Zeref has tried again and again to obtain the miraculous. He became Black Wizard, turned into Dark Knight, and getting all the miraculous allowed him to evolve further into Dark Emperor. Despite all his efforts, he still can't get the miraculous he wants. With his body slowly falling apart after being touched by Dragon Fire, he doesn't have much time left. It's all or nothing for him now as he begins to step forward into his grand master plan.
"Mother... Father..." Zeref said as he and Invel stood in front of them. "It won't be long now. If I don't obtain the miraculous after this, it's all really over."
"Sir, in order for this to happen, two others would have to lose their lives. Have you become that cold?" Invel said as he didn't approve of this. Zeref just remained silent. An indication that he really has. Zeref seems to have discarded all of his emotions.
"How is, Natsu?" Zeref questioned. As annoyed as Invel was, he pulled out his tablet and kept checking on Natsu with him all the way in London now. "The same as before: miserable that he's locked away. You know how much he hates that."
"It's for his own good. With what I have planned, it will be the only way he's safe and protected." Zeref said. "See? I'm not as heartless as you might believe I am. Now, I must meet up with Vanessa. It's time to being my greatest plan. If I don't obtain the miraculous after this, it will be the end." Invel certainly didn't want that, but Zeref will reshape the world. If only there was another way, but it seems like there isn't.
...
The School
"Today is the last day of school, and you'll be let out early because of that." Alzack said as he stood in front of his class as this was the last time they were going to be in the same class together. "That means that the school dance is going to be held tonight with it brought together by our very own Lucy Heartfilia." He said with everyone cheering for her, but she wasn't that happy about it because she missed Natsu greatly. "I would like to say how great it was to have you all in my class. You are some of the students where I have been most proud to be your teacher. I just wish all of you were here for this." He claimed as he looked to the empty seats of Taylor, Teresa, Cana, and Natsu. At least Cana was away because she was helping Celestria. He had wished that Taylor would have changed into a nicer person, Teresa didn't manipulate others, and that Natsu was free to be here like he wanted. All of them certainly wished that Natsu was. "If I don't see any of you for your final school year, or some of you have decided to go to the schools to fulfill your dreams, I would like to say what an honor it's been to be your teacher." Everyone cheered once again as they all loved having him as a teacher. School was let out early with it being the final day, but they all will meet up at the Eiffel Tower for the dance.
"I can't believe that it's the final day of school." Erza said as the students were clearing out the last of their stuff.
"The dance is going to be a lot of fun." Levy said.
"I just wish that Natsu and Cana were here to enjoy it with us." Gray said, but that got Juvia to drive her elbow against him. It was then he realized that Lucy was still there. Her whole class felt so bad for her. After everything, she and Natsu are apart when it seemed like they were finally together.
"I still can't get over it. How could Natsu's brother be so cold?" Lisanna said.
"Not even Taylor was that vicious." Samantha said.
"What did we ever do to him to have him take Natsu away from all of us?" Gajeel said.
"When you think about it, there's much about him we don't know." Jellal said. "Zeref Dragneel is a mysterious man that never really got close to anyone. He's a man of mystery."
"That's still no excuse for him to act the way he did, especially last night." Loke said. "I've heard of people being crazy protective, but he took it to a whole other level."
"Guys, maybe now isn't the best time to talk about this." Hibiki said as they were all concerned about how Lucy must be feeling.
"Lucy, it will be okay." Levy said as she tried to comfort her. "None of us saw that coming. Natsu just didn't have the heart to say anything because he wanted to stay here. I know it must be hard, but we're here for you."
"Yeah. In fact, don't worry about setting up the dance. The rest of us can meet with Lyon and take care of it." Erza said. "You can just go home and work your way through all of this." All of her friends were saying the same thing.
"Thanks, guys. I think I'm going to do just that." Lucy said as she just got the last of her things and was on her way out. All of them felt so bad for her and can only hope that she's okay.
...
Lucy
Lucy just went straight home. Her parents tried to cheer her up themselves, but she didn't pay them any attention and just went straight to her room. She just threw her bag to the floor and climbed straight into her bed.
"Lucy, I'm so sorry." Stella said. "I'm sure you'll see Natsu again. In fact, Zeref Dragneel is still in town. Maybe you could talk to him and convince him to bring Natsu back. You had the courage to stand up to him before."
"What's the point? He never wanted me to be with Natsu in the first place." Lucy said as she sounds like she gave up hope. Then, her phone went off and saw Yukino was trying to call her. Knowing what this might be about, she answered.
"Lucy! I just heard what happened to Natsu!" Yukino said. "I'm so sorry about all of this. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Yukino. It's just... I don't know what I'm going to do." Lucy claimed. Just then, she heard a strange sound coming from her room. She took a look and saw a portal opened up with an old friend sticking her head out.
"Is this a bad time?" Time Hopper was back, and it was the one from this time. Lucy couldn't believe it was her and that she was here. "Cana? Is that you?" She asked as she came down with Time Hopper stepping out. "I... I know about you being chosen to be a rabbit hero, but I thought you weren't suppose to come back yet."
"First of all, you can cut the act. I already know you're Celestria." Time Hopper said with Lucy surprised that she already knows. "You could knock me over with a feather when I found out! I can't believe you were Celestria the whole time, but everything started to make sense! Keep in mind that I have traveled through time, so I know things."
"If you know that, you know what I'm going to say next. You can't be here." Lucy said. "If Dark Emperor finds out, you're in danger."
"It's a quick visit." Time Hopper assured. "That brings me to why I'm here. I know all about what happened. Do you really think I was just going to stand around when one of my best friends needed support the most?" Lucy was glad to hear that Cana would do that for her. That's why the two of them hugged each other. "Besides, I might be coming back sooner than you might think."
"What do you mean?" Lucy questioned.
"I can't give you all the details because of time rules, but...the final battle with Dark Emperor is going to happen soon." Time Hopper said with Lucy surprised to hear that. "That is a key point in the timeline."
"Key point?" Lucy questioned.
"A point in the timeline where everything shifts around, possibly altering the course of the timeline itself." Time Hopper claimed. "It's a point where everything changes for possibly the entire world instead of just a few. Something similar to that alternate timeline when you fought E.N.D. my future self took you to."
"Does that mean...Dark Emperor wins or loses?" Lucy asked.
"I can't tell you anymore than I already have. You need to be ready for anything." Time Hopper said as she opened her burrow again. "Dark Emperor feels like he's got nothing to lose and everything to gain. When someone feels like that, they can be rather dangerous." That was all she said and left. With her warning now in her mind, Lucy and Stella looked at each wondering what could happen. There's no time for Lucy's relationship problems when it happens.
...
Natsu
As for Natsu, he was locked away in a white room. He bashed against the door, but he wouldn't open. He wanted to escape from his brother's ways where it felt like he was locked away, but now he finds himself locked away again. He might have ways to connect himself with the outside world, but it's not enough. What's more is that Zeref is keeping twenty-four hours of surveillance on him.
"Zeref! This is crazy! You can't keep me locked in here Let me out!" Natsu shouted, but he's not even sure if anyone is even listening.
"Good thing kwamis can't show up on technology." Igneel said as he stared right into the cameras. "What are you going to do?" He asked as he flew over to Natsu. "How are you going to be Salamondra in Paris if you're stuck here."
"I don't know. My brother has gone too far." Natsu said as he hates all of this. "What he said to my friends, to Lucy, was too much. There has to be a way out." Natsu has to think of a way out of this, especially with what his brother is thinking.
...
Vanessa
Vanessa was a powerful business woman. She had vast connections since she made her daughters models, helped made the rings that Zeref uses, and clearly has access to advance technology. That technology plays a big key into what she and Zeref are planning. She stands alone in the room that houses the main server that connects to every single ring.
"It is ready, Zeref." Vanessa said as she called him. "Alliance rings are being held by about ninety percent of the world's population, but do we really need that many? Isn't the ones in the country enough?"
"Perhaps, but there will be no escape for Celestria and Salamondra. They will be overwhelmed by the vast numbers." Zeref claimed. "What's more is that is still one individual I must get my hands on if they continue to hide from me and they could be anywhere. Now, have you installed the A.I. emotional processor program?"
"I'm just about to." Vanessa said. "With that installed, you will be able to etheriouize the server just as you did with those other two machines. Before I do that, I just need to be assured. Once it all comes to fruition, you will keep your end of our deal?"
"Of course. Out of all those I have allied myself with, you have proven to be the most useful asset." Zeref said. "I was able to pull off what I have done recently because of you. For that, you will be rewarded. Despite what people say, I am a man of my word."
"Very well." Vanessa said as she installed her little program. That program will make the server experience something like an emotional thought process, and it's just what Zeref needs.
...
Dark Emperor
"It's time for the final pieces of my grand master plan to fall into place." Dark Emperor claimed. "Watch closely, kwamis. You will have front row seats when your precious guardian falls."
"You will never getaway with it. Celestria will stop you just like always." Fangg claimed.
"Not this time. When you have nothing to lose, it only means you have everything to gain." Dark Emperor said.
"But you do have something to lose: your brother." Steel claimed, but Dark Emperor simply ignored it. He just simply took an etherious and filled it with dark power for what might be the final time, and this being the most powerful etherious.
"Voyage, my mega etherious!" Dark Emperor opened a portal and sent his etherious flew it. The etherious flew into the server and went right into the motherboard. "Dark Alliance, I am granting you the power to create an army, but it will be under my complete command. You will be able to build an army by using the alliance rings from everyone around the world. There will be a soldier for each ring, and there will be nowhere for Celestria and Salamondra to run. There won't be anywhere they can hide." His power was working as the server turned completely dark and was now linked to every ring he ever created. "Now, for the final touch. Alliance, access the Master Miraculous Control. Initiate full miraculous copy and transference of previous miraculous powers." It would seem his ring doesn't just transfer the miraculous powers to his villains. He's also figured out how to copy a sample of their powers and is bestowing it into Dark Alliance. Which means...every miraculous power he's ever given to a villain can now be used by his army. Against an army of this magnitude, even Celestria and Salamondra might not be able to stop them on their own. Zeref truly is pulling out all the stops this time. "It's time to set the grand stage."
"Grand stage? What are you planning this time?" Pixi questioned.
"Patience, little kwamis." Dark Emperor said. "All will be revealed soon enough."
...
The Eiffel Tower
Meanwhile, finishing touches were being set in the Eiffel Tower for the dance tonight. Lyon was setting everything up, but he wasn't expecting Lucy to show knowing what happened with her.
"Hey! Lyon!" Lyon looked and saw Lucy's class showing up to help out.
"Hey, everyone. What are all of you doing here?" Lyon asked.
"Lucy couldn't make it. So, we all came in her place." Erza said.
"Her whole class? That's very supportive." Lyon said. "Well, we still got a lot of setting up to do and the dance is tonight. We'll get done much faster with everyone pitching in." All of them certainly liked the sound of that as they all pitched in and tried to help. "How is Lucy doing?"
"Just as you expect." Levy said with sorrow.
"But none of us saw it coming. Natsu didn't even want to go." Erza said.
"That's too bad. This was going to be a great moment for them." They looked and saw that Rogue and Kagura were there as well.
"Rogue! Kagura! What are you two doing here?" Levy asked.
"We too heard about what happened between Natsu and Lucy. We were hoping to find Lucy here." Kagura said.
"After all that Lucy has done for each of us, we all want to help her." Rogue said. "It's almost she's our Celestria, always helping us and everyone she can."
"I know what you mean." Lyon said. "When I first got here, she made me feel welcomed. She was the one that came up with most of this. She helped made living with Taylor more tolerable."
"On that note, how are things now that Taylor is no longer around?" Erza asked.
"A lot better in the hotel. My uncle is even focusing on being a director. Of course, he's still running the hotel to keep some money coming." Lyon said. "I just wish we could help Lucy like how she's always helped us."
"Hey!" Levy said as she got an idea. "Maybe Sting can talk to her! He usually knows what to say! Rogue, have you heard from him lately?"
"Last I heard from him, he was hitting the beaches of Hawaii." Rogue said. "At least one of us can enjoy themselves. I could give him a call, but it might not be easy."
"Hey! What's going on with my alliance ring?" Jellal questioned. He noticed that it was acting rather strange. All of them took a look and saw none of them were acting properly. Just then, a light shined out of his ring and it transformed into a silver faceless figure. It wasn't just his either. Many were coming out of everyone's ring and they were all surrounded.
"Capture all on behalf of Dark Emperor!" Dark Alliance claimed.
"Dark Emperor?!" Levy said as this wasn't good at all. They all tried to run, but those faceless men were everywhere and there was no escape for any of them. While they were being captured, some of them had their faces scanned. Since Dark Emperor knew the identities of previous miraculous holders, they now knew about it as well.
"Previous miraculous holders confirmed. Dark Emperor wants them all together." They were all being taken away, and it was happening all around Paris.
...
Hawaii
Ever since Sting left Paris, he's been traveling around with Erik Cobra and performing at concerts. It's not just a great opportunity for him, but him staying out of Paris protects Celestria and Salamondra since he knows it's Lucy and Natsu. That might not matter for much longer.
"Here you go, Sting." Erik said as he handed him a nice cool drink as they both relaxed on the beach.
"Thanks, Erik." Sting said as he took it.
"Excellent work, boys. The show starts tomorrow. After that, we..." Kinana was going over their schedule as she had a ring of her own. That was when another soldier came out of her own.
"What the heck?!" Sting said as they were surprised to see that. The Dark Alliance scanned Sting's face and recognized him as a priority target.
"Target confirmed. You are to return to Paris on behalf of Dark Emperor." Dark Alliance claimed.
"Dark Emperor?! No way!" Sting said as he tried to make a run for it, but one used the power of the Pegasus miraculous to appear right before him. Before Sting even had the chance to run, one used the power of the mermaid miraculous and froze him so he wouldn't be going anywhere. Dark Emperor finally has Sting. These Dark Alliances were also appearing all over the world from whoever is holding an alliance ring. Dark Emperor's power has really reached the entire world.
...
Natsu
"Well, we'll have to find a way to make the most of a situation. Let's see what's happening in the world. Maybe you can still get in touch with your friends." Igneel said as he tried his best to help Natsu to get through this rough time for him.
"I guess." Natsu said as he grabbed his phone and did some searching. Then, he came across something with the news. Reports of Dark Alliances were appearing all over Paris and taking people away. "Oh no! Paris is in real danger!"
"But what can you do?" Igneel questioned. "You're stuck in here. You can't transform."
"It doesn't matter. From the looks of things, everyone in Paris is in real danger." Natsu said as he tried to cover every camera he could. "We'll just have to think of something later. Igneel, Fire Up!" Natsu transformed into Salamondra and had to hurry.
"Dragon Fire!" Salamondra used his powers on the wall and was able to bust it down. Once he did that, he pulled out a power-up. "Power Up!" He ate it and transformed into his space form. Once he did that, he flew off. As he was flying off, he looked around and saw the same was in London. Dark Alliances were appearing everywhere. "Oh man! I don't know what's going on, but I better get back to Paris fast!" He flew as fast as he could, but some of the Dark Alliances already spotted him.
...
Lucy
"The final battle with Dark Emperor is going to happen? The fate of everyone and everything could change around at this moment?" Lucy questioned as everything Cana just told her was rattling around in her brain. "I almost can't believe it. It's hard to believe after all the battles, it could really come to an end."
"I know. If she risked coming back to tell us that, this must be one big moment that affects all of time." Stella said. "We could finally save Anka. You can finally have no more troubles and worries about being Celestria."
"But it could happen any time at any moment." Lucy said as she was all kinds of anxious.
"Lucy!" Layla called as she was on her way up with Stella hiding. "Is everything okay? I thought I heard you talking to someone."
"Yeah. I was just...on my phone." Lucy said.
"Well, at least you sound better already." Layla said. "Listen, your father and I were thinking that maybe we close early, see a nice movie, and the three of us grab dinner if don't feel like going to the dance."
"Thanks, Mom. Still, I have to go to the dance since I helped made it." Lucy said.
"Well, I was thinking..." Suddenly, Layla was pulled down by the leg.
"Mom!" Lucy called as she hurried over to help her and saw that she was grabbed by a Dark Alliance.
"Lucy, run!" Layla said. Lucy quickly closed off the entrance to her room.
"Stella..." Lucy was about to transform, but that was when another Dark Alliance appeared right in her room thanks to the Pegasus miraculous. Luckily, Stella quickly hid right in Lucy's purse. Unable to transform, Lucy had no choice. She had to go with the Dark Alliances. When they were taken down through the bakery, they saw that Jude was captured by one as well. They looked out and saw many people in Paris were being taken by the Dark Alliances. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, but let's try to stay together." Layla said.
"No worries." Jude said as he grabbed a bag of flour and tried swinging it right at one of the Dark Alliances, but it used the powers of the shark miraculous and turned into water to avoid getting hit. So much for that idea. When that failed, the Dark Alliance became solid and held him down painfully. "Okay. Okay. We'll go with you if that's what you want." The Heartfilias had no choice but to go with them as they were being escorted through Paris themselves.
"Stella, did you see that?" Lucy whispered and made sure no one saw her talk to Stella.
"I sure did. They can use the miraculous powers of the shark and the Pegasus." Stella said.
"What are these things?" Lucy questioned. "They all can't be the same villain that used the miraculous of the bat."
"I don't know, but it might be a good idea to go along with this to see what's going on until you can transform. Just be careful." Stella warned with Lucy thinking the same thing. "This might have something to do with what Cana warned us about." Lucy figured that it might have something to do with that herself, which means this could be Dark Emperor's greatest plan yet.
...
Salamondra
Salamondra was able to fly all the way back to Paris. When he arrived, he landed down on a rooftop and turned back to normal. When he arrived in Paris, he had a look and saw the people of Paris being captured and taken away by the same Dark Alliances that are appearing everywhere.
"This is bad." Salamondra said as he didn't like how this was looking at all. "I've got to find Celestria and figure out what is all of this."
"Salamondra detected!" He looked behind him and saw more of them were appearing behind him. "You are coming with us."
"Sorry, but my other special lady is waiting, and it's rude to keep a lady waiting." Salamondra said as he twirled his staff around and tried to fight back. They all tried to attack him, but Salamondra fought back each one of them with his staff or kicked him back. One did held out its arm and unleashed a powerful gust of wind from the falcon miraculous with Salamondra being blown back until he took cover behind a chimney. "Okay, so they have the powers of the falcon miraculous. That's good to know." Suddenly one punched right through the chimney and knocked him across a few buildings thanks to the minotaur miraculous. "They also have the painful minotaur miraculous."
"Best option is for you to surrender." Dark Alliance claimed.
"No way." Salamondra said as he got back up, but then one used the power of the phoenix miraculous and fired a couple arrows right where Salamondra was standing. When that happened, the whole thing came apart right under his feet and he fell right through. Once it came apart, they used the powers of the phoenix miraculous again to restore the building and saw they threw Salamondra for a loop. "No fair. I've only got one miraculous power." He tried to get up, but they surrounded him and got a hold of him. Now Dark Emperor has him. This might be over before they know it.
...
Trocadero
Everyone in Paris was being escorted to the Trocadero gardens. Lucy was among the crowd with her parents. Everyone was rather scared and worried on what might be going on. What's even weirder is that there appeared to be a grand platform right in the middle of the gardens. Even Bisca and her news crew and family were there.
"You have Dark Emperor's permission to document this moment." Dark Alliance said to them. "Dark Emperor wants to be sure that Celestria and Salamondra knows what is going on wherever they might be for there is no place for them to hide." Lucy kept her eyes open for anything, but she was stunned to see some of her friends on that stage. Levy, Erza, Gray, Gajeel, Hibiki, and Kagura were up there, but they were bounded by chains.
"Oh no." Lucy said.
"Lucy, you need to think of a way to transform without anyone seeing." Stella said.
"I'm trying, but it's not easy." Lucy said as she can't see a way to get out to transform. Just then, everyone gasped in surprise as they all saw something land down on the stage. They were all surprised to see that Dark Emperor himself has made an appearance.
"People of Paris, for too long you've been tormented. If Celestria and Salamondra just simply would have surrendered their miraculous, none of this would be happening." Dark Emperor said. "I simply desired one thing from their miraculous. After today, I shall have it or all I have worked on will be for nothing. No more will this constant battle between me and your superheroes continue. The time has come to end this struggle." Dark Emperor is going big. He's set the stage for the final battle, but it still needs the main characters. This is what Cana warned Lucy about. This is the moment where fate itself could be completely altered.