Give the story time it builds up after the first chapter. Aside from my protagonist characters and their families, all characters and the game Gods Eater Burst belongs to Namco Bandai Games and D3 Publisher.

Enters the Madness

The First Unit Leader was mad and her mind lost to the world. Although the term mad can be vague at best, she fit the definition like a fancy hat. She hadn't lost herself nor was she a monster. Her character was beyond eccentric at best. Her fellow God Eaters at the Far East Branch can vouch for that. Any one of them would tell you that she was a wild spirit that kept everyone on their toes. No one could ever tell what she would do the next day, but all would say there was never a quiet moment when she was around.

Most would say who could blame her, especially her team. She got most of the hard missions- especially the solo ones, she always helped others on their missions when they asked along with doing her own for the day, she was bound to silence by many of Fenrir's secret actions, and she was put under constant stress as she watched comrades die or disappear as she did her best to keep everyone alive. But she was mad the moment she came to the Den, in fact she hardy changed at all since the day she arrived.

Her unit believed this was caused by an outside force. Perhaps it was caused from drinking polluted water, or perhaps her head was bump once or twice too much. But the main reason they believed was because of her mysterious past. Their leader never really talked about where she came from or what she did before she became a Gods Eater. At first they thought it was just too painful for her to talk about, too many sad memories, but as they got to know her in time they discovered that she just didn't care for long stories. And apparently she had a story long enough to write a trilogy.

But nonetheless, she was a harmless mad. One could even call it a breath of fresh air. Her first true act of madness, the Den thought, was that she approached Soma in an attempt to befriend him even after their first mission together. Soma had said that mission was one of the few times he had ever seen her serious. He would never forget the look in her eyes as she looked at Eric's dead body, it wasn't cold or caring. Her eyes were devoid of anything, nothingness existed in solid form in that moment as she looked down at the blood and remains, as if she was accustomed to events like that. But then she wiped it all away the next day and began to pester Soma for more missions together. The Den saw her as mad but they didn't think she was insane enough to approach the legendary Death god. She had heard the rumors whispering among the halls, and she did not care.

Soma at first dismissed her off as an annoying pest, always seeking a thrill for the edge which probably drew her to him since his presence always lead to disaster. He was mean to her, his words were cruel and yet she did not falter. Sometimes he would end up having to Link-Aid with her to save her ass, at others she would save his ass before he was even incapacitated. Perhaps Soma got tired of fighting her, maybe she had found a crack in his ice wall, but in time he began to accept her company- even call her his comrade. But it took many more missions before he called her his friend.

That crazy woman has been through it all with them. Lindow's MIA, Alisa's break down, the Ark Project, the possible Aragami Infection from Lindow's God Arc, and the whole rescuing Lindow from himself, she had been through it all with them. And even then she never faltered being who she was, a mad woman with a love for First Love Juice and an itch for excitement.

But now the Den has come to a complete silence. There was no excited ranting nor any sub unit running for their lives. The First Unit Leader has grounded to a halt. No she was not dead, but was dead silent as she recovered from a cold. She had picked up a high fever during her previous mission and ended up fainting on the way back to the Den. Most likely from the recent increase in missions at the Wailing Plains and her neglect to pull up her hood. Soma had to reluctantly carry her on his back the rest of the way as the team rushed her to the Sick Bay. She was released from the Sick Bay the very same day, but was bed written in her room and banned from any missions until her recovery... that was four days ago. The hallway to her room became eerily silent since she was bed written, not a peep was heard from her door, nor any sign of her was spotted around the Den. But they all subconsciously feared going through her hallway as if they believe if they passed her door she would burst out of her door and scare the crap out of them or snatch them. But their fears were foolish, no incident like that has come up at all. Their strong New-Type leader was finally taken down... by a cold.

But the Den went on, missions needed to be done. However, the days had lost their spunk when she wasn't around. As the First Unit would state as they came back from a mission.

"Man, we managed to survive today too." Kota sighed in exhaustion. They had just gotten done taking out a Tezcatlipoca and an Aether at the Forgotten Carrier.

"There's no need to complain, Kota. We've faced much worse before." Alisa commented.

"Still, that mission went a lot quieter than usually when Fia's around. Maybe she should take sick leave more often." Sakuya joked around.

"Are you saying that she should get sick more often or that she shouldn't be around as much in general?" Soma mocked accusingly in slight offense to Sakuya's sense of humor.

"N-no, I didn't mean it like that." Sakuya immediately corrected, sighing as the elevator doors opened up to the Entrance. "(Sigh) I'm sorry, I guess I'm just trying to make some humor of the situation to drown out my worries. I am starting to miss that bundle of firecrackers."

"Well hopefully she's doing better today." Kota cheered with a fist pump. "Lindow's got babysitting duties today after all."

"Ha, I wouldn't be surprised if he was giving her beer and smoking around her out of boredom." Soma teased with a smirk. They had all made it a habit of checking in on her or leaving at least one of them with her when the unit went out on a mission. They had taken shifts and turns of one person at a time, Soma's shift is suppose to be tomorrow.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Soma. Lindow is very caring and nurturing once you get down to it." Sakuya said, defending her husband. "Fia is in good hands right now."

Just as she said that, Fia burst the stairway doors open. All paused at her appearance at last after four days of isolation, it was like looking in the eye of a storm. But she didn't look up, she had her head down as she leaned on the door frame. Her raven hair was wild, like she hadn't combed it for days, and was spread all around her face as it lacked it's usually ponytail style. She dawned on nothing more than a Desert Tank Top and Halcion Sweats which she used for pajamas. Her body had a light coat of sweat, her skin lacked its usual sun pecked color as she lightly shook on her bare feet.

"Fia Slade, what are you doing out of bed?! You know you shouldn't be moving around so much with that fever of yours." Sakuya demanded as her maternal instincts kicked in. "And where is Lindow?! I swear if he's sleeping on the job he's gonna sleep on the couch tonight."

"..."

"Well don't be so quiet, Fia. Say something." Sakuya said in concern. But Fia's hair continued to cover her face from the others.

"Don't be a handful, woman. Get back to bed." Soma ordered. At last she looked up at them, but as nice as they tried to be about her lack of self-care due to being sick they couldn't help but flinch as they looked at her. "!"

"Holy crap, Fia!" Kota shouted out loud, voicing what the others were thinking.

Her crimson red eyes were blood shot and clouded as if in a daze. Eye-boogers covered her eye lids and snot leaked from her nose. The only color to her pale as death face was her blood red cheeks that burned with fever. But what they could not get out of their minds was that evil eat-shit-grin on her face.

"Heh heh, hehahaha hahaha." She began to giggle with an evil chuckle as her shoulders shook with laughter. Her eyes were like that of a predator making every muscle in their body ache to retreat. Her eyes searched through them with haste until they came upon Soma.

"!" He flinched back as her grin grew wider at the sight of him. He couldn't believe this, he was one of the strongest God Eaters in the Den and yet he was feeling fear from this sickly whimsical of a girl.

"Yah!" She shouts pouncing on Soma as he turned to run. He knew that look she had, it was one of those quirks she would get when she wanted to play dress up for the day or have one of those random tea parties. But she was quick for a sick person, far quicker than she usually was... and stronger too. She clomped Soma to the floor and persistently held him down much to his horrified surprise.

"What the hell are you doing you idiot?!" Soma shouted in embarrassment and a hint of fear. She continued to giggle as he struggled some more. Slowly she crawled her way up his body as he continued to struggle, but Soma's body went stiff as he felt her nose on his neck. She gave him a sniff or two, much to his discomfort. But all comfort went out the room once he felt her tongue slide along his neck. "!"

"Holy crap!" Kota exclaimed, finally running to Soma's aid as he tried to pull Fia off Soma along with Sakuya and Alisa.

"Leader, what on Earth are you doing?!" Alisa gasped out with a blush. She had known her Leader to be bold but not like this.

"This is not appropriate behavior, Fia!" Sakuya lectured as they struggled to pull Fia off of Soma, but she was stronger than usual.

"Hurry the hell up, guys, and get her off of me!" Soma was blushing like a ripe tomato as Fia continued to nonchalantly lick his neck with delicate laps of her tongue. The struggle had returned to him after she had mumbled something about 'salty.' He thought things couldn't get any worse, then suddenly she took a lazy bite. "!"

"Good God, are you alright?!" Sakuya asked in concern as they started to put more force on Fia once she decided to chomp on Soma.

"No she's just... gnawing me gently." Soma said, struggling to find the right words to describe this.

"... Okay..." Kota said, finding the whole thing to be quirky. "Man, what I wouldn't give to see what's going through her head right now."

~ Fia's Mind ~

This was a dream, she knew it was. There was no way a land made of candy could exist in reality, let alone where some of the candy could talk. She had woken up on a bed made of fruit Rolls-Ups to a field of grass candy and a little pond of blueberry sauce with Peeps floating on top. Chocolate bars acted as the rock formations and cotton candy floated in the sky. This whole place scream dreamland, but it was a dream come true for her and she wanted to explore it with the time that she had. There was a giant talking Pretzel that tried to stop her from adventuring onward, but she took care of him and ventured on.

She had stumbled upon a steep stairway made of Hershey bars that lead to a higher cliff side area. Apparently a doorway of Hershey bars greeted her at the top, even though she was outdoors. But she didn't have time to question it, the whole feet of climbing to the top had tired her.

"Fia Slade, what are you doing out of bed?! You know you shouldn't be moving around so much with that fever of yours." More candy people, and apparently they knew her name. "And where is Lindow?! I swear if he's sleeping on the job he's gonna sleep on the couch tonight."

"..." Lindow was here too? She didn't remember bumping into him.

"Well don't be so quiet, Fia. Say something." This candy person must have been really concerned about Fia's weaken condition. But Fia was too tired at the moment to lift her head to look at them or even talk.

"Don't be a handful, woman. Get back to bed." Ordered another voice that sounded of silk. It sounded as smooth as milk chocolate. Encourage by the voice she looked up, grateful that she finally did. These candy creatures looked delicious! And they probably could tell she was thinking that too by the way they flinched. "!"

"Holy crap, Fia!" Shouted out one of the candy people. A giant chocolate bar wrapped in orange peels, voicing what the others were thinking.

There was a black lickerish, giant and curvy with its many twists. A strawberry short cake that was generously gifted with many giant strawberries inside its cake and on top of the icing. The site of them was making her mouth water with hunger, she had dreams like this once as a child. But then again she was dreaming this right now, so she was technically having it again now isn't she. There's nothing wrong with savoring the moment.

"Heh heh, hehahaha hahaha." She began to giggle with an evil chuckle as her shoulders shook with laughter. These candy people were making her so hungry. But she made it a point to never eat food that talks to her, her mother taught her better than that. But then her eyes caught sight of the most delicious hot fudge ice-cream she had ever seen. It was a rich milk chocolate fudge with vanilla ice-cream on top of it, and sliding down its fudge like molten lava were delicious blueberries and their sauce. This was most likely the one that was talking to her before, the one with the milk chocolate voice.

"!" He flinched back as her grin grew wider at the sight of him. She didn't want him to fear her, but let's face it, he should be scared of her. Screw her principals she wanted to eat him so bad. And why shouldn't she, this is her dream what harm could it do?

"Yah!" She shouts pouncing on him as he turned to run. But she was quicker than usual, far quicker than she usually was... and stronger too. She clomped the fudge man to the floor and persistently held him down much to his horrified surprise.

"What the hell are you doing you idiot?!" He shouted in embarrassment and a hint of fear. She giggled as she saw the blush coat onto his ice-cream and he struggled some more. Slowly she crawled her way up his body as he continued to struggle, but he went stiff as she put her nose by the area where the fudge and ice-cream met. She gave him a sniff or two, much to his discomfort. But all comfort went out the room once she went in for a taste. "!"

"Holy crap!" Orange wrapped chocolate exclaimed, running to the fudge man's aid as he tried to pull Fia off him along with the other candy people.

"Leader, what on Earth are you doing?!" Strawberry shortcake gasped out with a blush. The poor things' cake was turning redder than her strawberries.

"This is not appropriate behavior, Fia!" The black lickerish lectured as they all struggled to pull Fia off of the fudge man, but she was stronger than usual.

"Hurry the hell up, guys, and get her off of me!" The fudge man was blushing like a ripe tomato as Fia continued to nonchalantly lick him. Oddly enough he didn't really have the sweet taste she was expecting, he almost tasted...

"Salty?" She said aloud, bringing the poor fudge man out of his stupor and the struggle back into him. His taste was different, but she was starting to grow a liking to it. Once the fight had returned to him she decided to take a bite.

"!"

"Good God, are you alright?!" The black lickerish asked in concern as they started to put more force on Fia once she decided to chomp down on their friend.

"No she's just... gnawing me gently." The fudge man answered, struggling to find the right words to describe this. Gently? No she wasn't, she was sinking her teeth into him.

"... Okay..." The orange peeled one said, finding the whole thing to be quirky. "Man, what I wouldn't give to see what's going through her head right now."

That's when the the Pretzel stick from before came crashing in from the stairs she had came from. He was tired and slightly out of breath.

"Lindow?! Where have you been?!" The black lickerish exclaimed. Lindow? The pretzel had the same name as her friend and old mentor? "Why weren't you watching her?!"

"I was." The Pretzel playfully whine. "But this crazy girl flipped a couch on me and ran off."

Flipped a couch on him? No she didn't, she just slightly buried him in rock candy he would've been fine.

"That's nice, Lindow. But if it's not too much trouble would you mind getting her THE HELL OFF ME?!" Steamed the fudge man. Much to Fia's disappointment the Pretzel's extra strength was just what they needed to yanked Fia off of the fudge man. Funny how creatures with no arms were able to drag her away. The black lickerish and strawberry shortcake immediately released their holds on her to check if the fudge man was okay.

"Are you alright?!" The black lickerish asked with worry.

"She really took a number on your neck." Gasped the strawberry shortcake.

"No, give me." Fia protested and reached out for the fudge. "Don't flaunt it if your not gonna give it up!"

The fudge man started to turn redder along with the other candy people.

"Whoa, she must really like your taste." The Pretzel teased at the fudge.

"Bite me, Lindow!" The fudge growled at him.

"I'll do it!" Fia volunteered, trying to pounce back on him. But the other two held her down. "Oh come on! Just one more bite! *whisper* No body has to know *whisper*."

"Jeez, Fia! Get a hold of yourself!" Exclaimed the orange peel chocolate.

"Ha! Why don't you get a hold of yourself!" Fia mocked at the orange peel chocolate bar.

"What?" Then she look up at the orange peel man.

"I've always hated orange flavored chocolate. You call yourself chocolate. You're not chocolate, you're lies!"

"?" They all were silenced with confusion.

"(Sigh) Stop this. You're being irrational, Fia." The Pretzel accused.

"It's my dream, I can do whatever the hell I want!" The she pointed at the fudge man. "And I want that fudge!"

"Honestly, I don't know whether she's being persistent or a brat." Sighed the strawberry shortcake.

"It's the medicine. It's probably making her delusional." The black lickerish added together. "She'll probably run out of gas soon."

The lickerish was right, she was starting to get sleepy. This world was fading into darkness.

"Ah man, it's over already? (Sigh) I guess the dream is over." Before fading back into a deeper slumbering she looked at the fudge. "Bite you later, Fudge man."

~ Reality ~

"Way ta go, Hot Fudge!"

"Shove it, Kota. Let's just get her back to her room before she wakes up again." Soma grunted.

"Lock the doors?" Lindow asked.

"Lock the doors." They all agreed.

*** The next day ***

Fia had gently woken up, feeling a hundred times better. Her cold was gone, her nose was no longer stuffed, and she no longer felt like she was on fire. Stretching in her bed, she felt refreshed.

"Ugh, but I look terrible." Fia said aloud to herself as she look into her room mirror. Her hair was a mess. It took her half an hour in the bathroom to tame the messy mane, she really must have let herself go the pass couple of days. But still, it was nice of the others to look out for her while she was out of it. She wondered if it was Soma's turn to check in on her today. Either way, she planned on meeting her unit during breakfast before he showed up.

Picking up her pace, she went to her dresser to get out of her dirty PJ's to dawn on her trade mark Red Battle Top and Red Assault Pants. Looking into the mirror she felt pumped and refreshed. She looked presentable to society and her hair was back in its regular ponytail. People wondered why she would put a white ribbon in her hair when a red one would compliment her eyes better. But she would tell them that it appeased the ocean and kept the tsunamis at bay.

Having enough of the reminiscing, she headed out to the Mesh Hall to go say hi to the others. As Fia spotted at her unit's table she notice the air of awkwardness around it.

"Hey guys!" They flinched, she wondered why. She hasn't done anything yet, perhaps they're preparing for the temporary peace from her absence to disappear.

"Fi-Fi-Fia! Good to see you out and about again." Sakuya nervously greeted. "Looks like your fever is gone."

"Yup! I feel incredible!" Fia said in good cheer.

"That's great, Fia!" Kota cheered.

"Ugh, but I am so hungry I could eat a-"

"Person?" Lindow cut in.

"A whale." Fia correct. "Well some chocolate would be better. I've been craving for some fudge for a while now."

"!" Soma's eyes widened as the others started to giggle.

"Fudge you say?" Alisa giggled out.

"Yeah, I had this dream last night of a giant talking hot fudge sundae in a world made of candy." Then Fia got excited. "It was the most delicious thing I've ever seen. And I tore the crap out of that fudge! It was like 'No, get the hell off of me.' Like some damn tease, the dream ended and left me craving... for more!"

"Ah..." Kota nervous said as all eyes turned to Soma. He was angry, arms crossed, and face looked like he had a fist up his ass.

"Sorry, there's no fudge on the menu today." Soma hissed with his fingers digging into his arms. He wouldn't look at Fia as he spoke. "You'll have to settle with eggs and artificial bacon."

"Whaa!" Fia whined, not noticing Soma's angry mood. "(Sigh) Well, tomorrow's another day."

Fia went to reluctantly gather her breakfast. Joining the others, she sat between Alisa and Sakuya. Slightly disappointed she played with her sunny side up eggs until they became scrambled.

"Stop your whining and eat your damn food." Soma commanded at her. She was about to give a witty retort back when she finally got a good look at him... past his hood.

"Good God, Soma, what happened to your neck?!"

"!" Soma eyes widened in shock as his hand instantly went to cover his neck, the others bursting into chuckles. His poor neck was covered with bruises... and hickies.

"You look like you got mauled by a Vajra!" She then bolted out of her seat to grab Soma and cradled his face to her chest as she gently rubbed his head. "Oh you poor bastard, what happened?"

"..." Soma fingers angrily twitched into a fist as he stilled in Fia's embraced.

"Speak to me, who did this to you?!" Fia slightly wailed.

"Your mom!" Soma angrily growled up at her.

"Don't joke like that, Soma. If mom had done this your head would be gone."

"..."

"What?" This woman was beyond Soma.

*** Author's Notes ***

Fia is an Irish name meaning raven