"Awww, this sucks," Sting moaned as he scrubbed a window, "I almost prefer Cousin's Serena choral lessons to this."

Erik, who was across the guildhall scrubbing the guild's dishes, snapped his head up and glared at Sting, "Don't say it. Do not tempt him. That was a month of pure unrefined torture. I am never letting Laxus and Gajeel sing again!"

"You have something to say, snake boy, you best say it to my face!" Gajeel yelled from the rafters where he was repairing the roof after a brawl had sent a member through the roof.

"Please guys, this is our last week of groundation, don't fight!" Wendy pleaded, wiping off a table.

The dragon-slayers had successfully completed five months and three weeks of groundation. They had gone on multiple minor, embarrassing, and pointless jobs to earn money - they still wanted their house after all. All this time of embarrassment, house cleaning, and multiple painful visits to Serena's house to suffer more humiliation, the dragon slayers had all vowed to never again disobey Acnologia or put their lives in danger... they were destined to break one of those before the year was up but Acnologia accepted what he could.

The wounds the Grand Magic Games had dealt left scars but the scars left memories, the dragon slayers all felt it; they had changed. It was a good change, they knew that. They smiled and laughed with one another as they always had, when the fought together everything was clear and crisp, and when one of them wasn't feeling well, it sent up a warning signal that every dragon slayer caught on to. It was a wonderful feeling, one of closeness and family, a bond deeper than most humans had ever experienced. They had heard Acnologia use the term, but after the Grand Magic Games, the term made sense; nest.

On the topic of Acnologia, the dragon slayers had been patiently waiting for a full explanation from Acnologia... they had questions involving his past, Tyregenium, the other dragon slayers, and each other, but the Dragon King never gave it to them. Any question was dispelled, any mention was ignored, the dragon slayers waited, but they all wanted to know of this Tyregenium. Many times Acnologia had come close to it, but then he would see one of them smiling, one of them laughing or grinning with their sharp canines and a sense of guilt would descend on him. He was drowning in it.

It was his fault Tyregenium lived in this world. In this life he had spared his master... he hadn't in the previous one... this was all his fault. He looked to them, he saw his kids acting reckless and careless, getting drunk (save Wendy), fighting, laughing, joking, jumping on each other's shoulders and yelling 'piggyback ride!' and he would lose heart. If they knew of Tyregenium, he would have to end this carelessness, he would steal their smiles and lightheartedness, he would plant a seed of fear and end these happy times. For some reason, that bothered him.

And then there was fear. Acnologia was afraid of telling them with every fiber of his being. To tell them would also be to share his past life... those memories he had tried to purge and kill would return and they would no longer look at him and smile. There would be no love in their eyes and he knew that. He could almost see their horrified expressions from when he almost killed them in the bonds of time, they would hate him... and who wouldn't. Acnologia smiled and messed around with the dragon slayers as he always had, but his heart was weighed down by guilt and his mind was clouded with fear. The dragon slayers knew it, but they didn't understand it.

That night. Acnologia looked over his sleeping dragon slayers sprawled out on the floor and felt the emotions bubble up. He gritted his teeth and cursed himself. He had unknowingly ruined their lives... he had nearly killed them in his past life... and now a demon from his past was coming for them... he had hurt them too many times, and that destroyed him inside. Perhaps he was as much as a monster in this life as he was in the other... perhaps he was just a different type of monster.

A tall man looked over Magnolia and smiled. Tyregenium had found a new puppet to play with. He hummed a tune to himself as he walked down the path that led to the town, behind him, shadowed figures followed him.

"You doubt yourself apprentice," The tall man sighed putting his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the full moon and grinned, "and you opened the door. You knew what releasing their souls would do... and yet... you did it anyway."

"When should we strike?" one of the figures asked running up to the man. On the shoulder of their dark shirt was a symbol of an assassins guild.

"Soon," the man answered waving him away, "remember, don't kill her yet... I need her alive."

"Whatever you say, but it's extra for a kidnapping," the assassin shrugged.

"Just get to your positions," the man sighed waving him away. the figures melted into the darkness and the man looked over the peaceful city once more.

"This humanity has its uses dear apprentice... I won't fault you for seeing the beauty in it," Tyregenum smiled softly at the twinkling city. He knew that the children would all be asleep, young adults would be running around on late night errands, parties were happening, stories were being shared, happiness was flourishing, and peace ruled the night. "They are an incredible race, both chaotic and peaceful, ugly and beautiful at the same time. No, I can't fault you at all... but you are the Dragon King's Apprentice, you can not let these distractions cloud your vision... I only wish you could see this... then I wouldn't have to go through such great lengths to tear you apart," the man shrugged continuing to talk to himself. "Let's see how you're doing..."

He closed his eyes and waved his hand sensing the thousands of souls in the city. Finally, he found the eight he was looking for. Acnologia was awake... fear and guilt surrounded his soul. Tyregenium smiled when he felt that... it was just what he needed. Still, the dragon grazed the other souls. The young one... Wendy, yes, that was what she was called, the daughter of Grandeeney the sky dragon. 

Her soul was almost to pure for Tyregenium's taste, he had a sudden urge to grab the soul and tear it apart... that had been a favorite past time of his when he was king. He would take the young hatchlings from his defeated enemies nests, rip off their wings and watch it scuttle around helplessly as he had his comrades hunt it down... he wanted to rip the sky maiden's wings off and play that game... he almost giggled with anticipation... he promised himself he'd do that if she survived the storm coming. And of course... if she grew wings.

The next soul crackled when he came near, energy fizzing around it, the lightning dragon. A fake... of course. Granted powers by a stone... a damn fake. Tyregenium would rip that power out of him, show him that his powers rested in a mere rock in his chest... no strength or teacher. Disgusting.

The poison dragon's soul rang with thousands of voices, he too was a fake... but Tyregenium admitted that he didn't have such a strong urge to rip the man limb from limb... the man was scarred, literally and internally... Tyregenium liked that. He liked cracked people... it made them fun to break... maybe that's what he'd do... he'd break that man... he could play with the sky maiden and break that poison killer at the same time. The thrill made him exuberant.

The Shadow Dragonslayer was boring... far too much like Skiadrum. Wisdom, smarts, planning, there was no real power except the power to fade away and hide. He'd be fun to chase at least. The problem was that he had too much of Acnologia in him... he and that metal dragon could have been Acnologia's real children. That made Tyregenium want to slit their throats and see if they bled the same color he did. The only interesting thing about the shadow dragon slayer was the capability for cruelty... he could be a dangerous man... but he'd have to shed his humanity first, and Tyregenium doubted that human was capable of it... not in this life anyway.

Black Steel's soul was a bit more interesting. Wild, changing... it would be fun to destroy, Tyregenium concluded, oh so very fun to rip apart. The metal dragons were his favorite breed to destroy, they made such a satisfying crunch when you crushed them in your claws... his claws... he'd need his body before he could truly kill the dragon slayers.

The Holy Dragon Slayer was oh so sickening. Neither truly evil or truly good, he was a borderline child... the most human of them all, Tyregenium thought. If the current demanded it, the dragon slayer could turn dark in heart, but until then, he would stand strong like most humans annoyingly did until he was the last one standing. Oh yes, Tyregenium would save him for last, he'd make that one watch every one of them die, and then... after he was broken, after Tyregenium had broken every bone in his weak body, he'd murder the boy, and that would be the end of Acnologia's protegees.

And then... the first one to go... oh yes, the most interesting of the lot. The Fire Prince, son of Igneel the Fire Dragon King, brother of Zeref the Black Wizard, holder of three souls, and the strongest demon ever made. Yes...Dragneel would be the first to go. Acnologia, the guild, his family, they all favored the fire dragon slayer. His death... no, his betrayal, his change, the transformation from man to monster would destroy them... his death would only be the beginning of the end. 

Tyregenium laughed, "The death of E.N.D will signal the end... ironic, isn't it... isn't it, my dear Summer."

With that Tyregenium grabbed the soul and poured his magic into the boy... not the boy, but the monster in the boy.

"Who... who is out there?" a deep voice rumbled from Natsu's soul.

"Sorry Fire Prince, you're not who I need," Tyregenium chuckled dismissing that soul. He threw aside the human soul until he tapped into what he really needed.

"Alright E.N.D... I know you can hear me," Tyregenium cackled.

"Who is there?" a soft voice hissed slowly, it's voice dripping with venom and maliciousness.

"I'm a friend for the moment," Tyregenium answered.

"There are no friends... only those I haven't killed yet."

"Cheerful, aren't you... what would you say if I offered you a chance to fully take control?"

"...I...I would ask at what price... and demand to know how you plan to accomplish something I've been trying to do for FOUR HUNDRED YEARS!" the demon screamed angrily lashing out with its soul.

"A fiery temper... must be universal in all his souls," Tyregenium muttered to himself.

'What was that?" The demon hissed menacingly.

"I can dampen that dragon soul Acnologia let loose. With him gone, and Natsu's human soul lost, you will have no problem connecting with his consciousness and convincing him to awaken you."

"HA! you honestly think that he is so dense? He may seem like an idiot, but I know him inside and out, he would sooner die than allow even a sliver of me to take control."

"But would he let his mate die?" Tyregenium teased. There was silence and Tyregenium could almost sense the hope radiating off the demon.

"What... what would the price be?" The demon asked.

"I need you to tear the dragon slayers apart. I don't care how, but I need you to destroy the guild, destroy the dragon slayers. Figuratively, mentally, literally, I don't care just do it. Kill the dragon slayers if you must, kill Zeref, I don't care but do not engage Acnologia... he is mine and mine alone."

"You are his master than... Tyregenium, the one who sent those annoying dragon slayers that nearly killed us and forced Acnologia to awaken his other side who had been competing with me since that day and driving me mad!" The demon yelled quivering with rage his words becoming louder and faster.

"Yes, and now I'm the man offering you absolute freedom... what do you say E.N.D?"

The demon growled... "You say you can do it?"

"Yes."

"Then I accept your deal. Do what you will with Lucy... but do not harm her... if you harm her... I will come for you next."

"So you too care for her?"

"What I do and do not care for is none of your concern. Go silence that annoying dragon soul and then let me take care of the rest."

"Thank you E.N.D."

"And Tyregenium," E.N.D hissed before Tyregenium broke contact, "Do not betray me."

"Oh, demon... you think too low of me," Tyregenium smiled, he then broke the connection. He raised his hands, a signal to the assassins.

"And now," he smiled as he dropped his hand, "may the end game begin."

It began with a twinge in Natsu's gut while he slept. And then the nightmare began.

He was in the burning battlefield once more; an eerie silence filled the air. Natsu looked around, at first he was confused... and then his eyes widened in fear. He knew this place, he knew these smells... but why... why was he here again?

"You haven't forgotten about me right?" the voice hissed. Natsu looked down. The book E.N.D lay at his feet, "You didn't think you had escaped me did you?"

The book flew open and ink flew out of the pages sticking to Natsu wrapping around him constricting him. Natsu gasped for breath as he tried to escape it, the ink reached up further dragging him into the book. For a second Natsu stopped himself from moving and began to break free, then claws embedded themselves into his shoulders. Instead of blood, ink poured out of Natsu's wounds continuing to wrap around him.

"You will never escape me," the voice cackled. The claws pulled him back further and further into the book. Natsu was powerless against them. In the last attempt he reached up at the sky as if he were trying to grab the scarlet clouds above him, then the ink-covered his face and hands and he fell completely into the book.

Natsu awoke with a gasp. E.N.D was back.