Hello Fairies!

Welcome to the next chapter! Things are starting to kick off and I have time to write!

Please leave a comment! I would love to hear what you think!

Enjoy :)

Two royal guards fidgeted slightly as they stood on either side of the broken guild doors. Chatter rose and fell like the tide as onlookers watched the empty and silent guild from behind a taped barrier. It had taken awhile for the news to reach Magnolia about the strange disappearance of Fairy Tail. It started when citizens became worried that the guild was far to quite for a Friday evening. Then a roar had echoed out across the peaceful streets and a royal procession made its way from the castle to the guild. The army, the guards, and the King and Queen themselves had left their castle to stand in front of Fairy Tail's broken and empty halls.

It wasn't a rare occurrence that a guild would go missing for a few days. Rivalries with other guilds and long missions had members disappearing for days or even months at a time. However, to have an entire guild go missing in a matter of seconds with no word to their families was on the stranger side of things. There was also the fact that three royal Dragon Slayers had been within its walls at the time. It also didn't help that the place was completely trashed. That simple fact was what caused the deep unease to settle in everyone's mind. A manhunt had started, and an investigation had begun.

The Queen had looked at the wreckage with an eerie calm. She stood perfectly still, her eyes drawn together in an anger that nobody dared to spark. One poor and naïve guard had had the misfortune to ask Queen Evelyn if she was all right and was now only slightly traumatized at the events that had followed his question. With part of the floor embedded in crystals and the Queen looking positively horrifying everyone from then on knew to keep their distance.

King Igneel on the other hand was far easier to gauge. When he had found out that his son, along with the guild and two other Dragon Slayers had gone missing many things within his wake had caught fire. The drapes within the castle were nothing but ash, a brush fire had started at the base of the mountain, and the forest near Fairy Tail had also caught fire. All had been contained, and the water brigade was on constant watch for any other sparks that might occur until the Prince was recovered.

The town of Magnolia had seen these reactions once before, when the Prince had gone missing about a month ago. It seemed, however, that something sinister hung in the air, like a sour taste on the wind. Before it had been a simple boat crash, a mishap with weather and with navigation. The guards had speculated that the Prince could have been captured after the boat crash, but that had only been speculation. This incident was as clear as the crystals that cut harshly across the guild floor. Someone had attacked the guild, and now three royal family members and an entire guild could very likely be captured.

Blood covered the walls, furniture and glass lay everywhere. It was hard to discern from just the wreckage, but it was obvious to all who gazed upon the structure it had been a difficult and possibly fatal fight. To what side, nobody knew. The citizens of Magnolia were worried. Sure, they complained about the noise and the habits that Fairy Tail had for destroying property, but they all secretly cared for the guild and were thankful for their services. The scene in front of them, all made them a little sick to their stomachs. It had been three days since the hunt had begun, and no leads had surfaced.

A group of three onlookers watched the chaos from the back of the large group of citizens. They all wore hoods to hide their identities, but all of them had deep frowns etched onto their faces. For the three of them, they had all known people who had been in that hall.

"Are you sure it was here?" the one man said as he crossed his arms over his chest in slight disbelief and discomfort.

"I'm not crazy Sting and I'm not wrong," Yukino said as she stood on her tiptoes to get a better look at the abandoned building. It was strange, she had to admit, but there was no mistaking who the magic had belonged too.

"She has a point," the other man said. He was pale and had a smooth quite voice as he stepped to stand beside Yukino. His dark hair covered his one eye, but he held a sophisticated and calculating demeanor as he stood beside his two counterparts.

"The magic Yukino felt and the absence of the guild is something we cannot overlook," the man known as Rogue said as his red eye scanned the guildhall once again.

"Why didn't I feel it?" Sting asked as he pushed his signature blonde hair away from his face in a frustrated movement. He had a childlike frown plastered across his face, but it was a fair question. Why hadn't the two Dragon Slayers felt the surge of magic that she had clearly felt?

"I don't know Sting," Yukino began as she tried to figure out what was going on. "We were pretty far away from Fairy Tail when I felt it. It's also a pretty unique magic, maybe that's why," Yukino concluded, she didn't want to stay hung up on whether Sting and Rogue had felt the magic or not. Yukino wanted to move onto why she had felt it, and where was the person who initiated it.

"Are you sure it was this Lucy woman you mentioned," Rogue asked as Yukino looked around at the other citizens that were starring wide-eyed at the same building.

It was risky to be speaking of Lucy and the magic they shared in such a public space. Yukino thought with great unease that if the organization were behind this attack they would have eyes on the building and on every person within the crowd. Watching and waiting to see if any new players would make an appearance. Yukino tugged at Rogue and Stings sleeves, dragging them away from the crowd to a wide-open space within the field. It wasn't private, but at least they would clearly see if anyone was listening in on their conversation.

"There are only a few Celestial Mages left," Yukino said in a hushed whisper. "There is a very high possibility it was her," she said as she thought of her cousin. Lucy had sacrificed herself, risked everything she had to save Yukino from the hands of the horrible people who had killed their families. Yukino knew Lucy wanted her to stay hidden and safe, but she couldn't do it. If Lucy truly was behind the surge of magic Yukino feared that she was in trouble. Call it her gut feeling, but nobody would need to produce such a powerful magic if it wasn't out of desperation.

"You think she was involved with Fairy Tail then?" Sting said as he pulled her out of her thoughts. He had a concerned gleam in his eyes to his otherwise stoic face. Yukino smiled and took his hand to reassure herself more than Sting of her worried thoughts.

"Find Fairy Tail, possibly find Lucy. It's a start," Rogue said as he watched the exchange with hopeful air. Yukino was vague in her explanation of Lucy and her past, but he and Sting could both see that this meant a lot to her. Now that Fairy Tail was possibly connected to Lucy they had every reason to put all of their resources and focus into this case. Natsu, Gajeel and Wendy. There were family and they would stop at nothing to find and help them in any way that they could.

"Okay, let's do this," Sting said with the excitement he usually displayed before he got to fight someone. Yukino and Rouge shared a warm and excited smile before they nodded and set off back towards town.

Two pairs of eyes watched the group of three move back down the hill. Two pairs with two separate goals. The one set of eyes were two different colours. One eye was bright purple, and the other a deep brown bordering on the edge of black. They stood silently within the crowd. The only figure turned away from the carnage. Once the group of three moved out of sight the figure began their pursuit, silent and persistent. A wide, crooked smile etching its way onto their face.

The other set of eyes watched the purple eyed figure with such anger that it was astonishing that they hadn't noticed the heavy gaze that was fixed on their back. Their green eyes swung back to where the trio had disappeared. They stood from their spot, their teeth grinding in frustration as they backed away into the forest. Putting a hand to the side of their head they closed their eyes and opened the neural link they shared with their team.

"Ultear it's Meredy. I have eyes on a target," she said as she began to move through the forest to loop back into town.

"Who and can you handle it?" Ultear replied. Meredy knew that she was too far away to help her, but she needed to let her comrade know who the target was.

"It's Nirvana. I don't plan on engaging unless there is no other option," Meredy said, her breath was steady considering who she was following.

Nirvana was one of the biggest threats in the organization. If you wavered ever so slightly in your morals she could turn you in an instant. It was especially dangerous for her team who had already dabbled on the criminal side of the spectrum.

"Keep your distance. Have you told Jellal?" Ultear said in a calm but tight tone. Her motherly side was slowly seeping into her voice and Meredy could only smile. She always worried. After all these years Ultear still looked out for her.

"No. He has enough to deal with right now. If she makes a move I will notify him," Meredy said knowing that her words were hallow but needed to be said. If Nirvana was out on the ground it was unwelcome news, but they couldn't do much when they were spread out like this. It was dangerous, but Meredy needed to keep an eye on the purple mage.

"Be careful," Ultear said after a long pause.

"I will," Meredy said with a smile. She pulled her hood further over her head and melted into the shadows. Hoping beyond anything else that nothing would happen today.

Meredy kept to the shadows as she circled around town. It was reaching late afternoon when she had first spotted the trio waltz into town. Yes, they had been wearing cloaks but there was no mistaking Sting and his arrogant air and his shadow Rouge. The two of them were as easy to spot as Igneel on a rampage.

She had followed them for most of the day. Watching from a distance. She knew that the girl was a Celestial Mage. She had the description from Jellal that there was possibly another one in the region. A young girl that Lucy had saved not too long ago. However, Meredy had asked herself why was she in Magnolia and not in hiding? There was one very clear answer. She was looking for Lucy. However, she was setting herself up as bait, whether she knew she was or not.

Meredy slightly scolded herself for the plan that she had unraveled for herself. The young Celestial Mage was a target and Meredy stuck close knowing that at some point the organization would make themselves known. Meredy, however, had not expected to see Nirvana out in the open. Her purple hair and purple eye was a tell-tale sign of the mage. If she was willing to walk in public it meant something big was on the horizon.

Meredy darted from the shadows moving swiftly through the alleys to the place she knew the trio would be moving towards. A small inn that they had checked into earlier. They were just walking in the door when she came around the corner, and not far behind them was Nirvana. Meredy had only seen the mage once. An encounter she had not enjoyed. Nirvana's grin was the only thing she could see from under the hood. It was stretched grotesquely across her face as she moved like a hawk behind them. The trio had not noticed. Deep in conversation as they moved into the inn.

Meredy waited and watched to see what Nirvana would do. If she went into the inn Meredy would have to act. She couldn't let two dragon slayers possibly fall into her hands. No matter what they claimed they were no match for the mage. Nirvana slowed her steps as she stood outside the window to the inn. No doubt watching the trio inside. Meredy held her breath waiting as Nirvana looked forward down the street. Then she tilted her head back and laughed. Sending a chill straight down Meredy's back.

It was a laugh of insanity. There was no other way to describe it. People on the street stopped to look at the woman who was laughing at the sky. Whispers rose around Meredy as Nirvana continued to laugh. Her voice getting louder with each second before it enveloped all the other sound on the street. It set Meredy on edge and she suddenly felt exposed in the shadows of the small alley.

Meredy was about to move to a new position when Nirvana suddenly stopped. The entire block fell silent at the absence of her crazed laugh. Meredy watched in mute horror as Nirvana twisted her head to where she stood. Her purple eyes wide with delight. Nirvana smiled a crooked smile, her eyes boring into Meredy's.

"Let the games begin," Nirvana said with a giggle before the entire block exploded in a purple light.

Meredy blinked rapidly. Pain erupted in her back and her legs as she tried to distinguish what had happened. She wiped debris from her eyes and noticed she was looking at a collapsed wall and not at Nirvana across the street. She blinked again and tried to move but her leg wouldn't budge. Panic flared in her chest as her sight cleared and she took in her surroundings. The entire building that had once stood beside her had completely caved in. Burying her in rubble and encasing her legs.

She sat up, but her back screamed in protest. Something was broken or pulled or both. She collapsed against the rubble. Her mind screaming at her to move. Meredy glanced around and her eyes fell on the inn across the street. The inn that she had been looking at only moments ago.

The street was torn to pieces. Carts lay like carcasses across the street. Their wooden frames engulfed in a purple fire. The inn lay mostly unscathed, but the laughter. The high-pitched laughter that never seemed to stop echoed from within its walls. Nirvana had made her move and Meredy had been caught unaware. It was the laughter that had made her hesitate. She had not expected a full out attack so suddenly and in such a public space.

She heard the crack of wood and watched part of the inn blow apart sending two figures crashing to the ground. Meredy blinked and tried to sit up again. This time succeeding but not without screaming in pain. She watched as Nirvana stepped out from the dust. Her hood back and her deep purple hair flying around her in an untamable force. She held the young Celestial mage by the hair. Dragging her like she had just caught a prized deer. Meredy noticed that the girl was unconscious. Unaware that she was in the clutches of one of the most dangerous mages in the world. In a pained motion that made her grit her teeth Meredy brought her hand to the side of her head.

"Jellal it's Meredy. They've made their first move."

Meredy began to push the concrete from her legs. Knowing that if she didn't move soon she would be prime meat for Nirvana to skewer. She needed to move. She needed to fight.

"Where?" Jellal replied. Meredy, even through her pained mind, could hear the strain in his tone.

"Magnolia." Meredy replied as she gritted her teeth and pushed harder at the concrete. She could feel it sliding across her legs. The pain tearing her apart, but she kept pushing.

"Who and how many." Jellal said quickly and Meredy was thankful for the short conversation. She didn't think she could form complete sentences at the moment.

"One… Nirvana." Meredy managed to say as the concrete finally gave. She slid down the rubble, not even able to properly stop her descent. She landed hard on the cobblestone street. Her arm scraping against the stone as she finally stopped.

"Get out of there." Jellal said instantly. Urgency ringing clear in his tone.

"Can't. She has… the Celestial Mage. Not Lucy the other one." Meredy took a deep breath and forced the new pain that she felt to the back of her mind. She gritted her teeth and started to pick herself up off the ground. She made it to a kneeling position when she heard the explosion again. Sting and Rouge were fighting back. Taking Nirvana on with all they had. Her laughter echoing out across the streets.

"Two Dragon Slayers. Sting and Rouge. They are fighting her. I can't let her take all of them," Meredy said as she slowly stood up. She stumbled but caught herself on a partially formed wall.

"Meredy! Leave now!" Jellal practically screamed in her head. He knew her to well. He knew exactly what she was planning on doing. She smiled to herself as she pushed off the wall and stood before the fight before her.

"You know I can't," Meredy said as she stretched her hand in front of her.

"Sensory Link!" Meredy said as a pink seal appeared in front of her outstretched hand. She was lucky for the first time in her life, her shot had hit.

"Three spread Sensory Link, Maguilty Sense!" Meredy yelled as she brought her hand towards the sky. Her seal grew and pulsed once creating a band around her own wrist. She felt the connection instantly and watched as Nirvana gritted her teeth in pain, no doubt feeling the pain that Meredy felt. She knew she didn't have much time. With a sensory link established she was vulnerable to Nirvana's magic.

She watched as Nirvana slowly turned towards her. Her smile dropping off her face as her eyes blazed with fury. Meredy never wavered. She kept her hand steady and her gaze firm. She might not be able to walk but she could still attack.

"Maguilty Sodom," Meredy breathed as the teal blades appeared around her. A laugh bubbled up from Nirvana's throat as she dropped the Celestial Mage to the floor and crouched low to the ground. Ready to attack.

In a blur she was gone. Meredy knew she was fast, and anticipated she would come at her. Hoped that Nirvana would attack before she thought about what kind of magic Meredy had used. Meredy's magic was unique, and many often underestimated its effects.

Meredy felt Nirvana's presence behind her. The chill and the giggle accompanying the blade that pierced Meredy's side. Meredy screamed as she let her blades drop around them. Her sensory blades striking her and Nirvana. Even through all the pain that the sensory link caused she felt a little triumph as Nirvana's laugh turned into a blood curdling scream.