Fairy Tail Reform School

Growing Up

"Daddy?   Where's Lu-Lu?"   Ana asks, pulling on Gajeel's pant leg.   She's about six now, and a little quieter.

"I dunno.   I haven't seen her."   Gajeel replies, munching on a nail.

"I'm worried.   Lu-Lu's always with me."   Anastasia responds, curling up with Gajeel on the couch.

"It's okay.   I'm sure she's safe."

"But- But she's...   She's always with me.   I don't like this."

"It's okay.   She's safe, and besides, even though you're twins, you still need some time apart."

"But it's been FOREVER!"

"It hasn't been forever, just a few days."

"Still!   Where's Lu-Lu?!"   Ana's getting angry now, and Gajeel's worried.   The collar's still on her neck, and he isn't sure whether its safe anymore.   If it was gauged for her when she was older, then it might kill her now.   Maybe.

"I dunno, kid.   But I'm sure she'll show up soon."

"I! Want!   MY!   SISTER!"   Ana shouts with a stomp on the ground before falling over, grabbing her collar.   She rolls around on the floor, trying to tear it off as it shocks her every few seconds.

Gajeel kneels down beside her and tries to get her to stop.

"You gotta calm down, kid.   You gotta stop being angry."   He says, trying to stop her from hurting herself further.   She's rolled over a few Legos.

"Daddy.   Why...   Why won't it come...   Off?"   She asks, breaking down into tears as the collar continues to give her small shocks.

Gajeel picks her up, hugging her to himself.

"It's magic,  because when you were big, you got really mad, and you hurt somebody.   They didn't want you to hurt them again, so they had to put it on you.   I'm really sorry, but I can't take it off.   Trust me.   I've tried."   He had.   Gajeel had tried lockpicking, eating the collar, having Natsu melt it off (that stopped quickly), breaking it, everything he could think of.

Levy comes in as Gajeel continues to try to get Ana to calm down.   When Levy sees what's happening she drops the bags she was carrying and rushes over, taking Ana from Gajeel.

"Hey, hey, hey...   You're okay, everything's okay, alright?   See?   Everyone's okay, just calm down."   She says, rocking the small Ana with ease.

And it works, the collar stops shocking Ana and she falls asleep.   Being angry is exhausting.

Levy goes and puts Ana down in her bed before coming back out to Gajeel in the living room.

"What happened?"   She asks, sitting down on the couch.

"She was asking about her sister again and got mad when I couldn't tell her where she was."

"Oh, I...   I know, but I don't think she'll like it."   Levy replies, looking at the bedroom door.

"What?   Where is she?"

"She was with their father, but she recently moved to the middle of the woods.   I tried to hack into her personal data but was met with the strongest firewalls I've ever seen.   I couldn't even take one down."

"So...   Who are they?   Can you at least tell me that?"

"I- no.   But they're important.   Really important."   Levy responds cryptically, causing Gajeel to sigh.

"Important?   The hell's that supposed to mean?"

"They're-"   At that moment a scream erupted from Ana's bedroom, causing the couple to burst in.