Mira and her brothers walked through the guild door and looked around. After a long time it felt good to be back in that mess they called home. The mission took longer than they had anticipated, but it was rewarding, in Elfman's words. They headed towards the bar being greeted by the mages they met along the way. At the bar Master Makarov was sitting at the counter having a beer while watching the guild, he waved to the new arrivals.

"It's been a long time, master," said Lisanna, settling into one of the counter chairs.

"Oh yeah. I haven't seen them in a while," Makarov said. "How was the mission?" he asked.

"Everything went well. It was a very lovely little town," replied Mirajane with a smile.

"It's true, people were very simple and kind despite the difficulties", Lisanna added.

"It was so inspiring watching them work and struggle day in and day out. I have never seen anything as manly as those citizens."

Makarov looked at them in surprise, they really enjoyed being in that job and looking at Mira he noticed a lighter and more genuine smile, he rejoiced.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think the three of you going on a mission helped Mira a lot, didn't you? How are you feeling my daughter?" she asked looking directly at Mirajane.

Surprised, Mira thought for a moment and smiled. "I'm feeling hopeful, master. I believe that everything will get better in due time", she replied and Makarov smiled in response. The four continued talking with the Strauss telling everything that had happened on their mission to the master of Fairy Tail. Over time, other colleagues approached and interacted with them.

In another corner of the guild, Erza and her team were sitting talking, eating and drinking.

"Mira looks better," Lucy commented.

"She's strong, she'll be fine," Gray said.

"Losing someone you love is not easy. It must be hard to get over a loss like that", Lucy lamented, feeling a deep empathy for the white haired mage.

"Don't worry Lucy, I will never be defeated so you don't have to worry about that", Natsu said confidently and smiling, Lucy blushed with the Dragon Slayer's speech, look and smile.

Erza eyed them suspiciously, as did the other team members. "What do you mean by that, Natsu? Is there something between the two of you?" she asked him.

"Aye! They love each other," Happy said nosily.

Lucy grabbed Happy and shut him up, holding her hand over his mouth as he kicked and kicked. "No… there's nothing going on. Just Natsu talking nonsense again", she said stuttering. Erza and the others were still eyeing them suspiciously.

"But Lucy, and on New Year's we don't..."

"Natsu!", Lucy exclaimed. "Don't you want this huge piece of meat?", she showed a big piece of ham. All of his focus was diverted to the juicy meat, much to the blonde's relief, who sighed in relief.

"You two are very close lately," Gray commented broodingly.

"We're friends, that's all, Gray!", Lucy snapped.

"There's no reason to get excited, Lucy. It's okay for the two of you to date," said Erza.

Lucy was astonished and blushed, becoming embarrassed. Happy, in her arms and with his mouth covered, was trying to say something, but only muffled sounds came out. "We are not! Tell her Natsu!"

"Say what?" he asked with three pieces of meat in his mouth. Lucy put her hand on her teat and shook her head.

Gradually the guild was returning to normal.

Somewhere in Ishgar...

Ryker tried to get up from the bed, resting his hands on the mattress and forcing his body up, but his muscles weren't strong enough to support him and he fell back on the bed. Several times he tried to get out of bed without success that day. All those failures left him frustrated and irritated. Feeling useless for not being able to move he punched the bed and huffed, turned his face watching the window on the other side of the room. I couldn't see much of anything except a little snow accumulated on the eaves. Sighing tired and sad he knew he couldn't give up, again he tried and tried, forcing his body to the limit and a shock ran through his body, it was like needles were piercing his arms. Ryker screwed up his face in pain.

In that moment of suffering, Alicia entered the room and saw Ryker trying to get up. Immediately he rushed towards him and stopped him from further forcing himself. She pushed him back onto the bed and looked at him sternly.

"What do you think you're doing!?", she asked him seriously. "You woke up just a few days ago and you already think you can go out there! He's still badly hurt, it's going to take weeks to fully recover."

Too weak to argue with her Ryker didn't respond. Since he woke up, he barely opened his mouth, frustrated with his situation, what he wanted most was to be left alone.

Alicia looked at him and sighed. "Look, I brought food and some water," she said and pulled out a chair, sitting down beside his bed. "You better eat some." With a spoon she scoops up some food and serves it.

Staring at her for a moment he declines the offer, even under her stern gaze. He knows he needs to eat or he will never return to his old form, but his irritation ends up taking over in certain situations. Alice doesn't look away, serious and stern, but at the same time kind, almost irresistible to him. Casting quick glances at her, she didn't relent at all, forcing him on and overcoming his stubbornness. Turning his face toward her, Ryker opens his mouth in acceptance of being fed. He felt like nothing, having to be fed like a helpless baby. Alicia had been feeding him that way since he woke up and she was always talking to him, even if he didn't answer anything and just stared at her talking and talking. Ryker swore he would die if that woman kept talking nonstop.

"You know, I only know your name, Ryker. And nothing else," Alice began, as she fed him and wiped his mouth with each spoonful. "Only I've been talking lately and it would be nice if you said a few words, too," she smiled. "I don't think this will hurt you. Wouldn't it be nice if we got to know each other better?", she asked with a bright smile on her face.

Staring at her, he wondered whether or not to speak to her. He didn't know her and wasn't sure if she was a trustworthy person or not. Although whenever someone took care of him in that world, he was a reliable person. The odds were on his side, from his own experience. It's been a few days, and Ryker thought she deserved the vote of confidence, apparently there was no reason to distrust her. If he noticed anything he would fix it.

"No... there's not much... to... to say," he said lamely.

"Look, you said it! That's something," Alicia scoffed and Ryker turned away in dismay. "Come on… There's no reason for you to be like this. After all, everyone has something to tell. Like…where did you come from?"

Ryker looked at her and resigned himself. "From… far away", his voice was tired.

"'Far away' isn't exactly an accurate answer, but it's something," she smiled.

Ryker grunted in irritation.

"Where…where did you…find me?"

"I found you at the river when I went fishing. To tell you the truth, I thought you were dead. The condition I found you in… I've never seen anything like it," she whitened at the memory.

Ryker stared at her the entire time, he knew he must have been unrecognizable and shocked anyone who encountered him. To be honest, he didn't even think there would be a body to be found. With his attack, in the last confrontation, he was sure he would turn to dust, he was not supposed to have survived or continued to exist. That he had shown up there, and alive, was a true miracle that he didn't know how to explain.

"Did… you bring me here… alone?"

"It was my duty," Alice replied affectionately.

It always amazed him that world and the people who lived in it, he didn't know this kind of kindness or moral strength. In his world, most likely someone would simply search him for anything useful and leave him for dead. But he couldn't blame them either, things were tough on his home world.

"How… how was I?" he wanted to know, to know how he survived.

Alice turned her face away, she didn't want to say, but Ryker put his hand on her arm and insisted he knew. He had to know, there would be scars, more marks on his body, he wanted to know how he got them and how he was able to survive. She looked at him in surprise and nodded and sighed heavily.

"You looked horrible. His entire body was burned, in places to the bone. In others, raw flesh was showing and in other parts her clothes had merged with the skin... I've never seen anything like it", she replied in astonishment. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him and continued: "At the river, when I got close, I saw that you were still breathing, I didn't believe it. How could a person in those conducts be alive! I couldn't leave you there, in that situation. So I brought you to my house and took care of you", she smiled fondly.

"Th…thank you. But ... but how...?", he asked in astonishment.

Alice gave her a big, warm, proud smile. "Just like you, I am also a mage. But my talent is healing." Ryker looked at her in surprise, but he should have known. If he was that bad, only someone with magical capabilities could have healed him.

Ryker looked down at his hands and arms, there were barely any signs and he figured she was too powerful to heal him so well.

"It wasn't easy to cure him. It wore me out a lot and took a long time. And I still think you're going to need more sections, but your resiliency is amazing. I would never have thought that in just two months you would be like this", Alice said. "I'm just sorry about your left eye, I couldn't save it."

"No... no problem", he brought his hand to his left eye. He had no vision on that side, which was bandaged. The loss of an eye was a small price if he survived.

Eyeing him pityingly, Alice changed the subject. "You must have met another healing mage, right?" she asked, and Ryker looked at her and nodded. "I knew. We're not very common, you know. So people are surprised when they see us."

"I…understand," he replied.

"Now I'm curious," she said excitedly. "Even I don't know another healing mage. What is it like?" she asked.

Ryker began to fret again at the boring, pointless pope. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk about Wendy or anyone else, longing wasn't a feeling he liked to feel and not talking about them helped to not think about them.

"She uses…air magic," he replied shortly.

"Oh! Well I use water. I think it's much more efficient," she laughed.

"Tsh!"

Alice smiled and continued feeding him.

A few days passed and Ryker got better and better. He had enough strength to sit up in bed, but getting up and onto his legs was still a challenge he hadn't overcome.

"Ready for the new section?", Alicia asked as she entered the room.

"I hate the feeling, it feels like I'm drowning," Ryker replied.

"If you want to improve, there is no other way. Better not complain and accept it", she said pulling a chair and settling down next to the bed while Ryker lay down so she could treat him.

"Could you be kinder," Ryker complained.

"I would be if you were less stubborn," she snapped and spread her hands over him.

A bluish light enveloped her, glowing brightly. It was warm and pleasant, but at the same time cold. From her arms streams of water came out and began to envelop Ryker little by little. In time, his entire body was covered in a thin layer of water that glowed the same way Alice was glowing. For five minutes she continued with the healing magic covering his body, that was the time she managed to hold until her breath and magic ran out and she had to support herself on her knees so as not to fall from exhaustion making the water layer dissipate up from Ryker's body.

Getting to her feet as quickly as she could, he helped her to support herself. "You've been trying too hard," Ryker said.

She gave him a motherly, affectionate smile that couldn't help but make him blush at the sight of it. "Don't worry about me, child. I can take care of myself, and besides, if I don't do that, who will?".

"Tsh! Then I'm stubborn," Ryker snapped. "I'm much better, these sections are no longer needed. You should keep the magic to yourself", he said seriously.

"I'm a lot older than you, I think I know how far I can go. And don't give me that idea that you don't need healing, I'm the expert here. So shut up and listen to me!", she said firmly and with conviction. "You still can't get up, your legs are weak and you're still going to need a lot of sections to be able to walk and lead a normal life… God only knows. So let's keep at it until you get better for good. Did I make myself clear?" She looked at him intensely, directly into Ryker's eyes, who looked at her without blinking. He swallowed hard at her presence and nodded.

"At least be careful," Ryker urged.

Alice smiled and nodded. "I appreciate your concern. I'll be more cautious if it makes you feel better. Now I'm going to get your lunch", she said and got up slowly.

"Thanks," Ryker said before she was out of sight.

"Is it good like that or do you want me to cut more?" Alice asked.

"It is good. After more than two months it's nice to have your hair cut", Ryker was sitting on his bed with a towel around his neck, while Alice cut his hair.

"I liked. You looked good like that", she said running her hand through his hair and smiling.

"You don't have to say that!" he snapped in embarrassment.

"Stop being cool! You looked good and ready. Take the compliment," she said with amusement. "Do you want me to shave?"

"No. I'm enjoying it, I think I'll keep it", Ryker replied running a hand through his beard.

"Alright then," she shrugged. "Come on, I'll help you to the bathroom and wash up", Alice helped him out of bed and to his feet.

"You know I can shower myself, don't you?" Ryker snapped. "I'm not a child," he looked at her with mild irritation.

"Throwing a tantrum, sounds like one," replied Alice, frowning.

Ryker growled in anger, but he persuaded her and took his bath himself, like an adult, even if he had to bathe sitting down. On his way out, she helped him to his bed and made him sit on it. He wore a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Much better now", Ryker said relieved and Alice smiled looking at him, as a mother would with a child.

She took him by surprise by running her hand over his face affectionately. "I'm glad you're recovering well."

Despite the reddish color in Ryker's cheeks, he managed a small smile. "Thanks to you. I don't know how I'm going to be able to repay what you're doing for me."

"Don't worry about it", she smiled and looked at him more worriedly. "Now, those scars of yours… I couldn't get them off", she looked at him and he got serious. "Like you...".

"Alice, no!", Ryker spoke in a firm and sharp way, preventing her from continuing.

"I'm sorry," she replied sadly. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?" She looked at him with compassion.

"More than you think," he replied with frowns and no interest in continuing the conversation.

"Was it when you were in Fairy Tail?" she asked.

"It was before I entered," he replied looking at his mark on his right forearm.

"Well, you better get some rest now. Then I want to hear your stories about when you were in the most famous guild in Fiore", she smiled happily, before getting up from the bed.

Ryker rolled his eyes. "Please don't ask me that. I hate talking about myself," Ryker complained.

"Not a chance", she walked and across the room, towards the exit. At the door Alice stopped and turned to Ryker, smiling. "Now rest up", she left and closed the door behind her.

Ryker looked at the closed door and the mark on his arm, remembering what he'd been through with the guild and the sacrifice he'd made for them. But only one person came to his mind. "Mira…", he whispered to himself, before falling asleep.

It had been over a month since Ryker woke up from his coma. Now, sitting on the bed, he used all the strength his fragile body had to get up with the help of a cane. Shivering, leaning on the cane Alice had given him, Ryker managed to steady his legs for the first time in weeks and was preparing to take his first steps on his own.

"Shit! I'm never going to get better at this rate," Ryker snapped, looking angrily at his legs. However, it would not be that day that he would give up. Concentrating, he sighed and took a deep breath looking steadily at the door in front of him and slowly moved his legs, being helped by the cane and walked slowly, almost dragging himself out of the room and into the living room.

Alice was on a simple three seater sofa reading a random book. She heard the door open behind her and looked over the back of the couch to see Ryker scowling out of the room.

"Then!? How is it going to take your first steps alone?", she asked.

"Difficult," muttered Ryker without much enthusiasm.

He crossed the room, which was sparsely furnished, though well lit by a large window with pretty curtains. There was a fireplace, two armchairs and a closet that completed the decoration of the place. Although simple, it was very welcoming.

"I'm tired just getting this far," Ryker said, sitting down on the sofa with difficulty. "I'm not sure if I'm going to go back to how I was before. I only have one eye left and my body is rubbish," he lamented.

Alice looked at him sternly. "If you're feeling sorry for yourself and just moping around, you're not going to get anywhere," Ryker huffed. "I never said your recovery would be easy. It will be one step at a time, we will overcome one challenge at a time and I am sure you will be able to get strong again. Now as for your eye, there's nothing you can do but accept its condition and struggle to adapt to it. That won't stop you from living. Life is too precious to live regretting everything you've lost. See what you still have and be grateful for it. You're alive, for God's sake!"

Ryker rolled his eyes. He knew she was right, that he would need to fight and win that battle, he had overcome many things, he could overcome this.

"Is there going to be a day when you stop giving me a hard time, or do you like it?", Ryker asked sarcastically.

Alice laughed. "Only when you stop being such a crybaby." Ryker glared at her, much to her delight.

The two were silent, she continued reading her book and he just stared around the room. After a moment, he fixed his gaze on a dark corner, carefully observing the object leaning in that place. Alice turned her face and saw where he was looking.

"Can you play?" she asked, snapping Ryker out of his trance.

"Is that a guitar?".

"And yes. I played for a long time, but I stopped", Alice said in a slightly sad and nostalgic voice. "And you?".

"I learned from a friend. I started practicing again recently, on the advice of my sis... a friend girl. But I'm not very good," commented Ryker.

"I can teach you if you want," Alice said excitedly. "So you can serenade your girlfriend," she nudged him teasingly with her elbow.

"What do you mean girlfriend!?", he looked at her in surprise.

"Aim! You kept calling that name all the time when you were in a coma, and you keep calling it when you sleep. She's your girlfriend, isn't she?" Alice asked indiscreetly, making Ryker blush. "By the way you blushed, yes," she smiled. "Why don't you tell me about her?". Ryker stopped and smiled at the memories of the white-haired woman who had changed his life, the most important person in his life. "That's the first time I've seen you smile and not have that frown on your face," Alice commented.

Ryker smiled genuinely. "Mirajane, Mirajane Strauss is her name."

"Isn't she that mage with Satan Soul magic? One of the strongest in Fairy Tail and an S-Class mage. Is she your girlfriend!?", Alice was surprised.

"Herself," Ryker replied, smiling at the images that came to mind. "Mira is…special. I've never met a woman like her. Strong, smart, funny, beautiful. She is everything and has done so much for me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. I owe her so much, I don't know if I'm capable of repaying her. My past and all... I don't think I can be worthy of her, but... she still accepted me. I tried to improve, do the right thing, be a better person and maybe I changed a little bit. But now..."

"HEY!" Alice interrupted him. "You will recover and you will meet again. I'm sure," she comforted him. Ryker looked at her and nodded.

Alice, in a quick movement pulled him and crushed him in a tight hug, surprising him. "Don't worry, Ryker. Love always prevails in the end. Don't be sad, I'll be here to comfort you always".

"What is wrong with you!? I'm a grown man, I don't need to be comforted. Let go of me!" Ryker yells, but in his condition, he was just a small, helpless animal and Alice held him tight for a long time, much to Ryker's annoyance.