[Time frame: Two days after the events of Dealer]
The atmosphere in Fairy Tail was drastically different. The happy, upbeat and usually obnoxiously loud attitudes had vanished, and were replaced by sullen and disheartened dispositions. Mirajane, Natsu, and Happy had it the most after the confrontation with Joker, which ended in their defeat. Mirajane's cheeks were puffed out after all the crying she had done her eyes red as a result. "W…Why…" She spoke out in a broken tone. "W-why couldn't I protect her…why couldn't I save her…?" Her mind immediately flashed back to the very moment Joker appeared in front of Lisanna, the helpless look on her little sister's face scarred her deeper than the previous time. "We lost her again…and I couldn't even avenge her…"
"They've gone too far…" Natsu spoke while clenching his fist tightly, his arm literally shaking from both anger and sadness.
"I-If I could've gotten there sooner…" Cynthia frowned heavily, putting some of the blame on herself for not being there like she should have been.
"It's not your fault..." Natsu immediately cut her off, though he didn't turn to face her at all. "We…we let our guard down for a second…" As he spoke, his flames ignited around his fist.
"Bastards…" Scoffed Laxus, his arms crossed as he leaned back against a support beam.
"M-Maybe she's still alive…" Cynthia stated with false up. She wanted to try to bring everyone up a bit, but she knew this would fail.
"I couldn't pick up her scent…." Natsu replied. Shortly after, his fist slammed into the table, breaking it; he needed an outlet, and that was all he could find.
"I thought so…neither could I…" Cynthia replied while letting out a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Third…" Said Mavis as she suddenly appeared sitting next to Makarov, her hands in her lap as she glanced at the floor, a frown on her face; it wasn't long before she herself bursts into tears; she absolutely hated what happened to Lisanna as much as everyone else did.
"First..." Makarov could tell that Mavis was there merely by the feeling she gave off. He sighed, nodding his head after. Upon hearing the spirit of the First Master cry, he let out a heavier sigh, unable to find the words to say to reassure her. It was the first time Makarov didn't have an idea of what to after.
"What happens now…?" Carla asked, looking to the other members of the guild. "What will we do now…?"
A few moments passed until Makarov finally spoke, his eyes glowing yellow. "We will find Dealer…and crush them…I will not forgive them for taking the life of one of my children."
"How do you suppose we go about doin' that, eh?" Gajeel asked, a brow raised in question. "We don't even know where the bastards are to begin with. They blindsided us, and escaped without a trace. None of our noses can pick them up."
"Especially after that nasty stink bomb…" Wendy commented, rubbing her nose to get out some of the lingering odor.
"We'll find a way…!" Levy said as she stood up on a table. She honestly felt useless, and everyone's attitudes were having a negative effect. She had to do something, so she decided to stand tall. "We're Fairy Tail remember…? We don't give up, no matter what may happen! Dealer may have won this time, but when did we start giving up?! We…we have to keep moving forward…" Now, the tears were forming from Levy's eyes as the sadness finally struck her. "L-Lisanna wouldn't want us to just mope around like this…we…we have to do something! She can't…she can't rest easy as long as Dealer is still around…!"
"…She's right…" Elfman spoke as he stood up, his expression different. He was sad, but he was angrier than he was sad. "I failed as a Man to protect my sister once again…" Elfman then flexed his arm, looking to it with a determined look. "But…I still have this arm…and I swear on my pride as a man that I will avenge Lisanna…"
"We're right behind you, Elfman…" Natsu replied as he stood up, his hair still creating a shade over his eyes. "Dealer…I hope you're ready…because Fairy Tail is going to pay you back for everything you've done…"
"Oi…" Gildarts said while taking a step forward. "Before we do anything, let's at least give the girl a proper funeral…" With a nod, Gildarts' hair then covered his eyes, a white aura escaping his body as the building began to rumble. "Because after that, I'm going to personally take care of this "Joker" himself…"
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Things now shift over to White Eclipse, who were know recovering from the battle with Dealer and the loss of a member; Heather. Luke had it the worst since he was the one who killed her with his own two hands. He sat outside the guild on the balcony, staring out into the snow, not uttering a word. Selene walked up, putting her arm around Luke's shoulders for a half hug before staring out into the snow with him. "Hey buddy…" Selene started while giving a gentle smile.
Luke didn't move as Selene hugged him, though he did acknowledge the gesture. "Heh…hey there…"
"I heard from Kairi and the drunken woman from Fairy Tail about what happened…" Selene started, and she could tell it was still a very touchy subject for the copy mage. "You did the right thing, you know…"
"I know…" Luke replied while looking down. "I set her free…though it's my fault she ended up like that in the first place…" Luke thought that second part to himself.
"I know it's hard, and I'm not going to tell you to try and move on, but just try to be happy, okay…? It's what she would've wanted…" Selene replied while patting Luke on the shoulder.
"Yeah…I'll try…" Luke nodded.
Downstairs in the main room, the other members were finally briefed about what happened while the others were trapped in Dealer. "And that's the long and short end of it…" Reve said.
"Sounds like you guys had a rough time in there…" Kuro said while rubbing the back of his head. "I'm glad to see every-…most everyone okay…"
"We weren't the only ones to lose someone on our side…" Takeru said. "Fairy Tail lost someone too…that Lisanna or whatever her name was. I saw it happen. Joker, their ace, is a monster…he has to be. He fought Salamander and Mirajane, defeating them both with only a few bruises."
"Joker isn't one to be taken lightly…" Saeko said in a serious tone from the couch of the loft. Everyone turned to her after she spoke.
"How do you know about him?" Takeru asked. "You weren't with us."
"The stars tell me a lot…" Saeko replied. "Though, they don't tell me who's going to die…if I knew that, I would've warned Heather and Lisanna…"
"Of course…" Takeru let out a slight sigh. "What the heck do we do now…?"
"There isn't much to do…" Kairi said while walking into the room. "They got what they wanted from all of us…they won."
"I refuse to accept this as a loss." Takeru quickly replied.
"You can't call this a win, either," Adamantine said as he walked into the room, feasting on a human heart. It was better for no one to ask about it.
"Adamantine…good to see you again…" Reve nodded towards the dragon before remembering something. "I haven't seen Skye since we've returned. Where is she?"
"Mister Reve…!" The young Almaz shouted while stumbling into White Eclipse just behind Adam, panting heavily.
"Almaz?" Reve raised a brow at the young child's haste. "What's up…?"
"G-Get everyone and look outside! Hurry!" Almaz pointed to the door.
"What…?" Reve merely shook his head before calling out to everyone inside. "Everyone, get up and get outside!"
"More training…?" Cygnus groaned as he walked outside. "But we just got back…"
"Stop complaining and get moving…" Taya said while pushing Cygnus out the front door.
"I wonder what's happening…" Aira asked as she walked outside. Her question was soon answered as a lacrima screen appeared in the sky. Multiple lacrima screens appeared all over Fiore, actually.
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[Flashback.]
Skye was bound, looking up at Siegrain and the Council captains. She was caught by them. "..."
"You're in a lot of trouble." Kemuri stated while crossing his arms. "We've got a lot of counts of murder with your name on it. That goes on top of the theft as well. You've racked up quite the itinerary, haven't you?"
"I don't..." Skye wanted to say she didn't remember, but that answer wasn't going to fly anymore. Because it was her and she knew it. She didn't remember the action, but there was blood on her hands.
"And what's more..." Odin spoke. "You are a member of White Eclipse. That means your entire guild will be arrested for harboring a criminal."
This made Skye's eyes widen. They were cutting right to the chase and she didn't like it. "NO! Please, don't do anything to them! They haven't done anything! They don't even know!" Skye objected, frantically shaking her head. "Please don't...!"
"They're criminals! Ignorantly committing a crime is no different than consciously committing one!" Odin exclaimed.
"..." Doranbolt remained silent.
"Hold on now." Siegrain approached with his arms behind his back. "She may be a criminal, but I'm a generous man. Arresting that entire guild would cause problems. They'd fight back, just as Fairy Tail would."
"What are you suggesting then, Siegrain-sama?" Correll looked to Siegrain, confused. Skye looked at the Chairman with intense tripidation.
"Do you want to make a deal, Skye Ravenwood?" Siegrain knelt down. "You accept the worst punishment possible...and provided White Eclipse doesn't attempt anything stupid, I'll let them go. If they're innocent as you claim, there's no reason to worry. So...what do you say?"
"I..." Skye gulped. She felt like she was making a deal with the devil. But when it came to her family...
[End Flashback.]
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Siegrain's face appeared on the screens, and he was grinning widely. "Hello, people of Fiore!"
"Siegrain…?" From Fairy Tail, Erza raised a brow and crossed her arms as Siegrain made his announcement.
"Oi, oi…what's going on now…?" Laxus stood beside Erza, glancing up at the lacrima screen. "Oh, it's that guy again…"
In a far off place, Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy too caught a lacrima screen, now glancing up at it, awaiting the all mighty Council Chairman to begin speaking. "Siegrain…" Jellal whispered to himself.
"When I first took office, I said I was going to change Fiore into a better and much safer place." The lacrima screen zooned out, showing Siegrain's body as he started to walk. "And do you all remember how I said I was going to go about doing such a thing?" Siegrain walked over to a chair that was facing away from the lacrima, his hand placed on the arm of it. "Allow me to remind you." Siegrain turned the chair around, revealing a bruised, bloodied, and strapped down Skye Ravenwood.
"..." Skye didn't say a word. She wasn't even conscious, it seemed.
"SKYE!?" Reve and Kairi shouted in unison.
"H-Hey, wait!" Cynthia's eyes widened as she began to shake her head. "W-what does he think he's doing!?"
"Fiore, I present you with the assassin that has plagued the country for months, Skye Ravenwood!" Siegrain said as his voice literally echoed through the country of Fiore. "I have strapped her to this special machine, you see. When the switch is flipped, it will send a surge of magical energy through this young girl's body, forcing her to requip into her trusted blade, Claymore. After this, I will personally execute this girl and fulfill the promise I made months ago."
"He can't do that…!" Lucy shouted. "She helped during the Tartaros affair and when the angels attacked…! Doesn't he realize this!?"
"I don't think he cares…" Gajeel stated.
"We have to go do something!" Kairi shouted, but she was held back by Reve. "Let me go!"
"Kairi, don't…" Reve ordered. "If you go it'll just make things worse for everyone else…"
"Don't you care that Skye's about to die!?" Kairi questioned, pulling her arm away from Reve.
"I do…!" Reve replied, struggling to find the right words. He didn't want Skye to die, but he didn't want anyone else in White Eclipse to suffer the same fate.
"We have to do something…!" Saeko pleaded.
"Can I pull the switch!?" Odin asked with obvious excitement.
"He's gonna let ME pull the switch, I was the one who captured her, after all." Correll replied to Odin with a smug grin.
"It doesn't matter who pulls the switch." Kemuri stated, arms crossed. "What matters is that this criminal is brought to justice. Fiore needs to understand that the Magic Council isn't something to trifle with. When we catch you...you will recieve your due punishment."
"I think Siegrain-sama should pull the switch…" Layanna commented, though nobody heard her. She turned to Rizu, the Council Warden who had blue hair and yellow eyes. "What do you think, Rizu-san…?"
"Hm…?" Rizu turned to Layanna before giving a shrug. "This is Siegrain's choice. I don't care who pulls the switch."
"Justice will be served…" Lahar said to the other captains. "Let Siegrain handle this."
"Now then…" Siegrain walked over to the switch, and with a sadistic grin, he pulled it. In that instant, an electric surge flew through the chair and into Skye, who let out a scream of pain as her magic began to rise. Only moments later did her blade, Claymore, appeared on the ground next to her. Siegrain pulled the switch once more to stop the shock, and walked over to the blade, picking it up and examining it. "Oh…what a fine blade we have here…"
"Siegrain don't you do it…" Kairi growled angrily under her breath, her magic power leaking out, resulting in a miniature tremor in the northern mountains.
Without a word, Siegrain turned to Skye, his sadistic vintage growing. He pulled the sword back and stabbed Skye directly in the chest. Her eyes widened as the blade plunged through her body. Her body was in a state of shock for a few moments before…she faced the lacrima screen and smiled. Her worries were now gone…she didn't have to worry about her family being in danger because of her actions. Skye's eyes slowly closed before she fell into an eternal rest. Siegrain pulled the now bloodied blade out of Skye's chest, bringing it up to his face with a grin. "I told you, Fiore. I swore I would make this country a saver place. And now, I have." After that, the lacrima screens went off.
"SKYE!" Kairi screamed before launching forward, making a beeline straight for Era, however Adam stopped her by gripping her arm, his grip tight. "Let me go, Adam!"
"Did you not hear Reve…?" Adam asked. In all honesty, he was devastated just as much as Kairi was, but he refused to have anyone around see him like that.
"I don't care! I'm going!" Kairi yelled at the dragon, who shrugged and released his grip. Now, Kairi entered her Uriel Takeover and started to fly…until a hand hit the back of her neck, causing her to go unconscious instantly, exiting her takeover and lying in the snow.
Sidney stood over Kairi while rolling his wrist. "Don't be stupid…she died so we wouldn't suffer the same fate…"
"Sidney…good to see you again…" Waiston merely said with a nod.
"..." Adam stood in the corner of the room, his arm clenched tight. He didn't say anything, but...
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"Oh! Oohohoho!" Hyde had himself a laugh at Siegrain's show. "Brilliant, brilliant, Siegrain Truly an amazing spectacle!"
"So, there are three of them total…" Knightwalker said while sharpening her spear. "Out of all of them, I like that one the best." A slow smirk curled onto Knightwalker's lips. "Siegrain, was it?"
"Indeed…" Aiden gave a nod, his arms crossed behind his back. "I found that little show amusing…" Aiden then turned to Hyde. "Hyde, are you prepared?"
"Unfortunately, I am not…" Hyde replied while tilting his top hat. "My production needs some more revision. And, it appears the actors are not in condition to act out this script…"
"Oh, yes…Fairy Tail lost a person a few days ago, if I'm correct…" Aiden gave a shrug after. "I don't see what their wellbeing has to do with your plans."
"Oh, my dear friend Aiden…" Hyde chuckled for a few moments. "The actors won't be invested enough in their current mood…I want to wait until they are back to how they normally are, because then is where their emotions will show, and the play will begin…"
"…I missed all of that." Knightwalker blinked, completely confused.
"As did I…" Aiden replied before shaking his head. "Doesn't matter…Hyde is a genius in his "scripts" so we will see his meaning soon enough, I hope."
"Yes…" Hyde nodded. "In fact, everything should be going smoothly soon…until then, I'll keep revising…and in fact, I already have an inkling of what I CAN do right now…Keheheh…"
