The Fox and the Snake

The snake that cannot shed its skin perishes. - Friedrich Nietzsche

It was four in the morning. Erik knew his roommate wouldn't be up for another hour or so. He came slithering in at this hour on purpose. He didn't want to face Bixlow, yet. He knew he fucked up. He knew he broke Tink's heart. He didn't need anyone to tell him that. He heard it. He felt it. He damn near killed him. He took off his white coat and hung it up in the closet. He hung his head and walked up to his room on the second floor. He didn't want to return to Magnolia after he finished his job in Caelum. The closer he got the louder Tink's soul got. Her soul crying made him want to kill himself. He was so stupid to break up with her. His Tink was so beautiful, kind, forgiving, but damn she didn't put up with his shit. That made him love her more. That's what made him break it off with her. They had only dated for three months. His dragon was screaming the 'm' word at him. They had only made out one time. They never had sex. He had too many hang ups about that level of intimacy because of what Brain had down to him while he was with the Oración Seis, the torture he had endured as a child at the Tower of Heaven and let's not forget all the murders he did as a dark mage. He wasn't good enough for the Light of Fairy Tail, his Tink. Erik just sat on the bed miserable, twisted up in his raw emotions. He needed…fuck…he didn't know what he needed.

Erik was sitting there wallowing in his misery when a voice that was not his or Lucy's soul rang through. Help. Help I'm stuck. He picked his head up. He knew he heard a tiny plea for help. He looked at the clock it was 0530. Shit, he'd been throwing himself a pity party for an hour and a half. He got up and went down stairs. Bix wasn't up yet. He knew the voice wasn't him or his totems. They kept to the seith mage and if they had problems they communicated directly to Bix. He figured the voice wasn't in this house and that it must be nearby.

Piper awoke to a frantic knocking on the front door. She gathered her robe and went down stairs. She'd been in Magnolia for about three weeks now. She opened her door to find a man standing there with a frantic yet pissed off look on his face. His one indigo eye searching her shocked looking face. He growled and barged passed her and stormed up the stairs. She chased after him yelling at him in Sinese, but the man kept going as if he was on a mission. He found her room and walked right to her room. He turned and snarled at her, "Shut the hell up woman! Your snake is stuck. It's trying to shed but can't."

That stopped Piper in her track and she stopped cursing him in Sinese. She saw flashes of fangs and scales on the mocha color skin. She watched with fear as the man gently reached in her terrarium for Flick. "Be careful…he's a hav…"

"Havati serpent. I know. He told me and he's stuck." The snarl was gone from the man's voice and it was now gentle and had a cooing tone to it.

Piper watched the hands that were maroon claws move with the precision of a surgeon remove the old skin from Flick. She saw the new maroon colored skin emerge with a new shine to them. Once the old skin fell to the floor, Flick curled around the man's arms and stretched his wings, which had gotten larger and Flick had gotten larger. He was about three feet long now. She watched the two nuzzle and the man purred toward Flick. "Uh…buenos dias y gracias…I wasn't sure how long it was going to take him to shed his skin…My name is Piper…"

An indigo eye opened and slid over and looked at the woman who had followed him up here to this room. He could hear her soul. He could hear her gratefulness and her fear. He could hear the quickening of her heart and breathing and her efforts to calm down. He also heard the protectiveness of the havati in her soul. "Who are you? And why did you let him suffer like this for this long? You know this is a havati. Can you not hear him? Wait…You're not a mage. How did you get this creature then?" Erik started to become angry but the soul of the serpent told him Mama didn't know. She's had me since I was an egg. She has taken good care of me. She loves me. We just can't talk but she's a good human. This calmed Erik down. "Very well…he says you've taken good care of him and I shouldn't yell at you since you can't speak with him. You wouldn't have known that havati have a propensity to get stuck on their first shed." Erik said calmly as he handed Flick back to Piper.

"Um…no…I've never had a havati. That is true. I found him in a pet shop as an egg. There is no information out there other than myths and legends written second hand from the web. I have a contact that is from the Husan Clan that is getting me the proper information about them, but you seem to know a lot about them are you from that clan…" Piper asked.

"No. Since Flick is fine now I'll be going. Sorry…to barge in on you at this time of the morning." Erik mumbled the last part as he left to return to his home. Leaving Piper confused as to who and what she just met this morning.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Shadows stirred outside the brownstones that lined the streets in just outside the market district. It was still dark enough in the morning that they were deep enough to allow a lesser shade to pull forth and more to the smaller brownstone. He had one directive from his master and that was to watch the woman inside, nothing else. It knew it could easily take her over and possess her but she didn't radiate any magical abilities so it had no interest in her. He relayed to his shadow brethren where the woman was so that its master would know her location. It would stay in the shadows of this location and watch listen and learn.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Lucy woke up to snoring. She rolled her eyes and turned her head to see her best friend had yet again made his way into her bed. Happy was curled up at the foot of the bed. She didn't mind the past three weeks have been rough on her since Erik broke up with her. Natsu has been keeping her company, plus his warmth in the bed helps her relax. She didn't live on Strawberry Street anymore. After Magnolia rebuilt most of the single girls from Fairy hills moved to Magnolia Crescent Moon Condominiums. It was about a ten-minute walk from the guildhall and closer to the parks. Lucy loved it because she could walk out to the parks to star gaze.

She sighed heavily and pushed the pink haired dragon slayer over to the other side of the bed. He growled a little but went back to snoring. Lucy knew her best friend was gay, and was happy he finally embraced it. It made their friendship grow stronger. He warned her though when she started dating Erik almost four months ago, he could reject her like he did, and Natsu was right. Erik rejected her without a reason three weeks ago. No reason just 'I can't be with you anymore Tink.' She still hurt, right in the middle of her chest. It ached like a dull pain that nothing seemed to soothe. She went to her kitchen and started making breakfast for both of them.

Wafting scents of bacon had lulled the fire slayer out of hibernation with his trusty blue nasty cat. "Morning Luce! Smells delicious! I didn't wake you coming in last night did I? I hope you don't mind that I crashed here. I know you kinda want the company…" Natsu said with his signature infectious grin.

"Good thing we got up Natsu. Lushy might have eaten it all." Happy snickered. Lucy glared at the blue cat, walked over to the kitchen sink bent down and rummage through her supplies down there and pulled out a large pink bottle of Nair that was half-empty. She kept it there just for the blue cat. She set the bottle down on the kitchen island. Happy squealed and flew away with his paws full of his portion of the food.

"That's what I thought Cat! You like your hair more than you like to insult me." Lucy said with a scary look on her face. Natsu just laughed. He had already learned his lesson about making fun of Lucy. He woke up a while ago bald, no hair anywhere. So he kept his mouth shut, he didn't want Scary Nair Lucy to show up in the middle of the night again while he slept.

"Natsu I think we need to look for a job to do. One that will keep my mind busy. This is break up is still killing me. I hurt. It feels like he just ripped out my heart…" Lucy said suddenly while rubbing her sternum.

Natsu looked at his friend with concern. This was not like Lucy. He has seen her break up with guys. She never acted like this especially three weeks later. "Luce, not that it's any of my business but…uh…how far did you and Erik get…like…I don't know how to talk to you about this…sheesh…umm…sex…did you guys ever have sex?" Natsu finally stammered it out with a red face. He didn't care talking about sex with Gray but Gray was like his brother and well Lucy was like his well sister and he so did not want to know about his sister love life especially those intimate details.

Lucy just laughed. She truly just held her belly and bent over and laughed at how embarrassed Natsu was at talking about sex with her. She knew all about his sexcapades, but now that she thought about it, he never asked about hers. She righted herself and wiped the tears from her eyes and answer with a giggle in her voice, "No Natsu we never made it past a steamy make out session. Why? And why are you so embarrassed about talking about this with me. I've heard you and Gray talk about sex." She started laughing again.

With a red face, "Stop it Luce. I think of you like my sister and I don't want to think of you like that. Anyway, maybe Erik got scared because you are his mate or something and he's not accepting the reality of it yet. I don't know. I'm just guessing here. Igneel didn't really give me an instruction manual on this or anything. And stop teasing me. Just remember I can smell you when you have had sex…" He put out there to return her torment.

That made Lucy stop laughing and turn red herself, "Shit. Forgot about your stupid nose. I guess that makes sense but he hasn't talk to me at all."

"It's Erik we're talking about. Mr. Personality." Natsu grinned. "Let's head to the guild and see if there are any local jobs. If you are hurting like this I don't want to be far from the guild."

"So when did you get so insightful and stuff, Pinkie?" Lucy laughed.

"I have my moments." Nastu laughed back.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Gray woke up with a splitting headache. He still had the dredges of sleep when he cracked his eyes open. He saw purple tresses lying across his bare chest, felt a warm soft curvy body nestled against his. He started to smile until reality started trumpeting through the doors like a one-man band of his dream-like state. His smiled turned into a frown and he looked around the room he was in he was not in his home. This wasn't the first time this had happened in the past three weeks. He slid quietly out of the strange bed, gathered up his clothes and did the walk of shame toward the guild. He would grab a shower there.

Oy mate, drowning your desires in any purple haired woman's thighs isn't gonna slake your thirst for the one WE want. Gray just grumbled as he dressed while he stumbled through the small apartment. In less than five minutes, he was on his way toward the guild. He was hoping that he beat Natsu to the guild. He didn't feel like dealing with his bullshit about what he smelled like again. Well if ye'd git off ye duff and go after the one we want ye wouldn't have to deal with that dragon. The other voice teased. The pulled toward Piper had gotten stronger, Gray couldn't deny that. He was having dreams about her, erotic dreams.

Gray took a deep breath as he got out on the main street that leads to the guild. He was lost in thought when he heard someone yell, "On you left!" and a purple haired jogger buzzed by him then a flying snake followed the jogger. Then he heard Bix yell, "Watch out Icicle!" as he jogged by nearly missing him with his totems flying behind him repeating "Icicle, Icicle, Icicle!"

"What's the hurry?" Gray yelled at him.

"I got a bet that I can beat Belladonna to the guild but you're slowing me down!" Bix called out as he kept running. Gray heard a girly giggle from far up ahead then Bix yelling, "No fair Belladonna! I got slowed down by an icicle!" followed by more giggling.

Gray finally arrived to the guildhall. It was busier than usual this early in the morning. He saw Lucy over at the jobs board, no doubt they would be leaving soon, he would be glad for some distance from the guildhall. Gray looked over and seen Natsu, who had a shit eating grin on his face, as Gray made his way to the shower room. Gray shook his head at Natsu while Natsu nodded his head at him. He knew he was gonna want details of what he smelled. Gods he was such a pervy dragon, as Lucy would say. He was paying too much attention to Natsu that he didn't see Piper as he ran right into her and almost knocked her over. He his arms wrapped around her before she fell backwards. Her shampoo curled up into his nostrils and made his brain check out for a second. Who would have thought the honeysuckle would make him stop cold in his tracks. A muffled voice came with a push of hands on his chest, "Uh…buenos dias Gray and thank you for keeping my ass off the floor but do you mind letting me go so I can breathe?"

Gray's brain registered the muffled nasally voice and let go, "Shit sorry Piper. Just kinda surprise me for a second." He nervously chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"No worries, I would talk more but I'm running a bit late. I need to get my lectures started." She started then looked up at the second floor and yelled, "¡Hay un cierto bufón que se hace pasar por un caballero galante que no puede correr una carrera justa para ganar una apuesta tonta!" She looked back at Gray smiled and waved. Gray heard Bix's laugh echo from the second floor. He shook his head and ducked into the showers. He so needed a cold one right now.

Piper reached the second floor and glared briefly at Bix and his totems before she laughed at him. She shook her head and got logged into her classes so she could get the day started. Spring Semester was coming to a close in a few weeks and she was so ready for summer break. It was already 0750 she had ten minutes to get everything up and running. Her neighbor and new jogging partner had delayed her a few minutes with his little flying tikis so he could win their bet to get to the guildhall first. She lowered a glared towards him from her corner booth. She was going to argue with him at lunch over had the bet was null and void since he used his magic to delay her. She was sure he would come up with some excuse because the tall mage had been trying to get her to go out with him since the day she show up at the guild. She managed to somehow turn him down every time but now he had her over a barrel with a bet. A bet he chested on, but a bet he won. She would talk later about it.

Lucy was looking through the job listings and found on that was still in Fiore but up at Mt. Hokabe. It looked like those Vulcans were back creating havoc again. She thought it shouldn't be too long of a job, but long enough to get her mind off of Erik and what natsu had told her. She went back to the table where Natsu was. Erza had showed up for breakfast. She hadn't noticed Gray come in and have a little moment with Piper earlier. "Where's Gray? Did he oversleep again because stay up too late last night?" Lucy asked not to anyone in particular as she sat down handing the job notice to Erza.

"Oh he's here Lucy. Don't worry. He had a great time last night too." Natsu snickered.

"What's that supposed to mean Natsu?" Erza asked without looking up from the notice. "If you are trying to goad him into something…let's not I'm tired myself and not feeling well."

Lucy looked at Erza, "Did you eat some bad food last night? You don't have to go the boys and I can handle the job ourselves." Lucy offered to the paler than usual red head.

"I'll be fine, but thank you Lucy. I think I will sit this one out. I think I'm just gonna go back home and go back to bed." Erza said with a tired tone in her voice. She waved at her friends at the table as she left back to her place she shared with Jellal.

Gray came out of the showers just in time to see Erza leaving the hall. He wish he had brought fresh clothes but beggars and all, at least he had clothes on, for now, damn stripping habit. "Where's Erza going?" He asked nodding his head at the doors.

"Oh she's sick. So she's gonna go lay back down." Natsu updated his buddy then smirked at him, "Anything you want to share with group…about last night…hint hint wink wink…you sly devil you." Natsu teased with a smirking grin.

"No I don't have anything to share you flaming idiot! Lucy did you find a job to go on?" Gray hissed changing the subject.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Sam stood in the rank smelling basement of a well-maintained mansion in the high-end part of Sin. He had his full armor on a long sword drawn with shield up. A snarl pulled crossed his lips, fangs bared. He could smell through the thick stank of animal waste that this place was used a part of an illegal fitting ring that was attached to the drug rings. He could smell the blood and death mixed in with the waste and rotting food odor. He knew that his guild had enough evidence from down there that there was no need to keep anything down here. He requipped his sword and shield and released from his hand his foxfire to burn the place. He was furious. These illegal fighting rings were unethical and cruel. They fought non-magical and magical creatures. He couldn't count how many of them he and his team had shut down.

As Sam came up to the main floor of the mansion, it was like night and day. The main floor was opulent with marble flooring crystal chandelier hanging, beautiful double staircases curling up to the second floor that look over the open floor plan of the ground floor. The Red Foxes had gathered this information from their inside informants. They moved as soon as they had enough to move in. When they arrived, all they found were just the caretakers of the grounds and the dying or dead animals down stairs. The caretakers were not mages and were taken into custody by the police. Sam walked out of the huge home thinking to himself, My kingdom for a seith mage that isn't crazy. His guild kept track of the seith mages that immigrated to Sin when Bosco banned the magic. They had approximately eighty practicing mages in West Nitespring, but only eleven of them were associated with the dark guilds. None of the other wanted anything to do guilds. They just wanted to live their lives out in peace. Most of those were older adults and had their glory days. His Lphone went off with a text from his recruitment department.

Recruiter: New mages applied. Refused to identify their magic types unless they talked to guild master.

Sam: I'll be there in a hour.

Sam hated when mages did that. They usually were cocky young mages that thought they were special because mommy and daddy thought so. So he would spar with them and bring that cockiness down a notch and then get them on the right path to improve their magical powers.

He arrived to the recruitment office. The recruiter handed him the paper work that was left for him. "This was submitted a few weeks ago. Why am I just now hearing about it?"

The recruiter just shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry sir. I was on vacation until today."

"It's fine I'll look over it and contact them." Sam said with a disappointed sigh.

He headed up to his office glancing over the paperwork. Boscan women immigrating to Sin. Nothing unusal there, clan borne interesting. He only had Nick as a clan borne Boscan. He looked at the names again, wait he thought they have the same last name as Nick. He pulled out his phone and texted Nick to meet him in his office now.

Nick met Sam just as he was about to enter his office. They both entered. Sam held his tongue until the door was shut. He walked over to his desk through his files down from the recruiters office and turned and leaned on his desk. He gestured for Nick to take a seat. "So Nicky how's the family? Opal and Frank doing ok?"

Nick walked over to the couch and took a seat. He didn't like the expression on Sam's face. Something was up. He knew he was dealing with a lot with the new guild the 12 Crows and the power vacuum they were creating by offing all the old dark guild masters and other ring leaders. They were systematically taking them out and then either absorbing them or annihilating those that refused. So it was so much as creating a power vacuum but a violent power take over and that required a lot power to do what that new guild was doing. "Uh…Mom and Dad are fine. My aunt and two cousins just got in about three weeks ago from Bosco. They are moving here permanently. Why something wrong, Boss?"

"No nothing's wrong. Did you know your two cousins applied for guild membership a few weeks ago but didn't specify what magic they use? You know I hate that and you know what I hate more?" Sam led on.

"They asked to talk to you? Well if I may…uh…I haven't gotten to talk a lot with Aunt Sylvia but from what I've heard from Mom is that this needs to be on the dl because my one cousin is being possibly hunted by the Steel Council? Don't quote me. I've been working here and with the city's 911 service so I haven't been home too much." Nick told Sam. "To be honest I'm surprised that Cat used her real name."

"This guild is not an asylum Nick you know that. Especially from political persecution. If it's Bosco, Sin will roll over and give her back. I can't afford any kind of protection for her." Sam said with a frustration in his voice. Sin was in debt to Bosco for the airship and sky ports. Without them they would lose billions in imports/exports and tourism.

"I didn't even know they applied until now. I'm not going to tell you anything about them Sam. I'm gonna let you make up your own mind about them. Just know I'm the odd mage out in our family. Do you care if I get back to work?" Nick asked with a smile on his face. "You'll like 'em promise and not because they are related to me."

"Get out of here Sinclair! If I didn't like your ugly mug…" Sam said as the water mage walked out. He grabbed the file and called the number listed in it. He instantly recognized Nick's mother, Opal's voice on the other end. "Hello?"

"Opal…It's Sam. How are you and Frank doing?" he asked with sincerity.

"Oh Sam, we're fine. Let me get Catrina for you. I knew you would call for her and her sister. One second…" Opal said with a smile in her voice.

Sam smiled to himself. He should have known Opal would have known he was calling for her niece. Opal was a mage with divination powers. He tried to recruit her years ago but she turned him down but her husband Frank cam and worked for the Red Foxes for years until Nick was old enough to take over. He was happy to retired with his wife. They had had Nick late in life. Neither regretted it though. Sam started hearing some commotion on the other end. Some argument about joining a guild and to stop worrying joining a guild was the safest thing she'd ever done then a voice was on the line "Hello? This is Cat…I mean Catrina. Catrina Sinclair. Are you calling about my application to the Red Foxes?"

"Hi, yes Ms. Sinclair. You and your sister applied but didn't list your magical abilities. Care to come to the guild and be tested?" Sam asked.

"Uh…not to sound rude or anything but I can't see your eyes but can you tell me if you are the guild master. I'll only come if the master summons me." The woman asked with a nervous tone in her voice.

"Yes I am the guild master, Sam Saxe. You can verify that information with you Aunt Opal." He said then heard muffled Boscan. A dialect he wasn't used to. He knew Opal and Frank's Clan were from the northern mountain ranges of the country and not by the Great Grass Sea.

"Ok when is good for you, Sir?" Cat said on the line again.

"I'm free now."

"My sister and I will be there in about 20 minutes." Cat said and ended the call.

Sam hung up the phone and texted Zosia to be in the lobby in about twenty minutes. He texted Felix and Walker to meet him in the sparring rings in the lower levels of the guild. He always tested new applicants like this. Let Zosia get a feel for them ten test them in the rings to get a feel for their magic. These two, he had no idea what was going to happen. Nick was tight lipped about it.

Twenty minutes later, Zosia watched two women walked into the guild that were obviously not members. They were shorter than Zosia. She watched as the taller one with long blonde hair in a long braid, led slightly and looked around systematically looking at the lobby. Zosia thought she did a good job hiding the fact that she was looking for danger by looking lost instead even with her dark sunglasses on. The blonde looked like a typical tourist that visited Sin this time of the year. Baby-tee that was pink with dark blue compression shorts and black running shoes. The red head looked similar just slightly shorter, tight yellow tank top and same dark blue compression short with black running shoes. She didn't wear the sunglasses just a large sun hat. They did a great job of pulling off the 'lost tourist look'. Zosia gave them points. She kept sitting where she was 'reading' her magazine about homes and gardens.

Cat and Lex dressed to worked out but to also look like tourist. They entered the Fox guild hall like they did a few weeks ago. Lex let Cat take the lead at looking the place over since she had the most experience with that being a Bloodhunter, hopefully an ex-bloodhunter. She made sure to wear a shirt that covered that tattoo on her shoulder. Cat scanned the room and notied a green haired woman sitting and reading a homes and garden magazine. She glanced over her again, green hair, very pale blue eyes. She let the faintest of her soul magic push through and saw a glimpse of the souls in the room. She didn't react at what she saw but she told her sister Lex in their native tongue, "Verið varkár systir. Það er Joyan succubus hjá okkur." Lex just shook her head as they proceeded to the desk. Cat was told by the man at the desk to take the elevator to the second ground level and the master would be there waiting for them.

Sam, Walker, and Felix waited for the elevator to open when Zosia appeared. "Well Sam from what I saw you are going to be happy with one of those girls." Zosia said before she disappeared again.

The elevator opened and the two women came out into the room but stopped about two steps from the elevator. Cat stood there with Lex slightly behind her. She looked around the large room. She could feel the protection runes all around. The room was only partially light. It had concrete walls that were bare but bore the signs that sparring took place here. She had already let her little wondering spirit loose from the bracelet she wore. Tito had move over into a flat piece of wood that was leaning against the wall that had several weapons stored on it. He waited until Cat signaled him.

Cat saw three men in the center of the loose dirt floor. The red head with the cropped hair stood there nonchalantly in loose denim jean and a black tight tee shirt. The shirt defines his muscles well. The magic that see felt from him felt familiar but different. He had a neutral look on his face but his eyes were taking everything in just as she was. The man on his left, a bald man that was a huge wall of muscle. He was a little shorter than the auburn haired man. He reminded her of her old flame in White Seas, Beck Redansa, from the Kutsune Clan, a great beast master now in the White Seas. Teenage lust she thought. The man even had fox tattoos all over him, just not like clan marking tattoos. He just smirked at her and Lex. The final man was about as tall as Cat at the mighty giant height of 5'7" tall. Jet-black hair deeply tanned skin, very serious look on his face, more than the other two. She looked at Lex and said in native Boscan again, "They are serious even though the big one is wearing a grin. The man in middle, his magic feels very powerful but familiar. I can't explain it. Just watch out and don't forget about the succubus." Lex just nodded her head.

"So guys are we at a funeral or are we gonna play?" Cat said with a big grin on her face as she switched Tito in to a dagger on the wall that he was near. Lex moved out from her a few steps but kept her stance relaxed. They were waiting to see what the men were gonna do.

"Oh boss I like her. She's spunky. Well come on girlie. If you think you have the balls to take on a big man like me…let's see what you have." Walker said as he matched Cat's grin. He dropped back into a fighting stance.

"What's the rules of combat first?" Lex asked before Cat moved anywhere.

"Well since we don't know what kind of magic you wield…how bout 30 minutes or til your too exhausted. No fatalities of course, and no serious wounds. Sound good to you two?" Sam said with his sly smile. He liked it when mages when all out. Really gave him a chance to assess them.

"Sounds good to me. Lex?"

"Ready."

Cat charging into the big man bare handed, threw her sunglasses off two steps towards her target. The man went to reach out for a bear hug grapple but she was small and agile and did a baseball slide between his legs as Tito flew to her in the dagger she moved him to then released him back to the board he was in originally. Before the man could recover, she was up and jumped on his back with her legs around his neck. She bent over and looked the man straight in his eyes; her eyes flashed green with figure eyes, "Hi there big and handsome how bout you help a pretty lady out would ya."

"Sure sweetheart, what do you want me to do?" He said with a monotone voice.

"Shorty there help me fight him, k." She asked and the giant man ambled toward Felix with glowing green eyes. Cat hopped off his back and focused on the shorter man. She called out to Lex, "Ok sis tall built and sexy is all yours."

"Got it!" Lex called out from where she was she hadn't even move yet. "You ready to play handsome? I hope you can stand the heat cause I'm about to make it hot in here." She grinned as fired started licking up around her arms and legs. She tossed out a few fireballs at the red head who seemed distracted at the fact that his men were fighting each other.

"Shit!...Huh?" Sam was rarely caught off guard but watching a small petite woman easily dodge Walker and then take control of him so easily and quickly shocked him to where he didn't notice the trio of fireballs heading his way. He requipped to his full plated armor with shield and long sword. He was barely able to block the fireballs in time but took the hits. They didn't feel that powerful. He looked over at the curly red head. She was now and raging inferno of fire that was burning so bright she was giving off white flames in the center. He was starting to sweat in his armor. He charged her with his shield in place. But missed when she was raised in the air by a piece of wood? What the hell was going on with these women. He heard the red hair call out, "Requip mage, Cat!"

Cat was busy with her new friend trying to find an opening in the earth mages defense. She looked at the man she had possessed, "Show me big man what you can do to get me passed the earth mages defenses." No sooner than the sentence left her mouth the defenses that the earth mage put up were blown to pieces leaving Cat an opening to get to the mage. She was getting tired it had been 15 minutes of fighting. This is longest she had ever had to use her Figure eyes coupled with Tito holding Lex up in the air away from the requip mage. She was tiring. She slid in and once she was able to get in close for hand to hand she was able to draw first blood on the earth mage's wrist. Now she had to figure out what to do with big and muscle bound. "Ok baldy how bout we help my sister out and fight with handsome over there?" That's when the spell broke and the big man turned on her.

"I don't think so niñita." Came a gritting voice that was breathing heavy. Shit she thought.

"Times up Lex! I need Tito back!" Cat yelled.

"I'm good! Got the wind going!" Lex said as the board left her and she stayed floating in the air while raining fire down on the requip mage.

Cat switched target and ran toward the requip mage who was doing a hell of a job keeping from getting baked. She was behind the man he was in full plate with a sword and shield. With quick thinking she moved Tito to the shield and Tito jerked the shield and the flames did their job. Requip mage down. Big man left to go. "Lex explosion mage any ideas?" Cat was huffing.

"Times up ladies! I'm impressed." Came a sultry voice.

Cat turned and saw the green haired woman that she sense as a Joyan succubus. She stayed in a battle stance holding out her dagger towards Zosia. "Succubus! Are you truly the guild master? Was I lied to by 'Sam' to lure me back to the Steel Council? I'll die trying if you think I'm gonna let Grendace take me back and do his bidding. You can tell him I'm finished."

Zosia laughed, "Ah so I did see your eyes flash if ever the faintest of green in the lobby, little seith mage. You are correct. I am a FORMER Joyan succubus, but I still hold my fangs and poisons. I am not the guild master that honor goes to Sam and I can guarantee I have nothing to do with the Steel Council in Bosco or the late Captain Grendace. You seem surprised that he is dead? The old Bloodhunter have been disbanded. You are a free woman and your family is safe." Zosia reassured the blonde.

"Fuck chica you pack a punch in those pretty eyes of yours. I got a headache from them and trying to fight against your commands." Walker said as he walked over rubbing his eyes and temples.

"So you are a seith mage and your sister here is a fire mage but how do you get your fire so hot and not comsume yourself?" Sam asked already requipped back to his normal clothes.

Lex answered, "While yes I am a fire mage but I also can control the wind. So I'm able to pull the air to fan the flames while keeping my skin from getting burned or I can use the wind to snuff out the flames." Lex smiled.

"Well how would you two like to become Red Foxes?" Sam asked grateful that the Gods hear his prayers for a seith mage and blessed him with a fiery wind mage for a bonus.

A/N Thanks the reviews I love them. Keeps me going.

With the Erik/Lucy pairing I wanted to explore a little of the side of relationship where the couple breaks up because one feels inadequate for the other partner. I'm sure we have all went through this in our lives. I did with my husband. It makes you look at yourself closer. I just wanted to shake it up a bit. Relationships require a lot communication. We know Lucy can do it, but it is challenging for Erik. Just remember the quote I put at the beginning when thinking about Erik.

Gray is still trying to figure out his inner devil and his feeling for Piper. For Piper there are things to come don't worry.

Yes, Cat and Lex Sinclair are back and they are now officially Foxy ladies. I've changed the background on them some. They are going to be very helpful in taking down the 12 Crows.

Thanks for reading.

Fairy Tail is Hiro's and the intermittent appearances of the Pradesh's belong to the lovely and talented Desna.

Translations:

buenos dias y gracias : good morning and thanks

"¡Hay un cierto bufón que se hace pasar por un caballero galante que no puede correr una carrera justa para ganar una apuesta tonta!" : "There is a certain jester who pretends to be a gallant knight who can not run a fair race to win a dumb bet!"

Verið varkár systir. Það er Joyan succubus hjá okkur : Be careful sister. There is a Joyan succubus with us