Here is the forty-seventh chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. Tragedy was averted thanks to a sacrifice and a few truths were finally realized. In the process, and also thanks to the sacrifice, a potential solution to the crisis has emerged. It's not an easy one but the defenders of Crocus will try it and have brought in some of the best to do so. After all, how hard can it be to destroy the Eclipse Gate? Well it's time to find that out as that is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers there is a guest reviews that needs a response so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.

To KGBeastboy (guest), good to see you're back to this story, I understand things can get busy and some things get more focus than others. Certainly 'The Ultimate Worst Generation' is a grand epic being a 6 franchise crossover so there are bound to be a lot of suggestions and I'll be responding to the latest one there at the start of the next chapter. As for this story, yup Noelle and Mimosa have finally admitted it to themselves and a lot earlier than in canon all because of the nature of the crossover and Ultear's sacrifice. Don't worry there will be plenty more moments to come as I've got a lot of plans for them. I remember Gajeel's desire for a partner well, my favorite moment of it all was when he declared that Lily would be his cat while battling Lily in Edolas which felt right for the whole thing and how Lily accepted it when he was transported to Earth Land at the end by Edolas Jellal. It's certainly something he'd do not just for Noelle but Laxus as well as they did note that to Laxus that he didn't have an exceed partner but he said he didn't want one in canon so I'm sure it will come up. Of course, Noelle, being the epic tsundere that she is, would say that she doesn't care but internally she'd admit that having a cute talking cat would be good. Course time will tell if Sammy will take that role or not, a lot can happen between GMG and Tartarus so who knows what's in store for the Black Bulls. Now though it's time to end the Dragon King Festival and set up for what is to come. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.

Anyway, that is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the forty-seventh chapter in Black Bull Banishment.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 47: Fairy Style Ending

"Guild Master Yami and Asta do you read me? This is Warren from Fairy Tail. Your Guild member Gauche has relayed us a message from Lucy. Thanks to her we have a new plan that could end this battle in one moment, destroy the Eclipse Gate. It is located at the Royal Palace. Finral is making portals for you two right now as you are the best for this task. Go there and destroy it!"

"Yeah I read you." Yami said to the air as if he could respond to Warren that way and getting Sting and Rogue's attention while Scissor Runner chided Levia for getting hurt and Levia snapped back that it wasn't his fault but Scissor Runner's which sparked another argument between the dragons. "Tell Finral to hurry up with that portal, I can end this in one spell."

"What was that?" Sting asked.

"Potentially a faster solution to the current problem that we're dealing with." Yami said as a portal appeared before him, one that Sting and Rogue recognized as being made by Yami's Guild member who'd won Chariots. "Stay here and clean this up, you've got this under control. I'm going to go destroy a gate."

With that Dark Magic flared to life on Yami's blade and he grinned as he casually walked through the portal before it closed. Sting and Rogue were a bit confused by that but they just shrugged and turned their attention back to the dragons as the threat the pair posed was still very present. Yami had been a major help but he was right, they had this fight well under control and now it was time to end their foes Twin Dragon style.

"Got it, I'll be there right away." Asta said as soon as Warren was done talking in his head while he, Noelle, Erza and Jellal continued to run through Crocus, well three of them did as Noelle was flying just above them still in her Sea Dragon Slayer Armor, clearing out dragonlings wherever they could. "Sorry, looks like there's a way to end this so I'm going to go hit it with my swords and see if that does the trick."

"Hold on what?" Noelle asked coming to a stop in the air and turning to face Asta as Slayer came down from where it was floating above him so that he could leap onto it. "What do you mean end it?"

"That mind talking guy who's with most of the Squad right now just sent a message to me and Captain Yami." Asta said. "Apparently we might be able to end this battle if the Eclipse Gate is destroyed and the Captain and I are the best for it."

"That might actually work." Jellal said realizing the implications of destroying the Eclipse Gate. "I hadn't thought of that, none of us had, but if it's destroyed in the present then it won't exist in the future so this can't happen."

"I don't get it but if it ends this battle and saves lives then I'm all for it." Asta said as he began to fly off. "Where's the Palace?"

"Look for the largest building in Fiore and that will be it." Erza called out. "It won't be hard to miss."

"So something like the Palace back him, got it." Asta said and with that he blasted off through the air to get above the buildings before he banked towards the Palace, which as Erza had pointed out wasn't hard to miss at all, calling out his final words as he flew off. "I'll leave the rest to you guys."

"Well that's good." Noelle said watching Asta leave before turning to resume her hunt for dragonlings as a portal opened for him but in his rush to get to the Palace Asta had missed it so it closed right away. "Asta and our Guild Master can handle that, between Asta's abilities and Yami's skills when it comes to destruction we'll be fine. Best we can do is keep clearing out the dragonlings in case they get word about what's happening and try to stop them."

Erza and Jellal nodded. They could hear the trust in Noelle's voice and didn't question it, not that Erza would as she too trusted Asta when it came to something like this, so they just moved forward and kept doing their job hoping that this would indeed end the battle.

Thanks to Finral, Yami was instantly transported to the Palace and right in front where he exited was a large set of double doors. In the middle of them, so half on one door and half on the other, was a sun with a darkened moon below it. The section below the sun was dark blue with golden lines while the upper section was green and split into 12 segments with twelve holes in them so one per segment. Around the sun were several circles with the innermost one connecting to the moon.

Even without knowing what he was looking for, there was no doubt in Yami's mind that this was the Eclipse Gate ate, though Warren confirmed as much via his magic the moment that Yami was in front of them, and Yami couldn't help but be impressed. It was so large that it had a set of steps leading up to the doors and ornate pillars with gold accents and green inlays on either side that held the doors there with an arch connecting them. There were even foot designs at the bases of the pillars that had to be there for support. To top it all off, an emblem of an eclipsed sun was atop the arc.

However, as impressive as it was, it wasn't going to stop Yami from destroying it. He had a job to do and if this worked then the battle might end so with that in mind, and using ki to make sure that there was no one behind the gate, though he did note a few sources near him which he ignored, Yami raised his katana in both hands over his head. Dark Magic erupted off his blade and into the sky. As he did, Yami took control of the surrounding Mana, well Ethernano, and added it to the spell. After all, he had to destroy this gate so he may as well go all out and try to surpass his limits with it.

"Mana Zone: Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash – Equinox!"

Yami cast his spell as he brought his katana down in a single, powerful, downward slash just like he'd done several times today. There was a slight difference to before as the use of Mana Zone greatly extended the range and reach of his slash so it easily tore forward and cut down at the Eclipse Gate.

A second later the Dimension Slash struck the gate right in the seam and cut through it as if it was nothing, the eclipsed sun emblem at the top of the arc and the sun in the center showing this with a clean line through it though as Yami cut through the seam all that looked like was a slightly larger seam. Of course, Yami's spell didn't end there and it hit Mercurius behind it and cut right through it leaving a clean line through the whole building and a row of houses on the other side of it thanks to the added range of his attack.

"Did that work?" Yami asked as he rose, his katana still in front of him and looking around though judging by the sounds of battle still raging and the massive ki signature of a nearby dragon it hadn't worked so he just shrugged at that. "Nope didn't work. Oh well, guess one cut's not enough. That's fine, this works so I'll just keep cutting until it's destroyed."

"What the hell did you do?"

The voice was male and had some authority to it so Yami turned to it, Dark Magic roiling off his blade again, and looked at the speaker. It was a man with tan skin and a well-groomed pointy beard in full armor complete with an elaborate helm on his head who was staring wide eyed at Yami.

In fact everyone with him were and Yami noted that this included the member of Fairy Tail in the three exceeds they had, Lucy Heartfilia, and Mirajane Strause, and a white haired girl in a royal guard uniform who Yami thought he'd seen as part of Sabertooth's team earlier in the week before she vanished which meant she was the girl who'd been kicked out that Makarov had mentioned the other day. Lastly, there was fancily dressed green haired woman wearing a long, pale yellow, fur lined cloak who Yami didn't recognize but he just presumed that she was a Guild Wizard from one of the other Guilds there to help.

Additionally, Gauche was also there but he was just staring at a picture of Marie so Yami ignored him. He also ignored the dragon that was surrounded by Luck and two members of Fairy Tail off to the side as that was well in hand at the moment so didn't need his attention.

"What I was told to do, destroy this gate." Yami said simply as he met the armored man's gaze not knowing that he was called Arcadios. "Was I not supposed to do that?"

"No, you were, your power was why you were specifically requested." Arcadios said, he'd recognized the Black Bull Guild Master the moment he walked through the portal as the man was hard to miss but he'd not expected the man to just try to destroy it without hesitation or questioning those here, nor did he expect such power and destruction. "But we had hoped you'd ask about it, not just attack it the moment you arrived as the Eclipse Gate was made to be near indestructible. You just cut cleanly through it and into the Royal Palace."

"And? I don't see a problem with that." Yami asked as he took a drag of his cigarette. "Plus it's not like it's the first Royal Palace I've heavily damaged."

"Come again?" Arcadios asked.

"It's ok Arcadios." The green haired woman said, her accent fancier than any Yami had heard in Earth Land, as she reassured the man and gave Yami his name in the process. "What is a little damage that can be easily fixed when compared to the safety of this city and nation. I don't mind if the whole Palace was destroyed if destroying the Eclipse Gate means ending this attack."

"See, she gets it." Yami said nodding at the unknown woman before he turned back to the gate his grimoire flipping to a new page. "But fine, as you're worried about the Palace, I'll try something else."

"Wait Guild Master Yami!" The green haired woman said. "That first spell may have worked somehow, I'd actually like to know how it did, but…"

"Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Lightless Blade Storm!" Yami said before the woman could finish as he swung his blade in a disorderly fashion sending out multiple Dark Cloaked Lightless Slashes in a wild storm at the Eclipse Gate. "There that should…huh wasn't expecting that."

Yami was blinking at the gate as his slashes hit it and proceeded to do nothing more than slightly mar it, they didn't even explode just slam in and die. He'd fully expected them to cut into the gate and destabilize it. He didn't think one attack would work, the gate did look really sturdy hence why he'd gone with his Dimension Slash to start with, but this was beyond that.

"I was going to say that the Eclipse Gate is made from Maginium." The woman said getting Yami's attention. "It's a magical metal alloy that is extremely resistant to magic so it's basically immune to all magical attacks. It took all 12 Zodiac Spirits to close it so most magic won't work on it. How you were able to affect, let alone cut through, it the first time is frankly astounding."

"Oh that, that's my Dimension Slash spell." Yami said as if it was nothing though he did wish someone had told him of the Maginium before he'd used his second spell as he wouldn't have looked like a fool then. "It cuts through even dimensions, that's how I learned it as I was stuck in a pocket dimension thing, so something like that is nothing. So far only a dragon seems to be resistant to it but that's likely due to how only a certain kind of magic works on them and if I mix it with Dragon Slayer Magic it works just fine."

"Oh so it's like Erza's special sword." Mira said. "She's apparently got one that can cut through even space itself. It's her most powerful weapon that accompanies her strongest armor. I'm actually surprised that she didn't use it in the Battle Royale, she'd have won otherwise though I hear that it's really draining to use so that might be it."

"Is it a halberd?" Yami asked looking at the girl that sounded like an oddly cheery version of Nero. "A long golden staff-like weapon?"

"Yes that's it." Mira said with a nod. "So she did use it. How did she not win with it."

"Asta blocked it." Yami said causing Mira to blink. "That was what she used at the end. I think she was trying to use her full power but, well, Asta's special. He's probably got the one thing that can withstand a blade like that or which could stop my Dimension Slash. Come to think of it if that alloy is magical then once he's here we're good."

"Right, your Guild Member who won the Battle Royale, he's the other one on his way." The woman said as Mira tried and failed to process what Yami had said though Lucy wasn't aware of how big this was but as she was focused on destroying the gate she wasn't really paying much attention to that either. "He uses some kind of Wave Magic tools that are a bit similar to one of the scythes the leader of the Hungry Wolf Knights uses. That would work in removing the magical aspect of the metal which might make it easier to destroy."

"Well until he gets I'll just cut it some more with my Dimension Slash." Yami said as he raised his katana and coated it with Dark Magic. "Shaving away at it bit by bit with the one spell that works should help. For once I wish that sadistic beanpole was here, he'd make short work of this once his desire to slice it up reached a certain level. This is just the challenge he likes."

"You'll cause even more damage to the Palace!" Arcadios said his eyes wide. "Just wait, I'm sure your Guild member will be here soon and we can sort this out without damaging the seat of the Royal Family."

"It's fine Arcadios." The woman said. "If it helps destabilize it more then so be it. Mercurius can be repaired, lives cannot be brought back if we let the dragons and the man who tricked me win this battle."

"Listen to her." Yami said. "She understands the situation."

"She is Princess Hisui E. Fiori, the heir to the throne!" Arcadios said.

"Then she really understands it." Yami said completely unfazed by the revelation. "Now…"

However before Yami could start another Dimension Slash a cry rang out from above and behind them. That got all their attention and Yami lowered his katana grinning at it as he sensed the rapidly approaching ki. The kid was here so he may as well hold off until he did his thing and removed that magical aspect of the metal.

"What was that?" Arcadios asked looking around.

"That would be the winner of the Battle Royale." Yami said turning and looking up so the others followed his gaze. "So you made it to the party kid, bit late huh? What took you so long?"

"Sorry Captain, I didn't want to put my swords away." Asta yelled as he flew in on the flat of his Demon-Slayer Sword, a sight that surprised all of the Earth Landers but Hisui who'd seen it during the Battle Royale so knew that Asta could do this. "I can't use his portals with them out."

"Well use them now." Yami ordered not questioning Asta's logic. "Sent one into each door. The metal it's made of is magical, we need to get rid of that aspect of it."

"Yes sir!" Asta shouted and as he banked down to the group Dweller and Destroyer shot forward from where they'd been flying behind him and over his shoulders at the doors.

The others just watched as the swords flew point first at the doors and then slammed into them. The tough metal was resistant to magic but with Asta's Anti-Magic swords that didn't do a thing and with the speed Asta was using them they easily sank in deep enough to hold fast with one in each door on either side of the sun in the center.

"Let's see if this worked." Yami said as Asta controlled Slayer to a stop next to him and hopped off it before taking it in his right hand.

"Did anyone else get a flash of Erza there?" Lucy asked having paid attention to Asta's attack and now looked at the man who'd shocked Fiore on the first and last days of the Grand Magic Games. "The way he controlled those swords, it was like her Heavan's Wheel armor."

"The flying was different, Erza can't fly like that as she doesn't have a sword that can carry here that way, but the sword control was the same." Mira said her chin in her hands as she thought. "I've never seen anyone mimic her before. That said there aren't many who can do what she can do to begin with so that might be why. It's rather interesting."

"It's not good, that's what it is." Happy said. "Erza's scary and now there's another one like her."

"Huh? Oh yeah I learned so much from her in our fight." Asta said hearing what the others were saying and turning to them with a grin as he moved Slayer to his shoulder. "She used that armor on me at the start, I saw a lot of it and it inspired me to use my swords like that as well. I was able to do so to hold her long enough to get close at one point."

"You copied her after one sighting?" Mira asked. "That's impressive."

"Well I saw her use it in that castle event on the third say so I already had a sense but facing her made it a lot clearer." Asta said. "Man I learned so much from her in our duel. She has so many styles that I can work into my own now."

"I'm still surprised that Erza lost." Lucy said. "It's not something I ever expected to hear."

"I still can't believe it." Happy admitted. "It's too alien to think of."

"Clearly she lost though." Carla said. "And if she faced someone who could mimic her in such a short time, well that's not someone you see every day. Just goes to show us that anyone can lose, we should remember that."

"Beating Erza with swords is something else, I can barely hold my own against her." Lily said looking up at Asta. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to spar with you sometime. I've been tested and approved by Erza though due to certain magical constraints it will have to be a hard and fast duel."

"Sure, I'm always down to learn new tricks." Asta said grinning, he'd sensed the exceed's ki and knew the cat was telling the truth so he saw no reason to doubt that he could use a sword. "Though if that sword of yours uses magic I suggest you borrow a normal one from Erza. My swords may be blunt but they'll nullify any magic that is imbued into a sword."

"I see, thank you for the heads up." Lily said though he'd suspected as much and was planning on doing just that. "I am rather attached to my sword, it's the second I've found with its ability and I didn't think I'd find it after I lost the first one. I'll ask Erza for one that is similar enough to what I use. I would ask Gajeel to make me one but I feel like his magic would be nullified."

"Gajeel?" Asta asked. "Which one's he?"

"The one who's teeth broke on your sword and then got slammed in one blow." Hisui said causing Asta to turn to her having no clue who she was though she dressed like some of the nobles and royals who he'd met back home so her status was pretty obvious. "The first of the three Fairy Tail members you beat in the final fight."

"Oh that idiot, the one who sounded like Vetto only not evil." Asta said as Lily blinked at Gajeel's fate in the Battle Royale. "Yeah I'd nullify his magic right away."

"Gajeel lost like that?" Lily asked. "After all the training we did? Man that's embarrassing."

"Well he did try to eat my sword." Asta said holding it up. "And my swords nullify magic."

"There was logic to it given his Dragon Slayer abilities." Hisui said. "It just worked out in Asta's favor this time."

"Yes, we will have to train harder to overcome that." Lily said. "I expect Gajeel to use this to get stronger and I'll be right by his side to help out."

"Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Lightless Blade Storm!"

Yami's sudden spell distracted all of them and they turned to see him slash his katana in a disorganized manner at the Eclipse Gate. He'd not bothered with the side conversation but there wasn't a rush so he let it play out for a moment, it was advantageous to them to build a good relationship with Fairy Tail after all, but there was a battle at hand so he used his spell to get things back to the topic at hand. That and to hopefully damage the gate this time.

That seemed more likely as this time when the lightless slashes hit the Eclipse Gate there was a boom and smoke rose from the impacts that obscured the gate for a moment. When it cleared the gate was still there and likely still usable even with Asta's swords in it as magic could be added to it once they were removed but now there were several shallow grooves in it showing that the magical resistance of the magic metal alloy had been nullified thus allowing Yami's spell to affect it.

"Well that's a start." Yami said grinning at the challenge before him. "But not enough. Good, I'll have to surpass my limits if I want to destroy this with my next attack. Dark…"

However just as Yami started to incant his spell he sensed it. Asta did as well and both men turned and looked to the sky at the incoming source of three distinct ki signatures with a fourth near it. A second later a fiery light bathed them and the sound of something falling filled their ears. This, coupled with Yami and Asta's reaction, caused the others followed them and all of them, well all but Yami, went wide eyed at the sight that was fast approaching their location though even Yami was surprised by it.

"We need to get clear!" Happy yelled as everyone took in the massive fireball that was descending towards them and on a crash course for the Eclipse Gate. "Somethings coming and it's going to hit the gate!"

They didn't need to be told twice and instantly those around the Eclipse Gate turned and ran for cover. There wasn't any but they still did their best to put as much distance between themselves and the burning mass that was careening towards them. Even Yami and Asta were hurrying as they moved, Asta mentally recalling his swords in the process, so that they were clear as well.

It was just in time as only seconds after the swords withdrew from the doors and shot at Asta, the burning mass slammed into the Eclipse Gate. To say that the explosion was large would be an understatement. The whole city was briefly illuminated as it shook from the force of whatever had hit the Eclipse Gate. Smoke and fire erupted upwards and outwards from the point of impact followed by a massive shockwave that hit all those around it.

"Dark Magic: Black Moon!"

Yami had already been preparing his spell before the massive thing hit the Eclipse Gate by taking control of the mana around him as he tried to get clear so he was able to create a Black Hole right over his head as the explosion happened and thanks to his Mana Zone training that he'd been doing since he arrived in Earth Land, expand its range to cover him. It was from this that Yami was able to absorb all the heat, smoke, and shockwaves that approached him ensuring that he was completely unaffected by it all and allowing him to just stand there and watch what was going on.

The others weren't as lucky. As it was magic, Yami couldn't extend it over Asta with his swords out so Asta had been left on his own.

Thankfully, Asta had had the sense to turn to the explosion and slam his great sword into the ground to anchor him there and hold on for dear life. The force of the shockwave blasted him off his feet and he was briefly in the air legs flopping behind him and yelling at what was going on but otherwise he was safe as he held onto the sword's handle his muscles straining with the effort. This was made double so by bringing down his other swords to deflect the debris that was blasted all around them as well while Asta rode out the shockwave.

Meanwhile, the three exceeds had used their small stature to hunker low to the ground and ride out the shockwave that way, their size ensuring that the debris flew over them while Arcadios turned and crouched down pulling Hisui to him and using his large body and armor to protect her from it. Additionally, Yukino had managed to summon Libra and she was able to use her Gravity Magic to up the gravity around her and Mira as the latter was close enough to root them to the ground and protect them from being blasted off their feet.

As such, the only one who was actually blasted off her feet and hit the ground was Lucy as she had no protection and didn't get a Spirit out in time though Loki tried to come out on his own to protect her only to be hit by the shockwave as well and blown away. Lucy didn't notice this as she yelled and rolled over the ground for several feet until finally coming to a stop.

"Well that's one way to destroy the gate." Yami mused ending his spell as the smoke cleared and he saw what was going on, Asta the only other one able to notice as the shockwave had ended and he'd fallen back to the ground though he was still holding Slayer and panting as he slumped against it. "Not even we'd do that."

"We do have Henry though." Asta pointed out as he pulled himself up while something large fell down to the ground kicking up more dust. "That said, that was impressive."

"Kinda reminds me of you kid." Yami said as the others began to get up and look at the sight before them. "Just what you'd do if you had the chance."

All Asta could do was nod as it was the kind thing he'd do though he had no clue what had led to this result. That was because before them, in the rubble of what had once been the Eclipse Gate, lay a large gray dragon with thick scales all over its body and which wasn't dead but clearly unconscious. On the ground next to the dragon was a pink haired teen in ripped clothes and covered in dirt and blood who was panting over an older male, probably mid to late 20s, with long black and white hair and a dragon tattoo on his face that was on his back with his mouth open and one good eye white.

"Natsu totally destroyed the gate all on his own!" Happy yelled, his cheer breaking the silence. "We did it!"

"Say that again furball." Yami growled glaring at the exuberant blue exceed. "Don't forget who helped weaken it."

"Ah, sorry scarry Elfman." Happy said leaping up. "You helped as well of course."

"Well it was Natsu who finished it off with certainty." Lucy said with a smile as she lifted herself up and looked over her shoulder at the results of Natsu slamming a dragon into the Eclipse Gate. "There's no doubting that it's been destroyed."

"Yeah, that is quicker than we could have managed." Yami said admitted as he took a drag of his cigarette as Natsu got to his feet still panting and not noticing anyone else as he looked down on Future Rogue. "Kid's got style when it comes to destruction. I'm impressed, going to have to up my game to surpass that."

"Even with the earlier damage I still don't believe it." Arcadios said as he stared at the ruins of the Eclipse Gate. "Those things were supposed to be indestructible. Even removing the magic on the allow it would have taken a lot to destroy them with Guild Master Yami's magic. Destroying it in one single blow like that, that, that's not something I thought possible."

"Well it's been destroyed so what do you think will happen now?" Hisui asked from next to Arcadios. "Does this mean that this battle is over like we hoped?"

"If we were correct then the Eclipse Gate will now not exist in the future as well." Yukina said. "So it can't be used to come back and execute this plan. That means that it should have worked, yes."

"So no Rogue coming back to our time." Lily said and Yami finally connected the similarities of the ki he was sensing from the man on the ground and the teen he'd fought alongside a few moments ago only this man's ki was noticeably more sinister and evil. "Which means that the dragons were never summoned in the first place."

"So everything should go back to how it's supposed to be." Carla said. "Well, everything that's been affected by Rogue that is."

"I don't get any of this." Asta admitted his head hurting as he tried to process things. "I was just told destroying the gate might end this and it has so does that mean that the battle is over?"

"Best not to think about it, it's above our paygrade." Yami said. "Let the big wigs deal with it. I'm sure that everything will work out, it usually does."

"But what if it doesn't?" Asta asked. "What…"

Before Asta could a strange sound filled the air and the body of the gray dragon that Natsu had crashed into the Eclipse Gate began to glow gold before gold particles began to rise from it. That got all of their attentions as they looked at it.

"The dragon is starting to glow." Happy said pointing out the obvious.

"What does that mean?" Lucy asked now sitting having turned while the others were chatting to look at the dragon. "What's happening?"

"The future has been changed by the actions of the present." A deep, male, voice said from overhead and everyone but Natsu turned to look up to see the burning dragon hovering in the air above them also glowing though they could only tell this by the particles rising from it as the intensity of its fire obscured the gold glow. "We're returning to our own time. All of us are going."

"Wait what about the one Noelle slew?" Asta asked looking up at the burning dragon above him as all over Crocus the dragons who'd come were glowing, as were the dragonlings, causing those fighting them to stop and watch and in all the chaos no one saw the golden glow high in the sky above where even Natsu's battle had been as the 9th dragon present also began to return. "How does that work?"

"The body will return but his death will remain if I had to guess." Atlas Flame, the name of the burning dragon not that anyone but Natsu knew that, said. "It will decompose wherever it lands. I am impressed that one of our number fell, we are not easy beings to kill. Almost two as Zirconis over there looks well done."

"This can't be!" Zirconis roared and given his proximity they were all able to hear him and turned to where the once again conscious but badly charged dragon was pushing himself off the ground as he glowed. "You're all just stupid humans, you can't pull something like this off! There's no way that you could beat me!"

"Clearly they can as you were already on the ropes." Atlas Flame noted as Zirconis reached his full height. "Still, it would have taken a lot to get you to that state Zirconis."

"It wasn't just us, that Mirror Magic really helped." Laxus admitted. "His spell that multiplied me and my magic was pivotal and Luck kept me topped up so I could hold the dragon down with Wendy's help. You Black Bulls are something else. Wouldn't have caused this much damage without you."

"Yeah we weren't hurt thanks to your help and now it's over as Zirconis is disappearing." Wendy added as Hisui suddenly started walking towards Zirconis, her footsteps alerting Wendy and causing her to turn. "Wait, Princess, don't get near him!"

"Princess!" Arcadios said.

"This is a bad idea." Laxus added.

"Princess?" Asta asked wide eyed as he looked at the woman who he was only now learning was a princess. "She's royalty? I figured nobility at least but damn."

"Hey, one of you three Dragon Slayers that are present." Yami called out as he held his katana out. "Get over here and coat my katana with your magic. I can combine it with my own to create a Dragon Slaying Dimension Slash that will hurt a dragon. This lizard's too charred to move so it shouldn't be too hard."

"No, hold back, all of you." Hisui called out as she walked her cloak billowing out behind her. "Please, forgive me, Zirconis."

At that the heir to the Fiore Throne came to a stop before the glowing Zirconis and looked up at him. The dragon was worse for wear, clearly the move by the Black Bull to multiply Laxus's magic had been key to keeping the dragon at bay but it was over now, the Eclipse Gate was destroyed and the dragons returning so there was nothing to fear. All Hisui needed to do was buy enough time for Zirconis to return to his own time and she had a plan for that.

"The gateway between are times was created as a result of my decree." Hisui said as stared Zirconis in the eye showing no fear of him as she spoke. "I may have been misled but that is not an excuse and I take full responsibility for what I did. I and I alone am solely to blame for throwing your time period into disarray. Your kind lived 400 years in the past and ruled the world then, we humans live in the present and rule now. We were never fated to have conflict with each other but in my foolishness interfered with that because of my gullibility in thinking that the man from the future would help me save my kingdom. For that I apologize to you and the other dragons who came here."

"Who are you?" Zirconis asked, he'd not bothered to learn who the humans here were as they were just food to him, but this snack intrigued him a bit.

"I am Hisui E. Fiore, Princess of Fiore." Hisui said.

"Hisui." Zirconis said.

"It means jade in the language of my ancestors." Hisui said. "That is the same as your color. Both are green."

"The same as me, eh." Zirconis said as he lent down to get a closer look at this Hisui woman.

"Yes, same as you." Hisui said smiling at him. "So I shall call you the Jade Dragon."

"Jade Dragon huh?" Zirconis asked as he rose and raised a claw to his chin as he thought about it. "Never had a title before but that's got a nice ring to it. I think…hold up what's going on? Wait, no, I'm being returned to my time, I got tricked by human female that looks so delicious! Noooooo!"

With that Zirconis vanished as he was sucked back to his time, his body misting into gold particles that quickly dispersed in the air. Hisui's statement and subsequent title had bought them the final few moments before Zirconis's time in this era ran out and returned thanks to the destruction of the Eclipse Gate.

Everyone just stared as Zirconis vanished and it wasn't just here, everywhere those in Crocus were staring is surprise, confusion, and shock as the dragons and dragonlings that they'd been fighting vanished the same way. All had similar reactions regarding the sudden end to the battle as they pondered who had done it and what happened to cause this.

"I will never forget you, Natsu Dragneel."

The statement came from above the damage at the Palace as Atlas Flame vanished, the penultimate of the living dragons to do so as the dragon Natsu had slammed into the Eclipse Gate was still glowing. Natsu wasn't looking at Atlas Flame, he was still looking at Future Rogue, but he still acknowledged it.

"I couldn't have done this without you." Natsu said. "Thanks, uncle. I won't forget you either."

Natsu meant it. Had he not had the connection to Igneel that had helped get Atlas Flame onto his side, a connection that made the burning dragon Natsu's uncle now, he wouldn't have been able to return to his fight with Future Rogue and engage him for a third time. This time, however, he'd finally been able to get the upper hand with help from Atlas Flame and beat Future Rogue. In the process Natsu had driven the other dragon down and into the Eclipse Gate. Now even that dragon was gone and Natsu was left looking down on Future Rogue as he lay on his back on the ground before him.

"There all gone." Lucy said as Motherglare, the name of the last remaining dragon, vanished. "That has to be the end of it."

"See, told you it would work out." Yami said grinning as he slapped Asta on the back. "All it takes is the right destruction."

"Yeah it worked." Asta said staggering slightly from the blow. "And we did our part to help the city."

"That we did." Yami agreed. "We were the only ones to kill a dragon. Man we're good here."

Yami wasn't wrong. All over Crocus the other Dragon Slayers were noting how they'd failed to slay their dragons. It didn't sit right with them and some, mainly Sting and Rogue, saw themselves as pathetic for failing and having to rely on Yami for so much help in landing such blows.

The whole battle just showed not only how tough dragons were but how tough the Black Bulls were to actually pull off slaying one. Any doubts that anyone might have had regarding Fiore's new Number 1 Guild and whether or not they'd truly earned it had been shattered in the wake of their victory by their achievement in the Dragon King Festival.

"All those Dragon Slayers gave it their all and yet only one of them slew a dragon in the end." Mavis said as she floated high above the ruins of Crocus looking down on the smoking city in the wake of the battle. "And it was the one who's not from this world, the one who's magic evolved to match ours. What does that say about everything?"

Mavis was frowning as she looked down on Crocus her mind racing. She'd underestimated the Black Bulls from the start due to how little she'd known about them when they showed up at the opening ceremony and even after learning the truth by tagging along with Makarov to his meeting after the first day of the Grand Magic Games she'd not fully realized how strong they were.

That had changed in the Battle Royale when Erza had fallen to Asta in the battle that basically decided who won it and the Grand Magic Games. Even with only 50/50 odds Mavis had been sure that their bonds would carry Fairy Tail to victor. After all, they'd won the other two big fights so why not the decisive one? Well they'd lost that and even with Laxus's last stand they couldn't stop Asta from beating them and taking the title of Fiore's Number 1 Guild for the Black Bulls.

Of all the Black Bulls, Asta vexed Mavis the most. She didn't understand him, couldn't predict, or anticipate what he would do, and wherever he went those with him were inspired to do better and get stronger.

This had been most evident when the Black Bulls fought the Sea King Dragon and slew it. It had taken work from all of them to do so, and a small contribution from Fairy Tail which Mavis was pleased with, but the way Noelle finished it was too reminiscent of Asta's style to not show how deep their bond was and how much he'd improved her. Then he'd even done it with Erza when he went to aid her and Jellal showing that it wasn't just his Guild he made better but all around him. Just who was Asta and what made him so special?

"Right now, I don't know." Mavis said aloud to herself as she continued to look down on Crocus while she tried to answer her own many questions. "I don't know what to make of them or Asta in particular. All I know is that they were sent here because of issues in their own world but now that they are here they will play a major role in the events to come. It is imperative that Fairy Tail forge a close friendship with the Black Bulls, with that I foresee that little will stop us when evil next rises its head and threatens the world."

Mavis, the Fairy Tactician, wasn't wrong. If Fairy Tail and the Black Bulls grew close then more than one world would be affected by the relationship. Little did she know just how much of an impact such a friendship would yield.

Naturally, no one was aware of this as throughout Crocus celebrations reigned at the realization of their victory. The dragons were gone and they were alive, they'd protected their friends and now they could celebrate. Well, after some more healing and already the command center was on it with Finral making portals to get people back there while food was being brought for Charmy to use in her mana recovery food now that she'd returned to normal, which shocked Gajeel and Levy who'd joined them as the Dark Dragon vanished to see Charmy shrink back to the small woman they'd seen in the Battle Royale.

There was a lot of work to do but already the Black Bulls were once again leading the charge in healing and replenishing everyone's Ethernano the way they'd done after the Battle Royle only this time on a larger scale. However, this was being done without their Captain and strongest member as both Yami and Asta were still in front of the Palace and watching as the body of the man from the future on the ground as it began to glow gold with golden rising from it.

"I may not know Rogue very well but from what I do know of him I know that he'll never become you." Natsu said, a statement that Yami agreed with having fought with the man himself and sensed his ki at what he'd heard along with his conviction after Sting came back to the fight so he knew that the man was good, at least in the present. "I don't know what…"

"The shadow." Future Rogue said his voice getting Natsu's attention and interrupting him. "The shadow that made me this way will continue to follow me in the present. He's relentless and he will continue to follow me until he's swallowed me whole. Then, on that fateful day that I lose Frosch it will finally happen, I will be swallowed by the darkness forever and become this."

"That's not going to happen." Natsu said defiantly and in the same kind of tone that Yami had heard with Asta, hell even his ki was similar to Asta's when Asta said he wasn't going to let something happen even when all else said that it would. "I won't let it."

"It most certainly will." Future Rogue said. "One year from now Frosch will die. You must warn the Rogue from your time to protect him then. If you do and prevent what is coming then you might prevent the shadow from consuming Rogue this time around."

As Future Rogue was speaking his body was vanishing and his voice getting lower until after he told Natsu to prevent the shadow from consuming his current self in one year if faded to a whisper that only Natsu could hear. Whatever it was, it shocked him and both Yami and Asta felt it in Natsu's ki. Neither really knew what was going on but if Natsu needed help preventing this then the Black Bulls would offer it.

However, Natsu clearly wasn't about to talk about it as Future Rogue's body vanished no longer able to be here following the destruction of the Eclipse Gate and the change that caused in the future. As it did the final body that was out of its time period, the dead body of Future Lucy, also vanished from where it lay in the palace.

With that the last of the future that had now been changed vanished in the form of Future Lucy's notebook that was still in present Lucy's right hand. She noticed it and raised it to watch as it vanished the way the dragons and Future Rogue had. As it did tears began to flow down her face and she started to cry.

Without hesitation she ran forward to where Natsu was standing just before her, Asta at least noting that her ki was just like Noelle's was around him meaning that she trusted Natsu implicitly, and embraced Natsu from behind. She held him, her arms around his waist and head on his back as she cried into his back.

"Is something wrong?" Natsu asked concern in his voice as Lucy held him.

"No, it's nothing." Lucy said. "I'm ok. Thank you Natsu. It's over. We won."

With that the Dragon King Festival was over and the threat to Fiore ended once and for all. There was still one thing left before the cleanup really began but for now no one moved as Lucy hugged Natsu basking in their victory.

I think that's a good place to end this chapter on as this is basically the end of the Dragon King Festival. There is still one more thing that I have planned which I was going to add to this chapter but after realizing how long the aftermath of Natsu crashing a dragon into the Eclipse Gate was, plus the cute NaLu moment at the end, I decided to end the chapter there to conclude the Dragon King Festival. That's all I have to say though as this is a straightforward chapter so I'll leave it off here. Anyway, that is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this chapter off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and I will try to answer any questions posed in reviews and PMs as best I can. Until next time.

Stringdog