START ARC 5 - TARTAROS

Not all of Tartaros stood in the crater well beyond the capital city babysitting the new blood. It was an activity Mard Geer, nor even Kyoka, would ever bother with. And if it wasn't for her manipulative abilities, Seilah would probably never bother, either. Mirajane didn't want to be out there but wasn't surprised that she was.

Tempester and Ezel flanked the group to ensure their new recruit couldn't escape. Mirajane cut off the route heading directly back to the city while proud and bulky Jiemma stood like one of the mountains around them to block the passage west. Seilah was at the mouth of the crater next to a jittery Lamy, her and Seilah's assistant.

Seilah sighed. She closed shut the book she'd been reading then hoisted her hand over the crater and released waves of dazzling dark purple magic to sedate the boy.

"Lamy?"

The squiggly thing scrambled into the crater at once. Seilah went back to reading. Part of Mirajane wanted to feel sorry for Lamy, given how she got treated by others in the Division, particularly Kyoka and Seilah. But, in reality, Lamy deserved what came most of the time.

She placed a hand on their recruit's exposed back. He was naked, completely, to see and make sure the demonification was holding.

"It's that lacrima! Ugh! How annoying!"

"Well we can't remove it," Seilah said, "it's the whole reason the Captain asked us to keep this one alive." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Damn it. This can't delay things, Lamy."

"I need to bring him back to Hell's Core!"

"We can't," Tempester said. "Remember?"

"Then forget this one. He's weak, anyway," Jiemma said.

Jiemma thought he was far more important to Tartaros than he actually was. Where he saw rejuvenated strength and invigoration everyone, even Mira, saw a helpless desire for meager power.

"He's unprecedented, which is why it's taking a little more time," Seilah said. She raised her hand, and the boy raised his head. He was under her control; the exercise was meant to release that control while he came into his new demonic power.

"It's not the lacrima," Mirajane said. "It's his willpower."

"Oh?" Seilah asked.

"He's a survivor," Mira said. "Fighting back is all he knows. On some level, his body knows this is wrong. He doesn't have the same sense of…brutality that others who got this power do."

"But it was so easy for you," Ezel said.

"Because," Seilah said, "of her magic. I think you're wrong, Mirajane. It is the lacrima. It's something for him to hold onto. Some remnant of power to cling to and prevent the inevitable."

He was a heap of a mess in the crater. Shadowy scarring tore up his skin. It was far worse than the others they'd rerouted; but, then again, he was the most unique of the bunch. Conflict was inevitable.

"Try," Mira said before they could begin again, "influencing the bane particles around the lacrima, like it's creating a toxic bubble seal. Let him have the lacrima, let his body know it's there to tap into, but his heart will be claimed."

Lamy waited, and after a moment's hesitation, conceded the idea. Mirajane nodded to her superior, and continued watching. She studied his resilience until the bane participles finally formed a link around his heart to prevent any other influences from getting in. Seilah even lowered her hand, despite having had it up to sedate the recruit.

He screamed and screamed and screamed. Lamy clapped at this. He was back to moving again, then began lashing out, but not like a mindless beast. He was attempting to attack things.

Them.

Mirajane threw up a block that parried his strike. The others did the same. Jiemma would scoff at his weakness but it was only temporary as his strength came back. He'd been on the brink of death when he came to the dungeon's doorstep, arriving not a moment too soon. Any later and they, per Mars Geer's machinations, would've been gone.

A dark aura latched to him and he roared once more. It was ancient, and powerful. Draconic. Mirajane raised her eyebrow. Maybe this was going to work.

"Good," Seilah said.

"Remove your restraints, Seilah!" Lamy exclaimed.

"I already have."

The boy settled. Dark tendrils lashed down to fill out his forearms, forming claws that were, really, more like talons. A heavy shadow loomed over his brow. He heaved in hard breaths.

"Tell me," Seilah said. "Whom do you serve, little demon?"

The boy glowered at her. "Zeref."

"Of whom will you receive commands?"

"My Emperor. My Captain."

"And who is it you seek to destroy?"

This was where they lost him last time. But the transformation was weaker then. It'd latched on tight, a parasite to its host. He was back.

But no longer as he'd been. No longer tainted, so long as everything had been done properly. His past was irrelevant, and his power increased.

At last, Kip could serve the Empire to his fullest. He at last summoned the will to answer Seilah as she repeated the question, the very same that had been asked of Mirajane: Who would they destroy?

"Fairy Tail."

Sonya finally shrugged off her responsibilities and scurried out of the throne room, her heels clacking on the marble surrounding her. Oni guard followed in slow, yet long, strides behind her. She rounded a few corners at speed, moving quick enough that no advisors wanted to catch her, and with an expression that especially belayed any that would even want to approach her.

August was in his usual office space but without Levy this time. It was odd to see him alone, as, for the last few weeks, he'd had her latched at his side. A little pet, little Levy was. A pet project, as Sonya understood. What was his plan with her, such a weak little thing?

"Your Highness," August said.

Sonya shut the door on her guard. August didn't mind.

She'd been debating telling August all about her dream. She didn't know much of it, of course, only that she saw Zeref and Acnologia. That there'd been a showdown, and then, they both vanished. August had to know. August was all-knowing. August was…

August was, even more than Sonya, the one closest to the Emperor.

"I need to see Mard Geer, but I've been informed that he's…predisposed," Sonya said.

"My understanding is that he is quite busy, too."

"Nobody is too busy to see me."

August nodded. "Yes, that is true, Your Highness, but the fact of the matter is that, even though you certainly have every right to see him, he is not here. I cannot simply whisk you to him."

"You're the Wizard King."

"And he is the King of Hell."

"We've too many kings, then."

"Too many rulers, I agree."

Sonya felt the chill run through her but stood her ground. August wouldn't wipe her off the planet for no reason. It'd cause too much upheaval in their moves. The Empire was on a knife's edge, even all these years later, based on its actions against Bosco. Her marriage into the Empire only helped smooth a few things over, but the rest of the world learning that August killed Sonya outright would keep them from seeking any further delegation or relations.

"What do you seek Mard Geer for, anyway?"

She was thankful she'd prepared her lie in advance.

"All that nonsense about the various dark wizards, it seems to have gone quite recently," she said. "I wanted to know more. As is my right."

"I only wish I could help you."

Sonya pursed her lips and said no more. She rested her hand on the doorknob.

"August? I know you could take me there, and that you know exactly what Mard Geer is planning. I only wish you'd be more honest with me."

August sighed. "I only wished I respected you so much, Your Highness."

She emerged out the other side and stopped. Her Oni guard flanked her. If they so chose, they could crush her. She wasn't strong enough of a wizard to stop them. Zeref trained her on rudimentary magic, but nothing serious.

From within the cellars of her soul, Animus laughed. She had a dragon within her. By all accounts, that should have allowed for her to have some Dragon Slayer capabilities. It was the case with the others.

But Animus, Zeref, August…all of them refused to train her, to give her access to that magic. If she harnessed the proper power of a Dragon Slayer, as someone with direct access to the Dragon Cry, she could raise her own army. She could break off her own part of the Empire and rebel, and put up a significant threat.

If only you had the stomach for it, little girl, Animus thrummed.

Sonya shook off Animus.

The dragon's spirit lurched, but Sonya batted it back. It was another attempt at control that—

Again. And again. And again, and this time Sonya had to brace herself against the wall. She sucked in a breath while Animus continued to struggle. Sonya shut her eyes, coming, spiritually, face-to-face with the dragon, who snarled at her.

Give in, Animus demanded. You have not the strength to run this, nor any other, kingdom. You never have. It was luck guiding you to the throne of Stella, luck and my guidance. It is the same that keeps you alive.

"Shut up," Sonya said.

The attempts were getting more violent, more vitriolic. Animus was antsy about something.

"What do you know of that day, dragon?" Sonya asked.

Silence.

"Tell me!"

…ya…Son…ya…

Sonya's eyes fluttered open. She was still in the thoroughfare, no constituents about to watch her. Her clammy palm braced against the wall. She balled it into a fist.

That was not Animus's voice. It was faint, holding with it a particular strength as if a distant roar. Peering deeper into the voice, with Animus perched to take control…it was a bad idea.

Still, she yearned to follow it. But she'd have to wait.

Patience, it seemed, was the only virtue she could truly hold onto these days.

Erza stood in the large foyer of the former Blue Pegasus guild, watching as the refugees, and her friends, made preparations for a quick leave. Given how many high-profile rebels had conglomerated in a single space, Hisui thought the best option was to evacuate and move herself, Fairy Tail, and Crime Sorciere completely off the grid, away from any possible Imperial surveillance.

Bob and Ichiya were leading the refugees of Blue Pegasus to a remote place, one that would still suit their needs and be far enough from this one to be safe.

The issue, of course, was what to do with the Captain tied up downstairs.

That was what Makarov, Bob, Hisui, and Mest were discussing in the other room while the refugees hurriedly made their preparations. The rest of the wizards were supposed to be ready to go. They'd little to nothing packed, which was a curious state to be in for Erza. She always packed just enough, never too little.

Still, it'd be nice to get to traveling as a full guild again. Well, almost full. Gildarts was off on his own mission supporting surrounding, tiny islands in breaking their Imperial bonds. Cana seemed pleased to have some distance from her dear father, the others not so much. Gildarts was useful in a pinch, but his reckless use of magic could create a liability.

Erza tilted her head back against the stone wall. Yukino and Lucy walked across her field of vision. They'd taken quickly to one another, appreciative of what the other did to survive and adapt in the time since the end of the Grand Magic Games and attack on the city. Happy was almost always around Lucy, as if wary she'd go away again.

Natsu for the past few days was simply happy to see everyone again, as was Gray, in his own way, though for Juvia's part, she also wouldn't leave him alone. That wasn't abnormal.

Gajeel was sulking. Lots. He stayed by himself and talked only to Master Makarov and Lily. Levy's death was hard on Lucy, which was clear in her eyes, but it landed hardest with Gajeel.

The door to the conference room opened.

"Five minutes!" Hisui exclaimed. "Then we must be evacuated in full."

Erza didn't question the rush. She pushed off the wall and was surprisingly joined by Jellal, who was also approaching Hisui. She stifled a blush.

"After you," they said together.

Jellal tilted his head. "I insist."

Erza nodded. She stopped in front of Hisui, who acknowledged her with merely her eyes while directing others to help with some of the larger bags. They were placing everything for the weary refugees in a single place for Mest, so he could teleport them all at once.

"What was the verdict?"

"Ask your Makarov. I need to keep helping, Erza, I'm sorry."

Erza acknowledged. Jellal approached too, and Hisui took the time to answer him. Erza didn't begrudge her that. Jellal's presence was an incredible victory for the rebellion. Crime Sorciere was back at its fullest strength in years. They'd already proven their ability to stifle whatever moves the Empire was making by unleashing those Dark Wizards. With Jellal back they could do so much more.

"He's staying put," Makarov said as he came out of the room with Master Bob.

"Staying put?" Erza asked. "This is a high-profile person, Master. We'd leave him out to dry?"

"We'd leave him as a distraction," Makarov said.

"And if the Empire gets their hands on him then that's yet another enemy to face," Erza said.

"One we've already defeated," Makarov said. "Albeit with some luck, but now we know how his abilities work. The same can be said of him, but, he only fought five of us. Should he be foolish enough to come at us now that we're all together, at full strength, we can surely beat him."

"It's like this, Erza," Master Bob said, his hands cupped together. "We had to weigh his life against everyone else's. Would lugging him around be worth it if it kept you all exposed, or is it better to keep the enemy's eyes off of everyone until they realize the distraction?"

"There's already rumors of movement headed our way," Makarov said, "hence the hasty evacuation."

Everyone had their eyes and ears out for swift retaliation but none came. The enemy was biding their time, and likely, their power.

"I'm not sure I fully agree but I won't argue with you, Master," Erza said. "If this is the best course of action, we must stick with it."

Killing him had to have been brought up. Erza glanced at Hisui.

"Come along," he said. "Let's ensure our preparations are set, and then we must be on the move."

"Is Laxus ready?" Bob asked.

"Yes," Makarov said. "He's recovered, mostly. Some wounds will take longer to heal. Most of them are mental, of course."

"Right," Erza said.

That Dimaria sounded beyond monstrous, yet was no more than a mere General in the Twilight Division. The same as about six or seven others. And beneath August, beneath the Emperor who—

Who was missing?

Irene's presence sent a shiver through Erza. That woman, her mother, was somewhere in the building, somewhere getting her own machinations ready. The shadow of the Empire loomed large over the world, yet Irene's shadow was darkest over Erza.

Erza and Makarov bid each other a momentary goodbye and set off to collect their family.

Hisui gathered Fairy Tail, as a group, out front of the Blue Pegasus guild hall. Tayaka had already been sent away, under the protection of Crime Sorciere. While everyone was headed for the same secret location, Hisui didn't want all eyes to be on the massive group of wizards moving across the countryside.

Besides, they seemed to have their own little cliques. Laxus would take care of his trio and grandfather, Natsu folded in neatly with the two Celestial Spirit Wizards, Cana would look after the survivors from the Empire's rise, and Erza managed the others. Gajeel tended to stand off on his own these days after his girlfriend was killed. Hisui still felt the hole ripping apart her gut as she thought of it, losing two critical people who were just doing their best for the sake of a mission they had no real part in.

"Move fast across the plains," Hisui said. "You have until dawn tomorrow to arrive at our next location or the gates will be sealed shut on you."

"A bit harsh," Gray muttered.

"This is our most precious base of operations," Hisui said. "A secret only Mest and I know about it." She paused. "Well, now all of you know its location, so, I supposed it's not the most treasured secret."

Sometimes she still felt like the little girl watching her father rule a kingdom. She was still Princess Hisui, the wide-eyed prized jade of Fiore. A precious flower, a sweet little thing, not meant to be brought to the darkness or exposed to the meaner side of what her father lorded over.

Makarov gave her a reassuring nod. "We will be there on time."

"Let's get moving, then," Laxus said. "Come on."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Natsu exclaimed. "How come Laxus gets to zip away on his lightning?"

"I'm sure the rest of you have strategies for getting there quickly, too," Hisui said.

Quick footsteps hurried down the main hall and into the foyer. They were light, nearly imperceptible, and at the last moment, ended in a stumble.

A girl with spiky red hair in a long flowing dress slid down, face-first, next to Hisui. Hisui pursed her lips as everyone gaped at her.

"I would also like you please bring my friend here with you all," Hisui said. The girl picked herself up. "This is Sherria Blendy. I've had her on medical missions across the western front for some time, but I need her with us now for the next stage of our operation."

"She looks so little," Yukino muttered.

Irene looked her up and down. "She's powerful."

Hisui still struggled with knowing Irene Belserion was with them, and was standing among Fairy Tail. She heard the stories, of course, about how they could use their great power of friendship, but this seemed otherworldly. Hisui didn't trust Irene for a second but the woman was dedicated to protecting Erza, her supposed daughter. Unfortunately, if Irene did move against them…Hisui was unsure they had the skills to suddenly stop her.

"It's so nice to meet all of you," Sherria said, brushing herself off. "I'm Sherria, the Sky God Slayer."

"Oh, a God Slayer!" Natsu exclaimed. "Like that one guy from Grimoire Heart!"

"Like Wendy," Gray said, nudging Wendy's back.

"Oh, you're a Sky God Slayer too?"

Wendy blushed. "Sky Dragon Slayer, actually."

"That's so cool!" Sherria said. She quickly bounded over to Wendy, and let her mouth run rampant while Wendy listened to the onslaught of words.

Hisui nodded. Good, that was settled.

"Now, head out, and be quick about it," Hisui said. "You have until dawn. I'll stay behind and ensure this place is locked up."

"Be safe, Your Highness," Makarov called, and Hisui nodded.

They turned their backs to one another. Hisui slammed the door shut behind her, leaving only herself, the Three Stars of Stella, Ichiya, and Bob. The refugees were gone, safe with Mest. He'd be back for the others before her, and then finally Hisui, to bring her to Fairy Tail and Crime Sorciere.

"They'll be fine," Master Bob said. "They're a rambunctious group, but Fairy Tail always comes through."

"I know," Hisui said.

Still, she couldn't hold back the nerves twisting inside of her. The rebellion was in its best-ever position, poised to score a few major victories against the Empire and expose its weakness to the rest of the world that could trade with it, partner with it. Hisui balled a fist.

If that was all true, if this was their strongest stance yet, why did she feel like they stood, more than ever before, they were walking on an ever-shrinking tightrope?

Lucy peeled off from the others. Yukino was in step behind her, and Gajeel slinked away, Lily on his shoulder. Natsu and Wendy soared ahead with Happy and Carla while Laxus was well away with the Thunder Tribe and Makarov. Wendy had enchanted everyone with great speed, allowing them all to run with ease across the countryside.

Erza and Cana led the others. She didn't like that Lucy, Yukino, Gajeel, and Lily were taking time away, but Lucy promised it wouldn't be long.

They stopped in a meadow Lucy had spotted from a distance away, one brimming with stunning flowers swept by the breeze. Flashes of pink, gold, and blue were everywhere. The soil was perfect at their feet.

Gajeel stepped up next to Lucy. The meadow's breeze swept through his hair, which was held back by a single blue bandana. He folded his arms, though his expression was wrought with melancholy.

"You wanna go first?"

"Yeah," Lucy said.

He took a step back. Lucy figured he'd go first, get it over with. All of this was his idea. He sniffed out the meadow late last night, and approached Lucy out of the blue, as she was getting ready to hit the hay and prepare for the long walk.

"We can't let Levy, Kip, and your old man just be forgotten," Gajeel said. "They deserve more than that. Our other friends couldn't get that, which they didn't deserve."

He'd shown her some pieces of iron he found and forged into crosses, like what one would have on their tombstone. There weren't names engraved, but there were three of them.

Lucy had stared at them for a long time. The finality of that night's events, which seemed both ages ago and like it'd just happened, hadn't quite landed. Not until she held one of the iron crosses, ignoring its hefty weight in her hands.

Gajeel, in the meadow, handed Lucy one of them as she moved onto the hill. Yukino took another—Kip's—and followed.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucy had asked Yukino earlier that day.

"Yes," Yukino said. "It's not necessarily my fault you all were in that position but I can't help the sense of, I don't know, responsibility. I want to be there. I want to honor what they did to keep you alive, to keep…hope alive."

Lucy stopped in front of a small patch of lilies whispering to one another in the wind. Lucy jabbed the piece of iron into the ground. She rested a hand on it. She couldn't let it go.

She and her father lost seven years. Seven years where they could have reconciled could have found hope and light in one another. Maybe, if the Twilight Empire hadn't emerged, they could really have reconnected.

She could count on her hands the amount of memories she had of her father hugging her. One was so recent. So recent she could almost touch it. And it was gone, ripped away from her in an instant.

Let go? How could she?

One day, passersby would see the three graves and never know who they were for. Their bodies would be tossed into a river, or some ditch, in Crocus, and that would be that. Jude Heartfilia, the Heartfilia Foundation, and all the work he put into the world was about to go up in smoke.

No. That wasn't true.

Her father's final motivation was to help Lucy, to deliver her the aid she needed in taking down the Empire he knew to be evil. All of his work was not ruined. She was still there.

But to move forward, she had to let go, and only carry him in her heart.

Lucy stood and stepped aside so Yukino could stab Kip's iron into the ground.

"Be at peace, Cavern Dragon Slayer," Yukino muttered.

"Did you ever get the chance to meet him?" Lucy asked.

"Once or twice," Yukino said. She brushed her bangs aside. "But I don't remember. It was always as a group when the entire Division was together. Sting never spoke highly of him. I guess I know why."

"Because he was the worst of them, and the best of us," Lucy said.

"I wonder if on some level Sting knew what Kip was capable of," Yukino said. "And that's why he hated him."

Kip had seemed so relieved that Lucy got away from Axel in that last moment. As if, even if he couldn't accomplish his ultimate goal, he knew that the torch was passed. That his reason for staying was worth it. Lucy shut her eyes, finding it impossible not to see what continued to haunt her.

Axel, tearing her world apart. Axel, whom she couldn't even beat.

The sound of Gajeel stabbing Levy's grave into the ground startled her. Lily rested his hands against it, tears streaming down his face.

Gajeel squeezed the iron but didn't bend or break it.

"You were supposed to live, you pint-sized moron," Gajeel muttered. He gritted his teeth. "You were supposed to come back to us."

It'd been so long since they'd seen one another. Since anyone, besides Lucy, had seen Levy. In one fell swoop, August took Mirajane and Levy from them. In a way, both were gone. Mirajane was consumed by her demonic magic, and Levy was well and truly dead.

What was the last conversation Gajeel and Levy had? Lucy didn't want to ask. Didn't really, even, want to approach him. To see Gajeel, a man of such stoic stature and one who never revealed much emotion in any way, let tears slide down his face, let himself be consumed by that tearing loss of so much potential and possibility…

Lucy knew she was loved by her friends, by so many people. It kept her going even on the darkest nights, even as the world collapsed around her.

But Gajeel had only ever known true warmth from one other human. One who stood up for him even just weeks after he'd committed horrors against her. And that person, that warmth, was wiped out.

"Why'd you have to go, Levy?" Lily muttered.

Lucy spotted Yukino watching the train of wizards get further and further away. But she couldn't muster the strength to go. Not without—

Gajeel stood. He wiped the tears from his eyes, and rolled his shoulders back. Stood proud, stood with purpose.

"Come on, Lucy," he said.

They locked eyes. They were cold, but it had nothing to do with her. It had only to do with the vengeance stirring in his heart, her heart.

"Let's catch up," Gajeel said.

Lucy nodded, and together, the four jogged down the hill.

Hisui stood atop the canyon protecting her base, the one Fairy Tail and Crime Sorciere slowly trickled into over the course of the day. Stretches of wasteland surrounded her, land once flourishing and beautiful destroyed by…well, by the Magic Council of old.

She was alone with her thoughts, not wanting to tend to the wizards while they began to settle in. Tomorrow, once they'd had time to rest, she would approach with her plan.

The first phase of the ultimate destruction of the Twilight Empire.

It was an idea inspired by the Tartaros Division, of all things. Perhaps they could be good for something after all.

Her loneliness was broken, at once, by Mest, who was getting back after delivering the last of the folk from the Blue Pegasus guild. Only one would remain.

But the look on his face was haunted, not happy. Sweat dripped down his brow. How was he so tired?

"What happened?" Hisui asked.

Mest, however, was not sweating. He wasn't tired at all—not breathing heavily, not sagging his shoulders. Why was he soaked, then?

"It's gone."

"What's gone?"

"Blue Pegasus. I got Ichiya and the others out just in time. There was…I don't know, it was a flood."

"A flood? That's impossible. We weren't near any bodies of water."

"I know but…I saw it coming. I went back to check and found myself underwater. I wasn't alone."

Hisui suppressed her shiver. "Who else was down there? Was it a wizard?"

"Yes, but not the one who caused the flood." Mest sighed. "Hisui, it was Jacob Lessio. He's dead, and I'm pretty sure the Empire did it."

August maneuvered his way down one of the small sets of stairs in the Twilight Division tower to its second floor, where Levy was waiting to attend him. He wanted to be in that little study for the day; it wasn't the most remote of them all, but he found it had the best climate, and was the best place for him to think.

Guards stepped aside at his approach as was their command. No Oni guard flanked him like they would for Sonya.

August arrived at the door, one made of heavy metal so thick even a punch from someone like Dimaria wouldn't impact it. He fazed right through, warping the metal and magic around him until he stepped into the other side: a room about as large as the tower itself, compressed with his own magic. Books and books lined the walls, each a different copy of one another.

A repository of magic surrounded August. It was his personal collection he'd accrued since he was a little boy, inspired by his father. Zeref had even helped him acquire some of these books, while a few were ones he plundered in search of great power and greater mysteries.

In the days of the Empire, it was a place for August to collect himself.

There were rumblings, deep within his heart, that something was afoot, something even he could not foresee. There'd been two tremblings in the magic of the world, both of strength equal his own. One perhaps greater.

He didn't need the books for comfort, he needed the space to breathe.

What came next, he knew, was not of his own volition. His greatest machination was upon him, indeed, but the more public ones would have to by the wayside.

The Empire was at a tipping point. Within the week, he foresaw, it would either attain, for the first time, true peace in Fiore, or be plunged into a much longer, slower war where, indeed, the rebels would die out due to their inferior strength, but the country would, globally, suffer.

He didn't want that. But he couldn't play his hand yet. Not while the centerpiece to it all was still out of reach.

Levy sat, her hands still massively wounded, at one of the few tables at the library's base level. August sat in the seat opposite her.

"Jacob Lessio is dead," August said.

Levy's mouth slackened. "What?"

"He was murdered, in collateral damage, as a result of Torafuzar, the Dark of the Nine Demon Gates from Tartaros. His mission, alongside his kin Kyoka and Seilah, had been the total annihilation of the rebellion. He missed. They've escaped somewhere in the countryside."

"You let one of your greatest assets die?"

"First," August said. He set his staff aside. It remained floating in the air, "an asset defeated by wizards rusted seven years is not so great. Second? It was a misfire. One that won't happen again. Torafuzar, fresh from recovery in Hell's Core, was in a bit of a rush."

"Rush?"

August nodded. "The Tartaros Division, sans Bloodman, has mobilized. They're moving to crush the rebellion. Mard Geer never ceases to amaze with their strategy." August folded his hands. "Over the last several days, the Tartaros Division has allowed convicts to whittle down rebel bases that have been confirmed as abandoned. Few remain, which means there are few places for the rebels to run."

"Which means they'll be able to ambush them," Levy muttered.

"And eliminate all enemies," August said. "Not unlike they did in Bosco two and a half years ago. Ironic, isn't it? How well they execute the Emperor's will."

"Ironic, August?"

Ah, there was so much she didn't know.

"Yes. What you remember as the Tartaros Guild was originally a set of demons intent on murdering Zeref, all stemming from his books, much like Lullaby, or Deliora, whom I believe your Fairy Tail guild is familiar with. His death was, indeed, their entire life's purpose. Zeref created E.N.D. as a means of killing himself but as E.N.D. proved…unfit for the task. As a result, Zeref continued to create these creatures, known as Etherious. Mard Geer, the Captain of the Division you know today, was one of them."

"He made creatures to…kill him?"

August nodded. "It is…yes. Zeref has long sought a way to break the bonds of eternal life. However nothing has proven strong enough yet, and, upon his conquest and forming of the Twilight Empire, upon moving closer toward the great world he sought for so long, realized that the Demons of Tartaros would never amount to defeating him. So, he rewrote their books.

"Their driving goal in life no longer became Zero's ultimate end. It was instead the survival and domination of the Twilight Empire, of Zeref's own will. I believe, in the wake of these defeats, and in assessing the volatility of our enemies, Mard Geer has taken matters into his own hands."

"And if their only goal is to defend the Empire…"

"Then they will stop at nothing to see it through. They can even overcome death to ensure that their creator's dream comes true."

Levy visibly shuddered. It was to be expected. Though she knew much of the Empire, its truths were another matter to wrap her head around entirely.

August held his hand up. Something trembled in the room, something deep within its heart that was hidden from all save for Zeref and Mard Geer. Something entrusted only to August, the Wizard King.

"Once, Mard Geer believed E.N.D. as the guild's master," August said, "which, for the longest time, made no sense. However, I now see the brilliance in such a move."

"How so?"

"If Tartaros could harness enough power to reawaken the slumbering demon, the greatest Etherious Zeref ever created, they could indeed have a weapon that would kill Zeref. E.N.D., perhaps more so than Acnologia, is all that could stand in Zeref's way."

"So, why not do it? Why not get all this curse power?"

"Because there is too much ether nano in this world. There is no way to reawaken E.N.D. At least, no way that is written."

The book landed in August's hand, then gently drifted down to the table between them. It was old, four hundred years old in fact, and appeared quite worn. It'd been lost, for some time, until Mard Geer came to possess and protect it. Then, it returned to its rightful owner—the Emperor—before its final resting spot with August.

He had not dared ever open the book. He could sense the power radiating within it, waiting to destroy him, by simply touching it.

"E.N.D. has one drive, similar to Tartaros: Kill Zeref. I find this lacking. I find that E.N.D., whose power supersedes the Emperor himself, must have a greater goal." August gestured to the room around them, and beyond. "The Empire's soul. E.N.D. represents Zeref's total dedication to magic, to art and life, and is, as such, more than simply a weapon. It is an extension of willpower itself. Unfortunately, I believe I am the only one who can see this. But I am not the only one capable of making this truth reality."

August reached forward and gently grasped Levy's hands. A warm glow emanated from his palms. In a moment, her hands were healed—in another, they became far more dexterous.

"All that time ago, I saw in you a writer capable of changing the world," August said. "Now, your greatest task is upon you. I know what you are capable of, Levy McGarden. I do not doubt you."

Levy gulped. Staring at the book, she stuttered, "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to rewrite the Book of E.N.D.," August said, staring at the contents of his father's greatest, and oldest, work, "so that the demon is subservient to a new master: Me."