White Eclipse
Chapter 20

Reve was sitting in a chair, pulled up next to Taya, still holding her hand. Nami was on the other side of the room, looking on. Aira was resting up from depleting her magic while Zain was still shuffling through books. Everything else was quiet as the rest of the guild members looked through the window to the infirmary.
"Didn't know Reve had a heart of any sort." Adamantine smirked. "Kinda makes me lose a bit of respect for him."
"Reve is a nice guy. You just have to get to know him." Zalen replied. "He's always here for us, we just forget that because when everything's okay, he being an ass.
"... Taya's in bad shape." Takeru peers a bit harder into the window, looking at the burn marks all around her.
"Her soul is barely active." Sidney says.
Just then, Luke walks in whistling. "Hey, what's going on? Why are we around the infirmary? Who lost?"
No one speaks. Instead, they give Luke room as he walks to the window to see Taya. "Oh my god... What happened!?"
"Kuro's friend happened." Michio replied, shrugging as if he was unphased by the situation.
"Wait! We don't know that!" Kuro yelled.
"Aira?"
"She's trying." Jaxon stepped back into the view of the window. "She would make progress, but she would run out of magic. The burns would just reappear. "
"Found it!" Zain jumps up, after countless reading, he's found the problem.
"They're Hell's flames. The burns won't go away until they are completely removed in one healing sweep. But Aira can't do that alone."
"I know someone who can help..." Luke said with a defeated look. Everyone turns to Luke. "Well?"
Luke sighs "...I'll be back."

"What are you thinking?" Nami looked over at Reve. Reve kept his eyes on Taya. He had his hands folded in front of his face, as if he was saying a prayer, the last thing he was doing. "I'm thinking about which gun to put in Daityas temple."
Nami averts her eyes to the floor. "You know."
"I swear to god, if you start talking like Kuro's pure of heart ass about how it could of been someone else I'll shoot you right here. Look at your sister before you open your mouth."
"Reve! I'm not saying it wasn't him. But I am going to wait until Taya comes too."
"I can't wait for her too. So we can go to war on Tartaros."
"What!? Reve that's not a good idea!"
Reve doesn't respond. Just merely sits in his own thoughts.
"Hurry up old man. I can't handle this guild alone yet."

.

"It's going to be weird going on this job without Lucy, Natsu."
"Aye.. I know. But we still have Gray Erza and Wendy. We just need to hurry before those Eclipse bastards take it."
Natsu and Happy were walking in the now half empty streets of Magnolia, headed back to the guild. Until an explosion of sorts was heard from east Magnolia. Natsu quickly turned his attention to that direction. "What was that!?"
"I don't know!" Happy answered. "It came from the abandoned streets!"

"You seem tired there big guy." Mithril and Orion continued to surround Bacchus as the drunken falcon began panting heavily. Bruised covered his exposed body and even parts of his armor were broken off.
"I'm... Just getting ...st-started!"
"And we haven't even begun." After speaking Ruika pointed at Bacchus. "Alright Orion! Slice him into pieces! Ruika looks down as Orion once again appears on one knee, holding her hand. "Anything for you, my Ruika. For no matter how many times I get knocked down, I'll-" Before Orion could finish, Ruika slams another fist into the top of his head. "Stop being weird!"
Bacchus looks at Mithril, and then Orion. He then shifts his eyes back and forth to view his options.
"Well?" Mithril asked with a grin.
"Where's that /wild/ attitude of yours you had a few minutes ago?"
"Right...here!" Bacchus turns to Orion. Orion puts up his shield, but the power of Bacchus palms slams right into the shield, causing it to crack right on half.
"Orion's shield!" Ruika called out.
"Now to get rid of you! WILD!" Bacchus ducks as Orion swings his sword at him horizontally. He then slams a palm into Orion's right shin, causing him to fall forward, but while in mid air, Bacchus rears a palm back and slams it into his chin. The force of the blow sends Orion flying right towards Ruika, until she forces a gate closure on Orion. "Four..." Mithril took this opening. Bacchus had his eye on Mithril during the whole thing, until just like Laxus, Mirhril had turned himself into a bolt of lightning. He reappeared to the right of Bacchus, catching him off guard as he swung a lightning infused left hook to Bacchus jaw. The hook connects and sends Bacchus' body grinding into the ground until he came to a slamming stop at the base of a building.
"Finish him Mithril."
"Hold on." Mithril begins walking towards Bacchus, who was unable to move from that last blow. He sat hunched over as he was implanted into the building. "My bloodlust is running. I want to have a bit more fun."
Mithril stands in front of Bacchus now and claps his hands together hard, causing a loud thunderous sound. The heavy sound waves slam into Bacchus, and with no where to go, his head bounces off the brick wall behind him, causing even more damage as he coughs up blood from the sound waves slamming into him.
"Yeah, this is fun." Mirhril smirks as he claps again, having the same result as Bacchus gives out a silent scream of pain.
"You animals need help. Just finish him so we can finish our job and go." Ruika huffs out.
"Alright Alright." Mithril turns to Bacchus once again as lightning swarms around his fists. "It's been fun, drunk. Time to end this though."
"Roar of the Fire Dragon!" Mithril looks up as a giant funnel of fire comes rushing towards him. He jumps backwards to avoid it as Natsu jumps down in between him and Bacchus.
"Who in the!?"
"Natsu wait up!" Happy comes flying in from above.
"Natsu? Dragneel huh?" Mithril looks on at the Salamander.
"So that's him?" Ruika muttered. She then sighs as Blues makes his way to his feet again, beside Natsu as the stood in the way of Bacchus. "It's time to go Mithril. You remember what he said if we ran into him."
"Yeah yeah, just do it."
"No one's leaving until I pound you both into the ground!" Natsu pounds his fist into his open palm, igniting both hands.
Ruika raises a key slowly, almost hesitantly. "Ugh... Gate of the bat... I open thee. Batto.
Out of the gate. A large humanoid bat appears. "What is it this time?"
"Tch. Give us an illusion cover."
Batto turns to Ruika. "Maybe you should just run? You could use the exercise."
"Why you! Just do it!"
Batto smirks as his eyes glow purple. The next second, the entire area turns black. Ruika and Mithril haven't moved a muscle as Natsu and Blues look around.
"What?" Blues frantically looks around seeing nothing but Natsu Bacchus and his opponents.
"Stop playing around!" Natsu charges and swings a fist at Mithril, only, it goes right through him. This causes the illusion to disperse, but when it does, the two mages were gone.
"They're gone." Blues looks around as he takes a few steps forward. He then dusts himself off and re straightens his tie.
"Who were they?" Happy asked
"Dark mages.."
"Dark mages!?" Happy's eyes widen dramatically.
"We've handled dark mages before Happy. That's no problem."
"Last dark Mage you fought, she was beating you Natsu."
"NO SHE WASN'T!"
Blues walks back over to Bacchus who was out cold. "Bacchus." He waves his hands in his face. No response. "...Bacchus they took your gourd."
Bacchus jumps up, panting heavily as he looks around. "Drop it before I..! Huh?" Bacchus looks around to see the two mages gone. He then notices Natsu standing a ways in front.
"Oi...Natsu."
"Bacchus."
They exchange nods. Bacchus then groans as he leans back to get the soreness out his back.
"So why were they after you two?" Happy asked.
"They weren't." Blues replied. "We asked what they were doing, and all they said is that they were dark mages. That was good enough for us."
"You guys okay now?"
"Two mages aren't gonna keep me down Natsu." Bacchus smirks as he finishes stretching out the soreness. "We appreciate the back up though."
"Alright. We'll see you guys around then." Natsu begins walking off until he turns back to Blues. "And Blues, I can't wait to fight you. We need to do that sometime."
Blues, at first surprised by the Salamander's words and respect for him, smirks and gives him a thumbs up.
"Wild!"
"FOUR!"

.

Everyone was sitting around the guild, doing the usual. Wendy was sitting at a table, facing outward as Levy and Laki stood in front of her, giggling about something that was said.
"So how do you think Lucy's date went?" Wendy asked as she began kicking her feet.
"The better question is, did Natsu ever run into them." Laki replied.
Levy gives a small smile. "I'm sure everything was fine.
"Hai!" Wendy hops up from her seat. "I can't wait to hear about it!"
Just then, a familiar face walks into the guild, causing everyone to stop.
"You couldn't respect the treaty huh kid?" Laxus begins walking to Luke who had just entered.
"I'm not here for trouble. I need your...your help" Luke stares at the ground, nearly ashamed of what he was asking.
Levy arches a brow as she cuts off Laxus' walking. "What's wrong Luke?"
Luke takes a deep breath, still trying to regain himself from what he was about to ask.

"Well?" Elfman poked. "Be a man and ask what you came here to ask!"
"I...one of our mages...our family members...Taya.." Erza's eye perk a bit, remembering the name of the female that trapped her in the dome. "She's been burned really badly, by Hell's flames. And...Aira can't do it by herself! So Wendy, can you please help us?"
Before Wendy could answer, Gajeel walks up beside Laxus and wraps an arm around his shoulder while leaning a bit to Luke. "How about you beg for it?! Gihehe!"
"What!?"
"You heard me! We didn't get an apology for shooting Erza. So nows a good time to beg for our help!"
Laxus sighs. "Gajeel your Phantom is showing."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry. Your Raven Tail. That's a more up to date reference."
"I don't care about that." Gajeel walks past Levy and up to Luke. "Beg for our help!"
"Gajeel that's enough!" Makarov yells out. But before another word was said, Luke was already on his hands and knees, his eyes covered by his hair. "Please...Taya might not make it if we can't help her. I know you would do anything for a guild member of your own...so please help us. I beg you!"
Everyone looks at Luke with sympathy. Gajeel stares, keeping an emotionless look, but he knew Luke was right. He waves his hand in dismissal. "Hey now...get up I was only messing. Quit making your guild look worse than they already are."
Luke makes his way to his feet as Wendy runs over. "I'll definitely help Luke! Lets go now so we can heal Taya! I know someone else who can help us as well!"
Wiping his eyes, he smiles as looks down at Wendy. "You're a saint, Marvel."
"I'll go with her. Just in case." Erza says as she steps into view again.
"She just wants to beat up Reve." Levy whispered to Mirajane as she nods in agreement.
"Thank you again, Wendy. Thank you."

.
"What do you mean you didn't plant the lacrima!?" Daityas slams his fist through the table of a bar he was sitting at in the corner, causing Ruika to flinch. Too outraged to care who was around, he turned to the bartender that was looking at the damages. "Turn around!"
"I-it wasn't me! Mithril wanted to play around and-"
"Shut up!"
Usually, no one feared Daityas unless he was actually upset, like he was now. Mithril stands emotionless with his arms crossed as Daityas walked up to both of them. Behind them, Kiora and Maggie couldn't help but snicker.
"Hey," Maggie whispered. "You really think Tayakata and Arc will join us by the end of the year?"
Kiora shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me. In all honesty, I hope they say no, so Daityas' magic circle can take that entire area down."
"Well well, what do you have against that bloody guild eh Kiora?"
"Nothing. I just wanna see things die. That's usually fun. AMIRITE MAGGIE!?"
"YOU RIGHT GIRL! YOU RIGHT!" The two females begin exchanging high fives as Sora walks in the room upset.
"You two didn't come find me!" The little girl yelled out.
"Shhh!" Kiora responded. "We'll find you later Sora damn. I'm trying to watch this!"
"Meanies!" Sora folded her arms.
"Oh wow your insults hurt Maggie, Sora."
"Fat butt!"
"Okay listen here you little shit."
"Will you three shut up!? Five minutes!? Huh? Damn!"
Daityas turns back to Mithril and Ruika. He slams the lacrima back into Mithril's hand. "Go back to the city, at the spot I told you too. And plant the lacrima, /Without/ causing attention. Do that. Please!"
"He said please, so now they have too." Sora smiled.
Kiora stares at Sora for a bit before responding. "You're a corrupt little kid, aren't you?"
Sora tilts her head and giggles at the comment.

.

(After a brief time skip) White Eclipse was in near silence. Takeru, Selene, Kairi, Kai, and Jaxon never left the window. Everyone else was sitting in the main room, quiet. Except for Skye who was giving out a small humming sound to lighten things up. That quickly stopped with Adamantine and Michio giving her a low glare.
Inside the infirmary, Reve, Erza and Nami stood to the side as Aira, Wendy, and Chelia stood around Taya.
"This better work." Reve sighed out.
"Have a little faith Reve." Erza replied.
"I have faith in Aira, it's the others that need to come through."
Erza, with her arms folded, merely sighs as she closes her eyes for a second. "Everything isn't competition."
"I know. It's about family." Erza was actually shocked a bit and confused from Reve's response, since he didn't act like a family guy. "I love everyone in my guild. And since I love them, I stay on them. They deserve the best. But the difference between us and the fairies Erza, is that I don't lie to them, letting them think they're already are the best /and / no one will be better. I tell them the truth, letting them know that-"
"No matter how much better we are than everyone, it's not about staying ahead of our opponents and competition. It's about staying ahead of ourselves." Nami finished Reve's statement that seemed to be his anthem to the guild. Reve looked at Nami in a bit of surprise as she smiled at the gunslinger.
"Didn't think any of you listened." Reve said while looking at Nami.
"You're all we got when Calium isn't here Reve! You may come off as a jerk but we know the deal. Plus Taya likes you so you must be doing something right."
"Alright." Wendy nodded. "You two ready?
Aira and Chelia nodded as the spoke in unison. "Ready!" And with that, all three of them placed their hands over Taya as the healing process began.
"They started." Jaxon called out. A bunch more of the mages gather around the window as the three girls start healing Taya.
Minutes after minutes go by. Aira's and Wendy's knees begin to buckle from over exertion. A few more minutes go by and at the same time, they both fall over, Reve and Erza catching them. "A-Almost there!" Chelia called out. The burn marks from the Hells Flames were nearly gone. Her knees begin to buckles from over exertion as well, but Chelia holds herself up as she pushes on. Finally, Taya's body was completely healed from the Hells Flames. Chelia smiles and then falls over as well, with Nami catching her. Aira and Wendy make their way to their feet. After a minute, Taya's eyes flutter open.
"Huh?" She sits up. "Where..."
"Taya..." Reve stands in relief, yet a bit of surprise that it actually worked.
"Reve.. and..Erza?"
Erza nodded. "Hai. I came here with Wendy. Her, Aira and Chelia here healed you."
"I'm..thankful." Taya slowly gets up from the bed.
"Uh! You shouldn't be moving so much so soon!"
"Heh. Relax cowboy.. I'm fine now."
"I'm sure you know who did this to you right?" Erza asked.
"We all know, Reve chimed in."
Taya's eyes lit up in remembrance to what Daityas said if she was to tell anyone what really happened.
"It wasn't him...!"
Reve turned back to Taya in shock and disbelief.
"Taya if you're trying to cover for him..."
"I'm not... It was a dragon.."
"A dragon!? Taya come on now, those things don't even exist anymore!"
"Awkward." Adamantine whispered.
"Hm?" Jaxon looked up. "You say something Adam.
"Nope."
"Believe me please.. It was a dragon that attacked me."
"So it wasn't Dait!" Kuro exclaims to himself outside the infirmary.
"Well." Erza chimed in. "I would believe it. Fairy Tail was attacked by one before. Years ago."
"Well what did it look like?" Reve asked her.
"...I don't exactly remember. It was red and orange. Bright orange really."
"Hmm." Erza rubs her chin. "Well, from my experience, dragons don't stay in one spot, so it's doubtful that you'll see it again. In the meantime, we'll be taking our leave now. Can you walk Wendy?"
"Hai."
Erza begins carrying the worn out Chelia towards the door.
"Hey." Reve called out.
Erza stops and turns back to Reve.
"Thanks for your help, but this doesn't change much you hear?"
Erza merely smiles, and then heads out the door.
"Till next time, Reve."