EPILOGUE

"So...what do you think?" Aleister Crowley said from within his tank as he and and Motoharu Tsuchimikado watched the footage of the crowning ceremony on the screens that surrounded the interior of the windowless building.

"I think you just lost your oppertunity to dissect Hope Ellendiel." said Tsuchimikado. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Well, something more interesting has come up anyways." said Aleister. "Zeref is back."

"I actually find that more disturbing then interesting." said Tsuchimikado as he adjusted his shades without a single sign of emotion. "You do realize that means war is going to be breaking out soon."

"Of course.." said Aleister. "Why do you think I have started speeding up the production process of our...other assets..."

"Those tanks and mechs are a bit much." said Tsuchimikado. "What are you trying to kill in this war, Godzilla?"

"Close." said Aleister. "You see, Dravis isn't too fond of me...and it's best one be prepared."

"True enough." said Tsuchimikado. "Though I'd think it would be better to place our hopes into a bit more of a subtle weapon then weapons of war."

"You misunderstand." said Aleister smiling slightly. "I already have one puppet on the field whose proving quite useful."

"Misaka." said Tsuchimikado. "I thought I warned you about using her."

"She has done nothing to trouble my plans so far." said Aleister. "I see no reason to let my marrionette go to waste."

"Be careful." said Tsuchimikado. "That marrionette could also be a ticking time bomb. "You'll blow away your own hands...and then where will you be without those hands to manipulate your other marrionettes?"

"Easy, I'll use my teeth." said Aleister. "Oh the risks of plans and gamble of chance..what a glorious game it is."

"In case you haven't noticed." said Tsuchimikado. "Gamblers tend to lose everything."

Magic Council, Secret Court Hearing.

Doranbalt of the Rune Knights didn't like hearings. They always ended taking up a long time, and the criminals were usually able to cut a petty deal with the court. However, this time things were different.

As the scar faced man stood by his long time friend Lahar and watched the trial that was about to begin, a nagging unease went about his mind.

These were going to be the first ever members of the dark guild Hydra Head to have ever been captured and tried before a court of law. Ever since the first incident where Fairy Tail had gone after Black Whisper and then disappeared for a time before the Rainbow Gate was opened, the Magic Council had been trying without luck to capture Hydra Head.

However, all the attempts had ended in abject failure. The members were either too strong or too good at hiding. While the lucky ones wouldn't be able to find a clue or sign of any of the lower ranked members, the less lucky ones would either not return or be carried back in pieces. Before Aqualas's death at the hands of Gray Fullbuster, tens of thousands of Rune Knights had been ruthlessly murdured by the Water God Slayer.

The ones who were unlucky enough to be sent after Diablo Etwatia, had their souls consumed and turned into one of his numerous ferocious skeleton minions. And the few members who went after Noiress Blackout, had thier heads mailed back in crates addressed to the Council.

And Gore Beastwalker never left anything left to bury. And if he did, it usually looked like the leftovers of a large bear's meal.

But now, finally, thanks to the events that happened in the kingdom of Fulmen, two members of Hydra Head were about to stand trial and give up the information that was sorely needed.

Of course, the Council had interrogated Gravix Terras, the former Hydra Head member that had defected to Fairy Tail. But after some questioning and some reassurance of his allegiance to the side of good by Erza Scarlet and Markarov Dreyar, the council could derive no further information then that about the members ranked 45 to 29 and the terrible three who were already too well known to require much information on except what their possible weaknesses might be.

The courtroom held their breaths as several Rune knights escorted in Gore Beastwalker and Aurumnus Rager. Surely these two, the #4 and #18 would have much more knowlege of the secret workings of Hydra Head, the most threatening magic guild since Tartarus.

Aurumnus Rager was wearing simple magic negating handcuffs. However, Gore Beastwalker wore multiple chains and giant iron braces all over his massive muscular body. As it turned out, magic reinforced bonds were all that could restrain his massive strength even with his magical abilities restricted.

The new Magic Council which currently were obscured in a black shadow from behind their podiums seemed to shift in their unseen seets.

From what Doranbalt could tell, this was the first time the Magic Council made any sort of appearence outside of their inner sessions for months.

"We are here today to inspect the case of the accused Hydra Head members Gore Beastwalker and Aurumnus Rager. Do the accused have anything to declare?"

"Yeah!" said Aurumnus grinning. "When's dinner? I'm like, starving over here!"

"How boring.." Muttered Gore. "Just sitting here and listening to a couple of political slobs ramble...how very boring indeed."

"Why those...insufferable..." started Doranbalt angrilly before Lahar put a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Don't let it get to you." said Lahar. "The reports said that the members of Hydra Head tend to have strange and inhuman personalities, for all you know, they could actually be expressing anxiety."

"I find that hard to believe." said Doranbalt as he glowered at the Hydra Head members.

"So to start." continued the Council member. "Your guild has been accused of over one hundred thousand counts of murder, 300,000 counts of black mail, 200,000 counts of associations with other criminals, 400,000,000 counts of casting forbidden dark magic."1

"Yeah...well, your point?" said Aurumnus. "Are ya just going to throw us in jail already or what?"1

"Such insolence!" said another Council member who sounded like a female. "This rudeness will not help your case young man!!"

"The only case we ever had was the mental case that ever formed this stupid Council." retorted Aurumnus gleefully. "Get a real job losers!"

"Enough.." said the first Council Member. "I haven't brought up the rest of the charges yet. You two have also been involved in over 900 cases of interfering with the legal work of over 50 different official guilds. Guilds including: Quatro Cerberus, Mermaid Heel, Twilight Ogre, the now disbanded Cait Shelter.." The Council member conitinued to list the guilds until he reached the 50th name. "And last but not least, Fairy Tail."

"Fairy Tail!?" said Aurumnus, his eyes lighting up. "Ooohh, messing with them was fun! Though I'm really disappointed I didn't get to meet all the girls from that guild. I mean, I hear that Wendy Marvel girl is a real cutie!!"

Aurumnus looked around the courtroom licking his lips mockingly. "Ya know what I mean? hehehe!"

The moment heheard Wendy's name, Doranbalt stood up, his face contorted with absolute fury. "That little bastard! I'll.."

"You'll stay calm." said Lahar. "I know how fustrating this must be, I don't like them any more then you do, but we can't afford to interrupt procedure here, not when we've finally got a worthy lead on this Hydra Head thing."

"Right." said Doranbalt breathing heavily and sitting back down. "Of course..."

But if he makes one more crack about Wendy or Fairy Tail, I'll break his little neck, said a voice inside Doranbalt's head.

"Now.." said the Council member. "Normally the sentence for your crimes would be death...but, we might just be able to lessen that sentence to life in maximum if you give us the information we need."

"Borig sir!" said another Council member. "You can't be serious!? These two have caused too much trouble even risk maximum security!"

"Calm yourself." said Borig. "I believe that given the circumstances, and how desperate for information we are, it's only natural to take this oppertunity, however unsavory of a deal it may be."

"One question." said Gore. "How is spending a boring life in a cell for the rest of our existances...any better then just getting it over with now?"

Borig chuckled and bent over in his seat out of the shadows to reveal his features. The moment he did, both Doranbalt and Lahar's eyes widened in shock and confusion.

"No..." said Doranbalt. "It can't be.."

The man had a long sivery beard and hair and one of his eyes was obscured with an eyepatch...

"Trust me..." said Hades of Grimoire Heart, a man who was now currently going by the name Borig of the Magic Council. "I think I can find a way to make life in a cell much more accomadating then your swift demise."

End of Epilogue.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Book 5: Perfection