Seems only one of you guessed the number of Children correctly, which is 12. Obviously that matches up with the number of Olympians, but it matches up with another group too...Which one though?

Also, I'd like to officially announce I'm ditching the 'once a week' update thing I tried. It made me lazy and push updates back until the last second and then never do em. Fuck it.

Enjoy!

"Something isn't right," Jason said. Drake made a face and looked over towards the man, watching him furrow his eyebrows.

"And that would be?" He asked. Jason gestured forward.

"They got caught way to easily," he replied. Well, they agreed on that at least. Drake looked back to Eris and Nemesis, who were both strapped into chairs and watching the guild quietly. They hadn't said much, but they hadn't been asked much either. Everyone was just working out what to do right now.

"Well, what are you waiting for Drake?" Elise asked him with her arms crossed. "Invade their minds like you do us and see what they're up too."

"Don't tell me what to do," Drake retorted, still doing as he was asked. Activating his sound magic, Drake invaded the girls thoughts and probed around for a bit, seeing what he could find. Their thoughts wee pretty mundane at first, mainly focused on how to escape their current situation. Problem was, it was hard to completely sidetrack your mind from thoughts you want hidden. Even forcing yourself to think of something else meant you were inherently thinking about whatever it was you didn't want to think about, so it was extremely difficult to close off certain thoughts. Soon enough, Drake's mind was filled with a room, and Hades standing in front of the girls.

"Make sure the Fairies catch you," he told them, "put up a good fight and all, but let them catch you. Lure them in here. Oh, and hello Drake. Can you hear me?"

A chill ran down Drake's spine at this, making Eris smirk.

"Did you hear that, Dragon Slayer?" She asked him, "my bad, I didn't mean to startle you."

"They're baiting us," Drake announced as he tried to shrug the feeling off. "Hades wants us to invade."

"So what?" Gajeel demanded," Are you saying we not do that?"

"Not in the slightest," Drake said, "but we need to be even more cautious now."

"Ain't nothing to be cautious about," Natsu said, his voice even yet dangerously low. "We're starting a prison break." Yes, that had been the guilds decision. After some talking, they had decided that they would bust out every single person in Tartarus. Even if they were sickly or crazy, they didn't deserve to be stuck there anymore.

"While Natsu makes a good point," Poseidon added, "It's imperative we be careful. If Hades intends to lure us in, lives may be lost if we're not careful."

"Who the fuck asked your opinion?" Natsu demanded.

"I'm sorry, did you wish to free your daughters other half?" Poseidon asked curiously, the two locking eyes for a dangerously long while. "Because if you underestimate Hades, bastard creation of Zeref, it may end poorly for you." Natsu almost rushed Poseidon right then and there, but Lucy stopped him with one hand, holding Luke with the other arm.

"Don't be dumb," she scolded, "he's right. If he's planned this far ahead, then we need to take him seriously."

"I know, I know..." Natsu hissed, sitting back down.

"So what's the game plan, then?" Simon asked.

"We proceed as usual," Laxus said, "we enter Tartarus via the gate Eris or Nemesis will provide." Drake nodded. Made sense. "But, not now. Not yet."

"Why not?" Natsu demanded, anger flowing forth again.

"Because we can't give Hades anymore ammo to defeat us with," Laxus said. "Mest and I will work to open a gate when Hades may have his guard down. When that will be, we'll find out. But for now, stay ready. We'll be going soon no matter what."

After Eris and Nemesis had been moved to the guild basement with guards watching them, the rest of the guild went around their business, however uneasily they did. For their part, Drake and his friends had relegated themselves to their table, Takara and Jason with them.

"Did they really hold back on us?" Takara asked.

"Definitely," Jason replied, "If I was able to keep up with Eris, even a little, she was holding back. There was no way she wasn't."

"So how exactly do we surprise Hades then?" Ultear demanded, "how can he surprise him if either of them can contact him?"

"I suppose that's what Mest is for," Damien said, referring to their member in the Council. "He'll probably rearrange their memories when they fall asleep and make them think we're their friends."

"Wouldn't Hades prepare for that?" Steph asked.

"Well we can only do so much to surprise him," Elise said. "So we do our best and go from there." She had a point. How much did Hades plan ahead for? How many contingency plans did he have? Was he a mastermind, or was he just thinking farther ahead than they were? He couldn't tell, and that worried him.

During this, Drake noticed that Luna had been silent. Even now she sat next to him and stared into her lap, her brow furrowed. He nudged her a bit, maing her jump and look at him.

"Everything alright?" He asked her curiously. She cheeks reddened somewhat, nodding.

"Y-Yeah," she said, "but...I don't know, I'm just curious how everything is going to go down. I can't stop thinking about it."

"You get used to it," Simon replied as he drank from his mug. "Eventually, anyway."

"Seriously?" She asked, "this feeling never goes away?"

"Nope," Ultear replied, "you just grow to tolerate it." The group went silent at this, and Drake knew they were right. Even he was used to it know. Before a battle, you started overthinking every angle and trying to calm yourself down and see what was in front of you. It never went away, you just got better at seeing what you needed to see and doing what you needed to do. He'd been on the receiving end of a failure in this aspect when he, Elise and Nashi had been captured by Phantom Dove. They hadn't seen what they needed to or done what they needed to, and suffered because of it. They'd all grown since then and could see more clearly before a battle, but the feeling never left.

"Don't worry about it," he told her, "before long you'll be used to it once you're whole again."

"Whole..." Luna muttered. "I wonder what that feels like." Drake didn't know if she'd spoken loud enough for anyone to hear, as sub-conversations had started amidst the group, but he worried about her. He couldn't imagine what it was like to not feel whole as a person, like a key part of you was missing and you can't find it.

Well, he could get close, but never to the aspect Luna did. She was literally not whole, only half who she was supposed to be. How could someone ever relax, ever feel comfortable in their own skin of they never truly felt normal?

"Did you wanna talk about it?" He asked her quietly, watching her warily. Her eyes screamed yes, but instead she shook her head.

"No need," she said. "Like you said; soon I'll be whole again." Drake wondered about that, but now was neither the time nor the place for that. He'd get her alone sometime to ask.

"You must miss her," Takara said quietly. "Your sister, I mean."

"Y-Yeah..." Luna muttered quietly. "I do. As much as I can with ho recollection of her anyway."

Drake knew they should probably should have told Takara and Jason that the two were not actually sister, but that would mean involving them further than this. He didn't know if either of them planned to stick around after this whole thing was over, but if they did then they'd tell them then. Until then, they didn't need to know.

But...

When would this be over?

Luna found herself wandering around the city pretty frequently, just wanting to be left alone with her thoughts. The others generally let her, but she could tell they were apprehensive about it. If something happened, she didn't have the training to properly defend herself. Sure, she had some muscle memory for fighting, but nothing compared to actual experience.

Experiences she used to have before it had been ripped away from her.

Luna kept these thoughts very private. She spoke of them to no one, only alluding to them. But, in these quiet moments when she was left alone, she found herself nearly drowning in pain.

The others had no idea what it was like. Everything around her, the buildings, the faces, it all pricked her brain as if she was supposed to know what was happening. But she didn't. She recognised none of these people, or their names if she'd known them. No building stuck out to her as if she'd been there before. And therein was the problem.

Ever since coming to Fairy Tail, or rather, coming back, Luna had felt painfully separated from everything and everyone. The guild did their best to include her and make her feel wanted, but it helped very little. She had no memories of the others prior to when they found her, she had no memory of her parents, her home, her guild, anything. It all caused her chest to hurt, as if her heart was threatening to break. She wanted nothing more than to remember.

She wanted to know why these people cared for her so much.

No, she wanted more than that.

She wanted to see it.

Because even now, she knew it wasn't her these people loved. They loved Nashi, and she wasn't her. Not yet, anyway. But still, Luna wanted to see it. She wanted to remember the childhood memories, she wanted to remember the battles they'd fought together. She wanted to remember her mother and father, her brother. She wanted to know!

It was in moments like these, as she alone in the chilly city, that Luna's facade truly cracked. Her cheery disposition faded and gave away to the anger and pain hidden underneath. Tears began to drip down her face as she felt her shoulders heaving. No, don't cry in public. She couldn't let people see her like this.

Please...Just one memory. Just show me something. Something to tell me I really am the one they love so much.

Luna's entire vision faded.

She wasn't in Magnolia anymore.

She was in the center of a fiery crater.

"W-What the-?!" Luna's head was forcibly turned as someone called a name. The person had called for Nashi. Turning, she watched as Drake stumbled towards her, looked scared and relieved as the same time. There was silence between them, before Luna felt her lips move and her mouth emit a voice not her own.

"Drake..." She heard the voice rasp. "I got him."

The vision faded as she collapsed into Drake's arms, snapping her back into reality as she leaned against the railing of Magnolia's waterway.

"W-What the..." She whispered quietly. Had that been a memory? It had to have been! But why had she been showed it? Had someone showed her.

Had...

"...E-END?" Luna asked weakly, looking around for some sort of sign that the alter ego was here. As if the girl could just show up. "W-Was that you? Did you show me that? Why?"

Her answer was short and simple.

"You asked."

The alter ego's voice was quiet and nearly non-existent, but the answer had come. Luna wanted to ask if that had really been her, if it was something she was experienced.

But she could feel it.

She could feel the heat of the flames on her arms, the dust that settled on her skin as the city burned. She could feel the sensation of falling into Drake's arms as the vision faded. She could feel it so vividly. It was real, it had to be.

"...Thank you," Luna whispered as tears escaped her eyes. The vision wasn't much, and it sure as hell didn't soothe the pain she felt completely, but it helped. "Thank you so much."

The response chilled her.

"Please hurry. I'm losing her."

"W-What?" Luna asked weakly. "What do you mean? What's wrong?!"

She got no response.

"END? END! What do you mean?! Is she dying?!"

She got no response, END had gone silent.

" Can you do it?" Laxus asked. Mest almost looked offended.

"Of course I can," he replied, the two men standing in front of Eris and Nemesis, both having all sensed restrained. Neither of them could see, hear, feel, smell or even taste. They had been completely cut off from the world as the guild worked to open the gate to Tartarus.

"So do it," he told the Memory Mage. Mest nodded and placed a hand on Eris' forehead, the woman showing no reaction to his touch. There was silence for a moment, and Laxus watched as Mest's face contorted in anger.

"What?" He asked as veins began to pop in Mest's temple.

"That place," he hissed, "I can see it in this woman's memories. It's horrific."

"Don't focus on that," Laxus replied. "Just focus on altering her memories to have her open a gate." Mest went quiet, and as he did so it allowed Laxus to hear someone approaching them from behind.

"Can't stay away, Natsu?" Laxus asked as he looked over his shoulder. The other man just scoffed.

"No," he replied, "Too antsy."

"You should do a better job at hiding it, then. Everyone can see you're excited to get Nashi back."

"Should I not be?" Natsu demanded.

"Maybe not in front of Luna," Laxus replied, making Natsu flinch.

"It's not like..." The man started, staring at the ground. After a few seconds, he sighed. "She's not the same, Laxus."

"I know," he replied.

"She's my daughter, sure, but...It's just all wrong."

"I'm sure she appreciates knowing that." Natsu growled at this. Laxus knew he was treading dangerous territory now.

"What are you trying to say?" Natsu asked.

"I'm saying your doing a poor job at helping an already confused and isolated girl feel at home," he replied, challenging the half-demon with his gaze. "We all have."

"How so?" Laxus sighed and examined the bookcases around them, trying to find the words.

"The second Xisplate told us about how she'd been split in half, it's like we forgot Luna even existed. She just wanders around the guild and the city as everyone scrambles to find the one we 'really' care about."

"It's not like that," Natsu said.

"Sure seems like it," Laxus said. "In any case, once they're whole again we can apologise for everything. Until then, we keep at it." Natsu looked troubled by what Laxus said, but he ignored that and turned to Mest. "Any luck?"

"I'll have it soon," Mest said as he looked over, "I'd gather the people that're going. She'll be ready to open the gate for us soon." Laxus nodded, turning back to Natsu.

"Let's make her whole again," he said.

Drake had been called to the guild hall by Warren's telepathy, along with several others. Among them he could see Simon, Ultear, Elise, Jason, Takara, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Gajeel and Laxus and Luna.

"I see we've all made it," Laxus said, "Thank you all for joining us."

"What is this about?" Elise asked.

"Welcome to the strike team that's going to break into Tartarus and raise hell," Laxus replied. "I've gathered you all here based on your closeness to this incident and your skill in combat. Jason, Takara, we'll need guides in the prison. Can you aid us?"

"Of course," Jason replied, Takara nodding.

"Good," Laxus said. "Mest, is she ready?" Drake turned his head as a door opened, and Mest walked out.

Followed by Eris.

"Hi everyone!" She greeted happily. "Are we ready to get Nashi back?"

Mest had done his work, clearly.

"Yes," he replied, knowing that he needed to play along for Mest's magic to work. Sadly, he had a lot of experience in this regard. He was also painfully aware of Elise standing by him.

"I've been working undercover with The Olympians for so long!" She said, "and even so I uncovered so little. But I do know this; Hades is sucking the power from Nashi. What he needs it for I don't know, but we need to stop him."

"That we do," Natsu grumbled, looking like he was ready to go.

"Here's the plan," Laxus said, "All of you should be more than enough to free all the prisoners inside Tartarus. Natsu, Gray, Erza, your job will be to raise hell and distract all the personnel. Clear the way for the others."

"Got it," Gray said, standing with the other two.

"Drake, you go with Jason and Takara and head right for Nashi. If they can point in you a good direction, you should be able to find her. Take Luna as well."

"Huh?" Drake asked, "Luna's coming?"

"Luna has a connection to Nashi," Laxus replied as he clapped the girl on the shoulder, surprising her. "She may be able to help if your Sound Magic fails you."

"Got it," he replied as Luna joined him and the others.

"The rest of you need to be ready to fight the Children of Nyx!" Eris said, "Hades will have gathered them for this fight, so make sure they don't upend us!" With this, Eris turned and brought her hand together in front of her chest, forming a circle with her hands. Dark magic grew there, and as she stepped back it stayed where she'd summoned it. The circle grew into a portal, that floated where she'd left it ominously.

"What about Hades?" Natsu demanded. "Do we kill him?"

"Sorry Natsu," Laxus said, "but as you may recall, we saved that job for someone else. Didn't we?" Drake's ears twitched at this, and he turned to the dark corner of the basement as Poseidon stepped out, trident in hand. The man looked ready to kill.

"The traitor is mine," he said, "Anyone who has a problem with that may fight me here and now."

No one said a word.

"Well, what're we waiting for?" Laxus demanded as he gestured to the portal. "Get going! We've got a girl to save!"

Drake needed no more encouraging.

Grabbing Luna's hand, we thrust himself head-first into hell.

I'd like to take this time to thank anyone who is still here. Having a story span so many chapters and years, it's nice to see so many familiar names in the reviews. I've lost a fair few of you over the years, but that's probably due to my shit update schedule. I hope the rest of you stick around, though! It's still up from here!

Chapter 362: Jailbreak