I decided to change everyone's last names.

Nasha and Griege appeared to be fine and sustained no burns from the fire but they were kept overnight just be on the safe side. Elkis had a hard time sleeping there that night because she was very worried about the kids. She wasn't sure what she'd do if either of them had been hurt. 

When morning came she called Nakku and asked him to bring over a set of clean clothes for her and the kids to change into. The fire had only damaged the living room so none of their more important items were destroyed. 

"They're going to be alright Elkis." Nakku told her. 

"I just can't wrap my head around how that fire started." The red head said. "Nothing was left on, I keep matches and other dangerous stuff like that in a locked drawer, how did this happen?"

"The police are looking into it right now."

"The police?"

"They suspect arson."

"Why would someone set fire to my house? And it was from the inside."

"I don't know but when I went to get the clothes I saw them snooping around."

"Gren wasn't with them was he?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"He was here last night at the hospital and I think he was trying to warn me about something. But I couldn't tell. The way he talks hardly makes any sense."

"Well he's a shady guy. Why do you expect?"

A few minutes later a nurse with long white hair walked into the waiting room. She recognized her as the nurse who worked with the doctor examining the kids.

"So are they alright?" She asked her.

"Yes Miss Scarlet they're fine." The nurse replied with a smile. "You just have to fill out these papers and you can take them home."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Lusha and a man with long green hair who was with her.

"Mayor Heartfilia what are you doing here?" Elkis asked. 

"I heard about the fire so I had the police do a little search of your house." The blonde said.

"Don't you need a warrant for that?"

"Yes and I have one."

"Why did you have the police search my house? It was an accident."

"Well perhaps I could just dismiss it as that if it was just you living there but now you have children and one can't be too careful when children are involved."

"That still doesn't explain why you're here and who's this?" She asked pointing to the green haired man. 

"Everyone this is Johann Justine." Lusha introduced. "Edolas's social worker."

"Social worker?!" 

"Yes Miss Scarlet." He said. "Until the police discover that fire you're under investigation for parental neglect."

"Parental neglect? What are you talking about? I got the kids out of there as soon as I knew there was a fire in the house."

"But the fire could have been started by a careless and irresponsible action of yours."

"What? Where are you getting this from?!"

"Just some observations that the police noticed."

"What observations?"

"Important ones. So until this is sorted out I shall take the children and place them in proper care."

"Take them? No you can't just take them!"

"Calm down ma'am. If you really aren't responsible for the fire then they'll be returned to you."

"But if they aren't." Lusha said. "Then they'll have to leave Edolas and be shipped back to the agency."

"You can't do this."

"I promise you Miss Scarlet they will be well taken care of."  Johann said.

"But you don't understand you can't just move them like this. They're already having trouble adjusting as it is."

"And Elkis is not neglectful." Nakku defended. "You have no proof that she caused that fire."

"We have no proof that she didn't either." Lusha said.

"Mayor Heartfilia with all due respect this isn't right. Think of what it could do to the kids?"

She glared at Nakku with extreme hatred and almost looked like she was ready to slap him.

"You are in no position to lecture anyone about what's in the best interest of a child." She hissed venomously at the mechanic which made him very confused. She then regained her composure. "I will have someone suitable look after them until this is sorted out. Mr. Justine you will handle the arrangements."

"Yes ma'am." He said.

"No! I won't let you take them." Elkis declared.

"If you interfere you'll be arrested." 

"This is crazy!" She said in frustration. "Could you at least let me talk to them before you take them? So they won't be scared."

"Very well." 

When Elkis told the kids what was happening they were very upset but they didn't make a fuss. Despite their young age they knew how serious this was and that there was no way they could avoid being taken from her care but Elkis assured them that she would get them back. In front of them she was perfectly calm and sure of herself but as soon as they were gone she started panic.

"Nakku what am I going to do?" She said to him. 

"Don't worry Elkis. You heard what he said, if the police don't find anything-"

"But they will find something! Even if there isn't anything there they'll find it."

"I don't understand."

"Come on Nakku you know how the police works in this town. They're completely under Lusha's thumb. She wants to take the kids from me and send them back. I know it! Why that is I have no idea but it's what she wants and I guarantee you she's going to play dirty to make it happen."

"Okay calm down. I'm sure we can find a way to prevent that."

"But how? Almost everyone in this town is her puppet. They're either just as corrupted as she is or scared to death of her." She said. 

"I want to help. I do and I will but I don't know what I can do. I don't what either of us can do. It's not like we know a cop who the mayor doesn't have in her back pocket."

Elkis almost agreed but then she remembered the little conversation she had with a certain someone last night. Someone who she knew that she would be crazy to trust but desperate times call for desperate measures as they say.

"Actually..." Elkis said getting an idea. "We do."

"Come again?"

"I think we need to start our own investigation. One that actually helps me and I think I know the person who can and will help us but you're not going to like it."

"What do you mean? Who is he?"

"Detective Fullbuster."

"Are you out of your mind?! You can't trust him!"

"I have no choice. He's the only authority figure in this town who's not intimidated by or in cahoots with the mayor and when you get down to him when you ask for something he does deliver."

"Yeah at a high price. Elkis you might as well be making a deal with the devil if you go to him for help."

"So be it then. I don't care if I have to sell my soul, I am not letting her take those kids from me."

"Elkis not to be insensitive but if this doesn't workout why not just take in some other kids?"

"Because these two need me. They've had adults who they've trusted to take care of them, let them down or just give up on them. I will not do that. They need someone to always be there for them and that's going to be me. I don't care what price I have to pay."

Nakku sighed. He could tell by that burning flame in her eye that there was no talking her out of the decision she was going to make. Which meant that next stop was Detective Fullbuster's office. He was at his desk sporting that same smirk he always wore as if he was expecting her to come. 

"Good morning Miss Scarlet, you're looking lovely as usual. How may I help you?" He asked.

"Mayor Heartfilia is having me investigated for child neglect." Elkis said. "She thinks that fire was started by some irresponsible act of mine. If the police find something I'll lose Nasha and Greige."

"Well is there anything for them to find?"

"No but the police are basically the mayor's puppets so they'll plant something to find."

"I see and let me guess you want me to make sure that doesn't happen?"

"You're pretty much the only law man who's not afraid of her so yes."

"In that case you've come to the right guy. I can make sure that this turns out in your favor and that you get the kids back."

"But for what cost?" Nakku asked suspiciously. "You don't exactly have a history helping people out of the goodness of your heart. If you even have one."

"Oh." Gren sighed pretending to be upset. "You really think that low of me Mr. Dragneel? I'm deeply hurt. But you do have a point I typically don't stick my neck out for people without a price. But I'm willing to make an exception for you Miss Scarlet."

"Really?" Elkis said.

"I don't buy that." Nakku said. "Why would you help her without wanting something in return?"

"Who knows? Maybe I just don't like to see a promising family be separated." Gren said. "Or maybe having these kids stay here ensures that I get something I want in the future."

"What does that mean?" Elkis asked.

"Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about. Just know that I'll take your case free of charge."

"How do we know you're not lying?" Nakku said.

"Oh really Mr. Dragneel, in all the years I've been around have either one of you known me to actually lie?"

He was right. Gren may have been twisted but he didn't lie. If one positive thing could be said about Gren Fullbuster it was that he was honest. He wouldn't always give you all the details on something but he wouldn't lie.

"Alright I'll trust you on this." Elkis said.

"Good choice Miss Scarlet." Gren said. "And by the way Mr. Dragneel I do get something out of this it just doesn't come from my client."

"Then who does it come from?" Nakku said.

"Why madame mayor of course."

"I don't follow."

"It's very simple. If Miss Scarlet gets the kids back then Mayor Heartfilia loses and I find it so very entertaining when she doesn't get her way."

"Why?"

"I don't know really. We all have our own ways of being amused. Mine is watching the manipulative and self-entitled people of high society fall from the hill of power and tumble down into the pit of failure."

"So you like it when the mayor doesn't get her way?"

"Not just the mayor. Pretty much anyone who thinks that they can have whatever they want. Of course she's a personal favorite of mine."

Nakku leaned over to Elkis and whispered something to her.

"Okay you do realize this guy's sick right?"

"Yes." She whispered back. "But right now he's my only hope. I wouldn't got to him if I wasn't desperate."

"You know you I can hear you two." Gren said. 

...

At first Alina objected to Gray using his powers. She was afraid that if he used his powers the villagers would fear him more or worse the magic would corrupt him like it did to his father. But Maakrov assured her that it wasn't the magic that drove her ex lover to leave her. It was his own selfish desires. He also told her that Gray would be safely hidden during his training so no one would harm or persecute him. He explained to her that it was better that Gray understood his powers and learned how to control them rather than to just fear them and hide them away.

He told Alina where he and Gray would be staying and advised her not to tell anyone else. Gray promised to write her once a week and that he would stay out of trouble. Makarov gave her a magic pillow which would have one silver coin under it every morning when she woke up from sleeping on it. That way she would be able to buy food and anything else she needed. She was grateful to Makarov for his kindness and she was sad at the thought of being away from her son for a year but she accepted that it was for the best.

"I'll be home before you know it Mother." He said on the day he would leave. 

"I just can't believe I have to spend an entire a year without you." She said. "I mean I always knew that eventually you'd have to leave home and live your own life I just didn't expected it to be so soon."

"You sure you'll be alright here on your own?"

"I'll be fine. Before you were born I lived alone for quite sometime and I have Macao to keep me company. You just focusing on trying to understand whatever strength is inside of you and how you can put it to good use."

"I will."

"And when you come back I'll have the new coat already for you."

"I can't wait to wear it."

Alina hugged her son and held him as if she feared this was the last time she would ever hold him again. He hugged her back in a way to assure her that he would come home safely by the year's end.

"I love you Gray. No matter what happens, I will always love you. Don't ever forget that."

"I won't. I love you too Mother and i'll be thinking of you for the entire year."

She kissed his forehead and all too soon she had to allow him to leave with Makarov. They stayed in a secluded house high up in mountains. A place where few people went to. Not an ideal home for most but a perfect place for two magic users who are trying not to draw any attention to themselves. His first lesson began the day right after they arrived.

"One of the best ways to learn to control magic is to channel it." He said.

"How do I do that?" Gray asked.

"Let's start with having you combine your magic with something you know how to do well."

"I don't understand?"

"Before I became a great wizard I was a simple candle maker. I had a knack for making some of the finest candles that there ever were. So when I first started learning how to use magic I applied it to a skill I was good at. Candle making. You're skilled in spinning right?"

"Yes."

Makarov snapped his fingers and a spinning wheel appeared.

"So try to use spinning to help you learn magic."

"Okay." Gray looked at the tool used for making cloth. Wondering how he could use this to help his training. "I've got an idea. Maybe I could turn this spindle into a weapon of some sort. Like a sword or something."

"I wouldn't do that. I tried that once years back but I ended up accidentally cursing the spindle instead. If anyone ever pricked their finger on it they would sleep for a hundred years and then die if they didn't wake by the time those years were up."

"Ouch. Was there a way to break the curse?"

"Yes. All curses can be broken. That one in particular can only be broken by true love's kiss."

"True love's kiss?"

"Indeed. True love is the most powerful magic of all. It can transcend time and space. It can wake someone from a cursed sleep, it can turn a hideous creature beautiful, it can even bring back memories lost. There's no limit to what true love can do. But we'll discuss more than that later on. The point is you have to be careful with what you can use magic for especially if you wield dark magic."

"Dark magic is evil right?"

"Sort of. I mean yes it casts curses and hexes and a lot of the times it comes at a price but it can be used for good. I wield both light and dark magic and I have found ways to put both kinds to good use."

"How can dark magic be used for good?"

"I'll teach you how eventually but for now you just need to focus on learning to control it through a skill of yours. As I was making my candles I channeled my magic into my work and was able to make rainbow flame candles."

He made a candle appears in his hand and when he lit it the fire was a rainbow that reached up and outstretched to the other side of the room.

"Wow." Gray said in amazement.

"I know. They make great gifts." He said. "Now you try to channel your magic into your work."

Gray sat down in front of the spinning wheel and thought hard about what he was going to do. How exactly was this going to work? How could he combine his magic with his spinning skills. He thought back to when he was a boy and he had first learned to spin. His mother had told him that he could probably spin anything into something. That's when he got an idea.

"Makarov could you please get me some straw to spin?"

"Straw? Don't you need wool or cotton to spin?"

"I wanna try something."

"Alright then."

Makarov made a basketful of straw appear next to him. Carefully Gray took some of the straw, closed his eyes, and began to spin while willing the magic inside of him to do as he wished and the next time he opened his eyes he saw that what the straw had become was not ordinary cloth or yarn. It was a magnificent thread of pure gold. He had actually spun straw into gold.

"Excellent." Makarov said. "Just excellent. You're more gifted than I thought. But there's much more to learn my boy. So much more."