Chapter 26

Brutal Honesty

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

.:+:.

He couldn't find her, anywhere.

He was flitting between every room in the Inn using his Shadow Form. In the five minutes it took him to bounce between every room, and realize she was nowhere in the Building- it felt like his heart was going to give out on him.

He rushed back into his room and snatched up the Calling Card from the nightstand, Frosch trembling and scared on the bed where Rogue had set him down before darting off again. He could hear Sting's voice ringing through the building- yelling at him, and demanding and explanation- but Rogue didn't wait.

He connected the Calling Card through to Hora's Card- hoping and praying she would actually answer. But his hopes shattered when he heard the chime of the bell ringing through the wall. He melted into Shadow and stepped into Hora's empty room to see the Calling Card left on the bed and ringing with only Rogue to hear it.

No

She can't

He whipped around, ready to fade back into Shadow and rush back to the Main Hall and to the entrance- to leave the Inn and all of the Guild behind in their shock and their terror and confusion. Ready to leave Frosch trembling and teary-eyed in the room, and leave Sting shouting at him- ready to rush out into Crocus and search every inch of the city, he had to.

I have to find her

Where even had she gone? How could she have been there, following them to face Jiemma's wrath- and then out of nowhere and when no one was paying any attention, she was gone? How could she-?

She can't just disappear... She can't... She...

She can't be gone, Jiemma can't have...

He was arguing with himself and the dread in his heart- the fear that wouldn't go away and the sinking feeling that kept nagging and yelling at him that she... She was gone... She cannot be gone..!

"Rogue! WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Sting's voice roared through the Inn, easily heard even by normal people and almost blaringly loud on Rogue and his heightened hearing. He didn't stop even then, though- he was rushing across the floor and under people in a mass of pitch black shadow that moved like a flat, black cloud on the ground. He rushed right passed the main hall and passed the rows of people frightened and confused, straight toward the doors and intent on leaving all of it behind- but he got stopped.

Somehow, Magical or otherwise- he was suddenly forced out of his Shadow Form and stumbled a bit a few dozen feet from the door, unsure how it happened or why- but even then he didn't dare stop. He'd search Crocus on his feet and without his Shadow Form if he had to.

But the sudden steely grip on his upper arm made his movement falter and he was pulled around roughly to meet Sting's wild, fearful blue gaze and pale face. The blonde grabbed Rogue tightly, locking him in place and a bead of sweat falling down his face as he saw the sheer terror in the Shadow Dragon Slayer. "What is going on..!?" Sting snapped, Rogue blinked. "Rogue, what about Hora?! Where is she, and why are you freaking out like this?!"

There was no room in the frenzy of his mind to come up with an answer, the only thing he could think was go and find her. And with Sting holding on to him like that, the only thing that trumped that thought was-

"Let me go!" Rogue snapped quickly, already pulling away from the blonde- who's fingers dug into Rogue's arms even more tightly.

"Not before you tell me what the hell is wrong!" Sting snapped back hotly, though the question could be answered several ways- with what all just happened.

Jiemma defeated by Sting's hand and left to bleed on the floor until Minerva waved a hand and sent her father to who the hell knows where. Jiemma attacking Lector and the Exceed thought dead for a few, horrible minutes- only to find out he was alive, but now hostage at Minerva's hand. Hostage and to stay that way in the cruel woman's clutches until SaberTooth won the Grand Magic Games.

Everything had spiraled out of control in the course of half and hour and it went further when Rogue suddenly reacted like that- terrified and frantic and on the verge of tears now as Sting struggled to hold him still. More when he yelled Hora's name and they couldn't find her in the Inn, at all- and had been missing since before anything had happened with Jiemma, as Orga and Rufus explained. And now the Guild was panicking too, and desperately trying to hold it together- because Minerva was standing in her spot at the head of the hall and watching the sudden commotion with narrowed eyes and rigid, icy neutrality.

Sting pulled Rogue closer roughly, halting the man and earning his glittering red eyes, his face pale and shaking- sick almost as Sting swallowed. "Rogue! What is going on?!" He demanded again, and this time there was a lull- a small, fleeting instant where Rogue stopped struggling so much and his knees seemed to almost give out on him. And the tears spilled passed his red eyes and down his cheeks, and the sight of it was enough to make Sting forget how to breathe.

"We have to find Hora, she's in trouble...!" Rogue hissed, his voice breaking on her name and Sting felt a stab through his heart.

What trouble?

He was going to ask, but he didn't- because that was all he needed. Seeing how scared Rogue was and how much he needed to go- there was no time to ask and he wouldn't waste anymore.

He's in tears

He's petrified

It didn't matter why, finding her was the only thing that mattered in that instant.

Sting nodded a bit, his hold on Rogue lessening as he swallowed back the lump in his throat- switching gears in an instant and pushing away everything else, latching on to action in lieu of question. "Y-yeah... Yeah, we'll find her." He replied quickly, Rogue was already turning to the door again and Sting heard him gulp a bit, causing a break in the frantic rhythm of his breathing.

She has to be-

.:+:.

Her lungs were on fire, her body in agony and every step down in her running was jolting and sent a wave of pain rushing up through her. Her center was in pain and she felt like pieces of shrapnel were trudging through her bloodstream and tearing as they went- the breaths she sucked in were jarring and harsh and tasted like blood.

She wanted nothing more than to stop- her body needed her to stop, but she couldn't. The hill up up the Inn was torture. She was heaving and gasping as she refused to slow her sprinting even with the incline.

She'd managed to still her tears before leaving the confines of Crocus behind. In her whirling mind Gray was still on the front-lines, but she had to stop thinking about him- she had to focus on her Guild and her friends and-

Why in the hell did Jiemma try and kill us now, after a decade?!

She was sputtering in her running, halfway coughing but never fully there. She was sure if she stopped the coughing would manage a way to fruition and it would probably end up with blood. Which, had been smeared over her lips and on her chin, and she'd done her best to do away with and only leave faint, almost imperceptible stains... But that was only her face, she couldn't do away with the stain of red on her hands or her arms.

Damn it...! Why has my life turned into such insanity all of a sudden, anyway..?!

She couldn't stop to try and wash up, she had to go faster, she had to get there, she had to understand and know what the fuck just happened. She had to get there and know that the Guild was okay, and that Jiemma hadn't tried to do anything to them like he had tried with her- he tried killing me...!

What if he tried to hurt them? He'd have been royally pissed about the loss today, and she wouldn't doubt his wrath and cruelty- but to go that far?

If he's touched any of them, he's dead!

'Do try and temper your rage.' Lixue murmured, 'If you get too out of hand, I will not be able to quell you... it's not as if either of us are at full power right now anyway, despite how far you may be able to push it.'

Hora growled, the sound more wheezy than she liked as she pushed herself up the hill ever faster. Her heart beating like a drum and her soul on fire as her breaths started to taste more and more like blood.

Please, please be okay...!

She blinked furiously, the edges of her vision blotched by dark spots and blurring incessantly as her head spun with the exertion. The inn was drawing closer but it was still so damned far- but not far enough she couldn't hear the sounds from the inside. And the very first thing she heard above everything else- was Rogue's voice.

"We have to find Hora, she's in trouble...!" He sounded so panicked it made her heart twist painfully.

Shit shit shit...!

Of course he's panicked, he must have already realized what Jiemma was doing-

She was almost there, she cleared the threshold of the front door and rounded the corner toward the main hall in what long pause there was before she heard someone reply to Rogue- and it was Sting's voice... Confused and scared.

Her steps faltered as she got there, her hand finding the wall as her balance tipped too much to stay standing on her own. Her vision was swimming as much as her head seemed to be spinning, but that didn't stop her from scanning the hall and taking everything in. All the rows of the people in the Guild looking unsure, afraid and on edge- stiff in their spots and not knowing what to do or even really what had all just happened. Hora stood in the entrance to the main hall, panting and her hand on the wall to keep herself upright as she struggled to make clear sense of the people and the situation- near all of which found her there in an instant, but only because Rogue and Sting had already been headed toward the exit.

Her dark blue eyes matched with frantic red ones as Rogue faltered in shock at seeing her suddenly back in the inn- especially after having been searching for her. And he saw her, pale and covered in sweat and panting so, so hard- her hands and her arms stained in blood that hadn't been there before. His and everyone else who lay eyes on her now- all their hearts dropped.

"... H... Horatia...?!" Was the shocked murmur that spread quickly among the masses,

"Hora!" Rogue gasped, his faltering over and done with as he swept up to her and his hands took firm, shaking hold of her shoulders, his red eyes raking over every inch of her. Sting wad close behind, looking stricken at the state of her and paling a little himself- because how did she look so awful out of nowhere?

"Are you alright...?! You look terrible...! Jiemma, he.. he...!" Rogue stammered quickly, his wild gaze snapping up to meet hers and tears streaming from his eyes, Hora felt her heart twist. "Hora, please... He tried to do it, he did do it- how... How are you here? Are you okay, or are you...? Hora, just... Please please don't die...!" He hissed, his voice hoarse and painful and breaking. "... Please... Please tell me he didn't... You... You have to be okay...!"

Sting- who had come up beside the Shadow Dragon Slayer and stopped next to him and to Hora- flinched slightly, eyes wide and trembling as he saw Rogue falling apart by the second and nearly begging... And about... Hora dying...?

"W-what...?" Sting stammered, "... What the hell do you mean...? Why would you think... Why would you be dying...?!" He questioned quickly, looking to Hora now for an answer Rogue was in no state of mind to give. "Hora what the hell is going on, what happened to you...?! What did Jiemma do...?!" his eyes flashed as fear cracked across his expression almost as potently as it was on Rogue's. He stepped closer a bit, eyes flashing. "Please, you gotta tell me...! What is going on, are you... are you okay...? Why wouldn't you be okay...?!" Hora faltered on replying for a few seconds, her eyes stayed with Sting's and Rogue's hands still holding so tightly to her- and both Dragon Slayers trembling, though less so in former's case.

They're both panicking-

Her eyes swept passed them and towards the rest of the Guild, and she saw the apprehension, fear and confusion on their faces too.

-all of them are... but if Sting had to ask, that means Rogue didn't say anything... So why do they all look so scared...?

She looked among them all and couldn't find the bastard of a man she had held her slave for the last decade, and her nose twitched, easily able to smell blood- his blood.

But where the hell is he...? What is going on...?!

"Where did you go...?!" Sting pressed, quickly getting impatient.

"H-Hora..." Rogue stammered her name, holding tighter to her arms. "Please, tell me Jiemma didn't...!"

Hora hissed, swallowing back at her labored breathing and her eyes breaking from searching the crowd toward the dark-haired man. Her hands moved up, catching his arms and gently forcing him to let her go, though he hesitated to do so. She nodded at him in answer to his question, and the color drained from his face faster than it ever had.

"Rogue, listen to me and calm down." Hora instructed quickly and gently. "He did try and break it, but he didn't manage to. I'm going to be fine, I promise, and I'm going to explain everything-" her eyes moved toward Sting as she nodded at him, "-to all of you. But right now you need to tell me what happened. Where the hell is Jiemma?"

"He is dead."

Hora's heart skipped a beat, her stomach flipping and her attention snapping around toward the cold and icy voice of Minerva- who had moved through a parted line in the crowd and stopped not twenty feet away from Hora and the two Dragon Slayers. Minerva's expression was cold and calculating, and her eyes piercing as she stopped there with her hands on her hips. Hora hissed and pulled Rogue up and passed herself- before stepping in front of both him and Sting, her body a barrier between SaberTooth's Lady and them.

"What?" Hora snapped lowly, Minerva's eyes flashed at the way Hora had moved to place herself between Sting and Rogue so blatantly.

"I sent his body off somewhere else before he began to give off a stench." Minerva replied lowly, "While you were off doing whatever it was you were doing- in my Father's anger after today's defeat, he lashed out, and Lector was 'killed' in the crossfire." Hora stiffened, her heart plummeting into her feet.

L-Lector...?!

"And in Sting's rage and pain, he naturally retaliated." Minerva went on coolly, her head tilting slightly toward said Dragon Slayer, and Hora cast a glance over her shoulder to see Sting's eyes fallen to the floor... He looked so... Defeated...

But if Lector really is... He should be a mess...!

"A short lived conflict, ending with Sting the winner and proving he has the right to try and earn the title of Guild Master of Fiore's #1 Strongest Guild." Minerva hummed, "Should SaberTooth win the Grand Magic Games tomorrow, he will be the new Guild Master- and his precious cat will be returned to him."

Hora went very still, her eyes locked on Sting still even as Minerva continued talking- and this time she felt her heart stop.

Returned... To...

"I plucked Lector away before he met his demise at my Father's hands, and his life remains in my hands until the Games are won." Minerva hummed, her voice dripping in threat and malice- she held the power still and she knew it. Because even with Jiemma gone, she was still the Lady of SaberTooth and she still held dominion over the Guild, and she made sure everyone knew it- and could hear it in her voice. They all knew just how easily she could harm Lector, and get away with it. And not a damn one of them would ever do anything about it- they hadn't the nerve to try.

Hora's face darkened though, her eyes blazing with a cold fire and her hands clenching into fists at her sides as she turned around and back toward Minerva in an instant- and in the next, she was not a foot in front of SaberTooth's 'Lady'.

Minerva stiffened a little, her eyes widening at how quickly the other woman had moved to plant herself there- and what burning, steely, hate-filled look was on her face.

"Who in the hell do you think you are?" Hora growled, her tone flinty and like ice- and the Guild and even Minerva stared at the question- what was she... she's speaking to Minerva like that...!? And she approached her like that- so blatantly! They didn't even see her move...!

Minerva scowled, her expression twisting in disgust and anger at the sudden shift in attitude- and the nerve. "Excuse me?" Minerva muttered, her tone like venom. "How dare you speak to me like that?" Hora's expression darkened further, and the inky black Markings made an appearance- spreading and spiraling up across both arms with a fervor. The air got about five degrees hotter in the course of a second, and the Guild gulped- riveted and not able to wrap their heads around... around Hora. Where did this come from? She's never stood up to Minerva before, not... not once!

"Oh, I dare." Hora shot back lowly, her voice barbed and her countenance nothing but straight-backed and angry and steely- more steely and more firm than ever, and against Minerva!

Hora took one step forward, threateningly- and Minerva's icy eyes narrowed to slits at the action, though she said nothing- because she was reeling too. This had never happened before... Horatia had never talked back, ever. Not in over ten years. And that look on her face, it was so dark, and angry... dangerous, even.

"That is your mistake, Minerva." Hora growled, and the way she said her name had chills running up everyone's spines.

"Oh really?" Minerva growled, her eyes flashing in anger and disgust. "You're the one about to make the mistake, Horatia. You do realize what I could do to you-"

"-your biggest mistake is thinking I am afraid of you." Hora cut the other woman off with utter ease and Minerva blinked, "Or that I have ever been afraid of you, or that I ever could be. Do you honestly think I never fought back out of fear of you? Or what you would do to me? Or that you could beat me if we went at it?" Hora took another step forward, and this time Minvera's posture grew just the faintest bit defensive. "Now that your bastard of a Father no longer has that fucking Possession Link on me- let me make this perfectly clear for you."

Minerva's eyes widened slightly, her expression pulling a bit- defensive and tense and reeling and fixed to her spot- and silent. She was rigid and motionless and hardly daring to breathe as Hora stepped up and put herself right into the 'Lady's' face, her dark blue gaze burning into Minerva's with more fire and fervor than they had ever had. And Minerva looked confused- she probably couldn't fathom the idea that anyone let alone Hora would stand up to her, and especially not then. She was fiery- and yet so, so cold. The air was hot around her and yet Minerva's blood turned to ice under the sheer power of that look.

"I can't fight you right now without putting Lector in danger- so for now, we'll go into the Games and we will aim to win. For now, we'll go with your plan, and I'm sure everyone will do their best." Hora growled lowly, "But hear me when I say this; if you hurt Lector, or anyone else in this Guild, in any way, from here on- I will kill you. Without hesitation."

Minerva's expression flooded with the faintest hints of fear for a few seconds- Hora's words like swords and her sudden brash and bold and fiery fearlessness nearly flooring everyone in the hall. And the sheer, deadly serious tone of voice- and the look in her eyes... Murderous

Many people gulped, shivering as the words rang on their ears and every single person in that hall knew she meant that threat.

"...tch... You think you could?" Minerva hissed lowly, the fear gone where it had hardly been for a few seconds- and her own demeanor steeling a bit once more. The Markings swirled over Hora's skin like ebony fire and she inched just a little closer to Minerva, their noses almost touching and their eyes locked.

"You will be a pile of blackened bones before you ever even think about using Magic." Hora growled, the air heating up more and now the people in it felt more than the warmth- they felt the pressure and the throb of Hora's Magic Power. It was stifling.

"You have no clue what I am capable of, Minerva." Hora hissed, her fangs bared and her dark blue gaze suddenly flashing an eerie, icy blue. Minerva's eyes widened at the change, taken back by it and not daring to move- she wouldn't back down, and Hora wasn't likely to either. But it was enough Minerva said nothing- she did nothing, and that in itself was something of a surrender... A surrender so subtle and yet no one could believe it.

Hora has Minerva on the defensive... W-WHAT...?!

Hora stepped back after a few tense, electrified seconds where she and Minerva just glared at each other. She shot one last, hot and hate-filled look at the 'Lady', before turning and looking toward the stunned Guild instead. Among the masses including Dobengal, and Othan, and Keiyye, and so many more she had known for so long... She had let suffer in this Guild for so long.

"Go to bed." She ordered softly, her ire fading along with the Markings, and the warmth of the room. "I'll explain what's going on to the rest of you after the Games are done. For now just stay calm, and please be patient." She murmured, there was a wash of uneasy faces and looks among all of them- and they hesitated. Of course they did, they hadn't any clue what had even just happened. Not where she went or why Rogue had been freaking out, not what she meant by 'Possession Link' or how she could have become so bold in the face of Minerva out of nowhere- or why it was she asked them to go and to wait for answers... How could she go from arriving in the room and out of breath, to angrier and more dangerous than they had ever seen her- and then all the way back around to somehow calm and even gentle when she asked them to wait and to disperse? How could she not... She hadn't hardly seemed bothered by the fact Jiemma was dead or that Sting had killed him- in an instant she was just furious with Minerva for taking hold of Lector.

Did she even realize it? They were a Guild without a Master and more than that- the cruelty of that man would be no more? She has to, right? More than anyone in all the years, Jiemma had always been the harshest with her... And yet she skipped over it and bore down on Minerva with the resolution, steadfastness, and the will she had never shown before against her or their (now former) Master.

It made sense Hora would be angry about Minerva's threat over Lector and Sting- and everyone else- in order to win the GMG. That was natural, Hora had never liked Minerva, and to have her holding Lector of all people hostage and using his life as leverage- they all hated that, not just Hora. But the fact she threatened to kill Minerva if she harmed him? Him or anyone else in the Guild while the GMG was still going on? And she said it to Minerva's face out loud and for everyone to hear and to see?

Where did this new Hora come from...!? And out from nowhere...?!

"Please do as I say." Hora said, her voice clear and level and reaching all of them with ease. This time they shifted, casting furtive, questioning looks at her and moving with shuffling feet.

"...o-okay..."

"... Y..yeah... We'll just... Go..."

"... Dude what the fuck is going on...?"

"... Dunno... I've never seen Horatia like... Like that..."

They started to file off, slowly and then much more quickly like they couldn't wait to put some distance between themselves and all the tension in the hall. Minerva watched them move off with narrowed eyes, but said nothing against the order given by Horatia. And once the bulk of the Guild left her eyes found the five figures who- four had not moved to leave as Hora directed- and the other was standing at the edge of the hallway and trembling from head to tail. And Hora was well aware they didn't go anywhere- she expected that, and she wouldn't argue it... Even if she knew she had no choice now but to tell them. About all of it-

'-all of it?' Lixue asked curiously, Hora bit the inside of her cheek.

... Eventually all of it, but right now just... Just some of it I guess. The most important parts... The pressing parts. I don't have a lot of time to stay here recanting it all either... I have to find out about what happened with Lucy and Yukino... So I can't stand here for very long, I told the Fairy Tailers I'd meet them...

Hora's head tilted slightly, her eyes shifting sideways and toward Minerva as she shot one last, angry look at the woman over her shoulder- before she looked away and started walking.

She gestured softly with a hand toward the hallway, her eyes darting over Rufus, Orga and Sting- a silent signal for them to head toward it. Her hand caught gently around Rogue's upper arm as she pulled him along with her, and they started in a silent, sullen group toward the hallway and toward where Frosch was waiting and shaking like a leaf. Hora let Rogue go and stooped to pick Frosch up in her arms, holding him close as the small creature mewed, burying it's nose in her chest. Hora's eyes darted toward Sting and she grimaced, her heart twisting.

Lector... I can't believe Minerva even dared-

She forced herself a breath and looked away, aware of the people and their footsteps behind her- and the heavy silence that followed them all the way back and toward the room that Rogue and Sting shared. She gave Frosch a small squeeze, biting the inside of her cheek as she stepped into the room and to the side, stopping at the door and letting everyone file in passed her with her eyes cast to the floor. Rufus shut the door behind them all with little a sound before joining the others in the center of the room- all of them facing her and rigid in their spots and waiting.

Hora glanced down toward Frosch, pulling the Exceed back slightly and earning teary eyes. "I'm going to put you down, alright..?"

"Y-yeah, okay... Atia.." Frosch stammered, Hora nodded and set him down on the table. She stepped back a bit and stood in front of the door with her hands on her hips, eyes closed and quiet for a few seconds.

"... H.. Hora are you okay...?" Rogue's shaky question came in the pause, his eyes still wet and his face still so pale and scared- he was trembling just as much as Frosch was, and his behavior had everyone all the more on edge.

"What is going on..?!" Sting grumbled, "Rogue was freaking out- he asked if you were dying, Hora- why would you be...?!"

"Seriously, you look like crap." Orga grumbled lowly, his eyes finding the blood on her hands and arms- and she was pale too. "Where the hell did you go? One minute you were right behind us and then the next you disappeared."

"And what you said, about a 'Possession Link' that Jiemma held." Rufus murmured lowly, "Possession of what? And why did it cause such distress?"

"And more than that- you just stood up to Minerva! You... You've never done that..! And right now when she has Lector...?!" Sting hissed, eyes glittering. "Hora I'm freaking out here, you need to tell us what the hell is going on...! And... And what does Rogue know that we don't...?!" Rogue flinched a little at that and Hora did too, "And what the fuck even is that?! A 'Possession Link'?! Is that... Is that what Jiemma was messing with when he said he was gonna-?!"

"... Break it." Hora mumbled, cutting him off a bit as he frowned.

"Break what?! He said he was going to 'bring someone with him'- kill them! What is it that it could kill you..?! Is... Is that the real reason you said you couldn't leave the Guild?! Was all that stuff you said the other night about wanting to fix what Jiemma's done and keeping and eye on the people in the Guild all a lie?!"

"Not all of it was a lie." Hora murmured softly, her eyes trained to the floor. "There's just... There's a lot of things I've never told all of you-"

"You think we don't already know that?!" Sting snapped, cutting her off abruptly. "After you broke down and started crying back in Lamia-Town?! Or after all that stuff you said before finally telling us what your Magic even is after almost ten years?! Of course we know you've been hiding shit! But we trusted you to tell us the important things! And you haven't! You've been hiding and lying about so much of it!" Hora flinched under the angry words and everyone else in the room stiffened at it. "Tell us what is going on!" Sting ordered sharply, Hora's shoulders hunched as her eyes snapped closed under all of his anger.

Her hands moved upward and her palms clapped together in front of her. Her head suddenly bowed and her body too as she pressed her forehead against her held together hands. Everyone in the room stared slightly at the sudden posture,

"There's a lot about me I never told you and I never planned to, and the bulk of it is... It's terrible." Hora said quickly and quietly, her voice low and tense. "My past and my life and my Magic and everything about all that spanning back to before I ever met or knew any of you... I kept it all to myself and I've tried to keep it all hidden and keep you all from knowing even... Even when it was hard, or you deserved to know... I kept my mouth shut and I never said anything and... And I've starred to learn and see that I shouldn't have." She sucked in a sharp breath of air and held it a few moments when the ache of pain in her chest flared to life.

"... But even when I knew that, I still hesitated- and it had nothing to do with not trusting you. I was just scared and I hated to think what might happen if you ever knew... More than anything in my life, my first priority has been to keep you safe. To do what I can to make that happen and do it even if it meant putting you ahead of me. And even then, I have sucked at doing that. I've sat back and I have watched you get hurt for so long and I hate myself for allowing it... But you deserve to know, and for the first time in my life... I'm going to do my best to be completely, and brutally honest with you... Even if it hurts... Or... Now is maybe the worst time to dump it on you with everything going on..." Her voice broke a bit at the end and she hissed, her head and her body still bowed... Regretful and apologetic.

"... So much of this is just... Really bad... And I'm sorry... But I need you all to realize that these years with you- all the good times, and the care, and the fun... My friendship with you... All the best parts... Those were all real." Hora hissed, her voice trembling as her hands did too. "None of that has ever been a lie, or an act... All of it was genuine, regardless of everything else, or what you're going to find out... And... And I hope someday... Maybe...you'll forgive me..."

Her fingers folded together tightly and she kept her nose pressed against the top of her knuckles. Her hands were shaking more and the rest of her was following suit. Damn it her whole body felt stiff and twisted- and her soul was just as knotted... She almost felt sick even just thinking about saying any of it- let alone doing it.

You can't stop, you just have to push through and do it- if you hesitate you won't tell them... You... You just have to!

"... Tch... When... When I was a kid, the village I grew up in was attacked by a Demon of Zeref... And everyone... Everyone died..." She hissed, her voice shaking and hesitating when she said that... Everyone.

A lie but... But...

She wouldn't look up at them, she couldn't handle seeing their expressions- or what shock and upset appeared in their faces at that, their stomach's flipping and their blood running cold.

"... I was going to die too, but there was a man who found me... Arden... He was the previous holder of the Magic I have now... he transferred his Magic over to me... even when I didn't want it..." Hora hissed, her hands holding together tightly and her nails digging into her knuckles. "... the issue with Fire Devil Slaying Magic is that it's too powerful to exist in someone's body all by itself, and you can't keep control of it on your own... it... It eats at you, tearing you apart from the inside out... burning you alive..." She broke off, flinching backward at the torrent of memory flooding forward of that day- that terrible, terrible day...

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...

"... it has a mind of it's own and Devil Slayer Magic is in itself corruptive... it makes it's holders lose their minds, twists them into monsters... but Fire Devil Slaying Magic is much worse. It consumes you, and it's more wild and uncontrollable than the the other elements... that's the nature of fire after all... so... so even if it doesn't manage to kill you somehow, it drives you insane, makes you want to harm and to kill... whoever you were before is lost to the flames." Hora growled, she shook her head hotly, letting out a breath of agitation. "It got decided a long time ago there had to be some way to temper the Fire that comes with the Devil Slaying Magic, and the only effective way of doing it was to imbue a Magic inside of the user with an opposite nature to counteract the Fire." Her hands unhooked a little and her palms pressed against her chest lightly as she stood up a little straighter, her eyes still closed and taking in a deep breath.

"There's a Lacrima imbued with the Magic and life-force of a creature that uses Ice Magic. It's his job to help keep the Fire Devil Slayer Magic in check, and keep it from tearing me apart... this Lacrima is what keeps me alive, without it I would die." Hora murmured lowly, everyone stiffened. "...and ten years ago, when I had been in SaberTooth just under a year- Jiemma arrived and took over the Guild. He killed the old Guild Master and he found out about the Lacrima inside of me. And in order to keep me here and under his order- he placed a type of Body-Link Magic known as a Possession Link on it. You can't break them, I've tried, and I tried to find something that could, I researched them for years... I never found anything that would help me, or break it... and... and with it, Jiemma... He could find me if I ran, and he could break the Lacrima and kill me if he wanted with ease- for ten years I've been stuck here and I've been trapped and forced to just... Let him get with everything, or risk him killing me." Her tone grew icy at the end as she growled, "And I've never been afraid he'd... I'm not afraid of dying, I've never been, but more than anything I never wanted to tell any of you because I didn't want you in danger... I didn't want you to be put in trouble if you stood up to Jiemma or tried to change something, I didn't want you in danger if you went after him for it... and I didn't want to risk leaving any of you alone here in this Guild run by that bastard..! I didn't want to leave you here alone and I didn't want you in harm's way... so fuck me, but I've just let him do all this awful shit to all of you for so long! I am so sorry, I've hated having to watch him hurt any of you, and I've hated having to hold myself back all this time...! If I could have stood up and not... not risked anything... shit..."

She broke off and her hands raised, her knuckles pressing against her chin as she shook her head furiously.

"I didn't want you to get hurt, but that's all that's been happening... and I am so, so sorry.... I've been hesitating my whole life between wanting to tell you and explain it to you all- and then holding back so you'd be safer... like you could be safer just not knowing... I thought that if Jiemma found out that you guys knew about it, and you said something... I thought he might kill you and I couldn't live with that...!" Hora snapped lowly, "... I... I didn't want to tell you... I never have... I... I should have said something a long time ago... I get that now... I've just been too damn afraid...!" Hora hissed,

"... why did... Rogue knew, right..?" Sting asked lowly, and slowly too- Hora jumped a little at how steely a tone he had. She dared lift her eyes up enough to see the utterly stony look on his face- a stark contrast to the pale and stricken looks shared among Rogue, Frosch, Orga and Rufus at what slew of new and terrible information had just been dumped upon them.

"...yeah..." Hora breathed, and Rogue glanced toward Sting nervously.

"I... I didn't give her much choice... It wasn't easy for her to tell me.." Rogue murmured lowly, "... and I've only known since two nights ago..." He added quietly, Sting's eyes flashed.

"... and what happened tonight? After what... what I did to Jiemma... and he decided he was going to hurt you any way..." Sting growled, "... Where did you go? And if Jiemma really did try and break that Lacrima by using the Possession Link... and you really need that Lacrima to live... how are you alive...?" Hora swallowed slightly,

"... I... I was out on the other side of Crocus." Hora murmured, his eyes narrowed.

"... how the hell did you get all the way over there..?" Orga mumbled,

"... I... I don't know..." Hora stammered slightly,

"What the hell do you mean you don't know?" Sting hissed, Hora wilted a bit.

"... I honestly don't know." She muttered, "I was following you guys out, down the hallway and then... something... or... or someone grabbed me and I was just... I wasn't here anymore, in about three seconds. It... it was saying all this weird crap that I don't understand it and it seemed to know what was going on here, it... it said something like I was supposed to end up dead-" She broke off completely, her words failing her and her eyes dropping downward.

"Forgive me, Horatia. But even I won't wait to see you die a second time."

... what... what does that even mean...? Whoever it was... they watched me die once already...?

But... I'm not...

She shuddered despite herself, her hands clutched together in front of her a bit more tightly as she tried to shake off the memory as quickly as it came.

"... listen... Jiemma tried... he was shattering the Lacrima and I could feel it... I was... my Magic got out of control and I wasn't even able to think, let alone breathe... I would be dead right now and on the other side of the city... he... he got so close to killing me..." There was a pain and fear in their faces as she said it, but her eyes were on her hands now. "... but Wendy found me, and she Dispelled the Possession Link Magic, and she healed me... mostly..."

"... mostly...?" Rogue breathed, his red eyes flashing and fear racing anew through his veins.

"Wendy... the Fairy Tail kid...?" Orga mumbled, Rufus' hand moved up to his face to brush his bangs back a bit, taking in a low, slow breath that was probably meant to be calming.

"... a child with a gift for enchantments... perhaps it is not a surprise she could unwind such complex Body-Link Magic..." The blonde murmured aloud, Rogue stepped forward toward her just a little bit, red eyes gleaming and looking her up and down.

"Woah, wait a minute, if he put a Spell on a Lacrima in you... don't that mean he could have done the same thing with these two?" Orga grumbled, his head tilting sideways toward Sting and Rogue and Hora shook her head quickly.

"No, I put a Spell on both of them as soon as they decided to join the Guild." Hora answered quickly, "It prevents a Possession Link from being cast on an object at all, Jiemma could never even try that on them- I made sure of it." Orga grimaced, nodding a bit as Rufus looked at her quietly- Rogue had his eyes on Hora while Sting had his on the floor... and the White Dragon Slayer's hands balled into fists at his sides.

"Hora, you said mostly... you haven't..." Rogue started, but he never got very far.

"Tch... so you were dying a few minutes ago and you did what... you sprinted through Crocus to get back here...?" Sting grumbled lowly, Hora blinked. "And you ran in here ready to take Minerva and Jiemma on, regardless of dying a few minutes ago...?" Sting growled, "You just threatened to kill Minerva even after you ran all the way here and you look ready to pass out! And you did say 'mostly', you are not okay- one look at you and we can all tell that, Hora! All of this is... with you and your Magic and what happened to your parents... how could you not tell us any of this...?! How can you stand there and just..." He growled lowly, his jaw clenching- and hard.

Hora stared, her eyes glittering and stiff as a board as she simply watched him. His hands locked behind his head and his fangs ground down on each other, his entire countenance harsh and quickly bubbling...

"How can you just... just say all of that and lay out there like it's nothing..?! How can you be so worried about all of us when you've been... you've been a slave for ten years Hora, and you let yourself suffer the entire time in silence...! All of this shit has happened and been happening to you for years, and you were more worried about us...?!" Sting snapped lowly, Hora's eyes widened a little, a bead of sweat falling down her face. He growled, pacing slightly a bit in front of her and between Rogue and Rufus. "... tch... all this time and you've never... you've never said anything, Hora! Not a damn thing, not about Jiemma, or even your Magic, or your family... you could have told us...! You should have told us!" Hora blinked a few times,

"... I... I know... I've realized that..." She stammered quietly, swallowing a bit. "...I... I get it... you're mad at me..."

She flinched backward and everyone else in the room did too as Sting suddenly rounded on her, blue eyes blazing and furious.

"Of course I'm fucking mad at you!" He snapped hotly, "How can I not be?! You've been lying and keeping things from us for years! We don't know a damn thing about you!" Hora stiffened, "Hora, we didn't even find out you were a Devil Slayer until a month ago! And now you're telling us you've got some creature and it's Magic locked up in a Lacrima in your body that we never knew about?! And all this time you've never once mentioned a family or who you were before we met you! And we didn't question it! But don't you think we deserved to know what happened to you, after all of this time...?!" He stepped toward her and Hora backed up a bit out of instinct.

Rogue turned to Sting a little, "Sting..." The Shadow Dragon Slayer warned lowly, but he was more or less ignored.

"... I know you did... I know you all deserved to know..." Hora started softly, her voice almost hoarse.

"But you didn't!" He snapped, Hora's mouth shut and her breaths halted in her lungs.

He... He's livid...

"What else have you not told us, huh?!" He growled lowly, Hora swallowed at that, her expression clouding with fear for a second- and he noticed in an instant. "I see the look on your face Hora, there's something else!"

"... Sting, calm down a little..." Rogue mumbled,

"Yeah man, you're gettin' too wound up." Orga grumbled,

Both of them got ignored and Sting advanced another few steps toward Hora, and she stiffened under the glare. "What else happened, Hora?!" Sting demanded, Hora bit the inside of her cheek.

"... There were other Fairy Tailers with Wendy, when she found me." Hora started lowly, "I don't know all the details right now, and I plan to go and find out but... what they told me is that Lucy and Yukino have been arrested by the Kingdom and they are both in trouble." Sting went very still, his anger dissipating slightly in a wash of shock, confusion, and even fear at the words. Everyone else all stiffened, their eyes widening and hearts jumping at the news about the Celestial Mage they had heard nothing of in days.

"... Yukino...?" Sting breathed, Hora nodded stiffly.

"I didn't have a lot of time to ask questions, I had to get back here and understand what went on." Hora told him softly, "I told the Fairy Tailers I would meet them in a bit and I plan on finding out what the hell is going on... And why Yukino and Lucy have been taken prisoner... And maybe even what it was that snatched me a bit ago and what all it was talking about is." His expression pulled a little.

"... You're leaving then?" He asked quietly, Hora paused.

"Hora you can't run off, you look terrible...!" Rogue butted in quickly, "You said you were dying, and you're clearly not healed all the way- you need to rest!" She shook her head a little,

"I'm fine, at least for now..." She told him softly, but it wasn't the assurance he or any of them were looking for. "Wendy healed me quite a bit... Even if it wasn't all the way, I have time yet before I can't do anything anymore and I have to rest. I don't plan on sitting here doing nothing..."

"Even if you run yourself into the ground...?!" Rogue hissed, "I understand you want to help them, Hora- but you need to take care of yourself too..!"

"...tch... What are you going to do anyway?" Sting grumbled, "Fight the kingdom by yourself?" Hora grimaced a bit,

"You've yet to relay to us the full extent of your injuries, Horatia." Rufus murmured softly, "If I am understanding all of this correctly- what Lacrima that had a Possession Link upon it has been damaged, and quite severely in fact. That in itself is painful, and cuts into your health and your Magic capability... But it must have also been left unable to temper your Devil Slayer Magic while being destroyed, yes? If without the Ice Magic in the Lacrima, your other Magic would harm you and injure you- what time it was inactive you were being injured internally, at near a constant rate, yes?" He asked quietly, and Hora swallowed a bit, uncertainty flashing across her expression- of course Rufus of all people would understand it, and better than everyone else.

And of course he was spot on... Damn it

Rufus' eyes flashed as he narrowed them at her, expression as collected as could be managed but not without the small hint of worry too. "... Which would mean you're wounded internally, and quite extensively... Even should Wendy have healed you, her Magic would have limits. And your injuries are likely beyond them." Rufus murmured, letting out a small sigh. "It is the nature of her Magic to regain someone's strength, and she likely did so for you- so you have strength now to push passed your wounds and stay standing, but you are still unwell. And more so, from what you explained to us of 'Over-Drive', and what we know know about your Magic... That condition is likely to strike you now as well, yes? And soon?"

"Over-Drive almost killed you the last time, Hora..!" Rogue snapped, his voice shaking and body too- he had none of the will to be as collected as Rufus was when the blonde said his piece. "You told us physical and emotional strain sets it off- you just went through a surplus of that with what Jiemma did, and telling us all of this right now- if you go off to fight somewhere after all of this... Over-Drive could be ten times worse than last time! You got really bad! You stopped breathing!" Rogue snapped hoarsely, his eyes glittering and Frosch wilted at the memory of it.

'There is no 'could' about it... It will be worse this time around.' Lixue commented dryly in her head, and Hora hissed.

"... It'll not be like last time." Hora replied lowly, "Last time I had the Possession Link on me, the other half of my Magic was cut off and unusable- I had one half of myself vying for power with little to no opposition, it won't be like last time-"

"But it'll still be bad, right?" Sting hissed lowly, cutting Hora off and she flinched a little at his tone- and the accuracy of the statement. Her hands held together a bit more tightly in front of her, her eyes falling on her fingers and quiet for a few seconds. That was answer enough for the rest of them though, and Rogue looked all the more panicked for it, though he never got the chance to say anything before Hora started up.

"Look... I'm... I'm sorry, I know you're worried about Lector and I know I just dumped a bunch of stuff on you guys..." Hora started, and Sting scowled slightly, his eyes glittering. "It doesn't matter right now, I have awhile yet before I hit my Limit- and I can't just sit back and do nothing while all of this is going on... Yukino is one of us, and she needs help, I can't just leave her there. And I can't leave Lucy there either." She took in a deep breath, her breath hitching slightly and threatening to have her coughing- but she refused. She stood straighter and her expression hardened, "They're my friends, I have to try... I have to do something, even if it's just a little thing. And I'm sorry if you don't want me to, but I have to go. I have to try, and I will do everything I can to make sure I come back- and Yukino and Lucy come back safe and sound too." Her eyes swept across them in succession before landing on the scowling face of Sting,

"I can't go against Minerva to try and get Lector back without risking his life... even with everything I am and can do- I'm not fast enough, and she'd use him against me just like she's using him against you." Hora mumbled, "If she wants SaberTooth to win the GMG, then you all have to try your hardest to make that happen... I don't know what I can do, but I'll try anything to help get him back Sting... and I'll do anything to make sure he and everyone else in this Guild is safe. I promise that." Her sudden firmness faded slightly, "... I just don't know what to do to help right now... as much as I hate it, we have to go along with what Minerva wants for now... things are just really complicated, and I have to find some way to unravel it- and that means talking with the Fairy Tailers to try and clear some of this up. If there's anyway to help with any of this, I'll do my best, you all have my word on that."

Rufus, Orga, Frosch and Rogue seemed to deflate a little at the promise, their eyes glittering and tense as they listened to her- and Sting let out a low growl that caught them all off guard.

"Tch... you need to quit worrying about everyone else ahead of yourself, Hora." He told her lowly, she blinked at the harshness of his tone. "But fine, whatever- leave Minerva and Lector to us, and go talk to Fairy Tail if you really have to." He hissed lowly, "You're clearly gonna run off no matter what we say, so why waste time arguing about it?" Hora blinked, her eyes glittering and her heat plummeting a slight bit as his hands fell on his hips and he settled her with an icy stare. "Go, find Yukino and bring her back."

"W-what seriously..?!" Rogue snapped, "Did you hear anything we just said...?! She's in no shape to be going anywhere! How can you even tell her to leave like that...?!" Sting's jaw clenched at the words, his eyes dropping closed.

"She's going to do whatever she wants, Rogue." Sting muttered lowly, "No amount of talking to her or yelling at her is gonna change a damn thing. Nothing we've said or done has ever had an effect on changing her mind before, I doubt it'll start now." He growled, Hora's eyes flashed at the ire in the words, her eyes darting away from and to the floor as she felt her heart twist.

That... that's not true...

Rogue stiffened at the words and so did everyone else, eyes widening at the sheer venom and anger in Sting's voice and expression- he was being so... so harsh.

Insanely harsh- especially given what was going on and the very real situation that Hora was in and how hurt she was and could end up being... harsh even after all she'd said about her life and her family and how she'd been trapped by Jiemma. Being that way right now, after learning about all of that and realizing what she was going through... that wasn't like him, it was almost cruel.

Hora swallowed, biting back the painful twisting of her heart and willing the stinging in her eyes to go away. She understood it, he was angry at her and he was worried and wound up about Lector and Jiemma and Yukino and... everything. She got it, he had every right to be angry and she didn't blame him for being curt with her... but she didn't expect it to hurt so much.

S...shit...

"... what the hell has gotten into you...?!" Rogue snapped at the blonde, "You're being an ass! Don't you give a damn what happens to her, Sting?!" Hora bit the inside of both her cheeks when Sting didn't ordain an answer, but instead huffed. Sting turned his back slightly on Rogue and the rest of them, utterly quiet and Hora felt her heart ache... And she ignored it.

She gestured at Orga in a sign for him to come closer, and the large man did so- slowly though, since he wasn't sure what she wanted. And Hora didn't elaborate either, "... Rogue I have to go." Hora mumbled softly, her voice quavering as she stepped forward toward him and caught his arms gently. His glimmering red gaze snapped from Sting toward her, apprehension and worry that made her heart hurt even more. His hands moved up to grab hold of her waist with no intention of letting go, and Hora sucked in a sharp breath of air.

"Hora I'm not letting you go anywhere, you're not in any shape-!" He argued hotly, her hands moved up from his arms and grabbed soft hold of his cheeks, cutting him off with the unexpected action as she pressed her forehead against his- dark blue on red eyes locking.

"Rogue I'm sorry." She murmured, "... I'm so sorry... to all of you... but I have to go... I'll be back, I swear..." Her eyes dropped closed as she leaned into him a little and he just searched her face, stiff in place and holding on to her.

I don't have a choice, there's too much going on... I can't stay here and fight you... I can't... I dumped all of this on you guys and I can't stay here and let it sink in... I have to go... Yukino and Lucy... my friends... they need me... and right now they are the only two I can do anything to help...

... even... even if that means leaving you here and leaving Lector in Minerva's hands, damn it... and now Sting is right to be angry... because... I'm useless, and I've mucked everything up and made it so complicated... I'm so sorry...

... I've messed up... I...

There was single drop of moisture that managed it's way passed her closed eyelids and onto the floor, and with it there flared a bright flash of pain in her chest she hissed at.

"... I'm so sorry... for all of it... please forgive me." Hora breathed, her eyes opening again as she locked gazes with him a second time- and this time her familiar deep blue eyes flashed an eerie, unfamiliar icy blue.

"Sleep."

Rogue's eyes dropped and his body went slack near instantly, his weight falling into her for a few brief seconds before Orga's hands moved forward and caught the Shadow Dragon Slayer with ease. Saving Rogue falling to the floor, and in time too- because Hora cringed and doubled over a bit, her hand clutching at the shirt over her chest as pain sparked through her body from the depths of her core.

Rufus was next to her in an instant, deft hands reaching out and steadying her as she waited for the pain to subside and jaw clenched hard enough to crack teeth. She did her best to stifle the hiss of pain rising up her throat, and failed quite miserably- and her eyes snapped shut against it.

She missed the way Sting went rigid at the show of pain, his body turning as he glanced over his shoulder toward the way Hora was bent over with Rufus holding to her elbow and waist- the pain etched into her face and the sound of her hissing and her breath hitching with it. His blue eyes glittered as he traced over the blood spattering her skin and the paleness of her features for about the hundredth time since she arrived panting in the Guild Hall- and he saw how much her legs were shaking... She was shaking all over. He grimaced, pain and worry etching into his expression in lieu of the anger and agitation that has flared so quickly at learning... All of it.

Orga sighed and hoisted the now clocked out Rogue up a bit and let him fall into the bed- Frosch mewed softly and lighted down on the pillow next to his Partner. The Exceeds's eyes darted over toward Hora in question as she stood there and leaned into Rufus for a few tense seconds.

Hora sucked in a sharp breath of air and regretted it. The threat of coughing that had been lurking that whole time managed a way to fruition- and her hand moved up to cover her mouth as the raspy, wheezing coughs racked her body for a few long minutes. When it was done she knew there were specks of blood on her palm- she could taste the iron liquid and her chest burned like cold fire... And her breathing was nowhere near level.

... Damn it... Lixue I thought you said I could use your power...?!

'... Perhaps a little warning, next time.' Lixue muttered, he sounded just as pained as she felt. 'And as a correction- you did use my Power just now... I simply did not tell you it would not be painful when using it.'

That would have been nice to know.

'Why are you surprised? It was painful to put the Salamander to sleep before, why would it be different now?'

... I thought that the pain would fade over time...

'Not that quickly.'

She grumbled, standing up a bit straighter and leaning on Rufus less as she closed her hand tight to keep sight of the blood to a minimum. "Are you alright?" Rufus asked softly, his eyes searching as she glanced up at at him, and nodded- once.

"Yeah... Using his Magic just... Sucks right now." She mumbled, Rufus quirked a brow.

"Twice now you've said 'his' in reference to the Lacrima in your body." He murmured, Hora blinked.

"Yeah, I noticed that too." Orga grumbled softly, his hand rubbing the back of his neck a bit. "Ain't it just a rock?" He glanced towards Sting as he said it, and the White Dragon Slayer had his arms crossed over his chest and still with his back facing the bulk of them.

"Indeed." Rufus murmured, "And I do not recall you using a Spell such as the one you just used to put Rogue to sleep either, shall I assume you can choose to use the Ice Magic in the Lacrima to some degree?"

Hora straightened up a bit more, and Rufus pulled his hands back to himself as he waited patiently for an answer. She paused though, biting the inside of her cheek and sighing.

"... It's complicated, but yes." She mumbled, "It's not like it's just Magic trapped in the Lacrima- it's literally the Life-Force of the creature that used to be whole, and physical and alive. So in some weird way, I have this... Condensed living being in my body in the Lacrima, and he's not technically alive but he is... At least enough I can talk to him..." Hora trailed off, grimacing to herself as her hands fell on her hips and her eyes dropped closed, musing. "...mmm... I dunno how to explain it without it sounding really crazy... But it's just how it is. He has a mind of his own and some semblance of control over his Magic- and I have control over it to to some degree but it's more like... I'm working hand in hand with Lixue to use it, sort of with permission but not really... I just haven't been able to use that half of my Magic- and his Magic- since Jiemma put the Possession Link on us. It sort of blocked it off all these years for some reason..."

'It is meant to be a partnership, but regardless you have more control than I do.' Lixue commented, 'It is appreciated you look for my permission most of the time however... You are one of two who has ever worked with me, instead of simply taking.'

Right...

"Lixue...?" Rufus hummed,

"You sayin' ya got some monster's voice running around in your head all the time?" Orga asked, Hora grimaced.

"... I told you it sounded crazy..." She sighed,

"Sting, ya got the voice of a Dragon running around in your head cause of that Lacrima in you?" Orga didn't seem to hear her and turned on Sting instead,

"Of course not." Sting growled lowly, Hora wilted at the anger in his tone.

"I have never caught you seeming to be talking to yourself before." Rufus commented, Hora sweatdropped.

"... I try not to talk out loud." Hora mumbled, "... And as it is, Lixue... Well I didn't start hearing him again until after what happened when Jiemma found out I helped Fairy Tail..." Rufus nodded a bit,

"... Intriguing." he murmured quietly, Hora bit her cheek.

"... I'm going to get into the details more, I promise... I just don't have time right now." Hora mumbled, "... I'm sorry I just dumped all of this on you guys, but.."

"Do not worry about us." Rufus cut her off gently, "Today has been tumultuous, for all of us, and especially you. You are right to want to save Yukino and Lucy, we will not stand in your way." he paused, his eyes flashing. "Just be careful, yes?"

"Yeah, keep us in the loop on this whole thing." Orga grumbled, "And don't go running off to fight the King without givin' us a heads up, got it?" Hora nodded slightly,

"Yeah, I'll explain what happened and the plan when I get more info." Hora promised quietly, "And I'll be careful... I should be back in a few hours." She cast a glance back at Sting but he didn't bother to glance her way, and she sighed.

... He's really pissed at me...

She shook her head a bit and started toward the door, only to pause before she ever moved when Frosch called her back. "Atia...?" Frosch mewed softly, she sidetracked a bit and stopped at the edge of the bed Rogue and the Exceed were on.

"Hmm?"

"... Is... Are Lector and Yukino going to be okay...?" Frosch stammered, Hora stiffened at the question- she could feel everyone else do the same. She swallowed, nodding her head as her hand came down gingerly on top of the Exceed's head.

"... Yeah... they'll be okay." Hora murmured, "... We'll figure all of this out, don't worry."

Everything has to be okay... I've screwed up a lot but... But I want to fix things.

She looked for Sting's eyes as she left the room, but he was refusing to look at her, and somehow that hurt worse than Jiemma trying to tear that Lacrima in her chest apart.

... I just maybe... I don't know how...

... Damn me...

.:+:.

Hello~! Been some time huh? XD

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