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!}

18. Chapter 18- Dirty Swords

Chapter 18

Dirty Swords

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

.:+:.

"So?" Frea's voice earned Moon's attention as she turned back toward the doors- the Exceed waiting patiently to the side of Fairy Hills' main entrance. The Building was empty, outside of herself and Frea- the other girls in residence had already woken up and gone to the Guild a bit ago, seeing as how Frea hadn't meant to wake up until a few minutes before now... around 10. Moon had settled into waiting there for Frea to finish getting ready for the day, before seeing her off as the Energy Dragon Slayer headed down the hill to meet up with the Thunder Legion, and go on that Job that she seemed so excited for.

Moon had opted out of joining, she was sure Frea would be plenty fine with Evergreen, Freed and Bixlow all around to keep an eye on her- and besides; They'd already agreed that the Thunder Legion invited her to both give her a chance to work without being coddled, and to try and get to know Frea better themselves (though Moon wasn't sure Frea realized they were doing so because of how close she and Laxus had gotten as of late...).

Regardless, Moon would spend the day at the Guild, and probably in the company of Carla and Aisha if they could manage it- they needed to come together a bit more on this Vision that Carla kept having, and Moon was hoping she might get Aisha to open up a little about Adgnei. Though... she was sure it wouldn't be easy.

Moon shook the thought off, her head turning to the front door of the building and Frea stepped out into the morning light as she paused, Moon blinked.

"What do you think?" Frea asked brightly, smirking slightly as she turned just once, before halting again and letting her hands fall on her hips.

Moon smiled, shaking her head a little and chuckling despite herself- her eyes tracing over the subject of the question; Frea's (apparently newly decided upon) Mission Attire.

She was wearing a pale blue-grey jacket that zipped up the middle, but didn't even reach up to her shoulders, and instead stopped off at her chest in a low neckline. Underneath it she had on a sleeveless mesh tank top under that, and a collar buckled around her neck at the top. The back of the tank top was skinny enough to leave her shoulder-blades bare, on her arms were dark sleeves trimmed in pale blue on the top and bottom that reached from the lower half of her upper arm to the middle of her lower arm. Around her waist and torso were three belts, paired with slim, dark-colored pants and knee-high boots of the same color as the jacket. Around her right thigh was a pale blue band with crossing white lines and other designs imprinted on the fabric- on her left thumb remained that ring she was always wearing now, and on her opposite wrist was the Limiter given to her by Saige.

Her hair shifted in the breeze, pulled back into a ponytail with her bangs framing her face- her fangs flashing slightly as she leaned in a little, waiting on Moon's answer and very clearly keeping her excitement for the day contained as well as she could- which wasn't all that well.

"Thoughts? Comments?" Frea chuckled lightly, "It's a little different from what I usually wear but I figured why the hell not. Since I'm finally getting back to work, after so much has changed- I thought it about time to change up what I usually wear out on Jobs too."

"I think it looks great." Moon purred, "It's a good color on you." Frea hummed, looking a little flustered for half a second before lightly clapping her hands together.

"Well, Zennei~!" She hummed, Moon's ear twitched at the response- her eyes narrowing as Frea glanced away from her and toward the sky overhead- the air fresh and cool, bits of moisture still clinging all around from the storm that had broke out in the middle of the night. "It's gonna be a nice day to work." She commented,

"Wait." Moon sighed, Frea blinked. "I refrained from asking about it, but that's the second time you've said that to me directly... not to mention the other times I've heard you mumble things under your breath the last few weeks." Frea's eyes darted back toward Moon, looking a little uncertain as the Exceed crossed her paws over her chest. " 'Zennei' right? And 'Tilme' and 'Kynna'... amongst several other things I won't even try and pronounce." She sighed, "It sounds like the Dragon Language to me, Frea. And you've been using it an awful lot lately." Frea sweatdropped,

"... have I really..?" She mumbled, Moon quirked a brow as Frea rubbed the back of her neck a little. "... I mean... I hadn't really noticed I was doing it so much, I guess..." She chuckled nervously,

"Is there a reason you are?" Moon pressed,

"... well... I've been remembering things, from before Fairy Tail... like I said before, about the ring... and I kinda know more of the Dragon Language than I realized." Frea mumbled, "... I kinda want to bring it back, a little... remember as much as I can, try and bring it to life again- I guess. The more I use it, the more practice I get, the more familiar I am... does that make sense?" Moon nodded slightly,

"... yes that makes sense, and I think... it's great, you're trying to piece it together and everything. There's so little about it any History Books or even among the other Dragon Slayers, it's near a dead language- so if you can revitalize it, even if only a little, I think that's great. But... I'm still a little confused." Moon replied, Frea's head tilted. "You might know what you're muttering and all, but I don't." She smiled slightly as Frea did too, though in more embarrassment than anything. "Maybe you should start writing some of it down somewhere? I'm sure Levy would love to talk about it with you, too."

"... maybe I will." Frea hummed,

"So what does that word mean, the one you just said?" Moon asked,

"Oh- Zennei. It means 'Thank you'." Frea explained easily, Moon nodded.

"Alright, I'll remember that for future reference." She purred, "You told me before that Chaitanya only taught you a little bit of the Dragon Language. Did she teach you more than you thought, or is it all just starting to come back where you didn't remember all of it?" Moon asked, Frea stiffened slightly, her eyes flashing as her smile faded almost instantly- though Moon wasn't sure why.

Frea's heart felt like it both shattered, and dropped into the pits of her stomach all at once.

"... I... well... Chaitanya did teach me some of it... and I remember nearly all of it from her now, too..." Frea replied, her voice dropping a little as her eyes did too, and Moon's ears perked. The Energy Dragon Slayer seemed to tense up a little, looking incredibly uncertain of herself out of near nowhere.

Do I tell Moon...?

"... I learned a lot more, from someone... somewhere else, though..." Frea's voice was so low Moon found it hard to hear the words, but her heart jumped in complete surprise at the affirmation. "... I didn't really remember any of it until... I was really young... but before Chaitanya, my Family... they spoke a lot of it, too..."

"... really...?" Moon said breathlessly, her mind whirling as Frea nodded stiffly. "... that's... that's a surprise... Frea... I mean... why did they...? How would they know it at all...?"

"... it was... kinda tradition... I guess..." Frea mumbled, she sounded so uneasy it was painful to hear, and to see- and for a moment Moon was a little sorry she'd inquired. Because it was instantly clear that this was a sore subject for her, and she didn't feel all that comfortable talking about it- even if she had brought it up first.

Frea's life with Chaitanya had always been vague, Moon nor anyone else in the Guild had heard much about the time that Frea had spent with her Dragon... but Frea before Chaitanya? As absurd as it was- to many in the Guild, and even at times to Moon- the idea of Frea before her Dragon hardly ever occurred to them, let alone seemed to just... exist. Because Frea never talked about it, not where she came from, not who she was- where her actual, real, blood-related Family was, or what had happened to them. But when it did manage it's way into their thoughts?

The only explanation for lack of information on the subject was either- Frea didn't remember it at all, or... whatever had happened to them was really, really bad. Now it seemed both reasons were both equally as true.

How young would Frea really have been? She must have only been 10 or 11 when she joined the Guild, and how long had she been with her Dragon before that?

Moon's ears fell a little, her gaze softening.

... she's had such a hard life... even from the start, hasn't she...?

"... Frea... I'm sorry, we don't have to talk about this if it's too..." Moon mumbled, Frea swallowed a little, shaking her head and giving Moon a slightly strained smile.

"... I brought it up.. it's just... a lot of it's still really fuzzy." Frea told her softly, "... I think I will try and start writing it down, it's a good idea... but yes, maybe we can get into this a bit more later..?"

"Of course." Moon told her gently, pausing as she bit the inside of her cheek. "... thank you... for sharing it with me... Frea... I'm glad you feel you can trust me with it." Frea nodded a bit, Moon shook her head a little to get rid of the sudden turn in conversation, smiling a little more.

"Are you ready to head out and meet with the Thunder Legion, then?" Moon asked, easily changing the subject and Frea smiled back, glad for it- immensely.

"Yep!" She smirked, "I'm itching to get moving,"

"You'll be careful using Magic, right?" Moon asked, "You've been doing a lot of work to keep it controlled, but this will be the first time you use it for fighting."

"Yeah, I'll be careful. And I think I'll be ok." Frea replied, the two of them starting away from the door. "It's a little bit of a chore to keep it all in check, if I use a bunch at once, or for really complex Spells... but on a basic level, it's not really been a problem. I'll take it slow, and work my way up- if I get to a point it starts to get a little too out of hand, I'll pull up and give it a rest, promise."

"Good luck with it, then." Moon sighed, "And have fun too, I expect to hear all about it when you get back, alright?" Frea smirked, nodding in agreement.

"You got it~!" She grinned toothily, Moon smiled in amusement at the look- Frea always seemed to brighten up rather fast, even with just a few moments ago of looking so uneasy. Her head tilted toward the hill they were approaching, "... They're headed in from town now, I should reach the bottom by the time they do." Moon sighed, her tail flicking against Frea's shoulder a little roughly.

"Searching that far is gonna give you a headache way too fast, Frea." She scolded lightly, Frea sweatdropped, quickly forcing her attention away and back toward the two of them- trying to shut out the wash of everything and anything all around them in the radius of Magnolia. The sudden increased sensitivity to Energy had been dulled down, just slightly... but it was still way too heightened, her Senses wandered way too far all on their own and without really thinking about it way too often- headaches were a common theme, though she had been working to try and keep her mind closer to herself. She just forgot, a lot... everything sparked against her and flooded in all on it's own almost, annoying and tiring as it was.

"... sorry, I can't help it sometimes..." the Energy Dragon Slayer apologized, Moon nodded.

"I know." Moon mumbled, Frea bit the inside of her cheek, her eyes falling closed as she and Moon both kept forward.

"It seems this 'Cloak' is working then, if you really haven't noticed us yet."

Moon and Frea both halted, their eyes snapping open wide and ears ringing at the sudden unfamiliar voice- minds racing and hearts leaping too. Frea sucked in a quick breath, smelling nothing new, nor feeling anything either- no new Energy Signatures anywhere, and certainly not one belonging to whoever the hell that must have been.

Frea jumped a little, her jaw snapping shut as something suddenly clamped down around her neck, something heavy, cold... metal. A collar, made from some sort of strong, cold metal she didn't know and etched into the front with runes she didn't recognize at all- there was smooth, shinning Lacrima in the shape of an orb set into the metal just under her chin. And in an instant some unfamiliar sense of Energy sprung from it. She felt it move, spreading out over every inch of her body like some new layer of skin- something she hadn't a clue what it was, or what it was supposed to do- she hadn't any time to care as her hands snapped up, curling around it.

Moon yelped a little, another similar looking collar clapping down around her neck too- but it lacked the Lacrima, and the runes looked different- and stretched around the whole thing, where the one on Frea's only surrounded the front and around the Lacrima itself. Frea hissed, her eyes narrowing to slits as she felt Magic flare up from the collar suddenly around Moon's neck- Magic she recognized- and she felt her anger flare in her core when Moon's wings glowed and disappeared, sending her Partner out of midair to fall back to the ground with a thud and a small groan.

"What the hell...?!" Moon hissed, her hands immediately moving to try and pull it off, willing her Magic to rise to try and help- but it wouldn't come. "... is this... some sort of Nullification Magic...?!"

Yes

Frea whipped around in the direction the voice had come from, eyes narrowed to slits and fangs bared as she found the owner- and faltered.

A tall man was standing a few yards away from them, his hip cocked and dressed in a dark colored coat with a tail, the strapping's a gold color and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A deep purple sash with swirling gold designs across the fabric draped over his shoulders and tied in the front by several alternating gold and silver rings. His boots reached up to his knees as his hand fell lightly on the jagged, twisting sword hung on his hip by a series of belts and other pouches and the like. The sunlight glinted off the piercings in his ears, his bare forearms covered in tattoos of designs matching the ones on the sash, and scars too. The deep navy of his hair was cut short and and stuck up on the top a bit, matched by a thin goatee on his chin, and pale yellow eyes locked to her and looking bored.

Behind him stood two other people, their faces hidden by hoods and masks and wearing the same outfit both- a grey sash hanging loosely from one shoulder and around their torsos and backs under the opposite arm, leather armor around their chests underneath that and in leather boots too. The only thing she could see of their faces was the faint light flashing off their dull red eyes underneath the hoods and masks.

Frea's eyes dropped to the chains they were holding in their hands between them, then up toward the floating... Lacrima(?). Four of them, shaped like spheres and glowing a sickly yellow color as they remained like the four corners of a box, enclosing around the three strangers.

Why... why the hell can't I feel an Energy Signature coming from these guys...?! I can't even smell them! Let alone feel the Magic coming from those Lacrima!

"... Who the hell are you...?!" Frea snapped lowly,

"Tch... I will forgive your tone since you are both unaware of our customs, and because of your own title, Energess." He grumbled, his fingers tapping in slight agitation on the hilt of the sword at his side. Frea stiffened at the name, eyes widening as Moon's did too- she remembered hearing Saige call Frea that in the letter he sent Master.

He tipped his head toward her in a soft of nod, though he seemed a bit reluctant to do so.

"It is of course an honor to meet a true Energess, like that of the legends." He sighed, his head tilting back up. "But I'm afraid I will have to ask you to please come with me. You've been called into attendance by the High Council of Adgnei- Corielain. And you have no choice on the matter, you either come willingly- or I will detain you and bring you by force."

"... Adgnei..?!" Moon stammered instantly, her heart dropping. Frea hissed under her breath,

So, chances that Vision Carla was having not being Adgnei after all?

Pretty damn slim

"... And why in the hell would I come with you?" Frea snapped lowly, "What does Adgnei or Corielain want with me?"

"We need you to open the way." He said flatly, Frea stiffened, her eyes narrowing in confusion and a sudden pang of something like dread that struck through her core. "There's a matter we've been looking into for awhile, and it has come to our attention we need you to see it through. But that's all I am at leave to say."

Frea growled, her fangs baring a bit more.

"... There's no way in hell I'm getting dragged off to Adgnei." She shot back lowly, he sighed, looking a bit exasperated as his fingers curled around his sword hilt.

"... What a shame, I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to violence with you." He grumbled, "... Don't let it be said I didn't try to be diplomatic first." He took a step forward, eyes falling closed as Frea and Moon tensed both at once.

"Two Minutes, then Two Hours." He said lightly, and completely and utterly out of any sort of context or meaning that either Moon or Frea could come up with. Frea's eyes narrowed as watched the Lacrima embedded into the collar around his neck seemed to glow a moment- but again, she felt nothing! Not even the slightest bit of Magic, not even though he was barely a few yards in front of her-!

Don't tell me... That 'Cloak' thing he mentioned earlier, can it actually hide him and his Magic from me...?! Like Saige can...?! Hidden Energy...?! ... shit...!

Frea's hands came up, her mind and her body moving into reaction at what was clearly going to be a fight- she hadn't a clue what he was planning to do, but she figured she might as well try and put some wall between them.

"Energy Shi-!" She snapped, but her voice broke, her eyes growing wide when her Magic failed to show up. She felt it surge inside of her, rising to the surface- but once it got there, she felt the odd Magic from the collar spring up, snatch up her Magic whole- and suddenly her body was being jolted by a wash of painful, jutting pieces of Magic like electricity- she felt like she was being electrocuted and it ran straight through her, wisps of red flickering up around her body in tandem as she yelped.

"Frea!" Moon hissed, her attention snapping toward her Partner as Frea doubled over a little, her body rigid as red encased her form in a haze- bits of deeper crimson sections of Magic sparking off of and out of her body, painful bursts of concentrated, foreign Magic that had the Energy Dragon Slayer hurting in an instant- right at the very second she tried to use Magic at all.

It wasn't Nullification Magic, like what she guessed was in her collar- Moon's Magic was canceled out the second she tried to use it- but Nullification Magic shouldn't work on Frea... So whatever Magic they had put into that collar around the Energy Dragon Slayers neck was different- and so much more cruel.

"Are you alright..?!" Moon asked instantly, moving a few paces closer to Frea as the woman took a few steps back to catch herself and how unbalanced she'd gotten at the sudden shock, hissing still and jaw clenched as she growled.

"... What the fuck...?" Frea growled,

... That felt... That can't be right... My Magic worked, it was there- a second away from being tangible and in that second... So much goddamn pain, it's almost as bad as...!

"... What the hell did you do to me...?!" Frea snapped hotly, her eyes moving up to find the man- and faltering.

Moon and Frea both went utterly still, their eyes going wide and sweatdropping heavily as they felt a rush of air sweep up and passed them, their eyes finding the man not where he had been a few seconds before- only the two motionless figures had been left behind.

Frea smelled it, just for half a second as the four floating Lacrima moved, two of them moving passed Frea and Moon and making their invisible box bigger. But in that single instant he moved out of their confines- she smelled the bittersweet, awful scent of pure, unrelenting sickness- and she felt Magic spark against her, Magic she didn't have a clue what it was, but it was wild and cold and it made her feel instantly uneasy.

His Energy Signature was such a awful shade of yellow-green, she saw the color bleed into the world in front of her- before the 'Cloak' did it's work again and she felt nothing, not a single shred of him or his Magic, not his scent, or Energy Signature... And she hadn't a clue what happened or what he had just done.

But he did something

How... How did he move that fast..?!

"... I hear you've been named one of this Country's Wizard Saints, hmm? Pity I'm fighting with you on such uneven ground, Energess." His voice came from behind them, Moon and Frea whipping around to see him with his back to them slightly, his hand still on his sword and not looking as if he'd moved it an inch. "... I hate stooping to such tricks, I'd gladly test my mettle against yours without need for such measures... But I have my orders, and I need you to come with me. It won't do to drag this out longer, and we do need you alive and able. So for now I will concede to simply evening out the playing field in my favor... Even if that means resorting to such unsavory tools. We knew our regular Collars wouldn't work against you, so we had one specially made." Moon and Frea stiffened, a shiver running up their spines at the words.

The man straightened up, turning back toward them. "The harder you try and use Magic or let it start to run free and rise up, the harsher the pain will get, and the worse the punishment." He told her simply, "Our most brilliant mind managed a way to make this happen at the behest of our King- so wise as He is, He knew this was the only way we could control you, make you more... Compliant."

"That's... That's insane...!" Moon hissed, Frea's face twisted in anger.

"I don't need Magic to kick your ass!" Frea snapped, and he nodded.

"I do not doubt it, but the two minutes is nearly up, Energess." He hummed, Frea's hands balled into fists at her sides. "Please know that if you cooperate, no true harm will come to you at my hand."

Frea heard the chains moving behind them in the hands of the two people that hadn't moved and inch at all.

"Move!" She ordered quickly, her feet pushing her forward as she scooped Moon up and barely missed the Chains as they streamed passed her through the air and struck hard enough into the ground to tear it up. Frea jumped, putting distance in between herself and the chains- holding tight to Moon.

"Thanks." Moon mumbled, Frea's feet slid back across the grass a little as she turned, her eyes locking to the two men as the chains retracted back toward them. Frea nodded stiffly grimacing slightly as she flinched- a haze of red surrounding the Energy Dragon Slayer as sparks of crimson danced off of her- the heat from the Magic immediately making Moon's fur prickle as her eyes went wide. Frea's hold on her tightened a little, her jaw snapping shut as she hissed in pain.

"Frea! Stop trying to use Magic...!" Moon ordered quickly, Frea winced.

"... I wasn't trying... It just... Started to rise... On its... Own..." Frea said lowly in between the wincing, Moon's ears dropped.

Frea had been doing her best to keep her Magic under control, but she had to force it down again when it got wound up- and it hadn't been a problem... But if that Collar reacted to her Magic just simply moving at all, even if she wasn't meaning to use it outwardly...!

"... that's...!" Moon hissed, Frea's expression pulled tight, she realized it in the same instant Moon did.

With her Magic having grown so much and vying for control on its own, and her having been forced to push it back- it didn't matter if she was trying to use Magic of her own accord. Every time it started to get out of hand meant she was gonna hurt- and that would be often enough it was an unpleasant thought. Worse if they kept fighting, since Frea's Magic always had a way of getting stronger in the midst of fighting.

Frea forced a breath, forcing her Magic to stop and still and hating how elevated her breathing got when doing so. The red haze faded and the pain did too, Moon swallowed. "... Frea..."

Frea's eyes snapped open, the silver depths flashing as she tensed, jumping sideways as the Chains moved toward them again, one of the two silent men suddenly beside her as he held one end of the chains in hand, she missed him by barely a centimeter.

"You can't use Magic, the longer you fight the worse you'll be!" Moon told her quickly, "We need to get to the Guild, Frea!"

"Tch... Agreed." She hissed, her eyes still locked to the man as he started toward them, Moon's eyes widened at how quickly she'd relented. Frea was never the one to retreat- not unless she knew she didn't have any other choice.

Frea stiffened, her head snapping around when the other of the two silent figures moved directly behind her, chain still in hand and spanning between him and his compatriot.

"Thirty seconds." The man with the sword sighed,

Both men with chains between them nodded, their free hands digging into their pants pockets as they each pulled out two flat disc shaped pieces of metal- the center was embedded Lacrima, that glowed red and blue as they flicked their hands forward- and the discs stuck fast into the ground around the both of Frea and Moon.

"What are those...?!" Moon hissed, Frea moved to get out of their reach- just as red light sprung up, stretching across the ground as lines and connecting all of the discs, making a box across the grass around them.

Frea went rigid, her body going stiff as a board as the air wavered, suddenly weighing about a thousand pounds and finding she couldn't move- at all. She could feel the ground and the air vibrating, her legs shaking as the weight increased tenfold on her shoulders, she could hardly stay standing let alone think of moving even an inch.

... Is this some kind of... Gravity Magic...?!

"Twenty Seconds."

"I.. I can't... Move...!" Frea hissed, her hold on Moon was slackening as the Exceed was being pulled down by the force.

"... How can those discs... Be this powerful...?!" Moon growled, "... This much pressure... Could rival... Kagura...!"

"We don't need the cat, Kullui." the navy-haired man said simply, walking across the clearing toward them at his own leisure. The Silent Pair nodded stiffly, both ends of the chains thrown out and one latching around Moon's paw and the other wrapping tightly around Frea's neck and shoulders. They tugged, hard- pulling Frea back roughly enough she stumbled and slammed into the ground with the weight of a thousand pounds on top of her- Moon snatched from her hands and taken out of the box, yelling in surprise as she was thrown with incredible force across the clearing and hit the gateway around Fairy Hills with a sickening slam.

"Moon!" Frea snapped, her Partner sliding to the ground with a pained groan and shaking her head.

"I... I'm fine...!" Moon called back quickly, her tail lashing behind her in pure, rising anger. Her blue eyes flashed, getting back on to her paws.

"Ten seconds." the man who was clearly the leader kept on with his countdown, halting in the center of the clearing and pulling a clear, crystal white Lacrima orb that was surrounded by a metal band, from one of the pouches on his belt. He tossed it behind him, the crystal shattering in a multitude of rainbow light- Magic flaring around it to consume the shards as a spinning, glowing bright white rectangle appeared behind him, air rushing passed him as it got sucked into the wall to somewhere- the hell if she knew.

What kind of Magic is...?!

The Gravity Discs stopped glowing, the weight lifting off Frea's shoulders as she quickly tried pushing herself to her feet again- only for the chains still wrapped around her to tighten as the Silent Duo twirled, both of them throwing their weight into it as they flung her easily across the clearing in the direction of the glowing white wall. The Chains unwrapped from around her at the last second, giving her a chance to adjust and land on her feet- awkwardly, she struggled to stay standing as the blue-haired man stepped straight in front of her, eyes narrowed and face expressionless.

Frea's feet shifted, ready to move away from him- ever aware she couldn't back up or she'd run straight into the wall of Magic sucking air passed her without end. She had to dodge sideways-

"Time's up." He grumbled,

Frea faltered, one eye snapping shut as she felt a stinging pain run across the back of her arm out of nowhere. Her head turned to see the skin split as a trail of red started to run from the cut- but when the hell...?!

Her attention snapped forward again, realizing in an instant she'd gotten distracted-

The man was right in front of her, his fist swinging up too quickly to even really keep track of it, he slammed it straight into the center of her stomach with agonizing force. Frea hunched, the breath driven from her, eyes wide and coughing out at what insane amount of pain that spread though her at the hit- she could feel warmth spread up around the impact, she smelled her own blood.

Her head whirled suddenly, her thoughts crashing down toward a chasm of black as she felt her strength suddenly drain all at once, her body trembling as she slumped forward shakily, desperately clinging to what little strength she seemed to have left all of a sudden.

Why... Why do feel so weak... All of a sudden...?!

She hissed, the world blurring and darkening at the edges of her vision. She tilted forward without wanting too, coughing a few more times as she sucked in air and her stomach seared in pain- she was barely keeping on her feet, the man's hand unclenching as he stepped forward, his arm holding her up.

"Frea?! Are you OK..?!" Moon's voice broke into her thoughts, her silver eyes moving up as she saw the Exceed started running forward towards them- the Two Silent figures jumping to land on either side of their superior. But Moon was hard to see, everything was getting darker and she was struggling to keep her thoughts in one place.

Shit... How am I so freaking outmatched... Even without... Magic...?! ... But what... Did he even... do...?!

Moon's worry and fear sparked against her skin, deep and cutting- so much all at once, she knew her Partner was panicking now... She hated it.

Three months, barely back into the swing of things and already in the midst of some other disaster... Shit.

Why the hell is it always me?!

Frea forced a small, reassuring smile, doing her best not to tilt forward anymore and already feeling herself being held up by that man more than she was herself.

"I'll be fine, Moon. I promise." Frea called to the Exceed, who shook her head furiously at the reply.

"Don't tell me you're gonna go willingly now?!" She snapped, Frea's smile faded a little- Moon could tell how much she was trying to keep her pain hidden from the hit to the stomach.

"I'll be alright, trust me... Go get the Guild." Frea's voice dropped despite herself, her legs shaking badly as the wall of Magic behind them moved forward, starting to swallow them whole. "I can hold out till you come get me, alright..?" Moon's ears folded back, agitated suddenly and a little miffed.

She knew she wasn't going to get there in time, and even if she did, she wouldn't make much a dent without Magic-

Her eyes flashed, her annoyance flaring at that small smile Frea still gave her when their eyes matched. "... You'd better be fine, Frea!" She snapped, "We'll get you back, I swear! Adgnei is gonna have hell to pay when we get there!"

Frea smiled, swallowing back how harsh her breathing was getting as she felt her knees give out on her altogether and Moon hardly a dark blur in her eyes. The man had his arm up around her torso to stop her falling to hit the ground, his other moving toward her back as he held her up entirely- the white was blinding around them, all four of them near nothing but a shadow as Moon slowed up, her eyes squinting against the light.

"... I know..." Frea's voice was so soft she hardly heard her Partner say a damn thing, before the light swallowed them whole and disappeared- not a trace left, nothing.

Frea felt her stomach flip, threatening to spill it's contents as her head fell, her hair falling around her face and all strength suddenly drained- she was fading fast, her mind a whirl and borderline unconscious- and still she hadn't the slightest clue why... She just knew he did something. That same man that was holding her up, gently almost as he hugged her to him near nonbothered by the contact nor the closeness. And she was much too weak all of a sudden to do anything about it, and he clearly knew it- he hadn't hesitated to catch her as she started to slip away.

Someone... From Adgnei... With tools... A tool that can keep Energy Signatures Hidden from... Me... I can't even... Figure out if... He's... A... Dark... Person... Or...

His voice flooded her ears, far off as the waves crashed harder over her head- calm, quiet.

"... Sleep, Energess."

---

You've got to be kidding me...! What the hell does anyone out of Adgnei have to do with Frea...?! And the hell did he mean, 'Open the way'?! What project could they possibly be working on that they need Frea for it...?!

Moon panted, her jaw clenched and ears pressed flat against her head as she ran down the hill as fast as she possibly could- the collar around her neck rubbing painfully as she lashed her tail behind her- she hated Collars, damn it! And especially the ones that Nullified Magic!

"Uuuuugggghhhhhh! This is seriously really fucking ridiculous!" She snapped, worry and anger all bundled into one. She wanted to claw something- preferably that asshole that had started all of this and dragged Frea off by punching her in the stomach!

The wound in her stomach isn't healed all the way either, that would have really hurt! Did they know it was a weak spot..?! How the hell would they!?

And the Collar they put on Frea? That inflicted pain whenever her Magic even moved?! Their King knew Nullification Magic wouldn't work on Frea, but that was his solution?!

Do they have any idea how cruel a tool like that really is?!

Moon sweatdropped, her eyes flashing as her stomach knotted in on itself.

"I'll be alright, trust me... Go get the Guild." Frea's voice dropped, smiling still. "I can hold out till you come get me, alright..?"

"...tch... You idiot...! I'm gonna worry regardless if you smile or promise anything...!" Moon snapped lowly, banishing the memory instantly. "... damn this!"

Moon forced herself to take a breath running a little faster and sorely wishing she could use Aera- flying was so much faster.

She had to try and calm down- Frea was in custody of a country no one knew near anything about, and one that clearly had Magic Tools that could put even an S-Class and a Wizard Saint to shame. Being angry was fine, but she couldn't lose sight of the clear disadvantage they already had against Adgnei and it's Magic Inventions.

The Guild would be pissed and worked up like she was the minute she told them- and why not? Most of them hadn't been OK with the idea of Frea going out on a Job, but now she was a prisoner and she was gone.

Her tail lashed again, guilt hitting her straight on in an instant.

Damn it... I let them take her too, I was so freaking useless!

She shook her head furiously, no- she couldn't think like that. If she'd been hauled off with Frea, the Guild wouldn't have a clue what happened- it was up to her to tell them, and work to make a plan to get her back. Good as she was with Magic, she usually considered her head her biggest asset, and she'd have to use it quite a bit to help come up with a way into Adgnei, find Frea, and out again... And she knew she'd need help with it.

I have to find Aisha

She was huffing and puffing, her lungs aching and mind still whirling on high as she reached the bottom of the hill- her spirits lifting a little as she spotted the three figures a little further ahead.

"Freed! Bixlow! Evergreen...!" Moon called, waving her hand at them and sounding entirely out of breath. The trio turned at the sound of her voice, a look of surprise and confusion passing over all of their faces as she continued running up to them- alone.

"... Moon?" They mumbled in unison, their heads tilting as she drew to a halt in front of them, panting as she leaned over a bit, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

"... Why are you alone?" Evergreen mumbled, quirking a brow.

"Yeah, and why are you runnin'?" Bixlow asked, hands on hips and leaning over and down toward her.

"Running!" His Tiki Dolls chanted, spinning over her head.

"Is something wrong?" Freed asked near instantly,

".. Frea... She's been dragged off to Adgnei..!" Moon huffed breathlessly, all three went utterly still, their jaws dropping slightly and eyes going wide. "Three people showed up and Collared us so we couldn't use any Magic... And they took her through some kind of Magic Portal! They're gone!"

"W-what?!" They stammered,

"I'll explain on the way, but we need to hurry- we can't waste a lot of time." Moon told them quickly, they stiffened.

"We need to tell the Guild immediately." Freed grumbled, Moon nodded.

"But before we go there, we need to stop somewhere else first." Moon told him, they blinked. "Adgnei is where we're gonna be headed and who we're up against, we need someone who knows it."

"You mean Aisha." Evergreen grumbled, Moon nodded.

"We have to check her house first, before going to the Guild. We need her help." Moon replied, "I can't use Magic with this Collar on, so you'll have to carry me with you, please."

"Why don't we just take it off?" Bixlow mumbled, Moon shook her head a little.

"I'm under the impression you won't be able to get it off so easy- let's just get moving. We can worry about getting it off later." Moon explained, they sweatdropped, before nodding stiffly.

"Very well," Freed agreed, his hand drawing a line of Runes in front of him as they formed a pair of wings behind him, Evergreen snapped her fingers as her Magic flared behind her in the shape of wings too, Bixlow hopped on top of four of his Tiki Dolls as they lined up together. The last one moved forward and scooped up Moon after moving itself underneath her, the Exceed bristling slightly at the unexpected action- the four of them lifting into the air at once.

"Do you know where she lives?" Freed asked, pausing a small second as Moon sweatdropped.

"Follow me." Evergreen grumbled lowly, earning surprised blinks from the other three. She huffed, "She lives with Chase, yes? We stopped there before heading out during that Zentopia disaster." She explained lowly, they nodded a little in understanding. Evergreen huffed once more before starting off through the air, casting a narrowed glance behind her as everyone else moved, Moon's claws digging into the Tiki Doll she was sitting on as it moved.

"Now, would you care to explain just what happened?" Evergreen grumbled, "And how long ago, for that matter?"

"They took her about ten minutes ago, I had to run down through the forest from Fairy Hills." Moon grumbled hotly, Evergreen blinked.

"They captured her right out in the open, just outside of Fairy Hills..?!" She asked, Moon nodded stiffly.

"That's ballsy." Bixlow muttered,

"It seems odd to think Frea could have been taken without anyone noticing some sort of... Commotion." Freed said lowly, "We certainly didn't notice anything on the hilltop when we were headed here..."

"We were the last ones out of Fairy Hills today." Moon muttered, Evergreen sweatdropped slightly- she of course lived in Fairy Hills herself but she hadn't been home last night- she'd stayed over... Somewhere else. She said nothing of it, blushing slightly as she looked ahead instead.

"There was no one to hear anything from the building itself." Moon growled, Freed sweatdropped.

"Yeah, but I'd expect some destruction at least." Bixlow pointed out, "This is Frea we're talking about, she doesn't shy away from knocking over a few miles of trees when she's fightin'."

"And you said this was ten minutes ago?" Freed pressed, "You must not have been in open conflict for very long at all- a few minutes more and we would have headed up to Fairy Hills ourselves to see what had become of her."

"... the whole thing lasted about two minutes." Moon hissed as her ears fell against her head, everyone blinked in shock.

"... You're serious?!" Evergreen snapped,

"Only two minutes for her to be detained and taken..?!" Freed said breathlessly,

"That's insane!" Bixlow hissed,

"What happened exactly?!" They said at once, Magnolia coming into view as the trees thinned out below them.

"They took us by surprise." Moon growled, "They were using a lot of really powerful, complicated Magical Tools and Weapons. They had something with them that seemed to be able to hide their Energy Signatures entirely- so Frea had no clue they were anywhere near us until they clamped these damn Collars on our necks." She sweatdropped, "Neither of us ever had a chance to use Magic at all, and don't get me wrong- Frea is plenty capable of fighting just as well even without Magic... But the Collar they put on her... Tch... It's cruel."

They sweatdropped, their eyes narrowing a little and concern lighting up in their eyes when they saw the sheer anger and fear both alight in Moon at the thought.

"They somehow knew Nullification Magic wouldn't work against Frea- so they had a Collar 'special-made' just for her. If she even tries to use Magic or let it start to rise- it hurts her, and stops her from ever being able to use Magic at all. I don't know the specifics... But the minute she tried to use any sort of Magic she was in so much pain she seemed like she could hardly move, let alone fight back. One of the men- the leader I think- he told her the more she tried to use Magic, and the harder she pushed it- the worse the pain would get, and the harsher the 'punishment'... It makes it worse that she doesn't even have to actively want to use a Spell or anything else, if her Magic even rises a little subconsciously- it hurts her then too."

The Thunder God Tribe as a whole seemed to blanch at the words, their shoulders growing stiff as their jaws clenched- looking uneasy and so very, very tense, and a little angry too.

"What the hell.." Bixlow grumbled lowly,

"Such awful Magic.." Freed growled, shaking his head a little as his eyes flashed.

"... That isn't right." Evergreen growled, "How could anyone ever think of using something like that on a living person...?" Moon shook her head a little,

"... I don't know. But their Magic Tools are insane... I read up a little on Adgnei yesterday, and their entire economy is built on Magic Objects- but I had no idea they were so advanced... Even enough to do something like that to Frea, pain or not it was like she couldn't use her Magic even with it- she's so stubborn and used to pain I could believe she'd be able to use Magic even if it did hurt, but she couldn't."

"... This is very bad." Freed mumbled, "Even caught by surprise, Frea is both S-Class and a Wizard Saint- if she was defeated and taken prisoner in such little time... The people holding her in custody are formidable opponents, to say the least. More so if their Weapons and Tools are truly as powerful as they seem."

"Yeah, and we don't even have a clue what other stuff they have, right?" Bixlow murmured, "They might have stuff we can't even believe- we might be sitting ducks when we head off to get her back."

"Do you really think any Magical Weapons they have are going to hold against a Guild full of powerful, angry Wizards?" Evergreen grumbled, Moon sweatdropped.

"We don't know what we're up against in full, we need more information- that's why we need to get to Aisha, fast. She's the only one we have who's ever even been to Adgnei- and it's lucky enough as it is that she knows a lot about it, and even has some pull in their Political affairs." Moon grumbled, they nodded a little.

"It does seem fortunate," Freed agreed, "But were you told why they took Frea in the first place? They have some agenda I assume, especially to cross national borders and launch such a blatant attack."

"He mentioned something about a project that Corielain was working on, and they need Frea to finish it for them... Somehow." Moon grumbled, shaking her head a little. "He didn't say anything else though, he wasn't really the talkative sort... The other two with him never said anything either. I never even got a name, they said Corielain had summoned Frea- and she could come willingly, or be detained... He made a mention that if she didn't resist he wouldn't hurt her, but Frea isn't the sort of person to back down on anything..."

Moon sweatdropped, Frea wasn't the sort of person to retreat nor give in- and yet she did both today. Not at first, no... But she knew she was outmatched with that collar on, she knew she needed help- a good idea, even if the sudden decision felt a little odd coming from Frea.

"... Perhaps Aisha can figure out more of whatever 'project' this is." Freed grumbled, "... I have to think her 'connections' may be able to find something. It must be something important to want Frea that badly, but whatever it is they need her for... I have a bad feeling." Everyone else nodded stiffly in agreement, sweatdropping a little more as a few seemed to swallow.

"... Me too.." Moon grumbled, in her mind the image of Carla's Vision rose to the surface, and her stomach knotted.

We need to figure out what is happening, what they need Frea for... Why... And hope it doesn't lead to that mess that Carla keeps seeing over and over.

The town of Magnolia moved under them in a blur, people down in the streets glancing up curiously as they flew overhead- but thinking little of it. It was like Fairy Tail to be out and about doing things, so they weren't too concerned- the markets and the shops thinned into homes and houses as Evergreen drew up, below them the street quiet and the sound of the canal floating passed lazily reached their ears. Evergreen landed again, everyone else following suit as Moon stayed put on the Tiki Doll- Freed stepped forward to knock on the door hastily.

The door opened a second before his knuckles hit the wood, Chase having pulled it open, eyes narrowed at the four standing there and looking confused as well as tense- and why not? He felt their Energy Signatures well before he felt the inklings of panic, fear and anger coming from the lot of them- if there was ever reason to think something was wrong;

His eyes flashed, grimacing slightly as they jumped a little at the unexpected answer of the door.

"What happened?" He asked immediately, they sweatdropped, his blue eyes scanning them and the already worsening sense of foreboding getting a hundred times worse when he saw no sign of Frea- or felt her Energy Signature anywhere. He heard Aisha's feet stop a few steps up on the stairs behind him, though he didn't turn to look her way- he felt the agitation and unease spark from her too, she must have guessed something was wrong just like he did.

"Frea's been taken prisoner, and dragged off to Adgnei." Moon told him quickly, his eyes went wide in complete shock at the words. "These three men took her, and they said it was because they need her to finish some sort of Project- but I don't know what. We need to get her back, and we need Aisha's help-"

"You have got be fucking kidding me!" Aisha snapped lowly, agitation sparking off her like lightning as she growled- her voice low and cold as the Thunder God Tribe, Moon and Chase all jumped at the sudden sound of her voice out of nowhere. Chase glanced back toward her, seeing her hands clenched into fists and shaking her head furiously as she whipped around- and started to stalk back up the steps toward the apartment itself. He was on the first floor, a barren, one little front room that held the stairs up to their living space and nothing else at all.

"Aisha-?" Chase started,

"Get them the hell in here!" Aisha snapped back hotly, he blinked, flinching slightly at the order. She was... Miffed, to say the least- but he wasn't sure what part about those few words by Moon that had actually set her off so suddenly. He sweatdropped, eyes narrowing a little as he cast the four outside a glance and tilted his head inside.

"I guess... Come in...?" He mumbled, making his way toward the stairs and staring at the open door up at the top. He heard them move in behind him, the door shutting as feet moved up the stairs behind him. "... well she's now in a royally foul mood... " he mumbled near all to himself, shaking his head a little as he glanced back, his eyes finding Moon as she climbed the stairs quickly after him- his attention for the first time finding the Collar around her neck as he blinked.

He could feel Nullification Magic easy enough, and something else too- something colder, faint... But it was gone so quickly he hadn't a clue what it was or if he imagined it.

"... What the hell happened?" He mumbled, pausing slightly on the top step and the doorway as he glanced down at the Exceed- who grimaced.

"They came out of nowhere-" she mumbled,

"- let me make this very, very clear for you! Reports and whispers of Weapons Tradings and increased numbers of poor are all well and interesting, Seyre (Say-ray)- but not a single shred of anything coming down from Corielain or the bloody freaking King about a plot to capture the Screw-Up?!" Moon's voice broke off as Aisha's voice cut clear down to them as they all stepped into the room that opened up before them.

There was a carefully placed Lacrima hanging from the ceiling over their heads a way, off for now in the daylight. There was the railing of a staircase that spiraled up along the walls around them and over their heads toward a loft overhead. There was a window across from a couch in the center, a coffee table between the couch and window, and a shelf with books and various items to the right of the window, settled in the wall in a small alcove just under the staircase. It was a circular room with a high roof, and fairly large, with another armchair settled around the table and another pushed up near the bookcase, a hallway lead further into the apartment to the right of them, and another larger alcove opened up in the wall to the right of the bottom of the staircase toward a kitchenette.

There were books and piles of papers and other various things scattered around everywhere, the bookshelf bare in places and packed in others- stacks on the floor and the table and the chairs- the kitchen looked unusable in the clutter. Moon blinked, her thoughts that had been snapped to Aisha suddenly veered to the state of the room- just as the Thunder God Tribe did.

Chase sweatdropped a bit more, moving further into the room as everyone behind him halted a moment in surprise and shock- his hand fell on the railing of the staircase as he glanced upward toward the loft. Aisha was nowhere to be seen in the room they were in, and her voice came back into focus from overhead- she sounded aggravated to no end and it almost seemed she was having a hard time not yelling the words- though she wasn't doing so well.

"This had better end up being the best kept secret in all of god damn Adgnei! Especially if I only heard a damn thing about it after she got caught and hauled off! You expect me to believe there was no hint or clue? No push to make Tools that could be used to keep a highly powerful, volatile Dragon Slayer as a Prisoner?! No whispers of gathering a small band of Kullui or anyone else on some mission out to Fiore?!" Aisha snapped, they all blinked at the words, a little lost who she was talking to-

"They crossed national borders and took a Wizard Saint for Gods Sake!" Aisha went on, her voice clear and cutting as she appeared at the top of the steps, her hair in a messy bun of intermingling silver strands and looking no more pleased than she sounded. In her hands were several books, rolled up papers and a bag filled with things- at her side another paper was floating- the page glowing as words etched into it by means of Magic and followed her in her quick descent down the stairs toward where they were standing, lost.

Aisha dropped the books with a loud thud on the coffee table, shooting the paper a furious violet stare as her hands fell on her hips.

"Not even just a Wizard Saint- an Energy Mage! 'Energess' even- that damned Balthan asshat has named her that- and you already told me there were rumors spreading out among the Castes about an Energess like the Legends! That means she's not some random Caster Mage from Fiore-!" Aisha snapped at the paper, which seemed to be recording every word she said. She let out an aggravated hiss, her eyes snapped toward them as they flinched.

"What happened exactly?" she growled lowly, her tone icy as Moon swallowed a little.

"Three men surprised us outside Fairy Hills. They put Collars on us before we even realized they were there- and by then we couldn't use Magic at all." Moon explained, Aisha's eyes narrowed.

"Wait- what do you mean, surprised you?" Chase mumbled, quirking a brow. "Teach can feel Porlyusica's Energy Signature all the way on the other side of the East Forest from the Guild Hall- it's gotta be near impossible for anyone to sneak up on her, let alone a stranger using Magic she's not used to." Moon sweatdropped slightly at that, unaware of the stunned and incredulous looks that dawned on the faces of Evergreen, Freed and Bixlow at the words.

Wait, she can what..?!

"I know, but she didn't- they were using something. Some sort of Magic Tool, they called it a 'Cloak'. It didn't seem like Frea could feel their Energies at all." Moon explained, Chase blinked, looking unsure.

"... Hidden Energy... From how sensitive Teach is now... That's gotta be impossible... Rare if it isn't." He grumbled, Aisha sweatdropped herself.

"... It's not impossible, not with how Powerful Adgnei's Tools are." The Moonlight Mage grumbled, Chase looked her way. "... More so, if they set their minds to something specific... 'Cloaks' are new even to me, they must have expected needing to hide themselves beforehand, and worked to make something that would do it..." she trailed off, before she shook her head hotly, stepping forward toward Moon as she bent down, her hand lifting as her index and middle finger extended, and she swiped her hand down in a controlled, little motion like cutting the air.

"Geile." Aisha grumbled lowly, her eyes locked to the Collar as white and blue glowed in air in the motion her hand moved. She paused, a few seconds passing as the runes on the collar glowed- but nothing happened.

A vein ticked on her forehead, sitting down crosslegged on the floor in front of Moon with a scowl on her face.

"Of fucking course you made it not to work with the Release, because of course you already know I'm in Fairy Tail... And you know I know how to handle the Tools... Fucking annoying little...!" Aisha grumbled hotly, her hand moving behind her as she gestured toward the bag she had left on the stack of books on the coffee table. "Give me that." she ordered sharply to Chase, but didn't look at him as Moon stood still in front of her, stiff as a board and mind whirling. She waved that same hand at the Thunder God Tribe, her eyes locking to the Collar as Moon did her best not to fidget in case it set the already fuming Moonlight Mage off. "You three, sit down or at least move away from the door- and shut it too."

Freed closed the door as she asked, Evergreen and Bixlow shuffled inside between the piles of things, standing stiffly near the bookshelf. Freed paused a little, his eyes widening as he watched the blue Runes suddenly appear across the door as he shut it- they stretched out across the frame and branched off, snaking over the walls and creating a barrier over the entire room- to his eye, it looked like a Magic and Sound Canceling Spell... Like Aisha thought someone unwanted may be trying to listen in.

Chase had moved to grab the bag, and handed it to Aisha who took it without a word and started digging in it. Chase bent down a little, his hands on his knees as he watched Aisha silently- earning Moon's confused gaze as he shrugged slightly.

Aisha pulled a thin, blue-grey piece of metal our of the bag, huffing a little as she shook her head furiously. "... Making me fucking use a Skeleton Key... Grahhhhhhhhhhh!"

She flicked the metal out the side a little- Magic flaring as it shifted, glowing as several spindly little arms folded out from the top of it, everyone's eyes went wide at it, awed almost as Aisha leaned forward, nudging Moon closer to her as she brought the 'Skeleton Key' up to the Collar- several tiny Magic Circles appearing from the arms as she held it close to the place the Collar was meant to come apart.

"... This will go much easier if you just Project the Memory of what happened, I need everything, every little detail, every word said." Aisha grumbled, her voice dropping as she twisted the Key this way and that, her eyes fixed on her work as her own Magic flickered slightly off the Collar too. "... I've been rekindling my contacts and 'friends' in Adgnei, trying to make sense of what's going on over there... But taking the Screw-Up-" Aisha cut herself off, grimacing. "... Taking Frea is news to me, I haven't seen nor heard anything that would have anything to do with her, let alone why she'd be taken to Adgnei for some 'Project', as you put it. It must be pretty important if they've kept it all so secret and hidden, even with me being away from Adgnei so long... there should have been something. Even just a little thing that would make sense- but I can't remember seeing anything the last few days."

"... You were already looking into Adgnei before now?" Evergreen asked,

"That's what you've been doing the last few days?" Freed asked too, looking as shocked as Bixlow and Evergreen did as Aisha nodded. "But... If there was no precedence you could find for taking Frea, why were you interested in Adgnei again already?"

"Carla came to me, saying she's been having a Vision over and over... And in the end of it she hears someone say my last name." Aisha grumbled, "My Name means a great deal in Adgnei as it is- and what she described of the city she was seeing, it sounded a lot to me like Coriisette- Adgnei's Capital City." They stiffened slightly, "... I started getting in contact with Adgnei again to try and make sense of why she kept having the same Vision over and over again, maybe see if I could make a connection with what... Trouble, she's likely to be predicting."

"... Trouble?" The Thunder God Tribe asked lowly, Moon and Chase alike grimaced.

Chase had by now managed to work Aisha into telling him what she was up to and why- and described the Vision to him too. Moon knew already, as she had also mentioned... And it was unpleasant- more so now with Frea in the very place it was about, or at least more than likely about.

The question went unanswered for a little while longer as Moon heard the Collar click, and felt it loosen around her neck as Aisha's Magic sparked against the lock and the key twisted once more- unlocking it as she felt her Magic come back instantly. Aisha's eyes flashed, widening a little as she watched the Runes in Collar glowed bright red in the instant the lock released-

Magic shot up from the lock and rammed straight into her hand and the Skeleton Key with it to earn a small yelp, the Skeleton Key bouncing against the floor loudly as Aisha recoiled. She snatched her hand back, hissing in pain and annoyance as her knuckles bruised near instantly, a cut running against the length of her index finger and earning a small dribble of blood as she shot a few curses under her breath.

"Gods, fucking... What the fuck...?!" she snapped, holding her hand to her as everyone else in the room stiffened, eyes wide and reeling.

"You ok?" Chase asked in an instant, his eyes flashing as he felt Aisha's pain run into him. He bent down on one knee, his hand falling on her shoulder as she sucked on her finger to get rid of the blood- and shooting him an annoyed glare.

"Do I look ok?" She hissed back hotly, he smiled slightly at the reply.

She's fine

"... What happened?" Moon asked, her paws moving up to pull the Collar off as she glanced at it, confused.

"... Tch... Someone put a Bite on it." Aisha grumbled, getting her feet and still sucking on her bleeding finger as Chase held a hand out for the Collar- and Moon gave it to him before he stood up too. The Moonlight Mage picked the Skeleton Key up and dropped it in her bag as she moved back to the Coffee Table. "... It's like Body Link Magic- if someone unlocks a Collar without the actual key or Release, the Magic in the Collar springs up and 'bites' them, it usually leaves a Mark so the Kullui can find you and punish you... The damned Skeleton Key is supposed to block it though, so I won't get snapped at... Tch..."

"Wait, you mean it... It brands you? Or is it like a tracking signal?" Moon asked instantly, Aisha nodded slightly to both.

"Wouldn't that mean they're gonna be able to find you...?" Evergreen and Bixlow asked in unison,

"No." Aisha grumbled, shaking her hand to get rid of the stinging a bit more.

"That's what these Runes are meant for, right?" Freed hummed, his head tilting to said Runes on the walls- he'd been moving around the perimeter, reading them as he went in silence and intrigue. "... The Tracking Magic instilled in the 'Bite'- it's the sort of unwanted Magic these Runes neutralize... So whatever happens in this room, no Magic can be used that's meant to spy on us?"

"Yes." Aisha mumbled, nodding slightly and looking the slightest bit impressed he had read them so quickly and perfectly too. She shook her head a little, turning on Moon again- "Now, show me what happened."

Moon nodded, her eyes falling closed as she held a paw out in front of her- a golden Magic Circle coming to life as the room around them fell away and the blue sky opened up overhead, trees and Fairy Hills rising into existence as the grass propped up underfoot- a perfect image in crystal clear clarity as Moon's Memory Magic went to work.

Everyone glanced around warily, recognizing the Building and the figures of both Frea and Moon heading away toward the Hill- though somewhere behind the Memory was hazy and dark, as made sense- Moon couldn't see behind her, so she had no memory of what had been behind them as they were headed out.

Chase crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes following the image of Frea as she and Moon walked along- and he saw nothing that gave him any reason to think Frea felt something was off. She seemed completely at ease,

"Good luck with it, then." The image of Moon sighed, "And have fun too, I expect to hear all about it when you get back, alright?" Frea smirked, nodding in agreement.

"You got it~!" She grinned toothily, Moon smiled in amusement at the look. Frea's head tilted toward the hill they were approaching, "... They're headed in from town now, I should reach the bottom by the time they do." Moon sighed, her tail flicking against Frea's shoulder a little roughly.

"Searching that far is gonna give you a headache way too fast, Frea." She scolded lightly, Frea sweatdropped,

Chase let out an aggravated grumble under his breath at his Teacher, she really hadn't been very careful about letting her Senses cast out way, way too far... and he and Moon both knew it.

"... she could tell where we were the whole time?" Evergreen mumbled softly, sweatdropping slightly.

"... you said she could sense Energy all the way out to the East Forest...?" Freed breathed, Chase cast the trio of the Thunder God Tribe a small glance.

"... after what happened with Mordren and her Magic growing, her Senses have gotten heightened... by a lot." He explained softly, his attention diverting from the Memory as Aisha never took her eyes off of it. "... she can feel things a really long way away now, and get a better picture of them too. She's gotten extremely sensitive to everything, Magic, and Energy both- almost insanely so. That's why I'm surprised she didn't pick out anything out of the ordinary.."

"... sorry, I can't help it sometimes..." Frea's voice broke in again as she apologized, Moon nodded.

"I know." Moon mumbled, Chase sweatdropped.

"... especially so, if she was already searching for the three of you." He added lowly, all three of the Thunder Legion exchanged glances- recalling near instantly the morning in Laxus' home when he had ordered Frea out nowhere to simply;

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

"... I'm paying attention with my ears, not my head, Lightning-Boy." Frea sighed,

Is that what he had warned her away from doing? If her Senses had gotten that heightened, it must be overwhelming... and clearly was, since Moon had warned Frea not to as well, lest she earn a headache. They wondered how long and how bad they must get, when she did get them- especially to have not only Moon but Laxus too warning her away from using her Senses too much.

"It seems this 'Cloak' is working then, if you really haven't noticed us yet."

Their thoughts snapped back to the memory at the unexpected voice, their shoulders tensing a lips pulling into frowns- the images of Moon and Frea both halted, as everyone tangible in the room jumped just as Frea and Moon did.

Two Collars came up from that haze of black and unknown in the Memory, and promptly clasped around the both of Moon and Frea's necks in an instant- the former quickly losing her wings as the Exceed hit the ground in surprise.

"What the hell...?!" Moon hissed, her hands immediately moving to try and pull it off, "... is this... some sort of Nullification Magic...?!"

Chase's eyes snapped away from the image toward Aisha, though- his heart jumping in his chest when he felt the sudden wave of sheer panic ram into him from the Moonlight Mage. Panic and unease and pain all in a single instant as he watched her body go so very still, her breathing hitch in her throat and eyes wide- shaking a little as her purple gaze snapped over toward where Moon's memory had caught up- and she saw the person responsible for the voice. He took a step toward her out of instinct, eyes glittering as he saw her looking like she had been stabbed- she felt like she had been stabbed with all those emotions he was feeling, and they came out of nowhere.

"Aisha...?" He asked lowly, she never looked at him, she'd taken an instinctive step back from where the figure of a tall man was standing a few yards away from them, his hip cocked and dressed in a dark colored coat with a tail, the strapping's a gold color and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A deep purple sash with swirling gold designs across the fabric draped over his shoulders and tied in the front by several alternating gold and silver rings. His boots reached up to his knees as his hand fell lightly on the jagged, twisting sword hung on his hip by a series of belts and other pouches and the like. The sunlight glinted off the piercings in his ears, his bare forearms covered in tattoos of designs matching the ones on the sash, and scars too. The deep navy of his hair was cut short and and stuck up on the top a bit, matched by a thin goatee on his chin, and pale yellow eyes locked to her and looking bored.

Behind him stood two other people, their faces hidden by hoods and masks and wearing the same outfit both- a grey sash hanging loosely from one shoulder and around their torsos and backs under the opposite arm, leather armor around their chest underneath that and in leather boots too. The only thing she could see of their faces was the faint light flashing off their dull red eyes underneath the hoods and masks.

Aisha's eyes wouldn't move from the first one though, she looked frozen as Chase stopped next to her, his hand falling on her shoulder as she jumped a little at his sudden touch- her eyes snapping to him as he looked at her steadily.

"... you ok..?" He asked, she stiffened, her eyes flashing as she shook her head a little hotly.

"... fine." She grumbled, he didn't believe her.

There were floating Lacrima, four of them, shaped like spheres and glowing a sickly yellow color as they remained like the four corners of a box, enclosing around the three strangers. Aisha's eyes left Chase's, as she went back to watching the Memory again, her lips pulling in a tight frown and willing her nerves to settle again- she knew he felt how she reacted, and she hated how she had.

"... Who the hell are you...?!" Frea snapped lowly,

"Tch... I will forgive your tone since you are both unaware of our customs, and because of your own title, Energess." He grumbled, his fingers tapping in slight agitation on the hilt of the sword at his side.

Aisha hissed underneath her breath, "... so they've made it official..." She growled, "... damn it..." She shook her head, her eyes narrowing to slits as she forced herself to look away from the man and toward the Lacrima floating around them.

... why haven't I heard anything about this...? Of course it had to be... you... but what is this Cloak anyway...?

The blue-haired man tipped his head toward Frea in a soft of nod, though he seemed a bit reluctant to do so- as well he probably would, but he did it anyway... so he was thinking about Custom after all, at least a little.

Aisha forced herself a small sigh and crossed her arms over her chest, Chase grimaced slightly as he shot her one last look, before looking back on the Memory himself- his hand left her shoulder slowly.

"It is of course an honor to meet a true Energess, like that of the legends." He sighed, his head tilting back up. "But I'm afraid I will have to ask you to please come with me. You've been called into attendance by the High Council of Adgnei- Corielain. And you have no choice on the matter, you either come willingly- or I will detain you and bring you by force."

"... Adgnei..?!" Moon stammered instantly, Frea hissed under her breath,

"... And why in the hell would I come with you?" Frea snapped lowly, "What does Adgnei or Corielain want with me?"

"We need you to open the way." He said flatly, "There's a matter we've been looking into for awhile, and it has come to our attention we need you to see it through. But that's all I am at leave to say."

Frea growled, her fangs baring a bit more. "... There's no way in hell I'm getting dragged off to Adgnei." She shot back lowly, he sighed, looking a bit exasperated as his fingers curled around his sword hilt. Aisha tensed, her eyes snapping to the sword as she sweatdropped heavily.

"... What a shame, I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to violence with you." He grumbled, "... Don't let it be said I didn't try to be diplomatic first." He took a step forward, eyes falling closed as Frea and Moon tensed both at once.

"Two Minutes, then Two Hours." He said lightly, and completely and utterly out of any sort of context or meaning that either Moon or Frea could come up with- Chase and Aisha were just as lost, the Thunder Legion too.

Frea's hands came up, her mind and her body moving into reaction at what was clearly going to be a fight- she hadn't a clue what he was planning to do, but she figured she might as well try and put some wall between them.

"Energy Shi-!" She snapped, but her voice broke, her eyes growing wide when her Magic failed to show up. A red haze sprung up around the Energy Dragon Slayer, wisps of red flickering up around her body in tandem as she yelped.

"Frea!" Moon hissed, her attention snapping toward her Partner as Frea doubled over a little, her body rigid as red encased her form in a haze- bits of deeper crimson sections of Magic sparking off of and out of her body, painful bursts of concentrated, foreign Magic that had the Energy Dragon Slayer hurting in an instant- right at the very second she tried to use Magic at all.

"Are you alright..?!" Moon asked instantly, moving a few paces closer to Frea as the woman took a few steps back to catch herself and how unbalanced she'd gotten at the sudden shock, hissing still and jaw clenched as she growled. Everyone in the room went still, their eyes flashing as grimacing at what happened-

Aisha's face darkened, her eyes narrowed to slits as she stepped forward, leaning down a little and circling the still cringing image of Frea- her eyes locked on the Collar, and not recognizing it's build nor design.

The Thunder Legion all frowned, their shoulders tensing at the clear pain in Frea and cringing themselves.

"... What the hell is that...?" Chase hissed, his eyes glittering as he watched his Old Mentor shake in pain.

"... That's terrible." Evergreen muttered hotly, Bixlow and Freed nodded stiffly in agreement, looking none too pleased.

"... What the fuck...?" Frea growled, "... What the hell did you do to me...?!" Frea snapped hotly, her eyes moving up to find the man- and faltering.

Moon and Frea both went utterly still, their eyes going wide and sweatdropping heavily as they felt a rush of air sweep up and passed them, their eyes finding the man not where he had been a few seconds before- only the two motionless figures had been left behind.

Aisha went rigid, her heart dropped into her feet as the image of the man swept right through her like a ghost- her head snapping around as he stopped behind Frea and Moon.

"... Shit..." She hissed, her purple eyes searching.

"... I hear you've been named one of this Country's Wizard Saints, hmm? Pity I'm fighting with you on such uneven ground, Energess." His voice came from behind them, Moon and Frea whipping around to see him with his back to them slightly, his hand still on his sword and not looking as if he'd moved it an inch. "... I hate stooping to such tricks, I'd gladly test my mettle against yours without need for such measures... But I have my orders, and I need you to come with me. It won't do to drag this out longer, and we do need you alive and able. So for now I will concede to simply evening out the playing field in my favor... Even if that means resorting to such unsavory tools. We knew our regular Collars wouldn't work against you, so we had one specially made." Moon and Frea stiffened, a shiver running up their spines at the words.

The man straightened up, turning back toward them. Aisha glanced quickly between him and toward the image of Frea and Moon- looking a bit more frantic by the second.

"The harder you try and use Magic or let it start to run free and rise up, the harsher the pain will get, and the worse the punishment." He told her simply, "Our most brilliant mind managed a way to make this happen at the behest of our King- so wise as He is, He knew this was the only way we could control you, make you more... Compliant."

"That's... That's insane...!" Moon hissed, Frea's face twisted in anger.

"I don't need Magic to kick your ass!" Frea snapped, and he nodded.

"I do not doubt it, but the two minutes is nearly up, Energess." He hummed, Frea's hands balled into fists at her sides. "Please know that if you cooperate, no true harm will come to you at my hand."

"Wait." Aisha ordered sharply, earning everyone's attention as Moon snapped her fingers and the Memory shuddered to a halt- the Exceed tilted her head, looking confused.

"What?"

"Did he cut you?" Aisha asked sharply, Moon blinked. "Either of you, did he cut you with that sword? Even just a little?"

"W-wha... Uh, no..." Moon stammered, a little lost as Aisha growled.

"Are you completely sure?" Aisha asked again, Moon sweatdropped heavily.

"N-no... I mean, I didn't feel anything I don't think he cut me... And I didn't see Frea get cut either..." Moon stammered, Aisha grimaced a little at that and Moon floated forward, her wings appearing as she bristled. "Why? What does that sword do...?!"

"... tch... Oi, do you feel anything on her? Any Magic, anything that's not supposed to be there?!" Aisha snapped, rounding on Chase now as she pointed straight at Moon. Chase jumped a little, looking a little taken aback- and why not? Aisha was usually more collected and calm than this, but she was so worked up- hell. He felt panic coming off of her, sheer panic.

He blinked, faltering slightly as his eyes narrowed at her and she hissed.

"Well?" She growled, he sweatdropped, before stepping over toward Moon and giving her a small shake of his head as his hand lift- he lightly tapped a finger to the Exceed's forehead, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"... No, I don't feel anything out of the ordinary..." He mumbled slowly, "... Would you mind telling me what's going on? You're starting to freak me out a little here."

"Us too.." The Thunder Legion grumbled, Moon nodded, her eyes narrowed and flashing as all eyes locked on Aisha.

"... It's called Pestilence." Aisha grumbled lowly, they blinked. "He can infect anyone he wants with any sort of sickness, and all he has to do is cut you with that damned sword. There's no way around it, no way to block it, or stop it from infecting you- one knick and you are sick." They blanched a little, "It's a nuisance, and it can be deadly- I've nearly only ever seen him use it to unbalance people, and them feel weak... But only for about a day or two." She shook her head a little, her eyes falling closed as she growled. "The more you get cut, the more sickness he can land you with... It's all up to him how bad or benign they end up being. You didn't see him draw his Sword, and you didn't see Frea get hit with it... Or you for that matter. Given the fact that Chase doesn't feel Magic lingering on you, it's probably safe to say he didn't use it on you at all... Frea is a different story." Aisha paused, "... Even if you didn't see it, he might have done something... He's too quick and way too precise to hardly ever see him do anything..."

... And he might... Have changed his methods since I last saw him... I just don't have enough to go on... I need to know more about it... More about all of this... Damn it, of course it had to be him..!

She shook her head at herself,

"That's such a foul Magic." Freed grumbled,

"And it's centered on the Sword?" Bixlow mumbled, Aisha nodded.

"Adgnei runs on Magical Tools and Weapons," She reminded lowly. "... he's had that damn sword for a long time, tinkering with it, perfecting it..."

"... So I take it you do know this guy pretty well?" Chase mumbled, earning her eyes as he gestured to the blue-haired one, he knew the answer already of course- because why else would she have reacted like she had upon seeing him the first time?

Aisha grimaced at the question, shooting him a half-hearted little glare that he simply held in an utterly neutral stare.

"... well enough." She grumbled hotly, turning back toward Moon as the Exceed stiffened at the stare. "Keep going, I'll explain some more- but I need to see what else they used." Moon paused and Aisha huffed, "Hurry up." Moon sweatdropped and snapped her fingers again, the Memory moved into life again.

"Move!" Frea's image ordered quickly, her feet pushing her forward as she scooped Moon up and barely missed the Chains as they streamed passed her through the air and struck hard enough into the ground to tear it up. Frea jumped, putting distance in between herself and the chains- holding tight to Moon.

"Thanks." Moon mumbled, Frea's feet slid back across the grass a little as she turned, her eyes locking to the two men as the chains retracted back toward them. Frea nodded stiffly grimacing slightly as she flinched- along with everyone else in the room as a haze of red surrounded the Energy Dragon Slayer and sparks of crimson danced off of her- the heat from the Magic immediately making Moon's fur prickle as her eyes went wide. Frea's hold on her tightened a little, her jaw snapping shut as she hissed in pain.

"Frea! Stop trying to use Magic...!" Moon ordered quickly, Frea winced.

"... I wasn't trying... It just... Started to rise... On its... Own..." Frea said lowly in between the wincing, Moon's ears dropped.

Chase's eyes narrowed to slits, sweatdropping heavily as his eyes fell closed, and his stomach knotted.

So the Collar reacts even when her Magic moves on it's own...? Shit...

"... that's...!" Moon hissed, Frea's expression pulled tight, she realized it in the same instant Moon did. Frea forced a breath, forcing her Magic to stop and still and hating how elevated her breathing got when doing so. The red haze faded and the pain did too, Moon swallowed. "... Frea..."

Frea's eyes snapped open, the silver depths flashing as she tensed, jumping sideways as the Chains moved toward them again, one of the two silent men suddenly beside her as he held one end of the chains in hand, she missed him by barely a centimeter.

"You can't use Magic, the longer you fight the worse you'll be!" Moon told her quickly, "We need to get to the Guild, Frea!"

"Tch... Agreed." She hissed, her eyes still locked to the man as he startes toward them, Moon's eyes widened at how quickly she'd relented. Frea was never the one to retreat- not unless she knew she didn't have any other choice. Frea stiffened, her head snapping around when the other of the two silent figures moved directly behind her, chain still in hand and spanning between him and his compatriot.

"Thirty seconds." The man with the sword sighed, Aisha blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

... why are you counting...? Does your 'Cloak' run on a time limit...?

Both men with chains between them nodded, their free hands digging into their pants pockets as they each pulled out two flat disc shaped pieces of metal- the center was embedded Lacrima, that glowed red and blue as they flicked their hands forward- and the discs stuck fast into the ground around the both of Frea and Moon.

"What are those...?!" Moon hissed, the both of them never got out of the way in time and Aisha sweatdropped.

"... you two had no idea what hit you, hmm...?" She mumbled under her breath, Moon's ears twitched slightly.

"Twenty Seconds."

"I.. I can't... Move...!" Frea hissed, her hold on Moon was slackening as the Exceed was being pulled down by the force.

"... How can those discs... Be this powerful...?!" Moon growled, "... This much pressure... Could rival... Kagura...!"

"But what are they...?" Freed and Bixlow asked in unison,

"Gravity Wells." Aisha grumbled, "Highly advanced Gravity Magic sewn into discs and centralized around an area they enclose." They blinked at the explanation- and sort of... lack there of.

"We don't need the cat, Kullui." the navy-haired man said simply, walking across the clearing toward them at his own leisure. The Silent Pair nodded stiffly, both ends of the chains thrown out and one latching around Moon's paw and the other wrapping tightly around Frea's neck and shoulders. They tugged, hard- pulling Frea back roughly enough she stumbled and slammed into the ground with the weight of a thousand pounds on top of her- Moon snatched from her hands and taken out of the box, yelling in surprise as she was thrown with incredible force across the clearing and hit the gateway around Fairy Hills with a sickening slam.

"Moon!" Frea snapped, her Partner aliding to the ground with a pained groan and shaking her head. Moon winced at the image of it, earning concerned glances from Chase and the Thunder Legion alike.

"I... I'm fine...!" Moon called back quickly, her tail lashing behind her in pure, rising anger. Her blue eyes flashed, getting back on to her paws.

"Are you really alright? You hit hard.." Freed asked Moon, she nodded.

"Yeah, I'm a bit sore but it wasn't that bad." Moon replied softly,

"Ten seconds." the man who was clearly the leader kept on with his countdown, halting in the center of the clearing and pulling a clear, crystal white Lacrima orb that was surrounded by a metal band, from one of the pouches on his belt. He tossed it behind him, the crystal shattering in a multitude of rainbow light- Magic flaring around it to consume the shards as a spinning, glowing bright white rectangle appeared behind him, air rushing passed him as it got sucked into the wall to somewhere-

Aisha growled, biting the inside of her cheek at a sight that was familiar enough.

The Gravity Wells stopped glowing, the weight lifting off Frea's shoulders as she quickly tried pushing herself to her feet again- only for the chains still wrapped around her to tighten as the Silent Duo twirled, both of them throwing their weight into it as they flying her easily across the clearing in the direction of the glowing white wall. The Chains unwrapped from around her at the last second, giving her a chance to adjust and land on her feet- awkwardly, she struggled to stay standing as the blue-haired man stepped straight in front of her, eyes narrowed and face expressionless. This section of the memory surrounding Frea was blurred and fractured- Moon had been too far at the time to get a good picture of it,

The man was right in front of her, his fist swinging up too quickly to even really keep track of it, he slammed it straight into the center of her stomach with agonizing force. Frea hunched, the breath driven from her in an instant, eyes wide and coughing out at what insane amount of pain that spread though her at the hit- everyone in the room flinched at the sight, their eyes widening and their hearts jumping at the sight. Even how blurred the image was with how far Moon had been at the time- that hurt, and it probably hurt a lot.

"... shit..." Bixlow grumbled,

"... that was unpleasant." Evergreen mumbled,

"... has her stomach even healed completely..?" Freed murmured aloud, he earned a tense shake of a head from Moon, and he sweatdropped. "... did he know her weakest point, then..?"

"... ass..." Chase hissed,

Everyone in the room watched the memory in rigid, tense silence as they watched Frea tilt forward at the hit over the man's hand that was still pressed against her stomach- she looked like she was barely keeping on her feet, the man's hand unclenching as he stepped forward, his arm holding her up.

"Frea?! Are you OK..?!" Moon hissed, the Exceed started running forward towards them- the Two Silent figures jumping to land on either side of their superior. Everyone watching realized what Moon had at the time, there was no way in hell she was gonna get there in time- and they swallowed, their eyes flashing as Frea forced a small, reassuring smile, doing her best not to tilt forward anymore and already being held up by that man more than she was herself. She looked ready to pass out, and their stomach's knotted at the sight- Aisha just watched, her anger gone now and her eyes narrowed as she watched in cold, utter neutrality, taking in every single thing.

"I'll be fine, Moon. I promise." Frea called to the Exceed, who shook her head furiously at the reply.

"Don't tell me you're gonna go willingly now?!" She snapped, Frea's smile faded a little- Moon could tell how much she was trying to keep her pain hidden from the hit to the stomach.

"I'll be alright, trust me... Go get the Guild." Frea's voice dropped, the wall of Magic behind them moved forward, starting to swallow them whole. "I can hold out till you come get me, alright..?" Moon's ears folded back,

"... You'd better be fine, Frea!" She snapped, "We'll get you back, I swear! Adgnei is gonna have hell to pay when we get there!"

Frea smiled, "... I know..." Frea's voice was so soft she hardly heard her Partner say a damn thing, before the light swallowed them whole and disappeared- not a trace left, nothing.

Aisha and Chase's apartment faded back into view as the Memory concluded, leaving them all in a stiff, stony silence as the events ran through their minds- the implications, what went wrong, how wrong all of it was-

"This is bad...!" Evergreen snapped, her voice breaking into the sudden silence as light bounced off her glasses. "She didn't just get taken prisoner, she got carried off! You saw how wobbly she was at the end from just one hit, she was not ok!"

"We need to find some way to get her back, if they were willing to take her with such force, there's no telling what their willing to put her through back in Adgnei." Freed said quickly,

"And we gotta be quick. These guys ain't no joke," Bixlow grumbled lowly,

"Aisha, we need to get to Adgnei. We need to get Frea back!" Moon told the Moonlight Mage, who glanced between each and every one of them as they said something- before she looked away again.

"And we need to tell the Master, and the rest of the Guild." Chase told her lowly, Aisha's hands fell on her hips, her eyes falling closed as she still kept quiet.

"... that's a bad idea." Aisha muttered, Chase blinked at the reply. "... you know them, that whole Guild is full of hotheads. They'll rush off after her in an instant without any regard or thought... we can't just drop into Adgnei and grab her either."

"We can't just leave her there." Moon, Evergreen, Chase, Bixlow and Freed all said in an instant.

"I wasn't saying we were." Aisha shot back lowly, they stiffened at the venom in her voice. "Just... tch... be quiet for a minute, let me think..."

Aisha's hands moved to fall on top of her head in exasperation, she stepped forward, starting to pace back and forth in front of the kitchen as they watched her quietly. The paper that had floated at her side down the stairs and halted after setting her books down- moved again, and followed along lazily at her side as she paced.

"... she was in Adgnei from the minute you lost sight of her." Aisha mumbled, they blinked. "... they used a Magic Bean to get there, probably used one to get to Fairy Hills in the first place... they transport you to and from a place in an instant... so she's already in Adgnei... in Coriisette and probably already locked up in the Palace... there's no way to get into it unless you're supposed to be there, you need a pass... getting into Coriisette isn't so much an issue... but every Kullui in the whole of Adgnei is going to be on high alert for Fairy Tail to come charging in... Security is going to be even heavier than normal... probably near impossible..."

She paused, her head tilting toward the paper as it halted just as she did.

"... Edryd was here, with two Kullui to back him up. If he was sent to capture her, it's probably safe to assume that whatever plot this is, was kept inside the confines of his Family- just so I couldn't find anything. You'll have a hard time getting anything from them, but see if you can't work some of the Barren into telling you something..." Aisha grumbled in the direction of the paper, the words flaring across it as she said them. "... I also need you to find Frea. Find out where they are keeping her, if there's any way to her, what they need her for... you're the only one I have who could even possibly get inside Okeal. Be careful who you ask, and who you trust... the King is involved in this directly, He ordered a Collar to be made that would inflict pain... if He and the rest of the Noble Caste have really turned their backs on everyone else, and have dared to go after and use Forbidden Tools on an Energess... I hate to think what else they're getting ready to do." She sighed slightly, "... Find out if all of this has something to do with whatever is up in the tallest tower of Okeal, if you can... get back to me as quickly as you are able, I'm thinking we'll be seeing one another pretty soon, Seyre."

Aisha waved her hand at the paper and it rolled up, before disappearing in an instant. She turned toward everyone waiting patiently in the room, her hands falling on her hips again as she sighed.

"Alright, listen and listen well." Aisha grumbled, "We can't charge into Adgnei in full force, we can't get involved in open conflict- we have to be smart and we have to use our heads. They can cancel Magic with ease and their weapons will tear us apart if we get into a huge fight, if they capture any of us- we're screwed." They sweatdropped slightly, "It's hard for anyone outside of Adgnei to really grasp the scope of their Tools, but you need to trust me- their Magic Weapons can easily rival even the most powerful of Caster Wizards in Fiore. This is not a place we can run in and trust on instinct and dumb luck alone, they have the means and they have the forces to decimate us if we try." They nodded stiffly, their eyes glittering.

"... Adgnei is currently on the cusp of a Civil War. The Lower Castes are starting to stir into rising against the King and the Nobles, even some of the Middle Castes too. There is a fine line holding back an all scale war, if we run in- we could start it, and people are gonne die." Aisha warned lowly, they swallowed at the words. "... taking Frea now for some Project makes me think the King is planning to quell all instances of rebellion... if they need Frea for it, I would probably bet it's some sort of Weapon, especially so given the Vision Carla has been having."

"You mentioned this several times now, what is going on in this Vision?" Evergreen grumbled,

"... it's not pleasant." Moon told her softly, "... I scanned Carla's Memories, I can show you if you want..."

"Please." Freed murmured, Moon sighed.

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.

People ran by, not stopping, not halting- leaving their friends behind as they fell, blood pooling around them. There were buildings all around, strong, sturdy- adorned in symbols and paint of all kinds- most of them burning, many collapsed.

Total chaos... 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.

Their attention turned up toward the sky. Blood red of the setting sun bleeding into a sheer, utter black vortex swirling high in the heavens- spitting wild, jagged sections of purple and red everywhere as it loomed over a huge mountain, the top set upon by some palace of grand stature- it was crumbling too.

The air shook, the ground shuddering violently as something at the very top exploded, bright, blinding light flooding from the depths of that palace as the highest place on the highest part suddenly collapsed, falling inside itself and the mountainside in all. People around them 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 them to the core-

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

"Seleyn."

The Thunder God Tribe and Chase both came out of the scene, their heart-rates elevated, their nerves on high- sweatdropping heavily as they did their best to shake off the chilly fear and unease that came with the images.

"... t...that..." Freed stammered,

"... shit..." Bixlow mumbled, and that seemed to sum it up pretty damn well.

"All of that Magic... it's insane..." Chase grumbled, his eyes flicking toward Aisha as she held her chin in her hand, eyes closed and looking uneasy, though not altogether surprised.

"... that was definitely in Adgnei." She mumbled, everyone's heads snapped over toward her. "In the Capital... in Coriisette, down in the Lower Sections of the city where the Lower Castes live. The Palace is Okeal..."

"... so there's a chance that's gonna happen." Chase grumbled, "And Teach is right there, right in Coriisette, right now."

"Unfortunately." Aisha mumbled,

"We can't sit here debating all of this, we need the Guild's help if Adgnei's weapons are really as powerful as you say. We can't leave Frea there, we have to get her out before any of that happens." Moon told her lowly,

"Calm down." Aisha grumbled, Moon's tail lashed behind her furiously.

"Don't tell me to calm down! You saw what that Collar was doing to her, she's hurt and she's got no Magic, and she's all alone in a Country you think is about to break out into war!" Moon snapped back hotly,

"Tch... you need to calm down and think. Is getting worked up going to help anything right now?" Aisha growled, Moon blinked. "No, no it is not. We need to stay cool and calm about this, we need our heads to get into Adgnei, find Frea, get back out- and do it without getting her, or anybody else killed."

"So I take it you have some sort of plan?" Chase sighed,

"With what little I know, I have the start of one." Aisha huffed, Moon faltered a little, her anger dissipating at the words. "I can get a small team into Adgnei, and into Coriisette. The Borders are heavily guarded but the Capital is locked up tight at all times- it won't be a problem for me though, since I have a sure-fire way in... and even with the less than friendly relationship I have with the King and the Noble Caste, I do still have some pull. I won't throw my weight around too much, since it'll just attract unwanted attention... we'll need to blend in as much as we can, stay under the radar long enough I can gather more information, find and convince others to help us out, get a way in... all the things we need to even begin to think about rescuing her. We have got to be careful, this is gonna be hard." Aisha grumbled, they blinked. "And I need everyone to listen to every single thing I tell you to do. No questions, no arguments- none of you know anything about Adgnei. If any of this is gonna work, you have to do what I tell you, got it?"

"... you really think you'll be able to get us into the Capital?" Moon mumbled,

"... even as a start, you don't really have much to go on." Evergreen mumbled, "I'm not hearing a plan in all of that- you want to just stroll around Adgnei and pick up chatter on the street? Cause that's what that sounded like to me."

"Give her a break, Evergreen." Chase mumbled, his hands falling into his pants pockets. "... Aisha's right, we don't have a lot to go on with the situation. We need to learn more, and that's gonna involve getting into Adgnei first- and walking the streets, hearing what's going on. Aisha's plenty used to the whole gathering information thing, and trust me- she's good at it. We'll find out what we need and we'll get together a plan, and get Teach back in one piece, you're just gonna have to trust her. We need to work together on this and we need to be on the same page, alright?" Evergreen huffed slightly at the words, but nodded too.

"... alright." She mumbled,

"We'll do as you instruct us to, Aisha." Freed hummed, "If it means getting Frea back safely, we're willing to do whatever you will."

"Yep." Bixlow sighed,

"... I trust you, Aisha... sorry for snapping at you." Moon mumbled,

"So what do you need from us, huh?" Bixlow asked,

"You three are going to come with me into Adgnei- Chase too." Aisha said simply, they blinked a little at how blunt she was. "I take it you guys can be discrete, right? I'll fill you in on the details and the customs and everything else you'll need to know about walking around in Adgnei."

"... alright, we'll be happy to do everything we can." Freed murmured,

"What about me?" Moon asked instantly, Aisha sighed.

"I don't want you in Adgnei, until I know more about what is going on." Aisha told her, "Edryd saw you, he knows who you are and that means every Kullui in Adgnei also knows who you are. You're way too noticeable, we need to stay as discrete as we can for as long as we can." Moon grimaced at the words,

"... who is this Edryd guy?" Moon asked, "And what are the Kullui, exactly?"

"... Edryd Tuvral, he's a member of the Noble Caste and he's the head of his Family Name." Aisha said after a few seconds of sheer silence, "... he's also a Vaide; which are Adgnei's greatest, most powerful warriors."

Moon sweatdropped at that, as did near everyone else.

"Kullui are the guards and soldiers who have sworn their service to the King and to the Noble Castes. Noble Families have their own individual companies of Kullui to serve them, but as a whole they are the peacekeepers, police and army." Aisha went on, "And they are all of them, very, very capable... and a lot of them are ruthless, as well as mindless. They follow orders without question, you do not want to get on their bad side, or have any set on you." She added in, casting the words in particular to the Thunder Legion and Chase too.

"Noted.." They mumbled,

"... so whose this 'Seyre' dude you sent that letter to?" Bixlow hummed, Aisha waved a hand at him near dismissively.

"Woman." She corrected with a huff, "And she's a contact, we're gonna need her help... and I'm sure you'll end up meeting her by the end of this, so I'm not getting into it right now."

"Oof, sorry.." Bixlow smiled wryly,

"I'm not hearing you mention anything about letting the Guild know what's going on, Aisha." Chase intoned quietly,

"I wasn't planning to." Aisha mumbled, he sweatdropped.

"What?" Moon and the Thunder God Tribe echoed,

"That's really not an option, Aisha.." Chase mumbled, she huffed.

"And why not? As far as they know, you three went out on a Mission with her." Aisha replied lowly, gesturing toward the Thunder God Tribe. "They have no idea anything is wrong, and they don't need to know either- we can go to Adgnei and scout around, and actually come up with a plan, before we even think about letting the Guild know what happened. Do you honestly think they are going to take any of this well at all? Especially after what happened with Mordren and DeathBolt both?" They stiffened at that, sweatdropping as Aisha shook her head. "For right now, they don't know something's wrong, they're not worked up, and they're not a flight risk either- as long as they think Frea and the Thunder Legion are out on a Job, they have no reason to worry, or try to start a fight."

"... I mean... you're right, they won't figure something is wrong until we tell them... but..." Moon mumbled, looking uneasy. "... what happens if something goes wrong with you guys while you're there? What if you need back up, or help?"

"And the Guild really isn't gonna be pleased to know we kept them out of it, Aisha." Chase added, "And they will find out about it, there's no way you can keep it hidden from them forever."

"It doesn't have to be forever." She replied lowly, he shook his head a little. "I'm not suggesting we launch a Rescue Mission all on our own without their help at all, I'm suggesting we gather up more information about the situation before we tell them, and work them up over it."

"And what if Carla has another Premonition while you're in Adgnei?" Moon asked, Aisha blinked. "One that actually involves any of you, or Frea? If she sees something like that, she will tell Master Makarov- and then everyone is gonna be out looking for Frea and the Thunder Legion- and panic, when they can't find them because you are all in Adgnei."

"She has a point, Aisha." Chase told her lightly, "Like it or not, the Guild needs to know what is happening. We all need to be on the same page. You already sound like you think we'll need the Guild's help with this, at least at some point. Even if they get worked up at first, it'll be better to let them settle all of this in their heads from the get-go, and give them time to calm down before we need their help. Better than if we spring it on them at the last second that we knew Teach was in trouble but we kept it to ourselves." She settled him with a flat stare, her eyes glittering slightly as she paused, mulling over the words for a few moments.

She sighed, shaking her head a little in slight agitation, and her eyes fell closed. "Fine... you've made your point, we'll go to the damn Guild..." She grumbled lowly, her eyes opening as she glanced toward Freed. "You are going to help me put warding up around the Guild Hall before we say anything, got it? I don't want Natsu or anyone else rushing off like an idiot." Freed sweatdropped at the words, before nodding in agreement.

"... that's probably wise.." He hummed softly,

"What a pain in my ass..." Aisha grumbled, her hand lifting as her Magic flared, and moved out around the room, scooping up the books and the tools and everything in between that had been thrown around haphazardly. All of it moved up toward the top floor, disappearing there as Chase's eyes widened a little. Aisha tapped her hand lightly against his arm, "I need the chest to come with us." he sweatdropped,

"... that thing has got to weigh about a hundred pounds with all of that in there, Aisha..." He mumbled,

"Fine, Bixlow- help him out." Aisha ordered, Bixlow stiffened a little, before nodding.

"... uh... alright..." He hummed, Chase waved him over as they headed toward the stairs and started up. Moon, Evergreen and Freed blinked, standing in stiff silence as Chase and Bixlow disappeared up the stairs, his Tiki Dolls floating overhead.

"... you mentioned that the Collar they put on Frea, it's a Forbidden Tool?" Moon asked hesitantly,

"Are you surprised?" Aisha growled, "In a country filled with people experimenting with Magical Tools and creating things that can do near anything you can think of- you really think no one ever made something really, really bad?" She sighed as everyone grimaced at the words, "... Tools that inflict unnecessary harm are usually frowned upon, and strictly limited. Once upon a time they made Collars to use on Slaves who were Wizards, but instead of simply Nullifying them- they also made trying to use Magic a punishment. That's when Collars were altered to harm someone whenever they tried to use Magic, and it was awful. They eventually got labeled as a Forbidden Tool and haven't been used for a very, very long time... for obvious reasons."

"... Adgnei used... Slaves...?" Moon mumbled,

"... and they still do." Aisha sighed, "... look, I'll give a history lesson if I have to, but leave it for now. We still need to relay things to the Guild... and we still need to get to work." Moon nodded slightly, though she cast an uncertain glance between both Freed and Evergreen at the words.

Slaves? Seriously?

"...o..oh my... freaking..." Chase puffed, stumbling slightly as he and Bixlow struggled to maneuver a heavy, leather studded chest between the both of them and down the stairs. Both men were struggling, huffing and panting in short time as they tried to hold it between them- holding to a handle on both ends.

"... what do you have in this...?!" Bixlow panted,"It can't be this heavy with all that stuff you just sent up...!"

"Anything and everything we're going to need to get into Adgnei." Aisha huffed,

"... h-how... specific..." Chase sighed,

"Babies... help us out here, yeah?" Bixlow grumbled, the Tiki Dolls humming as they moved over and moved under the chest- pushing themselves up against the bottom and lightening the load as they made it to the bottom of the stairs with a bit more ease.

"... do we really have to drag this all the way to the Guild, Aisha...?" Chase asked,

"Yes, and better step it up if you don't want to waste anymore time." Aisha grumbled lowly, Bixlow and Chase both seemed to deflate. "Don't forget you're the ones who want to tell the Guild, so suck it up."

"... she's so strict, dude..." Bixlow mumbled, "... how do you live with her...?" He asked Chase, who sweatdropped at the question, smiling nervously when he felt annoyance flash from Aisha in an instant.

"... ah, happily... and with a lot of patience..." Chase replied quietly,

"Hmph." Aisha huffed, a vein ticking on her forehead at the words. "You agreed to do what I said, remember?"

"... right..." Everyone mumbled, Aisha's eyes flashed.

"Good, because once we get to the Guild, under no circumstance are you to tell anyone about that Collar, or Edryd and his sword, or the fact that he hit Frea right before he took her through the Gateway." Aisha told them lowly, her tone nothing but flinty as they all stiffened at the order.

"W-What..?" Moon stammered,

"You cannot tell them she got hurt in anyway, and you can't tell them about what would happen if Edryd did cut her. We don't know if he did, but we don't know for certain he didn't either." Aisha growled, "The Guild needs to think she's fine, and is not in any immediate danger. If they knew she was being electrocuted every time she even thinks of using Magic, or that she'd gotten hit right in the very place she's not healed yet- they are gonna be beyond royally pissed." They all glanced between one another uncertainly at that, looking none too pleased. "It's going to be difficult enough to make them stay calm about this, and more so to make them follow orders- they cannot know she's hurt, not on anything."

"... you want us to lie..?" Freed asked quietly,

"Yes." Aisha mumbled, "I realize that's gonna go against every fiber of your beings, but you need to do as I say none the less. Lie, and do it because that is the only way we're going to get into Adgnei and get Frea back without getting anyone seriously hurt, or even killed."

They swallowed at that, all tense faces and shoulders, their stomachs knotted and their hearts fluttering at the sheer idea- worry and concern and fear and anger all wrapped into one.

How had the day turned sour like this so, so fast? They were supposed to be out on a Job right now, a nice, easy fun job they hadn't had to worry about- one that they had been looking forward to themselves, all three of them- Freed and Bixlow and even Evergreen. And even if something had gone wrong on that Job- they would have been there and around, they would have made sure she was fine...

... she shouldn't have been Collared- Collared by a Magical Tool that was only meant to hurt. She shouldn't have had someone ram their fist into her stomach hard enough to have her doubled over and shaking, she shouldn't be alone in some foreign land under the mercy (or cruelty) of people they knew nothing about, and who were probably willing to hurt her even worse. She shouldn't be in Adgnei with the threat of that awful Vision Carla had been having hanging over their heads... she shouldn't be in danger, at all.

They agreed to follow Aisha's orders because they knew she was their best chance- that was the logical solution. She knew more about Adgnei and she knew how to get there, who to talk to, who to not. She knew what they could do, she could predict the dangers better than anyone. And they didn't even flinch when Aisha told them she wanted them to come with her to Adgnei- because they'd already all agreed without even saying it out loud that they would do whatever it took to get Frea back. It felt like their responsibility, in a way- a few minutes earlier and they might have been there to stop her being taken in the first place.

They were going to get Frea back, all three of them knew that they were going to do make sure of it. So even if it felt wrong to keep the reality from the Guild, and worst of all.. from Laxus.

The Thunder God Tribe as a whole grimaced at the thought, sweatdropping.

Moon and Chase exchanged glances quickly, their eyes flashing. Another lie? Another secret? They were already holding one to themselves... the truth about Frea's Magic, and why that Collar was so much worse than everyone else realized. Frea wouldn't have to even want to use Magic, it was going to move on it's own, push against her like it had been, vying for control. Frea's Magic was a force of its own, and that Collar was going to hurt her so much more and so much more often than anyone even realized- but Moon and Chase knew, and it made their hearts drop. That lie, and another- about Frea being the Malurey, and Jynx the Mortal Incarnate of Soul...

They glanced to Aisha and the steady stare she had settled on them, her expression nothing but resolute, calm, cool, steadiness.

Even though the idea of keeping it to themselves didn't sit right, they knew she was talking sense- she was right. The Guild couldn't know, they had to try and keep everyone objective, on the point.

Frea needs our help, and she needs the best we can give her... if that means keeping this to ourselves, then so be it.

They all nodded, their eyes flashing.

"We won't tell them, we swear."

---

Freed hummed under his breath as he drew his sword's tip across the ground in front of the Guild Hall's outer wall, the runes glowing faint purple as he mustered them into existence, writing them in tangent with Aisha on the other side of the Guild Hall from him. An enchantment that would keep everyone inside the Guild Hall and the confines of the barrier inside of it until Aisha wanted them to leave. A measure they had to take, since it wouldn't do to let anyone run off after they heard the news- Aisha had to keep them collected and in sight so she could explain things and detail the plan.

Though to be honest, this work was familiar to the work he had done during the Harvest Festival when Laxus had been expelled. And that memory made him feel just as uneasy now as it had back then when he'd been asked to lock the Guild down. More so now, given what was going on... the image of Frea being hit square in the stomach and the pain that came with it, and the Collar flared to the surface as he sighed.

It must have only been a little over half an hour since Moon came running down that hill toward them, but time felt like it was rushing passed on ultra high as their nerves rose too.

... I hope you are alright, Frea...

"... You think anyone's noticed us yet?" Moon mumbled aloud, her eyes trailing toward the Guild Hall as she crossed her paws about her chest, floating near to him. Chase and Bixlow were behind them a ways and huffing as they caught their breath from lugging that heavy chest between them all the way to the Guild Hall- Evergreen had followed Aisha around the back, whether it was out of curiosity or boredom it wasn't really clear.

"... I think if they had, they would have come out to inquire as to what we are doing." Freed murmured softly, his eyes fixed on his work and never breaking away toward her. Moon nodded slightly in agreement,

"... I wonder how Aisha's gonna play this...?" Moon sighed, her eyes falling closed as her ears dropped slightly. "... I mean Frea could order the whole of the Guild into standing down, but I'm having a little trouble imagining Aisha do that... or be delicate about telling them, either." She sweatdropped and Freed did too, "... the Guild is gonna lose their minds..."

"... I can imagine they will be none too pleased. I suppose Natsu and Gray will be among the first to try and rush off to Adgnei..." Freed sighed, still tracing the runes along the ground and walking slowly along the wall. "... I also imagine many of them will be opposed to Aisha's idea of a small team, they won't like being left behind..."

Freed grimaced, Laxus especially... he wasn't looking forward to having Aisha, or anyone else for that matter tell the Lightning Dragon Slayer that he was not among the forward party into Adgnei.

"... I'm still opposed to staying behind, a little at least." Moon grumbled, he cast her a sympathetic little smile.

"I'm sorry, but I'm sure Frea will be fine... we are going to get her back, I promise you that." Freed assured her softly, she smiled back, just slightly.

"Yeah.. thanks." Moon told him lightly, he nodded a little.

He finished off his side of the Runes in the next few minutes, moving away with Moon at his side as they paused beside Bixlow and Chase- and waited for Evergreen and Aisha to move back to where they were. They nodded stiffly to one another as Bixlow and Chase lift up the chest again, grunting with the effort- and their small band of people moved toward the front entrance warily, their eyes darting to the windows in case someone had popped their head up there.

The people in the Guild couldn't move passed the confines of the front courtyard and all the way around toward the cliff- so there was no true worry that anyone would make it out of town let alone to Adgnei... not that they weren't likely to try, and be rather pissed off when they realized there was a barrier set up.

All eyes turned on Aisha as she lead the way forward at the head of their group, her eyes locked on the door and expression neutral- calm and collected and yet somehow stern. They all found themselves wondering just how she was going to handle this- telling the Guild... they had all silently agreed to defer to her judgement on the matter.

It wasn't really a job any of them wanted, less so when they would have to keep things of the story and the situation to themselves.

Aisha pushed the doors open without a word, leading them straight across the center of the hall and veering right toward the stage- ignoring the looks of question she got at her arrival and the looks of sheer confusion that erupted when people saw the Thunder God Tribe, Moon- but where the hell is Frea?

"Huh? What are you guys doin' here?"

"Ain't you supposed to be out on a job?"

"What's with the dingy chest..?"

"She looks pleased... why is she headed there?"

"What's going on?"

"Oi! You wanna answer, or...?!"

Chase and Bixlow sighed as the dropped the chest down on the top of the stage at Aisha's side, huffing again and out of breath as Aisha stepped up to the edge of the stage, her hands on her hips and still so stern and neutral. The Guild was shifting in front of her, people crowding in and voices rising as they tried to gain some response- the Thunder God Tribe said nothing, spare apologetic looks and shakes of their heads. The Guild was getting worked up and more tense by the second, Master Makarov even climbing down from his perch on the bartop and moving toward he stage with narrowed eyes-

They could tell something was up and the lack of answer in those few two minutes of walking into the hall and stopping at the stage was not helping.

"Aisha, what is going on?" Master mumbled, his voice breaking through the other questions. Aisha blinked at him, her expression never wavering.

"And what the hell are you three doing here?" Laxus grumbled lowly, his eyes fixing on his team as they all sweatdropped under the look- and the clear, barely hidden growl in his voice. He'd flitted down from the top floor in his Lightning Form, before appearing right beside Master Makarov, arms crossed over his chest and frowning slightly.

The Thunder God Tribe did as they had with everyone else thus far- and didn't answer, though they seemed to fidget. Laxus quirked a brow, his eyes narrowing to slits as he settled them with a stony stare.

"Apologies, Laxus..." Freed mumbled, his head bowing slightly as Bixlow and Evergreen averted their eyes from their leader altogether.

"Yeah, sorry about this Boss..." Bixlow mumbled,

"... This isn't how we would like it to go..." Evergreen sighed,

"... What the hell is going on?" Laxus growled, they grimaced, and so did Chase and Moon.

"Yeah!"

"Why are you all acting so weird?"

"Aren't you supposed to be out on a Job?"

"Where's Frea?"

"Enough." Aisha's voice cut through the rising clamor in an instant, the Guild falling silent as she raised her voice above them with ease. All eyes turned on her, tense, confused- expectant.

"Listen up, and listen well; and try not to start a riot." Aisha grumbled, they blinked. "This morning one of Adgnei's Elite Warriors and Nobleman entered into Fiore and into Magnolia, with the intent of collecting Frea and bringing her to Adgnei." People all around the hall with went stiff.

"Frea is currently in the custody of Corielain, and has been taken to Adgnei. I intend to send a small team consisting of myself, Chase and the Thunder Legion; into the Capital City of Coriisette, and get her back. The rest of you will need to do as I say and follow my instructions to the tee, got it?" Aisha said flatly, her eyes flashing as jaws dropped and people scowled, and frowned all across the hall. "That means you sit still and wait here until I need or want your help with what is going on- we need to learn more and you need to be patient."

"WHAT?!"

---

Something of an informational Chapter, but there was a bit of action in there too! I hope you enjoyed it none the less, as this is now the start of the events of the Adgnei Arc (though last chapter was the official start, it was more filler...)

There is a picture of Frea's new updated look on my DeviantArt Page (I have the same username, literally just google "EnergyMageFrea on Deviantart")

Please, follow, fav and Review if you can! Thanks!

** OMG I am sooooooo tempted to make a My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia Fanfic, what do you guys think? I've been throwing ideas around... hehe...