Wendy woke up feeling very warm and comfortable. Once she opened her eyes, she found Carla staring at her. Behind Carla's head, she could see the outline of another person.

Ryuga: "Oh, you're awake?"

Wendy: "Eh?!"

She sat up quickly and grabbed her head. She was still a little dizzy from the fight. She looked behind her to find Ryuga sitting down, curiously looking at her. Wendy then noticed that she was just laying on Ryuga's lap, and she blushed.

Wendy: "Ah, leader! I'm sorry! I must have passed out."

Ryuga stood up and helped Wendy get up also. Once they were both on their feet, he spoke:

Ryuga: "Don't worry about it, it wasn't for long. However, I think it's time we get going again. Hibiki, you all right?"

Hibiki was just now waking up from his unconsciousness due to Wendy.

Hibiki: "Yeah, I think so. What happened?"

Ryuga: "We fought that Cobra guy. You don't remember?"

Hibiki: "Not really."

Ryuga: "Well, anyway, let's get go-."

He was interrupted by a bright light with evil aura sprouting off of it coming from deeper within the forest.

Hibiki: "That's Nirvana! Oh no! I think they're releasing it."

Ryuga: "Uh... that's not so good then."

Hibiki: "No it's not! We got to get there quickly."

Ryuga: "Okay, hold on to me. Wendy, grab Carla."

They did as they were told, even though they were confused.

Hibiki: "What's going o-" Ryuga teleported towards the light. "HUUAAHHH."

Hibiki tried to keep his lunch together, which he somehow managed to do. Wendy seemed fine, however, and Carla wasn't doing much better than Hibiki.

When they looked around, they noticed that they were near a river. They looked to their left to find Natsu sick on a raft and... Lucy flashing her breasts. Carla covered Wendy's eyes as Hibiki and Ryuga did the opposite.

Ryuga: "Woah, Lucy, I didn't know you were a- Wait a minute."

He looked to his right to find another Lucy yelling at the Flasher Lucy.

Lucy: "Put those away! There are people here!"

???: "Fufufu, what's wrong? If you've got them, flaunt them."

Angel walked out of the forest looking smug, but then her face dropped to anger once she saw Ryuga.

Angel: "You!"

She summoned a silver key, Caelum, and fired a green, laser-like blast at Ryuga. It connected with his face, leaving only a small, smoking mark on his forehead.

Ryuga: "Did... You just shoot me?" He looked completely unfazed.

Angel, now seeing that her attack had no effect, starting running in the opposite direction. Ryuga told Lucy to go chase her, as he teleported again towards the light. Once they got closer to the light, Ryuga asked Hibiki about it.

Ryuga: "Hibiki, do you know anything else about Nirvana?"

Hibiki: "Not much, but I do know that it, apparently, turns dark feelings into even darker feelings."

Ryuga: "You mean... It enhances grudges?"

Hibiki: "That's one way to put it. In other words, if someone steals your favorite pair of shoes..."

Ryuga: "You'll want the highest form of revenge huh?"

Hibiki: "Pretty much."

Ryuga: "That's too dangerous to be left alone. We have to destroy it, and quickly."

He teleported one last time, this time right near Nirvana. However, he wasn't ready for what.. or who he saw there. Ryuga and Wendy both saw Gray yelling at Jellal, and Jellal readying an attack. Gray, now realizing that he was in danger, tried to conjure up an ice wall but was too late. Jellal released a highly lethal spell right towards Gray. Gray saw the white beam of light come within an inch of his face before something grabbed him and pulled him away. Behind Gray, a chunk of the surrounding area was disintegrated.

Gray opened his eyes to find Ryuga disappointingly looking at him.

Gray: "Ryuga? Did you save me? Or am I dead? Wait, are you dead too?"

Ryuga: "Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"

Gray looked around to see the carnage caused by Jellal's attack. He then noticed Jellal launching another beam at them.

Gray: "Ryuga look out!"

Ryuga's head snapped back as purple flames burst forth from his very eyes. The violet flames consumed the light and headed straight for Jellal. However, before they could swallow him, Ryuga heard Wendy's pleading voice.

Wendy: "Please don't kill him!"

The flames receded into Ryuga's eyes, and he glared at Jellal.

Ryuga: "Why shouldn't I? He hurt Erza, Fairy Tail, killed Simon, and destroyed the Magic Council. In addition to that, he just tried to kill Gray."

Jellal seemed to snap out of something as he looked down at his shaking hands.

Jellal: "I... Did all that?"

???: " Yes. You did."

Jellal looked in front of him to see Erza and Lillian just now getting there.

Jellal: "Erza? Is that you?"

Erza didn't say anything but stare indifferently at him, and Wendy tried talking to him.

Wendy: "Do you remember me?"

Jellal: "Who are you? Who are all of you?"

He suddenly grabbed his head in pain as all of his memories starting flying back into him. While he was standing there screaming, Ryuga asked Wendy how she knew him.

Wendy: "I traveled with him for a while when I was young. Although he left me for some sort of portal."

Ryuga, now realizing who she was talking about, smiled at her.

Ryuga: "Oh, you've got the wrong person." Wendy looked at him confused. "That person you traveled with wasn't him." He pointed to the still screaming Jellal.

Wendy: "Huh? I'm sure it is. I remember the mark under his eye and everything."

Ryuga leaned in and whispered into Wendy's ear about Mystogan.

Wendy: "Oh! So like a doppelganger?"

Ryuga: "Precisely."

Wendy: "Then who is he?"

She pointed to Jellal, and Ryuga's face lowered into anger.

Ryuga: "Someone who deserves to die."

He stood up and walked towards Jellal.

Erza: "Wait, Ryuga." Ryuga didn't stop walking.

Ryuga: "Why?"

Erza: "Because he needs to pay for what he's done." Ryuga grew a smile.

Ryuga: "Oh don't worry, he will."

Erza: "Not like that. I've forgiven him, you should too."

Ryuga's face turned from anger to curiosity as he and Lillian locked eyes. They seemed to have a conversation from their gaze, and once they were through, Ryuga sighed.

Ryuga: "So. You're saying... That you've forgiven him, even though he killed Simon?"

Erza: "Of course, that doesn't mean that I want to be friends with him."

This time, Lillian was the first one to look confused.

Lillian: "Wait, wait. I don't think I understand. You forgive him, but you won't accept him as a friend anymore?"

Erza: "Yeah..?"

Now all three of them looked confused as they stared at each other. All of a sudden, Ryuga and Lillian started chuckling, and now EVERYONE looked at them with confusion.

Lillian: "Fufu, you're right, dear. Humans are more interesting than we thought."

Ryuga: "Haha, it looks like I've learned something new today." He stopped laughing quickly, as did Lillian. "All right then, Erza. I'll try it your way."

He walked away from Jellal but looked back once he heard a weird noise. Nirvana, now showing it's true form, was revealed as an ancient city with legs.

Ryuga: "Oh, so that's what it is."

It started walking towards Cait Shelter, as everyone just watched.

Gray: "Uh, shouldn't we do something about that?"

Ryuga: "Before that, did you and Lyon defeat Racer?"

Gray: "Yep! He wasn't so hard after you gave us that advice."

Ryuga: "Hmm, good. What about you, Erza? Did you face Midnight?"

Erza: "Yeah. It was a hard fight, but I managed to win."

Lillian: "And she did it all by herself, isn't that great?"

Ryuga: "Yeah. It is. Very impressive." Erza blushed. "Where's everyone else?"

As he said this, Jura walked in, carrying a sea-sick Natsu, with Lucy next to him.

Jura: "Here." Hoteye appeared behind him. "He's... different now."

Lucy: "Yeah, it's really freaking me out."

Ryuga: "So you all defeated your opponents?"

Lucy: "I guess, who's left?"

Ryuga: "Well, let's see. Gray, Lyon, and Sherry took down Racer. Lucy, you took down Angel. Jura... incapacitated Hoteye. Erza got Midnight. Wendy did a number on Cobra. I guess all that is left is Brain."

Jura: "And I'm guessing he's on that?"

Everyone just looked at the city with annoyance.

Ryuga: "Probably."

Natsu: "So how do we defeat it?"

Ryuga looked back at Natsu, who was getting cured of his sea-sickness from Wendy."

Ryuga: "Well, it looks like that city is controlled by Lacrimas. Meaning, if we break them all, it will probably collapse."

Hibiki: "Not only that but I think we have to break them at the same time."

Ryuga: "All right, then that's what we'll do. Aunt Lillian, can you make sure everyone gets on it?"

Lillian: "Sure, but what are you going to do?"

Ryuga: "I'm going to make sure Jellal is here when the Magic Council Corps arrives. I'll meet up with you all later."

Lillian: "Okay!"

She snapped her fingers, and everyone there was instantly teleported onto Nirvana, causing Ryuga to chuckle.

Ryuga: "Haha, I wish I could do that." He looked towards Jellal, who looked depressed. "Now it's just us."

Jellal: "Just kill me."

Ryuga: "Although I'd like to, I think that Erza's right. You're going to pay for your sins here, on earthland."

Ryuga used magic to trap Jellal in chains.

Jellal: "Why does she forgive me..."

Ryuga: "Because she's a good person... Better than we could ever be."

Jellal: "We?"

Ryuga: "Yes. Anyway, stay here until the Magic Corps arrive, once this is all over. Don't try to escape. If you do, I'll hunt you down until the ends of time."

Jellal: "Whatever. Just go help them."

Ryuga flew away towards Nirvana, leaving a distraught and confused Jellal behind. Once he got close enough, he spake to himself.

Ryuga: "Well then, I guess we should start by plucking off its legs."

He raised his hands as masses of earth and rock coiled around Nirvana's legs, trapping it. Once Nirvana stopped moving, Ryuga clenched his fists, and the earth around Nirvana's legs squeezed in. The legs were crushed, and the body of Nirvana was stagnant.

However, in the time he was talking with Jellal, Nirvana had gotten close enough to Cait Shelter. The ancient weapon prepared to fire an evil blast. Ryuga quickly flew in front of it and stretched out his right hand.

Ryuga: "Great Sea of the South Wind, sustenance has found its way to you. Mountain of Right and Valley of Wrong, rations appear before you." Small, black orbs started to form on Ryuga's fingertips. "The Insatiable Hunger envelopes you for eternity! Consume all and nourish your soul! Gluttony!"

A tremendously loud roar was heard as the orbs grew in size until they morphed into a midnight black mouth that swallowed up all of the energy from the blast. Not only was the blast swallowed up, but a large bite mark was indented into the earth, causing the ground to shake vehemently.

After the mouth disappeared, silence fell upon the place. The black orbs retreated back into the fingers of Ryuga as he sighed.

Ryuga: "Phew, that spell always eats more than it's supposed to."

Not long after that, Nirvana started to crumble apart.

Ryuga: "Oh? Looks like they were able to defeat Brain and Nirvana after all." He smiled slightly. "They've grown a lot since coming on this trip. I'm proud of them."

???: "Indeed they have."

Ryuga looked to his left to find Lillian smiling beside him.

Ryuga: "So? Who eventually fought Brain?"

Lillian: "That pink-haired boy. I believe his name is Natsu."

Ryuga: "Haha, typical. Well, how long will you be staying? The underworld needs one of its rulers back."

Lillian: "Oh, I didn't tell you?" Ryuga looked at her with confusion and shook his head. "I put Tufala in charge of my fiefs while I was gone."

Ryuga: "You put Granny in charge? Well then, how long do you plan on staying?"

Lillian: "Hmm, I'm not sure. Maybe until you wed one of the ladies here?"

Ryuga: "Hah, I thought you didn't want me to marry any humans."

Lillian: "Yeah, well, when I was with Erza, I had a thought."

Ryuga: "Oh yeah? What's that?"

Lillian: "I remembered a spell used for cross-breeding. If it's a success, you can freely marry and breed any race you desire."

Ryuga: "Are you talking about those ancient, immortal spells? I thought those were used for 'forcing' dragons and creating the 'perfect' species."

Lillian: "Well, yeah, they were, but I thought that the same spell could be applied with different intentions, don't you think?"

Ryuga: "Hmm. It could work. We would need one to... well you know. I'm not so sure if we know anyone powerful enough that would be willing to.. witness that."

Lillian: "I could do it." Ryuga grew pale.

Ryuga: "No, please! Anyone but my m-Aunt."

Lillian: "Hmm, what about Tufala?"

Ryuga: "Granny!? That's even worse!"

Lillian: "We could always get your father to do it. I'm sure he'd be joyo-"

Ryuga: "NO! That'd be so embarrassing! We'll figure it out later!"

Lillian: "Haha, all right, fine. Let's get back to your guild, shall we?"

Ryuga: "Yes, let's."

They flew down to Nirvana, as the alliance was cheering in victory. Everyone looked happy, except Wendy, who was crying on the ground. Apparently, Cait Shelter were the ones who created Nirvana, but it went out of control. Now that it was destroyed, Cait Shelter had disappeared also.

Ryuga walked over to the crying Wendy and put a hand on her shoulder.

Ryuga: "Cry. You deserve it. However, don't cry for too long."

Wendy: *sniff* "Huh? What do you mean?" She talked through her tears.

Ryuga: "Although your family is now gone, you are still here. They would want you to find a new family, one in which you can spend the rest of your life." Wendy, confused, looked up at him. "Wendy Marvell. Would you join our family? Would you join Fairy Tail?"

Out of nowhere, she hugged him and started crying harder into his clothes.

Wendy: "Yes! If you'll have me, yes!"

Ryuga pat the back of her head, not knowing what exactly to do in this situation. After a few more minutes of her crying, she got up on her feet. Ryuga turned to the cheering guild.

Ryuga: "Everyone!" They all looked at him and listened. "We have a new family member in Fairy Tail!"

He gestured to Wendy, and people came running up to her to congratulate her.

Back in the guildhall, everyone was introducing themselves to Wendy as Makarov and Ryuga smiled from the bar.

Makarov: "So you finally invited someone huh?"

Ryuga: "Why do you say it like that? Not just anyone is capable of becoming a Fairy Tail member."

Makarov: "Haha, so you say. Unlike you, I accept all who come to me."

Ryuga: "Yeah, well we're pretty different from each other, old man."

Makarov: "Oi! You're older than me, old man!"

They both laughed a little until they heard bells going off in town.

Makarov: "Uh oh, looks like Gildarts is coming back."

Ryuga: "Better open the door before he breaks it."

They both chuckled again, as the town started to alter into what is called "Gildarts Shift."