The quaking energy of Nic and Erza's battle continued throughout the building. Though the heat had died down – literally-the shockwaves ran through the building, making all the shuddering everyone felt come to an end. Lucy looked up in slight worry.

"Is it over?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes. I don't feel magical pressure surrounding me." Brandish remarked. "It must be an end."

Dimaria remained silent. She continued quivering ever so weakly. Natsu's head, however, perked up. "Betcha that means we won this time." He said.

"Aye!" Happy cheered, alongside Charmander.

"Let's not get our hopes up." Griffon was off to the side. He had hid fingers tipped with wire that was attached to the walls and held to his ear for echolocation. "We're still not in the clear. We need to get out of this deathtrap as soon as possible."

Sophie nodded. "Agreed."

A short silence was met before the air was heard with what sounded like adjustments and television static. This alarmed the others gin s everyone in the building was picking up on the signal.

"Everyone, can you hear me?" a familiar voice was heard in the air for everyone to hear. "Is everyone alright? Please, respond."

"Jellal?" Happy questioned.

"That same guy again, huh?" Griffon answered.

"We all felt that just now, is everyone okay?" Yukino asked.

The voice made Lucy's eyes widen. "Yukino! You're okay, too?"

Of course that wasn't to say Lucy wasn't the only ecstatic one. Klefki shuddered with quivering excitement. "Keys? Keys?! The keys are…alive?!" The epiphany made her screech in joy. "Eeeeek! Yay! My precious keys! My-!" She was abruptly clamped shut by a less than amused Lucy.

"Yes, yes, we get it, Klefki. But would you mind toning it down?" she scolded.

Brandish stepped forward. "I assume this means the others are safe as well then, am I right?"

"Yup! All in one piece!" a perky voice belonging to Sorano could've been heard a mile away.

"Geez, could you be any louder Sorano? We get it." Another groaning voice belonging to Erik stated. Unlike her, he wasn't as lively. "The others with ya?"

"Don't worry, Erik. We'll be arriving shortly." Macbeth assured with a neutral tone.

Stopping for a moment with the others in the halls, Lyon glanced skywards. "Has there been any word on what's happened regarding the ship? We haven't received anything from them in a while."

"No, not so far." Jellal answered. "If I were to presume, I'd say one of your allies must have gone back to check in. We should know soon enough."

Lucy sulked forward. "Man, all this running around is really making me feel sore…"

Natsu, ignoring Lucy's wining, stepped forward and looked towards the ceiling. He was invested in something else. "…Nic, ya there pal?" he called up.

In a matter of a few seconds, the voice that most, if not all, people appreciated came to their ears. "Natsu. Yeah, I'm here. So is Erza. What's wrong?"

Lucy's eyes widened. "Hold up! You mean to tell me that was just you guys?!"

Sophie snickered. "Why am I not surprised? I thought I recalled this familiar power."

"We're just fine." Erza answered, running beside Nic down a hallway. "We were able to handle a Spriggan for the time being. Is everyone alright?"

"Don't sweat it, we're all good down here." Sawyer said.

Juvia put a hand over her chest, sighing in relief. "Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry for a moment if something drastic happened." She strayed to thought. 'That explains why I felt gloomy.'

Jellal and the others walking through the building glanced at the cracked and battered ceilings. "We're glad to hear. By any chance, did you both happen to know of any others that you may have seen?"

"Yes." Erza nodded. "Lisanna and Elfman passed by us while we dealt with the Spriggan. They should be close to the Emperor's dorms from what Nic sensed."

"But isn't that dangerous?" Happy worried.

"It doesn't matter." Brandish answered. "We're here to stop Neinhart once and for all. Any lead is a good lead."

"But, what about…"

"Happy, we know." Carla's voice was heard over the telepathic link. "But they're not the only problem."

"She's right. We can't seem to get in touch with Minerva or Master Sting. I feel something terrible happened." Yukino cautiously remarked.

Staggering through the dark hallways, Orion closed in on the open hole in the wall he made from his battle against Sindge. "That doesn't change our priorities." He sternly said. "If you wish to find your colleagues, do so along the way. We have to keep going, that's the plan."

Nic looked down in slight remorse. There was a kernel of wisdom in what he said, but he still felt unsound by all the people still staggered. But they were capable mages, and as much as it bothered him, it was best to stay together and find the way out from there. "Yeah, okay." He faced Erza. "Erza, ready to keep moving?"

Erza nodded. "I am." Together, the two started taking off down the corridor at a faster pace. "We'll meet you at the rendezvous point!"

"Alright, but be sure to keep an eye out for the others. There's no telling what else lurks around here." Jellal ended the connection, leaving everyone to continue their paths again.

Natsu rammed his fist into his palm, with Nic dashing and everyone having the same thought. 'We know.'


Meanwhile, not too far away from the damaged hallway Orion walked through, the wall was still intact, and yet something slowly protruded out. It looked like a skull, and yet had one red eye that swayed from one eye hole to the other. Looking around, the skull face realized that the hallway was empty. The odd creature, slowly fazed into the wall again, vanishing from visible sight. It slipped through boundless walls like a looming ghost would, transcending to a few floors into a dark corridor of wispy candles to where it descended from a ceiling.

Slowly, it dropped on Rogue and Minerva, who waited patiently for the creature's return. "So what did you find, Duskull?" Rogue inquired. "Anything related to our allies?"

The Duskull waved his hands around, much like an actual cliché ghost. "Ooooh~. No, so~rry~. I could only fi~nd cold hard walls. Ooooh~." He wailed ominously.

Rogue looked down with a frown. "I see." He turned towards Minerva. "They must be moving too fast around here."

"Well this certainly makes it harder to keep track." She irritably mused. "Suppose this means we should be running on chance for the time being."

"So it would seem." He faced his Duskull again. "Thanks Duskull, keep an eye out."

"That~ will doooo~, ooooh~." Duskull slowly backed into the shadows ahead, leaving his red eye to bob side to side until it too faded. This left Rogue and Minerva to sweatdrop in unison.

"You most certainly have an…interesting Pokémon."

"Er, right…" Rogue decided to get back on track and walked on. "Let's go." He and Minerva started their path again, but as he walked further, his mind couldn't stop thinking about a certain someone, someone who he worries about 24/7. And it's this thought that's making his hair stand on end.

'Frosch, just where could you be?'


Little did they know, as they were taking strides, Rogue and Minerva's images were seen within a crystal ball sitting on a pedestal surrounded by purple-lit candles in cold, deep darkness. The hooded figure that was Hoshina was casually sitting back in her sofa as she smoked.

Nonchalant, she took the pipe out and blew out a small whiff of smoke. It slowly drifted towards the crystal ball, where upon contact it changed to an image of Lisanna and Elfman. "…what fortune does thy hold?" she chimed to herself. She inhaled rather slowly, before again exhaling smoke. Once again, it drifted into the orb, changing to Gray's group finally reaching an exit. There, they saw the others with Wendy's group and gathered themselves once more. "Fortune of prevailing? Fortune of mishaps? Who's to say fortune itself is what they seek?" As she mused herself with questions, a smirk came across her face. "Of course…who's to say one can rely on such predictions? The future certainly is a fickle concept…"

"Hello…?"

Hearing a sound, Hoshina stopped musing and glanced over her shoulder. "Hm?"

As she stared into the shadows of the candlelight, she noticed something slowly coming to view that piqued her considerably. As she frowned, she noticed the little creature with big eyes, looking dazed.

To add to the frown on her face, what piqued her…was how he wore a pink frog suit.


"Hoshina?! Hoshina!" Neinhart outraged as he stood up on his throne. He was calling her name for minutes on end by now, and he wasn't liking the waiting. "What is the meaning of this, Hoshina?!" he roared. "You gave me a fortune, and I expected to see results! Nic and Lady Erza should've fallen to despair, and then I would avenge Lady Irene! You said that a man with black hair and blue eyes would perish within the hour, right? Hoshina…"

Neinhart's patience was at an end. Yelling into the Communication Lacrima was no use. The fortuneteller wasn't giving him what he wanted. He looked back at the monitors, seeing as how the last of his forces were all being mowed down as Natsu seared in flames and passed them in a jetting fire comet. On another screen, more of his forces were all being handled as Nic was seen using Extreme Speed, becoming a blitz that zoomed pass the 300 men in the hall in a split second, sending them all spiraling out of control. And Erza was flawlessly slashing through endless numbers without even taking one scratch.

His patience as thin as could be, he looked annoyed and glanced away. "Tch, imbeciles. I should've known all those guys were just wastes of talent. What was even the point if they were just going to give the world the proper show?" He stopped scoffing and smirked. "Although…on a positive note. This has been rather entertaining to watch."

On screen, he saw Erza swing her Aegislash attached to her arm. With one fell swing, Nic's wife roared as Aegislash's Sacred Sword lengthened and swung clean through the men heading her way. The shockwaves cut through armor and mowed down men like somebody's lawn. The vigor passion for battle and dominance was a look even Neinhart couldn't forget. To this day, it still sent a shiver down his spine.

"She certainly takes after you, doesn't she Lady Irene…"

A shudder shook the throne room, followed by a strong and agonizing shout. "NEINHART!"

The harsh tone made the Spriggan quizzically turn around to give an annoyed look. There, looking battered but annoyed, Ajeel was laboring breaths as he gave his emperor a knowing look. He looked pissed, while Yajeel stood behind his grandson with a passive expression.

"Ah, Ajeel…" he meekly said. "Well isn't this a surprise. I still can't believe that you're actually still alive after that horrible fault you've endured." He shot a leer. "You still cared enough to show your face after all that?" he meekly chuckled. "Why, what tenacity you must have."

Ignoring the sarcasm in his words, Ajeel stepped forwards and shot glares at him. "You and I need to have a talk. Now."

Neinhart raised a brow, smirking in curiosity. "Oh~?"


Two Pokémon lead the charge ahead; these two were Machop and Rufflet as they stormed ahead to fight. Not far behind them, Elfman and Lisanna followed behind with the same motifs in mind.

"I think all that quaking back there finally stopped!" Lisanna exclaimed.

"That's good." Elfman agreed as he ran on. "Guess that means the fight's over. You think Nic and Erza are alright back there?"

Lisanna showed nervousness as she glanced away. "I think the better question is if the enemy's gonna be alright. You know how destructive those two can get…especially Erza."

"Yeah, hehe. Guess I'm glad we took off after all."

Up ahead, Rufflet was flying above Machop's eye level. Due to his better vision, and his Keen Eye Ability, the eaglet noticed something ahead and immediately warned. "Guys, I think I see something!"

"You do?!" Machop hoped eagerly. "Better be an enemy because I'm ready to knock some faces in this time around!"

"Hell yeah! That makes two of us!" Elfman roared.

Lisanna squinted her eyes. "Wait a sec…" Up ahead, she was seeing familiar figures in the far distance. "I think I see it, too. Is that…?"


The little Exceed that had wandered to confines unknown left him in the face of the mysterious fortuneteller, the all-knowing eye one might say. But even the eye can be a sight for sore eyes in the face of an innocent enemy carry-on.

"And who might you be, little one?" Of course Hoshina knew who he was. She just chose to play along for the sake of conversation.

Frosch looked a little sad as he stared. "…I'm lost…" he muttered. "I don't know where I am…have you seen Rogue?"

"I'm sorry, little one. I'm afraid it's none but you and I."

Frosch's tail dropped and he sulked. "Oh…okay…" He looked sadder by the second. "Poor Rogue."

Hoshina continued gazing curiously at the green Exceed in a frog suit. Something inside her head foretold opportunity, but she knew better than to expect such a thing. After all, not every fortune is accurate. That's what makes it fun for her. It keeps even the likes of her on her toes.

"I see…" She faced forward, smoking into her pipe yet again. She took a cleansing breath as the smoke fizzled out of the side. "Tell me, little one, do you feel fortunate or misfortunate?"

Frosch raised his hand up. "Fro thinks so, too!"

She ignored the commentary. "Perhaps your friend is close by. Then again, he may not…tell me, would you be curious as to know your own fortune?"

Frosch tilted his head. "My fortune?" He saw Hoshina wave him towards the chair on the other side of the crystal ball. Her hands waved him over, piquing his curiosity. Looking around one more time to see he was all alone, he walked over, slowly hopping onto the seat.

"Now…" She hovered over her crystal ball, in which the ball began to shine. Frosch immediately felt himself entranced by the magical item and looked inside, awing in delight. To him, it was pink mist, but to Hoshina, she smirked as she moved her hands to clear way the smoke inside. The crystal ball shined s long as she hovered over. "You said that your name was Rogue, yes?"

"Uh-huh. He's my best friend." Frosch answered.

"I see. Well then…" She moved her hands hypnotically over the ball, making the mist clear away. "Shall we see what's in store for your friend then?" She concentrated her magic continually as the atmosphere round them continued darkening. The dim-lit purple candles grew ever so weaker s the light of the crystal ball raptured Frosch.

Soon enough, inside, they two could see two silhouettes doing battle. It was hard to make out, but it looked like one was easily beating the other. To make things interesting, they had different shapes, and one didn't even look human.

"How interesting." Hoshina chimed. "I see a battle, one between two that you wished would never cross paths. This battle…it is what you will have to decide on. Who shall you choose?"

"Who I…choose?" Frosch was confused beyond comprehension. Then again, he could comprehend so much. He dumbly blinked. "But, who will it be?"

Hoshina shrugged as she slowly reached for her sides. There. She pulled out a Poke Ball, and what looked like a Dusk Ball. "Who's to say? The question I ask you is…do you wish for it to happen, or will you stop it?"

Before Frosch could give a proper answer, the capsules popped open, instantly making him cover up. When he looked back, he found himself face to face with two Pokémon. One looked like Mest's Ralts, but a lot taller and had two horns on the head with thin legs. Beside her floating in the air, another bizarre creature was like a pink-headed elephant with a purple body curled up.

The two and their presence was enough to leave Frosch unnerved. He shivered in his seat as a bad feeling went up his spine. "Uh…what's going on?"

Hoshina didn't answer. With a neutral smirk on her face, the Kirlia reached out, activating her Confusion to hold Frosch in place. Meanwhile, Musharna's forehead expelled a streaky beam of psychic energy, via Psybeam. All Frosch could do was quiver and close his eyes to wait for the attack to hit.

But it didn't. Instead, streaky black waves followed by an adjacent blast of flaming blue energy streamed and intercepted the Psybeam. The two attack created a small explosion, and Frosch was mere seconds away before he found himself teleported to a safe distance.

When he uncovered, he found that he was unscathed. "Huh…?"

Ignoring that her chair was shoved off to the side. Hoshina playfully grinned.

"Frosch!" Hearing his name, the Exceed looked forward, finding a Duskull and Bagon intercepted Musharna and Kirlia. Both glared while behind, Minerva and Rogue kneeling beside the feline. Immediately, Frosch looked happy.

"Minerva! Rogue!" he chimed. "I found you!"

Rogue smiled thankfully. "Yes, Frosch, you did." He looked at his body, seeing he was in one piece. "Are you okay, Frosch?"

He nodded eagerly. "Fro thinks so, too!"

Rogue sighed soothingly. "Good. I'm glad." His attention thus changed with Minerva's as they faced the fortuneteller. Together, they opposed with their Pokémon while the Spriggan sat casually with one leg over her other one. She looked more amused compared to them. "Looks like trouble, Milady." He added.

"So it would seem." She answered. "Entertain us, are you yet these Spriggan that's been giving our friends a hard time?"

Hoshina took in a deep breath, exhaling out of the side of her mouth as smoke drifted into the air, her disposition unwavering. "Allow me to give you a proper introduction." She chimed. "I am the Spriggan, Hoshina, she who sees into the future…or rather, the possible future."

"'Possible future' you say?" Rogue repeated. "What does that mean?"

The mysterious Spriggan blew out of her pipe again, making a long, deep breath of fresh smoke arise over her. Once collected, all settled down.

"…have you ever wanted to believe that your destiny could be your own? Who's to say that it wasn't just picked for you by the hands of fate?" She slowly took the pipe out of her mouth, looking up at the dark ceiling. "Destiny and fate are…perspectives. You see a future what you desire, but do you wish to surpass limitations to achieve? If not, then what is your fate then? What course are you to take? Whoever is lost, I merely guide them towards a possible path. That's the basics of my fortunes." She looked half-heartedly at them underneath her hood. "And yet, what I see is what others cannot."

"What does that mean exactly?" Minerva inquired suspiciously.

Hoshina continued smirking. "To many, fortunetelling is just a game, such as life…you're always dealt with the hand you are given. But how do you know that hand is by yourself, or another force?" In her mind, she thought back to the past, where she was just a cloaked figure who walked away from a prestige town as flames and dying people were at her back. "Those who don't take my fortunes too seriously, they don't take the game seriously. They don't think of the possibilities that I offer. And there are those who take them too seriously, which leads to self-destruction. Yet this game of life we play, why, any possibility is still a possibility, am I right? The thunder above…" Just as she said that, they all could hear the echoing of thunder from outside the palace. It was intense; enough to leave Frosch a little scared. "You can never always guess the weather, such as the future…life truly is a mysterious figment."

Minerva and Rogue weren't following. As much as they wanted to know more about her, they had other places to be. If she wasn't going to fight, they didn't have anything to worry about. Rogue turned away. "Sorry, you're mistaken. We didn't come here to hear our possible futures. Come on, Fro."

He started walking away, but Hoshina said something. Something that gravely changed everything. "The possibilities of a future, such as another you…or rather, that future you."

Rogue's eyes widened and immediately stopped. He slowly looked back in shock at the fortuneteller, a flabbergasted look showing. "But…how did you…?"

"As I said, I can see the possible future, and make it for your eyes to see."

Minerva and Rogue glared daggers. It was clear by now she has their attention. A fortuneteller that can see the future and possible future, that keeps things interesting. Hoshina smirked as she led on.

"July 7th, X791. I foretold years ago the dragon attack that would destroy the world. The future in which Acnologia ruled all of mankind. I believe that's the timeline that the one you call 'Future Rogue' came from, correct?"

Rogue remembered that night all too well. He could still remember how hard it was to take down those dragons and still fail. The image of his future-self was equally as degrading that it made his fists clutch. "That may be…but I swore I'd never become that man. He was pure evil, and I'd sooner be dead if I had to turn out like that."

Hoshina chuckled playfully. "Of course, I completely understand. However, I never said you were going to be him."

"What?"

"It's just a possible future that could be real…that is, if I saw it."

"What do you…?!" Suddenly around Rogue, he could feel the air around him thicken. It was darkening some, and it wasn't his doing. A strange, odd sensation crawled up his spine as he felt a very dark power. The air got too quiet for his liking, making his eyes slowly widen future.

"Hello, Rogue."

The ghastly voice sent a shiver down his spine. As Rogue slowly turned around and gazed into the shadows, he saw someone standing there. He was smirking, and an all too familiar magical pressure was resonating that left Rogue's heartrate to skyrocket.

His pupils shrunk as he saw that same smile. "…no…it can't be…"

Before him, Future Rogue smirked darkly.

"Impossible…" Clearly Rogue wasn't the only one baffled by this phenomenon. Minerva looked just as shocked as she faced Hoshina. "How did you…?"

"Making possible futures seen into reality. Choose to believe me or not, it's just what I see." Hoshina gingerly reached and picked up her crystal ball from its pedestal. She held it in her hand as the mist inside continued swirling. It glowed an ominous dark pink as a small rush of magic filled the orb like a luminescent light.

Minerva got on guard with her Bagon. The two glared daggers at their foe while she seemed neutral.

"Enlighten me, Minerva Orland…have you ever thought of what your future would be if not for Nic?"


Nic pulled out a Poke Ball and threw it. "Alright Greninja…let's go!"

The Poke Ball was hurled into the air, where the capsule popped open and sent the energy down on the ground in front of Nic. There, Greninja had legs spread out like Nic, and the two faced the stretch of guards and Pokémon opposing them. Together, they sent a chill that caused them all to back off.

Through the unnerved crowd, a buff soldier with a Ninetales by his side held up his sword. "Don't waver! We have the numbers!" he swung forward. "Now, attack!"

At his command, the Ninetales opened her mouth, charging up enough force for a spinning mesh of fire. But it was already too late.

One fell swing of Erza's Aegislash with Night Slash created a purple slash wave, mowing down Ninetales and the guard in one hit. And not just them, the guards behind were blindsided when a small wind bypassed them.

"What the…?"

Looking behind, they saw that Nic was in his Mind Form, yet with his Meadow Form's Leaf Blade activated, and Greninja held the same pose beside with a purple needle via his own Night Slash. The moment both sheathed their two attacks, eruptions of screen and purple expelled, slicing up the men and their Pokémon that opposed them.

"This way!" Erza charged without a second thought, the four continued their rush without looking back.


"What is that supposed to mean exactly?" Minerva glared. She was still wrapping her head around what the fortuneteller spoke just a few instances ago.

Hoshina smirked. "Have you ever thought of what Sabertooth would've been if it wasn't for that night? What you would've been if not for him?" she held her crystal ball in hand as the mist inside swirled, showing Minerva's silhouette. "What I see is a strong and independent mage. One who looks down on others to keep her superiority complex at bay. Why, some could even argue as the strongest woman in all of Sabertooth."

Minerva put her hands forward, generating enough power to make one big orb. "I RAGD!" She summoned continual blast waves of neon energy that swallowed up the spot where Hoshina was. The intensity made the ground shudder as the shockwaves dissipated. Minerva was certain that would keep her quiet.

"Nice try."

Minerva gasped in realization. When she looked to her side, she saw two figments teleport out of thin air. She saw Hoshina with Kirlia, the latter whom was the escape plan from that attack. Even now, Hoshina remained relaxed in her seat.

Bagon looked up in the air, catching wind of something. "Lady Minerva!"

Minerva looked skywards, seeing Musharna above her. The Psychic-type again fired a peculiar Psybeam attack that rippled through the air. In a hurry, Minerva countered. "Use Dragon Breath!" Her Bagon had loops around his body, surging to the head before a blue flame-like draconic beam shot skywards into the attack. In midair, the two attacks created an intense explosion, which dissipated between them, leaving either side unfazed.

"Now then, what possible future is there?" Hoshina held her crystal ball in hand, seeing the swirling mist clear up a space. In the center, a projection of the open hole that Nic had made, and above, lightning was flashing. "I see…lightning."

Minerva couldn't let the upper hand slip. Using her Territory, she suddenly appeared above Hoshina with a leg high embedded in her magic.

As if by some kinetic force, over the place, what Hoshina saw came to pass. In an instant, thunder clashed bolts that shot down through the deep holes that Nic and Charizard made. It made impact with the ground, making it shudder and rip apart.

Above Minerva, the rocks and debris started to fall. In midair, she abruptly teleported away a safe distance back to Bagon's side. Both watched as the rocks piled up in front of Hoshina, forming a wall that stabilized as Kirlia was using Confusion.

Through it all, Hoshina was taking another smoke off to the side. She exhaled, making smoke whiff out. "You can never predict the weather." She sang musingly.

In the dust, Minerva swiped her arms to the sides, clearing space for her magic to rush dust away. 'I think I understand her now. Her magic is making anything she predicts comes to fruition. That must mean…' In the corner of her eye, she glanced at Rogue squaring off against Future Rogue. 'That Rogue isn't real.' She slowly turned towards the rock wall where Hoshina was. 'But what she predicts can't always come true, otherwise the specifics will happen to another. There has to be a limit. Let's see…' She charged up more spatial energy into her hands, generating enough force that she pulsated into a beam.

The blast wave of her magic soared across the ground, making the corridor roar like thunder. It ripped through the wall of rock and disintegrated it in a matter of seconds. As Hoshina was met with the blast wave, she charmingly grinned.

"I see…a different future." Holding up her crystal ball, the item glowed brightly. All of the roaring blast waves that were heading right for her suddenly converged and began to distort into the crystal ball. Like a black hole, the attack was sucked up entirely, leaving Hoshina unscathed.

Minerva looked shocked. "Impossible. How did she…"

Hoshina held the crystal ball closer. Inside showed another image inside the clearing mist. In it, she saw an image of Nic and Erza darting down the hallway. "Now then…"

Nic and Greninja continued leading the group down the hall. They were closing in on the hallway that would take them to an open window that they could jump out of.

"That takes care of the enemy forces on this level." Greninja said.

"Yeah, that just leaves us to find a way out." Nic said. "And it's up a…" his eyes abruptly widened. "STOP!"

Suddenly out of the blue, a massive explosion swallowed up the space in front of them. Fires and spatial energy engulfed everything that would've otherwise blew them away. However, as it all dissipated, they revealed Aegislash was in front, her King's Shield being used to block the blast wave for everyone.

Once the waves dissipated, Erza nodded. "Thank you, Aegislash."

When they looked forward, they saw that the sudden eruption had caused a massive wake that breached into the floor below them. For several meters, the piece of flooring was gone, leaving and open hole. They looked ahead, surprised.

"That was a close one." Aegislash said. "If not for Nic's warning, we'd been blown away."

Erza looked down, seeing more rock shards dissipate. "Was that another enemy trap you think?"

"Maybe…" Nic glowed, transforming into his Sky Form, not wasting a beat as his wigs picked up. "But we gotta get out of here."

Erza nodded, using her own Requip to change to her Armadura Pidgeot Armor. "You're right. We'll have to move faster. Aegislash!"

"Greninja!"

The Two Pokémon heard their calls, and Aegislash floated across the sea of thin air while Nic and Erza sailed together. Greninja used his speed and ran along the side of the wall with swiftness until they all made it to the other side and kept going.

Minerva saw the projection in the crystal orb. Immediately she felt shock overwhelm her from the circumstances. "What have you done?" she demanded coldly.

Hoshina lowered her crystal ball to her lap. "I have done nothing. I just saw a different future is all." A wily grin crept across her face. "The future is always unpredictable, isn't it?" She fully understood the irony of what she said, but she didn't mind. It was fun to see Minerva get frustrated. She chose to add more. "Now then, Kirlia, Musharna, would you two care to thrill her?" Both Pokémon swept in front of her readying s Minerva's Bagon got in front of Minerva. "Good. Then Kirlia, Magical Leaf. And to you, Musharna, Lucky Chant."

Musharna hummed as a bizarre hum resonated from her. A pink hemisphere with twinkling stars spread out across the area around her while Kirlia twirled, sending glowing green leaves at Bagon.

Immediately Minerva swiped her arm forward. "Bagon, use Ember!" Bagon listened and opened his mouth, sending sparks and embers in a big blanket at the Grass-type attack. As one could imagine, the two attacks fused into a small eruption, which went off like fireworks.

As the attack dissipated, Hoshina's hood made it hard to see her musing, while Minerva was stone set on winning.

Rogue was facing off against what was supposed to be the fake him, or at least that's what he had hoped. What he was faced with he had no idea. For all he knew it had to be a game. This was not a very fun game.

Future Rogue stared at him, bemused by his counterpart's shock. "What's matter? You look like you've seen a ghost." He teased. "It's just me…or rather in this case, you."

Rogue's fears started to arise as he stepped. "No. You're not me…I swore that I'd never be like you."

"Am I? Or am I something that you're supposed to be?" Future Rogue disappeared into the shadows below. With how dark it was, there was no telling where he was. Rogue could barely make out where he was going to be. "Fate is something you can easily tamper with you know." He was revealed as an elongated shadow beneath Rogue. He looked down in surprise, seeing his shadow having a dark gleam towards it as it snickered.

Rogue could feel his own insecurities flourish. "You're speaking nonsense. Why would I believe that you're real to begin with?" Suddenly, without warning, the shadows erupted into a swirling mesh of light and dark at the same time, sending Rogue into the air with a shocked scream of pain.

"Rogue, no!" Frosch panicked.

Rogue crashed on his back, grunting at the shock he took in. His shadow slowly eroded out of the ground as he laid there. "Is that real enough for you?" Future Rogue manifested in front.

Rogue gritted his teeth as he slowly stirred back to his feet. 'His attack…it was from the shadows. Just like my own…' He slowly staggered straight up. 'There's no mistaking it. It's that same one she spoke of.'

"This world and fate can easily be messed with. It just takes the right kind of people to know how to survive after the dragons come and go." Future Rogue said. "You can't deny the darkness forever Rogue. It'll always follow you, as long as it lasts of course. You'll soon realize it soon enough."

Rogue stood his ground, making no attempts at moving. Instead, tendrils of shadows whipped up beneath Future Rogue, stemming from Rogue's own shadow to hold him down. "What the-?!"

"I don't know what kind of timeline you've come from, but that future doesn't exist here." Rogue sternly said. "People still survived. The dragons are long gone…that includes Acnologia." His eyes narrowed. "So I don't need your influence the same as I did before."

Future Rogue looked a little surprised. "Acnologia…was…" Quietly, he began to snicker. "So then, you've already slayed him. This is a surprise. He still lives from where I'm from."

"Save it…I don't listen to arrogant wannabes!" Motioning with his arm, Rogue made the tendril shadows slam Future Rogue into the ground, making him grunt t the show of force. "I've made it clear, that future never happened."

Despite being submissive, Future Rogue glared daggers with his one eye. "That may be…but you still want power, right? Power to keep Frosch from slipping away from your grasps?"

A powerful chord strung in Rogue's heart. It ate at him, and he wasn't taking it. "Shut up!" He lashed both arms, expelling a whirlwind of shadows that spread everywhere. However, time slowed down as he realized Future Rogue was already behind him.

In the closest of time, the Dragon Slayer of another timeline smirked behind Rogue's back. "Who knows? Maybe you will end up like me one day?"

Rogue looked back, only to get another whirlwind of light and darkness to push him along the ground. As he slid, his feet remained stationary as he soon managed to find proper footing on the opposite side.

"All you need is a helping hand. I can guide you to that power…the power to make sure no one hurts Frosch before it's too late." Future Rogue offered. "Frosch is precious to me, so wouldn't it make sense to make sure to be the strongest for him to look up to?"

Frosch was along the sidelines, having eyes shaking considerably. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew Rogue had to get help somehow. "Rogue…"

Rogue balled his fists tighter than before. He steeled himself for the next round. 'I can't let my emotions get the best of me. This guy is speaking nonsense I'm sure. Maybe he is from the future, but that's from a different future, the one we were glad Nic saved us from.' In his mind, he recalled the battles of that night, recalling how Nic and the Pokémon of his kind and Legendaries slaughtered the dragons, and Future Rogue. 'We're past that. This is our reality. And I'll have to make that point to him.'

Future Rogue abruptly vanished, leaving thin air to guess on.

'I know where he's coming…' Rogue turned around, seeing a lash of shadows coming at him. 'There!'

Split second and Rogue became a whirlwind of shadows, tying in with the manifested Future Rogue and creating a powerful pulse of shadows.

"Shadow Dragon's Waxwing Flash!"

The cyclone of blade-like shadows swallowed Future Rogue, making him grunt in midair from the shock the attack possessed. Rogue turned into shadows again, slithering into the ground and slunk around.

Above, Future Rogue glared down and readied his assault. "You think that much power will prove me wrong?" He jutted his palm forward, unleashing a torrent of shadows that launched across the ground. Moments before the shadowy wave swamped the earth. Future Rogue got what he wanted and flushed Rogue out of the ground, where he was in midair. Instantly he molded into a shadow and shot like a bullet at him. 'I got him!'

But for Rogue, this was opportunity. "Now Duskull, Astonish!" Suddenly Duskull faded in between them.

"Who's that?!" Future Rogue gasped.

"You~r worst nightmare~." Duskull's red eye glowed and shot a dark illusion of his face at Future Rogue. While the attack wasn't too strong, it was still enough to strike his face, causing him to flinch and stop.

Grunting, Future Rogue didn't realize Rogue was in his face, smirking. The cocky smirk baffled him before Rogue's fist hit his gut, sending him to the ground. Rogue and Duskull stood beside each other, showing no backing down.

"Surprised?" Rogue teased.

"Not bad." Future Rogue said. "But not enough." He faded into shadows again, vanishing into the darkness to get another attack in.

Rogue glanced around, trying to scope him out. 'He can't hide forever. Time to show him what Pokémon have done for us.' "Duskull, use Foresight!"

Duskull's eye glowed bright blue before he let out a ghastly moan. It faded into the shadows, making a light blue forcefield expand outwards/ As if by magic, the Foresight cleared away the shadows, leaving a clean atmosphere and Future Rogue fading onto the surface. He looked down, then back t Rogue, who smirked.

"Now you can't turn into a shadow to get around." He noted.

Future Rogue narrowed his eyes. "Maybe…but I still have power! White Shadow Dragon's Roar!" From his mouth, he fired a beam of roaring shadows and light fused into one, racing after Rogue.

"Shadow Dragon's Roar!" Rogue countered using his own menacing roar, ripping across the land towards the roar.

The two attacks met in the center, where instantaneously, a menacing, shrilling eruption of light and shadow swallowed everything. It hollered like a ghost as Frosch was covering up in the distance, keeping himself from being blown away like the decorations and candles. The intensity spread even towards Duskull, who was forced to even take caution and slide behind Rogue as the maelstrom was making him slide back. The intensity left him open, as through it, Future Rogue's own gut punch made impact, making him fly pass Duskull and hurdle onto the ground.

Future Rogue eagerly smirked. "Is that all this version of me has?"

Rogue strained to get up, but he wasn't finished yet. "No…" he started. "I'm just getting started."

"Rogue…" Frosch had scared eyes as he watched the battle unfold.

Meanwhile, not far, Minerva used her magic and roared out once more. Explosions erupted around Hoshina, and she made sure they weren't going anywhere. However, as expected, Hoshina abruptly teleported behind using Kirlia's help. Minerva glanced behind, before she created another explosion to swallow up the space where Hoshina was at. As that eruption roared, Minerva's eyes narrowed as she glared off to the side, seeing Hoshina again was sitting idly in her seat.

"I predicted your moves." She bluntly said. "I'd prefer to not repeat myself, but any possible future, I can see ahead of."

Minerva glared daggers. 'She predicted them!'

Hoshina reached out her crystal ball, making it shine a little brighter compared to normal.

"Warp Rush!"

Around Minerva, invisible shockwave abruptly kicked her up. They blew her around in an intense pulse wave that caused her to flip and grunt in midair. When she caught herself, she landed on her feet, keeping herself upright.

"I moved the shockwaves from your explosions into the future and around you." Hoshina noted, holding her pipe into her mouth. "I'm not much of a hands-on fighter, but between time and space, I wonder which two forces is more potent. To see, or to bend? Or rather both?"

Minerva ignored her and swiped her arm. "Bagon, Bite!"

Bagon shifted in front of Minerva and opened his maw. He began a substantial charged at Kirlia, but Kirlia twirled around and dodged Bagon's fangs. He came around, only for history to repeat.

"Kirlia, Confusion." Hoshina ordered. Kirlia's eyes glowed bright blue and she used another kinetic force wave that forced Bagon back. The Dragon-type crashed into the ground, creating dust at Minerva's feet.

"Hang in there." Minerva insisted. Beneath her, Bagon staggered back up.

Hoshina took the pipe out of her mouth and blew smoke away. "You know, in this case, your other you wouldn't be above using a hostage situation to get by. Wouldn't that be the most practical?" she mused.

Minerva relaxed her stature. "Are you implying to that other me you saw? Don't be a fool. Like I would stoop that low."

"This you, why most certainly. However…possibilities can always happen." Using her fingers, she touched the crystal ball in hand, making it shine brightly. Minerva immediately found herself entranced as the crystal ball's mist began to fade, revealing an image of herself that night when her father let her out in the woods. She was panting, cold, and surrounded by man-eating animals. "This was you, the night that Nic and his Kecleon saved you, correct?" The next image revealed that very same instance, when Nic and Kecleon poisoned and slashed into the monsters that were about to attack. "You've certainly found someone to admire and look up to, I can say that. But what if he wasn't around? Perhaps if Bellona didn't force your hand; what kind of future would that be?"

Minerva's glare sharpened. "You wouldn't dare."

Hoshina was tempted. She chuckled as she cupped her hands over the crystal ball, making another mist cover up the scene displayed inside. Instead, it showed Minerva days later that night, standing tired over dead animal bodies all on her own. Years later, the images shown had her same attires as in the Grand Magic Games, but she held Happy hostage, and she had this wicked and cocky smirk on her face that spelled trouble. "The Minerva I see, is powerful. Feared even. She would do anything to ensure that her power goes without say." The next image revealed what would've been the Naval Battle if it wasn't Nic present. It'd be Lucy, and Minerva saw herself brutalizing the Celestial Mage in a bloody mess. She saw another image, showing herself under the same instance when Bellona took over her. "She was fearless, and didn't rely on others." The images changed, revealing her stabbing Kagura in the back, to her crying in shame as Sting forfeited the games. The images changed to show her as a Dark Guild Mage, and finally, to an unruly sight – Tartaros. "If not for Bellona or Nic, you'd be here, claiming power against those you hated: The weak."

Minerva strained to keep her composure. Would she really have been like that if it weren't for Nic? Would she really end up like Bellona in this particular instance? She remembered what Bellona was like when they picked her up and how she was during the Council War, and suffice to say she thought little to appreciate such a fate.

But that wasn't the only thing that startled her as the mist returned in the crystal ball. "And the strong, why do they crave power? Because they cannot find pleasure in other things perhaps?"

The images showed, and Minerva's composure mentally broke. In the crystal ball, what she saw made her mouth triangular, with her eyes becoming huge white circles of the dumbfounded.

Hoshina smirked. Hovering beneath her, the crystal ball showed Minerva, but her hair was long and straight without the formal curves. She wore a beautiful flowing wedding dress with glossy pink lipstick as she stood beside a silhouette of a potential groom. "In that future, would you be able to find love? Have you ever imagined yourself with somebody?" Hoshina chimed, breaking into a small chuckle. "Well, I mean I can't blame you. A fine woman such as yourself deserves to find a little levity when it comes to power." She swiped the image away, dissipating it to a regular state of the crystal ball. "But how can you make that a possibility?"

Shaking herself of the shock she was feeling, Minerva had it. She swirled her fingers and arms, making a powerful rise in magical energy flourish as space began to distort around Hoshina as she idly smoked.

The land beneath began to crack, and soon enough, flashes of bright magical power flickered before Minerva let it all loose.

"Yagdo Rigora!"

The figment of a warrior god-like statue arose, showing itself before the explosion took compressed a split second before roaring throughout the atmosphere. Anyone close would've been brought to sunder as hell broke loose. The pillar of intense energy exploded into oblivion, ripping into the skies and making the thunder and clouds immediately dissipate. The sky opened up for all to look at, surprising many below.

"Woah, damn." Sawyer whistled.

"Somebody must be letting loose in there." Sorano chimed.

Yukino looked up at the roaring skies, seeing the light dissipate into flickers while the others were speechless. Somehow, she knew what that attack was. 'Milady.'

Many floors down, in the depths of many roles of holes adjacent to the ones Nic and Orion created in the palace, Minerva was in the base of it, and dust rung throughout her space. She straightened back up and frowned at the smoke and debris that should've been where Hoshina was.

She turned her back, walking away…

A small chuckle came from within. "Amusing."

The voice rattled Minerva's cage as she looked back shocked. Eyes went wide as the smoke cleared, revealing Hoshina once again unscathed. To make matters worse, as the smoke dissipated, they revealed something else.

"You've put up a good front there, I admit." Hoshina chimed. "But now I'm wondrous of something. Exactly…who amongst you two is the possible Minerva?" Beside her, she gestured to the reason how she survived the attack. Beside her, it looked like Minerva, but something was different. She had pink bandages and straps over the body, and an eyepatch was beneath an eye. She even had a cape and gloves with sharp claws.

Minerva's eyes glared daggers at her alternate future-self. "Another one."

Neo Minerva smirked evilly at herself. "Well, well, what do we have here? An imitation of me? How degrading."

The two quickly clashed, with Neo Minerva slashing with Minerva using fists infused with space to collide. Meanwhile Bagon rushed at Kirlia and Musharna on his own.

As she watched the power struggle, Hoshina smirked maliciously as she blew into her pipe again.


The room was quiet with a fierce tension. Yajeel watched from afar as Wingull was perched on his staff. The two watched as Ajeel seethed daggers of frustration at Neinhart, the one who was in charge of this whole mess.

"So, you wanted to 'talk', you say?" Neinhart repeated. Rather than show sympathy, the emperor shrugged and looked away. "I don't even see why I should bother. I already have enough on my plate. Now, if you don't mind, I am very busy at the moment. I'm trying to contact Hoshina, but she's hopeless at this point."

Ajeel looked like it didn't matter. "I said now." He reiterated coldly.

Neinhart sighed. "Your emperor said he was busy, now beat it." He glared over his shoulder. "And next time, present yourself formally. You'll stain my carpets with your sand that way."

Ajeel shot bloodthirsty glares at Neinhart. The way he looked was telling Neinhart he wasn't moving. In fact, they looked like they wanted something desperately. Unable to see this, Neinhart just saw that he wasn't going anywhere and frowned.

"Like I give a crap." Ajeel snarled. "Tell me, why are we fighting?"

The question made Neinhart raise a brow. "Why we're fighting?" He couldn't help but uproariously laugh. "Well isn't this a surprise, especially from you!" he laughed. "You of all people question war, when you love it? Don't make me laugh!" But he was laughing anyway, hard in fact. Once he eased up did he wipe a tear from his eye. "What made you ask such a ridiculous question?"

Ajeel thought back to it. He didn't know why, but every time he tried not to think about it, it ached.

"So tell me, grandson…have you thought of who the enemy is?"

"I do…but the kinds I love aren't the ones I expect you to understand. At least not yet."

Ajeel remembered why he was here now. He never questioned it before, but now that he's taken some time to consider some things, he's to make himself a little more questionable. "…that's none of your business." He answered.

Neinhart smirked nonchalantly. "Really? That's funny considering the position you're in. You look like those weak creatures we used for target practice. Now that's almost laughable!" he chuckled loudly, again annoying Ajeel. He actually expected Ajeel to laugh it off as well, but the fact that he wasn't meant another story.

"I asked. Why. Are. We. Fighting?" he seethed through his teeth. "Better tell me now, or so help me…"

Neinhart finished his cackling, bemused to where he swiveled around and smirked callously. "Or what, dare I may ask?" he challenged. "You really wanna know why we're doing this? You that desperate as to question something so ridiculous?!" he sneered angrily. "I'll tell you! One word…Entertainment."

Ajeel's glare slowly widened. "Enter…tainment?"

Neinhart put a hand over his face s he chuckled. "Man, you've really gotten blown around, haven't you? To think you'd even question something even you need." He paced himself down the steps of his throne, until finally he was amongst Ajeel's height. "Everybody needs entertainment, don't they? It's what gives us joy in our lives! After all the shit that was thrown at us by those bastards that dared sully Lady Irene's will, don't you think self-satisfaction is very much deserving?!" he pointed a finger at Ajeel as he mockingly laughed. "Why, what are you fighting for? Hm?"

Ajeel went to speak up, but another tone rang inside his head. "I do…but the kinds I love aren't the ones I expect you to understand. At least not yet." That same voice of Nic, someone who was like a god who almost never loses, and yet something about the words he said of why he fights. Why did he fight? He didn't get it yet, but all the thinking was filling his head with a throbbing headache.

"Hahaha! That look you have is ridiculous!" Neinhart mused. "That's precisely why I'm doing this! To make them feel the pain we felt! The pin they gave to Lady Irene…the pain that I felt!"

Ajeel remained silent as he seethed daggers at Neinhart. Normally he'd question, but after considering Yajeel's words from earlier, he chose to listen to the tyrant's irate.

"You think that I should get a little amusement?" he scoffed angrily. "I slaved my back when I was just a small child, with nothing to have to go by. No lacrima-vision. No toys. No birthdays. And then slave traders just had to come and take my parents. And what do you think I was left with?!" he was exasperating at this point, quite possibly from the bitter memories of how hollow he was. "I deserve this! I deserve compensation for all the hell that I went through; to see everyone else suffer for my sake! The empire took me and gave me opportunity to see the ones that defied me my right to justice! This is justice! This is for Lady Irene and her will that she entrusted to me…to make them pay…to make them suffer. That is entertainment…and guess who has the front row seat to it all?"

Ajeel gave Neinhart a heavily suspicious look, almost borderline stupefied. He knew Neinhart was delusional before, but he didn't mind. Now that his bell was rung a few good times, even the battle-loving psycho was at a loss for words.

Yajeel stared somberly, disapproving quietly.

"So now you know why I'm doing this, because I want some fun." Neinhart swiveled around, facing the windows. "Now, go get some ice for that head or something, your presence is cramping my style." He waved him off dismissively.

Ajeel, however, stepped forward. "At least I have the balls to actually do what I want than what others tell me!"

"Ajeel…" Yajeel quietly spoke his grandson's name.

A nasty chord struck, Neinhart darkly looked over his shoulder, wickedly smirking with a hint of anger. "What was that again? I don't think I heard you."

Ajeel raised a brow. "Gee, I'm sorry, perhaps I need to make myself clear for ya considering you're too high up there." He took another step forward. "I'm saying you're a coward. I dry up asses because I wanna, not because somebody asked me. But you, you're just following dead people around like a fly. You rely on the dead too much you really can't fight for yourself, can ya?"

Neinhart didn't say anything. He and Ajeel had a short standoff as they glared adhesive daggers at one another. They looked fed up, and at any given moment, someone was about to crack. That one was Ajeel.

Sand rushed with one swipe of his arm, while Neinhart reached forward and expelled a blast of wind, which ran clean through the sand. As sand was scathed in the air, Ajeel used his powers and molded each individual grain and sharpened them, making them sand shards that shot sideways at the emperor. Neinhart casually swiped his arm, creating a wind torrent that surrounded him and made the sand spears dissipate. The whirlwinds expanded further, reaching farther out until they swallowed up Ajeel, making him grunt at the turbulence.

"Ajeel!" The old man behind reached out, but the whirlwind created was thwarting him. Even his Wingull couldn't leave the staff in risk of being blown around.

Ajeel gritted his teeth as Neinhart mockingly laughed at his expense. "You see?! This is what Lady Irene left me! Unmatched power! Someone like you so undeserving and knows only fighting can't comprehend how to use this power!"

Ajeel's breaking point was getting there. He seethed through the whirlwind, getting an idea. His entire body became sand, in which the wind carried him off. As the sand swirled, Neinhart looked casual as he was unaware of Ajeel's plan.

Behind, Ajeel was in midair, his body back together as his arm was a sandy axe. "You're mine!"

Neinhart glanced over his shoulder. "Am I?"

Ajeel swung his sand axe with all his might, creating a shockwave that wrecked through the whirlwind. Gusts shrilled through the throne room, shattering every glass window that was inside; including the one Neinhart looked out at. Ajeel smirked as he looked down.

Another smirk, however, object. "Was something trying to hit me? I couldn't tell."

"What…" Ajeel looked down in shock, realizing what it was he attacked instead.

To his extreme shock, the man realized that his sand-like weapon was edged into the shoulder of someone with fair skin, yet he had accented orange robes with an Arabian vibe to it. His forehead had the eye symbol that Ajeel had, only orange, and he had dark facia hair. To add to it, a lamp-like structure with sand in it was floating beside him, and the lamp's tip was tilted to that sand was running down the opposite shoulder like a waterfall.

The man had shock on his face as Ajeel was wide-eyed. He was at a loss for words to say. "D…Dad…?"

The father weakly reached for his son, looking like he was about to mist in the eyes. Very weakly, the tips of his fingers grazed Ajeel's face. "Son…" But moments later, the body faded away, like grains of sand.

"No! Wait-!" Ajeel what it was, and before he knew it, another harsh pulse wave sent him flying high. He screamed until he sundered to the ground again behind a bemused Neinhart.

"That was priceless!" the emperor arrogantly laughed in glee. "So that's your father, huh? The one you were ordered to kill for treason."

Ajeel strained to get up. He still had a distraught expression from that Historia he had. He was too exhausted to even move now. Neinhart knocked his second wind right out of him.

"I feel sorry for you, Ajeel. I didn't think you'd grow this soft. To think you'd actually show remorse after your had to kill that idiot for treason. Why, I'd do the same thing."

Ajeel trembled as he sat up. "You bastard…"

Neinhart darkly smirked. "There, that's it. That's the suffering that I like to see; to play with such simple emotions like instruments is just music to my ears." He gestured with arms out. "And now to add to my world of a playground, these Pokémon are my dispensable toys. Now there's no way I'll ever be bored again-!" He was cut off when he picked up on above. The shadow he saw was by a falling rock he barely dodged. "What the-?!"

Ajeel looked bewildered. When he looked around, he saw his Trapinch behind him. "What the?! You?!" he gasped. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Trapinch raised his head, continuing his Rock Slide attack. The rocks continued falling out of the ceiling, leaving Neinhart distracted.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the emperor continued dodging rocks, which shattered upon hitting the ground.

With Trapinch providing the distraction, Ajeel began to take notice of the opening he was making. He reached out and attacked again, shooting sand across the floor in a hectic rush at Neinhart to incapacitate him.

Neinhart turned just as he dodged a rock. He stared forward in deep shock before he saw the sand rush. With rocks falling and sand piling on, the soul was finally losing his cool and his eyes shrunk. "HRAAAH!" Mustering magical energy, a sudden explosion of wind erupted like a shockwave, breaking through the rock and sand alike. They rushed everywhere else, blowing back Ajeel and Trapinch.

The two tumbled across the ground, with Ajeel thudding onto his stomach while Trapinch was far behind, blown back more. Ajeel was on his hands and knees before Neinhart was above him, a palm swirling a magic pulse.

"Useless tools you are. You're both nothing if not expenses that are a nuisance." The emperor exasperated. "You're better off out of my sights…for good."

"No…no!" Ajeel plead. But it was no use, Neinhart's smirk said so. "I'm not…done yet!"

"Where have I heard that before?" he chimed. "Someone whose failed the empire how many times again? A few too many…goodbye."

"NO!"

The pulse wave fired, shooting like a bullet at Ajeel. The Spriggan was too weak, and could only look away as he heard something being shot. Oddly enough, he didn't feel anything more than a little spat.

"Wait…what-?!" Of course he realized what it was that intercepted, and it left him horrified. His mouth slowly widened s his eyes dilated.

In very slow motion, the pulse wave dissipated as it went through a body that got in the way of the attack. There, looking like an old rag, the figure that was Ajeel's own grandfather was drifting in the air, his chest ran clean through.

Ajeel's eyes shrunk so massively as he saw his grandfather's face look at him, hoping to see he was alright. "A…jeel…" he muttered through his breaths. He fell to the floor with a slow, agonizing thud, the vibrations running through Ajeel's ears.

It took him mere minutes to process what happened. And when he caught on, he knew who it was that was shot.

"GRANDPA~!" he wailed massively throughout all the halls in the building.

Neinhart smirked as his palm fizzled away. He clutched it as he pulled back. "Huh? He was still here?" he shrugged. "Oh well, I didn't need him anyway."

Ajeel scuttled over towards Yajeel, hovering over him as white as bleached sand. He was at a loss for words as his heart raced over the sight. "Grandpa…" he wheezed. "No…no!"

Beside him, the Wingull looked down and cawed in shock. She continued to do so in horror while Trapinch was absent-minded.

Ajeel was so lost that he almost forgot about Neinhart as he prepped a second shot. "You bastard…!" he seethed through his teeth. "You piece of…"

"This time I won't miss." Neinhart sourly noted, magical energy converging to the palm again. "As emperor, I hereby sentence all of you to death! Begone, boring trash!"

Ajeel was too distraught to do anything. He stared up as Neinhart made sure his next strike wouldn't miss. Just as it was about to fire, suddenly, another person intervened, this time shoving the arm away into the air, causing the blast to misfire into the ceiling corner. In a matter of second, the ceiling's one side was completely blown away, breaking to pieces. The tapestry fell in the background as Neinhart was shown agitated.

Before him, Elfman was in his Beast Soul, swatting the attack away in time while Lisanna was guarding a startled Ajeel. Their presence alarmed him. "What…? You two…?"

"Looks like we made it in time." Elfman snarled. Behind him, his Machop had Trapinch in his arms, ready to carry the wounded creature off if needed. Rufflet was beside Wingull, and they all looked eager yet unsound.

"Are you okay?!" Lisanna shouted behind.

Ajeel shakily nodded. "Y-yeah…" he looked down at his arms. "But…my old man." He heard coughing from the aged man, making him see he was still breathing.

Neinhart backflipped out of Elfman's distance and raised a brow. "What's this? More fun? Well now isn't this a treat! A nice prelude to a splendid day to come!"

Elfman backed away, sensing the immense power Neinhart was giving off. 'This guy's Magic Power is extreme! Just how high is it?' He saw the dark look in his eyes, looking far from normal. "Lisanna, we gotta move!"

Lisanna nodded. "I'm right behind ya!"

Whirlwinds swallowed up Neinhart as he expelled more magic. "I'll blow you all away together!" he shrilled as he unleashed his attack. The winds ripped through the room in a frenzy, blowing off the furniture, the residual glass, even destroying the doors. To add insult to injury, Neinhart's own throne was pried from the ground, tumbling down the stairs at his legs. As the winds dialed down soon, he saw that around him there were no others.

"Hmmm…" he hummed musingly. "Tch, looks like they got away…either that or they were blown off. Oh well." He turned around, where he saw his throne sideways. All he did was smirk maliciously before he stepped over it and back up to where he was. He stood excitedly as he looked out the shattered windows, seeing the courtyard below. "Guess that was fun, but I have other guests that'll cure my boredom…"


Inside a spare room, not too far away, there was cover. The door was slammed shut and locked inside, leaving the small space reveled. It looked like a cell almost with an opening with magic-proof bars, but it was just a closet with footstool space. Design sure was spotty.

"Is he still after us?!" Lisanna chirped.

Elfman put his ear along the door, hearing anything on the other side. After a few seconds he backed away. "No, I think we gave him the slip."

Lisanna looked down at the ground. "Thank goodness. That was a close one." She sighed. "Hey Rufflet, are you okay?"

Rufflet flapped his wings with energy. "Yeah! I'm good!"

"How about you, Machop?" Elfman asked the Fighting-type beside him.

The Superpower Pokémon huffed his chest and beamed with pride. "Like you have to ask." He boasted.

Lisanna sighed again. "Okay, well, guess we got our work cut out for us." She turned towards the back of the closet. "How bout you, are you…" Slowly, Lisanna's eyes widened in shock, in which the others picked up on. They realized the problem.

Trapinch was far behind Ajeel as he was on his knees. He was hovering over Yajeel as he was on his back on a smooth cement layer with a fluffy coat as a pillow. The Wingull was overhead on a rack, observing anxiously as Ajeel was having a massive panic attack.

"Oh no…" Lisanna paled.

Ajeel was looking down with a frightened child's expression. If anything could describe him right now, it'd be disarray. His eyes were actually misting as beads of sweat ran down his face. He was barely keeping his grandfather alive.

"Grandpa…grandpa!" he snapped. "Grandpa can you hear me?!"

Yajeel continued coughing lightly. His hand was over the spot where he was struck. He was stable…for now.

"Don't move, okay?! I can fix this! I, uh…" He looked around anxiously for something he seemingly needed. "…medicine. Medicine!" he realized. "Out of the way!" He swatted the Wingull above away in order to get to the many capsules and bath cleaning necessities. He looked at each container, reading through the label for the right one. "No! No! That's not it! No!" Each one that wasn't what he wanted was shoved to the side and rolled to the ground. "Damnit! Nit this one either! Where's real medicine around here?!"

"H-hey…" Lisanna reached out towards him, but Elfman's hand reached Lisanna's shoulder. She looked up, seeing Elfman shake his hand. She retreated and watched.

"Damnit! Damnit! Damnit! No! None of these are gonna work!" He threw the bottle of toilet cleaner in hand onto the ground, making its contents splatter and stain the side of the concrete. He grew annoyed and realized Elfman and Lisanna were still present. "What are you two still doing here?! Do something!" he snapped.

Lisanna stepped back. "Hey! Wait a sec-!"

"You came to 'help us', didn't you? Well we don't have a second then! My gramps needs that medicine now! Get your asses up and do something!"

"But, we don't…"

Ajeel raised his hand covered in condensed sand. "I SAID-!"

"Ajeel…"

The weak moan coming from behind was the only thing that stopped Ajeel from going nuts on the Strauss siblings. He turned round and saw Yajeel looking at him weakly with what strength his aged form had. "Gramps!" Ajeel slipped to his side, getting to his face. "Stay still! I'm gonna try and get some…"

Yajeel weakly put a hand up, stopping Ajeel's statement. All the old man did was stare at his distraught grandson. "Ajeel…it's too late." He coughed again, this time spatting blood.

Ajeel angrily shook his head. "No! Shut up old man! Don't say that!" he defied. "I just need some medicine and you'll be…"

Yajeel raised his hand again, silencing Ajeel. The shaken old man somberly shook his head.

Ajeel got the message. He sunk to his knees, a despairing look washing over him. "No…no…no this...this can't be! It just can't! NO!"

"Ajeel…"

"NO! SHUT UP OLD MAN! YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE THIS LYING DOWN! NO!" he stood up and balled his fists as he fumed profusely. "We can handle this! Gotta get the medics! Just don't…j-just don't…" He was trailing off as his voice was cracking under the stress of the situation. His eyes were as shut as his heart was. At least, until just recently.

Yajeel just stared morbidly as his grandson despaired. He remembered this was how he felt when he knew he had to kill his father for treason against the empire long ago. He was a good kid, until that dy. Since then, he's been high and mighty, but he knew why.

"Ssssh…don't cry, Ajeel." He quietly said. "It was my time anyway." He tiredly looked up at the ceiling, recalling his earlier, ambitious days in the empire. "For as long as I could remember, this empire's been proud and prosperous…even with our beloved emperor not present, we still thrived. I was glad to have seen such days come and go. Things really are changing…"

"Old man…"

Yajeel gingerly smiled. "You really weren't willing to change until the bitter end, weren't you? Just like your father." He cheekily laughed at the expense of his own lungs exhaling blood again, getting Ajeel to be alarmed. "But you know…you can never avoid change, Ajeel. It's okay to change…even if it's for worst…because even I was there your age."

Ajeel's eyes widened. "Gramps…you…"

"But I needed help to change for the better…" His gaze went behind Ajeel. He followed towards Lisanna and Elfman, who were behind them. Ajeel looked back to him with shock. "It's okay if you want help…you don't need to hide it. If you listened to the voices around, you start thinking differently…and you've finally started listening. I'm happy for that…happy that you are finally making a path."

Ajeel clutched his grandfather's hand tight. The once confident, foolhardy man who called himself a god on countless occasions, was completely broken, weighed by loss of pride, strength…and now family. He swallowed a lump.

"All I wanted…was for you to find happiness in some way…for everyone to find it." He could feel his body getting colder by the second. He wasn't even able to shiver because he was shutting down. "Until now, I've been doing everything I could…to make this land feel safe again…to see people move on and accept change…like you. But…if I can regret one thing…"

A shrill caw came from above. Everyone looked up to see the Wingull float down and set itself on the withered man's stomach. The seagull cawed mournfully for Yajeel.

Yajeel looked down at her, softly smiling. "My friend…my only regret…is not seeing what future we could've made this empire together, these mysterious creatures that saved us, and us humans…perhaps there is a future for us all."

Ajeel looked back at Trapinch. The Ground-type tilted his head at him in inquiry. The way Ajeel abused him before was degrading, but after everything, he didn't even know what to do. All he could do was stare until a cold hand touched his face. Ajeel looked back and quickly held his grandfather's hand in return.

"Grandpa…"

Yajeel smiled at everyone with sincerity. "Thank you all…for everything. I know…this empire will see a new light…with your help." His eyes focused on Ajeel alone. "My grandson…it'll be alright."

Ajeel's eyes misted bad. "Old man…"

"No matter how hard you try, know this…I love you…please…move forward…" Yajeel's eyes slowly closed, the last of his strength at last going cold. The strength the minister once had was gone, but the smile on his dead face was a sign that he found peace knowing the empire will change. Even in his final moments, the aged man knew even as Ajeel died, he would have to grow, because it's what he would've wanted.

Ajeel's tears went down his face as his old man's hand dropped. "Gramps? Gramps?!" He nudged him. "Old man…gramps!" Unable to hold it in, Ajeel began to cry tears down his face. The tears dripped and stained his torn pants. He gasped for air as he whimpered, and all while the others looked in shame.

Wingull remained on the dead man's stomach as she softly cooed in mourning. Trapinch looked saddened as Ajeel kept crying. Lisanna was tearing up bad, but Elfman comforted his sister, though he had trouble keeping in his tears as well.

"Grandpa…" Ajeel sunk to his knees, exerting the loudest, painful cry he could ever give out to any possible battlefield. The roars of pain echoed throughout the chambers, for all to hear.


The whole scene was being watched from inside the crystal ball that Hoshina had in her hand. She smirked in amusement as she saw the whole scenario, only piquing her interests. "How interesting…"

Around her, everyone else was too preoccupied to even get close to the fortuneteller. Minerva was teleporting left and right, switching places with Neo Minerva and parrying blows. Rogue was being lashed around by Future Rogue in a whirlwind of white shadows, with Duskull unable to get any closer. And Bagon's attacks were being intercepted by Musharna before Kirlia used another Magical Leaf, this one sending him flying back again.

Minerva caught Neo Minerva's claw, making the two get close into the other's face. Minerva showed angst, but Neo Minerva showed hostile anger. "I'm the strongest! The weak like you couldn't fathom I took to get to here!" She mustered power to slash harder, but Minerva used her Territory and teleported above in time to avoid a direct blow. Neo Minerva went wide-eyed and stared up as her counterpart already had a leg embedded with spatial energy.

The axe kick came down, to which Neo Minerva scooted away. The attack made dust fly with the demon-human hybrid. She and Minerva had another standoff.

"But how…? Neo Minerva gritted her teeth. "My magic and power…it's but mine to control."

Minerva gritted her own teeth. 'She's skilled…but still flawed.' She took another stance as Neo Minerva readied herself again. 'To think that this would be me is Bellona and Nic never existed here. I can't believe I'd fall out of line.'

"You're mine!" Neo Minerva shot forward again, with Minerva returning to resume their fight.

Her Bagon took a leap into the air, using Bite again. The fangs struck Musharna, creating a small shock that the Psychic-type veered away from. Bagon landed on the ground again, only for something to teleport behind him. When he looked back, he saw that Kirlia had gotten too close to his back.

"Huh?! Wait, are you-?!" He didn't have a second as Kirlia's eyes glowed, surrounding him once again in Confusion. Bagon found himself startled as he was floating above ground level. "H-hey! I'm flying! I can fly!" He always did wish to fly, and technically he was. But his dreams were shattered when he saw Musharna readying another charged Psybeam. Immediately he cried out for help. "AAH!"

Future Rogue closed the gap again, creating a point-blank explosion of white shadows that shot Rogue into the air. He screamed out in agony as he tumbled through the air, crashing into the ceiling above. He gagged some blood as everything around him was white for an instant.

"Rogue~!" Frosch panicked.

Duskull went to attack again, where his one eye manifested streaky black energy with red outlining via Night Shade. The attack closed in, but Future Rogue swiped his arm, dissipating with a brush of white shadows. "Ooooh~." Duskull moaned.

Future Rogue swiped again. "Stay." He swiped forward, making black shadows reach up beneath Duskull. The Ghost-type suddenly found himself unable to move with all the shadows surrounding him.

Rogue fell to the ground on his back, unable to get up. He mentally cursed himself as he found out he was still in shock. Future Rogue walked over, glaring daggers at the current Rogue.

"You're much too weak if you think this version of you had any chance against me." He taunted. "Face it, you don't have the power you need to protect Frosch now."

Rogue struggled to stand, but it was futile. He was barely sitting up when shadows suddenly arose and anchored him. His head hit the ground, making him look up at the towering monstrosity. 'I can't move…damnit! Is this guy…really the future me?'

Future Rogue smirked. "See? You're starting to understand. You'll need my power if you want to save what you hold dear. Allow me to help you."

Rogue wasn't sure what was coming over him. Something inside of him yelled to stop, but the longer he stared into the fake him, the more he saw something else, some kind of image involving Greninja and Frosch. It only made his teeth grit. 'Frosch…I'm sorry…'

Light pink fleet fluttered across the floor, skipping between them. "No! Stop!"

Future Rogue backed off as he looked down. Rogue looked towards the front, his own eyes widening as he saw Frosch between them, arms up.

"Frosch…" Rogue muttered.

Future Rogue grimaced as he stared at the pink Exceed. "You're…"

"Please stop…stop this…" Rogue whimpered. His entire body shook, and he was misty in the eyes. "Leave Rogue alone. He doesn't wanna be you…"

Rogue was completely speechless for Frosch defending him. "Frosch…?"

"You can't do this…please, stop…this is my Rogue. And I don't wanna see him be anyone else. I love him the way he is, so please…stop."

His sot crying was touching Rogue. He stared in remorse as he thought harder of Frosch and what he said. 'Frosch…' He thought back to him and Greninja. 'You really feel that way about me after all.'

Future Rogue stared down at the crestfallen Frosch, seeing as how he reminisced of his own. He could feel his own heart sing at the sight of the green cat in the pink frog suit, but then he remembered when Frosch was taken from him. It was like it was meant to happen.

Bracing himself, white shadows converged into Future Rogue's arm. "You're not my Frosch." He snapped. "The Frosch I had is long gone at this point, but you…"

"Huh?" Frosch could see the shadows arise around Future Rogue, giving him a more ominous appeal. He began to show his scarred face and glistening white shadows over the body.

"GET AWAY, FROSCH!" Rogue pleaded, but his best friend was too stiff to even answer. "FROSCH!"

White shadows covered Future Rogue's arm as he glared like a monster at Frosch. "Your existence…is changing fate." The shadows grew bigger like fire. "CHANGING FATE, IS OUT OF THE QUESTION!" He raised his arm high. "I'LL MAKE CERTAIN THAT FATE BRINGS MYSELF TO THIS PATH, EVEN IF IT MEANS MAKING YOURSELF GONE TO DO THAT!"

Frosch's eyes shrunk drastically. He looked at the Future Rogue and paled in sheer fright. Unable to move, Rogue's mouth gaped as he saw the hand come down.

"FROSCH!"

Just as the shadows came down, Musharna also readied her attack to finish Bagon. They were close, but suddenly a white blur and glowing fangs crashed into both, flooring them with sundering force. As the land shook beneath, everyone looked completely surprised at the newcomers that saved the two.

As the two recoiled, Sting was up. "Looks like we made it."

Behind, over a defeated Musharna, Druddigon let out a roar as he signaled his own victory.

"Sting?" Rogue gasped. He and Duskull were freed from their shadowy prisons, but they were too surprised to say or do anything.

Sting looked back, smirking. "Hey, ya miss me?"

Hoshina looked at the scene, showing a smirk at Sting's arrival. "Well…that's another possibility." She chimed musingly.

Behind Frosch, Lector revealed himself. "Hey, Frosch! Are you okay pal?" he asked.

"Lector, hey!" The happy Exceed greeted the other. "You made it!"

Lector gave a sigh of relief. "Good grief, you really scared us, Frosch. Do you know how much trouble we're in already?!"

Rogue staggered back up, looking at Sting with shock. "How did you find us?"

Sting looked at him and shrugged. "I was just running when I picked up your scent. It wasn't that hard…" He winced again, showing pain. "But…getting here was a little rougher than what I thought."

Lector rushed up to him with worry. "Sting, don't push yourself! You barely got out of that scrape with that bloody guy. You gotta take it easy."

Sting straightened up, giving a harsh glare forward. "Sorry Lector…" he stepped ahead. "But there's no time for rest, not when there's this big mess to deal with." He glanced back over his shoulder. "Druddigon, you still good to go?"

Again, Druddigon winced in pain. To be honest, the big guy was about drained. He would've preferred to rest but now wasn't the time. He gave Sting a thumb's up. "Yeah, I think I can take another hit."

"Alright, take care of that other one." He faced Rogue. "And Rogue, we'll deal with this guy together. What do you say?"

Rogue was speechless yet again as he faced Sting. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but before he could answer, a sinister laugh came from Future Rogue, drawing them back.

"You really think that even you can change fate?" he mocked. "In the future, I had to take your life in order to carry out my dream. If I have both your powers, what makes you think you'll be a match for me?"

"Why?" Sting challenged. He cockily smirked. "That's easy. Because we're a team. And Rogue knows better." Behind him, Rogue stared while Sting glanced back at him. "I mean sure he's got this thing for Greninja, but he's not that selfish to forsake even himself. As long as I'm around, nothing's gonna touch my pal!"

"Sting…" Rogue began to softly smile. Slowly, he arose to his feet, standing up beside him. 'he's right. We do everything together. Even if part, I can always depend on him to pick me up…that's my Guild Master after all.' Rogue stood by Sting's side, each having a confident smile of assurance. 'Even injured, as long as we stay together…the Twin Dragons won't fall so easily!'

"Ready, Rogue?"

"Right." He looked back. "Duskull, I'm leaving you to assist Bagon and Druddigon. Can you do that?"

Duskull slowly backed away. "Oookay~…" He shifted backwards, going to help the others.

Rogue faced forward, ready to fight again. "Let's go, Sting."

"Yeah!"

Future Rogue chuckled at the comradery displayed. "So be it…then come! I'll show you just why fate is unchangeable!" He charged back at them, the dragons readying their next round yet gain.

Meanwhile, Hoshina recalled her defeated Musharna and watched Kirlia and Neo Minerva take the battlefield for her. She bemused as she looked into her crystal ball, seeing other things while the battles went on.

Minerva parried blows continuously from the alternate timeline's assault. A nonstop barrage of claws that didn't slow down; fused with Territory and they were almost impossible to keep up. But Minerva managed a break and extended her reach directly forward, expelling a blast wave that shot Neo Minerva directly in the face. The impact caused her to hit the ground hard.

Neo Minerva got up, wiping the dirt off her cheek with a smirk. "Is that all?" she challenged. "I expected more from someone that's supposed to be myself."

Minerva's eyes glared daggers at her opponent. "It's not like it matters. You're only here to fight for that fortuneteller over there."

Neo Minerva looked over, seeing Hoshina looking ever so casual. She smirked wider and faced her prey again. "So I am. But you know, as long as I'm still here, I can throw away whatever weakness I have for myself!" She didn't hesitate for a second when she created blast waves from her magic. It erupted towards Minerva, who reached out and used her own Territory to men the shockwaves and spatial energy around herself.

Minerva continued glaring as she was on defense. In her mind, as she looked at Neo Minerva, she saw Bellona. 'So this is what I would be like. Denial…just like she was.'

The shockwaves dissipated, leaving Neo Minerva to see that her counterpart was unscathed.

"Please, forgive me for not taking you seriously so far." Minerva said. "By all means, allow me to grant you what you ask for." Her eyes narrowed in cynical delight. "Shall I make you see light?"

Neo Minerva heaved a breath as she charged again. "Just try!" She went and slashed ahead with great force.

Kirlia teleported again in time to avoid Druddigon's fangs. The red-headed rough-skinned behemoth barreled into the ground, leaving a sizeable crater for him to dunk out of as Kirlia reappeared in front of him and Bagon.

Bagon had loops rising from beneath while Druddigon had a blue circling center. The gravity around both swirled as blue lights came from their maws.

"Dragon Rage!"

"Dragon Breath!"

Two blue draconic beams raced across the ground, heading right for Kirlia, who made no attempts at moving. The attacks met their mark, creating a booming blue eruption that shuddered the ground.

"How do you like that?" Druddigon taunted. His musings were short-lived when he stammered closer towards the ground. "Gnnngh…too much damage still from that bat earlier."

The smoke finally cleared, but when they peered inside, Kirlia looked completely unfazed. It was like they didn't even touch her.

"What?!" Bagon exclaimed.

Now it was Kirlia's turn. She took in a deep breath before she opened her mouth. She cried out as pink-hearted soundwaves shrilled through the air towards them. They expanded and covered both Dragon-types. Both winced and tried covering up, but the super-effective move was doing more than what they bargained. It was so strong that even Druddigon was barely holding his own ground.

"I…I don't think I can hold on!" Bagon grimaced. Despite the effort, even he was pushed back.

Kirlia kept up her Disarming Voice, until a blow from the side in the form of a dark illusion blasted her side. Her voice cracked as she fell over, ending the attack and sparing the damaged beasts. When they ll recovered and opened their eyes, they saw a small ghost apparent.

"I made~ it~. Ooohh…" Duskull hummed. "A~re you oka~y?"

Druddigon shakily staggered up with Bagon. "Been better." He exasperated. "But now I'm mad! Hone Claws!" Druddigon started to rake at the air continuously, the edging of his claws beginning to sharpen. A red aura enveloped him, enhancing his Attack, as well as accuracy.

"Right, then let's try…" Bagon whipped his head back, taking a deep breath. "Ember!" A blanket of char and embers shot from his maw that went spinning at Kirlia. The Psychic/Fairy-type didn't offer levity before she had used her powers and dissipated the attack, much to Bagon's displeasure.

"Disable!" Duskull let out a ghastly moan as he stared at his foe. His eyeball glowed bright blue, which reflected on Kirlia. Her own psychic powers flatlined to leave her vulnerable.

Kirlia turned towards Duskull, in which she attempted to use Confusion. However, she found that she couldn't, leaving her more than a little surprised. This was the opportunity they needed.

With claws sharpened, Druddigon let out a cry as he went to use Slash. He jumped into the air, letting out a cry that Kirlia didn't catch up on until the last second. But it was too late.

With one mighty rake of his claws, Druddigon scored a direct blow on Kirlia, leaving a white trail to follow that sent her soaring. The Psychic/Fairy-type had no levity as she spiraled out of control, crashing into the ground with a booming thud.

As the dust cleared, it showed that she was on her back, her eyes swirls that signaled her defeat. Druddigon but couldn't help but let out a roar of triumph.

Hoshina said nothing. She silently returned her defeated Kirlia and watched the other battles resume their own roles.

Another blast wave of shadows whirled around Future Rogue, which created a strong tempest that brushed Sting and Rogue away like flies. The two went barreling through the air and onto their backs again.

"Is that the best that you can do?" Future Rogue scowled. Swiping an arm, another wave of white shadows began erupting from below.

Sting picked up on it and he grabbed Rogue's collar. He tumbled out of the way, leaving behind a pillar of white shadow just mere feet off to their side.

'Damnit, this guy's strong.' Sting cursed. His mind raced back to his other battle, the reason why he was a little hazy right now. 'And I haven't recovered a lot of blood after that psycho ate some of it. I'm running on empty.'

"Sting…" A weak voice from the side revealed Rogue. He looked over, seeing his ally in peril. "I know…but we can't lose." He looked at his future-self, seething hate-filled daggers. "Not ever. Not when I swore I'd never be like him."

Sting sauntered up again. "I know. There's gotta be a way to stop this guy."

Future Rogue smirked. "Stop me, you say?" he repeated. "That's ridiculous. You can't change fate, how many times must I tell you that? I have both you and Sting's power. That makes me twice as strong as the two of you together. Face it, you're outmatched."

However, Sting managed his own smirked. "Is that so? Rogue."

"Yeah, Sting?"

"Remember when I battled that creep a while ago? When you gave me your shadows?"

"Yeah…?" Rogue looked at Sting's palm, seeing a light shimmer in it. As he stared at its radiance, the more power he could feel from it. His eyes widened when he saw the smirk Sting gave to him. "Sting…you…"

"As Sabertooth's master, I'm giving ya an order…eat and kick his ass!" Without a second thought, Sting threw the ball of light at Rogue.

The Shadow Dragon watched as it closed in on him. When he stared at the oncoming light wave, he merely smirked. 'Sting…'

The light swallowed Rogue, as it did Sting. Together, both vanished in the light. Moments later, a spiraling tornado of light and shadow fused and created a shockwave that threw even Future Rogue off guard. He covered up as the shockwaves were making him get pushed back a couple feet every now and again. 'This power…just what are they doing this time?!' He angrily seethed into the light, where he saw the light and shadow completely fuse into one. Inside were two silhouettes, leaving him stoned with horror.

A wave of light bypassed Sting's mouth. "Sorry…but we decide our own fate."

A wave passed Rogue. "That's right. You're nothing but a lunatic. Because…"

The shockwaves of their attacks fully dissipated, but streams of light and shadow were rising from both of them. Surrounding both were mixes of light and shadow crossing as their streams intersected. At the source of it all, in the quaking of this awesome power. Sting and Rogue stood beside the other, both having various scales over their body. Like his battle against Larcade, Sting had white scales on his right side, and black scales on the left, with respective flows seeping skywards. Even half his hair darkened. As for Rogue, it was the opposite. Shadowy scales covered his right side while his left side had white scales. The same half had a white shade of hair. "Two is always better than one!" they roared strongly.

As gusts dissipated around them, Lector was shocked. "Woah! What the-?!"

"Sting and Rogue…are both combined…?" Frosch murmured.

Sting smirked in satisfaction upon seeing the shock on Future Rogue's face. "What's wrong? You look afraid pal. Haven't you ever seen two White Shadow Dragons before?" Beside him, Rogue said nothing as he smirked as well.

"Impossible…two…White Shadow Dragons…?" Future Rogue was starting to lose his patience ever so slowly. "Two…two…" Slowly, his one eye shrunk as he started to rise in magical energy as well. Pulsating waves of white shadows overlapped as he balled his fists. "YOU DARE CHALLENGE FATE?!"

In a fit of vile contempt, he swung his fist forward, expelling a white shadowy blast that tore through the ground. The airwvaes rippled, but Sting and Rogue did nothing. Instead, each swiped to the opposite side, splitting apart the attack that instead bored two intense waves into the walls. Endless craters were seen inside.

Future Rogue was stone cold. "No way-!" He was silenced when Rogue and Sting suddenly appeared in front, slugging him with two intense fists of light and darkness. They exploded him into the ground, making everything deaf if too close as the gravity made Future Rogue feel nothing but pain.

"How's that?!" Sting challenged.

Hoshina watched as the battle was spiraling into mayhem afar. She even looked over to see Minerva parrying still. When Neo Minerva went to attack, Minerva used Territory and swapped places, then unleashed another explosion behind her back, sending Neo Minerva to the ground. She continued smoking as she was seeing them fight possible futures. It even made her chuckle.

Rogue vanished into the shadows below, where Future Rogue looked down. He angrily created a sphere of white shadow above, ready to throw it down into the shadows.

Suddenly, a shadow reappeared behind him, revealing Sting with a knee back.

When he looked back, it was too late. The sphere dissipated as Sting's light kick struck the back of his head, causing him to fall forward. Meanwhile, Rogue shot up from the shadows and kneed his future counterpart's chest. The two impact knocked all the wind of out him before the two pivoted at the same time, throwing two punches together that shot him into a wall.

"Oh! That's gotta hurt!" Lector winced.

The crumbling of the wall dissipated. It left Future Rogue to stammer around. As he failed to keep himself upright, he scowled angrily as he stared coldly at Sting and Rogue. Both had strong, confident faces, and he was losing his patience. This was the last straw, and nothing was going to change that.

"Okay…that does it." He growled, streams of light and dark extending to his fingertips. "I'm ending you both!"

"We were just thinking the same thing!" Sting grunted. Like Rogue, he charged forward with no means of slowing down. Together, they both closed the gap on Future Rogue, each of them creating small streams of light and shadow in their wakes as well.

"We're telling you one more time! As long as I have Sting and Frosch, and everyone behind me…you're nothing but a dead thought that must be put to rest!"

Future Rogue roared as he went at them. He went full force at them with the streams ready to pierce. The moment he raked forward for his last attempt, Sting and Rogue abruptly sunk to the shadows. The swings followed through, leaving him to gasp at no targets.

The shadows beneath suddenly spiraled, dark and white fusing before rays shot up onto a horrified man.

"White Shadow Dragon's Rough Silk!"

Sting and Rogue rushed out of the shadows, slashing pass the future-self of the latter as hundreds of beams of black and light passed through the opponent. The Twin Dragons heard the intense screams of agony by the sadistic man. They landed on their feet as the waves of their magic soon faded, leaving Future Rogue gasping behind as his body was pierced consecutive times.

The man was gagging as his eyes were devoid of pupils, yet still stood. "This…can't be…" Slowly, with his life force draining, his whole body distorted to ill-existence.

"Like I said…" Rogue said. He and Sting deactivated their forms and returned to normal. Future Rogue started falling behind them, dying from the shock as Rogue glared at the darkness. "You're dead to me."

Future Rogue finally fell on his back, finished and defeated. As he laid there, his body slowly started to fade to gold sparkles. In a way, Rogue felt relieved, in more ways than one. He got over himself at long last, and Sting was there to push them in that direction. It was because of them together that they stopped Rogue -again – from possibly falling to the depths of hell.

Neo Minerva charged one last time at her counterpart, roaring as her magic was embedded into her hands. But she was short-sighted, when Minerva simply reached forward, trapping her own counterpart in the sphere of spatial energy. Neo Minerva was so distraught as Minerva frowned at herself.

"…perhaps I was weak all this time." She figured. "Perhaps I would've been like you if not for the others…thank you, for showing me that."

Neo Minerva let loose a vile roar as she tried to claw her way out, but even she had little power. Minerva finally detonated the blast wave and swallowed Neo Minerva in an explosion, this one with her in the dead center.

As the dust and smoke flared, Neo Minerva fell out of it and into the air. Her body was limp as she looked towards the ceiling as she sailed, thinking of her own past. In her mind, she always knew she was weak, but even now, she realized just how far low she's gone. With her eyes softening, she disdainfully vanished, leaving Minerva the victor and a new realization upon herself.

Watching the ends of their struggle, Hoshina couldn't contain her excitement. "So then…this is what you chose for a future…how interesting."

Minerva quickly reached out and used her magic, trapping Hoshina in a spatial barrier like she did for her alternate timeline. With her for contained, she seethed a glare. "It's time that we end this. Bagon! Dragon Breath!"

Bagon took in a deep breath as loops appeared below. The Dragon-type again fired an intense beam of flaming blue energy that coursed across the ground at Hoshina.

"Night Shade, Duskull!" Rogue ordered.

"Druddigon, Dragon Rage!" Sting commanded.

Together, Duskull and Druddigon unleashed their respective attacks. Black streaks raced across the atmosphere, while a blazing blue and black beam shot out of Druddigon's mouth. Together, they caught up with Bagon's attack, in which the three attacks spiraled and molded into one. As they shook the ground upon closing in, Hoshina knew she couldn't move and simply smirked in acceptance. As vague as what her emotions were, her mysterious vibe didn't deter, even when the attacks finally reached her, creating a massive shockwave of rumbling intensity.

"I RAGH!"

Minerva swiped both arms, expanding the explosion with her own spatial powers collapsing and breaking apart the air itself. Shockwaves raced everywhere, even through the hole that was made earlier. The pulsing attack waves soon subsided, allowing everyone to pant as they caught up and look at the results. There, where Hoshina was supposed to be, the cloak was sprawled, and the crystal ball was shattered. The chair was clearly broken, meaning that they must have succeeded.

"Is it…over?" Sting labored.

"Yeah…I think so…" Rogue sure hoped so. He felt like he was going to pass out.

A long grueling silence filled the caverns of the dark corridor as the Sabertooth mages and their Pokémon stared at the remnants of Hoshina. They couldn't tell how or what they felt, but they knew for the most part, she couldn't do anything.

Sting glared forward, showing no insecurities. "So you can see and make the possible future real, huh?" he asked. "Well you may have a vision…but we chose to see it for ourselves."

Rogue nodded in agreement. Alongside him, Minerva grinned. Sting looked back at them and shared the same confident look.

"How interesting…" Hoshina's voice echoed through the air. They all grew alarmed as they stared down at her. "How very interesting…" Slowly, her entire form was beginning to erode into darkness. The fragments of her crystal ball began to sweep itself away into the unknown with the fortuneteller. Her chuckles echoed through the corridor as the others grouped closer. "So, you chose to create your own futures. To create your own possibilities…how curious you people continue to be…"

Slowly, her dark chuckles began to erode away. The fragments of her crystal ball continued shuffling until they swept into the darkness over everyone's heads, leaving the source of the fortuneteller truly unknown.

With her gone, the tension still refused to settle. "…you think she's gone?" Sting asked.

"For now at least." Rogue turned towards Sting. "Sting…thank you." He smiled. "If it wasn't for you, I'm not sure what I would've become."

Sting shot him a wink. "Hey, what are friends for? You'd do the same if something happened to Lector, right?"

"Right."

Minerva took in a very long sigh. "Well now, seems we are at least another Spriggan in the clear." She glanced back. "Suppose this leaves little to worry about on our end I take it."

"For all our sakes, it better be." Lector said sternly. "We should get out of here while we still have the chance. There's no telling what lurks here."

"Fro thinks so, too!" Frosch agreed.

"You're right." Sting began to run off. "Okay guys, follow me."

"You sure you know the way?" Rogue asked.

"Positive…I actually found an exit before I picked up on your guys' scent. It's not far from here. C'mon, the others are waiting for us!"

Rogue and Minerva looked at each other and nodded, any lead was still a lead after all. They faced their Duskull and Bagon while Sting faced his Druddigon. "Return!" they all shouted, the Pokémon returned to their capsules, leaving the group to tail Sabertooth's master out.

They all took calm strides; though after those battles, they were exhausted, especially Sting. He took it easy on the way out while the others followed behind.

Meanwhile, as they ran, something went on in Minerva's mind. As disturbing as it was, she thought back to Hoshin and her powers. 'What were those powers of hers? To have been able to make a possible future reality…exactly what is her motives?' She wanted to think more, but her mind suddenly went to that wedding dress Hoshina saw her in. She couldn't help but struggle to hide her embarrassment from the others. 'Hmph! I can take a man…at least I'm sure I am.' A weak blush filled her cheeks.

"What's up with Milady? She looks kinda…distracted." Lector questioned.

"Fro thinks so, too!"


Sophie swiped her arm forward. "Psyshock!"

Her Abra floated in place while a purple orb compressed between the two hands. She shot it forwards, expelling purple beams that diffused at the two Pancham that were right in front of her. They cried out in a purple explosion, which soon dissipated to reveal them unconscious.

"Yeah, that's what we're talking about!" Natsu eagerly shouted.

"Aye!" Happy cheered. Beside him, Charmander cheered.

Lucy sighed in relief. "So then…does that take care of everyone around here?"

Griffon stepped forward. "Don't worry about it." In his fists were wires, which were spread about along the walls. "There's nothing coming our way. It's just us for now."

"I would imagine that would make up the last sum of Neinhart's forces." Brandish said nonchalantly. "Which means that if we're to assume correctly…then that means we're almost to the top."

Dimaria nodded solemnly as she clutched her arm. "Right…"

Natsu turned forward, looking ahead with a serious face. "But we're not out just yet." Even his voice was dead serious. "We're still a little far away. I can barely smell them from where we are…hate to say it, but I think we're still a long ways away."

"For real?!" Happy whined. "Awww! We've been running in this direction forever!"

"Actually, Happy, it's only been 4 hours." Sophie noted. "Minus the frequent traps we've been setting and diffusing along the way."

Brandish looked up at the ceiling. "This palace was designed by Invel himself. He's constructed it so that it would be a maze for anyone who isn't a Spriggan. The fact that we were deep within the palace indicates how far the exits were."

"It's gotta run for miles on end at least."

"Yes. It sure feels that way…" She faced Dimaria. "Are you aware of any shortcuts the Spriggan take?"

Dimaria shook her head. "No. Not even Neinhart himself allowed us rights to secret passages."

Natsu folded his arms and looked at the ground. "Man…" He shut his eyes and began to think. He hummed low as he started to get an idea, which soon popped into his head. His eyes widened and he faced Sophie. "Hey wait…Sophie!"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Can't your Abra teleport itself? That would get us to the others."

The others looked at Sophie in question. She looked confusedly at her Abra before blinking. "…Abra, are you able to teleport us all?"

The Psychic-type didn't give an immediate response. Drowsy somewhat, he lazily nodded, though shrugged. "…maybe…"

"Well that would've made things easier before." Brandish said dryly. She pointed a finger at Sophie. "This is your fault."

Sophie shot her a look. "He said 'maybe'. There's no guarantee anyway…but it's worth a shot."

Lucy nodded. "Let's take it."

Sophie nodded in understanding. "Bo ne-lekh. (Let's go)." She faced her Abra. "Abra, Teleport!"

Her Abra nodded and began to concentrate whatever fibers of psychic powers he had in him. Facing everyone, he lifted his head and released a psychokinetic charge that teleported all of them from their spot.


The gang all teleported to another location. They reappeared a few feet off the ground. They all landed, while Abra and Klefki were floating gently downwards.

Yukino looked over, seeing the sudden appearance of the others. "Guys?!" she chirped. "Where did you come from?!"

Sorano looked over. "Looks like they made it out."

Lucy refocused and blinked several times before realization dawned. "Yukino…and Sorano, too!" she looked all around, seeing the many groups that were present. Everyone was there, save for Sting's group, Nic and Erza, and Mest as they were all on the balcony level where Wendy's group had fought. "Everyone!"

Wendy smiled wide. "Lucy, you're okay! Thank goodness!"

"Hmph. You sure took your sweet time." Aniya shrugged nonchalantly. "I almost forgot about you."

"Good to see you're still kicking, Aniya." Griffon said. He looked over, seeing Orion there was blood all over. "Orion, you okay?"

The founder of the Peace Jaegers crossed his arms. "Don't sweat it. It's nothing to trouble over. I was able to eat some darkness along the way."

Lucy looked all around, seeing Kinana, Gray, Juvia, everyone there looking at least in walking shape. "Everyone, you're alright…thank goodness." She sighed happily. "You had me worried there-!"

"Keys! Keys! Keys!" Klefki saw Yukino and immediately went for a beeline at her. "Keykeykeykeykeykeykeykeeeeys!" Fortunately for her, she was restrained by Lucy with one hand.

"Don't get ahead of yourself there." She shot her a disappointed look as Klefki trashed in her clutches.

Jellal and Bellona stepped forward. "So I take it that you were able to find a safe route then?" Jellal asked.

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, we made it out just fine. Are you guys alright?"

Jellal smiled. "A few of us were tossed around rather gradually…but we should be just fine. More importantly, who's that?" He referred to Dimaria, who was looking away in deep regret. The others were staring at her as well, seeing how she wasn't looking so good.

Brandish faced her. "This is my associate. Don't be alarmed, she won't try anything. Right?"

Dimaria clutched her shoulder tighter. She didn't respond. Instead, she meekly nodded.

Aniya cocked a gun in hand. "Well that's fine if you insist, but she makes a wrong move, her head comes off…I'll make sure of that."

"Aniya, take it easy." Wendy insisted.

Gray looked around, seeing the group that was gathered with them. "Looks like we picked some pretty nasty fights."

Lyon smirked. "That's putting it lightly. I imagined them underestimating us was our greatest advantage." He faced the others. "That said, is there anyone else we're forgetting?"

Richard held up a peace sign. "Oh yeah! We must still have someone around here!"

Erik heard something s he looked at the doorway from afar. He and the others stared head. "Looks like we got some more."

Finding n exit t last, slowly exiting, Sting, Rogue, Minerva, Lector, and Frosch all wandered out. "Huh?" Sting gasped. "Guys, look!"

"It's the others!" Rogue realized.

"And it looks like they're all in one piece it seems." Minerva said, following behind them.

Natsu stepped forward with surprise. "Hey Sting! Rogue! Guys, over here!" he ushered them all closer, where they regrouped. "Glad you guys could join the party. You guys alright?"

"Yo, Natsu!" Sting staggered some, until at last he was forced to be held up by Rogue moments before falling over.

"Stay still. You wore yourself out too much back there." Rogue insisted. "Take it easy."

"I'm fine." Sting proved this by managing to stand on his own again, albeit with some slight swaying here and there. He faced the others and gave a serious look. "Sorry for the delay, guys. We got caught up with a Spriggan."

"You too?!" Lucy squealed.

"Yeah, but she took off. So who does that leave now?" Sting looked around, seeing almost everyone accounted for. He rubbed the back of his sore head as he figured something out. "Wait a minute, what about-?!"

The sounds of a window shattering caught everyone's attention. Shards suddenly dropped from the side of a large window overlooking the courtyard as four figures shot out. S the glass shattered and landed, two pairs of feet landed as well, and Greninja and Aegislash were right behind them. The figures slowly arose, revealing themselves to be the very object on Sting's mind.

"…yeah, them." Sting finished.

"Talk about convenience." Lector chimed. "Then again, that's them for ya."

Nic and Erza searched around, seeing all the people that went through their battles. They all gave expectant looks for each one; even Aniya showed some signs of relief. "You guys made it?" Nic questioned.

Natsu nodded. "Yeah, sure did. Right Charmander?" Beside him, his tired Charmander was giving a thumbs up. "See? We're good."

"You okay, guys?" Wendy asked.

Erza nodded. "We're fine, Wendy. Thanks." She answered. "We'll manage. More importantly, is everyone else alright?"

Griffon shrugged. "I don't see a need to worry. We've been through worse."

"Don't jinx it, Grif." Aniya teased.

Upon seeing Greninja, Frosch immediately jumped with joy. "Oh boy, it's Greninja!" He waved his arm around. "Hi~!"

Greninja waved back. "Hey, Frosch."

"He remembered me! He remembered me!" Frosch cheerfully screeched. He was looking at Greninja with such admiration, so much that a certain someone behind was feeling the exact opposite.

Cringing, Sting and Lector kept their guard up as Rogue was shuddering, his hair cascading darkness as a death-like aura was surrounding him. It was keeping all his willpower just to not go nuts. Even Minerva was eyeing him wearily. "I'm good…I'm good…" he seethed through his teeth. "Remember, Frosch is just a fan, nothing else…yeah…" he cracked his voice as it trailed off in a nervous laughter, much to the discomfort of the others.

Sting put a hand on his friend's cold, icy shoulder. "That's it. When we get a minute, we're gonna have a serious talk about your little 'problem'."

"Oh brother." Lector sighed.

As the groups converged, another individual popped out of nowhere, revealing himself to be Mest on a knee with Ralts.

"Woah, Mest! Where did you come from man?" Gray asked surprised.

Mest arose to face them. "Sorry for startling you. I was checking on the others back at the ship." He responded.

Immediately the others grew alarmed. It has been a while since any word got back to them about the others. Even Nic wanted to before this happened. Orion stepped forward. "So then what's the word?"

"They were attacked by another Spriggan coming around just like we thought. The others are shaken up, but they're still okay for the most part."

"Another Spriggan?" Brandish inquired harshly. Her eyes narrowed as she thought of who the possibilities were. 'Then that should leave…'

Before she could finish her inquiry, Kinana stepped forward. "But wait, has anyone seen Elfman or Lisanna?"

High above, the sound of an insidious laughter shrilled through the palace ground. The echoing was one thing, but its cliché maniacal appeal was what made the other glare around at this unsettling tone. Around them, a gust picked up, shifting clothing and hair like it was about to be blown away.

Brandish glared up with uncertainty. 'This sound…this wind…'

Erza glared skywards. She knew this sensation all too well. Aegislash got to her side as both seethed daggers at the sky as a massive Thought Projection screen slowly faded into view for everyone. Instantly many recognized who it was.

"Welcome, welcome, my wonderful guests of wonder." The projection announced flamboyantly. "To those who managed to make it to my illustrious empire, I congratulate you on making it this far."

"Neinhart." Brandish absconded.

"Hang on, that's the delusional emperor?" Gajeel grunted, still holding the blacked-out Kevin on his shoulders.

Beside him, Pantherlily folded his arms. "Looks like he's giving us another ceremonial welcoming."

"I must say…" The projection smirked musingly. "You Ishgarians amuse me. You honestly did surprise me. To think that my fellow Spriggan would be so pathetic s to end up at the mercy of such entertaining cockroaches. Especially you, Dimaria." The projection went downwards, snarking as Dimaria nervously stepped back. "I thought you'd want your precious friend back. So much for faith."

Dimaria was unsound with what might happen, but Natsu stepped forward. "You leave her out of this." He threatened harshly. "This is between us and you, buddy."

Neinhart raised a dark brow, his anger showing. "Ah, you. I remember you…you're the one who gave me this." He pointed to the burn mark on his cheek, where Natsu socked him in their last war. "It still stings to this day…all because of you. All of you! You made a mockery of the empire and what we stood for! We were designed to break that dragon…and then you came along and gave us the boot!" He pointed a finger down at Nic and Greninja. They were unfazed. "And you went as far as killed Sir August…even Lady Irene. You reduced us to nothing…so now, we make it our goal to make you and the world remember us as the strongest force in this world. And what better way than to make an army of these pets that took down our target."

Nic glared at him harshly. "Bastard…"

"Since my fellow Spriggan were too pathetic to handle it themselves, I suppose I'll have to take after their messes for myself. How appropriate…" he smiled wide. "So, come! And I dare you to give me an entertaining show!" With that, the projection faded into the high sky. The open cloudy atmosphere continued thundering some as the strong winds felt like they were going to blow them off.

Natsu rammed his fist into his palm, making the knuckles crack. "Dare accepted."

"Aniya, where is he?" Orion asked.

Requipping a pair of binoculars, the vision zoomed in, revealing a visual of the figure with a cocky smirk standing on the flat rooftop high above them. "At the top of the roof." She answered as she requipped it away. "Straight ahead."

"Understood. Peace Jaegers, it's time we finish our business. This fight dragged on long enough."

Griffon nodded. "I'm with ya." Beside him, Aniya cocked a gun.

Erza looked back at everyone else. "Is everyone else ready?"

"Aye!" Happy jumped. Natsu smirked, and everyone was ready to take the battle by storm.

Erza looked at Nic, giving him a knowing smirk and nod. Nic looked at Greninja, who shred the same nod. "Alright then…" He stomped down, dashing straight ahead. "Let's move!"

"Right!" they all roared.


From high above, Neinhart watched them all with a mischievous smirk. He was seeing the valiant faces as some sped along at alarming rates like Nic and Greninja, and then there were others who were slower. All their expressions made Neinhart's eyes show pure lust for evil. "What do you say, Lady Irene? Shall I grant you your wish at last?" He reached his arm out, generating his Magic Power.


"Just a straight shot up, right?!" Natsu shouted.

"Yeah, looks like it!" Happy shouted. "We should be up there in no time!"

"Don't jinx it!" Carla exclaimed. "Wendy, you ready?"

Wendy nodded. "Right!"

As they all were charging forward, a hand reached out ahead, swiping harshly.

Nic and Greninja continued running until they came to a halt. In front of them, another set of explosions went off, erupting with pulsating pressure in a straight line across to block them all off. They all rebound as the smoke dissipated, but many were slightly shocked.

"What's going on?!" Gray exclaimed. "An ambush?!"

Through the smoke, a maniacal smirk was seen. "Heh."

Lucy's eyes widened. "No way…" Beside her, Klefki also showed slight shock, even if she didn't know him. But Lucy remembered.

Sophie especially remembered. "You…"

Before them all, Jackal was cackling a laughter as he eyed them. "Well, well…Blondie, and Blondie 2. Did ya miss me?!" he shouted.

"Jackal!" Sophie gasped.

"Wait, that Tartaros guy?!" Happy exclaimed.

Jackal reached forward and expelled yet another explosion. His intense power rushed through the atmosphere with hurried frenzy. He laughed as he continued the assault before at last it slowed down to a degree, at last revealing his smirk. "That'll show ya…"

As the smoke faded, it revealed a watery shield, much to his shock.

"What…?"

The liquid shield was revealed to have been made by Lucy as she was in her Aquarius Form, with the key to her chest as she managed to save everyone inside. Beside her. Klefki looked equally as relieved. The shield soon faded, leaving open air again.

"Guys, keep going!" the blonde shouted.

"You sure about that, Lucy?" Natsu asked, showing signs of worry.

"Don't worry." She gave him a nonchalant wink. "Sophie and I can handle this. Ready, Sophie?"

Sophie swayed her hips as she faced Jackal. "Most certainly." She chimed. "I recall how rather cumbersome he can be…but let's remind him just who we are, shall we, Lucy?" To her fortune, Lucy nodded.

Jackal darkly smirked. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

The others darted around, working their ways closer towards the building. As they did, Neinhart reached forward nonchalantly again. "There's more where that came from…"

Materializing beside Crime Sorciere, or at least what was left of it, an odd dark force was compelling them. When they looked forward, the members comprising the Oracion Seis looked horrified as a man with white hair and red eyes smirked at them.

"You've gotta be joking." Erik gasped.

Zero smirked evilly as he glared at them. "Hello, my subordinates…I trust that you're all well in those current forms."

The others offered no reply as they instead shot daggers. Macbeth stepped forward, giving his own smirk. "Yes, we most certainly are." He replied back ominously. "And how are you enjoying your sleep?" he glared. "Shall we make sure you're well rested?"

"Erik!" Kinana worried.

"It's fine! Stay back!" he shouted.

Jellal and Bellona looked back to see that they were occupied, leaving just them to tend to the charge. Before the two blue-haired people realized it, a dark galaxy came swinging around the side, in which Bellona caught. She shifted on her heels and threw the galaxy away somewhere else, where it dissipated to nothing.

Up ahead, a foot stepped forward. "Well, that went against my calculation."

Looking ahead, Bellona went wide-eyed as her heart skipped a beat. She glared with deep shock as she was seeing the face of a man that was the bane of her existence; her reason that she lived a long time ago. "Father…" she gasped.

"Your father?" Jellal looked at Fernando, flabbergasted.

Fernando adjusted his glasses. "I'm never wrong…especially to bubbling trash such as yourselves. Allow me to prove that."

A grotesque foot stomped on the ground, standing in the way of Minerva, Sting, and Rogue. They stopped dead in their tracks as their opponent was the humungous and heavy man that turned into a demon. He growled with his small eyes glowing hate-filled daggers.

"You…" he snarled.

Ahead of them, the others could feel an intense magic that came from the belittling creature, the very one Minerva threw away long ago. "Jiemma." She sniped. And with her, Sting and Rogue also glared daggers.

Jiemma's body gave off a magical energy that made the ground depress around him. Rocks defied gravity as purple flares ignited with an intense fury. He roared out as his intensity skyrocketed as he lunged at the three, where they charged as well.

Orion and Griffon both went ahead, but even they stopped. The air around them darkness, making a black hue that made the clouds above them look menacing. As they both looked up, chains were herd below. Each showed a harsh stare as they were facing familiar faces.

There, right in front with no words, Griffon glared as he was facing Jacob, whom he just killed. "You." He sniped. "You called me a lack of an assassin…" he growled, veins showing. "Care to test that?"

And beside him, it was an armored demon of darkness, and he breathed out darkness as he glared at Orion. Orion and Demora looked at each other, the Devil Slayer facing his father whom he came to love. No words were exchanged until Orion spoke.

"…Dad…thank you." Orion began to infuse his dark energy, igniting with the same intense dark force that made his whole silhouette as black as night, while his eyes had embers of shrilling intensity. "Now I return you to the peace that you wanted."

As Gajeel kept going with the others, a low growl got his attention. He knew that wasn't his stomach, that much was certain. His spine tingled s he glared back, staring at someone behind. "You…"

There, slowly walking, Bloodman dragged himself and his bodily armor and growled low. A heated breath escaped him as he seethed at Gajeel. "You…"

Gajeel narrowed his eyes. "Lily." He tossed the Exceed the unconscious Kevin. "Take him somewhere…" he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I'm gonna screw this guy over."

Pantherlily nodded. "Understood." He took off elsewhere, carrying Kevin along off to the unknowns.

An icy wind surged around Gray, Lyon, and Juvia. They all stayed close s stepping forward from out of n icy veil, Invel adjusted his glasses and seethed icy stares of pure intent. "Seems the darkness has returned." He sniped.

Gray glared daggers with Lyon. "You."

A heavy foot was in front of Wendy, laughing maniacally being Ezel as he glared daggers. "HAHA! REMEMBER ME, GIRLY?!" he sniped.

Wendy didn't waste a breath as she began to swirl whirlwinds. They came together as her body became Dragon Force once more. Her glare seethed into the eyes of Ezel. And with her, Aniya cocked her gun, ready to take aim and let loose when needed.

"HAHA! That's the spirit! Let's go!" Ezel challenged, lunging at her with extreme force.

Natsu continued rushing ahead, but even he was stopped when he stared at a black hemisphere. He and Happy both. They had eyes as wide as Noctowl as they felt their own heartrates escalate as they were getting a strong, similar, yet equally as horrifying realization.

The black hemisphere had someone slowly walking out, revealing himself to be someone whom had a passive smile. "Hello, Natsu." A certain someone said.

Glaring ahead, Natsu showed no smile in return. "Brother."

Zeref kept his smile, despite the circumstances. No words were exchanged as the two were at an awkward standoff. "Neinhart is disturbing my eternity of sleep…how disrespectful."

Looking back, Nic was seeing that the others were being occupied. He saw explosions go off somewhere, and white and shadow mixing against a hulking man, and two dark galaxies with a speeding yellow comet closing in. He could tell they were all busy, and he knew this all came from someone. He looked up, showing a serious look as he eyed the emperor as he smugly smirked down at them.

For a moment, all let transparent as they were interlocked with eyes seething. Nic's blue eyes could see into Neinhart, and the emperor saw the determination. He hated that. He wanted to see Nic and the others suffer. The fact his smirk widened was a greater challenge threat.

Neinhart looked back at the others, seeing how everyone – especially Lady Erza – was closing in behind him. He meekly shrugged and turned around. "Lady Irene…it's your daughter…"

Erza suddenly glanced to the side, making a sudden stop. "King's Shield, now!"

At her command, Aegislash followed Erza as they scooted to the side of the remainder of the group. They braced themselves as their trademark shield went up, stopping an intense wind blast that rushed through the courtyard so great force. The backlash of the winds went everywhere else, pulsating deep pressure that made the covering up worth it.

"What's this?!" Greninja exclaimed. "A force?!"

Brandish slowly uncovered, her shock evident. "No…that's not it…"

Even Dimaria was beginning to show some shock. Like Brandish, even she was beginning to wane away. Until finally, unable to hold their ground, they both were blown off their feet, fumbling.

"Brandish!" Nic exclaimed, but what he heard next shook him and Erza to their cores.

A small, but sultry chuckle came to their ears. As they slowly turned towards, they showed little to no joy as someone stepped up, showing her sultry figure as she had a big hate shielding her eyes and face. But her lips were seen. "My daughter…"

Her voice left Erza stoned in place. Face to face to a familiar Spriggan and family member, the married couple was staring as the smirk of the revealed woman – Irene Belserion. She gave them a meaningful smile.

"It's been a while, Erza." She said. "And Nic…hello to you as well."

The awkwardness they felt in the situation became one of mourn. Erza's eyes glared softly at her mother. "Mother…"

They both recalled the morbid event. How she was slain by Acnologia, and how, despite what they could, Erza let her die in her arms. Although that's what Irene wanted, so nothing could be said or done about that past event. But even now, the past continues to come back, and all because of Neinhart.

"Irene." Nic said. Even now, he knew he shouldn't let his guard down.

Irene looked down at the ground, giving a mournful sigh. "It seems Neinhart refuses to let me rest…how unfortunate." She faced them both again. "So, what brings you to me?"

The mood was substantial at best. Whether she wanted to fight or not was up in the air, but they knew they couldn't take chances. But between the two, the most assured was Erza. And reasons were clear.

"Nic, I'm leaving it to you."

Nic gave her a look of worry. "Are you sure?"

"Yes…I'm sure we have a bit to talk about." It wasn't so much as that, but Erza knew for safety sake to keep tabs of Neinhart was going to program them with anything.

Nic nodded. "Okay then. C'mon, Greninja!"

"I'm with ya!"

The two darted off, leaving Erza to stalemate with her mother. As Natsu and Zeref also looked at each other, the others were engaging in heated battles. Fireworks and pulsating waves rippled from each attack. The air shook as parts of the courtyard was reduced to nothing, and yet everyone held on. Yukino and Sorano were helping where they could, and the enemies were throwing parries that all countered.

As the battlefield shook, so did Nic and Greninja's heartbeats. As they glared up at Neinhart, the two reflected the man's arrogant smirk with a need to take action. Both their eyes shrunk, and they picked up unparalleled speeds.

"Greninja…"

"Yeah…let's go!"

Together, Nic and Greninja roared valiantly into atmosphere as a pulse wave exerted from both. A cyclone of intense water enveloped them as the spot where they shot from depressed into an open hole on the courtyard. The pillar of spiraling water was like a missile that shot up towards Neinhart, shooting above into the cloudy sky. The Spriggan only watched nervously as the water separated, becoming droplets in midair, and then converged into the formed Nic-Greninja's back and body, creating a dark water cot and medium-sized shuriken on the back.

When their eyes opened, their purple eyes had shrilling power that made even Neinhart drop beds of sweat down his face. They flipped constantly until they at last landed perfectly on their legs, a short shot away from Neinhart as he was turned away.

Between the three, there was a strong, discomforting silence that could spell trouble. The one to break it first was Neinhart.

"I was hoping to have a more ceremonial conversation with you personally." He admitted dryly.

Nic's disposition failed to change. "Sorry to disappoint."

Neinhart musingly chuckled. "Are you really? Or are you saying that just to play coy for the emperor? I'd be considering your opposition if you were more serious or threatening sounding."

"This coming from the emperor who doesn't have the heed in mind to even face an opponent." Nic countered, his eyes narrowing. "Erza told me about your magic. You really put a lot of faith in your historias, don't you?"

"One can never overlook the past. It's something you wish to move on from, but it's still there."

"I know exactly where you're coming from…the past really is unforgettable." Nic and Nic-Greninja's fists balled slowly, tightening with every second. "But it's because of our pasts that we're able to grow. You seem to want to keep the past in the present. You reflect so much that you're not actually learning from your mistakes."

Neinhart's shoulders shrugged as he meekly laughed. He swerved around flamboyantly with a grand gesture. "Why, of course you'd be the one to say that!" he chimed arrogantly. "Why, I fail to see how you people should've learned from the mistake with messing with the Alvarez Empire! We're the strongest nation in the world, now thanks to these pets!"

"And that's precisely why this became our business." Nic-Greninja glared. "What are you hoping to gain out of all of this by the end? It's just going to make things worse."

Neinhart raised a brow as his smirk widened. "Oh really? Then how do you think it should end…froggy?"

Nic and Nic-Greninja didn't bother retorting at this point. They could see he wasn't bending from his already sociopathic course. Rather than tell him, it was best that they showed him their way – the hard way!

They both took battle stances, the same exact kind as their eyes said all that Neinhart needed to know.

The Spriggan morbidly sighed as he shrugged. "Fine. We'll have it your way. Just try to keep me entertained for as long as possible."

Unwilling to properly respond, Nic and Nic-Greninja suddenly jetted across the rooftop, shattering the ground with water spritz as they were like two rockets with craters beneath their monstrous wake.

Neinhart pointed a finger forward. "Come, Azuma!"

Appearing out of a bright magical portal ahead, Azuma glared daggers as he faced Nic and Nic-Greninja. Unfortunately, a purple liquidy spritz zipped passed him, and it kept going.

Azuma was wide-eyed as that happened so fast. He didn't even realize it until seconds later, when a violent purple eruption swallowed him. The shockwaves served to push the two farther ahead as they kept going.

"What?!" Neinhart looked startled to say the least. He glared forward as hurried another counter. "Then comes, Hades!"

Once again, another figment appeared. Hades was again restored, and his glared at Nic and Nic-Greninja as he stood in his path. Slowly, he put two fingers up. "This time, you-!"

History repeated, again. Two high-powered jets of purple glinted past Hades. Before he had the chance, the man was enveloped in bright purple, torn by a shockwave of dense impacts received in nanoseconds as Nic and Nic-Greninja shot ahead like he wasn't there.

Neinhart paled. "What?! No!" He saw Nic was getting closer. He was running out of time. "MARD GEER!"

Materializing, Mard Geer bowed before he evilly smirked at Nic and Nic-Greninja. Unlike the others, he reached forward, shooting thorns at them.

In seconds, Nic and Nic-Greninja were crouched behind Mard Geer, taking a knee as the thorns behind them were still for a moment, until purple cut slashed started from the end and worked towards Mard Geer. Their purple kunai dissipated, signaling their unison Night Slash ceasing. They both vanished on the spot moments before a purple gash nearly opened up Mard Geer. The Demon was swallowed in an agonizing shockwave as his figment faded to nothing.

"No…NO!" Neinhart shrieked. "This is ridiculous!"

Nic and Nic-Greninja continued darting ahead, feet leaving the ground as they seethed purple glares of shrilling fear. Neinhart had no words to say or counter. He was already a panting mess. His heartrate continued skyrocketing as he saw two demon-like figments rushing at him.

"S-S-STAY BACK!" he demanded. "GOD SERENA!"

Appearing as he was summoned next, a foot stepped to the side, a pose twinkling, and orange hair whisked in the winds as God Serena's eyes opened. He smirked ahead, looking prepared. "At ease. For I, God Serena, shall-!"

"HRAH!"

Nic and Nic-Greninja's fists balled and were pulled back. Deep, pulsating purple aura ignited like jet engines for their Return. They bellowed out as they punched forward, landing a groundbreaking blow in God Serena's face. The immense impact made a purple ripple, leaving it quiet before the rooftop depressed once, then twice, and suddenly its top later was blown away in an instant. Neinhart screamed in peril as chunk blew everywhere, and that included God Serena as he twirled and limply smashed repeatedly through rocks in midair. Every impact from there included intense shockwaves that blew up the rooftop a second time, picking up Neinhart in a furious roaring cyclone of purple and wind.

The shockwaves even stretched far high, expelling towards the sky to make a huge and noticeable hole in the dark clouds. It soon faded, leaving a small hole, and debris to rain down around the pair as they held their positions. They glared forward, watching as Neinhart fell with the debris, slamming hard onto his back.

The Spriggan laid there, groaning as he couldn't feel anything for a moment. He strained to move even, but he was still conscious.

Nic glowed, transforming to his Toxic Form. "Toxic!" Taking a deep breath, he expelled a purple liquid that seeped through the air at Neinhart. The liquid made impact, causing a purple cloud to arise. Once it dissipated, the Spriggan was laying on the ground, his nerves twitching and his face having a purple het on the cheeks.

Neinhart coughed up some purple as he was feeling lightheaded. He couldn't stop. He was so distraught as he was at the mercy of Nic as he transformed to his Stone Form. He used his powers and manifested a plate from below Neinhart to prod up and cuff his wrists, as if strapping him down. One could say crucifying, but it was to restrain.

Neinhart gagged relentlessly as he glared down at Nic and Nic-Greninja, the former reverting to his standard form. His eyes were dilating from a mix of disillusion and shock. "But…I don't understand…how did you…?"

"That was the past." Nic said. "Yeah, those guys were something else, I can't deny that…" his purple eyes seethed into the enemy. "But being held back like that doesn't make you realize how much is changing around you."

Neinhart's right eye started twitching a little. "You don't make sense." He scoffed, but karma delivered justice when the poison bubbled spurred from his body for an instance. He felt everything get light for a second.

"Maybe not." Nic glared behind. "But they do."

Neinhart looked beyond Nic, his eyes widening in horror of what was beholding him. To his complete despair, he was seeing the mass of his historias being brought at the mercy of others. He was shocked when he was seeing Gray use his Devil Slayer powers and slashed clean through Invel again without hesitation. He then saw Jiemma's blast waves being repelled back by Minerva, while the Twin Dragons were blindsiding him with their combined attacks. His eyes waned to even Lucy and Sophie, seeing Lucy block the explosions with water just to antagonize the dim-witted Jackal while Sophie used Memoir Hysteria to deal a devastating impact.

"What…this can't…"

He saw Gajeel as a jet-black dragon and he saw throwing relentless punches against Bloodman, who, even as a grim-like mesh, was no match for Gajeel's iron grim might. Not too far, even Zero was blown skywards by the combined efforts by Macbeth and the Oracion Seis. And not too far, Bellona was dissipating Fernando's attacks while Jellal came down with Meteor, leaving the man to scream in agony.

His eyes were a shuddering mess as he looked back down at Nic and Nic-Greninja.

"Look at yourself. You're so warped on the past that you're not even seeing what's in front of your eyes!" Nic exclaimed. "We're all starting to move on from one point and heading for another. Your historias are nothing but our past foes at one point…"

Demora was too slow as Orion was shrouded in darkness. He used all his might to drive a dark-coated fist into his father, releasing a battle cry as he swallowed him in a roaring dark blast wave.

Griffon passed Jacob again, his wires snaring him like a puppet. When he clutched and closed his eyes, he ignored the sound of blood splattering as the pieces of him were fading away to nothing.

"No…NO!" Neinhart exasperated. But in his shuddering wake, he began smirking. "Heh…maybe they're gone…but we still have Lady Irene and…"

The two looked back, and soon Neinhart saw as well. To his horror, he was seeing that Zeref and Natsu were just doing nothing, as was Erza and Irene. Both just smiled, stalling their relatives like there was no personal vendetta.

"Wait…but I thought Lady Irene…" his eyes were shrinking slowly. "Wait…Lady Irene…I thought you."

Irene looked back at Neinhart, making him stop. His background and mind were starting to distort from the mix of poison and the mental instability he was suffering from. Even Zeref was looking back, not lifting a finger towards Natsu and vice versa. In fact, both their smirks were what made Neinhart's eyes pulsate in and out.

The emperor's breathing began to get heavily. He was seeing what he wanted wasn't happening. He didn't even understand why.

Zeref smirked as he faced Natsu. "I see you still have that scar on your cheek, Natsu."

Natsu looked at the scar he ascertained, the one he didn't get rid of, like Nic did with his scars. He grinned back. "Yeah." He glanced at it. "Gotta remember my hardships somehow."

Zeref smiled back. "I can understand."

Irene was facing Erza, but much like Zeref, she had no qualms as well. "You're still alive. That's good."

Erza nodded. "I wish I could say the same…unfortunately that isn't the case." She looked pass her mother, looking at the rooftop high above. "Was this all done truly by you?"

Irene snickered lightly. "Oh come now. I may be a sly she-devil, but manipulation isn't something I typically do. I'm afraid it's all his doing."

Erza mournfully smiled. "Honestly, would you have blamed us as well?"

Irene shared the sentiment. "No. We're a proud empire…or rather were." She shrugged. "But what are you gonna do?"

"Leave it up to my husband of course." Erza glanced at the sky again, knowing Nic could still be fighting. Even now, just thinking about him made her warm and fuzzy.

"Husband…I see." Irene smirked. "Congratulations."

Up above, watching the carnage dialing down, the poisoned Neinhart was seeing Irene was just idly talking. He looked like he was gonna pale. "But…Lady Irene…didn't you want…" He shook his head in rejection. "No…no, this…this isn't what I thought you wanted! What is the meaning of this?! All of you!" He angrily faced Nic again. "You! What did you do?!"

"Absolutely nothing." Nic sternly said. "Like I said, it's all about moving on."

Neinhart looked back to see his hostorias losing ground. Wendy and Carla defeated Ezel, and Zero dropped to his back as well. Fernando was hit by Bellona's own Nightmare Magic, leaving him to fall to his back in defeat. His adrenaline was starting to rise. His eyes were jutting out all over the place s he looked bitterly unstable by the second. He started to seep blood from his lip.

Nic and Nic-Greninja felt a drastic shift in the atmosphere as everything began to shudder. The rooftop was quaking irrationally. "Nic…"

"Yeah. Something's wrong." Nic responded. "Neinhart, stop!"

"No…NO…NOOOOO!" Neinhart flashed intense magic pulse waves that shook the ground. Winds pulsed from his body that sent shockwaves, making the two hold on as the delusional man was caught in a corrupted light of his own power. "GRAAAAH!" he snapped uproariously.

Looking above, the light was rattling the entire palace, catching everyone's attention.

"What is that light?" Orion's inquiry was followed by his father slowly vanishing away in front of his eyes. "Demora…"

All around, the historias started to vanish. As Jackal laid there on the ground in defeat, the ground shook as he faded away. But Lucy and Sophie looked around, feeling a very scary power rising.

"What is this force?" Sophie questioned. She turned towards the sky, seeing a weak pillar of light. "Magic Power…"

Slowly, Zeref also began to fade right before Natsu again. Natsu was quiet as he ws seeing the lower-half of Zeref slowly fade away. "Brother…"

"Natsu…" The fading man was gone by the neck, leaving him to smile somberly. "I'll give Makarov and Mavis your regards."

With that, Zeref was finally gone. Golden sparkles were in his place, twinkling until they dissipated. Happy looked at Natsu, but the Dragon Slayer had a serious expression.

"Thanks. I'd appreciate that."

Irene also began fading away, leaving Erza to watch her go. "Seems things are starting to get interesting." She chimed. "It was nice to see you doing well…my daughter."

"Mother…" With that, Erza stared as she faded right before her next. She was the last one, and the redhead sighed in acceptance. "Rest well."

"Erza, look!" Aegislash looked skywards, getting Erza to look at the sky as a bright pillar was roaring like thunder.

As she looked up at it, she could feel yet another change in the atmosphere as the magnitude increased. The winds picked up as her hair violently shifted.

Neinhart was screaming the top of his lungs off. He was roaring evilly as he refused to accept everything. "I'LL FIX IT! I'LL MAKE IT RIGHT FOR YOU!" he wailed to the pillar's top. "LADY IRENE! I'LL MAKE YOUR WILL MY OWN! THEY WILL PAY, I SWEAR~!"

"He's out of control!" Nic-Greninja roared.

"Neinhart, stop!" Nic pleaded.

"NEVER~! AAHHHHHHH!" He screamed a primal shout as a cyclone of Magic Power expelled from his body. The light enveloped Nic and Nic-Greninja as they stared at the delusional man with shock.

It all went silent, until moments later, the pillar abruptly dissipated. The sky glinted weakly before it abruptly parted. The pulse wave caused the sun to shine down on them through the dark peak. The intense magnitude they once had finally ceased. When the two uncovered, they realized they were still standing.

"What the…?" Nic looked at his body parts, but saw nothing. "What happened…?" he faced his partner. "Nic-Greninja."

Nic-Greninja looked at Nic. "I'm fine, too…but…"

Both looked forward, catching onto a figure that was on his hands and knees. There, within the broken slab's debris, Neinhart was panting relentlessly. He sweated bullets as he looked like he was going to pass out t any given moment. Even more toxic bubbles surfaced on him, but it looked like it didn't faze him. Within each heavy breath, it was one weak cackle after another.

Nic stepped forward. "What the hell have you done?!"

Neinhart didn't listen. He was too busy chuckling at the ground to even think of anything but ascertaining victory. He will win, no matter what. Nobody was going to bring shame to him and his empire, not ever.

As he slowly looked up at his foes, he knew what he had done, but didn't care. "Now…let's see you 'move on' from this…" he labored. "You…destroy him."

Nic and his Pokémon furrowed their brows. It was only when they felt an odd chill up their spines did they catch on.

Both their eyes slowly shrunk as they could feel a grizzly wind shift between them and a figure that stood behind them. The silhouette of someone familiar with bare feet and long hair was evident. What Nic and Nic-Greninja felt and knew of, it reminded them of an all-too familiar vibe, in which only a few individuals ever gave him.

As they slowly turned around, their eyes showed honest horror as a wind shifted between, this time far colder; enough to leave nerves as numb as they were now. In the winds, a tattered cloak and long dark blue hair shifted.

The glare of that man was as intense as it ever saw. Nic and Nic-Greninja looked over their shoulders with the chill fully paralyzing them. Purple met dark eyes of pure intense evil. In unison, only one word came from both their mouths.

"…Acnologia."

The Dragon Slayer was brought back, and his glare was set in stone on his murderers.


BOOM! Plot twists! How was that guys, intense enough for ya? Okay? Okay. But for real though, I thought I could do some form of controversy with Hoshina and her fortunetelling. I thought relating this to the actual canon would help spark some keen differences, and otherwise similarities involved. So the Future Rogue brought to reality by Hoshina was the canon one, not the one from the first story, get it? Different timelines can be so confusing.

I also thought this could be another chance for Minerva's Bagon to come out and play. And as you have seen, I focused quite a bit on Sabertooth this chapter against Hoshina, the last Spriggan before Neinhart.

So I hope that you guys were astounded with the fights as usual. I know you might be disappointed with the whole historia thing, but I wanted to get to the topic of Nic and Nic-Greninja back in action against Neinhart. And, as you have seen, the return of a certain OP Dragon Slayer they defeated almost a year ago. So with Neinhart poisoned, he can't do anything but rely on Acnologia to kick butt in his place. I wonder how that'll turn out?

I am aiming for one more chapter to finish this arc, so next chapter will be the end of the Revenge of Alvarez Arc/Saga. I'm hoping at latest will be Halloween, the end of October. Review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! Thanks!