The guild was once again all spread out at different tables drinking and enjoying themselves like nothing had happened. As the last group with Layla emerged from the portal the guild hall went quiet.


Natsu noticing the mood shouted "You should all be more scared of Erza after what we just saw!"

Erza immediately cracked him over the head reinforcing his point and shutting him up from spilling secrets at the same time.

After watching Erza hit Natsu, it was almost like she had hit a reset switch for them all as the guild hall returned to its normal lively atmosphere.

Mavis floated up stairs to inform Makarov of the armor's demonstration to which he got terrified hid under his desk, as he pictured a rampaging Erza in invulnerable armor with the fire-power described.


15 minutes or so had passed before a familiar trio appeared out front of the Fair Tail building.

"Greetings Fairy Tail, Once again congratulations on your victory" Yukino said as she entered and noticed Layla and the regular group together near the front of the room.

"Come on Rogue we get to see Gajeel!" Sting said as he walked into the hall dragging Rogue behind him.

"It's not that I don't want to see him, it's just that I feel like we are intruding... shouldn't we have knocked or something?" Rogue replied as he broke free and looked around

"Yo, Twin Dragons, over here, take a seat" Natsu cried out from the from a table near the stage.

Layla walked over to the Bar and took a seat near Mira, her eyes changing to purple as she watched Rogue closely for signs of the Shade. Mira saw the eye change and figured she was up to something so didn't interrupt.

"YUKINO!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly upon seeing the other Zodiac Celestial mage.

"Hello Lucy" Yukino said with a small bow, before asking "Have you and your mother been well?"

"Yes, we have had a few days to catchup and there is still plenty to talk about, although it is a little wierd considering she isn't really that much older than me now at least... as a human" Lucy said almost jealous of her mothers looks.

Yukino couldn't help but laugh at how innocent Lucy was.

"How has Ophiuchus been?" Natsu asked excitedly

"He has been good, I've summoned him once more since and although he isn't complete he still looks great as a golden snake" Yukino raised her hand to over her heart before adding "The fact that he shines that colour reinforces my resolve and bond with all my Celestial friends."

"And that's exactly how us spirits gain strength and protect you in return" Loke said as he forced a gate opening

"LEO!" Yukino said greeting him excitedly.

"See Lucy why can't you be more like that?" Loke said as he dodged an incoming swipe from Lucy before running away with Lucy in pursuit.

Layla laughed at the sight of Lucy playing with her celestial.

"It is good to see you well, Layla" Capricorn said as he also forced a gate opening.

"Hello old friend, it warms my heart to see you as well. I'm delighted to know you and the other Celestial's all found your way to my daughter's care" Layla responded.

"It is a true pleasure for us to assist her, she has your heart, and is becoming quite the wizard" Capricorn said with a fond smile as he stared at Lucy who had Loke in a Headlock.

"Yes, she will be gaining a lot of strength in the near future, so please help her with that power and continue to guide her through any of her troubles." Layla said with a smile.

"In the near future?" Capricorn said slightly confused.

"When Lucy was little I was forced to seal a great deal of her power. However, I will be releasing those seals soon, meaning her strength will rise suddenly over the coming months, as she regains her originally intended power. Please use that strength of her's to protect her always." Layla said explaining the situation.

"We will all do our best, fair well, Layla" Capricorn said, as he faded back into the Celestial Realm.

Lucy had finished playfully beating up Loke who also laughed as he returned to the Celestial Realm.


"So what do you guys think of the place" Natsu said with a smile to the 2 Dragon Slayer visitors

"It's pretty friendly, everyone seems to be laid back and having fun" Sting said looking around the room.

"It's great isn't it" Wendy said cheerfully

"What about you Ryos" Gajeel said

"I told you not to call me that, its Rogue" he responded.

"Pfft, it's all the same, either way relax, unless you want to take it outside for a rematch geehee" Gajeel said trying to bait Rogue.

"Ho" Rogue said showing a little more passion.

"Seems like I hit a nerve, hows about we head out to the nearby forest to 'have a friendly chat'" Gajeel said with a beaming smile.

"This sounds like it could be fun, just the 2 of us?" Rogue said with a grin.

"Well the others can come along to ref, wouldn't want my victory to go unseen" Gajeel said as he stood up in his chair.

"Yes I wouldn't want them to miss the thrashing I'm going to give you" Rogue said with a smile as he stood up.

Natsu looked at Sting and Smiled with a nod, Sting looked back at him and realised where this was heading.

"Sounds like this will be quite the spectacle" Erza said as she stood up with the rest of the group

"Lead the way" Rogue said with a grin as they all walked out of the hall.

Makarov watched the group leave and made eye contact with Layla at the bar, who gave him a small nod. He let out a sigh as he turned around to head back to his office to pray that there wouldn't be any destruction to the city that Fairy Tail would be billed for.


The group arrived at the location they planned, however the forest was no longer where they expected it to be. Instead they found a large dirt plain.

"What is this? Where the hell did the forest go" Gajeel said confused.

"I guess this is what Romeo was talking about the other day" Erza said looking around

(did mom really destroy this forest...) Lucy thought to herself with a sigh.

"Well don't really need a forest more than a nice open area, am I right Gajeel" Rogue said with some excitement.

"Fine by me, let's have us that 'talk'... Geehee" Gajeel replied with a grin

The rest of the group all stood back giving the 2 some room, however Sting was mentally preparing for what needed to be done.

Erza whispered to Gray ensuring that he stayed quiet and didn't react loudly, as she brought him in on the plan.

Natsu, Wendy, and Lucy all nodded to each other as well so that they all knew what was to come next.

"Let's not waste each others time, Eh Ryos, don't hold anything back!" Gajeel yelled

"Shadow Drive" Rogue said nodding to Gajeel, before Rogue further advanced into his Shadow Dragon Force

"Geehee" Gajeel said noticing that Rogue was taking it seriously.

"Shadow Dragon's ROAR!" Rogue exclaimed as a large cloud of Shadow breath erupted from his position towards Gajeel.

Gajeel flashed an excited grin, this was exactly what he was hoping for, he quickly dodged the roar, and as it passed by him, he devoured the shadows along it's edge.

"Iron Shadow Dragon Mode!" Gajeel exclaimed as he erupted in shadows entering Dragon Force himself

"WHAT!" Rogue exclaimed as he wasn't expecting Gajeel to so casually repeat his actions from the Grand Magic Tournament

"Looks like you still have a long ways to go kid..." Gajeel yelled as he quickly shot across the area

"Iron Shadow Dragon Sword!" Gajeel swung out of the shadows at rogue with his shadowy blade, Rogue narrowly avoiding its impact as he jumped upwards.

As rogue flipped in the Air he managed to do a bicycle style kick as he proclaimed "Shadow Dragon's Claw" the attack hit Gajeel in the face knocking him back several meters.

Gajeel slid backwards along the dirt as he regained his posture, but he couldn't help flash a smile "Now this is fun"

Rogue Vanished into his shadow but because the forest had been cleared of trees there was no other sources of shadows except Gajeel and Rogue.

Gajeel followed suit and vanished into his Shadow as well. The 2 shadow's began clashing into each other until Rogue made the first move "Shadow Dragon's Waxwing Flash"

Rogues Shadow expanded outwards and when it collided with Gajeel's it forced Gajeel out of his shadow on the ground and raised him into the air. Rogue partial exposed himself out his own shadow and looked up at Gajeel as he flew up from the force, but in his shock he saw Gajeel flash him a grin.

"Iron Shadow Dragon Secret Art: Shadow Iron Spiral" Gajeel Exclaimed

A tornado of Shadow and iron span around Gajeels position in the air, its force created a vacuum effect sucking rogue up out of his shadow on the ground and into the maelstrom.

Once Rogue was in the air caught in Gajeels Vortex of Shadow, Gajeel yelled "Shadow Iron Dragon Restraint!"

The 2 of them crashed down to the ground with force kicking up a dust cloud. As the dust cleared it revealed that Rogue was pinned by shadowy braces inside a small impact crater with no adjacent shadows to escape to.

"DO IT NOW!" Gajeel exclaimed

"It's in your hands Sting, go save your comrade" Natsu said to Sting as he placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry for the deception Rogue, we had to get you out-of-town to help you" Sting said to his friend shackled on the ground.

"What are you doing Sting!" Rogue said in a panic confused about what was going on.

"We are here to help you with your shadow" Sting said as he activated Dragon Force.

"My shadow? you can't help me with that" Rogue said as he struggled to break free of his bonds.

"Actually... I can" Sting said with a smile as he closed his eyes.

"Holy Dragon Secret Art!" Sting proclaimed as his eyes quickly opened, revealing his white fiery eyes the likes of which Rogue had never seen before.

The Fairy Tail wizards all got a chill down their spine as it was exactly like Sting's trance back in the palace.

Sting raised both his hands in front of himself, palms open wide in both, facing each other roughly 30cm apart before he shouted "HOLY FIRE!"

Sting then quickly pressed both palms together. White light spiralled out of the cracks on the surface of stings closed palms and suddenly Rogue was fully engulfed in White Flames.

"NO! What is...? It doesn't burn?!" Rogue yelled before confused set in

The fire enveloping Rogue's body burnt away the shadow iron restraint's allowing Rogue to stand up. Rogue looked at Sting in confusion, he was still on fire but there was no heat at all.

"NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" an unknown voice proclaimed as a shadowy figure appeared out of Rogue's shadow, it was also enveloped in white flames along its edge but it unlike Rogue, was clearly in pain.

Rogue looked at the shadow in confusion as it was a mirror image of him but it soon changed, the shadow backed away as it began to laugh uncontrollably.

Rogue's burning shadow reverted into it's Demon Shade form. It's body was a similar shape to a tadpole with a single large eye in the centre, there were 2 thin long arms leading to hands that only had 2 claws on each, which it used to latch to its target.

"You were possessed by a Demon called a Shade, my Holy Fire cleansed you of its presence, forcing it out" Sting said to Rogue with a smile.

"Thanks partner..." Rogue said with a sigh of relief.

"Um... Why is it still here?" Lucy said as she stared at the Shade.

"I guess it wants us to kick its ass!" Natsu said as he ignited his fists.

"HAHA, YOU BEAT ME? YOU COULDN'T LAST TIME... NATSU!" the shade said as it burst into a giant fireball of black flames.

All the Wizards ran for cover backing away from the black fire which grew in size.

The flames eventually subsided revealing the shades true form.

Standing before the group of wizards was a Giant Shadowy Dragon figure, but what caught the attention of Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, and Lucy was the fact it had the same shape as Citrine's Full Dragon form.

The shadow stood upright on its hind legs, and was about 50 meters in height, with shadowy wings.

"So, you're Obsidian" Gajeel said looking at the shadow.

"IT SEEMS MY SISTER HAS BEEN TALKING" the shadow exclaimed

"Sister?" Lucy said confused.

"I SMELL HER BLOOD IN YOU... NIECE!" the shadow said with an evil laugh

"What..." His words seemed to scare Lucy to her core, she started to brake down in despair and soon she began to fall towards the ground.

"LUCY!" the group yelled as Natsu ran to her crouching down on one knee as he slid under her, catching her before she hit the ground.

"HAHA SUCH A WEAK PITIFUL CREATURE!" the shadow exclaimed.

"Weak? You think Lucy is weak?" Natsu said as he couldn't contain his anger gritting his teeth

"There is someone weak here, and thats you! You're just a fragment! I may not have been able to kick Zeref's ass, but we are more than capable of kicking yours!" Natsu said as he erupted into flames.

"That's right, you may be big but that just means we have more of you to hit!" Gray yelled as he created 2 ice sword.

"When someone picks on a member our family" Wendy said as she extended her arms with wind spirally around her

"They are picking a fight with all of us!" Erza said as she changed into her Black Wing Armor.

"You picked a fight with the wrong Guild" Gajeel said as he changed his arm into a sword.

"You tortured my comrade" Sting said as he joined in, reactivating his Dragon Force.

"Your voice no longer has a place here, BEGONE!" Rogue yelled as he entered Dragon Force.

The group of them all began to run at Obsidian's Shadow, preparing to attack him... but then all of them abruptly stopped in place as their eyes widened in shock...


"HAHAHAHA SUCH A PATHET...GAH" Obsidian's Shadow was interrupted as he was suddenly attacked by a Large Blue Dragon that landed on his back and immediately started biting his neck and digging its claws into his body and wings.

As the Dragon clung to the shadow with its powerful claws and teeth, the shadow began to freeze at the 5 contact points.

"So there you all are!" An unknown Woman said, as she landed in the middle of the group.

The young woman had long White hair with Blue Streaks and was wearing a revealing White Corset that lead down to a white feathery looking Skirt. There was a loose thick Blue Belt across her waist that served no purpose except style as it hang off her hip, She was also wearing White Knee high Boots with a blue stripe up the side of them.

The group didn't know how to react, with the sudden appearance of a Dragon and this strange woman, all they could do was just watch in confusion.

"That's enough Mom, Give me a crack at it" The woman said as she Ignited in Blue Flames, blue scales appeared over her arms and around her eyes as she entered Dragon Force through her own will.

"He's all your's Kori" The Dragon responded as it let the partially frozen shadow go.

"FREEZING WATER DRAGON SECRET ART: Winter's Judgement!" Kori Yelled

A giant Circular pillar of ice shot up from the ground snap freezing the Shadow Dragon completely in an instant, but Kori immediately chained into her next move.

"FREEZING WATER DRAGON SECRET ART: Shattering Avalanche!" Kori added

As Kori yelled this the giant pillar exploded sending chunks of ice rocketing throughout the area. Nothing was left of Obsidian's Shadow, it was completely destroyed.

"You did very well Kori" The Dragon said as it landed and sat behind her. It stared at the group of confused wizards before it fixated on Lucy

(Empress?... No... Who are you...?) The Dragon thought to itself before Wendy spoke

"Are you Saphira?" Wendy asked curiously

"Yes I am Ice Queen Saphira, based on your scent you must be Grandine's Wendy" The Dragon said with a smile

"Hey I'm still here too!" Kori said before adding "Hi! I'm Kori the Frozen Water Dragon Slayer, based by the look of you all I guess you can call me Big Sis!"

"Citrine told us about you... Kori and Saphira" Natsu said with a smile.

"You've spoken to the Empress of Light? Is she here? In this time?" Saphira said with happiness in her voice.

"Yes, Mother is back at our Guild Hall" Lucy said as she looked at the 2 visitors.

"Actually, I'm here now" Layla said as she landed like a bullet behind the group with her golden wings.

"Layla!?" Everyone said in surprise of her sudden arrival.

"Saphira! It's been a long time" Layla said with a beaming smile on her face having reunited with another member of her court, she then looked at the woman in front of the dragon.

"And this must be Kori, you seem to have grown into a lovely woman" As Layla said this her eyes changed to blue and she analysed Kori's Development, after a few seconds she smiled.

"Nice to meet you Citrine, Mom's told me lots about you!" Kori said with a wave.

"You did it Saphira, you finished Kori's Training!" Layla said as she looked up at the Dragon with pride, Saphira smiled back at her.

"She's finished?" Gajeel said surprised as he knew the rest of them weren't.

"Almost... Kori just needs her Lacrima" Layla responded. Kori flashed the group a big grin and a peace sign with her right hand, proud of herself.

"Saphira, due to the fear a Dragon would incite with the towns people, could you please apply seals to your power and change into your human avatar." Layla asked kindly but with authority.

"As you wish Empress" Saphira said with a bow

A blue light enveloped the dragon concealing her entire body, soon the light grew smaller and took on a human shape, eventually it faded away to reveal Saphira's new form.

A Beautiful woman who looked to be in her late 20's, with Long Blue hair with White tips, she was wearing blue dress that had white straps over her shoulders, the body of which started at her bust-line and covered all the way down to just above her knees, there was a white diamond patterned Belt across her midsection.

"I would like you both to accompany us back to the Fairy Tail building in Magnolia, I have something to discuss with you both." Layla said as she turned back towards town, resealing her power and concealing her wings.

The group all smiled before welcoming the 2 unexpected guests warmly, as they each exchanged personal introductions with them as they walked back to town.