Everyone kicked into high gear to make what Mirajane was calling, "the most anticipated event in guild history" happen. While Bisca and Alzack's wedding was also a long time coming, everyone had been waiting for Kai and Erza to settle down every since they first popped on the scene as kids.

There wasn't much to do in terms of arranging the guild hall to be in a "reception" state. Mira, Lucy, Wendy, and Levy scurried Erza away to get her ready while Kai was taken away by Evergreen, Iggy, and Reedus to get him looking spiffy as well.

Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Lily, and Elfman helped Makarov arrange the guild hall. Mavis, it seemed wasn't all for this to go down, especially on the eve of battle, but she came to Kai while Evergreen was busily helping him with his hair.

"Thank you," Master Mavis said.

"For what?" Kai asked, wincing as Ever pulled tight on his hair.

"My rival will not have her husband looking like some bum," she muttered. "Plus…I can control how you good you look before it's Elfman's turn."

"What was that?" Iggy asked.

Ever blushed and pressed on.

"Thank you for what, First Master?" Kai asked.

"For popping the question when you did," Mavis said. "It isn't providing a good distraction, like I thought you were trying to do. It's…well, it's bringing the guild together about as well as any war could!"

Kai smiled. "Well, thanks for saying that. I hope you don't mind, but I was kind of hoping that Master Makarov would marry us?"

"Do you mind if I help the flower girl?"

"I absolutely don't. It'd be an honor for you to be a part of our special…night."

Mavis clapped her hands together and pranced about the room, vanishing out of it to no doubt tell Makarov or Erza the good news.

Evergreen at last backed off from Kai's hair to allow Reedus to step in and help with the finishing touches. Iggy stood by the door, not letting anyone—particularly Natsu, Gray, or Gajeel—in under any circumstances.

"What, probably an hour or so left?" Iggy asked rather nonchalantly. Evergreen fled the room to go check on Erza.

"Probably."

"Gives you plenty of time to think of a wedding party."

"We're throwing one right now."

"No, moron, I meant who is going to be in your wedding party. You going to have any groomsmen, Erza gonna have any bridesmaids?"

Kai pursed his lips. "Oh, I didn't even think about—"

"Evergreen!" Iggy shouted down the hall. "Ask Erza about the wedding party." She nodded, no doubt in response of Evergreen receiving and understanding the message.

Kai sighed. That initial rush of adrenaline from asking Erza quelled and he started to settle down a bit more before the anxiety of actually going through with this crept in.

But anxiety about what?

She said yes. Erza, the woman of his dreams, said yes to marrying him. What, was she going to turn around at the altar? Was she going to pull a fast one on him and leave?

A bit of the worry came from the looming Alvarez threat that everyone was notably not bringing up. Perhaps they all thought of it, too. Master Mavis certainly was. Kai saw her strategizing just as everyone broke apart.

In fact, she came by after Reedus finished up, about a half-hour later, as if to say something but didn't, and just sauntered off.

Reedus backed up. Kai did indeed look better, more put together. His overall appearance wasn't that different, but there was just something about him that looked more matured, more formal. Perfect for Erza.

Reedus then split. "I must see to Erza, in case she needs help!"

He dashed away, leaving Kai and Iggy alone. Kai rose and held out his hand, summoning his sword. Iggy grunted.

"Gonna use that?"

"I never gave it a proper name," Kai said. "At least…not that I can remember."

"Erza gave that to you right before the Edolas stuff, right? Never really had a chance to do it."

Kai tightened his grip around the handle. "I also didn't even get her a wedding gift."

"Pretty sure that's what the guests are supposed to do."

"Guess it just goes to show how out of my depth I am right now." Kai laughed and studied the sword. "Any word about the wedding party thing?"

"None yet." Iggy sighed and leaned against the door, crossing her arms. "You doing okay?"

"Good as I can be." Kai let the sword fade away. "I just…I can't believe we're here, Iggy. Finally made it."

"I'll be honest, Kai. The only time I ever thought I would hear you say that was going to be you throwing down with Acnologia."

She glanced darkly across the room at him, but adjusted her expression to a softer smile.

"I couldn't be happier that instead, you've made it here. The day I waited for so long."

Iggy strode across the room and flicked the Everice dangling around Kai's neck.

"The day she waited for."

The words punched Kai right in the gut and he couldn't stop the tears rushing to his eyes. He clutched it, his fingers numbing at the harsh cold.

Iggy clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You're a brave, strong man, Kai. I couldn't be prouder to have been at your side throughout this journey."

"You make it sound like you're going somewhere."

Iggy sighed, and shrugged. "Nah. I'm a Fairy Tail wizard, but…Kai, you're about to start a family. Now, I don't want you thinking I'm not part of your family but…oh, shoot, what am I saying?"

She sniffled, wiping something off her face.

"Look I'm just saying that you're going into a new stage of life, and I just won't be around as much. I'm leaving your safety into Erza's hands, probably the safest hands out there, you know? I think in this war we'll have a couple more rides together, a couple more fights and then…" Iggy sighed, and let her arm fall from Kai's shoulder. "It's the two of you."

"You're not going anywhere, Iggy," Kai said. "You're definitely my family. You're my best friend."

Iggy bit the inside of her gum. "Come on, Kai, you know what I mean."

"I do. Things are going to change." Kai sucked in a breath. "But it's all because things are going to finally be what they're supposed to be. Erza and I are going to be together forever, and you're back, Iggy." He held his hand out for Iggy to clasp. "Now these Alvarez chumps are gonna find out what it's like to face a full-power Fairy Tail, and that they never stood a chance."

Iggy stared down at the hand, then clapped it, tight. Her veins flexed along her arm.

"You're goddamn right."

They released each other's grip and the door creaked open. It was Carla, in nice dress.

"Iggy?" Carla asked. "Mind coming with me for a sec?"

Kai let a sneer creep across his face. "Oh, damn it, Erza got to you before I even could."

Iggy laughed and followed Carla out, leaving Kai alone in the room for maybe five seconds before the door was blasted down by Natsu and Gray.

"Hey!" Natsu shouted. "Erza picked her crew. Who you got?"

Happy also blitzed into the room. "Aye, sir!"

Kai burst out laughing. "Well, I've got most of my guys…I'm just missing one more."

Natsu, Gray, and Happy all went to see Erza to get their suits on. Erza, according to Carla (who returned to confirm Iggy as one of Erza's bridesmaids) apparently had the suits already made as a Requip in anticipation for the day of.

She also handed Kai his suit, and left one other for his other groomsmen, specially fitted for their size.

The door opened once more. Kai wasn't facing it, but could smell who it was.

"I had to really think of what I needed to say to you," Kai said. "You're probably thinking there are other people that I could've picked. Jellal. Elfman. Maybe even Master Makarov. But I couldn't choose anyone outside of my family. I picked my rambunctious brother, what's basically my twin brother, my crazy little brother in Happy, and I needed a big brother. I needed someone that's meant so much to the family, and has been a benchmark for me for years. Not to mention…another Dragon Slayer."

Kai turned toward the door. Laxus Dreyar crossed his arms in the doorway, his eyes locked on Kai's.

"I almost killed you," Laxus said.

"Laxus you saved my life twice and I like to think I helped save yours," Kai said. "Like I said, you're the guild's older brother. You mean a lot to us, and I want you to be there for Erza and I. For Fairy Tail."

Laxus grit his teeth and strode forward. His massive stature towered over Kai, greatly imposing on him.

Yet he then put his hand out for Kai.

"I'd be honored," Laxus said, quietly.

Kai shook his head. "I am honored."

The rest of the guild filed into their proper seats, not at all arranged because nobody had time for that tonight. Master Makarov made his way down the improvised aisle up to the stage and Kai followed right after him.

At Master Makarov's request, Kai had his sword out at his side. While Kai wasn't a night, in the coming days he would be fighting for the fate of all Fiore, so he was effectively doing so. Erza, too, would have her weapons hanging off her side. Kai expected little else.

The wedding party then started down the aisle. Gray walked with Iggy, much to Juvia's chagrin. Natsu and Lucy followed, with everyone ogling them and making whispers of "are they next?" Then came Wendy and Happy, with Happy just sitting atop Wendy's shoulder. Mirajane and Laxus walked down the aisle last. The Thunder Tribe couldn't help singing the praises of how good Laxus looked while the rest of the old men in the guild praised Mirajane.

The girls wore light red dresses, low-cut with short sleeves that approached their ankles. The men had light blue suits with dark blue ties and brown shoes. Happy also had a little suit on.

Carla then came down the aisle in her Exceed form, aided by First Master, who, as Carla flicked the flowers into the air, would flurry them around in the air, creating a magnificent effect.

By the time Carla reached the end of the aisle and set aside her basket, everyone stood, but the flowers quickly meshed together in the form of the Fairy Tail symbol, obscuring Kai's view of Erza.

Until a soft melody kicked in, sung seemingly from all around by the rest of the guild, and the flowers parted, revealing Erza Scarlet:

She wore a red dressed with her hair put up in a slight ponytail while some streaks of is slid down her face. Her sword dangled at her side and she held a large bouquet in front of her.

Kai couldn't help it and almost doubled over at once in a complete mess of tears.

Erza laughed with him and Natsu patted his back. Kai rolled back his shoulders and managed to stand straight when Erza approached.

Macao helped remove her veil and she handed the bouquet to Iggy, the lattermost of whom also winked at Carla.

Erza stepped up next to Kai, who had to seriously resist the urge to kiss her right there.

Instead, he only said,

"Hi."

And the rest was just a blur.

Makarov spoke so wonderfully of friendship and family, of the persistence of love that he'd seen so strong not only in Erza and Kai but those that'd been on their journey with them.

Gray also got his chance to speak, at Erza's behest, and while at first he stumbled he eventually caught himself. Lucy also gave a nice speech—a bit long but she was a writer so it was quite understandable—that brought some tears to Erza's eyes. Master Mavis watched over all of it, and Kai couldn't help feel like there was a constant blessing hanging over the crowd.

Then, at last, the ceremony came to an end. Kai and Erza's hands were bound together, and at Makarov's word, they leaned in and kissed one another.

The guild hall erupted into one large cheer. Kai swept Erza up and everyone whooped and hollered once again.

At once, Cana busted out the booze and, really, a normal night for the guild broke out.

But Kai and Erza had other plans, as Kai ducked and dashed out of the guild hall to avoid everyone.

He set Erza down and the two sprinted away through the starry night and the quiet town of Magnolia.

The city was evacuated, leaving on Fairy Tail behind. Their raucous celebration echoed all around the town.

But the two lovebirds ran away from it all, toward their own quiet abode. Kai swung Erza up into his arms once more and opened the door, wherein she immediately stripped him. After all, the suit was one of her Requips.

She did the same. She rushed up the flight of stairs through the darkness, Kai following only by scent.

He found her in the bedroom, lit by the bright moon and twinkling stars overhead. She guided him in to the room, into her arms, where their bare skin touched and sent shivers through Kai.

Erza stroked her hands through his hair as their lips came together, their bodies entangled. Kai's hand drifted from the top to the small of her back down further and further while she gently bit on his lip.

Kai kissed the side of her neck until his hand drifted down far enough to her vagina. A soft gasp and sigh escaped Erza and she practically melted in his arms as he caressed and touched her.

But not for long. She snapped up, taking Kai's chin and kissing him, passionately, before spinning around so she had her back pressed to him. His hand hadn't moved and she ground against him, he still kissing her neck, shoulders, parts of her back.

Then, Erza slid down, turned once more, and lay upon the bed. Kai crawled over her, his hands outside of her.

"Love me," she said.

"Forever," he said, and drifted into her love and her body.

They moved in tandem, each knowing just what to do to the other. Beneath the final night of peace in Magnolia, and perhaps for the final night of their lives, Erza Scarlet and Kai Hope became as one being, perfectly entwined in absolute physical and emotional love.

When at last it ended, they lay with one another still in the darkness, together. Kai flitted with Erza's no-longer-well-combed hair.

"If only it could be like this forever," Kai said.

"It will be," Erza said. "Soon."

Kai glanced across the room to the swords still out, resting against the door. They were crossed, glistening in the night light.

"This will be the fight of our lives," Erza said, softly. "Fiore's greatest enemy yet."

"Maybe," Kai said.

"But we're different now. Different than we were a few hours ago when we first met them."

"How so?"

Erza held her hand up, looking to the ring on her finger. "Kai, we're married. We're one, now. I am yours, you are mine. We fight with the same spirit, not separate but complete. Doubled."

"It feels like we were all along."

"But now it's…it's real. It's so real at last."

They snuggled and wrapped each other up once more, listening to the quiet peace that'd long befallen Magnolia. The partying at Fairy Tail ceased, likely so they could focus on the day to come.

Perhaps time stopped for a bit. He couldn't tell. Neither spoke for a moment.

But, in that moment, he swore he could perceive as if he were Erza. As if they were, indeed, a singular entity, basked in love and tenderness and quietude. All fell to peace.

Then, a slight buzzing filled Kai's ear and a strong scent filled his nostrils. He sat up in bed, Erza rousing with him.

"What is it?"

Kai swung his legs out of the bed. He ushered a robe around him while Erza also sat up, Requipping into a robe to follow him.

"Oh, holy hell," Kai muttered.

He gestured out the window, and Erza snarled.

"So. It's time."

Above the skies of Magnolia, approaching at first with great speed before slowing into position, were at least fifty ships. They bore a similar make to the one that brought Brandish to Caracole Island before.

And the scent aboard it was strong.

"Ajeel," Kai muttered. "Guess he wants Round Two."

"If he's aboard the ship you can't fight him," Erza said.

Kai sighed, but the buzzing filled his ears again. Erza required into her armor set and tossed Kai his clothes. He snapped his fingers and he sword vanished.

"Kai, Erza, you there?" It was Warren, using his telepathy.

"You seeing this?"

"They came out of nowhere! They must've had cloaking devices."

"They're here now," Erza said. "What's the plan?"

"First Master got anything for us?"

"She does," Warren said. "There's fifty ships above Magnolia, all packing serious fire-power. We need to draw the capital ship into position, apparently Bisca has something planned with you, Erza. I'll link you two up soon."

"What can I do?" Kai asked.

"You're part of the Maritime unit," Warren said. "Where are you? I'll send Iggy your way. You need to take out as many ships as you possibly can."

Kai smiled. "Roger that. I'll be out in a sec. Link up Erza with Bisca and let's get going."

Warren cut off and Kai sighed, slight anticipation budding in his body.

"I'll take on Ajeel," Erza said. "You focus on the ships. Clear a path for me."

"Looks like we're already fighting as one already," Kai said.

Erza grabbed his collar and yanked him close, slamming him with a hard and passionate kiss before letting him go.

Kai kicked open the window. The winds howled and flakes of sand filled the sky. The armada blotted out the once-beautiful night sky.

"Iggy!" Kai roared, his voice echoing. "Let's ride the storm!"

The Exceed-form of Iggy appeared ahead of Kai, who leapt out the window.

She snagged him then ramped up toward the skies.

Streaking up in the skies with them were the other three Dragon Slayers, held by their Exceeds, who expertly wove through cannon fire and various spells cast by Ajeel.

"Gajeel, over here!" Kai shouted. "Let's see how many you can get!"

"More than you!" Gajeel roared.

"Exactly," Kai muttered, and Iggy blasted in that direction as Kai summoned up his magic. "Iggy, let me go if you think you can do a bit more damage."

"Right," she said, and they cut around more ships.

"Ice Dragon Roar!"

"Iron Dragon Roar!"

The twin beams crossed and lanced through a pair of ships. Kai and Iggy ripped through the wreckage, with Kai flaring even more magic to break it apart faster.

They reappeared. Kai's summoned his sword and deflected a cannon blast toward Gajeel, who blasted it back through another ship. He turned his arm to a club and ripped through it.

Iggy dodged more cannon fire. Kai adjusted his sword.

"I'm gonna toss you!" Iggy shouted over the hard winds. "Take the ship on the left, I can get the two coming at us now!"

"Don't let me fall!" Kai exclaimed, and Iggy tossed him into the air, where Kai pulled his sword aloft, the feeling of unbound flight ushering into his body.

"Frozen Sword Formation: Furious Frost Fifth Layer!"

He aimed his sword right down at one of the ships and the beam cut straight through it. His descent started.

"Ice Dragon Twister!"

As the ship tried to recover from the blast, a great gale of icy wind seared through it, destroying it instantly.

He started on his descent and hadn't realized just how high up they are. Thankfully, he was distracted by deflecting a cannon blast to really dwell on it.

Iggy swung by and caught him and they darted through more ships. Kai used his sword to cut alongside them as Gajeel came by and finished them off.

They ripped up into the air.

"They're landing ground troops at the edge of town!" Iggy shouted.

"I'm sure First Master has a plan for that, right?"

"I hope so! We've got too many ships up here!"

"Then we just need to try a bit harder." Kai turned toward Gajeel. "Hey, quick slacking!"

"Shut up, ice-pick, or I'll make your head slack!"

Kai would've laughed if the sheer amount of ships was indeed not so overwhelming.

"Iggy, we should—"

She yanked him out of the way of a great spray of sand before he could say more.

Ajeel's stupid, howling laugh filled the sky.

"Found you!" Ajeel exclaimed. "And I know you're too chicken to get on here and fight me!"

Iggy and Kai weaved away from some more of his attacks. Kai launched off a few of his own that Ajeel deflected, taunting Kai.

Natsu, in his infinite wisdom, crashed down on Ajeel, but landed right on the desk.

"Idiot!" Kai shouted, and Iggy shot them toward Natsu.

Kai slammed into Natsu before Ajeel could attack, sending him flying off for Happy to catch.

There came, beneath Kai, a brief glint of steel before something sliced through through Ajeel's ship, forcing him to another one.

The Desert King landed on a different flagship, squaring off with a woman in a powerful set of armor.

"Titania," Ajeel said, and ushered in a sandstorm.

"Iggy, help Erza out, get rid of the sandstorm," Kai said.

"What about you?"

Kai glanced down at the ground. "Gajeel and the others have things covered up here, not down there. Let me go."

"You want to fall?"

"Wendy can catch me!"

Erza and Ajeel collided. Panic swelled.

"Fine," Iggy muttered, and transformed. "Good luck."

"You too."

Iggy let him go and blasted toward Erza, halting the winds.

"Wendy!" Kai helplessly called as he fell through the sky. He angled himself for flight. "Guide me to the ground!"

"You got it!" Wendy shouted above him, and it felt as if the winds themselves held onto Kai and helped him down.

Soldiers sprinted toward the border of Magnolia. Kai fazed through an enchantment, probably made by Freed, and hurtled toward the ground some more.

"Ice Dragon Tundra!"

A sheet of ice blasted some of the soldiers back and gave Kai an excellent landing pad to drop on. He shattered the ice on impact, spraying it everywhere in an aura that cast him as naught but a silhouette before the enemy.

Before any of them had time to recover, he charged at them while the skies filled with iron, fire, and sand, while below in the hellish battlefield he created a tundra of sheer cold, freezing Alvarez right in its place.