Hello everyone!

Today, not a lot of action but many answers :) Hope you'll like it and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Lily xx

P.S. Love you all!

Mira and Laxus where invited to take place next to the fire, burning at the center of the base camp. Even though Mira was well aware of Laxus's lack of patience, she saw him sit when Levy offered him to. Then she was handed a cup of tea which she gladly accepted. As for the young man, he glanced at his own cup with doubt before looking back at Levy, not paying attention to the numerous faces curiously turning to the newcomers.

"Will you tell us what's happening or not?" He complained. "We followed you so now it's time to tell us all you know."

Seeing the glare Gajeel threw at Laxus, Levy thought she better explain right away. The last thing she wanted was for those two to prove once more they didn't like each other.

"What Laxus is trying to say" specified Mira who didn't want a fight either, a large smile on her lips much to Laxus's annoyance "is that we would very much appreciate to know more about the DFA. Why are they our enemies?"

Levy bit her lower lip then started to explain.

"As you must have guessed, Gajeel and I are bearers, just like most of the people here. My own power is the increase of the connections in my brain that allows me to understand any language or dialect".

"That is amazing!" Exclaimed Mira who was impressed that such a power existed.

The young woman answered by a shy smile before resuming.

"That ability allowed me to read a certain classified information from a coded language after being sent to the wall".

"What kind of information?"

"The truth behind the existence of the fallen."

"What? Are you fucking kidding me?" Grumbled Laxus. "No one knows the origins of those creatures, much less the agency who's suppose to get rid of it!"

"The DFA creates the fallen" intervened Gajeel in a dry tone.

"As if!" said Laxus getting on his feet. "It's obvious that you're all crazy. Anyways, if there really was a band of fallen there, I don't see how someone like you could get out alive" he said, pointing at Levy.

"Without Gajeel I wouldn't have made it. Especially after they caught me with the documents."

"I'm sure Gajeel is strong fighter, but how did you manage to get out of there on your own?"

The dark glimmer in Gajeel's eyes appeared once more. As for the young woman, she simply discreetly slid her hand into her boyfriend's while talking, as if noting happened.

"Gajeel was part of the DFA before realising how much they where corrupted. He knew the wall very well and managed to escape with me".

"What did you learn in those documents?" Asked Mira who couldn't wait anymore.

"The fallen are in fact bearers at first" let out Levy in a sad tone.

"But..." Started Mira becomming whiter. "So your telling me anyone of us could..."

"No" denied Levy, without however showing a reassuring expression. "The bearers transforming into fallen have to do two essential steps."

"Have to? Wait, they want to become fallens?"

Levy confirmed with a nod, a serious look on her face.

"But why?" Asked Mira, not getting it at all. "Why would anybody want to end up like that?

"For power" understood Laxus to whom she turned. "You saw how hard it was to beat it? It's strength surpasses ours with ease. The question is how?"

"Every fallen first has to open themselves to dark magic by committing a murder" she answered.

"That's ignominious" whispered Mira.

The white-haired woman couldn't help but feeling hate towards those who's thirst for power was enough to take someone's live to obtain more of it. How could some body get this low? Then she noticed that Laxus had an empty look and seemed tensed. She was about to ask him if everything was alright but Levy continued.

"It's not all. They then have to accumulate a considerate amount of magical energy..."

"By absorbing the energy of another bearer" completed Gajeel to her hesitation, his arms crossed on his chest, looking at the flames.

A shiver of disgust took over Mira, soon replaced by a shiver of terror.

"If that so..."

"The only reason they have to recruit bearers is to absorb their powers" confirmed Levy, saddened by Mira's obvious despair.

Hardly had she finished her sentence the Mira and Laxus had jump on their feet.

"You could have said it earlier, metal head!" Yelled Laxus who was hiding his worry behind anger.

"And what good would have it done, hen? You can't leave for the wall in the middle of the night!"

"Yeah right" barked Laxus with sarcasm, after giving him a murderous look. "You're coming Strauss?" He added much to the lather's surprise.

The young woman didn't have to be told twice and picked up her bag, ready to follow him. Every minute of them doing nothing was an additional minute where Elfman could be depraved from his vital energy.

"Wait!" Cried Levy. "Gajeel's right. The woods are full of fallens at night, the moment they are the strongest... Especially next to the wall".

"Thanks for your help" said Mirajane "but we can't wait any longer while our siblings are in danger."

The blue haired girl pursed her lips.

"I understand your worry... If Gajeel was kept in there I..." her voice cut, not wanting to think about it any further. "But they wont get any help at all if you die tonight" she maintained her point.

"I can take you there tomorrow morning if you want me to!" Exclaimed a guy with salmon hair.

The lather didn't speak all night despite his presence around the fire, seeming too interested in pocking the flames with a stick until it was burnt to ashes.

"Who the hell are you?" Said Laxus straight to the point.

"Natsu!" He happily said.

"He's also one of the few that managed to escape the wall" specified Levy after Laxus's unconvinced look, clearly reticent of being guided by the young man. "He doesn't always seems like it but he knows what he's doing... most of the time" she added in a small voice.

Laxus couldn't help but looking at this flame for brains with discouragement while he focussed his attention back on the tiny bit of wood, all that was left of the original branch, and put it in the fire once more, burning his fingers doing so.

"Natsu! Your fingers are on fire" said the annoyed blond girl next to him in an exasperated tone.

"Oh! Thanks Lucy!" he said after noticing his own burning fingers, plunging his hand in the young woman's glass of water.

While Lucy started to complain about Natsu ruining her beverage, Mira turned her attention back on Levy.

"Eum..." started Mira "are you sure he's..."

"There is no way I'm following this retarded!" Barked Laxus.

"Salamander is an idiot" confirmed Gajeel "but he can be useful when needed. He'll lead you there and he knows how to fight... Gihi, not as good as me, but..."

"He doesn't even know his own finger are burning!" Tempered Laxus ready to leave.

"I don't feel pain!" Explained Natsu who, coming out of no where, had taken place between Mira and Laxus, not insulted at all by Laxus's comment.

"Perfect then!" Let out Laxus, pushing him back with a violent punch, letting his frustration run free.

"Oh! The new guy wants to fight!" Exclaimed Natsu, hitting his fist into the other, a bright smile on his face.

"Natsu, your nose..." sighed Lucy to the important blood lost that originated from his nose where Laxus hit him.

Even thought he didn't perceive his body's pain signals, it was obvious that he wasn't granted by an additional protection and his body bruised like any other.

"Just one night" insisted Levy, ignoring Natsu and Lucy. "Spend the night here and I promise you that you'll leave at dawn".

Despite her mind yelling at her to get Elfman this instant, the young woman knew very well that blindly travelling while the forest was the most dangerous was a terrible idea. Sighing, she resigned herself to drop her bag down, indicating that she'll take the advice. In the corner of her eye, she could see Laxus clenching his fists but giving in to the idea as well. Ever though she saw him act in an impulsive way more than once, Mira knew he wouldn't put his search for Evergreen in peril by taking a rash decision. Anyway, neither knew the way to the wall and looking randomly for the DFA's HQ would be a considerate lost of time without Natsu.

Both resigned, they respectively took place in the tent that was offered to them. They then tried to sleep, knowing very well that neither would obtain the right amount of sleep in what would most certainly be a long night.