI!

There is an Arc coming up, one of my own that happens before the events of the Tartarus Arc! It'll have team building and more character reveals, and be lots of fun/excitment! It'll establish character interactions/relationships both existing and new, as well as add higher stakes for all the things that are going to happen in the Tartarus Arc and beyond!

Look out for all of that, thank you for sticking with me!

Please Follow, Fav and Review if ya can! Thanks!