"History's a collection of bullshit people just happen to agree upon."
- Johannes Bolton, President of the Bolton Company

A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!


"Catch me if you can, nerds!"

Miners evacuating the area stared quizzically at the spirited display before them. Their boss, who was commonly known to be ruthless, conniving, and short-tempered, was joyfully sprinting towards a cave suspected of housing vicious monsters. Whoever would have guessed that Black Jack had a playful side to him? Pursuing Johannes was a trio of young, snow-haired siblings with varying degrees of concern. Elfman glared as their competition disappeared into the darkness, and angrily pushed aside a mine cart unfortunate enough to get in his path.

"What were you thinking, sis?! You do know what happens if we lose, right?" Mira just giggled as they rushed to the entranceway, which was being held up by a series of wooden support beams. "We're going to win this silly bet, little brother. Mr. Bolton won't even know what hit him." Lisanna didn't seem any more convinced than Elfman but did her best to appear brave as she followed her sister through the quarry.

These caves were dark, grimy, and fairly unpleasant. In fact, it looked like the perfect setting for a horror story, with its only sources of light coming from low-quality lanterns hanging carelessly along the walls. Maybe Lucy could use this adventure of theirs as inspiration for her novel.

Springtails weren't going to be the only ones tasting defeat today, but admittedly, this would be a difficult task. While they did have an advantage in numbers, this was Jack's territory, and Mira could only assume he knew it well. The man probably had an idea of where to start looking, and by the sound of it, he got a relatively good head start.

That guy can really run, they couldn't even hear his echoing footsteps anymore. Mirajane swore she heard him yell out "I hope you're not too shy" from deeper inside the tunnel, which did nothing but spur her on. The most obvious course of action would be to split up so they could cover more ground, but that was far too risky.

Assuming Jack was telling the truth, there were a hundred of these things lurking about underground, and the mages had no idea where they were. She wasn't too worried about Elfman, he's overcome worse odds before, but Lisanna would be in serious trouble if the springtails were to attack in greater numbers. To make things worse, many of their Take Over forms couldn't be used in such a small space, meaning the two younger siblings were quite limited to what spells they could use.

The odds were against them, but Fairy Tail wouldn't yield. A loudmouthed bully was nothing in comparison to the horrors they faced back on Tenrou. They beat back Grimoire Heart, so they could surely beat Jack Bolton.

Mirajane held up her hand and signaled for them to stop.

"Well, this complicates things."

In front of them stood three daunting tunnels all leading three separate ways. They looked identical to each other, but choosing the wrong path could cost them dearly. This competition might be over before it truly began.

"I say we go left!" piped Lisanna, who gazed confidently into the darkness. Elfman grimaced and shook his head. "Nah, it's gotta be right! I've got a feeling!" Both sounded so sure, but of course, there wasn't any reason behind their choices, just wild guessing. "Where to, Mira? That creep is getting closer every second we spend standing around!" The elder sister shuffled her feet and nervously bit her lip. Which one, which one? Natsu would have been instrumental in winning this competition. He could just sniff out where Jack went and follow him. Since they didn't have a Dragon Slayer's nose, the barmaid had to rely on her base instincts and hope they just got lucky.

"Excuse me, miss? Are you here to get rid of the springtails?"

A rough-looking worker who was packing up his equipment caught the trio's attention. Although suspicious, Mirajane nodded.

"Mr. Bolton went through the middle tunnel there. The man was in hurry, you should go lend him a hand. JB needs all the help he can get against those damned bugs." Lisanna hopped excitedly and smiled. "Thanks, mister! Let's go, sis!" Reluctantly, Mirajane made her way through the wooden frame and along a new set of rail tracks, not wanting to give their opponent any more breathing room than necessary.

As their voices faded into silence, an arrogant chuckle escaped the miner's lips as he dumped the pickaxe he was holding on the stone flooring below.

"Heh. Dumbasses."

A horrific crunching noise emanated from his limbs and face as Jack morphed back into his original form. With a snap of his fingers, he requipped out of his disguise and replaced it with his signature long-sleeved shirt and jeans. The Strauss girl looked doubtful, but fell for his act regardless, she was way too trusting for her own good.

Johannes stretched his neck as he tightened his belt. That spell was uncomfortable but dangerously effective. He wasn't nearly as talented with Transformation Magic as Mirajane, but it was safe to say she wasn't the only shapeshifter around these parts.

"I hope those things don't rough her up too bad, although, a couple of scars here and there can be pretty sexy."

After patting himself on the back for his clever little trick, Bolton excitedly continued down the tunnel to his left, which he knew would lead deeper underground. Jack assumed Makarov didn't teach his "children" the most important lesson of all: trust no one.

This day was going swimmingly. First, he crushed an overgrown insect, then he got the opportunity to slap someone, and now he made a bet that was impossible to lose. One thing Jack failed to mention was that he only made such wagers when it was clear he would win. To him, gambling and deception went hand and hand.

His sharp sense of hearing picked up a familiar hissing noise from up ahead, it was unmistakably the same sounds he heard back in Oak Town. Warriors.

"Rumble time!"

Without skipping a beat, he summoned two menacing revolvers and pointed them psychotically into the shadows ahead. Black Jack grinned and opened fire like a cowboy in a saloon, unloading a barrage of death upon the foolish monsters blocking his path. Every man should know how to fire a gun, but few were better with a pistol than Johannes Bolton. Blinding flashes of red filled the tunnel, and the young man sighed in satisfaction as the springtails screeched out in pain.

One of them lunged at him, but Jack dove forward and landed on his back, shooting the beast in the stomach as it soared through the air. He didn't stop shooting until the walls were painted green. Of course, his weapons didn't shoot bullets like the average firearm. Instead, they used magic energy, which cut through flesh much more effectively than lead.

Bolton used far more magic power than necessary but believed it was worth it just to hear them squeal. The noises stopped, and Jack pressed on, not bothering to avoid stepping in the puddles of blood and guts decorating the floors.

He encountered some thick webbing, most likely spun by the queen to keep out intruders, and requipped an enchanted combat knife. Bolton hacked and slashed through the makeshift walls, and briefly considered capturing the giant insect instead of killing it. This stuff could easily be harvested and turned into silk, but the details of their wager contradicted that plan.

That bug had to die. There was no way the Fairies could catch him now. He was so close he could smell his target.

Jack smirked as he fantasized about Mirajane, taking off her dress, revealing the goods hidden underneath, it seemed almost too good to be true. All he had to do was fire a few more bullets and that dream could become a reality. Even if the siblings heard the gunshots, it would be practically impossible to tell where they came from, this place was a maze to someone who's never been here before.

After a bit more cutting, Bolton finally found what he was searching for, a trap door carved into the stone leading to the deepest part of the cave. It was far more open down there, and Black Jack couldn't think of anywhere else the queen could be hiding. After kicking through the shoddy wood, the oligarch jumped inside, disregarding the stairs and plummeting down into the unknown darkness below.

It was quite the drop, but the impact was nothing as he landed on his powerful ankles. There weren't many lanterns in this part of the cave, and caution was advised to miners who usually went down there.

In short, he was blind as a bat in that tunnel, so Jack requipped a couple of flares and chucked them with a mighty swing of his arm. Magic was useful, but tools and gadgets would determine the Bolton Company's future and that of mankind. The lads back at HQ have been working day and night to supply their clients with the latest tech, and Johannes couldn't resist an opportunity to try them out.

An explosion of white light illuminated the cavern, giving the man a chance to take in his surroundings. Patches of webbing similar to what he encountered earlier covered every inch of the walls, with giant eggs scattered along the rail tracks and tucked safely inside intricately spun nests. Gross-looking liquid dripped from the rocks above, and the distinctive stench all springtails carried assaulted his nostrils like a battalion of skunks.

This was the nursery, no doubt about it, every colony had at least one.

Queens generally raise their young deep underground, but that wasn't something the Strauss chick needed to know. Bolton picked up an abandoned shovel and started clanging it loudly against a rusty mine cart, so loud in fact, you could probably hear it all the way from Oak Town.

"Nap time's over, you little shits! Come and get me!"

More aggressive hissing, which sounded similar to the growling of an angered bear, echoed off the cavern walls. Plenty of warriors emerged from their hiding places, but no queen. They skittered creepily in formation, protecting their eggs and waving their cleaver-like tails threateningly towards him.

Jack grew tired of guns. It was time to use some real magic.

Tossing the shovel aside, he slammed a fist into his palm and put one leg in front of the other.

A large magic circle, crimson in colour, appeared in front of the man from thin air. It had an unusual pattern, and could best be described as an evil-looking snowflake. The light from the flares shone beautifully in unison with the glow from his spell. A soft humming noise accompanied the vicious snarls from the springtails, but he paid them no mind, they would cease soon enough.

Blood.

Long streams of blood gushed out from the light of the circle and hovered towards the monsters in his path. It dripped all over the cave flooring, and the sight would doubtlessly cause a lesser man to vomit from sheer disgust.

"Hemorrhage!"

The red liquid suddenly hardened, turning into long spikes as sharp as arrows. With a wave of his hand, Jack thrust the blood spears deep into the springtails' skulls, impaling them. Their screams reverberated throughout the mines like a choir of agony. Bolton found it soothing, in fact, it calmed him. Those deadly weapons he conjured up moved at the speed of light and extended many meters and length, making it quite an effective spell to use from long range. Just as soon as they came, the spears dissipated back into nothingness

Insect goo painted the surrounding floor and webbing, and the man calmly walked forward and knelt down to the nearest corpse, trying to ignore the revolting stench it was emanating. Jack ran a couple of fingers through the puddle and examined it thoroughly. "Green, huh? Can't say I tried it before."

Curious of the springtail blood's flavor, Bolton did the unthinkable. He tasted it.

And immediately gagged.

"What the hell?! I once drank from an eighty-year-old woman who tasted better than you!"

Spitting the remains onto the ground, the oligarch proceeded with the task at hand. He was a blood mage, an art that presumably died out centuries ago. It was a very rare and powerful form of magic, but it did come with some drawbacks, hence his unquenchable thirst. While alcohol served as a suitable distraction, it could never hold him back for long. He needed liquor of a different kind.

While the government never officially banned this type of sorcery in Ishgar, it was generally frowned upon, which served as the main reason why Jack learned to Requip. The people of Fiore wouldn't be thrilled if they learned of their future king's bloodlust, so he had to keep it hidden. In time, however, all would be revealed.

"Alright, Ms. Sunshine, where you at? I've butchered all your kids, so maybe I'll help myself to your egg-"

A sharp pain cut through his body, and he didn't even hear or see it coming. Jack yelled out more in surprise than pain as the end of a giant tail sliced across his chest, ripping the white shirt he wore underneath. Where did that come from? "You like it rough, huh?! I like that in a girl!" Before Bolton had a chance to cast, a sticky glob of webbing was shot out from the shadows and took hold of his right hand, rendering it immobile.

The man could see it now. Massive armor and legs, with an even larger tail to boot. A queen. A furious queen whose children he slaughtered like sheep. Its markings were different from the warriors, but everything else looked about the same, ugliness and all. The springtail's pincers looked as if it could split a boulder in two, and was yanking Jack forward vengefully through its webbing, hoping to indulge in a decent meal.

It swung again, but the man ducked just in time to avoid getting his head chopped off. Johannes planted his feet and grunted, resisting the bug's attempt to move him. He then noticed the gleaming speck of red-tipped on the monster's tail. Blood, more specifically, his blood. The man grinned, this was convenient.

"Scarlet Fever!"

The fluid suddenly glowed and accelerated to temperatures unheard of this far beneath the surface. It burned the creature, severely, and was hot enough to melt the razor-sharp tip of its weapon clean off. The queen snarled and shook wildly in hopes of making this blazing feeling subside, but it was no use.

This metaphorical lion had neither teeth nor claws, so Jack went in for the kill. Gripping the stringy webbing with his free hand, Bolton ripped himself free and delivered a powerful kick to the springtail's jaw, snapping one of its pincers off.

Requipping his favourite handgun, Black Jack prepared to put this creature out of its misery, eager to claim his prize from a certain barmaid hopelessly lost in the mines of Oak Town.


"My, my, that was clever. Sharp as a whip and tough as a rock. Just look at those muscles. I would suck every last drop out of him. My little pets didn't stand a chance."

"Stop gawking, you fool! This young man is not yours to toy with! Did you not hear the whispers? The omens? The patterns in the sea? He belongs to her and her alone."

"Jealousy. I can smell the jealousy oozing out of your mouth, sister. There is no use in denying it. We both know you want the Bolton boy all to yourself."

"Nonsense! HERESY! Shall I rip out your tongue and add it to my collection, sister? Humans are petty, disgruntled creatures filled with greed, arrogance, and lust. I would never desire him, and neither should you!"

"Cease your petty bickering, sisters. You know the mistress hates it when her children fight. Now watch. Take it in. Let the vessel work."

"What is he doing strutting around a mine?! This is pointless! We are no step closer to freeing the old one!"

"Incorrect. In fact, we are closer than ever. Patience has never been your strong suit, little sister. Pay attention. The girl. The Strauss girl. This meeting wasn't a coincidence, it was fate. A fate spun by the Blood Queen herself."

"Or perhaps he only enjoys the company of white-haired girls? Maybe we should send down a little plague to sort her out? Cast a few curses, maybe? I would make that harlot suffer for having such a pretty face. What has she done to deserve it?"

"We will do no such thing. The boy will continue his journey undisturbed. At least for now. He doesn't need to concern himself with the details."

"Can he be trusted?! Can the Blood Queen keep hold of his leash?! That man is growing stronger day after day, how can we be sure he won't rebel against her?"

"Irrelevant. Johannes loves the mistress like a mother. He's looking forward to her resurrection just as much, if not more, than us. His loyalty comes without charge."

"The thought of him marrying that wretch Hisui boils my black blood. Let me give her a few warts, at least. They would match her eyes."

"You call yourself a witch?! You call yourself a crone?! Those lowly creatures aren't even worth toying with. Focus on the task at hand!"

"I'm plenty focused. You're the only one straying from our goal, sister. That foul temper won't do you any favours."

"Enough! We will watch. We will wait. We will listen. Anything and anyone who stands in our way will crumble to ashes. The Blood Queen commands it, sisters. Johannes is the only one who matters."


"Why are you always scowling, Lord Rainfall? This is a time for celebration. I'm sure that handsome face of yours would look much better with a smile. Come now, let's see it!"

Of course, all she got was an unimpressed glare in response. The knight escorting the pair shot Crenshaw a dirty look for her tone but chose to remain silent. "You're funny. Mouthy women don't tend to last long in Sailor's Hill, Elizabeth. I've grown to tolerate you, but do be careful." The businesswoman put a hand on her chest in mock surprise. "Arlon, you're making me blush, we hardly know each other! However, this would be a lovely setting for your proposal, should I be expecting a wedding ring?" Rainfall hummed. He didn't look angry, but he wasn't exactly thrilled by her comments.

"Shall I cut out her insolent tongue, my lord?"

Elizabeth turned and watched the knight reach for her sword, eyes burning with fury.

"No, Lucilia. She's our guest, not a common bandit. Keep that blade sheathed."

Although she appeared mildly disappointed, the warrior obediently did what she was told.

"Interesting. Women in the Southern Coast have fewer rights than a farm animal, and yet this one stands proudly by your side, cutlass at her hip. How did that come to pass?" Rainfall signaled them to continue walking. "I made an exception for her. Lucilia here could fend off a hundred Bolton men. I am many things, Lady Crenshaw, but two things I am not are ignorant and close-minded. A leader utilizes every resource he has for the good of his house, surely someone in your position can comprehend that." She grinned and adjusted her glasses.

"Of course. Duly noted."

Throne Harbour was a glorious sight, even to one who wasn't particularly interested in naval affairs. Masterfully built gunships donning Rainfall's colours could be seen casting off gracefully into the Cobalt Sea, most likely to hunt pirates infesting the waters. Being an island near the coast, the only way to reach Sailor's Hill was by boat, and the Admiralty didn't have much tolerance for intruders. Heavy-duty cannons littered the ramparts and towers surrounding the fortress, ready to obliterate anyone or anything stupid enough to trespass on their domain.

Blue banners with serpents on them could be seen at every turn, watching your every move. It was a little unsettling, but nothing in comparison to the atmosphere Elizabeth was used to back at Head Quarters.

"Oh my. What did those poor saps do to get on your bad side, Arlon?"

The Lord Admiral looked over carelessly to where Crenshaw was pointing. A trio of corpses, hanging six feet above the ground, swayed underneath a wooden beam overlooking the harbour. A noose. It lost popularity throughout the rest of Fiore, but the Rainfalls were firm believers in tradition. Two of them were gruff, vicious-looking men, but the third seemed… out of place.

It wasn't a murderer or a foul rapist that dangled there, but a pretty young girl, who honestly didn't look much older than eighteen. The maiden's skin wasn't rotten yet, so she couldn't have been dead for very long. Her golden hair stood out along with her large emerald eyes, but what really caught Crenshaw's attention was her ears, which were unusually long and pointed.

No doubt remained in the woman's mind, this girl wasn't human.

"The pair on the left were convicted of piracy and treason, as for the elf," Arlon spat out the word with sheer hatred, "well, her crime was existing."

"My, my, what would your father say, Lord Rainfall? He was quite the humanitarian. Surely this isn't-"

"Humanitarian? Ryhard was a weak fool. A weak fool blind to the evil spreading throughout the lands he swore to protect. I would sooner catch scurvy and throw myself off the Stormwall before letting these disgusting monsters prowl about unchecked. They're not even human, Elizabeth. Do you disapprove?"

She flinched slightly at the lord's venomous tone. Elves were a touchy subject to Arlon, and most had to learn that the hard way. Crenshaw gazed deeply into the hanged girl's lifeless eyes. It certainly didn't look like a monster. The elf had no fangs, no claws, no tail, just a pair of thin, long ears, which were even appealing in their own way. However, Elizabeth knew it would be unwise to voice her thoughts at that very moment.

"No, Arlon. I understand. Rest assured, no offense was meant."

The man scoffed and continued marching along the path. "Lies. You must think me a tyrant. I take no pleasure in carrying out these sentences, Vice President, it simply needs to be done. Our king made a grave error by opening his gates to Elvara. Of course, men like me are left to suffer the consequences. I'm trusting Johannes won't be as tolerant of the elves as Toma?"

The woman tried her best to fight back a frown. "Of course, Lord Rainfall." The trio continued the rest of their short walk in silence, with guards bowing in respect as they passed, and Lucilia scowling at any dockworker who stepped too close to the admiral. They approached a small black ship docked on the far side of the harbour, adorned with red sails and flying the Bolton Company's flag.

It was a modest schooner, but nothing in comparison to the elite warships of Sailor's Hill. This is why it was important to keep Arlon happy. Johannes needed control over the waves to solidify his rule, if they had to pick off a few non-humans to make that happen, then so be it.

Although, it didn't exactly sit well with Crenshaw. Black Jack was no saint, but he would never resort to genocide.

"Fortune and favour to you, Elizabeth. Send my regards to Mr. Bolton. I'm looking forward to meeting this doctor of yours." The businesswoman smiled cockily. "You didn't need to escort me back to my ship personally, Arlon. What a fine gentleman Ryhard has raised."

Lucilia grunted angrily. "You will not address the Lord Admiral with such disrespect, mainlander. He's done with you, so be on your-"

An arrow to the stomach silenced the knight, making her stumble and causing Crenshaw to leap back in surprise.

"DIE, HUMANS!"

A dozen figures, all wielding weapons, leaped out of a nearby hay cart and charged toward them like a pack of starving wolves.

"Elves! To arms, men!"

The guerrillas' armor was covered in leaves and other forms of camouflage in an attempt to make them blend in with their surroundings, and their faces were smeared in red paint to flaunt unpredictable ferocity. Lucilia tore the projectile from her breastplate and stoically drew her sword, with nearby guardsmen following suit.

Elizabeth couldn't hold back a gasp as she witnessed the knight slice a combatant in two, blood flowing like a fountain as the elf collapsed onto the ground. One of them managed to reach Arlon himself, but the lord simply gripped the assassin's wrist and drew his flintlock pistol, shooting him dead in the neck. He turned to a now horrified Crenshaw as the chaos ensued.

"Get to cover. Now."

She ducked behind a couple of barrels as the skirmish continued. Rainfall's knight butchered yet another one of her opponents, and although no one else could see it, Elizabeth knew she was smiling. The renegades were simply no match for heavily armoured soldiers, and seeing that their numbers have thinned drastically, their leader ordered a retreat. His instructions were yelled out in elvish, and the warriors hastily tried to get out.

One of them drew their bow and shot one last arrow in Rainfall's direction, but much to the elves' misfortune, he caught it midair. Only four of them remained, who tucked tail and ran in the opposite direction.

"Don't let them escape!" shouted Lucilia.

Furrowing his brows, Arlon calmly held out a hand, those green eyes of his glowing a dark shade of blue. The magic energy radiating from his palm could be sensed from miles away, and Crenshaw felt like she was going to vomit from the ethernano pulsating in the surrounding air.

"Drown. Die."

A tidal wave rained down from a gigantic magic circle that appeared in the sky above, completely engulfing the fleeing skirmishers like a raging tsunami. The pressure alone was enough to break their bones on impact, and being underwater, none could hear their screams. They desperately tried to escape, but to no avail, and the elves began drowning in the wild currents that were spinning them around like a top. Everyone just stared as the water from Lord Rainfall's spell subsided and flowed into the sea. All that remained was a few terribly disfigured bodies, with water oozing grotesquely out of their mouths and nostrils.

Water Magic.

"Tend to the wounded and search the docks! There could be more of them lurking about! Move!" Harbour bells started ringing as the men set off on an elf hunt, all eager to rid themselves of the Admiralty's perennial enemy.

Arlon sighed and approached Lucilia, who was clutching the arrow wound in her stomach. The knight winced as he inspected her injury with that calculating gaze of his.

"F-Forgive me, my lord. They shouldn't have gotten so close. I-"

"Are you alright?" Rainfall's voice was surprisingly gentle, although still possessing a certain amount of firmness to it. She quickly shut her mouth and nodded. Crenshaw, who mostly recovered from the excitement, watched on in mild surprise. The lord seemed… concerned. Worried even. "Thank the waves your armor's made of truesteel, Lucilia, you'd be dead otherwise. To the infirmary. Go now." The warrior wanted to protest but knew better, and she rushed off to get patched up.

Arlon turned to Elizabeth, who got back to her feet and offered a serious look. "Do you understand now, Vice President? These creatures know nothing but violence. They would have killed me, killed my men, and would then proceed to rape you. I need to know right here and now, Elizabeth. Will Johannes help me defeat them?"

The raven-haired woman shakily picked up her glasses and set them back on her head.

"Yes. Yes, he will. Under Bolton's leadership, the elven population in Fiore will be made to suffer. You have my word."


"BEAST ARM: BLACK BULL!"

With a brilliant flash of light, Elfman transformed his arm into a weapon of mass destruction, swinging it forcefully in the feral springtails' direction. The bugs were sent flying back deeper into the tunnel, but it was no use, more just kept coming. It was endless. Whenever they crushed one bug, three more popped up in its place. "One hundred my ass! Bolton lied!" Lisanna huffed as she kept swiping at the monsters in her cat form, her sharp claws proving to be surprisingly effective against their armour. "And that miner guy earlier tricked us! There's no way he came through here without a fight!"

Mirajane narrowed her eyes at the businessman's deception. Johannes didn't have a sense of honour like Erza, nor did he have a sense of courage like Natsu, he was just a flat-out liar. A lecherous, unkind, selfish liar.

The barmaid lost her temper.

"EVIL EXPLOSION!"

The sphere of dark energy devastated their assailants, detaching insect limbs and sparking a sense of terror in the survivors.

The remaining springtails executed a tactical retreat and scurried off to fortify their position further down the mine. Seeing her targets scatter, the woman dispelled her Satan Soul form. Both Elfman and Lisanna panted and growled in frustration. They were way behind now. Not only did they waste precious time, but magic power as well, there was no way the trio could take on a springtail queen with a half tank of gas. The eldest Strauss huffed and took in her surroundings.

Everything looked the same wherever she went, rails, minecarts, and all. "Think, Mira. What would Master Makarov do?"

Her brother didn't exactly seem content with taking the time to strategize. "A real man doesn't play dirty tricks! I say we tear this place apart until we find him!" Elfman ground his foot into the wooden platform they were standing on to emphasize his anger, causing it to creak. Magistrate Burnside said these creatures tend to nest in low altitudes, they had to get deeper underground somehow.

"We should probably go back and take a different path. Jack wouldn't have sent us on this trail if it led anywhere," claimed Lisanna, who transformed back to normal. "No time! We need to keep trekking forward and hope this is where that bug is hiding! It's our only chance!" The large man kept shuffling around in place, oblivious to the squeaking from the shoddy bridge they were standing on. Mira shot him an irritated look.

"Elfman, if you keep that up, we're going to-"

SNAP!

The floorboards had enough, and the rotten wood collapsed under the wizards' combined weight. If their party didn't include someone with six hundred pounds of muscle, perhaps they would have fared better. Both younger siblings yelped as they slid down rapidly into the darkness.

"ELFMAAAAN!"

Mirajane took hold of her sister by instinct and braced herself as she rolled down the hidden tunnel. It was quite similar to a water slide in Ryuzetsu Land, but minus the fun. Elfman tried to stop their descent by extending his limbs, but he only succeeded in whacking his head against some rocks.

"WHY IS THIS SO STEEP?!"

After a few more tosses and turns, the Take Over wizards were quite dizzy, and not being able to see in the pitch-black only furthered their concerns. One more round of screaming later and the barmaid saw it. Light. No one knew where the hell this was leading, but they were certainly thankful it ended somewhere.

"Get ready for a rough landing!"

Just as Bolton was about to pull the trigger and finish off his prey, he looked up quizzically at the hole in the cave ceiling above him. That racket was so loud it nearly burst his eardrums, but it didn't sound like any springtail he'd heard of. No, those voices were human. All he could register was three white blurs rushing towards him, and his pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks when the man realized exactly where he was standing. You might as well of pinned a bullseye on top of his head.

Jack desperately tried to move, but it was far too late.

"WHAT THE FU-"

One of the figures slammed into him, causing Bolton to yell out in shock as the wind was knocked out of his lungs. They somersaulted a couple of times before the man landed harshly on his back, only to be met with a pair of shimmering blue eyes. "Oh, hello Jack-Jack. Fancy seeing you here." Mirajane couldn't help but smile at the thunderstruck look on Black Jack's face. It was almost cute, to be honest.

Strands of white hair tickled his skin as the businessman took in the sight before him. God, she was… beautiful from this close. How did he not see that back in Crocus? The hand that landed on Jack's chest could feel his heart thumping like a war drum. A fairy? No. The barmaid was closer to an angel. Bolton, who realized what was happening, dismissed those thoughts and made an effort to regain his senses. Now wasn't the time to get caught up in little details.

Wait, the queen wasn't dead yet. He didn't strike the killing blow! Bolton pushed Mira off of him (who yelped out in surprise) and quickly got back to his feet, hoping to take advantage of the siblings' confusion. "Ugh… what is this thing? Why's it so squishy?" Jack turned towards the source of that gruff voice and spluttered in a mixture of horror and outrage at what he saw.

The springtail queen was suffocating underneath Elfman's monstrous weight, and since Jack removed its tail earlier it had no chance of escaping. Johannes could only watch as the man child unknowingly stole his kill, in what was quite possibly the dumbest way possible. "Way to go, big brother! You got her!" cheered Lisanna happily, who fell on a large pile of webbing. The Take Over mage then recognized what he was sitting on. "Huh? Oh, yeah! Course I did! I'm a real man!"

Judging by the expression on Black Jack's face, Mira figured they won, and it felt great. The giant insect stopped twitching, and green goo splattered around the area where her brother had landed. She almost felt bad. By the looks of it, their opponent did the hard part, but a deal's a deal. "Well, Mr. Bolton, looks like you've lost this one. We'll be looking forward to your visit, I'm sure you'll love our new guildhall."

Johannes flared his nostrils as he glared at the insect's gooey carcass.

"Now I see how you dolts managed to live this long. Luck."

Lisanna smirked and brushed off her dress. "Huh. Someone sounds salty. You couldn't win even though you cheated!" Jack almost laughed, that little girl had no idea how things really work. Mages cheat, nobles cheat, kings cheat, the world is run by cheaters, it's just a fact. "Yeah, yeah. Very impressive, Fairy Tail. I'm sure the kids will be talking about this great victory for generations to come."

Elfman stood up and attempted to wipe the bug blood off his pants. "A real man keeps his promises, Black Jack. You better have a damn good apology ready for Natsu and Erza when you stop by Magnolia." He waved him off dismissively. "Yes, it'll be more precious than a virgin's tears. Call me a bastard all you want, but I always keep my word. Remember that."

Mira couldn't help but notice the state of the corpses spread throughout the floor. This guy took on all those warriors at once? Impressive.

"What about the springtails we saw earlier? Don't we need to take care of them as well?" asked Lisanna. "Don't bother. Now that the queen's dead, they'll abandon these caves and relocate deeper into the mountains. Well, this has been fun, barmaid, but it's time for us to part ways. I'll be sure to pop in soon."

That's when Mirajane saw it, a wicked-looking cut across Bolton's chest. The wound wasn't very deep, but would definitely get infected if not bandaged properly.

This man's arrogance might prevent him from getting it looked at in the first place, and Mira couldn't call herself a member of Fairy Tail if she stood by and did nothing. After a few more moments of consideration, the oldest Strauss spoke up.

"You're hurt."

Jack stopped for a moment and turned back around, unsure if he heard her correctly. "Wow, very perceptive of you. Why not take a picture, it'll last longer." Mira took a step closer to get a better view, taking note of the blood splattered around his chest. It was nasty-looking, that's for sure. "There's a medical clinic near the train station in Oak Town, Mr. Bolton, you need to go there and get that stitched up. It'll get infected otherwise." That motherly tone the woman was so famous for overpowered any feelings of contempt she felt for the young businessman. Mira simply couldn't let him leave, not yet, it would be cruel not to ensure he received proper treatment before leaving herself.

Needless to say, being told what to do didn't exactly sit well with Johannes.

"Well thanks, mom, but it's barely a scratch. My doctor back in New Everton will take a look at it. I'm sure I'll live." Elfman and Lisanna looked at each other in mild surprise. Their big sister always treated others with kindness, even to those who clearly didn't deserve it. They knew for a fact that most wizards would just pack up and call it a day, but not Mirajane. "You're going, Jack, it's not up for discussion."

Now that he thought about it, the wound was starting to sting, but there was no way in hell Bolton was going to admit it.

"Really now? Me, a greedy, whoremongering, devious oligarch who insulted your guild deserves concern and attention? I don't want or need anyone's pity, Strauss, so run along back to Fairy Tail."

The barmaid's eyes narrowed in a combination of anger and determination. Wordlessly she grabbed his hand and started pulling him through the mine, unable to take no for an answer.

Her siblings watched on in surprise, but neither was quite as baffled as Johannes himself. In fact, Black Jack was so confused that he didn't even put up a fuss, his anger and indignation from losing their bet evaporating into nothingness.

The girl's gentle touch surfaced unfamiliar feelings deep in the man's heart, and to be perfectly honest, they weren't entirely unwelcome.