A light snowfall occurred in the town of Magnolia and just outside of it. It was the beginning of a new season; Winter. In the forest just outside of the city, Jellal's group met with another; a familiar one by the name of Cosmic Star. "It's good to see you all safe…"

"It's good to see your two lady friends have been keeping their lovely figures…" Daryan had hearts in his eyes as he gazed at Ultear and Meredy.

"Em…" Meredy blinked, taking a nervous step back.

"Down, Daryan, bad dragon slayer." Alex said in a stern tone, a sweat drop appearing on her head as she looked to Ultear and Meredy. "I am so sorry about him…he doesn't know how to control himself around women…."

"Alex, you're starting to drool yourself…" Shadowlore said while bopping Alex on the head, snapping her back into her senses. "She's hot, but she's nothing to drool over."

(Rude.) "Anyway…" Ultear coughed awkwardly, looking to Gaia, Magnus, and Yakuza, since they seemed to be the least socially awkward. "We heard about a specific group coming from the Pergrande Kingdom had some information about it. Are we to assume that you, Cosmic Star, are this group?"

"That's correct," Gaia nodded. "We figured if anyone should know about this information it should be you all. You see, we decided to not make contact with the guilds around here just yet. Not until our information is full proof."

"Very well…" Jellal nodded. "What is your information?"

"I assume you've heard of the Wizard Hunters, correct?" Magnus asked.

"Ah…yes…" Jellal nodded. "Erza told me about them recently…Not too much, however."

"What…!?" Gaia clenched her fist. "How could that be..!? While we were in Pergrande looking around for them they slipped our noses and came here…"

"Sneakier than we gave them credit for…" Yakuza sighed.

"There were seven of them, I think…" Jellal said as he tried to remember.

"Seven…?" Gaia blinked. "So they didn't bring their full force…"

"What do you mean?" Ultear asked with a curious expression.

"There are ten total," Shadowlore explained with a bored expression. "Marx, Weavel, Aeon, Bass, Yumia, Yukia, Cain, Shade, Yeager, and their leader, Lucia."

"And, as it seems…" Alex continued. "Someone very high up in Pergrande is using them as their own personal, and secret service. Carrying out missions under the table…"

"But you can't prove it?" Jellal asked.

"Correct…" Gaia nodded. "Not only that…but it appears their member Shade has been running around within the shadows recently…"

"Shade?" Meredy blinked a few times.

"One of the elite three of the Wizard Hunters," Gaia explained. "He's like a bat…he'll drain people dry of their magical power and kill them…it's quite gruesome, actually."

Meredy's face suddenly paled considerably, remembering something from a few days ago. "H-Hey…you mean that trail of bodies we saw the other day…?"

"Must've been the work of this "Shade" then…" Jellal nodded.

"So the Council must be aware of this…" Ultear brought that point up, but it was shot down by the members of Cosmic Star.

"Actually," Magnus began. "I don't think so. You probably passed by an isolated area, and that's where the guy likes to make his strikes. Council doesn't know about what they can't hear."

"I see…" Ultear gave a slow nod.

"What are your next plans of action?" Jellal asked the group.

"Lay low." Gaia responded. "We've no reason to show up just yet, and so far things look like they can be handled by the others."

"But, that doesn't mean we can't take you lovely ladies, and gentleman, out for dinner!" Daryan exclaimed.

"He just doesn't quit…" Hiruka sighed.

"I dunno why he's flirting with these ladies when Kagura is totally meant for him, just as Milliana, me," Shadowlore said with a firm nod.

"You two are such blockheads…" Alex sighed, shaking her head. "You're giving me a migraine…"

"Anyway!" Shadowlore slid over to Meredy, draping an arm around her shoulder. "So, you got that Sense magic right?"

"Em…yes…" Meredy replied with a slow nod.

"Mind showing me how it works?" Shadowlore asked.

"Sure…" Meredy nodded once again, creating a link between herself and Shadowlore. "This is just a part of it, but with this, we now feel the same thing."

"That so…?" Shadowlore asked, but this time a sly grin appeared on his face. He brought hand to his own chest and squeezed just to see what would happen.

With that, Meredy's face turned bright red. "KYAH!"

And then Ultear brought down a fist on Shadowlore's head, comically stomping on him after. "Keep your hands off of her!"

"Ow!" Meredy rubbed her head before cutting off the link, joining in with stomping on Shadowlore.

"I didn't even touch her!" Shadowlore replied while rolling around in attempt to escape Ultear and Meredy's wrath.

"This is why we can't have nice things…" Gaia just…sighed heavily.

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Within Dealer's base, Diamond was in the basement. She was panting heavily, with a number of special monster defeated before her. A large bull with long, curved horns; a large wolf-like creature, and a gigantic bird. All three of these beasts fell before her. But she showed some signs of injury as well. "Not enough...Brutal! Fenrir! Pterobronic, get back up. We're not finished!"

"Whoa, whoa...!" Strong was the one that came through, waving his hands as Diamond demanded more and more. "What's up with you, Diamond? You gotta let the monsters rest. They're strong, yeah...but..."

"I can't rest." Diamond said. She had her Break Hammer in hand, her grip around the handle tightening. "I have to get stronger. I cannot let what happened before happen again."

"Getting kidnapped?" Spade crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. There were so many more monsters laying in wait, but they were behind cages, eager for a fight. "I admit...that was quite a scare. Are you alright?"

"Your concern isn't..." Diamond bit her tongue. She wanted to snap at Spade, but ever since the Wizard Hunters incident, she couldn't find the will too. "I was saved by legal mages. The only reason they're still alive is because I saved them from Joker."

"Quite a move, honestly." Daigo spoke up, appearing from around the corner. "Heartless said you were rather fearless in that moment. If she didn't know any better, one would think you cared."

"I didn't care!" Diamond grunted. "I didn't want to owe them for helping me. If I can't beat a stupid Wizard Hunter on my own...what business do I have being here?" That question was on her mind. King made it clear that anyone not named Joker or Heartless was a pawn in the grand scheme of things, but she still couldn't just leave Dealer like that...

"Well...you did a good thing." Strong said. "You stopped Joker from killing someone else. That ain't a bad thing. You're still alive too."

"Indeed...he didn't go easy..." Spade commented. The fact Diamond was still with them was tantamount to her endurance. "Strength, huh..."

"...You guys are going to train with me." Diamond decided..

"Me?" Daigo pointed at himself.

"You too, pretty boy." Diamond dropped her Break Hammer. "I learned something important. There are people stronger than us outside of this building. I'm sure we can take Fairy Tail and whatever, but I want to get stronger. I have tow. I know you want to."

"I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't..." Strong scratched the back of his head...

"It wouldn't hurt." Spade admitted.

As they all talked, Jack was listening around the corner with his arms crossed. He couldn't stand being around without his Sister. "Tch...you guys can do whatever you want. I'm going to make sure Fairy Tail pays for what they've done. And I already have all of the power needed for that."

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Siegrain spun around in his chair, thinking heavily about something. He seemed to have an idea, but it looked as though he wasn't entirely sure on how to execute it. It was only moments later when Odin and Correll walked in. "Ah…Odin, Correll…I haven't seen you two in quite some time."

"You'd see me more often if this bum actually did his paperwork instead of chasing around every booty he sees," Odin gave a slight glare to Correll, who gave a shrug and smirk as a response. "Because of that, I've been doing double duty in paperwork to keep things in check."

"You look like you're thinking heavy, sir," Correll said to Siegrain.

"That's right…" Siegrain gave a nod, leaning back in his chair. "I've been thinking of something we could do…a small party of sorts. Invite all the guilds and just have a good time…along with…some other things."

"You have any ideas on it?" Odin asked with a brow raised. "This sounds interesting, and could be a nice break…"

"Of course…With this situation of Dealer going around, I figured we could have a nice little break." Siegrain gave another nod with a slight grin. It was then when an idea appeared in his head. "Ah…!"

.

.

"I can't believe how quiet things have been lately…" Lucy said with a groan while leaning back in her seat within the Fairy Tail guild. "Not that I mind, but its so boooring…"

"It's almost like you're asking for more trouble…" Cynthia said while poking Lucy's cheek a few times.

"Not trouble!" Lucy replied, playfully swatting Cynthia's hand away. "I just want something…exciting to happen! Something that doesn't involve danger!"

"That doesn't seem to happen anymore…" Wendy sighed. It was then that outside, a giant lacrima screen appeared in the sky, showing Siegrain's face.

"Siegrain…" Makarov raised a brow slightly.

"Isn't that one your boyfriend, Erza?" Cynthia asked.

"N-Nani…!?" Erza shook her head rapidly at Cynthia's question. "N-No!"

"He's not going to publicly execute someone again, is he…?" Wendy asked with a slight whimper.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Gildarts replied.

"Hello, good citizens of Fiore!" Siegrain exclaimed to the country with a welcoming grin. "I'm here to let you all know of a very special event occurring soon! This coming weekend, the Council will be holding a masquerade ball! Of course, everyone is invited, and I do recommend that you come. It's not every day that we hold events like this; and of course, there will be all kinds of food and refreshments. Hope to see you all there!" With a small goodbye wave form Siegrain, the lacrima screen shut off.

"A ball…?" Lucy sat up in her chair, a look of interest now appearing on her face. "That actually sounds kind of fun!"

"It could be some kind of trap…" Macao said with an uneasy tone. "You know how the Council feels about some guilds, ours especially."

"I don't think it'll be so bad!" Cynthia exclaimed. "I don't know what it a masquerade ball is exactly but it can't be too bad!"

"You don't know what it is?" Erza blinked a few times before taking it upon herself to teach the young girl everything there was to know about proper etiquette. "Very well, I will teach you!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Lisanna asked with a minor sweat drop.

"I second that question…" Cynthia replied, but it was too late as Erza began to drag the young girl away out of the guild.

"Don't worry; it'll be quick and easy!" Erza replied with a large grin.

"Somehow I doubt this…" Cynthia sighed.

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.

"Well, that sounds like fun!" Sting said with a grin. He then looked over to Rogue, patting his partner on the back. "C'mon, Rouge. I think we should go!"

"Not interested…" Rogue replied.

"Too bad!" Sting's grin widened somewhat. "As guild master, I'm gonna make you go!"

"Great…" Rogue said with sarcasm.

"I'll join you both too," Yukino replied, unable to help but giggle at Rogue's attitude and situation in the matter.

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.

"The Council is hosting a ball…?" Zalen asked.

"I'm not too sure how I feel about that…" Luke remarked. "I don't think I want to go to a gathering hosted by someone who killed one of our members…"

"But if we don't go they'll probably make something up about all of us," Selene pointed out.

"We might as well go then…" Reve stated. "We've got nothing to lose."

"And it's not like everyone has to go," Jaxon stated. "I, for one, choose not to go."

"Maybe a few of us could go then?" Taya asked. "There's not much use in chatting about it. Some people can go, others can stay. What's so hard about that?"

"Nothing really when you put it that way…" Jaxon agreed.

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Future Rogue was still lingering around the area the Wizard Hunters were using as a base. The building was crumbled, however, he noticed the signs of debris scattered all over the place. "So he got away..." How unfortunate. That was a Dragon, and he could've used his magic if things were not so hectic. "The island of dragons..." He had nearly forgotten about it. It had been so long, and the events of his future did not paint such a pretty picture in the end. "There is no way for me to get to it now...but I wonder..."

Future Rogue's thoughts were cut short when Siegrain appeared on the screen, giving his announcement.

"Hm?" Future Rogue lifted a brow. Things were proceeding slightly differently than he could remember, but this was fine. In truth, this did present an opportunity. "If I remember correctly, there should be a certain individual attending that party. This means...I may finally be able to get my hands on the first dragon. Acnologia will not be able to escape me for long."

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"Hosting a party, is he?" Daityas asked himself with a slight grin, examining a skull he held in his hands. He increased the temperature in his hand, causing the skull to slowly melt. "This could be interesting…"

"An opportunity to cut loose and run wild?" Tobias asked the demon slayer.

"That actually sounds like fun…" Rugal added, a slight grin appearing on his face. "How are we going to do about this?"

"They've made it too easy for us already…" Daityas replied, his grin widening somewhat.