I'm so embarrassed by my chapter output the last few years, guys. I know the chapters have gotten longer and everything, but I sometimes wish I could push out as many chapters as I did during year one. Only so many things I can do, huh? Double uploads are always good though!

Enjoy!

It was a brand new day in Magnolia. The days would soon warm up, as Spring was fast approaching. Even now, a light snow drifted down onto the city that had been rebuilt more times than any of the civilians could count. It was a miracle anybody even lived here anymore.

That being said, Luna was in a good mood today. The reason was simple.

She was going to spend today with her sister.

That was what she and Nashi had been calling each other over the past few days. It was easier to think of them as siblings than as the same person, so they went with that. The alternative was mind bending and weird.

She reached her parents house easily enough, knowing her sister was inside. She was still unable to look after herself probably after being tortured in Tartarus, so their parents had opted to take her in until she felt better. She looked better day after day, but Luna knew better than to just believe that. They were connected, after all. She could sense a deep and immeasurable pain lurked inside her 'sister'.

Knocking on the door and letting herself in, Luna walked inside to be greeted by an empty house. In seemed no one was around, except for a note on the counter near her. Picking it up, she read it quickly.

Luna,

Natsu and I got called in by Laxus this morning, I took Luke with us. Nashi should still be in bed, so please check up on her and make sure she's okay. I love you!

Mom

Smiling quietly to herself, Luna threw the note out and went towards the halls, knocking on her sisters door.

"Nashi?" She asked, "you awake?"

"Yeah," her sisters voice came, "I'm awake." Luna opened the door and walked inside to see her other half staring out the window with a forlorn expression on her face, sitting up in bed with her pajamas on.

"You've kept your hair short," Luna noted as she closed the door behind her. "Surely Mom as offered to have Cancer grow it out for you, right?"

"I want it this way," Nashi answered quietly, playing with her short hair. "We can be told apart this way anyway, right?" She had a point there. Luna's hair was long and strung up in a ponytail, so if Nashi's hair got any longer it may have been difficult to tell them apart.

"How're you feeling today?" She asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. Nashi shrugged, still staring out the window.

"Fine," she answered. Obviously that was a lie. It always was.

"Give me your hand," Luna said, holding hers out. Nashi seemed reluctant at first, but did as she asked. Luna leaned forward and put her forehead against Nashi's.

And, as before, it happened.

A connection sparked between the two. Luna's head was filled with thoughts and memories not her own, but Nashi's. She felt her other self's pain, her anger, her grief. It took all she had to not be overwhelmed by it all. But, more than anything, she felt whole. Despite the pain and anger, Luna felt like a whole person when they did this. She loved that. Nashi exhaled slowly.

"You're so warm," she said weakly without removing her forehead from hers. "It makes me feel good. Makes me..."

"Whole?" Luna whispered back, taking solace in the feeling as well. Nashi laughed weakly.

"Yeah," she agreed. "Whole."

Luna had no idea how long they stayed like that. It may as well have been hours, or minutes, but it would never be enough. Not until they were one again. Taking a deep breathe and backing away, she met her sisters gaze.

"Want to get out and walk around today?" She asked. Nashi shrugged.

"A bit," she said, "I suppose some fresh air might do me good, huh?" Nodding, Luna walked over to the closet nearby, picking out a pair of jeans and a plain black t-shirt. Turning back, she helped her sister sit up and dress her, trying to ignore her emaciated look. The treatment she'd gotten in Tartarus had left her a shell of herself. But she didn't want to say that and make her feel even worse.

"My clothes barely fit me..." Nashi murmured weakly, the black shirt hanging off of her limbs as though it wasn't even hers.

"You'll fill them back in in no time," Luna answered with a smile, helping her stand up. "Now, let's go get some fresh air." Together the two halves grabbed their coats and left the house into the crisp winter air, greeting anyone who saw them. The citizens of Magnolia had already been made aware of their situation, so everyone was kind to them and even offered them goods. The only ones the girls accepted was a loaf of fresh bread from a bakery, as Nashi said she loved the smell of it. The two sat down and on a bench and munched on it, taking in their surroundings.

"This bread is delicious," Luna said.

"I know," Nashi said. "I loved eating this before. Always best when it's right out of the oven. I suppose it makes perfect sense that you love it too. I remember one time-" Nashi abruptly stopped, making Luna look over at her in confusion. She looked uncomfortable, and coughed. "-anyway, it makes sense that you like it."

"Are you trying to avoid reminiscing in front of me?" Luna asked her. Nashi flinched.

"A little," she said, "I don't want to hurt your feelings."

"Don't worry about it," Luna said with a bright smile. "Soon we'll be one person again, and we can reminisce all we want!" Nashi gave her a weak smile.

"That'll be nice," she said, "which of us do you think is the original?" Luna made a face at this.

"Original?" She asked, "what do you mean?" Nashi played with her bread at this, throwing some on the ground for the birds circling them.

"Well, those Demon Lords make a duplicate right?" She asked, "which of us is the duplicate?" Luna had never thought about it like that. Which one of them was the original? Has her memories been moved to the shades body, or was she the blank slate created from Nashi?

"I don't know," Luna admitted.

"I hope it's you," Nashi murmured. Luna made a face.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because..." She started weakly, "I don't want to be stuck in this body." Luna felt her heart twinge at this, but Nashi continued, "I don't want to look like this. I look horrific. I-I'm sorry if that sounds selfish, but..."

"It isn't," Luna answered immediately, smiling warmly at her. "I understand. But I hope it's you."

"What?" Nashi asked, "why?" Luna smiled.

"Because you're so much stronger than I am," she said. "In every way. You're brave, resilient, caring, you've got it all. I can barely control the magic I can use."

"Don't feel like I am," Nashi murmured as she took a bite of her bread. Luna knew she was having a rough go of things. She could tell, feel it even, when her sister was slipping. When she fell back into being Prisoner 545, and not Nashi Dragneel. She always got the same look in her eyes, a look devoid of want or need. Like she was waiting to die. She watched her sister bury her face into her scarf, and Luna felt a twinge of jealousy. She wanted the scarf too. Having it made her feel safe and a little bit better. But it seemed unfair to not let the one with the memories have it. The two sat on their bench for quite some time, talking and admiring their surroundings. Luna had a few questions, but she didn't know when to broach them, exactly. She sighed, deciding it was just better to go for it.

"Michael's been asking about you," she said out of the blue, to see how her sister would react. Nashi barely flinched at his name, her eyes far away.

"Is he?" She asked, "that's sweet of him." Luna frowned. Not much of a reaction.

"Yeah," she said. "He wants to see you, but, we've been telling him you're still too weak. We want you to be comfortable." Nashi nodded along slowly, her eyes still far away. Finally she sighed.

"I don't want to see him," she said finally. "Not right now, not for the foreseeable future."

"Why not?" Luna asked without thinking, "I haven't been told much about it, but I know you two were...Well, dating." Nashi still barely reacted, but she looked down at her hand quietly.

"I don't want him to see me like this," she muttered. "Weak, shivering from the cold...I haven't shivered from the cold since my Dad came home."

"Do you think he really cares about that?" She asked her. Nashi shrugged.

"Don't care if he cares," she said, "I care. I don't want him seeing me like this." The conversation awkwardly dropped off here, leaving the two sisters sitting there awkwardly. Luna kind of regretted asking now, but she was also glad she said something.

"Has that been hard on you?" Nashi asked suddenly.

"What?" Luna asked.

"Michael," Nashi clarified, "do you...I don't know, feel anything? Do you like him?" Luna made a face at this, looking away from her sister.

"He's a kind and loving man," she said, "who clearly loves you. But...I don't feel much of anything for him."

"No?"

"No. Maybe it's because I don't feel like I'm the one his feelings are directed at, but...I don't know. I don't love him, though. Not like that."

"I see," Luna hated how indirect her sister was being. Was she asking out of jealousy, curiosity, or what? It was hard to tell.

"Let's do something else," she said as she stood up, "We'll get cold just sitting around."

"Where are we going to go?" Nashi asked, not standing. Luna smiled down at her sister.

"I have an idea," she said.

The Mall of Magnolia had been a hub of activity since it opened fifteen years ago. Although there were tons of local, family-owned shops that had loyal customers, the mall with it's corporations still saw a lot of action from the people who lived there. Luna liked to come from time to time, as there was tons of shops that had lots of stuff she liked to look at. She liked to see all the new styles for the season, maybe get a slice of Bosco Pizza, just pretend she was normal for a second. Coming from the others, that seemed like a luxury in this life.

"Anywhere you want to go?" Luna asked Nashi, who was lazily eyeing the stores around her.

"I dunno," she said, "I suppose looking at clothes might be fun. Typical teenage girl stuff, right?"

"Well then let's go!" She said, dragging her sister into the nearby store, Girl's Best Friend. As Luna recalled, this was the chain owned by Bella's mother, Jenny. Best to shop from friends, right?

Luna was captivated by the designs of the clothes she saw, all with such intricate and beautiful designs. She saw dresses, sweaters, pants, all looked beautiful and had price tags to match.

"Anything catch your eye, Nashi?" Luna asked. Nashi shrugged, burying her face in her scarf.

"Is it bad I've barely ever shopped for myself?" Nashi asked, "I usually had Mom do it. I don't really know what to look for."

"Well, anything you think looks nice!" Luna said, "come on, you must have a preferred style! I'm sure we can find something for you." Together the sisters walked through the store, looking at all sorts of styles. Nashi seemed less captivated by the fancy clothes, but it was hard to tell as she barely seemed interested in anything. Luna tried to engage her sister in the fun, but it was hard to do so.

"What about these?" Luna asked, holding up a pair of black jeans, "These would look nice!"

"Maybe on you,"Nashi said quietly, "Seems like the type of clothes that'd hug your curves. And I don't know if you've noticed, but..." Luna cringed at this, remembering what her sisters body looked like.

"Maybe not appropriate right now," she agreed, hanging the pants up. "What about these?" She asked gesturing to a nearby rack of big, fluffy sweaters. "Seem nice and comfy. You said you were shivering too, so maybe...?" Luna looked back to ask approval, but found Nashi had walked in a different direction. Her sister's short, pink hair could be seen from the crowd, over near some winter-wear. Walking to her, Luna saw she was looking at scarfs.

"What are you looking at?" Luna asked, confused why Nashi would be looking at these.

"I was just thinking," Nashi said as she grabbed a scarf similar to her own. It was thick, white and had curvy white lines woven into the fabric. "About you. You seemed reluctant to hand my-or our, rather-scarf over to me, so maybe you need one." Nashi turned to her and with a wave of her hand, wrapped it around Luna's neck. The fabric settled against her neck as if it has always been there, and Luna instinctively buried her mouth into it.

And Nashi smiled. She looked exhausted beyond belief and sad, but she smiled so genuinely when Luna did this.

"Is that how I look when I do that?" She asked. "I suppose Mom was right. I am damn cute when I bury my face when my scarf."

"I-It just felt natural is all," Luna excused, turning a bright red. "It's always felt natural to me, so..." What happened next startled Luna.

Nashi laughed. It was quick, a quiet giggle if anything, but it was a laugh all the same. For just a moment, Luna could see her own face reflected on Nashi's. Gone was the malnourished, depressed former prisoner, and in her place was the woman she had been before-the woman that had been whole. It caused warmth to spread to Luna's fingertips. There was hope after all. Nashi could come back from this. That giggle was all it took to all but confirm this to her.

"I don't think I'll manage to find anything in here I want," Nashi said, "but you're too cute in that, so I'll buy it for you." Luna widened her eyes at this.

"I-I have money," she said, "I can buy it."

"No no," Nashi insisted, a small smile still on her face. "It's my gift to you. I mean me. I mean...Aha, you know what I mean. I want to buy it for you."

"The rest of the day went amazingly. Nashi was clearly very tired, but she didn't once complain as Luna dragged her around the mall to all sorts of different stores. They visited a store dedicated to skateboarding, which led them both to realise they had zero experience doing that. They went into a jewellery store and made fun of the ridiculous prices, they even went and got some ice cream. The both of them sat at a table by the parlour, digging into the identical sundae's they had bought. The vendor even joked that they must have been the same person they looked so alike. As if he even knew.

"Hey, Luna?" Nashi asked suddenly. Luna looked up at her, spoon in her mouth.

"Yeah?" She asked without taking it out. Nashi smiled tiredly at her.

"Thanks for trying to hard," she said. "Everyone's been treating me like a porcelain doll, and I understand why, but..."She shrugged. "I don't know. I want more than any of you for things to go back to normal, but I know they won't. I'm not the same girl I was. The things that happened in Tartarus..." Her voice tightened up at this, cracking. "W-What I mean to say is, I want to thank you so much for being by my side. I wasn't kidding when I said I love your warmth. It's...It really does keep my going."

Luna didn't know what too say to that.

Ever since Drake and the others had brought her back to the guild, she had felt so empty and useless. Like she was a puzzle piece they had spent months looking for only to realise she was missing a connector. That she wasn't what they wanted. Everyone always acted so nice, but, she could sense she wasn't as welcome as before. Ever since they'd found out from Xisplate that there was another part of her out there, she'd always been kept at arms length. Like an annoyance thrust upon them. As if they were just waiting to toss her and Nashi back together again. No one would ever say it to her face, of course, but it was obviously the case.

"Are you crying?" Nashi asked suddenly. Luna realised then tears were flowing from her eyes. She wiped them away quickly and sniffled, forcing those emotions back down.

"S-Sorry," she said, "I just wasn't expecting that...Thank you for saying that. It means more than you could ever know." Nashi stared at her for a moment, a frown on her face.

"Then she offered her a hand.

"Show me?" She asked with a small smile. Luna stared down at her other half's hand, unsure of what to do. Resolving herself, she reached out and held her sisters hand firmly.

She could sense her emotions and worry flowing from her body to Nashi, but what came back in return stunned her. An influx of warmth, support, and love came back from her twin, overwhelming her and making the tears come back. Luna knew it, Nashi really was such a caring person. She was undergoing all these horrible feelings and even PTSD, and yet she still reached out with all this love and support for her.

"That's not true," Nashi said suddenly, meeting Luna's eyes. Luna had never seen her gaze so fiery and determined. "No one looks at you that way. Least of all me. I would be lost without you. My family, the guild, would never treat you like that. I know they wouldn't." Luna could not say anything, for fear of a sob coming out. She simply bit her lip and nodded along, not speaking. "You're so stressed out by this, my God. How did you hide this from me? You want to live up to everyone's expectations, you want so badly to be me, the one they wanted...I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologise," Luna squeaked out. "It's not your fault I was the wrong twin."

"You are not the 'wrong twin'," Nashi said angrily, "You're apart of me. I need you just as much as you need me. Never forget that. And if anyone ever treats you like that, tell me. I don't care how hurt I am, I'll kick their ass."

"Or I will," a third voice said. Luna had heard that voice before, but only briefly. Nashi seemed more aware, her eyes wide.

"END?" She whispered, was that you?" A deep hum resounded inside Luna's head.

"When you two are connected, I feel whole again," the voice said. "Strong enough to communicate." Nashi let out a strangled laugh.

"It's so good to hear your voice," she said. "I heard you helped my family find me. Thank you."

"I did what I had to do to find you," END replied, "and I will do that I must to repair us and make us whole again." Nashi nodded quietly.

"I'm grateful," she said. END went silent at this, and Nashi smiled at Luna. "You're not alone in this, Luna. Never forget. END and I are right there with you." Luna nodded, tears still streaming down her face.

"Thank you."

"Xisplate," a voice said. Xisplate looked over his shoulder to find Vantros standing behind him, an unimpressed look on his face.

"Vantros," he said, "I see you came to find me in my own Circle. It must be important."

"For once," Vantros said, "Don't play around with me, got it?" Xisplate gave no answer to him. "You managed to track down where Zoka and Ruli are, correct?"

"Correct."

"And you'll be giving that information to Fairy Tail, correct."

"Yes sir."

"So riddle me this," Vantros said, "what exactly is the plan when that girls soul is mended? Zoka and Ruli only delayed the inevitable by splitting her; she is dead, and as such she must be inside one of the Twelve Circles of Judgement."

"I know that," Xisplate spat, "have you come to monotonously spit facts to me, Vantros? What is it you want?"

"I want to know if you intend to fight with us or against us," Vantros replied, crossing his arms. "Will you stand with us as you have for millennia? Or will you break it all for one boy and his family?" Xisplate grit his teeth inside his mouth, the intensity in his office intensifying.

"They're special," he said, "we should not attempt to retake her."

"And risk what you know is coming?!" Vantros demanded. Tendrils of ice shot out from the Demon's body, freezing everything in it's path save Xisplate himself. "Anhkseram gave us one duty! To succeed where Zomrus failed! Or did you forget that as you got attached to that boy Damien?!"

"Do not speak of him to me in that tone," Xisplate said. The ice around him melted, and Vantros flinched. "Mezevera has been spitting that prophecy to us since Zomrus was split into twelve pieces. There is no way to know that this lost soul is the one that will unseal Zomrus!"

"Then you are a fool to not see it!" Vantros shouted. "Mezevera is the Demon Lord of Time you fool! Do you think it's a coincidence that so many people have been shouting off the same prophecy for twenty years?! Do you think it's a coincidence that this is the most threatened our realm has been since Zomrus began his insurrection?! Nashi Dragneel, Fairy Tail, they are the linchpin to it all! If Nashi Dragneel's soul is not retaken, Zomrus will rise again! Mezevera knows this, I know this! And you know it too, don't you?! Because he has been speaking to us!"

Xisplate flinched.

"I know you hear him like we all do!" Vantros shouted, "that his maddening voice has intensified over the last twenty years! His rise is coming, but we can stop it!"

"And what if trying to take her sounds the horns of the Apocalypse?" Xisplate asked. "What if that is what he wants?"

"Then we reseal him with Anhkseram's help," Vantros said, "but we must not weaken the Circles, Xisplate. We cannot allow him to gain any more control over us! Why do you think Zoka and Ruli went rogue?! He's been in their head, whispering to them! I don't know where you've been, but the horn's been sounded! He's coming! And for whatever reason, he needs that girl! We need to gain control of her before it's too late!"

Xisplate gritted his teeth at this, not saying a word. For a long time, the office was quiet, neither said a word.

"Repeat it to me," Xisplate said finally. "The prophecy, repeat it to me." Vantros looked miffed, but he sighed all the same.

"In a time when his name is lost

When he's disappeared from the earth

He will return heralded by frost

And all the dead he will unearth

Fear not the living, they don't have a clue

But a soul returned from death

Will herald his due;

His reign will be marred by blood and by pain

He cares not who he hurts

With his twisted game

But we will not fall, he'll have to contend

For when the King rises

Humanity will find salvation in the end."

The two stared at each other quietly, neither saying a word.

"And you think we should let her be," Vantros spat. "You are blinded by your affection for them."

"I am not," Xisplate said. "Do you pay no attention to the end of it? 'humanity will find salvation in the end'. Do you not see the link between that and END? Even Zeus saw it!"

"So you would place the fate of not just their world, but all worlds, in her hands," Vantros said. "Hands that will first signal the end before they may save anyone or anything. Besides, what kind of link is that? It's a odd relation at best. Finding the solution at the 'end' doesn't mean anything."

"END is the key to everything!" Xisplate shouted, the very realm shuddering as he got to his feet. "She was what Hades was after! She has a part to play! It's clearly a double-meaning!"

"So you would rather allow the end times to commence, banking on one girl and her split-personality disorder, then prevent it entirely?" Vantros asked. He shook his head quietly. "It matters not, the vote will be in our favour regardless.

"We have no way of knowing if reclaiming her prevents anything," Xisplate said. "Zoka and Ruli have already been tainted by his touch, who is to say we cannot be? Who is to say we all aren't dancing along to his morbid tune?"

"We cannot," Vantros agreed, "but allowing Nashi Dragneel to run free only hastens the end for all of us, and I will not allow it. I care not for the boy, his guild, or anything. We must complete or duties." Xisplate glowered at the man.

"How surprising," he seethed, "that the Demon Lord of Cold feels no emotion."

"I will not be provoked by your pointless bickering," Vantros replied. "Do you duty when the times comes, or we will all be torn apart by our Father as he takes our power back." Vantros disappeared at this, leaving Xisplate by himself. He sighed and sat back down in his chair, staring into the void.

"Meridia and I can only buy so much time at the vote," he muttered. "I pray you unearth more about this information before then, Damien. For all worlds." He glowered.

"Anhkseram, Vantros? Anhkseram has not spoke a word to any God in ten thousand years or more. We're on our own."

I want to apologise in advance if that prophecy sucks. I wanted it to rhyme, so I tried my best. I'm not a poet, okay? I did my best! :(

Anyways, this will conclude the 'filler' chapters! Next time we hunt down Zoka and Ruli! I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!

Chapter 373: The Team