The Skull Hidden in the Sand

The Game Has Begun Anew

A/N: Side characters I never properly introduced.

"What're we doing back here?" Natsu grumped, throwing a rock into the water.

"There's been no sign of that asshole yet, so Master doesn't want us goin' to far. Besides, the only places we could go would be that dinky little town or the hikin' trails. And I'm just fine not goin' near those things again." Gajeel grunted, skipping a pebble across the pond's surface.

"How'd you do that?" Romeo asked curiously.

"It's all in the wrist." Gajeel replied smugly, skipping another one. Romeo tried, but his sunk immediately. "No, no, it's gotta be flat." Romeo was still unsuccessful. "You're gonna need practice. OI, BLONDIE!" Both Lucy and Aras looked up. "NO, NOT YOU, BUNNYGIRL! THE OTHER BLONDIE!"

"Did you need-?"

"Help this guy collect skipping stones."

"Oh, sure. Let's go over there, Romeo-san, where people aren't sitting."

"The nerve of that jerk! Calling me 'Bunnygirl'..." Lucy ground her teeth in frustration.

"Now, now..." Erza cautioned.

"Erza-san, Lucy-san, Levy-san!" The girls turned to see Wendy approaching them, holding a little girl by the hand. It was the little green-haired girl Asuka had become friends with. She was sniffling and rubbing her face with her free hand.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Lucy bent down slightly and looked at her with concern.

The little girl gave a sniff. "I-I can't find Mommy and Daddy. W-we were walking together and I lost them. I waited and waited, b-but th-they n-never...!" Her eyes started to fill with tears.

"Don't worry, we'll help you." Erza promised. "Where did you see them last?"

"Th-that way." The little girl pointed back up the trail.

"Ah. We could probably use some help. Natsu!" Lucy called. The boys looked over.

"No! Th-th-they're scary-looking!" The girl ducked behind Wendy, shaking.

"What's up, Luce?" Natsu yelled back.

"We're gonna help this little girl find her parents! We'll be right back!"

"Kay!"

The group had just gone around a bend in the trail when Levy noticed something. "Wendy, where's Charla?"

"She's not needed." The little girl answered instead, giggling. "Right, Wendy?"

"Right. Not needed." Wendy replied, smiling vacantly.

"What?" Erza and Lucy stared at her dumbfounded, but Levy grimaced in understanding.

"You're the shapeshifter, aren't you?"

The little girl let out another mad giggle. "That's right~. You really are clever. And I wouldn't do that if I were you." She added when Erza went to Requip a sword.

"Give me one good reason." Erza snarled.

"Little Wendy here is under my complete control. She'll do anything I ask of her." The little girl smirked and Wendy drew a small knife from her pocket and placed it against her own throat, still smiling vaguely with blank eyes. "Feel free to fight or yell for help, but I doubt you'll be fast enough to stop her from slitting her own throat."