Thank you so much for the reviews! I had a lot of fun in the last chapter since I got to show off Cana's reinvented card magic. In case you haven't realized, she's using tarot cards.

To Lord Jaric: I agree, I wanted to write a longer fight scene but I also wanted to put out an update quickly. I'll try my best to improve the length and epicness of it haha.

To Lady La-Sara: Thank you for the kind review! I'm glad you're enjoying my story. I originally posted this not even expecting to get one review, so having 12 makes me happy :)

I just watched the Fairy Tail 2018 episode, and I also just found out about the 100 years quest manga! It's nice to see the characters again, so I was inspired!

I'm looking at wrapping this story up in 15 chapters, so we are approaching the end! I have something special planned for the ending ;)

Chapter 13

"This is my home. I will protect it along with the friends that stand beside me." Erza forced a smile as she watched the Earthland Lucy run back to the prince.

It hurt. To be without her wing was like being without her arm. She was incomplete, out of balance. It was hard to stand, but she stood as tall as she could. Magnolia was depending on her, and she would never abandon her home or her friends.

Lyon was staring right at her, a murderous look in his eyes. He opened his palm and summoned fire, aiming it right at her.

She tried to fly out of the way out of instinct, but because her wing was gone all she managed to do was turn her body and face the impact with her shoulder. She cried out as she was pushed down and slid across the ground.

"What's wrong?" The prince taunted. Another blast came her way, and she barely managed to roll out of its path.

"Does it hurt?" A third wave, and she ducked behind a weapons cart.

"Come out Erza!" He yelled. "Are you a coward?"

There had to be something she could use to gain an edge. Without her flight and her off balance, she was at a serious disadvantage. Light struck the metal behind her, and she realized she had chosen the right place to hide. Her eyes scanned the weapons cart, searching for something that would approximately be the best fit.

A bow was useless against him. The hammer looked ridiculous. But that scarlet and black sword on the lower shelf…

She grabbed it right as Lyon had come up and kicked the cart away. Weapons were scattered across the floor and she glared at the fire prince before her.

He didn't have time to register her new equipment before she swung it at him. His eyes were wide as he managed to duck.

He leaped back avoiding her strikes, and she smirked.

He grit his teeth and aimed another fireball toward her, but she deflected it with the sword. In awe she stared at the weapon, wondering what kind of enchantment had made it immune to fire.

"What? Why is that here?!"

She looked towards the tree connected to her life force and smiled. Erza was wingless, but she could do this. Her spirit gained strength from the shock on Lyon's face.

He tried again, but she shot his own magic right back at him. She dashed at the second Prince of Hearts, who steeled himself and ducked low enough to punch her in the gut with his fist ablaze.

She winced and almost doubled over, but kept her grip on the sword as he tried to forcefully pull it out of her hands. Erza was used to flying right into her enemies, taking them out in a flurry of punches and calling it a day. Hand to hand strung out combat was never her specialty, but Lady Titania would never back down from a challenge.

She swung the sword again, ignoring the burn from her injured shoulder. In a twisted dance, the dryad and the prince would swing and duck, avoiding each others blows. A fireball was deflected into a tent, lighting the camp on fire. A strike into his side, and a punch into hers. Her hair stuck to her forehead as she sweat from the heat of the flames. Regardless she would swing again, only to miss him as he jumped out of her way.

"Brother dear!"

Lyon's faced morphed into a scowl, and Erza spared a glance to see Natsu and Lucy thrown to the ground, Princess Ultear standing before them. She quietly gasped at the sight of the princess, the most dangerous of all the siblings. The tear of Ur, she took after her mother and all her evil ways.

"You're too slow, I would've been rid of that dryad already!" Ultear called out to him.

As much as she wanted to protect her comrades, Lyon was still a threat. Her eyes shifted back to him as he prepared to burn her face off with another ball of fire. He growled as it flew toward her, and she held the fire-resistant sword up to protect herself. She couldn't deflect it, and even with her heels digging into the dirt she was pushed back into a tree.

The sword fell and clattered on the ground, tears escaping as the injured shoulder that had taken the brunt of the impact burned in pain. Not to mention the injuries in the rest of her body.

"Just die!" Lyon screamed from where he stood, getting closer by the second. He lit his whole body on fire and ran at her. "I'll burn you to ashes!"

She was in her dryad form, but she felt herself getting weaker. She put her hand to the ground and concentrated on the earth around her, the earth from which she was born. The tree she had been pushed into was her tree, the gigantic tree that stood in the center of the garden. As the sun began to set, the rainbow leaves came to life, glittering in her peripheral vision. No one noticed as their glow brightened and she melted into it, leaving her human body behind.

"Where did you go?!" Lyon called out.

His anger didn't matter. Human things didn't matter, dryad things didn't matter. She could feel the nutrients in the dirt, soaking it in through her roots. The wind flowing past every leaf, the weight of every bug, the energy from the sun's fading light - she felt it all. She wasn't Lady Titania from the Fairy Tail court. She was a Rainbow Sakura.

The leaves shone in every color, red, pink, yellow, blue, and she reformed her body, stronger than ever.

Her wing was still missing as it would take more than a minute to heal her wound, but it was no longer in pain. She took a deep breath and stared at Lyon whose furrowed eyebrows shot up in shock.

She tackled him, pushing her elbow into his throat. He choked and gasped for air and tried to pull her arm off of him, but Erza wouldn't budge. Tears were forming in his eyes, but Erza's gaze remained fierce.

"K-ki…" She loosened her grip slightly to hear what he had to say.

"Kill me." He whispered.

She instantly let him go and he kneeled, coughing up blood and clutching at his neck.

"I'm not as weak as you are."

Erza handcuffed him without a fight, and dragged him to Diamond soldiers nearby. She tapped her temple and mentally called out for a link to Meredy.

"Erza! Are you okay?" Meredy asked, her voice echoing in her mind.

Her wing was gone, but she looked down at the defeated Prince of Hearts and had hope for Magnolia.

"I will be."

Lucy just stared out the window at the setting sun, feeling odd and sentimental. It was getting dark, and things weren't looking well for their side. She wondered how her partner Natsu was doing, as well as her counterpart Lucy. Those two were strong enough to handle themselves, but they weren't invincible.

Especially with Natsu's big mouth and rashness, they had undoubtedly already gotten into trouble. The question was if they could get out of it. She loved him, but he was exhausting.

It was a bold thing to claim, she thought to herself as she stared at his unconscious doppelganger next to her. But it was true. The prince had his voice, his eyes, and definitely his hair, but he wasn't him. She would love to be fighting at his side right now, as they worked well together. Even in a life or death situation, he would creep into her mind. She shooed the thoughts away as right now, she had to protect the prince and get out of here.

Prince Natsu shifted and slowly blinked his eyes open. He panicked when he saw the increasing darkness of the carriage and his limbs tied together.

"Lucy! Where, what, h-"

"Shh!" She held a finger to her lips, glancing at the front of the carriage. She doubted he was heard, but it was better to be careful.

"You passed out trying to protect me, which I thank you for. But we were captured and brought to Prince Lyon's camp, where Princess Ultear found us. Now we're in her carriage being held as prisoners as she takes us to who-knows-where. She said it was her job to 'take care of' Lucy Heart and you, but she took me as a replacement."

He tried to reach for her hands, but it was awkward with the thick rope in their way. He still grasped them as best as he could and bowed his head. "I sincerely apologize. You shouldn't have gotten caught up in a war that's not yours."

"What? No way, I'm a Fairy Tail mage. That's what we do- we help people. Plus, I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be." Lucy assured him.

He shook his head. "That's noble of you, but it's all my fault. If I wasn't so weak, I wouldn't need a bodyguard and Lucy wouldn't have to send you with me. She could've done her duties, and I could defend myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I passed out after using so much magic because my body can't handle it."

"Why?"

His gaze was sad, and he chose to lean back and look out the window instead. "I was born with a rare disorder called Magic Deficiency. I've trained to increase my stamina, but there's a small limit to the amount of magic I can use at a time before hurting myself."

Lucy gasped. Magic deficiency… she had never heard of such a thing on Earthland. She couldn't imagine not being able to use magic as freely as she did. If she couldn't summon even a single spirit without passing out, she wouldn't be able to live her dream as a mage. As the prince who lived in the public eye, she imagined Natsu felt immense pressure to be as strong as his father. Without being able to meet those expectations, anyone would feel weak.

He smiled sadly. "So you see, I'm useless without her or anyone to take care of me. I passed out because I was reckless, and now we're here."

"Don't say that!" Lucy shout-whispered. "I was the one tasked with protecting you. If anything, it was my fault we were caught because I wasn't strong enough. Don't blame yourself for something you can't control!"

The carriage halted before the prince could reply. From what she could see out the window, they were in the forest and far from the castle.

A Hearts soldier opened the door to reveal Ultear standing there with her arms crossed. The soldier directed them out of the carriage and they were forcefully thrown to the ground.

"Enjoy your rest, your Highness?" Ultear mocked. The prince just stayed silent.

She couldn't reach her keys, but maybe Natsu could get them for her. They'd have to be discreet about it though.

They were at a cabin in the woods. A couple of horses were tied to a post and the carriage remained where it was. Natsu's eyes widened when he saw where they were. "This was the safehouse we were heading to."

She looked around. "So we were doomed from the start." Princess Ultear and her men had taken over the safehouse on the inside, setting up their own equipment and even sleeping bags. It was larger than it seemed, and a couple of soldiers stopped drawing on a map to bow to the princess as she walked in.

"As you were men. Please send a messenger to my mother and tell her I've captured the prince and Lucy's look alike, but I have no idea where the real Lucy Heart is. I also haven't received word on my mother's progress."

"No messengers have come this way, Princess. We understand that she is still on her way or already at the throne room."

"Very well. I'd like to be alone with these two."

The soldiers shared a look with each other. "O-of course, Princess." They scrambled to get out of their chairs and leave them alone. Lucy heard a horse whinny as the messenger (presumably) rode away.

As Ultear was occupied, she nudged the prince.

"My keys." She mouthed.

He looked for them, but shook his head.

She raised an eyebrow at him, but he mouthed, "Not there."

"Scheming already?" Ultear said. Lucy froze as Ultear's blood red lips curled up in a smile, holding up her keys.

"I suppose you're looking for the- ow!" The keys clattered to the ground. They had burned brightly and shocked Ultear, and Lucy smiled as her spirits defended themselves from their realm.

She flopped to the ground and tried her best to drag the keys to herself with her handcuffs, but Ultear scowled and kicked them away.

"Don't test me!"

The keys weren't that far, Lucy tried to crawl to them, but something in the air changed. Her head was pounding as the space around her shifted and grew.

Suddenly Natsu was a hundred feet away, and her keys were right behind him. Their eyes met, and she gestured behind him. Ultear stood next to him and laughed as the space changed again, the keys suddenly even farther away than before.

"What is this?" She said.

Her head was killing her, a pressure so immense building in her skull that she was sure it would explode.

"Space-perception manipulation. Do you like it?" In one step, Ultear had somehow walked from Natsu to her side. She didn't understand as the sight before her was confusing. Ultear was only taking a step at a time, but somehow moving large distances with each one. Natsu and her keys felt like they were on the other side of the world.

She shut her eyes tight, trying to block the pain in her head. Ultear laughed and she heard her own keys rattling around on the floor. It didn't sound so far, but when she looked, Ultear was kicking them around so far away.

Natsu didn't seem affected by it, as Ultear was focusing her magic on Lucy. His eyes shifted between the girl in pain and the princess torturing her, desperately trying to find someway to help. Lucy wondered if he even could, as he had probably run out of magic just from creating that hammer of ice earlier to save her. Could she rely on him again?

Without her keys she couldn't use her magic. Even if Loke passed through his own gate, Ultear would just use her magic on him as well. Her world spun as Ultear continued to manipulate the distances in the cabin. Lucy became dizzier by the minute.

Still, if she continued to distract her while in pain and she ignored Natsu, then the prince might be able to do something. He seemed to come to this conclusion on his own as he silently got on his knees then stood up, Ultear laughing all the while.

Lucy had to believe in him. He got into a familiar stance, one Gray used for flurries of small objects. But he hesitated, still staring at Ultear walking around and Lucy clutching her own head in pain.

"You can do it!" She cried.

Before Ultear could turn to see him, a small hailstorm spawned from Natsu's palms, pelting Ultear all over. The princess wouldn't be defeated with such a simple move, but it gave them enough time for her to stop manipulating Lucy's vision and for Natsu to kick her keys over to her.

He was out of breath as the move took a lot out of him, but he didn't pass out and smiled widely. With his new found strength, he tackled the princess head on as she growled.

"All right Natsu!" She cheered. Ultear scowled at him and pushed him off.

"Enough!"

Before she could face her wrath on Natsu, Lucy summoned Taurus who apparated in front of her, and knocked her away with his axe. Ultear crashed hard into the cabin wall, knocking over several carts of equipment and the map the men were looking over earlier. She had actually broken through the wall and landed right outside.

Lucy changed into Taurus' Star Dress and cracked her whip, tying it around her ankle and planting her face into the ground.

"You're amazing!" The prince exclaimed, and Lucy blushed at the compliment.

Full of adrenaline, she could see Natsu Dragneel in the energetic prince and half expected him to say he was "all fired up." Instead he just smiled and took another stance to form something big while Ultear was down.

"Be careful! I know you're excited, but-!"

Lucy stared in shock as Natsu formed an ice cage over Ultear. He fell to the ground, but once again managed to not pass out. Lucy ran over to him worried, but found his smile to be contagious.

"I can't believe I just did that."

"You're not as weak as you say you are, your Highness." She smiled.

Smoke began to come up from the cage as Ultear clutched the bars. Her clothes were tattered and ripped from being thrown about like a ragdoll, and her hair was messy. With red stained on her face, she looked like a monster as she heated up the cage and her body exploded in flames. She cried out as the cage around her melted away.

"Did you really think it was over?" She taunted.

"Right - she's a master of two magics." Natsu's smile fell, and Lucy quickly summoned a second spirit.

Loke stood beside her with Taurus, the prince sitting on the ground in front of them.

Lucy felt a familiar headache as Ultear warped the space around them and stood in front of her the next instant, her full body no longer on fire. Still, she looked like a demon with black makeup melted around her eyes and she punched Lucy with her fist lit up, and she was sent flying backwards, her cheek burning. That would surely leave a scar.

The world was turning again, and she couldn't judge how far her spirits really were.

"Lucy!" Loke tried to run to her, but it seemed as if he was miles away and would never reach her.

She watched as Taurus tried to shield Natsu from a fireball, but ended up knocked over instead. Natsu was free and about to face Ultear's wrath completely, but Loke hit her with the full force of Regulus.

Her spirit and the princess fought each other, flame versus light, and Lucy sent Taurus back.

In reality she was sure she was close, but her perception was that she was far. Far enough away that a bow and arrow would be effective…

She changed into Sagittarius' Star Dress and made eye contact with Natsu. He nodded, and she reached for the arrows of starlight in her quiver and loaded the bow.

Loke wouldn't be affected by these, but she gestured to Natsu who then got out of the way.

"Star shot!"

Shooting stars rained in the sky, all heading right for Ultear. Like a supernova she glowed bright as the arrows all converged on one point and she tried to protect herself by burning her body again.

She screamed as the arrows wounded her, and when the spectacle was over she was left on her knees. Without a word, the Princess of Hearts fell to the ground. Exhausted, Lucy dropped the Star Dress and closed Loke's gate.

The prince just stared in awe. Lucy offered her hand and helped him stand up.

"We beat her, thanks to you. The strongest Hearts sibling, just like that." He said.

"I didn't do it alone. It was thanks to you and my spirits."

"We better get to the throne room. That's where Ur is, and most likely my father is too."

"Then let's go. I have a feeling this will be hardest battle yet."

I usually don't do an author's note at the end but I wanted to avoid spoilers. Can you guess what sword Erza is using? It's from an actual armor set Erza Scarlet has!