Hello guys! Thanks for stopping by to read the next chapter! Again, I apologize for the delay! This chapter is more like... a "filler" chapter so read at your own discretion, and the next installment will go directly into the story again! I hope you enjoy this anyways! Thank you for all the favorites, follows, and what not! Don't forget to review too, it doesn't have to be a critique, just a "hey i like this" is enough to keep me inspired!

S2

With no leads to pursue Tartaros, Fairy Tail was left going on with our own business. I suppose we should listen to Uncle and let the council take care of the Dark Guilds, since we're technically not allowed to go after them ourselves. Even so, I do believe that Fairy Tail has a tendency to break a lot of rules, or at least go out of our way to handle things. But, whatever, we didn't have a reason to go after them... at least Fairy Tail doesn't. If E.N.D. had something to do with Zeref, perhaps learning about it would help me get closer to him. He should still be wandering around Earthland, somewhere, and maybe Tartaros would be the next step in finding him.

"No, snap out of it," I thought to myself as I was slapping the sides of the my head. I shouldn't be tempted to look further into this or I'll end up getting Fairy Tail involved or something. I know we're all family, but its difficult tackling on problems on your own because that is just how this guild runs... we will all help each other no matter what. But... even if Zeref caused some of the pain to other members, I have something more personal with him.

"Lucifer...?" I said walking along a dirt road. There was no one to be seen or heard from making it seem like a ghost town. Lucifer was in his usual formal, professional attire with his hand out for me to hold as we take a stroll.

"What is it, little one?" Lucifer responded without looking down at me.

"I miss Zeref," I admitted to him as I gripped his hand tighter. With the mind of a ** year-old and experiencing the loss of another parent, teas of sorrow naturally came dripping down my pink cheeks.

"Be strong, Claire-chan," he let go of my hand, started patting my head, and held me in closer into a hug. "It was for a reason, you'll understand in the future."

I opened my eyes, I was thinking back again. I found my hand in a fist and resting on my chest where the necklace use to be. It made me sad again thinking about how empty my neck felt, and even more depressing when I looked at my nightstand across the room. My locks in the same position as I left it joined by Zeref's cracked necklace. They were nothing but trinkets with no use to me at all, except to think about the past. I needed fresh air, staying in this room felt like the walls were caving in.

Walking along the street of Magnolia surely calmed things down. It was nice outside and it seemed like most of the guild was taking advantage of the weather. I did bump into a few members and just greeted them since I usually see them at the guild anyways. It was definitely a good time to get some coffee. Find a cafe in Magnolia wasn't difficult, I just went into the nearest one I got to. There was outdoor seating which I took my big mug of espresso and milk outside to enjoy the sounds of people walking and talking. I took little sips at a time to make sure I enjoyed my time nicely. I closed my eyes for a big and tried thinking of happy thoughts. And all I could think of were the times Sting and I spent together, even if I didn't think of him like that back then... I did realize that those moments were him meant a lot to me. It has been awhile since I've had affection like that before... hell, I never really felt like that toward another human being in general. I leaned forward on the table with my elbows resting down. I slowly peeked an eye out and saw a pink dot at the corner of my eye. Opening my eyes wider, and wiping my eyes through the focus, it had to be him.

Since I already paid for the latte, I just gulped the rest of it and jumped over the little fence the cafe had around its seating. I ran toward the pink dot which was at the little mini park across the way.

"What are you doing here?" I said as I stood over the little pink ball.

"Claire-kun!"

It was Frosch in his usual pink frog costume. He was by myself, which was odd, and standing in front of a map. I figure he was lost or something and was trying to find his way back to Sabertooth. I figure it would be a good day to visit everyone, so I scooped him up in my arms and Frosch climbed up to the top of my head. I looked to the side and noticed... four familiar figures hiding in the bushes. I didn't know what was going on, but I guess I wasn't suppose to see them.

"Uhm... Claire-kun?" Frosch patted my head to get my attention. I moved my head up a little to signal that I heard him. "I know you probably know the way back, but... it feel like Rogue is cheering Frosch on to get home on his own!"

It almost sounded like Frosch was going to cry. He knows he's lost and he wants to be a big boy to get home. "Well, I've been meaning to visit Sabertooth. I'll keep you company. But you'll be in charge, Fro. Lead the way and I'll follow ya. I know you can do it Frosch."

"Frosch thinks so too!"

"Ah... ah...," Frosch softly said beginning to look down. I crouched to my knees to get closer to his level and I noticed that he was crying. I quickly got worried and picked up Frosch from under his arms. I held him out to my eye level so he would look at me and I'd get a better look. He was crying even harder now and I gave him a soft, sympathetic look. "Y-You se-see... Fro... always... gets l-lost like this... an-and-"

"Frosch wants to get back home by himself?" I completed his question to my assumption. I tilted my head slightly at him.

"Fro thinks so too...," he responded, choking on the tears and slowly nodding his froggy head. I smiled at him being really proud that he wants to be independent. He suddenly got out of his saddened state and start flailing his arms out. I was confused at this random change of emotion (he's not bipolar right?) and tried looking behind to see if there was something there. There was a butterfly. "Look, Claire-kun! A butterfly! So pretty!"

"Frosch...," I said to him, slightly giggling under my breath. He looked at me and I lifted a brow to see if he'd remember, but he seemed like he didn't know what I was trying to get at. "Rememeber what you were doing?"

"... Wha?"

"You were trying to get back home, remember?" I laughed a little bit at this cuteness. Yeesh, no wonder Frosch gets so easily lost. I got Frosch to his senses again and allowed him to hop on my head for him to rest on. From now on, wherever Frosch wants to go, I'll go too without helping him (oh my, please save me).

"She may be smiling... but she's really crying inside," Lector said behind the bushes

"Wow, she looks great," Sting commented from the sidelines ignoring what Lector just said, with a smile on his face, proud of his completely awesome girlfriend.

"Clarion-sama really is," Yukino agreed with her new guild Master. With smiles on both their faces, they turned to Rogue who was uncontrollabling crying his eyes out and clutching his hands to hold in the emotion. The silver-haired Celestial Mage was quite shocked at seeing her combat superior break down like this.

"O-Oi Rogue!" Sting called out to his partner, holding one of his shoulders to shake him out of it. "What's wrong?! You okay?"

"Y-Yeah!" Rogue reassured everyone. Lector, on the other hand, didn't seem to buy it. Rogue wiped his tears and gave a loud sniff. "I-I'm just s-so grateful th-that Clarion would h-help Fr-Frosch! I-It is really moving! I-If Sting did-didn't hav-"

Bam, grows a bump and a magically appearing bandaid.

"Sting-sama!" Yukino yelled, holding her hands to her face.

"What about Clarion?!" Sting yelled even louder and held the collar of the Shadow Dragon Slayer. The tears were flowing down even more as Rogue apologized and took back what he said, claiming that the situation is just getting him moody. Sting shoved him aside and let it go as he knows his friend wouldn't betray him like that- they continued to follow Frosch and I to who knows where.

As Frosch took me to a direction, I just started walking straight. I was pretty sure Frosch didn't know where we were going and he was hoping to just bump into something that would catch his eye. Next thing you know, Erza was spotted walking by to which Frosch directed me to approach her, nothing too bad, hopefully Erza had the time to talk to us. I explained the situation to Erza to which she smiled. Frosch asked for directions to the guild where she pointed to the appropriate direction. To be honest, I wasn't in Magnolia long enough to know around the streets and such, and we were in a location where I wasn't so familiar with... but at least when we get to Sabertooth, I would know my way back. Frosch sure wandered far from home, but it wasn't so bad. Sabertooth and Fairy Tail were actually not far from each other, I'd just get lazy to walk and take the train- which takes you several stops before reaching the stop closest to the building.

As we walked further and further, I started recognizing more of the buildings... then it got to the point where I kinda knew our exaction location and... let's just say we weren't close to Sabertooth but-

"Look! We're at-," Frosch said pointing toward the building in front of us. "Fairy Tail!"

Apparently when Frosch asked Erza for directions to the guild, he didn't specify which guild. She would then proceed to give us directions to Fairy Tail instead of Sabertooth, since I didn't exactly say that Frosch was lost and wanted to get to Sabertooth... I sort of just said he was lost thats it and did not really mention the destination at all. BUT, at least now Frosch accepted my help and we were in the direction toward Sabertooth this time. I knew Sting and the rest of the gang were still on our tail, and on our tail the entire time. Frosch decided to walk on his own this time by my side. I looked behind me and saw everyone try to hide again, and I just looked at Sting and smiled.

"Oh? Clarion?" Rufus was the first to greet, everyone at Sabertooth pretty much know who I was. I said hi to him while holding Frosch in my arms as he got tired of walking on the way here. "I do remember you saying you'd visit."

"Yeah, sorry it took awhile," Rufus noticed how I had Frosch in my hands instead of him being with his usual Shadow Dragon Slayer partner. I petted the little frog to comfort him since he was still kinda bummed out how he couldn't get his way home completely on his own. "I couldn't help but take Frosch home while he was lost. Where's... Rogue? I bet he'd be happy to see-"

"FROOOOOOOOSSSSSSCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH~!"

It just felt like I got tackled or something, it happened so fast. Frosch was suddenly out of my arms and everything was spinning in a vertigo motion. And next thing I knew, I couldn't breathe. I was underwater or something. It took my mind awhile to realize that I had to breathe soon or I'll end up suffocating. I quickly wailed my legs and arms and floated to the surface to let out a large gasp of air. It was a pool. Sabertooth had a pool? I looked around me, trying to get a sense of what the hell just happened and how I ended up here. Right in front of my was a crying Rogue hugging onto his little Exceed so very tightly as if they hadn't seen each other for years. If it wasn't for this touching scene, I wouldn't wailed on someone by now. Now it came to the sense of drying off. I suddenly remembered that I was wearing a WHITE dress shirt. I tried to cover up and get Yukino to help me or something before someone starts to notice my top was being see through.

"I got you, babe," I heard Sting's voice. He reached over to grab my arm while my other arm was covering my chest. I started to blush really brightly and started to scold Sting for being stupid, as usual, but he wouldn't listen. He lifted me up, took off his fur vest he usually wore, and draped it around my shoulders. It was over-sized on me, so I was able to cover up quite easily. I mumbled a thanks to him, not giving him eye contact. He gave me a kiss on the head and walked me out of the guild building, in the direction of his place. Quite nostalgic if you ask me.

"... sorry about your-," I tried apologizing for soaking up his vest and kinda leaving a puddle on the front step, but he shrugged it off before I could even finish.

"Even if it was just a dip, I can smell the pool water on you," he bluntly said to me. I pouted at him. "You reek."

"Hmph, wasn't it me that always said that to you?" I reminded him of the times when we first got to know each other. He laughed at me and he had the first nicest smile I've seen since I saw him today. "And it wasn't a dip! You saw didn't you? Rogue couldn't contain himself and just shoved me into the pool while reuniting with Frosch, yeesh."

"Ha, I would've done something to him," he told me as he sat down on the couch. "But~ I ought a thank him for getting my girlfriend to look pretty hot in a see through shirt."

Infuriated with his remark, I kicked him upward at his chin. He winced a bit at the pain, but he definitely saw that coming. I stormed off to the shower to wash down the chlorine off my body before I start smelling like a fish in or out of water... and that wouldn't be good around Happy. His place hasn't really changed much since the last time I was here crashing at his place. My clothes were all soaked with the pool water, so I decided to strip down the clothes and squeeze out most of the water over the shower drain. It took awhile, but after squeezing out my shirt last, I left it hanging over the hook that was at the door. I turned on the showers and let the nice hot water rain down on me. I lost track of time, but I wasn't in any rush to leave or anything. I stepped out of the showers and borrowed a towel to dry my body off of the trickles of water that was stuck to my skin. The relaxation calmed me down a bit, and I wasn't mad at Sting anymore. I toweled dried my hair as much as possible, but my hair was quite thick. Good thing my hair was short enough so it didn't take so long. I realized that I forgot to grab a change of clothes before entering the shower. I sighed.

"Hey, can I get something to wear?" I knocked through the bathroom door, but there was no answer. Sting might have stepped out I guess, we did leave Lector at the guild, he could have gone to get him. I waited for a bit, but I was growing impatient. I didn't want to stay in the bathroom for who knows how long. Sting not answering must mean that he's not in, so walking out shouldn't be a problem. I sighed and wrapped my body with a towel. It wasn't a big towel, so I had to constantly grip the towel or it would effortlessly come off. I opened the door and completely got disappointed at the sight.

On the couch was Sting wearing a t-shirt and simple basketball looking shorts taking a nap. I noticed a few bottles of alcohol lying around and I could see a blush across his face. This stupid idiot. I stepped closer to look at that smug face he had while dozing off and just scoffed at it. This guy, I swear. Drinking is fine at the right place and right time, but what excuse did he had today. What? We haven't seen each other in awhile and I'd expect him to at least... try to be romantic? Was I expecting too much from a guy like him? Perhaps, I was. I sighed again and just decided to walk into his bedroom and grab something myself.

"Wait," Sting said softly and he grabbed my wrist. I was getting kind of nervous because I didn't want Sting to see me wearing just a towel. He had his head down, but started to lift it up so I slipped my wrist away from him and kicked him in the face. Using the distraction, I ran to his room and managed to put on some clothes. He was making these weird noises, probably cause he took a kick to the chin. I peeked out from the door and noticed him slouching over the couch holding up his face. Sting saw me and gave me a disgruntled face, I probably got him mad. "Your usual punches or slaps... I can take... Your kicks are another."

"Sorry," I apologized to him because I really did feel bad. I guess I didn't realize that my leg strength was stronger than my arms, which surprised me since I usually had a tendency to punch things more often. Who knows. "Are you okay?"

"Eh...," he suddenly grabbed me into an embrace. He pushed himself away from me so he could lay on his back, causing him to pull me forward on top of him while he was still holding me. "Now, I'm okay."

"H-Hey!" I started blushing like mad because of the position we were in. I tried to get off of him, but he wouldn't let go of me. On the inside, I kinda... liked being in this position, otherwise I would've went ham by now. I sighed and gave in, resting my head on his chest. I figure I could stay here for awhile before going back to Magnolia... I felt his hand gently petting my head. I lifted myself up a little and Sting planted a kiss. "Stupid Sting..."

"But you can't get enough of me," he smirked back. His little sense of humor never failed to make me laugh under my breath. He made me feel safe and happy. I guess that's why I always got charmed by his stupidity. I didn't really have anything to say to him back, so I just went back to hugging him back. He kept kissing the sides of my head as the smell of alcohol was going away. It was quiet for awhile, until. "I really missed you."

Before I could say anything back his grip on me became tighter. I was kind of speechless at this point and I only responded by holding me tighter as well. I felt really happy, like nothing else mattered in the world. I'm where I want to be in life, mostly. I don't exactly remembered what happened next, but we fell asleep.

"Sting... Sting...," it was early in the afternoon and I was trying to wake this sleepy head. Just now, I received a message in my head. It was Warren, the "telepathy" Mage in the guild and through that, he gave a word to every member of Fairy Tail that an emergency happened.

"Hello? Hello? Clarion?"

"Ngh... huh..?" I heard a voice in my head, and instantly woke up. I get groggy whenever I get woken up prematurely, which made me didn't even realize that Sting and I fell asleep last night. I sort of blushed at how we actually slept on the same bed together, but I had to address this random voice talking to me.

"O-Oh, sorry! Did I wake you up? ... you know it's the afternoon, Clarion."

"W-What? O-Oh, Warren," it took me awhile to recognize his voice since he and I never really talked one-on-one that often. I got curious to why he was contacting with me. At first I thought it was cause I didn't spend the night at Fairy Hills and I didn't inform Mira of any jobs I would be taking. "Don't worry about it. What's up?"

"Sorry, sorry. But I am contacting every member of Fairy Tail to inform them that the Raijinshu and Laxus' lives are in danger."

"Wait... what?" Despite how dangerous some Fairy Tail members take on their job, never have I heard about anyone's lives be in danger. Sure, they get beat up a lot, but nothing that would make an all out emergency like this. "Are they okay?"

"I... don't know, Master just ordered me to inform everyone. Please return to the guild building, we really need everyone's support during this time. I have to go contact the other members that are out of town. Thanks, Clarion."

"No, thanks for telling me, Warren."

"Sting...," I shook him for like the 100th time that my patience was running thin. "WAKE UP!"

I kicked off the bed which finally woke me up. Took him awhile to get off his but, but realized the serious face of my look and how fast I was rushing to wash up and change out of his clothes. I really didn't have time to feel modest at this point. Sting and I are a couple, I don't need to feel reserved around changing in front of him- not like I was naked or anything. He kind of blushed because of the suddenness, but I know this isn't like the first time he's seen a girl half-naked in front of him. I was about to rush out, but he grabbed me before I could unlock the door.

"Woah, woah, hey," he grabbed me in an embrace from behind, slightly picking me up off the ground. "What's the rush?"

"It's the guild, I don't know. Something went wrong on a job or something and Laxus and the others are hanging onto their lives right now. I have to go," I was still trying to squeeze out of Sting's grasp. But as I was done saying that, he slowly led me down. I quickly opened the door and was prepared to run out, but I realized that Sting didn't say a word to me. I turned my heard back, and Sting had the most depressed look on his face. "... what's... wrong?"

"It was just that... when you came over," he sighed. "I was really happy and excited to spend time with you. But you're always... leaving and it leaves me disappointed. Do I matter to you at all, Clarion?"

"What are you saying...? Of course you mean a lot to me. I'm sorry that things have just been... coming up and being hectic and... I did want to spend this time with you cause I felt guilty for all the times that I haven't been there and stuff, but I really didn't anticipate this to happen," I took a deep breath as well. "Sting, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."

"Just... go," he turned his back on me and waved out his hand. "I get it, its an emergency. I don't want to hold you back to people that need you more than I do. See you later."

"Why... are you saying it like that?"

"What are you still doing here? One second you couldn't wait to leave me, go," he said in a stern voice. It was the kind of tone that just my heart drop everytime he said another word. "Clarion, I won't tell you again."

"...," out of impulsive, I ran to him and hugged him from behind. I held him tightly, almost to the point where I wanted to cry. "I-"

"Clarion, let me go."

"H-Huh?" now that hurt. Here I am, initiating the most affection I've ever shown him, at least in awhile. And he wants me to let go? Did I hear that right?

"Clarion, we don't have time for each other," he said to me, still with his back turned. "It hurts me everytime I see you go. I feel like shit. I need someone that can be there for me to show me love. Sometimes, I don't even think you feel the same way. I just..."

"... I love you, Sting," I let go of my grasp. His back shifted and was about to turn around, but I didn't want him to see me. I did have to go, so I ran out before he could look or say anything to me. He had a soft look on his face. It suddenly felt empty. Was our future not meant to be? What about what future Rogue told me? Did all of that change history? I don't know. I admit I hadn't been the girlfriend that I should've been... and would never believe that breaking up would be the answer to that. Just a lot of things came up... just... I'm just giving excuses... I don't know anymore. But I'm happy that at least... he heard me say I love him.

"That girl...," Sting said as he returned to his room. After all of that, he too felt like something was missing from his life. He had the need, the urge to hold something in his arms. Being the one held from behind made him feel this way, he wanted to know that feeling. But he realized he didn't have anyone to hold. He grabbed a pillow from his bed, it was the one that his then-girlfriend was sleeping on. It felt cold. He did know that she wasn't always there when he missed him, which was pretty much all the time. But right now, he realized that now she was never going to be there when he misses her. And he missed her more than ever. "Shit..."

He was really feeling it now. The feeling where you lost someone you loved. She was amazing, he thought. Many girls he has dealt with was always fussy, prissy, and never really made him feel the way he felt toward Clarion. She was modest, humble, and most of all forgiving- which is why he loved her. Even after he was such a dick to her during the games, she still forgave him and understood. Maybe he understood her a little better, maybe he didn't have react so erratically and end it so impulsively. She loved him, and he loved her... that is all that should have mattered. He really did feel like he deserved to be called stupid Sting. He let out a big dragon roar (without the Magic of course) and went to the bathroom. He needed to calm down a bit, he will definitely try getting her back. He can definitely win her back. Sting took off his shirt to get ready for a shower and felt something moist. He turned his shirt around to find little wet marks on the back of his shirt. She was crying.

As expected, when I entered through the doors of Fairy Tail, there was a huge crowd around the infirmary section of the building. Some members noticed me arriving and allowed me to squeeze through everyone to give the guys my condolences and show my support that I'm there for them- ... like how I wasn't for Sting. I shook my head out from the thought. I have to be strong, for me and for everyone.

Even though I wasn't in the room itself, I could see them on their beds. They looked miserable. Suffering from the pain, sweating trickling from the struggle, and fighting to keep their will to live. It was heart breaking to see them in this state, especially since this was a sort of situation where none of us can't do a thing to ease the pain. We were all being brought closer together. When one or us, or some of us, gets put in this kind of state, we all feel the impact of it. This wasn't some sort of kid picking a fight with us, this meant war. No ones gonna think they can get away with this. They don't know who they're dealing with.

"Tartaros," I heard Makarov say. I looked down at him as he if was reading my mind. Then again, I'm sure everyone wondered who would do such a thing. "They are the ones responsible for this. Whoever did this to them, also killed an entire town."

We had to protect everyone close to us and everyone that doesn't deserve this. Tartaros won't just stop from here. It reminded me that their leader is said to be the writer of the book of demons, which only points to one person at this time, Zeref. I felt partially responsible for this and I still feel sickened that I still have faith in him. I believe that he is not that kind of man anymore, maybe it is some other Zeref wannabe or disciple, I don't know. But whatever it is, there is the high possibility that he has some connection to it. But, I had to do something about it, I was raised by him and his creations. I balled my hands into fists, something that Makarov noticed after leaving the room. He looked at me, and noticed that I was angry.

"Do you have something to share with us, Clarion?"

My eyes widened... he knew. He knew all this time. My mouth became dry, and he still stared at me with those serious eyes of him. He wanted me to say it and everyone around me slowly turned their gaze on me. I was being pressured, but I had no other choice. I was keeping something from them, something about me, that could possibly change their view on me, but I couldn't keep this in any longer, especially when Fairy Tail was getting closer and closer to my origins. I suppose I rather have them hear it from me than from one of them.

"Black God Slaying Magic...," I said looking at the ground. "There wasn't a Magic lacrima implanted into me like Laxus with Dragon Slaying Magic, I didn't teach myself from a book like Shelia with Sky God Slaying Magic, I wasn't taught this from a follower of Black Magic like Hades teaching Fire God Slaying Magic to Zancrow... I wasn't taught by a follower, I was taught by the Black Mage."

"You don't mean...," I heard a few mumbles though out the surrounding crowd.

"A very few people know of my existence because Mavis-dono gave up her daughter and I lost my mother. Many heard of me as just a rumor, but those are true. Word got out and spread that Zeref had a child, this 'devil's child'. Though, he is not my father, he was my mentor, my savior. Zeref taught me this Magic to slay Black Gods," I said boldly with my head raising straight up. I had the look of determination. I had a new goal, a new resolve. It wasn't to give back to Zeref anymore, it wasn't to find my biological family, it is to eliminate everything and anything that threatens the family I have now. This is my battle. I will eliminate those Black Gods of Tartaros."

Whether or not they still wanted me in the guild in the first place, but no matter what I will risk anything to support Fairy Tail. I kept something important from them that would disgust other people. Zeref was a horrible man that did horrible things. A lot of his work had caused tremendous trauma and scars onto many Fairy Tail members, and I wouldn't hesitate to accept his responsibility. I saw the looks of Gray, he looked down thinking of Deliora that took away his town and his beloved teacher. Erza as well, she was taken from her village and was turned into a slave from followers of Zeref. Even I had to admit the damage he has done transcends generations and those scars left behind would never heal.

"We're right with you," Natsu said confidently. I looked to the side to see him stepping forward cracking his knuckle, preparing for the fight. He also had that same, the look of Fairy Tail's will. He was always the one that accepted anyone and everyone for their past. He would never turn away from a guild mate and he won't step down now. "I'm fired up."

"No matter how you look at it," Erza spoke up. "You are one of us, you have the founding blood in you: the Fairy Tail spirit."

"Yeah, we'll need your help. To have a Magic like yours on our side, that gives us another advantage," Gray added in his own comments. I couldn't help but smile at how much Fairy Tail was so understanding and so willing to give people chances. They truly are the warmest guild anyone could be in to look for a family-oriented family. We may be recognized by our strength, but the bond we have with each other is something worth more.

Our next order of business was to determine their targets. Since they even targeted Yajima, a former member of the council, and we heard of news that they murdered the current members, they are probably going after everyone. The only issue was that their addresses was kept secret in order to prevent any hostilities after they stepped down from the rank. Well, that wasn't a problem when Loke summoned himself and revealed that he had addresses to them (I'm not even going to ask). We wasted no time. Many members stayed behind to help with locating addresses of the other many ex-counselors. The rest split off into teams to protect the targeted. There were too many former council members and we had to request other guilds to help aid in the protection, which they didn't hesitate to help in. We were fighting for the fate of Fiore, and perhaps, the world.

Each team had two to four members in it. Juvia and Gray were paired together. Juvia was S-Class in her former guild, and Gray had the potential, along with their complimentary Magic attributes. Lisanna and Elfman were the other two-man team. Sure, they had the same Magic, not necessarily compliments, more like opposites. They were significantly less powerful than the other teams given their number, so I decided to team up with them. It was nice being with some members that I wasn't the most familiar with. We got to know each other on the way to the ex-counsel member Yuri's home. There was a lack of a struggle in his home or outside. It was dead silence, very eerie if you ask me.

"There!" Elfman said as he spotted a body laying on the ground in the middle of the room. It was rather big with a large bookcase next to it. We followed after Elfman as he checked for old man Yuri's pulse and breathing. I was hoping for a lucky turn of events of relief, but there was no sign of that. Elfman shook his head and we were disappointed at our late arrival. "Damn... he's not breathing anymore..."

"No way...," Lisanna became worrisome. It was creepy being in the same room as a dead body, especially a fresh one. Elfman told Lisanna to prepare the communication lacrima that was given to every team to let everyone know that Tartarus claimed another victim. Despite how weird it felt, I took a step closer to Elfman who was holding the man's body up. I examined his face, very wrinkly but he looked so peaceful.

"I wonder how he died though...," I said to Elfman. He agreed with me and pointed out that he had no external wounds or anything. "That's scary... someone being able to kill from the inside or something..."

"Yeah, it-," Yuri's eyes suddenly shot open. That shit scared the crap out of both of us as we stepped back. My heart was beating so fast and I was starting to shiver a bit. With his eyes still open wide, his hand was moving, trying to point to something. It suddenly moved again like a robot and his finger pointed at Lisanna. Suddenly, the communication lacrima shattered. You could already tell something bad was going to happen. Someone was here. I suddenly felt a presence behind me and I turned around to see a young woman.

"It appears that utilizing Macro on the dead does not work quite as well," the woman spoke, causing the Strauss siblings to turn around in the same direction. She had a modest look on her face that made her seem not so dangerous... but that isn't the case with this. It is almost 100% that this is the person that murdered Yuri. She is a demon... a demon from Tartaros. We all got into a focused state, we couldn't let our guard down. This woman is the enemy.

"Who are you?!" Elfman questioned aggressively.

"What did you do to Yuri?!" Lisanna did the same.

"I helped him reach Hades," she said in a familiar tone. But... the name "Hades" through me off. What did she mean by that name... did it have any connection to the Hades that lead Grimoire Heart? Sure, it was only a nickname or whatever... but what did that mean. Elfman questioned her further with only getting her to respond with, "The stories written by humans are boring... I shall write my own story: the Story of the Demons."

She proceeded to raise from her sitting position, leaving us more prepared to what's to come. We reminded each other of the upcoming danger and we had to be extra cautious around this one. But before we could do anything, I suddenly felt a tight grasp around my neck. The surprise left me questioning what just happened. I couldn't move my neck at all. I tried to slightly turn my head only to see Lisanna being in the same state as we realize that Elfman was holding our necks with his hands. He was a big guy and he can easily grip our necks with his large hands that could easily end us at any moment. The grasp suddenly became tighter and even more painful, we tried our best to break free but it was too strong. We were all panicking at this moment, Elfman had no control over himself and we were caught in it. The strangling was getting more tighter to the point where I could see how hard Elfman was gripping us by seeing the veins that were popping up from his skin. Elfman demanded her to stop this, but he eyes remained closed and calm. She slowly opened her melancholy eyes.

"In the Story of the Demons... there is no such thing as pity," she sullenly stated. "Humans are not allowed to have their greed."

Greed...

Lisanna lost consciousness, but I managed to keep an eye open. Elfman was growing desperate and began begging the demon to lift her control on him. This was bad, really bad. We were all really helpless and there was nothing within our reach. The Take-Over Mage's plead caused this demon to sharply open her eyes seriously this time. She stated that whenever a human asks for something from a demon... its exact definition is selling his or her soul to the being of the Underworld. She stepped a little closer, dipping her head down a little in the most serious look I've seen.

"Are you seeing your soul to me?"

"I...," Elfman was close to breaking, but I held onto his hand to make him not say it.

"Your look, your voice, your prescence...," I said through the choking. The process of selling yourself to a demon was similar or the same as to making a contract with a devil or with a spirit. But, this demon, she was so familiar and I didn't know why or how I felt like that. I was reluctant to look her in the eye, not knowing the exant extent to what she was capable of and willing to do, but I had to get a closer look at her to know for sure. She looked directly at me and I saw it, it had to be. I couldn't explain why or how or when.. but I knew, I was certain. "Mammon..."

She didn't flinch or blink. Sure, my Mammon had a figure of a young child rather than this womanly figure of the demon. And the horns were something new too, but I could swear this was just a more womanized version of Mammon. The tone of the voices, the melancholy, emotionless aura they had, the same soft eyes. There had to be a connection.

"That is an ancient name, do not address me by that," she stated, turning her back on me and proceeding to pick out another book from the library. Elfman's grip is still tight and it was getting hard to speak or breathe at all. Sweat was trickling down and my heart was beating loudly, one snap from her and she can force Elfman to crack the necks of Lisanna and I. She suddenly closed the book she had with a loud noise. "The act of reincarnation applies to the superior demons, or the Etherious. The name you speak of has never been used for centuries."

Reincarnation... so this demon has transcended from Mammon. But it hasn't been long since my devils departed from this time period to 400 years ago, I still haven't grasped how they would be able to do that, but wait... the name has not been used for centuries? Does that... does that mean that my 7 Deadly Sins were not even from my time period? I thought, I thought Devils were always immortal. She began to speak again.

"In order for Devils to remain the pure dominant race over any entity on this world, we must adjust and adapt to the ever changing world," those words perked my ears when she said that. Was that why Zeref was so bent on teaching me those perks? "So when Magic evolved and advanced, we must do so as well. We cannot allow mere humans to exterminate us. Especially when our Master had ordered us to annihilate humanity."

"No... no...," I couldn't stand it anymore. "Don't speak like that using Mammon's voice. She was also so kind, so sweet, so quiet."

"The Mammon you speak of is dead and gone, I am her ultimate form as of the present. She was weak and therefore, had to be evolved as well. From what I've learned, our past lives had a contract with a little, weak human. That pathetic human turned them to be emotional beings that pity humans. That trait can only bring them weaker."

"We..ak? P-Pathe.. tic?" I struggled to say, but I still pulled through with it. "They're the most selfless beings that could ever come from the Underworld. They might have became weaker, but they made me stronger."

"And that is how their story ended."

I wanted to act. No matter how much capabilities these two had, going up against a demon is another thing. They are not their sister that can turn into a demon themselves. I had to think of a way for this demon to free them while I can take of her. I don't want to be cocky, but at least I have a Magic that can match theirs maybe. However, it would be difficult to have someone that can control your entire movements, there must be some kind of weakness. This demon seems very interested in stories... calling human stories boring...

"Spare these two," I said to her. "I've made a contract with devils and I can do it again."

She raised her head at me, but still kept that blank look on her face. I couldn't tell whether or not she was interested with what I had to say, but I could feel Elfman's grip slightly loosen. But with one blink, he was crushing our necks and I couldn't even breathe anymore. Everything went black.

My eyes slowly fluttered open. I felt weak, but I tried to move. But as my vision cleared up and adjusted to the light, I found myself bound. I was positioned upright with my hands together above my head and my legs were also subdued. However, I wasn't in normal chains or shackles... and I was completely... nude... my face started burning up, but no one was in the room. I was isolated in a rather small prison-like room that was meant for the mentally unstable. I was inside a capsule and whatever was keeping my hands and feet together was reptilian-looking and definitely meant to do something other than tie me up as it felt weird being bounded by this. I tried breaking free, but it felt like my power was drained from blacking out earlier. But I was desperately in need to get out before someone sees me.

But too late, the door opened up.

Phew, there goes another chapter! Don't worry, the StingxOC won't be ending here! Seriously, more Sting time please! The manga has been getting interesting, so please bear with the wait! I apologize again for making you guys always wait, but I can't thank you enough for taking your time to read whenever a chapter comes out! Thank you again for the follows! I hope you enjoyed!