Eyyy! So I'm really happy with this chapter (it's the culmination of three episodes, so yeah, very proud) and the development, though I can't really give you all the good information until next week. The fight scenes might seem rushed, but I really just couldn't bring myself to write out every single one at length. Still, I feel good about it and hopefully, you all do too! Please, favorite/follow if you like it and want me to continue, and reviewing really helps me give what you all want this story to be!

Yeah, I published this at around 1 AM my time, I wanted to get this out the minute you all deserved the update! After all, it is Saturday now.

Gryffindor: Thank you so much for the review! The last line of last chapter... well, you'll understand next Saturday (sorry, not sorry). Thank you for your support!

Dragonlady: Calm down, not all enemies must die. Sometimes... you find better uses.

Ayrae limped across the plaza, soldiers running in terror as she made for the nearest doorway, hoping it would lead to her friends. However, just before walking inside, a massive chain with the likeness of a dragon's head on the end emerged from the top of the palace, red light flooding around it. While Ayrae stared in horror, she hit her fists together. "Shadow Form!" Wings appearing, she flew toward the dragon's head tip as the city began to spin, the tip aiming for the island around the giant lacrima.

Flying upward, she muttered to herself desperately, "Come on, come on!"

Yet just as she reached halfway up into the air, the chain lashed out, its dragon head design biting at the air until it drove itself into the bottom of the lacrima island. Ayrae yelled, "No no no no no no!" Reaching the island, she hit her fists together, starting, "Shadow-"

The chain began to drive itself deeper into the island, starting to pull it toward Extalia.

"Long Sword!" Her hands raising upward, a massive sword, thrice her own size, though in the open daylight, it was nearly transparent. With a yell, Ayrae sliced downward, the sword swinging slowly until gravity pulled it down with full force on the chain- the sword immediately shattering into nothing as it hit the chain.

Ayrae's eyes shook, watching the apparently magic-immune chain, hands shaking. "No... I can't fail... I can't fail them..." Looking up to the lacrima, she flew upward, hoping there would be something she could do. Instead of an answer, she found a terrified Happy, a scraped and bruised Gajeel, and a massive Exceed, all staring at the moving island as it slowly began to pick up speed. Ayrae yelled, "Gajeel, how do we stop it?! I can't break the chain!"

Gajeel looked over, blinking. It was easy for him to identify that this was Guildless, her scent and magic tipping him off, but he couldn't deny the scars put him off for a moment. "Er, we have to keep the lacrima from hitting the other island!"

Ayrae gave a sharp nod. "Then get to pushing, metal mouth!" Flying over the the area between the two islands, she took a deep breath. I won't have any energy left if I do this, but if I can keep these from colliding, it'll be worth it. Her heart pounded with terror- the only other time she'd used this spell, she'd almost died from exhaustion.

Taking a deep breath, she softly spoke the incantation. "Powers above, lend me strength to blacken the night over my foes." Hitting her fists together, the circle that appeared around her was three times her size, spiraling in the sky with a more elaborate seal in the center. Ayrae's hair whipped through the air as her power surged, roaring, "Arc of Night, Advanced Arts: God of Darkness!" Her arms lashed outward, straight outward, her body like a cross.

From the magic circle, a mass of pure darkness rising in an unrecognizable glob of black. Gathering with Ayrae in the center, it began to shift, churning into a human-like shape- a massive humanoid of shadow, giant wings akin to Ayrae's stretching as long as the island, the form itself around fifty feet.

Inside her spell, Ayrae could already feel the massive drain in her power, already a fourth down and still falling. The spell couldn't last longer than ten minutes even if I was at full power... I'll have to make this count.

Ayrae lifted her hands, the form slowly mimicking her movements. Ayrae could feel as if she were the form itself, the palms of her now massive hands now pressing against the island. Ayrae beat her massive wings, keeping herself in the air as she attempted to push the island away from Extalia.

It wasn't long before she had company.

Flying upward on a Legion, Gray, Natsu, Erza, Lucy, and Coco could only stare in awe and slight fear of the giant which now towered over them. Gray grinned. "Ayrae beat us to the punch!"

Erza's eyes lit in hope for a moment before she remembered: the people of Edolas were similar to their Earthlanders. Seeing the Gajeels earlier had split her mind in two, and with how much Gray blamed himself for Ayrae's death, it didn't surprise her that he was seemingly caught up in thinking she was back to life. Choking back her emotions, she gave a gentle reminder, "This is Edolas, Gray. Ayrae is still gone to us."

Gray turned to Erza with a grin. "No, Erza. This is the real deal. Our Rae."

Erza looked away, back to the giant in the sky. She mentally chided herself, Ayrae is gone. He's simply trying to bridge the gap in his life. Just go with it.

Natsu grinned. "Come on, let's get up there and help!"

Despite Ayrae's efforts, the island was still moving, slowly moving toward Extalia, the chain's force pushing against Ayrae's spell. Seeing the Legion approaching, she yelled, "Hurry, I'm not sure how long I can keep this up!" Turning, the islands were close enough now for her to put one hand on each island, attempting to hold them apart.

The Legion slammed its head into the island, the wizards immediately moving to the head of the creature to assist in holding the island, just under one of Ayrae's massive arms.

From above, Happy swirled downward, yelling, "Natsu! I'm sorry... I-I didn't mean..."

Natsu grinned. "Gimme a hand, buddy. Would ya?"

Happy paused for a minute before smiling. "Aye, sir!" Flying to Natsu's side, he pressed against the island.

Ayrae, sweat forming on her forehead, smiled down at her friends. I've never met a Fairy Tail wizard capable of giving up.

Yet the island was growing closer, Ayrae's senses dulling, her vision blurring for a minute. With no choice but to preserve what little power she had left, her giant form faded away, turning transparent before disappearing completely. Now hovering in the air, the chain cannon was suddenly making much more headway without her resistance. Quickly joining the others attempting to shove the lacrima back, she found herself beside Gray, grinning at him out the corner of her eye. Breathlessly, she greeted, "I told you Shadow wouldn't... be a challenge."

Gray gave back a weary grin, sweat dripping from his usually cold body. "I knew you could do it. Now, let's save the guild!"

Ayrae gave a sharp nod and a joking, "Aye, sir."

Yet despite their efforts, despite the fact that their arms were numb from pushing, senses dulled from pure focus, the island was moving even faster now, and soon, they were all nearly crushed between the stone, the island an arms length from Extalia. Most adjusted their stance, no longer standing on the Legion but standing horizontally, legs pressed against Extalia while the shoved at the island.

Ayrae had long since felt her body go numb and her mind stop processing. All her power and every ounce of strength in her body was against the lacrima's island. No thoughts could run through her mind with her focus on her task.

The edge of Extalia was beginning to crack from the force of the island, the power of its momentum beginning to shatter the Exceeds home.

Yet she could see the many wings fluttering by, the paws pushing on the island, hundreds of small cats with glowing wings coming to join the Fairy Tail wizards.

And suddenly, the pressure was gone. Ayrae managed to lash out and grab Gray as the had no more to stand on, managing to keep them in the air. Gasping, they smiled wearily at the lacrima, now floating a safe distance from Extalia. Gray, arm wrapped around Ayrae's waist, turned to her. "We did it."

Ayrae reminded, "Doesn't Fairy Tail always come through?"

Suddenly, the lacrima began to glow, completely overtaken with light that threatened to destroy Ayrae's wings with radiance. The light too bright to look at, most looked away- and when it died, the lacrima was gone, the island and chain dissolving into light.

Gray stared. "It disappeared... Does that mean..."

Lucy, held by an Exceed, fretted, "What happened to all our friends? A-Are they...?"

"Don't worry. They're alright." Turning to the sound of a new voice, they all looked up to see Mystogan, standing on a white Legion.

Erza exclaimed, "Mystogan!"

Pulling his scarf down, he smiled. "Sorry for the delay. Finding an adequate anima vestige to restore everyone took longer than I thought. Without your efforts, I never would've made it in time. You have my gratitude."

Happy asked from where he held Natsu, "Everybody's back to normal?!"

Mystogan nodded. "Yes. By passing through the anima again, the lacrima will return to its usual form in Earthland."

The Exceeds began to celebrate, the Earthlanders high-fiving and laughing while Ayrae smiled at Gray. "Looks like we managed to pull through with a record low amount of explosions."

Gray shrugged. "We'll probably make up for it before we leave. Natsu looks like he's still fired up."

Yet their victory was short lived as Gajeel's new friend, the Exceed Panther Lily, was shot through the stomach by a massive beam of pink energy.

Gajeel roared, "No, not my cat!"

The Exceed began to fall from the sky as Mystogan yelled, "Lily!"

Looking to the source of the attack, eyes rested on a herd of Legions approaching, the very front carrying Captain Knightwalker, her spear still steaming from her attack. "We're not done here! Destroy every last one of them!"

Ayrae tried to take a fighting stance, but with one arm wrapped under Gray's arms to hold him in the air, there wasn't much she could do.

Natsu growled, "That's the Edolas Erza."

Happy whimpered, "The one called Knightwalker."

Gajeel hissed, "Heartless broad! You're gonna pay for hurting my cat!"

Knighwalker ignored them, eyes trained on Earthland Erza. "Scarlet!"

Erza lifted her arms for a fight, her Exceed struggling to hold her up in her heavy armor as Mystogan put in arm toward her in restraint. "Let me handle this." Looking to Knightwalker, he raised his voice. "I've had enough of your insolence, Captain Knightwalker. How dare you point your sword at me, the Royal Prince of Edolas?"

Laughter echoed against metal below. "You, the Royal Prince of Edolas? Don't make me laugh! You don't deserve the title because I never thought of you as a son!"

Coco whispered, "That's the King's voice..."

Lucy looked around rapidly, "Yeah, but where the hell is he?"

The King continued, "You have some nerve, you can't run off for seven years then waltz back in as if nothing happened! Do you think you can fool me? I know you've been in Earthland, sealing the animas. You're a traitor, and so you shall be punished as one!"

Mystogan pleaded, "Your anima plan has failed, please surrender peacefully. You've no reason to fight anymore!"

The King scoffed. "Ridiculous. Who says I need a reason to fight?"

The ground began to glow in a broken coliseum below them, the King's voice continuing, "This is not a simple fight, no this is retribution! The extermination of all those who would oppose their king!"

From the ground, a giant ball of metal had risen, chains pinning it to the ground.

Lucy wondered, "What is that thing?"

Ayrae speculated, "Most likely a weapon, of some sorts."

The King resumed, "Since you and your annoying friends persist in standing in my way, I have no choice but to obliterate each and every one of you! Regardless of who you are!" The ball rose from the ground, softly starting to glow.

Mystogan's voice was becoming desperate. "Father, please!"

"I'm not your father! I am the King of Edolas! If I dispose of you here and now, I won't have to worry about you closing the animas! I'll be free to create an new giant lacrima, and fuse it with the Exceeds! Limitless magic energy will be mine! Try as you might, there is no stopping me!"

The ball had unfolded, metal sliding outward and extending to for a dragon-like creature, humanoid in stance but bulky and metal with its tail curled dangerously, like a sleeping snake.

"My power is absolute!"

The Exceeds whispered as Mystogan marveled, "The Dorma Anim, from our old language. Dragon Knight. It's enhanced dragon armor."

Natsu stared. "A dragon?"

Ayrae yelled over, "Hey, the hell are you staring for?"

Natsu blinked, looking at Ayrae. "What?"

Ayrae smirked. "Well, you're a Dragon Slayer, aren't you? Show this King why it should be feared by all worlds!"

Natsu grinned. "Now we're talking, I'm all fired up!"

Wendy brightened. "I can help too!"

Gajeel butted in, "No way are you gonna show me up, Salamander!"

The Dorma Anim opened its mouth to reveal what seemingly was a cannon. "As your King, I order you to capture all the Exceeds, at once!"

A resounding, "Yes, sir!" echoed as their Legions swarmed toward the cluster of wizards and Exceeds.

Suddenly, it was mass panic. With Mystogan's order to fly for their lives, Exceeds scattered in every direction, yells of terror resounding as beams of blue light streaked toward the Exceeds, turning them to lacrima with a single touch. The Dragon Slayers were flying for the Dorma Anim, the remaining Fairy Tail wizards regrouping on their Legion's back.

Ayrae insisted, "We have to protect the Exceeds, they're completely helpless!"

Gray nodded. "Come on, let's follow them!"

The Legion turned at Coco's asking, flying after the largest clump of Exceeds as the King's raging voice returned. "I will obliterate anyone who gets in my way! I won't let a single human escape my wrath!" A massive blast of white energy flooded from the Dorma Anim's cannon, Mystogan blocking as best he could. He reflected the attack, but it didn't damage the Dorma Anim whatsoever, it attacking again, this time directly hitting Mystogan's Legion, the wizard flying through the air.

Their Legion desperately dodging the Dorma Anim, they had no ability to fight. Yet as the Dragon Slayer's began to attack, the Dorma Anim was too distracted to focus on the Earthlanders above.

Ayrae turned to Coco. "Hurry, the Dorma Anim isn't shooting us anymore, we can go help the Exceeds."

The young girl blinked, nodding slowly. "Oh, yeah! Come on, Legie!"

The Legion started forward as another Legion approached from ahead, Knightwalker standing proudly on its head. "I've been waiting for you, Scarlet."

Erza demanded, "What do you want from me?"

Ayrae glared and softly said, "Isn't it obvious? A rematch."

Yet as they had been speaking, the rest of the Legions under Knightwalker's command had approached, encircling their own.

"It's a trap!"

"They've got us ambushed!"

"Let's get out of here, Legie!" The Legion lifting up into the air, heavy gold blasts began to fire upward on them, their beast valiantly attempting to dodge. Yet despite its efforts, one of the bolts hit, a direct blast right to its chest, knocking them all off and freefalling.

Ayrae immediately reformed her wings, feeling the newly fallen nighttime giving her a slight advantage, quickly grabbing for the closest person, who happened to be Erza.

Happy and Carla quickly grabbed hold of Lucy, Coco, and Gray, the Exceeds lowering them to the ground as Erza gave a prompt, "Thank you."

Ayrae smiled. "Least I can do for an old friend."

Erza's eyes widened again, looking up at the girl who's arms were wrapped around her chest. Eyes shaking, heart seeming to stop, she whispered, "It's really you."

Ayrae smiled. "Yeah, Red. I'm really here."

Erza's smile returned, ten times brighter. "I'm sorry to have to say goodbye again so soon, but I have a fight to finish."

Ayrae nodded. "One I know you'll win." Looking at Knighwalker, she began to spin, whirling like a cyclone in the air. "And I'm going to give you a flying start!" Despite the weight of Erza's armor, Ayrae managed to gain enough momentum while spinning to fling Erza toward her doppelganger with a final. "Kick her sorry ass, Scarlet!"

In midair, Erza whipped out her sword, immediately slamming it into Knighwalker's spear as Ayrae glided down in a spiral to land beside Gray and Lucy. Wings fading, she touched down just in time to see Lucy kneeling, squishing Happy's face angrily while he whined about her weight.

Gray looked to Ayrae. "Know where Erza is? We crashed before I could see."

Ayrae assured, "I dropped her off to finish her fight with Knightwalker, and before you protest, I'll point out she can handle herself. Literally. We have our own problems to deal with."

As if on cue, several golden blasts hit near them, Ayrae immediately announcing, "Shade's Shield!" in a protective effort, but even the boost night gave her magic couldn't fix how she'd depleted her magic with the Advanced Arts spell. The dome that formed around them was much more transparent than it should've been, more grey than black.

Ayrae sustained the spell as best she could, the soldiers attacks having no effect on her shield- at the moment. She growled, "Hurry and get ready for a fight, I don't have the magic to keep this up for much longer."

Lucy nodded sharply, standing and drawing out a key as Gray assumed his stance. "We're ready for 'em, no matter how many crawl out of the woodwork!"

Ayrae allowed the shield to fall, two new blasts joining the fray- the Magical Cannons to turn Exceeds to lacrima, and they were aiming only for Happy and Carla, the Exceeds dodging in terror.

Ayrae yelled, "They're aiming for Happy and Carla!"

Gray's hands began to glow with his spell's beginning. "Not for much longer. Ice Make Wall!" A thick barricade of ice appeared, separating soldiers from Earthlanders. "Hurry it up, guys!"

Ayrae warned, "I've only got about four spells left before I'm down to my bare fists, so I'm waiting to make them count!" Looking to Happy and Carla, she ordered, "Over here! Not a damn thing is touching you two!"

Happy eagerly took Carla by the hand, pulling her over to Ayrae, the two standing at her feet. Happy smiled up at her. "I missed you, Rae."

Ayrae smiled down in return. "You too, furball."

Lucy grinned. "Well, I can step up! Open, Gate of the Lion, Loki!"

The handsome, suited spirit burst into existence yet again, smoothly asking, "You miss me, Lucy?" The soldiers had blasted their way through the ice, just in time for Loki to rush forward and knock them all out with a swift Regulus Impact.

Coco doing her best by kicking and weakly punching her way through the soldiers, her agility making it difficult for them to catch the sly girl.

Yet a line of soldiers spread out, Magic Bullets shooting from their spears like fire. Before a bullet could hit Happy or Carla, Ayrae quickly hit her fists together, hitting her palms together as if praying. "Blackness Rain!" A hail of shadows quickly countered the bullets, even taking out a few soldiers, Ayrae starting to feel her head spinning. Yet she only warned, "Stay closer to the rocks, cats. Less angles for them to attack from."

The battle was starting to go downhill. Despite all the ice Gray could fling, how many men Loki could hit, the soldiers had overwhelming numbers.

Ayrae took a deep breath, stepping forward. She called, "Gray, watch my back! I'm pulling my trump card!"

Gray's eyes widened as he remembered- shadows rebelling and attacking their owners, Ayrae unable to move. "Got it!" Backing up, he quickly found himself back to back with Ayrae. "Isn't this a hard spell?"

Ayrae nodded. "Yeah, and I'm about to use every last ounce of magic I have left just to use it, but it might just be worth it. Arc of Night!" Fists together yet again, her left arm pointing forward and right arm supporting her left. "Shade's Rebellion!"

The soldiers' shadows began to peel themselves from the ground, taking a three-dimensional form, holding spears akin to the soldiers, only black in color, just as the shadows were. Some thirty rose from the ground, immediately shooting down their owners, rushing about in a horror-inspiring wave of darkness as Ayrae's body went stiff, unable to move while the spell was in action.

Soldiers screamed in terror, some running and some fighting valiantly, but the shadows were unaffected by any attack they had. But then, trees began to rattle and shake as the Legions of the soldiers now walked forward, standing behind the ranks, stomping downward on the shadows, disabling them for a few seconds. Yet of this, the worst trouble was the way Ayrae's vision blurred and her body went numb, her magic completely drained. The spell fell apart, shadows fading into the night as Ayrae fell to her knees, gasping for air and shaking violently.

Gray's eyes widened. "Rae!" Swiping his arm at a swarm of soldiers, he growled, "Ice Make Arrows!" His freezing arrows colliding with them, he knelt beside Ayrae, arm around her shoulders. "Stay still, I've got you."

Ayrae insisted, "I-I'm... f-fine..." Attempting to push back to her feet, she would've fallen completely had Gray not been holding her up.

He shook his head. "No, you're not! You saved my ass how many times today, now it's my turn to save yours! Just stay low and let me help."

Ayrae hesitated, then nodded slightly. "G-Go."

Gray promised, "We're gonna be fine. After this, we're going back to the guild hall, and you're going to tell me every damn thing I've missed!"

Ayrae smiled weakly as she leaned against the few rocks giving them shelter. "L-Looking forward to it... Now go."

Gray nodded, standing just in time to blast ice at a few incoming soldiers. Ice flew, Lucy's glowing whip tore the air, yet they were outmatched. A Legion quickly knocked both Loki and Gray away, Lucy taking several direct shots from the magic bullets. Spears were aimed at every one of them, Gray and Lucy on their backs, Ayrae pinned against the rocks, one arm protectively around them, glaring at the speartips in her face.

A soldier growled, "Release the Exceeds or we will remove them to become lacrima!"

Ayrae hissed, "Over my dead body!" Well, if desperate times call for desperate measures, I'm the textbook example. Her hand crept toward her neck, about to yank the bandages from her neck- as a tree sapling suddenly sprouted from the ground. Roots expanding, thick as trees, they lashed out and grabbed the Legion's by the necks like collars as the sapling grew rapidly, growing into the Edolas Fairy Tail guild hall.

A massive crowd of angry wizards swarmed forward, screaming and jeering as they charged into the newly reborn fray. The Lucys discussing, the Earthlanders quickly rejoined the battle, Ayrae pushing to her feet, leaning against the rocks and grabbing a fallen spear. Looking at it curiously, she placed her hand on the shaft, a magic bullet flying out and hitting a soldier.

Ayrae grinned. "I'm still in it."

It could've been seconds, minutes, hours, even days that they fought. Ice, whips, swords, bullets, magic flew everywhere as the Fairy Tail wizards fought side by side, whether from Earthland or Edolas.

No one really put much thought into the fight until a resounding crash stole their attention. The floating islands, falling toward earth as if only now discovering gravity. The Edolas wizards muttered nervously as they fought, the battle skidding to a complete stop as golden light began to flow from the ground and even the weapons in the hands of the people.

Edolas Gray, Gray Surge, fretted over a battle axe, "Oh no, my weapon! What's happening?!"

Gray chided, "Whoa, just calm down, man."

Coco calmly stared at the sky with tears in her eyes. "I guess... This is the end."

Ayrae looked to the sky, frowning. It... it looks almost like the anima that pulled us here. Realization struck, eyes turning to the castle. Someone's removing the magic from Edolas. They're ending this conflict by destroying its source.

Panic continued to flood through the Edolas Fairy Tail, their members panicking as the soldiers ran in terror, yet Ayrae only sat away from the people who looked so much those she'd known years ago. After Natsu Dragion began to cry yet again, she turned to them. "Why are you panicking?"

Edolas Lucy turned with a glare. "You know why! Our magic is disappearing!"

Ayrae simply asked, "So? You act like its the end of the world. Magic isn't all that matters in your life. It only means that anything and everything you do from now on is completely done by your own two hands. Sure, the future can scare us, because we don't know what's coming." She looked up to the anima with a smile. "But we adjust, we adapt, and we thrive. Nothing can beat you if you know your own capabilities."

Edolas Lucy hesitated, staring at the scarred girl, recognizing her clothing, knowing it was "Guildless" from before. The gears turned in her head, her ideas processing as she figured out how to handle her situation. She suddenly whirled, storming over to where her guild had collected. "Listen, this looks bad, but we gotta stay cool. Let's go to the Royal City and see what's up for ourselves!"

Dragion nervously asked, "What do you mean by that? Say what?"

"It's our future. Let's look it straight in the eye," She glanced to Ayrae with a smile. "And adapt." Turning and running toward the city, the guild quickly followed the spunky blonde, leaving the Earthlanders alone.

Regrouping by the rocks, Ayrae looked to the sky. "Now, all that's left is to wait until our chance to return to Earthland."

Gray asked, "How do you know we'll get a chance?"

"Because, look up." Nodding to the anima, she smiled. "That's what brought our friends here. I have a feeling its how we'll get back."

It wasn't a minute before they were glowing gold, their bodies giving off a bright glow. Ayrae immediately felt nauseous from the light. Oh no... Ugh, light doesn't mix with Darkness Magic...

They began to slowly rise into the air, Ayrae nervously reaching out and grabbing Gray's hand. Floating upward in the streams of gold, they looked down on the Royal City, Gray calling out to his panicking other half. "Try not to worry about it, guys! It takes more than just magic to make a guild, trust me." Fist to his chest, bowing his head, Ayrae lost her breath at seeing the gesture she'd taught him so long ago. "Friendship is the heart of a guild."

Ayrae smiled at Gray, eyes misting. "Don't we know it..."

Gray returned the smile, and they passed through the anima, back to Earthland.