Chapter 18: What Lurks in the Shadows

"I can't believe that Fairy Tail wizard just did that."

"Wasn't he the guy who demolished Raven Tail in the earlier games?"

"I know that Sabretooth mage was at fault here, but the guy with the orange hair went overboard."

"That Minerva chick deserved it."

"Still, gutting someone on live coverage is kind of too much even if Sabretooth's mistress deserved it."

"For real, for real."

Makarov could hear the audience murmurs and whispers with each other. Although their voices may be inaudible, he had a good idea of what they discussed. Looking at the screen that showed Ichigo walking away from a stunned Erza, the old Wizard Saint couldn't help but ponder over what had just occurred. Did Minerva's actions warrant retribution? Yes. Did Ichigo go too far? Sadly, it was also a yes. The fact that the reaper stabbed Minerva without any form of remorse was excessive enough, but to actually try and kill her?

The old mage glanced towards his godmother. Mavis herself was no stranger to brutality. She did participate in the Trade Wars long ago, acting as a strategist for the side she allied with. Still, death and destruction were abhorrent in her eyes, and what the Soul Reaper did was unwarranted.

"Masters."

The first and third guildmaster's contemplation was cut short when Jet called their attention, looking somewhat disturbed.

"What is it, Jet?" Makarov questioned.

"You need to talk to Ichigo," the speedster stated. "I know that Minerva got what she deserved, but he went too far."

"Jet's right, master," Droy interjected. He stopped eating the bucket of fried chicken to voice out his opinion. "Ichigo tried to kill her."

Makarov let out a tired sigh. "While Minerva's actions do warrant retaliation, I do believe that attempting to kill her in this instance was unnecessary."

"What do you mean 'this instance'?"

"It's true that if possible, taking a life should be avoided. That said, there are certain times when it is the only option left for us. Such was the case with my son, Ivan."

"Laxus' father?" Jet asked for clarification.

"Yes." The wizened mage looked down to his feet; memories of his conversation with Ichigo and later, his son came back at him. "Ivan wanted something from the guild that could put everyone in jeopardy if he got his hands on it."

Mavis' head quickly snapped towards her godson in surprise. She knew what Makarov was referring to.

"Because of that, I labeled him as an enemy of Fairy Tail." Makarov paused, unsure how his following words would affect the mages listening. "…And I gave Ichigo permission to eliminate him if the need arises."

The Fairy Tail mages were left speechless at Makarov's revelation. This was something they did not expect from the old man.

"Master!" Fried cried in astonishment. "You can't just throw away the life of your son! Even if he tried to harm us, it doesn't mean that death is the solution."

"I never said that it was the only solution, Freed," the third master clarified. "I only meant that as a last resort."

"Even so," Bixlow countered. "That's your own flesh and blood!"

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few," Mavis said, garnering the attention of those arguing. "…Especially if those few individuals' needs are selfish and will put everyone else in harm's way. I don't like killing as much as you do, and the experiences I had from my participation in the Trade Wars still haunt me to this day, but there are specific instances where taking a life is the only choice." As she said that, her eyes remained focused on the figure of the Soul Reaper. "Still, what Ichigo did was out of line. Minerva may have deserved punishment, but killing her in front of thousands of people would put into question his mentality. It's a good thing that he changed his mind in the last second."

"He's so vicious," Cana could only mutter in astonishment. While she was no stranger to sadism and brutality thanks to her encounter with Grimoire Heart, even she could admit that Ichigo was beyond that. He was determined, ruthless, and unrelenting when it came to his enemies, a stark contrast to the kind and compassionate father, husband, and guildmate they've all come to know. The card mage glanced at the rusty-haired woman next to her and noticed she was silent. "Orihime," she called, "You haven't said anything."

The Fullbringer didn't break her gaze on the screen above. "That's because I don't have to justify what Ichigo has done," she stated without hesitation.

It caught everyone by surprise. Orihime won't condone the actions of her husband?

"I'm not saying that Ichigo's actions are justified. But then again, that's just one side of the story you're seeing."

"What do you mean?"

"To be honest, only he can answer that," the healer replied. "I know my husband. He doesn't do anything unless there's a reason behind it, and he will never strike first unless provoked." The matriarch of the Kurosaki family finally looked at her guildmates with an understanding expression. "I know that what Ichigo did may not reflect the principles this guild has stood for, but I trust him and the reason he'll give."

Makarov did trust the Fullbringer's words. Ichigo will never be the instigator for any conflict for all that he is. He is a man who would instead enjoy life with his family than fight, only taking action when someone close to him is in danger.

"Now that I think about it, they were plunged into two full-scale wars and lost so much." For what it's worth, the third master never considered their experiences for their behavior. "Orihime?"

"Yes?"

"How old were you when you and Ichigo fought in wars?"

"Wars!?" The Fairy Tail mages listening in were astonished.

"Fifteen when we fought in the Winter War and seventeen during the Millenium Blood Wars," Orihime answered.

"They were basically kids!" The Fairy Tail mages make a living by doing quests that frequently involve fighting. Even then, they are given a chance to pick the missions they'll take. Conflicts between guilds do happen every now and then, but they are relatively small in scale. So, imagine their shock when they found out Ichigo and Orihime participated in two wars at such a young age.

"And the last war killed everyone that you love, save for your husband and his sisters?" Makarov added.

Orihime only replied with a nod.

The diminutive mage sighed, finally understanding what drives the ferocity of the family patriarch. "I think I finally see the reason behind the extremity in his actions." Makarov then glanced at his predecessor and asked, "Have you, first master?"

"I do." Mavis then looked to Orihime, whose gaze returned to the image of her husband. "War changes people," she began explaining. "No Matter which side you belong to, there will always be losses. Those losses…it changes us. It makes us realize the importance of those we have, and when it is taken away, we do everything in our power to protect those we gain and what little it is we have left."

"Ichigo, even to this day, still blames himself for the deaths of all our friends and family," Orihime revealed. "Despite all the time here in Earthland, he still grieves for everyone we lost. He fought and bled and sacrificed so much, but it wasn't enough in the end. To him, he failed, and to this day, that failure still lingers within him. Time heals wounds, not scars, and it's those scars that shaped him into the person he is now." The Fullbringer glanced at her guildmates. Her eyes expressed determination and genuineness, rare for the otherwise bubbly and motherly matriarch. "To Ichigo, protecting is all about sacrifice, and he's willing to sacrifice himself to protect those dear to him. Even if it means being viewed as a monster."

After expressing herself, Orihime watched the games again, leaving her guildmates and the two masters silent. It seemed that there was more behind the Kurosaki patriarch's drastic actions than meets the eye. It is fuelled by loss and the desire to never experience it again. They could now better understand Ichigo's reasons. They may still not agree with his methods, but what Orihime revealed has shed light on the weight the reaper has been carrying to this day.

The fighting within the city is nearing its end. Only a few mages were standing, desperately trying their best to snatch points and at least rise in the rankings. However, they knew that attaining the top spot would be a fruitless endeavor thanks to the presence of Ichigo Kurosaki.

The pressure, menacing and dreadful, crushed the hopes of the various wizards competing for the number one ranking. None of them would dare fight such a godly entity and expect to win. Heaven forbid the dual-wielding man would hunt them down to finally end this tournament and give Fairy Tail the victory.

"I can't believe Jura was defeated."

Lyon stood there, surprised by the events that occurred just now. Their strongest mage, Jura Neeks, a Wizard Saint, was defeated relatively quickly by the mysterious newcomer from Fairy Tail. That same individual also beat the best mages from the other guilds and their ace.

"Lyon."

The ice mage got out of his daze and looked to his guildmate, the god slayer Chelia Blendy. "What is it, Chelia?"

There was apprehension in the pinkette's eyes. That power Chelia felt earlier reminded her of that strange force that Wendy emanated when the blue-haired dragon slayer wore that peculiar mask. Only this energy was more powerful, more oppressive, and to her horror, more malicious. It was a power even the gods feared, and right now, there was this nagging feeling that she was about to experience it again.

"That energy form earlier," the god slayer hesitantly voiced, "…I think we need to get out of here."

Lyon was surprised. Chelia was never a person who would run away from a fight. However, the fear in her eyes says it all. Even he felt the mysterious power in the atmosphere, and he knew for sure that whoever held such power was the reason behind Jura's defeat. That said, Lamia Scale wasn't known to back down from a fight, and that's exactly how he replied to his partner.

"No, Chelia," Lyon replied with conviction. "I'm not giving up unless they beat me into submission."

"Are you insane!?" Chelia cried in surprise. "Lyon, we need to leave. NOW!"

"What's wrong, Chelia?" the ice mage questioned. "What are you so afraid of?"

"That power we felt earlier was just like Wendy's when she put on that weird mask during our fight. The difference is that this power hanging in the air is suffocating." It was indeed suffocating. Chelia's affinity to the atmosphere is what compounded this sensation. She doesn't like it. It felt so poisonous, so wrong, so overwhelming…

…So evil.

"WE NEED TO GO!" Chelia insisted in fear and desperation. "WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S RELEASING THIS ENERGY ISN'T ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, AND I'M NOT PLANNING TO FIND OUT!"

Chelia was terrified. Lyon could see it in the god slayer's eyes, and he's never seen her this afraid before. The sight almost made him reconsider continuing the already fruitless fight. That is until he and the pinkette saw a burst of red and blue energy in the sky.

Ichigo walked past Erza, who was still stiff from the warning. The reaper approached the remnants of Kagura's sword and picked up the pieces, hiding them within what remains of his torn garment. He then reached into his shihakushō and took out two small chips with patches of ink on the center. Ichigo threw it to his side, the artifacts releasing their inky contents, and began drawing strange symbols on his outstretched arm as they hovered.

Erza saw this and grew curious. "What are you doing?"

"Alerting everyone on the team," Ichigo answered.

"What for?" the redhead probed further.

"So they don't get caught in the blast radius."

"Blast radius!?" The knight wondered what her teammate was planning. "What are you planning to do?"

Ichigo didn't hesitate to answer. "I'm going to end this tournament by out taking all the remaining mages on the opposing teams in one massive attack."

"But our teammates?" Erza questioned. "They'll be caught in the attack."

"That's why I'll be contacting them with this." The reply emphasized the strange patterns being drawn on his arm. He then began speaking what could be discerned as the incantation. "Silken net of black and white. Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowning sash; footprints, distant thunder, pointed peaks, revolving grounds, nightly prostrations, a sea of clouds, the pale ranks of troops; complete the grand circle and surpass the heavens. Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra."

A glowing rectangular box emerged from Ichigo's outstretched hand. It glowed a bright white light as its edges began producing black root-like appendages in the air. The reaper placed his hand in the rectangle's center and linked the spell with the thoughts of his teammates.

"Gajeel. Laxus. Grey. Do you hear me?" Ichigo called through the Kidō.

Laxus was walking along the battle-torn streets of Crocus. He had no idea what had happened to his other guildmates except that they managed to take out a good number of opposing mages, giving them the current lead of 68 points. That said, the grandson of Makarov can't help but shiver at the dark energy that wafted the battlefield earlier. Ichigo was the source; he knew that. Only Hades' foul power came close to Ichigo's murderous might, and even then, the dark master's strength is barely a fraction of the reaper's true potential.

"Gajeel. Laxus. Grey. Do you hear me?"

The lightning mage turned around in surprise. Laxus swore he just heard Ichigo's voice. "He has telepathic magic now?"

"If you're hearing this, then listen closely," the voice of the Soul Reaper instructed in his head. "This is a one-way communication Kidō spell. I want all of you to follow my instructions. We're going to end this tournament with a bang."

"One-way communication, huh," Gray muttered after hearing Ichigo's disembodied voice in his head. "That means we can't reply to him even if we try."

"I want all of you to move towards the stadium. It's the farthest you can get that you won't get caught in the blast zone."

"Wait, blast zone!?" the raven-haired ice wizard shouted in bafflement after registering the last word.

Gajeel, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically listening to the command of the reaper. He had a massive smirk plastered on his face when Ichigo mentioned winning the tournament with a bang. What better way to end everything than doing it Fairy Tail style with added collateral damage!

"I like this guy."

"I'm going to unleash one of my most powerful attacks where most of the battles were concentrated. I'll make it strong enough to overwhelm any mages still standing in the area and not leave any lasting damage to that part of the city. So, I suggest getting the heck out of there because I really don't like committing friendly fire."

Gajeel laughed heartily before running towards the direction Ichigo stated. "I'm sure glad as hell that we're on the same team."

After dispelling the Kidō, Ichigo promptly looked to Erza and told her, "It's time you get going too. I wouldn't want to accidentally take you out with my attack."

"Right," Erza answered with a nod. "We'll be waiting for you near the stadium." With that, the redhead hurried to the stadium to meet up with the others.

Looking at the fading image of the Titania, Ichigo can't help but admire Erza's steadfast principles. She reminded him so much of himself when he was younger. Sadly, the redhead had not suffered the same kind of loss he had. If push comes to shove, the reaper doubts if she will be able to do what's necessary.

Sometimes, what's necessary doesn't have to be correct. Like Ichigo earlier, sacrifice and protection can't be separated. To keep the ones you love safe, you have to give up a piece of yourself. He's already given up so much, and he's willing to give up more so that everyone else won't have to.

"Don't change, Erza," Ichigo whispered. "You and the rest of the guild don't have to compromise a part of yourselves." He then gazed at Domus Flau, where the rest of his guildmates watched the games. "I'll do that for all of you."

The hybrid bent his knees as he peered at the sky. He gripped his two swords as energies swirled around where he stood. And in an instant, Ichigo shot up into the air with such speed that his ascension shattered the sky. The winds brushed past his skin as he soared higher into the atmosphere. Finally, he stopped once he reached the desired height.

The reaper looked down and assessed the damage he had caused. Ichigo had to admit he may have gone a little bit overboard when he fired that Cero Gigantes and that other attack he used to finally beat Sting. Still, the event organizers knew that extensive damage was bound to happen, so they couldn't blame him if he used one of his more powerful skills.

"He can fly!?"

That was just one of the surprises Chapati Lola had to find out about the reaper. With all the things he's witnessed, he was starting to think that this orange-haired swordsman from Fairy Tail was not a mage.

"I…don't know," Yajima answered, still lost in trying to comprehend the hybrid. Being a former member of Fairy Tail, he has never seen someone in the guild's history have so much power and overwhelm five powerful mages at once.

"What do you think he's going to do?" Mato, the tournament's mascot, asked the other two commentators.

"We have no idea," was all Yajima and Chapati could say.

Their musing was interrupted when bursts of energy erupted from the two blades of the Soul Reaper. A dark, ominous black power laced with red whirled around the larger blade while warm, bluish-white energies emanated from the other.

"Well…" Mato began as a sense of dread washed over him, "Whatever it is he's planning, I hope there will still be a city left after this."

Ichigo could feel the power exuding his body and merging with his twin swords. He raised the blades and crossed them with one another, the forces coalescing and the vibrant colors melding into a fierce violet hue. This technique, if used with full power, can distort space. He wasn't reckless as he used to be, so he dialed down the potency of the attack just enough to finally end this tournament in one fell swoop.

"Getsuga…"

The reishi surrounding the two blades roared louder.

"…Jūjishō!"

The death god swung his weapons down, unleashing the gathered forces into two condensed arcs that formed into the shape of a cross. The mighty surge of spiritual energy descended onto the city, illuminating the ravaged area beneath it in a blinding purple light.

The mages below could only watch in futility as the cross-shaped blast of power fell upon them. It was over. There was no use prolonging the fight anymore, so they simply watched the violent crescent, waiting for their inevitable defeat.

Blinding.

It was one word. So simple yet so apt that it was the collective thought of everyone viewing what had just transpired. The cross-like blast of power was more intense than the already powerful crimson hollow flash from earlier. It was frightening.

For the members of Fairy Tail, no words could come out to describe the raw, unbridled power the Soul Reaper displayed. They've felt firsthand the pressure Ichigo could release willingly and knew that there was more tucked away by the reaper. However, they didn't expect this kind of power. It put into question just how much more was Ichigo holding back. Makarov and a few chosen mages know that a large portion of the Kurosaki head's true strength is hidden away and only released in Bankai. The old guildmaster revealed this earlier on to Mavis, making them shiver. If this is how strong Ichigo is in his Shikāi, then what kind of being is he when he unleashes all of his power?

As the purple light died down, it revealed the extent of the damage the Getsuga Jūjishō left. Suffice to say, there was barely anything. All of it was gone if any building was left standing before regardless of damage. In its place was a large, almost city-wide crater filled with rubble, scorched earth, and the remaining mages' unconscious, heavily injured bodies.

Ichigo surveyed the area from a bird's eye view. He tried to sense if there were still any active mages through his spiritual sense and Pesquisa. There were none. All participating wizards except Fairy Tail have been defeated. It's done. He dispelled his hollow mask with a sigh and quickly flew towards the Domus Flau to meet up with the rest.

"My fucking god!"

Gajeel voiced out his surprise with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. The same expression could be seen on Gray. As for Laxus and Erza, a realization just dawned upon them. They just witnessed an attack that could put the one Acnologia used on them to shame. Unlike the dragon roar of the apocalyptic beast, fired with full power and killing intent, Ichigo's latest attack was precise and controlled, yet it still brought the same power level.

"And he said he still had so much power sealed away," the blonde thunder mage thought as he recalled the conversation they had months ago. "Just how powerful are you, Ichigo Kurosaki?"

Suddenly, Erza saw a black figure speeding in their direction. It didn't take them long to figure out who it was. With a deafening crash, Ichigo landed a few feet in front of the wizards. She and the others quickly rushed to the reaper to determine his condition. Upon closer inspection, Ichigo was fine. He didn't have any kind of injury, which was thanks to his robust defenses, and if there were any wounds at all, it must've healed rapidly.

"Good call on getting us here near the stadium," Gray remarked, thanking the orange-haired swordsman for giving the heads up.

"Yeah," Gajeel agreed. "Who knows what would've happened if we got caught in it anyway?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know," Ichigo jokingly answered.

"How did you manage to contact us anyway?" Laxus inquired, curious about the communication spell used.

It was Erza who answered. "I think he called it Tenteikūra."

"A Kidō spell that's used during large-scale battles," the reaper clarified. "Is everyone here?"

"Yes," Titania Erza answered. "Everyone is here. Some of us do have injuries, but it's nothing major."

"That's good."

They stood there for a couple of minutes, looking at the distance. All those mages…defeated and unable to fight back. All the struggle, mockery, misfortune, and adversity they experienced since the first day of the games finally paid off. They've done it.

They've won.

"It's finally over," Gray breathed in relief.

"It's not."

Everyone looked towards Ichigo after he said those two words. "How so?" Laxus questioned.

"It's not over unless my daughter and Lucy are with us and safe," the reaper voiced. The trademark scowl on his face showed displeasure despite their victory.

"But it increases our chances of getting them back, right?" Gajeel interjected.

"Remember that this victory would only grant us an audience with the king, not the freedom of Yukino and Lucy."

"So, it's still up to the king of Fiore if he'll release them. Is that right?" Erza inquired, not liking where this was going.

"Yes," Ichigo answered. Although this victory increased the likelihood of getting their two captive guildmembers, it doesn't guarantee that the king will just gladly hand them over. It was that reason why he was unconsciously releasing his spiritual pressure. He didn't like it. He didn't like the uncertainty of this arrangement.

This act didn't go unnoticed by the wizards. They could feel the weight of Ichigo's power, and it was unsettling.

"I don't care if he's the king," Ichigo expressed his discontent. "If he doesn't give us back Yukino and Lucy, there'll be hell to pay." He started to walk away, knowing that it was a waiting game for now. However, he glanced at his teammates for a quick moment and said, "I'll tear the heavens apart if it means getting my daughter back."

Natsu was many things.

Brash. Overconfident. Impulsive.

He was all of these. However, if there was one thing that Natsu was known for, then it was being protective. Friends and family; the dragon slayer will do anything to protect all of them. Having been abandoned by his surrogate father, Igneel, and almost losing his best friend, Lisanna, the dragon slayer knew what loss does to people and the hollow feeling it leaves in your heart. Right now, what he has in his hands could be the most precious person he has ever had.

Madeline Dragneel, his own flesh, and blood, whom he shares with Lisanna. A girl who risked disrupting history to prevent a tragedy from happening. Most of all, she came back to see her parents again. Knowing that Madeline went through so much after their deaths made Natsu determined to protect her and her mother with everything he had. He'll be damned if anything happens to her daughter and Lisanna.

Karin and Yuzu suddenly stopped and stared wide-eyed. The mages saw their reactions and grew concerned. There aren't many things that can make the siblings uneasy. What surprised them, though, was that even Madeline was on edge.

"What is it, guys?" Happy asked the three restless individuals while hovering over Natsu and Lisanna.

"Ichigo just used his hollow mask," Karin answered in dread.

"Hollow mask!?" The mages yelled in shock.

"There are only two things that can make Ichigo use his mask," Yuzu started as a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. "Either he wants to overwhelm an enemy, or he wants to prove a point."

"Which do you think is it?"

The twins looked at each other. Aside from his wife, they knew their brother more than anyone. Ichigo was never the type of person to do things without reason. Knowing the caliber of participants and the attitude of some of them, the twins eventually came to a conclusion.

"Both," Karin and Yuzu said at the same time.

"Ichigo Kurosaki…is here?"

All heads turned to the child being carried by Natsu.

"Maddie?" Mira asked her niece.

"I can't believe it," Madeline whispered. "Ichigo Kurosaki is here. The Transcendent is in this timeline."

"Transcendent?" everyone except the twins asked in confusion.

"There's hope for all of us," the time traveler declared. "My mission will now have a chance to succeed."

"Maddie," Carla flew over to the child and asked, "Why did you call Ichigo The Transcendent?"

There was this eagerness in Madeline's face. The daughter of Natsu and Lisanna knew who Ichigo was in her own timeline, and she had an idea of how powerful the reaper indeed was. "Oh! That's because…."

"Madeline."

The pink-haired child turned to Yuzu, giving her a stern look. The Quincy shook her head and said, "Not yet."

"If you know the full extent of our brother's powers, then now is not the time," Karin added, stressing their intent.

"Oh. I'm sorry," Madeline bashfully apologized.

"That's alright." Yuzu's steely look lightened into a sympathetic smile. "There are just some things not meant to be revealed."

"I understand," the girl mumbled before burying her face in the crook of her father's neck.

"That wasn't very nice, you know," said Lisanna, not liking how Yuzu spoke to Madeline.

"It had to be done, Lisanna," the younger twin reasoned. "The timeline is already fragile as it is. Any more details about the future might leave a negative effect on the fabric of reality."

"But that's not the only reason, is it?"

It was Lucy who brought up the question. She knew when someone was dodging the question, and it was best to confront it sooner.

"This isn't just concerning about the future but also your brother, right?" the blonde mage probed. "I already know Ichigo's very powerful. He told us everything three months ago, so Mira and I have a good idea of just how strong he is. That said, the way you stopped Madeline from revealing anything means that there's more to it than that, which means he's more powerful than he's letting on."

"I forgot just how perceptive you are, Lucy." Karin chuckled. "Fine, I can give you one word to describe Ichigo at full power without the restrictions and seals we placed upon ourselves."

"Seals!?"

"Cataclysmic," the female reaper described. "If there was one word that would describe Ichigo at his fullest, it would be cataclysmic."

"And with all that power comes fear and unwanted attention," Yuzu added. "There was a reason why we secluded ourselves for fifteen years. Could you imagine how the people, especially the Magic Council, would react if they found out about our existence and the true extent of our capabilities? They already have their hands full with Acnologia flying around the continent, not to mention the revelation of Zeref still being alive."

"And now a being just as strong, if not stronger than Zeref and Acnologia just made himself known in the Grand Magic Games," Karin stated further. "The Magic Council will do anything to make sure our brother is put on a leash. If I know one thing about people in power, they don't like others having more power. What do you think would happen if word got out that a god of death was living among you?"

"Mass confusion, civil unrest, not to mention the Magic Council viewing Ichigo as a national threat much like the Black Wizard and the Dragon of the Apocalypse." Panther Lily answered for everyone. As a former military officer and close to the Edolas hierarchy, he knew how a government would respond to such individuals.

"But they wouldn't do that!" Wendy yelled. "Ichigo isn't a bad person. Why would they consider him a threat?"

"Because like Zeref and Acnologia, Ichigo is too powerful to be let loose without some form of control," Lucy answered the young dragon slayer. She finally realized the real reason why the family had secluded themselves for so long and why they did not want to disclose the true power of Ichigo. However, there was still one thing she didn't understand. "Why then would Ichigo risk exposing himself to the world if he knew the Magic Council would be breathing down his neck?"

"Because the time for hiding is over," Yuzu replied. "He knew the risks, and so did we. Still, like any intelligent warrior, always have an ace up your sleeve."

"Which means that what you saw earlier in the dungeons was cute compared to what we could actually do," Karin added with agrin.

With everything the wizards have seen, it was no surprise that the twins could do more. This fact can also extend to the rest of the Kurosaki family. Honestly, there was more to this family than meets the eye, even if they witnessed most of it already.

"THERE THEY ARE!"

The prison breakers turned to the origin of the shouts only to see a legion of knights swarming towards them. Their swords and armor clanged as they charged at the mages. Natsu and the rest stood ready for an inevitable confrontation as the army men surrounded them.

"By order of Princess Hisui E. Fiore, you are now under arrest!" the lead knight declared.

"Yeah. Not a chance, ugly," Natsu spat at the officer.

"If that's the case," the leading knight then turned to his troops, "Men! Arrest these…." He didn't finish when a swift kick sent him tumbling towards some of his soldiers.

The look of surprise on everyone's faces when the man seemingly flew into the other soldiers. Even the mages were surprised to see it happen. It was just so fast. However, the spirit twins knew who delivered the attack.

"Madeline?"

All eyes fell upon the young Dragneel, who gracefully landed after hitting the knight. Her hands were curled into a tight fist while her eyes glared at the soldiers with displeasure and contempt. Suddenly, a familiar feeling of pressure washed over the hallway, freezing the royal guard in place.

"No more," Madeline whispered. "No more standing by and letting others fight for me and seeing them get hurt." Her voice was now clear and filled with rage. "I'm not letting you anywhere near my family. I'm not letting anyone of you near my Mama and Papa!"

A blast of light silvery red spiritual energy pulsed from the young girl, making the trooper of the kingdom step back in alarm, hesitation, and fear. Contrary to the soldiers, Fairy Tail's members bore expressions of awe, surprise, and to Natsu and Lisanna, pride.

Suddenly, Madeline's own scarf began to glow. Its scales flew off and encircled the young Fullbrimger before the small reptilian pieces latched onto the girl's skin, covering her forearms, shoulders, and the sides of her face. The transformation was similar to the Dragon Force and Take-Over Magic, yet fundamentally different.

After the metamorphosis was completed, Madeline raised her scaled left hand, and fire burst on the shoulder of the knight in charge of the arrest. The official quickly tried to put out the fire, but it continued to spread. Knowing that the intimidation achieved its desired effect, the young Fullbringer extinguished the flame.

"This is my Fullbring," Madeline began. "Dragon's Lineage. Though not as powerful as Lady Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka, its ability is just as potent when in combat. That fire that suddenly sprang on your shoulder?" she said, pointing to the burnt shoulder armor of the leading knight. "This Fullbring gives me control over Matter. I can increase the vibrations of Matter on a molecular level and cause it to ignite, thus creating fire. The scales on my body give me the same resistance to fire as a fire dragon. In other words, I can conjure fire anywhere, anytime, and on anything. Being completely fire-proof is just an added bonus."

"Goddamn!" Karin exclaimed, impressed at the power the time traveler carried. "She's literally packing heat."

"Don't be intimidated by her!" shouted the officer. "We will not let a child get in the way of our duty to exact justice! CHARGE!"

While the army of knights had strength in numbers, it did not deter Madeline in the slightest. She disappeared, much to the confusion of the Fairy Tail mages. To Karin and Yuzu, they knew what the kid had done when they noticed a silvery trail of light left where she once stood.

The daughter of Natsu and Lisanna appeared in the middle of the hoard. She raised her hands swiped them to the side, unleashing a torrent of fire that pushed the soldiers back. She disappeared again, leaving a trail of silver light. A random knight felt two hands on his shoulders before a burning sensation coursed through his armor. A fire sprang from Madeline's hands, burning the poor sap's clothes before being thrown into the rest of the legion. The young girl then turned her attention towards the rest of the army men. She snapped her fingers, and fire instantly ignited, engulfing a whole squad in a dazzling blaze. Though it looked painful, Madeline made sure not to do lasting damage to the soldiers. They were just following orders, after all.

One brave knight tried to slash the salmon-haired Fullbringer, but a wall of fire that came from nowhere melted the steely weapon. Shock and fear were written all over the swordsman's face before a solid, fiery fist contacted his left cheek. Five fireballs came to life in each of her hands and flew to the soldiers. Madeline zipped between the knights sent to apprehend them. Fists coated in fire, she dealt punch after punch against the would-be captors, all the while lighting any soldier who tried to be sneaky and attack from behind.

The mages watched in fascination as the girl from the future made easy work of the royal guard. Looking closely, they could see the ferocity and impulsiveness that was reminiscent of their resident Fire Dragon Slayer. However, there was speed employed in her way of fighting. Quick movements, feints, nimble and precise strikes; an almost predatory-like approach to combat. It was clear that this was a side she inherited from Lisanna.

"Yo, Natsu! Lisanna!" Karin called the two parents while giving them a devious smirk. "One hell of a kid you got there. Must be one fun activity you're going to do in the future."

That comment didn't go over the heads of Lisanna and Natsu, causing them to blush heavily at the implied message. Yuzu smacked her twin upside for commenting on something inappropriate.

"Ummm…guys," Lucy pointed at incoming soldiers. "More guards are coming."

Natsu grinned like a maniac and charged. "Ain't no way I'm letting Maddie have all the fun." He lit his fists and started smashing the closest guards near him.

"He never changes," Lisanna mumbled. A smile graced her face as she shook her head side to side before deciding to jump in and help her daughter.

The rest of Fairy Tail joined in on dealing with the guards. Despite the superior numbers, the palace soldiers were no match for the wizards. Quality over quantity, if you will. Blasts of magic flew everywhere, sending groups of knights into unconsciousness at the same time destroying every piece of décor and furniture in the immediate vicinity.

"Should we jump in?" Yuzu questioned Karin.

"Let them have their fun," the reaper replied. "We did take out the Hungry Wolf Knights earlier." Right as she said that, Karin felt a foreign signature suddenly enter the fight. She quickly Flash Stepped in its direction and raised her sword, blocking two massive scythes.

"What the!?"

Yukino was surprised to see her aunt parry an attack behind her. It seemed that the Hungry Wolf Knights wanted some payback after a humiliating defeat. She could see that the rest of its members engaged her guildmates in a fight while more guards began arriving.

"Did you just try to fucking kill my niece!?" Karin growled at the knight for trying to decapitate Yukino.

"Criminals are meant to die, filth!" Kama yelled in defiance.

The leader of the covert knights charged at the Soul Reaper. Karin, who was absolutely livid at what he almost did to her niece they just rescued, casually stepped aside, and when the assailant's arms were in front of her, she swiftly them lopped off. The massive weapons dropped to the ground with a loud clang while the literally unhanded leader screamed bloody murder from the sheer pain.

"You think just because you work for the kingdom that you're right?" the reaper questioned as she slowly walked to the now crippled assassin. "You should've just stayed down and left us alone. Too bad because I'm going to put you down for good."

For the first time in his life, Kama felt fear. He was an assassin meant to strike fear into the hearts of his would-be victims before he took their lives. Now, he will suffer the fate of the criminals he hunted. However, right before he tasted the feeling of cold hard steel in his flesh, something strange happened.

"What's happening!?"

A sea of blackness suddenly covered the floor, shocking the knights and the assassins. That darkness that envelops the ground slowly crept onto the law enforcers, holding them in place despite their attempts to free themselves.

The mages of Fairy Tail were bewildered. It was some form of shadow magic that immobilized the knights. Luckily for them, it seemed that the shadows only targeted the kingdom's soldiers. The bound soldiers and killers gradually began sinking down, consumed by the black carpet of shade. Regardless of their struggle, it would all be futile. They were ultimately consumed, leaving no trace of their existence and the shadow receded into darkness.

"The hell just happened?" Panther Lily questioned, still dumbstruck.

"I don't know," Mirajane answered.

"Stay alert," Karin warned everyone. She had her zanpakūto. The reaper felt a foreign energy signature approaching them, and she didn't like the feeling she was getting.

On the other hand, Yuzu was critical of the spell that devoured their captors. It reminded her of the technique she developed, a variant of the Quincy's Shadow. She, too, had an uncertain feeling about this newcomer. Raising her spirit bow, the Last True Quincy aimed her sights at the person about to reveal himself.

Finally, the shadows of the hallway disappeared to reveal a man with black and white hair tied to the back with bangs covering a massive scar where his right eye should be. He wears a long, high-collared ferraiolo that drapes over his shoulders held together with straps and buttons over a Y-shaped vest that splits into four long pieces of cloth. Finishing this attire is a pair of light trousers and trapped boots.

"It seems we meet again, Natsu Dragneel," the stranger greeted as he approached the confused mages. "I've traveled quite a ways from the distant future. I'm Rogue."

The wizards were shocked. They never expected to have another time traveler to appear in the present. What's more, even Madeline didn't know about this.

"Why have you come here?" Lucy asked the future Rogue.

"I've come from seven years into the future," the adult time traveler started. "I came here to use the Eclipse."

That answer immediately raised some red flags for the twins. Something about this Rogue felt off.

"The Eclipse Gate has a second function," Rogue revealed. "The stored power within it can be used as a weapon that fires concentrated magic that could rival Etherion. It is called the Eclipse Cannon, and it will be our salvation from the swarm of dragons that will invade the world."

While the wizards expressed their joy that there was some hope to save the kingdom, Yuzu and Karin were still skeptical. They didn't buy the time traveler's explanation. It didn't make any sense.

"Yuzu," Karin whispered into her sister's ear. "Are you buying this crap?"

"I don't," Yuzu answered with a muffled voice. "Let's be ready in case something happens."

They both exchanged a nod before they continued listening to the conversation unfolding before them.

"So, we can win?" Yukino probed, hoping for confirmation.

"We can if we open the gate," Future Rogue answered. "Something happened within my timeline. The Eclipse Gate from where I come from was never opened because someone prevented it. The gate from my past barely contained the same power it once held like yours. This is the last chance to save humanity. Because of that person, almost ninety percent of the world's population was eradicated. I came here to kill that person so that the doomed future won't come to pass."

This revelation caused several reactions. Some of the mages gasped in horror, others felt abhorred, and some were confused. Kill that person? Was it the only way?

"How barbaric!" Carla exclaimed in disgust. "Why don't you explain the situation to them instead of resorting to violence?"

"She's right," Mirajane concurred. "There's no need for bloodshed."

However, Rogue simply shook his head in disapproval. "A person's destiny is absolute. Even if I tried to explain it to them, they would still prevent Eclipse from activating. Fate has sealed their fate by stealing that choice from them."

"That can't be!" Lisanna cried in denial. "We all have a choice."

"None of us is stronger than fate," Rogue refuted. "As long as that person lives, millions more will perish."

"I don't understand anything you're saying," Natsu admitted after hearing the explanation. "Spill it. Who's this person you're after anyway?"

"The person I'm after? She's an anomaly that should not have meddled with history. She shouldn't have come here and tried to change what was inevitable."

Not getting a straight answer, Natsu began to get impatient. "Enough with the cryptic shit! Just tell us who it is!"

"IT'S YOU, MADELINE DRAGNEEL!"

Natsu, Lisanna, and the rest all stood in shock as Future Rogue threw a shadowy spear at the young Fullbringer. Time seemed to slow down as the pointed mass of shade was flying fast to the girl. Lisanna was first to get out of her daze. She quickly tried to intercept the incoming attack and prevent harm from coming to her daughter. Sadly, it seemed she was too slow. She won't be abler to make it.

"I won't make it," Lisanna thought, unable to accept that Madeline might die. "Maddie!"

Rogue stood there after launching a dark spell towards the other time traveler. Whoever this Madeline girl is, she was getting in the way of her plans. Knowing that this hindrance will finally die, he can't help but smirk at his handy work.

However, a white-gloved hand appeared from a black shroud behind Madeline, quickly grabbing her and whisking the girl away from danger.

"What the hell!?" Rogue exclaimed while trying to grasp what had just happened. He then felt something descending upon him. Years of fighting instincts kicked as the Shadow Dragon Slayer dodged a sword slash that could've been fatal. He shifted his gaze towards the attacker and found the black-robed reaper with a deathly glare. He then surveyed the area looking for his target, only to find the girl he tried to kill appearing from a mass of shadow beside the youngest Strauss while protectively held by a white-clad monk.

"I knew there was something wrong with you," Yuzu stated while handing over Madeline to her mother. "There were many holes in your story. For one, you didn't mention spiritual energy, which is why ethernano is being absorbed into the device. Second, dragons aren't the only thing that destroyed humanity. The denizens of hell further plunged the world into further chaos."

"And finally, a doorway out is also a doorway in," Karin added, finishing his sister's explanation. This confused everyone in the room, so the middle Kurosaki explained further. "After hearing your explanation, Yuzu and I found it ridiculous for a door to be used as a weapon. It just doesn't make sense unless that function never existed. A clever ploy to trick anyone into opening the gate."

"What are you implying?" Wendy asked, unable to follow the twins.

"It's simple, really. What if the dragons didn't come from our world but from the other side of the Eclipse Gate."

"Why you, bitch!" Rogue grew furious, knowing that his plans were exposed. "I'm going to fucking kill you!" He pounced at the raven-haired swordswoman only to meet a foot to the face. He tumbled on the ground but managed to straighten himself to see a furious Natsu and Mirajane standing between him and Madeline.

"How dare you!" Natsu snapped.

"You're laying a finger on my niece, you monster," Mira stated while her demonic magic began to ooze out of her.

Rogue knew that the situation wasn't salvageable. All these mages are now onto him. Any move he makes to kill the girl in Lisanna's arms means he'd have to face two Celestial wizards, two dragon slayers, three Exceeds, a demon, and most importantly, two unknown fighters with powers he has no idea about. There was only one thing left to do. His shadow quickly expanded, and he sunk into it before hastily leaving a one-sided confrontation.

"Hey!" Natsu shouted at the retreating figure. "Come back, you asshole!"

"Let him go, Natsu," Yuzu told the mad mage. "Now that we know his motives, the guild can better prepare for what's to come."

"Right," Karin agreed. She turned towards the mother and daughter to address their condition. "You two alright?"

"We are," replied a shook Lisanna, who was clinging to her daughter like a lifeline. "I don't know what I would've done if something horrible happened to Madeline."

Natsu, Mirajane, and Happy quickly came to Madeline's side to check on her wellbeing. The others simply watched the family interact with one another.

"That thing you just did, Yuzu," Carla flew to the Quincy, curious of the technique she just saw. "I first thought that it was some form of shadow magic, but I remembered you don't use ethernano."

"It's called Schatten Schritt or Shadow Walk," Yuzu replied. "The concept is similar. The only difference is that once I'm within my shadow, my energy cannot be traced."

"You people never cease to surprise me."

"I'm glad we could please you," Karin cheekily said while approaching her twin. "Things are going to escalate as midnight approaches."

"Right," Yuzu nodded. "However, we now know who to watch out for. We can at least use that to anticipate the Rogue's next move."

Panther Lily came up to offer his input. "There's a strong chance that the princess was tricked by Future Rogue into opening the gate. If the dragons really did come beyond the Eclipse, then we need to stop her as soon as possible."

"Not that I don't agree with you, but we still need to get out of here."

"I'm sure it'll be easy now since the guards have been taken care of."

"Then let's move," Yuzu stated. "The quicker we get out of here, the quicker we can regroup with the guild and plan for what's coming."

A/N: ModernRogue11 here, and I have some announcements to make. First off, I'll be finishing the Grand Magic Games Arc by chapter 23, and after that, I'll be taking a hiatus to plan out the next arc, which will be Tartarus Arc. I already have a rough layout of how it's going to progress and new ideas that I'll be incorporating. Second, I'll be focusing on my Gate/Call of Duty(2019) fanfic for now. Finally, I want to thank ExcaliberShooter for his input.

Updates are going slow because of work, but I'll do my best to end this arc before jumping into other projects.

Until next time.