Chapter 25

Breaking Point?

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

.:+:.

Sting and Rogue stopped at the head of the lines of their Guild in the Main Hall of the Inn, their eyes cast to the floor and stiff as boards under the piercing and disgusted gaze of Master and Minerva ahead of them. The line that had parted to allow them through closed up as Rufus and Orga came to the front, Rufus feeling Hora brush against his shoulder as she stepped up beside him and they all stopped at the head of the crowd, eyes downcast and expressions tense- everyone was tense. All of them waiting with bated breath and tense shoulders. Lector and Frosch halted in front of Rufus and Orga, their eyes fixed on their Partners.

"Sting, Rogue." Jiemma growled lowly, his tone barely contained distaste and malice, everyone swallowed back at it. Minerva's fingers tapped lightly against her upper arm from having them crossed, her narrowed stare darting among the throngs of lined up Members and lips curling slightly.

"How dare you?" Jiemma growled,

"...we have no words to justify this defeat... Natsu Dragneel overpowered the both us... He was such stronger than anticipated." Rogue murmured quietly, his eyes still trained on the floor and not daring to glance up. Beside him Sting tensed, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Tch... Are those the words of Members of the strongest Guild?" Jiemma hissed, they tensed as he stood up from his chair, knocking aside the goblet of drink on the table in front of him with little a care. Jiemma stood up, looming and expression dark as he started to stalk toward the Twin Dragons, and they forced themselves to stay still.

"How dare you show such weakness? How dare you lose to such a pathetic Guild?" Jiemma hissed, halting in front of them and voice raising higher with each question, a vein ticked on his forehead and shaking in rage that was bubbling faster and faster.

"You worthless rats have disgraced the name of the Strongest Guild!"

The air shook as his Magic flared, waves of pure power ramming into both Sting and Rogue and knocking them back, their bodies hitting the floor with painful thuds as they slid and staggered back on to their feet again. Everyone in the rows stiffened against the sudden rise in power and voice, sweatdropping and biting down on their tongues as Sting and Rogue were slammed into by Master Jiemma's fists in the next instant- the large, looming, cruel man shouting now.

"You are not worthy of calling yourselves SaberTooth! Take them off! Now!" Jiemma boomed, his fists slamming into the Twin Dragons again and this time they hit the floor with their already battered bodies, and didn't manage to get up again.

Rufus instinctively cast a glance sideways toward Hora, expecting that same ire and rage in her that had ignited during the Naval Battle- and very much concerned she planned to step in now. He wouldn't blame her if she did, and in fact a part of him wanted her to- because of anyone in this Guild, Hora was the only one he could imagine would step up, even if it were ill-advised. She contended with, and reigned victorious over a Demon of Zeref all on her own- she had the strength to stand against Master, and his daughter... And lately, for the first time in the years that Rufus remembered, she had the heart and determination too.

Rufus' eyes shift sideways slowly, only to stiffen when his eyes lay on the person beside him- and it was not Horatia.

The blonde man sweatdropped, his head turning a bit more in the direction and searching the people to his left quickly and quietly for any sign of that familiar multicolor hair. When he didn't find her he glanced over his shoulder and still found no sign of her again, and his nerves started to rise out of his usual cool and calm. Rufus glanced right and toward Orga, and his head tilted forward to peer around the larger man- perhaps he'd made a mistake and Hora had moved to stand on Orga's shoulder and not his own..?

And yet there was no sign of her there either, and Orga glanced down at Rufus when he noticed him looking, and what seriousness and confusion was spreading on the blonde's face. Not unwarranted, given how angry Jiemma was and his already harsh treatment against Sting and Rogue- but it was instantly clear to Orga that Rufus was not paying attention to them at all. He looked like he was... Looking for someone..?

Orga's face fell as a bead of sweat fell down his cheek, his eyes casting furtively around him and the crowd too when it dawned on him that something was missing from this picture.

"Eh...? Where the hell did she...?" He mumbled under his breath,

Jiemma was still advancing on Rogue and Sting even with Rufus and Orga's distraction, the man bearing down on Sting as the White Dragon Slayer struggled to push himself back up from the ground, but he was too hurt from his fight with Natsu and getting hit by Jiemma wasn't helping anything. His eyes snapped up as Jiemma advanced toward him, glittering as small flickers of fear passed across his expression no matter how hard he tried to hide it, or how bad it would end for him if Master noticed the weakness.

"Remove your Guild Marks, losing trash do not deserve to wear them!" Jiemma hissed, his footsteps heavy over the ground as he halted not a few feet from Sting- halting when an unexpected voice shattered the communal silence of the watching Guild.

"B-But Master, both Sting-kun and Rogue-kun did their best...!"

The whole Guild stared, their breath's catching in their throats as Lector stepped forward and turned Master's attention on him instead of on Sting. The red Exceed was trembling from head to toe, but he forced a smile anyway and addressed the rage-filled, massive man- Jiemma's dark gaze shifting toward Lector and glowering.

"L-Lector..." Sting hissed breathlessly, his heart skipping a beat.

"T-this time they lost, but I'm still proud of them... I think people can get even stronger after a defeat. Sting-kun definitely learned a lot during this fight, a-and Rogue-kun too! They'll be even stronger after this..!" Lector mewed, his voice trembling slightly but keeping up his composure none-the-less. Sting and Rogue's expressions softened a little at the words, sweatdropping more when they rang familiar as to what Hora had said not long before.

"Losing isn't a crime. And don't worry about not beating Salamander... even if you don't match up now, you will- I know you'll be stronger than him and Gajeel some day. Don't doubt it."

Jiemma's dark gaze landed on Lector, silent and leering for a few seconds as he regarded the Exceed coldly, and Lector shivered under the stare.

"Who the hell are you?" Jiemma growled lowly, Lector blinked, looking confused. He hesitated for a minute, before smiling nervously and twisting slightly as he lift his shirt to lay clear view of the Guild Mark stamped across his back.

"Ah Master, you know.. I-I'm a Member too, I have the Guild Mark and everything.." Lector replied shakily, Jiemma's brow raised at the answer for a few seconds, before his brow knit and his expression darkened into something so heart-stoppingly malicious, Lector paled and so did everyone else.

"Why is an animal bearing the Guild Mark of SaberTooth?" Jiemma growled dangerously, Lector recoiled at the sneer, shaking more now. Jiemma's hand lift as his palm pointed at Lector, Sting scrambling on to his knees and panic ramming into everyone in the room.

"Vanish!" Master boomed, pulsing waves of Magical Pressure suddenly filling the room as his Magic amassed before his hand- and struck out toward a paralyzed Lector in all but three seconds.

"Lector!" Sting yelled, still struggling to get on to his feet but he was too slow- his eyes locked with Lector's terrified gaze, the Exceed being lost from sight in a blinding white ball of sheer power.

"S-Sting-kun..?" Lector stammered, his voice fading into nothing as he faded into nothing too- the Inn booming with the force of Jiemma's Magic and leaving no trace of the Exceed.

Lector was obliterated in three seconds, with not a single trace of him left.

All eyes in the Guild were fixed, all of them staring, disbelieving and terrified.

Master... he just... killed...?!

N-no...!

Rogue hissed, pushing his beaten body up and rushing to snatch Frosch up in his arms- guarding him from Jiemma's view lest the man decide to enact his wrath on the small, green Exceed. That Exceed that was trembling just as badly as Rogue was himself, his eyes locked on Master and terrified of what else he planned-

L..Lector...!

He felt the stinging sensation of tears in his eyes, his heart shattering in an instant- so, so painful and yet it was nowhere near what Sting felt in that moment.

Sting felt his heart shatter into a million pieces, agony and heartbreak racing through him and sending every nerve alight in the most unbearable pain- his lungs aching for air he couldn't take in, they were shaking and shuddering too much, the tears already flooding form his eyes and down his cheeks. His jaw snapped shut, a sob rising up his throat that he didn't dare think of quieting, his hands balled into fists and shaking as he sat on his heels.

N-no... n...no...no...!

There was a hole suddenly ripped into his soul that couldn't be filled, and the ache and pain of it had the tears streaming faster and his voice loud and shaking- his head tilting back and his voice cracking as he sobbed openly for the first time in too long a time- and the first time he ever dared in front of that man... that man who...

...H..he killed... L...lec...

"LECTOR!" Sting yelled, his voice painful to hear and the sheer despair in it striking the Guild through the heart,

It... it finally... Master finally went... that far...?

This... this isn't right...

And yet they'd all never been more terrified of the man, than they were in that instant.

Master killed Lector

Jiemma turned on the wailing and crying form of Sting, his lips pulled into a sneer and all the more enraged by the open show of weakness and emotion.

"Quit with your blubbering, filth!" Jiemma boomed, his voice raising above Sting's sobbing as the SaberTooth Guild Master scowled. Sting was staggering, shaking as he held his head in his arms and pulled himself to his feet- lopsided and hardly standing as he kept crying, and breaking.

"H... How could you...?" Sting hissed, "H...How could you.. do that...?!"

"ENOUGH! IT WAS JUST A STUPID CAT!"

Of all people, of all the times that they'd watched Master submit his authority (cruelty) over the Guild... Of all times they watched and they submitted, and of all times all of them sat back and did nothing... The first time someone did anything, for the first time- the one to finally snap was not who anyone expected to.

Sting snapped

It was a rush, all of SaberTooth watching in transfixed shock and horror, all wide eyes and veins turning ice- all rigid and not daring to breath as Sting launched forward toward their 'Master' in all his pain and rage and heartbreak. The White Dragon Slayer swung out, his Magic blazing faster and stronger than ever before and ruled by what wrath he held now toward the bastard of a man who dare end the life of that Exceed he had called friend and Partner since he was a kid. His fist swing forward in a blaze of blinding white as he made contact with Jiemma's torso, and a beam of sheer, unrelenting force ran straight through that man who had dared to ever lay a finger on anyone in that Guild. His Magic tearing a whole straight through Jiemma's body like it was little but paper, blood spurting into the air as Jiemma was thrown back and coughed up that sticky crimson liquid- that same liquid he had brought to bear in all of those watching when he enacted 'judgment'.

That same man who had beaten them, harmed them, oppressed and abused them for so, so long and was never challenged- that man hit the floor with a heavy thud, his blood pooling underneath him and defeated in the matter of a few seconds by someone who had always bowed underneath him. Years of being helpless and submissive, years of feeling trapped and being scared to even speak for what that man would do to them- years of being so terrified of that man they allowed themselves to endure everything... Terrified of that man who was beaten in a single second by one person.

That man they allowed to mistreat them for so, so long out of fear... That man who couldn't move, his chest a bloody mess and gasping for air- powerless.

That man destroyed... And that easily...

...h...how... How could he have ever been... stopped... T...that easily...?

How long did we...

The assembled members of Fiore's #1, and strongest Guild- the glorious, powerful Guild SaberTooth that was known and feared by all- that Guild was still and silent, paralyzed all of them... And that Guild wasn't able to move for their shock and their terrified stupor, all minds racing and thoughts running a million miles an hour- they couldn't fathom...

How... How many times did we think it...?

Hope and plead... And wish it...?

All of this... That Jiemma... Needed to be stopped...?

And... J... Just like that...?

How could it... How could it have been that easy...?

Minerva's lips pulled into a small, wicked little smile as her hands fell on her hips- uncaring of the sound of her father's wheezing breaths, or the way in which the Guild seemed frozen.

"Very good." Minerva hummed, her voice easily breaking the silence as the Guild's eyes snapped toward her, a flash of fear running through them all. Her eyes however, were only on Sting- and he stared, sweatdropping heavily. "It seems the opportunity has arisen to put an end to my Father's reign of terror." Minerva announced coolly, not a hint nor shred of remorse or concern for said Father currently bleeding out on the floor. "And since it is clear that Sting's power has surpassed him, he will be a worthy candidate for the next Guild Master."

A shocked ripple rung out among everyone at the words, none of them sure of what they were hearing or what exactly Minerva was planning so suddenly- Sting paled a bit at the announcement.

Him...? As... As Guild Master...?

"M..minerva... What are you...?!" Jiemma wheezed, trembling and trying to push himself up from the floor- but his body would not listen. Minerva's cold gaze landed on her Father, expressionless and unfeeling.

"Silence, we have no use for losers- as according to your logic." Minrrva replied coldly, Jiemma scowled, blood dripping passed his lips as his jaw clenched.

"You... Little...!" Jiemma growled, but Minerva simply blinked. She did not seem to care when Jiemma raised a hand from the floor, smeared in his own blood and trembling- Minerva waved a hand at him dismissively, and turned to Sting again. Rogue's eyes flicked feverishly between the stumbling and struggling Jiemma and Minerva, wary of both and not sure what to make of... any of it.

"Sting, Natsu Dragneel has something you do not." Minerva murmured lowly, Sting swallowed. "What they call the Power of Feelings... It is a Power you have never used, while my Father has ruled this Guild. By his order to stay from showing any weakness or emotion to anyone else, you have been cut off from this Power- the very Power that makes you stronger than even Natsu Dragneel." She smiled, her eyes glittering as Sting stiffened. "Your feelings for Lector will be what allows you to surpass him."

"... Tch..."

Rogue's suspended attention on Minerva got torn away when he heard Jiemma cough, not a single person paying that man any mind what with Minerva suddenly taking charge of the situation. Rogue's eyes flashed, narrowing to slits and stiffening on instinct as he watched Jiemma's hand lift of the floor, a blood-red Magic Circle appeared over his palm, before his fist closed around it, starting to break it apart as if it were solid matter. Faint noise of something like glass shattering started up, so low and so quiet Rogue even hardly heard it... But what Magic was that...?

Sting's eyes dropped, swallowing back what lump was in his throat and the tears starting anew. "M..my Lady... I...I..." He stammered, Minerva's smiled twisted a little, sly and wicked cunning.

"Lector is alive."

Sting froze, his eyes snapping open wide and trembling as the words hit hard- what...?

Rogue's eyes snapped toward Minerva again in shock, his heart jumping at the words- how...?!

"I sent him to another place with my Magic." She explained, Sting swallowed- his heart sailing and sinking all at once from the kindness of Minerva who... Who was never kind.

And that smile on her face, it was wicked, amused... Dangerous.

"And your precious cat will be returned to you, only after you have proven to me you are worthy of leading this Guild." Minerva murmured lowly, Sting swallowed. "I am different from my Father, I do not care where your Power comes from, only that you are Powerful. But I still believe SaberTooth need remain the Number 1, at all costs."

It felt like a sharp sword of ice ran through the hearts of every Saber Member, their countenance wilting under that deadly stare from the Lady... The Daughter of the man they had been abused by... The woman who had always abused them.

Even with Jiemma gone...w...we...

"You can have Lector back, after SaberTooth wins the Grand Magic Games." Minerva growled, her eyes flashing as Sting's breath hitched a little. "Now don't try anything rash, remember that Lector's life is in my hands."

Hostage

Sting gulped, and Rogue held tighter to Frosch on reaction- afraid for a few seconds that Minerva might snatch Frosch up too and use the Exceed as a tool of fear and blackmail, like Lector.

Sting held Minerva's gaze quietly, the fear and worry clear in his expression and the whole of the Building deadly quiet as she waited for an answer- he had little choice in the matter, and he knew it. Lector's life was on the line and they all knew Minerva was not shy of harming the Exceed should she see need to. She'd do anything to get what she wanted and they all knew that... He didn't have a choice, he had to do what she wanted. Had to win...

... And all of them, they were still trapped, even though Jiemma-

"...tch... Filthy Wretches... The lot of you..."

This time the Guild dared break their attention on Minerva and all eyes snapped warily toward the man still bleeding out on the floor, all of them save Rogue noticing for the first time that Magic Circle he was crushing further in his hand, hearing the noise of it shattering and splintering as Jiemma shot a hate-filled glare at his daughter.

"... You've been waiting... To get rid of me..." He hissed, Minerva crossed her arms over her chest.

"I told you to be silent." She muttered lowly, "Whatever you plan with that Magic, it will do you no good. You cannot attack I, or anyone else here and hope for victory. You are weak."

"... Tch... I may die... But I will not allow you filth to take this Guild from me... So easily..." he growled, "... I may not be able to harm any of you... Or take revenge on you, Minerva... But the rest... All of you insects... And you Sting... Rogue... Every one of you... I can still break you."

Rogue felt a wash of icy cold settle over him out of nowhere, his confused, whirling thoughts over everything that had been happening in front of him suddenly swirling inward toward one thing, one realization that finally hit him out of nowhere.

Sting was the one that snapped, but-

Rogue's head snapped around toward the crowd that made up the rest of the Guild, his heart beating faster and faster with every second. His red eyes locked on to Rufus and Orga, and he didn't find her anywhere- and those concerned, wary gazes he received from both men sent terror racing through him.

"Where's Hora...?!" He hissed lowly, asking the question of them but they shook their heads, and Rogue whipped back around toward Jiemma, his expression nothing but absolute, unyielding fear.

How could he have forgotten about her like that?! And about what Jiemma-!

"... There's a Lacrima in my chest." Hora whispered, "... it's connected with my Magic... it keeps me alive... and Jiemma's put a Possession Link on it... you can't break Possession Links... they have to be removed by the people who place them... Jiemma's had it on me since he took over the Guild... I can't run, I can't leave... he'll find me no matter where I go..."

Rogue was getting to his feet, ready to rush forward and do something- anything to stop him from-

Everyone in the room stared at Rogue, sweatdropping heavily when they saw pure terror dawn in him out of nowhere, and they didn't understand why.

"... he can destroy the Lacrima whenever he wants... with a single thought... and if he does... it'll kill me..."

"Don't!" Rogue yelled,

Jiemma's hand closed all the way with one sharp sound of that Magic Circle being crushed and shattered like glass, completely broken as bits of blood-red Magic seeped passed his fingers. Rogue felt his heart stop, the tears already falling and hand outstretched, the shattering sound ringing on his ears deafeningly.

"... I'll take that worthless rat with me..." Jiemma hissed, his breath exhaling as a rasp- his hand fell to the ground, limp.

His world was crumbling in over his head as panic and fear raced through him, unending, spine-chilling, sickening- he was hardly standing, he felt faint and ready to collapse. Like he'd been ripped through by a gunshot and every part of him wanted to cease function. And yet he couldn't fall, he couldn't hit the floor and he couldn't stay standing there- adrenaline hit him square on and made his breathing elevate to panicked gasps, Frosch still in one arm and staring up at the Shadow Dragon Slayer in pure fear for how he was reacting so suddenly.

"R-Rogue, what's wrong...?" Frosch mewed, teary eyed and soon crying just like Rogue was so suddenly. It took little time at all for the Shadow Dragon Slayer's behavior to have everyone else on edge too, all of them feeling and confused- and scared.

"Rogue, what is going on...?!" Sting snapped quickly, because what in the hell could have Rogue looking so horrified?!

Rogue couldn't form the words- any words, his throat dried up and he didn't even think about stopping, or trying to garner a response- he was already moving.

He had to go, he had to... Had to find her!

No, no, no, no, no, no!

"HORA!"

.:+:.

"B-big... Big Brother?!"

She screamed. Screamed in terror and panic as her voice was lost to the roaring of hundreds of frightened and terrified people running around her, the noise of their shouts and their own screams pounding against her ears.

The whole village was in a complete state of panic, of destruction and disarray... Homes and buildings, all those structures she had come to know by heart- they lay in smoldering ruin around her, flames dancing and rubble thrown all about. Her home was now a mess of destruction, everything looked foreign, she couldn't begin to place where she was- and the mass of running and sprinting people around her on all sides wasn't helping any.

She looked around wildly, stumbling and tripping in the snow laden and soot covered streets- her toes numb from the icy water seeping into her shoes.

"Mom?! Dad?!" She yelled, though no one could possibly hear such a small voice, tears welled from her eyes and fell down her cheeks, chest heaving and fighting for air as sheer terror sunk in even deeper in her heart. "Brother?! Please! Where are you?!"

She was alone... She was lost... Her family...

There were bodies. People from the village, broken and bloody... Crushed under the fallen buildings. Torn apart by the rubble. Burned from the fires... People were dying and lay all around her. Death hung in the air... It...

It was a massacre.

She was trembling in her fear, her young heart hardly able to take such violence and death.. She'd never see this before, and she never should have. Such a thing as this... It was awful, it was horrifying, and among the roars of the beast and the screaming of the people around her- she was alone and lost.

All she wanted... Was her family...

But... There were so many people dead. Her heart stopped to think that maybe... Maybe... Her family was dead too.

The emptiness growing inside of her deepened, cold and rotting... She had never felt more alone, and her tears started to stream faster, blurring her vision as she stumbled about.

"MOM?! DAD?!" She yelled, voice shaking and tripping, the large and daunting form of the creature blurred from the salty wetness clouding her eyes. She stumbled and fell, the snow and icy cobblestone underfoot rushing up to meet her small body with a painful thud.

"B-Brother!" She gasped, she just wanted... Wanted someone...

Her eyes moved from the blackened ice and snow, upward as she felt a massive shadow loom over her. Her wide and terrified gaze moved up to see the Beast standing before her, so massive it was it blocked out the sky.

Its cold eyes glittering in animalistic rage and malice, her heart stopping and ice running through her veins as she simply remained motionless. She was too terrified to move, or even cry out as one of its clawed hands lift- sharp claws glinting in the fire light.

She was going to die...

It swiped downward, she lift her arms as her eyes shut right in terror- the beasts hand catching her small body and tearing open her skin and muscle and bone with one of the wicked claws, her blood flying into the air and staining the snow- just as hundreds of different scarlet pools already were. The agony that swept through her was gut-wrenching, her vision went black and red at the pain of it tearing across her being, as she was sent flying- her scream of utter pain tearing at the air and her throat.

She fell abruptly silent as she slammed into the ground, bones cracking. She rolled, coming to a halt, unmoving, unbreathing... A large, deep pool of crimson surrounding her body, the wound deep, bone showing through the shredded skin.

She couldn't even hear the screaming anymore, she couldn't open her eyes... She couldn't even wince at her pain... She was just... Falling... Alone...

My... Family... My

... My... brother...?

... She was screaming. Writhing and squirming in sheer, fiery agony searing across her body and her mind. Her wrist, arm, and all the way to her shoulder... Her skin was blistering from the insane heat- it felt as if she had dipped it in molten lava.

Arden was gripping her arm tightly, holding on to her, the grip never slipping- even as she tried so desperately to pull away. Her vision flashed black, red... The smell of burning filled her nose and lungs. She just kept screaming... The pain was blinding...

... She wanted it over. She wanted to feel nothing... And still that grip... That grip that burned her skin and sent lava searing through her veins, it kept her away from the numbing embrace of perpetual darkness. It wouldn't let her go. She wanted to be let go.

And for what? What the hell was all this... All this pain and sheer agony, the suffering and the torture for anyway? Why was she being forced to endure it?

... The reason... It... It was impossible... She couldn't...

... Deliora... It... It killed everyone... But me...

... R... Right...?

N...no... That... That's...

"... it's the same with Sherry, Tobi and Yuka as well. That Demon destroyed everything we had, we were left alone... I was fortunate enough to be taken in by the woman who taught me my Magic, others were less lucky." Lyon sighed slightly, that haunted look coming back into his eyes a moment as memory seemed to flood his mind.

"... The Demon Deliora. It destroyed our lives, yes... But now it can no longer harm anyone, my Mentor- Ur, she defeated it..."

L...lyon said... He... He survived... When Delioria... B... But... My home... My family... They couldn't have...

"... I was really, really young... When Deliora destroyed my village, and my family."

I was a fucking kid and... A..and...

"...I got out," her grip on her arm tightened a little, her eyes trailing along the long and deep scar.

"... Barely."

There was no way... right...?

There can't be any way... H... How many years has it been...?

Ho... How long and... I... I always...H...he had to be... There... Is no... Way...

... ho... how could he...?

She felt cold and hot all at once, her body shaking without her consent. Her head was in a haze and her eyelids felt heavier than she could ever remember them being. She shuddered involuntarily, her breath catching in her throat as she coughed faintly.

The room was dim around her, and stagnant. She could scarcely see the ceiling above her, if not for the small, faint sliver of light that managed to make it past the edge of the curtains. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she knew she had. She'd been moving in and out of wakefulness for hours, flitting between feverish reality and swirling, nonsensical dreams.

She felt something squeeze around her fingers gently, her eyes trailing sideways from the roof toward that young little boy at the bedside.

Brother...

He was fast asleep, his head resting in his crossed arms on the bedtop- one hand extended just slightly so he could keep holding her hand in his. His fingers twined between hers and limp in his sleeping, yet they still kept locked together.

She blinked, her eyes falling halfway as the haze lifted just enough- she remembered waking up earlier too, and remembered hearing his voice mixed with that of their parents.

"..b-but... I wanna help..."

"... Love, the only thing we can do is let her sleep."

"... Once she rests, the fever will pass and she will be alright.."

"... I..."

"..hmm, I know you want to help her feel better, love..." That was her mother's voice, she sounded sympathetic, and warm.

"... You know what? Sit with her, keep her company. I'm sure that will help her feel better." And that was her Father, a bit louder, but no less warm.

"..y-yeah!" Her brother sounded a little happier with that, he liked that idea- mostly because then, he would be doing something. "... I-i can tell her a story, if she wants...! Or just stick around, so she's not all alone when she's sleeping..!"

"Great idea." Mother and Father said all in unison.

Her mind was slipping back into the deep, dark depths again as she heard feet move down the hallway outside the door.

She must have fallen asleep before he made it inside, but he'd stayed anyway...

She squeezed his hand back faintly, sighing as her eyes fell closed again.

... I... am I dreaming...?

D... did any of... that...?

It was flooding back, memories and images and thoughts of a time and a town and people she had tried so hard never to think back on- because remembering them would break her, all over again.

And what spurred it? Out of nowhere as she floated in a sea of cold and black with the visions swimming by sickeningly fast, and falling over her mind that was already shattered and whirling?

Impossible... Insanity

"Oi! Where do you think you're going?"

She huffed, her fists clenched at her sides and casting the taller boy an annoyed glare as he blocked her way. There were other children behind him, watching them warily and snickering to themselves as she was denied passage through the gate.

"We ain't letting a little brat like you play." The boy growled, she frowned at him, her eyes flashing as she shifted- her feet crunching the snow underfoot.

"Why not?" She shot back, "I really wanna play with you guys, please?"

"Hell no. You're too little, you'll ruin everyone's fun." He shot back, she huffed.

"I'm not that little! I know all the rules and I can keep up really good too!" She argued, the older boy let out an aggravated growl, a sneer on his face as he shoved her back a little and she stumbled, trying to stay on her feet an managing it- barely.

"We're not gonna babysit you! We don't want you, so just go away!" He snapped, she bit back the aggravated growl rising in her throat as she simply glared at him.

"Why are you such a jerk?!" She whined,

"Why are you so annoying?! Leave!" He snapped, stepping back and hand finding the gate as he slammed it shut in front of her face, she stumbled back to avoid getting hit and ended up slipping. She landed hard in the snow, yelping a little as she heard the other (older) kids all laugh at her,

"What a baby!"

"Run home to mommy and daddy!"

They were walking away, leaving her sitting there in a drift of snow and ice and her clothes stuck with bits of it everywhere. She huffed, her blue eyes glittering and anger bubbling up in her core quicker than ever-

She stomped to her feet, sweeping up a wad of snow and ice in hand as she pound it into a ball- and launched it with all her might at the back of the older boy's head. The ball hit his skull with an audible thud and he doubled over, holding his head and letting out a pained yell- the other kids around him gasping and staring in shock at what happened, she let out a hot breath as she stood there still.

"Serves you right!" She yelled, earning all of their eyes and his as his shocked expression pulled into anger and disgust.

"You little brat! You're gonna pay for that!" He snapped back, stumbling in his haste as he suddenly spun around and started running back toward her- and she gulped.

Oh no

She whipped around, running off in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her, panic rushing through her body and hearing him yelling still behind her and the sound of his feet in the snow getting closer. Her feet were slipping in the snow and she was stumbling as much as she was keeping ahead, but not for very long- his legs were longer than hers, and no matter how fast she was, she wasn't fast enough to get away or stay away for very long.

She hissed, her movement halted and her head yanked back as the boy gripped tightly to her hair and stopped her. Pain stretched up through her scalp and her neck, her feet skidding as she lost balance and that boy pulled her up from the ground by her hair roughly, her toes barely brushing the ground at all- before he knocked her down and pushed her face first into the wet, slush covered street. Her clothes got instantly soaked and the chill moisture splashed against her face as she coughed, struggling and wiggling even as the boy held tight to her hair and pinned her down with his more massive weight and strength.

"G-get off of me..!" She snapped,

"Not until I pay you back for throwing that thing at me!"

"You deserved it!" She retorted, he pushed her chin into the snow further.

"Shut up!"

"HEY!"

Her head got yanked back and up and she yelped, but the boy's grip in her hair got released and his weight on top of her disappeared. The boy grunted, growling and grumbling as he was hoisted off roughly and hit the snow with a thud, scrambling to his feet and not at all pleased.

"You wanna fight too?!" The boy snapped hotly, his eyes blazing as his gaze landed on the other, slightly smaller boy that had pulled him off of her and tossed him. She blinked, rolling over and shivering from the cold already as she saw him step between her and her pursuer, blocking her from the other boy's view.

Brother

"Just leave her alone," her Brother grumbled, "If you don't leave now, I'll make you leave."

Kids can be cruel sometimes... huh...?

Her Brother earned a black eye for his efforts, but he drove the bully off regardless (sending that boy home with a rather heavily bleeding nose, actually)... and then helped pick her up out of the snow and the water, holding her hand and sticking close as they headed home.

"Were you scared?"

"No!"

"Heh, then why are you crying?"

"He was pulling on my hair, and it really hurt!"

"Haha... you're not scared of a lot of things, are you?"

"Nope!"

... if only that were still true...

"Geez you're annoying!"

"So are you!"

"Stop pulling!"

"You stop pulling!"

They were tugging on eachother's hair, lips pulled into frowns and tempers on an all time high as they shot back angry words and yells of annoyance, tugging harder and harder and trying to one-up the other... some argument, about something- she couldn't remember anymore. They were on the floor, rolling around and squirming- sticking feet and hands in mouths and against faces trying to get free or just annoy- anything, they were just too focused on fighting they didn't care what for or how ridiculous it was getting.

It was always like that, sometimes they got along just perfectly, sometimes they simply tolerated eachother- sometimes he was so, so gentle with her and sometimes they were so rough. They fought with one another just as quickly as they made up, and cooperated- sometimes partners in crime and other times mortal enemies... behavior that was much to their Parent's dismay (and exasperation), she was sure.

They were both broken apart and hoisted up by their ankles from strong hands, their Father letting out a weary sigh as their Mother shook her head.

"Both of you, cut it out!"

... she remembered some of it... but not a lot of it. She had just been so young and so small... There was some things that stuck, like that bully, that stupid fight... his hand in hers when she was sick, things like that. And then there were a lot of small, little things that didn't last very long. A few moments eating dinner with all of them, going outside to watch the snowfall- leaning over her Mother's shoulder to watch her cook... standing to the side and watching in awe and the utmost intrigue with her Brother at her side as their Father told some fantastical, silly little story.

But all of those things faded and distorted over time, and she buried most all of it... the things that stuck most, and that remained as clear as the day they happened?

They were all so, so bad... she lost them. All of them... they all died...

...b..but...

... I was supposed to die, I wanted to die... I lived because... because Arden did that... forced that on me... forced me to live... t..through...

... Arden forced that wild, insane Magic into her- forced it to burn the wound closed, forced it to mark across every inch of her body and her soul and claim her, the pain was enough to kill anyone, the Magic was too strong, too jagged and much too uncontrolled- it was burning her alive from the inside out. She thrashed and kicked up blood-colored snow, screamed and kicked and pleaded and cried, her voice breaking, shrieking even long after her throat filled with blood and the taste of something burning sour... She wanted it over. She wanted to feel nothing... And still that grip... That grip that burned her skin and sent lava searing through her veins, it kept her away from the numbing embrace of perpetual darkness. It wouldn't let her go.

... she started to burn, the black running up her body and strangling her- that dirty, blood matted raven hair turning orange and red and all colors it should never have been. The rest of her body started to blister and break under the fire consuming her, eating her... killing her, and still she tried to pull away. Her mouth filled with blood and ash and fire and she felt her lungs burning away inside her chest,

She was a fucking kid... a kid for fuck's sake... a little girl that was twitching, her body falling apart and melting from the inside out and all will to fight outwardly lost- if only her mind and her heart had failed so quickly, she still felt it... felt every single second of it.

His hand shot forward, the stone still gripped tightly as he plunged his hand through the center of her chest, ribs breaking and what charred mess of her lungs was left- they were forced apart as he stuck his entire fist inside her body, moving organs and bone and leaving a giant, nestled hole for that stone to set. Her skin, and her body, covered head to foot in pitch, jet black- a pulse of blue raced from where his hand remained lodged inside her chest, and she felt like her heart had been ripped in two.

Her body felt like it had been drowned in lava suddenly felt like it had been ripped in half, melted back together, then cut into hundreds of pieces... and then melted again, over and over it when from blinding burning pain to mind shattering cold, it lasted years, it lasted too long and she felt her mind breaking under it all just as her body shattered with it.

Arden ripped his hand back out from her body again, leaving the stone as his breaths shuddered to a close. His yellow eyes dulling to grey and all light gone as his hand fell limp from having been holding to her so tightly, his face falling as a ghost of smile remained etched into his face forever more.

She was writhing around in that blood soaked snow and ice, screaming and fidgeting for hours, her body destroying itself, burning itself, and then slapping itself back together- the flames raged and then died, and then raged again and it was a fate worse than death... she wanted to die, she screamed and pleaded and wished she would- begged. And the pain still kept on-

... she should have died... she only lived because of that... she'd been forced to live through all of that... she survived, but she would have rather died...

... She'd been so broken, when she woke up... Found him, Arden... Dead and smiling still.. She was alone then, confused and trapped in a body now ruined by some evil, foul Magic she had known nothing of. She'd been confused, alone, hurt, and so afraid...plagued and eaten alive ever since by a Magic so dark and so twisted... a Magic that made her a Monster...

If she'd only survived that... by enduring hell and back... there never could have been any way... no one else could have been alive... she didn't dare hope they were- because what hell would they have gone through to stay breathing? How could she fathom anyone surviving that massacre and not being forced to live through some torture or cruelty like she had to stay alive?

If living meant going through even a fraction of what she'd been forced to... n...no... just... no!

What did that mean then...!?

What happened, what did he live through... if he really...?!

... h... how can he be...?!

... Her hand fell slowly, time suddenly freezing again as the air had in a sudden surge of Magic no one was ready for- and in her searching dazed attention around the Magic she found the one who'd destroyed it, ice clashing with ice, and she froze, her deep blue gaze matching with one of near the same hue.

W-wait...

A young man, older than her, a head of black hair and chest bare- holding tight to a sword of ice and the blue Fairy Tail emblem plastered to his chest. Bits of snow and frost fell against the silver necklace around his neck, his eyes locked with hers, his expression tense and distrustful, his jaw tight, his.. he...

... n...no... i... it can't...

She was completely paralyzed for the second time that night, she couldn't breathe and she didn't even care to- her fractured and splintered mind, body, soul and emotions were shattered still, and that made it.. this...

Her life, her years, the last few months, days... today, all of it had been a storm, all of it spiraling further and further into insanity and this...?

Impossible... r...right...?

But... but... he... he looked... alm... ost... exactly... t...the same...?

Older, stronger, angry... but that... that face... those eyes...

... it had to be, but it couldn't...!

There were emotions racing through her that she didn't have names for, nor the force of will to even begin to pick apart- all of it! It was just... TOO MUCH

Too much that grew to a hundred times too much when those memories and those thoughts got mixed in with everything else... everything flooding back like a ferocious, thundering tsunami bearing down on her head. It was a rush, blurred and messy and distorted and... pain, she had been in agony-

- someone... somebody had taken her, said things, things that didn't make sense... their lips pressed to hers, a voice so dead, familiar and twisted and a scent-

- he said I was going to die... he... he knew... that Jiemma... Jiemma-

Everything, all of it so much and tearing her to pieces, sending her emotions flying and she couldn't control any of it.

WHAT IN THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!

The darkness got torn apart in a blinding array of blurred, fuzzy, and a head-achingly disorienting array of color and scents and sounds that rammed into her frenzied mind like a train. She jolted upward, shaking and heaving as pain raced through her center and chest at the same time her stomach flipped in a bout of nausea it almost made her gag. She sucked in a deep breath, only she ended up coughing- though even that hardly stopped her as she scrambled into a sitting position, her head snapping this way and that in sheer panic and confusion as she tried to make sense of a world swimming in her eyes. She was coughing and sputtering, hardly able to take any air in and her body shaking so, so terribly- sitting up was hell and she scrambled backwards in haste away from someone's hand on her shoulder.

Who in the fuck-?!

"Woah, woah- wait a minute Hora...!"

A firm get gentle hand fell against her back and another caught her wrist with ease as she swung up in blind reaction. Hora blinked furiously, panting and wheezing as she did her best to make sense of the voice and that blurry figure (of several, frighteningly..!) in front of her, and just who in the hell was touching her.

"Hey, calm down-" that voice went on, urgent and tense.

"You really shouldn't move so much just yet...!" A different, softer voice said this time- but she was focused on the first, with how much her ears were ringing and the sound of her sputtering and gasping was to her- it was hard enough picking apart one voice, let alone two... But maybe it did sound a little familiar.

She sniffed, a flood of things filling her nose and all of it overwhelming- but what she latched on to was the familiar smokey scent of ash and ember mixed with something sweet- a same sweet found in a separate smell of fresh, cool air.

"-Hora, hey... Just take it easy for minute, alright...?" The first voice came again, her eyes narrowing as she pulled back at the hand that had grabbed her wrist out of instinct- she was still whirling, and freaking out after all- and it didn't help the hand didn't let go... But her nose couldn't lie, even if the rest of her senses were in too much of a state of disorder.

She swallowed, blinking hard until her vision unblurred enough and she made out the familiar (albeit very strained and concerned... And pale(?)) face of-

"... Natsu...?" Hora breathed, his eyes flashed as she said his name and he saw the recognition dawn in her expression, finally. He nodded stiffly, sweatdropping as his hold on her wrist softened a bit.

"Yeah, it's me." He murmured, she seemed to deflate slightly, sitting on her heels now in the midst of lunging up and struggling to move it get away... Or... Whatever, as she was freaking out the minute she managed any semblance of consciousness. He could feel her trembling under his hands, see the way her body was shaking and even straining as she stayed sitting up- the way her breathing was so harsh and wheezy made his heart twist, and the sheer exhaustion in her face and the sickly pallor of her skin didn't make him relax either.

She was confused, and panicky- and he didn't really blame her, nor was he surprised by it either... Not after everything that had just happened, and what Wendy had been explaining as the Sky Dragon Slayer rushed to heal Hora and fix what it was that had happened to her.

Hora sweatdropped, her eyes glittering as she gulped a little and Natsu leaned in a bit- him being on one knee next to her, and the one hand on her back, steadying her almost.

"Hey, you okay...?" He asked lowly, his eyes searching as she held his gaze for a few seconds, almost dazed- before he saw pain race over her face and she stiffened underneath him.

There was a sharp, agonizing jolt of pain that struck straight through her center out of nowhere, making it hard to breath for a few seconds- and making her double over at it. She coughed, one hand finding the ground to keep herself from falling face first into it and the other one pulling from Natsu's grip to cover her mouth in time to catch what scarlet liquid rose in her throat. It wasn't a lot of blood, but enough she tasted it, and a few splashes of it fell into her palm as she continued to sputter painfully for an agonizingly long minute.

"Hora..!" Natsu hissed, his (suddenly free) hand finding her shoulder to steady her a bit more while the one on her back stayed where it was, his eyes glittering like mad and jaw clenched as he felt her shudder and cough underneath him. His eyes snapped briefly from her and toward Wendy, who was on her knees in front of the Saber woman now and her hands extending quickly toward her as Wendy's face pulled in concern,

"I'm sorry, but you need to calm down if you can Hora..." Wendy instructed gently, her hands raising in front of her and the light of her Magic glowing anew as her eyes narrowed in concentration. "... There's nothing more I can do, I've healed you as much as I can... I'm sorry, I know you're still in pain..." The small Dragon Slayer murmured, regretfully so, Natsu swallowed a bit.

Hora heard Wendy's voice more clearly this time around, even over the sound of her own breathing as she fought to quiet the coughing even just a little. And she heard the concern in it, and the urgency... And how sorry she sounded when she said that;

'There's nothing more I can do'

But... but what did you do...? What... What could you do... That I'm not... A... Already... Dead...?

Hora sucked in a breath of air and held it, forcing her lungs to still for a few seconds and hopefully crush the coughing with it. Doing so made her chest ache terribly, but it was better than gasping and sputtering... Better than hacking up more blood.

L... Lixue...? Hey... Are you...? Jiemma... Jiemma was... Was destroying you...

'... I am alive... Or rather, I am intact... Mostly.' Lixue's voice was quiet, and tired- as well as strained... What with all the screaming and roaring he'd been doing. But to be honest, she hadn't expected any answer- how the hell could Lixue answer?

Y... You can't be... Jiemma... He was doing it, he was killing us... he was breaking you...! And he had all the power to do it, with that Possession Link...!

'... That is gone.'

Hora went very still, the words ringing through her head and all whirling thoughts and subjects crashing to a head on that.

W...what...?

'... There are always ways to achieve something... It happened we did not possess the means nor the knowledge between the two of us... But that is not to say someone else hadn't the means to break the Link instead...' Lixue mumbled tiredly, '... I am however surprised... Even being taught by Grandeeney, that child possesses power over Enchantments that should not be possible at such a young age...'

Hora's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening and locked on the ground as she stayed bent over, her hand still over her mouth and oblivious to anything anyone else said around her- she was only listening to Lixue now.

'... I am not unscathed however, Horatia... It will take time for the Lacrima that encases my life-force to heal, and be rid of what damage Jiemma placed upon me.' Lixue went on softly, '... I am weak right now, and the effects I have on combating the Flames are weak for it... Do try and stay as calm as you possibly can... But in the meantime, I will do what you need of me... just be aware we both have a limit, and we will hit it. When that time comes, Over-Drive will be as unforgiving as it was the last time.'

She swallowed, letting out the breath she'd been holding and panting again- just less raggedy now.

'... Likely we would have hit that limit upon waking up now... But I think that will be delayed, given that child has managed to restore a great fraction of our strength regardless of being unable to repair the damage done unto me all the way... we have some time now, before Over-Drive will take firm hold of you... We should use it as wisely as we can manage, hmm?' Lixue added in softly, 'March on until we have depleted what strength is between us... Until that limit is reached... and then hope Over-Drive does not prove fatal on this second round...' She sweatdropped at that, her stomach churning slightly at the prospect that Over-Drive would get that bad, or even worse than last time...

... W... Will you really be alright, Lixue...? You.. We were dying... He was tearing you apart- how... How can you be fine...?

'... I think I will be alright, in time. You and I are both such better off now than should be possible after all of...that... But do refrain from anything exceptionally brash, will you?' He replied easily, '... You can use my Power as you need, Horatia... I will hold out, but I still caution at least some restraint.' She stiffened,

Use... Your...?

She didn't wait for Lixue to garner a reply... Ten years.... Ten years of wishing and hoping that she could-

Her hand fell from covering her mouth, her other one lifting from the ground as she sat back on to her heels a bit more and straightened- and her gaze locked on her hands as she brought them in front of her.

Ten years and so many times she called forth Magic and never... Never ever got what she wished...

.:+:.

"Not so fast!"

A wall of water sprung up, moving into it's liquid state after having previously been ice on the floor- Hora's back slammed into it as she was moving to get out of the way of the Demon's giant claws swinging out toward her. The flames she had let rise up around her hissed and shrunk away from the water she had slammed into hard enough it felt more like rock than water, her right hand instinctively rushing backward to slap against the wall of liquid- only to have her heart drop into the pits of her stomach when she realized nothing happened.

"S-Shit...!" She stammered, her eyes flicking forward toward those claws getting closer she was struggling to see around the blood that had splashed into her eyes.

'You forgot...?!' Lixue snapped, slightly exasperated but he sounded more panicked. She felt just as panicked, her Magic blazing brighter, the water hissing and spitting as steam started to encase everything around her. Hora swept her arms up in front of her, her eyes snapping closed on instinct,

"Crimson Flame!"

Deep scarlet fire sprung up as a wall between herself and the Demon's claws headed straight for her- the contact of them both sending up a wave of explosive force as her Magic imploded against the pure power behind the hit. Hora gasped, the wave of force knocking into her and sending her falling back through the wall of water hard enough she hit the ground and bounced a good hundred feet before stopping, gasping for air and cuts littering various places of her body from skidding so far.

Better than being impaled though, but that cut that had been sliced across her cheek, over her nose, and down the other cheek just below her eyes, was bleeding and throbbing in pain now, deep and stinging.

I can't believe... I thought I could... fuck!

.:+:.

She swallowed, her eyes flashing as they narrowed at her palms- uncaring of the flecks of blood splattered over her skin.

.:+:.

She slowly drew her hands back up, pressing the sides of them together lightly in front of her chin, palms open to face up as she took in a small breath, her eyes falling closed. She exhaled softly, eyes opening as they glinted with the bright golden and red light of a flame that formed from her breath, the flame licking at the air gently before she sighed, and her Magic faded again.

... Damn it...

.:+:.

Ten years trapped and bound and limited... Ten years and now...

.:+:.

She let out a low breath, every fiber of her being hoping, wishing... yearning... that it came out somehow different from the trembling, shaky, hot breath it was.

Not what she wanted... never what she wanted.

.:+:.

... A piece of her that been missing was back again... A hole filled somewhere inside of her as she took in a slow, deep breath... A warmth in her soul brought on by something so, blissfully cold...

She brought her hands up in front of her a bit more, that breath she took in halting as she felt her heart skip a beat- and she blew it out.

The air she let out was a cloud, hazy and chill as specks of moisture turned into minuscule shards of frost and fell like a small little snow in the palms of her hands.

Ten years a slave and bound and now...

...free...

Her eyes glittered, her face softening as her hands shook a little- the eyes of Wendy, Natsu and everyone else around them had fixed to the flare of Magic she let loose in her hands, transfixed. Hora's focus shifted from her hands toward the young bluenette sitting in front of her, Wendy's eyes wide and awed as she stared at the little spectacle.

"You did it..." Hora murmured softly, Wendy's eyes locking with hers as the older girl suddenly said something. "... You broke the Possession Link..." Wendy sweatdropped slightly and Natsu went rigid beside Hora at the words, his ears ringing and eyes wide at the familiar name.

"... Is that what it was called...?" Wendy murmured, "... I didn't realize... I could just sense there was some sort of Body-Link Magic being used to hurt you, and that I needed to Dispell it, in order to help you..." Wendy explained softly, Hora's eyes flashed as her hands fell slightly. "... I didn't know if I could cast the Spell I did to Dispell it before now, to be honest... It was rather hard... Ah, I also did what I could to heal you, like that wound on your stomach and your cheek, but I can't do much else now... But... Wait... You already knew there was a Body-Link someone else had placed on you...? Why-?"

Wendy got cut off, her words dying in a surprised squeak as Hora suddenly leaned forward toward her, catching the small Dragon Slayer up in her arms and a hug that was rather tight. Wendy went still, her hands raised and stuck in place- unsure of what to do with the sudden hug, and Hora just buried her nose into Wendy's shoulder, holding her even closer and not at all bothered with personal space.

"O-ohh...ah...?" Wendy mumbled nervously, blushing a bit.

"Thank you." Hora whispered her words so low and quiet and so sincere, it was almost heart-wrenching to hear. "... I didn't think it was possible... Just... Thank you, Wendy... You have no idea what you just did... you... You did more than save my life... Thank you..." Hora whispered, Wendy's eyes glittered in question and surprise as her hands slowly fell to return the embrace gently.

"... You're welcome... I'm happy I could help you..." Wendy murmured, smiling slightly though still nervous, and a bit embarrassed now. "... I'm glad I could return the favor, I actually wanted to thank you for helping Carla and I, and finding us..."

Hora pulled back, her eyes shinning sadly as she let out a small breath and shook her head a bit. "Sweetheart, you don't have to thank me- especially not now." Hora murmured quietly, Wendy blinked as Hora's hands found either side of Wendy's face and the older woman leaned in, her lips landing lightly against Wendy's forehead in a gentle kiss. Wendy's face turned bright red at the action, the younger girl almost steaming as Hora hummed and pulled back with a sweet smile, her hands leaving from holding on to Wendy.

"You're amazing, sweetheart. I could say thank you a thousand times and it'll never be enough." Hora mumbled, Wendy held both cheeks as she continued to blush like crazy.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" A different voice broke in now, Hora's smile fading to nothing as she finally took note of the other people standing around Natsu, Wendy and herself- and her heart plummeted as her eyes snapped up and met dark blue ones.

In her whirling mind and reality her thoughts had snapped on to what Jiemma had been doing, and if Lixue was okay- that got swallowed up again when it became clear that the Possession Link was gone and that little Dragon Slayer had done what she had long since given up hoping could be done. That relief, astonishment and appreciation that flooded in in all but a few seconds was shattered as quickly as it came- and all of those thoughts and feelings got swallowed up by the fear and the guilt and the sheer, unending, shock and denial that her unconscious mind had been being bombarded by.

And again the only thing in her head was that completely insane and impossible-

...G...Gray...?!

Her throat dried up and her whole body froze, her eyes staring and face pulled and twisted and even slightly fearful as she stared at him and what tense, untrusting gaze he had settled on her. Those eyes of his that were the exact same color as hers, that face, that raven-hair... Him

There was no doubt it was him, and even though it couldn't be- she couldn't deny it, and she couldn't look away. What small, faint little hope in her head that she might have imagined it? That was broken, gone, swept away and she... She...

... How can you...?

His eyes narrowed, suddenly suspicious as she stared at him like he had suddenly grown three heads- because why?

"There something the matter?" He asked curtly, his lips a tight line and Hora swallowed.

"Why are you looking at my Darling Gray like that?" The Water Mage from today- Juvia- suddenly asked too, looking a bit miffed and hands on her hips. Hora's eyes just went wider, ignoring or oblivious of the 'Darling' that came before-

Gray...!

... How... How could I have never known...?! M... My own Brother...?!

H... he really is Gray...?! And he's really alive...?!

How could he...?! Deliora... The whole Village... And mom... A-and dad...!

He got out...?! And all these years... he's been in Fairy Tail...?!

Just... WHAT..?!

She sucked in a breath of air, her eyes flashing and a stinging sensation burning behind them now- there were so many questions running through her head, hundreds and thousands of them and all in rapidity. All them getting closer and pushing passed the haze of shock and improbability until she felt his name rising up her throat, shaking in her tongue and ready to just start blurting all of those thoughts out at once- but a sudden sharp stab of pain in her chest reminded her where she was, what just happened and she stopped herself before ever making a noise.

Shock and fear and guilt and elation and so many hundreds of things and emotions all at once- and she bit back at them. Bit back at those questions and the tears she felt trying to come up, and stopped.

Jiemma just tried to kill me. I was literally ten seconds away from dying and Wendy saved me... But I got dragged out here in the first place by some mystery figure and I have no idea why... What happened...?!

What was going on, why had she been dragged out here, why did she suddenly have Jiemma try and kill her...?! There were so many things that had happened in so little time and she had so many questions- and no answers.

... What good would it do to add on all of that now? Ask those questions and pile on the shock and confusion on to him? Why add another round of inquiry and crazy before she had any idea what promoted all the insanity that had just gone on? What good will it do to start all of... Of that, right now?

... It pained her to think it... It hurt like hell to stop herself in that instant... But she had too much going on and that she didn't understand-

She forced her eyes to leave him, hating herself for the way she was reacting and quickly working to erase what distress there was in her now from being visible to anyone else.

I can't right now... that's a whole shit-storm in itself and I just... Shit!

Her eyes darted around the rest of the people in that small group in front of her, finding the familiar figures of Gajeel and Juvia, and Happy and Carla... And then back again to Natsu and Wendy... And the last being a black Exceed she didn't know.

I can't bring all that up right now...! B...because...!

What happened at the Guild that...?!

"Hora, a-are you okay...?" Happy mewed shakily, bristling from head to foot and teary-eyed.

"Oi, what is going on...?!" Natsu hissed, his patience running thin and all the thinner with what incredibly odd turn in events and demeanor there was in Hora when Gray said something.

No, not just that- all of it! Between her and dying, what Wendy said and the Possession Link- with SaberTooth's bastard of a Master and off behavior, and on top of that- Lucy and Yukino had been arrested not half an hour before hand! All of it was just too much and he didn't have a will to be patient or calm, or even really to handle all the secrets and the not knowing anymore-

Hora's eyes snapped toward him, sweatdropping heavily as his rigid stare settled on her and he was not pleased- but he also looked like hell...?! Like ready to keel over sort of hell...?!

... W-wait... Did something else happen...? Why were all of these guys out here to start...? This isn't anywhere near their Inn...

"Hora! You were dying, you need to tell us what the hell is going on and what the hell just happened?!" Natsu snapped hotly, "And I am not dropping this time! So don't even try telling me that!" She swallowed a bit,

"Indeed, why were you out here to start with?" The black Exceed asked lowly, his paws over his chest and orange eyes level on Hora as she glanced toward him briefly.

"We just went to head with you while you were tearing up the city, the least you can do is tell us what the hell is going on." Gajeel muttered gruffly, "And just who in the hell are you? Salamander and his cat wouldn't tell us a damn thing."

"What's with all the secrets?" Gray muttered lowly, his voice full of not at all hidden suspicion- and so cold it made her heart twist, more when her eyes darted to him again and it took everything in her to ignore the well of emotions that surged.

Secrets?

There were so many of them... more than anyone knew.

"Hora, who put that Possession Link on you?" Natsu asked lowly, saving her gaze getting fixed on Gray again as the pinkette called her attention to him. His voice dropped, low and angry and the glint in his eyes- he already had an idea who, but he needed her to say it. "Who just did all of this to you?"

I... I don't have time to sit here... And... Explain it to you...

She felt the urgency and the fear getting worse in her core, the need to leave- to go back and find out... Why

Natsu's anger flared when he saw her hesitate- could see the apprehension getting clearer in her face, the need to get away and leave- avoid what he was asking.

"Hora you need to tell me! Friends trust eachother right?! I tried letting it go and doing what you wanted, but I can't! Not when you're getting hurt and not when that bastard is threatening you!" Natsu snapped lowly, Hora sweatdropped a bit more. Hora's hands clenched, her eyes flashing as his hands found her shoulders, his dark gaze steely, searching... Worried.

He's so wound up... And I get the feeling it's not just because of... Me...?

'Indeed, this seems more deeply rooted... Even if that boy does care for you...' Lixue murmured, Hora's eyes narrowed. She knew he cared about her, they were friends- and she cared about him... But this was more. More than just her, and that made the sinking feeling in her heart worse.

"What is going on?!" Natsu hissed,

"... Natsu... I can't right now-" Hora mumbled, he shook his head.

"Don't give me that!" He cut her off, she clenched her jaw. "This time you can't avoid it, not when you almost die-!"

"Natsu!" Hora snapped, her tone icy and commanding and his jaw snapped shut in an instant, eyes widening slightly. "Listen to me you big, hyperactive, Flame-for-Brains! I said I can't right now and I fucking mean it!" She snapped hotly, he flinched the slightest bit at how low her tone got out of nowhere. "I don't have time right now, 'what just happened'?! It only happened because something bad happened in my Guild and with my Family, and I cannot sit here arguing with you and wasting time! I have to go and I have to figure out why in the fuck that son of a bitch tried to murder me, and I have to make sure everyone I care for aren't in the same boat!"

The eyes of the rest of the Fairy Tailers were on her, fixed and silent- lost for words and even in all his anger, Natsu was quiet too.

"I am not dropping the subject either, I will tell you what happened, why- everything! But this takes priority, and I will not let you fight me on it!" Hora snapped coldly, he sweatdropped.

"Why would I let you run off to the same guy who just tried to kill you...?!" he argued lowly, she growled.

"Because thanks to Wendy, he has nothing on me anymore, and I'd like to see him fucking try and kill me again." Hora growled, her expression darkening in a sudden rage and malignancy- that same dark in her that had even Natsu's heart skipping a beat, and shivers running up his spine. "I'll be fine, it's him that needs to worry- I'll come back and I will answer your questions, but I am fixing my Guild first. Got it?"

Natsu gulped a little, a cold drop of sweat falling down his spine as he matched her gaze- frozen. For someone who had been writhing around in pain and dying ten minutes before- and still looked like hell... She'd never looked more dangerous than she did in that instant.

And still he didn't dare let her run off again- or hold off on explaining... But he hesitated, because no matter how worked up or worried he was about Hora- there was something else that cut deeper in his soul and his heart... And he had to pick.

"... Lucy and Yukino have been arrested for treason by the King's Army." Natsu mumbled lowly, Hora's dark expression breaking in shock as her eyes widened at his words and the sudden change in subject. "They're in prison, and they're supposed to be used in some Project called 'Eclipse Gate'. They're in trouble, and we need to get 'um back."

Hora sweatdropped heavily, her ears ringing and panic sweeping through her all anew.

Yukino and Lucy...?!

Eclipse Gate...?! T-that's what that guy who snatched me was...!

Crap... Crap crap crap...!

What the hell else is gonna go crazy...?!

"You can hold off answering my questions, but I'm not letting you handle all of this yourself." Natsu hissed lowly, "I'm coming with you, and then after that I'm kicking some Kingdom ass and rescuin' Luce and Yukino both!" Hora grimaced, a bead of sweat falling down her face as she saw the fire in him burn bright again and continue that way- anger and worry and rage and resolution that became all the more stony when he promised to get back Lucy and Yukino.

He was so, so wound up and she didn't doubt he would blow through any enemy to do what he wanted- but he...

"Natsu you can't rush off and start fights...!" Happy stammered,

"You're barely on your feet as it is, Salamander. Even with eating her fire." Gajeel grumbled, Hora's eyes widened a little at that.

"You really need to rest Natsu-san, or you'll make yourself worse...!" Wendy said quickly,

"Push yourself too far right now and you'll end up with Magic Deficiency Syndrome for certain." Carla huffed,

"And you're going to start a fight with another Guild?" Gray hissed, "Why the hell would you risk that right now?! You know we need to win the Games to get Lucy back! That ain't gonna happen if you get us disqualified!"

"We don't need to win if we rescue her right away!" Natsu snapped hotly, Hora's eyes trailed from the ever more angry look on Natsu's face and toward Wendy, questioning.

"Natsu got all of his Magic drained by the Eclipse Gate just before we found you." Wendy explained to her quickly, "Even if he ate some of your Magic, it still hit him really hard...! And he needs to rest for awhile, or he'll...!" Wendy mumbled, Hora sweatdropped.

So that's why he looks like hell warmed over...?

'Even if he did eat some of your fire while you were rampaging like that, it was too uncontrolled and volatile without my dampening it down.' Lixue added, 'Even with his body adapted to eating all types of flame, the sheer energy he would need to use to just keep the ferocity imbued in your Magic from tearing him apart is substantial. What strength he would usually regain from eating fire would have been used up just keeping your Flame from harming him... Eating your fire while it was like that surely did nothing but make him all the more exhausted than when he started.'

She knew Lixue was right, and though Natsu would never say so- he was feeling like utter crap, and her Fire didn't help. Her eyes dropped closed as she bit the inside of her cheek, Natsu was getting more and more riled up as he settled into arguing back and forth with Gray and Gajeel both. It didn't matter if he felt like shit, he was so damn stubborn...

... I don't have time, I have to go.

There's just... So much crazy, all at once.

... and... Damn it. This is gonna hurt, isn't it...?

'Most likely.'

"Natsu, listen to me." Hora ordered lowly, earning his eyes as his turned toward her again- and he stiffened as her hands found either side of his face, her fingers curling into his hair a bit. "Sorry, but they're right- you look like hell... So just give it a rest, and I promise I'll be back before you know it." His eyes narrowed at her words, his mouth falling and ready to protest- but it was much too late.

You can be pissed at me later-

"Sleep."

Her dark blue gaze flashed an eerie icy blue as Natsu felt his body get enveloped in sudden cool- his mind near immediately fuzzy and senses drowsy as his eyes dropped against his will. He slumped sideways, tilting over as he lost all sense of the world and Hora eased him onto the ground instead of letting him hit it. She felt the other Fairy Tailers stiffen around her in shock, and Happy had moved up to his Partner in an instant.

"N-Natsu...!"

Hora's eyes closed, her hands retracting back toward herself and one falling on her chest as pain shot through her center in the next instant, hissing under her breath at it.

"What did you do him?" Gajeel huffed, Hora pushed herself up and on to her feet- swaying slightly at first before correcting.

"... Saved you dealing with a rampaging hot-head for a little while..." She mumbled, one eye cracking open to glance toward the Iron Dragon Slayer wearily. At receiving suspicious looks from him, Carla, Gray, Juvia and the black Exceed alike, she sighed.

"... He'll be fine, he's just gonna sleep for a little... It's a simple Spell." She explained softly, "... And look, I understand all of this is... Insane, and the whole thing with Lucy and Yukino makes it worse... And I know the bulk of you don't trust me, that's fine. But I really have to go and settle everything else first... But I will meet you at Honeybone Inn as soon as I am done."

"Why? What's Lucy and Yukino got to do with you?" Gray hissed, Hora swallowed, hesitant to look back at him for fear she couldn't look away.

But the icy tone from him... It hurt, more than she expected.

Gray...

"They're my friends." Hora mumbled,

"Hora, are you gonna be okay...?" Happy asked shakily,

"You're still not healed all the way, Hora... I couldn't fix all the damage that got done to you..." Wendy murmured,

"Don't worry about me." Hora murmured softly, "... I have it on higher authority than myself that I have a bit before I really hit a wall... So don't sweat it... I'll see you in a bit... and you might want to tie Natsu up, he won't be pleased when he wakes up."

They didn't get time to wonder on that before they lost sight of Hora completely, a rush of air wafting against them as she left with an insane amount of speed- and much too quickly to see where she went.

She was sprinting through Crocus at breakneck speed, her lungs heaving and aching, and her whole body following suit. She dodged in and out of people, around corners and still pushing herself faster as she continued on toward that Inn on the hill and the place she had been stolen from by some Stranger... Dropped on the other end of Crocus and left to die, when it knew that Jiemma would attempt to take her life.

Dying and in agony as Jiemma used that chain and lock he had to reduce her to a Slave all these years. That Chain and Possession Link on the Lacrima in her chest containing Lixue, his life-force and all his power... Lixue that was essential to keeping the Fires burning from her Devil Slayer Magic in enough control that that Magic didn't rip her to shreds, and burn her from the inside out... And kill her.

Lixue who was essential to keeping her alive... And Jiemma tried destroying him, in order to kill her. Kill her now after so many years and she hadn't the faintest clue why- after Sting and Rogue's loss he would have been mad... But to kill her?

She was terrified of the why. Of what was going on and what was happening to them- all of them. While she was away and alone in in the street... dying but saved and freed now by a little Dragon Slayer she had helped not a few days prior.

A little Dragon Slayer who healed that persistent wound in her abdomen from the Demon of Zeref in North Wind- and had done away with the damage done by Jiemma when Natsu confronted him. And now did away with a bulk of what that same bastard had done tonight. Wendy who saved her life, even if she and Lixue knew all too well that the damage done was too much- and eventually they would reach their limit... And Over-Drive would consume her with what was likely to be greater fervor than the last time.

Wendy who was out in the streets and running back to her Guild to tell them what happened- that Lucy, and Yukino with her, had been arrested by the Kingdom for treason, and their lives held for a Project known as the Eclipse Gate. Eclipse Gate mentioned by the Stranger who had taken her... Fairy Tail told to win the GMG to get Lucy back... Fairy Tail...

... The Guild where the Brother she had for so, so long thought dead and destroyed in what massacre had been left by Deliora. Mourned and lost and cried over... Prayed to and asked for help and advice all these years without ever dreaming there could ever be an answer... Or that she would ever seem him again.

Brother who had grown as she had, become a Mage as she had... And joined a Guild... A Guild that was kind and safe.

Brother who she recognized in an instant now and never even caught wind of before- not even as she helped to locate Tenrou Island. Her focus had settled on Dragon Slayers only, and he wasn't one. Though she hated she hadn't...

... Brother who was alive and had friends and a Family as good as Fairy Tail... And Brother who did not recognize who she was, at all.

And she wasn't surprised he didn't- she was drastically different than back then, in almost every way... And why would he even suspect anyway? Even if there was some small thing he noticed? Like her, he'd probably lived his life knowing he'd lost it all, and would never gain it back. There was no way he'd realize, no way he'd guess or even think... She knew that, was unsurprised by that... And that made it easier, now that she'd stopped herself and chosen to say nothing.

Nothing until... Until some semblance of sanity comes back first, in all of this.

He wouldn't know and he couldn't know... There were other, more important things to worry about right now. Lucy was gone and needed rescuing, Yukino too... That Guild he called home and that blonde Celestial Mage that was a member of his Fairy Tail Family, and the only family he had for so long- that was the most important thing, out of everything.

She knew that, she felt that and she understood it... After all, SaberTooth was her top priority right now, out of everything.

So why... W...why...?

"Tch... Why am I crying...?!" She hissed, her voice shaking badly as she continued running and never let up- not even as her breathing began to hitch and the tears came and kept flowing. She didn't dare slow up, not even with the tears or the sharp pain growing worse in her chest, and threatening to make her start coughing.

She hated it, all of the shit that just happened and was happening- it was fucking crazy! So many questions and variables and worries and not enough time to deal with any of it- she was rushing now and she was panicky and she hated it..!

What in the fuck is going on today..?! It's like someone let loose all the crazy in the world at once and dumped it over top of me!

And then to add to the fun, whoever that asshole was with the jar of insanity had also uncorked a bottle of emotional distress and child-hood trauma and dumped it's contents over her head and onto her life for good measure! If Zentopia Church had a say in the matter that someone would be God on their terms... Well, then God is a bastard!

Even getting worked up over those thoughts didn't help slow the tears, much to her displeasure and further distress... Damn it!

Stop! Just stop! Focus on one thing at a time or you are going to lose your freaking mind!

'I believe there can be a bit of debate that you have already lost your mind.' Lixue intoned, like a snarky little ass and she growled.

"Fuck you, you are not helping!" She snapped at him, her voice lost on open air and earning a few bewildered stares from the people she was sprinting passed.

'Well then I will simply remind you- emotional or physical distress right now will only make the situation, and you're already badly battered health- worse. You need to be as calm as possible... Though that will be difficult.' Lixue grumbled, she growled, biting down on both cheeks.

He was right of course... Did she ever mention she hated it when he was right?

How do you expect me to be any semblance of calm right now, after all of this...?!

'I understand all of this is straining, and I am sorry this is befalling you all at once, truly.' Lixue murmured, '... Perhaps catering to your habit of ignoring your own needs over another's, think of it this way. If you do not keep some semblance of calm, you place more strain on me, and I am already injured... If not for yourself, Horatia- find some way to settle yourself for my sake, and not yours?'

She grimaced, still sprinting and pushing forward harder to get back to the Guild- still crying, damn it- but... Maybe that did help.

... Fine... Because you're hurt... And we need eachother, Lixue... I'll try...

'Thank you.'

.:+:.

Hello everyone! We have finally hit the fast climb into the height of this story, and I hope you are all enjoying it!

Thank you for continuing to support this story, all the feedback and comments I get from you just MAKE MY DAY ALWAYS!

Anyhoo~! I have neglected Broken Fairies for a long while now (for any of you who read that/ read my Frea-verse Series!) The next thing I update will assuredly be Broken Fairies!

Thank you for reading~!

Please Vote and Comment! Thanks~!