Edited by: Trying To Put Pen To Paper

Chapter 7

Mercedes ran as fast as she could toward the loud banging and clouds of dust that could only be from Erza and Minerva, but she stopped in her tracks when she saw Erza fighting Minerva. It was shocking to see that both women were injured but she saw that Erza had a badly wounded leg.

'Erza-nee...how did you manage to keep fighting my sister so much with that injured leg?' She thought to herself, looking at Erza's near broken leg.

Mercedes continued to watch in amazement as the two women fought each other. Erza attempts to stand up despite Minerva telling her she can't.

She retorts saying "Ill manage… somehow. This is a fight I must win… at any and all costs. I'll stand up… as many times as need's be!" Erza stood on her feet. "I'll show you… picking a fight with our guild… was the biggest mistake of your life."

"Such anger…It's unbecoming." Minerva teased.

"You dare hurt Lucy…My Nakama, Kagura and Millianna. Even your own sister. Anger? I'm seething." With that, she gave her a look that would scare death himself.

This only resulting in Minerva attacking. Though she is damaged and the audience is surprised by Minerva's Magic, Erza sees through it and continues to attack her enemy.

"My rage… Is my Guilds Rage!" She shouted "Second Origin, Release!" releases her second origin, allowing her to Reequip into a new armour. The armour that Erza was now wearing was the Legendary Nakagami Armour.

Mercedes eyes widen in shock.

'That armour! I've heard about it. This armour is the only armour that can work against Minerva's magic. It was so hard to get to but now, after years of inactivity Erza-nee is wearing it!'

Mercedes smiled as she saw Minerva use a blast wave at Erza but it was sliced through. Erza glared at Minerva and spoke.

"You have done a lot in these games. You harmed my guild, my friends and your own little sister. For making those I hold near and dear your playthings."

Minerva took a step back. For once in her life she was afraid. "Impossible! Where does your vast reservoir of magic come from!

Erza smiled as she took a step towards Minerva.

"This is Payback!"

"NO! STOP! I- I'M-"

Minerva didn't have a chance to finish as Erza attacked her and defeated her in their battle. Mercedes was in shock but she was glad that Erza had beaten Minerva. Erza then re-equipped back into her previous outfit that she had on. After she was back in her normal red cloth armour she turned, leaving the defeated Minerva on the ground.

Erza stumbled, her leg still giving her terrible pain but then stopped when she saw Mercedes running to her. She knew that Mercedes must have went around so that she wouldn't see Minerva, as much as she dislikes her sister, it was hard to see her on the ground beaten and bruised.

"Erza-nee, let me treat your wounds." She asked, even though she had very little magic left.

Erza smiled at her and rested a hand on the younger mage's head. "Not at the moment, I still have a tournament to win and if you heal me now I will be disqualified, I will let you when the game is over."

"Okay."

Erza walked past her to join the rest of her team when a huge Sabertooth guild mark appeared in the sky, then stopped and Mercedes looked at her.

She tilted her head as she wondered what could have caused Erza to turn to her. "What is it, Onee-san?"

"Go heal Minerva." Erza told her with the utmost seriousness.

Mercedes blinked, quickly glanced at the mage on the ground behind them then looked away as Erza continued. "It's alright Mercedes. I know you don't want to, but at least heal her so that she can keep her pride and get back up. After all, she is already out of the tournament."

Mercedes nodded then turned to do as bid and heal Minerva, while Erza left to join her team to fight, Sting who was the only combatant left from the Sabertooth team.

Mercedes

Mercedes ran to where Minerva was laying beaten on the ground. When she got to her she was surprised for she saw Minerva, who was always so confident and sure of herself, crying. Never in her life had Mercedes seen Minerva, her strong older sister, shed a tear over anything. As she went to kneel next to Minerva, her sister opened her eyes and looked directly at her.

"Mercedes..." She said, half sobbing.

The younger sibling's heart softened, and all the hate and resentment left her. She kindly spoke to her sister, "I'm here."

Mercedes crouched down then placed her hands on Minerva's ribcage and, summoning all the magic energy she could without her fans, started healing her. As she was healing Minerva she didn't say anything and neither did Minerva who was just lying there, tears pouring from her eyes.

After healing Minerva, they both stood but Mercedes didn't look at her older blood relative. Minerva glanced at Mercedes before turning to leave but stopped in her tracks turning back.

"...Mercedes..."

The young mage looked at her, and slightly hesitant, asked. "What is it, Minerva?"

Looking over her shoulder at her sister, she told her younger sister something she never thought she would say. "...Thank you."

With that, Minerva walked away, leaving a stunned Mercedes alone on the battle field. It wasn't long before she heard the announcements from the game updates.

"THE WINNER TEAM OF THIS YEARS GRAND MAGIC GAMES IS FAIRY TAIL!"

Mercedes smiled widely when she heard the final score. 'You did it! The guild is the strongest and now everyone knows it.' She said to herself, ecstatic.

Mercedes sprinted in the direction Erza had taken to look for the team and when she found them she began to treat all of their wounds. After their wounds were partly healed thanks to Mercedes' magic, Erza walks over to Sting and asks why he didn't attack to which he answers he can see the bond between them makes them strong and he feels he wouldn't be able to see Lector again if he had attacked. At that moment, Millianna suddenly arrives carrying both Mercedes' fans and Lector who is revealed to be alive and well. Sting races over and hugs his friend. Thus the games come to an end.

As everyone congratulates and compliments Fairy Tail, Erza asks if they saw a signal from the Rescue Team but nobody has. Sting asks the group why Natsu didn't participate which Erza hesitates to answer. Gray looks towards the castle and prays for the safety of the team. Inside the castle, the group are still combating the guards and the Garou Knights, but are on the verge of being overwhelmed. Suddenly, the shadows of the corridor attack the guards and the Garou Knights and sweep them into the darkness, much to the Rescue Team's confusion. As this goes on, Jellal realizes that the Future Lucy had told him that she arrived on July 4th but really came July 3rd, a day earlier then the prediction and doesn't fit in with the time they had sensed the dark Magic within the stadium. The reason they had been sensing the dark Magic is because of the residue on her clothes she had used to go through the Eclipse. Meaning there was another person they had been sensing…

Back in the castle, Arcadios finally catches up to Hisui and Darton. She tells him all the solders are up to speed and she is about to commence operations. Arcadios apologizes in advances for what he's about to do and give her his sword, citing if his doubt is unjustified against a royal, he will take his life. He then asks about who told her about the bad future, citing his meeting of the Future Lucy and her uncertainty not matching up to what Hisui had told him. However, Hisui reveals that it was not a girl who had told her of the predictions but a man. Back in the corridors, the rescue team hear someone coming toward them. Natsu calls out for the person to identify themselves and he does, revealing himself as Rogue Cheney, and claiming that he came from the future.

Future Rogue explains that he came back in time to make sure they open the door, stating that Eclipse can be used to defeat the attacking Dragons. However, the Dragons are the rulers in his future and humanity is almost extinct because someone prevented Eclipse from being used, and he's therefore come back to kill that person. Believing that the door will be closed if the person lives, Future Rogue attacks Lucy, who he claims is the culprit. However, his attack is intercepted by Lucy's future counterpart, who takes the blow, much to everyone's surprise. Injured, she falls to the ground, claiming she'd have never done such a thing. As she dies, the future Lucy tells the others not to cry for her, but they say otherwise since she is still their Lucy. Saying she wished to travel with them, the Lucy of the future dies as her Fairy Tail comrades shed tears. However, still believing that Lucy will cause doom in the future, the Rogue of the future attacks again with renewed force but before he can do so, he is sent flying by Natsu, who tells him he will protect the future.

As Future Rogue reels from the strike, Lucy is advised to escape by Loke, with Wendy, Happy, Carla, and Panther lily accompanying her. Future Rogue tries to go after Lucy once more but is knocked back by Natsu, who vows that they'll protect the future their own way. Meanwhile, Mirajane manages to locate Yukino who sits depressed against a wall, feeling she'll be no use to the others as she brings misfortune to those around her. Mirajane disagrees and comforts her. Over at the Eclipse Door, Hisui commences the operation, having the city evacuated in the process. However the guards have yet to see any Dragons coming toward the city. Lucy's group (sans Leo who had to go back to the Spirit World due to the magic sapping door) come upon them and speak with the princess. Lucy reveals what Rogue told her to Hisui but states she wouldn't close it, leaving Lucy wondering why they're opening it early. Hisui states the door needs to charge and they wish to be ready. However, Hisui still doubts even this will be enough to stop the Dragons.

Near the city's central square, the King of Fiore, Toma E. Fiore, has gathered the guilds together and informs them of the coming danger, asking for their help. While shocked at the news and most still injured from the games, the guilds nonetheless agree to help him. With Crime Sorcière's sudden appearance, to Doranbolt and Lahar's shock, Jellal simply asks for a favour from them. Back to the fight, Natsu notes that Future Rogue smells of evil and questions if he truly did come back to save the future. Future Rogue simply smirks evilly while up top, the Eclipse Door begins to open.

Despite her attempts, Lucy is unable to close the Eclipse Gate by herself. However, Yukino suddenly arrives alongside Mirajane and tells Lucy to take out her Golden Keys. As she does the same, Lucy follows suit and the two girls combine their Magic Power to summon all 12 zodiac spirits at once. Together, the spirits take flight and proceed to close the Eclipse Gate, despite more Dragons trying to get through. Working together, the 12 spirits successfully close the gate, much to everyone's relief. However, this relief is short-lived as Future Rogue arrives and proclaims that the number of Dragons present is enough for him, declaring to all that the era of Dragons is about to begin.

All the guilds were joined together as one to fight against the dragons that came. During the whole fight between humans and dragons, Mercedes didn't see her father or her sister as she fought along with everyone else. She knew that she didn't have time to think of that now, she had to fight of the dragons that were attacking the city.

As she was running through the ruins she found Erza who was supporting another figure… Jellal the one who nearly used the Tower of Haven all those years ago. But Mercedes didn't dwell on it as she ran over to her, Erza seemed relieved when she looked upon the wounded mage. Before she could reach the scarlet haired mage, a smaller dragon, one of Mother Glare's Hatchlings, came from behind her and fired an energy beam right at Mercedes.

She didn't have enough time to react and the beam went right through the child's chest. She faltered in her steps and falls to the ground, her eyes wide with shock.

Erza screams and sprints over to Mercedes, who was still breathing despite the massive hole in her chest… She wasn't going to make it.

"Mercedes!" She screamed as she cradles the child's head on her knees. "Please! Someone Help!" She pleads, helpless at not being able to do anything for the mage she promised to protect.

"Erza….nee. I-I'm scared..." The young mage whimpers, blood dripping from the side of her mouth.

"You're going to be fine, just hang on." Erza tells Mercedes, tears flowing from her eyes. It was one of the few times Erza had ever cried in her life.

"Tell, Minerva…I'm sorry I was always (cough)… weak." She manages as her eyes cloud over.

Elsewhere amongst the rubble, Ultear grieves over her sins, and is ashamed of herself despite Gray granting her a second chance in life. She then recalls when she was learning her Magic, the Arc of Time, and how she came upon a spell that reverses time, known as Last Ages. Back then, Hades advised her to never use the spell, since the cost of reversing the time of everyone in the world would be her life. In the present, in order to make up for all the evil she had committed in the past, she chooses to use the forbidden spell, hoping to at least reverse time to before the Eclipse Gate was opened.

Ultear casts the spell, causing her entire body to get horribly burnt in the process. After the spell's completion, with the last of her strength, she turns to look at a clock to find that she had only turned back time by one minute. As she falls, she wonders if that is really all her life is worth and laments at how she was unable to save a single life.

In the new 'present' Erza and Mercedes meet up again, this time Erza views a glimpse of the future where Mercedes is attacked and dies in her arms. At first confused by these, she is surprised when she witnesses' the events play out exactly as they happen in the vision.

"Mercedes! Behind you!" She screams as the young mage appears from a corner.

Heading the warning Mercedes quickly brings her fans together and shouts.

"Time; Year of the Dog!" A strange yellow light encases her and as the beam hits her, she is thrown forward but the attack does little damage to her as the Dog grants invulnerability for a short time and causes a massive strain on the user's magic. Her magic was now completely empty.

Erza springs forward and impales the hatchling on her sword while Jellal shoots magic at it from afar. With the hatchling defeated, the injured re-equip mage rushes over to Mercedes

"Erza-nee… What happened?" she asked, not having any memory of her dying.

"Nothing, you fought off that dragon." Erza told her and pulls the smaller mage into her a crushing hug. This time crying tears of happiness that the vision she had didn't come to fruition.

When all the dragons were defeated and the Eclipse gate destroyed by Natsu and Atlas Flame, the Future Rogue and the rest of the dragons disappeared back to their own time. Everyone watches as the Dragons disappear, including the hatchlings. As Atlas Flame does so, he promises to never forget Natsu, while the Dragon Slayer in question thanks the Dragon out loud for all his help, before Atlas vanishes. As threats disappears, almost all of the Mages rejoice, having won the battle. The exception being Mavis and the Dragon Slayers, having realized that none of them actually managed to beat their Dragon opponent's.

Everyone who fought in the battle were all invited to have a ball celebration in the kingdom. After getting all dressed up for it Mercedes went to get some fresh air before the ball started.

"My, don't you look cute." A voice from behind her called out.

Mercedes looked behind her to see Minerva coming to her.

"What do you want?" She asked, becoming slightly defensive.

"Just stopping by."

Minerva took a step forward but blinked when she saw Mercedes take a step back.

"Why are you here, Minerva?" She asked again, demanding an answer this time.

"I just wanted to see you before you got to the party." Her sister told her, something was different about her voice… it was softer, kinder even.

"..." Mercedes didn't reply, but continued to watch her sister for any unexpected moves.

"You look lovely in that dress."

Mercedes looked away and Minerva blinked.

"What is it Mercedes?" Minerva questioned, her sister was never this defensive or self-assured.

Mercedes clinched her fists as she spoke, her anger rising. "You abandoned your guild, the city, and even me." Her voice became louder "Where were you when those dragons came and attacked us?"

"Father and I were at the guild. We did not want anything to do with those dragons and Father wanted us to get out of Sabertooth. After we leave, Sting will become the new guild master." She said as if reciting a speech, there was little emotion in her voice.

Mercedes frowned and glared at the ground then she felt Minerva place a hand on her cheek but she quickly brought her head up and whacked her hand away then slapped Minerva on the cheek. Minerva was rather stunned that her little sister would do something like that to her. She held a hand to her reddening cheek as she looked at Mercedes who was glaring up at her with tears streaming down her face.

"Minerva, when we first met you told me that just because we're sisters didn't mean that you were ever going to be nice to me." She spoke, all her rage riding to the surface "I even went to you for help and you pushed me away like I was dirt, or trash since that seems to be your favourite word whenever you're talking to me. Admit it, you never gave a damn about me. All you and Father ever cared for was power and just because you lost this one time you act like it's the end of the world for you!" She was nearly screaming now "You abandoned me, neglected me, abused me and never once have you ever said 'I'm sorry.' Or 'I love you'. I never really asked you to coddle me or play with me. All I ever wanted to know was one thing and that was it, but now, even that curiosity is gone."

Mercedes paused then looked away closing her eyes with tears still streaming down her face, her nails digging furrows in her hand's as she continued, whispering now. "This whole time I wondered how great life would have been if the now former guild master wasn't my father and you weren't my sister."

Minerva's eyes widened in shock and inside she was shattering when she was told what Mercedes really felt, she knew she wasn't the best sister by any mark, but she never once wanted to make her sister feel unloved, she thought as she looked away. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

"No, I have one more thing to say."

"What is it?'

"I hate you." Mercedes told her, putting as much resentment into her sentence as she could.

Minerva looked at her sister and grabbed her jawline to look at her face again.

"Alright, I figured that you wanted me away from you at some point in your life. I understand that you never want to see me again, and you won't." Minerva forced herself to smile then she leaned closer and kissed Mercedes on the forehead then let her go. Mercedes looked up at her and watched Minerva walk away.

"Mercedes?" She called over her shoulder.

"Yes, Minerva?"

"...Have fun at the ball. Just so you know you might turn out a better woman than I. And you have grown strong, despite what I may have said before." It seemed she had more to say, but it was never spoken out loud.

With great hesitation, Mercedes asked. "Where are you going?"

Minerva looked over her shoulder smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes. "We did have a bet, that if out guild lost the tournament, I would leave you alone for good."

When Minerva was out of her sight, Mercedes' anger vanished and the younger mage dropped to her knees and started sobbing, for some reason all her hate turned into crushing sadness. Her dress was going to be stained from the tears.

AN: Hey everyone, how was this chapter? It was hard because of the argument here. Well tell me what you think and take care!