"How many times must I repeat myself? Do you want me to sink the continent under the sea?"

Zomrus watched as the representative of the Yutakan people bowed his head even lower, his entire body shaking.

"M-My sincerest apologies, Lord Zomrus!" He said, his forehead pressed to the wooden floor.

"Your apologies start to ring hollow, my good man," Zomrus replied, lounging on his throne in the former Yutakan capital. Out of all the subjugated continents, he'd been forced to come here the most. This did not inherently surprise him, seeing as the Yutakan's were a proud people, but this was starting to grate his patience. "How many more times must I appear before you, before you get your people in line?"

"I-I will do my best to quell the loudest voices!" He shouted fearfully, "it-it's just that we do not take kindly to conquerors! We have a history with them!"

The Eastern Continent of Yutaka was far removed from the politics of the other continents, but it still had a troubled past. Many warlords had fought for the earth he now ruled, so he could understand that they weren't taking kindly to his rule here. That didn't make this any less annoying to deal with.

"Let me be clear, Representative Izuru," Zomrus said. "If I must appear here against my will one more time to quell an uprising, I will sink this city into the ground. Am I understood?" Izuru was an aging man, in his eighties now, and was the former leader of Yutaka. The people respected his opinion, which was why he had allowed him to be his puppet ruler after the takeover. Things were going less than smoothly, however.

"Y-Yes, My Lord!"

"Am I? Then you will do your best to silence these rebels rising within your walls. I am a God who desires to give you as much freedom as possible, so do not make me drag this continent back to Ishgar so I can watch you myself. Or would you rather I send one of my Disciples? I'm sure Deimos or Thanatos would be more than happy to take charge of your people."

"T-That won't be necessary, My Lord!" Zomrus watched the pathetic old man bow ever deeper, slamming his forehead into the floor again. It was a custom in these lands apparently, to show respect. He enjoyed it, it made them look subservient. Too bad it seemed to not matter the second his back was turned. "I can quell the uprisings, I swear to you!"

"You swear, do you?" Zomrus asked, a mirthless smile taking over his face. "You have a good heart, Izuru. Many of these people deserve to rot in hell for resisting my rule, but you try so hard to save them. It is no wonder you ruled these lands for decades prior to my arrival."

"Well, good will cannot be won on the back of conquest and death," Izuru said weakly. "W-Which I don't mean as as insult to you, My Lord! I refer solely to my human adversaries of the past!"

"Oh for My Own sake, raise your head Izuru," Zomrus barked. "I wish to meet my subordinates eyes." Izuru's head shot up to look at him, but he stayed kneeling. The former ruler's face was aged and weathered, wispy white hair trying it's hardest to remain on his head. His brown eyes looked terrified, but he was paying close attention to him. "Better, thank you. While I can appreciate your culture of bowing to show respect, I do not care for the lack of eye contact when we are talking. Do better."

"O-Of course, My Lord."

"Now, what do we do about these rebellious humans?" He asked. "This is the fourth time is as many months I have been forced here. We must find a way to stop this from happening."

"Y-Yes, My Lord."

"What to do, what to do...Oh, I know." Zomrus raised his scythe and aimed it at Izuru, whose eyes went wide as a beam of black magic shot from the tip of the scythe's handle and hit him dead in the chest. The old man flew backwards onto his back, but Zomrus wasn't concerned for his health.

"Rise Izuru," he said, "Immortal Speaker of Yutaka."

When the old man sat up, an aura of power and youth radiated from his form. His wrinkles were not longer as prominent, and the decades his skin had experiences began to wither away. The process left the elderly man looking fifty years younger, and he stared at his own hand in shock.

"What is this?" He asked, his voice no longer raspy and pathetic, but young and commanding.

"I have solved our problem," Zomrus replied. "I have granted you immortality, and power beyond anything a human could imagine. You aren't a God, but you are strong enough to serve as my envoy now." Izuru looked shocked at this, kneeling once again.

"I'm afraid I do not understand," he said.

"Now you do not have to worry about the people turning on you," Zomrus said. "You have enough strength to destroy this entire city, the continent even, if you wished. Using this strength, you will be my man in the East. You will quell the uproars and ensure I do not have to sink this entire continent. Do you understand now?"

"...You're giving me another chance?" Izuru asked in disbelief.

"If I was not a benevolent God, I would have wiped this continent off the planet already," Zomrus replied. "Yes, you are getting another chance. Do not disappoint me." As Izuru bowed his head again, this time only shortly, a buzzing feeling went down Zomrus' spine. "Ah. it seems I am being asked for back in Ishgar. I'll be going now, Izuru. Remember, I do not want to come here again."

"Of course, My Lord," Izuru said. "I will use this strength to make sure no one disrespects-"

Zomrus was back in the throne room of the capital city before the man finished speaking. As he adjusted to his surroundings, he noticed one of the Disciples standing before him.

"Ah, Apate," he greeted with a smile. "It was you who called for me?"

"Yes, Zomrus," Apate replied, bowing her head slightly in respect. He appreciated that she looked back at him though. "I had wanted to speak to you for some time, only to find you were gone."

"Yes. Yutaka was being unruly again," he said, sighing as he slouched into the throne. "I grow tired of there pride. Next time there will be no Eastern Continent. Do you think that is overkill, Apate?"

"...I think continuous offenses cannot be constantly forgiven," she said tactfully.

"You think me a monster for suggesting this, don't you?"

"Not at all! It's just...Well, there's millions of people in Yutaka who are not rising up. Who do obey. I think wiping the entire continent away would be a harsh punishment."

"Yes, I see your point." Zomrus sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "The more I rule, the more I understand why human warlords used to commit genocides against their enemy. It is so much easier to just be done with the whole people."

"I thought you were better than those humans."

Silence came over the throne room. Apate seemed to realize she spoke disrespectfully, and bowed her head. "I apologize, Zomrus, I did not mean to-"

Zomrus threw his head back and roared with laughter. He slapped his leg a few times, causing thunder to boom around the throne room.

"Oh, how I wish more of you would speak up against me, Apate!" He said gleefully. "Yes, I am better! I mustn't forget my promise to not be a hypocrite. Thank you for speaking up against my instinctual reaction." Apate smiled weakly, clearly relieved he had not smited her for the disrespect. "Ah, but that is enough about Yutaka. What did you wish to speak bout, darling?"

Apate swallowed hard at this, bowing her head slightly again.

"Well," she said, "it's just, ever since my mind and body have been healed, I've found myself wondering about things I cannot remember. Much of my time in and after Tartarus is still a blank."

"Yes, I am sorry for that," Zomrus said. "It seemed Godhood can restore the mind and body psychically, but mentally is another story."

"Indeed," she agreed quietly. "Anyways, I really only had one question I wanted answered."

"Well, speak it then."

Another pointed silence came over the two as Apate seemed to mull over her words.

"...Does my brother still live?" She asked weakly.

Zomrus stared at her quietly, mulling over what he wanted to say. He was not surprised she wanted to know if Dolos - or Jason, rather- was still alive, but the why concerned him.

"And this concerns you why?" He asked.

"He is my only family left," Apate said shortly. "I know he is the enemy but...My mind cannot help but wonder."

"Yes, I suppose that makes sense. Godhood does not immediately erase all your mortal thoughts. There is no sense in hiding it from you: Jason is still alive. He was Marked by Ankhseram shortly before his defeat, and he escaped the Fairy Tail guild hall aboard Crime Sociere's airship."

Zomrus could not tell if the emotion that came across Apate's face was annoyance or relief.

"Which means he is a useful tool for the enemy."

"Indeed," he replied. "Does that worry you?"

"...Only insomuch as he'll try to convert me to his side," she replied with a weak smile. "I was hoping I could avoid such an annoyance." Zomrus sensed she was being insincere in her reasoning, but he let it lie. She was allowed to have reservations about her brother's role in all this. As he well knew, siblings were annoying.

"I do not blame you for your concern," he said. "Although perhaps you need someone to tell you just how important our new world is so you are not swayed."

"He could never sway me," she insisted.

"Apate, allow me to disagree. From a brother to a sister, there is times were your conviction will falter because of your connection to them." Zomrus frowned at this. "You must remember that brotherhood or family does not erase their incorrect beliefs or actions. So, I've decided you will carry out a wish of mine." Apate raised an eyebrow at this.

"What wish is that?" She asked. Zomrus smiled down at her.

"As I'm sure you remember, you and the other Disciples are descended from my most loyal followers after the God War who went into hiding. Cain recruited you from that group over a decade ago now. They are not dead, nor did Cain wipe them out or anything like that."

Apate's eyes widened.

"What are you saying?" She asked weakly. Zomrus smiled down at her.

"Your Mother and Father live, Sarah," he told her. "Do you wish to see them again?"


After enough time, one began to ignore the sound of boots crunching the undergrowth when they walked all day, every day.

Simon was more than accustomed to the monotonous sound beneath him and the others as they walked behind him, but that didn't mean that it wasn't slightly annoying. Especially when he tried to focus his attention elsewhere to keep his mind off of the current situation.

As it stood, he had no idea where they were or how much farther they needed to go. They had been heading North for the last four months, occasionally shifting their route whenever Aether guided them back onto the path they needed to follow. Who knew how long they would be going for, but he had to hope they would reach their destination soon.

Because they didn't have much longer before something ripped the travelling party apart.

He cast a wary eye over his shoulder at the others to check that no one was starting a fight silently. It seemed no one was, as everyone was either watching the trees around them or their own feet as they walked. Ultear, Elise, Michael and Keita walked closest to him, also looking alert to their surroundings. The three dragon slayers looked tired, emaciated and wary, but Ultear was a different story. Her constant use of Third Origin on her own body to keep her magic power from disappearing completely had caused her body to remain relatively fit, as if her very form was being rewound constantly as well. The white marks that glowed lightly underneath her clothes were also a sign she was still using the magic, which also served as a great flashlight in the darkness.

Ultear also had a firm grasp on Steph's hand, gently guiding the blonde girl behind her as they walked. Even looking at the girl made Simon's heart ache. Every time he saw her, all he could see was the features she and Damien shared. All he could see was his throat being ripped out.

He closed his eyes and winced as the scene played through his mind again. Damien, helpless, nearly being decapitated by Cain. The sound of his flesh ripping apart and his blood splattering all over himself and the ground never left his mind for too long. He couldn't stop thinking about it. Which meant that Steph was listless for a good reason.

He groaned in annoyance as the soles of his feet sent a spike of pain up his legs. Walking for so long was doing a number on his feet. That hadn't been an issue for a while thanks to Winter, but with her current attitude she had stopped healing as frequently.

"Take a break," he said, raising a fist to stop the others. "Should be lunch time anyway. We'll get going again in an hour or so." The others silently parted from the path and spread out to relax, keeping to the groups that had been established. Simon exhaled and slid down the base of a nearby oak, taking pleasure in the weight of his body being off his own legs.

"I don't know how much longer I can do this," Elise grumbled as she sat cross-legged near him. She rubbed at her knees, grimacing as she did. "I feel like an old woman with how much my feet and joints hurt."

"Preaching to the choir, Nail Face," Simon said with a soft smile. She just scoffed in response to this. Simon turned to look at Ultear, who was kneeling in front of Steph and speaking to her quietly. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but he could only assume it was supportive affirmations for the blonde to keep going. Ultear had taken to looking after the younger Dreyar since the events in the Circles, guiding her and keeping her safe. It was good she had done so, because Steph was worse off than everyone else.

Someone approaching made him turn back to see Nashi sit down next to Elise, staring quietly at the ground.

"Nashi," he greeted. "You alright?" She gave him a pathetic smile to try and reassure him.

"I'm okay," she said. "Doing better than the other day."

"That's good," he replied. "I'm glad." She simply nodded, silence coming over them once again. It stayed that way until Ultear joined them, sighing as she knelt down.

"I'm worried about Steph," she said simply.

"Get in line," Elise offered sharply. Ultear wisely ignored the dragon's attitude.

"She hasn't eaten in over a day," Ultear said quietly. "She'll barely drink, either. She's not gonna make it much farther if she doesn't look after herself."

"Hate to sound so cruel, but you might need to start shoving it down her throat," Michael said. Simon grimaced, but he agreed all the same. They couldn't afford to deal with Steph's mental state right now.

"I'd hate to do so, but I'm afraid you have a point," Ultear said sadly. "I think she's trying to starve herself to death." Simon frowned and stared at the ground beneath his feet. There was only so much hurt he could handle, and hearing that just made it even worse.

"Is there no other option?" Nashi asked weakly. Ultear shook her head.

"No," she replied. "Winter could heal her emaciation, but with how they're doing..." Ultear glanced over her shoulder at the trio of God Slayer's, who were sitting nearby. None of them seemed interested in looking over at them, which was good because it might have started a fight.

"They're running out of time too," Someone else said. Simon turned to see it was Tetsu who had spoken. He was sitting a distance away from them, but close enough to speak. "Every day their attitude gets worse. They'll try Ascension again and hurt themselves if we don't do something about it."

"Do what, exactly?" Keita asked.

No one had a response for him. There was no answer to give.

"We keep going," Simon said, trying to sound determined. "If I'm right, we must be out of Bosco by now. the Northern tip of Iceberg can't be far now."

"Do we even now that we're headed for the Ocean up there?" Elise asked, "what if it's the North of the Pergrande Kingdom?"

"Than we go there." Simon replied.

"He says so casually," Michael said. Simon felt a snappy response well up inside of himself, but he kept it down. He needed to be strong for the others, to lead them. Someone had too, so he would.

"Ul," he said instead, "I'm thirsty. Help me out?" Nodding, Ultear raised a hand and hovered it over the grass beneath them. Water shot up from the ground, and he watched as the impurities were washed away.

"Open up," she said. He did as he was told, and Ultear put the water in his mouth. He swallowed and exhaled loudly, feeling relieved as the cold liquid trailed down his throat.

A cold wind suddenly whipped through the trees, causing him to shiver. It was an incredibly cold breeze, one that did not match the springtime they found themselves in. It felt like the dead of winter had just brushed against his skin.

"It's been getting colder recently," Elise noted, looking up at the sky. "Like the sun isn't as bright as before."

"I can't tell," Nashi said flatly. "Although I never can."

"The ground rumbled the other day too," Simon pointed out as he brought his hands together and interlocked his fingers, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's like the world is all out of whack too."

"Whose to say it isn't?" Michael asked. "A God took over the world. Surely the others are doing something too."

"Speaking of others," Ultear said, "has anyone seen a sign from Aether recently?" No one spoke. "Okay, just making sure. Don't want to miss our exit or anything."

"What about you?" Tetsu asked her, "anymore signs from Chronos?" Ultear closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, before she sighed and shook her head.

"No," she replied. "Nothing. Simon watched her in silence, finding himself enraptured by her eye.

Ever since the battle with the Demon Lords, Ultear's right eye's iris had been shattered like glass. The broken pieces seemed to still function as a regular eye would, but they were now disjointed and misshapen, circling her pupil like a whirlpool. It was rather distracting to watch.

"Simon?" She asked. Simon jumped when he realized she was staring back at him. "What is it?"

"Nothing," he excused, "I got distracted by your eye again." Ultear's hand flew up to cover it, seeming embarrassed.

"I don't know why it's like that," she mumbled, keeping her hand over her face. "It's been like that ever since my fight with Mezevera."

"Don't be embarrassed," Elise chastised, "you look cool." Ultear smiled sheepishly and lowered her hand, still looking a little flustered by his staring. He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable, it was just so interesting to watch. Besides, anything to get his mind off of what was going on around the world was preferable to thinking about it.

Sighing, he put his head back against the tree, staring up at the canopy and the grey sky above them. Elise was right, the sun did seem dim today. The longer he stayed like this, the longer his greasy hair pressed against his scalp uncomfortably. He growled and ran a hand through his hair, the hair getting stuck in the place his hand left it.

"I need a bath," he grumbled.

"No shit," Elise replied. "I thought that smell that hangs off of us was perfume."

"Is it that bad?" Tetsu asked. Keita snorted.

"I've grown used to it," he said. This reminded Simon that the poor Dragon Slayers had to smell even more of their filth.

"If we're hanging around here for a bit, I can hose some of you down," Ultear offered. "If you'd like that."

"I'd rather not," Michael said. "I've grown used to the smell too. Last thing I want is my nose gaining some freedom just to suffer again in a few hours." Elise and Nashi solemnly nodded along, Tetsu exhaling slowly.

"I don't care," he said, staring at the ground. "Kinda agree with the Dragons." Simon spared a glance at each of the people sitting near him, taking in their despondent expressions. Even soap would have made them smile nowadays, but they didn't even have that. He cast a glance over at the God Slayers, but they seemed to be speaking quietly amongst themselves. He debated asking them, but it would just start a fight.

"I'll take you up on that," he told Ultear. "I touch my greasy hair one more time, I'll lose it." Ultear smiled softly at him, getting to her feet.

"Well, let's find someplace to soak you," she said. Simon got up as well, turning and walking into the brush near them. Ultear followed after him, the soft glow emanating from her body illuminating the brush around them.

"Don't let him take a nap," Elise warned as they walked. "Or else we'll have to rest here a full day too."

"I won't," Ultear called back, Simon scoffing. As if he'd take a nap.

For that long anyway.

He and Ultear walked in solemn silence, neither of them speaking a word. He had nothing he wanted to say to her, and she clearly shared the sentiment. After these last four months, the group was accustomed to only speaking when necessary. It made it somewhat easier to travel such long distance when they didn't talk the whole time. Not to mention it kept any unwanted ears from hearing them. After walking for a few minutes, Ultear placed a hand on his shoulder when they reached a clearing.

"This is fine," she said. He nodded and cracked his neck.

"After you," he said. Ultear walked ahead of him and raised her hand, a gigantic icy sheet forming before her. She plunged the ice into the earth and pushed forward, using it to dig a hole for him to sit in. Once a small circle had been made, Simon kicked in a nearby rock for himself to sit on.

"Lap of luxury," he muttered.

"Truly the best of the best," Ultear scoffed. Leaning down, she put her hand over the hole and shot a geyser of water into it, and within seconds the small pool had filled to the brim. Steam rose from the top of it, meaning Ultear had heated it up for him. Without soap it wouldn't do as much as he hoped, but it would do.

"Lose the clothes," she said, turning her back to him. Taking the hint, Simon undressed and slipped into the pool, sighing in relief as his tense muscles relaxed in the heat. He slouched into the water, closing his eyes. His ears perked up as Ultear slipped her feet into the water, sitting next to him.

"Don't fall asleep," she warned.

"I'll trust you can wake me if I do," he replied. Ultear just snorted softly, kicking at the water with her bare feet.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" She asked.

Ah, getting right to it then.

"Figured me out, huh?" He asked, opening his eyes to look at her with a raised eyebrow. She snorted back at this.

"Not hard too, seeing as you only try to get me alone when you want to talk." Well, that was true.

He and Ultear had become the de facto leaders of their little group after the last few months, which obviously meant they were responsible for everyone else. It was not easy or relaxing, keeping the group together. Ultear was the only one who would truly understand how stressed he was, so he had been leaning on her for support recently. She was doing the same for him, providing what little relief her support could.

"I just needed to get away for a moment," he said. "The fight a few days ago still has me tense." Ultear hummed in agreement.

"It was scary," she agreed.

A few days ago, Elise and Winter had gotten into a row over something. He could not for the life of him remember what for, but what he did know was that they nearly came to blows, and seriously too. Simon could see it in Winter's eyes when he'd stepped between them. That fight would have been serious, and someone would have been seriously hurt.

"We need to hurry," he said, "or else those three really will hurt someone." Ultear nodded along silently, eyes on the tree line.

"North to find Mother," she mused. "Easier said than done."

"No other messages or prophecies?"

"Nope."

"Hm." There was a silence before he sighed and sunk deeper into the water. "Is Steph really that bad?" He asked.

"Yes," she replied. "She's not eating, and I'm practically dragging her along. We're not to far from someone needing to carry her."

"That's just great," he muttered, "another hurdle."

"I can't really blame her," she replied. "Everyone responds to trauma in their own way. Like you feeling the need to take responsibility."

"What's that mean?" He asked, making her scoff and look over at him.

"You did the same thing when Nashi 'died'," she said. "Felt responsible and ran off to try and get stronger. Now you're leading us to kingdom come, trying to keep us together so that we don't fall apart and kill each other." He watched her warily for a moment, frowning.

"Does that mean your coping mechanism is retreating into your own head and not saying anything?" He asked.

"You know it is," she replied softly, her eyes full of sadness. "How many times have I done it?"

"Three," he replied. "When Keiko died, when Nashi died...and when Damien did." She let out a sad laugh.

"At least I know you pay attention to me," she said.

"Of course I do. I care about you. About everyone."

"Yeah, I know."

Silence.

"...Want me to lend an ear?" He asked.

"We don't have time for a mental health break," Ultear said in a steely tone. "We have a world to save. Our mental can come later."

"Not much world to save if we lose ourselves on the way," he replied. "Talk to me." Ultear remained silent for a moment before she bowed her head and sighed.

"Fine," she said. "Stay there." He watched as she got up from where she was sitting, and walked behind him. He turned to look, seeing her kneel behind him.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Shut up and relax," she replied. He made a face but did as he was told, turning back. Once he did he felt Ultear's hands on his head, using her water magic to soak his scalp and hair.

"What-?" He started.

"My Mom and I used to talk like this," she said softly, running her hands through his hair. "When I was younger, anyway. Whenever I looked sad or listless, she'd insist I have a bath. Then we'd talk while she washed my hair."

"That sounds nice," he admitted, enjoying the feeling of her fingers on his head.

"It was," she admitted. "My mom is like me, we're prone to depressive episodes. She could tell when I was in rough shape. Always could."

"Parents have a way," Simon admitted, thinking of his own mother. She had her own way of showing she cared, like beating his stubborn ass in fights until he was willing to talk to her.

"Yeah, I guess they do," she agreed. "I wish she was here."

"She's fine," Simon said, making sure he sounded as sure as he could. They were all okay, he knew they were. There was no way they were dead or taken.

"I know," she said. He got the feeling she did not know. "I suppose I just miss the way things were before all of this."

"Don't we all," he said. "But listen, we'll make it out of this. We always do."

"We didn't last time," she said softly. "Not all of us."

The smell of blood. Flesh being torn apart and a body being discarded. Steph's screams.

Simon swallowed hard to avoid thinking about what had happened.

"He'd want us to keep going," he said.

"I know he would," Ultear replied. "But going without him...I feel like I'm just walking down an endless path. A path that tires me out, wears me down, and never ends. I just keep walking and walking, and nothing ever changes. There's no end to it. That's just what my whole life feels like now."

"What is life except an endless road paved with hardship you have to overcome?" He asked. "The only end being your own end?"

"So why does our road have to be full of so much pain?" She asked weakly, voice cracking. He frowned at his reflection in the water, pondering what to say. It was hard for him to see Ultear's point of view. He was a warrior, always had been. His whole life he'd pushed forward, barely looking back, reaching for his next goal. It was very unlike him to look back or stop on the way for one reason or another.

"I really don't have an answer for you," he said truthfully. "All I know is that we're not on this road alone. You aren't alone."

"Yeah," she agreed. "If I was alone I'd be hanging from one of these trees by now."

"Don't talk like that."

"Like what? Truthfully?"

"Like your life holds no value," he replied irritably. "You are valuable, you are needed. The group needs you. Steph needs you. So do I." She paused her hands on his head, which made him worry he'd said the wrong thing. She surprised him, however, when her arms wrapped around his neck and draped down his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.

"What did I ever do to deserve friends who speak so highly of me?" She asked in his ear.

"You didn't do anything," he answered. "You deserve it regardless."

"At least one of us feels that way," she replied. "Suppose one of us should."

"We both should." He frowned at his reflection. "Just because you've had it easier than others doesn't mean your problems aren't as important."

"Except they just aren't," she replied. "Steph lost Damien. Nashi has the literal world on her shoulders. Drake could be dead, for all we know. What do I have to complain about?"

"That you'll lose your magic if you stop using Third Origin?"

"Do you really think those things are comparable?" She asked, "is my magic as important as Damien and Drake's lives, or the world? Is it really?"

"It's your problem, so you're allowed to care," he argued. "Stop acting like you don't matter. You do matter."

"I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on that."

"No, no we won't. Agree with me." She giggled at this. A genuine laugh, one he had not heard in a while.

"Sir yes sir," she said, sitting back up and moving her arms back. He found he kinda of missed the hug. "Hurry up and wash off. We shouldn't take long."

"Yeah yeah," he said, rubbing the water over his torso. "Here, pass me my clothes so I can soak them." Ultear did as he asked, and he dunked his outfit into the water. Once he lifted it out, Ultear used her magic to remove all of the water at once, dirt and grime going with it.

"Don't you have any other clothes in your inventory?" She asked him.

"Who do you think I am, my mom?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow. "I keep armor and weapons in my inventory, not clothes." This made her smile and shake her head in disbelief.

"If I had a magical inventory," she said, "I'd keep my whole wardrobe in it."

"Yeah? Well I'll teach you how to do it so you can keep your clothes on you at all times. You'll need it, seeing as you do sometimes take after your Dad."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You do have a habit of ending up naked whenever you fight." She narrowed her eyes at him as he said this.

"Is that complaining I hear?" she asked, purposefully crossing her arms underneath her boobs. "I'm shocked you have a problem with it."

"Who said I had a problem?" He asked. "I find it funny, honestly."

"Oh is that so? My nude body amuses you?"

"Yes ma'am. Watching you somehow lose clothes is very funny." Simon dunked his head under the water to clean his face, rubbing his eyes to clear them once he surfaced. He heard shuffling to his left, so he turned to look.

Ultear had discarded her own clothes at the edge of the pool.

His heartbeat quickened when he realized she was testing him.

"What's wrong?" She asked innocently from somewhere behind him. "I thought it was funny."

"It is funny," he replied, looking across the pool again. "Funny you think you'd get me with that one. What, did you expect me to look or something? Gawk at you?"

"I'm offended you think I would stoop that low," she replied. Simon froze when her arms once again snaked around his neck, putting her dangerously close to him. The bands glowing around her arms were quite distracting. "What's wrong? You tensed up all of a sudden. Am I embarrassing you?"

"I'm not surprised the daughter of a stripper doesn't understand respectfully not looking," he said, trying to ignore the dry feeling in his mouth.

"What if I said I wanted you to look?"

What the hell was she doing?

"...I don't know," he answered truthfully.

"Do you want to look?" She asked. Simon felt alarmed at the low tone she'd taken on. "I'll let you, you know. I wouldn't mind. But I'm sure you know that, cause my Dad's a stripper right?"

"..."

"Exceed got your tongue? So does my body amuse you, or does it make you excited? Hm?"

"Ul," he said. He raised a hand and grabbed her forearm, gripping it lightly. "What are you doing?"

"..."

"I'm not mad," he said, "or repulsed, or anything. I just want to know what you thinking you're doing." Ultear stayed silent for a few seconds, still frozen behind him. Eventually, she let out a monumental sigh.

"Trying to feel any joy at all," she replied. "To feel something other than anger, sadness and fear."

"You figured this was an appropriate time for that?"

"Sorry, was there a better time to try and seduce you? I'll try and fit it in my schedule of walking all day and keeping my head on a swivel for danger. My bad."

You know what I meant," he replied. He looked over his shoulder and met her eye. "You really think you'd feel any better?" Her jaw clenched as she stared at him, her eyes conflicted.

"Maybe for a bit," she said. "Is that so wrong?"

"Ul..."

"Is it so bad that I want to not think about my current circumstances for a little while?" She asked, her voice cracking. "Is it so wrong that I can't think of another way to do that?"

"I never said it was wrong," he said. "I understand, I do. I just don't know if you'd really feel better." She was silent after this, and he looked back at the water and sighed. "Like I said, I'm not grossed out or anything, I just wonder if your reasoning is sound."

"My reasoning?" She asked, "I already gave it to you. Do you understand me or not?"

"I do understand," he insisted. "I just don't think you want it because you want me. You want to so you'll forget about everything else. I don't think it'll help you at all. I think the only thing that'll make you feel better is facing your problems head-on"

Ultear was silent for what felt like forever. Simon stared hard as his own face in the water, his logic at war with his desire. She was just trying to run from her problems. After what felt like a million years, Ultear's arms slowly snaked away from him as she backed away.

"You're a stronger person than I am," she said quietly. "I don't if I could do what you do."

"Refuse advances or run headlong into my problems?" He asked curiously. She snorted.

"Both. Here, give me a second." He watched as a torrent of water lifted from the pool, Ultear soaking herself with it quickly before letting it fall over her clothes, and then back into the hole. "Give me those." He did as she asked and handed the clothes to her, making sure not to look. He stayed silent as he heard her dress herself, sighing as she finished.

"Hurry up," she said. "We should get back sooner rather than later."

"Agreed," he said. He dunked his head under water one more time before he grabbed his clothes. Ultear turned as he dressed, and once he was done he joined her at the edge of the clearing.

"Ready?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. Simon did his best to look her in the eyes when he spoke despite how awkward he felt.

"If you are," he said. She scoffed softly and rolled her eyes, turning her eyes back to the trees.

"I'm not," he said, "but not like I have an option, right?"

"Unfortunately," he admitted. Ultear nodded along silently, looking like she was far away.

"Just one more thing," she said.

"Yeah?" She looked back at him, and he had trouble discerning the look on her face.

"I didn't ask just because I wanted a distraction," she said.

Without saying more, she turned and walked back towards the others, leaving him dumbfounded and more than a little embarrassed.


Inanni made a face at the scene before her.

"Is this really the time to be rejecting her?" The Goddess of Love and Beauty asked no one in particular. "Well, I suppose the near end of the world and with death around every corner it makes some form of sense. Mortals are so silly about this."

She leaned back in her throne as the doors flew open. She turned her head to see her sister Tyra walking towards her. The Goddess of War stopped a few paces from the thrones, putting a hand on her hip.

"Are you watching mortals again?" She demanded.

"Perhaps," she replied innocently. "I was just keeping an eye on our mortal allies. I'm not much help at anything else war-like, so I offered to give Chronos and Aether a break from it.

"If you tell me you manipulated their senses so you could watch them-"

"I did not!" Inanni bemoaned, throwing herself back against the throne in astonishment. "Jeez, you accidentally topple one empire cause you wanted to know what an Emperor and a foreign diplomat would look like together and everyone loses their minds! It was once!"

"Yeah, and I had to deal with the aftermath," she said, running a hand through her blood-red hair. "Anyway, come with me. I need you."

"For what?" She asked, "it's unlike you to ask for my help in war, sister."

"These are unprecedented times," Tyra replied. "Besides, you're very empathetic and lovely. I'll need your help today."

"For what? Tell me already," she said. Tyra slammed the end of her sword into the marble flooring.

"I need your help talking to Fairy Tail's deceased," she said. "I want them on the front lines of the war if it reaches our doorstep, but that Makarov is being difficult and asking for information I can't give him. Help me out." Inanni frowned, but sighed and stood.

"Fine," she said. "Let's go talk to the Fairy's who found their wings."

I've found it's hard work setting up all the major players in a war arc, so this is more setup from yours truly. Besides, more time to delve into the minds of the characters is always good, especially Ultear and Simon as they've been neglected recently. Well, at least they have each other. I hope you enjoyed, please leave a review!