Chapter 79 – Inevitable End
Hey guys, here's the next chapter again. I'm still pacing with every 3 days for an update, if not so 4, so estimates for this story's end is maybe early August.
Guest Valvrave: I know Acnologia had no part in the canon, which is why I'm making this change with a very powerful twist.
Natalie: I'm working small bits at night with One's Road to Remembrance, but it'll be up soon. As for this story, I already stated that this will end at the end of the GMG Arc. No Tartaros Arc, sorry. And get grammar right in reviews, that's what irritates me.
With that out of my way, back to the reading.
To Recap:
Nic's group is split up, dealing with the Garou Knights individually, whereas Natsu and Nic dispatch Kama, and Vanessa and Wendy defeat Cosmos with the help of Mega Venusaur. They all meet up with everyone again and head for the exit. Hisui is found out by Darton then of her plans and implores her to stop, but she says an advisor knows the future and continues with her plans. Gray and Chelia confront the other, and Erza fights Kagura, much to Mavis's shock from error in her calculations. A manipulated Minerva arrives and a three-way battle erupts, and all three were equal, resorting in Minerva to use Millianna as a hostage. Elsewhere, Nic and his group find the exit, only for the doors to reveal someone they never saw coming – another Lucy and Nic. Far away, Acnologia responds to a familiar energy and flies off for revenge.
Chapter 79 – Inevitable End
Everyone in front of the cloaked Nic and Lucy were by no means glad. They were just confused, baffled with anticipation and confusion swarming their senses. Natsu couldn't think straight as he stared between the cloaked Lucy and the Lucy right beside him.
"How are there two Lucys and Nics?" Wendy asked in disbelief.
"I'm sure you're all aware of the Eclipse by now, am I right?" The cloaked Nic asked.
Everyone looked at each other with some slight shock. If they knew of Eclipse, and were aware of its time-related qualities, that could only mean that the cloaked Nic and ucy had full knowledge, at least from their point of view.
"We used its powers…to come from the future." The cloaked Lucy grimaced.
"HUH?!" Everyone gasped.
"The…future?" Lucy asked.
"But wait, how is that possible?!" Natsu exclaimed. "Eclipse did this?!"
"But why? Why did you come back to our time?" Nic asked.
Future Lucy's eyes looked hazy. She didn't look so good. "We came to warn you…" She never got to finish as she fell over, with Future Nic managing to catch her in time.
"Lucy!" Natsu ran over to Future Nic's side, looking at Future Lucy's unconscious form. "Hey, are you alright?! Say something!"
Future Nic's eyes were set on her. The blonde was unconscious, but breathing, much to his and Natsu's relief. "I was afraid she would do this." He mourned.
"The heck is happening around here?" Happy asked.
"I don't know." Lily said.
Lucy stepped back, shock coming across her. 'Why would…why would Nic and I do such a thing?' She watched on as Future Nic supported the unconscious Future Lucy with one arm and looked towards the door. Her mind was still unable to grasp the gravity of the situation unfolding. 'We'd never do such a thing unless we were this desperate…right?'
Vanessa looked over to her brother, seeing his disgruntled face. "Hey, you okay?"
Nic's mind was racing faster than a Floatzel with Agility in rainy weather. The gravity of the scenario was dire if something like this unfolded. Nobody, not even himself, saw it coming. At least he was more calm than Lucy, but he was only as calm as his façade was.
He looked towards his sister. "…yeah, I'll hold."
Future Nic looked over his shoulder back at everyone behind. "We'll explain later, right now follow me."
There really wasn't much of a choice on this one. Everyone could only heed Future Nic's advice and follow him as they exited Hell Palace with a silent and despondent haze in the air.
Darton looked towards Princess Hisui, taking his mind off the games briefly. While he was focused on preserving the future, there was something not right. "Princess, there's something that boggles me. You need a Celestial Mage for your plans, and yet you threw them both into Hell Palace."
"Yes, that I did." She admitted bitterly.
"And then why'd you hinder your own plans? A little foolhardy if you ask me."
Hisui kept her sights ahead. "The truth is, I only needed their Keys. They're the only things that are required." She explained.
"Well then why'd you get rid of the as well?" Darton asked harshly. "You need to open the gates, and yet you can't do it without them."
Hisui looked towards Darton, a serious look in her eyes. "…I already did that."
Darton's eyes widened. "What?"
"Using the 12 Zodiacs, I unsealed the Eclipse Gate last night. All that we need to do, is open up the doors and step inside."
Darton's eyes returned to looking disgruntled and returned his attention towards the games. "I sure hope you know if this is a good idea in the end."
"Trust me." Hisui insisted. "It'll be worth it."
Elsewhere, walking down an open corridor, Gajeel's iron footsteps were heard through the path he took, his face contorted with annoyance. "Geez." He grunted. "One slipup and everything goes to sunder. Some Fairy Tactician the First Master is."
In his words, Mavis whimpered. No matter what, her calculations never called for Erza's three-way confrontation.
Lisanna looked to the lacrima monitor overhead showing Gajeel briefly. "This is getting intense." She said. She noticed Levy looking worried right by her side, her eyes set on Gajeel on the monitor. The worried look in her eyes showed that Levy was watching super carefully with high hopes.
Lisanna smiled. "Hey, don't worry. Gajeel is a Dragon Slayer." She encouraged. "It takes a lot to keep them down, remember?"
Levy's nerves eased up a little. "Yeah…good luck, Gajeel."
Gajeel felt a strong Magic from behind. Curious, he turned around and saw someone he didn't expect. Rogue stood there, glaring at Gajeel with no backing down. Gajeel smirked. "Well, well. Looks like we got ourselves a little bug; pesky now are we?"
"I'm afraid I am no match for Nic Pularis." Rogue said. "So you are my primary target, Gajeel."
Gajeel looked satisfied. "I think I'm a little insulted. I'm not like Luminous, because I'll make you lose feeling in your teeth."
"We got ourselves a little Dragon skirmish!" Lola yelled, riling up the audience further.
Elsewhere, Laxus was charging lightning, crackling around him as a show of his intense Magic Power against Orga, who was his adversary that he came across at an intersection. Unlike Laxus, Orga was crackling with black lightning. His Magic Power equally as destructive as static raged and made hair stand on end.
"How's it going?" Laxus asked, although his tone was less enthusiastic and more mocking.
"I've been waiting for us to square off." Orga said.
"Care enough to tell about your black lightning?"
"Tch, you got brains, I can tell you know that I'm a Lightning God Slayer." Orga rebuffed.
"That so." Laxus smirked. "Betcha it ain't gonna funny knowing your butt's gonna get handed to ya by a fairy."
Erza and Kagura both glared coldly at Minerva as she had a sneer and held Millianna in her sphere, constantly draining her Magic. The wounds on the feline only added fuel to their desperation to save her from whoever took over Minerva. As far as Erza knew, it wasn't Minerva at all they were up against.
Kagura drew her sword, holding the hilt tight. "I'll only ask once. Release Millianna! I play no games!"
Minerva wasn't remotely fazed. "Oh really? Come and take her, you sad, desperate pawn."
Kagura reappeared in a blinding blur, Archenemy ready to strike as she was but a few feet away.
'She's so fast.' Erza thought.
Kagura had a swift and cold stare, but Minerva's darkened one triumphed. In less than the blink of an eye, Minerva was in the same place Erza was, and Erza was where Minerva was recently. Erza and Kagura's eyes widened in shock before Erza used a katana and blocked Kagura's attack that was meant for Minerva. The swordswomen were dumbfounded by the trick played on them.
'How can she do that?' Kagura thought.
'We switched places?' Erza thought with equal shock.
Minerva turned away from the quarrel, walking off. "Here's the game – last woman standing. You two settle it out, or to the death, however you see it fit. I'll take on the weakened winner."
"You dare run away from a fight you intervened?! You dare call yourself a 'queen'." Erza taunted as she was still in her stalemate with Kagura.
"Silence pawn. This is my board you're playing on." Minerva reminded her, still walking off. "A true 'queen' controls the pawn through mastery of the battlefield. She puts the pawns in place and readies her enemies' downfall. One doesn't obey to power alone, so force is what drives all." She turned back towards the two woman who glared at her, making her smirk widen. "If anything, you should be honored that I chose a strategic regrouping. I now see Milady's powers and body can only wield and handle so much against capable foes."
"Let Millianna go!" Erza demanded.
Kagura's glare darkened like a feral tiger ready to pounce. "Don't you dare…" She growled, catching Erza by surprise. "Don't you dare treat her as an ally!" She overpowered Erza and headbutted her, making the redhead stagger back.
Minerva waved her arm, making Millianna vanish along with the orb and replacing her spot with one her size. "It seems you both have some personal matters to deal with. I'll leave you to figure them out."
"I accept your terms! Just let Millianna go!" Kagura pleaded.
As Minerva slowly stepped towards the orb, a maniacal chuckle came from her. She shook her head. "No." Her chuckling increased. "No." She broke into a laughter of pure sadistic behavior as she vanished inside the orb, leaving Erza and Kagura to themselves.
Erza reminisced in 'Minerva' and her sadistic behavior. "Whoever she is, she's got up in a tight bind."
Kagura looked back at Erza, her focus set onto her. "Silence!" Kagura bellowed, her eyes darkening. "I don't talk to prey, I cut them down."
In the mountains, Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy were all in a grimace contemplation of sorts.
"I'm afraid we misunderstood our chances on this one." Jellal said. "There's only one joke that I see in this, and that's our fates were sealed."
"Future Lucy explained the situation, and what she said does leave us very little time to prepare." Ultear pondered. "But…"
"What about Future Nic? Did he say anything?" Meredy interjected. "Jellal?"
Jellal sat on a rock, his face contort with grimace as there was no plan, and what bothered him was that when he was given the situation by Lucy, there was something that was wrong.
"Nic was as silent as the night." He said. "That could mean something he knows but refuses to share."
"Well why wouldn't he tell us a possibility?" Meredy asked.
"Perhaps it's for security. Perhaps he thinks overloading us with plans and solutions when they can be changed in the timespan we have will only hinder us."
Ultear looked towards the Domus Flau colosseum, her hair whipped by the passing grim winds. "And yet…he holds a power, a power of a God if I am not mistake. If he came back with Lucy to warn us, wouldn't you come to think something else is in the works here?"
"You really believe that?" Meredy asked.
Jellal remained silent, his doubts notified. There was truly something the works, but he couldn't tell himself. Future Lucy's prediction was bad enough as it was, but Future Nic was a mystery, and that's what left Jellal to believe Ultear might not be wrong. Whatever Nic was hiding, it may determine everything.
The air shifted in between Erza and Kagura as their eyes met, never looking away from the other as their swords were up.
"It's time we settle this." Erza challenged.
"I shall hold nothing back." Kagura said.
"I'd be insulted if you did."
Erza slashed her swords and met Kagura's but the redhead struggled and faltered back from Kagura's swing pulling through. She backflipped while going backwards and got her ground again. She requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor and dashed ahead with twin swords set.
"Pentagram Sword!" Erza's swords crossed and made pentagram pattern. Kagura evaded the attack without much movement when jumping. She ended up above Erza with her sword aimed down atop of Erza.
"Archenemy: Strong Form!" Kagura brought her sword down like a mighty hammer, bringing it down onto Erza. The impact was so immense that the ground itself gave way. Erza fell as pain made her grunt. Kagura didn't falter as she attacked again. "Slashing Form!"
"Requip!" Erza shifted her armor to the Adamantine Armor. She put her shield together, but to her shock, the shield sliced into two, and Erza ascertained a few cuts.
"That's insane!" Romeo shouted. "Not even the Jupiter Cannon could get through that armor!"
Makarov stared at the screen with uncertainty. "So powerful."
Erza tried to hold in the pain she felt as she and Kagura fell downwards.
"Persistent." Kagura admitted.
Erza requipped again into her Flight Armor. She dashed around the falling rubble and used them as stepping stones, reappearing in front of an upright Kagura. "Sonic Claw!" In a fast and vigorous frenzy, Erza slashed and passed Kagura. To her shock, Kagura didn't seem hindered by the damage taken from Erza's attack.
Erza suddenly felt a cutting pain that made her lose the grip on her katana, howling out pain from the cuts she got in a flash.
"She's faster than Erza's Flight Armor?!" Warren exclaimed.
"Oh no! Erza!" Lisanna yelled in worry.
Erza crashed and broke through the ceiling and laid amongst rubble established. The structure she was in looked very much like the inside of a cathedral. Giant pillars were scattered all over, having intricate vaulted ceilings above. Kagura landed in a crouched stance, looking sharp as Erza was covered in cuts and bruises in her clothes she was force-requipped back into.
Makarov's eyes were wide with devastation. "Erza's being beaten in a swordfight?!" He gasped.
"This wasn't in my calculations at all." Mavis grimaced.
"And Kagura struck down Erza! Titania is completely at the mercy of Mermaid Heel! The woman who took on Pandemonium all on her own is completely overwhelmed!" Lola announced.
Erza couched as she struggled to get up. Kagura eyed her wearily as the Fairy Tail Mage panted from the fatigue accumulated from the blindsided attacks.
"I'm surprised. To think such power is here too." Erza said in between labored breaths. She coughed again and looked up at Kagura, huffing. "Such hatred, it all comes from your grudge against…Jellal."
Kagura's eyes showed distaste. She kicked Erza in the ribs hard, sending her into a pillar. She walked towards the redhead and glared down at her as she struggled yet managed to sit up.
Erza wiped the blood from the sides of her lips. "Go right ahead. You can channel that hatred into strength all you want." She looked up at Kagura dead in the face. "Just leave Millianna alone! She doesn't deserve this path!"
Kagura, instead of responding verbally, swung her sword into Erza's face, slamming her into another pillar.
"You know nothing." She said angrily. Her eyes were dark and insincere. "No matter what, my will is this: I will kill Jellal!"
Erza coughed and sat up. "What drove you to this vendetta?"
Kagura looked at Erza to find her gaze was absolute. Whatever lengths were gonna be measured, Erza was gonna get it, so Kagura may as well deliver.
"You really wanna know?" She started. "The man who passed his will down to me, the will that was all I had of him, it turns out you knew him all too well."
What she said next had so much venom that she was like a poisonous mermaid who'll drown her victim. "The person Jellal took and killed was Simon…my brother!"
Erza's eyes slowly widened from the disbelief that hit her ears. When that name hit her ears, she remembered Simon well. She remembered him from long ago, but more sadly, his death. "You're…his little sister?"
"Our family was poor, but we were happy with who we were." Kagura told as she reminisced in her young childhood. A small rundown home of old wood, with a small kitchen with Kagura and Simon smiling happily. "That happiness was then stolen from us." Her sweet memories turned into scorching blazes as children were running away from the mayhem, and what transpired was bitter death for the adults. "My home was victim to the child hunts. My village was burned to the ground, with myself being the only one who made it out. I was lost, and thus I swore to find my brother, no matter how long that may be. I met Millianna, and that's when I learned the horrible truth."
Erza looked down with her hair covering her mournful gaze.
"Simon had been killed by Jellal. All these years; he's been captured, tortured, enslaved, and then murdered. I lost everything, and now I have nothing." She held up Archenemy. "That's when I took a new vow, the vow that I shall avenge Simon, and kill Jellal when the time comes. Until then, Archenemy shall remain sheathed."
Erza felt a drop in her heart as she couldn't resist the recollection of the bittersweet memories. She should have never been so reckless back then. She remembered how Simon fell before her, and how made forced Nic to promise to protect her, and how he passed away with his breath gone, but with a smile.
"Millianna was wrong." Erza said.
Kagura's eyes glared daggers. "What?"
"She wasn't there to see it." Erza added on. "The only ones there were Jellal, Simon, Natsu, Nic, and me…" Her eyes began to mist as she thought deeper with mournful sorrow. "Jellal may have played the hand that ended Simon, but his death wasn't by that…" She looked by at Kagura, tears pooling down her face. "I'm to blame."
Kagura's eyes dilated at Erza, her blood pressure rapidly boiling an accelerating to extreme levels. Her anger was greater than it ever was. "You…you dare protect that killer?"
"I'm sorry, but it's the truth." Tears dripped down from Erza's cheek. "If I wasn't so reckless and weak, your brother would still be alive and well today."
Kagura held onto Archenemy with a shaking hand. Her entire body was shaking with incredible rage and a torrent of bloodlust. Her lips quivered as she was uncontrollably beginning to do the unthinkable.
"Kagura! No!" Arana yelled.
"Think about what you're doing!" Beth yelled.
"You wanna kill her?!" Risley yelled, but all of their calls fell on deaf ears.
Kagura's dilated eyes were shuddering and saw nothing but red. Her heartbeat was fast and loud. Each beat had a different memory of her better, pre and post-death. The more she thought, the angrier she was. Her untamed gaze was down to Erza, and all went to hell.
Kagura let out a primal scream of anguish and despair, one bellowing of goosebump-rising pitches and tone. Her sword unsheathed in a violent flash, swinging at Erza as her head hung in shame.
"I'm so sorry." Erza apologized before all went wide.
While Future Nic was supporting Future Lucy, the present Nic suddenly stopped and turned around. A strong shiver went up his spine, as though something terrible happened. He looked back with a suspicious gaze to the dark ceilings. 'Erza.'
A bright flash traveled down the city, slicing up everything in its path. The locations hit were all sliced into two. The entire city rumbled from the shockwaves of Archenemy being unleashed.
To all that were beyond astonished, the vaulted location they were fighting was sliced along the ceiling, debris falling continuously. To Kagura and Mermaid Heel's disbelief, Erza was standing and blocking with a single sword to match Archenemy.
"How did she block Kagura's Archenemy?!" Beth yelled in disbelief.
"Unbelievable." Arana muttered.
"That's impossible!" Risley yelled.
Kagura backed away, her grip tight enough to crush bone. Erza glared her down.
"Simon saved my life…" She started. Slowly requipping into her sarashi and hakama pants, wielding a single blade. "As did Grandpa Rob, and so many of my friends risked their lives, as did the love of my life." Her sword pointed at Kagura. "If I give up now, I'd be dishonoring everything they've done for me. Their love gives me my strength."
Kagura's teeth gritted. "You're a coward, like Jellal! I'll kill you both!" Kagura let out a battle cry as she swung Archenemy down again, only to be matched by Erza's sword again.
"If anger and hatred is what drives you, then so be it!" Erza deflected Archenemy and took a big leap, flying over Kagura with her sword back. "But my love from everyone shall never be my downfall!"
"You and I will never see eye to eye then!" Kagura lunged at Erza, Archenemy ready to strike. "Titania!"
Both woman let out a cry and they met in the middle. Both swung their sharp swords and passed the other. Time slowed down as Erza went through with her assault, and Kagura felt a strong pain. Kagura faltered in the air and lost balance as Erza landed with both feet and her sword in a slashed motion.
Kagura gave off tears of shock that fell with her. 'But…how…?' She landed with a thud on her back, her sword in her loose grip.
The crowd went nuts as Erza had won the duel. They all gave cheers and awed at the shrilling display made.
"And Kagura is down! Erza had bested her, coming back around from what seemed to be a match of sheer fortitude!" Lola commentated.
"That was truly a match for the history books." Yajima smiled.
"That was awesome, pumpkins!" Mato exclaimed, jumping up and down from his seat.
However, Mermaid Heel was another story.
"Kagura lost?" Arana looked on mournfully.
"Even with Archenemy unsheathed." Beth said.
"But how?" Risley said in disbelief.
Erza huffed as her strength was exhausted. She looked back at Kagura as she was struggling on her hands and knees.
Kagura coughed. "I will…avenge Simon…"
Erza heard rumbling from above. She looked up and saw some debris falling. Their battle caused a great deal of collateral damage, which devastated the domain they were in, and the roof gave in and debris fell, heading straight for Kagura.
"Look out!" Erza warned as she rushed ahead of a stunned Kagura.
The rock crashed down, scaring the audience as dust bellowed all around. The structure stopped quaking, and the crumbled mound settled.
Kagura was safe, pushed out of the way by Erza. Unfortunately, Erza was nowhere near lucky. She clutched her teeth in pain as her right leg was crushed beneath the weight of a rock.
Kagura looked on in deep confusion and shock. "But…why?"
Through the pain in her ankle, Erza smiled. "I know…I remember, your face." Kagura's eyes widened and a gasp escaped her lungs. She stood up, nearly ready to fall back down.
"I don't know you personally, but I do remember, meeting Simon's little sister…on that night."
"Then…" Kagura's surprise never stopped mounting. "There's no mistaking it."
"Yes." Erza told. "Like you, my home was Rosemary Village."
Rosemary Village, a once quiet and peaceful village that was now nothing but fire and bloodshed. Everywhere was an adult corpse, the ones that the masked men killed for the thrill, and so no one would dare oppose them.
Through the fires, a little Kagura was looking around, scared. "Big brother? Simon?"
A sudden hand grabbed her wrist, though it wasn't Simon's. It was a girl with red hair. "Come on, this way!"
Kagura didn't have any place to say. "But, I have to find my big brother!" However she heard adults from a distance, and resorted t turning into an alleyway, where the redheaded girl placed her inside of a box.
"I'll find him, just stay inside, and don't come out." She said.
Kagura sniffled. "But, what about you?"
The redhead looked into the partially open lid, revealing her brown eyes of Erza. "I'll be fine, just stay alive."
Kagura whimpered with sadness as Erza closed the box, keeping Kagura safe while she dashed out of the alleyway to divert attention towards herself. The adults all saw her and ran after her, eventually catching up and seizing her to enslave out of misery.
All while Kagura was accompanied by silence.
Kagura clutched her hand over her mouth. Archenemy dropped to the ground as shock and remorse flooded her thoughts. When she looked at Erza, she matched those eyes. It was no doubt her. Tears pooled in Kagura's eyes, hiccups and tears falling over her hands to the ground as she found her past savior.
"Simon talked a lot about you." Erza continued. "He hoped that you were healthy and safe, and now…here you are."
Kagura's hands dropped to her sides. She had just involuntarily wounded the woman who had changed her life, and more importantly saved it from so long ago. She swallowed and managed to hold down her sadness and tears as she lifted the large rock atop of Erza. Erza crawled out, and Kagura threw the rock aside. "I…I need time for all of this to sink in." She managed to calmly say. She stood upright, looking at Erza at her feet. "But for now, I give this victory to-!"
A sword pierced through her back and straight through her stomach, the blade coated in her own blood. Kagura felt shock and agony purge her gut of all that was sound.
Erza's face was sprinkled by Kagura's blood, as Minerva was back, and stabbed Kagura. Kagura fell over, much to the horrors of all. The audience couldn't even look at Minerva again.
"You may have won, Erza, but the points belong to me." Minerva said, a dark vibe radiating from her. As she foretold the board heed her words and made the score to 54 points, putting Sabertooth back in the lead. Minerva smirked maliciously as Erza's shock slowly boiled into anger, Minerva threw Archenemy away. "You see, Titania, this is how a queen controls the game. She has the simple-minded pawns duke it out, eliminating the weak and leaving the stronger pawns at the mercy of me. A queen gets her pickings of the best cuisines, and nothing else shall suffice. Nothing. I like a severed mermaid and a wingless fairy for example. Such fine meals for this famished tiger." Minerva maniacally laughed down in her superiority.
Erza shook in boiling rage. "Damn you…you of all people will pay for that!" He growled.
"I doubt that, I doubt that very much." Minerva showed no concern. "That leg wound only adds to my point, though you're welcome to try."
Kagura coughed blood as her body was shaking uncontrollably. She was unstable, and she teared up as she was an enraged Erza.
"Millianna…" She said weakly. Erza looked towards her. "You have…to save her…"
Erza looked back ahead. "I will, count on it."
"Millianna…oh, that street feline? Hmph, take the furball and squabble." Minerva made a green orb expand in her hand, and it spit out Millianna, who was lying on her stomach an unresponsive.
"Millianna!" Erza exclaimed.
"As you can see, she's already incapacitated. Another point, I demand it!"
The scoreboard changed from 54 to 55, putting Sabertooth ahead of Fairy Tail by 4.
Erza ran over towards Millianna, turning her over to look at her tortured and wounded friend. "Millianna! Millianna!" Erza held as she held the cat in her arms.
Millianna's eyes weakly opened. "Erzy? Is that…you? Thank goodness…" Her eyes shut again, her conscience fading.
"Millainna! Snap out of it! Come on…" Erza's hands felt something on Millainna's back. It was wet and fresh as it felt. Erza moved her hand to see. She gasped in sheer horror and fright as her hand was covered in blood. "What?" She put Millianna on her stomach and removed her cloak. Her back, from top to bottom, was blood marks, scrapes, and deep lacerations. "What the hell is this?!"
"I was growing bored, so I played with my new pet." Minerva answered devilishly.
Erza was looking down, her blood at a point where it was beyond boiling. Her breaking point was almost met, and Minerva finally pushed her over the edge.
"I can still remember her harsh screams. I just love them so much that I could've done it till she went dead."
Erza snapped. Her pupils dilated to where they were small, and of a feral animal. She was past furious, for she was in a blind rage. No matter who was inside of Minerva, Erza's mind replayed that last part, and thus made her vendetta to crush whoever Minerva was now.
Gajeel turned his head, seeing Rogue reappear and then disappear into shadows. Gajeel was unmoved as Rogue reappeared behind, a smirk on his face. He was about to attack when a hard fist uppercutted his abdomen, causing Rogue to gawk from the contact.
Gajeel didn't give any momentum away. He morphed his arm into a column of iron and he shot it at Rogue. He scored a hit right in his face, landing another few heavy jabs of the column all around him and finishing with a harsh blow to Rogue's chest, sending him in a slide back, shock never ceasing to mount as Gajeel had him on the defensive and unable to keep up.
Gajeel retracted his column and seemed disinterested. "Well this got boring in a hurry. No wonder Luminous stomped you in the dirt so easily." He turned away. "Quit wasting my time, kid. I'm outta here."
Rogue watched Gajeel walk away He needed to keep his attention, no matter what insults were to be thrown.
"You don't scare me. Rogue protested. "You're not as strong as Natsu Dragneel or Nic Pularis."
Gajeel stopped in his tracks, a grim silence falling before him. Rogue had just crossed the line, and he saw that when Gajeel slowly turned back, a darkness on his face, along with veins sticking out. "The hell you say?"
Laxus kept his smirk set on Orga, his lightning crackling still. "Sorry pal, but second best is all your lightning's gonna be."
"Those are some bold words coming from a fairy." Orga challenged.
"You know, there's always someone better than you. Having you eat gravel is a good way to learn." Laxus told, his smirk never losing momentum.
"Oh yeah?" Orga clutched a fist, black lightning beginning to concentrate into a solemn area. "Try me, punk! HRAH!" He punched forward, sending a vicious torrent of black lightning that traveled across the ground. The attack went past Laxus as he kept his smirk, not bothering to look back as the wave of black lightning crumbled the building behind.
"What's the matter? Scared?" Orga taunted.
"Come on, you and I both knew that you weren't gonna actually hit me." Laxus held up a fist cloaked in lightning. "You have a ways to go in the art of intimidation. HRAH!" Laxus punched forward, sending a blast of lightning that traveled across the land past a smirking Orga, as his attack missed on purpose. The lightning obliterated a row of buildings at once, leaving a crumbled path.
Orga's brow raised. "Some lightning." He admitted.
"There's plenty more from where that came from pal." Laxus clutched his fist again and lightning surged. Orga applied black lightning to his fist and both rushed forward with booming roared. Their fists collided, and lightning and black lightning crackled and quaked the atmosphere and earth around. Thunder boomed and the shock from the attack went up, making a tower of black lightning and casual lightning that could be seen from miles away.
Their fists reeled back, sneers on them. Both were looking even and they stepped back.
"My, my." Another voice called out, sandals hitting the gravel. Laxus and Orga ceased their confrontation when they a third party enter, and his voice was what left then uneasy.
It was Jura, the Wizard Saint.
"Mind if I join you?" He asked.
"Jura?" Orga questioned with heavy shock.
As to where Orga was surprised, Laxus kept a smirk. "So, the monster has arrived. This is gonna be interesting."
"Ice-Make: Sword!" Gray made a sword of ice and swung it, hitting Chelia and pushing her back with a slash mark on her arm. To his suspicions, Chelia's wound immediately healed.
"Man this sucks." Gray said. "It looks like I'll just have to hit you harder! Ice-Make: Arrows!" Gray fired a dozen arrows made of ice, but this time Chelia jumped and flipped to avoid the attack.
"Sky God's Boreas!"
"Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!"
A geyser of ice shot up and met Chelia's whirlwinds. Scattered fragments of ice raged in a tempest and both Gray and Chelia were taught in the tempest of raging black winds and chunks of rock-hard ice. Gray slid back, as to where Chelia fell on her side.
Both got up, having more than a few scratches. Gray wiped the dirt on his chin. "Man, Lyon's guild doesn't mess around."
"Why I'm flattered, Gray." A voice said.
Gray looked behind Chelia and saw someone approach. Chelia showed more surprise than Gray as she turned towards the recognizable voice.
"Lyon!" Chelia cheered.
Another figure appeared behind Gray. "Mind if I pitch in some?"
Gray turned around, seeing who had the voice. "Sophie!"
"My, my, Gray. It seems Chelia's healing abilities are giving you quite the hassle." Lyon taunted.
"Well that was just a warm-up. Now this is where things get good." Gray clutched his shirt. "Sophie…" He ripped off his shirt. "Let's put these clowns out of commission!"
While still fatigued and banged up from battling against Rufus, Sophie didn't show any reluctance as she stood by Gray's side, her eyes set on Lyon and Chelia. "I'm with ya all the wall. We'll make them remember this!"
While watching the monitor, Juvia had a dark aura. Everyone around her leaned away in astonishment as her grip broke off part of the balcony.
"My darling's teaming up – together – with Sophie?!" She screeched, tears running down her face as her scary look intensified. "That should be me with my love! Gray, my darling, don't you dare leave me for my love rival!"
"I thought her love rival was Lucy?" Romeo questioned.
"What is she going on about?" Cana questioned.
Thanks to Future Nic's guidance, everyone managed to make it out of Hell Palace and made it into what seemed to be a massive dining area. The sides were lined with portraits of royalty and past descendants. With them having a new scenery of fancy ornaments rather than dark green halls, the guys all decided to take a break and rest Arcadios and Future Lucy on the floor.
Natsu looked grumpy. "This sucks."
"It's just one maze after another." Loke said.
"Master Makarov and the guild must be worried sick by now." Lily said. "We need to find an exit and fire the signal flare."
"Not to mention tell them of Eclipse and of the Future Lucy and Nic." Carla pointed out.
"I say we barge through their forces no sweat!" Natsu suggested with a toothy smirk.
"We can't, we have injured with us." Wendy explained.
"And let's not forget that we're still in the Grand Magic Games." Mira reminded them. "This is a sponsored event by the King. If we take out their forces, we may be disqualified."
"I think that ship sailed when we took down their executioners." Lucy groaned.
Yukino looked down, guilty. "I wish I could've been more help." She said.
"None of this is your fault." Vanessa protested softly. "This has nothing to do with you. We came to rescue you because you didn't deserve this treatment by authorities. Don't put any of this onto yourself, okay?"
Yukino softly smiled and nodded.
Future Nic looked down at Future Lucy as she was still unconscious. Nic looked at his future self, wary of how he seemed mellow compared to Future Lucy, who was just grim and sad. There were so many questions that needed answers, but he knew better than to charge in with questions. Given what it took for Future Nic and Lucy to come to the past, there must have something that transpired that left them traumatized.
"Listen, guys." Future Nic said, surprising everyone, including Nic himself. "I can understand you're all concerned and wondering what brought us to such extremes. Please, just here us out…"
Future Lucy's eyes opened up slowly, getting everyone's attention. "Where…?" She began to falter before Future Nic managed to support her again, using his arms to sit her up.
"Hey Lucy?" Happy asked. "You feeling better?"
Future Lucy's eyes opened up again, still as sullen as can be. "Where are we?" She groaned.
"Relax, I led everyone to the dining hall. For now we're recovering." Future Nic explained softly. "You need help getting up?"
Future Lucy looked down again, meaning yes. Future Nic supported her left arm and hoisted her up until she finally managed to stand alone on her feet.
"Lucy, can you recall anything?" Nic asked.
Future Nic looked towards him. "I'll start her off, if you don't mind. She needs some time to recall." With a nod from the present day Nic, Future Nic nodded in understanding. "After we came back in time, our first task was to keep you guys away from the Rune Knights, but we weren't so worried on that part."
"What does that mean?" Happy asked.
"I think I know." Yukino said. "You have Nic and his Pokémon to take them all out, correct?"
Future Nic nodded. "As I recall, but the circumstances didn't change. This palace is still crawling with them." His eyes narrowed. "But we must press on with explaining."
"After we escape the Rune Knights, we all end up outside. We were guided to the mountains…" Future Lucy said, finally making herself clear. "We watched it all unfold, how our nightmares came to fruition."
"What do you mean 'it'?" Happy inquired.
"Nightmares?" Lily asked. "Is the future really that despicable?"
"What made you guys travel back in time anyway?" Vanessa asked. "Something must have happened, and your auras are telling me it's not a good thing.
Future Lucy began to shudder, beginning to break down again. "To…to change it." She answered.
Future Nic looked at Future Lucy as she grimaced at the bitter memory. Nic, however, was still wary of how his future self was so calm. Maybe to keep Future Lucy's morale up?
"What happened?" Natsu asked. "What was so awful, so despairing, that you had to escape back in time to change it?"
Future Lucy's head dropped, a dark aura being so potent that Vanessa was starting to grow goosebumps. Finally, the vicious truth was revealed.
"In the future…a swarm of 10,000 Dragons will attack the kingdom. The castle will fall, the city will burn…and countless lives will die."
A wave of still horror flushed over everyone. What they heard, they never expected to hear in a million years. Hell was gonna break loose, and Nic was just as mortally shocked as anybody else. His spine crawled with horror as the image of endless Dragons open fired on the kingdom, reducing all to ashes.
No one could hold down a lump. Lucy was caught with shrilled terror from her future self's prediction, something she could never believe.
"Dragons…10,000?!" Natsu shrieked.
"WE'RE GONNA DIE!" Happy shrieked.
Mira clutched her arm. "More than 10,000 Dragons?"
"But I thought excluding Acnologia, they were all extinct." Yukino said.
"You think…this has something to do with that Dragon grave?" Wendy asked.
"I was wondering that myself." Carla admitted.
"It's a strong possibility." Lily agreed.
Lucy turned towards Loke. "Do you think we can sense that many Dragons?"
Loke put a hand underneath his chin. "It's possible that we couldn't because they're laying low, waiting for the right time to strike."
Natsu miraculously had dozens of arrows in hand and a soldier's helmet. "Well no time like the present! We gotta start fighting back right now!"
Vanessa shook her head. "We're over our heads. That's a tall order."
Future Lucy's eyes widened as she heard her friends talking of her prediction. This struck her as bewilderment. "You guys…actually believe me?"
"You lying?!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Of course not." Future Lucy said. "I would never lie to you; I couldn't. I'm just surprised is all."
Natsu looked towards her with what was a serious face. "You're one of us. We can never lie to each other, meaning we always have faith in your words."
Future Lucy's eyes softened as she softly smiled.
"You really need to put your act together future me. That's what friends are for." Lucy said with a grin.
Future Lucy snickered. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm surprised that I'm lecturing myself."
Grins were lightening up the mallow mood, but Nic's grin faded when he got a realization to befall onto him. He looked towards Future Lucy, his face giving some worry.
"Lucy, you said we fled to the mountains." Nic said. "But in the end, what happened?"
Future Lucy jerked up at the question, all relief washing away. Everyone saw her frown return, more grim than ever. It was never a good sign.
"Wait…" Lucy said.
Yukino looked down. "It can't be…"
Happy looked like he was gonna cry. "Are we all really…gonna die?"
Future Lucy's head lowered once more. "Only a handful of Fairy Tail was the only ones who made it out. Nic and myself were the only ones who went through the gates…" Her eyelids shut as they misted up. "We left them all behind…to…"
Nic looked down, looking short of any good. "…I see." He couldn't imagine a life without his sister, or Erza. When his gaze was towards Future Nic, Nic saw that he had his head down, shadows covering the despair of having to leave his sister and Erza in the future to fend and perish. It was an unholy fate that left Future Nic to mourn in grief, his eyes hazy with having to deal with the scarring memory.
"We ended up here, July 4th." Future Lucy said.
"Hang on." Mira said. "Today is July 6th, that wasn't even three days ago."
"Is it possible that the Eclipse Gate can only make small jumps into the past?" Loke wondered.
"We're not sure. We knew it was meant to travel four centuries back to kill Zeref, but whether it was broken or not wasn't our concern. Nic and I ended up here in this time period, that's all."
Against the wall, Arcadios opened one of his eyes, feigning unconsciousness. 'Now it all makes sense. These two warned the Princess.' He thought. 'But something's not right. Why would the Future Lucy lie to her friends?'
"Once we take an underground route, we have to make it outside the city to rendezvous with Jellal." Future Lucy added.
"How is he involved?" Natsu questioned.
"I explained the situation as best as I can. I'm sure he has a plan of sorts." Future Lucy hoped.
"Why not have Nic come up with one?" Wendy asked.
Future Nic remained silent as he instead looked towards Future Lucy.
"To be honest, the gravity of this is one we can't pull off. We needed help." Future Lucy said. "I'm sorry."
Everyone frowned as they saw how desperate she was. Nic looked at both the Future Nic and Lucy, seeing one despair while the other grimaced in his own little world.
Arcadios was having his ears open to the conversation. 'Just as I thought.'
On one night, around a few days before the Grand Magic Games, in the dark hallways was where Arcadios was led by Princess Hisui.
"I'm sorry, Princess, but did you say future?" Arcadios inquired.
Hisui nodded. "Yes." She stopped, presenting herself and Arcadios to the large Eclipse Gate towering above. "But hear me out." She asked. "They foretold that there was another way to use the gate, it's known as Eclipse 2."
"Eclipse 2?"
"Yes. Over the past seven years, we've been building up Magic Power from the participants to manipulate it into energy for the Eclipse 2. As of now, we have enough Magic, enough to rival Etherion."
Arcadios's eyes widened. "You mean…Eclipse 2 has enough Magic Power to rival the sacred light of the Magic Council?! But a single Etherion blast can wipe out an entire nation." He recalled with shock.
"We shall then use that power as the core of Eclipse 2…and wipe out all of those Dragons in one blow." Hisui showed solid resolute, and Arcadios felt that.
Arcadios thought of that as he kept his eyes set on the group before him. 'This doesn't make sense. I know I pondered about this before, but why would she go so far as to lie to her comrades? They have to be the ones who told the future to the Princess…right?'
Future Lucy looked sadder than ever. "I'm so sorry you guys. I know we should've come to you further…but we didn't know what to do. Please, forgive us."
All had frowns still, but two managed to grin through the darkness. The mouths of Nic and Natsu showed those two grins.
"Lucy." Nic said. "You did what you could. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Huh?" Future Lucy wondered.
Natsu's grin was her attention now. "Buck up. Nic's right. Thanks to you, we know now what to expect." He knelt down to her, staring right into her eyes. He gently placed a hand on her head, and slowly leaned down. His eyes closed as she smiled wider than before.
Future Lucy's eyes widened when she felt the warmth of Natsu's forehead against her own. It was like a wave of a thousand suns purging the darkness.
"Thank you Lucy, you risked your life to warn us." He said. "We're gonna save the future, just you wait."
Future Lucy's eyes began to tears up from happiness, and everyone smiled happily at Natsu's declaration.
Nic's smile never faded. "We'll find a way, no matter what…" His eyes still looked towards Future Nic, who was smiling at Future Lucy being cheered up.
Through her entire speech, not once did Future Nic say a word…and that was something that left Nic on the brink of hidden dread.
Gajeel towered over Rogue as he was on his hands and knees, panting and huffing from bitter exhaustion. He was given a heavy beating from Gajeel, and thus he got what came to him.
"Man, my ears must be playing tricks on me." Gajeel taunted. "Cuz' I could've sworn you said I wasn't as strong as Natsu or Nic."
Rogue was huffing, unable to find his feet. To Gajeel's confusion, Rogue started to chuckle.
"Must have knocked a few of his screws loose." The Iron Dragon Slayer figured.
"No, that's not it…" Rogue kept his head down, ceasing his chuckling and frowned. "I always wondered why you joined Fairy Tail. I think I know now."
"Oh yeah? Let's hear it."
"You probably don't remember, and I don't blame you because it was such a long time ago." Rogue continued. "When I was a kid, I was no more than a snot-nosed punk, who always had the biggest dream of joining Phantom Lord."
Gajeel's eyes widened.
"As a kid, my biggest dream was to grow up and join that guild. Unfortunately, it never came to pass." His head drooped lower. "Phantom Lord was defeated, and disbanded after losing to Fairy Tail…but more importantly, I learned that the true cause of their downfall was by the defeat of Jose against Nic Pularis and his Greninja. He ruined my dreams; that's why I pursued vengeance."
'So that's why this guy's been after Luminous.' Gajeel figured.
"Then when it came to you, you chose to join Fairy Tail afterwards. I was completely heartbroken. You joined one of the most despicable guilds, the one that destroyed Phantom Lord and housed the ringleader of its downfall. I was completely lost, but deep down there had to be a reason why." Rogue finally managed to smile to the ground. "But I think I see now. You wanted friends." He realized as his fingers pressed against the cement blocks beneath. "Friendship means nothing in Sabertooth. All we were was our Master's soldiers, and if we were defeated, he'd make us pay. I don't know what being in a guild means because I have no friends; I don't know what I've been fighting for this whole time. Your guild's bonds is what gives you guys strengths, that's why we couldn't measure up. The only one who was trying to push us in that direction was Milady, and she's the strongest in our guild."
Gajeel stood there in silence over Rogue's speech. There was a time when he really was like Rogue, someone who pummeled his way through without thinking of others, but when he joined Fairy Tail and started interacting with others, he mellowed, and actually felt the cold in his heart turn into a warm sun.
He snickered. "Dumbass."
"What?" Rogue shot Gajeel a look.
"That's the biggest load of bull I've ever heard." Gajeel leaned in, towering over Rogue. He smirked, much to Rogue's confusion. "You got a friend, I can tell. That little frog."
"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch exclaimed.
Rogue got back to his feet, agitated. "Frosch is a cat!"
"If you want technically involved, he's an Exceed." Gajeel's grin didn't leave his face. "Right?"
Rogue stood and pondered over Gajeel's words. The more he thought, the more he managed to realize he was right. He did have a friend, and it was Frosch, who's always by his side, through thick and thin; through better or worse; through night and day. He smiled at long last. "Yeah…you're right, Frosch is my friend. Thanks for reminding me."
Gajeel nonchalantly smiled, making peace with Rogue.
"Rogue."
Rogue's eyes widened, hearing a voice that sounded much like his own. He looked behind, but no one was there.
"Face forward." The voice told. Rogue as told and looked at Gajeel. "He is your enemy."
"Who are you?! Where are you?!" Rogue demanded.
Gajeel looked confused. "Uh, you okay pal?"
"Rogue, you must fulfill your destiny. You must and will kill Gajeel."
"Who are you?!" Rogue demanded louder.
"You fool. Look down."
Rogue did as told again. The Magic he was feeling, it's what has made him shudder. This feeling, it was cold, and yet so close that he could almost touch it. His eyes shook as suspense made his eyes slowly falter and see his shadow, but his shadow was no ordinary shadow…it was darker, and not normal in any way. Rogue stared in deep distraught.
The shadow had an evil eye, and a demon-like smirk. "I can give you power. We can crush him together, for he stands in our way. All must fall before us."
Rogue was feeling his body and mind go numb. A darkness was flooding into his system, making him feel no control. He grunted and clutched his teeth as the pain flared from the foreign, more foul Magic Power. The pain could be seen clearly by Gajeel, who seemed a little unnerved.
"Hey man, you alright?" Gajeel asked.
Rogue could no longer gold on as the malicious shadow crawled into his body, springing up and entering his skin. Rogue let out a horrific scream as his mind was lost, and all went blank.
In the next second, Gajeel was slashed so hard and so fast that he never saw it coming. He slid along the ground, startling the audience.
"Gajeel!" Levy yelled.
Gajeel got to a knee and shot 'Rogue' a look. "Alright, what's the big idea."
Rogue was much different. His Magic was more potent than ever. His Magic was enhanced so much that he was in Dragon Force. Black markings were all over his body, and shadows sizzled off his body. A dark smirk was on his face, one full of hatred and evil. "This is the power we now wield. With it, we can crush anyone. Let us strike down Gajeel without further hesitation."
Gajeel's eyes were wary of the energy shift and speech pattern. "Who are you?"
"Who am I? I am a shadow." Rogue answered. "A shadow that controls destiny, and will reshape the future into my image."
"Now what kind f nonsense is tha-!" Gajeel was cut off when Rogue disappeared into shadows and reappeared a second afterwards, kicking Gajeel in the face and sending him back. Gajeel got his ground and was smirking. He was gonna get serious. "Okay pal, we'll do it your way."
"I thought they made amends? What happened?" Romeo asked.
"Come on, Gajeel!" Levy cheered.
Gajeel morphed his arm into a sword. "Iron Dragon's Sword!" The sword extended out at Rogue, but the tip never made contact as Rogue became shadows and coiled and traveled around the sword. His shadow form whipped around and engulfed Gajeel in a shadow-like whirlwind.
"Shadow Dragon's Waxwing Flash!" A torrent of shadows sent Gajeel flying. The Dragon Slayer screamed as the shadows hurled him up and into the ground behind Rogue.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted in concern.
Frosch looked at the monitor, frightened. His tail was stiff with dread. "…Rogue…"
"First Master, what's going on?" Master Makarov asked.
Mavis looked at the monitor, feeling a great force within Rogue. "He's been possessed by someone, or something." She spectated some more as all saw Gajeel throw a kick, but Rogue disappeared in shadows and reappeared all over the lace, smashing Gajeel with a boot to the face or a slash from his shadow-cloaked hands. 'I sense an incredible evil from within.'
Gajeel shook his head and looked around. "Where'd he go?"
"Look behind you."
"Huh-?!" Gajeel turned around to find his shadow slithering and shortening, revealing Rogue hiding inside and lunging out with a fast flurry of assaults.
"Shadow Dragon's Slash!" A flurry of bullet-fast punches socked Gajeel as he tried covering up, but the power was just too great and he shot backwards. Gajeel never found his feet on the ground as Rogue then reappeared behind and dealt a kick to his back, sending shock through him and tumbled into the ground.
The dust settled, and Gajeel slowly struggled. He grunted as he held his arm, facing Rogue.
"Rogue was right. You're nowhere near as strong as Natsu or Nic." Rogue said, his smirk widening. "Not that they can best me anyway."
Jellal's eyes widened as the sun was setting. The waters near the sea were swaying ominously with his thoughts of impending devastation. "You feel that?"
"That Magic Power." Ultear confirmed. "It's so powerful."
"Yeah, I can feel it from here." Meredy said with caution. "What do you think it is?"
Jellal looked out at the city, where the energy was confirmed. It was dark and erroneous, which made him think of Zeref. "Whatever it is, as long as the Future Lucy and Nic are with Nic's group, they should hold out." Even so, the concern he had was too high. Whatever the energy was, it was evil, and growing.
On the sides of the walls were huge statues with staves held out. The hallway was long, and everyone in Nic's group was trying to make it out. Trailing behind, Yukino was kept in the tail, before the two Nics that is. She seemed distressed.
"You okay?" Nic asked.
Yukino looked down as she ran. "Yeah, I'm fine…"
She looked over her shoulder, and Nic was there. Nic was looking at Yukino dead in the eye. He could tell when something was wrong, and knowing him, Yukino knew he wasn't going to have the matter slide if it was stressing her this much. The more he looked at her, the more she felt conceded.
"It's like everywhere I go there's misfortune. I feel like I'm nothing but a walking disaster." She admitted. "I don't deserve to be around anyone if all I ever bring is misery and anguish. Ever since I was little, people just seem sad. I'm sorry." She was gonna turn and part ways as it seemed, but when she tried, Future Nic was there.
The way he looked at Yukino was the same way Nic was looking at her. "Yukino, it's alright. You remember what Vanessa said before. You're not at fault; and even if it was, we'd never blame you."
"But-" Yukino was cut off by Nic.
"My future self is right. There can be good, there can be bad, but you can't expect us to play the blame game. We're not like that, and you know that. Everyone has a purpose, no matter how big or small. My purpose may be seen as grand, and whoever out there may see their purpose a greater priority, but however the consideration stands, you have a purpose, and it's your responsibility to see it as a gift."
Yukino stared at Nic and then Future Nic, both looking at her with the same soft look of confirmation, absolute with their words. Yukino's eyes mist as she ran, feeling her confidence back up again.
"Here's the exit!" Future Lucy shouted from up ahead.
They all followed her and finally made it out of the dark hall and finally into a fall fit for the palace, with large windows. Everyone turned the corner, but to their surprise, a large horde of Rune Knights stationed were running towards them with weapons.
"Rune Knights?!" Future Lucy shrieked. "I swear, I didn't know they were here guys!"
Future Nic didn't seem as overwhelmed as Future Lucy. "No matter, neither did I, but we have an advantage."
Natsu stepped ahead, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah, this will be a piece of cake. You ready to go, buddy?"
Loke adjusted his tie. "Hell yeah, let's say we rough em' up some."
"HRAH!" In unison, Natsu and Loke both jumped and brought down waves of light and fire, creating a large explosion that sent the whole wave of troops ahead of them flying back.
Lucy pulled out a key. "This is gonna be tough. There's a lot of numbers!"
Yukino pulled out a key of her own. "Yes, but I'm sure we're more than up for it."
Mira used her Take-Over, turning into Sitri. Her devilish smirk was as gruesome as can be. "I'm through with these clowns. If they want to keep us from our friends, they're in for a world of misery." In a flashed, she zipped through a multitude of men at once, knocking them all down.
"Open: Gate of the Maiden – Virgo!"
"Open: Gate of the Fish – Pisces!"
Two Magic seals were shown, and out came Virgo on the offensive. The troops were knocked down by Virgo as she punched surprisingly hard, adding momentum from her chains. Pisces erupted from their Magic seal, and they knocked guards down like bowling pins as they swerved around and scared a lot of them.
"Reinforcements, move in!" A guard yelled.
"For the Princess!" Another yelled.
From behind, a countless array of guards all rushed in. Wendy used her Magic and swiftly sent guards soaring, with help from Loke and Natsu adding to the fray and throwing guys into others and knocking them down like bowling pins. Lily added into the assist with his Battle Mode and slashed his huge Musica Sword, knocking down a large group in front. Mira was holding up by blasting darkness at a large group.
Future Lucy was back to back with Lucy, and the same with Nic. Future Nic and Nic both glowed and shifted into their Toxic Plate Form. They both stood at one side, and the other looked at another side.
"Sludge Wave!" They both yelled in unison. Both were cloaked in dark purple sludge, and without hesitation diverged and swamped the incoming men at once. Waves of dark purple flushed like waves, making men get hit by one another and incapacitated by the attacks.
Future Nic and Nic both jumped up, seeing the groups far away that weren't hit by Sludge Wave. They landed with silver light converging into their palms, expanding and filled with toxic energy. Two massive and heavy garbage bags were seen, and they were filled with venomous contents.
"Gunk Shot!" They hurled the Poison-Type moves in opposite directions, hurling them down the halls and unleashing powerful purple explosions. The explosions were so powerful that the hallway shook and the lighting flickered. The windows caught in the explosion even cracked some.
A guard stepped back from far away. "Wha-?! They're so powerful!"
"Hurry and get every guard in the sectors here! We need more power!"
"The only way to beat them is by numbers! Get em'!"
Nic narrowed his eyes. 'They want to use numbers. Overwhelming, but…' He glowed, shifting into his Spooky Plate Form. "It won't suppress us."
Future Nic glowed and shifted into his Meadow Plate Form. "We have help that can lay waste."
"And they will never fall to numbers alone!" Both Nics declared.
As she watched Pisces go to work, Yukino realized something. She turned around and saw that someone was missing. "Wait…where's Arcadios?"
Gajeel was held by one hand and choked by Rogue. The shadows were burning up his neck, numbing his breathing. The audience watched in fright as Gajeel was completely tattered and worn out, his sleeves torn off and vulnerable.
Rogue chuckled maniacally. "To think I looked up to you. How pitiful."
Levy watched with tears in the corners of her eyes. "Stop it shadow, or he'll die!" She pleaded.
Running down a corridor, Frosch's little feet made haste as he escaped the tunnel to go and get Rogue. His large eyes were filled with wavy tears. "I gotta get Rogue back. He needs help."
Rogue dropped Gajeel to the ground, his body plopping like a sack of bricks. Shadows gathered from all around and pooled beneath Gajeel, slowly commencing to consume him. He watched with a smirk as Gajeel was vulnerable.
"Soon there'll be nothing left of you. This world shall be cleansed, and it'll all start with you sleeping in eternal darkness." He said.
However, his smirk changed into a frown when he saw Gajeel smirk.
"Heh." Gajeel snickered. "If Salamander can do it, I can too!" To Rogue's bitter shock, he watched as Gajeel took in a heaping breath, and the shadows began to dive into his mouth and body. The Magic Power was piling on, and everyone watched with astonishment as Gajeel was eating the shadows. Gajeel's body was cloaked in shadows. He began to stand up while chuckling.
Rogue stepped back in slight horror. "What have you done?!"
Levy's hands were covering her mouth. "He…ate the shadows?"
"So, this is what Dragon Slayer lungs can withstand." Makarov observed.
Gajeel's body was getting darker as he stood up, hazardous shadows fuming around him. "I don't who you think you are, but you better leave Rogue."
"And why would I do that?" Rogue inquired.
"Tch, you think you'd learn more about the guy before you go and possess him. His name wasn't Rogue, it was Ryos, a sibling student."
Rogue's mouth opened at the mentioning of his old name.
"You can say you looked up to me, but you know as well as I do that was a flat-out lie." Levy and everyone watched with more shock as Gajeel's iron skin came a dark silver, and his eyes lost pupils. "Be honest without yourself. You didn't look up to me, you were afraid of me. I'm not that kind of guy these days, but perhaps I need to remind you…" His smirk was catching Rogue with overwhelming dread. "Just how terrifying I am!"
"No way…" Rogue said. 'He ate the shadows, becoming…an Iron Shadow Dragon!'
"I never knew this was the power of Gajeel." Makarov admitted.
Mavis looked on with the same expression of calm surprise. "I have to admit, even I never saw this coming."
"I never would have believed it if I had never seen it." Freed commented.
"HAHA! Gajeel is like a monster!" Bickslow stated with excitement.
"Although he did have that kind of quality." Evergreen grinned.
"Now this was a real turnaround! Gajeel's become an Iron Shadow Dragon!" Lola commentated. "Mr. Yajima, what are your thoughts?"
"Dragon Slayers are beyond predictable. This fight can go either way." He said.
"Still, Rogue is a Third Generation, against Gajeel, who is a First Generation Dragon Slayer, pumpkins!" Mato countered.
Rogue regained arrogance and grinned. "Impressive, but no match for me."
Gajeel was still for a moment before he lunged at Rogue. Rogue swiped at Gajeel, but was shocked when Gajeel disappeared into thin shadows.
"He vanished?" Evergreen figured.
"No, he became a shadow." Freed corrected.
Rogue looked around to locate Gajeel. "You're a copycat, using my Magic against me!" In the corner of his eyes, he saw a long shadow stretch and crawl. "There-!" He turned around with shadows in his hands, but was left baffled when Gajeel didn't appear. "What?!"
Gajeel's shadow form was upside down and behind Rogue. He fired a column of dark iron that slugged Rogue in the back, causing shock to flow through him. Rogue stumbled forward and felt a change of tactics. He became a shadow and slid along the ground. Gajeel sneered as he followed after him, turning into shadows again and racing along the path to catch up.
"This is a fight os shadows?!" Bickslow exclaimed.
"I can't see." Evergreen huffed.
Everyone watched in shock as the lacrima-vision showed the two shadows clash, bouncing off the other and still trailing along the ground. Even the spectators were at a loss for what to say or what to make of such a fight. They could only watch as the shadows trailed, with one being faster than the other.
The shadows raced along the rooftop, keeping up with one another. Suddenly an iron arm reached out of one shadow and grabbed hold of the other shadow, slowly revealing Rogue being dragged out of his shadow.
'He pulled me out of the shadows?!' Rogue thought in disbelief.
Gajeel's upper body came out of the shadows and slugged Rogue with a bone-cracking left hook. Rogue was falling back when Gajeel didn't let up and clenched a right fist and slugged him so hard that the roof gave in. The rupture was so massive that dust could be seen from the rooftops. The roof blasted open and debris went wild. Rogue fell with the debris, but as he hit the ground, he became a shadow and maneuvered safely away and down the path,
Gajeel landed and his body became a shadow again. He zipped right after Rogue, moving far faster than him and grabbing his shadow's head. He pulled Rogue out once more, leaving Rogue startled and unable to comprehend as Gajeel had his head in his clutches.
'Gajeel, he's more powerful than I imagined!'
"Get lost!" Gajeel threw Rogue right through the ceiling, leaving him suspended for him to attack. Gajeel's cheeks puffed. "Iron Shadow Dragon's Roar!" Gajeel opened his mouth, unleashing a blistering beam that was beyond optimal. The attack soared into the sky like a large cannon that could be seen from miles away. Rogue's scream of pain were unheard through the roar as the shock was louder than thunder.
The audience heard the soundwaves raged all throughout Crocus, and the commentators were at a loss for words. Rogue fell straight down with the small gravel, falling onto his back, defeated. Gajeel's Iron Shadow Dragon Mode faded, turning his skin and eyes to normal. He looked back, huffing.
Levy's eyes teared up from amazement at how Gajeel pulled it off.
"T-that's it! That's the match!" Lola yelled, with the audience cheering. "Winner! Gajeel!"
"R-Rogue lost, pumpkin!" Mato shouted in disbelief.
Yajima crossed his arms and smiled. "That's was very impressive to say the least."
Gajeel stared at Rogue's unconscious form. He heard a low chuckle that echoed, which made him grow curious. "Huh?"
"So this is the power of Rogue as of now." The shadow said. "Expectations are well noted." The shadow escaped Rogue, and along with it the maniacal laughter. Gajeel watched the shadow creep away from Rogue and up a column, away from the scene.
His eyes narrowed as the shadow escaped. "The heck was that?"
"Please, no more!"
Gajeel looked down, seeing Frosch standing to protect Rogue.
"No more! Don't kill Rogue!" He pleaded with teary eyes.
Gajeel stared at Rogue's buddy, seeing the desperation in his eyes. With a low grunt, Gajeel got to a knee. "Relax, the fight's over, and that ain't my style."
Frosch eased as Gajeel backed down.
"Frosch." Rogue called weakly.
Frosch turned and ran up to Rogue. "Rogue!" He cried. "I was so scared!" He got to his knees and sobbed as Rogue smiled and pet Frosch's head.
"It's okay. I'm fine." Rogue assured.
"Hey." Gajeel called out.
Rogue looked to see Gajeel roughed up a little. He immediately winced and laid back down. "Wait…what happened? Why am I in pain?" His eyes looked to the open ceiling, his thoughts hazy. "Did I…lose?"
Gajeel looked at the confused Rogue. 'He doesn't remember?' He looked down at the sunset, seeing the sun go down. 'That shadow, who was that?'
"That battle is one people will be talking about. That's a given." Mato said.
"A battle for the history books, that's for sure." Yajima said.
"Yes." Makarov commented. "We're on a winning streak now. We're at 52 points."
Mavis looked at the screen, recalling the image of that shadow leaving. That shadow. Such an incredibly evil power. Something's set in motion here, but what?'
Here's the next chapter. I didn't leave too big of a cliffhanger, but the action and suspense I put into this chapter was worth it. I will finish up the Grand Magic Games next chapter, and many other things yet to happen. It's after the Grand Magic Games that enormous things will happen.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys loved the battles, escalating climax, and the foreshadowing.
Next Time: War