The dust finally settled along the streets, or rather what was left of them that is. Rock and debris were in a straight course that lead back to the gate's main entrance, where there, everyone part of the group was glaring ahead at the empire's inner circle.

Natsu staggered up from the broken plate, his eyes showing a haze. Happy used his wings and helped him up. "Easy now."

"You okay, Gajeel?" Pantherlily asked the Iron Dragon Slayer.

Gajeel's pale facial expression was unsettling. "Uggh…" He covered his mouth. That answered Pantherlily's question alright.

"Take it easy, Wendy. Nice and easy." Carla was in her human form, helping assisting Wendy with an arm over her shoulder.

"Thanks, Carla…" a shaken Sky Dragon Slayer gurgled. Droopy blue lines were over her head as she sulked with a bubbly stomach. "S-sorry…"

A loud whistle came from Kevin, whose sunglasses reflected sunlight. "Well that's an entrance!" He looked around with wide eyes, getting a glimpse of Alvarez. "So this the place?"

Mest nodded. "No doubt. We're in enemy territory now. The heart of it. There's no telling what's going to happen from here on."

"He's right. Everyone stay on guard." Erza ordered. She looked back at Nic, who offered nothing to say, In fact, he took a few steps forward ahead of the others and looked far out.

The Trainer took many of steps forward to a halt just as his two feet planted on a flat piece of rubble. He looked far out as the eye could see. He didn't need Staraptor or anything in particular to know something was wrong. Or rather, had oppositions methods of the setup. For example, he noticed that as a hollow wind blew, it felt like the breeze of a cold, crisp morning, not at all warm and soothing like it is in his backyard. It was like winds of the abyss reaching out to them. Secondly, what caught his attention was how there were no people around. No citizens. No soldiers. They were expecting some kind of stalemate since they were in the heart of it all, but no. It was a ghost town. Or rather, a ghost empire.

'Looks like they were expecting us.' Nic figured. Inside, he knew it would be the case, but his eyes narrowed. 'If they don't have enforcements here, that means…'

Before he could think, something sharp went into his mind, like a cringing headache that hurt for a brief second. With eyes wide, he, and everybody else heard static loud and clear, echoing through their minds.

"What's this?" Jellal felt his head. He gasped in realization. "Is someone trying to…"

'Greetings, and welcome to you all!' A voice exclaimed, giving great exaggeration in its tone.

Brandish's eyes narrowed. 'That voice.' She, as well as Erza and the others, had a good feeling of whom it was.

'Many of you may be clueless as to who I am, so allow me to indulge you with myself a little. They call me Emperor Neinhart, and I welcome you to my illustrious empire! I trust that you all had fun with experiencing my welcoming committee that I had arranged.'

'He's taunting us.' Erza glared. 'So he was expecting us.'

'You all have done so admirably against us and our forces. Why, taking down Ajeel was admittedly impressive, but still, for the glory of Alvarez, and for those who have fallen from before, I, your gracious host Emperor Neinhart, will take it upon myself to give you a formal invitation to my empire's palace. I trust there, you will be 'humbly' greeted and compensated for your efforts.' Nobody present was that dumb to know that it was another trap set. They all glared ahead with vigilance and ready, if ever implied. Even Kevin looked ready, and his magic wasn't all that helpful in combat. It just goes to show that this emperor was someone who didn't feel challenged, despite how others felt. 'Don't keep me waiting too long. Let's have a good show to share.' With a snap of a finger, they felt the discomfort in their heads fade away. Everyone there looked at the empire's palace far up ahead, something that wasn't too easy to miss.

With the greeting/challenge over, there was an intense silence that followed. They all knew this was the one and possibly only way to get things done, and they knew probably that others might not come out unscathed. This was going to be tough, and there was no easy way in, or out.

"I know a few ways into the palace." Brandish said. "Although by now, I'm sure we're being watched."

"Which means no matter where we go, there's no point in avoiding." Sophie stated. "It's a forced dare."

Griffon stepped beside her, smirking. "Yeah, typical tyranny for ya. Always playing God and watching with a little wine in hand."

"Well then, suppose it would be rude for us to not oblige." Bellona mocked. "Thoughts, anyone?"

Erza looked at Nic, seeing him facing forward in silence. "Nic."

Nic stared forward, looking fixated with a serious look. At times like these, any right-minded leader may as well go ahead with a motivational speech, but not Nic. It seemed like he was intending to focus more on what was their true objective. 'Brandish might be right. They may have blocked off all the possible side exits and paths to the empire's base. I wouldn't be surprised if they set traps for good measure if we strayed off course. So then, there's only one thing to do.'

"Nic?" Erza questioned again. She saw Nic glance over his shoulder to look at her. She looked shocked to see his small grin, and his warm blue eyes gazing right at her.

"You ready? Be rude like Bellona said if we don't offer our thanks for his kinship."

Getting Nic's notion, a smirk worked its way on Erza.

"Alright then…" Natsu glared forward and smiled. "Let's get going!"


Watching from the throne room's grand windows, the emperor who announced himself was doing as expected. He was standing and looming down pass the extravagant courtyard and smirking evilly at the street barely in view. Even now, he knew his message was well received. He could feel it.

"And you seriously think they will come?" Glynda questioned. "These are professional mages we are dealing with here, I highly doubt they would be so gullible to fall for such a trap."

"Trust me, they'll come." He countered casually. "After all, if they were so bold as to come here to begin with, they clearly know who they're doing with…I say we prove them wrong."

Glynda sighed. "Whatever you say."

Suddenly, Neinhart glanced at her with a scowl. "What are you still doing here? I thought I told you to get ready to take what is ours."

"Exactly why I'm here." She adjusted her glasses. "With your permission, I would like to depart now."

"Like I need to repeat myself." Neinhart bluffed. "Just go already."

"As you say, your majesty." She turned and walked out of the doorway. Once she stepped out, the door shut, where she stood quietly ahead. "Now then, I believe Jacob had sentenced you here for a reason, am I right?"

To whom she directed to were three figures just outside the room. Down on one knee each, all their heads were bowed to honor and respect her presence and magical power. Not a one look at her in the eye. The three figures all had various shapes and sizes. While all three were still humanoid in shape and design, there was a tall and slim one, a slightly shorter but more muscular built one, and a shorter, child-like one. The tall one had fair skin with a broad white moustache that curled at the ends. He had spiky white hair that went in a ponytail down to the shoulders behind. He adorned a black butler-like tuxedo with a white blouse beneath, amongst which had a blue bowtie. He adorned black dress pants and shoes, and at the ends of the rolled up white sleeves were gloves with blue rings on the middle fingers. "Whatever it is that you command us to do, Miss Glynda, I, Viridian Kriegs, shall be at your loyal heed to the end." He said humbly.

The muscular one had slightly darker tone of skin compared to the first one, but had a stubble and thick sideburns to accompany his dark blonde hair, which was short yet spiky sideways. He adorned a thick leather jacket with black upper body armor beneath. For the bottom, over the blue pants, black armor shielded the thighs, the ankles, and the shins, all the way down to the feet. "That's right, as allies to the Alvarez Empire, Tyson Hammar of the 3 Machia Knights is here to serve."

Lastly, the smaller figure had a teen's short physique and other large green eyes. He had a wicked smile as his short blonde hair that went in many curled locks around the neck up towards the chin, with bangs curling to the forehead. On the ears were massive buds that weren't connected by a headphone. He adorned a short black jacket with long sleeves yet an overall size that went down to the midriff, where there was an exposed chest with a small red gem where the diaphragm would be located. He adorned black pants, black shoes, and like the others, looked down from Glynda. "As for the honor and will of the great Wahl Icht, I, Pixy Vilgance, offer myself to crush anyone for the sake of his name."

Glynda smirked as the three presented themselves with dignity. "Good. Then let me remind you this. Your service is for the empire's sake, not for the fallen Wahl Icht, that is the deal Jacob made clear when he hired you into his ranks. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Milady." Viridian stated. "Excuse our ways. We Machias have no excuse."

"It's fine. Now then, we have a job to do. I expect you all to carry this out with your lives." She started walking pass them as they kept bowing, but she stopped when another note came to her. "By the way, is anyone aware of where Decker is?"

Viridian lowered his head. "Milady, I believe that he's already departed."

"Finally, someone who takes their position seriously." She huffed. "Very well, let us be on our way."

"Yes, ma'am!" All three stood and followed her.


For those unaware miles away, they had no idea of what they were going to get into. They were in enough trouble already with the ship down, but many were still anxious for any possible enemies to come.

A pair of hands reached out, glowing faintly as a small part of metal and wood slowly moved back into place. It reshaped, as if time went backwards and fixed itself. With that pieces fixed, Ultear's hands fell to her side as her eyelids closed halfway. She was about to fall over when Meredy supported her.

"Ultear!" She gripped her adoptive mother and looked up at her with worry. She saw her laboring her breath as her magic's toll started to sink in. 'Her skin is a little pale. I can't believe her magic's taking this big of a toll on such a small space.'

"She alright?" Matilda asked.

"I'm fine." Ultear proved this by staggering back up on her own. She looked up at her handiwork, frowning as she that the results lead to the whole ship's outside being fixed. "I managed to fix the ship's exterior damage. There shouldn't be anymore on the outside to worry about."

"That's good to know." Meredy sighed. "At least we won't worry about flooding."

"Yeah, but there's still the interior damage to worry about." Broly intervened. "Not to mention the engine itself. If this ship is made up entirely of material resistant to magic, then it'll take the whole day at least until we work our way around to fixing it."

Matilda scratched the back of her head. "Uuugh! Maybe I should've joined the others. I was hoping maybe a punch or two would calm me down." A hand with gum in it offered itself in front of her. She looked over, grabbing the gum. "Oh! Hey, just what the doctor ordered. Thanks, Liz!"

Liz' gum snapped in her mouth as she bluntly nodded.

Dereece sat on a wooden box as he looked down. "Well this can't possibly get anywhere less than hopeful."

Joey waved him off. "Eh don't get a big head over it, Dereece. You know what they say? Sticks and stones break bones, not despair, silly?"

"Where's the logic in that?" he deadpanned back.

"Trust me, I'm too wise for even myself sometimes." Joey boasted happily.

"Sure~, let's go with that."

Duncan tapped his kendo stick against his shoulder. He pivoted away and started for the deck's cabin entrance. "You can do as you want, I really couldn't care." He said. "If there isn't anyone battling, I may as well go below deck and wait until the ship is fixed."

"Duncan does have a point." Dereece noted before yawning loudly. "…I need some shut eye after that rude wake up call. What about you, Vanessa?"

The 18-year-old Pularis girl started walking. "My aura won't be as effective inside as it is outside. I think I'll stay out here where I can keep an eye on things at the stern."

Broly nodded dutifully. "Gotcha, then me and this guy got this side." He pointed a thumb at Joey.

"W-we do?" Joey stammered.

Broly pulled Joey into his arm, smirking gleefully. "Aw, what's the harm? Besides, still could use some more lessons kid. I'd be happy to show ya with this open space we've got."

Joey was caught by surprise, but he looked up to Broly and felt fairly secure. He smiled and nodded. "Sure!"

Unknowingly, as he looked over his shoulder, Dereece saw Joey smiling sincerely at Broly. A smile crossed face as he shook his head, continuing his way.

Ultear let loose a sigh as she started next. "Guess I'll head in a swell. I'll need to recover some more magic is I'm to fix the interior damage."

"Wait up, I'm coming with you!" Meredy followed along. Next to follow was Matilda, who had arms overhead and looking bored as ever.

With everyone dividing around the ship, that left just Liz, who had a halfhearted look on her face. She opted to look around and wandered off aimlessly, while Joey and Broly stayed upfront and held their positions. With them gone, the Barrier-Make Mage faced Joey with a smile. "Don't worry, we'll be just fine." He winked. "But no promises, okay?"


A snot bubble slowly expanded and contracted with every soft breath a wild Hippopotas took. It was so soothed, and so tranquil. It'd be a crime to let such a peaceful creature be awaken…

The ground erupted with rock-hard cement that gushed with fury. The Hippopotas went flying into the distance as the cement arched in the other direction. In fact, two were arching on either side down onto Richard as he stayed completely still.

In fluent motion, he moved two fingers in front. "Liquid Ground!" The ground around him liquefied into ripples like water. When the heavy arches came down, the ground splashed geysers of moist earth that blocked the hard cements. The wet earth then hardened some, containing the cement arches in place.

Bulcan's eyes narrowed as he smirked. The two cement arches suddenly shot two arches from either side, making four smaller arches snake in all directions towards Richard. They closed in and created a powerful eruption of shattered cement and wet ground.

Bulcan snickered. "Someone a little crushed?" He didn't expect an answer at all, but suddenly he started to lose balance. "W-woah, hey!" He looked down, seeing the ground rippling and waving. It was liquefying. He gasped when he looked round to see the earth around shifting and molding. He looked left, and then right, unaware of a magical pressure beneath. Before he knew it, a geyser of wet earth spouted beneath, gushing him skywards while Richard emerged from beneath unscathed.

"Oh yeah!"

In midair, Bulcan grunted and straightened himself out. 'He dodged by sinking into the ground like water!' He started to descend, where he summoned a platform of cement to land on a knee and reached both arms to the side. 'My magic makes cement hard and soft, while his magic makes ground soft. Maybe I should change my approach on this…' He raised both arms up to heighten the platform into a pillar, where he then reached forward.

"Wet Cement Rush!"

He jumped off the pillar backwards, where the whole structure began to ripple as well before breaking into wet cement that rushed towards Richard. Richard held a serious face as he pointed two fingers forward, making a shockwave emit from his eyes. The ground ahead of him turned into mush again and summoned waves of wet earth all around. A typhoon of earth rushed at the wave of cement, only to collide in the center. The two waves swirled and spewed everywhere, gushing high and loud for anyone miles away to hear shifting.

Bulcan landed on the ground, looking ahead with a smirk. He snapped his fingers, in which the wet wave suddenly began to solidify. It crackled and churned as the massive geyser eroding became a stale wall of cement mixed with earth.

"Interesting." Richard stated. "However…" His eyes had an orange outline surrounding them, signifying another shift.

'As an Earth Mage himself, he can detect my presence while I'm on the ground.' Bulcan thought. 'But let's see him try and find me when I do this trick!' He then ran into the wall of cement he made. In a surprise of his own, he molded his own body into the cement, absorbed to a full stable state. He was now part of it all.

"Cement Dragon!"

From the wall of cement, a beam of cement shot at Richard. As it traveled, it began solidifying into the head of a Chinese dragon that sailed over the earth. Unknowingly inside, Bulcan raced with it. 'He can't liquify the ground where I'm standing because I'm not on the ground!'

"Liquid Ground!"

Richard's counter made Bulcan gasp. "What?!"

As the cement dragon raced, the hard wall it traveled from began to liquefy. Its base began to deteriorate into mush as the cement and wet earth sunk into the ground. The dragon was cut off from supply, and like a statue with no legs, it dropped to the damp earth, where the body and head cracked and shattered.

Bulcan jumped out of the wreckage and hurried to midair, where on his left, a serpentine wave of liquid ground went at him. "Cement Wall!" He created a wall of hard cement to block the wet earth, where it splashed about around the wall and allowed him land on the ground once more.

His breathing labored as he glared at Richard, who seemed to be taking the fight well. "Well you sure have a way of pissing me off, pal." He mocked. "Are you even trying?"

"Oh yes! Indefinitely!" Richard exclaimed.

"Tch, well your noble tone certainly says otherwise. Guess I should kick this up a notch." He held up a Poke Ball close to his face, smirking maliciously, which left Richard mildly surprised. "Alright Numel, kick this guy's ass!"

The Poke Ball was flung into the air, spinning before it popped open. Numel landed on the ground and raised his head, snorting at Richard with a dull look. "Uhhh…hey…" he slurred.

"A Pokémon?" Richard questioned.

"Surprised? Well here's some tricks for you pal!" Bulcan reached forward to give a command. "Alright you camel, give them a Magnitude!" Numel gave another snort as he lurched backwards as told and slowly came forward. Once his front feet slammed into the ground, a tremor erupted. Visible shockwaves were seen reaching and expanding outwards towards Richard, who put up a liquid ground barrier. However, much to his surprise, the shaking of the earth dissipated the barrier.

"What's this?!" Richard was struck by the shockwaves, which pulsated right beneath his feet. Even with partially liquefied earth around, the waves made it hard to absorb parts of the impact.

Nearby, as a shockwave was rampaging, the Hippopotas earlier shook his head and groaned. "Oh man, what happened to a peaceful mor-AAAH!" He was sent tumbling in the air again as the Magnitude also got him.

As the quaking receded at last, Richard found his sudden loss of balance hard to manage.

Bulcan gave a hardly sneer at his foe's lack of coordination. "You like that? How about this?! Use Ember!" Numel opened his mouth, where he gushed out a blanket of embers and orange sparks at Richard.

This time, Richard was sure of his strategy. "Ha! Liquid Ground!" Once again, the ground around him liquefied. Went the ground on either side created waves curving inwards, they blocked the embers entirely. "Sorry my friend, but an attack like that will have no effect of that caliber!" He used two fingers and pointed them forward, controlling the waves of wet earth that surged towards Numel and its Trainer.

Bulcan smirked. 'Now's my chance!' He slammed his hands on the ground. "Cement Dragon!"

Below Richard, he didn't have time to react due to no solids beneath. Like a fish out of water, a Chinese dragon-shaped ram shot straight below, sending him skywards. Richard's own attack completely dropped to plain ground as his focus was off, leaving Numel and Bulcan unharmed. The dragon arched when it was at a high enough point, sending a yelping Richard into the ground with a loud, dusty thud.

As the dust was trying the settle, the dragon receded back into the ground, making a small tremor that picked even more dust up. Though after minutes, Richard was seen in a crater, struggling to get up from the shock that his body endured.

Bulcan sneered once again. "No surprise there, noble boy. You thought it'd be wise to rush at Alvarez when you know we've prepared specific Pokémon for each and every one of us by choice. Now then, you wanna continue or give yourself up?"

Richard groaned as he tried to stand again. That last attack caught him by sheer surprise. If he were able to make the ground liquid before the impact he would've sustained much less damage. But even with mishaps, he had to buck up and handle it all with pride. With what he had in him, he managed to stand again.

"Such impiety." He managed.

"What?"

"Even if…I were taken down…the circumstances doesn't change that I have things that must be done." He managed to his feet, glaring with outlines around the eyes. "I believe that someday, my prayer will come true. And until that day comes, I shall testify against the lord, as well as you."

Bulcan's frustration began to rise. "You stubborn Ishgarians…" he muttered. "Fine then, you wanna die that badly, be my guest! Numel, get ready!" Numel dully presented himself with a slow nod. "Let's shake him up some more then, use-!" Suddenly, a billow of dust arose from out of nowhere, catching him and Numel off guard. "What the-?!" He covered up to avoid sand in the eyes.

Richard covered up as well, but quickly opened and eye, noticing how he felt secure. As he looked around, he was shocked to see that everything around him was enveloped in a sandstorm of churning sand and dust.

Through the howling sand, Numel and Bulcan looked around, startled by this sudden change. "Where's this sandstorm coming from?" the latter yelled. "Ajeel? Is he still alive?"

A pair of feet stepped forward. "You did this."

All three looked forward with some sense of surprise at the bloated tone. It was so not Ajeel.

"I was just trying to have a good sandnap when all a sudden your cement and earth shaking had to ruin it…" A silhouette could be seen inside the sand, slowly walking up. As it showed itself, Richard looked surprised as he saw a light brown foot. "I wanted to just nap all day, now I can't until you two go away. So let's go!" The sand blew away, revealing a certain Pokémon that was blown about several times already.

"Who the heck are you?!" Bulcan exclaimed.

"Hippopotas?" Richard questioned.

Hippopotas spread his feet, snorting sand out. "Is it cool that I battle with you?"

Richard was caught surprised by the Hippopotas' offer. He wasn't sure what to say exactly, but whatever the case happened to be, he knew at this point he needed help. He nodded humbly. "Oh yeah! Very well, my young friend, let us proceed to battle!"

"Right!"

Despite the sudden setback of another member joining their little party, Bulcan found his resolute to fight again. "So, you got help too eh? And here I thought things couldn't get anymore satisfying."

"Mock all you want, but I dare speak less of myself than of you!" Richard pointed forward into the sandstorm created by Hippopotas' Sand Stream Ability. "Now, let's go!"

"No problem!" Hippopotas took a deep breath through his nose, creating a vacuum that sucked up the stirring sand. "Sand Attack!" He then blew out, expelling sand that picked up and went at Numel. When it hit Numel, the Fire/Ground-type was forced to look away as a thick blue aura enveloped his body, meaning a sharp accuracy fallen, due to his Simple Ability backfiring on him.

Bulcan grunted and reached forward. "A little sand doesn't hurt us! Use Magnitude!"

Numel tried to shake his head and recover, bit in his eyes, everything was blurry. He got up on his two feet and came down again, exerting another round of shockwaves that traveled across the ground…a little to Hippopotas' left. They went on through the sandstorm, only the ground trembling beneath the hippo being weak.

"What?" Bulcan gasped. "How can you miss! He was right in front of you!"

Hippopotas spread his feet again. He opened his mouth, where the stubby teeth glowed white, via Bite. He lunged ahead and bit into Numel's side, causing him the flinch and wane away in agony.

"Oh yeah! Excellent work!" Richard praised.

Hippopotas backed off and looked at Numel flinching. "And there's more! Yawn! He opened wide, expelling a few sprays of pink bubbles. They went at Numel, where they eroded around him in wonder. When he recovered, he opened his eyes only for them to pop all around him.

"Gnngh!" He shook his head again, trying to clear his senses. "Huh…what just…" His eyes began to lower. "Ha…ppened…?" He began to feel drowsy all of a sudden. His vision was blurry, and now he was ready to sleep. It was strange.

Bulcan ignored the circumstances and pointed forward. "You're fine! For Alvarez! Ember!" Numel couldn't aim well, but hearing his voice was all he needed, no matter how distorted. He open-fired a blanket of embers with all his strength forward, this time striking Hippopotas and making him slid back.

Richard gasped in shock.

Bulcan sneered. 'Heh, knew it'd make no difference.' "Now finish it! Use Magnitude!" He waited for the ttack to come, but oddly enough only a single thud was heard. "Huh?" When he looked down, he saw Numel was surprisingly on his side, sleeping. "What the-?! What are you doing?! There's no napping on the job!"

Hippopotas readied himself. "Now you'll know what it's like to have your sleep interrupted…Bite!" He opened his mouth wide as he ran through the sandstorm brewing.

"What?" Bulcan gasped. He looked to see the circumstances changing. He had to end it, and quick. He reached forward without a thought. "Cement Wall!"

"Liquid Ground!" Richard countered.

As Hippopotas went running, a wall of cement blocked his path, only to liquefy moments later. He ran through the mush and to the next wall, which again liquefied. After a few repetitions, the Ground-type made one more leap and opened wide. He finally sailed down, clamping his mouth on Numel's neck. With a massive turn, he pivoted and used his jaws to swing and let go, sending the sleeping Numel flying into Bulcan, knocking him over.

Hippopotas looked back, giving Richard a nod. "Okay!"

Richard nodded in understanding, setting two fingers for. "Now…to end this! HRAH!" With all his might, Richard made the ground tremble as waves of wet earth were summoned around him. He jutted forward, sending a raging cyclone of liquefied earth at Bulcan and Numel.

The Cement Mage looked flabbergasted as he was suddenly swamped by erupting gushes of liquid ground. The ground swayed and stirred like waves of an ocean, and the sandstorm around them was just shifting and subsiding as the waves also began to ease. Richard and Hippopotas looked forward in anticipation, both seeing their opponents lying on their backs in defeat.

"Oh yeah!" Richard cheered. "The power of our conviction succeeds again!"

"Yes! Finally!" Hippopotas cheered. "Now I can sleep again!"

Richard looked down at Hippopotas with a smile. "My young friend." Hippopotas looked up to face him. "I cannot express my gratitude enough that you were willing to help me in my time of need. Thank you. I am in your debt."

Hippopotas blinked once as he looked back at Richard. He looked up at him and blinked again, before a smile crossed his face. "You're welcome."

A short silence crossed between the two as they were rejoicing in their victory together. They didn't know each other, yet they helped each other out. It was a win-win, and plus believe it or not, it felt satisfying. To Hippopotas, it was a good deed well-earned.

Richard continued smiling, but an intense force suddenly rattled his body. His eyes jutted wide from shock as he felt a sharp sensation overcome him.

Hippopotas gasped in shock as he saw Richard in anguish. He couldn't believe what he saw.

As Richard fell to the ground, someone shady with a hat and armor on had his hand out, grasping a kunai-shaped lacrima. His face was concealed as winds shifted his clothing, yet nothing happened. He held his pose as Richard fell with a gash to his side, dropping like a log.

"Oh my gosh!" Hippopotas hurried over to Richard's fallen state. He looked worried as he tried to find a way to help. "H-hey! What happened?! Are you alright?!" He looked back at the figure again, seeing him facing away. "H-hey! What did you-?!"

He didn't have time to finish before the figure became a blur and turned around, lunging at the gasping Hippopotas as everything went black.


Arthur sat the stack of papers down in front of them, giving a large relieved sigh. "Finally, finished." He had a long night. A very long one. He would've preferred to get as much sleep needed, but his office work and these documents confirming the temporary embargo were weighing him down heavily. He wasn't even sure the last time he slept. "Honestly, how did I get myself into this mess?" he sourly mused.

The door to his office knocked. "Enter."

It opened. Coming out to the open was Marie as she sternly walked in. "Arthur, I was requested to take in the documents you were supposed to instate." She looked at his condition, shock on his face. "Sir, what in heaven's name…?!"

Arthur lazily slipped the stack of papers across his desk towards her. "Morning to you, Marie." He greeted. "Here they are."

Marie took the moment to ignore the papers to look at Arthur's desk. There were smudge marks everywhere from spilled ink, and vast levels of materials in the garbage. And sitting at the corner of his desk was a wine glass, and empty one. Marie sighed heavily. "Honestly, sir, staying up all night isn't beneficial by any means. I keep telling you."

Arthur sourly chuckled. "Sorry. A lot of work needed to be done."

"So I see." She most certainly empathized with what her boss was going through. If she were in his position right now, she could understand the stress of being under this much fire would feel like. All these demands and these altered regulations were doing numbers on him and the foundation alike.

Arthur sat back in his wheelchair, which reclined to his liking. "Now I think I can take a short break."

Marie walked on over and took the stack of papers. "For all our sakes, you'll need more than just a break." She turned and went for the door. "Honestly, this little mess being made is out of control."

A frown formed on his face as he looked at the see-through ceiling in construction overhead. "Marie…"

The assistant stopped in her tracks at the doorway.

"Tell me, how are things going with our friend and his acquaintances?"

Marie kept herself turned away as she adjusted her adjusted. "Well, sir. If what I believe is to be right, they should be within the reaches of the continent as we speak. I wouldn't be surprised if they're engaging as we speak."

"I see…" His fixation on the ceiling intensified. "And this empire was said to have been created for the sole reason of defeating Acnologia, the dragon that Nic and his Pokémon defeated. Interesting…" A small silence fell as a grin worked its way onto his face.

"What is it, sir?"

"It's nothing. Just thinking of their efforts for us and the Pokémon alike. These guild mages have me intrigued is all."

Marie nodded in understanding. "Yes, sir. I can agree there. Their magic that we've seen from quests over by the tutoring district has gotten many Trainers intrigued. Why you wonder about them?"

Silence fell again as Arthur smiled. "It's nothing."

"Then if it's all the same, I'll be taking my leave. Is there anything else you need?"

"Yes, actually. Be sure to plant more Lum Berries if needed. We're on a strict supply of them as it is."

"I shall."

"Also…some more wine if possible." He smirked.

Marie sighed and turned away. "Nice try." She left with the documents.

Arthur shrugged. "Oh well, worth a shot." He looked up at the ceiling again, falling intrigued by his thoughts of the events of Alvarez and Nic's team. 'I wonder, Nic, how are you and your friends going to combat the hate and Pokémon of this world?'


"Coming…THROUGH!" Sawyer made a beeline clean through a path of Drilbur, creating enough force to kick them off their feet and knock them down. "Hehe, too slow." He smirked.

Yukino swiped her arm. "Libra!"

"Yes, as you wish." The Celestial Spirit swiped her scales to the sides and raised her arm. From below, the Drilbur in front were all shot up from a force of gravity shooting up from the ground, sending them wailing through the air.

A gleaming cutting wave surged through the air, revealing Kagura as she swung her sword, passing another flock of grounded Fearow and men thanks to her magic. She had her eyes shut as she held her pose as the numbers fell right behind her.

Nearby, her Pawniard let out a cry as she flipped over a flying Fearow's head. "Metal Claw!" She crossed her arms, where the claws shimmered a metallic filament. She swiped in an X, making silver streams follow that knocked the Fearow out of the air and slammed into another soldier, knocking him out.

Pawniard landed right in front of Kagura, both withdrawing themselves as Sawyer, Yukino, and Sorano all regrouped themselves together. When they looked around, they could see that they had their work cut out for them. Laying all around, many of men were sprawled, possibly in hundreds along with either Drilbur or Fearow. It was thanks to Libra and Kagura with their gravity that they were able to compress the area enough for Sawyer and Sorano to smack them around a bit before either getting cut down or otherwise another fate. But with nothing else, the group gathered around the entrance with varied levels of wear.

"Phew! That was exhausting." Sorano wiped sweat from her forehead.

"Easy for you to say, what did you do?" Sawyer questioned, earning a pouty look from his teammate.

Yukino sighed in relief. "What a relief. I sure hope the others got far enough ahead."

Libra approached her master and gave a bowed. "Am I free to go now, Miss Yukino?" she politely asked.

Yukino looked at her and nodded. "Yes, thank you again for all your help. Get some rest." She aloud for her spirit to fade away back into the Celestial World for recovery.

Kagura turned towards her Pawniard and held her Poke Ball. "You've done well, Pawniard. Withdraw for the time being." She ordered.

Pawniard lowered her head and nodded. "Yes, Mistress Kagura." She went back into her Poke Ball, where it was then put away.

"Sooooo, what now?" Sorano asked. "I doubt being around here would be a good idea. Anyone?"

Yukino nodded. "Yes. We should make sure that the others are alright ahead of us. Who knows if they made it in alright?"

"I wouldn't worry to that extent." Kagura noted. "Still, it's better to go ahead than remain here. We may not have much time on our hands."

Sawyer smirked as he turned towards the gates up ahead. "Then better get moving than beating around the bush." He got into running position, readying to run. "Alright ladies, I can get us caught up one at a time, so who's going fi-!" He was cut off when a force shot him from far behind, propelling him in a harsh tumble forward.

"Sawyer!" Sorano gasped.

Sawyer fumbled on the ground as the force was revealed to be a net with lacrima knots in them. When Sawyer stopped fumbling, the net produced a powerful shock that electrocuted him. Every fiber in his body rattled tremendously as he screamed out in agonizing twitching pain. When the shock ended, he fell back to the ground unconscious.

Yukino went wide-eyed as she turned around at the attack's origin. However, to her surprise nothing was there. It was just wasteland. 'That's weird, I thought that attack came from…!' She looked around in question, but her attention drew towards Sorano, her eyes widening in shock.

Sorano gave her a suspicious look. "What?" However, little did she know, a silhouette loomed behind her.

"Sorano, be-!" Yukino warned her sister of the impending doom behind her, but as she finished her last sentence, the last part wasn't coming out right.

Sorano saw her sister yelling and warning at her, but she got no audible clearance. "What?"

Yukino ushered more yelling from how her expression and desperate looks were, but surprisingly nothing was coming out. It was like her vocal chords stopped working. 'Wait, what happened? Why is my voice not coming out?!'

A blur blitzed past Sorano as the mage felt an incredible pain bypass her. She opened her mouth and ushered a hollowed shout of pain, but like Yukino, nothing came out. Yukino could only watch as blood sprayed from the side wound her sister was inflicted with.

"SORANO~!"…is what would've been yelled for Yukino, but nothing came out. She only watched as her sister fell to her side. Her breath hitched in heaping gasps, but even those weren't audible. In her own despair, a force of its own chopped at the back of her neck, making a shock run through her nerves that made her fall to the ground unconscious.

Kagura looked with vivid shock of her own. ("What's happening?!") She went wide-eyed at the realization of her voice muting. ("Wait…what…?") She reached for her vocal chords, trying to speak. She felt vibrations sure, but still nothing came out. 'Something's wrong. It's like my voice is gone, yet my chords are still…' Realizing she was digressing, she looked back to see all three of her teammates were down.

Standing right in front of her in plain view was a man who had arms crossed, with a cowboy hat and a long scarf. It was hard to make out him being either a ninja or an actual cowboy. But the way his eyes glared at her, she could feel a strong course of Magic Power.

Kagura's glare intensified. 'This Magic Power…' She reached for her sword again to defend. ("You…")

The figure and the space around him was completely silent. Not even wind could be heard as he glared ahead. He pulled out three kunai-shaped lacrima, which were placed between his fingers.

Kagura crouched and went lunging at the man, and like her, he lunged back. Both slashed sword with kunai as they bypassed one another. In a swift shimmer, time slowed down as Kagura passed the mysterious man and vice versa. When Kagura passed, she received no visible damage. She was safe, at least for now. When she looked back, however, her eyes widened in shock.

Instead of the man being there, instead there were sliced rocks that took his place. It was like he vanished and substituted himself.

'A substitution?' Her questioning made her forget a shadow looming over her. Realizing her folly, time sped up show the man above, swiping his arm to hurl shuriken at her. She quickly moved to use her sword to knock them all away, but the man came down and pressed his hand on her sword, like it was a placemat. Upon contact, the palms of his hands had shock lacrima light up, releasing static that buzzed all around Kagura. However, neither buzzing nor Kagura's anguish cried could've been heard.

As she was twitching in place, the man jumped off the sword and on his knees. He glared out and raised one of his knees, striking her gut hard. The shock completely overwhelmed Kagura, both physically and mentally. The mage's eyes grew hazy as she fell forward, while the man stood over her in earnest.

All around him, now it was his adversaries that were down. Sorano had a gash on her side. Yukino and Kagura were unconscious as well, and Sawyer was already bound by a net and electrocuted. Suffice to say his job is done – Decker's job that is.

With the air finally creating volume again, a pair of footsteps got his attention. Tuning towards the gate entrance, there stood a woman who looked no older than 25 at the most, though a little shorter than what was expected. She had long auburn hair that flowed down her back, with a black witch's hat with a red stripe. Her slender and voluptuous figure was hugged by a one-piece blue dress with no straps atop, with a black sash along her waist. Down beneath was a long cloth both forward and back with the Alvarez symbol in bright red in the front. She had black shinguards and armor on the forearms, but left the hands bare. Her auburn eyes and pink lipstick also completed the ensemble. This was Valeria, the subordinate to Decker.

He gave her a subtle nod of command. Valeria understood and gave a gracious nod of her own. She faced the unconscious Kagura and reached out. A magic seal appeared in front and shot pink rope. The rope constricted the unconscious mage's upper body, ending in a cute tie behind. She proceeded to Sorano next, reaching out to her.

All while Decker turned away and walked back to the capital, his disposition entirely unchanged.


With the group closing in on the palace, Klefki slowed down, having a shiver run down her body. She looked back in worry as to the odd sensation she felt. "Shiny keys…" she muttered desperately.

"Hey, Klefki! C'mon!" Lucy yelled.

Against every nerve and urge in her body, Klefki reluctantly followed Lucy with the others.

"Is anyone else worried here?" Lector asked. "The others are taking their time back there."

"We can't worry about them at this point. We just have to keep moving." Pantherlily insisted.

"Lily's right pal. Don't sweat it too much." Gajeel said.

Kinana looked towards the person beside her. "Erik…"

The Poison Dragon Slayer kept going, remaining awfully quiet for someone even of his stature. It was a little distressing due to the fact that his Sound Magic and mighty hearing could pick up on anything from miles away, and in all honesty, when he heard nothing for a full minute, he couldn't help but wonder. In his head, he could feel something off, but couldn't pinpoint it. He didn't hear Sorano, Sawyer, nor even Richard. Oddly enough he could hear the rattling of the grass skirt Joey wore from here. It was that area between that left him unnerved.

"Erik?" The sound of Kinana's voice brought him out of his little world. "What's wrong?"

"…nothing. It's fine."

"Hmph! Easy for you to say." Aniya exasperated beside them. "What makes you think that I'm fine like this?!"

"I wasn't talking to you, half-pint!" he retorted.

A tick mark grew on Aniya's head. "What you call me?!" She requipped a short pistol and cocked it. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blow you through?!"

Erik glared daggers at her as he kept running. He heard every nerve in her body full well. They were aching for his blood for some reason. He could hear the sounds of aching inside of her, and the anguish of snake loving bastards, or rather something along those lines. He would've bothered, but he faced forward without a care.

"Well?!" she snapped.

"Aniya, quit it! Get up here!" Orion shouted.

"Fine!" She kept her gun out and leered at Erik and Kinana. "I'm watching you, and that Nic guy for sure." She walked along, getting herself upfront.

"What was that about?" Kinana wondered.

Natsu hurried with his own gusto, glaring ahead with a fire in his eyes. Beside him was Lucy and Wendy, both anxious as could be. Gray had a cold but ready look set on dealing with those who messed with them, and Juvia was by his side. Brandish had a blunt facial expression as she tried to hide her nerves of coming back to face her nightmares come true. The Twin Dragons and Minerva were all set as Griffon and Sophie were. Jellal and Bellona glanced at one another to see each was ready, but not as much as the ringleaders of the whole mission. Nic and Erza, both in front and set to battle, their blue and brown eyes ahead with nothing but resilience to win.

"We're here." Mest said.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked up at the open golden gates to the humungous palace. There it lied, the battle's territory to take place. Its size was so grand, perhaps even more so than Mercurius back in Fiore. It was twice as big even. A perfect domain fitting for a military empire's cordial comeuppance.

"This is the palace, huh?" Sting looked up, seeing the gates as big as his guild hall. "Figures."

"Wow, it's even bigger in person." Wendy 'marveled'.

"Don't compliment the enemy, Wendy!" Carla sniped.

Griffon shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe a little flattery will be enough to catch them off guard."

Sophie faced ahead. "So our battle lies beyond these gates, is that right?"

Orion nodded. "Undoubtedly. We're in enemy territory now, and I can tell even from here this is a bad idea…but we don't have a lot of options now, so there's no point avoiding a narrow path with a hole in it."

Gray rammed his fist into his open palm. "Then let's stop talking and make the jump already."

"Right." Juvia nodded.

Erza looked towards the gates, seeing as how they were already open. "It looks like they were expecting us, just as they wanted."

Nic's glare never left his face. "Yeah…" he looked back over his shoulder, seeing how everyone was set. He looked towards Erza, who looked at him and nodded. He faced forward, ready to take the next few steps. "Then let's go."

With nothing else to say, they all walked beyond the gates into the lair of the remaining beasts to be slayed. Immediately entering, they were presented with a grand courtyard with paved roads and an expansive boulevard leading all the way up to the grand palace that lied within arm's reach. Wendy once again was in awe as she saw the huge space the entrance took up. Everyone else kept their thoughts in reserve…well, almost everyone.

"Boy, Alvarez sure knows how to flaunt an opening huh?" Gray noted.

"Yeah, got me there alright." Griffon mused.

"The courtyard wasn't established until Neinhart took over." Brandish explained. "It was originally smaller than this, but due to this Pokémon dilemma taken advantage of, he reserved construction and military funds. You can imagine how the public's taken it." She sighed in grief. "What a pain."

"Well no sweat. Once we teach these jerks a lesson, I say we show them what sharing's all about." Natsu insisted.

"Go ahead and try. I'm sure everyone here resigned themselves to death before listening to you."

"And these guys remodeled themselves for the sole purpose of vengeance, right?" Gajeel asked. "Talk about a hollow cause."

"Agreed." Pantherlily said.

Nic remained passively quiet as he listened to what everyone was saying. While he can condone some parts of what they are saying, he's not at liberty to tell in detail what he thinks of this. Mainly because it would be seen as hypocritical. What he said this morning to Erza applied to him, about who the blame lied, or rather who the real enemy was? The one right in front of you? Yourself? But what he can agree with is that if they don't respect that and understand themselves or the faults in front of their faces, then someone had to stop them. He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw someone at the entrance, and he looked like he wasn't going to be moving anytime soon.

They all stopped in their tracks, glaring daggers as in the entrance to the palace was Pluto as the many planetary structures orbited around his head. "Gravity…" he muttered. "Planets. Moons. Galaxies. All these share aspects of life that centers around one star. One origin where everything revolves around it. It is the center of which makes us one. And that, is how life is structured."

"Who is this guy?" Sting questioned.

"Not sure." Rogue's caution arose. "But his Magic Power is staggering. He must be one of the new Spriggan we were told of."

Mest could feel his uneasiness arise. He glared at Pluto as he was feeling a massive amount of power that was making his heartbeat shrivel. 'This guy, there's no doubt about it alright. He's a Spriggan. A strong one.'

Natsu stepped forward. "So who the heck are you? You one of the honchos or something?"

"Natsu, watch it please." Lucy nervously asked. Although like with August against his power, she hovered behind him for security sake.

"I am. They call me Pluto, and to you I welcome, Ishgarians, where you now stand in the center of Alakitasia, its star. Its life. Its gravity."

Natsu's glare challenged him. "I don't know a thing about astronomy, but you're far from lively from where we stand."

"That is because from where you stand, you are on alien territory. You are not of our system of purity. It is not uncommon to believe such ideals are alike, just as there are but two stars of a kind out there."

"I take it you know a bit about astrology if you talk so boldly about space itself." Jellal questioned. "You speak so calmly about them as though you center around it. Quite ambiguous if you ask me."

"Hypocrisy at its finest." Pluto retorted. "Everything centers around one thing or another, just as how a group centers around a leader, just as planets center around a sun. Just as we surround our beloved emperor."

Aniya stepped forward and pointed at him. "Listen, we don't know nor care about this star crap your going about, but we've got a few complaints we wanna say to your emperor!"

"I couldn't agree more. Please be a gentleman so we can talk this through." Lyon asked.

The planets around Pluto didn't change orbit around him. "I will take that into consideration. However, where we stand is of no relevance. It is where you stand. You chose to invade, and thus makes you aliens, and that makes you bound within our gravity; our rules. And it is here that you will be judged by the stars themselves."

Kevin put his hands up. "Hey now, I didn't come here to be judged." He looked around suspiciously. "…not that I did anyone wrong…right? Hehehe…"

Nic shot a leer at the man before him. "We're sorry. We didn't intend to let it come to this…but you guys are putting great risks out there using Pokémon as you have." His eyes narrowed. "And we don't appreciate the way you've been receiving our cooperation with them in kind."

Pluto glared at Nic. "Nic Pularis, slayer of Acnologia. The true nature of an alien. This matter that has happened revolves around these creatures that you have plague our lives with. From another planet, from another galaxy…from another universe for that matter, you have intertwined a cosmos that should have never come to pass. You have disrupted balance, and the heavens will judge you well."

"And you're saying this chance is a curse?"

"It is a folly by an alien and his pets' doing."

Natsu stepped forwards next. "Hey man, listen here." His fist balled. "I don't appreciate how you're talking smack about my friends like that. You wanna judge someone that bad, how's about judge your own character first."

"Natsu Dragneel, slayer of the late Emperor Spriggan." Pluto voiced. "Apologies, but only the heavenly bodies themselves may judge me and yourself."

"We'll see about that." Natsu's fist ignited and he readied to lunge forward. However, something was holding him back. "What the…?" He looked up, seeing one of Pluto's small planets hovering over him.

"Natsu!" Lucy worried, but then she found herself losing gravity with Happy and Brandish right by. They found themselves floating near the small orb, gravity coming off strong.

Pluto sent more of his planets at them, with one being left in front of him. The planets quickly hovered and began to use their atmospheric gravity to pick up random mages off the ground and hovering beside one another.

"H-hey! What's go~ing on?!" Wendy nearly did a somersault in the air.

"Is this gravity?!" Carla exclaimed.

"Crap! This is bad!" Mest cursed beneath his breath. He tried to teleport away, but the gravity was pulling and stationing him too close to back out.

Pluto put his hands together and firmly clasped them together. "May the heavenly bodies judge you well…begone!"

"Watch out!" Jellal activated Meteor and broke out of his gravity field with the speed applied. He quickly seized Bellona and zipped in time before the orbs all glowed a bright light and became streaming comets that separated across the palace sky. Jellal and Bellona reached the ground and looked in shock as they watched their friends being pulled in light guided by orbs that separated into the palace openings.

Once they were out of sight, Jellal and Bellona looked towards Pluto in shock, both at a loss for words. "It would seem that heavenly body has chosen me to judge you personally." Pluto said. "Very well then. Jellal Fernandes, user of Heavenly Body…" In lightspeed, the shimmering glints behind Pluto beamed into orbit around him again, returning from dropping off his foes. "May your sins be judged in kind."


A magic seal moved like a clock in front of Ultear's arms as she stood before a window. Once the pieces of it finally returned to the state it once was, it gave off a short glint and she sighed heavily, dropping to a knee in exhaustion.

Meredy looked over her in worry. "Are you alright, Ultear?!"

Ultear breathed heavily as she looked down. "I told you I was fine, didn't I?" she exasperated, but she was anything but fine. In fact, even with small amounts of rest, her magic didn't recover at all. She needed much more time, and too bad for her that's something even her powers couldn't achieve.

"You really need to take it easy, alright? Don't strain yourself too much or your body will give out."

Ultear slowly got back up. "I'm well aware of that." She tried to divert the subject. "Speaking of which, have you checked up with the Pokémon?"

Meredy shook her head. "No, I think I saw Dereece heading there a while ago."

"Then how about you assist him. I'm sure he could use a helping hand."

"But…Ultear…"

The Time Mage sighed. "I know, Meredy. Fine, if it'll make you stop worrying, I'll hold off for a little while until my magic recovers."

Meredy shot a look at her. "You promise?"

"Yes, I promise." Ultear said dryly. "Now you better get going otherwise you'll end up with wrinkles worrying about me." In spite of her joke, she did feel a little shame with how she was sending Meredy off. The mage that was her adoptive daughter unsurely took off to double check, and that left Ultear to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, sometimes she worries too much for her own good. If nothing else ends me it'll be…" She was brought out of her wonders when she heard footsteps from behind. She turned around to find Duncan walking in her direction. "It's you." She spoke. "You're that Trainer with Fairy Tail, aren't you?"

Duncan shrugged as he walked passed her. "Yeah, so what about it?"

Ultear took note of Duncan's snobbish tone and watched him pass her without giving a glance. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to give a girl a look every once in a while, especially one that works hard." She pouted.

Duncan eventually stopped in his tracks and finally shot a glance over his shoulder, but it wasn't one of merry or glee. It was searing, and uncaring. "Is it that big a deal to you? You're doing your part, so why complain?"

Ultear's brow twitched as a tick mark grew on her head. She gave a dark hum back at the Trainer. "Why, if I weren't so drained I would…" Her eyes were drawn towards the kendo stick he carried, which piqued her oddly. "Wait, hold on. Have you been carrying that over your shoulder this entire time?"

"Yeah? So what of it?" he retorted as a matter-of-factly.

"It's just that I don't think I've seen you without it." She adjusted to where she fully stood. "Are you that on guard, even around your own allies?"

Duncan closed his eyes and snuffed his chin up. "Not like having it down to begin with benefits. You never know when someone's gonna strike you…especially in a world like this."

Ultear could agree with Duncan to an extent. Being reflexes and well aware of your surroundings benefits in enemy territory, but last she checked Vanessa's Aura Magic was a radar, so there wasn't a need to worry unless something came from land or underwater. One could accuse it as habit.

The more she questioned, the more her own thoughts wore down. She noticed Duncan turning around, but not to face her. When she turned, her heart almost skipped a beat when Liz was standing there with a half-hearted look as she chewed gum.

"My goodness, where did you come from?" Ultear questioned. She was surprised when Liz offered her a slim piece of bright green gum. She at it with wonder.

"Chew on this." Liz said. "It'll help stabilize your Magic Power."

Ultear furrowed her brow in question at her ally. By no means was she sure of her intentions, but if it benefit her, she may as well give benefit of doubt. She took the piece of gum and gave it a look before plopping it into her mouth. As she chewed, her gums were instantly flushed with a crisp spearmint flavor. It was like chewing on it was making her weary body feel restored. The look on her face showed surprise. "Mm…thank you…" she muffled.

Liz kept chewing as she offered a piece to Duncan next, but the Pokémon Trainer turned away.

"No thanks. I'll be in the spare cabin nearby." He walked off in his original path, leaving the group behind to do as they pleased.

Ultear wanted to question Duncan's motives and attitude, but she sought better to dwell on matters that didn't overdo her spirits. She kept chewing as her attention drew towards Liz, who was looking at her headphones and adjusting some settings manually. "By the way…" she got her attention. "Not to sound rude, but you seem to carry quite a lot of gum on you. Is that to stabilize your magic as well?"

Liz popped a bubble inside her mouth as she cocked her head sassily. "Something like that." She moved the headphones over her head and smacked them between her ears. "I just like gum."

As Liz kept chewing, she turned and began to walk away. Ultear looked at her, choosing to believe her words. But deep down, she knew there was something wrong. No person carried that much gum unless it was either an addiction or prescribed. It's like saying Natsu or Gray needed ice constantly, which wasn't necessary. "…you know ignoring the problems in life aren't always solved by chewing out of it, you know."

Liz bobbed her head up and down as she jammed out to her headphones. She walked off without a care to the world. In a way, Ultear couldn't help but see Liz her off, yet the way she bobbed her head was like Nic when he used to listen to heavy metal back in the old days. Someone who didn't face his own struggles beforehand, instead filtering it another way. In a way, her own remedy for now.

Out of respect, Ultear chose to focus on chewing. She was going to need it for more repairs.


"And~…there! All set!" Dereece wiped a bead of sweat as he sat the last food bowl in front of a male Nidoran's cage. He slowly approached and began to sniff it. "Phew, man. Well that sure took some time, right Heracross?"

Directing attention to Heracross, the Bug/Fighting-type passed himself a scoopful of food served for his own share. He looked up towards Dereece and nodded. "Yeah, guess you can say that again." He looked down at his plate with a sullied look. "Though I wish this was Honey…"

He chuckled before turning towards the many Pokémon feasting, while some continued resting. "I didn't think the Alvarez wanted so many."

"I know. I know it sounds bad, but even I'm shocked at how many they were willing to come for."

The door to the chamber then knocked, getting them to look over. There, they saw a blob of pink hair jut from the opened entry. "Um, excuse me? Dereece?" It was Meredy, and she popped in with a questionable look. "Is everything okay in here?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, sorry, what was your name again?" Dereece sheepishly questioned.

"It's Meredy."

"Right, sorry. Man, so many names on this trip that I can hardly keep track…" Dereece murmured. "Huh? O-oh right. Yeah, we're good, right Heracross?" He gestured towards Heracross, who looked at his food bowl like it committed a crime.

Meredy worked her way into the domain, slowly looking around to see the many Pokémon that were caged up. She was a mix of awe and slight pity as she saw the many who were eying, yet some were getting the rations needed to fill their stomachs. "So many Pokémon here…" she marveled.

"Yeah, exactly what I was saying." He responded. "To think they'd go through all this trouble."

"Yeah…" She took one more look around before something caught her attention. "Hey, wait. Aren't you the guys who's always around Joey?"

Dereece looked at her like it was no big deal. "Yeah, why?"

"Well, it's just kind of a shock is all. I mean I don't think I've seen you both apart until now."

Dereece woefully shook his head towards her. "Trust me, leaving Joey unattended is the last thing anyone would do. You don't wanna know what happened the last time I rushed to the bathroom during a science project back in high school." The memory made him cringed to tis day. Unfortunately for Dereece that day he had a bad stomach and rushed to the restroom, and Joey was left alone with a small chemistry set with Stun Spore in a vile. By the time Dereece came back, he found everyone on the floor twitching, and Joey was in the center, twitching up a dance. "Joey sure wasn't pleased with his grade that day, I tell ya."

Meredy chuckled at the story's amusement. "Seems like a fun guy. If he's that dangerous, why be here?"

Dereece smirked. "Well, I think I can let it slide this time." He said. "After all, it looks to me that Broly's taken a liking to Joey for the time being…and I think Joey feels the same way." He looked away knowingly. "It's surprising to know someone's admiring him other than me…but I think it's good for Joey. He'll be fine this one time without me."

She could rebuff, but not only would it be rude, but it would be hypocritical of her. She left Ultear to check on the Pokémon, and she never leaves her side. And here was Joey's right-hand man, absent of Joey's rambunctious benefits. She smiled in knowing things would be okay if Dereece was this sure of Broly and Joey together.

"Though I tell ya, what he sees in Joey is a mystery that even I can't figure out." Dereece finished. "He's as spontaneous as Metronome."

Meredy chuckled. "Looks like I was write about him being interesting, huh?"

Once again, the open door knocked, quite rapidly at that. Matilda popped in with a big smile. "Hey~, heard some voices, and wondering who's talking about who now?" she chimed.

Meredy looked over with a surprised look. "Oh, hey, Matilda. Good to see ya. We were just talking about Joey and Broly is all."

She walked in. "That so?" she snickered. "Well you're not the only one surprised. Believe it or not, even Orion was questionable of Broly's kinship with that party animal. He's got me intrigued as much as…as.." She dawdled off in thought as she slowly stopped in place. When she looked around, she saw the many cages of Pokémon present. It was like something went off that left her fixated in wonder as she saw the many who were sprawled and sleeping, maybe depressed. This didn't go unnoticed by anyone present.

"As what?" Meredy finished. She didn't get a response. "Uh…Matilda?"

"Is something wrong?" Dereece questioned.

Her stare was of wonder as she looked at the stacked cages of creatures held against their will. She could hear some whimpers from the few giving her the puppy-dog eyes, and some looked far from happy. She knew deep down that waiting could suffice because there was a war going on, but in the darkness of her mind, a red-eyed animalistic figure snarled. It made her eyes get covered, her fists balling and shaking.

Dereece and the others were taking notice of her growing pressure and began to worry. They looked at each other before Dereece decided to speak up. "Uh…Matilda…is everything alright?"

Everything was not alright. Matilda was stiff as a Sudowoodo trying hard to blend in. When she gazed at the cages some more, all she felt was growing spite; anger; might. A caged animal. That's what tore her mind up. Her teeth finally bared harsh canines as she growled low. Without warning, she punched a cage, breaking a bar that startled the few Pidgey that sat inside.

"W-what are you doing?!" Dereece panicked. Heracross jerked back in fright.

Matilda kept punching into cages, strangling the iron bars that imprisoned the helpless creatures. One by one, she furiously tore open bars that she flung to random parts of the room; some barely missing her comrades. When she finished one cage, she hurriedly went another, tearing that one up.

The Pokémon in the many cages were flipping out haphazardly. They all either flew out of their cages or remained huddled in the backs of them until Matilda began to claw at the cages' sides. They all fled pass Dereece and Meredy to the now shut door, where they remained as far away as shredded bars flung themselves against the wall. Even the hardy Nidorino that were captured were startled by the animalistic anxiety she was exhibiting.

"What's wrong with her?!" Meredy shrieked. "Has she lost it?!"

"I-I don't know!" Dereece panicked. "But I think we ought to stop her before she loses it!"

"You're right." Meredy made a brave front as she went towards Matilda. As she walked ahead, a Pineco and Shroomish scuttled pass her. She remained steadfast on her way as bars and parts of cages were flung everywhere. She got behind Matilda, who was growling as her claws ripped through iron. "Matilda, stop!"

Matilda didn't listen. She rasped corners like a rabid animal. It was getting worse to stand around her.

"Matilda, you're scaring everyone!" Meredy reached for her shoulder. "Hey, that-!"

"WHAT?!"

Matilda snapped so loud that it was a roar that echoed through the room. It was so massive and so harsh that it made Meredy freeze in place. Dereece and Heracross both stared wide-eyed as the whole tone of the room fell dark and stale. Not a single muscle moved out of fear of her insidious look. The deep eyes she had were sharp, like a predator that was smelling the fear of prey. Meredy was right in the middle of it, and her heart was beating so fast that it made her almost fall over.

Taking a gulp, Meredy ultimately backed away slowly. "…nothing. Sorry…"

Matilda panted like an animal continuously as she watched over her shoulder as her friend and ally kept her eyes on her while backing up with Dereece with the other Pokémon. She sneered before she clawed clean trough another cage, resuming her rampage out of no social order.

"Whoa." Dereece muttered sullenly. "Hey, Meredy, are you…"

"I'm fine." She said flatly. "But…I think we need to keep our space."

He could hear the dryness in her voice. She sounded like she was going to croak, not to mention how low it was compared to the cheeriness it normally had. And he couldn't blame her. He looked back at Matilda, seeing her rampage with every cage and freeing Pokémon out of fear. "…yeah."

Heracross remained passively quiet as iron bars clanged against the ground, the sounds of tearing and metal ripping burning into his and the others' eyes. Yet through the carnage Matilda was creating, a recently freed Yanma fluttered out of her recent cage hurried out of range and quickly reached for the nearest perch possible. In a panic, she landed on Heracross' horn, surprising him and Dereece alike. As she remained on his horn, Heracross blinked in confusion at her choice of rest. "Uh…hello?"

The Yanma looked down, blinking back and tilting her head. "Hm?" she paused before looking at Dereece, tilting her head again. She looked back at Heracross, and finally tilted her head back into place. And finally…blinked before looking calm. "Hi."

"…hi?"

All while everyone watched Matilda let out her fuse, shredding the cages that tormented her.


Joey ran across the deck with a fist pulled back. "Here I come!" He ran towards Broly who stood patiently for his opponent to close in, a serious look on his face.

"What did I say about wasting breath on choice words?" Broly roared as a bright flash eroded over him, revealing to be another turquoise barrier.

Joey showed his teeth as his next footstep came to a twirl around. With his dance-like movements, he spun around like a top around the barrier off to the side. 'Alright, he's open!' He jutted his leg to the side to kick.

A smirk showed on Broly. "Don't be quick to assume."

"Huh-GAH!" Joey was struck before he even came feet to Broly by the barrier extending in an arch to his side in the blink of an eye. The recoil shot through Joey's leg as he fell forward. The barrier went down and Broly instantly grabbed his leg and threw him off to the side, tumbling across the deck to a slumped side. "I'm okay~." He groaned as he waved his hand around lazily.

Broly put his hands to his hips as he looked knowingly at him. "A fake out is cliché, but it's underhanded. You thought good working around the barrier, but you left yourself vulnerable the second you stuck your leg out. Got that?"

"Y-yeah, I think so…" Joey dizzily arose and shook his head to rid said handicap. "So keep guard up and watch my own movements, got it!"

Broly smiled at his enthusiasm, but enough was enough. He loosened his body and grinned. "What do you say we stop here for now. Don't wanna empty the batteries before the storm, wouldn't you say?"

Joey sulked forward with a tired sigh. "Okay~." Instantly he slumped down. While he was having a blast at learning how to fight thanks to Broly, he couldn't lie when he felt begrudgingly tired.

Broly laughed. "Rest makes the best." In a short while, he and Joey found themselves on the side of the ship's cabins. They had wooden crates and boxes around them as they looked out at the deck. "Man, I never realized how bog this deck really is. From this angle you can't even see the end."

"Yeah…" Joey stared off towards the deck, looking at it with a bored expression.

Broly looked over to find Joey's stare intriguing him. He could see those eyes, the ones of yearning. It made him curious. "Say, mind if I ask ya something?"

"What?"

"Who was it that you looked up to again?"

Joey went wide-eyed as he gave him a shocked look. It was a surprising question to him especially that he didn't know how to respond. "Uh, N-Nic!" he spouted nervously. "A-and also Erza, and Vanessa! They're all super awesome! Yeah."

"I see." Broly smirked. "Even that Vanessa girl huh? Sure it's not about other things ya see around her?"

The mischievous tone was a dead giveaway. Even Joey wasn't that stupid. A small blush billowed on his cheeks as he scrambled for words. "Uh, uh…I-I mean yeah-er, no! I mean she's got great, uh…y-yeah! Wait! I mean maybe-no! Definitely…uh…" Ultimately he flatlined clean through the noggin. "Wait, what was the question?"

Broly gave a hard chuckled as he looked out. "It's fine. Just curious what makes them so inspiring is all. I can see why with what they can do, but I was just wondering what you just was all."

Joey looked at Broly and turned to look back out. He stared ahead with a furrowed brow as the heat on his face cooled down. "…honestly, I think only Dereece can process what I'm saying. Mostly because he knows me all my life…" a smile crept onto his face. "But seeing Nic in action was probably the coolest and scariest thing I've ever seen. When I saw that battle against those Dark Legendaries, I was shocked. But, seeing him in action was awesome." He thought back to that night, where he and Dereece were in his room trying a dancing video game. They were interrupted when they were in hemispheres along with every single person observing the battle of the millennia. When he saw Nic and his future-self battle as Mega Rayquaza, all he saw were flashes across the sky. "It was awe-inspiring. Scary, sure…but I never saw anyone like him go at it like that." He thought back to a news report of seeing Nic's Kecleon against another player's Mega Tyranitar. When he saw him again beating Mega Tyranitar, his mouth gaped with twinkling stars. "Seriously, you'd never think a nobody could just outright show the world what you're made of, and now he's made such a big gap between everyone from all these hard battles." He looked out again, this time with a softer look. "Sometimes I wish I could be someone like that; someone who could be looked up to instead of down on…I wanna be great."

Broly glanced at Joey in trying to understand what he was going for. A fanboy who had little ambition until someone with dumb luck showed up and made a name for himself. It made a smile cross his face and snicker. "You know, you and I are a lot more alike than I thought."

Joey looked at him in confusion. "Really?"

"Oh yeah, sure." He looked down at his crossed knees. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I was probably the exact same as you a long time ago. Someone who didn't have much worth. Little drive for anything. Hell I didn't have much to go for that I went and joined the revolutions against our empire in the far east of Earthland." He looked up with a proud smile, remembering his ole glory days. "It was a ruckus back then, I tell ya…but there was one man who I eventually looked up to…the General, my teacher."

Joey saw the look in Broly's blue eyes then. They spelled one thing he was aware of: Yearning.

"I was envious of the way he was. I worked hard and found myself no longer slacking off. You see Joey, a leader arouses his colleagues to follow his lead. And the way he drove up and pushed with walls was something that inspired me. It was thanks to him we never lost a battle, as well as myself learning my own magic."

A soft smile crept on Joey's face. "He must've been a great teacher."

Unknowingly to him, the comment made Broly smile back to the old days. An image of a middle-aged man with slim but long white hair, even a moustache to give him a more sophisticated look. He had narrow emerald eyes and a decently tones figure beneath a white cape. He could even remember the bandages around the wrists and gray pants he wore. A loose-fitting general one might say.

Broly, 20-years-old, and he was in awe as he looked up to his general as he watched his General not even move a finger as a turquoise barrier slid across the ground, breaking into a tree's trunk without effort. "Woah, awesome!" he marveled. "Mr. Percival is that your Barrier-Make Magic?"

Percival, the General of the empire's revolution army, stood across an open field behind his tent, He looked over at Broly as winds shifted. "Oh, did you enjoy seeing that?"

"Yes, sir!" he saluted.

Percival chuckled. "No need to be so formal with me. Please, just call me Percival. We're not in combat you know."

"O-okay, yeah!" Broly took a step forward as the General sat on a stump. "So how does that magic work? It got something to do with the air or something and solidifying it?"

Percival glanced up at Broly's pure innocence, seeing no valid reason to distrust a soldier that he's known and felt compassion for 2 years. A soft smile crept on his face. "Actually, there's a lot that I don't even understand myself about this magic. I am only one man after all."

"And there's no other mages like you?" Broly's eyes widened at the realization.

"Yup, the only Barrier-Make Mage there is. At least, that's what I believe. These techniques – this magic I was granted – it was a passive gift from those entrusting their lives to me, and I swore to protect with my life against those who beseech them."

Even his speech was inspiring to Broly. "So then, is it possible I can learn it someday?"

Percval looked at Broly one more time, locking serious eyes with him. The way he looked, even if said no, it wouldn't change his compassion the boy felt for him. He was a leader, but even he was limited. He needed someone he could trust. A soft smile crept onto his face as he looked towards the blue sky.

"Maybe someday, my boy…if a time ever comes…"

"He was." He answered solemnly. "A man who knew responsibility and compassion, even when I didn't see it. Someone who had what it takes to be a leader…kinda like you."

Joey smiled softly as he looked down sheepishly. "Compassionate and responsible…" his smile grew wider. "Thanks, Broly. Nobody ever thought of that about me." He chuckled. "You really think that, Broly?"

"…Bro."

Joey looked at him in question. "What?"

"You can call me Bro from now on. No need to be so formal around me anymore. Got it?"

"You sure about that?"

"Hey, I wasn't taught to be a liar." He countered. "So how about it?"

A silence fell as Joey blinked. He grinned and gave a cheeky thumbs up. "Cool. Sure thing…Bro."

Unknowingly, on the other side of the ship's stern, Vanessa was looking out as a soft grin showed.


White light surrounded everything, making it almost blinding. It took mere moments for the light to vanish, allowing Nic to uncover with an eye open. 'What was that?' He began to process the last thing he saw, which was a planet-like gyro over him taking him somewhere. 'That hemisphere, where did that take me?' He turned to look around, immediately seeing a mop of red, silky smooth hair. Immediately he recognized it. "Erza?"

Uncovering, the first thing her brown eyes laid eyes on was her own husband. "Nic?"

"Are you alright?"

Erza took notice of her stability and nodded. "Don't worry. I'm fine. More importantly, what happened to us?"

Nic's eyes narrowed as he felt an uneasy tension around him. A magical pressure and small growls were heard as he turned his attention off to the side. "If I had to guess, nothing good." Like him, Erza's guard was also up, realizing they were swarmed from all around.

In a chamber within the Alvarez's grand palace, Nic and Erza were among the many groups transported in random spots within the domain. However, as expected, they were surrounded by a stadium's worth of men and their Pokémon, many of vast variety with harnesses and marks of Alvarez on them. Varied sizes, shapes, and weapons were held as thousands of men were waiting at a chance to kill the ringleader. Their battle cries were a dead giveaway.

As they glanced at the many faces, they realized they were al alone. "Looks like we got separated from the others." Nic evaluated. "They can't be too far if those planets shot us within palace grounds."

"Which means they could be in the same situation as us." Erza guessed.

"Maybe, but it looks like we got a little work to do." He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "You ready?"

She smirked as she crouched, requipping into her Flight Armor, yet wielded her Black Wing swords. "Is that an open invitation perhaps?"

"There's the intruders!" a soldier pointed out. "All forces, kill on sight!"

Many aerial Pokémon slid overhead to block their skyward path, while many men charged on foot to confront them head on. However, little did they know, they were closing in on death itself.

"Is this the part where you showoff?" Erza asked her husband.

Without looking, a grin fell onto his lips in a mix of muse, but mostly rising adrenaline. He leaned forward, his eyes closing as pressure began to spout. When his eyes flashed open, small embers buffered from his body. "…yeah." Suddenly an eruption of flames expelled outwards like an atomic wave of heat. It immediately caught the soldiers in front and made their figures fade into the growing hemisphere, sending many more flying away with the shockwaves, Pokémon included.

Shockwaves superheated the earth beneath as rows upon rows of soldiers were picked up or covered as the hemisphere of swirling flames shook the massive chamber. Stray heat waves surged like clouds, searing many flying enemies and blowing them around like they were in a funnel.

"W-WHAT IS THIS?!" a soldier shrieked before looking down, noticing his armor beginning to weld and melt from the heat. He panicked greatly amongst others, moments before a draconic roar bellowed through the flames.

They all looked up, petrified as the hemisphere of swirling fire left the ground itself in a blaze. Swirling spirals of fire led to the thinned hemisphere exploding into a tornado of pressurized fire expelling skywards with stray waves everywhere. They all adverted their gazes skyward, a shriek like a dragon seething through flames.

A pair of sharp blue eyes opened, revealing Nic. Erza smirked knowingly up at the firestorm right behind her.

The tornado exploded, sending flares everywhere as the shockwaves resonated from Nic as he remained stationary in the air, mouth wide open with a beastly roar. His coat had a midnight blue gleam to it, with the edging being a sharp bright red rather than coral red, as were the makeshift claws on his royal blue shoes. His pants were a dark red, while a coral red sash held them up. The sleeves were just as blue as the rolled-up sides were bright red. The draconic wings displayed were dark blue, with bright red membranes. "Fire/Dragon!" he exclaimed, bearing himself before his enemies in hot-blooded challenge.

Many of soldiers backed away, immediately regretting their boldness before. Nic's eyes narrowed, his pressure scaring them to paling sweat.

"Twister!" One solemn flap of his wings and he began to spin in place like a drill, generating a powerful windstorm that expelled a barrier-like cyclone around him sending whirlwinds everywhere. The grounded soldiers were either swept in the winds or tried to fruitlessly hang on.

SWOOSH!

For those on the ground trying to resist, they were suddenly met with a bright glint before numbers of ten to twelve either sent soaring by a sword, soon to be plucked up by the winds generated. It revealed to be Erza as she stopped to reposition herself. Glaring ahead, she darted right in, zipping with speed and power into many more numbers, with sashes of equal strength.

With one roar and a swing to the side, a shockwave kicked up dozens of soldiers and dust, making more despair as they were next to either be blown away, or cut down.

The raging cyclone shaking the room continued rampaging until it shortened, instead actually starting to pick up speed. The winds traveled faster, soon generating into another blazing tornado that suddenly elongated like a spring shooting in a thin fashion. Those below covered again as the recoil of the "jump" the tornado took blew even more around.

The tornado snaked through the air with a bolting fiery front. The top arched down and swerved in an angle with Nic guiding as he was broiled in flames. "Heat Crash!" The tornado made a complete dive into so many at once as it did not crash into the ground, but instead bulldozed with the tornado of fire boosted from earlier Twister. The heavy blast waves made large-scale explosions that enveloped so many and shook every inch of the chamber.

As many screamed before bolted into by a fiery source, others were cut by Erza as she cried out, and Nic bellowed a roar as the pair continued their rampage.


A wave of pressurized water from Juvia swept up soldiers in her path. She covered for Gray as he was facing another direction, freezing guys in place like statues. The pair were making sure to stay on their toes as enemies flanked them left and right without rest.

"Just where in the heck did all these guys come from!" Gray shouted before dodging an axe. He drove his knee into his face, sending the soldier back. He evaded another sword from the side and adverted away.

Juvia jumped backwards to evade a barrage of Air Cutter that Zubat hovering above unleashed. As they exploded in front of her, she found herself back-to-back with Gray, "Their numbers are so high that I can't keep track." She noted.

"Looks like they planned for this little welcoming intentionally." Gray responded. "That's funny, I would've figured they'd be so kind as to give us a committee than an audience."

"The others must have been separated from us." Juvia's attention drew towards a Makuhita charging at her. She embedded her hands in water and stretched out a whip of water, which snaked around the Makuhita's arm. "Water Cane!" Raising her rm, the whip of water followed and brought the Makuhita skywards, slamming it into many of the Zubat above. She then brought it down and round, making the Pokémon a wrecking ball that crashed into many soldiers.

As Zubat fell around her, the Water Mage glared ahead. "I'm sorry."

Gray put his hands together, creating misty frost. "They'll understand later. For now let's give them what they ask for!"

Juvia nodded determinedly. There would be time to apologize later, but for now they were the enemy. She brought her arms together, readying more magic as the many soldiers surrounded them. They all raised weapons and bared whatever needs available. They all charged at them while they were facing opposite directions.

As time slowed down, everyone was ready to get at them, but that chance was swept away as fast as a cold, frosty wave expelled from out of nowhere. Everything as far as the eye could see was enveloped in frosted mist, and to Juvia, this was a surprise.

"Gray?" She turned towards Gray, seeing the surprised look he shared.

"Wasn't me!" He went wide-eyed as he saw everything around him and her completely frozen like statues. In fact, the roaring looks of the men right before them looked like sheer ice. They weren't covered in ice – they were ice. Their skins wouldn't be icy blue underneath for nothing.

The cold tundra air was making Gray see his own breath. He looked down at his own palm, seeing any possible sweat turn into frost and crumble away. "This magic…"

A pair of footsteps trekked slowly along the frozen ground. "I was expecting you both."

The familiar, icy tone sent a shiver running from their ears to their spines. Instantly goosebumps arose as their breaths hitched. 'That voice…' Gray and Juvia turned in shock, eyes wide as a figure walked with hands behind his back to present himself.

A pair of lips frowned as icy eyes glared underneath kempt bangs. "So we meet again I see. How unfortunate."

The shiver going down their spines made the pair shudder in a mix of shock and fright. As Gray eyes him, a flood of horrid memories surfaced. Images of blood and Juvia lying in his arms was making his pupils dilate out of control. 'Him…'

Invel Yura stepped forward with a half-ninja sign, his fixed glasses glaring the eyes of someone who wasn't pleased to see him. "Gray Fullbuster."


Down a massive corridor, there were no doors. It was so long that it was hard to tell how far two figures walking beside one another were going for.

"How long have we been walking for you think?"

"Ein li mu-sag. (I have no idea.)"

"Sorry, I don't speak gibberish."

"It's Hebrew. And sorry, fragmented habit."

"Ah it's cool. No skin off my bones at least."

Griffon and Sophie were the two walking down the lone corridor, and just their luck as the rest, they seemed to be all alone. Griffon was being sure to stay laid-back while Sophie supported him, although their actual sense of direction wasn't getting them anywhere. As far as Sophie recalled, they passed the same portrait of Zeref twice now.

Griffon had hands behind his head as he looked away. "So you guess that the others must've gotten split up like us? I can imagine that happening."

"I wouldn't be surprised if that were in fact the case." Sophie answered. "What surprises me is that they weren't attempting an ambush the moment we were transported here."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. I set up wires everywhere now from a little ways back. If anyone gets close I'll know."

"That's innovative to say the least." Sophie's glance cascaded towards him. "By the way, I'm vaguely curious about something."

"If it's about my interests, as generous as it is to offer, now isn't the time sweetheart." He casually said.

"Charming. But I'm intrigued. Exactly, what are the Peace Jaegers? I know you're an Independent Guild that travels around the world, but I don't think any of us truly get who you guys are. I'm just wondering is all."

Griffon glanced over and saw the inquiry in her green eyes. He didn't think it'd be fair to leave her hanging, but it wasn't something he was fond of sharing. "Mmm, well how should I put this?" he paused to gather his thoughts. "Well I guess you can say we're a group of mercenaries in a nutshell. Is that good enough?"

"But you also kill for money." She said accusingly. "I wouldn't consider mercenaries of that caliber to be so skilled."

Griffon smirked. "Heh, you make it sound like we're the bad guys."

"I'd be a liar if we all didn't think that at first."

He sheepishly scratched his green head of hair. "Well guess I can't blame you. A lot of people think that way because of our reputation. I'd explain a bit more, but that's just my reputation. You see, I'm the one who mainly does that stuff."

"And you're proud of it?"

"Whoever said I was proud of what I do?" Griffon could now see more of her viewpoint. For an alleged assassin like him to be taking pride in his work would be like holding up a knife to Sophie's neck. "Maybe you guilds might not be too keen on killing, but there's a much bigger world out there, and it's kill or be killed. It's a need to survive." He looked ahead as he stopped; Sophie soon to follow. "But you know, there's more to us than just killing and stealing you know. Sometimes we're hired to protect, and if it involves killing, then that's just how it is. No matter what, we're at peace with the decisions we've made."

Sophie fell silent as Griffon continued. She would've said more about the whole slaughter and ask how many lives he's taken, but then again, she may have taken a few back in the war. Even an accuser's hands can be sullied.

"Orion made the Peace Jaegers of his own convictions, about 17 years ago I think…uh, yeah, I think that's about right. He's 31 right now. Anyways, he made the principle of those who have lost all worth and have been forsaken by the world's needs. Some of us joined to find a purpose to fulfill. All that we could do from that point on is to achieve our goal: Make our peace before death." A soft smile crept on his face. "And some of us did."

"Some of us?" Sophie repeated the last part as the inclination was starting to sink in. "You mean…"

"Yeah, there were others before us. You gotta ask Orion about that since he keeps track, but it's a pretty high number we've lost. But, believe it or not, we still found more."

"I see. So long have you been with the Jaegers for?"

"Me? About 3 years now. Aside from Orion, who still kicks it with the guild he made for 17 years, I think the oldest here is Broly at maybe 10 years. Matilda at 7 I think. Aniya for about 3 years now. She joined about two weeks after I did. And Liz just recently joined 11 weeks ago." His smile never faded, rather it grew morbid. "She actually came around 2 days after another one of us…well, you know."

"I see." Sophie began to feel dejected. "I'm…sorry for being so…"

"Eh it's cool. You asked. The important thing to know is that whatever we do, the world's problems don't concern us. We've resigned ourselves after we fulfilled or lost our previous purposes and are making peace with what we do now."

Sophie glanced at him again. "Then…if it's alright to ask…why did you become part of the Peace Jaegers? Or maybe, why did they recruit an assassinator?"

"Well, if you really wanna know…get down!" Suddenly he grabbed Sophie's head and jut her down on a knee, just in time as something sharp zipped right over her head from behind. With the blonde down, Griffon looked back to see the very thin strings he made plucking themselves, like an orchestra. His eyes narrowed in evaluation. 'He's moving his arm back!'

Moments passed before he reacted then. "Wire Fence!" He swiped his arms, protecting him and Sophie as a projectile hit the wires he crossed to make a fence. When the projectile ricocheted off, it revealed to be a knife that clanged against the ground.

"Are you alright?" he asked Sophie.

Sophie got up again, albeit startled. "Yeah, I am. But what was…" She looked ahead, her eyes widening a she felt a familiar magic. 'This magical energy…'

A tie adjusted. "Well played." A voice from ahead got their attention. They looked up, seeing Jacob standing in front of the wire field that he managed to get around. "I almost didn't see them from ow thin they were. Impressive."

Sophie's eyes narrowed as she met a man she remembered well of. "Jacob." She sneered.

"We meet again, Sophie Lednick." He greeted. "This time, I will be taking you on personally."

Griffon smirked as he stood a ways in front, his fingers loose as wire began to extend. "Well buddy, hate to break this thing you two have going, but it looks like it's my turn to step in. Hope you don't mind."

Jacob's glare darkened as he eyes Griffon's collective demeanor. "The more the merrier."


Neinhart smirked as he stood in front of his throne. "Now, it's time." He said. "Now! To my underlings and Spriggan! Go! Let Alvarez and Lady Irene's retribution fall onto these weaklings' shoulders! Show them the power we now have!"


Done! Better than last time, a little lower, and I'm thankful for that. I got just enough in and so many scenes that I am too proud right now! Hope you guys liked this chapter a bunch!

Now I will say this before I forget, and that I am currently reading Edens Zero and the sequel of Fairy Tail, the 100 Year Quest. I like Edens Zero, but the 100 year quest, I do not favor. So many things felt wrong about it that I can't explain well…mostly because I don't have time and have to work after uploading this. But point is, if there were Dragon Gods, or that Dragon Slayer, why didn't they enter the Timelapse when Acnologia summoned all the Dragon Slayers? Sounds crummy to me. And as I spoke with a few of my colleagues, I think that my sequel, this one you're reading, I feel makes more sense. I have originality heading along this path, so don't think that I'll include the 100 Year Quest or any of that, at least not now.

Also, I like to give credit to Warmachine 375 for the 3 Machia Knights, as well as Valeria at least for the names. I still wanted to imagine their images the way I sought them, but I allowed the first names at least. I still wanted my own spin, as well as more of an Akame Ga Kill theme that I have going on right now.

I haven't decided what I'll do yet, but after a couple days rest and reviewing stories and art, I'll be taking a short break from the story, about a couple weeks. I want to get the big battles in 3 chapters, so I'll pack those consecutively, but to compensate, I wanna do 3 chapters of my Bakugan story, so I'll do that before getting back to this story. So until next time guys! :)