A/N: While doing research for a small part of this chapter I ran across this picture and thought I'd add it bc I'm a cruel bitch and wanted to make your hearts break more. JUST LOOK HOW CUTE IT FREAKING IS. Also I've been super into Fairytail lately so you're going to see a few references in this chapter. 

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Many, many, many years ago - Crystal Heights, Hell

For being built in a notoriously scolding hot realm, the Marécage Manor always seemed so cold you could see your breath. One step outside and it was Texas in July. Somehow, when you passed over that threshold, you were suddenly in a walk in freezer. The family hadn't seemed to mind and the servants learned to live with it. After all, if you were working for one of the most feared families around, you'd learn to accept a lot of shit as is.

It was utterly quiet. You could hear a pin drop. That was just the way the head of the house preferred it. He was happiest when all he could hear was a pen gliding over paper. As for the two oldest children of the estate, they took wished to have pure silence as they tended to their studies. 

Apollo sat across from his brother with a novel clutched in his hands. Lumi kept a book open on the table, writing notes in his journal. They enjoyed the sanctity of the library. In here, the help didn't bother them and they were safe from their younger siblings. Well, typically they were. The oldest brother became noticeably distressed when the squeak of a bat busting through the door disrupted him.

"Thursday!" He yelled threateningly, "Thursday! Come get your idiotic pet!"

The younger demon stumbled through the halls as he chased after his bat. "Coffee! Coffee settle down! Please, you're going to make them even more mad at me!" He begged of his companion.

In a panic, the bat continued to freak out. It couldn't fly quite right and crash landed onto the table, knocking over all the textbooks. Aside from the mess, they'd both just lost their place in the extensively long novels. Lumi angrily snatched the bat and made it squeak even more. He noticed a tear in the creature's wing.

"What happened?" He demanded to know.

"It was Cromwell! His dumb crocodile bit Coffee!" Thursday replied.

Apollo gazed beyond him, seeing their youngest brother in the entrance. He was the runt of the family, standing only about two and a half feet tall at the moment. Though his skin was naturally scales, his family forced him to look "normal". His dark green hair fell over his pale skin. All his clothes were once his brothers, meaning they didn't fit him right. A baggy pair of old overalls hung off of him. 

In the crook of his arm, a very small baby crocodile rested. He was the runt of his own litter, abandoned by his mother. That was something a young Croc could relate to. He cared for that animal more than his own family, he swore. Timidly, he shuffled his way towards his oldest brother.

"Is that true, Cromwell?" Apollo asked. 

"Happy didn't mean it, I swear!" He desperately replied, "He's really sorry! I am too!"

"I think he's caused enough trouble." He said.

With tears in his eyes, the small demon shook his head, "No, no! He'll be good from now on, I promise! Please, don't take him away!"

"That's enough!" Lumi snapped. He extended his hand out to his youngest brother, "Hand him over."

Croc jumped back with his best friend whining in his arms. "Please, Lumi! Please, don't hurt him! Please! I'm so sorry!"

He was no match for his older brother's matured strength. Lumi grabbed him by his arm and yanked him closer. No matter how many tears he'd shed over the topic, he wasn't going to get any leniency. After all, they'd warned him multiple times now to get Happy's biting habits under control. Lumi mercilessly ripped the baby crocodile from his arms. 

"No, Lumi! Please!" His small voice begged.

Like his brother could really care. Unlike Croc, he'd learned how to be a real demon, and real demons don't have emotions towards such childish things. Lumi held the squealing reptile in his fist. He suddenly turned it to pure ice, then crushed it in his hand. The shards of what once was just a living creature fell to the floor.

Croc collapsed to his knees, crying over the remains. "N-No, he- He was my only friend." He murmured.

"Enough of this childish behavior." Apollo coldly responded, "We are trying to study, which is what you two should be doing. Leave, both of you. I don't want to hear another peep out of you."

He certainly had the demanding force that their father did. It was hard not to be scared by Apollo. He was skilled in ways that wasn't just strength and coldness. Thursday tightened his grip around his bat friend a little tighter. Even if he was mad at his younger brother for what had happened, he never meant for it to result in this. He couldn't imagine what he'd do if he lost his own companion.

"C'mon," He pulled at Croc's shoulder, "C'mon, we gotta go or else we're gonna make them more mad."

Croc didn't even feel like he could walk. He forced himself too, his small body shuttering with sobs. Thursday pulled him out of the library to avoid any more conflict. The young demon kept a piece of that magic ice clung to his chest. Even if it was just useless ice now, it was all he had left of his friend. 

Covey peered out from around the corner. He saw Croc in tears, knowing very well what had happened. Thursday said his apologies but it didn't do much good. This was inevitable. In the long run, they were going to find an excuse to get rid of Happy some way or another. They felt a runt reptile didn't belong in the manor. Those thoughts extended to their youngest sibling as well.

Thursday ran off to go work on his studies. After that display, he was terrified to get in trouble again. Little Covey scurried over to his brother. He may have been pushing his teen years, but he'd still much rather hang out with the two toddlers than his prudish, crude older siblings. He knelt down in front of Croc, setting his hand on the side of his face.

"Hey, don't cry. You'll see him again someday. All living things pass away eventually, but they go on to the afterlife. And when we die, we'll get to see all the people we miss." He raised his finger to his shoulder and the raven perched there jumped over. Covey lowered his hand in front of him, "Until then, you can always play with Lucy." 

He managed a small smile seeing the fluffy bird in front of him. She was so sweet, for being a sign of evil. Croc looked beyond her to his happy brother. Covey held so much hope in his life. He couldn't figure out exactly how he did it, but he could always look for the positives. That was a rare trait for a dark creature, especially a demon. 

Present Day - Qrow Manor, Vanaheim

In one of the underground levels of Qrow Manor, laid a museum of sorts. That's the way it looked anyways. It's true purpose was to serve as a vault for Jasper's large collection of mystical items. Only someone baring his branding or pact mark can even enter. Lucky for Croc, that meant he could get in through the spell's barricade. 

He could care less about all the fancy items around. His search led him to the newest edition to the collection. A glass front cabinet contained the largest set of wings he'd ever seen. They even topped Angelo's, something he never thought possible for an angel even, let alone a demon. Between the two wings rested the staff that housed the Lord of Ravens' power.

Croc knelt down before the display, muttering, "Forgive me, brother, but I hope you can now I understand why I've chose this course of action. I know you can see my memories. Look through them, please, and try to see things the way I see them."

"I already have," His sweet voice spoke, "I've seen all of it. Not just the secrets you bare, but the love you protect. I understand, and I hold no hatred towards you for your decision. In fact, I should be grateful you've freed me from my ignorance. But, now that I do see, I will never forgive you if you do not see this through."

"You don't have to worry about that." He murmured. 

Croc slowly stood to his feet as he heard someone else entering the chamber. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the younger of the White brothers with Ash and Micah beside him. Finch found an empty podium and placed his ancient journal on top of it. The witch accompanying him used a spell to protect it and keep it sealed away, as it should be. 

"I have to say, I'm still very shocked someone of your standing submitted to Jasper." Finch commented, "I'm sorry. That was rude of me."

"It's fine, really. I want you to know, though, my standing is nonexistent now. I've been disowned from my family." He replied.

The vampire sauntered over to the cabinet and gazed upon the treasure inside. "I've heard about your brother. I've heard about all of your brothers, and you. It actually amazes me that you were able to start over the way you did, but why do you hide who you are?"

His hands tightened into fists, "I am the only one of my brothers that doesn't hide!"

Shocked, he was quick to apologize, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I wasn't referring to your psychical appearance either. I meant your bloodline, your title. Even being cast out of your family, you still hold your power."

"Ummm, am I missing something, here?" Ash asked.

Finch decided the conversation had gone far enough. He turned around, hearing for the door. "You'll have to tell them eventually."

"Fine!" Croc growled, "You want me to tell the truth? To say it out loud?! I am the Lord of Reptiles, and I have more power than half the people in this damn place! But I don't use it, because all I want is to be happy! And fighting, all that brings is sorrow..." He looked down at his hands, reflecting back on all the destruction his brothers and he had caused. "I don't want that for my baby."

Finch had known the truth the entire time and to hear it didn't phase him. With a smirk, he continued to leave the room. To the other two in the room, however, they were floored. All this time, they'd taken him for some low life ex-con. He was powerful, sure, but they never could've guessed he was that powerful.

"I've heard that name before, Lord of the Reptiles. The shamans spoke of you, of your power." Micah said, "Some thought you were the saving grace to the bayou. Others thought you were pure evil. I never knew which to believe."

"They were both right. I changed my ways several times in the years I lived down south." He replied.

"But, if you're the Lord of Reptiles, and your brother was the Lord of the Ravens, that means-" Ashley's face flushed white. Well, whiter than it usually was.

"Yes, that's right. My other three brothers are The Lord of Bats, The Cold Lord, and The Lord of Fates. Now, you understand why I'm ashamed of them. Please, don't tell Mike you know. He and I both want this kept secret."

"You could have all the power you wanted. You could have men and creatures alike bowing to your feet. You could live in a castle and have twenty servants if you so desired. Instead, you chose to sign your life away to an ancient spirit and live in a sewer. Why?" Micah questioned.

"When I saw Jasper's mark, I knew it was in my best interest to be his ally. I didn't mind becoming his servant if it meant I earned his trust." He set his hand on the side of his neck, where the symbol was forever on his skin. "His symbol is the sign for salt crossing through a pentagram. That means he is the true sign of evil, and he is the salt to the earth. Do you know what the writing inside his marking means?"

"I've tried to decode it, but I don't speak Egyptian." He replied, "Dare I ask what it says?"

Croc continued towards the exist, numbly responding, "God of the End."