Chapter 132: New Endings, Fresh Beginnings.

"You've never beaten me!"

Over and over the words he spoke played in her head. They echoed in her mind and as Erza sat there, bandaged up with her arms folded over her chest, she grew angrier by the second. It was more than visible, and as Lucy and Levy watched from a safe distance, the Celestial Mage gave a heavy sigh. "I feel like I didn't do enough."

"Don't put the blame on yourself, Lu-Chan." Levy responded. "Without master here, we were already at a disadvantage. It just wasn't our year. And it just happened to be theirs.."

"Yeah.." Lucy groaned quietly before putting her head down. "It just sucks, you know? I think… I think this is how we would've felt if we would have lost to Sabertooth that one year. Our biggest rivals, but I think this is the first time I can remember that Fairy Tail has truly lost.."

That's when a hand pressed against her shoulder. She looked up, blinking once to see Sting and Rogue behind her with Lector and Frosch. "Hey now! Don't go dragging our names through the mud!" He laughed while speaking, patting her on the back a couple of times. Lucy immediately sat up, red faced as she waved her hands nervously. "I didn't mean it like that! I was just saying…!"

"Yeah, we get it!" Lector exclaimed, folding his arms over. "It's a good thing you beat us that year. Our last master didn't deserve to control Sabertooth. We may be still trying to find our footing with Sting-kun in charge, but we'll get there one day."

Sting side-eyed his companion. "That felt backhanded, Lector."

"I feel like it was." Rogue added.

"Frosch thinks so too!"

"Eh, anyways." Lucy said with a sweat drop. "Sorry, I hope you guys are having a good time here.. since we didn't get invited to the ceremony."

Sting shrugged. "Eh, I wouldn't go with those rat bastards anyways."

"I concur." Said Lyon, appearing from the left of Levy, causing her to jump. "We're all friends here, more or less. White Eclipse? Not so much."

"That's only by affiliation." Lucy reassured. "I'm sure if you talked to them.."

Lyon waved his right hand. "If it's even so much as that, I rather pass. You guys will always be the strongest guild to us. Until we pass you, that is."

A comforting laugh came from the key holder. She then waved at a passing Yukino, who stopped to do the same before Sting and company walked over to join her. Lucy then took a look around the worn down bar, smiling as she observed all of her guild mates, and friends and acquaintances she's made along her journey as a Fairy Tail guild member. "Maybe Lyon is right. We can't convince everyone to be our friends, and we shouldn't have to. It just wasn't in the cards.. us and White Eclipse.."

As she smiled, Cana slid over, draping an arm around Lucy's shoulders. "Oh yeah? Then what was with all that you and Luke hubub earlier, hm!?"

"HUH!?" Lucy's face was bright red again, but before she could respond, Levy returned to the fray. "That's right, Lu-Chan! You have to fill us in on the year with Luke! What happened!?"

"N-nothing happened! We were just friends!"

"Were?" Cana reiterated in question. Lucy then looked down at her lip, sighing again. "Yeah, I think we finally settled things at the games.. although, he did give me an invitation to the ceremony, despite Reve banning all of us." She went to reach for the card Luke gave her, only to realize it was gone. "Huh? Where did it go?"

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"Welcome everyone! To the champions ceremony! Thank you for coming out to this special occasion, and may we introduce to you… the Champions of the Grand Magic Games! White Eclipse!"

Everyone gave a round of applause as White Eclipse appeared upon the balcony in front of them. Amidst the chatter and applause, Reve remained up high as the rest of the participants joined the party downstairs. "And now, a word from the most valuable mage of this year's games." Said Mato, the pumpkin headed host. As he moved away, Reve stood at the balcony railing, clearing his throat to begin.

"First, I want to say… what an amazing performance by Black Phoenix and Twilight Zone! Esmerelda. Skye said you were one her toughest opponents yet, and we're really high of our swordswoman."

Skye have Esme a smile and a two finger salute, and the knight did the same.

"Rylo. I don't know what kind of resolve you were carrying on your back that last push, but man was it amazing to see a magician in action." Rylo simply waved as attention was drawn to him for a second before going right back to his drink. "If only he knew.." He said to himself.

"You two and your guilds were absolutely amazing. That's what brings me to my second point. As you look around you, this ceremony was invitation only, and besides the paparazzi and royalty, only an exclusive list was allowed through the castle doors this year. There is no Fairy Tail, no Sabertooth, no Mermaid Heel, no affiliation to the past top guilds at all. No, starting today, as I spoke with the Aces and Guild Masters of every guild present, this ceremony represents not only a victory for White Eclipse, but an alliance of the rising guilds in Fiore! The time to put the has-beens behind us is now. We are the future of this country. Born by the flames of competition, raised by the power of resolve, we are Fiore's prodigies. White Eclipse has taken the first steps in burying those that have kept this country down, now join us in finishing the job. I demand to see Black Phoenix and Twilight Zone in the headlines beside us. I demand the next tournaments or charity events to be headlined by Vanaheim, or Siren's Calling! Special requests jobs for the mages of Cerebral Core, and Shaman's Haven! No more of those gag characters in Blue Pegasus or Quatro Cerberus, but an entire board filled with qualified mages, who take their profession and lifestyle seriously! It's a new dawn, a new day, and I feel good about the future we can head in! So what do you say, everyone!? Shall we put the past behind us? Raise your glass for a toast!"

Everyone followed, raising their glass to the sky. "To a new Era!"

"To a new era!"

"A long winded speech, but a point was made I guess." A silver haired woman said, raising her glass to her lips. As she reopened her violet colored eyes, she pulled back strands of her hair behind her left ear, exposing a guild mark. Standing beside her like a bodyguard, was a smaller woman with blue hair and matching blue eyes, arms folded behind her back as she scoured the radius around the illustrious woman next to her. "Yes, Master Valkyrie. Long winded indeed, but it is nice to think about the potential recognition we'll be receiving from their affiliations. It's just tragic that it has to be from a man."

Valkyrie nodded. "I'll definitely toast to that, Sarah dear."

"D-dear!?" The slightest term of endearment set the blue haired woman ablaze, red in the face as smoke shot from her ears like a geyser. She fell backwards, ironically into the arms of another woman. She had darker blue hair tied back in a tail, and reddish-honey eyes. Sarah looked up to see who saved her from the fall. "Ah, Shizuka Agata. Where did you run off to?"

After helping her back up, Shizuka pointed back to the doors. "I thought we weren't staying. I searched for you two, thinking that you were cornered, but you in fact haven't moved from your spots. Are you saying you wish to stay?"

Valkyrie nodded. "I didn't expect an alliance to be formed today. I was merely under the impression of an egomaniac who didn't want his enemies involved in his celebration, but apparently the situation heralds both aspects, so it'll suffice as an event for us to enjoy. I apologize for not reconvening with you, my Ace."

She bowed. "No apologies necessary, Master Valkyrie. I will stay by your side until you are ready to leave."

"Actually." Valkyrie interjected. "It would probably do much service if you two got out there and mingled. And don't worry, Sarah, I'll be fine right here. I definitely won't be alone, as I've observed so far."

Sarah immediately went on the defensive from the context clues, head on a swivel as she looked for any one who was eyeing Vanaheim's guild master. As she made eye contact with Valkyrie however, she straightened up, bowed, then reluctantly walked off to go network with other guild members.

And just like clockwork, a slew of random mages came over, filled to their brim with confidence. Valkyrie sighed, sipping her drink until she opened her right eye, noticing a figure of interest from her peripheral. That's when she raised her hand, causing the men around her to cease their awful rambling and courting attempts, and shooed them away. With the direct demand taken, they hesitantly dispersed, leaving the guild master alone with the person she saw. "Rowan Guillermo. Owner of the Al Dente! name and traveling restaurant."

"Not much traveling these days, Miss Valkyrie, Vakarian." The large, silver fox of a man replied with a hearty laugh. He sat down, but not for long as he then handed her a folded sheet of paper. Valkyrie took the paper into the space between fingers before sliding it up a sleeve. With a small smile, she nodded to the chef — no response in action from his part as he simply walked back into the royal kitchen. "No wonder the food is so good this year." Valkyrie remarked, before turning back to sitting alone.

As Sarah marched through the open floor of the royal foyer, she passed a drunken woman, stopping in her tracks to get the scoop on the inebriated rambling; just in case it was any threat to her guild master. "Why didn't he say our name!?" A pearl skinned woman with purple hair and apricot colored eyes shouted with waving arms. "We're just as formidable!" She slammed her cup down, wiping her mouth of the excess alcohol. "I'm a famous scientist, and you're telling me that these people have the audacity to ignore me and my guild? Is Temple Galactica not good enough to usher in a new era!?"

"Maybe they would have recognized us if you didn't misplace the schedule papers in your mountain of desk work, miss scientist." The snarky remark came from another woman, who was laid out in a booth seat. She had teal colored hair and yellow eyes, sporting grey, baggy sweatpants and a black tank top — definitely underdressed for the ceremony. "Dr. Olivia Acro, everyone. The most unorganized guild master-slash-scientist in Fiore."

Trying her best to disregard the snarky remarks, the flushed face Dr. Acro couldn't ignore what the smart mouth was wearing. "Did you just crawl out of bed for this? Where is your formal attire, Kacia?"

The respondent rolled her eyes before leaning back in her seat, closing her eyes. "You're in a labcoat, ma'am."

"Labcoats can double down as formal attire!" A young, enthused male shouted, causing Kacia to groan audibly just by the sound of his voice. "My gods, not now, Zeku." But it was too late, the young man was showing off his own white lab coat as if it was a fashion statement, listing the multiple reasons why it's okay to wear one in a formal setting. He would strike one more pose, running a hand through his coarse, carrot colored locks as his black, beady eyes turned back to Kacia. "As her apprentice, it's only right that I defend the honor of Dr. Acro's labcoat!"

"……." Olivia sobered up, sighing a bit before turning away from the man before walking off. "Wait! Doctor!" Zeku shouted, giving chase but eventually losing her in the crowd.

That was when Olivia came across some newer faces. It was a group of people from a guild sitting together. One was just a child with his black hair that was obviously groomed like a model's hairstyle, parting right down the middle. The kid spotted Olivia standing there first, smirking once he saw her. "Yeah, we're Shaman's Haven, and yes, I'm the great Mason Calvot. What of it?" He asked, hiding his piercing yellow eyes with a smug visage. The scientist raised a brow, but then turned back to who seemed to be the guild master here. It was a taller, older looking male with long black hair hidden under his cymbal shaped straw hat. He wore a light blue robe with a white cover beneath it, dressed down to the wooden sandals. He was a very old school kind of person, and Olivia nodded to him before extending a hand. "You must be Master Satoshi." She predicted.

"And your lab coat tells me that you're the famous Dr. Olivia Acro." He responded with a gentle smile. "Indeed I am Satoshi. It's an honor to finally meet you, and please excuse Mason. He's but a child in an adult's place. In fact, he was about to go grab me another cup of saké, wasn't he?"

Mason mumbled under his breath, but hopped up out his seat before looking back at a masked man that was seated to the right of Satoshi. "Oi! Roy! You coming?"

"And miss a beautiful woman in front of me? I think not." The masked individual pronounced. But as Satoshi gently cleared his throat, both he and Mason were on the move, headed to the bar without a second thought. As Olivia watched them walk away, she turned back to Satoshi, and the two began conversing.

Everything was going just how Reve envisioned it. After a bit of reluctance and hesitance, everyone was intertwined and mingling as the alliance's foundation began. He could only smirk, his head resting on his hand as he continued watching. But of course all good things must come to an end it seems, as the doors to the entrance swung open in a loud crashing noise. Everyone turned to see just who was the obnoxious one, and unfortunately not a single person could put a name to the face before them.

"Oi! How come we weren't invited, huh?!" The voice asked, walking forward with a group of mages behind him.

"Everyone but a select few are invited." Reve replied. "It's a ceremony after all, so help yourself, but there's no need to cause a scene."

The figure took a few steps forward as everyone remained on the sidelines. He then looked up towards Reve as the chandelier light shone down on him. He was pretty tall, with short yet spiky black hair. Brownish eyes, and on the left side of his mug was a scar that ran from his forehead down to his jawline. A single feather draped from his left ear while a black coat hung from his shoulders — Laxus style. The rest of his attire consisted of a disheveled white button up shirt and black slacks, ending with black combat boots.

He glared directly for the gunslinger, and then, he began. "A scene? This ain't a scene, little guy. This is an arms race. I'm here to give you and every loser in this room a fair warning!"

"Warning?" Zalen questioned, raising a brow. The man in question then turned to him. "Yeah, four eyes. You blind and deaf? Or just stupid all around?"

A tick mark showed up on Zalen's forehead, but he remained silent as the man continued to Reve. "My name you asked?"

"Not even once." Reve fired back.

"It's Daimon." He pointed a thumb at himself, and then to the crew behind him. "And the group of shit heads behind me, are Inferno Crescent. And no, we're not here for you stupid little guild alliance. We don't partner up with weaklings!"

"…..Well there's food and drinks if you guys want any, and—"

"Stop trying to be funny you two but gunslinger before I show you how to really hold a gun."

That caught Reve's attention. He slowly sat up in his seat, sapphire eyes glaring directly towards Daimon as he tangled his fingers together. "Is that so?"

Daimon grinned now, knowing he had Reve's seriousness along with the rest of the guests' eyes on him. He turned away from Reve temporarily, the proverbial spotlight following him as he spoke. "As you bumasses know, in six months exactly, it's the first ever Champion of Fiore! An individual tournament where you can't rely on your little buddies to prove you're actually worth a damn, right Reve?" He looked over this shoulder cockily to make sure eyes were still on him.

"Everyone's aware of the tournament." Said Reve.

"Well another thing you should be aware of, is that I'll be taking home that prize, since I'm indeed..the strongest mage in Fiore! It was so hard to watch you at this year's games, and as a fellow shooter, I just wanted to unload a clip into you as soon as possible. But if I have to wait six months to do it, then sure, why not? But know this, White dipshits and friends."

In a single bound Daimon leapt onto the balcony railing where Reve sat, barely inches away from him as he grinned in his face. "Just like Fairy Tail, when this is said and done, you'll be the past, and Inferno Crescent will be the now."

Daimon began laughing, but suddenly, a sharp object caught his eye, and his neck — a black vector now pointing at his throat, causing him to lean back before he found his throat slit. "Oh?" He arched a brow, smirking. "This is that thing that helped you beat that Titania chick, right? That's how I knew you weren't better than me in raw talent. But I'm sure this little edge you got right here may be some trouble. But don't worry, I got six months to figure it out. You won't hear a peep from my goons and I until then, but it'd be wise to not get too comfortable. The call me the Raging Revolver for a reason, and I can't wait..for you to find out why."

He hopped down, now walking towards the exit with his guild. As they left, Reve overheard the lone woman of the group say something aloud. "That vector. So the rumors are true. That weak bitch kicked the bucket, huh?" She laughed, and Reve could only stare her way, taking in every detail of the woman. Very skinny, almost bony. Deep purple hair, red painted lips and charcoal eyes. Her laugh was really grainy and annoying, just as her voice.

{I remember this much. Her name was So-}*

"Sonya..right?"

She could've sworn she just heard her name, and turned to see Reve staring at her as she walked away, but all she did was scoff before turning back to join Daimon and the others in leaving.

"Awkward. Making enemies within the confines of your own camp, Volver?" Valkyrie asked to rid of the tension. Reve smiled whilst waving her off playfully, and everyone went back to the party. That's when Luke could be seen traversing the crowded room as if he was searching for someone. Quietly, he was in hopes that she accepted his invitation. All the copy cat wanted to do, was to apologize for his words and actions before it was too late, and if Lucy accepted this invite or not would be the breaking or saving point of their friendship — of their relationshi-

"Lucy!" He exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he walked over to a blonde haired woman who a real familiar Heart Kruz attire. "Hey! I'm glad you made it! I just wanted to talk if we could-"

"Hey Duke!" He shouted, turning around with a mouthful of food. It scared the hell out of Luke, seeing Natsu Dragneel in a blonde wig and Lucy's clothes. "N-Natsu!? What the hell are you doing!?"

He kept chewing and chewing before finally swallowing the contents in his mouth and patting his stomach while Happy dove into the fish entrees. "Lucy didn't take your invite, but it was specifically for her! So I dressed up as her and took it! I wasn't passing up on good food!"

"…Does she know you have on her clothes?" He asked with a pale face.

"I needed the disguise!" Natsu shouted back.

"I think the underwear was too far, though." Happy added. Luke stared for seconds on end until finally…he began laughing. It was a genuine laughter, and he couldn't hold it in as Natsu and Happy looked over at him confused. "Oh man, I needed that. Look, just try not to make a scene, and leave soon before Reve pays attention to you. You were never on his radar, but the head honcho didn't want you guys here at all. I only invited Lucy to talk to her privately."

The two looked at each other again, then back to Luke. "You're being nice to us?" The pinkette asked before the duo saluted as if they accepted a mission. With their pockets full, they attempted to slide out of the party, but before they could, Natsu and Happy were approached by a familiar brown haired woman. "Natsu? Is Lucy with you?" She asked.

"Hm?" Natsu looked over at her. "Oh, you're from Black Phoenix." He stated. She nodded. "Yeah, I'm Misaki. Misaki Star."

"Misaki Misaki Star." Natsu repeated.

"No, only one Misaki." She corrected.

"Yeah, and that's you!"

"……" Misaki blinked. "I want you to deliver a message to Lucy for me."

"Mkay! What is it!?" He asked, pulling a turkey leg from his pocket.

Misaki then held up a set of keys. Happy immediately responded. "Are those Celestial Keys!?"

"They are. But they are not of the Zodiac. But that's not the point. I want you to tell Lucy, and even Yukino if you see her… that in six months, she better be participating in Champion of Fiore, and that my goal may not be to win the entire thing, but it's definitely to be the last key holder standing. Look around you. I'm not the only one here."

And she was right. Now that it was pointed out to him, Natsu saw a plethora of key rings and an assortment of Celestial Keys. "No way!?" He shouted. Misaki then redirected his attention back to her. "She's known as a very prominent Celestial Key Mage, but after watching last year and this years games, I can no longer stand for that to be true."

"Hey! Lucy is a great mage!" Natsu barked defensively.

"By your standards. Hopefully those change in half a year. See you around. Reve is coming downstairs, so you should leave."

Misaki then walked off, and after glaring at her for a while, Natsu and Happy did the same reluctantly.

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As the party died down, Reve took one look over the Crocus night sky. A deep breath came from him as he dug his hands in his pockets, allowing the winds to nearly take him away. In the morning, they'd be heading back home to White Eclipse — to start anew.

Back at White Eclipse however, as his caretaker walked into his room with a small smile, she placed a tray down next to his bed, sitting down as well as she prepared the medicine he's been futilely taking to stop his cursed disease. "They did it, Master Calium. Your kids..they won the games. Reve was the last mage standing. I know that makes you so happy."

"He coughed once, but then smiled as he looked up at the ceiling. "Ah, so they finally won? And without me?"

"They did it for you." She reassured, stirring his medicine into a small cup. He denied it, so she placed it by his nightstand and walked out.

"I'm so proud of them. They realized their dreams. They're the top guild in Fiore now. Now, this old man..

…can go peacefully.

{Simultaneously}

Reiss was walking home with his family. A Crocus native, he headed back to the home where it all started for both him and Reve — along with his mother, his sister Krissa, and his father. "Reiss you were so amazing out there! Even despite your forfeit against Bacchus!" Krissa verbally backhanded her little brother. Reiss made a face, but didn't incite the usual bickering on this day. "I don't blame you for not fighting him! He looked scary!" His mom added. "He isn't scary, mom. I just ate something that day and couldn't compete."

"Did you eat at some random restaurant again? You're infamous for that, son!" His father and the other two laughed. Even Reiss joined eventually, but suddenly, his father started coughing profusely. "Thomas?" His mom called to his dad. He kept coughing, and soon, that cough started to expel blood into his covering hand. "Dad? You okay?" Reiss asked as he crouched down to his level, but no response. Now everyone was getting scared as they realized the blood seeping through his hands. "Dad!?"

"Father!?"

"Thomas! Oh my gods is it..!?"

"Is it what, mom!?"

"Someone call an ambulance! Please, now!"

"Mom what's happening!?"

"Thomas!"

He coughed through the yelling, and finally, Reiss's father fell over, lying in the pool of his own blood… lifeless.

"THOMAS!"