All the dragon slayers had returned from their jobs and had begun to count their reward. Their pile of jewel wasn't very impressive. Wendy and Sting were staring at it with solemn faces. Eventually, Wendy gave Sting the look.

"It's not my fault! The guy only gave us half the earnings," Sting sighed from the table.

"Why?" Wendy asked.

Sting looked to Rogue who was at the job board and wondered if he should tell the others.

(Flashback to Sting's and Rogue's job)

The monster was a whole lot bigger than the man had told the two dragon slayers. It was at least fifty feet high covered with scales; its large claws pushed the forest aside as it slowly walked through it.

"Well, let's go slay this monster," Sting laughed.

"Wait, Sting, we should do some surveillance, the man who hired us sent a few mages ahead of us, he said he didn't know what became of them," Rogue warned.

"Yeah I wonder who came ahead of us, we must have just missed them by a day," Sting pondered. "Do you think they're dead?" he asked.

"I hope not," Rogue shrugged sounding unconcerned.

"LOOK AT THE KITTY!" Someone squealed from below them. Sting and Rogue looked down the cliff. At the bottom, Millianna was cuddling Lector who had flown off with Frosch to do the said surveillance.

"Millianna?" the two boys asked at the same time.

"So, it seems that we will be working together to slay this monster," someone said behind them.

The two turned and saw Kagura eyeing both mages with interest.

"Kagura?!" Sting cried.

"Hello Kagura," Rogue greeted composing himself much faster then Sting.

"Morning Rogue Cheney," Kagura returned.

"Hold on, what do you mean work together?" Sting asked looking confused.

"Millianna and I have been trying to slay this monster for the last day to no avail, while you two are strong; I believe that we will accomplish the task if we work together," Kagura explained looking at the monster.

"Nah we're good," Sting laughed.

"It would be our pleasure to assist you," Rogue nodded ignoring Sting's remark.

"WHAT!? Hold on can you give us a second," Stings smiled pushing Rogue into a bush.

The two huddled in the bush, "What are we doing in here?" Rogue asked annoyed.

"What are you doing!? Must I remind you that our house is in ashes and it's only a matter of time until people realize that I can glow in the dark?" Sting hissed.

"The monster may be too strong besides, we'll get half the reward, don't worry," Rogue assured him.

"All this just so you can show off to Kagura," Stings sighed.

"Kagura has nothing to do with this... and what the heck does that mean?!" Rogue cried.

Kagura sighed as the bush began shaking, she was certain that the two boys were wrestling with each other.

"LOOK AT THE KITTIES!" Millianna squealed cuddling both Lector and Frosch.

"Can't breathe!" Lector choked.

"Frosch thinks Frosch is cute too!" Frosch laughed hugging Millianna back.

"Okay, okay I take it back," Sting wheezed breaking out of Rogue's headlock.

"Good, now let's go fight this monster," Rogue sighed.

"And get you that date," Sting said smugly.

"WHY YOU!"

Kagura watched Rogue and Sting roll out of the bush. Sting forced Rogue on the ground and pinned him down.

"HA! ADMIT IT!" Sting laughed. Rogue shifted his weight and threw Sting off him, before pinning him down.

"NEVER!"

Kagura sighed and reaffirmed to herself that men were idiots.

Both boys seemed to notice that they were no longer under cover of the bush. They stood up straight very embarrassed.

"We would be honored to fight alongside you," Rogue said.

"Yeah, especially Ro-" Sting was cut short when Rogue knocked him into the ground.

"Shall we get started then?" Rogue asked nervously.

(Present time)

"We caused a whole lot of destruction, half of our winnings were required to fix the damages," Sting answered. Rogue owed him one... big time.

"Ah, understandable, Natsu is your brother," Lyon chuckled as he walked past the group.

Everyone else was back at the guild except team Natsu and Acnologia, well and Laxus and the Raijinshu who were helping Yajima with his restaurant. The guild only had to wait five minutes until Acnologia came knocking.

"JEWEL!" Natsu cried in triumph throwing his large bag of jewel on the table.

"Nice Natsu-san!" Sting laughed.

"Anything cool happen on your trip Natsu?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah did ya burn any villages down?" Erik laughed from the rafters.

"No, I met a dragon," Natsu said excitedly.

The dragon slayers grew quiet.

"You're joking right?" Gajeel asked.

"No, we really met one," Gray chuckled.

The first and third-generation dragon slayers descended on Natsu.

"What'd they look like?"

"Are they still here?"

"Do they know what happened to everyone else?"

"Have they seen any of our parents?"

"Did Acnologia fight him?"

"If so did he win?"

"Did you fight him?"

"If so did you lose?"

"Chill out kids," Acnologia sighed walking in between the chaos, "that dragon's dead, he doesn't know what happened to anyone."

"So... no idea where our parents are?" Wendy asked dejectedly.

"No, but hey a dragon's still around, that means there can be more," Natsu reassured.

The guild began to settle after the moments of chaos until trouble stumbled through the door.

Then the guild door was thrown open and Yukino ran in.

"Yukino?" Sting asked.

"Sting, Rogue!" Yukino cried stumbling towards the other two.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" Sting asked catching Yukino.

She had tears streaming down her face and looked exhausted.

"Are you okay?" Frosch asked.

"They took her, they took Minerva," Yukino cried.

"Who took Minerva?" Rogue asked.

"Two men and this horrible beast broke into the guildhall early this morning. They were killing us, we didn't stand a chance, one could make people turn into children, even then he slaughtered them. Minerva was able to beat him... he called himself a-a demon of Zeref or something like that, then... then his one-eyed bird thing ate him!" Yukino shook grabbing Stings fur lines shirt.

"Shiiiiii...take mushrooms," Macao began, he changed his language when he realized Asuka was in the facility.

"There was someone else to... he... he was Jiemma, but he was changed. He was so much stronger, we couldn't do anything. He took Minerva and left, everyone's panicking and now Minerva is nowhere to be found," Yukino cried falling to her knees.

"It's okay; we'll find her, Porlyusica!" Sting cried holding Yukino.

Yukino was rushed upstairs while everyone was talking about what this could mean... then Macao and Romeo ran in holding the newspaper.

"Someone blew up the Magic Counsel!" Romeo cried.

"Just like that, no survivors!" Macao panted handing Acnologia the newspaper.

Acnologia looked to Makarov and they both thought the same thing, 'Mest'.

"What next," Wakaba asked putting his drink down.

"This isn't good," Acnologia said reading the headlines again.

"Uncle, do you smell that?" Wendy asked walking towards the open door.

"What is it?" Gajeel asked.

"The air smells weird," Wendy answered.

Acnologia walked up and inhales deeply, "Anti-magic particles," Acnologia breathed.

"Anti... what?" Natsu asked.

"What does that mean?" Erik asked from above.

"...Has anyone seen Laxus in a while?" Acnologia asked quickly.

Someone named Tempester had attacked Yajima, Laxus had bested him but Tempester had unleashed anti-magic particles. In order to save everyone, Laxus breathed them all in and was now in critical condition, alongside the other members of the Raijinshu.

"Tartaros did this," Natsu gritted looking down at Laxus who was struggling to breathe in his bed.

"We cannot stand for this," Makarov gritted.

"I'll kill them all," Erik snarled standing next to Laxus.

"You fairies have fought them all, prayers, thorns, phantoms, tigers, now the demons will learn of your wrath as well," a poetic voice recited from the doorway, it was Serena.

"Serena," Acnologia greeted.

"How're they doing?" Serena asked walking past the beds of the others; he stopped at Laxus's bed.

"Our lungs are stronger than most, he can hold out for a while, but Porlyusica needs the blood of the demon who did this if we want any hope at finding a cure," Acnologia responded.

"Tartaros... we need to find them," Natsu gritted.

"Well it seems that they're targeting ex-council members, that would be a good place to start," Serena sighed. He looked to the Fairy Tail members, "I came to help."

"You've given us a place to start," Acnologia sighed.

(Meanwhile at Tartaros's guild hall)

"Tempester is dead again," Kyoka sighed as Tempester began to regenerate.

"Perhaps, but look at the new demon, she'll do much better than Doriate eh?" Franmalth chuckled looking up at Minerva who was unconscious and locked in a tube.

"Did she put up much of a fight?" Kyoka asked.

"Of course she did, but her life is in our hands now, she'll obey our every word," Franmalth cackled.

"Such a rebellious spawn, I do wonder how Jiemma even had a child," Kyoka smiled.

"Hopefully she'll be as strong as her father."

"Perhaps."

(Back at the Fairy Tail guildhall)

"Okay, does everyone know what they're doing?" Makarov asked.

Everyone nodded. Thanks to Leo and Serena they knew where a handful of retired council members were. They had been split into groups and were preparing to head out.

"If you can, I need a sample of Tempester blood in order to make a cure," Porlyusica asked.

"Will do," Erik nodded his voice lines with hatred.

"Let's do this," Gajeel said cracking his knuckles.

The guild hospital was quiet despite the ruckus that was going on downstairs.

At Laxus's and Freed's side Mira sat, she mostly focused on the weak dragon slayer.

"You saved so many people," Mira whispered leaning forward and grabbing Laxus's hand. The mage didn't seem to notice, his face contorted in pain, "Stay strong Laxus, we'll help you," she promised. With that, she stood up and walked out.

By Bickslow's side, Lisanna sat gripping his hand, "you come back to me, if you don't I'll personally drag you back to life," she smiled weakly her eyes watering. She looked around to make sure no one was around before leaning forward and kissing Bickslow on the cheek, "I promise I'll come back, you better be here to meet me," she joked trying to hide the tears she was about to shed. She stood up quickly and walked out wiping the tears away. Mira looked in and gave a firm nod to Lisanna. Lisanna nodded back.

Elfman sat silently by Evergreen's side watching her every move.

"Elfman," Mira called from the hallway.

"I'll be back Ever; don't you worry," Elfman gritted walking out.

Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Happy, and Charle went to guard Mitchello whose daughter had grown... in a word, close to Loke.

Mitchello was not a happy camper about the fact that he was being guarded by Fairy Tail mages... that was until Jackal came knocking... or burning. He literally blew up the house... along with some of the town. Natsu clashed with him briefly until the fire dragon slayer was seemingly beaten.

Lucy, Wendy, and Mitchello fled, Lucy was caught in a landmine Curse and was forced to choose between Mitchello and a citizen who was pregnant. Jackal was laughing maniacally at his game until a blast of wind knocked him off his feet causing all three bombs to dissipate.

"Wendy," Lucy laughed with happiness.

"Get Mitchello to safety, I can deal with this one," Wendy ordered.

"I'll stay with you," Charle said.

"Thanks, Charle," Wendy smiled.

"You little brat!" Jackal growled. Explosions rocked the ground; Wendy stood unafraid and attacked Jackal with her sky magic.

The battle was brief, Wendy was easily overpowered.

"This is the end for you little one," Jackal cackled.

The ground below Wendy began to glow, Charle swooped in and picked her up, the explosion still hit them and they flew a few feet.

"DIE!" Jackal yelled.

"WE'RE NOT DONE YET!" Natsu cried punching Jackal.

"Natsu," Wendy smiled weakly.

"Good job Wendy, you held him off for me, don't worry, I've got the hang of it now," Natsu smiled as his fist began glowing.

"Have you forgotten my curse power?" Jackal cackled.

"As I said, I've got the hang of it," Natsu laughed. With that, he ate the curse.

"WHAT!?" Jackal choked.

Well... now there was a pissed off Natsu, let us guess how long that fight lasted... three seconds. Jackal was beaten, or so Natsu thought.

"I'll take you all to hell with me," Jackal coughed, his body beginning to glow.

"You'll kill the whole town!" Wendy cried.

"Sorry Kyoka, I let these humans best me," Jackal chuckled.

"No!" Happy cried grabbing Jackal by his scarf and flying him into the sky.

"HAPPY!" Natsu cried.

"It's okay, I've got this," Happy laughed soaring higher.

A huge explosion filled the sky above the mages.

"Happy," Natsu choked.

"No, it can't be," Lucy breathed.

Charle was silent, but tears began filling her eyes. Then there was a small dot soaring back down. Everyone began smiling and laughing as Happy returned a bit singed and fluffy.

Lisanna and Elfman found ex-councilman Yuri dead, in his final moments he reached up and shattered the lacrima that Lisanna planned to use to contact the master. Then Seilah showed herself, she forced Elfman to choke his sister and promised to kill her if he didn't comply with her demands.

It was then that the guild learned what Tartaros was after; face. Now understanding that Tartaros is assassinating ex-councilors to unseal Face, Laki revealed that she found the chairman's hidden address and they sent Erza and Mirajane to protect him. The chairman turned out to be working for Tartaros and took Mira and Erza captive. Natsu who's always had a nose for trouble discovered this and flew off without telling anyone... 

'The idiot' was all Acnologia could think when he found out.

"Erik where did he go," Acnologia roared as he flew over the land with Erik, Sting, Lector, Rogue, and Frosch on his back. The rest had stayed behind to protect the guild.

"I smell Happy that way," Sting said pointing to the east.

"He's calling for us, I think Natsu's in trouble," Erik growled.

"Of course he is, he's Natsu," Rogue sighed.

"ACNOLOGIA," Happy cried in happiness and he hugged Acnologia's snout.

"Get off me cat, where is Natsu?" Acnologia growled.

"The head councilman is working with Tartaros, Natsu went to go free Erza and Mira, but... but he was captured," Happy cried.

"WHERE!"

"That way," Happy said leading Acnologia.

"We're coming, Natsu!" Sting cried to the wind.

At this moment Tartaros decided to take to the air.

Meanwhile, at Tartaros, Natsu woke up and found himself caged, Lisanna was there too. The two discussed what was going on and began worrying about the state of the guild. The two tried to escape but quickly realized that their magic wasn't working because of the cuffs. 

Elsewhere in the Tartaros headquarters, Seilah told Kyoka that Ultear was the only councilor left that is linked to Face and that they must find her; Kyoka then tried to make Erza crack and reveal her location, which she didn't know. Then she warned Seilah that Fairy Tail must no longer interfere with their plans, to which Seilah replied "she was working on it"

Turns out Seilah was working on it, as the Tartaros guildhall flew overhead Elfman in return for his sister's freedom prepared to destroy Fairy Tail. Cana caught him, stopped him, and saved everyone else before the guildhall exploded.

"What was that?" Erik asked from the backside of Acnologia.

"What was what?" Rogue asked.

"It's gone!" Happy gaped looking down at the bare earth.

"What's gone?" Frosch asked.

"The guildhall, it was right there, Tartaros's guild was right there," Happy cried.

"Well, where'd it go?" Lector asked.

"Uncle we have to get back to the guild," Erik said urging Acnologia.

Acnologia nodded and made a curt U-turn heading back for the guild. Natsu would have to wait a little bit longer.

Fairy Tail was now attacking Tartaros thanks to Cana. The final seal that was somehow attached to Ultear broke thanks to the head council man's magic. This meant face was unsealed, Natsu and everyone else was freed, Mira broke out, Erza attacked Kyoka,  Acnologia got there, started decimating people. Wendy went to stop face activation against Kinana's warning. Lisanna and Mirajane squared down Seilah and Lamy in Hell's core. Natsu, Lucy, and Happy destroyed Franmalth. 

All in all... chaos.

"Lucy, go tell Acnologia how much time is left, he should know," Natsu called running down a hallway after seeing the face timer.

"Where are you going?" Lucy cried.

"To settle a few scores," Natsu laughed turning the corner.

"That's Natsu for you," Happy shrugged picking up Lucy and soaring out the hole in the wall.

"Wendy went where!?" Erik gritted as he blasted a few more guards away.

"She went to stop face," Kinana answered, "Sathersa, attack!" she cried causing the snake to crash into the other guards.

"By herself!?"

"I tried to stop her but she just flew off with Charle!"

"Dammit Wendy," Erik swore, "okay can you deal with these clowns, I need to go ask Uncle to throw me."

"Yeah... wait... throw you?" Kinana asked but it was too late, Erik was already climbing up.

"You want me to throw you; can we remember what happened to Gajeel?" Acnologia asked throwing a Tartaros member across the way.

"You need to stay here to help the guild, I need to go save Wendy... and what happened to Gajeel was his own fault, he ticked you off," Erik said.

"He's got a point uncle, Gajeel was totally asking for it," Sting laughed.

"Do you want me to punch you?" Gajeel shouted.

"Okay," Acnologia shrugged transforming, "climb on my tail."

"Hold on we said throw not catapult," Erik laughed nervously.

"Wendy," Acnologia shrugged knowing that was all he needed to say.

"Fine," Erik sighed climbing onto the tail.

"Safe travels!" Acnologia laughed catapulting Erik.

"He's gonna die," Rogue sighed as he watched the small dot of Erik get smaller and smaller.

"Yep," Gajeel nodded.

Natsu was following his nose searching for Tempester who had been reborn once more.

"Hello Natsu," Zeref called from behind Natsu.

Natsu turned and looked at the dark mage.

"I can't smell you," Natsu said his eyes narrowing.

"I'm not really here, I'm a mere projection," Zeref said.

"Like Mavis," Natsu supposed.

Zeref's eyes darkened, "No."

There was a moment of awkward silence where Natsu considered setting the projection of Zeref on fire to make himself feel better.

"What do you want?" Natsu asked finally.

"To applaud you for making it this far, I warn you, however, my bookshelf is full of surprises."

"I don't care; I'll take them all on."

"Even E.N.D?" Zeref asked smiling.

"Igneel tried to kill him, I remember him telling me. I'll just finish the job," Natsu said coldly.

"You're mistaken. Igneel chose not to kill him, you will have to make the same decision," Zeref smiled.

Natsu only stared at the mage in response.

"Good luck, Natsu Dragneel," Zeref said fading.

Zeref's smile faded as he sat in his throne room watching as the image of Natsu slowly faded.

"Emperor Spriggan, does something bother you?" Invel asked from the doorway.

Zeref looked to the mage and smiled once more, "No, nothing is wrong."

Invel nodded and left the room leaving Zeref alone with his thoughts.