A/N: Episode 190.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: THE ONE WHO CLOSES THE PORTAL

"Still, wow! We can hear it from here." Eric commented, referring to the cheers.

"It's almost as if all of Crocus is shaking from the cheers of God Pegasus." Alyssa added.

"It seems we can give a good report to the Master." Atlas pointed out before turning towards Nero. "Don't think you're getting out of explaining what you said earlier."

Nero sighed. "Drake, Fera, Ace, and Sting went with Natsu, Mira, Wendy, Lily, Happy, and Carla to rescue Lucas and Lucy." He explained.

"Sounds like Sting-kun. If Lucas-kun is in trouble, he would rush to his aid immediately." Lector, who was staying with the God Pegasus members, added.

"So there was a rescue team from behind the scenes. Why weren't we informed of this?" Atlas asked.

"Because you and Shiro would jump at the chance to join them." Nero answered. "Master knew that. Plus, it worked in our favor. We won, didn't we?"

Atlas huffed in annoyance, knowing Nero was right. Nero looked towards the palace. "Still... I didn't see a flare shooting up. It has me worried." He added.

Mercurius...

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu called out.

"White Dragon's Roar!" Sting shouted, releasing his breath attack around the same time as Natsu. The two attacks combined and headed straight for Uosuke.

"Gravity zone!" He shouted, directing the attack away from him. "It won't work no matter how many times you try it-tai!"

"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed.

"I'm hungry, dammit!" Natsu complained.

Kamika had purple paper that was between her fingers. "Confetti! Purple Dance!"

Purple paper charged at Lucas who easily dodged it. "You really need a new strategy." He insulted.

"You should be ashamed, coward!" Cosmos claimed as plants headed for Loke, who easily dodged them.

"You know, your angry face is very charming. What do you say the two of us slip out of here and get a bite to eat or something?" Loke suggested.

"You're pushy!"

"Melt! Melt!" Knepper exclaimed.

Purple acid shot up in the air as Wendy blew it away. "Please let us just get by already!" She pleaded.

"That ain't gonna fly! Come on and play with me some more, Dragon Slayer!" Knepper said.

Lily and Ace continued trading blows with Kama. "Give up, sinners!" Kama exclaimed.

"Let us pass!" Lily shouted back.

"I already told you! You're not going outside!" Kama said.

"Listen to me!"

"This is for the peace of the people of Fiore! Sinners must be put to death!" Kama claimed.

"We need to get out of here fast, for the sake of Fiore!" Ace argued. "Why won't you try to understand that?!"

"A sinner's words are nothing but noise! They have no meaning!" Kama said.

"W-We can't do this. There's no time to fight..." Future Lucas muttered. "If we're too late because of this, then we'll..."

Carla turned to him. "Hey! Are you okay?"

"There's no time!" Future Lucas replied.

"According to Future Lucas, we were in the palace when that time came... We're not imprisoned, but in the end, it'll turn out the same way?" Carla questioned herself.

"Go! Go!"

A wave of guards were rushing towards the group. "Surround them!"

"More reinforcements... We won't be able to hold out at this rate!" Loke informed.

"There, you see? It's time to be executed!" Kamika said.

"The enemy way outnumbers your side, Princess." Virgo stated the obvious.

"I can see that for myself!" Lucy shouted.

Lily and Ace turned back into their Exceed forms. "Crap! My body..." Lily trailed off.

"This isn't good..." Ace mumbled.

Kama laughed. "So you've already hit your limit, eh?"

"Now I'm mad! Execution!" Natsu exclaimed. "I'm gonna execute all of you!"

"Charge!"

"Circle around him from there!"

A guard suddenly turned around in alarm, getting his colleagues attention.

"What's wrong? Is someone there?"

"No. Maybe just my imagination..."

"Happy! Carla! You two go on ahead and tell the others!" Lily ordered.

"Aye, sir!" Happy replied as him and Carla were flying.

"Understood!"

That's when they got stopped by Uosuke. "Oh, no, you don't-tai!"

"You again?!" Happy exclaimed.

"You people are not leaving this palace... tai?" Uosuke said as he suddenly got surrounded by black shadows. "What is this-tai?!"

"What the hell is this?!"

"I can't move!"

"What is it?!" Happy questioned.

"Moving shadows?!" Carla said.

The royal guards began sinking below the shadows.

"What is this?!"

"What's happening?!"

"What the...?" Natsu questioned as he was sticking his foot in a guard's face.

"What?!" Kama said.

"The shadows are swallowing people up!" Kamika exclaimed.

"What is this, magic?" Cosmos asked.

"We're sinking-tai!" Uosuke said, holding Knepper's wrist.

"Don't let go, Uosuke!" Knepper told him.

"What is this?!" Kamika questioned.

"Kamika! Cosmos! Soren!" Kama called out for them as he began sinking too. "You...! Th-The Garou Knights... done by this?! Princess!"

Future Lucas covered his mouth as if he was going to throw up. "No... Not him..." He muttered.

The shadows soon retreated.

"What the hell is goin' on here?" Natsu mumbled.

"That magic..." Sting noted. "It's impossible!"

Far away from Mercurius...

"I see. So that's what it was..." Jellal muttered.

"Jellal?" Ultear questioned.

"How could I have missed something so simple?"

"Is something wrong?" Meredy asked.

"The Future Lucas said him and Lucy arrived on July 4th." Jellal began. "But it was actually at midnight on the 3rd."

"We've detected the mysterious magic every year, but she arrived only recently?" Ultear questioned.

"No. The magic force we've felt these past seven years was definitely Eclipse." Jellal replied.

"But this year, it came from a human." Meredy pointed out.

"He came back from the future by using Eclipse, the magic from Zeref's books, and that left a residue of magic much like Zeref's in his body." Jellal explained.

"Zeref..." Ultear muttered. "The Dark Wizard who can't be defeated."

"I have a bad feeling about this." Meredy commented.

Jellal turned around. "I understand your anxiety, but right now, there's another problem we need to deal with."

"Right."

"If we assume that everything Future Lucas said is true, he came here late at night on the 3rd. Then the Lucas I saw on the evening of the 3rd..." Jellal trailed off.

Arcadios soon arrived in front of Hisui and Darton. "Princess..." He greeted.

"Arcadios-sama! Then you're safe!" Hisui said.

"Colonel! When I had you thrown into Hell Palace, I'm afraid I was terribly biased..." Darton started to say.

"Let's let bygones be bygones. Does everyone here already know about Eclipse 2?" Arcadios asked.

"Yes. We were just informing all the soldiers. Hopefully word will spread quickly to the Garou Knights as well. The person who came from the future was telling the truth. From this moment forth, the Eclipse Project will move to Eclipse 2." Hisui replied.

"Are you abandoning the first plan to eliminate Lord Zeref?"

Hisui shook her head. "No. But first we need to remove the threat that's right in front of us."

Arcadios drew his sword, causing Hisui's eyes to widen. "What are you...?!" Darton questioned before Hisui was handed the sword.

"It is impermissible for a knight to doubt the words of his master. When your words are proven true, I shall lay down my life. By doubting my master for even one moment, I have brought on great shame..." Arcadios moved the tip of the sword closer to his throat. "...and am prepared to die for it."

"Bastard! Have you gone mad?!" Darton shouted. Arcadios looked at him with a serious look, making Darton get taken aback.

"Princess, please tell me the truth."

"Arcadios-sama, what is the meaning of this?" Hisui asked, her hands shaking.

"I met the person from the future. But they had no knowledge of Eclipse 2. The time traveler knew what would happen, but cried because there was no solution for it." Arcadios said.

"No, my contact told me exactly what to do to deal with it." Hisui argued.

"Then, that person from the future... they lied?" Arcadios questioned. "I can't imagine... how the prince could profit from lying to his comrades!"

Hisui widened her eyes. "My brother?"

This caught Arcadios' attention as Hisui was now sweating. "The person from the future who advised me wasn't him." Hisui claimed.

"The person I saw on the evening of the 3rd wasn't Lucas!" Jellal exclaimed. "There must be another person from the future!"

A ball of black shadows soon formed. "All of the imperial soldiers..." Happy started to say.

"...sank into the shadow!" Carla finished.

"Why are we safe?" Lily asked.

A silhouette soon appeared. "Someone's there!" Loke informed.

"Be careful!" Lucy warned.

"Who the hell are you?" Lucas asked.

Jellal, Meredy, and Ultear were running down the hill. "What do you mean, another?!" Meredy asked.

"Another person from the future who used Eclipse, so they're also tinged with the magic that's similar to Zeref's. Lucas came back to save the future. Why did the other person come back?!" Jellal asked himself.

"The shadows are fanning out to the past or the future? Or perhaps to people's hearts? This brings back memories, Lucas. I've come from the future. I'm Rogue." Future Rogue greeted.

"No fucking way..." Sting mumbled in complete shock.

"Rogue? You're Rogue?!" Lucas questioned.

"The same one from Sabertooth?" Fera asked.

"You're from the future?" Lucy asked as well.

Future Lucas's body was shaking uncontrollably.

"Why?!" Happy mumbled.

Outside, the moon began to change to a blood red.

"Two people came from the future. One is the prince. He came back to warn his friends of danger in the future." Arcadios claimed.

"The other one came back to warn the princess of danger." Darton added.

"Both of them have the same purpose, to save this country. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a third and fourth person." Hisui said. "And if you're a knight, then point your blade in the proper direction. I'm going to open the portal. To save this country, I shall draw my blade!"

The moon continued to change to blood red slowly.

Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy were now in the town. "I don't know what the other person from the future is after. Let's hurry to the palace!" Jellal informed.

"Did you get rid of the soldiers to help us?" Loke asked.

"You know, you seem different." Lucas claimed.

"Why did you come back from the future?" Carla questioned.

"To open the portal." Future Rogue replied.

"You're talking about Eclipse?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"There are two ways to use Eclipse. One is time travel. The other is as the Eclipse Cannon, an offensive weapon. It's the only way to defeat 10,000 dragons." Future Rogue explained.

"Then that makes it easy. You're on our side!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Yay! We can beat the dragons!" Happy cheered.

"The future can be saved, right?" Wendy asked.

"No. It isn't that simple. I come from seven years in the future. Seven years from now, dragons rule the world." Future Rogue replied.

"They rule it?" Natsu repeated.

"Th-Then what about the people who are left?" Wendy questioned as Future Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"Not even 10% of the current human population has survived. Of course, Eclipse isn't nearly as powerful as it is now. If the dragons aren't stopped here and now, this world will come to an end." Future Rogue responded.

"Then let's open the portal and blow 'em away! Boom! Easy, right?" Natsu asked.

"However, seven years ago... That is, in the present, someone interfered with the opening of the portal." Future Rogue continued.

"Interfered? Why would they do that?" Lucy questioned.

"Because of that person, the portal wasn't opened. The Eclipse Cannon that was pointed at the 10,000 dragons couldn't fire. Someone led the world to destruction. I'm here to eliminate that person." Future Rogue claimed.

"That's barbaric! If you talk to the person about their reasons, maybe they won't interfere after all." Carla said.

"There's no need for murder." Lily added.

"At such a critical junction in time, words cannot prevent actions. Even if I did convince the person now, they would definitely close the portal. It's already decided."

"Decided?" Lucy quoted.

"Destiny is inescapable. The living will live. The dead will die. The person who closes the portal is going to close the portal. No matter what happens, as long as they're alive." Future Rogue said.

"I don't really follow you." Natsu commented. "But who is this person that interferes?"

Rogue opened his eyes. "You... Lucy Heartfilia!" He answered as a shadow blade headed for Lucy.

"Lucy!" Natsu called out.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion as Natsu tried going after the blade. However, the blade struck Future Lucas instead, making everyone turn around in shock.

Future Lucas collapsed on the ground, his hood falling off in the process.

"H-Hey! You!" Lucas shouted at his counterpart.

"Lucas!" Ace shouted as Sting's body shook uncontrollably. He quickly rushed over.

"Another Lucas?" Future Rogue questioned in shock.

"Luke!" Sting exclaimed, holding onto Future Lucas.

"Hold on!" Lucy shouted.

"Lucas!" Ace soon joined his side.

"Your future self didn't... close the portal..." Future Lucas spoke weakly to Lucy.

"I know! I would never do that!" Lucy claimed. "Why did you protect me?!"

"Because I didn't want anyone else to suffer by that bastard's hands." Future Lucas replied.

"H-Hey, what about Healing Magic?" Lily suggested.

"With a wound that deep, nothing can..."

"Luke... Don't you dare die on me." Sting told him.

"Sting... I'm glad I got to see you again. One last time." Future Lucas pressed his hand against Sting's cheek, who leans into his touch. "The me of this world... is still alive. He's still with you. So don't cry..."

"Present or future, I don't care what world you're from! You're still my Luke! You're still the man I love!" Sting shouted.

Future Lucas began sobbing. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry I couldn't save you." He apologized, grabbing his present self's attention. "I wasn't... strong enough."

Future Lucas soon removed his hand from Sting's cheek, making it collapse onto the ground.

"Please... Protect the future." He pleaded.

Everyone soon turned towards Future Rogue. "What did he mean by Lucy not closing the portal?" He questioned himself.

"The hell with the portal! I would never have done that! But still, you..." Lucy started to say.

"That's now. But you'll close the portal several hours from now." Future Rogue said.

"I'm not gonna close the damn portal!" Lucy argued. "You talk all this nonsense! What are you after?!"

Sting stood up from the ground, his bangs covering his face as he clenched his fist.

Future Rogue grits his teeth. "The portal will be closed. It's already decided. As long as you're alive..."

"The future Lucas said my future self didn't close it. I believe him!" Lucy exclaimed.

"There is no truth in his words! Everything is dictated by destiny!" Future Rogue argued, creating another shadow blade.

"Screw your destiny!" Sting screamed.

In a flash of holy light and almost blinding everyone, Sting punches Future Rogue in his stomach, causing him to skid on the ground as everyone else stood in shock.

Sting had his eyes closed as Future Lucas's words rang in his ears.

"Please... Protect the future."

"I hear you loud and clear... Luke." Sting mumbled, opening his eyes as he glared at the man who was his partner and best friend.

No. This wasn't the Rogue Sting knew.

This Rogue had just killed the man he loved without a single ounce of remorse.

Future Rogue glanced up as familiarity struck within him.

Sting had the same dark look in his eyes that he had when he struck Jiemma seven years ago.

A/N: It most certainly didn't help that I was listening to Haunted by Taylor Swift while writing this chapter :(

More trauma for Sting, yay.

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.