Wendy's footsteps made no sound as she traveled down the abandoned street, each of the four Fairies walking away from the intersection they'd been brought to that signaled the heart of where the Battle Royale would take place. Four tall towers, with massive lacrima, surveyed their every move, while much smaller ones, drifting on magic devices as developed by the Empire, could be found all over the place in the sky.
The part of town they were set to fight in was far different than the rest—for one, it was actually separate from Clover Town, leading Wendy to wonder if this was the Clover Town of old from before the Twilight Empire. All of the previous Grand Magic Games Battle Royales showed their age, too, with battle marks ruining almost every building in sight. She could smell, faintly, the remnants of Dragon Slayer magic.
The stadium was not too far, and Wendy yearned to be able to see her friend's faces if only to have that reassurance that they were okay. It was strange to go to sleep that night without Carla, and Wendy hardly got any sleep at all as a result. She'd Enchanted some level of energy in her to keep her going through the fight and knew she'd have to depend on adrenaline to get her through the day.
She hadn't spoken to the others all morning. They each wore pretty concentrated faces. Wendy managed to keep her own hard expression, too. They were all keenly aware of the fact that the Empire was probably spying on them and none of them wanted to give the villains an edge. They couldn't talk about their friends, or even their fight, without cluing them in on more information about the Fairies.
The sun rose in the sky, casting shorter shadows from the desolate buildings around Wendy. She opened and closed her fists, her palms getting clammy already. She reached back, adjusting her hair a bit. Carla always helped her with it in the morning and Wendy didn't feel right with it, as if she'd done something wrong with it.
She came to a stop at a plaza that had the broken fragments of an old fountain. Old-world coins scattered everywhere, enough to pay for a meal at a fancy restaurant. Some of it almost looked embedded into the worn, old pavement. Wendy skimmed her hand over the gruff stone.
A distant bell rang out, signaling the start of the event. The stadium roared and was silenced as nothing happened at the start.
Then, there was a distant explosion and a howling pair of laughs that followed. The scent on the breeze caught Wendy's attention.
Erza Scarlet approached sword at the ready.
"It's time, Wendy," Erza said. "Are you ready?"
Sky Dragon Slayer magic swirled around Wendy's hands. She'd never be ready, or, at least, never thought she would be. Not for anything like this, anyway, and not without Carla at her side. But she stood alone in the memory of a world that they had to fight to bring back, in some form or another. Readiness didn't matter anymore.
"Yes."
It was impossible to see anything beyond the water wall. Lucy had gotten just a glimpse to some other building on the other side, where Sting came from. She could only hope it was whatever headquarters or base camp the Empire had in Clover Town.
She, Elfman, and Gray remained in place while Sting ran down what to expect of their upcoming trip to Crocus: they'd be kept without magic and sent to one of the deepest pits in the capital. From there, they'd become Broken Mages, serving whatever Division wanted them dutifully and they'd probably be forced to hunt down their fellow Fairy Tail friends. In time, Sting promised, all of Fairy Tail would fall under the Empire, be it by force or by their ability to realize that the fight was futile.
Lucy kept an eye on her keys while he walked, never putting them on his belt and always keeping them available to be stolen if one of them was quick enough.
Axel lurked in the corner as if waiting for them to try and make a move. They weren't going to be given an opening. There was no sneak attack, there was nothing they could really do to outright start a fight, plus they'd be in tight quarters against three Dragon Slayers.
The only move was to undo the playing field.
"And with all of that out of the way," Sting said. "We can probably get going. Kiyl? When I tell you, to drop the sphere. These guys aren't going anywhere."
"Wait."
Gray and Elfman glanced curiously at Lucy while the Imperials snarled impatiently at her.
"I thought I'd hold onto this," Lucy said. She reached into her shirt—making Gray and Elfman blush—and retrieved her Aquarius key. "Thinking I could hide it from you all. It's my most prized possession."
"Hand it over," Sting said.
"I didn't want you to steal this one like you had the others," Lucy said, admiring the key. It truly was so beautiful, never having faded in all the years. Her oldest key, her oldest friend. "But I guess now, I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Axel stepped forward, approaching Lucy. "No. I suppose you don't. Come on, beautiful. I'll take it from here."
"And you'll put it with the others?" Lucy asked, making her brown eyes widen. "They're just in there, right?"
"Well-guarded so even if you tried to sneak in you'd never get them," Axel said.
Lucy smiled. "Good."
He was mere feet from her. Lucy maintained her smile before switching it to a hard look and swinging her arm out, crashing it against his face, as she aimed Aquarius's key at the water.
"Kiyl!" Sting shouted, but too late.
"Open: Gate of the Water Bearer!"
A golden flash of light encompassed them as Sting lurched. Elfman blitzed forward, shoulder-checking Sting. Aquarius burst out of the water, holding her hand out to control the water while Kiyl attempted to undo it.
"Aquarius, Scorpio is in the building next to us! Hurry!"
"Don't you dare rush me, you brat!" Aquarius roared and swung her arms out. "You'll ruin things!"
"Things?" Lucy muttered.
Aquarius sneered. "Oh yes."
The water shivered, and from it, screaming with a battle cry to fill the room, was an invisible Juvia, spearing Kiyl into the far wall. Gray caught Axel's fist as he tried to punch Lucy in the gut.
"Get moving," Gray said. "We'll handle things from here."
Axel tried to retaliate but Gray sent a knee flying into his face and flung him off.
"Take the lead, Aquarius!" Lucy exclaimed, then screamed as Aquarius yanked her into the sphere of water that broke, and a great flood stormed the Twilight Empire building next door.
"I can sense his key," Aquarius said. "There are several guards in the way."
Lucy nodded, finally managing to get her head above water. The water thinned and she sprinted forward.
"That's fine, we'll deal with them!" Lucy exclaimed. "We have to get the keys back so we can tell Happy what's going on!"
"What about your other keys?"
"The others will get them?"
"Those keys are more valuable than trust, Lucy."
Lucy continued running. "I don't just trust my friends will get them back. I know it."
Aquarius snarled and surged the flooding waters forward, carrying Lucy, screaming beneath the surface, flying up the stairs, and knocking several guards out along the way.
Sting shoved Elfman into Gray's back as Gray ducked beneath a swift from Axel, though the Diamond Dragon Slayer was just as quickly blasted by a Water Ray from Juvia, who slid into place next to Gray.
"Axel!" Sting roared. "Get Lucy, now! I'll hold onto the keys. Do not let her escape."
Axel nodded and sprinted after the flooding water.
"Oh come on," Gray muttered and moved to chase after them but a beam of light cut off his course. He slid to a halt.
Kiyl moved out of the room after Axel.
"You can stop him, Juvia, get going, help Lucy!" Gray demanded, and Juvia didn't need to hesitate, negating one of Kiel's sea-based attacks with ease, even reflecting it back on him, though he just absorbed it.
The room shook as a blinding light encompassed part of Gray's vision. He closed his fists. Elfman roared into his first Beast Soul transformation.
A pure white aura consumed Sting as he let his power continue to shake the foundations of the room.
"Now you've done it," Sting said. "Whatever bullshit we had to bring you on before is out the window."
Just as he said it, Gray spotted the small-winged Exceeds, this time including Frosch, soaring toward the building. They must've heard the commotion and were heading in, thinking the plan was a go.
Not quite, but, plans rarely went as intended with Fairy Tail.
"Whatever man," Gray said, returning his full attention to Sting. "We'll kick your ass."
"Big talk," Sting said, and raised his hand. "You have no idea what sort of power we've been holding back from you guys. Guess it's time you—"
Elfman's punch almost landed on Sting's face but Sting was quick enough to dodge it.
"A real man doesn't talk during a fight!" Elfman shouted and swung out again. Sting blocked the strike.
Gray advanced.
"Ice-Make: Ice Impact"
He slammed a hammer-like weapon into Sting's side, sending the White Dragon Slayer flying through walls and furniture.
"Ice-Make: Floor!"
Sting blitzed at them but slipped, giving Elfman the chance to rush up and attempt an attack that Sting dodged. Gray created a bow and fired arrows that all missed the mark. Sting was lithe, vicious, and powerful, as a mere flick of his wrist broke one of Gray's arrows.
Just great. Now, they had this to deal with.
Natsu could not believe the rush, the thrill, he got from punching Gajeel right in the iron jaw. Gajeel, too, seemed to gleam quite a bit of joy as he retaliated with a kick in Natsu's gut. The two crashed to the ground but in a mechanical and flaming rage, they met once more in the middle, slamming into one another with the force to level buildings.
Fists collided, kicks were exchanged, and manic laughs and roars escaped just before their spells could smash into one other.
Raging flames met with cold, hard, implacable iron. The stress of old Clover Town was gone, its once-proud buildings met with the destruction they so desperately awaited while the two fiercest Dragon Slayers reveled in their rematch, their opportunity for a fight they'd so looked forward to since their last ended, since their Second Origins unlocked.
There was no holding back, and there was no space that could not be used for a fight. Where once Gajeel believed Natsu could only defeat him through chance and Lucy's help he felt there within Natsu's fists a flame even iron had to bed to. Natsu, too, could sense his own flames snuffed by the fearsome, totality of will that was the iron impacting his body.
It was no dance, no bit of serenity, and anything that a calming bard could sing about. Blood sprayed from noses, and bruises formed everywhere. Natsu's shirt tore off but his scarf, naturally, remained, wavering in the wind as Natsu engaged his Lightning Flame Dragon Mode, the sparks of it startling Gajeel with how effective they were.
But it was no deterrent. Natsu could summon forth as much of his stolen lightning as he wanted and Gajeel would never back down, just as Gajeel could push through as many flames, hit Natsu as many times as he thought necessary, and Natsu would still get up.
And both would smile. They lived for it. Not the destruction, not the pain, hardly even the thrill of the fight itself
But the chance to prove who the true Dragon of Fairy Tail was.
When the Twilight Empire consumed Fiore, and did away with the festivities, the world thought it lost that a battle between two such dragons could ever be carried out as such again.
Yet there they were, revived from the depths of the ocean after a depraved loss by the one true Dragon King, back to prove the festival was still alive and well.
It was hard to ignore Natsu and Gajeel's fighting in the distance, but Wendy pushed it to the furthest reaches of her mind while she continued to swell her magic, having already armed herself to the teeth with her Arms enchantments.
Erza stood, arms folded, watching as the winds whipped around the little Dragon Slayer, power growing and growing yet never hitting the strength that was there.
"You see?" Wendy said. "I can summon all the magic I want, but where's the real power of it?"
Erza nodded, tapping her chin. "I do see it. And I believe the problem isn't within your head, Wendy. A wizard blocked from their magic could never bring forth what you can. It's here." Erza pointed to her heart. "Perhaps it's because you're fighting me that you feel the need to restrain your ultimate offensive firepower."
"But my enchantments…"
"May have helped, yes, but there's something primal that you must tap into when you truly want to attack your opponent," Erza said. "Let's see, Wendy. It may also be a matter of perception, that you're thinking your attacks are weak when, in fact, it's quite the opposite."
Wendy nodded, keeping the magic controlled around her, something she didn't quite think all that possible long ago.
"Sky Dragon's Wave Wind!"
She swung her arms forward, toward Erza. Debris and stone ripped away from the ground toward Erza, who braced, holding her position steady. Erza shouted, having to tense all of her muscles, just to stay steady, though it still pushed her back. Wendy resummoned her magic.
"Good," Erza said, sighing. "We have to try that again. How did it feel?"
"Like casting a spell," Wendy said.
Erza nodded. "I see. Then, we'll have to try something else."
"What?"
Erza Requipped, her body taking on a quick glow before a new set of armor appeared on her person: her Heaven's Wheel Armor.
Wendy gasped and Erza launched at her. Wendy almost lost her magic, almost lost her senses, almost ducked down to dodge Erza's strike.
Almost undid all that she'd summoned forth. Erza wasn't stopping. This was a tournament, after all. It was about defeating the opponent first and foremost.
Wendy's hands shook. When fighting Kagura, she'd been looking to protect, and she didn't hold back. She was exhausted. And she was strong.
Fighting Erza was protecting someone, too: Moving on meant Fairy Tail would be able to get to Crocus and win Lector's lacrima. Sure, any of them wanted that but…
It was for Lector. Their fighting was for him, for Frosch, for any helpless people that the Empire thought they could bully.
"S..Sky Dragon Roar!"
Erza was close, but Wendy launched her attack point-black, slamming it into Erza, who wasn't just pushed back but flew back, crashing through the fountain and having to recover in order to catch Wendy again.
Wendy let out a roar, one from deep within, and her power continued to swell around her, coming out in waves, bursts, just like Natsu and Gajeel's.
Erza picked herself up, smiling over at Wendy while she grasped her blades again. Wendy did not lose focus.
"Now take all of that!" Erza exclaimed. "And prepare yourself, Wendy! You've shown me your great offense, now take that and defend yourself!"
Wendy didn't let the power to go waste and cast Armor over herself.
"Circle Sword!"
The swords around Erza wheeled so fast they almost became a blur, then shot down at Wendy, who braced herself until the sky called to her, and she parried them away. The swords blasted around, deflected. Wendy sucked in a breath.
She couldn't hold all of this for long, not long enough to stand toe-to-toe with Erza.
At least, not yet.
So long as she showed a glimmer of what was to come, of that strength, she continued to give the Twilight Empire a reason to fear her, to fear Fairy Tail. And that was more than enough.
Lucy slammed through a wooden door into a room full of weapons, locked chests, and a single window that allowed light to leak through. Some water from the surging rapids splashed in around her while she tumbled to recover from the ride Aquarius took her on, one that weakened the further up they went.
And, apparently, because Juvia and Kiyl were making use of the water for their own fighting.
The rest of the wall soon blew open as Lucy reached the opposite end of the room. Daylight flooded in, glistening off the water.
Axel stood there, rage painted clear on his face, his fists clenched as diamonds coated his hands and slithered up his arms.
"Finally got you where I want you, Lucy," Axel said. "Surrender now and I'll make sure you don't get too hurt."
Aquarius drifted closer to Lucy, keeping some water nearby in case of attack.
The fighting outside was clear enough to listen to. The facility was so large that Lucy had even gotten close enough to the Battle Royale to listen in on what was going on.
"You have no other choice," Axel said. "Believe me when I say the Empire is always prepared in case things go south. We will wipe you all out unless you come with me."
Lucy held up her hand, the one with Aquarius's key, and then her other, which had both Capricorn and Scorpio in it.
Normally, a double-gate summon wouldn't have been just difficult, but after summoning Aquarius and running away with her, downright impossible.
Yet, as she felt the magic pouring into her circuits from the Second Origin, as her power had increased beyond what she'd ever dreamed, Lucy knew that running wasn't an option. Surrender wasn't an option.
She was a wizard of Fairy Tail. She knew better than to let a bully get his way.
"Open, Gates of the Goat and Scorpion!"
Axel lurched, but, escaping into the mortal realm came Capricorn with a flying kick to Axel's face while Scorpio blasted him back down the corridor. Lucy nodded and closed her fist, reaching back of her Celestial Whip. She snapped it in place as Axel launched back into the room.
Now, Lucy thought, it was all just a matter of getting by this idiot and getting to Lector.
That was the plan, after all.