Wishfull-star: Thank you for being my only regular reviewer T-T.

Angst in this one. Enjoy~

"Nobody came," Ace said, sitting on the highest point in the rubble of the former demon cube. His voice was hollow. "It wa supposed to find my life force, and nobody showed up," he added, tears down his cheeks. He was visible right now. The four had been digging all day, but it really would have helped to have more magic to use.

But not a single guild member showed up, and it hurt. They didn't even know what he looked like and made no effort. Maybe they only saw helping him as an obligation of ALL being in a guild. There was no obligation to help him anymore. Even Natsu and his other teammates didn't come. He would have at least expected Lucy or Wendy. Or Mira.

But no, nobody came to help when it was so important. Even the Master was gone. Sabo sighed, angry more than hurt. Marco said they'd just need to search themselves. It would take a lot of time and effort, but that was what they needed to do, so they'd do it.

"We could always check Fairy Hills, the boarding building for the guild members," Ace muttered. He didn't want acknowledged that everyone forgot him. "Maybe something happened there." They decided to go there, with Ace invisible. It was really handy, but it meant Ace couldn't speak. Natsu knew something was up but wouldn't tell anyone.

They got there, and it was very fancy inside. Ace liked his place more. They went to the mens' side first. They knocked on the doors, and reminded them of the search, since they knew people were in there. Ace was devastated when they were turned away. They all sounded sad and distracted, but this was really important!

Once all the men but for Eflman turned them away, they went to check on the girls. Who cared about him anymore? They walked into the womens' quarters while Elfman waited outside, the only good man. Even Gray was gone somewhere else. He moved on without telling them anything. Where he went, if he was okay.

They especially needed Erza, but when they knocked on her door, she didn't answer. Ace took and broke the lock, extremely annoyed and hurt by now. They all thought he lost part of his life force, and weren't in a hurry to help. He understood they were upset about the guild being disbanded, but this should matter more than their sadness.

Maybe they really did see no obligation. But Erza wasn't there. Her things weren't even there. She left without a word, too. Mira and Lisanna were there, and agreed to help. Lisanna said many had packed up last night and left, unable to face the reality. But she acknowledged it was terrible nobody was helping Ace out.

Wedny was gone, too, though her things remained, so she wasn't gone for good. Knowing this was all they'd get, the six, five in the white haired trio's eyes, they headed to the rubble. "So, what are we looking for?" Mira asked. Elman had his arms in beast mode, and Lisanna had claws out. Mira had a shovel, just like Marco did.

Marco said it was a book. "A big, thick book, leather, with a strap on it that should need a key to open it." Ace decided to make his presence known. When he spoke, Elfman jumped.

"I'm here, too. Sabo made me invisible." Mira suddenly looked very bothered. She didn't know where Ace was, but asked what happened to him while he was gone. He said it wasn't a big deal.

"Were you put in a tank? I was, too. To turn me into one of them. Is the book… is it related to that? You can show us, I was possessed by a demon once, too." Ace wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to ruin their image of him. "That doesn't matter. You'd still be Ace, you haven't hurt anyone."

Ace sighed. Sabo erased the handprint from him, turning his brother visible again. The siblings' eyes widened before they saddened. Mira walked forward, and brought Ace into a hug.

"Let's find that book," Elfman said firmly, and the six got to digging. They spent the entire day there, knowing that by then, much of the guild would be gone. Ace wouldn't be surprised if Lucy disappeared on them, too. But once the rubble was all cleared away, and they found nothing looking like his book, morale was low, and Ace had his back hunched with his head in his hands.

Lisanna asked what they'd be doing, now. They really hadn't found the book, even after clearing the entire place away and apart. Even digging into the yucky skin that had covered everyone until Lucy had done something to save them all. "Look for the book more, I guess," Marco said. "What about you?"

"Probably move to another guild. We still want to be wizards. We can't let the disbanded Fairy Tail ruin our lives," Mira said firmly, even though sadness was thick in her voice. "We'll keep a look out for the book, and will find you if we find or get any information on it," she promised. Ace smiled in thanks, though it wasn't an open smile.

Then the former model's face went firm. "Why don't we all travel for awhile together? I can teach Ace transformation magic." Ace shared a look with Sabo. Ace couldn't use magic. He had a devil frui's power. Sabo said it was a nice offer, but Ace couldn't do magic really. "What?"

"What's that mean?"

"The particles in the gas he inhaled got rid of all his magic. Somehow he can still use his fire, but it's gone." Ace thanked her for the kind offer. She smiled sadly, but sad she was grateful Ace still had his fire. The teen nodded. The sun was setting, so the three returned to pack their things, and Ace gave them all a hug, thanking them for helping.

"Try not to think too badly about our guild mates. They must have their reasons, even if they should matter less than helping you," Mira said.

"Holding grudges isn't manly!" Elfman agreed with a huge grin. Then he started to tear up. "I'll miss you guys." Ace smiled back, and thanked them for welcoming him. He turned to Mira, and bowed to thank her for all of the kindness and help she'd provided him with over the last year. Well, nine years for Ace.

She smiled and said it was only natural. "You're so adorable after all," she giggled. "We'll meet again, I have no doubt." Ace hoped so. Sabo was crying quietly, and Mira walked over to hug him, too. "Don't get weak on your journey," she teased lightly. "You gotta protect one another."

"Yes," Sabo replied, and hugged her back. Ace wished they got to say goodbye to everyone, but they were gone. They would check on Natsu. The only reason they hadn't asked him was because Ace wanted to give him time to mourn. When they got to his house, Ace invisible again, they found things were packed up there as well.

Ace looked at the empty space. Did he do something wrong? Maybe going to see him after Igneel died was wrong. He didn't want Ace there, giving out his own issues. Sabo searched the place roughly, furious that everyone was just leaving, breaking the guild and the trust apart. They all left. Left even when knowing Ace had a problem.

It had all been an illusion. Everything had been fake. He should have asked the Master for help, but he had disbanded the guild, he wouldn't have helped or cared. Sure, he really was some father figure. Fuck them all!

He sat on the old, rotted couch and sobbed. It broke Sabo as well. Marco wasn't as attached as they had been, and hugged them both as they sobbed about the useless bonds that had been built. For Sabo it had been eight years before the seven year time skip. Ace had been there a year, but had waited for them so long. Nobody cared anymore.

That was the reality, and it would be best to move on knowing that. At least they still had positive bonds with the Straus siblings. Allies even with Ace beng the way he was now. Once they were calmed down, not a clue found here about where Natsu and Happy went, Ace asked what they'd do next.

"Search for the book," Sabo said. Marco nodded, but he looked troubled. "What's wrong?" the younger blond asked. Ace was sitting in Marco's lap, not falling asleep like he did before. The eldest really looked bothered, but Ace took his hand in reassurance for him to speak.

Sighing first, he said, "The book is most likely somewhere having to do with Zeref. Not with the council since they don't exist anymore. I doubt its anywhere that would be easy to reach. I was thinking we'd have to get our hands dirty to find it." Ace and Sabo were surprised, and wondered what he meant.

"Do you mean joining a dark guild?" Ace asked in surprise. The guild had fought against all of the Baram alliance. Defeated them all, though a lot of unfortunate things came from the Tartaros fight. Including the state Ace was in now. Marco looked grim.

"If we joined one, we'd just be used by them. We should… form our own dark guild. That way we can order people around under us to look more. Spread out ways to search so it's not just six people searching. Ace can be the seeming Master, just based on his appearance. I've been coming up with plans the last hour or so-"

Sabo bluntly asked if he was joking, and Marco's face went red. "Are you being serious?" The other nodded. It was all he could think of to get the book soon. "But… we'd be breaking the law." Ace pointed out there was nobody to punish them right now. He didn't want to do this, but was desperate.

"I don't wanna do it, do bad things. But I want my book." Marco agreed. Sabo was the only one who looked doubtful, before he took a good look at Ace. Zeref's magic had done this, second hand or not, so why would they affiliate themselves more? He asked that. "Is there any other way?" The two brothers had no answer, but weren't leaning towards a yes.

Finally, they all steeled themselves. "We'll form a dark guild. I'll do the most work," Marco said. He touched Ace's face. "You've done enough." After they decided, hearts heavy, Ace and Sabo explained everything to Marco, who didn't care about their pasts, he loved them both like family.

-x-

"They're all complete garbage," Ace hissed in bed in his and Marco's bedroom in their new guild building. They used a ton of Sabo's money saved up over his years of doing jobs to buy this building and the things inside. Marco kissed his forehead, and said that was the kind of people who joined such guilds. "Still…"

"Are you missing them?" Marco asked quietly, Ace in his arms. Ace couldn't help when his tail wrapped around Marco's leg in bed. The teen shook his head. Well, he wished he could see Mira, but hoped she didn't put the pieces together. Ace advertised this place as being run by a demon from the book of Zeref.

It was stupid, but they did all they could to stay under the radar of the council, the newly forming one. They didn't take on any big missions or join any alliance. Their members joined because they liked their guild not being tied to others. Neo-Mon was its own guild. Didn't answer to anybody.

That was their major attraction for all these scumbags. Ace hated hearing about how they enjoyed their sexual assault of innocent women. It made him want to beat their skulls in, but that wouldn't look right. Their scary leader defending random, unknown victims. But he also didn't encourage this behavior.

Already, they were starting to get a cult-like status. Ace kept the fear up with his act, and the help of Marco's abilities, which had strengthened in the last three months. If anyone didn't do what Ace said, or crossed him, he'd point at them, and Marco would force them to think they were tortured. It was to make Ace look even stronger.

There was also the false motivation that Ace would gift the person to find the strapped book of Zeref with their own dark powers. He'd done it to an illusion. It was actually a dummy that Marco did the work to make real. Ace touched the dummy, and Marco had the person transformed. Then that person left, and Ace claimed to have killed her after her betrayal.

"As long as you're with me, you'll grow strong. If you're strong enough, perhaps you could make your own guild and we'll gladly ally with you." The sense of power and recognition these lies gave was great. Everyone bought them. Ace felt no regret for tricking these pieces of trash into doing what they wanted with no actual future pay off.

Ace said, "I hope they're all suffering." Marco frowned against Ace's shoulder. Sabo felt the same. Pain and anger and broken hearted over not only the disbanding, but about how everyone just ditched. Even Lucy was gone by the time Ace gathered himself enough to visit. To go with Sabo to visit.

But Lucy's landlady said she moved out. All of Ace's old team were gone. He'd waited too long to go see Wendy, as well. But none of them visited Ace's home. He really never mattered to them. They didn't matter to each other. Here Ace was with his boyfriend and brother, willing to seem to be scum bag and run a dark guild.

Even though their appearances were hidden under masks. Ace claimed they were his pet humans. If a single person put a hand on them, or disobeyed them, they'd be kicked out at best and killed at worst.

The couple fell asleep, then. When they woke up and had breakfast, they went to the guild hall. Their cult started to wear hoods, but Ace didn't allow them to be worn inside in case there were spies there. "Any news?" Ace asked from his throne. "How'd the mission go?"

They bowed to him, and said they heard of three people who beat them to a haunted forest. The whole place had been scoured, and the secret basement had been ransacked. "And what did you do after that?" Ace asked in his lazy voice, acting as Tartaros did, like humans were inferior completely. He had to act the part, being a demon from the book of Zeref. The man reported started to shake. "Well?"

"We tried following them, but they were wizards." Ace pointed out that everyone there were. "S-Sorry, my lord, we couldn't fight back." Ace sighed. He said he needed punishment. "No! I'll go out and find them personally."

"If you don't come back, I'll make sure you don't rest easy. Be gone," he snapped. The others in the crowd were silent, and then one came forward. He said he'd found signs of his book. Ace sat up a bit more, just slightly. "And?"

"I found it in an old tomb that had traces of magic comparable to Tartaros. There was a bookshelf. No books in it, but there was the indentation of a book with a strap."

"Then it's extremely likely someone connected to Tartaros has it," Ace mused, but was actually very satisfied. "Good work. But I'd like to make sure you aren't lying first," Ace added. Sabo got up, and had gloves on so his colors weren't shown. The followed bowed his head, and allowed Sabo to touch him. Ace asked him to repeat his words. Once he had, Sabo walked back to the thrown.

The trio didn't use their real names for obvious reasons. "He's not lying. Everything he said was the truth."

"I'm very satisfied with your performance. Out of everyone here, you're the most likely to be given my mark," he praised. The man looked ecstatic. Fool. Ace was thankful for his news, but still thought all of them were stupid sheep with zero critical thinkng skills. Then he looked to the back of the crowd.

"And what are you doing, female human?" Ace asked. It was Levy in a council uniform, in hiding. "Listening into a conversation that you're not welcome in isn't a good look." Ace had no feeling of attachments to her. She ditched, too. She stood up, and glared at Ace. No recognition in her eyes. His voice was deeper now than before, and his entire mostly lighthearted demeanor was nowhere to be seen. She also didn't know it was Sabo and Marco in masks. The three didn't panic.

Ace continued. "As you've seen, I have committed no crimes. You won't have any evidence to charge me or my guild. There are plenty of unofficial guilds nowadays," he explained. "Just because we're creepy looking and I'm strict doesn't mean we're prosecutable." Her face fell more and more, as if she were realizing what he said was the truth.

Ace had none of his members go on missions to hurt people, or do evil things. It was just searching the country for his book. "If you're done watching and finding no evidence, you can leave." The cult members shouted at her to get out, and she did. Ace frowned. Stupid Levy. Well, Ace knew she wasn't an idiot, and was not worried about the council harming them.

"Why'd you let her live, my lord?" Marco asked. Acting like Ace really was his owner. Even though Ace still liked being the bottom in bed.

"Killing her would look bad for us. She has no evidence to harm our guid. It's all thanks to you all. I appreciate you behaving yourselves. Our end goal is destruction, but to not follow in pervious dark guild footsteps is the way to complete our ideals," Ace praised. "For humans, you're all quite useful."

All of them looked ecstatic to be praised. Fools.

-x-

"Look what I got~" Marco said, walking into the living room for the three of them inside the guild. It was night time, so everyone was gone. There was no dorms or anything here, but there was two cities in equal distance from the guild, so their followers could live there. Ace and Sabo looked up, and saw the blonde holding a board game.

"Whoa, where'd you get that?" Ace asked brightly. It was a word playing game. Marco said he'd bought it, wearing a disguise of course. Ace beamed, and he and Sabo were so happy Marco bought it.

They played it for hours, just feeling light and happy. They were bad guys now in a sense, basing their opinions of themselves on what they had thought when they were part of Fairy Tail. They didn't do bad things, just employed bad people. But even though they ran a dark guild, they were still family and spent time like this together.

Time that wasn't both of them sitting beside him on pillows next to his throne all day.

-x-

Ace was finally on the receiving end of an attack on his guild. He sat in his chair, Sabo and Marco beside him. There was nobody else there right now, so it was just the building being damaged and on fire. Ace remotely put the fire out, and melted the ice. Gray and Natsu. Fuck them.

If they worked together, they could probably kill Ace. He was a demon and a dragon. Being killed by a devil slayer or dragon slayer alone wouldn't work. Probably. Sabo had a forcefield around him and Marco, invisible and undetectable. He just glared at his former friends in hatred. How they all fought together, laughed together. Then all of them left without a word to Ace.

It still hurt and he was still bitter about it. He used to not hold grudges, but he did now because they hurt him terribly. And Sabo as well. Only Mira, Lisanna and Elfman got any respect or fondness from Ace. Nobody else.

"Can I help you?" Ace asked in a lazy voice. He didn't want to sound too involved in this. "There's no reason to destroy my guild." There really was none. They could have just opened the front doors, they weren't locked. And if they were locked, then they still could have kicked them in.

Sabo could fix the building, though. His time frame had gone from a few minutes to a few hours. It would be just fine. "You took our nakama!" Natsu shouted.

"I was under the impression Fairy Tail was disbanded," Ace responded. Natsu had left without a word, just like the other three. Other four. Wendy wasn't there right now. The pink haired dragon slayer smelled deeply, but didn't recognize Ace. He did recognize Sabo and Marco beside him. Shit. Well, whatever. They could get angry if they wanted. It was all three of their choices, not even Ace's idea.

Marco was the mastermind behind all of it, even though he felt terrible for it most days. But it was worrying, they had some good information on where the most recent finding was, and that it truly was related to someone from Tartaros. What a useful cult minion he was.

"Give Sabo and Marco back to us, now," Erza said firmly.

"Make me," Ace sneered. He didn't think about the old him anymore, as he was gone. The real him was the one he was with Marco and Sabo at night. Roleplaying games with Marco's ability. Playing that damn single boardgame. They were his family, he loved them. Erza went up to him, but Sabo's forcefield stopped her from swinging her sword at him. Ace was still unbothered.

Lucy was there, and summoned Gemini. They were going all out, it was going to destroy the guild. "Sabo and Marco are here by choice. They have nothing to do with you anymore." Natsu demanded to know what happened to Ace. "Ace is dead." Marco's sad slumped shoulders gave the impression that Ace really was dead.

They seemed genuinely upset. But for them, thinking he was dead was probably better than seeing what their bubbly, joking friend had become. "I didn't kill him, don't take it out on me. Ask them. Did I kill Ace?" They were already found out and took off their masks. Sabo said that Slate hadn't killed Ace. "Slate" was his fake name. Sabo was "Bo" and Marco was "Ko". It was a joke at first, but it caught on and stuck.

"What are you doing in a dark guild?!" Lucy demanded.

"Better than being in Fairy Tail," Sabo said with vitriol, shocking the others. Lucy winced, and said they were rebuilding the guild. "Go screw yourselves."

"What the hell happened to you?!" Gray demanded. This was getting annoying and it was hurting. Now they cared enough to bother them but not help when Ace's life was in danger to them. And even if he hadn't been in danger, they still left without a word or acknowledgement.

Marco said, "You may have been fine leaving without a word, but do you think Ace was? Do you think he was fine with every single one of you leaving without a word? Even when Sabo told you he was in danger and needed help searching the remains of the cube, all of the guild left. All but Mira, Lisanna and Elfman."

Sabo added that those were the only ones they cared about anymore. "They told us to come get you!"

"Then that was a mistake. We have our own goal, now. We won't be going back out on jobs." Natsu asked what the goal was. "To find Slate's book of Zeref." Lucy demanded to know why they would side with a demon of the book of Zeref after everything that happened. That they took Ace. "You have no right to talk about that!" Sabo suddenly shouted. Ace just sat there, trying not to cry.

He wanted them to go away. All of the former Fairy Tail members looked hurt and guilty. Good. But they still thought this version Ace had somehow overtaken their friend's minds. To them, Ace was dead. It was fine. As long as Ace had Marco and Sabo, he would be okay. Once they found his book, they planned on retiring to a nice cottage somewhere and living in peace. Hopefully able to do something about Ace's appearance.

But suddenly, Gray shot ice spears at Ace. They were made of pink ice, but did nothing as they went straight through his body in flames. The others froze. "Maybe I ate Ace." Marco looked annoyed at that, and glared at him. Ace moved his eyes away.

"You are Ace, aren't you?!" Natsu shouted.

Ace sighed. "Do I look like your friend? Hmm? Would your friend ever create a dark guild?" he asked. Natsu was suddenly there, and hugged Ace tightly. Ace shoved him away, looking angry. He sat in front of Ace's chair, and looked at him with such regret. He apologized for leaving. He had no idea Fairy Tail was disbanded until a few weeks ago. "I don't care. Go away."

"That can't possibly be Ace!" Happy shouted in denial. Ace showed no emotion to any of them, even if he was crying inside, wishing things could be different.

"... Mira told us things were different now. And that we shouldn't bother them," Lucy mumbled. "What is your real goal?"

Sabo repeated that they were looking for his book. Gray was shell shocked about his ice not working for some reason. Ace assumed it was his devil slayer magic, but Ace wasn't just a demon, he was a deadly mix of powerful things. Erza said they could all look together.

"Yeah, sure. We won't go back to Fairy Tail. Even we did, what kind of jobs could he do as he is now?" Marco asked sourly. "You think anyone would hire him?" he pressed. It was being honest, and didn't hurt Ace's feelings. He'd cried about it enough already. The others knew this issue was a big one to a guild, where they worked for others for money. "Besides, we founded a dark guild, even though we haven't actually committed crimes. How would everyone think of that?"

Lucy pointed out that Gajeel had been in a dark guild, and had beaten Levy, as well as attempt to kidnap Lucy. And now he was one of them again. "Lucky for him. I'm getting tired of this. Leave, seriously. Try to forget about who I am now and remember who I was," Ace said, his voice still expertly emotionless.

They were all very upset about it, and Marco took Ace's hand, holding it tightly, squeezing tighter three times. Meaning he loved him. Ace squeezed it back. Marco told them not to come back again. No matter what, Ace was unable to be a member of Fairy Tail again, and they didn't trust them anymore.

"Let's go," Gray said in a hard voice. "We aren't their friends anymore." The others left, and the moment they were gone, Ace burst into sobs, curing in on himself, grabbing his horns. His brother and boyfriend hugged him tightly. Sabo fixed the building from there. Ace was devastated. Even if he hated them, even if he didn't, then he still couldn't go because of his appearance.

That guild life was over forever. This was all they had.

I always thought it was a dick move when some of the guild just left without talking to one another. Just seemed out of character to me since they were all supposed to be super close and a family.