AN: Who'd have guessed I'd actually get Halloween off? :D

As always before we begin, Reviewer Replies!

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donumah36: As always delighted you're enjoying!

BungBung: If you've made it this far then I sincerely hope you're still enjoying and thanks for your kind words!

Condescenion: So glad you like, it's one of the twists I'm prouder of. Sorry if it's confusing, but don't worry it'll all make sense before all's said and done. Wait no longer here's the next chapter!

r3d3v3: A fine guess to be sure, but I can't confirm one way or the other you know.

Wori Hu: MWAAAHAHAHAHA! And more you shall have! :D

Guest: Regarding your comment to chapter 21, if you've made it this far then I'm sure you've already seen the answer addressed in story, and I hope you like how I tackled it.

PPultra: Just off hand I'm going to guess that your comment was in regards to one of my Naruto works, which one I'm honestly not sure since two or three of my characters have obtained the Yamigan.

Imc9389: If you've made it this far then I sincerely hope you're still enjoying and I'm glad you like my explanation for the reasoning behind his exceptional ability.

Prometo: Welcome back! Glad to see you're still enjoying. I sent you a rather lengthy PM answering your comments since trying to answer all of them here would make this reply section drag on too long.

MBS41: If you've made it this far then I sincerely hope you're still enjoying, and as for your suggestion of anti-magic, not quite, but his absorption abilities are just as delightful don't you think? :D

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Last but not least, sorry all for the delay on this one. Wish I could say I think the next one will come faster, but honestly? I have no idea. We aren't in quite as dire a situation at work as we were two weeks ago, but the pressure's still on and I don't think it's going to get any better than it is right now until we make it to the next one... which given what I'm aware of how things currently stand, I'm honestly expecting the next one to be just as bad or worse. I'm up to my neck in bullshit, just got my head above the surface and I'm still probably on the best available assignment right now. I used to never get headaches, but even now I've got a feeling similar to applying pressure to a bruise directly above my right eye socket.

That's enough of my troubles though, please don't let them bother you and instead enjoy this Halloween treat...


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Chapter 42: Fantasia

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==Meanwhile…==

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"DO IT NOW ARIA! DRAIN THEIR MAGIC POWER SO THAT THEY WON'T HAVE A CHANCE!" Jose ordered from his throne like command chair in the heart of Phantom Lord's mechanical giant.

Above the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, an immense blindfolded man in a green hat and trench coat held his hands in front of him. As he spoke, the very sky seemed to announce the activation of, "METSU." If ethernano could be seen, a great void would've opened in an instant and enveloped Fairy Tail's Guild Hall as all but the faintest shreds of magic fled from the place. Even the weakest wizard would be driven to their knees by the sudden flight of magic from their body. Those of such strength as the wizards of Fairy Tail would be driven to death's doorstep in an instant as the sudden shock to their systems hit with the force of a runaway train.

Jose sensed the immediate exodus of power and leapt to his feet and cheered, "FIIIRE!" An instant later, the Jupiter Cannon roared forth. As mighty as a dragon's fury, the Jupiter Cannon had been outlawed for decades due to the model's propensity for being able to take out entire towns. Despite the best efforts of the Magic Council and other law enforcement agencies, several of the cannons had escaped destruction at the end of the second Trade War. There existed black market manufacturers who could and would replicate the terrible weapons for the right price, but Phantom Lord's cannon was one of the nightmares that had escaped the collection and destruction of its brethren after the end of the Trade War on the claim that Fairy Tail wizards had destroyed it. In truth, Phantom's Jupiter Cannon had been salvaged, and was now more powerful than ever thanks to the efforts of the man standing next to Jose on the Command Deck of the Mech Giant.

"DIE FAIRY TAIL!" Jose howled with delight, oblivious to the discomfort of his underlings at the controls as the entire world in front of the display screens was obscured by the blast.

Then the man next to Jose mused idly, "He missed one."

Jose froze mid-happy dance and whirled in horror, "WHAT?!" He immediately felt his heart seize in terror as he saw the immense triple magic circle between the cannon and the completely unscathed Guild Hall.

On the shore, Mystogan grinned beneath his mask, "MIRROR…WAAATEEER!"

Jose and every member of Phantom Lord present on the command deck saw their lives flash before their eyes as their ultimate weapon was sent hurtling back at them.

The white haired man simply grinned, "Midnight."

At a flick of the wrist from the androgynous wizard next to him, the Jupiter Cannon's redirected blast veered off course and blazed off into the sky. As Jose and the rest of Phantom Lord gaped in shock at the effortless display, the master of one of the mightiest dark guilds on the continent simply raised an eyebrow, "Oh my, it appears he missed more than one."

Jose's eyes bugged out as he saw darkness suddenly envelop the entire Fairy Tail Guild Hall, "What the hell?!" He looked at the white haired man who had long been his best friend and was secretly a former member of Phantom Lord, "Did one of yours just cast the Abyss Break or something?"

The white haired man frowned and shot a glance to the auburn haired man and immense violet snake to his left, "Cobra?" His eyes widened slightly as he saw how ghostly pale the man he'd trained and codenamed Cobra was, "Cobra. What's going on in there?"

"We need to get out of here," Eric declared quietly with his eyes locked on the darkness shrouding Fairy Tail, and then with mounting panic, "We need to get out of here right now!"

"What are you talking about?" the man known as Brain demanded, "What is that darkness?"

"MIDNIGHT ABOVE US!" Eric suddenly shouted.

Midnight didn't hesitate for even a second as he cast his magic skyward. An instant later, the world was bathed in blinding light as the lake evaporated beneath the force and heat of the attack meant for the Mech Giant.

"IT'S JERRY!" Eric shouted as he turned and bolted for the door with his beloved serpentine partner hot on his heels, "HE'S IMMUNE TO ANGEL'S SLEEP MAGIC AND HE CAN RECHARGE FROM ZERO IN SECONDS! HE'S ALREADY BACK TO FULL POWER AND RECHARGING THEIR ENTIRE GUILD! WE'VE GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE BEFORE THEY'RE ALL ON TOP OF US! RUUUN!"

It was right about then that the wall exploded to reveal Gildarts, fully charged and in a greater fury than he'd ever been. The ensuing beatdown couldn't even be called a fight, and it was considered extremely surprising that anyone on the control deck survived as Fairy Tail's strongest proceeded to tear Phantom Lord's mechanical giant apart, mostly with its master's face. Gildarts put a beating on Jose fit to rival what I did to Jellal.

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==An Hour Later==

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The bespectacled Rune Knight Captain flinched back as I started glowing like a halogen work lamp, "EX. CUSE. ME?" His platoon looked like they were about to bolt (instant proof that they were smarter than he was).

"T-this woman is a wanted criminal! One of the most infamous dark wizards on the continent!" the Rune Knight Captain declared, "By the authority of the Magic Council she must stand trial for her crimes!"

If Mira and Sorano hadn't each had a hand on me, two in Mira's case, I might very well have killed him. I think he knew it because he very wisely didn't voice the thought in his head about how he could actually declare me guilty of obstruction of justice for getting in his way like this.

Thankfully Master Makarov had caught sight of the situation and made his way over from where he and the S-Class were overseeing the round up of our would be killers, "Now now, let's all calm down. What seems to be the problem here Captain?"

The Rune Knight breathed an audible sigh of relief, "Ah, Master Makarov, this woman is a wanted criminal. I have to arrest her, but your man here is getting in my way. If he continues to interfere, then I will be forced to charge him with obstruction of justice."

Master nodded, "I see, I see. So because this woman is a criminal you must arrest her so that she can stand trial, correct?"

I heard the confusion run through the Rune Knight's mind, but I also heard what was going through Master's head and that actually gave me the confidence to relax. I think the Rune Knight noticed but it didn't stop him from agreeing with Master, "Yes that is correct."

Master nodded, "So you want to arrest her because you need her to stand trial. Correct?"

The Rune Knight nodded, "Yes, I literally just said that!"

Master smiled, "Oh? Well perhaps I misheard. I thought you just said that you need Sorano to stand trial for her crimes. In what way does that necessitate an arrest?" The Rune Knight immediately realized where Master was going with his questioning and visibly fought the urge to face palm.

Master nodded, "Yeees, you see my point. Now then, why don't you leave this young mother-to-be to our protective custody? We'll ensure she makes her trial and doesn't disappear, in return, you don't have to fight two Wizard Saints and the entirety of their guild! How's that sound?" He said it with such a kind and earnest smile that if you hadn't been paying attention, you'd never have guessed he was threatening the man.

I could hear the guy's brain struggling to process Master's words for a moment and then, "Mother to be?"

"Sorano is pregnant and just survived an attempt on her life by some kind of mind controlling bastard who has been controlling her actions for who knows how long and nearly put our entire guild in the dirt with her," I snarled, "If you think you're putting the mother of my unborn child in some filthy goddamned jail cell to have a miscarriage then you are lethally mistaken!"

Theeere it went, it finally clicked. It was visible when the Rune Knight Captain figured out how thin the ice between me and him was. The color draining out of his face was easy to see even through the half meter thick transparent wall Gray had put between us to maybe keep me from killing him. It wouldn't have worked, but I did appreciate the attempt to help me reign in my temper.

"O-oh, I…I see…" Mr. Rune Knight stammered, "Um…yes ah…well…erm…I suppose if Master Makarov is willing to stand bail I can release her into the Fairy Tail guild's custody until such time as a trial date can be set…"

"Goooood, good…" Master declared with a falsely friendly smile, "Now, why don't you get back to arresting the guys who just attempted to massacre our entire city with an outlawed weapon of mass destruction and leave the family matters to us?"

The Rune Knight nodded and his entire platoon breathed a sigh of relief as he declared that they'd do that. He turned and left and I felt the relief run around our side as well.

Gray exhaled as he dissolved the ice wall, "Man, I don't think I've ever seen you that angry."

"You've never seen anyone threaten his kid before either," Gajeel pointed out.

"I can't believe he kept it together that well," Natsu mused, "I would've hit that guy the instant he suggested it."

Master bonked me on the head, "Reign it in Jerry, starting a fight with the Rune Knights won't solve anything, and whether we'd win easily or not, it could've gotten Sorano caught in the crossfire!"

I grimaced. Admittedly, I deserved it, but the thought of Sorano being put in chains again, especially now that I knew what she'd been through as a child…just no. HELL no. Knowing that she was pregnant with my child made it just that much worse.

I kind of wanted to point out that obliterating them instantaneously with Decomposition didn't technically count as a fight, but I knew that wouldn't help my case, especially since I really wasn't supposed to use that…

"Not to mention that I'll kill you if you start a fight within arm's reach of my patient," Porlyusica declared dryly from where she was giving Sorano a check up, "Breathe in…breathe out. Calm down your heart's like a rabbit's…"

"I'll try," Sorano and I replied in accidental unison before swapping a blushing glance and glancing away just as quickly. Then I smiled and gave her hand a light squeeze. I hadn't let go since I'd caught her after that magic draining attack hit. I would say I had never been so terrified in my life, but after Mattachu I had a good frame of reference for exactly how scared shitless I had been…merely 'terrified' couldn't describe what the Author of Woe's plan had instilled in me in that instant.

I made a mental note to thank Aria, if he hadn't used that magic draining attack, I wouldn't have been able to escape Freed's runes and Mystogan would've been all by himself against whatever Phantom and the Oracion Seis could throw at him. As much confidence as I have in my doppelganger, there's no doubt that it would've been every bit the massacre they'd intended.

Then I felt Mira's fingers clench in the fabric of my shirt and realized that I wasn't quiiite out of the woods yet. I quietly opened up a mental link to her, Sorano and Cana, Ahhh…seems like we should probably all four have a chat when Sorano's done with her check up.

Yes we probably should, Mira thought back, more than just a wee hint of peevishness in her mind's voice.

Worry immediately shot across the link from Sorano's end and was met with surprise from Mira. A moment later Mira told Sorano through the link, Don't worry, Sorano right? I'm annoyed with Jerry not you. I know he's smart enough to wear a condom, so finding out he got someone pregnant when I specifically told him not to is kind of upsetting. Then a very strong desire to absolutely dote on the baby leaked across the link and after a brief moment of surprise, relief flooded through from Sorano's end.

Yeah, don't worry about it, Cana reassured her, we're happy to share as long as you're cool with it, and if you're not…hey I get it. We can back off if you need us to, but Mira's every bit as good at pleasing women as Jerry is, and I'm not exactly a slouch myself. The grin she shot us from across the room would've made her feelings on the matter quite clear even if we hadn't been directly plugged into her mind.

Sorano was rather surprised and reflexively protested, But I'm straight!

So's spaghetti… Mira replied mischievously.

…Until it's wet, Cana finished as her grin almost doubled in size. Sorano's sudden neon blush earned all three of us a disapproving look from Porlyusica.

It's a bit unfortunate about the timing of that little interaction. I was too preoccupied to react properly to one of the most arousing thoughts that had ever crossed my mind. I felt like I had been drenched in ice water and when I could think again through the shock and sudden certainty that no matter what anyone says about me, I am a complete and utter idiot…

THEY HAVE CONDOMS HERE?!


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==That Night==

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Come on, did you really think we'd let a little thing like a near massacre stop us from having our party? Of course not! We're Fairy Tail! The show must go on!

I smiled as I watched the last float turn around the corner and out of sight, "Almost wish I had been able to come up with something for a float now."

Sorano looked up at me, "Couldn't you have joined one of the other floats? Honestly, I'm kind of surprised you didn't come up with one. You do love to make a spectacle." The showing of The Road to Mattachu had thoroughly assuaged any and all doubts about us sheltering her, so Sorano had swapped out her Oracion Seis mark for a Fairy Tail emblem not long after the film's conclusion.

I smiled, "True, but even if I had, I'd have still sat it out this time."

Sorano tilted her head slightly in confusion, "Really? Why's that?"

I looked at her with a smile, "You really think I'd not watch the parade with you?" She blushed and glanced away with a smile as I added, "It's not the best date, but I promise I'll step up my game in the future."

Sorano's blush intensified as she glanced back at me, "T-this is a date? But I didn't wear anything special, this is just my usual combat gear…"

I wrapped an arm around her, "You're here. That's special enough I think." I jerked my head back towards the still under construction Guild Hall, "Come on, it's time to get to work on what I did come up with. I want to wow you a little before the grand finale."

Sorano looked up at me in surprise, "Wait, you did come up with something?"

I grinned mischievously, "As you said, I do love to make a spectacle."

An hour later, as the first float came around the final corner with a fair bit of the city waiting for them, I dropped the illusion I'd thrown over the Guild Hall to disguise what I was doing. As everyone came around the corner, I waved from the top step of the newly finished Guild Hall and shot a massive burst of magic into the sky, painting our emblem in the sky to bathe the entire city in Sense of Security and another new spell I'd been working to master: Joy.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning as I whirled and spun, shooting fireworks from my fingertips as Sorano giggled at my antics.

Truly it had been a wonderful day.


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==Two Weeks Earlier==

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The medical bay of Fiore's highest security prison was normally used only for guards injured by rambunctious prisoners. As such, it was rarely used at all. Black Vox was the Magic Council's go to for dangerous prisoners for a reason.

It was almost inconceivable for a prisoner to be admitted to the medical bay. Black Vox was obligated to hold its prisoners for the duration of their sentence, but if that sentence was for the rest of their lives, which it usually was, then the jailers were under no obligation at all to ensure that took longer than it had to. They wouldn't do anything to hasten an inmate's demise, but they'd do little to nothing to slow it either.

"He's not long for this world," declared Black Vox's warden, the former Magic Councilman Torch Endeavor, before adding as he opened the door, "If it were anyone but you, I'd have refused this visit. You're only getting it because I know you two worked closely together."

Closer than you'd ever guess, Ultear mused silently as she thanked him and stepped through the door. "We'll wait out here," Warden Endeavor declared quietly, "Let you say your goodbyes in peace."

Ultear nodded her thanks and turned to the still form on the table as the door swung closed behind her. She strode across the room and exhaled lightly as she quietly forced the room's temperature to drop with her magic, stilling the air itself to muffle her voice. "You dumbass Jellal," she murmured quietly as she took in the sight of the mass of bandages covering the entire side of his face and the mottled bruises discoloring what was left visible.

Jellal didn't answer, his shallow breathing was the only sign that he was alive at all. His torso was bare, and it revealed the extent of the ferocious beating I had inflicted upon him. Nearly every bit of flesh was a grotesque mottled mix of red and purplish black with jagged dents showing clearly where magic empowered fists had blown through ribs like they weren't there. There were only a scant few teeth left in Jellal's mouth, and even what was visible of his jaw made it clear that it would never have set. Even with three quarters of his face destroyed though, Ultear still recognized him easily.

Ultear reached out to stroke her secret lover's cheek and immediately snatched her hand back in horror when she felt the cheek bone beneath the black and purple flesh give way. After a moment of heart pounding revulsion and horror, she tentatively reached out and touched her fingertips to the unbandaged side of Jellal's forehead. A faint golden light shone briefly and then Ultear's face twisted with grief and she pulled her hand away to cover her mouth and stifle the sob that tried to claw its way out. "Your memories…he took your memories…"

I hadn't stopped at merely beating my doppelganger's face off you see. Simply beating him into hamburger was no guarantee that he'd never hurt anyone again, I had come back from that before myself. Like hell I was letting a more experienced enemy with brains and power level equal to my own have a chance to get back up.

When I took his knowledge of magic away from him, I erased everything else so that even if he got back up, he'd have no idea who he even was or who had taken that knowledge from him. Even more than that, he'd have no way to find out since I'd completely erased all knowledge of society, language and everything else that made him a person. I would've absorbed his memories, but that could've led to his mind reforming inside my own and trying to take over my body.

Destroying him in body and mind was the only way shy of rending him down to dust with Decomposition and scattering his ashes that I'd ever feel assured that he wouldn't try to come back for revenge. If his mind survived, then I was certain there'd be no way he wouldn't make a comeback. He was after all entirely too much like me. So, exercising my extreme penchant for loophole abuse, I'd only in the very most basic sense not killed him.

No matter what I let Erza believe, in every way that counted, Jellal was dead by the time I kicked him through that portal to hand over to the council.

Even having obliterated his mind and pulverized his body to the edge of death, I still felt uneasy afterwards whenever I thought about it. If Erza hadn't stopped me from finishing him then and there, nothing would have. If he ever came back, I wouldn't stop, not even for Erza.

That of course was the problem at the core of my worry: if that wasn't enough to stop him, then what the hell would?

I hoped I'd never have to find out.

A few minutes later Ultear stepped back out of the medical bay and flipped the hood of her cloak back up, "He's gone, and I was never here."

Warden Endeavor raised an eyebrow and looked through the door, his eyes going wide as he saw the iced over body. He shot a glance at Ultear, "Miss Ultear…"

Ultear shot him a glance colder than the ice she had just made and for just a moment her eyes seemed to flash red in the relatively dim light, "I can stand many things Warden. Betrayal has never been one of them, especially from those closest to me."

Warden Endeavor's eyes went wider as realization hit him, "Oh. Um, yes of course. He passed in his sleep, nothing for it."

Ultear's lip twitched upward into a faint smile, "Thank you Warden. Have a pleasant evening."

As she turned away Warden Endeavor turned back to the medical bay and lifted his hat to scratch his head. "Don't know what the hell you thought Zeref would do for ya kid, but if you threw away her for it, then I don't much care what it was, you deserved the beatin' that Fairy Tail guy gave ya." Warden Endeavor looked around at his troops, "Get rid of this worthless popsicle. Make sure to bury it deep."

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==Meanwhile, Outside…==

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Ultear quietly teleported and reappeared at a mountain top a dozen miles away. Meredy was waiting for her, "Are you okay Ultear?"

Ultear exhaled angrily, "No, no I'm not, and thanks to that idiot Jellal, there's a high chance none of us are going to be okay soon. Is Master on the bridge?"

Meredy's eyes went wide, "What's wrong?"

Ultear didn't even look back as she strode up the metal access ramp onto the immense black airship, "Jerry Granger has all of Jellal's memories. Even if he hasn't bothered to look through them yet, it's only a matter of time before he learns the truth. We have to find a way to silence him as soon as possible."

"So is Jellal not coming back?" Meredy asked in concern.

Ultear actually paused for a moment to give her adopted daughter a forlorn glance, "No Meredy, I don't think he is."

"A pity," declared the dark haired man waiting at the top of the ramp, "His diplomatic skills and connection with the Oracion Seis will be missed. What of our recruitment drive?" It was highly telling that Jellal's diplomatic skills were considered of greater value than his magical strength, because that simple fact painted all too vivid a picture of the monstrous amount of power housed within that airship.

Ultear snorted lightly as a small smirk overtook her sorrow, "In forty eight hours, we'll have enough power on tap to storm Tenrou even if they know we're coming."


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==Present, October 16th X784==

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The prison wagon was made entirely of magic sealing stone, rigged to explode fifteen ways from Sunday and surrounded by two entire battalions of elite Rune Knights as it made its way towards Black Vox. Every prisoner inside was festooned with chains made of magic sealing stone and every member of the escort party was well armed and authorized to kill.

Even with these measures in place, the Rune Knights escorting the wagon were all quietly worried it wasn't enough. They were right to be worried, for inside the wagon sat four of the six wizards that made up the dark guild Oracion Seis, silently and gloomily contemplating their incarceration. In the wagon directly in front of that one was their Guild Master, the man known only as Brain.

"Hey Macbeth," Eric suddenly mused earning surprised looks from the rest of his guildmates. Eric smiled lightly, "Look on the bright side, Black Vox puts everybody in solitary. Nobody'll ever disturb your naps again!"

"Small recompense for being imprisoned," Midnight replied sourly, although Eric could hear the gratitude in his voice for the attempt to help his mood.

"Sawyer, it's going to be alright!" Eric suddenly protested as he heard the terror coursing through the man known as Racer, "Black Vox won't be like the tower! It's not a torture facility and nobody dares mess with the people are in there! We're going to be alright Sawyer!" Sawyer's subtle trembling lessened, but didn't still.

Silence reigned for what seemed like a long time and then…

"Where's Sorano?" the immense man known as Hot-Eye asked quietly, "She got away didn't she?"

Eric thought about keeping the information to himself and then he exhaled quietly, "Sorano's with Fairy Tail. We wound up teaming up with a few of their mages on the way to Minstrel and Sorano seduced Jerry Granger while we were with them. There's no way in hell Jerry'll let them take her." Especially once they find out she's pregnant, Eric added in his mind. He'd known for a few weeks already, but he'd kept it quiet to prevent Brain from getting any ideas about experimenting on the child. He'd actually considered it a massive windfall when it had been revealed that they were going to confront Fairy Tail because if they hadn't then he'd have had to find a way to get Sorano away from Brain before the madman could discover her condition.

"Then, she can break us out right?!" Sawyer asked excitedly.

Eric grimaced, "She can…but she won't. Not that way anyway."

"What do you mean she won't?!" Sawyer demanded as the rest of the guild immediately gave Eric the stink eye for implying that their adopted sister would abandon them.

Eric exhaled, "There's actually a very good case to be made for all four of us to be at least partially exonerated on grounds of mind control and brainwashing. I know you three don't read the papers, yes I know you read the market section Richard, but Jellal was exposed and beaten near to death a little over two weeks ago. The Tower was completely destroyed by the same wizards Sorano and I teamed up with in Minstrel, and one of those wizards was Erza Scarlet, who is actually the same little girl that led the rebellion before Jellal threw her off the island and nearly killed her in the process."

He smiled thinly in the shocked silence, physical and mental that followed his statement. "Why am I sure that Sorano won't try to break us out? Because Erza remembers each and every one of us, and neither of them or Jerry would ever leave one of us behind." Silence reigned but Eric's smile grew as he heard hope blooming in his adopted brothers' chests.

"Isn't that Jerry guy the one that threw that massive light spell at us and recharged Fairy Tail's entire guild in minutes?" Midnight asked curiously, "You said Sorano seduced him right? Who is he? What's he got to do with all this?"

Eric's face twisted into a bit of a grimace, "It's kind of complicated, but the simplest way I know to tell ya is that he's the real Wizard Saint who Jellal was impersonating. I read something about Jellal being one of three triplets, didn't know that but apparently he, Mystogan and Jerry are all exactly identical right down to that weird tattoo. Jerry was so furious when he learned what Jellal was up to that he personally beat Jellal quite literally to death's doorstep and dragged what was left of him to the Magic Council. I bet that picture didn't do the beating justice," he added, "But even what was visible should probably have been censored due to how gruesome it was. The paper said Jellal lived through it, but he was completely comatose and I've only ever seen two other bodies in that bad a shape. Both required healing magic of literally divine proportions." Eric smirked, "There's no way the wizard who healed those two would help him though, so I doubt he'll live long, and even if he does, the council chucked him in Black Vox immediately so he won't have any magic to patch him back together."

Then all four of them stiffened as they felt the gentle rocking of the wagon suddenly stop. "We're here already?" Eric asked in confusion.

Then a hand wrapped in horrible darkness suddenly erupted through the side of the wagon, straight through Eric's back and out his front, the Dragon Slaying Lacrima that gave Eric his magic clenched in its fist. As the four wizards stared in shock, the figure almost totally covered in bandages outside grinned in the field of skeletons it and its friends had just made. The hand was yanked back and Eric was left vomiting blood in shock as a terrible stillness suddenly asserted itself over his three adopted brothers before they could even cry out.

Eric heard a terrible voice, low and gravelly speak from outside the carriage, "On the off chance you make it to Fairy Tail alive, I want you to take them a little message for me..." The hand reached through in another burst of wood splintering and yanked Eric through the wall of the wagon, bringing him face to face with the bandaged man whose horribly disfigured face was revealed just enough to make his identity obvious as he sang with more than a hint of madness in his voice, "I'm baaa~ack!"

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AN: Come on, we all knew that Phantom didn't stand a chance with the entire S-Class handy even if they stacked all the cards in their favor!

Of course, that doesn't mean the Author of Woe's out of commission, just that they failed THIS time.

And for anyone who thought Grimoire Heart and the Oracion Seis weren't going to be every bit the threat they were in canon, SURPRISE!

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NEXT TIME on Mad Little Slice of Heaven...

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I blinked as I stared down at the tiny head full of blue hair that had just tackled me to the ground, "JELLAL! I MISSED YOU!"

I quickly checked the absurdly adorable kid's head, Ah, a friend of Mystogan's. Then I noticed the memory block, WAIT A MINUTE!