With the new year came new challenges. Snow gently fell along Magnolia, and Diamond was standing outside of Fairy Tail. She had a hand extended, watching as the snowflakes fell onto her palm, and they didn't melt due to her body temperature either. There was a faint smile as she did this, before letting them fall to the ground. Gray noticed her and approached. "Cold enough for you?"

"Kinda warm, actually." Diamond replied with a wry smile. "I'm from Iceberg. A winter here in Magnolia is like a nice spring breeze to me, but it's actually pretty refreshing."

"I know what you mean." Gray slid his hands into his pants pockets. "You're an...ice spirit, right? That's what Juvia said."

"Mhm." Diamond nodded. "I'm like a Celestial Spirit that Lucy has, although I'm not bound to anything."

"I see. Have you decided what you're going to do? Are you going to go back to Iceberg?" Gray decided to ask. The Dealer members were struggling a little bit after the defeat of King.

"I can't go back to Iceberg for...reasons." Diamond replied, looking up at the cloudy sky. "Heartless, er...or...Clarissa, I dunno what she wants to go by now. Either way, she wants us to start trying to make amends with Fiore. It won't make our crimes disappear, but...hopefully they'll become nothing more than a blemish to look back on."

"As long as you guys are willing to do better, we'll be here to help you every step of the way." Gray responded, turning back towards the guild. There, he could see Juvia lingering with a jealous gaze. For the sake of himself and Diamond, he thought it best to want to end the conversation here. "Uh...I think the Master wanted us inside because he had an announcement!"

"Love rival..." Juvia mumbled under her breath, and Diamond walked past her to get back inside. Diamond tried her best to ignore it.

Once inside, the guild had their attention on Makarov. Heartless, Jack. Tia, Spark. Spade, and Strong were scattered about the guild building, deciding to listen in on this as well. "Listen well, everyone! We've gotten word about the next Grand Magic Games!"

"Alright!" Natsu was the first one to speak up and the others felt an air of excitement around them. "When are we kicking the asses of everyone again! Including White Eclipse!" Since they were the reigning champions, Natsu really wanted to kick them off that annoying high horse!

"Unfortunately..." The fact Makarov started with that already said a lot. "There will be no Grand Magic Games in X793. After the incident with Dealer, even though the damage was repaired, the King wishes to create sufficient safety measures. Nobody wants a repeat of what happened."

"I guess that makes sense..." Lucy frowned a bit. She was hopeful that she could show out this year, but that didn't appear to be the case.

"That's not so bad." Mira was looking on the bright side of things. "This means everyone can use the extra time to get that much stronger!"

"We'd save them all the embarrassment." Laxus commented. "That just means we have to shape up. Nobody slack off now."

"I don't intend to!" Cynthia said confidently. Even with that announcement, activity in the guild was still just as high as ever. The new year was starting off on a great note. Some of the Dealer members did kind of try to get along with the others; it was difficult, but worth the effort.

"I believe she also wants to invite us to a banquet in the coming weeks." Makarov said. This got everyone's attention. "She wants to thank us and the other guilds for their hard work during the numerous crises that have plagued the country. Despite how dangerous everything has appeared, we've always managed to emerge victorious!"

"Now that's more like it!" Natsu pumped his fist into the air. "All that food!"

"Of course that's where your mind goes to first." Lucy said with a slight smile. As expected of Natsu. This information got the guild very excitable.

Tia slowly approached Lisanna of all people. "Lisanna Strauss."

"E-Eh?" Lisanna quickly turned around, mildly startled and intimidated. This was the first time Tia ever spoke to her directly! "Can I do something for you, Tia?"

"I had a question for you." Tia said, glancing off to the side for a moment. "You were Ace's...partner, weren't you?"

When Tia phrased it like that, Lisanna wasn't sure how to react. But she did nod slowly. "Yes...I gave Ace a helping hand. He saved me when Joker was going to kill me..."

Tia remained silent for a moment. "I see. He...told you more about himself than he ever told me. I never knew about his illness..."

"If you think that's because he didn't trust you, that's wrong." Lisanna said with a firm tone. "Ace cared about you a lot. Not being able to get you to join him was his biggest regret..."

"...It's strange. Ace always tended to work alone when things got heavy." Tia looked out the window, watching the snow fall outside. "But he worked with you. He gathered support from other guilds to face Dealer. I know he would've attempted to do so alone had he the chance. But that changed wen he met you. What did you do to him?"

Lisanna scratched her cheek sheepishly. "I guess...I showed him the benefits of working with others. It took a lot of convincing. He almost pulled back, but I was able to show him that working with someone is better than going it alone. I might have been the only person who could've pulled it off..."

"I see." Tia looked Lisanna over. Her brows furrowed. Cute face, good assets. She knew Ace, Lisanna was definitely his type. So this only made her wonder, with all that time they had together, alone... "...You and Ace. Did you...?"

Lisanna somehow knew this was coming and her face went bright red. She started to wave her hands as steam came from her ears. "N-N-No...! Nothing happened! I swear...! We were just partners-! No, that sounds bad. I was his assistant...!" Would she ever beat these allegations?!

Of course, the peace in the guild didn't last. Not when the Council came in. Captains Kemuri, Doranbolt, and Lahar stepped through the doors, uninvited. "Happy New Year, Fairy Tail." Kemuri said with a grin. While he didn't have the rude gusto of the late Correll, his smile did not leave any room for friendliness.

"What do you want?" Makarov was sitting cross legged on the bar.

"We're just checking in on things." Lahar said, pushing his glasses up. "You have the former members od Dealer within your guild, after all. They are formally criminals."

"H-Hey! We're reformed!" Strong exclaimed.

"It's not that simple, big guy." Kemuri shook his head. "All of you, with the exception of that kid," He pointed at Spark. "Are all on thin ice. The only thing keeping you from being thrown behind bars right now, is that Dealer was dealt with, you turned at the last second, and due to Siegrain's good graces. Your presence in Fairy Tail doesn't mean much."

"..." The members of Dealer went silent.

"I was working under Seven's jurisdiction." Heartless placed a hand on her chest. She did glance at Daigo, who wanted to say something, but she shook her head to stop him. "While this doesn't excuse the things I've done..."

"Yeah, we can talk about that with Queen Vena later." Kemuri said. That was an entirely different issue, and not one Fiore's Magic Council was going to let slide so easily.

"Don't listen to them." Makarov said suddenly. "Everything is fine so long as you continue to try and make amends."

"Old man..." Doranbolt narrowed his eyes at Makarov. "Just be sure they don't do anything. Otherwise the responsibilities fall on you."

"I understand, and I am not worried. These children trek a new path in life. It has to begin somewhere...and it will begin here. I will make sure of it, as will these brats." Makarov held a calm gaze, Everyone was silent as he spoke. "If anything happens, we will take care of it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Tch..." Kemuri sucked his teeth, but then smiled. "Alright. Just remember these words if they screw up. I hope you can start the new year off on the right foot." With that, the Council Captains left.

"...They're pleasant." Heartless replied, arms crossed over her chest. "But I suppose their concerns are very valid."

"Are we in trouble?" Spark questioned.

"Not at all." Mira replied with a gentle smile. Spark was about the same age as Romeo, if not a bit younger. But she was good at dealing with kids.

"But we do need to begin somewhere." Spade said. "Sitting in Fairy Tail as time goes by doesn't do much for our image."

"What do you plan on doing?" Lucy asked.

"The best we can. Making nice with the other guilds is a good place to start." Heartless explained. "They don't have to accept us, and I do not expect them to. But we have to prove we aren't followers of King anymore."

"I don't expect them to give us the time of day." Tia said with a gloomy expression. "But I guess the attempt is worth something."

"They'll understand." Erza said with a firm nod. "As long as you show you aren't following that evil path, they'll open up to you in time."

"I hope you're right. Because I do not want to look like some kind of jackass if they reject us." Jack grumbled, onyl for Tia to nudge him with her elbow.

"Language." Tia said with a harsh whisper, causing Jack to grumble even more.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Wendy suggested.

"I think this is something we need to do on our own." Spade shook his head. "But thank you. Your support means much for us." With that, the Dealer group made their way out of the guild and into the snow.

"They're starting right now?" Cana tilted her head.

"No time like the present." Evergreen remarked. She did have to admire their determination.

"Think they'll be alright?" Natsu asked.

"They'll be just fine." Mavis said, appearing from thin air. Her appearance surprised everyone. "As long as you all are willing to support them, they'll make it through this confusing time in their lives." She looked on as the Dealer group vanished into the snow. She had high hopes for them, whatever they decided to do.

.

.

"Spending the start of the new year in another country..." Daryan was looking out of a hotel window, watching the snow fall. He just got back from running an errand.

"It's a shame Kagura slammed the door on you when you asked her out!" Hiruka giggled a Daryan's failed attempt.

"She'll come around one day, I'm sure...!" Daryan said with a sweatdrop. "I've never met a woman like her before. She's so strong..."

"Maybe you'd have a chance if you weren't so pushy about it." Yakuza stated. This made Daryan deflate.

Alex, in the meantime, just snickered along with Hiruka. "He's got a point. Maybe if you actually tried to be a bit more cool, she wouldn't blow you off with an annoyed huff."

"My methods will work out...!" Daryan defended himself, but he was taking their words into consideration. Kagura did just draw him in... "I'll figure something out."

"Hah..." Gaia was watching her guild mates with a smile. This was a far cry different than the way things were a few months ago. Everyone was borderline miserable, but now freed from the shackles of Karma, they could spread their wings. "So this is what being a guild master is really like. Watching you dorks live your lives like this is so amusing." She then turned to Magnus, who was looking onward with a grim expression. "Magnus?"

"..." Magnus said nothing. But after a moment, he realized that Gaia was talking to him. So he turned. "Yes?"

"What's with the look of doom and gloom?" Gaia questioned.

"To my understanding, he's been like that since the new year began." Shadowlore remarked from a dark corner.

"Do you remember what I told everyone last year, shortly after the Grand Magic Games?" Magnus' tone was low, and it caught everyone's attention.

"That vision you had about x793?" Alex asked.

Magnus nodded in response. "Yes. The vision I saw about the world ending. It's becoming clearer and clearer by the day. I can see it...a man with the guise of Acnologia, bringing ruin to the world...the world may very end this year..."

"Stop being so dramatic!" Daryan exclaimed, throwing his arm around Magnus' shoulder with a grin. "We remember, and I'm sure everyone else does as well. You didn't foresee that angel attack, and despite how dicey it got, we won, right? Fiore's got a strong crowd here, and we're here to help too. Acnologia isn't anything compared to us!"

"..." As much as Gaia wanted to be as gung-ho about that statement as Daryan, she knew better. She'd never laid eyes on the Black Dragon in question, but as a dragon herself, that name was not to be underestimated. "There is still some merit to Magnus' Foresight. He can still see events that are going to happen...if Acnologia is coming, it is not something we can take lightly."

"Gaia's right." Alex clenched her hand into fists. "Whatever comes out way, we'll take it down!"

"Yeah..." Yakuza said quietly in the corner, largely remaining silent until now. The least he could do was take part in the group cheer, even if it was quietly.

"..." Magnus nodded slowly. The fear that crept up along his spine wasn't so easily dispelled, however...a black future was awaiting them, and he worried that there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

.

.

Dealer first made their rounds to Sabertooth. Since Sabertooth was one of the first guilds they actually attacked, the had to start there. Although it was mostly just Strong apologizing to Sting. "So, uh...sorry about almost crushing you that one time and stuff..."

"You can do better than that, can't you?" Diamond pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Nah, it's fine!" Sting said while waving a hand. "You're pretty tough, Strong-san! I'd like to take you on in a fight to the finish one of these days. Then you'd see you'd have nothing to apologize for!"

"I mean, I did think it was pretty clear cut." Strong could feel that competitive spark within Sting's words. "But if you want a surefire result, I'll take you on!"

"Is this apologizing?" Spark looked towards the others. They just looked on with exasperated expressions.

"No." Tia ultimately shook her head. She opened her lacrima phone and furrowed her brows. "We should properly apologize to the likes of White Eclipse as well, even if I'm certain they will turn that down. They have once already."

"Twilight Zone went off the map..." Jack said. "So I guess we'd be wasting our time trying to hunt them down."

"It is still nice of you guys to do this." Rogue said.

"You didn't have to." Lector added.

"No, we did." Spade shook his head. "We cannot start on the right foot with you all, if we don't take the necessary steps to show we want to be better. Even if it's something small like this apology, we have to begin somewhere."

"...Yeah, I get it." Sting rubbed the back of his neck. "We weren't the nicest bunch for a long time. We only focused on strength, and our old Guild Master drilled that into us. Failure wasn't an option, friendship wasn't important...the only thing that mattered was how strong we were. We did win the Grand Magic Games multiple years in a row, but it's no surprise that we failed when we encountered the heart of Fairy Tail for the first time."

"They really are something, aren't they?" Daigo said with a faint chuckle.

"If I recall correctly..." Rufus placed his fingers on his temple. "Erza said that Lady Minerva was working alongside you all for a time. Is this true?"

"It is." Daigo confirmed. "However, she vanished during the battle. I haven't the faintest clue where she went off to. Otherwise I would inform you straight away. She seemed very bitter the whole time she was with us."

"The Guild master before Sting-sama, was her father." Yukino said quietly. "Everything about her, stems from how she raised by him. He was very cruel and had no tolerance for failure, as Sting-sama mentioned." She rubbed her arm, recalling how she was embarrassed and treated. "I do not think Minerva-sama is truly a bad person...but she had an upbringing that is difficult to separate from..."

"That's what it was like at Sabertooth for along time." Orga commented.

"...What happened to this former guild master of yours?" Tia tilted her head. "From how you make it sound, someone like that would not relinquish power that easily."

"No. But in a fit of rage for what he did to Lector, I attacked him while his guard was down." Sting looked at his own hands, while Lector looked up at him. "Since then, we've seen the error of Sabertooth's ways and have strived to be a better place. We're getting there, day by day. But as long as we're a place that cherishes those within the guild, we're doing alright! If we see the Lady again, I want her to know she's welcome back with open arms..."

"Cherish, huh?" Jack crossed his arms and glance away. All this goody two shoes stuff was hard to swallow, but he didn't exactly want to go back to being someone's henchmen either...

"This may prove to be a bit harder than we thought..." Tia thought to herself. Shifting allegiances so suddenly, trying to be better...this was a lot of work. But it was what Ace would've wanted. So, she wanted to at least give that a try. If Ace could do it, maybe they could as well...

.

.

Within the depths of Tartarus, in Hell's Core, a small female demon stood in front of a tube. Lamy was giggling to herself while looking things over. There were two tubes; one contained a woman, while the other contained a large man. "These two are pretty ugly...but they'll be much cuter once I pump those demon cells into them!" There was a mad grin on her face as well.

Calm footsteps echoed through Hell's Core. Marde Geer approached, cradling the Book of END in his arm as always. "Lamy. How are the tests going?"

Lamy snapped to attention and turned to Marde Geer. "Marde-sama! I was not expecting to see you, but it's going extremely well! I was surprised that you wanted to allow humans to undergo this transformation..."

"Humans are insects. I will always abide by this simple fact of life." Marde said with a faint smile. "However, we can turn them into something superior." He looked to the two test subjects. "These two humans have expired in their life. As such, they make perfect subjects. Whether they succeed or fail is no issue, so long as the end result is perfect.

Jinemma Orland...and Heather Viperosso. They will be the first new demons that we unleash onto the world..."

.

.

Juvia: Valentine's Day is finally here! It's time for Juvia to make her move!

Cynthia: Uh, is everything going to be alright with her?

Lucy: I wish I could answer that for you...

Next Time: Valentine's Day Challenge