Wow okay. Again, I've had this chapter done for a long while but I confused myself with the timing. They left Rosemary's forest, spoke to Caleb and Miza, met up with Reiki and made it to Crocus all in one day. Then after thinking about it.... Where did they get food?

This'll be the last time something like this happens. I can assure that timing won't be a problem again, lol.

Enjoy Chapter 11!

Nova did as she was told.
She ran back into the small house, panicked.

"Guys!" She exclaimed, "we need to get out of here."

Nobody questioned it. The boys woke from their nap and Nashi stuffed her flower petals back into her bag. They all scrambled to get out the door.

"Nova, what's happening?!" Nashi asked, as they ran the opposite direction of where Reiki and Silver faced off. It was pitch black, so Nova sparked electricity and hoped it was enough to guide them.

Nova swallowed, "Its one of the Gates. I think they found out that Reiki was plotting against them."

Nobody saw it, but Gale clenched his teeth.

"Which one?" Storm asked. They were running into a forest now, one similar to that of Rosemary's.

"Silver, Gate of Absolute Zero," Nova answered. "He's one of the stronger ones..."

"Uh, yeah," Gale cut in, "He's not just one of the King's assassins or personal bodyguards-- Silver is one of his personal advisors." He held the straps to his satchel tighter.

"What does that mean?" Nashi asked inridiculously.

"It means that he's not just a hunk of meat," Storm answered, "He's fricken intelligent."

"Great!" Nashi exclaimed, hoping she wasn't going to trip over something anytime soon. "So we're dealing with a smart and strong assassin?!"

Nova skidded to a stop. She cursed under her breath. Gale cursed after her.

Silver stood in front of them. Reiki was in one hand, weak. He dropped the redhead to the floor, and then proceeded to walk towards the group.

Storm's spine tingled. It wasn't of fear, and it wasn't a shiver. He wasn't sure what it was. He rose his arm, as if he was protecting Nashi.

Gale subconsciously slid the bag behind him.

Silver was heading for Nova, who looked like she was ready for a fight, but paused.

His head turned, centimeter by centimeter. He made eye contact with Nashi, and then Storm. He frowned.

Staring at Storm, he asked, "Who might you be, boy?"

"My name is Storm," he answered, straightening himself out.

Nashi took a moment to gather herself, but she finally pushed herself in front of Storm, "Who are you?"

Silver snickered. Then he stopped to take a look at Nashi, "I'm Silver, the third Gate..." his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes squinted at her. "And you, my dear, give off the same aura as King Igneel..."

Gale sucked in a breath. Silver wasn't just a Gate. He wasn't chosen by Zeref. King Igneel was Zeref's and Natsu's father, which means...

Gale's eyes travelled between Storm and Silver. Then Reiki, whose eyelids were barely lifted.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nashi asked dumbly. "Get out of our way, and nobody else gets hurt."

The Gate smirked.

"Nashi," Reiki murmured behind Silver.

"Tell me," Silver squatted down to get on Nashi's level, "little girl, do you happen to dye your hair?"

She wasn't able to answer.

Silver snapped his head over to Nova, who had her hand outstretched. She had hit him with a bolt of lightning. He was stunned, if only for a couple seconds.

Gale took Nashi's hand and dragged her out of the area.

Nova and Storm followed, along with Reiki struggling to get up.

Nashi, Gale, and Nova stopped.

"I've got him," Storm said, putting Reiki's arm around his shoulder, "go!"

Nashi reluctantly followed the other two.

"C'mon," Storm grunted.

"I don't think so."

Storm felt a hand on his shoulder. It squeezed, and he felt like he couldn't escape without a snap coming from his shoulder.

Then, he realized, he couldn't move his feet even if he wanted to.

When he looked down, all he saw was ice coating his feet. Reiki's boots were frosted over, too.

"I was supposed to grab the princess," Silver said. "But I don't think King Zeref would enjoy having other guardians around, either."

"What are you talking about?" Storm grunted, attempting to pull his feet out of the ice.

When he looked over, he noticed that Reiki was being froze a lot faster than himself.

"Listen to me, Storm," Reiki said. He grabbed onto Storm's wrist before the ice could reach it. "Pretend I'm a weapon. A sword, when I freeze over."

"Ha!" Silver snickered, "the kid's crazier than I thought."

Storm shook his head, and focused his attention towards Silver again. "Why are you doing this to us? What guardian?"

"They haven't told you, I see," Silver smiled. "You, my dear boy, are a protector of the Dragneel bloodline."

Storm felt his bones quake. The ice wasn't just covering him-- it was freezing him from the insides out.

Truth be told, it was beginning to hurt.

"What are you talking about?" Storm said. "I don't even-"

Silver moved his hand to pat Storm's head, "You are one of the stronger ones, their personal body guards."

Ice was beginning to cover Reiki's eyes.

"Stop!" Storm exclaimed, "He's-"

A whoosh was heard, and the ice shattered.

"Tch," Silver grunted.

"Now, Storm!" Reiki exclaimed suddenly.

It freaked Storm out enough that he actually did it-- he acted as if Reiki was a type of sword.

He was even more freaked out when-- next thing he knew, he was holding the hilt of a sword in his hand.

Silver sneered.

"Reiki, explain to me what the hell is happening."

"I'll explain later, just get the gate!" It was Reiki's voice, inside Storm's head.

"This is making absolutely no sense!" Storm thought aggressively, before swinging Reiki at Silver.

If Storm knew the weight of the sword he was wielding, then he probably would've done better. However, Silver dodged the blow easily.

"You can't expect him to be able to wield you on the first try!" Silver exclaimed.

"Try again!"

Storm picked up the sword and swung again. He was closer, but didn't manage to hit Silver.

He swung once more, not waiting for Reiki to tell him to do so.

This time, Silver held the blade in his hand.

He pulled Storm forward, until he was in reach. Silver tugged on his locks, forcing Storm to drop Reiki and attempt to rip free of Silver's grasp. His eyes shut tightly, and teeth clenched.

"You're weaker than I thought," Silver said fiercely, "even your younger siblings put up more of a fight."

Storm's eyes shot open, "What?"

"We have them. Tell your group of friends to quit this impossible mission of yours and give us the girl. We'll let them go unharmed, but if you don't... we'll make the boy's life become insufferable."

A whiz of an arrow shot towards Silver, but all it hit was an ice sculpture. It shattered, leaving Storm to fall on the ground and pick Reiki up again.

The sword transformed, back into the human version of Reiki Fernandez.

"Nova... I know that it's you," Reiki exclaimed. Nova came out of a branch from above and jumped down to the ground. She held a bow and quiver of arrows in one hand.

Storm thought that she would've been a bit gentler with her approach. Maybe even had time for a thank you. Instead, she came out huffing and pulled Reiki by the shirt.

"You have a lot of explaining to do."

. . .

Gale and Reiki were sat on the forest floor, as the other three stood and glared at them with betrayal.

Before anything else was asked, Reiki chimed nonchalantly, "where did the bow come from, Nova?"

She scoffed. The anger in her electrifying eyes was undeniable, "I was hoping you could answer that for me. It just showed up the minute I left with Nashi and Gale."

A couple of drops of sweat were clearly visible on Gale's face.

Nashi held up a satchel, the bag that Gale wouldn't let go of the whole trip, "What is this?"

Gale's eyes shifted to the ground.

Nashi ripped the bag and pulled out a small tiara. Nova soon snatched it out of her hand and spoke, "and who does this belong to?"

Gale hesitated, so Reiki answered for him, "Princess Dragneel."

Storm's eyes turned to stone towards Gale, "and why do you have it?"

Gale swallowed as his face was glistening with sweat, despite it being quite cold and damp, "I was going to tell you guys."

The redhead sat next to him eyed him suspiciously, "and when was that?"

"You have no room to talk," Nova retorted. "You know who it is?"

Reiki's eyes met Nashi's, "Nashi."

She scoffed, "my parents died in the middle of a war. Levy found me on her doorstep. Why would they lie?"

"They didn't lie. Queen Lucy was found dead soon after she gave you to mom. King Natsu... well, no one knows when or where he passed."

Storm said lowly, "that's why you pulled us out of the library when you did..."

Nova turned to him, "what?"

"They were going to tell us the damn hair color of the heir, you didn't want Nashi to know that it was her," Storm raged.

"Nashi," Nova said, "what's your natural hair color?"

"It's..." she touched a strand of her dyed, dark hair, "pink."

"That was the color of King Natsu's hair," Storm fumed. He jumped from his spot and grabbed Gale by the collar of his shirt, "why didn't you tell us?"

"You would never come with me."

"Let him go, Storm," Reiki warned. He grabbed Storm's wrist.

Sure enough, Storm did let go of Gale's shirt. Then he turned to Reiki, "and you. What happened back there? How can you turn into a sword?"

"You and Nova are sworn protectors of the Dragneel bloodline. I'm a weapon to the Fullbusters."

"And you knew?" Nashi questioned, her voice cracked' "about all of it?"

Reiki nodded solemnly, "yes. I sensed you were the heir the moment you came in my sight."

Nova drew her fist back. It trickled with electricity as her fist came in contact with Reiki's face, his back slammed against an oak tree, "I trusted you."

"You still can," Gale exclaimed.

"No, we can't," Storm replied. "Because of your secrecy, they're holding my siblings hostage."

Nashi turned to him with eyes wide, "what?" Her facial expression showed betrayal and hurt. To be completely honest, she wasn't quite sure what was even happening anymore.

All she wanted was for the country to be at peace again.

"They want you, and this team to be disbanded."

After scoffing, Reiki stood up, "they're not going to follow through.

"What do you mean by that?" Storm asked while gritting his teeth.

"If you get them what they want, they'll just have another reason to use your siblings," Reiki explained, "like trying to find your father."

Storm scoffed, "It's useless trying to use them as bait to get that bastard out of the woods. They're not even his kids."

Gale snapped his head towards him, "you knew?"

"Course I knew!" Storm snapped, "he's a lying son of a bitch. Guess that's what you two have in common."

"Storm, I was only trying to-"

"Just shut up, Gale. I'm going to save my siblings. I just wish they'd asked for you instead of her," Storm stalked off with that being the last words said.

Nashi shook her head as he left. "I can't believe you two. If you would've just told me... If Gajeel and Levy would've told me... I just..." She took a step backward. It was a slow step, before she turned around and ran.

The only one who stood before Reiki and Gale was Nova.

Gale swallowed, then reached his hand out to her, "Nova, I-"

Nova took a step back, then shook her head, "don't talk to me. Or any of us." The last thing Gale saw before she walked into the shadows with the bow and quiver of arrows slung on her back.

Reiki squinted his eyes as they left, as if looking for something, "Gale, jog my memory."

Gale gave a side stare and then blurted, "about what?"

"I forgot why Storm has such strong feelings against his father."

"Oh my God," Gale fell backwards on the leafy ground.