Reunited

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Rayden rushed out of the building with what few men were spared Gajeel's wrath. "This is unacceptable!" His roar was piercing as he ducked to avoid being struck by a man catapulting through the air. "Where is Circa!?" His question was quickly answered when the man in question struck his back at Rayden's feet, an agonised curse on his lips.

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"I didn't expect this," Circa forced out softly. He weakly staggered to his feet with his chief's aid.

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"Erza Scarlet's cell has been breached," Rayden added urgently. "Our cause is lost here! If we continue to resist, there will be nothing and no one left!"

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"They're just as merciless as ever…"

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Rayden flinched in utter terror. "'They'?"

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"They've combined forces for some strange reason," Circa informed. He hissed an agonised breath through his teeth, adjusting with a whimper as Rayden offered him his shoulder. "I can only theorise it has something to do with that little girl you pulled out of Magnolia."

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"That was their daughter! Listen, if I had any idea, I wouldn't have let them take her along with the others!" Rayden defended hurriedly. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault! I brought them right to the council's door!"

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"Well they didn't give a damn about the girl up until now," Circa sneered disdainfully. He winced with the increasing pressure of his wounds. "And they're striking back as a team that shows no sign of the division they've endured these past months."

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"Come on… we have to get out of here. We don't possess a force strong enough to combatant them," Rayden rushed out quickly. With a determined grimace, he straightened in command with his co-captain in tote. "We have to take our remaining forces and retreat before countless lives are lost!"

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The men cried out simultaneously as a crack of violet lightning intercepted their retreat. It was a lean strand of black electricity at first, silent as it flashed, but moments later it had become a thick and devastating pillar of desecration that obliterated everything it touched. The sheer force of its approach sent both men toppling to the ground. Before they had a chance to flee the scene, the dark silhouette of a lean woman was coming up from the shadows that stretched at their feet. The next crash of thunder darkened her form, but her identity was unmistakable. Bright cracks of lilac static leapt from her skin as she glared at them through lifeless and illuminated amethyst eyes. "You have three seconds to tell me where my children are," she snarled vehemently. With the rattling of the hesitant men, she took her first step towards them. "And know that any harm that has befallen them will be mirrored onto the flesh of those responsible." Her fierce gaze flashed with intent as her ragged breaths rocked her bare chest. "One."

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Mistaking Neirah of the past for the one in the future they knew, the men were quick to try and retreat. The Neirah of the future was arrogant and maniacal, not nearly so primal. Her adjustment in ferocity was alarming. To their dismay, the moment they were on their feet, their path was blocked by a broad and equally impatient lightning dragon. Laxus glowered down at the men, arms folded over his chest as he waited for their clamouring response. "If you think that you can escape me in the time it takes her to hit three, you got another thing comin' pal."

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The commander's face paled with the sound of Laxus' voice, something no one had heard in quite some time. They had no idea whether they should take that as a good sign or a bad one. "If you seek the girl, she has already seen release!" Rayden struggled to remain authoritative as he spoke, belittled by the towering man. "Retrieve her and leave this place!"

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Circa reached out against the ache in his wounded arm towards the man he was sure had lost his mind. "Rayden! Don't be a fool!"

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Circa trembled meekly as Rayden brushed him off and spread his arms out in surrender. "If someone must be held accountable for the child's capture, let it be me! Leave the others! They are no threat to you!"

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Neirah flinched, her breath hitching hesitantly with the sight of a once bold man trembling in their wake like they were a set of unstoppable demons. She watched Laxus flinch towards him before her hand was fading to human once more as it reached out and rested against his arm. "Laxus," she encouraged softly. "They think we're…"

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He cast his gaze her way, receiving her unspoken message to release them without any further harm. It infuriated him to think that the council was rashly imprisoning wizards, but at the same time, if they were so afraid of the magic possessed in this world, he also considered that maybe there was a reason. He turned his fierce glare back to the Magic Council members as they scrambled to dodge the strike of lightning crashing down among them in warning. "If you so much as think about crossing my family again, my wife will be the least of your concerns."

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Levy's world was spinning as she watched Lyra retreat like she had just offered the woman a great insult. "I'm so sorry, Auntie," she whispered breathlessly. But no matter how terrible Levy felt for making the nervous girl fret about, she couldn't bring herself to absorb what she'd just been told about her future in a meagre six years.

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"I don't understand… How is this happening?" Erza stammered out weakly. She was suddenly ashamed of her pathetic state of being, her scars and bruises.

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"Lyra… She sent a letter to back in time just before she was captured by the Magic Council and brought here," Levy explained while simultaneously trying to rearrange her thoughts. "When we heard what had happened, we did anything we could to make it."

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"We've come to get the full story," Gajeel interrupted swiftly. He was still a little concerned about his future's wellbeing, but priorities. "We get that far, there's a chance we can stop it all from happenin' in the past."

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Erza shook her head sadly, tears rising in her eyes. "It was awful…" Erza started weakly. "Life was wonderful and perfect for so long… then it was just like a rift opened up above Magnolia and rained chaos upon us."

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Erza shuttered as she recalled the fresh flames and the sight of allies turned enemy. "It wasn't just Lyra's parents that were affected, but they were certainly the cause of the war. It was like suddenly, nothing else mattered to them other than taking each other's lives, and it came out of nowhere. Some of the other wizards were affected by it too… and took sides in the conflict. Those of us who didn't, went into hiding to avoid the destruction unfolding before us," she bowed her head ruefully. "It wasn't long before the Magic Council tried to intervene, but nothing seemed to get in their way… They were always strong wizards before, but something enhanced all of their abilities like nothing I've ever seen. It's hard to believe it was just emotion. I don't know what on earth could have made them act that way, to turn their back on everything they once cherished, but they weren't so preoccupied with ending each other, none of us would be standing here…"

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"This way! I can hear them!" Neirah's rushed steps almost drowned out her words as she stormed the corridor, Laxus close on her heels. "Hurry, before they call our bluff and figure out we're not the bad guys!"

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"Maybe that's a good thing," Laxus encouraged. "Maybe they'll back off if they think we're here to help."

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"Laxus, my children are in danger," she snapped back edgily. "Momma dragon's not playing by anyone else's rules for this. If so much as a single hair on my daughter's beautiful head is broken, I will make the future me look like a forest fairy in comparison."

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"Point…"

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"By chance, have you come across Alex?" Levy encouraged softly.

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"No…" Erza admitted with a humble tremble. "I was captured when I tried to ward off the Magic Council on my own. Jellal and the others… I can only imagine he's since rendezvoused with Mira and what remains of Fairy Tail."

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"What about Lily!?" Gajeel demanded in alarm. "Have you heard anything about where she is?"

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Erza looked up at him sadly, a cloud of anguish washing over her expression. "The last time anyone saw her… she was with you… before…" Erza choked back her reply and turned away, forcing Gajeel's expression pale.

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"Before what…?"

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Levy caught a tear as it escaped her eye. "Before you died." She didn't bother watching Erza slowly bob her head in agreement.

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Erza cried out softly in surprise as Gajeel lurched forwards and took her by the shoulders urgently. "Well!? Come on, red, spill it! What the hell happened to me!?"

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Gajeel flinched, slowly backing away from Erza with Lyra's guidance. After he had released the woman, Lyra buried her face in his lap with an apologetic whimper. "I'm sorry, Uncle Gajeel…"

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His expression softened as he reached down and took his fretful niece into his arms, hoisting her up against his chest. "Gee kid, just like yer mom. What could you ever have to be sorry for?"

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His gaze widened in bewilderment as the little girl's gentle whimpers met his shoulder. "Daddy did it," she squeaked out sorrowfully. "Daddy killed Uncle Gajeel."

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Gajeel stumbled backwards out of the cell, watching Lyra curl back up mournfully with the women.

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"Gajeel!" He whirled on his heels to face where Neirah and Laxus had joined them, but before they could rush passed, he put an arm out to stop them. Neirah cast her concerned gaze to where Gajeel denied her his expression. "Hey… what's wrong…?"

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"One at a time," he rumbled out softly upon allowing Neirah to pass. "The kid's pretty shook up…" He didn't bother to look up into the eyes that rained teardrops onto his arm as Neirah slipped by him, he had other things on his mind.

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Neirah rounded the corner and dropped to her knees with a delighted cry. "Lyra! You're safe, thank heavens!"

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"Momma?!" Lyra squirmed free of Levy's grasp and ran into her mother's arms with grateful tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry momma, I didn't know what to do!"

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"Oh my sweet baby girl, you did the right thing," Neirah whispered against her golden locks. "Lyra, I'm so proud of you. You were very brave to try and reach us."

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Erza's heart raced as she observed the reunion. "Neirah came with you?" She whispered discretely.

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Levy nodded swiftly in agreement. "They both did."

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Laxus watched Gajeel suspiciously for a long moment, waiting anxiously to hold his daughter in his arms. His grip on his folded arms flexed impatiently as he watched Gajeel linger on dark thoughts. "What's your problem?"

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Laxus' skin crawled when he heard Gajeel's reply, absent the man's complete attention. "You gotta problem with me…?" He rumbled sternly, differently than he might've if he were picking a playful fight.

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Laxus' brow creased inquisitively with his suspicions and he grew curious as to why the restless iron dragon refused to make eye contact with him. "Lots, but nothin' I'd kill you over," he teased wryly. He watched Gajeel's hand flex at his side like he'd been insulted by their normally harmless banter. "So?"

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Gajeel slowly raised his head but kept his gaze detoured from his company. "Then I don't gotta problem," he offered gently. 'Yet…'

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"Momma, I was so scared! Everything changed so fast, and then Alex left and never came back. I still can't find him! I don't know where he is… I'm sorry, momma, I looked everywhere!"

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"Shh, Lyra sweetie, it's ok," Neirah crooned. "We're here now and we're going to help make everything better."

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"You have to," Lyra whimpered softly. She pulled her teary gaze from against her mother. "For Uncle Gajeel… and everyone else that didn't make it."

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"Didn't mak- Lyra what are you saying?" Neirah stammered out weakly. Her chest immediately swelled with anxiety.

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"I don't know why daddy did it… Something must have made him… Uncle Gajeel didn't do anything wrong…"

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Neirah turned her wide-eyed expression to Levy and Erza. "Are you saying that Laxus is responsible for taking Gajeel's life in the future?!"

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Gajeel shifted his peripheral gaze to where Laxus had nearly choked on his breath alongside him. He hadn't seen tears on his friend's face since they day he had held his dying wife in his arms, but hearing his daughter try and justify the deeds of the monster he'd become obviously broke his heart. He wanted to reach out and stop Laxus from passing him by, but there was a foreboding aura around the man that promised death to the hand who tried to keep him from his family any longer. With the news they had all just received, he wasn't going to push his luck.

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"I promise you that daddy would never do that," Neirah mused affectionately in an effort to comfort the rattled child. "He loves your uncle as much as we do. He would never hurt him." Neirah's heart stopped as the girl fled back in terror, a soft whimper on her lips. Neirah quickly turned to see what had startled her, only to be dismayed at the sight of Laxus in the doorway. Hot tears rolled over her face to see Laxus in a similar state. Lyra had always thought the world of her father, they had been best friends since the child's birth, so watching her flinch like a stray that had been kicked one too many times shattered the resolve of everyone in the room.

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Laxus had wanted a little girl more than anything after Alex was born. He was completely overcome by the news announced the day his wife's life was spared that she had been carrying that little girl all along. Since then, Lyra had become his angel, the heavenly body that returned the light to his world. There wasn't a night he wasn't kept an hour after Lyra's bedtime, reading to her until she just couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. He was her hero… to feel like the villain again tore him up inside.

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Lyra tipped her wide and traumatised gaze towards her mother for guidance. "Daddy came with us," Neirah assured her gently. She was too devastated by the girl's reaction to his presence to manage much else.

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"And he's here to protect his angel from her nightmares…" Lyra's first step was weak and tentative as she took it towards him, but soon, she was running into his arms with a beaming smile on her face. Her toes weren't long on the ground and he was hauling her up against him, clutching her tightly in his arms. He buried his face in her bloodstained hair and held the back of her head tightly in his embrace. "That's all this is... a bad dream." His trembling gaze rested on his wife for strength before he sighed relief and diverted it to the floor as his tears started to fall. He'd never been so sorry in all his life and he didn't even know what he'd done yet. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," he whispered feebly against her shoulder. "Not even if it's me…"

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"I missed you so much…" Lyra whined energetically. "I was scared you forgot about us. I was so scared daddy."

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Neirah climbed to her feet and joined her husband, resting a hand on either of them. "I promise you we'll make this right," she whispered soothingly. She closed her eyes with a trembling sigh, placing a gentle kiss on the girl's damp brow. "But first we have to get out of here before trouble finds us." Neirah turned and looked over her shoulder to where Erza was just starting to come out of shock. It had been a long time since the woman had seen the Dreyar's act as a picture-perfect family, it had been a long time since she'd laid eyes on Gajeel. "We need to know exactly what happened and when if we're going to try and fix this," Neirah assured her gently. "Erza… will you come with us?"

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Erza trembled for a long moment before nodding her head. "Yes," she agreed. "And whatever Lyra and I can't tell you, I'm sure the other's can." She allowed Levy to help her up before continuing. "And I know where they're hiding."

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Laxus looked down at his daughter, gently wiping the tear streaks from her rosy cheeks. He was happiest just standing there holding her, but he was still one child short. Fairy Tail's prince was still missing and he was becoming more desperately aggressive when he considered that the pieces of his heart were so divided in the bleak future they found themselves within. His expression was dark with determination when he turned it back to meet Erza's. "Take us."

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Sixty-Five Hours Remain

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Neirah gently combed her fingers through her daughter's tangled hair as the child slept peacefully in her lap for the first time since the war had begun. Her eyes were burning with the presence of tears that wanted to keep falling. "I wish it were true," Neirah murmured gently. "I wish we could all just wake up. I don't know if I have what it takes to watch my friends and family suffer any longer…"

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"We've prayed for that for months," Erza offered sadly. She ran her hands self-consciously over her scarred arms. "Fighting for survival is one thing… but trying to defend yourself against the people you once loved…"

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"It's ok," Levy whispered softly. She took Erza's hand as the woman's tears started to fall, and even though it pained her to watch such a strong and proud woman rain her broken pieces down her dirty face, she still smiled comfort. "We're here to help."

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"I just hope Alex is with the others in Hargeon," Neirah murmured gently. "I'm so worried about him."

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Laxus reached out and slipped his fingers between hers to hold her hand, but when she turned to face him, his gaze remained distant in silent contemplation. She knew that the situation was probably still tearing him apart on the inside, but they didn't have time to mourn the loss of something that they had yet to lose.

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"I'm sure he's fine," Erza comforted her softly. "I don't know how far in the past you came from, but the last time I saw Alex he was as strong-willed as ever. His magic was getting to be quite formidable. I'm sure he can look after himself."

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"I'm not concerned," Laxus rumbled edgily. He slowly turned to face the conversation as he lowered his fist from his jaw. "If he's with the others and walking on his own, I'm gonna kick his ass for leavin' his baby sister alone in a damned war zone."

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"Laxus!" Neirah scolded him in hushed tones.

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"Hey, we got our kids waitin' at home safe and sound. And you can't tell me that your brother would have ever done the same. Gajeel would have torn through the fabrics of space and time with a damn sword to kick his own ass for being such an idiot."

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"Laxus, he's fourteen… I'm sure he's trying his best."

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Laxus closed his eyes to deny the pitiful sight of his daughter curled up in his wife's lap. "It kills me to have to watch this, but we gotta remember that we're here to get the truth and make it back to the kids we've got back home." His fingers almost trembled as he reached out and slipped they bloody lowlights in his daughter's hair from her face. "These little guys are nothing but shadows of something we gotta fix. We do that, and none of this is going to happen."

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"It's going to be hard… leaving her behind even once we learn the truth," Neirah whispered weakly. "She's still my daughter."

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"I promise you I'll protect her once you leave… for as long as these memories take to fade," Erza assured Neirah gently. She somberly lowered her soft, vulnerable gaze. "But the Master is right… The four of you have to survive this or there is no hope for your futures. Your children's futures. It may stop all this from happening, but it will destroy the guild to lose you in the past where everything is still innocent. Everyone will still suffer…"

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"Master." Neirah choked on her sentiment even as a small smile curled her lips. "Master-Daddy…"

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Laxus did his best to soften his exhausted and grizzled expression as he raised his weary gaze to Erza's. "You don't have to call me that here," Laxus murmured quietly. He heaved a hefty sigh and shifted his gaze into the flicker of flames warming their humble party. "It's pretty obvious that I screwed up bad if this is the outcome. It must just kill you to-"

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The group flinched when Erza made a noise that sounded almost like a laugh. "Quite the opposite, actually," she teased. "Up until a year ago when all of this started to happen, you were an excellent guild master."

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Neirah smiled proudly towards her husband as his bashful features were swiftly diverted and concealed behind his supporting palm.

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Erza's smile became tender as she continued. "Seeing you all here fills me with great hope. It comforts me to know my family back home hasn't forgotten about us." Erza smiled as she met Laxus' sheepish gaze head on. "Your grandfather would be very proud."

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Laxus gently scoffed his next breath and filled it with amusement. "Like this night couldn't get any more depressing," he teased. "I wish the old man was still kickin' around… He'd have this fixed already."

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Neirah smiled tenderly and laid her hand on his thigh. "Don't worry, daddy," she reassured. "We'll figure it out…"

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Levy started to tune out the conversation as she looked past the flicker of their fire to where Gajeel had isolated himself to 'take watch'. With a dismissive smile, she slowly slipped away from their group and made her way to her husband's side. He had been really quiet since he had discovered that the life of his future self had been ended by one of his closest friends. She knew the two bickered like rivals, on occasion. It came with the fact that Laxus was still married to Gajeel's little sister. But the two of them had a strong bond when push came to shove and she knew that in the past she existed in, both would gladly take the fall for the other. "Gajeel?" Levy whimpered gently. She quietly took a seat on the dewy grass alongside him. "Are you worried about Lilian?"

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"I'm worried 'bout a lotta things," he rumbled softly. He glanced her way for a brief moment as she joined him before staring out into the still night.

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Levy looked down between them before resting her palm reassuringly on his knee, giving it a gentle rub. "You heard Laxus… Lily is safe at home with Pantherlily and Juvia. All we have to do is make it back to her." Levy flinched with his derisive scoff.

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"Laxus…"

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Levy's brow knotted with his dismal groan barely articulating the other man's name. "Gajeel, this Laxus would still lay his life on the line for you. You can't reprimand him for crimes he hasn't committed."

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Gajeel groaned his submission to his tiny wife's sound logic. "I'll admit, that threw me for one, that's fer damn sure," he admitted vaguely. "And I hate goin' back to this, you know? Feelin' like I can't trust him. He's been damn good to Shads all these years. We've been through a lot together…" He sighed and wrapped his arm around his wife, giving her a stern kiss on her head in appreciation of her lent ear. "But seein' the kid try to hide from him like that… Lye always thought her old man was the world." He looked sceptically over his shoulder to where Laxus supported Neirah as she rested her sleepy head against his shoulder. "It just makes me wonder… Just what the hell happened to them?"

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"I sure hope we aren't around long enough to see it for ourselves," Levy whispered tenderly. "Erza is a wreck. Whatever she's seen out of them for the last year has messed her up pretty badly."

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"Well, I've seen some pretty freaky things outta those two. To think that ol' Red's this shook up… maybe we shoulda stayed home and looked after the kids…"

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Levy swiftly pulled away from him with a firm expression. "Don't say that Gajeel," she cautioned. "If we had of been the reason the world was plunged into chaos, you know full well that Shadow and Laxus would be the first one's to help us clean up our mess."

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"Gihi, you tease me about learnin' somethin' from their perfect relationship, well here're the results, Lev." He snickered playfully into the crook of her neck. "You wanna be the big baddie that plunges the world into chaos? Hmn?"

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"Gajeel, knock it off," she chided whimsically. "You still could have started this."

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"Mn, I'm about to start somethin'…"

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"Gajeel!"

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"Levy?"

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Levy stopped running her brush through the kinks left in Neirah's long auburn hair from her up-do and tipped her sharp expression to where her mistress had beckoned her attention. "How may I be of service?"

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Neirah laid her hand over Levy's as its council rested against her shoulder. "I would have you at my side when I reclaim Hargeon in the name of infinity."

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"You would entrust the guild hall to another in our absence?" Levy offered worrisomely cautioning words, lingering close to her companion.

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"All of our dragons are at nest. Damian will see to the details and I have faith in their strengths," she assured her. She sighed and turned to face the petite woman at her back, sweeping her considerably lengthened hair back over her shoulder. "When frightened, even a fairy will bare teeth."

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"Then I will see you back safely," Levy assured her certainly. "I will make sure you ar-"

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Levy was interrupted when Neirah laid her finger delicately across her lips. "That is not what I ask of you," she whispered tenderly. "I would see that not a single one of them escapes my claws when they extend. I would have you corral them in their hobble so that I can sate my appetite for their blood."

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"Anything," Levy breathed out softly. She let a gentle purr escape her flushed expression, lacing her fingers with Neirah's. "They will pay for their ignorance… I will never forgive them for abandoning us when we needed them… when Gajeel needed them…"

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Neirah leant forwards and delicately pressed her lips to Levy's. "Soon," she assured her gently. "That beast will suffer unimaginably for what he's done to my brother… Your husband…" She caught the tears rolling over Levy's cheek with a reassuring smile. "Unimaginably."

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"Coast is clear!"

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"All clear!"

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"Quickly! Quickly!"

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"Alright, let's boogie," Bickslow murmured softly after his minions gave the clear. He ducked around the corner with Freed on his heels.

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"We'll have to move swiftly before Juvia catches on to our intentions," Freed rattled out weakly. In his current state, running into a supercharged Juvia didn't seem very appealing. She was much stronger than she used to be since joining them. He was still tending to the wounds he'd suffered at the hands of his old friend, but they would have to wait. "I recently learned of an ancient script I can use to rewrite old enchantments. It was my last discovery before nightmare Levy reclaimed the archives from us. This way, even if Laxus recognises it, he won't be able to counter. Certainly not in his current primordial state of being."

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"So, you think you can figure out what's wrong with him?"

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Freed's gaze flashed in determination as he sprinted alongside his comrade. "I have to try," He assured him swiftly. "We can't survive this way for much longer. And it won't be long until his gaze turns to Ever and the others."

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"Right," Bickslow approved. "Let's get it done then!"

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The two men were nearing their objective when an elegantly clad water wizard's crop cracked against her hip at the end of the hall. "Gentlemen," she crooned. Her sharp gaze froze them uncertainly in their tracks as it rose. "What would have you rushing the halls this late an hour?"

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"Well… you know," Bickslow stammered out awkwardly.

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"Patrolling; to defend the guild from impending invasion."

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"Yea patrolling!"

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"We're on the look out!" Bickslow's totems chimed in supportively.

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Juvia's fierce gaze flashed in annoyance. "Juvia is the one who issues orders for watch. Juvia issues orders for everything," she hissed on approach. "Juvia has been suspicious of your intentions for quite some time… ever since losing one-third of the whole that you used to be to the rebel alliance."

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"We have had no connection with Evergreen since she left!" Freed defended swiftly. He prepared himself to charge into conflict with the cold water mage. Since losing Gray, something had broken in Juvia irreparably. She was cold as the ice her husband used to command and just as brutally ruthless as their beastly master. If they had any hope of figuring things out, they had to survive Juvia's wrath.

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A dark and lifeless glower narrowed on the men from Juvia's darkened eyes. "The Master… no longer believes you..."