Chapter 54

Konsilisto- You'll see in this chapter.

The Disquieting One- Who said anything about Khorne not also being the big bad alongside Tzeentch? Blood for the Blood God. Skulls for the Skull Throne. Yes.

Elljayskywalker- No worries. Age of Sigmar lore is surprisingly difficult to obtain. Even more so for Fantasy.

Diederick

"*groans* Oh man, what happened?" Asked Diederick as he opened his eyes and began rising from whatever he was laying on. Shaking his head, Diederick looked around and saw that he was in some sort of room. A very nice one.

Confused at his location, Diederick was about to look around his surroundings when he suddenly heard a voice that he was relieved to hear.

"I see that you're awake." Said Arahan as she looked at her son with her typical aloof expression, yet hidden behind her eyes was relief. Upon hearing Arahan's voice, Diederick looked at the white-haired elf with relief, happy that someone he knew and loved was there. Before he could say anything, he was suddenly embraced by the white-haired elf. Stunned at this sudden display of affection, Diederick was speechless as Arahan let go and looked at him.

"Do not tell anyone about that." Said Arahan, her words seem harsh, yet clouded with the relief she felt at Diederick alive and well. "I have no desire to be seen as soft by anyone. Even my own sister. She will never let me hear the end of it." Once she received a nod from her son at that, Arahan nodded back before speaking while sitting on the bed that Diederick was sitting up in. "Good. Now, tell me what happened. That trip to that resort was supposed to be a simple relaxing day for you and your friends. Instead, we received a call from the authorities in this kingdom about an incident involving all of you, forcing us to come here with Daxter's parents. What in Isha's name caused all this?" Diederick sighed before explaining the situation.

"It's a long story." Said Diederick before explaining everything that he knew. From the attack at the resort to the weird thing that happened at the end, where he did something that he didn't want to but did. What he said at the end, specifically the part with Vidaldus and what happened to him at the end, caused Arahan to let a look of fear appear on her face before it disappeared before Diederick noticed. Once Diederick was finished, Arahan sighed.

"I see." Said Arahan as she got up and turned away from Diederick so he doesn't see what she was actually feeling when she heard his story. "No doubt you are curious about what occurred after you were knocked out by…what you were forced to and the blue light that knocked you all out." When Diederick confirmed that, Arahan explained.

"After receiving the call from the kingdom's authorities, Naestra and I took Gwindalor and flew here while Daxter's parents took the train to get here. By the time we arrived, you had all already left long ago. When we were informed by Daxter and the resort's own staff that you all left to confront those that attacked you and kidnap Erza, we took Gwindalor and took off to search for you all." Said Arahan, stunning Diederick.

"You were here?" Asked Diederick, shocked that his mothers were so close by yet unable to help.

"Yes." Said Arahan, frustration clear in her voice as she recalled that they only arrived in Akane Resort around the time that the sunset, and night began to occur. "To make matters worse, by the time that we had taken off to search for you all, we saw Etherion being fired."

"Etherion's blast was seen that far?" Asked Diederick in surprise. Although given what he heard about the Magic Council's most powerful weapon, he shouldn't be surprised.

"Yes." Said Arahan as she recalled the shocked expression of Naestra as they took off and flew towards the blast. She didn't know how, but her sister believed that Diederick and the others were somewhere around the blast radius. Sometimes after flying later towards the blast, which they didn't know until later that it was a blast from Etherion, they found a fleet of Magic Council warships along with other ships that they didn't recognize. Upon landing on one, they saw Rune Knights arresting uninformed people. Uniforms that they recognized. It was the same design and attire as the people that they killed while saving Kagura Mikazuchi so long ago.

After recovering from that slight surprise, the two identified themselves as members of Fairy Tail and confronted the Rune Knights about the situation. The commander didn't seem to like that the two Fairy Tail members were on his ship, given the Guild's reputation, but considering the Twilight Sisters' reputation, he told them everything, trusting that the two will not cause the same havoc that the rest of their guild is known for. It was through that conversation that they learned that the cultists were from a dark cult that worshipped Zeref and had been building a powerful device that could bring back the black wizard to life. It was also during that conversation that they learned about a group of Fairy Tail wizards within the Tower from a cultist that spoke too much, apparently complaining about intruders from Fairy Tail that attacked the tower. That brought the cultist the attention of the Twilight Sisters, something he didn't really want.

The two had interrogated by the man when they saw it. A symbol that no one else knew the meaning of but them. And it scared them.

Flashback

Arahan was in the process of threatening the cultist for more information with Naestra around to ensure that her sister doesn't go too far when they, along with everyone else on the Magic Council ship, saw it. From above the crystal tower in front of the Magic Council fleet, a symbol appeared that exerted so much power that everyone turned to see what was going on and where it was coming from. Much to the horror and shock of the Twilight Sisters, they knew what the symbol was. Even while everyone was reacting in confusion and shock at the symbol, wondering what it was and who it belonged with some even wondering if it was a new symbol of Zeref, the Twilight Sisters knew what it was and they feared what it meant. For the symbol was the Chaos God Tzeentch. And though it was faint, they heard the maddening crackling of a God that had won a great victory today and potentially in the future. One that can spell doom for two worlds. Potentially more.

Present

As Arahan thought of that, she shook her head and continued explaining what she and her sister did after that.

"After finding the Magic Council fleet near the blast, we interrogated them and we learned the whole story." Said Arahan. "We were about to take off to search for you and the others when we saw a symbol above the tower. A symbol from our former home."

"Really?" Asked Diederick in shock. "What was it? Is that what happened to me? Something from your old home?" Arahan hesitated slightly before nodding.

"I'm fairly sure." Said Arahan. "And it's a symbol of something that neither Naestra nor I ever wanted to see." Upon hearing that, Arahan saw that Diederick was reacting in fear upon hearing that. Seeing this, Arahan reassured Diederick that they'll protect him from the thing that was behind that symbol, even if it cost them their lives. Slightly reassured at that, Diederick was still worried about the figure behind the symbol that Arahan claimed she never wanted to see. If it was something that Arahan didn't want to see, then it was something powerful or so evil that it made Zeref look small fry compared to it.

Wanting to move onto a different topic, Diederick asked about the others, his friends, and if they made it out of the tower.

"They're fine." Said Arahan. "After the symbol disappeared along with the tower, we rode upon Gwindalor to find survivors. That was how we found you and everyone else. Atop a floating pile of Lacrima. We then brought you all to the Magic Council fleet and brought you back to the resort, where we tended to you and your wounds." Getting the full story, Diederick processed all this when he suddenly caught onto a thing that Arahan said.

"What do you mean that the tower just…disappeared?" Asked Diederick as he looked at Arahan, causing the white-haired elf to sigh before explaining a bit more.

Meanwhile

Naestra

"Man, eating that Lacrima really knocked him out." Said Gray as he looked at Natsu, still asleep and bandaged for his wounds and injuries.

"It's a miracle that exhaustion is all he received from the consumption of that Lacrima." Said Naestra as she looked at Natsu, sleeping like a newborn. "Eating such a focused amount of Ethernano would have killed a normal human. Even a mage as powerful as Makarov would have suffered more severe effects than exhaustion." Lucy just nodded at that as she recalled what happened after she woke up.

After waking up, she saw the face of Naestra, looking relieved to see that Lucy was awake. Soon after Gray was awake along with Juvia and that was when Lucy noticed that they were in a nice hotel room back at Akane Beach. This caused Naestra to explain the same things that Arahan did when their son awoke. After that explanation, Naestra then explained that Erza, who was not around them all, had taken her remaining childhood friends away from the hotel as they were wanted for questioning by the Rune Knights as several people identified them as being part of the group that attacks the casino in Akane Resort. It was only Natsu that was still unconscious, the consumption of Lacrima really exhausted him to the point that he was sleeping like a baby. And a heavy sleeper one at that.

"Yeah, about that. Is Diederick okay?" Asked Lucy, recalling that he ate some Lacrima before and it caused him to throw up blood. "He ate some Lacrima before and it caused him to throw up blood. Is he…"

"He's fine." Said Naestra, recalling the condition that Diederick was in and she found that he was stable. Unconscious, but alive and not in danger of death. "Just in case, I had a doctor from the Rune Knights check up on him for magic poisoning and he was alright. Nothing to really worry about." Lucy was relieved to hear that, although Juvia was a bit confused. Diederick had eaten a fair bit of Lacrima. He shouldn't have been fine if he was a non-wizard. Before she could raise that issue, the door to their hotel room opened, and came in Erza Scarlet, looking a bit exhausted. Upon looking at her and seeing her tearful face, Naestra looked at the scarlet-haired girl in worry.

"I take it you finished mourning your friends?" Asked Naestra. When Erza had awoken up, Naestra had confronted her and asked her what had happened at the tower. It was then that Erza, feeling shame for her survival when two of her friends didn't as well as shame for letting her friends be used by Lilea as hostages so she can take Jellal for her own nefarious purposes, Erza told Naestra everything. All the way from her childhood to Lilea and what she did in the end. Naestra took it all in stride except for what she heard about Diederick at the end. His eyes turned blue and him eating Lacrima and then coughed blood that turned into a symbol. A symbol that she feared.

After that, Erza told her that she wished to speak with her remaining childhood friends about what happened to Simon and Shô. They deserve to know and they need to give them a proper service as well as get both Millianna and Wally out of Akane Beach before the authorities realize who they were and that they helped with the attack on the casino. That was an hour ago so Naestra imagined that they were all done.

"Yes." Said Erza as she looked at Naestra, rubbing the last of her tears away. "After we mourned our friends, I helped Millianna and Wally escape. They don't deserve to be thrown into prison for what they did."

"Perhaps." Said Naestra, having no idea what the extent of their criminal actions, Naestra choose to refrain from judgment for now. "In either case, I presume you wish to know about this Lilea?"

"Yes, I do." Said Erza as she looked at Naestra along with everyone else when they heard the name Lilea. They all remembered the woman that used them as hostages to make Erza give Jellal to her. Needless to say, none of them liked the woman and liked to give her some payback. "I must ask. Is she, or rather her people, one of the threats that infect your old world? Are they?"

"Not them." Said Naestra as she sat on a bed. "Although they are still a blight on the world. They are called the Druchii. Dark Elves."

"Dark Elves?" Asked Lucy in confusion. "There are multiple types of elves?"

"Three to be exact." Said Naestra. "There are the Asrai, the Wood Elves, my people. The Asur, the High Elves. And the Druchii, the Dark Elves. The High Elves are aloof and prideful but are willing to do anything to preserve order in the world. Same with my people, so long as they don't endanger our forests and nature itself. The Druchii are, for the lack of a better term, a blight on the world. They are a people that bring shame to elven kind everywhere. Not only are they slavers, but they also raid and pillage anything. Nothing is sacred to them. Just places for them to plunder and raid."

"My god." Said Lucy as she gasped upon hearing that. "There are elves that do that? I thought elves were kinder than that."

"We elves are not like your Fairy Tale depictions." Said Naestra with a hint of sadness. "Our world would be a brighter place if we were. *Sighs* Anyway, this Lilea must belong to a family called the Dreadwaters. They were a Druchii noble house that was thought to have been wiped out by a rival house, the Fellhearts, but it appears they survived. And they did so by coming to your world." Upon hearing that, Erza thought of the ramifications of this. If these Dreadwaters came here on their own, could more Druchii make their way here? If so, can they defeat them? Could they become a danger that surpasses Zeref? She shuddered to think they could do such a thing. She then remembered something Lilea said. Something about having a score with Makarov and that Makarov had more than one child. Wondering what she meant by all that, Erza made a note to confront the master about this as she wanted to know what this grudge Lilea had with Makarov as well as her claim that he had more than one child.

Wondering about Makarov and Lilea, Erza then heard the door to their hotel room being opened, and out came from it was Arahan and Diederick along with Daxter and his parents. As they piled into the room, Naestra looked at her son and worried about him. Not just him, but also because of the fact that the symbol for the Chaos God Tzeentch had appeared last night. Hovering above the tower that her son was in at the time. Did Tzeentch find where he was? If so, did the other Chaos Gods know? If they did, she feared what would happen to this world. It would be foolish to assume that the Chaos Gods will just simply take Diederick and kill them and leave this world alone. Not when it offered them too much. New desires. New Magic. New skulls and races to subjugate. And above all, a naivety and peace that they can ruin beyond imagination. Just like they did with her old world.

Sighing to herself, Naestra wondered what to do now. And, based on a glance from her sister, she didn't know as well. What can they and this world do against the four Chaos Gods if they set their eyes on this world?

Meanwhile

Tzeentch

Laughing madly to himself, Tzeentch marveled at the latest addition to his domain in the realm of Chaos. The Tower of Heaven. Taken from the world that it came from and brought to Tzeentch's domain, the Realm of Sorcery, Tzeentch was delighted in that he not only found the Everchosen, but he also had a shiny new item to corrupt and advance his many, many plans. Not just one world, but two.

As Tzeentch was laughing, curious daemons were looking at the newest addition to their master's realm. Others, however, under the orders of Tzeentch himself were taking chunks of crystal from the tower and studying them. To see how they can use it to further the many agendas of Tzeentch. None, however, dared to take anything from the tower without permission in fear of angering their creator and master. And none of them desired their master's anger on them, knowing the consequences of such a thing upon them.

Tzeentch, after his bout of laughter, had decided what to do with the Tower of Heaven. After renaming it, of course. In fact, Tzeentch already had a perfect name for it. And it'll be an apt name for it after what he's done with the tower and what he'll use it for. After his servants had taken a sufficient quantity of crystal for other plans that Tzeentch had already created. Some will fail. Others will succeed. And others will succeed in ways they weren't intended in the first place, but will, in some way, benefit the Chaos God of Sorcery.

Resuming his laugh of madness, Tzeentch began to alter the Tower of Heaven to a form more…suitable and pleasing to the Chaos God. Especially with what he plans to do with it soon. As he was altering the tower, he began the next stages of a plan. One against the Cathayan people.

Meanwhile

Chaos Wastes

Kairos

"Our master has contacted us, brother!" Yelled the right head of Kairos Fateweaver as the two heads looked at the skies above the Chaos Wastes, lands so ravaged and so rich in Chaos rifts that the lands have become decadent and lifeless to the point that nothing can ever grow in these lands and nothing can live there without being corrupted by the Forces of Chaos. And it was here that Kairos was in communion with their master over a new plan of his. A plan that they knew ahead of time because of their gift to see the future.

"Yes, brother." Said the left head before Kairos turned to face his daemonic and mortal servants, all of whom were waiting for the Greater Daemon to order them to march on the hated empire of Cathay. "It is time. Prepare the Warbands! Prepare the sacrifices! We march to reinforce the assault on the Great Bastion! And to slay a dragon!" Upon hearing that, the servants of Kairos began to marshal their warbands for war. Chaos Warriors and marauders were readying their blades and axes for war. Daemons of Tzeentch were giggling madly to themselves as they waddled towards their destination. Screamers and Furies of Tzeentch were flying towards the lands of Cathay, eager to rip and tear into the flesh of the Men there. All the while, Kairos was laughing to themselves as they thought of the future and how it will lead to great pain and danger to the Cathayan people, especially to the leader of the Great Bastion. The one that had managed to hold off countless attacks from the Forces of Chaos ever since she took command of the Immortal Bastion. The daughter of a great and powerful Dragon is one of the few beings that were older than even the Elven Gods themselves. The Storm Dragon of Cathay.

Meanwhile, in a grand and expansive chamber, a sole woman in black and silver silk robes over a set of wood and metal armor was reading a scroll while sitting on a throne, her face completely void of emotions.

Seemingly in her mid-thirties, the woman was beautiful, to say the least. Void of any blemishes or scars, the woman's face was finely sculpted and held an attractive shade of pale white to it. Her figure was well shaped and lovely as well, but not to the point of it impeding her in battle. She was more akin to a warrior princess than those found in the lands of the Empire of Man or Bretonnia. Finally, her pure white eyes were staring at the words of the scroll in her hands, looking at them for any deception or hidden intentions within them. Her lovely and finely crafted lips went into a frown when she read the scroll in its entirety. Displeased, the woman was about to write a reply when she suddenly felt that something was amiss. Getting up from her throne, the woman tossed the scroll away as she marched down to an exit, a long and thin trail of black silk following her as she moved towards her a large set of doors. Pushing them open, the woman looked outside of her chambers to see what was going on, narrowing her eyes at what she saw.

Overlooking the city that she was defending, which was embedded into a massive white wall that defended the lands behind it from the depredations and horrors of Chaos, the woman can see that it was under siege. Its defenders held on against the Forces of Chaos as they besieged the city, firing upon its walls with whatever war machines that they have brought with them in their attack against the city. While the attack was serious, and judging by the current state of the men on the walls of her city, it seemed that the woman may need to personally aid the defenders in battle, that wasn't what brought her out. No, what brought her out was that she had felt a strong shift in the Winds of Magic. A shift that she had become familiar with over the years. A shift that heralded the arrival of a powerful Greater Daemon of Tzeentch. One that no mere man can defeat on their own.

Narrowing her eyes further, the woman, despite the distance between them, spotted Kairos Fateweaver at the head of a massive Chaos war host containing both mortal and daemonic forces.

Seeing Kairos leading the war host, the woman realized that the city needed additional reinforcements if they wish to hold back the Forces of Chaos. Kairos was a powerful practitioner of magic. One that surpassed all the wizards the woman knew, including herself, in magical prowess. Martial prowess, however, he was sorely lacking. If she can just get him into melee, they'll stand a chance until reinforcements arrive.

Seeing now that she was needed, the woman gracefully walked over the deck of her chambers before free falling straight to the ground. If she was a normal woman, this action would have killed her, but she was not a normal woman nor was she a woman of Man. Midway through the fall, lightning began to erupt from her body, and, in a flash of light and lightning, the woman transformed into a black dragon with white hair on top of its head. Flying above the city, the dragon roared out a challenge to Kairo Fateweaver as he led his war host to the city of the dragon.

Hearing the roar, despite the distance between him and the dragon, Kairos let out a laugh of satisfaction. The Storm Dragon, Miao Ying, commander of the Great Bastion of Cathay, had revealed herself. Good. Everything was proceeding as planned. Yes, indeed. Now only one more piece had to be in place for Tzeentch's plan to work and it was the easiest piece to motivate.

In the meantime, in another part of the Chaos Wastes, one can hear the sounds of weapons being sharpened amongst piles of skulls of various species. And the weapons being sharpened were duel axes. Duel axes that were so massive that no mortal can ever hope to wield them. And no mortal ever has tried for their owner would kill any that dare to touch his precious axes, their skulls his to take. Skulls that would simply add more to the piles of skulls that he accumulated over the years to earn the forgiveness of his father and creature for a grave mistake that he had committed in the past. Sharpening his weapons one last time, the wielder of the axes gauzed upon his axes, seeing his reflection. A reflection that showed a part of his face was nothing but bones while the rest was red flesh and skin. His eyes glowing blue.