Man I really be slacking on chapter releases, huh? Need to speed up a little bit to hit my deadline for 400.

Enjoy!

"Really?" Melanie asked, "you'll do it?" Neptu frowned even deeper at her.

"We'll see," he replied, "but I'll go with you to wherever he is." Melanie looked behind him at the others.

"Why are they here?" She asked curiously.

"They're coming too," he said, "or none of us are. I'm sure you're fine with that, aren't you?" Melanie actually didn't look okay with that, but if she had a problem she didn't voice it. She nodded simply, and gestured for the other Hunters to stand up.

"We'll meet you all in town," she said. "We have another camp a day or so East of here. That's where he is."

"You've got him in custody?" Elizabeth asked, "impressive."

"He gave himself in when we confronted him," Melanie replied. "We'll see you soon, I hope." With this the Hunters quickly dismantled there tents, faster than Neptu thought possible, and left. He watched their receding backs quietly, not sure if this was a good idea still.

"We'll go ahead too," Natsu said from behind him, making him turn. "We'll make sure those people aren't up to anything." Neptu nodded at this, smiling at him.

"I appreciate that," he said. Nodding. Natsu led the troupe from Fairy Tail away through the forest, trailing behind the Hunters.

This left Neptu with Elizabeth.

"I'm surprised you agreed to this," she said after the Fairies were a a ways away. "I figured you'd say no."

"I did too," he replied as he looked at her. "But this is something I need to do, I think. I need to look the person who did this in the eyes and see who they are."

"Will you kill him?" She asked quietly, regarding him with her soft blue eyes. Neptu frowned.

"I don't know," he said. "That depends on him, not me." Elizabeth didn't seem entirely pleased with this answer, but nodded all the same.

"I'm going to say this before you say anything," she said, "I'm coming with you."

"Huh?"

"I know this is a personal thing for you and Zynna, so you're probably going to tell us to stay back and protect the guild. I don't care. I'm coming." Neptu was impressed how well she could read his mind, because he had been about to say that.

"Suit yourself," he said, "we'll get going as soon as Zynna joins us."

"I guess we're going then," another voice said. Neptu turned and saw Zynna exiting the mansion, looking ready for travel.

"Already ready?" He asked.

"I want this over with," Zynna replied. "There's no point in making this go on any longer than it has too, you know?"

"And the others?" Elizabeth asked.

"They volunteered to stay back and keep reading up on the Demon Lords," she replied. "Who knows they may find something misses before."

"Let's hope it's something," he said. "Let's go." Taking one last look at the mansion, he and the girls turned and trekked down the trail after the Hunters and Fairy Tail. They walked in silence for the most part, no one having anything to say. None of them wanted to speak, either. There was just too much going on.

"What do you think about Fairy Tail fighting the Demon Lords?" Elizabeth finally asked, breaking the silence.

"They're insane," Zynna answered. Neptu managed a scoff.

"That they are," he agreed. "I don't know what's wrong with them. Every time I think it's done getting crazy, it gets worse."

"Can they even win?" Elizabeth asked suddenly. "I mean, I know they're strong, but..." Silence came over them again, the weight of the insinuation pressing on their shoulders.

"Can't say I blame them for doing it," Neptu said after a while. "They have too, or those things will take Nashi back down to the Circles of Judgement again."

"How did she even escape?" Zynna asked, "did they figure that out?" Neptu shrugged.

"I didn't ask," he said. "But I assume the Demon Lords can do that if they want too."

"We've got a few hours before we get there," Elizabeth said, "we can ask them to tell the story on the road." That was true. Maybe hearing someone else's story would get his mind off of what was happening for a few hours.

There was another significant stretch of silence, one that felt more tense than the one before it. Neptu wanted to say something, but his mind was too muddled to do anything.

"What do you think we'll find when we get to where we're going?" Zynna asked quietly. Neptu shrugged.

"I haven't the faintest idea," he said.

After reaching the town, the group made quick use of the carriage (car?) that they had taken to New Avalon in the first place. They trailed behind the carriage used by the Hunters, who seemed to be taking their sweet time instead of going fast. They're own carriage was rather small for so many people, so they took turns sitting outside driving in order to make more room. Nashi didn't bother taking a shift until the sun began to set, and it was here she decided to go out.

Sitting out front, Nashi kept her eyes glued to the Hunters ahead of them. She wanted to make sure they didn't started doing anything suspicious, in case she needed to wake the others. That and it helped being out in the open instead of stifled inside.

Looking up at the dark sky above her, she wondered what they were hoping to find when they got to their destination. She knew they wanted information from Drakhosz's takeover wizard, but what were the odds he knew anything, really? They'd already met a fair amount of Demon Lord Takeover Wizards, knew four personally even, and they had no more info than when they started. She seriously doubted that this guy knew anything they didn't already. Regardless, she knew this was more about Neptu and Zynna getting closure than it was about her. She didn't know they'd managed to get roped into this, but here they were all the same. She wondered how the others were faring. She hadn't seem them off, but surely they had better odds than them, right?

Nashi was taken from her train of thought when she heard the door to the carriage open and someone climb out. That was odd. She hadn't been out here that long.

"I can handle a few more hours," she said offhandedly, eyes still ahead of them.

"I figured you'd want some company," the person said, making Nashi's eyes widen. She turned in surprise to find Michael sitting next to her, goofy grin on his face.

"M-Michael!" She exclaimed, "you startled me."

"You heard me come out, though," he said pointedly. She knew that, she was surprised it was him that had come out.

I-I wasn't really paying attention," she excused. Now her heart and brain her pumping a million miles a second. She was essentially alone with Michael. The sound of the SE-Plug and wheels drowned out there words. No one inside would hear what they said, and she was horrified.

"It's stuffy in there," Michael said as he gestured back towards the cab. "I needed some fresh air anyway."

"I-I see," Nashi managed, gripping her pants in her fists. She needed to calm down, but she couldn't. She wasn't an idiot, she knew he'd come out here to talk to her privately while he could. They hadn't resolved their relationship yet, which was in the air still. She wasn't ready to commit to him again, seeing as she was all jumbled. What did he think? Would he bring it up?

"How're you doing?" He asked after a few seconds of silence. Nashi gulped quietly.

"F-Fine," she answered, "you?"

"Good," he said. "I heard about Drake."

Oh great, he wanted to talk about that too?

"O-Oh," she said. "Did you?" Michael nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "Horrible stuff, dragonification. I wish we could've helped somehow."

"I-It was impossible," Nashi said. "we found nothing. H-He needs to solve it on his own."

"Mm," Michael said, "I've heard that one before."

"When?" Nashi asked curiously. Michael snorted.

"Blake said some similar shit before when he left," he said. "Y'know, back before we took down The Olympians." Nashi didn't need to think long to remember the time Michael had shared Blake's exodus with her.

They're first kiss had been on the same day.

Her cheeks flushed and she refused to look anywhere near him. Why was this so hard?!

"I hate when people I care about leave," he said. "Always on some shit about how only they can solve this problem alone. You know what I mean?"

He means me. I did that on Mt. Olympus when I died. Just come out and say something! This is so awkward!

"Y-Yeah..." She managed weakly, "I hate that."

"I wish I would've gotten to say bye to him," Michael said wistfully, "or wish him luck at least. I owe him a lot."

"Like what?" Nashi asked, stealing a peek at him. The blonde was looking up at the sky, his breath escaping his lips and forming mist in regular intervals.

"He was a good friend," he said, "and he gave me some good advice more than once. I wish I could've repaid that debt by helping him when he needed it." Nashi watched the side of his head quietly, wondering what to say. She had her own share of things she wanted to say, but her voice was lost.

"I-I've been meaning to ask," she said, "you've been in a pretty good mood recently. Any reason?" Michael made a face and looked at her, confused.

"I have?" He asked. She nodded, making him laugh. "I guess I have been. Is that so odd?"

"I-I guess I've grown accustomed to being around mopey people recently," Nashi joked. This made Michael laugh again.

"First time I've heard Fairy Tail be described that way," he said. "Must be getting hard over there."

"Heh, yeah..." Silence came between them, making her even more uncomfortable.

"You know," Michael said suddenly, dark blue eyes on the sky. "Those few months ago, when you guys fled from Magnolia after The Olympians attacked, and I saw you again, I thought things would go back to normal."

Nashi gulped, saying nothing.

"When I found out you had no memories," he continued, "it really hurt me. For a bit, I thought you'd really never remember what we'd gone through. What we were. But Drake, he found me and talked to me. He told me that one of the hardest things in the world to do was keep fighting. Too not let life beat you into submission. He said you were his reason. That he kept fighting for you. To return things to normal for you."

Nashi felt her cheeks flush at this.

"I suppose that's why I've been so cheery," Michael said as he rubbed the back of his head. "I've been fighting. Because if I let the darkness win, things will never go back to the why they were, you know?"

He'd asked for her input now, she couldn't stay silent. What did she say? What could she say?

Ah damn it all, she couldn't take it anymore!

"I-I've been meaning to talk to you," she sputtered out. "About that. About us. How we used to be." Michael seemed to perk up at this, but Nashi still couldn't look him in the eye.

"And?" He asked. Nashi hated that she detected hope in his voice.

"I-I'm sorry," she said, "but after what happened with Zoka and Ruli and...You know, when I got put back together, my minds been really scrambled. I've hid it as best I can from the others, but...Sometimes, I can't remember which I am, Nashi or Luna. My mind can't seem to wrap itself around me having memories from two different places at the same time. I feel like a stained glass window in danger of shattering. Like any second now I'll separate into who knows how many pieces. I-I want to be fair to you, and not get into anything while I was like this."

Some of that was true, but it was mostly distorted half-lies.

Luna had little issue identifying which she was. She was Luna, pretending to be Nashi using her memories and power. But the rest of it was true. She sometimes forgot which she was, and her mind did have trouble reconciling memories from different places. She fought it by trying not to think about it, but it was hard with everyone expecting her to remember things Nashi went through or did. Especially now. Memories of the relationship with Michael flooded her, but they felt like a romantic movie. They weren't her memories, she was just watching them. That wasn't fair to him. Especially when she didn't feel the same feelings Nashi did.

Especially when she feared they were aimed elsewhere.

Michael letting out a laugh took her from her thoughts.

"And here I thought you hated me," he said. Nashi turned to see him staring up at the sky again. "I understand this must be hard. But for what it's worth, please understand that I'm not trying to force anything on you. I didn't come out here to strong-arm you into a relationship again, so please don't be so skittish." Nashi let out a small squeak.

"Y-You can tell?" She asked weakly. Michael gave her a soft smile.

"I can tell you're uncomfortable," he said. "I want you to know, I get it. Take all the time you need. You're fighting your own demons, figuratively and literally. I can wait." Nashi let out a breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding.

"Thank you," she said, "you have no idea how long I've been worried about that." Michael smiled again.

"I could say the same for you," he said. "Whenever you want to talk, I'll listen. That's what friends do, right?"

Friends.

She could do that.

"Yeah," she agreed. "That's what friends do."

Neptu got no sleep on the ride to the Hunters camp. He stayed awake all night, half-listening to whatever conversation was happening in the carriage at the time. He took a few shifts as the driver, relishing the silence outside. But now the silence had faded.

And he was surrounded by people who used to worship the ground he walked on.

Neptu stood as a figurehead of the group who had followed him, taking on all the glares of former Hunters.

"Quite the group you've amassed," he noted to Melanie.

"All who want to exterminate demons are welcome," she said. "Come, he's this way." Neptu felt like lead was pumping through his veins, but he followed the woman quietly. He felt Zynna take his hand, but didn't have the wherewithal to acknowledge her. He was laser focused. He kept his eyes glued ahead of them, ignoring all other signs around him. He was close, he could feel it. It was the same aura Gin and Anna gave off passively. But it felt different. More strained. More evil.

"You!" Someone shouted. Neptu watched as someone stood in his back, between his group and Melanie, "how could you side with a demon and leave us?! We believed in you!"

"Defiler!" Someone else shouted.

"He's corrupt!" Another screamed. Neptu and the others were soon enveloped by a cacophony of screaming, all of it pointed directly at him. He liked to think he was tough, but all of the yelling was getting to him. His nerves were already frayed by the ride here. Deciding he'd had enough, he activated his magic and sent off a powerful wave of it, causing those nearest to him to stumble back.

"Unless anyone here has the stones to confront me one on one," he declared angrily, "shut the hell up."No one said anything at this, and at first he thought he'd managed to quell their rage somewhat. He realised he was wrong when he was confronted by a man with dark red hair, coming out of the crowd.

"Why?" The man demanded, "why did you do it?"Neptu remained silent, staring at him. "Why did you choose one boy over the work we did?! We've done so much good! But you choose him over it all!"

"I did not choose Gin," Neptu replied. "I chose ending the violence. Did you not hear my proclamation when I dissolved the Hunters?"

"Who cares if we got rid of any innocents?!" The man demanded, "it's for the greater good!"

"I'm sure the families of those innocents are pleased with our work," Neptu snapped back. "The fathers, mothers, sons and daughters we took. Do you think they're happy we showed up? Do you think we'll be lauded for that? What we were doing was akin to a fisherman catching fish and saying he should be thanked for killing sharks. It's not the same." The man let out a vicious laugh at this.

"High and mighty you act," he snarled, "but here you are regardless; to take revenge on the man that killed your family. Oh I can't wait for you to see him. I can't wait for you to say that same shit to the face of the man who took everything from you!" Neptu pressed his mouth into a line, prepared to come to blows before Natsu stepped up.

"Say anymore and it'll start a fight," the pinkette said. "One we will win." Natsu's presence cowed the Hunters into silence, which Neptu appreciated. Melanie was watching from a few feet away, eyes inscrutable.

"This way," she said after a few tense seconds, resuming her walk. Neptu walk defiantly past the man who stepped up, intent on not giving him another glance. He and the others followed Melanie through the camp until they came upon a small tent attached to a tree. The snow around it was undisturbed, meaning it was being avoided. The presence he'd felt was emanating from within, making him swallow hard. This was it. Drakhosz was inside.

"Have at it," Melanie said, "Exorcise the Demon Lord, Neptu. I eagerly await your results." He cast the woman an irritated glance, steeling himself before walking forward. Zynna nor Elizabeth joined him, meaning for the moment he was going in alone. Was he ready? No.

Was he going in anyway?

Absolutely.

Taking a deep breath, Neptu pushed past the entrance and walked inside the tent to behold who was inside.

The man he saw was unremarkable in every way humanely possible. He has greasy black hair that was of medium-length and plastered on his face from a lack of a bath. His frame was slim and frail, coupled with the fact that he was tied to the tree with bright white chains made him look as nonthreatening as possible. Neptu wanted to walk out and accuse Melanie of trapping him. This could not be Drakhosz. There was no way.

"Ah," the man said, "is someone there?" Neptu watched as the man lifted his head, opening his eyes to look at him.

And Neptu became sure he was looking at Drakhosz.

The sunken, bright yellow eyes were the exact same as he remembered them. There was an uncomfortably tense silence between them, the man watching him weakly.

"I assume you're the one the Hunters have spoken about?" The man asked.

"What do they say?" Neptu demanded. The man coughed and shifted under the chains.

"That he hurt you," he said, "That you were coming for revenge."

"Who is he?" Neptu demanded.

"You know who," the man said. "Drakhosz." Neptu's stomach sank.

"So you are him," he said quietly. The man nodded.

"Name is Eastyn," he said, trying to hold his head a bit higher. "I'd greet you, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment. You are?" Neptu stared at him quietly, his mind going a million miles a second.

"Neptu," he finally said, "Neptu Skylancer."

"Nice to meet you, Neptu," he said. "Now, I hate to impose, but I have a request to make of you."

"Do you now?" Neptu demanded, "and that is?" He clenched his fists as he watched the man, ready for him to do anything.

But Eastyn dropped his head in an impromptu bow.

"I beg you, Neptu Skylancer. End my miserable life."

Let's just end this hear for now, shall we? I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!