Reviews are Nice; The pairings are NOT decided yet. I get people like Vander/Lucy, I like them too, they're adorable when she's sassy and keeps up with him, but...I really don't know if they will get together or if it will be a friendship...or how far this darkness is going to go.

I don't own Fairy Tail. Mashima Does.

I don't own the Pradesh Clan. Desna does (and thank you for them).

I own the Storyline. That's it. Apparently I have also adopted "Good Hestor".

I also own All Things "Bellum" in this Story. it's my original creation, including the characters within the country.

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Cristoff stood and looked at the area of the town for a long moment. He could see the particles floating in the air and pursed his lips. They were dangerous, every instinct in him said so. They weren't multiplying, which was a plus and Wendy next to him looked nervous.

"Start by manipulating the wind to draw them out and above." He watched her firmly. She had so little training and it rankled him that she was let to get to this point. He understood that she hadn't benefited from the exchange due to being on Tenroujima, but the Lunar Slayer honestly found that Fiore not offering any formal training for guilded mages was so far from helpful than he could even say.

He'd eased the worst of Laxus' body, but Lily's body just resisted more. He figured it had to do something with her holy magic and he'd set Zen on helping her. It would be a slower process, yes, but it gave him a chance to work with Wendy, at least a little bit. He'd shown Zen what to do and knew his brother was capable. It had taken a few moments to realize that the resonation between his magic and hers would help purify whatever she'd taken in.

The two slowly walked through the streets, the elder slayer guiding the younger to gather up the particles to clear out the city bit by bit. His nose curled as he smelled brimstone and looked around. Yajima had told them all that it seemed like someone was targeting former magic council members and Zen said that the energy felt like a bastardized version of demonic energy, though he couldn't say exactly why he put it that way.

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Cris stretched and sighed as he rolled his neck, walking into the infirmary. They'd offered their help and Lucy had looked more insulted than most when Natsu had rebuffed the offer of guarding councilmen. After a rather comical double one fingered salute the blonde had slunk to the infirmary and was sulking in a chair.

Rowan shook his head and snorted as he watched the blonde, "how long are you going to sulk?"

Golden eyes slowly shifted and lolled over to look at Rowan, "I can sulk a long time, why?" her lips quirked.

The redhead watched as Cris and Zen worked on healing the injuries that had come in before he sat down next to Lucy, "I know you want to help, we all do.." he paused, "but these Fiore Mages have this thought in their head that they can do it all on their own."

Risley snorted as she brought a tray of food into the room and hip checked Cris, "eat." she smiled softly and gave him a kiss, "c'mon, tall and sexy, eat for me. You and Zen have been doing a wonderful job here." The woman smiled as he started eating and let her hands run through his hair.

Lucy huffed a bit before whining, "because I feel restless." she grumbled softly and crossed her arms under her chest. "Zen's an archangel. We should fully be out there help-"

"I should be out there helping," said Archangel leveled her with a firm look.

The two stared at each other and Lucy groaned as she went limp in the chair, "I could help too."

Zen shook his head and then smiled as he walked over and crouched in front of her, "I know you can help. Right now, we're getting more and more injured mages because these mages refuse to stay within their limits."

"Laxus hasn't come back, nor Bixy and his team," Lucy pointed out and then looked around. "We're probably some of the best fighters here…" she grumbled, "I hate being idle."

"That cat...dog..thing broke your ankle before we figured out how to deal with him," Zen gave her a firm look, "And right now, Vander is out there…"

"...I know he is...that's why I want to get back out there," Lucy sighed, "Fairy Tail mages are going missing left and right because they're just running into this stuff." she waved a hand. "And I've got a weird feeling."

"I'm aware you have a weird feeling," Zen stood and looked around for a moment.

Rowan watched with avid amusement, "you could try putting a leash on her."

"That sounds like something that Virgo would want, not me," Lucy stood and stretched, "how goes the training anyway?"

"Laxus was easy, but Cris helped out there," Zen watched the prone redhead for a moment, "but her? It's quite complicated and we just managed to get Farron to go to the house to rest. Hopefully Raven will grab him for cuddling."

Lucy paused as she tilted her head and looked out the window, "uh...guys? What's that big ass thing in the sky?"

Rowan pursed his lips as he walked to the window, "a giant cube."

"A cube?" Lucy stood there for a moment then moved to stand next to Rowan. The two looked out the window quietly before Lucy spoke, "So big ass floating cube."

"Yup," Rowan nodded once, lips quirky.

"Giving off a totally creepy and dark vibe."

"Of course," The redhead watched the blonde from the corner off his eye.

Lucy licked her lips, "possibly big, badass wanna be demons inside?"

"Quite likely," the green made tilted his head, "Some plant life of some sort."

"Plants?"

"Plants."

"Odds you think we can kick ass and take names?" Lucy glanced up at Rowan smirking as she stood there.

"You or me?"

"Combined odds."

"Eight percent, give or take two percent."

Lucy snorted as she stood there, "This is totally a stupid idea...but..Bring it on."

"That is your realm of actions," Rowan smirked, even as the small blonde smacked him in the stomach. He leaned down "you need to do it harder."

Lucy scoffed, "save that for your dragon."

"Every night," Rowan smirked, "If you want, I can suggest some good leather straps."

Lucy waved a hand as they continued to look at the slow moving object, "nah, Vander just refitted the playroom, said something about you showing him a good shop that he always gets his stuff from. X-Frame is amazing."

Wendy looked over at the two, face bright red, "...are they…?"

"Always like that?" Zen arched an eyebrow, "sometimes. Mostly when thinking.." he scowled, "look, I know Cris has told you...and I've told you...you're using too much energy on a single healing spell."

"But...but…" Wendy bit her lip, "what if I'm not fast enough?"

"You think healing something in a shoddy way is going to save their lives?" Zen shook his head, "It doesn't. It only makes more healing in the long run, or lasting aches and pains."

"O..oh," The dragon slayer looked at her hands, frowning, "I hadn't...thought of that."

Everyone started as Lucy clapped her hands, "okay, it's settled." The blonde pointed at the window, "To the secret cube! Someone pull the lever!" as no one said anything and the silence drug on, Lucy let out a heavy sigh.

Zen smirked and then chuckled, "wrong lever." he paused, "why do we even have that lever?"

Lucy's eyes danced as her head snapped around, "you got the joke!"

"You've only watched that movie a thousand times," He quirked an eyebrow, "how would I not know it?" he paused, "wait...what were you referring to as 'lever'."

"Van's out, he'll be back in like...ten minutes...and I don't think most people here would appreciate if I pulled the lever I wanted to…" Lucy shrugged slightly, "and not sure it'll make your wings come out."

Wendy let out a squeak with wide eyes as she stared at the blonde, "wh...what?!"

Rowan groaned, "Did you really use that movie quote to talk about…"

"Yes. yes, I did," Lucy said, no shame in her voice, "I don't think anything else fit at the moment."

Cris looked at Risley, "this is why we have to cut her off from certain movies." he cast a look at Risley and then to Lucy, pursing his lips.

Risley chuckled and grinned, "yeah. Hey! You two! You done? If you don't stop, I'm going to be pulling a lever of my own."

"Yeah, I guess," Lucy shrugged, "okay, game plan...get onto the cube!" She turned and rolled her eyes at the various looks, "...what? It's a giant floating cube. With plants. I wanna go fight."

"Ever get the feeling," Drawled a deep voice from the doorway, "That she has issues with seriousness?"

Rowan smirked as he turned, "every day I've known her, Thunder God, but we've made a plan." He nodded out the window, "To the cube."

"How's flamefuck doing?" Laxus looked around the full infirmary, making a face. The man was still weak, feeling the effects of what he'd taken in, but with most of it cleared away, he was feeling a lot better.

Lucy let out a growl and pointed, "on his damn ass still, he's a dumbass, ran right into shit, a whole town got blown up-"

"A town?" Laxus narrowed his eyes, "What are we talking by way of casualties?"

Rowan pursed his lips, "you don't want to know." he walked towards Laxus and put a hand on the back of the slayer's neck, making him focus on him, "trust me, thunder god, you don't want to know." The green mage searched the slayer's eyes, "in twenty four hours this has dissolved into a massacre."

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Hestor sat against a tree, head resting back and he sighed. The strange monoliths appearing, the demons appearing, it had created utter chaos. It also felt like Etherno was being drained and that affected him greatly.

The celestial mage was just starting to adjust to his third origin being opened and, much to the shock of his spirits, unlike what many Celestial Mages in the past, the man had an instinctive hard stop on using his magic. It was a small point of contention between himself and Kaleb because the man didn't draw on him unless he was out of a battle or had no choice.

His steel blue eyes opened and he looked out through the shield that Scotum had put up so he could get a few moments rest. He could hear the fighting and as he closed his eyes again he could feel Kaleb. It brought a small smile to his lips, knowing that the other was fighting hard Part of him wanted to stubbornly be out there fighting, but he was also a smart man and knew the best way was to stay where he was.

Hestor let out a hiss and he felt Kaleb in his head as Ophiuchus disappeared. He knew he didn't have enough energy to continue to have both the shield and the spirit out, not without drawing where something could be detrimental to the fight.

"Are you alright?" Kaleb's voice was worried and it made Hestor chuckle softly.

The mage slowly opened his eyes and looked out in the distance where he could see the last shimmer of where the large spirit had been "fine, but the choice was that spirit or my shield."

There was a long pause as he saw Kaleb's blade flash, the newer archangel obviously making sure he chose his words carefully, but the soft feeling of the mental voice curled across their link "I trust your judgement. I just worried for a moment."

"It's fine," Hestor smiled as he sat there, slowly taking deep breaths and letting a hand rest on the ground, fingers curling as he stretched his magical senses skyward. It wasn't ideal, attempting to recharge in the middle of the day, but it would have to do. "Stay safe?"

"Always. I've got you to come back to."

The Celestial mage smiled warmly as his head lolled to the side. In the last month, Kaleb hadn't taken the earrings he'd given him off and while they looked dark in his light hair, he loved that they matched his eyes now, having lightened a little bit over the month. "Where ever you go, whatever you do, I'll be right here waiting for you." He paused and grinned, "give or take fifty yards if something comes at me."

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Lucy shuddered as the group teleported into the cube, hands moving to rub at her arms and she muttered, "this place is creepy. LIke Creepier than Rowan when he gets excited about a new sex toy shop opening."

Rowan slowly turned his head, giving the blonde a flat look, "really?"

Lucy shrugged, "I was elven...you were like...fangirling. Open mindedness notwithstanding...it was creepy. You were fangirling."

Laxus snorted, "She's got a point, you do, you were head over heels for the one that opened in Oak town."

Rowan slowly looked at his Mate, arching an eyebrow and his eyes danced as the large blond actually cowed a bit. He waited and then smiled as the Large slayer mumbled, "Sorry."

The Green mage watched the other fondly, "well discuss punishment later for the teasing."

Wendy frowned as she watched the three, rubbing her own arms, "is she always like this?"

Vander looked down at the small dragon slayer, "nah, only when she's nervous."

Wendy nodded and took a breath, "well that's fine...let's go." She looked nervous, but put on a cheery face as they started walking slowly, "Afterall...what could go wrong."

"NO! Don't say-" Whatever Vander was going to say next was cut off as the 'floor' each of them was on opened up beneath them, sending them all tumbling down tubes. He let out a yell of frustration as he quickly formed a blade and slammed it into the side of the tube...then sputtered as a fluid splashed over his face, "what the heeeeeeell?!"

The Shadowquip coughed as he eventually stopped, looking up and groaning as he saw the 'entrance' was closed. He let out a hiss and mumbled, "Why? Why do people say that? Why has everyone in this damn world not learned you don't say that?" He reached out through the bond, frowning as it felt like a heavy blanket was over it. That wasn't good.

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Rowan let out a grunt as he landed, twisting so he was on his feet. The man's eyes slowly glancing around before a dark grin curled on his lips. All he could see where rose bushes...well, exsanguinated corpses, but mostly rose bushes.

He pulled himself up and slowly approached one, letting his magic curl out. His eyes went wide and then danced as he let out a small, almost sadistic giggle. They were barely responding, but he was sure, with enough time, they would respond to him quite well. He rubbed his hands together and then moved to grab onto one of the vines, not bothered by the thorns that cut into his palms as he pushed his magic out.

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Laxus let out a grunt as he first fell down, then it seemed like the tunnel he was in curved. The slayer decided that he was going to have a 'class' on words and phrases to never say before going into a battle, during a battle or just in life in general. He saw an opening ahead of him and then grunted as he was almost spit out onto a hard marble floor. He took stock for a moment, slowly standing and looking around, "huh...someone needs interior design lessons. Place looks like shit…"

"Mard Greer takes offense at this statement."

The slayer slowly turned, arching an eyebrow, "a fuckin' pretty boy?" He tilted his head and grinned as he cracked his neck. He could just sense his mate on the edges of his consciousness and was more afraid at the utter giddiness the man was feeling at the moment than the tall, well dressed man in front of him. He brought a hand up and rubbed at his nose, "well, whatever." He took the other in and arched an eyebrow at the book he held, "...well fuck...that says E.N.D."

"Yes, it is the book off E.N.D…" Mard narrowed his eyes a bit at the large blond man, gauging him as he stood there.

Laxus let out a snort, "Right...I'm going to need to take that." The man didn't get to say anything else as the ground shattered and he was leaping back, lightning surrounding him before he was across the room, landing with a loud crash of thunder. "Not gonna make this easy. Fine. I need to blow off some aggression anyway."

"Do you have any clue to whom you are speaking?" The man slowly tilted his head to the side.

Laxus brought a hand up, sniffing and rubbing the side of his nose, "you're either Mard Greer or his bitch."

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Zen's wings had snapped out, feathers hardening quickly and tearing through the tube he was in. he grunted as he landed out of it, a small crater as his magic lashed out. He was angry. He could just barely feel Vander and Lucy and any tugging on their link to go to either of them, no matter how much he pulled, gave no result. All he could feel around him was the strange twisted demonic energy and that set him on the defensive.

"OH WOW!" There was a high pitched voice and he looked at the...female?

He slowly rose to his feet and narrowed his eyes, "Where am I?"

The female giggled as she spun in place and Zen saw rabbit ears on top of her head. "You're in Lamy's lab!"

Zen let out a snarl at the word lab and his eyes adjusted to take in what was around him. Tubes, he could hear fluid bubbling and his eyes narrowed at the the body that was floating in the tube. One looked almost like that woman, Minvera. He stared at the rabbit eared female for a moment before narrowing his eyes, "you're a demon."

Lamy let out a squeal, her hands to her cheeks "that's so mea-AAAAAAH" her movements stopped as Zen's wings went, feathers glinting and cracking tubes, "NO! Stop! What are you-"

Zen didn't bother to waste time. He didn't like normal labs, but a demonic lab was something he was going to tear to the ground.

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Lucy let out a groan as she landed on her ass. The blonde sitting there for a moment and mumbling, "...ow."

She let out a slight hiss as she stood and slowly looked around. She was in a strange hallway and her hand came up to pull her hair back, tying it out of her face as she took a moment to take stock. Reflexively, she reached out through her bonds before making a face as she felt as if she were attempting to go through tar to do so.

With a small growl, she yanked on her magic through the bond and yelped as the markings on her arms sparked, "...that's new… has to be...something here." she didn't like this. She slowly started down the hallway taking a deep breath as she let herself stay as calm as she could, even after shaking her head at the dizzy feeling that momentarily came over her.