Chapter 88
Erza vs Kagura
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback you
Location / Date / Time Skip
The group stared in shock at the second Laki standing before them. "Another Laki?" Wendy asked in shock.
"How is this even possible?"
"It's not Gemini, is it?" Yukino asked.
"And it's not Edolas, is it?" Happy asked.
"I think you already know about the Eclipse Gate. How it lets you travel through time?" The future Laki asked.
Carla went wide eyed as she finally spoke up. "You used Eclipse to-"
The robed girl nodded, shocking them with the implication. "I came from the future."
"No way..." Loke mumbled.
"This country... will soon..." The future Laki gasped before she started falling forward, passed out in exhaustion.
Laki raced forward and caught herself. "It's okay. She, er, I... the girl passed out." She replied, extremely confused by the whole situation. "It's so creepy. Why me?"
"We can't leave her here." Natsu said, placing his 'future girlfriend' on his shoulder. "Once we get out of here and fire off the signal, everyone will know that Lucy's rescue was successful."
"Though I don't think this was the result we were expecting." Lucy declared.
Hisui's Room
"I really don't understand." Darton confessed. "To open the gate of Eclipse, you need the magic of a Celestial Wizard. Yet you sent those two to the Hell Palace... Isn't that a contradiction?"
"Yes..." The princess confessed. "It's because at that time I had all twelve keys in my hands... I was rash."
"Yet the managed to retrieve the keys as well." Darton countered. "How do you intend on opening the Eclipse Gate now?"
"I've already used the keys." Hisui revealed, shocking the Defense Minister. "I used them yesterday to remove the Eclipse's lock. Now we only need human hands to open them."
"Is humanity ready to take responsibility for changing the future?" Darton asked.
"I cannot do it alone." The princess replied. "That is why I wanted your approval. And for Arcadios to be with me as well. I'll decide whether to open the gate depending on the results from the Grand Magic Games. Let's watch for the time being."
"Will it really end like the person from the future said?" Darton asked as he walked forward to the bannister. "What they said would pass seems impossible."
"That's why it's an 'impossible outcome'." Hisui replied.
With Erza
Erza and Kagura glared at Minerva, who smirked at their hate. "Yes, that's the face I wanted to see."
"Let go of Millianna, now." Kagura growled out.
"I will show you how a king fights." The Spatial Mage chuckled.
"I won't say it twice." The Mermaid ace declared as she dropped into a fighting stance. "If you want to live, let my friend go."
"Get her back then, if you can." Minerva teased.
Kagura launched herself forward at Minerva, shocking Erza with her speed. "You'll be the second tiger I eat."
"I hope it's a good one this time." Her opponent chuckled before she suddenly turned into Erza. The redhead raised her sword and blocked the attack, both shocked by the sudden change.
"Settle this between yourselves." Minerva said, now standing on the side. "I will fight against the winner." She waved her hand and the orb holding Millianna vanished.
"You're a pretty pathetic king if you intervened only to do this." Erza called out, pushing against Kagura's sheathe.
"The king is the one who moves the pawns according to their own strategy." Minerva declared as she turned and started to walk away. "You should feel honored. Two against one would be too much. I at least acknowledge that miscalculation. The king must always win, no matter what the conditions."
"Give Millianna back!" Erza shouted, making Kagura tighten her grip.
"Don't..." The Mermaid Heel member growled out, catching the redhead's attention. "DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE HER FRIEND!" She pulled her head back and slammed it into Erza's, forcing back.
"It seems you two have much to talk about." Minerva smirked. "I was in the way."
"I agree to your terms! Release Millianna!" Kagura shouted, only for the Sabertooth wizard to vanish.
"She completely outwitted you." Erza said as she wiped her mouth free of the small amount of blood.
"Shut up." Kagura declared. "I'll slash both you and the tiger woman."
With Gajeel
"Shit! The First's strategy ended up in a mess." He mumbled as he walked through the city. "Where did it start to fail?" He looked up and found Rouge walking forward.
"Gajeel..."
"You're persistent." He chuckled. "I'm not as kind as Salamander. Be ready." He launched a pillar forward and only hit shadows as Rogue sand around him. The Third Gen smirked only to get hit in the gut with a punch. Gajeel then unleashed a barrage of clubs and peppered Rogue backwards.
He slid to a stop and stared at Gajeel, who looked on disappointed. "Well, this is boring. You aren't worth my time. I'm out of here."
Gajeel turned and walked away, angering Rogue. "You don't scare me." He declared. "You aren't even half as strong as Natsu."
The First Gen came to a stop and slowly turned back at him. "What was that?" He asked in anger.
With Laxus
The two lightning stared across from each other in an open plaza. "We finally meet, Laxus." Orga declared. "I'm sure you realize already. I'm the Lightning God Slayer."
"Even if you can kill gods, it doesn't mean you can kill fairies too." Laxus smirked back. "I bet you think your lightning is something to see. Sorry pal, but second best is all it's ever going to be."
"You trying to say yours is better?" Orga asked. "That's some bold talk coming from a fairy."
"There's always someone better than you." Laxus replied. "Having your face shoved into the gravel will prove that too you"
"Bring it on!" Orga shouted before the two charged forward, grabbing each other's hands and pushing against each other, electricity pulsing off the two of them. The lightning arced and forced the two back as footsteps caught their attention.
"This seems rather interesting." The two turned and saw Jura walking forward. "I was hoping to find some capable warriors around here."
"The monster is here..." Laxus said with a smirk. "This should be good."
With Juvia & Chelia
The two girls traded weak punches before they started pulling on each other's hair. "Stay away from Lyon!" Chelia shouted.
"I am not interest in him! Only Gray!" Juvia shouted back.
"Not this crap again."/"That's my Juvia." Both girls flinched and turned around to see their crushes standing behind them.
"What happened to you Gray? You look worse for wear." Lyon teased.
"I was just taking care of some unfinished business." Gray responded. "Now let's end this, Juvia."
With Sting
"Heh, how dirty of you, m'lady." Sting said as he stared at the ground. "But they can do as they please. The scenario I thought of will lead us to the best victory. Watch me, Lector."
With Erza & Kagura
"I suppose it's time to settle this." Erza declared.
"I'll be going all out." Kagura replied before she charged.
"Exactly what I want!" The red head declared as she blocked the attack. Kagura broke through the guard and bashed Erza, sending her flying back. Erza flipped over and changed into her Heaven's Wheel armor and unleashed a Pentagram Sword attack.
Kagura jumped over the attack and stared down at the armored woman. "Archenemy - Strong Form!" With a single swung, she destroyed the ground under Erza and her armor, sending the red head falling. "Slashing Form!"
"Adamantine Armor!" Erza chanted, changing into her defensive armor. Kagura zoomed past the red head and the armor crumbled to pieces, shocking Erza and her guild.
Kagura glared at Erza, surprised she was still in one piece. "Is it still not enough?" She asked herself.
"Flight Armor - Sonic Claw!" Erza chanted as she changed armors again, flying around Kagura and slashing her with blinding speed. Kagura remained unphased as Erza suddenly gasped in pain, slash marks appearing on her body as her armor shattered.
Erza crashed to the ground as Kagura landed on her feet. Erza gasped in pain as she pushed herself up, her armor fading. "I'm surprised... I didn't think there was someone like you..." The red head confessed as Kagura walked forward. "Does your strength... come from your hatred... towards Jellal?"
Kagura's eyes went wide in anger before she kicked Erza in the stomach, sending her flying back into a pillared room. "Whatever... your grudge is..." Erza mumbled as she pushed herself up again. "You bear against Jellal... I don't care... But don't involve Millianna! She's finally started being optimistic about the future!"
"It's her own will." Kagura replied before she kicked Erza again. "And it is my will as well, to kill Jellal."
Panting in pain, Erza coughed up a small amount of blood. "What... happened?" She asked.
Kagura stopped walking and stared down at the red head. "You know that man very well." She declared. "Simon, the man who was killed by him, was my older brother."
Erza stared at her in shock, the old friend passing through her mind. 'Simon's... sister...'
"We were poor, but happy." Kagura continued. "However. our happiness ended when that child hunt fifteen years ago. I managed to escape, and for years I kept looking for my brother. Then I met Millianna, and found out about my brothers tragic life and death. He worked as a slave for years and was eventually killed by Jellal. I could see nothing but darkness, and I swore that I would kill Jellal to avenge my brother.
Erza hung her head, catching Kagura's attention. "Millianna wasn't there..." She said. "The ones who were there... me, Natsu, Laki, and Jellal. Indeed, it was Jellal's fault if Simon died... but he didn't kill him. I did."
Kagura's eyes went wide in anger. "Are you willing to go that far to protect Jellal?"
"No, it's the truth." Erza replied. "My weakness killed Simon."
Shaking in anger, Kagura reached down and gripped her sword's handle. Tears in her eyes, she roared as she pulled on the blade, destroying the wraps around it and pulling out the sharpened blade. A wave of energy tore through the city as a single splatter of blood stained the wall behind her.
In shock, Kagura stared at Erza who had summoned a sword and blocked the attack, only her shoulder getting hit. "I cannot die." She declared as she stood up, her body glowing. "I'm alive thanks to Simon, and Grandpa Rob... thanks to all my friends." Her armor transformed into the Armadura Fairy armor, katana in hand. "To abandon this life would be a disgrace to the ones who aren't here anymore."
"I'LL KILL YOU AND JELLAL!" Kagura shouted as she charged forward. "I'LL KILL YOU, NO MATTER WHAT!"
If that's where you get your energy from, that is fine." Erza declared as she blocked another swing. "I'm not going to stop your feelings. But I'm not going to lose either!"
The blade started glowing before Erza jumped back. With blinding speed, Erza charged forward and swung her blade, sending Kagura end over end and flying onto her back. Panting, Erza turned around to see Kagura standing up. A stone pillar above her started to crumble, catching Erza's attention.
"Move!"
The stone crumbled and fell over, shocking the entire crowd. The dust faded and showed Erza trapped under foot by stone as Kagura was pushed back. "...Why?"
"Simon... talked about you in the tower..." Erza explained in pain, shocking Kagura. "He never stopped... hoping you were alive... I know you think... killing Jellal would avenge him... but you should know... he died saving my life..."
Kagura's eyes went wide as tears started welling up in her eyes. Standing up, she pushed the rubble off Erza's leg. "I still can't make up mind." She confessed. "However in this fight, I lo-"
*SHINK*
Erza gasped in shock as Minerva suddenly appeared behind the Mermaid Heel ace, stabbing Kagura through the back with Archenemy. Kagura fell over as Minerva pulled the blade out, flicking the blood off the blade. "Erza might be the winner. But the points are mine." Minerva chuckled.
"I told you that I would show you how a king fights. Kings only strike when it suites them. And it seems this tigress is about to feast on a fallen fairy queen."
"You..." Erza growled in anger.
"Please... save Millianna..." Kagura begged the red head.
"Millianna?" Minerva asked. "Oh, the little kitty." She waved her hand and Millianna appeared on the ground. "As you can see, this one is defeated as well. I think that's another point."
"Please! Talk to me!" Erza shouted as she picked up her friend.
"Erzy..." The cat girl groaned out. "Is that you?" She passed out and scared Erza.
"Do not worry. She's just tired." Minerva said from behind. "I am not a needless cruel woman. I will not torture someone who cannot fight back. Now stand, Titania. We have a battle to finish."
Mercusius
"Man, this sucks." Natsu mumbled as they stayed in some kind of dining room.
"This whole castle is just a giant maze." Loke added.
"I had the chance to memorize the castles floor plan and I didn't." Yukino said, beating herself up.
"Don't feel so bad." Wendy said.
"Makarov and the others must be worried about us." Pantherlily said.
"We need to find a way out like now." Rose added. "They need to know all of this stuff."
"We could just bust our way out of the nearest wall." Natsu suggested.
"How about we find a way that doesn't involve getting the entire kingdom on our bad side?" Lucy asked in anger.
Laki just stared at her future counterpart as she finally started stirring. "Easy, easy." She said.
"Where are we?" Future Laki asked.
"Probably the royal dining hall." Carla said.
"No, we're still inside the castle." She lamented. "After we escaped the Hell Palace, we ended up getting caught by the royal army. And then... I was hoping to warn you all before this happened. If we don't get out of here now, we'll be behind bars until Eclipse opens."
"No problem, we just avoid the mistakes we made in your time." Happy suggested.
"That means we need to stay away from the Eclipse." Future Laki said. "Otherwise we'll be thrown into a cell."
"Hey, Future Laki..." Wendy spoke up. "What made you want to come back to our time?"
"To try and save the world..." She explained, shocking the group.
"Save the world?" Natsu asked.
Hisui's Room
"I haven't disclosed everything to you." Hisui said to the defense minister. "It's almost too much to comprehend. Pure terror will come in a swarm of over 10,000 dragons. They will burn the city, destroy the castle, and kill thousands. Only the outcome of the Games will determine what happens next."
Holy hell, talk about a nuke drop in this chapter. If that's not a reason to change history, I don't know what is. And Laki is definitely hit heavy by the fact it's something she knows very well.
I changed up the scene with Millianna because, honestly, the lashes were pretty unnecessary. Seriously, Minerva already stabbed Kagura through the chest. That's reason enough for Erza to want to kick her ass. I also never got why everything had to be connected back to Erza. We didn't really need to see Erza saving Kagura as kids to know that she's a good person.
Well, see ya next time.
Beta read by General Feng Xiang