I do not own Fairy Tail. Happy would have a fish feast if I did. Sorry the chapter took so incredibly long, I've been without a computer for a while. Enjoy!

Side note, maybe it's just me, and maybe I'm a little slow in the realization but this made me laugh. Some of you probably know them but there's an old band (from the 80's) called Metallica. Well there's a song by them called Phantom Lord, so of course I immediately thought of Fairy Tail when I saw the title. Then the realization hit me. Gajeel's old guild's name. Metallica = Gajeel's dragon Metalicana...

Either it's just a coincidence or Hiro Mashima has a thing for 80's music. Oh well, and yes, I'm going to mention this in my other story until someone tells me they see it to.

"Master Labhrás."

"Hmm," A man in his mid-forties glanced up from what he had been working on. Salt and pepper hair covered his head and a green crest adorned his arm. His hard eyes settled on the figure that interrupted his thinking. A short man wearing a stark white lab coat was now standing before him. "What is it?"

The boffin gave a small salute before continuing. "The provisions are complete, sir. All that's left is to test it out. We only await your orders."

Labhrás kept his excitement at bay. "How positive are you that this is going to work? Or is it going to be a flop like it was years ago."

"Sir?"

"Never mind. But the question of this being safe for humans comes to mind. I myself don't care too much if this backfires on someone's life. However, if it only succeeds on killing someone then this whole ordeal would be meaningless."

"Understood."

Labhrás leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He could imagine it now. An infinite amount of wizards at his command. Men and women from every world he could imagine fighting for him. It was almost too sweet to taste. If this worked he would outnumber the others army in a matter of days. Just in time to. His numbers were beginning to dwindle. Which was exactly why he couldn't test this out on his own men.

"I have a subject or two we could use for this experiment. Get ready to fire."

"Food is in the pantry. Steak knives are in the drawer. Only use those on burglars though, got it?" Gray didn't get a clear answer on that, just a small giggle from Tara. That was completely fine, that was all he wanted to lighten the mood. Even if his method to do so could be considered unorthodox.

"Yep!" Tara gave him on of her countless smiles in response. The raven planted a quick kiss on top of her head before turning to his other charge.

Ur stood a few feet away, probably hoping the distance will save her from any goodbye hugs. The older ice mage pulled her in for one regardless. The teen stood frozen in his embrace, counting the seconds until she was free.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."

A train whistle sounded off behind him and a final boarding call followed a moment later. With a final wave the ice mage ran to catch his ride. He hopped on board just as the train lurched forward. Metal scraped across metal and the wheels began spinning down the set track. Gray watched the train station disappear behind him, losing view of the two most important people in his life.

Lucy let out a heavy pant as her chest rose and fell. She gulped in lungs full of air, trying to regain her normal breathing. An out of breath Wendy collapsed next to her, in a similar state. The only mage to not be in such roughed up form was the scarlet knight. Erza calmly walked onward, not having a trace of being winded after climbing to the top of Mt. Hakobe on foot.

"Why are we doing this again?" Lucy coughed out between breaths.

Erza brushed off a layer of snow that was beginning to form on her shoulder. Gleaming silver shone through, her latest armor. The celestial mage fleetingly wondered how the requip mage wasn't freezing under the icy metal. "For our training. We found out about the games too late and only have the rest of the week to prepare. This way our bodies will be physically able."

"How did the two of us get stuck with the hardest-hitting coach in the guild?" Lucy murmured. Wendy gave a weak nod accompanied with a whimper, indicating her agreement.

"Lucy-san…if we have to train with Erza does that mean we're participating in the games as well?"

The blonde gave her a blank look. Realization hit her with a slap across her face and overdramatic tears began to well in her eyes. How did they always get dragged into these situations? Couldn't they just leave these barbaric affairs to the flame freak and the metal eater?

Ur walked down the path outside of town leading from the train station back to her family's home. Her younger sister walked beside her, skipping from inset stone on the ground to the next one. Playing that silly game kids play where they don't touch the ground itself because they pretend its lava. After almost tripping and needing to be steadied from falling the younger earned a "Watch it," which sounded more of a command than a suggestion. Tara flashed the other a sheepish grin and continued her skipping.

The S-Class mage went back to walking forward, ignoring the younger. A high pitched cry pulled her from her solitude. She glanced over to see if the child had managed to topple over this time around. Instead she found her sister still standing, but with a very panicked look on her round face.

"What's wrong?"

The younger didn't answer right away. Tara reached into her pocket and pulled out a long silver chain. A sword in stone pendant was attached and hung down from glinting silver. "I forgot to give dad his necklace back before he left."

"That's it? You're worried about that?"

"But Ur!" The shorter girl bounced up to her, forgetting about her previous antics and going across the ground normally. "The person that goes out on missions always wears the necklace. It's our family tradition."

"Sounds like you messed it up."

Tara hung her head. Partially because she did 'mess up' and partially because her sister could sometimes be so cold. "I know!" She perked up when a thought came to her. "You can wear it, Ur. You go on missions a lot anyways." Before the older could agree Tara had already placed it in the other's palm.

"Can't you just wear it?" Ur groaned.

"I'm already wearing the pendant that Malachi is connected to. You can wear that one." With that Tara went back to her skipping. Ur hung the sword necklace around her neck and followed the younger back home.

A low rumble of thunder caused Ur to look up towards the darkening sky. Storm clouds were beginning to form in the air. A strong gust of wind came out from nowhere and blew her dark hair back. Ur narrowed her eyes at the sky. Those weren't normal clouds. There was something ominous about them.

"Tara, we need to hur-"

She was cut off by another blast of wind, this time the force of it pushed her back. Hurricane like winds were slicing past them without warning. She was forced to close her eyes from the pressure and staggered forward blindly. The unmistakable feeling of magic was radiating around them. She chanced it and opened her eyes just a crack. Ur's eyes widened even more at seeing the sky opened up and an emerald green light was beginning to bubble in the heavens.

"Ur!" Tara tried stumbling closer to her sister. With every gale she was thrown backwards and farther away from the other. A scream came from her small throat as a green light suddenly surrounded her. The feeling of being pulled upwards wrapped around her. She tried clawing at the ground to keep from moving. A sensation of being plagued with thousands of needles pricked her skin and she curled up on herself.

Ur coughed as smoke filled her lungs. When the black air cleared and she could see again the storm clouds were gone, along with the piercing wind. Everything around her seemed nothing out of the ordinary except for one thing. Where Tara had been standing a moment ago was an empty spot.

"Tara?"

Ur blinked and searched around her, hoping her little sister would pop out and say "Here I am!" Instead she found an empty pathway void of anyone but herself.

"Tara!"

"Ayyyyyyyyyyye SIR!"

Happy's small blue paw collided with the dark reddish brown punching bag he and Natsu had been using for their training. The heavy cylinder shaped bag swung a few inches forward before falling back and hitting the feline in the chest. With an "oof" Happy fell backwards and landed on the ground with a thump.

Natsu let out a laugh at his furry blue friend's attempt. Happy gave a small frown and got back up, brushing imaginary dirt off his butt. "What's with the ferocious attack?" The dragon slayer chuckled.

"I thought if I got strong enough I could participate in the games too!" Happy cried.

"Oh? So it's not to impress Carla?"

Happy stuttered a few incomprehensible words and if cats could blush Natsu was sure Happy would be bright pink. "I-It's not funny!" Happy yelled. Natsu just laugh harder.

"I don't think cats are allowed in the games." Natsu warned. Happy frowned. "Tell ya what," Natsu kneeled down next to the feline and ruffled his fur. "I'll compete for ya. First event I win is for you."

Happy grinned. "Really?"

"Yep! Fairy Tail is taking first place and there isn't a single mage in this world that can stop us."

"Aye sir!"

"Experiment was a success."

Labhrás leaned back in his chair, a smug grin settling on his lips. "Decades later and the operation of portals have finally proven effective."

"Umm, sire?"

The great mage snapped his eyes over to who had spoken. A group of wizards and researchers were standing off to the side, shifting nervously under his gaze. "What is it?"

"Well, sire, the lacrima we used to fire cannot yet transport large groups of people. Only one or two persons at a time."

Labhrás narrowed his eyes. That was certainly a nuisance. Not that he wasn't expecting pestering problems. "I've considered the possibility a difficulty of this sort would arise. In this case I only need the best of the best to join my army. Luckily, we've been able to watch other mages in other worlds via multi world communication lacrima that we invented. I found that a certain 'trail' has been established in a particular world that will do well to find these mages for us."

"Sir, I'm afraid we don't follow."

"Do not worry about that. Now, set the lacrima to recharge. Once it is fully operable I would like to travel to the other world for a short time."

"You, sir?"

"Yes, afterwards set it to the second planned target. Once they are in the other world with me I would like to strike a deal with them. Eventually bring me back here."

"Sir, making a deal with the chosen target…that would be a family member to your top enemy! May I ask what exactly are you planning?"

Labhrás grin turned into a sly smile. "As it stands I myself cannot waste precious time looking for mages worthy enough to fight under me. This will all work out in the end. Just wait."

Ur pushed past the thorny bushes and low hanging tree branches. She had called out frequently for the missing child, hoping she had been blown back into the nearby underbrush. She had only managed to make her voice hoarse. All she had found was dread.

"Tara!" her voice was met with only an echo. "Tara! Where are you?!"

Ur muttered curses as she pushed past another thorn bush. Tara was her responsibility, dammit. She couldn't even take care of her for a day before everything went to hell.

"Tara!" This time a sound responded, interestingly enough, it was a low rumble. Ur glanced up to the darkening sky. A strong wind picked up once more and trepidation came over her. When the feeling of magic being present engulfed her she knew what was coming.

It wasn't as reckless as it was last time, more precise. Large too, she couldn't have outrun it even if she tried. She was immersed with green light and the air left her throat.

Gray stretched his weary muscles as he stepped off the train. He slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and glanced around. His dark blue eyes landed on a group of men standing to the side of the station. They were dressed in the uniform his magic battalion. He let out a sigh and made his way over to them. Here went nothing and everything.