Three more wizards dropped from the rafters behind her. Jellal studied them, "How did you know I'd be here?"

A man stepped forward with long black hair and icy blue eyes, "It's no secret FairyTail harbors Jellal Fernandas but, harboring Zeref Dragneel as well? Have you fallen to a dark guild FairyTail? You have all the proper playing cards to do so."

Erza stepped forwards, "The opposite, we've changed the world. Zeref came to us of his free will and denounced his ways and Jellal stopped being a fugitive when the previous council was wiped out. Nothing survived that but a handful of prisoners and one man. A man who wouldn't dare turn his back on us. He was, in fact, a key player in resolving Jellal's previous crimes and recruited the seis to FairyTail. Doranbalt is a proud honorary member of FairyTail."

Natsu walked into the guild hall and laid a strong punch on the back of one of the member's heads, knocking her over and out cold, "I see… If I overheard correctly, Zeref is part of our guild and these punks picked the wrong guild to mess with." Natsu rolled his shoulders and stood between Loki and Zeref, "Oh, I'm fired up now! I've been itching for a good fight!"

The woman stood up straight. "It appears we are out numbered. We should retreat!" The three turned to leave but we're snagged outside the door by a large demon. The large red looking ape held them in one hand snarling.

Zeref sighed and stepped outside, "Then we will even the odds. Two team mates of my choosing and you three." Zeref smirked and snapped his fingers, dismissing the large demon.

The three fell to the ground and scrambled to their feet to be met with a pair of menacing ruby eyes. "I am QuickSilver, I lead this group, and I accept your challenge." The man brushed his long black hair away from his face. "You may choose, Rose, my illustrious teammate, seems to have previous business with you. And this is Shadowflame." A man with spiky red hair and onyx eyes stared directly at Natsu with a glare. "Choose wisely. We'll even give you an edge, you're clearly not at your peak strength, and, well… We were hand chosen by the council to kill you. We'll even let you have teams of two."

Zeref nodded, "Your funeral. I may make one last request?"

Rose shifted her weight, "What now, murderer?"

Zeref smiled at Erza, "That we do this far away from the general public and cities." Erza gave a small smile back. "I really would hate to destroy your dignity and the city. And she might hit me if I do." Zeref tilted his hand in the direction of Erza. "You're pride isn't worth the lives of innocents…"

QuickSilver grinned, "Very well… A strange request for you. However, I will honor it."

Rose glared at Quicksilver, "You're listening to this?"

He shot her a disgusted look, "Why is it the Black Wizard is worried about innocent lives and a woman hired by the council, is not?"

QuickSilver turned his attention to Zeref, "If he's willing to fight fair and away from public to save lives, I see no reason in allowing them a day of rest and time to decide their teams."

Zeref held out his hand, "Well, no point in running. Especially now that my actions reflect those of others. We will be here."

QuickSilver took his hand and gave a firm shake, "Indeed. Perhaps your Guildmaster is correct. Tomorrow then." He gave the guild a quick nod and snapped.

Rose glared at Zeref, "I won't leave until he's dead!"

Zeref betrayed a cynical smile, "If that's the case, we may as well become friends."

Shadowflame started cackling with the passed out girl on his shoulder, "He's right you know… Do you know how old that guy is? He's immortal." The three left shoulder to shoulder.

Zeref looked down to the ground and turned around then walked into the guild hall, chatter of who will fight who raised up quickly. Zeref sat in the back of the S class lounge haunched over in a chair staring at the wood grains of the table. The chatter grew louder into shouts and bickers. Jellal walked up to the lounge to see Zeref holding his ears and his eye shut tightly, Jellal turned around facing the hall from the upper story and sternly shouted, "That's enough! I think since it's our heads on the line here we will decide!" Jellal sat down next to Zeref at the table, "Have anyone in mind?"

Zeref never opened his eyes but did relax after the shouts stopped, "I want to work with you."

Jellal blinked a couple of times, "Me? Why?"

Zeref opened his eyes and stared into Jellal's eyes, "You still have the heavenly body magic?" Jellal nodded, "Then. Yes. You would be the greatest compliment to my power."

Jellal closed his eyes, "Very well, and the other two?"

Zeref leaned back in the chair smiling, "Three, they won't play fair. But, I want Natsu and Laxus against Shadowflame. He's a black lightning and black flame user, Laxus can neutralize anything Natsu cannot devour."

Jellal raised an eyebrow, "And the other two?"

"The Maker and the Shapeshifter? Hmm…" Zeref seemed to be scanning over information in his mind. "I want Lucy and Mira on the Shapeshifter… Lucy and her spirits have ever aspect of combat covered, if Mira lends her defensive back up she'll be able to gather enough energy to summon all her spirits at once."

"The Maker? You seem to know their weaknesses…" Jellal suspiciously prodded for information.

Zeref looked directly into his eyes, "I was studying their energy levels, calculating potential caps and measuring their abilities. I want Gajeel… I don't care what it takes. And Wendy? Her recovery magic will help Gajeel from throwing up when he realizes he just took a bite of silver." Jellal snickered a little. "I want Erza Scarlet to judge along with the members of the council. Don't worry, we won't have to summon them. We're bargaining for our freedom, no way would they allow the possibility of us 'cheating' them out of a couple high profile prisoners… Whether they know it or not, We are also fighting for the Seis… And every other member of FairyTail. They'll imprison them for association and harboring. We know Makarov will be fair as well with Erza." Zeref looked down at his feet and interlaced his own hands together, "You said you liked turmoil… Here it is, Miss Erza."

Jellal placed a hand on Zeref's shoulder. "I'm sorry I blamed you all those years."

Zeref sighed, "No, continue to blame me. It's my fault your body harbors the heavenly body magic… Although, it was not I you spoke with, it was my gift of magic you were given as a child, I've watched you a long time. I could have stopped it, I didn't. I am to blame for many terrible crimes. Yours included, if for some reason we lose tomorrow, which is possible, I will claim all the credit for the crimes, tell them I possessed all of your minds, even FairyTail's… I will shoulder the blame, because, it was my erred ways and my flaws that corrupted humanity the way it was… It just took love to show me how wrong I was… It's my fault they are cruel and use means to harm one another, means I created…"

Jellal pulled Zeref into a hug, "Humans are terrible creatures, you're not completely to blame."

Zeref smiled and placed his hand on Jellal's head, "I won't let anyone fall for me, this time, I will fall for them. I love FairyTail, so kind, warm and accepting. No, this time I will take all the blame. I won't let my family fall for me. They're good people." Zeref ruffled Jellal's hair, "Name her after someone you care for."

Jellal stared at Zeref funny as he walked downstairs to give the rest his decision.