Paradise Lost

Makarov had been drifting in and out of consciousness since his fight with Hades, albeit he was mostly of the time he was conscious, it was struggling to stay alive. The only chance he had was to get to the camp, where at least one of the guild could maybe save him. But that was starting to seem less and less likely.

That was when he started hearing voices. At first he thought it was one of the Grimoire invaders, but then he heard more.

"Why isn't he waking up yet?"

"He's strained himself far more than normal, and that's saying something."

"He's still go his weird wing arm, too. Why can't you heal him?"

"Something's blocking the healing magic, I don't know what to do."

"We need to get back to the camp. We can gather our thoughts there."

"Aye sir…" Makarov saw two people and three cats come through the trees. It was Wendy and the Exceeds, but Makarov also noticed that Wendy was trying to support Natsu.

"We.. Wendy…," Makarov weakly called. The Sky Dragon Slayer looked up.

"Master!" she cried, as she moved over to him. Once she got to him, Wendy activated her healing magic.

"No," Makarov said, trying to wave her away, "Take care… (cough)… of Natsu, first."

"I've tried," Wendy said, "But something's stopping my magic from working."

"I'm not sure what exactly it is," Carla said, "Though there is definitely something blocking it."

"I was hoping that if we could get back to the camp, then we could figure out what to do there," Wendy said, tearing up slightly, "But…." Makarov glanced at the Fire Dragon Slayer. His left arm had turned into a draconic wing-arm coated in red scales. Something else Makarov took notice of, was how his generally white-scaled scarf was now pitch black. It didn't take long for Makarov to realize what had happened to it.

"Would it possible for you to undo the damage to his scarf?" he asked.

"His scarf?" Wendy asked.

"There is some kind of dark magic within it," Makarov explained, "I think that's what's getting in your way." Wendy didn't bother to think about it, as she started using the healing magic on Natsu's scarf.

"That weird guy with black hair was the one who did it," Happy said. Pantherlily arched an eyebrow.

"Could that person be…"

(in the battlefield)

Mavis looked over the wrecked area, baring the scars of conflict. She stared in silence at the sight.

"Mavis," Zeref said softly, coming up behind her.

"Ever since I first left this island, I wanted this island to be a place of peace and friendship," Mavis said, "And now…" Her fists clenched. Tears then began to drip down her face.

"All this violence, all this terror," she said weakly. Zeref watched his beloved cry, as his fists tightened.

(at the camp)

Gajeel and Levy had made it back to the camp, and they were currently trying to figure out their next move with Mirajane and Lisanna.

"We need to get everyone together, that's what's most important at this point," Mirajane said.

"Everyone's all over the island, that'd take too long," Gajeel said, "I say we all go on the offensive."

"You are aware of one of Fairy Tail's most important creeds, right?" Lisanna asked.

"Friendship is the most important thing since existence?" Gajeel said sarcastically.

"1) That's true. 2) The sarcasm's not helping. 3) Its 'united we stand'," Levy said, "We need to find the others so we can all launch our counter-offensive."

"Then how do we do that?" Gajeel said, "Its not like there are a bunch of small communication lacrima."

"I think Warren's actually studying something like that," Levy said.

"Lisanna and I can sprout wings and go flying around the island," Mirajane said, "We can…"

"Ah good. I was begging to think that only children and felines were guarding the island." The four whirled around to see Azuma approaching them.

"Who're you?" Gajeel demanded, taking his fighting stance.

"Who I am is irrelevant," Azuma said, "All you need to know is that I'm of Grimoire Heart."

"Wha…," Mirajane didn't finish, because, as it turned out, that was all Gajeel needed to hear. With a yell, the Iron Dragon Slayer sprung at Azuma.

"Gajeel!" Levy cried.

"Iron Dragon's Sword!" Azuma easily evaded it, and held up his hands. A huge explosion formed around Gajeel, who just in time managed to coat himself in dragon scales, though it still received much of the explosion, sending him careening away. Meanwhile, Lisanna elected to help, without or without her sister's approval.

"Animal Soul: Tiger!" Turning into a tiger esque cat-girl, the younger Strauss girl, pounced at Azuma, swinging her clawed paws. The Grimoire Heart mage blocked the strike with his arm, before kicking Lisanna way.

"Iron Dragon's Roar!" Azuma held up both arms, as a series of roots came together. They were so thick that they blocked the dragon iron. Gajeel clenched his teeth in frustration. He knew that his Dragon's Eye wasn't something he could just turn on off like a regular magic. In addition, he had already expended much of his energy in that battle with the Grimoire Heart mages from earlier. And this guy was on a completely different level.

"Solid Script: Fire!" Levy said, bringing up letters of fire in hopes of burning away the roots. However, the fire had virtually no effect.

"These roots are akin to the roots of the world," Azuma said darkly, "Not even dragon fire can burn through them."

"Mira!" Lisanna called, as she leapt to her feet, "Use Satan Soul!"

"I would if I could, but its not like I can use that spell on repeat," Mirajane said.

"Satan Soul?" Azuma asked, arching an eyebrow, "So you're the Demon Mirajane? Excellent. Perhaps I will be able to find the challenge I desire."

"Hey! We're the ones fighting!" Gajeel snapped. However, with a flick of Azuma's wrist, more roots came out of the ground, coiling around Gajeel like snakes, restraining him.

"Gajeel!" Levy said, as she ran over to him.

"I only wish to fight an opponent at their full strength," Azuma said, "So I politely request to do battle against the Demon present." Mirajane glared at him angrily.

"Now it should be noted I'm on a schedule here," Azuma said, when the Take Over mage didn't do anything, "So while I would rather not do something dishonorable…" He then pointed at Lisanna. Similar kinds of roots then writhed around her, but this time, what looked like a timer lit up, and began counting down from 180 seconds.

"Lisanna!" Mirajane cried.

"You have three minutes to earn my respect," Azuma said, gesturing for the Take Over mage to come. However, as it turned out, he wouldn't need to, as Mirajane had already cloaked herself in magic.

*180

With a cry of pure, unbridled rage, the Demon sprung at Azuma, slashing at him with her claws. Azuma managed to evade the attack, and with a flick of his finger, several roots sprung up and went for Mira, who flew out of the way. Bring her hands together, the barkeep summoned a swirl of dark energy, and blasted it at him. The dark mage avoided it, and pointed at Mira.

"Chain Burst!" A root shot at Mira, exposing along it, before slamming into her. The attack it, but didn't do enough damage to take her out of the fight, as she recovered, and dove at Azuma again, slashing her claws at him. Azuma blocked her arm, before bringing up his own fist, as Mirajane brought down her fist as well. The two fists collided, sending the two careening back.

"Mirajane!" Lisanna cried.

*140

As the two dueled, Levy continued to try and pull at the roots binding Gajeel, who managed to work an arm free. He then turned the arm into a sword, and started to hack at the roots.

"What are these roots made out of, iron?" Levy griped.

"Then I could just eat my wait out of this."

"Soul Extinctor!" Mirajane yelled, launching her dark orb at Azuma. Azuma created his roots to block it, but the explosion still inflicted some damage on him, as he skidded away. He smirked slightly.

"Pretty good," he said. Mirajane then dove down at Azuma, colliding into him. This pushed Azuma back, but he thew the Demon away.

"Whips of Hell!" Mirajane said, summoning up a pair of whips made of dark energy, and lashing them at Azuma. One of them got around his wrist, as she slammed him head first into the ground. Mirajane then yanked him towards her, before slamming his fist into his gut.

After Azuma emerged from the wrecked tree the fist had sent him into, he wiped the side of his mouth, noting some blood. He smiled.

"Just what I needed," he said.

"Tormenting people for fun," Mirajane said, her glare so intense that it could crack stone, "What kind of man are you?"

"A man who enjoys doing battle," Azuma said plainly, "And you can give me a good one." He then flicked his wrist, sending explosion Mirajane's way, who flew to safety relatively easily.

"Release my sister!" Mirajane demanded. Azuma just continued to smirk.

*80

"Evil Explosion!" Mirajane roared, launching one of her most powerful attack at the Grimoire Heart mage, who blocked the attack with his roots again, though, once again the force still blasted him away. Not waiting for him to recover, Mira slashed, leaving several gashes across his chest. She was then knocked away by his roots.

"Its been sometime since I had a fight like this one," Azuma said, a look of pure excitement on his face. He then got ready to continue fighting, before out of nowhere he had to dodge a slash from Gajeel, who had finally managed to free himself from the roots.

"I'm here too!" he declared, "I'm not going to let our guild waitress have all the fun!"

"I'm not interested in you, Dragon Slayer," Azuma said darkly, "You are already spent."

"Hell I am!" Gajeel countered, as he inhaled, and let loose his breath attack, which Azuma easily evaded. That gave Mirajane the opportunity to strike at him again, lashing her tail at Azuma, who caught it, and threw her away.

"Iron Dragon's Cub!" A club of pure dragon iron struck at Azuma. The strike was caught by Azuma, who managed to push Gajeel away, who skidded back. He wasn't going to pretend he was at full strength. Much to the contrary, Azuma was correct in the sense that he was very much spent. But that wasn't going to stop him.

*40

Deciding to do more than just watch the fight from the background, Levy ran to Lisanna, and tried to pull away the roots.

"Stop, Levy!" Lisanna said, "Just get out of here!"

"Just abandoning my guild mates to save my skin?" Levy asked, "Who do you take me for, a member of the Magic Council?"

Meanwhile, Mirajane dove down, her fists outstretched, crashing into a series of roots. Right after, Gajeel came up from behind Azuma, swinging his bladed leg, who ducked out of the way just in time.

"I'm not interested in dealing with you," Azuma said, "Take your attention elsewhere." He then pointed at Levy. On reflex, Gajeel darted in the blue-haired girl's direction. That distracted him long enough, for a series of roots to wrap around Gajeel. With a snap of his fingers, the roots all exploded.

"Gajeel!" Levy cried.

"Damn it!" Mirajane hissed, looking down at her enemy. Then she looked at Lisanna.

*20

That was when the S-Class mage made a decision. She then flew down towards Lisanna, pushing Levy out of the way, or more accurately, harm's way. Mira then wrapped her wings and tail around her sister, much to bother the sister, and the opponent's surprise.

"Mirajane, what are you doing?!" Lisanna

"Don't try and remove the roots!" Azuma said, "Keep fighting me!" Mirajane just remained silent, as she tightened her hold on her sister.

"That guy's way out of my league," she said softly, "At the this point, its more important that I protect you. Besides…" The Demon then smiled gently Lisanna.

5*

"But there are people who can beat him." Azuma watched in shock at this act of devotion.

"I'm not going to ever risk losing you again."

1*

The ensuing explosion seemed to rock the whole island. The explosion sent both Levy and Gajeel flying away, as well as a lot of the trees. The only one who was able to hold his ground was Azuma, who watched as the dust cleared.

Lying on the ground, her Take Over gone, was a motionless Mirajane, lying over a conscious Lisanna.

"M.. Mira?" she asked softly. Her sister remained motionless. Azuma glanced at the siblings, as he took a breath and looked away. This wasn't supposed to be how he achieved victory, it was a cowards way. But nothing to do about it now at this point. With that, he departed, as Gajeel and Levy ran over to Mira.

"C… Come on," Lisanna stuttered, starting cry, "Get up. Mira…"

(somewhere else on the island)

"I'm getting close," Ultear said, as she walked through the forests, "Zeref has to be near. And once I have him…" The woman smiled at the thought. So long waiting, and now she was finally going to find him. Suddenly she sensed a presence.

"So you're here to find me, yes?" Ultear looked at the source of the voice, as a look of a shock came over her face, before changing into a look of joy, as Zeref approached her.

"You brought the conflict here. And now…." A dark aura suddenly swirled around Zeref.

"You dared to make Mavis cry," he said, with a tone of pure rage.

Note: I tried to expand slightly on the battle between Mirajane and Azuma, by adding Gajeel into it. I hoped you liked it. I also decided to add another Mavis and Zeref scene, and give some Zervis motivation for Zeref getting so angry.

Be warned ahead of time, changes made to canon are soon going to start a butterfly effect which will begin to have drastic effects on the story. The exact kind of changes I'll obviously not answer just yet.

Be sure to review.