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 89
In an unknown place, hidden from the rest of the world, the Infinity Clock rested silently on a large stone altar. Standing around the altar with malicious grins of satisfaction were the members of Oración Séis; all except for Midnight, who was standing before his subordinates upon the altar with his back to his prize. "The amplitude limiter is almost finished," he said.
Jackpot groaned. "Can't we just finish off the church now?"
"Even more destruction and the end," Racer said before chuckling darkly.
"To bring about the end of this world, there's something we still need," Cobra said.
"Correct," Midnight said. "The Infinity Clock isn't quite complete. In order to obtain great power, the sacrifice of something suitable is the price that must be paid. We know that better than anyone." He raised his hands. "Now go! With our power, the end shall approach even faster!"
Inside of the Fairy Tail guild hall, the returning party that had been searching for the clock pieces had just finished filling in the rest of the guild. Needless to say, the news that was being delivered didn't incite any smiles or words of encouragement.
"Oración Séis…just great," Macao grumbled.
"Guess that's why the former Master got summoned by the Council," Wakaba surmised, blowing out a puff of smoke from his cigar.
"So you guys have run into them before, huh?" Gracie asked.
"Yes. We met them during the Nirvana threat," Erza answered.
"They're worse now than they were seven years ago," Gray said.
Carla sipped on a cup of tea. "We were helpless against them."
Gracie huffed. "I definitely didn't enjoy being tossed around like a doll. They were stronger than I expected. Next time we see 'em, I'll be ready."
Ash was sitting with her sister at a table. She slammed her fist on the wooden top. "Damn it! I can't believe how worthless I was back there! All I did was get beaten up to the point that I couldn't even fight!"
"Sister," Sky breathed sadly.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. When you get down to it, it was all my fault," Michelle said.
"If she can't blame herself then you shouldn't either," Lucy said while patting Michelle's back. "Don't forget what Natsu said before; my father should have left a more detailed message. None of us are at fault for what happened."
"I'd like to know how your father got involved in all of this in the first place," Nikolias said. "This doesn't seem like something one gets involved in accidentally."
Lucy shook her head. "I'd honestly like to know the answer to that myself."
"Put that one on the backburner," Gracie shrugged.
"Gracie's right," Erza said. "Right now our priority is to find Oración Séis and take back the Infinity Clock."
Natsu leapt to his feet. "Let's get going then! If we just search then they're bound to turn up eventually!"
Nikolias shook his head. "Doing that would waste a lot of time and effort. Frankly, we can't afford to waste either."
"But Nikolias, couldn't you sniff them out?" Ash asked.
"If I got close enough I could, but I have no starting point or direction," Nikolias replied while scratching his head. "I'd have to get lucky and I don't want to be miles away if something goes down elsewhere."
"So then we just need to form a plan before we act," Gray said.
"I like it!" Gracie winked. "Plans save lives."
Natsu butted heads with Gray. "C'mon, where's your drive? Thinking won't get us anywhere!"
Gray pushed back. "This has nothing to do with drive! I'm plenty motivated to find them!"
The two boys began to tussle, Gray's shirt disappearing in the skirmish.
Wendy sweatdropped. "Everyone's really on edge, huh?"
"It can't be helped. It's frustrating that all we can do right now is sit around with our arms folded," Carla sighed.
"We're also lacking some members at the moment," Erza added.
"Gildarts and Laki are both far away," Max said.
"It just had to be at a time when even one more person would make a big difference…" Erza was interrupted by the sound of the guild doors opening.
"Yo! We're back!" Bickslow called out. "The Thunder Legion has completed its mission!"
"It was a breeze," Evergreen winked.
Freed could feel a strange tension inside the guild. Apart from Natsu and Gray at each other's throats—something that was all too common to be thought of as strange—everyone seemed to be oddly down. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Gracie patted the table she was sitting at. "Grab a chair. We'll fill you in."
The Thunder Legion had a seat and were fully informed on everything that had happened. When the explanation was over, Bickslow spoke up. "So the Infinity Clock that you mentioned is going to bring about the end of the world? Seriously, we leave for a short period of time and all hell breaks loose."
"What poor timing," Evergreen said while fanning herself. "If we had been there, Oración Séis would have been soundly beaten."
"Now that you mention it, when I was out grocery shopping earlier I came across a church that had been destroyed. I overheard the soldiers who had been guarding it talking about two men. One had been holding a large scythe and the other was running at incredible speeds. They single handedly destroyed the church in Shirotsume."
"A large scythe and incredible speed?" Happy repeated.
"No doubt. That's Erigor and Racer!" Natsu exclaimed.
"He goes by Grim Reaper now," Happy corrected.
"Whatever!"
Freed continued. "From what I heard, attacks on churches have suddenly increased in the past two or three days."
"How could you have heard all of this and not told us!" Bickslow cried in bewilderment.
Freed sighed. "I did tell you, but you two were too focused on eating at the time to listen."
"I don't understand," Erza said. "Why target churches?"
Lucy shook her head. "Since they stole the Infinity Clock, it sounds like Oración Séis has gotten even more out of hand."
The moon was high in the sky and only the sounds of chirping insects could be heard in a small, sleepy mountain town. Angel, Cobra, Racer, Grim Reaper, and Jackpot were all standing on the outskirts.
"I can hear them," Cobra said. "There are four churches on this land. The priest has already evacuated and the guards that are posted there don't know anything useful."
Jackpot pulled on his lever, setting the pictures spinning. "Alrighty then! In that case we'll attack them one after the other! Ha ha!" The three pictures stopped on an image of a star.
"I want to see destruction," Racer said slowly. "It's what I live for."
Angel put a hand on her hip. "We'll split up and get this done quickly." She smiled at her guild mates. "Our work tonight is no different than yesterday."
Grim Reaper gave her a quizzical look. "No different?" His expression then changed to one of pain, as if he were digging deep within himself to recall something. "Was I doing the same kind of thing yesterday?"
"You don't need to remember anything. All you have to concern yourself with is your objective as one of the Demon Generals," Angel told him softly.
Grim Reaper's features relaxed. "I see. That's all I need to worry about."
"We're wasting time," Cobra snapped. "Let's get moving."
The group split up to carry out their mission.
Cobra and Angel were the first to reach their target. Without any hesitation, Cobra fired a blast of magic at the church building. A quick succession of explosions rocked the structure, blowing off chunks of stone and knocking away several of the guards that were stationed there. Flames lit up the dark sky, illuminating the stoic face of Cobra and the hauntingly angelic features of a smiling Angel.
The guards who had not been caught in the explosions immediately took up a defensive formation. They held their spears at the ready. "It's Oración Séis!"
"They came! Protect the church!"
Angel giggled. "Men who aren't the least bit beautiful…" She held her closed hand to her chest and closed her eyes. "Cost 20." She opened her hand as two shining gold coins hovered above her open palm. "Grovel before the angel's glow!" She thrust the coins at the ground just in front of the guards. Once they bounced a single time, they began to glow even brighter before disappearing. In their stead stood a towering, muscular white figure with a full grey beard and four arms. In one of its hands was a massive golden hammer that it proceeded to swing at the ground. Several guards were immediately crushed. Others were blown away by the force of the attack.
Cobra paid no mind to the guards that were flying around him or the sounds of their screams of fear and agony. As he walked towards the church, his focus was trained solely on the church itself. He listened carefully and with his incredible hearing he could pick up the clear sound of frantic breathing. He could tell that the priest he sought was deep below the church's main floor and that the man was kneeling and praying within a green magic circle. "Concealment Magic, huh?" He chuckled as he cracked his neck. "What a pitiful trick." He then released a powerful concussive blast of sound at the church building, destroying it in an instant and turning it into nothing but rubble and flames.
"How tasteless," Angel said.
"On the path we're on, there's no such thing as 'tasteful'," Cobra snapped back.
"And those guards were nothing short of boring," she sighed. "I wonder…do you think we'll be able to fight that strong Fairy Tail man from before? You know, the one that walks through shadow. I would love to take him on. He could provide a challenge."
"Never mind him," Cobra said dismissively. "What about the anti-link?"
"I took care of it already. Really, you're so cold." She smiled. "Then again, that's what I like about you."
"All I need is her. That hasn't changed." He lifted his hand and stared at it. "I'll kill her and then…"
"You'll receive power," Angel finished.
"The way I am now, my misery is a driving force that gives me power. Until this world comes to an end, this pain in my chest won't disappear."
Angel turned around to face the opposite direction. "That's right. In order to achieve our objective, we'll do anything it takes to obtain more power. We'll take our failure, frustration, years of being humiliated and turn it into power. That's what we are as the reborn Oración Séis."
Cobra turned to face her. "I could hear it. There was only one vessel of this land and that was the one we found here."
"There's not much time left," Angel replied. "I suppose our only choice now is to rely on information."
"Now she will be brought to me."
"Have you already forgotten our orders? That's not our job. What we have to do is much more important."
Elsewhere, Racer, Jackpot, and Grim Reaper were destroying another church. It had already been reduced to rubble and flames burned brightly in the night sky. The guards stationed there were trying to take down the evil mages.
"Archers, fire!" one of the guards barked. Upon command, the archers fired arrows at Jackpot and Grim Reaper.
However, before the arrows could get remotely close, Racer sped past. He caught all of the arrows easily and snapped the wood in his grip. "Too slow. Too slow."
While the guards were dazed at seeing their attacks fail, Grim Reaper raised his scythe. "Clouds…become a storm with lightning!" He swung his scythe at the guards, sending out a blast of wind. The wind attack cut through the ground and knocked back the guards. Each guard hit was then struck by a bolt of lightning.
Jackpot pulled down on his lever and the pictures began to spin. They landed on matching images of lightning bolts. "Slot Magic! This guarantees our victory yet again! What do you think of this Lightning Bonus? It's totally hot!" A massive blue bolt of electricity shot down from the sky, shocking all of the guards and creating a massive explosion.
Oración Séis's quest for destruction had only just begun.
The sound of squeaking wood drew Macao's attention to the guild stairs. He saw Kinana slowly trudging down the steps from the upper floor, her body swaying from side to side. "Kinana?"
Wakaba turned around. "What are you doing? You're clearly still not feeling up to moving around!"
Kinana ignored the comments as she reached the bottom floor. Her bare feet echoed in the silent guild as everyone looked on in confusion at Kinana's behavior.
"Is something wrong?" Lucy asked.
"You're lookin' a little woozy there," Gracie said.
Kinana still did not speak. Her gaze was fixed ahead yet it was as if she were staring at nothing. And there was something strange about her eyes, for they looked almost snake-like. She grabbed a fork from one of the guild tables as she walked by and stopped at the wall. She knelt down and began to scratch at the wall with the metal utensil.
"You should be resting!" Wakaba begged.
"Kinana's eyes…," Michelle breathed.
"Yeah," Lucy said.
"Something feels off," Nikolias mumbled.
"Wasting…time," Kinana said monotonously. "Let's get…moving."
Sky grabbed her sister's arm. "Sister, what's wrong with Kinana?"
"I don't know," Ash said with a shake of her head.
"The way I am now…my misery…," Kinana muttered.
"Kinana, hold on!" Levy begged, watching as chips of wood from the guild wall flew through the air.
"What are you doing?" Lucy asked.
Kinana kept chipping away at the wall, remaining oblivious to everything around her as she continued to carve strange characters. "…is a driving force…that gives me power."
"Kinana, please stop!" Wendy begged.
"Until this world…comes to an end… this pain…in my chest…" Kinana dropped the fork. It clanged on the floor before resting beside her. "…won't disappear." Her eyes fluttered closed. She collapsed to the floor. Mira was quickly by her side, lifting her head gently to rest it in her lap. She was still muttering nonsense quietly under her breath.
"What was that about?" Max asked.
"Maybe she was remembering something about her past," Lucy theorized.
"It's possible," Max agreed. "It sure has been weighing on her lately."
"She was apparently under that spell for a long time," Lucy said.
Nikolias walked over to Kinana with a worried look before glancing at the wall, now covered with hundreds of figures. He could feel his skin crawl. "These characters again."
"You recognize them, Nikolias?" Ash asked.
He nodded. "Yeah," he growled.
"I'll take her back to the infirmary," Elfman said while scooping Kinana up into his arms. He walked off, Mira by his side to provide care.
Levy stood beside Nikolias and leaned forward. She gasped. "This is ancient Potamelian!"
"The same characters that were on that clock hand!" Gracie said while snapping her fingers. "Good memory, Niky."
"Hard to forget after everything that's happened," Nikolias replied. "Any idea what it says, Levy?"
Freed spoke up instead. "It seems to be describing someone by the name of Will Neville."
"Hey, that's the author of Key of the Starry Heavens!" Gracie exclaimed.
"I can give a rough translation," Levy said. She leaned in close and furrowed her brow as she attempted to read the dead language. "It says, 'Will Neville had contracts with several Celestial Spirits and was a powerful wizard who had mastered using them.'"
"Guess that means he was a Celestial Spirit wizard as well as an author," Gray said.
"There's more to it," Freed said as he picked up where Levy left off. "'Will Neville had many disciples. However, after lying down for that eternal sleep, his disciples dispersed with their whereabouts being unknown.'"
"Hold on," Lucy said as she bent over and picked up a book that was by her chair. She placed it on the table. The title read Biographical Dictionary. "That sounds familiar."
"Hey, good thinking with that book. There's bound to be something about this guy in there," Gracie said.
"Thanks. I had borrowed it for a potential research source. I guess it might finally come in handy." Lucy opened it up to the 'W' section in the index at the back and scanned the page with her finger. She stopped upon the name she sought. "There it is! Will Neville!" She flipped to the page and began to read aloud the information on Will Neville. "Will Neville; author, and a…Zentopian Cardinal?"
"He was one of those Zentopian guys?" Ash said in disbelief.
"Keep reading," Sky encouraged.
Lucy nodded. "Let's see…'As a cardinal, he made many achievements and was also known as a researcher into Zentopia's history. But he left the church at one point and nobody knows where he was for some time.'"
"What could he have been doing all that time?" Evergreen asked.
"No clue," Lucy said.
Gracie giggled while nudging Nikolias's side. "He must've had some hanky panky going on, eh? Eh?"
"Grow up," Nikolias huffed. "Keep reading, Lucy."
"'After being who-knows-where for several years, Will Neville suddenly became an author, joining public life once again.'"
"Hold up," Ash said. "Is that it?"
"Yeah," Lucy breathed while reading everything once more to herself. "There's nothing in here about him being a Celestial Spirit wizard or even that he had disciples."
"What's going on here?" Gracie asked. "How could Kinana have known any of this stuff if even the big book doesn't know?"
"Don't forget she also wrote about it in an ancient language," Happy added.
"The Legion Captain mentioned that the Infinity Clock belonged to the church, right?" Carla asked. "The ancient language was there, too."
"So a former member of Zentopia wrote Key of the Starry Heavens, which is what Uncle Jude used to leave a message for you, big sister Lucy," Michelle said.
Gracie closed her eyes and hummed. "It all has to connect somehow. It all fits together into an answer to the puzzle. But the question is how…"
"This is pissing me off!" Natsu cried. "What the hell did he want us to do?"
"Let's calm down, Natsu," Nikolias said. "Let's think ahead instead of back."
"Good thinking," Sky agreed.
"If we knew where Oración Séis was going to strike next, we could just lie in wait for them," Max offered.
"Not the worst plan," Gracie said. "It's a little dangerous, but it's worth a shot."
"But what can we do? We don't actually know where they're going to be," Ash said.
A loud yawn snapped everyone's focus. Cana stretched and rubbed her sleepy eyes. "You guys are way too noisy. Why are you being so loud at this hour?"
"You've been out like a light for a while. Everything okay?" Nikolias asked.
Cana stood. "I don't know why, but I'm really sleepy. But still, if I heard right you want to find Oración Séis." She reached into her bag and pulled out her cards. "I might be able to help with that."
"That's right. Your fortune telling could aid us," Erza said.
"Yup!" Cana said proudly while fanning her deck. Each card had a portrait of a guild member. "Just give me some time and I'll have you intercepting Oración Séis in no time!"
"Your Holiness," Byro said, his head bowed to Cardinal Lapointe who stood before a large open door. The rest of the Legion Platoon followed suit behind him. "I have summoned the Legion as you requested."
"I have requested your presence for one purpose," Lapointe said. "I want to inform you that I'll be reinforcing your fighting strength for your new duty."
"Your Holiness, does this mean that we'll be receiving a new member?" Hughes asked.
"Yes. It is the will of the Archbishop," Lapointe replied. He glanced at the door behind him. "A short while ago I opened the forbidden cell of Zentopia's main prison."
"What did you unleash?" Dan asked.
The sound of clanking chain links, dragging metal, and heavy footsteps echoed out from the hall beyond the open door. Slowly approaching from the darkness, led by four armed guards, was a large, green creature. Its body was shaped like building blocks, a large square head somehow balanced on a narrow, rectangular neck. Its large square body was covered with a loose fitting tan cloth and red pants with a bent tail sticking out. Chains were wrapped around its body and its bound hands, clinking with each step. On the end of the chains were small red balls designed to restrain magic power. Its face was simple; two empty white eyes and a toothy mouth. Atop its head were two small antennae.
"What the devil is this?" Dan exclaimed.
"New member? That thing's not even human!" Hughes cried.
"Hi hi!" a strange voice echoed in the heads of all the Legion Platoon members. "I'm the one you've been waiting for; Gatman Kubrick!"
Hughes gripped her head. "There's a voice…there's a voice in my head!"
"Telepathy," Byro growled.
"It speaks oddly," Dan noted.
Gatman continued to trudge forward, but found his head colliding with the archway of the door. He began to whine loudly as he pushed his head against the stones. The red balls attached to his chains began to glow brightly before shattering. Once they were broken, his entire body was enveloped in a bright red aura. "That doesn't hurt at all!" he roared as power poured from his body. The guards and the entire doorway were blown away along with the chains that were binding him.
Byro leapt to his feet. "The Master of Rapture Magic, Gatman Kubrick, also known as 'Gatman the Cleaner'."
Gatman turned to Byro. His white eyes squinted in what must have been a smile, for his mouth didn't move. "Oh? I'm afraid I don't know you."
Byro walked up to the Cardinal. "Your Holiness, he's going to be a member of my Legion?"
"The decision has already been made," Lapointe said dismissively.
Byro immediately took a knee once again and bowed. "Your Holiness, I must ask. Was it Oración Séis that attacked the churches?"
"Indeed," Lapointe said. "Although we don't know what their ultimate objective is, I still fear that they will continue their attacks. This is why the Archbishop wished to increase your fighting strength as well."
"Uhm," Dan said slowly, "I have a favor to ask."
"Dan, mind your tongue," Byro growled at his subordinate.
"I don't mind. I'll hear your request," Lapointe said.
"If we succeed in this mission, I would like Coco to be released," Dan said confidently.
"Turning your back on the creed means harsh punishment, right?" Hughes asked, following up with Dan's request. "But Coco was raised like us; by Zentopia. If she gets through her uncertainty, then I'm sure she can be useful to His Grace again."
Lapointe's face remained expressionless. "That all depends on how well you perform on this new mission."
Gatman patted Hughes on her head, though he was anything but gentle. "Don't worry, don't worry! As long as you have Gatman with you, all of you can sleep easy without a care in the world."
"Don't treat us like kids!" Dan hissed.
"Your Holiness!" one of the guards exclaimed as he approached Cardinal Lapointe. The guard whispered in his ear.
Lapointe nodded at the guard. "Something's come up, so I will take my leave." He turned and walked away without another word or even a glance. He walked through the dark underground tunnels and back to the open halls of the church where all of the followers performed their daily duties. He moved without paying them any mind like they weren't even there.
He reached one of the outer open towers with a set of large stairs leading to the main gate of the Zentopia building. He stared down the stairs to see a member of the Magic Council's guard standing and waiting. "I apologize for keeping you waiting," he called down.
Lahar turned on his heels and looked up the stairs. "Cardinal Lapointe."
"If I'm not mistaken, you are the Captain of one of the Council's Detention Corps, are you not? What can I do for you?"
Lahar began to walk up the stairs. "I'm here about the formerly imprisoned members of Oración Séis. I believe that news of their escape has reached your ears already, correct?" Lapointe said nothing, so he continued. "I'd like to check on something regarding that incident. When the members of Oración Séis were still incarcerated, it seems that someone from the church visited them regularly. It could have something to do with the breakout."
"I would like you to stop making insinuations," Lapointe said immediately after Lahar had finished, turning his body to show his disinterest in having such a conversation. His sudden response caused Lahar to freeze on the stairs. "The breakout is the Council's fault. Trying to lay the responsibility on the church is nothing short of outrageous." He turned his head to shoot Lahar a smug grin. "Come back another time because at this rate, this could become a major political problem."
Lahar bowed his head and turned to leave. As he walked, his mind was trying to wrap itself around what he had just heard from the Cardinal. 'The Cardinal's attitude…could that be proof that there's something suspicious going on after all?' He narrowed his eyes. 'I've got no other choice but to ask for his help.'
Coco sat on her poor bed, hands resting in her lap. She was looking across the cell at her new cellmate; an old priest dressed in white robes. The man was sullen from the moment he was thrown inside the cell with her and was now sitting on the adjacent bed as the two talked. "So then you're a survivor from one of those destroyed churches?" she asked.
The old priest nodded. "Due to circumstances, I was given shelter after that as well, but sadly I was found and brought here."
"But I don't understand. Why are you being imprisoned after being saved from the church?"
"I was targeted just for being a curate." The old man's head sank lower. "It's also because I didn't wish to tell Cardinal Lapointe what he wanted to know."
"What do you mean?" Coco's voice was softer now, as if she were afraid of being heard asking such a question. However, she would not receive an answer as footsteps outside the cell door drew both her and the priest's attention away from the conversation.
Lapointe stopped outside the cell door and looked at the priest. "We meet at last, traitor."
"Your Holiness!" the priest cried as he jumped to his feet.
"You will tell me the names of Neville's disciples," Lapointe said bluntly. The priest backed away, sweat trickling down his skin. Seeing that the priest wasn't about to willingly give up the names, Lapointe raised his hand. As if acted upon by magic, the bars began to bend apart, creating a large space for Lapointe to walk through. "Observe carefully, Coco. Observe what happens to those who oppose Zentopia…no…those who oppose me."
"Your Holiness, what…" However, Coco couldn't finish asking for more information. Before her very eyes, the priest's arms began to twist violently. Bones cracked sharply. Tendons snapped. The old priest cried out in pain as his arms were mangled. Coco closed her eyes and covered her ears, but the priest's outbursts could not be drowned out and the image of his mutilation wouldn't leave her mind's eye. 'Princess!'
Inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, everyone was gathered around the bulletin board. The few pieces of paper with job requests had been taken down temporarily and replaced with a map of Fiore. Cana stood facing the map with her cards fanned out in her hand.
"So what exactly is the plan here?" Nikolias asked.
Cana winked at him. "It's simple. I'm going to divine the place Oración Séis is targeting next as well as who should go where."
Nikolias hummed. "I didn't know you could do such a thing."
Cana smiled and closed her eyes. She placed her deck against her forehead. Her eyes suddenly snapped open and she threw her cards at the map. "I'm just full of surprises!"
The cards split into six groups, lodging into the board in six distinct locations around Fiore.
"So this is how we decide?" Bickslow asked.
"Yup," Cana replied with a confident smirk. "I think the team chemistry and their compatibility with those destinations feels right."
Macao walked over and pulled out the cards from one location. "I'll announce the groups. The first team is Gray and Nikolias!"
Nikolias raised an eyebrow. "Me and Gray, huh?"
"We should be able to kick some serious ass," Gray said with a smile.
Nikolias returned the smile. "Yeah, we should work well together."
"I wish I could go with you," Mira said.
Nikolias took her hand. "I know. I wish that, too."
Macao pulled out another group of cards. "The second group is Erza, Evergreen, and Sky!"
"That should be interesting," Wakaba chuckled. "Evergreen has a sense of rivalry with Erza."
Evergreen glared at Erza with a challenging look in her eye. "This is a nice opportunity. This time we'll see which of us is worthy of a fairy name."
Erza closed her eyes, but her competitive aura could still be felt. "The important thing is finding the Infinity Clock." She opened one eye to meet Evergreen's gaze. "After that, I'll play your game anytime."
Sky looked between the two women who would be her teammates and whimpered quietly. "Scary…"
"So Sky and I aren't going to be together?" Ash asked. "But how can that be?"
"It was in the cards. Sorry," Cana apologized.
Macao held up the next couple cards. "The next group is Gajeel, Juvia, and Gracie!"
Gracie put a hand on her hip. "Hard to believe that Niky and I really aren't together for this, but it's right there in black and white…and blue…and yellow…and maybe a bit of green as well."
"So the Phantom Lord members are reunited," Levy said.
"But why must Juvia and Gray-sama be separated?" Juvia wailed. "To me, that's the end of the world!"
Macao pulled out another group. "Continuing, the next group is Bickslow, Wendy, and Ash!"
Bickslow pumped his fist. "Alright! Another unusual pairing! Sounds like fun!"
Wendy smiled at Bickslow and then Ash. "I'm looking forward to working with both of you."
Ash crossed her arms. "I still don't get it…"
"Next are Happy, Carla, and Panther Lily!" Macao announced.
"The Exceed team is reunited!" Happy cheered.
"Aside from Lily, I have my doubts about us being able to deal with them," Carla said.
"And finally, the last group is Natsu, Lucy, Michelle, and Elfman!" Macao said, holding up the last cards.
Natsu threw his arm around Lucy. "Alright!"
Lucy smiled at him. "I'm a little curious as to why we're the only four person team, though."
"But we get to be together again, big sister Lucy!" Michelle said happily.
Lucy smiled at her. "Yep! Let's do our best to find the Infinity Clock!"
"That's all of them!" Macao said. "It's late, so plan to move out tomorrow."
"No fair! I want to be with Natsu as well!" Romeo complained.
"And I don't want to be separated from Gray-sama!" Juvia blabbered. "Trade with Gray-sama, Gracie! You work with Nikolias all the time!"
Gracie giggled. "I mean I wouldn't mind…"
"Forget it," Cana interrupted. "My divinations told me these pairings are the best this time regardless of past adventures."
"Then let Juvia trade places with Nikolias!" Juvia begged frantically.
"That's the same thing," Cana sighed.
Gracie put a hand on Juvia's shoulder. "You should just let it go, Juvia."
"Come to think of it, this will be the first time in a while that we'll be apart, Natsu," Happy said.
Natsu's face fell. "Wait, that's right! If things get dicey, I can't fly now!"
Sky walked over to Ash. "Sister…"
Ash looked at her. "I know. This will be the first time that we've ever been apart, huh?"
Sky nodded sadly.
Ash smiled softly. "Hey. Let's just do our best and get it done quickly. Besides, we're with family now."
Sky nodded slowly. "Right. I'll try my best."
Gracie stepped over to Nikolias. "A bit surprised?"
Nikolias nodded. "More than a bit. Honestly, something doesn't feel quite right about it. But we've got to trust Cana, right?"
Gracie smiled warmly. "Yeah. We should."
"Well you all know who you're with and where you're going," Cana said. She gave everyone a thumbs up. "Now get out there and kick some Oración Séis ass!"
Under a cloudy sky, a young girl stood underneath a tall tree. The wind blew her short, dark blue hair around and her white dress whipped wildly. Clutched to her flat chest was a small green Nikora. Her gaze was sad as she looked at the tree, as if she were burdened with a great weight. She knew something was coming for her.
