Division

The wind blew passed the pair, shuffling their hair as they stood across from one another. Behind Erza's stern face were eyes filled with what looked like regret while Natsu's were laced with confusion as the blade lightly poked his throat.

"What do you mean you won't let me to fight?" he asked still not fully understanding her words.

"It's as I said." She replied quickly and firmly, "You will not be participating in this battle."

"I don't get what you're saying."

"That doesn't matter."

"But why Erza? Are you telling me to just sit back and watch everybody fight without me?" he asked, anger beginning to bubble to the surface.

"That is exactly what I'm saying to you."

"Then tell me why." His eyes met hers, his stare was solid and angry. Erza didn't like seeing Natsu like this, but this was the only way she knew…the only way she knew how to… She saw no other alternative.

"Fine." Natsu stated flat as he turned around, his back facing Erza as he walked back to the guild hall. "If you won't tell me the reason then I'm not going to listen to you."

"Natsu stop!" Erza yelled but her cries fell on deaf ears as the distance between them grew bigger. "Stop I said!" again he ignored her calls.

"Natsu...please." She said the last word low, "I don't want to do this, don't make me." Her eyes filled with regret as she gripped her sword and swung it in upwards, creating a stream of fire headed straight for the Dragon Slayer.

FWOOM!

…

Inside the Master's office, Aura & the others found themselves more than a little uncomfortable as they were being stared down by Master Makarov & Mirajane. *He's still as scary as I remember.* Aura thought to herself as she managed to stutter out a response to Makarov's question.

"Wh-what are you t-talking about Master?" She asked more than a little afraid. While she saw the Masters kind side when she was growing, she more often than not saw how fearsome he could be when she and her team would get in trouble at the guild. The past Makarov staring down reminded her of a particular event when…*On second thought, I'd rather not think about that day.*

"You heard me." His tone was frightening, "who are you?"

"M-my name is Aura."

"I know that already. Who are your parents?"

The question fell on the girl like a ton of bricks. Her face flushed white as the others looked at her with looks of equal fright. *Does he already suspect that-*

"Come on Master, she-"

"I wasn't talking to you Gray." He looked at the Ice wizard with a glance that seemed to crush the young man's soul. Gray shirked back like a wounded puppy in the face of his master.

"I know you may have your reasons for lying and keeping it a secret, but I can't in good conscience allow my children to get hurt because you aren't being honest with us. You don't have to worry, what you say here will not leave this room; and I won't tell your real parents."

Aura and the others stood in silence as the young dragon thought her options over. Really she had already broken her promise to Levy by telling her younger self and the others, what possible harm could it do to tell the Master and Mirajane? The timeline had already shifted twice, what was one more shift? As long as Natsu & Erza didn't find out it would be fine…right?

She exhaled deeply as she looked Makarov in the eyes. "Okay you win."

"Aura hold on." Lucy spoke out "You don't-"

"Yes I do Lucy. If I keep this secret who knows what could happen?"

"But you may make things worse for yourself." Gajeel commented

"I know, but I'm willing to take that risk to gain your guys trust." She then looked back at Makarov & Mirajane. "And you're sure you won't tell them about me? 100% positive?"

"Yes, you have my word."

She exhaled deeply again. "Ok. My real name is Aura Robin *Dragneel*. My parents are-"

FWOOM! The sound shook the guild hall, interrupting Aura's confession.

"What the hell was that?" Gray asked disoriented.

"We under attack?" Gajeel commented as he stepped in a battle ready position.

"I don't-"

BAM! Suddenly Droy had burst through the door interrupting the Master. His eyes were wide with surprise but also a hint of fear.

"Droy? What's wrong?" Levy asked her teammate sensing his uneasiness.

"Master! Natsu & Erza are fighting outside!"

"Is that all?" Makarov asked shrugging it off, "That's nothing new. Natsu always wants to fight Erza."

"Not like this." The fear became more prominent in Droy's voice, "It looks like they're trying to kill each other."

Aura's heart jumped for a brief second as she watched the Master rise from his seat. She looked to Mira who had a look of concern on her face. "What do we do Master?"

"Well we better go see what is going on." He sounded more annoyed than concerned about the matter though. He looked over at Aura's group, "We can finish this later, come on let's see what's got those too so riled up."

The group followed him out of his office and down the stairs as they made their way to the open guild doors. Everyone was standing in the doorway crowding it as they looked up into the sky at the two wizards in the air.

However instead of the usual egging on and excitement that usually comes when two wizards in the guild test their skills, the sounds that flooded the clashing attacks were ones of grief and strife.

"That's enough you two! This is going too far!" Cana yelled from the crowd

"Cana what's going on?" Makarov asked as he made his way to the front of the crowd.

"Oh Master. I don't know, Natsu & Erza went outside for a bit then all of a sudden they started fighting. But this isn't a normal fight, their pissed and I don't know what will happen if we don't stop them." Makarov could see the concern covering the card wizard's face.

Makarov's eyes widened as he watched Natsu & Erza land on their feet on the ground, both of them were panting hard gasping for breath but they refused to yield. Natsu's vest was ripped in half and he was bleeding from a cut on his cheek while he had various cuts not as deep covering his body. Erza was bleeding from the mouth, her armor had cracks and one of her grieves was all but destroyed but it was otherwise intact.

Makarov didn't believe it at first but looking at the two now he knew that if someone didn't stop this then only one of them would be walking away from this battle.

"What happened? Why are they doing this?" Juvia asked looking at Gray expectedly.

"I don't know." Gray answered as he walked forward. "Hey you two cut it out!" He yelled. "What do you think you're-"

FWISH!

Suddenly a gust of flame came for Gray, but he was able to put a shield up in time to protect himself. He then looked at Natsu furious, "Natsu what's your problem?!"

"Stay the hell out of this!" Natsu yelled back scaring some of his friends, including Lucy, Wendy, & Aura.

"Dammit!" Gray the turned his attention to Erza, "Come on Erza, stop this! What are you guys even fighting about?!"

"Natsu's right Gray, stay out of this." She then darted towards the Dragon Slayer to the shock of the ice wizard and everyone else.

As their attacks clashed, not only could Wendy feel the winds of anger and rage she also felt…pain, not just pain, she also felt sorrow and regret. All of it was coming from Natsu & Erza, but also Aura. Wendy turned to look at her new friend whose face was just as shocked as everyone else's.

As the pleas to stop continued to ring in the air, Natsu found himself on his back on the ground. Erza stepped on his chest, making it nearly impossible for him to move. She drew her sword back, ready to administer the final blow as it drew closer to Natsu's face.

"Erza stop!" Makarov's voice rang out in anger as Erza's blade stopped short of Natsu's throat. She held it there as Natsu looked into her eyes with an anger only reserved for his fiercest enemies but there was also a hint of pain that she couldn't identify. "Erza!" Makarov yelled again at the Knight.

SHUNK!

She stuck her sword in the ground next to Natsu's head as she requipped back into her Heart Kreuz armor, her Flame Empress blade also disappearing. "Now, back away from him and go back into the guild hall *now*." The ice in his tone when he said now sent a shiver up everyone's spine, well everyone except Natsu & Erza. She removed her foot from Natsu's chest and began walking towards the guild hall.

Once she was a safe distance away Lucy, Mira, & Wendy ran to Natsu's aid, as they helped him up. "Let me go." He said angrily as he shrugged the three off.

"Natsu." Lucy said concerned as she looked at him.

Erza stopped suddenly as she heard Natsu getting up, coincidentally she was standing next to Aura. "You see now Natsu? If it wasn't for the Master you wouldn't be able to stand right now. How do you expect to fight with us with power so weak?" Her eyes were covered by her hair so it was hard to see her mood, but Aura could sense the sorrow & regret in her young mother's voice.

"Erza that's enough. Go back inside." Makarov scolded as she continued to walk. Aura watched with sorrow as her young mother walked back inside the guild hall. *Mother.*

"Natsu what was that all about?" Lucy asked him, but he was still very upset as he clutched his injured right shoulder and walked in the opposite direction of the guild hall. 'Natsu?" Lucy called again as we walked off into the distance.

"Leave me alone." He said roughly as he continued to grab his arm. Happy, feeling just as much sorrow as his friend, flew to catch up to him. Everyone looked at Natsu, regret on their faces. It was obvious that his body was aching but that wasn't why his voice was so rough, something else was hurting. Maybe his pride was hurt in the fight, but that was a given. No, it was something else within him that was hurt or maybe even broken; something that would be hard to fix, something that was unknowingly given to the person, the woman that had left him on the ground…maybe it was his heart.

Lisanna looked at Elfman expectedly as she spoke to him. "Elfman-"

"Let it go Lisanna, Natsu's a man. He has to deal with this himself."

"But-"Wendy began to protest but Carla cut her off.

"He's right Wendy, Natsu has to sort this event out on his own. Otherwise he won't be able to help us when we need him."

Mirajane looked at Natsu who was looking smaller and smaller in the distance as she spoke to Master Makarov. "Master, you don't think we should-"

"Let the boy go Mira. You know how Natsu can be, we have to let him figure things out for himself." He then looked back towards the guild hall, "It's obvious that this was more than just a fight for Natsu & Erza."

Erza sat in the guild hall alone at the bar, she clenched her fists tightly in anger as she slammed one onto the bar; but she wasn't angry at Natsu, she was angry at herself. Her fists shaking with anger.

Natsu and Happy continued to walk out of Magnolia. Happy continued to hover next to his friend, sorrow all over his face. "Natsu…" he said empathically as he saw his friend's eyes hidden behind his bright pink hair.

Only two words escaped the wounded Dragon Slayers lips…

"Dammit Erza."