Andromeda was listening to the most recent report from a demon who had been to Hargeon.

"The Princess was not there. Our forces are chasing the resident mages. We think they're on their way to Magnolia," the smaller demon reported.

"Excellent," Andromeda said, "I suspect we're getting closer to our goal. Remember not to kill the Princess. I want to do it myself."

The demon disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

About a hundred demons were in line in front of him, various in their sizes and appearance. Other lines stood well behind the immediate force, about to be dispatched.

"You will attack the Magic Council," Andromeda was telling them, "Let's wipe out any thought of a retaliation."

"Hi! Hi there!" Gray yelled, stumbling into the room, "Sorry we're late. DAMN! Traffic was stupid heavy. Took forever to get here. Seriously. You need to consider getting an elevator…or maybe an escalator."

"An elevator? Escalator?" Andromeda repeated slowly.

"You know!" Gray said, making gestures with his hands, "Things that make you go up or down long distances! I'm sure there must be some sort of lacrima for that by now!"

"Who the hell are you?" Andromeda asked, looking them up and down.

"They don't smell right, Master," one of the demons held his nose.

Juvia saluted cockily, "Just reporting for duty! You know, go plunder Earthland and shit."

Andromeda leaned forward, studying the new entrants. Their story was completely unbelievable, but he was still confused as to who the hell they were.

"Yeah – we just left the House of Aranthos," Gray was walking straight up to the throne, "Poor bastards. Didn't know what hit them."

Andromeda continued watching, slightly amused at Gray and Juvia's bold approach.

"What do you mean by that?" a demon Juvia was passing hissed.

Gray stood in front of the throne, making direct eye contact with Andromeda, "We fucking killed them. Every last one of them. And now, we're going to kill you."

Andromeda laughed at Gray's direct threat, an ugly, shaking sound. The demons of Hell looked back and forth at each other, wondering who these two new demons thought they were.

Standing up to his full height, at least 4 times taller than Gray, he stared down, "Pathetic!"

He shook a finger at Gray and Juvia. Their disguises melted off their bodies. Juvia would have rejoiced at seeing Gray's actual face for the first time in…forever…but the demon looming over them was bending down, moving to back hand them.

Juvia did a hand spring, getting out of the way.

Gray used an ice barrier, swirling around in a circle, effectively taking out a dozen demons. He bolted backward and joined Juvia.

"Who are you?" Andromeda said again.

"We're the bastards sent to banish you from hell!" Erza yelled, requipping into her Purgatory armour.

Levy, Jellal, and Gajeel charged, instantly beginning the slaughter on the confused demons.

"KILL THEM!" Andromeda roared.

He stomped back to his throne, his annoyance evident on his throne as he sat back down to watch.

The mages attacked with renewed vigor. Pure adrenaline pumped through their veins as they ransacked the demon army. Jellal carried two swords, swinging with both arms as he skillfully manoeuvred through the demon crowd. Even sick and without magic power, he was distinctly powerful. Levy scripted BOULDER over and over, crushing demons as they charged her. Erza swung her spiked mace in a circular pattern, batting demons around the room like they were toy dolls. Juvia threw wave after wave of hot steam. Gray's arm lit up, finally free of its demon disguise. And he let loose. It felt good to finally free the demon slayer magic. Gajeel was just plain having fun. He formed iron mallets out of both hands, whacking demons left and right as they charged him. It became a game to see how high he could make their bodies fly, distance being the second determinant.

"ICE DEVIL'S RAGE!" Gray roared, instantly dissolving the demons within a 100 square feet of him.

"ENOUGH!" Andromeda thundered, slamming his massive arms against the throne. The entire room shook, bringing everything to a standstill. He lifted his hand, narrowing a space between his forefinger and thumb. Instantly, the Fairy Tail Mages felt as though a gigantic fist had ahold of their bodies, squeezing the limited oxygen out of their lungs. He turned his hand, using his forefinger in a come-hither fashion. The mages' bodies were pulled until they were all lined up in front of him, their bodies still inside the invisible vice grips.

"Andromeda, we presume?" Gajeel said snarkily, spitting at the giant demon's feet.

Andromeda laughed, a low, amused chuckle, "Yes. I am Andromeda. I am called by many names: Satan, Lucifer, Beezlebub, Ruler of Hell to name a few. Soon to be Ruler of the Celestial Kingdom and Earthland," he paused, looking the mages over from face to face, "Tell me…what would make a group of lowly, pathetic humans come all the way here? You must know you stand no chance against me."

None of the group moved.

"I'm going to enjoy torturing you," Andromeda cackled.


Above the room, while the other mages were attacking the demons, Arcadios and Cana had been edging around the room on another narrow ledge. The battle was intense. Cana tried to concentrate on what she was doing and not watch her friends before. A swell of pride shot through her as she watched them battle. They were amazing. Despite all they'd been through, they were giving their all in a battle they had very little chance of winning. She was part of this group. She was a Fairy Tail Mage. And she was not Fairy Tail's drunkard…not anymore.

Arcadios moved behind Cana, noticing the renewed vigor in her movements. He had spent weeks or months with her now (time was standing still, as far as he was concerned). They had instantly bonded since the others on the team were already paired off in relationships. He smiled at her back as he realized that the impossible had happened…he was falling in love with her. Right from the moment he'd seen her again in the room Hisui had explained their mission to them initially. Her sassy attitude. Her ability to fight. All these years, he had been alone. At one time, he thought he loved the Princess Hisui…but that was an impossible relationship. He had settled for being her guardian instead. He had resolved himself to being alone. And yet now, the most amazing woman in the world was right here in front of him. Could she ever return his feelings?

He had been watching Cana struggle for days now…weeks…he didn't even know the time table anymore. She struggled with her self-confidence. She struggled with her place in the ranks of the others. She struggled with her own guilt over being afraid. She didn't see how strong she was. But something had just shifted.

Below them, Andromeda had had the mages shackled, facing the wall with their arms above their heads. Demons with whips stood behind the human mages. The demons stripped the mages down to their pants, not having to do anything at all with Gray, who was already shirtless, or Gajeel, who had taken his off a long time ago to combat the heat. Jellal's festering wound pleased them as they licked the pus off his body. They slithered their warty hands all over the girl's busts as they stripped them, nipping and biting. The girls screamed, making their men struggle with rage. Suddenly, it wasn't fun and games anymore. The mocking they'd done earlier would come full circle. Cana and Arcadios had to hurry.

Andromeda let out an evil, bone-chilling laugh, "You will have your opportunities to have their bodies for play later, my minions. You can rape them, torture them…whatever you want. As long as they die slowly and become Hell's permanent residents. But right now, I want to hear them scream," he turned to the torturers, "They wanted to come to Hell so bad, so let's show them what Hell is capable of."

The torturer demons raised their whips, ready for Andromeda's order.

"Do it," he hissed.

Cana and Arcadios were directly above the mages plastered to the wall, hidden only by the shadows the dark cavern provided. They began climbing down. Slowly.

"I'll go for our friends," Arcadios suggested, "You get the card ready. Cana…we'll only have one shot at this."

She nodded, staring below as the demons released their whips, cracking into the mages' backs. She forced herself to watch, knowing she should be down there with them. They screamed…all of them…as the whips dug inside their backs, pulling out chunks of flesh and spewing blood over the cavern floor. Some of the demons got to their knees immediately, lapping up the blood. The demons crowded, blood-lust clouding their eyes. They reached for the humans, recoiling as the torturers shoved them back.

"WILL YOU TALK YET?" Andromeda thunderously roared, "HOW DID YOU GET HERE? WHO SENT YOU AND WHERE IS PRINCESS HISUI?"

The mages stood firm, refusing to let out a single tear or groan.

"Again!" Andromeda ordered.

The torturer demons re-raised their whips. Cana and Arcadios got into position to make their move.

They dropped down, Cana landing on Andromeda's back. Arcadios landed by the prisoners, two swords hacking at their chains while kicking off the demons surrounding them. He aimed for Gajeel first. As soon as Gajeel was free, he helped unshackle the rest of them.

Andromedra let out a feral roar, trying to shake Cana off. She stabbed him with a sword she'd grabbed from Arcadios before his descent, knowing it wouldn't do much other than shock him.

"GET OFF MY BACK!" Andromedra roared, shaking and twisting. Cana fought to stay on, grabbing onto the gnarled horns on his head and locking her legs around his neck.

Now free, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, Levy, Jellal, Erza and Arcadios went to work slaying the remaining demons.

"FLEA!" Andromeda screeched, growing spikes out of his back, "YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ANNOYING, INSIGNIFICANT FLEA!"

Cana maneuvered around the growing spikes, holding on for dear life as he tried to reach her with his long, stalky arms. She took the card out, safely held within her bosom up until now, and began the enchantment to trap him.

Andromeda grew an enormous spike out of his neck. Cana's eyes grew wide as it impaled her through her stomach. The others' mouth gaped open as they watched the trickle of blood come out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry," She whispered. And then she went still, still holding the card in her hand as she collapsed against his neck.

"NOOOO!" Arcadios screamed, directly attacking Andromeda.

Andromeda batted at him, throwing him against the wall, where he fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

Gray and Erza attacked together, Erza going for his head, Gray for his torso. Andromeda unleashed a black energy bomb, slamming them both away.

Gajeel, Jellal, Levy and Juvia attacked all at once. Andromeda sent out a pulse, cancelling out their magic and smashing them all into the ground.

Andromeda's eyes were blood shot and bulging from his eyes as he faced the mages lying on the ground.

"I've had enough of you," he said, his voice calmed, "Time to die."

The demons scattered back to the far walls, presumably out of reach of the attack Andromeda was about to unleash. He raised his arms together.

Suddenly, a flash of blinding light illuminated the cave. Demons hissed and groaned, then melted from the purity of the light.

Andromeda lowered his attack, wondering what the hell the intrusion was this time.

The light dissipated and Andromeda found himself face to face with the Celestial King and Queen.

"Oh this is rich," Andromeda cackled, "Never thought that you'd come to me."

"First things first," The Celestial King said, snapping his fingers. Instantly, Gray, Erza, Gajeel, Jellal, Levy, Arcadios and Juvia disappeared with a blaze of light.

"Not cool!" Andromeda pouted, "You took my minion's play things away."

"Enough!" the Celestial King roared, "In case you haven't noticed, my very presence here has destroyed all your demons. I'm here to give you one last chance to stop this."

"You know I can't do that," Andromeda said dramatically as he turned to go sit in his throne.

The Celestial King and Atria saw Cana's impaled body, still dangling from his neck.

"You know it should have been me, Brother. I should have been the one on the throne," Andromeda turned, shaking his finger, "But you always had to have your way, didn't you? And now my heirs are dying. Alpheratz. Omicron. Nembus. There's only one way to rectify this," his eyes gleamed, "I'll just have to find a new heir."


Makarov and Omicron were essentially steam-rolling Magnolia as they tossed each other over and over into the ground. Minor demons scattered through the city, looking under broken walls for an entrance to wherever the people were hiding.

"Tell me, Old Man!" Omicron hissed as he kicked up with his feet, sending Makarov flying, "Why do you Earthland Scum insist on putting up such resistance? Wouldn't it be better to just accept your fates, hand over the Princess, and die with dignity?"

"What do you care of dignity?" Makarov roared, using a wall from a fallen building to smash it down on Omicron's head, "That's the problem with you demons…you don't care. You don't know the meaning of loving families and comradery and living with a purpose."

"I need no purpose of my own!" Omicron grabbed the top of the town hall, chucking it at Makarov, "All I need is the Master's orders. That is all."

They charged each other, locking in to a vicious battle of locked fists. They were equally strong and equally determined. They'd been fighting for well over an hour, neither of them backing down.

"You've made a mistake, Old Man," Omicron hissed, his hands lighting up. The orb around his head grew exponentially larger, "In assuming that my power is strictly brute strength."

Makarov laughed out loud, "You've made a mistake too…assuming this old man doesn't have any other tricks up his sleeve!"

Makarov could see the demon minions getting closer to Fairy Tail. His strongest fighters were still out defending the line by the forest. They likely had no idea the line had been broken on the other side of the city. It would be up to him to protect the villagers hiding underneath the guild.

He wasted no time, realizing Omicron was powering up.

"Game over, Demon," Makarov laughed, making Omicron cringe for a moment.

Omicron tried to release his attack directly into Master Makarov's face. But he was too late. Makarov issued his last order before the blow came.

I invoke Fairy Law.