"I've fled one time in my life, from the 7th Legion, and I'm not a damn bit ashamed."
- Unknown Dark Mage

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


Kristina Bolton
Beloved Wife, Mother, and Friend
X738 – X768

"It wasn't my fault."

He clenched his fists.

"I didn't mean to kill you."

A few sickly-looking ravens cawed overheard, hissing as Jack stared blankly at the tombstone before him. Whoever was in charge of maintenance around here deserved a serious flogging. The marble was littered with cracks, and dry patches of moss engulfed nearly every inch of its surface, thanks to Antegria's harsh, wild climate.

"I've always wondered how my life would have turned out if you survived that day. Would I have been… happier? Less angry? Hm, just another one of God's infinite mysteries."

Bolton's constricting grip on the bouquet of flowers he was holding loosened. "Then again, mom, if you didn't die, Draclana never would have found me. I never would have had an opportunity to bring about real change, to free the greatest dragon that ever lived. So, in a way, you served your purpose."

He gently placed the roses on the cold ground below.

"But wherever you are right now, I hope that dick husband of yours isn't standing there beside you."

This wasn't the most enchanting place they chose to bury his mother. Twenty years ago, it was a shining beacon of sentimentality, hope even, but now, the graveyard was just a decaying pile of rubble. It must have been abandoned for at least a decade now. Everything was grotesquely overgrown, from the blades of grass to the ugly brown mushrooms scattered around the property.

Headstones and memorials all around him were practically falling apart, but those resting beneath them probably didn't mind. They were dead, after all. Jack growled as he turned and slowly walked away. Now, this wasn't a part of his homeland that he terribly missed.

Cemeteries were a sucker's bet. When someone important to you kicks the bucket, it's best to just suck it up and move on, don't carve their name on a rock and expect that to make you feel better.

But Johannes wouldn't know, he had no loved ones.

There was Elizabeth, there was General Lynn, both of whom have earned his trust and admiration, however, those relationships were strictly professional. Ironically, the only thing keeping him sane was the voices in his head.

"Don't tell me you've grown soft, boy. Kristina was never your true guardian, she's simply the one who birthed you. Nothing more."

Speak of the devil.

"Eat shit, witch."

"Insolent whelp! Why have you come to this withering cesspool? Has the Blood Queen not made herself clear? You are to remain in Fiore and await further instructions!"

"Don't be so crass, sister. The man is clearly in mourning. Leave him be."

"Mourning? Please. I don't remember the last time I even shed a tear. Tell Draclana, wherever the fuck she is, that I'm just tying up loose ends."

"Fine, Bolton. Partake in your little side quest, but we don't expect you to be in Antegria for very long."

Johannes stopped dead.

"I don't need your fucking permission to do anything, you twisted whore. The three of you are just a mouthpiece, my dragon's personal errand girls, and that's all you ever will be."

A symphony of demented cackling echoed throughout his mind, causing Jack to scowl and whirl around frantically, almost as if the voices were closing in on him from every direction, every shadow. They weren't of course, but they might as well have. An abrupt, harsh gust of wind nearly blew the man off balance.

"You may have a point there, little one, she always did love you best, but there's no need for such hostility! We are friends, aren't we?"

"No. Couldn't be further from it."

"Well, either way, our interests can co-exist. Someday, the Blood Queen will darken the skies once more. Your cooperation is highly appreciated."

"Yeah, sounds peachy, but is there any particular reason why I've been banished to the fucking friend zone? She hasn't talked to me in over a year, and I want answers."

"Draclana's a very busy dragon, Johannes. You, of all people, should know."

"Busy doing what? Taking a nap a thousand miles underground?"

"Temper, temper. If I had a little sweet, I'd give it to you for being oh so patient."

"And I'd shove it up your wrinkly, disheveled ass. Bet you wouldn't say that if you were standing right here in front of me. C'mon, let's meet face-to-face, witch, it's high time we met in person."

"I'm afraid that's impossible. Train, keep your chin up, and for heaven's sake, lay off the bottle. The mistress will have need of you soon, great warrior."

"When?"

"Soon, Johannes."

"FUCK YOU!"

Without thinking, Bolton threw a devastating punch to the nearest gravestone, shattering it into a thousand pieces as those insufferable voices faded from his conscience. Panting, he stood there motionlessly as a flock of birds flew off in the distance, startled by the man's sudden, violent outburst.

"Just… get out of my head."

He stood there for what felt like hours, seething, grinding his teeth. This… none of this made a lick of sense. Was he simply a weapon? A plaything? Those goddamn witches could easily be playing him for a fool, picking and choosing what he did and didn't hear.

Then, of course, there was the infuriating possibility that the Blood Queen didn't even exist in the first place, that it was the crones who have been whispering into his ear all along. Johannes took a moment to gaze at the cloudy sky above, sighing heavily.

No. Dragons were exceedingly real, he just knew it. The blood coursing through Jack's veins, the immense, glorious power he's been gifted with, no mere human could have blessed him the same way Draclana has. Why must people destroy their gods? How is it right to imprison a beautiful, perfect god beneath the dirt, while we loaf around in churches to worship false deities that have done nothing to earn even a shred of respect?

"Is there something bothering you, my son?"

Bolton looked up from the decimated tombstone and stared blankly at the stranger brave enough to approach. Where'd this guy come from? The oligarch must not have been paying very close attention, as he'd usually be able to smell and hear anyone within the general vicinity, doubly so if there weren't too many people around. Seeing the pile of misplaced rubble at Jack's feet, the newcomer couldn't help but chuckle.

"Not a fan of cemeteries, are we? Or do you just not approve of the craftsmanship?"

Jack's eyes narrowed in cynical suspicion. "Who the hell are you? The nearest town's over ten miles away from here. You'd walk that far for this shithole?"

"I suppose I could ask you the same thing. As unsightly as these grounds may seem, we're still treading on sacred ground, a place to gather, to communicate with those you lost, and believe me, I know a troubled soul when I see one. Have you lost anybody?"

"No, I'm here for the fucking churros, yes, I've lost someone. But it was a long time ago. Honestly, I don't really know why I came here, don't know why I'm wasting my time talking to… a lump of rock."

"A lump of rock that holds deep, spiritual meaning. Think of it as a waypoint, good sir, a gateway to eternal paradise." The man pointed his finger straight up in the air. "Whoever you lost is watching from above, beyond the Gates of Heaven. God will protect them. God will protect us all."

Oh, brother. Johannes then realized exactly what this preacher was wearing. A simple black robe that covered everything aside from the hands and face, along with a clerical collar wrapped tightly around his neck. Tucked underneath his clothed arm was a book, embroidered with a large, golden cross, clearly not designed as a subtlety. At least that explains what he was doing here. Priests seem to have a thing for graveyards.

"Yeah? What about all those starving, dirt-poor bastards in Pergrande? What's his plan for them? Is it for them to die? If so, killer plan."

"You don't strike me as a believer, young one."

"I'm a believer alright, grandpa, and there is a god, just not in the clouds."

Surprisingly, the clergyman simply smiled. "Very interesting. Please, tell me more. You've aroused my curiosity."

Jack scoffed. "You wouldn't understand. I don't see how anyone could."

There was a brief pause before the stranger continued. "I've seen plenty of men like you before, sir."

"I seriously doubt that."

"The thinly concealed rage, the smartmouth, the animosity. You, my friend, are in pain, deep pain. This," he made a gesture towards the fuming brunet, "is an act. Here's some advice, never shy away from your problems. Face them and accept what's happening in the world around you, only then can you move on."

"Huh, and here I thought you'd suggest I pray myself to death. What's that got to do with believing in God, church boy?"

"A wise fellow once told me we all need to believe in something. That belief brings people together, showering us with hope, strength, and love. Antegria is the paragon of morality through our unyielding faith."

Bolton felt his eyebrow twitch. The voices have been mumbling those words his entire life, and yet nothing's happened. Whenever he closed his eyes and leaned back for a trust fall, no one ever caught him. It was a cruel lie. If religious zeal didn't work out for him, then it sure as fuck shouldn't work out for this guy.

"That's all bullshit, you know."

That irritating smile on the priest's face faltered slightly. "Pardon?"

"Faith. It's nothing but a scam designed to swindle half-wits like you out of your money. This is why the rich will always rule the poor, solely because you don't know any better. Is it really that hard to see it? All this pretty talk about light and morality is just another means to keep you subjugated. When some bearded loudmouth got nailed to a couple of planks, woo-boy, they knew they were onto a winner. Now, here's my advice to you, sunshine, sort out your shit with your own hands, not God's, because he won't be swinging by anytime soon."

The rustling of trees and the faint howling of wind could be heard over the stunned silence Bolton had created. Without looking back, and without waiting for a response, Johannes stormed off towards the crumbling entranceway, eager to leave this rotting dungheap of a cemetery.

With his old eyes glued to the oligarch's head, the priest couldn't help but feel a twinge of indignance burn through his soul…

and pity.


"Is… is this real?"

Suitcase by her side, the Demon of Fairy Tail stood at the doorway to her room in a mixture of profound astonishment and utter disbelief. Prior to Mirajane's time as their guild's head waitress, she'd definitely been through a considerable amount of inns, taverns, and cheap motels, as expected of a traveling wizard. Even on S-Class jobs, the barmaid was usually forced to take the most inexpensive route when it came to housing, just to have enough money left over to feed her siblings.

Split floorboards, leaky rooves, and stiff mattresses were everyday occurrences while they were on the road, but at least the Strausses had each other. The woman envied Natsu in that regard, the fiery Dragon Slayer seemed to be comfortable no matter where you put him. Nowadays, she, Elfman, and Lisanna had moved into more spacious quarters back in Magnolia, modest, but it was home, certainly a vast improvement to what the trio was used to.

However, it wasn't even on the same scale as this.

There's a reason why it's called a VIP room. This place was only a bit smaller than her whole freaking house. You almost had to shield your eyes when walking in for the first time, considering how much gold and silver lined the walls and furniture. In the very middle sat a bed, fit for a queen, along with a ridiculous amount of pillows to boot. Then she noticed the dressers, with their long, sparkling handles, big enough to fit over a decade's worth of clothing, complete with ginormous mirrors lining the walls, in case you felt the sudden, narcissistic urge to admire yourself.

Sin City indeed, every corner practically gleamed with luxury. A pure smile, filled with childlike excitement, made its way across Mirajane's face at thought of having this wonderful room all to herself. For an entire week!

Then… that smile immediately faded, replaced with a nauseating feeling of guilt. How was this fair? It wasn't right for only ten of the Fairies to experience such a wonderful paradise. Their guildmates stood by both Team A and B with unwavering conviction throughout the events in Crocus. There was no way in hell they could have beat Sabertooth without them. Levy's tireless research on spells wielded by their opponents, the Thunder Legion's motivating cheers from the sidelines, Makarov's inspiring speeches whenever things looked dire, they had a hand in their victory just as much as she had.

Yet, most of her loyal and caring friends were forced to stay behind while a select, lucky few had the vacation of a lifetime. Her brother and sister would have loved this, and so would Happy and Carla. It was truly a distressing thought, but that wouldn't stop the girl from enjoying the company of those she had on hand.

"H-Here you are, ma'am," came a high-pitched voice from her side, "if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask, there's no request too big or small. Please enjoy your stay in Akane!" The young employee who guided her here seemed more than a little starstruck, and unlike most others in his profession, he appeared genuinely pleased to carry Mira's luggage up all those stairs, and admittedly, it was kind of cute. The barmaid returned his grin with one of her own.

"Thank you very much. You'll be the first to know, I promise." She pulled out a couple of bills from her pocket, only to tilt her head in confusion as the boy politely waved her off.

"Oh, there's no need for tipping here, Ms. Strauss, not in the VIP building. That's generous of you, but I'm just doing my job."

Mirajane shoved the bills more insistently in the bellhop's direction, unable to take no for an answer.

"So, you lug those heavy suitcases around all day and get almost nothing in return? I won't tell your supervisor, promise. This can be our little secret." The little wink that followed her statement caused the poor boy to nearly faint. With great nervousness, he took the jewels into his trembling hands and offered a frantic bow.

"Y-You're very kind, miss. E-Enjoy the rest of your day." On that note, the employee left her to carry on with his duties, but just as she was about to shut the door, two familiar voices from further down the hall caught the Take Over mage's attention.

"Ugh, c'mon Luce! Shopping? You can do that anywhere!"

"Don't be such a bonehead, Natsu! We just got here, so let's relax for a bit. I need some new clothes, and surely you could find something for Happy."

"Eh, I was just going to get him a seashell or something. You'll be fine without me."

Lucy pouted at her teammate, causing Mirajane to smirk in amusement from nearby. It was obvious that she didn't want to go without him, the idiot was simply too dense to pick up on it.

Natsu then stopped as he witnessed the disappointment in her chocolate brown eyes, causing him to shudder uncomfortably in response. This was… terrible, the feeling of a metaphorical knife stabbing him repeatedly in the heart, over and over again. She looked like a puppy, a cute, blonde, innocent puppy. The boy rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

"Ugh, fine, I'll come with you, there's no need for tears." A loud growl, which apparently originated from Natsu's stomach, erupted throughout the decorated corridor. "As long as we get lunch on the way there!"

After performing a little hop of excitement, Lucy took her grumbling friend by the hand and began pulling him towards the stairwell, although neither the Dragon Slayer nor the Demon could see the light shade of pink that dusted her gleeful cheeks. Maybe what Cana said earlier wasn't entirely inaccurate, they were quite fond of each other, and some of their more recent interactions might raise a few eyebrows if taken out of context.

The pair got along so well, and they could probably take on any challenge if they worked together. Lucy insisted on multiple occasions that nothing other than friendship has ever transpired between her and Natsu, but that was laughable at best. Lovers? Maybe not, at least not yet, but whatever they had was something grand.

Mirajane wished she had a relationship like theirs someday, that special someone to protect her… care for her.

Another growl, though not quite as loud, pulled the girl from her thoughts. The mention of food was certainly appealing, she hadn't eaten since their train left Magnolia Station. Mira recalled seeing an outdoor bar and grill earlier, now seemed like a good time to check it out.

After a short, peaceful walk through the lobby, and a few friendly waves to the cleaning staff, she found herself outside, in Akane's gated VIP area. It was isolated from the rest of the resort, a precaution to keep any would-be rabble from disturbing guests, and like everything else in this city, it was comically oversized. Imagine how long it would take just to swim a full lap around the pool, that alone would be record-setting.

Palm trees swayed gently overhead, providing a comfortable amount of shade from the unbearable sun up above. The atmosphere reeked of wealth, making the crippling gap between the upper and lower classes obvious, but that didn't mean it wasn't beautiful out here. Aside from a couple of diligent lifeguards, the grounds were nearly empty. Everyone else was probably either settling in or was out exploring.

True to their word, the 7th Legionnaires stopped hounding them and were currently nowhere to be found.

"Admiring the view? Can't say I blame you."

Mira turned to her left, smiling at the trio who followed her out of the building. "Oh, hi, girls. Yes, it's lovely, but I really wish Master Makarov was here with us. Things aren't the same without him."

"Eh, it's only a week," quipped Cana apathetically, "I'm sure the old man will be fine. Seven days without Natsu and Gray in the guildhall might do him some good. Hey, here's an idea, let's talk about it over a bottle!"

The youngest of the group giggled anxiously. "Um… it's only noon." The alcoholic ruffled her long blue hair, like an elder sibling. "So? That just means there's time for a drink later! Everything's free, remember? C'mon, let's go!" The other three snickered as Cana marched eagerly towards the bar hut. Mirajane couldn't help but feel sorry for that liver of hers.

"Do you guys know the cool history of this place?" asked Wendy excitedly as they strode along the poolside. "Akane started off as a fishing village, but a brave, noble lord helped turn it into the thriving city it is today. Isn't that neat?" Erza tilted her head curiously. "Interesting, I never pegged you as a history buff, Wendy. Levy must be rubbing off on you."

She nodded eagerly in response. "Yup! Those books in Fairy Tail's library mention all kinds of adventures I haven't even heard of. The Rainfall Navy sank an entire fleet of pirate ships here only a couple of years ago. Lord Arlon sounds like a true hero. Wow, what I wouldn't give to meet him!"

The knight's gaze darkened slightly at the mention of that name, the same name Kagura spat out with such open hostility when last they met.

"Wendy, I don't think-"

"Bartender! Three margaritas! Sorry, junior, I'll buy you the good stuff when you're older."

The man behind the counter, whose back was turned to them, offered Cana a quick wave of acknowledgment before carrying out her request. Erza's three companions took their seats on the barstools before she could voice her concerns. Very well, there was no need to hinder the cheery atmosphere with foul discussions of politics, the subject could be breached later.

"So when are we hitting the casino? I'm just going to put everything on black this time. Why don't you come with us, kid? Every lady should know how to play cards."

Mirajane tutted in a playful manner. "Just because your life revolves around gambling and booze doesn't mean hers does. You plan on telling her about all the bets you lost?"

The redhead chortled. "Indeed. Macao told me about the time you lost over half a million in a single game of poker. Where was that again? Hargeon? Take my advice, Wendy, don't spend your hard-earned jewels so carelessly like this one here."

"Hey! I started out alright, and that scumbag, Bacchus was playing! He must have cheated. He had to!"

"Or maybe you're just a crap player, sweetheart."

Almost on cue, the bartender turned around and slid three cocktails to the Faires' side of the counter.

"Drink up. I sprinkled some extra love on 'em just for you."

Light blue eyes met dark as Mirajane sat there, dumbstruck, gazing into the annoyingly handsome face of their server.

"Hey there, gorgeous. Why gawk at the ocean when I've got you to look at?"

Johannes Bolton, dressed in a black dress shirt with matching trousers, revealed a set of perfect white teeth as he smirked mischievously in his guests' direction, basking in the priceless looks of astonishment that swept across their faces. Mirajane's heart started thumping erratically in her chest, after the events in Oak Town, she never expected to see this guy again.

"J-Jack?"

"The one and only."

"W-What… why… why are you here?"

The oligarch let out a hearty chuckle and rested his arms on the tabletop. "I'm here to serve you, Luv. It must be nice to have someone cater to you for a change. Fiore's greatest deserves nothing less. Now, if anyone wants a refill, all you need to do is ask." His gaze then turned to Wendy, who was looking back at him in curiosity. "And what can I get you, pipsqueak? Want some milk?"

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," the knight said, her tone resembling neither joy nor hostility, "please allow us to thank you again for this act of generosity, Johannes. Akane is even more beautiful than we expected." Titania was already scrolling through the possibilities of why Black Jack showed up here today, however, she failed to come up with a logical conclusion.

Was he here to pick a fight? Unlikely. If the Bolton Company wanted one of their members dead or injured, surely their esteemed leader wouldn't be here in person. Or perhaps the aristocrat wanted to fill them in on another get-rich-quick scheme.

Either way, Erza couldn't deny he looked absolutely dashing in that attire of his.

"Think nothing of it. I'd do anything to get away from work," he turned his head towards Mira, "and to see my favourite barmaid."

The eldest Strauss relaxed and forced out a chuckle. "Yes, it's great to see you again, hotshot." She took a tiny sip from the cocktail, only to look back at it in surprise. "Wow… this is good! Where'd you learn to make this stuff?"

"I worked part-time in a bar once, I was… seventeen? God, has the time flown by."

Rocking back and forth in her seat, Wendy couldn't help but look at the man in wonder. Natsu insisted Johannes was a Dragon Slayer, but he seemed so much different than Laxus or Gajeel. Bolton's scent and aura were unique, and practically stunk of ethernano, but the young girl found no similarities between him and the others, it didn't make any sense. However, breaching the subject right to his face didn't seem like a good idea, so she settled for another question to indulge her sense of interest.

"Are you really going to marry Hisui?"

"Wendy," chided Erza, "don't be rude."

Jack shook his hand dismissively in the redhead's direction. "Nah, it's alright, good question. I can respect that, kid. Never be afraid to speak your mind. Rest assured, my wedding's just around the corner." The card mage whistled suggestively. "Don't know, Bolton, you might have some competition heading your way. She and Salamander looked pretty chummy together back in the palace, I think I even saw her blush."

Titania cringed at the drunkard's blatant mockery. Apparently, Cana never heard the expression don't poke the bear.

"Heh, know what? I think I'll be alright. Speaking of chums," Bolton's tone took a dangerous edge, "you lot and Sabertooth seem to be getting along now. Why is that?"

The four exchanged glances, confused as to where this discussion might lead to.

"I'm sorry?"

"Both your guilds were sharing a bottle at the Grand Banquet, grinning like idiots, and rubbing elbows like you were long-lost brothers. It looked like you were all happy, I mean, I don't think you were faking it or anything." Johannes shrugged his shoulders.

"But why? I don't get it."

Mirajane put her glass down and glared back at the man in poorly concealed irritation. "Sabertooth, and everyone else who was there in Crocus, are our friends, Jack. All of them. Just because we were competitors didn't mean we had to keep fighting, what would be the point of that? Fairy Tail doesn't hold grudges the same way you do."

The oligarch clicked his tongue. "I'm actually really glad I'm having this conversation, especially out in such beautiful weather with such beautiful women. It's like Christmas!" He then looked towards the ocean, as if in deep thought. "Ah, I love Christmas. The booze, the tree, the little shits that go door to door caroling. Know what my favourite carol is?"

Cana snorted. "Holy crap, is there a point to this?"

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I used to sing it every December. God bless that little bastard's soul. But I don't really like the chorus of it, in fact, it's not even that well-written. It's the story behind it. The concept." Jack sat down behind the counter. "Our hero was an underdog. Small, powerless, different, naturally, the others mocked him for it, just because his fucking nose was red."

Erza resisted the urge to chastise his use of foul language in front of a minor and reluctantly let him continue.

"A total outcast, he was, shat on by everyone around him, they didn't even let him play in any goddamn reindeer games. This kind of treatment must have gone on for a while. Santa didn't care, never lifted a finger until the fog rolled in."

His jaw clenched. "Then, despite all of this, they asked him to save fucking Christmas. Can you believe that? Hilarious, ain't it? A poor, abused, victimized child that they picked on and belittled for years willingly chose to help them. Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight~? Yeah, pass. I guess the moral of the story is that people only respect you unless they need something. Men and women are driven exclusively by self-interest. Nothing more."

After a few moments of silence, the brunet sighed.

"So why? During your absence on Tenrou, all of Fiore spat on Fairy Tail, throwing rocks as they passed. Everyone treated Conbolt and his mates like a pack of lepers. Your old friends, Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus, like Santa, just sat back and watched. But Sabertooth, Christ on a cross, those cunts were on a whole new level."

Wendy let out a light gasp. Erza, whose patience was reaching its limit, balled her fists underneath the table, while Mira and Cana did nothing but wait tirelessly for his rant to end.

"Minerva Orland nearly beat that Heartfilia girl to death, Rufus Lore publicly humiliated Gray Fullbuster, and those Twin Dragons took every opportunity to piss on your guild's name. Instead of finishing them off, you chose to share wine with these… people. Where's your bloody rage?"

Surprising everyone, the barmaid stood up in indignance, so quick you'd think she was on fire.

"Is that really how your mind thinks? No mistake is redeemable? Can no one be forgiven? That's so petty it's actually kind of embarrassing."

"You don't need them. You don't need any of them. They're weak in body, but you, sweet cheeks, are weak in heart."

Her diamond blue irises narrowed furiously. "Maybe you're not fit to be king after all."

"Well thank God it's not up to you, Rudolph."

"A cold-blooded ruler without empathy, without kindness, doesn't rule for long. I mean, look what happened to Master Jose."

"And a guild who pardons its enemies as opposed to destroying them is barely a guild at all. This three-minute conversation is all I needed to assure myself I was right all along."

He stood up to match her.

"You're soft."

Choosing not to dignify that comment with a response, Mirajane shot him one more glare before walking away, with the others following suit, leaving a smug Johannes standing there alone with a trio of unfinished margaritas. The baleful gaze Erza Scarlet threw him would have caused even the mightiest of fighters to wither up and die, but not Black Jack.

"Enjoy your stay!"

Cana responded with a middle finger, which only served to lighten his mood. Eh, no matter. Women always turned around, not that he cared if they did.

Still, it's a crying shame to see such an ugly scowl on such a pretty face.


"Aw, tough luck pal. Wanna go again? Only five-hundred jewels."

Frowning at the carnie behind the game stall, Natsu dug some coins out of his pocket and aggressively thrust them forward, causing them to land on the iron surface with a resounding clang. It seemed like a relatively simple task, one even a child would scoff at, however, very few had the discipline and cynicism required to know such a devious game was rigged. Undoubtedly, the Salamander wasn't one of those few.

Just knock the target over with a ball full of sand. Easy, right? "C'mon, Natsu," cheered Lucy, "you've got this!" Winding his arm back and sticking out his tongue, he lobbed the beanbag with an impressive amount of force, striking it dead center.

"What?! I put everything I had into that throw!"

Infuriatingly enough, the target still stood, as if ridiculing him for being unable to do the deed. Even the blonde rose an eyebrow. What was holding that thing up? Titanium bars? No normal person stood a chance at winning this thing.

"Easy, son, it's no big deal. Not everyone's cut out for a strong man's game. You've got one more shot, so make it count."

Lucy tugged on his scarf and provided a reassuring look. "Let's move on, this isn't worth it." Still glaring at the mustachioed con artist, Natsu swiped another ball in a suffocatingly tight grip, took a few steps back… and let it rip.

The wooden dummy was struck like a meteor to the earth, engulfed in hellish flames, reducing it to splinters upon impact. The entertainer, predictably, jumped back in fright and screeched in a way that could only be described as hilarious, barely avoiding the hurricane of splinters that flew past his head. A few onlookers shared the carnival guy's surprise, laughter escaping their lips as they could only assume what happened.

"Booyah! That's how a member of Fairy Tail does it! 100% awesome!"

The Celestial Wizard groaned. Perhaps she should have seen this coming.

"Oh, Natsu…"

"Alright, the target looks plenty down to me. I think that means we've won a prize, Luce!"

He turned to the shellshocked man, who was unfortunate enough to have an impulsive Dragon Slayer as a customer, grinning cheerily.

"I'll take the unicorn. The pink one."

Holding up his palms in terror, the worker shakily carried out his request, forking over a large plushie, and prayed the two would hit the road somewhere far, far away from here. "Thanks, bro. See ya around!" Natsu then skipped off happily as if nothing unusual happened, oblivious to the trail of destruction that seemed to follow him at every turn.

"Honestly," chided his partner as they walked away, "can't you go through one hour without breaking something? I guess we can expect another repair bill before we leave here. Erza's not going to be happy."

"Ah, relax, this is all on Jack's tab. The dude said he would pay for us."

"That dude said nothing about covering damage fees!"

"No biggie. We can pay for it using the money we make from our next job."

An annoyed glance was all Natsu got in return, yet the man didn't see the small, joyous smile that glided across her face.

Next job… that simply meant they got to spend more time together. Getting paid was just a bonus.

Admittedly, when Lucy first met the lovable idiot all those months ago, there wasn't really much to look at. Sure, destroying an entire port was somewhat impressive, but any wizard with half as much experience as Natsu could pull that off. The pink-haired doof and that flying cat of his were simply in the right place at the right time.

They met, and out of the desire to see his family grow, he brought her to join the best guild ever founded. She was weary of him at first, preferring to avoid the hailstorm of bad decisions that came out of being in the Dragon Slayer's company, especially after that Everlue Mansion stunt.

However… things changed. Lucy couldn't really explain it and wasn't even certain what the man saw in her, but gosh, things changed. Before leaving home, the girl didn't really have any friends, aside from a few maids and servants, but now that she thought about it, Natsu was the first true bond the young woman ever formed.

If the Celestial Wizard had to do it all again, she wouldn't change a damn thing.

"Now, you gonna take this or what?"

Looking down, Lucy's heart raced as the adorable stuffed animal was placed gently in her hands, soft and fluffy enough to pass as a little pink cloud.

"I-I can't take this. You're the one who won it."

"Why do you think I won it? I can't carry that thing around, ice princess and rust bucket would never let it go."

And now, in addition to being her best friend, Natsu was the first boy to give her a present. Blushing wildly, the blonde cradled the toy to her chest as if it was a newborn. "Thank you." After being caught up in a web of unfamiliar emotions, Lucy forgot all about going shopping.

The pair continued their stroll throughout Akane's resident amusement park, stopping at the occasional stall and chatting with a few lively pedestrians who were curious about their exploits in the great Domus Flau. The fire mage wouldn't say it out loud, but he was enjoying the peaceful, sunny weather, despite the fact that there weren't any spines to break or monsters to fight. Yup, this place sure was a beauty.

Pity that the tranquil atmosphere had to come to an end.

A hand, armoured and massive, struck from the shadows as the Fairies walked by an inconspicuous alleyway, grabbing Natsu by the wrist and yanking him out of sight.

"Wah? Hey!"

There we go, now this vacation was perfect. A mugging? Yes, please! The blonde didn't really get a good look at their assailant, but like her hot-tempered friend, she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty.

He tried to pin Salamander against the wall but struggled to maintain a decent grip, his would-be victim thrashing about violently to get free. Wow, this guy, whoever he was, had some serious muscle. Grinning in a childish fashion, the man inhaled deeply.

"Oh, you've done it now, pal, FIRE DRAGON RO-"

That same hand abruptly covered his mouth in an almost comical manner.

"Stop it."

Lucy froze just as she took hold of Taurus's gate key. A stalwart figure, tall and broad, hovered over them with a set of foreboding irises and killer eyebrows.

"Are we calm now, or would you prefer to burn down the entire city?"

The loyal Arcadios, appearing even sterner than he was during their last adventure, watched as the magic users began to simmer down.

"Fancy seeing you here. Hey, man, it's great to see you!"

"Likewise. Truthfully, I assumed that maniac would have done away with you by now, yet here we are. Of course, Bolton could simply be playing you, seeking to involve your guild in his next… project. Johannes hasn't mentioned anything odd lately, has he?"

The girl rushed into the cover of the alleyway, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention as this strange encounter continued. If the Crown's most trusted officer was sent personally to fetch you, it'd be wise to assume they had adequate justifications in doing so.

"He invited us to stay the week but didn't really say much else. Wait, how did you even know we were here?"

The warrior huffed and folded his arms.

"Unimportant. Apologies for interrupting your holiday, but there's someone who's eager to speak with you, Ms. Heartfilia, someone who might shine that criminal in a different light." His serious expression then shifted to Natsu, who seemed more confused than anything else. "And I suppose you can tag along as well, provided you behave."

The firebreather snorted. "As if I was gonna sit this out, big guy. No way!"

Not wanting to leave the cute unicorn behind, Lucy picked it up off the ground and quickly inspected it for dirt before tucking the plushie safely in her bag.

"Then follow me, and please be cautious."

As the trio made a hasty and unexpected leave, they failed to notice the lithe, nimble figure stalking them through Akane's streets.


"Ever hear the story of Lynn B. Washington, Staff Sergeant?"

Yoren, who was bored out of his mind, looked up from the pile of crates he was sitting on and stared blankly at his commander.

"Nope, but I'm guessing your about to tell me, Noda."

"That's Lieutenant Noda, soldier," the taller man quipped, "our fearless general used to be a farmer, if you can believe it, raised in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where she spent her childhood hunting with the men, chasing down thieves, and rejecting village idiots who attempted to court her. Sounds like an exceptional woman, wouldn't you agree?"

"Her great grandpa won the Antegrien Revolution, so pardon me for not being too impressed."

"Correct, but Marcellus Washington didn't take a bullet to the face and live."

"Shit, that's how she earned that scar? It sounds like something out of one of those crappy horror novels. Jesus, it's painful just looking at the bitch."

"Aye. Minstrel, X779. Lynn and the merc group she was rolling with were paid by some baron to get rid of a few bandits harassing his family. Anyway, Washington strolls into this cave they were hiding in, then bang!"

Noda made a pistol hand gesture. "Took a gunshot right to the cheek, a flintlock, but did that stop her? No, the general shrugged it off and continued battling. It wasn't even a contest. Folks say blood flowed like a damn river that fine summer evening."

"And the broad survived?"

"Yes, Staff Sergeant. Nowadays, she commands the most powerful army to ever march on God's green earth, our army. Every man, woman, and infant in the 7th Legion is expected to fight as she fought that day, without question."

Yoren shifted in his seat in an attempt to get more comfortable. "Boy, this is a really inspiring if not slightly condescending lecture, but I don't really see the point, Lieutenant."

"The point," he took a threatening step forward, "is that this monster of a woman is who you'll be answering to if our mission here is unsuccessful. What were you thinking earlier? Insulting those Fairies when their pet dragons were well within earshot. Natsu Dragneel was among them, and I hear he has quite the wicked temper. We are to be subtle, understand?"

A brief flicker of angst and realization washed across the young trooper's mind.

"Crystal, sir."

"Good."

"I know it's a bit late in the game to be questioning the legitimacy of our plan, but doesn't this all seem a bit… convoluted? With a small black ops unit, we could infiltrate Magnolia, get the vials we need-"

"Out of the question. If unauthorized personnel is caught in a major city, Johannes will be forced into a dreadful discussion with King Toma. It would interfere with his inauguration and tank our stock price."

"Fine, but what do we need Rainfall for?"

"Well, we need to pin the blame on someone, Staff Sergeant."

"Yeah? Is this really the guy we wanna piss off? If this goes to court, it'll just be a game of he said she said."

"If that racist bigot plays ball, there won't be any need for pointing fingers. Lord Arlon has far more to gain from this alliance than we do. After our work in New Everton is complete, the 7th Legion will focus on destroying Rayne Clover's forces near Port Ryhard. That ought to be fun."

"It'll beat crawling around in this fucking sewer. Aren't you afraid those Dragon Slayers will sniff us out down here? They know what we smell like from before, one of 'em might ID us."

"Not an issue, they're out of range, plus, the stench of shit is so potent it'll mask almost anything. We're safe, for the moment."

"Damn Renbrook, of course, she gets all the fun. What I wouldn't give for an ale and a hooker right about now."

A dark, feral hissing sound caught the two men's attention.

"Oi, shut your cockhole!"

Yoren smashed the butt of his rifle against a set of heavy iron bars.

"Little ankle-biters. All they do is bitch and complain."

Noda rolled his eyes.

"By all means, continue, as if those things aren't miffed enough already."


A loud creaking noise erupted throughout the grim alleyway as the Colonel ushered them inside. If Arcadios wasn't the known hero that he had proven himself to be, everything about this endeavor would be apprehensive at best. Creeping around in the shadows of Sin City with someone she barely knew wasn't Lucy's idea of a good time, but this did sound urgent.

The blonde already had a pretty good guess on who they were scheduled to meet, but why here? Why now? Her gaze then shifted to Natsu, who, as you could guess, didn't seem concerned in the slightest. The goof of a Dragon Slayer probably hoped there was some vicious demon lurking around the corner solely for the reason of fighting it.

Seeing the unmistakable doubt written on Lucy's face, the knight impatiently furrowed his brows.

"I understand the oddities of this current predicament, but I assure you no harm is meant. You'll want to hear what we have to say, Ms. Heartfilia, that I promise."

With one more brief moment of hesitation, she followed him into the dimly lit building.

It was a pub, not a soul in sight, spacious enough, though even a fool could determine this place had seen better days. Quite a few chairs and tables were missing, and those that remained seemed to be in dire need of a carpenter. The curtains were a revolting shade of green, there were a couple of leaks in the ceiling, and the billiards table looked like it could collapse at any moment.

How surprising. You'd think Akane wouldn't allow one of their establishments to be kept in such a sorry state, but some of the resort's more seedy clientele probably wouldn't even notice. It's difficult to appreciate the finer things in life when you're drunk off your ass.

"Hello, Lucy, Natsu. So glad you could make it."

The girl turned towards the owner of that sweet, melodic voice, only to smile in excitement. Princess Hisui, whose beautiful emerald hair was gleaming in the sunlight, cheerfully waved them over to the dusty table she was so regally sitting at. The young royal appeared just as resplendent as she was during the Grand Banquet, sporting a simple, yet lovely, white dress, fit for the sunny weather.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, friends. I hope Arcadios wasn't terribly harsh with you."

"Don't worry, he was a barrel of laughs."

The man glared at him in blatant displeasure but said nothing.

"Natsu," Lucy began, "don't talk to the princess like that!"

Hisui giggled as the Fairies walked over, and couldn't help but blush faintly as her eyes landed on the heroic Dragon Slayer. This pink-haired man, he's the only reason why any of them were here in the first place. Those dragons that she so foolishly summoned into the world, along with that deceptive time traveler, Mr. Dragneel and his allies courageously brought those vile threats to a swift and decisive end.

And… he danced with her.

"It's quite alright. Please, sit. We have a lot of catching up to do and I'm sure you have more than a few questions. While it is a delight to see you both again, I'm afraid this must be brief." The woman's gaze shifted unintentionally to her right. "I'm concerned we're being watched."

Natsu immediately jumped in alarm. "Watched?! By who?"

"The 7th Legion. A squadron escorted you here this morning, correct? Those three are some of Lynn Washington's elite soldiers, possibly assigned to spy on you. I'm sure you can understand my discreet choice of venue, I don't want to take any chances."

She took a deep breath.

"What does your guild know about Johannes Bolton?"

The pair exchanged a knowing glance. There was no point in stretching the truth, they were going to give an honest, trustworthy opinion. Lucy opened her mouth, but another mage beat her to it.

"He's a jerk. I wanted to beat him up the second we met."

"Natsu, come one!"

"What? It's true! She asked!"

Hisui blinked. "Interesting. Care to elaborate?"

"We only met a handful of times," began an embarrassed Heartfilia, "but he wants to make amends. This guy doesn't want a fight and neither do we. Everyone would lose."

The Dragon Slayer rose an eyebrow in mild skepticism. "Right. What's he to you?"

Fiore's future queen didn't immediately reply. Her issue couldn't be easily described to people like them. When facing dark wizards and other such nuisances they were unparalleled, but this would be a real challenge, unlike anything they had seen before.

"Bolton Trading and Security Consulting, more commonly referred to as the Bolton Company, has been a hideous blight on our kingdom during your… hiatus. It was started by a promising young immigrant from across the sea, who worked his way up by conning shareholders and bribing government officials. Jack employs hundreds of thousands of people across eleven different countries, and believe me, he milks them for all their worth. So," she tilted her head, "is this the kind of man you wish to see as your king?"

Here we go, the big "K" word. The princess was set to marry him, to give him an heir, so it was only natural Hisui would harbour some feelings of animosity towards the oligarch. However, was there anything beyond that?

Were they to ruin such a successful icon merely because the royal wanted a different husband? Was she exaggerating these villainous facts?

"Okay… so what do you want us to do about it?" questioned Natsu bluntly.

"I want Fairy Tail to help me oust Johannes from his position in New Everton, and ban him from running for any political office in the future. No exceptions."

"Wow, that sounds, um, big," piped Lucy, "with all due respect, maybe you should go to the Magic Council, this doesn't sound like us."

The desolate pub abruptly became more silent and nervewracking than it was a moment ago if such a feat was even possible.

"Do you know why they call him Black Jack? The true story?"

"Our friend Mirajane said-"

"Did Bolton give you an absurd speech about taking risks and squashing opponents? That's not how his nickname stuck." Hisui folded both her arms neatly on the table. "This tale occurred during the early days of his company's reign, Johannes was already forming connections, building a nasty reputation, I suppose some lucky boys are born with a talent for violence."

Arcadios watched with sharp interest. The girl didn't use such a tone unless she felt it was absolutely necessary, these Fairies must be vital to whatever she was planning.

"He, and his right-hand woman, Crenshaw, arranged to meet a potential client in a homey little pub, just like this one. Things were going well until a couple of drunken patrons waddled along, catcalling and ogling the young, attractive subordinate at the man's side. They began harassing Elizabeth, right in front of him, making their intentions painstakingly clear. Witnesses say they even touched her leg. Know what Jack did?"

The blonde felt a chill run down her spine as they waited for her to finish.

"Johannes beat them so badly neither of them could even stand. He didn't stop after they went down either, the oligarch kept on punching over, and over, and over again. I saw the medical reports myself, and… the damage was quite horrifying. You can't help but wonder if that psychopath has a history of such behaviour. It looked as if someone struck them repeatedly over the skull with a blackjack, and so it was. Black Jack Bolton is a crook loved by the poor and feared by the rich. We all live in his shadow, yet none of us realize it. You cannot run from him, you cannot sway him with excuses, he's everywhere."

"Not to mention he's a Dragon Slayer."

Hisui and her bodyguard froze, staring at the Fairy as if he'd grown an additional limb.

"Natsu, there isn't any proof of that..."

"Hold a moment," the princess insisted, "let Mr. Dragneel speak. Please, what gives you that impression?"

"The punk came by our guildhall a few days back, and just as he walked by me, BAM! I could smell it, the same scent floating around in the air as when I met Gajeel and Wendy, heck, it's even pretty close to Sting and Rogue's BO. That guy probably has more skeletons in the closet than we think."

"Your Highness, we must inform Gran Doma. I'm sure he has ways of uncovering the truth."

"No, Arcadios. The Rune Knights need to focus their efforts on locating Fernandes and Richmond. This is our problem."

"Can't your dad do something?"

The noble tensed up in discomfort, which served as a noiseless answer to Lucy's question.

"He… doesn't know you're here, does he?"

Hisui shook her head. "The king thinks highly of the Bolton Company and fears the economic consequences of mucking up their interests. I, however, believe sacrifices must be made in order to prevent a ruthless ironmonger from seizing the throne. This is a kingdom, not a corporation."

The young lady really wished they didn't have to do this, to resort to such deceptive and secretive measures in order to achieve her goals. Admittedly, when she first heard of the oligarch, Hisui found herself cheering him along with the rest of them, seeing as Johannes was doing more for Fiore's Antegrien population than the government.

Hisui was enamored at one point, in love with the idea of a foreigner rising to prominence while helping millions grow along the way. She even saw the two of them becoming allies at one point, or perhaps more.

Sadly, it became evident that Jack wasn't the folk hero he perceived himself to be, well, at least to her, that is.

"I spent a hefty amount of time with your father, Lucy," the royal said, "as I said before, Jude was a personal friend of mine. He's taught me so much in just a few brief conversations, and spoke quite fondly of you."

The other woman responded with a sad grin.

"Yeah, he had his vices, but… I'll miss him. I always will. Deep down, it was clear my papa cared about me."

"Indeed. The man was devastated when he learned of your disappearance on Tenrou Island but remained strong until the bitter end. Mr. Heartfilia understood how infinite wealth has the potential to corrupt and manipulate, to dictate your actions. Johannes has fallen victim to this disease. Perhaps the aristocrat held good intentions once, but those days have long passed, replaced by nothing other than greed. Whether he's a Dragon Slayer or not will be revealed soon enough. Lynn B. Washington, Arlon Rainfall, and of course, Black Jack, they're all monsters, they pose a threat to our beloved country and freedom. So I implore you, Natsu and Lucy, let's bring them down together."

Invigorated by Hisui's words, the fiery wizard pounded his fists together in almost childlike glee. He did owe Bolton a serious thrashing, after all.

"Aw yeah! I'm fired up now!"

"Wait. If we're going to get involved in a plot like this, the others should know. Please give us some time, Your Highness."

"Understandable, but there is one nagging piece of information that might… sway you in the right direction."

Jade orbs burning with fierce conviction, Hisui stood up from her chair as words of pure venom rolled off her tongue.

"Johannes Bolton bankrupted your father."