After a too short moment, Evergreen had to step away from the hard head to whom she just openly showed a display of affection. Despite one of their biggest enemy being dead, the battle wasn't over. The young woman knew very well that, beyond those doors, those who were now their friends were fighting against those hypocrites from the DFA.

Part of her pushed her to help them while another part screamed to stay to safety between Elfman's arms and wait for all of this to be over. But she soon chased that thought. She couldn't allow herself to be so selfish. As strange as could sometimes be that band of fugitives, she owed them at least that. And that was not considering that she had started to like them, as unique as they could be.

When she finally locked her eyes with Elfman's, she understood that he had come to the same conclusion. So they rose, ignoring their pleading muscles, suffering from the last couple of day's efforts. It was only when they reached the door that they realized something was fishy: no battle sound could be heard. Before she could share her fears with Elfman, the young Strauss pushed the door open and left the room.

Her body froze noticing most of the people in front of them were bearing the DFA's uniform. She needed a few more seconds to understand they weren't attacking them. It's only when she noticed Levy's small figure, Gajeel next to her, that she calmed down a little. Even though she still couldn't get how such a scene could be possible, the fact the Gajeel seemed to be relaxed calmed her. If those people represented the slightest bit of menace, the young man would without a doubt already be fighting every single possible potential danger source for Levy.

"Are you okay?" Asked Levy, worried.

Evergreen noded.

"Thompson's dead" let out Elfman behind her.

With that information, the blue haired girl sighed in relief.

"Emmm... Levy ?" said Evergreen. "Could you care to explain how are all those DFA members not trying to kill us right now?" she added pointing at the army members before her.

"You can thank those two for that" said Gajeel pointing at two blue-haired soldiers, a man and a woman. "The crazy chick right there is Juvia" he specified pointing at the girl at Gray's arm. "And that one is Jellal. Apparently, he's one of Titania's childhood friend".

"Juvia is more than happy to help her dear Gray and her old friend!" Exclaimed the girl, obviously ignoring Gajeel comment at her intention.

Evergreen remembered that Gajeel was indeed a member of the DFA before leaving everything behind to save Levy from an inevitable death. Juvia was obviously one of his friends before he deserted... even if she seemed much more focused on Gray than Gajeel at the moment. No matter what was the reason that pushed her to change her position on the DFA, Juvia didn't seem to regret her choice and was without a doubt one of their allies now. As for the one called Jellal, his eyes had so much regret and pain in them that Evergreen felt instantly bad for the guy. Beside him stood Erza. No interaction between them was needed to get that she would stay by his side no matter what, making sure he could someday forgive himself.

"And the others?" Asked Evergreen.

It was obvious Juvia and Jellal were one of them now, but she still had a little trouble understanding the change of heart of all the others. To that question, Erza placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Many of them are Jellal's men. Just like Gajeel, Juvia and him, neither knew the true nature of the organism".

"And they believed you? Just like that?" Exclaimed the surprised young woman.

"Don't treat us like idiots!" Barked one of the ex-DFA member. "Of course we doubted them! Learning the organism for which you fought all those years is the real enemy is anything but easy!"

"Ultear, calm down!" Tried to appease her a younger girl with pink hair.

To Ultear's obvious anger, she completed.

"No one wanted to believe Jellal and Juvia's words at first".

She sighed before resuming.

"But within the chaos, a couple of officers were less careful during their transformation into..."

Evergreen didn't need to hear any more. It was easy to picture the terror of the soldiers who was finally exposed to the truth. From there on, complemented with the fact that some of their colleagues were spreading the truth, it was only a matter of time for their enemies to become allies.

The rest of the night passed in a flash. Sometimes, the noise of struggle between to opponents could be heard, a couple of fallen trying to run away. However, it was more and more clear that, for the first time in twenty years, the kingdom had truly won a decisive battle against the fallen.

The sun was now rising and everyone was standing outside of the wall, their loved ones close. However, someone important to her was still missing.

"Mira and Laxus are fine, I'm certain of it" said the one on whom she had unknowingly laid on, guessing what she had in mind.

Despite the evident faith he had in his sister, Ever could sense his worry, the later looking at the horizon as if he was waiting for them to appear.

"I can use my ring to help you find them" surprised them Lisanna, the same smile as Mira on her face.

***

When Mira opened her eyes, a few hours had gone by. At least, that's what she estimated seeing the first rays of the sun. She could still feel the weight of Laxus's head on her shoulder. Mira realized she fell asleep with her hand in his hair. Then worry filled her as she remembered the events before she passed out, the young woman slowly bringing her hand to his lips. She could breathe again the moment she felt his hot breath on her hands. He was alive. She also noticed his breathing was steady which was a good sign.

Delicately placing his head on the ground, she turned to her stomach. Her injuries still made her suffer but she already felt like a part of the energy she gave Laxus was back. Then she started to inspect the blond man's wounds as she lifted up the bloodied shirt.

"Didn't think you were capable of taking advantage of an unconscious man" said Laxus, referring to his almost bare chest.

Red tinted her cheeks, and that, even though she already knew he was only teasing her.

"Idiot" she simply said before resuming to her inspection.

But he stopped her, placing a hand on her cheek, locking her eyes to his. Despite his teasing tone a few seconds before, he was now serious.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Still a little tired, but I'll be alright. And you too" she said tenderly.

To his lack of answer, she was about to return her attention to his wounds, but Laxus wasn't done.

"Why?"

She gave him a questioning look, encouraging him to elaborate.

"Why are you still here with me? After what I've done to your father, after learning I'm a monster, after what I did to you..."

It was her turn to place her hand on his cheek.

"What your father forced on you as nothing to do with you. And how could I resent the man who saved me so many time I can't count anymore, the man I'm falling for a little more every passing day... even if you're getting on my nerves most of the time" she added with a teasing smile.

Then she bent to kiss him. The young man didn't complain, sliding his hand on the hip of that perfect body.

Laxus! Mira! They heard screaming far away.

Letting go of one another, they could see Elfman and Evergreen and Lisanna rushing in their direction.

I'll leave it there for today! :) There is only one other chapter before the epilogue :o I hope the past week made up for the incredible amount of time it took me to translate this story!

See you soon!

Lily xxx