And with this chapter we finish Galuna island. I hope you all enjoy.

I don't own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively too Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magazine. This is just for fun!


For Lucy Heartfilia the encounter that was about to play out before her eyes was not proceeding with a sign of good faith. She and the others of Fairy Tail had broken the rules by attempting this S-class mission to Galuna Island, no doubt the reason that Erza Scarlet had arrived with no amount of hidden irritation in her words and body language.

Yet worse was Bambietta Basterbine. Lucy could not ever consider befriending the woman a mistake, yet as of this moment she could see something in her roommate that left her soul drenched in concern. The Quincy was shaking ever so slightly, a mad glint in her eyes that was unbecoming of the woman that Lucy had come to know. Yet there was an anguished scream of the rat monster of Sherry's that had echoed forth across the beach, leaving the pink haired woman to completely lose her composure, knowing it was a sign of pain and potential death. Then had Bambietta returned to Lucy's sight, her stark white uniform stained with blotches of red liquid, the edge of her sword soaked in the substance.

"You two," Erza said simply, standing her ground, "have made the master quite cross. You two as well as Natsu, Gray and Happy. However, Master Makarov is not the one you need to concern yourself with now."

Bambietta's lips began to curl back a little bit. "Erza."

"Do you wish to say something?" the armored mage said, her glare casting down upon the Quincy. Then and there could Lucy see something in Erza's eyes. Not fear for herself, not at all, but certainly concern for one she called a comrade within the ranks of Fairy Tail. "Speak, Bambietta."

"You're going to take us back for punishment, right?" the Quincy asked, her tone ragged and hoarse with a building anger. "That's... not going to happen."

Erza's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"I came here," Bambietta continued to say, "to become an S-class member of your precious guild. To be the best I can be in this... this world." Bambietta's body continued to tremble still, the woman glancing down at her bloodied sword. Then did her gaze shift slightly, focusing instead on the unconscious Sherry, the face of the owner of the dead Angelica still wrapped in anguish. "I've gone too far to be S-class to let you take me back."

"Bambi," Lucy began to say, concern issuing forth with each and every syllable, "it's over. We made a mistake, don't you get it?"

"Mistake?" the Quincy took a labored breath, looking at Erza then with a wild look in her eyes. "I am a mistake! Look at me!" The Quincy looked down upon herself, her blood soaked uniform coming into her own view. Then did she look back at Erza. "This whole S-class mission is a joke but... but if I defeat you, Erza Scarlet, I will be the best in this guild... won't I?"

"You feel you're a mistake, do you?" Erza asked, dodging the question at hand. "Despite what you're thinking, I wish to disagree."

Bambietta snapped then. "Don't talk like you know me! You know nothing!" An arm extended forward, Bambietta pointing an accusing finger toward the sorceress. "You've just been keeping an eye on me ever since the Eisenwald mission started! You said it was because of Makarov ,but I know that was just bullshit! You don't trust me!"

Erza remained calm nonetheless. "Bambietta Basterbine-"

"I want to fight you, Erza," the Quincy hissed, "so maybe you were right."

Erza said nothing at first, her eyes staring solely at the red stained sword in Bambietta's hand. Then at last did she speak, looking the Quincy directly in the eyes. "Despite all appearances, I have not made any mistakes."

Bambietta could hear it in Erza's voice, the absolute certainty. Bambietta grit her teeth then, her anger at last beginning to boil over. Then did she begin to yell, her body stiffening under the duress of her rage. "What the hell are you talking about? What could you possibly know about me?"

Erza knew she was staring down an individual who had been consumed by the darkness once more yet the imagery did not faze her. Before the wizard were glimpses of a past not long since faded from her memory, of a woman in need, of a stranger who needed all the help she could get. "I reiterate," Erza said once more, her tone never faltering, "I have made no mistakes."

"Enough." Bambietta's voice dropped for a moment, rising when she next spoke. "Enough! Enough! Enough! Draw your sword, equip your best armor and fight me!"

Erza extended her right arm in response, a magic circle forming in the air and giving life to a forged weapon of pristine beauty.

"Bambi, Erza," Lucy began to whimper. "There's no need... no need for this. Please..."

Bambietta paid her friend no mind, her focus entirely dedicated to Erza. "Your armor. Equip another damned armor already!"

"My apologies," Erza simply said, holding her sword at the ready, "but I believe that my present attire will suffice while you are in this state."

Bambietta's voice began to tremble. "Damn you... Damn you!"

The Quincy lunged forward then, Hirenkyaku propelling her towards Erza with a bloodthirsty intent Bambietta had not felt since the day she had fought the Soul Reapers. It was euphoria, her heart and soul understanding nothing but the freedom that such inclinations possessed. There were no rules, no obligations. There was simply the thrill of battle, the clashing of bone and sinew.

It was sick to this world she was in now. It was a repulsive and detestable lifestyle to those she lived among in this day and age. She understood that well the first day. The look of horror on Levy's face when she had returned from her first mission, the decapitated remains of a monster in hand. Bambietta remembered that expression of judgment well, the image something that would never leave her mind now.

Fear, distrust, hate. It was all she deserved of Fairy Tail if she was true to herself, if she stopped living a lie. This was who she was, this was what she had been born to be. A killer, a monster, a butcher of any who dared face her.

As she approached Erza, the warrior wizard clearly bracing for combat, Bambietta could see the calculating light with the woman's eyes. More judgment, more mistrust. That was all the Quincy could see.

Yet then did she catch in the corner of her eyes a glimpse of Lucy Heartfilia, the Celestial mage all but in tears, her hands covering her mouth as she watched Bambietta succumb to your darker impulses.

Then did Bambietta hear the sound of Lucy's voice, the scream tearing both at her ear drums and emotions. "Please, just stop!"

"I'm sorry, Lucy," Bambietta whispered so that none but herself could hear. "This is who I am."

The Quincy gripped down upon her weapon with both hands, swinging the blade towards Erza with ruthless intent. Yet what happened next was exactly as Bambietta expected, the mage simply deflecting the attack with a swipe of her own blade.

Yet there was one thing that Bambietta had not been expecting as she stared past the locked blades. Upon the grip of Erza's sword rested one hand. Undeterred, Bambietta pushed forward with her own, glaring at the foe before her with eyes that contained her incandescent anger.

"First you deny me an armor even Natsu was worthy of," Bambietta shouted, "now you won't even use both hands? How worthless do you think I am?"

"It has nothing to do with worth," Erza replied, holding her ground. "However, I do believe you are better than this."

"Damn straight!" Bambietta screamed in reply. "I'll show you the power of a Quincy."

Erza shook her head lightly, her eyes never looking away. "I do not speak of power, but the strength of hea-"

"There you go again!" Bambietta disengaged her sword and slipped back for a moment, once more pointing towards Erza. "Friendship this and friendship that! It's too... too damn good to be true, you hear me? Do you hear me?"

Bambietta lunged forward again, her sword once more clashing with Erza's own. Still did the armored mage parry the attack with a casual swing of one arm, leaving Bambietta to grow more frustrated.

"Don't you dare pretend I'm not worth you actually trying! Don't you dare!"

The Quincy attacked again and again, each and every blow making contact only with Erza's sword. Yet Bambietta's frustration was beginning to lift slightly, the young woman taking note of one thing in particular. Erza was falling back and she was gaining ground in return. Bambietta could not believe it, her thoughts focusing on the positive. She was pushing Erza back. Somehow, someway, she had managed the impossible.

The sound of metal against metal continued to ring within Bambietta's ears, the woman beginning to grin as she continued to press forward, driving Erza further and further into a retreat.

Feeling jubilation in response to the newfound rush of confidence she was experiencing, Bambietta let Blut Arteria flow into her flesh, giving inhuman strength to her attacks. The advantage was hers and hers alone and she was unwilling to leave it alone. Her instincts as a battle hardened Stern Ritter were taking hold, the Quincy knowing that any moment that was not taken advantage of was a mistake no true warrior could make.

Blood lusted jubilation soaking her inner thoughts, Bambietta lunged then, the edge of her blade streaking from the side towards Erza's throat.

Then did Bambietta's maddened joy suddenly lose focus. That moment slowed for Bambietta, leaving the Quincy to momentarily envision the sight of her short sword tearing apart flesh and bone, ripping from her shoulder's Erza very head.

A low whisper slipped between Bambietta's lips, so low she was unsure any could hear it, not even Erza who was before her. Yet still the Quincy knew what she was saying.

"What the fuck am I?"

That glimpse of a crimson future never came to pass, Erza deftly bringing her blade to bear and casually swatting away Bambietta's one with one hand yet again.

"I'm a... a..."

Bambietta's thoughts were shattered then, Erza suddenly flipping her own sword around and slamming it forward. The bottom of the hilt drove into Bambietta's torso then, directly beneath her chest, and the Quincy's cried out in shocked agony as she was flung backwards.

"Damn..."

Bambietta wrapped one arm across her body as she slumped down to her knees, her right hand unwilling to relinquish its grip upon her own blade. Her breathing was labored in its execution, the wind all but knocked out of her by the sudden attack. The Quincy's momentary lapse of confusion shattered by the pain, her anger began to return to her as she stared at Erza.

"You miserable..." Bambietta gasped, her voice faltering. "I wasn't winning... You were... you were controlling this entire battle the whole time, weren't you?"

Erza lowered her head in response, still making certain to keep her eyes upon Bambietta. "Yes."

"Damn it!" Bambietta pulled her arm away from her body and allowed the hand to curl into a fist. Consumed in the moment, she slammed it down upon the sand of the beach, her voice echoing out across the night air. "Damn it all!"

"I'm sorry," Erza said, moving forward, "but your sword play was easy to predict."

"No!" Bambietta shouted in response. "Don't you dare mock my-"

"Whoever taught you the art of the sword," Erza said, still continuing her walk towards the Quincy, "educating you with nothing more than the tactics of a killer. Every strike you took just now was filled with murderous intent. All you sought were fatal wounds."

Bambietta's eyes began to widen. "That's the whole damned point of a weapon! To kill! To kill any bastard who dares to impose their will on you!"

Erza stopped for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "Perhaps that is true, but while you are certainly rather skilled...You lack finesse or style."

"Is that... right?" Bambietta began to rise then, her body unstable. Then did she snap once more. "To hell with that and to hell with that smug attitude! I'm going to make you fight with both hands! I'm going to make you equip an armor! I'm going to make you take me seriously!"

"Bambietta Basterbine," Erza said, bringing her sword to bear, "I assure you that I am taking this matter deadly seriously."

"Don't you fuck with me!" Bambietta leapt forward then, Hirenkyaku taking her out of Erza's sight.

Lucy simply watched on in horror, the Celestial mage dropping to her knees as her eyes began to water. "Bambi, please... please just stop this..."

Erza raised her sword before her armored frame, watching Bambietta's every move. The woman was fast, fast enough to escape the gaze of many, yet Erza was managing to keep track of her moments nonetheless. The Quincy could not be seen, no, yet evidence of her movement was still in effect.

Erza's eyes darted back and forth, catching sight of indentations appearing in the sand, a telltale sign of Bambietta's erratic movements. One moment she was on the left, then the right, and back again. Erza knew full well the strategy at play here, knowing the enraged Quincy was trying to catch her off guard after what she had just said.

Yet then did Erza hear it, no matter how faint. The contact between the sand and a pair of boots directly behind her.

"Got you now, you smug ass wizard!"

Bambietta began to swing her blade down with both hands once more, the Quincy confident in her victory. That confidence was destroyed not a moment later, Erza turning to greet her attack as she had many a time already. Yet as her sword was parried, Bambietta could only smile. She could see it then, both of Erza's armored hands atop the grip of her sword.

"See?" Bambietta asked as she panted. "I knew I could make you try harder with surprise and leverage on my side. Now... about that armor..."

Erza remained calm, staring back at Bambietta. "You're still shaking I see."

Bambietta's eyes began to widen in rage. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You fight to kill," Erza began to explain, "and you speak like you believe yourself a monster. But your body betrays you."

Bambietta's brow began to furrow. "What?"

Erza slowly began to allow her left hand to leave its grip upon her sword. "A beast that knows only how to slay without mercy would not be quivering as you are now."

Bambietta's body suddenly stiffened, the Quincy standing to her full height as her head began to lower. Locks of her hair began to fall upon her brow, obscuring her eyes. "You think I'm scared, is that it?"

"Not of me," Erza corrected, "but of yourself."

Bambietta began to chuckle then, her voice low. "What I am is... who I am... is worthy of fear!"

Bambietta let her sword vanish from sight, a bow of pure light taking its place. She leapt back then, putting some distance between herself and Erza.

"You wish to inspire fear and nothing more?" Erza asked, watching Bambietta's motions closely all the while standing her ground. "From what I saw in Clover, I cannot believe that of you!"

Bambietta said nothing, simply pulling back on her luminous bow with one hand. Only when she felt her power at its apex did she utter forth anything. "I don't want fear but respect! That's all I need!"

In that moment did Bambietta allow her strength as a Quincy to flow forth, from her bow launching a volley of her arrows of light. Spread as thin as her spiritual energy was, Bambietta knew the best they could do was wound, a fatality hardly an option with such a tactic.

It was a far cry from the Quincy of old, let alone the one that had been losing her mind against Erza not a minute earlier, but Bambietta knew it in her heart that she was lost in her own soul this very moment.

I can't... stand this...

Her thoughts incapable of internal focus, Bambietta instead allowed herself to concentrate on the external. Her hailstorm of arrows quickly descended upon Erza, yet the mage seemed hardly concerned.

What happened next left Bambietta suffering a pain that no amount of physical trauma could cause. Her pride began to slip away as she watched Erza move her blade about, precise swings batting away each and every one of the arrows.

"No! You will not disregard the power of a Quincy like this!" Bambietta simply increased her attack as her nerves continued to unwind, adding more to the volley of arrows. "Let's see you contend with this! One hundred arrows from me to you!"

Yet in the end it made no difference still, Erza only increasing the speed in which she reacted. The mage was running off of pure combat instinct, either dodging or destroying the myriad attacks with her sword.

"No..." Bambietta's conviction began to falter then, the Quincy simply staring in awe at Erza. "One hundred versus one... You can't have... no one could..."

"You could blot out the moonlight with your arrows," Erza said, her own conviction remaining steadfast, "but I would still stand against it to save a comrade."

"Hey, uh, Erza," Lucy suddenly said. "I appreciate the sentiment and I know Bambi's a little cranky right now, but it's not like she's coming after me or anything."

"I know." Erza simply never looked away from the Quincy before her. Instead she simply raised a free hand and extended an index fingers outwards. "The one I speak of is Bambietta Basterbine herself."

"Say what now?" Bambietta fell into confusion then, only to quickly shift back to anger. "Oh, I kind of get it. Is the high and mighty S-class wizard going to save me from myself?"

Bambietta grit her teeth then, the fingers wrapped around her bow tightening as she raised it before her once more.

"I am Bambietta Basterbine!" the Quincy shouted, her soul tugging on the magic around her and forcing the particles to become one with her bow's spiritual energy. "I am a pure blooded Quincy!"

Bambietta raised the bow before her, an arrow creating before her very eyes. This one, however, was becoming larger and larger by the minute. Her anger threatening to boil over, Bambietta was at last willing to exchange quantity for quality.

"The depravity of the Heavens! Scattered souls of the dead! I call upon thy power and swear my loyalty to your unjust ruling!"

Bambietta winced as she felt the power build around her, her voice lost in the chanting that she was inducing. It had been long, so very long since Robert Accutrone had drilled such lessons into her. Once she had fully mastered the Explode she had sworn off such baser techniques, finding them tiresome and irksome. His Majesty, his power so great, never had to rely on such lengthy processes for a skill of this measure, yet those who were under his command were neither so strong or so lucky. Now, however, Bambietta knew she had to utilize such language if she dared to use this skill.

Erza, meanwhile, could feel the air around her changing, the very magic that made up the world around her sparking as if it were on edge. Her eyes began to open a little more than, realizing that the Quincy before her was full of surprises. "It seems you're much stronger than I thought. Impressive, Bambietta Basterbine."

Lucy, however, was simply overwhelmed by the sensations around her, the woman's body shaking uncontrollably as the very hair upon the back of her neck began to stand on end. She was at a loss for words, unable to process what was going on as the shift in power began to tear at her very soul.

Bambietta paid no mind to any of it, simply continuing to speak and coax the power to her bow. "Annihilate those who stand in defiance of my desires! Scatter their existence into the ether! Become one with my power and obey my command! Sankt Bogen!"

Erza simply watched on, knowing she would actually have to work to defend against what was about to come now. Still, she continued to speak towards Bambietta. "Most impressive indeed."

"Save it!" Bambietta screamed in return. "I don't need any false praise! I am Stern Ritter E of His Majesty's Vandenreich! I am one of those chosen by the God Emperor Yhwach! I don't need your salvation! I don't need Fairy Tail or the lies it promotes! I will stand on my own, never needing comrades, friends or anything else!"

Then did Bambietta let loose her massive arrow, her rage having reached its climax. She watched as it moved towards Erza, the sand beneath the arrow shifting to the sides due to the spiritual pressure it was generating.

Erza, however, simply stood her ground and said one simple thing. "What about Lucy and Levy?"

Bambietta's hardened expression suddenly lost its composure, the Quincy's eyes widening as her mouth began to move. "I..."

Out of her control, the arrow continued to close the gap between itself and Erza. The mage simply drew on her magic then, unwilling to take any chances with an unknown quantity. "Requip!" Her armor began to fade from view, another set more substantial in quality covering her body. "Adamantine Armor!"

Erza brought her arms forward, twin shields coming together from behind her back to form one. Bambietta simply watched in awe then as an emerald magic circle formed in the space before Erza.

Then did the massive arrow make contact, the sound deafening. For reasons she could not even begin to construe, Bambietta began to shout even as she was pushed back by the shockwave. "Erza!"

Erza grit her teeth as she felt her body beginning to give way, her armored feet sliding through the sands of Galuna Island. She fought to stand against this spiritual power, the mage unwilling to give any more ground than she had already lost.

Then it was over as quickly as it began, the arrow of light shattering against Erza's overwhelming power. An explosion rung out across the landscape, the fierce nature of its detonation of both magical and spiritual energies kicking up dirt and sand into the air, the twin elements mixing with the smoke generated by the blast.

Lucy was blown back by the sudden blast, the mage rolling across the ground until at last her body came to a stop. She forced herself up on to her elbows then, glancing towards the plume of smoke, unable to see either of them.

"Bambi... Erza..." Lucy looked on in horror, wondering if on this day two of Fairy Tail's own had perished. "No... it can't... it can't..."

The Celestial mage's eyes began to water then, shutting as her hands curled into fists. She began to cry out then, her voice cracking as it threatened to pierce the heavens.

"No!"

Lucy's head dropped down to the sand then, the wizard glancing out towards the smoke as it rose into the air.

"Why... why did this have to happen? Tell me... tell me why..."

Lucy's tears began to fall upon the sand, dampening it as she watched the smoke begin to clear. Her heart began to ache, the wizard knowing that she had lost friends this day over matters she may never be able to understand.

Her heart seized with despair, Lucy continued to sob, the mage lost in her own misery. Yet then did salvation settle upon her. The smoke began to dissipate, Lucy's gaze greeted by the sight of both Bambietta and Erza standing still. Erza remained unharmed, her armor not having so much as a scratch, where as Bambietta panted and wheezed. She was worn out…but alive and well.

Relief began to wash over Lucy then, a smile spreading across her face. "Bambi... Erza..."

"I did it..." Bambietta said as she began to slump forward, her body weak due to the expended spiritual energy. As she dropped to one knee she began to draw upon the magic around her to recharge, all the while grinning. "I got an armor out of you..."

Erza simply stared down at Bambietta, allowing her Adamantine armor to disappear and her more basic clothing to takes its place once more. "Have you finally calmed down?"

One of Bambietta's hands lay upon the beach, the fingers outstretched. Then did they slowly retract, tearing through the scattered sand. "No, I..." The Quincy turned her head then, taking note of Lucy looking at her in relief. Bambietta weakly smiled back, hoping to add to the Celestial wizard's relief. However, as Bambietta stood back to her feet, she knew that she was not going to be able to give Erza the answer she no doubt wanted to here. "No, I'm not calm."

Bambietta pointed an accusing finger towards Erza then, her eyes flickering with a hint of still lingering anger.

"I got you to use both hands," the Quincy began to say, "and then I got you to actually requip. So now there's only one last goal for me to achieve."

"You wish to defeat me," Erza simply said, not even batting an eyelash.

"Damn straight!" Bambietta said, pointing a thumb at herself. "Then I'll be one step closer to being top dog in Fairy Tail!"

"For good or for ill," Erza began to say, "you possess such spirit."

Bambietta leapt forward then, closing her right hand into a fist as Blut Arterie began to envelope it. "That's what I'm all about!" She declared as she prepared to punch Erza across the face.

"I know." Erza said softly, the woman not even budging from the ground upon which she stood. "I saw it even then, when you were at your lowest point."

Bambietta's gloved knuckles stopped no more than an inch away from Erza's face. The arm was shaking, the Quincy's gaze extending down the length of it and into Erza's unflinching eyes.

"What?"

Bambietta began to lower her hand then, allowing her fingers to wrap across Erza's right arm. Soon did Bambietta's other hand join the action, gripping upon the left. She drew in close to Erza, her voice beginning to grow ragged in its annotation.

"Just what the hell are you talking about?!" the Quincy began to scream. "Why do you keep watching me?! Why did you lie about Makarov instructing you to do so?! Why do you act like you even know me a little?!"

Erza kept silent, looking towards the mixed amount of pleading and rage that adorned Bambietta's face.

"So help me..." Bambietta's tone grew with anger, quickly shifting back into simple questioning. "Tell me! Tell me why! If Fairy Tail is as good as you say, then you should have no issue telling me the damn truth!"

Erza took a deep breath, at last beginning to do as Bambietta requested. "I came across you while out on a mission, not far from Magnolia itself."

"What?" Bambietta glared at Erza then, still confused. "I don't... remember... Wait..."

The Quincy pulled away from Erza then, her hands beginning to hold the sides of her head instead. Her eyes began to shake, her vision losing its hold on gazing upon reality, on the here and now. Instead Bambietta could see it, a flash of red hair, of her face suddenly bringing drawn towards a metal armor, then darkness.

"It was..."

"You were clearly lost in so many ways," Erza continued to say, "looking for someone you kept calling for. Somehow you referred to as Gigi if I recall."

Bambietta heard the name, an innate part of her soul triggering in rage, held at bay by only her shattered state. She could remember so little of that time in that state, yet she knew of when Erza spoke.

"You were under the influence of a magic, of a curse, I could only find ghastly and reprehensible," Erza said, reaching out with a hand and touching it upon Bambietta's quivering shoulder. "Unknown to death nor known to life, yet you were still begging for the latter."

Lucy, meanwhile, kept her distance while listening all the while. That which she had Erza say that very moment left her feelings on edge, her soul aching as she began to understand just what the woman was speaking of. "Bambi..."

"You're the savior... that Porlyusica spoke of," Bambietta began to say, looking back towards Erza, her gaze focused on the present once more. "The one who took me to for help..."

Erza simply nodded, a warm smile beginning to pull at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, that's true."

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Bambietta asked, her composure slowly restoring. "Why keep watching me in secret?"

"Perhaps you do deserve an apology," Erza said, "but I had no desire for your thanks. I did what was right, what any individual should be capable of. Nothing more. Many times in the past, people have viewed me as some kind of savior, and even worshiped the ground I walked on. I don't wish to have anyone in the guild feel as if they're indebted to me.

Bambietta paused for a moment, lost in thought. The Quincy was left with one thing to consider then. She was unsure if she would have ever done the same for another.

"I was unsure if Porlyusica would tell you everything," Erza continued to say, "but when you spoke nothing of it to me I could only assume that was not the case. I felt it was better that way. I did not wish for you to shower me with thanks or anything of the all, admiration is the furthest thing from understanding."

"Oh, aren't you acting all high and mighty, Miss S-Class Wizard." Bambietta turned away from Erza then, crossing her arms across her chest as she let out a grunt of irritation. "Like I'm the type to grovel at some savior's feet."

"I'm relieved to hear that," Erza countered. "However, you saw well the ornate horn I was giving for saving a town, yes?"

"That's kind of hard to forget." Bambietta heard what Erza said then, but she was also beginning to think to herself. She might very well have done just as Erza had feared, the Quincy having worshipped Yhwach as if he were a god in the flesh.

"Even most in Fairy Tail do not dare approach me due in part to my reputation," Erza said, her tone only wavering slightly. "I did not wish to compound the matter with a potential new member. I think Lucy is even a little... scared of me."

"No, ma'am!" the Celestial mage cried out from several feet away. "It's all awe, honest!"

Bambietta shook her head, trying to clear her conscience as best she could and began to spoke softly under her breath. "You know what they say. Refusal of praise is just an attempt to be praised twice."

"Perhaps it is so," Erza simply contended, "but I wish not for any of it. All I wanted was for another to be free of their suffering."

Bambietta could not begin to accept what she was hearing, yet still she knew what she had to do. "I... I should... I... should tha-"

Bambietta paused her words then, trying to make her say what she felt no matter how hard it was. Her hands began to curl into fist, tightening with each passing second.

"I know you don't want to hear it," the Quincy struggled to say, "but for what you did…I can't possibly thank you enough."

Erza sighed, closing her eyes. "I accept your thanks then. However," she said, her eyes suddenly opening into a narrow gaze, "do you wish to continue this battle?"

"No." Bambietta's answer was quick and to the point. "I can't beat you. I'm too damned weak to hope to be S-class now. I'm too damned weak to win this fight."

"I apologize," Erza suddenly said, "but you are speaking nonsense."

Bambietta turned to look at Erza once more, unsure of what the armored mage was getting at.

"The strong are not those you win every battle," Erza said sternly. "The strong are those who lose and crawl back up from the brink no matter how hard it may be to do so."

Bambietta grinned, if only a little. "And I've fallen so far..."

"Then you simply have room to grow," Erza said, suddenly reaching out and pulling Bambietta in close.

"Ow!" The Quincy cried out as her head collided with Erza's breastplate, the memory of some time ago coming back to her in full "Oh yeah, it was definitely you that day."

"So now everyone is all hunky-dory, right?" Lucy asked as she began to approach.

"Yes," Erza answered in the most casual of tones, "I believe that to be so."

Bambietta, meanwhile, was beginning to struggle, her arms waving out to the sides. "Erza, you're... crushing... me..."

The armored mage let go then and there, glancing away perhaps sheepishly. "My apologies."

"Uhhhh..." Bambietta knew not what to say in light of Erza's sudden shift in emotion and neither did Lucy. "Well, whatever. I guess we should all go back to the village and help out Natsu."

"Don't forget Gray," Lucy interjected.

"Oh yeah, the stripper who tossed aside his friend." Bambietta felt a little bit of irritation burn within her soul. "Yeah, him too I guess."

"Don't think this brings the situation to a close," Erza spoke sharply. "There is still the matter of the punishment that awaits you all for breaking Fairy Tail rules."

"What?" Bambietta retorted. "Is Big Daddy Makarov going to give us all a spanking?"

Erza glared at Bambietta then, leaving the Quincy's blood to run cold.

"Okay, okay, forget I asked."

The trio of Fairy Tail members began to move then, making their way back to the village. As they traveled along the beach however, Bambietta could not help but look towards the unconscious Sherry. For a brief moment she could remember what exactly she had done once she had cut loose against the woman's oversized pet rat. It had been the instigator of her bloodlust, something Erza had thankfully pulled her away from.

"She was kind of a pain, but then we both heard some horrible scream of agony and Sherry completely freaked out and I... I kind of clotheslined her then."

Bambietta looked away, the Quincy trying her best to be as she once was, not caring about the consequences of her actions. It had been so much easier.

"Bambi," Lucy said as she moved close to her friend, "can I ask you a question?"

The Quincy blinked several times before responding. "Shoot."

"What exactly was Erza talking about when she said she found you at your lowest point? I kind of got a little of what she was saying, but... I don't mean to pry, but..."

Bambietta stopped in her tracks, taking a deep breath before finishing what Lucy could not. "You want to know what happened to me, right?"

Lucy could see that Bambietta was no longer moving, Erza glaring at them both and in turn did the Celestial mage regret bringing the subject up. "You don't... have to talk about it. I'm sorry."

"Those friends I told you about? The ones that betrayed me? They killed me, Lucy. They killed me in cold blood."

Lucy's eyes began to widen in horror and shock while Erza's made no change or shift. "What?"

"They killed me, turned me into a damned zombie puppet and made me do whatever they wanted. Until I came here... until... until Erza found me, until she brought me to someone who could bring me back from the brink... I had... nothing left."

Lucy's eyes began to water then, tears streaming down her face as she approached Bambietta from behind, wrapping her arms around her torso as she leaned her head down upon the Quincy's shoulders. "Bambi, I... I'm so sorry..."

Bambietta closed her eyes for a moment, the Quincy trying so very hard to process just what was going on, just what she was feeling. "What are you apologizing for? I don't see you turning people into undead slaves for your own personal amusement."

"I know, it's just... how could anyone be so cruel?" Bambietta could feel it then, Lucy's grip around her actually beginning to tighten the faintest bit. "People aren't disposable like that!"

Bambietta's eyes began to widen then, a thought overtaking her mind while Lucy continued to cry.

"Every life is precious," the Celestial mage said, leaning further down upon Bambietta's shoulder. "What kind of monster could take it away on a whim?"

"A monster?" Bambietta's voice was nothing but a whisper in response then, the Quincy recalling well the myriad number of lives she had ended solely to placate her bad temper. "Yes."

Bambietta did not understand what she had become a part of. For so long she had surrounded herself with like-minded individuals and nothing more. Killing out irritation had been as natural to her as breathing, something none responded to with criticism. That, however, had been before the tables had turned on her. Now she found herself surrounded by those who possessed good natures, leaving Bambietta to once more question if she would ever fit in.

"What seems to be the hold up, ladies?"

Bambietta and Lucy both froze up then, the two women staring at Erza's back and feeling a certain sense of anger boiling throughout it.

"N-nothing!" Bambietta all but squeaked. "Just some girl talk, that's all!"

"Y-yeah!" Lucy added, hugging Bambietta tighter in response to her fears. "That's all! Girl talk!"

"Girl talk, is it?" Erza kept her back towards them still. Then did she suddenly turn around, a joyous look upon her face. "Joining in on that could be rather fun."

Bambietta and Lucy's dread quickly shifted to confusion, the look upon Erza's face leaving them both at a loss for words. Then did the armored mage shake her head, a stern expression overtaking her.

"No! There is no time for such frivolous needs! I must find Natsu, Gray and Happy and then we can all return to Master Makarov for your punishment!"

Then Erza began to retrieve from her armor a set of rope, leaving both Bambietta and Lucy to be concerned once again. "Seriously, where the hell did you get that?"

"Perhaps its best I do make certain that neither of you tries to slip away," Erza began to say as she approached. "My apologies, though perhaps we can proceed to have some girl talk on the way back to the village."


"Oh for His Majesty's sake..."

Time had moved on and the members of Fairy Tail had relocated to a tent within the village. Erza was simply sitting confidently upon a barrel, while both Bambietta and Lucy found themselves tied up. They had both been led as if on a leash back to the village by Erza, yet that was the least of their problems.

No, the biggest source of Bambietta's annoyance was that Erza had not waited for Lucy to let go of Bambietta before she had swiftly tied them up. Now the Quincy was left stuck with Lucy's arms hugging her from behind as they both were forced to stand within the tent.

"Come on, Erza! Do you have any idea how silly we both loo-"

"So did you two both enjoy your sweet sixteens?"

Bambietta and Lucy both blinked in response to Erza's sudden interruption, the Celestial mage responding to it. "Huh?"

"Your sixteenth birthdays," Erza replied.

Bambietta's expression fell into complete shock then, the Quincy having no idea whatsoever how to process or understand Erza. "She's... she's still trying to initiate some girl talk even now?"

Erza's rather puckish expression changed then, her eyes glaring at the Celestial wizard in her company. "Lucy?"

"I... I..." Lucy stumbled upon her words, having not expected to be put on the spot. "Well, uh, it was a lovely birthday party! Yeah! The best of times! My mom and dad spared no expense! And then... I went out on my own and came here eventually. Yeah, it was a blast!"

Bambietta listened to Lucy well, noting that there was something very wrong about what she was saying, as if this matter was something her roommate had absolutely no interest in speaking of.

"How nice," Erza said, closing her eyes as she nodded. "Bambi?"

the Quincy's eyes widened, she too absolutely hating being put on the spot. "Me? Well..."

Bambietta had a distinct feeling the description of how she had spent her sixteenth birthday would not go over well with those she was surrounded by in the present. Still she did her best to disguise the truth with lies.

"I..I hadn't been part of the guild too long. Only a few years tops. It wasn't as easy going as Fairy Tail is. It was a lot more strict. We had training, mission quota's the works…and, well…I celebrated it with a friend."

"A friend?" Erza asked. "Did you not have more than one friend in the guild?"

Bambietta slowly shook her head. "Not at the time, no. Most of my 'friends' hadn't joined yet. I only…had one at the time. She could still recall it, how she had met her first friend in the wandenriech, her voice clear as day.


"Oh, you don't have any friends? Well, I haven't been able to find any either." A tall pink haired woman said to Bambietta as she sat down in the cafeteria in the Silbern.

Bambietta gave the woman a slight glance. "Yeah, what about it?"

The woman smiled before she extended her hand towards her. "Then in that case…I wouldn't mind being your friend. It gets awfully gloomy here when you're all alone."

Bambietta gave the woman a smirk. "Boy ain't that the truth." She grasped onto the woman's hand. "The name's Bambietta. Bambietta Basterbine."

The woman nodded. "And I'm Meninas. Meninas Mcallon. It's nice to meet you, Bambietta."


"Yeah, I…only had one." Bambietta said before her voice got quiet. "At least…I thought I did."

Lucy and Erza could only watch on in silence as Bambietta recounted her sixteenth birthday.

"We had a lot of training exercise that day and…well, there wasn't any time to celebrate, really. I didn't even get to hang out with the one friend I had. Nobody obody even considered saying 'Happy Birthday' to me once we were done. I should have known better. My guild wasn't exactly big on bonds, you know? But I got... cranky. So I kind of invited a boy up to my room to make myself feel better... First time for everything..."

Bambietta took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"And that's it. It wasn't really anything special."

The Quincy began to open her eyes then, shock suddenly overtaking her as she came face to face with Erza, the armored mage not even an a few inches away.

"Bambietta Basterbine," Erza began to say, her tone quite serious, "when is your birthday?"

Bambietta felt nothing but butterflies in her stomach then, a nervous sensation pervading her very being. "Wait, what?"

"Your birthday," Erza repeated, her tone of voice the most seriously Bambietta could recall hearing it since the armored mage had conscripted Natsu and Gray into battle with Eisenwald. "When is it?"

"It's August Sixth," Bambietta all but squeezed, feeling the pressure of Erza's dominant gaze upon her.

"Excellent!" Erza suddenly exclaimed, looking away from Bambietta with a lust for the future burning in her eyes, her voice booming. "Another day that I shall have to mark upon the calendar on the guild hall's main floor!"

Bambietta and Lucy simply stared wide eyed at Erza, only the former able to attempt speaking. "You really don't have to-"

"You shall have your birthday this coming year and the next and the next!" Erza shouted, looking back at Bambietta. "And you shall enjoy it forevermore!"

"Just roll with it, Bambi," Lucy whispered. "She's scary..."

The Quincy, meanwhile, simply blinked in astonishment. "Huh?"

Erza, meanwhile, continued on her roll.. "Only a dark guild would be capable of ignoring the date of birth that belongs to one of its own! I will not stand for Fairy Tail even entertaining such reprehensible notions! I will-"

"Maybe I should go back outside."

Bambietta, Lucy and Erza all turned then, the moment completely shattered by the sound of another's voice. Thus did they find both Gray and Happy at the tent's entrance. The dark haired man glanced over to Bambietta and Lucy then, taking notice that the duo was tied together into an embrace.

"Look, I don't even want to know what I've interrupted, but…"

Erza's joyous rapture completely faded then, the mage glaring at Gray as if her eyes could spawn daggers. "Gray Fullbuster, did you not promise Master Makarov that you would bring Natsu and the others back from this damn fool crusade to become S-Class at the risk of their own lives?"

"Hey, that's what I was trying to do but then Natsu knocked me out and brought me here!"

Erza glared at Bambietta and Lucy then. "Is this true?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Lucy cried out, clearly frightened.

"Yeah, yeah," Bambietta grumbled. "Natsu got a sneak attack in, which sucked. I know I could have taken Gray in a fair fight..."

"Look, it doesn't matter anymore," Gray suddenly interjected. "I didn't come here of my own free will, and you and the master can both punish me all you want later... but I'm going to see this mission through to the end."

Bambietta watched as Erza's right hand tightened, a magic sword forming within it. "I cannot let you do that, Gray."

Bambietta's eyes opened as she watched Erza place the broad side of the sword down upon Gray's shoulder. The Quincy could only remember the days of which Hashbrown had chosen to discipline an unruly Stern Ritter in place of Yhwach himself. Bambietta understood well that such a thing had been a blessing in disguise, death awaiting those who truly displeased the emperor of the Vandenreich.

Still, Bambietta could only assume Erza was being serious to a fault. Surely those of Fairy Tail would not resort to such measures.

"I know I can't hope to beat you," Gray said suddenly, the ice mage reaching up with his right hand and clasping it upon Erza's sword, "but that doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to see this mission through."

"Stand down, Gray," Erza commanded, the mage holding her sword steady despite Gray's grasp of it. "You're only hurting yourself."

"That's fine by me," he retorted, blood seeping between his fingers. "Look, I know you're just following the rules, but I can't let Lyon do as he pleases. Not when he's disrespecting the last act our teacher did for us both."

Erza and Gray looked eyes then, leaving both Bambietta and Lucy to glance back and forth between the two. The Quincy could feel it in the air, she could practically taste it. The tension in the air was so thick she knew she could easily cut it with her short sword.

"Yoo hoo," Bambietta began to say, "I'd like to offer my opinion on this little old tiff you two got going on."

Gray and Erza both turned to look upon the Quincy then.

"Listen, new girl," Gray began to say, his steely gaze having not shifted in the slightest, "I appreciate your concern, but this matter doesn't concern you."

"To hell it doesn't, nudist," Bambietta grumbled. "I'm a member of Fairy Tail too, you know."

Erza, however, sighed and spoke next. "What do you have to say, Bambietta Basterbine?"

Bambietta's eyes widened, the Quincy flinching as she stared at the serious expression etched upon Erza's face. "Well, that is-"

"Speak."

The Quincy went into a mild panic then, her mouth running a mile a minute. "Okay, now I know, honest to God, that I'm really the last person that should be talking about stuff like this, and I know Fairy Tail doesn't do good deeds all the time without it being a job, but didn't you say that you didn't want me to suffer anymore, Erza? Again, this is totally not like me and stuff, but shouldn't you of all people want to help those who live here on Galuna?"

Bambietta took a deep breath then, realizing that the dread Erza's glare had suddenly instilled upon her had left her running out of oxygen during her rambling.

"Isn't relieving the people of Galuna of their pain the right thing to do?"

Bambietta could feel it then, Lucy all but shivering, their bodies so close. She watched on as Erza stared at her with cold eyes. The Quincy knew then that she may very well have overstepped her bounds, but there was something else truly confusing to her. Since when did she care about matters such as this?

It simply made no sense to Bambietta. She had spent the better part of her long life serving the Vandenreich, yet more importantly had she served herself exclusively. Why then was she so concerned with the plight of those who called Galuna Island home? Why did she, one who reveled in violence for violence's sake, even feel the slightest bit of heart ache for ending the life of Angelica and causing sorrow to Sherry? Was it simply Erza's overwhelming presence that had done it to Bambietta for one brief instant?

Erza continued to stare at Bambietta, withdrawing her sword from Gray. "Did you think that I would leave the poor souls of this island in dire need?"

Bambietta could only blink. "Huh? You mean we're not in trouble?"

"Oh, you will be punished by Master Makarov, make no mistake of that," Erza's face remained stern, yet there was a warmth that dwelt within her eyes. "However, those in need here take first priority."

"Okay, I take it back," Bambietta began to say, her voice lighting up with apparent glee. "Fairy Tail is as good as you made it sound. You truly are one of a kind, Erza Scarlet."

Erza simply stared at Bambietta. "Don't think that buttering me up will rescind the punishment awaiting you once we return to Magnolia."

Bambietta mumbled under her breath. "Damn it."

Erza turned back to Gray then, allowing her sword to fade into the ether. "But before we begin completing this job request, I need to know what's got you so worked up, Gray."

The ice mage simply raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it's any of your busi-"

An armored fist suddenly struck Gray in the face, sending him flying out of the tent. Bambietta, Lucy and Happy all watched on in shock as Erza held her closed hand before her, the armored wizard's face once more carrying a stern expression.

"What the hell was that for?" Gray asked as he stumbled back into the tent.

"You are a member of Fairy Tail," Erza said with a forceful tone, "and we all share each other's pain, Gray Fullbuster."

"Yeah!" Bambietta said, nodding her head in approval, "so share with the rest of the class!"

Gray glared at Bambietta then, the both of them knowing full well that the Quincy already knew what had the man so on edge. Yet it was clear to him that Bambietta wanted Erza to know all as well. It was true that Bambietta could have told Erza herself but she was more apt to allow, if not just force, Gray to speak of his issues himself.

"Fine, be that way." Gray took a deep breath as he turned back to Erza. "The whole reason this island is cursed is because of what... someone I know did to the moon. He's performing a ritual with it to free a demon from its prison."

Bambietta watched on as Gray's hands began to close and shake then, the ice mage trying so hard to restrain himself. The Quincy simply wished he would lose himself in the moment, to unleash his rage with words if not actions. It was the only way she had ever found herself capable of getting over deep rooted problem, even if only for a little while.

Yet Bambietta was quickly realizing that despite the apparent tragedy that tore at his soul, Gray Fullbuster was one to keep his cool, no matter how hard it was.

"My teacher, she... she gave her own life to trap that monster for all time and I won't let anyone make her sacrifice meaningless."

There was a calm nature then that descended upon those within the tent, Bambietta keeping a close eye on Gray especially. He was showing tremendous restraint and Bambietta could not do anything but be impressed.

Erza, however, was not allowing the conversation to end there. "There's more to it than that... isn't there?"

A snort all but escape Gray's nose then, his breath ragged as he tried to find the words to continue. "Yes, it's... I have to see Ur's will carried on because... it's my fault she died."

Bambietta's eyes widened then, the Quincy listening well as Gray spoke of his past in more thorough detail than before. Of how Deliora had taken from him his parents, of how it had destroyed his village. How he had turned to Ur for tutelage and strength. Of how he had challenged Deliora with the desire for revenge, only for his loving teacher to sacrifice her life to save him in the end.

Bambietta heard it all and so much more, a long buried memory screaming into reality within her mind.


"It doesn't matter if I can't win, I'm going to see this task through to completion. So wait for me, my beloved daughter."


Bambietta's face began to contort then, the Quincy fighting desperately to remain composed. She knew under no circumstances, the present one especially, could she ever allow such long buried emotions to swell to the surface.

Lucy, however, seemed to have noticed. "Bambi…are you ok?" She asked with concern.

"No, just..." The Quincy shook her head then, trying to keep herself under control. "So let's go get that knucklehead Natsu and put a stop to Lyon's plans."

"Well..."

Happy suddenly became withdrawn, the cat skittering behind a crate within the tent. Erza looked down upon him then.

"Well what?"

Happy gulped back his fear and spoke. "Natsu went to stop Lyon himself and told me not to tell anyone because he didn't want Gray to be hurt anymore by his friend! I'm sorry!"

"That fool." Erza took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Let's move out."

The armored mage began to walk forward then, leaving Bambietta to give voice to one problem in particular.

"You mind untying us first?"


Time marched on and those of Fairy Tail soon found themselves standing outside the temple that Lyon, under the guise of the Cold Emperor, had taken for his own. The violet light of the moon was beaming down upon the ancient structure, no doubt empowering the ritual that would grant Deliora freedom.

Yet there was one thing very different from earlier, something Erza had to take issue with. "Was the temple this lopsided always this lopsided?"

"Uh, not really," Lucy said in response. "What the heck happened in there?"

"I have a feeling Natsu had a hand in this," Erza said simply. "It seems like his style, effective if destructive."

Bambietta, however, was not paying much attention to the crooked temple. Instead the Quincy was moving towards Gray, her body guided by feelings even she did not fully comprehend.

"Gray," she began to say, catching him off guard, "I got one question."

"What?"

"What the hell is this friend of yours thinking?" she asked, standing by his side and looking up towards the purple light from the heavens. "Why the hell would he even want to undue your teacher's sacrifice?"

"Lyon wanted to surpass Ur one day, ever since he was a kid," Gray began to explain, "and now he thinks the only way he can do that is by killing Deliora himself."

"Huh." Bambietta simply nodded her head. "You know, I was going to give him a pass if he was just intending to kill it horribly to avenge her death but... he's a complete idiot, isn't he?"

"Revenge, huh?" Gray shook his head. "That's a fool's game too. If I hadn't... if I hadn't gotten so caught up with wanting vengeance on Deliora, none of this would even be happening right now."

Bambietta did not know what to say to that, the Quincy remaining quiet.

"Enough of this," Erza said, stepping forward. "We're going to settle this once and for all."

"Intruders! Halt!"

Bambietta and the others could see it then, several dozen robed individuals stepping forth from within the temple. From the style of their garments those of Fairy Tail could tell that their sudden opposition was quite clearly aligned with Lyon.

"For the honor of our master, The Cold Emperor," one of the individuals said, "you shall not go any further!"

"Is that a challenge?" Light burst forth from Erza's hands, giving life to twin swords. "I gladly accept!"

Erza took one forward, glancing back at her ice mage comrade.

"Gray, you go on ahead and finish things with Lyon if Natsu has not already. Bambi, Lucy and I will settle things out here."

"Awww, not again," Bambietta said with a sigh. "Why is it we keep fighting grunts like this?"

"What, fighting Erigor wasn't enough for you last time?" Lucy asked.

"Oh," Bambietta turned to look at Lucy, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "you jealous?"

"Heck no!" Lucy proclaimed. "Fighting grunts is fine by me!"

"Well, always, Gray you can have the main event all you want." Bambietta began to crack her knuckles then, staring at those that stood in her way. "We'll enjoy the left overs."

"Thank you." Gray kept his back to Bambietta and to others then as he began to move forward.

"You dare to think we'll let you get by?" One of Lyon's followers nodded to his compatriots, the group tightening their position. "I think you underestimate your chan-"

Then there was a scream, the man dropping to the ground as he clutched at his knee, a blue arrow of light having pierce through it and now slowly fading.

"Oh, you can talk the talk," Bambietta cooed, her bow held steady, "but I guess you can't walk the walk anymore."

Lucy simply sighed. "Bambi, that was absolutely horrible."

"What?" the Quincy asked, looking over her shoulder. "That I kneecapped the jerk?"

"No, the pun."

The Quincy quickly grew flustered. "So I kind of suck at making the funny when I'm under pressure, sue me."

Gray meanwhile simply took the moment of confusion among Lyon's followers to run past them, shoving any aside that he needed. They began to turn then, to give chase, but that was when Erza went on the move, rushing through the group with her swords at the ready.

"And there she goes again," Bambietta said as she watched in awe. She looked at Lucy and winked. "So if Erza's taking the middle, you want the left or the right? Or can I take both? Not like I have a problem swinging both ways..."

Lucy blinked. "Huh?"

"My fists," Bambietta said, trying to correct herself. "Swinging my fists. Yeah."

"I will take the left," Erza shouted, quickly bringing down a robed wizard with a nonfatal strike from her blades. "Lucy will take the right and you, Bambietta Basterbine, will go find Natsu immediately!"

"I don't even get to fight the grunts?" Bambietta was aghast. "What the hell, Erza? Can't a Quincy have a little-"

Erza glared at Bambietta, all the while casually parrying an attack from one armed opponent without sparing him a look. "Just do it."

The quincy felt a shiver travel down her spine before she quickly recomposed herself. "Okay, fine. I guess I am the best choice for that, since I can sense his power or whatever."

Erza nodded then, backhanding an individual approaching her from behind. "I have faith in you."

Bambietta took off then, Hirenkyaku propelling her into the temple. The Quincy moved at a fast clip, her spiritual senses expanding outwards as she looked for any sign of Natsu's presence.

Then she felt it, his strength clearly in battle with another. The Quincy could all but sense the heat radiating from his very nature as it clashed with a strength that left Bambietta almost to shiver.

"So he's fighting that Lyon jackass? Come in, if anyone's going to steal Gray's big fight it should be me."

Yet then did Bambietta take note of it, another presence fast approaching those two, similar to Lyon's own output. No doubt, it was Gray, something that made Bambietta at least smile on some level or another.

"That's more like it-"

The Quincy stopped dead in her tracks then, suddenly sensing another power near the others. It, however, was very different in its nature. The strength it exuded, its very nature, was hardly elemental in focus, leaving the Quincy to ponder just what kind of magical energy she was sensing now.

Then did Bambietta remember one thing about herself in particular: pondering was not in her nature. "It's nobody from Fairy Tail I know, and it's clearly not that Lyon jerk Gray wants to... needs to fight, so I guess this one is fair game."

Bambietta grinned, knowing she might very well have a fight on her hand. Yet then did she feel that unknown power suddenly on the move, Natsu's own signature giving chase. The Quincy kept her focus on them both then and began to move once more.

"I get a fight, I get a fight..." Bambietta could not help herself, the Quincy absolutely thrilled at the prospect of a worthy opponent. Angelica had been too weak and Erza far too strong, but despite the peculiar nature of this power Bambietta felt, it seemed just right. "And worse comes to worse, Natsu and I can do a little tag team action. Mask would so totally approve."

For a brief moment Bambietta could recall well the time Mask De Masculine had attempted to train his fellow Stern Ritter, both his compatriots and his seniors, in the art of wrestling. It had been a wretched weekend, particularly Mask's foolish goal of trying to make Pepe capable of performing the Shooting Star Press.

"What has been seen," Bambietta began to say, shuddering all the while, "cannot be unseen."

The Quincy shook off her sudden bout of revulsion, taking note of how the signatures of both Natsu and his mysterious opponent were moving down through the temple.

"Okay, so they're probably heading towards that demon on ice. That's not good." Bambietta began to move fast again, quickly growing irritated at one very simple problem. "Where the hell are some freaking stairs?"

Bambietta began to fumble about with the coats of her pocket, pulling out several Ginto capsules.

"Oh well, at least I can head downstairs the fun way..."


"Well you're a tough customer," Natsu Dragneel said, wiping trace amounts of dust away from his face as he stepped away from his opponent for a moment, "but there's no way I'm letting you get anywhere near Deliora."

Across the cavern that made up the temple's basement stood a masked man, a perpetual grin upon his face. "Your reputation precedes you, Salamander. You won't be felled by one simple attack, will you?"

"Not my style," Natsu replied, his fists coming alive with flames. "Now that I've got a fire in my belly and Gray's all fired up, you and that Lyon guy don't have a chance! Fire Dragon's-"

Natsu never got the chance to complete the ignition of his attack, explosions suddenly coming alive above both himself and his opponent. The two glanced up then, quickly evading the rumble that began to fall.

Yet the stonework was not all that came down. No, amidst it all was a lone woman in white, a cloak trailing behind her shoulders as she touched down open the cavern floor.

"Hey, Natsu," Bambietta said, "mind if I join in?"

"That's it?" the Dragon Slayer asked, his voice as deadpan as Bambietta had ever heard it.

"What's the matter?"

"Well, I was thinking you'd apologize for ending your entrance with a bang or something."

"Damn." Bambietta shook her head. "I did miss that chance, didn't I? Oh well, so who you fighting?"

Natsu's answer was quick and to the point, the Fire Dragon Slayer pointing over Bambietta's shoulder. "That guy."

Bambietta looked over her shoulder, taking note of a man in robes matching those who had attempted to fight Fairy Tail outside. All that was different was the mask covering the better portion of the individual's face.

"So who's this?" Bambietta asked. "He doesn't look so tough."

"Think his name is Salty," Natsu answered.

"That's a dumb name," Bambietta sighed. "I mean, serio-"

"How many times must I tell you, Dragon Slayer," the masked man shouted. "It's Zalty!"

"Okay, that's not much better," Bambietta looked fully upon Zalty then. "So what's with the mask?"

Zalty paused for a moment. "What?"

"Well you must have a reason to wear the mask," Bambietta answered. "You somebody I know? Somebody Natsu knows and you don't want us to figure it out yet or something?" Bambietta turned back to Natsu then. "Hey, maybe this is that Igneel guy you've been looking for."

"No way!" Natsu shouted. "Igneel's a dragon!"

"Well maybe he disguised himself as a human," Bambietta offered up.

"That's just stupid," Natsu muttered. "Dragons can't do that."

"Did Igneel ever say he couldn't turn into a human form?"

"Well, no," Natsu replied, suddenly pointing towards Zalty. "Why are you wearing a mask, Igneel? I never even saw your human form, so why would you try and hide it from me?"

Zalty said nothing, simply staring at both Natsu and Bambietta in disbelief.

"Wait, there's no way this guy is possibly Igneel!" Natsu suddenly exclaimed as he turned back to Bambietta. "He'd never fight me. Besides, I know I'd recognize his scent and this guy smells like a girl!"

"So... what?" Bambietta asked. "This guy is wearing a mask because he's a girl? Why would anyone even care about that plot twist? Girls who are really guys, guys who are really girls... Bah!" Bambietta shook her head then, trying to focus on the important matter at hand. "No, he's got to be somebody you or I have met before. And I barely know anyone here so that leaves you."

"You think it's Erigor back for revenge?" Natsu asked.

"No, no," Bambietta replied. "He was a big windbag, so he'd want us to know it was him. 'Fairy Tail flies this, Fairy Tail flies' that. Damn, I've got that guy's voice stuck in my head now. Are you happy, Natsu?"

Whether the Dragon Slayer was or not was not a matter to be broached at that point, Natsu still lost in his own thoughts. "You think maybe he just wears the mask because it makes him look cool?"

"Well that does make some sense," Bambietta said, the Quincy thinking it all over. "I mean, there was no way Lyon knew he'd run into Gray here on Galuna Island, so there he wasn't trying to hide his identity from anyone in particular. Maybe he just thought the mask and fake name were too cool for school, you know? Probably the same with this Zalty guy."

Zalty all but shook his head then, the man unable to even comprehend what madness he was being subjected to.

"Yeah, masks are cool!" Natsu suddenly exclaimed.

"Damn straight," Bambietta said, closing her eyes as she nodded in approval. "It even made Mask De Masculine more awesome than he had any right to be!"

Natsu stared at Bambietta then. "Mask who?"

The Quincy's shoulder sunk then, depression overwhelming her. "Just some guy I probably won't be seeing ever again..."

"Say, shouldn't we fight- Hey, where'd Zalty go?"

Bambietta snapped back to reality then, noticing that Natsu was looking around frantically, the masked man known as Zalty gone.

Bambietta's face went red then, the Quincy becoming flustered. She remembered well Liltotto criticizing her time and time again in the past, to keep her eye on the prize no matter what, something that Bambietta understood was not something she was always apt to do. "Yo, Natsu..."

The Dragon Slayer stopped glancing around frantically and looked toward Bambietta. "What's the matter?"

"This stays between you and me, 'kay?"

Natsu stared at Bambietta then, confusion evident within his eyes. "What stays between us?"

Bambietta's head fell forward, her shoulders slumping once more. Slowly she looked up at Natsu then, her eyes twitching. "You know what? I'm just going to take that as a yes. Anyway..."

"Salty?"

"Zalty, yeah."

Bambietta let her senses flow outwards then, once more the Quincy trying to lock on to the strange source of magical power that the masked man possessed. However, before she could lock on to it, Bambietta was interrupted by the sound of a sudden snort coming from Natsu.

"What in the hell are you doing?"

"I can smell that girlish scent of his," the Dragon Slayer said, his nostrils flaring up as he spoke.

"I don't know whether I should be impressed or shaking my head. Fine, let's follow your nose." Bambietta simply sighed before she spoke again. "Oh right, and what exactly is Zalty trying to do way down here? I thought the ritual for this Moon Drip nonsense was up top?"

"Well, it is," Natsu said, "but I kind of blew up some of the structures down here and shifted the temple. Figured that way the moon's light wouldn't reach down to that Deliora guy if the temple above him was at angle."

"So you solve the problem by destroying stuff?" Bambietta questioned, a slight smirk spreading across her face. "I like your style."

"Well, thanks," Natsu said, his right hand ruffling through his hair. "But that buddy of Lyon said he was hell-bent on restoring the temple back to normal."

"Oh right, that guy," Bambietta said.

"Salty?"

"Zalty, yeah." Bambietta grabbed Natsu by the wrist and took off with the power of Hirenkyaku. "You said he was this way right, Natsu?"

Bambietta received no response, at least not in words. All the Quincy heard then was a series of incomprehensible sounds escaping from Natsu's mouth. She looked back then and could see that his eyes had gone white, his cheeks puffing outwards.

"Oh, hell no! Don't you dare get motion sick on me now, Natsu!"


Zalty stood beneath the surface of the Galuna Temple, his eyes peering out towards the icy tomb that was Deliora. No longer drenched in the light of the moon, the frozen prison remaining as sturdy as ever.

"Damn that Dragon Slayer." Zalty threw his right arm to the side, a crystalized orb coming into existence and moving towards the shattered infrastructure that held up a portion of the temple. As simple as that, history begin to rewrite itself, the damaged remains coming together and repairing itself as if Natsu had never unleashed his powers up it.

Then, as quickly as it had been summoned, the orb disappeared, leaving Zalty alone with his thoughts. He continued to gaze upon Deliora as if lost in a trance. However, it was not the monster itself that captivated the masked man. No, it was the magical ice that encased the beast that truly left his soul yearning for things long since passed.

Zalty began to reach out then, intent on pressing the palm of his hand against Ur's legacy. However, as if it had been born from the darkness of the cavern itself, an arrow of light shot by Zalty's hand, leaving him to pause and turn to face his attacker.

"That was a pretty neat trick!" Bambietta shouted, her bow at the ready. "I guess not every wizard in Fiore is all about destruction, huh?"

"Foolish woman," Zalty said as he backed away from Deliora and watched as Natsu came into view by the Quincy's side. "You know nothing of my power."

"Well it kind of reminds me of some girl my boss was vaguely interested in at first," Bambietta mused, becoming lost in thought and memory once more. "Not to mention that smug prick of a Soul Reaper we were watching too. Pretty sure he said her power might eclipse the gods themselves."

"You flatter me," Zalty said, his teeth flashing in a grin. "Yes, I suppose the Arc of Time does step upon the territories of the gods, but they are cruel beings unworthy of my respect."

"Yeah, okay," Bambietta continued. "And you are less like that buxom lady I was thinking of. If anything you're starting to sound like what my boss's intel said that prick Sosuke Aizen was like."

Zalty continued to grin then, several orbs of white mass appearing around him. "And now you wound me, but there is no pain that time cannot heal... No pain except..."

Zalty paused for a moment, Bambietta noticing his body language shifting to focus on Deliora for one moment.

"Never mind." Zalty turned his attention back on Bambietta and Natsu both. "It's time you two interlopers die."

"Okay, that," Bambietta began to say, "is totally stock dialogue. Are you even trying?"

Zalty said nothing, the mage simply bringing one arm forward, the outstretched palm facing upwards. Then did it happen, orbs of concentrated magic appearing within the space around the masked man, leaving Bambietta and Natsu to both tense up in preparation.

Bambietta could not tell what exactly she was seeing. Her spiritual senses could detect Zalty's odd power signature within the multitude orbs but she simply could not comprehend the strange magic at work. "So this is that Arc of Time you were talking about, huh? Hey, Natsu, you know anything about this lost magic of his?"

"Nope!" the Dragon Slayer exclaimed. "But it couldn't be all that special if somebody actually lost track of it, you know?"

Bambietta stared at Natsu, the Quincy finding herself unable to even blink. "Sometimes I wonder how you function, Na-"

Bambietta never finished the sentence, one of Zalty's orbs smashing into the side of her face with such force that the Quincy's body began to pitch to the side.

"What the hell, man?" Bambietta shouted, rubbing the right side of her face as she glared at Zalty. "You talk like you can control time but all you're going to do is hit me and Natsu with your balls?"

Natsu visibly cringed. "Ewwww..."

A vein threatened to burst atop Bambietta's forehead, the Quincy yelling at Natsu while she pointed a finger at him. "Not even remotely what I meant and you know it!"

"Such a crude young lady you are," Zalty cackled, his orbs floating about to and fro within his domain. "And to think I was worried your kind might be a threat."

Bambietta's eyes began to narrow. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, perhaps I spoke out of turn... Quincy." Zalty continued to smile, summoning several orbs within his line of sight. "However, these orbs are an extension of the Arc of Time. You see, I've weaponized the future."

"Wow," Bambietta said, the Quincy truly in shock. "And I thought His Majesty made some trippy ass powers."

"Before me lies all possibilities of those I wish to end," Zalty continued. "To put it simply, I can see the future. Your future. Every possible outcome."

The orbs began to float by Zalty's eyes, the masked man taking in each sight.

"So many possibilities stand before you, Quincy," the mage continued. "In so many I see love, the prospects before you are endless. In others I see true loneliness devouring you. And in another you have companionship you'll wish to be rid of, a specter of your past-"

"Shut the hell up!" Bambietta spat. "Listen, all I want to know about the future where Natsu and me are kicking your stupid ass all over this island!"

"You are so very exhausting," Zalty hissed, "but I suppose it does not matter. Love, loneliness, despair. None of that awaits you now. The only future either you or Salamander have to look forward to is an immediate death."

The orbs suddenly shot forth toward Bambietta and Natsu then, a sudden onslaught catching both by surprise.

Bambietta swung out with her right hand then, Blut Arterie at the ready as she tried to strike back at the orbs. However, her target seemed to sense her intent and altered its course. "What?"

Having dodged the attack, the orb smashed into Bambietta's stomach, causing the Quincy to gasp in pain and stumble back.

"I told you," Zalty cackled, the man watching with glee, "My orbs are the future and can plan accordingly."

"Well screw that!" Natsu was doing the same as Bambietta had, attacking wildly as the orbs began to approach him next. "The future ain't decided! We make it for ourselves!"

That was when Bambietta began to note one major difference between herself and the Dragon Slayer. While Hirenkyaku allowed the Quincy to travel about at unimaginable speeds, it did not help with reaction and reflexes. Bambietta could see it then, Natsu's fist striking the nearest orbs, causing it to shatter on the spot.

However, the orb began to reform almost immediately and continued its trajectory, smashing into Natsu's face and throwing him aside.

"What the hell?" Bambietta murmured, watching the spectacle.

"Time is on my side, yes it is," Zalty said, his voice projecting outwards. "You cannot destroy the future, it is always in motion."

Zalty suddenly swung out an open hand then, lifting it high.

"Though perhaps I will have to hasten things myself."

Bambietta could hear it then, the sound of rock splitting high above. She glanced upwards in response, taking note of the cavern's ceiling beginning to come down towards her. "Really, that's the best you can do?"

Bambietta brought her bow into being then and there, firing an arrow towards the collapsing rock. A burst of blue light issues forth, the falling portion of the cavern all but disintegrating in response to the Quincy's power.

"What the heck was that just now?" Natsu asked, the Dragon Slayer picking himself up from the ground. "I thought you said you were some kind of time wizard, not a rock one..."

"All things fall apart eventually," Zalty replied. "Someday this cavern will come crashing down. I just... speed things up a bit."

"You know," Bambietta said, looking back down at Zalty, "you're kind of reminding me of a Hollow I once heard about."

Zalty said nothing for a moment, speaking after a brief amount of hesitation. "A... Hollow?"

Bambietta, however, simply smiled. "I was so hoping my buddies and I would get to fight the group he was in... but maybe you'll make a nice substitute for that bonehead."

However, despite her outward bravado, Bambietta was the slightest bit nervous. She knew well the intel that the Vandenreich had gathered on the second Espada, Baraggan Louisenbairn, all of it quite troubling. If this Zalty's power was any bit as potent as the Arrancar's Death Breath was purported to be, then this was going to be a problem.

"So, uh, Natsu," Bambietta muttered, her eyes darting towards the Dragon Slayer, "you up for a little tag team action against this guy?"

"Oh, I'm all fired up!" Natsu simply slammed his fists together before suddenly taking a deep breath, his belly spreading outwards for a moment.

"Okay, lead with that then," Bambietta sighed. "So much for us working together..."

Natsu leaned forward then, flames bursting forth from his mouth. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

As the onslaught of crimson destruction began to close in on him, Zalty simply brought one hand upwards, his smile never fading. "How futile."

Then, as quick as it had been generated, Natsu's fires completely went out, the relative darkness of the cavern returning. All that was left for light was the Moon Drip ceremony itself.

"No way!" Natsu exclaimed. "That's not..."

"All flames extinguish eventually," Zalty simply said. "Even those of a Dragon Slayer."

"Looks like it's my turn!" Bambietta prepped an arrow then, her luminous bow having come into existence once more. "Pure Blood Quincy's Arrow of- Oh, forget it!"

The arrow fired then, quickly closing the gap between Bambietta and Zalty. However the masked wizard simply repeated his earlier motion, raising his hand once more.

Then, just like that, the arrow ceased to be, fading from existence just before it came into contact with Zalty's covered face. "No light can last forever. Even the stars will die in time."

"Damn it." Bambietta was not amused, not the least. She had at least hoped her power as a Quincy would prove resistant to this magic, not being of this world, but she could tell now that was not the case. The Arc of Time was simply too powerful. However, there was one thing Bambietta was beginning to wonder. It was a risk, but she was more than willing to take it.

"Well this isn't annoying or anything," Natsu said, staring at Zalty and growing more frustrated. "How are we supposed to hit this creep if our magic putters out from old age before it even touches him?"

"Natsu," Bambietta whispered. "Doesn't it strike you as odd that this guy doesn't just use his power on us directly?"

"Honestly, the thought hadn't crossed my mind," the Dragon said with unabashed enthusiasm. "But now that you mention it..."

"I may be wrong," Bambietta continued, "but for all its power, I don't think that Arc of Time can affect living things. Otherwise this guy would be making aging us and not everything else."

"He could just be playing around with us," Natsu replied.

"Maybe," Bambietta said, "but he seemed awfully determined to free Deliora when we got in his way. I doubt he's interested in having fun at our expense."

Zalty grew impatient then, his orbs of the future fluttering about him. "What are you two muttering about there? Chanting a little prayer before you both die?"

"Oh!" Bambietta shouted, her eyes lighting up as she allowed her voice to extend outwards. "You mean you don't know, Mr. I Can See the Future? For shame!"

Zalty merely stared at Bambietta and Natsu, the possessor of the Arc of Time stewing internally. "I suppose it doesn't matter if it's something you won't make me privy to. Scheme and plot all you want, nothing will change. I will kill you both and Deliora will be unleashed."

"Okay seriously," Bambietta muttered, "I get what Lyon is after, even if it just means he's a moron, but what the heck do you get out of this whole scheme? Why the hell are you so obsessed with unleashing that butt ugly monster?"

"Maybe Lyon and Zalty are friends like us, Bambi," Natsu offered up, the Dragon Slayer speaking the only way he knew how to: honestly.

"Friends?" Bambietta whispered to herself, having not expected the word from Natsu. She knew better, however, a moment not long ago coming back to her mind.

"And by the way, my Fairy Tail friends call me Bambi."

The Quincy smiled a bit then before turning her attentions back to Zalty. "So that it, Zalty? You and Lyon the bestest of buddies?"

The masked man only laughed. "Hardly, though I suppose that fool does consider me an ally. I couldn't care less what goal Lyon has in resurrecting Deliora. In the end I will simply kill that expendable piece of trash and force this demon to serve my will."

Natsu was clearly enraged with such a declaration, the Dragon Slayer's voice beginning to raise. "You monster! How can you-"

Bambietta brought an arm up in front of her fellow Fairy Tail member, quieting him for the moment. "So that's it, huh? Damn, how many backstabbing asses am I going to have to kick in this world?"

"Does it matter?" Zalty asked, his orbs beginning to circle around him. "Your future is mine to control, Quincy."

Bambietta simply laughed. "Is that a fact?" She stood up to her full height, Bambietta tilting her head slightly as she glared at Zalty. "Funny, because I've sworn to kill the last person who told me that! But I guess you'll just have to be the warm up!"

Natsu looked at Bambietta then, the young man completely caught off guard by her declaration. "Bambi?"

The Quincy ignored his sudden worry, looking back at Natsu with a wink. "Just remember the plan, okay?"

"What plan?" Natsu whispered. "You just said to hit him really hard."

"No, I said don't use any magic," Bambietta replied. "Okay, and then hit him really hard."

"I can do that," Natsu said, nodding his head in approval.

"Awww, I knew you could." Bambietta turned back to Zalty then, allowing Blut Vene to spread underneath her skin. "Let's take back our future!"

Bambietta all but rolled her eyes then, the Quincy quickly regretting her poor attempt at some amalgam of pun and battle cry.

"Anyway..."

Bambietta and Natsu began to dash forward then, Zalty quickly launching his own weaponized forms of time at them.

Bambietta was covering more distance than her ally but just as before she could see that Natsu was deftly evading the magical orbs just as he did before, his reflexes on another level altogether.

In fact, Bambietta could see that Zalty was taking the Dragon Slayer the more seriously of the two, the majority of the robs whipping past the Quincy and towards him.

"That's right," Bambietta muttered to herself, "be a good little meat shield for me."

The Quincy was not in the clear just yet, Zalty firing forth a handful of orbs at her as well. Bambietta did not care however, once more her right hand balling into a fist that she sent forward.

The orb exploded then underneath the impact, Bambietta not feeling a thing.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Zalty asked, waving his hand to send another orb towards the Quincy. "That was a future where you found true love!"

"To hell with your ideas of my future!" Bambietta screamed, shattering another orb as it approached. "I'll make one for myself!"

"So stubborn," Zalty hissed, "but perhaps there is merit in what you say. You've clearly figured out the Arc of Time's one drawback."

"Yeah, ain't that a shame," Bambietta said, posturing while she listened to Natsu shout as he battled his onslaught of orbs behind her. "You're stupid parlor trick can't affect living things, otherwise you would have just aged me and my buddy there right from the start."

"You will still fall underneath the wait of the infinite possibilities that await you!" More orbs appeared around Zalty then, the group launching towards Bambietta.

The Quincy did not care, simply walking forward instead. She made no motion to counterattack the orbs, allowing them instead to breach her defenses.

"Fool!" Zalty screamed, watching as the onslaught rained down on Bambietta.

The Quincy simply grit her teeth, her lips curling back as the time spheres struck her again and again. There was pain, yes, but she resisted thanks to Blut Vene. All she did then was continue to advance upon Zalty.

"What... are you?" the masked mage asked, his voice betraying his sudden surprise.

"Does it matter?" Bambietta asked, her body shifting from Blut Vene to Arterie. "Even if I told you, I doubt you'd remember after this!"

Bambietta's knuckles smashed into Zalty's mask then, the Quincy pushing forward and slamming the man down to the cavern floor. The mask shattered then and there, the remains scattering around the now unconscious man's face.

Bambietta retracted her arm then, the Quincy blowing on her knuckles before shaking her wrist slightly. Then did she look down at the orbs that Zalty had generated. Bambietta began to peer down at one, reaching towards it with a hand. However it quickly vanished from sight, as did the others, leaving the Quincy to curse under her breath.

"To hell with it. Whatever happens happens." Bambietta looked over to Natsu then, the Dragon Slayer fast approaching now that the battle was over. "See, I told you Operation: Hit Him Really Hard in the Face would work!"

"So who is he really?" Natsu asked.

"I don't know," Bambietta said, looking down at the now unmasked visage that belonged to Zalty. "That's the plainest face ever. It's like someone didn't even try."

"Definitely not Igneel," Natsu said as he knelt down beside Zalty and poked his face with a finger.

"I thought you said you never saw him in a human form?" Bambietta asked. "Heck, you said you weren't even sure if he could or couldn't do that in the first place!"

"Yeah," Natsu replied, "but this really doesn't look like an Igneel face, you know?"

"No, I don't know," Bambietta shouted, her temper lost. "I've never seen a dragon in my life!"

"Somebody doesn't know what she's missing..."

Bambietta folded her arms across her torso and glared at Natsu. "No shit."

"I see you two cleaned up nicely down here."

Bambietta and Natsu glanced around then, catching sight of Gray approaching, a defeated Lyon in tow. The dark haired young man let go of his old friend's cloak then, leaving his unconscious body on the stone flooring.

"Same to you," Bambietta said. "So I guess you settled things with your past?"

Gray sighed. "No, not until this Moon Drip ceremony is over."

"Oh right!" Natsu shouted, the Dragon Slayer slamming a fist into an open palm. "We still have to destroy the moon for the village!"

"Yeah, sure," Bambietta mumbled, her gloved fingertips touching her forehead as she closed her eyes. "That'll be a piece of... of..." The Quincy's eyes opened quite suddenly then, Bambietta staring at the frozen Deliora. "Oh damn it."

The ice was beginning to at last melt, her spiritual senses detecting the same demonic presence from earlier. It was strengthening, it was growing, it was coming back to life right before the Quincy's eyes. The power she was sensing was enormous. Natsu, Erigor, Zalty, Erza. All of them seemed to pale in comparison to this thing!

"This…isn't good." Bambietta uttered as she felt herself sweat with worry. Could they even beat something like this!? Sure, Erza was strong, but something told her that simply relying on the S-Class wizard wouldn't be enough.

"Deliora," Lyon suddenly whispered, the white haired mage slowly coming to. "Yes, you live! Ur could not defeat you. But I... I will surpass-"

"Shut up for a minute!" Bambietta ran forward, the Quincy having finally hit her breaking point with the ice mage. She began to stomp on Lyon then, putting a momentary end to his ranting. Bambietta looked at Natsu and Gray then and shrugged. "What? I lost my cool."

Gray said nothing, the man simply taking one step towards Deliora. He brought his arms forward then, allowing them to cross at the elbows.

"Gray, what the heck are you doing?" Natsu screamed.

Bambietta could feel it, a rush of magical energy beginning to build within the ice wizard's body. It was oddly familiar to the Quincy, her mind recalling the sensations she had felt when she had forced her own spiritual pressure into another, their body detonating through the power of the Explode.

"Gray, you're..."

"Deliora!" Gray screamed, his eyes focusing on the monster as it began to move away from its melting prison. "You won't leave this cavern! No matter what it takes, I swear it!"

"Is that..." Bambietta could feel it still, the intake of energy that could only lead to a detonation of power. "That's the Iced Shell, isn't it? Gray, you damned fool!"

Natsu was quick to action, the Dragon Slayer suddenly striking Gray across the face with all the force he could muster. "What the heck are you thinking, man?"

"You idiot!" Gray shouted as he pulled himself up from the ground and rubbed his jaw. "I have to do this!"

"Look, if you're so scared that of this Deli Oral guy that you think dying is the only way to stop him, then leave it to me to fight him for you!"

Gray glanced at Natsu then, the fiery youth beaming with confidence. Still, it did not dissuade the ice mage. "You can't!"

"Can to and you know it!"

Bambietta listened to the immature shouting match continuing, knowing that she was childish as well, wanting to partake in it so very much, but her mind was elsewhere. She was focusing entirely on Deliora, her spiritual senses noting the increasing power that it possessed.

Then she felt something very different as her lips slowly curled upwards. "None of us will have to fight."

Gray and Natsu both looked at Bambietta then, noting the calm expression on her face. "What are you saying? Gray asked.

"See for yourself," Bambietta answered, the Quincy tilting her chin towards Deliora. "That thing is already dead."

Those of Fairy Tail stared at Deliora then, the physical proof of what Bambietta was sensing coming into being. Even as the ice became nothing more than water spilling out to the ground, Deliora was beginning to crumble then and there.

"You mean..." Gray was unable to speak as he watched the monster that had haunted him for the better part of his life begin to become nothing more than dust. "Iced Shell worked?"

"I guess that teacher of yours really did defeat this damned monster," Bambietta said softly, her voice lowering so that only she herself could hear what she said next. "Good for her. She didn't die for nothing. Just like her..."

"No!"

Lyon roused once more, the man clawing at the ground as he looked at Deliora's remains.

"No, it can't be dead! Ur couldn't have killed Deliora! How... how am I ever supposed to surpass her no-"

Bambietta smashed the toe of her boot into Lyon's face, knocking him out again. "Didn't I already tell you to shut the hell up?!"

"So it's over," Natsu said, stretching his arms above his head and cracking his back slightly. "Wonder if Gramps will make us S-Class now?"

"It's not over," Gray said. "We still have to take Lyon and that guy in the mask in for what they've done and- where'd he go?"

Bambietta looked to the ground then, noting that Zalty was gone, only his mask remaining. The Quincy began to run her fingers through her hair in frustration. "Damn it. First Erigor and now this creep? How many jackasses are we going to have coming back for revenge?"


Time passed and those of Fairy Tail had returned to the village of Galuna Island. Before them stood Lyon and those who had followed him, all save the mysterious Zalty.

Gray was speaking with Lyon, their differences no doubt being hashed out, but Bambietta was not particularly listening. The most the Quincy did was occasionally glance down at her right foot, nodding to Lyon that she was not afraid of kicking him again and again if he did not repent his ways this very day. Judging by the fearful glance he gave her every now and then, the Quincy was content with her actions.

"There, are you happy?" Sherry suddenly shouted. "Lyon will change for the better! We all will, but... Angelica..."

Bambietta looked at the pink haired woman then, taking note of how she was shaking. Then there were the tears dripping from her eyes. Bambietta understood the source of the sadness quite well. She was, after all, the author of all Sherry's pain this day.

Once she would not have cared, not in the slightest, yet now things were different, even if the Quincy could not put a finger on why.

"Hit me."

Sherry looked at Bambietta then, her eyes still moist. Those around did as well, clearly surprised by the Quincy's sudden words.

Bambietta, however, simply repeated them. "Hit me, Sherry."

"But..."

"I killed that pet of yours!" Bambietta suddenly screamed. "So let it out! Hit me! Unleashed your hatred and make yourself feel better!"

"Whoa, easy there, Bambi," Natsu said, planting a hand on her shoulder. "No need to-"

Bambietta shrugged her shoulder and knocked Natsu's hand away. She moved closer to Sherry then, looking her right in the eyes. "I did it and I'm... I'm... I can't say what I am. So just... hit me. Make yourself feel better."

Sherry was hesitant at first but her face slowly shifted to one of anger and her right hand swung out, smashing across Bambietta's face.

The Quincy's head was pushed to the side slightly, blood starting to seep out from the corner of her mouth. "Not bad," she said quietly. "Do you feel better?"

"A little," Sherry suddenly said meekly, her hand unclenching. "But why?"

"Somebody who said they didn't make a mistake helped me once," Bambietta said softly. "So take it from someone who only makes mistakes..."

Bambietta took a deep breath, trying to force the words out from her body.

"I'm sorry."

Bambietta turned to Natsu and the others, noting the shocked expression on their faces.

"What?"

"Nothing," Gray stammered. "Anyway, we still have to deal with the real reason we're here."

"Yes, outsiders," the village elder said, walking forward in his demon form. "You of Fairy Tail promised to destroy the moon and end this curse."

"You people are whack, you know that?" Bambietta asked. "And no, I'm not apologizing for that!"

"It's a challenge, but I think I can give it a shot."

Bambietta and the others turned then, taking notice of Erza Scarlet walking towards them all.

"You're going to destroy the moon?" Bambietta asked. "Look, I know you're tough as hell, Erza, especially after you trounced me-"

"Wait, you guys fought?" Natsu suddenly shouted. "Aw man, I wanted to watch!"

"Yeah," Bambietta muttered. "Because Natsu loves girl fights."

Erza looked to the sky then, the armored mage continuing to walk forward. "Yes, I think I- kya!"

Bambietta heard it then, quite possibly the most adorable squeak that her ears had ever been gifted the opportunity to listen to.

"Erza?"

The armored mage was gone from sight but Bambietta and the others could see a hole in the ground, an undisturbed trap having been at last put back into effect.

"Oh my God." Bambietta was otherwise at a loss for words.

Then did an armored hand suddenly come up from the pit and Erza pulled herself free and continued walking like nothing had happened. "- Understand what I must do."

"Is she just trying to act cool?" Bambietta mumbled to herself. "Or did she really not even notice?"

Erza simply turned then, standing her ground as she looked up at the violet moon. "I will end this now."

"Hey!" Lyon suddenly shouted as he moved towards Erza. "First at least let me tell you what we di-"

An armored hand simply appeared before Lyon's face, forcing him to stop dead in his tracks as his eyes took in the sight of Erza' palm.

"I know what you did," the armored mage simply said. "Please step back so that I may correct your mistake."

Lyon did just that but Bambietta was unwilling to keep her mouth shut.

"Like I said, you're powerful, but none of us are strong enough destroy the moon! Not even Makarov could do it! So why are you being so casual about this?"

Erza did not respond, her body instead becoming consumed with light that formed a golden armor. In her right hand was held a massive spear. "Giant Armor, requip!"

"Listen!" Bambietta continued, starting to believe Erza could do the impossible. "I know everyone in Fairy Tail loves destruction of private property and stuff, I'm a fan of it too, but do you have any idea what destroying the moon will do? Screwed up tides! Warped weather patterns! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!"

Erza was not listening, the mage instead simply staring at the moon without uttering a single word.

"Yeah, okay," Bambietta said with a sigh. "Just go ahead and pretend the moon is making fun of you or something. Show it who's boss."

Erza still did not listen to Bambietta, the mage instead beginning to lift her spear high. Then did she throw the mighty weapon, leaving Bambietta to watch in what could be described as a confused state of awe.

Bambietta knew there was nothing to be worried about. Nobody was so strong as to do the feat Erza was hoping for, not in this world. The spear would fail, it would fall. Yet it did nothing of the sort. No, instead magic circles began to form around the ribbons that dangled from the spear's head. Then, quite suddenly, did both flame and smoke burst from those magic circles, leaving Bambietta to simply stare wide eyed.

"What do you know," Lucy said as she watched as well. "It's a rocket spear?"

Gray shrugged. "It's not that cool."

Bambietta, however, had a difference of opinion. "That's freaking awesome!"

Then it happened. The spear faded from sight, the moon suddenly cracking in half.

"His Majesty!" Bambietta exclaimed, the Quincy stunned. "She did it. The crazy S-Class redhead did it."

Bambietta strained her eyes then, the Quincy finally taking note of something. Something strange and wrong with the air, a faint violet distortion running across it. Then, quite suddenly, did the sky shatter like it was nothing more than a pane of glass.

"What the heck?" Bambietta was simply confused, staring up at the moon. It was like nothing had just happened. "Wait a minute... You mean...?"

"Oh, I get it!" Lucy shouted. "The Moon drip didn't affect the moon itself, it just made a magic filter over the island!"

"Exactly right," Erza replied as she let her Giant Armor return to its repository, her default clothing returning in its place. "I merely needed to shatter the invisible dome that stood above the island."

Erza turned to Bambietta and the others then.

"Did you really think me so irresponsible that I'd destroy the moon itself?"

"No, that's not it at all," Bambietta stammered, the Quincy taken by surprise thanks to the sad look upon Erza's face.

"You did." The armored mage sighed, closing her eyes for one moment before she suddenly glared at Natsu and the others once more. "If you felt that Fairy Tail would cause such destruction then clearly our reputation is in dire need of repair!"

Erza shook her head, looking towards those that called Galuna Island home.

"Anyway, now that the spell upon this island has been broken, you should all return to how you were."

Bambietta stood impatient, staring at the demonic villagers, but nothing was happening. The Quincy grew impatient, tapping her foot as she folded her arms across her torso. "You sure? They still look just as butt ugly as before."

"Honestly, could you not be so rude?" Erza gently rubbed her forehead with several of her fingers. "These are there true forms after all."

Bambietta blinked. "Wait. What?"

Lucy was next to speak, looking towards Erza as well. "What exactly do you mean?"

"I've heard of the Moon Drip spell some time ago, forbidden as it may be," Erza began to explain. "There is no recorded evidence of it being able to affect someone's appearance. Their memories, however, would be another matter."

Bambietta listened intently then. "You don't mean...?"

"I do indeed," Erza replied. "The villagers are not humans who became demons but simply demons who believed themselves to once be human. And due to their demon physiology, they unconsciously were able to shift their appearance to that of a human at times, thinking that was their true form."

The Quincy's brow furrowed in response and she looked at the monstrous villagers that stood nearby. "That seems... like an awfully complicated plot twist if you ask me."

"Think what you will," the village elder said as he stepped forward, "but such an ability is the only way my people could safely interact with other humans without fear of persecution."

"What?" Bambietta asked. "You think I'm the type to be mean to demons?" The Quincy flinched slightly, recalling well the Hollows of her world. "Okay, maybe if they were mean first."

"I made the right choice by reaching out to Fairy Tail."

Bambietta and the others turned to see a familiar face approaching. Bambietta was the first to speak, the Quincy suddenly leaping towards the newcomer, all the while ignoring his demonic appearance. "You're that jerk who left us to rot out at sea!"

"And here comes another severe beating," Lyon said quietly. "At least it isn't me this time."

"What the hell, man!" Bambietta shouted, not even batting an eyelash at Bobo having assumed a fully demonic appearance. "You said you were going to bring us to the island and then you just up and left us!"

Natsu and the other simply watched on as Bambietta shook Bobo by the cloak around him, saying nothing. All except Happy. "Which one is the monster again?"

Bambietta shot the blue cat a dirty look. "Watch it, furball."

"I was right to entrust this task to you all," Bobo said, looking at Bambietta with honest eyes. "Thank you for saving my home."

The Quincy eyed Bobo in return, Bambietta remembering well what she had said to Erza earlier. "Well, uh, your welcome. I think." The woman still did not know quite what was coming over her but she did her best to play it off. "So you're the one who actually posted the job request?"

Bobo nodded. "Yes."

A sly expression overtook Bambietta's face, a smile curling her lips upwards. "Then pay up!"


"Damn it all."

Those of Fairy Tail were returning back to the mainland thanks to the boat that Erza had used to reach Galuna Island. Bambietta, however, was not happy in the least.

"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss seven million jewel goodbye." The Quincy looked to Erza then. "Hey! Is it even legal to post a job request if you don't have the money it offers?"

Erza simply stared back at Bambietta with narrowed eyes. "Does it matter? None of you officially took this mission and neither did I. Even if there was a reward, you wouldn't deserve it."

"Okay then," Bambietta mumbled. "But you still let Lucy take the Celestial Key the guy was offering."

"Are you calling me a hypocrite?"

Bambietta felt her skin crawl. "No, ma'am!"

"Perhaps you would be right to do so," Erza said, nodding as she did so, "but I felt it was in the best interest of all parties involved that someone as kind as Lucy receive the key despite the circumstances."

"Guess it is better off in her hands then someone we don't know," Bambietta replied. She looked to her roommate then. "So what is it this time? What could possibly fit in with a pervy bull, a haircutting crab and a masochistic maid?"

Lucy held the key up then, locking over the inscription that was upon it. "Looks like I Sagittarius."

Bambietta's face lit up. "Oh, the archer constellation!"

Lucy looked to her friend then, clearly surprised. "Oh, so you do know about astrology?"

Bambietta's head lowered slightly, her joy fading for a moment. "I'm not stupid. Besides, can't a girl have a hobby?" Bambietta perked up again, her voice as boastful as ever. "But yeah, I like the stars. They're worth a look. Anything's better than constant darkness, you know?"

"I guess I should make the pact back home," Lucy said as she pocketed the key. "We've got enough problems on this boat as it is."

Bambietta glanced away, taking note of Natsu leaning over the side of the boat, her ears detecting the most inhuman of sounds. "Good point. Still, I can't wait to see this archer of yours. Five gets you ten he's a bad ass!"

Bambietta smiled a bit as she thought over the fun she could have on a mission with Lucy now that she had an archer under her command. For one brief moment Bambietta could not help but visualize this Sagittarius firing an arrow at her only for her to catch it and fire it at an approaching enemy.

"That'd be so awesome."

It was then that Bambietta could see Gray sitting alone, the young man staring back at the island with his hand holding his chin, his elbow propped up on the edge of the boat.

Bambietta sighed as she sat up and walked over to Gray. "Hey, stripper."

"Welcome to my personal space," the young man said quietly, not even looking towards Bambietta. "Can I help you?"

"No," Bambietta replied, slightly annoyed at but understanding of his attitude. "I just figured we could... talk."

Gray continued to look back at Galuna Island. "About what?"

"It's just..." Bambietta's hands curled up as they rested atop her knees. "I don't want to sound cliché or anything, but I..."

"You think you understand what I'm getting through," Gray finished. "About Ur."

"Talk about ruining the moment," Bambietta hissed under her breath. She did her best to remain optimistic despite that. "Listen, I... I got in over my head once... and... and..."

Bambietta did not know how to finish the sentence, not at first, but she forced herself to speak even without thought if that was what it took.

"Someone... close to me died while saving me that day. It was my own damned fault and..." Bambietta took a deep breath and looked towards the sky. "Everything can be so happy, you know? Childhood bliss. Then the damn world comes crashing down on you and everything is cast in doubt and shadow. And it... sucks even if you convince yourself otherwise at the time."

Bambietta turned to look at Gray, her face quivering despite her best efforts.

"So yeah, I do get it. I wish I didn't but I do. But... you have Fairy Tail now."

Gray simply looked towards Bambietta then, the impassive mage recognizing how much she seemed to wear her emotions on her sleeve. "Don't you too?"

Bambietta looked at Gray, trying to put on the closest thing to an honest smile that she could despite being unsure of the words she was about to speak deserved such a thing. "Yeah, you're right."


Upon the shores of Fiore stood Zalty. The man was alone, having escaped from Galuna Island by means that were his to keep secret if he so pleased. For secrets where Zalty's specialty.

His body began to shift, magical power coalescing then and there. His form began to fall away, the disguise he had held in place since arriving on Galuna Island no longer necessary.

"At last I can be myself again."

Ultear stood alone in Zalty's place, the member of the Magic Council finally able to shed her transformation. It was not a form she had ever wished to take but she had known it was a necessary one. It would not have done for a respected member of the magical community's governing body to attempt to free a demon after all.

Ultear raised a hand up then, a white orb appearing inches above her palm.

"Ultear," a voice called out. "I take it that your task was a success."

"My apologies, Master Siegrain," she replied to her fellow council member, "but Fairy Tail interfered once again."

"No matter," Siegrain replied, his voice cold and calculating as always. "Deliora would have been a useful puppet but we never truly needed its services."

"Perhaps not," Ultear said, "but among those of Fairy Tail was that Quincy we interrogated."

"That guild is proving rather problematic. That Quincy, however... she is proving to be the most concerning as of late."

"You have no idea," Ultear replied. "Especially if we are to consider one of the possible futures I saw when I fought her. Of her and-

"That's enough, Ultear," Siegrain interrupted, his tone somewhat belligerent. "These... oddities that call themselves Quincy are beginning to overstep their bounds."

"I don't know why you're so worried." Ultear could not help but chuckle, knowing full well what had her co-conspirator on edge. "There's only two of these oddities as you call them."

"Since when were you under the impression it would remain that way?" Siegrain asked through the orb's magic. "Reports have been reaching the Magic Council of these Quincy creatures appearing around the kingdom. "The other council members must be growing quite concerned."

"They would, yes," Siegrain replied, "but that would require my loyalists within the government to have loose tongues. Only you and I know amongst the council itself. But these damned Quincy are beginning to become too frequent an annoyance if you ask me."

But it was the one in Bosco that was truly concerning, his spies having looked into the kingdom in search of useful information of lost magic. But if the man in question was as strong as they claimed...even the Wizard Saint's would be given pause.

"Perhaps we can use that to our advantage, Master Siegrain," Ultear offered. "Surely one of them could be... persuaded to join our cause."

Siegrain was silent for a time, the mage no doubt weighing his options. Ultear waited as patient as she could, a response arriving not a minute late.

"Do as you will, Ultear. Find us a worthy ally."


And there you have it. Now, I know not too much happened, but I felt that the events that transpired were very important to Bambietta's character. It may not seem like much now, but give it time.

Also, I know we may have left out a few details regarding how somethings went in the original cannon but really...I dont think its that big of a deal.

Anyways, next chapter is where the more significant changes begin in this story. How, why? You'll have to read next time to find out.

If you could also find it inside of yourself to leave a review, I would really appreciate it.