Fairy Boy Forgotten

by Icy Cake

While out on a mission, Wendy and her teammates discover an ancient temple where they find a mysterious, injured boy. Much to their disappointment, the child suffers from severe amnesia and is devoid of any memories. It's up to Wendy and her friends to help him remember who he really is. Many thanks to The Epic Legion for the fantastic cover!

35. Eye and Tooth

Eye and Tooth

---

The world was blinding green and tingly all over.

Wendy clung onto Link's arm for dear life as they soared through the magical realm, carried by a powerful tempest. Despite having travelled using his warp spell several times before, she could never get used to the heart-pounding experience.

All of a sudden, the wind abruptly stopped and the light and tingling sensation vanished.

Next thing Wendy knew, she was falling in darkness with icy air rushing by that chilled every bit of exposed skin. Her terrified scream joined many others as they all plummeted to earth together.

Muscles tensed, Wendy had braced her body long before they all hit the ground, jabbing each other with knees and elbows. Someone cushioned most of her fall, but even then the landing was still jarring and painful as she bounced and rolled along hard rock and cold snow.

Dizzy, hurting, and shivering, Wendy lay on her back, writhing and moaning alongside everyone else.

It took a short while before her head stopped spinning. She blinked in surprise, seeing the bright moon set within the beautiful starry heavens. An enormous, rocky peak loomed above, its silhouette cast in a silver glow. They were back outside atop the mountain where the winds howled through.

Slowly, she sat up, hearing others do the same. She winced from all the new aches and bruises on top of her old ones that Link's elixir had yet to heal. Her attention was immediately drawn to the bright golden light coming from one of Jellal's staves. It lit up the area, revealing their exact location, which was the entrance of the mine.

Erza was the first to fully rise back onto her feet, dressed in her normal suit of armour and skirt. She did a quick, frantic sweep with her eyes and sighed with relief. "Looks like we all made it out," she uttered, hand upon her heart.

"Ugh... that was close," Gray groaned, carefully moving into a sitting position whilst favouring his right arm. He had thrown off all his clothes except, fortunately, his boxers back in the cavern, making every wound he had sustained visible. Luckily, being an ice mage made him immune to the bitter chill of winter.

Seeing he was injured, Wendy got up and quickly went to check on him. "Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling beside him. Hands already aglow with her magic, she didn't wait for an answer as she started to heal his arm first. He had likely suffered a fracture when she had witnessed the demon punching through his icy shield.

Gray nodded with a grunt as he moved and flexed his healed arm. "Am now. Thanks, Wendy."

She smiled, happy to be able to help. She was about to mend the rest of his wounds when she overheard Lucy say, "Link, you all right?"

Wendy whipped her head to the side, suddenly overwhelmed with worry upon seeing Link still lying on the ground.

"I'll be fine," Gray told her, "Go see if he's okay."

She gave him a brief look, silently promising she'll take care of him later, and hurried over to Link. Lucy was in the middle of helping the boy sit up when Wendy dropped down beside him. "Link, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" she cried, looking him over closely.

"No... just tired," the boy quietly moaned, slowly shaking his head. He was clearly exhausted having battled a fierce demon and expending all his magic to save them. In spite of his condition, he still had the strength to give Wendy a weak, assuring smile.

She wrapped her arms around him in both gratitude and relief. "Thank goodness! Oh Link, thank you. You were so brave and strong! We wouldn't have gotten out of there if it wasn't for you."

Not only that, he had risked his life to protect her. She was still a little upset he had done such a foolish thing, but soon realized it had helped him remember one of his old spells; a powerful crystal barrier that shielded them from harm. Being within the safe confines of the crystal had brought back a memory that often haunted Wendy's dreams before she was given Sleepstone...

She abruptly shook her head and shoved the memory aside, returning her focus back on the present. She pulled away, one hand remaining on Link's arm. "You've used up all your magic. Hurry and take one of your elixirs," she advised.

"I don't have any more on me," he said, patting his pouch belted by his hip. "I brought only two and gave them to you and Master Lucy. I have more back at the inn though."

Wendy and Lucy shared a look of guilt.

"Hey, Bacon! Awesome job, kiddo! You really showed that dork-face who was boss!" Natsu shouted as he came over, bearing a wide grin. He was missing his pants, boots, and winter coat, but was unaffected by the freezing temperature due to the source of heat he carried. In his hand was a crimson piece of Lacrima that was charged with his Hell-Fire Dragon magic. The core pulsed with a soft white light and radiated a strong, pleasant heat that warded off the cold as effectively as a blazing campfire. Not even the wind could cut through the warmth, which Wendy was thankful for.

"Yeah! That last move was so amazing!" Happy chimed in the praise, hopping near the boy.

"Dizzying, but effective," said Carla, smirking.

"And good thing you thought ahead and prepared that warp point. Even if it was fifty feet in the air, like usual," added Lucy, breathing out a big sigh while massaging her backside.

Ecstatic, Link's weariness seemed to disappear as he grinned from everyone's words. He pointed at Jellal who stood stiffly beside Erza. "The warp point was Mystogan's idea."

Jellal grunted, his disguise fully back in place. He wielded his staff of light in one hand and a flickering golden flame in the other. "Can't be too prepared when dealing with a Dark Guild," he growled, his eyes narrowing vehemently at the two other people mixed in the group; Rufus and Minerva.

All heads turned towards the remaining members of Succubus Eye. Astonishment and relief quickly transformed into wariness and contempt among the members of Fairy Tail.

Natsu, Lucy, and Gray joined Jellal and Erza to form a semi-circle around the Dark Guild, the five standing cautiously on guard. Wendy, Link, and the Exceeds hung back, but remained vigilant.

With everyone's attention upon him, Rufus glowered detestably in return. He was noticeably injured, down on one knee with a hand pressed against his side, staying near Minerva who was still unconscious due to whatever had struck her over the head hard enough to draw blood.

He was dishevelled in appearance; hat and mask missing, hair unkempt, clothes torn and soiled; and yet he managed to keep up his poise and arrogance. Teeth bared in a snarl, he bitterly spat, "I did not ask to be saved so do not expect to hear a thanks from me, Fairy Tail."

"Oh, so you'd rather be buried and dead like that demon pal of yours?" Gray retorted, fists coated in frost by his sides.

Rufus looked away. "Perhaps such a fate would be far better than what awaits us..." he grumbled under his breath, barely audible over the blowing wind.

"What the hell are you guys up to?" Natsu demanded, taking a step forward. "First you cursed the whole village and then you go messing around deep in an abandoned mine? Why?"

Annoyed, Rufus cocked his head at them. "What village?"

"That village!" Natsu pointed over the cliffside where Daffodilia could be seen in the distance beyond the rolling hills and trees, partially lit up by the Lacrima lamps in the roads. "Your friend turned all the villagers into kids! What? You didn't know?"

"Hmph. Is that how you've found us?" Rufus muttered. He rudely scoffed. "For the record, we had no idea that happened. That damn oaf went berserk without warning the moment we arrived here and turned us into children before he finally snapped out of it."

There was an exchange of looks between the members of Fairy Tail, all likely sharing the same thought. All the pieces of the puzzle were coming together now. The villagers saw a flash of purple light and heard the monstrous roar coming from this very mountain, which was no doubt because of Doriate. It happened on Christmas night, the same night Link's Triforce reacted to the Evil King's power...

"And what were you three searching for in the mine?" Erza inquired once more when the man didn't answer the question.

Rufus turned his head aside like a stubborn child. "That is none of your concern."

Jellal stomped forward, his flame growing stronger and brighter due to his anger. "We have every right to know what your guild is planning," he hissed.

Erza quickly stepped ahead and held out an arm, stopping Jellal in his tracks and silently motioning for him to stay calm. She turned back to Rufus who had flinched into a defensive stance, her expression and tone both stern as she pressed on; "You three were wandering the mine for days, seemingly lost, until..." she suddenly smirked, "until you happened to fall deep into the cavern in the same manner as us. You were after the raw Lacrima, weren't you?"

Rufus said nothing. Nor did he deny it. He continued to stare off to the side, his jaw noticeably clenched tight.

"Hey! Say something, pretty boy, or else you won't be pretty for much longer," Natsu threatened in a low snarl, soundly cracking the knuckles of his free hand that now burned with fire. "I've been wanting to get you back personally for screwing with our guild on that night of the Preliminary."

Wendy frowned, feeling a tinge of resentment. It was because of Rufus and Minerva that Wendy had missed out on participating in the Preliminary Event. It was unforgivable; mostly because they went so far as to involve Carla, Romeo, and Link too, instead of just targeting Wendy.

"Natsu," Erza snapped, shooting him a warning glare whilst shaking her head. Although violence was – more often than not – the most effective way to get answers out of uncooperative people, it seemed like Erza still had some patience before resorting to that method.

All the noise had finally stirred Minerva awake. She groaned and began to move, gingerly touching the top of her head.

"My Lady, don't get up too fast," Rufus spoke kindly as he lent an arm to help her sit up to the best of his ability.

"Rufus? What happened? Where are–" Minerva froze the instant she noticed Fairy Tail standing close by. Her surprise morphed into hatred that was concentrated directly on Erza. "You..." she seethed, her eyes flickering from Titania to the blood on her fingers, "You did this to me?!"

Crossing her arms, Erza steeled against the woman's scowl and calmly replied, "Wish I could take credit in defeating you once again, Minerva, but it was the cavern that knocked you out."

Minerva stiffened and took a quick, wary glance around, shocked to find they were no longer underground. She met Rufus's stare, her eyes quivering with dread. "Doriate?"

"Defeated. Likely dead," Rufus answered with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

Instead of grief, she was infuriated by the news of their fallen comrade. Growling, she faced Fairy Tail, eyeing the five who stood in front with great indignation. "No matter! We don't need that idiot to rid of you–"

"My Lady, wait!" Rufus grabbed her wrist and held her down before she could stagger to her feet.

At the same time, Erza had drawn her blade and Lucy had equipped her keys. Jellal and the boys had shifted into their battle stances, spells at the ready.

Furious, Minerva jerked away from Rufus. "What are you doing, you fool?!"

"Stand down, Minerva," Erza commanded, pointing the tip of her sword at the dark-haired woman. "It's over. You've lost."

But Minerva was defiant like a cornered animal. She would have retaliated with a spell out of desperation if it weren't for Rufus grabbing hold of her once more.

"Stop, My Lady! We've failed! There's nothing more we can do!" Rufus exclaimed, struggling to keep the woman in check due to his injuries.

"No! We can't fail! We can't!" she screamed. She was livid. And she was afraid.

Wendy recognized the fear in Minerva's wide eyes.

"Minerva," Erza addressed sharply, unnerved by the woman's outcry. She was about to say more when both Rufus and Minerva snarled in pain.

The pair keeled over with Rufus clutching at his right arm and Minerva grasping her left waist, their fingers digging deep into their clothes.

"Hey, what's going on?" Gray asked, taken aback. Wendy and everyone else were just as startled and confused.

Through her grimace, Minerva managed to glower at Rufus. "What did you tell them?!" she hissed, reaching a trembling hand to grab tightly onto the frilly collar of his shirt.

"N-Nothing! I-I swear!" he stammered.

"Don't lie! Why else would it be here?!"

"What's here?!" Natsu exclaimed, looking around for signs of another enemy.

Jellal snapped his head skyward. "Something's approaching!" he warned, pointing towards the moon, "It's another demon!"

Wendy couldn't see anything in the dark sky until she noticed a flash of crimson that twinkled like a star. It rapidly grew brighter and larger with each passing heartbeat.

Jellal cursed. "It's attacking! Gray, shield us!" He traded his golden flame for water, conjuring a massive, swirling pool above their heads that obscured the deadly, crimson light from view.

"Got it! Ice Make Shield!" Frozen hands raised towards the water, Gray quickly combined his magic with Jellal's to further enhance his spell, creating a giant barrier of ice in the form of a warrior's rounded shield. Thick and wide, the floating, icy barrier protected them mere seconds before the demon's attack could hit.

Wendy only saw the shield glisten red before she instinctively turned around to pull Link into a protective embrace. They both jumped from the deafening boom that was instantly followed by a thunderous crack.

Gray's shield took the brunt of the impact and soundly shattered like glass. Before any shards could rain down on them, Gray dispersed his magic, making the broken ice vanish in wisps of blue light.

Natsu jumped forward and glared in the direction of the demon. "From the air, huh?! Happy! Let's go!"

"Aye!" shouted the blue feline, hopping onto his partner's back with his feathered wings sprouting behind him. The duo shot up like a fired rocket towards the crimson star, their flight visible by the flames shrouding Natsu's hands.

Wendy followed Natsu's lead. Pulling away from Link, she ran towards the edge of the cliff. "Carla! Let's go help!"

"Right!" said Carla, dutifully teaming up with Wendy.

They launched off the cliff and chased after Natsu and Happy. Unfortunate for Wendy and Carla, they didn't have the luxury of fire to keep them warm against the harsh, winter winds. As they soared swiftly through the air, Wendy's body instantly went numb, making her regret her decision. She had lost her mittens and there were big tears in her clothes from her battle against Doriate, which made the flight a hundred times worse. Shivering uncontrollably and teeth noisily chattering in her head, Wendy fought the urge to order Carla to turn back around.

Up ahead, Natsu and Happy rapidly closed in on the crimson star, the demon's true form revealed under the light of the moon.

It was a flying, one-eyed monster with a bird-like body and dark, feathered wings. Its ring-like pupil glowed red and evil as it stared at the oncoming team of Dragon Slayers, its mouth a wide grin full of pointy, glistening teeth.

As Wendy got closer, she realized with daunting horror that the demon was huge! At least thrice the size of Doriate's monstrous transformation!

The giant demon let out a shrill, cackling laugh that matched its disturbing smile, taunting them from afar. It may be humongous, but it was quick in the air. It dove straight for Natsu and Happy, appearing no more but a shadow streaked with red in Wendy's vision.

Wendy felt her heart skip a beat, but was soon relieved to see Natsu and Happy twist just in time to dodge the demon's snapping mouth that was big enough to swallow them whole. As the duo shot past, Natsu swung a flaming kick at the side of the monster's rounded head. A big blast of fire erupted from the impact, only succeeding in making the demon slightly flinch.

The creature spun in an instant and lunged. In a single flap, it was upon Natsu and Happy, its smiling, gaping mouth ready to chomp down on the pair who were both stunned by its speed and reflexes.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy bellowed. From deep within her lungs, she expelled a powerful whirlwind that was as strong and mighty as a hurricane.

The attack blasted the demon sideways before it could take a bite out of her friends. It was at the mercy of the winds as it helplessly tumbled within Wendy's turbulent breath, carried off into the distance.

The creature may be swift in flight, but it was Wendy who controlled the sky!

Perhaps she may be in too much control. Her proud little moment quickly turned into guilt when Natsu and Happy were also caught in her spell. The pair were thrown out of the air and began spiralling downwards, screaming for their lives.

"Oh no! Sorry!" Wendy cried, bringing her frozen hands to her mouth.

"Happy should be able pull out of it before they crash into the side of the mountain," said Carla, sounding hopeful. She didn't stop to make sure as she continued to fly ahead. "Keep your eyes on the demon, Wendy! It's coming back!"

The girl snapped her attention back towards the monster, shocked to see it had already recovered from her attack and was soaring in their direction.

The demon was cackling with maniacal glee, its gaze locked on Wendy and Carla. It suddenly stopped midway in reaching them, its terrifying grin never wavering. The pupil of its eye began to shine more brightly.

Sensing great danger, Carla veered sharply to the side just as a crimson beam of energy was fired from the monster's eye. Wendy shrieked when the demon followed them with its laser-spewing eyeball, sweeping its beam across the sky.

Grunting, Carla dove and rose and twisted in an effort to evade the deadly light chasing after them.

Acting in haste, Wendy gathered her magic and uttered a quick chant, blessing Carla with Vernier. The enchantment doubled Carla's movement speed, which was more than enough to outrun the demon's attack and make it lose sight of them.

With quick motions of her hands, Wendy signalled for Carla to move in for a counterattack. Carla soundly nodded. They swooped in fast from above, dropping down on the demon the moment its laser blinked out.

"Sky Dragon's Claw!" Legs shrouded in twisting winds, Wendy brought down both her heels atop the demon's head. Powerful gales burst upon impact, sending the monster tumbling downwards, lining it up perfectly for the next attack coming from Natsu and Happy.

Charging straight for the falling demon, Natsu's right arm was engulfed in bright, orange fire, his Dragon Lacrima fully activated and burning white-hot.

"Hell-Fire Dragon Lacrima Iron Fist!" the Fire Dragon Slayer roared as he punched the demon in the back of its head.

Brilliant, blinding fire exploded the instant his knuckles connected, swallowing the monster in flame. The blast sent the pair and the demon flying in opposite directions along with a wave of sweltering heat.

Wendy embraced the rush of heat as it temporarily brought back feeling to her chilled limbs before the bite of winter returned with a vengeance.

The demon was nothing but a giant fireball plummeting towards the foot of the mountain.

But then Wendy heard its awful cackle. She gasped the moment the creature shook away Natsu's flames and righted itself in the air.

Charred, smoking, and with patches of feathers burnt away from its body and wings, the demon still wore its eerie smile. Its gaze fell on Natsu and Happy, its pupil burning an angry red.

Before it could fire another laser, there was a flash of white from above and a cry from Erza; "Moon Flash!"

Soaring on the wings of her Black Wing Armour, Erza unleashed a crisscross set of magic energy blades from her dark sword. Her blades struck one of the demon's wings, disrupting its attack and knocking it out of flight, sending it spiralling further down.

"Lucy! Gray!" Erza shouted. A signal.

A volley of ice, wood, and golden energy arrows pelted the demon right after, coming from the cliffside where Gray, Lucy, and Sagittarius stood side-by-side, all three wielding large bows. Empowered with Sagittarius's Star Dress, Lucy was just as quick and accurate as her spirit in marksmanship.

The demon's grin twitched into a snarl of pain as its eye was pierced deep by multiple points. Blinded, it let out a horrid, blood-curdling screech and flailed about, no longer able to detect its foes.

Erza dove and plunged her blade into the demon's bloody eye and slashed downwards through its body, nearly cleaving the creature in half and putting it out of its misery. The slain demon fell and disappeared in the darkness down below, its landing silenced by the winds.

"Another battle won..." Carla sighed in Wendy's ear, her voice wavering from the adrenaline and cold.

"Please let that be the last of them," Wendy begged to whatever deities were around to listen. She was tired, numb, and shivering uncontrollably. And after wandering a mine for hours, narrowly escaping death more than once, and getting turned into a young child, all she wanted was a hot meal, a hot bath, and a nice warm bed to crawl into. But knowing their team's wonderful luck, their mission was likely still far from over...

"Looks like it's safe for now," Carla assured, seeing Erza motioning for them to head back to the others.

It was as if Wendy's prayer was answered. She slumped in great relief as they followed after Titania. Natsu and Happy soared beside them, cheering at their teamwork and victory, lifting Wendy's mood.

The five returned to the cliffside where everyone was waiting.

When Wendy and Carla touched down, Link was first to run over. His worry turned into a relieved smile upon seeing them unharmed.

It was blissfully warm down on the ground thanks to Jellal and Natsu providing some heat with their fires. The team gathered around Jellal who was kneeling near Rufus and Minerva, both lying motionless on the ground.

"How are they?" Erza was first to ask as she joined Jellal's side, magically changing to her normal suit of armour.

"The curse is still active," the man uttered with a grim shake of his head. "That wasn't the demon who had placed it upon them."

"A curse?" gasped Happy, peering down over Natsu's shoulder.

"The mark of Succubus Eye." Jellal pointed at Rufus's right arm where someone had torn open the sleeve, revealing the purple insignia of the Dark Guild. It was an open eye with five triangles lined on top to resemble eyelashes and a round pupil in the centre. And similar to the flying, one-eyed demon, the pupil was pulsing with an eerie, faint red glow.

"It serves more than just a representation of their guild," Jellal continued in a bitter tone, "Looks like it's used to monitor and keep members in line. Any disobedience or failure will result in the activation of the curse, rendering them helpless. Easier to be assassinated by that flying demon, no less... And if that demon doesn't kill them, the curse will eventually finish the job... It's slowly draining away their life force as we speak. They likely won't make it to morning."

"I don't understand... Why would they join a guild like this?" asked Lucy, furrowing her brow in disbelief and horror. She was back in her normal clothes with Sagittarius already sent back home. Having not yet fully mastered her Star Dress ability, she had expended most of her magic during that short boost in power, leaving her utterly exhausted.

Crossing her arms, Erza scowled in displeasure at Minerva and Rufus. "A promise of great power by the guild, no doubt. They must not have known about the curse until it was too late. You saw their desperation earlier..." Her expression softened to pity. "They failed on their mission and now they've been tossed aside like trash, left to die so the secrets of Succubus Eye could not be spilled..."

"That's a horrible way to go..." Gray murmured, disturbed by the truth.

"Damn it," Natsu growled, "We can't just let them die like this. Even though I hate their guts, it just... feels wrong."

Lucy held her body apprehensively, wearing a troubled frown. "As much as I want to say they deserve this, I... I have to agree with Natsu. There has to be something we can do to help them."

Jellal hardened his gaze on the glowing mark of Succubus Eye. "Unless we can track down and kill the demon who cursed them, there's nothing we can do. I can only assume it's hiding back in their headquarters, wherever that could be."

Natsu turned and glared at the sky in the direction the flying monster had appeared. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find their base and hunt this demon!"

Gray ran a hand through his hair, weary and exasperated by Natsu's idea. "These demons don't like playing fair. We only have until morning to search. There's no way we'll be able stop the demon's curse in time..."

A demon's curse, Wendy mused, pursing her lips in deep thought while her teammates started to argue. She remembered reading about demonic curses in one of Porlyusica's old books. Written in those yellowed pages were details on different curses and how they worked, the symptoms they caused, and the types of magic or remedies used to lift or seal them. In fact, Wendy had borrowed the tome because there was some other unrelated information she wanted to study during the long trip to Daffodilia. (Of course, that plan was ruined due to her failed motion-sickness medicine.)

"I think I can save them," she spoke up, interrupting her team and drawing everyone's attention.

"You can heal the curse with your magic?" Happy asked, astounded.

Wendy shook her head, but remained confident. "No, but I have one of Granny's books that might have a cure. Let's hurry back to the inn!"

---

Every tick of the clock was driving Wendy insane. There were only a few more hours before morning and she was beyond stressed. Her head was pounding, her eyes dry and bleary, and her body sore and aching, and yet she refused to give up; too determined to do the right thing. There was no time for a break when people's lives depended on her.

Ever since Fairy Tail had returned to Daffodilia, Wendy had been spending most of her time holed up in one of the spare rooms at the inn, working furiously in hope of countering the curse of Succubus Eye. Abigail, the innkeeper, had lent Wendy every room on the second floor for her to use.

All the affected villagers were back to their normal selves. As thanks, and after hearing about Fairy Tail's current dilemma, Andre Wolfshire, the Village Chief – who truly was a one-hundred-year-old, wizened, elderly man who was blind in one eye, hard of hearing, required a cane to move around, but still had a sharp mind – had offered Fairy Tail everything they needed from the village for free alongside the team's handsome reward. The kind gesture was really helpful because Wendy required equipment and a number of items in order to create the many different remedies she wanted to test. She had practically cleaned out the entire stock of medicinal herbs and materials from every store and household in the village.

She had pored over the pages of Porlyusica's book and had come to the conclusion that the curse of Succubus Eye was classified as a health-degenerative type, which, according to recorded history, were often inflicted by very strong-level demons. Demons that likely ranked higher than Doriate and the one-eyed creature in terms of strength and power.

The only way to lift the powerful curse was to slay the demon responsible, as Jellal had mentioned. However, the curse could be sealed or its effects could be suppressed using certain runes, potions, or a combination of both, depending on the level of the demon who had cast it.

Wendy had already tried seven different remedies and none had shown any positive effects so far. She was on the third last treatment listed in the book, which was also the most complicated out of them all. It required making four different special rune inks and one of the recipes called for some ingredients that weren't available due to rarity, location, and season. Wendy had no choice but to make substitutions with what she had on hand, hoping the properties of the alternative ingredients were similar enough to the original.

She wished Porlyusica was here; the Medicinal Advisor would have undoubtedly cured her patients and gotten them back on their feet by now. There was no way to communicate with her however, leaving Wendy to deal with the situation alone. This was the ultimate test of her knowledge and skills from her training; she prayed her decisions were the right ones otherwise she had wasted so much time and ingredients for what could be another failure.

Heaving a weary sigh, Wendy rubbed her temples in hope of easing her headache while she waited for solutions to brew. She was kneeling on a cushion before her makeshift bench consisting of two low, rectangular coffee tables pushed together. Equipment, glassware, and various tools were set up on top where Wendy had a number of different ongoing mixtures. Around her in the medium two-bedroom were crates and boxes full of bottles and jars of materials the villagers were generous to provide. It was a mess, but Abigail thankfully didn't mind.

Wendy's ears perked when she heard familiar footsteps softly approaching her door. She already knew who it was before the person slipped into the room, barely making a sound other than the door clicking shut. Without looking, she quietly groaned for what felt like the hundredth time; "Link, you should really go to bed and get some sleep. It's very late!" Or very early... She glanced at the annoying clock hanging on the wall ahead of her and felt her gut twist in dread. It was already past four-thirty in the morning.

"Master Lucy made some tea and asked me to bring you some," was the boy's mumbled excuse, checking on her once again at every hour interval like clockwork. He ignored her grumpy look and made his way over, holding onto a steaming mug of tea. Carefully, he placed the beverage on the table in front of Wendy with a small, tired smile. "No one else is sleeping, so I don't want to either," he added, sitting down on the hardwood floor next to her, his eyes drawn to her elaborate setup.

Indeed, the rest of their team was still alert and wide awake. Lucy, Erza, and Carla occupied the room next door, keeping an eye on Rufus and Minerva lying unconscious in bed. Jellal, Gray, Natsu and Happy were on the lookout patrolling the village, making sure there were no more surprise attacks from Succubus Eye. With the curse still active on Rufus and Minerva, the Dark Guild were likely capable of keeping track of their condition and whereabouts, putting the lives of the villagers at risk.

Wendy sighed once more at Link. However, she was never irritated to have his company. His presence and smile was always uplifting no matter how cranky she felt.

Realizing she hadn't eaten or drank anything in a while, she took a sip of her honey-coloured tea and was pleased by its warmth and sweetness. Lucy knew just how Wendy liked it. She smiled at Link in gratitude. "Thanks. I really needed this."

Link perked up and grinned. "Are you hungry too?" he asked, pulling out a familiar little paper box tied with a decorative ribbon. 'Santa's' cookies.

"You still have those?" Wendy gasped in disbelief. The shortbread cookies were so good, she had guiltily eaten all of hers in one day. Her mouth was watering. Unable to resist, she helped herself to the offered treats.

As they – more or less – devoured the box of cookies, Link gestured to the concoctions on the table. "Will this one work?"

Wendy frowned. "I don't know, but I really hope so. It'll be another half-hour or more before it's all ready... I won't have time to try another treatment if this doesn't do the trick. How... are Rufus and Minerva?"

Link matched her frown. "Erza says, 'not very good'."

Wendy's frown deepened. The last time she had seen them was nearly two hours ago and they were in bad shape even then. Even with their physical injuries healed, their health continued to steadily deteriorate by the minute; Wendy was afraid they wouldn't make it to sunrise.

Link must've read her thoughts because he told her, "I know you can save them."

"I... I don't know. I've never done this before... If only Granny was here..."

"You've trained so hard with Granny, you must be as good as her by now."

Wendy let out a humourless laugh. "Oh, far from it. There's still so, so much I need to learn and perfect before you can even consider that." Endless volumes of knowledge and years upon years of experience were required to ever match Porlyusica's level of expertise.

He firmly gripped her hand, his bright blue eyes trusting in her abilities. "I believe in you as much as you believed in me when I fought the Evil King."

Seeing that look and hearing his words greatly renewed Wendy's confidence. She squeezed his hand in return.

By the time everything was complete, it was nearing five-thirty. Wendy had set everything she needed on the bedside table between Rufus's and Minerva's beds. Under the light of the wall-mounted Lacrima lamps, the pair were visibly doing much worse than before. Their eyes were sunken and their grayish skin was cold and clammy to the touch. Every breath they took was shallow and laboured, the sound grating to Wendy's sensitive ears. They looked very close to death.

"Everyone, please get out," she commanded of the room, her voice unwavering. With time running out, she needed maximum concentration, which meant no distractions and no onlooking eyes to make her nervous. Tense situations like these made her understand why Porlyusica preferred to treat patients in isolation.

Erza, Lucy, Carla, and Link quickly shuffled out of the room, giving her small words of encouragement before they closed the door behind them.

Wendy pulled a chair up beside Rufus who had been her test subject for every remedy she had tried prior. His right sleeve had been completely torn off so the curse of Succubus Eye was in full view, mocking Wendy with its sinister glare.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Wendy picked up a small, fine-tipped paintbrush and began the process. Four different coloured inks were laid out on the table in bowls; red, white, green, blue; each composed from a specific mixture of ingredients and infused with certain magical properties. The book she had borrowed was opened on her lap, turned to the pages that depicted the complex circle of ancient runes she needed to accurately inscribe around the curse. Once she applied the first stroke on Rufus's skin, she continued without pause, following the image meticulously until it was time for the incantation.

She silently prayed her efforts were not in vain before she spoke the words of the old language written upon the pages. She held her breath after the last word was uttered, staring hard at the curse in anticipation.

The runes suddenly flashed to life, giving her a start.

She gawked as the magic circle shone with the colours of each ink. When the light faded, the eye of the curse no longer pulsed red and the entire mark turned from purple to light gray.

"Did... Did it work?" she whispered, tentatively touching the magic seal. She found the ink had become permanent runes on Rufus's cold skin. Next she felt his wrist for a pulse. It was weak, but steady. If the curse was truly sealed, his health should no longer rapidly decline.

Wendy was grinning from ear to ear, extremely elated that she may have actually succeeded. She wanted to cheer and cry out of happiness, but her celebration would have to wait. The ordeal wasn't over just yet. She quickly shifted her chair and tended to Minerva next. The woman's curse was above her left hip where the mark of Sabertooth was once displayed.

Taking another deep, calming breath, Wendy worked diligently on sealing the curse on her next patient. Seeing the runes react the same way as with Rufus's, the girl let out a shout of triumph before slumping back in her chair, relieved and exhausted.

The door creaked open and Lucy poked her head inside, her brow knitted with worry. "Wendy, is everything okay in here?"

"Yes!" the Dragon Slayer cried ecstatically, closing her book and hopping to her feet.

Lucy threw open the door the moment she saw Wendy's delighted grin. She, Erza, Link, and Carla rushed inside, the four of them looking hopeful.

"Did it work?" Carla was first to ask, hovering over her partner.

"I believe so," said Wendy, pointing to Minerva's curse, "The eye no longer glows and the mark looks a little faded, so the seal must be in effect. However, I'm still not done." She looked at Link. "I'll need one of your elixirs."

The boy nodded and dug into his pouch. He handed her a corked vial filled with the dark blue and extremely bitter Magic Restore Elixir. "This is the last one I have."

Wendy nodded in thanks as she took the medicine. "It should be enough to help them start recovering some of their strength. Lucy or Erza, would either of you be able to give me a hand?"

Erza stepped up first. One at a time, she propped Minerva and Rufus slightly up so Wendy could carefully give them small spoonfuls of elixir. Having watched Porlyusica do it many times when Link was unconscious, Wendy was glad she didn't make either of her patients choke.

With the worst finally over, Wendy collapsed onto her knees in utter exhaustion, her head propped against the side of Rufus's bed. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and found Link kneeling beside her in concern.

"I'm okay," she assured, giving him a tired smile. "I'm just so relieved I managed to save them."

"Well done, Wendy, I knew we could count on you," Erza praised, sounding quite pleased.

Hearing that from Erza made Wendy's heart swell with pride.

"Head on upstairs and get some well-deserved rest," Erza continued. "We could all really use some sleep. It's been a very long night. I'll let the boys know the curse has been sealed and Rufus and Minerva are recovering."

Wendy shook her head and rubbed her tired eyes. "But the room next door is still a mess and I don't want Abigail to–"

"Don't worry about the mess," Erza cut in, her tone sharp, "Go straight to bed. You too, Link."

"But I spilled some–" Wendy froze when she saw the stern, yet terrifying look Erza was giving her – the very same when either Natsu or Gray dared to risk their lives to defy Titania's orders.

Link was unfazed but was obedient nonetheless. He nodded and got up, holding out a hand for Wendy to take.

Wendy groaned with effort as she was pulled to her feet. She took a hesitant glance at her two patients. "What are we going to do... about them? It'll be a while before they'll wake up. Uh, maybe two or three days? But then afterwards...?"

Lips a thin line, Erza put a hand on her hip and slightly frowned at Rufus and Minerva. "We will have to decide once we're all well rested," she grumbled wearily before turning back to Wendy, her frightening scowl back on her face. "Go to bed now or else I will force you, Wendy."

The girl shrank and whimpered from Erza's threat. She hurried out of the room, pulling Link with her.

---

Lucy's jaw nearly hit the floor the instant she laid eyes on Sabertooth's headquarters. It. Was. Massive. Double the size of Mercurius Castle and built like a rounded cathedral with multiple levels and other protruding structures around the base. Huge black and gold-trimmed banners were draped down the sides of the main building, proudly displaying the golden crest of Sabertooth. And to top off the magnificence of Fiore's second strongest guild, there was a giant, white statue of a sabertooth tiger perched on the domed roof, which Lucy could only assume was carved from pure marble.

"Talk about fancy," Gray remarked, craning his head skyward, aghast by the sheer size of the place. It was very late in the evening, but most of the lights were still on inside, shining through the large, vertical, elongated windows, bright enough to light up the huge walkway that led to the front entrance. "I guess winning the Grand Magic Games six times in a row makes you super rich..."

Lucy didn't doubt it was a combination of the prize money, sponsorship, and support from the townsfolk and adoring fans from all over.

Although Sabertooth may have lost their rank as the strongest in Fiore, they were still a popular and highly respected guild. Especially more so with Sting promoted as the new Master after Jiemma's disappearance shortly after the Games. As surprisingly young as he may be, Sting had worked hard since he had taken on the responsibility, changing Sabertooth's image. The guild was still known for their ferocity and strength to match their name, but no longer did they wish to stand above all and shun the weak. Instead they sought to help others in need, especially those who were impacted by the incident at Crocus. There were articles about their contributions and generous deeds constantly published in newspapers and Sorcerer Weekly.

Up ahead, Natsu and Happy gawked and pointed at every little thing like a pair of jealous children.

"Look at that, Natsu! And look at that! And oh my gosh! Look at that! Why don't we have one of these?!" Happy hovered in front of a mini statue of a sabertooth tiger, festively decorated with a Christmas wreath hung around its neck. It guarded the top of one of two matching fountains built right outside the entrance. The statue would be spewing water out of its mouth, but was shut down due to the winter season.

Wendy giggled as she watched Natsu and Happy. "Link would love to see this place up close," she said.

Lucy smiled at the thought. The boy would certainly be just as excited tagging alongside Natsu and Happy as they explored the humongous place. However, Link wasn't around to experience all the wonderful splendour Sabertooth's headquarters had to offer. He and Jellal had been dropped off at the outskirts of town to stay out of sight and undetected.

"Man, we need to convince Gramps to put a giant statue of a fairy on top of our guild!" said Natsu, trying his best to look up at the tiger at the very top, but it was impossible to see it from their angle.

"So gaudy," Gray muttered, shaking his head at Natsu's taste.

"Agreed," said Carla.

"You mean so cool!" Happy corrected, his eyes wide and sparkling while the tip of his tail swished wildly from side to side.

"Absolutely unnecessary," Erza grunted in disapproval as she came up from behind them. She was pulling her large cart with her that didn't carry her mountain of luggage as usual, but instead an unconscious Rufus and Minerva. The pair were buried under blankets and furs to keep warm from the cold.

After a thorough discussion back in Daffodilia, the team had decided to take Rufus and Minerva to Sabertooth in hope that their former guild would protect them. 'Take them back home' as Natsu had kindly put it.

Jellal had wanted to interrogate the pair, however there just wasn't any time to wait around for them to wake up. The seal Wendy had placed had stopped the life-drain of the curse, but it wasn't certain if it also prevented the demon who had inflicted it from keeping track of them. With this in mind, Fairy Tail couldn't risk endangering Daffodilia any longer nor could they return to Magnolia with Rufus and Minerva in tow.

Leaving them with Sabertooth was their best option. The guild's hometown was Gladiolus, located near the western mountain range in Fiore, just two towns away from the Magic Council Headquarters. Out of caution, Fairy Tail had taken a long detour to avoid going down the main roads in case they came across travelling Council members. As a result, driving from Daffodilia to Gladiolus took nearly ten hours total.

And in order to transport everyone in a single trip, Erza had gotten Andre to send all her luggage back to Magnolia and Gray to create a carriage cabin out of ice atop her cart. The inside of the carriage had been lined with fur and thick wool blankets that not only insulated, but also concealed what lay within. With an addition of a Heat Lacrima, it was rather nice and cozy inside, which Lucy greatly appreciated since she had to ride it alongside Jellal and Gray, the three of them tasked with keeping watch over Rufus and Minerva.

Lucy stretched her arms above her head, a little stiff and tired from the long trip. She couldn't wait until this was all over so they could start heading back home in time for New Year's Eve. However, it all depended on how smoothly it was going to go with their confrontation with Sabertooth.

Natsu was first to push through the large front gate that was twice as tall as the doors to Fairy Tail. Inside was an enormous lobby similar in style to an expensive hotel; black and white marble floor, plush red carpet, tall, domed ceiling with crystal chandeliers, rounded stone columns, and a huge reception desk made of glossy wood. Had it not been for the Christmas decorations brightening the place and the numerous banners hanging on the walls, Lucy would have thought they had entered a corporate business of sorts.

"Whoa, it's a whole lot fancier inside," Gray exclaimed in awe.

Someone soundly cleared their throat, drawing everyone's wandering eyes towards the reception desk. A woman, dressed in blue business attire, had stood up from her seat and narrowed her eyes at them behind a pair of square glasses. "Excuse me, do you know what time it is?" she demanded, her voice and attitude both stern as she impatiently tapped her wristwatch. "We're closing in five minutes. If you're here for the Gift Shop, it's that way," she gestured behind her desk down a hall with clear signage leading to Sabertooth's store, "and you better make it quick."

"Oh! I wonder what they have in their shop!" said Happy.

Natsu snorted and waved a dismissive hand. "Psshh, we're not here for the Gift Shop. We're here to see Sting."

The woman huffed at his rudeness. "At this hour? You clearly do not have an appointment. Master Sting is a busy man. Unless you make an appointment, there is no chance you will be meeting with him anytime soon. However, if you book one now..." she started to flip through a schedule laid open on her desk, "You can come back in March to see him."

"What?!" Natsu shouted, his voice echoing in the empty lobby. The receptionist did not approve of his reaction.

Erza grunted in annoyance. "Tell your Master we have a special delivery for him," she said, pointing a thumb at her cart.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Furs and blankets? If you're donating those for our Crocus Charity Drive, you can toss them in there." She gestured to the row of large bins by the front doors that were already overflowing with donated goods.

Erza grunted once more, her patience clearly starting to thin. "No, this is what we're delivering," she snapped, throwing the covers off Rufus and Minerva. "You tell him that Fairy Tail is here to see him, right now."

The woman was appalled more so at what was in the cart rather than Erza's demanding tone. "You're delivering him bodies? We're not a sacrificial cult here."

"Hey! They're not dead!" Natsu bellowed, growing frustrated. "They're your old guild mates! Don't you recognize them?"

Lips pursed, the receptionist adjusted her glasses and squinted her eyes for a better look. Before she could comment, someone spoke up from across the lobby; "What's going on, Bethany?"

Walking towards the group were two familiar faces Lucy was rather glad to see. Rogue and Frosch.

"Mister Rogue, Frosch," the receptionist named Bethany greeted with a curt nod. "On your way home? Apologies, these people just suddenly barged right in when we are about to close, demanding to see Master Sting. They claim to be–"

"Fairy Tail," Rogue cut in, acknowledging the other guild respectfully as he and Frosch stopped before them. The green Exceed that always wore a pink frog suit broadly smiled and waved, excited to see familiar faces.

"Yes, exactly. You must've overheard then."

"They are Fairy Tail, Bethany."

"They are?" Once again, the woman squinted her eyes at the group. With everyone bundled up in winter clothes and their guild crests covered from view, it was a little difficult to recognize them. It didn't take long for her to realize her mistake as she quietly murmured to herself, "Oh, I suppose they are."

Rogue turned his attention back on Natsu and the others. Arms crossed beneath his hooded, black winter cloak, he furrowed his brow in slight confusion. "What brings you all the way here? You had mentioned something about guild mates..."

Natsu turned aside and gestured at the cart. "Yeah. We brought a late Christmas present for Sabertooth. Your friends."

Rogue's one visible eye widened as he moved in for a closer look. Noticing his reaction, Frosch leapt onto the back of his partner's shoulder and started to ask, "Who are these friends – oh!"

"Rufus and Lady Minerva..." Rogue uttered in surprise. He frowned at their pale complexions and torn, dirty clothes, his gaze narrowing on the curse visible on their skin. "What... happened to them?"

"We'll explain everything later," said Erza brusquely, pulling the covers back over the pair. "Do you have an infirmary we can move them to?"

Rogue nodded and turned swiftly on his heel, motioning Fairy Tail to follow him with a wave of a hand. As he started to lead the way, he looked over his shoulder at Bethany and said, "Tell Sting we will be waiting for him in the infirmary and have him come at once."

The woman straightened in her posture. "Yes, sir!"

Fairy Tail were close behind Rogue and Frosch as they traversed the enormous guild like a group of wide-eyed tourists, fascinated at the intricate structure and decor at every turn. They went down halls, around long curved corridors, and ended up climbing a tall and wide, spiralling ramp built in the heart of the building. It was near empty wherever they went, most members and employees of the guild likely retired for the night.

On the second floor was Sabertooth's infirmary that closely resembled a hospital ward in both sight and smell. Rouge was instantly greeted by the in-house doctor and nurse on duty. With only a simple command from the Dragon Slayer, they went to work right away, prepping a room and beds for Rufus and Minerva.

Everyone waited for Sting to arrive in the hall while Wendy spoke with the doctor inside the room. Lucy could hear the young healer share her knowledge about the curse and the list of suggested treatments that could remedy Rufus's and Minerva's current symptoms.

Shortly after Wendy joined back with the others, Sting and Lector showed up, running and flying respectively around a corner. Sting nearly tripped over Erza's cart that was left against the wall and took up half the width of the hallway.

"Fairy Tail really is here," remarked Lector dropping down in front of Happy with a smug grin. "Came to see our guild because it's a thousand times better than yours?"

"No way we would come all the way here for that!" Happy retorted. "And our guild is a million times better!"

Sting slowed to a stop and glanced between Fairy Tail and Rogue, one hand resting on his hip and his brow slightly knitted in concern. Since taking on the role as Master, he had quickly matured from an arrogant, cocky young man to a levelheaded and sophisticated leader. There was an air of authority about the way he carried himself in the same manner Master Makarov appeared when regarding serious, important matters. "So why are you guys here then?" he questioned, "What's going on?"

Rogue nodded at the room beside them. "See for yourself."

Sting and Lector rushed past to check inside. Sharp gasps could be heard, followed by Sting exchanging words with the doctor. It was a moment later when he and Lector stepped back out, both upset.

"Man, I don't believe this..." Sting groaned, falling back against the door frame. He ran his hands through his blond hair out of frustration. "They left Sabertooth and joined a freaking Dark Guild? What the hell were they thinking?!"

"Why didn't you stop them from leaving in the first place?" Natsu demanded, pointing an accusing finger. "Or at least gone after them? This probably wouldn't have happened if you tried!"

Growling, Sting took a stomping step towards the Fire Dragon Slayer and glared, his blue eyes as fierce as a dragon's and his fangs just as sharp. "I'm not like that asshole Jiemma! I don't force people to obey me!" he hissed.

"Sting." Rogue gripped Sting's shoulder firmly, which had an immediate calming effect.

Exhaling a deep breath, Sting regained his composure, his expression softening as he looked at Wendy and Carla. "When I learned about what they did before the Preliminary, I gave them an ultimatum. I told them to either apologize to you guys directly or leave the guild and never come back. It's obvious which choice they made... We haven't seen or heard from them since. Until now."

Erza scoffed and crossed her arms indignantly. "Well, they made a very poor decision getting themselves wrapped up with the likes of demons and Dark Guilds. And now their lives are in constant peril."

The Twin Dragons scowled at that while Lector and Frosh heavily frowned.

Sighing, Sting beckoned Fairy Tail to follow him as he started to walk away. "Would you mind telling me what happened back at my office? Is this big-ass cart yours? I'll have someone take it back down to the lobby for you. You guys hungry?"

"Starving!" said Happy. Natsu's stomach growled in agreement and Lucy could feel her own tummy rumbling at the thought of food. The team hadn't stopped to grab anything to eat in the last five hours, wanting to reach Gladiolus before it got too late.

"Uh, we shouldn't stay for too long," said Wendy meekly, most likely worried about making Link and Jellal wait out in the cold.

"Hey, it's fine," Sting assured, "You guys are our guests. It's the least I can do. I can ask our chef to make a quick bite to eat. I haven't eaten since lunch. Never thought that being a Guild Master meant endless meetings and doing a shit-tonne of paperwork..."

They boarded a magic elevator platform that was big enough to fit ten people, saving them from having to climb all the way to the top floor where Sting's office awaited. During the ride, the two guilds made light conversation, catching up on each other's lives. They hadn't seen each other since they went their separate ways after Crocus so it was nice to know what everyone was up to outside of published articles.

The elevator platform slowed to a stop at the very top floor and chimed. The double doors slid open and Lucy was agape at what she saw on the other side. The Guild Master's office was a palace throne room!

Giant, multi-layered chandeliers made of decorative crystals and Light Lacrima hung from the enormous domed ceiling. Huge, vertical, rectangular windows were built along the length of the walls, providing a spectacular view over the town far, far below as well as the mountains and valleys beyond. Hanging between the windows and the other walls were golden-tasselled tapestries of black bearing the crest of Sabertooth. A thick, ornate-patterned red carpet lined the centre of the hall, which led straight to a raised altar where an actual throne sat atop. However, a plain work desk had been placed before the throne, piled with documents and files, throwing off the royal imagery.

It wasn't hard to guess that Jiemma had seen himself a king when he sat upon the throne, looking down at his guild as if they were mere subjects.

Nowadays, Sting used the extravagant room as an ordinary office where he could work in peace and hold private meetings. Over near the east-facing windows was a large oval table with twelve plush and comfy chairs situated around it.

Sting told everyone to grab a seat while he marched over to his desk to place a quick order to the kitchen through his Communication Lacrima. Once everyone was settled around the large table, Erza began to explain Fairy Tail's encounter with Succubus Eye, starting with their mission to Daffodilia. She made sure to leave Link and Jellal out of the picture. Partway through, she was interrupted when food and beverages were brought up by the late-night kitchen staff.

'A quick bite' turned out to be a vast assortment of appetizers and desserts with a decent selection of drinks that included wine and beer. As they ate, Erza continued on, briefly summarizing the events on Mount Narciss all the while skimping over certain details. She concluded with Wendy successfully sealing the curse of Succubus Eye, saving Rufus and Minerva.

"We had no other option but to bring them here," said Erza with a slight shake of her head. "Succubus Eye may still go after them and we already have our hands full dealing with another problem on our end. I believe they would trust you more than they would us."

Sting nodded in understanding, his arms crossed on the table. He had been listening so intently that he had barely touched his food and drink. "I see..." he said, closing his eyes for a moment. Sighing, he leaned back in his seat and stared at his plate. "I always wondered where and what they've been up to. I never considered them friends, but comrades whom I respected as equals when we were a team. Succubus Eye, huh? Do you think...?" He glanced sideways at Rogue seated on his right, meeting his teammate's hardened gaze.

"Jiemma?" Rogue snarled.

Lector visibly stiffened from that name, looking fearful as he sat atop the table near his partner.

Sting's expression morphed into cold hatred. "That bastard somehow survived after all... He has to be the one who dragged his own daughter and Rufus into this mess. If that's true, he's going to pay alongside the demon of Succubus Eye. I swear it. Leave this problem to us, Fairy Tail."

"Tread carefully if you do seek out the Dark Guild," Erza warned, narrowing her eyes. "These demons should not be underestimated. If they can turn us into children to weaken us, then it's possible they can do much worse than that."

"Duly noted. And... thanks." Sting looked at each member of Fairy Tail with genuine gratitude. "I can't say if Rufus and Lady Minerva will feel the same, but I want to thank you guys for saving them."

Natsu grinned and patted Wendy over the head like a proud big brother. "It was Wendy who did the hard part! She deserves all the credit!"

Flustered by the attention, the girl turned red in the face and shyly looked away. "I-I'm glad I was able to help!" she squeaked.

Sting smiled kindly at her before he bowed his head in guilt. "Let me apologize on their behalf for what they did to you and your friends and for the trouble they've caused. If there's anything you want in compensation, name it and I'll give it to you."

Wendy was humbled by his offer. "Uh... Well I... I don't think I need..."

"There is one request," said Erza, holding up a finger, "We wish to know what Succubus Eye was truly after in the mine and what they were planning. We also want to know if they have recently been in contact with other Dark Guilds, namely one called Tartaros."

Sting raised an eyebrow. "Tartaros? Never heard of them. But I'll see what I can find out when Rufus and Lady Minerva are awake. I'll send you the info right away when I have something. Is that really all? Surely there's something else you guys want as payment." His eyes fell on Wendy once again, making the girl break into a nervous sweat.

"Um..." Wendy quickly looked around before pointing to the plate of cupcakes on the table. "C-Could I take these with me?"

Sting blinked for a second before he snorted in laughter. "For real? Sure! Take the whole plate, kid. I can have the chef make more and have a huge batch delivered to your guild. How about it?"

Natsu was elated by the generosity. He frantically pointed at the plate of cheese-puff pastries. "Oh! Oh! Oh! If you can do that, then send us more of these too! These are good!"

Happy held up a near-empty platter of sausage rolls. "And these!" he exclaimed with his mouth full of food.

"I wouldn't mind more of these delectable meat pies," said Carla, finishing her last bite.

"And this fine wine," said Gray, holding up a bottle and smirking in delight. "A hundred cases would suffice."

"Don't forget the beer. Two hundred kegs," said Erza, taking advantage of the offer with an evil smile.

"You know, Cana will probably finish those off in less than a week," noted Gray. "Should get more than that."

Erza hummed at that thought. "You're right. Make that five hundred kegs and double the wine as well. No, triple it. Three hundred cases."

Lucy giggled and decided to join in as well, feeling only a tad guilty. "While we're at it, add twenty dozen of these chocolate caramel cakes too! And we'll take the remaining slices here as well. For on the road." Link would definitely love the treat.

Rogue quietly chuckled while Sting was agape at Fairy Tail's ridiculous demands.

The Guild Master groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Well, I can't take back on what I said... All right, let me write all of this down."

Once the list was made, Fairy Tail was about ready to head out only to be stopped by Sting; "Hey, before you guys go... Can I ask you something, Lucy?"

Lucy raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh, sure."

Sting seemed anxious as he dropped his eyes to his hands that were clasped tightly together on the table before him. "I was wondering if you would know – or maybe even if your spirits would know – what happened... to Yukino..."

Lucy's heart sank. The mood in the room had suddenly turned from cheerful to dour.

"I heard she was recruited as a Sergeant in the Royal Army shortly after she was... expelled from Sabrertooth by Jiemma," Sting continued, head slowly shaking in regret. "I've inquired about her several times, but with Crocus busy with rebuilding, I haven't gotten any word back from the castle. I don't know if she's alive or dead. If you know anything..."

Lucy bit her lower lip. "She's gone," she said, her voice quiet. "Her Celestial Spirits no longer feel a connection to her anywhere on Earthland. She's passed on..."

Her answer brought guilt and despair on Sabertooth's faces.

Frosch and Lector started to cry. "Y-Yukino's gone?" Lector sobbed. "She was always so nice to me... She secretly gave me and Frosch candy all the time!"

"Frosch misses Yukino's secret candies..." Frosch whimpered, fruitlessly wiping his flowing tears.

Sting reached over to pet Lector over the head to comfort his partner. "She was kind to everyone," he said, his eyes full of remorse, "But I was too stupid to have noticed... If I wasn't such an arrogant ass back then, I... I could have stood up for her... then maybe..."

"If you want someone to blame," Natsu cut in, his expression suddenly angry, "blame the demon who killed her."

The Twin Dragons turned to Natsu, shocked.

"Natsu," Erza snapped, shooting him a stern look whilst shaking her head.

"They need to know the truth about Yukino," he told her evenly, "It's only fair."

"Know what?" Sting demanded, standing abruptly and nearly knocking his chair over. He glared between Natsu and Erza, but his anger quickly dwindled to sorrow. "Tell me everything you know. Please..."

Erza held up a hand to stop Natsu from spilling any more secrets. She took over the task instead. "Very well," she sighed, motioning for Sting to sit back down. "We will disclose only so much in order to protect this world's future. The demon behind Yukino's death is the one we have come to know as the Evil King. His name is Ganondorf."

"He's the dragon-summoning bastard," Natsu snarled vehemently, puffing out smoke with every word. He was fuming with heat visibly radiating from his body.

"The Cursed Eclipse Demon?" Rogue questioned, horrified.

Lector gasped in terror while Frosch shivered in fright.

"That demon?!" Sting exclaimed, eyes wide and quivering.

"The demon used Yukino to open the Eclipse Gate that brought the dragons to this time," Erza continued, shifting her attention between the members of Sabertooth. "Do you all remember the Gate at the bottom of Domus Flau?"

"Shit, of course," Sting growled, pale and shaken from the memory. He clenched a trembling fist. "Fighting in that damn pit was hell. We nearly got eaten by dragons more than once! Still have nightmares about it. Did... Did Yukino die... down there?"

"We don't know the exact details," said Lucy, frowning. And it was best that it remained unknown. "But... we can only assume it happened shortly after the Gate was opened..." It enraged her to know that Yukino was used and discarded like a tool by the loathsome demon.

Sting swore once more and covered his face with his hands.

There was a moment of silence as Sabertooth grieved.

"We'll avenge her," said Natsu, his eyes alight with promise and determination. "That bastard isn't going to get away with what he did to all of us."

There was an unspoken agreement among the members of Fairy Tail.

Rogue was first to catch note of it. "The problem you have mentioned earlier... You guys are going after this demon, aren't you? That's why you've been spending so much time training."

"Wait, is that true?!" Sting demanded as he swept his eyes across the table at each Fairy. He was surprised to see their fearless expressions. "No way! It's suicide! That freaking demon was so strong it took angels to defeat him!"

"We know," said Natsu, his mouth twisting into a cocky grin, "But it ain't gonna stop us. Next time that bastard shows up, we'll be ready to kick his ass and bring him down for good."

"H-How?" Sting stammered, "No offense, but even with the magic power of your entire guild combined, you guys are barely a match against that monster."

Erza smirked, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Fear not. We have the blessings of the angels on our side. That is all we will say. We better head out, it's getting far too late. It's a long drive back to Magnolia and we don't want to miss celebrating New Year's Eve with everyone." With that, she got up, signalling their conversation had truly come to an end.

Lucy and the rest of her team got up too, taking the plates of food that were promised to them.

"A-All right," Sting conceded, nodded in understanding as he and Rogue also moved to stand. "There's just one more thing before you go." He rushed to his desk to grab something from one of the drawers and ran back to Lucy. He held out a small wooden box that was painted yellow with a dark blue rose carved in the middle of the lid.

"What's this?" asked Lucy, hesitant to take the sudden gift.

"This arrived at our guild back in July while we were gone for the Games," Sting began to explain, his tone sombre; "Yukino's sister sent this for her... There's no return address or any other clue where it came from. If... If you guys are really planning to go after that demon for Yukino's sake, I think you should have this."

Lucy carefully took the box as if it was made of delicate glass, feeling a pang in her chest. "I didn't know she had a sister..."

Sting sadly shook his head. "Neither did we..."

Lucy opened the box and found the inside also painted yellow. She was first greeted by a little, neatly hand-written card sitting on top. 'Happy 18th Birthday ~ From your sister' it read in blue ink. Lucy picked up the card and flipped it, seeing another message on the back that said: 'You still like the animal ones, right?'

Placing the card aside, Lucy turned her attention to the contents of the box. There was a Silver Celestial Key tied with a small, dark blue ribbon in a shape of a rose. When Lucy held it up, she couldn't believe her eyes; on the bow of the key was the golden howling wolf-head of Lupus.

"You're sure I can have this?" she asked.

Sting nodded as he looked away. "Until I can find her sister, I think... you should have it for now. Take good care of it until then."

Tears stung Lucy's eyes as she made a promise that she would. Even after her death, Yukino was still able to help Lucy and her guild...

Together, Sabertooth and Fairy Tail made their way to the entrance on the main floor. It was dark in the lobby with most lights turned off. Bethany had long since gone home and someone had, in fact, moved Erza's cart back down for her.

"Hey, it was great to see you guys again," said Sting, holding up a fist towards Natsu in a familiar gesture.

The Fire Dragon Slayer raised his brow before grinning. He lightly smacked the back of his arm against the other. "Same."

"Wish it was in better circumstances," said Erza.

Sting nodded. "Yeah... Thanks again. I'll be sure to send you guys the stuff you wanted. Heh, maybe it'll all arrive in time for New Years. And just so you know," his expression turned bold, his eyes reflecting the same determination that Natsu possessed, "we have your back, Fairy Tail. Once we're done dealing with Succubus Eye, we won't hesitate to join your fight against that Evil King bastard. Don't exactly know how you guys are going to do it... but I guess I can only believe you already have it figured out."

Natsu's grin broadened. "Figured out? Not quite yet. But we swore to a friend that we would protect this future and that's what we're going to do no matter what it takes."

"The future..." Sting repeated, his brow slightly furrowed as something suddenly crossed his mind. He got as far as opening his mouth before Erza cut in.

"It's good to have an ally we can fully trust," she said, giving Sabertooth an appreciative smile. "However, I must ask that you do not share what we have discussed in regards to the Evil King and our true intentions to anyone else. Word must not get out in fear of the Magic Council getting involved. And we would like them to keep their noses out of our business."

"Got it," Sting promised. Rogue and the Exceeds all nodded as well.

The two groups exchanged farewells and holiday wishes, both anticipating whatever the new year would bring.

---

A/N: Happy super belated New Years! It's Wendy's time to shine in this chapter.

Slowly, but surely, everything is starting to come together. What new horrors will await them all in the next year? Mwahahaha.

Last bonus short features Meredy! Please enjoy!

---

Fairy Sorcière

Meredy was glad to have the whole weekend off work. She was even more ecstatic that the timing coincided perfectly with Crime Sorcière's secret bimonthly meeting. To Meredy, the meeting was more like an excuse to get together, but Jellal wanted to keep it professional and persisted in calling it a 'meeting' and nothing else.

It was a rainy, late summer evening, but not even a downpour could dampen Meredy's mood. She had been looking forward to seeing her guild mates all week.

She strolled alongside Juvia through the wet streets of Magnolia, sharing a large umbrella that kept their heads dry as they headed towards Fairy Tail. Over the pattering rain, she could hear Juvia softly humming to herself.

Juvia was feeling just as elated as Meredy, but for an entirely different reason. She had prepared a basket full of freshly-baked pork buns, each one meticulously hand-crafted with Gray's handsome, grinning face on top. She couldn't wait to give them to him and see his reaction.

Meredy wanted to believe their relationship was starting to bloom. However, even with Meredy and Ultear gently prodding them from time to time, there was still a long way to go before it would truly blossom.

There were a few other townsfolk who braved the ugly weather, giving Meredy and Juvia kind, polite smiles as they passed by. Ever since Meredy had changed her look to disguise herself as Valerie, Juvia's magic-less cousin, they were often mistaken as sisters whenever they were seen together.

The moment Fairy Tail was in sight, Meredy was beaming with a smile. Sometimes, on days she was free, Meredy would tag along with Juvia to visit the guild. The place felt like home. Despite knowing who she was and what she had done in the past, the Fairies welcomed and treated her as one of their own, just as easily as they had accepted Jellal as their 'Mystogan'.

Meredy never had a home before. Crime Sorcière used to always be on the move. And way before that, she could only remember Grimoire Heart, far from the definition of what a home stood for.

Knowing she would always be safe within the walls of Fairy Tail always brought a warm, fuzzy feeling within her chest.

Meredy followed Juvia through the large front door where they were greeted by the usual sights, smells, and sounds of the rambunctious guild inside. Rain or shine and no matter the hour, Fairy Tail was always brimming with all sorts of activity.

As the women made their way through the grand hall, they exchanged friendly waves and hellos to those they walked by. Juvia was on the lookout for Gray, whereas Meredy was moving towards the back. Halfway across, Meredy noticed something green and glowing floating high-up in the rafters above the very same spot she was heading for. One eyebrow curiously perked, she followed it like a beacon.

There was one particular table tucked close to a corner that was out of the line of sight of any windows. Right after Crime Sorcière's first few meetings, (which Makarov was very kind to allow them to host within his guild), that spot had eventually become reserved just for them. The table was always left empty, just in case Crime Sorcière needed it on any odd day since their meetings had no set dates and revolved around each member's availability.

Right now, the table was occupied by the people both Meredy and Juvia were excited to see: Gray and Ultear. Maintaining her transformation as the blonde-haired, green-eyed Matilda, Ultear was having a drink and sharing appetizers with Gray, both taking comfort in each other's company like old acquaintances.

It had been a while since Meredy had seen Ultear's real face, but the same could be said of herself.

Everyday, Meredy wore heavy make-up and aqua-coloured contacts. She also kept her hair dyed an ocean blue and trimmed just above her shoulders. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen her normal appearance in a mirror, making her miss her natural pink locks.

Gray and Ultear were deep in conversation when Meredy and Juvia joined them at the table. The four exchanged brief greetings as the 'cousins' took their seats beside their respective guild mates.

Meredy pointed at the shining, green ball of light hovering in the rafters and asked, "What's that fancy new decoration you guys have up there?"

Gray followed her finger, all the while ignoring Juvia who decided to slide her chair right up against his so their elbows were touching. "That thing? It's just Link's warp spell," he answered.

"A warp point, to be more precise," Ultear elaborated in the smooth, deep tone of Matilda. She took a careful sip of her red wine, holding her glass like a high-class woman. Always poised and finely dressed, very rarely did she ever break out of her character no matter where she was or whom she was with. Just in case.

"Oh? I didn't know Link could do that!" said Meredy, rather impressed. Or maybe she had forgotten. She vaguely remembered Keaton mentioning something about warp points once what felt like so long ago.

Gray soundly nodded. "He remembered how to do it when he started training with Mystogan. Been using it as a shortcut back to the guild on crappy days like today."

Meredy smiled, glad Link was remembering more and more of his abilities. She loved hearing all about his progress as he trained with his masters. Knowing what a strong and capable young man he would one day become, Meredy couldn't be prouder at how quickly the boy was learning.

"That sounds convenient. Not having to walk in the rain," she remarked, grabbing an extra plate sitting on the table. She started to help herself to a few appetizers that Gray and Ultear had ordered.

"You would think it would be convenient," said Gray, chuckling. "However, the kid needs to work on his placement."

Meredy paused in the middle of piling food on her plate. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough," was all he said as he reached for an appetizer. His hand was suddenly intercepted by a basket of buns shoved in the way.

"Gray, Juvia has made these for you," said Juvia, looking shyly away and cupping her blushing cheeks. "Cousin Valerie said you love them so Juvia slaved away all day to make sure they were perfect!"

Gray flinched at her comment and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "W-What?! I've never said... Oh..." He glared irritably at Meredy, his cheeks a little red. "Hey, that's not fair, Cousin Valerie."

Meredy snickered, her mouth curling into a devilish smile. "Admit it," she teased, "You like Juvia's food! She's an amazing cook and you can't deny that!"

Having lived with Juvia for nearly two months now, Meredy had tasted the water mage's amazing dishes and had witnessed her flawless talent with a sewing needle. Juvia could be a five-star chef or a master seamstress with the amount of love and care she poured into all her creations. If only she wasn't so obsessed with putting Gray's image on everything...

Juvia gasped and leaned right into the young man's face, her blue eyes wide and sparkling with affection. "Does Gray really like Juvia's cooking?"

Gray jerked away from her, nearly falling out of his chair. "N-No! I don't–" He was sharply cut off by Meredy clearing her throat.

She shot him a look to remind him that it was useless to lie with her around.

Groaning in defeat, he ran a hand nervously through his hair and muttered under his breath, "Okay, fine... Your food is... not the worst."

Meredy sighed and rolled her eyes, disappointed in Gray's poor choice of words.

Noticing Meredy's reaction, Ultear's normal voice cut into her thoughts, "He's a stubborn, inexperienced boy. Don't expect him to ever sound poetic."

"Can't he at least put some effort into it?!" Meredy groaned in frustration, wanting to pull out her hair.

Nevertheless, what Gray had said was all Juvia wanted to hear.

"Oh, Gray!" Juvia cried, throwing herself at him as if he had actually confessed his love for her.

Horrified, Gray stumbled out of his seat to escape her hugging arms with his surprisingly good reflexes. However, his reflexes weren't good enough to save him from what happened next.

There was a flash of green and a short burst of wind that stirred the tops of everyone's hair. In place of the light hovering in the rafters, two cloaked individuals suddenly appeared and dropped down, falling directly on top of Gray with a loud crash.

Meredy and Juvia gave a start.

Ultear, on the other hand, calmly glanced sideways at the commotion, one eyebrow raised as she lazily swirled the wine in her glass. "Nice of you two to drop by," she quipped before she took another sophisticated sip.

Curious, Meredy got up and rounded the table to check on the groaning bodies writhing on the floor. She found Jellal and Link crushing poor Gray underneath them. Now she understood what the Ice-Make Mage had meant earlier.

"You guys okay?" she asked, standing before the fallen trio with her hands on her hips.

Jellal grunted in response. As he painstakingly climbed to his feet, he muttered, "Who did we land on this time?"

"It's Gray!" exclaimed Link, quickly rolling off the ice mage to kneel beside him. Frowning, the boy bowed his head in guilt. "Sorry, Gray..."

Lying prone, Gray moaned into the floorboards in pain. "Augh... My spine..."

"Are you hurt? I'll get Wendy!" Link sprang up and spun on his heel, his eyes darting around the guild. Aside from a few onlookers who remained in their seats, most of the guild didn't pay too much attention to what had just happened. It seemed like Link and Jellal warping and falling on top of other people was a normal occurrence.

"Wendy's not here right now," Jellal noted before Link could go search for her.

"It's... It's fine... Nothing's broken... I think..." Gray mumbled, slowly pushing off the floor, wincing from the effort. He was pulled back up with the help of Jellal, but barely could he stand up straight. Sore and aching, Gray leaned against the table's edge for support, one hand massaging his lower back like a hunched old man.

"Sorry, Gray," Link said again, feeling awful for using the mage to soften his fall.

Gray waved a dismissive hand as he straightened in his posture, his spine noticeably cracking. Through his grimace, he forced an assuring smile. "Don't worry about it, kid. Blame it on me for not watching where I was going..." he uttered the last part mostly to himself. He looked between the members of Crime Sorcière. "Anyway, are you guys going to have your meeting now?"

"Looks like everyone's here, so might as well start!" said Meredy, clasping her hands cheerfully.

Neither Gray nor Juvia were disappointed they had to leave so soon. They knew Crime Sorcière rarely met face-to-face due to the risks of blowing their covers, so every moment spent together was precious to the tiny guild.

Gray grabbed his beer and Juvia, after leaving a couple buns on a plate, picked up her basket. "We'll catch up with you guys later then," said Gray as he and Juvia left Crime Sorcière alone.

Before Link could run off, Meredy asked him, "Why don't you join us until Wendy's back?"

The boy tilted his head and blinked in confusion. "Isn't your meeting for Crime Sorcière only?"

"Of course," Meredy answered, returning to her seat. "You're a Sorcière too, didn't you know? Has Mystogan never told you?" She gave Jellal a pointed look as he took Gray's spot at the table.

"I see no reason why he needed to know," the man replied coolly, leaning back and crossing his arms. "It's not an important matter to bring up in the midst of his training considering the current state of our guild."

But it was important enough for Link. The boy was overflowing with excitement as he ran up to the table, staring wide-eyed at his master. "Am I really a member of Crime Sorcière?" he had to ask.

Jellal nodded and motioned for the boy to take the empty chair beside him. Although his face was hidden, he couldn't hide his amusement from Meredy, no matter how slight. Spending time with Link, as well as Erza, was starting to loosen Jellal's strict and uptight personality. It was a pleasure to see him in a lighter mood than usual as the bond between him and his student began to grow.

"You've been one of us since the beginning of your training," said Jellal as Link eagerly joined their table.

"I can be in two guilds at once?" the boy questioned, flabbergasted.

Sitting across from him, Meredy leaned forward and winked. In a quiet voice, as if sharing a big secret, she answered, "Don't see any problem with that. Your situation is just like Mystogan here. You're not officially registered as a member of Fairy Tail and Crime Sorcière is actually an unofficial guild. So you can technically belong to both without any complications!"

"And you're already fitting in so well with us by hiding away from the general public," remarked Ultear, peering at the boy over the rim of her wine glass.

Meredy laughed in agreement. "Really, it's all we've been doing lately." Other than trying to sleuth around and glean any information on the activities of the Dark Guilds and powerful, evil demons. But that was a responsibility that Link shouldn't have to worry about.

Link smiled. His happiness was contagious, always making Meredy feel a pleasing rush of warmth.

"Keep in mind we are an elusive guild," Jellal added, his tone low and stern as he hardened his gaze at the boy; "Only Fairy Tail knows our true identities and whereabouts. I trust you will not expose our secret to anyone else? 'Crime Sorcière' must never be spoken outside these walls, do you understand?"

With a firm nod, Link replied obediently, "Yes, understood, Master – err, Mystogan."

"Very good." Jellal turned away, satisfied. He felt more relaxed, now knowing Link would not break his word. Perhaps that was the main reason why he never mentioned it to the boy.

Meredy clapped her hands and grinned. "Link, allow me be the first to officially welcome you to our unofficial guild, Crime Sorcière."

Link's boundless excitement returned. "Is there a welcoming party?"

"Oh! A party? That sounds like a fun idea, don't you guys think so?" Meredy asked her teammates, matching Link's joyous expression.

Ultear shrugged nonchalantly, her mouth twitching into a smile as Meredy's chipper mood was starting to rub onto her. "I don't see why not. We never did throw any sort of celebration when Crime Sorcière was formed."

Jellal snorted. "That is because our guild was created for a certain purpose that is not meant to be celebrated."

"True, but we did accomplish a lot since day one," Meredy pointed out, looking at her companions fondly. "Not only did we wipe out a good number of Dark Guilds – and helped save Fiore from certain disaster – it has brought us much closer together. We're still a team after everything we've been through, I think that's something worth celebrating on top of finally having a new member!"

"In spite of our limitations when we started, we have come pretty far, haven't we?" said Ultear, glowing with newfound pride. "Not just our guild as a whole, but each of us as individuals."

There was a short pause as Jellal took a moment to consider what they had said. He bowed his head and sighed wistfully, beginning to understand how they truly felt about their guild. "I suppose you're right," he murmured, leaning forward to rest his chin atop his laced fingers. He met each of their gazes, including Link's, before he glanced sideways at the noisy Fairies already getting drunk and rowdy in the grand hall.

Erza, with her long, scarlet hair, stood out amongst the crowd. She was foolishly challenging Cana to a drinking contest, which would no doubt end in disaster.

It was brief, but Meredy felt a twinge of gratitude coming from Jellal before it was replaced by a stronger feeling; devotion. There was a rare, genuine smile under his mask. "We've gained more than what we have lost," he continued, just loud enough for them to hear, "It's a good cause for a celebration. But first, let's get our meeting over with. I have nothing worthwhile on my end."

"Unless you want to hear all about the goddamn drama going on at the Mayor's office, I also have nothing," Ultear muttered before downing the last of her wine in one gulp and slamming her glass down on the table.

"Oh, juicy gossip!" said Meredy with a wicked grin, "I also have tonnes of dirty little secrets from all the drunks I've served at the bar. Other than that, I've got no news to report."

"Why are drunk people secretly dirty? Don't they take a bath?" Link asked, staring at Meredy in confusion.

She nearly burst out in laughter. The boy's innocent questions were just too hilarious and adorable. "I'll tell you when you're older," she answered, stifling her giggles. "Now, how about we hurry up and start our little party before it gets too late?"

Link smiled and vigorously nodded, his joy affecting those around him as if he had Meredy's power.

Their celebration began small, a tasty feast isolated only at their table. But the news had spread quickly like wildfire throughout the entire guild of Fairy Tail. Makarov was furious that Crime Sorcière didn't include everyone else because the Fairies wanted to celebrate alongside them.

And thus, true to Fairy Tail fashion, the little event transformed into a huge celebration that rocked the entire building. The grand hall was full of endless laughter and highly destructive, drunken antics that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

The two guilds were one. Together as trusted allies and friends. All sharing the same roof, in which they felt right at home.

---

A/N: Didn't quite end up with a Meredy-Link bonding moment, but instead became more on how Link's presence has impacted Crime Sorcière overall. Always liked the original three members of the guild more compared to after they lost Ultear.

Hopefully you guys enjoyed reading these extra little scenes. I may do more when inspiration strikes.

Thanks for reading!

And sorry everyone, I'm not taking any story requests. Thanks for asking though.