Kids

by DD42

There are those who say that the future is not written in stone; that our destinies are ours to make. However, when a new group arrives at the doors of Fairy Tail, they will turn that theory upside down and then some (Multi-Pairing). *Cover art by Toni Boloni*

23. Chapter 18

A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and got to spend time with your families and get a ton of chocolate in the process (if there's one thing I love in life, its chocolate.) Sorry if this was a tad bit late; it took me longer to write this than I had hoped (I've been getting more hours at work again!)

So, the previous chapter revealed the long awaited truth behind the reason as to why the kids traveled back in time. Some of you were correct in the fact that the parents and the rest of Fairy Tail were K.I.A. But something tells me you weren't exactly expecting how it would play out; your reviews gave me that impression. The reason why I delayed revealing too much was to keep you guys guessing with the buildup and suspense; I wanted things to be just right for the reveal.

So…yeah, the future was pretty much screwed over for the kids and now it's up to them to fix it; no matter the cost. But how far are they willing to go? As I mentioned before, from the previous chapter and onwards, this story will be taking a turn for the dark side of things so I hope you're ready for what's to come. Seriously, when I say dark; I mean it.

Now, before we continue, there are two things I need to address.

One; this story now has cover art! Remember that fan art I mentioned that was provided by the wonderful Toni Boloni? That cover art is the sketch she sent me! So take a look if you want to but all credit goes to Toni Boloni.

Two; I now have one week of college left and it's devoted to final exams. I expect things to get busy for me until the second week ends, so I am telling you this ahead of time; this story may or will be updated late because I want to focus on studying. Expect a delay. It shouldn't be that long because I think I have two exams but they are on some tough subjects I need to focus on.

So, now that's out of the way; here is a shout out to you guys for your continuous support and encouragement! (Those last reviews were the most that I've received in a while.)

-Darkhope: Hello and welcome back! I haven't heard from you in so long, but, I can understand that you were busy. Life happens; believe me, I can relate. I'm glad you like the last chapter but I am sorry that I almost made you cry. Seriously; I really am sorry. I am really glad to hear that you like the story so much. Yeah, Chiara saw a lot of stuff no child her age should have to see. I wanted to do scene with her and Lyon but I chose to cut it. She does have her siblings so that makes up for most of her trauma. As for Igneel…well, the burden rests on his shoulders as the leader of his small group. The burden of responsibility.

-ichihime4: Hello and welcome back! I don't know if things are getting hot? Have you checked the thermostat? (…okay that was a lame joke, I'll admit that.) You were shaking; damn, I didn't know this story was having such an effect on you. Suspense does tend to make some stories better, wouldn't you agree? Don't worry, your message came across loud and clear. I'm making you sound old? No offense but how old are you? I'm 19 years old so I don't know age wise what to compare to.

-Mistwing: Hello! Yes, Future Aya has the time key and now the kids are in possession of it. That's all I'll say. I won't spoil anything but all will be revealed soon enough; just you wait. I will tell you that Knight's (Igneel and Lilly's celestial spirit) origins will be explained two chapters from now. I have a small section devoted to it that will hopefully assuage your curiosity.

-AyeeeItsCoco: Hello there, how are you? I'm glad you like the story so far. Aww, your making my shyness come out, surely my story isn't that unique for you? If it is then…damn, I must be doing really good! Yeah, killing off characters always brings a certain risk to it so I'm glad that I was able to pull it off. Not you too! I'm sorry for making you cry; I wasn't expecting those scenes to be that heartbreaking! I hope your family didn't hear you too, I wouldn't want your folks to be concerned over you because of me. The cloaked person and the ending shall be revealed in due time; one bridge at a time' just you wait.

-Toni Boloni: As always, welcome back! I know I apologized for this in the PM, but I am sorry for making you sad. Thank you for the compliment about the bad guys; I worked hard on trying to balance them out. The problem that I see with both the heroes and villains in some fic's is that they sometimes tend to be a little too overpowered. It's not really that practical. I try to find balance with my characters. I make them both strong and weak and I only add some overkill when I think it's necessary. I'm glad you like the details in this story; sometimes it's the little things you notice that really make a story wouldn't you agree? And, yes; I had to go on a rant! Your artwork is fabulous; I'm the one who feels honored that you took time out of your busy schedule to make something for my story. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for that.

-Felicialott081813: Hello and welcome to the story, I am very pleased to hear that you're enjoying it. Another "run-of-the-mill future children travelling to the past to see their parents," eh? Yeah I can see that happening for this story. But! I proved you wrong didn't I? Spread the word people, because this ain't your typical future kid's story! Anyway, I'm glad to know I defied your expectations and kept you hanging on for more with each chapter. Aw man, not you too! I'm sorry for making you cry; I didn't know the last chapter would be that moving! I'm really sorry! Well…I'm sorry to say this but this chapter and the next one might make you cry again so I apologize in advance. Your patience has been rewarded because here is the next chapter; enjoy!

-The Muffin Slayer: Hello and welcome to the story, I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. *Sigh* Sorry for making you sad, along with everyone else; I did not think the previous chapter would have that effect. I'm glad the whole time travel stuff makes sense to you, it took some planning on my part on how I wanted that to turn out. Yeah, the other mages formed tight bonds over the years so it's only natural that they would look after the children of their fallen comrades. As for what has become of future Sting and Millianna…well, you'll just have to wait and see. Ah, thank you for asking those questions; I'm more than happy to answer them. This story takes place sometime after the events of the Tartarus arc and whatever may come next so that makes this story AU. Tartarus was defeated and with them, the threat of Zeref since he was eventually defeated by Natsu. I would have explained this all in greater detail but I'm still reading the manga and it would have taken too much time for me to explain it all; right now, that is not the focus of the story. Don't worry about Mavis, she'll be making her appearance in due course. Aya is in no way shape or form connected to Zeref, I'll be explaining her motives in the next chapter, but I give you props for taking a guess. As for Jura and Gildarts; Gildarts died fighting by Cana's side when Magnolia was destroyed. He may be really strong but I doubt he could withstand an explosion that was the equivalent of a small, tactical nuclear warhead. Jura died protecting Lamia Scale when they were attacked by Aya and her group; despite his power, it was actually Wraith who killed him after a prolonged battle. Jura however was given an honorable, quick and painless death by Wraith. I hope this has answered your questions-enjoy the chapter; this one may have you cursing me but I hope you enjoy it none the less.

So, now that's done let's begin; the first half of this chapter will mainly be build up (with a surprise) before the action kicks in: *Don's pilot uniform and grabs speaker system* Attention all passengers, please return your trays to the upright position and fasten your seat belts; because you're in for one hell of a ride!

XXXX

CHAPTER 18: The Attack

XXXX

The next day…

The early morning light gently filtered through a crack in the closed blinds of the room, the scattered particles of dust that gently drifted through the air becoming illuminated. The light had slowly crept across the wooden floor and pierced the subdued darkness like a gentle trickle of water. The very tip of the light stopped at the edge of the king sized poster bed, as if sensing that its occupants did not want to be disturbed.

And, in a manner of speaking, they didn't.

Erza Scarlet lay on her front as her head rested on the chest of one Jellal Fernandes; her ear pressed softly to his skin as she listened to the gentle beat of his heart. Jellal's right arm rested on the small of her back while gently cupping the edge of her waist while his left arm lay propped next to his head. The bed sheets had been drawn over their nude bodies, thus keeping them warm and comfortable from the coolness of the room.

While Erza lay awake, Jellal slept silently as his chest slowly rose and fell with every breathe he took. The movement of his chest drew Erza's attention to Jellal's right pectoral where his Fairy Tail tattoo lay. Slowly, one fingertip at a time, Erza moved her hand from Jellal's sternum to the tattoo where she gently traced the mark.

Jellal's brow furrowed just for a second at the contact but he was otherwise undisturbed. Erza continued to trace the tattoo for several more minutes until she felt Jellal's hand make a similar motion on the sensitive skin of her lower back and side. Erza let out a gentle sigh as she watched Jellal slowly open his eyes and look at her through half lids. A small quirk of his lips passed for a smile.

The two didn't utter a word.

They didn't need to; they knew each other too well.

Couldn't sleep? Jellal silently asked.

Erza shook her head.

No.

Jellal rolled onto his side and pulled Erza close into his arms, his eyes never breaking contact with hers.

I'm sorry…about last night.

Don't be.

But it wasn't what you wanted.

I'd be a liar if I said that were true.

Erza slowly traced her hand from Jellal's tattoo, up his collar bone and the side of his neck until it gently rested on Jellal's cheek. She then used the tips of her digits to slowly and carefully trace Jellal's facial features. She started with his lips and worked her way around his chin, then to his left cheek, the gentle curve of his eyes and brow and finally coming back to where she had started.

Jellal raised his own hand and cupped Erza's close to his cheek.

I think it's what we both wanted…what we both needed. Erza silently said.

Was it?

…Yes.

Erza closed her eyes and gently rested her forehead against Jellal's.

"Did we rush things?" Erza finally asked with the gentle tones of her voice.

"Hmm?" Jellal asked.

"Us…this…did we rush things?"

Jellal paused as he thought over Erza's question…and looked back on the previous day's events.

The reveal by Igneel of the dark and bleak future that awaited Fairy Tail had come as a shock to all. It had been an emotionally draining experience and many of the Guild members had gone home shortly after or stayed in the Guild for the night. For those who had become closer with one another…they sought out each other's comfort.

Jellal and Erza were such a case.

Having done all that she could to comfort her daughter, Erza had left Senna to be alone with Igneel. Although she wanted to stay with Senna, Erza had let her go to be with the man she loved. The two had then disappeared to someplace private for the night.

Erza and Jellal didn't blame them for wanting to do so.

Jellal himself couldn't help but wonder how many times Senna had sought out Igneel at night for comfort in the darkness that had become of their future.

So, having left the Guild themselves, the two returned back the apartment they shared at Fairy Hills. The two were quiet the whole way to the building; neither dared nor knew a word to say to each other. They had stepped through the doorway and let it shut behind them, the sound echoing through the silence of the now night filled apartment.

Erza had stood with her back to Jellal as she stared forward at nothing in particular. Jellal, thinking of nothing to say to his shaken girlfriend, had done the only thing he could do. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. The two stood that way for a few moments before Erza turned herself around so that she was facing Jellal. With a simple movement of her feet, Erza stood on the tips of her toes as she slowly connected her lips with Jellal's. The simple kiss rapidly became something more and the two found themselves locked in a series of passionate lip locks. Pulling away for breathe, Erza had leaned next to Jellal's ear and whispered four simple words:

"Make love to me."

Jellal's answer was a simple one; he kissed her deeply before picking her up bridal style and carried her back to the bedroom.

Clothes were quickly and forcefully removed.

Limbs became intertwined with limbs.

Hands explored and tugged at skin and hair.

It wasn't slow and gentle as they had hoped for when the right time came.

No; it was passionate, wild and driven by emotion. The two felt the unshakable need to become closer to each other, to never feel the other's presence fade away from their senses. Minutes and hours quickly blurred together a Jellal and Erza became lost in each other. And when the limits of their passion were reached, the two collapsed into a dreamless sleep as they lay exhausted in each other's embrace.

Which is where the two mages found themselves, hours later.

The events still replayed over in Jellal's mind.

Had they rushed things? Had they done the right thing?

Given all that had happened, Jellal came up with a single conclusion.

"We did rush things." Jellal said, his eyes refocussing on Erza.

"But…it was the right thing to do."

"How so?" Erza asked with a quirk of her brow.

"We had just learned that Senna had watched us disappear from existence along with the only home she ever knew. That her world, as she knew it, was over in a matter of minutes…and that we were not there to help her; to comfort her…to protect her. We were overcome with shock and grief. It is only natural that we would want to find some way to make sure we were still alive…that we were still connected."

Jellal paused.

"We could have simply held each other or found some other way to fill the sense of loss we were filled with. But no…we rushed into passion and used that to mend the pain in our hearts."

Jellal brushed a stray strand of Erza's hair behind her ear.

"We did give into our selfish desires and rushed the bond that was mended. But it was the only thing we could do…and I wouldn't change it for anything."

Erza was silent as she contemplated Jellal's words. What he said was true…but the thought of losing him still troubled her heart and mind.

IF she lost him again…she didn't know what she would do with herself. Not after all that they had been through…after all they had gained.

Jellal seemed to sense Erza's thoughts and used his hands to frame her face.

"Erza." Jellal said, catching the scarlet haired maiden's attention.

"I will not let anything like that happen to us; I will not leave you behind. Not again."

Erza swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Promise?" Erza asked.

Jellal smiled a small smile.

"I promise."

XXXX

Juvia Lockser silently awoke to the glow of the morning light that filled her apartment. Blinking twice, it took her a second to realize that she wasn't alone in her large poster bed. Gray had spent the night with her, as he usually did now a days.

But ever since Igneel had revealed his most closely guarded secret, the other kids most closely guarded secret as well, Gray hadn't let her out of his sight…as if she would disappear when he turned his head. Juvia didn't mind in the least that Gray had kept her close the rest of the night…because in all honestly, she felt the same way he did.

No one could blame them for doing so.

After all, it's not every day one learns they've died a horrible death and that their children were left to face the end of their world shortly afterword's.

And speaking of children, Juvia extended her hand and gently ran her fingers through Chiara's hair as the little girl curled up closer to Gray while clutching her teddy bear close.

They had arrived back at Juvia's apartment late the previous evening. The reveal of the truth had been a tiring and somber affair and the Fullbuster's just wanted to rest. Although, Sam had gone back with Lilly to Natsu's house. He seemed to be the only who could comfort her pain.

Sleep had surprisingly come quickly for Gray and Juvia as they held each other close, but it was a dreamless one none the less. It was around midnight that the two were awoken by Chiara's muffled whimpers of "Daddy", "Mommy" and "Where are you?"

She was having a nightmare again.

Gray had surprised Juvia by getting out of bed, walking over to the couch where Chiara always slept, and carefully scooped his youngest child up into his arms. He ventured back over to the bed where Juvia pulled the covers back and let her daughter get settled in with Gray. Wrapping her fingers around Chiara's smaller ones, Juvia had whispered that everything was alright and that mommy and daddy were here now.

Chiara slowly calmed down and returned to a peaceful slumber.

Now, as she watched her daughter sleep, Juvia made a promise to herself. If she ever saw the mage with the spears, the one Sam had fought, the one that had helped tear her family apart; she would kill them. She would make them pay.

Juvia sighed gently and leaned forward, kissing Chiara's forehead.

Seeing as how she was now fully awake, Juvia figured she might as well get up.

Rising out of bed, Juvia donned her bath robe and was making her way to the bathroom when she noticed something, or to be correct, someone.

Near one of the large paned windows, Jenny leaned the glass as she starred absently outside at the waking world. She stood clad in her pajamas as she slowly wrung her fingers around two objects around her left wrist.

It looked like…bracelets?

Yes; there were three bracelets gently hanging from Jenny's wrist.

How had she never noticed those before, Juvia mused.

The thought then occurred to Juvia that Jenny kept her arms hidden beneath her poncho most of the time. The garment was wrist length, so it wasn't surprising that something's would go unnoticed.

"Jenny?" Juvia gently said, catching her daughter's attention.

Jenny was slightly startled by her mother's voice and looked over her shoulder at Juvia.

"Oh," Jenny said, "you startled me…I must have been zoning out or something."

Juvia smiled and walked over to her daughter.

"Sorry…you seemed to be lost in thought."

Jenny nodded.

"Just thinking about things…that's all."

Juvia knew what Jenny was referring to and thought best to not touch upon the issue. She then looked back at the bracelets Jenny kept gently touching.

"I've never seen those before…they're beautiful."

Indeed they were. The bracelets were made from thin, gently interwoven strands of silver with four blue cylinders attached to the front end of the bracelets, the silver running through the middle of the cylinders. It took Juvia a second to realize the small cylinders were filled with water; hence the blue tint.

Jenny smiled and looked at the bracelets.

"I don't suppose you have…they were a popular style at the time and were given to me as gifts."

"From who?"

Jenny pointed to the first band.

"This one I received as a gift for a job I completed. The woman was so impressed with my usage of water magic that she bought this for me the day before I went back home."

She pointed to the second.

"This one…this one was from you." Jenny said as she looked at Juvia. Juvia's eyes widened slightly.

"Me?" Juvia asked as she pointed at herself.

"Yes…it was my sixteenth birthday present. It was part of set actually; you had one and you gave me the other one."

A sad frown briefly appeared on Jenny's lips.

"I guess you know what happened to yours."

Juvia frowned and quickly decided to change the subject.

"And the third one?"

Jenny paused and stared at the third one for an extra minute, a sad smile gracing her features.

"That one is…was, from Selina."

"Selina?" Juvia asked as she cocked her head slightly, "As in Mira and Laxus's daughter?"

Jenny nodded, "Yeah…it was a promise gift we got for each other; that we'd be together forever. I got her a necklace and she got me this."

Juvia gave Jenny a warm but sad smile.

"You two must've been close, she sounds like a good friend."

Jenny nodded and licked her lips.

"Yes, we we're very close. But the thing is…," Jenny said before her tone became slightly hesitant, "We were more than "just friends"."

Juvia cocked her head slightly again.

"We were…," Jenny took a small breathe, "We were in love."

Juvia blinked once, then twice.

"Oh…" Juvia said.

Jenny gave her mother a hesitant look and realization dawned on Juvia.

"Oh." Juvia said, dragging the word out long and slow.

"You mean, you and Selina…were…no, are…" Juvia said as she began to fumble over her words.

"Gay?" Jenny said, answering her mother's question, "It's okay mom, you don't have to beat around the bush."

Juvia swallowed hard.

"H-how long have you known?" Juvia asked. Jenny smiled her sad smile and looked back at the bracelet.

"Selina and I had always been close, ever since we were little. She was my best friend…but I always felt a special connection to her. As we got older, I believe this connection grew stronger between us, but we really didn't know until after we had turned fourteen…or to be specific; our first kiss."

Tears began to form in Jenny's eyes but she held them back.

"We had just completed our first solo, tag team job. It was one of the first chances we got to be out on our own and away from home. It started to get late by the time we left the job and halfway home it was dark. We made camp for the night, lit a fire and just talked…and talked…and talked. I don't know why but we kept leaning closer to each other as time went on. Eventually we just stopped talking and were practically nose to nose before we realized it, our right hands having laced together."

Jenny moved one of the cylinders on her bracelet between her thumb and index finger.

"Selina just inched forward quickly and kissed me. I don't know what prompted her to do so…but oddly enough, I didn't mind. It felt natural. So I returned the kiss…and we never looked back. But…back in my time, before everything went to hell, Selina and I hadn't told you or Aunt Mira that we were together. We we're working up the nerve to do so."

Juvia was silent for a moment.

"Why…why didn't you tell me this before?" She asked.

"You never asked." Jenny said with the faintest hint of a sardonic smirk.

Jenny wiped her eyes before letting out short, tired laugh.

"I don't know why I told you any of this…you…you're not upset are you?"

Juvia had since recovered from her shock and balked at Jenny's question.

"What!?" Juvia said as she waved her arms in a frantic, disarming motion, "No…heaven's no; why would I!? I'm just…surprised, that's all."

Juvia stepped forward and brought her daughter into a gentle but firm hug.

"I…I have no reason to be upset with you. You are who you are. And if Selina is…or was…the person you fell in love with, who am I question that."

Jenny returned her mother's embrace as she felt hot tears slowly stream from her eyes. After a moment, the two pulled back.

Jenny wiped her eyes before unclasping her one bracelet from her wrist; her gift from the grateful woman. She took her mother's right hand into her own and clasped the bracelet to Juvia's wrist.

"What are you doing!? Wasn't that a gift!?" Juvia asked as she tried to remove the bracelet. Jenny stopped her mother by taking her hands in hers.

"It's just a memento mom…it's not that important to me as I made it out to be. The other two are the ones I really cherish. But…I want you to have something to remember me by…so that if anything happens to me, or if we're separated, we'll always be connected to each other. No matter where we are."

"As if I could ever forget you." Juvia said as she looked at the new addition to her wrist.

"Are you sure about this?"

Jenny nodded.

"I am mom...please, don't worry. It's yours now," Jenny held up her wrist showing her two remaining bracelets, "just like these are mine." Jenny then placed her wrist against her mother's so that the bracelets were touching. The water in the cylinders gave off a faint glow.

Juvia's eyes lit up when she saw this spectacle.

"Connected?" Juvia asked.

"Connected." Jenny said with a nod.

XXXX

Later-mid day; outskirts of Magnolia town….

The country side surrounding Magnolia Town varied depending on where one went. Towards the lake and river, thrived lush forests, fields and hills. Farther in land, the terrain would vary from rocky, sandy expanses of land to pine forests. However, on a rocky piled outcropping that offered a good view of Magnolia from a comfortable distance, something else was changing the terrain.

To the casual observer, it would seem that at certain points on the outcropping the shadows casted by the afternoon sun were beginning to shift and change. To the casual observer, they would merely pass this off as a trick of the light and move on.

Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Slowly, the shadows took form of six humans. These were none other than the exact same mages who had been involved in two separate fights with Fairy Tail.

The exact same mages who, if given the chance, would manipulate time and bring about a terrible future upon the world.

"So this is where those twerps live? Have to admit, it's not that bad a set up." Talon said as she stretched her arms over her head.

"We're here for the Master Key, not to sight see." Aya Higurashi said evenly as she lowered the hood of her cloak.

"Besides, the place is going to be blasted to bits anyway once we're through with it." Thorn said before glowering.

"But first thing's first; I need to find that little punk and pay him back for last time."

"Patience, Thorn, patience," Aya said, "You'll get your chance."

Aya looked down at her group members.

"You four know the plan; make your presence known and lure those kids to you. Right now they are the number one threat to our plans so eliminate them first. Once that is settled carry about the destruction of the town, its inhabitants and that Guild…understood?"

Aya's cohorts nodded in agreement.

"Then go."

The dragon skin, spear, sound and sword magic users disappeared in a quick flourish of shadow.

Aya turned to the more resent add on to the group; her mysterious cloaked guest.

"You'd better be right about this."

The newcomer smirked beneath their hood.

"I am my dear, I am," the cloaked person said, "Trust me. Today will mark the completion of your goal and the beginning of a new era…now, don't you think it's time we gave our hosts the proper greeting they deserve as well?"

Aya smirked, a dark cruel smirk. Her newest compatriot was right. Today marked the beginning of the beginning.

XXXX

Fairy Tail building; Main Hall…

Lucy Heartfilia sat at the bar counter with her long time best friend and now turned mate, Natsu Dragneel. The two mages sat in silence as they watched their son and daughter at their spot at the bar just a few seats down.

Igneel sat with his head resting on his fist, his elbow propped against the counter. Lilly silently took a sip of her drink while her bangs obscured her eyes.

In all actuality, it seemed that a perpetual silence was held over the Guild. Ever since the events of the previous night, it seemed as if people were afraid to speak. The kids and their parents had returned but mainly sat with their respective groups.

Many of the Guild members were still in shock from learning about the tragic events that unfolded years from now.

"Why?" Lucy said, her voice low and sad, "Why are people always trying to ruin our future?"

Natsu wrapped a comforting arm around Lucy and pulled her close as he gently kissed the top of her head.

"I don't know…perhaps it's just the way the world works sometimes." Natsu said as he gently rubbed his thumb back and forth across Lucy's shoulder.

"I guess there will always be people who just don't want to see others happy."

Lucy smiled a soft smile and gently took Natsu's hand into hers.

"I don't think it's that simple Natsu…but one truly never knows."

Lucy looked back at Igneel and Lilly, a concerned frown gracing her lovely features. Lucy watched as Mirajane slowly approached Igneel and poured him something to drink. Igneel gave Mira a small smile which Mira returned. Mira then averted her eyes in thought for a moment.

"Igneel," Mira said softly, "why didn't you tell me…about Selina and Kiri?"

Igneel sighed deeply and gently took Mira's hand into his and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry Aunt Mira…I really am," Igneel said, "but if I told you then, when you weren't ready, you would have been devastated."

Igneel sat up a little straighter.

"I couldn't do that to you…to everyone. We wanted to wait for the right time to tell you all but I guess that sort of thing is out of the question."

"Didn't you trust us?" Mira asked.

"We did and still do. Part of the problem is that we just weren't sure how to tell you. Two nights ago at the festival, we had reached a decision about that. We would break the news slowly and then let all the pieces fall in place. Guess it's now safe to say that, that plan backfired?"

Mira nodded sadly in understanding.

"I just…I just can't believe my daughters are gone. That everything we know is gone."

"…We won't let that happen." Igneel said.

"We'll stop Higurashi and her crew."

"Then what?" Lucy asked, catching her son's attention.

"When all is said and done…when you've," Lucy paused before saying the next word, not liking how it sounded, "When you've killed this Aya Higurashi; what will you do then?"

Lucy did not like the thought of killing someone; especially her son doing such an act. Killing went against everything Fairy Tail stood for.

Igneel frowned slightly.

"Killing these people is the only way to stop them from doing any of the things they committed in the future. Locking them up won't do a damn thing…they'll just find a way out and continue their efforts with renewed vigor."

Igneel lowered his head as he unconsciously rubbed his scar through his shirt.

"It's the only way…it has to be done."

Igneel then looked his hand as he flexed his fingers.

"As for when we're done…when all is said an over with…we'll make a new time gate and return back to our own time; back home. If all goes according to plan, the future will be saved. Everything will be back to the way it was before."

Igneel sighed and looked at Lucy, while also noticing that the entire Guild was paying attention to what he was saying.

"The thing is…when we go back…we won't remember any of this." Igneel said as he gestured at the Guild.

"The Guild…our time here…everything. We won't remember it. That's the thing with time travel. You can go back and remember everything…but when you return home; you'll just draw a blank."

Lucy felt a single tear run down her face when she heard that.

"No…that's…that's…" Lucy said as she began to choke up.

Igneel leaned off his stool and took Lucy into a gentle hug.

"It's horrible…it's not fair…I know. It sucks; but it is what it is. But it's a necessary sacrifice that must be taken; so that our future can be saved."

Igneel pulled back from Lucy and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"We won't remember, but you will. You all will. You'll be able to cherish the memories we made here in this the past."

Lucy smiled as did Natsu.

"Yeah…you're right." Natsu said.

Igneel opened his mouth to say something before he suddenly froze, his eyes widening in shock.

"Igneel?" Lucy said.

Igneel didn't answer.

"Igneel what's wrong?" Lilly asked in concern.

Igneel suddenly let out a cry of pain as he clutched at his chest, falling to his knees as he gripped the counter with a white knuckled grip.

"Igneel!" Lilly, Natsu and Lucy said in unison panic.

"It burns," Igneel gasped in pain, "it burns."

Igneel's eyes suddenly hardened as he clenched his teeth in anger.

"She's here," Igneel said, "they're here."

"What?" Natsu asked.

Suddenly, a tremendous amount of magical energy swept through the Guild Hall. It was powerful, it was dark and it was very, very familiar. The whole event lasted only a matter of seconds, but it was enough for the kids to realize what it meant.

"What was that?" Mira asked as she recovered from the shock the dark magic created.

"It's Higurashi and her team. They're here in Magnolia." Igneel said as he stood up with Lilly's help.

"They're back so soon?" Lilly asked.

"Some people just can't take a message." Senna added as quickly made her way to Igneel.

Makarov having felt the dark energy had stepped out his office along with Porlyusica, who Makarov had summoned to the Guild to fill her in on recent events.

"Igneel," Makarov said, "what does this mean?"

"They're calling us out Master Makarov," Igneel replied, "which means they want a fight."

Makarov frowned hearing this, the previous night's tale flashing through his mind.

"Igneel, seeing as how you and the others have the most experience in fighting these mages, what should we do?"

Igneel looked at Makarov and then around the Guild before standing atop a table.

"Alright, everyone listen up and listen good." Igneel called out, gathering everyone's attention.

"That dark energy you felt is courtesy of those dark mages I told you about last night; the same mages who want to destroy our Guild and the world we live in.

"Recent events have shown that my friends and I can match them in strength and power unlike we could in the future. That being said, that still doesn't mean that they can't cause some serious damage. A lot of people could get hurt or die if they get caught in the crossfire, so here is what we're going to do. Master Makarov, I want you to form teams and start evacuating as many people as you can out of town to a safe zone. Undoubtedly, when the fighting starts people will be scattered about so direct them to safety if you can. Happy, Carla, Lily," Igneel pointed to the Exceed who snapped to attention, "I want you three to go about town and spread the message to evacuate. Miss Porlyusica, I need you and a small group to set up an emergency triage in case anyone needs help."

"Finally, some sensible news today." Porlyusica muttered.

"What about you and the others?" Someone called out.

"My friends and I will handle our guests." Igneel said.

"This is our fight and we'll see it finished today. One way or another."

An explosion echoed out from somewhere in town.

"Damn it, they've already started; alright everyone, let's movie it!" Igneel said as he hopped down from the table.

As Makarov quickly set about making teams, Igneel called his friends together.

"Alright guys…looks like fate has given us another chance to set things right. From the feel of the magic, it looks like our targets have scattered themselves about town. That should mitigate damage and give us freedom to move about."

"And rip 'em limb from limb." Saito said as he punched his fist into his palm.

Igneel nodded.

"That's right. So here's how we're handling this; Saito you'll take Thorn, Sam will take Talon, Senna will handle Wraith and Jenny will take Shriek. Higurashi will be dealt with by Lilly and me. When we're outside, Lilly and I will summon Knight and equip our Celestial Armor; were taking no chances with this."

The group nodded in approval.

"This is it everyone. It's time for the payback we deserve. I want you all to be careful. No matter what advantage we have over them, they still could pull a fast one on us."

"Right!" The others said in unison.

"We're coming with you." A voice said.

The group turned to see their parents walking over to the group along with Laxus, Mira, Elfman and Evergreen.

"Dad-" Igneel began to say but was cut off by Natsu's raised hand.

"Let us speak." Natsu said.

"We're tired of seeing you guys fighting alone," Gray said, "so now it's our turn to get in on the action."

"By your side." Erza finished.

"Guys listen…we appreciate what you're doing but-" Igneel said only to be cut off again.

"But nothing," Lucy said, "We may not have been what you went through, but we've had our own fair share of fights that pushed us well past the edge. This fight will just be another one of them. Like it or not Igneel, we can be of use to you in a fight. Let us help you."

"Besides, don't we deserve a crack at them too for what they did to our kids?" Gajeel asked, "What kind of father would I be if I didn't slug the bitch who ruined my son's life."

"We all want to help end this as much you do." Jellal said.

Igneel was silent for a moment as he regarded the parents in front of him. Their eyes were filled with the legendary determination Fairy Tail had become known for.

Igneel smiled before shaking his head.

"There's no way I can talk you out of this?"

"Nope." Natsu said simply with his trademark grin.

"…Alright then," Igneel relented, "Mom, dad, you're with Lilly and me. The rest of you can go with your respective child."

"What about us?" Laxus asked, "We have just as much reason to get into this fight as you do."

"Yeah," Elfman said as he cracked his knuckles, "I want to find the one who killed my boy and personally break them in two."

Igneel shook his head.

"Sorry guys, we're taking enough risks as it is. I can understand why you want to fight; I really do. But you guys need to stay behind and help protect the others and the townspeople. If we fall, someone has to cover the evacuation."

"But we can help." Mira insisted.

"And like I said," Igneel said firmly, "I can understand why you want to. But please think of the bigger picture here. If something happened to one of you in combat, what would be the outcome? What would become of Kaito, Selina and Kiri? What then? I have no doubt that you could help, but for this I'm begging you to stay behind and let us handle this…we are more than capable of doing so."

Laxus made to protest but Mira gently placed her hand on his shoulder; a sad but understanding look on her face. Laxus hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh and nodding. Igneel was right.

"Just…just be careful. All of you." Mira said.

Igneel and his expanded group gave Mira a collective nod.

"And kick in their teeth for us while you're at it." Evergreen said.

"Count on it." Sam said.

Bidding a quick farewell, the groups began to split up.

"Igneel." Senna said causing Igneel to turn around.

Igneel did so and before he could answer, Senna brought him into a passionate kiss. Sam and Lilly did the same.

"Be careful." Senna said before moving back to her parents and Meredy.

"Always." Igneel replied.

The two parted but not before slowly unlacing their connected fingers.

"Don't do anything stupid, you here?" Lilly said to Sam as she rested her forehead against her mates, "Or I will drag you back from hell-"

"And kill you myself." Sam finished for Lilly, "Don't worry, this will be a cake walk."

"Cheeky bastard." Lilly said with a devious smirk before kissing Sam one last time.

"Ane-san?" Chiara asked, wandering over to Jenny as she did so, "Are you and ani-san going to fight the bad people again?"

Jenny nodded and took her sisters hand.

"That's right but Daddy will be with Sammy this time so the bad guys are going to get really, really hurt." Jenny said causing Chiara to giggle. Jenny then framed her sister's face with her hands.

"Chiara, listen and listen real good. I want you to stay with mommy until we come back okay?"

Chiara nodded her head and received a peck on the cheek from Jenny who then guided her over to Juvia, who had just given Gray a passionate lip lock of her own.

"You ready?" Saito asked Gajeel.

Gajeel smirked.

"I was born ready."

"Don't get too cocky, I don't want to bail your sorry ass out of the fire if it comes down to it." Saito said as he and his father clasped forearms.

"Ha, you'd love to see me squirm like that wouldn't 'cha?" Gajeel said.

Saito chuckled before his face became serious.

"Alright then…let's do this."

"Right." Gajeel said.

The two moved to leave but we're stopped when they felt a small set of hands clasp their wrists.

"Wait!" Levy said.

"What's wrong mom?" Saito asked as he turned around.

Levy bit her lip in hesitation.

"The…the other night in Crocus…I had a dream…" Levy said.

Saito frowned. What had her foresight predicted now?

"Everything was dark…you we're there and I tried to catch up to you but couldn't." Levy continued as her hands began to shake.

"But when I did…you were nowhere to found until I…I…" Levy said before her words became choked out in sobs, "I found you and Gajeel and there was…there was blood everywhere! I-I didn't know what to do!"

Levy suddenly found herself wrapped in Saito's arms as he held his mother close. Levy returned the embrace and buried her face into Saito's chest.

"I can't lose you two…if anything happens to you…"

Saito hushed Levy and slowly pulled back from her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Mom, listen to me. I promise, I will not let anything like that happen. Dad and I will be just fine."

"B-but the dream…"

"Can be altered. It was probably relaying what Igneel said about the future; not today. I'm stronger than I was in the future and I have kicked Thorn's ass already. I can do so again. Besides," Saito looked over his shoulder at Gajeel.

"I have dad on my side now. We can take her down easily."

Levy sniffed and clenched her hands before her chest.

"Saito…please…just promise me you'll take care of each other."

Saito smiled gently and kissed his mother on the forehead.

"I promise. Now get going, the townspeople need your help."

Levy could only nod and watch as her son and mate joined the others outside the Guild and venture off into town.

…But the feeling of dread never left her mind.

"Be careful…please," Levy silently pleaded, "come back to me."

XXXX

Saito and Gajeel: Magnolia Train Station…

As promised, Knight had been summoned and had invoked the power of the Celestial Armor upon his young masters and the other kids. Saito, although his Dragon Skin kept him protected from most of if not all attacks, felt a little more at ease now that he had a little extra juice to work with. He was dressed in the same way he was the day he arrived form the future and donned his Celestial Armor; a red sash wrapped tightly around his waist while a pair of armored shoulder pads were wrapped securely to his arms.

The runes that decorated his arms, shoulders, chest and torso glowed softly.

His hands were clenched at his sides and his glowing red eyes were narrowed slightly as he breathed evenly through his nose.

He was ready.

He was ready to fight Thorn and the other dark mages and end the fight that had taken so many lives.

Looking to his right where Gajeel walked side by side with his son, Saito couldn't help the small smile the formed on his lips beneath his Dragon Skin.

He felt honored to fight by his father's side…knowing that the two of them would finish this fight together as father and son.

"Are you ready?" Gajeel asked, his eyes turning to look at his son.

Saito nodded.

"Yeah…this has been a long time coming."

The father and son were soon entering the train station.

It was empty and quiet, the only sound coming from the hiss of the train engines as they sat idly at their stations. After the explosions had started, the station was immediately evacuated of all people once Pantherlily had arrived on scene and informed the station staff as to what was going on. Lily had then directed the crowds to the safe zone on the outside of town before proceeding elsewhere.

Now all that was left was for Saito and Gajeel to investigate the station since one of the dark magic signatures had originated from somewhere in the vicinity.

"This place is dead," Gajeel mused, "are you sure anyone's here?"

Saito didn't answer Gajeel. He instead stood stock still before cracking his knuckles by flexing his fingers. Saito nodded slightly, a gesture to their front.

The sound of boots echoing on the concrete of the main platform caught Gajeel's attention. Turning forward Gajeel watched as a woman materialized out form a cloud of steam.

"Well, well, look who we have here," Thorn said as clapped her hands together, "mister big shot himself."

Thorn smiled a wicked smile. Her attire simply consisted of a pair of black combat boots and pants and a grey tank top.

"I told you that we'd meet again, didn't I boy?"

Saito let a deep and threatening growl rise from his throat.

"I've been looking forward to this," Thorn said before noticing Gajeel, "And what's this; you brought a friend too? Isn't that a little unfair, ganging up on a poor defenseless woman like myself?" Thorn asked mockingly.

"Shove it bitch," Saito hissed, "I'm willing to play as dirty as I can get so long as you die."

"I second that." Gajeel said.

Thorn smirked.

"Confident aren't we? Let's see how far that gets you."

Thorn let her own Dragon Skin form to her body.

"Ready to settle where we left off boy?" Thorn asked as she took a combative stance.

Saito flared his hands out as his fingers turned into razor sharp blades. Gajeel let his Iron Dragon Scales and Iron Dragon's Sword form to his body.

Thorns eyes squinted as a hidden grin formed on her face.

"Then let's finish this." Thorn said.

And the three mages charged towards each other.

XXXX

Igneel and Lilly; Market District…

The streets of the Market District, which were usually packed with townspeople and vendors, was eerily deserted as the quartet of mages and one Celestial Paladin made their way down the main street.

"This place is always so packed. The only time I see it this empty is when it's either raining or its night out." Lucy said.

"Yeah…kinda weird seeing it like this in broad daylight." Natsu added.

"Eyes open you two," Igneel said, his head facing forward, "I sensed Higurashi somewhere around here. She can manipulate shadows and could be anywhere."

"That's kind of a creepy thought." Lucy said as she scanned her surroundings, two of her spirit keys already in hand.

"You don't know the half of it." Lilly said as she narrowed her eyes while playing with her braid; courtesy of her Celestial Armor being equipped.

"Know what girl?" A voice said.

The mages and Knights head snapped to a nearby building where a cloaked woman sat atop the edge of the roof, her legs playfully dangling.

"You." Lilly hissed.

"Yes, me." Aya Higurashi said as she stood, removed her cloak and hopped off the top of the building, her shadow magic gently guiding her down all the way.

"We meet again boy," Aya said as she looked at Igneel, "and so soon if I might add."

"Wish it were longer." Igneel bit back.

Aya smirked as she let the Igneels tone slide off of her.

"And you brought friends too, how nice." Aya said as she looked at Natsu and Lucy.

"Cut the crap lady," Natsu said, "why are you hear? Eager to have your ass handed to you again?"

Aya let out an amused huff through her nose.

"Ah, you must be referring to the other night. I admit I was cut off guard and overwhelmed by this young man and woman's strength."

Aya let out a sad sigh as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"You two and your friends really threw a wrench into things the other night…but not again. Me and my associates are ready this and when this is over, I will have the Master Key and this backwater you call a home will wiped from the existence."

Aya then looked back at Igneel with a menacing smile on her lips.

"And you boy…oh, I have something special planned for you."

Igneel met her smile with a fierce glare of his own.

"Go ahead and try." Igneel said referring to both of Aya's statements.

"Is that a challenge?"

"See for yourself; open gates of the Golden Bull and Goat!" Lucy said as she summoned Taurus and Capricorn.

"What is it you need Lucy-sama?" Capricorn asked as he gave a courteous bow.

"What does my favorite lady need on this fine day!?" Taurus energetically asked.

"Take her down you two." Lucy said as he pointed at Aya.

"Knight, go with them." Igneel said and Knight drew his sword as he stepped in between Taurus and Capricorn.

"Yes sir." Knight said as Taurus and Capricorn took up his left and right flank.

"It's an honor to fight by your side once again Knight-sama." Capricorn said.

"Yeah, it's been ages since the three of us were in a good fight together." Taurus said.

"Stay focused gentlemen." Knight said, his voice taking a commanding tone. He then held his claymore at a diagonal angle before bolting forward, his cape billowing behind him.

Quickly approaching Aya, Knight performed a series of quick slashes with his sword. Aya nimbly dodged each attack before blocking a strike with a shadow shield. The impact of the strike caused the ground beneath Aya's feet to crack.

Aya only smirked as Knight's glowing white eyes squinted in anger from behind his visor.

"Take this; Rampage!" Taurus called out as he brought his axe down from his aerial strike.

Knight leapt out the way as Taurus's earthquake grade attack split the street Aya was standing on in two and shattered it. Aya, slightly taken by surprise by the attack, lost her footing. It was all Capricorn needed to deliver a quick but powerful palm heel strike to Aya's abdomen. Aya grunted in pain as she was sent back but back flipped into the force generated by the attack.

Aya landed low with her hands on the ground in front of her, her smirk still on her face.

"It's almost like she's enjoying this." Knight said aloud as he let go of the building he had grabbed onto.

"Is it wrong of me to say that's oddly a bit of a turn on?" Taurus asked sheepishly making Natsu, Lucy, Igneel and Lilly cringe. Even Aya arched an eyebrow when she heard this.

Knight slowly looked at his fellow Celestial Sprit.

"…What in the hell is wrong with you?" Knight asked.

Capricorn palmed his face.

"Damn masochist." He grumbled.

"I don't mind," Aya said in a taunting manner, "I actually find that to be kinky."

Her response was a series of energy blasts from Ingeel. Aya quickly dodged the attacks before facing Igneel once again.

"You have a bland sense of humor, don't you boy?" Aya asked.

"Oh, I'm going to so enjoy wiping that smug arrogance of yours off your face." Igneel growled.

"I'd love to see you try."

Hissing, Igneel, Natsu and Lilly charged forward.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu and Lilly said as they combined their fire magic. The large jet of flame quickly surged at Aya who blocked it with shadow shield. Even behind her shield, Aya could feel the scorching heat form the attack and grunted as her shield began to glow a fiery orange.

Igneel suddenly jumped out of the fire from Aya's left, catching her off guard and then knocked back as he delivered a jump kick that connected with Aya's chest. Landing and pivoting on his foot, Igneel used his momentum to deliver a straight punch, spin kick and finally a four knuckle strike. Each attack was landed successfully and Aya was knocked back even further.

Breathing deeply as she recovered, Aya wiped some blood from her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You have some fast hands boy," Aya said before glaring slightly at Igneel, "I'll give you that much."

Ingeel cracked his neck.

"I had a good teacher, what can I say?" Igneel said before leaping up and allowing Natsu to rush under him.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu said as he brought his right fist forward…only to have it caught in Aya's shadow covered left hand.

"She caught it!?" Natsu said in alarm as the shadow and fire flared against each other.

Natsu attempted to punch with free hand, only to have it blocked by Aya's right.

"Careful Salamander," Aya said, "Play with fire and you get burned."

"Why you…" Natsu said through gritted teeth.

"Let him go you bitch!" Lilly cried out as she charged forth from the side after a quick wall run.

Calling upon her enhanced Celestial Armor magic, Lilly spun her right foot out.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Lilly roared and successfully nailed Aya in her stomach which caused her to let go of Natsu as she was sent sprawling back. However, she quickly regained her footing and dusted herself off.

"The hell?" Lilly thought, "Even with my strength in this time period and my Celestial Armor, she took that like it was nothing…what gives?"

Aya looked at the group before her one at a time.

"It would seem that I am at a disadvantage here," Aya said evenly, "why don't we change that?"

Aya's body began to take on a living shadow like form.

"Boy!" Aya called out to Ingeel making his nostrils flare, "Catch me if you can." Aya said before darting off.

Lilly let out a rage filled growl.

"GOD DAMN IT; STOP RUNNING AWAY!" Lilly screamed as she rushed after Aya's retreating form…

…Only to be sucker punched by a cloaked combatant.

Lilly was sent flying but was quickly caught by Capricorn.

"Are you alright?" Capricorn asked as he held Lilly in cradled arms.

"Fine," Lilly said bitterly as she spat out a wad of blood, "Who the fuck is that!?"

Igneel glared at the newcomer as Lilly was set down next to him while Natsu and Lucy quickly joined his side.

Igneel immediately knew something was wrong…but what?

"I have no idea," Igneel said, "but whoever they are, they're obviously working with Higurashi."

Natsu's nostrils flared.

"Oi; who the hell are you!?" The dragon slayer questioned.

"A mutual friend of sorts," the cloaked new arrival said simply, their voice indicating they were a woman, "If you could call it that."

Igneel glared at the newcomer. Something was defiantly wrong; his instincts were screaming bloody murder at him that there was something off with this cloaked person.

"Ingeel." Knight said, snapping Igneel back to reality.

"Go after Higurashi…we'll handle this one."

Igneel frowned in concern.

"Are you sure?"

Lilly gave her twin a confident punch on the shoulder.

"Take her down bro, we got this. Whoever this schmuck is, we outnumber them six to one."

"Yeah," Natsu added, "we can take her."

Igneel held everyone's confident stares for a moment before relenting.

"Alright, but watch each other's backs; got it?"

"Go get her Igneel." Lucy said imploringly.

Igneel nodded before running off in search of Aya. He passed the cloaked woman and expected her to attack him as he ran by.

She didn't.

Perplexed beyond belief, all Igneel could do was look over his shoulder as he ran on.

The stranger returned the gesture before slowly turning their head back forward. Igneel got the distinct impression that whoever it was beneath the cloak was smiling a dark smile at him. Pushing the thought away, Igneel pressed on.

"Don't worry about him. Whatever the bitch throws at him, he'll return two fold." Lilly said as she addressed her parent's concerned looks.

"Yes, I wouldn't worry about him." the stranger said catching the group's attention and making them snap back into defensive or combative stances.

"After all," the stranger said as two black blades slowly emerged from beneath her cloak, "I am your opponent now…which means there are far more worse things to be worried about."

XXXX

With Saito and Gajeel…

"LOOK OUT!" Gajeel said as he ducked beneath the shipping crate that had been hurled at him and Saito.

The wooden crate barley missed the father and son as they ducked low to the floor. Saito immediately punched his fist into the concrete and a series of black spikes erupted from the ground and quickly splintered their way to the ticket booth Thorn was standing on. Thorn saw the attack coming and leapt from her perch just as the booth exploded into fragments of wood and glass.

Seizing the momentary distraction, Gajeel fired his Iron Dragon's Club at Thorn. The magically enhanced fist connected with Thorn's jaw and delivered a resounding and sharp crack as the two sets of armor met. Thorns head was only snapped back slightly as glared at Gajeel. Her hands quickly shot up and latched onto Gajeel's extended arm. Before he could retract his arm, Thorn deftly pulled him forward with enough force that the distance between the two had been covered in a matter of seconds. Thorn's hand snapped out and she delivered a precise fingertip strike to Gajeel's chest.

Gajeel was sent tumbling back the way he came before he collided with a support pillar to the train station.

Slowly standing, Gajeel tasted copper in his mouth.

Before Thorn could strike again, she blocked a surprise attack from Saito with her forearm without even looking. Dragon Skin grinded against Dragon Skin as orange sparks flared from Saito's knuckles.

Thorn looked sideways at Saito and by the way her eyes squinted, Saito could tell she was smirking.

"How's it feel to be the one having their ass kicked this time around?"

Saito growled and delivered a quick sweeping kick to Thorn's legs, knocking her down to the ground. Saito brought his fist down into the concrete just as Thorn rolled away. Arching her body and legs, Thorn delivered a punishing knee strike to Saito's head, knocking him away. Saito recovered quickly and took a defensive stance as Thorn rose to her feet as well before quickly moving in on Saito.

Saito blocked a series of jabs, crosses and hooks with his forearms while retaliating with a series front, side piercing and fast kicks. Each attack was countered by the other.

"What gives?" Saito thought, "Last time I was kicking her ass and now were matched?"

"Iron Dragon's Roar!" Gajeel yelled as his signature metal shard infused attack barreled down on Saito and Thorn. Seizing what time he could, Saito fired a jet black spike into Thorn's leg before back flipping away.

Temporarily immobilized, Thorn was enveloped in the attack as she disappeared in a blast of smoke and shattered concrete.

"Nailed her." Gajeel said as he grinned a triumphant grin.

The smoke cleared…only to reveal a still standing Thorn. Her tank top had been shredded by the attack, thus leaving her chest and torso exposed and her pants were ripped to the point that they might as well be considered short shorts. If Thorn was bothered by her sudden transition to partial nudity, she didn't show it or acknowledge it.

Thorn grabbed the spike still lodged in her leg and ripped it out, the wound instantly healing.

"Seriously," Thorn said, "hasn't he told you anything? Only Dragon Skin can defeat Dragon Skin. What on Earthland were you hoping to accomplish?"

Gajeel grinned again.

"Oh, I know," Gajeel said as he jerked his thumb at Saito, "I was just giving him the opening he needed."

"What?" Thorn looked at Saito.

Smirking beneath his armor, Saito raised his hand and snapped his fingers. The spike, which was still in Thorn's hands, suddenly emitted a sharp light blue glow as it rapidly cracked to pieces.

"Shit." Was all Thorn said before the spike detonated in a massive explosion.

"Oh hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Gajeel said as he slapped Saito on the back.

"Man, I have got make sure I learn how to do that."

"In due time; let's check the body and make sure she stays down."

The father and son duo quickly wandered over to where Thorn had been standing. Judging from the blast pattern and the significant amount of blood, Saito and Gajeel saw Thorn had been blown away into a nearby train's freight car.

Cautiously looking inside, the two found…nothing.

Only a small pool of blood.

"What the fuck? Where is she!?" Gajeel asked in shock.

"Looking for me?" a voice said from behind.

Spinning around, Saito and Gajeel found that Thorn had somehow managed to slip behind them; her left arm however, was missing.

"When…how?" Gajeel asked.

Thorn cracked her neck.

"Is that the best you could do? If it is, then I am well and truly disappointed." Thorn said in annoyed tone. For a woman who had just lost her arm, she was remarkably composed.

Then, the blood leaking form the hole in her shoulder suddenly stopped before receding back into her shoulder. With a disgusting snapping sound, Thorns arm suddenly regenerated back to where it had been.

"WHAT!?" Saito said in horror.

"That…that was one of my strongest attacks. You shouldn't have been able to recover from that; even with the healing factor, your arm should have taken an hour to return, hell: you should be dead!"

Thorn let out a dark chuckle.

"Oh you'd be surprised what I'm able to do now…Saito Redfox."

Saito froze in place.

"I…I never told you my name…how do you know that?"

Thorn chuckled again.

"How do you know my name!?" Saito snapped.

Thorn's laughter subsided as she cracked the bones in her new left wrist and hand.

"Let's just say that you and I share a mutual friend." Thorn said vaguely.

Before either Saito or Gajeel could respond, Thorn flared her magical energy.

Unlike before, it was purely dripping with darkness and killing intent.

"As much as I'm loathe to admit it, I've found our little fight to be rather dull. I expected you to put up a better fight…but if this is all I'm going to get, then I might as well just wrap things up here and move on."

The runes on Thorns body began to glow even brighter as her magical signature increased two fold.

There was the sound of flesh ripping and bones snapping as six spine like appendages emerged from Thorns back. It was soon followed by a very long and winding tail that was spine like in appearance with a sharpened point at the end. The tail soon wrapped itself around Thorn in an eerily sensual motion.

For all intents and purposes; Saito's blood had frozen in his veins.

"No…" Saito whispered in sheer terror.

"Impossible."

No matter how hard he had tried, the form Thorn had taken was something that had haunted his nightmares for over two years.

"What…what is that…what is she?" Gajeel asked in shock.

Saito swallowed hard.

"That's…that's her future form." Saito's voice was hoarse.

Thon let out a disturbing cackle.

"Believe it buddy boy!"

"H-how…there's…there's no way…" Saito said as he shook his head slowly.

"Remember that mutual friend I was talking about?" Thorn asked.

"What are you talking abou-"

Realization suddenly struck Saito as his eyes turned into saucers. If Thorn had acquired her future form…then that meant Igneel and the rest of his friends were about to…

"Oh my God…" Saito looked to Gajeel in panic, "the others!"

"Eyes forward boy!" Thorn called out.

And then she was upon him. Slamming her open palm into the side of Saito's head, the armored mage punched the younger mage right through the train car she been blasted into. Careening through in a hailstorm of metal and wood, Thorn hurled Saito into the engine of a parallel train. The metal crumpled around Saito as steam and ash were belched from the engine as it crumpled like tin foil. Grabbing Saito by his leg, Thorn pried him out of the wrecked engine, quickly tossed him up, grabbed his neck and choke slammed him into the floor.

Saito gasped in pain but it was quickly silenced and replaced by violent hacking as Thorn smashed her foot into his gut. The force from the attack was so powerful that Saito instantly coughed up blood as the ground cratered beneath him. Grabbing Saito one more time, Thorn lifted him up and tossed him back the way he came.

The whole event had lasted more than a few seconds.

"Saito!" Gajeel called out in panic.

Gajeel could only watch as his son came flying back and crashed into a nearby wall a couple feet away. Slumping against the wall Saito could do nothing as his Dragon Skin faded from his body; his concentration broken and his internal injuries demanding his healing factors attention.

"That was satisfying." Thorn said as she hopped back onto the platform.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Gajeel roared in anger as he swiped at Thorn with his Iron Dragon's Thorn.

Thorn simply side stepped the attack and delivered a sharp knee kick to Gajeel's right ribs. With the wind knocked out of him, Gajeel fell to his knees.

"Too slow." Thorn said.

Gajeel's world suddenly exploded in white hot pain. Coughing up blood, Gajeel slowly looked at the source of his pain; his right abdomen.

Jutting out and through his flesh, like a jet black shard of Shrapnel, was the tip of Thorn's tail. Gajeel found himself slowly lifted off his feet as he groaned in agony.

Thorn began to cackle.

"Like I said before; boring and pathetic."

With a flick of her tail, Gajeel was tossed a few feet away from Thorn as he cried out in pain. The wound was deep and he was losing blood via his front and back.

"I'd be lying if I said, I had enjoyed our little match. You kept me entertained for the entirety of a few minutes before the luster wore off."

Thorn gave a casual shrug of her shoulder and raised her tail as it began to elongate.

"Oh well…can't be helped. At least you let me test out my new power, so for that," Thorn said as her tail snaked out in front of her, "I'll make your death quick before I handle that meddlesome boy of yours."

The tail launched itself forward at blinding speed, angling itself for his head.

Knowing what was about to come, Gajeel instinctively closed his eyes; hard.

"DAD!" Gajeel heard Saito scream.

"Saito, I'm sorry…Levy…I love you..." Gajeel thought as he braced for the immeasurable pain he was about to face.

CRUCNH

SQUELCH

XXXX

Senna, Erza, Jellal and Meredy; Kardia Cathedral…

Steel clashed with Steel as Senna's Katana met Wraith's broadsword. Grunting in exertion, Senna's sword began to grind in a slow shower of sparks as Wraith held steadfast.

Their battle had commenced just outside of the Cathedral located near the center of town. Senna, her parents and her Aunt Meredy had found Wraith waiting on the steps of the Cathedral, his sword sheathed and patiently waiting.

"We meet again you lady…as I said we would." Wraith had said as he drew his sword.

"Indeed you did." Senna bit out.

"It seems you have brought guests to our little duel."

Senna smirked.

"You didn't think I'd come alone did you?"

Wraith slowly shook his head as he observed Erza, Jellal and Meredy.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't."

Wraith looked back at Senna.

"Shall we commence where we left off?" Wraith asked as he took a stance.

"Let's!" Senna said, quickly drawing her sword.

Senna had quickly summoned her Heaven's Wheel Armor as did Erza. The mother and daughter charged forth and attacked with their blades. Wraith held them off by blocking both strikes before leaping back and dodging a swipe of Ezra's sword.

Parrying another attack form Erza, Wraith backhanded Erza away before countering Senna.

"Senna get back!" Jellal said as he aimed his hand at Wraith.

Senna quickly did so and Jellal fired his Heavenly Beam spell at Wraith. Wraith deflected six of the beams with his sword before doing something unexpected. When the seventh beam met Wraith's sword, rather than causing damage, the blade absorbed the attack muck like the way lighting does to a lightning rod. Quickly aiming the sword at Jellal, Wraith fired the beam back at Jellal.

The attack was stopped when Erza intercepted the attack with her Adamantine Armor.

Wraith spun his blade once around his hand and held it in a vertical grip.

"How did he do that?" Jellal asked as Erza reequipped a different set of armor, "That's never happened before; that shouldn't have happened."

"I don't know myself but stay on your toes." Erza said as she charged forth again.

Meredy decided it was time for her to act.

"Maguilty Sodom!" Meredy said, casting her signature attack.

The teal magic blades surged from the pinkette's hand and swarmed Wraith.

The swordsman quickly dodged and weaved through most of the swords, even deflecting one or two with his own. However, one blade managed to hit Wraith above his knee, causing him to hiss in pain and faltering in his defense. Senna was given the perfect opening she needed and charged Wraith.

However, she underestimated his pain tolerance. Wraith had quickly recovered from Meredy's strike and blocked Senna's strike.

Which is where they found each other now.

"Even with my Celestial Armor, he is able to fend off my attacks; how did he get so strong so quickly?" Senna thought.

The blades continued to grind against each other.

"You are gifted young lady," Wraith said, his voice not straining like Senna's, "but it would appear that you and I are now evenly matched."

Senna growled. Erza suddenly appeared from behind, her Purgatory Armor equipped. Erza let out a war cry as she brought her armors signature spike sword down upon Wraith.

Without missing a beat and without looking, Wraith maintained his blade lock with his left hand before holding up his right hand in a fist and taking the blow from Ezra's attack.

The stone beneath his boot's shattered as a small crater formed beneath Wraith.

Both Senna and Erza's eyes widened in utter astonishment. The Purgatory Armor was one of Erza's strongest sets; Wraith's arm and should have been ripped clean from its socket.

Using their slight hesitation to his advantage, Wraith knocked Senna back with a powerful snap kick before spinning and pivoting on his foot and slashing across Erza's chest with his sword.

Erza cried out in pain as the blade pierced her armor and cut her skin.

"Erza!" Jellal called out in panic before letting out and angered battle cry and attacked Wraith with his Meteor spell.

Meredy fired her Maguilty Rays at Wraith, keeping him on his toes and allowing Jellal to attack. With a powerful uppercut, Wraith was sent flying back through the doors of the cathedral. Performing a quick recovery, Wraith plunged his sword into the ground to slow his descent and was halted just before reached the alter.

Back outside, Jellal and Meredy crouched by Erza's side as Senna ran into the cathedral after Wraith.

"Erza, are you alright!?" Jellal asked as he helped Erza to her feet.

"It's just a scratch, nothing too serious." Erza said even though she winced in pain.

"Don't worry about me, just get back into the fight."

Jellal and Meredy nodded grimly but knew Erza could handle the pain. The trio quickly made their way up the steps and into the Cathedral where they found Senna and Knight starring each other down.

"How did you get to be so strong so quickly?" Senna asked as she glared at Wraith.

Wraith had risen from his crouched stance.

"An intervention of sorts…if it could be called that." Wraith said.

"What do you mean?"

"My master was approached by an uninvited guest who had knowledge of our plans. Knowledge she used to give us a temporary boost in power and strength."

Erza continued to glare at Wraith. This new information was extremely unsettling and-

"That very same guest is currently doing battle with female Fire Dragon Slayer and the Light Caster."

Senna's thoughts instantly halted when she heard those words.

"Igneel!" Senna thought in panic.

"You stay away from him!" Senna hissed with venom.

"My fight is not with him, it is with you," Wraith said as he pointed his sword at Senna, "if I were you, I would focus on the fight at hand and not the one concerning your lover."

This only seemed to anger Senna even more.

"I have to end this and end this soon…but how?" Senna thought.

She wracked her brain for ideas until one came to her attention.

It was desperate, reckless and was to only be used as a last resort. But she needed to do so in order to stop Wraith and get to Igneel and Lilly.

Taking a calming breathe, Senna used her Heaven's Wheel Armor to summon ten, intricately looking swords that floated upside down around her. Her nerves calmed, Senna looked back over her shoulder to where Erza, Jellal and Meredy were standing.

Senna smiled a sad, small smile.

"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do…but it's the only way I can fight him."

Before the three mages could question Senna, the young swordswoman had turned back to Wraith. She then extended her hands to her sides, her Katana pointing down. The newly summoned swords hovered high into the rafters of the Cathedral as they formed a large and perfect circle.

"Seeing as how I can't stop you with magic and how we are now matched in equal strength magic wise; let's say you and I settle this the old fashioned way?"

Senna brought her sword down into the floor and the hovering swords followed. Burying themselves deep into the stone floor of the cathedral and shattering the wooden pews they punched through, the swords began to glow a bright blue.

"Sword Magic Special Technique: Magic Cancelation Circle!"

The swords flared to life and a blue barrier made from connecting octagons instantly formed around the perimeter created by Senna and went high into the rafters.

Senna's armor quickly disappeared and Wraith noted that he could not sense his magical signature. He then looked at the barrier behind him and tapped his sword against it. The barrier pulsed and pushed the bade back.

Senna and Wraith were now locked in with each other.

"Senna!" Erza cried out and ran to the barrier, slamming her hands against it, "What are you doing!?"

Senna did not answer her mother and instead focused on Wraith as he cocked his head inquisitively at Senna.

"This barrier completely nullifies any and all magic within its interior. That means no special attacks and no spells. This spell can only be deactivated by me and me alone."

"A duel to the death, is that what you are suggesting?" Wraith asked.

Senna nodded and brought her sword to bear. Wraith quietly observed Senna for a moment before spinning his sword two times around his hand and bringing it into a horizontal grip.

"I admire your courage young lady. I personally find this form of combat to be the most honorable form of fighting. No magic, no interference and the simple rule of last man standing."

Wraith flexed his fingers on his swords grip.

"Very well, if it is a duel you want…"

Wraith bolted forward.

"…A duel you shall have!"

XXXX

Sam and Gray; South Gate Park…

"You look tired boy, you feeling alright?" Talon asked mockingly as she placed her hand on her hip.

Sam and Gray stood a distance away from the Spear mage and amongst the destruction that had become of the park. The two mages were covered in cuts and sweat as they panted for breathe.

Talon had been running them ragged ever since they had made contact with the crazed mage.

Sam and Gray had surprisingly found Talon sitting on swing set, humming happily to herself as she carelessly let her feet dangle from the chair.

Not taking any chances Sam, covered in his Celestial Ice Armor, and Gray had slammed their hands onto the ground and caused a series of large ice shards to burst form the ground and zig-zag their way to the swing. Just when she was at the apex of her swing, Talon let go of the chains, flipped through the air and landed on the top of a tree. The swing set on the other hand had been blasted to pieces.

"Aw, that wasn't very nice," Talon said in a mock, condescending tone, "sneaking up unannounced like that and ruing my fun."

"The only thing that's going to be ruined here is your face by the time I'm through with it." Gray said as he formed an ice lance while Sam made his dual ice swords.

"Looking for a fight are we?" Talon said as she drew a spear from her pack, "Good."

Talon then scowled and pointed her spear at Sam.

"I've been looking to pay you back since our last fight. Not only did my boss nearly rip me apart when we failed to get that stupid key, you ruined a perfect opportunity for me and Talon to get some serious nookie; that job was setting the mood you hear, the mood!"

Sam and Gray cringed while sweat dropping at the same time.

"Uhm…that's a little too much information." Sam said as he felt a shiver run up his spine.

"Yeah…I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that." Gray said.

Talon shrugged in a nonchalant manner.

"What ev's; all I'm saying is that you are in for some serious payback from me."

"Go ahead and-"

A spear flew past Sam's cheek, chipping his face armor as it did so.

"-try?" Sam finished as he looked over his shoulder at the spear embedded behind him.

"…Shit." Was all Sam said before Talon followed up with another spear, and then another and then another.

Sam and Gray quickly found themselves deflecting and dodging the hailstorm of steel as Talon picked up her pace without breaking a sweat. They couldn't dodge every attack however. Although Sam was protected from the spears, he felt every hit that nicked or scrapped his armor and Gray found that he had several new scars soon to be added to his shoulders and forearms.

"How many of these damn things does she have!?" Gray asked as he changed his lance to a shield and sword combo.

"Infinite!" Sam said as he chopped tow spears in half midflight.

"You got to be shitting me!" Gray said as he deflected a spear with his shield.

"Wish I were!" Sam answered back.

Talon suddenly leapt down from the tree and charged Gray and Sam, two short spears in hand. Jumping high, Talon combined the two spears to make a double bladed weapon, and spun the combined spears around her hands before bringing the one end down on Gray's shield.

The ice shield cracked from the impact as the blade punched through and barely missed Gray's nose. The new weight on his arm forced Gray to painfully bend back as Talon performed a gymnastics grade spin using her spear and kicked Sam in the face.

Before the two could retaliate, Talon ripped her spear from the shield, breaking it as she did so, and flipped away from the duo.

"Not bad for a lanky girl like me, wouldn't you agree?" Talon asked as Sam and Gray glared at her.

"Didn't you kick her ass last time?" Gray whispered and earned a nod from Sam.

"Yeah…but something's different…something's off about her." Sam replied.

"Whatever it is, it's not going to stop us." Gray said as he formed his Ice Bow.

"Ice Make: Arrows!" Gray said and fired a volley at Talon.

Talon countered the attack by rapidly drawing a set of spears in each hand, tossing them up and then aiming her hands forward. The spears corrected themselves and intercepted the arrows; both attacks destroying each other.

Gray could only look on wide eyed.

"Nice try," Talon said as she grinned wickedly, "but you're going to have to do better than that."

Gray made to draw a set of arrows but Talon ran forward, pol vaulted off the ground and landed by crashing her feet into Gray's chest; knocking him back with a gasp of pained breathe.

"Dad!" Sam cried out before turning to Talon and thrusting his Ice gauntlets at the Spear Mage. Sam's knuckles met the strengthened wood of the spear as Talon blocked the attack.

"Dad!?" Talon said, "Gray Fullbuster is your daddy!?"

Talon let out jovial cackle.

"Now that I think about it, you do look like freezer brain over there."

Sam let out a deep growl from within his throat.

"But…then again, I already knew that…"

Talon smirked darkly as she felt Sam pause slightly.

"…Sam Fullbuster."

"What!?" Sam said, his voice coming out in a whisper.

Talon didn't answer but continued to grin as she kicked Sam back and slashed at him with the end of her spear; breaking a section of his ice mask off.

Sam glared at Talon as he felt a cut open on his cheek. Gray had recovered by then and had charged Talon. Before the father and son knew it, they had been dragged into a melee as Talon proceeded to cut and batter them into an ever losing battle.

…Which is where they found themselves now.

"Damn it, this bitch has us outmatched." Gray said as he spat a wad of blood from his mouth.

Sam could only nod in response. The armor covering his chest, abdomen and upper arms had been broken along with half of his face mask.

"Oh, you don't how much I was enjoying myself. You guys put up a good fight for like…what…two, three minutes?" Talon taunted.

Sam and Gray glared with renewed vigor at Talon.

"But…you guys are starting to bore me. So why not wrap this up so I can move onto killing that blue haired slut you're always with. What was her name again? Julia…Jackie…something with a "J"?" Talon asked in mock thought as she tapped her chine with her free hand.

"I don't care, I'm just going to kill her anyway."

"YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" Sam and Gray screamed in unison. Talon had now crossed the line.

She was threatening Juiva; the woman who had become Gray's anchor and most cherished person and Sam's mother.

"Just try to stop me." Talon said before smirking…and suddenly appearing before Gray and Sam.

"Time to end this." Talon said as she sucker punched Gray in the face, sending him reeling back a good distance.

"Dad!" Sam said and was in the process of preparing a counter when Talon suddenly slashed her spear across Sam's chest. Crying out in pain, Sam's pain was replaced by an even greater pain as Talon then plunged her spear into Sam's upper left leg, punching it through and shattering his leg armor, and then forcefully ripping it out.

"SAM!" Gray yelled in shock and horror.

Sam hollered in agony as he clutched his leg while also letting loose a series of profanity laden cursed. Talon then grabbed the back of Sam's head, slammed his face into her awaiting knee broke the remainder of his face armor. She then tornado kicked him to the ground.

"You…you fucking bitch!" Gray said as he formed and ice sword and charged Talon; anger clouding his vision.

"Heh," Talon said, "pathetic."

Tapping her spear into the ground, Gray was taken aback when a spear suddenly shot out from the ground in front of him. Unable to dodge in time, Gray's side was cut deeply and he stumbled midway through his charge. Talon ran up Gray and delivered a fierce roundhouse punch that sent Gray careening to the ground.

Slowly recovering from the attack, Gray pushed himself up on his elbows and nursed his jaw.

"Well, Gray Fullbuster," Talon said from atop a nearby tree and catching Gray's attention, "you gave it a good run but in the end you couldn't even make it to finish."

Talon then raised her hands high and a series of spears rose from her pack. The grin on her face went from ear to ear.

"I want Sammy boy over there to watch as daddy dearest is ripped to pieces before I cut him in two. After that, it's onto water girl and the brat that's always with her."

Talon rotated her hands and the spears were aimed at Gray.

There was no escape.

"And now. You. Die." Talon said putting careful emphasis on each word.

Tossing her hands forward, the spears followed suite.

And in that moment, Gray Fullbuster came to a heartbreaking realization; he was going to die.

XXXX

Juvia and Chiara; Midtown…

"Everyone, head to the edge of town!" Juvia said as she directed a large group of townsfolk down the main street.

"Fairy Tail has set up a safe zone and triage for those that are wounded; please hurry!"

As Juvia directed the frightened citizens of Magnolia away from the areas of fighting, Chiara Fullbuster clung to her mother's leg.

"Mommy, I'm scared." Chiara said as she watched the panic and fear ridden people run by at her mother's instance.

Her head was starting to hurt again.

Juvia looked down at her youngest daughter and gently brushed her hair.

"Don't worry sweetie, Daddy and the others are going to be just fine." Juvia said in a calm tone which masked her inner fears.

She was worried about Gray, Sam and Jenny.

From her spot in the town, Juvia could hear the fighting as it echoed about the city. And she couldn't tell which side was winning; Fairy Tail or the Dark Mages.

Chiara bit her lip; a nervous habit she was starting to develop.

Juvia smiled to reassure her daughter.

"Everything will be fine Chiara, you'll see."

The sound of what appeared to a dragon roaring caught everyone's attention, including Juvia and Chiara's.

Turning to sound of the roar, which appeared to becoming from the nearby lakefront-which was just a few blocks away-, Juvia, Chiara and the panicking citizens watched as a dragon made out of water rose into the air as it violently thrashed about. Its head seemed to bulge out for the briefest of moments before it suddenly exploded in a shower of water as a sphere of air appeared where the head had been. An ear splitting sound quickly reached the conglomerate of people causing all to wince and cover their ears.

Juvia closed her eyes shut in pain as her ears were assaulted by the horrific noise.

But little Chiara…stared with wide and terrified eyes as she watched the shrieking sphere of air lower itself back to the ground.

Her headache had intensified…and with it, it brought forth a surge of memories.

Memories of terrified people screaming as they ran away from a woman enveloped in shadow.

Memories of herself desperately trying to reach out to her mother as she ran away to fight a very scary lady.

Memories of a water dragon.

Memories of her Uncle Lyon as he desperately handed her over to a terrified and sobbing Aunt Kagura so that the two of them could get away from the bad people before his head exploded in a shower of blood.

Memories…of her big sister and brother crying in the night as they held each other close.

And now one of those bad people, the people who had made her brother and sister cry, were threatening to take away her big sister…just like they had done to her mommy and daddy.

Chiara did not want that.

She didn't want to lose her family again!

"JENNY ANE-SAN!" Chiara screamed as she ran away from her mother.

"C-chiara!?" Juvia said in panic, "CHIARA!"

But Chiara didn't hear her mother. She was too focused on running to help her big sister.

"CHIARA STOP!" Juvia cried out as her daughter ran into an alleyway.

Thanks to her smaller size, Chiara easily and nimbly ran down the alley until she reached the walled up end. She then ducked into a hole in the wall the way a rabbit does to enter its hutch and meandered to the other side. She had found this one day when she had been playing hide and seek with Asuka and the other big kids. The hole had led her away from the others and had let her move about to another spot where she could hide. The town was littered with shortcuts that could easily be navigated by a small child.

Juvia's hand frantically reached into the hole but Chiara was already gone.

"No!" Juvia said as she turned around and ran out the alley and down the street at break neck speed in search of an alternate route.

"No, God please no; don't let me be too late!" Juvia pleaded.

She knew where her daughter was running too; who she was running too.

And she couldn't bear the thought of losing two daughters.

XXXX

Jenny; Lakefront…

Jenny could only watch in horror as her Water Dragon was blown away Shriek's sound spell before said mage landed in front of her.

Jenny had gone into her fight with Shriek expecting a repeat of the previous night. Her plan was to catch Shriek completely off guard like she had before, toss him around a bit, maybe deliver another kick to his balls, and then subsequently kill him. That being close to the water would give her and edge in the battle.

But…she had been proven wrong.

Oh so horribly wrong.

The man who she had easily dominated the night before was now returning the favor unto her.

She had used most of her spells from her water slicer, water cane, her water jigsaw and even her water lock. None of the attacks worked on Shriek as he easily stopped each spell with a sound or sonic counter spell. When she tried hide in the water, Shriek had simply placed his hands in the water and used his sonic attacks to create and ear bleeding screech that no matter how hard Jenny increased the water density around her ears, the attack seemed to be amplified only further.

She had been forced back onto dry land at the risk of her eardrums popping and Shriek had been waiting.

"Who's Miss Big Shot now!?" Shriek had said as he fired a sonic blast at Jenny, "Not so tough when you can barely fight back! Sound familiar!?"

Jenny had been forced to use her Water Dragon after that statement. It was one of her most powerful attacks and had worked last time. Maybe, just maybe, it would work again and give her the reprieve she needed to figure out what to do.

She had casted her spell, watched as it enveloped Shriek and carried him up into the air and smiled in triumph when the dragon had closed its maw around Shriek, trapping him.

She had finally gained the upper hand.

But then the head of the dragon had bulged out and before Jenny could piece together what was happening, the head exploded in a torrent of ear splitting sound.

With a sphere of visible sound surrounding him, Shriek had landed unharmed. Drenched in water, but unharmed.

"My turn." Shriek now said.

Holding up both hands, two visible columns of sound were fired forth and forced Jenny to run as the sound dug into the ground her heels. Performing a quick wall run, Jenny casted out her hand as she landed on a pile of rubble.

"Water Bombs!" Jenny said as multiple spheres of water appeared before her before being launched at Shriek. The spheres of water detonated on impact as they landed on target. Shriek however, had created a dome of sound to protect himself from the onslaught.

Stomping his foot onto the ground, a shockwave was emitted the tore the ground up in front of him and collided with Jenny and her pile of rubble. The debris was blasted asunder and took Jenny along with it. Rolling on the ground, Jenny wound up on her back as she let out a pained groan and clutched her side. One of her ribs was bruised.

She was suddenly knocked down when a sneaker kicked her in the side causing her to double over in pain before rolling her back over.

Shriek firmly planted his foot on Jenny's chest.

"Ah-ah," Shriek said, "you're not going anywhere missy."

Jenny glared up at Shriek.

"You must have been having a reel good time holding my head under the water. Remember? You tried to drown me?"

Shrieks voice became menacing.

"Time to return the favor." Shriek said as he opened his hands and his sound magic circles appeared on his palms.

Jenny knew what was coming next.

He was going to kill her the same way he had killed Uncle Romeo and Uncle Rouge.

Her hands were still free and they instantly snapped up and caught Shriek's wrists. The veins in her arms started to bulge out as Jenny let out a strained groan of protest. Shriek's brow furrowed in frustration and anger as her continued to ever so slowly move his hands to Jenny's ears.

Jenny strained against Shriek but the dark mage was physically stronger than her. His hands were getting closer; she could hear the high pitched whine grow in intensity.

Then something happened neither were expecting.

"GET AWAY FROM MY BIG SISTER, YOU BIG MEANIE!" A little voice called out.

"The hell?" Shriek said aloud as he looked up from Jenny to the sound of the voice…and was pelted square in the right eye by a baseball sized sphere of ice.

"Son of a bitch!" Shriek yelled as he recoiled back as and clutched his eye.

Jenny seized the opening.

"Water Punch!" Jenny said and nailed Shriek right in chest, sending him toppling end over end into a pile of rubble with significant force.

Jenny rolled over and was shocked by what she saw.

There, panting for breathe, was her little sister; Chiara.

"Chiara!?" Jenny said in surprise as she scrambled over to her baby sister.

"Jenny ane-san!" Chiara said as she ran up to her sister and was caught in her hug.

The moment was short lived however as Jenny pulled back and tightly gripped Chiara's shoulders.

"Chiara, what the hell are you doing here!? What the hell are you thinking!?" Jenny said as she shook her sister's shoulders to emphasize her point.

"The-the bad people were going to hurt you again." Chiara said in half scared, half sob voice.

"The bad people were going to make you go away like mommy and daddy and Uncle Lyon!"

Jenny's eyes widened in shock.

She remembered.

Chiara remembered the future.

With tears running down her cheeks, jenny took Chiara into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry sweetie," Jenny whispered, "I'm so sorry."

Jenny pulled back to look at her sister.

"Chiara, listen to me, we're going to find mommy and we're going-"

"You're not going anywhere." A voice hissed.

Slowly turning around, Chiara let out a terrified whimper as she watched a very, very pissed Shriek rise from the rubble he had been tossed into. He was now sporting a very purple black eye and blood trickled out of his nose.

Shriek's shoulders shook visibly as he took in an angered breathe.

"Oh, you're going to pay for that you little bitch." Shriek hissed.

"Chiara, run!" Jenny said.

"What?"

"RUN!"

"Not so fast!" Shriek yelled. He then took in a deep breathe through his mouth, drew his chest back and then lurched forwards as he let out a banshee like scream that tossed away all in its path.

Chiara screamed as she and Jenny were blown away by the attack. The attack was short but it had done its job.

Chiara was sent tumbling to the ground and the little girl let out a pained moan as she sat up. She tried to move her legs but found that they were stuck under a rock. The crunching of stone beneath shoe caught her attention.

Looking up, Chiara gasped and then whimpered in fear as she watched Shriek begin to steadily walk towards her. She tried to push the rock off her feet but to no avail. It was too heavy for her to move.

Shriek drew closer.

"Jenny ane-san!" Chiara screamed as quickly searched for her sister, "Jenny ane-san!"

Chiara froze when she found her sister; Jenny was lodged into a large slab of concrete.

Rusted pieces of rebar jutted out from Jenny's right forearm and shoulder along with her lower abdomen and left lung.

Her head was bent down; she did not move.

"JENNY!" Chiara screamed.

But Jenny didn't respond.

Shriek was getting closer.

Chiara frantically looked around again.

"SAMMY!" Chiara cried out, "SAMMY ANI-SAN!"

But her brother wasn't there.

Shriek was almost looming over Chiara now; his shadow casting darkly over her.

Chiara then called out to the only people she knew who could help her.

"MOMMY!" Chiara screamed, "DADDY! HELP ME!"

XXXX

A/N: And there it is people! 42 pages worth of suspense as I end this chapter with another cliffhanger.

So, this took me a little longer than I would have liked but I got busy during the week. So…yeah, you know how it is.

Next week I'll be taking my finals and moving back home for the summer so I will be busy for the week with studying and packing. Expect the next chapter to be late…but NOT TOO, TOO LATE!

As for this chapter, do you see what I mean by dark now? Our favorite kids and mages are outmatched and taking losses; but who will live and who will die?

Next Time; CHAPTER 19: Loss…and Rage.

I hope I don't make you guys hate me for what's coming next…or if I make you cry. I felt really bad about some of the reactions to the previous chapter so now I'm wondering if I'm pushing the envelope with this one.

Anyway; I hope you enjoyed the chapter none the less.

As per usual, if you guys have any comments or questions, please put it in your review and I'll make sure to respond to you in the next chapter.

Once again; thank you for your patience.

Until next time; read, review and most importantly of all, HAPPY READING!