Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

I found myself wondering in a maze of flames, the heat ran down my arms and moved its way to penetrate my heart. The hot stone rumble around me was my own creation. Cries of despair in the distance, rising like smoke. Each step I took was painful, refreshing my sins as I got closer to somewhere I can't pinpoint, just a huge bumpy pyramid silhouette. The smell of flesh burning swirled—wrapped around my body; thick and sticky, blood that's been left for a while. I wanted to vomit; to run away and leave, but I couldn't turn away, only head towards the towering mass. Then I managed to pick out the details.

Torn clothes; broken, bleeding limbs; heads painted with horror. Bodies piled up to impossible heights. Why am I climbing it? Stop! I felt like vacant eyes followed me as I scaled arms; used legs jutting out as footholds. Rotting meat entered my nose, heat waves from the fire behind me warmed my back while the cold, hard corpses seemed to take away more than what was given. Not even the polarising temperatures felt worse than watching each body stare me down, reminding me of their final messages before I took away their lives. The pleading: Please just let me go! I don't want to die! The bargaining: At least let my daughter live! The bribing: I'll do anything! Please…let me go! I've heard it all in a span of seconds.

Then I finally reached the top. A young boy around the age of seven crowned the decay; the first person I killed. I felt horrible afterwards of course, I thought I could just rewind my faults and wipe my sins clean, be safe in the arms of my mother, getting back the life that I was robbed of. Instead, I just stole dreams and futures. I cradled the boy's head and stroked his hair.

"I'm sorry…"

"You'll pay!" The boy jumped and grabbed my shoulders with his pale fingers. The bodies beneath me erupted and swallowed me. The rest of the corpses sprung and flailed their arms, scratching—tearing my skin, drawing blood. Chanting started as they ripped my stilled body. Die! Die! Die! Die!

I stared at a fuzzy ceiling barely visible without moonlight. My hands were clutching hard to my quilt. Sweat flowed to my heaving chest. I tossed away my covers and quickly check the person not far from me. Meredy was still sleeping, thankfully. I slipped a coat over my sleeping gown and took a walk outside.

Hiding in the mountains was a terrible idea, I nearly tripped over roots and rocks five times, bumped into trees three times all the while groping around as my eyes got used to the poor light conditions. Critters rustled bushes as they tried to escape their fate. I barely registered a blur of dark brown before I heard a squeal, never given a chance.

By the time I've found my way up the mountain, the trees thinned as rock formations grew. I saw nothing but a large space of black below. Ahead was a gradient of dark blue to black, growing more colourful by the second, transforming to a gentle gold, orange glow.

"Mommy look! The sun is coming up!" I whipped my head around and found a small girl bouncing vertically. I couldn't see much of her feature save the twin tails adding to the dance. Behind her, was most likely her mother.

"Just a minute ago, you were complaining how boring this trip would be, look at you now."

"It's pretty!"

"Was it worth it?"

"Yup!" The sun rose high enough to let me see the child's beaming smile, jewel eyes. A steady warmth emanated from behind me. However, nothing was as lovely as the sight before me. I tried to take away happiness like this.

"Then let's come here again with papa someday okay?"

"Yeah!" I'll protect that smile, I won't make the same mistake again. Even if I lose my life, its just a part of my punishment. Having made up my mind, I turned back to our hideout, with a plan slowly taking root.

"Morning Ul, where did you go?" Meredy yawned, with lovely pink hair blocking most of her drowsy, green eyes. Her white camisole was slipping from her shoulders.

"Where's Jellal?" I asked back, fixing Meredy's clothes.

"He went to investigate something, he said that he'll come back in a week at the latest."

"We'll have moved already by the time that happens."

"Never mind that, tell me where you've been, you can't trick me with such a simple trick."

"I guess teaching you for so long has its downsides." I sighed, concocting a reasonable lie within the short time I've bought. "I took a walk, I couldn't sleep, so I hoped that a little exercise would help. I lost track of time."

"You, lose track of time? Please just tell me what happened, I want to help you Ul."

"Maybe later…" seeing her pouty face, I broke down a bit. Even after all these years, I can't help but fall for her tricks at times, "I promise I'll tell you someday."

"Fine."

"What do we have left for breakfast?"

In a destroyed, poorly-maintenance building, I blinked a man's final hopes away. Around me lay piles of groaning bodies left to grovel on stone floor while I dealt with the leader. He was burly and sweating from magic depleting. Clothes in tatters; despair plastered over his face.

"H—how?"

"I gave you a chance to surrender and save both of us some time, it's rather precious wouldn't you say? Now spend the rest of your life in prison!" I shot an orb forward, stopping briefly at the man's face before swerving around and slamming at the occipital bone, driving him to the floor. Turning away my focus from battle, I noticed someone peeking out a rotted door frame. "It's not polite to spy on other." I called out.

"Sor—sorry!"

"Someone from the village? Just in time, tell the guards to arrest these people, you're all free from them now."

"Thank you very much!"

"I haven't done anything to deserve anyone's gratitude. If you still insist on thanking me, don't tell the guards that I did this, don't even tell them what I look like."

"I won't!"

"Then hurry up, I'll tie these people up." Once the pitter patter of footsteps disappeared, I already restrained everyone.

"Ul, this is the seventh one this week, you need some rest."

"I did just fine didn't I? I don't need any rest."

"They were weak, what happens if you encounter some trouble later on? You won't be able to protect yourself."

"I can keep going."

"Your left hand is on your hips."

"And?"

"You only do that when you're tired."

"Just one more and I'm done for the month."

"I shouldn't be letting this happen."

"Thank you."

I was walking along a trail to my next target, Meredy was following me in the bushes. Clearly, I haven't taught her enough about hiding. Having Meredy keep watch just in case might save me. While I don't want to admit it, she's right. At some point, green grass shifted to burnt ones; bushes reduced to ash; flames flickered in warm winds. Judging from the position of the scorch marks on trees, the battle that occurred was heading the same place I was. Doubling my awareness, I forged on.

T he battle scars melted away, but it gave way to foot prints following the same path I was planning to go down. It let me to a cave flashing bright orange that drew muffled screams, explosions shook the ground I was standing on. The cries became clearer until I saw the sound source burst out the entrance. It was a man in burnt clothes, primal fear was evident in his eyes, something that was short lived once I knocked him out.

M aybe I should turn back, someone strong enough to break a man's will to fight must be a monster. Can I even face what's inside? Only one way to find out. I took another step forward.

At that moment, a man with spikey pink hair walked out. I would never forget that iconic scarf of his, or his cheery smile. Yet, with his arms thrown backwards, he seemed more bored than anything. Natsu Dragneel, what is he doing here?

"And I thought they were strong. Boring. Maybe I should challenge Erza once I get back, she'll put up a better fight!"

His eyes wandered to take in his surrounding, weeping back and forth before settling to me. As if I was a match, Natsu's eyes sparked in excitement and waved.

"Yo!"

"Why were you in a Dark Guild hideout?"

"Those guys pissed me off, so I came to kick their asses."

"Just as straight forward as ever."

"What brings you here?"

"I was planning to exterminate the people in that cave, looks like you beat me to it."

"Sorry about that."

"You don't need to apologise, I needed to take a break anyway." I heard a rustle behind me. Don't you get ahead of yourself now Meredy.

"So you finally admit it!" Meredy jumped from her hiding place, arms crossed in triumph.

"Shut it you."

"So Natsu, we're about to have lunch, want to join us? It's our treat, take it as a thank you for helping Ul before she exploded from exhaustion."

"Meredy! Don't you know how much he—"

"Really!? Of course I'll come!" Facing his practically sparking eyes filled with hope, it was hard to refuse any further, Meredy should know by now that we're not exactly rich enough to treat a random person we bump into.

"Just don't choose a place too expensive." I sighed, giving Meredy my best stern stare I could with tiredness still roaming. I cleared my throat seeing the two walking away to a nearby town. "We need to capture the people inside."

Just as the town was in sight, Meredy glanced around like a predator. Seeing that there wasn't anyone, she ducked behind a tree as I pulled out a pair of glasses and a woolly hat, following her.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Natsu asked.

"We can't exactly just walk into populated areas freely you know," I answered, tying my hair into a bun, "though the chances of someone recognizing us is low, we can't risk it. So you'll have to wait."

"What a pain."

"That's how it is when you've done something unforgivable."

"It's all in the past isn't it?"

"If only society see it like that…we can't pursue normal lives anymore Natsu, we're constantly on the move." I adjusted my hat and made sure my bangs hung lower than normal then finally slipping on the glasses. Meredy had a silk scarf hiding most of her face, leaving her eyes and nose peeking out. Her hair was untied reaching her shoulder. She even went the extra mile and changed her clothes to a pearl blouse and jeans. I should have bought a change of clothes too…

"Well," I asked, stepping out and striking a confident pose, using my fingers to adjust the glasses, "what do you think?"

"Huh? Does it matter?" His vacant eyes told me they found more interest in a butterfly flying by than me. Surely, I'm not that unattractive. Previously, I seduced many people with my charms. And yet! He's brushing it off like he would do with dirt! "I'm getting hungry."

"You're more extraordinary than I thought."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, let's just get this over with. Do you have any idea what you want to eat?"

"As long it's good, I don't care."

"Then I know a place, just follow me." Meredy and Natsu shuffled along behind me. "And Meredy."

"Yes?"

"Don't you think that this meal won't come from your pocket as well."

"That's not fair! I just spent money on clothes!"

"You're just getting what you deserve." Oh Meredy, you should be glad I'm willing to stop here.

I led us down a busy street that wasn't too crowded that made it hard to navigate, just slightly inconvenient. While Meredy and I kept our heads low, it still didn't stop me from admiring the peace of the town. Children laughter was swimming around in harmony with market noise. The first town I levelled was reminiscent to this place; filled with charm. It's strange, roaming freely in a town; for a moment—just a moment, I thought I was at peace. Would this have been the life I've missed? Now this is what I must protect—ironic, in a way.

We arrived rather early, people haven't flooded the place. We took a seat at the back. I took a menu from a waiter as he gave us water.

"What do want to eat?" I asked, scanning for the cheapest item on the menu.

"I don't really care, I'll leave it up to you."

"And Meredy?"

"I'll have this one." She pointed to a plain spaghetti with meatballs.

"Then I'll get the salad, want to share?"

"Sure!" Meredy beamed, though, I'm not certain if that's because we're eating something cheap, or that we're sharing food. When was the last time that happened? Ten years? Seven?

"By the way Natsu, why were you here in the first place?"

"I had a job to do."

"Can you tell us what it's about?"

"Some monkeys were bothering the folks here, so I took care of them. That's right!" Natsu suddenly jumped from his seat, taking my hands into his. "I need you!" Firm onyx eyes bore into me, his smile was there, like a child that found a long-lost toy. Our faces were just slightly apart, a bump would drive our foreheads together. He smelt slightly sweaty, not unbearable, if it wasn't for the intriguing scent of smoked food, I would have pushed him away. His hands were rough, but a gentle warmth came with it. It was calming. Huddling around a campfire with Meredy was the closest thing I could compare it with.

"Excuse me?"

"I broke some stuff; your magic can help with that right?"

"Err…that's true but...how about this, I'll help you. However, you owe me a favour."

"That's it? No problem!"

"Natsu," Meredy sighed and looked at the Dragon-slayer with pity, "you shouldn't agree to owe a favour Ul so easily, you just might regret it."

"Too late, he already agreed to it, I'll look forward to it, reaping my efforts."

"Oh yeah," Natsu started, "why were you so tied in the first place?"

"I rather not tell."

"I've seen that face before, all around the guild. When I was a kid, I didn't know what it meant. But now, I know you're bothered by something. Gramps always said that family help each other. Or something like that. Arhh! How do I say it?" Natsu raked his fingers through his hair. "Keeping it in will bite you back in the ass. You family will always help you." His words may have sounded more profound, had his eyes didn't look strained from thinking for the right thing to say. Still, there's something about him saying those things from the bottom of his heart to someone like me.

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. For now, let's order something."

"Thought I heard rumours, this was my first time seeing a dragon's appetite in person, how will I buy Meredy her present now?

"Well," I stood up and stretched, trying to push my sudden loss of money and a stack of empty plates out of my mind, "let's go fix whatever you broke."

"Cool! The house is that way!"

"House?"

A five-minute walk from the diner, was ruins of battle. It looks like an army storm past and razed a town to the ground. Each stone brick from the pile of rubble was incomplete. Honestly, it reminded me of what I did, and I was trying to destroy! How do you cause this amount of damage by accident?

With a flick of a wrist, I set the house to reverse. The rubble came to life, each piece worked together to become while again.

"In exchange," I said to a grieving man, "you don't tell anyone what happened here."

"O—of course I won't! Thank you so much! I'm in your debt!"

'Thank you' huh? Even if it's been a while since I started helping others, the swelling in my chest right now, this warmth, makes me glad that went back down the right path. What I learned from Fairy Tail is that there's always time to change. From Natsu however…I guess I should tell Meredy what happened. Without her, it would have been a lot worse.

Thanks for reading!

Hello again! Thank you for waiting, I'm back from my break. I'm not sure if I really got rid of all the problems I bumped into when I was writing my previous story—which I don't recommend you read—however, I still want to share stories again.

I don't exactly know where in the timeline this story will be in, obviously an AU where Ultear doesn't become old, but the Grand Magic Games were over. Don't ask me how that works.

What do you think of the chapter so far? And yes, I realise that I used the same scene from the other stories I wrote, where Natsu gives some talk about family being important. Hopefully this would be the last time that I use it. God knows I already don't have the qualifications to be a good writer.

Anyway, I want to try to keep each chapter to be around 2k-5k with some exceptions of course. That said, if you read something that you think is off or bad, please tell me, at the end of the day, I still want to learn.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and you'll stick around for my next upload. I learned my lesson this time, I won't make any promises of finishing this story, I will try my best of course.

Have a nice day!