The Death of a Kingdom

With a massive "shink", Pantherlily's sword collided with Gajeel's Iron Dragon Scales, deflecting the blade away.

"Quite impressive," the exceed said, "You Earthlanders are certainly fully of surprises."

"Dragon iron isn't anything like regular iron," Gajeel said, "No blade can pierce me."

"Then I will remedy that!" Pantherlily declared, as he swung his sword again, only for Gajeel to jump out of the way.

"Why are you doing this?" the Dragon Slayer demanded, "You're one of those cats too, aren't you? Why are you with Edolas?"

"Aye!" Happy piped up, "You're an exceed like me! Maybe you'd like to share a fish?" Pantherlily was silent for a time, before bringing his sword down again, only for Gajeel to block it.

"That country is of no concern to me at this point," Pantherlily said, "I forsook those arrogant fools long ago!" Happy was surprised at that. He'd never seen an exceed that anti-Extalia in his time in Edolas. Gajeel also seemed rather surprised, but then began to snicker slightly.

"I've decided," he said, with a rather excited grin on his face. With that, the Buster Arm suddenly broke apart.

"I'm going to make this guy my cat!" Gajeel declared.

"EHHH!" Happy cried out in surprise, "Are you crazy?"

"I won't let myself be outdone by Salamander or his sister!" Gajeel declared, "Even in terms of cats!" He then slammed into Pantherlily, knocking the exceed to the ground, before inhaling, and letting loose his Iron Dragon's Roar. The first was so great, it blew a hole clear through the island. At first, Gajeel was confident that he had won, but then through the dust, Pantherlily emerged, and slammed his fist into Gajeel's face, sending the Dragon Slayer careening away.

"You're not bad, I'll give you that," Pantherlily said, dusting his hands of slightly, "But not bad doesn't cut it."

"Well then its a good thing I'm 'pretty damn awesome'!" Gajeel said, as he emerged. With that, the two warriors charged each other again.

(in the Royal Palace)

Virgo had carried Lucy deep through the halls of the palace, towards what was hopefully through the outside. Virgo had offered to smash through walls, but since she was carrying Lucy, the blonde had turned her down. However, Virgo was moving so fast, it was by sheer luck that she didn't more Levy down.

"Lu?"

"Levy?" The two girls had a sudden exchange of what was happening. Levy explained how she got there, and how she had managed to find a secret entrance on one of the walls. Lucy then explained what was happening to her.

"You're giving birth!" Levy cried out, "Here and now?"

"Believe me, I'd rather be doing it literally anywhere else, but I don't the little one inside of me is inclined to listen," Lucy explained.

"We need to get you out of here!" Levy said.

"I am currently in the process of doing that," Virgo said calmly, "If you would so wish, you may climb on my back, and join us."

"But the others…."

"Are almost assuredly fine," Lucy said, "My Natsu would incinerate anyone in his path at this point. So let's get going!" With that, Levy climbed onto Virgo's back. But there was a sudden pause.

"Do you feel that?" Levy asked.

"That rumbling," Lucy murmured.

(somewhere else in the Royal Palace)

Erza dragged three unconscious mages behind her, towards the chambers of the Dragon Chain Cannon.

"Captain Knightalkwer!" one of the guards said.

"So you beat that Earthlander? Are you alright?"

"Am I walking?" Erza asked.

"Well… yes."

"Then I'm alright," Erza answered, "I assume the preparations are all in order."

"Yes, but what about these three?" the other guard asked.

"One of them just so happens to be our key," Erza answered, "Now come. We've got more important things to think about at this point. Such as eternal magic." With that, Erza marched into the chamber.

"Captain!" Faust said, as he turned to see his soldier approaching, "Do you have the key?"

"Sadly no, but fortunately the black haired boy is able to make a new one. He's a mage of Earthland, and one of the Dragon Slayers' allies. I imagine he was freed by a third potential Dragon Slayer. Its not impossible."

"I suppose not, but it doesn't matter," Faust said, "Get him to make one!"

"Wake up!" Erza said, kicking Gray in the gut, "You've got work to do!" Gray grunted as he slowly rose to his feet. He then noticed Erza holding a sword to Juvia's neck.

"You know what will happen if you don't," Erza said. Gray growled, but obeyed, and walked over to the cannon's fire system. The cannon itself was a true monstrosity, with so many tubes and systems that he couldn't count them. Gray took a breath, and held out his hand, forming a new key. I've only got one shot to hit the lacrima and save everyone. He then put the key into the keyhole, as the cannon seemed to flare to life. A maniacal grin appeared on Faust's face.

"Now…." He didn't finish.

"Natsu! Juvia!" In a torrent of fire and water, several the guards were sent careening away. Before Faust could respond, a sword was put to his neck by Erza.

"If you want you're king's head to remain where it is, you'll do exactly what I say!" she declared.

"Knightwalker, what are you…," Faust then saw Erza's body glow. When the glow faded, it revealed, Erza wearing armor that showcased the Fairy Tail mark.

"I am Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail! I am of Earthland!"

"Was kicking me in the gut really necessary?" Gray asked, frowning.

"Yes."

"Oh my beloved!" Juvia said as she hurried over to Gray's stomach and nuzzled it, "Let Juvia kiss it well!"

"This worked great," Natsu said, grinning, his chest glowing, "Now all we've got to do is redirect the cannon!"

"Do that," Erza said, "Change the aim to island with the lacrima."

"Strike that order!" Faust said, "Forget about me and just destroy the damn exceeds!" The soldiers were left confused about what to do, as they glanced at each other. They were being forced to choose between their king's orders, and his safety. Eventually, the latter won out, and they began to redirect the cannon.

"Good, now fire, or you're king dies!" Erza instructed. But before they could begin powering up the cannon, there was an angry yell of "SCARLET!". Everyone looked up, and saw Knightwalker baring down on them with her Ten Commandments, and her hair cut short, so as to differentiate herself. Scarlet was forced to release the king, so as to block the attack.

"His Majesty is free!"

"Quick, re-aim the cannon again!"

"Yes!" Faust roared, "Now fi…" Suddenly, a massive rumbling shook through the whole room, no, the whole palace. That caused the soldiers to all hesitate as they looked around. They knew it couldn't be the cannon, as it hadn't been fired yet. Then….

"What is that?" Juvia asked, looking around.

"I've no idea," Gray answered. But Natsu did. He could sense it, the presence that was approaching. He looked down, and noticed a few cracks.

In an instant, the ground exploded, as a massive purple claw emerged. Everyone's attention, even the Erzas stopped their fight to see what was happening. The claw then grabbed onto the side, as a massive form heaved itself out of the ground. A form that was very familiar.

"Särakaotus!" Natsu cried. It was indeed, Särakaotus, the Eclipse Dragon, finally standing again after all the centuries. Now that he was awake, he seemed different. A violet grow emanated down the length of his body, starting on his forward, and traveling down his spine. A pair of horns had also lifted up from his head, and his eyes were glowing a brilliant violet.

"But how… that's Subject S!" a soldier said.

"I thought it was dead!" another said. Faust could only stare in horror as the beast rose up. It… can't…. be… The now free dragon then reared up, and for the first time in four hundred years, roared. The roar was so loud, it did not just shake the palace, but seemed to shake the whole world.

(with Wendy and Carla)

Wendy and Carla had been ascending towards Extalia, when they both suddenly heard a tremendous roar coming from beneath them.

"What was that?" Carla asked.

"A dragon's roar," Wendy said, before shouting, "Särakaotus has woken up!"

"What?!" Carla asked in shock, "You mean that beast actually managed to regain his senses!"

"It seems so!" Wendy said, "Come on we have to get to Extalia! Now we have to warn them about the dragon!"

(on the lacrima island)

The group by the lacrima also had their attention taken by the roar, as they all looked down.

"That can't be!" Pantherlily said in shock, "That's Subject S!"

"Hell no!" Gajeel said, "That's a friggin dragon!"

(below)

Särakaotus let out another angry roar, as he stomped around, sending soldiers careening away left and right.

"Run!" Scarlet yelled to her guild mates, who quickly obliged, and started bolting away. Scarlet herself escaped Knightwalker, whose attention was now on the creature she knew as "Subject S".

"What about our friends?" Natsu demanded.

"We'll find another way!" Scarlet said, "The Dragon Chain Cannon plan obviously won't work!" With that, the Fairy Tail members made their escape. The Edolas natives, however, had the bright idea to try and fight the dragon.

"Take this!" Knighwalker said, as she thrust her explosion spear at Särakaotus, only for it harmlessly bounce off. Särakaotus glanced at her, before snapping at her, as Erza only barely managed to get out the way. The dragon then opened his wings, and in a single flap, was in the air. He then opened his mouth.

"Hear me people of Edolas!"he boomed, "I am Särakaotus, the Dragon of the Eclipse. For 400 years you used me like I was some item that belonged to you. But now you will see the penalty that comes with trying to enslave a dragon, and you will see my vengeance!" He then inhaled, before, with a massive roar, exhaled a deep purple substance at the Dragon Chain Cannon. The substance seemed to consume the cannon, before it began to wither away, and fall to pieces.

"NO!" Faust cried, as he reached in vain to the crumbling hope. Särakaotus then flapped his wings again, ascending further into the sky.

"Assemble every Legion platoon!" Knightwalker ordered, "If we don't do anything, the entire city will be destroyed!"

(in the city)

The people were going about their lives, as the day started to come to the close. But everyone was still excited for the promise of eternal magic. However, all of a sudden, a shadow fell over not just a single part, but a whole city. Everyone looked up, and saw that the sun had been eclipsed. Not by the moon, but by the tremendous wings of Särakaotus.

"Let them be the first to witness the horror that comes with earning my ire," he rumbled, before swooping down in their direction, "Let this day, the Kingdom of Edolas end!" Särakaotus opened his mouth, and let loose his breath attack over the city. The purple substance streamed over the buildings, as they all seemed to rot away. The people who had also been touched by the breath, seemed to whither away, as if the life was being siphoned out of them.

As Särakaotus finished his pass, he flapped back into the air. A swath of death had been carved out of the city in his back. But the Eclipse Dragon was far from finished. He turned back towards the city, as he began a second pass, breathing more of his attack, causing even more destruction in the process.

Meanwhile, Erza and her platoon of legions managed to take the air. When Erza saw what the result of the dragon's rage, her horror reached new bounds. Massive gashes of destruction had been carved into the city by the breath of Särakaotus, and as the dragon performed his next pass, another one was created. The implication here was apparent, if the dragon wasn't stopped, the Kingdom of Edolas would die this day.

"Attack!" Erza ordered, as she and her forces charged, during which Särakaotus performed his pass. As the dragon swooped over the city, several legions attempted to strike him. However, the moment they got close, Särakaotus turned to them, and his breath consumed them, slaughtering the first wave. Erza managed to avoid the attack herself, and then her legion charged the dragon. However, the dragon swatted the legion away like it was nothing, sending Erza flying, only for her to be grabbed in one of his talons.

"I know your voice. I heard it in my dreams while I was imprisoned," Särakaotus said.

"Why are you doing this?" Erza cried, "These people have done nothing to you!" The dragon narrowed his eyes, as he then looked over the destruction he had wrought.

"This is dragon's justice. For every wound inflicted on the dragon, let ten wounds be dealt in response," he said, "And do not talk to me of harming people who had done no wrong. In my dreams, I could see what you had done. You stole away their livelihood, and persecuted them when they did what they had to survive." Erza clenched her teeth, as tears began to flow down her face, looking over the ruined city.

"You care for this kingdom," Särakaotus said, "Very well, then you can watch it die!" With Erza still in his talons, Särakaotus flew in the direction of the castle, much to Erza's horror.

"No please!" Erza cried through her tears, as the dragon inhaled, and let loose his breath attack over the palace. The walls rotted, as it began to crumble away into dust. Särakaotus then started flying around the palace, breathing more of his weapon. Soon, the entire castle began to crumble away.

(in the palace)

The Fairy Tail members all looked around as they noticed the castle started to collapse.

"The entire building's coming down!" Natsu said.

"Great Sparky! Want to say the sky is blue!" Gray snapped.

"Save it! Both of you!" Erza said, "We've got better things to do! Natsu! Get us out of here!" Natsu knew exactly what to do, which was to say, what he was best at: destroying. He gathered up his power, as he activated his Dragon' Eye.

"Let's go!" Natsu said, as he opened his fire wings, as he then flew straight forward, crashing through wall after wall, before finally bursting out into the open, as Fairy Tail escaped the collapsing structure.

(somewhere else)

"So this is my legacy?" Faust muttered as he watched the palace that had stood for centuries crumbled before the wrath of a dragon, "My kingdom's end." He knew that the fall of the capital, and with it much of the army, would inspire revolts throughout the lands that Edolas had conquered, and those who hadn't been conquered would be revitalized, and would move to strike against them. No matter by whose hand, the outcome was clear: the Kingdom of Edolas would fall.

(with Särakaotus)

Erza sobbed, as the dragon set her down. The only reason she was still alive, was so that she could be forced to watch what was left of her kingdom rot away. The dragon flapped back into the air, as he looked over the ruins of the city.

"The Kingdom of Edolas has ended," Särakaotus said, before looking to the sky, "Now Extalia must as well." With that, he beat his wings, and ascended towards the island.

Note: So ends the Kingdom of Edolas.