Hi guys Azza here!

So first order of business is that as of this Chapter, Volume III now has the highest Chapter count out of the entire series so hooray!

I think I said it before but I'll say it again, this story will likely retain that title permanently once its finished. I can only see maybe a Marvel or DC hypothetical crossover in this series reaching the level this fic is.

But I digress.

Thanks everyone for putting up with my garbage upload schedule, I really am trying to get these out semi consistently but as stated numerous times being an adult sucks and work sucks but your boy has to eat so it is what it is haha!

And the other item on the agenda is that this Chapter is the last that hard deviates from the 'MAIN' story stuff to establish future lore and stuff. Next Chapter will be back into the thick of it until we reach the time skip.

In saying that, I'm going to blow minds again so please enjoy!

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

The World Shifts As Balance Tilts

/Marineford/

Very few had even managed to sense what had just happened, the power being tossed about on another tier that most present couldn't even begin to comprehend. Unfortunately, both Natsu and Shanks had felt it, as had most of the King Class Servants as well.

All of them played it off however, not willing to jeopardize the recently won cessation of hostilities between the World Government, the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies as well as Eden.

Both Natsu and Shanks had shared a dark look however, they would likely need to bring the matter to the Council's attention at some point. For now, however, they had more pressing concerns.

"You seem like you're a bit unsteady on your feet Natsu," Shanks noted as they watched some of his crew take the now covered corpses of Whitebeard and Ace away through a portal. "You want to leave this to me?"

"I'll stay for now, at least until those two are buried," came the mute reply as Seilah popped into existence next to him. "Go to wherever Luffy and Jimbei were taken and make sure they end up at Amazon Lily."

"Understood, though my contact will likely want to talk to you once you return to that island."

"Tell him I'll bargain with him once my business with Shanks is sorted, no sooner."

"I will," Seilah nodded, dipping her head slightly before fading away as he turned his full attention back to Shanks.

"Guess we should get moving-?"

"Hold a moment!"

Turning back, Natsu was met with the sight of Iskandar coming up to him, usual grin missing though he showed no other signs of defeat.

"Iskandar?"

"When time permits, we would ask that you head to these coordinates," the King Of Conquerors muttered as he slipped Natsu a note. "One of our strongholds in the New World."

"The Iron Weald," Shanks noted as he eyed the location before looking toward Iskandar questioningly. "You sure you want to reveal a secret like that?"

"This was not by our request, but rather by his own," the King Of Conquerors replied cryptically as he placed a firm hand on Natsu's shoulder. "You fought well upon this battlefield, just like the legends sung of our own version of you state. I was proud to have been able to experience part of a tale, if but briefly."

"You've never fought alongside my older self from Chaldea," Natsu asked with Iskandar shaking his head.

"There's always a lot of missions so we usually divide up the more powerful Servants," Ritsuka explained as he approached alongside Mash, both teens still clearly shaken by what they had seen and experienced here.

"What Master means is that Chaldea only has a limited number of resources so we can't afford to just send too many highly taxing Servants out at once," Mash continued with Ritsuka nodding along. "That was actually an idea the you we know came up with."

"I can see why," Natsu agreed as he turned back to face Iskandar. "I'll come when I can though I assume there is a time limit?"

"That there is, mainly thanks to the protections surrounding The Iron Weald put in place by the Casters."

"Alright then, after I've sorted what I've got to do with Shanks I'll stop by on my way back to Amazon Lily then."

"Believe me when I say that you won't be disappointed," Iskandar replied with a hint of his usual cheery self-shining through. "Dare I say that you might even be in for a shock!"

"Speaking of shocks," Mordred cut in as she flashed in next to Iskandar. "I'm gonna head back to Eden if that's alright?"

"You want to see Arthuria, don't you," Natsu replied with Mordred nodding once in agreement. "Alright then, I'll go with Shanks and see to Whitebeard and Ace's burial, go to The Iron Weald, then go pick you up from Eden and THEN go to Amazon Lily."

"Sorry about this Natsu, I just-."

Natsu shook his head in response and held his arms outward, the newly minted King immediately walking into his embrace as the two shared a tender hug.

"I understand, you want to show the most important version of your Father what you have become, how much you've grown. No need to explain it to me, Mordred."

"Well, it isn't just that," Mordred whispered as everyone else moved away to give the pair their moment. "Lancer Father is the only one who can help me with Rhongomyniad."

"Help?"

"I can use it, but my mind is clouded. I need to speak with both her and Merlin to figure out what's going on with my mind …"

"I would say the answer is rather obvious."

Natsu felt Mordred tense slightly as Morgan Le Fay appeared near the pair, her arms tightening around him almost on instinct which the Fairy Queen seemed to notice if the slight smile was any indication.

"You would rather see that fool Merlin over me, Mordred?"

"And what good would seeing you over him grant me, Mother?"

Morgan's eyes widened slightly at the familial label yet she moved on with all the grace of a Queen, speaking as if she'd never even reacted at all.

"There are things Merlin knows that I do not, such a statement is indeed true. However, there are many secrets that only I know that Merlin could not conceive in that empty head of his."

"Aren't you still under Tiberius' thumb," Natsu asked as he promptly ended the hug with Mordred and fully turned to face Morgan. "Why do you keep helping us?"

"Why indeed would I aide my child and future Husband?"

"You've called me that several times now yet something tells me it isn't true, is it?"

"You know not of your impact on others, refute the unknown despite knowing the true way of things. I truly love that about you."

Morgan smiled innocently at Natsu's confusion, a swarm of dark blue butterflies spawning around her with Mordred pulling her Master back slightly in response.

"We shall meet again once you have grown stronger, dear Husband," Morgan continued as she slowly began to fade away, her body breaking down into blue sparkles that seemed to be picked up by the wind. "As for you, Mordred … Well done."

Morgan fully vanished, Natsu turning to look to gauge Mordred's reaction only to find one of complete neutrality. Sensing his eyes upon her, she idly looked his way with a raised eyebrow with the Hybrid wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her close.

"Something within me definitely feels different, like part of me has heard such words from my Mother before?"

"I wish I could answer why you can't recall these things, but the fact is I'm pretty clueless about most of what your world's power is like," Natsu sighed as Mordred fully leant into him. "Speak to Arthuria and Merlin and when I come pick you up we'll talk about it again, okay?"

"Yeah … I will," Mordred muttered as she reluctantly pulled out of his embrace and took a step back. "As for you-."

A raised hand indicating for Mordred to stop was all she got, his eyes brooking no argument with the newly minted King frowning in response. It was a rare moment of clarity from the man who was slowly losing his mind, his eyes again showing the age and wisdom they should always hold, yet remain clouded.

"You couldn't have done anything more to stop this than anyone else Natsu, I won't budge on that stance!"

"I know that I couldn't have done more Mordred, trust me … I know."

"Stop running this so much then," Mordred sighed as she gently poked the side of his head before cupping his cheek tenderly. "As you are now, nothing good will come from dwelling on what could have been."

"I know …"

"Once we're back and know Luffy and that Jimbei guy are safe and sound, all three of us are gonna have a nice long sleep. Only after that are we gonna think about anything, kay?"

"Kay."

"Good," Mordred nodded as she finally let the tired and beaten down Master of hers go. "He's all yours Red Hair."

"Just one thing before we leave," Shanks said as he re-joined the pair. "I need you to fix something."

"Fix what?"

"He means, Dragneel, fixing Vice Admiral Momonga," the voice of Rommel cut in as Natsu sharply turned his attention toward the stern Servant who held the pile of meat in his arms. "Turn him back and we shall not put up a fight over your departure, despite what crimes you have committed between Sabaody and here."

"Won't fight me now, but later is a different story I'm guessing?"

"The Celestial Dragons brook no argument on your capture or execution," the Rider Class Servant replied grimly, surprising Natsu at how distasteful the man seemed to be about having to do what the Celestials wanted.

"Fine. Put him down and I'll turn him back."

Rommel did as instructed and placed the meaty form of Momonga on the ground with Natsu waving his hand over it lazily. The form started screaming as the blood that had been seeping out of the meat was sucked back in like a sponge soaking up water. The meat slapped together, the organs and bones reforming as a naked and shivering Vice Admiral popped into existence before their very eyes.

"Get him some therapy and he'll be fine," Natsu sniffed as he turned toward Shanks who nodded stiffly. "Let's get out of here."

"Right," the Red-Haired Pirate nodded as he placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder, the pair vanishing instantly.

Mordred sighed before looking over at Ritsuka and Mash, the pair seeming quite lost on what to do. Shaking her head, she walked over to the two teens and placed firm hands on their shoulders, startling them out of their dazed stupors as they both spun around to face her.

"M-Miss Mordred!?"

"Cut the 'Miss' part Mash, just Mordred to you guys," the King grinned momentarily before adopting a more serious demeanour. "About time we hit the road too."

"Where are we going," Ritsuka asked curiously only for Iskandar to barge his way back into the conversation with his usual rowdy and boisterous energy.

"Back to Eden, of course! There is no safer place for you to wait than there, Master Ritsuka!"

"I suppose that would make sense, considering that Natsu has …"

"He's just got a few things to take care of first before he comes and sees us, just like I've got stuff to do in Eden. Kind of balances out, y'know?"

"Fair enough," Ritsuka replied with a shrug as they made their way toward the series of ships that had pulled up on the edge of the heavily damaged island.

"It'll be a tight fit since we'll be taking many of the Whitebeard Remnants with us for now," Iskandar continued as they watched Artoria bark orders to many of the Knights and Paladins who scrambled to action. "Go on and board my flagship you two, I just need a quick word with Mordred."

The two teens looked between one another and back toward Mordred before nodding and doing as the rowdy King commanded. Boarding his ship, the pair were lost in the sea of troops as Iskandar led Mordred away to a less crowded area.

"What is it, King Of Conquerors?"

"No need to be so cagey with me all of a sudden, my intentions are far from insidious, King Of Realignment," Iskandar chuckled softly as he leant up against the bow of a half destroyed Marine battleship. "How are you faring?"

"What?"

"You mask it well, but I can tell that you are somewhat lost, fearful even, of what you have become," the King replied with a slight dip of his head. "What you are, what you have become I should say, is something wholly unprecedented. You have, in essence, forced your way into history and become a King of legend."

"I know that."

"You might understand the significance, but do you understand the toll that has taken on your mind?"

"You mean the blank spots in my memory?"

"I overheard what you said earlier to the King Of Balance about speaking with Merlin and the King Of Knights back at Eden," Iskandar explained with Mordred simply crossing her arms expectantly for an explanation. "Each may bequeath answers, Mordred, but neither can unlock that which has been sealed away within the mind through the influence of the Greater Grail that has altered you."

"What do you know, Iskandar?"

"I'm not a Magus, so my opinion is skewed to my own experiences in the past with Grails," Iskandar replied as he got up and moved to stand before Mordred. "The Grails grant wishes, Mordred, but they also demand a toll in exchange. This is the way they have always been, even more so those wielded by the Mage King."

"So … You're thinking that the gaps in my memories are the work of the Greater Grail itself? You think that the memories it took are relevant somehow to this … toll the Grail has enacted?"

"I'm not saying anything for certain, Mordred," Iskandar replied as he placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "But I am saying that it is the most likely outcome. Merlin and Arthuria might know more than me, but I'd wager they'd tell you much the same."

Mordred nodded slowly, her eyes tracing down to her armoured hand as she dispelled them to reveal lightly scarred ones.

"Just what do these memories contain …?"

/Somewhere In The Ocean – Near The Red Line/

"I hate closing these things," Cynthia sighed as she gripped the air around where Tiberius had split a hole in Existence, exposing the Void itself. "So sticky …"

"So now that we've disposed of the pest and are about to close the hole in Existence, do we pursue our next objective," Nocty asked as the muscles in Cynthia's arms bulged, veins popping outward as she grit her teeth.

The entire area shook violently as Arch Hybrid's Aura exploded out of her form, her grip on both sides of the tear tight as could be as she slowly dragged the tear shut. With an audible grunt, she smashed the two sides together and fired a Balanced Silver beam from both her eyes that struck the uppermost side of the tear.

Slowly moving the beam downward, it sealed the tear shut to leave only a thin silver line in its place. Cancelling the beam, Cynthia took a step backward and sighed, surveying her work as the thin line slowly faded away as if nothing had been there at all.

"Alright … What did you say Nocty?"

"Are we going to be pursuing the other objective Natsu gave us now that Tiberius is detained and the Void Tear sealed shut?"

"Ah, right," Cynthia giggled as she deactivated her Hybrid's Aura, her hair losing its strange appearance and returning to its default silver. "I suppose we can go find him."

Turning on her heel, Cynthia's armor vanished and in its place was a casual attire consisting of well-worn blue jeans, a plain form fitting red undershirt that did absolutely nothing to hide her rather impressive bust. A rather worn black leather jacket appeared over that, the symbol of the Hybrid pulsing at the centre of its back as a pair of black combat boots appeared in exchange for her old armoured ones.

"Baby still got it," Cynthia sang cheekily as she skipped across the water for a few metres before pausing and beginning to float on her back. "I feel like I'm forgetting something though?"

"Underwear?"

"Shut up Nova."

"A fashion sense?"

"When you get called hot by a Love Goddess come talk to me again."

"I suppose you want us to be all serious still," Nova sighed as she felt the two entities within her stir. "Very well then."

"Did you forget what we were supposed to do with the Void energy?"

"No, I remember that part. Da Vinci wanted it for that experiment she was conducting regarding Void Travel."

"Stray Aura?"

"Sucked it all up."

"That moon you obliterated and the four hundred thousand people living there you atomized into space dust?"

"Ah … right … that."

"Was that it?"

"Yeah …"

"Do you remember our lessons on Celestial Manipulation," Nocty asked as Cynthia nodded stiffly.

"Might be a bit rusty, but it should work out fine," Cynthia replied as she vanished.

Reappearing in space, the Third True Hybrid paused and surveyed the planet before taking note of all the other moons surrounding it. Closing her eyes, she opened them once again as she activated her Arch Hybrid's Aura, hair flicking back to become the same wavy substance from earlier and the wings and horn returning to her figure.

"A good thing we're fixing this now, the loss of one moon on this planet would have had catastrophic effects on global weather patterns, not to mention the oceans themselves," Nocty noted as Cynthia's hands became coated in a blackish substance that had stars within its depths, almost like she had conjured space itself.

"Let me know if I'm messing up somewhere, alright Nocty?"

"Will do, now get to it," Nocty replied as Cynthia brought her hands together like she was cupping them.

A faint glow began to leak out from between her fingers as she slowly expanded the distance, a small glowing blue ball made of pure energy having manifested. Raising her right hand that held the small sphere upward as gently as she could, the sphere throbbed and slowly started expanding.

The delight on Cynthia's face was rather adorable, almost like a Mother watching her newborn take her first steps as the sphere began to slowly float out of her hand and over to the space the old moon had once been. Once the sphere was at the centre of where the old moon had been, it suddenly halted in place.

"Now to expand …"

Bringing her hands together like she was clapping, she slowly dragged them apart as the small sphere grew rapidly in size until it dwarfed the other floating rocks and debris around their position. Eventually, it was large enough to be as big as the old moon and so she halted its growth.

"And the finishing touches …"

Flying around the surface of the sphere, Cynthia checked it for imperfections. Despite being made from pure Aura still, it was no less prone to defects like all things. Finding none, she nodded and moved to float above the uppermost central point of the sphere as her hands again became coated in the same starlike miasma.

"Breathe deep little one, this planet needs you," Cynthia cooed as she gestured forward with her hands and the starlike miasma shot out toward the sphere, quickly surrounding it until its entire form was obscured.

Flying around the now massive starlike ball, Cynthia's joyous, almost playful nature was on full display as she shot out more of the miasma to fill in any holes. Once all the holes were filled, she returned to a central point and closed her eyes.

"Breathe deep little one, there are many souls that need you!"

A monstrous surge of Aura was fired directly at the giant sphere from Cynthia's eyes, striking the central point immediately as the entire surface of the sphere shuddered. Almost like ice freezing over water, a solid rock surface began to overtake the starlike miasma until none remained.

"Arch Hybrid's Aura: Celestial God's Clair de lune!"

Floating before the trio was a perfect replica of the moon Cynthia had obliterated earlier, right down to the details of the homes that had been on its surface. Scanning the surface with her eyes for a brief moment, Cynthia sighed, knowing what came next.

"Now for the fun part …"

"You blew it up, you have to fix it," Nova chided playfully as the Aura being put out by Cynthia became something so downright cold that their blood would freeze half the planet away.

"Good thing I'm all the way up here," she idly thought as her eyes caught sight of the abandoned moon next to them freezing over. "Still, gotta be done."

Landing on the surface of her newly recreated moon, Cynthia extended her arms outward as her mouth opened so wide her jaw dislocated and dropped down over four metres, a bright golden light at the centre of her exposed throat.

Making a horrific gagging sound, Cynthia started rapid-firing out strange ghost-like entities that swiftly flew all across the moon before landing in certain spots. Within a minute, over four hundred thousand had been fired out and, upon the last leaving, her jaw snapped shut as all the ghost-like entities froze in place.

"Eugh … I hate doing that," Cynthia remarked in disgust as she rubbed her jawline. "Hurts like a bitch!"

"Save the whining until AFTER we're done here, hmm," Nova replied cheekily earning her a mere roll of the eyes as Cynthia got to work.

"Arch Hybrid's Aura: Death God's Bobina aleatoria!"

Her hands coated in the power of Death itself, Cynthia clapped and all the ghost-like entities instantly turned back into the strange denizens who lived on the moon prior to its destruction. None even had an inkling that anything had happened as they continued about their day like they hadn't just been nuked out of existence and brought back.

Many eyed Cynthia briefly before shrugging and returning to their daily lives, not overly bothered by her as they were aliens in space and had space travel capabilities.

As for Cynthia herself, she reverted to her base form and sighed audibly before plopping down on a nearby park bench.

"Damn … I'm beat," the Third True Hybrid groaned as she rolled onto her back and looked up at the stars. "Being a Servant sucks dick."

"Be grateful you had the raw power to do as much as you did by yourself," Nova replied as Cynthia moved the stars around with her eyes lazily.

"Back when I was alive I could do so much more though …"

"But you AREN'T alive anymore, none of us truly are," Nocty chimed in casually as Cynthia stretched and moved the stars back into place with a wave of her hand. "Whining aside, we need to get onto that last thing."

"Dad's thing can wait," Cynthia huffed as she rolled onto her stomach and closed her eyes. "I'm having a nap."

"No nap."

"Nap."

"No nap Cynthia!"

"Nap."

"Its like arguing with a five-year-old, not a being that has lived well over a millennium," Nova huffed only to growl at the cheeky smirk shot at her by Cynthia in their shared mindscape.

"Nap."

/The Sacred Holyland Of Mariejois – The Room Of Authority/

The Five Elders sat in their usual meeting place, surrounded by multiple screens of different locations, with grim expressions on their faces.

The events at Marineford had gone an unexpected way. Whitebeard and Ace had died, but the emergence of Red Hair was not something they had foreseen. The Devil of their world had actively stepped in and put a stop to the war to prevent any more chaos from being generated.

The other situation regarding what happened to Tiberius was one that had them rather nervous as well. Having been given power by him of all people, Tiberius had been manhandled and put away like a toy by a Servant version of Dragneel's Daughter.

The damage done to the Red Line by their scuffle was extensive and required immediate attention lest the entire section crumble, allowing a new crossover point in the world. They could not afford such a thing, not now.

"So, what do we do from here," one of the Elders muttered as he looked up from where he was seated. "If we step in and try to face the retreating Eden Forces, Whitebeard Pirates or Dragneel, it will draw the ire of Red Hair."

"On that front, we do nothing," the tallest of the Elders replied bitterly as he clenched his right fist. "Even Rider knows there is nothing that can be done."

"Whitebeard has been slain, as has Portgas D Ace," the third Elder with the cane added quickly as he stamped it into the ground. "Though not as decisive, this is still a victory!"

"But for how long," the youngest Elder pondered as they all looked at a frozen still of Natsu and Shanks standing together. "The Celestial Dragons want Natsu Dragneel's head immediately. If we let him go here …"

"And what can we do at this stage," the last elder with a Dai-Katana asked sharply in response. "We go after him and all of Eden and Red Hair himself will come for us!"

"Yet if we do nothing, Dragneel will be allowed to regain strength," the youngest responded in kind as all the Elders fell silent.

Just as one was about to speak however, the double doors slammed open as a Marine Captain sprinted in and skidded to a stop before the Five Elders.

"Five Elders!?"

"What is it," one of the Elders asked, noticing a report in the man's hand. "If this is about Marineford-?"

"N-no! There's big trouble at Base G-1"

"G-1? The base in the New World," the tallest Elder asked in kind as he took the report, adjusting his glasses so he could read it.

Skimming the first few lines, the man's jaw dropped along with the entire report as the Marine Captain quickly moved to scrounge it up.

"Impossible …"

"What is it," another of the Elders asked as the tallest one slowly turned to face them.

"The entire island, including our base, has been slain to the last."

Silence reigned in the room, the only sound being the hum of the Projector Snails as they displayed the images of events going on around the world. Without being prompted, all images shifted to Marine Base G-1 as the Five Elders and the Marine Captain unanimously turned to face it.

"Isn't that where we sent General Makenshi with the-?"

"Yes," the tallest Elder replied grimly as the image showed the entire area on fire, bodies littering the streets with rivers of blood flowing freely down the roads. "Yes, it was."

"Captain," the Elder with the cane muttered, stirring the man to attention. "I want Cipher Pol Aegis Zero dispatched to G-1 immediately. As many as can be mustered."

"S-Sir!?"

"Also, send word to Marineford and inform Rider, Sengoku and Archer," another Elder added as the Marine Captain hastily wrote down his orders. "We may need to send a fleet there to support CP0."

"I-I'll get right on it," the Marine Captain replied as he saluted before sprinting out of the room.

"This is not good," the tallest Elder muttered as their eyes remained locked on the morbid scene before them. "That is far too close to Egghead Island …"

"We should warn Doctor Vegapunk," one of the Elders hummed in agreement as they all finally tore their gazes from the ghastly scene. "He may not retreat, but at least he will be aware."

But the biggest question on their minds was just what was at Marine Base G-1?

/Tamarind Island, The New World – Same Time/

Bodies littered the streets of the usually peaceful island town of Tamarind. A town comprised of only adults due to the Marine Base G-1, many would count their blessings that no children were present that day.

The blood coating the entire island was extensive. It was a complete gorefest with body parts strewn about the place, chunks of flesh and bone covering the land. To the keen-eyed observer though, all the blood appeared to be slowly flowing somewhere.

To Marine Base G-1.

At said Marine Base, more bodies littered the area until one reached a courtyard that the Marines would use for training. That courtyard, it appeared, had only one singular trail that led to a single being that sat stock still at its centre.

The being appeared to be soaking up all the blood, not registering much else around them as another walked out of a nearby building.

The figure that emerged from the building was a man with short, silky straight silver hair that blew elegantly with the wind. His eyes were a Blood Red colour and he wore a rather plain silver suit with no tie, red undershirt left unbuttoned from mid chest to expose a deep scar at the centre of it and a pendant bearing a crescent moon.

"No sign of the damn thing," the man huffed as he plopped down on a chair near the other figure. "Kinda getting sick of this shit to be honest."

"I-I tried to tell you that we weren't gonna find it like this," another male voice stuttered in response as a third figure emerged from the same room the first man had come from. "We shouldn't even be here right now!"

This man was dressed much differently than the other two figures. He wore a basic uniform that was suit pants, dark green bomber jacket with black and silver highlights around the rip area and a zipper bearing a familiar crest. He had blonde hair and wore thin framed glasses that did nothing to disguise his rather nervous demeanour.

"Who cares if we're meant to be here on not," the first man laughed as he summoned a drink out of nowhere and floated it over to the nervous man. "Have some liquid courage man!"

"I-I don't think getting drunk in this place is such a good idea …"

"Hmm, true," the confident man replied as he floated the drink back toward himself and skulled it in one go. "Still, you'll need to man up a little more, y'know? I mean, aren't you meant to be one of Chaldea's best staff or something, Meuniere?"

Staff Member Of The Chaldea Security Organization

One Of The Last Living Modern Humans

Best Friend Of A Rebellious Man

Jingle Abel Meuniere

"I-I know I need to be braver," Meuniere sighed as he looked back toward the man before him. "But I'm not like you guys, I don't have any special powers or talents to defend myself. I'm just an average Mage …"

"Fuck off with that man, you're awesome! Only awesome people get to be my friend!"

"Then what does that make me," the third figure asked lazily as they looked over their shoulder with a cheeky gleam in their eyes.

"Fucking mental," was the cheeky response which elicited an amused giggle from the figure sitting on the ground.

"I don't know, you have a pretty weird way of looking at things," Meuniere replied slowly with the man chuckling in understanding. "I'm just an ordinary Mage and you guys are … well … YOU! You get what I'm saying, right Ciaran?"

One Of The Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors

Ancestor XII

King Of The Land Of Shadows

Fourth True Hybrid

Ciaran Cothromachadh Dragneel

"Can't say that I do, and rightly so," Ciaran grinned as he vanished and appeared behind Meuniere, pulling the man into a headlock where he proceeded to give him a noogie. "You're cool enough to hang with us so you're good enough as you are buddy!"

"ACH-!? STOP THAT CIAR!"

"Let him go Ciaran," the third figure giggled as they rose up from the ground and sauntered toward the pair. "But he's right, you should be proud of your accomplishment Meuniere."

Looking over, Meuniere couldn't help but sigh at the woman before him. He had two overpowered beings telling him he was great so why should he argue with them, even if he inwardly felt useless.

The woman seemed to understand this and, as Ciaran released him, she gently pat him on the back.

"All beings have worth Meuniere, do not doubt yourself," the woman said kindly as Meuniere met her Blood Red eyes. "You are good enough to work for Chaldea, take pride in that accomplishment and build upon its great foundation."

"I-I know I shouldn't doubt myself guys, its just-!"

"We're God-like beings and you're a Human and you feel intimidated by us," Ciaran answered before the man could even finish his sentence.

"Y-yeah …"

"Don't worry about that shit man, just live in the moment!"

Looking toward the woman on his right, Ciaran's eyes softened as he took in her form. Wearing a purple bomber jacket with a strange rune emblazoned on its back, black form fitting undershirt, a pair of black cargo shorts that fell just below her knees, a pair of black socks that were mismatched and a basic pair of white sneakers, the girl looked the epitome of a tomboy.

Her short blonde hair swept lazily to the side, Blood Red eyes and the lollipop in her mouth only accentuated that analogy as she grinned Ciaran's way, exposing two fangs in response.

"Living in the moment is how I found her, after all. Right, Altrouge?"

One Of The Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors

Ancestor IX

True Ancestor

Eclipse Princess Of Black Blood

Former Devil Of Destruction

Altrouge Dragneel

"You're such a cheesy sap," Altrough scoffed as the last of the blood was absorbed by her form. "But yes, you are correct. Though I could certainly have done without the ice cream in my face part."

"Heh, I still remember how mad you were," Ciaran chuckled fondly before turning back to Meuniere. "Point is man, don't stress about how strong you are, right? Just live for now, worry about what you know you can handle and let those of us with power worry about the really serious shit."

"That makes me feel even more useless since you don't want me around when things go south …"

"Argh-! I didn't mean it like that," Ciaran gasped as Altrouge giggled on the sidelines. "I meant to say that you don't have to worry about nothing serious because we've got your back!"

Meuniere's head was down, eyes shadowed by his bangs as Ciaran began to panic, unsure of what to do as he looked between the sad man and a giggling Altrouge.

"Argh! I ain't no good at this stuff Alt, stop laughing at me!"

"No one asked you to be good at it Ciar," Altrouge giggled as she motioned back toward Meuniere.

Turning back to face the man, he was stunned to see his friend laughing at him as well, no sign of distress present whatsoever.

"The fuck!?"

"Come on man, you can't say I didn't get you that time!?"

"Get me … YOU CRAFTER LITTLE FUCKER!"

Both Altrouge and Meuniere laughed at Ciaran's expense for several moments, enjoying the man's sulking until both higher beings tensed, instantly on alert.

H-huh," Meuniere gasped as he rode down his laughter high. "What's wrong?"

"Someone's here," Ciaran muttered softly. "Someone strong."

"Its nice to know that the two of you classify me as strong," a soft yet powerful voice replied which had Meuniere spinning around in shock to see a man standing atop a strange floating craft.

"Wh-who is that!?"

"Makenshi," Ciaran muttered as both he and Altrouge moved to stand in front of Meuniere. "Haven't seen one of your kind in a good few centuries …"

"There aren't many of us," General Makenshi replied as he lazily stepped off of his floating platform and floated to the ground. "Many could say the same of your race, the Dead Apostles, or in your case Ciaran Dragneel … the Hybrid."

"H-how does this guy know who you two are," Meuniere asked shakily only for Makenshi to directly answer his question.

"Their arrival was immediately noticed, their identities determined and their weaknesses analysed by the Mage King."

"So, Solomon's been watching this world closely, has he!?"

"His gaze watches all, Ciaran, as you very well know," Makenshi replied as the entire area began to shake. "Nevertheless, I did not come to trade pleasantries with fellow outcasts."

"Even being what you are, you think you can take both of us on," Ciaran replied, his eyes shifting to a Balanced Silver with Altrouge's turning Pitch Black.

"I know that neither of us can truly kill the other," Makenshi replied as massive gaping holes in the earth opened up all around him and dozens of familiar tentacle creatures emerged around Makenshi.

"Solomon's Demon God Pillars," Altrouge hissed as Makenshi lazily moved to stand atop one and was elevated high above their current position.

"In order for this plan to go off without a hitch, the two of you need to be eliminated before the King of this world discovers your true identities."

"King," Ciaran replied as a sword detached itself from Makenshi's belt and floated out before him. "This world doesn't have a King!?"

"To your knowledge," was the whispered response. "Either way, neither of you will live long enough to discover the truth."

With a flick of his wrist, Ciaran sent Meuniere back to Chaldea right as one of the Demon God Pillars locked its eyes on his position, calling down a powerful explosive blast of raw energy that would have obliterated the man.

Both Altrouge and Ciaran vanished and reappeared near Makenshi who had already moved himself as yet another vital battle for a greater war began.

Ok so I'm going to be nice and offer some translations for stuff from this chapter because there were a lot of different languages in here.

Clair de lune – Moonlight (French)

Bobina aleatoria – Coil Shuffle (Spanish)

Ciaran – Little Dark One (Irish/Celtic)

Cothromachadh – Balance (Scots Gaelic)

So yes, Ciaran's name is meant to be a rough translation into Little Dark One of Balance and this was as close as I could really get it. He exists, he's been planned since the start and his name was always meant to be something like that so hopefully he goes down well!

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!