Juvia sat on a chair in the café area outside the Fairy Tail guild. This area was seldom used these days. It was also early in the morning, when many people were either still sleeping or only just starting to wake up. This meant that it was a good place to be alone. Or so it seemed. When Juvia got out there, she found that there was one other person already sitting there.

"Flare." Juvia said under her breath. Flare Corona sat there alone, apparently watching the hazy sun in the sky. Juvia didn't know what Flare was actually doing there. She debated going back inside, but decided to find a seat and sit down. They both sat like that for a little while, not saying anything, not acknowledging the other. Until Flare finally spoke.

"You like sitting outside in the morning?" Flare asked without turning.

"I actually came here to be alone, and think." Juvia said. Flare just nodded. After a couple minutes, Flare spoke again.

"What are you thinking about?" she said.

"Its personal." Juvia said.

"Is it Gray?" Flare asked. Juvia hesitated. "You're always thinking of him." Flare continued.

"Not always." Juvia said. "And besides, I don't want to talk about him."

"Are you mad at him?"

"Not him specifically. Not just him. And I said I don't want to talk about it." They sat another minute in silence. The long moments became awkward, so Juvia spoke.

"What are you thinking about?" Juvia said.

Flare sighed. "Home. The home I left. I want to go back there."

"I see. Well, when this is finally over you can go back, I'm sure."

"I'd be leaving stuff behind here too." Flare said, turning to look at Juvia. "Like our team."

Juvia shrugged. "Is our team really that important?"

"We're friends." Flare said. "Aren't we?"

Juvia paused. "I… yes, I suppose we are." Flare just blinked with a blank expression.

"Anyway, if you miss me, we can write." Juvia continued. "Maybe we can be pen pals or something."

"What about Gajeel?" Flare said.

"You can write him too." Juvia said. Flare shifted in her seat. She looked down at the ground, considering something.

"What's wrong?" Juvia said.

Flare raised her eyes to Juvia. "I had sex with him." she said.

For a moment, Juvia said nothing. She tilted her head. "You… and Gajeel."

"Had sex."

"…Why? And why are you telling me?" Now Juvia shifted uncomfortably.

"I like him." Flare said. "I want to go home, but I think I want to be with him too. And you too, as a friend."

"Thank you." Juvia said. "And what about the rest of the guild?"

"The guild is okay." Flare said. "I like your master better than Ivan. And I kinda like blondie too. You know, Lucy."

Juvia suddenly grew cold. "Yes. Lucy. I don't want to talk about Lucy."

"No Gray, no Lucy." Flare said. "Anyone else?"

"No." Juvia said. "And it appears that the others are arriving, so I'm going inside now." There were indeed other mages approaching the guild. Juvia stood up and turned.

"Do you want to do a job?" Flare said. Juvia turned.

"After what you told me, I might feel like a third wheel. I'm sure you'd rather just be with Gajeel."

"Then let's forget him today." Flare said. "Just you and me do a job."

"You and me?" Juvia said.

"Why not? You didn't come last time, so Gajeel can stay out this time."

"Well… I'll think about it." Juvia said. "Maybe if there's something good on the board. I guess it would be nice to get away from here for a while."

They both got up and went inside, as the rest of the guild began wandering inside for the day.


"Fairy Tail, I have good news and bad news." Master Makarov said. It was a little later in the day, and much of the guild was gathered to hear the master. "The good news is, the magic council has contacted us and agreed to meet. However, they say they want to see Natsu and Lisanna specifically."

"Why us?" Natsu said.

"I would think that would be obvious." Makarov said. "You played a big role in everything that's happening. They want to talk to you, and see if they can get information out of you. Maybe even see if you might be of some other use. However, I don't entirely trust them. There is a chance they are not being entirely honest about their motives for wanting the two of you to go."

"Do you think they want to arrest us?" Lisanna said.

"That's possible." Makarov said. "Or, it could be anything else. If they're being sincere, great. If not… Well, let's just say I have an idea. Either way, we'll have our answer soon."

"So that's the bad news then?" Gray said.

"Actually no." Makarov said. "The bad news is that Levy and Mystogan have been looking into the bug machines that we captured. They have found some useful information. By studying them. But they also found out that at least a few of them are still recording."

"What do you mean recording?" Macao said.

"I mean, they have not only been partially active still, but are broadcasting what they see and hear, presumably to their creator."

"Its true." Levy said. She sat nearby, still recovering. "We had to destroy them completely because it was too risky keeping them around. But we know that they can record over long distances, and that's probably how they found me. They've been spying on us constantly."

The crowd murmured. "We are going to need to be careful about them from now on." Makarov said. "Try not to say anything you don't want the enemy hearing when outside." The guild spent the next few minutes making disgruntled comments about this before disbursing.

Makarov stepped aside with Mirajane. "Listen, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to keep it a secret for now." He told her.

"Okay." She said cautiously. "What is it?"

"I'm going to perform a spell, with some help from Mystogan. We're going to put a protective barrier around the guild, to prevent spying."

"Like the one they had in the valley in Bosco?" she asked.

"Similar, but not exactly the same. This barrier won't prevent physical entry. It will only block people from seeing or hearing what's going on in here. Truthfully, I doubt they are capable of spying directly into the guildhall without us knowing, but you never know."

"Well, that's good." She said. "But why keep it a secret?"

"Because we can't be sure it will work. I don't want to give people a false sense of security."

"I'm sure you know best." Mirajane said.

"Now, there's someone else I need to talk to." Makarov said. He walked over to the other side of the room and found Gajeel by himself at a table. He was gnawing on a piece of metal, but otherwise looked like he wasn't busy.

"Gajeel, I would like to speak with you." Makarov said. Gajeel looked up.

"Yeah? What about?" Gajeel said.

"You know how the council wants Natsu and Lisanna to meet them?"

"Yeah. The council probably plans to trap them or something. Sucks for them."

"Actually, no. They aren't going. I've decided that its too risky. You'll go instead."

Gajeel stopped eating and raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? They said they want Salamander and his girlfriend, not me."

"Yes well, I can't be sure this isn't a trap for them. So, I'm sending you to scout ahead. They're getting a different dragon slayer. Go to the meeting and decide if it feels safe. If it does, then we'll send Natsu and Lisanna shortly after. If the council gets upset about it, just say they were delayed and we sent you ahead to deliver the message."

"So, I'm an errand boy now?" Gajeel said.

"As far as they're concerned, yes."

Gajeel sighed. "So, you want me to go alone? Not that I won't do it. Just saying, the two girls decided to go off on a job together without me. Too bad they didn't know about this beforehand."

"I actually told them right before they left." Makarov said. "They already had a job, and I didn't feel they were necessary for this. Besides, if we sent an actual team there, then they might get more suspicious. We'll pair you up with someone more random, to make it seem like a last-minute thing."

"It is for me." Gajeel muttered. Makarov looked around the guild, observing the various candidates.

"Let's see, we can go with…" He raised his hand, and then pointed to someone. "Macao."

"Macao?" Gajeel said. Macao raised his head at his name being called.

"Someone call me?" he said. Makarov waved him over.

"You've got to be kidding." Gajeel said. Makarov explained the situation to Macao.

"Well, I guess I've got nothing better to do." Macao said. "Sure, I'll do it."

"Great." Gajeel said.

"Hey, if he's going, I want to go too." Wakaba said. He walked up, smoking his pipe."

"I'm okay with that." Makarov said.

"And I want to go too!" It was Romeo who said this. He had recently turned seven years old. He walked up to the table enthusiastically.

"That I'm not okay with." Makarov said.

"Me neither." Macao said. "Sorry buddy, but you're too young. This is grown up stuff."

"That's not fair. When will I get to go?" Romeo said.

"Someday. Just be patient." Macao said.

"So, its settled. You three will go to the meeting and determine if its safe." Makarov stated.

"So, one of two things will happen." Gajeel said. "The council is planning a trap, which means we'll have to fight our way out. Or, we're going to end up being stuck in some boring meeting where we talk about strategies and compromises and stuff."

"I'd like to avoid a disaster for once, so let's hope it's boring." Makarov said. "Now, there's still one more thing to take care of."


Wendy, Gray, and Elfman all had their stuff packed and were ready to go. They had been chosen by the master. Lucy would have gone with Gray and Wendy, but she was still recovering, so Elfman was chosen to go instead. Sending Natsu and Lisanna was out of the question for various reasons. Gray complained about the lack of consistency in his teammates.

"Well, if you had found a new team yourself then we could have sent them." Mirajane said. She stood there as the chosen team was at the doorway, about to leave for Bosco. They were not dressed in their usual clothes, but instead were dressed in garb that would hopefully disguise them, just in case they were being spied on. The master had also advised that they try to stay off the main street for now.

"Well, I'm looking forward to it." Wendy said. "I've never been to Bosco."

"How are we supposed to make it past all the guards and stuff?" Elfman said.

"I'm sure you'll find a way." Mirajane said. "I believe in you."

"Let's not waste anymore time and get going." Carla said. Naturally, if Wendy was going then Carla was going. The four of them left and went on their way. As they left, Mirajane stood in the door and watched them. Someone else came up beside her and watched as well.

"Do you really think they can make it past all the guards alone?" Mystogan said.

"No, but that's why you're going with them." Mirajane said. "You can use your magic to help them, and hide them. I don't know why you couldn't just leave along with them."

"I'm more effective if people aren't aware of my presence." He said. "Please look after Levy while I'm gone."

"We will." She said. She turned to find Mystogan already gone. Mirajane shrugged and returned to her duties.


Miles away in Bosco, inside the valley, underground, in a deep, dark room, there was a man. Or rather, the shell of a man. Beaten, abused, maimed, and bound. But still alive. Alrace was held by chains. He was malnourished. He couldn't see, because his eyes were missing. He barely survived his encounter with the keepers. And then, he only did survive because Boudica intervened at the last second. She chose to spare his life. She healed him enough that he would not die. But she did not heal his eyes, or the burns on his head. He had been left there for a time, waiting. Waiting to die. But they didn't care what he wanted.

The door to the room opened. Although he could not see it, Boudica entered, along with Nikodias and a few of the "doctors" known as leeches. They all walked into the room and surrounded Alrace, examining him.

"I haven't forgotten about you, Alrace." Boudica said. She walked closer to him. "I know you're in pain. But you betrayed me. You needed to be punished. But because I am so generous, and so kind, and so forgiving, I have decided to give you one last chance to redeem yourself. You should thank me."

Alrace lifted his head. He couldn't see her. He opened his mouth. All he could say was, "Please." Over and over.

"Hmm. Maybe you'll thank me later." Boudica said. "After I've given you your gift." Boudica gestured her hand, and one of the leeches stepped forward holding something.

"You can't see it, so I'll tell you what it is." Boudica said. It is a lacrima. Not just any lacrima. A dragon lacrima. Quite rare. But the governor in the capitol gave it to me, as a gift. And now I'm giving it to you."

Alrace tilted his head in confusion.

"Don't you understand?" she said. "I'm giving you something you have never had: power. Strength. You will be more than what you are now. You will be my dragon slayer. Of course, we will need to make a few other modifications too. You would be better as part demon. Now, this is the first time we've ever done this, so I can't guarantee success. But if it works, then you will be… something else." Alrace shook his head, and began to struggle.

"Still ungrateful?" Boudica said. "That's okay, you'll thank me later." Nikodias stepped aside. Two of the leeches brought up surgical implements. One brought a large scalpel to his chest, as he once again screamed.


End Notes: Just a short bridging chapter. The next one will be bigger. I'm going to try to focus on finishing this story instead of doing side projects, for now.