The Skull Hidden in the Sand

....And Answers

A/N: profile picture for someone who'll be introduced below. Try to avoid reading it until after you're done with the chapter. ^^

What're you guys doing here?!"

"Mira dragged us here." Gray said, his arm slung carelessly over Juvia's shoulders.

"Wendy was worried about you." Charla explained.

"Does anyone need healing?" The little slayer asked worriedly.

"Shrimp does." Gajeel said, pushing Levy forward.

"Where's Ma-chan?" Asuka asked, squirming in her father's arm. "I thought she was here!"

"I'm...over here." The little girl said, peeking out from behind Aras's leg.

"Ma-chan~!" Asuka tried to get down and give her friend a hug, but Natsu stopped her.

"This isn't her, this is the shapeshifter." Natsu growled the last word, glaring down at the girl.

"Ma-chan? Is that...true?"

"Now, now everyone." Mira gave a little clap. "Let's all sit down and converse like rational people." With grumbles and suspicious looks, the Fairies did as she said.

"First things first...." With a familiar warping, the little girl vanished, replaced by a woman only recognized by a select few.

"Hey, you're Ma-chan's big sister! From the flower shop!"

"So you imitated your own sister?" Bisca looked disgusted.

"Not quite. I'm an only child. I merely changed forms to appear as a younger version of myself. I didn't expect you to show up at the shop that day, so I invented the story of having a sister."

Asuka looked heartbroken. "So....Ma-chan never existed...this whole time?"

"Of course she exists, Sukie-chan. I'm her and she's me."

"Don't be so familiar with my daughter." Bisca snapped.

"For what purpose did you take that form?" Erza prodded.

The woman gave a sigh and sat cross-legged on the ground. "To watch you without you being aware you were being watched."

"Because?"

"I was supposed to simulate attacking you without putting you in any real danger."

"Well, ya failed at that! Shrimp nearly died!!"

The woman put her hands up defensively. "I had no idea that was going to happen! She was just supposed to hang there! How was I supposed to know she'd wiggle so much?!" Lily put a calming hand on Gajeel's shoulder before he could pounce.

Simultaneously, Aras punched the shapeshifter in the back of the head. "OW!! QUIT HITTING ME!!"

The greeter just snorted. "You deserve it."

"Do you two...know each other?" Wendy asked hesitatingly.

Aras sighed. "Yes, we do, but I'll explain that after she-" The greeter glared at the shapeshifter. "-finishes her explanation."

"What exactly are you responsible for?" Erza interjected, bringing the conversation back on track.

"I am directly responsible for the stuff just now, the mudslide, and the attack at the pool. I'm alsooooo indirectly responsible for the commotion before that and I'm partially responsible for the attack at the waterfall right after." She explained. Aras grumbled, rubbing the head injury at the memory.