Wishfull-star: Happy late halloween! Worst one ever for me lol. Had no school to dress up for, wasn't able to get a costume, and ate way too much candy that it made me feel sick and guilty lol.

WinterRose61: Thank you, I'm glad you like it! To this day I have no idea what went wrong in chapter 7. How it ended up so choppy like it did. Yeah, I love pairing Marco and Ace. Best couple, even if there isn't much canon material. Tons of head canons of course, though, which is good enough for me!

We are at Tenrou Island now! I just got back from a tour and introduction to my major at the new college I'm transferring to! It's computer animation production and I'm so excited! Too bad so many of the classes I NEED are full. RIP dream semester. T-T

Marco was grinning down at his fully clothed boyfriend on his bed, a panting sweaty mess. His face was flushed. Both of them thought this idea was perfect. They both found Ace enjoyed being the submissive, which seemed the opposite of their contrasting personalities. Ace was more outgoing and Marco was more quiet and reserved.

"That was really fun. But only for you," Marco said. "But I'll give you a break tonight," he smirked. It was a miracle Ace wasn't asleep in the beginning from laying down on the bed. Ace was a mess, and Marco frowned. "Are you okay?" he asked, seeing how wrecked Ace was. "Did I do too much?"

Ace said he had to learn more control. "It felt too good to handle," Ace said honestly, wiping his sweaty face on his pillow case. "But it was fun, too." There was a banging on the door by a very angry Thatch, telling them to get some fucking sleep since they had to get up early the next day to start the trial.

The youngest opened the door and said, "But that's the point! What if one of us dies, and we never had any fun!?" Marco snorted, though his face was red in embarrassment. Thatch's eye twitched. He told them to go to bed or he wasn't waking them up the next morning. He was their alarm clock since he always woke up for breakfast.

Both younger males got into bed, sharing it. Thatch didn't seem to care or be surprised just now. Not that Ace had been keeping quiet. He hadn't meant to be loud, he was just in sensory overload everywhere that he couldn't help it. He did feel bad for upsetting him, but when Marco nuzzled his hair from behind, he was glad he had no problem with it. He loved his brother and deeply cared for Ace. There was no issue for him.

The next morning, on the ship was terrible for everybody but Ace and Juvia. Even Gray was suffering by the unbearable heat. Ace was made of fire and heat didn't bother him much, while Juvia was made of water. Technically, she could be evaporating, now, though. But the same was for Ace. He shouldn't be able to bathe since he was fire.

Gray was butt naked, which Ace could respect how little shit he gave about being embarrassed. Years of stripping was what lead to him being able to do this in front of all the women. Including Wendy, who was ushered away from him at all times. The S-Class wizards were already on the island having taken an earlier ship.

Ace hoped he could face Erza, since she used weapons the most and Ace was better suited for physical blows. Based on how the older members described Mira's satan soul, he didn't want to go up against her. He had no idea about Gildarts, not getting to know him too much between jobs and this.

It should be exciting, and Ace was going for the win, now. Everyone was talking before Ace noticed Freed doing something. He walked over and sat on the edge of the ship. "Marco, come sit with me," Ace called. Freed narrowed his eyes at him, with Marco sitting beside him. "I encountered your stupid spell a lot, like everyone else. You can cast it around us," Ace said politely.

Nobody else noticed. When the island came into view, both wizards didn't move. If they moved they'd lose to Freed. Ace told nobody else, they were all his opponents. "It's here!" Ace called. "It looks so weird." Ace could feel the magic energy coming from it. Oh, he would be great on this island.

It wasn't like Edolas, where the magic was in the air only. So he wouldn't suck it all up accidentally here. Not that he thought he could absorb all of it. Honestly, it felt like there was more magic on this island than in Edolas, which was incredible. He and Marco spun around to listen to the Master speak.

He explained the fist test. There were nine entrances to the interior of the island. Inside each entrance were either a fight with an S-Class wizard, a fellow guild member, or a single lucky free pass. Ace wanted to fight another team.

The battle would be the first test, so Ace wondered what the second would be. Would it be harder than the first? This was the burial place of the first Master, so they couldn't do damage to the island directly. That would be wrong and the Master would never arrange any plan or test that would come to harming the holy ground.

"Now begin! The test starts now!" Master called.

Ace grinned and he and Marco dropped into the water, Ace no longer terrified of it. Freed and Bickslow were the first to get to the island, with everyone else stuck at first until Levy and Evergreen rewrote themselves through the runes. Ace and Marco were very fit, so they easily made their way to the island, swimming quickly.

They soon stood at the entrances. He closed his eyes, and knew which tunnel had Sabo in it. Ace was very sensitive to his magic feeling, and knew which one he was in. He also knew which one Erza was in.

"Which one?"

"Shouldn't we take the easy one that will get us straight to the next stage?" Marco asked. Ace thought for a moment. He agreed with that, but could only choose any empty ones. So he could make it to the free pass one or one where he as detained to find someone else. They ran through the middle pass, and they made it right through. "That was handy."

Ace nodded. "There's no shame in taking the easy way out," Marco said lightly. Ace did agree, and was thankful he didn't need to fight Sabo or he'd be screwed. "But we didn't get to use our new move," Ace did complain.

"Then we'll be saving it up for the next test we have. Mest said there were a couple every year." Ace nodded. Sabo said his own test year had six. By the end, everyone was severely injured and he was the last one standing. Ace did assume this one wouldn't be brutal. He hoped so. He sat on a rock beside Marco, and took his hand.

"Thanks for being my partner."

"I'm glad to be it in both senses," Marco replied. "Though we'll have to do something about last night. I'm sorry I went overboard." Ace blushed and said he was ashamed he couldn't even handle something like that. "That was nothing like fighting-weakness. It was the complete opposite. And the first try."

Ace knew he was right, but it was still kind of embarrassing. It was his idea, too.

He wished they had fought someone, because they got nothing to be proud of other than Ace finding which one was empty, which was very helpful. But still it was underwhelming, and they had to wait over an hour for the first group to come out. It was Elfman and Evergreen, both injured. If Ace and Marco would have ended up like that, maybe getting a free pass the first test was for the better.

Everyone slowly gathered. Natsu, Gray and Cana's team made it. As well as Levy. So Juvia, Freed, Mest and Elfman all failed. Ace asked if anyone went against Sabo. Gray raised his hand. "No way!" Ace said in shock. Loke admitted they blinded Sabo before he could heal, and then ditched while he was busy.

"Why would you tell them that?" Gray asked in annoyance. He asked Ace what he did.

"Got the free pass one," Ace said. Lucy accused Ace of finding the easiest one somehow ahead of time. "Yup. Free pass leaves us more energy for the next round," Ace admitted. Marco grinned, as they were in full power. "I'm surprised Juvia lost." He didn't mention that he thought Lisanna had to be the weakest out of the three siblings. Choosing someone like Laki or Bisca would have been more useful. He didn't say this. Natsu was pouting in the corner for some reason. Ace didn't ask. The guy just looked dazed. Maybe the fight had been hard.

The Master walked out once the winning teams were gathered. "Ahem. Well, in any case, these five teams continue to the second test." But before he could continue, Natsu shot up, looking much more energetic now, and claimed he would defeat all of them. He would become S-Class.

"No way. I can't let my little brother be stronger than me for too much longer," Ace smirked. The others protested Natsu's words as well. Nobody was wimping out yet. The Master told them to hush.

"The next test is to find the grave of the first Master Mavis. You will have six hours to search. It won't be easy," the Master said, looking directly at Ace this time. So, his use for ethernano stuff wouldn't work here, then. Well, they'd find it anyways. With or without Ace's magic cheat system. Once he left, the groups scattered.

Almost immediately, Ace and Marco ran into why this island was so dangerous. The animals were huge and ravenous. They went right through Ace, their attacks not working, while Marco stopped them in their tracks. It was handy that his magic worked on all living things. Besides plants, probably.

He made them all believe they were fighting a huge monster and all their fellow animals were dead. Of course they fled when seeing that imagery, and Ace and Marco were good to continue. "I never really thought how useful your power could be other than to scare people before. But it's super handy!"

Marco still felt terrible about what he did to his then future boyfriend. And how Ace would still wake from nightmares, sometimes crying, though as quietly as he could. But Thatch and Marco were always there for him and would make him tea or hot coco. They were the best roommates. Marco was fine staying on the couch, but it was going to turn into him sleeping with Ace at night, which Ace looked forward to.

A huge lizard came after them next, and Ace torched it. He grinned, and got some sticks, and yanked a leg off, cooking it easily over perfect fire. Then he took a big bite. "That's nasty," Marco stated.

"I was hungry, and there's food right here," he said. "Besides, it tastes good." Marco sat next to him and made a motion for Ace to hand it to him. Marco bit in, and told him he had low standards. "Only cause you've always had access to good food. Sabo said we were homeless and lived in a jungle before I could remember," Ace replied honestly.

Marco raised his brows. "You're surprisingly civil after living in a jungle huh?" Ace smiled and nodded. After he ate his fill, Marco only taking a few bites, the two headed back to search. Ace paused, and Marco stopped to, wondering why they were stopped.

"I have a great idea!" Ace said brightly, mischievously. "It depends on you." Marco stiffened and asked what it was. "Use animals to take us there! Convince one that it needs to go to the first Master's grave, and it will lead us there!"

His boyfriend shook his head. "I don't speak to them in their minds or give commands. I just show the things, or trigger to show the things. So I won't be able to have them lead us." Ace poutted and kicked the toe of his boot against a rock. "Sorry. It was a good plan if it worked. What about you trying to take in ethernano. Surely its strongest at the grave? And Master will be there, too."

"I can try." Ace closed his eyes, and pressed his hands to the nearest tree, imagining absorbing the ethernano from it, but he got a nasty shock, and pulled his hands away. There were no marks, but it had hurt a bit. It wasn't an actual shock, but a magic reaction. "No good. I can try the ground."

"No, the island is one huge tree, isn't it?" Ace still wanted to try, and pressed his hands to the ground. He was shocked away, then too. Fine, he'd try from the air around him! He was irritated by now. He took in a deep breath, and did take in some of the magic energy, only to throw up afterwards.

"This island is horrible!" Ace said angrily. Marco mused they had no upperhand in finding it, then. "Then we gotta look like boring people," he huffed, still irritated. "But where do we even start?"

"Maybe we can go where all the animals avoid? But it could also be the opposite. Are animals drawn to magic sources?" Marco wondered. Ace had no idea, and said it would be easier to find a place animals weren't than they were. The two waked down a path, but got lost, and kept going in different directions.

Then they heard shouting, and saw a clearing with a mystery person there. Someone he hadn't seen before. He was pretty sure he hadn't been on the ship with them. So why was he there? Natsu was pissed that he was there. "Who is it?" Ace wondered. Natsu shot at him and Marco suddenly, shoving them down to the ground as a burst of black came out from every direction from the man. Looking around, he had rotted the surroundings!

Marco attempted to subdue the guy, but he was thrown backwards instead. Ace zoomed and caught him before he hit a sharp tree. "How dare you do that to my nakama!" Natsu growled. But looking, both of them saw his scarf was black. But Happy said it first. "That jerk… he ruined the scarf igneel gave me!" Natsu raged.

The dark wizard was gone, now. Natsu was furious about his scarf and it not only looked bad regardless, but it clashed with his clothing. "Be grateful you aren't dead like the trees," Marco said. "Who was that? Is he part of the guild?"

"No way. I don't recognize his scent," Natsu answered. Ace wondered if they should stop the exam. "No! I made a promise to Gildarts!" Ace said his brother was S-Class, and he wanted to catch up, but that it might not be time for that.

"It doesn't matter. We still have to find the grave because that's where Master is waiting. Even if we stopped the test, we still have to find him," Marco stated. "If you consider finding him part of the test, then sobeit. But we need to tell him about this." Natsu looked angry about it, but calmed a bit, too.

Then they both looked up as a flare was shot into the sky and exploded in red. Meant an intruder was there. "But that guy didn't seem so bad," Happy said.

Ace said, "There are probably more here. Just a hunch. That signal came from further than that guy could have gotten. Probably. Maybe." Natsu was pissed the exam was cancelled, and Ace was a bit annoyed, too, but more worried over his friends and brother. Who was confident enough to attack the strongest of them? All the current S-Class ranked wizards would be here, along with the Master and the strongest up and coming members.

"Then we need to get together with everyone," Marco said.

"Damn you! First you ruin my scarf Igneel gave me and now you ruin our trial! I'm not letting you get away with it!" Natsu raged, and disappeared with Happy flying off with him. So Ace and Marco turned around and started to run toward where the flare had gone up. As they ran, they noticed something strange.

They stopped and saw someone coming out of a tree. Definitely not one of them. "Who are you?!" Ace demanded.

The man came out, standing straight against the tree, both feet pressed to it before he relaxed and stepped down. He had dark skin and was pretty tall. He also looked bored and uninterested. He didn't answer for a moment. "I am Azuma of the Seven Purgatory Sins," he said. "I'll be killing you and your guild." Ace narrowed his eyes, and told Marco to hide. He refused, and Ace was unsurprised. He bit his lip, having no idea what power this man had. He worried over Sabo and his friends.

A sharp tree branch was sent at him, and pierced his skin, going straight through his fire body. Then the branch exploded, and Ace's flames were sent everywhere. But he reformed, to Marco's relief. Ace would be better to take this guy out immediately. He would do what he did with Racer. If he did explosions and root stabbing, then Ace was fine against him. But Ace didn't want to burn the trees of the island and hurt it.

"Keep him distracted!" Ace shouted, and Marco did so. The man suddenly looked dazed before he sent explosions out regardless of what he was seeing. But it was too late, Ace was too close. He grabbed the guy's face, and sucked out all of his magic energy, leaving him drained and sickly.

It left Ace with a nasty feeling in his chest. Like he'd sucked in mud or something. He took some vines from a tree and tied it around the guy's hands, and also blindfolded him with his belt. Ace tossed him over his shoulder. "You okay?" Marco looked discouraged for being useless. "You distracted him enough for me to get close."

"Still… But why are you bringing him?"

"I'm gonna dump him into the sea. He'll wake up eventually. Who knows how fast he can heal." They easily followed the scent of the ocean, no longer knowing which direction the flare came from. They'd encounter people if they encountered them. There was no direction to run to or run from, as they didn't know where anything or anyone was.

When they got to the sea, Ace had another idea. "It's kind of gruesome. Should we kill him?" he asked. Marco was unsure. He was an enemy since he attacked him, but did he deserve to die? He dumped him down, and Ace decided against hanging him, and instead tossed him over the side and into the ocean.

Both of them looked down for awhile, but he didn't come back up. "You asked me that but then you did it anyways?"

"I had a plan to hang him with that vine. That would have been more sure to kill him. But I feel gross from absorbing his magic power. Like I drank mud or something." Marco said they should regroup soon. As much as Ace was strong, facing all of the enemies wasn't a good idea. They already took one out, so facing more would just make them angrier at the two, even though Ace did most of the work.

The two ran back inland, trying to find out which way the flare was, but it was hard. They'd gotten so distracted. Ace was holding his hand as they ran so to not risk beng separated. Then Marco told him something was coming from below. Ace looked up and saw all sorts of balls. They weren't natural. He put his hands up and blasted fire up at them to keep them from landing on the pair.

Screams were heard, which proved there were people in these small balls. "Let them come down, Ace." He did so, tusting Marco. When they popped and landed, Marco's eyes sharpened, and all sorts of pained screams were made. "I'm making them think they're being tortured," Maroc informed him. Man, Marco's magic could do this, and also make Ace a complete mess in a completely different way. Very versatile!

Ace walked up to the nearest one. "If you talk, the torutre will stop," he said.

"Ah! Okay!" he screamed. Everybody else was screaming, and most had fallen to the ground, completely believing they were chained up and being whipped or something. Ace demanded to know who they were, and what their plan was. "We're Grimoire Heart! We're here for Zeref and to kill you fairies!"

Dropping him, Ace blanketed the people in fire. They were part of a dark guild. One that was like Oracion Seis. There would be no loss in the world by killing these guys. It still gave him a bad feeling. They all burnt away and Ace's flames died down. Hadn't caught any trees or foliage on fire.

Marco took his hand, not thinking he was a monster. After all, Marco just made people think they were being tortured. Then turned around sharply when they heard the sounds of feet crunching. But Sabo was there. He was panting, and ran to Ace, hugging him tightly. Ace hugged him back. "We're okay. You're okay," Ace said. Marco stood to the side, and looked up in worry, but no more balls had come.

It could be assumed that the others that had been in those balls stayed away from the agony ridden screams in the area. That would be the smart move. Ace asked Sabo if he knew what was going on. "No, but I took out some fat guy just now. He seemed weak, but he could be the outlier."

"They said the attackers were a dark guild. Grimoire Heart. We got rid of one of their main fighters in the beginning, but then people started raining down! We killed them, too." Sabo didn't look bothered by Ace killing people. But he was upset a dark guild had invaded this space and was attacking their friends. Ace asked what they would do now.

"Regroup with everyone. Come on, we'll go together," Sabo said, pulling on Ace's hand. Ace took Marco's and they ran in the direction Sabo went. He looked frantic, but not fearful. More like nervous. There wasn't a scratch on him, and he looked completely composed. His brother was amazing.

They came across countless enemies, but Sabo erased them all easily with a deep teal color. "They've been turned into ethernano particles. I practiced turning things into that after I managed to put you back together," Sabo said smoothly. Ace was jealous. He wondered if he'd ever reach Sabo's level. Marco was silent, too.

The younger brother paused, and planted his yellow glowing hands on Ace and Sabo's chest. "You won't be seen now. I can't erase your presence fully, but if you be quiet, no one will see you." He did the same for himself. They were still holding hands, since they couldn't see one another, and wouldn't get lost.

They reached the Fairy Tail camp, but nobody was there. They were told to wait there, but Sabo left. Ace heard him leave. "I feel useless. We should be doing something."

"Sabo would know what to right now…" But he didn't sound sure. "But we could be helping. I can stop people in time, right? Wouldn't I be useful to everyone?" Marco asked, sounding very insecure. Ace frowned, and said he was very cool. They would be be useful, but Marco probably more.

He hardened his resolve. "Sabo is an S-Class wizard and my brother, but that doesn't make all his ideas perfect. We're going. Find the others. Regroup instead of at this empty camp," Ace said firmly. He and Marco were still holding hands, and ran off. They came across enemies, and waited in the bushes. They were all fodder wizards. Useless to anyone, friend or foe.

"Should we kill them?" Ace asked, not particularly wanting to kill more people, even if they were enemies. Maybe these people were being forced to work there. Did they deserve to die. Marco said they shouldn't, but should stop their advance. He forced all of them to believe they were suffocating.

They passed out, hitting the ground hard. Ace and Marco ran off quietly, as quiet as they could. Their feet crunched, but they weren't too loud. They passed the fat guy Sabo spoke about. There had been a fight here, there was women's clothing on the ground. Lucy's top! But she wasn't there. The enemy had all sorts of injuries, and a ton of different colored hand prints on him. He was thoroughly beaten.

Ace walked them towards him, and the man's eyes were milky. Sabo blinded him. He was no threat now, it seemed. They ran on, making sure to still hold hands so they didn't separate and get lost.

They came across Evergreen and Elfman getting beat up, and saw who was going it. They didn't know his magic, but he was an enemy and had already hurt their friends. Yes, Ace had managed to forgive the Thunder God Tribe since Laxus was excommunicated. They seemed like good people. Good enough to be forgiven. "Marco," Ace whispered.

As the guy was bragging about his power making him invincible, he feel to his knees and started to scream. He had a pompadour like Thatch, but looked like a huge douche bag. The glasses didn't help in his case. Ace hurried out, but was wary to suck up his magic. Instead, Ace took some more vines and tied him up. To everyone else, it looked like vines were wrapping around him on their own.

Somehow, Ace knew how to make a noose. He dragged the guy up a tree, and tied it around his neck. He sat him on the branch, screaming until Marco released him. "What are you here for? If you don't respond, you will be hung," Ace warned, a disembodied voice to the enemy. He wanted to confirm that they were there for Zeref, since that other random could have been running his mouth to get away. "Answer me, now!" Ace snapped.

"We're here for Zeref!" he exclaimed. "Wh-what did you do to me?!"

"You aren't as invincible as you think," Ace sneered. He was so proud of his amazing boyfriend's power. It really was worthy of giving Ace nightmares. He wanted to go home, now. He was tired and hungry. Ace snapped the branch enough that it was about to fall.

The guy was blindfolded and bound at the hands and wrists, not to mention the noose. Ace dropped down. "If you try and move, you'll hang yourself. Stay here if you know what's good for you."

"Ace! Why don't you take away his magic?" Evergreen asked. It was clear by his voice it was Ace, after all. Ace said he didn't want to take in evil magic. He already took out one guy, that was enough. When the man shouted to know who he took out, the branch wa sheard crunching a bit, and the guy became still and silent.

Marco was helping them stand, and became a crutch for Elfman, which looked like he was leaning against something that wasn't there. "How unmanly! I'm ashamed!" Evergreen told him to shut it. Ace kept watch of the enemy, and tears were coming from his blindfold as he stayed as still as he could.

He felt smart for coming up with that idea. Now, he couldn't take the blame if they guy died. Ace warned him, even if he did pretty much set him up to hang. But this time, his hands weren't too dirty. Underhanded, yes. He didn't care, he didn't like killing people. The four of them did return to camp, where others were gathered.

When they entered the camp, they became visible again. Freef was there and had created a safe space for them all out of runes. Many were injured here. Ace and Marco were in good condition, if not dirty. But morale was low. "They're strong," Ace stated to the awkward silence. Marco didn't say that they beat two of them. Well, beat one and stopped another.

"We're down, but we can't be beaten," Levy mumbled, before she started to cry. Ace rubbed her back soothingly. She blamed them losing based on the separation and competition of the trial. That's what got them all beaten, their bonds were weakening. Ace really didn't think that was the case, but of course he didn't dispute her. "The enemy is overwhelming! But we're Fairy Tail! Please, everybody, think of each other!"

Sabo stepped in. "Thinking about each other won't do a thing unless we have the resolve to die for each other," he said firmly. "Are we ready to die for one another?" They all nodded, even Marco nodding, who was very new. He took Ace's hand and squeezed it. Ace asked what the plan was, now. "Gather everyone up in the same place where we can protect and defend," Sabo replied.