START OF ARC 2: GRAND MAGIC GAMES
"So," Romeo said to the gathered members of Fairy Tail, "it's probably a long road just to get to the Games themselves. They used to be in Crocus, but, since Stella and Bosco got folded into the Empire, they moved it out to Clover Town."
"Not a large location for such an event," Erza said.
"And isn't that where the geezers used to meet to talk about the guilds?" Natsu asked.
"Clover Town was destroyed by the Emperor to make room for the Games," Laki said.
Max and Laki had joined the bunch. They weren't going to participate in the games, but had an interest in their friends taking place. They weren't going to hold the Tenrou group back from anything.
"It is a place fully dedicated to it," Max said. "The Empire brought in a lot of hired help from overseas to make it happen."
"From Alikitasia?" Lucy asked.
Max nodded. "Almost every single event of the Games takes place there. It's a huge facility. Three arenas, and the entire city can turn into a battlefield for part of it. Plus, there's one large dome for some of the other contests and events the Empire holds year-round."
"Sounds like a big deal," Gray said.
"It's huge," Laki said. "And it's run, in specific, by the Dragon Division."
The Three Dragon Slayers leaned in at the sound of that.
"Once upon a time," Laki said, "the games were called the Dragon King Festival, in honor of the friendship between dragons, humans, and, believe it or not, Demons. Weird, I know, but, after the Great War between dragons and humans they did away with the name. I suppose the Emperor, who knows his stuff, decided to hearken back to that."
"One year every single Dragon Slayer participated in the event," Max said. "It was pretty rough."
"Did you compete then?" Lucy asked.
Max shook his head. "No. I competed last year. I wanted to test my abilities." He rubbed his arm bashfully. Laki squeezed his hand. "It didn't go well. I got to the bracket round of fighting but didn't last long after that."
"Did better than me," Romeo muttered. "At least you qualified."
Natsu clapped Romeo on the back. "Hey! You'll get it next time you enter, unless you fight me or Erza!"
"Thanks, I think," Romeo said, rubbing his head.
"It seems far enough away from Imperial control that we could make a bit of noise and not cause too much trouble," Erza said, tapping a finger to her chin. She was out of her armor, instead wearing her white blouse and blue skirt. Levy was leaned over a map of Fiore in front of Erza studying the changes with her glasses. "Even if we are under the direct watch of the Dragon Division."
"How many of these Dragon Slayers typically enter, then?" Gajeel said.
"One, maybe two," Max said with a shrug.
"Hold on a second, then, how many do the Empire have?" Lucy asked.
Max blanched for a moment, then sighed. "Eleven."
"Ten?" the three other Dragon Slayers burst.
"That's incredible," Juvia muttered. "No wonder they have an entire division at their side."
"There's, uh, I guess more," Laki said. "Nobody is quite sure what they are, or how they came to be, but one of these Dragon Slayers is said to have discovered, within the depths of Stella, an army of other Dragon Slayer-like creatures. Automatons."
"I can see how, with relative ease, the Empire was able to take a stand against Fiore and Stella, then," Erza said. "Does this army attend the Games?"
"No. It's usually your typical Imperial guard, though those still aren't much of a joke. The Games haven't had any real rebellious activity since the Empire took over."
Levy stood up from the map. "Judging by what I'm seeing here, the best way to get to Clover Town isn't just by train. For the purposes of subterfuge, the best way to get there may be to head through the mountains, for a brief moment, after taking the train a good portion of the way there."
"Unfortunately there's no high-speed trains near the village that'll connect you to Clover Town," Laki said.
"Wait," Gajeel said, tapping Levy on the shoulder. "You're not going?"
"No. I'm going to stay here with Lisanna and Mirajane," Levy said. "We're coming up with our own plan to deal with the Empire, something that might make you guys jealous."
Gajeel almost blushed. "Need me to, uh, come with?"
Then, it was Levy's turn to blush. "I—if you want? But, the Games are important to you. Trust me, we'll be fine!"
"So we can head to Clover Town, win the games, get the reward, and come back here? Easy!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Except, not so," Max said. "There's still an arena, the renewed Domus Flau, for a reason. The finals are held in Crocus, in front of everyone. Everyone."
"Even Zeref?" Gray asked.
"Okay, so, not everyone," Max said. "But Division Captains often attend. The two Captains of the Dragon Division in particular, since it's kind of their show to run."
"Should we still enter, then, if we're going to be in the capital city?" Wendy asked.
"Yes," Natsu said.
"I do think so, too," Erza said. "If we're able to keep our calm composure and not blow our cover, we may have a way of winning the Games and getting their prize. You said it's something significant?"
"One year they had some Silver Celestial Spirit Wizard keys up for grabs," Romeo said. "So, yeah, they're a big deal."
"The Games are coming up, too," Max said. "If you leave under the cover of dark you may get the chance to get far enough into the hills to be in Imperial territory but still without any eyes on you. We can help you all pack."
They rolled the map up, Levy promising to make a copy for them with Laki's help to know train stations and best footpaths to Clover Town. The geography may not have changed, but in seven years, the travel around Fiore certainly had.
At dusk, those attending the Games stood in a huddled mass in front of the door to Flare's cottage once more. Gajeel watched Flare share hugs with those offering as thanks, and everyone was grateful to Tayaka for her immense help in unlocking their Second Origins. She was still in recovery from such an expenditure of magic.
Gajeel tightened the glove about his hand, pointedly avoiding eye-contact with Levy, who was giving a fond farewell to Juvia. Lily stood next to him, and moved to Levy at her beckoning. Gajeel snarled. Damn. So he was gonna have to say goodbye to shorty after all.
She was alone when he approached, as Lily joined the others. The Exceeds were the only ones without a pack slung about them. The others had only the slight provisions that the rebels were able to spare.
"Mirajane will look after you, I hear she's pretty tough," Gajeel said.
"Thanks," Levy said. She smiled up at him. "Take care of each other out there. I want to hear all about how you guys totally rocked the Grand Magic Games."
"Yeah, well, you'll know exactly how it went once I bring the trophy back here."
"You're that confident?"
"Who's gonna beat me? Salamander?"
"Erza."
Gajeel waved it off. "Yeah, we'll see about that."
Levy laughed at that. It was the first real laugh he'd heard out of her since they got off the island.
"Hey."
Levy slowed her laugh. Gajeel rested a hand on her head, then it let it fall down her to her shoulder. She reached up to gingerly grab it.
"Everything that happened before, with, um…between us. All of us. I was as bad as the Imperials back then."
"Gajeel…"
"No. It was terrible. Awful, even, and I hate that I did that. If I could go back in time to prevent anything…well, I'd save Jet and Droy, and then I'd go back in time past that to stop myself from doing what I did. None of you deserved that. I can't apologize enough."
He then thumped her on the head lightly.
"So what I'm going to do is get those Imperial bastards back ten-fold. They're going to learn that messing with Team Shadow Gear is a one-way road to hell. So. That, uh, cool with you?"
Tears formed at the bottom of Levy's eyes. She sniffled them away, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah. That's cool with me."
Gajeel almost wrapped Levy in for a hug. A hug? From Gajeel Redfox? C'mon, who was he playing at with that…
Levy lunged at him, wrapping her tiny arms about him. She buried her small head into his abs.
"Promise me you'll come back."
Gajeel patted her head. The others were heading out. Maybe in another life, in a worse one, he would've shoved Levy away in case they saw.
Instead he rubbed her back.
"Only if you make the same promise, pint-sized."
Levy nodded, and she was the one that stepped away. She beckoned Gajeel to go on with the others. He did.
Normally, Gajeel, despite being made with some iron and metal in him, didn't have heavy steps. He could be quite nimble. So why, then, did it all of a sudden feel so hard to move forward?
It was a dim dawn light that swelled over Crocus, the light blossoming like a flower unsure of its own bloom. With it came not warmth but a retained chill, one that often settled in the reformed Mercurius, the palace of the Emperor and the Captain of his Five Divisions. Foreign diplomats were allowed in, as were significant others, like wives, girlfriends, or whomever the Captain deigned worthy to share their bed with for even the evening. Whatever kept them happy.
Not far from Mercurius, in holdfasts splintered into a pentagon around the castle, were the different locations for the other Divisions, where Generals lived.
From above, in the high tower where the Dragon Division Captains lived, Yukino Eucliffe-Agria stared down at the once-dwindled, and now rising, capital, startled to find something streaking down her cheek. She caught it before it could drip to her chin.
Strange.
Had she been crying in her sleep?
She'd woken a few minutes ago, beckoned to the brimming light of the sun seemingly by her own feet. The curtains were partly drawn, and she opened them further. She glanced at her reflection for a mere second before focusing on the rest of the city.
In that second, that moment, she caught herself in her pale shift laced with blue ornaments as she claimed to enjoy them. It hung loosely upon her, uncaring about her as she was of it. Her hair, gracefully clinging to the base of her neck, remained unmoving. She heard Sorano laughing at her to try growing it out. She hadn't noticed the tear there. Yukino wore the same face she had for years, now: a stoic one.
A chill creeped up her body, pocking her flesh, but she ignored it. It was always chilly in Crocus, even in the summer months as they were in. The demons beneath the city liked to keep it that way, and so the Emperor appeased his favorite children.
Crocus did not spring to life at the sudden appearance of the dawn, but it slowly dredged its feet into motion. Guards changed. Workers with carts or in large groups moved out. Once, long ago, when Yukino had first come to the city as a mere trainee of the Twilight Empire, she watched a city in ruin attempting to scramble and fix itself.
These days, it spread wide and fast, larger than any city she'd ever heard of or visited. Most other large ones, she understood, were wiped out in the invasion.
A spirit formed on the other side of the window, waiting for her on the balcony. Libra, summoned at just the right time.
The Celestial Spirit said nothing, made no motion or notion of anything to Yukino. But she understood and nodded, and Libra vanished.
Yukino got ready and dressed, falling into the routine that Yukino Eucliffe had formed, one that would amaze Yukino Agria given its efficiency. She undressed from her shift and had her Imperial dress on instantly, a diplomatic one given the meeting she was set to have. She chose the earrings given to her by August upon her introduction to the Twilight Division, placing the lapel of the Twilight Division on her left shoulder. She smoothed her dress, then moved other her hair, ensuring the bob was still in place.
She wiped away another tear from her face. No. She hadn't been crying while she got ready. She was certain of that.
When she returned out of her lavish closet, one Yukino would have toggled over not five years ago, a part of her, a surprisingly small one, wished that her husband would wake and compliment her appearance as he was want to do.
Instead, after a long day prior, Sting was asleep in bed, sprawled out naked beneath the sheets, snoring obtusely. Yukino should have laughed at that. Instead, she whispered him a good morning and headed out the door.
Typical dresses for meetings and arrangements such that Yukino faced were meant to be longer and less form-fitting, but Sorano had worked an arrangement for she and Yukino to wear dressed more to their liking and style—shorter, the dress cutting off just above the legs. Yukino was not like her sister, having her dress tailored so it left little to the imagination.
Her normal style was to wear a uniform of layers, to help distinguish her among the Generals of the Twilight Division—a tank-top, matched with a fitted skirt and a fine jacket that allowed her to display her rank, her Division, and her relationship to Sting.
But given her audience, that wouldn't be cared for as much. Given her audience, Yukino had to play the role of the Twilight Division General she was.
She moved easily through the Dragon Tower. A door above signaled Rogue heading out into the day, typically early. Other servants were up and about, too, likely ones that would wake Sting up.
The base of the Dragon Tower led to a corridor, well-guarded and magically protected, that connected one to the Dragon Holdfast, where her meeting awaited. She'd likely be there before the opposite party, given their reputation. Yukino sighed at the thought, but pressed on anyway. She had a responsibility to the Empire and would carry it out.
After the trek—always much longer than she thought—Yukino arrived in a small study dedicated to the history and art of Dragon Slayer magic, filled with faux copies of books meant to deceive thieves. The real copies could only be revealed with an incantation only the Generals and Captains of the Dragon Division were aware of. Yukino had the ability to access the room, given she was Sting's wife.
Indeed, she was alone for some time, so she took residence in one of the two seats allotted to the room, and waited with her legs crossed and patience thinning. There was one window in the room, but it was too high up for her to look out and see anything other than swirling, thin clouds.
The sign that her companion had arrived came in the form of a giggling woman, one who sounded Alikitasian. Yukino rolled her eyes but stayed seated. Normally, one was supposed to stand up to greet a peer of similar or greater rank. The door opened, revealing the woman in a thin, silver silk dress. She wore heels, sharp pointy ones at that, and had flowing brown hair down to her tailbone.
The Dragon Slayer with her stepped away, blowing her a kiss, and when he shut the door, shook his head, composed himself, and moved to the seat opposite Yukino.
"I'm glad you were having fun to be late for our meeting," Yukino said.
"Fun? Oh, no."
This one was Axel. The Diamond Dragon Slayer. He had styled brown hair and wore a vest overtop his Dragon Division uniform that had a few diamonds embroidered into it. His boots were tipped with diamonds as well. He had no rings on his fingers but had a single bangle along his arm, one enhanced by August to help him keep his magic flowing if he were to need diamonds to consume.
"I'll be done with this one today, it's run its course. Besides. I'll be traveling soon, you think I want someone hanging around my neck on business? No." Axel sighed. "She was good to me. I may miss her, from time to time."
Axel, as Yukino understood it, cherished the women he was with. His relationships were long, and they went in-depth with their commitment. He'd already been married under the Emperor's rule, and it came shortly before he had his Dragon Slayer abilities bestowed unto him. But the relationships always ended and the women he was with vanished. There was a rumor that their bodies were relieved of their souls, for them to then be turned into Fourth Generation Dragon Slayers that served the Quantum Army.
Or, they became serfs once more in Alikitasia, working in sweat shops while wondering if their boyfriend, fiancé, or husband would come get them. Axel had a horrible habit of letting his women get involved with Imperial politics, informing them on secrets they should never know about. More than once that woman he was with, Violet, had attended dinners that were meant only for the Dragon Division, according to Sting.
His behaviors were only a tad more drastic than some of the Generals of the Twilight Empire. The Twilight Division itself was not so disrespectful toward their partners—barring Sorano, who was direspecful to anyone not named Yukino—and the Tartaros Generals were prepared to defile any living being, anyway.
Yukino found it difficult to beguile Axel of his attitude and behavior because it was one shared among the others, and one she saw so often that she'd become numb to it. Life was boring in the Capital. Who was there to be afraid of? So, with nothing else to do, people either went off to train to try and climb the Imperial ladder or they got bored and whored, messing around with the poor people of the Empire.
"Have you completed travel preparations?" Yukino asked.
"Yes, I'll be taking the train to Clover Town soon," Axel said. "I've heard whispers that I may be joined by Kiyl but I think it'll be unnecessary."
Axel eased further into his seat. He formed a ball of diamond in his hand that he tossed toward the ceiling, pulling it back down with his own magic and the tossed it, repeating it over and over while he spoke.
"I imagine it'll be a good use of your skills," Yukino said. "To put this all on display."
"Tell me, then, what I need to look out for," Axel said. "If I'm to kill the once-great Jiemma Orland."
Yukino's heart flinched at the name but she ignored it. Odd.
"Brute strength, simple as that," Yukino said. "Enough, perhaps, to break diamonds."
"I see why Sting likes you," Axel said. "You're funny."
"Jiemma isn't one to get in his own way, as he is that way," Yukino said. "It makes him stubborn and vulnerable, easy to underestimate his opponent. When you confront him, if necessary, every blow must be a killing one."
"And you're sure he's going to enter?" Axel asked.
"You think I ignored my orders?" Yukino asked.
Of course not. Nobody ever disregarded word from the Wizard King, August. When he spoke to Yukino, not long ago, about the move to kill Jiemma she'd taken it in stride. Then, when he'd given her the update that she was not to kill him but to gather information, it made things even easier for her.
She dug through combat records, she dug through memories of witnessing her master's horrific training of other members of the guild. She relieved her nightmares of training beneath him, still feeling each blow he took against her when she failed to properly summon or command one of her Celestial Spirits. She remembered the triumph she felt when he did not belittle her for finding the lost Black Key.
"He looked to enter last year but that fool Rufus convinced him otherwise," Yukino said. "He's going to this year no matter what, if only to wipe that blemish from his own mind."
"Did August give you details on how it's to be done?"
"Let him enter," Yukino said. She didn't answer because, no, August didn't give that formal of a directive. Yukino was making these decisions, and this little Dragon Slayer was going to listen. "Let him have a moment to shine. Then he'll die."
Axel glowered at her for a second. He leaned back, as if unsure of Yukino, then nodded.
"Do you have any feelings for him at all?" Axel asked, carefully.
"The man must die," Yukino said, firm of voice.
"Yes. It's the will of the Empire."
"Exactly."
Axel stood up from his chair, sighing. "Then I'll go break the news to Violet and finish my preparations. I'll be in touch if we need to clarify anything else, but, by then I'll likely be in Clover Town. You're not coming, are you?"
"I'm not sure. It's a long way, and for what? To watch you win the tournament?"
Axel sneered. "You got that right."
He gave her a slight bow, as was custom of the Empire, and left the room. She snarled at the door, wishing she'd snapped at him for daring to question her feelings toward the mission.
When she stood, abruptly, she found, surprisingly waiting for her again, another tear sliding down her face.
Night came for Makarov, Laxus, and the Thunder Tribe. Makarov helped Bickslow and Fried set up camp while Evergeen stood to the side, rubbing her arms despite the lack of any real cold in the area. Makarov had been checking on her throughout their walk. She seemed…not upset, but perturbed.
It was quite obvious that she had feelings for Elfman and he was glad for it. He was a good man, and she a good woman. They'd fit well together. But that couldn't be the true reason she was so off. She refused to look at any of them. Perhaps she was ashamed of what'd happened in the facility. That, unfortunately, was going to be a difficult conversation for anyone but Laxus or Fried to have with her.
Makarov asked Laxus, when he returned from his brief scouting mission while setting up a perimeter of tiny a tiny Thunder Palace to alert them to any other wizards approaching, to check on Evergreen. He lit the fire for their camp setup while Bickslow went out to hunt some food down. Fried sat by the fire, staring into it.
Laxus and Evergreen spoke silently to one another off to the side. It was clear, Makarov noticed, that Laxus was hardly paying attention, only doing what he was told to get Makarov off his back. He believed Evergreen was fine. But a woman as confident as she would not be so easily shaken.
Makarov pretended to flick away a bug while secretly casting a spell around his ear to lengthen the range of his hearing.
"It's not even a nightmare I wake up from, it's one still living with me," she said. "I don't even see the dungeon or the place or whatever. I just…I see nothing and the more I stare into that void the more it feels I'm losing myself, like my memories and my personality are being compartmentalized somewhere else.
"I don't want to go to sleep. What if, whatever this thing is, takes hold of me right then and there?"
"Fried," Makarov said, stirring the man from his stupor. "We need to help Evergreen."
"She doesn't seem right."
"I want to perform an inspection of her mind."
"Not her magic?"
"No. I fear that's perfectly fine."
"Fear?"
Makarov nodded, and listened in to more of what Evergreen said,
"I—I just…I'm slipping down a slope I can't find a ledge or any grip on. What did they do to me? What did they do to me?"
She shrieked that last bit. Makarov stood and Fried with him, but, at once, something glimmered out of Evergreen's eye and Fried shouted. Makarov spun.
Stone inched up Fried's body, slowly making its way to encapsulate him.
"Evergreen, cease this right now!" Makarov shouted.
"I can't!" Ever exclaimed. "Master! Laxus! Help me!"
Laxus moved, quick, and with a hand fast as lightning struck her neck. Her eyes glazed and her body went limp. The spell cut out, liberating Fried. Laxus caught Evergreen before she could hit the ground.
"Our timetable, it seemed, has moved up," Makarov said to the haggard Fried. "Bind her to the ground, and I will inspect her magic. I suppose we were too late to prevent the Empire from harming our dear Ever after all.