Here is the forty-second chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. The Guilds have been informed and are now either in or move into position and as they are doing that the Eclipse Gate is opening. However, Lucy has noticed something about the gate that has changed everything but is it too late to stop what is to come? Well it's time to see as that is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers there are 2 guest reviews that needs a response, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.

To Dzhonni (guest), thank you for understanding. You aren't the first to ask for Asta to be with both girls and a while back I put the question of that to readers as while I am an Astelle shipper (it's my 2nd favorite anime ship of all time) I don't dislike Mimosa and so I'm open to them having a poly relationship though as Mimosa and Noelle are cousins they won't be together. So far the majority is in favor of this but naturally it has to work and I'm still a long ways off from any romantic stuff mainly because Asta's as dense as they come for a shonen protagonist and Noelle is the definition of a tsundere so it's going to be a slow burn and has to fit. One thing I will promise though is just as Lucy will not end up with anyone but Natsu, Juvia with anyone but Gray, Erza anyone but Jellal, or Levy anyone but Gajeel, neither Noelle nor Mimosa will be with anyone but Asta. There are only 4 exceptions to my general preference for canon pairings/feelings and none of those 4 exceptions are in Fairy Tail or Black Clover. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you for your review and commentary, that is very helpful. In terms of Yami musing about 5 headed dragons, that is something I hadn't thought about and will see how it works and when is good for it but it is useful and could help their cover story by Yami saying that yeah they're from this new continent but he's from another different one and there were dragons there but it all has to work with the flow of the story. As for Bane Particles, that is roughly what I was under the impression they were and while I will of course do my own research when the time comes this is still very helpful. In terms of Wave Magic, it's not really that useful at this point as all it serves it the explanation for what Asta's 'magic' is but following his battle with Erza the secret has started to come out and so in time it will come out the true nature of Asta's power though the whole devil thing won't. Thanks for this info, it has been of great help and do keep reading and enjoying my work.

That is it for this long pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the forty-second chapter in Black Bull Banishment.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 42: Revelation of Deception

A bell somewhere in Crocus tolled 12 times to indicate that it was midnight thus the day went from the 6th to the 7th of July. As it did, the members of Fairy Tail walked out of the portal that Finral had made and into the central plaza of the city and gathered up in a group in the center of it. As they did they made sure to set up the lacrima needed to transmit images to the Black Bulls and Warren in the command center of where they were.

The central plaza was a large, circular, public area that had managed to avoid any combat during the Battle Royale so it was untouched by damage though naturally that might change soon. In the center was a circular fountain-like structure with a large, glowing, obelisk sticking out of the center surrounded by the standard stone paving for people to gather on, which was what Fairy Tail was doing right now, and with four walkways at the cardinal direction leading to it.

Between each walkway was a well-manicured patch of grass surrounded by pristine, small bushes on three sides with trees lining the back of them. Around all of this was an outer, circular, walkway perfect for a nice stroll and the whole area was bordered by a high walkway with arches in it to access the plaza. It was a good place to force a dragon to attack as there was little collateral damage to be had and allowed Laxus and Gajeel, the two Dragon Slayers present though both were shirtless with precautionary heavy bandages on their chests and faces, plenty of room to act should they have to fight.

"That's a bit ominous, I hope those aren't tolling for us." Gajeel said his free left eye looking to the stary sky. "With what's coming it kinda feels like it might be."

"Hold on." Levy said from next to Gajeel. "Didn't the dragons vanish on the 7th of July? I'm pretty sure that I've heard Natsu say that before."

"Yeah, that's the day I woke up and Metalicana was gone." Gajeel said as a few other members chatted nervously as well. "And now 10 thousand of them show up on the exact same day years later. This can't be a coincidence."

"Alright kids look alive." Makarov said cutting through any chatter. "Fairy Tail will be guarding the center plaza. Warren is with Finral at the command center the Black Bulls and Mermaid Heel have set up to communicate as needed and we have communication devices to reach them if we need to directly contact them as well. Only contact them if it's a dire need but be prepared for commands from them as well as portals either to take injured back to Mimosa and Charmy, move you to another part of the city, or send reinforcements from the other Guilds who are on standby in other parts of the city. We must be ready for whatever is to come."

"I know that we all need to be ready but I think you should rest Erza." Cana said a barrel of wine under her arm, she'd been cured of her alcohol poisoning caused by her excessive drinking at Fairy Tail's loss by Mimosa's spell, as she came up to the heavily bandaged Erza. "You took a lot of damage in your fight with Asta. Laxus and Gajeel did as well but we need them, you should take it easy. We got this."

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Erza said grateful for Cana's concerns but dismissing them. "Remember, we were healed by a healer who's skills greatly exceed even Wendy's abilities and my magic has been restored to full. Even my weapons are back, I'm at peak form."

"I know but it's not your physical or magical state that I'm worried about." Cana said worry still in her tone. "It's your mental one Erza. You lost, and in a sword fight no less. Are you sure you're ok after that?"

"Yes, more than ok in fact." Erza said with a small smile that surprised Cana. "It's been too long since I faced someone stronger than me, someone who I now know that I can't beat at my current level, and that's fine. I was the one assigned to face Asta because I had the best chance of beating him and I failed but I failed in a fair fight. All that's done is inspire me to get stronger so that next time I can beat him. It's a feeling that I'd almost forgotten and so I'm grateful to Asta for reigniting it in me. I appreciate your concern Cana but trust me I'm good, better than good in fact now that I'm all healed up and have a chance to show that that loss hasn't affected me at all."

"Oh, um, ok." Cana said trusting her friend's self-assessment. "I'm just worried, that all. It's not every day that we see you knocked out in a one on one fight so it threw all of us and then seeing the guys fall afterwards only made it worse. It's an image we won't soon forget and I was hammered when I saw it."

"I don't expect you to but it's a good reminder that there is always someone stronger out there so you have to keep up with your training even at my level." Erza said. "Right now Asta is stronger than anyone in Fairy Tail other than maybe gramps, we can't deny that, and I'm sure his own Guild Master is stronger than he is. Instead we must use that and the loss that the Black Bulls inflicted upon us to get stronger. We came back after 7 years and did a great job restoring the reputation of Fairy Tail but we fell just short so there is still a lot of work to do to reclaim the number 1 spot."

"Yeah, that loss may have bruised our egos but at least it was only in the Grand Magic Games." Gray said now wearing a green t-shirt with a few bandages on his face and more on his chest under his shirt. "The Black Bulls showed us that we still have a little ways to go with that win and we still came second which is a great improvement. Plus, they weren't assholes about the win as they patched us right up."

"True, even Wendy couldn't manage that." Juvia said from next to Gray and who like him had changed so that she was now wearing a simple black dress though she still had her normal hat on and a few bandages though Juvia's injuries had been milder than the others had been. "There's a lot that we can learn from them after what we've seen and I'm sure that we can teach them a thing or too as well."

"Don't worry kids." Makarov said cutting through any chatter. "We will get to know the Black Bulls really well once this is over. There is a lot our two Guilds can learn by working together but for now we've got to focus on the incoming threat. Focus and be ready for it."

"Yes gramps." Several fairies said in unison.

"I know that we're ready for this but I'm not sure if that moon is a good omen or not." Freed said as he and the rest of the Thunder Legion, including Laxus, looked up at the now blood red moon that was high in the sky. "You don't see that every day."

"The Eclipse." Laxus said speaking for the first time since he'd been beaten by Asta in the final duel of the Battle Royal as he mentioned the phenomenon that was taking place tonight. "It's a fitting name for what is coming."

No one could argue with that as silence fell over not just Fairy Tail but the other Guilds scattered across Crocus as the moment neared. Little did anyone know what exactly that moment would be as the Eclipse Gate began to open.

"This isn't a weapon! We've been played!"

Alas, it was too late for that and the gate was on the brink of fully opening as Lucy stepped in front of it her eyes wide as the full analysis of what it was was relayed to her. Still, she had to try because she knew that this was not good.

"Please listen!" Lucy called out to the Princess, Darton, and the soldiers present. "We have to close the gate! And we have to close it right away!"

"Lucy? You ok?" Wendy asked confused by Lucy's actions. "What's going on?"

"What's gotten into you?" Happy added. "This isn't normal."

"Explain yourself." Arcadios said more confused than anything. "You just said you wouldn't close it and now you're trying to do just that."

"Why?" Carla whispered as her premonition came back to her about how it was set in stone that the gate would close though no one heard her.

"We don't have time for explanations! We barely have any time left!" Lucy pleaded trying to get the direness of the situation across. "Please, Princess! You must close it before it's too late!"

"I can't do that!" Hisui said spreading her arms wide her determination to save her kingdom clear in her voice. "This is the only weapon that we have that is powerful enough to take on the incoming horde of dragons! If we close the gate then we can't fire the Eclipse Cannon and Crocus and then Fiore will be doomed!"

"You won't be able to fire it regardless!" Lucy countered as she walked right up to Hisui before she pointed to the Eclipse Gate. "Because that thing is not a weapon at all. All it is is a gate that connects two points in time."

"Yes but it also contains a massive amount of magic power as well." Hisui said lowering her arms as she tried to explain what she'd been convinced was the secondary aspect of the gate. "The cannon aspect releases it all in a single blast! That's how it is a weapon."

"Don't be ridiculous Princess!" Lucy said desperation creeping into her voice. "I'm telling you that that isn't a weapon!"

"That's enough young lady." Arcadios said sternly. "We've been understanding because of everything that has happened recently but do not forget that you are talking to the Princess of Fiore."

"Yes I am because she's the one in charge her and can make the order." Lucy said glancing over to Arcadios. "That gate is nothing more than a connection to a point 400 years in the past! It's…"

Before Lucy could finish there was a massive rumble that shook them and Lucy let out a gasp quickly followed by Hisui and Wendy. This was not good and any hope of avoiding disaster was slipping by second by second as the true nature of the plan neared the open gate.

"What's happening?" Wendy asked as Happy fell forward and face planted onto the ground next to her. "Does this mean that it's working or not?"

"Possibly as this is some intense rumbling." Lily said as Arcadios pulled Hisui in and crouched low around her to protect her. "What's causing it?"

"Princess! Are you alright?" Arcadios asked as the shaking continued while he held her. "Stay close to me."

"Don't worry, I'm alright." Hisui said grateful for Arcadios's actions but confused at what was happening.

"That may be but there is a bit of an issue." Darton said his eyes wide as he got a look at what the gate was really for. "I hope that my eyes are deceiving me though."

"Th, they're not." Lucy said as she stared up eyes wide at the open gate. "This is what I was afraid of."

"Yeah, we're goners." Happy said. "Lucy was right."

"Is, is that thing real?" A guard asked while others gasped or exclaimed in terror at what they were seeing.

It was indeed real as the shaking intensified and a low rumble was heard from deep within the throat of the dragon that was slowly emerging from the gate. It was a massive, light gray beast with swirl designs on its thick plate-like scales that covered its head, neck, back, and legs with a spiked ball at the end of its tail that looked deadly. Meanwhile it's underbelly and throat were a different hue of gray and didn't look plated though there were several holes in its chest that had to serve some purpose.

The dragon paused most of the way out and let out a massive roar that the whole city could hear as the royal guards began to yell in pure fear at what they were seeing. This was not what the plan had entailed.

"A dragon came through the gate?" Hisui asked her eyes wide at what she was looking at as Arcadios continued to hold her. "How could this have happened? I was told that the attack would come from outside the city, that was why we were using the gate as a weapon."

Any chatter was suddenly cut off as the dragon let out another roar while it looked around, the force of its roar so great that air whipped around, guards were thrown off their feet, ground was churned up and statues destroyed. Lucy was thrown back to the ground but landed right before a broke paving stone that managed to holder her in place while Wendy, Carla, and Happy were on the other side trying to hold onto the broken bit but only Wendy managed to stay there while the lighter and smaller exceeds were sent flying back. Meanwhile Arcadios got even lower and held Hisui close as she clung to him through the roar.

The roar wasn't the end of it, however, as the dragon brought down its front right front leg down on the ground with a crash that churned up the ground and sent a blast straight through Crocus from it's position all the way to, and then through, the central plaza where Fairy Tail was set up. There was no way that they or the other Guilds didn't notice what had just happened.

"What's that?" Asta asked as the Black Bulls and Mermaid Heel, along with Warren, stood in the square they'd not moved from with several royal guards there as backup as a massive rumbling shook the whole city. "Is that the weapon?"

"Probably." Noelle said though she wasn't sure. "Anyone got any idea?"

"None, we're flying blind with this." Nero said. "I could transform and see though."

"Hold off on that." Yami said. "We may still need you to travel between the Guilds so you need to be nearby."

"Yes sir." Nero said.

"I'm still confused as to what is going on though." Asta said as the rumbling continued. "Is that the Eclipse Cannon thing."

"There's nothing on the Eclipse Cannon in what I've read." Gordon said. "So this is all new to me."

"Well this is coming from the Palace." Yami said as he calmly took a drag on his cigarette. "So I'd say it is the weapon that they have there. Luck, how's your mana sense doing?"

"There's a big spike of mana coming from the Palace." Luck said his grin broad. "It's really intense, even from here so I bet whatever is going on over there is really powerful."

"That means that this is either the weapon or something else is related to it." Yami said. "Warren, any word from Makarov?"

"No, they're just as confused by this as we are." Warren said his eyes closed and fingers to his head, he'd contacted gramps the moment that the trembling began but it was the same confusion there as it was here. "I can reach out to the rescue team though; they might have an idea."

"Do that." Yami said as Warren lowered his hand and opened his eyes. "Something doesn't feel right in my gut about this situation. That or I really need a dump."

"Er ok." Warren said as he closed his eyes and raised his fingers to his head once again. "One…"

Before he could finish or use his magic to reach out to the members of the Lucy Rescue Team there was a roar from the direction of the Palace that they could barely but audibly hear and then a massive crash that sent a plume of smoke in a straight line from the Palace and out into Crocus. It wasn't near them but it did go to where the central plaza was.

"What was that!" Asta said his eyes wide.

"An attack and from the Place, the last place we expected it to come from." Yami said his eyes narrowing. "Finral, pull up the vision of the central plaza."

"On it." Finral said as the he moved the control lacrima in his hand to switch through the screens and saw a plume of smoke in a line right by Fairy Tail's position. "Here it is. Yeah something tore through it but Fairy Tail is ok."

"I can confirm that." Warren said. "It missed them but they believe that the attack has come."

"It has." Yami said seriously. "Be ready because something tells me that this isn't going to plan."

The others nodded as they got ready. It was go time and they had to be prepared for what was to come and that came several moments later as they got their first visual of the dragon that had emerged through the gate as it fully cleared the gate and began to wander the area around it.

"Stay close to my side Princess." Arcadios said as he held her as the dragon walked out. "Don't leave it."

"I won't." Hisui said.

"This, this can't be happening!" A guard said. "This wasn't the plan."

"We don't stand a chance." Another said. "Not against something like that!"

"It will pulverize us." A third added. "It doesn't even need magic to beat us."

"We're as good as dead." A fourth said.

The entire time the dragon was walking forward and roaring as it did. Terror rained throughout the area as the dragon fully emerged and as it did another shape began to come out right behind it. It was shorter, squatter, and wider than the first dragon but there was no mistaking it as anything but another dragon. What they could see of it was that it had what looked like a beard of sorts, a crest atop its head, and spots covered its body.

"It's humongous." A guard said as dragon walked past.

"What the hell is going on here?" Another asked as suddenly a light filled the area. "Why are dragons coming through the gate?"

"And another one is coming." A third said as the fish-like tail of the second cleared the gate. "It's like they were waiting for this!"

The third dragon was even more terrifying than the first two as they saw a black, skull-like, head that was fully engulfed in flames. As it moved the whole dragon appeared and it was, well, on fire. You could make out the shape and wings of it as it paused to roar but the burning flames obscured its body.

It only remained there for a moment before it moved on in a line behind the other two dragons and started wandering around the area as Hisui stared wide eyed and aghast at what was going on as the paraded didn't seem to end. The burning dragon was shortly followed by a 4th dragon, this one more classic in appearance as it was a dark red with a broad chest and great wings with vicious looking horns on its head and a main of spikes down its neck and back. Just like the other dragons it let out a roar as it stood there for a moment.

"Damn, they just keep on coming!" A guard said.

"Protect the Princess!" Another added as said Princess was frozen in fear at what was going on.

"Hold your ground men!" A third shouted as Lucy reached out to Hisui and grabbed her shoulders.

"Please, Princess, tell me how to close the gate!" Lucy yelled. "We have to do it while their numbers are still small!"

"Ok, yes, well, er, you, um…" Hisui said fear and shock overriding her thoughts at the moment.

"Hurry, there is no time to space out!" Lucy said. "You're the Princess! We need you right now!"

"Right, sorry." Hisui said her tone still a little off but regaining enough composure to point off to the side. "There's a pedestal over there. That's how it's closed."

"The pedestal?" Lucy asked as she looked over and saw an ornate looking contraption to the side of the gate with a vertical bar on it that had to be pulled. "That thing?"

Hisui nodded and Lucy turned and rushed towards it. However, as she did, the burning dragon let out a powerful roar that sent shock waves over the area and knocked Lucy off her feet and into Wendy knocking both girls to the ground. In the confusion of this, a 5th dragon, this one a serpentine-like dragon with no wings but covered in large, blue, scales that seemed to be weeping water and with a white undulating crest along its back walked out of the gate though it didn't let out a roar as it joined the ranks of the attacking dragons.

"Lucy, I don't know if you can close it in time!" Wendy said worry in her voice. "More are coming!"

"Just watch me!" Lucy said determination in her own voice as she got off Wendy and moved forward only to be downed by another roar from one of the dragons just before she reached it. "I can reach it, I must! Only a Celestial Wizard can close it!"

Lucy wasn't going to give up as she pushed through the force of the roar and crawled forward. She was almost there and she had to give it her all, use all of her celestial power to pull this off and close the gate while the number of dragons was still within reason as she reached up to the handle before her hoping that this was all that it would take.

As she did this, Hisui was still in shock as she knelt on the ground Arcadios no longer holding her. Tears were streaming down her face as she realized the magnitude of her mistake.

"I was wrong this whole time." Hisui said as Lucy inched closer and closer to the handle. "The dragons attacked through the gate not from outside the city."

As she muttered to herself a 6th dragon emerged with a roar. This one seemed to stand on its hind legs and it's wings where arms would be similar to a bird or a bat though between the chaos going on and the light coming from behind it in the mouth of the gate the finer details couldn't be observed.

"How did you know that this would happen Lucy?" Wendy called out through the roar of the latest dragon as Lucy grabbed the handle and pulled herself up by it while also pulling back on it. "No one else saw it coming!"

"I can't take credit for this!" Lucy said her voice strained as she pulled on the door to try and close it, her right leg up and braced on it for added leverage. "It's all thanks to Grandpa Crux. He was studying the gate and he just finished his final analysis right as it was being opened! The gate was created by combining magic from the Book of Zeref with Celestial Spirit Magic. Normally it will allow you to travel to any time period you choose but not today."

"Why not?" Wendy shouted back. "Why is today different?"

"See the full moon above us?" Lucy asked though she continued without waiting for an answer from Wendy all the while still trying to close the gate. "That's what's causing the magic here to go crazy!"

"Because of the moon?" Arcadios asked as he too looked up at it having heard Lucy's words. "That…"

"I know that it sounds ridiculous but I swear that it's true!" Lucy said interrupting Arcadios as she continued to struggle. "It's causing the gate to go out of control and now it's locked on one precise time period! A time period that just so happens to be the era when dragons ruled over Earth Land!"

"Then we've been duped because this isn't what we were told!" Darton said his eyes wide as the dragons began to roam the area around destroying building in their wake and those in Crocus finally got a good look at them. "Our source lied to us but why?"

"Those are dragons!" Noelle said her eyes wide as they saw the creatures as they began to fly around and land on building near the Palace their size making them impossible to miss. "I…"

"Yeah there aren't many records on their size." Gordon said. "So they're a lot bigger than I imagined."

"And that's just two." Nero said as they could only make out the first two dragons that had emerged and had already begun their destruction. "We're expecting thousands of them."

"Well we've got a Dragon Slayer and there are others here." Asta said his swords in hand. "We've got this. We're the Black Bulls, we don't lose!"

"Huh and here I was expecting something with 5 heads, I wonder if there is one like that here as well." Yami mused before he grinned. "Well, whatever the case they look tough so great chance to surpass our limits."

"I, I'm not sure." Noelle said.

"We have faith in you Noelle." Mimosa said as she made sure her mana was fully topped up as her Healing Magic would soon be needed. "And remember we're here to heal and restore mana."

"Yes, Sheep Cooks get moving!" Charmy said and her Sheep Cooks did just that as they grabbed the tables, cooking implements, and food and began to retreat to the best defensive point in the square. "We need to be ready for it."

"Spread out!" Yami ordered. "Command center, fall back to the defensive position we picked out and dig in. Attack squad with me. Noelle, you're in the center so fan out around her so that we're not all in one place."

"Yes sir!" The Black Bulls said as they began to move with the command crew falling back to the prepared area and the attackers moving out around the square to be ready while Noelle pushed past her worries and took the center knowing that she was their best, possibly only, fighter right now.

"That's us too girls." Kagura said as she drew Archenemy. "Fall back and support the command. Don't let it fall."

"Yes ma'am!" The four mermaids said as they retreated with the command to form an arc around them.

Whatever had happened one thing was clear, the attack was on and as such they had to be in position. Yami was right, they couldn't be bunched up for it so they spread out and waited to see what would happen. That wouldn't take long as the gate was about to be closed and the full deception revealed.

"Another one's coming!" A guard shouted almost as soon as Darton had asked his question to no one in particular while the first two began to tear up the city, this one a stony beast with a flat face, no nose, and spikes all along its back.

"It looks like it's solid rock!" A second guard shouted as this dragon growled rather than roar. "They're all so different!"

"Hurry Lucy!" Wendy called out as Lucy strained on the gate just as Happy managed to make it to next to Wendy. "Why is it taking so long to close the gate?"

"Yeah the longer it takes the more dragons we'll have to deal with!" Happy shouted. "We only have a 7 Dragon Slayers!"

"I know that cat!" Lucy shout back. "Now come on you stupid gate, close already!"

"It's all my fault." Hisui said finally back on her feet but not moving despite pleas from the guards to allow them to evacuate her. "The world will come to an end because of me and my incompetence."

As she spoke the stone dragon slammed its foot down and the force of it sent a shock wave out that knocked Lucy off her feet and sent her tumbling away from the podium and her efforts to close the gate. This wasn't looking good at all and already 7 dragons had made it through the gate at this point.

"My kingdom…it will be forever stained with the blood of innocents and that blood is on my hands." Hisui said as she cried. "What have I done?"

"No, it won't be! We will save Fiore!" Lucy said as she finished her roll and bounced up to sprint back to the podium and the handle. "I refuse to let this happen! I have to do this not just for me but for my future self. I have to do this for her! She's counting on me! I won't let her down!"

Lucy was talking as she ran, her determination fueling her as she pressed on to the podium and reached it as the dragons began to press into the city. She had to do this, she had to close the gate, and as she grabbed the handle she was unaware that Natsu too was going through his own recovery in the Palace as he was saved by Meredy and Ultear and pushing himself onwards to finish this as well.

"I won't stop until it's done, not until the gate is closed." Lucy said as she pulled unaware that what she said next was mirrored by Natsu at the exact same time. "I'm going to save the future!"

Lucy kept struggling as the burning dragon, flanked by the stone and red ones, roared in front of the guards while the other 4 that had come through had already begun to destroy the city and an 8th dragon, this one green, emerged without from the gate without much fanfare especially compared to the other dragons. Things weren't good as they didn't know how many more would come through so it had to be shut right away. In addition the Princess had to be evacuated to somewhere safe but she was still rooted to the spot tears in her eyes.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing." Hisui said still dealing with the extent of what her actions had caused. "What have I done? I've destroyed my Kingdom. This is all my fault."

"Lucy hurry up!" Happy shouted. "You have to close it now!"

All Lucy could do was grunt at that as she heaved on the handle. It was taking all her strength and she was leaning back as far as she could to add as much weight to her efforts as possible but the damned thing still wouldn't budge.

"I know you can do it Lucy!" Wendy shouted encouragingly as Lucy continued to grunt and strain but as she did Arcadios realized something. "You've got this!"

"She lacks the celestial power to close it on her own." Arcadios said knowing that it was true. "She needs help."

"Then let me help her!"

The voice came from off to the side and he turned to see Yukino running towards him dressed in the same outfit she'd worn as a member of Sabertooth before she'd been kicked out of the Guild for losing her battle with Kagura. Behind her was Mirajane Strauss, one of the S-Class Wizards in Fairy Tail and part of the team that had tried to rescue Lucy and Yukino and ended up in the Palace of Perdition.

"It's Yukino!" Happy said excitedly.

"And Mira!" Wendy added glad to see the older woman.

"Lucy, if we're going to do this then I'm going to need you to take out your zodiac keys." Yukino called out as she ran towards Lucy her spirits having been revitalized by a chat with Mira a few moments before the gate had been opened and fully ready to help close the Eclipse Gate. "All we have to do is combine our powers and we should be able to close and seal the gate."

"Using our Spirits?" Lucy asked as she continued to struggle.

"Yes, with their power we can do it so are you ready?" Yukino said as she pulled out her two gold keys and tossed them into the air as she ran. "Together we will succeed!"

"Yeah let's go!" Lucy said understanding the plan and letting go of the door and turning towards the rushing Yukino as she pulled out her 10 gold keys and tossed them into the air as well.

As soon as the 12 keys of the zodiac were in the air they formed a circle, teeth in and glowed bright yellow, a very noticeable contrast with the dark sky. The glow soon became a ball of brilliant light that send beams all around as it spun around the keys in the center of the light while the guards looked stunned and amazed at what was going on.

At the same time Yukino and Lucy fell to their knees before each other and clasped hands, fingers interlocking. It would take their combined power to invoke this specific spell, one only they as the holders of the 12 Zodiac contracts could do, and both girls poured their all into the spell.

"O, celestial spirits of the Zodiac!" Yukino intoned as she and Lucy connected with each other and pressed their bodies together breast to breast.

"Lend us the strength to seal away the wicked!" Lucy added as both girls closed their eyes.

"Open." Yukino said.

"Gates of the Twelve Signs!" Lucy finished.

There was a ding from the keys and then a beam of golden light tore down from them and onto the two Celestial Wizards encasing them in a circle of magic. As it did there was a ding-dong sound like that from a clock and at that Lucy and Yukino leant back and turned their faces up, eyes still closed, to the light pouring down on them.

"The Zodiac!" They said in unison.

Around them in the circle there were a series of booms and the 12 gates opened as if numbers on a clock in their own upwards blasts of light. One after another and with each boom, the 12 Spirits of the Zodiac appeared in their respective spots as the guards, Hisui, Darton, and the Fairy Tail wizards present looked on in amazement as the Zodiac Celestial Spirits appeared at the same time.

"Please help us." Lucy called out to the Spirits.

As one and without a word, the 12 spirits leapt up and flew towards the gate in their bodies trailing celestial power as they moved. 6 went to one door and 6 the other and they began to push with all their strength to close it, power streaming from them as they pushed. As they did the latest dragon began to try to get out, its claws on the sides of doors but it was unable to overcome the power of the 12 Zodiac Celestial Spirits and the doors were finally closed by their might with a boom. With the doors closed the Celestial Spirits vanished returning to their world their job done as smoke filled the area.

"We did it." Lucy said still holding Yukino's hands as both giggled before they exhaled and fell into each other exhausted but managing to stay upright while still on their knees.

"Alright, you saved the day!" Wendy cried out while Happy cheered and that was joined in by the guards.

"Silence, it is too soon to start celebrating." Arcadios said cutting off any chatter. "Do we know how many dragons made it through the gate? How many are we dealing with?"

"Yes sir." A guard said his tone becoming serious as he reported to his commander. "8 made it through. I was watching closely though at least one, a green one, didn't make any sound when it came through."

"8." Arcadios said. "And there are 7 Dragon Slayers in the city. That's better odds than I'd expected though these are dragons so even going almost 1 for 1 with them is still a massive task. Quick, inform…"

"You just had to go and ruin my plans, didn't you?"

The voice cut off Arcadios's orders and came from near the gate though it wasn't directed at him but rather at Yukino and the members of Fairy Tail with her but it got the attention of everyone as they turned to the voice. The man before them was familiar to many as it was the future version of Rogue Cheney, the man who'd killed Future Lucy and had set this whole thing in motion though Hisui still didn't know who he was other than someone from the future.

"I went through a lot of hoops to keep this plan in motion when the Black Bulls almost destroyed it by showing up and ruining my prediction but I got through that in the end and my deception was kept in place." Future Rogue said with a smirk as they all looked at him. "And this result doesn't matter really in the long run. I still have 8 dragons at my command so that should be more than enough to achieve what I need to achieve."

"Enough, for what?" Yukino asked still on her knees with Lucy and holding her hands as she looked at Future Rogue.

"Yeah and where's Natsu?" Lucy asked. "What happened to him?"

"That is of no concern to me at the moment and really I must thank you." Future Rogue said his smile growing as addressed the Celestial Wizards while not bothering to mention what he'd done to Natsu. "10,000 is a bit too much for me to control."

"Care to explain yourself?" Mira asked. "And what's this about the Black Bulls? Are they part of this plan of yours? They didn't strike me as evil."

"No they're not, they're an anomaly that no one saw coming and which that traitor assuaged my doubts of." Hisui said her composure coming back now that the gate was closed. "He's the one who lied to me about the Eclipse Cannon and now I fear lied about the Black Bulls to offset my doubts."

"Oh no they are who I say they are, I heard it with my own ears, and you know it because there is no other explanation." Future Rogue said. "But don't worry about that as it won't matter soon enough. Thank you for being so naïve and trusting, Princess, it has really helped me achieve my goals."

"So that scoundrel is the time traveler who fooled you." Arcadios said taking a good look at the man. "I must admit I've never seen him before."

"How could you?" Lucy asked the stuff about the Black Bulls not crossing her mind as it seemed irrelevant right now and while she was worried about Natsu she trusted that if he had been beaten then he'd get right back up and counter with a vengeance that few could beat. "Is this why you were so against closing the gate?"

"Yes." Future Rogue said as he chuckled before he raised his arms to the dark sky and into it the 8 dragons that had passed through the gate soared. "Now, my ignorant and naïve subjects. Listen and take heed! I hereby proclaim this the end of human reign! I will now usher in a new age. The second era of dragons!"

With that the 8 dragons above and now behind Future Rogue roared as he spread his arms wide his plan coming together nicely. It showed his control over them and caused everyone present to gasp at the sight before them.

"Now my dragons, I order you to slaughter all the wizards in this city." Future Rogue said. "I want all but one dead so go to it!"

With that the dragons roared again and flew off in several directions to do as commanded while those at the Palace stared in shock and fear at the power Future Rogue had. With that Future Rogue's deception was fully revealed and the attack of the dragons commenced. The future of Fiore was now at hand.

However, this entire time those who'd been paying attention, including Future Rogue, had only noted 8 dragons pass through the gate. No one had noticed a 9th that had slipped past during the confusion of the situation and had flown high into the sky. This dragon was not under Future Rogue's control and not agreed to the plan but did have a plan hence and wanted to see what the future was like so had snuck through to watch what was going on though the dragon would not interfere or get involved in any way. It was an act that could potentially have massive ramifications in time.

The roar came down from above and alerted the Black Bulls and Mermaid Heel just in time to turn and scatter as a dragon tore down from the sky undulating through it as it did, a toothy maw filled with sharp fangs open and light inside it. A second later a massive blast of what looked like scalding water based on the steam shot out and at the command center.

"Charmy!" Yami roared.

"On it!" Charmy shouted as she raised her arms her grimoire glowing. "Cotton Creation Magic: Strike of the Sleeping Sheep!"

This wasn't the correct application of the spell but it was the best one that Charmy had at the moment, she needed to up her training it seemed, as her massive sheep appeared and took the water blast to the chest. Water vapor shot up around it while steam billowed into the air but the cotton absorbed the water and protected the command center as they began to coordinate things. News was coming in from all areas that dragons were attacking the other Guilds as well and they needed to sort things out.

Thankfully for the command center the dragon wasn't interested in keeping the attack up as it turned in the air and blasted out a second stream of boiling water at the Black Bulls on the attack squad. The blast caused them to scatter as it slammed into the ground right where Yami had been.

It missed as Yami had sensed the dragon's ki and had already leapt back as black slashes of magic appeared before him to counter the water though a few drops did hit his arms and burn him. The dragon just kept it up and focused the blast along the ground trying to hit the running bulls but portals appeared in front of them as they ran and transported them to the promenade above the square though a few got minor burns from water touching them before they reached the portals.

That didn't deter the dragon which twisted in the air and landed with a crash on the ground right where Asta had walked into the square for the final and churring it up in the process. As it did another portal opened and the Black Bulls on the attack squad walked out, Noelle in front while the others fanned out in a slightly curved line with Asta on her right and Yami her left both with swords drawn. Luck and Magna stood by Yami while Gauche and Gordon stood to the side of Asta as the studied the dragon before them.

It was a dark blue serpentine dragon with scales fish-like and undulating white frill ridge down it's back to its broad, flat, tail. As expected it had 4 legs that seemed to break it's body up into thirds with 1/3rd being before the front legs, 1/3rd after, and 1/3rd between its legs that were covered in the same blue scales and ending in viciously clawed feet, while it's underbelly was a lighter shade of blue and ridged. A long mustache thing flowed from either side of its nose and two long, white, horns swept back from hits skull in a curvy style.

However, despite its appearance the strangest thing about it was that water seemed to ooze off it from between its scales and drip from its open mouth. Unlike the blasts it had attacked with this water didn't steam but it was still clear and prevalent as it surveyed the Black Bulls just as they surveyed it.

"My you look awfully tasty." The dragon said in a low, rumbling, voice that was clearly male and surprised the Black Bulls while more water dripped from its mouth as it spoke. "Just need to boil you first, I like my meat boiled before I consume it."

"You won't be killing any of us." Yami said calmly. "You overgrown lizard. Plus you only have one head, not 5 so you're not a dragon."

"How dare an inferior human talk back to me let alone insult me!" The dragon roared as it raised its long neck to really tower over them and let out a bellow that felt like waves crashing against rocks. "I am the mighty Sea King Dragon, feared ruler of the depths in my era and this and you will boil before me pitiful humans!"

"Did you say Sea King Dragon?" Noelle asked blinking as a calm fell over her though seeing the water it used to attack earlier had helped, as had the fact that she'd gotten some on her but she'd not felt it at all. "So you're a water dragon then."

"Yes I see you've heard of me, I'm not surprised." The Sea King Dragon said sounding pleased at Noelle's question. "My terror is mighty and you will be the first of this new era to experience before I head to the seas once more. That strange human's plan sounds fun and I always hated the dragons who wanted peace with humans. Why my peace with your food I always say."

"Oh this is going to be good." Noelle said as she held her wand out to her side her grimoire floating nest to her. "Captain, I think this might just be the perfect dragon for us to face."

"I couldn't agree more." Yami said as darkness coated his blade. "Alright Squad, Noelle's in charge for this, play off her and create openings. Remember we have Finral as major support as well. Tonight we slay a dragon."

"Bah only a Dragon Slayer can best me and I see no Dragon Slayers here." The Sea King Dragon said looking down at the Black Bulls and focusing on the determined girl before him as she seemed to be the one that looked the tastiest. "And I'll start the girl. I do agree with that green dragon who likes to strip human dignity before he eats them, human females taste best. Prepare to face the might of the Sea King Dragon!"

With that boiling water filled the Sea King Dragon's maw and blasted out right at Noelle who held her ground as the boys on either side of her backed away and got ready for the battle. The dragon attack was now in full swing with battles all over the city and one such battle was the Black Bulls against the Sea King Dragon.

I think that's a good place to leave this chapter off, a nice little cliffhanger for y'all to enjoy as the Black Bulls start the battle off hot. This battle will occupy the first part of the overall battle and be the next chapter so various canon things like Natsu v. Future Rogue round 2, Zirconis, naked Lucy being thrown into Natsu and all that fun, and the other battles will follow canon around them while the Black Bulls try to deal with the lizard in their way. For anyone wondering why I went with this dragon as the 8th one and brought in explicitly to face the Black Bulls, the reason is twofold. The first is that I needed a water based dragon for it and I couldn't use the Water Dragon God and the second is that I wanted it to at least be somewhat canon and that is what this dragon, or its lacrima at least, is. That's because one of God Serena's Dragon Slayer magics is listed as Sea King Dragon Slayer Magic (and it's clear he has a water Dragon Slayer Magic) so I used that as the dragon for the Black Bulls with my own designs for it for y'all to enjoy. Other than that there really isn't much more to add to this chapter so I will leave it off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and I will try to answer any questions posed in reviews and PMs as best I can. Until next time.

Stringdog