Author's Note: Here it is, the last chapter before the Grand Magic Games! I'm happy I got it out sooner than I thought I would. Since next chapter is introducing the new arc, I might take a bit more time to work on finishing it, but It's going to be well worth the wait. I'll be bringing back some old characters, introducing new ones, and I even dropped some hits in this chapter on what's going to happen after that.

The Grand Magic Games don't start in this chapter, but there's a huge plot point you'll want to pay attention to. Check it out and let me know how I did! I think it'll set the rest of the story up for a very interesting plot shift.

Thank you for everyone who's still reading my fanfiction, and I hope to see you soon!

After Those 7 Years

Chapter six: Action Plan

Scene Change - A Week Before The Grand Magic Games

Natsu placed the Lacrima on his desk and waited for it to establish a connection. After a few moments, it emitted a subtle glow as Eiji, Kagura, Bisca, Max, and Warren were all brought into view. They appeared to be wearing swim attire while standing on a sandy beach. A shallow treeline leading to Fiore's mainland rested in the background.

Natsu beamed once his connection passed through, "Hey, guys. I'm glad you arrived at the resort without any issues! Since you spent most of the day traveling, let's just use the rest of the afternoon to focus on some general strategies. We won't be spending much time improving your magic potential because… Well… That's what our daily training routine is used for. You can touch up on your individual strength in your free time, but your time with me will be spent preparing for the games."

Bisca was the first one to confidently smirk, "In that case, how about we start with Max and I? I think I know a combo we could use that puts our team ahead in any roaming events."

Natsu nodded in approval, "Perfect, show me what you had in mind."

Bisca then turned her head and spoke to Max, "Max, could you kick up some of this sand using your magic? Make sure it's a strong gale that covers our portion of the beach!"

"You've got it!" Max turned to the other guild members and warned, "Close your eyes and cover your nose!" He confidently lowered his stance toward the sand, "Sand Rebellion!" He chanted, causing a massive tornado of sand to generate above the dark yellow magic circle encompassing the beach. After a few months, the tornado imploded, generating a raging sandstorm stretching the entire shoreline.

Bisca summoned her own magic circles above the guild members on the beach, causing a pair of tactical grade visors to materialize on their faces and protect their airways from the sand. "Feel free to open your eyes and take a look around; you should also be able to breathe normally!"

Kagura reluctantly opened her eyes and scoured the sandstorm. She uncovered her airway and inhaled, gasping at the sight before her. "Uh- I can see everyone highlighted in blue!"

"Same!" The other guild members on the beach chimed in unison.

Bisca cheered in excitement, "Sweet, I can't believe it worked! Alzack spent the past few days reverse engineering the infrared heat signatures, and he wasn't sure if he had enough time! This means everyone on our team should be highlighted in blue, while all other teams in the event should be highlighted in red. We'll be able to see clearly in Max's sandstorm, and we won't have to worry about being bogged down since the visor comes with particle filters for our airways."

Warren clenched his fist with confidence, "And we could always use my Telepathy to communicate if we still get separated."

The connection from Natsu's Lacrima filtered out most of the sandstorm obstructing his view of the beach, so he could clearly see the visors Bisca was referring to, "Excellent!" Natsu exclaimed, "Good job incorporating Warren's magic! I doubt you'll be able to hear each other talk in the chaos that combo stirs up, so Warren's magic will keep your comms clear! Just remember to practice using it as much as possible because the connection grows weaker with distance. The more magic potential Warren can harness, the farther you can communicate without breaking the connection. I think you guys have the perfect starting point you can use to train."

Warren nodded his head, "I can spend the rest of the evening focusing on my Telepathy while they get some rest."

The sandstorm began to subside over the next few moments, prompting Natsu to nod his head in agreement, "That sounds like a good idea. Tomorrow, we can regroup and see how much progress you've made with your connection's strength," Natsu paused to rap his fingers against his desk, "Lastly, we should discuss our housing plans for the games," He sighed in slight disappointment, "Unfortunately… If we decide to reserve hotel rooms, we would have to be housed under the same hotel as the other guilds. The organizers want to keep a close tab on all reservations made by each team, and they don't want participants scattered around Crocus "

Eiji was the first to interject by stepping forward, "I'm not sure if I like that idea… I know security will be tight since so many guilds are participating, but I can already sense there's going to be drama stirred up by sore losers," He then extended an own offer to his team, "How about I reach out to my mother and see if our team could stay with her for the games? She lives in a very nice house overlooking Crocus, and it's more than large enough for us to all have our own rooms."

"Uh- Are you sure, Eiji?" Natsu stuttered at the generous offer.

Eiji smiled, "Of course! Macao, Wakaba, and Sayuki stayed with me when we went to visit my mother a few years back. She loves having my guildmates over."

Natsu nodded his head, "It's settled then. Let her know we'll arrive in Crocus six days from now: the day before the games start. I can meet you guys there instead of you having to make a trip back to Magnolia Town," Natsu snapped his finger in gratitude while winking at the Lacrima, "OH! And please thank your mother for us… Tell her I'd be more than happy to have a word with the Magic Council and get her special access to the announcer's box to watch the games from."

Eiji blushed and rubbed his head, "Thank you so much for the offer… I'll let her know you offered to treat her!"

Natsu was so preoccupied with speaking to his team through the Lacrima that he failed to realize someone was approaching his office door from outside. Before he could respond to Eiji, his thoughts were interrupted by a sharp sound being projected from the door. "Knock- Knock- Knock…" The sound reverberated throughout his office.

Natsu darted his head upward before lowering his gaze and sighing toward the Lacrima, "I have to let someone into my office; I'll talk to you guys later tonight."

The five guild members nodded in understanding while Natsu broke the connection and placed the Lacrima back into the drawer of his desk. The Fairy Tail Guild Master took a moment to clear his throat before calling out toward the door, "Come on in," He plainly spoke.

After a moment of hesitation, the door parted from its frame. Natsu's eyes widened as he immediately recognized the person who slowly entered his office.

His gaze settled on a petite woman standing before him. She appeared to be a few years younger than Natsu and had a remarkably lean stature. She was wearing her traditional, blue striped shirt, green short-shorts, and matching sneakers. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she tried her best to maintain eye contact with the Guild Master while playfully lowering her back. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing, and they only complimented her short, white hair.

Natsu uttered one word, revealing the woman's identity, "Lisanna…"

Lisanna sheepishly raised her hand, stood erect, and flashed a meek smile, "Hey, Natsu… It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The petite girl rounded Natsu's desk without his permission, causing the Fairy Tail Guild Master to cock his head in confusion, "Lisanna… Is something wrong?"

Lisanna sported a yearning smile, "Nothing at all. Up until now… It's been seven years since I last got to see your face up close. You really have grown a lot."

Lisanna was now close enough to notice the signs of stress chipping away at Natsu. His face was hardened with wrinkles, there were prominent bags underneath his eyelids from sleepless nights, and he always seemed to have facial hair in the form of a small stubble. However, he still managed to retain some of his youthful features such as his bright smile, sharp jaw, and silky hair.

Lisanna's face inched closer to Natsu's. She was standing right above him. Her eyes were utterly enthralled with his, and their lips were millimeters apart. Natsu's eyes widened as he realized their close proximity. He gasped, lost his balance from trying to lean away from Lisanna, and fell backwards out of his seat.

"Kuh- THUD," Natsu's body resounded as his chair tipped over, causing his body to crash toward the ground.

Lisanna covered her mouth in horror. "NATSU!" She chirped while desperately pulling her Guild Master to his feet, "Are you alright?!"

Natsu rubbed his head and held her hand for support, "I've felt infinitely worse," He chuckled while regaining his bearings. He slowly planted himself back into his seat and released a sigh of relief. After a few moments, he crossed his arms in annoyance at the stunt Lisanna tried to pull.

It was then Lisanna began to furiously apologize, "Uh- I'm so sorry! I don't know what got over me. You know me, Natsu! Uh- I would never try to-"

"Lisanna," Natsu calmly spoke, cutting Lisanna off mid sentence, "I'm not as dense as I was seven years ago… I know you used to have a crush on me back when we were kids. Do… Do you still-"

Lisanna began to comically shake her head, "Nonononono! I promise," She sighed to calm her erratic behavior, "I guess… I missed the 'Natsu' I grew up with. I just wish things were simpler and cozier like when we were childhood friends: back when we were pretending to get married while we raised Happy. I can't believe how much you've changed, and part of me misses the old you. That's why I tried to… You know…"

Natsu raised his arm and rested a hand on Lisanna's shoulder, "Trying to kiss me when I have a girlfriend is a weird way of showing how much you care about me."

Lisanna meekly smiled, "I'm so happy for you, Master Natsu. You and Kagura deserve each other," She paused to narrow her gaze towards him, "For what it's worth… I came to say that most of the Tenrou Group has been acting totally ridiculous. They've taken things way out of hand. I think they should be the first to apologize to the other guild members for not being more sympathetic to how they felt ignored all those years."

Natsu smiled, "That's the Lisanna I know. You were always the people pleaser."

Fairy Tail Team B disbanded for the evening after their first day of training. Warren was set on visiting the sauna to mentally train himself to increase his magic potential. Max and Bisca were on their way to treat each other at a nearby bar to celebrate the combo they were able to pull off during the training session. This left Eiji and Kagura standing on the beach.

Kagura was the first to break the comfortable silence between them, "I guess that leaves the two of us. Do you want to see if we can join Max and Bisca for dinner?" She offered.

Eiji shook his head, "I'm not that hungry right now…" After a few moments, a sly smirk crept on his face as he grabbed Kagura's hand and pulled the Sword Specialist further down the shoreline, "I think I have a better idea…"

"Hmm?" Kagura cocked her head in curiosity while being dragged by Eiji, "What's on your mind?"

"Since we're the only ones here, how about we do a bit of training by ourselves? I wanna blow the competition away during the Grand Magic Games."

Kagura smirked, "You stole the words right out of my mouth. What's on your mind?" she asked while kneeling toward the sand for her belongings. She grabbed a modest, white coverup and slung it around her shoulders. It draped over her swimwear to keep the exposed parts of her body warm from the evening breeze.

Eiji continued once Kagura returned her attention to him, "How does a Unison Raid sound…?" He confidently smirked.

Kagura widened her eyes and clenched her fists, "That WOULD blow the competition away. The two of us should be able to nail one down without an issue."

"I wouldn't get overconfident just yet. Even though I have something that'd be perfect for us, you're going to have to learn some serious Lost Magic to pull it off."

"What do you mean? I heard that you and Natsu were able to pull one off when we took down Raven Tail."

"We were," Eiji scratched his head, "But a large portion of that was because we use similar forms of Lost Magic. You know? He's a Dragon Slayer, and I'm a Devil Slayer "

"Alright, spill it. What do you have in mind?" Kagura crossed her arms.

Eiji inhaled deeply and spoke, "In simple terms, the Unison Raid would require me to tap into a hidden power of mine. I'll use my scriptures and every ounce of concentration I can muster to search my body for the most holy light fathomable… And then I funnel that power directly into you." Eiji pointed at Kagura.

"Damn, even I'm already impressed." Kagura referred to her direct and curt persona.

"I wasn't finished just yet," Eiji chuckled, "We'll have to train so your body doesn't reject my magic. BUT… Once I've funneled my holy light into your body, you'll be able to use that power and directly enhance Archenemy. The Unison Raid is called 'The Exalted Hour,' and it very well might be the most powerful spell you'll ever cast."

Kagura was definitely intrigued now, "How powerful are we talking about?"

A deathly silence passed, followed by Eiji calmly speaking, "Assuming you unsheathe Archenemy and use my hidden power in a single, catastrophic blow," He paused for dramatic effect, "The spell would be powerful enough to disintegrate a Wizard Saint without a problem."

Kagura reeled, "Suh- So… If Natsu was struck by this…"

Eiji laughed, "Yes, even Master Natsu would be down for the count," He paused to gesture toward Archenemy, "You can choose to use my hidden power however you want; you can layer you attacks and spread them out over a longer duration, or you can deliver a single, catastrophic blow. That's the great thing about Archenemy. It's a close combat weapon, but you can choose how to expend your energy."

"Alright, what's the catch?"

Eiji nodded his head, "There's one downside," He paused to narrow his gaze, "Once you've expended my magic, you're down for the count. There's no recovering from it. It's a very similar effect to whenever Master Natsu taps into the Flame of Rebuke. If you don't think you're strong enough to brute force your way and take down your opponent with the spell, you shouldn't use it. You'll have to use non-traditional methods of combat to take down your opponent instead."

Kagura understood, "I would only treat your magic with utmost respect, you have my word…"

"In that case," Eiji paused to summon a white magic circle in front of him. After a few moments, his book of holy scriptures materialized from the magic circle and into his extended hands. He released his grip, and the book began to hover above his open palms, "Once the book is opened, you'll hear the sound of a cathedral bell resonate throughout the area three times. The first time is when I open the book, the second time will be in the middle of the pages flipping, and the third and final time will be once the book is closed… That's when you'll be able to tap into my hidden power. The bell tolls represent the start, middle, and end of a day."

Kagura confidently nodded her head, "Just give me the word, and I'll do whatever I need to do."

"Stand directly in front of me and present Archenemy," Eiji paused for Kagura to do as instructed, "Now, let's begin."

The afternoon left as soon as it had arrived, and it was now replaced by the gentle breeze of the evening. Torches were lit across the shoreline, providing light for anyone still on the beach. Kagura was sprawled on the sand, and she could only speak through labored breaths, "Wuh- What the hell type of genetic mutation were you born with for you to master this type of magic from childbirth?"

Eiji smiled, "I told you this was some pretty serious lost magic we were dealing with," He sighed, "And, to be honest, my mutation only granted me the ability to harness Ethernano. It took a lot more time and dedication to actually learn Holy Devil Slayer Magic."

Kagura snapped her finger, "That reminds me, how did you even get to learn that type of magic…? Don't all slayers have to learn from the original creators of the respective lost magic unless-"

"They have a Lacrima of that Lost Magic implanted inside them," Eiji finished Kagura's statement.

"Ah," Kagura exclaimed, "You're a second-generation Devil Slayer."

"Yup. I had a Devil Lacrima implanted inside my chest when I was still an infant."

Kagura cocked her head, "Don't take this the wrong way… But aren't those expensive? That was back when your mother was working in retail, right?"

Eiji laughed, "If you're trying to accuse my family of not being able to afford one of those, you'd be spot on. We weren't poor by any means since my father had a decent job at the time, but a Devil Lacrima was something way out of our budget."

"Then how did your family afford-

Eiji cut Kagura off by gesturing toward his body, "I was a newborn boy with a genetic mutation which allowed me to harness Ethernano from birth: something completely unheard of to this day. Corporate scientists and private contractors funded and paid for everything of mine, including the strongest and most powerful Lacrima available. They let me have the most comfortable life possible as long as they performed all the tests for their papers."

Kagura chuckled, "That explains it."

A comfortable silence passed between the two before Eiji continued, "Like… Did you know the location of where the Lacrima is implanted matters?"

Kagura widened her eyes from his intriguing words, "You're joking."

Eiji shook his head, "Nope. Those scientists were serious, so they specifically implanted my Lacrima inside my spinal cord. It's able to send signals through the rest of my body much easier since it's next to my bloodstream and courses throughout my nervous system."

Kagura sheepishly rubbed her head, "Wow, now you're making me self conscious with my Gravity Lacrima implanted by Ivan."

Eiji laughed, "I've seen you master your Lacrima, I can say with certainty that it's a powerful one. Ivan was doing those experiments for too many years to not know the correct locations to plant them," He paused to reference another Fairy Tail Guild Member, "But someone like Laxus won't be able to harness every last drop of magic from it. He was Ivan's very first experiment, so he implanted it inside of Laxus's brain. Don't get me wrong, the Dragon Lacrima Laxus has is still crazy powerful because it's next to a vital organ, but he'll have trouble tapping into hidden power like what we're trying to do with the unison raid…"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but how come no one has ever heard of you before you started taking down Dark Guilds?"

Eiji rubbed his head, "If you read the paper's I was published in, the scientists were kind enough to redact my name from all the references. They agreed it was best to not draw too much attention to me so I could focus on performing well throughout their tests."

"Sounds to me like they tried to let you grow up normally."

"It was more so for the sake of preserving the integrity of their experiments… Which I have nothing against. They certainly meant no harm to me, but it was definitely a pragmatic and strictly professional relationship with no other strings attached."

Kagura sweetly smiled, "Well, for what it's worth... I think you had a super cool childhood. Maybe one day I can read over one of those papers they published on you."

Eiji reciprocated the smile, "Just let me know whenever you're free. Now that I'm grown up, I'm sure none of them would mind me lending you a copy to glance over."

Kagura crossed her arms and bundled her coverup, she began to shiver in the wind.

"C'mon," Eiji gestured to the mainland, "Let's get back to our rooms and rest up. We've got a few more days of training before the big day, and you'll need all the energy you can get if you want to nail this unison raid."

"Shh-tuck, Shh-tuck… Shh-tuck, Shh-tuck." The subtle sound of metallic grinding made as a train powered through the south side of Fiore. It recently started its approach toward Crocus.

Kagura's head was near the window of her cabin. The white ribbon fastened to her hairband was close enough to caress the glass. She kept her legs crossed in a confident manner, and Archenemy rested in her lap. Her mind was clearly distracted.

Eiji leaned forward from the booth across from her and narrowed his gaze, "Something's on your mind. You can't hide it from me. What's wrong?" He was the only one left in the cabin with her. Bisca, Max, and Warren had all wandered off to eat in the dining car.

Kagura sighed and tried to remain positive, "It's just… A lot of stuff has been on my mind recently."

"Is it about the Unison Raid? I know we weren't able to pull it off, but don't beat yourself up over it. It was a longshot to begin with. If there was anything more we could have done, you know I would have told you."

Kagura shook her head and managed a genuine smile, "No… It's not that."

"Is it the Grand Magic Games? I don't think you have to worry about them. We're going to blow the competition away."

Kagura shook her head again and sighed.

"Then… What is it?" Eiji asked as concern tinted his voice.

Kagura sat upright, uncrossed her legs, and leaned in toward the center of the cabin, "Eiji, how are we going to win this? We're supposed to end the Dragon King Festival by defeating Acnologia: forget about the Darkness. Acnologia is already a monster by himself, and if he finds Ivan before us… We lose…"

Eiji nodded his head and whispered, "I know…"

Kagura voiced more of her concerns, "You've seen Rebuke in person, and you know how strong she is… She didn't even come close to stopping him, so how does she expect Fairy Tail?"

Eiji was deep in thought. He momentarily recalled the events leading up to where they were now, and he lightly tapped his foot in place while speaking, "Look, remember Rebuke's story? The Origins of Dragon Slayer Magic? Even a monster like Acnologia has a weakness…"

"What could that be?"

"Sonya…" Eiji confidently stated, "The only human he ever loved."

Kagura immediately recognized the name, "I remember Sonya, but she died hundreds of years ago. It was from a Dragon attack during Acnologia's youth."

Eiji nodded his head, "Yes, she died, but her memory is still there. She's still part of our timeline; it's not like she never existed. If we can somehow threaten Acnologia with her memory, then we might just stand a chance of us coming out on top."

A comfortable silence passed before Kagura formed a response, "Any ideas come to mind?"

Eiji slowly nodded his head before glancing around the train cabin. After a few moments, he stood up, locked the sliding door separating the main aisle, and lowered all of the privacy shutters. He darted his head around the cabin one last time to ensure their conversation wouldn't carry over to adjacent rooms, "Sorry, I need to be sure no one is listening in on us," Eiji released a deep sigh and sat back down in the opposite booth, "Kagura, have you ever heard of…" He paused for dramatic effect, "Tartaros?"

Kagura shook her head, prompting Eiji to continue, "Between the Tenrou group taking down Grimoire Heart and the Magic Alliance taking down Raven Tail, Tartaros is the last remaining guild part of the Balam Alliance."

"'Balam Alliance?'" Kagura cocked her head at the phrase.

"The three most powerful Dark Guilds in Fiore," Eiji clarified.

"Ah, but what about all the smaller Dark Guilds you've been taking down?"

Eiji chuckled, "Smaller Dark Guilds aren't established enough to be part of the Balam Alliance, and most of them have been drying up over the past few years. Tartaros is the last one, but there's a reason why they're still around," A dark shadow loomed over Eiji's face as he lowered his gaze; it was as if all the serenity had been sucked out of the room, "Tartaros is a very sinister and evil guild. Their guild members partake in activities far worse than forced Lacrima implantations. Their Guild Master is strong enough to stand up to Ivan and the Darkness…"

Kagura's eyes widened in terror as she began to lose her composure, "Yuh- You can't be serious."

Eiji nodded his head, "They're currently stronger than Raven Tail when the Magic Alliance took them down five years ago, so if we adjust for the time difference and our training… I'd say they're still on par with the Magic Alliance."

"How on Earthland does this help us deal with Acnologia and the Dragon King Festival?"

Eiji sported a hopeful smile to reassure Kagura, "When a Dark Guild partakes in as many corrupt activities as Tartaros does, they've bound to have something we can use… Including the ability to resurrect the dead. That could be our ticket to Sonya."

Kagura covered her mouth in disbelief. If this was somehow true, she was well aware of what else resurrection could be used for: restoring her late brother's life.

Eiji immediately realized where Kagura's thoughts had drifted, and his face contorted into a cautious glare toward her. It wasn't out of spite or hate but out of care for her wellbeing, "Kagura, I know what you're thinking, and I need you to listen to me closely; resurrection is never something you want to use on loved ones. It destroys the mind and soul of those who you resurrect and those who share a relationship with them. That's exactly what happened to Master Hades after he spent years trying to resurrect Master Mavis."

"I know. I remember what Warrod told Natsu about Lumen Histoire," Kagura nodded her head and collected her composure, "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Eiji continued, "I'm only saying this because getting to Tartaros and finding a way to resurrect Sonya might be our only shot. Besides," Eiji sighed while leaning back into the booth, "I don't even know if Tartaros can perform resurrection. I'm only basing this off how powerful they are. But, even just a part of Sonya's memory would be good enough for us."

"Fair enough, but how are we going to deal with Ivan and the Darkness? I don't think they care about the memory of some girl," Kagura sarcastically chuckled, "Anything in store for them?"

Eiji rubbed his temples and sighed, "Well, it's like Master Natsu said the other day when we had dinner at your house; there's going to be a lot of powerful guilds at the Grand Magic Games. Maybe Ivan will get desperate and try to make a move. Once we arrive at my mother's home in Crocus, we can fill Master Natsu in on my ideas and see what he thinks."

Kagura nodded her head in understanding, and she didn't press further into the matter.

After a few moments, Eiji leaned in toward Kagura, locked gazes with her hazel eyes, and spoke, "There's one last thing you should know about Tartaros."

"Hmm?"

"Their guild members are all demons."

Kagura narrowed her gaze as a confident smirk crept upon her face, "Demons? That means-"

Eiji returned the smirk while flaring up his Holy Devil Slayer Magic, causing his eyes to glow a ghostly white as he finished Kagura's statement, "They're in for a world of pain when I get to them."

Scene Change - Crocus, a few hours later

Natsu and Kagura sat at the intricate table inside the massive bedroom. The window behind them had a panoramic view of a luscious courtyard and garden. This was the first time they had ever been in a house this expansive and luxurious. They patiently observed Eiji helping his mother carry a plate of tea and cookies for them to indulge in.

"Oh!" Natsu chirped while the evening snacks were laid out for their enjoyment, "Thank you so much, miss Morita!"

Eiji's mother bowed and tucked her aging hair behind her ear, "Of course, Master Natsu. It's an absolute honor to finally meet you. Eiji always has so many nice things to say about Fairy Tail!"

Natsu smiled while nibbling on a cookie, "We're very grateful for him to be part of our guild's family. We promise to not overstay our welcome."

"It's really no bother at all," Eiji's mother sweetly smiled while pouring tea from the fine, porcelain pot into teacups for them, "Eiji mentioned you have some important things to discuss, so I'll leave you to it. If you need me, I'll be checking in on the rest of your team to see how they're settling in!" She bowed one last time before excusing herself.

Natsu turned to Eiji and noticed he was also helping himself to a cup of tea, "C'mon, Eiji. Your mother is so sweet. You didn't have to rush her out so fast!"

Eiji meekly smiled and took a seat across from Natsu and Kagura, "I know, but it's important, and this might be our only chance to talk in privacy before the games. We can't risk anyone else finding out."

Natsu nodded his head in understanding and gestured for Eiji to continue. Over the next few moments, the Holy Devil Slayer recalled the concerns Kagura voiced to him on the train ride to Crocus and the potential solutions they managed to consider.

Eiji finished, allowing Master Natsu to provide his own thoughts on the matter, "Thank you for respecting me enough to bring this up with me before making any decisions."

Eiji nodded, "Of course. You're the Guild Master, so you make the shot calls. What do you think?"

Natsu sighed, "I think it's the only lead we have so far. I'll need to contact Rebuke and see what her thoughts are and if resurrecting Sonya could even help us against Acnologia, but if she's on board, we'll follow through with your plan."

"Great," Eiji sighed, "That wasn't hard at all."

Natsu nodded his head and continued, "You know more about Tartaros than me, so how should we confront them? The new Team Natsu has been training the past two years, or we could consider reforming the Magic Alliance. What do you recommend?"

Eiji grew uncomfortable. After a few moments, he narrowed his gaze and plainly spoke, "Neither. You should get into contact with their Guild Master and negotiate with him."

Eiji's advice caused Natsu and Kagura to bolt their eyes open in horror, "Are they that powerful?" The couple spoke in unison.

Eiji rubbed his head, "Kind of, but not in the way you think. In terms of brute strength, we should be able to stand up to them. I think the thought of my magic alone has kept them at bay since all their members are Demons, but that's not the issue, "He began to rap his fingers against the table, "Tartaros is a very sinister and evil Dark Guild, and an unpredictable one at that considering we know very little about them. If we make the first move, their guild members are strong enough to hold hostage over an entire city in minutes…"

Natsu ran his fingers through his hair in disbelief, "I guess that's a problem for us."

"Ummhmm," Eiji continued, "That's the scariest part about them. Don't forget that we're on par with them in terms of strength because my Devil Slayer Magic is used to slay Demons. If you strike a negotiation with them, you would have more leverage. You can lay your foot down and come out on top."

Natsu nodded his head in understanding, "Thank you, Eiji. I'll get into contact with Tartaros after the Grand Magic Games. As for Ivan and the Darkness, I'll be keeping a close eye for any suspicious activity during the games."

Eiji finished his cup of tea and looked out the window in front of him. The sun had fully set below the garden, and the remaining light was slowly dissipating into darkness. He slowly stood up and began to excuse himself, "In that case, I'll let you and Kagura get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Natsu flashed Eiji a warm smile, "Sleep well, Eiji."

Eiji returned the smile and slowly exited the bedroom. He closed the lavish double doors, leaving the couple in privacy.

Natsu turned to Kagura and sweetly smiled at her. He reached for her hand on the table and gently rubbed it, "I missed you."

Kagura gazed into her boyfriend's brown eyes and returned the smile with the same love and affection: a side of her she only showed Natsu. "I missed you, too…"

It was rare for them to share heartfelt moments considering how busy they were. Natsu continued to rub Kagura's hand, and after a few moments, he turned it over and rested it on top of his. He noticed her fingers adopted a more slender and feminine shape, but the palm of her hand was littered with noticeable calluses, and the skin was also tougher and more abrasive from the years she spent mastering Archenemy.

Kagura tucked some of her purple hair behind her ear with her free hand and released a soft chuckle, "My hands were never meant for modeling…"

Natsu flashed Kagura a reassuring smile, "I love them just the way they are," He paused to look around the room and distracted Kagura from becoming self conscious about her hands, "You know, Eiji's mother really has an amazing house. How about we change and hop into bed and enjoy this while we can?"

Kagura nodded in agreement, prompting them to stand up from the table and reach for their suitcases on the bed.

The duo watched as the other stripped in front of them and put their respective sleepwear on. Kagura opted for her traditional, modest nightgown Reedus gifted her many years ago whereas Natsu remained shirtless while wearing a pair of pants. They brushed their teeth inside of the bathroom while admiring the beautiful aesthetics.

After a few moments, Natsu turned off the lamp on the nightstand, and they climbed into bed one after another. Kagura rested her head on Natsu's bare chest and lifted her leg up to intertwine it with his.

Natsu spent the next few minutes attempting to fall asleep, forcing him to release a heavy sigh while gently whispering, "Kagura…? Are you awake?"

Kagura rustled her head and nodded, "Yeah, are the games on your mind?"

Natsu gently nodded his head, "I- I got a bad feeling about this..."

"What do you mean? We prepared, we trained, we're going to crush it," Kagura chuckled as she remembered Eiji made the same assumption as her on the train.

Natsu chuckled, "No, I'm not worried about our performance. I'm worried about the event. With all these powerful guilds in one place, something bad is bound to happen. I can't put my finger on it, but we're getting to a point where we're going to have to face something bigger than all of us… And… I'm not sure if we're ready."

Kagura massaged her boyfriend's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, "You said it yourself, every guild in Fiore is going to be attending this event. Isn't that all the more reason for something bad to NOT happen? I know you're worried about Ivan trying to pull something with the Darkness, but what on Earthland can they do by themselves? They couldn't possibly be in their right minds trying to pull something with so many eyes on the games."

"That's the problem… No one in their right minds would do anything, but Ivan clearly isn't in his right mind…" Natsu sighed, "But, I guess you're right…"

Kagura was now deep in thought, "You know…? Now that you mention it, back when he captured and tortured me, Ivan really was fully aware of what he was doing. It wasn't like he was corrupted by the Darkness. In fact, he spoke to me like I was an actual human. He wasn't degrading or indecent. He was completely psychotic, and he went about his goals the wrong way, but there was a man under that mask, and he was fully aware of what he was doing."

Natsu nodded his head, "Which is why if he survives all of this, I won't feel any remorse with whatever punishment the Magic Council dishes out to him. You told Mest that Ivan wanted a life of wealth and security, maybe he'll find it in the ground."

Thank you for your time!