Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk. There's still original stuff in here, but if you haven't gotten to this point in the anime/manga, then some things may be ruined for you. I advise catching up to the anime/manga if you haven't already (for more reasons than just reading my story)! Thank you and enjoy!

Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon

Chapter 87

The Archbishop grasped his face with fear among a sea of tall candlesticks, each one with a burning candle. "Time…is about to tick!" He fell to his hands and knees. "The chaos…the everlasting midnight…it's coming!"


Kinana's eyes snapped open. She could hear a voice echoing in her mind, calling for her, asking to hear her voice. She slowly sat up in the bed she was in. She wasn't sure how she got there, but it wasn't what her mind was fixated on. "Who are you?" she asked quietly as she looked around the small guild room. "Please tell me who you are."

A knock came at the door before it creaked open. Walking inside was Macao and Wakaba. They made their way over to her and Macao had a seat by her bedside. "How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"I'm confused," she admitted. "What…happened to me?"

"You fainted from anemia. Just rest awhile and you'll be fine."

Kinana looked away. "Don't lie to me. I know this has something to do with the spell that was cast on me." Her gaze saddened. "I can't remember anything at all from when I was a snake. But…what would happen if I ever do remember? Would I be a different person? Would I act differently? Talk differently? Would I be unkind to all of my friends?" She gripped the sheets tightly. "Should I really be here?"

"Kinana…"

"I've been such a burden, haven't I? All because I remember nothing except the promise my friend made to me; the promise that even if we ended up worlds apart, he'd come back for me someday riding a shooting star."

Macao was silent. He remembered when Kinana first came to the guild and what Master Makarov had said about the girl. 'He said that they found a snake wandering about that appeared to be under someone's curse. When they removed the curse, it turned out to be a girl. He also mentioned that the reason her memories were gone was because the curse was powerful and continues to be unstable, even after it was removed. And if her memories do return, they may be extraordinarily painful for her and destroy her cheery nature. She may be here in the first place so that we can keep an eye on her, but still…" He shook his head. "You have not been a burden. You've been a big help, especially over these last seven years. Believe me."

"But…"

"Look, just forget about that lousy curse. There's no reason to worry about it now. Everyone will keep you safe no matter what. You know that."

"Just get some sleep and rest up," Wakaba added. "You're not doing yourself any favors by fretting over such things."

Kinana looked away. 'I can't help it. I can't help but think about it. It's frustrating. It's scary. I don't know what to do. I wish someone—anyone—could help me.'


High in the air, above the clouds themselves, rested a large obsidian-like structure. From the edge of the tall base rose three arm-like branches made of the same material. On each end of the branches were white gloves holding up a large golden ring. Floating in the center of the ring was a golden pyramid with chains attached to each of the four corners. The chains were being used to suspend a large building; the residence of the Archbishop of Zentopia.

The peaks of the surrounding mountains were cluttered with men and women wearing plain cloaks with the hoods covering their faces. Their eyes were closed and their heads were bowed as they prayed. They had all come to pay their respects to the Archbishop.

Inside the building, priests and nuns were pacing worriedly about. They were all concerned about the health of the Archbishop.

"What is the Archbishop's condition?"

"I hear it hasn't improved at all…"

"And with the Founding Festival right around the corner, too."

"There's nothing we can do, though. The Cardinals convened."

"They're selecting the next Archbishop."

"Don't be silly." A voice boomed high above the crowd of hushed chatter, pulling everyone's attention towards it. Standing there was a tall, stern man with short white hair. His attire was that of someone with high status, including the mitre on top of his head. A Zentopia medallion hung around his neck. He stood with his arms folded behind his back underneath his white cloak. He stared at the followers with a cold gaze over the rim of his glasses.

"Sir Lapointe!"

"You've returned!"

"The rumors of the Archbishop being replaced are pure nonsense," Lapointe said emotionlessly. "There is a far greater problem that we must deal with at present."

"What do you mean?" one of the priests asked.

"There are traitors to Zentopia within our midst," Lapointe replied. Everyone gasped at his answer and spoke amongst themselves. Still, Lapointe continued. "Information has leaked out about the Infinity Clock, which as you know is a dark spot in Zentopia's history. On top of this, there are also the attacks on regional parishes. I have been told that this is the work of an insider."

"That can't be!"

"There's no way that can be true. It's too unbelievable!"

Lapointe's cold eyes widened. "Have I reason to lie?" he boomed. The priests who spoke up shrunk back. He continued, relaxing his features. "I am suspicious of the priest who survived one of these attacks. I will personally question him. Bring him to me." The priests echoed their understanding. Lapointe turned and walked back towards the Archbishop's chambers. However, he paused for a moment. "I'll tend to the Archbishop myself. Absolutely no one is to enter his chambers." He then continued walking into the dimly lit hallway from whence he came.


Bright rays of light drew Byro's attention away from Natsu. He looked down to the clock hand still gripped tightly in his left hand. "The clock piece…," he muttered.

"What's it doing?" Ash asked softly.

"It's resonating," Michelle replied.

"So what? Just give it back to Lucy!" Natsu shouted as he breathed deeply. "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"

Byro barely reacted. He drove the clock hand end-first into the ground behind him and simply waved his staff at the incoming fire. The staff glowed pink before turning the flames into pink particles that disappeared.

"He neutralized the attack?" Lucy asked.

"So magic won't work on him," Michelle noted.

"Neutralize my ass!" Natsu cried as he descended upon Byro with flames in his hands. "He won't stop me! FIRE DRAGON WING ATTACK!" He swung his arms at Byro and his flames lashed out like whips.

Byro showed no concern. Once again his staff glowed pink and Natsu's flames disappeared.

"Why you…," Natsu growled as he threw a punch at Byro. However, the older man simply caught his fist in the palm of his free hand. He pulled Natsu's arm forcibly down to upset his balance before thrusting his knee into Natsu's gut. The Dragon Slayer gasped as the air was forcibly pushed from his lungs. Byro used his momentum to swing his leg around and kick Natsu into a broken piece of building.

"Natsu!" Lucy cried as she pulled out one of her gate keys. "OPEN! GATE OF THE SEA-GOAT! CAPRICORN!"

Byro spun towards her and his staff glowed pink once more. "It's useless."

Lucy looked at her key, shocked that Capricorn had not come out. "No way…even my Gate Keys?"

"The neutralization of any type of spell; that is my magic," Byro explained.

Ash and Sky ran forward. "So if that's all you can do, then your parlor trick won't work on us!" Ash cried as her hair and eyes turned a fiery orange and her forearms and hands became fire.

"Right," Sky agreed as her eyes turned blue and the wind around her whipped about.

Byro narrowed his eyes at the two girls. "Such fools." Sky disappeared into the wind and Ash leapt forward with a mighty cry. However, Byro seemed less than impressed. He simply moved his body and spun his staff around before swinging it upwards. The hard wood hit Ash in her already injured ribs. With a shriek of pain, Ash crumpled to the ground.

Concerned for her sister, Sky tried to solidify the upper half of her body to carry her to safety. As soon as she did, she felt Byro's strong grip around her neck, choking her. She tried to call out, but her voice had been silenced.

"Let her go!" Natsu bellowed as he charged forward, flames surrounding his fists.

Byro threw Sky's body at Ash's, forcing them both to tumble away. He used his momentum from the throw to neutralize Natsu's fire and land a spinning kick to his body. Natsu was able to use his hands to flip himself and land on his feet.

"Hang in there, Natsu!" Happy called out.

"This is nothing," Natsu said as he wiped some blood from his face. He grinned and stood tall. "Fistfights are my thing! I slug it out with Gray daily and fighting Gildarts and Nikolias has made me a lot stronger! Check on Ash and Sky!" He charged Byro again, but the tall man was ready for him. Byro countered his attack by punching the side of his face. With Natsu's balance upset, it was easy for Byro to land an even more powerful punch to Natsu's chin.

But still, Natsu kept coming. He refused to quit, no matter how many times Byro hit him. Still, Natsu couldn't get a single hit in. And with each passing moment, it was clear that Natsu was running out of energy. His body was badly bruised and bleeding. Sickening thuds from Byro's strong fists connecting with his body echoed in the tomb.

Lucy watched with horror as Natsu's body was beaten, slammed into the ground, and sent tumbling repeatedly. Yet he wouldn't stay down. Her hand covered her mouth. 'Please, Natsu. Stay down. You're going to get yourself killed!'

Ash and Sky looked over as well as they tried to recover from the beating they had received. Happy was by their side, helping them to sit up. "Natsu," Sky breathed.

"He's not looking so good," Ash said as she held her chest.

Coco was watching with tears stinging her eyes. "This kind of fighting…," she mumbled sorrowfully.

"Oops! Overslept, yeah!" Coco turned to see that Dan had regained consciousness. "Man, what a dream. To think that the Titania would confess her love to me, too." He sheepishly scratched his head and turned, but was immediately shocked to see Byro and Natsu fighting.

"Happy!" Natsu called out.

Happy flew towards him and picked him up. "Aye, sir!"

Byro didn't move a muscle. His staff glowed pink and just like that Happy's wings were gone. Both Happy and Natsu plummeted, hitting the ground hard. "Good grief."

"Shoulda known that wouldn't work," Natsu grumbled as he pushed himself back up.

"If you knew then why didn't you leave me out of it?" Happy asked quietly as he rolled onto his paws.

"I already told you that I could neutralize all magic. Are you not paying attention or are you that dense?" Byro asked.

"Without magic, we're in a tough spot," Michelle observed.

"What can we do? He can neutralize our magic and he's also strong enough to fight off both Ash and Sky," Lucy said. "There has to be something!"

"Natsu, what's the plan here?" Happy asked.

"I've got a great idea," Natsu snickered. "Gildarts used magic when he fought this guy to a draw. So then I'll beat him without magic. And that'll mean that I'm better than Gildarts, too!" He laughed. "Alright! I'm fired up now!"

"At least your attitude is positive," Happy said pitifully.

Byro glared at Natsu. "The fate of the world hangs in the balance, yet all you care for are personal affairs?"

"You got a problem with that?" Natsu barked.

"The burden we bear is heavier than yours. We are prepared to sacrifice our lives for the mission."

"Not this crap again," Natsu sighed.

Dan chuckled. "Watch carefully, Coco. He may be our enemy, but this guy's got serious guts. This fight's only just getting started."

Natsu cracked his knuckles before pushing off. Staying true to his word, he didn't ignite his flames and instead opted for bare fists and feet. However, Byro was quite skilled in hand to hand combat. Once Natsu launched an attack, Byro would dodge and land a swift counterattack that would bat Natsu away. But no matter how hard he was hit, no matter where he was hit, no matter how hard he hit the ground or a broken heap of building, Natsu would get right back up and try again.

Michelle put her hands over her eyes. "This is getting hard to watch. Poor Natsu."

Lucy gulped. "Yeah, it is. Come on, Natsu."

"Don't."

A strange voice caught Lucy's attention. She looked toward Michelle. "Did you hear something?"

Michelle removed her hands and blinked. "Hear what?"

Lucy hummed. "Must have been my imagination…" She returned her full attention to watch Natsu's fight.

Natsu pushed himself up from the latest hit he took and slammed his fist into the ground. He glared at Byro with his swollen face. "You're ready to sacrifice your lives for your mission. That's a load of bullshit! Lives aren't supposed to be thrown away like that!" With a groan he slowly got to his feet. "We fight to help our friends. It's our bonds that we share with each other that keep us going. Friends aren't 'things' or 'tools' like you seem to think they are." His flames ignited all around him. "You can't just throw them away any time you damn feel like it! That's how important lives are!" He charged forward with fists ablaze.

Byro seemed unaffected by the speech. Using his magic, he neutralized Natsu's flames and deflected the punch. He swiftly struck Natsu in the chin with his knee. Natsu was knocked back and Byro used that opportunity to land a heavy slam with his staff to Natsu's ribs. With a loud crack, Natsu was sent flying backwards. Blood seeped through his clothes and from the corners of his mouth.

"Natsu," Lucy gasped.

Coco squeezed her eyes shut. "This is grotesque," she whispered.

"His bones are broken," Dan muttered. "Multiple ribs, possibly even a few in his arms and legs. Yet just look at him." Dan watched as Natsu pushed himself back up in spite of the evident pain he was in. "That expression isn't that of someone who's defeated."

"Everyone, make sure you stay out of this no matter what," Natsu rasped. His face was swollen and bleeding, his weight was shifted, and his body was torn and blood-stained—yet he was still grinning as he walked forward. "I'm gonna be the one to take this bastard down. As a Fairy Tail wizard, I'm absolutely gonna bea—." He was interrupted as he stumbled forward and fell face first.

"Natsu," Sky breathed.

"Get up," Ash begged.

"He can barely even stand up anymore," Happy said softly. "Even so, he won't keep his head down."

Tears were filling Lucy's eyes. "He will look forward. My Natsu never gives up!"

Dan nodded his head. "He's pretty admirable for an enemy, yeah."

Coco put a clenched fist to her chest. 'I don't understand, Dan.' Her eyes were fixed on Natsu, who was standing and still smiling in spite of it all. 'Is that really an enemy of Zentopia? Is that really the person we're fighting?'

"Still, he's not looking too good," Dan said.

With a mighty cry and a drawn back fist, Natsu leapt forward again.

But this time, Byro reacted. His stoic face showed surprise at the strange sensation he suddenly felt radiating from Natsu. "What is this?"

And this surprise gave Natsu the opening he needed to land a powerful punch that hit Byro square in the face.

"He got him!" Happy cried.

"Yay!" Sky cheered.

"Not good enough," Dan sighed.

Byro pushed away from Natsu, upset Natsu's balance forward, and slammed his foot on top of his head. Natsu's face was pushed deep into the ground as the earth split. "That was certainly strange," he muttered as he dug his boot into Natsu's skull. "Looking upon you fills me with emotions I had long forgotten. I suppose it must be anger, right? After all, you continuously spout some compelling ideas about friends and lives and such, but you are nothing more than guild wizards, motivated by money. That you would belittle our noble mission is unthinkable!"

"You don't know anything! We're not in this for the money!" Lucy cried.

"Don't insult our guild!" Happy shouted.

"Rude," Sky breathed.

"Rent? Food money?" Byro said simply, effectively silencing Lucy and Happy.

Sky blinked at her two stunned friends. "Did he say something strange?"

"Honestly, you guys were cool for a second," Ash sighed as she shook her head.

"Say something back, big sister!" Michelle begged.

"Well…," Lucy began.

"I never thought he'd use that for his argument," Happy admitted.

"Don't give us that crap," Natsu groaned as he pushed up against Byro's foot. "You're the one who stole from Lucy in the first pla—." He was silenced by Byro kicking him in the head and sending him tumbling away. He hit a slab of stone hard with his back and slumped forward.

"This world is already in chaos; the Infinity Clock isn't needed for that. However, Zentopia's doctrine is to minimize that chaos and demonstrate the righteous course of action. And it is the Legion Platoon that puts that doctrine into practice."

Natsu rocked on his rear and slammed his palms onto the ground. "Uh huh. Sure." He pushed himself back to his feet and stood firm. His wounds were gone and his body was steady. "You don't really get it, either, do you?"

Michelle was shocked. "He's better? But how?"

"Does he have healing powers?" Ash asked.

Sky pointed. "What's with the candles he has?"

Lucy smiled wide. "He's using the tomb candles to refuel!"

Natsu picked up a few more candles and drew the flames into his mouth. He threw his head back and gulped.

Byro stepped back. "Consuming the tomb's sacred fire…have you no sense of dignity?"

"No more lecture?" Natsu asked, feigning a tone of disappointment. "You know, none of that nonsense you were vomiting made it into my head." He lifted a finger. "Actually, scratch that. A few things did. I remember 'friends', 'lives', and you insulting our guild. Now it's time for payback, times 100!" With new vigor, Natsu rushed Byro.

"He's provoking him," Michelle sighed.

"It would help if he weren't even madder," Lucy laughed nervously.

"That's Natsu for ya!" Happy said.

"Pretty bold," Ash snickered.

"He's brave," Sky agreed.

Natsu began his assault, but his revived energy wasn't helping. Byro's combat hadn't dulled in the slightest and before long, Natsu was flying backwards from a sharp blow to the chest from Byro's fist.

"The retrieval of the Infinity Clock is the mission of the Legion Platoon," Byro stated. "Some measly guild's principles can't come close to it. If consuming fire is another manner of your magic, then I will simply neutralize that as well."

Natsu was struggling to get up as he felt like every ounce of his power had been sucked clean out of him. "Damn you…," he wheezed.

"Natsu's magic," Lucy gasped. "It's gone again! But he just refueled!"

"Hey, that's playing dirty!" Ash spat.

"Coward," Sky agreed.

"Fight him fair and square!" Happy demanded.

Coco clasped her hands together. "Lord Byro hasn't even had to use an attack spell yet."

"Have you gone mad?" Dan asked. "You know damn well that Lord Byro is one of the five toughest fighters in all Fiore, yeah. He doesn't need them."

Byro taunted Natsu with a wag of two fingers. "The weak and helpless are unfit to rule this world."

Natsu had managed to get to his hands and knees, but couldn't go much farther. "What shit are you spewing now?"

"The weak and helpless…," Michelle said quietly.

Byro strode towards Natsu and picked him up by his scarf. "We are perpetrating no wrong." He slammed Natsu's body roughly into the ground, cracking the stones. "People need something to cling to in order to survive. And if that thing happens to be Zentopia, then they will cling to it with all their worth!"

Natsu growled as he pushed himself up and tried another assault. However, Byro was still just blocking his attacks and swatting him away as if he were a gnat.

Byro continued on. "In which case, if the Archbishop tells us to find the clock, then that's what we'll do!" He grabbed hold of Natsu, swung him over his head, and slammed him into the ground again. "And if that requires us to resort to drastic measures, then so be it. For that is our duty."

"I still don't get it," Sky admitted.

"I don't either, but I do know that you're wrong!" Happy cried.

"Exactly!" Lucy nodded. "Don't you realize that lots of people are suffering because of you? Hell, do you even care?"

Byro turned to her. "It's foolish to act on emotion. To reveal the course of righteousness, to walk the path of righteousness, we are forced to make difficult choices." He spun quickly and lashed out with his elbow, catching Natsu, who was trying to stand back up, in the head. The Dragon Slayer slammed into a nearby broken stone wall. Byro ran to him, grabbed him with his staff head, and swung him back down into the earth. "The world is always filled with contradictions. I am aware of that. But because of that, it is only logical that the path I've chosen ends in sacrifice."

"Making difficult choices?" Michelle asked. "That must be rather easy for you."

Byro glared at the blonde. "What was that?"

"You follow this 'cause' of yours to make choices for you instead of listening to your feelings, right?" she asked with a sorrowful expression. "Decisions are easy to make when you can cast heartache aside. But that heartache is part of what makes us human."

"Michelle," Lucy breathed, in awe of Michelle's words.

Byro picked up Natsu's limp body with his foot. "You dare dispute the principles of righteousness?" he spat. He lashed out with his leg, sending Natsu crashing into a rock wall behind the Fairy Tail members.

"Natsu!" Lucy cried as she ran to his side.

Happy stepped forward and pointed an accusing paw at Byro. "What kind of righteousness brings people suffering and sadness? We saw lots of suffering people and distressed Exceeds in Edolas. Any path that causes suffering and sacrifice will eventually collapse and disappear. Who would ever want to follow a path like that?"

Coco's eyes widened at Happy's words.

"Even fish swim freely in water and we're the same way!" Happy continued. "We help people who come to us when they need a hand. They get happiness out of it and we're compensated for it. That's how we got to where we are! That's how a guild works! Fairy Tail will never lose to someone who wields fake righteousness like you!"

Byro's face was twitching in suppressed rage. "Fake righteousness?" he asked in disbelief. "How dare you ridicule us—no, Zentopia—to that extent!"

"You don't know a thing about righteousness! You should be ashamed!" Happy threw back.

Natsu snickered as Lucy helped him to his feet. His arm was slung around her shoulders. "You tell him, Happy!"

"Yeah! Our guild is about feelings, not reasoning!" Lucy agreed.

"Fairy Tail is closer than you could ever hope to be at showing the world true happiness," Ash smirked.

"You don't smile," Sky noted. "It must be because you're suffering."

Byro was shaking. He lifted his staff high into the air and the wood began to glow pink. "Enough of this nonsense!" he growled. "It's time for your divine punishment!"

"Like we'll let you!" Ash shouted as she stood up and charged Byro. "Let's go, Sky!"

"Right," Sky breathed as she disappeared into the wind.

"I'll come, too!" Happy said as he flew alongside Ash.

"Guys, wait!" Natsu shouted.

"That's too reckless!" Lucy cried. She and Natsu took off running to try and stop their friends.

Dan stood up with terror in his eyes. "That light…it can't be!" Light began to gather above Byro's staff and configure into the shape of a large anchor-shaped arrow. "That's Divine Arrow! If that's used on people, they'll be obliterated, yeah!"

"I'll turn you all to dust," Byro spat. "Burn and be purified in the fire of your own sins!" He cocked back his arm and thrust it forward. "DIVINE ARROW!" The light tore through the ground, breaking apart and disintegrating everything in its path…

…but completely missed all of the Fairy Tail members.

"He missed?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling from the fear of being hit by such an attack.

"Scary," Sky whispered, reappearing by her sister.

Byro was shocked that he had missed, but only for a moment. It was then that he realized his staff had been kicked high, causing his aim to suffer. And the reason for this incident was Coco. She had leapt into the fray and used her foot to upset Byro's attack. "Coco? What are you doing?"

Coco sprung off of her hands and landed in a kneeling position. "Zero points! Lord Byro, please stop this!" she begged. "Causing pain and suffering isn't what the Legion Platoon or Zentopia stands for! With the strength we have, isn't leading the way for the weak and helpless lambs the righteous course to take? Yet we're choosing to sacrifice those people instead. I can't accept that contradiction anymore!"

Byro was staring at the young girl with disbelief. "Coco. You dare turn your back on our doctrine?"

"I'm fully aware of the penalty for betraying the Legion Platoon. But I…I can't see the righteousness at the end of this path anymore!"

Byro pointed his staff at Coco. "Righteousness is a single arrow. It pierces all in a straight, unwavering line to arrive at the truth. Do not pretend to have forgotten that teaching."

Coco lifted her head with tears in her eyes. "If that arrow means many helpless lambs must be sacrificed then it should be snapped in two!" Byro took a step back, trembling. "Lord Byro. I've come to realize that there's more to me than just a 'doctrine'. Seeing the way these people act, experiencing the things they feel, well…it fills me with such a warm and cheerful feeling." She smiled warmly at him. "I'm sure you will feel it too if you open your heart to them."

Byro lifted his staff as light began to glow around it again. "Coco, you've been corrupted! Wretched traitor!"

"Coco…," Dan muttered. He turned his head away, feelings for saving Coco and feelings for obeying orders conflicting inside of him.

Byro lifted his staff into the air. "There is no need for a tribunal! I shall administer justice right here, Coco!"

"Coco!" Lucy cried as she ran towards the girl.

"Lucy, don't do that!" Ash begged.

"You'll get hurt!" Sky cried.

"Lucy!" Natsu roared.

Coco turned her head towards Lucy with a sad smile. Tears were filling her eyes. The pink light was turning into a bright white light that began filling the room. "Thank you, Princess. I…I really wish we could've been friends."

"COCOOOOOO!" Lucy cried as she continued to try and reach her, even as the white light enveloped her.

The light exploded around Coco. But there were no cries of pain. And, as the light and dirt cleared away, it was evident that Coco hadn't even been injured. She blinked, confused at her own safety. "What? What happened?"

"What a weak attack," a voice in front of her growled.

Coco looked up and her eyes widened. "I recognize you…you're…!"

"Nikolias!" Lucy cried with tears of relief.

"You're here!" Sky and Ash said simultaneously with incredible joy.

Nikolias stood tall, his right arm raised as he held up his Shadow Wall. The thick wall of shadows had completely blocked off Byro's attack. He lowered the wall and sneered at Byro. "That was almost laughable. All that talk and build up for that? Please."

"Who in the world are you?" Byro demanded. He didn't recognize the face before him.

Nikolias pointed at himself with his thumb. "Hi. I'm the guy who's gonna kick your old ass into the next millennium." He blinked and his eyes went dragon-like. "It's a pleasure."

"Stay out of my way," Byro demanded.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Nikolias replied. "You see, I have an issue with people turning on their allies. Plus, Lucy seems to really care for this girl, so that makes her okay in my book." Shadows danced around him. "So I'll protect her from the monster that stands before her!"

"Nikolias," Lucy said with a smile.

Coco's eyes shone as her face felt hot. 'He…He's going to protect me?'

Another figure landed beside Nikolias. "We didn't have the chance to cross swords before, but now we may get that chance, Byro Cracy."

Byro's eyes narrowed. "Titania."

"Do not call my name!" Erza spat. "To think that you would turn your wrath toward an ally…it makes me sick!"

"Erza, too!" Natsu smiled.

"Quit acting like a bully," a voice echoed from above.

"Gray!" Happy cheered. "Gracie and Juvia too! Wait, is that Lyon with them? What's he doing here?"

Gray looked down upon the group from the entrance that they came through. "Seriously. I rush here because of a bad feeling and this is what I see?"

"Shut up! I'm just getting started so butt out!" Natsu roared at his rival.

Gracie slapped Gray's arm. "Don't go starting fires right now." She smiled down at Byro. "Hey, long time no see Senior Scowl. Looks like your causing trouble again. What are you, some kind of villain?"

Lucy smiled at Gracie before looking around. She could see that everyone who had searched for a clock piece had returned here with their pieces. "Everyone's here! And they found the clock pieces!"

"As you can see, we've obtained all five clock parts," Erza said. "All that's left is the clock hand you stole from Lucy. I want it back."

Nikolias leaned forward as his shadows intensified. "You can always give us a reason to take it back by force, though. It's not the smartest option, but it's on the table."

Byro pulled the clock hand from the ground. "I will not give this to you. You will have to take it back from me by force, Titania and Nikolias."

"Awesome," Nikolias grinned.

"You're greatly outnumbered," Erza pointed out. "We'll take the parts, seal them away, and watch over them ourselves." She requipped a sword into her hand. "So just hand it over quietly and avoid a fight."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Byro said. "The Infinity Clock was originally the property of Zentopia. It is our destiny to watch over it."

"Really?" Coco breathed.

"Is that true?" Lucy asked Dan.

The knight scratched his head. "Actually, this is news to me, yeah."

The clock hand began to glow. "You people have become too deeply involved with this. You have glimpsed into darkness that should not be seen. I cannot allow you to leave alive."

Gracie leapt down and landed on the other side of Nikolias. "Careful there, Senior Scowl. Thems fightin' words." She summoned her katanas and twirled them in her hands.

Erza requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. "If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get. Prepare yourself!" Erza swung her swords, sending out a wheel of bright magic power.

Gray, Juvia, and Lyon each fired a beam of their respective magic power straight at Byro.

Mira had taken her Satan Soul form and fired a blast of Darkness Magic at Byro.

Levy had written the word FIRE in large letters in the air, spraying powerful flames at Byro. Beside her, Gajeel had used his Iron Dragon Roar.

Wendy, too, used her Sky Dragon Roar attack while Cana threw several cards that sped towards Byro like small bullets.

"Wait, everyone!" Lucy begged, but it was too late. "Magic doesn't work!"

"FIRE DRAGON ROAR!" Natsu bellowed as he joined the group effort with his own flames.

Lucy stared at him, mouth agape. "You too?! Have you not noticed anything within the last, like, twenty minutes?"

All of the attacks converged towards Byro, but the man remained still and stoic. "Foolishness," he muttered while waving his staff. In a flash of light, all of the attacks disappeared into small pink particles.

"Is this what Gramps was talking about?" Gray said in disbelief as he leapt down to stand by Gracie and Erza.

"Even with our numbers, he can disperse all of our attacks?" Erza asked as she requipped back into her Heart Kreuz Armor.

"Magic won't work on him," Natsu said.

Ash sweatdropped. "You knew that yet you still tried…"

"Yet to think that it would be this ineffective," Erza replied.

"It makes no difference how many of you attack at once," Byro said as the clock hand in his grip continued to glow. "In my presence, wizards cease to be wizards."

Gracie snickered as she ran forward. "It's a neat trick, I'll admit. But try my blades on for size!"

Byro held out his staff horizontally. "As long as they were summoned by magic, they will disappear!"

Gracie leapt at Byro. "We'll just see!" She swung her right blade downward with a fierce cry.

Byro's staff glowed pink and just as he said, Gracie's blades disappeared before they could hit their mark.

But Gracie's expression showed no surprise or fear or anger. In fact, she was still smiling as she landed before Byro. "Oh no! My hands are completely free now! Whatever shall I do?" With cat-like swiftness, she gripped Byro's staff with both hands. "Oh, I know! How about this?" She swung her body like a professional acrobat, lifting her lower body upwards to surpass Byro's defenses and strike him in the chin with both feet. The blow was swift and strong and had Byro stumbling backwards. Gracie sprung backwards and rejoined the group with a giggle. "Bet you didn't see that one coming, eh?"

Byro scowled as he wiped some blood away from his sore jaw and spat off to the side. "I'll admit I was caught off guard. To think you had so much strength to perform such a technique. But I promise it won't happen again."

Gracie pulled down on her eyelid and stuck her tongue out.

"Gracie's got the right idea, though," Gray said with a smile. "If magic won't work, we'll just have to use our bare fists."

"Give me your best shot," Byro taunted. "I've been trained to fight barehanded against 50 opponents at once!"

Natsu snickered. "Sounds like Octo-geezer is fired up, too!"

"Be alert," Erza warned. "He's a very proficient fighter."

"Bring it on," Nikolias said.

As the group squared off, the clock hand began to glow brighter still. No one seemed to notice, though.

But it was at this time that an image ran through Lucy's mind.

She could see her father smiling at her. "Dad?" However, in the blink of an eye, he was gone. And all Lucy could see was a large, sad, dead, and hollow eye.

"No."

Lucy inhaled sharply as if awakening from a dream. The voice she heard…it was the same one she heard earlier. And it was coming from behind her. She turned and saw a small girl with ratty clothes, long unkempt hair, an expressionless face, and sad, dead, hollow eyes; the same girl on the front of the Key of the Starry Heavens book.

"I told you…not to…," the girl's ghostly voice echoed as she slowly began changing into the shape of the clock hand.

And then suddenly, the girl was back and very close, almost towering over Lucy as her face grew closer. "Time has ticked. Chaos has come."

And just like that she was gone again, and all Lucy could see was her father's clock hand, overwhelming in size as it loomed over her, tattered cloth billowing behind it in the sunny breeze.

"This is…the beginning of the end?"

The clock hand ripped itself from Byro's grip and lifted into the sky. All of the other clock pieces began to glow as well and followed after it.

"Big sister! The clock!" Michelle said excitedly.

"Wh…What's happening?" Lucy asked.

The pieces converged in a flash of bright yellow light. It shone as rays of light spread through the tomb. Everyone could only stare in disbelief. The clock had put itself together. And the loud sound of a bell ringing echoed off of the walls.


Back in the Fairy Tail guild hall, Kinana was laughing; a most sinister and crazed laugh.


Makarov stared at the sky. Streaks of purple haze were spreading out rapidly. "This is bad. This miasma…!"


On the mountain top outside of Zentopia, the gathered priests were clutching their heads as loud ringing resounded in their skulls.

"What's that sound?"

"It's ringing inside my head!"

"My head is splitting!"

"Someone help us!"

"Archbishop!"


Inside of Zentopia's main building, priests were scrambling in a panic. They were pounding on the door to the Archbishop's bedchambers, begging for enlightenment. However, inside of the bedchambers, Lapointe ignored their pleas and demands.

In front of his bed, the Archbishops was squatting while holding his head. "I hear it…I can hear the everlasting midnight!" He laughed wildly.


The loud ringing was shaking the tomb as rocks fell from the ceiling.

Nikolias put a hand to his head. "D…Damn it! This sound…it's too loud! My head…"

"Nikolias!" Sky and Ash cried as they ran to his side.

Natsu gritted his teeth. The noise was uncomfortable for him as well, but his ears were nowhere near as sensitive as Nikolias's. "It's obnoxious alright."

"The tomb is falling apart!" Erza cried over the noise.

"What is this?" Lucy breathed.

"We need to get out of here!" Gray said.

"Agreed. Let's motor!" Gracie said as she ran to Nikolias. "Niky, you good?"

Nikolias looked at her and nodded. Sky and Ash were still on either side of him, looking at him worriedly and ready to help should he need it. "Yeah."

Suddenly, a smell hit Natsu's nose. He sniffed the air a couple of times. "This smell…" His gaze darkened. "No doubt about it."

"Natsu, what are you talking about?" Lucy asked.

"We need to get out of here, not stand around smelling stuff," Gray barked.

Natsu stared off towards the other side of the tomb. "They're here."

"Who's they? Start making sense please," Gracie said.

Everyone looked towards where Natsu was looking. It was hard to see at first with all the dirt clouding their vision, but soon they could make out six figures standing on a cliff. And for Natsu's team, they were shocked at who they saw.

Natsu spat off to the side and snarled. "Oración Séis."