Note: I'm glad to see people have taken to this story, so I decided to continue it. I think this should go without saying, but I was accused of "jumping the gun" in the last chapter, so I'll say that this is just a fanfic. I think the presence of END already sets a precedent that this is going to deviate pretty far from canon. To that end, I'm going to bending a number of rules for the sake of the story. If you have an issue with it, just recite the MST3K Mantra.

The Demon Resurrected

Gray grunted, as he skidded to a halt, running into the cave wall in the process. As he pulled himself back to his feet, he heard the childish sound of laughing. He was starting to get a better sense of just what it was that apparently set Natsu off, as three of his friends stood before him, albeit in new, monstrous forms.

Wendy was now a cat-girl (a bakeneko as she called herself now), with black fur, cat ears, and big cat paws in place of hands, and a childishly sadistic look on her face. She would've looked cute, if not for the fact of the two massive, monstrous cats standing beside her, that were once Happy and Carla.

"Wendy!" He called, "Snap out of it!" The bakeneko just laughed.

"What do I have to snap out of?" she said with a shrug, "This is who I am now. Nya!"

"The hell you are!" Gray said, "You've gotta try to think!"

"I am thinking," the cat-girl said, looking towards the giant cats framing her, "And I'm thinking that the suiko are getting hungry, aren't you?"

"Aye!" the blue suiko said.

"Damn it!" Gray cursed, as he put his hands together, looking around at the yokai, "I don't have time for this!" He had to get to Natsu before the guy got too out of control. It was a long shot, but maybe he'd be able to take the Dragon Slayer down. But he certainly wasn't going to be making any progress on that if he couldn't deal with the girls right now.

(|)

Natsu slowly marched through the tunnels of the cave, as he started leaving burning footprints, and a couple times, getting his foot stuck as he melted the stone under them. However, that didn't seem to slow him down, as he slowly made his way through the cave.

As he was going, he could feel the power flow through him, going greater with every passing moment. The intense magic energy that permeated the atmosphere of Elentir was being consumed the way a fire would consume oxygen. Meanwhile, the black markings on his arms and legs slowly began to creep up further, as if the flesh was being charred, causing Natsu to hiss in pain.

But none of that really mattered to him at this point. He didn't know where they were, those who corrupted Lucy, but his instincts drove him in the direction he was going. He couldn't stop, he wouldn't stop, not until the entire mountain was a pile of ashes, and the bones of Selene and her minions decorated the remains of it.

(|)

Selene tapped her finger impatiently, as she watched the boy advance through the caves, too distracted to check on the conditions of the other boy. She could sense his power growing even from here, and it was starting to make her unsettled, and the dragon did not like being unsettled.

"Should we do anything, Your Grace?" Mimi asked. Selene shook her head slightly so as to clear as it, as she held her cup out so she could get some more sake.

"Whatever he is, he'll never find his way out of the caves," she said in a calm tone, watching the drink get poured, "That labyrinth will prove far too complex for his minuscule mind, and he'll wander endless through this caves until something comes along and devours him." Exchanges were glanced amongst Selene's court, but no one said anything.

"Oh you blind, arrogant fools. You've no idea what kind of power you've just unleashed." Selene looked up, as her Moonlit Beauty Goddesses all stood up, as the rest of Selene's court recoiled back. Floating over head was a tall woman with bright red hair, tied into massive braids. Selene couldn't help but notice that she bore a strong resemblance to the red-haired girl in armor. She was partially transparent, as if she wasn't fully present.

"Who are you?" Selene said, holding up her hands before her servants could do anything.

"My name is Irene Belserion," the woman answered, as she floated down to Selene's level.

"'Belserion'?" Selene echoed, that name sounding vaguely familiar to her, but she didn't have time to dwell on it, as she rose to her feet, "Care to explain why you're here before I start killing you?"

"Oh, you can try, but I'm merely a thought projection; I'm actually in the body of the young Dragon Slayer you turned into a bakeneko," Irene explained, as she "sat" back on thin air, "Fortunately, the magical energy of Elentir gave me the power necessary to finally project my being beyond just that girl's vision." Selene narrowed her eyes, as she took another sip of sake.

"Well then," she said, "Care to explain to me why you're here? I imagine your time would be better spent helping the boy with the ice magic. I can't imagine why you have any interest in me."

"Oh I have a deeply vested interest in what's going on," Irene hissed, as her gaze turned cold, "You see, the girl with scarlet hair, that you had turned into a yokai, was my daughter."

"Is that so?" Selene answered, as she let another dark smile slip onto her face, "Seeing as you're a thought projection, I don't know why I'm supposed to care about it." Sniggers let out across the hall.

"How do you like my handiwork?" Youko then called out, flanked by her fangirls, "I think those girls were among my best achievements yet. No more inhibitions, no more hesitation, just primal hunger and ferocity." To Selene's displeasure, Irene didn't so much as flinch by the taunts, instead she just smiled some more, like she knew something Selene didn't.

"Trust me, I'd like nothing more than to see you all driven before me for what you've done to my daughter," Irene said, spreading her arms, "Unfortunately, my hands are somewhat tied at the moment. But it's not me you should be concerned about, rather, it would be END."

"END?" Irene blinked at that in surprise, before she slowly started laughing, which quickly turned into an all out cackle.

"Show some respect to Lady Selene!" Mimi shouted, only for Irene to ignore her.

"You really don't realize what you've done, do you?" the projection sneered at the dragon.

"Be warned, construct," Selene hissed, narrowing her eyes, leaning forward, "Even my patience has its limits."

"You just resurrected a demon created with the express purpose of destroying immortals," Irene said, with an ominous smile, "Or, if you'd rather, you resurrected the sole being that even Acnologia feared." Though she didn't show that, those words struck a deep, deep chord in Selene. She still remembered when Acnologia was beginning his rampage across Earthland, as she had to flee to a completely different continent to save herself. The idea that that... monster truly did fear something sent a chill down her spine.

"My former master was a magic user of unparalleled skill, one of the greatest in my world I'd say," Irene explained, "He created numerous Etherious, but none were as great as END."

"You mean to tell me that that boy right there is that demon?" Selene asked, as she glared from over her sake cup.

"Indeed I am, and as I'm sure you can guess, he deeply cared for all those girls, along with those cats," Irene said, "But that girl you made into a nure-onna was of someone of particular importance to him." Irene then paused, as she narrowed her eyes. Selene just sipped her sake again, clearing her throat slightly.

But I think you knew that," Irene noted, "You did this all with the express purpose of breaking his heart."

"Come now, you can't deny there is something inherently amusing in such a scenario," Selene said, gesturing with her cup, "Seeing someone being confronted by their precious person as a monster."

"Well then, Moon Dragon, you reap what you sow," Irene said, folding her arms "I hope your petty amusement will be worth it after he's burnt this temple to the ground, and you've joined your kin in death." This was starting to concern Selene more than it should've; she suspected, or at least believed that this woman was bluffing. Surely it couldn't all be true, it was impossible. But, Selene supposed it never paid to not be cautious.

"Hakune," she called, and immediately, her Moonlit Goddess was standing before her, at the ready.

"Your orders, My Lady?" Hakune asked, bowing her head.

"You already dealt with the boy, now go deal with that… thing now, only this time, kill him."

"You're will, My Lady," Hakune said, as Selene held up her hand to transport her servant to the caves. However, that was when she heard Irene laughing slightly, as she paused.

"Go ahead, send your little handmaiden, she won't be able to stop END," Irene said, "With every step he takes, his anger will grow, and with it, his power. Eventually he will clamber back to the top of this mountain."

"You're no longer amusing, construct," Selene hissed, "Begone."

"No, I think I'm just going to stay here and watch this unfold," Irene said, with a shrug. But she then floated over, leaned in close to Selene, putting her finger under her chin, a cruel smile on her face.

"And as those who violated my daughter get burned away into nothing," she hissed, "I'm going watch and I'm going to laugh."

"Get away from Lady Selene!" Mimi snapped, as she and the others launched themselves forward, only to phase straight through Irene, who just leaned back as she "sat" right beside Selene, who just glared at the projection, before turning to Hakune.

"Go now," the dragon said, holding up her hand, "And do it quickly."

"Yes, Ma'am," Hakune answered, as Selene transported her down to the caves.

"She won't stop him," Irene commented. Selene did her best to ignore her, taking a sip of sake to soothe her slowly gathering nerves. But for once, it didn't seem to help.

(|)

While it wasn't a particularly long journey to the White Temple, it was a tense one for Touka and Faris. They knew they didn't much time, and both had a bad feeling that Fairy Tail was in trouble. But eventually, they came upon the White Temple, which was exactly what it sounded like. It was a tower shrine made of white wood and stone, with a statue of the White Priestess before it.

"We're finally here," Touka said, as she looked up at the statue.

"We can't wait," Faris answered, as she hurried in, Touka not far behind her. They made their way into the center of the temple, where the White Priestess dwelt. However, when they did get into the central hall, where there was a large altar, they were intercepted by a series of maidens dressed in intricate white robes, with their hair done in hime cuts. However, their elegant appearances were somewhat offset by the large naginatas they were all carrying

"Halt!" One of the maidens said, holding up her own weapon, making Touka and Faris stop.

"We have to speak with the Grand Priestess immediately!" Faris said, "It is a matter of Selene."

"The Grand Priestess is in meditation," the maid said, gesturing behind her.

"This is extremely important," Touka said, holding up her paw, "There is a matter that…"

"Touka. Faris." Everyone stopped talking, as their attention was drawn to the top of the altar, where there was a figure sitting behind a curtain. They could only see the silhouette of the White Priestess, but they could both feel her eyes on them, as they both went to their knees.

"Tell me, just what have you two brought to Elentir?" the Priestess asked cooly. Touka and Faris exchanges looks briefly.

"We brought seven mages from Earthland," Touka then explained, "We thought…"

"No," their leader answered, "What you brought was far more than just simple mages." There was something about the tone in the priestess that confused the two girls; it almost sounded like… fear.

"They were able to defeat two of the Five Dragon Gods," Faris then explained, "We thought perhaps if anyone could defeat Selene…"

"Can you feel it?" the Priestess interrupted, "Something has awoken, something dark, powerful, and full of ire. I fear Selene is now tampering with a force that even she cannot contain. And if she cannot contain it, then what fate does that leave our world?" Touka and Faris exchanged confused looks, not at all sure what their leader was speaking of.

"So I will ask again?" the Priestess said, as the silhouette rose to her feet, "What did you two bring to Elentir?"

Note: I'm glad to see this story has developed a small following. I'm also glad to see I'm not alone in my unease by what's happening. I'll definitely be continuing it from here, but note I only have a loose idea of where it's going.

For the yokai forms of the rest of the girls, I just kind of went whatever came to mind, instead of what I thought may have been fitting (I mean, it's not like anything about Lucy screams "snake"). Carla is meant to be a Futakuchi-Onna, which is a woman with a gaping maw of sharp teeth coming out of the back of her head.

Be sure to leave a comment. Please?

Also, yes, I'm aware that Lucy will be fine, but seeing her like this still unsettles me. Seeing good characters being forcibly turned evil, especially transformed into a monster like this is discouraging. If this makes it easier to understand, I didn't play Injustice: Gods Among Us, because seeing our heroes act like villains discourages me. I had a similar problem with the previous arc, but this is worse because Lucy's been warped physically on top of mentally.