Jellal, Gajeel, and Gray split up in 3 different directions, stalking the hooded figure. Gray ran along the roof of the building adjacent to the hurried figure, attempting to cut her off. Gajeel and Jellal flanked her sides on the crowded streets.

Gajeel gave a low whistle, indicating the figure was changing directions. She'd figured out she was being followed. She turned down a back alley, right into Gray's path. Gray used his ice magic to bridge the gap between buildings, effectively cutting her off as he dropped down in the alley in front of her. She turned to run the other way, only to find Gajeel and Jellal in front of her.

"You're pretty slippery when you want to be," Jellal commented.

"Yeah, well, you're a persistent bastard when you want to be," she shot back, "And you still had to hire some thugs to help you get me."

Jellal smirked sarcastically, "Had I known it was you, perhaps I wouldn't have gone to such measures."

Gray chuckled. He still didn't know who this chick was, but she was definitely given Jellal a challenge. Gray had martyred Jellal in his mind. After all, anyone who could deal with Erza on a romantic level ought to be respected. Plus, he'd proved himself time and time again with his activities with the Crime Sorciere Guild, who had been exonerated a few years back for their work during the Tartaros events. Jellal was a free man, but he still fought with Crime Sorciere, unable to exonerate himself. He had, however, been able to allow himself Erza's love.

"Take your hood off, you twit," Jellal quipped, "Seriously – it's still early fall. Aren't you boiling?" He sounded like he was talking to a little sister.

She smacked his hand away when he tried to bring the hood down, bringing it down on her own afterward.

"Sorano!"

Gray lowered his gaze, remembering his last encounter with Sorano.

"How are my spirits?" she spat sarcastically, remembering that in the end, Sorano paid for her crimes. Lucy had inherited her spirits as she could no longer practice Celestial magic without them. She did, however, still have her Angel magic.

"You bitch," Gajeel started for her, Sorano quickly hiding behind Jellal.

"If we're done here," Gray looked at Jellal, "I can't stand her face. You good, man?"

"Wait," Jellal said, "I need to know why she's been stalking you."

"What?" Gajeel asked, "If someone was stalking us, I'd know. I figured it out almost right away when I figured out you were watching us."

Jellal shook his head, "Nope. I'd been following you for days as a favour for Erza. She couldn't join you right away, so she sent me to watch over you," Jellal laughed lightly when Gajeel swore under his breath, "Don't feel bad. Crime Sorciere have become experts in being stealth. It's one of the reasons we are so successful in bringing down dark guilds."

He paused, turning to Angel again, "I don't, however, know why Angel here is stalking you. We don't keep secrets in Crime Sorciere. What's your game, Sorano?"

She spat at his feet, "I don't have to tell you shit."

"Yeah, you do," Gajeel said, turning his arm to iron, "Because if you don't, I will turn you into shit!"

Jellal placed his arm across Gajeel's chest, blocking his advance, "Let me talk to her."

Gray and Gajeel were still sore at her for the events at Tartaros, Jellal realized. But, Jellal preferred to deal with things without violence. Since both of them were ready to strangle the girl, it was probably better if they left her to his devices.

Understanding that Jellal had a friendship with her and would have better luck getting answers, Gajeel and Gray left. They'd barely turned out of the alley when they heard the THUMP. Barely glancing at each other, they turned back to see Jellal on his hands and knees, blood seeping from the back of his head.

"What the hell happened?" Gray asked, both he and Gajeel breaking out into run to get to Jellal.

"Seems Angel is not working alone," Jellal stood up shakily, "And I'm apparently not as attuned to people in the shadows as I thought I was. He came up from behind, smacked me in the head, and disappeared with Sorano before I realized what had happened."

"So did you get any answers?" Gajeel asked.

Jellal shook his head, "All I know is that she was following you since the start of your trip. We will need to be extra vigilant now."

"We shoulda dealt with her our way," Gajeel grunted under his breath.

"Are you coming with us?" Gray asked.

Jellal shrugged, "Might as well. Erza would kill me if I left you to your own devices. And there's no point in following you secretly anymore since you already know I'm here."

"Left us to our own devices?" Gray asked, eyebrows raised.

"Well, Flame-For-Brains IS in charge of this expedition," Gajeel pointed out.

"Good point," Gray agreed, "Speaking of Fire Pit, I bet they're done with Yukino now. Let's go see what they found out."

Rustyrose had Angel by the elbow as he steered her through town.

"You idiot! You jeopardized everything!" he hissed at her.

Arriving at their accommodations, he pushed her through the door. She fell to her knees as he punched her across the back repeatedly.

"Do you not understand what's at stake here?" He yelled at her.

"Y-yes," Angel said meekly, shielding her face from his raised fist above her face, "I- I do understand, but I didn't get caught on purpose. Jellal couldn't catch me on his own. He had help!"

He smacked her, causing her to fall backward and clunk her head on the bed frame behind her, "You cannot be so careless!"

She was crying now, again shielding her face and he picked her up by her shirt and threw her on the bed.

"Okay," he said soothingly, pulling her into his arms, "Shhh… You know I love you, right? Don't cry anymore. You're forgiven."

Sorano didn't react to his sudden change in personality, letting him touch her body, even though he'd just finished beating her into submission. He kissed down her neck, barely noticing how rigid her body was. He was getting scarier by the day.

About 6 months ago, he had approached her. After being exonerated by the King of Fiore, Crime Sorciere took regular breaks between bringing down guilds. She had first noticed the small personality changes in him then. Still, she was highly attracted to Rustyrose and had been for some time, so when he asked her to go with him, she didn't hesitate.

Even so, he had to persuade her 'the hard way' when she refused to go along with his plans earlier last year. She couldn't even remember what happened at that time, except that he was still hell-bent of getting Grimoire Heart back into operation. She had finally had enough of the personality changes and tried to leave him. That was the first time he'd hit her. She couldn't go to Jellal or anyone else in Crime Sorciere. If she did, they would know what she and Rustyrose did sometimes in their off-time from Crime Sorciere in their attempts to resurrect the dark guild. It was direct betrayal.

She couldn't go to her sister, Yukino, either. Yukino's husband, Sting, was so straight and narrow now that he'd turned the Sabertooth Guild around. They'd never understand. Moreover, they'd report Sorano and Rustyrose for their activities.

He was thrusting into her now, oblivious to the pain he caused as he pressed on her new bruises. She bit her lip and endured it. Maybe she deserved the pain for all the pain they were about to cause. If their plan was successful, Grimoire Heart would rise from the ashes. And it was entirely possible, their success would end Fairy Tail once and for all.

Cue the ominous music. I'm so glad to see so many people enjoying this story as much

as I enjoy writing it! Please feel free to leave a comment!