Broken Fairies

by EnergyMageFrea

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

17. Chapter 17- Farewell?

Chapter 17

Farewell?

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

.:+:.

Porlyusica had been less than pleased, of course... And of course that is exactly what she'd expected on the matter. Porlyusica had snapped and scolded her several times over for what happened in Era- from using Magic to fighting Serena, to pushing herself far enough to have passed out and in been in such shaky condition as she had been. Moon told her about that part, she had to of course (Frea hardly remembered most of it, to be honest..) And the Old Lady was furious. That, and worried too- same for Master Makarov.

However the news about Serena had already been told to the Old Man, Jura must have mentioned it on the train while she'd been asleep.

Well, for all the scolding and the lecturing- Porlyusica didn't force her to confinement in the Guild after all. To which Frea was completely grateful for, that meant she was allowed home and away from the Guild- and all the prying, curious townspeople of Magnolia.

Following the news article people seemed to have flocked into Magnolia to try and catch sight and word of that all new Wizard Saint in Fairy Tail. The Guild had done what she wanted and kept her identity a secret, but there were so many people gawking and asking- it was a relief to be able to go back to Fairy Hills and avoid all the crowds entirely. It was a week before things calmed down again and Frea stayed away from moving around Magnolia for any lengthy amount of time.

Time drew in on another week and four days after that, her leg healing all the way, her ribs mending and her heart near done away with all damage it had suffered. Enough that she was good to walk on her own, longer and faster- enough her dizziness had faded to none existence and she had started to actually feel almost completely, entirely fine.

Well, fine if you ignore the spare few stitches still pulling across her stomach and the times of absolute, and utter chilly pain that still plagued her now once or twice a day. Maybe every other day, if she was lucky.

But even so, it was all better than anyone could have hoped after all the injuries she'd received. Being even close to being OK was better than what the reality might have been, if not for Wendy, Sherria and Porlyusica. It was better than she had hoped, at any rate.

She'd finally managed to get around to asking Lucy and Cancer about a haircut- though she had earned a few arguments on that end by several people. All girls, all telling her it looked nice longer- but it was too freaking long, it took too much time to deal with and it was driving her crazy. They relented, and she had Cancer cut it back to the length she usually kept it- but a bit longer, just a little. It reached past her shoulders a bit more than the regular shoulder-length it had been for years. Frea didn't mind though, it was much easier to deal with now, even with a few extra inches.

Frea panted, her back falling against the grass and her eyes trailing up toward the slowly tinging orange sky overhead- covered in sweat and heart pounding after a hard day of conditioning. Training and hard work she'd been cleared for and started to do the last few days to try and regain her strength and get back in shape. She wore out faster than she was used to, but she could go longer everyday. And she was just glad to be moving again, working- doing something.

She let out a sigh, a shadow passing over her face as Moon lighted down beside her with a small smile. "You good?" The Exceed asked, Frea nodded.

"Hell yeah... I haven't felt this good in awhile, hehe..." Frea replied around her panting,

"You've been working hard. You've improved and gotten close to how in shape you were in just a week." Moon murmured, "I am impressed. You seem to be healing all the way, thankfully."

"Yeah... It's great..." Frea smiled slightly, "... I miss working..."

"Well, as long as you pace yourself I'm sure Porlyusica will be willing to clear you for something small." Moon replied,

"I hope so... Though knowing the Guild they'll not want to let me go at all." Frea sighed, "They might even try and babysit me..."

"... You haven't used Magic." Moon intoned, "... At least not on the scale of using it for a job. I know you've been focusing on controlling it, and keeping it in check even without the Limiter. But you are still out of practice on that end, Frea. And the Guild knows it."

"... I know... But I've been managing to keep my Magic under control without it. It's not up to full capacity yet, no. But it's been getting easier every time I try, at least a little." Frea replied softly. "And even if it was for a few seconds, I did use Magic against Serena relatively well. If I keep at it like I am, I think I'll manage a way to be OK."

"I know you will." Moon murmured, Frea glanced sideways toward her. "I have faith you'll contend with this challenge and find a solution. You are rather good at that."

"Hmm... Thanks for the vote of confidence." Frea smirked,

"That's what I'm here for." Moon purred, "... Have you talked with Saige at all?"

"No, and I don't think I will until I run out of ideas... Or he decides to show up on his own." Frea shrugged slightly. "I know he promised to help me out, but I also think he's willing to let me try and do things in my own time, first. As long as doing that doesn't get me in any sort of trouble." Moon nodded slightly in understanding,

"... Frea, I've been meaning to ask." Moon started after a moment of silence between them, Frea tilted her head in question. "... That ring, you've been wearing it all the time. I haven't seen it since before three weeks ago." Moon gestured toward said band on Frea's left thumb, "What is it for? It must be pretty important, you don't usually wear jewelry."

Frea sat up, sitting cross legged slightly as her hands fell in her lap.

"... Uh... I guess its kinda like a talisman of sorts?" Frea mumbled, Moon's head tilted at that. "... Its sort of like a reminder, of the people I used to know... People I lost, over the years. And something of... A guess a good luck charm... Sort of." Frea smiled a little nervously, "... Its a keepsake, more than anything. Something meant to be a reminder of people no one remembers... Since forgetting anyone isn't right, for any reason at all." Frea trailed off a minute, looking a little unsure of herself and the explanation as Moon simply blinked at her, before smiling softly.

Moon nodded slightly, "... I think I understand, Frea. I know how much holding on to memories means to you. I just wasn't sure what brought it up all of a sudden..?"

"... I ah... I remembered a few things, things I had forgotten about my life before I ended up with..." Frea swallowed a little,

It still hurts just thinking about her

"... With Chaitanya." She mumbled, Moon's eyes narrowed slightly. "... Like my family... Before I lost them."

Moon placed a paw on her Partner's knee, smiling gently as she gave her a small shake of her head. "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, Frea. I understand it's a sore subject." The Energy Dragon Slayer nodded slightly, "I'm sure they'd be happy to know you're still thinking about them, and keeping them in your thoughts."

"Thanks." Frea sighed, Moon nodded a little as settled on to her heels in front of the Energy Dragon Slayer.

"Are you planning to train some more tomorrow?" Moon asked, easily changing the subject.

"Yeah, that'd be the plan."

"... Do you want to train at the Guild Hall or no?" Moon hummed, "You might like a little light sparring with Solana, or Chase. I'm sure they'd be gentle on you." Frea sweatdropped, but not because of the gentle comment.

She had thus far avoided training at the Guild Hall- both because she didn't want to be watched over by everyone there and because the only place to train was in the very back, by the cliff and the-

She bit the inside of her cheek, hating the unease that settled in so deeply at the mere thought of the water, and the ocean- the sound of the waves, the place she had sent many people for a swim in their brawling before. It was fear, and it was ingrained in her very soul and... Shit.

I can't be afraid of water of all damned things... But I can't shake off the feeling either...

Showers were fine, even baths too as long as she didn't yet dunked underneath without warning- but the idea of deep waters, moving, churning, pulling water... She shuddered, despite herself.

I can't be... Its fucking water damn it!

She bit down on her cheek a little harder, before nodding slightly at Moon.

She had to get over it, face it if she had to- this stupid sudden fear of it couldn't stay, not when it freaked her out enough to lash out without thinking against Serena. She couldn't lose it like that again, she had to stay calm and focused... She'd never ever been afraid of something so stupid, and she didn't want to be. Changing that though, how she felt? She likely wouldn't have an easy time of it.

"...sure." Frea hummed, "... It'll be nice to have someone to spar with..." Frea paused, glaring slightly. "... And I don't need them to go gentle by the way, I'm perfectly capable of holding my own." She huffed, Moon smiled in amusement.

"Of course."

---

"Well, you're keeping up pretty well, Teach. Color me impressed." Chase smirked, his hand moving up to catch her fist as she swung it toward him- for a moment their quick movement around the clearing halted as she shot him a half-glare.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She grumbled, he chuckled.

"You've been out of commission for a little over three months, its not a stretch to think you might have lost your touch, ya know." He replied easily, Frea growled.

"Tch... As if!" Frea hissed, her fist breaking out of his hold as she stepped forward- Chase moved back to keep distance in between them but Frea moved faster than she had been the entire time, ducking behind him and ramming her elbow into the center of his back hard enough to make it stumble and cough. "Don't forget who trained you, Kid."

He coughed again, wincing as he turned toward her with a small, slightly exasperated smile. "... Not a kid, Teach." He sighed, "And of course I won't, but you are a little rusty regardless. Usually you'd have thrown me into the ocean by now." she sweatdropped slightly at the words, her eyes flashing. He blinked at the look, his eyes narrowing slightly as he felt something like... Unease, spark off of her for a second.

Weird...

"Shut it. I can still throw you across the yard, easy." Frea shot back instantly, he smiled.

"Then have at it, Teach." He chuckled, "It's been a long while since we brawled, its a little nostalgic."

"As nostalgic as getting your ass handed to you?" Frea smirked,

"Give me some credit, even when we were Training you hardly ever beat me that bad." He told her, "Grant you that was before you were S-Class, or a Wizard Saint..." Frea sweatdropped, shaking her head at him with a sigh.

"Kid." She grumbled,

"... regardless, I still like my chances." Chase chuckled, Frea smirked.

"You aren't going to win so easy!" She laughed, moving forward quickly again as she swung a fist out at him, he stepped to the side and brought his arms up to block the next hit, jumping sideways as Frea's knee came up and narrowly missed him.

"Neither are you." He chuckled, his palm swinging up to catch her on the shoulder and move her back, ducking under her fist and sidestepping passed her again, easily evading her. His palm moved out to strike her, only to halt when pain rammed into him hard enough to make his heart drop- Frea stiffened in front of him slightly as her eyes snapped closed against the chilly, terrible pain that sprung up from the depths of her core- and a sensation that had become too frequent and he hated it. He faltered, eyes glittering as his jaw clenched-

Frea's hand snatched down on to grab tight of his arm, her body twisting slightly to grab him as she thrust her back into him, pulling him over her shoulder to slam into the ground in front of her feet hard enough to drive the air out of him. He blinked, a little dazed as she leaned over, her hands falling on her knees and panting slightly as she seemed to try and settle her suddenly slightly shaky breathing. There was still pain prickling off of her, throbbing and bad enough he likely wouldn't have been able to move let alone throw him on the ground like she just did- and yet that is exactly what she did, even though breathing seemed awful enough.

Her jaw clenched, her fangs grinding down on eachother as her shoulders hunched for a few seconds, her breathing halting- before she let out a long, low, slow breath- her body relaxing in tandem with it.

"... Teach.." Chase mumbled, his blue eyes glittering as he remained where he was, watching her carefully above him.

"... you got distracted." Frea sighed, shaking her head a little as her eyes opened to look down at him. "... you hesitated too, bad move Kid. If I can push passed it without hesitating, so can you." He frowned slightly, she smiled slightly. "... thinking about it makes it worse, Kid... try and let it go, will you? I'm already learning to deal with it just fine."

"... you shouldn't have to just deal with it, Teach." He mumbled, a little stubbornly maybe. She let out a breath, he felt her pain fade to near nothing- though the knot in his stomach didn't go away.

"Hey, we already had this conversation, didn't we?" Frea hummed lightly, he gave her a half-hearted glare. "... you said you'd trust me, right? Trust me when I say I'm alright."

"... you make it hard, you know." He replied lowly, she chuckled.

"I know. I have been told several times I am a pain in the ass." Frea told him softly, "... it's not gotten any worse, you know that. I am dealing with it just fine, that's quite the accomplishment, all things considered."

"... well, you are a pain in the ass." He sighed, Frea blinked several times. He smiled, just slightly, and she shook her head at him.

"Idiot." She hummed, straightening up as he sat up too, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling under his breath.

"You two ready for a break?"

"You have been at it for an hour and a half already."

Chase and Frea glanced left, their eyes landing on Moon, Mira, Solana, Lucy and Wendy making their way up to the both of them.

"You totally got your ass handed to you, by the way." Solana smirked, her green gaze glittering as she shot the look toward Chase, who sweatdropped a little.

"Are you alright?" Wendy asked him, smiling slightly as she leaned over toward him. He gave her a small nod,

"Yeah, she didn't throw me too hard." He promised easily,

"You should probably give it a rest, Frea." Moon smiled, her head tilting toward the Guild Hall.

"I think you're going to give poor Master a heart attack." Mira smiled nervously, "He's been watching through the window the whole time." Frea sweatdropped slightly,

"... of course he has..." She mumbled, "... I was cleared to start training a week ago already, and it's not like I've been doing anything all that hard. He needs to learn to relax."

"But he won't." Lucy hummed,

"You looked great though, the both of you." Wendy smiled sweetly, "I'm really impressed with how good you two are at hand-to-hand combat." Chase gave her a smile and Frea glanced away in slight nervousness,

"You should see me brawl with someone, kiddo." Solana smirked at the little Dragon Slayer, "I bet ya I could take Frea on and win, no problem."

"You are really good at hand-to-hand combat though, Solana." Lucy smiled, "That's your talent, but I think in terms of Magical Power, Frea would still have you beat." Solana shrugged,

"Probably, but I'm still champ on the other end." Solana smiled, "Leo can't even win against me, and he's tried...mmm... I think we hit match number 57 last week?" Wendy sweatdropped,

"S-seriously..?!" The bluenette stammered,

"You two fight that often?" Lucy asked in surprise,

"Of course. He's got this idea he has to beat me, stubborn little cat he is." Solana smiled cheekily,

"I am a Lion, Solana. Not a cat." Came the voice out of the shimmer of gold that appeared beside the Sun Dragon Slayer, he pushed his glasses up his nose with a small glare at her. "I had a feeling you were talking about me."

"Only because I know it ticks you off." Solana shot back, he sighed.

"I plan to win in our next match, you know."

"Oh yes, cause I'm sure the 58th time's the charm." Lucy smiled, Loke sweatdropped at the comment. Solana simply grinned in clear amusement at what the blonde said,

Frea pulled Chase to his feet, shaking her head at the clear argument that was bound to break out- before blinking.

"... Moon, where's Carla?" Frea asked, Moon shrugged. Chase dusted off his clothes, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around too and found that Aisha was nowhere to be seen either.

"... huh..."

"Alright, who would like some lunch?" Mira asked brightly, breaking the staring contest between Solana and Loke in an instant- the redhead's attention snapping toward the other woman as she grinned toothily.

"Hell yeah! I'm starving!"

---

People were screaming, children crying, terror and fright all around 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 ram 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 has 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 sectional 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 shaking 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."

Carla shook her head slightly, sweatdropping as she stood in stillness on the table in front of a very silent MoonLight Mage she had pulled aside, the both of them alone now in the Guild's Library so they would not be overheard.

That same vision had been plaguing her the last two weeks, and it was always the same... try as she did, to make sense of it- Carla couldn't. And now at her wits end she had decided it was likely passed time to ask someone else's opinion on the matter. Because this Vision left her heart cold, her body filled with dread unlike any other... it was mayhem and slaughter all around. She shuddered,

"... is there something wrong?" Aisha asked flatly, her purple gaze glinting as Carla glanced up toward her slowly.

"... is there some significance in your last name?" Carla asked lowly, Aisha blinked in clear confusion at the question. "... other than it being your name... does it mean something? Is it a name you have always had... or is one you earned, when you were given that title, in that other country... Adgnei, was it?"

"... why?" Aisha asked lowly,

"... Aisha, I understand you have decided you would like to keep your personal affairs to yourself... as well as your connection with Adgnei." Carla murmured, Aisha frowned a little. "I would not be asking any of this, if it were not important.."

"So why are you?" Aisha grumbled, Carla sighed silently.

"I... I've been having the same Vision, over and over for a few weeks now." Carla murmured softly, "... it never changes, it's always... very, very bad. Some terrible disaster, a world where everything is being consumed... and at the end of it, there is someone, and they always say your last name. Or at least... I think it's your last name, that's what it sounds like to me; Celene." Carla shook her head a little, "It's so awful... I've been trying to make sense of it, but I can't. I don't know where this place is I am seeing, I don't know any of the people. It all looks so strange to me." Aisha's eyes narrowed, her arms crossing over her chest as she listened in stony silence.

"... what is happening, exactly?" Aisha asked slowly, Carla shivered again, her eyes falling on the table.

"... there are hundreds of people, they're running, and screaming... they're being attacked, gunned down in the streets by people with their faces hidden. The city around them is on fire, things are destroyed all around, there... there is blood everywhere." Carla hissed, "... There's some sort of palace, up on a mountain overlooking the valley that the city sits in. In the sky above it there is some vortex, spilling with Magic... the highest tower explodes, and the whole building crumbles in on itself- the vortex expands, black that swallows everything." Aisha sweatdropped a little, her eyes narrowing to slits. "... there is someone screaming, I don't know who... but as soon as the world goes dark, they stop. And someone says that, your last name." Carla shuddered again, "... that voice is so... evil. It chills me to my core."

Aisha glanced away for a minute, her eyes finding the window near the top of the wall and sweatdropping slightly.

No, that certainly didn't sound very good at all... a grim picture, given that many of the things Carla saw usually came to pass.

"... am I the first person you've talked to about this?" Aisha asked lowly, her eyes still fixed to the window.

"Yes."

Aisha's eyes fell closed a moment, "... and you said all the people, they looked strange to you? The city too?" The MoonLight Mage asked, Carla nodded.

"... yes, they are nothing like I've ever seen before." Carla murmured, her head tilting slightly at the questions.

"... a palace on a mountain... overlooking a valley, in which a strange city sits..." Aisha mumbled under her breath, "... with people strange to you as well... and someone saying my last name...?" Aisha's head tilted slightly, for a moment falling into silence as she seemed to fade into her own thoughts- Carla watched her intently. Her heart picked up when she saw slight, faint inklings of unease appear in the MoonLight Mage.

"... that is a disturbing description..." Aisha grumbled, shaking her head a little as her purple eyes landed on Carla again. "... Celene is the name I had long before earning my title in Adgnei- Solana shares it as well. And as far as I know, it means nothing else- it is simply a name." Carla sweatdropped a little and Aisha paused. "... name's do mean a great deal in Adgnei, however."

"What do you mean?" Carla asked,

"... Adgnei is divided into castes of Families with Royal, Noble, Middle and Lower classes." Aisha mumbled, "You are born into a caste based on your Family Name. Name is everything, because your name decides who you are, what job you are able to hold, where you live, how much influence you have- and even who you are allowed to speak to, let alone interact with freely." Carla blinked in surprise, "... Names can be traced back thousands of years. And most Family Names that are ancient, and have persisted through history- they hold a lot of power, and pull in the system and political affairs of Adgnei. Most people are stuck in their class, but a few have managed to move up by adopting a family name of higher value- through marriage, or agreement or by award... but it is not common. At all." She sighed,

"... you are not originally from Adgnei, are you?" Carla asked, "I had thought the both of you and Solana were born here, in Fiore...?"

"We were."

"... if Nobility in Adgnei are meant to be people with Family Names that trace back to the.. origins of Adgnei itself, how could you be among them?" Carla asked, "... you are a member of their Nobility Caste, aren't you? That's why you could call the Council away, start that Rite... Druhma...?"

"... I was a special circumstance." Aisha grumbled, "... Adgnei as a whole believes deeply in... spiritual powers that make up the essence of the world. Magic is one of the highest powers, and those who practice Magic that hold dominion over forces of nature, such as... the sun and the moon, are held in extremely high regard. They see people with Magic like mine as being close to the four Gods of Adgnei. So we are in a way... holy, respected, and revered." Aisha shook her head slightly, "... the ritual side of it, is that the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, the Sky and the Oceans are tied with the Gods. I am not only a user of Magic related to one of these Divine Powers, but I am also quite literally- the mortal soul of the moon itself. In Adgnei, that's about as close as you can get to being a... god."

"... are the other Nobility viewed like that...?" Carla asked, Aisha nodded.

"For the most part, all of the Noble Families who hold seats in Corielain are thought to be directly connected with one of the powers and dominions held by the Gods." Aisha huffed, "... my Name wasn't recognized in Adgnei until Corielain found out that I was the Cosmic Soul- and then they recorded my name into that of the Nobility Caste. Celene was never worth anything until Corielain said it was, and now it means... a great deal, to most in Adgnei. Thus the title, the power... and the ability to call even one of the most revered of Rites, such as Druhma."

"... I take it not anyone is allowed to call one?" Carla asked softly,

"Only members of Corielain, or Keistea are allowed." Aisha replied, Carla's head tilted at that and she sweatdropped. "... Keistea are the Religious Leaders; Priests and Priestesses devoted to the teachings of the Gods, and the care of the world and it's powers." She elaborated, Carla nodded slightly.

"... how long did you live there?" She asked, Aisha quirked a brow. "... It is an entirely different culture, from what I'm hearing, and yet you know it like the back of your hand. I imagine you must have spent a great deal of time there, before returning here."

"...tch... I only lived there for five years." Aisha grumbled lowly, Carla blinked in surprise.

"... why did you leave..?"

"Because it's corrupt." Aisha snapped lowly, earning a slight flinch from Carla at how harsh her voice got out of nowhere. "And the way they handle things, the people... It pissed me off. Now leave it at that."

"... alright... and thank you... for telling me this... though I fear it's given me no answers." Carla mumbled, Aisha growled. "... I don't suppose you have any enemies that would wish you harm, hmm?"

"...tch... I am not popular." Aisha growled, Carla blinked. "... at least not with the Nobility... and certainly not with Him..."

Him..?

Aisha shook her head a little, looking agitated as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"... if I am to be honest with you, Adgnei has been in a great amount of turmoil the last few years... conflict that has been brewing since I left. Conflict enough that it might be a concern, someday... even to the people here in Fiore." Aisha grumbled lowly, "... I cut ties and left and haven't cared about what's gone on in Adgnei for a very long time. I didn't want to get involved again... but now I'm thinking I might have no choice."

"What do you mean?" Carla asked, stepping a pace closer toward Aisha. "... you... you do think my vision has something to do with Adgnei..?!"

"You described a palace, one that sits on a mountain, and overlooks a valley; to which a strange city with strange people live." Aisha hissed lowly, her eyes fixed on the floor. "... strange to you, but probably not to me. Adgnei and Okeal- Palace to Corielain and the God-King. Okeal that sits at the head of the Valley of Seletiin, and overlooks the Capital of Coriisette below it."

Carla's eyes went wide, a bead of sweat falling down her face. Aisha's purple eyes flashed, sweatdropping slightly. "... At a guess, it's Adgnei's Capital City you see burning... it's people being slaughtered." Aisha hissed lowly, Carla bristled.

"B-but what would Adgnei have to do with any of us here...?!" She stammered, Aisha shook her head.

"I don't know... but I'll have to look into it, rekindle things with my contacts I left behind... shit." The MoonLight Mage growled under her breath, "... they're probably on the brink of Civil War... I am not gonna like this... at all."

"Do you think that... if Adgnei falls into war with itself, it'll spill over into Fiore..?" Carla asked lowly, Aisha stiffened, holding Carla's eyes for a few seconds as she seemed to swallow, her voice dropping very, very low.

"... I think if Adgnei goes into war with itself, Fiore isn't going to be the only country caught in the crossfire."

---

"... she's been in a foul mood the last four days." Moon hummed, her eyes catching sight of Aisha moving directly from the front doors of the Guild toward the Library. "You think she's on another assignment from Master?"

Lily's ear twitched slightly at the question, his own eyes following Aisha as she disappeared into the Library without a word. Both he and Moon were sitting at a table with Frea, Gajeel, Levy, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Natsu, Chase, Happy and Lucy- of which all previous mentions were in the middle of trying to convince Frea not to go on a job, or at least let them go with her... something like that. Frea had been working herself up to getting a smaller job, trying to appease the Guild and their very clear worry on the idea- and was hitting roadblock after roadblock. Moon could tell the Energy Dragon Slayer was getting annoyed with it- she was mostly healed now, spare a few cuts and bruises, and her stomach too... but her strength had come back and her work with her Magic had been going pretty well too.

Mostly she just wanted to get moving again, back to normal- the Guild was a little slower on the idea, understandably. Moon felt the same concern, but she also knew Frea was doing fine- and trusted a small job wouldn't do any harm at all.

Lily shook his head a little, "I'm not sure... I've not seen her talking with Master near at all." He replied, Moon nodded a little.

"... I don't know what's going on." Both Exceeds glanced around at the sound of Chase's voice- he wasn't in the debate it seemed, his eyes were locked on the door Aisha had disappeared through. "... She won't tell me what the hell is going on... But she's been running back and forth, getting letters and notes..."

"... Isn't that normal?" Moon asked,

"Yeah... but... This is different. She usually at least tells me what's going on, but..." Chase mumbled, shaking his head a little. "... And as far as I know she isn't working for Master... I get the feeling this is a bit more personal."

"... Personal?" Moon and Lily mumbled in tandem, Chase nodded slightly.

"... Something is eating Carla too." Chase sighed, "... I have to wonder if its about the same thing..."

"... You're right, Carla's been acting a bit odd too.." Moon mumbled, her eyes flashing a little. "... Maybe I should ask her about it..."

"... I haven't seen her nor Wendy today." Lily said softly,

"Oi..." Frea groaned, her head falling in her arms on top of the table. "... Why are you all so freaking stubborn...?!"

"..us?! You're just as stubborn as anyone, Frea!" Natsu huffed back, she shot him a glare.

"I really don't need you guys to tell me I can't go on a Job. And I sure as hell don't need you to come with a babysit me either." She grumbled, "... Look I know you're all worried, but it's not like I'm gonna run off and go head to head with a whole pack of Dark Wizards. I'm probably just gonna deliver something, or do easy work for one day..." She gave them all a pointed look, "That's not the sort of job I need ten people to come along for... For any reason."

They all frowned slightly, all of them tense still and not looking to budge a single inch on the issue. She really wished they would,

"... Come on, can you trust me to take one Mission without being watched over?" Frea asked lowly, "... I know it's hard, trying to get back to how things were before. I know you're all just worried and I appreciate it- really. But I need a little bit of normal after all of this, and one small job isn't gonna harm anything." They sweatdropped, fidgeting slightly. "... Besides, it's not like I'm gonna be all on my own, I'll have Moon with me. We'll be out and back before you know it, it's gonna be fine."

"I won't even go out of Magnolia if it makes you happy." She added in after a moment, even though she hated how much it sounded like she was begging.

They looked at her with a mix of worried and agitated expressions, all of them stiff-backed and frowning slightly as they seemed to mull over the request in their heads. This was a reaction she had expected, and dreaded- them not wanting to let her get back to work, back to moving and fighting. It was no surprise they were wary of the idea she'd get put in any sort of danger after all that had happened to her, and how long it had taken to get her back into the shape she was now- the idea of her being broken and wounded so badly was still raw, the months spent having her hardly able to move and walk and breathe- all of those memories still stung, and they stung badly.

It made them happy to see her near healed all the way, it even made them happy to think she was well enough to even think about going on a job at all- but they were still held back by the concern and the past they had all witnessed.

"... you'll stay in Magnolia?" Natsu grumbled lowly,

"Yes, I'll be in town, hardly a few minutes away from the Guild." Frea hummed, "You don't need to watch over me like a child, and you don't need to worry. I will be fine, I promise." She smiled slightly, her head tilting. They glanced between themselves, looking unsure, before nodding stiffly.

"... alright." They sighed, Frea smiled a bit more.

"Thank you."

---

"...I swear..." Frea grumbled under her breath, her back falling against the wall behind her as she propped her knee up in front of her, the other leg extended slightly as she sat on her favorite bench at the edge of a very empty, near dark Guild Hall. People has started filing out awhile ago and she'd taken the opportunity to go to the Request board and find some job that was local and easy to do... to which she now held that paper in one hand, her arm resting on her knee.

Hours more of debating on which one to take with everyone willing enough to argue it (which was still, many, many people... Natsu, Gray and Gajeel mostly though), until finally she had one that everyone was more or less willing to sit back and let her do all on her own.

Once they were more or less appeased, they'd all gone home as the day drew to an end- and it was Gajeel and Lily who left last, leaving Frea, Moon, Mira, Wendy, Lisanna, Elfman and Master still in the Guild- though Moon wasn't in sight.

... No, she's in the Library... With Carla...

She shook her head and stopped focusing on the Energy Signatures, lest it turn into another headache soon enough.

The sound of chairs being stacked and things being put up into their place was near the only sound in the hall at all, Frea's eyes trailing down toward the paper in hand again as she let out a silent breath.

It was a request for someone to come and help rearrange and move things around one of the local bookstores in Magnolia's town square- it was one of the uncommon Job requests that didn't actually require the use of Magic for fighting or the like, but it was local, it was small... and she'd be happy to be doing anything at all, to be quite honest. Even if it did seem more Levy's sort of Job than hers, it was a good starting point.

Frea herself couldn't remember going to this particular store, but she did remember passing it by several times- it was pretty big, which meant she was probably going to be working for awhile tomorrow. And she was perfectly fine with that,

"Yo~!"

She glanced up from the paper in surprise, blinking several times at the voice and the trio that was suddenly stopped in front of her.

Evergreen, Freed and Bixlow all stood in front of her, the latter two smiling as Evergreen stood with nothing but a calm expression on her face. Frea blinked at them, her head tilting slightly. She hadn't really taken note of it, but their Energy Signatures had been around and near enough to be in the Guild, though without having seen them on the first floor she hadn't really registered the fact they were still around.

"Finally settle on a job everyone else can agree with?" Bixlow chuckled, Frea smiled slightly.

"Yeah... It only took near three hours of arguing..." She mumbled lightly,

"Has Porlyusica cleared you for work again, then?" Freed asked, Frea nodded.

"Yeah, though she did tell me to take it slow about a dozen times." Frea chuckled softly, "Her and everyone else..." He nodded slightly in understanding, Frea tilted her head though. "What's up? Was there something the three of you needed?"

"Ah, we simply had a mind to ask you something." Freed replied lightly, Frea blinked at that.

"Ask me something...?" She echoed uncertainly, all three of them nodded.

"We were looking to ask if you would come along with us." Evergreen said simply, her hands extending with a piece of paper in it as she held it up for Frea to read with ease. The Energy Dragon Slayer stiffened, her eyes falling on the page and scanning the words quickly. Evergreen's free hand fell on her hip as her eyes closed, "After you are finished with your job tomorrow, of course."

"Ever brought it up first, but we think it'd be super cool to have you help us out, hehe~!" Bixlow smirked,

"Cool! Cool!" His Tiki Dolls chanted,

Frea sweatdropped slightly, her eyes scanning over the details on the paper one more time and a little taken aback.

"... but... I'm a little confused..." Frea mumbled, her head tilting passed the paper to glance at the three of them again. "... this Job... you three can handle it no problem, why do you want my help?"

Freed smiled, "We haven't had the chance to work together for a very long while, if I am remembering correctly." He told her, she blinked.

"Yeah, what with you and the Boss hatin' eachother's guts for so long we never even thought about working together." Bixlow laughed lightly, "The last time I ever remember going on a job with ya was before we formed the Thunder Legion."

"And that was quite a long time ago." Evergreen mumbled, her hand withdrawing with the paper in it.

"... Yeah... I guess it was..." Frea mumbled,

"It would be a pleasure to work with you again, should you like to." Freed smiled,

"So? What do ya say?" Bixlow smirked, his tongue sticking out. Evergreen pushed her glasses up her nose,

"It's not as if you're looking to have everyone else babysit you." Evergreen mumbled, "You'll find none of that from us, trust me."

"We know you're more than capable of handling your own. It'll be quite the adventure to see you in action again." Freed hummed, "Hmm, I myself am rather excited to see your skills put to the test firsthand."

"Hell yeah~!" Bixlow agreed,

"So?" Evergreen mumbled, Frea blinked one more time, before smiling slightly.

"I'd love to work with you." She replied lightly, "It'll be a nice start, I'm sure working with the three of you will be plenty of fun. Thank you for asking me to come along, I'm looking forward to it."

"We're happy to have you along." Freed smiled back,

"This is gonna be great~" Bixlow smirked,

"I am excited to see what happens, I will admit." Evergreen smiled, just slightly. Frea grinned, her eyes flashing.

"Me too."

---

"Thank you so very much for all your help!" Came the light, sweet little voice belonging to the man who owned the bookstore. He was about a head shorter than she was, his dark hair fading into grey at the top in age, bits and specks of the same color in his beard. His voice was soft and low, and almost a little too high than what men usually sounded like- on the end of his nose sitting a pair of glasses he was constantly pushing up and down without end.

"You've rearranged nearly all of my store in so little time!" He hummed, in his hands a stack of books- now paused at the end of the aisle, his eyes landing on Frea as she leaned back away from the shelf to look at him. "I'm very honored to have one of Fairy Tail's S-Class helping me with something like this." He chuckled, his head tilting as he gave her a slightly embarrassed smile. "This can't be anything like the Jobs you usually fulfill..."

"Oh it's not a problem, really." Frea smiled slightly, "Truth be told I've been out of commission for a few months, so I'm easing back into working again. Helping out here is a great first job after so long, and I'm enjoying it."

"Well I am glad to hear it!" He replied brightly, "I am also glad to hear you're getting back to work, I expect something serious must have happened to have an S-Class out for that amount of time." She nodded slightly,

"Yeah..." She sighed, her eyes flicking away from him and toward the very, very large stack of books floating overhead and resting atop a smooth, shining silver box- one of several all around the shop and all of them holding stacks of books and the like.

"Well, you're nearly finished with the second floor... And its hardly even an hour after noon!"The man smiled, "Ah, you are such a hard worker- and so efficient too! I'm so happy to have your help, it's gone so much more smoothly than I'd hoped!"

"... I'm glad you think so." Frea smiled, her eyes trailing from the books toward him again. "... Did you want the third floor done to, or..?"

"Oh, no! Just continue rotating that list of titles from here to the main floor, and placing everything else back in its new place!" He smiled, "The third floor isn't part of the store itself, it's my living section- so no need!"

"Alright." Frea smiled, "Have you seen Moon, by chance?" She asked after a second, her attention casting out to find the Exceed's Energy Signature in the shop- only not to find it at all.

"Ah, I found your little friend tucked away in the Geography and Foreign Nations section a few minutes ago." The man replied easily, his feet taking him toward the stairs with the pile of books still in hand. "I sent her out for some lunch, I hope you don't mind? I think you could use a good meal after working so hard~!" Frea smiled slightly,

"I don't mind at all, that was a good idea, thank you." She hummed, he nodded started down the stairs.

"My pleasure~!" He chirped back, before fading from sight down the steps and leaving Frea in her work.

I didn't even notice she left... I've been so absorbed in working... But it's nice to be doing something.

Frea smiled slightly, her hand moving slightly as one of the Energy Boxes lowered and the books set atop it too. She could feel her Magic pulsing under her skin, stronger and more potent now than it had been with Serena- as Saige predicted, her Magic had been getting stronger, growing more with time and she could feel it teeming inside her body more and more as the days passed. There was more shaved off and trapped inside the Limiter now, bigger portions that might have been overflowing and too volatile for her to handle herself... She'd been working on taking the Limiter off and holding against her Magic all on her own since getting back into Training. It was harder to keep it in check the more it came back, but she'd yet to find herself in a situation where she couldn't keep it in control- so that was something.

Even using her Magic here and now took control and precision- those Energy Boxes had always been hell to handle since she created the Spell, and they still were. She had to be careful and mindful of them, concentrated on keeping them up and solid- and that was exactly the sort of care and control she was needing and had been working on, so it was a win in itself.

A very good starter job...

Frea hummed a little, smirking slightly.

... And tomorrow I'm going on another one, and this one is actually going to involve fighting.

She paused, well- fighting yes, but nothing hard and probably not a lot. Not with herself and the trio of Evergreen, Bixlow and Freed along- all of them very capable Mages on their own. The job they had invited her on was easy- by both her standards, and there's- as she had noted immediately upon being asked.

The Job itself detailed the eradication of a small, little Dark Guild out in the canyons west of Magnolia- who were there to capture wild beasts and the like and sell them as pets, guards, weapons, food, etc. They were low-level thugs and Wizards at best, and the work itself was going to be minimal- but Frea was honestly excited for it none the less.

A job that involves any semblance of fighting was a bonus, more so that the people she was going with hadn't forced her to bring them along like everyone else had been trying to do.

Frea paused, blinking a few times.

Now that she was thinking about it... Did they ask her on purpose? Just so she could make the choice herself?

She smiled a little, shaking her head as she hummed under her breath. She picked up a few books and moved to place them on the shelf again,

... Well then... hehe...

---

Moon let out a low sigh as she floated along down the street, bag and food in hand and floating lazily between people back toward the bookstore she had left behind half an hour beforehand.

It felt good to get out into the fresh air, she hadn't realized just how immersed she has gotten in that store, buried among all the books and the questions...

She'd found Carla yesterday, and inquired as to why the white Exceed had been acting so off lately. And the explanation was... Disconcerting.

Of the few things in her life Moon wished she hadn't scanned someone's Memories about (the very first one on that list being that night they brought Frea back after Mordren...)- she regretted letting herself see what havoc and slaughter took place in the vision Carla had apparently been having for awhile now. It was an unpleasant scene of events- and a foreboding one if it came to pass.

Carla had explained that she had already detailed this vision to Aisha- to who's last name they thought was being spoken at the end. Aisha herself seemed disconcerted by the vision, but mostly because what Carla described of it- sounded an awful lot to her like that country she had left behind so long ago.

Adgnei

A connection between the ominous vision and the MoonLight that was surely the reason she had been so moody the last few days- more so than usual, anyway.

Carla told her that Aisha had said little about it after coming to the conclusion it might be Adgnei she was seeing- what little Carla knew of what the MoonLight Mage had been doing; she seemed to be trying to collect information about what was going on in Adgnei now. She seemed to have cut ties with the country and wasn't up to date with what was going on there- so she'd delved into reforging relationships with the people and the contacts she had left behind. Hard work, given how much effort and time she had put into doing so the last couple of days- she never seemed to pause.

Though that also meant she hadn't taken any time to tell Carla about what she had found out and put together, so the white she-cat had little clue if things in Adgnei were dire enough to serve as a sign that worse things were to come.

But having seen the devastation and the mayhem for herself, Moon was just as wary of what might happen as Carla was. That was why she had taken the chance to be in the Bookstore as an opportunity to read up on Adgnei, it's customs and a laws and layout- or at least, what little was actually written in books that could be found in Ishgar and Fiore. It seemed from the few books she found on the subject that most people in this country knew anything about Adgnei at all- maybe not so surprising, considering she and everyone else hadn't seemed to have even heard about Adgnei until Aisha had brought it up.

It really wasn't common for Carla to get premonitions that didn't affect the people around her in some way, which meant it might not just be Aisha that gets put in the firing line- and that thought worried her, a lot.

... it's only been three months since what happened with Mordren... things are finally back to normal, I don't know if the Guild can take another crisis after all of that.

She grimaced slightly, her hold on the bag tightening a little bit.

... I don't know if I can handle another one either...

The bookstore came into sight after a few more moments, the sign in the door reading 'closed' for the reorganizing and restocking that Frea had taken the job to do. Moon nudged the door open, her blue eyes scanning the first floor and seeing it empty from anyone else-

"I'm back." Moon called softly, floating toward the stairs and moving up along them to the second floor. "I brought food, Frea. It's time you take a break-"

Moon paused, her eyes widening in surprise to find that the second floor she had left looking disorganized and littered in silver boxes stacked with books was almost entirely organized again- all of the books stacked neatly on the shelves in the order they were meant to be, with only a few stacks of them at the stairs that would need to be taken downstairs. Frea turned toward the sound of Moon's voice, her hands falling on her hips and smiling brightly.

"Ah, smells good!" Frea hummed lightly, her nose twitching slightly. "What's with the face?"

"... I wasn't gone that long, and you look nearly finished." Moon mumbled, "I didn't realize you could work so fast on something so... bland."

"Ah, come on it's not that boring." Frea chuckled, "It's actually kind of nice, even if it's not my regular sort of job- I'm glad to be doing something productive." Moon smiled slightly,

"You do get pretty stir-crazy." Moon relented, floating forward toward her Partner. "Three months is impressive to sit still- especially when you never usually go more than a few days without getting your hands dirty."

"Hehe, give me a break." Frea shot back lightly, "I can be patient when I want to be!"

"Rarely." Moon smirked, Frea shrugged.

"Oh hush." Frea smiled, "So, what did ya bring to eat? My mouth's watering already~!"

"Patience." Moon purred, smirking still as she moved the bag out of Frea's reach. "I bought some for the owner too, I'm gonna give him his share first before you devour it all."

"Oi!" Frea growled, Moon only laughed.

"Take a seat, I'll be right back." Moon told her, "Do you happen to know where he is, by the way?" She asked, Frea sighed, her head tilting to the left toward the back of the floor. Moon nodded in understanding, turning away and moving toward the direction Frea had motioned- and leaving the Energy Dragon with a grumbling stomach.

Frea watched Moon float off with a small frown, her shoulders sagging slightly as she glanced away from the Exceed and toward the open window behind her- blinking a few times as her attention found someone else.

She moved toward the window, blinking a few times as she let her hands rest against the sill, leaning over and out of it slightly as she glanced down toward the street.

"Hey~" Came the familiar voice, his lips pulled into a carefree smile, cloak on his shoulders and bag packed and slung over his shoulder. He waved his free hand up at her, eyes glittering slightly as she tilted her head in a bit of confusion.

"Gildarts..." Frea mumbled,

"How's the job going?" He smirked, she smiled slightly. "Bored yet?"

"Of course not." She replied lightly, "It's going great, at any rate..." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she let out a breath. "... I take it the visit is because you're about to head out, hmm?"

"Heh, perceptive as ever." He chuckled lightly, Frea hummed, before lightly moving out of the window and landing lightly on the street in front of him. He smiled slightly at the movement, watching her easily and none too bothered by the sudden movement out of the building. "Of course it's not a surprise, you always were a clever one." Frea smirked a little,

"Ah, you can't talk- you were hardly ever around when I was younger." Frea shot back lightly,

"Hmm, I needn't be around to know how smart you are, though." Gildarts replied easily, "I always knew you were one strong kid, even long before being S-Class and whatnot. More so now with everything that's gone on, ya probably got me beat in Magic Power at this point."

"... don't count on that..." Frea smiled in slight nervousness, he shrugged slightly.

"Anyway, I thought I'd better say goodbye, and wish ya luck." He smiled, she nodded slightly. "Somethin' tells me you're gonna be getting up to a lot more in the future, but I'm sure you'll be ok. You're pretty tough, and you've got a bunch of others in the Guild looking out for ya too." Frea smiled slightly, nodding just once.

"Yeah," Frea agreed softly,

"You've done good, beating Mordren, getting back on your feet, handling the Council..." He chuckled, Frea blushed slightly at the praise, but he shook his head, shrugging the thought off as his hand fell on his hip. "Keep up the good work, yeah? And keep on keeping an eye on the Guild too, hmm?" He smirked a little, "But maybe keep out of too much trouble a bit longer, alright? Give Makarov a little while longer of peace of mind, you know he worries over you like no one else." Frea sweatdropped slightly, nodding a bit.

"Yeah, I know... I'll do my best to keep from stressing him out too much." Frea promised softly, "It's not my intention to worry him so much..."

"But ya can't help it." Gildarts hummed, "He's a bit more protective of you than everyone else, you know. You were the first wayward kid he brought into the Guild after all." Frea sweatdropped slightly, her eyes glittering at the words. "He's had all these years to grow extra attached-"

Frea blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Gildarts lips curl into a slightly coy little smile,

"Speaking of growing extra attached," He chuckled, leaning in a little. "There's a certain moody blonde S-Class who's gotten pretty cozy around you, huh?" Frea stiffened, completely silent as his smirk grew a little wider, looking all the more amused. "Don't think I haven't noticed how clingy he's gotten around you, or how caught up in your business he's been either. He used to never bother with anybody for any reason at all- but not anymore, huh? He's been very interested in what you do, and how you are~!"

Frea sweatdropped heavily, blushing despite herself as she bit the inside of her cheek.

"Hehe, I didn't think he'd ever outgrow that rebellious faze of his, let alone grow into someone who could or would care about someone like he seems to you, Frea." Gildarts grinned, "Didn't you two used to throw eachother through walls just because you glanced at eachother funny? I know he's changed since getting kicked out, but I'm still a little surprised- it's like he's a whole different person... and I think a lot of it has to do with that Thunder Legion- and you." Frea felt her heart jump slightly, her cheeks flushing as she blinked in rapidity at the words.

"... heh..?"

"Ah, come on you can't give me that look." he laughed, "You're perceptive as all hell, and you've always had a knack for reading people- but you are seriously behind on things that involve yourself, huh?" He shrugged, shaking his head as his hand moves up to land on top of hers, patting her head a few times. "Man, you really are pretty slow when it comes to stuff like this, hmm? Better figure it out soon, I expect to hear the announcement by the time I get back ya know." He smirked, "And no worries about feeling singled out, I already had my fun with him about all of this- and he didn't even try to zap me. For the first time in a long while it seems he actually pieced all of it together before you have, Frea. Hehe~"

Frea stared, her mind reeling slightly at both the words and the very unexpected action of him patting her head-

What the hell does he mean, announcement? And what the hell has he pieced together before me..?

He rubbed her hair a little, smirking still before pulling his hand back again. "Ah, well away from that- I should probably head out. Got a lot of walking to do, places to see." He smiled, "Good luck with the rest of this job, and the one you're heading out to tomorrow. Be careful too, yeah?" He didn't wait for a response, he stepped back and started to turn, waving a hand over his shoulder.

"See ya. Tell Moon I said bye... I won't be seeing you for awhile, Frea."

He left her there, completely lost and stiff in her place as she watched him disappear up the street.

... What the hell... Was that...?

"Hmm? Frea what are you doing down there?"

Moon's voice broke into her thoughts, catching her attention as she glanced up towards the window again to see Moon there with a tilted hear and a questioning look.

"... Gildarts dropped by to say... Bye." Frea replied slowly, Moon's ears parked slightly.

"Ah, so he's headed off again?" Moon hummed, shaking her head with a small smile. "Figures, he seems to have stuck around a lot longer this time than he usually does." Frea nodded in slight agreement,

"... He said to tell you bye." Frea added, Moon smiled with a small nod.

"Thanks for telling me, but aren't you hungry?" The Exceed purred, Frea's lips twitched in a sudden smile.

"Hell yeah." Frea smirked, turning a bit more before easily hopping back up onto the window. Moon backed up to give her room to come in, shaking her head in amusement. "So? What did you bring?"

"Food from that cafe and bakery you like so much." Moon replied easily, Frea's eyes shone.

"Moon you're the best!" Frea grinned, Moon smiled.

"I know." She purred, Frea chuckled.

---

Gajeel and Natsu glanced up from their food, their eyes snapping toward the front of the Guild Hall and noses twitching- immediately catching on to a scent that was familiar, but not enough to be anyone in the Guild. Levy and Lucy glanced up when they noticed the two boys had quit in their eating, their conversation halting as Happy paused too- his teeth still sunken in on the fish in his paws. All of their eyes turned where the Dragon Slayers had- to the door and the tall, lean figure of a man with a long coat on, and blue eyes- who was glancing around the hall quickly, calm as can be, intent.

"Hmm?" Lucy hummed, her head tilting a little. "... Who's that?"

"He looks a little familiar, though I'm not sure why." Levy mumbled,

"... Ain't that the guy that was all over Frea at the Rainbow Sakura Festival?" Natsu mumbled around a mouth full of food,

"The one that kept callin' her... Dove?" Happy asked around his fish, Gajeel huffed slightly

"Oh you're right." Levy hummed, "I remember him now,"

"What's he doing here though?" Lucy mumbled aloud,

"I'm sorry, who's calling Frea 'Dove'?" Loke grumbled, appearing in a haze of gold and sitting beside Lucy with a quirked brow, pushing his glasses up his nose. Lucy sweatdropped slightly, her head tilting toward the front door and the man standing there. Loke blinked, his head tilting slightly at the new arrival. "... that guy...?"

"Hello, welcome to Fairy Tail." Mirajane had moved toward Iidren with a gentle, polite smile on her face. She stopped in front of him, her hands clasped in front of her and blue eyes glittering. "It's Iidren, right? We met each other at the Sakura Festival." Iidren smiled slightly, nodding a little bit.

"Indeed. I remember you well, my dear. It'd be hard to forget the face of Fairy Tail's famous model, and She-Devil." Iidren replied coolly, Mirajane smiled a little more at the reply, looking slightly embarrassed- though for some reason he seemed more somber than he had when they had met the first time. Less... enthusiastic.

"How may I help you, then?" Mirajane asked, her head tilting slightly. "The Caravan isn't in town, I assume? Are you on your own?"

"Indeed I am, I took a little leave of absence." Iidren hummed, "I was actually hoping to find Frea for a bit of a chat while I am in town, though it seems she is not here at the moment, hmm?"

"Ah, sorry to say she isn't. She's actually out working a Job in town at the moment." Mira replied lightly, "I'm sure she will be back in a few hours, you are welcome to wait here in the meantime if you'd like. Or I could tell you where she is, I'm sure she wouldn't mind a surprise visit."

"Tempting as both of those options sound, I think it'd be best if I simply came back here a bit later." Iidren chuckled softly, "I can stock up on a few supplies in the meantime, and it's nothing urgent anyway. I wouldn't want to interrupt her working." Mira nodded,

"If that's what you want, I won't argue on the point." Mira hummed, "If Frea does come back a little sooner, I'll tell her you stopped by."

"Thank you, it is much appreciated." Iidren smiled, dipping his head toward her slightly. "I suppose I'll likely be seeing you later, hmm?" He turned to leave, waving slightly toward her as he headed out again ending what incredibly short visit it had been.

"Till then~"

"... why do you suppose he's appeared now so suddenly?" Erza mumbled, suddenly halting at Mira's shoulder as the redhead watched the doors close again after Iidren moved out of them.

"I can't say, really." Mira hummed, "But he seems a little off... he was so vocal and bright at the Festival, he seems a little worn down and somber now." Mira's arms crossed over her chest lightly, "I wonder if something's the matter?" Erza nodded stiffly,

"Perhaps something has come up? Something to force him into a leave of absence away from his work?" Erza hummed lowly,

"Call it a hunch... But I don't think that's it."

Erza and Mira jumped a little at the sudden voice, their eyes moving toward Loke who stopped beside them. They hadn't even been aware he was in the Guild, let alone approaching them. He sighed a little with his hands in his pockets, casting both women a look as he came to a halt.

"At least about trouble... I don't think it's in the way you're thinking." Loke mumbled, "... That look he had- it wasn't like someone in danger or anything. It looked more to me like he just... Has something to say, to Frea." They blinked, his eyes narrowed slightly. "... This is kinda new to me since I missed the Festival, but this guy and Frea seemed pretty close when you saw them together, right? And that nickname Happy said he has for her, its kinda... Endearing."

"... Yes, I agree on that end." Erza mumbled,

"And they did seem pretty familiar with one another." Mira murmured, Loke blinked, nodding just once to show he heard them as his eyes narrowing to slits at the door.

---

"You're being extra evasive today, Frea." Loke mumbled, smiling slightly as he tilted his head at the Energy Mage sitting on the wall next to him, her eyes flashing slightly as she glanced away from him. He nudged her with his elbow a little, "Come on, you're always telling me to quit with the being down all the time- I can tell something's bothering you, you know." She stiffened a little, her eyes falling on the water channel below them. He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he bit the inside of his cheek a moment.

"... Frea, what's wrong?" He asked, his voice dropping and the teasing tone dropping with it. "You're not usually so tense..."

"... it's complicated." She grumbled, "... I think I might have screwed up a little, and there's no way for me to... fix it." She sighed, shaking her head a little- Loke blinked, his head tilting a little more. Her hands in between her legs and gripping the edge of the wall tightened a little, her eyes flashing and narrowed to slits.

"... screwed up?" He echoed lowly,

"... I'm not like everybody else... I can't just ignore how people feel, even when I want to... for someone who can literally feel emotions I totally blanked out on this one... until it was too late to stop myself, when I realized just what I did." Her head hung a little, her shoulders hunching slightly as she growled. "... damn it... I hate dealing with crap like this... I hate I didn't realize what I was doing..."

"Ugh..!" She groaned, leaning back and letting her back hit the wall so her head could hang off the edge, her arms crossing as she held them against her forehead. Loke blinked a few times at the reaction, watching her in slightly stunned silence. "Damn it, I'm not even that sort of person and I still went ahead anyway! I don't know what the hell I was thinking... I'm not like you, damn it." He stiffened, eyes widening as his jaw dropped slightly.

"W-wait, what? Where do I fit into this?" He asked quickly, she stiffened a little, her arms moving as she glanced up at him, chewing on the inside of her cheek a little.

"... damn it, you asked... and I started rambling... ugh..." She grumbled hotly, "... I hate this..."

"Hey, what about me?" He pressed, Frea looked away and Loke went rigid- eyes widening to see her blush suddenly.

"... you know... the way you go around... flirting... and being with girls... and then... you know..." Frea grumbled lowly, looking more flustered by the second.

His face went red, head steaming as he looked away quickly. "U-uhm, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with where this conversation is going... Frea... those details are a bit to personal I think..."

She sat up quickly, her face flushing more as she shook her head at him furiously, "N-no! Not that, geez you freakin' playboy!" She snapped, "I meant breaking up with people, s-stringing them along..!" He halted, blinking several times as his mind shuddered to a half-halt.

"... hold on a minute, that's what you're talking about?" He stammered slightly, "... I-I don't break people's hearts Frea, what the hell...?!" She smacked him roughly across the shoulder, looking agitated as all hell.

"Bullshit! You pick up girls left and right and break up with them like it's nobody's business!" She snapped back hotly, he smiled nervously. "You really think none of them feel like their heart's got broken, or that you strung them along..?! I know you don't do it to be mean idiot, but you do do it! Don't try and lie to me!"

"Owww, fine, fine... give it a rest with the yelling..!" Loke sighed, smiling slightly as she huffed at him. "... so? You trying to tell me you broke some poor guy's heart, Frea?" He smirked as she grimaced and quickly looked away. "Oh you did, I didn't even know you were dating anyone! What's with the secrecy, huh?"

"I... I wasn't... I mean... we never labeled it like that... it was just..." She grumbled,

"A fling?" He smiled, she sweatdropped. "What's with the long face? I'm a little surprised but it's not like it's a bad thing, Frea."

"... it's complicated, alright...? I don't feel it's right to call it a 'fling'... I don't know what to call it... and it is a bad thing, trust me." Frea grumbled lowly, he blinked, his smile fading slightly.

"... you're really worked up about this, huh?" He murmured, she sighed a little. "Look, sorry for laughing, I didn't realize you were so torn up about it, Frea... though to be fair, you didn't really explain what the issue was all that well..." She shook her head slightly,

"It's fine..." She mumbled, he leaned in a little bit.

"Ya wanna tell me what's really eating you about it?" He asked lightly, she hesitated, her eyes falling on her hands and not on him as she kept quiet for a long while.

"... This... This guy... I've known him a long while... We've always been close... But..." She hissed, "... I didn't mean to give him a reason to think I felt the same way he does... And I know how he feels, he really does..." Frea grumbled, her voice dropping away again as he let out a breath.

"... But he figured out that you don't." Loke hummed, "... I take it that didn't end well?"

"... He accepted it." Frea mumbled, Loke blinked in surprise. "... He just smiled and said it was fine, that he'd guessed it awhile ago... But he still went on with it, he asked if we could still be friends..."

"... So what's the problem..?"

"... I feel emotions... Even though he smiled and said it was ok, that he didn't regret it... He was hurting." Frea growled, "... He was hurt and sad and... Betrayed, almost... I didn't want to do that. I never meant to... I didn't realize that letting myself be around him that long was gonna end up hurting him... I didn't think... Not even though I knew the way I felt wasn't the same..." She let her forehead fall in her hands, her shoulders rigid.

"... Damn it... I don't mean to hurt people like that... But I always end up doing it... Even in things I hardly ever get involved in..." She hissed, Loke's eyes flashed. "... He's my friend... And I broke him..."

She trailed off a little, Loke holding her in his gaze in silence, and quite unsure of what to say. After all- this was a subject that had never cropped up between the two of them and honestly, it was one he never expected to. This side of Frea was unexpected too, a Frea with a relationship of a romantic sort was probably the last thing he excepted- and more so the fact that she seemed to torn up and guilty about what had happened too.

What she said, about always ending up hurting people? It was a small sliver of the side of Frea he had seen rarely- but seen before none the less. She hated the idea of hurting the people she cared for in any way, he had come to realize that- and he knew it ate at her, though she hardly ever brought it up.

It was immediately clear that whoever this guy was- she did care about him, a lot. He was her friend and probably a close one at that (and he had to assume it was someone outside the Guild... Call it a hunch), and to know she was the reason he was in pain- she hated that. Hated it to the point she was acting like this, so unlike herself...

"... You didn't break him, whoever he is, Frea." Loke sighed, she shot him a half-hearted glare. "Rejection stings, and I might be a little raw now... But the way it sounds, he already had an idea you weren't in to him like that. And he doesn't sound like he holds it against you either, if he accepted how you feel and still wants to be friends... you really shouldn't feel so bad about it. It's his choice, right? If being friends is what he wants, even knowing it'll never go anywhere- well, that sounds a lot better than how these things usually go." He smiled slightly as she frowned at him, just a little. "... I think he'll get over it, Frea. You don't need to feel bad over how you really feel, it'd be a lot worse if you never admitted to it."

"... Should I really be taking advice on this from a infamous playboy...?" She grumbled after a minute, he chuckled a little.

"I might be a playboy, but I am your friend first." He replied easily, she smiled just faintly. "Come on, it's not like you to get dragged down by stuff like this. You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sure this'll blow over in time and you and whoever this guy is- you'll still be easy friends, I'm sure of it."

"... I hope you're right." She mumbled,

"I am, you'll see." he smirked, before getting to his feet and getting off the wall. "Come on, let's grab some food." Frea blinked, before smirking a little herself and getting off the wall too.

"Sounds good." She hummed, her usual bright demeanor shinning through in no time. He smiled, the two of them starting down the road-

"Mmm, Loke?" Frea hummed,

"Yeah?"

"If you ever mention any of this to anyone at the Guild, I will kill you."

"...r-right... Wouldn't dream of it, Frea.."

---

"... Then I'm pretty sure he's here just to talk to her. Check in, straighten things out... Maybe settle something too." Loke breathed, Mira and Erza blinked in question at the words. "... I think Frea mentioned this guy to me, a long time ago... From what I got out of it, things between her and him are a little complicated... But they still seemed on pretty good terms." He paused, sweatdropping slightly. "... I gotta wonder if maybe he's heard about what happened, and that's why he showed up out of the blue..." Loke grimaced slightly, light bouncing off his glasses for a moment. "... I can't imagine what he might have heard, if someone did tell him about what went on with Mordren..."

---

"Hmm, I wasn't planning on chatting with you." Iidren hummed lightly, his entire countenance nothing but calm and slight, faint amusement as he paused at the gate to Fairy Tail's courtyard. He smiled slightly, his blue eyes flashing as he settled eyes on the man that was suddenly there waiting for him.

"Truth be told I didn't see a need, I'm not here to invade on your life. And I'm certainly not here to cause a rift of any sort between you and Frea." Iidren sighed, smiling still as he shrugged. "Even if I did have any sort of lingering displeasure about the situation, I don't think it'd be wise to make an enemy of the man who defeated Jura of the Ten Wizard Saints." He smiled still, his hands resting on his hips. "I am a capable Mage, but even I know when I'm beat."

"... If you ain't looking to start trouble, why the hell are you here?" Laxus grumbled lowly, his aqua blue gaze narrowed to slits on Iidren who looked not at all daunted by the very serious looking Lightning Dragon Slayer. Iidren smirked a little, his eyes glittering in amusement.

"Oh, I am irking you slightly... Have I invaded on your territory...?" Iidren chuckled, "I think I've known Frea long enough to realize you Dragon Slayers are a bit protective of the things you care about... It's almost uncanny." Iidren shook his head, shrugging the thought off and uncaring of the small glare he received to the words.

"I promise you, my only motivation for being here is to have a conversation with Frea." Iidren hummed lightly, "... Truth be told I think this will likely be the last time I see her for a very, very long time..." Laxus blinked, Iidren's eyes fell closed as he let out a low breath.

"... The Caravan passed through SaberTown to resupply a few days ago, and I ended up running in to those two Dragon Slayers from the Festival." Iidren mumbled, his eyes falling on the sky as his head tilted back. "... When I left here last, I left knowing that Frea was going to end up in some sort of trouble, something big... And dangerous." He grimaced slightly, "... She'd lost all her optimism, it was like she knew she wasn't going to come back, when it finally came to a head..."

Laxus stiffened slightly, his eyes flashing at the comment.

---

"... I wasn't supposed to come back..!" She snapped hoarsely, her voice cracking as he stiffened, eyes widening slightly to see the sheer terror and pain cross her expression in that next instant- destroying what annoyance had flared in his core just beforehand.

"I used my Chance..! I knew what would... Happen! I've been fighting it so long... I've had the world thrown at me... I've been beaten down so many times... Too many times! I've been to.. T-to the Reach more... More than I am supposed to...! I've come back too... T-too many damn times... And now you... You jumped in after me... You could have... Fucking died for me..! ... I am so tired of... People throwing their chances away on me... I've had too many people lose their... Their lives for me...! T-too many people... Have died for me...!" Her fists pushed against his chest a bit harder, but now she was shaking so much her fingers hardly held on to the fabric of his shirt.

"Wh... What the hell are you...?" He stammered slightly, eyes narrowed and sweatdropping at the sudden rant and string of words that made literally no sense- what people had died for her? People giving up their chances? Who? He hadn't a clue what was even going through her head to make her think that, because as far as he was sure- no one had died for her, ever. His eyes narrowed, searching her expression and frowning slightly, she was... well, she was panicked, she was angry too... but there was fear there where he had never seen it, terror.

But... why...?

"..y-you don't get it... I was done! I wasn't supposed to... Not again...!" She hissed, ignoring his words or not hearing them- but she saw the question in his face, though she hardly cared... She was.. she couldn't... Fuck!

He stared, his eyes widening as he watched the tears suddenly spill over, running down her cheeks and glinting in the dim. Drops fell like flecks of light onto the bed between them, her eyes glittering as she held his gaze, though the sheer pain that rose in those silver depths made his heart drop.

"I was ready to die...!"

---

Wait... Frea gave up on living even since before the Rainbow Sakura Festival...?

He frowned a little, his eyes narrowing to slits at the very idea.

... And Iidren saw it, in one night... Just who the hell is this guy...?

"... Sting and Rogue told me what happened, what Frea had to do, who she fought... How hurt she got." Iidren murmured softly, his voice tense at the end as he seemed to swallow. "... I knew it had to be bad, for her to have been acting like there was no hope... But I admit, when they told me how bad it was, how long it seemed she was just going to..." He trailed off, shaking his head a little as his eyes closed again. "... I think there's probably nothing that's ever chilled me so deeply to my core, than that, when I heard about it." He smiled ruefully, shaking his head a little. "I can't imagine how the rest of you must have felt, watching it... Being here... I don't envy you."

Iidren's eyes dropped from watching the sky toward Laxus, who settled him with a narrowed stare and still said absolutely nothing. "I'm here as a concerned friend, I'm stopping by to check in and see how she is- I expect she's pulled through rather well, to be working a Job already." he smiled lightly, "And then after that, I'll say my goodbyes. I assure you, you won't have anything to worry about from me." He smirked, Laxus huffed. "You needn't be so stern- I know Frea very well, and I care for her dearly as a friend- I would never get in the way of what she wants."

Laxus blinked, his eyes widening a little as Iidren smirked a little bit more.

"I have long since been aware she's quite slow to come to terms with her own feelings and desires. And I expect you've started to see it as well, hmm?" Iidren went on, "I know her a bit better than most people, I'd like to think... And what I do know?" he chuckled softly. "When I saw the both of you talking at the Festival, how at ease she was with you, content and happy... She trusts you, and the way she looks at you- I've never seen her like that with anyone, not even me." Iidren shrugged a little, "And all of that I saw in so little time... Frea's maybe not come to the realization yet, but she will sometime. She's usually the last one to wrap her head around things that involve herself."

He grimaced slightly at the thought, smiling wryly for half a second.

"Ah, but now you have me rambling!" Iidren smiled, Laxus quirked a brow. "As I said, I mean no harm nor trouble. I have her best interests in mind, and while it pains me to say it- her best interest doesn't include me." Iidren smirked, his head tilting as Laxus simply stared in utter, stony silence. "Are you willing to trust I have no ulterior motive?"

Laxus huffed slightly, his eyes falling closed a moment.

He couldn't ignore the fact that him showing up all of a sudden did... Irk him, slightly. More so when he said he was looking for Frea- the agitation that had sparked back in the Sakura Festival at hearing the name 'Dove' fresh on his mind even now, stupid as it probably was. He wasn't sure why it did agitate him as much as it did, but he couldn't get rid of it either. It agitated him more the comment of 'invading on your territory', and how amused the other man seemed about the entire conversation.

Though to be entirely honest, the thing he wanted to know more than anything was just who the hell this guy was. He'd popped up out of nowhere, again- and the way he seemed to know Frea so well was just... weird.

If it was ever clear that two people were close to one another, and maybe even further than just friends-

He stiffened slightly, shaking his head at himself.

... agitated or not... he didn't get the feeling Iidren planned something. Crazy as it sounded, he trusted what that man was telling him. Even if he did rub him the wrong way, and irk him.

Laxus' eyes opened again, narrowing slightly and quirking a brow to find that Iidren was smirking still, his hand suddenly extending toward Laxus and the other falling on his own hip.

"Like I said, I'd rather not be enemies." Iidren hummed, Laxus looked slowly from him, toward his hand.

Laxus let out a low breath, it sounded something between a sigh and a growl- before his hand moved forward and they shook hands, just once.

"You'd better be sure if you do ever try anything, I will turn you to dust." Laxus grumbled lowly, Iidren smirked, nodding in complete understanding.

"... hehe... she's lucky to have you." Iidren said lightly, their hands breaking apart as Laxus shook his head, looking away for a moment.

"... tch... you're confident." He grumbled, "I could fry you with a single thought, you know."

"But I doubt you will." Iidren hummed, Laxus grumbled lowly under his breath at that still so utterly amused and carefree tone. "Now, I do think I will be taking my leave. It's been a long while since I simply walked a town for my own pleasure," He started back in the direction toward the entryway out of the courtyard, his hand lifting as he waved just once- but never looked back again.

"Goodbye~"

Laxus sighed, his eyes watching Iidren disappear down the street leading away from the Guild Hall. His eyes fell to the ground,

... Frea gave up before the Sakura Festival... did that mean she'd known she was going to die, that whole time...?

---

"So, you find anything interesting in all those books you were reading?" Frea asked lightly, her silver gaze casting sideways toward Moon who floated at her shoulder- the both of them making their way through the streets and back toward the Guild Hall as the sun started to make it's way back down toward the horizon. They'd left behind the bookstore in newly reorganized splendor, with the calls of a very pleased owner being sent after them as they left.

Moon blinked, her head tilting a little at the sudden question. "Hmm...?"

"Come on, you spent the entire day pouring over books." Frea replied easily, "There's something specific you were looking for, right?" Moon let out a breath, her eyes moving from Frea and missing the way the Energy Dragon Slayer's flashed at the reaction. "... you know I can tell something's bothering you, right?"

Moon nodded slightly, "I know... I just, I didn't want to worry you, before I knew more about it." Frea blinked, her head tilting slightly. "... Carla's been having this same vision over and over again for awhile now, it's pretty cryptic... but it's also pretty unsettling too. She doesn't know what it's supposed to mean, but what little we can make out of it... there's some place being swallowed by this vortex of Magic, there's some kind of... war going on, in the streets of some city, people are dying, terrified... and at the end of it, this castle collapses in on itself, everything gets swallowed up... and someone says 'Celene'." Frea's eyes widened a little at the words, her heart jumping a little.

"Carla told Aisha about it, since that's her last name... and from what I gathered, Aisha thinks the place that Carla keeps seeing is actually Adgnei." Moon mumbled, Frea swallowed slightly. "Aisha cut ties with Adgnei though, but she did say it was in a bit of conflict with itself when she left- she's been trying to gather information about what's going, and find out if the vision does actually have something to do with Adgnei at all." Moon rubbed the back of her neck a little, "... I was trying to read up on Adgnei today, since I and near everyone else knows so little about it..." Frea bit the inside of her cheek.

"... It seems too big a coincidence, that Carla would be having a vision like that, with Aisha's name in it... especially after Saige gave you that Limiter. He said it was Adgnei right?" Moon said softly, Frea nodded a little, her eyes fixed on the paved street as they continued forward.

"... it might not help anything, but... Adgnei, but not the current version of it... Adgnei was the country ruled by the Energy Mages, forever ago." Frea mumbled, Moon's eyes went wide in utter surprise at the affirmation of of nowhere. "... it fell, when Mordren killed them all... but people went back, inhabited the ruins... they made up what Adgnei is now, I think little things about the Energy Mage's way of life still persist, at least slightly..."

"... what?" Moon breathed, her eyes flashing. "... wait, how do you know that? Mordren never mentioned Adgnei, at all...!" Frea sweatdropped slightly,

"... do you remember what I told you, about being the Malurey..? How I know things I really shouldn't...?" Frea asked softly, Moon swallowed a little.

Yes, Frea mentioned being the Malurey- she told her when they were alone, about being the Mortal Incarnate of Energy, about there being one for every Force of Creation. She'd done her best to explain what that meant- what it could mean... she even made it clear that Jynx was like her. The Mortal Incarnate for Soul, and she'd also mentioned that Chase was the only other person she had talked to about the Incarnate things at all.

At the time though, Frea hadn't really looked like she wanted to talk too much into it- and right now she didn't seem to want to either, but she was.

"Y...yes...?" Moon mumbled, Frea seemed to bite the inside of her cheek a minute.

There it was again, that question- do I tell Moon? Can I...?

The wall was still there, and though she chipped at it- it didn't go away, and she growled internally.

Not that part... not yet. She couldn't tell Moon about seeing Mordren's life, or his children's- theirs spanning all the way up to hers. She hadn't even told Jynx, when the Ghost had prompted her about Saige again. About how he knew about the Clear and the Crossroads, and the Forces of Creation- she didn't tell Jynx it was because of Gweo, his ancestor- his Family that spent thousands of years looking after hers, passing along tradition, information, Magic.

Speaking of speaking with Jynx... they'd finally had a conversation about what happened, in the Reach...

Frea stiffened slightly at the thought.

... about what Jynx did, carrying Laxus' soul to the Reach- about the Kala; Mortal Incarnate of Death- gave her leave to, held the door open, held the waters back- transferred the Chance... how the Fealorr; Mortal Incarnate of Time- had rewound things, slowed time down between the Reach and the Waking World- gave them all time to let Laxus save her...

Frea was still royally angry about it, stubbornness maybe- but concern too. Jynx knew she didn't like it, not that there was anything to be done on the matter, though. That anger got overturned though, because those previous two Mortal Incarnates?

In all crazy and insanity that had become her life- what madness had it, that the Kala was actually someone she knew? What madness had it that she had already been around, knew, and come to work with, trust in- two of the other Mortal Manifestations? Long, long before any of the things that had gone on with Mordren?

Rified, Kala... Mortal Manifestation of Death.

Frea had been reeling, when Jynx told her that it had been him. She'd not seen him at all since the Grand Magic Games, it never even crossed her mind he could ever-

... let alone Rified having been one of the ones trying to save her life, the one who as Jynx told her- had been the one to choose Laxus as the person to dive into the Reach after her. More, when Laxus said nothing about it... he knew who Rified was, and he never said anything... not that they had really talked about what happened in the Reach, at all.

Jynx never brought the Reach nor Rified up either, when they had both talked with Chase listening in... she had to wonder if she had stayed quiet on the fact for a reason.

Silent no more though; Jynx hadn't a clue where Rified was now, she hadn't seen him since the Reach, and she had looked... more so she hadn't seen the Fealorr either.

Enigma that one was, apparently- a man, who Jynx did not know, who Rified hadn't seemed to know eiter- and who Frea very much doubted she knew, based upon the description of him. Jynx had gotten little from him, though she had tried- she told Frea he was cryptic, and vague- almost to an extreme. He disappeared just as quickly and unexpectedly as he had come- enough so she never even got a name.

It was so much, still... even three months of churning it all in her head, she still didn't have it all organized and she certainly didn't have it settled enough in her heart to bring it up in normal conversation. Not even with Moon, though she regretted it a little.

Not yet... I need more time to settle it in my own head first.

"... the things about Adgnei... those are some of the things I just know, because I'm the Malurey." Frea mumbled, "It got shoved into my head, after using All Magic." Moon grimaced slightly at that, looking awed and a little taken aback too. This whole thing about Frea being the Malurey was hard to wrap her head around still, but she knew it was all the truth-

"... I take it everything in this Vision Carla's been having... it's pretty bad, yeah?" Frea asked softly, Moon nodded.

"... it's kinda awful.." She mumbled, Frea sweatdropped.

"I'm not saying it's likely... but could the Vision be a recant of the things Mordren did there?" Frea asked, Moon blinked in slight confusion. "... he did kill all of them, all on his own... and his Magic was black in color." Frea paused though, her eyes falling away from Moon again. "... of course that wouldn't make any sense about... the Celene bit..." Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sky, her words trailing off all the way as Moon mulled it over a moment.

"... I wouldn't say... it's a bad guess... but I saw the Memory of the Vision from Carla... what Mordren did was thousands of years ago, right?" Moon mused, Frea nodded. "... the place in her Vision... it didn't really look that old to me."

"Hmm..." Frea hummed lightly, nodding a little at the words. "... alright, then let's go with it being recent... Aisha's said nothing of something going on in Adgnei?"

"No, Carla's not been able to get anything more out of her." Moon replied, "When she first asked, all Aisha would say was that things had been tense... enough to maybe start a Civil War, sometime in the future... she also, sort of... said she was a little concerned that if Adgnei went to war with itself, the conflict might spill over and actually affect a bunch of other countries, including ours."

"... cheery thought." Frea mumbled, grimacing slightly. "... the way Saige made it sound... Adgnei is top in Magical Tools... and Weapons." Moon grimaced slightly too, her ears falling slightly. "... though grant you he didn't mention any conflict when he brought it up, but I don't think he would have even if there is... it's not like it was a part of the topic, at the time..."

Frea sighed heavily, her hands hooking behind her neck and the sunlight glinting off the Limiter around her wrist.

"... maybe it's time to get in touch with him." Frea mumbled lowly, "... I don't know what sort of ties he has to Adgnei, but knowing him- he probably knows something." Moon's tail twitched slightly,

"Well, when he sent that letter to Master, he sent it to Aisha first." Moon said, "He even called her by her title, like Lahar did... Aisha said herself that nobody outside of Adgnei would address her like that." Frea's eyes shifted toward Moon a moment, "Maybe he's from there, originally?"

Frea sweatdropped slightly, the question had an answer she already knew- Saige was, but not in the way Moon was thinking. Frea didn't get the feeling he had grown up in Adgnei, but only knew of it because of his Family Line, and their knowledge... upon learning about it, Saige probably invested time into learning about Adgnei on his own.

"... maybe." Frea hummed, she shook her head a little. "... I'll try and get ahold of him, after getting back from the job tomorrow." She sighed, Moon nodded, smiling slightly.

"Ah, I almost forgot about that." Moon chuckled, "You must be excited, it's more up your alley... even if you're only going along as backup to the Thunder God Tribe."

"Hell yeah I'm excited." Frea smirked, "Back-up or not, it's a Job, and it's one that'll let me fight to boot- even if it's a little easy, it's still gonna be fun." Moon smiled a little at Frea's clear glee about the incoming events.

"Is Laxus coming with?" Moon asked, Frea shook her head.

"Nope, just you, me, Freed, Bixlow and Evergreen." Frea replied eaaily, Moon blinked.

"... I wasn't aware I was coming." She intoned, Frea turned a slightly confused look on her Partner.

"Why wouldn't you be?" Frea mumbled, Moon shrugged.

"I don't know, I kinda got the impression it was a Job meant for you to get to know the Thunder Legion better, not me." Moon smiled slightly, shaking her head a bit. "Not that I wouldn't want to come, and I will if you want me to of course."

"... Oh." Frea breathed, glancing away for a minute in slight surprise as Moon smiled a little more. "... I just kinda assumed you'd come regardless... I wasn't thinking it was supposed to be a getting to know one another sort of thing, I mean... They did mention it had been awhile since we worked together..."

"... Hehe... You're a little clueless sometimes, you know that?" Moon purred in amusement. Frea gave her a small, halfhearted glare as she bit the inside of her cheek. "It's pretty obvious to me they asked you along so they could get to know you better, solidify their relationship with you a little more. I mean, you aren't the best of friends with them like you are with a lot of others in the Guild, right? You don't know them as well, and they don't know you... I am pretty sure that they want to be better friends with you, you know." Frea blinked, her eyes widening slightly at the words as her silver gaze glinted slightly. She glanced away, her eyes dropping slightly as she smiled, just faintly.

"... I suppose... that does make sense..." Frea hummed softly, "... I figured they'd asked me to come because they knew I didn't want to be forced into having people along to babysit me... But that... Makes sense too." Moon smiled slightly, "... That's a first, I think... Being asked, before I asked myself... For that very reason..."

Frea's 'Point': to go on a job with everyone in the Guild at least once, to form a bond with them, make connections... But what Moon understood, that point always had Frea being the one to bring it up first, to ask, initiate the plan of getting to know someone- not this time. It was reversed, Frea was the one in the place so many others had been over the years- and the Thunder God Tribe had stepped in to what was usually Frea's role.

The Energy Dragon Slayer smiled a bit more, her eyes falling closed and head tilting toward the sky,

"... What a surprise..." Frea mumbled, her voice wispy but no less content with the idea.

The Guild Hall came into sight up the street from them, Frea's smile fading slightly in question as her eyes opened, nose twitching and senses on high alert out of nowhere- Moon noticed the change in an instant.

"... Speaking of surprises...?" Frea mumbled, her steps slowing as they nearly reached the courtyard wall, and her eyes finding the familiar figure leaning against the stone, waiting patiently and blue eyes fixed on her, intent.

"Iidren?" Frea asked slowly, her head tilting as Moon's did the same. He smiled a little as she said his name, though it wasn't the bright and carefree sort of smile she was used to from him- she could feel worry and concern coming off of him, relief too. But also... Pain, and not really the physical sort.

"What are you doing here?" Frea asked, her silver gaze glinting in confusion as he pushed himself away from the wall.

"I came to see you, of course." He hummed softly, clearing what small distance was between them as his hands moved up, catching her face gently as he landed one small, fleeting little kiss on her forehead- she didn't budge an inch, but she did narrow her eyes a little at his... Subdued behavior.

Moon stared, bristling slightly in complete shock at the gesture and action she hadn't expected from the man- at all. Grant you she didn't know him well, but she recognized him from the Sakura Festival, and had noted his peculiar nickname and familiarity with Frea before- but nothing that friendly!

And Frea just accepted it...?!

"... What's wrong?" Frea asked instantly as he pulled away, his hands falling to her shoulders as he smiled a little sadly, a little forcefully.

"... Nothing much, I'm just a little tense, is all... You've had me worried, since we parted ways." He told her softly, Frea sweatdropped a little. "... I heard what happened, Dove... I'm not afraid to admit all the details, the reality... It terrified me." Frea stiffened a little, her heart clenching painfully as she saw the ache in his eyes, fear and pain. "I knew it would be bad... But I didn't realize it was going to be bad enough to nearly kill you."

"... I'm sorry..." Frea mumbled softly, he shook his head.

"Don't be." He told her instantly, "... I can handle a little terror, and heartache... As long as you're still alive, Dove." He smiled slightly, "... It's easier for it to settle, knowing you pulled through, seeing you healed... Easier still, knowing you've got so many people looking after you so fervently." She blinked, his hands pulled away, slowly, almost unwantingly. Those blue eyes fell slightly, his voice dropping too to something shy of a whisper.

"... I know you have so many people who care for you as deeply as I do... It makes me happy to know you've found someone you care for like I care for you, as well." He breathed, Frea blinked, feeling her heart jump a little at the comment.

Someone... I care for, feel for... Like Iidren does for... Me...?

"You're well looked after, Dove. I've known that a long while... that makes my farewell easier." He told her gently, smiling still though she could see it was killing him to do so.

"... Farewell?" She echoed, her eyes flashing as he nodded.

"Yes... But I admit I needed to see you alive and well and... Happy, before I went." He told her,

"... Where are you...?"

"... My Caravan has decided to take an extended tour around the other countries outside of this one." Iidren explained easily, "I expect I won't be back for a very, very long while... And maybe that's for the best." Frea's eyes glinted a little as he let out a breath. "... Remember it was my idea to stay friends, and I still do not regret it... None of it. But I think maybe it's time I try and take a chance to step back, and find someone to hold my heart, and I hold there's." he smiled, Frea's heart twisted, guilt slamming into her instantly, though she hated it did so.

"Ah, don't look at me with that face, Dove." Iidren told her lightly, shaking his head a little. "You needn't keep berating yourself, you know... You never hurt me more than you made my life so, so bright. I promise you that." She grimaced slightly, unaware of the way Moon's eyes glittered- her Exceed Partner easily seeing the regret and hurt work it's way into Frea's expression.

"... I didn't-" Frea started,

"I know." He cut her off so, so easily. "It means a lot, to see you care that much... I hope I can find someone with that much compassion, and more."

Frea bit the inside of her cheek, shaking her head a little at herself as she sighed.

"... You will, Iidren...I don't doubt it." She mumbled softly, he smirked at the answer. "... anyone would be lucky to have you... deserve you, especially after everything."

Moon's ears fell slightly, her eyes narrowing a little at the words and how very low Frea's voice had gotten just then- nor how much she meant the words she spoke just in that instant. Iidren could tell how genuine they were too, and he smiled at her, his eyes softening a bit.

"You've always been so kind." He told her lightly, shaking his head a little too. "... thank you, and know that the notion applies to you too, on the latter end." Frea blinked, her eyes flashing a moment as she nodded, just a bit.

"... thank you." Frea murmured softly, Moon purred quietly, her eyes softening at her Partner.

Frea...

"Well, with that settled- it is with a light heart that I'll say farewell, Frea." Iidren hummed, moving forward as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a gentle embrace as she returned it softly. "I wish you the best of luck, in everything... and I hope you're happy from here on out, too."

"... you too, Iidren." Frea sighed, her eyes falling closed a moment. "... don't get into too much trouble, will you?"

"Of course not." He chuckled, pulling away as Frea's arms crossed over her chest. "Can I get the same promise from you?" He added, she sweatdropped.

"... I can promise to try..." She sighed, he laughed.

"That will have to do, I suppose." He chuckled, "Like I said- you have so many people looking after you, I'm not too worried." He shot Moon a glance at that, the Exceed nodding slightly as he smirked at her. "Apologies for the unexpected arrival, but thank you for letting us finish." He told the Exceed,

"Not a problem." Moon replied easily, he looked back to Frea then.

"... and apologies, for dropping in and ducking out again so quickly, but I do have the rest of my people to catch up to." He murmured, Frea nodded slightly in understanding. He smiled, just one more time, his blue eyes flashing as he started up the street back the way that they had come- his hand raising above his head as he waved once.

"Farewell, Frea."

Frea waved back, her hand raising slightly as she let out a breath, her eyes trailing after him and her attention locked on to the feel of his Energy Signature for awhile even after he had disappeared from sight.

Her hand fell to her side, silver gaze glittering as Moon shot her a gentle look.

"... are you alright?" Moon murmured, Frea nodded, though she didn't earn those silver eyes. "... you hardly mentioned him after the Festival, you said you were friends... but you were a bit closer than that, once upon a time, right?" Moon asked slowly, Frea's eyes fell closed.

"... once upon a time." Frea mumbled, Moon blinked at the answer, a little surprised at how readily Frea admitted it.

"... so all of that...?" Moon mumbled,

Frea's eyes opened again, her back turning on the street as she glanced toward the Guild Hall, her eyes flashing as she smiled, so faintly Moon wasn't sure she saw it- but she did see the ache in Frea's eyes, the same ache that had probably settled in her heart too.

Frea's hands settled on her hips, the breeze picking up slightly and ruffling her hair, the sunlight shimmering off blonde and silver alike. Frea took in a deep breath, the scent of some far-off storm catching her nose, distant black on the horizon well away from Magnolia- but inching closer as the day drew toward night.

"I don't regret anything, I've loved sharing time with you much more than it hurts knowing you don't feel the same way. It was my choice to stay close, so please don't feel sorry. Alright?"

Guilty as always, despite being promised she shouldn't be...

"... I know you have so many people who care for you as deeply as I do... It makes me happy to know you've found someone you care for like I care for you, as well."

Frea blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly at the sudden... stir of warmth, somewhere in her core.

"Do me a favor, though. Don't ever forget all the fun we had, alright?"

Don't forget, even though...

"... deneos ze, Iidren... and... zennei." Frea breathed, near too low for Moon to hear it- and not enough to make out the actual words. Frea shook her head, that faint smile making a full appearance as she let out a low, almost relieved little breath. What regret and pain and sadness that seemed to have dropped down on top of Frea suddenly seemed to lift, and Moon's eyes widened a little at the sudden change in mood.

"... he's finally let me go..."

---

So sorry for all the breaks and time skips!

Something of a Filler Chapter before we jump into the thick of the Adgnei Arc! I don't know about you, but I'm excited for it~!

The Adgnei Arc brings in a few new characters, and I've already started drawing a few of them- so look for those soon too!

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