Actions mean more than words, but sometimes those actions can be easily mistaken if no one gives any reason behind them. Sometimes those reasons can't be said aloud, because others might take them as being selfish for not taking into consideration their feelings and only thinking for themselves. Rose was selfless, she always was more concerned with the needs and wishes of the people she loved than worrying about her own wellbeing. However, she knew people were still going to get hurt no matter which one of her two only options she took. She was going to be seen as a coward, running away from a vision she wasn't sure if it was going to be true. If she stayed, she was going to be seen as an egocentric person, not caring for the safety of her friends and family, just because she didn't want to be alone and feel alive when she was with them. It didn't matter what route she decided to take, she was going to be a selfish person in both ways.
Laxus brushed his thumb on her left cheek, wiping away the small tears that dare to escape from her beautiful golden eyes. The veins on her entire right side were still a dark purple color, almost black as ink. It was visible that the brunette was in excruciating pain and didn't have any idea to take that away from her. The earthquakes were starting to get more frequent than before and it was becoming obvious that such a power was coming from her "Just hold on a little longer, okay?" He said while keeping his calm as much as he could. "Make sure everyone is okay." He said to the Thunder Legion - who were not too far away. "I'll take Rose somewhere else." He added. The lightning dragon slayer had the feeling that if he didn't act quick, something bad could happen. The more time he spent near the brunette, he could feel something foreign coming from her, something that was trying to overpower her.
"But what is wrong? He is not around anymore. Shouldn't whatever he did to her be over already?!" Evergreen questioned while watching with worry and terrified for the brunette's condition.
Rose groaned in pain when another wave of magic was released and the ground underneath them trembled stronger than before - some cracking were starting to grow the buildings nearby. The brunette was reaching her limits and she didn't know if she was going to be able to do what Laxus had requested. Every time her body released a strong wave of magic, she only felt like everything inside of her was turning into pieces, like her blood was turning into acid and her bones into dust.
The lightning dragon slayer held her closer before putting one of his arms underneath her legs and the other one behind her back. "I don't know what that son of a bitch did to her, but I should take her out of here before it gets worse." He said before lifting her off the ground and carrying her bridal style. "Check on everyone and wait until the guild is here. I'll let you know how she is doing later on." He added.
The Thunder Legion stared at Laxus for a moment before nodding. They wanted to accompany the lightning dragon slayers. One of their own was in a bad situation and they didn't want to leave Rose's side until they were sure that she was okay. However, they also were aware that they needed to take care of things in town, as wizards, they needed to take care of the citizens first before doing anything else.
"At least let us know where you guys are going to be, yeah?" Evergreen requested without moving her eyes from the brunette. The fairy mage was beating herself up inside for not being able to help Rose as she should. For the time they had known each other, Evergreen had become very attached to her, compared to the rest of their previous guild. She did have a great relationship with the rest of the girls from Fairy Tail but it was never as close as the relation she grew to have with Rose for the past couple months.
Laxus nodded at his friend before using his magic to teleport him and the brunette away from the scene. He looked down when he felt Rose holding his button up shirt tightly with her small fists and her face twisting into one of pain. "We'll be there soon, just a little longer..." He quietly said. The lightning dragon slayer needed to be careful while carrying Rose and teleporting from one place to another. He needed to keep in mind where he was going, careful to not go somewhere where there were a lot of people in case Rose lost control once again. Laxus was seeing himself in a very tight situation, he wasn't sure if the place he was taking the brunette was going to be able to help her. However, he couldn't think of anyone besides her, it would have been different if his grandfather was around, he would have been the first person he would ask for help, but he wasn't there. He didn't trust a lot of people, especially when it came to the wellbeing of the woman he loved. She was the only one he could trust.
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The lightning dragon slayer's feet touched land, almost losing his balance from magic depletion but he regained it back again quickly making sure to not let Rose fall. His blue/gray eyes wandered around the area to check if he was in the right place. In front of them there was a large tree that was hollow in the middle and stocks had been pierced in a few areas, creating openings for windows and a massive ornate door with few stairs in front of it. Laxus sighed with relief knowing that he could finally be at peace without worrying about any enemy to be around.
"I hope you have a good explanation of why you left like that!" Someone angrily said aloud from inside. "You and Makarov are the same." She said before slamming the front door open with her eyes closed and her eyebrows were furrowed indicating how displeased she was. "I can always stop this treatment if you are not taking this seri-" She cut herself off when the area started violently shaking and Rose's scream resonated through the woods scaring the birds nearby away. Porlyusica gasped when she noticed the brunette on Laxus' arms and ran down the stairs to meet them. The older woman softly brushed her fingers over the brunette's right side of her face. "This is forbidden ancient magic, who did this?" She said with a more serious tone of voice.
"I don't know anything about that bastard, couldn't get anything from him." Laxus responded. He was still very angry with himself for not being there on time, at least before anything happened to her. During his battle with the water mage, he tried to get answers but the enemy never gave the lightning dragon slayer what he wanted, he just made him more pissed with his remarks just to anger him.
Porlyusica sighed while holding the bridge of her nose. She recognized the magic but she didn't know much about it. "Get her inside." She ordered the blonde before stepping to the side and left him enough space for him to walk in. Laxus without saying anything else he went inside leaving the pinkenette on her own outside. She looked up to the clear sky, her red eyes filled with concern. "You shouldn't have gone like that, they still need you..." She quietly said before turning around and walking back inside.
Inside the hollow trunk, there was a fairly large room that was decorated rather sparsely, without too much furniture, consisting of a bed where Laxus was laying Rose down, a working desk, several stumps and numerous crates and barrels. There also was a large collection of books placed on shelves which were dug into the trunk of the tree. Porlyusica walked in until she was right next to the bed so she could have a better look at the girl. "I had never seen this in person, and I can't guarantee you that I'll be able to help her." She said before looking at Laxus. "I can relieve the pain she is going through, but it won't stop her transition."
"Transition?" Laxus asked. "What do you mean?"
The older woman walked to her working desk and started to mix different types of herbs that she had on the shelves in front of her. "This type of magic not only overpowers the host but it also changes their nature to the caster's desire." She said while looking at Laxus from the corner of her eyes. "I won't be able to break the spell that was casted on her." She stopped mixing the herbs and brought the small bowl filled with an orange tonic. "But this should calm her down to give me some time to think about what I can do." She added before handing the drink to the lightning dragon slayer. "Try to make her drink all of it, this girl is very stubborn when it comes to medicine."
Laxus took the small bowl without questioning the older woman. Her response didn't give him the answers he was seeking, it didn't give the comfort he needed of knowing that everything was going to be okay. He looked down at the bowl in his hand, it wasn't that was going to cure the brunette but was something that could make things easier for her. Laxus only wondered when everything was going to stop, when everything was going back to normal. He just wanted to build a life next to her, one where both of them could be together without worrying about the dangers sometimes life could throw at them. Laxus was aware of how much Rose only wanted the most normal life a mage of their class could get and he was trying his best to let her enjoy that. He only hated the fact that the moment he turned his back, thinking nothing would happen but it did. "First those demons and now this..." He tiredly murmured.
"Rose is a very strong wizard, but there must be something about her magic that a lot of people are after." Porlyusica looked at the lightning dragon slayer for a second before looking through her shelves. "After the incident with Tartaros I had been trying to figure out what it is, but I haven't been lucky with my research but now with this..." She trailed off. "I'm going to need time to try to find a solution, but there is no record about how to treat it. Only an old story about this magic." Porlyusica said while she backed away from the bed and started searching for a book on one of the shelves. "What I just prepared would just stop any magic in her for a couple hours, I can't do anything if she keeps trying to destroy my place." She said with a scold while referring to the constant shaking in her place. "We still need to continue your treatment, I have a feeling that you are going to need all your strength in the future if things keep going the way that they are."
Laxus looked at the brunette while running his free hand through his golden locks feeling a little frustrated. One of his priorities was Rose's safety but he also needed to take into account his health if he wanted to be strong enough for him to take care of her. Rose's skin stopped glowing anymore but her body temperature wasn't near normal either. He carefully pushed her bangs back, moving it away from her closed eyes. He could tell by the frown and the heavy breathing that she wasn't doing any better. "Hey..." He tried to get her attention while caressing her head. "I need you to drink this, yeah? It is going to make you feel better." He softly said while gently lifting her head from the back and getting the bowl closer to her pale lips. Rose slowly separated her lips allowing Laxus to slowly pour the bitten medicine into her mouth.
"I'm surprised she actually listens to you." The older woman commented before picking a worn out red book from the shelves and started to look through the pages. "If you weren't here and she was in the condition she is right now, she would refuse to take anything I give her."
"What is going to happen to her if you can't stop this?" Laxus quietly wondered.
Porlyusica sighed, not even herself liked the answer to that question. "The Rose that we all know won't exist anymore." She dryly added while looking through the pages until she found what she was searching for. "I just can't believe someone actually got their hands on such a dangerous spell. Whoever that is, he needs to be stopped. Who knows what he is planning but it won't be good if history repeats itself."
The constant shaking on the small living space stopped, an action that drew the attention of both Porlyusica and Laxus, cutting their conversation short. The lightning dragon slayer looked toward the brunette just to see her fast asleep. The glowing on her skin was completely gone but the dark purple veins on her right side were still there. "She won't change... Rose is the strongest person I know. She'll be able to surpass this."
The older woman scoffed at the blonde's words. "What makes you think that?" She asked before returning to the shelves with all her herbs.
"Because I know I won't let her lose herself. Besides... I know you wouldn't allow it either." Laxus said without moving his blue/gray eyes away from the brunette.
"You foolish humans really don't know the kind of power you are dealing with." Porlyusica said under her breath while her hold on the book tightened. She did care for Rose, she had been looking after her ever since she arrived at the guild. She didn't like all the misfortunes that Rose had been facing by herself through the years. Just when she thought that she could stop worrying about her, that she was going to be enjoying the life she deserved. However, life decided to be selfish, giving her a hard time like it hasn't been enough.
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Her eyes fluttered open, feeling too tired to even breathe. Rose sat down bringing one of her hands to her head when she felt the dizziness taking over her. She didn't remember much but bits and pieces after seeing Laxus next to her. She looked around the small room, recognizing the place even though the only source of light was moonlight going through the small windows. Rose didn't know for how long she had been unconscious or what had happened while she wasn't aware of her surroundings. The brunette spotted a muscular figure fast asleep on one of the stumps and his head supported against the wall. She had already made a decision and she couldn't change her mind. She looked down to her hands, each of them contrasting each other. Her clean left hand represents who she was at that moment, the Rose she grew up to be and she wanted to always be. Then there was her right hand, stained with a future she never asked for, a future that had been forced into her, and the beginning of a person she didn't want to be. She took a deep breath, his scent bringing relief and peace to her soul and giving her a little of strength to not break down right then and there.
Rose slowly got off the bed, making sure to not wake Laxus up. As much as she wanted to give a proper goodbye she couldn't. She already knew it was only going to take a word from him to make her stay. He was the only one capable of changing her mind but she couldn't allow that, not when it was the best for everyone she loved. She bit her quivering bottom lip, holding the sob that was threatening to escape. Rose didn't want to leave but it was her only option. She brought her hand to where the hairpin rested holding some of her curls. Rose carefully removed it at the same time she felt her heart shattering for what she was about to do. Laxus didn't deserve any of that, he deserved to be happy and she couldn't give him that. Rose looked at the hairpin one last time and softly brushed her thumb over her hair accessory murmuring a 'I'm sorry' before letting it on top of the pillow where she was resting not long ago. She walked toward the door and held the cold doorknob carefully, twisting it trying to not make any noise. Once the door was fully open, she looked back one more time to where the man she loved was going to stay behind and she didn't know if she was going to see him ever again.
The brunette let go of a shaking breath, reminding herself that she wasn't doing that not only for herself but also for him and everyone else. Rose got out of the cozy place and closed the door behind her. She couldn't look back, not when she still had a little of strength left to keep going with her decision. Rose walked through the woods, planning to make her way as far as she could before dawn.
"So this is your decision." Someone said from behind making Rose stop on her tracks.
Rose hugged herself before looking up to the empty night sky. "It is not like I have another choice." She quietly said.
"There is always a choice but it all depends which one you take." Porlyusica said while looking at the brunette from behind. "Do you know where you are going?" She wondered.
The dual dragon slayer shook her head. "Somewhere where I won't be able to hurt anyone." She said before turning to look back at the old woman. "I see you used the same thing you gave Bisca for when I used to lose control." She added while trying to use her own lightning magic but nothing happened.
Porlyusica sighed while closing her eyes. "It was the only way before you destroyed my house. Do you know what you are dealing with?" She wondered.
"I feel like I'm a bomb about to explode, and that I would lose myself if that ever happens." Rose looked to the side, not having the guts to look the older woman in the eyes. "I can't risk anyone's life just for my own desires..." She quietly said.
Silence took place between both women, none of them sure on how they should continue their conversation. However, one of them didn't know how she should proceed, whether she should let the brunette continue with her decision or stop her from leaving. Porlyusica took a few steps closer to Rose until she was standing in front of her. Rose tried to take one step back but it was interrupted when two arms wrapped around her, bringing her close to the elderly woman in front of her.
Rose was slightly shocked by the show of affection coming from the pinkenette - especially when she wasn't the type to do such a thing. The brunette felt like the wall she had been trying to keep up went down in an instant and buried her face between the crook of her neck, quietly crying her pain away. "You are always giving me a headache, coming to me with more work to do... When are you going to stop getting in situations like this, uh?" Porlyusica quietly said, making Rose laugh a little bit between her quiet sobs. Even when her words sounded like she didn't care much about her, Rose knew how kind and caring the woman was, no matter how cold and angry she portrayed herself.
"Thank you..." Rose murmured after a while. "Thank you for everything you have done for me." She sincerely said before pulling away. "May I ask you one last thing?"
Porlyusica scoffed at the brunette, going back to her usual coldhearted personality. "Ungrateful child..." She murmured. "Still asking for more... what is it?"
A smile ghosted the brunette's lips before she looked past the elderly woman toward the treehouse where she resided. "When he wakes up and asks where I am... tell him you didn't see me at all." Rose requested.
"You know he would still search for you." She responded.
"I know..." Rose said under her breath before meeting eyes with the pinkenette. "Hopefully I'll be far gone before he wakes up but before I leave..." She trailed off, taking Porlyusica's full attention. "I want to know how he's doing?"
"I thought you didn't know about his condition." Porlyusica said a little confused. "But to answer your question, he is slowly getting better, even though he has to depend on medication for a while."
"The constant medicine arriving at our house was enough to be aware that he wasn't fully well." Rose said with a tiny smile while still looking at the treehouse. "He always tries to make things easier for me and doesn't like to make me worry about anything. I'm not surprised that he tried to keep his condition quiet from me." The brunette sighed before looking back at the elderly woman. "I should be leaving now. I don't know how much time I have left before the effects of what you gave me worn out, so I should take advantage of it. Goodbye Porlyusica..." The brunette trailed off before looking up to the sky once more. Goodbyes were one of the things Rose hated the most, especially when she knew she wasn't going to see anyone again. Rose took a deep breath before looking at the elderly woman that took care of her for years one last time. "Hopefully destiny will let us meet again." Rose said while giving a closed eyed smile even though it was just one to hide her true emotions. She knew she couldn't return to them, not even when she was a danger to herself and to the world itself.