Chapter 48

Hell's Palace

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback you

Location / Date / Time Skip

"Before I take your life, you should pray for forgiveness for all your sins." The masked man declared.

"I'm cool." Natsu replied. "I don't remember doing much sinning in my life."

"If you made your peace, then it's time for you to die." The scythe user declared, reaching up and pulling his weapons off his back. He swung hid blades and Natsu ducked the curved blade before jumping over another swing. "Stop running. You wanted to fight."

"Not like this!" He shouted back.

"For your crimes, I must collected your head." The man declared.

"Man, you are super creepy." Natsu mumbled.

"Pop goes the pussy!" Neeba shouted as he punched the ground, forcing Pantherlily and Slate to slide back from the acid wave. "I thought you two were gonna cut me off. Did you get cold feet?"

"We aren't stupid enough to try wading through acid!" Slate shouted as he threw a pair if throwing knives. The large man merely chucked and sprayed acid out of his mouth, melting the weapons.

'Is what is powering him in that bottle?' Pantherlily asked himself. 'Whatever it is, it's enchanted to never to run out. We can beat him if we can get in close. But that's easier said than done.'

The large cat ducked behind a pillar and Slate came up from behind, a hunting knife in his hand. The killer batted him away as Pantherlily charged, only for Neeba to dodge to the side. "Nice try, kitty cats." He chuckled.

Paper flew at Nicholas and forced him to block. "Now I remember you. They call you 'Rockslide'." Kamika chuckled. "It seems you were a criminal after all."

"Says the woman who kills people without a fair trial." He spat out.

"Are you, a criminal and a murderer, trying to lecture me?" She asked back. "Tell you what? I'll give you a prettiest death you could ask for. Paper Blizzard: Green Dance!" Kamika chanted before throwing a single piece of green paper. It instantly multiplied into a swarm of paper. "Green paper is blessed with poison spirits." She chuckled as the paper turned to mist.

Nicholas covered his mouth and held his breath as best he could. "What the hell is wrong with these people?..."

Wendy jumped back from vines as Cosmos stood still. "Such a beautiful child... it's a shame you must die so young. Spore Bomb: Rinka Renka!" Giant plants rose up and started spitting out giant pink spore balls. They floated up to Wendy and they burst, blasting her back. "Even your screams are pretty... Now, time to sleep."

"Makura Kamura." Purple spores shot up and started emitting a matching powder. "Once you've fallen asleep due to these spores, you'll never wake up again. Sleep forever." Wendy pushed against the swarm but her strength faded as her eyes started closing.

"Terrain Effect: Lava Zone!" The fisherman declared as the ground started shaking. The earth split open and molten rock filled the room. Lucy and Yukino hung on for their lives as Carla and Happy were trapped in sudden increase of gravity.

The girl's boots started smoking as Arcadios looked up in horror. "I have... to do something..." He declared as he pushed himself up. "The fate of the world is counting on you... for the Eclipse...

"I already said I'm not doing-"

Arcadios stepped into the lava, shocking the girls. "To save the world... you must survive... my life is not important. I will gladly die... to see that plan through."

"Stop it!" Yukino shouted as the Knight walked over and pushed them out by their boots. They quickly went over the ledge and turned, ready to pull him ups.

"If you... manage to get out of here... meet the princess..." He groaned out as the lava reached his chest.

"Take my hand!" Yukino shouted, only to find the man's arms had given out.

"You can decide... whether Eclipse is right or not..." He groaned out as he fell into the molten liquid.

"Take my hand!" Yukino called out.

"I never meet anyone who was that crazy." Uosuke declared as the others hung their heads.

.

.

.

.

"Saved in the nick of time. Though, I'm not sure how long I can keep him in here." A voice said from the lava. The liquid bubbled up and Horologium rose up, Arcadios firmly in his chest.

"Horologium!?" Lucy asked in surprise. "How the heck did you get here?"

"Because I can pass freely through the gate." Footsteps walked forward as Loke appeared, holding Lucy's pouch in his hand. "The stars are on your side again."

"Loke!" Lucy cheered as she caught her pouch.

"Sorry for taking so long. Here." He handed Yukino her two keys and she hugged them to her chest. "The Zodiac is whole once more, it's time for a counter attack." He chuckled as he cracked his knuckles. "Let's show this clown what we can do."

"It looks like he's breathing." Happy declared from Arcadios' side.

"It's time for a counterattack." Yukino declared as she held up a golden key.

"Terrain Effect: Gravity Range!" Uosuke declared as he held out his hands.

"Open, Gate of the Balance - Libra!" Yukino held out her second gold key and her spirit appeared.

"Gravity Change, Counter-Balance!" The spirit declared as she swung her scales, countering the spell.

"What the heck!?"

"Open, Gats of the Twin Fish - Pisces!" Yukino pulled out her other key and held it to the sky. Two pillars of light erupted behind her, spiraling as their form changed. "This is the true form of Pisces: a mother and her son."

Two figures took form and the light died, showing off a dark skinned boy holding a spear and a light skinned woman, both donned in fish scale armor. "There can only be one reason we're summoned like this, mother..." The boy started.

"Taking out the enemy." The woman finished.

"For a gal who had a kid, she hasn't lost the body." Loke said, eyeing the woman.

"Let's go!" The boy declared as he and his mother charged forward. The mother and son charged undeterred and attacked. The woman unleashed a watery kick while her son struck with his weapon, forcing the executioner back.

"That dies it!" The fisherman growled before holding up his hands. "Terrain Effect: Whirlpool Range!" A massive spiral of water rose up and caught everyone in its pull.

"The current is too strong!" The son shouted.

"Just stay strong." The mother declared before both were transformed back into their fish forms.

"How'd he know that it would happen?" Yukino asked in shock.

"That doesn't make any sense." Lucy replied. "But now that there's water..." She reached onto her hip and pulled out her strongest key. "Open, Gate of the Water Bearer - Aquarius!" The mermaid appeared next to the blonde, an angry look on her face.

Pantherlily jumped back from another wave of acid as Slate rushed from behind. "You really think that's gonna work?" Neeba smugly asked before punted Slate back into the larger cat.

The soldier caught his comrade and set him down. "Damn it, this is getting us nowhere!" Slate cried. "We need some kind of plan, and we need one now!"

The black cat nodded and focused. "Think... how can we beat this guy..." He mumbled to himself. "That could work." He picked up Slate and threw him, forcing Neeba to dodge. Pantherlily charged forward and swung his sword, forcing the killer to dodge.

"Did you really think that-" An explosion rocked his back and he turned to see Slate holding two explosive kunai before throwing them.

"Our bond is one of both body and mind!" Pantherlily shouted as he charged again. He swung his sword and carved a way through the acid before charging the fat killer. "Our spirit won't lose against anything!"

Cosmos stared in shock as Wendy started standing up. "Shining light, heal me of my ailments." Wendy mumbled as she glowed in a green aura. "Re-Raise." Cosmos stared in shock as wind started picking up. "Status ailment spells don't work on me. My job is to support everyone. But when I have to fight, I become a Sky Dragon Slayer!"

Kamika chuckled as the poison mist spread around her opponent. "You look in pain. Why don't you just die?" She teased Nicholas. No response came from the mist, catching her attention. "Maybe you already are dead." She waved her hands and the poison returned to paper, only to find nothing. "What? Where did he go?"

A strike suddenly hit her in the back of her head, forcing her to turn. "It can't be..." She mumbled, staring at his stone scaled covered body and face. "You sealed off your own mouth and nose!?" The man couldn't respond and merely pulled his fist back, diamond coating the knuckles.

Natsu slammed his fist into the back of the scythe users head, sending him sliding back. "Are you some kind of monster?" He asked before jumping back from another fist. "Don't you know that you're going against the kingdom!?"

"You don't know what you're doing going against Fairy Tail!" Natsu shouted before slamming his fist into the man's gut. "To protect our friends, we're ready to go against the whole world! That's what it means to be inFairy Tail!"

The scythe user crashed through the wall as at the same time the other four executioners did the same. The scythe user groaned as he looked around, finding his soldiers were beaten as well. "It can't be..."

Nicholas deactivated his spell and took a deep breath. "Okay... never doing that again." He said.

"Now, tell us how to find the exit." Natsu demanded, cracking his knuckles as the they all regrouped.

Hisui's Chamber

"It's horrible!" A guard shouted as he ran into the chamber. "The Garou Knights have all been defeated! And the criminals have all escaped!"

Hisui gasped in shock before a small smile graced her face. "I wouldn't celebrate just yet." She gasped in shock and turned around to see Darton walking towards her.

"I thought you were accompanying my father to Domus Flau?" She asked.

"I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, so I came back." He replied. "It looks like my suspicions were right."

"You're the one who sent Cornel Arcadios to Hell's Palace without a fair trial." She snapped back.

"Which is exactly why you sent the Fairy Tail guild to save him." The Defense Minister replied, shocking her. "The truth is that you're the one behind the creation of the Eclipse plan. Arcadios merely played the villain to deflect suspicion from you. Do correct me if I'm wrong..."

She turned away and huffed. "You saw through the charade..."

"You need to call of this plan." Darton demanded. "You must understand that changing history is going to have consequences, no matter how noble your intentions may be."

"I know that." She replied as she turned back to the colosseum. "But it may be our chance of survival. I swore that would tell no one, but you must understand the risk. And why I created the Eclipse 2 program."

"Eclipse 2?" Darton asked in confusion.

"It is why it was created..." The princess replied. "If it fails, tomorrow will be the last day of our country."

Domus Flau

The entire arena cheered as the fight went on. "Everything is falling into place." Mavis said with a smirk. "At this moment, Juvia should be engaging Chelia at this moment."

The Sky God Slayer charged and unleashed a black wind storm on the water mage. 'Just as the First Master predicted.'

"You're that girl Lyon likes!" Chelia shouted, stunning Juvia. "Get lost!" She clapped her hands and a storm of wind pushed her back again.

"Can she win, First Master?" Romeo asked.

"She just needs to keep her busy." Mavis said with a smirk. "That'll give Erza the opportunity to take out Minerva."

Erza walked towards a small park and stood. 'Minerva should be here any second...' Footsteps caught her attention and she turned in time to jump back from an attack from Kagura, psyching the crowd up even more. 'The first master was wrong?'

Mavis stared in shock as Erza summoned two swords and blocked the attack before the teo started trading swings. 'She truly is strong...'

'Let's see if she deserves her reputation as a warrior.' Kagura thought.

Tears started pooling in the spirits eyes as she stared at the screen. "I made a mistake... That can't be..."

"Someone comfort her!" Makarov shouted.

"It's okay, First Master." Brianna said as she walked over. "You can only do so much. The enemy doesn't always follow your plans. Trust me, there was this one time that me and Nicholas..."

"Is this really gonna work?" Lisanna asked her older sister.

"I don't know." Mirajane replied.

"Yes... yes, your right!" The spirit nodded as Brianna finished her story. "I need to allow for flexibility as well. Erza will win this battle."

"That worked!?"

'Good thing I have some experience dealing with crying kids when I was little.' Brianna said to herself. 'But I really hate lying.'

The swordswomen blocked the blades and stared at each other, only for a blue orb to suddenly appear next to their heads. Two white gloved hands grabbed their faces before throwing them aside. Minerva appeared and smirked as the two came to a stop. "Mind if I cut in?"

"I don't believe it! Minerva has just turned this into an epic three-way battle!" Chapati shouted as the crowd cheered. "Let's find out who the top female wizard of this years games really is!"

All three stared women stared at each other, determination in their eyes. "No matter who I am up against, I will win." Erza declared as Kagura merely glared at the red head.

"My guild's image is tarnished." Minerva chuckled. "These last few matches have been problematic. I have an opportunity for redemption. Your guilds have done the most damage, Fairy Tail and Mermaid Heel. It's up to me to reclaim Sabertooth's rightful place on top. Eliminating the two of you at the same time will make that abundantly clear."

The Spatial Mage started glowing in a dark purple aura as Erza gripped her blades tighter. "How ambitious of you." She said as she started to glow in a red aura.

"Enough talk. Now we fight!" Kagura declared as she glowed in a blue aura. All three stopped glowing and charged at each other, an attack meeting in the middle of them all, creating an explosion. All three began trading swings and attacks as Erza knocked Kagura through the stone. The Mermaid Ace countered and hit Erza, sending the red head crashing to the ground.

She looked up in time to see Minerva blast her with an attack. Erza jumped up from behind, catching Minerva's attention. "Victory is-" Kagura's sheathe to the gut cut her off, sending her tumbling back. On her back, Minerva held her hands up and chanted. "I Ragudo."

Strange orbs suddenly surronded Kagura and Erza, lifting them off the ground. Standing up, Minerva started waving her hands around, chanting something. "Neer Wirg Mon Derus Elcantias!"

"It can't be..." Mavis mumbled in fear. "The Eighteen Hell Gods of Yagima... who would force someone to learn a spell as dangerous as that!?"

"Yagdo Rigora!" A massive figure emerged from behind Minerva and slammed into the two, creating a massive explosion that echoed through out the city. Everyone stared in shock of the destruction as the dust slowly settled. Erza and Kagura were scratched badly, but they were still standing.

"Seems like you two are tougher than I originally thought." Minerva confessed. "Engaging with the two of you has taught me many things. The amount of power you two have is impressive. Continuing like this will get none of us anywhere. So let's change the game."

She dropped her feather boa to the ground as another orb appeared next to her. The contents shocked both girls as Millianna came into view. "I found a stray kitten."

"What is the meaning of this!?" Erza growled out.

"This sphere she's in constantly drains her magic power." Minerva explained as Millianna winced in pain. "It's excruciating. Surrendering won't save her. I have something far more entertaining in mind. This is how I'm going to change the game." The two girls glared at Minerva, earning a smirk from the Space Wizard.

Hisui's Room

"Are you certain of this?" Darton asked with wide eyes. "If what you say is true, then we must act at once! That means calling of the Games this instant!"

"Not yet..." Hisui replied. "It's too soon. First, we must verify that this persons claims are accurate."

"We don't have that kind of time!" The Defense Minister snapped back. "We're putting the lives of everyone in the country at risk!"

"...This person claims to be from the future." Hisui explained. "They told me the outcome of the Games for this year. That a certain guild would win in a spectacular way that no one would imagine. So if this outcome does indeed happen, it is proof. I will believe everything they told me."

"You bet the future of our kingdom on the Grand Magic Games!?" Darton asked.

"I have a hard time believing it myself." The princess replied. "That is why we need to wait and make certain of their words."

"And then?" Darton asked.

"Then we trust them, and make plans to deal with what they said would come to pass." Hisui replied.

Hell's Palace

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Lucy asked.

"It's what that masked dude told us, isn't it?" Natsu asked back.

"So why is Loke down here?" Nicholas asked out loud.

"I heard my wizards was in trouble, so I jumped through the gate." The spirit replied as he carried Arcadios.

"Is he okay?" Yukino asked in general concern.

"Well, he is breathing... despite just marching through lava." Loke said.

Nicholas walked over and gripped the jade pendent. "There's defiantly some type of spell on this jade stone. Probably kept him safe." ...He brought it up to his mouth only for Carla to hit him. "I wasn't gonna eat it! I was gonna lick it."

"How does that make it better!?" The cat asked.

"Jade... like the princesses name." Yukino mumbled.

"And we're to talk to her after we get out if here." Carla added. "To decide whether or not the Eclipse plan is right."

"So are we gonna trust the woman who sicked assassins on us after throwing us into this place?" Nicholas asked, catching everyone's attention.

"Hold on..." Wendy sniffed the air and turned around. "I can sense a breeze."

"Alright, let's go!" Natsu cheered, only to trip and fall towards a massive door. He hit the stone and fell back, just as the door opened up and a black cloaked figure stood before them. "...Who are you?"

Tears started falling from the person's face as Natsu smelled the air. "What the-? It can't be."

"Natsu..." The person mumbled as they wiped tears from their eyes. "I'm sorry..."

"Wait, that voice." Mirajane mumbled. "It can't be..."

"Who is it?..." Yukino asked.

"Hey, it's okay." Lucy said as she walked over. "We're here for you now. You can-"

The person lifted her hood off and everyone stared in shock at who it was. "...Lisanna?" The others asked in shock as Natsu and Mira stared in surprise.

"I'm begging you..." The future Lisanna let out. "If you don't stop the princess... the whole kingdom is doomed."

And the Knights have fallen! If you're wondering why the fights seemed so different from the anime ones, it's quite simple. Those versions were all filler. And completely unnecessary I might add. All you needed to show was Lucy and Yukino getting their keys and then stick with Natsu. That's where the main fight was.

Anyway, that rant is done. Gotta be honest, when Minerva was first introduced, I hated her. But she gets so much better as the series goes on. Better than most of the cast, if I can say so. Don't agree with me? Let me know why and I will see ya next time.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang