A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here!
Enjoy!
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: THE COUNTRY UNTIL TOMORROW
Natsu and the others were currently walking around Hell Palace. "We keep going, but it looks all the same. It throws off your sense of direction, too." Lucy stated.
"In fact, is this really the right way?" Natsu asked.
"If that executioner lied to us, I'll go back right now and execute him myself." Akame growled, making Chii sigh.
"I can feel a slight breeze. I think we're good." Wendy reassured.
"Come to think of it, how did you get here, Loke?" Mira questioned as Loke was supporting Arcadios, with Dusk helping.
"I jumped." Loke responded.
"It's important to also think of what happens after."
"Actions before thoughts."
"You make a good point once in a while!" Natsu commented.
"Once in a while?" Loke repeated.
"Will Arcadios-sama be okay?" Yukino asked.
"Well, he'll survive, but..." Dusk replied as he trailed off.
"It's unusual for anyone to live swimming in lava." Bruno concluded.
"Now that you mention it, did Horologium do something?" Carla questioned.
"No. He'd already jumped into the lava by then." Lucy responded.
"He's the paragon of a military man. I'm impressed." Lily complimented.
"It's probably thanks to the jade amulet he's wearing." Loke pointed out. "It's a powerful charm that's doing its duty."
"Speaking of jade, that reminds me of the Jade Dragon, Zirconis." Wendy recalled.
"Oh, that guy." Natsu said.
"That dragon sure talked a lot." Lucy commented.
"I recall the name of the princess is Hisui, which means jade." Yukino recalled.
"He said we should decide for ourselves whether Eclipse is the right way to go, right?"
"Although the princess is the one who dropped us in here." Natsu reminded.
"Anyway, I want to escape from here and put everyone who's fighting in the Grand Magic Games at ease." Loke informed.
"Yeah." Lucy nodded in agreement as her face turned serious.
"We keep proceeding downwards." Lily said.
"We have no idea how deep this place is." Mira informed.
"It's so big, they could have built another town down here."
"Here?"
Happy screeched when he saw bugs crawling out of a human skull as the group continued down a staircase.
"I smell something!" Natsu informed.
"It seems we're close to the exit." Wendy stated.
"Then the leader of the executioners was telling us the truth, huh?" Zack questioned.
"Come to think of it, I know all of their names but the leader's." Lucy pointed out.
"True. Okay, I'll decide on it." Mira said. "Kama!"
"Meaning 'sickle'!"
"Hey, look at that!" Bruno pointed towards something as the group saw a large door in front of them.
"A door!" Natsu exclaimed.
"It might be the exit!" Happy said.
"We can finally get out of here!" Lucy said.
"That's also a lot bigger than it has to be." Lily pointed out.
"It looks like a sturdy door." Wendy stated. "How can we open it?"
"Leave it to me! Blood Dragon's..." Akame rushed forward and was about to use his breath attack.
However, before he could make an attack, the door opened by itself. "Huh?" Lucy questioned.
"It opened!" Happy shouted.
The door opened wider, revealing a bright white light. "Why?!" Carla asked.
"An ambush?!" Wendy guessed.
A silhouette of a person was shown as Akame stopped in front of them, causing him to glance up. A gust of wind blew through the stranger's cloak.
Akame narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?"
Mercurius...
"P-Princess! Princess! It's terrible! Princess!"
"What is it?! Contain yourself!"
"When a scheduled update from Hell Palace didn't come, troops went in... The report states the Garou Knights were wiped out!"
"What?! It can't be!"
"Just against several wizards?!"
"What happened to the criminals?"
"We believe they escaped Hell Palace."
Hisui lets out a sigh of relief hearing the news.
"How can this be?!"
Hisui soon had pink-tinted cheeks. "I knew it..."
"You shouldn't be sporting an expression like that." Darton spoke up. "Anyone can tell what you're thinking."
"Darton! I thought you were at Domus Flau with my father." Hisui said.
"I returned after feeling a strange sense of foreboding. And I suppose this is what it was about." Darton stated.
"What do you mean by that?" Hisui asked. "You're the one... You're the one who plunged Arcadios into Hell Palace without a trial!"
"And you used Fairy Tail and Twilight Phoenix to rescue Arcadios for you, right, Princess?" Darton accused, leaving the guards in shock. "You're the real power behind Project Eclipse, after all. Arcadios did a brillant job playing the bad guy in front of me, while someone was behind him. In other words, he was covering up for you."
"You figured all of that out? Impressive." Hisui stated.
"Princess, think about it! That's a dangerous thing! We mustn't change the world." Darton said as him and Hisui stared at each other.
Hisui closed her eyes before looking out at Domus Flau. "No. I think the world has to be changed."
"You think?" Darton quoted.
"I promised them I wouldn't tell anyone about this... But it seems I should share it with you. About Project Eclipse 2." Hisui said.
"Two?"
"The true Project Eclipse." Hisui explained as wind blew threw her hair. Darton widened his eyes. "If the project fails, tomorrow... this country will be destroyed."
Domus Flau...
The audience cheered and waved Twilight Phoenix's guild emblem in the air. "Twilight Phoenix still doesn't have any fallen members! Talk about strong!" Chapati announced.
"Of course. We have Ezekiel. Not to mention, Atlas and Nero, too." Atugia stated.
"By the way, what's gonna happen next, Master?" Hana asked.
"It looks like all of the members are on the move." Ajar added.
"According to Nero..." Harumi trailed off.
Juvia was walking through the streets of Crocus. "Juvia was told to be right here, right now." She thinks to herself as a gust of wind blew, causing her to turn around.
"Boreas, God of the North Wind!" Sherria shouted, attacking Juvia with black wind.
"Just as First Master predicted!" Juvia thought as the explosion cleared. "Juvia and Sherria will clash."
"Here comes Sherria-tan!" Chapati exclaimed.
"Yes, yes..."
Sherria pointed to Juvia. "You're the one Lyon loves!" She accused.
"I don't want to be loved!" Juvia argued.
"In that case... vanish!" Sherria said, throwing more black wind at Juvia.
"God Slayer, Sherria... I recall she can heal herself." Evergreen pointed out.
"How can she be taken down?" Bickslow questioned.
"Just immobilizing her is fine. Meanwhile, Erza will fight Minerva." Mavis replied.
"She looks triumphant!"
"First Master, is Minerva that woman from Saber? The one that kept hurting that Dawn girl from Twilight Phoenix... She's a dangerous opponent." Freed said.
"But if she's going to throw down with Erza, there's nothing to worry about, right?" Evergreen asked.
Erza halted in her tracks. "Here..." She thinks to herself. "According to Number One's strategy, I'll run into Saber's..."
She suddenly felt a presence behind her as she turned around, seeing Ezekiel charge right at her. "It's Ezekiel!" Chapati shouted as the audience cheered while Mavis was left stunned.
Erza requipped two swords. "Number One's prediction was off?!" She thought, clashing swords with Ezekiel.
Erza and Ezekiel both leaped back. "Have you always been this strong, Zeke?!" Erza asked herself.
"There's no way this could possibly be avoided according to Nero. We were due to throw down with each other at some point. Don't hold back just because we're family, Nee-chan!" Ezekiel thinks to himself.
"N-Number One! What does this mean?" Makarov asked. "I thought Erza's opponent was supposed to be Minerva from Saber!"
"So even the First Master, nicknamed the Fairy Tactician, can miscalculate." Freed said bluntly.
Bickslow and Evergreen shushed him, pointing to Mavis.
"My calculation was... How?" Mavis began to tear up, causing everyone to go pale.
"N-Number One!" Makarov exclaimed.
"I-I'm not crying! I'm not crying at all..." Mavis claimed.
"S-Somebody!"
"This is your fault, Freed!"
"Soothe Number One with all your might!"
The two siblings continued to trade blows with each other with their swords clashing once more and making the audience cheer again. "This is an interesting showdown! A battle between not only the strongest swordsman and the strongest swordswoman, but they're also siblings!" Chapati announced, spinning around.
"It's a grand turning point." Yajima stated.
Erza and Ezekiel continued to stare at each other as Minerva soon made her appearance, throwing the two twins back. "Do you mind if I play, too?" She asked.
"Minerva's gotten between them!" Chapati said.
"It's... unpredictable..." Mavis muttered.
"Oh! My Goodness! It's become a three-way battle! Who will survive?!" Chapati questioned as Erza, Ezekiel, and Minerva all stared at each other.
"I feel incredibly nervous. That's because there's no telling what will happen." Freed commented.
"You think Erza could lose?!" Evergreen questioned in disbelief.
"No, but look at her opponents..." Bickslow replied.
"Will Ezekiel be alright?" Riku asked.
"Are you doubting him?" Atugia questioned defensively.
"O-Of course not... But considering one of his opponents is his twin sister, I can't help but worry about him." Riku explained.
"I agree. I didn't even want to fight Dusk during the Horned Serpent conflict." Dawn agreed.
"He'll be fine. Have more faith in him." Ajar told them.
"I don't care who my opponent is. I'll go right through you." Ezekiel declared.
Minerva chuckled. "People have lost confidence in Sabertooth. Naturally, it goes without saying that your guild is responsible. Ezekiel, Erza. To prove to everyone that our guild is the strongest, I'm going to get rid of you together." She claimed as a purple magical aura surrounded her.
"You talk a good game." Erza said.
"A fight usually doesn't have this amount of talking. Come!" Ezekiel ordered.
Erza and Ezekiel's magic power was exerting as well, surrounding them both in a red glow. "Th-This is... Yajima-san, I think I can feel the vibrations from here!" Chapati said, turning to Yajima.
"That shows just how powerful and concentrated the magic of those three is." Yajima stated.
"It's okay! I know you can win, Erza!" Makarov encouraged.
The three of them had a stare down before their magic power dispersed and all three of them charged forward at each other, both of Erza and Ezekiel's swords clashing with Minerva's magic, causing a huge explosion. The explosion disappeared as they continued fighting.
Minerva placed the tips of her fingers against her palm. "Ragudo!" She shouted, trapping Erza and Ezekiel.
"What?!" Erza questioned.
"Niel Wielg Mion Terse Elcantaeus!" Minerva chanted.
"What language is that?" Bickslow wondered.
"I don't know, but it seems ominous." Free replied.
"Run, Erza!" Evergreen warned.
"That's..." Mavis trailed off.
"Number One!"
"...Yakuma's 18 Battle Gods Magic?!" Mavis finished in shock.
"Yagdo Rigora!" Minerva finished her spell, causing a monster to appear as well as a yellow beam of light followed by an explosion. The light disappeared, shocking the audience.
"That's my lady." Orga commented.
When the dust settled, it showed Erza and Ezekiel both standing. "Wha...?! They're unharmed!" Chapati exclaimed.
"What'll happen with these three?!"
"This goes way beyond awesome!"
"It's dangerous!"
"They've got me on the edge of my seat!" Makarov commented.
"She can command that magic..." Mavis mumbled in shock.
"All three of them are scary." Bickslow claimed.
"Does this mean their magic balances out?" Evergreen questioned.
"For right now..." Freed responded.
"I see. I certainly didn't expect you to make it this far. Titania... Erza Scarlet. And Ezekiel Scarlet... We'll get nowhere at this rate. I'm going to make a little change." Minerva said as two people appeared in a bubble beside her.
"Yajima-san, what is that?" Chapati asked.
"Two people?" Yajima guessed.
Both Erza and Ezekiel gasped. "The kitten and mermaid I captured earlier." Minerva said.
"Millianna!"
"Kagura!"
"What are you doing, wench?!" Erza asked.
"Can't you see these two suffering? I'm stealing their magic now in that space." Minerva replied as both Kagura and Millianna's face morphed into pain. Flashbacks of Kagura soon appeared in Ezekiel's mind.
"I'm Ezekiel."
"...Kagura."
Ezekiel clenches his swords tightly as his whole body shook in anger.
"I think we should break up." Kagura tells him.
"Huh?" Ezekiel blinks in shock. "Hey, Kagura! Don't just dump that out on me! Our relationship was going fine!"
"You're a distraction."
"Kagura!" Ezekiel shouted.
"That's low!" Arana commented.
"What should we do?! Millianna! Kagura!" Beth said.
"What's she doing with Millianna and Kagura-chan?!" Risley questioned.
"Relax. I'm not using them as hostages to make you give in. As I said, I'm just going to make a change." Minerva spoke as both Ezekiel and Erza gritted their teeth in anger.
"That's it. That's the expression I wanted to see." Minerva said.
Mercurius...
Darton had a disturbed look plastered on his face. "If that's... If that's the truth, the Grand Magic Games must be cancelled at once..." He informed.
"No. I'm still skeptical about what they said." Hisui claimed.
"Yes, but even if it isn't true, if the public is in imminent danger..." Darton started to say.
Hisui gulped. "That person knows the future. They know the results of the Grand Magic Games. I was told a certain guild wins through an unbelievable outcome." She said.
"Unbelievable outcome?" Darton repeated.
"Owning to the special outcome, predicting it is impossible. If that outcome becomes reality, I'll believe what the person told me." Hisui claimed.
"Y-You would let the future of this country ride on the results of the Grand Magic Games?" Darton questioned.
"In a way. After all, I still can't believe that outcome." Hisui responded.
"But if what that person told you about it comes to pass..."
"...then it's safe to say everything they told me about the future is true." Hisui finished. "Then I'll open the Eclipse Portal."
Hell Palace...
Akame narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?!" He asked the hooded figure before he sniffed the air. "Hey, wait a second! This scent..."
"Akame..." The hooded person spoke before a tear fell from their eye as they covered their mouth. "I'm sorry!"
The hooded person continued crying. "You're..." Akame started to say.
"Help me!"
"That voice..." Yukino muttered.
"What is this?" Mira asked.
"It can't be..." Bruno muttered.
"You're..." Zack trailed off.
Dusk stepped forward, releasing Arcadios's arm. "W-Wait just a minute!"
The hooded person removed their hood as Dusk screamed in shock.
"He..." Hisui started to say.
Arcadios opened his eyes as Akame went wide eyed.
"No way!" Dusk exclaimed.
There, standing in front of him, was himself. Except the left side of his hair was his usual light purple and the right side of his hair was black. Tears continued to fall from his face.
"...said he came from the future." Hisui finished.
"Dusk!" Akame shouted.
"Two Dusks?! How is that possible?" Bruno questioned.
"Did he come from Edolas or something?" Happy wondered.
"No. This doesn't seem to be anything that simple." Lily replied.
"Please... help me!" Future Dusk pleaded, still sobbing. "Soon, this country will be..."
A/N: The rescue team has finally met Future Dusk! If you're wondering where Future Lucy is, it'll be explained in the next chapter! I have a different idea on what happened to her besides the idea I used for God Pegasus.
Also, surprise! Ezekiel and Kagura have dated! Which means, yes, Ezekiel is bisexual! I needed someone for Minerva to hold "hostage" against Ezekiel aside from Millianna.
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.