Back with the next vol
"speaking"
""thinking""
Quick summary: a year passed, everyone changed their looks and everything and all. Makarov didn't disband Fairy Tail, Natsu left the guild and is now at Alvarez with his new appearance as the strongest Etherious; END. And now we will see it
On with the story
One year later
Fairy Tail
It was a normal day in Magnolia, a year after the battle with Tartaros and the betrayal of Natsu Dragov
Everyone had a solemn yet negative feeling around themselves for the betrayal that they had to face against
The door to the guild opened and revealed Gray with Juvia
In the time of one year, he has become a lone wolf who took requests without sparing a second thought in how to deal with the situation of the request
His appearance changed as he now has black markings all over his right side and to his face and his hair was combed back upwards
The only one who stayed by his side the whole time was Juvia
"I shall go and get us some meal, Gray-sama" Juvia told to Gray as she walks towards the bar where Mira and Lisanna were at
Even after his change of appearance and behavior, Juvia was the only who stand by his side no matter what.
"here you go," Mira said as she sets two plates of hot meals and slides them towards Juvia who thanked her before taking them to the table Gray was sitting at
Lucy, Wendy, Yukino, and Charla were sitting at one table looking at Gray and Juvia where Juvia was stirring up some conversation while Gray just nodded to her words while he eats his meal
"he's still the same as always," Lucy said with a frown as she watched them repeat the same activity day after day
Wendy nodded a bit sadly as the guild didn't have the same feeling anymore since that day
Yukino looks down to her lap as she frowns to the once happy guild became such a desolate and negative feeling guild
Charla sighs before she took a sip of her Darjeeling tea
The betrayal took a giant portion of the guild's lively hood as nothing was the same anymore
But the one who took the most pain of the betrayal was one Scarlet Knight
At Magnolia's west forest
Two girls with scarlet red hair were on their way to a home in front of them as the two were carrying groceries bag
They reached the home as they walked into the home while greeting an old cat
"we're home, Milo" one of the girls greeted the old cat as they walked into the home and went to the kitchen where they place back the groceries
They were Rose and Mary, the children of ex-guild mate Natsu Dragist and Erza Scarlet
"Mom!" Rose called out as the two went upstairs and went to a room where they opened it and sees that no one was in
"she must've gone to the porch again," Mary said to her twin as the two went downstairs
A year back, after their mother explained how their father went away, they didn't understand at first but over time they understand how their father became a traitor of the guild and on how some of the guildmates except Romeo, Macao, Makarov, Yukino, Lucy, Wendy, Charla, Lisanna, Cana, Juvia, Mira, and the Connels; were a bit uncomfortable with them due to them being his children and all
But their mother was the only one who believes that their father will come back again
"mom?" Rose called out as she opens the back door and looks around before spotting a figure sitting near the small lake
They then went to the figure who was just sitting on the spot and was admiring the lake
It was Erza, and she was at lost in the scene before her
That day, the day Natsu betrayed everyone at the guild, her magic suddenly disappears as if it was gone for life
When Erza found that her magic was gone, she nearly went mad and nearly tried to do suicide but if it hadn't been for Lucy and the others, she would not be here anymore
"mom" Mary called out to their mother as she was just listening to the water glistening in the light
Erza looks to her two daughters and smiled to them before motioning them to sit down with her
They did so as the three watch the lake where a fish jumps up before flying back into the water
"it's beautiful, isn't it?" Erza said as she watches how the sunlight reflects the water
Rose nodded as they watch the water ripples from the fish that had jumped back in
"This place is the only place that feels…..peaceful," Erza said with a soft smile
They spent their time there, just admiring the lake
After two hours, it was now evening as the sun was setting
"come on, Mom. Let's head back in" Rose said as she stands up first before Mary stands up as well
Erza nodded as she stands up and wobbles a bit before Rose and Mary caught her just before she could fall
She smiled at them before they walked back into their home
Her physical strength had weakened a bit to the time and the adding of the loss of her magic just adds the potential for Erza to have Magic Deficiency Syndrome but the time when Porlyusica went to check on Erza, she said that Erza still has her magic and that she was completely fine
No one knows why and how was that possible, but Porlyusica just explained that it wasn't any disease but a matter of emotional problems that cause the lack of capability in her use of magic
The family of four had their dinner and enjoyed their meal in silence
After the betrayal of Natsu, Ikaruga moved out and was never seen nor heard in the passing time, but one thing for sure, she might come back one day
They finished their meal as Mary helps her mother upstairs while Rose stayed to clean up
Erza sat on her bed as Mary helps her feet up to the bed before draping a blanket over her legs to her lap
Milo came into the room as the old cat jumps up to the bed and laid down on the right side while Erza sat on the left side
"thank you, Mary" Erza thanked her daughter ash she opened her arms for a hug with her daughter
Mary went for the hug as Erza caresses her daughter's back and gives a peck to her forehead
"goodnight, mom" Mary said as she turns off the light before closing the door to let her mother go to sleep
The day passed by as it was like the always days
next morning
"we're going," Mary said as she and Rose were about to head off to the guild to get some jobs with Lucy and the others
"Have a safe trip." Erza said while sitting on a rocking chair with Milo beside her
"nya" Milo meowed before yawning
The twins then went on their way to the guild while Erza stayed behind with Milo
At Fairy Tail
Rose and Mary reached the guild where they see that everyone was looking at a man with light blue hair, wearing a coat like attire and was standing in the middle of the guild
The atmosphere in the guild was so tense that you can cut it with a knife
The man turns around and sees Rose and Mary standing in front of the guild's door
"The two of you must be Rose and Mary, I presume," the man said as he adjusted his glasses
30 minutes before
The guild was as usual as always
Everyone was doing their usual thing, chatting, drinking and modding around
Makarov sat at the bar where he was drinking his fourth-morning beer
"another" Makarov said as he pushed back the mug to Lisanna
"don't you think you had enough, Master?" Lisanna asked with a frown
"another" Makarov replied to her while a bit drunk as Lisanna sighed and did what he wanted
She refilled his beer before setting it in front of him
"This is your last one for today, Master" Lisanna told the old man before she started to clean up some dishes
Makarov sighs before he grabs his mug and drinks his beer
He finishes it before he set it down and turns his attention to his children
""nothing is the same anymore"" Makarov said as everyone was still gloomed from a year back
He then hears the door to the guild opening as a man with light blue hair and was wearing a bluish and blackish overcoat while holding his hands behind his back as he entered the guild
"Is this perhaps Fairy Tail?" the man asked as he stood at the guild's center
"yeah, who are you?" Laxus answered the man while crossing his arms over his chest
"apologies for my rudeness, my name is Invel, Invel Yura. A member of Alvarez Spriggan 12, aliased the Winter General" he introduced himself as this got everyone at the guild to tense up and readied their magic
"why is an Alvarez goon here!?" Macao exclaimed as he had his Purple Flare readied in both hands
Makarov gaze hardens as he grabs his staff and stands above the floor of his guild
"be at ease, I have not come for Combat," Invel said as he tilts his glasses up before folding his arms behind his back
"then why are you here?" Makarov said as he motions for everyone ease down a bit
"to send 2 messages, one message is from Emperor Spriggan and the other one is from END sama" Invel replied
"END, you say!?" Gray growled as ice-cold air started gushing out near him
"The first message is that Emperor Spriggan demands you all give Fairy Heart or face his wrath as we will bring the war to your homeland," Invel said as he takes out a rolled-up paper from his vest and unscroll it and showed Makarov the message
"The Emperor was feeling merciful enough to let this message be sent to you"
Makarov grabs the paper before reading it
Invel looks at them emotionlessly before he then hears footsteps behind him as he sees Rose and Mary entering the guild
Present time
Invel stares at the twins who stared back in confusion at him
"who are you?" Rose asked as Invel reached into his vest and pulled out a small envelope
"I have an envelope from your father," Invel told them as he opens the envelope and takes out the letter
"shall I read it for the both of you?" he asked the two as they looked at each other before looking at Invel and nodded
Invel coughs into his fist before he opens the letter and reads it
"Rose and Mary, how have you been?
I've sent this message to the both of you, in a proposal for the both of you and your mother to come and live with me at Alvarez
I desire for all of us to live as a family again
If you wish for that, please come with Invel and your mother to Alvarez"
"is what END sama wrote in the letter," Invel said as he folds his hands behind his back and awaits the twin's answer
"so, what are your answers?" he asked the twins as they shook their heads
"no" "don't wanna"
They replied as Invel raise an eyebrow to them
"We want to be back with Dad but no" Rose said as she shook her head
"our home is here with Mom and Fairy Tail" Mary told the man
"can you tell our dad that?" she asked Invel who looks at them before taking out a napkin and takes off his glasses
He rubs his napkin onto his glasses before he puts them back on
"I see," Invel said before he folds his hands behind his back again
"very well, but I must have your mother's answer for your answer does not fill hers," Invel said before he looks at the front door and sees Erza coming into view with Milo accompanying her
"Erza!?" some of the guild members exclaimed in surprise to see her
"mom?" Rose and Mary looks to their mother who was using a walking stick to help her stand
"my answer is no. I will not go to Alvarez" she said to Invel as she walks forward towards her daughters
"and tell my husband to come home and have dinner with us," Erza said with a smile as Invel looks at the Scarlet haired woman before nodding
"very well, if that is what you wish to convey towards END-sama" Invel said before he turns his attention to Makarov
"that is their answer, what of yours?" he asked the old man
"the same, we are a family and we won't accept this offer at all," Makarov said as he burns the paper in his hands
"tell the Emperor that we refuse to your demands at all cost" Makarov looks at Invel who stares back at him
"very well, do not hope to beg for forgiveness once the war comes," Invel said as he walks away out of the guild before he stops when Gray got in front of him
"give this message to him as well," Gray said as he looks at Invel before pointing a finger towards him
"I'm coming for you"
Invel looks at him before continuing his walking as he steps out of the guild and into the streets
Everyone looks at Invel as his figure was slowly shrinking away and before then the man disappeared from their sight
The day passes by as if the encounter with the Alvarez messenger never happened at all
At their home
Nighttime
Near the lake
Erza sat on the grass while she watches the moon reflected in the water
She smiles to the scene before hearing footsteps coming near her as she looks to her side and sees her two daughters approaching her with Milo on tow
"mom" the twins look to their mother before Erza motions them to sit with her
Rose and Mary took each side while Milo rested behind as the old cat was sleepy
"mom, why didn't you accept the offer? I mean you get to see dad again" Rose asked her mother who looks to her before smiling then looks to the moonlight
"I didn't accept because I know that he will come back home" Erza replied to her as she then looks to the moon "I believe in it"
Rose and Mary looked at their mother as they can't feel but touched to her words
"you really think so?" Mary asked her as Erza nodded
"your father was always rash, stupid, clumsy, likes to do crazy things, henpecked, and likes to worry people, but," Erza said before she smiles
"he's brave, kind, generous, loving and loves to smile. Even when he falls, he always gets up no matter what, when the going gets tough, he will stand back up and finds a way to win, that's the sort of man he is"
"that's why I will always believe, no matter what happens to me. I will always believe that your father will come back"
Erza explained before a glowing red flash appeared in her chest as it glows brighter and brighter by the second
"wha!?" "too bright!"
Everyone looks to the red light that was coming off of Erza as a giant flash came next and nearly blinded them all
"Erza"
A voice spoke as Erza opens her eyes and sees Enryuo no Yoroi appearing in front of her
"Enryuo no….Yoroi?" she muttered out as the armor glows to her before it floated towards her
Erza's mate brand glowed as it reacted to Enryuo no Yoroi
A glow appeared on Erza's right forearm as a symbol appeared. A symbol of a crimson dragon spreading its wing appeared on Erza's forearm (i think everyone knows what the symbol looks like)
The glow dimmed as Erza looks to the mark on her forearm
Enryuo no Yoroi glowed to Erza before dimming as Erza felt a warm breeze flies pass her as her hair floated up from the breeze
"I'm leaving you with my power"
The voice spoke again before a transparent red dragon appeared behind the armor as it roars to the night sky
Far away
In the western continent of the world
In the western borders of the world was the empire nation of Alvarez
A giant nation city formed with all country that was once spread out in the whole continent before became one as a single and independent nation now named Alvarez Empire
A nation filled with 730 guilds, both light, and dark
The ruler of this nation was the Emperor Spriggan, known by his other alias in Ishgal
Zeref
Inside the kingdom's quarters
Zeref walks on the carpet of his kingdom as he was greeted with an old man who holds a staff to his side
"Welcome back, Emperor" the old man greeted Zeref
"thank you, Yajeel" Zeref replied
"let's put aside the pleasantries and assemble the 12 please"
"as you wish, Emperor" Yajeel replied
"but if the unpredictable spring breeze has blown through first, I would have prepared in advance," the old man said with a smile
"oh, dear. I'm just some capricious puff of wind now?" Zeref replied
"a wind, a black wind" a feminine voice spoke as Zeref and Yajeel looks to a hallway where two figures were coming into view
"no….a deadly, dark storm of death"
There came into view are two members of the Spriggan 12, Dimaria Vesta, the Warrior Queen and Ajeel Raml, the Desert King
"Desert! That's right! Yer like some sandstorm that whips its way across the dead land!" Ajeel exclaimed with a smirked on his face
"Dimaria, Ajeel. You both seem full of spirit" Zeref greeted the two with a smile
"Ajeel, my grandson, please learn some manners when addressing the Emperor," Yajeel told his grandson
"It is alright, Yajeel. I have grown fond with Ajeel's childish like behavior" Zeref told the old man before they hear another person walking in and looks to see and an old man coming into view
He is the strongest man in the Spriggan 12, August the Wizard King
"and you appear to be in higher spirits yourself, father. Your mood seems improved!" August said to Zeref, his biological father
"do you think so, August?" Zeref asked the old man
"shall I assume…that you received your answer regarding Ragnarök?" August asked him
"they call it the Dragon King Festival in Ishgal," Zeref told him with a smile
"war! I can't wait!" Ajeel exclaimed with an excited face
"be patient, Ajeel. Be impatient and you might grow old very fast" Yajeel told his grandson
Suddenly a black and negative mist started to appear around Zeref before it got sucked into an open vent
"How are the demands for surrender from Ishgal?" Zeref said as he walks towards the hallway while being accompanied by Yajeel and August with Dimaria and Ajeel following in tow
"Invel-dono have not come back yet with the reports but we are still waiting" Yajeel replied as the three entered the throne room where several other figures were already there and waiting in their respected seats
"my, I was expecting to only see Wall or Brandish here, but almost everyone is here," Zeref said with a smile as he went to his throne while Yajeel stood behind him and August and the others went to their respected seats
"well, Neinhart-sama is actually in the palace but…" Yajeel added in before he stopped by Zeref
"it is fine, with only 8 members here. that is fine," Zeref said
"when is Invel coming back with the so-called surrender thing?" Ajeel said while laying his legs up to the table
"I believe," Zeref said before a black portal appeared out of nowhere in front of the throne room's doorway
"now" the black wizard then sees Invel stepping out of the portal with his polite posture
"how was Ishgal, Invel?" Zeref asked the Winter General
"beautiful as you might say, Emperor" Invel replied to the Black Wizard as the portal behind him disappears
"I believe that Makarov had refused of the offer?" Zeref asked as Invel nodded and went to his seat
"yes, he did so by burning the Emperor's offer," Invel said as he sat on his seat with a polite pose
"oh well, I was feeling a bit merciful to that continent but they burned their chance of surrendering to us," Zeref said with a chuckle before smirking
"then that means our plan to invade Ishgal is a go"
"What a pain," a woman with green hair said as she was the Nation Destroyer, Brandish μ
"I wish you wouldn't say that, Brandish. I believe I have your promise to do as I say?" Zeref said to the girl
"of course you do! My feelings don't interfere with my actions" Brandish replied back to him
"I'll follow your orders, even if they are a pain"
"don't mind Randi. Whatever she's thinking comes spilling right out of her mouth, that's why she's so disliked" Dimaria said while looking at Brandish
"huh? Well, I said that I disliked you first!" Brandish retorted to the warrior queen
"I see….we actually do see eye to eye" Dimaria replied
"death…death will come and swarm the land" a dark hooded figure said with a nasty grin
He is Bloodman, the Grim reaper of Alvarez, he's not human
"my, please do not speak such unruly words, Bloodman-dono," a blonde man with white facial markings on his eyes said while holding his hands up in a prayer
His name is Larcade Dragneel, the White Dragneel and the so pronounced to be the son of Zeref
"your majesty…we are all prepared for Ragnarök," August said with a dark look
"in other words, we're to retrieve the body of your former lover, that's a high crime, indeed," a man with a weird looking face said
His name is Wall Eehto, the Judge of Spriggan 12 also known as the Machias Wall Eehto
"no…Fairy Heart is magic. Not a person, also it isn't our only objective" Zeref said before his eyes darken
"our objective is the annihilation of Ishgal, just this once, humanity must be wiped out"
"humanity….hm?" Dimaria said
"I find your case….to be interesting, indeed" Wall added in with a smirk
"I shall draw up a battle plan immediately," Invel said while adjusting his glasses
"You should just leave everything to me!" Ajeel said with a smirk as he slams his hands on the table
"no, I'm afraid I can't leave this just to you, Ajeel. This will be an all-out attack" Zeref told the Desert king
"Are you outta yer mind!? I got enough power to do this whole thing! I can wipe them all out on my own!" Ajeel retorted
"if so, that would be fine but no, we will be combining all our forces for the attack, I have my reasons," Zeref said with a smile
"and so does he" Zeref said as Ajeel sweated a bit before sitting back down and gulped nervously a bit
"oh my? What happened with the boasting Ajeel-dono? Are you perhaps still afraid after his return to home?" Larcade asked him with a smile
"CAN IT!" Ajeel shouted at him
"The Dragon King Festival will soon begin and so prepare the troops to move out in 2 moons night," Zeref said before standing up
"August and I shall be at his room if you are in need of me," Zeref said before leaving the room with August accompanying him
Invel and the rest stand up before they bowed to him and left to do his orders
Zeref and August walks in the hallways' corridor as they reached to the stairs where they climb it up to reach their destination
As they went upstairs, they see a little girl with red hair sitting on the stairs while playing with a dragon doll
"my, what are you doing here, Irina?" Zeref asked the little girl as he patted her head gently
The girl replies by babbling to him while hugging the dragon doll
Zeref chuckles before carrying the child up into his arms and walks up to the stairs and towards the door
"hige hige!" the child babbles as she grabs a hold of August's beard and started pulling on it
"yes, I am Hige" August said with a sigh as he lets the child play with his long beard
Zeref knocks on the door 3 times before seeing the door being opened from inside by two girls
One girl had blue hair and a stoic looking face while the other had light orange-ish hair with a goofy face
They are Heine Lunasea and Juliet Sun, they are the underlings of one of the Spriggan 12
"Emperor Spriggan" the two girls bowed to him before opening the door to the side and lets him in with August
"Please do look after Irina," Zeref said as he passes the little girl in his arms to Heine who took her
"of course, Emperor" Heine replied as she cradled the child in her arms before Zeref and August entered the room where there are a bunch of children toys spread out in the room
A green-haired little boy with pointed ears and bird-like feathers on his arms was playing with a black devil doll in his arms while being accompanied by a woman who is not human
She is Kyoka a former member of the Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros and the child was hers
"Kyoka" Zeref called out to her with a smile as Kyoka bowed to him
He then turns to see Sayla, another former member of Tartaros who was sitting on a rocking chair with an infant in her arms
"Zeref-sama" she bowed her head to him as Zeref nodded before looking to the balcony where a man was standing near it with a scarlet haired woman beside him
Zeref approaches near the two before stopping
"is it time?" the man asked Zeref as he and the woman turn to him
"yes, it is time" Zeref replied with a smile as the man grins evilly
END, Etherious Natsu Dragov, the man who betrayed Fairy Tail and came back to Alvarez to refill his spot as the most powerful man in Alvarez alongside with the woman who was his wife, Irene Belserion. The Strongest female in the Spriggan 12
"The time for a festival has come"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye