The guild hall was rather silent as the group of kids who had grown up together sat at a single table while the new arrivals of an older man and black haired boy sat across from them at another table. Each of them examining the duo with curious eyes except for Nashi who still held a look of anger in her brown eyes towards the boy who appeared to be named Elio. He said that was his name but having been isolated on this island for so long a new person easily made her paranoid, especially when he held a blade against her neck. "Okay well I'm sure you all have some questions but to simply a long explanation this here is Jellal and his son Elio. They are going to be staying with us for the time being."
Wendy was hoping an introduction would smooth things over but with none of the kids having met a new face in years they were clearly cautious. All remaining seated with Gale looking over at them over her brothers shoulder. "Where did you guys come from?" She asked with suspicious eyes.
Jellal and Elio exchanged looks before standing up and looking at the group of kids. Jellal being the first to speak, "Some of you might remember me as a friend of your parents before being moved to this island. Me and Elio have been staying on an island a few miles north of here and just recently established contact with Wendy. Our land was running low on supplies so I do hope you all won't mind us staying for the time being."
The explanation seemed to calm the tension in the room with Navi standing up from her seat and walking over to the two. Showing a kind smile and holding out a hand for the two to shake. "My name is Navi Fullbuster and it is a pleasure to meet you"
"Yeah when you don't have a blade to the neck" Nashi muttered with Fugo looking over with a raised eyebrow. "Nothing buddy nothing." She quickly said
Jellal shook her hand with a smile crossing his face as he did with Elio removing the glove on his right hand to shake her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well Navi."
Nashi couldn't help but grit her teeth as she watched the two have such a friendly encounter, her head even catching on fire again. Fugo sitting up to blow it out while Firro looked at her with a bit of a smirk. "Jealous Navi is chatting it up with the new guy?"
"More like jealous I didn't get to kick your ass this morning Redfox" Nashi quickly said back with Gale hitting her brother on the top of the head with an unammused look.
"What was that for?" He quickly asked turning towards her who simply hit him on the head again as soon as he turned.
"Dont go picking fights when we have new people for once." Firro growled at her which didn't seem to faze her at all as she simply left her seat and walked over to the two older men. "My name is Gale Redfox and that one over there is my brother Firro Redfox. He may appear older but I guarantee you I am the more mature one of the two and apologize for any inconviniences he may cause you two in the near future"
"Well you certainly are mature for your age aren't you?" Jellal asked with a small laugh while Firro sat there dumbstruck from how his own sister introduced him.
Nashi simply looked at him with a large grin as she always enjoyed the trouble maker of the group get his comeuppance. She suddenly felt a tug at her shirt however and glanced over at her younger brother showing her an excited smile. "Its my turn right? To go introduce myself?"
Glancing over at the boy who attacked her Nashi had a look of anger on her face but when looking back at her brother gave off nothing but a smile. "Yeah come on, let's go introduce you." Grabbing his hand she walked over to the two with Fugo fixing his hair before holding a hand out.
"My name is Fugo Dragneel and it is a pleasure to meet the both of you! I hope we can make your stay as enjoyable as possible!" He said almost a bit too loud but the two of them simply smiled and shook his hand with Jellal even crouching down to be eye level with the young boy. Nashi inching closer to her brother just in case.
"Dragneel?" He asked softly as he had memories flood back to him about the interactions he had with the boys parents, mainly his fiery father. "I'm glad to see you're taking good care of your father's scarf. He would be proud to see you and your sister growing up taking care of each other."
"Really?" Fugo asked looking down at his scarf before looking back at the single eye the man had. "I never really got to know him..." The boy practically whispered with Nashi immediately glaring at the older man before patting her brothers shoulder.
"No need, because I can tell you that he would be just so proud of who you are. Especially with how easily you can beat Gale at checkers." Nashi said even glancing back to see the young girl glaring at her before sticking her tongue out.
"Well now that we have our introductions out of the way why don't we cook up all the fish that we caught while out fishing? Nashi if you wouldn't mind getting a fire started out back?" Wendy asked with Nashi nodding but also took Fugo with her out back while the rest followed them outside for a cookout. Elio glancing over at his father.
"And what am I supposed to do? Simple talk with them while you check on that?" He asked with Jellal letting out a soft sigh.
"It would be good for you to relax and talk with some kids your own age. Just dont try to start any fights while you're out there. I'm going to have a talk with Wendy."
He watched as his son walked over but soon turned his attention over to Wendy who let out a soft sigh as she took a seat. "That went better than expected."
"You've done a good job caring and nurturing for them all by yourself, I wish I could help or have someone here with you but we need as many people out there as possible." He said looking out a nearby window and narrowing his eyes out at the clear waters. "I know you said you would show it to me tonight but I feel it best you show me it right now. Me coming here tells you that it's only a matter of time before she finds the children here along with what we've constructed."
"So you want to start it up and use it? You should at least give me some time to explain everything to the kids."
"And I will give you that time but for now its best I see just how much energy its collected and has available."
"Fine Jellal, lets just hurry before any of them get suspicious though" Wendy said as she led the way out of the guild and towards the thick woods. Meanwhile at the back of the guild Nashi was sitting in front of a pile of sticks trying to ignite a hand on fire but seemed to be having some trouble doing so.
"You're a fire wizard aren't you? Why is it so hard for you to come up with a simple flame?" Elio asked only to see her produce one on top of her head as Firro grabbed a stick and used her fire to light it on fire. Tossing it back into the pile as a camp fire soon got started.
"She's always had some trouble with her magic but you should have seen her when she was younger. Definitely had the best magic control out of any of us." Firro told the now other boy on the island who was close to his age and he could actually talk with.
"I wonder what happened." Elio said glancing over at the pinkette who simply kept her back to them as she began piercing the fish's bodies with sharp sticks with the help of Navi and Melody. "And what of the two of you? You're all about 15 to 17 years old so I'm sure you've developed some strong magic." He asked looking at the remaining two who hadn't shown their magic.
"Oh I got some iron dragon slayer magic, I haven't figured out some of the more cool flashy stuff but I remain undefeated here in a one on one match." Firro said proudly but saw Elio's attention quickly shift over to Navi.
"And me? Well nothing too fancy or cool just some simply Hydro magic. I can move water and even change its shape, sometimes even changing it into a solid creating ice." She stated with Nashi glancing over at the newcomer.
"What about you? You got a sword there and you're walking around with Jellal so whats your magic?" She asked with Elio taking a seat on one of the logs around the campfire.
"Nothing too outlandish or insane, the gloves and boots I have one are actually pieces of magic armor I've collected over the years. I have the ability to change them in and out with other armor pieces I have in my armory." Showing off his abilities he changed the metal placed gloves into some soft brown leather gloves. "And as you can tell I'm proficient in swordsmaship."
"Meh, from what I saw a real swordsman should have been able to see that sneak attack coming from a mile away" Nashi said with a smirk as she bit into her own cooked fish and handed Fugo his own.
"This coming from the fire mage who had difficulties creating a simple camp fire?" He quickly replied back with earning another growl from the pink haired girl who tightened her fist managing to ignite it.
"You wanna see just how much fire I can actually come up with?" As Elio placed his hand on his swords hilt Melody was ready to step in till a loud boom could be heard. Eveyone stopping in their tracks with everyone automatically looking up. "Thunder maybe?" Nashi asked but saw the sky still a clear blue before hearing another loud boom.
"What is that?" Firro asked with another able to be heard and it was then that the sky seemed to start appearing different, purple runes able to be seen through the sky and far in the distance.
"Fugo... Get up and stay close to me." Nashi said as she quickly stood up with her brother nodding and grabbing her hand as the group watched the sky visibly shake with each boom.
"Gale you too." Firro said and let her up onto his back as she wrapped her arms around his neck but moved her fingers, a belt suddenly wrapping around the two and holding them close with the belt being made of the word belt together over and over again. Nashi looked over at the two and whistled before helping Fugo onto her own back and with a quick nod Gale had a belt around the other pair of siblings.
"Looks like she managed to follow me and my father here." Elio said quickly drawing his sword and switching his gloves back to metalic ones.
"What who's she?" Navi asked as the sky shook more and more it seemed to crack, runes falling down and dissapearing as their bright blue sky suddenly turned dark and black with a toxic smell quickly overtaking the island.
"What in the world..." As Melody looked around their peaceful little island quickly became part of an apocalyptic world. Black clouds, dark waters overtaking their clear water, fires in the distance and strong winds.
"You!" Elio turned only to be grabbed by Nashi who growled at him with fierce eyes and held a flaming fist up. "What the hell is going on? What is all this?" She asked with Elio looking back at her with a stern look.
"This? This is the real world. I can explain everything to you all later but for now we have to find my father. No one get seperated from the group and do as I say!" He yelled before rushing out the front of the guild with dark storm clouds seeming to be inching closer and closer to the island. The younger kids grabbing onto their older siblings tightly.
"Where is Wendy during all this?" Navi asked as she looked around but the strong winds were already making it difficult to see ahead of themselves. But in the distance she quickly spotted the silhouette of a woman walking closer to them and smiled. "Wendy!" She called out but there was no response as the figure came closer.
"Dammit... Take the kids inside now! They'll only get in the way!" Elio yelled with Nashi and Firro looking at each other before nodding, both standing there ground and watching the figure.
"No way we're leaving them at a time like this, not even for a second." Firro yelled as they could both feel how scared the younger ones were, something made very clear as they themselves were even scared at how their quiet world was quickly ripped away.
"Then I am truly sorry for what comes next." Elio warned and picking up on enough signs the other four quickly took their stances with water, lighting, iron, and fire all coming up to the tip of their fingers. All ready to fight as the air suddenly stopped moving, the clouds calming as the figure walked closer with a bright pink kimono on that held pink blossoms along it greatly contrasted by her pitch black hair. A woman who appeared in her twenties with bright red eyes who looked at the group of kids in front of her. A smile on her face as all of them held worried looks on their faces.
All except for Nashi who looked into her red eyes only to stumble back, shaking her head as her fire quickly dissapeared and she backed away with her knees shaking. "My how you've grown into such a beutifal young lady Nashi. I remember when you were just a small child rummaging through simple children's books." She said in a soft tone as she walked closer with Navi and Melody looking back at a terrified Nashi while the two boys kept their eyes on the intruder.
"You stay away... Stay away..." Nashi pleaded even falling back with Fugo watching as his older sister fell apart right in front of him causing his fear to rise even more. Wrapping his arms around her tighter and hiding his face in her neck.
'Dammit...' Was all Elio could think as he looked at the intruder and as soon as their eyes crossed he felt his own knees shake as he tightened his grip on his sword. "Protect your neck! She will go for that part!" He quickly yelled only to see her eyes mere inches from his in the blink of an eye. Eveyone else looking in shock as she simply smiled at him and reached forward only to be struck by a blast of bright yellow energy. Sending her back a few feet but not seeming to faze her as Jellal quickly flew over and stood between her and the kids.
"I should have known you would have followed us here." Jellal quickly said as he had to keep his eyes on the woman in front of him who simply smiled at him.
"Well when you are hiding such precious children like these from me how could I not? Not to mention that incredible force of magic I'm feeling under this island." She said taking a step forward only to have another blast shot at her only to be stocked by a large wall of diamonds sprout up between her and the blast protecting her. "We both know how this is going to end so bow down and I will make this quick for you as well as the children. I might keep one of them alive however." She warned as Jellal glanced back to see Nashi Dragneel now curled up into a ball of fear.
"You will not touch a hair on any of their heads." Jumping down from the sky Wendy stood between them with glaring eyes towards the mystery woman before glancing back at Nashi. Wanting to comfort her but knew this would need all her attention. "It's ready and charging, we need to but the kids enough time to get to it then we will rush behind them."
"Elio! Half a mile south lies a cave with a giant bolder moved to the side. Take everyone else there and do what I told you!" Jellal yelled right as the woman leaped forward only to be blasted back by a strong blast of wind leaving Wendy's mouth as her hair turnef purple and white wings sprouted on her ankles and wrists.
"Sky Dragons nest" a large tornado sprouted up with her in the middle as Elio nodded and turned towards the rest of the kids.
"Lets go! You heard him! Move!" He yelled and they would be willing to move if it wasn't for Nashi on the ground terrified, Fugo strapped to her as well meaning her loss would equal his as well. Elio was the first to move and walk towards her grabbing her hair and pulling her head up forcibly. Seeing tears down her cheeks and delivering a punch to her face seeming to bring her out of her terrified daze. "Do you want your brother to die!?" He yelled at a still shocked Nashi before grabbing her shirt and lifting her up to her feet. "Because if you dont start moving then not only will all of us die! You will! And so will he!"
Nashi stared at him and then at the strong winds and rays of light as Wendy and Jellal fought the woman who seemed to shoot fire out of her mouth and move at quick speeds. Her ears picking up crying and turned to see her brother crying into her shoulder and quickly broke the belt to hold him in her arms. "Hey Fugo, I guess I've been a bad sister huh? Breaking down in front of you? But I'm gonna be better so we have to move got that? Now just close your eyes and think of all the good times we had got that?"
She pleaded and even though she didnt receive a response his eyes quickly shut with his hands covering his ears while Nashi held him close. "Now move dammit!" Elio yelled as everyone began moving and Wendy watched as they ran out the corner of her eye and felt a tear roll down her eyes knowing there would be no rushing behind them and that this was it.
"No more holding back" Wendy said and the white wings seemed to grow and increase in number along her body, soon giving the appearance of white dragon wings on her back as the wind turned silent before suddenly crashing down on her opponent even blowing away the nearby guild hall.
The kids ran as quick as they could feeling the magic pressure only increase in strength as they ran and with most of them being aware of thr islands landscape they quickly arrived at the cave once always covered by an enormous boulder but was now out of the way. "Come on!" Elio shouted as they all rushed inside and as they did the interior of the cave became less and less natural and more mechanical even having lights along the walls. They ran down a long staircase with the ground around them shaking before finally coming to a large room where there was blinding light. They stood still for a moment and looked in awe at the large mechanical doors that stood before them with warm and welcoming magic inside of it.
"What is this thing?" Melody asked catching her breath as Elio walked forward staring at the light that practically seemed to be calling to them.
"Its called eclipse, a portal that will take us to the past to ensure none of this ever happens." He revealed shocking everyone present with Navi quickly stepping forward.
"T-time travel? Like actually going to the past?" She asked only to receive a quick nod as another boom shook the earth and some rubble even began to fall onto the machine worrying Elio.
"I will explain everything to you all later but for now we need to move. Everyone through the portal." He said walking towards it but turned back to see none of them even budging from where they stood. "What are you all doing!?"
"Wendy isn't here." Firro quickly stated with narrowed eyes as he looked at the swordsman. "And neither is your father, we can't just leave them here while we go to the past."
Elio looked at them before letting out a sigh and walking back over as the ground shook once again. "Listen here, that woman up there is incredibly dangerous and you have no idea what shes capable of. I have seen what she can do first-hand and those two aren't gonna be able to stop her. So don't let their sacrifice be in vain!" He yelled with the group looking at each other now conflicted on the matter with Nashi glancing down at her terrified brother.
"We need to go, he's right. We all know Wendy would want us to be safe and... They can't stop her. No one can" Nashi said looking at her friends but before any of them could ask any questions wind could be heard and as they turned towards the entrance a large blast of wind rushed down sending them back. Firro holding Gale close in his arms and having his body be covered in iron to protect them but with the doors to the gate open ended up being launched through the portal with his sister. Navi and Melody also being thrown through with Elio driving his sword into the ground to steady himself but it quickly shattered as he flew into the gate.
Nashi had her back slammed against one of the doors and the sudden collision forcing her arms loose for just a second and was forced to watch her brother fly into the bright light. She reached out for him and so did he but after their finger tips brushed against one another she watched him dissapear. Ready to jump in after him till hearing a footstep and turned to see someone walking out of a dust cloud and growled as she got ready to fight even though she knew how pointless that was. "I'm gonna kill you!" She called out on the brink of tears.
Except it wasn't the black haired woman and instead a beaten and bloody Wendy who stumbled out of the smoke with her vision blurry but smiled as she saw Nashi. Her strength fading as she could barely hold her dragon force form and reached a hand out. Nashi ready to rush over and help Wendy over till a large blade made of diamond pierced Wendy's chest. Nashi stood there shocked before once again feeling sadness overtake her. "Wendy!"
Behind her stood the woman who didn't even appear to have a scratch on her, looking towards Nashi with a wicked grin as Wendy took in her last breath. Sucking in air being an incredible pain as blood filled her lungs but with the last of power and her last breath gave out one last roar and shot out a blast of wind launching Nashi back into the light and shutting the doors. "No! Wen-!" Nashi was cut off as the doors slammed shut and Wendy was dropped onto the ground left to stare at the gate as the roof began to cave in and she lost her blood. Tears rolling down her face as a smile crossed her face.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? She's going to ask where you've gone and might even go looking" a younger Wendy asked as she overlooked a sleeping Nashi who was only seven with her brother in a crib next to her.
"This is the only option we have, I need to make sure that they're both safe. And I know that you'll protect them Wendy, that you'll make sure no harm ever comes to them or any of the kids" Lucy said as she looked at the group of sleeping kids and turned towards Wendy. "Promise me you'll make sure they stay safe and that Nashi knows how much we love her"
"I promise Lucy, I promise no harm will come to her."
And with her promise completed Wendy felt her eyes become heavy and slowly shut them as she smiled. Her only regret being that she didn't get to tell her children just how much she loved them.