Metallica's POV:

I wandered around in the woods silently. I knew that Gajeel, Wendy, Freed, Ever, and Bix would be on my trail. Being that Wendy and Gajeel are Dragon Slayers doesn't really help my case. They could easily pick up my scent. 

I knew that I would be caught eventually. It was just a matter of time. 

But I wanted to see her. 

Kysta. 

~ ~ 

Wendy's POV:

"Her scent leads over here!" 

I dried my tears, and Carla flew me up higher. I cast a glance around, trying to get a glimpse below the trees. 

I sighed, and asked Carla to land. 

"We aren't covering anything from the air. Let's search the rest on the ground," I said, and Carla nodded once. We took off through the trees, following her scent. It was faint, but still there. 

We eventually all found each other again. Freed, Evergreen, Bixlow, and Laxus had all joined the hunt for the missing Iron Dragon Twin. Gajeel, Lily, Natsu, Happy, Erza, Gray, Juvia, Lucy, and Levy had all bunched into groups, too. 

"We have to find her! What if she gets caught again?! I wouldn't be able to live through it again! Flame Brain! You better have seen somethin'!" Gajeel was loosing his mind, and he pulled Natsu up to his face. 

"Gajeel! That's not going to solve anything! Put him down!" Levy shouted from behind him. Gajeel dropped the poor pyro, and he toppled to the ground. He landed in mud, and growled at the wild man. 

"I think I found 'er!" Bixlow suddenly shouted, and we all followed him. We came to a cemetery, and slowed down to a walk. We all traveled passed the gate, and saw only one person there. 

It had been raining for a few hours now, almost washing away her scent. But now it was as strong as ever. 

"Wait. Stop here," Erza suddenly swung out her arm, and everyone stopped at her command. 

"Feel that?" She asked, and that's when I did feel it. 

Sadness, Anger, Vengeance.

It was so strong, it had me taking a step back. 

Metallica's hands were clutched into fists, she was shaking tremendously, and I could smell the salty tears that she was shedding. 

"She's cryin'..." Gajeel spoke aloud, and everyone stood in shock. 

"I'll get ya back for this ya fucking bastards. I swear on my life, I'll kill every damned last one of ya. You'll pay for taking my Kysta. She wasn't yours to take," Metallica shouted at a grave, and fell to her knees, sobbing. She held onto the headstone in front of her, clutching it as if her life depended on it. 

When she calmed down, she stood up. 

"I know you're all there. I smelt ya a mile away from here. I knew you'd find me, and find out. Just, leave me alone," She spoke up, and we all gasped. She turned around, facing us, and her usually bright red eyes were now dull. I hated seeing her like this. 

Without thinking, I ran to her. Tears of my own falling from my eyes, and I latched onto her for the 3rd time. She stood in shock for a minute, before dropping to her knees again, and hugging me to her chest. 

I sobbed into her shirt and vest as she cradled me, and honestly, I didn't mind her treating me like a little girl. She felt like my mother or sister, and I haven't had that in a long time. 

"Ya remind me so much of her," Metallica whispered over the rain, and made me cry harder. 

"Gomenasai. I don't mean to bring back old memories. Gomenasai, gomenasai," I repeatedly apologized, but she shook her head, and pulled me back to look at me. She smiled through her tears, and brought her forehead to mine. 

"Ya have nothing to apologize for. That's exactly what Kysta would've done. She said that whenever someone cried. So I never did, in front of her. She was like my daughter. They took her life from me. I watched as she bled to death from all of the wounds they left behind. I tried to snap the chains, but they had a magic drainin' spell. But somehow, I did it anyway. I ran over to my daughter, and held her in my arms as she continued to bleed. I tried everything to save her. But she only smiled at me as I cried for the first time while she was watchin'. She told me that she was sorry, that she wanted to make her momma happy, but that she only made me cry. Then she told me that she was gonna go back to her real momma, and then she was gone. My little blue-haired girl, big beautiful brown eyes, and I wasn't able to protect her. I... I loved her."

Everyone was surrounding us now. She hugged me back to her chest, and I clutched onto her, hard. Tears were everywhere. We were all on our knees, and just crying.

Laxus.

The Thunder Legion.

Erza.

Gray. 

Natsu. 

Happy. 

Lily. 

Carla.

Gajeel.

Lucy.

Juvia. 

Levy. 

Me. 

And Metallica. 

~ ~ 

We all returned to the guild soaking wet. But no one minded. We all just kinda sat in a corner table together, me sitting in Metallica's lap. She refused to let me go, and I refused to let her go. I silently agreed to become her second daughter, but not a replacement of Kysta. 

"What's up with those guys?"

"I dunno, but I have a feeling we shouldn't ask."

Whispers echoed off the walls of the guild, but we all ignored them. 

I sniffled from my endless crying, and Metallica laid her head on mine. I sat facing Laxus and Gajeel from my spot on her lap, and held her left arm. I traced her guild mark that Gajeel had just placed in black, and she sighed. 

"Hey, Metallica-chan?" I whispered, and heard her hum. Everyone glanced over at us, and watched as I continued to traced her new mark. 

"Where are you gonna live?" I sniffled, and she stopped rocking me. I pulled back to look up at her, and saw a small smile on her face. 

"I'll figure it out. Don't worry 'bout me, Cloudy," She whispered, and I giggled at the nickname, assuming she got it from me being a Sky Dragon Slayer, and clouds are in the sky. 

"Metallica-chan? Really, Juvia wants to know, too," Juvia spoke up from her seat next to Gray, hands clasped together, and she looked at Metallica. She sighed, and shifted me a little backwards. I leaned back into her chest, and played with a strand of her spiky black hair. 

"I don't have a place. Ya gotta remember, I just broke outta that hellhole a few days ago," She grumbled in defeat, and I gasped. I pulled back again and looked at her. Erza, Lucy, Levy, Evergreen, and Juvia staring at her, too. 

"You can stay with me! I have enough room," Levy said excitedly, and Metallica sweat-dropped with a red face. 

"Eh? I don't think so..." She trailed off, and Levy sat back down in her chair, arms crossed with a sheepish look. 

"Heh, yeah. I guess you don't really know me that well, heh," Levy giggled, and Gajeel's face flushed at the sound. I bit back a smile, and made a mental note to tell Metallica and the rest about it later. 

"What about me?" Erza and Lucy said at the same time, then they started to argue about it. Well, Erza was yelling at Lucy, and Lucy was sweat-dropping. 

"Juvia will invite you to Juvia's home!" Juvia said, starry-eyed. Metallica got blue lines under her right eye, and she made a face of embarrassment. 

"Uh, Juvia? I'm not sure if that's such a good idea," Erza butted in, then Juvia's face burned a bright red as she remembered that her whole house was Gray themed. 

"Y-Yeah. Erza's right. Gomenasai..." Juvia sat, her face all flustered and embarrassed. 

"My place? We've known each other awhile," Evergreen piped up, and smiled. Metallica unwrapped one of her arms from around me, and scratched the back of her head. 

"I dunno. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. It might be a little awkward. I think I'm just gonna crash back at an old warehouse I found," She said nervously, and everyone at our table looked at her. 

"What?!" They all yelled, Gajeel's, Bixlow's, Laxus's, Freed's, and Lily's voices being heard over anyone else's. 

"Eh?" Metallica stuttered. 

"There's no way in hell I'm lettin' my baby sister stay in a damn warehouse. No way! I don't care if ya hate me or not, I won't allow it!" Gajeel fumed, the others agreeing. 

"Yeah. I won't accept defeat in this battle. You're staying with us in our dorm," Lily crossed his paws across his chest, and floated above the table with Carla and Happy. 

"Aye!"

"I agree."

Metallica huffed, but nodded anyway. 

"Fine. But I swear, if Natsu touches me like this mornin', I'm leavin'," She threatened, and all of us looked at Natsu. 

"Heh heh, I was asleep...?" He spoke it as a question, and all of the guys growled at him. 

"Natsu, you have a 5 second-" Before Bixlow could finish his sentence, Natsu took off running. Then, all of the guys stood up and chased after the dead man, leaving the rest of us girls here. Even Erza, Happy and Lily were chasing him. And Lily was in his full size, sword extended beside Erza's.

"Oh god. This isn't gonna end well," Lucy sighed, and everyone laughed. 

"Do they always act like this?" Metallica asked from behind me, and I nodded. 

"Well, not Laxus, Freed, Bixlow, or Lily. They usually just sit back and watch everyone else do it," Evergreen explained, and I nodded again. Metallica pat my head a few times, before picking me up as she stood, placed me down in her seat, and popped her knuckles. 

"Well, I guess I better stop it, then," She said, and walked up to where Natsu was about to turn. 

Oh goodness, this is about to get a little messy. 

~ ~

Metallica's POV: 

I stood and waited a second before Natsu turned the corner. I smirked at his wide eyes, and got in a stance. I gave no one any time to react or dodge as I formed my attack. 

"Roar of the Iron Dragon!" 

Dark gray mist sprayed from my mouth in a roar, and hit all 9 wizards. The attack sent them flying into a wall behind them, and they all dropped to the ground. I skipped over to them, and grabbed an arm. 

"Up ya go," I smiled, and helped Laxus up. He grumbled about being knocked down by a girl, but thanked me anyway. 

"You too," I grabbed Freed and Bixlow's arms as well, and lifted them up. They went to sit back down at our table with the others and Laxus, and I helped everyone else up. 

When I got to Natsu, I helped him up, his eyes spinning in spirals since he was the first to receive the hit, which means he got the full force. 

I threw him over my back, and walked back with Happy and Lily floating above me. 

"Was that really necessary, Metallica?" Lily's voice cracked as he chocked the question out. 

"Aye. If I wouldn't have, then there was no way you guys would've listened to me," I explained, and Happy nodded. 

"Aye," He stumbled onto the table next to Carla, Lily doing the same as they face planted. 

"Fools," Carla huffed, and crossed her paws. Wendy giggled, and I plopped a still-dizzy Natsu in his seat. Then I sat in the seat in between Wendy and Bixlow. Wendy leaned her head on my forearm, not tall enough for my shoulder, and sighed. 

"Well, I think we better be heading out now. The rain has let up a little bit, so me and Natsu are gonna go. Later, guys!" Lucy lifted Natsu up, along with Happy, and ran out of the guild. 

"Yes, we must be going, too, child. Come on," Carla sprouted her wings, and picked Wendy off of her chair, and onto her feet. Wendy sighed, and wrapped her arms around my neck. I hugged her back, and pressed a kiss to her forehead in secret. She smiled, and pranced out of the guild with Carla and Erza, who volunteered to walk them home in case. Honestly, I think she sensed my discomfort with her walking home alone, even though Carla was with her. But, really. What's a cat gonna do besides mess your face up a bit? 

"I'm heading out, too. I suggest the rest for you guys. C'mon, Juvia!" Levy grabbed Juvia's hand, and she yelped in surprise. Gray decided to head home, also, so Juvia quit struggling against the bookworm's hold when they all three walked together. I saw Gajeel glare at Gray, and I nudged him. 

"You go on out. I'll be there in a bit," I told him, and I sent a private wink his way, causing a huge blush to coat his cheeks. But he didn't argue, scooped Lily up, and raced after Levy. This left Laxus, Freed, Bixlow, Evergreen, and me. 

"I'm tired. If you need anything, you know where to find me," Evergreen stood up, and walked out of the guild after giving me her address. We said goodbye, and she was gone. So, make that the guys and me. 

"So, are you really going to stay at your brother's house? I thought you weren't necessarily on good terms?" Laxus suddenly asked, and the other 2 snapped their heads in his direction. He looked at them, a look of confusion on his face. 

"Dude, no," Bixlow whispered, but they forgot that I have Dragon hearing, so I heard it. 

"It's fine. I don't really have a choice, anyway. And, I didn't really find a warehouse. That was just an excuse to get the girls off my back," I admitted, and the guys chuckled. 

"Well, you're welcome to stay at my place anytime," Bixlow offered, and stuck his long tongue out, revealing his black guild mark. I smiled, and nodded. 

"I'll think 'bout it. Maybe tomorrow," I said, and they looked at me in shock. 

"Woah, I didn't think you'd actually say yes. Score! In your face, Freed!" Bixlow cheered, and Freed growled. 

"Metallica? What about mine? You're welcome to stay there, too," He said angrily, and I chuckled. 

"Sure."

"Mine too," Laxus piped up, and the 2 whipped around to look at him again. 

"Really?!" They shouted, and got into a huge argument about who I'd be staying with. During this time, I decided to sneak away. However, I didn't get very far. 

"Nuh, uh-uh. You aren't going anywhere, missy. Say, which one do ya like better?" Bixlow sat me on his lap, and trapped my arms in a hug. My face went red. 

"What? Bix, let me go!" 

"Ha! She still calls me that!" 

"Whatever! Like that means somethin'!" 

"Laxus! Why are ya arguing with 'em? I thought ya didn't like me?" 

"I never said that-"

"In fact, we all like ya very much, baby cakes~!"

"Eh!? Don't call me that, you long-tongued bastard!" 

"Ha! Now what's she calling you?" 

"Shut it, Freed!" 

"It doesn't matter! Let. Me. Go!" 

"No," They all said at the same time. 

Well, then.