Meldy touched down on unfamiliar ground for the first time in a while. Her travels with Crime Sorciere had taken her and the guild all over Fiore, but she hadn't left the country in years. At last, she was on new land.

And what a land to be in. Meldy wriggled her nose at the sight of it. She and Doranbolt, who had transported her there, stood atop a hill overlooking an incredibly boring and drab city. Several hills lumped across the countryside as far as the eye could see; all the way to the massive mountains not too far in the distance, where a rather resplendent fortress stood, home to the dragons.

"This is it," Doranbolt said. "Eliasvil."

Shambly guard towers lined the faded brick walls of the city. A few tall buildings punctured up from what was otherwise a rather run-down place, at least to the south and eastern quadrants of the city. On the outskirts, outside the wall, were what appeared to be wooden sheds that some people toiled in and out of.

In the center of a city stood a great palace, and behind it several blocks, even backing up to the mountains, stood a massive ziggurat. The two structures shone as beacons of cleanliness and authority among the entire place. Soldiers walked atop the walls and every now and then glanced over their shoulders at the buildings. Something else was constructed off to the far northwestern quadrant of the city. Meldy pulled her hood over her head, hiding her pink hair that tumbled down her shoulders to cover her chest.

"Likely the emperor lives there," Doranbolt said, pointing to the structures. "And I'm getting some heavy pressure just from the city itself."

"Sonya reported earlier that there are no guilds in the city," Meldy said. "Nor for many miles around us. They've all been rounded up and recruited."

She eyed the ziggurat. It had a larger than normal top, one that appeared open, too. Something else lined the walls of the place—or was there just a different material used in certain parts of the building?

"These must be newer buildings, too," she muttered. "Sonya didn't mention anything of these things."

"I know that Alikitasia has seen a greater push from Ishgar to deport workers, some wizards, out here," Doranbolt said. "Probably to build."

"Probably to Eliasvil," Meldy agreed.

"Mokiil wants to create something big, and powerful," Doranbolt said.

Meldy eyed the Yaxen mountainous country in the distance.

"You're thinking what I'm thinking, aren't you?" Meldy asked.

"That coliseum isn't built for sport," Doranbolt said.

"It's a cage," Meldy said. "And that ziggurat is a display. Another cage. The people here aren't citizens at all. They're either slaves or they're more than happy to feed into this machine."

The walls may have been in questionable shape, but the gates were not so. They were stout, meant to repel anyone. Dozens of soldiers lined the walls. Each home was built with windows facing each street, large windows.

"Eliasvil isn't a place to live in," Meldy said. "It was built to win wars."

"Good thing there's one coming right for it," Doranbolt said.

Meldy at last took a few steps toward the city they stood over. Her hands rested on her hips.

"Part of me wonders if Mokiil anticipated this," Meldy said. "And is just adapting his plan to change the circumstance."

"What circumstance?"

"He tortured Alli for years, accruing incredible amounts of power at the same time. The Chariots of Power are now on par, or are stronger than, the Spriggan Twelve. He has a ring to control dragons." Meldy nodded. "Mokiil wanted to capture Animus, the dragon trapped inside Sonya. He wanted to draw her out like he is now."

"And built the city around that coming attack," Doranbolt said to finish the theory.

Meldy bowed her head but kept back the thoughts of Jellal and Ultear. About everyone else that looked to her for answers like Doranbolt did. Sonya was queen of Stella, was the target of Mokiil's desires at one point, but was now a wizard in her guild.

And Meldy stood as the last defense to get him to hand over the ring peacefully or hundreds of lives were at stake…in the immediate future. Millions more if they should fail.

"He knows we're coming, right?" Meldy asked. "I wouldn't want to walk in on royalty uninterrupted."

"We're just waiting for that confirmation," Doranbolt said. "Then we can go in."

Meldy observed the city while they waited for the confirmation contact. The wartime structure of the place showed itself in some of the more prominent buildings having moats and other soundly built walls. It was a far cry from anything like Crocus or even Magnolia or Hargeon. Some of the city was built into hills. Meldy could map out one network of tunnels that popped in and out of sight.

The wind tugged at her cloak and unfurled some of the wrinkles in it.

"We would need to hit this place as hard as possible," Meldy said, "if it were to come to straight-up war. Fairy Tail would need to be the hammer we're all used to it being."

She hated to think it, but skirting around the city would just be a waste of time. She wanted to be calculated and tactful. And she could be. Royal Sorciere could ensure that the innocent people got out of the way while Fairy Tail brought the heat against Mokiil and the Chariots of Power.

"Have we considered Eliasvil's allies? Any other powerful countries or cities that ally with them that might want to retaliate against us if we do them any harm?"

Meldy crossed her arms. Another pressure formed around them. She heard Doranbolt shiver in his coat.

"Eliasvil has made sure it has no allies, not since the Alvarrez Empire toppled and Alikistasia splintered into several countries just trying to find their way."

The chillingly monotone voice came courtesy of their insider, their confirmation contact: Brandish. The woman, who wore less scandalous clothing than normal, approached with a boorish expression. Then again Meldy had no idea when she ever saw the woman excited.

"Is Mokiil ready to see us?" Doranbolt asked.

"Ready as ever," Brandish said.

Meldy slid a grin on her lips. "He said something to you, didn't he?"

Brandish glowered at Meldy, then to Doranbolt, who shrugged.

"Not just him, I ran into an old friend," Brandish said. "I figured she'd either be around or somehow be tied in with whatever Mokiil wants."

Doranbolt groaned and closed his eyes. Meldy just nodded and backed up toward Doranbolt to get into the city. Brandish approached, too.

"Put us in the city square," Brandish said. "You should get a few minutes to walk around the city before we see Mokiil."

"Fine by me," Meldy said.

They put their shoulder on Doranbolt, who teleported them down to, in an instant, drab setting. Nothing outside what Meldy expected given what the city looked like from above, but from within she could see the grittier details. The dust that fell everywhere, the sullen eyes of rundown servants.

Several citizens, or maybe servants, also appeared to be loading carts full of supplies. Did they know? Was Mokiil truly okay with them just outright leaving?

There were guards posed about some of the corners that didn't care to stop them. They gave condescending looks and kicked and hit at a few, sure, but nothing beyond that.

Brandish, Meldy, and Doranbolt walked down the middle of the street.

"Look at all the tunnels," Doranbolt said.

Meldy, keeping her head forward, darted her eyes about their surroundings to the various tunnel entrances diving into the ground. They must've led back to the ziggurat.

They took a street that rounded about the grand palace.

"We're not meeting Mokiil in there?"

"Mokiil doesn't even live in there," Brandish said. "He works in the ziggurat."

"Wait, you said he doesn't live in the palace but works in the ziggurant."

Brandish scoffed at Doranbolt. "The man lives and works all the same. Everything about what he does is in the ziggurat."

"And what would that be?" Doranbolt asked.

Meldy wanted to know all the same but knew better than to ask. Jellal never asked too many questions, he just let people press on and would sift through the rambling. Ultear barely ever said anything at all that wasn't important or impactful.

"Torture," Brandish started, "Spell crafting, politics. The usual monarch work, you know?"

"Anything to do with dragons?"

"Coming soon to a city near you, if everything goes…well, right for him, wrong for the rest of us," Brandish said.

"You know, Brandish," Meldy said, cutting off any new questions from Doranbolt, "it occurs to me that this city is not nearly the size of some other…threats you've faced. You could literally squash everything beneath your feet. Why do you hold yourself back like this? Couldn't you just reduce Mokiil to the size of an ant and take him out?"

Brandish rolled her eyes. "That's such a Lucy question."

Meldy blushed. So much for avoiding the stupid questions. She was just trying to make a point.

"I can crush entire countries, yes, I am a master of Spacial magic, blah, blah, blah," she yammered on. "But that doesn't often solve problems. It just creates more."

"What?" Doranbolt asked. "How?"

"I'll crush Eliasvil, on my own," Brandish said. "And put a massive target on my back."

"We'll protect you."

"And," Brandish pushed on, "there's a downside to my powers that I've kept rather…quiet." A long shadow cast over Brandish's face. "Beyond the fact that some people's magic power is able to just outright reject my magic—it happened against Lady Irene—each time I cast the magic my bones weaken. If I use too much magic, my bones became something like glass for an extended period of time and I'm just…completely fragile. I have to use it in controlled ways."

Meldy sighed and her mind set to work on how to implement that new information. The fact that it was such a problem to use it against Eliasvil meant she would need to conquer incredible magic powers as well as shrink the city. She'd leave herself exposed for far too long.

And, yes, there was the fact that some wizards could repel her magic. Mokiil was likely one of those wizards, and each of the Chariots.

They rounded the corner and started on one of the only straight roads that led toward the ziggurat. Fewer and fewer faces appeared on the streets with them; the closer they got to the structure, the more of a ghost town the city became.

Meldy studied the ziggurat and some of the inscriptions and markings painted atop it. They seemed to tell a story, of sorts, of several different wizards coming together toward something at the top. Different magics, displayed in brilliant colors across several sculptures and engravings clashed and danced across the entire building. There was nothing quite like it in Fiore, or even anywhere she'd been in Ishgar.

Brandish reached out and grabbed Meldy by the arm, catching her gawking at the ziggurat. Doranbolt stopped too, and tensed.

Her senses ran wild at once.

Seven mages appeared from thin air, landing in front of them, robes blocking their appearance. Their power was insane. Brandish didn't seem too fazed by it, so Meldy had to keep her expression the same.

They said something Meldy couldn't understand and approached.

"They want to take us straight to the temple," Brandih said, "where Mokiil is waiting."

At once, the pressure mounted on Meldy's shoulders. Her instincts kicked in. Her hands shook and she raised them to her chest. Breathing came as a chore, something she had to think about.

She was prepared to see an emperor. And not just that, but a potential enemy emperor. One with the power, in his grasp, to control the most powerful creatures in the entire world. Meeting with Hisui had a certain pressure to it, but she was, regardless a friend.

How the hell had Ultear and Jellal done it? Ultear routinely stood among the Magic Council during her time in Grimoire Heart. She always contended with her enemies. And Jellal? He could confront anyone. He could step in against anyone and have a solution, or at least a plan in mind going into it. Jellal even knew how to take on almost all of Fairy Tail with only seven other mages.

What would they do now? What would Ultear say to these people, who were about to take her to an underground temple?

What would Jellal do? For years—years—he was armed with only two allies at his side. Meldy was in the same exact situation now.

They would be trapped in a temple with these wizards, whose abilities Meldy did not understand, about to stare down five of the most powerful wizards in Alikitasia. Meldy as armed with Brandish, powerful in her own right but a bit too conscience of her magic, and Doranbolt, who was tactful but whose strengths lay in…running away. And Meldy had no real offensive magic of her own.

She pursed her lips and closed her hand into a fist.

How could they know what to do? They'd never been in this situation. It'd be the same as Ultear or Jellal parleying with Zeref before the war against Alvarrez. And Jellal hadn't done that.

So it didn't matter what Jellal or Ultear would do. It didn't really matter, did it?

What mattered was what Meldy did.

She lowered her arm and removed the hood from her hood. "Good. Take us to Mokiil. We mustn't keep him waiting."

The wizards didn't respond with words but raised their hands. The air simmered around them before things faded away and four walls popped into existence.

Meldy's vision immediately caught the eight statues holding up a massive throne in the air, housing a powerful looking man at the top. Pillars lined the walls with art as impressive as what was on the outside of the ziggurat. Four seats, only one filled, were at the base, each one between a gap of the eight statues.

She did recognize the eight statues as gods. She couldn't tell which one, but had been in enough religious buildings to at least get the gist of what was going on.

The wizards fled the room at once, not even bothering to look up at their emperor.

Said emperor clapped and the one in the seat stood. She'd been bathed in shadow until she moved forward. That sneer was easily recognizable, and chilled both Brandish and Doranbolt.

Long golden hair was tied up in a high pony-tail. Golden armor lined her two arms and chest, while she wore a gold-armored skirt and boots. Two swords and a heavier broadsword lay against her back. Her muscles were incredibly defined.

"Brandy, how long's it been?" asked Dimaria Yesta.

"Not long enough," Brandish said.

Meldy knew better than to let Dimaria control the conversation. She wasn't there to meet with her, though she had more than enough questions for the former Spriggan.

"Emperor Mokiil," Meldy said. "Thank you for allowing us into your halls."

"What a wonderful reunion," Mokiil said.

Meldy glowered at him. He wore a small crown upon his head. He had tattered black hair mopped over his head. A cloak sat gingerly on his shoulders, and his vest was full of different patterns. He wore a kilt atop other tighter pants. He had rings on all of his fingers, and a long finger guard on his thumb.

"We would like to discuss the dragon ring," Meldy said, trying to guess which one was on his finger.

"Where the hell's that Titania we've been hearing so much about over here?" Dimaria asked. "Back when we stormed Fiore I was looking forward to her way more than what I got."

"And what you got was more than you could handle," Brandish said.

"I remember handling you pretty well," Dimaria growled.

"Oh, wonderful, the fighting's already begun!" Mokiil exclaimed with a howl. "Go my little Chariot, go!"

"No, no, no," Dimaria said, waving her hand. "I don't want to waste my time."

Waste her time? Why was Dimaria so confident?

"Save your strength for Fairy Tail," Mokiil said, "I don't care, we have plenty of others that can handle Brandish. And…whoever these two are. I can hardly even sense their magic?"

"Right?" Dimaria asked. "Pitiful. Must just be some S-Class Fiore wizards."

"Emperor Mokiil, we wish to discuss an extended trade exchange between your city and the kingdom of Fiore," Meldy said, speaking rather quickly. "We will open trade routes overseas and help establish embassies on coastal cities in exchange for your dragon ring and only the dragon ring, Fiore is prepared to—"

"Brandish how is Fiore nowadays, anyway?" Mokiil asked, shifting to stare at Brandish's body rather than her companions. "Still a chilling storm of magic and chaos? I imagine so, especially without Acnologia to keep them in check."

The former Spriggan pursed her lips and looked to Meldy, who just rolled her eyes and stepped forward.

"Take no more steps, girl," Dimaria said.

Meldy took a few more steps anyway and stopped so she could glare right into Mokiil's eyes.

"I don't care about whatever game you're trying to play or how coy you're playing, I'm offering you a way to save your life before my allies from Fiore come and destroy everything you think you're building here," Meldy said. "Dimaria is going to be absolutely crushed by the power we've attained, and your other chariots have no chance once we stand together. Hand over the dragon ring now and you'll be able to grow your empire in peace. Try anything different and it will all come crumbling down."

Her final words settled in the hall as an echo. Dimaria propped up an eyebrow at Meldy. Mokiil's eyes shifted from Brandish to Meldy. Meldy stood with her shoulders back and her hands clenched in fists at her side.

"You come to my halls with propositions and ideas that I've not only played off as jokes, but as mere whispers in the wind," Mokiil said. "It blows through my hall and skirts along the sides of my walls and does not harm. You're not just wasting my time, you're wasting your own. My Chariots will ride over your allied forces that are well on their way."

"Then worry not just about them but also Vothorm."

"He is the only one I should consider worrying about." Mokiil grinned. "But how else am I supposed to test my strength?"

He flexed his left hand and rested his chin in the open palm. That hand likely had the dragon ring, but which could it be? She teased the idea that Doranbolt could get up there, steal the ring, and they get out of there?

Dimaria shifted and caught Meldy's eye. That confidence didn't just seem vain, it was real.

Meldy grit her teeth. Her magic could stop time. Doranbolt would get up there and get frozen, then Dimaria could have her way with them.

"You meant to actually draw out Vothorm and challenge him?" Meldy asked. "And Harloc, and Baylan the Dragon Slayer?"

"Anyone that challenges me," Mokiil said. "And particularly anyone worth my time. Your friends of Fairy Tail aren't any threat to me. Dimaria and the others will handle them, likely quite personally. I look forward to having them as trophies to keep in this little temple. They can get the first look into my real power. You? You'll wait with the rest of the peons in the world."

"Peons?" Meldy asked. "We're peons?"

"Obviously." Mokiil shrugged. "Now, Brandish, take your friends away. I have business soon with Jellal Fernandes, the leader of Royal Sorciere."

Meldy's eyes widened. Mokiil gestured to shoo the trio away.

"Jellal is dead," Meldy said.

"Oh. Then I suppose he also wasn't worth my time. Oh well. Dimaria, begin rounding up the troops and summon the Chariots here, we need to be ready for when—"

"I am Meldy. I am the leader of Royal Sorciere."

"Royal Sorciere is a reputable wizard guild of Fiore. Not some pithy ground for little witches like you. Though I would enjoy your company later this evening, little Meldy."

"You are going to die, Mokiil. Maybe not by my hand. Maybe not by anyone in this room. You will never leave this city with the dragon ring, and I would love it if you never left this city at all."

"These are adorable little threats, but—"

Meldy cast her magic out toward him, startling him as a brand formed on his hand. At once, she flooded him with rage. His face turned red.

"What is this?" Mokiil barked.

"A sensory link," Meldy said. "And this is what it feels like when it is torn."

She shattered the link, utterly obliterated the emotional cord between them. Mokiil gasped. Meldy turned her back to Mokiil and approached Doranbolt, who gawked at her. Brandish grimaced and walked toward Doranbolt as well.

"You don't scare me, Meldy."

"That's fine." Meldy glanced over her shoulder. "But at least you remember the name of one of Fiore's little peons."

Doranbolt clamped his hand on Meldy and Brandish's shoulders and transported them away, but Meldy left the room with the slightest smile knowing that Mokiil sat quite as comfortably in his high throne above the gods.