A/N: I apologize for the late update but in the words of One Republic I guess it's too late to apologize.

The smoke outside had cleared though the pungent smell of rotting flesh still lingered which was cause of Natsu using his scarf as a makeshift gas mask of some sort.

Happy laughed at the sight whilst Lucy shook her head with mild amusement from her spot beside Erza.

All the while he kept an eye out for any sign of Gray, Rissy and the others though it was proving difficult with the pungent smell distorting his senses.

"I still can't see them" he said with narrowed eyes.

Though Lucy seemed to think that they were going in the right direction thanks to the help of her compass like spirit Pyxis.

"Well we are going the right way" the blonde insisted and Natsu almost shivered at her tone. It was almost as if she were challenging him, and glancing towards the redhead she could see her sporting a small smirk at his expense.

He huffed silently which didn't go unnoticed by the two women and carried on walking with a small pout wondering when Lucy decided to side with Erza and plot against him.

"Don't worry Natsu, once we find Rissy everything will go back to normal" the exceed offered.

Natsu shrugged in agreement somewhat before turning, his eyes narrowed before widening and a large grin formed across his face as he spotted his sister. She turned to face him and the mage sported the same reaction, running towards him with her partner in tow.

She embraced him before folded her arms with a large grin still on her face. He noticed how she looked a little battered, her clothing sporting multiple tears and wild hair more disheveled than usual.

"You took your sweet time and yet you didn't even bring Wendy" she pointed out.

Natsu chuckled slightly before ruffling her hair, an action that only causes her to pout before swatting her away.

"She stayed with Mest to do some council- politics type stuff" he explained with a frown.

Rissy stared blankly at him before turning to Lavender, the lilac coloured exceed sporting the same expression.

"Which means you have no idea what they're doing" Rissy pointed out which resulted in the exceed high fiving her.

Happy laughed at the statement which caused Natsu to pout,

"Why is every woman against me today?" He asked no one in particular.

"Maybe because you're stupid?" Lavender offered innocently.

Rissy pouted slightly whilst shaking her head,

"Nah, stupid is too mean...how about dense since that's what everyone calls me" Rissy offered with a smile.

Both Lavender and Happy nodded in unison, whilst Natsu just watched with a pout since it seemed that even Happy was against him. Though his mood was short lived once Lucy and Erza arrived, the blonde celestial mage leaning her head on his shoulder with a soft smile.

"You know that we're not all against you, right?" She asked with a grin.

His pout only worsened, though with Lucy smiling at him with those chocolate brown orbs it was hard to stay mad.

"But it wasn't funny..." He said with an added whine. Though Lucy seemed to ignore him and turned her attention to his sister, who was happily conversing with Erza and the exceeds.

Her hands were making wild gestures, her eyes wide and full of excitement as she recounted the events. Erza was stood calmly though it appeared that she was clear of all emotion, Natsu could see the small smile ghosting the redhead's lips in what he could only describe as fondness.

"...Yeah and then that other Rogue came and-"

"Other Rogue?" Erza asked interrupting Rissy's tale.

Lucy turned to Natsu, though he just shrugged in confusion since after all his sister hardly ever made sense.

"The one from the future" she deadpanned.

Natsu could feel Lucy stiffen beside him at the mention of the future dragon slayer, as if on instinct he wrapped his arm around her to provide her with some sort of comfort which she happily appreciated.

Erza placed turned to the pair giving Lucy a sympathetic smile before turning back to Rissy with a serious look.

"He's here?" She asked, though Natsu could tell that it wasn't a question.

Rissy nodded with a smile, though at the sight of Erza's expression said smile faded.

"You think he's going to hurt us?" She asked with sad eyes, her expression mirroring a kicked puppy.

"It's just a precaution" Erza countered.

Rissy shook her head before stubbornly folding her arms over her chest.

"He's not the same from before. You let the past define your decisions" She spat, Natsu never seeing such a side of his usually cheery sister.

The exceeds watched with slight awkwardness, with Lavender having loyalty to her partner whilst Happy held loyalty to his.

"Maybe they should call a truce" Happy suggested in a hushed whisper.

Lavender frowned before glancing back to her partner.

"They should listen" She countered with folded paws, to which Happy frowned and thus started the exceeds bickering.

Rissy and Erza continued to argue he could feel Lucy press herself closer towards him, her eyes downcast as if trying not to relieve any memories.

"You weren't there" Lucy spoke out, causing Rissy's and Erza's argument to abruptly cease as they both turned to her. Even the exceeds turned to the blonde in shock.

Rissy stared at the pair of them, her eyes flickering between them. Her dark eyes were wide with sadness and an emotion that he could describe as betrayal.

"But Lucy I love him" she said in an almost whisper.

Lucy nodded in understanding though she still held a bit of resentment behind her eyes towards Rogues future counterpart.

"I know...but that's the Rogue now he may have changed-"

Rissy shook her head with disbelief,

"No he's the same...I can see it in his eyes" She reasoned.

"Maybe...maybe we need to see for ourselves" Erza suggested, though going by her tone it seemed there was no room for objections.

His sister was beaming through Erza was no longer paying attention to her and was rather looking past the salmon haired woman whilst still sporting her serious demeanor. Natsu turned to where Erza was focused and noted a group of figures in the distance. One of them he knew definitely to be Gray due to them being shirtless.

"That must be them" Lucy pointed out as she gestured her head towards the small group. He nodded in understanding before glancing over to his sister and Lavender, the pair already walking back towards the group.

Erza started on walking, only turning back to them with a glance.

"We should follow" She stated before she carried on walking after Rissy.

Natsu turned down to Lucy, though she put up a brave front he could tell she was nervous inside. Though he had a civil friendship with the shadow dragon slayer due to him dating his sister, there was still a hint of wariness in case he ever turned into the mage that almost cost him his best friend.

Mest was dragging her through multiple corridors and the constant moving around was starting to make the young mage dizzy. Never before had she experienced any sort of motion sickness, however with the colours of banners whizzing past her it was starting to become inevitable. As the older mage came to a slow walk she released a small sigh of relief.

Glancing across his features she noticed a hint of uncertainty, of course he was to feel nervous for what if their plan didn't work and left them one step closer to the future Rinan wanted to prevent.

Though she ushered said thoughts away as the pair stood outside a pair of large wooden double doors decorated with intricate patterns. However the sound of raised voices were slightly muffled.

"Mest are you ready?" She asked as she turned to the older mage.

He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Let's just say yes" he answered which caused Wendy to nod. He was the first to push the doors open with Wendy at his side, at walking in the members of council all ceased their discussion before turning to face the newcomers.

With the new chairman came new council members and many faces that Wendy failed to remember.

"Mest glad to see you've joined us!" Leji greeted with a grin. Wendy noticed how the members all nodded except for the new Chairman Hoshino who's smile hid something sinister.

Hoshino's instantly focused on her

"It's good to see you...Both of you" he added with a smile that always sent chills down her spine.

"Miss Marvel will be joining us?" Org asked as the pair walked further into the room though Wendy was aware of Hoshino's gaze following them.

Mest nodded at this before turning to Hoshino.

"Yes if it's not a problem?" He asked though they both knew it was a statement.

Hoshino shook his head with a much too wide grin stretched across his thin lips.

"Not at all" he answered.

"From what Hoshino told us we assumed you weren't going to join" Yuri started.

"At least now you'll be here for the final voting"

Mest nodded in understanding

"Since I'm here I verbally oppose the passing of magic registration" he announced which caused a few of the members to frown.

"It would help to reduce the amount of potential dark mages" Belno pointed out with a frown.

"But what about the mages that aren't involved in the dark arts, they would be under suspicion which would tamper with the relationship the council has with the guilds" Yuri countered which started on causing the members to erupt in a loud heated discussion.

Hoshino shook his head with a smile which instantly ceased all arguments.

"Now now..there's no need for such behaviour I'm sure that all points are valid however there is a majority vote for the bill" He pointed out with a smug grin.

"Yet why did you have Mest and I locked up?" Wendy asked which caused the members to turn to Hoshino.

The chairman smiled at her whilst running a hand over his thinning hair.

"I can assure you that she is a delusional little-" he started only to be interrupted by Yuri.

"Yet she is part of a guild that has saved this continent multiple times" he countered which caused the members to nod in agreement.

"This does sound slightly far fetched" Org added.

"It's the truth and why would I lie about something like this?" She asked. Most of the members nodded in agreement however some still looked skeptical.

"Perhaps the discussion should be postponed and no decision made today until an investigation is carried out?" Michello the third seat suggested and even Org had to agree.

"At least then we can determine all factors" Yuri added his gaze focused on Hoshino in a suspicious manner.

Though Hoshino stood up with an eerie smile as he glanced towards the council members.

"Miss Marvel's claims are true I'm afraid" he started which caused the members to quickly stand in defense.

Org quickly raised his hand and instantly a large number of rune knights appeared, however what surprised Wendy was that Hoshino was still smiling. A putrid smell of burning flesh filled the room causing many of the members to cough.

"You see I couldn't let them leave knowing my plan but it seems I'll have to do the same with the rest of you" he added, Wendy searched for any sign of the smoke mage from before however to her horror he wasn't in the room.

Smoke had already filled the room and the older members had already succumbed to its effects. Even some of the rune knights were passed out, while the remaining members coughed out loudly. She turned to Hoshino with widened eyes, said mage only smiling at her.

"Y-you're the smoker?!" She exclaimed as the smoke continued to swirl around her.

He nodded and to Wendy's shock related a cloud of smoke to grab her around the waist. The smoke restricted her movements and the effects were starting to make her light headed. Though suddenly she found herself lying on the floor with Mest standing protectively in front of her.

She quickly stood though she staggered slightly as she took her place next to him. She noticed the smoke making its way towards the unconscious council members, and quickly devised a plan.

"So you and the smoker of the future are working together?" Wendy asked and to her amazement Hoshino directed his attention on her and no longer the council members.

Hoshino's studied her, a thin smile stretched across his lips as he did so.

"Yes...Though let's say I was a little taken aback of his appearance I was won over by his promise of power" he answered with a sneer.

Wendy nodded though with the smoke she knew that herself and Mest weren't going to last much longer, and she was already noticing the older mage swaying slightly.

"You should know that it won't work...Fairy Tail will stop you" she shouted in an attempt to distract him. There was a small thud to her right and glancing down she saw Mest had passed out.

Hoshino too seemed to notice this and smiled, without warning sent an attack towards them. She quickly jumped in front of him and with as much power she could muster she inhaled his attack. As she fell to the ground in pain she was aware of Hoshino's laughter surrounding her.

"Foolish girl...you cannot consume my smoke it's poisonous!" He declared with a laugh.

Wendy staggered up though she coughed slightly. Though Hoshino was right his smoke was poisonous but what he failed to realise was that smoke was air.

"But Hoshino-San it's still air and air gives me power" she countered before powering up with her own attack.

Rissy eagerly bounced on the balls of her heels once the large group joined together. Though she felt sympathy for Lucy and her fear of future Rogue she knew deep down that he was the same person she fell in love with. Even though her guildmates were wary of him she was glad that they were still able to give him a chance.

She was currently stood between Sting and Rogue whilst Lavender and the rest of exceeds pokes at the unctuous smoker with a stick.

"Well...This isn't awkward" Sting commented though he cried out once Rissy punched him in the arm.

"That didn't make it any less awkward" Lucy pointed out from her spot next to Natsu.

The only one who was stood next to Future Rogue was Rinan but it seemed even there that the father and son held some sort of hostility towards the other. There was suddenly a loud yelp and Rissy turned to see Lavender trying to pull her tail away from the smoke mages grip.

Without thinking she ran over to her partner and delivered a kick to the smokers hand and caused him to release his death grip on Lavenders tail. Though once he stood up Rissy was quick to usher the exceeds out of harms way.

"That bastard just wine stay down" Gray shouted as he stood in fighting stance with his shirt now missing.

Natsu nodded in agreement before a grin appeared across his face, flames engulfed his fists and for lack of better word he was fired up.

"He's more annoying than you" he added which caused Gray to frown before punching him not so lightly in the arm, though before Natsu could react Erza was sending a glare their way.

The same putrid smell of burning flesh filled the air once more and Rissy had enough.

"Fairy Dragons roar!" She shouted the attack sending the smoker staggering backwards.

She folded her arms with a huff before turning to face the others.

"He's just really irritating." She said with an added shrug.

She noticed Erza studying the smoker before turning back to face the group.

"It was too easy..." She stated in a serious tone.

Rinan nodded in agreement, though a grim expression had now taken over his usually passive demeanor.

"The smoker has never gone down with one punch" Rinan added.

"That can't be all he has" Natsu commented with his arms folded.

Almost as if in cue the motionless body disappeared in a puff of smoke and hundreds of smoke like creatures appeared surrounding the group.

They all backed up against the other, stood in fighting stance as the creatures growled at them, purple smoke pouring out of their mouths like drool.

Lucy grimaced before turning to Rissy who was next to her.

"Someone obviously never learned any manners" She stated before pulling out one of her keys.

Rissy nodded in agreement before letting the multicolored light engulf her hands.

"Yeah these ugly bastards are so rude-ow!" She shouted as she rubbed the sore spot where Erza had hit her.

"As a young woman you should have better language" Erza pointed out, a small smirk forming as she noticed Rissy's pout.

Rissy sighed before turning back to face the smoke monsters. She turned to see Rinan give a nod, the group starting the fight for their future.

So what did you think of that?

I can't forget to thank those who have followed and favourited this story a massive thankyou for sicking around since there's only three chapters left until this arc and the story is over.

Poor Lucy being faced with Future Rogue once more however it appears that he's on their side.

Stay tuned for the next chapter where both fights with the respective smoker's continue and Rissy is once again faced with losing someone close to her.

JustAnotherFairy :)

Stay tuned for the nes