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Death was something everyone in Fairy Tail was familiar with. Most of Erza's generation had come to the guild as orphans, looking for a home and family. Erza herself had seen more death in her short seventeen years than most adults ever witnessed, and she knew exactly how easily someone's life could be snuffed out in just an instant.

But despite this knowledge, Fairy Tail had always seemed untouchable. Death had no control over them, not in this guildhall that was saturated with life and magic and love. Enno and Macao's son was toddling around now, following Natsu like a duckling. Surely the fact that they had deemed it safe enough to settle down and have children was evidence that Fairy Tail was an oasis, free from the clutches of the thereafter?

But then Lisanna died.

Her death had rocked their world clear off of its foundations, leaving them all reeling. It had only been 3 months, and now they faced the loss of another of Fairy Tail's brightest lights. With the fall had come flu season, and while for most the illness had passed without incident, one Fairy had yet to recover.

"Are you going to visit Levy?"

Droy's quiet question traveled easily across the silent guild hall, and Erza lifted her head to look at where Makarov stood by the door. The remaining half of Shadowgear stood a few feet away, Droy nervously clutching his hands together and Jet bouncing on the balls of his feet. Erza had thought Levy had cured him of that nervous tick years ago, but it seemed her absence brought it back full force.

Makarov sighed, rubbing his chin. "Yes, I am. And no, you can't come with me."

"But Master-"

"You can't-"

"Levy's still much too sick to see anyone," Makarov said tiredly, cutting off both the boys' protests, "and I will not risk another one of my children falling ill."

"What's she even got?" Gray asked, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his fingers tapping at his biceps. "We were all sick for a few days and then were fine, but she's been locked up at Porlyusica's for nearly two weeks now." Quiet echoes of his question came from around the guild, all anxious to know how Levy was doing. Erza remained quiet, watching Makarov's reactions closely.

The guild master looked like he hadn't slept in days, pronounced dark circles hanging heavily under his eyes. That was the only sign of his distress however, and Erza wondered how much effort was going into looking composed so the rest of the guild had someone to look to for strength. It was no secret that Makarov had had a soft spot for Levy ever since the day he brought her home, and she could only imagine how he was handling not only Lisanna's death, but Levy's deteriorating health.

"I'll be back soon with news," was all he said in response, slipping out the door before anyone could question his cryptic answer.

Jet and Droy looked two seconds away from chasing Makarov down and demanding answers, but Macao was herding them towards a free table before the two sixteen year olds could even take a step.

"You know that if it was safe enough to visit Levy, you two would be the first he'd allow," he placated, his own expression drawn and tired. "We just have to trust that Porlyusica knows what she's doing and will bring her home soon enough."

"That's what you said a week ago," Jet bit out. He had dark circles that rivaled Makarov's, and Erza knew that despite Leena's gentle pushing, neither of the Allen boys had been eating well. "It's not right for him to keep us so in the dark! We're the only family she's got!"

"Hey, we're all Levy's family," Cana snapped, her hair frizzy from where she had been nervously running her fingers through it for days. "We all want to know what's going on." There were muttered agreements from all over the guild.

Taking a deep breath, Erza stood up sharply, making the guild go silent once again. "Jet, Droy," she said, her tone low and even. "With me."

"Where are you taking us?" Droy asked, and Erza's heart clenched at the frailty of his voice. It was well known that Droy and Levy were very close - both having been orphaned before being taken in by the Allen's, and both finding comfort in each other when the Allen's simply couldn't offer the support they needed - and Erza's resolve strengthened.

"We're going to Porlyusica's," she said firmly, and the muttering started up again. "Master's intentions may be good, but we all have a right to know what's going on." Macao looked wary. "It won't be a social visit," she reassured. "We'll go, find out what Levy's condition is, and come right back. Agreed?" she asked, looking towards the remaining members of Shadowgear. The two boys nodded, quickly going to her side as she started towards the door.

"Wait."

The three stopped, and Erza was the last to turn and look at the young woman who had also stood from her spot. Mirajane had been almost eerily quiet on the subject of Levy's illness in the past two weeks, though Erza didn't begrudge her that. Her sister wasn't even dead for three months, and here came another tragedy right on its heels.

"I'm coming with you," Mirajane said, her voice quiet and hoarse. Elfman looked like he was about to protest, but stayed quiet as the elder Take Over Mage stepped forward.

"Are you sure?"

Three months ago, Mirajane would have taken Erza's words of concern and seen them as a taunt, a cue to start a fight. But all the fight had left her, and she looked at Erza with an almost frail expression. "I'm not going to lose another sister," she said. "Not if I can help it."

The whole guild seemed to hold their breath, but Erza simply nodded. "We have to stay quiet. I know the way to Porlyusica's well enough that we don't have to follow the Master, but if he senses us, he'll send us right back."

The three nodded, and they left the silent guild hall and slipped into the streets.

The small group made good time through Magnolia, and it wasn't long before they reached the outskirts of town and began to walk through the forest. The path was well-broken, and Erza could still feel the residual magic that remained from when Makarov had passed through. He was far enough ahead that they hadn't seen him yet, but they were all still tensed and ready to jump into the rougher part of the forest just off the path if they needed to hide.

The walk to Porlyusica's was only about twenty minutes, and fifteen minutes in they stopped as they saw two figures camped out under a large tree. Natsu looked up at them and frowned. "I thought Gramps and Porlyusica had banned visitors," he said.

Natsu and Happy had been standing guard over Porlyusica's hut ever since Levy had been carried there, feverish and shaking, by a panicked Cana. Always having to stay on the edge of the property, several guild members- including Mirajane - had taken it upon themselves to bring food out to the two while they watched over the small hut, and Erza herself had been out several times to drag the two back to the guild for a bath and a proper night's sleep. Natsu had always been protective of his shorter friend since the escort job that had nearly gone horribly wrong a year ago, and that protectiveness had only increased after Lisanna's death.

Erza's saw that he had dark circles under his eyes as well, and was certain that if Levy didn't pull through, the guild may never recover.

"We're going under Master's nose," Jet said, his expression practically daring Natsu to turn them away. "We want to know how Levy's doing."

Natsu's shoulders tensed, and he nodded. "Let me know what ya find out," he said as they passed. "I'm just far enough that I can't hear a damn thing they're sayin'." Erza nodded at them, not missing how Mirajane stopped to scratch behind a sleeping Happy's ear with a sad smile.

They came into view of Porlyusica's home and all quickly ducked behind a tree as they saw Makarov slip inside, his tired expression pulling up into a strained smile. Erza thought she heard him call a hello to their sick friend and her current guardian, but the door closed too quickly for Erza to hear anything else.

They waited for a few moments until they knew Makarov wouldn't come back out before coming out of hiding. "The sick room is on the south side, come on," the Requip Mage instructed under her breath, and Jet took off, as silent as he was fast. Droy grumbled under his breath as they followed his teammate at a more reasonable pace, careful not to make any noise. When they came around the corner of the building, ducked low so that they wouldn't be spotted through the windows, Jet held his hand out to stop them from getting closer.

He was crouched under the large window that opened up into the sick room, the large panes pushed open to let out some of the stale air. Jet's expression was dark, but Erza would have to be blind to miss the fear and concern in his dark eyes. She could hear Porlyusica and Makarov speaking in low tones, and figured they were too close to the window for the rest of them to join the Speed Mage.

Mirajane either didn't notice the voices or didn't care, as she only waited for a minute before crawling over, ignoring how the dirt stained her palms and knees. "Mirajane!" Erza hissed, her voice barely more than a whisper, and both she and Droy quickly joined her. Jet have them all exasperated looks.

"-her parentage, it would only make sense." Erza tilted her head curiously, listening to the low, gravelly voice of Porlyusica. "Where did you say her father was from again?"

"The way Ar described him, he sounded like he heralded from Caelum," Makarov said, both adults cutting off as there was a feeble groan from somewhere by the window. The four teens tensed, listening closely to see if Levy was waking up. But nothing else happened, and after a moment, Porlyusica sighed.

"That would make sense. Since neither of her parents were born Fiorans, she doesn't have the proper immunities to our illnesses. Also, thanks to her... Untraditional background, her immune system is already weak."

Jet and Droy both tensed up on either side of Erza, and she noticed Droy's hands jerking up towards her ears. She turned and glared at him, but his expression was one of worry, and she figured he must have a good reason for wanting to keep whatever Porlyusica said next a secret from herself and Mirajane.

"She's never responded this badly before," Makarov murmured lowly.

"As I recall, she and the rest of Shadowgear tend to hole themselves up at the Allen's during flu season. It started sooner this year than is typical, perhaps she was planning on leaving later." Porlyusica hummed thoughtfully.

"You think she knew?"

"I think that Levy is a highly-intelligent young woman, and has asked me on multiple occasions what kind of health problems she should look out for."

The two adults were silent for a moment, and Erza took the brief silence as a chance to think over their words. It was obvious to anyone that Levy wasn't a Fiore native, what with her dark skin and generous amount of freckles, but it had never occurred to Erza that she might be in danger because of it. Most of the immigrants from Caelum knew to get vaccinated, but maybe Levy's weakened immune system meant she couldn't.

"So what can we do?" Makarov asked quietly, interrupting Erza's thoughts.

"I have found a potion that could help, but one of the ingredients is coming from the North, and it's taking longer than I had hoped," Porlyusica murmured. "If that yalarian doesn't make it in time, I fear the worst."

Jet and Droy shared a wide eyed look, and with a nod from Droy, a wide smile spread across Jet's lips. Waiting until she heard the two adults had left the room, Erza hissed "What are you two so excited about?"

"Didn't you hear Porlyusica?" Mirajane cut in, an undertone of grief to her voice. "Levy's dying."

"We know someone nearby that grows yalarian," Droy explained quickly, Jet bouncing on the balls of his feet next to him. "Remember that escort job we took with Natsu a while back?"

"It's hard to forget," Erza said dryly, thinking of all the nights in the past year that the young Script Mage had come to her in the middle of the night, propelled out of bed by nightmares of that day.

"Juliane, the girl we were guarding, is from the North!" Jet explained. "She and her manservant-guy grow Northern plants on their grounds! And she and Levy are close friends, she'd be willing to help! They're only an hour or so away, we could be there and back in half that."

She frowned. "Is that allowed?"

"Does it matter?" Mirajane shot back.

"Fair point," Erza conceded. "Jet, take Droy and see if they have the correct plants. We don't know if Porlyusica needs them fresh or dried..."

"It's easier to dry a plant than to bring it back to life," Droy said, "even with magic."

"Then keep it alive once you've got it," the Requip Mage instructed. The two boys nodded, Droy easily climbing onto Jet's back and holding on tightly as the Speed Mage took off at full speed.

They were out of view within seconds, and Erza felt more than a little pleased that her half-cocked plan to follow Makarov could be what saved their friend's life. "Alright then," the redhead said, turning back to look at her remaining companion. "Let's go back to the guild and tell everyone-"

Erza cut off as they heard a soft cry from inside the room. The cry was followed by a low, pained whimper, and she had her hand on the windowsill before she could even think. Pulling herself back, Erza took a deep breath. "We have to go tell everyone what's going on," she muttered, preparing to crawl away back towards the woods, but a thin hand clamped around her wrist.

When she turned back around, Mirajane was smiling sadly at her. She nodded towards the window. "Go on," she whispered. "I'll tell the others you went with Jet and Droy."

"But, I said it wouldn't be a-"

"She's having a nightmare, Erza," the Take Over Mage said softly. "And everyone knows you're the only one she goes to when she has nightmares." There was another whimper from the sick room, and Erza couldn't help but look at the window longingly. "Trust me," Mirajane said. "If… If she doesn't pull through-"

"She will," Erza said fiercely.

"If she doesn't," Mirajane continued, giving her a look that penetrated the other teenager's soul. "You don't want to regret all the times you didn't hold her."

Mirajane's hand shook where it held her wrist.

Barely thinking about the potential consequences and the years of rivalry between them, Erza pulled Mirajane into a tight hug, tangling her fingers into the older girl's white hair. She thought of Shô and Simon and Millianna and Wally, and pulled Mirajane closer.

"We won't lose her, I promise," she whispered, more sure of that one fact than almost anything else.

Mirajane had frozen when Erza first pulled her in, but after a few moments, relaxed and returned the tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered back. They clung onto each other for a few moments, until there was a deep, hacking cough from inside the sick room, and Mirajane pulled back. She smiled weakly at Erza, and the Requip Mage didn't hesitate to smile back.

"I'll meet you at the guild later," Erza promised, and with a nod and one last hug, Mirajane went back towards where Natsu was stationed. The redhead watched her go, and once she was sure that no one was in the room, she slipped in through the window.

The bed was pushed up against the right-hand wall, and Levy was practically buried underneath the handknit blankets. Her hair was a tangled halo around her flushed face, and she grimaced and squirmed in her sleep. Erza quickly and quietly crossed the room, carefully lifting the small girl up - instantly noticing how startlingly light the 15-year-old was - and settling herself on the bed.

She pulled Levy so that she was resting between her legs, the burning skin of her back pressed to Erza's chest and her head tucked against the older girl's shoulders. Levy's eyes cracked open, her body instinctively turning towards Erza's.

"'Za?" she muttered, her voice barely more than a croak. Erza tightened her grip on the Script Mage's waist, running her fingers gently through sweat-soaked blue curls.

"Shhh, I'm here," she whispered, smiling softly. "You're okay, I'm right here."

"Everything burns," Levy whimpered.

"Jet and Droy are going to bring Porlyusica something to help you get all better, okay?" Erza reassured. "You're going to be alright."

Thin fingers clutched at the fabric of her shirt weakly, and Erza's heart turned in her chest. "Don't go," the younger girl muttered, tucking her forehead against Erza's neck. She could feel the fever burning through her friend's body.

"I'm staying right here, I promise," she murmured reassuringly, pressing a soft kiss to Levy's head. "Get some sleep, I'll keep the nightmares away."

Levy smiled weakly up at her, and within minutes, she was sleeping peacefully in her guildmate's arms, tucked into the curve of her body. Erza carefully readjusted the blankets around Levy's small body, carefully requiping into her pajamas and shuffling further down onto the bed until she was comfortable. She briefly wondered how Porlyusica or Makarov would react if they walked in and saw her curled around the quarantined girl, and then decided she couldn't care less what they thought.

She wasn't going to let her little sister go through this alone anymore.

I SWEAR TO GOD THE NEXT CHAPTER IS GOING TO BE HAPPY. I PROMISE.

Okay, so sadistic tendencies aside, this chapter also established some super important stuff, and come on, who doesn't love older sister Erza? I wanted to bring up the budding Erza Mirajane friendship too because I like to think that they became friends soon after Lisanna's "death".

This chapter isn't even close to edited since my laptop battery is dying and I'm currently sitting in the back of my car outside of Starbuck bumming off their wifi (shout out to my awesome Starbucks buddies who tolerate me taking the comfy chair in the lobby for hours at a time and bring me free coffee and pastries you guys are the best), so this might be a little rough. Be gentle, guys.

Hopefully the next chapter will be out in February, so I can catch this fic up to nest fic. Reviewsmakeupdateshappenfaster.

Edit: Alright, several people have brought this up in the comments, so I figured I should try to address it.

Yes, Levy is white in canon. No, she's not white in this au. Really, I gave her wings for seven years of her life and this is the part you guys have trouble wrapping your minds around?

Levy, for all intents and purposes, is half Spanish-half Desi. I try to base each of the countries in Earthland that I'm headcanoning about and developing on a real life place, and Caelum is based off of Spain, and the Tenroujima fae are based loosely (loosely meaning I'm crap at researching things, which I should fix) on India. I do this to try to make these places a little more believable, and for another important reason.

Fairy Tail is really white.

You can argue that because it is a Japanese manga, that they're Japanese, but Mashima has stated that if this took place in the real world, Lucy, Erza, and the Dreyar's would respectively be American, British, and Russian. Based on this information and the way they're colored in official art, they're white. A lot of people in this manga are white. A lot of the fanfiction in this fandom makes them white. It's just something I'm kinda sick of seeing and wanted to explore outside of.

Not to mention, it's just sound logic. Levy's from an island kingdom, she's not gonna be this pale little delicate girl. She's got freckles all over from being in the sun all the time, she's got dark skin from both sets of genes; her freckles sometimes fade when she spends a lot of time indoors but they never go away. Imagine Levy with cute freckles everywhere and ask yourself why more people aren't writing something that fucking adorable. In case anyone was curious, Jet is actually the only white member of Shadowgear, being the ginger fuck that he is. Droy's family was also from Western Fiore, which in this universe, is where most of the Caelum immigrants settle (Alzack is also from West Fiore, Bisca is a Caelum native).

Subtle racism, misogyny, homophobia, and heteronormative narratives are big problems in this fandom, one I don't want to contribute to. Now, seeing as I'm also white (Florida born and raised, lord help me), this has been an interesting thing to try and write into this universe and try to write well. Sometimes I don't manage that. If I write something that is offensive to someone whom my interpretation of the characters is based on, TELL ME. I will do my very best to fix it, and would love to have your input! (This also counts for when I attempt to use Google Translate to throw some languages into this au, please let me know when I fuck up).

That's pretty much all I have to stay on this matter, so I leave you with this thought, dear readers. Go to Google, look up Fo Porter, and bask in the glory of Levy's faceclaim for this au.

And then you can ask me which Levy I'm looking at *drops mic*.

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