"It's beautiful, isn't it Gray darling?" Juvia swooned softly.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Gray didn't sound as convinced.

The two were currently sitting at the base of a small hill that overlooked Astral – the one Nic and Erza spent last night on. Its high vintage point made it so they could even see the sea twinkle beneath the night sky. Snorunt was frolicking around as he was playing tag with Snover and Juvia's Marill while their Trainers tried to find their peace on the hill.

It was hard telling how long they've been there for exactly. Juvia offered to settle to look at the stars for a little while once they came out and Gray absently obliged. Though considering the last time they noticed the sun being gone it must've been a while.

"You think Lucy's ceremony's about to start?" Gray tried to make conversation. "She seemed pretty anxious since hearing wind about this."

"I understand how you feel Gray, I do." Juvia sighed. "Though I hate to admit it, I feel…happy for Lucy." She thought she was staring at the stars too long to have been drifted from her own world. She actually felt envious of Lucy? Granted, they were somewhat "love rivals" in her eyes, though Lucy denied this at every corner she thought of that. But despite misgivings, she knew Lucy had her own life to live for, and that meant sticking out for the people that meant most to her. A part of her actually concurred to her jealousy. "She and Aquarius have been away from each other a long time. It only feels right they should meet up like this."

"Yeah, I guess." Gray slowly leaned back so he was lying on the grass, looking directly up at the night sky above.

Snorunt laughed as he slid on his bottom down the grassy slope to the next hill. He turned around and saw Snover and Marill sliding close after him.

Getting a greedy idea, Snorunt snickered as his mouth glowed bright blue. He took a sharp breath before exhaling Icy Wind in the grass where he landed. Slowly, frost covered the grass, turning to thin ice on each blade. Snorunt backed away further as Snover and Marill slid onto the grass…only for the ice to carry them over and onto the next slope down.

"GAAAH!" Both tumbled down onto the next flat grass area, Marill plopping onto Snover's back.

"Oww…that's smarts…" Snover groaned as he stood back up. He looked up the slope to find Snorunt feasting like a ravage animal on the frozen icy grass he made. "Hey! That's playing dirty!"

Snorunt jerked up, realizing he was caught. "Uh-oh." He turned around and darted away. "Catch me if you can!"

"Grrrr! Wait until we get our hands on you!" Snorunt wobbled up the hill after Snorunt, with Marill jumping onto his hat for the ride.

As the mischief of the Pokémon happened down below, Gray and Juvia seemed to be in their own little world. The two were just enjoying what serenity they had with one another. To Juvia it was a dream come true, but to Gray it was still something he was getting used to. He and Juvia were…well, even now that was something he couldn't seem to answer. Just what were they exactly? He didn't fancy himself as the suave boyfriend type of guy. He didn't think he'd find himself in a relationship at all. Settling down and affection really wasn't his kind of style, and he should know Juvia must be aware f that by now. But he did care for her, and he meant it. Even after his little dates and jobs they went on together, he never took any initiatives like she did. Was he just not that confident in his own abilities as a wooer?

"Gray? Is everything alright?"

The sound of Juvia's tone snapped him out of his wonders. "Huh? Yeah, why?"

"You look rather spacious. Are you thinking about something?"

"No, it's nothing." He lied.

Juvia seemed to have backed off. "If you say so. I trust you."

"I know." A short silence passed before he looked at Juvia again, "Hey, Juvia?"

"Yes Gray?"

Gray hesitated for another moment. "…listen. You know I care a lot about you, right? I just…wanted to make sure I got that point across." He turned his head to face the coastal mountain range. "If you were thinking of me otherwise that is."

Inwardly, Juvia's entire head reduced to a steaming puddle, her face blushing up a storm. 'M-My darling…he just said…just said…that he cares about me!' Her mental self completely fell over with swirls in her eyes to leave a blank mind. She shook herself as she tried thinking of how to respond. "Uh, w-what brought that on, my dear? I-it's not like you to say such things to me…"

"Yeah I know, just thought I'd try it is all." He scoffed meekly. "Guess I still got a way to go then?"

"If it means anything…I think you're doing just fine." Juvia admitted matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" Gray looked at her mildly surprised.

"It's okay if you can't say it back just yet. Just knowing that you're allowing me to stay by your side is more than enough for my sake." Before Gray could speak his part, she cut him off. "And you don't have to worry about me or yourself. The darling I know still knows how much I mean to him back. You're good enough for me, even when you don't think you are." Her smile softened. "Please don't forget that."

"Juvia…" Seeing the rain woman's smile made his stomach lighten. He started getting flashes of the battles he shared with her at Alvarez and Glacidia. He smiled at realizing how stupid he was thinking. "Yeah, I got it. Thanks." He smiled back.

The two looked at each other admirably while on the slope below, Snorunt was lying in the grass snoozing a snot bubble caused by Snover's Grass Whistle. Marill caught up and bounced in victory over their sleeping foe. Their moments, however, were broken by the sound of a loud caw in the night sky.

"What's that?" Gray sat up, alarmed by the echoing caw.

"It's coming from up there." Juvia pointed skywards at the circling Staraptor in the altitudes overhead.

Gray's face turned serious. "Is that…Nic's Staraptor?"

"What is she doing around here so suddenly?"

Seeing her circle over their heads gave him a bad impression. "Something tells me the fun's over."

Nearby, Duncan looked up as Staraptor circled over him. Apparently Gray wasn't the only one with gut feelings.


BEEPBEEP-BEEP-BEEPEEP!

Staryu's core flashed red blinking lights nonstop at the twinkling night sky. Whether it's by natural biology or its instinctive tuitions, the Starfish Pokémon was drifting in the seashores off of the spot where Lucy left it.

BEEP-BEEP! BEEP!

Sporadic beeps kept blinking as it watched the stars twinkle. No one could really tell what Staryu would be staying – unless one spoke in Morse code that is. There weren't any frequency differences with the flashes, but the red blinks were an indication of some form of communication upon celestials. In a Pokémon world this would make no sense. But on Earthland, theories are put to the test.

Staryu blinked rapidly for a whole second, faster than a Combusken kicking. Whatever it was saying, the twinkling in the sea and sky didn't change. It blinked slower, again nothing. It blinked rapidly again in a hasty fashion, leading to some kind of answer that left it stunned.

A star in the sky began glowing bright, almost an identical color to Staryu's.

BEEPBEEP?

A second star glowed, followed by a third.

Staryu watched as the stars twinkled into a constellation. They began to create a connected line towards one another in the shape of a constellation. Yet Staryu blinked in question as the stars were aligning for this constellation.

And what it was seeing, it reflected in the water around it. The twinkling sea minerals, however, were brightening around it. Its beeping only grew as it looked around warily, seeing the brightening of the sea stars. It looked up one more time, giving only one blink of wonder as the skies brightened in a formation.

BEEP…


"This sucks."

"It'll be okay, Natsu."

"How come Lucy and Yukino are the only ones who get to go? They could at least let us watch or something!"

"It's probably an ancient celestial custom or something." Happy patted Natsu's leg. "C'mon, it's for Lucy. Don't be like that."

Natsu's complaints with the feline were all that the guards posted in front of them would be hearing for the last half hour. The Dragon Slayer's patience was as thin as paper – then again, he'd burn it to kill time. He and Sorano would be more than happy to accompany Lucy and Yukino if it wasn't for these customs. But being alone without anything to do was quickly wearing down everyone.

"Well, I guess we can wait until she's done." Happy prompted. "Wanna go fish again? I bet the fish will be extra delicious with all this star stuff we've bene hearing about!" He was salivating at the thought of eating such prime fish. Natsu, however, didn't seem as ecstatic.

"I guess…" He looked up at the hill again with a furrowed brow. "But we're in the same guild. It just doesn't feel fair."

"I'm not~." Sorano whimsically chimed.

"No one asked you." Natsu's retort left a hole right through Soarno's sappy heart. She almost fell over from shock.

"Jerk!"

Happy looked up at the sky, seeing Aquarius' constellation starting to form. "Look, I think I can see the alignment coming along." He stared silently as the stars were linking. "So then the constellation shines on the hill…and they do the rest?"

"That's what they said. Wish I could see for myself though." He turned towards the guards. "You sure you can't just let us slide this one time?" He was met with crossed magical spears blocking his way to the stairs.

"His majesty's orders. No outsiders are permitted beyond this point during ritual processions." One guard reiterated.

Natsu pouted. "Man, such sticklers."

"Natsu!"

The sudden shout alarmed the pinkette and company. Much to their surprise, Nic and Erza were racing up to them hastily with Sophie in tow. Following her was her Kadabra telepathically holding the textbooks. Surprisingly, Cana, Wendy, Vanessa, and everyone else was catching up.

"Guys, what's going on?" Natsu asked. "Wait, what's the rush?"

"There's no time to explain right now." Erza quipped. "This is an emergency."

"Where's Lucy?" Nic asked. "Were you guys with her and Yukino?"

"Yeah, we were." Sorano responded, glancing up the stairway. "You just missed them. They went up there a little while ago."

"Already?" Wendy gasped, turning towards Carla. "Carla…"

The humanized Exceed bit her lower lip as she mentally cursed herself. She knew something was wrong; she, Cana, and Delphox felt the same thing as psychics.

Erza faced the soldiers impeding their path. "Let us through, please. This is an official guild emergency."

The two soldiers weren't swayed by her tone. "Sorry, no passage beyond this point. King's orders!"

Nic glanced at Greninja before stepping up. He shifted into his Spooky Form, spreading his legs. "Sorry…but this is for your own good. Nothing personal." Multiple golden orbs of aura surrounded Nic, expanding to have purple and white cores inside.

"Confuse Ray!"

The balls shot at the two guards, converging around their faces. A bright flash impeded their visions before it went away. They stumbled around, looking hazily with eyes dilating. Their visions were all distorted as they tried to make sense of their surroundings, but all they saw were black shadows surrounding them. Slowly turning their heads at each other, each guard only saw another shadow. The close proximity spooked them, forcing them to point their weapons at each other. They tackled each other, throwing the other to the ground off to the side.

Natsu looked shocked at Nic's attack. "What the-?! Nic, what the heck's that for?!"

Nic shot a serious glare, one that actually scared Natsu. "We can't explain right now. But for Lucy and Yukino…we have to get to them, now."

Natsu's suspicions were stopped cold by Nic's stare. Whatever Nic was feeling, he knew this was dead-serious. He faced the stairway with his earlier disposition sharpening.

"Aquarius' constellation is in position." Vanessa informed the group.

"Guess that means they're about to start." Cana reckoned.

Sophie's body tensed at the thoughts running through her mind. 'Wait a minute. If Nic and Erza asked me earlier about the crown, what does that have to with the ceremony? Unless…' A realization dawned upon her. 'Wait, that crown and the lines they asked me to translate…oh no.'

"Let's move it!" Erza picked up her Poke Ball and threw it. Out came Houndoom, whom Happy shrieked at. Erza mounted him. "On the double, Houndoom! Move it!"

"You got it!" Making headway, the hellhound pounced from step to step, making swift progress towards the next flight.

"Happy! Let's get up there, too!" Natsu called.

"A-Aye, sir!" Getting over his initial shock of Houndoom, Happy activated his Aera Magic and carried Natsu skywards. Staraptor tailed in the flight ahead.

"There's no time to waste. Let's go!" Greninja argued.

"Right. Let's hurry!" Nic quickly darted up the steps with Greninja, leaving the others to follow behind.

Amongst the many that were tailing behind, in the back of the pack was Sorano, who was flimsily running for her life. Though it could've been mistaken for a petty prancing. "Wait for me, Yukino!" she squealed. "Big sis is coming for you!"


A sense of holiness surrounded the plateau Lucy and Yukino stood at. The air was a lot livelier with an incense of magical energy that was making them tingle in their regal adornments. The two Celestial Mages look one more look around at their surroundings to see open mountain ranges with shooting stars and twinkling stars for a ceiling.

The array of stars in the heavens almost mesmerized Lucy, leaving her body to feel like a temple. "Oh wow, it's so…so pretty…"

Yukino nodded. "Yeah, it sure is. I think I see it, up there!"

Lucy's eyes swiftly glued towards the twinkling lights clustered in the sky directly above the mirror they were on. Their alignment recreated Aquarius' figure, something that Lucy's eyes were hallucinating about. 'Aquarius…'

Melchior looked at Aquarius' constellation getting into position. "It looks like we're right on time. There shouldn't be anymore time for us to make haste of tonight." He faced the girls. "So then, will you two ladies be ready?"

Lucy nodded. "Right."

"Yes."

Melchior grinned. "Good. Now then, please pay attention." He looked down at the mirror. "At any minute now, the constellation will be directly above. Then that happens, Aquarius' powers will flow from the seas and into the atmosphere. We will be able to gather that magical pressure in the mirror if we place all of her keys in alignment with each star they represent."

"So you're saying to make her and her key whole again, we have to…?" Yukino trailed off.

"Please, if you would?" Auriol stepped in front to guide them into the heart of the mirror. She met with her fellow associates and looked down. "Right here, place one key."

Lucy looked at where Auriol was pointing to. "Here?"

"Yes. And I advise you keep up from now on." She didn't sound nearly as patient as before, startling Lucy.

"R-right!" Taking Taurus' key, Lucy placed it on the star reflecting on the mirror.

"Miss Yukino." Yukino turned to see Oberon standing a few meters away.

"Yes?"

Oberon moved off to the side, revealing another star. "I believe this is where Libra goes. If you may?"

Nodding, Yukino proceeded. "Yes, certainly." She walked on over and pulled out Libra's key. She set it where Oberon directed, earning a solemn nod. "Like this?"

"Very good." Oberon watched Yukino walk towards the next nearest constellation. With her back turned, he shot a look at Melchior like he was trying to tell him something that he seemingly understood.

Once the keys were all set, the many stars that shined on the mirror had keys to make the constellation. With all the Zodiac keys on, the only one left was at the very end, Aquarius' spot.

"This is the last one." Lucy held up Aquarius' broken key between her and Yukino. The two mages stared at the key with hidden hopes of this succeeding. For Lucy's sake, this was something she had to do. With a nod, she set it down on the spot as Melchior walked over.

"Very good. Now then, both of you. Join together and activate your magic. Once you begin the channel, keep the flow nice and steady."

Nodding in understanding, Lucy faced Yukino. "Ready?"

She got a nod in response. "Let's do it."

The two faced each other on their knees, their hands joined and interlocked. They closed their eyes and took quiet, long breaths to steady their magical pressure building up inside their bodies. Surprisingly they were feeling their magic flow a lot better than usual here. It had to be because if the celestial energy that Astral was known for. Could also be the dresses that they were wearing. Melchior did inscribe that by wearing them, it's not only by custom, but also to help control their Magic Power better. And the results were outweighing the risks.

As his assistance backed off on the mirror, Melchior stood over the two mages and faced the sky. "Oh gracious Tetrabiblos, ruler of the divine lands beyond stars, hear thy plea."

Slowly, Lucy and Yukino's body were surrounded by a bright glow. Their magical energy was beginning to react to the summon.

"May our cries pour out to you, let the rage of the heavens quell. The mourning of the stars that have passed, let them be our guiding aid to this task we dare take. Here we have before us two of our kind, those who still wish to transcend Earthland to be of you. In their time here on this ground we mere mortals share, give us the strength to give us the key to that holy matrimony!"

Lucy and Yukino's glowing bodies radiated magic energy that went into Aquarius' broken key. The key started glowing, creating a golden trail that went to the next key. That key followed to the next, and then the next. There, the network divided to even more keys branched away. Soon enough, the 12 keys gathered were glowing as bright as actually stars, joined by light trails in the shape of Aquarius.

'I can feel it…my powers are transferring.' Lucy thought. 'It's…becoming everyone's!'

Down below, the bright light stopped Houndoom in his tracks. "Erza, look!"

The Requip Mage looked up at the bright lights coming from the plateau up ahead. "I see Nic!"

Beside her, Nic and Greninja saw the lights, their gut feelings souring. "There's no doubt about it. That's Lucy." Her magical energy was indistinguishable, especially after all this time. "We have to-!"

BA-DUMP!

"You cannot let that happen!"

All matter of tunes playing in the background silence when a throbbing in Nic's head stopped him in his tracks. This alarmed Erza definitely.

"Nic? Are you alright?" She looked over, seeing Greninja flinch like his Trainer. "Greninja? Both of you?!"

Nic grunted as he frustratingly clutched his head, his nerves bristling when that voice ran through every nerve he had. 'What the…my body…what just happened? That voice…why did it make me feel like a Rhyhorn just ran over me?' He looked over at Greninja to see him throbbing as well. 'Greninja…'

'This feeling…it felt like someone was trying to get inside our heads.' The ninja frog tried to collect his thoughts. 'What…what's going on around here?'

Behind them, Cana and Sophie were feeling their heads pound like Vulcans with hammers clobbering them; Cana's case it felt like a hangover.

"Cana, are you okay?" Wendy gasped.

"You're on a knee, what happened?" Carla asked. She caught an intuition. 'Wait a second. Does it have to do with what we heard? Could it be that voice…?'

Vanessa comforted the aching Sophie. "Sophie, your head. What's wrong?" As she awaited a response, a flicker of aura was sensed like before. 'That same aura as before. Someone was just there again.'

Sophie winced as she gathered her bearings. "We're…fine." She staggered back to her feet. "Cana, you felt that too, didn't you? That voice…it had to be…"

Cana straightened up along the stairway hill as support. "Yeah, I think I get what you're saying girl." She looked up at the constellation. "Guess they're sounding desperate then."

"That case, let's hurry." Recovered from his shock, Nic took to the lead again. "We're fine! C'mon!"

Erza nodded. Knowing she had to trust her husband. Houndoom and Greninja pressed on.

Out by the Astral seas, the golden light produced by magical energy caught Staryu's attention. The starfish blinked out of surprise before looking towards Aquarius' constellation. For some reason, even it felt unnerved by this strange foreboding. It skipped out of the water and back in. After surfacing, the celestial communicator swam towards the faraway source.

The glow of the celestial energy coursing through the mirror shined brightly. By now the glow enveloped the entire surface area of the mirror, making it an open gateway that Melchior called upon. His brilliance was towering with a might of excellence as he focused. Meanwhile, his followers were admiring his creative works.

"It's a beautiful sight, is it not?" Auriol marveled.

Oberon nodded in agreement. "Yes, I would have to agree. His lordship is finally in the process of something truly spectacle."

"I have to agree." Caius said coolly.

A loud yawn came from Vita as she sleepily stared. "That's great. Is it almost over? I'm really sleepy…"

Tophet held his head high, staring at the glowing Aquarius constellation. "In due time. For now, our majesty must feel thy support of his fellow peers. The stars above have given their blessings, so now we must do the same."

Bion nodded in agreement. He watched as the holy entity ahead of him continued with his chanting.

"Now…let your powers flow from heavens even higher! Thy radiance, under the fellowship of the stars, reveal thy true selves!"

Melchior's audible demand seemed to have earned him an answer in response. The 12 Zodiac keys continued glowing bright as Lucy and Yukino's energy continued filtering throughout the plateau. By now they were keeping it together as much as possible. This was actually starting to hurt them.

The strain their bodies were taking was weighing them down some, but they didn't give in. In fact this kind of force pushing out their powers actually accelerated further. Their interlocked fingers dug into their skins to keep all their pain in check.

A golden projectile left one key on the ground. Then another, followed by a third one. They continued until 11 hemispheres were floating overhead. Lucy and Yukino opened their eyes to see what was happening, and they almost fell out of place when they saw their spirits forming from the energy spheres.

'Loke!' Lucy saw the Zodiac leader straighten his tie. Beside him, Taurus smirked as he held his axe. Taurus. Cancer. Sagittarius. Virgo! Aries. Gemini. Scorpio. Capricorn.'

'Libra. Pisces…' Similarly, Yukino was listing her Zodiacs overlooking her. If she were breathless, she's be dead by now.

The 11 Zodiacs looked down at Aquarius' key to find it broken. Looking at each other then the key, they knew what had to be done. Reaching out their palms, the glow around their bodies transcended into the palms – fins in Pisces' case. Golden beams shot from their hands to envelop the key.

The key was lifted by the powers of the remaining Zodiacs between Lucy and Yukino's breasts. It slowly transcended their heads and continued ascending higher. They watched in awe as they continued pouring their Celestial Magic. The key twinkled inside the hemisphere of golden light coming from 11 tiny lasers empowering it under Aquarius' direct constellation light.

As Staryu continued its way towards the shores, the sea beneath it began glowing. The core tilted down to show transparent twilight beneath the still waves. The starfish could see an entire gateway of galaxies and stardust everywhere underwater. Once again, it prolonged a long beep to distinguish its awe.

Happy carried Natsu into the air overlooking the ritual. "Woah, what's going on here?" the Exceed was almost too distracted before looking down at the blonde. "Natsu, there she is!"

He looked at the scene with equal awe, seeing Lucy with Yukino. "Hey, I think that's her!" he tried calling out to her. "Lucy! Lucy!"

"Lucy~!"

The faint calls of Natsu and Happy alarmed the blonde currently working on her magic flow. 'Natsu? Happy?'

Unfortunately for them the Dragon Slayer also rung the ears of the advisors. Oberon looked skywards to see the pinkette and blue cat with wings above them. "Is everyone seeing this I presume?"

"I am." Caius dutifully remarked.

"I thought we told the guards that no one but us was permitted beyond that point." Auriol reminded exasperatedly.

Tophet's gruff face showed no sense of chagrin. "It would appear that these Fiorians have no sense of privacy or respects for their cultures."

Oberon looked towards the king to see him still working his powers. He knew that if anything happened during the ritual, Aquarius' key wouldn't reform until the next constellation, which could hamper their efforts. He couldn't allow that. He huffed.

Not getting a response, Happy grew worried. "Is she okay down there?"

"Not sure." Natsu squinted to see her teeth gritting. She like she was concentrating hard. 'Was this ritual thing supposed to be hurting her?'

Leaping up from beneath the plateau, Houndoom and Greninja pounced, with their trainers behind. "What's going on up here?" Erza demanded. Behind her, everybody else flocked in.

"Woah, check this place out." Cana whistled. Looking around that had to be a rather blatant understatement.

"This is the place, huh." Gray speculated. He could already feel the air glowing around him with magical power. "Such pressure."

Juvia gasped when she saw Lucy and Yukino. "Look, there they are!" she pointed them out.

"It's Lucy! And Yukino!" Wendy exclaimed.

Nic saw Lucy activating her powers, much to his own worries. He saw Aquarius' key overhead to see the broken staff slowly melding energy to rematerialize it. He gritted his teeth. 'Damnit, just under the wire.' "Lucy!" He called out. "Listen to me! You and Yukino need to-!" He was cut off when Greninja suddenly looked right. His senses picked up and he leaped back. Instantly following, Nic veered back as a yellow wave ran across the ground in front of them. The shockwave passed by, but no one was expecting anything too welcoming.

"Well this ain't too good." Houndoom bluntly stated.

On the other side of the shockwave, Auriol was standing firm in place, greeting her guests with a not-so-amused frown. "I don't believe you've heard us before. This point is off limits."

"Auriol." Erza glared.

Around Auriol, the rest of the advisors stood as a blockade for everyone. Not one looked any less serious than Auriol…except Vita, who looked bored to mask her drowsiness.

"Fellow Fiorians." Auriol continued to press the matter dep. "I trust that you are all aware that you are trespassing on sacred meanings. You understand the meaning of this is against his majesty's wishes. You wish to explain yourselves?"

Sophie stepped forward. "Look, it's not how it looks. We have a verified reason for doing so."

"So you say." Oberon didn't seem as convinced, more like amused actually. He looked behind Sophie to see her Kadabra with all the books floating above. 'Textbooks? Then that means…I see.'

"Anybody else not liking the way they're looking at us?" Gray scoffed. It wasn't too hard for him of all people to understand what they were feeling. It must be because of his Devil Slayer Magic he's been mastering. Ever since the fight in the Alvarez Palace, his relearned Devil Slayer powers have been sharper than ever. He could look into people's eyes to sense what kinds of darkness lurked inside their hearts. And from the looks of it, he was getting a bit from these guys.

"Everyone, the warning." Vanessa reminded.

"She's right. There's no time to waste." Erza turned towards Nic. "Nic!"

"On it." Glowing once again, he manifested into his Spooky Form and glared at the advisors. "Sorry, but your ritual has gotta end, one way or another." He fazed into the ground, vanishing like a ghost.

Bion flinched. "He's gone!"

Auriol swiped her arm. "Compose yourselves. Make sure no one else interferes!" She angrily glared at Erza and the other mages. "You impudences…do you not understand his majesty's intentions? Such abominations to the names of the heavens you are! Leave at once!"

Her response was a snarl from Erza's Houndoom. "And if we don't?" the knight requipped a sword in defense.

"You do realize that this also reflects on your status of Fiore's monarch, are you aware of that?" Oberon reminded. "Your queen will not be too happy if we tell her what you all would have done if we let this matter continue."

There it was, the blackmail. It was true they came here on the king's behalf and to help aid Lucy. While that was also true, they also were to represent Fiore's diplomacy. If Hisui learned if this act failed and her people compromised what the king could be deemed as good, it would reflect on their whole system. This realization caused everyone there to come to a pause for how to handle the situation.

'Man, these guys aren't letting us have a say at all.' Cana detested.

Erza remained put with everyone behind her. She realized he was right, but there had to be some kind of justification to all this. Nic and Jellal's instincts were unlike any other. It can't end like this. 'Nic, please hurry.'

Lucy and Yukino were continuing their struggle to produce more Magic Power for their spirits to use. The strain their bodies were feeling felt like gravity was tearing at their insides. They didn't realize the ritual would be this brutal on them, but they were doing their best to put the key back together. By now, the key's shaft was almost completely remade.

"Thy Tetrabiblos, bless us with the strength to see this bond through." Melchior chanted. "Be our guiding aid to the light of rejuvenation!"

Glowing pain flared from every pour in their bodies. Lucy and Yukino grunted and tried to hold in their screams. The longer they tried pouring, the more exhausted they were getting, and at the rate they were going, the progress would be worth it, but where would that leave them?

'Just a little more! Just…a little more…' Lucy could feel her consciousness blackening. 'For Aquarius…I…have to…!'

CLUTCH!

Lucy and Yukino almost squealed when they felt something cold grab their thick, luscious thighs. Even with the dresses coating them, the grip felt firm like iron.

"W-what just-WAH!" Suddenly Lucy's body turned translucent and was pulled under.

"Lucy!" Yukino panicked before she was pulled under next.

The glow coming from their magic continued resonating in their spot for a few moments until started flickering away. Melchior stared ahead with a blank look, like he anticipated this.

Moments later, Nic fazed up in front of his friends, grasping Yukino and Lucy as they became solid again. "What just…Nic?!" A panicked Lucy shrieked. "What're you-?!"

"What's going on?" Yukino looked around, her body's tension lifting drastically, that is until Sorano glopped her younger sister.

"Yukino~! Are you okay?!" Sorano comically worried, despite her sibling's discomforts.

"Uh, yeah…I think so." She took a glance at the mages around her. "But what's everyone doing here?"

The advisors all looked ahead, giving low scorns or quiet expressions.

"Lucy!" Natsu descended from the skies with Happy and Staraptor, the latter whom was promptly recalled to her Poke Ball by Nic. The Dragon Slayer raced towards Lucy's side. "Lucy, are you hurt?"

"Natsu." The blonde was surprised by his distinctly defensive behavior. "Uh, y-yeah, why?" She gasped in realization. "Wait, Aquarius! What happened to her?!"

The attention drew towards the king, who glared ahead. Levitating before him was a golden light in the shape of Aquarius' key, or at least what's supposed to be the take on it. Everyone looked over towards the glowing mirror to see the spirits no longer using golden lasers on a single point. Instead they were all in a standstill, staring at the golden glow fade slightly around the object.

Lucy's expression was like she was frozen. She became breathless as her Poke Ball rattled beside her. Klefki suddenly popped out, floating with equal shock as her Trainer.

"Lucy, is that…?"

The blonde was stone silent as she couldn't describe the words.

The glow around the key finally receded enough to revealed a fully repaired shaft and end. As the constellation shined high over, Aquarius' key was in Melchior's hand in a perfectly new condition. "It…is done." He grinned.

"He…he really did it…" Sophie was at a loss for what to say on the matter. Even she was skeptical about it at first, but she didn't think it'd turn out like this so quick. A part was just as amazed as she was baffled.

"Aquarius' key." Wendy gasped. "It's fixed."

Nic stared quietly with everyone else, his and their own worries arising. 'All 12 Zodiacs are brought back. Don't tell me he's gonna…'

The king raised the key overhead, looking towards the constellation. "Now! Reveal thee! Open – Gate of the Water Bearer: Aquarius!" The key's glow intensified as Aquarius' constellation in the sky brightened.

Out in the water, the glowing sea was churning around Staryu. The starfish was beginning to feel his wonders turn to worry whenthe celestial sea began to twinkle and bubble around it. It beeped in shock before a bright wave came from behind, making it turn around to see the wave.

BEEEEEEEP!

The wave crashed into Staryu, submerging it into the sea below. In its place, the waves split apart as a golden aquatic comet shot from the seas, beaming directly towards the altar at the high plateaus.

From the corner of his eye, Duncan noticed something bright like a shooting star heading their way. "Out there!"

His warning caught the others attention.

"What's that?" Erza saw the beam stream closer.

Vanessa observed the golden stream glide towards them, feeling a presence inside. 'There's an aura inside…it's got to be it.'

Nic, Greninja, Cana, and Sophie all saw the light stream towards them. They felt an intense run through them at that instant, another pained headache causing intense flinching. This time it was much worse as they almost kneeled from this terrible sensation. 'Damnit! This pain again!' Nic cursed. 'Who the hell's doing this?!'

Before anyone could do anything, the light stream shot straight pass the other spirits and connected with the golden key. An intense flash enveloped everything, causing unnecessary blindness. Everyone present covered up from the light to keep their eyes from going blurry.

The entire earth shuddered as the pressure from the light coming from the key held great force. Appearing in place of the key was a large magic seal that spun slowly. A helix of water spouted from it, slowly surfacing something from inside. Her magnificent, voluptuous, mermaid exterior flowed up, but the shine her body had still cascaded away her form.

Lucy opened an eye through the light, removing her forearm blocking her view. She saw a magic seal and swirling water around a figure slowly rising to their world. Her brown eyes shrunk so much they almost looked like beads, a breathless gasp escaping her.

Everyone behind her uncovered with reactions similar to her own. The Fiore group was no exception.

Oberon looked on with a mild smirk of pleasure. "He's done it."

The figure flexed her body, dissipating all the water around her body. The droplets laid in suspense, like time had stopped around the womanly fish forming. The glow around her flowing arms faded first, then her tail, then around her face to reveal her deep ocean blue eyes opening.

Before everyone, Aquarius has risen again, in dazzling aquatic glory that illuminated the entire plateau like a star.

Melchior's grin fastened. "And thus, the Water Bearer rises again."

Lucy absent-mindedly stepped up before everybody, getting even passed the associates. She looked like a woman possessed from the still look in her eyes. "Aquarius…"

The mermaid heard her name called, looking over at the familiar face that stained her heart for years. Despite how usually intrusive and spoiled she was in the past, Aquarius' mocking expression was surprisingly calm. She smiled down onto the Celestial Mage.

"Lucy." She greeted.

Her eyes started misting over, a sense of happiness completely overtaking her. "Aquarius…"

A long pause fell between everyone as mage and spirit held a silent respect for their reunion. Most were still stunned to see the Celestial Spirit resummoned to the human world by her key, and even more by the fact the ritual was a success. No words could be said.

Greninja noticed something else, that Melchior looked humbled as he smiled. The frog's red eyes sharpened.

"Nic!"

Heeding the warning, the Trainer and Pokémon suddenly darted for Melchior, passing by Lucy to cut them off. Time slowed down as they were mere inches from Melchior's face, so close in fact that they could look directly into the other's eyes. The intent either had was so clear, and opposition ran into the air.

Oberon smirked. "You majesty, let your wish come true!"

Melchior's eyes glinted before the jewel in his crown started glowing bright red. As it expanded, Nic's eyes dilated before reflexes kicked in. He and Greninja backed away in time of the mirror as a red pillar shot up from beneath. Everyone's eyes adverted up at the rising pillar with shock.

"What's that?!" Natsu shouted.

Juvia gasped besides Gray.

"The hell?! Where'd that come from?!" the Ice Mage shouted.

Lucy looked further stunned and confused as the red pillar shined between her and her Celestial Spirits. Yet within it, Melchior was looking skywards, closing his eyes as the jewel in it shined brighter. Aquarius' constellation lines within the mirror started flowing again into streams, but instead of gold they were red. As the earth shook beneath the spirits gathered, they all started to show signs of struggling. Sagittarius gasped as a harsh pain went through him.

"Sagittarius!" Lucy cried out.

Pisces and Libra were next, flinching from this red light.

"Libra! Pisces! What's wrong?!" Yukino cried out.

One by one, all the spirits started to cringe and feel their mental powers fade – like a crushing weight was breaking down the walls to their heads. Not one spirit was seen without a writhing, painful expression on their faces. Melchior continued grinning as he saw the last spirit to writhe in agony was Aquarius above him. Her grunts of pain were heard as loud as the ground trembling beneath them.

"Aquarius!" Lucy cried out to her friend. "Stop! What're you doing?!"

Melchior shot Lucy a glare, one that petrified her in place. "What should've been done from the very start. To remind the world what power Celestial Spirits have. Now…TO ME!" The bright red pillar intensified, causing a draft of far greater power to make all the spirits scream in pain.

"No! Stop this!" Lucy pleaded.

"MY KEYS~!" Klefki panicked.

Nic clutched his fists tight, glaring with growing animosity. "Damnit…"

As the red pillar enveloped the land and skies alike, the stars in Aquarius' constellation were starting to shine red. It was one star, but then multiplied into several other. In a few moments the constellation was a red brimming trend.

"Hey, look at that!" Happy pointed at the red constellation in the sky. "You guys see that?"

"The stars, they're all turning red." Carla pointed out. "Just is his majesty capable of doing?"

The red shine and the aching of the spirits ahead of them started to quell. Altogether, the red shine completely dissipated to reveal the spirits with their heads down, motionless beyond recognition.

"Guys!" Lucy rushed over with Klefki, ignoring her friends' pleas.

"Lucy, wait!" Nic urged, but she didn't listen.

The first spirit she immediately went to was Loke, his eyes sealed shut. "Loke? Loke! Hey, are you there?!" she tried shaking him, but failed to get a response. "Hey! Loke!" she looked at everyone else to see them in the same condition.

"Are…keys okay?" Klefki worried.

"I don't know…" Suddenly Lucy saw Loke perk up, much to her surprise. "Loke?"

The Celestial Spirit was quiet and unresponsive as any of the others. Just as Loke did, the other spirits lifted their heads, yet their eyes remained shut. Something about this didn't feel right in the slightest.

"Guys…? Loke…? Virgo…?"

The king snapped his fingers. All at once, their eyes shot open, consuming pupils in bright red. Their appearance caused the blonde and key ring to skimmer away for their own good. A very odd aura was taking over the area, and even if she couldn't sense it like Vanessa could, there was no doubt this spelled bad news.

"What the?! Guys look!" Happy pointed out. "They're okay!"

Vanessa's glare said otherwise. "No, something's not in the right here."

"Huh?"

"She's right, just look." Nic referred to their menacing red glares. "Their eyes, they're not in control of themselves."

"Really?" Wendy's inquiry was a mix of skepticism and worry.

Yukino looked at her spirits, seeing them staring at her like blank statues. "Libra? Pisces…can you both hear me?" Unfortunately all she got was the silent treatment. 'Those glares they have…I can't even see their pupils. Maybe they really were taken over.'

"Guys!" Lucy yelled for some kind of response…but she got none. "Can you hear me?! Are you okay?! Say something!" She angrily turned towards Melchior. "You. What the hell just happened?!"

The king just humbly smiled at her. He seemed more gracious than he was mortified. "Lucy Heartfilia. Yukino Agria. I thank you both. Because of you, we can now help the world as we celestials would've wanted."

"What…?" she looked more confused than before.

"'Help the world as we celestials would've wanted'?" Yukino repeated. "But…I don't understand. What did bringing back Aquarius have to do with helping the world?"

Nic didn't fall for the lie. "Not the world; just yourself. That sound accurate?"

Melchior grinned at the accusation. "A hardy accusation, Nic Pularis. But I assure you. Everything that has been done will come in full circle." He turned towards Lucy and Yukino. "Miss Heartfilia. Miss Agria. With your help, we can now bring about the resurrection of an era long forgotten. This shall be the start of our new era."

"You're twisted!" Lucy peeved. "You're not making sense at all! You said this ritual would help Aquarius' key be revived! You did it…because you wanted to…" she trailed off, the disbelief mounting too high for volumes alone.

The king lowered his head. "Yes. That was because I truly did feel obliged to help my fellow Celestial Mages. And also, to the fellow Zodiacs who have aided my fellow mages. To bring all of us together, back to where we rightfully belonged."

Lucy and Yukino looked to each skeptically. The way he worded it made it sound like they weren't the ones he talked about.

"This era I speak of, it will bring about prosperity for man and spirit alike. Together, a golden age that the world had forgotten will dawn. Will you two join me on this path?"

Immediately he was met with hostility. "No way! Give back Virgo and everyone's freedom, now!"

Yukino nodded. "She's right. They don't deserve this."

Melchior sighed grimly. "Freedom…that's such a complicated term. Exactly, how can you define freedom?" he turned towards Nic and Vanessa. "Would you consider what is called Pokémon free in this world? You carry them in those Poke Balls, and yet you claim that is justified. Should they not have the right to let the world know that they have their own power to change fate?"

Nic and Vanessa shot sibling glares at the king. His question on a philosophical level did have some point, but beyond that they didn't care. They knew they had to stop him.

"If you do not understand what I mean by that freedom, then I shall give you all a demonstration. Aquarius." The spirit floated in front of the others, meters away from a staggering Lucy.

"Aquarius." Lucy gasped. "Aquarius, wait! It's me, Lucy! Don't you recognize me?!"

The spirit's red eyes glinted for a second. Heeding the commands of her master, the water bearer raised the jug of water overhead, spiraling water expanding from it. Lucy's eyes misted.

"Aquarius! Snap out of it! NO!"

The mermaid lifted her jug higher, unleashing a spiraling vortex that snaked after Lucy and everyone. The blonde was too horrified to react in time to the attack.

"LUCY!" Natsu rushed into Lucy at the last second, seizing and pushing her away.

"Aura Guard!"

"Barrier-Make: Jagged Barrier!"

Instead of hitting mages, the pressurized vortex jettisoned into a large wall of dense rock and ice shards enhanced by teal aura. The water spiral was stopped cold by Sophie and Vanessa's quick-thinking defense until the water fully dissipated.

Natsu fell to his side, but he was fine. "Lucy, you hurt?!"

"Yeah, thanks." Lucy sat up, looking at Vanessa and Sophie guarding everyone. "Vanessa. Sophie."

Their magic dissipated in front of them, the two showing less than pleased looks at their opponents. "We're fine. You shouldn't be worrying about us right now." Vanessa chided.

"Watch your back Lucy, they're coming!" Sophie guarded.

Sorano swept in front of her own sister. "Don't worry, Yukino! If these guys wanna get to you, they better get through me first!"

"Big sis…" Yukino quipped nervously.

Nic gritted his teeth. "You'd really sink this low? I knew something was wrong from the start with you, I didn't think it'd be this desperate to where you'd play skullduggery till the last second."

Melchior scoffed. "Such is the fault of humanity. But it matters not." He swiped his arm. "To my fellow celestials, hear my plea!" the red jewel on his crown shined brighter. "Unleash your divine rage, let the anger of Tetrabiblos' question be spoken forth!"

"Not of we have anything to say about it!" Natsu's pulled out a Poke Ball and tossed out Charmeleon. "Alright pal, I'm giving you one warning…give my friend back her spirits. Now."

Oberon scoffed. "Hmph, such a humble tone you have. However, we do not have such luxuries to indulge you anymore."

Natsu knew better than to charge in recklessly first – especially since they were Lucy's spirits guarding Melchior to begin with. But he couldn't just let him get away with this. 'Gotta use speed to get pass those guys.' He stomped on the ground and reached out. "Alright Charmeleon, Flame Charge!"

"Right!" Surrounding himself in flames, Charmeleon bolted pass Aquarius and the other spirits towards Melchior. He was about to collide head-first until he struck something hard that caused him to be sent flying backward.

"Charmeleon!" Natsu yelled.

Charmeleon caught himself and spread his legs to keep traction. His claws and limbs supported his brake until he reached a full stop. When he looked up, something huge with orange feet impeded his path.

"What the…?"

Natsu and Charmeleon glared at a hulking sumo-like creature that was large in proportions, similar to Droy in fact. The beast had a large, stout figure with tan skin and a blue hair-like adornment over the head and down the back. It had massive orange hands, which looked like giant gloves that could stop any attack.

"HARI!" the hulking figment thrusted his arm out to do battle against his adversary. Charmeleon snarled.

"Who's that? A Pokémon?" Natsu looked back at Sophie as she pulled out her PokeDex.

"Hariyama, the Arm Thrust Pokémon. Hariyama's thick body may appear fat, but it is actually a hunk of solid muscle. If this Pokémon bears down and tightens all its muscles, its body becomes as hard as a rock."

"A Hariyama?" Vanessa inquired. "It's been a while since we've seen that Pokémon, not since Route 11."

Natsu's enhanced hearing picked up on another set of footsteps coming up from behind Hariyama. Caius stood by Hariyama's side with crossed arms. "My humble apologies, but it is a rather blatant honor to be your opponent today." He challenged.

Hariyama balled his fist. "As it is mine."

"If you persist on entering the same space as thy majesty's, you must prove yourselves worthy first to us. We are his guards, and thus we will never drop."

Natsu cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, we'll see. Charmeleon!"

Charmeleon stepped in front of Natsu, ready to engage against his much larger foe.

Erza held her guard up against the incoming foes. "Look alive, everyone! They're prepared to fight!"

Auriol glared Erza down hastily. "That is a rather blatant understatement, Erza Pularis." She sniped, holding up what looked like a Luxury Ball. "Our majesty's ambitions comes before our own. To have you impede further, I'll make it my business to do so. Come!"

The Luxury Ball was tossed into the air, summoning forth a Pokémon as tall as Houndoom, maybe a little less. This one looked like a tall, pink body shape vaguely like a star, with pointed black ears, and a darker shade of wings. She had beady eyes and a curly tail with a big smile.

"Who's that?" Erza brought out her PokeDex, intending to found out the answer.

"Clefable, the Fairy Pokémon. Its hearing is so acute that it can hear a pin drop over half a mile away. It lives in quiet mountain areas."

'Sensitive hearing, so it's like Natsu's dragon ears then.' Erza detailed the valuation in her head quickly. "That case, we should act quick and just. Houndoom!"

"I've been looking for a good chew toy these days." The hellhound licked his lips. "Better hope that you suffice."

Erza poised to strike. "Nic, we'll be alright. You and Greninja get to Melchior and get that crown away from him!"

"You sure?" Nic inquired.

Erza smirked. "I'll be fine. You can trust me."

Nic smirked. "Alright then." He glowed into his default form and reached for his wife. "Here, this should help. Acupressure!" A red aura enveloped Erza, her nerve points jumping from this hot rush flowing inside her. Once it was done, Nic looked towards Greninja. "Greninja, let's go!"

"Right!"

"Not so fast!" Auriol swiped her arm at Nic, summoning golden energy blades at him. As they flew, Nic inhaled before he breathed out a mass of black smoke, via Smokescreen. The swords shot into the cloud, clearing it in an open view to reveal nothing there. 'He got away.' She cursed. Her senses picked up and she glanced in the direction Erza was. She summoned another energy wave, parrying Erza's swordsmanship.

"Your husband's got a rather bold spot." She scoffed.

"He gets that from me unfortunately." Erza teased.

Gray and Juvia turned to find someone beside them – a rather sleepy Vita. Her sudden appearance alarmed Gray. "Hey, where'd she come from?"

Vita yawned loudly, her vocals all too clear for Gray and Juvia.

"Um…hello? Are you okay?" Juvia asked worriedly.

"I'm fine…" Vita moaned. "Just stayed up too late again…man, it's a bummer. My uncle's making me stay up this late past my bedtime. What I wouldn't give for a bed…" she yawned again.

Gray leaned closer to Juvia. "Be careful, something not right about this girl."

Juvia nodded. "Yes, I know."

Vita reached and pulled out a Premier Ball. "Alrighty then…guess we should play will we're still up!" She tossed the capsule upwards, summoning a small yellow mouse with black-tipped ears. She had red spotted cheeks and two brown stripes on the back. "Okay Pikachu, we got some company for a while, wanna play?"

The electric mouse's cheeks crackled with electricity. "Right! Let's have some fun out there!" she chipperly exclaimed.

Gray furrowed his brow as he showed the PokeDex, analyzing who their adversary was.

"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. While sleeping, it generates electricity in the sacs in its cheeks. If it's not getting enough sleep, it will be able to use only weak electricity."

"An Electric-type." Gray realized the advantages and disadvantages of the predicament. "Juvia, watch my back, alright? You're at a disadvantage."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful." She and Gray pulled out Poke Balls. "Go, Marill!"

"Get out here, Snorunt!"

Both Pokémon appeared beside each other, with Marill skipping happily. Snorunt, however, was the exact opposite. Due to his recent incident with Snover's earlier Grass Whistle, he was still fast asleep, a snot bubble slowly expand and retract. Gray nervously sweatdropped. "Are you kidding me?!" he angrily shouted.

Vita sighed gloomily. "Oooh man, he's so lucky. Why does he get to have naptime?"

"He doesn't." Gray sniped. "Hey, Snorunt, up and at it! Wake up!"

"ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZ…" Snorunt turned over away from Gray, earning a tick mark and an irritable sigh from his Trainer.

"Well, here we go anyway." He lifted his hand, showing frost that lowered the temperature around him. "Get ready."

Wendy and Carla prepared for incoming foes, but from behind, Wendy's hearing picked up on even more footsteps. "Carla, look!"

Turning around, the two girls saw armed soldiers marching up the stairway, led by Altair and his deeply accented magical longsword he carried. And unlike before, he wasn't too pleased.

"You, mages of Fiore! Freeze under his majesty's name!" he pointed his blade at them.

"Astral's army is here!" Wendy realized.

"Now we're completely surrounded. There's no room for an escape." Carla got on her guard. "Be ready, Wendy."

"Right!" Wendy held up a Poke Ball. "Alright Swablu, let's do this!" The Poke Ball popped open, revealing Swablu, who chirped readily.

"Stop them!" The soldiers started a charge towards Wendy. Their spears and weapons ready, they closed in fast into the Dragon Slayer as she inhaled a deep breath of wind streams.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

A powerful whirlwind exhaled from Wendy's mouth that blasted down the mountainous hill. Soldiers of large quantities were repelled and flown back down, save for the few who used their weapons to anchor themselves into the ground.

Once the winds died, down, Altair was still one amongst his many men able to advance. With a battlecry, he lunged for Wendy.

"Swablu, Sing!"

Swablu ascended in front of Lucy and opened her beak. She started humming out colorful musical notes that floated towards Altair. As he closed in, the notes passed his hearing. Quickly, he started slowing down as a hazy drowse fogged his thoughts.

With the opportunity at hand, Carla swept her heel across his face. "White Moon!" Her kick struck Altair in the face, knocking him down hard. Carla repositioned in a fighting stance at the few soldiers still grouping up around them. "Be on your guard everyone!"

"Already on it." Wendy ferociously glared down, winds gathering around her as Swablu turned aerial for battle.

Amongst the many still gathered, Tophet was the only one to not show any straightforward in him. Instead, someone stepped towards him. "Hm? So then, you would like to challenge me?"

Across from him was Duncan, holding an iron pole over his shoulder. Beside him was his Spiritomb, who was ready upon command. "That's right? If you got something to say now, say it? Otherwise when two people meet, it's common courtesy to battle."

Tophet grumbled low, mulling over Duncan's words. The gruff spirit silently nodded in knowledge obtained. "I see…that is appreciative to hear how you Trainers think of each other. If it is a must, then let the stars be your final judge."

Vanessa didn't need to turn around to feel a defiant aura. She knew from the sense of it that it was Bion. She looked over her shoulder calmly, her guard at full capacity. "So you truly intend to fight as well?" she inquired rhetorically.

The satchel holding Bion's blade shifted as he reached for his knightly weapon. "T'is be. It isn't just to do battle like this. Please, stand down and I won't have to dishonor a woman. It'd be shameful if I must?"

"I see." Vanessa narrowed her eyes. "And what happens if I don't, you say?"

Bion held up a Poke Ball. "Then you must face the wrath of my comrade. Come!" He flung the Poke Ball into the air, summoning out his own creature of choice.

Unlike the others, this one was the height of Pikachu, but all over his quadruped body were many scales, including a heart-shaped one on the forehead. It certainly looked draconic, something that Vanessa picked up on.

'I haven't seen that Pokémon before.' She pulled up her PokeDex, getting an analysis on the new Dragon-type.

"Jangmo-o, the Scaly Pokémon. It will never show an enemy its back in battle. Ancient warriors liked Jangmo-o for its valiant disposition and made it one of their own."

"Just as I hold no qualms to the highest regards to King Melchior, so does this Jangmo-o." Bion clutched his hands tight. "Just as my ambitions drive me, this Pokémon represents my will to do so. If this is battle you seek, then let it be so!"

"No way will be lose to you!" Jangmo-o sniped.

Vanessa closed her eyes, feeling a defensive resolve from them. "Very well." She held up a Poke Ball. "Then as a Pokémon Trainer, I shall comply to your call to battle. Venusaur, come!"

From the Poke Ball, red eyes glimmered before a large mouth expelled a loud roar that shook the ground. Venusaur was ready for battle, no matter whom it may be.

Bion spread his heels with Jangmo-o, ready for their quarrel. 'I can't lose here, I won't! If King Melchior promised me…then I can do this!' "En garde!" He rushed in with Jangmo-o towards their foes.

Lucy swallowed a lump as she looked at the spirits gathered around her. Before her were Virgo, Loke, and Aquarius, all gleaming menacingly at her. "Guys, it's me! Lucy! Can you hear me?" She backpedaled for her own safety, but it offered little as the controlled spirits looked at her deathly. "You guys…please…"

"Uh, k-keys?" Klefki nervously looked towards Lucy, but she was completely out of it.

Virgo reached out, first, shooting her chains attached to the bracelets on her arms at Lucy. They closed in quick, but Lucy was in no position to fight back as quickly.

"Get away from her!"

A card shot with shuriken-like precision into the chains, cutting them to pieces before they could reach Lucy. Following that, two sets of blue bubbles in a double Bubble Beam shot at the other spirits, causing them to backpedal to avoid the explosive blue barrage.

The dust cleared from the blast, revealing Prinplup and Purrloin as Cana stood above them. And she looked determined. "You guys are really out of it if you think it's cool to just gang up on someone you know!"

"Cana!" Lucy gasped in shock.

"Are you okay Lucy?" the brunette looked over her shoulder.

Lucy vaguely nodded. "Yeah…"

"Good." She glared back at the spirits. "Listen Lucy, it's gonna be tough, but for now we don't have a choice. Look at them." She paused to show the red eyes. "They're completely mindwiped right now, I doubt they can even hear us. If we wanna get back to normal, we gotta stay cool, you get me? You and Yukino find a way to get your keys back…we'll give ya a hand."

"Sure, okay!" Lucy didn't like this one bit, her core ached just thinking about having to hurt her spirits. She started getting flashes of when the hemisphere opened, and Nic defeated Natsu and Gray; close friends who wanted him dead because they were consumed by a greater power. If he could muster up the will to do it, then so could she. Her heart fastened. "Klefki, fetch!" she ordered.

Klefki looked at her stunned. "Y-you really mean it?"

The blonde sighed. "Yes, Klefki, just this once."

The shock on Klefki's face was as clear as day. She slowly turned towards the battlefield, her jittery senses of keys igniting her core. Her body shuddered like it was cold, but quickly she exploded in joy, key-shaped sparkles in her eyes. "YEEEEEEES! KEYSKEYSKEYSKEYSKEYSKEYS! KEEEEYS~!" In a mad possession hurry, she vanished like a ghost, zipping away to find the scattered keys! "FOR THE KEYS~!"

Lucy sweatdropped. "There she goes again…" She shook her head and glared forward. "Alright Cana, ready?"

"Oh you know I am, Lu!" She smirked. "I've been looking for a reason to put that fish lady in her place. Sure we're cool now, but back then we didn't settle the score. Ain't that right?" she was met with pulsing red eyes from Aquarius, who readied a blast from her water jug.

Prinplup huffed as he beamed with pride. "Hmph! Don't worry, they won't get past me!"

"Hmph, talk about a load of trouble." Purrloin huffed. "So much work it means…let's just get this over with."

Similarly close by, Yukino was looking at her own spirits; Pisces and Libra holding up her scales didn't sit well for the Sabertooth Mage. "Libra…Pisces…"

The mesmerized Zodiac tilted her body, allowing a green aura to ignite around her. A magic seal appeared above Yukino, summoning a dense gravitational force that hammered her. She found it almost impossible to move with this weight on her.

With her immobilized, the gargantuan twin fish pair hissed as they shot at her. Yukino closed her eyes to await the impact…only it never came.

A large impact was heard in front, one that disturbed Yukino some. She thought was her until she saw two large white globs with teeth holding off Pisces.

"Huh? Where did…?"

In her confusion, a third one swooped in, bashing into Libra's side. The balance Zodiac twirled to regain herself, but the focus elsewhere lifted gravity to normal for Yukino.

Sorano stepped in front of Yukino, her arms reached out to block her path. "Don't you even think of laying even one scale on my sister, you filthy pets!" she sniped. She certainly sounded pissed.

"S-Sorano?" Yukino gasped in surprise. "What're you…?"

The older sibling looked over her shoulder, winking. "Hmph, don't you worry about a thing. I know how to deal with these creeps. Your big sister's got this covered for you."

Yukino felt touched. Sure it was weird now that Sorano was more…peppy, for a lack of better words, but it was making her feel secure. It was so long ago that she did the same thing for her. She smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

She stood up besides Sorano, ready to face her spirits.

"We don't have a choice now. This is for their own good." Yukino leered. "You ready, Sorano?"

Sorano tossed a lock arrogantly. "Like you have to ask."


A large orange hand smacked down where Charmeleon dodged from. The lizard backflipped and landed on his heels with bared claws.

"Alright Charmeleon, use Flame Charge!" Natsu shouted. Charmeleon pressed a heel into the ground and surrounded himself in fire, bolting at Hariyama.

"Block it." Caius dully told.

"Hmph!" Hariyama stood his ground and reached his palm outwards. The vast mat-like glove took the blow from Charmeleon's flaming comet, causing it to dissipate and leave Charmeleon suspended in midair.

"Arm Thrust!"

"Charmeleon, watch yourself!"

Hariyama's hands glowed and thrust at Charmeleon repeatedly. Each thrust packed wind that grazed the flame on his tail as he swung to and fro, swaying to avoid getting blasted in the face with a fat palm.

Natsu sprung into the air, a flaming fist reeled back. "Alright pal, now it's your turn!" He watched as Caius refused to budge as the flames around him wrist strengthened, becoming a burning comet. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

The fist connected hard with Caius square in the chest, swallowing him in a corruptive burst of flames and ground that spat everywhere. Natsu landed on his heels and stood up. He glared at the dust cloud with a stern look.

Happy glided over his head, looking down warily. "Did you get him?"

The Dragon Slayer held his tongue as he watched the dust clear. Despite how he was able to repulse Caius by a couple of feet given by the trails in the dirt, the man looked completely unfazed. In fact, his crossed arms didn't seem to budge at all!

"Such power you have." Caius commended coolly. "It's a shame, however. Such force against those trying to bring a forgotten world to existence."

"Whatever world you're spatting about isn't anything that we want!" Natsu flipped into the air with an ignited foot. With a spiraling Fire Dragon's Claw, he screamed out as the flames and heel collided into Caius' head. The impact would've normally downed anyone with how hard he swung. Natsu gritted his teeth as Caius didn't even budge.

Caius suddenly grabbed Natsu's heel while they were close, clutching tight despite the heat his bare skin bared. "Then let your own force be your undoing!"

He brought his other palm back as he pulled Natsu closer.

"Chop Hanging Palm: Bearing Straight!"

He struck Natsu's gut with a powerful palm strike, so powerful in fact that the winds went through the other side of his body. He gagged at the shock as everything went white for a moment before the momentum repulsed him back.

"Natsu!" Happy fret.

Charmeleon heard his Trainer's fret and glanced back after evading Hariyama's attack. This was Caius' chance.

"Now, Force Palm!" Hariyama grunted as he stuck his palm out towards Charmeleon. Using his forearms as a blockade, the thrust connected, creating a bright shine before a harsh burst of energy blew Charmeleon off his feet to where Natsu slid to a halt.

"Are you guys alright?!" Happy floated down over Natsu and Charmeleon. They both had taken harsh hits for sure. It wasn't often they were pushed back so easily these days.

The Dragon Slayer got up, wiping his mouth of saliva and blood. "Yeah, we're good." He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "But something about the way that guy fights feels strange. It's like I've seen it somewhere before…"

Happy realized it. "Now that you mention it…"

"…wait, that's it!" His epiphany almost jolted him right back up. "That's how I know! That guy's technique's just like that one guy from Quatro Puppy! What was his name again…?"

"I think it was that guy Elfman and Ichiya beat back in the games." Happy answered. "Boy he sure was tough."

"Right…" Natsu swung his scarf around and spread his heels. "Which means he should move just as similar. This shouldn't take too long. Let's go, Charmeleon!" Natsu directed a fist forward. "Dragon Rage!"

"You got it!" Charmeleon's stomach began manifesting a faint blue swirl of energy that traveled up to his mouth. Once his maw opened, he blasted a draconic blue and black beam that blazed at Hariyama.

"Force Palm!" Caius demanded. Hariyama brought his palm back and thrust just as the draconic head snapped at him. With tremendous force, he blew apart the black and blue beam into the winds, leaving faint embers that made him and Caius look more intimidating.

"I stand by my liege's side. As long as we stand, you shall not pass."

"Then I guess we'll just have to crumble ya." Natsu charged head-on again, diving into the fray with Charmeleon behind his back.


Quite similarly, Gray and Juvia faced Vita as the girl looked sleepily at her foes. It was hard to tell how serious she was taking it, but they couldn't take chances.

"Marill, use Bubble Beam!" Juvia commanded. Her jovial Marill inhaled before blasting Pikachu with a force full of fast-moving bubbles.

Vita yawned as though the incoming mass didn't seem like a big deal. "Pikachu, use…Quick Attack." Despite the last command, Pikachu was enveloped in bright blue outlines and zipped pass the incoming spray of bubbles. She darted beneath with zigzag motions to keep Marill guessing, until finally she was close enough to end up midair, smacking Marill with her heart-shaped tail.

"Marill, are you hurt?" Juvia worried.

Marill rubbed her swollen cheek where Pikachu had struck. "Owww…that was mean." She whimpered.

Juvia looked back at Pikachu to assess the situation. 'She has such good speed. It's gonna be tough unless we can slow it down.' She turned towards Gray. "Gray, how's Snorunt coming along?"

"It's coming along." Gray glared at his sleeping snow hat creature, completely wishing that he wasn't in this pickle. 'Of all the lousy times. I knew Snorunt was most ample in energy, guess that's karma.'

Vita reached out. "Alright, now use Nuzzle!" This time Pikachu rubbed her own cheeks, generating electricity in them that crackled around her body. She charged for Marill.

"Water Gun!" Marill took in a quick breath and shot water at Pikachu. She dodged the attack and regained footing back in her position.

"Hey, you're…" Vita yawned loudly again. "…pretty good."

Juvia's body tensed. "Flattering won't get anywhere with me or Gray. You tricked us. So now, we'll need to…to…" Suddenly Juvia yawned as well, a loud one in fact.

Gray raised a brow. "Juvia, what's wrong?" Suddenly he started yawning as well. He felt his entire body grow weary. "What the…why am I feeling so tired all a sudden?"

Vita yawned loudly again. "Sorry…did I forget to mention that my sleep is contagious?" She stretched her arms overhead to loosen the muscles. "My…magic makes my opponents match how I feel. So if I'm so full of energy, they get too jumpy to handle."

"So she stays up a lot on purpose?" Juvia found that hard to believe, but the way she yawned suddenly and bags under her eyes was starting to sink in. 'So her magic's like Meredy's. So if she's this tired, it'll tire us too.'

Vita shrugged. "Well, anyways. Pikachu, let's give them a Thunder Wave!" Pikachu jumped into the air above Marill and her cheeks glimmered with electricity. She pointed her tail straight down and rings of static expanded and enveloped Marill, causing her body to crackle with electricity.

"Marill, no!" Juvia gasped.

"Okay, that's it. Time's up!" Gray combined his hands to create ice, raising it overhead. "Up and at'em, Snorunt! Ice-Make: Floor!" He slammed his hands on the ground, instantly freezing the ground around the solid.

"Heh?" Vita looked quizzically while Pikachu found herself hard to get any traction. The mouse had no choice but to turn to all fours and stiffen her muscles.

Gray smirked. "Give it a minute…"

"ZZZZzzzzZZZZZzzzz…" The snoozing Snorunt napped until his body felt a chill. The snot bubble popped, making him stir. "Huh…ice?" He stood up, looking all around to find the floor frozen around him. Immediately he jumped in glee. "If this is a dream, thank you!" He immediately started chowing down on the chunks scraped beneath his feet like a rabid animal.

'Knew he couldn't resist a little snack.' Gray didn't miss a beat as he reached out towards Pikachu. "Snorunt, use Ice Shard!"

Too indulged in the ice he was eating, Snorunt barely caught whim of Gray's command. Scattering to realize combat, he faced Pikachu and conjured a glowing sphere of ice that shot at swift speeds, hitting Pikachu in the chest with explosive mist. The blow caused her to slide along the ice on her hind legs until enough traction was made.

"Oh~, that was pretty good." Vita chimed. "But…" she yawned again longingly once more. "How long can you all stay awake for I wonder?"


Bion went to slash at Vanessa, but his sword was met by a barrier of teal aura before it could reach her. With an extra swing, Vanessa forced the shield outwards, buffering Bion back into to air.

'Such defense.' He admired, but his guard heightened when he saw a teal sphere collect in front of Vanessa's palms.

"Trace Shot!"

Vanessa fired a fast-moving projectile through the air into Bion. The knight used the flat edge of his blade to take the blow. It exploded to create a force so strong that it made him shoot into the ground, but not before adjusting his feet to land on a knee.

He stood back up, admiring his worthy foe's craftsmanship. "Such precision. You truly are a woman of high caliber." He praised.

Vanessa neutrally smiled back. "Rather than focus on praising a woman, you should look at you're surroundings a little more."

Getting her notion, Bion looked down to seeing tendrils of teal aura snaking around from all side. On strands snapped at him, but his sword cut through it. Another one from behind was cut down just as quick. He kept cutting down the strands of aura one by one, but the sheer number started to wear him down. He suddenly felt his leg snare from a tug. Looking down he found himself snared by a teal coil. 'Curses, I missed one.'

Vanessa moved her arms and surrounded more teal strands around Bion, until he was fully constricted by her aura. With not even a beat in her lashes, Vanessa whipped her arm up, making the aura shoot up like a sprouting plant. Once it reached a high enough point, it arched down, pinning Bion into the earth back-first. The blow caused him to feel dazed.

"Venusaur, keep his little friend busy." Vanessa instructed her massive ally. "I'll handle him."

Venusaur nodded. "Whatever you say." He turned towards Jangmo-o with his usual relieve demeanor. "Look little guy, there's better ways than this you know. You sure this is what you want?"

Jangmo-o fiercely glared down Venusaur with his small red eyes, growling instinctively against the bigger plant-based being.

"Guess so…alright then." He lowered his flower, purple liquid starting to bubble at the opening. "Toxic!" He blasted a glob of poison at Jangmo-o, the projectile that the dragon jumped to dodge. However the poisonous glob continued following him, much to his shock. He tried evading but the glob shot into his face, creating a purple cloud that obscured everything.

From the cloud, Jangmo-o staggered backwards, his face purple like he fell ill. His body was weak too, succumbing to the Poison-type attack's effects.

"Jangmo-o!" Bion staggered out of his rut and found his footing. "Stay strong my friend, this fight isn't over yet."

Vanessa reached her arm out, conjuring teal energy. "Emanation Beam!" A harsh blast of teal shot directly into Bion as he turned towards her. Using his sword and armor's momentum, he stood his ground as he tried cutting the beam in two around him. He lasted for a short bit until he noticed Venusaur gathering green energy in his maw.

"Energy Ball!"

A variety of green energy meshed into a sphere shot from the maw of the Pokémon at Bion. With the weight of the aura still flowing like a flood, he had no choice but to duck and roll off to the side as the attack exploded in his place, creating a burst of smoke.

Standing up, he looked Vanessa and Venusaur with his armor and cape unscathed surprisingly. "You are very strong, I can see that now." He raised his blade to her. "Therefore, I must stop treating with such passiveness then if that's what will get this task done!"

Vanessa squinted at Bion. She noticed the accents on his sword, as well as the decorative jewels on his armor. "That armor and sword you carry, I can see the lacrima inside them. Exactly what are they for?"

"So you've noticed." Bion adjusted his stance. "Yes, this is my armor, crafted by Seven's best blacksmith. It took one whole year to find the parts and the lacrima, but what you see now is that very result."

"Magicproof armor. I see." Vanessa grinned as she moved her arms in a circular fashion, making an arch of teal before her. "In that case, you should tell me more. My sister-in-law relishes in any kind of armor she can get her hands on."

Bion lightly scoffed. "If I'd be bested by you. But my duty comes first."


Duncan reached out at Tophet. "Now, Hypnosis!" Spiritomb's eyes glowed as an odd ray emanated from her eerie vision. The ray was within Tophet's path, but suddenly like a ghost he vanished.

Catching odd feeling, Duncan looked up. "Above you!"

Spiritomb looked up to see Tophet in midair, his ragged form suspended and whisking in the high altitude. A black haze slowly eroded from his body, closing in on Duncan and Spiritomb to engulf their vision.

Duncan backpedaled for security. He looked around, guessing where Tophet could be hiding. Suddenly he felt a strong haze buffer him from the left, leaving him to cover up. It didn't hurt that bad; felt more like a harsh wind than a shockwave. Recovering from that blow, he grabbed the iron rod and tightened his grip on it. It started glowing a rainbow outline as he poured his magic into it. Once channeled enough he pivoted and swung.

"HRAH!" A harsh battle cry as his rod created a powerful shockwave. The wave dissipated the haze, revealing nothing around Duncan.

"I can see into your heart."

The Trainer looked up, realizing Tophet was visibly upside down, yet his tattered cape's ends wasn't flailing haphazardly with gravity. He tightened his grip.

"Spiritomb, Shadow Sneak!"

Spiritomb grunted as her shadow blackened. The attack extended in a streaking fast blitz that made impact with Tophet, only for him to fade in another haze. "An illusion?" Duncan inquired.

"Your heart does not yearn for the easy road, boy." Duncan swiveled around, seeing Tophet there. Neither made a move to attack, but Duncan was ready to swing if he had to.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"Your desires…what you hold dear to you." Tophet's grave tone made him sound mysterious yet alluring to the wise. "What you seek now is but mending that must be sewed."

Duncan looked at him skeptically. He didn't like how he was wording it, it didn't feel right for some reason.

"How very interesting of you. Tell me, wary soul…do you know what you desire most?" he grinned passively. "I can see it in your mind; the path you walk and the scars that laid. Those are the warrior's footsteps up the mountain trail that leads to the lone end."

"What are you saying?" he wanted an answer, but Tophet continued.

"And on the cliff he stands, he must make his decision. Once he has risen to his peak, what then must he do? The everlasting quest that all seek, to what end does it meet them?"

All these questions lingering around Duncan didn't settle with him. He didn't understand the full meaning of what he meant, but it didn't concern him. He tightened his grip on his staff. 'I can feel it, something's strange coming from this one guy. His Magic Power has an odd wave coming off.' His glare hardened. 'Just what is he?'

Before Duncan could get a proper answer to his inquiry, another black haze expelled from Tophet, quickly engulfing Duncan and Spiritomb. The former covered up to try and keep tack. 'This again? I'm better off getting Honchkrow to-!'

"Duncan…'

A voice rung inside the bog, one that staggered Duncan to a mental level. That voice, for some reason, that voice completely stopped him. Not just him, but also Spiritomb. Both seemed shocked.

'Wait, did I just hear things?' He reached reality and shook his head. 'No, that wasn't it. That isn't right.'

"Duncan…find your strength. Find it…for me…"

A pulse went through both, completely stopping them in their tracks. This time the sounds was much clearer than before. But the way they were looking, it only left moral horror in their eyes. 'That voice…no. No!' Duncan looked at Spiritomb, seeing her equally as shocked. 'It can't be…but if she can hear it too, then it has to be…'

He looked up to the haze around, his horror abroad. "Is that…really you?"

"Kadabra, Psyshock! Dewpider, Bubble Beam! Finneon, Water Gun!"

Three blinks; two blue and one pink; three beams shot through the haze, clearing it around Duncan and Spiritomb. The Trainer and Pokémon picked up on the attacks and ducked out of there. The psionic beams and sprays of bubble and water dissipated the bog, revealing Tophet floating afar unminding.

Duncan and Spiritomb rattled themselves upright to make sense of what happened. "Wha…what just…?"

"Is everything alright over here?"

Duncan turned around at Sophie to find her striding up to him calmly. She gave him a serious look of worry before turning towards Tophet. They all shared a silent glare amongst one another to analyze these magical levels before she faced Duncan.

The Trainer brought himself back upright. "What are you doing here?"

"Al lo da-var (You're welcome), by the way." The blonde gave Duncan a less than appealing, but also secretly mocking, glance in recognition of the last time they spoke. Clearly that was still fresh on Sophie.

Duncan scoffed lightly as he got back to his feet. He glared at Tophet with a less than pleased look. 'So that's his power, is it? That haze he spats can mess with the mind.' For a moment he thought about those words spoken. 'Knew that was too good to be true.'

Tophet turned towards Sophie. "To thy fellow celestial, to what your heart that I see through. Your greatest treasures, your actions will weigh solemnly on what appreciation they hold."

Sophie furrowed her brow. 'What is he talking about? It can't be standard Jewels now, can it?' Rather than let her head get messed with, Sophie glared at him. "Duncan, sorry, but would you care to let a lady accompany you?" she teasingly smirk. "Don't get too carried away now, I might bite back."

Duncan didn't take her hint and looked away. "Fine. Just one thing straight." He held his staff to his side. "You just stay out of my way. Anything goes, you take your own responsibility."

Sophie pointed a finger to her forehead. "I'll keep that in mind."

Tophet glowered down at the two Fairy Tail mages, both whose hearts had such very interesting tastes to him. He said nothing, but rather, the black haze started billowing around him once more.


Libra swayed her body like a dancer, avoiding another angel by Sorano. She pivoted on one heel and flipped over another one before pivoting and returning to her proper stature.

"Hmph, nimble girl." Sorano huffed.

"Remember, don't hurt them too badly." Yukino instructed. "They're just mind-controlled. They don't know what they're doing. We just need to do it enough to where we can get pass them to get to our keys."

Sorano smirked. "Oh don't be so dramatic, your big sis knows what she's doing." She looked over, her eyes widening. "Yukino, on your left!"

Catching wind of her sibling's warning, Yukino heard a wind brew and quickly backpedaled to avoid the black fish swooping down to strike. "Pisces?!" She noticed the white fish swimming from the other direction directly at her. Quickly she leaned away in time to avoid a direct blow, but she found herself positioned between the twin fish. She found out the two fish her spinning in a helix around her, arching to glare down and hiss with deep red eyes. Yukino gasped as she was met with no way out as their long bodies impede her of any escape. The pair shot down at her.

BOOM!

Dust raged everywhere in the plateau where Pisces struck. Yukino had her eyes shut as she was awaiting for impact, but she noticed a light breeze. Weakly opening her eyes, she blinked several times before looking down. She was riding on an angel, one that gently put her down a safe distance from Pisces. \

"Big sis?" she looked towards Sorano.

Sorano winked. "Like I said, your big sis is here for ya-AH!" She suddenly dropped to a knee when Libra's gravity came down like a stream, weighing her down hard.

Yukino gasped. She went to move but she felt a rumble from close by. Looking up she saw Pisces rising once again. 'This isn't good. We won't save them at this rate.' She looked at Sorano, then back at Pisces. She reached for something she had behind her. 'I guess now's as good as time as any.'

She reached behind herself, grasping onto something. A Poke Ball. She held it up and glared at Pisces and Libra.

"I just recently caught this one. Please, bear with me for now everyone. It all rides on you." Yukino brought her arm back and threw the capsule into the sky. "Come on out!"

The Poke Ball spun into the altitude, popping open an energy to transform into a star-shaped rock Pokémon. It had a primarily crusty body with five endpoints, similar to stars. It had black eyes and holes all over the crust.

Yukino swiped her arm upon issuing a command. "Minior, help Sorano! Swift!"

Minior listened to Yukino and the five ends glowed bright yellow. It spun like a wheel, sending golden stars everywhere. The stars climbed up along Pisces to their faces, causing shrieks of annoyance. Another set of stray stars shot into Libra, who used her scales to block, though the attack sent her sliding back on her heels.

The gravity around Sorano adjusted back upright, allowing her to stand. "Nice one!"

Yukino nodded in gesture.

"Now, just because I don't have spirits to command doesn't mean I can't do it to others." She held up her own Poke Ball. "And this is proof! Time for you to meet my new travel buddy!" She threw the capsule skywards. "Come on out, Mantine!"

The Poke Ball popped, summoning a manta ray-like creature that fluttered in the air above Sorano. She had beady eyes and a long white tail. Circles were on the back of the deep blue wings.

Sorano pointed ahead. "Okay Mantine, let's show these creeps just you are! Use Water Pulse!"

Mantine hummed as she created a sphere of blue water in front of her mouth. Once aimed, she fired it at Libra. Libra swiped her scales to create a gravity beam to redirect the spherical water attack at Pisces. The fish pair leaned away from each other as the attack went pass their heads, creating a blue explosion above them.

"How do you like that? You spirits aren't the only ones special." Sorano mocked. "So, who's next?"

Yukino studied her opponents as Minior floated overhead, awaiting commands from her. 'Hang on, guys. We'll set you free soon.'


"Gngh!" Lucy rolled away in time before one of Virgo's chains tried to seize her again.

"Virgo, are you in there?!" Lucy called out to her spirit for the umpteenth time, but instead the ground crumbled beneath her. Virgo came up, sending Lucy into the air and falling onto her back.

"Lucy!" Cana looked back as Aquarius aimed her water jug at her. The brunette gasped when she realized the mistake and a blast of water sent snaking her way. Before the attack hit, Prinplup stepped in front with his arms crossed with Metal Claw. The penguin braced himself as the water connected with the flippers, but he was holding ground well.

"You won't get pass me!" he beamed.

"Nice one, Prinplup!" Cana praised.

The penguin lightly blushed at his Trainer's compliment. "J-just shut it! Hurry! I don't know…how long I can hold!" He nearly slipped.

Cana nodded and brought up a fire tarot card. "Sun's Strength!" She tossed the cards at the water vortex. As they traveled they turned to flaming comets, which blew up around Aquarius. Alarmed at this, the controlled spirit spiraled around, spinning her jug to create a wave around to turn the flames to steam.

However, this was the trick. Through the steam, a glowing beak shot through like a bullet.

"Peck!" Prinplup's beak connected with Aquarius' shoulder. The harsh peck stammered her away as Prinplup backpedaled for good measure. "Hmph, not so invincible, are you?" he mocked.

Lucy regained footing before Virgo went to jab again. Lucy dodged just in time.

"I'm sorry, Virgo! But this is for your own good!" She reached whipped out her Fleuve d'etoiles. The stream of celestial water whipped at Virgo as chains launched at the same time, deflecting the other off course.

As Lucy prepared another strike, she noticed something off. 'Wait, Virgo's here. And so is Aquarius…but where's-!'

A bright light shine behind, making her realize who was waiting.

"Loke!"

The Celestial Spirit tightened his golden fist as it came down. Lucy jumped away in time and found herself pinned between a rock and her two spirts. Virgo and Loke glared her down menacingly, much to her worries.

"You guys, please…tell me you can still hear me." She pleaded. "This isn't right! Loke, you swore to protect me, didn't you? Don't you remember?! Loke?!"

The Celestial Spirit didn't give a prompt answer, only a glowing fist. He approached Lucy despite her water rope at the ready. Lucy gritted her teeth as she watched Loke lunge at her.

"Fury Swipes!"

A blur of purple zipped in front of Lucy before the punchline and slashed at Loke's face and glasses. The one slash stopped him, then another repulsed his face.

Lucy looked down as her little was revealed to be Cana's Purrloin. "You!"

Purrloin beamed mockingly. "Hmph. You're welcome~." She chimed. "Anyways, this big cat's got my eyes. I don't know about you though."

Loke shook his head and glared forward.

"Hmph, so you want more?" she surly cooed. "Well hope you're into naughty kiddies then. Sand Attack!" Purrloin snapped her tail along the ground, kicking up sand in front of the spirit's face. Loke's face was splattered with dirt, causing a blue aura to lower his accuracy. "Hmph, that should…oh sh-!"

Before she had a second to finish something that wasn't supposed to spew from her mouth, Loke ferociously punched the ground where Purrloin leaped from at the last second. The light exploded everywhere, enveloping the area in a bright flare.

"GAH!" Lucy screamed.

"So bright!" Cana covered up. This left her open as Cancer's silhouette closed in on her. Her magic senses activated, feeling a swipe. She ducked from a swipe and tumble-rolled away for distance. 'No good, we're getting swarmed around here!'

With the bright light wearing her down, Lucy maneuvered the best she could around away from it, while Loke was on her tail. 'Klefki, please hurry! I don't know how much more I can take!'


Brown eyes clashed with green as Erza and Auriol were in the other's face. Both held a fierce loyalty to their own righteousness, and thus neither gave an inch to their own confrontation.

Erza slashed, only for Auriol to parry with her own set of golden energy swords. However, with Erza's precision, she found an opening, one that she would've cut Auriol if she hadn't bowed to avoid her head being sliced open. Swiping up, her arm released a blade of golden embodiment that swiftly closed in. Not bothering t move, Erza simply swiped her sword diagonally. She glared forward, not even bothering to bat an eyelash as two golden explosions erupted in the distance behind her.

"Summon every ounce of strength you have." She declared, requipping in a glow into her Blade Wing Armor. "I'm ready."

Auriol lightly scoffed. "So as they all say." Her body ignited in a golden aura, two energy blades of her own forming in her grips. "Proud as we both are, the matter is settled on our fierce loyalty."

"With how you determine loyalty with your mouth, I find that notion to be hypocritical." Erza boasted.

"Likewise. But my wish shall be granted. No, beyond that. My wish will be a blessing, one from Melchior's name. Because of him, I can see a world that is truly beautiful."

Erza arched her arm, sending her swords in an arch at heavy precision towards Auriol. They closed in quick, but suddenly she shot pass them, much to Erza's surprise.

'Such speed!'

In a golden streak, she blitzed across the ground after her foe. She crossed her blades at close range, but as she was about to hit Erza, she faded like a ghost, causing her to miss.

"Where'd she…?" Auriol looked around for her foe, almost losing momentum when she noticed falling blades heading straight down on her. She brought her arm up, generating a hexagonal golden barrier.

"No you don't!" Houndoom opened his maw and generated a black ball with purple and white cores inside. "Shadow Ball!" the hound fired the attack across the plateau, making the ground trail depressions as it closed in on Auriol.

Just as it was about to close in, Clefable jumped in front of her Trainer and reached out. Using Protect, she took the Ghost-type attack, which created a powerful black explosion.

Houndoom huffed. "Hmph, so you really wanna have to go and singe those sensitive ears of yours?"

Clefable lifted the barrier, giving Houndoom a rather timid stare. "Yes."

Auriol pushed skywards, causing her golden barrier to dispel while the swords moved in tandem overhead. She turned to see them return to Erza as she dashed ahead, requipping into her Robe of Yuen Armor. Erza slashed the binsento at impressive speeds, this time making Auriol barely have enough time to make a golden energy veil to nullify it.

"Houndoom, Fire Fang!" she ordered.

Houndoom snarled as he jumped into the air, his maw opening wide with the fangs igniting in flames. On his back Erza jumped on.

Auriol saw the incoming pounce, but she was prepared.

"Meteor!"

In a golden blur, she dodged Houndoom's fiery fangs, bringing him to use his claws for traction.

Erza gasped at what she just witnessed. "Wait, the spell." She followed Auriol behind her. "Don't tell me, she can use…"

Up on a higher perch overlooking Erza, Auriol regally held gesture as she aimed ger fingers towards the sky. "May the gilding light be thy holy judge!"

"That can't be-!"

"Pleiades!"

From the heavens above, six golden twinkles were seen that turned to shooting streams of heavenly energy at Erza. The downward dive of all six beams smashed straight to where Erza was, making the ground dice and burst apart. Gold ray covered everything, making it impossible to see what was happening.

Auriol remained composed on her perch as she expected the results. She sighed tiredly.

"So you can use Heavenly Body as well, I see."

Her eyes flashed open, showing a rather unimpressed look. The dust cleared away, showing a large mass of craters around the area. However, Erza remained on Houndoom's back, completely unscathed. Though she was in her default armor for shockwave protection.

Despite how intrusive she found this situation, Auriol humbly scoffed. "I see, so you know of this magic." She retorted. "I must say, it's not easy for one to evade such attacks. Would that be some special armor or maneuver I should indulge in?"

Erza didn't bother having to answer. In truth, she nor Houndoom hardly moved around much. They just made a few quick steps and that was all. She internally smirked. 'Guess Nic's Acupressure helped me with evasiveness then.' Her husband's aid aside, she scoffed back. "The details are irrelevant. What matters is giving back what you stole from Lucy and Yukino."

Auriol raised her head, looking rather humbled by what Erza said. "And in who's perspective is that exactly?" she jumped down to eye-level. "Maybe to one's eyes it's stealing, but it's as my gracious king said. We will make a new path this way, even if our current celestials do not see it now, they will when we open the gates to the new world."

Erza's glare hardened on her. She didn't understand what that meant, but she didn't like it.

"For King Melchior!" she fired golden beams at Erza and Houndoom, the pair ready to strike back.


"Keykeykeykeykeykeys!" Klefki skated across the ground as everyone was battling all around her. The key-obsessed key ring zoomed so fast that she was mistaken for a blur. "Oh where are my beautiful preciouses?! Where?!" She whined, until a glint caught her attention.

"KEY!"

Like a mad hungry Carvahna, Klefki raced for then nearby key, closing in on it. "You're not getting away from me ever aga-!"

A shockwave from a nearby battle Natsu was having had heated dust and air blow right in front of Klefki as he pounced for the key. As the key remained safely on the ground, the misfortunate key ring was sent flying.

"WHY ME~?!"


As the chaos went on, Melchior and Oberon stood tall and observed quietly. Neither spoke as they watched the battles waged that their associates have partaken in. It was truly a site to behold.

"Look at them, sire. Such destruction that these impure mages cause. It's no wonder that the world we live in is plagued with poor balance." Oberon chimed.

Melchior calmly nodded. "Yes. A sum of observation unfortunately."

"I understand what must be done. Now then, shall I make myself useful, and-"

Melchior didn't hear his associate finish. Instead he heard the sounds of chattering and freezing of matter. A very cold air filled around him as a very odd power flourished that gave him a look. What he saw didn't deter him from his deathly leer.

Oberon didn't get to finish because his mouth was frozen shut. In fact the rest of his body was covered in a block of ice. He looked unaware and smirking inside the ice, proof that he wasn't aware of his ignorance.

A foot misting in frost stepped up behind. "Alright, so you're next?...or do you have something to say?"

Melchior turned around, his frown as clear as crystal when seeing Nic in his Icicle Form, beside his Greninja with serious disposition clear on their faces.

Their eyes spoke the only language between two opponents possible. Exactly what vocal words were needed to tell your enemies what you were thinking? It was clear by the way Nic gazed at Melchior that he could see right through to him now.

After what felt like an eternity, the kind humbly grinned. "Perceptive. I expect no less of someone with such an apparent reputation. You surprise me, Nic Pularis. So you chose to act now during the rise of a tide."

"You know why I couldn't."

Melchior looked over his shoulder, seeing Lucy use her water whip to counter Virgo's change and repel an advancing Loke. Yukino was seen commanding her Minior to use Ancient Power, making a silver hemisphere that exploded upon contact with the white fish of Pisces.

"Yes…I see. Friendship and trust are very fine attributes to humanity. It takes a kind heart to consider the feelings of another for their sake. You have what it takes to be a formidable being amongst spirits."

"And Lucy isn't?" Nic retorted. "This was important to her, you knew about that from the start, didn't you?"

Mechior's glance blackened in his eyes. "It's not I was being selfish intentionally. What I am doing is the only way for Celestial Spirit Magic to flourish in our time dominantly again."

"Selfless, maybe. But for whom are you being that way towards?" Greninja retorted. "You've used our friends as bait for this violence you caused, and you claim that as selfless?"

"For a better world, violence has always been the answer to man. It makes no difference if it is I or another who spills blood. The ways to the future are created through the links that the great ones make through others." His eyelids dulled on Nic. "Am I wrong to say you're no different? This world is changing, and yet you do not find yourself as the face of this Pokémon era that is said to be here. If not you, then whom shall pave way to the new world?"

Nic faced Melchior without break in his defensive afflictions. Be as it may he did have merit in what he was saying. There were a lot of people out in the world right now who looked up to Nic; some by sincere respect, others by fear of the power he's gained. But that power didn't grow on its own, no. He needed help, and to do that, he needed to help others, without much promise of a reward.

With that in mind he seemed more relaxed than before. "I'm in a guild. I've been in a few jobs where I didn't end up paid at the end by others. You might see value in material possession, but what would I benefit being a face looking down at others…I'd rather be eye-level."

Melchior stared at Nic, his grin darkening. "At 'eye-level' you say? What a very interesting view you have."

"I admit it, we love to battle. And to some of us it's our best answer to understand one another." Nic glowed, turning to his Dread Form. "Yeah, I know violence has always been the way man has solved things, and the winner decides the path…but the loser also learns something if the winner is willing to extend their hand, even a little."

Melchior turned around, scoffing behind Nic's back. "Respect for the inferiors…" he grinned. "Do you have any idea how foolish that sounds? If against an army of 10,000 men, would you be able to reach out to every one of them? That is impossible. If one falls, that means they were weak…and I'm willing to sacrifice what I held dear to prove that Celestial Spirits reign at the top."

Nic and Greninja finally caught on. That last part now makes sense.

'So he's saying…' Greninja thought.

'So that's it.' Nic surmised. 'This is all for them.'

"Judging by that look you both have you understand." Melchior grinned. "Then you know what is my answer. Disagree if you will…but the reality is as I said, the path to the future is paved in war."

"I never said that I denied that reality; I accepted that a long while back." He briefly thought back when he joined Fairy Tail, how at first he disliked war. But as time aged, so did his own logics. "But taking advantage of the innocent is one thing…but using my friends' is an entire other. Lucy, and the spirits." He and Greninja had murderous looks, ones that actually made Melchior ware a little.

"Such determination." He murmured. "Fine…then show me your vision of the future!"


Violently roaring, Natsu unleashed a barrage of fists into Caius. The man stood his ground and took every blow dished to him. "HRAAAAAH!" Natsu increased the pace of his rock-crushing punches, making gravel flip beneath them. Even then, Caius refused to even budge.

'Is he even intending to block at all?'

Charmeleon jumped above Hariyama with claws held high, via Scratch. The slashing claws came down on Hariyama, who used his huge hands to take the blunt of the attack.

'An opening!' Charmeleon planted his feet on Hariyama's massive hand and used it as a springboard to shoot skywards overhead. Overhead falling upside down, Charmeleon whipped his tail around.

"Ember!" He lashed orange sparks that erupted behind Hariyama. The flares swallowed him while Charmeleon landed on a knee facing away. 'That should have buffered him some. A big guy like him can't react that fast when turning towards the sky.'

"You are a light opponent. I respect that."

Charmeleon whipped around, the voice alerting him as Hariyama stepped up from the dissipating flares. As he approached he seemed completely unfazed by that attack. His muscles stiffened at how up close his opponent was that he paled in his size.

"But…I am afraid that this is where you must fall." Hariyama finished.

"That's what you think." Charmeleon spread his legs, whipping his tail to propel him between Hariyama's fat legs. Sliding beneath, he positioned himself for another behind-attack. "Flame Charge!"

The cloaked lizard shot into the back with intense orange airwaves around him, another red aura showing Speed increase. At the same time, Natsu's own uppercut to Caius finally broke his stance, causing the Trainer to step back, while the muscular Pokémon stepped forward for balance. Their eyes fastened on their advance.

With his Dragon Slayer senses, Natsu prepared for the next attack. "Here they come! Dodge it!"

Charmeleon backpedaled with swift steps. Natsu dodged Caius' palm strike, which broke the ground where he stood. He landed on his feet in time when Caius pivoted swung his other palm into Natsu's forearms that he used the block.

"Chop Hanging Palm: Gama!"

Natsu's eyes widened before he saw the brown palm he used for that first strike had gathered momentum enough to land a blow into his gut. The blow raced through Natsu's body, beaming winds out the other end. Natsu gagged again as the force left him flying backwards into a spiral through air.

"Natsu, no!" Happy raced for him as fast as he could.

Caius looked towards Hariyama. "Vital Throw!"

Hariyama closed in on Charmeleon with his hands spread to make lariats. Charmeleon backed further for distance, in midair Hariyama suddenly appeared. 'What the-?!' A lariat got his stomach and Hariyama spun around, throwing the lizard right into the blue cat darting for Natsu/ Together both were blown to spontaneous directions.

"Guys!" A falling Natsu doubled over diving onto a knee upon landing. He saved himself a harsh fall but his insides felt like crap. A gag of blood was blatant proof of that.

"O-Owie…" Happy laid on his back with his head sizzling. He wasn't gonna be getting up anytime soon.

Meanwhile, close by behind some scattered rocks, a fiery red aura was looking like a campfire behind them. Suddenly the rocks were blown away by a heated force, removing air around to reveal a roaring Charmeleon with a vicious glare.

Natsu's eyes widened at Charmeleon's latest revelation. 'Is that his ability?' Realizing what it meant he glared ahead. 'That means this has gotta end fast.'

"You appear to be in a predicament, my honorable challenger." Caius stood tall with Hariyama in front of him, looking stronger than ever. "For you see, with my Hariyama, he has the unique power that Pokémon have known as an ability. It is known as Thick Fat."

"Yeah, so what? It's fat, big deal."

"Well to you it is, because this layer of blubber halves the damage received by Fire and Ice-type attacks."

This time Natsu's eyes widened as he gasped. "Wait, you serious?" he looked towards Charmeleon, seeing him seethe at Hariyama with his flame tail brighter and larger than before. Natsu may not be the most logical in a fight, but he was aware of how tired Charmeleon was getting. It wasn't gonna be like against Max when he was reckless. He had to think this through. 'If fire attacks ain't gonna cut it…then we better go for distance.' "Charmeleon, can you still battle?!"

Charmeleon nodded. "Yeah."

"Then use Dragon Rage!" Charmeleon nodded and opened his mouth to create glowing draconic energy inside.

"So be it." Caius bravely accepted the challenge. "Hariyama, use Brine!" Hariyama took in a sharp breath from his not-so visible mouth, where a harsh stream of saltwater jettisoned across the area towards Charmeleon.

"Water?" Natsu realized what this meant. "Charmeleon, stop!"

But unfortunately for Natsu, that didn't happen. Charmeleon couldn't stop because the blast was already expelling. The draconic beam shot across the earth pass the brine blast heading his way. The rate of both attacks was remarkably intense, so much that neither could get out in time. In two large eruptions, black and blue shot skywards, opposite of a salty mist brewing. Natsu and Caius stood partially shocked at what they were witnessing.

From the one end, the blast dissipated while Hariyama stepped backwards, shifting a knee behind to take his signature position. He took damage, but with such high health it was impossible to chunk down. Meanwhile from the mist cloud, Charmeleon stood there, his body steaming and remaining completely still.

Second later, the lizard finally caved in, falling on his back with swirling eyes.

"CHARMELEON!" Natsu raced over to his defeated Pokémon, looking over him with worry. "Hey! You okay?! Say something!" Charmeleon weakly moaned as he remained blacked out. He faced Caius with a vein on his forehead. "Bastard!"

"You brought this onto yourself I'm afraid." Caius passively raised his voice at the Dragon Slayer.

Natsu stood up, using his Poke Ball to withdraw Charmeleon from his unsuccessful battle. He felt shameful he let that happen but he wasn't out of the fight yet. He cracked his knuckles. "You're gonna pay for hurting my friends, especially Lucy." He snarled. "Blubber or not, you guys messed with her feelings…and no one uses that on us and gets away with it."

"Do try." Caius said. "As my ancestors have done, I shall stand by my king, to the end."


Fighting off the urge to yawn, a tired Gray reached forward. "Snover, Icy Wind!" Snorunt's mouth glowed as he expelled a frosted wind from his mouth across the frozen battleground.

"Juvia!"

The rain woman nodded. "I know. Marill, try your best. Use…" she yawned again. "Bubble Beam!"

Marill strained to get up as she fought off her paralysis. She winced, but she mustered enough strength to expel a stream of bubbles across the ground. The two attacks that were shot drew closer, until the bubbles inside the frosted winds began freezing over. They closed in on Pikachu, who still was on four limbs instead of two.

"Pikachu, Electro Ball on…the ice." Vita yawned.

"Got it!" Pikachu raised her tail as a discharge of electricity conducted at the heart-shaped end. A sphere of electricity was created and the mouse flipped into the air and slammed it down on her spot. A blast wave of smoke and ice obscured everything even as the frozen bubbles made impact with the shockwaves.

A long silence fell as they awaited the results, but as the smoke cleared, Pikachu was nowhere to be seen.

"She's gone?!" Snorunt fret.

"Did she hide-and-seek on us?" Marill worried.

Gray looked around suspiciously as well. When he felt electricity in the air around him, he looked up, seeing a projectile incoming. "Up there!"

Juvia looked towards the sky, immediately worrying for the electrical sphere bolting downwards. "Marill, be careful!"

"Huh?" Looking up, the bright sphere closed in on the mouse. Neither her nor Snorunt were prepared as they were too close to another to separate. The Electro Ball encompassed both of them in a powerful blast of electricity, causing them to scream out in agony.

"Marill!"

"Snorunt!"

The smoke and ice cleared, revealing Marill on her back with swirling eyes. Snorunt, however, was dazed and barely standing. Though he was able to still battle.

"Oh no." Juvia fret.

Vita softly yawned again, smiling. "Well that was fun. I hope Uncle's watching." She looked up at the plateau, seeing Melchior looking at Nic and Greninja instead. "Awww, man. Stupid political stuff." She pouted.

Juvia quickly returned Marill. "Gray darling, I'm so sorry." She apologized.

Gray had an understanding look. "It's fine, don't worry about it. You just focus on taking her out next. Got it?"

Juvia nodded. "Right…" she nearly lost footing as drowsiness was taking over her fast. 'My head…it's all getting hazy…'

Vita sleepily stared, grinning.


Vanessa fired repeated rounds of aura that Bion ran into. Slashing at each one, the bisected volleys faded to leave room to attack. He closed the gap and slashed, but Vanessa ducked. She evaded several more bladed cuts until the knight slammed the blade down. She manifested a teal platform beneath and pulsed into the air backwards to avoid the ground-slicing blow.

In midair, she crossed her arms with teal in the wrists shining.

"Nugatory Burst!"

Bion felt a strong surge of magic beneath him before the ground obliterated under the pressure of a teal pressure that was roaring like thunder. Inside, Bion's armor was cutting the damage of the attack, but he still felt his body getting light.

Suddenly a whole ripped open when a projectile of aura broke through. Bion looked up just as everything turned bright teal. Several flashes later, an eruption overwhelmed the knight, making it impossible to tell what happened.

Vanessa's long dark and blonde hair shifted in the winds of her own attack. She watched as the dust and smoke cleared away…but something in her aura was telling her the fight wasn't over yet.

The smoke soon cleared, revealing Jangmo-o's red eyes sneering at Vanessa and Venusaur alike. He was still poisoned and poisonous bubbles arose, but he still stood like nothing happened.

"Above you!"

Catching Venusaur's warning, Vanessa looked skywards to see a downwards Bion with a blade. An Energy Ball was fired that he ended up hitting instead. As the attack started imploding, Vanessa veered away while the green burst repulsed Bion back to Jangmo-o's side.

"Jangmo-o didn't take any damage." Vanessa evaluated. "Is that because it used Protect?"

"Close, my fair lady." Bion boasted. "It's Jangmo-o's Bulletproof, a unique power amongst these Pokémon." He took out what looked like a Pecha Berry and tossed it into the air. Jangmo-o jumped and ate the whole thing. In a flash of green the poison effects were gone. He landed back in front of Bion. "You may be an experienced and beautiful mage of your own right, but as are we. Together, we shall take back what is ours."

"Is that so?" Vanessa stared blankly at her foe as his words dug into her. Something the way he said, let alone out it, made it feel it wasn't just about Melchior. It was also clear in his aura. There was an increased desperation she felt; a longing for something. This is where she felt a mix of a burning fire and passion for the future. 'I wonder what he wishes for that drives him this much?'

Regardless of what she thought, she resumed her battle. "So be it. Let's have it your way!" She fired another beam of aura, with Venusaur shooting his Venoshock in a similar angle.

Jangmo-o and Bion braced themselves as they held ground into the attacks' wake.


A snake vortex of water shot from Aquarius' jug that shot ahead. This time, Prinplup used Metal Claw in a chop to stop the wave, splitting it in two. "Cana!"

Several tarot cards shuffled in Cana's hand. "Nothing personal!" she flung the cards at Aquarius, but just as they were about to explode, another wave expanded from Aquarius that blew away the eruptions.

"Anytime now, Lucy!" Cana urged.

Lucy was on her highest guard as she whipped her water whip again, deflecting another Virgo chain. The maid ceased her assault and suddenly plunged beneath like a diver. Lucy looked around warily of her surroundings as she tried sensing the magic energy.

"Hey, give me a break! I'm waiting for Klefki! Okay, Staryu, I need…" Before Lucy could find the star's capsule, she found herself with empty pockets. "Huh? Wait…Staryu?!" She gasped breathlessly. The ocean! That was it! 'Oh no! Don't tell me that I already forgot about-!' Before she could finish her full sentence, the ground started vibrating. She was hurled into the air by Virgo's ground attack.

"Lucy!"

The blonde fell onto her back, the shock sending a stiff paralysis through her nerves. Her nice dress was all tattered and rugged, but that wasn't her concern. She opened an eye, noticing a shadow over her. Looking up she saw Virgo present.

She sat up, looking at her with worry. "Virgo…?"

The Celestial Spirits eyes were entirely red – no pupils whatsoever. Even if Lucy could try and make out the spirit's entity, it was still hard for her to understand in the first place how this could've happened.

"Virgo, Loke…guys…"

"LUCY!"

KONK!

Something flew in the back of Virgo's head that made her unresponsive for a moment. Lucy looked stunned as Klefki came around, moving around Lucy with her key ring full of golden keys. "LUCYLUCYLUCY! LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!"

Apparently she was taken back by Klefki's energy. "Woah, Klefki?!"

Klefki showed off her key ring with glee. Impressively she was still floating despite the combined weight the keys had. "Tada~! Check it out! I got all the keys now!" she chirped. "They're mine! All mine!"

"Awesome job, Klefki!" She reached out. "Quick, hand me Pisces and Libra's keys!"

Immediately Klefki looked shocked. "What?! But I just found them!"

"Klefki!"

"But…just a couple more minutes?"

"NOW!"

"Eek! Okay! Okay!"

Despite her ill-will, the displeased key ring half-heartedly handed Lucy two keys. She turned to see Cana throwing tarot cards now to get Virgo's regained attention. While she focused on her, Prinplup and Purrloin were moving around to dodge Loke and Aquarius' light and water streams. "YUKINO~!" She called out to the fellow Celestial Mage, tossing the keys high into the air.

Hearing her name called, Yukino looked skywards to see two lights coming down close by. Steeling herself, she darted towards them as fast a possible. She ducked into a barrel roll and slid along the smooth plateau surface until she was positioned where the keys would hand. They landed in her hands.

"I got it!"

Together, both mages stood straight up and looked at their respective spirits. 'It'll be over soon guys, promise!'

Together, they raised all them high.

"Gates Close!"

The keys all shined…but then stopped. Nothing happened.

"Huh?!" Lucy gasped.

"Our keys…something's wrong." Yukino realized.

"Lucy! What's wrong?!" Cana yelled, before a pulse ran through her. She and Sophie felt throbbing headaches again, the two immediately dropping to their knees again.


Similarly, another aggravated headache shot through Nic and Greninja. The two grunted hard as they almost caved into their own knees.

'Damnit…these headaches are back…of all the times…'

Seeing his opponent's writhe, Melchior raised a brow. He slowly looked towards the sky. "What was that you said before?" he chimed. "Something about not benefiting from material possessions?"

Nic looked up.

"Well…I suppose we'll see what the heavens themselves believe about that claim…"

The jewel in the crown glowed brighter, as did the stars.


All at once the spirits' eyes shined even brighter in unison. They knew what to do by their king's order. 'Show them your true power!'

Libra spun on her axis and raised her scales high. A green aura enveloped her body, causing the air around to distort before it vanished. Seconds later a massive gravity slammed on everyone along the plateau, immediately grounding almost all.

"What the-?!" Gray winced.

Wendy, Carla, and Swablu all feel to a knee, unable to handle the pressure. "This pressure…did someone just amplify gravity?" Wendy winced.

"Such force!" Carla grunted.

Some of the view who were still able to stand were the lucky ones. Duncan, Natsu, Erza, and Nic specifically. Natsu went to run after Caius and Hariyama, but he was significantly slowed down.

"MOOOOO!" Taurus brought his axe down into the ground. The earth shook as it split apart, sending shockwaves beneath everyone's feet.

Natsu was closing in when his eyes reflected the wave of rock. Using his feet's fire, he jettisoned into the earth to avoid the shockwaves.

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted. Natsu looked down, seeing the shockwave running to her and Cana as well.

"Lucy!" He flipped in front of her, grabbing her again to shield her from the shockwaves, but ended up blown away with everyone else.

With her foe temporarily on the defensive, Auriol glared at Erza with a swipe. She sent an energy blade dead ahead at her head. Erza looked up upon seeing the attack, but gravity was dense, and her armor weighed her down some.

"Houndoom!"

Hearing her Trainer mounted, Houndoom opened his maw to unleash Dark Pulse. The dark jumbled ring beam met the sword in the center, creating an obscuring eruption that broke the second Taurus' shockwaves splintered the ground.

Amongst the spirits next, Sagittarius aimed his arrows in the sky. Up they went, becoming twinkles that shined as brilliantly as the stars. They came down, and thanks to Libra enhancing gravity, they were coming down fast.

Mustering her power, Juvia raised her arm up the best she could. "Water Nebula!" She created a massive wake of water that overflowed from down under. The gush of water stopped the mass of spears, making them sink and push up to where they plopped on the ground around Juvia.

A shadow cast behind her, making her gasp.

"Juvia!" Gray shouted.

Juvia turned around, only to get a glimpse of a kick that came down on her shoulder. The force, added in with her sleep deprivation by Vita, made the rain woman grounded. The attacker revealed to be Capricorn, his sunglasses shining bright red.

"You bastard…!" Gray went to attack as well, but he felt an odd chill behind. He turned around, seeing Gemini disguised as him, but with the whole red eyes glaring him down. In a flash, the spirit created a sword of Devil Slayer ice, slashing Gray into the ground. The shockwaves reached Snorunt as he was running towards his side, ending up blown away harshly.

Still disguised as Gray, Gemini swiped his arm, covering the entire area in Devil Slayer ice. The ice froze up to everyone's feet and knees. Those on their backs and stomachs were not as lucky as they were stuck to the demonic ice that never melted.

"You've…gotta be kidding me!" Cana shouted.

Sophie tried getting up, but still stuck on her knee embedded in the ice, she found it impossible. 'They're using our powers against us. This isn't good!'

Stuck with her sister, Sorano looked down worriedly, along with her Mantine, who wasn't able to handle gravity with Minior. "Bleh! So cold!" she shivered. "Why did he have to be an ice mage?!" She heard something that sounded like a gun cocked at her. Turning around, she saw Scorpio's tail aimed at her. "S-Scorpio?!" she quipped.

Scorpio's tail pistol barrel widened, sand swirling inside.

Sorano tried to find an excuse against her former spirit…but it wasn't working. "Uh, d-don't you remember me?! It's me! You remember me, right? Buddy…? Er…?"

Scorpio didn't waste another second unleashing a massive sand blast that raged into Sorano. The elder sister screamed as the blast wave enveloped her and Mantine.

"Sorano!" Yukino yelled before the sand swallowed her and Minior, blowing them down.

Grunting, Duncan turned towards Gray-Gemini. "Spiritomb, Hypnosis!"

Spiritomb registered the attack to strike, but suddenly she turned towards something else that caught her attention.

"What is it?" Duncan turned as well, his eyes widening upon shock. "What the-?!"

Seconds later, a wave of pink wool swallowed the area. The cool ice beneath blanketed under everyone, but even Erza and Vanessa were stunned as a rush of wool was quickly covering them up to their waists. With their arms pinned beneath the wool, the soft conductor beneath was making sure no magic would be used.

"Wool?!" Lucy looked at the pink wool, realizing what made that. "Aries!"

With everyone trapped with wool and Devil Slayer ice, all the spirits and the advisors gathered around Melchior in a flash. Oberon, who was freed from his ice prison by Taurus' shockwaves, was also apart of this. They disregarded their captives and stared down Nic and Greninja, whom were on their knees still throbbing from this headache.

"I believe that I am making my point now." Melchior said. "Now you see to it. The likes of why my destiny is to be realized."

Nic wanted to say something, as did Greninja, but their bodies wouldn't listen to them. Their pulsation was making them less mental than they were. Coincidentally, the tarot card that Cana was using earlier during the fortunetelling began glowing.

'What the…? This card.'

Sophie grunted as well, her lips creating anger.

"Now, I believe as much as I have enjoyed all of your companies, if you're not going to do anything, then we'll finish our business and be on our way. Aquarius?"

The mermaid raised her jug high, her eyes glowing bright for a second. The land started shuddering beneath as the humidity levels exponentially increased.

Nic and everyone tried looking up, but what they saw startled them beyond belief.

All around them, water levels arose. A massive dome of water surrounded them, hovering like it was ready to fall onto them on command. With all under wool and ice, and Gray drowsy so he couldn't reverse it, everyone was immobile and ready to be hammered.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Houndoom barked.

Dewpider looked unnerved. "Uh, usually I'm fine underwater, but…not when it's about to drop an entire lake onto me!"

"If that collapses, we will be hammered with at least 300,000 gallons of water pressure at once." Kadabra calculated. "They'd really…"

"Well this sucks." Purrloin deadpanned. Likewise, Prinplup was just as dumbfounded.

Erza gritted her teeth as she looked al around. It was a complete turnaround than what was supposed to happen. Her adversaries had turned everything against them, and so swiftly as well. 'Such power, and with extreme execution.' She dreaded in her mind. 'Just how far ahead did this king think for us to be pinned like this so quickly?'

"You'd really go this far?" a struggling Nic asked Melchior, him and Greninja finding their footing beneath. "Just how desperate are you really?"

Melchior grinned passively. "Would you oblige if you let me show you? Aquarius…do it."

The jewel on his crown shined yet again. Aquarius slowly made the dome of water close in on everyone. It lowered quickly, swirling faster into a compressed dome around Nic, Greninja, and everyone else. The top was collapsing onto them, intending to slowly level a dense layer of water overhead.

"WE'RE GONNA DROWN!" an awakened Happy screamed.

Everyone looked skywards as none of them knew what to do. If Nic wasn't having such a throbbing headache he would get to removing the water with either his Splash Form or Mind Form to teleport them, but it was becoming too much to strain. Cana, Greninja, and Sophie all were too focused on their headaches that throbbed their mind shackles extraordinarily. The wailings of everyone didn't compare for now.

The card Cana had glowed even brighter.

Lucy looked up as Natsu was holding her close, preparing for what's to come. "This can't be…no…" She watched the water close in, her shuddering eyes misting. "Please…stop this…stop!"

"Lucy!" Natsu shouted.

"Aquarius…Loke…everyone…" Tears ran down Lucy's face. "NOOOO~!"

"ENOUGH!" Nic roared.

SHING!

A bright glow resonated from Cana's hand. With her eyes still able to move, she looked down, realizing the gold tarot card she was still clinging onto was glowing again. "What?" she gasped. Suddenly she started glowing as well.

A familiar aura engulfed Sophie as well. Same went for Nic and Greninja. All their golden shines were beacons that alarmed everyone around them.

"Okay, that's new." Purrloin blinked.

"Cana, what's going on? Are you okay?" Prinplup fret.

Vita narrowed her eyes, looking far out to see the golden lights twinkling. "Huh? What're they doing out there?"

"I'm sensing a strong celestial bond brewing." Caius aforementioned. "It's growing stronger."

Cana looked down, feeling her headache starting to erode away. 'This light…it's erasing my headache away…wait, can I hear my own thoughts out loud?' this revelation left her baffled. 'What's going on?!'

'Cana, you feel that, too?' Nic responded.

'Nic, you too?'

'Yeah, it's me. Greninja, you?'

'Yeah, I'm right here, too. Then I guess that leaves…'

'Me.' Sophie finished. 'Guys, these headaches, and Cana's tarot card…'

'Yeah, and if it's just us that can hear, there's no mistaking it.' Cana realized. 'Guys, you thinking what I'm thinking.'

'Yes. I think I do.' Sophie smirked.

Nic glanced at Greninja. 'Greninja, you ready?'

The frog nodded. 'Always.'

Nic humbly smirked. 'Then so be it…Cana, do it!'

"You got it, buddy boy!" She gripped the card under the pink, fluffy wool, making it shine brighter.

"What're you doing?!" Wendy squealed.

Carla looked at the many glows, feeling an incredibly strong flow of power. "This Magic Power…they're about to do something!"

The card's accents and insignias resonated with the golden shines around Nic and the others. They could feel something telling them this had ti be it. Their beckoned call was forcing them to expel a pressure so strong that the card shined like a glimmering star. Cana's hair whipped around as the power around her was blowing away wool, leaving open space for strands of ice to stray around them.

'Such Magic Power.' Erza observed what they were doing, but even she was without words. 'Just what are they doing exactly that requires this much…?'

Cana closed her eyes, allowing the power to flow through her.

"We summon thee in our time of need. May your everlasting voices pierce our ears once more, and reach our hearts once more. May we bask, and laugh as we all did before, and rejoice in the perils that brought us to now. Our radiance reaches up to thee, so we ask you! Come forth! Let us bask in our eternal friendship! Three worlds, but hearts bigger than any! Four hearts intertwined by our bond…WE SUMMON THEE!"

The card stopped glowing for a second, leaving time to stop. Suddenly an eruption of golden light exploded from the card that shot into the atmosphere. The beam had so much power that it tore apart the collapsing water dome Aquarius was about to drop on them.

"Unbelievable!" Auriol outraged.

"Such force." A recovered Oberon acknowledged.

The king looked up, raising a brow at what he was witnessing.

Everyone was watching in complete shock and silence. The sky above was twinkling a mixture of gold, with red sparkles to show the constellations. The pillar of light coming from the card slowly expanded, encompassing the area and the elements trapping everyone. They severed as the celestial glow spread far and wide, blinding not just the advisors, but also the soldiers on the hill outside the post-destroyed water barrier. The transcending of this golden force raged across the plateau with the power of a full-strength Magnitude, spreading apart the debris that was picked up throughout all their battles. The enemies could only watch in suspicion and wonder as their foes' sudden play left minutes on end with volumes to where they could be described as deaf at this point.

The dust started clearing, and the first thing that was heard was the sound of coughing. Natsu stood up, finally getting to his feet. "Man, what the heck was that light just now?" he realized other things. "Wait, I'm free? Lucy? Happy?"

"Natsu?" Lucy called. Happy was in her arms, looking just as perplexed.

"What happened? You guys alright?"

"Yeah, we think so." The blonde worried otherwise. "It's weird. I could've sworn we were-!" she turned around, gasping in shock.

Natsu looked around too, wondering what made Lucy gasp so loudly. Even to his own surprise, he slowly widened his eyes.

Slowly around everyone, they stirred upwards from the dust and glowing mist. They all looked at one spot, and it was where Cana, Nic, Greninja, and Sophie were all gathered behind three glowing figments.

Melchior smirked. "Well now…what an interesting development."

The howling winds reverberated into the open hills far out, the twinkling red stars in the sky beaming bright. And yet in front of Nic and the gathered, three silhouettes of inhumane sizes and shapes gleamed through the dirt.

Sophie was the first to react. "No way…"

Inside the dust, a pair of lips smirked. "Hehe…sorry little lady, yes way."

"So…it really was you guys." Cana breathlessly replied. "Damn."

"We apologize for the inconvenience at the time." A much deeper, broad voice announced. "But I'm afraid now is not the time or acquitting any matters right now."

A broad, wolf-like figment dug his claws into the ground. "T'eh, you heard him. Sorry for the late announcement ladies and gents…but we're here now."

Behind the dust, Nic and Greninja smirked.

In the middle of the cleared plateau, the humans and Pokémon gazed at the three spirits that were summoned before them. Volans stood in the center, his glare deeper than the darkest trench. On his left was Corvus, whose arms were crossed. On the right was Lupus, snarling like a wild animal. The gathered spirits dominated the center of attention, leaving all completely flabbergasted.

"Corvus." Sophie awed.

The crow spirit tipped his witch cap up with an index finger, snickering pridefully.

"Lupus." Cana muttered.

The wolf spirit bared his claws, expelling an eerie howl through the atmosphere.

"AAAHHH!" Happy cried out, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. "No! Not another dog!"

Houndoom turned towards Happy. "What's that mean?"

"AH! No! Stay away from me! Somebody save me from this nightmare already! Natsu~!" He lunged for Natsu, clinging to his arm like a Joltik feeding on electricity.

"Volans." Greninja continued.

The humanoid fish-man glared forward, giving his allies a gruff but humble regard.

Nic humbly smirked. "You all came…I'm surprised."

'That's putting it lightly.' Erza silently mused. She smirked at the arrival of her husband's own "team". 'So Nic ended up having another trump card of his own. I shouldn't expect anything less from that knucklehead.'

Gray blinked, staggering still from that earlier blow. "Hang on, are those…"

"The Celestial Spirits that they're aligned with." Wendy realized. "Yeah, they have to be."

"They came here at all times." Carla pondered aloud. "But how did they figure we were-!" It suddenly hit her. Those flashes of when they were looking into their fortunetelling blockade struck them. 'Wait, that time…'

'That aura I felt, and these two…now it makes sense.' Vanessa thought back to earlier when Cana and Sophie were throbbing. She sensed some aura trying to influence them, but she wasn't certain of it was friend or foe. 'So it was them all along. They knew. Now it makes sense.'

What now was the general question running through everyone's mind. They all were relieved that help had come at the right time. But now what?

"Sire, do you see what I see?" Oberon told the king. "I believe we have uninvited guests in our little education."

"Are those spirits?" Vita narrowed her eyes, looking at Lupus as the wolf snarled at them. "Oh, look at the fluffy one. I wonder if he's cuddly?"

"Focus, young one." Auriol scolded, never taking her eyes off the Celestial Spirits opposing them. 'How did they get summoned? From what we have researched, Lucy Heartfilia nor Yukino Agria have the keys to summon them. Unless…' She recalled the light from Cana's card. 'That card was embedded with Celestial Spirit Organic Link. I didn't believe such a thing was possible.'

Melchior looked on, completely invested in these turns of events. 'Well, well. Seems these Fiorians continue to surprise me. But still…' He eyed the spirits carefully. 'One can never be too careful with what opportunities come their way.'

The jewel on his crown started glowing again.

Reacting swiftly, Nic turned to his Mind Form, getting ahead of everyone. "Magic Coat!" A large, clear barrier was summoned in front of him. The enigmatic invisible rays of Melchior's crown were deflected back at him and his allies. The reaction led the added stress to make crackling red around all the spirits still under his mind control.

'He reflected the crown's hypnotic effects back at us?' Caius observed carefully.

"Greninja, give us some cover, quick!" Nic ordered.

"Right!" The frog jumped into the air, the air around him turning humid. "Scald!" A blue airwave expelled from his mouth as a tremendous blast stream of boiling hot water engulfed in steam. The gargantuan and fast-moving beam was empowered with the Mystic Water, making the ground split from the water pressure traveling over it.

"Aries!" Melchior commanded, the crown jewel glowing once more.

Initially over the strain, the lamb spirit summoned a large, thick mass of soft, pink wool to make as a shield. The intense boiling water didn't seem fazed by the wool as it tore through like water to soap foam. A heated blast wave of mist and skin-broiling water spewed everywhere, causing the entire plateau to shudder with a warm shower everywhere.

Lupus looked up, the sprays of Greninja's attack making a light drizzle. "Tch, showers." The wolf's mouth began glowing midnight blue. "Sonic…HOOOOWWLLL!" The wolf followed up the powerful attack with his mouth wide open. Midnight blue soundwaves expelled into the mist cloud.

Melchior and everyone looked ahead and in awe as the broiling waves dissipated, only to see sonic waves of echoing force slam into them. The blast waves shook the atmosphere around all of them.

"Well I'll be damned…" Houndoom awed. "That guy really knows how to bark."

"Yes, most certainly." Erza confirmed.

Happy, on contrary, covered his ears. "GYAAH! Why did they have to snarl so loudly in my ears?!"

"Pull yourself together, Happy! They're on our side!" Carla retorted.

"That doesn't make it any better for me!"

Volans got into a fighting stance, facing the enemies before them. "We mustn't allow them to gain their bearings. Everyone, there's no time to waste! We must take our leave as soon as the opening is clear!"

"An opening?" Yukino questioned. "How?"

"You'll know it when you see it. Corvus, can I depend on you for your assistance?"

The crow spirit stepped up beside his fellow crew member, his expression serious. "No problem!"

As the dust from Lupus' earlier assault flourished, a blue glint was seen inside. Second later, the dust was washed away by a massive torrent that was unleashed by Aquarius.

To counter, Volans brought his hands together as moisture gathered in the center. A sphere of dense, deep blue water was made.

"Tsunami Implosion!"

The fish-man fired the aquatic sphere with gunfire speeds. The bolting blue sphere raged into the aquatic blast ramming across the mirror ground. The waves rushed into the center, where there was a stalemate for a few moments. It didn't take long for both attacks to collapse on the other. An explosive wall of water erupted skywards, spouting with force just like Greninja's earlier assault. The spray was the cover that Corvus needed.

His eyes glinted. 'Alright. Here I go!'

The spirit brought his wings back, just as the waves washed apart from another. He flapped forward.

"Daze Wing!"

The spirit's wings created a black gust that spread forward into a rush passed the dissipating watery waves. The winds struck the Celestial Spirits in everyone's way, causing them all to buffer about. Once the winds receded, the Zodiacs all opened their eyes again, but the red in their visions looked dull. It was like if they had actual eyes, they would be dilating.

"What's this?" Bion looked surprised, seeing the Zodiacs before him dazed.

The Zodiacs all looked around absent-mindedly. They all either looked like they were trying to figure out their surroundings, or were looking for reason. In either case, they couldn't see anything straight, even with mind-controlled vision as red.

"There, that should hold them off for a little while." Corvus turned back at Nic. "Alright guys, now's your chance! Get out of here!"

"What?" Yukino gasped.

"You heard him, you better get moving fast doll, or else it ain't gonna be too pretty once they come around." Lupus reasoned.

"Nic, are you able to handle that?" Volans asked the Pokémon Trainer.

Nic nodded. "Yeah, I can." He looked ahead, realizing there wasn't much time to Corvus' spell casted. He knew this wasn't the best option they had, but they needed to regroup…even if not a lot of them agreed to it. He shifted to his Mind Form, ready to transport when ready.

"Wait, Nic!" Lucy reached for her guildmate, but was blocked off by Greninja. "Greninja?!"

"Lucy, I'm sorry." The frog-ninja apologized. "But you heard them. Now's not the time!"

"But we can't just leave-!"

"We understand how you feel, Lucy." The argument surprisingly came from Erza. "But we're not in the best position to act right now. We need to regroup as soon as we can." Just then, another thought came to her mind. 'I haven't heard from Jellal's group either. Something happened to them too?'

"Stop, in the name of his majesty!" Auriol demanded.

Having no choice, Nic acted swiftly. "Teleport!"

Auriol reached forward, summoning golden beams that rained down from the sky. They came down where the Fiorians and defiant spirits were, leaving a great obscure that rattled the plateau ground, reducing its surface to humble gravel. Once the dust faded, however, the spots were all vacant. They were able to get away, but just by the skin of their teeth.

"My deepest apologies, your majesty…" a disappointed Auriol sighed. "I wasn't quick enough…they've fled."

"Thy couldn't have gotten too far from the city." Bion surmised. "We might still find them!"

The soldiers that were scrambled about heard the call to arms. Altair was amongst them, and he didn't look too appeased with how he was backfired against the Dragon Slayer so easily. "Men, spread out! Follow their magic signals! They can't get away, on the order of his majesty's advisors!"

"Oh man, just when things were getting good." Vita yawned loudly again. "…well, guess that's done. Can I go to bed now?"

Caius turned towards the king. "My liege, the decision rests upon you."

Oberon looked at the king curiously. "Melchior?"

The king looked on in silence, watching the turn of events unfold before his eyes. A looming silence fell around him with the way the spirits he was about to control backfired. As invested in his own curiosities as he was, he knew of his destiny. And like he told Nic and himself, he must take opportunity.

'What a very interesting night this night has been.'


The mountain air was brewing up some whiffs in the stirrings dust and dirt that rested on the ridges. Some of the winds were tough enough to buffer Graveler at high altitudes. At the lower plains, where grass turned to dirt, the Oddish huddled with Hoppip to keep them safe from the light breezes.

As a pair of Cottonee were whisking along the gentle breezes, a flash happened in the middle of these small plains. A split second and everyone found their feet planted on either patches of grass, moss, or rock overlooking the city and glittering sea.

The first amongst them to gather their bearings was Erza. She immediately straightened and looked at everyone around her. "Is everyone alright?"

"Uggh…yeah." Natsu groaned. "I think so. Man, that happened so…Lucy!" Immediately he started looking for his teammate. "Lucy, where are you?!"

"Eh, Natsu…" a low, nervous/peeved tone beneath caught his attention.

"Lucy?" The Dragon Slayer looked down, seeing how Lucy was in one piece…though to say she was okay would be a rather harsh stretch. In a lack of better word, she wasn't…exactly in the most compromising position. The sudden teleport by Nic threw off her balance so Natsu fell onto her in straddled format, and to keep himself leveraged he had to cling onto her breasts. And with the fabric already tattered, the scenario was more than a little awkward for the recipient of this pleasurable position.

"Owwie…" Beneath Lucy's right arm was Happy, the cat not feeling nearly as hot as his other pals.

Sophie got up and turned to her Pokémon. "Are you guys okay?"

Dewpider was the first to respond, exasperatedly. "Yeah, guess I am. But that was a pain!"

"I'm well enough, thank you very much." Finneon adjusted.

"In spite of physical and mental deterrence, I believe that I am stable enough." Kadabra surmised logically. Around him were clutters of the books that he had held onto this whole time.

"Juvia, can you stand?" Gray went to support Juvia almost immediately. She took a lot of damage from earlier, but it looked like the drowsiness from earlier shook off. 'Wait, I'm full of energy again. That was quick.'

The rain woman heard the sound of Gray's concerned voice and opened her eyes. Albeit weakly. "Gray…?"

"It's okay, I'm here-!" He immediately halted when the pain from his earlier damage caught on, making him cringe. "Damnit!"

Yukino gathered her bearings rather quickly as she looked around for Sorano. She was sprawled along the ground atop of her unconscious Mantine. She rushed over. "Sorano!" She held her dazed sister close. "Hey, stay with me. Are you okay?"

"Mmm…heee~…" Sorano's mouth formed sloppy smirk as she had blank eyes. She looked to be having a good dream by any indication. "No, please…yeah, there…"

Yukino sweatdropped. "Uh, okay…" She decided to shift focus at her surroundings. She didn't recognize the mountains and plains but seeing the city a short distance away still boggled her. "Wait, isn't that Astral?"

"Wait, hold up." Natsu finally got off Lucy, much to her hidden chagrin. He didn't notice. "How did we end up here anyway?"

Vanessa turned towards the culprit. "Nic."

The black-haired Trainer looked out beyond their viewing point, his Mind Form still active. With his psionic prowess, he could sense the minds of confusion and intent to kill from the city. The many aggressors being Altair. However, given the distance covered, it wouldn't be for a while by foot.

"Looks like we lost them for now, that's good." He turned towards Erza. "Erza, are you hurt?"

The redhead and her Houndoom looked unfazed. "You should know it takes more to keep me down." Erza teased.

Nic raised a brow, returning the comment. "It's not like I have a choice. I'm your husband."

"So you are. Still…" Her serious side returned as she gazed at the Celestial Spirits around them. "I'm surprised. I had no idea that they would be coming this time around."

Corvus chuckled. "Surprised, aren't ya?" He beamed with a big grin on his face. "Sorry for the sudden drop in guys, but no thanks are necessary!"

"Fore what?" Purrloin eyerolled, as if she didn't feel like caring. Lupus bared his fangs at the cat, his snarl making Purrloin's back streak up like an alley cat before ducking behind Prinplup's leg.

Lupus chuckled amusingly at his own actions. "I still got it."

Houndoom snickered.

Happy started shuddering like Purrloin, standing close to her side. "W-w-why us…?"

"I-I don't know…" Both felines gulped at the same time.

"Honestly." Carla irritably sighed.

Deciding to keep the group on task, Volans took to the lead. "We apologize for that abrupt brining." He started. "I understand that this was a difficult position to be in. But I hope that you can pardon our reasons."

Erza nodded. "Your interference was more than welcome. Thank you very much."

Yukino furrowed her brow. "But wait, something doesn't seem right about any of this. I mean we're grateful for you getting us out of there…but what was that all about? And what exactly was that King Melchior spoke about?"

The tension in the atmosphere around them was less than a satisfying one, that much was certain. With how sudden everything unfolded on them, even Nic and Erza were barely gathering bearings at how to describe what happened. With how they learned so suddenly with Sophie's help, they looked at the books Kadabra was using Confusion to reorganize them. It was by sheer luck that they were able to fully piece it beforehand. If only Nic hadn't held back on his intuitions that perhaps maybe this whole situation could've been avoided.

Natsu looked away from the Poke Ball in his hand holding his defeated Charmeleon. He'd scold himself for getting too careless again, but right now someone else needed his attention. "Lucy…"

The Celestial blonde looked out afar to the skies above. The once normally bright twinkling stars were coated in red. Aquarius' constellation was so blurred that it was almost impossible to discern her from the rest. When she thought of how the spirits fell out of her reach, she felt like the biggest failure out there.

"Lucy…are you okay?" Yukino asked. "It's okay, we'll get answers, I promise."

"I still don't get it." Gray spoke. "Just what hell made all those spirits turn on us anyway?"

Wendy looked down worriedly. "I hate to think of it, but was it the king?"

Duncan scoffed. "Isn't that obvious? From the looks of it, there's no other accusations. He played you all just for their spirits." He looked at Lucy and Yukino in reference to them.

"That is exactly right."

Everyone's attention turned towards the Celestial Crew. Volans stood before them all, him and Nic, Sophie, Greninja, and Cana all had the floor.

Sophie stepped up. "Lucy…listen. We need to tell you something. It's something we were pressed to learn." She looked towards Kadabra, nodding. He understood with a no of his own. Using his spoon, he telepathically delivered the textbook Nic and Erza made her read and got to her manuscripts. "It's this."

They all looked at the crown part of the story inside the scriptures. The symbol itself gave off a less than pleasing aura that even the spirits didn't find too pleasing to look at.

"What's that?" Happy questioned.

"It looks like a crown." Yukino surmised.

"That's something Jellal and Bellona were on about when we came here." Erza informed.

The vast majority look at her stunned.

"Hold up. Jellal?" Natsu retorted. "So you're saying he's around here, too?"

Erza nodded. "Yes. We ran into him and Bellona last night. They came here on an investigation of a lost artifact stolen and supposedly brought here. And that artifact, we learned, just so happens to be King Melchior's crown."

"Seriously?" Gray quizzically raised a brow. "So then what's the deal about that crown that makes it so valuable?"

"Because that crown is the master control to all Celestial Spirit and magic itself." Volans explained, again ascertaining everyone's attention. "That crown's jewel was crafted long ago…before the great era where the markings of such years first started. It was the greatest weapon forged by man to forever alter the perspective of Celestial Spirits."

"An ancient antique you say?" Vanessa was intrigued to some extent. An ancient crown and jewel and Celestial Spirits involved, anything used at this point counted as information.

Sophie held up the scriptures she decided earlier. "After the first king and very first Celestial Spirit passed away, his son became the successor to the Celestial Spirits. Unlike the first king, we learned that this one saw Celestial Spirits in another light. The Zodiacs were forced to do manual labor for penance for Achilles' death. However, that didn't last long, for their agreements turned to bitter ruin."

"And that crown you're saying is what the king back then used to force the Zodiacs to do his bidding?" Juvia surmised, her gaze glowering. "That's so wrong."

"What happened next?" Cana inquired.

Sophie was currently writing on a flat rock, looking over the scriptures that she was working on along the way. With her Gale-Force Glasses on, she was taking in and translating the contents bit by bit. "…it says here…that after the crown was finally assembled after years of blacksmith and alloy measurements, when the next constellation shined the brightest, he used it to control Leo. He amassed an army endowed in Celestial clothing and he forced Leo to take them to the Celestial World."

"He what?!" Natsu yelled.

Everyone looked stunned at this reveal. Lucy and Yukino especially.

"It's true. We were there when it happened." Volans reminisced bittersweetly. "The Celestial World was overrun by the mad king's tyranny. At the time we were unable to escape his might."

Lupus scoffed. "So you remember too? Because that was all a blur to me."

"Yeah, me too." Corvus scratched his witch hat. "Maybe it's because it has an amnesia affect on us or something. All I recall is just a lot of red, and these strange voices."

"So he took control of you guys as well?" Greninja asked.

Volans nodded. "Yes, unfortunately. What happened was that once he had taken control of the Zodiacs, we were unable to do anything but submit. At the time, the Zodiacs held the highest and strongest powers over all Celestial Spirits." His face grimaced. "But that was only the beginning. Do you recall what happened next?"

"Yeah, something like that. I think it's coming back to me now." Lupus replied. "The reason behind all of us getting controlled was so he could get to the King himself."

Corvus' eyes widened. "Now I remember! That's what happened!"

"So you're saying that the king went through all that just to reach the Celestial Spirit King?" Erza figured, invested in this tale. "What happened next?"

"After he had taken over every spirit in his path, Tiberius Seraph had taken his army to the depths of the Spirit World. It didn't take long until the Celestial King was forced to reveal himself. His Majesty pleaded for the return of his spirits' emancipation…but Tiberius wanted something in return."

"The king himself." Nic guessed.

Volans nodded. "Yes. Right before our eyes, the spirits were set free. But in exchange for that, the king was to make a contract with Tiberius, and give him the key to do so."

Dewpider was listening with everyone, but the sound of scribbling was heard from his voluptuous trainer. He saw her writing. "What's going on?" he asked.

Sophie continued translating the scriptures to paper, getting whatever tale was unfolded out into the open. When she finished, she looked at her notes. "…and after Tiberius returned from the Celestial World, another war broke out. This was the general dispute of power and territory over the dragons spawning sporadically. Many forces came at once, but Tiberius used the Celestial King and Zodiacs to slay all who dared oppose him…not one life was spared after that night was done."

"Oh my god…" Lucy was crumbled on the inside. She couldn't believe the king was forced to do something so cruel.

"With the Celestial King and his Zodiacs behind him, all feared him throughout Ishgar. It was a terrible strife for the spirits back in their world. The Celestial King kept the balance of his world in order. With him and the Zodiacs being used for battle and forced labor, their world was beginning to deteriorate. The spirits began to act out of reason. When the King reasoned for this to stop, Tiberius only made it worse by keeping the him to invade Ishgar's other countries and kingdoms. He was a tyrant. He was going to make the Celestial Spirits pay; this was what was known as 'The Collapsing Era'."

"That's horrible!" Carla outraged.

"I can't believe it." Wendy dismayed. "Did they really do that?"

"Sadly, that is the reality of war." Volans sagely said. "Our worlds may be aligned by our stars…but the functions of humanity was a perilous trait we spirits realized must be a curse."

"I had no idea." Yukino grimaced. Naturally as human she knew what Volans said wasn't wrong. But to use other living beings for bloodshed and demonstrations of power felt wrong.

"All this just for revenge." Cana whistled. "Damn, talk about extremes. So what happened next?"

Sophie continued reading fragments of the scriptures she's been looking into. Her face scrounged up as she looked at the faded words in ancient italics. "It's a little faded, but the king almost succeeded in taking over all of Ishgar. All that was left was Fiore, but it says here that the king and his army were all slaughtered under the night of a bloody moon."

The notion made Nic, Erza, and Vanessa all turn towards each other. They knew almost instantly what might've happened. They knew of only one experience where it was mad slaughter and blood moons.

"A wave of dead awash the numbers and the spirits. The king tried to fight back, but he was killed in battle. After the millions of bodily counts left when the sun arose, almost half those bodies were missing around the base of a wasteland. All that was left of the king…was a pile of torn, shriveled flesh and a crown, untouched. After that, the crown was lost to ancient archives and eventually forgotten. The Celestial King returned to his world, where he permanently broke his own key with his own power so that no one can ever misuse him again." She looked beyond the pages, but she had reached the end of Tiberius' tale. She closed it. "And that's it. The Zodiac Keys were spread and the rest became lost legends."

"Damn, that is so messed up." Gray grimaced.

"That's putting it lightly." Cana shrugged. "But I guess that explains why Lucy's keys didn't work. So that crown was like the master control."

"So he needed the keys so he can get all the Zodiacs in one place." Juvia pondered the reason before realizing the fault. "You don't think that…"

Nic furrowed hos brow. "Greninja and I spoke to him directly. He said he was going to remind the world just how superior Celestial Spirits are…and I have a good guess now how he's going to do it."

"So then he's…" Wendy pieced it all together, but the conclusion made was speechless. "No, it can't be…"

"But I still don't understand." Carla led the topic around herself. "If Vanessa's Delphox, my premonitions, and Fortunetelling didn't work, how come it only just now happened?"

"Probably because one of those so-called advisors is able to." Vanessa guessed.

Cana furrowed a brow. "You sure about that?"

"It explains that aura I saw infiltrate you all when you were doing your psychic seeing." She turned towards Nic, Greninja, and Sophie. "And that same signature is what I saw in them during their headaches. And that same aura, just so happens to match these spirits. Am I right?" she turned towards Lupus, Volans, and Corvus for an answer.

"Heh." Lupus chuckled. "The girl catches on. Guess she is Nic's little sister after all."

Volans nodded again. "Yes. The king himself had sensed a disturbance in the stars, but rather than risk a fellow celestial, he opted to use us to send a warning. However, it appears that this magic blocking you has caused you all mental strain upon receiving our warnings."

Nic and Greninja's eyes widened. 'So those headaches and voices…'

"You cannot let that happen!"

'That was them trying to reach us.' Greninja was stunned. 'Now it's all clear. That's why our thoughts were strained spontaneously.'

"If he's really trying to use our spirits to take over Ishgar again…then we need to stop him." Yukino determined.

Lucy was still trying to wrap her head around the whole matter. She couldn't believe that she was played like a fool the entire time, and Melchior used that to dictate what happens next. All she wanted was Aquarius back…she got her, but not the way she wanted.

"Lucy…?" Seeing the anger in her eyes, Klefki started growing worriedly for her. She looked at Lucy, then back at her set of keys. Klefki loved keys…okay, she was obsessed with them, but she knew well enough this meant so much to Lucy. Though she hesitated, she gently handed Lucy Aquarius' Key. "Uh…here?"

The key plopped into Lucy's palm. The blonde was a living statue. She couldn't make heads or tails until her fingers curled around the reconstructed key's shaft. She was upset, yeah, but she was also mad. Not just for the king, but to herself. She wasn't going to take this lying down.

'Aquarius…' She momentarily saw the spirit on the key. She stood up, shaking her head to dismiss the negative thoughts. 'Stop it, Lucy! Pull yourself together! You can't sit here and wallow any longer. Your friends are in danger. You have to save them…no matter what!'

She clutched the key tighter as her composition turned righteous. "Okay, so how do we stop him? We need to get Aquarius and the others back if he's really going through with this." Another thought came to mind. 'And I gotta find Staryu, too. Where did it go?'

"There has to be a way to reverse the effects of the crown." Erza surmised. "Sophie, is there anything in there on how to do that?"

Sophie shook her head. "I didn't get that far yet. And even if I did, the text might be faded."

Natsu rammed his fist into his palm. "Then we'll just have to steal that bastard's crown! He's gonna get more than just a few of his own teeth knocked in for what he did to us."

"And just how do you suppose that happens?" Duncan questioned, bringing eyes onto him. "It's not like he'll just let you take it. Those spirits and advisors are around him."

"Well we gotta think of something!" Lucy backlashed. "They need us more than ever!"

The group was at a standstill with how to proceed. They just got out of that scrape, and they were completely unprepared. If they went back in now, history would repeat itself, in more ways than one.

"Everyone!" From the distance coming in, they all turned and saw Jellal, Bellona, and Erik all closing in. Unlike the others, they seemed unharmed since they were in the mountains.

"Jellal. Bellona." Erza said, showing some surprise in her tone.

"Erik heard voices, so we came as soon as we could." Bellona informed, looking at the many gathered members. "What happened?"

Nic and Erza turned towards each other, their gazes meeting with uncertainty to approaching the situation. The one to step up was Erza again. "Listen, we have a dilemma on our hands."

Jellal's brow furrowed. "I'm all ears."

For the next minute, Erza explained in detail of what transpired with Lucy and themselves. She made sure to be as detailed as possible about Melchior's plan and the Celestial Spirits.

"I see, so that's what happened." Jellal concluded. "We had a feeling this would be the case. And that also explains them." He looked towards the Celestial Crew.

"So the king was in possession of the crown, and now he has control of all 12 Zodiacs." Bellona put a hand to her chin. "So the ritual before was to revive the lost key to a Zodiac, and then once all 12 keys were assembled, the crown would take away those powers for itself."

"That's the sum of it as far as we've seen." Nic ended. "Where have you guys been?"

"Yeah!" Natsu realized, looking at Erik. "If you can hear us in trouble, then what the heck took so long? Not cool."

Erik scoffed. "Don't jump to conclusions. It's not like we were being lazy ourselves you know." On his shoulder, Ekans hissed defensively. Erik moved his hand to rub her underside. "We've been scoping out something ourselves."

"'Scoping out'?" Gray reiterated.

"And exactly what does your little investigation have that caught you so interested?" Sophie asked.

This time, it was Crime Sorciere who looked at each other. They looked skeptical until Jellal returned the gaze at them. "It'd be better if you all see for yourselves." He turned towards Lucy and Yukino. "Lucy. Yukino. It'd be best if you follow as well."

They looked skeptical about the offer. Something about this didn't sit well in them either. Regardless, they all needed to find answers. And if what they found can lead to a hint, anything at this point would suffice.

They all followed Erik as he went towards the mountains, they pursued him with diligence. Yukino helped in getting her sister up and going and dragged her along. She recalled Mantine and continued their way. The last ones to follow out was Duncan and Sophie. He took one more look back to see Sophie recalling her Pokémon after quickly spraying Super Potions. If it wasn't for her, what could've happened back in that bog? He didn't know for certain but looking at her start her way, he did so as well. For now, he just had to play along until another chance of battle came along.


The red stars were visible all across the sky, for many to see throughout Earthland. Anyone who had a habit of stargazing would've been at a loss for words. Red dots painted the globe, and yet the astrologists all around couldn't make heads nor tails of what was going on.

While the world would run amok in their own confusion, others who were shrouded by trees and nature would be oblivious to what would be happening. Amongst them was Joey, Dereece, and Kevin, as they had found an alcove of trees to use as cover. They were currently surrounding a fire while their Pokémon ate their fill, Magikarp and Seel especially.

"Still, no sign of anyone." Joey said, his small makeshift bowl of herbs and berries sitting his lap. "Man, I hope nobody turned into a Kecleon to play hide-and-seek. Because if it is, it ain't a funny joke."

Dereece sighed exasperatedly. "I don't know, Captain. Something about this still doesn't feel right at all."

"I know what you mean, Dereece. First this voodoo landscaping thing, and then there's…" He looked at Ella, who was sitting beside Kevin as they ate supper. "Eh, her. Plus, we still don't get the whole deal about that move your Seel just did."

"I doubt it was anything like a Take Down or Double-Edge, that's for sure." Dereece noted. "It looked too strong to be it."

Joey looked at the rock and crystal that was sitting close by their feet. "Well, whatever it is, it's gotta have to do with that stone thing there. Maybe somebody dropped it while researching it?"

Dereece sighed again. "Captain, please just drop it for now. I'm tired." He resumed eating his dinner. By all means, Dereece was deeply invested in the matter as well. It boggled him how his Seel could have that much power. Even now, what he felt then felt like a flood of power that they shared. When he and Seel locked eyes, they could tell the other was thinking the same thing. However, because of how tiresome today's venture was, they'd rather keep their thoughts low.

Sewaddle let out a large yawn that surprised the fellow Pokémon. "I don't know about y'all, but I sure had myself some nice fill of action today." He chimed. "I can tell, this group's very exciting…mmmmm…"

Trubbish belched.

"Oh, excuse you, sweetie."

Krabby turned towards Magikarp, who was on his side. "So Magikarp, how are you? You feeling any better?"

The gaping fish rolled his eyes towards Krabby. He looked tired. "So…tired…can't splash…" he sunk a little further to the ground. "That Seaking almost killed me."

"I know what will help." Krabby suggested. "Some Checkers!" He held out the gameboard with a big grin on his face. "So how about it! You wanna play? Pretty please?"

Magikarp breathed in and out, gaping fir air deeply like he was trying to calm down. "Thanks…but I think I just wanna lie down for a while."

Krabby turned away, pouting. "Hmph! Fine!" He turned towards Beedrill. "You wanna play?"

"I sting yo face!" Beedrill retorted. Krabby was gonna take that as a yes…at least judging how Beedrill wasn't impaling him yet.

Raticate hopped beside them. "Yes! YES! HAHA! I WANNA BE THE MACARONI MOZZARELLA PIECE WITH EXTRA HOT SAUCE! YES! HAHAHA!"

"Uh…o-okay?" Krabby turned towards Heracross. "Hey, you wanna play, too?"

Heracross was busy eating besides Quilladin when he heard himself called. "Me?"

"I sting yo face!" Beedrill objected.

Stunfisk chuckled. "Looks like someone's telling you to 'buzz' off, mate." He joked. "You gonna be taking' that?"

Heracross groaned, but he knew better to take the bait. Still, if it would kill a little time, it should be at least worth it. "Alright, but just one game." He started for the gameboard, where Tranquill and Yanma were doing what they could to hold Beedrill back in his blind rage.

Watching Beedrill try to break free, his thorax stinger was thrusting, something never left Sewaddle's notion. "You gotta use your hips, boy! Use your hips!" he swooned.

Quilladin laughed. Magikarp wheezed chuckles of his own.

Kevin looked down at Ella, watching her eat her berry stew, if that was an appropriate enough name. After the long day of having her as his "kid", he still couldn't believe that he lasted a whole day aiding a child. He surprised even himself. "So, uh…Ella." He started.

The black-haired girl looked up to him. "Yes, Papa?"

"How was your day? Did you find it enjoyable?"

She nodded. "Yes. This whole adventure today supplied a lot of ffedback on how you all operate on such a dysfunctional level."

"O-oh…I see…" He looked at Joey and Dereece, the two raising brows and shrugging at what to say about the comment. Kevin looked back to her curiously. "I guess that's okay. That's good." He paused. "So do you remember anything?"

"About what, Papa?"

"You know…about anything. Home? Favorite foods?...parents maybe?" He wasn't exactly sure how to put it, especially for Ella's case. But he tried to be as forward as he could without being too insensitive.

Ella sat her little berry stew down and looked up towards the trees overhead. In her head it was an enigma. She never thought too much about it before. The day's events were probably the only clarity she had to go off of. In spite of near-death experiences with these strange fools, she couldn't lie when she found them amusing. They were unlike anything she was aware of. Beyond that, there wasn't much to comprehend. After a minute, she shook her head. "Nope."

"I guess that's fair. Maybe we'll have better luck finding your parents tomorrow, or someone else you knew."

"But I already know someone." She countered.

Kevin sighed. "Let me guess, us?"

"That…and also…" The tension in the air started to turn serious. Whatever Ella was thinking, even the Pokémon were stopping their game briefly to gaze at her. "There's also…something I feel is here. I can't explain in detail, but…it's like there's this voice telling me…to go somewhere."

"A voice?" This sounded ominous to Kevin, but he knew better than to break her concentration.

Ella nodded. "Yes. I think, that this voice…it might be the key to what I am. It has to be a clue…it must be."

'That sounds like me.' A stray thought in Kevin's thought told him how even a small hint would get him somewhere…to ladies of course. But this trait he knew was a sign of her pondering. "I guess that's something. Better than nothing."

"Is that supposed to be another one of those 'That's what she said' jokes?"

Kevin sweatdropped. "Er…you'll get the hang of it."

"Well I know how to end this day." Joey jumped up with an energetic beat in his footing. "Hey Ella, ever heard of partying?"

Ella tilted her head. "I believe that the term 'partying' is used as a means of distracting the delinquent side of humans, specifically ones who are social or otherwise in need of involvement."

Dereece and Kevin sweatdropped. 'Well, she isn't wrong.'

"Well-" Joey dismissed her epithetical term no problem. "I think that you are deserving of one. So let's crank up them tunes around here! Dereece, give me a beat!"

Dereece walked beside Joey with the boombox and placed it on a log. He hit play.

[NEFFEX – Dance Again]

Leaning back with a headbang, Joey smiled wide. "Yeah, now we're talking!" He stated shuffling and moving his body with such energy and flare, so much that the fire nearby paled in comparison to the staggering dance moves he could pull off.

"Oh, wait for me!" Quilladin rushed to Joey's side to boogie down with his partner.

Tranquill and Trubbish looked at each other to see what the subject was, but they soon followed. Ultimately the beat and Joey's influential dancing habits rubbed off on his Pokémon as they started mimicking his dancing rhythm. Thankfully Joey wasn't some wild card for dancing – on most songs that is – so he can make an accessible rhythm enough for everyone to handle.

He swayed his hips and shuffled his feet forward and back. It was like something out of a dancing video game, only with slight more freestyle tones to it. Quilladin was mirroring Joey's movements almost perfectly, with Tranquill and Trubbish following the best with their own screwy physiques. Ironically Magikarp was flopping high and down. At one point Joey seized Magikarp in midair and whirled him around. He wasn't a glowstick, but it was better than nothing.

Kevin leaned back on the log, watching contently as the Fairy Tail company showed off. "Forgot how big of a party animal this guy can be." He looked at Ella, watching her stare off into Joey's movements. He didn't know what to explain about it, but the thoughts from earlier boiled to the surface again. He still wasn't fully positive about her accusations about being his daughter. He knew that fir a fact. Sure, he was obsessive about his picks on the ladies, but it wasn't like he did anything beyond that. He was fair with space. He knows deep down this all felt fishy, especially earlier with Ella's own insight – it was like she knew what was inside his own head! There was that one skeptical side of him that wanted to figure her out, but there was another that told him to just let things be…and that was a good sum of him.

'Maybe…just maybe…is she really my-?' He noticed the little swirls Ella's feet were doing, breaking his train of thought. "Ella, you're dancing."

Ella looked down at her feet, noticing her feet rolling and tapping. "Hehe, sorry. It's rather catchy."

Kevin smiled. He stood up and offered his hand to the girl. "Well then, let your Papa show you how to dance." He offered. "I know a couple moves."

The girl took his hand, gingerly smiling. "Okay!"

Kevin guided her closer to the music, his own Pokémon following.


It was a long night, but it was well worth it. The Pokémon were talking, no qualms with Beedrill since he promised to hold back during the mission, even if he was getting slightly competitive with Heracross at checkers and the dancing flames – but Krabby seized all glory anyway. Ella especially was having fun. It was a party and a dance dedicated to her first day. She was smiling the whole way as Kevin showed just how light on his feet he could be. Even Joey and Dereece were a little stunned by this. But to Joey it was just a challenge that he accepted. Soon enough, the music and energy spent drained everyone. By this time the flames had dimmed to small embers. Joey and Dereece were already fast asleep on their bags, while Kevin opened his to allow Ella on one side.

Watching Ella sleep, Kevin took one last look around. The coast was clear, so he could've used his Search Magic for his…matters. However, after careful thought, he thought against it, just this one time of course.

"Guess I'm first watch." He sighed. He looked over his shoulder to see the thin blanket over Ella wasn't covering her shoulder. He hesitated for a moment before gingerly reaching over, pulling it over her. He watched her shift in her sleep beneath the warmth of the blanket and moan.

He softly smiled at her. "Goodnight…Ella."

He turned around, sitting on the log to resume his watch duty. In her sleep, a very small smile fell on Ella.


As water flowed in a small river, that sound of running water carried into the grotto beyond the cliffs. The grotto was dark, but in it was pitch-black. That black turned hollow, forming a cave-like entrance. It was there that the sound of silence

Gravel churned as an arm pulled someone forward. The drag on his tattered clothing was evident. The man looked middle-aged, having tattered work clothes with tears and sleeves missing. His tie was all messed up, but that was the least of his worries.

He was battered, and looking much like a raisin. The lack of nutrition on his face was all too clear. When he tried catching his breath, he hazily looked at the ground. His vision was getting hazy.

'Gotta…get…out of here…'

"GRRRRR…"

A low, bloodcurdling hiss was heard from the depths of the caverns behind him. Looking back he felt his spine shrivel. Frightened, he decided to get to crawling. With no strength to run, and a lot of his body feeling stiff, he had to make a break with what state he was in.

Desperately crawling, his bloodshot eyes had eyes set on the exit not far up ahead. 'Gotta find my stones…and get off this island. I have to warn them, warn them about-!' His eyes shrunk as he fell stiff. Something up ahead impeded his path.

Standing at the entrance, there was what looked like a shadow. That shadow loomed like a ghost with an amorphous-like fixture in its eyes. Strangely enough, it was no taller than a child. In fact, the way it was fixed, it had his white hair, but it was bob-cut. The figment had simple drags, but she looked very healthy, unlike the host.

"You…you did this." He shakily pointed at her. "Just what hell are you?!"

The child-like figment smiled softly, her grin less than appealing. Something vague and slimy started coming out of her drags and unfolded. The man's eyes shrunk to the size of pupils as his entire body shut down at the unholy sight of what was his supposed "offspring".

He suddenly felt the clinging of something behind. He slowly turned back, seeing a blue, amorphous tentacle around the ankle. "No…" He looked back ahead. "NO! PLEASE! I BEG YOU!"

"It's okay, Papa." The girl figment said. "…Mama just wants to meet you."

With a breathless whimper, the scholar had misty eyes before a harsh snarl echoed in the caverns. He screamed mightily as he was pulled back into the darkness, his echoes fading back to silence.

The girl figment stared at the small entrail of blood and dirt that was left by the man. Quietly, she followed inside, fading into the dark.

Meanwhile, Ella was sleeping soundly with The Freaks and Kevin, a small light blue vein fading into her head.


The low winds howling from another cavern, one far greater in height. The darkness this doom speller gave off was just as evident, and the Fairy Tail and Celestial Spirit groups were walking right up to it. Once at its base, they gazed at the mountain opening with an uneasy feeling.

"This is the place?" Gray doublechecked.

"That depends, does anything else look big and give you the creeps?" Erik joked dryly.

Happy pointed a paw up. "Well there's Lucy."

"Wait, WHAT?!" she angrily shouted. "You little…if it wasn't for this situation we're in, I'd skin ya, cat!"

"Supposedly this energy coming inside is what's alarming us." Jellal explained. "We only came to this point just recently, so it's not clear at this point. But the surrounding atmosphere is filled with an influential magical pressure coming from Astral."

Yukino looked up at the cave. Something about this place gave her the creeps. But Jellal's point didn't fly over her head neither. 'Jellal and Erik are right, there's something strange about this place. This pressure…it's definitely celestial, and yet…'

"Yup, definitely feel it from here." Sorano said. Being a former Celestial Spirit Mage, it was easy to tell and read celestial energy. And from the looks of it, she wasn't the only one.

"Yeah, I can tell from here." Cana glared. "This ain't some coincidence. Whatever this energy is, it's not like we just were in."

"Agreed." Sophie nodded. She was reading as she was going along, reading promptly architectural points in the next few volumes. Kadabra was still using his powers to make himself useful. "Kadabra, could you pass me that volume?"

"Here." He passed the book over to her, to which she instantly began reading. "Sophie, if I may ask, exactly what is it that we are looking for?"

"Anything that can help us at this point. Maybe something about this cavern for a start. This celestial energy we're feeling isn't normal. We're more than familiar with how celestial spiritual pressure should feel."

"Well take your sweet time. It's not like we're in a hurry or anything." Cana sarcastically chimed.

"Yeah we definitely feel it alright." Corvus said warily. "It's definitely creepy."

Volans turned towards Lupus, who was currently sniffing the atmosphere. "Are you able to smell up the source?"

The wolf got on all fours and sniffed the ground. He paddles around the area until he got to the foot of the entrance. Looking up, his hair stood on all ends. He lifted his head, unleashing a loud howl. The call immediately spooked Happy, shifting behind Natsu for his own safety.

"Sounds like he picked up something." Juvia examined, though her face showed nervousness. 'I hope that howl didn't give us away.'

"What is it?" Nic asked.

The wolf stood back on two legs, lifting his head. "Heh, yeah it's celestial alright, no doubt about that. I can smell the whiff of anything like this and it'll never get away from me."

"Yeah, it's no wonder you're that pack's leader again." Corvus pointed out.

"Yeah, it's really faint." Wendy sniffed the air as well. Though her sense of smell isn't as keen as Natsu's her hearing and smell coupled to get an understanding. "But he's right. The ethernano in here's really dense."

"Is that a show of intense Magic Power?" Carla inquired.

"I don't really know."

"You're not off, squirt." Erik told her. "It's right in front of you. No lies there. Trust me, it's more messed up once you step foot inside."

Nic looked into the cavern with adamant feelings. He couldn't properly explain – not that he needed to in the first place – but looking into this cavern, he heard the faint sound of something; something big. As he peered inside, he could actually see something for a moment, feeling its piercing gaze. Watching him. He knew they weren't alone.

"Nic, you feel too, don't you?" Greninja figured.

Nic nodded. "You feel it, too, don't you?" his brow furrowed. "Something's definitely not right about this."

Ekans hissed on Erik's shoulder. "You're feeling it again, aren't you?"

Nic's pocket began rattling all of a sudden. Without warning, he and Greninja backpedaled when Arbok appeared in front of them, staring defensively into the tunnel.

"Arbok?" Nic gasped.

The cobra and snake looked up at the mouth of the cave, looking at the two stalactites hanging above. They were caved in, much like snake fangs. The alluring sensation of their own kind tickled their senses, but they – mainly Arbok – knew to not ignore his Trainer.

"In here." The cobra hissed.

"Wait, hold up." Natsu retorted. "You're saying you guys know the way?"

"How do they know?" Lucy inquired.

"I'm not certain." Vanessa put a hand to her chin. 'It's strange…but this aura I'm feeling from inside. It feels like pheromones. Is something calling them from inside?'

"Arbok never comes out of his Poke Ball unless it's for a very good reason." Erza examined. "Nic, be careful. This could be a trap."

Nic took the situation very seriously. "Yeah, I know." He looked at Arbok, locking eyes with the snake. 'But if Arbok can feel it, then it must be something big. He knows how to sense as well as any of us.' He looked towards Greninja, the two nodding in understanding. "Alright, lead the way Arbok."

Arbok nodded. In a split second, he slithered into the dark tunnel, Erik's Ekans following suit.

"Everyone, stay on guard." Volans announced, treading in first. "We'll tread lightly. Do not get separated under any circumstances."

"Hey, I wanna be trail boss!" Natsu retorted.

"Wait up, Natsu!" Happy soared after him.

Erza sighed. "Suppose we can't stand around any longer. Let's move it, people!"

"Right!" they all filed in, being certain to stay close to one another into these dark pits.


Under the red stars in Astral, the king's palace was being guarded from head to toe by guards. They had watchful eyes everywhere to make sure nothing got pass them. And with their numbers and their demands met tonight, this can't go without question.

Inside the king's chamber, Oberon looked out the vaulted window overlooking all of Astral. The ruckus from earlier alarmed the citizens, so he made sure to issue the warning for everyone to stay indoors. He needed to be sure no one would get in their way again.

"Were the curfew plans enacted as of now?"

Oberon turned towards the trifold barrier close by. Behind was Melchior, who was changing his clothes. "Yes sir, I've issued a Level 3-class safety procedure for our citizens." He responded.

"Good. Nicely done, Oberon. I expect no less from you."

Oberon smirked as he bowed. "Your praise is far too modest now, sire. But still, please do forgive me for my earlier lack of ability to stop our foe. I'm afraid that I was no less help than that of an ant."

Melchior chuckled. "Now who's being so modest?" he laughed. "It's quite alright, old friend. Your magic requires much of your subconscious to concentrate. To be able to block premonition is a unique magic. That said, I was impressed with how you followed on your research of those Fairy Tail Mages and their own magics."

"It was nothing, sir." The man looked up towards the red-starry sky, humbly smiling. "After all, knowing is half the battle."

"Yes, and that knowledge of perception, is what this world must understand." The king finally stepped out, wearing his new attire. It was no less like golden battle armor, but with each joint, especially on the pauldrons for the shoulders and legs, there was a different Zodiac emblem on them. On the arms were the symbols of Aquarius and Scorpio, the legs were Aries and Taurus; on the shoulder armor was Gemini and Capricorn; the boots held Libra and Pisces; the wrists were of Cancer and Virgo; on the back was Sagittarius, and on the front chest area was Leo. The color of the armor accented the crown and the red jewel very well.

As the king stood in place, the red jewel shined. All the Zodiac symbols on his armor shined in unison.

"So tell me, Oberon, is this fitting for he who is to be king?"

Oberon nodded. "Why sire, I believe that you are only serving to flatter yourself some more. But…Caius did rather well for someone his caliber, I admit. To this spending 6 months on such armor that fine would take such time."

"Loyalty knows no bounds. I admire that." He laced his intricate cape on, readying himself. "So then, shall we set this world free?"

"We shall. I'm sure that your niece would be very spirited to have what she and Auriol would like to have."

Melchior smirked. "Absolutely." He was aware of what his own minions' needs and wants were, he wasn't a good king to them without a good reason. "A promise is a promise…let's go."

Oberon left the room to carry out the deed. The king followed, both fading into the dark.


The cave was dark and damp. The only sounds that trickled the ears were the ones of water droplets splashing in small puddles. It wasn't as dark as what many would have thought, but the overall appeal to the cave only seemed to have worsen as they treaded.

With Lupus' celestial sense of smell, the wolf was picking up a faint scent that was going on throughout the cavern. It was a very distorted scent, even Natsu was having trouble. And yet the ones who seemed to be handling this the easiest were Ekans and Arbok.

"Just how deep is this cave anyway?" Gray was getting rather impatient. With how little time they might have and the humidity of this cavern, it felt like going through someone's throat. A very uncomfortable feeling he wished would end.

"We have been treading for quite a while now." Juvia fret shyly.

"I understand, but your complaints won't bring us any further." Erza said, continuing her path. "We're short on leads to this crisis. The least we can do is exploit every possible outcome. Stay sharp, there may be some cave-dwelling creatures in these depths."

Happy looked around worriedly as he used Natsu's shoulder as a perch. "Are we even going down?"

"Not sure myself buddy." Natsu answered, his gaze returning ahead. "But if this is what'll snap Loke and the others out of it, we'll get as deep as we need to."

As they all traveled down the humid depths of the cavern, Sophie found it hard to read the texts inside the cave's light. She would have had used her Memory-Make for some Light Magic she memorized, but she knew this wasn't the right time. She looked over, seeing Vanessa looking like she was gonna fret any second. "Vanessa, is something the matter?"

"It's…hard to explain." It really was. Her aura sensory was very well experienced, so she could tell from the slightest fragments all around her. But in a situation like this, the aura was all over the cave – like a never-ending tunnel of magical solidification. 'I've never let aura so enclosed before. How does one aura spread so far in?'

Nic walked beside Erik, hand sin their pockets. Greninja walked too, but his arms were crossed since he had no pockets of his own.

"So Erik." Nic started.

The Poison Dragon Slayer disclosed his hearing for a moment to indulge in what Nic had to say. "What's up?"

Nic wanted to ask something, but he knew by now Erik could hear his thoughts. He dismissed what he was gonna say. "It's nothing."

Erik didn't buy it. "Whatever." But a smirk crossed his face. "So Kinana's doing well, so I hear."

Nic smirked, shooting a glance.

"That's good. Glad to hear."

Nic looked at a passing wall with a smooth texture, surprisingly for a cave. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to stop by and see her every now and again. I'm sure she'd like that." Up ahead, Ekans hissed back at Nic; something that Arbok ferociously snapped at. Ekans whimpered. "And I guess Ekans is in agreement."

Erik fell quiet to consider Nic's thoughts. In truth that was something that crossed his mind. The very first thing he considered when Hisui and the king pardoned Crime Sorciere, he thought about going to see Kinana. But for some reason, he didn't. Maybe a part of him felt like he wasn't just ready yet to see her with a new face. But it wasn't a feeling he was going to blatantly ignore forever. He shrugged.

"Maybe some time, kid."

"I'm 22."

Erik looked ahead towards their snakes slithering side by side. As he gazed at Arbok, a thought crossed his mind. "So I've heard that Ekans can evolve into Arbok."

Nic nodded. "That's right. Once they get enough experience." He looked at him. "Is having an Arbok an issue?"

"Not exactly. Just wondering is all." He looked at Ekans, who was shooting a glance at him. It was clear she was invested in what her Trainer said about evolution into an Arbok. But she didn't have much opinion, so she thought.

Erik scoffed at himself at getting distracted by this sense of dwelling. In truth having something like an Arbok felt weird, for a lack of better word. He still had flashes of when Arbok and Cubellios duked it out and how the cobra came out victorious. Imagining him using Arbok as a replacement for Cubellios just felt wrong…or at least that's what he thought at first. Now that he was free, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It'd save him a couple steps every now and again.

Arbok and Ekans stopped in their tracks, their heads held high.

"What is it? Why they stop?" Corvus asked. He was flapping his arms above, using his aerial expertise to get a better view.

"They must be sensing something up ahead." Erza concluded, her eyes squinted. "Which means…we're close to the source."

"You'd be surprised." Jellal intruded, catching the redhead off her guard. "We thought the same thing when we ventured in, too."

"What do you mean?"

"Look!" Happy pointed ahead. "I see something!"

They all noticed something too as by the feline's intuition. Ahead of them, could see something faint glimmering. It looked like a star, or rather to an extent, twinkled like one. But they took it as a sign no less.

"Look. I see it." Lucy pointed out.

"Yes, me as well." Yukino said. "Is that a light?"

"I wonder what that is?" Klefki inquired. Almst immediately her intuitions lead to the wrong conclusion. "Maybe it's keys!"

"Or yummy fish!" Happy whimsically cheered.

As gleeful as both were, they were brought out of their daydreaming when two paper fans by Lucy smacked their heads. "Don't draw to those ridiculous conclusions guys!" she barked.

"Owwiee~…"

Gray stepped forward. "So I guess that light's gotta lead somewhere, right?"

Bellona nodded. "Yes, it leads somewhere." She held her breath at hat to say next. "But be warned…you might not like where it leads to."

Natsu of all people wasn't afraid. "Well I say it's the risk." Though he knew to be careful, he still treaded the ground. "Let's go, guys."

Everyone followed after him, going towards the shining beacon ahead. Wendy and Carla stayed close, while Sorano held onto Yukino for dear life. They all trekked, but Volans, Corvus, and Lupus stayed behind. Something about this didn't feel right at all. Looking at each other, they thought the same thing. Whatever light was up ahead didn't seem normal. Still, for the sake of their own kind they had to at least keep aware. They marched on behind while the party pressed further.

It didn't take long for them to reach the light. Shockingly enough despite it being so bright a distance away, it was twice as shiny when in front. It looked like the exit of the cavern, or so many would've presumed.

'What's this light?' Sophie pondered. Lasts he checked it was nighttime. 'We couldn't be in there that long, could we?'

"Everyone stay together. There's no telling what lies ahead." Erza walked besides Nic, staring into face of the dim light. "Ready?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

Together they all entered the boundaries of the light. When they stepped through, the darkness of the cave was replaced by the red glints of the night sky. They've entered the valley again, though it wasn't what they expected.

"Okay, so where are we?" Natsu looked around, seeing nothing but valleys and clearings everywhere. "Hey, did that cave just lead us to another point in the mountains or something?"

"I thought I saw the exit." Gray figured. "This it?"

Lucy turned left and right, her Klefki covering every possible angle. "That's strange. Why does this valley look so familiar?"

They all registered their surroundings, but the one struck the most was Corvus. Still in the air, the crow sprit turned, only to find his nose a few feet from a curved stalactite. "Woah!" He backed away, getting far from the startling structure. "Phew, that was a close one…!" His eyes shrunk when he noticed something about the structure. "Wait…what?!"

Volans and Lupus looked up, realizing what impeded their crewmate. "Those rocks." Volans tested. "Don't tell me…"

The realization dawned upon everyone. They were back at square one.

"No way!" Happy exclaimed.

"Yeah, how the hell did we end up back here?" Natsu inquired. With his Dragon Slayer vision, he should've seen the light clearly from the other side. Something wasn't right about this.

"Hold up a sec." Gray turned towards Bellona and Jellal. "You mean this whole time that light was just a way back to the front?"

"Regrettably, yes." Bellona answered.

"Well that's just helpful." Cana sarcastically retorted.

"Yeah, why didn't you tell us before this would happen?" Natsu backlashed in Jellal's face. "I thought we were past you being a jerk."

"If I didn't show you, you'd be tempted either way." He reasoned exasperatedly. "It isn't that hard to tell how predictable you'd react."

Everyone dropped a sweatdrop. To a degree, Jellal wasn't wrong. They would've found out themselves either way on their own or by him. Still he didn't have to backhand it so bluntly…even if it was true to their fashion.

Erza looked around, her worries instantly rising.

"Hey Erza, you dropped something? What's wrong?" Cana questioned.

Vanessa noticed it too. The sisters-in-law were missing something. Or rather in this case, someone. It was pretty obvious to them who it was.

"Nic?" Erza called. "Are you here? Nic!"

"Nic? Greninja?" the younger Pularis girl looked around. She even went for her aura sensory again, but this time it was no good. 'This is strange. I can't sense their auras. It's like they were turned off somehow.'

Everyone's eyes widened.

"Wait, Nic?" Lucy checked around, but ended up the same conclusion as her teammate.

"What's going on?" Wendy looked at Sorano. "Uh, Sorano? Where's Yukino?"

Vaguely curious at what she meant, Sorano realized she was holding onto thin air where her sister was supposed to be. "Aaah! Yukino! Noooo!" she panicked.

"Erik's gone too." Wendy realized. She even noticed his Ekans, Nic's Greninja, and Arbok all missing as well.

Jellal face the fanged cavern, an eerie sense of dread looming over him. 'Just what did that cave do?'

Immediately turning around, Erza knew what she had to do. She darted for the caverns again, but was impeded by a teal shield.

"Erza, stop!" Vanessa implored.

"Vanessa." Erza gasped.

"You know what will happen if you go back in there, we'll just end up where we started. You'll just waste your breath running back to start."

Erza clenched her fists tight. Vanessa was right. She was worried about Nic as much as she was, but unlike how hot-blooded the knight was, Vanessa was much more relaxed. She had to calm down and keep a level head.

"Just what is this cave?!" Corvus shouted in a panic. "Hey, you! Give us back our friend right now!" As brave as he was, the cave's menacing aura made him shrink twice as small out of fear. "E-eh…on second thought…"

"This celestial presence, it's twisting us into circles." Volans realized. "I can feel it…the cave is alive."

The cave's aura was a thick blanket of defiance. They could all feel a strong magic flow from within, but they didn't know what to do. Erza cursed herself for even thinking they should've went through.

'Nic.'


"What just happened?" Nic turned around, realizing everyone else was gone. Greninja was thankfully by him, as was Arbok. It was very vague. He could've sworn they were right behind him. The cavern returned to being quiet again, but the eerie feeling like they were being watched only intensified. This didn't sit well in their stomachs. "Greninja, Arbok, are you two okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine. Right?" Greninja turned towards Arbok, the cobra nodding in agreement.

"Yes, I am just fine, Nic."

Nic turned back ahead to notice Ekans wrapped around Erik's shoulders as he comforted her. She seemed distressed by that, but he paid no heed. "Erik." His eyes widened. "And Yukino?"

"Nic?" the white-haired mage was stunned by his presence. "You're here?"

"Looks like we're stuck here now." Erik theorized. "Can't hear the others for some reason. Something's blocking out the sound."

"Did we end up being transported then?" Yukino wondered.

Erik faced ahead. "Beats me. As far as I can see it, we're still in the damn cave…" his ears tickled at the voice in this wind. "But I get the feeling that whatever's happening, it doesn't want us getting out so easily."

"What does it mean you think?"

Nic was just as questionable about this as they were. He could feel it as well. That very vague feeling of violence and negativity was a cold breeze that sent goosebumps up his sleeves. From the directions the winds came, it was from straight ahead. They all stared into the black pits onwards. They knew they weren't going to get answers just by standing around idly.

Nic looked towards Arbok, seeing his head still high. Whatever was luring him, he was starting to feel a faint whiff through his ears as well. But this voice, unlike before, was cold.

'Come to me…let me meet you…'

The enigmatic voice Nic was hearing was crisp, but also alluring. He used to listen to heavy metal all the time, but that didn't mean he was deaf. 'This light, and now this voice…' He recounted the celestial essence from when they in front. 'Is this all by a Celestial Spirit?'

He knew there was only one way to find out.

Changing into his Earth Form, Nic pressed his foot on the ground. Silent but sense vibration waves ran through the ground, spreading into echolocation patterns to make him see into the depths. Once they came back to him, he opened his eyes. "It's a large caved-in labyrinth." He concluded. "Whatever's in the depths is responsible for this malignance."

Erik stepped forward. "Yeah, guess so." He was no different. He could hear it loud and clear as well. The voice sounded alluring, but at the same time violent. He didn't want to say nor comment because Nic and his Pokémon already knew.

"Alright Arbok, can you lead us?" Nic asked. Arbok nodded.

"Alright Ekans, guess it's your time to shine." Erik bent down to let Ekans slither of his shoulders onto the ground.

Both serpents raised their heads high and heard the voice. Immediately Arbok took the initiative, with Ekans slithering behind. The cobra made sure to be careful of where he tread; desperate was not his personality.

"We should get going." Greninja appeased.

"Right." Nic agreed. They all followed the snakes. "Yukino, you coming?"

The Sabertooth Mage nodded. "Right." She followed behind, but there was a reason. As she walked, she was having a very familiar feeling. This voice was vague to her as well, but in her ears it did more than make nails screech on chalkboard. 'Why's this feel so familiar?'

As she walked along, there was a single, vague glow from her key collection. The light got brighter as they followed the snakes into the darkness.


"What's taking so long? Is Nic really in there?" Gray's impatience was starting to show. He knew Nic was capable, but he also was worried. He rubbed his spiky head of hair. "Man, this is getting nowhere."

"Calm down, Gray." Juvia insisted. "I'm sure they're fine."

"If Nic, Erik, and Yukino did end up deeper into that cave, then Nic could have Garchomp use Dig to burrow back to the starting point." Sophie pondered, her hand to her chin. "But knowing him, he's probably looking into the source as we speak."

"So we're basically stuck here until he gets back?" Natsu questioned. "Man, that ain't cool."

"WAAAAH!" Sorano's harsh wails shot many of ears around her. She was crying comical tears as she was missing her younger sister deeply. "Yukino! Where are you?! Big sister can't lose you again! I'm coming for you!" She zipped off pass the rest, but a tap from Bellona's dark galaxy-coated hand immediately put her to the ground.

"Honestly." Jellal sighed.

"Tell me about it." Bellona looked down at the stirring Sorano, whimpering and turning like a baby. She knew she was a child at her core, but she of all people didn't want to put up with her zesty nature. "Don't worry, I had my Nightmare Magic to a low point. At least now she'll stop screaming."

"Well for all our sakes, we better find a way to get back in there, and quick." Cana pointed out.

Volans nodded. "Agreed."

Lupus stepped forward, taking to the head of the pack. "Guess we're gonna need more noses then." He spread hos clawed legs. "Okay then…"

"W-what is he doing…?" Happy was getting nervous by the second.

Volans and Corvus watched quietly. They knew what was coming next. "You might wanna cover your ears." Volans insisted.

Natsu blinked. "Huh? Cover our-!"

"HAARROOOOOOOOHH!"

Lupus' hairs stood on all ends as he howled at the loudest volume he could. Immediately Natsu regretted not taking the hint like Wendy did and covered his ringing ears. Everyone winced as the wolf's howl exploded throughout the sky, echoing into the atmosphere and throughout the valley.

After a minute, the howling simmered inti thin air. Everyone uncovered their ears slowly to see what happened. After a while, they were left confused.

"Uh…what was that?" Wendy worriedly asked.

"Lupus just summoned his pack." Volans explained. "Wait for it."

Not even after a second, a golden glow appeared in front of the bipedal wolf. The light faded, revealing the beta: Canes. The dog was followed by several other golden glows, summoning even more of the pack. The pack of fifteen wolves with celestial vests and marking sat in attention before their prestige Alpha.

"AAAAHHHHHH! DOGS EVERYWHERE!" Happy panicked. "No! NO! I can't take it anymore! Somebody please stop this! Lease sto…s-sto…" He started dozing off as a lulling tune was playing in his ears. His senses started getting hazy, too much for him to handle. Unable to take it, he fell asleep, Natsu catching him before he fell to the ground.

"It's about time." Carla irritably sighed. She turned around, facing Wendy and her Swablu. "Thank god Swablu still knows Sing."

"Sorry about that, Happy." Wendy apologized sagely. Swablu chirped gleefully.

"So that wolf guy can summon up a pack of dogs?" Gray asked, staring at the attentive hounds before Lupus.

"I know, right?" Cana winked. "Haven't seen these guys in a while either. They sure bark and bite a lot, that's for sure."

"Indeed." Volans answered. "Canes' gate coordinates with their Alpha, in which case is Lupus. They don't need a key if they are summoned by their Alpha otherwise."

"Really? That's pretty cool." Gray smirked.

This information somewhat intrigued Lucy. She never heard of a joint summoning with one gate alone. She's learned each spirit is coordinated to one key alone. But now that keys are no longer functioning for her, any way to summon a spirit seems to suffice at this point.

Lupus pridefully chuckled. "Yeah, guess it is." He turned towards the head hound. "Alright guys, fan out and find Nic and Greninja's scent, on the double!" He raised his head high and howled loud, giving the order. Almost instantly, the dogs turned and started sniffing the atmosphere and ground. The head dog barked at Lupus, to which he snuffed back. In solid communication, the head dog leaped into the cavern, with the rest of the pack following.

Their howls slowly faded into the depths, soon replaced by silence.

"They'll figure out the exact point where we left off. That's where they most likely disappeared." The wolf explained.

"Well, let's not jump the gun too soon now." Bellona chimed. "After all, this is a dangerous game we're playing here. It'd be unwise to play our best hand so soon when our enemy has yet to show theirs."

Jellal stared up to the sky, his fixation on the twinkling red glints themselves. "And to win, we need to know just what there can be done to stop our enemy…even if it's a small chance."

"Agreed." Erza nodded. 'Stay strong Nic.'


The two Poison-types slithered the same way towards the beckoning charm. Ekans seemed more intrigued given her hurried pace. Arbok stayed close behind due to experience in the thousands of battles he's had. Yukino, Nic, and Erik remained close on track with them.

"That voice is getting louder. We're near." Erik examined.

Nic agreed. "I don't doubt that." That same hissy tune was in his head, playing over and over repeatedly. It was beginning to throb. He powered through the aches. 'Too many voices in my damn head today.'

"Hey Ekans, stay close." Erik called up to the snake, but whether or not she was out of earshot didn't seem to slow down her fastened pace. "It's like she's listening to that voice more than herself."

"Something's drawing them, and us." Nic figured. "And if I were to guess, we're playing right into its hands." He looked ahead, noticing the cave's tunnel. He and the others stopped to examine it.

Compared to the entrance to the cave at the surface, this inlet was a lot spikier. The stalactites were doubled and curved in, with even sharper ends. The stalagmites beneath were straight up. When droplets of water would fall, they'd hit the sharp tips of the spikes below. They'd pop and splatter rather than drip, like human bodies.

The eerie vibe they were feeling was like a dense fog that stood in their way. Everyone, even Ekans and Arbok, stayed on guard when facing this bizarre entrance, like it wanted to eat them alive.

"My goodness…" Yukino worried. The air was cold around her, enough to make her goosebumps shrivel.

"So it's in there." Erik shut his mouth to listen. The voice he heard before was gone – like it had all faded away. 'I've got a bad feeling about this.'

Even without the Dread Form, Nic and Greninja could tell something was inside there, waiting for them. They gave glances at each other to tell the other they needed to tread lightly.

"Arbok…tread lightly." Nic told the cobra.

The purple snake nodded his head. "Assss you wish." Very slowly, he got low to the ground where his hood was but a few inches from touching stone. The curious Ekans and the stealthy Arbok crept into the entrance's darkness.

With nothing to lose, Nic and Greninja remained as quiet as possible. They followed next, with Erik and Yukino close behind.

Upon entering the cave, they immediately noticed how much darker it was compared to what it was in the other one. It wasn't just dark, but hot as well. It was feeling almost like a burning gut with how it smelled as well.

"It's really muggy." Yukino muttered.

Suddenly Nic and Greninja stopped in place. They stayed completely still while Yukino was worrying. Erik knew it as well, but his hearing was leading him to all over the place.

They were being watched. And they knew they were in the heart of its territory.

Very quietly, Nic and Greninja squatted to readily positions. They didn't know where this thing would strike, or what tricks it might pull, but they couldn't let go of this aching feeling they were looming from above.

'They're around here somewhere.'

'They know we're here. And they probably know we know that.'

Yukino was being careful to watch where she walked, that is if she could see. She heard the sound of churning, immediately turning towards it. "Who's there?!" She waited for a response, but she was met with silence. She flinched when she felt a rock touch the sole of her shoe. "Oh…" she sighed. 'Maybe I'm just being paranoid…' She noticed a faint glow coming from her keyholder. Curious, she pulled out a key – a golden key. "This is…"

In the darkness, something long and massive crept along the rims of the chamber.

Nic could hear the sounds of scales grinding against stone. The movement of something extremely massive was evident.

Arbok and Ekans hissed loudly at the rood of the ceiling, alarming everyone.

"What is it?" Yukino looked up, but her skin instantly paled at the sight.

"…we're not alone." Greninja glared.

The odd light of a pattern illuminated the area, allowing them view of an odd, jointed arrow-shaped opening to show from one side. On the other end of the chamber was another. The patterns lit up in order, following like arrows into coils and slopes that even closed off where they came. Their escape blocked off, they were forced to face up as the light reached a deeply accented forehead of a giant serpent looming over them.

"It…it's you…" Yukino gasped. "But it…it can't be."

Arbok and Ekans stood in attention before the giant creature. Their Trainers and Greninja stayed on guard as the massive serpent surrounded them with her gargantuan bulk. From the way she looked, she wasn't so pleased with her guests.

Nic narrowed his eyes. 'Wait, this Spirit. Isn't that Yukino's…?'

With a low, incomprehensible stare, Yukino's eyes dilated as she stepped back in fright. "…Ophiuchus."

From the deepest hollows in her body, the giant snake expelled a bloodcurdling roar throughout the quaking chamber. It felt like venom as all their blood temperatures dropped.


The starry sea was shimmering with multiple colors. It was like a rainbow of glowing water was inviting anyone into its depths. From afar the view was beautiful, but to Melchior, this was a gateway.

With the constellation being Aquarius, the sea was shining bright. And with how Melchior upheld her under his control, using her powers to keep the gate to her and the sea open was a breeze, especially thanks to the crown. Now it was time to enact his destiny.

Standing in front of the sea, Melchior watched the tides wash in and out, depositing stardust and sparkling minerals into the sand at his feet. He watched as his advisors and the Celestial Spirits behind him to await his order. "Now then, is everyone ready?"

Caius nodded. "Yes, my liege. We are at your service."

"Whether here or in another world, we shall follow you no matter where the path shall lead." Auriol obediently bowed. "Let us leave this accursed world for anew." It's always been her passion – to a new world. A beautiful one. And what better place than the Celestial World. A place much like heaven.

Melchior knew of Auriol's passion, and realistically that was the first one to come true. 'I shall indeed make your wishes come true. All of you.' He looked at his niece. "Vita, Bion. Do you wish to continue?"

"Mhm!" Vita furiously nodded. "You bet, Uncle! I can't wait to have a Celestial Spirit! Oh I hope it's cute!"

Melchior chuckled. "Don't count blessings until they are given." He faced Bion. "Bion, I promised you I would help you regain your powers. If you feel that you aren't fully prepared, you are free to speak up."

Bion kneeled before his king. "I swear to you, on my life, I am fully prepared to whatever fate may come before me. If I do not succeed, then it is on me." He looked up with a serious intent in his eyes. "But no matter what, there shall be a way, yes?"

Melchior humbly nodded. "Well said." He turned towards Oberon, who nodded in agreement. It was time. "Very well…let us proceed. To all who shall follow, let us return to this world prepared to change the ways for Tetrabiblos!"

Behind them, the army and Altair let out cheers for their glorious king's ambition.

"Now then…lead the way."

With the order, Aquarius and the other Zodiacs shifted in front of the king. They marched into the water, with their master and his advisors behind them. They all marched into the dense ocean with stagnant steps. With their clothing and the ar they breathe ever so celestial, it was bound too keep them safe and able to breathe in their world.

Once underwater, they were immediately met with the ability to breathe. No water was taken in, and shockingly enough looking up it was like looking at the surface with minerals sparkling around their heads. It was just as how the legends and fables described their own world. Despite the lack of some spirits here and there, the world was still beautiful.

Feeling a vibrant flow in the atmosphere, Auriol was instantly dazzled. Her eyes were wide as she looked around, seeing the surface world – Earthland – atop of them. 'So this is the Celestial World.' Words couldn't describe how she was feeling right now. Perhaps elated would be a start. Being in Astral the air was still fresh. The Celestial energy the atmosphere had was as close to this world that she could get, until now that is. Now that she had crossed over, her mind was jumping all over the place. It was much more dazzling than what the lacrima simulations or pictures and fables described. Her eyes started misting as she walked on the small slope down. She felt as light as a feather. 'It's so beautiful…just as how his majesty said it would.'

And she wasn't the only one mesmerized by this phenomenal sight. The space, the energy, it was something Bion had forgotten. What he could feel in him long ago was beginning to fill up his belonging. 'This magic, it's really…'

Together, they smiled whole-heartedly at their king afront. 'Thank you so much, your majesty.'

Melchior humbly smiled as he looked afar. Joining him was Vita as she happily skipped to his side, and Oberon on the other. Looking at both their smiles of agreement, he looked back at his advisors, each ne showing the same kind of dedication to the adventure they will have.

"Everyone…forward! To the new age of Earthland's Celestial Mages!"

"Yes, sir!"

The army to follow their king marched into the Celestial World, all cloaked in drapes of the traditional celestial fabric, only with the king's design on it. They followed their liege and the Zodiacs down the smooth silver road, leading to their destination: The Celestial King.

As they marched on, they were unaware that amongst the stars they were passing, one was twinkling red in its core. While they perceived it as a side-effect of Melchior's crown, the core itself shined from a brown star. The star's core blinked as it watched Melchior and his army go deeper into the unknown land. Pressed by curiosity, the star's physiology allowed it to spin and dive deeper in pursuit.


I know what you are all thinking, why the hell this took so damn long? I swear I was thinking I was going to get it done before July, when I had to move. But I had to go back and forth between my old house and this new house to help get crap out, clean and sweep, paint, and then move everything in. Add that to paint and furniture shopping there was barely any time for me to register how much time was passing. Again, I'm really sorry it took me eons to get this update in, but to make up for it, I made it monstrously long, over 38K, so you could kick back and watch craziness unfold!

After what felt like an eternity, yes, I decided to bring back the old Celestial Crew. I figured they could use this time to shine since this is another arc dedicated to Celestial Spirits. Aside from the Celestial Siege Arc and the one time in the Alvarez Empire Arc in the last couple stories, I thought at least another shot with these guys would be fitting.

As you may have also seen, I got Nic to focus a little on status moves. Though just a little, so nothing too major. And Arbok's back, about time I get him in on some action!

Well, this was a long one to take in, so let's see how the next chapter goes whenever I get to it. I still have to settle into my home and get some of the new furniture, pus there's work. So don't expect an update immediately.

Let me know what you guys thought about this in a review if you can! Thanks for being patient with me! :)