x798. Fiore has been destroyed by dragons. The rest of Ishgar engages in a long standing war against the dragons. The only country to see any success in driving them back in the Pergrande Kingdom. The kingdom that slowly extends their range and influence over the rest of Ishgar every passing day. Levy McGarden trembled, wondering how she would make it through the days to come...she gave up on someone coming to help her. Her friends were all day...Lucy was gone...there was no hope...

And yet...

"The future can be saved." A voice called out to her. It wasn't just her, but there were a few survivors gathered in the ruins of Crocus. This voice belonged to a man known as Jigan King. They stood before the Eclipse Gate, which somehow managed to survive all the destruction. "This is the Eclipse Gate! It was used by a man only weeks ago, to travel backwards in time! I believe that man was known as Rogue Cheney..."

"Rogue...?" Levy mumbled. She was in the back of the crowd, so she couldn't really see King at all, nor could he see her. But his words were for all.

"His goals are, however, shallow." Jigan shook his head. "Becoming the Dragon King? That does nothing to save the future. As you can see, if his efforts were successful, things would have surely changed by now! We would not be in ruin, we would be living happy lives!" The crowd began to murmur. "I know not the chain of events that led to things being so horrid for us, but if there is someone that can truly change it...it is me."

"But how!?" Someone asked.

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Jigan replied. "And I have learned plenty in the time we have lived in this hellscape." The Eclipse Gate began to open. "I've done my research on the past. I know the steps needed to properly change this future...into one that will be beneficial to all of us." Jigan's smile turned into a wicked one. Even the people he was speaking to began to feel uneasy.

"W-What are you...?" Levy began to ask.

"I will go back in time...and I will control Acnologia myself!" As Jigan exclaimed this, people gasped.

"W-What!?"

"Ho ho ho! What, were you expecting some sort of uplifting speech?" Jigan tilted his head, relishing in the shocked expressions of everyone. "This world I live in is not fit for me! The Pergrande Kingdom claims more and more of Ishgar with each passing day, but I will NOT lose to King Ashnard! I am meant to be the King of this land! I've already figured out exactly what it is i I need to do."

"But what about us!?" A few frantic people shouted.

"Oh ho ho ho ho! Do not worry. When I succeed, the future will be changed. Instead of living each day, worrying if you'll see the following sunrise...you will be my servants. I will ensure your survival, I promise!" Jigan laughed. "The past is ripe with opportunities. I doubt I will remember any of your faces, but it doesn't matter. I have everything I require to overcome Acnologia and the dragons! Even that island in the sky won't be safe from my reign!"

"Why are you doing this...!?"

"Because I am the one who is meant to rule." Jigan said while staring up at the sky. "I was not born into this world to suffer. I was not born into this world to fear! I was born into this world to lead it! Through any means necessary! I have the means to do it! You will remember me as Jigan in these final moments, but you will know me as King going forward." King spoke with a hearty laugh as the Eclipse Gate was fully opened behind him. "The hand of Fate has been kind to me!" He pulls out a red lacrima, one pulsing with power. "This lacrima will be the key to my victory. I know the technology to complete it exists in the past...and gather the most effective tools possible."

"Stop!" Levy exclaimed. A future where this man ruled...even if her friends were alive, would it truly be any better than this desolate plain they exist in now!? While she hoped someone would change the past...she wouldn't want to live in a world like that.

"HO HO HO HO!" King laughed as he turned around. Nobody could stop him. "Farewell. I will see you again in due time..." He stepped into the Eclipse Gate, which closed behind him...

.

.

x792

"Can we just talk about how unfair it is that Natsu is getting all the good fights?!" Cygnus complained as the group hurriedly made their way out the back door. "If I were there, King wouldn't even get a chance to move!"

"Complaining about it isn't going to do anything, loser…" Jack grunted in annoyance at Cygnus, glancing over at Tia to make sure she was alright.

"Sorry we missed all the action!" Gildarts said while rubbing the back of his head.

"Where the heck were you!? We needed you!" Cynthia huffed.

"I figured something like this would happen…" Sidney simply replied. "So, we made a clear path back in case a hasty escape was needed. It's called planning ahead…"

"Several steps ahead…all the way to the end of the game…?" Wendy asked with slight amazement in her voice.

"He's Sidney, of course he knew what he was doing!" Waiston replied with a cocky grin.

"Not better than Mavis!" Cynthia grinned, looking behind her to where Lucy was supposed to be. "Right, Lucy…!"

"She's not here…!" Levy gasped, eyes widening. "Where did she go!?"

"Happy's not here either!" Pantherlily exclaimed.

"I have an idea of where those two went…" Erza said while looking back.

"We have to go after them!" Wendy shouted in a worried tone.

"We don't have the time…" Tia quietly responded, keeping her gaze low to the ground.

"It's Natsu, there's no way he'll die…" Luke spoke with a shrug. "I'm not speaking out of respect either; I mean there's probably no way he's going to not survive…"

"Enough chatter…" Evanee said while pinching the bridge of her nose. "Can we settle this AFTER we leave the building about to EXPLODE!?"

"She has a point…" Sidney said with a nod of agreement. "Enough small talk." Everyone nodded in agreement and kept the pace forward. Jack, however, looked back with a slight hint of concern in his eye…

.

.

"You're going to face me alone? How absurd! If you couldn't get past Joker on your own, there's no way you'll get past me!" King exclaimed with a laugh, now drawing a card from his hand: The 8 of Diamonds. From the card itself, multiple spears of diamond began to shoot out from each diamond symbol, looking to impale Natsu.

"Heh…" Natsu merely smirked at King's words, bracing himself for impact. The Salamander took off, swaying his body left and right as best he could. Some of the spears grazed his body, slowing him down slightly, but he kept his charge right for King, swinging at lightning flame roundhouse at his head, but King evaded by just barely swaying to the side. It's not that King had the best reflexes in the world, but Natsu was beginning to run on fumes from all this fighting. "I'm facing you alone right now…but I'm not worried, because in the end, I'll know I'll never be alone." He spoke with a slight grin on his face; he could smell them coming. Natsu reared his arm back, swinging once again towards King's chest. This was a direct hit, and King slid back a great distance.

"Hmph…!" King shrugged the hit off like it was nothing, though it really hurt quite a bit. Refusing to show Natsu he was feeling any pain, he continued the offensive assault to put Natsu down once and for all so he could escape. He drew another card: The 10 of Spades. With a grin, he swiped the card forward, unleashing multiple beams of lightning in Natsu's direction. "You can struggle all you'd like, but in the end I'll be leaving this place and reserving my spot as the rightful King! But…If you were to beg for mercy and swear your allegiance to me, I might spare your life."

King's words only made Natsu growl, but there wasn't much he could do just yet being put on the defensive. He crossed his arms, grunting as the electrical beams slammed into him, pushing him back farther and farther with each strike. He could feel the damage all adding up now, but he refused to let that slow him down. "Like hell I'd do something like that! I told you, I'm gonna make you pay for everything you've done, starting with what you did you Fairy Tail!" Flames and lightning flared around Natsu's body once again and he charged towards King. Only he took into the air this time, forming a large blaze of fire and lightning in his hands. "Dazzling Blade of the Lightning Flame Dragon!" He threw the blaze towards King, who seemed relatively unfazed by the sphere heading his way.

"I gave you the easy way out…" King spoke while pulling out another card, this one bringing a wide grin to his face. "The King of Diamonds!" Suddenly, a large diamond wall appeared in front of King, completely taking and shrugging off Natsu's blaze with ease. "Come now, is that all you have?!" King was foolish to ask such a question. Natsu jumped on top of the diamond wall and lunged towards King, slamming his head right into King's chest with the Lightning Flame Sword Horn. King tumbled across the ground before picking himself up, letting out slightly weighted breaths while glaring towards Natsu. "You insolent…" He then shook his head, not allowing his anger to show. "What am I worried for…? You're clearly running on fumes by this point. All it takes it a little more work before you're groveling on the ground with no magic…"

{6 minutes remaining…}

"NATSU!" Lucy and Happy ran into the room where the pair was duking it out.

"Hm…?" King raised a brow at the sudden appearance of the two Fairy Tail wizards before shrugging it off. "Oh, you two followed? Interesting. There's still time for you to take your friend and leave, because clearly he doesn't know when he's been beaten."

"We haven't been beaten yet!" Lucy exclaimed while pulling out her whip. "We're here to help Natsu take you down!"

"Lucy, we can take him down with your weight!" Happy chimed in, thinking the idea was brilliant.

"Yea-…" Lucy then actually heard what Happy said then glared at him in the usual comical angry manner. "You stupid cat!"

"Of course…" King chuckled while drawing another card. "Fine then! I'm growing sick and tired of you wizards! I should've taken you out myself when I had the chance!" King then placed another card in front of him. "The 7 of Clubs!" From the club symbols, multiple clubs resembling Strong's shot out, looking to smack the trio away.

"I got this!" Lucy said while pulling her arm back; then she began to whip her whip around rapidly, smacking away all the incoming clubs with some difficultly only because of her injuries, but she did manage to hold them off.

"Go, Natsu!" Happy exclaimed.

"Right!" Natsu nodded, charging in once again, but he only made it halfway this time. He leapt the rest of the way, slamming his lightning coated heel onto an unsuspecting King. The follow up was a bolt of lightning to actually drop from the sky, shocking King to cause even more damage. While King was stunned, Natsu inhaled, using the rest of his magic for what he thought would be the finishing blow. "Roar…Of the Lightning Flame Dragon!" He declared while opening his mouth, engulfing King in the massive funnel of Lightning and Flames. After it was over, he barely managed to stand on his two feet, but it looked like the battle was over.

"Did we do it…!?" Lucy asked.

"I hope so…" Natsu said while falling to his hands and knees, completely out of energy now.

"Ho…HO HO HO!" King let out his signature laugh as the smoke cleared. He was clearly heavily damaged, but he had a trick up his sleeve, as always. At the last second, he managed to conjure a moderately powerful Diamond card, which put up a defensive wall to absorb most of the blow. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you!?" {Time remaining: 4 minutes.}

"No way…!" Lucy gasped, but let out a slight groan of pain as her body almost decided to give out on her right there. "Ngh…!"

"You fools!" King shook his head. "By following me here, you've just made all your efforts meaningless. They're all going to die, you know. Ace's death will be worthless; your friends' deaths will be worthless…" He then pulled a card out. "Oh ho! The Red Joker!" He slammed this card on the ground, which caused a tremor to violently shake the base. Then, a red explosion erupted from underneath Natsu and Lucy, throwing the two of them away. King just laughed in the process. "HO HO HO HO! Look at the two of you! You can barely stand in my presence!"

"No…" Lucy mumbled, remembering something she had tucked away in her pocket the entire time. She pulled out the Elemental Wild Card she was given a while ago, the same one King was looking for and tortured Cana about. "There's still a chance…!"

King's eyes widened as Lucy was holding the card, the exact one he wanted out of Fairy Tail hands. "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!?" He nearly screamed, pulling out another card to stop Lucy from whatever it was she was going to do. Another spade card, which meant multiple beams of lightning were sent in her direction, which she had to frantically dodge. "I won't let you use it! I won't lose to such chance! And then it hit him... "No...I remember now...I gave that to you..."

"Huh...!?" Lucy's eyes widened at King's words. This was the first time they'd ever met face to face, and yet...

"The Council Ball..." King said while having a bit of a laugh. Of course. He was from the future, but such an event was long forgotten. "Until the Council Ball occured in this time, I had that card in my hand! But then...we met, didn't we? We even danced..."

"You...you were that man...!?" Now it was hitting Lucy as well. The man known as Jigan that she met at the Council Ball, and again when Jack attacked Magnolia. The resemblance between Jigan and King was now obvious. They looked the same, but King just looked older!

"I see. I was a different person back then." King admitted. "Bright eyed and full of hope. But that was before I saw what the world would become. Before I realized that someone had to control the powers that threatened this world. This world is going to fall to ruin if Acnologia is not dealt with! I've seen it with my own eyes!"

"We can deal with Acnologia...and you!" Natsu growled. A world where King controlled Acnologia? That was no better than Acnologia destroying the future! But Natsu was already sworn to not letting that sort of future happen!

"Natsu!" Lucy quickly ran over to Natsu's location, ducking and weaving through the beams sent in her direction. She wasn't quite sure how to even activate it, but Natsu just took the chance and shoved the card in his mouth. "NATSU!?"

"WHAT!?" Happy's eyes widened as Natsu just ate the thing.

"FOOL!" King exclaimed, not in worry but in complete shock. "There's a slim chance you'll actually activate fire! Is that how desperate you are, to take such a chance!?" As King spoke, Natsu's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he began rolling back and forth along the ground, writhing in what seemed like pain.

"Oh no…" Lucy covered her mouth, feeling the tears well up. It was the wrong element.

"Natsu….!" Happy rushed over to Natsu, shaking him as hard as he could. "Spit it out! Come on! We have to just run now!"

"Don't worry…" King said while drawing another card, this one looking to be decisive. "I'll reward you for making it this far! Red Joker!" He held the card towards the pair, unleashing a beam identical to Joker's Dread Lazer towards the Trio.

"No…!" Lucy closed her eyes and awaited the impact, but a rising column of flames shot up, protecting the trio just in the nick of time.

"What…!?" King narrowed eyes as the flames began to fade. When they did, Natsu was seen with scales under his eyes and on his arms, orange flames radiating off his body; he was in Dragon Force. "Ah…" King understood what happened, and he couldn't help but smirk slightly at the thought. "So…you willed the randomization of the card into the element of your choosing? Manipulating chance, huh? I can't say I'm a fan of you doing so…but it doesn't matter in the long run. This should be interesting!"

.

.

"Heh…" Cynthia chuckled for some reason as they were finally a good distance away from the Dealer Hideout.

"What are you smiling about?" Jaxon inquired.

"I think something really good just happened. We should be seeing them soon." Cynthia replied.

.

.

"I won't let you hurt anyone anymore." Natsu said firmly. "Your plans end here."

"You think you have the gall to talk to me that way!?" King held up a new card: the Red Ace of spades. With a wide grin, this prompted a blast of lightning, ice, and plant magic to soar towards Natsu. But since Natsu wa sin Dragon force now, he was able to quickly avoid this, twisting his body to the side, while landing

"HOW DARE YOU!" King finally snapped, lunging towards Natsu in a fit of rage.

"GWAAAAAH!" Natsu roared, appearing as a blur as he rushed from his current position, meeting King halfway and slammed a flaming fist into King's face at last, getting the hit he desired since meeting King. King flew back after the hit, barely managing to land on his feet. countering with a Roar of the Fire Dragon. The funnel of flames launched towards King at high speeds.

"Tch!" King held a hand up: the Black Joker. This card created a barrier around King, strong enough to withstand Natsu's attack. At least, so he thought, but the barrier shattered and he ended up sliding back, despite being unharmed. In the time he realized what happened, Natsu was already in front of him punching him square in the stomach. Blood flew out of King's mouth as he tumbled along the ground from the impact, coughing profusely afterwards. "Ack...you...you!"

"It's over, King!" Happy exclaimed.

"You're done!" Lucy added. This was the end of Jigan King.

"N-No! I won't be outdone! I've come too far to lose now!" King shouted with a wicked grin. "This will be what finishes you off!" He pulled out two cards; the Red King and the Black King. He held these two cards together as Natsu came charging forward to finish him off. "This is checkmate, Natsu Dragneel!" These two cards merged into a magic similar to Ace's Black End Galaxy, and Joker's Dread Lazer. "Dread End Galaxy!" The large sphere flew forward towards Natsu, sucking him in against his will. He tried to incinerate it into nothing, but the black hole sucked in his flames...and then exploded the instant he made contact with it. Natsu flew into the air, his eyes pure white...

"NATSU...!" Lucy and Happy both gasped.

"HO HO HO HO! CHECKMATE!" King laughed.

Natsu faded in and out of consciousness. He could hear King's mocking laugh. That same laugh when Ace sacrificed that same laugh that no doubt played when his friends were crying over Lisanna; that same laugh when Tia broke down at Ace's final moments. That same laugh that no doubt plagued so many people...he was sick and tired of hearing it. Natsu clenched his hand into a tight fist, using the pain he felt, and the pain of his friends, to shoot himself wide awake. "I"M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU, KIIIIIIIIIING!"

"W-What!?" King's eyes suddenly went wide at Natsu's sudden exclamation. "N-No! I don't understand! How are you still moving!? You fought Strong, you barely defeated Joker, you can hardly stand against me...but how!?"

"I will never lose to anyone that hurts and laughs at my friends!" Natsu roared in response. No matter what happened to him, he would always make sure that those who hurt Fairy Tail, his friends, his family, would pay dearly. King's first mistake...was targetting them in the first place. Now, he would pay the price for picking a fight he never should have in the first place. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art…" Natsu began while flames flared around his arms dangerously. "Fire Dragon's Punch!" He then threw his arms forward, throwing rapidly flaming fist after fist, easily disposing of the pitiful lances that tried to finish him. He then reached King, rearing one hand back, then with all the physical might he could muster, uppercutted King harshly in the chin, sending the leader of Dealer spiraling into the air until he landed on his back, eyes completely wide in…fear as he witnessed Natsu's true power.

"W-What the hell are you…!?" King asked while backing up towards the teleporting, but Natsu wasn't going to let him escape.

"AND THIS ONE'S FOR ACE!" Natsu bent his knees, arms as his sides as the fire around him manifested into the form of a dragon, roaring out loudly, shaking the entire foundation of the soon to explode building. "New Secret Art! Fire Dragon's….ROARING IMPACT!" Natsu took off in the same motion of his Sword Horn, but his body represented the entire body of a dragon, and not just any dragon, but Igneel. "KING! DISAPPEAR!" King's eyes widened as he remained frozen in absolute fear. Natsu slammed right into him, causing a massive explosion to take place within the room. The Salamander slid back, heaving heavily, but he kept standing until the smoke cleared. When it did, King was down, just inches away from the teleporter. "Whew…" Natsu let out a heavy exhale, the scales fading as he returned to normal.

"You did it…!" Lucy jumped for joy.

"Ugh…" King groaned, but his pained groaned soon turned into a chuckle. "You may…have beaten me this time…but you only have a minute left to escape…!" He laid a card by the teleporter, activating it to escape before the card he left exploded, rendering the machine useless.

"We gotta go!" Lucy exclaimed while tugging Natsu along. They had to hurry out the current room and down the backway, but with the way things were shaking, it didn't look like they were going to make it.

"This is gonna be too close…!" Happy exclaimed.

"How are we supposed to make it…!?" Lucy questioned. "He said the radius would take up a large area as well…!"

"We'll make it!" Natsu said with a determined expression. Time was running out, and they still weren't out of the base.

3…2….1…boom.

A large explosion took over the mountainous region where the Dealer Hideout was. It looked like it was over for the trio, but a figure snagged them out of the base just in time and flew towards the nearby forest. "Huh…!?" Lucy blinked, seeing nothing but sky in front of her.

"We're alive?!" Happy questioned.

"This is…" Natsu looked up to see who their savior was, only to find that it was Jack Corvus himself, carrying the three by their clothing.

"Who would've thought two idiots like you could've beaten King…" Jack said with the smallest of smiles. He landed in the forest where everyone else was, allowing Natsu, Lucy, and Happy to finally take a break,

"It's finally over…" Lucy said while collapsing on the grass below, watching as the sun began to set.

"We did it! We beat Dealer!" Cynthia exclaimed, causing just about everyone else to jump for joy.

.

.

Cynthia: "It sure is nice to relax now, huh…? I feel like we haven't been home in forever…"

Natsu: "I could use a break…I'm totally exhausted. Do we have to leave right away; I don't think I can muster the energy to move."

Erza: "I think we all deserve a quick break before heading home…I'm sure the others are worried…and I have some questions I want to ask those three…"

Next time: Victory Under The Moonlight!