Lucy Heartfilia awoke from a golden dream. Remnants of a headache, and some muscle fatigue, lingered as if trying to stir but her body had already shaken it off. She sat up slowly, making sure not to raise her head too quickly. Some dust and dirt drifted from her shoulders and her hair. For a moment, she couldn't find her voice.
It was as if she'd been asleep for some time, but, when—
Fear locked her body. She tore her gaze to the skies, vacant of the dark, shadowy dragon that once soared over them. Even Grimoire Heart's airship was nowhere to be seen. Lucy instinctively reached for the keys at her side, her hand passing over the new Capricorn key.
"Natsu?" she called, at last summoning strength to her voice. "Happy?"
A groan responded, followed by another one. Lucy carefully got to her feet. Her legs resisted for a second but she ignored it and stood upright just fine.
Around her, in a broken circle, were the other members of S-Class Wizard Promotion, some stirring while others still were passed out. A ball of golden light slowly faded around the island.
"Lucy, is that you?" Natsu asked, his voice muffled. She turned in the direction of the voice.
Natsu had his head buried a bit beneath the dirt. He forcibly swung it away. Happy plumped down from his resting place on a tall, thick root.
"Yeah," she said. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Natsu said. He got up faster than her. "Like I took a real good nap."
"I love a long cat nap," Happy said.
Natsu's expression darkened. "Where's that dragon? Now that I'm all refreshed, round two is going to go a lot different."
Lucy shrugged, not playing into his drive to fight and probably get killed. "No idea. I don't see any signs of him. And with us asleep like that, you'd think one of those Grimoire Heart guys would've tried something."
"I don't remember falling asleep, though," Natsu said. "We were all standing together and then he tried to attack us and…okay, so, maybe I do sort of remember falling asleep."
"How long we were out, then?" Happy asked. "It's still sunny out."
"Maybe just the evening," Lucy said. She gestured at the other stirring members of the guild. "Come on. Maybe Master knows something."
They made their way over. Natsu and Happy helped the shaken Wendy and Carla. Wendy sat with her eyes wide open, shock still riddling her body, while Carla was trying to comfort her while ignoring her own trauma. Lucy helped Gajeel get Levy to her feet.
"Thanks guys," Levy said, patting Lucy's shoulder. "Man, what was that?"
"Acnologia?" Cana burst. Lucy and Levy spun on their heels toward her. She stood near Gilder's—Lucy was still getting it through her head that they were related—in utter disbelief. Gildarts sighed and nodded, helping Cana pick up some cards that'd scattered in whatever explosion knocked them all apart.
"The very same dragon that I was sent to defeat on my hundred year quest," Gildarts said. "It's always been said that it's attracted to high concentrations of magic. I'm certain the revival of the Tenrou Tree gots its attention."
"How are we alive?" Gajeel muttered.
Levy shook her head. "Maybe we had enough magic to deflect the spell?"
"At that power? No way," Gildarts said. "That should've vaporized us."
The rest of the guild, and Laxus, came together, somewhat reforming the circle. Juvia all but clung to Gray, as if afraid the dragon—Acnologia—would return and take them out again. There was no way she was going down without her man in her arms. The Thunder God Tribe gravitated tightly around Laxus, too.
Makarov was in the center of them all. They all stood not too far from a crater, one not embedded too deep into the ground.
"I believe," he said, and cleared his throat. Then, "this was the work of the First Master."
"First Master?" Cana asked.
"You may have seen her," Makarov said. "Cana, when you awoke Fairy Glitter, you may have stirred her from the rest her spirit often takes on the island. I believe she took our magic and cast one of the three Great Fairy Magics: Fairy Sphere. It's has the same defensive capabilities that something like Fairy Glitter has."
"Whoa," Cana muttered.
"Indeed," Makarov said. "However, I don't seem to see her anywhere around here."
"Maybe we should check the island?" Gray asked. Lucy nodded.
Makarov did as well. "Yes, but form groups and do not get separated from one another. I don't sense the presence of Master Hades nor the rest of Grimoire Heart but…" He glanced at Natsu. "There may yet be other forces slumbering on the island."
Lucy also cast a wayward look to her friend, and Gray the same.
"Come on," Gray said to Natsu. "We should go head out."
"With you?" Natsu asked. The rest of their guildmates started off, forming their own groups. Lucy was reluctant to head out with anyone else, stepping up to be with Natsu and Gray while Happy flew over. Wendy joined Erza and they went off on their own, Carla floating overhead.
Cana stuck with her father while Gajeel, Levy, and Lily were on their own. The Strauss siblings grouped together and the Thunder God Tribe went toward the shore. Only Makarov stayed behind, moving to the large crater, inspecting it for any other magics.
Natsu and Gray headed back into the forest. Lucy chased to catch up after watching the rest of the guild head out.
"So, you found Zeref, too?" Gray asked.
"Yeah," Natsu said. "He was about to take out Elfman and Evergreen. Blasted me away and I couldn't find him after that."
"Guess that's when I spotted him," Gray said. "Ultear had him around like a rag doll. Maybe he's not that big a deal at all."
He said it with a light voice, like it were a joke. Natsu grabbed his scarf.
"I don't think so," Natsu said. "I overheard Gildarts say that Acnologia was holding back. I feel like Zeref was doing the same thing." He punched his fists together. "Agh! Everything was so confusing! What I'd give to knock that guy's head in for ruining our stuff."
"He has to still be on the island, right?" Lucy said. "I mean, if Grimoire Heart got away, after they were beaten, how else would Zeref have gotten away?"
"Could've gone with them," Gray said.
"That Rustyrose guy made it sound like they wanted to use him," Lucy said. "For a Great Magic World or something."
They arrived at a part of the forest sundered of all life. Husks of branches and trees stood strewn about the open area; even the dirt was void of color. Happy hopped up to float with his wings to not touch anything.
"Definitely no sign of First Master here," Natsu said. "We should keep going."
A chill ran through Lucy's back while they made their way through the dead part of the forest, emerging back into the green within a few steps.
What had to be a couple of hours later, everyone in Fairy Tail, and Laxus, regrouped back at the site of the crater, where Makarov was still meditating. Nobody had news on Mavis, but those who scoured the shores reported no signs of any boats, either.
"So we're trapped here?" Natsu shrieked.
"Great," Gray muttered.
"The island isn't too far off of the main land," Carla said. "We Exceeds can fly to a port and call for a boat, it's no big deal."
"Be quick about it, then," Makarov said. "But be careful. Something about this isn't sitting right with me."
Erza leaned on her sword a bit. She'd Requiped into her armor, after being in her casual attire, should any enemies have appeared out of the blue while she was with Wendy.
"Ah, come on, you're going to bring back a ship?' Natsu asked. "Can't you at least fly one of us with you?"
"Not all the way across the ocean," Lily said.
"Wendy, please, you can't enchant us to become lighter?" Natsu asked.
Wendy shook her head. "I could try, but, I think that would only upset our motion sickness even more."
"They'll be fine, Natsu," Erza said, nodding to her anxious friend. "And you'll be fine, too. You toughed out the ride here, didn't you?"
"Where's that Mest guy?" Natsu grumbled. "He could teleport, couldn't he?"
The Exceeds took off before Natsu could whine about it anymore. Erza joined Gildarts in stepping up to Makarov, but Laxus beat them to the punch. Erza and Gildarts exchanged knowing looks, then avoided the Guild Master. Erza, instead, took her turn to inspect the crater that formed the epicenter of whatever magic—Fairy Sphere—that saved them.
A truly magnificent spell, one that, if the legends of her power are true, fits the description of Mavis Vermillion quite well. That Cana held such a power was an interesting one. Perhaps, if Fairy Tail were to unite with the other guilds again to finish off the Baram Alliance, Cana could be useful—
The Exceeds had returned. It couldn't have been so long, could it? Erza rushed up along with the others.
"Yeah, there's a ship coming our way right now!" Happy said. "Maybe it's Grimoire Heart?"
"They have their airship," Makarov said. "Did you see any colors on the ship, any flags?"
"Yes, but nothing that I recognized," Carla said. "I didn't see any crew members on the ship, either, there must be a lacrimal driving it forward."
"We'd best be on our guard just in case, then," Makarov said. "And it was just the one?"
"Aye, sir," Happy said.
"We should head to the docks to see them, then," Erza said. "Even if it's an enemy, they'll be attempting to breach the shores against all of us, something few can acomplish."
"You're being too hasty, Erza," Makarov said. Erza backed down, reconsidering her actions. "Gildarts, come with me. We can handle this. The rest of you must stay behind and watch one another. How are out was the ship, Happy?"
Before Happy could answer, a figure appeared just a few feet away from everyone, startling Levy almost out of her shoes. A man, with a scruffy beard and criss-crossed scars on his cheeks, as well as a deeply haggard look in tattered clothes, stood to his full height.
Color depleted from his face. He tried to speak but couldn't.
"It's true," he said, his voice barely escaping. "It's you."
"Mest?" Wendy asked, stepping up from behind Natsu.
No, Erza thought, that couldnt' be him. They'd just seen him. Sure, if they had been knocked out for the evening he could have fled and changed clothes, but his entire demure was different. He was thinner, seemed to wear more scars, and those sunken eyes…
"Wendy," he said, finally catching a breath. "You're safe."
He took a step but caught himself. Makarov moved to stand between Mest and the others. Erza let her hand fall idly to her blade, not wrapping a hand around the handle but would attack in a flash.
"Prove to me that you aren't an imposter," Makarov said.
Mest grimaced. His hesitation forced Erza to grip her blade. Everyone else around Mest tensed as well. Erza congratulated herself on keeping her guard up.
"So much has happened," Mest muttered, "I wouldn't even know where to begin…"
Makarov leered. "This isn't helping your case, son."
Mest balled his fists. "Look, count yourself lucky that we got to you first. If the Hunters had done so, you'd all be dead and buried. We don't have time for these sorts of things, they know that the island is back and we need to hurry."
"Who?" Erza asked. "Who knows? Master Hades?"
"The Magic Council, more likely," Makarov said.
Mest laughed. "Almost forgot about those chumps…they did hate you, didn't they? Oh, how petty…"
"Mest!" Makarov shouted. "Tell us what's going on right now!"
"Master," Natsu said, nudging Makarov. "There's other people on the island now."
"Four of them," Gajeel said, his arms crossed.
Erza considered her options. Five opponents, four of which were unknowns and one who could teleport. Mest wasn't the bravest man, so he'd likely run quickly. If Gray reacted slow—probably too distractedly trying to assess the situation—it was down to Erza and Laxus to react quick enough to stop him.
"Smell familiar?" Makarov asked.
"No," Natsu said. "Not at all."
"Who have you brought to our sacred land?" Makarov asked. "Most?"
"The only person who wouldn't give up on any of you coming back," Mest said. "Well, the only one alive."
"Alive?" Lucy asked.
The figures, jogging up, emerged from the forest. There were, indeed, four, each of different sizes. One was a woman in a leotard with armor upon her powerful legs, the next a man larger than even Laxus with two dolls his hand and long hair rippling down his shoulders, and a final one sitting atop a floating ball, his short spiky hair atop a concerned yet somehow still grimacing face.
The final one, who led the charge, was the smallest—a woman with green hair tied into a ponytail and light armor set about her, a meager sword at her side more for show than for anything else, it seemed. Her eyes, green as her hair, widened at the sight of them all.
"Mest?" she asked, breathless. "Is this really them?"
Makarov gasped and dropped to a knee. Gildarts descended as well. Mirajane, Lucy, and Levy lowered their heads reverently.
"What's going on?" Natsu asked.
Erza also tried to put the pieces together. She'd never heard this woman's voice, but she looked familiar in some way. It was the hair more than anything, and the petite shoulders and frame. She put a finger to her chin.
"You don't need to do that," the woman said.
"They don't know any better," Mest mumbled.
"Hey, who are you that you've got these guys bowing to you?" Natsu asked. "Some kinda princess or something?"
The woman faintly smiled. "My name is Hisui Fiore. Judging by the scarf, and temper, I'd guess you're Natsu Dragneel."
Hisui's words sucker-punched Erza, who dropped to a knee as well. Others among the group, recognzing the name, did the same.
"Who?" Natsu asked.
Gray slapped him upsie the head. "Princess of Fiore, you idiot! Ever heard of it? Our kingdom?"
"What's she doing here?" Natsu asked.
"Did you join Fairy Tail?" Happy asked. "We've never had a princess before. Our friend Mystogan did become a King, though."
"Oh, um, no, I'm not..." She trailed off, searching. "I'm sorry, where is your, uh, Master?"
Makarov raised his head. "I'm here, Princess. Thank you for coming to our sacred land, it is an honor to have you here."
Her three bodyguards glanced at one another. The tension could've been cut with a butter knife between the five new arrivals. They were hiding something. Erza couldn't say anything, though. Speaking as such in front of the Princess was out of line.
"We've come to retrieve you all," Hisui said. "It was fortunate we were patrolling the shores."
"Patrolling for what?" Makarov asked.
Hisui sighed. "There's much we must discuss. For now I'd ask you all to come with me."
Natsu stepped forward, having still not bowed. Erza snarled, but, given Master Makarov made nothing of it, neither did she.
"And how do we know you're legit?" Natsu asked. "He still hasn't proven himself, you know. And who're your friends?"
Hisui raised an eyebrow at Natsu, not backing down at all. She kept her back straight, her posture perfect.
"I am Hisui E. Fiore," she said. "And until I can verify that you are not some illusion, some sort of trick, I suppose we shall have to go on faith to trust in one another's legitness."
Natsu slowly nodded, then leaned over to Happy, whispering loud enough for most anyone to hear, "She does talk like a Princess, doesn't she?"
"Please, follow us to the port, we must hurry," Hisui said. "Are any of you wounded? Mest can teleport you to the ship."
"We're all fine, Princess, thank you," Makarov said. "Come along, children."
Erza stuck behind a moment while everyone pressed on. Mirajane did the same, striding up next to Erza with soft footsteps.
"I hate to say it but we must keep a close eye on these five," Erza said.
"Have you got a sense for their magic power?"
"Tremendous from all five of them."
Mirajane nodded. "That such powerful people, let alone the Princess personally, would come to us has me more hesitant than anything else. It makes me wonder if anyone else, any other powerful people, have realized what's happened here."
Makarov stood at the bow of the ship while it bobbed up and down in the water, moving at a steady pace. It had regality on the surface, but taking even a meager look below informed one to the patchwork job done to maintain it. Where were the chefs, the fine beds, the air-conditioned rooms? None of it was befitting the Princess of Fiore, who, yes, traveled with an entourage of royal guards. But the Fiore family was always far more secretive than this, far more protective.
And what was Mest, of all people, doing with them? He was meant to be with the Magic Council, yet he wore none of their markings, even though he thought he was hiding that from the rest of the guild. No, he wore clothes as if he were on the streets, let alone with a member of the royal family.
The others were talking on the ship. It seemed the tension among them was at last unwinding. The Dragon Slayers were all quite occupied, save for Wendy, who was trying to help Natsu and Gajeel through it. Gildarts spoke with Laxus quietly about something that Laxus seemed quite astonished about, in his own way.
Hisui spoke with Mirajane. Good. She would inform Makarov of anything noteworthy that the Princess may say or hint at. Naturally, Hisui had her guard down a bit around Mira. Gifted though she was with the dark arts, Mira's true ability lay with the people.
The waters continued to churn beneath them. Though away from their sacred land, Makarov couldn't help the sigh of relief coming out of his old chest to leave it behind. It was always good to leave a field of battle behind, particularly one where it seemed death was certain.
He rubbed his chest, feeling no ache, despite the onslaught of power Acnologia shoved into him. He'd been tossed aside like a rag doll, like a plaything. Makarov balled his fist. It was something to report to the Council, certainly, if they'd even bother listening to him.
Zeref's appearance also had to be noted, if it hadn't already on Mest's part.
"Wendy?" Makarov called. "Can you or Carla summon Mest here for me?"
Carla went off to find the man, since Natsu needed Wendy's undivided attention. Land appeared in the proximity of the ship. It'd be a few hours more. They were escaping the unbearable heat of the air surrounding Tenrou.
Mest appeared next to Makarov at once. "Yes?"
"You reported Zeref to Council, yes? And Acnologia?"
"I did."
"How'd they take it?"
Mest pursed his lips. "It's hard to remember."
Makarov folded his arms behind his back. So. His theory was correct. He'd noodled at it at the sight of Mest, and then when he saw Hisui, whom he last knew to be a little girl, not a woman like the rest of his children.
"How much time have we missed?" Makarov asked. "Tell me."
"It's been seven years."
Makarov took in a deep breath. "Well. I suppose that means I don't have to kick the bucket any time soon, I'm sure the Council enjoyed seeing my face disappear for some time."
"They did."
Did.
"You're not beholden to the Council as you may think, Mest," Makarov said. "You can speak freely to me."
"I may not."
Makarov sighed. If they'd lost seven years, and if Mest were hiding some terrible truth about the Magic Council, Makarov could not afford to beleaving cards on the table, either.
He raised a small finger to Mest's arm. Magic flared away the sleeve of his tattered shirt, revealing no brand there.
"You can as a wizard of Fairy Tail," Makarov said, and magic pulsed from his finger again, this time striking his arm.
Mest's breath caught and he dropped to a knee. A guild symbol appeared there, and years of memories washed back over Mest.
He'd remember it all: that he was always a member of Fairy Tail, that he was chosen by Makarov to infiltrate the Magic Council and, as such, erased his memories of being in Fairy Tail to truly wipe the slate clean for his infiltration mission. He'd know to trust Makarov.
Pleading eyes stared up at Makarov, who remained stoic in the face of the man facing reality with ease again.
"Now," Makarov said, slowly. "Tell me everything."
The boatright was quite a simple one, somewhat calming to Lucy, who was all-too-happy to set foot back on Fiore soil once again. Though, it was not quite the welcoming she expected. No, she didn't even think many members of the guild would be there—this seemed to be quite the subtle operation Hisui was running—but did anticipate some sort of royal regalia, or at least a better port.
The ship landed at a rickety dock hidden well between a bunch of cliffs, nowhere near where they'd launched their journey to Tenrou in the first place. Two figures were there to greet them, but as they were hooded and cloaked Lucy could not make them out.
Natsu and Gajeel tumbled off the boat, leading the way for the rest of the guild. Lucy sighed, getting in a good stretch.
Oh, hmm. The air was…not so fresh. Had a hint of, what, maybe charcoal to it? Like a musk? Probably a nearby cave or something.
Hisui raised her own hood over her head, a cloak covering her adornments. Master Makarov was still behind on the ship speaking with Mest. Hisui's three bodyguards, known as the Three Stars, followed her off the ship. Erza and Mirajane kept close eyes on them.
"I'm so glad that's over," Natsu said at Lucy's feet.
Happy patted Natsu's head. "Don't worry. We're taking a train soon."
"Please just fly me home, Happy."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Natsu, do you have to be so pathetic in front of the Princess?"
The figures approached everyone while Hisui strode by them, nodding. They did so with speed, losing the cloaks.
Lucy stopped in her tracks, her brain trying to keep up with exactly what she was seeing.
"Hold on," she said, her voice caught within breaths. "Is that you?"
The first of the two figures, a woman with purple hair, thin-rimmed glasses, and a dress that appeared worn but was misshapenly cleaned, dove into Levy's arms. The other, a man, flung himself at the nearby Gray.
Tears streamed down their eyes.
"Max and Laki?" Erza asked.
Lucy rushed to Laki's side. She looked—old. Not Porlyusica old or anything, but, not at all the same shy girl that they were used to seeing. And here was definitely muscle there—not a great amount as Erza but more than Lucy, definitely. And Max was looking fit, too. He'd once been a lanky little man, but was about the same muscular size as Natsu. He had the wisps of a beard on his face, his hair had grown out a bit, too.
"You're really here," Max said, grabbing Gray's, suddenly unclothed, arms. "I can't believe it."
Laki stained Levy's dress with tears while Levy tried to comfort her friend. It sounded as if she were saying something, but at a whisper, and through the sobs it was near impossible to make anything out.
"Max!" Natsu exclaimed. "Laki! Great to see you guys again!"
But they didn't stop crying. Mirajane came forward and comforted Laki in place of Levy, who had her own tears in her eyes.
"It—it can't be," Levy muttered, holding her hand to her mouth. Gajeel caught her in stride before she could fall off the pier.
Erza stepped forward out of the others, as even Gildarts came forward to talk to Max instead of Gray, bringing the younger man comfort in his stoic way.
"Hisui," Erza called. The Princess looked up at her, face dour and expression soft. Lucy balled her fists.
Something was horribly wrong.
"Tell me," Erza said, "why these two are not at the guild hall in Magnolia. Tell me why your servants do not call you Princess."
Silence descended. Levy nuzzled into Gajeel with tears of her own. Gildarts gasped, then held Max tighter, as he must have learned the same devastating truth Hisui then spoke:
"Because, in the seven years all of you were gone, Fairy Tail, all of the guilds, and even the Fiore Kingdom were wiped out by the Twilight Kingdom."