Kingdom Fairy Tail

by TheSavageMan100

Fairy Tail meets Kingdom Hearts in this re-imagning of the widely-popular game series! When the worlds are in threat of destruction by the Heartless, Wendy Marvell is chosen by a mysterious weapon known as the Keyblade. It's now up to Wendy, Donald, Goofy, and the heroes of Disney and Fairy Tail to make things right again!

37. Side Story: Heart of Satan

Author's Note:
This chapter is dedicated to Sora's addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as the final DLC character. Congratulations, Kid Keyblader! With your inclusion in the roster and you being the most fan requested character in the Smash ballot, the popularity of Kingdom Hearts, my all-time game franchise for life, has once again shone brilliantly like the heart-shaped moon itself! And who said Disney wouldn't let him in?! He's just too popular and too awesome a video game icon to reject! They say it wouldn't happen, but it did! We believed with all our hearts that our man Sora would be part of the Smash Bros. community someday! Keep it up, Kingdom Hearts! You deserve another jewel to the crown!

This chapter is also dedicated to Chris Ayres, the voice of Frieza from Dragon Ball Z, Corset from Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, and Duke Everlue of Fairy Tail, who passed away at the age of 56 following years of battling severe health issues. Thank you so much, Frieza, for all the love and laughter... and we'll see you in Other World, where we get to spar with the Emperor of the Universe one more time. We miss you and God bless.

Now, back to business! It's been another dreadfully long wait, but I've prepared for this. The moment you've all been waiting for: Side Story: Heart of Satan, the ultimate catfight between Kaze and Mirajane! How did it all come to this before the action continues at the beginning of the Neverland arc? Let's find out!

---

The hidden memories resurfaced. Though no flashback was being presented at this time, the voices were refracting at the edge of awareness, cutting through the blackness. Wendy's desperate cries and Grandeeney's attempts at reasoning were all brushed aside by Kaze; the speeding process of dragonification ate away at her humanity to such an extreme for her to take heed or even care, and every response she gave to them was laced with hatred and cruelty...

"Kaze, where are you going? Kaze! Come back! Please, come back! Don't leave me!"

"You flower-blooming hypocrite. You think you're better than me at everything else. I'll show you!"

"I've made my decision, and it was final. Wendy is one of the seven. I cannot risk intertwining a spoiled, volatile child such as yourself with the prophecy!"

"How could you choose her over me?! It's not FAIR! I'm the REAL Dragon Slayer! I'm better at EVERYTHING than her!"

"K-Kaze! W-What are you saying? What did I do?!"

"Piece of trash... How badly do you have to wreck my life just to satisfy yourself?"

"How could you do this to her?! She's your own cousin! She's a little sister to you!"

"Grandeeney... I'm not gonna play babysitter for this... this... garbage any longer! I don't care about her anymore!"

"No, Kaze, no! Please, don't go! Don't go! Come back! I love you!"

"You say you love me, but you don't! The only thing you've been doing is hold me back! I was an idiot for not seeing it until now!"

"That's absurd! I've always loved you and Wendy equally!"

"YOU DON'T FOOL ME, YOU STUPID DRAGON! YOU'RE JUST A LOSER LIKE SHE IS!"

"Don't go! DON'T GO! DON'T GO!"

"IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME... IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME... THEN NOBODY WILL! I'LL SHOW YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL!"

"What have you become?! Where is your heart?!"

"WE! ARE! THROUGH!"

And then came noises of explosions and roaring winds and crackling fire. The darkness turned to blood red. The voices echoed, increasingly urgent.

"I won't allow you to hurt my daughter, you horrid creature!"

"Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill... Must... KIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLL!"

"NO! Stay away from us!"

"I'll end you! I'll destroy every part of you! Kill you! KILL YOU! KILL YOU BOTH!"

"WENDY!"

There was one last deafening blast, bringing forth a flash of bright light that overtook the red space.

"In the name of Bahamut, the virtuous dragons, and all those that had come before... I, Grandeeney the Sky Dragon Queen... CAST YOU OUT!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOO! I WILL NOT BE DENIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEED!"

Those were Kaze's last words before the chaos came to a standstill— everything was white and silent. Right before the dream ended, four simple words whispered into the colorless void, filled with sorrow, sympathy, and emotion.

"I still love you..."

---

FOUR HOURS AGO…
Before Wendy and Company Departed for Neverland

At that moment, Kaze's confinement was about to come to a screeching halt. While she stayed unconscious at the moment, the deep-seated emotions that came with the mysterious visions beckoned the incredible power of darkness to enshroud her very being. Bit by bit, she rumbled in place, wrestling against the weakening restraints that bound her to her bed. A strange growl came from the back of her throat, bypassing the sedative gas flowing from her oxygen mask. The heart rate monitor beeped faster than usual. Her chest heaved and her back arched, as though some parasite was aching to burst. Her skin glowed, fuming with dark purple energy. The darkness vibrated, pounding like a heartbeat with each erratic movement, making the entire room shake and rattle. It grew by the second as it made the very earth around it tremble, and there was nothing the Sleepy Hollow medical staff could do to contain the random spasms of unrestricted magic. No matter their efforts, it only seemed to worsen Kaze's "condition" as the doctors scrambled frantically.

"No! None of our procedures worked!" the head surgeon yelled, ripping the cap from his head in agitation. "Nothing we could do can calm her down!"

"That's all we can do, sir! We tried our best!" an assistant reported. "We did everything we could to keep her stabilized, but it seems to aggravate her mental state! At this rate, she'll lose control of her magic again!"

"Estimated twenty one seconds until critical failure. Damage is twice as catastrophic as first confinement," another assistant pointed out. "Her magic is already beginning to run rampant! We have to evacuate immediately!"

"Hurry! We have to take Master Viriniam to another medical facility!" the head surgeon shouted. "Everyone get her out! GET HER OUT NOW!"

"Pressure! Magic Energy pressure rising!" a nurse screamed. The doctors stood over Kaze's convulsing form as it grew past the bed's restraints, snapping them in two. The heartbeats grew louder. The mask slipped from her mouth. The medical equipment spiraled out of control. She squealed in ecstasy and agony as she twisted and rocked about, the ground cracking beneath her weight. Her dark magic grew to a height so immense, it added to the medical group's panic. And then… BOOOOOOOOOM! A powerful blast of darkness spread from where Kaze laid on the bed, shrouding the room in fire and shadow, the loud noise drowning out the agonizing screams. When the smoke cleared, the room stood bleak against the broken machinery and deceased flesh boiled away by the rising fires, leaving a foul stench in their wake. No one survived the explosion, save for the Sleepy Hollow guild master, who finally awoke from her slumber.

Kaze sat up from the tattered bed and looked around at the destruction she unwittingly caused while she slept. Everywhere she saw, there were dead bodies and fluttering ashes. She sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead. For a while, she thought she was having a dream, never to discover at first that she caught a glimpse of her special connection with Wendy. And the feelings she harbored while her mind was someplace else didn't make it any easier, either. On the contrary, she felt even angrier that her magic went beyond her control again, this time amid her sleep. She didn't realize the damage she had wrought and who she had hurt before it struck her as fast as Wendy's Keyblade. However, her comatose state seemed to serve as a pleasant rejuvenation, as it fully restored her health and magic. "Ugh..." Kaze lowered her hand and surveyed the damage again, feeling a bit guilty for going overboard, even though it wasn't intentional. "That was some nap... And it looks like I overdid it... again. What's going on? How did I even end up here?" She looked down and noticed the discarded oxygen mask on the floor. As she picked it up, the situation clearly made sense to her. "A medical room... I was..." Her eyes widened in alarm, and she urgently rose from the bed, remembering what happened a long time ago. "Wendy! That's right... The blueberry and I… We fought inside the whale... and I had her on the ropes… But she—"

A stream of red magic slowly pulsated within the smoke and ash, glowing with a haze brighter than the fires themselves. A portal appeared, and out came Crane, the Sleepy Hollow wizard who served as the guild master's right-hand man. He rushed over to Kaze, deeply concerned for her current state, and more so by the scale of damage done to the medical facility, which she was undoubtedly the root cause of. "Master! Are you alright?"

"Crane…" Kaze recognized, caution present in her voice.

"What happened here? Has your Dark Drive malfunctioned again? If not, have you suffered any abnormalities before then? Anything serious at all?" Crane asked urgently.

Kaze gazed at her hand before clenching it a few times. "Not too serious, at least." Again, she scanned the wreckage and the dead bodies around her, "They took a big risk bringing me here. I guess while I was down and out at some point, the guild's med staff repaired my Dark Drive to suppress my tremendous dark powers before they went haywire in my sleep." She turned to notice a few medical tools in a drawer next to her, "The docs patched me up, stitched my cuts, and I feel a lot sturdier since Agrabah. It's a heavy price they had to pay for my health. Still, they did a great job healing me. Thanks to this, I'm a whole lot better now, and my magic's all maxed out. So to answer your question, Crane, yeah. I'm okay for now."

Crane breathed in relief, "Thank goodness! Although your recovery didn't turn out the way we hoped it would, it's a blessing to see that you're whole again. The Horsemen and the rest of Sleepy Hollow will be most pleased to hear of your successful recuperation… questionable as it may be. Pray tell, Master, have you experienced anything during your insensible state?"

Kaze chuckled softly, "'Insensible', huh? You referring to the time I was napping while the med group fixed the Dark Drive in my chest?"

Crane nodded, "For the most part, yes."

Kaze revealed, "I… I had the strangest dreams. I keep getting thrown into an oddly convenient first-person perspective about myself and Wendy hanging around in some big forest. And then there's this white, bird-shaped dragon towering above us. The three of us were having a disagreement about Dragon Slayers and stuff. And… I've never felt so… so…" Her eyes shook as a dark flicker based on her subconscious emotions nearly swept over them. "…angry! I was steaming mad like I never had before. I could feel a whirlpool of emotions swirling inside me. Anger, sadness, anguish, depression, frustration… The voices in my head, the things I've felt… I can't tell if they're all natural or bogus… But for some reason, I get this irresistible urge to hurt somebody…" Her hands began to tremble as sweat poured down her face, "…to go crazy… to get nuts… to break… to destroy… to kill… kill… kill…" Dark energy erupted around her clenched fist, and her voice grew strained and slightly murderous, as if she was being possessed. "Kill… Must… kill… kill… kill…"

"Master? What's the matter?" Crane's voice snapped her out of her trance before she could do something drastic, and the magic faded from her hand. "You appear to be… distressed."

"Huh… I don't know what's come over me…" Kaze breathed. "It's been a long day… or two… I've lost track." She closed her eyes and inhaled, then exhaled. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"Oh…" Crane confirmed. "So you're better, then?"

"Just peachy. Sorta," Kaze said hesitantly.

"Very good," Crane nodded. "Now that you've fully recovered, it's imperative that we check your physical and mental conditions before you resume your duties as guild master. You are to be evaluated by the rest of the medical staff. They await your presence in Section D-6."

"Whatever you say," Kaze shrugged with a sigh. "Anything's better than being forced to stare into my own closed eyelids. And there's no point staying in this dump, anyway." Stretching her arms and cracking a few bones to revitalize herself, she was about to exit the desolate medical facility when a different thought crossed her mind. "Uh…" She looked to Crane and asked, "Hey, Crane, were you watching me sleep?" He sweat dropped, as he couldn't bring himself to reply.

Later…

"Alright, ladies and germs, I'm here! Let's get this over with…" Kaze called out as she arrived at the destined location with Crane accompanying her, two lines of saluting Sleepy Hollow wizards honoring her steps. They stopped before a spectacled Sleepy Hollow secretary working on a typewriter in her desk. Kaze asked, "Is this where the med staff is at? Sometimes I forget which section of the castle is which, I have to rely on Crane here to take me there fast." She gestured to her adjutant, who simply shrugged his shoulders.

The secretary looked up from her typewriter and almost giggled. "Ah, hello, Master Viriniam. You're just in time for your medical evaluation. And about ten minutes early before they switch their main place of operations to Section E-3… Have you set your watch again?"

Kaze glanced at the wall clock, then shook her head. "Sorry, I don't have a timepiece. I'll get one for myself if there is one. But better early than never."

The secretary confirmed, "Very well, then. Oh, and these are the faxes and your portfolio." She handed Kaze several folders. "You are expected to sign these before next week."

Kaze groaned, "Ugh, great… Throw 'em in the pile of other extra work that I'm SO not grateful for ever since I took the job!" He turned to Crane, "Seriously, dude! Why can't it be so simple as picking hazelnuts on a tree? Shouldn't I just strategize and give orders to my lackeys instead of doing all the mind-numbing paperwork? It cramps my fingers the more that I write!"

Crane stated, "I'm sorry, Master, but you do know that your duties as guild master come with tremendous responsibility. It's what you agreed on when you took the job. It's what we would expect from someone worthy of your caliber."

A tick mark appeared on Kaze's forehead as she walked towards the door with a disgruntled growl. "Let's just keep moving, alright?" Crane saw no reason to argue and followed her, leaving the secretary to keep on typing. "I'd say thanks, but this darn paperwork should go to the trash where it feels a lot welcome there than in my office!"

As she and her advisor entered the room, they met up with a group of therapists and physicians who exchanged pleasantries and well-wishes with their one patient. Though Kaze reciprocated the medical staff's courtesy, it was only for show; deep down, she didn't like being tied down by people deciding what was best for her, as it reminded her too much of Maleficent…. or perhaps someone else that was tied to the visions she received in her comatose state. Yet here she was, with her hands tied behind her back. She couldn't do anything unless certain conditions were met, and the frustration ate at her like a hungry squirrel. She would've gone out there right away so she could do whatever she wanted to do, like settling her business with her rival, Wendy. But seeing as she could not dissuade the doctors from examining her, even if she appeared to be in perfect health, she had no choice but to adhere to their insistence. And so Kaze sat on a chair in the middle of the room, a flashlight shone in her right eye, her left arm raised for checking her blood pressure, a syringe injected into her right arm, an X-ray machine positioned to check the newly repaired Dark Drive in her stomach… However, in order to pass the time, Crane took it upon himself to enlighten Kaze with all the events that transpired during her absence.

Ten minutes of extensive physical and mental check-ups later…

"So you're telling me that Ursula and Oogie kicked the bucket thanks to Blueberry, and only Maleficent, Hook, and Hades remained on the council?" Kaze spoke with her mouth open wide for her tongue to stick out, allowing a doctor to examine her mouth and throat. Her words came out stuffed but easy to make out. "What about the last Princess of Heart? Have we found her yet?"

"Captain Hook has assumed command of this next operation," Crane stated. "According to a report from the Scuttle Edge dark guild, the captain has already secured Neverland, and is now planning an elaborate trap to lure in a certain young girl who resides on the island. He firmly believes that this girl might be a suitable candidate as one of the nine."

"Hmm… So Jimmy's actually getting us somewhere, huh?" Kaze mused, shutting her mouth after her doctor stopped checking her throat. She rested an ankle on her other knee, "He just had to take a bold step in getting the final Princess, didn't he?"

"He was so eager," Crane pointed out. "Right before he left, I overheard him saying that the 'only girl among Pan's little group of scurvy brats' must be a Princess of Heart, and once he takes her to Hollow Bastion, he'll be eligible for a promotion from Madam Maleficent any day of the week."

"Oh, really now?" Kaze smirked confidently. "Well, I'm glad the old seadog came up with that bright idea, if not a brilliant one. And if it goes as planned, he might get promoted to the rank of the AOE's 'resident tactician' after Jafar ditched the bird's nest a while ago. I mean, there has to be an empty spot after he lost to Wendy, right? Higher positions required they be vacated for the sake of business, y'know. In short, ladies and gentlemen of the board—" She motioned to the medical staff, "You guys, stick with me— Costs go down, revenues go up, and stocks have never been higher." She laughed to herself, "Geez, have you ever seen me turn into a CEO of some cheesy corporate management? Thank God I'm not wearing a suit!" Her quip provoked a chuckle in the assembly. "But seriously, that's a bit of good news for the most part. About Hook picking up where that overgrown, red-skinned bulldog left off... He sure knows how to please, unlike some people. Which brings me to my next question:" She turned to Crane, "Who else joined the party with him at Neverland? And…" She raised an eyebrow in suspicion, "…where are my Horsemen? Aren't they supposed to be waiting for me while I was resting up from my space trip? They usually worry about me because they're four of my most loyal underlings."

"The Horsemen, they… They're not here," Crane confessed.

"Not… here?" Kaze's grin disappeared.

"They left with Captain Hook," Crane explained. "They took the Ichabod and followed the Jolly Roger on its course to Neverland. Along with our entire collection of dark guilds."

"What?" Kaze's breath caught.

Crane informed, "Not long after you were put in a coma, the captain asked Madam Maleficent's permission to have every single dark guild we have left at our disposal chaperone him for the duration of the Neverland operation. He also asked for the Horsemen to be his bodyguards, and so they took the Ichabod and left with the dark guild fleet. Hook suggested that he is using the fleet as a tactical measure, a precaution in case the Keyblade master and her allies try to enter Neverland. I'm certain he is attempting to trap her as well."

Kaze gasped in shock, "The Ichabod? They took our guild's prized battleship… without my permission?! Why?!"

Crane replied, "It was Madam Maleficent who commissioned their accompaniment of Captain Hook. You were unconscious, so she decided to give them orders on your behalf. That aside, she granted Hook's request. The Horsemen and all the remaining dark guilds had gone off with him."

Kaze frowned, "Why wasn't I told sooner?" She tried so hard to keep casual, she almost felt like she wanted to scream for being left out of the loop. "Why didn't she?"

Crane continued, "She did authorize their services to Captain Hook during his stay in Neverland… on the condition that you are confined here in the castle. She has forbidden you from leaving Hollow Bastion unless she specifically allows it, even though you've already woken up and you're fully healed. She tasked our guild's medical staff to monitor you frequently. She ordered that you remain here, out of sight and out of trouble, until she is certain you are ready to go outside again."

Kaze saw the doctors exchanging looks that told her she was in a foul mood, just as they feared she would be. It did nothing to quell the brimming anger welling up inside. "So… you're keeping me here… because she told you to… I'm just her prisoner now, thanks to you?" She balled her hands into fists around the arms of her chair, shaking with fury. "Why do you have to answer to her? You're all Sleepy Hollow, aren't you? I'm the guild master! This is my guild, and you answer to me! Not her!"

"Sleepy Hollow is part of the Alliance of Evil now," the head doctor reminded. "Madam Maleficent is the leader of the Alliance, and she holds authority over everything affiliated with this organization, whether they are guilds or not. Our guild is no exception. Furthermore, her authority supersedes yours in this matter. I'm sorry, Master, but we cannot follow you at this time. Madam Maleficent's orders are absolute. She requires you be kept here in Hollow Bastion until you are 100% medically cleared. This was her call. Not yours." He then pulled out a thermometer, "Now, hold still and let us check your temperature."

"She thinks I can't be trusted to handle anything anymore," Kaze grumbled.

"Don't be thick, Master. She only wants what's best for you," a nurse insisted.

"Or that I can't take care of myself—"

"Of course she doesn't think that! You know she trusts you a great deal," a therapist added.

"The ramifications of defying what Madam Maleficent decrees will be drastic for all of us, especially you. We must follow her every command," the head doctor asserted. "She highly recommends that you stay in the castle and be checked regularly by us. Given time, she'll allow you to take your leave depending on your behavior. We will check on your physical and mental state for at least three days." He inched the thermometer closer to Kaze's mouth, "Say ahh…"

Kaze furiously swatted the thermometer away; it shattered into a hundred tiny pieces against the wall. "She can't DO THIS to me!" The impatient Sleepy Hollow ringleader rose out of her seat, her voice growing loud and strong. "I'm the brains of this outfit! I have Maleficent's trust above all others, I've done most of the heavy lifting for her, and she repays me by locking me out? Is that it?!" Her chagrined expression quickly turned into outrage, and before she knew it, she was screaming. "YOU FORGET HOW MUCH I HANDLED MORE THAN YOU EVER MANAGED YOUR WHOLE DAMN LIVES?! WHEN DOES SHE GET THE GALL TO KEEP ME DOWN AND FORCE ME TO DO WHATEVER THE HELL SHE WANTS?! SHE CAN'T JUST ORDER ME AROUND! I'M NOT A CHILD! I HATE BEING TREATED LIKE A CHILD! I CAN'T STAND BEING TREATED LIKE A CHILD!" She swiped her hand for emphasis, "I DON'T NEED HER OR ANYONE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO! NO ONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO! NO ONE, YOU HEAR?!" She started to tremble as every bitter and resentful thought over the course of her detainment poured out of her; her frustration for being 'grounded' by Maleficent, the pain she felt when the Headless Horsemen had gone off without her, and the anguish of being denied the one thing that she craved most.

Crane dared not to speak; he just stood there and watched calmly. The doctors, on the other hand, were flabbergasted by the outburst. The head of the medical staff exclaimed, "Stop it, Master! Madam Maleficent will not approve of this! Will you please just calm down? Your negative emotions will end up triggering another dark impulse that could potentially destroy the surrounding area! I doubt even the repaired Dark Drive may not be enough to—"

Kaze grabbed the medic by the throat and squeezed it tightly, her face black with malice. That brutal action drew out more gasps from everyone present (except Crane). Without even noticing it, her dark magic started to seep around her muscles. "SPARE ME YOUR EXCUSES, YOU OLD FART! YOU'RE KEEPING ME HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF WHAT I'LL DO TO YOU BEFORE SHE DOES!"

The head doctor struggled for breath, "Look, I promise I'll hear anything you have to say, but first, let's conduct some more tests! We can't carry on a proper conversation in this situation—" The magic slowly boosted a ton high, as did the pressure of Kaze's hand choke. "I'm begging you, please! Please, listen to Madam Maleficent! Just do as she says! Don't you understand?! It's for your own good! Everything we do here is for your own good! For Sleepy Hollow, the Alliance of Evil, and even Commander Mirajane!"

The medical staff gasped in horror as they witnessed their young guild master instantly snapping the neck of the elder surgeon. The sound was so sickening, like a twig being stepped on and broken in two. The mere mention of Mirajane's name seemed to strike a nerve in Kaze; she didn't bother looking at what she had done, instead she stared below the corpse and the blood that trailed it. "Mira…" Her voice ran dry from screaming and the tension the infallible darkness in her heart filled it with. All at once, it replayed into her mind, how her previous plan to take advantage of Wendy quickly fell apart by these words:

"Wendy was right. She would never abandon Fairy Tail, nor would she turn down anyone in need. In fact, she's a wonderful girl who wants to make everyone happy. It goes with everyone who's a member of the guild. And you're about to find out the hard way, Kaze!"

If memory served her well, she dragged Mirajane into her scheme to catch Wendy off guard in Monstro's belly and then hit her at her most vulnerable. But just as she was about to have the Sky Maiden and the 'brainwashed' She-Devil battle it out as she envisioned— a heart-rending, tragic duel between former friends— her chances to play on Wendy's feelings flew out the window when Mirajane abandoned her and returned to the Jolly Roger. At that moment, Kaze came to an assumption that Maleficent's magic did nothing to alter Mirajane's mind. If that was the case, the Take-Over wizard may be putting on a false show of allegiance, all so she could carry out her secret plan of tearing the Alliance of Evil apart from the inside. Kaze could never forget that act of treachery. Mirajane's final words repeated themselves in her mind, adding to her growing feelings of dejection and betrayal. And the darkness surging throughout her body.

"Mira…!" Kaze snarled, the heated anger and insanity resurfacing. "You… You tricked me!" She finally snapped, her voice erupting to a violent roar, "YOU SNEAKY LOWLIFE! YOU TRICKED ME! YOU TRICKED MEEEEEEEEEEE! MIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRAAAAAAA!" The unstable guild master began lashing out with her dark magic, flinging destructive blasts across the room. Most of the Sleepy Hollow medical staff ended up becoming victims of her temper tantrum, and one by one, they got ripped apart or blown to bits by the chaotic darkness. Anyone who was fortunate enough to stray from Kaze's rampage wasted no time running away from the room. Only Crane stayed behind, though he backed away from her nervously. Kaze repeatedly thrashed the place with her magic, screaming hateful comments towards Mirajane all the while. "YOU TRICKED ME! YOU TRICKED ME, MIRA! YOU TRICKED ME! DAMN YOU, MIRA! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU TO HELL! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!" When breaking things was no longer enough, she spread out her arms and released a massive burst of energy that shot straight into the ceiling. It spread into a dark purple gust of wind, and they fanned the fires she lit up instead of putting them out. "I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS! I'M GONNA MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS! YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'RE GONNA PAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! MIIIIIRAAAAA! MIIIIIIIRRRRRRRAAAAAAA!"

"M-Master?!" Crane exclaimed, stunned by the scale of Kaze's dark magic than the height of her outburst.

Then at last, the tempest receded and settled into her body. She took a few seconds to catch her breath, rubbing her heart where the expanse of energy shot out. She looked at the rugged floor, the corpses, and even the flames around the facility; the damage was twice as devastating as the last one she demolished, and done so of her own accord than by accident. But she didn't care. All that mattered was to confront Mirajane and make her answer for what was perceived as a betrayal. Seething with a new tranquil fury, Kaze burst through the door and stormed out of the room.

Crane hastily followed her outside and asked, "Master, wait! Where are you going?"

Kaze growled, "I'm taking a ship to Neverland. To the Jolly Roger. I'm gonna pay an 'old friend' of mine a visit…" She walked down the hall, where Sleepy Hollow personnel scrambled in terror at the sight of their master's descent into madness.

Crane shouted, "Master, is it wise?! You still haven't been cleared for—"

Kaze snapped, "Don't follow me unless you wanna come along!" She kept advancing without even batting an eye to her adjutant.

Realizing that no amount of persuasion could stay Kaze's course, Crane made the decision to assist her. After all, he was loyal to no one else but Sleepy Hollow's guild master, and he would follow her to whatever end if necessary. In a flash of red lightning, he sped over to Kaze, close enough to look her in the eye. He suggested, "I can take you to the landing bay. There may be a few spare ships you can use."

Kaze huffed, "Good!" Crane conjured a crimson portal in front of her, and the two stepped into it without delay.

And so…

Upon arrival, Kaze was pleased to find more than a few gummi vessels docked in the landing bay— evidently, they were reserved in the event of a potential invasion by the Keyblade wielder and her companions, should they try to trespass onto the main base. Surely they wouldn't mind if she borrowed a single ship to outer space, and she would compensate for its usage once she finished her task at hand. At the moment, she had no concern about the consequences of her actions; she felt no guilt about traveling to Neverland if it meant violating Maleficent's mandate, partly just to spite the sorceress. She wouldn't stop, not until she made Mirajane suffer for ditching her when she needed her back at Monstro.

Just then, a battalion of Sleepy Hollow wizards rolled onto the scene, blocking her path to a set of 959-4-25 Lucifer gummi ships parked straight ahead. Kaze rolled her eyes and groaned at the prospect of her own minions pointing their weapons at her, as they were taking Maleficent's commands quite seriously. Somehow, she expected as much. "You guys really wanna keep me from leaving? I kinda expected you to let me go because I'm the head of this guild and you're all under my thumb, but never to drag me down just to please that two-horned hag! You're falling in line with her when you should've fallen in line with me. I'm very disappointed in you all. You should know better."

The lead wizard announced, "We have strict orders from Madam Maleficent to restrain you. You are not to leave Hollow Bastion until you've finished your rehabilitation. We are authorized to use force should you attempt to resist. Forgive us, Master Viriniam, but it is for the good of Sleepy Hollow and the Alliance of Evil."

Kaze spat, "Do you have any idea how terrible it is being stuck in this deadbeat castle day in and day out with nothing to do? It's BORING! The food and water is subpar at best! I had to read the same old books in my room over and over, just to keep myself distracted! I even swallowed a DANG RAT! I wanted to have FUN OUTSIDE! The only saving grace is that I get to hang around Macao in the library! Besides Wendy, he's been my personal playmate and my entertainment ever since I dragged him out of Earth-land!" She rubbed her chin, "Speaking of, he must be taking a leak in the bucket right about now. I'm sure he doesn't mind if I leave him alone for a while. Remind me to go check on him later." She resumed the topic, "Then all a sudden, I'm not allowed to go out there because my Dark Drive almost broke, and I couldn't take care of Blueberry when I had the chance? Maleficent's been getting on my nerves for the last time. Well, she can just stuff her orders up her sorry ass! I'm sick of this! I don't need her worrying about my safety and my health, and you shouldn't either; I can do just fine." She gestured to herself, "As you can see, I'm fully healed. I'm up and ready to go. I'm back and better than ever. So don't waste my time and yours pushing those pointless check-ups on me. I'm going to Neverland. You got a problem with it, don't bother coming along. Just skip the rehab and let me go." She narrowed her eyes viciously, "That's an order."

The lead wizard refused, "We cannot follow that order. Please, Master, don't make this difficult than it needs to be. Surrender peacefully and let us resume your rehabilitation. Do so, and the mistress will overlook this recent behavior of yours."

Kaze retorted, "It doesn't matter how many times you ask; my answer's not gonna change. I'm going, whether you or Maleficent like it or not. Now…" She added dangerously, "BACK. DOWN."

The lead wizard countered, "Our orders remain unchanged. You're not going anywhere!"

Kaze yelled, "I'm warning you! Let me pass!" She instinctively drew her Soul Eater Blades, their chained edges overflowing with piercing chill.

The lead wizard shouted, "Surround her! Don't let her take one of these ships! She cannot be allowed to leave Hollow Bastion!" With that order, the multiple Sleepy Hollow wizards made a beeline for their rogue guild master.

Kaze only saw red as she tightened her grip on the Soul Eaters. "OUT OF MY WAY!" She shot forward and effortlessly sliced through the advancing guards, her chain blades dancing left and right to cut down her former minions like butter. In spite of their attempts to subdue her with the best equipment they had at their disposal, ranging from hard-light shields to electric sticks and even various types of anti-magic weaponry, the Sleepy Hollow army did little to quell the bloodbath as the bodies kept piling in. From Crane's perspective, Kaze's cold-blooded revenge on Mirajane outweighed her loyalty and compassion towards her underlings for the time being, and he saw no reason to blame her for it; once she let her fury settle in whenever she set her mind on something, there was no stopping her. As tempted as he was to try and calm Kaze's anger, to stop her from shedding any more blood, his heart and absolute obedience towards her beckoned him otherwise. All Crane could do was watch his fellow guildmates drown in pools of their own blood, slightly wincing uncomfortably at the monster who was his master.

With more units closing in, Kaze held up her right Soul Eater, which she charged with ice magic. She stabbed it into the ground, producing a raging whirlwind of frost that erupted beneath her and froze solid the surrounding grunts. She shattered the statues with her other Soul Eater, then leapt high above the ice and snow to utilize random spells associated with her weapon styles. In Blade Mode, Kaze devastated the incoming wave of Sleepy Hollow wizards with Helm Split, Zero Wave, Frozen Silk, Subzero Blast, and Darkness Ice Cross: Frost Break. In Revolver Mode, she cast Deadly Fireworks, Fire Serpent, Hell Swirl, Darkness Fire Gun: Speed Burner, and Darkness Fire Gun: Hell Explosion. In Lance Mode, she cast Thunder Bomber, Storm Ring, Thunder Dancer, Dark Spark, and Darkness Thunder Clap: Maelstrom.

Any member of Sleepy Hollow foolish enough to provoke Kaze were dealt with quickly, but as time went by, she quickly realized that fighting these many numbers would be a waste of effort. So when the cold wind thickened from performing Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath, she took advantage of the confusion by slipping past the encroaching guards unnoticed. Together with Crane, they snuck into the open hatch of a nearby Lucifer gummi ship and accessed the cockpit. There remained a simple matter of setting up the system before taking off, and the young guild master seized the wheel.

Crane took a seat next to Kaze. "I should've easily warped you inside any ship within range, but I guess this will have to do."

While pressing buttons on the panel, Kaze spoke, "I always prefer the direct approach, anyway. Never was one for the easy stuff."

Crane informed, "This Lucifer gummi shuttle should have enough speed for a quick trip to Neverland. Do you know the coordinates?"

Kaze looked to the coordinate radar and pointed at a big red dot on the far northeast corner of the screen. "Right there. Lucky for us, it's only twelve minutes away."

Crane confirmed, "Very good, Master. Though I'm compelled to warn you about this course of action— your ruthless murdering of low-ranking Alliance officials, including that of our own guild, will likely put a price on your head. You do realize that Madam Maleficent will consider your act of rebellion an offense punishable by—"

Kaze brushed off, "Eh, just host an audition for new recruits or something. They're all a rank lower than middle. And Maleficent doesn't care less about pawns in the chessboard. She only has need for knights, rooks, bishops, kings, and queens. Besides, we still have the Heartless and the other guilds." She faced Crane with a grimly cocky expression, "Any more questions? Or are you still trying to talk me out of it?"

Crane shook his head, "Not anymore. I don't think it's possible to change your mind at this point."

Kaze smirked, "Good answer! Now buckle up and hold on to your pants. We're taking off!" By adjusting the controls, the Lucifer hovered above the ground. She steered the ship towards the main gate, which was moments away from closing to prevent her from leaving. Adding to her ire were the growing Sleepy Hollow ranks flanking her only way out. "MOVE IT!" They drew their weapons to try and immobilize the Lucifer, only for the irritated dark pink-haired youth to blow them up with its main turret, bodies by the hundreds sent screaming and flying in several blasts that rocked the landing bay. And just like that, the Lucifer soared past the inferno and through the huge concrete that almost closed in on both ends, before it ascended high into the sky.

As it entered space, the Lucifer was assaulted by a small fleet of gummi ships operated by more loyalists of Maleficent; they set their weapons to stun so they could retrieve Kaze and bring her back to the world's surface unharmed, since their orders required she remained there to continue her reevaluation. But even with this new obstacle, Kaze wasn't willing to yield. With the viciousness of a viper, she directed the Lucifer to evade fire from the enemy ships in hot pursuit. Soon after an intense course of aerial acrobatics, the rogue gummi ship raced back at the fleet, both hull sides opening to reveal cannons that shot homing balls of explosive energy onto a group of incoming vessels. If anyone witnessed the battle occurring from afar, they could see a wide line of explosions dotting the vastness of space as Kaze's Lucifer tore down the fleet as fast as lightning. The young renegade then used the momentum she gained to fire her ship's main gun and obliterate the remaining half of the fleet. With no one left to stall her, Kaze hit the controls, and the Lucifer flew far away before reinforcements arrived. By the time they got here, it was already too late— she was nowhere to be found. She was gone.

---

At the Castle Chapel…

Unbeknownst to Kaze, Maleficent was observing the whole ordeal from the stone table, her eyes fixated on the ship her apprentice had been piloting before it disappeared from view. Instead of anger or distress, this recent upheaval merely stirred her curiosity, as though she was beginning to suspect that Kaze may be onto something. The horned witch was not alone in the chapel; also present were two cowering Sleepy Hollow wizards who came to report on Kaze's escape, dreading that they may suffer her wrath for their incompetence.

"Forgive us, Mistress. We've failed to restrain Master Viriniam," one wizard whimpered, falling on his knees before the sorceress with her back turned. "She stole a 959-4-25 Lucifer and—"

"Yes. I already know," Maleficent responded without so much as sparing a glance. She shooed away with her hand, "You are dismissed."

"But ma'am, shouldn't we send a unit to track her down—" the first wizard began.

"Dismissed." Maleficent repeated strongly, a flicker of lightning sparking around the orb of her staff as she slammed the base. Without warning, a thunderbolt rained down from the ceiling and electrocuted the unlucky wizard who tried to protest. Within seconds, the wailing stopped, and he was turned into a pile of dust.

The other wizard crumpled on the floor at this sight, his terrified face filled with tears. "M-M-M-M-Mistress…?!"

Maleficent sighed in annoyance, the lightning still erupting from her staff. "Must I repeat myself a third time?" That statement was more than enough to convince him. He stood up and ran away in a hysterical fit, and only when he had gone did the sparking cease. She refocused on the holographic projection, where the Lucifer until a few seconds ago drifted among the sunken ships.

"You seem to be aware that someone within our Alliance may intend to deceive and eventually betray us… as am I." An impressed smile crept up Maleficent's lips. "Well played, Kaze. Your insight might shed some light on this endeavor. Let me see how well you've grown, and how far you've come."

---

Meanwhile, back with Kaze…

"And then she said, 'Ooh, Wendy would never abandon Fairy Tail. She's a wonderful girl who wants to make everyone happy. It goes with everyone who's a member of our guild, and you're about to find out the hard way, Kaze!' Well, I definitely did, didn't I? Then she has the nerve to just abandon me! Where was she when I almost had Blueberry in my hands?! Nowhere! Instead, she left me to get my butt handed to me in the breadbasket of that lunky fish! ARGH!" In the midst of venting her frustrations over the Monstro debacle, she flew the Lucifer to Neverland's precise location on the map, having recently gotten past an asteroid belt. Crane remained silent the entire trip unless spoken to, only watching her rant on. Her mood certainly took a serious turn following her past experiences; she was getting cranky, twitchy, desperate, and infuriated most of all. For a short while, she was so far gone from the charming and wisecracking personality that it was almost scary. Nowhere near the brink of insanity, perhaps, but just enough to say that she was not in a good mood. "That big… fat… doo-doo headed… NINNY stabbed me in the back! She left me all alone! Geez, I just wanna take her big, fat doo-doo head and crack it like a nut! But not until I get the truth out of her first! I'm gonna squeeze the milk from her brain, and then crack that nut of a skull!"

Crane decided to break the ice, "You seem to be getting stressed out with the knowledge that Mirajane Strauss may be a traitor among us."

Kaze looked at him dryly, "Oh, you think?"

Crane continued, "But if what you suspected proves true, she may as well hinder all our plans. She may pose a serious threat."

Kaze took a few calming breaths before responding, "That's the other half of the beef I'm having with her. While she's still in the Jolly Roger, she might try to jeopardize Hook's operation, and by extension, our grand scheme. I'm talking about our party of nine for one. You know, the Princesses?" She grew a little angry, "What? You think being abandoned by Mira is the one thing I'm concerned about? I'm doing this not just for my sake! I wasn't born yesterday, you know!"

Crane understood, "So that's why you were so persistent in going out. You sensed something was amiss before we retrieved your battered body from space. And judging by your story, you might be right. There may be a traitor in our midst."

Kaze sighed, "Now you know the reason why I wanna get out there. Sorry to make you pick up the slack after dealing with those dunderheads at the landing bay. You didn't have to come with me."

Crane assured, "Please don't apologize, Master. You're only doing what you feel is right. If that is your wish, I will abide to it." He bowed in respect, "I live to serve, and my place is with you."

Kaze smirked at the comment. "Do you think Neverland needs the usual treatment from Sleepy Hollow's resident Vixen of Darkness?"

Crane answered, "Very much so. Surely the Horsemen will be elated to see you whole again, since you're on your way there. It's highly likely we'll run into the fleet first before we arrive at our destination."

Soon enough, the Lucifer came to a stop before a remarkable sight. The dark guild gummi fleet was vast, spanning across the vicinity of Neverland, preparing to seize the day if needed. The world itself was comprised of a quaint city lit up at night with a massive clock tower at the top, and a majestic island adorned by three rainbows at the bottom. If one could look closely, the Jolly Roger was parked right next to the island. Towering high above the rest of the armada was the Ichabod, a massive and heavily armored battleship with a green and purple colored hull, the Sleepy Hollow mark emblazoned left and right. Each side was covered by a large plate of armor which could be folded out to unveil a series of turrets, on the front was a red flat bow which could fold out into a huge cannon, and on the rear were two large engines. Before Kaze and Crane could focus on the Jolly Roger, they took heed of what may be the Sleepy Hollow guild's ultimate weapon.

Kaze chuckled proudly, "So they are here after all! And not so much as a scratch on the surface. I guess they made the right call taking our trademark ship for an interstellar trip. They should've asked me first, but whatever's good for the team."

Crane asked, "What should we do, Master?"

Kaze suggested, "First, I think we should check how the gang's doing in my absence. They really miss me while I was gone, don't they?" She added enthusiastically, "It's time for a big 'Kaze and the Headless Horsemen' reunion party!"

Crane offered, "I'll make contact with the crew immediately!" He typed several buttons on the computer to secure communications with the Ichabod.

Amid the flurry of fleet activity, the Lucifer didn't look an iota out of place, merely appearing as another gummi transport taking soldiers affiliated with the Alliance of Evil to their mission. In a manner of speaking, that was correct, since Sleepy Hollow's master and her right-hand man were associated with the organization, though their objective was just a far cry from a standard naval procedure.

"This is Lucifer Gamma 5-1 to Ichabod, requesting permission to come aboard," Crane spoke through a line connected to the Ichabod's communications channel as soon as both ships were within range.

"Lucifer Gamma 5-1, do have a clearance code for docking? We have orders to inspect all ships for unusual activity," the voice of an operator crackled over the computer's speakers.

"No need for an inspection, fellas," It was Kaze's turn to speak with the crew. "I'm right here!"

"M-Master Viriniam! Is… Is that you?! We thought you were confined at Hollow Bastion!"

"Circumstances have changed. I needed to straighten things out on my end," Kaze explained. "It's been a long wait, but everybody's favorite Sleepy Hollow head honcho is back in the game, baby! And let me rephrase that requesting permission to come aboard thing— you really gotta let us in. I owe my friends a solid for leaving them in the dark for so long. And I haven't been hanging out inside this big beauty of a flying fort in ages!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am! You may continue your approach to the docking bay. A security team will meet you there."

"And the Horsemen," Kaze added. "Tell them to come over here with the security team. I said I owe them a solid, so it's only fair I pay my dues on the way. I'm such a dunce for making them worry, aren't I? Somebody has to calm their jets down."

"Right away, ma'am. We'll let the Horsemen know of your arrival."

"Excellent work, gang. Carry on," Kaze beckoned. A static crunch indicated that the crew had finished conversing with the young guild master, and would await her arrival inside the gigantic ship. Afterwards, she smiled at Crane. "That'll show those Maleficent worshippers who's really in charge here."

"Agreed," Crane nodded.

Inside the Ichabod…

When the operating crew caught wind of Kaze's unexpected appearance among the dark guild armada, they wasted no time making preparations for her to disembark once her ship entered the docking bay. Wanting to giving their boss a proper reception, the staff's urgent chattering and countless system readings buzzed like hornets as they went to and fro. "It's Master Viriniam! Master Viriniam has reached the Neverland blockade! Bring her in at once! Those are her orders! Prepare to receive her at the docking bay! Opening docking bay hatch now!"

Coinciding with this development, an important announcement was being made to every known speaker on the ship. "Attention, all hands! Master Viriniam's ship is approaching the Ichabod. We will be picking her up momentarily. And she requests all four Headless Horsemen to be present in the docking bay for her arrival. All personnel, get ready for Master Viriniam's disembarking upon entry! Repeat, get ready for Master Viriniam's disembarking upon entry!"

The message had indeed reached the ears of the four Headless Horsemen, whose reactions were that of anticipation and utmost relief.

"Master Viriniam has returned?" Wrecker questioned.

"She's back! Oh, thank Minerva!" Diva exclaimed.

"Awake and fully healed, I presume," Silver remarked.

"It's about time… Hee-hee-hee-hee…" Zeppelin snickered.

Back outside…

The lower section of the Ichabod's outer plating slowly shifted down, opening a huge hatch that led to the ship's landing bay. The Lucifer flew past the array of gummi shuttles until it stopped at the hatch, docking on the nearest platform to the far left, and the section closed up by the time it settled in. As the platform carried the Lucifer like an elevator, Kaze commented, "It's like meeting the big whale out in the stars again, only he lets his dinner get into his larger-than-life open mouth." She grinned a little, "Never gets old."

Crane asked, "Should I laugh with you over the irony, Master?"

Kaze replied, "That won't be necessary. Let's…" She paused, waiting only until the mechanical whirring outside subsided, and pressed a button on the computer that lowered the Lucifer's opening hatch. From a camera recording on screen, she saw her four top lieutenants standing before the ship, flanked by a line of Sleepy Hollow guards. With a mischievous smirk, she thought of an idea to add more impact to the coming meeting. She couldn't bring herself to step out of the ship right this instant. Not yet.

Docking Bay

"Attention!" The guards stood formally upon hearing from the head of security. They never averted their eyes from the open hatch staircase, nor did the Headless Horsemen; for the first time since hearing of her unfortunate accident in space, their master appeared to have made a triumphant return from a long journey through painful medical procedures. In Silver's case, the last time he saw Kaze was when she was confined and sedated on Maleficent's orders to prevent her from enacting another reckless attempt at rebellion. That was before he and his fellow Horsemen were issued a mandate from the council— to dispatch the Ichabod and every remaining dark guild in the Alliance of Evil to Neverland and enforce that world's expedition on Captain Hook's behalf. Though Silver didn't expect Kaze to come at this hour after a lot of time spent recuperating in the castle, it was still reassuring to see her again. Diva was the most exhilarated out of the four Horsemen, while Wrecker smirked proudly at their boss's sudden return to prominence. And Zeppelin, being his usual maniacal self, rubbed his hands gleefully, as if he had known from the start that she would come back sooner than later.

But Kaze didn't emerge from the Lucifer. No one dared to speak or even bat an eye until Diva spoke, "Wait a second! Isn't this the ship Master Viriniam was piloting?" She gestured at it, "It looks more like a plain old Lucifer gummi model to me! I mean, it is, but…"

Wrecker, who was dressed in a new suit of armor with a new spiked chain ball after he lost his old one at the Deep Jungle, crossed his arms with a stern expression. "If she insisted on coming here, she would've made use of any ship. I take it these past few days of confinement at Hollow Bastion aren't doing so well for her?"

Silver questioned, "This is rather peculiar, don't you agree? Why would Master Viriniam show herself out in the open when Maleficent explicitly ordered her confinement? Last I recall, the sorceress asked for the Master to be 'properly contained' while she recuperated. Believe me, I was there when our medical officers were repairing her Dark Drive, which had been damaged in battle by Wendy Marvell. But then suddenly, she comes to us as if nothing happened to her?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "How can this be? Has Maleficent released her from confinement without so much as consulting us? Or has she come here of her own accord? This is unexpected…"

Diva said excitedly, "Who cares?! She's come back to us! We've got to get things ready for the boss's homecoming party right here in the Ichabod! No need to waste time setting up the decorations; please allow moi to bring in the party favors!" She swelled with confidence as a visualization of celebrating Kaze's return came into mind. "My new and improved Divaroids will light up the red carpet for our guest of honor, graced by Bahamut's wings and Shiva's glittering ice all over the place to add a little flavor to her entrance. And I've written a catchy, inspirational song about how incredible she is, and I'm gonna perform it in front of her— wait till she gets a load of this." She cleared her throat and began to sing, "Raise your hands in the air, as the best guild master among men strides in like she just don't care! Springing forth from the darkness is what her foes all fear and gloom, for Kaze Viriniam is the name of their doom!" With a stomp of her foot, a streak of fireworks burst from the floor. "Whooa-OH! That's our Kaze! Kaze, Kaze-y, Kazety, KOOOO! Yeah, uh, something Kaze… That's the girl who says…" She saw the odd looks on everyone's faces, and felt confused. "Woo?"

Zeppelin giggled, "My, Diva, you barely broke a window with your less than stellar motivational tune! And when you sing, your voice sounds like a duck. But on the bright side, it's less gravelly than the Disney wizard's!"

That caused a tick mark to appear on Diva's forehead. "DUCK?! How dare you compare MY voice to that of a DUCK'S! I'll have you know that my voice is as alluring as my good looks and charm! And I worked all day on the lyrics of that song ever since the giant whale spat Kaze out!"

Zeppelin questioned, "Speaking of Kaze, why hasn't she crept out of that shell of a ship? Is our beloved Master a little too shy? Or perhaps ashamed to show her face around her most loyal henchmen, or the rest of Sleepy Hollow for that matter, due to more recent setbacks? It looks to me that the red carpet speaks more to her personal standards and less to your spoiled little princess mindset. What else do you want to throw in besides your god-awful singing, Diva? A self-professing beauty pageant based on your own inflated ego? Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Diva growled, "At least I come up with brilliant ideas that don't have anything to do with your psychopathic mindset! Second of all, my singing isn't god-awful. It's godly! Third, what's wrong with being the only star in a beauty pageant? Who needs competition when you have yourself? Why bother gathering other models when I should be the only model here? All the charms and beauty in this universe are mine!" She took a dramatic beauty pose, "May this definition of pure radiance serve as a ballroom to mark the second coming of our Master. Everybody knows that there's no better entertainment section than I, the one and only Diva Ferham!"

Zeppelin cooed, "Oooooh! A ballroom, you say? Add that to our list of party favors! May I put in a salsa spin with all the blood and bones on the dance floor when the music hits?"

Diva snapped, "In your dreams, Dumb ex Machina! I wouldn't let a sicko cramp my style by finger painting my parade with gore, unless you're begging to let me club you in the head with a stick!"

Zeppelin grinned, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of letting you club me in the head. In fact, you can club me as many times as you like. A moment's pain is nothing to me, anyway. And as a bonus, when my head bleeds, I get seconds! Pretty nice seasoning, don't you think?"

The two ended up butting heads as a spark flashed between them. Diva yelled, "You asking for a first-class bludgeoning, punk?! When I'm done with you, there won't be anything left in your body to bleed out, and you won't be tasting anything other than cold air!"

Zeppelin mocked, "Ready when you are, fashionista! And I'll ever be so kind as to let you make the first draw. Then again, I don't have to make a move. But as always, ladies first! Ha-ha-ha-ha-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

"Enough squabbling, you two!" Silver's loud voice stopped the argument before it escalated, prompting Diva and Zeppelin to step away from each other.

Zeppelin chortled, "Oopsy-daisy! We were almost about to lose each other's heads there." He made a mock bow, "A thousand pardons, Silver. We didn't mean to make a mess of things. She's just not particularly fond of being ridiculed in front of the class. It won't happen again."

Silver narrowed his eyes at Zeppelin. "I hope so, Zeppelin, for your sake." He faced Diva, "And yours as well. You should know that infighting cannot be tolerated within Sleepy Hollow. The rules that bind this guild together are absolute, completely without exception. As such, there is no place for dissension in Sleepy Hollow. Isn't that right?"

Diva sighed and crossed her arms. "Okay, fine. Rules are rules. I'll let it slide…" She turned away from Zeppelin in disgust, "…this once."

Silver pointed out, "While hearing of her arrival is indeed gratifying, we don't know how Master Viriniam made the decision to come visit us when we're in the midst of keeping close watch from above the skies of Neverland. How she approached the fleet, whether by Maleficent's consent or not, is beyond me."

Wrecker affirmed, "Even so, her arrival suggested she may have returned from a long trip through hell. If she truly is aboard that ship, I'd be more than impressed." He added with a cocky grin, "You can't deny her indomitable fighting spirit! It takes strength and pride to endure a lifetime of strenuous toil, in very much the same way I seasoned myself through years of sharpening my magic and fighting skills."

Diva complained, "Then why hasn't she come out, huh? I wanna see her! She hasn't talked to us since Agrabah, and I'm getting SOOOOOOOOOO BORED!" She rubbed her forehead in distress.

Wrecker scoffed, "Hmph, hard to stay still when you pine for more action out in the field, isn't it?"

Zeppelin smiled, "And you barely broke a window with that complaint, too. Hee-hee-hee-hee…"

Diva groaned, "So help me, Zeppelin, if you make another insulting wisecrack at my expense—"

As if struck by lightning, the Lucifer suddenly burst into a bubble of flame, forcing the Horsemen and the security team to shield their faces away. The flame's roars drowned out the crew's panicked shouts, and the smoke encompassed that side of the docking bay.

"MASTER!" Diva and Silver exclaimed in horror, the former trying to reach the smoldering remains of the Lucifer, only to by restrained by the guards. Zeppelin and Wrecker didn't seem unfazed by the explosion, however.

"Well, that was one dud of a ship," Zeppelin commented. "And our guest of honor hasn't even shown up yet."

"Master Viriniam couldn't have come here by ordinary means," Wrecker deduced. "If she had, it wouldn't be much of a dynamic entrance, which she usually makes in front of people whenever and wherever she sees fit." A strong gust of wind blew past the flames, and he was quick to sense it. "Like such..."

At that moment, the wind began to pick up, but it was no natural gust— it become more like a dark purple blur, spinning rapidly around where the Horsemen and the security team stood, and putting out the flames that engulfed the Lucifer. In an instant, the blur settled, and perched on the peak of the pile of gummi scrap was Kaze, who emerged from a whirlwind of Shadow Stepping with a smile that embodied pride and confidence. Her right-hand man, Crane, appeared beside her from a crimson portal. The Horsemen and especially everyone in the landing bay gasped, truly astonished that their young guild master arrived precisely as she meant it. She had entered the Ichabod, fully healed and as lively as ever. "Hey, everybody! I'm baaaaaaaack!" she greeted cheerfully, waving at the crowd below her feet. "Hold your heads up high, boys and girls; Kaze Viriniam's back to the old grime! Did you miss me? Huh? Did you miss me?"

All four Horsemen exclaimed in unison, "Master Viriniam!"

Wrecker laughed, "Like clockwork!"

Diva cried, "It is really you?!"

Silver breathed, "This is no trick… It is her!"

The security team and the docking bay crew immediately chattered to themselves. "It's Master Viriniam! She's back!" "Right here in the Ichabod!" "Did you see that? It's Master Viriniam!" "I can't believe my eyes!" "No doubt it's her." "That's got to be her!"

Zeppelin remarked, "Oh, my! The combustible bus arrived right on schedule. Unless Kaze purposely made the Lucifer explode as a backdrop for her own dynamic entrance. Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee…" He turned to Diva with a teasing expression, "Well, so much for your homecoming party! Her bold performance just beat yours to the punch! And I doubt yours will be anything bold, even if she hadn't lifted a finger! How does it feel, Miss Master of Ceremonies Diva Ferham? To have your party plan flutter out into the breeze? Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Diva was upset, not only with the fact that Zeppelin was right, but that Kaze put on a show before she had a chance to, which made the proposed 'homecoming celebration' utterly pointless in the end. She screamed, her head and eyes growing to nearly comical proportions, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I NEVER GET TO DO ANYTHING!"

Kaze hopped from the gummi garbage to meet with the Horsemen on the ground, and Crane followed close behind. "Wrecker, Diva, Silver, Zeppelin… You four are looking well. And I bet you've been wanting to see me again after a long absence, if not a bit longer than a week. You didn't think I'd be stuck in Hollow Bastion, spending the rest of my time in a medical bed, did you?" The Horsemen didn't respond at first; Diva and Silver were left dazzled, while Zeppelin and Wrecker just smiled at her. "Well, you don't have to sit on your butts and play the waiting game anymore, 'cause I just checked myself out the hospital! And what better way to mark this occasion than to come meet you guys here in our guild's trusty battleship? And in a blaze of glory! Sucks that I forgot to give my speech when I started the fire, but I'm gonna give it anyway." She cleared her throat and started to pose, speaking in a dramatic tone, "On this, I don't care what date it is, in the pride of our Sleepy Hollow guild, the Ichabod, they're waiting for a ball of fire to come down from the stars, the ship's entire crew, yourselves included, praying that this day will be known for one thing and one thing only— mark it, write it down, etch this day in stone— this is the day that Kaze Virini—" She was cut off by an explosion from a Cherry Bomb summoned by an infuriated Diva. It blew up in front of her face, dusting it with smoke, and a cough escaped her throat. "…am… returns."

"KAZE, YOU NIMROD!" Diva shrieked, grabbing Kaze by the shirt and shaking her incessantly. "IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT I GET TO BE THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ONE DAY— JUST ONE DAY— TO BE THE ONE GIVING THE WARM RECEPTION?!"

"Oh, give it a rest, Diva," Kaze rolled her eyes, cleaning the dust from her face with her left hand. "If you wanted to give me a warm reception, you should've decorated the whole place for some big homecoming party sooner than now. What am I supposed to expect if I was already here? A parade of Aeons? Next time, you should consider planning things ahead before you act!"

"P-P-Plan ahead?" Diva released Kaze's shirt, her face frozen with bafflement at the awful truth the young guild master's words filled her with. "I… I never thought of it that way…"

"Looks like your ego got the best of you again!" Zeppelin joked.

"Mind your own business, Zeppelin!" Diva snapped.

"Welcome back, Master Viriniam!" Wrecker chimed, offering his left hand for a fist bump, which Kaze gladly returned. "Somehow, I knew you would be back. There's no doubt that you pulled through in spite of your predicament. How does it feel to be back from the dead, eh?"

"I wasn't dead, thanks," Kaze chuckled. "But it feels nice to be alive and kicking again. Good to see ya, buddy."

"Likewise," Wrecker nodded.

"Doesn't beat my original homecoming party plan," Diva pouted. "It should've gone off as I had hoped, but I guess I wasn't fast enough… I was so close!"

"What are you so moody about, pretty lashes?" Kaze quipped. "If I was in your position, I would've set up the party before the main guest arrives. That's practically how all parties work. I just told you."

"Well, anyway, it's good to see you're alive and well. You had me and the others worried when we heard about that accident with the whale," Diva stated.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry for the trouble," Kaze admitted. "A broken Dark Drive and a messed up body drifting in space, but otherwise dandy. I'm doing alright, thanks to the guys back home. One less comatose condition to worry about."

"Oh, welcome back, Master!" Diva happily gave her a short embrace. "I'm so glad for you. And I know the others are, too."

"What can I say? Nearly everybody in the guild loves me. I'm practically the mascot! And to be fair, this is the only reception I would ever require from you," Kaze smiled as she reciprocated the hug. Once they parted, she looked at Silver. "Oh, and who could forget Mr. Ten Birds of Prey? Not that hard to guess that you assumed command while I was out of action at the time, and you took the helm of this big baby right here." She gestured around herself, "Pray tell, why do you have to launch the Ichabod and use it to spearhead this massive fleet of dark guilds outside Hook's neighborhood…" She added on a serious note, "…when you should've asked me first?"

"Master, I… I…" Silver shuddered, feeling a bit disgraced for acting without Kaze's orders. "Forgive me!" He knelt before her, "I know I should've asked for your permission, but it was Captain Hook who requested the Ichabod and the remaining dark guilds to converge with him at Neverland. Maleficent authorized the launch, not me. We had no choice! What else were we supposed to do other than following someone's else order and not yours?" He bent his head down, "I offer no excuse, and I know I don't deserve your mercy. But all I ask is that you give me this one chance to do what must be done for the good of this guild you are leading. Forgive my slight disobedience. I hope you understand. I did this not just for you, but for Sleepy Hollow. Master… please."

"Nah, it's okay. You don't have to apologize. I understand," Kaze assured. "I can tell you've launched the Ichabod for a reason, and you've been taking good care of it. So I'll give that an easy pass for now. We'll cross that bridge when we get there." She patted Silver on the shoulder, "Until then, lighten up and let's enjoy this moment between the best of friends. Don't miss out; it's fun!"

"Y-Yes!" Silver stammered a bit. "Thank you for your consideration and your forgiveness." Sighing in relief, he rose back to his feet. "And Master…" He held a fist to his heart, "It is an honor and a pleasure to see you one and whole again. Even in your darkest hour, your unswerving commitment to justice perseveres. Welcome back."

"I don't exactly call it commitment to justice or anything, but that'll do," Kaze grinned. "Thanks, Silver."

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-ha-ha-ha-ha... What a turn of events this is…" Zeppelin interjected. "At first, everyone in the castle was gearing up to watch our master fall into a deep sleep, but then you got out of the dream train and flew all the way here for a 'welcome back' party. Literally, since the other three said those exact words. Too bad the ones who stayed behind won't be joining us today! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! Welcome back indeed, Master Viriniam! I do hope you haven't missed anything of great importance as much as we miss you."

"Oh, trust me, Zeppelin. I haven't missed a thing," Kaze crossed her hips. "I got the rundown of everything that's happened so far with the Alliance from Crane and the med staff during my 'detainment'." She made an air quote, "And then the bird sang of you and the others playing board games with the dark guilds here in Neverland. I didn't want to be left out, so here I am."

"Speaking of Crane, you brought him along for the ride, correct?" Zeppelin saw him standing formally next to the Sleepy Hollow leader.

"He insisted on coming. I couldn't refuse when he asked. He wants in on the suspense as much as I am," Kaze explained. "Then again, that's to be expected from the guild master's personal adjutant. He's more loyal to me than anyone else in and out of Sleepy Hollow. Need I say the same about a certain hag I know?" Her eyes narrowed as she thought about Maleficent.

"Master Viriniam depends on me," Crane said firmly. "No matter the circumstances, if she so desires to fulfill her objective, whether it suits her needs or changes a certain outcome, then I will see it done."

"Good old Crane, so entirely devoted to someone so spunky and so ambitious," Zeppelin remarked. "While the good captain was advancing the final stage of the Alliance's main objective, you were stuck at home, merely licking your wounds back home until you get a chance at redemption for past failures."

"Reading my mind through screws loose intuition, are you?" Kaze commented.

"You're planning to go after the 'blueberry' again, aren't you? And break a few more rules and regulations while you're at it?" Zeppelin teased. "Your position in the Alliance of Evil exists only for supervising all affiliated magical guilds. It appears you've overstepped your authority as of late, and you haven't been ordered by Maleficent to take action in the field since Agrabah, either. Violating your confinement after you went AWOL and hassled around with Wendy in the belly of that humongous whale would be a violation of orders, right?"

"Nice impression, nuts and bolts, but 'blueberry' is my line," Kaze said sternly, pointing a thumb at herself. "And what makes you think I'm going to betray Maleficent? Yeah, I went against my confinement because it's boring being stuck in the same place all day long, and she can be a real pain sometimes... Trust me, I know... But turning against her? The entire Alliance?! I'm not stupid to pull off a stunt like that!"

Murmurs of worry and anxiety spread among the Sleepy Hollow personnel, and even the Horsemen (minus Zeppelin and Wrecker) were beginning to feel concerned. "Golly, Boss, were you so utterly desperate in pursuing Wendy that you were itching to get out of Hollow Bastion, even when it could mean going AWOL?" Diva wondered.

"Master, is it true? You came to us in defiance of Maleficent?" Silver questioned.

"Heh, so the prodigal child is showing her rebellious side? I'd give my respect to any individual who has the guts to stand up in the face of danger and spit right in front of it. Valiant, if not so chivalrous," Wrecker smirked.

"Chivalrous? Hee-hee-hee-hee! Does she mean to imply that she's defying Maleficent but not defying Maleficent? Gracious, what an enchanted world of logic we live in! Hee-hee-hee-hee!" Zeppelin cackled, and Wrecker couldn't help but join in.

"Don't encourage her, you sickos!" Diva scolded the two, then turned to Kaze. "Please tell me we're not hearing things. Are we hearing things? You have no intention of betraying Maleficent, yet you're disobeying a direct order from her? She ordered your confinement while you were in treatment, and you're basically constituting insubordination? Aren't betrayal and insubordination the same thing?" She grabbed the sides of her head, "I'm totally confused!"

"There's a difference between betrayal and insubordination, lipstick for brains," Kaze moaned, slapping her forehead. "Why do you think I came here at a time like this? Why do you think I got past curfew without even thinking of betraying her?" Her mind instantly flashed back to Monstro, and she clenched her fists, shaking with rage. "Because I'm looking into someone else in the Alliance who's gonna betray us! That someone may be planning to sabotage Hook's princess hunt down in Neverland, and then reveal all the Alliance's secrets to Wendy and her friends! And I have no doubt they're dangerously close to getting there already!" A wave of darkness suddenly erupted around her, "I realized it when I was inside the whale! She left a cryptic remark about Wendy and then ditched me to fend for myself when I almost had her IN MY HANDS!" The dark magic only grew stronger, "UGH, WHO WOULDN'T BE PISSED AT HER AFTER SHE ABANDONED ME?! THAT STUPID SHE-DEVIL!" At that remark, she tossed a massive ball of dark energy at a nearby gummi shuttle. BOOM! It was reduced to a pile of smoldering scrap, and as the darkness settled, Kaze caught her breath, trying to compose herself. Every Sleepy Hollow official available in the landing bay was nothing short of bewildered at her brief temper tantrum; Silver and Diva's jaws hung open, Wrecker sported a cocky grin, Zeppelin giggled insanely, and Crane maintained a serious face.

"Geez, why don't you watch where you throw your magic?! You almost killed me or somebody on deck, you crazy fool!" Diva exclaimed.

"Oh, don't mind me," Kaze said casually. "I just hit a ship. One less ship in the fleet, many more to spare. I wasn't going to hit anybody on deck. I'm not that ruthless. And crazy."

"Then why were you throwing a short fit?" Diva blinked.

"I threw a short fit because I was honest. I was speaking the truth," Kaze answered. "And for the record, Diva..." She put a hand on her hip, "Yes, I wanna go after Wendy again, but it's not my main agenda right now. There's something I need to take care of at Neverland first. And that's taking out my frustrations on the fool who dumped me in the middle of what should've been my very best plan to nip Blueberry in the bud." She Shadow Stepped in front of Zeppelin and towered over him with a pair of glowing yellow eyes. "HA! Beat that, Zeppy! NO ONE says Blueberry better than ME!" As she let out a haughty laugh, a sudden jingle ruptured the air and some words appeared over her head, reading '+5 POINTS'.

"Can't you take someone else borrowing a gag? Party pooper..." Zeppelin pouted.

"Oh, I don't know, Zeppelin. Have you seen one today?" Diva asked dryly.

"But in all seriousness, the person who deceived me and left me to suffer will most likely do the same thing to all of us here. In short, sabotage the Alliance of Evil from within," Kaze stated.

"Master Viriniam! Are you suggesting..." Silver's eyes widened.

"There's a traitor among the ranks of the Alliance of Evil?" Wrecker finished.

"Duh! Exactly what I said!" Kaze asserted. "Haven't you heard what just rolled off the tongue? Don't you see the signs all around you? Or maybe you haven't seen them yet? You probably have no clue as to what's been going on backstage, haven't you?" She saw the confused looks on the faces of her subordinates, and her smile widened. "Well, sit for a spell, guys. I'm here to clear the air." She pointed a thumb straight ahead, "Let's take it inside."

"What do you mean? We are inside!" Diva pointed out.

"Yeah, I mean... We're in the landing bay, aren't we?" a security guard voiced.

"The landing bay is a section of the ship, therefore it stands to reason that we're technically inside the ship," another guard implied.

"I meant in the BRIEFING ROOM!" Kaze corrected angrily.

"Uhh... Ohhhh!" Diva and the two guards understood what the young guild master meant.

"Okay, we get it," the first guard nodded.

"That makes sense," the second guard confirmed.

"Thanks for bringing it up," Diva smiled.

"Ugh, lackeys. I swear, they're getting dumber and dumber every year," Kaze shook her head in annoyance.

"Shall I obliterate the dumb ones, Master? Surely this will please you as much as it will please me," Wrecker smiled coyly, and he held a fist surging with the murderous energy of Ashura Soul. This action led Diva to believe that he was referring her as a 'dumb one', and she began to tremble in fear.

"W-W-Wait! Y-Y-You're not serious about obliterating me, are you? J-J-Just because I made one teeny tiny mistake?!" Diva exclaimed.

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! I wouldn't be surprised if you would!" Zeppelin chuckled.

"Oh, stop being such a drama queen," Wrecker rolled his eyes. "I was only kidding! I have no desire to lay waste to a hopeless fool if I want to. Now calm yourself, Diva. This is no further cause for your concern." He put down his left hand, which had long ceased to channel magic, thus eliciting a sigh of relief from the female Horseman.

"And I thought Zeppelin was the only nutjob among the Horsemen..." Diva breathed.

"Hello! Did someone ask for me?" Zeppelin perked up.

"No, I didn't!" Diva yelled comically.

"But the best thing about lackeys is, they're always good for a laugh," Kaze thought with a bright smile. "What would I do to deserve such a bunch of mismatched but loyal, competent, and loveable minions?"

"Are you going to the ship's briefing room?" Crane asked Kaze. "Would you like me to teleport us there?"

"Nah, I'm taking the long way," Kaze replied, and she turned to look at the Horsemen. "So what do you say, gang? You ready to let me ease your minds on this matter?"

"Why, yes, by all means. We're quite interested to hear how much you've learned from your... past ordeals," Wrecker smirked.

"I don't know what your deal is about going against orders to catch a potential traitor within the Alliance of Evil, but golly, it sure sounds like something worth a big scoop!" Diva grinned.

"We appreciate it if you tell us all that you know, including your reasons for coming here to our guild's prized battleship, however reckless and dangerous your actions for doing so may be. We will have complete confidence in your words, Master. You have our vow," Silver promised.

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! I could use some entertainment to make up for lost time, to make up for my recent lack of victims to disembody since coming abroad. All we ever did was sit around this oversized blimp just to 'stand by and await further orders from Captain Hook', with nothing to do but wait for our next meal to be tossed at us, none of the muck and organs to liven it up... I was getting bored. But now that you're here, o wise and wonderful Master Viriniam... Let's see if your tale satisfies us to the bone! And don't leave out anything; I love gory detail here! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!" Zeppelin cackled.

"Of course he loves gory detail. Just the thought of it makes me wanna hurl off a balcony. Well, I hope her tale doesn't have any!" Diva said indignantly.

"Maybe some popcorn with butter and soda will settle your stomach when you feel it turn inside out from the detail I just can't wait to hear!" Zeppelin beamed. "Would you like me to get you some, dear?"

"I'm getting my own popcorn, thank you very much! Why don't you go get your own?" Diva retorted.

"If you're done bickering, we should go. We must convene in the briefing room at once," Silver suggested.

"Hmph! I so would've looked forward to enjoying a good brawl before the Master came. I myself had my hands tied keeping this ship running... and admittedly, I got bored during the time I spent here. Let's see if hearing her tale will be worth my time..." Wrecker mused.

"Can't make any promises about the juicy bits, but I promise you, your minds are gonna be filled with wonder till the end of it," Kaze assured. "Now, as I was saying, let's take this inside. We have so much to talk about." She turned her attention to a gate at the center of the bay. She made her way there, the Horsemen and the security team following after her. As she walked, she faced some of the crewmates on the way, then motioned towards the gummi ship she destroyed earlier. "Clean up this mess." They did as they were told, and the Sleepy Hollow head honcho had already left the area with her elite minions.

Briefing Room

The next hour, Kaze and the Headless Horsemen assembled around the large circular table in the Ichabod's exclusive briefing room for an important meeting concerning the guild master's dealings prior to her failure to secure the Keyblade bearer. There were six chairs, but only five sat on the table, since Crane elected to stand in Kaze's corner than take his own seat, and the guards stood watch in separate corners of the room to ensure the meeting went uninterrupted. Kaze took it upon herself to explain everything that happened to her so far— Mirajane's deception, her third battle with Wendy, her falling unconscious in outer space after Monstro sneezed her out, and her daring and bloody escape from medical detainment in a Lucifer gummi model. Once she concluded her story, the Horsemen looked surprised and astounded, most notably at the part about Mirajane abandoning Kaze to what should have been a ghastly fate at the hands of her greatest rival, if not worse than being ejected out of Monstro.

"WHAAAAAAA?!" Diva slammed her hands at the table as she stood from her seat, looking at Kaze with a baffled expression. "Is that true? You're saying that Mirajane Strauss, the S-Class Fairy Tail wizard whom you picked to become the commander of our dark guild forces, is a lying, good-for-nothing, backstabbing banshee of a She-Devil working to sabotage the Alliance of Evil?!"

"Well, well. What a shocker. Mirajane is the traitor? Hee-hee-hee-hee!" Zeppelin chuckled. "I didn't think the lovely lady would stoop so low as to hammer the nail in the chain of command… Didn't Maleficent use her magic to alter the girl's mind and turn her into our obedient slave? What's gotten into the poor dear, I wonder? When did she come up with the crazy idea of staging a rebellion? Whatever happened inside that whale, Master, I'm sure it must be hard on you. And it's hard for us to take it all in. Well, not for me, really… Your story is rather intriguing from start to finish, to say the least! The story of a She-Devil gone bad, a naughty girl who duped you and may attempt to dupe us all next… I especially liked the part where you went ape crazy and peeled the onions out of your own troops before you took a ship to the Ichabod. Hee-hee-hee-hee…"

"Why am I not surprised that this part of the story contains gory detail?" Diva sunk to her seat, groaning as she rubbed her temples. "You think I don't expect you to jump for joy because you always go gaga over blood and violence?" What she said next came out sarcastic, "Oh, sure, bring in the blood and violence; it adds more drama and excitement to the story!" She sighed deeply, "You just had to bring that up, don't you, you big mechanical lug? You and your big mouth…"

"My, are you looking to hear some more gore in the story? Should I ask her?" Zeppelin teased.

"No way, José. I'll do fine with just the plot and not more of the bloody scenes," Diva refused.

"Typical of your average sourpuss wannabe fashion superstar," Zeppelin quipped.

"Hey! I'm not some average sourpuss wannabe fashion superstar! I'm the greatest and ultimate fashion superstar! That's what I am! Me, myself, and I!" Diva protested, pointing a thumb to herself.

"Are you telling that to me, Diva? Or yourself?" Zeppelin giggled.

"I absolutely positively have issues with you, Zeppelin," Diva mumbled.

"Master Viriniam. Are you certain that the She-Devil is planning to betray us? Betray the entire Alliance of Evil?" Wrecker asked her.

"I find it impossible to believe that she would turn against us, even after Maleficent managed to bring her under our control," Silver stated.

"Same here. What you're saying is a little cuckoo in the clock," Diva interjected.

"I find it hard to believe, too," one of the guards voiced.

"And me!" a second guard joined in.

"And me!"

"And me!"

"And me!" Before the remaining security could join in, Kaze, Crane, and Diva shushed them.

"Thoughts aside, how do you know it was her?" Wrecker questioned.

"I wasn't sure at first," Kaze answered, crossing her arms. "I only have two clues about Mirajane acting all high and mighty during my not-that-much-epic whale escapade:" She made a two-finger gesture, "One is her speech about Fairy Tail wizards never turning down anyone in need and whatnot, and the other is that she abandoned me." She balled her hand into a fist, "I had Wendy right where I wanted her, but where was Mira? Where was she when I needed her?" She narrowed her eyes, her anger slightly rising as she tightened her fist. "She wasn't there. She left me alone. She cost me one half of my ingenious plan to catch Blueberry. That idiot let her slip through my fingers, right before the little termite dashed it all. I was so close! So very close to outsmarting Wendy and then beating her at her own game! She was right in front of me! Just thinking about it makes me so mad, I wanna…!" She paused, stopping herself from losing her cool again, then took a deep breath. "That's when I had a hunch that Mira isn't entirely loyal to the cause. That her brainwashing may not turn out exactly as we had hoped."

"Hmm… So you approached the fleet in violation of your confinement, and now you plan to confront Mirajane Strauss, who you perceived as a traitor based on your past ordeal," Wrecker confirmed.

"Wowza! I never imagined you'd do something so bold and brash at the same time, Master," Diva remarked.

"This is your goal all along for coming here? To expose an impending betrayal within the ranks of the Alliance of Evil… at the expense of Maleficent's orders?" Silver wondered.

"And you would do absolutely anything to rectify this oversight, which includes slaughtering the unpaid interns who tried to keep you down. They were just following orders from the wicked witch, weren't they? Even if they were in our guild to begin with? Hee-hee-hee! That is so noble of you, Master!" Zeppelin snickered, much to Diva's disgust and Silver's uneasiness.

"Did I breach my confinement and swat a few pests along the way? Yes, I did," Kaze nodded. "But what I did, it's in the interests and for the welfare of this organization. It's not that I wanna stage a coup or anything. No, I came here to stop a coup before it happens. You see, it's a classic scenario of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. I'm doing a wrong-right to right a wrong, if you know what I mean."

"A… wrong-right?" Diva asked confused.

"I'm paraphrasing," Kaze clarified.

"Oh," Diva understood.

"As you guys know, with everything I've been through and what's been going on today… To say it won't be pretty is a gross understatement," Kaze addressed. "I know Maleficent ordered me to stay put in Hollow Bastion, but me traveling all the way here goes against her orders. I'm going through with it, anyway. A part of me says she had it coming for weighing me down for so long. I know it's crazy, but this is something I have to do. I can't just ignore it. I have to do it. Not just for me, but for you. For all of us. For our guild. For this Alliance." She stood up from her chair, "So, if any of you decide that you want no part in what I'm doing right now, I certainly won't hold it against you. I'm not forcing you to help me go along with it; I'll do it alone if I have to."

There was silence in the briefing room until Diva laughed, not under the notion that Kaze lost her mind, but out of contentment. "You're kidding, right? You're giving away free seats, just so we can watch you carry out that outrageous but very important scheme of yours live on stage? After all that's happened? No way in Chaos am I gonna back out and let you hog much of the spotlight! You're hunting a potential spy among the Alliance of Evil, aren't you? Even though you're breaking the rules?" Kaze nodded in reply. "Well, all you need is a glamorous touch from a bona fide goddess of beauty to help you bend the rules!" She darted from her own chair as well, "Come what may, Master Viriniam, you have my utmost support." She struck another beauty pose, "Lucky for you, my dazzling services always come for free! Except for my Divaroids, because they cost a lotta money. You know I had to skimp costs on Ethernano levels!"

Wrecker chuckled as he joined Diva out of his seat. "I'm aware there are risks in this personal endeavor of yours, but I for one am eager to see how it goes. Must you be so persistent in overlooking the affairs of this mighty empire of guilds and then resolving a single setback before it escalates further? Well, I say, let the fools who would even dream of defying us have their moment in the sunlight while it lasts!" He clenched his fist with a confident smirk, "By the honor of our guild and in your name, I will gladly pulverize them! And if we must bend the rules to accomplish this goal, then so be it!"

Zeppelin followed suit, laughing gleefully. "Oh, I think your little 'renegade mission' is going to be quite the treat! More minutes to make up for all the time I missed, and maybe seconds for lunch! Besides, I'm getting really tired of wasting away my energy in this ship doing nothing. You, on the other hand, are getting really tired of wasting away your own energy in the castle doing nothing, so I suppose we both agree on one thing— we want some action. So why should I miss out what's to come? Hee-hee-hee-hee!" He brimmed with anticipation, "Finally, the rush is coming to me again! That same feeling of excitement at an all-time high! A dangerous thrill ride to make my bones tingle all over! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" He pumped a fist, "YES! Just the way I like it!"

Silver was the last to rise from the table. "I'll follow your lead as well. I can see why you chose to come here of your own accord. You wish to achieve something that could prove beneficial to our cause, whether intentional or not. And if you're suggesting that what you're doing is for the good of all, it's about as valiant a cause worth going against authority for. Master, I meant every word when I said we live to serve Sleepy Hollow. Even though we are affiliated with the Alliance of Evil, we are wholly devoted to this guild and to you. This has nothing to do with Maleficent or the council—" He thumped a fist where his heart was, "Loyalty and honor, the very two virtues that define Sleepy Hollow, trump all else! And rest assured, you will not walk this path alone." He gestured to himself and his fellow Horsemen, "We, the Headless Horsemen, will stand by you, and we will see through your convictions to the end! Believe in your own justice, as we believe in yours! Never stray from the path you walk, as we never strayed from ours! Maleficent may consider you and by extension all of us unruly if that is what she wishes— we would sooner die than discard our pride! We belong to Sleepy Hollow, and we belong to you! So I beseech you— let us come! Let us stand by you!" He concluded his speech with a bow that exuded absolute devotion, with Crane and Diva following after him. Wrecker crossed his arms, and Zeppelin let out another unstable chuckle.

Those were the responses Kaze expected to hear from four of her most trusted henchmen, and the same could be said for her adjutant; they were willing to fight and even give their lives for her in the name of Sleepy Hollow. She looked at them before her lips widened into an appreciative smile paired with a joyous laugh. "Man, you guys really are amazing… You're the wackiest and most brilliant group of lackeys I could ever ask for…! I'm so glad I was able to have you four as my Horsemen… and that I get to be your boss."

Wrecker shrugged, "What else can we say? Most of the guild was awfully worried for your well-being following your pitiful mishap in space."

Diva winked, "But now that you're here and the band's back together, we're back to doing what we do best— releasing a million watts full of raw talent and sheer beauty on the whole universe at large!"

Silver beckoned, "Let us stop the traitor within the Alliance together. If Mirajane Strauss truly is the one, we cannot allow her to do as she pleases. Whosoever chooses to betray our cause shall be punished without mercy. They will be brought to justice!"

Zeppelin snickered, "Well, it looks like you've got your answer. I'm coming along for the ride, too. What would a dish of justice served cold be like without some bones on the side and a little blood as toppings?"

Crane encouraged, "Master, just say the word and we will follow you. We believe in you, and we're on your side. Always." The Horsemen nodded in agreement.

Kaze was beyond delighted at her subordinates' unyielding support, she wiped a tear from her eye. "Thank you all..." The next second, she was back to her energetic self. "Okay, then! It's official, there's six of us and more or less the whole Sleepy Hollow guild against one traitor." She and the Horsemen returned to their seats, "So, back to business. Before we get started, let me ask, how's the princess hunt down in Neverland coming along?"

Silver replied, "We're just getting to that. We've been meaning to bring you news on the status of this operation, should you come back in some way." He pressed a button on his side of the table, and the central top blinked to life, projecting a large holographic image of a familiar pirate ship that cast a blue glow across the observers' faces— Captain Hook's vessel, the Jolly Roger.

If anyone watched closely enough, the captain himself was at the deck, sitting contently on a makeshift table on a barrel with a book, a quill, and a box of ink. His presence was graced by a multitude of men dressed in pirate clothing, singing and dancing in celebration. And tied to the ship's mast were a group of children— nine, to be more precise. The first was a tall young girl with light brown hair tied in a blue bow and clad in a blue nightdress. The second was a spectacled middle boy with dark brown hair, dressed in a white nightshirt and a black top hat. The third was a little boy with strawberry brown hair wearing pink footie pajamas. The fourth was a tall boy dressed as a fox, the fifth was a buck-toothed boy dressed as a rabbit, the sixth and seventh were twins dressed as raccoons, the eighth was an overweight boy dressed as a bear, and the ninth was a small boy dressed as a skunk. The children's faces oozed with fear and anxiety, a clear indication that they were held captive by the pirates. This was further evidenced by their 'confiscated' items on the floor next to them: a black umbrella, a brown teddy bear, a set of slingshots and spears, a wooden sword, and a club.

Kaze was quick to recognize the emblem of a sword fitted into a coal scuttle on some of the pirates' bare skins. "Hey, is that the Scuttle Edge dark guild I see on deck? What are they doing in the Jolly Roger? Are they having a big party or something?"

Zeppelin giggled, "And it looks like you weren't invited. Tis a shame you missed a few things while you were 'quarantined' in Hollow Bastion! I truly feel sorry for your loss, Master. And you were so snappy about your last endeavor earlier. Get this, if you were actually down there, you wouldn't help but play hopscotch and musical chairs with Captain Hook's new and improved buccaneer posse with Scuttle Edge! The depth of their swashbuckling delusions of grandeur is a little awe-inspiring for folks their profession, if you get my opinion."

Kaze blinked, "What do you mean, a new and improved buccaneer posse? What does Scuttle Edge have to do with Hook?"

Silver stated, "As you are well aware, Scuttle Edge is a dark guild comprised of pirates with a high potency for magic. Well, it was a dark guild, before Hook became an immensely popular figure among them. Not long before you arrived, the guild disbanded, and its members joined his pirate crew."

Kaze slammed her hands on the table and exclaimed in shock, "WHAT?! Scuttle Edge disbanded?! And they joined Hook's crew?! Why the heck would they do that?"

Diva admitted, "We don't know! It just happened right before you entered the Ichabod!"

Wrecker explained, "But it would seem their decision to disband and then enlist in Hook's crew was made under the belief that he's a bona fide pirate captain... while Dirtybeard isn't."

Kaze protested, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Scuttle Edge disbanded as a guild because they wanna be part of Jimmy's band of buccaneers? And Dirtybeard isn't a real pirate captain? I thought he's supposed to be their 'captain'! Doesn't it come with the title of guild master?"

Diva clarified, "Not exactly, Boss. They just talked to us a while ago. Master Dirtybeard is not a real pirate captain. Heck, he's not even a real pirate at all! No, sirree! He's just a twerping ex-Rune Knight from the Magic Council who pretends to be a pirate. From what they described, an ugly moron with the intellect of a cheap ten-year old who insists he's a real pirate when he clearly isn't, and would slit the throat of anybody who doesn't agree with him. Those Scuttle Edge wizards couldn't stand him and his childish attitude. They wanted a real pirate captain as their leader— their 'guild master', if you will— so they decided to disband the guild and join Captain Hook. In exchange for sharing with him their magical expertise and strategic support, he gladly welcomed the ex-guild into his exclusive club of cutthroats." She lowered her voice in an attempt to imitate Hook's voice, "'Welcome to me hearty crew, gentlemen! Look alive, ya swabs!'" She changed back to her normal voice, "It looks to me that his pirate crew is becoming every bit a magical guild as Scuttle Edge was, if not official. I mean, what's their deal? Aren't they already pirates just in it for the dark guild fashion?"

Wrecker stated, "We do know one thing, though. The disbandment of their own guild was their own doing. It was their choice."

Kaze confirmed, "Okay, so they're now some sort of magic pirate crew under Hook's command, made up of a guild they just put out to pasture like a dormouse run over by a vehicle under its wheels."

Diva nodded, "Yeah, that's pretty much one way to put it."

Kaze asked, "And Dirtybeard?"

Wrecker implied, "Apparently, his guild's sudden disbandment was too much for him. He suffered a mental breakdown before he…" He cleared his throat, "…'turned in his doubloons'…"

Kaze frowned, "He quit? That lousy potato-headed wimp of a guild master. Doesn't he have any guts left to strut his stuff anymore?"

Wrecker mocked, "I'll say. He is betrayed and abandoned by his own guild, yet he lacks the will and resolve to set an example of absolute authority to his peers? The definition of a spineless coward if I ever see one!"

Zeppelin grinned, "Nowadays, he's spending his time alone in the ship's hold, crying like a baby. And I don't blame the ex-dark guild for not playing the sympathy game with the poor man! Hee-hee-hee! Oh, the single 'you can't spell pirate without irate' irony! Since they ditched the keelhauling wannabe for free spots in Captain Hook's merry band of marauders, they never enjoyed themselves more. I would delight in his misery most of all, if I hadn't been forced to stay put. But in all honesty, I think it would've been very interesting if he ends it all by either throwing himself overboard or get frostbite in the freezer. It adds more suspense to the drama, don't you agree? Hee-hee-hee-hee…"

Diva huffed, "At least I don't hear a single mention of gory violence involved with Dirtybeard's fall from grace. For once in your depraved existence, Zeppelin, you respect a person's normal standards. I'm seriously not in the mood for any more of your creepy 'splatter and slasher' fantasies!"

Zeppelin snickered, "Oh, did I forget to mention? The throwing overboard and frostbite in the freezer part? I meant he either feeds himself to the hungry sharks, or let the rats mince on his frostbitten corpse like ice cream! More suspense for the win! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Diva rubbed her face in agitation. "Oh, for crying out— Why did I speak so soon?!"

Zeppelin joked, "Don't blame me, Diva. You're the one who brought it up in the first place! You and your big mouth… Hee-hee-hee!"

Diva grumbled, "First he talks butchery and genocide, now he copies somebody's lines..."

Kaze confirmed, "Okay, I understand that Scuttle Edge disbanded itself so they can be members of Hook's pirate club. And that Dirtybeard's a coward. But do they still answer to us?"

Silver nodded, "Precisely. Despite the guild's dissolution, they still operate under the Alliance of Evil. We should feel confident that they continue to produce results."

Kaze smiled, "That's good to hear. I'm starting to wonder why the med staff hadn't informed me of this before you. Maybe it happened right before I got out of the bird's nest and came flying into the great outdoors. The higher-ups probably hadn't caught wind of it yet." She refocused her attention on the Jolly Roger's projection, "Well, I don't see any problem with Scuttle Edge. I don't even blame 'em for throwing their own guild down the drain; they do what they gotta do to keep their pirate passion burning strong. I'm cool with it, just as long as they continue to prove useful. Which brings me to my next question: What's up with the pirate party?" She then eyed the children bound to the ship's mast, "And those pajama partygoers over there? What is this, a sea rover sleepover in Jimmy's sea cruiser? It's not even night yet!"

Zeppelin giggled, "Hee-hee-hee-hee! So many questions, so much more to catch up on…"

Diva interjected, "But we'll keep getting you up to speed, anyway! Right before Scuttle Edge disbanded and its members signed the book to join up with Captain Hook (it rhymes, I know), they reported that the hook-handed pirate himself shanghaied the folks you see before you:" She motioned towards the hologram, "Six from Neverland, and three from the big city."

Kaze asked, "Big city? You mean the one with the huge clock tower?"

Diva nodded, "Yeah. You know, the one half of the world that's separate from the other?"

Kaze shrugged, "It's no surprise that this world is split between a magical land and a modern day city. The only thing you expect from visiting some worlds is the unexpected. So what's with the bunch that Hook shanghaied aboard?"

Diva pointed to each of the captives, explaining them all one at a time. "There's the Lost Boys, the six Neverlanders dressed in animal costumes. Slightly is the fox, Nibs is the rabbit, Cubby is the bear, Tootles is the skunk, and the Twins are raccoons. The Lost Boys are a group of ragtag kids led by someone whom Hook hates very much. That someone is called, uh…" She traced a finger along the side of her velvet hair, "...Peter Pancake or something."

Kaze chuckled, "Peter Pancake, huh? I'd like to arrange a meeting with this guy. If he's anything like his surname, making pancakes and such, I'd be happy to have some!" She fixed her gaze on the three children dressed in nightwear, "And the three from the city?"

Diva answered, "We did some digging on their profiles, and identified them as the children of the Darling family. The little tyke right here is Michael, the middle boy with glasses is John, and the tall girl shares the name of the girl you oh so love to get your hands on."

Kaze's eyes widened in surprise. "Another Wendy?"

Diva replied, "Yep! Except she doesn't have blueberry hair."

Kaze remarked, "I see. So it's not just a coincidence…"

Zeppelin smiled, "Of course it isn't! You can't stop thinking about Wendy since the day you first met her! Wendy is all you think about! Wendy, Wendy, Wendy! Since you want Wendy that badly, maybe this Wendy can serve as a substitute playmate for the other Wendy." He waved over to the only girl among the hostages, "Wendy Darling, the girl from the city! Isn't she one 'darling' of a Wendy? Would you like to play with this Wendy, Master? Hee-hee-hee!"

Diva argued, "You just said the word 'Wendy' a couple of times!"

Zeppelin beamed, "I know! Because our Master has a thing with Wendys! Hee-hee-hee!"

Diva muttered, "Nutcase…"

Kaze refused, "Thanks but no thanks. This Wendy isn't the one for me. Nuh-uh. Not the one." She waved her hand against the image of Wendy Darling, "There's only one Wendy for me, and that's one with blueberry hair, a Keyblade, and a surname named Marvell. She has the name, but she doesn't have the fire. No moxie, no spirit, no spunk. That's not what I want."

Zeppelin chuckled, "So you'd rather stick with the Wendy whose surname isn't Darling? Alright, then. I won't waste your time. Blueberry's the better flavor for you." He cast Machine-Make: Hologram to warp over to a surprised Kaze, crossing his hips with a smug expression and a golden flash in his eyes. "HA! I just said Blueberry in a subtle witty way! BEAT THAT!" He burst into rapturous laughter, and the same jingle from before rang across the meeting room, the words '+5 POINTS' materializing above his head before he made a Hologram back to his seat.

Kaze groaned, "Dude, what's your problem? You sound like you're challenging me to a schtick-speaking contest, which is isn't!" She got a little angry, "And what did I tell ya? That's MY line!" She then sighed, "Moving on. Shanghaiing saps and dancing pirates from disbanded dark guilds is kinda cute and all, but what about Hook's search for the last Princess of Heart? Has he found a candidate? Anybody?"

Diva grinned, "Oh, it gets even better, Master! You wouldn't believe what he did there!"

Kaze asked enthusiastically, "Well, what am I waiting for, next Tuesday?! Give me the bits!"

Silver explained, "Master Viriniam, it would appear that Captain Hook has identified Wendy Darling, the eldest of the Darling children, as the last Princess of Heart. It was reported that his crew is keeping her under tight surveillance during her stay in the Jolly Roger, and once he receives confirmation from Maleficent, he will give the order to withdraw the fleet and return to Hollow Bastion with the girl."

Kaze rose from her chair in swift urgency, the shock clear on her face. "Did you say… he found the last one? And it's… Wendy Darling?! The other Wendy?!"

Silver replied, "It seems so. At least that's what he believes her to be."

Diva suggested, "But if she really is a Princess of Heart, then we've already finished the job. Problem solved! All the pieces in the puzzle coming together, just like that! And the rest is history— our master plan done faster than you can say 'Final Fantasy'."

Wrecker grinned, "You know, I never liked an easy win, but I can imagine the possibilities. The final door is open in an instant, and all the power in the universe, the power we ever dreamed of, right in the palm of our hands!"

Zeppelin chortled, "Hee-hee-hee-hee! An automatic victory means we've stopped playing this ridiculous waiting game, and I can go back to being the meat grinder someplace else! Yes, that's right— anywhere is better than being cooped up all day in a huge chunk of metal floating in outer space! Action, violence, fun, just how I like it!" He sighed passionately, "I love the smell of fried chicken ripped out of people's legs in the morning… It's one of the many things I was born to do."

Diva's face cringed in disgust. "Groooooooooss! Please tell me you're joking about making fried chicken out of poor folks and then eating them for breakfast!"

Zeppelin smiled coyly, "Oh, Diva, you sorry little wimp blanket. I'm afraid you only fooled yourself. True, I am a bloodthirsty ravager, but I'm no cannibal. I'd rather eat boiled broccoli. But fried chicken out of poor folks? That, I can whip up nice and hot for the little dogs! What do you think? Less gory for your standards, eh?"

Diva exclaimed, "I still don't like it, you psycho-doofus!"

Zeppelin chimed, "I know! Hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Silver scolded, "Diva! Zeppelin! Stop this nonsense at once! We're in the middle of an important meeting with our Master…" He gestured to Kaze, "…and you would be wise not to rudely interrupt it with your pointless quarreling."

Diva hung her head in disgrace. "Sorry, Silver."

Zeppelin snickered, "I'm sorry, too. How rude of me to rain on the Master's parade. Even one that befits a total fashion disaster." That caught a harsh glare from the Aeon Spirit Wizard, who grumbled a threat against him under her breath.

Wrecker snorted, "Hmph. Your lunacy hasn't changed even at the slightest, Zeppelin."

Meanwhile, Kaze remained out of her seat, stroking her chin as she paid close attention to Wendy Darling— the only female among the nine captured children, whom Captain Hook perceived as a vital part to completing the Alliance of Evil's ultimate scheme. If this girl happened to be the last missing element, the very object of a search that took several grueling days, then an instant victory would have been within reach. Then again, this could work to an even greater advantage. At that moment, Kaze focused her thoughts and decided on a plan, one that could change the Alliance's fortunes and her own for the better. An intrigued grin spread across her lips, her eyes never averting from the Darling girl. "Hmm… So Hook believes this Wendy is the final Princess of Heart, huh?" She laughed lightly, "I guess he is getting us somewhere after all… If Wendy #2 really is as he thinks he is, then we've already won the race. Wendy #1 won't be able to stop us in time once we get to the finish line. And even if she tries, she's gonna end up in my basket, this time for sure!" She laughed again, "This is perfect!"

Diva stuttered, "B-But… that's exactly what I suggested! What if Wendy Darling, or Wendy #2 as you refer her as, IS a Princess of Heart?"

Kaze deadpanned, "FYI, I heard your suggestion half a minute ago. I'm not deaf."

Diva understood, "Oh… I thought you were so focused on the image that you didn't hear me."

Kaze snapped, "Hey, what did I just say?! I heard your suggest—" She then groaned, "Ugh, never mind. That's not important right now." She turned to Silver, "From what Crane told me, Hook asked Maleficent to assemble the Ichabod and every dark guild we have left, to set up a defensive perimeter around Neverland. Hook's gonna use the fleet to try and stop Wendy #1 before she even makes a touchdown on the surface. Tell me, has the fleet detected any activity from her gummi ship?"

Silver answered, "None, Master. The fleet is still keeping watch from any intruding vessel above the world's surface."

Kaze rubbed her hands gleefully. "Excellent! Wendy #1 has already done half the work for us. We all know she's out there, demolishing the Alliance's plans one after the other by locking away Keyholes and crushing council members. Neverland is where she's probably going next, and if she's on her way there, Hook will be on top of the hit list of head honchos she's already taken out. Which gives us all the time we need to prepare. I'm sure Blueberry would be willing to give herself up to me, given the proper timing and the right motivation."

Silver questioned, "You're not planning on fighting Wendy Marvell again, are you?"

Kaze's laughter took a seat next to her self-assurance for a future plan in the works. "You bet I am! This next party I'm about to throw is gonna be bigger than the others; it's not just a simple duet between us friends anymore. This time, I'm inviting everybody! Well, almost everybody, but I mean this massive armada of dark guilds outside…" She pointed a thumb behind her, then thrust her arm around herself, "…and the big flying house that our guild built!"

Diva gasped, "Hold Odin's horses! Don't tell me you're—"

Kaze nodded, "That's right. My first order of business is to take the fleet off Hook's hands. Then I'll assume command and grab the reins of the Ichabod."

If the Horsemen, Crane, and even the security guards weren't surprised by their guild master's new idea before, they were now.

"What?! You intend to wrest Hook's control over the fleet?!" Wrecker exclaimed.

"Tell us you're pulling our legs, Master! This has to be a joke!" Diva shouted.

"Taking over the fleet? This is madness! You're talking about committing high treason against the Alliance!" Silver protested.

"Ooooooh… Looks like she's up to something naughty!" Zeppelin teased.

"Let's be rational, everyone. I'm sure the Master has reasons for coming up with such an idea…" Crane suggested.

"Guys, chill! Haven't I told you earlier? I'm NOT gonna betray the Alliance," Kaze eased. "How many times do I have to insist that I won't? Honestly! You know very well that I always keep my promises. Some promises, I can deal with breaking one or two. The point is, I'm not taking over the fleet for myself. I'll just convince Jimmy to transfer control over to me, simple as that. It's all part of the new plan I'm conjuring up."

"The new plan?" Wrecker, Diva, Silver, Zeppelin, and Crane echoed in unison.

"But you've just gone rogue! At this point, Captain Hook won't be easily persuaded to transfer control of the fleet over to you!" Diva pointed out.

"Oh, I don't think I'll have any problem persuading him," Kaze said confidently. "Once I give him the rundown of my scheme, he'll be happy to help me. As for Maleficent, if you're worried about what's she gonna do to me for going rogue, there's no reason for you to be. In time, she'll come to understand what I've got planned, and what I had to do to pull the strings. If she doesn't get it, well, then I'll just have to make her." She pounded a fist into her palm, chuckling darkly to herself. "For once, I have the pleasure of shoving it down her ungrateful throat. That I can do a lot better on my own. I'll show her, once and for all, that I'm my own woman and not some toddler doing nothing without her guidance and her consent."

"And you're sure there's nothing we can say to change your mind?" Wrecker asked.

"No, Wrecker," Kaze shook her head. "If you're looking to blame it on someone, blame Maleficent. Don't get me wrong, she's a great woman. She's a mighty powerful sorceress and the leader and founder of the AOE. She gave us so much. We never would've climbed this far without her. She's the one who helped Sleepy Hollow and many others reach for the stars, both figuratively and literally. She gave us power, she gave us wealth, she gave us knowledge and resources… I'm truly thankful for what she's done for us."

"Are as we all," Crane nodded.

"In some ways… In a lot of ways… I'm really ahead of her," Kaze's smile faded. "I can do things that other people can't. I can take on the whole universe by myself. I know I can. With the power I have, the magic I've mastered… I'm just as tough and strong as everyone else. But she thinks I'm too unpredictable. She thinks I can't handle anything. She…" She struggled to finish her sentence, "She won't let me move on."

"Golly, that must be frustrating for you, hasn't it?" Diva asked.

"It's worse!" Kaze frowned. "She's overly critical, she never listens, she treats me like a baby…" Her resentment towards the sorceress invoked the dark fires to gradually build up inside, never to realize at the time that it stemmed from the subconscious hatred she felt from experiencing her lost memories. In that manner, Maleficent's constant nagging was akin to the strict behavior of a certain someone from Kaze's past, someone she felt bitter about before she forgot it all. "She doesn't understand! It's not FAIR!" She angrily slammed her fist on her side of the table.

"Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would know," Silver advised. "It's one of many ways we can grow into strong and capable warriors."

"I know," Kaze admitted with a sigh so heavy, it helped soothe the darkness within.

"Regardless, we don't blame you one bit for defying Maleficent in order to correct a mistake within this Alliance or settle a personal grudge," Silver told her. "We cannot sit idly by and let you face your problems alone. True soldiers follow their superiors to the bitter end. And we will continue to do so…" He pumped a fist in the air, "…for the honor and glory of Sleepy Hollow!"

"You do realize, Silver, that if you all choose to follow me in this direction, Maleficent might label you fugitives, too. We'll all end up the same boat. Is that what you like?" Kaze cracked a smile.

"So be it," Silver huffed. "A proud member of Sleepy Hollow prefers war over dishonor and shame!"

"I can't be sure of what's about to unfold," Zeppelin grinned. "But truth be told, I just can't wait. Hee-hee-hee-hee!"

"Word of advice, Boss," Diva informed. "Don't try to grow too fast, alright?"

"But I have grown. Silver pointed it out," Kaze quipped. "Thanks to the wonders of medical technology, I'm all stuffed, buffed, and lightly buffed!" She flexed her muscles to emphasize her statement, prompting a laugh from Diva, Zeppelin, and Wrecker before she joined in. Silver and Crane were simply glad of the young guild master's positive attitude. "Anyway, guys, here's the plan. First, I'm gonna go ask Hook to hand me operational control of the dark guild fleet."

"What would you have us do?" Wrecker asked.

"I want you to round up the troops, just in case," Kaze instructed. "We're throwing Wendy #1 a BIG surprise party. One so BIG, she'll never wanna miss it. And no giant whales or tiger-shaped caves to muck it up this time around!"

"Oh, goody-goody!" Zeppelin cheered. "A carnival of corpses! Now THAT'S something to really make up for lost time!"

"I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity!" Wrecker declared, jolts of ethereal electricity coursing through his spiked armor. "The demon within me thirsts for battle yet again!"

"Wendy Marvell, you insipid little shortcake. And that blonde vixen as well!" Diva announced, assuming a pose that exemplified intense resolve. "I hope you two are ready to taste the bitter flavor of sweet, stylish justice that the great Diva Ferham and her Aeons will serve you!"

"Corny!" Zeppelin spoke out, before Crane and Silver shushed him.

"I knew you'd be excited," Kaze beamed. "But you'll have to wait a little longer. The doctor says you'll have to cut down on action just for a little while. Until then, he also says you can have all the greens you want. You have one hour to prepare." She balled up a fist and slammed it into her hand, "Now, hop to it!"

All four Horsemen rose from their seats, and responded altogether with Crane, "Yes, ma'am!"

"Before we proceed, Master, there is something I must point out," Silver interjected.

"I'm all ears," Kaze nodded.

"Do you remember the last time you fought Wendy Marvell?" Silver reminded. "Your Dark Drive was broken, and you drifted aimlessly in the frozen void of space without oxygen. What if she attempts to outwit you the same way? If she does, our chances of seizing victory may be slim."

"Unless you haven't realized, the Keyblade master and her merry bunch have already beaten more than half of the council and locked away many Keyholes, so we don't have time to worry about mere technicalities," Kaze stated. "Besides, Neverland is well protected by an entire armada of dark guilds, poised to attack if her ship or any other fighter vessel approaches. But I wager the reception will be more satisfying once I'm in control. So quit your worrying. When I face her again, I won't slip up this time." She added with fierce conviction, "I'll see to it."

"Hm. Very well," Silver affirmed. "We'll make preparations in one hour, as you ordered."

"Oh, and one more thing, before I almost forget… And before you do anything else…" Kaze's face soon turned into a portrait of tranquil rage. "Is... she… still aboard?"

"Hee-hee-hee-hee! I'm glad you asked, dear Master Viriniam," Zeppelin chuckled. "After all, one of the reasons you came here is to hunt down a traitor before they rip apart our humble Alliance from within. And you reckon the one and only She-Devil could be the prime suspect, yes? Speaking of, she just joined the pirates in their party moments before your arrival. Shall I do the honors of zooming in for your viewing pleasure before you head to the scene of the crime?" He took a sarcastic bow, gesturing to the projected image of the Jolly Roger.

"Show me!" Kaze urged, her voice dripping with poisoned honey.

With a playful laugh, Zeppelin pressed a button, which caused the hologram to enlarge. As soon as the Jolly Roger zoomed in at a significant scope, the Horsemen departed from their seats and congregated around Kaze and Crane for an up close and personal look. As expected, Mirajane Strauss was in attendance of the festivities being held by the pirates, standing alongside Hook while cradling a worried Happy in her arms. All eyes were focused directly on the young woman with long white hair, and the more they observed her, the more Kaze began to suspect something strange about the wizard whom she thought was her 'comrade'. The discomfort in her facial expression, the caution in her movements, the twitching in her skin… the color in her eyes. As Kaze peered into Mirajane's eyes, she noticed that the crimson dots blemishing the orbs had all but disappeared. The mark of the She-Devil's supposed 'subservience' was expelled from her pupils, reverted to their original blue. The same blue innocence Maleficent thought she had stripped away a while back. The cold icy glare and emotionless demeanor merely served as a persona to hide her true nature— a rebellious wizard plotting to break up the Alliance of Evil while masquerading as a hardened general for their forces. Her devotion to the Fairy Tail guild remained firm and unshakeable, but she was never loyal to the Alliance to begin with. All this time, she was only pretending to serve them, waiting for a chance to throw them into disarray and then bring an end to their sinister plans. She was indeed at work to provide for Fairy Tail… only to defeat the Alliance! In the end, the brightness in her eyes was the sole proof Kaze needed to confirm her suspicions. All it took was a mere glance, and it made perfect sense.

"Hee-hee-hee… Enjoy the show so far?" Zeppelin asked in a teasing manner.

"Master Viriniam may be the only one with a chance of resolving a hidden crisis inside this Alliance when no one else could. If left unchecked—" Crane trailed off as he noticed what the Horsemen were seeing. The walls of the meeting room began to crack, and sparks flew from the table and the lights up on the ceiling. The rumbling was so intense, it almost looked like an earthquake gripped the Ichabod. Everyone's gaze shifted to Kaze, who stood with her hands grabbing the table's edges before crushing them into rubble under her fingers. Dark smoke billowed around her being as the shaking and bursts of electricity grew rampant at her growing anger. Soon, the force of her dark magic caused the table to explode from a massive overload, the image of the Jolly Roger flickering for a moment before fading. The floor ruptured into a small crater beneath her feet, and the lights popped like balloons.

"Master! You—" Silver began, but as Kaze waved her arm to stop him, he backed away. Diva and Crane had their jaws dropped at the display, while Wrecker and Zeppelin didn't flinch at all.

Kaze breathed heavily, the darkness still fuming around her. Slowly but surely, she managed to calm herself, though she kept up a steady diet of animosity towards the one Fairy Tail wizard who abandoned her. She turned to face her lieutenants with a deadly scowl on her face. "You go ahead and rally our forces. When you're finished, standby and wait for my orders." She strode her way past them, the dark aura around her body growing more dangerously than ever. "I have some business to take care of in Neverland. She got lucky last time, but that luck's about to run out. I'll go deal with HER myself."

With no regard of the mess she left behind, she headed back to the docking bay to take a ship to Neverland's surface. Before she could fight Wendy again, there was someone else she wanted to settle a personal debt with, and it would come full circle at Captain Hook's own turf.

---

Captain Hook's Pirate Ship, The Jolly Roger
Docked Near the Coast of Neverland

The deck was vibrant with cheer and merriment as the ensemble of pirates danced in celebration, not simply because they captured what appeared to be the ninth Princess of Heart required to open the final door, but a small group of children who were all too familiar with the pirates. For quite some time, the crew considered these children a constant thorn in their side, if none too sharp than the person in charge of their dealings— one whom the captain had a deep-seated grudge against. But why deal the youngsters a decisive end when they could be persuaded to join and expand the crew, like the wizards of the disbanded Scuttle Edge dark guild before them? While most of the pirates were normal people and harbored no magical talent, the recent new recruits had access to magic and all the resources and equipment they could provide; by sharing their guild-based expertise, the Jolly Roger had never seen more class and capital than its captain could ever make. The ex-Scuttle Edge wizards continued to maintain their connections with the Alliance of Evil, even after they dissolved their own guild in favor of becoming members of a company run by one of the Alliance's leaders. Today, the crew was willing to extend the same courtesy to their captives. Singing aloud, the pirates whirled around the mast where the nine children were tied up— Wendy Darling, her two younger brothers John and Michael, and the six Lost Boys. They were afraid, except for Wendy, who shot back at the pirates' exuberance with slight contempt.

Pirates: Yo-ho! Yo-ho!
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho!
So try the life of a thief
Just sample the life of a crook
There isn't a boy who won't enjoy
A-workin' for Captain Hook
The world's most famous crook

As tempted as she was to crash the party and set free the hostages, Mirajane forced herself to stay put. She knew that one false move could blow her cover, considering that nearly every section of the ship was heavily monitored, including the deck. At the same time, though, she was getting impatient and dismayed that she didn't get a chance to do something to help these poor children. If she had her way, she would test the new power Maleficent granted her and easily mop the floor with the abusive buccaneers. Regrettably, now wasn't the best time. While Wendy and the others were out there risking their lives, saving Fairy Tail and the universe, she was stuck in a pirate ship doing nothing but cater to Happy's whims. Not that she disliked caring for the Exceed; she only wished she could do something interesting, and the knowledge that she couldn't act without exposing herself frustrated her. The only thing she had to do for the time being was bide her time… just a little bit more. As for Happy, given the pirates' upbeat attitudes, he would have liked to join them in dance and song, but the fact that the festivities were hosted by the 'world's most famous crook' didn't sound pleasing. That, and they were aligned with the villains responsible for Fairy Tail's misfortune. Like Mirajane, he couldn't act unless provoked; he watched the pirates, a mixture of concern and anxiety crossing his face over what's going to happen next.

Nearby, someone was bumbling and bouncing through the crew, ad-libbing a special stanza in the song dedicated to Captain Hook. He was a short rotund man with shoulder-length white hair (though the top of his head was bald), thick black eyebrows, a large pink nose, and slightly pink skin. In terms of clothing, the man wore a short-sleeved shirt with alternating sky blue and white horizontal stripes, teal shorts, brown sandals, half-moon spectacles, and a floppy conical red hat with a puffball on the tip. His name was Mr. Smee, Hook's first mate.

Smee: Crook, crook
Crickety, crockety, crickety, crook
The croc is after Captain—

Before Smee could finish, the annoyed pirate captain in question whacked him on the head with his silver hook, knocking him out. He then turned his attention to the Darling children and the Lost Boys.

Hook: As a special offer for today
I'll tell you what I'll do
All those who sign without delay
Will get a free tattoo

He gestured to a masculine pirate with numerous tattoos on his bare chest and muscles. To demonstrate, the brute buckled his right muscle, swaying the tattoo of a flag with the skull and crossbones. It made John, Michael, and the Lost Boys laugh. Wendy, Happy, and Mirajane weren't amused.

Why, it's like money in the bank!
C'mon, join up, and I'll be frank:
Unless you do, you'll walk the plank!
The choice is up to you!

He pointed to a wooden board hoisted off the side of the deck, and several pirates followed.

Pirates: The choice is up to you!

The prisoners (minus Wendy) were ultimately frightened of the bargain that was made. They had to make a choice: Join Hook's crew, or end up walking the plank down to the depths of the sea. With that, the crew continued to sing and dance.

Yo-ho! Yo-ho!
Yo-ho, yo-ho, yo-ho!
You'll love the life of a thief
You'll relish the life of a crook
There's barrels of fun for ev'ryone
And you'll get treasures by the ton!

The pirates cleared a path towards Hook, who sat in his desk with quill in hand, his book open for signatures.

So come and sign the book
Join up with Captain Hook!

"Hey, I wanna join!" "Please! Oh, boy!" "I wanna be a pirate!" "Oh, boy! A pirate!" Infatuated with the idea of living a marvelous lifestyle full of plundering and looting, John, Michael, and the Lost Boys immediately raced for Hook after a Pirate Heartless cut the ropes off the mast. Tripping over each other and vying for first place, they just couldn't wait to start their new careers in piracy, and to make it happen, they had to sign their names. At any moment, the Jolly Roger would welcome eight more into its growing fold…

…except for a horrified Wendy, who stayed behind to see her two brothers and six friends stampeding towards Hook. She had to do something to snap them out of their delusions of grandeur, for once they made the decision to join the pirates, they would regret it for the rest of their lives. "BOYS!" At the loud tone of her voice, they skidded to a halt and tumbled into a pile in a spectacular crash. She scolded them, "Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

John told her, "But Captain Hook is most insistent, Wendy."

Cubby, the Lost Boy wearing a bear outfit, nodded in agreement. "Yeah! He says we'll walk the plank if we don't!"

Wendy smiled with confidence and shook her head. "Oh, no, we won't. Peter Pan will save us."

Hook giggled mischievously as he told his first mate, "Peter Pan will save them, Smee."

Smee couldn't help but snicker along with the captain. "Peter Pan will save them!" The two clung to each other and kept laughing their heads off. "Oh, Captain, you did it!"

Happy whispered to Mirajane, "Peter Pan? Isn't that the name of the guy that hook-handed pirate captain's got more than one bone to pick with? While we're just minding our own business on the deck or below, we hear him constantly running his mouth about how much he hates the guy and wants nothing more than to slit his gizzard." He pointed a paw at Hook, "Is it me, or does this bucko have some major issues?"

Mirajane whispered back, "Honestly, I don't know much about Peter Pan, either. But he does come from the same world as Hook, technically this one." She motioned to the island, "I can tell by the ranting and raving we often overhear from the ship's cabin almost every space trip. That there's some bad blood between those two." She looked at the children, "And those kids seem to know a great deal about Peter. It's like they look up to him as some kind of a role model or a hero."

Happy raised an eyebrow, "Peter Pan's a hero? If he's coming to save 'em, then why are these two laughing out loud like it's funny?" He glanced at Hook and Smee, who were still chortling.

Mirajane admitted, "I'm not sure. But my gut tells me that they've got everything planned ahead, that they've got a trick up their sleeve. And I don't think I want to find out…"

By the time Hook and Smee got over their laughing fit, the captain removed his hat and bowed before Wendy in a dignified manner before putting it back on. "But a thousand pardons, my dear. I don't believe you are in on our little joke." He proceeded to insert a pink napkin into the sleeve of his waistcoat where his hook stuck out, "You see, we left a present for Peter."

Smee chimed in, "Sort of a surprise package, you might say."

Hook began a dramatic visualization of the scene, "Why, I can see our little friend at this very moment, reading the tender inscription: "To Peter, with love from Wendy. Do not open till 6 o'clock." And he'll begin to wonder what's in it."

Happy exclaimed, "HUH?! Wendy #2 made the surprise package?! I thought it was Hook who made the package! And by Wendy #2, I mean—"

Mirajane replied, "Wendy Darling? Yes. But I don't think she had any part in this, since the pirates captured her and her friends just now. Hook must've come up with the inscription to make Peter think that it's from Wendy #2."

Happy blinked, "He did?"

Hook went on, "Could he but see within the package, he would find an ingenious little device. An explosive, if you will. But not just any explosive— one powered by magic, crafted by me crew's most recent additions in the form of wizards from the now defunct Scuttle Edge dark guild! A big round of applause for the Scuttle Edge gunners!"

The pirates cheered while Mirajane and Happy gasped. The Scuttle Edge crewmates stepped forth, raising their cutlasses, guns, bombs, and several types of magical devices in triumph.

Mirajane breathed, "They actually did it… They disbanded Scuttle Edge— their own guild— so they could all be part of Hook's crew. He let them join, and in return, they would share with him their resources as a former guild!" Her muscles quivered with a hint of fury, "How could they do such a thing? Breaking up their own guild for a couple of selfish, petty reasons? Guilds are supposed to be where people come together and treat each other like family. And family is never meant to break up. Just like us in Fairy Tail." She sighed to herself, "It's times like these I wish my brother and sister were here right now. Same for Wendy and the gang…"

Happy stated, "Maybe Scuttle Edge is more of a club than a family. I heard the members had a fallout with their master, calling him a fraud and a total sham of a pirate captain, unlike Hook. I think they kicked him out and then disbanded their own guild because they wanted to have a real pirate captain as their boss. And now here they are, swimming with the high-class seadogs like they always wanted…"

Mirajane mused, "You make a good point there, Happy."

Hook implied, "For those of you who are curious as to what the explosive looks like, it's a shiny crystal ball packed with ten thousand gallons of Magic Energy."

Mirajane wondered, "Shiny crystal ball? Ten thousand gallons of Magic Energy?" Her eyes widened in shock, as did Happy's, upon realizing what Hook meant. "Wait… Don't tell me you're actually using a bomb lacrima on Peter Pan!"

Hook nodded, "That's right. My Scuttle Edge minions fused the magic crystal, or 'lacrima'…" He made an air quote with his right hand, "…as you Earth-land people call them, to a raucous alarm clock."

Smee positioned his arms at six o'clock. "Set, so that when the clock is like this…"

Hook finished, "Peter Pan…" His expression suddenly turned deranged and maniacal at his next words, "…will be BLASTED out of Neverland…" before it twisted into a calmness exaggerated to comical proportions, "…forever!"

Wendy cried in horror, "No!"

Mirajane muttered, "Oh, my…"

Happy shivered, "Uh-oh!"

Hook smirked, "Ah, and of course, the ten thousand gallons of Magic Energy released from the explosion will cause damage on a catastrophic scale. Surely an inevitable outcome, given that Scuttle Edge has put a lot of effort into working on the little contraption." He added with a shrug, "Who cares? We were just about to leave this pitiful island, anyway! All that matters is the final destruction of Peter Pan! At long last, he'll be wiped off the face of this world, and I'll never have to see his irritating face again!" Once again, the pirates exploded with cheer as they jumped and pranced along the deck.

A pirate hollered, "Blasted! Pan's guts smeared 'cross the sky!"

A second pirate sung, "Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies!"

A third pirate added, "Ashes! Ashes! Pan falls dead!"

A fourth pirate shouted, "Soon, mates! We'll be back to rulin' the seas!"

It was an inspirational sight to behold; Hook drenched himself in the jubilant cries of his crew, like sweet music to his ears. Mirajane, on the other hand, didn't approve of his dastardly plan, which involved collateral damage and a possible swath of human casualties to boot. She yelled, "'On a catastrophic scale'?! Are you crazy?! You'll destroy the island!" She gestured towards it, "A lot of people are gonna die from the blast! Don't you even care what's gonna happen to them?!" While she voiced her complaint, a tiny ball of light unnoticed by the pirates flew off behind her on its way to the coastline.

Hook chuckled, "Ah, Miss Strauss. I wish I could stop it, but alas, it's too late. The device is already set. I can't do anything even if I wanted to." He didn't seem fazed by the white-haired woman's anger directed at him. "Time grows short." He held up a pocket watch in his silver hook to show everyone how much time was left: almost at exactly 6:00. "We have but eighteen seconds. Fifteen seconds. Thirteen seconds. Eleven…" The rest of the crew shared his sinister grin, and counted down with him. "Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four…" Happy joined in as well, albeit terrified. "…three… two… one!"

Right on cue, every person on deck closed their eyes, covered their ears, and ducked their heads as they expected the incoming blast to blossom from the island. However, a few seconds flew by, and it never made so much as a rupture in the sound barrier. The anticipation slowly melted from the pirates' faces, eventually giving way to confusion. Even Hook frowned as the only noises he heard were the calm, still winds.

"Captain… N-No ka-boom…" Smee stuttered.

"Not a sound…?" Hook muttered.

Soon, the pirates began squabbling over how and why the bomb lacrima hadn't detonated yet. "Not a bloomin' puff!" "It's a jinx, that's what it is!" "No explosion!" "I thought the bomb's s'posed to go off at 6:00!" "It is 6:00! So why doesn't it go a-boomin'?" "Maybe the bomb's a dud!" "Did ya hear a ka-boom?" "I'm tellin' ya, mates, it's a black day." "Mark me words. We'll all pay for this." "The island's bewitched!"

"Captain, maybe our bomb lacrima didn't go off at exactly 6:00," a Scuttle Edge pirate told Hook. "We might've set up the clock a little bit past—"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! A series of blinding flashes that came from the east section of the island compelled the crew to turn around. As they bore witness, their jaws dropped and their eyes widened in wonder. The flashing was followed by a wave of intense wind that pushed the Jolly Roger away from the coastline, sending it rocking along the briefly unstable tide. At that moment, a massive cloud of smoke composed of multiple magical elements released from the blast sprung forth from Neverland, engulfing a portion of what used to be a tranquil paradise. The explosion was so great, the multicolored fumes reached further into the sky and blotted out the sun, although it had begun to set. Wendy, John, Michael, the Lost Boys, Mirajane, and Happy stood in a state of shock, under the belief that Peter Pan was no more. Meanwhile, the pirates held a moment of silence, even if most involved didn't care for the apparent passing of their captain's most hated enemy.

"And so passeth a worthy opponent," Hook said solemnly, taking off his hat and placing it on his chest.

"Amen," Smee added, as he removed his own hat and bowed in sadness.

That was the end result of Hook's secret plan— his obsession with getting rid of Peter Pan was very intense that he resorted to implement a miniature magic-powered explosive to blow him up sky high, without any regard for the uncounted lives that were caught in its destructive wake. That made Mirajane's skin crawl in utter despair, bowing her head low as she had nothing but sympathy for the loss that Wendy, her brothers, and the Lost Boys felt for Peter's demise. Then her head snapped right back up in anger, her gaze filled with an utter fury similar to how her two younger siblings were threatened. By looking up to her gaze, Happy looked a bit intimidated, but not an unknowing Hook. He was feigning pity for the fallen Neverlander, a guise that masked his smugness and the satisfaction he gained from his success. That only served to incense Mirajane further. She began sweating, breathing quietly as she glared at the horrible man standing before her, barely resisting the urge to beat him up mercilessly for his selfishness and cruelty. "That does it… I can't sit back and watch anymore!" Her Satan Soul magic gradually began to build up. "I… I must…!"

However, the She-Devil never made a single move on the pirate captain. WHOOOOSH! Another blast filled the air, only less ear-splitting and triumphant than the first. The pirates jumped from the second noise and started looking everywhere for where it came from.

"Aaahh! W-W-What was that?!" Hook exclaimed.

"A-A-Another explosion, Captain?!" Smee shuddered.

"Yikes! I think I heard a boom right next to us!" Happy panicked.

"I heard it too, Happy!" Mirajane added.

"Are you responsible for this? Did you make another bomb?!" Hook turned to a group of Scuttle Edge wizards.

"It wasn't us, sir! We only sent the bomb!" one wizard denied.

"It wasn't you?! Well, if you didn't cause that racket, then who…?" Hook questioned.

Mirajane and Happy looked up on instinct. Surely such a sound would invite something equally disturbing as the bomb lacrima that detonated a while ago. Their intuition indeed proved correct, their eyes gazing up into the clouds that split apart from the sonic boom soon after. They slowly watched as a single gummi spacecraft zipped into view high above the Jolly Roger, dropping a single load of cargo in the shape of a flaming purple meteorite before the ship retreated back into space. It didn't take long for the pirates to catch wind of this, and they quickly scooted from the estimated point of impact. Finally, the dark ball of fire crashed into the center of the deck, crushing some wood in the process. The dust and sparks of energy that gathered from the collision cleared, and there, standing in the middle, was Kaze Viriniam. Mirajane's once adamant expression dropped like a stone the moment she saw her for the first time since Monstro, her arms instinctively cradling a whimpering Happy. Kaze was infuriated, her blackened eyes spouting a terrible vendetta for the young woman who played a hand in her recent predicament. An aura of darkness illuminated her body for just about a few seconds before it disappeared, yet her hate-filled glare remained.

"KAZE?!" Mirajane, Happy, and Hook shouted in disbelief.

"Kaze Viriniam?!" Smee and one half of the pirate crew cried out.

"Here in the Jolly Roger?!" The crew's other half followed.

"What is she doing here? I thought she's still in recovery and being confined at Hollow Bastion!" Mirajane gasped. "From what he heard, Maleficent ordered her confinement after they retrieved her from outer space... And now she's here… Has she already healed well enough to come here? Or…" She felt a rush of uncertainty down her spine, "...does she know that I'm—"

"It's... It's Kaze... She's back! And boy, does she look super PO'd today!" Happy worried.

"Mirajane…" Kaze growled, before she exploded in a vicious roar. "YOU'RE A DEAD DEVIL!"

The white-haired woman had nothing to say, save for the sweat pouring down her head. She thought that leaving Kaze to suffer the wrath of the band of surviving Fairy Tail wizards was a brilliant idea, a bold step in her cunning scheme to catch Maleficent and the Alliance of Evil off balance. But it seemed that idea didn't go out exactly the way she hoped. Now here was Kaze, humiliated and full of vengeance, having somehow seen through the She-Devil's façade. She stomped forward, slowly crunching through the deck, paying no mind to the dreadful whispers behind her back.

"K-Kaze!" Mirajane said quickly, trying to come up with an excuse to get herself out of this sticky situation. "Y-Y-You showed up! I… I didn't realize you'd be here. You, uh… Is something the matter?"

"...Something the matter? Something the matter?" Kaze repeated spitefully. "Oh, it IS something, alright… Do you remember what happened to me that day? My Dark Drive, shattered by Wendy #1! Playing mind tricks on me, distracting me from my one chance to take her in! Then the whale sneezed me out, and I turned into a popsicle! I was almost doomed to digging my own grave in space! All thanks to YOU!" She pointed a harsh finger at Mirajane.

"All thanks to HER?" Happy glanced at the Take-Over wizard. "What she did ever do to you?!"

"Happy, get away from here," Mirajane advised the Exceed, gently setting him down. "This is gonna get ugly."

"Good idea. Better to watch from the front row seats than get caught in the middle," Happy said hastily. "She's all yours!" He flexed his wings and flew behind a nearby barrel, where he watched the rest of the heated confrontation with the pirates.

"Look, I know you'd be mad at me because I returned to the Jolly Roger and left you to take on Wendy alone," Mirajane told Kaze. "But I'm just following Maleficent's orders. She asked us to say put. You didn't say I warned you. Maybe you should've reconsidered dragging me into your ridiculous scheme, knowing full well that I would go against it. So you can believe me when I say that what I did back there wasn't personal."

"Oh, was it?" Kaze marched right into Mirajane's face, her ice-like eyes aligned with the She-Devil's. To the latter's surprise, she wasn't met with the shrill screams she had been carefully preparing herself for, but a calm, collected voice that somehow gave her chills. "Tell me something, friend…" She spat the word with poison, "If what you did was 'personal', then why did you leave out a remark about Wendy and Fairy Tail before you blew the joint and flew back to the nest? Does…" She imitated Mirajane in a mocking tone with a goofy look on her face, "…'You're about to find out the hard way, Kaze!'…" She went back to her normal voice, which was more enraged than collected. "…ring a bell?!"

It took a few moments, but Mirajane mustered the courage to respond. "I was just telling you about the strength, kindness, and determination of Fairy Tail wizards. Wendy's a member, just like me. You know that, don't you? That means we work together, we celebrate together, and we never give up when times are tough, especially the ones that are left behind in other worlds. You see, we're all part of something bigger… We're like family. We look out for each other. You should know that as a guild, we're not to be taken lightly."

Kaze muttered, "Family…" She looked to the island beside her, chuckling wryly. "That's funny, because Maleficent made you a promise the day you 'joined' our side. That she would keep your guild— your family— nice and safe. Have you forgotten? Or are we just not good enough for you?" Her fist tightened to a ball, slowly emitting a fraction of her dark magic. "And where's the fire in your eyes? Where's the coldness? Where's the hardcore? What happened to the tough and mean attitude you showed when you stood before the council for the first time? Did you throw it out the window? Or was it all an act? It's surprising you say some good things like kindness and working together and everything… Especially the part about Fairy Tail members making everyone happy. Like a certain blueberry I know." She looked at Mirajane with an eerie smile, "Mira… Have you, uh… been chatting with Wendy…" She leaned over to whisper in the white-haired woman's ear, and it was so toneless that it horrified her more than the dark pink-haired girl's anger. "…behind our backs…?"

Mirajane felt her heart beating rapidly, realizing that Kaze managed to see through her deception. "She knows!" Her jaw was quivering, and beads of sweat kept flowing down her face like a stream. She gave no answer, and simply stared into the Sleepy Hollow wizard's mischievous exterior that served as a front to her wrath. And even as she spoke, she only stuttered incoherently. "I… I…"

Happy had the same reaction as Mirajane; he couldn't stop himself from shaking. "Uh-oh... Jig's up…!"

The staredown carried on for less than a minute, and the deck grew silent. The master of Sleepy Hollow, who traveled to Neverland to prevent a rebellion from taking root, and the She-Devil of Fairy Tail, who worked to enact it. One side appeared to dominate the other as Kaze's laid-back attitude quenched what remained of Mirajane's boldness. For once, Mirajane didn't know what to say or come up with a rebuttal against her opponent. Her apprehension grew worse by the second.

Ultimately, Kaze found the crack she was looking for. The worsening dread said it all. Her smile widened into an evil smirk that made Mirajane stagger back. And one single word.

"Gotcha."

With a dominant yell, Kaze reared back, channeling her aggression into her pulsating fist before delivering a straight hook to Mirajane, who instinctively spanned her arms around her chest and took the brunt of the destructive blow with as much willpower as she could muster. Since she managed to focus her magic into her arms, the impact of Kaze's attack was less painful, though the force sent her skidding across the deck, and the dark magic's searing properties left a slight dent on her skin. Regardless, she reacted right on time, otherwise the flaring fist would have smashed her ribs. As soon as she regained herself, Mirajane glared up at Kaze, who approached her with a smug, calculated grin on her face. The pirates and their prisoners stood in shock, some stepping away from the scene as it unfolded.

"I never thought you'd stoop so incredibly low," Kaze said casually. "But I guess you proved me wrong, haven't you, Miss "Dark Guild General/Fairy Tail She-Devil" Mirajane Strauss? Or should I say... TRAITOR?!" She drew a Soul Eater set to Revolver Mode, and her expression turned dark and menacing.

"TRAITOR?!" Smee and the pirates echoed all at once.

"What is Viriniam doing in me ship?" Hook exclaimed. "And why is she calling Mirajane a traitor? Maleficent told me that spoiled, unruly ne'er-do-well is supposed to be confined in Hollow Bastion until further notice! What in Davy Jones's name is going on here?!"

"Tell me, how did you figure it out?" Mirajane questioned, narrowing her eyes at the dark pink-haired youth. Her forearms wobbled a bit from the surprise attack, but were still able.

"Call it a girl's intuition," Kaze answered. "Someone who works undercover as a mole can be so sneaky, that not many guys in a large organization have instincts that keen." She tapped her head for emphasis, "But sometimes, moles can be so clueless, they don't realize that even the tiniest slip of the tongue lets the cat out of the bag. Like when you told me Wendy would never abandon Fairy Tail and anyone in need, right before you abandoned me. And after all that, you still consider her as one of your own. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. That's when I learned that you're not what you seem. That you don't have any true loyalty to us."

Mirajane gritted her teeth; she could barely stifle the urge to perform a Take-Over and beat the living tar out of Kaze, if it meant redeeming her failure.

"I never pegged you for the manipulative type, Mira, but I've learned a lot of things from my voyage inside the whale," Kaze continued. "You think you can keep secrets from me forever? That your masquerade's gonna last for long? Too bad for you, 'cause you just let out the biggest secret of all!" She raised a finger, "With one little message! You should've kept your mouth shut earlier, or I wouldn't have found out!" She let out a haughty laugh.

"Kaze…" Mirajane snarled, clenching her fists.

"So when did you start playing the double-agent game after Maleficent washed your brain, hm?" Kaze asked. "Did you snap out of it all by yourself?" She rubbed her chin with interest, "Or does your magic somehow make you immune to hers, I wonder?"

"You got me…" Mirajane confessed. "I suppose there's no reason to hide it any longer." The exposure of her secret rebellion would have made her panic, but tonight, all it did was make her blood boil. "That's right… I was working to flush out the Alliance of Evil from the inside. From the moment you and Maleficent inducted me, it was my plan to find a weak spot in your group and then break it down by the foundation. I admit it was difficult doing it alone with all the villains and dark guilds, so I came up with a different strategy. I had my siblings Elfman and Lisanna deliver a communication lacrima to Wendy for me, in the likely event of their inevitable rescue. And it worked like a charm." She took out her own communication lacrima, "Through mine and the one they already have, we can contact each other at any time. And as you've no doubt guessed, I've shared some top secret information on the Alliance with Wendy and the others."

"Wow, I never realized that you're still loyal to Fairy Tail way before we captured your entire guild," Kaze snarked. "No one ever suspected until now that you're fraternizing with the enemy and sharing classified info. I'm even surprised that the hag's hypnosis didn't work right!"

"You bet it didn't!" Mirajane said defiantly. "I had to fool the others into thinking I was under that wicked witch's spell. I was playing along the entire time until I could get the chance… and then you had to show up and spoil my plan!" She put the lacrima back into her dress, "I was so close… Saving Fairy Tail and taking down the Alliance at the same time would've been so easy if you hadn't come back. If you knew what's good for you, you should've stayed unconscious back at Hollow Bastion right after the whale sneezed you out!"

Kaze seethed with absolute rage, but it was not just over the fact that Mirajane was a double-agent. The She-Devil abandoned her on purpose and left her to fall into Wendy's hands when it should've been the other way around! "You…" she muttered before she yelled in outrage. "You lured me into a trap?!"

Mirajane recalled, "Well, YOU lured Wendy inside the whale! You said it was all part of the 'game', remember? It's a shame your game didn't go out the way you hoped!" She crossed her hips sternly, "So I think my abandoning you back then makes us even!"

Kaze's hatred grew even more. "I really wanted to believe in you, Mira. I thought you were willing to work with us when we promised to keep your guild safe. I thought we had a deal. I thought we were allies. I thought we were friends! But it all don't mean squat to you, does it? You've been lying to us, to the entire AOE, Maleficent… and me!" She fixated her Soul Eater Revolver straight at Mirajane's heart, and the barrel started to gather energy. "We dragged you out of the gutter, brought you food and shelter, gave you everything no one else wouldn't… We promised you'd be rewarded beyond comprehension… All we asked was your total allegiance… And this is how you repay us? THIS is how you repay US?! I trusted you, Mira! We all did! But now that I know who you are, my trust in you has been misplaced. And if that's how it's gonna be, I'll put you out of your misery myself! Your time in the limelight is over, you filthy turncoat!" She fired a Meteor Bullet, which Mirajane swiftly deflected with a hard kick, and the inflammable projectile ended up bouncing across the waves before it completely dipped in the water and turned into steam.

Happy remarked, "Whoa, look at her go! It shows just how much she's fired up!"

Hook dreaded, "First a sudden intrusion, and now a full-blown fight is inevitable?! These women are crazy!"

Wendy breathed, "Oh, my goodness…"

John gasped, "By George!"

Michael shivered, "She's so scary…"

Slightly asked, "What's with the giant ball on fire?"

Cubby questioned, "Are these two playing catch?"

Nibs sweated, "I don't think I wanna touch that thing. It's really hot."

The Twins agreed, "Me, too!"

Tootles said nothing, only nodding nervously.

"I was never loyal to you or your evil cause to begin with," Mirajane stated as she prepared herself for the upcoming battle. "Like I would ever pledge my allegiance to a coalition of power-hungry tyrants, least of all a pompous, self-deluded thug-for-hire like you! I'm a member of Fairy Tail, and if it comes down to them or you, I would choose my guild every time! And I'll do everything in my power to protect them from the likes of you!"

"Aye! You tell her, Mira!" Happy cheered. "We're Fairy Tail wizards! We don't work for the bad guys, we beat 'em up! They can't mess with us!"

"I'm nobody's thug-for-hire! I'm a tough girl with attitude!" Kaze shot back. "I'd say the same for you, if your loyalty wasn't a farce like Desert Cobra's. But can you still back up the talk? I hope you're ready, devil queen…" She took out her other Soul Eater Revolver, "…'cause you're about to get royally screwed! Let's make your immediate termination from the Alliance of Evil official!"

"Sorry, Kaze, but today's not my day to go down!" Mirajane announced. She was undergoing a Take-Over when…

"Hold everything!" A frustrated Hook stood between them, interrupting what was supposed to be the start of their fight. "What's going on here?! I am the captain of this ship, and I demand to know what this is all about!"

"It's a long story, Jimmy. I'll explain later," Kaze told him. "First, I'm gonna put the naughty devil to sleep. She's broken the rules long enough!" She vanished from a Shadow Step, then reappeared beside Mirajane with darkness surging throughout her body, coupled with a halo of fire surrounding her feet. "Darkness Fire Gun: Solar Strike!" A dome of immense flame spewed from her Soul Eater Revolvers enveloped her body, and she performed an infernal flying tackle that hit Mirajane before she completed her Take-Over, sending them both flying out of the Jolly Roger and straight into the island at breakneck speed.

"Mira, no!" Happy cried. He flew over to the side of the deck to witness the raging fireball forcefully shoving the She-Devil into Neverland, with Hook, Smee, and several pirates closing in not long after. "There they go… Gee, I wish I could fly faster like they do. That way, I'd see the super epic showdown up close and personal! The She-Devil of Fairy Tail versus Kaze Viriniam, the leader of Sleepy Hollow… I don't know who's gonna win this, but I can't wait to find out! Somebody grab me a fish!"

True enough, all they could do was sit back and watch two of Sleepy Hollow's best fighters duke it out from the comfort of Captain Hook's vessel, neither of them daring not to get caught in the coming crossfire.

---

Kaze continued to push Mirajane across the jungles of Neverland with her Solar Strike spell, the barrier of extreme fire serving as a battering ram that smashed the Take-Over wizard down the middle and burned away at her body, all the while breaking rocks and charring some of the plant life as they went. Mirajane cried vigorously, grabbing Kaze by the shoulders in a desperate struggle to endure the scorching torment. But before she had a chance to retaliate, the Sleepy Hollow ringleader utilized a few more spells in the mix. "Deadly Fireworks!" She assaulted her opponent with a volley of energized bullets, "Meteor Bullets!" six blistering meteorites, "Fire Serpent!" a serpent-shaped fire beam, "Darkness Fire Gun: Speed Burner!" a stampede of flaming demon heads, "Darkness Fire Gun: Hell Explosion!" and a gigantic sphere of hellfire. The rampant shuffle of Soul Eater Revolver spells sent Mirajane skidding and crashing throughout the jungle, her body wrapped in a miasma of fire even as she leapt and made a safe landing, first by a handstand, then on her feet. Soon enough, as she spread out her arms, the brief inferno exploded around her, revealed to have assumed her Satan Soul form just before Kaze could instantly do her in. The dark pink-haired girl landed gracefully in front of the already transformed She-Devil, and the two rivals were having another heated staredown.

Kaze remarked, "Oh, lookie! The dirty little devil is showing her fangs! You definitely live up to the hype and the title, huh?" She switched her Soul Eaters to Blade Mode, "For the first time, I get to spar with the legendary Fairy Tail wizard who possesses the power of a demon. The ultimate form of Take-Over, Satan Soul— the TRUE She-Devil." She added with a chuckle, "One of many things in my schedule, and it just made the top. Humor me, are you really as tough as the rumors make you out to be? Because your Take-Over sticks out like a granny checked out of retirement. Even the scar gives away the cracker demon look!"

Mirajane warned, "Don't let the looks fool you; this Take-Over packs more magic power than you realize." She then scoffed, "I'm not surprised that you now treat me with disdain as you did the rest of Fairy Tail after you 'convinced' me to join the Alliance. You saw through me, and you're still the same arrogant fool back then."

Kaze quipped, "I saw through you, and you still view the world in black and white. Maleficent and I thought that bringing Fairy Tail over to our side would broaden that narrow view of theirs, including yours. I find it amusing that your guild likes to preach stuff about love and family and friendship, and will beat the crap out of anybody who doesn't share your beliefs, just to make them think otherwise. Does that not make you a 'holier-than-thou' cult than a guild?"

Mirajane retorted, "You can forgive me if I don't give a damn! You made an enemy out of my guild the moment you destroyed our guildhall and imprisoned my friends. Right now, there is an enemy. And I'm looking right at her! I would never serve Fairy Tail's enemies, especially for evil!"

Kaze laughed, "At least you know how to put up a tough girl act when you were 'working' with us! I'd love to see you take it up with me again… But before that, let's make something crystal clear. You said you had your siblings Elfman and Lisanna deliver a lacrima like yours, right? So you can share Alliance secrets with Wendy?"

Mirajane asked, "What of it?"

Kaze replied, "I never would've guessed that your siblings would contribute to your secret uprising. And you gave Blueberry a brief rundown of our big project, I take it? The nine Princesses of Heart? The final Keyhole? You've known and let on way too much for your own good. And now that Elfman and Lisanna are undoubtedly welcomed into Wendy's team, are they going out with her in the hopes of reuniting with their big sister?" Her face cracked into a smirk, "Oh, I think they are right now, flying in that little gummi spaceship as we speak. Remind me to pay them a visit first, then I have another go with Wendy #1…"

Mirajane's eyes narrowed as a pitch black aura blazed around her. "Before you lay so much as a finger on either of them, you'll have to go through me! Didn't Erza tell you? Making an enemy of Fairy Tail will be the worst mistake of your life! Well, guess what? You just did! And now it's too late to turn back! When I'm done with you, you're going to wish you hadn't messed with our guild… No, our family!" She spread her demon wings wide and assumed a fighting pose with her claw-like gauntlets.

Kaze mirrored her opponent's actions as a surge of dark purple energy elevated from her body. "No, I don't think I will! It's time to put an end to this false friendship between us… for GOOD!"

Their magic auras burst as polar opposites, the wind and earth trembling at a mere gesture of the clashing forces. Sparks lit up between them, and by the time they cooled down, Mirajane and Kaze charged towards each other, letting out cries of pure ferocity. A huge cloud of dust appeared from where they collided, signifying the start of the epic showdown between Fairy Tail's She-Devil and Sleepy Hollow's Dark Vixen. It's on!

Cue Music: Back to Mad – Yoshi's Island Battle (Super Mario Bros. Z)

As soon as the dust cleared, Kaze and Mirajane engaged in an extreme clash that spanned one section of the jungle to another; like two wild animals squabbling over a fresh lump of meat, none of them seemed to falter as they deflected each other's attacks and landed a few successful hits. With the Soul Eaters currently in Blade Mode, Kaze hurled her frostbitten chained blades, seeking to draw blood from the Take-Over wizard who expertly blocked them with her gauntlets. Each time a chained edge missed or was swatted away, it either left a small crater on the ground, swiped at the air, or even chopped a nearby tree, though Kaze wouldn't let up. However, there were times when her single-minded intent to bring down her enemy left a vulnerable spot in her strategy, that Mirajane grabbed the chain of a Soul Eater and yanked it to drag her over so she could deliver a brief but straight beating of six punches/kicks or less. While in Blade Mode, Zero Wave, Cold Cross, and Subzero Blast were Kaze's popular options in long-ranged spells. Mirajane used her wings for an extra boost in accuracy to dodge most of them; some spells managed to sting her with deadly ice, but she refused to budge. When long-ranged attacks favored less, Kaze resorted to implement other types of spells such as Spinning Frost, Wild Arcanum, Helm Split, or Frozen Silk, which Mirajane usually swerved her way around or countered with spells of her own. Undeterred by the She-Devil's resilience, the Dark Vixen altered her Soul Eaters' weapon styles at random to try and wear her enemy down— for instance, Revolver Mode's Meteor Bullet, Hell Swirl, Fire Serpent, and Deadly Fireworks, along with Lance Mode's Storm Ring, Thunder Dancer, Dark Thundaga, and Eclipse Bolt. All three modes against the strength and high endurance of Fairy Tail's S-Class wizard, their battle leaving a trail of destruction throughout the jungle. The bliss of Neverland was never the same once these two wizards clashed— trees gutted and frozen in ice, rocks melted and reduced to rubble, and plants fried to crisps by thunderbolts.

The intensity of the battle carried on for about six and a half minutes until Kaze blocked a darkness-powered straight hook from Mirajane, delivered a thrust kick that knocked the Fairy Tail wizard back, then charged up her Soul Eater Lance with a billion jolts of violet electricity. "Say goodnight, sucker! Darkness Thunder Clap: Lightning Riptide!" She zoomed for the disoriented Mirajane and executed a 1000-hit flurry of energized thrusts at the speed of the element it was literally based on. The last jab emitted a huge blast of thunder that drove the Take-Over wizard to the ground on one leg.

"I'm taking you down! Demon Blast!" Mirajane flew up and channeled a sphere of dark purple energy into her hands before releasing a powerful beam at the Sleepy Hollow wizard.

"Refleza!" Kaze planted her Soul Eater Lance against the ground, producing a protective barrier around her that split the Demon Blast in two, both halves zipping past her and exploding behind. When Mirajane fired a second Demon Blast, the dark pink-haired youth was quick to notice that she didn't have enough time to cast another Refleza; she twirled her lance repeatedly, generating amounts of lightning to form a substitute shield before the Demon Blast eventually struck the swirling base. However, this Demon Blast proved strong enough to break through the Soul Eater Lance's short-lived defense, and it later knocked Kaze back. She stopped her momentum by driving her weapon into the dirt, and looked up in time to see the She-Devil charging in and delivering a fast 9-hit combo of punches and kicks, the last hit a strong flying uppercut to the chin.

"Darkness Fire Gun: Big Bang Bullets!" Kaze managed to recover in the air and change her Soul Eaters to Revolver Mode after a Shadow Step. Afterwards, she focused her dark magic into her weapons, adding to the already destructive firepower gathered around both turrets. She opened fire a massive hail of solar flares condensed into combustible bullets, homing in on her adversary floating below on wings.

"Darkness Stream!" Mirajane extended her hand and conjured a multitude of hands composed of dark energy to remove the Big Bang Bullets out of the sky. "Evil Spark!" She flew up to meet Kaze in midair and discharged a powerful surge of electricity into her chest that blasted her up higher. As Kaze tore herself from the raging thunder, she Shadow Stepped a short distance to save herself plenty of room. She deigned to keep Mirajane at bay using the Soul Eater Revolvers' fire-induced bullets, whatever it took to buy time for a new tactic. "Evil Shower!" Responding to Kaze's assault, Mirajane made a sphere in her hand that spread a barrage of dark bullets over a wide range. The Sleepy Hollow master Shadow Stepped all over to elude the heavy fire before shooting back with her revolvers, and the Take-Over wizard recast either Darkness Stream or Demon Blast to hold her foe off. What appeared to be a dogfight ensued for two minutes, the airspace rocked by loud pops of fire and shadow.

"Darkness Thunder Clap: Triad Thunder!" As the aerial showdown reached its peak, Kaze hastily switched to Lance Mode and cast three lightning bolts from a triangle of three magic circles, in which Mirajane veered past with her wings.

"Evil Explosion!" The She-Devil put her hands together and expelled a dark purple sphere that detonated in front of Kaze, whisking her away while knocking the Soul Eater Lance from her hand.

"Storm Ring!" Kaze performed a Shadow Step to swiftly retrieve her weapon, then another before cutting Mirajane with a spinning electrical slash. "Eclipse Bolt!" She charged the Soul Eater Lance and let loose a particle beam that temporarily destabilized the white-haired woman's flight. "Darkness Thunder Clap: Storm Shocker!" She raised her weapon aloft, and the tip discharged a single spark that compelled the clouds above to form a storm. As the heavens rumbled in a mixture of white and purple, five massive bolts rained down and converged upon Mirajane, electrocuting her with great intensity. "Darkness Thunder Clap: Maelstrom!" Kaze then slammed her to the ground by casting a horizontal lightning burst from the lance's tip. Just when she thought she had the upper hand, the Dark Vixen was surprised to find Mirajane missing from the settling dust. Before she knew it, she was slugged as fast as lightning by the Take-Over wizard, who seemed unfazed by the electricity coursing through her demonic form.

"Darkness Spear!" It was Mirajane's turn to make a move as she constructed a larger-than-life spear made out of dark energy and tossed it at the Sleepy Hollow wizard. It impaled her right through the stomach, then released a mighty shockwave that knocked her deep into the jungle.

"Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath!" Kaze recovered quickly enough to change her Soul Eaters back into Blade Mode, and she shot a gigantic beam of ice from the trees' leaves.

"Evil Inferno!" However, the Snow Breath was no match for Mirajane, who melted the deathly ice through the flames she focused around her gauntlets, and by the time she reached the Dark Vixen, the veil of fire exploded around the Soul Eater Blades and pushed her backward.

In no less than a second, the S-Class wizard zoomed in front of Kaze and challenged her to another deadly dance of dark fists and ice blades. Most of the animals who were lucky to have steered clear from the conflict had already evacuated, leaving the tropical forest ripe for wide open space and plenty of ground to cover. But that also meant the animals had to abandon their homes, and once the whole situation blew over, they may have to find new nests— that is, if there was anywhere left in Neverland to settle on, considering all of the heavy damage the two wizards caused. After three minutes, the duel ended with Mirajane giving Kaze a hard sock on the cheek, sending her flying through three boulders. "Darkness Ice Cross: Cold Cyclone!" The S-Class wizard was nearly sliced to ribbons by the Sleepy Hollow guild master, who showed up behind her from four Shadow Steps and spun the Soul Eaters into a freezing cyclone. "Darkness Ice Cross: Frost Break!" Later, Kaze stabbed her blades into the dirt, trapping Mirajane in a dome of sharp icicles. She proceeded to attack her rival multiple times from a string of Shadow Steps until the Fairy Tail wizard grabbed hold of a Soul Eater's chained edge.

"Demon Blast!" Mirajane hauled Kaze towards her for a close-range dark beam attack, following up with a 30-hit punching combination and a second Demon Blast that smashed the dark pink-haired youth through her own ice prison, shattering it. "Evil Explosion!" Kaze attempted to stabilize herself by a Shadow Step, but Mirajane flew before her and emitted a dark explosion that sent her flying in the air. "Darkness Stream!" She summoned a swarm of demonic hands to mercilessly scratch the Sleepy Hollow master's body while she was knocked airborne. Soon enough, Kaze managed to break free of her momentary torture, and she proceeded to slice away the Darkness Stream with her Soul Eaters, tearing down the hands one by one until she made it back to earth.

Kaze felt a small trickle of blood running down her lips, but that didn't stop her. Defeating the Fairy Tail wizard who deceived her and the entire Alliance of Evil had to come first. Trying to gain an advantage, she Shadow Stepped a few feet and charged up her magic, Mirajane doing the same with hers. The two enemies crashed into each other, thus kickstarting a third brutal contest of Take-Over Magic versus elemental weaponry. Both were able to get some hits on one another during the clash, until Mirajane cast Darkness Stream, a single hand gesture clenching the dark hands into fists for a 150-hit punching combination, the last punch sending Kaze flying through the base of a tall mountain nearby. The She-Devil followed her opponent into the hole that was made, and they once again traded blows. "Darkness Ice Cross: Crystal Barrage!" Kaze rapidly swung her enhanced Soul Eater Blades to release a huge salvo of ice crosses, littering the cave with frozen pillars when making contact with any solid substance.

"Darkness River!" Mirajane spread out her arms, releasing torrents of darkness in the form of two giant hands that swept the cave like a tidal wave. The Dark River mowed down the iced floors and walls, around the same time as breaking through the Crystal Barrage before the giant hands grabbed Kaze and detonated in a wide pitch black blast. With that opportunity, Mirajane made a dash for the Sleepy Hollow leader and pinned her to the floor. "Evil Spark!" A flash of thunder from her gauntlets to the chest, and Kaze ended up bouncing around the cave like a pinball. "Darkness Glaive!" The She-Devil then executed a fierce uppercut enlarged into a huge knuckle of black energy, the impact producing a shockwave that scattered what remained of the ice into the winds. Kaze was sent flying out of the mountain, and she crashed onto a grassy field. As she flipped herself back up, she saw Mirajane floating before her.

Kaze eyed the Take-Over wizard with an adamant expression that helped ignore some of her injuries. "I've heard stories about your magic being terrifying and all, but I didn't think it would hit THAT hard on a high note. The raw strength of a demon from Hell itself… It's clear that it made you good enough to earn the S-Class rank." She switched her Soul Eaters to Lance Mode, "I underestimated you, I must admit. But that's just a warm-up! I'm still gonna rip the devil out of you!" The lance furiously sparked as she stanced, "C'mon, Mira! Let's cut the cheese!"

Mirajane took position with her gauntlets brimming with darkness. "Bring it on!" The two flew forward, empowered by their respective magics as they engaged in a new clash of catastrophic proportions.

---

Back in the Jolly Roger…

"Smee! Get me into contact with Maleficent at once!" Hook ordered his first mate, obviously unsettled over what happened before Kaze and Mirajane departed from his ship. "Wait till she hears about this; Viriniam and Strauss will have to answer for their erratic, irresponsible behavior! I don't cotton to troublemakers, and I'll not have a couple of lunatic lasses disrupting me crew!"

"But Captain, isn't Miss Viriniam on our side?" Smee questioned. "She said she came here to stop a traitor among us, and she believes it's Miss Strauss. Why don't we just inform Maleficent about—"

Loud noises blared from the island before he could finish. Multiple explosions could be seen all over Neverland, indicating that the battle was ongoing. "Oh, what now?!" Hook shouted in frustration. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew were on the edge of their seats, wondering who would be the victor of this epic brawl, and they often winced and gasped at almost every action from the two opposing fighters.

---

Back at Neverland…

In the jungle, Mirajane was flying at high speeds from Kaze's Darkness Thunder Clap: Lightning Riptide dash attack, and it wasn't long before the latter incorporated other Soul Eater Lance-based techniques to add more spice to the chase. The S-Class wizard was able to skillfully navigate her way through the terrain while the Sleepy Hollow guild master smashed her way through some of it. At times, Kaze would Shadow Step towards Mirajane to get a few direct hits in, prompting her to defend herself with basic melee attacks, Evil Spark, or Evil Explosion. Minutes later, they broke out of the forest through a wall of solid rock, and they continued to fight among the debris. During the tussle, Kaze shifted between Revolver Mode or Blade Mode at random to keep up with her rival's relentless offensive, and at the end of the clash, Mirajane thawed a Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath with her Evil Inferno. She then cast Darkness Spear, knocking Kaze into a deserted lagoon when suddenly, the dark pink-haired girl wrapped the Soul Eaters' ice cold chains around the young woman's chest. She pulled her through the air towards her for a solid 15-hit combo, Frozen Silk, and Wild Arcanum. Mirajane recovered quickly to dodge a Helm Split, and a second wild chase across the lagoon's waters took place. Kaze executed a Darkness Ice Cross: Cold Cyclone, which Mirajane narrowly jumped out of as it instead crushed a rock with a loud crash. She did manage to slam the Take-Over wizard into the water with three Hell Swirls, Fire Serpent, and Deadly Fireworks. She planned to finish off her downed opponent by casting Darkness Fire Gun: Speed Burner, but as she opened fire, the spell was doused by Mirajane's Evil Explosion, conjured from gathering water around her arms and then releasing the flow as a whirlpool. Mirajane seized her chance and delivered a headbutt to Kaze, before damaging her with Darkness Glaive and Demon Blast. The enraged Dark Vixen pursued the She-Devil with her Soul Eater Revolvers, speeding through the jungle until they reached the top of one of the mountains. Kaze Shadow Stepped over Mirajane and attempted to incinerate her with Darkness Thunder Clap: Storm Shocker, only to miss when the Fairy Tail wizard flew back down to the jungle. The Storm Shocker ended up stiriking the mountain instead, the lightning bolts splitting it in two.

Cue Music: Divine Hate – Battle Theme 2 (Devil May Cry 3)

The two fighters met up in the tropical forest, and they once again glared at each other before proceeding to the next round.

"You're really starting to annoy me," Kaze growled. "Don't you know I've beaten monsters way more scarier than you? They don't call me the "Vixen of Darkness" for nothing! In my day, I've wasted tons of dweebs and brought down whole towns and cities, all in the name of Sleepy Hollow. How is facing the likes of you any different? You mess with me, I'll crush your skull like a grape!"

"Don't be so confident," Mirajane warned. "If you want real power, I'll give you a taste of it. For the sake of my guild, for all of the suffering you and your Alliance have brought to other worlds, I'm going to stop you. This will be over real quick!"

"We'll see about that!" Kaze barked.

Time for Round 3! The Sleepy Hollow master shot forward, a vicious lightning-induced jab colliding with Mirajane's gauntlets protected by dark magic as she pushed her with great force along the outskirts of the jungle. She assaulted Mirajane with a rapid barrage of lance attacks, while the latter dodged them all and punched back at a deadly pace. It seemed like a large blur happened between them, with one vying to make a successful hit on the other. "Storm Ring!" Kaze Shadow Stepped to her enemy's backward trajectory, then sliced her with a fierce electrical spin slash. "Thunder Dancer!" Mirajane found herself meeting a rain of lightning that sent her plummeting into the dirt. Picking herself up, she spotted Kaze charging up her Soul Eater Lance for another spell. "Darkness Thunder Clap: Hypersonic Bolt!" The invisible bolt shot at an unprecedented speed, it struck the Take-Over wizard and sent her hurtling against a rock column, breaking it on impact.

As soon as she regained herself, Mirajane powered her next attack. "Evil Orb!" She gathered a significant amount of magic to form a dark sphere in her hand, and released it as a gigantic orb of crimson.

"Darkness Thunder Clap: Maelstrom!" Kaze's supercharged thunder beam struck the Evil Orb, but it was ineffective against a cluster of such colossal energy, that the lightning got ripped apart in seconds. The Evil Orb made contact with Kaze, smashing her to the ground before it erupted in a pillar of darkness that ruptured the clouds above. The Dark Vixen got up and glared at the approaching She-Devil before switching to Blade Mode. "Darkness Ice Cross: Moonsong!" She crossed her weapons together, and the blades formed into wings of solid ice that shot multiple snow beams shaped like arrows, the wings themselves serving as the bow. Mirajane deftly eluded the Moonsong with her wings, and frequently melted several beams by casting Evil Explosion or Demon Blast to force her way through. "Ha! Is that all you got, crystal gazer?!" Kaze taunted.

"Not even close! Darkness Glaive!" Once she careened past the Moonsong, Mirajane gave Kaze a brutal uppercut of darkness to the jaw, sending her flying straight up. "Darkness River!" She flew above the Sleepy Hollow wizard just as she halted her ascent, and unleashed a torrent of demonic energy formed into two giant hands that swept her in their path. The spell sent Kaze rolling on the ground prior to her recovery after three Shadow Steps. Changing to Revolver Mode, the Dark Vixen rushed to engage Mirajane in a blood-pumping dance to the death that spanned the fields, altering between close quarters combat or long-ranged specials.

"Darkness Fire Gun: Trailblaze!" Kaze aimed her revolvers to the ground and released a mirage of horizontally-advancing fire pillars at Mirajane, who rolled left and right to avoid them one by one. "Darkness Ice Cross: Cold Cyclone!" When the S-Class wizard got too close, Kaze spun the chains of her Soul Eaters in a circle and jumped for a vicious ice cyclone attack.

"Darkness Flare Bomb!" Mirajane formed a crimson sphere in both hands and hammered it into the Cold Cyclone, breaking the attack and sending Kaze into the lake below. As the Dark Vixen popped out of the water and attempted at another spell, the She-Devil already came prepared with hers. "Darkness Breath!" She charged dark energy and molded it into a large black tornado that reached higher than Neverland's mountains, consuming Kaze while dealing tons of damage. "Try getting out of that one!" Before she could blink, the Darkness Breath was frozen solid into a spiked tower of ice, along with the entire lake. "She's still going to struggle?" The chained edge of a Soul Eater that flew out of the monument's exterior and stabbed her in the hip confirmed her suspicions. A pained cry escaped her mouth as she looked to where the blade struck her thigh, which was bleeding. "I thought so…!" And then, she was yanked into the tower itself, crashing her through the ice.

By the time the Take-Over wizard crumpled onto the cold floor, Kaze retracted the Soul Eater's chained blade back into its hilt, blood dripping on the ice. She may have sustained moderate injuries, but her fighting spirit and desire to win spurred her on. For her sake and the Alliance's, she would not let Mirajane's rebellion come to pass. She couldn't say a word, considering she was still catching her breath, but she made a hand gesture that dared the white-haired woman to stand up and fight again. Mirajane did as she was asked, and the two were having another bloody bout in the confines of this iced edifice.

During this new clash, Mirajane and Kaze bounced back and forth all over the frozen arena with their respective melee strikes and elemental spells. Two minutes later, the Sleepy Hollow guild master was able to get a hit in with her Darkness Ice Cross: Frost Break. With that advantage, Kaze decimated Mirajane in a ruthless shuffle of weapon styles: a 12-hit blade slash, Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath and Darkness Ice Cross: Moonsong, a 6-hit lance strike and Darkness Thunder Clap: Hypersonic Bolt, and a 20-hit revolver salvo and Darkness Fire Gun: Trailblaze. That last attack rammed Mirajane against the wall, hard enough to make a few ice stalagmites fall from the ceiling.

"Urk…!" Mirajane was able to keep herself on her feet in spite of her wounds, most notably her bleeding hip. "You're really strong, Kaze… I'm starting to understand why Sleepy Hollow made you their guild master. You may be young, but your magic is sure to give most S-Class wizards a run for their money. If Erza or Laxus were here right now, they'd probably keep up with you a lot more than me." She clenched her fists, "But I've come too far to stop now! One way or the other, I'm ending this!" With that statement, a flash of red light pulsated beneath her. "I have to admit, you got me on the ropes for a while. But now you'll get what's coming to you! This is gonna hurt a LOT, sister!" She let out a loud, vigorous shout that echoed past the walls of the frozen Darkness Breath, the light of her magic evolving into a spiral of flame that wrapped around her body and rose to a pillar. Emerging out of her cocoon of hellfire was Mirajane in an alternate She-Devil form, taller and more massive with longer and scruffier hair, an armor plating around her neck with two big horns jutting outward at its sides, silver gauntlets, and a blue and white overcoat with a cape. "Satan Soul: Sitri!" she announced, the flames spreading from her feet up to her muscles and chest to make her appearance much more frightening.

Kaze's eyes widened at what she saw, and she finally regained the strength to speak again. "She switched Take-Overs?!"

In one split second, Mirajane lunged forward and punched Kaze in the gut, a trail of hellfire left in the wake of such a strike, which made the damage twice as hard. She continued to assault her with a ferocious 35-hit combo, "Hellfire Glaive!" then knocked her in the air with a Sitri-styled variant of her Darkness Glaive. Kaze tried to sneak up behind the She-Devil after four Shadow Steps, but failed when Mirajane was able to anticipate this and engaged her in a brief clash, bouncing from one corner of the cold arena to another. A minute and a half of trading blows went by, and the Take-Over wizard found an opening; she pummeled Kaze with a second 35-hit combo, knocking her around a couple of times. "Sitri Blast!" She cast a Sitri-based version of her Demon Blast, scorching her opponent with intense fire. "Inferno Burst!" Next, she charged ounces of magic inside her body and expelled it as an explosion of highly condensed fire that not only ensnared Kaze, but turned the whole tower of ice into a pile of water that splashed back down onto the lake. And just like that, the two fighters were back outside, with one looming over the other who fell shrieking in pain from the inferno that seared her skin. "You're finished, Kaze!" Mirajane declared, and she conjured up a vortex mingled with fire and black electricity into the space between her hands. "Soul Extinction: Nine Circles!" When released, it was a huge blast of hellfire and darkness combined. It engulfed Kaze in a heartbeat, even as the spell surged outward throughout the whole island. The Jolly Roger crew continued to watch the battle with utter disbelief as the Soul Extinction: Nine Circles blotted out the heavens.

As soon as the massive storm of fire and shadow receded, a gravely injured Kaze pushed upward to lift herself out of the crater. It was only a moment before she managed to get to her feet, and she grasped the side of her charred left arm. "Aaaagghh…! Damn it! How could such a living demon wardrobe be so strong?! Is the She-Devil of Fairy Tail really that dangerous an enemy? What an amazing S-Class wizard… Compared to Natsu or the wizard in armor I've fought at the church, this one certainly takes the cake!" She saw Mirajane landing a few feet across, and an impressed chuckle strangled the young guild master's throat. "What a snazzy little performance there. You're the fourth person from Fairy Tail who's ever kept up with me, besides Natsu, Wendy, and the Fairy Queen who happens to be Candidate #6. I gotta say, it's amazing that the great Titania Erza is a Princess of Heart. Beneath that toughness and pride? 100% light. And you do realize that we're gonna use her to open the door, don't you? In fact, she's one of two people we need from your guild— the ceremony also requires Natsu's Dragon Slayer Magic to break the door's seal. So you can believe me when I say that what we're doing isn't personal."

Mirajane frowned at the irony. "You're using my friends as leverage for your sinister purposes, and you call that personal? As far as I'm concerned, you intend to dispose of them when you no longer have need for them. And even if I was 'helping' you back then, you'd do the same to me, anyway. And you know something else, Kaze? It disgusts me even more to hear you say the names of my friends!" Flames revolved around her Take-Over form as she slammed a fist into her palm, ready to give it another go. The deadly look on her face suggested that she was bent on punishing Kaze further for her crimes against the Fairy Tail guild, but a thought in her mind suggested otherwise. "Listen, I don't appreciate anyone hurting and manipulating my family. But if you behave and do as I say, I'll consider sparing your life. I've beaten you, so it's only fair that you agreed to my demands."

Kaze narrowed her eyes. "Grrr… What are your 'demands'?"

Mirajane made a three finger gesture. "First of all, release Natsu, Happy, myself, those children, and the rest of Fairy Tail. Second, surrender Erza, Princess Hisui, and the other Princesses you've captured. And third, while you still can, cease your senseless schemes of conquering the universe. No matter how hard you and the Alliance of Evil may try, there's no beating our guild. No matter what you throw at us, we always find a way around, and then we win in the end. Fairy Tail never gives up the fight, and more importantly, we don't lose. Deep down, you know I'm right, so why don't you do us all a favor and throw in the towel? Why do you even bother trying to stop us?"

Kaze quipped, "Yeah, that's an interesting proposal, alright. But in case you haven't noticed yet, what I do better in settling negotiations is exploiting a loophole."

Mirajane repeated in confusion, "Loophole?"

Kaze grinned, "Don't worry, I'll come around…" She closed her eyes briefly before opening them to show they had turned black, and her voice grew strong and venomous. "…but you WON'T be, after I rip out your wings and then shove 'em up your ass! If you're going all out, then so am I! I'm gonna make you wish YOU HADN'T FACED SOMEONE LIKE ME!" As she stretched out her body, the forces of darkness spiked and formed into a circular barrier surrounding her. The rush of seemingly limitless magic was enough to make the earth shake, to make the ocean roar, to make the sky erupt in a storm as dark as the color in her features. "Dark Drive: Level 3… Release!" The barrier was unleashed in an immense explosion, forcing Mirajane to shield her eyes. When she looked back, the sight before her made her eyes grow wide. Kaze was bathed in a dark aura that sent waves of its rampant, destructive energy rolling across all of Neverland. Around the same time she activated her Dark Drive at Level 3, her magic's hidden regeneration ability instantly kicked in, and all the injuries she sustained from fighting Mirajane had all but vanished in ten short seconds. Much to the absolute dismay of the She-Devil, the Dark Vixen was fully healed, and quite possibly better than before.

Mirajane thought to herself, "No way…! I used a lot of magic on her, and all her wounds just disappeared! She shrugged it off like it was nothing… She… She's regenerated!" She made no effort to wipe the sweat forming on her head as she sensed the ominous malice stemming from Kaze. "Her magic is increasing… Doubled, even! Was she holding back her full strength this whole time? Just… how strong is she…?!" She barely had time to refocus as she received a straight punch to the face, the impact creating a shockwave that showered the surrounding area. She was sent flying through a line of trees and rocks, and Kaze took the opportunity to Shadow Step in front of the stunned Take-Over wizard.

Kaze bellowed, "NOW do you understand what you're up against?! I'm the ULTIMATE wizard of Sleepy Hollow… No, the ONLY ULTIMATE wizard there is!" She readied her Soul Eaters, which had grown in shape and size upon resonating with her inner darkness, enhancing their magic and attack power as a result. Before Mirajane had a chance to act, the Sleepy Hollow master devastated her with a ruinous ice blade combination. "You call yourself the best? I'm better and badder than the best!" She shifted to an upgraded Revolver Mode, mercilessly blasting the white-haired woman all over the forest. "You think you're the strongest fighter in Fairy Tail? I'm the strongest fighter in the entire universe!" In Lance Mode, she added over a thousand electrical thrusts to the onslaught. "Thanks to the almighty power of darkness that flows through me!" Changing her Soul Eaters back to Blade Mode, she focused a lot of magic into the weapons for one more attack. "You want a taste?! OPEN WIDE!" She conjured a Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath, one far larger and more devastating than previous variations, engulfing Mirajane in a huge torrent of snow that blasted her high into the air.

The Take-Over user managed to break free from the rising snow pile before stabilizing herself with her wings. She failed to realize, however, that Kaze zoomed past her in the blink of an eye and swiped the Soul Eaters left and right in a series of Shadow Steps, resulting in pops of blood across her body that were frozen into blocks of ice. Mirajane could barely stifle her cries of pain as she was forced to hold the biggest chilled wound inflicted on the side of her chest. Kaze gave her a good kick to the abs, sending her even higher, and a skyward brawl escalated as she assailed the vulnerable She-Devil with an assortment of Revolver and Lance techniques. Mirajane was forced to fend against the chaotic dual weapon style assault until she could come up with a counterattack. "What's the matter, Mira? Are you too slow or too soft? Did I forget to mention that the higher the level of my Dark Drive I release, the faster and stronger I become?! My dark magic is unlimited! It can never run out! No matter how much damage you do to me, I'll always come back into shape! Again and again and again, until it's YOUR turn to lose steam! Which means I'm meant to win from the very start!"

"I'd watch my mouth if I were you! Sitri Blast!" Mirajane blasted another beam of hellfire. Only this time, Kaze made a dash for it, the Soul Eater Lance pointed outward. The electric-powered spear collided with the Sitri Blast, slicing through the flames like gardening shears until they split apart and scattered into nowhere.

"I'd think before I act if I were you!" Kaze pierced the sharp end of her lance into Mirajane's chest, prompting from her a torturous scream. Afterwards, she electrocuted the S-Class wizard by conducting large amounts of lightning while the tip was stuck in her gut. "Darkness Thunder Clap: Hypersonic Bolt!" The spell sent Mirajane dropping to the ground in a crash that almost sounded like thunder. She struggled to get back up as she landed, but Kaze grabbed her by the hair and tossed her in midair before charging after her. "Darkness Fire Gun: Solar Strike!" In Revolver Mode, she surrounded herself in a sphere of raging fire and smacked Mirajane farther, and it was only a while before she recovered on wings. A second aerial clash began with blast after blast tearing down more of the already ravaged natural environment; Kaze had the upper hand by countering every move Mirajane implemented, due to the fact that she was powered up at Dark Drive: Level 3.

"Darkness Stream! Evil Shower! Evil Explosion!" Mirajane threw a dozen long-range spells to try and keep the souped up Kaze at bay, but her three weapon styles effortlessly encompassed them all.

"Darkness Ice Cross: Cold Cyclone!" At the end of this brief magic tug-of-war, Kaze utilized a spinning frost cyclone attack that reflected an Evil Explosion back at Mirajane while slashing her at the same capacity. "Darkness Ice Cross: Moonsong!" She transformed her Soul Eaters into a bow of solid ice and fired a barrage of snow arrows that greatly damaged the Fairy Tail wizard.

Mirajane still kept up her flight in spite of being nearly pushed to her limit. She stared down at Kaze, who stood on a treetop casually resting a Soul Eater on her shoulder. "H-How is this happening… I can't seem to keep up with her… It's like her power's gone on a completely different level than mine…"

"Still sky high, huh?" Kaze joked. "Normally at Dark Drive: Level 3, I would've easily mashed someone like potatoes, but I expect no less from you. Are you sure you're the legendary She-Devil? I think Shrieking Devil suits you better. Y'know, because you scream like a neighborhood dweeb who's been given an atomic wedgie by a guy named Sperg!" Mirajane's glare intensified, her hands clenched into tight fists. "Unless you're asking for an appetizer, you better take your medicine and cool off. You don't want your siblings to see you put out to pasture, do you?" A sly smirk crawled up her lips, "Oh, and if they happen to stop by, I'll be sure to treat them with tender loving care. Not as rough as the one I'm giving you, at least! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

"Shut up!" Mirajane yelled, and she laid a flurry of punches which Kaze avoided with ease. "I've had enough to hear with you! I'm ending it right here!" She pulled back a bit before bringing her hands together. "Soul Extinction: Nine Circles!" She once again fired a Sitri-styled version of one of her most powerful spells, and it caught Kaze in a tempest of shadow and flame that could be seen from miles around. Mirajane gave deep breaths as she looked to where the spell whisked a wide area of trees into oblivion, and found no one present amid the scorched earth.

"Oops! Was it something I said?" The Take-Over wizard's heart skipped a beat as soon as she heard. She quickly turned around and saw Kaze behind her, crossing her Soul Eaters together. "Nice try, hot stuff! But it's time for the big chill!" Two pillars of ethereal navy energy shot out from the blades, assuming the formation of even larger swords encased in ice. "Darkness Ice Cross Ultimate: Icebrand!" She brought the blades down on Mirajane, who screamed as they made contact. Upon landing, an array of gigantic glaciers swept over a small section of the island, and then exploded into a hail of ice fractals once it stopped. When the ice subsided and all that remained was barren land, Mirajane was down on her knees, with tiny crystals piercing her Sitri form from top to bottom, leaving her a bloody heap.

"N-No…" Mirajane groaned, as she was too worn out to lift herself up.

"How ice of you to know what just hit you!" Kaze joked, and she walked towards the injured S-Class wizard. "My Icebrand packs more destructive power than being hit by a dozen glaciers. I could've easily beaten the whole Fairy Tail guild with that spell, but that would be overboard, huh? Where's the fun in doing things simple? It's more fun if you take a direct approach." Setting her Soul Eaters to Revolver Mode, she aimed one at Mirajane's head. "Pity you missed the chance to see Sleepy Hollow's master in all her glory since the day Maleficent took you in. Now you do! And I think I have no problem handling what comes after on my own, so as of this moment… your services in the Alliance of Evil are no longer required." The barrel started to charge energy, "You got something to say before you go passing out? Or do you still have some devilish mojo left in your system? Any secret weapons? Any trump cards? Anything at all?"

Those words made Mirajane's mind ring with ideas. "Secret weapon… Trump card…" She then thought back to Maleficent's brief visit at the Jolly Roger. "If I recall correctly, before Maleficent left for Hollow Bastion, she granted me some kind of special magic that allows me to control the Heartless. My Take-Over Magic absorbed the power and made it a part of mine, so I can use it whenever I see fit. I wonder…" Her eyes glistened with hope, "What if the magic she gave me… is an all-new Take-Over? If I can assume more than one form, what of this new power? I haven't even considered using it yet... But…" At that moment, she found a new resolve in herself, and she looked back at Kaze with fierce anger. "…I can't pass this up, either. Looks like now's a better time than any. I'm going to use my new power against her. I have to make this count!"

Kaze blinked, "Hm? What's with the angry stare? Don't tell me the dilemma sinks in already?"

Mirajane was already on her feet, wiping her face while paying no mind to the crunching sound of shards mingling with her flesh. "You haven't won yet… Don't you know the best thing about Fairy Tail wizards? Whenever we face a tougher enemy, it doesn't matter how strong they are; standing up to them is what's most important." She tightened her fist and shook it vigorously in front of Kaze, "And we always find a way to bring them down! Power or not, I'll keep on fighting till my last breath! Because that's how we do things in Fairy Tail!"

Kaze smirked, "Heh, I assume you have one more trick up your sleeve? Go ahead, then! Show me your stuff!" She stanced with her Soul Eaters, "I can't wait to smash you up some more!"

Mirajane thrust her arms below her chest as she underwent the first phase of awakening her new magic, illuminated by a great burst of light. "Be careful what you wish for— you just might get it! Take-Over!" Upon chanting the words, an enormous magic circle of emerald color— one that depicted thorns revolving around the Heartless emblem at the center— appeared above her head. Green flames erupted beneath her and spiraled all over her body, and as they took shape, the wind carried a dense strand of black magic and mixed it with the growing inferno, altering the color into a darker shade. The blackened fires heightened into an unnatural and gargantuan size, levitating a bundle of rocks around the transforming Take-Over wizard. The dark storm soon went away in a massive puff, taking the magic circle with it, and forcing Kaze to cover her eyes. Once the wind grew silent, the Sleepy Hollow guild master could simply look in complete astonishment at what now stood before her.

Mirajane's new attire consisted of a sleek black and maroon jumpsuit with a gray fur collar, golden gauntlets, purple high heel boots, an open purple asymmetrical hemline around a pair of skin-tight pants, black spiked pauldrons, and sharp thorns coiled around her arms and legs that traced all the way to the Heartless emblem on her torso. The sides of her head jutted large dark brown horns, her cheeks and forehead were tattooed with jagged teeth marks, her long white hair was tied to a braid by a tiny bramble of thorns, her oversized wings were covered in black feathers, and her backside sprouted a dark brown stocky tail. While this latest Take-Over form gave her a distinct resemblance to Maleficent in terms of clothing, the only contrast was her human-demon hybrid appearance. Remarkably, all the cuts and tears from the merciless beating she endured from Kaze had gone away by the time she transformed, and just like that, she was back into top shape. "My new Take-Over— Satan Soul: Dark Fey!" As Mirajane made her declaration, she released a surge of her newfound energy into a wave that stretched a few miles, even everyone aboard the Jolly Roger could feel its immense capacity.

Just then, Kaze sensed something from this new transformation. Something she recognized all too well. "That power… It's Maleficent's! Where did you get that?" Mirajane had no reply to give as she stared back with fire in her eyes. "Answer me! Where did you get that?! What the hell did you DO?!" Kaze drew her Soul Eater Revolvers and fired a stream of magical bullets at the Take-Over wizard. With one hand, Mirajane swatted the bullets to the side, and they exploded. Growling in frustration, Kaze dashed forward and smacked her rival with a Hell Swirl that sent her backward. Shifting the Soul Eaters to Blade Mode, she assaulted Mirajane in a furious flurry of ice-powered melee strikes. While she blocked every attack with her gauntlets, the S-Class wizard tried to strike back, only to get parried by Kaze's weapons. As they clashed, it looked like they were moving at incredible speeds, the two opponents zooming against one another in a haze.

At the end of the brief struggle, Mirajane was able to give a hard punch to Kaze, causing her to stagger back. That gave the She-Devil an opening she had no intention of wasting, and she brought her hands together. "Dark Fey Blast!" She sent a Dark Fey-based variation of her Demon Blast, one brimming with a green, terrifying mass of magic capable of consuming life itself. It slammed into Kaze before she had a chance to react, and she was sent skidding across the dirt. The dark pink-haired youth managed to stabilize herself by sticking her Soul Eater Lance below her feet. Just as she did, a pair of feathered wings fluttered on either side, and a fierce 50-hit punching combination rushed to greet her from behind. Mirajane cast another Dark Fey Blast, and Kaze was blown into the trees. "Dark Fey Wing Slash!" As she flew over to her foe, her wings were engulfed in torrents of emerald magic. She flexed them forward, giving off a massive burst as they hit. "Forbidden Glaive!" A Dark Fey-styled Darkness Glaive flowing with the same green magic struck Kaze in the chest. "Evil Meteor!" Mirajane conjured up a huge meteor surrounded in a burning aura of blue and sent it flying at the Dark Vixen, blasting her further. "Evil Spark!" She emitted lightning from her hands, only that its color was dark purple and the effect grew twice as devastating. The spell ricocheted Kaze along the trees before she landed face first into the grass.

Groaning, Kaze forced herself up on one leg, and immediately sensed Mirajane closing in with a fist of emerald energy. If she was aiming to make the Sleepy Hollow wizard even angrier, it worked. She Shadow Stepped and thrust her Soul Eater Lance behind the Take-Over user, who avoided the electric-powered blade with her superior agility. "You shouldn't have done that, you winged freak!" Kaze yelled, and she unleashed a wide variety of lance attacks and lightning spells in a frenzy, enraged and desperate in trying to exhaust Mirajane's new Take-Over form. But try as she might, she didn't land a single hit on Mirajane, considering the Dark Fey greatly boosted her speed and defense.

"Dark Fey Blast! Evil Explosion! Evil Shower! Forbidden Glaive!" Soon, the S-Class wizard caught the young guild master off guard, and proceeded to decimate her in a combo of Dark Fey spells. Mirajane then pummeled Kaze with a savage rapid fire of fists enhanced by Maleficent's magic, the last blow being a hard knuckle that slugged Kaze across the side of her jaw, causing it to burst with blood. A second knuckle to the face, and she was brought down on her knees. Before she could get up, Mirajane grabbed the Soul Eater Lance and stabbed it into her right leg, making her scream in anguish. "Evil Starlight!" With that advantage, the She-Devil flapped her wings, causing them to rain feathers brimming with a malevolent force that left cuts around the immobilized Kaze's body, then left a trail of ignitions that gradually drained her of her magic. "Isis Gaze!" Lastly, the linings of Mirajane's wings opened into two large eyes that shot two enormous emerald beams.

"Refleza!" Kaze hastily yanked the Soul Eater Lance out of her leg, just in time to generate a force field to shield herself from the Isis Gaze. However, her recent exhaustion of Magic Energy made the Refleza less potent, and Mirajane's spell ultimately broke through. It smashed Kaze through seven boulders and a couple of big trees, until she hit her back against a sturdy wall of solid rock.

Injured and humiliated, the Dark Vixen used the Soul Eater Lance as a prop to hoist herself up, since she couldn't stand properly due to her barely busted leg. Less than a minute after, she managed to stand on both feet in spite of her slight imbalance. She kept her grip on the lance while trying to suppress her lungs from coughing more blood. "Impossible… No one… No one's ever survived me while I'm at Level 3! She's so unreal… There's no way her magic could've reached a Level 3 all its own…" She began to recollect the destructive properties she witnessed firsthand from Mirajane's new Take-Over, and the pieces clicked together in her mind. "Unless…" Through weary eyes, Kaze spotted the Fairy Tail member in question landing on feathered wings.

Mirajane remarked, "I must say, you surprise me yet again. You went all out, and that gave me ample time to use this secret trump card I've kept bottled up for quite some time." She took a moment to examine herself, "And who knew it would work very well against you?" She smiled a bit, "Sometimes I'm surprised at how strong my Take-Overs are."

Kaze wiped the blood off her mouth before saying, "You haven't answered my question, Mira. Where did you get that magic? There's only one person I know who is capable of utilizing such a form of terrifying sorcery, and her name is—"

Mirajane finished for her, "Maleficent? Well, there's no reason to hide that one, either. And you guessed it. I have her to thank for granting me this new power back at the Jolly Roger, the day before she left to check on you. At that time, I was still pretending to serve her and the Alliance. Maleficent told me that this magic allows me to control the Heartless, but I never thought it would manifest into a brand new Take-Over! She must've imbued me with a fraction of her evil sorcery for my magic to absorb." She extended her hand, which flowed with green energy. "And it's making me even stronger... Maybe even better than my previous forms! I can feel all its raw Magic Energy flowing through me…"

Kaze exclaimed, "You're kidding! She left you a special present after you ditched me, and then you just carried on while I was out?!"

Mirajane huffed, "Believe me, I didn't think it would come to this. But anything is better than nothing! I'm still fighting for Fairy Tail, even if I have to 'borrow' some of Maleficent's magic to do it!"

Kaze retorted, "Sorry to burst your bubble, Big Wings, but just because you wield a piece of the hag's sorcery and made a new Take-Over out of it doesn't mean I'm more intimidated than I already was." She pointed her lance, "I didn't come all this way just to have some white-haired, high and mighty demon princess one up on me! All I have to do is rough you up a bit, then I'll have the pleasure of crumpling your body like paper. The trash can's got plenty of space for one lump of garbage— in other words, you!"

Mirajane declared, "Like I said, Kaze, you haven't won yet! If you want more action, I'll be glad to give it to you up close and personal…" With a single clench, the magic burst from her closed hand. "…by the power of Satan Soul: Dark Fey!"

Kaze snorted, "You think it'll help you beat me when your other Take-Overs could not?" She swung her arm aggressively on the next line, "Never!"

Mirajane countered, "Oh, yeah?" She moved her arms in a circular motion, gathering amounts of emerald magic into her hands before she balled them as fists for a fighting pose. "Try me!" The Sleepy Hollow wizard wasted no time adjusting her Soul Eater Lance for the impending next phase of the battle.

Cue Music: Wave of Darkness I (Kingdom Hearts III)

Once again, the two enemies radiated with their respective powers as waves of black lightning and green mist crackled around them, locked in a grapple for dominance that whipped gusts of wind along the forest. Mirajane, in her Dark Fey transformation, and Kaze, with her Dark Drive released at Level 3— two opposite forces bringing the showdown for supremacy in the Alliance of Evil's chain of command to a whole new level. When they stopped gathering magic, they blazed against each other like comets, their collision shaking the forces of nature on an unprecedented scale. At that instant, punches and kicks were thrown around, blades were drawn, and shots were fired; each time one struck the other, an outburst of energy would light up the vast ocean of green that composed Neverland. When clashing on the ground wasn't plausible enough, they would take it to the skies, their bursts of ice, thunder, fire, and darkness stagnating the air.

The violent duel ensued for about six minutes, and as Kaze shot forward with a Spinning Frost, Mirajane flew backward to avoid it, just as the Sleepy Hollow wizard ascended in the air for another spell. "Darkness Ice Cross: Moonsong!" She merged the Soul Eaters into an ice bow and sent an array of freezing arrows speeding for Mirajane.

"Evil Inferno!" Mirajane released an enhanced version of her fire spell, one with a green color scheme, as a volley of flaming tendrils to intercept the Moonsong. They melted all of the arrows before they closed in on Kaze, who cut them down one after the other using her Soul Eater Blades. The She-Devil suddenly appeared behind her and gave her a kick, knocking her to the side. "Lunar Dominance!" Her wings burst with silver light, which took the shape of a full moon-like arc that ravaged Kaze while tearing down a huge swath of the environment.

"Darkness Fire Gun: Speed Burner!" As the dark pink-haired girl recovered from the attack, she switched to Revolver Mode and conjured up a stream of flaming demon faces set on devouring the Take-Over wizard.

"Dark Fey Storm Gale!" With a mighty flap of her wings, Mirajane unleashed a humongous horizontal cyclone of slicing winds that extinguished the Speed Burner and caught the Dark Vixen inside, leaving several grueling cuts across her upper body.

"Dark Thundara! Dark Spark! Storm Ring! Thunder Dancer!" Kaze managed to escape the cyclone with a Shadow Step, and she authorized a shuffle of lightning spells, which the S-Class wizard blocked or avoided with ease.

"Forbidden Flare Bomb!" Upon dodging a downward lance strike, Mirajane cast a Dark Fey version of her Darkness Flare Bomb, hitting Kaze square in the chest. "Dark Fey Plasma Feathers!" She spread her wings wide and fired over a thousand feathers powered by hot plasma, damaging the Sleepy Hollow master further. Unfettered by the plasma seeping into her flesh, Kaze Shadow Stepped to Mirajane and furiously thrust her Soul Eaters in every direction possible, but the latter intercepted every strike with various defensive maneuvers. When the Soul Eater Blades and Mirajane's gauntlets crashed into each other, the area around them abruptly shook, as it was scorched by the resulting expansion of their magic.

"Wild Arcanum!" Kaze executed a 13-hit combo of magic-enhanced blade swipes, but Mirajane caught her arm before she dealt the final attack.

"Forbidden Glaive!" A green energy-induced gauntlet to the chest caused Kaze to cough some more blood before it drove her back. As she backflipped, she shifted to Revolver Mode again.

"That does it! Darkness Fire Gun: Big Bang Bullets!" Kaze charged up her revolvers before firing a barrage of solar flares at Mirajane, who vanished as soon as they touched the ground. When the smoke cleared, she was surprised to see the She-Devil gone. "Huh? Where's—"

"Over here!" Mirajane's voice called in her direction. She barely had time to look behind when the Take-Over user smashed her in a 30-hit combo, then sent her high in the air at the last punch. "Forbidden Stream!" Mirajane cast her Darkness Stream spell; this version was made up of emerald magic instead of black, and the hands looked larger and much more menacing than the original. She caught Kaze with a brutally fast combination of magic fists and claws, "Forbidden Spear!" then finished with a huge verdant spear that exploded to the side of the Sleepy Hollow ringleader's rib. She was knocked to the ground, and as she got back up, she was more infuriated than ever.

"You stubborn…!" Kaze snarled. She shifted into Blade Mode and soared towards the Fairy Tail wizard, her chain blades radiating with burning ice.

"I'm not done yet!" Mirajane shouted. She zoomed forth, using her Dark Fey Wings as weapons to make herself on par with her rival's aggressive swordplay.

As the wind carried the scent of cold steel clashing with rock hard appendages, the She-Devil and the Dark Vixen seemed to be equal in both speed and footing, zipping from one spot to the next, their weapons bouncing each other at rates faster than they moved. A crater formed where they crossed blades at the duel's climax, and Mirajane skillfully used Kaze's own momentum against her by flipping her over and sending her rolling back. "Gotcha! Dark Fey Cross Cutter!" She planted a plasma-charged x-shaped wing slash to Kaze's chest, cutting her down. "Dark Fey Blast!" Mirajane shot a green energy beam for extra damage. She then flew forward, getting an increase in speed from the Dark Fey Wings as she readied a punch. There was a spark from the unified Soul Eaters just as she connected with the forming base, and she was abruptly electrocuted by the lance's lightning.

"You're done now! Darkness Thunder Clap: Storm Shocker!" Kaze rained down a storm of gigantic thunderbolts from the sky, zapping the stunned Mirajane where she stood. "Darkness Fire Gun: Trailblaze!" She engulfed her opponent in a stream of flaming pillars, "Darkness Ice Cross: Frost Break!" and then attempted to skewer her with sharp icicles she sprung from the earth. The frozen spikes only pierced an afterimage, however, and Kaze felt a strong pain on her back; the She-Devil delivered a dropkick that sent her flying to a rock wall, making a hole where she crashed through.

"Evil Starlight!" Mirajane's wings flickered, sending its energized feathers to pluck into the wall before they twinkled like stars, and then went off in multiple explosions. Kaze jumped out of the rubble with a few dents she suffered from the spell, her Soul Eaters set in Revolver Mode.

"Playing with fire, are we?! In that case…" Kaze channeled amounts of magic for another attack.

"Alright, let's see if I can put this other thing that comes with the new magic to use," Mirajane determined. She created a black vortex in the space between her hands and chanted with a loud and clear voice, "Heartless, come forth!" As she raised the vortex aloft and shot it upward in the air, it dispersed into miniature portals of darkness, where an entire legion of Heartless came out and entered the scene. The first lineup was comprised of Pirates, Air Pirates, Battleships, Bandits, Fat Bandits, Wight Knights, and Gargoyles. The Heartless gazed at a completely baffled Kaze through cold yellow eyes, poised to fight in the name of their new master, Mirajane. Even the Take-Over wizard couldn't hide her own surprise at how easy it was to summon them. "Wow! And on the first try, too… I think I'm starting to get the hang of it!"

Kaze breathed, "So, this is the power to control the Heartless you've been yammering about… I'd like to know how you brought them here."

Mirajane explained, "Somehow, it comes with the magic Maleficent gave me. Through Dark Fey, the Heartless obey me." A mere wave of her hand, and they all took one step forward. A back hand gesture, and they took one step back. "I'm their master, and they do as I say." She brimmed with confidence, "So long as I have my Take-Over powers, there's nothing I can't do. Not even controlling creatures like the Heartless is impossible for me."

Kaze scoffed, "Ha! How hard were you dropped on your head to even think that you can have the Heartless do whatever you want? Let me give you a brief history lesson: the Heartless are drawn to the darkness in people's hearts. The more you push too far, they'll eat away at your heart. It happened to Clayton back then; he lost his heart because of his weakness and stupidity. You heard about it, haven't you?"

Mirajane retorted, "I doubt it'll affect me. My Take-Over magic allows me to absorb the souls, strengths, and capabilities of all kinds of demons, whether their nature is of darkness or of light. They become one with me, and though some have a few side effects on my body, they don't affect the heart. In fact…" She pounded a fist into her chest for emphasis, "…my heart's too strong to be corrupted by such evil! So I guess in a way, I am one with Satan Soul in both heart and body. There's no way I'd easy fall to darkness. My own heart has and always will be steadfast and true..." She finished passionately, "…just as I am to my friends! The power of demons and their darkness is my weapon, and I use it to protect those I love!"

Kaze's eyes widened with rage. "Your magic makes you incorruptible… Your heart's too strong to be consumed by darkness… How come you have that privilege and not me? You control the dark powers while I barely do so and have to rely on the Dark Drive? No… Not fair… Not fair!" She grabbed the sides of her head in agitation, "How come I don't get to be the one? Why not me?!" She looked up and screamed out loud, "DAMN IT, MALEFICENT!"

Mirajane grinned, "It looks to me that your 'unlimited' magic just doesn't measure up. Maybe you should've consulted Maleficent regarding that major issue." She chuckled to herself, "Or is it you who has some major issues?"

Kaze growled, "Spare me the laughs at my expense... Whatever trick you're pulling out of the hat, it makes little difference to me. I'm still gonna take you down! And if I could, I'd rip out a piece of that 'darkness immunity' from your body and keep it for myself!" With that said, she aimed the Soul Eater Revolvers at Mirajane and her Heartless army. "Bring 'em all on! I'm itchin' to crack more than one nut besides yours!"

Mirajane shot back, "I thought you'd never ask!" By pointing her finger at Kaze, the restraints that bound the Heartless were set loose. "Heartless, attack!" And the hounds obeyed, charging forward with the intent of eliminating their prey.

Kaze bellowed, "You think a flimsy horde of Heartless can help you?! I'll have incinerated them all in no time! And then it's back to clipping your wings!" She opened fire with her revolvers, tearing down the ranks of the She-Devil's footsoldiers of darkness step by step. "Meteor Bullets! Deadly Fireworks! Hell Swirl! Fire Serpent! Darkness Fire Gun: Trailblaze!" Eradicating the horde was no walk in the park for the young wizard, but because the number seemed to have stretched on, it took a bit longer to finish than anticipated. Half a minute later, not a single Heartless was in sight, and she glared at the Take-Over user. "And now you're next, Mira!"

Mirajane declared, "Don't be so cocky; there's plenty more to come!" She waved her hands, which had pulsated with the same black energy. "Summon Heartless!" The names of the various types she summoned forth were as followed: "Shadow! Soldier! Large Body! Air Soldier! Red Nocturne! Blue Rhapsody! Yellow Opera! Green Requiem! Powerwild! Bouncywild! Bandit! Fat Bandit! Search Ghost! Wight Knight! Gargoyle! Pirate! Air Pirate! Battleship! Stealth Sneak!"

Kaze exclaimed shockingly, "She can call out THIS many?! And how the hell does she know the names of all these Heartless?! Did the names come with the magic itself, like a dictionary in her head?"

Mirajane ordered, "GO!" The rapidly increasing sum of Heartless surrounded the Sleepy Hollow guild master and made their attack.

Kaze wasted no time cutting down any Heartless that came near her. But with every one that was destroyed, Mirajane would conjure up two or more to take its place. Forced to alternate between her weapons' three elemental styles, the Dark Vixen struggled to endure the encroaching mass of creatures that sought to consume her. Shadows, Search Ghosts, and Wight Knights impaled by icicles. Soldiers, Bandits, and Red Nocturnes sliced to ribbons by chained blades. Large Bodies, Fat Bandits, and Stealth Sneaks buried in snow. Air Pirates, Yellow Operas, and Blue Rhapsodies burned away by solar flares. Green Requiems, Powerwilds, and Bouncywilds pierced by an electric spear. Gargoyles, Pirates, and Battleships struck by lightning. As one swarm after the other met their demise, hearts and clouds of black dust rose up everywhere. Thus far, Kaze kept up the pace, just barely showing signs of faltering. "I can do this all day! Who else wants some?!" However, judging by the time and energy she spent on slaying countless Heartless, she appeared to be losing her edge. With each new wave of Heartless brought into the fold, her wrath and desperation elevated, and her voice much so. "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?! IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?! IS THAT ALL?!"

Mirajane smirked at the pressure she placed on her opponent. "Had enough? How about THIS, then?!" She gestured with her dark-induced hands, "Summon Heartless: Darkside!" There was a deep growl in the atmosphere, and out of a massive dark portal behind her came a giant Heartless identical to the one Wendy fought and defeated, both in her dreams and at Tenrou Island the night Earth-land was destroyed. The Darkside reared back its heart-shaped cutout stomach and let out a ear-piercing screech that could drive a hundred men mad.

Kaze couldn't believe her eyes. "What?! She summoned a rare Pureblood Darkside Heartless... as if it were nothing!"

"NOW do you understand what you're up against?" Mirajane stated, echoing Kaze's statement from earlier. The darkness around her hands spread out and formed two more portals adjacent to the one behind her, and two additional Darksides made their presence felt.

"MORE DARKSIDES?!" Kaze screamed hysterically. "HOW INSANE IS HER MAGIC?!"

"I am one with the dark arts. They are sworn to me, and they give me strength," Mirajane said boldly. "The strength to defeat YOU!" She directed the Darksides towards the dark pink-haired youth, "Go get her!" They and the other lesser Heartless did as they were ordered.

"Damn… No use complaining about it. I gotta hold out!" Kaze shouted, turning her attention to the ever growing Heartless population before going on the offensive with her selected Soul Eater weapon style. Her killer instinct welled up and took over at an instant. Mass slaughter had begun to ensue…

---

Back in the Jolly Roger…

The perimeter of Neverland's tropical wildlife lit up with colors of red, blue, yellow, and black as the pirates, the Darling children, and the Lost Boys stared in amazement at how intense the scale of the battle had grown. "Shiver me timbers!" "There's magic everywhere!" "Now there's a whole army of Heartless?" "Those two are really going all out!" "Who's gonna win this thing?" "Eyes forward, mates!" "I ain't missin' a bloomin' thing!"

"Swoggle me eyes, how long is this madness going to last?" Hook whined. "I don't know if I can take much more!"

"The madness will probably last until one lucky lady wins and the other loses," Smee assumed. "And it's getting madder by the minute!"

"Come on, Mira… Don't give up…" Happy pleaded in his thoughts.

---

Back at Neverland…

Six minutes of a destructive battle royale swept the jungle, with bursts of magic and darkness and flying hearts polluting the air. Despite the tenacity and ferocity of Sleepy Hollow's young guild master, the Heartless were far too great in number, even the larger ones were the most troublesome to dispose of. For every single Heartless she eliminated, more would fill the void. Because of this, Kaze lost most of her stamina from the constant fighting without so much as a break, her seemingly limitless dark magic dwindling over the course of the brawl. Eventually, as it drew to a climax, the Heartless surrounded her fatigued state on all sides.

"Crap… There's… too many… of them… I can't… fight... any more…" Kaze panted heavily. "Is her magic… really that… limitless…?"

"What's the matter, Kaze?" Mirajane chuckled. "Feeling a bit worse for wear? I'm willing to bet that you are right now."

"You… You knew… I'd be tired… from fighting… this many…?!" Kaze asked incredulously. "You were… exhausting me… all along, weren't you?!"

"You didn't say I warned you," Mirajane smiled. "I told you that Fairy Tail wizards always find a way to bring down a tougher enemy like you. It's a little something called strategy, straight out of Master Mavis's book." She turned to face her Heartless legions and waved her arm to the side. "Return!" By the sound of her voice, every single one of them vanished, and now only the She-Devil and the Dark Vixen remained on the battlefield. Mirajane cracked her knuckles as she approached Kaze with the Dark Fey Wings supporting her flight. "And now that you're all out of juice, ending this fight will be quick and easy!"

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" Kaze roared. She lunged forward with a Soul Eater Blade, which Mirajane easily caught in her hand. She retaliated with a 15-hit combo, ending with a kick to the head that sent Kaze face first into the dirt. Mirajane was letting her rival's anger and exhaustion get the best of her, just as she intended. The Sleepy Hollow wizard whipped herself back up in a deranged fury and swung her chained blades at Mirajane, who calmly avoided them all. "HOLD STILL!" Kaze slammed the ground for a Helm Split, only for the S-Class wizard to take flight and steer clear from the icy columns. She then descended for a Dark Fey Wing Slash and a Dark Fey Cross Cutter, the two spells decimating Kaze and sending her rolling back.

The Dark Vixen tried to get up, her lower lip bleeding profusely. Mirajane chuckled again. "Don't tell me that's all you've got? I was hoping for a battle with Sleepy Hollow's guild master, not a second-rate loser."

"I'll show you… second-rate…" Kaze seethed, her legs and muscles shaking from the stress of battle even as she stood to her two feet again.

"It's been fun while it lasted, but I have the upper hand this time!" Mirajane announced, and she made a green aura of magic erupt around herself. "Now it's my turn!" She immediately took to the skies, and Kaze followed her in a series of Shadow Steps. There, a new clash took place, but that would be a gross understatement— it was more of a one-sided massacre than a clash, since Mirajane was the more dominant fighter. She was flying all over Kaze, dazzling her with her enhanced aerial mobility before dealing various melee attacks and magic spells. From a flash of Evil Starlight to a sweeping Isis Gaze, Kaze was effortlessly backhanded; she couldn't even lay a finger on the Fairy Tail wizard. After being her senseless for half a minute, Mirajane decided she wasn't playing around. "Go down! Hazard Zone!" She transformed her gauntlets into large claws composed of emerald energy, and proceeded to slash Kaze in a merciless 15-hit combo. The last hit was a double claw strike that made Kaze's chest burst with blood from the scratch marks.

Shrieking in a mixture of agony and rage, Kaze made a Shadow Step backward with the Soul Eater Revolvers in both hands, paying no heed to the deep cuts in her torso. "YOU KILLJOY, TRIGGER-HAPPY SIREN!" Her dark ambience exploded once again, "It's payback time! I won't show any mercy!" Despite being weakened, she relentlessly assailed the Take-Over wizard using all three weapon styles. But to Mirajane, the revolvers' bullets, chained blades, and lance may as well be moving in slow motion, as she avoided every attack with minimal effort. Soon, she grabbed the Soul Eater Lance, damaged Kaze with a Dark Fey Blast, then used her enemy's own weapon against her in a 20-hit combo. She threw the lance into the air just as Kaze appeared to be performing consecutive Shadow Steps to try and confuse the S-Class wizard. However, Mirajane was quick to sense the Sleepy Hollow master constantly zipping around her in a blur, and she delivered a brutal Forbidden Glaive to the gut before she even moved an inch. A second afterward, the Soul Eater Lance returned to Mirajane's hand, and she skewered Kaze's right shoulder with it. She cast Forbidden Stream and Dark Fey Plasma Feathers to batter her rival ruthlessly in the air, ending with another Isis Gaze that sent her crashing to the ground.

As Kaze rose slightly from the earth and yanked the Soul Eater Lance from her bleeding shoulder, she could only stare in shock at the incredible strength and magic that came with Mirajane's new Take-Over form. "Y-You… You twisted… freak of nature…! How could you… do such a thing…?!" she growled at the white-haired woman floating over her.

"Ha! Not as tough as you look, are you?" Mirajane smirked, crossing her hips.

"Maybe not…" Kaze uttered, before she gazed up with a smirk to counter Mirajane's own. "But do you think I don't know about strategy?"

Mirajane felt a flicker of yellow coursing through her body. Before she knew it, she was paralyzed by a storm of Dark Thundaga, the bolts holding her to the ground as they kept sparking on. "K-Kaze! You…!"

"Gotcha!" Kaze shouted. "I have you right where I want you! Time I introduced you to my other surprise!" She thrust the Soul Eater Lance above her head, conducting vast amounts of lightning into the weapon, and then enlarging it into a gigantic spear of violet. The electrical inferno was considered massive enough to reach the heavens above, and was as turbulent and crazed as the expression on her face. "Ooooohhhhh yeeeaahhh… You're in BIG trouble now! And when I say BIG, I'm talking seven hundred million volts of lightning RAINING DOWN on your head! NOW you'll know what happens when you mess with Kaze Viriniam! So are you ready to beg for forgiveness?"

"Do you… ever… shut up?" Mirajane strained to keep the restrictive lightning from sinking into her bones.

"I'll be the one WHO WILL SHUT YOU UP!" Kaze reared back her superpowered lance, and the thunder abruptly kicked into high gear. "Darkness Thunder Clap Ultimate: Thunder Blade!" With a single thrust, a lone thunderbolt that was a hundred times larger than Neverland's mountains tore across the earth and zapped Mirajane. The towering lightning cut through the ground and curved to the left before it rammed into a nearby hill, reducing it to a mere pile of charred soil. Surely, no one could survive a spell of that magnitude, right?

Wrong! When the dust cleared, Mirajane emerged completely unaffected, though some body parts may have taken a few burns from the Thunder Blade. Kaze let out a panicked scream upon seeing the She-Devil still standing there. Mirajane scoffed, "Oh, please! You call THAT a surprise? Laxus's lightning hits way harder than yours!" She twirled her glowing gauntlets into position, "You brought the thunder, now I'm bringing mine!" She put her hands together to summon a sphere of electrical darkness that rapidly grew the size of a boulder, and hoisted it above her head. "Blackheart Vortex!" She tossed the orb at Kaze, and it detonated in a powerful shockwave that smashed her across the ground and through multiple trees, before she slammed down hard. The Dark Vixen was able to stick the Soul Eater Lance beneath her feet to secure her footing, but the damage of the Blackheart Vortex was so extreme that it made her bones rattle.

As she tried to pull up, Kaze found herself trapped in a vast and round black space, no doubt another devastating spell Mirajane invoked. The dome of darkness spanned approximately two kilometers in width, and was shaped like the face of a Heartless ready to munch on its prey. The Sleepy Hollow guild master's face went pale; she instinctively raised her lance, left with no alternative but to cast what may be the best defensive spell at her arsenal. "Maximum Defense Magic Circle: Three Pillar Gods!" She jabbed the Soul Eater Lance into the ground with all her might, and three stone pillars shot out around her. The pillars surged with the respective elements of Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder, fusing the collected magic into a force field…

Unfortunately, Mirajane was already in the final phase of casting her spell. An orb of dark energy with the fair likeness of a Heartless face floated in the palm of her right hand, and by crushing it beneath her fingers, the spell had been activated. "Blackheart Obliteration!" With that action, the enormous Heartless head-shaped dome clenched its jaws around Kaze. A gargantuan explosion shook the entire island, the epicenter immersed in a black column that rose into the sky and blew away much of the landscape surrounding it. The tempest eventually receded, but the fumes continued to billow from the crater like a furnace.

Mirajane stood before the carnage in satisfaction from her apparent triumph. "Heh, my bad. I went a little overboard with that move, but I'm not complaining. She sure had it coming." She breathed a sigh of relief and happiness, "That was exhilarating, even for me!" She borrowed a few seconds to look at herself, "I really like this new Take-Over, maybe even better than Sitri or the original Satan Soul. Dark Fey is the bomb!"

She had no time to celebrate just yet— the smoke suddenly exploded and cleared in a mighty gust of wind, accompanied by a loud, primal scream. Kaze stood at the center of the crater, an extensive sheen of black outlining her body. "She's still standing?!" Mirajane exclaimed.

Realizing that most of her efforts fighting Mirajane in her Dark Fey Take-Over were in vain, Kaze wasn't ready to give up. "No… I will… not… LOOOOOOOOSSSSSSEEE!" She stretched out her arms and roared again, her bloodlust elevating with the horrid darkness flowing through her. She accumulated tons of magic through her hands and focused on unleashing a desperation attack, one that would be the deciding factor in the battle. Kaze took a stance and cupped both hands in front of her. Her entire body quivered as sparks of dark energy ignited all over her muscles. As she continued gathering power, the environment started to see abrupt changes; heavy winds picked up, lightning fired down from the skies, the earth trembled with millions of pebbles rising, and the ocean shifted back and forth with the Jolly Roger in its maw.

Mirajane sensed something big was coming from the intense magic output, and began to grow apprehensive. "No… She gathering too much Magic Energy! Has she lost her mind?! If she uses all that magic in one go…!"

While she continued focusing and forging a black ball in her hands, Kaze spoke to Mirajane in a distorted voice. "You're done… Mira… Your time… is up!" As she pumped more magic into the ball, the more rotund it became. And then, she Shadow Stepped right in front of the She-Devil! "Punishment, Thy Name is Ruin: Erebus!" She launched a humongous black beam from her hands, and it was heading for Mirajane. Luckily, she spread out from the vicinity a mere second before it touched her. She was taken aback by Kaze's spell; perhaps she made a grave error in provoking her. As she glanced at the massive dark flash zooming past her, her eyes widened in horror at its projected course.

"NATSU! HAPPY!" Mirajane shrieked. The Erebus sailed through the world's atmosphere and past the stratosphere, barely missing the Jolly Roger just a few inches away! The beam flew off through space and vanished in the endless river of stars like a shimmering flare.

---

Fortunately, the pirate ship was safely averted from the blast, but everybody abroad was overwhelmed and thrown into a state of panic from experiencing its utterly tumultuous power. That level of power was so absurd, it blew Hook, Smee, and even Happy against the side of the deck!

"AAAHH! NOW IT'S EVEN MADDEST THAN MADDER!" Smee screamed.

"WHY DOES IT KEEP GETTING WORSER THAN WORSE?!" Hook hollered.

"WHY DOES EVERYTHING WE DO INVOLVE THINGS BIGGER THAN BIG?!" Happy exclaimed. As the wind picked up, the Exceed was further pressed against the wall, and he was now comically flat as paper. "Ugh… Remind me to never go near anything like that again…"

---

A long path was carved along the earth and sea where the Erebus flew, and it was only a minute before they seemingly settled down in a huge pour of shattered debris and water. There was Kaze, who stood on the ground with her cupped hands still held out, and Mirajane, who looked to the ocean with absolute terror at the scale of the blast, highly concerned for the state of the Jolly Roger. The ship would have been wiped off the face of Neverland, if it hadn't been stationed several inches away from the beam; otherwise, Happy, Natsu, and all the hostages would have died. Regardless, seeing the ship in one piece filled Mirajane's heart with much comfort, and she let out a deep sigh. "That was way too close… They… They would've…" She then turned her attention to the person responsible for the deed.

Kaze caught her breath and lowered her hands, drained from exhausting tremendous amounts of magic into casting her ultimate technique. She stared up at Mirajane, who was clearly displeased that she almost killed her two friends and countless others at sea. Her breaths came in heavy pants, her throat shaggy and strangled. Her whole body was laden in blood and sweat, and she barely had the strength to speak or move a muscle. "She… She dodged it… She's too fast… I put a lot of magic into that attack… and I missed! If that couldn't bring her down… what will...?!"

Mirajane clenched her fists, shaking in a mixture of fright and contempt towards Kaze and her callous disregard for the destruction she caused. "You... Do you have any idea what you've just done?! You almost killed my friends and other innocent lives on that ship!" She frantically gestured to the Jolly Roger, spotted several miles away from the shoreline. "Do you hear me?! They would've been wiped out! Natsu, Happy, those poor kids! You use your magic to endanger their lives, and that is unforgivable!" Her teeth gritted, her eyes flaming with rage, she grabbed Kaze by the collar. "This has gone on too far! I have to stop you before anything else gets out of hand!"

Kaze couldn't make the slightest move in her own defense. All she could do was brace herself for another brutal punishment from the She-Devil. Her mind desperately jumbled for a plan, anything to get herself out of a jam and then exact retribution for her humiliation. "Damn… I used up almost all my magic… That last attack did a bigger number on me… But I can't let her win… I just can't!" Her eyes narrowed dangerously, "That's it... Desperate times call for desperate measures… I'm gonna use my 'secret weapon' on her…" In the midst of her present condition, she felt a new fury in herself. Her muscles trembled with malice and excitement, her face twisted into a unhinged grin. "Yes… My secret weapon… The ultimate secret magic I've mastered… That naughty little devil's TOTALLY in for it now… She'll soon feel the might of my unbeatable, unstoppable K—" All of a sudden, the grin disappeared, and a silent gasp escaped her throat. She came to realize that she thought it through too much. She shut her eyes and looked away, "NO! I can't! It's too risky! It's too high a price to pay! If I used my 'secret weapon' now, all the magic will wear out! I'll be completely powerless! One false move, and it's all over for me! I'm finished! There's gotta be another way…" She looked back at Mirajane, "Her Take-Over is serious business. If only I could beat her at that exact level…" She paused to come up with an alternate solution, and as she did, she gazed down to examine her own broken state. "Fine, then… I hoped it didn't come to this, Mira, but you forced my hand. You leave me no choice… Only with the Dark Drive limiter released at maximum… The final level… Level 4." She scowled again, "Just this once, I'm going buck wild. I may lose control, but I'll do whatever it takes to win." She slowly lifted up her sore arms to grasp Mirajane's, her vigor returning in full force. "Whatever it takes!"

Mirajane demanded, "It's pointless to keep fighting, Kaze. Give up now!"

It was only a few short seconds before Kaze gave a reply, one in a low tone laced with venom. "Not… gonna… happen…" With that, her body slowly showed signs of magic glowing and fading at random. "Not… on my... watch!" Then, she started to radiate brilliantly.

Mirajane gasped as she watched the dark pink-haired youth channel her inner darkness one last time. "What's going on?"

Kaze spoke the Dark Drive's secret code in a raspy whisper, "Dark… Drive… Level 4…"

Mirajane heard it loud and clear. "L-Level 4?!"

"…RELEASE!" Kaze finally screamed, and she underwent a dramatic transition from Dark Drive: Level 3 straight into her magic's highest and possibly even more terrifying form. The unlimited darkness formed around her like a tsunami, spreading further and shooting up higher than her previous level. Along with this tremendous spike of energy, every wound she bore had disappeared, and all her strength had been revitalized. With the process completed, she let out an inhuman roar to the heavens as the darkness flooded the wide space around her in crackling black lines. Her eyes changed to a more menacing pitch black, and her voice became warped to the point of sounding like a ferocious beast.

"Her magic… It's doubled again…" Mirajane breathed. "It's getting way bigger and stronger than it was back then... I think this may be her best level yet! I don't know if Dark Fey can make a dent at this rate, but I'm not waiting to find out." She renewed her resolve in spite of the increasing danger, "I'll have to hold out a little longer until I find a opening, then strike as hard as I can!"

Slashing the Soul Eater Blades across before taking an aggressive fighting stance, Kaze glared at Mirajane, her obsession for victory nurtured by the darkness flowing through her being. "You've caused me a lot of pain for the last time, She-Devil! Now I'm gonna pay you back BIG TIME! I'll be the one who's gonna win! I'm gonna win! Win! Win! Win! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN!" She grew feral with every utterance of the word, "WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!" and the last 'win' was long and loud, coupled with another burst of her dark aura.

"She's lost it…" Mirajane grunted, as she assumed her own stance. "It's like she's turned herself into a wild animal. Nothing other than an urge to destroy… to kill. Not that I know what her deal is, but still… I've got to take her on!"

"MIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRAAAAAAA!" Kaze's yell was the cry of a monster driven mad by vengeance. She rushed forward with the Soul Eaters crossed, as did Mirajane with a gauntlet reared back into a hard fist.

Cue Music: Wave of Darkness II (Kingdom Hearts III)

As they crashed, a new wildfire based on the collision of their respective magics engulfed the natural environment, and they threw themselves into another hectic showdown. Since Kaze activated the Dark Drive at Level 4, she seemed to match Mirajane in regards to strength, speed, and agility, countering blow for blow and cancelling out dozens of magic spells. The two danced around the forest at lightning speed, one trying to get a good hit on the other. The She-Devil would fly up and attempt to strike the Dark Vixen, who just kept Shadow Stepping out of the way before counterattacking in a shuffle of weapon modes. Amid the duel, Mirajane summoned a swarm of Heartless, and also unleashed long-ranged spells such as Dark Fey Blast, Evil Meteor, or Forbidden Stream to stall Kaze, but the Sleepy Hollow wizard instinctively flexed her Soul Eaters to tear away at every obstacle being thrown at her. They clashed over and over again, with neither combatant gaining the advantage until Mirajane flew behind Kaze for an Evil Spark, only for the younger fighter to see it coming and warp behind her, delivering a blow that knocked her into a boulder.

"Dark Fey Wing Slash!" Mirajane soared back onto the scene and hammered her energized Dark Fey Wings, which only bounced off the Soul Eaters. "Dark Fey Cross Cutter!" She slashed again, and this time it helped her bounce above Kaze while dealing damage, giving her an opportunity to cast another spell. "Forbidden Flare Bomb!" While the bomb didn't seem to faze Kaze, it did bring her back to the ground. "Hazard Zone!" Mirajane turned her gauntlets into emerald claws and tried to assault her downed opponent, but Kaze Shadow Stepped in time and slashed the Take-Over wizard all over before kicking her aside. When the white-haired woman landed, Kaze began charging electricity into her Soul Eater Lance to blow her up. "Evil Starlight!" However, she was interrupted and blasted away by a glimmer of starlight from the Dark Fey Wings. "Dark Fey Storm Gale!" Kaze then switched to Revolver Mode and cast Darkness Fire Gun: Speed Burner at Mirajane, who doused the inferno in a cyclone emitted from her wings. The rest of the gale was dissolved by a single Hell Swirl, "Forbidden Glaive!" but left Kaze vulnerable to a magic-induced gauntlet to the face. "Evil Meteor! Evil Inferno! Dark Fey Plasma Feathers!" Mirajane kept coming after the Dark Vixen, assailing her with multiple spells; they were either dodged or countered. One stray Evil Meteor ended up flying further away and landing in the water next to the Jolly Roger, sending the pirates into another wave of terror and making a few fall overboard.

"Darkness Fire Gun Ultimate: Flametongue!" Kaze teleported a short distance, and once her Soul Eater Revolvers grew bigger in size, amplified into weapons of mass destruction, she fired a humongous solar laser into the sky. The laser soon burst into flaming meteors falling all over the island, including Mirajane. She just barely managed to avoid being burned to a crisp, then she stopped the barrage by kicking Kaze in the stomach. The two rivals kept clashing all the way down a large hill and into the deepest part of the jungle, before stopping to charge up scores of Magic Energy.

"Lunar Dominance!" Mirajane took position with her wings, her presence adorned by a radiant silver moon.

"Redemption, Thy Name is Vengeance: Orcus!" Kaze floated in the air and then spread out her arms, expelling a widespread dome-shaped blast of dark energy from her body.

The impact of both spells caused a tremendous explosion that set the entire area around them on fire. They stared each other down for a couple of seconds, before Mirajane attempted a hit on Kaze. However, the Sleepy Hollow master Shadow Stepped under her and kicked her in the air. "Darkness Thunder Clap Ultimate: Thunder Blade!" She chased after the Fairy Tail wizard, then spiked her down to the beach nearby via one gigantic thunderbolt. "Darkness Ice Cross Ultimate: Icebrand!" With Mirajane knocked down, Kaze slammed the Soul Eaters into the sand below, ravaging her foe in a terrible stampede of glaciers. The Icebrand sent her tumbling along the beach until she used her Dark Fey Wings to regain herself. As she stood upright, she spotted Kaze appearing in front of her.

Suffice to say, Mirajane was panting and sweating from withstanding the Dark Vixen's ruthless aggression for a long time. "You don't know… when to give up… do you?"

Empowered by the Dark Drive's boosting attributes, Kaze slowly made her advance, her Soul Eaters at the ready. "You're not getting away this time… You'll never hurt me again… Whatever it takes… Whatever it takes… to win… Win… Win… Win… WIN!" Motivated by that single-minded obsession, she unleashed a hail of Darkness Ice Cross: Moonsong. The She-Devil quickly took flight and dodged most of the snow arrows, with a few only succeeding in pushing her back.

"Kaze… She fights like a girl possessed…" Mirajane thought as she moved around the Sleepy Hollow guild master's berserker movements in short order. "I've never seen her so angry like this… Such fury… Such… rage…" She ducked under a Darkness Ice Cross: Cold Cyclone as Kaze sped forward in a string of Shadow Steps, and the Take-Over wizard swerved behind her to land a kick to the back. "Wait… She's consumed by rage… She's letting her emotions get the better of her. She only thinks about destroying me and nothing else. Not thinking clearly… Hmm… Maybe her 'limitless magic' has a weakness I can exploit?"

"STOP RUNNING AND FIGHT ME, YOU COWARD!" Kaze screeched, and she moved at a velocity so unusual that Mirajane barely avoided a Darkness Thunder Clap: Hypersonic Bolt that both struck her side and shocked her with extreme high voltage. However, she did manage to elude a Darkness Thunder Clap: Storm Shocker, a Darkness Ice Cross: Frost Break, and then a Darkness Fire Gun: Solar Strike that sent Kaze flying into a boulder. The S-Class wizard looked to see her opponent emerge from the rubble, fuming with rage and frustration. "Come on! Aren't you gonna fight back?! Fight back!" She shot a barrage of Darkness Fire Gun: Big Bang Bullets, which Mirajane skillfully avoided using her wings. "I SAID, FIGHT BACK!" Kaze implemented other techniques from Darkness Thunder Clap: Lightning Riptide to Darkness Ice Cross: Snow Breath, and was met with the same result. "FIGHT BACK! WHY WON'T YOU FIGHT BACK?!"

At that exact moment, Mirajane figured it out. "That's it!"

Kaze screamed hysterically as she continued to assault the Take-Over wizard, only to miss constantly and seemingly without end, considering her own rage made her blind to see reason. "FIGHT BACK! FIGHT BACK! FIGHT BACK! FIGHT BACK! FIGHT BA—"

"Evil Spark!" Mirajane finally retaliated with a thunder burst from her hands that blasted Kaze into the shore. The Dark Vixen was soaked by the time she rose out of the water, but she didn't care. She just wanted to make the She-Devil suffer for the misfortune she wrought upon her.

"You… stupid… little…" Kaze was so infuriated, she couldn't even think of a proper response.

"Well, I notice that you got quite a temper," Mirajane smirked. "What's the matter, losing your cool every time you power yourself up? Bet you can't hit me with your silly little toys and your so-so almighty magic!"

"SHUT UP, YOU SCUM!" Kaze yelled at the top of her lungs. She engaged Mirajane in another fest of ferocious attacks, all which the latter casually avoided.

"Oops, did I serve a nerve? Look, trust me when I tell you, you don't wanna push too far."

Kaze didn't listen. The melee attacks and magic spells raged onward like a typhoon. Her screams turned frantic and broken every time she missed, and her Magic Energy slowly started to run low.

"Oh, come on! You call THAT an attack?! I expected you to do better!"

Mirajane simply shifted around, playing mind tricks on her rival, whether it was on the ground or in the air.

"Alright, I'll give you a head start. Sike! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Four minutes later, Kaze was already nearing her limit from spending lots of magic and stamina in trying to get a direct hit.

"Funny thing about anger: Let it consume you, and soon enough…"

She failed to connect a Wild Arcanum, and didn't even notice Mirajane floating behind her. She had toyed with her long enough.

"…you lose sight of everything."

By the time Kaze turned around, the Take-Over wizard was slugging her with a devastating mix-up of Dark Fey spells. "Forbidden Glaive! Forbidden Stream! Evil Meteor! Evil Spark! Dark Fey Wing Slash! Dark Fey Storm Gale! Hazard Zone!" Soon enough, Mirajane charged up her magic for an advanced spell. She dashed towards her enemy, the dark energy surrounding her fists converted into gigantic, spherical faces of Shadow Heartless that glowed in a blend of violet and crimson. "Blackheart Shadowdance!" She threw her oversized Shadow-like boxing gloves, punching Kaze in an incredibly fast 800-hit combination, all the while shoving her off the beach, and by extension the whole island. As they now soared over the ocean, Mirajane's relentless walloping dragged on, with each punch producing minor shockwaves along the way. The last punch was a double-fist attack with the gloves enlarged ten times their original size. Around the same time the blow delivered, the gloves discharged as powerful energy bombs that added to the severe impact. Blood burst out of Kaze's mouth, and she lost her grip on the Soul Eaters. They fell into the deck of the Jolly Roger, their bladed edges sticking to the floor as they landed right next to a frightened Happy.

"AAAAAAHHH! TOO SHARP!" the Exceed screamed as he scurried away from the weapons that nearly chopped him to size, save for a single whisker on his left cheek.

"Your magic may be as powerful as you claim, but strength doesn't mean anything if you don't have the heart and the mind to use it!" Mirajane addressed Kaze, who had since been knocked in midair. She cupped her hands together and generated excessive amounts of magic to create a massive black and emerald sphere with the face of a Heartless brandishing its jagged teeth.

Back at the Jolly Roger, the pirates and Happy looked to see the She-Devil and the Dark Vixen floating above, just a short distance away from the ship. They couldn't suppress their anticipation and surprise as they witnessed the epic showdown reaching its inevitable climax.

"She's doin' it, lads! She's winnin'!" a pirate exclaimed.

"Mirajane's beatin' Kaze!" a second pirate shouted.

"She's overwhelmin' her!" a third pirate commented.

"Like a pack of hungry sharks!" a fourth pirate agreed.

"Viriniam is actually losing to Strauss?!" Hook yelled.

"I don't believe what I'm seeing!" Smee gasped.

"AYE! You got her, Mira! Do it now! Finish it! End it for all of us! Show that bully how it's done!" Happy was cheering for the Take-Over wizard, who presently had the upper hand.

Kaze quickly stabilized herself, and she conjured what appeared to be a black sun between both hands in a desperate attempt to counter Mirajane. "Judgment, Thy Name is Destruction: Ouran—"

She had no such luck in activating the spell, however, when Mirajane appeared in front of her and inched the vortex before her eyes. "This is it, Kaze! This is your last chance to back down before I shut you up for GOOD!" The building torrent of darkness was wide enough to eclipse the whole sky; Kaze was too occupied with focusing her magic that she didn't notice her rival had already come prepared for another nasty ability, and was even too stunned to try avoiding it. "Soul Extinction: Enchanted Darkness!" A gargantuan dark green beam spearheaded by the Heartless face was released— a Dark Fey-based variant of Soul Extinction. Kaze screamed in absolute pain as the blast completely engulfed her, whisked her further away, and then crashed her into the bottom of the sea! BOOOOOOOOOOOM! The ocean erupted in an atomic blast of shadow mixed with saltwater, until all that remained was a dark miasma rising from where the Soul Extinction hit the water. Mirajane stood strong and tall with a defiant expression, the emerald and black glow around her gauntlets still present before it faded.

Everyone down below saw the finale; they honestly couldn't process what just happened, and nobody could blame them. "She did it…" Happy breathed, and his lips curled into a wide smile. "She did it! She beat Kaze!" He jumped up and down in excitement, "ALRIGHT! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! That's Mira for ya! She just beat Sleepy Hollow's boss! She was amazing! Nobody messes with Fairy Tail's She-Devil! She's an S-Class wizard like Erza! She's the best against all the rest! Besides Natsu, of course! Aye!" He laughed cheerily as he sang and danced along the deck, "She did it! She did it! She's bad! Oh, yeah!"

"Oh, my… Strauss defeated… No… Destroyed... Viriniam…" Hook stuttered.

"A-A-Ain't it a b-b-bloomin' s-s-shame, C-C-Captain?" Smee shivered.

"That was quite a bout of destructive proportions, wouldn't you say, Wendy?" John asked his elder sister.

"It's so very, very scary… I really wanna go home… I wanna see Mother…" Michael sniffled.

"I couldn't agree more, Michael. The sooner we return to London, the better," Wendy worried.

Seeing that one of her toughest enemies had been defeated, Mirajane crossed her hips proudly. "NOW this fight is over. I hope she finally learns her lesson. Even if she manages to comes back, it wouldn't matter. I have a feeling she won't be bothering us anytime soon." She turned her attention to the Jolly Roger down below on her left, "And the rest will come easy: taking care of the pirates, setting ourselves free, and then heading over to—"

That moment of bliss was short lived when she heard a loud suction noise coming from the damage site. Then suddenly, the entire miasma was inexplicably drawn into that exact spot, breathing in all the smoke until it was swallowed by the water. The darkness that befouled the air and stained the ocean for a time had gone away. Even the wind seemed to catch its breath. Mirajane's eyes widened in shock. "W-What the… The smoke rising from the water... it's all gone! Or rather… it got…"

"IT GOT SUCKED IN?!" The pirates had the same reaction, albeit more hysterical and comical.

"The ocean slurped up the big smoke?" Happy blinked. "I don't know about you guys, but it looks awfully familiar. I even recognize that sucking sound anywhere. Kinda like… Like…" The more he analyzed the situation, the graver it became for him. That could only mean one thing… "Oh, no… Oh, no! OH, NO!" Distressed by the signs of an impending terror, he spread his wings and flew up to try and warn Mirajane. "MIRA, THIS IS BAD! THIS IS SUPER BAD!"

"Happy! You're okay!" Mirajane saw the Exceed approaching her. "You stayed in the ship while the two of us fought outside?"

"Yeah, everybody's fine. We watched the whole thing," Happy nodded, before his face returned to panic. "But we've got bigger problems! And I mean, BIG!"

"Big?" Mirajane echoed. "What do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean?! Did you see what we all just saw?!" Happy shouted. "All the big smoke got sucked into the water! And it's not a whirlpool that did it, no sir! Something or someone under the sea must've sucked it all in! And I know a certain someone who's capable of doing that— one who can absorb an element of their magic and then replenish their power!"

"Yeah… I know…" Mirajane muttered, then glanced to where the miasma once was. "I saw it, too…"

"That's the thing! That's exactly it!" Happy said frantically. "What if—"

BOOOOOOOOOOOM! An enormous burst popped through the surface of the ocean, and out of the abyss emerged what looked like a monstrous, spiraling cyclone of dark purple. The tornado crackled with black electricity, and was almost the size of more than one half of Neverland's landscape. The pirates, the Darling children, and the Lost Boys glanced to the side and gasped in disbelief. Mirajane instinctively held a terrified Happy in her arms, their mouths and eyes agape as their fears were reaffirmed. What should have been a triumph had instead been twisted into something much, much worse. A fallen foe had risen from beyond the veil of defeat.

When the cyclone cleared, what stood in front of the two Fairy Tail wizards… was a completely re-energized and fully healed Kaze! Granted, she had undergone a new level of power that was a far cry from all her Dark Drive forms. Her eyes glistened red instead of black, her dark pink hair turned white and longer, her wrists, feet, and lower sides of her back grew feathers, and her face was decorated with markings and scales and a red dot on her forehead. Perhaps the big kicker was the huge pair of wings on the upper side of her back, as well as the large claws formed around her hands, all composed of the extreme wind she sprung out of. As the rampant air circled around the rejuvenated, insidious, enraged Dark Vixen, Mirajane and Happy trembled as they felt the surge of incredible power. For a brief moment, just behind her, the ambience of a dragon with feathered wings appeared, thus confirming the duo's final fears.

"No… It can't…" Mirajane stuttered. "Is… Is that… Dragon Force?!"

"'Fraid so… Sure looks like it… No, it IS Dragon Force!" Happy exclaimed. "I know that kind of super mode when I see it! Dragon Force is the final form of a Dragon Slayer's magic! When they activate it, they get a thousand times the boost in power! Natsu and Wendy can tap into it… and it looks like Kaze can, too! After she absorbed all that smoke while she's down in the dip!"

"Looks like your deduction is spot on, Happy. As is mine," Mirajane grimaced.

"Yeah… The proof's in the pudding right here…" Happy shuddered.

"Kaze is a Dragon Slayer!" the two cried out in unison.

The girl in question let loose with a horrifying, monstrous roar that sounded exactly like a dragon's, one that would bring terror to an entire herd of Wyverns, and echoed throughout the surface. She inhaled deeply, summoning a dark purple magic circle around her mouth, with a ball of condensed air at the center. She subconsciously harnessed the infinite darkness and fed it into the ball, making it bigger. Streaks of lightning and strong currents of wind whipped all over her being, her energy output becoming unstable as she gathered more magic.

"SHE'S GOING FOR AN ULTRA-BIG BREATH ATTACK!" Happy hollered.

"HAPPY! GET DOWN NOW!" Mirajane yelled, and she tossed him back down onto the Jolly Roger's deck before there was a chance he got caught in the expected blast range.

"NO, MIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRA!" Happy desperately reached out with his paw as he fell.

Once she had gathered enough magic, Kaze unleashed a Dragon's Roar that was considered at least twice the size of Punishment, Thy Name is Ruin: Erebus. The chaotic tempest swallowed up Mirajane, who let out a torturous scream as her Take-Over form gradually broke down from the immense strain, the winds ripping apart her body little by little. The Dragon's Roar hurled through Neverland's atmosphere and then exploded, spreading over the sky and dissolving the clouds. Eventually, when the storm receded, the stars shone over the world in place of the sun, which had already fallen.

---

The surface of Neverland radiated with violet, as witnessed by the Headless Horsemen and Crane from a recording on a wide screen in the Ichabod's control room.

"Such power!" Wrecker breathed.

"Great Gilgamesh's Armpits!" Diva exclaimed.

"It's a… giant horizontal hurricane?" Crane questioned.

"Master…" Silver had a good idea who was responsible.

Zeppelin gave no comment on the squall that swept over Neverland's skies, but he still harbored a maniacal smile. Instead, he let his thoughts do the talking, "'Lo and behold, the Dragon's scales are like tenfold shields, his sharp teeth are swords, the shock of his tail a thunderbolt, his wings a hurricane, and his breath death and destruction.' Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! A quote from an old book about dragons I used to read… A quote that also speaks true. Isn't it lovely, Kaze? You're letting out your greatest power— the dragon's power that lies dormant within you! No wonder that's half the reason Mistress Lyra deemed you a worthy vessel. After all…" His grin grew wide, "…you're the eldest adopted daughter of Grandeeney, the legendary Queen of the Sky Dragons! I'm almost tempted to bring along your little sister Wendy for a family reunion, but at the moment, my hands are tied and business beckons." He crossed his twiddling thumbs behind his back, "Until then, let's all keep our heads up. Shall we?"

---

As soon as the Dragon's Roar was spent, Mirajane came out heavily damaged. Her jumpsuit was tattered and torn, the solid gold around her gauntlets lay broken, the Heartless emblem on her chest was fractured, and the thorns surrounding her arms and legs were noticeably ripped asunder. Some parts of her body suffered a significant degree of scratches from the breath attack's grinding winds. She barely kept herself afloat with her wings, as they were slowly beginning to waver. Mirajane repeatedly inhaled and exhaled to regain her breath from surviving the tremendous force. "The wind… was so… intense… from that… attack… It's way… too… strong… I… can't… move…" She made a futile effort in lifting her arms; her bones were just too worn out. "Wind… That's the element… of her magic… Just like… Wendy's…"

Just then, Kaze's body was writhing and twisting, beckoned by the rage of the dragon within to destroy all enemies. Her mouth frothed with a strand of dark purple air, and her voice emitted a loud, pained growl. She glared at the weakened Take-Over wizard with fire in her gleaming red eyes. The currents swelling around her Dragon Force only grew. Mirajane tried to use her wings to take her as far away as possible, but even they lacked the strength to carry on. "Damn… I'm all out of power…! I've used up too much Magic Energy… I don't know if I can make it out of—"

Kaze released another ear-splitting bellow, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished into thin air. SLASH! As she reappeared, she stood in front of Mirajane, swiping one of her wind-forged claws across the chest! Five diagonal lines formed on the She-Devil's torso before blood sprayed out in a massive pop. And that was just the starting point. The Dark Vixen dashed across the air, tearing through her victim with multiple savage claw attacks. The more skin that was shredded, the more blood that burst out of Mirajane in an orchestra of crackling red. Next, Kaze flapped her dragon wings, shooting two sonic spirals that ensnared the Fairy Tail wizard down to the depths of the sea. The spirals then combined into a huge tornado that burst out of the water and swirled her upward. Kaze entered the tornado and executed a lethal 250-hit dragon claw combination, slashing Mirajane in all directions, zooming from one section of the towering windstorm to another. At the end of the combo, she formed an explosive purple magic orb in the palm of her left hand and slammed it onto her enemy's head, causing the tornado to blow up. Finally, Kaze finished with a fierce double claw swipe that not only enacted the biggest burst of blood, but sliced the Dark Fey Wings in half. With one last pained shriek, the flightless Mirajane fell into the Jolly Roger and collapsed on the floor. She returned to her original human form, drenched in a pool of her own blood, but still conscious.

By the time Happy knelt up, he was extremely horrified at the gruesome sight before him. What should have been the Fairy Tail guild's best bet against the Alliance of Evil, their only golden ticket to ultimate victory, it was all dashed away in an instant. He didn't want to believe it, but it was hard to deny that Mirajane, the legendary She-Devil, Fairy Tail's administrator and big sister figure, fell in battle. She just lay down on her chest, bloodied and mutilated in front of an equally terror-stricken crowd. "MIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAA!" Happy screamed her name in anguish, with tears streaming down his eyes.

It wasn't long before Kaze landed on the deck as well. She couldn't contain herself as she reared back and let out a triumphant roar that made the entire ship vibrate. The purple winds surrounding her body spread outward, compelling the waves beneath the ship to rock back and forth, nearly drifting it off its current position. Later, the winds calmed and went away. Steam exhumed from Kaze's body as she slowly changed back into her normal appearance. However, the strain of subconsciously activating Dragon Force was so great that she fell on one knee, shaking uncontrollably. Her breathing came in shuddering pants. Her eyes burned with tears she didn't bother to dry up. So many emotions flowed through her being, even as she stared at the defeated Mirajane. She had no idea what to say or do in response to this recent development, but there was one thing she knew for certain— Kaze won the fight. As she spoke, her voice trembled with elation and affirmation all at once, "G-G-Guess… t-t-that's… t-t-the end of it, t-t-then." She was highly focused on her victory, she paid little heed to the hidden power she unknowingly tapped into. With a grunt, she forced herself back on her feet and took slow steps towards the bloody mess that was Mirajane. Kaze wore a faint smile that helped ignore the constant shaking in her body as she made her way over, "Ha-ha-ha-ha… Mira, you... cheeky little… devil… Ha-ha-ha… Ha-ha-ha… I told you… I've beaten… way worse... than you… Ha-ha-ha… Ha-ha-ha…" As she stopped in front of the Fairy Tail wizard, she took a moment to look into her slightly palpitating hand before closing it. "Wow… Ha-ha-ha-ha… Never thought I… had it in me… Ha-ha-ha-ha…"

"YOU MONSTER!" Propelled by his Aera, an enraged Happy launched himself at Kaze, but she was quick to detect his presence; she gave him a hard smack to the face, knocking him down. Glancing over to where he hit the ground, she was surprised to find that her attacker was someone she hadn't spoken to since Kardia Cathedral.

Kaze started to chuckle in amusement. The tremors that rocked her bones lessened, as did the convulsion in her tone. "Hey, look what we have here! If it isn't Natsu's trusty cat sidekick! What a pleasant surprise."

Happy shuddered between sobs, "You... You sick... freak...! How... How could you... How could you...?!"

Kaze commented, "Last I saw you, you were a hologram in the castle chapel, all weepy-eyed and refusing to let go of the sleepyhead. Maleficent confirmed it to us. He's been docked right here in this ship for safekeeping." She slowly walked towards Happy, "And he still is, isn't he?"

Happy's anger quickly turned to apprehension as he backed away from the incoming Sleepy Hollow wizard. "Natsu…? You don't remember what you did to him? It was YOUR fault he fell 'asleep' in the first place! He lost his heart! He's a shell of his own body now! Nothing we ever do could wake him up, no matter how many times we shake him or tickle him! Not a hum! Not a moan! Not even a blink! And it's all because of you!" His voice cracked, and his eyes never stopped leaking tears. "YOU did this to him! You hurt Natsu— my best buddy— and his heart's gone! He can't wake up! He can't even lift an eye! And it's not just him you've hurt— everyone in Fairy Tail! Mira! All these poor people in other worlds, too! You did this to us all! Don't tell me you forgot! Don't tell me you can't remember all of it! All the pain and suffering you— EEEK!" He cut off with a high-pitched squeak when Kaze grabbed him by the head and lifted him to level her eyes with his.

"You know, it's impressive that you haven't noticed this one aspect of being me yet, but unlike a few self-righteous dimwits, furball, I don't forget my actions," Kaze told him. "There also comes a time when I admit there's a graver error in my part. Sure, I might have something to do with Natsu missing his heart back then. But just because it's lost doesn't mean it's gone forever. We're waking him up, too. You can't expect him to use his Dragon Slayer Magic on the seal when he's asleep, can you? Priority Subject #2 needs his heart back. And we're not stopping until we find it. I do hope it more than makes up for that 'major setback' at Magnolia."

"W-W-What are you g-g-gonna d-d-do to us?" Happy stuttered fearfully.

"Nothing, really," Kaze chuckled. "I'm just here to pay back a certain She-Devil for stabbing me in the back before I get back to work. And I take it you're an accomplice in her secret rebellion? You were with her the entire time she spent in the Jolly Roger, weren't you?"

"Ah… Aahh…" Happy couldn't answer. He felt his breath come heavy, and what remained of his bravery slipped away.

"No, no, you don't have to tell me," Kaze assured. "In fact, I should thank you. You've just given me twice the leverage I need!"

"L… Lev… erage…?" Mirajane croaked, as she overheard the conversation. She used what little strength she had left to lean up and glance at Kaze, who grasped the terrified Happy's head in a single hand.

"Naptime, kitty…" Kaze flicked her finger into Happy's forehead, knocking him out cold. "We should save the rest of our chat for another time, 'cause I've got bigger plans. And you're gonna fit right in. Just you wait and see! Which brings me to the biggest cog of 'em all…" She turned to face Mirajane, who sweated just as fast as the blood spreading from where her broken body lay. She dropped the unconscious Exceed and made her way over to the white-haired woman.

"Happy…!" Mirajane cried weakly. She was completely drained that she barely moved a muscle. All she could do was watch Kaze stand before her with a smug look. "You… Wha… What… are you…?!"

"Didn't I tell you earlier? I'm the ULTIMATE wizard there is," Kaze smiled and knelt down to Mirajane's level. "The single greatest guild master of Sleepy Hollow. The Vixen of Darkness. And you're just a sleazy old windbag who boasts too much."

"No… You can't… do this…" Mirajane struggled to reach out with her trembling hand.

Kaze stood back up. "I just did." She planted a foot down on the She-Devil's face, knocking her out. Afterwards, she looked to where her Soul Eaters fell and picked them up from the floor before putting them away. "Heh, this was almost too easy. I should do this a lot more often!"

"VIRINIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!" She paused to hear Captain Hook scream at the top of his lungs, and she saw him literally steaming red like a teapot. "You interrupted me expedition, stormed into me ship uninvited, agitated me crew, destroyed the island…" He gestured to the unfathomable degree of destruction done to Neverland in the aftermath of the battle, then to the fallen Take-Over wizard. "And I'm not just talking about Strauss!" He faced Kaze again, "Before you cause so much more of a scene, will you be so kind…" His tirade grew louder and more hysterical, "…AS TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?!"

Kaze was content in enlightening Hook of her experiences when she caught wind of a surge of magic behind her. She spotted a crimson portal, and out of it came Wrecker, Diva, Silver, Zeppelin, Crane, and a small squadron of Sleepy Hollow wizards. Needless to say, Hook was infuriated even more for being kept in the dark again. "AAAAAARRRRGH! WHAT IS IT NOW?!"

The Headless Horsemen and Crane cried out, "Master!"

Kaze found herself encircled by her elite henchmen, basking in their praise and concern. "Hey, guys! How's it going? Did you enjoy the little spectacle I had with Mira from the high seats?"

Wrecker chortled, "That was absolutely invigorating! We all watched the spectacle from the safety of our flagship. All the carnage, the aggression, the devastation… Mirajane Strauss was strong, but you were even stronger! Even the vilest of demons fall before the might of our guild master! Once again, you fought and defended the pride of Sleepy Hollow by demolishing that eyesore of a Fairy Tail wizard." He patted Kaze's back, "I don't know how you held out for so long, but it appears your mastery of the dark arts worked a miracle for you somewhat. It got you out of a predicament that nearly cost you your life. Regardless, you truly are a formidable warrior, one whom I respect with every fiber of my being!"

Diva beamed, "He said it! You TOTALLY leveled the playing field with your bizarre, amazing powers! We saw every detail of Mirajane's new Take-Over form, and it looked spiffy, if not more so than my charm or Bahamut's. She had you backed to a corner for a moment there, but you pulled through it all in the end." She glanced at the unconscious and bleeding Mirajane, "So, Mirajane Strauss the She-Devil is the desperado who tried to take over the Alliance all along… Yeah, we saw and heard everything that happened down in the Jolly Roger right before the action started, and I mean everything." She added with a snicker, "Too bad she won't make the centerfold on the next issue of Sorcerer Weekly anytime soon! Or ever! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! The ground suits her well! Where all ugly losers belong. She can suck up the dirt for as much as she likes! Looks like I'M next in line for the centerfold! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

Zeppelin chimed, "Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! Oh, isn't that nice? With Mirajane bruised, bleeding, and down for the count, a window of opportunity has just opened for our Little Miss Sunshine! With such ambition and desire, you might be in the centerfold! On second thought, how about every picture in the magazine?"

Diva gasped with intrigue, "Every picture?" She then crossed her hips with a proud expression, "Well, it's about time! I finally get the respect I demand from—"

Zeppelin continued, "But in case you haven't noticed, Sorcerer Weekly doesn't exist anymore. It went down with everything else in the sinking ship that was Earth-land. And even if the magazine survives, I think your chances of making the cut are 35%; they don't just invite any wizard from any guild! Most come from the official guilds. Ours isn't, so that's a minus 5%! Hee-hee-hee-hee!"

Diva groaned angrily, "UGH! I should've known better than to put my hopes up with your nuts and bolts intellect! And you think I'm not aware that Sorcerer Weekly doesn't exist anymore? I'm certain we'd bring it back somehow, sometime after we complete our universal domination schemes! THEN I'd be in every picture on the next issue, and the next, and the next, and the next, and so on and so forth! You and all these other jerks are just jealous of my superiority!"

Zeppelin grinned slyly, "Jealous, am I? No, I'm simply wondering if you could be more than what you are. If you dig a little deeper, that is."

Diva huffed, "Oh, I think I will! You'll see how deeper I've dug when all the work is finished! I'm the most beautiful creature in the universe, and when that time comes, I'm gonna rub it into your sorry saccharine carcass! Hmph!" She turned back to Kaze, "Now, Master, where were we? Should I list the top ten highlights of your gladiator match with Mirajane? Let's start with #11: blood and graphic violence. You know it grosses me out the most, right?"

Zeppelin interjected, "To me, it is and always will be #1 in my top ten highlights!"

Diva snapped, "Shut up, Zeppelin! You're the worst!"

Kaze laughed lightly, "That's my Horsemen! They often crack me up with their witty comments and lots of entertaining quarrels."

Silver questioned, "Master, are you alright? We were so worried when Strauss almost had you."

Kaze answered, "Never been better, now that the traitor is turned to red jelly. It's all taken care of."

Crane nodded, "Very good, Master. For a mole within the Alliance, Mirajane isn't very good at keeping secrets. Thankfully, your insight served you well. You saw through the cracks of her deception, and it contributed to her downfall." He added with a smirk, "What a fitting end for the infamous She-Devil. Congratulations are in order in light of your outstanding performance."

Kaze quipped, "Do I get cake and presents for that?"

Silver declared, "The credit goes to you and you alone, Master. An attempted implosion of the Alliance of Evil is foiled..." He clenched a tight fist and raised it, "...and the traitorous Mirajane Strauss is finished! None of this would have been avoided if it weren't for your strong leadership, your commitment to true justice, and your willingness to act. Victory is yours!"

Kaze grinned, "Mine? Don't you mean ours? You guys were a part of this, too; you all agreed to help me. I can't just take all the credit, you know. It wouldn't be fair. The credit also goes to each and every one of you, my very trusty guild!" She turned to face the rest of the officials, "Rejoice, my fellow Sleepy Hollow-ites! We're back in business!" She received a round of cheering and applause from the Sleepy Hollow crowd. "As you've no doubt figured, Mirajane is a spy, a double-agent for Fairy Tail. She conspired with Wendy Marvell to lead the Alliance of Evil astray and sabotage our master plan. She even tried to get rid of me by stranding me in the belly of that doggone whale!" As they gave off a loud boo, Kaze stepped forward and pointed a finger at Happy. "This little blue runt of the litter, who's also a Fairy Tail wizard, by the way, was complicit in her treason. As are the lucky few who joined Wendy's party. Did I mention he's best buddies with a certain pyro I've acquainted myself with?" She held her finger in the air, "Luckily, I stomped that rebellion before it even started! Mira thought she could get away with her treachery, but she just wasn't smart enough to keep her mouth shut or her shoes tied. If she hadn't been too discreet, I wouldn't have figured it all out." She looked over to Mirajane, "Eighth law of the Sleepy Hollow official rulebook: never try to double-cross your guild master. And as Mira once told me, she found out..." She finished with a big snap of her fingers, "...the hard way!" The Sleepy Hollow guildmates burst into cheers again, with chants of their master's name mingling with the stirring ovation, much to her satisfaction.

Amid the celebration, Wrecker, Diva, and Zeppelin stood before the unconscious and severely wounded Mirajane, the three exuding a strong sense of pride from her downfall. Diva boasted, "Ha! Not so high and mighty than she looks, is she?"

Wrecker smirked, "Well, I respect her for her tenacity. A fighter to the end. But a shabby Take-Over and nothing less. If her magic can't hold a candle to Master Viriniam's, then it certainly won't hold a candle to mine!" He thrust a palm into his spiked ball, producing a spark of ethereal energy around himself. "We've let this traitorous scum live long enough. Let's finish her."

Zeppelin cackled, "Gladly!" He converted his left arm into a Machine-Make: Zantetsu Sword from a stream of data. "Which part of her body should I chop off first? Her arms? Her legs? Her face right off her head? Or just all of them? Oh, I can't wait to see her being reduced to this armless, legless, faceless little baby rolling down the street, like a rotten egg! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

"NO, NO, NO, NO! I'm NOT taking part in this inhumane, disgusting blood fest! Haven't I seen enough gore for one day?!" Diva exclaimed as she stepped back, unsettled by Zeppelin's proposed methods of torture.

"Okay, then. One by one it is!" Zeppelin laughed maniacally as he raised his Zantetsu Sword, ready to slice off Mirajane's left arm first. Diva let out a high-pitched scream and closed her eyes shut, unable to bring herself to watch.

"No!" Kaze grabbed the blade before it made its descent. The Machine-Make wizard turned to meet the serious glare on her face. "Let her go, Zeppy. She's bled enough blood."

"Hey, what's your deal? I was about to deliver her the punishment she so rightfully deserves! So why not make her bleed some more? It's more fun that way!" Zeppelin protested.

"Because I've already given her the punishment of a lifetime," Kaze explained. "What I did was more than enough. We can't kill her off now— not with the state she's in. If she dies, we lose half the leverage. I want her kept alive." She motioned to Happy, "Same goes for Natsu's cat."

"Phew! Thank you!" Diva opened her eyes and sighed in deep relief. "You're a lifesaver, Boss!"

"Awww..." Zeppelin pouted, the Zantetsu Sword changing back into his left arm. "I don't get to play with her a teeny tiny little bit? Come ooooooon..."

"The 'leverage'? What are you implying, Master?" Wrecker raised an eyebrow.

"What do you suggest we should do with Strauss?" Silver added.

"Good news, everybody! She and her kitty friend have been invited to the biggest surprise party EVER!" Kaze announced cheerfully. "A party made exclusive for the original Wendy and not the potential Princess of Heart candidate tied up with the other kids..." She pointed a thumb at the Darling children and the Lost Boys, "The sooner we get the players and the pieces ready, taking care of a certain Keyblade wielder who's been butting in our business for so long will be easy as a slice of cake." She laughed excitedly, her hands shaking before she clenched them into fists. "This time, she'll be ALL mine!"

"Let me get this straight. Not only are you planning to use the dark guild fleet against Marvell before she sets foot on Neverland, but you'll use Strauss and the little runt as bait to lure her into your trap?" Wrecker asked, to which Kaze answered with a smirk. The Ashura Soul wizard shook his head in disappointment, "Oh, that is a risky, reckless move." He then cackled evilly, "All the better!"

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! Could today possibly get any exhilarating?" Zeppelin giggled.

"Sounds like an ingenious plan! I like the way you think, Kaze!" Diva smiled.

"As your most trusted advisor, I am very inclined to follow you on this," Crane agreed.

"The traitor and her accomplice shall suffer for their crimes against the Alliance. And if we are to make Wendy Marvell experience the same fate, we shall gladly use any means!" Silver boasted. "She has interfered with us for far too long. Justice shall be served swiftly. For everything she has done…" He crossed his arms as a violent gust flowed around his Wind Falcon Armor. "…she must pay the ultimate price!"

"Yeah, like he said! We're with you all the way, Master Viriniam!" a Sleepy Hollow minion voiced his approval, and everyone else cheered in support of Kaze's plan.

"Alright! That's the spirit, gang!" Kaze beamed. "Who are you to refuse anything I've got planned? I expect no less from a more loyal guild; you'd be a bunch of dorks if you said no!"

"Why would we? We don't say 'no' as an answer," Wrecker smirked.

"You're only a dork if you throw in the towel, right?" Diva quipped.

"Our lives belong to you, Master. That will never change," Silver stated.

"I wouldn't miss this upcoming party for the whole universe!" Zeppelin grinned.

"We'll make preparations at once," Crane affirmed.

"Excellent," Kaze confirmed. "Our first order of business—"

"AAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!" Another frustrated scream from Hook interrupted her, and she noticed him grasping the sides of his head. "ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?! WHERE ARE WE, IN CRAZY LAND?! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE!" He raced towards the Sleepy Hollow guild master, leaving a fiery trail much like an overspeeding vehicle. He glared deeply into her eyes, poking her chest with his silver hook every time he spoke a word, "YOU! ARE GOING! TO EXPLAIN! TO ME! WHAT'S—"

"Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Chill out, dude!" Kaze grabbed Hook by the collar, effectively stopping his rant. The pirates gave audible gasps at this action; some looked ready to intervene on their captain's behalf, only for the Sleepy Hollow guards to stop them. "I said I was gonna explain after I dealt with Mira! You don't think I forget? Geez, Jimmy, didn't your parents teach you how to be patient?" She released Hook, "Instead of wasting your time here going all whinny like a mad ape, you oughta be prepping your seat for what I'm about to tell you."

"What are you yammering about, woman?" Hook asked impatiently, dusting his coat. "You dare to insult Captain Hook in his own turf with your immoral penchant for causing trouble? And I don't appreciate you calling me by that salty nickname. I'm in charge here! I'm in control, I am the captain, and you will address me as such!"

"Yeah!" the pirates shouted in agreement.

"Well, sooooooorry if what I did here was disrespectful," Kaze rolled her eyes with a smile. "You know I couldn't resist calling people by their pet names, especially the shorter ones. Putting jokes aside, you better hold onto your hook, James. You're in for the story of a lifetime. I'll tell you everything— why I invited myself into your ship, why I had to confront Mirajane, and how it all came down to us fighting." She turned to her Sleepy Hollow underlings, then motioned to the unconscious forms of Mirajane and Happy. "String those two up. And stop as much of the bleeding as you can, if you don't mind? She's staining the floor with her blood." They picked up the two Fairy Tail members and dragged them off. Kaze faced Hook again and asked, "Oh, and uh… Is there a way we can contact Maleficent in this ship?" She put an arm around the flustered pirate captain as she ended on a mischievous note, "Mira's due for a court martial."

---

THIRTY MINUTES LATER…

In the captain's cabin, a single communication lacrima identical to Mirajane's was placed on the table, and it projected a magical hologram of Maleficent, who listened intently to every detail of Kaze's past and present findings. Lined up in front of the sorceress was the Dark Vixen herself, together with Crane, the Headless Horsemen, and three Sleepy Hollow guards watching over an enchained Mirajane and Happy. Standing uncomfortably to the side were Captain Hook and his first mate Mr. Smee; the former simply couldn't believe that he was being dragged into Kaze's outrageous enterprise. Normally, after the bomb lacrima meant for Peter Pan detonated, he and his pirates would have resumed their celebration of the crew's most recent recruits, as well as the capture of a possible candidate for the ninth Princess of Heart. But seeing as how Kaze and Mirajane's fight cut the party short, they were forced to postpone their activities and keep quiet until further notice. For that reason, the Darling children and the Lost Boys were thrown into the ship's brig by the time Kaze and the others entered the cabin.

At that time, the Sleepy Hollow master was close to finishing her report. "...and the last candle on the cake was a boot to the face that made her count sheep." She crossed her hips, "Look, I wouldn't bother you if this matter wasn't of great importance, but I felt you should know that I did what I had to do to stop the Alliance from imploding on itself. I had to do something, since no one couldn't do anything about it while I was sleeping. And the fanatics who followed you…" She made an air quote at the word, "…had the nerve to prevent me from doing the right thing. It was all up to me. I had to do it. You should know that Mirajane Strauss, the S-Class Fairy Tail wizard whom we picked to be the general of our dark guild armies, wasn't who we thought she was. She's been deceiving us from the very beginning, working in secret with Wendy to try and destroy our plans." Maleficent's eyes narrowed as she heeded Kaze's words, and the girl was starting to get upset in anticipation for an incoming accusation from the horned witch. "What? Is that so hard to do what needed to be done for everyone? So wrong to do what's right? I only did what's in the best interests of this council! And not once were you ever grateful! What do I have to do to get just a tiny shred of appreciation from a pompous hag like you?!" She pulled a Soul Eater and traveled around the room, demanding an answer from Maleficent. She gestured with the blade as she spoke, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't get back to the chapel and tear you limb from limb right now! Maybe then you'll show me some respect! Maybe then you'll stop treating me like a kid! Look at me! Do I look like a kid?! I'm grown up! I've got my own life! I'm a master of my own guild! I'm one of the reasons this Alliance has grown into what it is today, so I deserve recognition like everyone else! You're nothing without me! This Alliance was NOTHING before you had me!" And before long, a wave of darkness surged through her body, almost on the verge of going out of control. "Isn't it about time that you let me handle it all on my own?! Isn't it about time that you stop judging me?! Isn't it about time that you stop HOLDING ME BACK?! Well, you can expect no respect from me, if this is to be my thanks!"

Hook was appalled by Kaze's outburst. "Swoggle me eyes, I never knew Viriniam felt so strongly about this!"

Smee wondered, "My, where has the poor young lady been?"

Hearing no response from Maleficent, the dark aura around Kaze dimmed, her anger somewhat transitioning to calmness. "Okay, I get it. You're probably mad at me for shouting at your pale, green face, huh? And this wasn't the first time. You think you're gonna come out here and fry me to bits with your 'mighty magic' right now? Just because I snapped at you? Is that what you think? Well, I know for a fact that's not gonna happen. I'll give you two reasons why. Hear me out, Maleficent, alright? Just hear me out. Days ago was a case of myself being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would've done the same thing and you know it. You had to make a statement. And number two, the first time you and I were in a meeting together, I was a plain old guild master of an infamous mercenary guild. That was a long time ago, but remember what happened? My guild and your band of villains became partners. It was a joint collaboration between Sleepy Hollow and the leading council. Not only that, we contacted many dark guilds all over Fiore. The Alliance of Evil had never seen bigger. We dominated. We dominated many worlds. Heck, we dominated virtually the whole universe. And I tell you what. Nothing has ever excited us more. Nothing has ever excited… me more. Fairy Tail and the Heartless, they can beat the pulp out of each other, then we just swoop in and pick the bones. I guess that makes you and I a two-woman power trip. I mean, who can stop the two of us when we act as a duo? Who's gonna stop us?"

Maleficent still didn't say a word, only retaining her calm, cold expression, much to Kaze's ire. "What's your deal? All my hard work, all that I've accomplished— everything I've done— it all don't mean nothing to you? Not even a little bit? Are you not feeling that? Are you too supreme a leader now to share the spotlight? Well, I'll tell you what. When I woke up, I didn't go against the unfair rules you've pushed on me just to take down a traitor. I did it because I wanted to make a point. And guess what? I'm glad I did. I'm glad I did, because I just don't get it. I don't get it!" She started to grow more and more infuriated, "I did everything you could've wanted, everything for this Alliance, everything I could to keep those rowdy chumps in line! I did those things because you asked me to! You were depending on me! You were always depending on me! An organization made up of eleventy hundred dark guilds with short attention spans, a seemingly limitless number of heart-eating pet parasites, and a council of freaks with inflated egos— where would you all be without me, huh?! I was in your corner right from the get-go! I've been a part of this group for as long as the others have! And yet... you didn't fully accept me! You disregarded me! You looked down on me! You never even LISTENED to me! That's to be expected from a sorceress who keeps things to no one but herself, and these people get behind you. Support you. Traded their other loyalties just to follow you! Even some of my own subordinates turned on me in favor of you! Oh, yeah! You turn on people you devote yourself to, and the whole universe loves you! Oh, yeah, yeah! Yeah! Yeah! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!" She whipped around the room in a deranged frenzy, and her voice grew loud and emotional. "THEY FOLLOW YOU! THEY FOLLOW YOU, AND I DON'T GET IT! I! DON'T! GET IT!"

Kaze seized a bottle of rum from a shelf beside her and flung it across the room, shattering it against the wall. Hook, Smee, and Diva recoiled at the action, while Zeppelin only snickered in amusement. "IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR!" She snatched up a telescope and threw it on the same wall, breaking it in half. "THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T GIVE ME ANY AMOUNT OF RESPECT, NO MATTER WHAT I DO, ISN'T FAIR! ALL THAT WORK GONE UP IN SMOKE?! THAT'S NOT FAIR! THE FACT THAT I WAS GROUNDED BECAUSE I BROKE YOUR STUPID RULES?! THAT'S NOT FAIR! NONE OF THIS IS FAIR! NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR! NOT FAAAAAIIIRRRR!" With every scream and every insult at Maleficent's expense, she grabbed just about any item she could find and trashed them all over the cabin. Everyone else present was greatly disturbed by her temper tantrum, with the exception of the Machine-Make wizard. "I'M SICK AND TIRED OF IT! ALL OF IT! ALL OF IT!" Kaze swung her arm for emphasis, screaming so high that she felt her throat might tear, and for a second, she wanted to rush at Maleficent and break her, too; shatter that calm face, shake her, hurt her, make her feel some tiny part of the horrid contempt inside Kaze. But then she realized that screaming and smashing things was no more help. Instead, she took deep and raspy breaths to calm herself down. She walked slowly across the room littered with broken equipment and stopped in front of the hologram, speaking in a tone laced with exhausted anger. "So, Maleficent, I'm gonna tell you something. You're gonna listen to me. Yeah, you're gonna listen to me for once in your damn life. Because if you think that putting me on probation all because of one misfire was anything, oh, that was just the tip of the iceberg. It only succeeded in pissing me off. So help me, if you do that to me again, it's the last mistake you'll ever make. I don't care if you're in charge; I'll crush you just like I did Mira. Again and again if I have to, until you're just a wet, black rag hung out to dry." Still no response. "Are you listening? Is this registering in your head? You wanna say something?" There was silence for a couple of seconds. Kaze furiously stomped her right foot, and her dark magic rocketed past the ceiling, the ground almost cracking beneath her feet. Her eyes glowed red with pure rage, as she seemed almost ready to vent her frustrations again on Maleficent for her alleged negligence. She roared, "SAY SOMETHING!" The Sleepy Hollow ensemble (minus Zeppelin) and the pirates grew more troubled than ever, especially at the tremendous burst of power.

No one moved a muscle for the longest while, until the hologram of Maleficent hovered towards Kaze. She looked towards the captured Mirajane, then to her cranky disciple… and after a pause, she spoke. "In pursuit of a loftier, more important goal… no cost is too great." Her lips crept into a wide smile, "Well done, Kaze." The dark pink-haired girl stopped expelling her magic and stared back in surprise. "You have dealt with a more… dire inconvenience before it grew further. And I knew you would rise up to meet it. Now that the fool who masqueraded as a subservient knight has fallen, we shall press onward with no one else to interrupt us."

Kaze couldn't contain her astonishment. For the first time since the aftermath of the Agrabah affair, she received praise and acknowledgement from Maleficent. Not only that, the villainess seemed to be fully aware that Mirajane tried to enact a rebellion within the Alliance, which added to Kaze's shock. "You… You knew…? You knew I'd be going after her... No… You knew all along… that she was the traitor?!" Her awe quickly turned to fury, "Without even telling us?! Without telling ME?!"

Maleficent questioned, "What would you have done if I did tell you, Kaze? Surely, you would attempt to convince Mirajane to reconsider her rebellious actions, if you were still led to believe that she was our ally. But we both know that's not truly the case, isn't it? No, her deception did not fool me, just as it hadn't fooled you." She cast a glance at Mirajane, "Mirajane Strauss was an all-too predictable simpleton. I knew she had no intention of following my commands. The day after I used my magic to meld her mind, I began to sense something. I noticed that my hypnotic spell had no effect on the girl; her magic somehow made her immune. Armed with that knowledge, I kept a very watchful eye on her from the moment she joined our council. I was anticipating her betrayal from the very beginning. And I had my suspicions confirmed when she left you behind amid your last attempt to capture Wendy."

Kaze crossed her arms expectantly. "And? What does that have to do with me?"

Maleficent continued, "I oversaw your progress following your retrieval from the Ocean Between. While treating your wounds, I had to order your confinement in the castle, simply out of worry that you might be endangered again. But because the memory of Mirajane's treachery never slipped your mind, you weren't content in staying any longer. Eventually, you made your escape. But do not fear. I only allowed you to escape, because I had hoped someone would stop Mirajane before she could act. After all, the road to victory is paved with good intentions… and high expectations. If only I had not allowed you to convince the council of her worth…" Her dark smile festered, "But now, all I see is a more diligent and faithful servant."

Kaze was even more amazed by Maleficent's compliment, the words echoing continuously in her head. It all felt so familiar, like a recognition she so desperately craved during the days of her youth, a great sense of pride and glory long faded from memory. Never in her present life had she recalled something she wanted so much until she received it. It was nostalgic, ecstatic, and painful all at once to accept the notion; she thought she could never gain Maleficent's favor in light of her unethical actions as of late. How wrong she was. She swallowed the emotions that stagnated in her throat, though they struggled to reach the bottom. She couldn't even bring herself to stop her shoulders from fidgeting slightly. Forcing herself to remain calm, Kaze let out a shaky sigh and said, "I guess we're in the same boat, then. We both knew there was a traitor in our midst."

Maleficent grinned, "Exactly, my dear. Did you think you could walk out unimpeded on your way to Mirajane… without my complicity?"

Kaze gasped, having realized what the sorceress meant. "You allowed me to go... You wanted me to stop her! But why'd you let me?"

Maleficent replied, "You could say it was all part of a certain 'test' I've put you through. To see if you could possibly fare better than her. If I had appointed you to lead our armies instead of her, you would not have had to take part in this uncouth display. And you needn't have worried about the other reason I let you go— it was to release your emotions, to make you amenable to logic, to grant you the freedom of developing your own self-control."

Kaze glared down, unable to meet Maleficent's eyes. "And make me feel like crap."

Maleficent advised, "Self-loathing has always been an unfortunate part of your makeup. Strength and will alone can carry you far, but the most exceptional are those who acknowledge their own limits. When I first recognized your potential and your capacity for power, I let myself believe that you were the mightiest among the warriors in my service. But then, you have not been able to defeat Wendy… I almost lost my faith in you. Then I had the idea that you should learn the most important lesson of all— that you cannot act without thinking clearly. So I allowed you to run free… And since you saved the council from an impending betrayal, you've learned that lesson. I now know the truth…" She added with a proud grin, "You are a worthy apprentice and a true knight. One that I couldn't be more proud of."

Kaze looked back up with a single tear falling down her face. Those words exuded warmth and comfort, filling her with a new hope of sorts. Before she could reply, an indignant Hook stepped in front of the table.

"What sort of tomfoolery is this, Maleficent?!" Hook snapped at her. "You informed me that you put a leash on that unruly girl to keep her from leaving Hollow Bastion after you rescued her from that giant whale, then all of a sudden, you approve of her reckless and blasphemous actions?! Can't you see what she's done?!" He thrust out his silver hook to gesture at Kaze, "She rudely interrupted what should have been my greatest moment, then she and Strauss got into a fight that devastated the entire island! All this chaos, all the madness, and you call that honorable?!"

"Ah, Captain Hook. You are just in time for the accommodations," Maleficent greeted, not bothered at all by the pirate's anger directed towards her. "I heard from dear Kaze that you found a young maiden in your world, under the suggestion that she may be the last Princess of Heart. Although I admit that granting you our entire dark guild collection for your protection was a bit too much, it seems that you may have found the missing piece required to complete the seal to the final door. I suppose I was right to let you take charge after all."

"Why, yes, you have my gratitude for your hospitality and your generous assistance. It is an honor and a privilege to be of service, Madam," Hook smirked as he tipped off his hat in a bow, before his scowl returned. "But that's not the point! Viriniam is—"

"No," Maleficent interrupted. "Whatever happens today, I take full responsibility. I merely encouraged Kaze and nothing less. She took action in spite of the carnage she created, toiling in her isolation until she redeemed herself. The fault is entirely mine, and mine alone." She faced Kaze, "You have my sincerest apologies for not listening to you sooner. You have fought your whole life unwaveringly for what you crave, and here I am, holding you back…" She held a hand to her chest, "…instead of lifting you up. You deserve so much more than I have given you. From now on, all you need is ask…" She held her hand out, "…and I shall provide you anything you need. Anything your heart desires."

"Anything…?" Kaze asked hopefully.

"Anything," Maleficent grinned wickedly.

"ANYTHING?!" Hook exclaimed shockingly, slamming his hook onto the table. "You are to give your whole support for this rebellious… scurvy… insufferable…" He was so mad that he couldn't find the words to back up his protest. "I swear, that girl is going to be—"

However, both the captain and his first mate, along with Crane and the Horsemen, looked towards the Dark Vixen, whose snickering spiraled into a fit of howling laughter. "Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! THAT'S more like it!" Kaze faced Maleficent with a wide beam. "I'm glad that we finally come to an understanding. And I don't see no reason not to take you up on that offer. Alright, lady… You got a deal!" She swiped her hand into Maleficent's, but it only passed through since it was just a projection. "Huh… If you were really there, we'd actually shake hands. Oh, and excuse the mess." She waved towards the pigsty that was the captain's cabin as an afterthought, and Hook looked like he was popping a vein at what he perceived as an insult. "Does this ship have a janitor around here?"

"Well, there's Mister—" Smee began.

"Maybe you haven't gotten this through your thick head, Viriniam, but this is me cabin!" Hook sneered at Kaze as he repeatedly poked her shoulder with his silver hook. "And no. One. Makes. A. Mishmash. Of. Me. CABIN! I am the captain here, and a captain demands high standards!"

Chuckling, Kaze grabbed him by the wrist and lowered his hook from her shoulder. "Jimmy, you sly seadog. You're so cute when you're riled up." She playfully twisted his left thin mustache into a knot, "Maleficent already forgave me, and I just saved the Alliance, so why give negative comments than a thank you?"

Hook wiped his face, changing the mustache back to its original shape. He whined, "Because I was in the middle of a grand celebration here in Neverland! And you wrecked it! This was supposed to be my hour of glory! My time in the sunshine! I captured a Princess of Heart, finally got rid of me greatest nemesis, and recruited some fresh new blood in the form of Pan's underlings, the Lost Boys! All our hard work done in a flash, and I would be eligible for a promotion! I would be the most popular in the council! I just wanted to have fun after doing my job!" He yelled in front of her face, "IS THAT SO HARD TO ASK?!" He stopped to catch his breath.

Kaze didn't flinch at the excessive noise blowing her face, and sighed. "If this was a private party for you and your pirate crew, I wouldn't bother to butt myself in. But you know I had no choice. Someone had to stop Mira and her rebellion."

Zeppelin snickered, "Golly, who knew the salty old pirate could be so whinny, just like you, Diva? I can see the personality resemblance clearly!"

Diva hissed, "Shut your mouth, motor machine. I'm nothing like that boorish man! And 'golly' is MY schtick, thank you!"

Silver scolded, "Quiet, you two! We do not speak unless Master Viriniam asks of us."

Wrecker groaned, "I'm starting to get bored. When is the time to take action? The Mad Demon hungers for a new challenge."

Crane guessed, "Until Master finishes discussing her new strategy with Maleficent, I wager."

Maleficent asked, "Now then, Kaze, is there anything you require from me? You now have my full attention. All you need is ask, and I shall grant your wish. I gave you my word."

Kaze changed the subject, "Before we get started, I wanna ask you something. Why did you give Mira a piece of your evil sorcery when you knew from the beginning she was gonna betray us? You should've thought about it earlier before you decided to add your magic to hers." She rubbed the back of her head, "She got a new Take-Over out of it, and became tough enough to surpass me at Dark Drive: Level 3. She would've killed me with her Heartless flunkies and energy-sapping wings and green fireworks, if you hadn't granted her that new power." She then frowned at the sorceress, "Were you trying to kill me off as well?"

Maleficent chuckled eerily, "Kill you off? Don't be ridiculous, Kaze. I would never do that to you. Though I admit it was foolish of me to imbue Mirajane with a portion of my magic to make her more powerful. But I knew you were up to that dangerous challenge. A trial by fire, if you will. I only needed you to stop her, you see."

Kaze shrugged with a sigh. "Whatever. At least I stopped her, right?"

Maleficent nodded, "Indeed. Now, tell me your wish."

Kaze bargained, "First off, you're gonna hand me Mirajane's vacant seat at the table. Second, transfer Hook's operational control of the dark guild fleet outside over to me. Third, I want Hook to share command of the Neverland operation with me. The two of us will be partners for the duration of our stay here, and for future missions in other worlds."

Hook screamed hysterically, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" He found it unbearably hard to accept that he was going to share his operation with someone he detested for her troublesome attitude.

On the other hand, Maleficent ignored his reaction and smirked at Kaze. "Really? And what do you hope to gain from me granting this bold request?"

Kaze smirked back, "The ultimate chance to stop Wendy and her friends from bugging our affairs once and for all. For far too long, they've busted many of our operations, Blueberry wielding the Keyblade and everything. And with the council reduced to a meager few, I guess it's only a matter of time before they bring the fight here, too." She then cackled, stretching her hands. "But before she even has a chance to make a landing, she's in for a BIG surprise…" She glanced at Mirajane and Happy, "…and these two— the She-Devil who pretended to work with us just to tear down the club from within, along with Natsu's kitty cat sidekick— are the bait!"

Zeppelin echoed, "The bait? Ooooooooh, how fascinating! Is this the part where we rip out their organs and stuff their innards with thumbtacks and high voltage? Just to set up a textbook example of good old fashioned cold-blooded torture— a wonderful show for their poor little Wendy to see? I'm only suggesting how we use those two as bait, in case you're wondering. Hee-hee-hee-hee…"

Diva protested, "I resent that suggestion! That aside, Boss, using Mirajane and the cat as bait to lure Wendy into an elaborate trap sounds as brilliant as the glimmer in Shiva's ice."

Wrecker implied, "Even if Marvell and her circus of clowns are on their way here, the supposed Princess of Heart that Hook discovered is quite safe from their clutches. What awaits them instead is the Ichabod, our guild's ultimate weapon, combined with an entire armada of dark guilds patrolling Neverland's vicinity." He thrust his spiked ball into his open palm, "The moment the fools fall into our hands, we'll demolish them to our hearts' content!"

Silver informed, "They might suspect that the Neverland blockade is a trap. Are you willing to take that chance, Master?"

Kaze replied, "Of course Blueberry will notice it's a trap. But she and I are close-knit. We've been best friends since Earth-land, you see. She'll be so anxious and eager to see me, she won't be able to resist the challenge. And neither would I! Whether the fleet or the Ichabod get to her first, I'll finally get my hands on her again. Another fun day of playtime for her and me!" Once again, her obsessive desire for Wendy took a seat next to her exhilaration. "You know you wanna play with me again, don't you… cuz…?" The faint air in the cabin stole her whispered words, although she couldn't tell how the last word came out of her mouth.

"Share my operation? With you? Are you mad, Viriniam?!" Hook interjected. "You'll only be getting more than half the credit for yourself! Is that why you asked this of her?" He pointed to Maleficent, "To meddle into my business just so I'd be forced to work with you, and then you'll rub it in doing most of the work and not me? You, of all people, leading the entire dark guild fleet, while I lead a single, measly crew of blithering blockheads?!" He crossed his arms in disgust, "Your childish antics and total lunacy repulse me to no end, just like always!"

Kaze approached him and leaned to his face with a sly smile, "Uh-huh, sure." She then turned serious, "But let's be rational here. We're gonna need all the help we can get if we're gonna stop Wendy. She's been a pain in the neck for a long time now. She's beaten more than half the council, and she'll probably come after you next. See where I'm going with this?"

Hook suddenly dropped his scowl and began rubbing his chin with his hook in contemplation. "Yes… As much as I'm loath to admit it."

Kaze held out a hand. "So what do you say, Jimmy? We team up and get our little Keyblade problem settled? Partners?"

Hook pondered, "Combine our forces… Defeat a brat with a key along with the Fairy Tail vermin and the King's lackeys…" He chuckled to himself, "Yes… We need to prepare for the worst. Very well... Just this once, I'll have to work with you." He grabbed Kaze's hand and shook it, a sinister grin spread across his face. "Partners!" He let out a yelp when she forcefully yanked his arm to inch his face closer to hers.

Kaze cooed, "Good boy! I knew you'd be happy to help. We're gonna make a great team. We'll do lots of great things together." She stroked his cheek in a teasing manner, then switched to pinching his big nose while making baby noises. "Yes, we will. Yes, we will, Jimmy…"

Hook pulled himself away with an annoyed grunt. "Hmph! You're insulting me honor!"

Kaze grinned, "Oh, please. I've already dealt with one major inconvenience, like the boss said. The last thing I need right now is to face another. I hope you don't end up an inconvenience as well. And I mean another villain for Wendy to squash."

Hook retorted, "Put your little brat brain at ease. I won't fall as easily as Jafar, Clayton, Ursula, and Oogie Boogie. I'll go assemble me crew and prepare them for the great battle."

Kaze nodded, "You do that." She looked back at Maleficent, "So, Maleficent… What do you think?"

Maleficent stroked her chin with intrigue. "Hmm… This is a very magnanimous proposal."

Kaze smiled and placed her hands behind her head. "Just doing my part for the winning team."

Maleficent stated, "I am weary of Wendy's ceaseless persistence as much as you, Kaze. She has irked us too often, for too long." A long pause, and she gave an approving nod. "As you wish. Our dark guild collection is now yours to command. Do with them as you see fit. And you are allied with Captain Hook henceforth." She looked over to Kaze and Hook, "The success of your joint mission in this world depends entirely on both your cooperation and your efforts. Once you have Wendy under control, depart from Neverland and await further instructions."

Kaze questioned, "What about Wendy Darling, Hook's pick for last Princess of Heart?"

Maleficent offered, "You may leave her to me. My Heartless will determine the purity of the girl's heart. I will send it to you momentarily. Whether or not her heart is filled with pure light, you will proceed as you were. Am I understood?"

Kaze grinned, "Crystal."

Maleficent announced, "The time has come. Wendy Marvell has played a hand in every one of our failures. Toppling the best laid plans. It ends tonight." She raised her staff and slammed it firmly on the ground, then scanned everyone in the room. "Prove your worth." She finished in an insidious, bone-chilling flare, "Bring her to me." Her hologram soon flickered, and it returned to its rightful spot inside the lacrima before shutting off, ending the communication.

Turning around to face Hook, Smee, Wrecker, Diva, Silver, Zeppelin, and Crane, Kaze put her hands around her hips. "It's official, gang! Maleficent gave us the go-ahead. We're back in the game, and we've got all the time we need to set up the biggest party of them all! We better get a move on and organize everything there is. We don't want the festivities to be a total bummer for our guest of honor."

Wrecker chortled, "Yes, Master, we definitely wouldn't!"

Diva smirked, "This will be a night to remember!"

Silver declared, "In the name of justice, we shall prevail!"

Zeppelin cackled, "I can't wait for this party!"

Crane nodded, "We're ready when you are."

Kaze asked Hook, "So, Jimmy, how do you like the super-ultra-mega important promotion she just gave me?"

Hook glared, "You can skip the pleasantries and stick to business here, Viriniam. So, what do we do first for this so-called plan of yours?"

Kaze replied, "Well, the first thing us masterminds always do is sort out the goods." She turned to the group of Sleepy Hollow enforcers presiding over Mirajane and Happy. "Keep an eye on them for me. I want our two stars to be in good shape for the overture. But not much, alright? Just put them in a position where they won't be a threat to us."

The lead Sleepy Hollow wizard complied, "Yes, Master! We won't let those two hostages out of our sight." The guards grabbed the She-Devil and the Exceed by the chains and carried them off somewhere in the cabin.

Kaze turned to Crane and instructed, "Set up a communication line with every available dark guild in the fleet."

Crane guessed, "You intend to inform them of this recent development, yes?"

Kaze confirmed, "That's the idea. I know it may do or die, but the important thing is for us to stay optimistic… We need everyone's help if we're gonna succeed. It's the biggest team effort yet. Now, then…" With an excited grin, she pumped a fist into the air. "Let's get to work!"

"Yes, Master!" Wrecker, Diva, Silver, Zeppelin, and Crane shouted in unison.

"Aye-aye, ma'am!" Smee saluted the young guild master.

"Smee! You're supposed to be answering to me, not her!" Hook snapped at his absentminded first mate.

---

Outer Space

The Sleepy Hollow warship known as the Ichabod broadcasted a message that reached its way into the communication systems of every dark guild gummi vessel revolving around Neverland's outer perimeter. The message they received would serve as both an important update regarding current affairs in the Alliance of Evil, and a call to arms from Sleepy Hollow's guild master, who was believed by many to be put out of commission. From the stars above Captain Hook's home world to the far reaches of the universe, the call escaped no one.

"Attention, all dark guilds in the Alliance of Evil! This is Kaze Viriniam, master of the Sleepy Hollow mercenary guild speaking. There's been a sudden change in management, and I expect each and every one of you to adhere accordingly. You might wanna sit down and perk up your ears, everybody, 'cause I've got some blockbusting news. Our dark guild general, Mirajane Strauss, turned out to be a traitor and a spy working to sabotage the Alliance of Evil. Oh, yeah, she's a great pretender, alright. Pretending that she followed us willingly! Mirajane tricked us into thinking that she was loyal and pure, never suspecting that all along, she was using her position as a cover to disclose top secret information to Wendy Marvell and her band of Fairy Tail renegades! She even tried to send me to my death during the whale incident! I was the first and last person to see through the cracks before my little 'accident' in outer space, so after a long period of recuperation back home, I got out of bed and followed her all the way here to Neverland. It took me some time, but I managed to hit the brakes on Mirajane's masquerade, then I reported her crimes to Maleficent. The boss was very pleased with the results, and went one step further by promoting yours truly, the hero of the hour, to the rank of dark guild mediator— the same position she erroneously granted the She-Devil. So from this moment onward, I'm in charge of all dark guild operations in the Alliance of Evil, and in control of this massive gummi fleet positioned outside Neverland. Now, my first decree as new head of the table is as follows: Wendy and the gang will be on their way soon. You all better get in gear for the wildest party this wide collection of guilds has ever partied! While I'm normally a girl who respects people's personal wants and needs, the Alliance's countless blunders forced my hand. I'm beefing up our armada by instituting a mandatory draft of all dark guilds to serve under Sleepy Hollow's direct command. Our combined strength will crush any foe, and most importantly, stamp out the Keyblade menace for good! So join me! Act as one under my leadership! It's time we work together to end this bothersome resistance! The Alliance of Evil can never know true victory until Wendy and her friends are stopped… Let's fight together until they all fall down hard like a ton of bricks! Fight for me! Fight! In the name of evil alliance-ness!"

And with that, all the dark guilds cheered and hollered in acceptance of Kaze's speech, followed by a throng of resounding chants of her name across the vastness of space. The coronation was a success, as was the first phase of the plan.

---

Back at the Jolly Roger…

Less than an hour after Kaze made her announcement, the Sleepy Hollow guild, along with the whole dark guild assembly and the Jolly Roger crew, were already working around the clock to make preparations for the Dark Vixen's seemingly unthinkable agenda, and the conflict to come. The Headless Horsemen had already returned to the Ichabod for other business matters, leaving Kaze on the deck with Crane and a minor security force.

"The fleet is currently maintaining its position above Neverland's surface," Crane reported. "As per your order, all gummi ships have converged with the Ichabod and are ready to mobilize if need be. They'll expect Wendy Marvell's gummi ship to be within range, but just like you promised, the might of a small craft is nothing compared to the immense strength of our vastly superior naval force."

"Sweet!" Kaze smiled. "The stadium is already jam-packed! Now all we need is the thrower for this season's opening pitch. What's the status of her trailblazing cosmic quest, by the way?"

"We recently picked up a signal from the 953-7-09 Highwind model she is using," Crane answered. "It appears to have left Olympus Coliseum and is now headed for Traverse Town."

"And that's where we send in the invitation," Kaze confirmed.

"Master, are you sure she is willing to come to you?" Crane questioned. "You know very well that she is a constant danger to both Sleepy Hollow and the Alliance of Evil. We can't simply persuade her to fly all the way to Neverland just to meet you."

"Uh-huh. That's likely more than what it'll take," Kaze nodded. "But like I said, she won't be able to resist. She wants to meet me again, just as I want to meet her again. Very badly. Just felt like the two of us were meant to be. It's gonna be a heartwarming reunion dipped in sparkles worth several days in the making." She chuckled to herself, "I love this! Nothing beats #1 in my top five list of hobbies I'm incredibly hyped in doing the most. It makes my blood stir like a milkshake! Oh, and don't be so worried that we can't convince her to come to the party; she'll be more than happy to." She motioned to Crane, "Which is why I'm sending you to deliver the message for me. Tell Wendy #1 that I'll be waiting for her." She pointed a finger downward, "Right here."

"Consider it done," Crane complied. "I'll lead an all-out dark guild invasion force for an assault on Traverse Town, and try to bring Wendy over to Neverland. I'll exercise deadly force if I must. An army of just about more than half a dozen guilds will do nicely."

"Don't make a habit out of it, okay?" Kaze advised. "I don't care if Blueberry comes here on her own, or if you drag her all the way. Just deliver my message while I relax in the Jolly Roger. She'll come to me eventually." She sported a deadly smirk, "And then it's playtime."

"As you wish, Master," Crane likewise shared her expression. "Wendy will come. I will see to it." With that said, a portal of ruby magic emanated beneath his feet. "I won't be long." He briefly floated above the portal before zooming through in a flash of electricity, and he was already gone.

"Alright, you scurvy lass…" Accompanied by Smee, Hook strode into the deck and grunted at Kaze. "When were you planning on telling me about your insane plan to get all of the Alliance's dark guilds under your control?"

"I was about to explain at a more appropriate time, but why delay the inevitable?" Kaze shrugged, as she pulled out a Soul Eater and randomly shifted it from a Blade to a Revolver, just to entertain herself. "You think I'm doing this for fun, but that's only partly true. The real reason I decided to take Mira's spot as elite commander was to fix what might've been a horrible mistake. Maleficent was gravely concerned about Mira's unwillingness to contribute. Now she doesn't have to be."

Hook stared at Kaze. He didn't appreciate the girl's unpredictability, or her witty personality. "This better be worth the hassle. I don't need any more trouble from you." He turned on his heel to walk towards his personal outdoor spot at the ship's helm, with Smee following behind.

Kaze casually rested her back on the mast, putting away the Soul Eater as she crossed her arms with her left hand caressing her chin. "Ha-ha-ha-ha… Trust me, James… It WILL be."

---

AT PRESENT TIME…

Neverland's sky was tinged dark blue, a stream of stars congregating for an early meeting as they twinkled. Kaze watched them contently from the window of Hook's cabin, laying on her back on the couch with her hands behind her head and a leg crossed over her ankle. For the longest time since Mirajane and Happy were tossed into the brig with the other hostages and Crane went outside to oversee the final groundwork for her well-laid plan, she gazed into the night sky, praying that her favorite playmate would soon emerge from the distant space and help kickstart another ghastly game between the two destined rivals. Although her lust for Wendy silently beckoned her to just fly up there and confront her directly, Kaze's most preferred approach at this point was buying herself a few hours of patience. She knew that Wendy would anticipate a hostile reception the moment she drew near Neverland's surface, but fortunately, she already came prepared with that possibility. With Mirajane, Happy, and even Natsu and the children at her disposal, Kaze could easily pressure her adversary into giving in to her demands, which made the strategy all the more ingenious. That single motivation added more fire to the impulse constantly throbbing in her chest— a golden opportunity to redeem her past defeats at the hands of the girl she shared an uncanny bond with. For now, all she could do was wait. It was only a matter of time. The fun she desperately craved could come to her at any minute.

Kaze sat up and stretched her arms wide with a loud moan, wiping away the last traces of stiffness coursing through her bones. "I could really go for a hamburger…" she thought out loud, when she heard a loud door slam to her right.

"Master Viriniam!" A Sleepy Hollow wizard came rushing in with a screen tablet in hand. "We've detected an incoming vessel on radar!" He showed her the readings, "Estimated to be thirty kilometers away from the fleet. It appears to be heading straight for Neverland!"

"Did you get a visual?" Kaze asked hopefully.

"We have," the wizard replied, allowing Kaze to trace her fingers wide on the screen to enlarge the blurred image of a lone spacecraft painted red, orange, and yellow. "Our spy cameras confirmed it as the same 953-7-09 Gummi Fighter class Highwind that Wendy Marvell and the Disney Kingdom royal officlas have been piloting. The Ichabod sent us the image not long before."

"Finally!" Kaze exclaimed happily, taking comfort in knowing that her patience was rewarded. "She's here!" She made her way to the door, taking the tablet with her. "Contact the Ichabod and the rest of the fleet! Get everyone ready! I gotta go tell Jimmy and Crane the good news!"

Deck

"I get that you're no expert in tech stuff, Hook, but I figure this will make you squeal for joy. Check it!" Kaze presented Hook the given analysis and status on the heroes' Gummi Ship, with Crane and Smee joining in. "Wendy ahoy! She's on her way to Neverland now, just as we intended!"

Hook questioned, "She's coming? Where away?"

Kaze answered, "Forty clicks off the blockade high in the sky, if statistics don't lie."

As Hook paid close attention to the screen, most notably Wendy's profile next to the visual, his eyes widened. "Swoggle me eyes, it is Marvell! Heading this way in her silly building block spaceship!" He turned to face Kaze, "That's actually impressive coming from you, Viriniam. A clever deduction, if your intelligence isn't as dull as your frame of mind."

Kaze grinned, "Aww, that's so sweet. You really do care. I knew teaming up with you was a great idea." She flicked the side of his nose, which earned her an irritated growl from the captain and an innocent chuckle from Smee. "What are we standing around here for, then?" She handed the tablet to Crane, "We've got a party to host, and the candles on the cake are burning hot! It's time to shake…" She snapped her fingers with her left hand, "…rattle…" She snapped again with her right, "…and rumble!" Taking out her Soul Eater Revolvers, she shot a volley of Meteor Bullets into the sky as they exploded like fireworks.

While the pirates looked in wonder at the Sleepy Hollow master's jubilant display, Hook simply rolled his eyes. "Whatever. As long as we deal with Marvell and her band of scurvy brats once and for all, me other hand is clean!" He turned to Smee, "Mr. Smee! Pipe up the crew!"

Smee gave Hook a salute and responded, "Aye-aye, sir! A-pipe up the crew! A-pipe up the crew!" He called out loudly, "All hands on deck! All hands on deck!" He pulled out a whistle around his neck and blew it hard for every available crewmate to hear, all the while stomping his foot on the floor. "All hands on deck! All hands on deck!" The pirates immediately sprung from every corner of the deck with their weapons and equipment, eager to take action in the name of their boisterous captain.

Hook barked, "Look alive, you swabs!" He lowered his voice to converse with Kaze and Smee, "We've got them this time. I've waited long for this moment!"

Kaze quipped, "You and me both, Captain Red Tux. This is gonna be fun."

Smee added, "That's not counting the holidays, either."

Kaze projected her voice to the Scuttle Edge and Sleepy Hollow personnel on deck, "Activate the Jolly Roger's exclusive OxyMagic Space Engine! We need full speed and firepower to overtake Wendy's ship!"

One Sleepy Hollow wizard responded, "Yes, ma'am!"

Another Sleepy Hollow minion affirmed, "Right away, Master!"

A Scuttle Edge crewmate saluted, "Proceeding to engine room!" And the wizards ventured deep below the ship's interior for said purpose.

Hook grabbed Kaze's shoulder with his namesake appendage and twisted her around to make her face him; he was practically upset that she was hogging the crew's attention. "Hey, I was about to tell them that! I'm the captain, I should be giving the orders around here!"

Kaze grinned, "Easy there, Thinbeard. I'm only helping out. We're partners, remember? Just let the sleeping seadogs lie and watch the bilge rats at work."

Hook ignored the youth's advice and kept shouting orders to his men. "Man your stations, you bilge rats!"

Kaze asked Crane, "Is everything prepared?"

Crane replied, "The fleet is assembled and ready to attack. Squadron 9-B is on standby with the hostages, and will bring them out when you give the word."

"Good work. And the 'souvenir' from Earth-land?"

"Its current Magic Energy capacity is at 87%. It will take a few minutes before completion, but the output is more than sufficient for critical damage."

"Well, you know what that say, the best people who have the best tools, wins."

The Sleepy Hollow and Scuttle Edge staff returned to the deck and stood at attention, the head wizard stepping forward to report. "The ship's specialized OxyMagic Space Engine is online, Master Viriniam. We're good to go!"

Kaze confirmed with an enthusiastic smile, "Okay… Time for the main event, party people! Who's ready to throw down?!" She raised an arm, and about one half of the ship's crew answered her call with shouts of approval, much to Hook's consternation. Regardless, the captain grabbed the wheel once the anchor got hoisted out of the water, and everyone braced themselves for a quick voyage beyond the oceans of Neverland. "Here comes the ball… 24… 19… 74…" As Kaze made her cheery declaration, the entire ship was sprinkled in a gigantic barrier of azure light, courtesy of the OxyMagic Space Engine that lay underneath the deck. "…and… HUT!" With that signal, the Jolly Roger lifted out of the water in a massive burst and sailed into the night sky where the dark guild fleet lurked above.

Kaze embraced the enormous intake of air from the extreme velocity rushing past her, as it served to calm the growing itch in her skin. As soon as the Jolly Roger soared past the clouds, all she could see were gummi battleships gracing Neverland's atmosphere like a school of fish, the biggest of all being the Sleepy Hollow guild's trademark floating fortress. The white puffs had long stopped enveloping the ship's outer frame, but the menacing darkness lingered in space, giving off the air of an inevitable confrontation. Kaze soon noticed that the path leading closer to her long-awaited rematch with Wendy was covered by folded curtains of shadows. It was dark, much like anything she had ever seen in her lifetime, but she would brave the darkness. Each mile crossed was heavy and slow, and her heart seemed to beat faster. But she didn't flinch.

The moment the Gummi Ship approached the blockade, shots were fired. The Jolly Roger and the Highwind drew together like magnets. This was just as Kaze predicted, and it put a satisfied smile on her face. Exactly as planned.

"Showtime."

---

Author's Note:
WHOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO! Finally, the Kaze vs. Mirajane side story is complete! And I think this breaks the record of the super longest chapter I've ever written in any fanfic, but all the brainstorming, all the hard work, all the passion and dedication— it just paid off! Once again, I thank you all for your patience and your understanding. With that out of the way, we can now focus on the Neverland arc, where you can expect more drama and more excitement as Wendy and company confront Captain Hook before the epic battle at Hollow Bastion, and the strange connection between Kaze and our main heroine draws closer than ever.

Now, on to the notes of this chapter— having remembered Mirajane's deception during the Monstro adventure, Kaze goes against Maleficent's stricter quarantine procedures to confront Fairy Tail's S-Class wizard. Her adjutant, Crane, wanted to come along, of course. She reunited with her four Headless Horsemen at the Ichabod, Sleepy Hollow's colossal battleship enhanced by gummi technology. Together, they begin discussing plans on how to deal with Mira and Wendy at the same time. The distrust between the Dark Vixen and the She-Devil eventually cultivates into an all-out, destructive, Dragon Ball-styled brawl throughout Neverland. And it was totally fun writing something as epic as hell!

Eventually, Kaze wins the fight when she subconsciously activated Dragon Force, and fueled by the infinite darkness, she beats Mira to a merciless, bloody pulp. She reports the defeated She-Devil to Maleficent, who knew all along that she was immune to her hypnosis, and that she was planning to betray the Alliance of Evil from the very beginning. But Maleficent was biding her own time until Kaze figures out the ruse on her own. Apparently, she passed the final test, and the Mistress of Evil vows to lend Kaze her full support, as we see just how much the latter has matured in both strength and intelligence. With Maleficent's blessing, Kaze assumes control of the dark guild fleet for a coordinated strategy, and becomes partners with Captain Hook for the remainder of the Neverland operation. In the hopes that they would defeat Wendy once and for all, Hook has no choice but to agree to Kaze's terms.

Second, Wendy's brothers John and Michael, along with all the Lost Boys, make their full appearance in this story. Though Slightly and Cubby make their appearance in Birth by Sleep, I just thought the whole gang would fit in nicely with my canon. They're just plain funny and adorable as far as I remember, y'know? And yes, the scene I wrote was a reenactment of the plan to blow up Peter Pan, but this time, Hook and his new henchmen from the dismantled Scuttle Edge guild sent a bomb lacrima with ten times the explosive power. But don't think that this is the end of Peter, no sirree! He'll be Wendy's partner during the Neverland arc, and how he survived the explosion (not to mention Kaze and Mirajane's turbulent showdown) will be explained later on.

Lastly, the new Take-Over form based on the magic she borrowed from Maleficent, Satan Soul: Dark Fey— I named and designed it after the big-winged fairy species from the live-action film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Thought it would be fitting, considering Dark Fey are literal angels of darkness, which goes with the She-Devil's Take-Overs. And it's no surprise that Angelina Jolie's character is one of them. With Satan Soul: Dark Fey, Mirajane is powerful enough to eclipse Kaze's powers at Dark Drive: Level 3 and slightly beyond. Too bad it didn't last against Kaze's Dragon Force, though…

Well, I guess that's it, then. Kaze and Captain Hook are about to make their move against Wendy and her friends before they even set foot on Neverland, and the fleet, along with Mirajane and Happy's capture, is just the beginning. How will our heroes withstand the onslaught to come? And will the conflict between Wendy and Kaze ever be resolved? Find out next time as Kingdom Fairy Tail finally commences the first chapter of the Neverland arc!

This is TheSavageMan100, signing off. Don't forget to fav, follow, and review this story and my other stories, and stay tuned for more updates. Hold on to your hats and hearts, boys and girls, 'cause you're in for another ride when the next chapter comes. Peace!