"Mama...?"
"AAAAHHHHH! IT HURTS! MAKE IT STOP!"
"Lucy!"
"What are you doing to her!?"
"You have a choice Fairy Tail. Unless you want to the Athena to lose her life, you will hand either her or the kid to us."
"Bastards... Why do you want my kid and wife!?"
"Tsk tsk, clueless Natsu Dragneel... who doesn't want to have the powers of the Dragon Empress?"
"That offspring must also be powerful, right? Either one would be great to have."
"Why don't you just hurry up and make a decision? You don't want my twin sister to KILL her now, do you?"
"STOP! I DON'T WANT TO-"
"That's enough! Ice Make: Lance!"
"Lucy!"
"Natsu! We'll hold them off! Get Lucy and Nashi out of here!"
"Right!"
"So you're telling me that we just have to wait here 'til that gigantic door is open?" Natsu asked Future Lucy while whispering. Wendy, Happy and Carla keeping watch from their hiding spot.
While the final event for the Grand Magic Games was going on, Future Lucy led the two dragon slayers and two exceeds to Mercurius so that they could be present for the opening of the Eclipse. The time traveller had informed Makarov and Mavis that only a celestial mage could open and close the gate by using the twelve golden Zodiac keys, adding that Yukino had already joined the royal army and had probably used Lucy's and her own celestial keys to unlock the gate. It was just a matter of opening it.
There was no way for anyone to believe the fairies' words about dragons coming from the large door, so while everyone was in shock about the dragons, Future Lucy would have to step up and close the gate just in case Lucy does not make it in time with the dragons. As such, Mavis decided that Natsu and Wendy would accompany her while Happy and Carla follow for support. While the games went on, the group of five secretly made their way to Mercurius with the help of Virgo.
Natsu wanted Future Lucy to at least tell them if they would win the games, but the time traveller just told him to continue having faith in the team. Once Virgo was done digging them a tunnel all the way to the area where the Eclipse stood, the celestial spirit left and the five fairies waited for the games to come to a close. Future Lucy praying that her younger self and Future Natsu's attempt to convince the dragons for help was progressing smoothly and that Nashi would remain safe until the invasion was over.
"The games should've ended by now since it is already nightfall." Future Lucy stated, looking up at the moon. It was already turning red slowly, which meant Fairy Tail should've won the games and the King of Fiore was already telling the guilds about the dragons. "Once the moon is fully red, Princess Hisui will open the gate and then the dragons will emerge."
The blonde woman gnashed her teeth, cursing Usami, Ushin and Vetani for spouting lies about her to the royal family. She could practically hear Fairy Tail and maybe (possibly) some mages from the other guilds refuse the idea of Lucy even attempting to invade Fiore. Of course, none knew the Athena to be the Dragon Empress and Future Lucy couldn't help but be glad that Fairy Tail can go with the flow and use the outrageous statement to their advantage. After all, dragons were believed to be dead.
The guilds will surely follow the king in the end as it is an order, however, both the royal family and the royal army will soon find out that the source of dragons coming to Crocus will be from the Eclipse gate. The celestial mage didn't know how long it will take her to snap Yukino out of her shock so that they can close the gate, but she had a feeling it would take a slightly bit longer than when the event had happened in her memory. An eighth dragon was sure to pass through the gate.
"Lucy! The Eclipse gate is opening!" Wendy cried as a bright light began to engulf the area.
The celestial mage stood up, not bothering to hide anymore and stared straight through the large door. Princess Hisui and everyone else around her faced away from the gate, awaiting the arrival of Lucy's so-called invasion, but they were soon startled the minute a loud roar came from the door and the first dragon finally made it's presence known. Future Lucy didn't bother acting surprised when came out of the door, but the royal army and the princess definitely was.
Motherglare was the first dragon to step forth, just like in the time traveller's memory. His adamantine like scales shimmering slightly from the light coming from the Eclipse. After cracking the ground beneath its feet and roaring once more, the dragon flew into the air, startling the mages that have gathered below. As the royal army and Hisui stared in shock and fear, Future Lucy began to run forward with Natsu, Wendy, Happy and Carla behind her. They were shocked, but luckily they had already seen enough from the Dragon Realm.
Levia, a water dragon, soon stepped out from beyond the gate, not even bothering to follow what Motherglare did. Next was Atlas Flame. Future Lucy was glad that he came since Future Natsu had long since told her that the fire covered dragon was a friend of Igneel (thus calling him uncle), but there was no denying that the current fire dragon slayer behind her was drooling the sight and most likely wanted to see if he himself could eat the flames, causing her to laugh even in the grave situation.
"You need to come to your senses and close the gate!" Future Lucy finally yelled, her face hidden underneath her hood and gaining attention of the royal army and the princess. "You have been tricked! Whoever told you that this door could become a weapon is a liar! The dragon invasion they told you about is going to come from this door!"
"Wha-!? Who are you and how did you know our plans?" Hisui asked, not fully recovered from shock.
"Does it honestly matter!?" Natsu asked, the royal army gasping about the fairies' presence. "Luce would never bring dragons to Earthland!? She would never want to hurt innocent people!"
"But the informant-! They came from the future and said-"
"Your informants are rogue mages I have been tracking down for a long time!" Future Lucy said as Scissor Runner, a blade dragon, and Maelstrom, a dark dragon, came through the gate. "It's clear now that they have deceived you! So we have to close the gate before more dragons come through!"
"But... no way... how... how do we close it!?" Yukino asked as she could avert her eyes from the gate as Orestes, a rock dragon who's body was of pure stone, and Zirconis, a jade dragon, came through with a loud roar. "I foolishly opened the gate... now I've-"
"You and I can do it, Yukino!" Future Lucy cried, taking the silver haired girl's hands in her own. "When you and I combine our magic, we can close the gate shut with the power of the Zodiacs!"
"What!?" Yuki, Hisui and Arcadios cried as they turned in shock to see Future Lucy reveal her identity.
"You and I have done it before in my past, so there's no reason for us to not be able to do it again!" Future Lucy said as she grabbed her ten golden celestial keys. "What matters is that we can't allow one more dragon out of that gate, understand!?"
Yukino stared at the elder celestial mage before her. Looking down to their clasped hands and then turning to see the final dragon, a sound dragon named Betherion, begin to step from the gate, she nodded her head and threw her keys in the air while Future Lucy followed. "Alright then! Here we go!"
As the two celestial mages casted their spell, summoning all twelve zodiac spirits, Betherion had set flight and roared as he joined Motherglare. Usami, Ushin and Vetani watching from above in satisfaction. Like Future Lucy had predicted, a total of eight dragons had entered into their era but Lucy and Future Natsu had yet to arrive with reinforcements. "Just as planned..." They thought.
Once the Eclipse gate had closed, the royal army, Hisui, Yukino, the two dragon slayers and the two exceeds rejoiced at the accomplishment, forgetting the eight present dragons. However, Future Lucy remained stern and on guard. Though she could no longer use any of her dragon slaying magic, her dragon like qualities remained intact. She could hear the many guilds that the King of Fiore had gathered charge into battle and she could smell the three masterminds behind the whole plot.
Besides Zirconis, all the dragons had gone to different sections of the city and different groups of mages had gone into combat in an attempt to ward them off. Fairy Tail had Laxus and Gajeel in hand, but those two could only do so much on their own against a hostile dragon. The same with Sting and Rogue, whom the fairies and Future Lucy knew were not absolute True Dragon Slayers like they claim. Luckily, it was only a matter of time now until Lucy and Future Natsu come from the Dragon Realm.
Noticing the time traveller's seriousness, the four fairies stopped their celebration as everyone else followed. Future Lucy's eyes closed as she let out a single breath. "Are you happy that your plan worked?" The blonde asked as the three antagonists made their presence known. Arcadios and Hisui scowling at them for their trickery.
"My... to think that you, too, would come back from the future, Mrs. Ex-Dragon Empress." Usami stated, her sinister expression making chills go down everyone else's spine. "How's that husband of yours? Is he here too?"
"You!" Arcadios cried, pointing an accusing finger towards Vetani. "You told us the dragon invasions would be led by Lucy Heartfilia! How dare you lie to us! You are the reason we had to imprison an innocent person!"
The green haired woman just laughed, the movement of her lips being the only thing visible from beneath her mask. "It's both yours and your princess' own fault for believing such an outrageous lie." She mocked, making Arcadios curse under his breath. "Now thanks to you, a total of eight dragons have passed through the gate as we had hoped."
"Even if she hadn't told you anything, you still planned to open that gate using Lucy Heartfilia and possibly allowing more than just eight dragons to pass through, isn't that right?" Ushin asked, the royal army and Hisui hanging their heads in shame.
"You're all actually quite lucky." Usami said as her aura began to grow, Future Lucy sensing that she was already utilizing her Dragon Supremacy magic. "Since there are only eight dragons, they shouldn't be too easy for you I hope."
"What... what do you mean?" Hisui asked in a shaky voice.
"You see, Miss. Princess, Master Usami has a very scary power." Vetani said as Usami raised her arm in the direction of Motherglare and Betherion. "These eight dragons... she can control them with a flick of her wrist."
"Dragons whom we've brought from the past! I, Usami, will gift you these mages as your first meals in the future!" The silver haired woman announced, her voice somehow amplified so that all dragons could hear her. "Obey me! We shall bring forth the return of the dragon era and the downfall of humankind!"
The eight dragons roared, Betherion's sound magic making even the air vibrate. Usami then called forth for Motherglare and Betherion, Vetani bowing as the twins climbed onto either dragon's body. "I shall remain here for when that blonde woman's current self arrives, Ma'am. Sir." She said. "When the target arrives, I shall notify you."
The twins nodded and took flight into the air, Natsu running after them as Happy lifted him into the air. "Come back here! I'll show just who you're messing with!" He yelled.
"Natsu! Happy!" Wendy and Yukino cried as Future Lucy and Carla just shook their heads in disappointment.
"It seems that your younger self and husband have yet to come." Vetani said as Zirconis stared down at the royal army, Hisui, Yukino and the fairies. "Perhaps they won't show at all."
Future Lucy's stare hardened as she looked up to Zirconis, the jade dragons' perverted eyes only making small goosebumps appear on her skin. "I will always believe in my husband and my younger self. They will succeed on their end and I shall succeed on mine. Even though I'm not a dragon slayer anymore, I still have Wendy, Carla, my spirits and my magic by my side to defeat you!"
"You talk too much." The masked woman said as she turned to Zirconis. "If you don't mind."
"I would never pass up the opportunity to feast on such a scrumptious looking meal." The jade dragon said as he scanned Future Lucy, Yukino and Hisui's bodies. "After all, women taste the best once they've been prepped."
As Zirconis was about to use his magic to strip all three girls of their clothes, the blonde time traveller ready to protect them with her golden barrier, a ball of fire immediately landed a kick on his cheek. Everyone's eyes widened as they recognized the magic, Future Lucy's eyes turning from serious to relief. "Like I'm gonna let you strip down my wife again, pervert!"
The royal army, Hisui, Yukino, Wendy and Carla's eyes widened as Future Natsu jumped away from the jade dragon and Future Lucy ran to give him a back hug. "Natsu!" She cried in relief.
The future fire dragon slayer smirked as he turned around to embrace his wife and gave her a quick kiss. It had been technically two days since the celestial mage saw her husband, but for Future Natsu, it had been a little over five or six days since he had seen his wife. The interaction of the two making the audience's jaws drop, including Zirconis and excluding Vetani. Wendy and Carla quickly realizing that not only was the Natsu before them not the Natsu they currently know, but also Future Lucy's husband.
"Sorry it took a while for me to get here, Luce." The pink headed time traveller apologized. "But my side of the mission has been accomplished! Got nothing to worry about!"
"What!?" Vetani thought in surprise and curiosity. "His side of the mission?"
"No way... you're telling me... that the guy you ended up marrying is..." Wendy stuttered as she got the attention of the married couple, unable to finish her sentence while Future Natsu couldn't help but be slightly offended by how her remark was presented.
Carla, on the other hand, just shook her head to get rid of her astonishment. "I don't mean to be rude but even I can't believe this Future Lucy." She said. "You actually allowed yourself to marry Natsu of all people!?"
"That's a little harsh coming from you, Carla." The couple replied in unison considering who she ended up marrying in the future.
Everyone regained their composure shortly after the married couple's response while Future Natsu and Future Lucy broke their hug as their smirks widened and their eyes narrowed. He was much more energized since coming from the Dragon Realm, and even more so after his talk with Igneel and a little peek at Nashi training, so he was ready to let loose and kick some dragon butts again like in his past. Future Lucy mirroring his determination as both their auras grew to match Vetani's.
"What did you do?" The masked woman asked, not bothering to wait for Future Natsu to spit it out.
The married couple glanced at each other with confidence as they awaited for the main cast to appear on stage. "We invited a couple of friends to join the party."
"Luce... are you okay now?"
"Mama... please don't be hurt... I don't like it when you're hurt..."
"...Natsu... this... this is bad..."
"What? What's bad? What was that chick even doing to you!?"
"It felt like she was ripping my magic from me... If they take my magic, Natsu... who knows what they'll do..."
"That won't happen, Luce... The guild won't allow it. And neither will I."
"What if they go for Nashi...?"
"Mama?"
"So this is where you were hiding, Dragneel family."
"No way! How did you get past, Erza!? What about Gray!? Gajeel!? Laxus!? Mira!? Juvia!? Even Gramps!?"
"You honestly believe that they would stand any sort of chance against us?"
"Those guild mates and little town of yours are so preoccupied... no one will be able to help you any time soon."
"No... I can't let this happen..."
"Lucy!? What... what are you doing!?"
"It's too dangerous for Nashi to be here! It's too dangerous for my magic to be here!"
"She's transferring her magic into the child! Stop her!"
"Natsu, you have to stall them!"
"Don't you dare think of going near my family! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
"Mama? These lights... I feel a little sleepy..."
"This is just a bad dream, Nashi... Go to sleep... Mama will be there... when you... wake up..."
"Nashi!"
"Follow the child, Vetani! You have to get the child!"
"No!"
"Your battle ends here, Mr. and Mrs. Dragneel!"