Having grown up in the big city, Nasha was not used to seeing small towns like Edolas. It had everything that pretty much all small towns had. It had shops, markets, houses, apartment buildings, a church, a school, a diner, and other buildings that you would typically find in a settlement like this. It was a very cute looking town but then again weren't all small towns cute in away?

When the bus stopped Nasha and Gregie went with the social worker who escorted them to their new home.

"Here we are." The social worker when they reached the house at the end of the square. There was a sign just outside of the house that read: Scarlet's Shelter, A Place For All Children Who Have No Home.

They stepped up on to the porch and the social worker knocked on the front door. In exactly five seconds the door was opened by a young woman with long scarlet red hair that almost covered her entire back. When she saw the two children she gave them her warmest and most loving smile.

"Are you Elkis Scarlet?" The social worker asked.

"Yes I am." She greeted kindly. "I'm so glad that you all are here. Please come inside, you must be freezing in this crazy wind."

They entered the house. Miss Scarlet led the children to their rooms and left them to unpack their things while she talked with the social worker.

Nasha looked around in her new room. She had to admit, it was a lot more comfortable looking than all the other rooms she had stayed in. And better yet it was her own room. In all her previous foster homes she had to share her room with other kids who would pull nasty pranks and tricks on her. She remembered how one time an older kid thought it would be funny to stick his chewed up gum in her hair while she was sleeping. When she found out what he did she punched him right in his jaw. He lost a tooth, a baby tooth mind you and was sent away to another foster home right away. Hopefully there was no fear of such a trick happening twice this time.

She open up her suitcase and began to put her things away. She mostly had just old clothes but among one of the few non clothing items she owned was a blue teddy cat that had been found along with her thirteen years ago. It was the only clue she had to her parents. She called it Happy because in truth it was the only thing in her life that made her happy. It was her best friend. Her only friend. Yes it was sad that a mere inanimate toy was her only friend in the world but growing up she always had the strangest feeling that Happy was somehow alive. That it was actually a real living thing that would watch over her, protect her, and love her when no one else would.

"I should stop carrying you around." She told the stuffed animal. "After all I'm not a little kid anymore and the fact that I'm still talking to you like you're really alive and can understand me is just stupid. But I can't get rid of you. You're pretty much the only thing in the world that's ever really made me happy."

She placed the toy inside the nightstand drawer that was next to the bed. Then continued with putting her clothes up. Once she had just finished, she heard a soft knock at the door of her new bedroom.

"Come in." Nasha said.

Elkis opened the door and walked inside.

"Hi." She said.

"Hi."

"You're Nasha right?"

"Yes."

"Well Nasha I'm Miss Scarlet but you can call me Elkis. I'm so very glad you've come and I really hope that you'll be happy here."

"Here we go." Nasha said. "Can we please just skip it."

"Excuse me?"

"You know the whole I hope you'll be happy here and maybe one day we'll be a real family speech. Yeah like I've never heard that one before. Don't waste your breath, I'll be gone before the week is over."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because once I mess up you're gonna get rid of me. It's always the same story. I go to a foster home, my foster parents tell me that they'll try to make feel just like family, I screw up, and it's right back into the system."

"I think you misunderstand. You see I've been trying to get the system to place kids in my care for years and now that you and Gregie are here I-"

"How much is the government paying you to watch us?"

"You think I'm doing this for the money?"

"Obviously. Why else would you take me in? Don't you know my history? It's so bad that they've actually agreed to pay more than the usual bill for anyone who takes me. So it's either the money or you don't know what the heck you were getting when you picked me."

"I don't mean to belittle your intelligence but you're wrong on both accounts. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I picked you. In fact I read your file."

"Oh yeah? And what did you find out?"

"I found out that you're very stubborn, disobedient, headstrong, disrespectful, short tempered, impatient, will start fights, smart off at adults. You're almost impossible to handle."

"Right I'm impossible to handle so why don't you do us both a favor and give me some money so I can finally run away and live on my own? I'm thirteen. I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself."

"Wrong again. You are a kid, you can't take care of yourself, and I said that you were almost impossible to handle. You can be handled. It's just going to be a challenge."

"And you think that you can handle me?"

"Why not? I love a good challenge."

Nasha gave her credit for her persistence but she was still convinced that she would end up getting so frustrated with her that she would eventually call it quits.

"Alright I'll give you a chance but I'm telling you by week's end you're going to be begging for them to take me back." Nasha said.

"We'll see." Elkis smiled as if she knew exactly what she was in for and maybe she did but that didn't mean that she could handle it. "Now let's get down to the rules."

"My favorite subject." She said sarcastically.

She asked both Nasha and Gregie to meet her in the kitchen where she discussed the house rules.

"The rules here are very simple." She said. "Just keep your rooms clean, help me with the chores, do well in school, and got to bed at nine every night on week days." She explained. "You both start school tomorrow and I want you both to look your best. So where nice clothes, take baths before bed, fix your hair properly, if you need any help just ask and please try to be on your best behavior. Understand?"

"Yes." Gregie nodded.

"I make no promises." Nasha said. "But I'll try."

"Good. So do any of you like strawberries?"

"Sure." Gregie said.

"I guess, why?" Nasha asked.

"Because I think one of the best ways to get to know someone new is over something sweet so I made a strawberry cake for you two."

Elkis then brought out a yellow cake that was topped with strawberries and cream.

"No thanks. I'm not hungry right now." Nasha declined. She couldn't help but feel that this was an act of bribery.

"Suit yourself." Elkis said. "Would you like a slice Gregie?"

"Yes ma'am."

Nasha went upstairs to her room while Greige stayed in the kitchen to eat the slice of strawberry cake Elkis fixed for him. After cake he went to take a bath, laid out the clothes he would wear tomorrow,  and decided to read a little before going to bed. As he read one of the stories in his book he noticed that a woman in one of the illustrated pages was a dead ringer for Elkis.

"That's weird." He thought.

In the picture she was looking out the window of a castle and she appeared to be very worried about something. Even a little afraid. And Gregie realized that he had never read this part of the book before.

"Lights out in five minutes!" Elkis called.

"Okay!" But Gregie was too intrigued to sleep now. So when it was time to turn off the lights, he went under the covers of his bed with a book and a flashlight which he used to help him read this new story.

...

Gray sat in his jail cell looking at the lock of hair Erza had given him. It was the last thing that he needed to help him prepare for what was to come. He had been worried that he wouldn't be able to get his hands on it but he had. Now there was only one more thing he needed to do before being completely ready.

"We're alone." He said in the darkness of the cell. "You can show yourself now."

A raven flew into the room and in a mist of green it took the form of Lucy.

"I was wondering when you would show up." He said hiding the lock of hair in his pocket. "So what is it you want from me this time?"

"You still have a telepathic connection with the oracle right?" She asked.

"That I do."

"I need you to help me get in contact with her."

"No need for that. I already know the answer to what it is you seek."

"And what's that?"

"If anything can stop your curse."

Lucy looked at the beastly man in shock. Surprised that he knew what her next move was. She had told absolutely no one what she was planning.

"How did you-"

"Oh please! After all the time we've known each other you really don't think I don't know what your every plan and move is? This has been coming for quite some time and I knew from the very moment that Jellal saved Erza it would only be a matter of time before you would enact the dark curse. After all you believe that it's your last chance to truly be happy."

"I can't get anything past you can I?"

"You may try. Oh yes you may try but you'd be wasting your time. By the way I have to ask are you sure that this is what you really want?"

"Yes. I am sick of everyone who has ever wronged me getting a happy ending. It's not fair and it's not right. This curses ensures my victory and my happiness."

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that while this curse may give you what you want it won't make you happy."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know you Lucy. I know your heart. Just getting revenge may make you satisfied for awhile but in time it won't be enough for you and you'll find yourself regretting this."

"I will regret nothing that comes of this."

"Really? Not even when you have to crush the heart of the thing you love most?"

That caught Lucy off guard.

"Now don't tell me you forgot about that little detail? It's the most important part."

"I didn't forget." That was a lie but there was no way she was going to let him know that. "I just haven't figured out how I'm going to do that."

"Wondering if the sacrifice is worth it?"

"No!" She snapped. "It's because I don't have anyone I love. The thing I loved most was destroyed by Natsu."

"Is there no one else you love? Because I'm pretty sure there is. Here's a hint, it's the person who's always been therefore you, since the very moment you were born."

When it finally dawned on Lucy who it was he was talking about, she felt a chill run down her spine. One that almost made her shudder. Almost. She would never show fear in front of him.

"Still want to do it?" Gray asked. "Even if it means destroying that person."

"Yes." She said in a voice full of determination.

"Alright but when you wake up one day and realize that you have a hole in your heart don't say I didn't warn you."

"Enough! Stay on topic!" She demanded. "So you know if my curse can be stopped or not?"

"Yes I do. I had a telepathic conversation with the oracle and you'll be relieved to know that nothing can stop this curse."

"Nothing? Not even Erza or Natsu?"

"No. Neither one of them have the power to stop this."

Lucy grinned with sheer victory and confidence.

"Excellent." She said. "Nothing can stop me now."

"Not quite." He chuckled.

"What do you mean? You just said that nothing can stop my curse."

"Oh yes. A curse can't be stopped but it can be broken. All curses can be broken. I thought you would have figured that out by now."

"And there is a way for the dark curse to be broken?"

"Obviously."

"And you know how?"

"Correct."

"Tell me!"

"Well for that..." He said with a smirk. "There's a price."

"I'm not helping you escape the curse."

"Oh no that's not what I want. Trust me. I want to be just as apart of this as you do."

"Why?"

"Did it ever occur to you that you're not the only one who wants to see the people who wronged you suffer? I've got grudges too you know."

"Then what do you want?"

"Simple. In this new land I want comfort. I want a good life."

"Fine. You'll have an estate. Be rich."

"I wasn't finished. I also want a position of power. Of course you're not going to give me one higher than yours but I want to be able to intimidate certain...Let's call them worms who have pushed me too far, one time too many."

"Very well."

"There's more."

"There always is with you." She said with irritation.

"In this new land should I ever come to you for any reason you must heed my every request. You must do whatever I say so long as I say please." He snickered.

"You do realize that should I succeed you won't remember any of this?"

"Oh well then what's the harm?"

"Deal. Now tell me how this curse can be broken?"

"It's like this..."