Well Ladies and Gentlemen, here we are with the first chapter to take place after The Tower of Heaven arc. Time to wind thing's down a bit after things got so…dramatic. But I think how I'll be doing so will be a bit unexpected for you all. How so? Well, I'd rather not ruin the surprise, so let's get on with the chapter proper, shall we?

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.


To say that the last seven days had been chaotic within the magic council would have been an understatement. How could it not, with the information that their former chairman, Crawford Seam had been working alongside the likes of Tartarus. Furthermore, Siegrain Fernandes, former sixth wizard saint and member of the council along with Ultear Milkovich had also been traitors from the very beginning. With such shocking revelations, the magic council immediately launched the most in-depth investigation of its own branches since its inception.

The entire scenario was unprecedented. Not once in the one hundred and forty-five years since the Magic Council had been founded had the organization suffered such a breach of security. However, the worst part wasn't simply that they had been infiltrated by dark mages, but that they had fired the Ethierion, the most destructive spell of the modern era, through the traitor's devious scheming. Had it not been for the efforts of Erza Scarlet...Half of Fiore could have been wiped off the face of the planet. Or potentially even worse, the resurrection of Zeref.

While initial investigations had turned up little in the way of finding further spies that the Balam Alliance had used to infiltrate their ranks, one thing was beyond clear. The Magic Council, at least as it currently stood in its Fiore branch, was finished. Recent polls in all of the newspapers, and wizarding magazines had made it clear that the trust that Fiore's citizens once had in the establishment had been completely shattered. As far as the public and even many of the guilds under its sway knew, there was little that could be done to quickly prove that the rest of the council had not been compromised.

Further complicating matters was none other than the 8th Wizard Saint and heir to the throne, Hisui E Fiore. The princess had echoed the voices of the public and, through the power of the Royal Family, had decreed that almost all of its members were to be thoroughly investigated for any ties to the Balam alliance.

However, such an investigation would no doubt take time. Time in which the citizens of Fiore would grow more and more restless. The ruling emperor of Bosco had been overthrown a mere 6 days ago with the assistance of a powerful rebel army that had successfully overpowered its forces. What was to say that the Wizard Saints wouldn't try to usurp power under the current situation? Or that the Balam Alliance would use this as a chance to spread the flames of chaos? As things currently stood, it seemed less like a possibility... and more of an eventuality.

Thus it had been unanimously decided amongst the council that almost all high-ranking members of the magic council would step down from their positions to ease tensions in Fiore and to restore proper trust in the council once more.

Of its original members, only Org was allowed to remain. This wasn't a result of some kind of political favor or bribery, but simply one of factual evidence. Org possessed a bat-shaped ornament, normally suited for purification, that would fly away should the wearer harbor evil in his soul, thereby forcing him to abandon any and all malicious intent from his heart and mind. When his ability to still use such magic was showcased to Princess Hisui and the rest of the members of the council, it was unanimously agreed that he alone would remain to guide the newer generation of the Magic Council.

However, one of the prospective members of its next-generation had surprisingly shown up at their doorstep, with knowledge that she had considered of the utmost importance that needed to be delivered posthaste. While normally they would have ignored such an intrusion during these trying times… the person in question was one who had gone above and beyond to prove herself worthy of their time.

"The Magic Council hereby recognizes Meifon Long to the stand," Org spoke as the Seventh Wizard Saint made her way over to the podium located in the center of the gathered council before smiling.

"Allow me to offer up my most sincere gratitude for allowing me but a moment of your time. I understand that things are quite tumultuous right now, with the recruitment of an almost entirely new magic council."

"After what you did to uncover the traitors within our ranks, it's the least we could do," Yajima told her. "The Magic Council owes you a fair bit after that."

A small part of her, one that has despised the self-serving corrupted bureaucracy and incompetence, wanted nothing more than to laugh in their faces at how things had turned out. But she restrained herself. Not only was she above such childish antics, but she was more than well aware that most of the blame fell under Crawford Seam.

It's a shame that Yajima and Belno have to step down. Unlike the others, I know they truly put the wizarding world above their own petty needs. Hopefully, the new members of the council will be more like them and less like the others.'

While Org hadn't done anything wrong in her eyes per se, his disdain of Fairy Tail for its rampant destruction and blatant disregard for the rules was well known. She couldn't truly begrudge him for it as she perfectly understood why he felt the way he did, and even agreed with it to some degree. Nevertheless, it left her a bit uneasy. Leiji was simply there, someone she didn't have any care or distaste for, and Michello… Well, the less she said about the self-aggrandizing and crotchety old man the better.

"Well, what is it that you found so important that you demanded our presence... We're very busy, as I'm sure you're well aware," Michello spat out.

"Michello, I know that the situation has been rather nerve-wracking, but that's no excuse to speak so crudely to one of the Wizard Saints," Belno chastised him. "Please, tell us what it is that you've discovered."

Meifon nodded. "Very well. Seeing as time is of the essence, I'll get straight to the point. I have come here today to prove the innocence of Jellal Fernandes."

The sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the otherwise silent chamber as Leiji had dropped his cup of tea out of pure shock. The others fared hardly better, with jaws agape and eyes wide open. Quickly regaining his composure, Org collected himself before he spoke. "Forgive me Miss Long, but I believe we must have misheard you. Did you...truly just say that-"

"That Jellal Fernandes is innocent? Yes, you heard me correctly the first time around," Meifon interrupted. "I understand that this is quite the revelation and hard to believe, but I've-"

"That's absurd!" Michello shouted. "You came to the Magic Council to warn us of Jellal's treachery, yet now you're trying to tell us he was innocent all along!?"

"Correction." Meifon pointed her index finger upwards. "I merely uncovered Crawford's betrayal and ties to the Balam Alliance. I honestly never had even the slightest clue that either Siegrain or Ultear was part of the conspiracy. That all simply came down to coincidence. Regardless, what I have today will undoubtedly prove that not only is Jellal innocent of all crimes that he's been convicted of, but that the true mastermind behind all of this still lingers out in the world."

"Well, if she truly has evidence, I see no reason to not at least hear her out," Leiji spoke up.

"Nor do I. Meifon was always a well-meaning young lass back when I was in Fairy Tail. I sincerely doubt she would be wasting our time if she didn't have significant proof." Yajima gave Meifon a small smile to the former member of Fairy Tail, Belno quickly nodded her head in approval, and Org, wanting to be as impartial as possible, also agreed. Faced with the overwhelming odds, Michello relented.

Once more granted permission to proceed, the Wizard Saint began. "As you're well aware, we have Erza Scarlet to thank for not only preventing the resurrection of Zeref, but also to thank for the stopping destruction of at least half of Fiore. However, when I spoke to Miss Scarlet personally about a week ago, she revealed to me several revelations in regards to what happened. We've already deduced that Siegrain was merely a thought projection of Jellal, but from the testimonials of not just Erza Scarlet but also Bambietta Basterbine, I have discovered that for this entire time Jellal Fernandes was possessed by the true mastermind of the Tower of Heaven."

"And you expect us to simply take the words of Erza Scarlet and her friend at face value?" Org asked. "It is true that we owe Miss Scarlet for what she has done, but it's well known to the members of this council that Erza was formerly close friends with Jellal. Don't you suppose it's possible she's merely lying to prevent her old friend from being slandered in the pages of history?"

Meifon found herself clenching her fists with anger, her body trembling slightly as she fought the urge to frown. How dare he even suggest she would lie about something like THIS after all that she's… Fortunately, years of being a Wizard Saint, leading Celestial Blade, and her time as the former Titania of Fairy Tail had given her enough self-control to remain composed. No, no. He has a point. It's fine. It'll all become clear soon enough.

"I assure you, Erza would never lie about something as important as this," Meifon insisted. "She has spent the last several years of her life with the sole purpose of becoming strong enough to liberate the tower and defeat Jellal. I find it very hard to believe that she would find a change of heart just now."

Leiji shook his head. "Improbable, but not impossible."

"Miss Long, I know you well enough that you didn't come here thinking that mere testimony alone would be enough to prove Jellal's innocence," Belno added. "If you have any evidence with actual weight behind it, I suggest you bring it forth now."

"Very well." Meifon sighed as she reached into her dress. She had a feeling it would come to this, but she simply wished to make her case before she had to resort to this. Taking out a small white container, the box slowly and carefully opened itself on its own, revealing a brown eye within Meifon's palm.

"And just what is that supposed to be?" Michello asked out of disgust.

"That, is the artificial eye of Erza Scarlet," Meifon explained as she placed the eye on top of another small device retrieved from within her dress, looking much like a small projector of sorts. "She gave this to me when I told her that it was possible to play back the memories of what had transpired atop the tower as proof of Jellal's innocence. This device here will allow me to do just that. I wasn't so sure if it would work at first, but she insisted upon it. So… still think she's just lying now?"

Before anyone on the council could respond, Meifon pressed a button on the small device, projecting a large-scale image of the events that took place atop the Tower of Heaven. Within the span of a mere ten minutes, the Magic Council bore witness to everything that had transpired.

As the images faded, Meifon turned to the remaining council, her voice small. "Now do you see? I believe the footage we just witnessed is more than enough proof."

"W-what if it was all an act, some last ditch attempt to-" Michello tried to speak out, but he was swiftly interrupted by one of his colleagues.

"To what? Sacrifice Erza? To revive Lord Zeref? If that was his intention, I very much doubt he would have sacrificed himself to prevent the tower's eruption," Belno spoke. "I find it very unlikely he would change so much and give up his own life to merely salvage his reputation."

Yajima nodded in agreement. "I would have to agree. Giving up his own life would hardly do anything to benefit his desire to revive Zeref. The fact that he chose to resurrect Liltotto in place of the black wizard speaks volumes in and of itself."

"But how do we know the footage isn't simply the result of them using some sort of spell to simply project the story they wish to tell?" Leiji asked skeptically. "For all we know, what we're seeing could be nothing more than an illusion."

"As much as I'd hate to admit it, it's hard to disagree with the facts as things stand," Org added. "The proof we need is that Miss Lamperd still lives. The Tower of Heaven requires the sacrifice of a wizard comparable to that of the Wizard Saints in order to be used properly. With Erza Scarlet still alive and well, along with Miss Basterbine and Lampard, the only logical outcome would be what has transpired before us."

"I'm glad to see that you're all willing to listen to reason," Meifon replied with a small smile. "So, should I presume we're in agreement that Jellal Fernandes should be stripped of any and all charges of treachery?"

"More than just that," Org said. "While he may have joined the Magic Council and became a Wizard Saint under the influence of someone with malicious intent, the fact remains that Jellal was merely a young boy trapped within his own body for many years. Yet, when he had the chance to enjoy his freedom, he instead sacrificed his own life, not only restoring the life of someone he had taken moments ago but also saving the lives of millions. I hereby use my power as acting Chairman of the Magic Council to grant the title of Wizard Saint to him posthumously."

Well, that ought to make Erza happy, Meifon thought. Truthfully, considering what he had done, she more than agreed that it was an appropriate way to honor his sacrifice. "You have my thanks, acting Chairman Org."

"Still, if Jellal wasn't the one behind all of this chaos, then who was?" Yajima asked. " I'd hate to imagine what they're up to now."

"Yes, now that the Tower of Heaven has been destroyed, I'd hate to imagine what someone this cruel would stoop to next," Belno added.

"I think I can shed some light on this inquiry. If you'll allow me, that is."

Once more were all eyes upon Meifon Long. "You're saying you know who the culprit behind all of this is?" Leiji asked her.

Meifon shook her head. "I'm not saying I know anything. I merely just wish to propose a… theory as to whom we're looking for."

"Well, you've been nothing but helpful so far. Very well, you may speak." Org said.

Giving a slight bow, she began. "Many thanks. Now, my hypothesis, and it's very much only a hypothesis at the moment mind you, is that the one whom we're looking for is none other than Ultear Milkovich."

"Ultear!? That's preposterous! Ultear was killed when she caused the Etherion cannon to collapse in on itself!" Michello shouted. " You're suggesting that we chase after a dead woman!"

"Yes, supposedly, Ultear perished when she destroyed the Etherion's control tower," Meifon admitted with her eyes closed. "However, the fact remains...The body was never found, was it?" Met with silence she continued. "Ultear may not have been counted among the Wizard Saints, but she possessed a high level of magical power regardless. For her to die from falling debris seems... highly unlikely to me. If anything, her being assumed dead would grant her far greater freedom to act in the shadows. Not to mention the fact that, in order to properly control someone of Jellal's level of strength, split or not, one would require constant close contact, and as I recall, the two were almost always seen together. Once they were separated, Jellal was finally able to break free, though admittedly after the beating Erza gave to him. It all adds up when you look at it like that."

"If that's true, then we have a major problem on our hands." Belno's brow furrowed. "Ultear was privy to some of the council's most important intel, such as the locations of Face. Should any of it be given to the Balam Alliance..."

"Enough. Fear mongering will get us nowhere," Yajima spoke. "For now, it'll be up to the next generation to help solve the problems that we could not. It's beyond clear we're not up to the task at hand. Speaking of which, Org, since she's present don't you think it's about time we've informed her?"

That got Meifon to raise a brow as curiosity followed through her. Oh? A surprise for little old me? Do tell.

Org sighed. "Yes, I suppose that there's no point in delaying it any further. Meifon Long, for all of the dark guilds that you have put away, and for uncovering the traitor Crawford Seam from our midst, on behalf of Princess Hisui and myself, you are hereby nominated for the position of Vice Chairman of the Magic Council! Do you accept this highly auspicious position?"

Meifon found her mouth dropping for only a moment before she firmly replied "I do," the words leaving her mouth with determination and resolve.

"Excellent. The coronation will occur one week from now," Org informed her. "The citizens of Fiore are expecting great things from you Miss Long, as are the rest of us. We pray that you'll do your position proud."

"I am deeply honored to have been given this grand opportunity." Meifon bowed. "I swear, on my pride as a Wizard Saint and on my family name, I won't let you or the people of Fiore down."

"As to be expected from you. You always did put the good of the people before your own." Belno said with a small smile. "Now, I'm afraid we have much more work to do before your coronation. You'll have to take your leave now I'm afraid."

"Of course. You all have quite a bit on your plates. I'll leave you to it." Meifon made her way towards the door before quickly turning around, a sudden thought emerging. "Oh, one last thing before I go. If I'm the vice chairman… then who exactly is it that'll be taking Crawfords position?"

"Princess Hisui and I deliberated on the topic for a whole evening before we decided that Gran Doma would be the best fit to ensure that what happened last time will never happen again.

Meifon nodded thoughtfully. Gran Doma you say? Well, while the man is a bit too much of a stickler for the rules to be flexible in my eyes, I can't deny his strong sense of justice and impeccable track record. He'd sooner die than take any sort of bribe. He may not have been Meifon's most ideal choice for chairman, but she was nonetheless more satisfied with the result than perturbed.

"I believe that's an excellent choice, and I look forward to working with him soon. Well, thank you all for your time. Take care."

She made her trek through the room, but as she opened the door, she smirked. Well, it's a bit sooner than anticipated, but it looks like everything is going according to plan. Gran Doma might be a bit of an obstacle, but I'm positive I'll find a way to get around him sooner or later to enact Operation Stardust. After all...I can't afford to fail.


Makarov could hardly believe that he was attending yet another meeting in regards to appointing the next Wizard saint. Originally, he had come to Era to meet up with his old friend and former member of Fairy Tail, Goldmine, to catch up on old times. Apparently, his old friend had something important that he wanted to share in person. That plan had been promptly thrown out the window when he had received a letter informing him he had been summoned for yet another Wizard Saint appointment. It wasn't unexpected per se, given Siegrain's betrayal, but it was the timing of it all that threw him off. Still, ever the diligent member of the Saints, Makarov knew that he couldn't refuse, and quickly wrote a magical letter to Goldmine to explain the situation before heading out.

It was far from the first one he had attended. In fact, in the forty-three years he had been among the Saints, Makarov had attended up to around eleven. But the span in which these took place had been quite different. Most had simply gone into retirement, as had been the case with Warrod, Hyperion, and Wolfheim, with the likes of Jushiro Ukitake having to relinquish his title as the former 4th due to his ailing health only a few years ago. Death was the second most common reason, but that was… rare. Once every twenty years or so kind of rare.

But betrayal? He could scarcely recall any time it had happened in the history of Wizard Saints prior to four years ago. Yet in the span of those four years, they had lost Jack Bo, Jose Porla, and Siegrain Fernandes. Admittedly, Jack was a result of mind control, with Meifon highly suspecting Jose's circumstance to have been of similar origin, but even so...these were turbulent times indeed.

As he entered the chambers of the Wizard Saints, he could hear Jura echoing these same sentiments as himself.

"Three Wizard Saints gone within the span of four years. It's practically unheard of," Jura lamented as he sat down at the roundtable specifically made for the Wizard Saints within the Magic Council. "It's quite concerning, to say the least."

"Yeah, no kidding. In my one hundred and forty-five years among the Saints, the worst I've ever had was two gone in the span of ten years. To see something like this... really is something else," Elizabeth Heartcruz added as she too took a seat.

"Sometimes I forget just how experienced a mage you really are," Hisui commented, the princess having arrived moments prior along with Jugram Haschwalth. "You've seen quite a bit during your tenure I imagine."

"It's a shame then that all that experience has just barely kept you as the ninth Wizard Saint." Meifon teased the elf as she entered the room. "To think that you were at one point considered the strongest mage in all of Ishgar."

Elizabeth huffed as she blushed with embarrassment from the playful joke given by one of her closest friends. "Oh, you be quiet! I'll have you know I held the rank of number one for over fifty years till I went into the blacksmith industry!"

"That's what happens when one neglects their training for their own company," Haschwalth added. "Perhaps you'd still be among the Four Gods of Ishgar if you hadn't."

The weapon forger rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know, in my prime, I was about as strong as Serena is!" Quickly remembering something, her attention turned back to Meifon. "Oh, speaking of which, Meifon, do you know why he hasn't arrived yet? I know that Robert is too busy conducting the Rune Knights investigation into the whole Jellal and Crawford fiasco, so he can't attend, but what's Serena's excuse for being so late? With his speed, he should have easily been here by now."

The 7th Wizard Saint sighed in slight annoyance. "I'm afraid he won't be able to attend this time around. After everything that transpired, he told me he wants to take down at least ten or so dark guilds. He wants to stand as a symbol of hope until the new council is formed and the new Wizard Saint is appointed."

"I suppose that's the right course of action. The people can always use a symbol to inspire them," Hisui praised. "Speaking of the new council, I take it you were informed of my decision regarding your rank as vice chairman?"

"Vice chairman?" Makarov asked as he looked over to the former member of his guild. She always did want a position in the Magic Council. To think you'll be Vice Chairman... I'm so proud! He then offered her a small smile. "Congratulations on your new position. Meifon. I know you've always wanted this for some time."

Meifon gave a nod with a smile of her own. "Indeed. It's a little nerve-wracking, thinking about it all, but I'll strive to do my best."

"I for one believe that they've made an excellent decision," Unohana chipped in. "I've seen plenty of my fair share of individuals not properly prepared for roles they were suddenly thrust into. But from what I know of you, I think you're more than capable of the role. Try to not let the anxiety overcome you. Just think of it as an extension of your duties as a Guild Master and Wizard Saint. I'm sure you'll learn the tricks of the trade in no time."

"As much as I'd like to give my own advice and compliments to Miss Long, we can't afford more idle chit chat," Haschwalth said. "The princess and I have other obligations to which we must attend."

"I suppose he's right. So, does anyone have any suggestions?" Elizabeth asked. "Yuuki's a decent fit, but she'd rather stick with me then leave my service."

"Well, the problem isn't a shortage of capable wizards. Fairy Tail alone has at least four, as well as three members of my own guild. No, the issue right now is trying to find one not currently from a guild that already has a member among the Saints," Meifon clarified.

"In that regard, I suppose Jenny Realight could qualify… but she would only just barely make the cut," Jura proposed.

"I think after everything that's happened that we need to be more careful than just picking someone who just meets the criteria necessary," Hisui added. "We need to find someone who can inspire, not just act as a mere placeholder. "

"I have to agree with the princess," Makarov said. "With how many members of the Wizard Saints we've already lost, we can't afford to lose another. Otherwise, the faith in the Saints will plummet!"

"Given the current state of the Magic Council, that's the last thing we need," Meifon chipped in. "Haschwalth, I'm well aware that the Silver Cross Knight guild you run is full of quite capable warriors. Would any of them-"

The second Wizard Saint shook his head. "I'm afraid not. They're all as powerful as the average A-class wizard with several S-class mages to boot, but none of them are what I would consider worthy enough to be a member of the saints. That said…" His attention then moved towards Unohana and was just about to bring up another recommendation when the doors to the room unexpectedly began to open. Every one of the Saints turned their eyes only to be met by none other than the guild master of Quatro Cerberus, Goldmine.

"Goldmine? What are you doing here? I was positive that my letter should have gotten to you by now," Makarov asked. "I promise you we'll catch up once this is settled, but–"

"No worries Makarov, I got the letter. If anything, it's exactly why I'm here." Goldmine slowly made his way into the meeting.

"With all due respect, Goldmine, this is a meeting that only the Saints and their prospects are allowed to participate in. I know that you're good friends with Makarov, but that hardly gives you any right to just come in here unannounced," Haschwalth chided him.

The guild master in question waved his hands placatingly, having fully expected this response. "Look, normally I wouldn't have dared thinking about barging in on you guys like this. I get it, I'm a big fish from a small pond finally making it to the ocean compared to you guys. That said, I think I can help with your problem."

"If you're about to nominate Bacchus, you can forget it." Elizabeth crossed her arms in a huff. "Last time I had the unpleasant experience chatting with that drunkard, I gave him a concussion for slapping my ass."

Meifon nodded in agreement. "I know that he's around Erza's level, at least with her lesser armors, but strength aside, he's lacking in any of the traits needed to become one of the Saints. He's rude, lecherous, and an alcoholic. Unless you're here to tell us he's completely reformed, he's entirely unworthy of the title."

Goldmine quickly shook his head. "No, no, I wouldn't even think of wasting your time if I was thinking of him. The fact of the matter is, as of six months ago, he's not even the strongest member of our guild anymore. He's only number five now. No, the one who I'm talking about is going to be the new guild master one week from today.

That caught Makarovs attention. "You're retiring?" Well, Goldmine had said he wanted to talk to him about something important. Even so, it was almost hard for him to believe. "You must have found one heck of a replacement if you think he's worthy of being in the Saints." He wanted to ask more questions, but he figured that would be better served in a more private conversation.

Goldmine smirked. "Oh trust me, he's more than worthy. Frankly Makarov, I'd be concerned about you possibly losing your spot as the 5th. If I'm to be honest, the best comparison I can make to this guy is Gildarts."

Meifon whistled in approval. The best comparison he can make is Gildarts? This I HAVE to see. "Now I've heard everything. Well, don't keep us in suspense. What's his name?"

"Well, he said his name was Kenpachi–"

Unohana's eyes suddenly lit up and quickly interrupted him. "Kenpachi you say? Tell me, does he wear an eye patch with shihakusho and a tattered white haori?"

Goldmine shook his head. "Well, he doesn't wear an eye patch, but he does have a haori. Why do you ask?"

Smiling, Unohana rose to her feet. Well, that's a shame. Still, as long as it's not some of the others… "Gentlemen, I believe that we've found our replacement."

"You're that certain after just hearing his name? How can that be?" Jura inquired.

"Back where I'm from, the name Kenpachi was given out to only the strongest warriors. I would know because I used to be one of them. As a matter of fact, the ninth Kenpachi is Mermaid Heel's acting Guild Master while I am away, and is currently its strongest member aside from myself. Had Tamura not been part of Mermaid Heel, I would have easily recommended her for the Saints. However, with Quatro Cerberus having no presence among us, I believe that we've found exactly whom we're looking for. Haschwalth can verify that the Kenpachi's are all worthy of the position. At least, in terms of power."

Haschwalth quickly nodded. "Indeed. All of the Kenpachi match the power criterion to become one of the Wizard Saints and then some. Although, depending on the Kenpachi in question, they might not have the personality deserving of the Saints."

"That… is a fair assessment," Unohanna reluctantly agreed. Out of the eleven Kenpachi she was aware of, the third, fifth, eighth, and tenth were completely out of the question. The third had been a powerful social darwinist who eventually led a revolt, while the fifth was little more than a blood-thirsty murderer who killed men, women, and children alike for the sheer pleasure of it. The eighth, while well-intentioned and far from evil, was nonetheless an enigmatic loose cannon with such a strong sense of justice that he couldn't be fully trusted to follow orders from the Magic Council, and with his power, she wondered how they would be able to take him down. Whereas the 10th… was simply lazy and apathetic to a fault.

"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Goldmine insisted. "If you want, you can come on down to Quatro Cerberus yourselves if you need proof. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to fight any of you just for the hell of it."

Meifon laughed. "Well, it's not like I had any plans for the rest of the day. I suppose I'll see what all the fuss is about."

"Naturally, as one of the former Kenpachi, I'll wish to partake as well. I'm sure Tamura can keep things in check just fine back in Mermaid Heel for a while longer," Unohanna added.

"Well, we did promise to catch up about everything. Stopping by Quatro Cerberus wouldn't be such a bad thing." Makarov stood up from his chair. "Besides, I'd very much would like to see the wizard you're speaking so highly of."

"I'm afraid I'll be unable to attend. I'm very sorry, but I've very little spare time with everything that's going on thanks to the whole debacle with the Magic Council." Hisui bowed in apology. "Still, if the rest of you find he's more than capable, then consider my vote cast in his favor."

"As you're well aware, the princess' safety is my highest priority, so I'll also have to decline," Haschwalth spoke. "But consider my vote cast as well should he live up to our expectations."

Elizabeth sighed. "I'd really like to come along and see another zanpakuto, really I would… but Erza's armors aren't going to fix themselves overnight. I gotta hurry back to make sure I have them all ready by the Harvest Festival. She said something about wanting to possibly use them during the parade."

"Speaking of the Harvest Festival, are you sure it's wise to spend more time away from the guild while they prepare?" Meifon asked Makarov. "I know they're probably used to it by now, but with Erza currently gone..." She trailed off, not wanting to openly mention Laxus' attitude in public, if mostly for Makarov's sake.

"You needn't worry. I've left a thought projection back in the guild to keep an eye on things." Makarov told her. "Hardly has any magic power in it, but it'll at least keep everything in line until I return tomorrow."

"Jura, will you be joining us as well?" Meifon asked, to which the Tenth Wizard Saint shook his head.

"I'm afraid I cannot. Our guild master is finding it harder to run the guild all by herself, even if she'll never admit it. She needs as much help as she can get until she retires."

"I can't say that I blame you. Frankly, I'm surprised she's still able to run the guild in her current condition," Meifon replied. "Very well. I can have my guild members bring my ship here in due time. I estimate it'll take us an hour at most to get to our destination, so be sure to gather your things everyone."

"Well, I believe that means we've officially finished our business. Princess, let's be on our way." Haschwalth said.

The green-haired royal nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's. Everyone, I wish you a safe journey."

With that, everyone began to go their separate ways, though Makarov made sure to stick close to Goldmine as they departed. "Are you really sure that you wish to retire, old friend? I know that Quatro Cerberus means the world to you."

Goldmine turned his head downwards as they continued down the hallway. "I'm afraid so. I'm getting old Makarov, we all are. As much as we'd like to keep doing this forever, you and I both know that's just not going to happen. It's time we started putting faith in the next generation to lead themselves."

"And you're certain that he's the one?"

Goldmine nodded his head. "I'm positive. The minute he joined he managed to whip the whole guild into shape from a bunch of thuggish pricks to mages with strength of character. It was really something to see. It was almost like he had done this sort of thing before, ya know? Hell, if I didn't know better, I'd say he's been at it longer than I have. I can't think of better hands to leave the guild in."

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to see him for myself," Makarov replied, though deep in his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if he should start looking for a new guild master himself.


Quatro Cerberus, a guild created by Goldmine approximately thirty-five years ago, was once considered to be among the most powerful, taking up residence in Mahagony, one of the largest cities in Fiore. However, as its older members had begun to enter retirement, the strength of this once fearsome guild slowly began to wane. While still considered to be within Fiore's top ten most powerful guilds, this was mostly due to the renowned skill of its former ace, Bacchus Groh. The rest of the guild however was filled now filling up with middle-of-the-road mages. It seemed that Quatro Cerberus' time in the sun had come to an end.

At least, that had been the case, until four of its newest members joined within the past year. Each of them stronger than Bacchus himself and capable of felling entire hordes of monsters by themselves, it was thanks to these new warriors that Quatro Cerberus was entering into a proud new era.

As Makarov Dreyar, Meifon Long, Retsu Unohana, and Goldmine made their way through the city of Mahogany, one of Fiore's largest cities, the guild hall of Quatro Cerberus came into view. Its appearance was rather different from most guilds, the architecture more resembling that of ancient Greece than the castles and wooden buildings that most guilds preferred. The most notable feature of all, however, aside from the guild mark being proudly chiseled into the main door of the guild, was the four dog heads jutting out from the guild's roof, each ferociously baring its fangs.

"It's a little tacky, but it's certainly an attention grabber," Meifon chuckled.

Goldmine shrugged. "Well, when you're trying to stand out from the competition, you gotta do whatever it takes. We're not exactly the only guild here in Mahogany."

"Well, Fairy Tail's new guild hall finished construction a few days ago," Makarov said. "It took a while to get the funds necessary, but with the damage the old one took, I decided that we needed something a bit more… sturdy." The old master couldn't help but chuckle. "I imagine Natsu and the others will be quite surprised when they return."

As the foursome entered the building, its interior much more like that of the average guild, many of its guild members' faces lit up upon seeing their master.

"Hey guys, Master Goldmine is back!"

"Welcome back Master!"

"You're the best old man!"

Unohana smiled as she looked over at Goldmine. "It seems to me that the guild respects you quite a fair deal. Have you told them about your retirement yet?"

Goldmine shook his head. "I haven't found it in me to tell them, not yet. It'll break their hearts but it has to be done."

"A good leader puts the needs of their subordinates ahead of their own. You're making the right decision." Unohana reassured him with a nod.

"Well shit old man, I didn't think you had enough game to land two Wizard Saints. You're a lucky son of a bitch."

Goldmine scowled as Bacchus strolled over with both of his hands in his pockets. "That attitude right there is exactly why you're never going to become guild master Bacchus. Wizard Saints or not, right now, they're our guests. Show some respect."

Makarov sweatdropped. Now I understand why Elizabeth gave him that concussion in the first place.

Bacchus, however, merely rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. If either of you two ladies want some real fun, you can come visit my room later to...to..."

Whatever Bacchus was about to say was quickly turned into terrified gibbering as Unohana simply closed her eyes and smiled. It wasn't her face that was terrifying per se, but the aura she was emitting was another story entirely. His legs shook as he felt his entire body freeze over from the sheer intimidation he sensed from her.

"Now Mr. Groh, didn't your mother ever teach you it's not polite to make such lewd comments to women you've met for the first time? I think it would be wise to choose your words more carefully the next time you encounter a person of the opposite sex. Understood?"

"Y-yes ma'am," Bacchus muttered before he took off running. What the hell was that!? No, you know what, fuck it, I have a party to go to anyway!

By the gods she's terrifying! Goldmine yelled internally as he felt the color drain from his body.

Makarovs thoughts were of similar regard. All of these years and I'm still not used to how she can just strike the fear of god into anyone.'

It should be of no surprise given her title as the third most powerful within all of Ishgar, but even so... she's truly something else, Meifon thought with a slight shudder.

Upon regaining his composure, Goldmine looked sheepishly at his female guests. "I'm terribly sorry about that. Bacchus is a talented young man, but he tends to let his vices control him more than he should. I swear, if I wasn't retiring, I'd think he'd end up giving me a stroke with how much trouble he's caused."

"That's because the little runt doesn't know how to address his superiors. I can beat him down again if you want, old man."

The ground slightly trembled as the four of them could hear heavy footsteps as a large man, over seven feet tall made his way towards them. He had brown skin, black hair in the style of a mullet, and a large beard with two spiked piercings below his lip. The large man wore a shihakusho and white haori, complete with a sheathed katana.

Goldmine shook his head. "No, I don't think that'll be necessary this time around." He faced the Wizard Saints then before continuing. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to Kenpachi Kiganjō. He's one of our newest members, as well as one of our most powerful."

So, this is one of the other Kenpachi is it? Meifon was… less than impressed. The man may well indeed have had the power needed to be a Wizard Saint, but his appearance left much to be desired. Not in an attractive sort of way, she'd never even consider that as a requirement to be a member, but rather… well, his hygiene. His hair was a mess, and his fingernails were unkempt and chipped in places. Still, I suppose if he's truly as powerful as Goldmine says he is, then ...

"I… see. So, this is the man you want as your replacement, Goldmine?" Makarov asked. He wasn't quite sure what he expected, but this was… somewhat lacking.

"No, it's not him," Unohana quickly interrupted before she looked up at the Tenth Kenpachi. "It's been a while since I last saw you, Kiganjō. Tell me, have you finally kicked that lazy habit of yours after losing the title of Kenpachi to someone else?"

Kiganjō scoffed. "Man, even after we both end up here, you're still going to hound my ass on that huh? Look, I'm still plenty strong as it is, so I don't exactly see the need to get stronger anytime soon. That Zaraki punk only killed me because I didn't even get a chance to unleash my shikai. If I ever see him again–"

Unohana let out a bark of laughter, startling those around her before she stifled her mirth. "If you ever saw him again, you wouldn't even be worth the effort to swing his sword with how strong he's become. Even back then, even with your bankai, you would have lost regardless. It would have been a much more prolonged and challenging battle, and nothing more. But fine, don't heed my warning. However, if you fall again in battle…" Unohana slightly opened her eyes as her lips curled upwards, her deadened gaze sending chills down Kiganjō's back. "It'll only be your own fault."

"Um… Maybe I can do a... little training here and there," the large man admitted.

"Good. I would so hate to see the Kenpachi name go to waste like this," Unohana agreed, her smile not ceasing for even a moment.

"So, I take it he's not the Kenpachi you were telling us about?" Meifon asked Goldmine. She had a suspicion after witnessing his lazy attitude, but she wanted to be certain.

"Yeah, that's right. Don't get me wrong, Kiganjō packs one hell of a punch, but right now, he's only the third strongest member of Quatro Cerberus," Goldmine admitted.

"Yes, I can sense the other Kenpachi nearby," Unohana stated. "Make no mistake, Kiganjō is powerful, enough to likely defeat Jura with his full power, but the one we're after is far more worthy of the role."

"Speaking of which, ya have any idea where Kuroyashiki is, Kiganjō?" Goldmine asked. "It's kinda important, so I'd like to see him as soon as possible."

The Tenth Kenpachi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know where he is. You'll find him out back drinking with the others. He's having another one of his 'celebrations' for finishing a 10-year quest."

"A 10-year quest you say? My, that's no small feat," Meifon admitted. "Even I haven't finished one of those."

Makarov stroked his beard. If that's the case, then perhaps his comparison to Gildarts wasn't so far-fetched after all. The most Laxus and Mystogan had been capable of completing were SS-class missions, and even then they typically required a prompt visit to Porlyusica as soon as they arrived. To complete a 10-year quest was… well, it was something only he, Master Precht, and Gildarts had ever accomplished. "I'd very much like to meet this man myself," Makarov admitted.

"Sure thing, I'll take you out back." Goldmine led the way, Kiganjō deciding to follow after him as the others joined.

The backyard of the guildhall was not quite what any of them had expected. Rather than a chaotic and unkempt backyard, the back of Quatro Cerberus looked more like a Japanese-style garden. It was far from perfect, with several bushes in need of a bit of a trim, and nowhere near as majestic as the ones seen in the Kuchiki manor, but nevertheless, all of the wizards sans Goldmine were taken aback.

"Well, this is certainly unexpected. Goldmine, I didn't take you for a gardener," Makarov told his old friend as he looked out over the greenery.

"Oh, this wasn't my idea. Kuroyashiki said something about wanting to bring back some of the atmosphere of his old home for when he had his sake parties, so he got this commissioned after a few missions. I wasn't so sure about it at first, but now… I've kinda grown to love it."

Unohana nodded her head. "I had one created for Mermaid Heel as well, though admittedly ours is a bit more extravagant and well kept. Still, it pleases me to see that he valued his time as Kenpachi as much as he had to want to keep something like this as a way of remembrance."

Finally, the five of them entered the center of the garden where several members of the guild had already convened, Bacchus among their number. However, the person they were looking for was dead center in the middle of it all. Like Kiganjō, he wore a shihakusho and sleeveless white haori. His hair was a long, spiky, dark brown mane that went slightly past his shoulders, and his similarly colored eyes were set beneath thick brows that seemed to add to a naturally sinister air about the man, a feeling only somewhat alleviated by his unshaven stubble and laidback smile.

That said, despite having the Kenpachi title, he didn't seem bloodthirsty at all. Rather, he looked quite jovial as he shared a laugh with one of his guild members, clanking his cup of sake with his fellow guild mate before taking a sip. However, just as he turned around to gaze over at the new arrivals, his eyes widened as he promptly dropped his cup of sake, the cup shattering upon impact and prompting the man to finally stand up.

"Well I'll be damned! I never thought I'd see you here, Retsu! I mean, I heard someone with your name was one of the Saints, but I just thought it was a coincidence!" He walked over to them with a wide grin. "Still, it's been too long! Tell me, how has Kyoraku been?!"

She smiled. "That's right, you two were quite close friends weren't you? Well, unfortunately, the last I saw him, he was promoted to head captain after the Quincy started their attack," Unohana informed him "I'm afraid he wasn't in the… best of spirits."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute. You're actually telling me that Head Captain Yamamoto died!? The hell kind of war did I miss!?" He asked, partially from shock, partially from excitement.

"Hundreds of years after you died, the first of two Quincy invasions resulted in half of the Gotei being wiped out, including the head captain and Chojiro Sasikibe. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the remainder of the war. It's… how I ended up here."

"Shit, you're telling me a Quincy killed Old man Yama huh? Must have been one hell of an enemy. I take it he's the one who took you down?" Kuroyashiki asked.

Unohana shook her head. "Not quite. You see, the one who took my life was the one who deserved the title in the first place, with all due respect. As a matter of fact, he's the one who took Kiganjō's title, with a single blow no less."

Kuroyashiki instantly broke out into a laugh. "Hahaha! That so!? Well, he must be one hell of a Kenpachi to have done that! Man, what I wouldn't give to meet that guy! I'd love nothing more than to share a drink with the man who brought glory back to Squad Eleven!"

"Oh fuck you Seventh!" Kiganjō yelled at him. "At least I didn't get killed by a guy who held the title for only a year!"

"You say that like you'd have done any better... Which you wouldn't." Kuroyashiki rolled his eyes. "Look, Kiganjō, buddy, I'm not saying you're not weak for a soul reaper. Not at all. You would have probably been fine as the captain of Squad Seven with how strong you are. But as a Kenpachi, you're completely lacking in what it takes, and frankly, I'm not sure if even Retsu here could have beaten the guy."

"It... certainly would have been an interesting bout, " Unohana replied. The truth was, not even she was certain she could have defeated Kenpachi Azashiro. It wasn't his reiatsu that was the problem… but rather being able to land a hit on him at all before she fell.

"Ahem."

The two former captains quickly turned their heads at Meifon who had decided to grab their attention. "My apologies for interrupting your trip down memory lane and potential bouts, but I'm afraid we're here on urgent business regarding you, Kuroyashiki."

Kuroyashiki raised an eyebrow at that. "Really? Now what could three of the Wizard Saints possibly want with little old me huh?" He chuckled. "I'll take a gander and guess. You want me to replace that Siegrain fellow, am I right?"

"That's a fairly accurate summation, yes," Meifon answered him. "Goldmine and Retsu hold your strength in very high regard, so it seemed that you were the best choice. Will you accept our invitation?"

"An invitation to the Wizard Saints huh?" Kuroyashiki said as he held a hand to his chin. "Well, I'm certainly not opposed to the idea that I meet the criteria… but I've already got the title of Kenpachi as it is, so I'm not sure I really need to be one of the Saints. And frankly, I'm not much for politics, even if it is more on the minor side of things. That said... I'm willing to make a deal."

"A deal? What would you propose?" Makarov asked. He was more than a little surprised that the man didn't just jump at the opportunity as anyone else would have. Does the title of Kenpachi really hold so much weight that he wouldn't even consider joining us?

"Well, ever since I've come to Fiore, I've been struggling to find any real sort of challenge. Minus the creature I fought in the 10-year quest, everything else has gone down in just one or two blows. That said, from what I can sense from you two..." Kuroyashiki said as he eyed Meifon and Makarov, narrowing as he looked at each. "I can tell you guys are at roughly the same level of power as a captain. So, if one of you two can give me a good enough fight, I'll join!"

"A fight you say?" Meifon replied. "I see. Normally, I'd be more than willing to oblige, but considering we can't afford to waste any more time on recruiting someone else, I believe it would be wise to simply leave it in Makarov's hands."

One of the Quatro Cerberus members scoffed. "Please, you're going to have that old geezer try to fight Kuroyashiki!? You must be out of your damn mind! He's fucking invincible!"

"Hey, hey, none of that now," Kuroyashiki chastised him. "I'm not going to deny I'm strong, but back where I was from, there are plenty of people out there who are just as strong, or stronger, than I am. Retsu over there is just one of them. Not to mention that you should never judge how strong your enemy is just off looks alone. You do that and you're already setting one foot in the grave. If he's a Wizard Saint, then you should show him the proper respect, got it?"

"Y-yes sir," The mage quickly replied.

Turning around to face Makarov, Kuroyashiki grinned. "So, what'll it be, old man? You willing to throw down or what?"

Makarov wasn't sure how he wanted to respond. Unlike many of the members of his guild, Makarov wasn't overly fond of fighting. Oh, he had certainly been a part of his fair share of guild brawls when he was younger, but that was simply him getting caught up in the moment. However...he knew that the citizens of Fiore needed to find a new symbol of hope, and soon.

"Very well, I'll accept your proposal Kuroyashiki. But I'll warn you now, us Fairy Tail wizards aren't known for our restraint."

Kuroyashiki grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way. That said, I'd rather we take this elsewhere. I'd rather not wreck the place by accident. There's a secluded rocky terrain just a few miles out of town, I say we head there."

Makarov smiled. "That's perfectly fine by me. I'd rather not accidentally add to my guild's infamous reputation of destruction of private property. Lead the way."


With the use of flashstep and magic, getting to their destination took little to no time at all. With word quickly spreading that one of their own would be challenging a Wizard Saint, the entirety of Quatro Cerberus got together to cheer the strongest member of the guild on, the lot of them bringing all sorts of food and drinks alike to properly enjoy the occasion as they say about on the rocks, turning the once desolate wasteland into a makeshift arena.

"Heh, been a while since I've seen the guild so fired up. Kuroyashiki really knows how to light a flame under them." Goldmine said.

"Yes, it seems that you've found a more than worthy enough successor for Quatro Cerberus," Meifon stated before looking at Makarov. "Thankfully with how far out we are, you truly won't have to worry about damaging Mahagony. You two should be able to fight all out to your heart's content."

"Be that as it may, I doubt it'll come to that." Makarov told her. "While he may be strong enough to become one of the Saints, this is still nothing more than a sparring match. I'd rather not go too far and wind up hurting him more than I should."

Unohana however couldn't help but quietly chuckle to herself. "While your desire to restrain yourself for his safety is completely understandable, it's also entirely unwarranted. There's absolutely no need for you to hold back on his account I can assure you."

"Is he truly that powerful?" Makarov asked.

Unohana closed her eyes. "He is indeed. With the sole exception of myself, he was Kenpachi to hold his title for the longest time. Almost three hundred years to be exact. Not only was he given a recommendation to join Squad Zero, for creating one of the most deadly sword styles in all of Soul Society, he also killed a Vasto Lorde. Which just so you're properly aware, is a monster on par with the Wizard Saints."

"Wait a minute, he's three hundred years old!? How the hell does that work!? He looks like he's in his early thirty's at most!" Goldmine shouted in shock. 'And here I am retiring at 75!'

Makarov sighed. "It's...a long story. I'll be sure to fill you in once this is all over."

Finally, Kuroyashiki stood in the center of their makeshift arena before turning around to face Makarov. "Alright, looks like everyone else is all set and ready to go. I'm really hoping you can give me a fun fight, Master Makarov. Because for me…Fighting is when I feel the most alive."

"I assure you, I'm more than capable of showing you what a member of the Wizard Saints can do." Makarov answered as he slowly walked into the makeshift arena.

Kuroyashiki nodded his head. "Well, I certainly hope so. If one of the strongest Wizard's in the country can't give me a fun fight then I really am shit out of luck, huh? In fact, to make things a bit more interesting..." Kuroyashiki smirked at Makarov before he stretched his hands out wide. "I'll let you get in the first shot, free of charge."

Makarov raised an eyebrow at the man's words. "I wasn't born yesterday I'll have you know. If you think I'll just hit you to give you an opening then-"

"Oh this ain't no trick, I'm being sincere as can be." Kuroyashiki interrupted. "This is entirely for your benefit actually. I gotta see what you can really do before I start. I'd hate to accidentally end things too quickly after all. So come on, give me a good slugging!"

Makarov wasn't exactly someone quick to anger, so long as his Family and Friends were safe from harm, but he couldn't help but feel a slight bit insulted by Kuroyashiki's actions. Still, Unohana's words from earlier quickly reminded him that his current foe was not one to be underestimated. "Very well, just remember that you asked for it!"

Without warning, Makarov cocked his right hand back before his hand and arm stretched out and grew greatly in size as it sped towards Kuroyashiki. The former Captains eyes widened with surprise just before the attack connected, the limb stretching out fifteen or so feet before crashing Kuroyashiki into the ground.

"Well, that's what he gets for being cocky," Meifon said. "Regardless of your own strength, allowing your opponent a free hit at the start of a battle is bound to end... poorly?"

Much to her immense shock, however, the fist that had crashed into the ground was promptly tossed up into the air as Kuroyashiki grinned at Makarov. His haiori and shihakusho were slightly scuffed, but otherwise, the man looked absolutely fine. "Hey, that wasn't a half bad punch! That's only the second time anyone here has managed to knock me off my feet! "

Makarov however, was far less jovial as he looked at his opponent carefully. 'I hit him almost as hard as I could, yet he's not hurt in the slightest. You've truly found quite a mage, Goldmine.'

Kuroyashiki clapped his hands with excitement. "Well after that I can see this is at least going to make out for a good chance to stretch out my muscles. Alright, I'm game. Just be careful old man, just like you Fairy Tail wizards... I'm not so great at pulling my punches."

(Song of choice: Fierce Battle Against A Mighty Foe, Dragonball Super OST.)

Just then, an immense pressure began to eminate from Kuroyashiki as he flexed his reiatsu. Almost instantly, every member of Quatro Cerberus fell to their hands and knees as the earth beneath them cracked. Even Goldmine and Bacchus struggled to get up to their feet as the pressure intensified. Only Kiganjō was unaffected.

'I see. It seems as if he was one of the few able to keep all of his power intact after all.' Unohana thought before she smiled. 'Excellent. You still do the title proud, Kuroyashiki.'

'This pressure... I've never felt anything like it.' Meifon thought as Kuroyashiki's reiatsu filled the air. 'Makarov...Please, be careful.'

'I see. So this is the power of one with the name Kenpachi. It seems Retsu was right after all. I needn't worry about restraining myself.' Makarov thought.

"LET'S GO!"

Before Makarov could finish speaking, Kuroyashiki vanished completely from his line of sight before the seventh Kenpachi quickly kicked him hard across the face with his left tiny old man was sent careening away before he quickly used his flight magic to stop himself mid-air before launching himself forward. Now seeing just how strong his foe really was, Makarov left hand's stretched out with his most powerful punch, just as Kuroyashiki cocked back his own and countered, resulting in a powerful shockwave that sent most of Quatro Cerberus flying away.

As the dust cleared, the two stood in a massive creator about four feet deep. However, far from finished, the two shouted out before their fists clashed, again and again, the ground beneath them continuing to give way with each exchange before the pair found themselves twenty feet under.

"Not bad, old man," Kuroyashiki proclaimed as he dodged under one if Makarovs blows, only to just barely stop the Wizard Saints massive right hand. "But you're going to have to do a lot better than that if you're going to really impress me!"

Moving to the left to dodge yet another punch, then a right, the former Captains reached forward with his left hand to grab under the massive wrist before flinging it and Makarov upwards, sending the guild master high into the sky.

However, thanks once again to his flight Magic, Makarov was able to stop himself mid-air before three magic circles of light formed around him.." Very well, in that case, I suppose I'll take the kid gloves off after all!"

Kuroyashiki jumped into the air, intending to land another blow on Makarov, but just as he closed in, the three circles of magic fired large beams of light into him, crashing him down below. As the trio of lights continued to bury him into the ground, Kuroyashiki grinned before he punched one of the lights away with his left hand, and destroyed the remaining two by swatting them away with his right. However, just as he did so, Makarov had already flown down to his level and, with a single finger pointed at him, fired a powerful blast into his chest.

Kuroyashiki felt his feet dig into the ground as he was slowly being blasted back before he swatted away the beam of light. "Yeah, yeah! That's more like it!" Using flashstep, Kuroyashiki closed the distance and appeared above Makarov, kicking him into the earth and was just about to deliver a powerful blow with his right hand before a magic circle blocked the attack, then blasting him away with another beam of light. However, just as he was sent flying back, both of Makarov's hands grabbed onto his shoulders before he tossed Kuroyashiki to the ground and began to repeatedly punch him into the ground

However, after ten or so punches did the seventh Kenpachi rush through the onslaught of fists, punching Makarov hard in the face before five magic circles surrounded him and blasted him with light once more.

"Well Goldmine, I must admit, you've truly found a person more than worthy to carry the title of Wizard Saint," Meifon admitted. "So far the fight has been quite even, even if neither are truly fighting at their best."

"I told you he was more than fit for the job. Still, it's kinda crazy seeing Makarov struggle like this. I haven't seen that in years." Goldmine admitted.

"Yes, it would appear Kuroyashiki has come to Earthland with his full power intact." Unohana declared. "Makarov is certainly putting up a decent fight...even if Kuroyashiki's barely trying at this point."

"Wait, are you serious!?" Goldmine asked. What he was seeing right now had been the most effort he had seen his successor give in a fight. To think he had even more power to show was... astounding. However, just before he could inquire any more, he was distracted by yet another powerful shockwave.

The surrounding five miles had been utterly destroyed, as the two warriors clashed fists one last time. Makarov slowly floated above his foe, before smiling. Even now after everything he had thrown at him, Kuroyashiki had at most suffered only a few minor scratches. "I must say, Goldmine is truly fortunate to have someone of your caliber in Quatro Cerberus."

Kuroyashiki smiled back. "Yeah, and Fairy Tail is really lucky to have someone like you as its master. You've easily been the most fun I've had since I've come here!" It was far from the more extreme battles he had had back home, but at the moment, he found that he didn't care. Right now the fight was as entertaining as he needed it to be.

"I see. Well, I'm happy to hear I'm finally living up to your expectations." Makarov said. "So will you take up our offer?"

Kuroyashiki shook his head. "Not just yet. I said I was having fun, I'll admit that much, but I'm still far from showing you everything I got under my sleeves. Far as I'm concerned right now this has been nothing more than a warm-up."

"In that case, why don't you start using that sword of yours?" Makarov asked. "I have a soul reaper back in my guild, so I already know how most of your power comes from that blade."

Kuroyashiki sighed. "If I did that, the fight would be over before I'm satisfied. With all due respect, I doubt you'd last even a minute once I started using this thing with just the sheath."

"You'll find I'm more than capable of taking whatever it is you can dish out!" Makarov shouted as he took to the air as ten Magical circles surrounded him. "If getting you to use that sword is what I need for you to join, then so be it!"

It was more than just that though. While the fight had initially been nothing more than a means of testing and appeasing a prospective member of the Wizard Saints, Makarov now couldn't help but feel the desire to win overcome him, one he hadn't felt since he was a young man. For the first time in years, he felt young again!

Kuroyashiki was about to take off in a sprint, but before he could, five of the magical circles surrounded him and blasted him with light while the five in the air began to plet down blasts of their own.

The Kenpachi grunted as he found himself in the center of the barrage of light, the rapid attacks making any attempt at escape almost futile. Closing his eyes as he saw no other choice, Kuroyashiki quickly drew his zanpakuto, with his right hand, the blade still within its sheath, and with a single swing, destroyed the five magical circles surrounding him, as well as all the surrounding boulders and rock formations. Quickly using flashstep, he emerged from the crater.

"Welp, you've made me actually draw my sword. That Decade quest aside, this is the first time I've had to use it." He narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the old man.."Unfortunately...that means I'm going to have to put an end to things."

Before Makarov knew what happened, the five magical circles surrounding him had been completely shattered before he felt Kuroyashikis, sheathed zanpaktou crashing into his head, crashing him down into the ground. The Wizard Saint quickly got up to his feet and created about ten more circles of light before firing each of them at Kuroyashiki.

It was a fruitless endeavor however as every single one if his blasts was batted away with casual ease by Kuroyashiki. As he closed the distance, Makarov promptly formed all ten of the circles to create a barrier of light...only for the sheathed sword to slash through it with little effort. Before he could contemplate his next move, Makarov was hit on the back of his head, crashing through several rocky pillars Before crashing to the ground.

"See what I mean? Not even a minute." Kuroyashiki told Makarov before he shook his head. "Real shame too, I was starting to actually consider joining your-"

However, before he could finish his sentence, the Wizard Saint got right back into his feet and began to grow. Five feet. Ten feet. twenty, fourty, Makarov continued to grow and grow till he stood well over one hundred and fifty feet tall!

Most men would have been utterly terrified of the prospect of fighting such a massive foe. Almost as many would have instantly given up. But the seventh Kenpachi wasn't most men. Rather than horror and fear being etched into his face, his lips curled upwards into a massive grin. "You cheeky bastard, you were holding back this whole time!? You should have used this in the first place!"

"It wasn't out of disrespect that I didn't use this power from the start." Makarov said as he took a single step, the ground beneath them cracking and giving off a slight tremor as he did. "It is because I only ever use this power for those with evil filling their hearts! But now you've made it clear that anything short of my best won't be enough! So prepare yourself!"

(Song of choice, Like a Whirlwind, Quick as Lightning. Fairy Tail ost)

Letting out a battlecry of utter elation, Kuroyashiki ran forward and leapt into the air, preparing to strike Makarov's head, only to be instantly swatted out of the air as Makarov backhanded him with casual ease. Not one to let something as simple as that keep him down, the former Captain quickly rose back up to his feet just in time to stop Makarovs right foot from utterly crushing him.

A massive burst of magic and reiatsu filled the air as the two yelled at the top of their lungs, the tremors created by their attacks reaching out past Mahagony and several of the nearby towns before with a mighty shout, Kuroyashiki managed to swing his blade hard enough to push Makarovs foot off of him, only to revive a powerful kick which sent him flying. Kuroyashiki tried to get up, but Makarov tried to step on him again and again, the former Kenpachi just barely managing to roll out of the way of each step.

Kuroyashiki finally managed to get up, and just as Makarov delivered another kick, the former captain countered with a sword swing, causing the giant to step back. However, just as he was about to strike again, Makarov was surrounded by several magical circles, each one blasting away at Kuroyashiki. He attempted to parry the first blast, but it was too powerful, the force of the blast knocking him into the air before two of the other circles blasted him into the ground. Slowly he got up to his feet, only for Makarov to grab onto him and tossed him into the air with one hand before swatting him down with the other.

Laughing with complete and utter joy, Kuroyashiki lept into the air, his zanpaktou clashing with Makarov's fist before the Wizard Saint's power overwhelmed Kuroyashiki's own and bore deep into the earth. Letting out a mighty shout, Kuroyashiki forced Makarvo's fist off of his body, only to quickly use flashstep as he attempted to dodge an oncoming barrage of light blasts.

'This guy really is something else huh!?' Kuroyashiki thought as he used flashstep quickly to rapidly strike at Makarov across his body. However, after the tenth hit, Makarov was able to move his right hand fast enough to finally grab onto the seventh Kenpachi before letting go…only to headbutt him into the ground and kick him away.

"To think that Makarov had this much power," Meifon spoke, her eyes wide. She had always known his strength had greatly exceeded her own, that was never in question. But this was the first time she had ever seen him at full power, and it was nothing short of awe-inspiring. 'Naohime aside, no one else from my guild comes even close to matching this kind of power.`

"I must admit that Makarov has managed to surprise me," Unohana admitted. "In his current state, I'd believe that he's about on par with Konamura Sajin's with his Bankai. Most soul reapers would desire nothing more than to reach this level of power. It's just a shame then-" Unohana said as she closed her eyes as the 7th Kenpachi rose to his feet. "That he's only now beginning to fight remotely seriously."

"Hehe, Ahahaha! Yeah, this is it! This is just the kind of fight I've been waiting for!" Kuroyashiki declared with an almost bloodthirsty smirk. "What did you say your rank was!?" He asked before just barely blocking the next attack with his zanpaktou. "There's no way in hell you're the 10th!"

"Out of all the Saints, I only hold the title of fith!" Makarov answered before attempting to kick Kuroyashiki once more, only for him to use flashstep to dodge out of the way, the former Captain now appearing one one of the few remaining rock formations left.

"Fifth huh!? Ok, consider my curiosity peaked! I'll join the Saints! But not until we finally have a winner in this battle!" He then narrowed his eyes. "But that said, I gotta know. Is this everything you got? Truly?"

"For the most part, yes. What you see before you is my full might. I do have an ace in the hole so to speak, but it is a spell that can only be used properly. against those who are considered their enemy. As this is merely a sparring match, I doubt that Fairy Law would have any effect."

"Really? Well, that's a shame. I really wanted a chance to see you at your true best." Kuroyashiki said with a shrug. "Well, can't be helped I suppose. In any case, I guess it's best I stop holding back myself."

"So you're going to release your zanpaktou?" Makarov asked as he took a fighting stance.

Kuroyashiki shook his head. "No, I'd rather not. Like that spell you just mentioned, it's not exactly a good fit for sparing matches. It's not that my Shikai wouldn't work on you, if anything that's the problem. Even with Unohana over there, I'd rather not take the risk of hurting you too seriously. You're one of Master Goldmine's old friends, and I'd rather not accidentally go to far. That said, for someone like you..." His left hand grasped his zanpaktou then as he took a typical stance one would typically see in Kendo. "I'll have to use all of my own power!"

"You're kidding me. Makarov's giving him everything he has, and his response to going all out...is just using both of his hands?" Bacchus asked.

"I wouldn't have expected you to understand what it means." Kiganjō scoffed. "Using two hands with a sword means it'll hit a lot harder."

"Well no shit, that's kinda obvious;" Bacchus yelled back. "But that's hardly going to be a game changer!"

"You're wrong," Kiganjō said as he narrowed his eyes. "You don't realize... just how much of a difference it actually makes."

(Song of choice, Rules of Nature. Metal Gear Rising.)

Makarov had to admit he was... slightly perplexed at Kuroyashiki's idea of taking things up to the next level. However, knowing that it would be unwise to proceed without any precaution, several magic circles formed around him before he cried out, each of them firing massive beams of light that stretched out for miles. "Then let's put an end to this!"

"I hear ya, let's make this one to remember!" The former captain yelled. Kuroyashiki ran forward, barely dodging underneath one of the blasts of light, and quickly using Flashstep to avoid another, before swinging his sword several times to deflect the blast's that he had no time to properly dodge.

One, two, three blasts of light nearly hit their mark, but each and every one of them was sent skyward as Kuroyashik used his sword to deflect them. Any normal mage would have been struggling to just defend let alone run forward but Kuroyashiki…was having the time of his life. However, just as he deflected the last blast, Makarov had jumped into the air and punched downward, fully intending to hit him with his most powerful punch!

Only for Kuroyashiki to stand his ground and block the incoming attack with his sword, though his feet skid against the ground. Letting out a powerful battle cry, the seventh Kenpachi moved the giant fist to the left, before grabbing onto the massive fist with both hands while still clinging onto his zanpaktou before he tossed the massive giant into the air before leaping up into the air himself and prepared to strike. Makarov reached out in an attempt to grab him, but it was futile, as Kuroyashiki grabbed his zanpaktou with both hands once more before swinging his sheathed blade as hard as he could, shattering and breaking the bones within Makarov's right arm as they fell to the ground.

The giant managed to somehow land on his feet, took a few steps back, before he then fell to his knee's and began to pant. It had been decades since anyone has managed to hurt him like this.. However, just as he was about to stand back up, he noticed the potential Wizard Saint putting his sword away.

"Ok, I think that's more than enough." Kuroyashiki said with a grin. "I think we've got a pretty good idea how things would keep on going if we continued. So I think it's best we stop before you're too hurt for Retsu to fix you before that Festival of yours."

Had it been almost any other member of Fairy Tail, they would have no doubt attempted to continue the fight...But Makarov knew a losing battle when he saw one. This wasn't a battle to protect his family or innocent lives, but merely a sparring match that had begun to get slightly out of hand. Shrinking down back to normal size, he looked at the soul reaper. "Typically it's not the Fairy Tail way to accept defeat, but given you still haven't released your full power...I must admit I know when I'm beaten."

"Yeah, well I gotta admit you gave me way more of a workout than I was expecting," Kuroyashiki said as he walked over to the small old man before extending his right hand and smiled. "That was really something! Tell you what, any time you or members of your guild want to stop by, you'rd more than free to attend one of my drinking parties. It'll be on the house! I kinda doubt any of them will end up drinking more than Bacchus anyway."

"I'll be sure to take you up on that offer." Makarov agreed before shaking Kuroyashiki's hand. "And welcome to the Wizard Saints."

"Well, after a fight like that I can't wait to see what the others are like," Kuroyashiki said, taking out a bottle of sake from his shihakusho as Meifon and Unohana approached before he took a drink. "Four through two especially. I already know that Retsu over there is one hell of a terrifying woman, so I want to see what the Saint's under her are like."

Unohana couldn't help but chuckle. "Actually, while I'm honored that you place my strength in such high regard, I'm only ranked third, Kuroyashiki."

Sake immediately spewed from his mouth the minute he heard that. "Are you serious!? Your only number three!? The hell are the other two like!?"

"Well, the number one just so happens to be my fiance," Meifon admitted. "From what I've seen, I think the two of you will get along just fine."

"Fiance huh!" Kuroyashiki said as he slowly eyed Meifon. "With as beautiful and strong as you are, he's one hell of a lucky man." Quickly turning his attention back to Unohana as she began to heal Makarov, he spoke up once more. "Ok, I gotta know now. Where do I rank in all of this?"

"Given how you didn't release your shikai or bankai to defeat Makarov, I'd say you managed to knock Robert out of the Four Gods of Ishgar."

"Forth huh? Well, can't complain about that. Still, sorry for knocking you down to 6th." Kuroyashiki told Makarov.

"Think nothing of it. I'm actually relieved that we're getting more powerful mages such as yourself in the Wizard Saints.. I'm getting up there in age now, so it's good to know that I can truly start leaving the future in your hands."

"Well, I'll see what I can do. In the meanwhile, I think now's a good time for some R and R. Oi, Ichinose, give this guy a cup of sake! He's more than earned it!"

"Right away captain!" The four of them heard before a man with short black hair, brown eyes, wearing a sleeveless shihakusho with a hood in back appearing with a cup of sake before offering it to Makarov. "Here you go Master Dryer. I must admit, I've never seen someone give the captain such a hard time since we met up again."

"Oh, so your true memories managed to return to you at last?" Unohana asked.

"True memories? What are you talking about?" Meifon asked.

Unohana sighed. "When Kuroyashiki died against Soya Azashiro, Ichinose didn't take to it very well. He completely refused to see the eighth Kenpachi as his captain, so he was originally going to be sentenced to the maggots nest. However, Azashiro saw potential in him and instead went to the Kido corps to see if they could come up with a spell to alter his memories. The result was that he was made to believe that Azashiro was always his captain, and the spell would be later modified to Tamura and Kiganjō."

'His memories were warped so that they could simply continue to use him? How utterly cruel.' Makarov thought. The mere notion that one could lose their former 'guild master's and be forced to take orders from the one who took their lives...it was sickening. He wanted to have words with Unohana in regards to this revelation and the succession of the Kenpachi title, but for now, he decided to keep it to himself. There were, after all, three members of its lineage in his presence.

"When I was brought to this world, I came with my original memories intact." Ichinose said. "I was beyond elated when I could work with my old captain once again. Quatro Cerberus had been quite good to us hasn't it?"

"Yeah, you could say that again," Kuroyashiki admitted. "Hell, give yourself a few more years and you might end up surpassing Kiganjō. Still, it's a shame my old vice-captain isn't here. Ashido really knew how to handle himself in a fight."

Taking another cup of Sake from Ichinose, he looked over at Unohana, Meifon and Makarov who now also had cups of their own. "Oh well. Cheers, towards new allies and new adventures alike!"

"Cheers!" Everyone else similarly echoed before taking a sip of their drinks. It was a time for celebration, for Kuroyashikis unofficial promotion into the four Gods of Ishgar. Makarov himself couldn't help but feel he made the right choice coming here. With how busy the Harvest festival usually was, having a little break like this after such an exhausting bout was just the sort of thing he needed.

If only he knew of the chaos that would accompany one of Magnolia's oldest and greatest of traditions.


Well, that was a fun way to calm thing's down after the tower don't you think? Now I'm sure some readers that aren't as familiar with the more deeper lore aspect's of Bleach have some questions, so I'll answer them as best I can.

1. Who is Kenpachi Kurayashiki, Asashiro, and Kiganjō? Are they OC's?

For those who stick purely to the anime and manga to a lesser extent, these are character's revealed to have been the 7th and 10th Kenpachi's respectively. The latter was revealed in the Bleach Databook MASKED, where as Kurayashiki, as well as Ashashiro, come from the Light Novel "Spirit's Are Forever With You." and have recently been added into Bleach Brave Souls.

2. What about Tamura, who Unohana mentioned?

Tamura, the 9th Kenpachi, is an OC that I made, but it was stated in "Spirits are forever with you" that the 9th was the vice-captain of 11th at the time of Ashashiro's imprisonment. I do have plans to eventually release a short fanfic on this character to delve into her time as Kenpachi more properly though.

3. Ashido was Kuryahshiki's Vice Captain. Since when?

The Light novel stated as such. The idea of Ashido and the Menos forest was one that Kubo wanted to do, but we don't exactly know how much of the version from the anime was how he wanted it. Really, the only question is why he didn't use Shikai, but I personally believe that he must have lost his own zanpaktou and was forced to use one of his comrades instead.

4. What's the deal with Ichinose's past? I thought he had the 10th Kenpachi as his former captain? What gives?

This much is admittedly a change on my end, but it's mostly because what we do know of Kenpachi Kiganjō doesn't match up with Ichinose's thoughts on him at all. From what we know, the 11th went from a division of refined, disciplined soldiers to being filled with thugs and the like. Kurayashiki, from what we've heard of and seen of him, matches the description of his captain far more, with him having being a humble man who actually had drinking parties with the 4th division of all things. Thus I decided to come up with the idea of the memory-altering kido to properly explain things.

Well, that's all I have to say about this chapter. I hope that you all enjoyed it, and I greatly look forward to your reviews.

MPFS:

Ichinose (base): 1100

Kiganjō (base): 1500

Ichinose (Shikai): 2200

Kiganjō (Shikai): 2600

Bachus: 3100

Zaraki (Soul society arc, eyepatch): 3300

Ichinose (Saigyoku Nijigasumi ): 3750

Zaraki (Nnotira fight, Eyepatch): 3900

Kiganjō (Bankai): 5100

Kenpachi (Soul Society arc, no eyepatch): 5600

Kenpachi: (Nnotira fight, No eyepatch): 6250

Kurayashiki (hands only): 9200

Makarov (Base) 10,000

Kurayashiki (with Zanpaktou): 11,000

Kenpachi: (Nnotira fight, Kendo): 12,500

Makarov: full power: 19,000

Kurayashiki (Kendo): 22,000