Chapter 81 – Past & Future Collide
Hey guys, we're drawing near towards the end, and so thanks to all who've been reading up to now.
Guest Valvrave: Honestly I can't really tell anymore between colonel and kernel. When in doubt, do what I do and blame society.
Burstroc: Sorry, not all Legendaries are gonna partake.
Not much longer left, but I'll keep going until the finale is reached!
To Recap:
As Nic's group fends against the Rune Knights, Laxus takes on and defeats Jura, as to where Sophie and Gray used a Unison Raid to defeat Lyon and Chelia. Erza unlocks the Nakagami Armor and finally knocks Bellona out of Minerva's body and dispatches her. After eliminating the Rune Knights amongst them, Future Nic tells of the real future, beyond Future Lucy's time; a future where Lysandre, hence known as Ragnarok Lysandre, destroys the universe alongside the Dark Legendaries. To prepare for the biggest battle they may ever have, both Nics and their Pokémon head back to their world to gather troops. Meanwhile, Team Fairy Tail gather to battle Sting, but Sting surrenders and Fairy Tail wins the Grand Magic Games. Sting is then reunited with Lector with tears and smiles. Mavis, while satisfies, gets a dark feeling looming around, and Arcadios realizes that Hisui and Darton headed off to ready the Eclipse Gate.
Chapter 81 – Past & Future Collide
"And just starting from a last place start, Fairy Tail just won the whole thing!" Lola announced. "Just listen to the crowd's approval!" The audience kept cheering on at the spectacular show and finale.
"Well done, Makey, well done indeed." Yakima smiled.
"W-wow! They really won!" Mato exclaimed. He looked around, hearing footsteps behind. "Huh?"
Behind him were soldiers who nodded as confirmation.
As Sting continued embracing his dear friend, all of the defeated participants looked up at the monitors and smiled. Though down for the count and some laying on their backs, they didn't feel at all upset. They never experienced nor anticipated such a comeback before.
"Fairy Tail has come a long way from its two teams established that were competing against the other." Lola commentated, with Yajima following his lead.
"Yes, this year's games were beyond extravagant, and set a high precedent. Even without Nic Pularis or Natsu Dragneel, the team had its act from the start and showed us a deal of spontaneous and immense fortitude."
"I most certainly agree. And what about you, Mato…Mato…?" Lola turned to find the seat beside Yajima empty. "Uh, he's gone?"
"Oh? Perhaps he had to use the restroom or something." Yajima shrugged.
The moon was high above everyone's heads, and it was full, though the stars in the dark sky gone made things balance out somewhat. With Fairy Tail still cheering on for their victory, the team established still in the gardens had smiles on their faces, proud of the events that transpired.
"Guess that's a wrap." Gajeel said.
"That just leaves the celebration if I remember right." Sophie said.
Gray looked towards Erza. "Hey Erza, how's your leg?"
"It's nothing I can't handle. A few days of rest and it'll be good as new." She said with a grin.
Laxus seemed to have a twisted face. "You know, aside from the calm-headed demon fighting light as we call him." Laxus referred to Nic. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's weird not getting any hollering from you-know-who."
"Yeah, this a change of pacing." Gray admitted.
"He'd run our ears off after all of that." Gajeel grunted.
Unknown to them, as Sting and Lector calmed down, they began to overhear.
"About right." Erza's grin turned to a frown. "By the way, did anyone know if they shot the signal flare?"
Laxus got wary as he turned his head away. "Nope, but I've had my eyes out the whole time, well unless you count Jura knocking me down to the ground."
"I didn't see one either." Gray said.
"I ain't worried." Gajeel told them. "Knowing our Salamander, he probably just forgot to shoot the damn thing. Of course Luminous is a different story."
"Signal flare?" Sting wondered.
Lector looked towards Sting, confused. "What are they talking about?"
"Don't know." Sting looked at them, worried. "Excuse me…"
Gajeel glared over, getting all agitated with Sophie holding him back. Lector hid behind Sting from Gajeel's angry demeanor. "Oh I know you're not talking to me punk! Scram!" He yelled.
"Calm down!" Sophie grunted as she tried holding Gajeel back.
"Sorry, but…" Gajeel and everyone turned towards Sting, seeing the worry on his face. "Where's Natsu and Nic? Why weren't they here today?"
Team Fairy Tail frowned and remained silent.
Lector walked up to them, worry back on his face. "A-are they okay?"
Gray looked back at Mercurius with a blank stare. 'You guys, please be careful.'
Rune Knights that weren't mercilessly pounded by Nic and his teams were outside Mercurius, where they had transported the massively huge Eclipse Gate above ground. They were beneath the full moon, which began to show slight hints of red, but not much of it was noticed. Hisui was leading men and giving orders in her fur-lined robe, her attire still elegant but somewhat combative. As she gave out orders, harsh clanging was heard thoroughly to all ears. Hisui took significant notice and turned to see a figure approach from the shadows.
The figure was none other than Arcadios in the White Lily Armor. "Princess."
Hisui had a big smile on her face. "Arcadios, it's you!" She sounded so overjoyed. "I knew you were alive."
Darton's eyes widened from shock as Arcadios stood before him. A sense of guilt ran over his face as he took a step forward. He cleared his throat to speak formally. "Colonel Arcadios, please forgive my actions of sending you into Hell Palace. It was but a misunderstanding on my end."
"You did as you thought right. I hold no grudge." He answered bluntly. He turned towards the men all gathered. "As for the men here, are they informed of Eclipse 2?"
Hisui nodded. "Yes, I took liberty and told them the details. The rest of the forces and everyone else will have word soon spread out towards them. And hopefully that included the Garou Knights as well." She saw Arcadios look back at her, his gaze steadily through the intimidating armor. "The time traveler's prediction of the Games ending, it came true. It means, we have no choice but resort to Eclipse 2."
"Princess, so if I'm to understand this, this means you've abandoned our first plan to go back in time and defeat Zeref and Acnologia?" Arcadios asked.
Hisui shook her head. "No, I'm still wishing to do that, but right now we must focus on the more imminent threat that'll fall on our shoulders."
There was a long silence as Arcadios stared down at Hisui, one that left Hisui uncertain as to Arcadios's reluctance. The knight reached for his sword and clutched the handle. He slowly pulled out the sharp blade, Hisui's eyes shuddering out of deep shock as her startled image reflected off the shiny, sharp blade. She feared what would be her end.
"Colonel!" Darton retorted. "What are you-?!" He was cut off when Arcadios gave the sword to Hisui. It was heavy. She and Darton looked at Arcadios with heavy question.
Arcadios held the blade and positioned the tip to his neck. "A true knight trusts and follows his master's words without question. This code I swore my life to live by. I am bound to put my faith in you, which is why…I ask that you slay me, Princess."
Hisui's eyes shuddered from horror at the ominous request. Darton and the soldiers gathered were no different.
"I cannot suppress the doubt within me of your actions and choices, meaning I have dishonored my master; and so the only course I must take is death."
"Arcadios, have you gone mad?!" Darton bellowed, but when Arcadios shot him a vile look, Darton felt his spine shudder.
Arcadios turned his attention back to the still-horrified Princess. "There is still a question."
"What is it, Arcadios?" Hisui asked frantically, the overwhelming situation making her feel pressured. It was clear by the way her hands shook when holding the sword, meaning she was bitterly trembling. "What's going on?"
"I spoke with your contacts that came from the future. They have no knowledge of Eclipse 2."
Hisui gasped.
"They knew of the impending doom to fall, but the one shed tears because they could not find a way to end it before it begins."
"But, that can't be right. They're the one responsible for the instructions."
"So, you're claiming they had ignorance?" His mind flashed back to Future Lucy shedding tears when Natsu thanked her. "That's not possible. I cannot think of any single mishap Lucy and Nic would gain from lying to their friends!"
Hisui's eyes dilated with goosebumps running al throughout her body. "W-what?" Her tone was uncontrollable. "Did you say Lucy and Nic…?"
Arcadios's eyes widened as well. "Wait, what?!"
A dark and foreboding dread went around them as Hisui spoke. "The person of the future…that person was a lone man!"
Standing in the nearby mountains and looking out at Crocus, Jellal's eyes widened when he sprouted an epiphany. "I got it. I'm sure of it!"
"Jellal, what are you saying?" Ultear asked.
"All this time, and the truth was under our noses." His gaze and tone were both wary. "The Lucy and Nic from the future foretold their arrival was on July 4th, when in actuality it was before midnight on the 3rd."
Meredy and Ultear's eyes widened.
"Then that means they can't be the source of power over these years." Meredy said. "It's not likely with that logic."
"Agreed. The power was resonating from the Eclipse Gate." Jellal confirmed.
"But that isn't possible. The source is a person." Ultear corrected.
"As I am aware, and the Eclipse Gate is made from the Book of Zeref, therefore its use comes with a price. In this instance, all those who use it are traced in its power."
"But if Lucy only arrived a few days ago along with Nic…" Meredy grew uneasy.
Jellal's unsettled suspicions came to fruition. "Yes, this means that whoever used the Eclipse Gate…Nic and Lucy weren't the only ones." Jellal made haste down the mountain with no delay. "Hurry!"
The group traveled down the mountain as fast as they possibly could, hurrying towards the city. Meredy and Ultear fell behind Jellal as he led them. They all passed underneath the moon as it had red slowly inching towards what seemed to be some form of eclipse. When Jellal looked up at it, he felt worse than before. 'Whatever's set in motion, I don't think we can stop it. Lucy had a purpose of warning us, so what could this person's purpose have…and what I can't understand, is what purpose Nic has?'
Natsu scratched the back of his head. "Aw man, so what now?"
"I'm sure Nic took care of them all." Vanessa said. "I don't think we'll have to worry about reinforcements."
Mira put a hand to her own cheek. "That's Nic for ya. Pokémon powers sure do wonders."
"So, where is he?" Happy asked.
"Yes, I was wondering that myself." Carla caught on.
Lily poofed back into his little form, landing and crossed his arms. "Maybe they need to catch their breath. I mean they did dispatch nearly a couple thousand men."
Future Lucy looked in the direction Nic and Future Nic were diverged in. "We managed to avoid capture, because of them. Then we fled to the mountains, but we never got separated last time." She said worriedly.
"Maybe we should go and see." Wendy suggested.
Natsu put a hand to his stomach. "Ugh." He sighed. "Can we at least get something to eat? I didn't get anything to munch on all day."
"Suck it up Natsu. We have a world to save." Lucy chided with annoyance. "Seriously, must you think of food even in life-threatening situations?"
Yukino nervously smiled. "Well, uh, he could?"
"He does think with his stomach quite a lot, doesn't he?" Mira thought out loud.
Natsu gave a grumpy pout. "Stop picking on me!" He berated. "Anyways, enough small talk, we got those guys out of the way, now we find exit and get that signal flare up!"
Magnezone turned towards the hall in front, catching something off. It wasn't something he caught whiff of something that made his magnets spin faster than normal. But he wasn't the only one catching a ghastly whiff of something. Natsu's nose twitched when something smelled very wrong.
"Huh…?" He looked ahead, right where Magnezone was looking.
Vanessa followed the looks as well. "This aura…it's full of darkness. Something's wrong."
True to the young Pularis sibling's speculations, everyone grew anxious as what seemed to be a cloud of shadows beginning to erode from far away and advance towards them. The two Lucys took a step back with everyone else on guard. Loke moved to protect both Lucys as the cloud of shadows was giving off a powerful surge of Magic Power.
"What is that?" Wendy asked.
Mira's stance changed when they saw something move inside the cloud of shadows. "Someone's inside!"
"Everyone stay alert!" Lucy shouted.
They all remained ready as their Magic Power was low, but still ready to be used. However, that wasn't the case when they saw a certain someone walk out of the shadowy cloud that withered and dissipated away.
It was a man with a smirk. His red eyes were visible, but the left side of his face had light gray hair that reached down his waist from a ponytail; there was also black markings around his left eye. His hair was also black on the right side. His right eye was gone, and instead had a scar that went to the bridge of his nose. His attire was of a long, high-collared ferraiolo, but the part that drapes over his shoulders is very dark red, with edges in tiger-print pattern. A strap went across the chest with buttons on either end. Underneath he had a light-colored, long sleeved shirt with rolled up cuffs. Over that was a Y-shaped vest with three circles beneath the belt in front. The vest split into four pieces of cloth with four circles. He had light trousers beneath the four straps and the ensemble was complete with boots.
"The shadows transcend the past and future." The calm person spoke, his voice all too familiar and making Natsu go wide-eyed. The man stopped before the group. "It would seem we meet again, Natsu Dragneel. I've traveled quite a ways back to this time. I am Rogue."
Natsu and everyone felt their hearts skip a beat. Never did they foresee such a thing happen. Not only was it Lucy and Nic who ventured into the past, but now also another familiar sight.
"You mean that one from Sabertooth?!" Carla exclaimed.
"No way." Wendy murmured.
Future Lucy swallowed. "So, Nic and I weren't the only ones."
Future Rogue smirked at them.
The red in the moon began to become more visible. Arcadios and Hisui were doing what they could to assess what was going on.
"So let's get this straight. There were three who came from the future, two of which being Nic and Lucy. They came back in time to warn their friends of the oncoming doom." Arcadios explained.
"And then there's the man who the Princess was advised by, the one who told her how to advert that calamity." Darton said.
"Those parties have the same objectives at heart, I'm sure of it." Hisui said. "They did what they thought could save the kingdom, so we must honor their valor and warning. If the future is bad as they say, there still might be more to come." She handed Arcadios his sword back, whereas he held it with shock. "Take your sword. You'll need it for the battle that is to come. I shall draw my own blade, and take this battle on myself."
The group stared at the Future Rogue with a certain level of suspicion in the air.
"So then, care to tell us why you came back in time?" Natsu asked.
Vanessa looked on at the smirking Future Rogue, getting something tainted in his aura that left her very unpleasant at heart. 'His aura, it's a shrewd and malevolent kind. His heart is black as shadows…'
"An explanation would do wonders for us if you don't mind." Loke insisted.
"All I want, is to utilize the Eclipse." He said.
"But…what's that gonna do?" Lucy asked.
"It can save us all. All we have to do is tap into its hidden power. As you all are aware, it can be used to time travel, be it to the past or future, however grand the jump may perceive. However, it can also be used as means of an offensive weapon known as the Eclipse Cannon. That's your only chance of defeating the 10,000 Dragons."
Future Lucy looked on with slight shock. "So then…the future is salvageable."
Natsu grinned. "That makes things simple. Glad you're on our side."
"Aye! Let's kill us some Dragons!" Happy shouted.
"Does this mean we'll be okay?" Wendy hoped.
Future Rogue frowned. "Afraid not. My time comes a point where everything ceases to exist. I alone was able to hold off by means of innovation, I had to scapegoat my way and weasel back to what is the present and change what would be the future, where there is but only 10 percent of humanity left."
Mira's eyes widened. "Everyone's…"
"…only 10 percent?" Yukino covered her mouth to cover up her gasped.
"This is humanity's last chance at freedom, if not altered. I came back to reshape everything so that all shall be set free. I came back to accomplish the task of making sure the gates remain open."
"Uh, we're not following, is there something going on?" Wendy questioned.
Future Lucy looked very uneasy, and Lucy was just as scared of what may happen. Vanessa kept her suspicions on Future Rogue as his aura seemed to have a more corrosive and bloodthirsty side. She had a terrible feeling. She looked at Magnezone with a steadily gaze, a way in which Magnezone knew to be ready the moment things may seem to get out of hand. For now, they listened.
"Someone prevented the gates from opening. That person made humanity suffer the consequences, and left all but 10 percent to perish by the claws of fire-breathing Dragons, 10,000 raging beasts that swarmed and took over everything and all that were beneath them. So, I will make it a priority to end that person's life."
"How barbaric!" Carla shouted. "You resort to murderous violence to set the future free?!"
"She's right. There's no need to spill another's blood." Lily enforced.
Future Rogue didn't seem to comprehend that. "Destiny cannot be changed. It has been written in stone since the dawn of time. Even if I did persuade them, they would still end up stopping Eclipse. There is no choice for anyone. The living are scarce, and the dead are gone." His tone was beginning to spike. "The one who is the catalyst will remain so for eternity unless eradicated."
"Okay, I'll bite." Natsu spoke up. "Who is this person?"
Future Rogue's eye sharpened, and shadows made a spear of darkness in his right hand. "It's you…LUCY HEARTFILIA!"
Without warning, he drove the spear-like shadow attack that went after Lucy. The present day blonde was still in shock and couldn't even read the attack that was aimed right for her. Time slowed down as the spear went pass Natsu as he turned his back and tried to block it, but he couldn't reach it in time and everyone saw the spear slip right pass him.
Lucy was still paralyzed by the incoming threat.
"LUCY!" Natsu screamed.
A sudden teal blast and a light blue metallic orb suddenly intercepted the attack. The two-on-one collision made a small burst in the atmosphere, causing everyone to cover up. Future Lucy and Lucy both screamed as they fell backwards, along with everybody else.
Future Rogue's eye widened as the smoke cleared up. "What?"
Everyone got to their knees and looked up as they saw that Magnezone and Vanessa stood off to the side, panting as they managed to intercept just in time. They looked at Future Rogue in the corner of their eyes, both looking mad.
"Vanessa, you…" Lucy was at a loss for words.
"She saved my past self…" Future Lucy said with equal shock.
"You…" Future Rogue growled. "How did you know?!"
Vanessa's glare never left her face. "Your aura was nothing but deceit. You lied, just so you can get to Lucy and kill her in cold blood!" She yelled.
Future Rogue clutched his teeth. "I never knew a person's Magic can read aura and what came with it. You snooped me out like a weasel! No matter! I know Lucy will close the gate! It happened before…" Shadows converged into his hands. "And I know it'll happen again!"
Lucy got to her feet and looked shocked. "I would never close the damn gate! Why would I do such a thing?!"
"BECAUSE IT HAPPENED!" Future Rogue screamed. "Every choice you think you've made, IS DECIDED BY FATE!"
"SHUT YOUR TRAP! SCREW FATE!"
A sudden eruption of fire from a Dragon Slayer's fist blazed and streamed, completely cindering Future Rogue's shadows and causing him to block the flames. Future Rogue slid backwards with astonishment by how hard the force of the punch was that was by Natsu. Lucy and everyone looked at Natsu with utter shock.
"I won't let anyone steal Lucy's future!" He declared. "Not while I'm here!"
Future Lucy's eyes began to mist. "Natsu."
"You tried taking Lucy from us. You say she's gonna end humanity; you say that, but I know she would never do such a thing!" Natsu berated harshly, his flames erupting in his fists. He sounded angrier than before, as Vanessa could feel a protective aura within his flames. "I'll turn everything you say into ashes!"
Loke turned towards the two Lucys. "We have to get out of here."
Lucy looked worriedly as Future Rogue glared at them viciously. Her attention was on Natsu. "But…"
"Loke's right. We have to get away from him. He's after you, so we've gotta protect you." Yukino insisted.
"Hurry, let's go guys!" Happy ran with the Exceeds, and the others fled the scene. Lucy and Future Lucy looked over their shoulder once more as the distance became apparent from the Dragon Slayer and the murderer.
"Stop right there!" Future Rogue made an attempt at rushing past Natsu to get at Lucy, but Natsu swept himself in front and drove another flaming fist of emotions into Future Rogue's face, smashing him into the ground and making the ground rumble. He got up and glared at Natsu. "Natsu Dragneel-!"
He was silenced by what was another hard fist to the face. The gruesome force made him slide back several feet by the hands of an infuriated Natsu, who panted like a Dragon in battle. Future Rogue used his thumb to wipe the red on the corner of his lip. "Tch, should've known you'd try and stop me." Future Rogue's body was cloaked in shadows. He slipped into the shadows beneath, where he snaked across the flooring and swerved up towards the walls, zigzagging along the side. "Even if I lose, your fate will be sealed when the Dragons kill you in the future." He jumped out of the shadows with a smirk. "Your choices have been determined already! You can't change that!"
Future Rogue blasted Natsu with a turbulence of shadows, of which pushed Natsu back several feet. The pinkette shook his head and glared daggers at Future Rogue.
"You think we're gonna let you get away with this? You made a huge mistake trying to take something important away from us." Natsu growled viciously. "You crossed the line the moment you tried killing our own. I'll reshape the future my way if it means taking you down and proving you wrong?"
"Oh?" Future Rogue raised a brow. "Care to change fate?"
In front of the Eclipse Gate, Hisui was making preparations possible. With Arcadios and Darton at her call, they were ready to reshape the future into one that shall be salvaged if it means taking out long-thought-to-be-extinct Dragons. She stood in front of an army of Rune Knights in front of her, hearing her out.
"In preparations for the Dragons to arrive, we shall initiate the Eclipse Cannon!" She turned around and looked at the massive doors in front of her. A long silence arose before she gave the command.
"Unlock!"
The gate's gears made a large clang sound. The small circle on the bottom of the gate moved clockwise very slowly. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat when a clang was heard when the first checkpoint of the gate was passed by the hand.
'So this is it. The gates are finally opening.' Darton thought.
'Princess, I shall be on your side to the bitter end.' Arcadios declared.
Another clang sound erupted, meaning the second checkpoint was met.
Hisui looked back at the Rune Knights behind her. "Have there been any reports yet?"
"No Dragons sighted on the east nor west." A knight said. "Also, we've prepared citizen evacuation protocols."
"Good." Hisui looked back up as the third checkpoint was met. 'It won't be long now.'
In shrubs and bushes nearby, several heads popped out, which was Lucy's group, excluding Loke, who retreated back to the Celestial World; and Magnezone, who was returned to his Poke Ball. The group remained silent and stealthy as they watched the gate's fourth checkpoint being breached.
"It looks like they're opening the gates." Wendy confirmed.
"Let's hope they know what they're doing." Mira hoped.
Future Lucy looked at the Eclipse Gate with uncertainty. "The Eclipse Cannon, it'll really save us all?"
Lucy looked to her future self, unsettled. 'What that Rogue said, what he says really does bother me.' She remembered about his speech, about how spiteful he was and how Lucy was the culprit. 'Would I really do something that horrible?'
"We know you're there!" Arcadios announced, startling everyone there. "Please, come out!"
Though reluctant, the Fairy Tail group knew they were caught. Arcadios was looking right at them, much to Hisui and Darton's confusion. They all slowly made it out of the bushes they were staying in, and they stood with uneasy looks.
"We didn't do anything misguided." Vanessa argued.
Hisui's eyes widened. "You're all…from Fairy Tail."
"Arcadios?" Carla questioned.
"Why is he with the Minister and the Princess?" Lily asked.
The group was brought up and they were all given a thorough diagnostic on what has been going on, with Arcadios and Darton assessing the misunderstanding.
"I truly am sorry for how we've treated you." Hisui apologized. "But due to this state of emergency, I'm afraid an official apology will have to wait." She managed to smile at them. "Also, I congratulate your guild on winning the Grand Magic Games."
Wendy smiled. "I knew they wouldn't let us down!"
"Yeah!" Happy cheered.
"Excellent." Lily praised. However, his and everyone else's smiles faded into surprise when another clang sound was heard, where another checkpoint was struck by the passing hand.
Lucy looked towards Hisui. "Why are you opening the gates right now? The Dragons aren't here yet."
Future Lucy nodded. "Yeah, there's no need…not yet."
Hisui's surprise never stopped mounting. "So, you are from the future as well?"
Future Lucy stared at her.
Arcadios looked at Hisui. "She has informed them of the upcoming." He looked at everyone else. "Speaking of, where is the Future Nic?"
The group looked at each other with uncertain doubt, which left a bad feeling in the pits of their stomachs.
Finally, Yukino spoke up. "Colonel Arcadios, I'm afraid both Nics have gone missing."
"Missing?" He parroted.
"It was right before this whackjob from the future showed up and tried to kill me." Lucy explained, shocking Hisui and Arcadios. "He says I'm the one responsible for closing the gates, and doing everyone to being killed by the Dragons."
Hisui and Arcadios looked at one another with uncertainty. They then looked at Lucy, more warily than before. "So, this man tried to kill you?" Hisui asked. "And you swear there are no merits to the claim declared?"
"Of course not, Princess!" Lucy countered, shaking her head. "Like I said before, I don't see any Dragons arriving. Shouldn't we wait to open them once they're all in our sights?"
Hisui shook her head. "No. The Eclipse Gate takes too long to open. If we wait for them to appear, it may just be too late. It has to be done now."
Vanessa swallowed a lump at the dreadful predicament of the situation. "And you're sure this is a guaranteed one-shot?"
Hisui hesitated. "…no." She admitted. "But if anything is to fall into the abyss, the King should have a plan of action ready."
Mira looked to Yukino, and everyone else had the same look of anticipation. However, they did not realize that as the moon slowly became red, the midnight sky began to turn a pitch black.
All of the guild Mages that were abundance in Crocus were all gathered in the heart of Crocus; its very center being a massive plaza with a white crystal that was extremely tall. Rune Knights were gathered around a stout King that was Makarov's height, as his robe was ceremonial but had pink hearts included. He looked out at everyone, including the non-participants. The ones who had fought were bandaged up, especially Erza and the rest of her team, and Rogue, and Kagura was helped up by Arana.
Toma E. Foire – the ruler of the Fiore Kingdom – stood on the ledge and looked out at the confused guild Mages assembled. "Thank you all for coming." He started. "I despise myself for ruining the celebration and the showmanship of fortitude displayed, especially just after the Grand Magic Games…but, I'm afraid Fiore is in grave danger of what may be a Dragon horde."
Commotion went around, with the audience uneasy.
Makarov's eyes widened. "I thought Acnologia was the only Dragon."
"Last time we fought him, we lost seven years to escape with Dialga and Palkia's help." Cana said. "We can't hold our own against a horde."
"Even so, Acnologia was a special case because of the Legendary Pokémon fending against him." Lisanna pointed out.
"As we speak, a counteroffensive has been put into a start in front of Mercurius." The King foretold. "The Eclipse Cannon!"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock and confusion.
"Eclipse Cannon?" Sophie wondered.
"We shall use it to attempt to eliminate all 10,000 at once."
"In one blow? How's that possible?" Cana wondered.
The King gave a sigh. "I can understand your concern. Given the massive numbers of the Dragons, we expect no more than perhaps a few hundred to survive the Eclipse Cannon."
Makarov's head cascaded down. "Yes, that is a logical assumption."
The King raised his arms. "And so! I implore you guild Mages! Please lend us your power to deal and eradicate what shall be the future apocalypse for this kingdom!" He announced, his tone starting to show signs of choking. "You are the only hope of slaying Dragons that the Eclipse can't accomplish!" He bowed his head to them all, his desperation clear. "I beg of you, please. Please lend us your strength. Do not let this kingdom fall into ruin."
Everyone saw the desperation in his plea. It was no lie, and that they were needed now more than ever.
Overlooking from afar on a high point, Lahar and Doranbolt were both eavesdropping on the situation.
"I can't believe this." Lahar said.
Doranbolt raised a brow. "What? Everyone being asked to work together?"
"No, the Eclipse Gate!" Lahar held up a clenched fist. "The existence of the gate, no, it's mentioning, violates 30 laws at least!" He looked towards Doranbolt with deep justice. "We have to inform the Council right away."
"Lahar and Doranbolt if I am not mistaken, yes?"
The voice was an astonishing surprise to them both. The voice spoken from behind was familiar, and yet they had enough problems on their hands. Turning around, their fears were confirmed as from the shadows a man with blue hair emerged.
"Jellal?!" Lahar exclaimed.
"I have a request." He announced.
Natsu ran forward with a flaming fist and a strong cry out to Future Rogue, who charged at him with equal force. Fire and shadow collided in the middle, making the hallway quake and rumble. Debris flew all over the place, making the flooring all rocky and uneven.
Natsu and Future Rogue slid back from the attacks, both sides looking ready for another go. Future Rogue made a change in dynamics by diving back into the shadows, surprising Natsu as the black shadow moved about faster than what his eyes could trace. The shadow ended up somewhere, but Natsu couldn't tell.
"Where did he…?!"
Natsu was met with a torrent of shadows from his side, sending him sliding backwards in pain as Future Rogue smirked and emerged from the shadows.
Natsu gagged before he shook his head. "Tell me…" He muttered.
"Hm?"
"I know you're lying. My nose is telling me, that everything your spazzing on about is nothing but garbage, right?" He asked in deep hostility.
Future Rogue's smirk only widened.
The King was still bowing towards all of the Mages of Fiore in desperate plea to destroy the Dragons that were soon to come. The residence in all the plaza saw that he was absolutely begging, something a King never does to anyone.
Before they could answer to his call, the full red moon was bright, and red everything above…was a complete pitch black. An overwhelming sense of great, spine-ripping force got all of them in their hearts. The air they were breathing was pure suffocating. They all felt their insides fall unstable and their knees began to feel uneasy. Everyone was panting as their heart rates were soaring from the goosebumps they were feeling.
Makarov's eyes shuddered. He was rendered completely speechless. "W-what is this overwhelming force…?"
Rune Knights were getting to their knees and gasping as they couldn't breathe well. They felt paralyzed, and all throughout Crocus, this overwhelming energy resonated. Hisui, Arcadios, everybody was feeling such an immense force of something far more lethal than evil itself.
Mavis's senses were going numb. Her ethereal body was getting to its knees and she began to shudder. "This…this evil…"
"This foul energy…it's like Death's Devil has come alive…" Elfman quivered in fright.
Laxus stumbled back, barely keeping footing. "What…the darkness all around us…what is this?"
Everyone was scared, and the King was shivering and blindly looked on as everyone was feeling a demonic swell of power rattle their spines and penetrated into their being and soul's heart, making it rot in despair and all that is good and bright in existence.
It started low, but everyone could hear the maniacal, bloodcurdling, and conscience-degrading chuckling. The chuckling sounded like the darkest tone, of the foulest beast to have ever been heard. People were starting to go deaf just from hearing the escalating – now demonically maniacal laughter – beastly sound be heard from as far as can be. The citizens evacuating and all through and near Crocus could feel this demonic force and heard the loud, bone-weakening roaring.
'My body…it's so cold.' Gray thought in disbelief as a ghastly and hollow breeze passed them all.
Sophie's eyes were wide and her green orbs dilated at the recollection of this demonic power. 'It can't be…'
Hearing the horror-inducing laughter, Rufus looked around. "This level of unimaginable darkness, I don't ever recall such a scarring dread falling before me."
Jura was trembling as got his knees, worrying everyone. His pupils dilated. "So much bloodlust in this power we all sense…is this…what is this we are facing…?"
Erza looked around, her fists clenched, but her body was violently trembling. "Is that who we think it is…?" She asked through the violent laughter.
At long last, the demonic laughter began to fade away, and they all heard what was the most gruesome growl. One that was vibrant, vibrating through your back and reaching your brain, leaving your state of mind in peril shock.
"None shall interfere." The demonic monotone said, the voice heard all throughout Crocus.
Though the dark energy amongst them was beginning to fade, they all were suddenly trapped in what were dark pink spatial orbs. The guild Mages gathered, the King, and everyone else were all trapped in these bizarre orbs individually.
"What's going on-?!"
Before Erza could finish a pitch black engulfed them all, right out of the blue.
When everyone uncovered, they found themselves shocked beyond comprehension. All marveled and despaired as every single Mage, citizen, knight, everyone possible…were all suspended very high above the Crocus sky, right underneath the pitch black darkness and red moon. The population retreating in the mountains, the officials, and everyone else were all suspended in the dark pink spatial orbs that had them trapped.
"What happened?!" Makarov exclaimed.
Mavis was in disbelief as she also had an orb of her own, and she felt no force like it. "This spatial energy, it's beyond Magic, and is beyond any boundaries of evil.
Hisui was startled as she was suddenly suspended like everybody else. "What?!"
"But how?!" Arcadios exclaimed.
"Oh my god! When did this happen?!" Lucy bellowed.
Future Lucy was at a loss for words. "This dark power…this wasn't in the future!"
"What?!"
"I don't know what's happening, honestly!"
Minerva concentrated her Magic Power in her sphere, but her spatial orbs only imploded when she attempted to try them, leaving her arms in pain.
"Milady!" Orga exclaimed from his orb.
"This spatial force. It's like something that exceeds my Territory." She muttered.
All at once, Mages tried busting out using their Magic, blasting whatever spells to dissipate the force, but no matter what happened, the energy just distorted their Magic, leaving their Magic attacks to just dissipate themselves when touching the orb, leaving them all incapacitated.
"I…I can't teleport!" Doranbolt exclaimed. "But how?!"
"Dispelling and any Magic to cancel out, it's not even working!" Lahar shouted. "What had just happened?" He looked over, and to his shock, all of Crime Sorciere was gathered in their own three spheres. "Crime Sorciere?!"
"Lahar." Jellal said. "I don't know what's going on, but this is beyond control."
Ultear concentrated very hard, but she sank to her knees. "It's…it's no use. My Time Magic itself doesn't work."
"It's like this distortion is plucking us from using our power." Meredy said.
Ichiya's nostrils went numb. "This parfume…so gore."
Kaguar slashed Archenemy, but it only bounced off, no matter what happened. Gravity Magic didn't even faze the orbs, only leaving the spells and Magic to be distorted and left to become nothing.
Frosch was quivering. "I…I'm scared."
Lector swallowed. "D-don't worry. I-it's not we're gonna die, right Sting…" Lector looked around, but all throughout the ring of dark pink orbs in the high sky, things were off.
Gajeel looked up, his mouth gaping. "How's this happening?"
Sting looked over towards Rogue. "Wait, weren't we sucked up along with them?"
"I guess not."
In front of Mercurius, Wendy was all alone as everyone but her was sucked up in the spatial darkness. "Carla?! Vanessa?! Lucy?!" She looked around, her little fists tight. "This is bad."
The citizens and all that weren't trapped looked on from above, realizing the one flaw that unfolded. The flaw being that only the Dragon Slayers were left unhindered.
"Wait, they weren't sucked up like we were?" Vanessa wondered.
Laxus looked around, his eyes narrow. "I don't know about you guys, but I got a grave feeling going on."
"You mean besides the fact that only us Dragon Slayers are the only ones not up there?" Gajeel wondered in sarcasm.
"Somethin' like that."
Rogue's eyes narrowed. "I've got a feeling the omens are just to come."
In the world inhabited by Pokémon, there were many Water-Types, an abundance that thrived in ponds, rivers, seashores, and more commonly, the vast ocean sea. That's where the two Nics were.
With help from Dialga and Palkia, the two were making progress to their stop at the dark trenches within the seas of a region they were not familiar with. According to Dialga this region they were close to was more likely known as the Hoenn Region, but just because it's not Kalos doesn't mean there were still some familiar sites like Luvdisc, Chinchou, Clamperl, Tentacool, and Tentacruel; and the farther and darker the two ventured, the more colder, and more abysmal it seemed to get. And Pokémon like Relicanth, Huntail. Gorebyss, Starmie, and even Cloystered were clustered together.
The two were jetting down as fast as possible, using their Splash Plate Forms to slip and sink into the waters of the trenches. Their destination was amongst them.
"This is got to be the deepest trench in the world, right?" Nic asked.
Future Nic nodded. "Yes, which is precisely where our ally is to be."
The two slowly sank into the black trench, where they could only hear the sound of water. The water pressure was heavy down where they were, and so had to be aware of what may be down where they were. They were also wise to not use their Pokémon, exclude Greninja, because pressures this deep could very well be…
As they took the initiative and swam along the dark trench floors, Relicanth swimming away from them out of the shock of their pace, the water seemed to feel off.
"The water…it's dense." Nic said. "You think this is the work of Lysandre?"
Future Nic looked towards him as they swam, their vision being supported by the edges of their waterproof coats glowing angler-like lights.
"…it has to be the case. With Arceus's life unstable, I fear that cataclysms are starting to spread. Do you remember when we first ventured into these waters?"
"Yeah, it's best you don't remind me."
Sad to say, things were very on edge. On the surface, waves were gigantic, tsunamis were going all over the place. Cyclones and stormy skies were all across the landscape. The tallest sea stacks known in the world, as reports put it, where demolished by these huge waves. Beaches were closed, and citizens and Pokémon alike were advised to move inland until these storms passed. That would've been bad enough, but the fact was also that random hotpots erupted through the sea, creating new land in random places, including over giant shipwrecks. Natural disasters were happening all over the world, and scientists had reported that the energy levels are far from natural, and that it's like an astronomical force, but couldn't prove it. They even gathered reports from places like the Johto Region's Cianwood City, where it was flooded and the folk had to move within inland of the island. Cyclones and hurricanes, mixed with lightning, even ravaged Route 8 of Kalos, nearly putting the entire beach reaching for miles underwater. The weather was out of control, much to the Weather Trio's shock, and they all knew it was due to the instability of the end approaching, but they had to keep hopes up, even in the darkest of times – and waters.
Their stop was present up ahead. The two Nics were wide-eyed when they saw what was out before them.
The trenches ceased and in front was a massive darkness. Whereas the trenches were ending on either end. It was like…a dead end. It was their destination.
Both Nics looked at one another warily and back at the darkness ahead. Nic took a slow step through the trench rocks, advancing to only a few paces away from the ledge.
He finally spoke. "Hear me, do you not?"
A massive outline of a figure was seen, and it was as big as can get. The red outlines were clearly visible on its body, especially the arm-like hands. Its yellow eyes opened up again, and the two could sense the swell of a small current that nearly whisked them away if not for their hands anchoring them to the ground.
And that was just a yawn of the beast.
Future Nic recuperated himself from that shock of a current-like yawn and narrowed his eyes. "It's us, Nic Pularis."
"…so, you traveled all the way to the darkest seas to reach me." The voice of the large beast called. "I remember you now, it was seven years ago…that black beast from that one world." His throat bellowed, making the trench ledge the two were on rumble briefly. They were lucky to have held their ground. "I still remember the fight like yesterday. I then wake up to find the sea in desperation, yet I have no control."
"We understand your aggravation." Nic implied. "It's because the end is drawing near, but to avert it, we need your help…Kyogre."
The Sea Basin Pokémon's image became clear in the waters, his face intimidating and his teeth all shown. The Legendary sea-basin dweller growled out again.
"…what do you need?" He asked.
A loud clang echoed all over Kalos, and everyone's confusion was diverted towards the overview of the Eclipse Gate, where Wendy looked up and saw that all of the twelve Zodiac checkpoints were met with. Hisui and Arcadios both went wide eyed as the Eclipse Gate was changing a few gears, and then the doors began to open up.
"The gates are opening." Wendy muttered, where she looked down at her feet as a hot mist eroded beneath her knees.
"The gates are opening, but we're not down there." Lucy said.
"So that's the Eclipse Gate." Juvia said. "I feel so much dark power, even in this."
"Still, even if we're up here…" Hisui looked nervous and looked like she was gonna collapse. "We should have a salvaged fu-!"
A rumble erupted from the ground, more concentrated on the Eclipse Gate, startling everyone. The Dragon Slayers on the ground began to question as they felt the quaking.
"You guys feel that?"
"Yeah. It's big."
"You think it's the Dragons coming?"
"I don't know, but we've gotta be ready."
Laxus looked up at a balcony. "Let's get to a high point."
Wendy was backing away and out of the way as the rumbling from the Eclipse Gate was getting louder. Her heart rate was fast, so fast that she was pale. "What's happening?" She questioned. She looked at the gate, her eyes widening when she saw a figure venture through it. "Uh…!" She gasped in fright.
"…no."
A humungous figure ventured out from the gates. It wasn't some random beast or figure, rather…a Dragon. The Dragon had adamantine scales with spirals on every plate. The scales were smooth around the eyes, and light marking jutted up beneath the snout, as to where the mouth had razor-sharp teeth. The huge, scaly wings were folded. Five talons were on each foot, with two scales on the end of the tail.
Everyone above, including Crime Sorciere, Doranbolt, Fairy Tail; the population was stricken with fright as the Dragon stepped out of the Eclipse Gate, roaring and shuddering the airspace around.
Arcadios's eyes were wide in horror. "No way."
Hisui's eyes dilated. "A Dragon went through the gate? How…?"
The Dragon opened his large mouth and roared. The bellow was so massive it was like a tempest that destroyed nearby statues and cracked the ground beneath. Wendy held onto the earth and violently shuddered as her mind was going blank.
"Wendy!" Carla shouted in worry, but no sound could get through the distorted orbs suspending anyone.
The Dragon raised a claw and slammed it to the earth. A shockwave went straight forward, obliterating the rows of buildings in line of the shockwave that stretched for miles across Crocus. Everyone watching cringed as that was but one hand to the ground.
"I can't believe my eyes." Erza said.
"That Eclipse sends powerful Dragons to our time?!" Gray exclaimed. "What the hell is going on?!"
Inside Mercurius, Natsu felt the earth rumble. Future Rogue frowned and stopped to look outside the shattered windows.
Natsu's eyes widened. "What was that…?"
Future Rogue chuckled. "It would seem that the gates have finally opened."
Natsu's fists clenched. "Whatever you're up to, does it have something to do with this dark power looming around?"
Future Rogue smirked. "To be honest, this dark power isn't my doing, but it sure is keeping all of the ignorance suspended to watch their demise." His head turned towards the outside. "Take a look."
Natsu looked out the window towards his side, his mind racing fast as his heart rate. To his and Future Rogue's startled demeanors, they were all seeing dark pink orbs making a massive ring that stretched for miles. Individual bodies were inside each one. He looked shocked when he saw Lucy and Future Lucy in two.
"No! Guys!" Natsu screamed.
Future Rogue turned back towards them. "I have no clue myself, and that isn't a lie." He assured. "But it sure is helping me keep everyone in a front row seat for what's to come."
"A seat for what?"
Future Rogue became shadows, traveling out of the window. "I must go and greet my pets."
"Hey, wait!" Natsu's call fell on deaf ears when Future Rogue was gone. He stared out at the open windows, glaring up as the unthinkable had erupted, and no one knew what was going on. Natsu's fists clenched and his teeth grinded against the other. "This ain't over…not by far."
Another Dragon ventured out of the gates. This one was blue with gray bubble-like spots running along the back. A back fin started from the head and went down the back and reaching the tail. He had large wings included, and his snout was shorter than the first. The sideburns were large fins, indicating him to be an aquatic Dragon with a small tuft that was a beard at his chin.
The one proceeding him was a Dragon that was all fire, pure fire. He had the figure of a Dragon with wings, limbs, and tail included. He almost seemed to be a burning skeleton in a way.
The three Dragons walked into Crocus, not minding the buildings that crumbled at their feet, or the monuments that their wings and tail demolished. All the knights and everyone suspended in the air could do was just watched in shock as Dragons roamed through Crocus. Hisui herself looked as though she was witnessing an apocalypse unfold, and she felt like she was at the heart of it all.
Another Dragon emerged from the gates, this one being a dark pink dragon, with protrusions on the head and chin dark in color to look like pincers. Dark markings were all over its body, including the edges of the scales on the wing rims. The narrow head had sharp teeth, yellow eyes, and markings that resemble butterfly wings on the sides of the eyes.
Lucy pounded on her sphere, relentlessly trying to get out. "We gotta close the gate! We gotta do it now!"
Future Lucy's eyes were tearing up, her shock overwhelming her. "It's as we all feared…the end is coming."
Hisui was starting to cry just like Future Lucy. "I've had it wrong this whole time? The attacking Dragons come through the gate?"
Another Dragon thus entered, this one being a muscular, dark-colored one. This Dragon was black on the upper jaw and head, as well as the back, upper tail, arms, and talons. The lower jaw and belly had smooth red scales. Spikes ran along the spines and down the tail.
Wendy looked on in shock and disbelief, but her attention turned towards a familiar set of footsteps close by. She turned and saw someone that tried to hurt them before. "Future Rogue?"
Future Rogue's smirk was wide.
Hisui covered her mouth. "That's the traitor! He's the one who told me of Eclipse!"
Everyone looked down at Future Rogue and was shocked that it really was Rogue of the future, shocking Sabertooth without any exception.
"Why hello, young Wendy." Future Rogue greeted through the violent wings of the Eclipse Gate, the Dark Dragon venturing off into the city. "Seems you're taking a first-hand look at the Eclipse Gate."
Wendy clutched her fists as her hair shifted through the winds and the rumbling. "What is happening?! Are you responsible for this lie?!" She yelled through the carnage.
Future Rogue looked back up at the Dragons as he watched them all roar and walk through the desolate city, breaking apart buildings with a single tail slam. Their roars were so immense that the buildings in a nearby radius broke apart. Future Rogue couldn't help but feel satisfied with what he's done.
"Tell me!" Wendy yelled.
Future Rogue turned towards her. "You really that desperate? Very well, I'll explain it with the little time you have left in this world. The Eclipse Gate is made from Magic by the Book of Zeref combine with Celestial Spirit Magic. Normally anyone could use it as a gateway to whatever time period they desire, but…" His head turned towards the lunar eclipse above. "With the red moon above, the Magic is uncontrollable, and is set on the era of Dragons!"
"Era…" Elfman muttered.
"Of Dragons?" Lisanna continued.
Darton's eyes were wide. "He lied to us! This wasn't what he had told! He used us!"
As the Dragons roared and rampaged through Crocus, another Dragon emerged from the gates, much to Future Rogue's delight. This one was made out of plain rock, including the ridges and wings he had, but the underbelly was not so, but still rather rough-looking. The facial stones were arranged in a linear fashion to show the flat teeth and yellow eyes. He lacks a nose, and the tail end was like a club.
Laxus and the other Dragon Slayers watched as the Dragons roamed through Crocus, their eyes wide. The Lightning Dragon Slayer blinked. "Damn."
"That's putting it lightly." Gajeel muttered.
Sting's fists clenched. "This is bad. We gotta make our move!"
"I agree. We've gotta strike while we still can." Rogue confirmed.
The Dragon Slayers all ran down some steps and ventured off towards the mayhem ahead of them. Meanwhile, Wendy was still in front of the Eclipse Gate, startled as she was nowhere near an idea of how to close it as more Dragons emerged. She and Future Rogue were at a standoff, only able to watch as the Dragons all rampaged and began to fly through the skies, roaring out into the dark and foul air.
Hisui was spacing out, lost in her failure. "What have I done? I destroyed my kingdom…my incompetence will leave the world in ashes…and we can't stop it."
"How do I close it?!" Wendy panicked.
Future Rogue chuckled. "You can't. Only a Celestial Mage can seal it shut. With Lucy Heartfilia incapacitated, the world shall know its place at long last…"
Suddenly, the Eclipse Gate's inner light that was the gateway turned pitch black, much to everyone's shock.
"What?" Future Rogue questioned.
All of the population above looked on in shock as the gate was starting to look funny. Darkness swirled inside the gate, and the gate itself was starting to crack. Dark cracks ran along the entire gate, and parts were starting to scrunch and break apart.
"What?!" Future Rogue screamed. "N-no! Whoever's doing this, stop!"
To all that were baffled, the Eclipse Gate contorted and began to implode. Explosions went around from within, and Wendy and Future Rogue covered up as dark shockwaves made the ground pavement shatter, sending debris and the two Dragon Slayers soaring and screaming.
"Wendy!" Carla called out from her sphere in the sky.
The gate imploded and the material comprising it began to get sucked inside a black hole that the gate collapsed into. The parts and the gate entirely all went inside the black hole as the pavement beneath was sucked in as well. When the gate was completely left destroyed and out of existence, the black hole collapsed itself and vanished in a dark flash.
Future Rogue's eyes widened. "What…?"
"The gate…it just…" Wendy was in too big of disbelief to finish.
"Destroyed? But how?" Lucy muttered with hands over her mouth.
Levy's eyes were showing how scared she was as she was on her knees. "The gate became pure dark energy. The light inside turned into darkness, but how?"
"The gate destroyed itself?" Hisui looked baffled. Arcadios was just as shocked.
"Impossible. What force could do such a thing?" He clutched his teeth. "More importantly, what becomes of the Dragon Slayers now…?"
Future Lucy reached with her left arm – her only arm – and took out her small diary she held earlier. Her eyes scrutinized the contents that she managed to read and make with her pen. Her shock was still on her face.
"X791…July 7th…Dragon King Festival…it's true." She looked back down, watching the devastation unfold. "But, how…?" Her eyes were shuddering as her heart rate was just escalating. 'This was to be true, I was positive: When the gates of this time are destroyed, everything that is to happen is erased. But…why aren't the Dragons disappearing?! This can't be remotely possible, can it? Nic and I…we came back to avert and destroy the gates, and yet afterwards, the Dragons are to disappear and the future is saved, r-right?' Her head drooped and she looked at her knees. 'Is an outside force doing this? Is everything I know a lie? I can't tell what is going on anymore…!'
Future Rogue grunted in frustration as he looked at the empty space that was the Eclipse Gate's former spot. He looked away, huffing, with his smirk returning. "No matter, 10,000 is too many to control anyway." While he was just as baffled as everyone else, he was still satisfied with the few that ventured through. "So only seven Dragons came through, makes no difference in my opinion."
"Wendy!"
Wendy turned towards her side, looking to find Natsu running towards her side, finally finding an exit out of the castle. He ran towards her side, disregarding the Dragons in the skies.
"Natsu!" Wendy said with surprise. "You've made it!"
"Yeah." Natsu stopped right beside her and glared at Future Rogue, his fists clenched tight. "You…"
"Natsu Dragneel, glad you could join us." Future Rogue said. "Unfortunately, you're a little late. As you can see, seven Dragons have already came through the gates before they were destroyed by something."
Natsu gritted his teeth. "Well I don't know either, but I sure as hell am gonna stop you."
Future Rogue's smirk never left his face. "I highly doubt that." He raised his arms. "My ignorance subjects of Fiore! Listen well!" The Dragons roared as they all flew circles in the skies right over Future Rogue's head. "This is a message from your new King! I hereby declare the era of humans has come to an end! As of now and forevermore, this shall be the new age, the age of Dragons!"
The Dragons roared in unison, all of them hearing his declaration. The spectators and helpless citizens and Mages in the spheres in the skies were all startled by this declaration by the Future Rogue. Sophie's eyes were wide and shuddering with a memory that sure to stay in her mind, as with Rufus. Asuka was scared and fascinated at the same time, huddled in her sphere with her parents in desperation to comfort their daughter, but were unable to do anything but watch it all happen with a spine-shivering energy.
"This is bad." Doranbolt said.
"The Eclipse miraculously destroyed itself, but now the danger lies in the seven Dragons down there." His eyes narrowed. "But what Jellal brings up from before this is extremely convincing."
"I hope the message got to them in time." Doranbolt hoped.
In the Council HQ, Rune Knights were positioned far away from out of Crocus, using zoom-in lacrima vision that made them see the onslaught of Dragons emerging. Gran Doma was beyond shocked, and the Council was all included in this uproar. Their kingdom was to be doomed, and they could only watch as powerful, almighty beasts rampaged.
"This is beyond comprehension." A council member stated. "How dare Eclipse be used!"
"This shouldn't even be possible." Another one foretold. "These Dragons are just out of control!"
Gran Doma slammed his stave on the ground. "Silence!" He ordered, his attitude beyond grumpy. Org and all of the Council members looked towards him with bitter surprise. "So the Eclipse was used, and it's July 7th. An eclipse on this day, and this cannot make sense." He analyzed. "However, the circumstances are too bleak to ignore. I am afraid that we have to listen to Lahar and Doranbolt on this one."
"You meaning letting him out?" Org asked.
Gran Doma's eyes looked towards him. "See to it. Regulations prohibit such an act, but we have no option. He shall prove his reputation as such fitting against Dragons."
"Very well." Org got up from his Council seat and left the building. He hurriedly ventured over to where a certain building was, and he got clearance and the authority through all of the frogs working in that particular place. 'I still can't believe this is happening.' Org thought as he went to a lower level of the building and into what was the dungeon. He walked with a set of keys and files he ascertained and he went down what was a dark hallway, a dungeon.
He stopped in front of a particular one. He looked inside of it and there was the figure as he was hunched over, looking groggy.
The figure smirked. "You call?"
"Thisis no time to joke." Org reprimanded. "Now listen well, we're not here to give you a midnight snack, but there's a certain crisis and we need your help…Cobra."
Cobra 's smirk widened. "A little Dragon Slayer action, I can hear the desperation." He chuckled, which only served the theme he was in with his dark cell. "I'll play."
"I order for all Dragons to eliminate the Dragon Slayers in this city! Every one of them dead at your feet!" Future Rogue shouted. The Dragons, much to everyone's shock, id as told and began to fly off towards the other dragon Slayers spread all over the city.
"No way…" Natsu looked up as the Dragons flew over his head.
Wendy covered her mouth. "They're actually listening to him?"
"Are you shocked? You should be." Future Rogue held out his palm and sneered. "How's the likes of my Dragon Supremacy Magic?"
"Dragon Supremacy?" Lily questioned.
"He can control Dragons?!" Jet exclaimed.
"No way!" Macao bellowed from his sphere. "They're dead!"
The first Dragon, revealed to be called Motherglare, put a hand to the ground, making the ground shake just a little. Future Rogue stepped back and put himself on the hand. "Let's go, Motherglare. We have a world to conquer."
Motherglare roared and he flapped his wings, taking flight back into the skies, carrying Future Rogue off into the skies.
"Grrrr! HEY WE'RE NOT DONE HERE!" Natsu took off after the Dragon that was flying off, leaving Wendy by herself.
"Natsu, wait-!" She gasped suddenly when she heard a Dragon growl over her head. She slowly turned around and looked up, her eyes widening with deep shock and horror of what was a familiar Dragon with an appetite. Her knees got weak and she was caught struck with horror.
The Dragon laughed at her scared face. "GAAHAHAHAHA!" He roared. "A little frightened snack, how tasty!"
The Dragon was none other than Zirconis, and he looked hungry as his teeth were shown and salivating, large drops hitting the ground. Wendy's mouth was gaping. "It's that Dragon we talked to! Zirconis!"
Gajeel looked up at what came down in front of him. The tremor came and went as the Dark Dragon roared at his victim.
"So you're the Dragon who I gotta slay, huh?" Gajeel wondered. He cracked his bandaged knuckles. "This should be somethin'."
In her sphere in the sky, Levy looked with worry. "Gajeel…"
Laxus crackled with lightning as he crossed his arms. He took in front of what was the flaming Dragon that was third out of the gates. "So this big guy wants to burn my insides, huh?"
The Dragon growled down at him. "Pathetic human! I am Atlas Flame, and my hellfire shall burn your life away!"
The lightning around Laxus surged harder than before. "Oh yeah? Let's see you back up those words."
Sting and Rogue found themselves back to back as they were pit against two Dragons. Sting was facing Scissor Runner, the Dragon with the pincers that had a vile look in his eyes. As to where Sting was against him, Rogue was against the sea-like Dragon who had his teeth bared at him, known as Levia.
"Looks like we got ourselves some Dragons to slay, huh Rogue?" Sting said rhetorically.
Rogue looked up at Levia as the blue beast's towering presence was more than a little overwhelming. "Don't underestimate them. We have to be careful, no matter what."
Both Dragons growled down as they closed in to attack, as to where Sting and Rogue went lunging after them.
Dark skies were all across the land. In a particular location, a dark spiraling sky was thundering so loud that it could be heard all the way out from the tower underneath to the marsh-like city that was south of it. The climate was more humid than what anyone could imagine, and lightning crackled in the dark swirling skies above the massive tower on a narrow peninsula known as Dragonspiral Tower, at least to what Dialga and Palkia foretold to the two that made their stop there next.
Running through the elaborate structure, bypassing all of the startled Druddigon and who or whatever may be around, both Nics jumped over a fallen pillar, landing on their two feet and running up to where the staircase was.
"We're near the top! Just a little farther now!" Future Nic exclaimed.
A massive rumbling and a bellowing roar was heard. They felt static flow through the air, which was felt even from the bottom of the massive tower. The rumbling was so massive that the flooring shook like it was a springboard, causing both Nics to lose their footing just a little. The roar slowly settled down, but at the price of another column tumbling down right behind the two Nics, breaking into stone fragments.
Nic turned back ahead, unfazed. "Let's move it!"
Both were very unfamiliar with this region. They were more affiliated with Kalos, but this was a new experience they were bound to uphold. First they had to go to the Hoenn Region, and now another unknown region they found somewhat intriguing yet still slightly incomprehensive, a region known as Unova. They were approaching their stop, and as they climbed the stairs, they were approaching their next destination, which was the top.
When both Nics finally reached the top, they were above the clouds that surged like a raging sea. When they peered below, blue lightning crackled with so much intensity. The top of the tower had a very narrow bridge that connected on part to a very open domain. The domain that was before them had crumbled pillars scattered all over, with several still standing, but broken in a few parts. Even though above some clouds, the skies were still dark.
"So he's here too, huh?" Nic figured.
"That has to be the case." Future Nic said, following Nic across the narrow bridge. Darkness loomed beneath it, meaning a single misstep and they fall to an agonizing demise.
They both made it across and slowly walked around, electricity crackling. This energy was packed with so much force, and they knew it was what would help them in what was to come. Both Nics looked around the open tower top, seeing no sign of what they seemed to be looking for.
"Is he not here?" Future Nic wondered, turning his head.
"No, he's here. Lightning crackles wherever he may be. This never-ending storm is a sure sign he's nearby." Nic figured.
Both Nics stopped when they were in the center of the top. They both waited very quietly as more static crackled around, so much that it was like blue fireworks going off, which was what left them both uneasy. They looked up to the black, night sky above, seeing the dark storm clouds swirl and surge.
A massive thunder boomed that got their attention straight above. Flashes of blue lightning surged through the sky. Another loud roar boomed, followed by lightning and thunder that multiplied in what was a blue center.
"He knows we're here." Future Nic said.
Nic stared up with a calm expression as his coat flapped in the ominous winds shifting.
A blue bolt shot down, a massive one, right in front of both Nics. The thunder boomed so loud that it shook the entire tower, cracking up the pillars some more on the sides. The two covered up as light blue lightning was in front of them, surging with violent force.
Both grunted and flipped on their sunglasses at the same time to reduce the strain on their eyes. They both looked back to see the lightning fade away, revealing a black dragon that was enormous and looking down at them.
The dragon roared through the blue lightning, and when they thought it was over, the beast's conical tail shined light blue like and a generator noise like a motor surged. The dragon's roar escalated and he discharged a massive blast of blue lightning in all directions. The entire tower and route around rattled from the thunder that traveled across the sky. In that swamp-like area northwest and through the mountain on the west, lightning and thunder raged through the sky included. In the very core of it all, both Nics slid back several feet as the dragon's discharge of electricity fell several pillars once more, and left chunks of the ground in ruin.
The dragon's roar eased up, and the flow of electricity finally ceased, leaving only thunder to bellow through the skies. The dragon's red eyes looked down at the two Nics as they lifted their sunglasses from that lightshow and looked dead in the eyes of the beast. The dragon's eyes narrowed again and he roared once more, quaking Dragonspiral Tower once more, but both Nics held their ground this time.
The two-on-one stare down was brief, but very effective as the familiar black dragon took notice of the two's eyes, those that he remembered full well. "Nic Pularis, yes?"
"So you do remember." Nic said.
The beast nodded. "Yes, as I remember. There is more than just my thunderstorms in this ghastly nighttime. There is blasphemy and scorn in these dark clouds, which I can't control."
Future Nic stepped forward. "Which is why we've come to ask for your help."
The beast raised his head, a low silence emanating from all around, until a thunder boomed beneath them, vibrating the tower again.
"If it is my help you ask for, then your ideals are of salvation." He said.
Nic looked relieved behind his calm façade. "Thank you for understanding…Zekrom."
Zekrom roared up to the dark skies, his roar like that of a violent thunderstorm, which set off crackling blue lightning all around.
In a way, this chapter, I'm 'setting the stage' sort of speak. I got everyone in their seats to get a view of what's to come. I've added a great deal of originality as intended, and will do so for the remainder of the story. All that was logic from before is pretty much broken, like the Eclipse, Dragons not disappearing, but it's nothing to worry about too much. There's a reason why all that happened, and it'll come to fruition in a few chapters, unless you understand already, in which case I still rather not spoil.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you all are loving the originality and the battles that are to unfold.
Next Time: Draconic Rampage