Hi everyone, welcome back to Fairy May Cry.
Before we get started however… I would like to take a moment of silence for us to mourn the unfortunate loss of Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama. His work was not just art… it was a foundation that led to the inspiration and existence of nearly every Shonen anime that we all know and love today, Fairy Tail being among them. It was also what brought anime to Western audiences for us to begin with. Though the artist has now passed away, his work shall forever remain in our hearts as we move forward. Rest in peace, Akira.
Now to the main story, I am so pleased that the final battle of my iteration of the Grand Magic Games was so well received. Juvia has been one of my favorite characters in the show, she had so much potential but… just like Lisanna and so many others… that potential was virtually wasted in canon as she became little more than Gray's stalker girlfriend with only one or two moments of badassery when there could have been so much more. While her love for Gray is a part of her character that I have no intention of changing, there is also way more to her than just that. I plan on giving her the depth and respect she deserves. In this battle, she showed that you don't need to have any fancy magics or demonic power to be strong.
And now that the tournament is out of the way for the story, and Fairy Tail has officially won the Grand Magic Games, we can now focus on the ongoing crisis with the Eclipse Gate and let me tell ya… it is going to be crazy, starting with this particular chapter. And with that being said… let's get this chapter started.
Mastermind
"IT'S OVER! THE WINNER OF THE GRAND MAGIC GAMES IS FAIRY TAIL!" Following Chapati's announcement, everyone in Domus Flau cheered as loudly as they could. It was so loud in fact that even the victorious Team Fairy Tail could hear it even in the city despite how far away the colosseum was on the mountaintop.
"Man, that sound is incredible! You can hear it all the way from here!" Gray commented with a smile.
"This is incredible! If they start cheering any louder, the ground may start to shake!" Juvia said in the same happy tone of voice.
"Jeez, will somebody shut em up?" Gajeel groaned. "This noise is making my wounds itch."
"Now don't be like that. They're cheers of celebration." Erza said with a slight smile.
"I'd celebrate myself if it didn't feel like my head was about to split." Nero commented, rubbing his head, but he did put on a teasing grin for Laxus. "But your old man's gotta be pretty proud, huh?"
Laxus looked away slightly but kept up a smile. "Putting the old geezer aside, I'd say this more than makes up for the seven years of humiliation our guildmates endured."
The six of them happened to glance towards Sting and Lector, the White Dragon Slayer and his beloved Exceed companion still holding onto each other fiercely and crying their eyes out. Despite being on the receiving end of both of their mockery, it was evident to see that the two did genuinely care about each other, and the six members of Fairy Tail did seem genuinely happy for them.
"Just listen to this crowd roar it's approval!" Chapati said joyously as everyone in the audience continued to cheer as they saw the image of the six-person team standing on the lacrimation. "The mightiest guild in Fiore is back with a vengeance!"
"Congratulations Maky." Yajima sat back with a smile.
"Oh wow…! They finished the final battle without losing anyone!" Mato almost couldn't believe it. However, the mascot of the Grand Magic Games also happened to notice some royal soldiers entering the commentators' box from behind.
"Fairy Tail has clawed its way from a last place start to a first place upset! And don't forget, the upstart guild was originally split into two separate competing teams!" Chapati continued as the image of Fairy Tail standing in victory was shown all across Crocus as the other competing guilds all regrouped and recovered; including everyone in Teams Blue Pegasus and Quatro Puppy as all of them, especially Wally, looked to the lacrimation with smiles.
"Even without the participation of Natsu Dragneel and Dante Redgrave! An amazing sense of solidarity!" Yajima commented as everyone in Lamia Scale and Mermaid Heel recovered too. Lucia had crawled her way out of the sewers thanks to some aid from Arana and Beth; Sapphire was helped up by Amarilla and Risley; Sherry and Sho were helping Sherria and Lyon respectively to get the two back on their feet; Yuka and Toby also helped the mighty Jura to stand back up.
"I certainly agree." Chapati said. "Tell us Mato, what are your thoughts?"
"Me? Oh um… well… yeah! They really put on a show!" Mato responded as even the defeated members of Sabertooth recovered, but they didn't seem as celebratory. Rufus, Orga, and Dobengal, they all looked with glares towards the monitors from their respective spots. But for some reason, Minerva was nowhere to be found.
As many in the audience all continued to cheer, the group of Wizard Saints consisting of Kurenai, Gandelina, and Aurora all smiled contently to not only the image of Team Fairy Tail on the lacrimation, but even the celebrating observing members of Fairy Tail in their box. Even Kurenai made eye-contact with both Sparda and Mavis, the latter waving to her while the former smiled and nodded, to which Kurenai nodded back with a congratulatory smile of her own. Bruni then leapt at all three of them and pulled them into an embrace with a wide and cheeky grin, causing them all to smile amusingly.
"This year's games had too many impressive battles to count." Yajima said.
"Which member did you find most memorable, Mato?" Chapati asked, only for him to look in surprise to see that the tournament's mascot was no longer present.
"He's gone…" Yajima also seemed surprised. "Well, maybe he had to take a leak."
"Oh… uh… well in that case… what was your favorite bout, Mr. Yajima?" Chapati asked.
"Mirajane and Jenny's sexy pose-off. I hadn't felt that young in years." Yajima smiled dreamingly.
"Well, this is awkward." Chapati said nervously.
"Hey, you doing okay Kagura?" Milliana asked as the two members of Mermaid Heel were together near Team Fairy Tail as well.
"I'll be fine…" The swordswoman looked away slightly. "But… I've recently found out that… I may have some issues that I need to work on. And one of them involves me apologizing to you, Milliana." That caused the cat-girl to look at her in confusion as a question mark appeared over her head. "I took you for granted, you and everyone else in our guild, that includes our friends, Wally and Sho. Becoming stronger for the sake of my vengeance towards Jellal had been my primary, if not sole, focus. I let my anger and hate fester inside me for too long. Perhaps if I found a way to let it all go sooner and open up to the rest of you… maybe I wouldn't have been consumed by my own darkness… and let it spread to you." She looked to her friend and guild-sister with a sincere expression. "I'm sorry, Milliana."
She seemed to understand what Kagura was saying and gave her response. "Well… I was kinda obsessed with all that too, and I took everyone for granted myself. So, I'm just as guilty. But… Even though I'm not sure if I'll be able to forgive Jellal for what happened… I'm not going to let the past control me anymore. I'll try to move forward."
"It seems we both have a lot to work through, Milliana. Perhaps it would be easier if did it together." Kagura offered with a small smile.
Milliana smiled back as she hugged Kagura. "I love you, Kagura."
"I love you too." She smiled as she hugged her back.
Their exchange happened to be noticed by Erza as she smiled as well, happy for them. And they weren't the only ones…
Rogue smiled in the direction of Sting and Lector as they continued to shed tears, truly happy to see them reunite.
"I'm so happy that Lector's okay." Frosch was practically crying.
"So am I." Rogue said. "Hey Frosch…"
"What is it?" The Exceed in the frog costume looked up to his Dragon Slayer companion.
"I'm sorry." Rogue began, looking down in shame. "I'm sorry I brought you into Sabertooth, I'm sorry I got you dragged into my own quest for power, and I'm sorry if it ever felt like that I had ignored you. You've been by my side the whole time, and I brought you into a guild that neither of us should have been a part of. But I promise to make it up to you."
"So, we're really leaving Sabertooth?" Frosch asked.
"Yes, we are." Rogue confirmed and he noticed the look of relief in the green-furred Exceed's eyes. "And I promise that things will be different. I want to change. I want to be the kind of person who cares for others, who helps the weak, I want to be better… not just a better fighter… but a better person."
Frosch smiled towards his best friend. "That's how I feel too."
"Hey." The duo saw Gajeel approaching them. "How ya holding up?"
"I'll live. And thank you, Gajeel." Rogue bowed his head. "You and your guild, for helping Lector… and for what you said to me back there."
"Forget it." The Iron Dragon Slayer waved off. "Just curious though… did you know what happened with that guy and his dragon?" Gajeel gestured his head towards Sting for emphasis. "The whole 'killing so he could become a true Dragon Slayer' bullshit?"
Rogue's smile faded. "Sting mentioned it to me once when we first met, yes. He asked I didn't bring it up to anyone else, and I respected his wish."
"Was it the same for you?" Gajeel asked.
"Well… not exactly." Rogue looked away, recalling a certain memory of my own. "I took Skiadrum's life, but not out of a desire to gain any kind of legendary power. The truth is, after battling and slaying a powerful demon, he was cursed." That got Gajeel's attention. "A special kind of curse that eats away at one's spirit in the most painful way possible. He was in utter agony, and there was no way to undo the curse so… I just helped put in an end to it." He closed his eyes tightly, even if it was to end someone's pain and suffering, it clearly left its mark on him. "He was like a father to me… I never wanted to do it."
Gajeel's gaze softened somewhat. "Sorry."
"Thank you." Rogue said with relief. Despite recalling a painful memory, the fact that his idol had listened to him share his grievances and even expressed his sympathy meant a lot.
"Looks like it's all over." Nero said to the rest of his teammates as Gajeel rejoined them.
"All that's left is the celebration." Juvia put in.
"Hey Erza, how's that arm?" Gray asked, noticing the condition her left arm was in.
"There may be some scarring, but it should be fine in a few days." Erza replied.
"Can't believe I'm saying this but… it's strange not having you-know-who around hollering and making noise." Laxus put in with a humorous smile.
"One less of a headache if you ask me." Nero said as Sting and Lector appeared to calm down from their reunion. "By the way… anyone heard anything from the others?"
"Nope." Laxus shook his head.
"Nuh-uh." Gray didn't hear anything either.
"I ain't worried. Knowing our Salamander, he probably just forgot to check in." Gajeel commented.
"I can see Natsu doing that. But between Dante, Modeus, and everyone else in their group, one of them should have said something or reached out to the others." Juvia said.
"Yeah… not like Kyrie to just ghost us either." Nero put in, looking away with some nervousness.
Their conversation happened to be partially overheard by Sting and Lector. "Ghosting…? Check in…?" The White Dragon Slayer muttered.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Lector asked him.
"Hey. Tell me something." Sting got all their attention.
Suddenly Gajeel was on him with a glare, causing Lector to hide behind Sting in comic fear. "Oh, you want some more do ya?!"
"Gajeel, please calm down!" Juvia tried pulling him away.
"Sorry but… what happened with Natsu and Dante? Why weren't they in the fight today?" Sting asked.
"Actually, I've been rather curious myself about that." Rogue also said as he stepped forward with Frosch. As everyone in Team Fairy Tail looked away with serious and complicated expressions, Kagura and Milliana both looked towards each other with concern as they had an idea of what was going on.
"Did something happen to them?" Frosch asked worriedly.
"Are Natsu or Dante hurt?" Lector also asked with the same kind of concern.
"You know, we could ask you the same kind of thing. Why didn't Vergil patriciate in this thing?" Nero asked, causing the two Sabertooth Dragon Slayers to wince slightly. "Heard your master had a stroke and he had to take his place, but I'm not buying it."
"I'll have to agree." Erza said. "Aside from your master's possible condition, Vergil would be smart enough to know that not participating in the tournament would severely dimmish your guild's chances of winning."
"And if I'm being honest, if it were him that all of us would be fighting in the end instead of you…" Gray said, mostly towards Sting. "…I'm not sure we would have won."
The Twin Dragon Slayers and their Exceed friends looked towards each other before Rogue decided to give them an answer. "Our master did not take our defeat in Day Four all that well. Lector tried to defend our honor, or at least Sting's anyway… but then our master tried to kill him." That caused nearly everyone in Fairy Tail, as well as Milliana and Kagura, to look in surprise, while Lector shivered, remembering that horrific scene all too well, even as Sting put a comforting hand on his head as Rogue continued. "Sting tried to fight back, then our master tried to kill him… and Vergil had ended his life in retaliation."
"He killed your master…?" Juvia's eyes widening in shock as her teammates were surprised by this as well.
"Yeah. Minerva took Lector hostage to make sure I gave it my all in the tournament." Sting added. "She said since Vergil killed Jiemma, he should be our new master. But I wouldn't put it past her to have some kind of ulterior motive behind it."
"Given what we've seen from her character, it is possible she would have tried to use that as a way to gain a higher position for herself." Erza assumed.
"Yes, I can see her doing that as well." Rogue replied. "Minerva is nothing if not ambitious."
"Okay, so you know about Vergil, but what about Dante or Natsu?" Sting asked once more.
"Uh Erzy…?" Milliana walked forward while also helping Kagura there as well before speaking to the redhead in a whisper. "This wouldn't happen to do with what you're doing with you-know-who, right?" Erza noticed the complicated look in Kagura's eyes and knew exactly who she was talking about.
As much as Erza wanted to confirm that for her friend, there was also something else that was nagging at her in the back of her head, ever since they just started talking about Vergil. He would have been smart enough to see through Minerva's attempt to use him and he wasn't the type to submit to anybody like that. While it was true that he was tricked by Arkham seven years ago, Minerva was nowhere near Arkham's level in terms of manipulation or intelligence. Something wasn't right.
"Warren, are you there?" Erza reached out via a telepathic link the psychic of Fairy Tail had set up.
"Erza?" Warren received her connection while the rest of his guild continued to celebrate. "What's going on? We set up this link for emergencies. You can't use it in case someone in the tournament's committee is observing and we could get disqualified for something like that."
"The tournament is over now, so it's fine, but that's not important." Erza responded. "Did you hear back from Dante, Natsu, or Jellal yet?"
"Nope, haven't heard back from them. Everyone's getting a little worried." Warren answered.
"Alright, but one last thing… where is Vergil?"
"Vergil?" Warren was confused by that. But the mention of that name had also drawn the attention of most others in Fairy Tail, notably the spirits of Sparda and Mavis. "What are you…?'
"Is he still there? Can you confirm his location?" Erza insisted.
Though confused, Warren followed through with her request and looked towards the observatory box for the Sabertooth guild. The same spot where Vergil had been since the battle royale had begun and hadn't moved since…
Only to find that the eldest Son of Sparda was no longer there.
"He's gone…!"
While Warren was beyond surprised and Mavis was more than a little concerned, Sparda's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Vergil's gone." Erza informed her teammates, to their further surprise, as well as that of Sting, Rogue, Lector, Frosh, Kagura, and Milliana.
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Nero questioned.
"He's vanished. Our guildmates can't seem to find him." Erza explained.
"What? He decided to ditch the whole thing?" Gajeel wondered.
Gray couldn't help but direct his gaze towards Domus Flau. "I don't know why… but I just got really bad feeling about this."
Vergil had already left the box and was now walking silently through the hallways within the colosseum. Taking a brief moment to make sure that he was alone, the eldest Son of Sparda had torn off the strap on his left arm, the one that bore the emblem of Sabertooth, and let it drop to the floor.
He then quickly drew the Yamato and sliced vertically than horizontally, crossing two slashes in space before they connected and expanded to create a portal. He then stepped into said portal, which closed soon after. There was no further trace of him afterwards, save for the discarded sash with Sabertooth's symbol that continued to lay on the ground.
"Barbiel!" Throwing her hands forward, a bolt of lightning shot up from the ground in front of Sorano as another one of her angels was summoned. This particular angel as all white with four arms and six wings, its lower body made out of white clouds, as was its beard. All four of its hands surged with lightning before a powerful bolt was sent in the direction of Uosuke.
"Terrain Effect: Gravity Zone!" Pointing his finger upward, Uosuke had directed the gravity around himself, causing the lightning bolt to veer around him.
"Damn it." Sorano cursed, only to gasp slightly as she found her body now hovering in the air, all thanks to Uosuke's still active Gravity Zone spell.
"I told ya'll, ain't no escaping from my net." He sung to her while still maintaining his far-off expression when suddenly… he was pressed hard against the ground by a crushing force. "What in the blue-belly…!?"
"Let's see how you like it! Terrain Effect: Gravity Zone!" Sheeree had copied Uosuke's powers and had pressed it as hard as she could to keep the hillbilly pinned and prevent him from moving.
"Hey… that ain't fair…!" He grunted, being crushed under enough pressure that it broke his concentration and freed Sorano, causing her to land back on the ground.
"Thanks Sheeree, now it's time to finish this! Barbiel!" Once more she summoned her lightning-wielding angel just as Sheeree used another copied spell on Uosuke.
"Terrain Effect: Whirlpool Zone!" Sheeree had summoned a whirlpool of water that had caught up Uosuke and trapped him into the twister of water, just as Sorano's Barbiel summons had brought down another lightning bolt. This combination caused a powerful surge of electrical power that thoroughly shocked Uosuke. The water turned into steam as Uosuke's crisp and unconscious body fell to the ground in a heap.
"Ugh, too crispy. Better throw it back." Sheeree joked, causing Sorano to giggle slightly as they shared a high-five.
Multiple flowers had popped up around Ultear, allowing the injured Cosmos to attack. "Makura Kamura!" The flowers unleashed a multitude of toxic spores, all in the form of an orange cloud that seemed to completely engulf Ultear.
"Spores can last thousands of years unlike most plants. Before you can even reach that a year with your foul time magic, your body will already be a rotting corpse!" The vengeful and injured Cosmos declared.
However, a powerful blizzard of purple snow had begun to blow away all the spores, revealing the very-still alive Ultear, taking an Ice-Make stance as the blizzard blew around her, much to Cosmos' shock.
"Perhaps, but they don't survive the cold, do they?" Ultear asked rhetorically as she unleashed her next attack. "Ice-Make: Dahlias!" She had unleashed a large dahlia flower made out of purple ice with multiple vines from its rear, this had sent Cosmos flying into the air. Not giving her opponent any time to recover, Ultear had materialized her crystal ball above Cosmos, which then split apart into dozens more. "Flash Forward!" All the crystal balls shot at Cosmos from all directions, striking her from every way until she was no longer able to fight and fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Paper Blizzard: Red Dance!"
"Acid Pillar!"
Kamika and Neppa had Meredy surrounded on both sides as they unleashed their respective attacks on her. However, she simply stood there and maintained a confident smirk… right as a Sensory Link had appeared on the wrists of both Neppa and Kamika.
"The hell is this…?!" Neppa questioned in annoyance.
"Oh no…" Kamika's face dreaded as she recognized this move.
"You guys never learn, do ya?" The combined attack of acid and flaming papers had indeed appear to struck Meredy, but she didn't feel any of it. Rather, Neppa's whole body was set on fire while Kamika felt the burning sensation of the acid, both opponents screaming in pain as they fell to their knees, glaring at the young woman who stood above them.
"Who are you…? To stand over us…? A criminal above a knight of justice?!" Kamika spat.
"Titles don't mean jack to me." Meredy told her and Neppa. "We got a job to do, and it involves us saving innocent lives from your idiot princess. If that makes me a criminal, I'll wear that with pride. Maguilty Rays!" Throwing one hand up, Meredy had summoned multiple glowing yellow blades that went up in the air before splitting and coming down to rain on both Neppa and Kamika, finishing them off as they fell to the ground in unconsciousness.
All that remained standing, even among the royal soldiers, was Kama as he continued to swing his dual scythes relentlessly at Jellal, who dodged and avoided many, before thrusting his hand to emit a shield of golden energy to block one scythe-blade. Even as Kama negated that shield with a swing of his other axe, Jellal had appeared behind him with a split-second Meteor spell and struck him in the back with a powerful kick, while simultaneously grabbing the poles of both scythes with his hands and threw them away, just as the kick had sent him rolling across the ground. Though the leader of the Wolf Knights tried to get back up on his feet, he quickly fell to his knees, the injuries and fatigue quickly catching over him.
"You fought hard, but you can't fight any longer. Stand down." Jellal told him.
"I will never… surrender… or accept mercy from a heinous criminal such as you…!" Kama spat, trying to force himself on his feet, despite being disarmed and injured. "I swore a vow to the kingdom… and I will never break it!" With a yell, he rushed Jellal and threw a punch at him, but Jellal had ducked under the punch and threw his own glowing fist into Kama's stomach.
"I'm sorry." He said sincerely, before the glowing energy unleashed a large beam of his magic that blasted Kama away before he crashed through the ground, leaving a trail as he skidded to a halt, surrounded by all the royal soldiers that had been defeated.
"Princess… forgive me… I failed you…" Kama muttered before finally falling unconscious.
That was it, the last of the Wolf Knights had been defeated, they and all the other royal soldiers sent in to detain the intruders now laid unconscious on the ground, not a single casualty among their own ranks.
"Is that all of them?" Jellal asked.
"Yeah, that was the last of em." Sheeree confirmed.
"Then we need to meet up with Fairy Tail now. We've wasted enough time as it is." Jellal declared before blasting a hole in the wall that he was certain that led outside. However, he and his guildmates were surprised at what they saw.
It was a wall of ice. Pitch black ice that was impossible to near see through, and it seemed to spread out in all directions. If one could get an aerial view, one could see that whole section of the castle was covered in it.
"Black Ice…? Ultear…?" Meredy looked towards her.
"It's not like anything I've seen before…" Ultear looked in awe as she walked forward to try and put her hand on the ice, but quickly pulled it back as it practically burnt her at the touch. "It's powerful… and cold… perhaps even on par with my mother's Iced Shell."
"Who the hell put this up?! That fisher freak?!" Sheeree questioned.
"No, I don't think so." Jellal countered. "If it was him, he would have used it on our battle. Somebody else is responsible for this."
"It might be that other time-traveler. The one who came through the Eclipse Gate besides Lucy." Sorano assumed.
"Then we need to find a way to break through it." Meredy said. "If they did this to cut us off from our friends in Fairy Tail, then they know we're onto them!"
"So Wendy and the others could in be in trouble." Sheeree understood.
"Agreed." Jellal readied his own Heavenly Body Magic just as his guildmates prepared their own respective magics. "Do what it takes to break through this wall! The fate of the world may depend on it!"
Meanwhile, in the courtyard outside, Dante and Moloch clashed swords once more, but right as they did, Dante used his Trickster to shoot up and land a headbutt into Moloch's jaw and followed through with an airborne cartwheel kick in the same spot to knock the demon further back. "Doppelgänger!" Three shadow clones of Dante surrounded Moloch on all sides as they and the original each fired their own Ebony and Ivory into Moloch, which he was unable to defend against.
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" The airborne Natsu blasted himself right into the face of the S-Class monster like a missile and obliterated its whole head. The decapitated S-Class then fell towards the ground as its whole body disappeared.
Moloch was brought down to his knees from Dante's attack, which the red-clad Devil Hunter chose to press as he rushed Moloch, pulling Rebellion back with a mighty swing…
Only for the smirking Moloch to summon the S-Class once again directly in front of Dante, much to his shock, just before the S-Class stomped him into the ground.
"Have you already forgotten? I can summon beasts as many times as I want!" The demon reminded. "Crush them all you desire. I'll just bring them back!"
"Not if I burn you to a crisp first!" Natsu shot himself at Moloch, flames from his feet providing propulsion, only for two A-Class monsters to be summoned above Natsu and land on top of him, smashing him into the ground.
"Natsu!" Lisanna, still in her Tigress Take-Over, looked in shock, and that left her open for a B-Class to blast Lisanna with a point-blank breath attack. She laid on the ground, her body smoking from that attack, and gasped as she saw that B-Class, and two others, prepare another breath attack to finish her off…
Only for Mira in her Halphas Form to appear in front of her, flex her hand to deflect many of the blasts before retaliating with blasts of her own to obliterate the B-Class. But as they fell, four C-Class monsters had appeared to unleash a ranged combined fire-breath attack and Mira was prepared to handle it, but Lisanna quickly rushed past her.
"Take Over: Animal Soul: Mermaid!" Her lower body had transformed into a mermaid tail just as the four C-Class monsters unleashed their fire attack, but Lisanna already had her own attack planned. "Water Nebula!" Lunging her arms forward, Lisanna had unleashed a helix of water that extinguished the combined fire attack, creating a steam cloud to obscure the C-Class beasts' vision, leaving them open for Lisanna to fight back as she closed the distance "Water Slash!" Swinging her arms outward, two steams of water were sliced outward to decapitate all four beasts in one attack.
'The second I learned my Mermaid form has water magic, I asked Juvia for help and she showed me I can use the same kind of magic attacks as her.' Lisanna thought to herself. 'Even if I didn't participate in the Games, those three months of training are paying off for me too.'
'I can see it.' Mira thought as she observed her sister. 'Lisanna's animal souls are all evolving and developing abilities of their own. Now she has more to rely on than just her Dragon Soul.' A smirk fell on her face. 'Let's keep growing together, Lisanna.' But her smile of pride vanished as an A-Class monster appeared before her. 'Just as soon as we finish this up.' She thew her fist forward to collide with the punch of the A-Class.
"Sky Dragon Roar!" Wendy's breath attack collided with the fire-breath from one C-Class, the young Dragon Slayer's whirlwind blew away the flames and struck the C-Class to obliterate it, but she seemed surrounded by two more C-Class, one B-Class, and six D-Class, all of which lunged at her with teeth and claws.
However, Cana quickly rushed to Wendy's side. "Kid's off limits! Prayer's Fountain!" Slamming one card on the ground, it created a geyser of water that had encircled around herself and Wendy, which impacted all the surrounding monsters. The B-Class was relatively unaffected while the C-Class and D-Class were all thrown up in the air, leaving them vulnerable for Modeus to come in as he leapt at one, swung Hunter's Moon at its neck, before zipping to the others with such speed that it seemed like a blur until he landed on the ground with his red sword outstretched, and all the monsters were swiftly decapitated.
All that remained was the B-Class that seemed ready to strike at Modeus from behind with its breath attack, only for its head to get blown off by an explosive attack, one launched at it from behind by Lady, having unleashed her Steel Devil Bazooka on it.
Trish had swung down the Devil Sword Sparda to bisect a C-Class, just as Panther-Lily had decapitated another C-Class with Baskerville, still in his battle-form, just as Loke's glowing punches smashed the faces of two D-Class. The three of them backed closer towards Kyrie, who kept Sanctuary Spell up to protect Lucy, Yukino, and Future Lucy while Happy and Carla stayed close to them.
"We're not getting anywhere like this!" Loke stated.
"Agreed. Every time we destroy one monster, Moloch re-summons it, essentially giving him an endless army at his command." Lily said. "And our stamina is anything but unlimited. He'll wear us down until we're too exhausted to keep going."
"And we're short on time." Trish said as she glanced back towards the celestial wizards in Kyrie's crystal shield, specifically Lucy and her future self. "Carla, Happy…" She got the Exceeds' attention. "You two need to get Lucy and Yukino to the Eclipse Gate. Lily, you take the other Lucy too. The rest of us will stay here and finish off Moloch."
"What? No, we can help you!" Lucy stated.
"We can still fight! We have plenty of magic power!" Yukino said.
"No! Save it for the Eclipse Gate!" Trish stated. "Dante, Modeus, and I can still use our Devil Triggers! Between those, Natsu's lightning-flame powers, and Mira's Satan Souls, we can overpower Moloch and his forces!"
"But…" Lucy tried to protest.
"They're right." Even Kyrie agreed. "Lucy, you and Yukino are the only ones that can actually damage the Gate. The rest of us can't do anything to it, even my Arc of Seraph is useless." She winced slightly at her own remark, but knew it to be true. "You need to go, there's no time left!"
"No!" Future Lucy practically screamed, much to the group's shock as they looked toward her, despite the explosions of the ongoing battles all around them. "That's what happened last time…! We tried splitting up… and we couldn't make it…!" She clung her own head again, falling to her knees as the panic seeped in once more. "I can't leave my friends again! No! Not again! Not again!"
"Oh Lucy…" Happy muttered in sympathy while Carla tried to think.
'Even if something like that is what happened to her in the future, every second we waste here brings us closer to the end.' The white Exceed thought as she gazed up towards the moon. 'The lunar eclipse has not yet begun, but that can change at any second. Perhaps it would be best for us to…'
"We're not splitting up!" Lucy declared as she stood firm, to everyone's surprise and that of her future self. "I have a plan that'll get us all to the Gate! I'm pulling out my last trump card!"
"Lucy…" Trish looked like she was about to protest, but blonde Celestial Wizard already had her mind made up.
"Kyrie, I'll need you to clear a path! Blow away as many of the monsters as you can and give me an open shot on Moloch!" Lucy told her before turning to her honorary cousin. "Trish, you know how this spell works, so I'll need you to time it! This way it can hit Moloch before he can summon any more monsters! Loke…" She turned to him next. "…I'll need your help. Just so that we have enough power to keep going and destroy the Gate, I need you to transfer all your power to me and Gemini. It might put you out of it for a while but…"
"You don't have to explain, Lucy." Loke held his up hand with an assuring smile. "I trust you."
"Lucy… is there anything I can do to help?" Yukino offered. "Maybe if I summon Ophiuchus…"
"No, save that powerhouse for the Gate." Lucy told her. "We're going through with this. Trish…"
Everyone looked to her as it seemed like that her help was absolutely essential to pull it off, if what Lucy said is anything to go by. But as much as Trish wanted to protest, she knew that Lucy was right. They were short on time, and this could be a guaranteed way to get them all to the Gate so they can smash it, and probably kick that bratty princess' ass while they were at it. And if Loke could indeed transfer his power into Lucy, not to mention the additional powerup she undoubtedly gained from Ultear unlocking her Second Origin, she would still have plenty to spare.
"Alright. Let's give em hell." Trish nodded with a grin.
"Thanks, cousin." Lucy smiled while Future Lucy looked up slightly with shaky eyes.
"Kyrie, drop the shield." Trish instructed.
"Okay." She did as she was told and dropped her Sanctuary Spell just as Lucy pulled out a certain key.
"Open! Gate of the Twins! Gemini!" With a swing of her key, Lucy had summoned the twin spirits of Gemini, once more in the form of Lucy. But unlike before where they were in a swimsuit, this appearance was clad in the exact same clothing as Lucy was currently wearing.
"No time to waste, Gemini! We're gonna make these guys see stars!" Lucy ordered.
"Got it!" Gemini-Lucy understood as they side-by-side with Lucy's right hand reaching out towards Gemini-Lucy's left hand, both touching right as Loke held both of their shoulders. Loke's body was the first to glow a brilliant gold, the aura passing to and enveloping Lucy and her Gemini double.
"Kyrie, when I say now… you're gonna unleash that whale-spell of yours and blow all these guys away, clearing a path right to Moloch!" Trish told her.
"I understand." Kyrie was already preparing her own spell, standing in front of the two glowing Lucys, her hands pointed forward as her body began to glow white just as both Lucy and Gemini-Lucy began to recite the incantation.
"Oh stars far and wide that embody the heavens, by thy radiance, reveal thy form." A golden magic circle with a bright and rotating star in the center had formed below them, the bright light from it shinning upward and over them. "I implore Tetra Biblos, eternal ruler of the stars above."
Yukino gasped as she seemed recognized this. 'Is she… really using that spell…?'
The bright light from the conjoined efforts of Lucy, Gemini, and Loke, as well as that from Kyrie, had drawn the attention of all the Fairy Tail members, as well as the monsters under Moloch's command and even Moloch himself.
"What is this? Another Fairy Tail trick?!" The demon growled.
However, Dante, Natsu, Lisanna, Modeus, Lady, and Wendy all recognized this glow. They knew Lucy had been practicing this and had even managed to make it one of her two trump cards. They all knew exactly what was coming.
"My spell is ready whenever you say, Trish!" Kyrie stated as the white glow around her body was now condensed into her hands.
"Wait for it…" Trish knew the timing had to be perfect for this to work. But since she and Lady were the ones who worked more with Lucy to help master this spell, she knew exactly how it worked.
Loke's glowing body had all but vanished as all of his power was poured into Lucy and Gemini-Lucy, causing their golden aura to shine even more as they continued to recite the spell.
"I ask that you lend this power to me…" Both Lucy and Gemini-Lucy continued, their linked hands being raised as high as they could. "…Open the raging tumultuous gate!"
"Everyone, clear the way!" Trish ordered.
No time to argue; Dante, Natsu, Lisanna, Modeus, Lady, Cana, Mira, and Wendy all jumped out of the way.
"I don't know what you are planning, but I will not allow it! All beasts, converge!" Pointing forward, Moloch commanded all his Pandemonium monsters in the direction of the charging Lucy and Gemini.
"Thanks for lining up! Kyrie! Now!" Trish ordered.
"Holy Beast of Jonah!" She unleashed her attack, taking the form of a giant shark-like creature made entirely out of white energy. It opened its mouth to bite down on the waist of the S-Class monster at the front and push forward to knock back all the other beasts back before it exploded. Nearly all the D-Class and C-Class monsters were destroyed, the B-Class ones heavily damaged, while the A-Class and S-Class monsters were all blown away, clearing a path towards the shocked Moloch.
Both Lucy and Gemini-Lucy pointed their conjoined hand forward and to their unprotected foe. "…With all Eighty-Eight Heavenly Bodies… Shining…!" Lucy's eyes opened to reveal a golden star in each of them and the environment suddenly changed. Lucy and Gemini-Lucy stood across from Moloch in deep space, surrounded by a colorful nebula with countless glowing planets lining behind the Lucy and Gemini.
"What…?! What kind of human spell is this…?!" The shocked Moloch couldn't even understand what was happening and that would be his undoing.
"URANO METRIA!"
With that command, all the planetoids shot at Moloch at lightspeeds, so quick and fast that he was unable to avoid them. The demon yelled as the attack struck him, with Lucy condensing it all at one point into his chest as opposed to an all-encompassing attack, with the intent on making sure he was put down for good.
*FLASH!*
A bright golden light had shined out from the whole courtyard as Dante, Natsu, Lady, Cana, Mira, Panther-Lily, and even Trish all smirked with pride while Happy, Lisanna, and Wendy had wide smiles on their faces. Modeus and Carla had simple smiles themselves while Kyrie, Yukino, and even Future Lucy gazed in awe at what had just been done.
When the light finally vanished, Moloch laid flat on the ground in a pool of his own blood. His limbs were twisted and broken in various ways and his chest partially caved in. His sword, Crystalbane, had been blown to the side and embedded itself into the ground while his mouth had hung open with blood oozing out and his eyes were all white.
"Guys… look!" Wendy pointed to what was left of the S-Class monster as it vanished completely, along with all the other remaining Pandemonium monsters.
"The monsters…" Lisanna said as she and her sister transformed back to normal.
"They're vanishing!" Mira added.
"Moloch no longer has the energy to maintain his spell." Modeus realized. "He's been defeated."
Once it was all said and done, Gemini-Lucy had vanished, returning to the Spirit World to regain their strength while the real Lucy almost fell over, but Trish quickly caught her.
"Whoa gotcha." She said in assure.
"Lucy, are you okay?" Happy asked as Panther-Lily had turned back into his smaller form.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" The blonde smiled as she stood back on her own two feet.
"You still have energy to spare?" Carla asked.
"And then some." While Lucy could feel a large portion of her magic power gone, she still had a little more than half left, which would be enough to keep going to the Gate. "Loke's help and that Second Origin really came in handy here. Don't worry, I can keep going."
'She performed the Urano Metria spell…' Yukino felt in awe. 'Said to be the ultimate magic of the stars… even my mentor couldn't pull it off. But she used Gemini to double her own power and make up for it, while having Leo supply his own as a means for reserve. It's just as ingenious as when she used Gemini to summon half of her spirts together.' Yukino couldn't help but smile in admiration. 'Lucy Heartfilia, you are truly the ideal Celestial Wizard.'
"Alright, we need to keep moving." Lucy told everyone. "The eclipse hasn't started yet, so we can…"
There was a chuckle in the air, a weak one with the sound of liquid being coughed mix in, but it was still there, a mocking chuckle. And it came from the demon that laid on the ground… despite being beaten and unable to move any longer… he chuckled on.
"This bastard is still kicking?" Natsu growled as they all looked towards Moloch.
"I can fix that." Dante had Coyote-A drawn as he walked to the fallen demon and could clearly see the maddening, sadistic, and bloody smile on his wrecked face.
"You've played right into his hands, Fairy Tail."
Dante immediately pointed his shotgun at Moloch's face, the barrel less than an inch from the skin. "I'm getting sick of you and all your idle threats, so I'm just gonna shut you up now."
"There are no more threats to make. The Eclipse plan is already complete." Moloch revealed as everyone else in Fairy Tail narrowed their eyes while Moloch turned his gaze towards them all. "Your guild is finished. Sparda's legacy will be lost in a sea of flame and blood… and I… I shall take great joy in knowing that I had a part to…"
*PIERCE!*
Dante was forced to step back as he and all his friends looked in clear surprise to see Moloch's enormous body being shot upwards, an enormous black spike had emerged from the ground below where the demon had stood, where a swirling and fluent shadow had formed.
"What the…?!" Lady muttered as everyone else gasped and looked in clear show.
"The hell is that?!" Cana questioned.
"Some kind of shadow magic…?" Carla assumed, sounding just as confused as everyone else.
But none were more shocked than Moloch as he looked to see the large shadow-spike had pierced through his abdomen, his own demonic blood dripping from the now open wound and sliding down the shadow-spike and disappearing into the shadow below.
"What…? No…! This wasn't our deal…!" He spoke aloud, like he was speaking to whoever had casted this. The shadow spike that was now piercing out had began to change as the tip of it had grown and split apart, creating a multitude of arms that reached out to grab various parts of Moloch's body from his arms to his legs, the sides of his body, and even a pair grabbing around his neck. "You promised…. That if I helped you…!" He didn't get a chance to finish as another shadow-hand had grabbed onto his face…
And crushed his whole head completely.
Wendy gasped at that, covering her own mouth in shock as she and all her friends could only watch as the shadow hands began to rip and tear Moloch's body apart, blood and ripped pieces of his flesh fell down and were absorbed into the shadow below.
Lucy, Yukino, Kyrie, Carla, Happy, Mira, Lisanna, Modeus, even the likes of Dante, Natsu, Lady, Trish, and Panther-Lily, they were all looking in shock and even borderline horror as they saw Moloch's body ripped apart in the most gruesome way possible and every little piece of him absorbed into the shadow.
But none were more shocked than Future Lucy as she looked with shaky eyes. "That… shadow… I don't understand…. It didn't happen like this…!"
"What happened to him…?" Happy asked. "Is Moloch…?"
"Dead." Modeus confirmed. "Ripped apart and consumed by the shadow entirely."
"The hell is going on here…?" Natsu questioned.
However, once Moloch was completely consumed, the mass of shadow began to grow and take a solid shape, before slowly dissipating to reveal a humanoid figure inside.
"Somebody's in there!" Dante alerted his friends.
"Everyone, keep your guard up!" Mira told them all as they readied themselves for a fight.
The figure's distinctive features were soon becoming clear, which included a sinister smile on their face.
Meanwhile, the Eclipse Gate had been successfully moved to the outside, to the front of the castle where the Gate itself would now be directly facing the city of Domus Flau below. About three dozen royal soldiers had all gathered together to make final preparations, acting under the command of Defense Minister Darton, and Princess Hisui. The green-haired royal had donned white and lightly weighted armor with a white cape.
The pair heard the sounds of someone approaching and saw a certain man clad in white armor approach them whom they both recognized. "Princess!"
Hisui gasped with joy and relief. "Arcadios, it's you! I'm so glad that you're alright!"
Darton winced with regret. "Colonel, please forgive me throwing you into the Palace of Perdition. It was a misunderstanding on my part."
"You did what you felt was best for the people of our kingdom and of the world, I understand your reasoning and hold no grudge." Arcadios told him before looking to all the assembled soldiers. "Are all these men informed of the Eclipse 2 plan, your majesty?" He asked the princess.
"They are." Hisui confirmed. "The rest of the garrison has already been informed and word has now reached my father, who has begun the procedure to evacuate all of Crocus as we speak. Though I don't know if this will apply to all the wizards who competed in the tournament, but knowing my father, he may likely try to ask them for help if needed. The time traveler's predictions about the end of the games, it came true. We have no choice but to utilize the Eclipse 2, it's our only chance against what's coming."
"Princess, you told me that the Eclipse 2 is an unconventional method to use the Gate." Arcadios recalled. "Where it releases all the gathered magic power that you have stored up for the past seven years in the form of a makeshift blast. Am I to assume that you've abandoned our original plan to go back in time and defeat Zeref and Acnologia?"
"I realize that by doing this, it will indeed waste all the time spent gathering up magic power." Hisui acknowledged. "However, given the threat we face now… I have no choice. Perhaps there may be a way we can still proceed with the original plan, but we must focus on the more immediate threat."
"About that…" The white armored colonel began. "You claim that the one who had traveled through the Gate earlier this year had told you that Crocus will be attacked by a horde of a hundred thousand demons. Given how demonic activity has been on the rise these past seven years since Acnologia and Zeref's re-appearance, it's a likely story. However,… I sense that it is not the true story."
Hisui and Darton both looked in surprise. "Colonel… what are you talking about?" The princess questioned.
"After I was rescue by Fairy Tail and Crime Sorciere from the Palace of Perdition, we had encountered someone who had emerged from the Gate, but the apocalyptic future that was foretold was not brought upon by demons, but rather dragons." Arcadios revealed, much to the surprise of princess and defense minister.
"What…? Dragons…?" Hisui stuttered.
"That's impossible! The dragons are extinct!" Darton stated. "We have a graveyard of dragon bones underneath the city to prove that!"
"Yes, I am aware." Arcadios replied. "However… when I saw her… she was so broken and traumatized by her experience… and when she met with her friends again… I could see nothing but pure joy and relief. Those were not the emotions of a liar and I can't think of any reason that she would lie to her friends about something like that."
"Wait… did you say… she?" Hisui questioned, her eyes shaking as Arcadios and Darton were caught off guard, not just by what she said but by the way she phrased it. "The time traveler who came to warn me… that person was a man!"
Back with Fairy Tail, the figure had completely emerged from the shadows to reveal himself. He appeared to be a human man with red eyes and long hair, which was black on the right side and white on the left. Most of his black hair was over the right side of his face while the white half of it was tied back behind him in the form of a long ponytail. Despite the hair covering the right side of his face, one could make out a jagged scar that stretched from his nose to the side of his face, and there was also a sharp curved tattoo over his left eye. The man's attire consisted of a high-collared ferraiolo that was mostly white with a cape and a dark red vest, gray trousers and black boots. There was also a long black line down his chest with yellow circles, the line splitting into four pieces of cloth to cover his lower body, each with yellow circles of their own as a piece covered his front, his right and left sides, and his back.
"Shadows… much like time… stretch from the present to the past and the future… And even into the hearts of men…" The man spoke with everyone looking in mixtures of surprise and confusion, with Yukino being the most emotionally surprised.
"That voice… It… it can't be…" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"It is good to see you again, Yukino. And to the rest of you, we meet again… Natsu Dragneel, Dante Redgrave. I have traveled quite a bit of ways across time to see you. I am Rogue Cheney."
"What…?!" Dante questioned. "You're Rogue?!"
"The Shadow Dragon Slayer from Sabertooth?" Wendy also questioned.
"His scent…" Natsu took a few whiffs to try and confirm it. "He smells like the one we know… but different…"
"It has been seven years since we last met, and anything can change within that time, including one's scent. But I assure you, it is me." Future Rogue introduced himself.
"Seven years…?" Kyrie muttered before the others soon realized what he meant.
"You're the other time traveler!" Lisanna stated. "You're the one Jellal and I saw back on Day Three of the Games!"
"I am indeed." Future Rogue confirmed.
"Hey, Lucy…" Trish stuck close to Future Lucy and spoke in a whisper. "Are you sure that you came through the Gate by yourself? Was Rogue with you and maybe fell through and the Gate malfunctioned or something?"
"No, it was just me. I didn't even see Rogue when it all happened." Future Lucy answered while also whispering.
However, Future Rogue did hear what they were talking about, drawing his attention to the blonde that had also used the Eclipse to travel back in time, causing his eyes to narrow.
'Hold on… this doesn't feel right…' Mira thought to herself. 'Even if he is from that far ahead in the future… something feels off about him. Even more than the Rogue we know today…'
"Why are you here?" Happy asked.
"For the same reason the rest of you are."
All eyes turned towards the side to see a certain someone step out of the darkness and into the moon light, revealing himself and almost none of them could believe who it was that they saw.
"Vergil…?!" Dante did not expect to see his twin brother here, same with the rest of his friends.
"Hello Dante." Vergil nodded before looking towards the white-haired Celestial Wizard. "Yukino." He acknowledge her, which only caused her to startle even more.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lady glared.
"Congratulations are in order." Vergil told them all. "Fairy Tail has officially won the Grand Magic Games and reclaimed its title as the strongest guild in Fiore. However, I suspect that is the least of your concern now."
"Answer the damn question Vergil, what are you doing here?" Dante demanded from his brother.
"I can only assume that you're aware of the Eclipse Gate now." Vergil said as he took notice of the second Lucy that stood by his maternal cousin. "I see… so that's how you know. And I had thought it was a potential leak on the princess' part." He said as he walked more and stood by the side of Future Rogue. "Your predictions of the Games had come true."
"Of course, it did." Future Rogue said. "I took part in those Games myself. It almost feels like nostalgia now that I am here again."
"Wait a minute… are you two… working together?!" Mira questioned, much to everyone's further shock. The fact that Vergil and Future Rogue both stood together all but confirmed it.
"I get it." Dante's eyes narrowed. "This whole damn Eclipse plot… it's all you, isn't it?"
"It is." Vergil confirmed.
"But Vergil… wha… why… I don't understand…" Lucy stuttered.
"Then allow me to explain it to you." He offered.
"There are two who came from the future…" Arcadios began as he, Hisui, and Darton tried to piece it all together. "Lucy Heartfilia, who claims that Crocus was destroyed by an army of dragons."
"And the man the princess met who told her that the deed was done by a horde of demons." Darton said.
"The man who informed me claim he was Rogue Cheney, the Shadow Dragon Slayer from Sabertooth." Hisui revealed. "But whether it be from demons or dragons, both their predictions show that Crocus lies in ruins. The Rogue from the future had told me how the final day of the Grand Magic Games would proceed from start to finish, and everything they said that would happen did happen, down to the last detail."
"But I still don't see how or why the Lucy from the future would try to deceive her friends." Arcadios said.
"Perhaps she didn't, at least not intentionally." Hisui replied. "Arcadios, you told me that this Lucy had used her life-force as a means to utilize the Gate, and put her own life in danger because of it. What if there's a possibility it affected her mind as well?"
"But can we be certain of that?" Darton questioned. "Even if the Rogue from the future did predict the outcome of the Games… are we really to put the fate of our kingdom on his shoulders?"
"I agree… something is amiss here." Arcadios put in.
"Let's assume then that Lucy did come from a future that was besieged by dragons… how exactly is that possible with the dragons being extinct today?" Hisui questioned.
"By utilizing the Eclipse Gate." Arcadios said, much to Hisui's own surprise as the colonel directed his gaze toward the gate, prompting the others to do so. "Upon learning of Lucy's future, Fairy Tail and Crime Sorciere had a theory on how it came to pass. The Eclipse Gate was used to connect to a time when dragons once roamed all of Earthland and it was used to allow them to pass through."
"That… does make sense." Darton granted as a feeling of uneasiness swept through his being.
"Princess… perhaps it may be best to halt your attack." Arcadios advised. "There are too many contradictions between the two time-travelers' respective stories and too many risks involved. If what Lucy said is true, then it is our actions that have doomed our kingdom."
"But if what the Rogue from the future has warned me is true, then we doom our kingdom by not utilizing Eclipse." Hisui said. "But I will admit that there is even greater risk now than I had thought. That said… I will delay the opening of Eclipse."
"Your highness…" Darton said.
"Look to the sky." Hisui gazed upward, prompting Arcadios and Darton to do the same as they saw the corner of the moon slowly turning red. "We have an hour until the lunar eclipse reaches totality, an hour to determine whether our enemies are demons or dragons. Inform our men in the city to monitor for any sign of demonic activity. If there isn't, I will keep the Gate closed. But if there is… I will open the Gate and unleash all the stored up magic power."
"I understand. I will inform the soldiers immediately." Arcadios nodded as he then began to address the men gathered.
"I hope you know what you're doing, princess." Darton said to Hisui.
"As do I, Darton."
"Vergil… You're… you're behind all of this…?!" Yukino questioned as she, both Lucy and her future self, Kyrie, and Happy looked in shock while Natsu, Dante, Modeus, Lisanna, Trish, Mira, Lady, Cana, Panther-Lily, and Carla all glared.
However, Happy happened to look up and see the red glow in the corner of the moon. "Guys… the moon is turning red…!"
"The eclipse…!" Carla realized.
"Won't begin for another hour." Vergil interrupted. "It would take at least five minutes to reach the Gate from this point if you moved as fast as you could. There is still time."
"So, this whole damn thing was your idea!?" Natsu glared, his teeth gnashing. "You're the one who is trying to bring an army of dragons to destroy the world!? You really haven't changed at all, have you!"
"I'm not trying to destroy the world, Natsu Dragneel." Vergil told him. "To the contrary… I'm trying to save it."
That caught all their attention.
"Save it…?" Wendy muttered.
"Oh, like hell we're gonna believe that!" Lady stated. "How is an army of rampaging dragons going to save the world?!"
"Allow me to explain it to you all then, so that you may understand." Vergil began. "I'm sure you're aware by now that despite my status as a member of Sabertooth, I was also under the secret employ of the Magic Council." That part took Yukino by surprise, her first time learning that while everyone else in Fairy Tail knew. "However, that position was also to serve as a spy for the Kingdom of Fiore. The king himself even asked for me to watch over the Magic Council, growing concerned for their ironhanded tactics and desire to control."
"So, you're working for the princess?" Trish questioned.
"Yes, and no." Vergil answered. "I've meet Hisui and she's aware of my position. But I was not informed on the Eclipse Project. That was a secret she shared only with Arcadios, nobody else, not even her father."
"But you figured it out on your own." Mira assumed.
"More-or-less. I knew the princess was working on a secret project, but I chose not to overstep my bounds because I needed my current position." Vergil continued. "Being part of the strongest and most popular guild in the country, as well as the Magic Council and the kingdom's forces, granted me many connections and resources. I used those to try and investigate for myself why demonic activity had been growing these past seven years, and if possible, try to find Tenrou Island where all of you disappeared to." That caused Lucy to look with shaky eyes while Dante narrowed his own. "Through these connections however, I've learned that at least two of the Demon Kings will soon make their return: Abigail and Argosax."
"Two of the Demon Kings together…" Modeus muttered.
"What about the last one?" Panther-Lily asked.
"So far, I have found no activity from Urizen, but that could change." Vergil went on. "But I only recently realized the grave significance of these developments. Earlier this year, just before you all returned from Tenrou, this one emerged from the Eclipse Gate." He gestured to Future Rogue by his side. "It was there I learned the existence of the device and Hisui's plan to use it to stop Zeref and Acnologia in the past. But the past is not my concern, but rather the future… the future this one told me of."
"What future, exactly?" Dante questioned.
Now it was Future Rogue's turn to speak. "Argosax and Abigail are merely the beginning. Despite no activity from him yet, Urizen will appear as well. And after him… Mundus himself will be free."
Many gasped in shock at that revelation.
"Mundus…?" Kyrie muttered. "As in… the Demon Emperor…? The monster that Sparda had fought and imprisoned two thousand years ago!?"
"Alongside Grandeeney, Igneel, and the other dragons…" Wendy confirmed, but she herself was still shaking from this revelation.
"You're saying that Mundus is gonna bust out?" Natsu questioned skeptically.
"That is the future where I come from." Future Rogue went on. "Acnologia's actions in this time, along with that of the Three Demon Kings, will lead to Mundus' liberation. He'll escape the Underworld and come to Earthland, and when he does… nearly all life on this world will be destroyed. Human, Exceed, magical creatures… all of them…! This world will soon be a desolate wasteland as the Demon Emperor claims his revenge." That revelation caused many in Fairy Tail to look in sheer terror as they could only imagine it. "I was among the five percent of life on Earthland that just barely survived. I spent seven years finding the Zodiac keys, constructing the Eclipse Gate in secret, building enough power to make one jump into the past, and wait for an eclipse to serve as the final activation. And now, after what felt like an eternity of living hell, I have emerged in this time. I found Vergil afterwards and informed him of my future and he agreed to help me prevent that from happening."
"So, how's an army of dragons gonna help?" Dante questioned. "You do realize that they're gonna destroy this whole city and everyone in it, right?"
"Crocus is presently being evacuated per the princess' orders." Vergil responded. "By the time the Gate opens, this city will be empty. Even if it may fall, the people will live. Cities can always be rebuilt."
"As for why we need the dragons… it was the dragons themselves that defeated Mundus in the past. It will take no less to do so again." Future Rogue spoke. "But first… our objective will be to use the dragon army to hunt down Acnologia and kill him. And with my knowledge of the future, we'll be able to predict when and where the Demon Kings will emerge and prepare ambushes to slay them as well before they can do any damage."
"Once Acnologia and the Demon Kings are eliminated, we'll travel to the Underworld before Mundus' seal can be broken." Vergil continued. "While he is weakened and unable to defend himself, we will sever the head of the beast!" The eldest Son of Sparda clenched his hand for emphasis.
"Wow. You really thought of everything, haven't you?" Lady commented, not keeping her glare off Vergil for a second.
"Let us assume that this plan of yours is a success. Acnologia, all three of the Demon Kings, and even Mundus all meet their ends." Modeus spoke up. "You may indeed slay the greatest threats we currently face, but in doing so you will create a substantial power vacuum, especially in the Underworld. I can think of at least a dozen powerful demon lords will try to take advantage of that and gain more power for themselves. The Underworld will be engulfed in a multi-sided civil war and that chaos will spread to Earthland as those very demons will try to seize this world's power to acquire more for themselves!"
"Yes, I'm aware of that." Vergil acknowledged. "Which is why I intended to take Mundus' throne for myself once he has been slain."
"And there he is…" Trish glared. "There's the egocentric, power-hungry, demon prince from seven years ago."
"This has nothing to do with ego, or a desire for power, it's a necessity." Vergil countered. "Natsu, seven years ago, when we fought in Temen-ni-gru, you had asked me what the point would be to sitting on the Underworld's throne, do you recall?"
"Yeah, I remember." The Salamander kept his glare.
"I didn't have an answer back then, but now I do." Vergil went on. "As you now, killing Mundus and the others will indeed create a power vacuum, but if I am the one to fill it, I can quell the chaos."
"Really? The half-human son of their most hated enemy is gonna be the noble king of the Underworld?" Cana questioned, not even trying to hide her sarcasm.
"The Underworld respects strength above all else." Vergil said. "As the one who will end the life of not only their previous ruler, but even a fallen god, that will be more than enough to gain the respect and obedience of most demons. And yes, I am aware that it won't apply to every demon as there will be others to try and usurp me, but I will deal with them when the time comes."
"And why are you telling us all of this?" Carla questioned. "Why reveal your plan now to us?"
"Because I want your guild to join me." Vergil answered.
Out of all the answers they would have guessed or expected from them, that was the one that none of them, not even Dante or Lucy, would have expected.
"Say what…?" Natsu questioned.
"You want us to help you…?" Wendy also questioned.
"That's gotta be the craziest thing I ever heard!" Lisanna exclaimed.
"Why make this offer to us? Aren't you already part of a guild?" Mira asked.
Lucy then happened to look in Yukino's direction, who was clearly in a state of shock herself. It wasn't hard to understand why, given how highly she spoke of Vergil, even looked up to him. He even defended her from being humiliated when she was expelled… but that train of thought is what caused her to realize something.
"They don't know, do they?" The blonde realized. "Sabertooth has no idea about any of this."
"Of course they don't." Vergil confirmed.
"So, the Rogue that we've met doesn't know about you?" Happy asked the Future Rogue.
"At this point in time, my past self is not prepared to undertake such a mission." The male time traveler said. "Nobody in Sabertooth is. They're far too weak, in body and mind."
"Yukino aside, most of Sabertooth is filled with idiotic fools who believe their power is superior above all else and have become stagnant." Vergil said. "Others have uncontrollable ambitions that would only make matters even more complicated. I said before that Sabertooth was a means to an end for me, to get stronger, as well as take advantage of their connections and resources. But I am done with that guild now, it served its purpose. Same for the royal kingdom and the Magic Council. Fairy Tail, on the other hand, continues to grow stronger with each battle, be it victory or defeat. Your guild is the one I respect above all others."
Most of them didn't even know what to think about that. Did Vergil just openly admit that he respects Fairy Tail?! The fact that he was willing to offer them an alliance to join his insane crusade would confirm it. And from the sound of it, he even had that same respect for Yukino too! Under any other circumstance, perhaps they would have felt flattered by that.
"Dante, Lucy, Natsu, all of you… you all understand better than anyone the threats we face and the danger they pose to us all." Vergil said. "Acnologia wiped out the dragon race… and brother… you know… I know you know… the pain we've been put through because of them. Mundus killed our mother. Acnologia, our father. The Underworld has done everything they could to end our lives as well, destroying our childhood and everything we had growing up, in the process! And it's not just us… how many more lives were ended or ruined by them!? Now we have a chance to seek justice for all their crimes, a chance to claim revenge for what they did to us. Help me, and I know we can do this. We'll avenge our families, you would have an ally on the Underworld's throne and Earthland will hail Fairy Tail as its greatest and legendary heroes, surpassing even the Dark Knight and his allies. Together, we can ensure that what happened to us, never happens to anyone else again!" He offered his hand to them. "This… is the only way."
Dante stared at his brother's hand, a part of him contemplating the idea. Honestly, he'd love a chance to kill both Mundus and Acnologia and avenge his parents, as well as save the world from them so no kid could go through what he did. But the way Vergil was going on about it… even if some of his arguments did make sense… it was all insane.
"No. It's not." Lucy spoke up, stepping forward to face her oldest cousin with a pleading expression. "Kurenai told us about the Eclipse Gate and how dangerous it is. Bringing ten thousand dragons from the past to a point in time they should never should be, could destroy history! We could make matters worse than they already are! How about instead of doing something so insane, we use what you've learned from that guy…" She pointed to Future Rogue. "And plan another way to stop Acnologia, Mundus, and the Demon Kings. Maybe a plan where you don't have to take the throne. Vergil, there is still time to stop all of this! We can go to the princess now and talk to her! Get her to stop using the Gate before the dragons come out and we'll figure something out! And… at the end of it all… maybe we can be a family again. All of us."
Despite her pleas, Vergil looked away slightly before giving his response. "For the sake of our fathers and mothers, I will ask you one last time. Join me, or simply step aside. Your words may carry love and emotion, but that's not enough to stop our enemies. There is a plan, and I have to see it through. Either stand by my side… or don't. Your choice."
Lucy's eyes filled with heartbreak as she heard that, with even tears at the brims. Dante gently put a hand on her shoulder as he lightly pushed her behind him to face his twin brother with a hollow chuckle.
"You know something, bro? I'm really disappointed in you." Dante said. "Not the whole 'I want the demon throne' bullshit, a part of me kinda expected that even though I did have some hopes for you. No, what I'm most disappointed in, is that even though you respect us… you forgot one tiny, itty-bitty, but ever-so-critical detail, about Fairy Tail." He pinched his fingers for emphasis before speaking in a serious and affirmative tone. "We don't submit or stand aside to anyone. Join you or stay out of your way? Like hell we're gonna do that. Right guys?" He asked to those gathered behind him.
"Got that right!" Natsu's fists were already set ablaze.
"Aye sir!" Happy agreed.
"I'm with you, Dante!" Wendy stood firmly.
"As am I!" Carla vowed.
"I as well." Modeus stepped up.
"You got me." Trish had her guns drawn.
"I got your back, too." Lady loaded her pistols.
"I will fight beside you Dante, even against your brother." Lily swore.
"You even need to ask?" Cana grinned as she had a set of cards in-between her fingers.
"We're right with you, Dante." Lisanna promised.
"Fairy Tail stands together, and against people like him!" Mira stated.
"I only recently joined your guild… but I promise to do everything in my power to help you! Because you all are family to me!" Kyrie declared.
Yukino couldn't help but smile in awe as she saw this. Despite everything, this group stuck together to the bitter end, even against overwhelming odds. This was what made Fairy Tail so special… and she wanted to be a part of it.
Future Lucy put a hand over her mouth as she couldn't stop herself from crying. While she was heartbroken to realize that her oldest cousin was responsible for the dragons being unleashed, and the hell that she had endured… she was also crying in joy at seeing Fairy Tail stand together like this. It felt like she was a part of it all again. That happiness overshadowed any heartbreak or despair she felt at that moment.
Even the present Lucy stood her ground as she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked defiantly to her oldest cousin. "Looks like you have your answer, Vergil."
"But since you were so nice to give us a choice, I'll give you one." Dante said faux sincerity. "You and your buddy from the future can calmly surrender and come with us so we can talk to that hot, but dumbass princess, and we convince her not to accidentally destroy her kingdom and smash that damn Gate to pieces so no bad guy can ever misuse it, and maybe we can still find a plan to take out all those bad guys. Or…" He had Rebellion drawn, the mighty blade glimmering brightly in the moonlight. "We all kick your ass here and now and then smash the Gate. Your choice… Bro."
Vergil gave a sigh as he closed his eyes. "It seems then… our souls will forever remain at odds. And I can't let you interfere." He looked towards Future Rogue. "Subdue them. But do not kill them."
"Understood."
Immediately, the shadow underneath Future Rogue expanded quickly and rapidly, multiple walls of shadows emerged to cut off and isolate nearly every individual in Fairy Tail while a force of darkness was pushed against Lucy to knock her back towards Yukino.
"Lucy!" Dante couldn't help her right away as walls of shadows emerged around him to isolate him as well.
As everyone in the group tried to use whatever magic or weapons they could to beat back the shadows, Yukino and Lucy had been forced together as the shadows around them took the form of elongated hands that tried to reach out towards them.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as both Celestial Wizards seemed helpless to stop what was coming toward them, even as their friends fought back and cleared away the surrounding shadows. But as they did… they could only watch as Future Lucy had pushed her present self and Yukino out of the way right as the shadow-hands reached down…
And sliced and pierced all through her body.
It was a horror show as everyone gasped with shaky eyes, watching as Future Lucy fell to the ground into a forming puddle of her own blood. Natsu, Dante, Trish, Wendy, Lisanna, Cana, Mira, Modeus, Happy, Carla, Lily, Lady, and especially Lucy and Yukino… to say they were shocked and horrified would have been a gross understatement.
The shadows vanished as both Future Rogue and even Vergil were caught off guard by this action.
"Oh no! Are you okay?!" Lucy cried out in a panic.
"No!" Happy ran towards her, as did everyone else.
"Lucy!" Lisanna exclaimed as Natsu's body shook along with his eyes, his breath stuttering.
"What…? How could she have been injured so?" Future Rogue questioned. "That was meant to capture, not kill!"
As everyone in Fairy Tail gathered around her, Vergil noticed the condition Future Lucy's body was in, notably all the cracks around her skin that only seemed to grow since being struck, like her body was made from a brittle stone.
"I see… she didn't have all the Zodiac Keys with her when she used her Eclipse Gate to come here." Vergil figured out. "She must have used her own life force as a substitute, putting her at death's door."
"Lucy!" Trish exclaimed while present Lucy held her future self with Yukino kneeling by her side.
"Just hang on!" She tried to tell her future self.
"Why did you do that? Why did you let yourself be harmed… why didn't you defend yourself…?!" The shaken Yukino questioned.
Future Lucy coughed as she gave her answer. "You're part of my past… I had to do it… I couldn't let you be hurt or it would affect me… but then again… I already signed my own death warrant… using the Gate the way I did… but that didn't mean your life had to be cut short too…"
"Hang on!" Kyrie was already applying her Arc of Seraph. "These wounds are just recent! I can still…"
"Kyrie… it's alright…" Future Lucy tried to tell her.
"No! We can…!" She was already crying, but the blonde time-traveler had put her hand on both of hers to gently stop her, all while she gave a weak smile.
"It's fine… like I said… I already sealed my fate… but I had the chance to warn you… to give you a chance for all of you to change yours…" She coughed again, the cracks spreading further along her body and up her face, her skin becoming more-and-more brittle, even the blood underneath her was quickly drying up.
"No! Don't talk like that! You're going to make it! We won't let you die!" Lucy pleaded.
"Modeus…! Tell me that there's something we can do…!" The teary-eyed Wendy begged, but all her mentor and surrogate father could do was hang his head in regret.
"I'm afraid not. You and Kyrie couldn't heal her before… this is no different. I'm sorry." He said. This caused Wendy to cover her mouth as her body shook as well, prompting Carla to come up and wrap her arm around Wendy's leg and provide some comfort.
"Don't cry… it's okay…" Future Lucy said to all of her gathered friends. "I thought that I'd never have the chance to see my family again… but I did… I even fought alongside you one last time… and that's enough… to make up for the hell that I've been through." She looked to all of them as she addressed them individually. "Yukino… I was so glad to have met a fellow Celestial Wizard… who loves her spirits as much as I do… please… don't ever let them go."
Yukino covered her mouth at that as she cried.
"Cana… I don't care if you never officially made it… as far as I'm concerned… you're already S-Class… one of the best in Fairy Tail… your dad would be so proud…"
The card-magic wielder clenched her fist as tears streamed down her eyes.
"Lily… we may not have been close… but I can tell that you're a noble warrior with a good heart… keep up the good work."
With a sad smile and a single tear on his eye, Lily nodded. "Count on it."
"Kyrie… while it was short-lived… I was glad to have been your friend… take care of Nero… I know you'll find happiness together…"
As if the pure-hearted girl wasn't already crying, now she was sobbing.
"Wendy… you were always like a little sister to me… you may not have Grandeeney with you… but I can tell you've gained a mother and father who love you dearly…" This caused Wendy to cry even more, as did Modeus and Carla as they came close to the young girl. "Keep bringing out the best in each other…"
"Mirajane… I still remember when you gave me the official Fairy Tail mark on my hand… that was the best moment of my life… becoming a part of your family…"
"Oh Lucy…" Mira felt like she was losing Lisanna all over again, even seeing her younger sister's supposed death in front of her.
"Lady… Trish… you two taught me so much… I'd like to think… that I would have been just as great a Devil Hunter as you…"
"You'd be the best…" Lady cried with a sad smile.
"Lucy… I…" Trish tried to reach out to her, but Future Lucy gently reached out herself to grasp her hand.
"Trish Heartfilia… that still has a nice ring to it…" The two blondes shared sad smiles and tears together.
"Oh Lucy… please just try to hang in there…! We need you…!" Happy muttered as he came close to the dying blonde, the cracks spreading across her body even further.
"Oh sweet Happy… I never admitted it… but I always loved your little jokes… and that snarky attitude of yours… and trying to see the best in all of us…" She gently reached out to caress his cheek. "You've honored me with your friendship… When you see them... tell Gray and Erza that they were the best friends I could ask for... Please don't be sad on my account… for a Lucy who's not even from your world..."
"Don't talk like that! We don't care if you're someone from another time, you're still our Lucy!" Happy sobbed. "You're our friend and we love you! We don't wanna lose you! So of course we're sad! How can we not be?!" As he cried, Lisanna had kneeled down to pick up the blue Exceed and hold him close before she tried to smile toward Future Lucy despite the tears in her eyes.
"Is there anything we can do for you…?"
"Lisanna… you were probably the most selfless person I've met… I might even fall for you… but I know you'll find happiness with the ones that you love and how they love you back… so keep going… and thanks for everything…"
Lisanna smiled and nodded as the tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Dante…" She watched as her beloved cousin and surrogate brother came to her side, before she reached out to hand something to him. "I think it's time… I gave this back…" She placed her half of the Perfect Amulet, the one that her Dante had given her in her time, into his hand, which only caused his own tears to grow, as well as that of the present Lucy. "She'd be so proud of you…"
Dante said nothing, but he held both his hands over hers and the Perfect Amulet, even as it seemed like her body was about to crumble into dust at any moment. The look in his eyes told her that he would be there for her until the very end, and she knew that.
"Natsu… come here…" Future Lucy reached out weakly with her free hand, and he was quick to grab hers.
"Yeah…? What is it…?"
There was so much she wanted to tell him… but not enough time to say it. But she had enough time and strength left for this.
She used her hand to pull him in as she used the last of her strength to push herself upward…
And kiss him on the lips.
Everyone was surprised to see that… but none more so than Natsu as he saw her pull away… her body now beginning to crumble apart.
"I've always… loved you…"
Her legs were the first to fall apart into dust, which spread across the rest of her body to her chest and her arms, her hand holding Dante's and the Perfect Amulet fell apart in his own before it finally reached her head, despite the smile on her face. Her body crumbled completely, leaving only her hooded robe and the Amulet she gave to her cousin as her final words echoed into the air.
"Please… protect the future…"
No words could describe the grief and sadness they all felt in that one moment. Even if she had come from another time, she was still the Lucy they all knew and many loved. And now she was gone. Every single one of them had tears in their eyes as most of them were already sobbing. She risked everything, even her own life, just to come back and give them this chance. They would not waste it.
The crying Wendy happened to turn into Vergil's direction. "Is this… what you wanted…?"
"This turn of events… was unfortunate and even unnecessary…" Vergil admitted, his eyes closing briefly before opening them to reveal his cold and ambitious look. "But it won't change what has to be done. What I must do."
"Is that really all you care about…?" The crying Lucy began before she looked to her cousin with an expression of rage and heartbreak. "Is your quest for power more important than the rest of us?! Do you want that throne more than your family!? Is that really what you want Vergil?! Do we truly mean nothing to you?!"
"What I want is irrelevant." Vergil replied, sounding more aggressive with that. "It's what has to be done!"
"That's bullshit and you know it!" Lucy screamed. "Why are you trying so hard to push us away!? Push away a real chance at finding happiness!?"
Vergil's teeth gritted as he tightly gripped the Yamato. "Happiness is irrelevant! Might controls everything! Without strength, you can't protect anyone! That is the unspoken truth of this world!"
"THEN I'M GONNA BURN THAT TRUTH INTO A PILE OF ASHES!" Natsu roared as he lunged his fist at Vergil and Future Rogue, unleashing an inferno on the both of them. Future Rogue was the first to act by throwing out his hand and raising a wall of shadows to intercept the flames… but this had allowed Dante a chance to leap above him and gun straight for his elder brother, tears of fury and a look of rage in his eyes as he swung the Rebellion at Vergil, and despite the block from the Yamato, the force of the swing was still enough to push him back somewhat. The action had also distracted Future Rogue enough to give Natsu a chance to push through and slug him across the face.
Both the Devil Prince and time-traveling Dragon Slayer now faced against the enraged Crimson Knight and Salamander, tears of fury in both of their eyes.
"You've crossed the line, Vergil!" Dante exclaimed, the Perfect Amulet that Future Lucy had given him was now clearly visible as he wore it around his neck. "You want a war?! You've got a war!"
"Please… protect the future…"
"I will…! I promise…!" Dante vowed, and he would uphold that vow to the bitter end.
Done.
Yep. Not only is the other time-traveler revealed to be Rogue, from seven years in the future, who claims to come from a time where Mundus has won and destroyed the world, but he's even allied with Vergil who intends to use the dragon army to kill Acnologia, all three of the Demon Kings, and Mundus with his intent to take the Underworld's throne and ensure it's no longer a threat to Earthland, once again embracing the anti-villain trope.
Vergil was using his positions in Sabertooth, the Magic Council, and the Kingdom of Fiore for its resources and connections to find Tenrou Island and investigate the rise in demonic activity, taking advantage of all three factions. Now that's a 5-D chess player, huh?
But yes, sadly Future Lucy has passed away. Her body was so weakened from her use of the Eclipse and continued to grow weak with each passing moment, so much so that a method used to subdue was enough to finish her off.
But now… Dante and Natsu are on a quest for vengeance. Things are going to get even more insane as we now enter the final hurdle of the Grand Magic Games arc, the longest arc in the canon Fairy Tail.
And now Hisui is (finally) suspecting that something isn't right. But, she's not ready to just halt the Eclipse 2 Plan yet. From her perspective, there's enough merit from Future Rogue's side of the story (including his precise prediction of the end of the Grand Magic Games) that she can't dismiss it. At the same time, she trusts Arcadios and he seems to trust the stroy told by Future Lucy, so she is going to try and delay the opening of the Gate, but is still prepared to open it if she has to.
Just so you know, this arc has eight chapters remaining, just in case anyone felt this chapter was dragging on.
Thank you all for being here with me and supporting me throughout this journey. I'm so happy and grateful.
Until the next update, I wish you the best. Stay safe and stay healthy out there.
