Hi, long time no see. It had been a long while since I last posted my instalment for The Variation of Destiny. I haven't forgotten about it. Life had just caught up with me, at the same time, I'm quite into Star Trek for some time.

This is the long awaited longest installment of "The Variation of Destiny S4" where secrets and background stories of various characters will be revealed. I hope you will be surprised. You may have to read my previous series to understand the plot of this series.

Updates will not be frequent depending on various factors.

Once again, most of the scenes were retold from the anime hence they seem familiar. Yes, I retell stories from the scenes into a new story of my own. This season is mostly based on the Tenroujima Arc except the first few chapters which were rewritten. Enjoy!

Thank you ahuna67 for the beta.

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima, it is not mine.

Please read and review.

Chapter 1: The Lost

This was another bright sunny day where a port town was bustling with life. The town folks were doing their usual stuff earning their living in the market, and some at the port ferrying passengers to and from their destination.

In the midst of it, a man was running toward the port direction which caught the attention of the busy folks due to his awkward outfit. He wore a dark blue cloak and his arms and legs are mostly covered in bandages. On top of that, he wore a dark blue bandana with a silver forehead protector and a green mask that obscured the bottom half of his face. Gripping his book tightly he attempted to run to his destination at the shortest amount of time.

"They are due to be back today. How did the mission go?" The man thought in curiosity. He heard words of the Magic Council capturing two men who came from a dark guild and he hoped to avoid the council as much as possible.

He finally caught sight of the opening where an army of the council members cuffed two men who were in delusion. He recognized them as core members of Grimiore Hearts, two of the Seven Kin of Purgatory. One of them had silver-colored hair combed in a pompadour style and the other was a fat while guy who was stuttering words not even he could made out of. Behind them a black ship in ruin was undergoing investigation. A body bag was seen carried on a stretcher. The crowds were talking about it.

As the man moved forward, a figure in red robe sped past knocking on him. The figure on robe shot a glance at the masked man before turning away running on continuing on his way. The man in mask felt a tinge of dark magic leading him to turn to his back at the figure who had disappeared before he realized it. Shrugging off his ill feeling, he made his way towards one of the council guards to find out what was going on.

"I'm Mystogan, a mage of Fairy Tail. May I know what was going on?"

The guard was unwilling but since it involved Fairy Tail, he told him whatever he knew. Mystogan who was actually Jellal widened his eyes in horror.

"What?" He could not believe his ears. He turned his eyes to the body bag being carried to the carriage. That was some god damn powerful mage who was killed in cold blood.

"It was by death magic. I'm sure of it." The guard whispered. "The ship departed from the annihilated Tenrou Island. It was said a black dragon had appeared devouring whatever in sight and nothing is left of that island." The guard continued as Jellal curled his fist. He took a deep breath.

"What about Fairy Tail?" Jellal finally asked.

"Annihilated. Nothing is left of them." Another man in orange and red strip appeared before Mystogan. "I'm sorry, we can't locate anyone alive." He looked down in despair. Jellal recognized him. The man was one of the top rune knights, Mest who used to be under his and Pantherlily's command. "Rest assured that we will send in reinforcement to try and locate anyone alive. I will most certainly keep Fairy Tail informed. I shall see this through the end." He finally looked up to the man in mask who was trembling.

Despite his cold and unfeeling appearance, Jellal was afraid. Afraid of the fact that he had lost his comrades and in the group headed to Tenrou Island. Afraid of the fact that his disciple, Tsuna was dead. Afraid that his most trusted companion, Pantherlily was dead and most importantly, his only love, his ex-wife, Erza was dead.

The man known as Mest folded his arms deep in thought. Initial autopsy on the body of the dead mage told him something important. Someone could have survived. He was the one who maneuvered the ruin ship to Hargeon. This person was dangerous. He bit his lip at the thought of a murder he witnessed first hand back at the island and the red eyes of the murderer which was filled in anger. Recovering his composure, Mest got back to work. He walked away from Mystogan leaving him to gather his own thought while he proceeded to request for reinforcement. Even if the hope was tiny, he was hoping to find survivors and he was determined to capture the mage of Zeref who was believed to have survived, alive.

Jellal on the other hand had a hard time getting on hold of himself. "Not Erza. This is impossible." Losing his composure, he ran to the criminal who were almost loaded to the carriage in silver hair, and grabbed his tattered clothes by his collar despite rune guards trying to stop him.

"Where are the core members Fairy Tail? Jellal demanded. The man looked at Jellal in daze. He did not understand his words. He thought about it a while and answered.

"Oooo, the fairies? They were all fallen, the dragon wiped them all out. The fairy tale does not end with happily ever after." The man didn't even know what he was saying as though he had lost his soul. Jellal gave up. He let go of him. "The lord killed our master. We shouldn't have awakened him." The man screamed and clutched his head in fear with his cuffed hand.

"Spare us, my lord! We will do your bidding." The man known as Rustyrose had lost his mind. All eyes were watching as he was dragged into the carriage.

"What exactly had happened?" Jellal was determined to find out.

The boy in red robe could not stop running. He ran into a plain right into a cave. He had taken (stolen) some fruits from the market in the midst of the chaos by the Magic Council as he gobbled all his loots. He had not felt hunger for the longest period of time. It was due to the magic wearing off due to over usage and he finally felt fatigue on top of hunger.

He removed the hood of the rode to reveal his dirtied salmon hair and his tear stricken face. He leaned against a huge rock deep in thought. He had made a pact with someone on the island.

*Flashback*

"This is going to take time. Meanwhile, will you be able to hold the fort?"

The boy thought for a while before answering with determined eyes, "Yes, I will. I will hold the guild together as long as possible as long as I'm alive."

A young girl who looked as light as feather nodded.

"I believe in you. I will count on you to take care of the guild because it's going to be a long wait…"

*End Flashback*

The salmon haired boy pulled up his sleeve and gasped in disbelief. His Fairy Tail mark was returned.

"Since you fulfill your promise, I promised to fulfill yours, Master." The boy mumbled as he toppled to the ground as he shifted into foetus position and fell to a deep slumber he had wanted for the longest time.