Chapter 225

Closing The Gate

Our party found ourselves running down the stone and marble halls again, but unlike before, Future Lucy and Lisanna took the lead, navigating us through one hallway after another.

"So, where exactly are we going?" I called out. "Shouldn't we be avoiding these hallways?"

"Yeah. This place is already a maze as it is," panted Wendy.

"Don't worry. We know where we're going," said Future Lisanna. "There's a shortcut that will lead us straight back to the main hallway and back outside."

"Mind telling us how you came to know that?" asked Natsu.

"We spent some time exploring the castle and the underground passageways so we'd know how to get out of here without being caught," explained Future Lucy. "We wanted to do whatever we could to avoid the future we went through, so it's the least we can do."

"Well played, ladies," complimented Lily. "It certainly makes navigating through this place a lot easier."

"And it seems that Future Lucy's way smarter than the normal one," commented Happy.

"Happy, be nice," chided Lisanna. "This isn't the time to be teasing."

"Yeah, we need to hurry," urged Mira. "Once we get outside, we got to fire the signal flare as quickly as possible!"

"Especially since everyone must be worried sick by now," added Wendy.

Before long, we came to an opening filled with light, and when we got through it, we found ourselves back in the main hallway.

"Thank goodness! We're back outside!" said Wendy.

"It's about time, too," said Loke. "I was getting a bit tired of carrying Arcadios around."

I looked back as Loke had set Arcadios propping against the wall again. But just as he did, several footsteps were heard, followed by yelling.

I then glanced up and saw a giant mob of royal soldiers stampeding towards us.

"There they are, men!" shouted one. "Capture the fugitive and arrest the lot of them!"

"Um, guys! I hate to point out the obvious, but we're about to have some company!" I yelled out in alarm.

"The royal army?!" exclaimed Future Lucy. "I didn't know they'd be stationed here!"

"Neither did I!" said Future Lisanna. "How could they have known we were here?!"

Natsu stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, flashing that same cocky smirk. "No worries! We'll just show them who's boss," he said enthusiastically. "We still have our magic, so they don't stand a chance against us!"

Loke also stepped up, just as raring to go. "Ain't that the truth?" he said while adjusting his tie. "I won't let anyone arrest Lucy again!"

I was about to join the fight, too, but then I heard Wendy and Mira.

"Guys! We have a problem!" she cried out. "Colonel Arcdios is gone!"

"And it's not just him! Yukino's missing, too!" Mira also cried.

I looked over at the two, and just as they said, Arcadios and Yukino had mysteriously disappeared.

"What the…?! Where'd they go?!" Lisanna couldn't help but exclaim.

"They were just behind us a second ago!" cried Lucy. "They sure picked a bad time to disappear on us!"

Mira then turned on her heel and started running away from the group.

"Mira! Where are you going?!" Future Lisanna shouted.

"Arcadios might be one thing, but I refuse to leave Yukino behind!" Mira spoke. "I'm going to go look for her!"

I couldn't help but be alarmed. "Hold on a second! You can't go on your own! I'll go with you!"

I then chased her in hot pursuit.

As we ran down the hall, we could hear explosions in the distance behind us, showing that the battle had started, but we kept running.

"Mira! Wait up!" I called out. "Do you even know where Yukino could have gone?"

Mira then stopped at a junction where the hallways went in two directions. "I'm not sure, but I know she's got to be somewhere around the palace," said Mira. "And we must find her before the soldiers catch her!"

"I can use my Aqua Sense to find her," I offered as I stopped beside her. "She couldn't have gone far, so I think I should have enough magic power to check."

But as I was about to use my Aqua Sense, Lisanna and Future Lisanna caught up to us.

"What the hell do you think you're doing running off like that, Mira?!" Future Lisanna demanded. "We have to get out of the palace!"

"I know, but we can't just yet," said Mira. "Not until we find Yukino."

"This isn't the time to be looking for her!" Future Lisanna suddenly burst out. "Especially since she's nothing more but a complete stranger!"

Everyone couldn't help but look at her after that statement.

"Hey! Yukino's not just a complete stranger!" I immediately barked at her. "So I suggest you dial it back a bit!"

"But you don't understand! We can't afford to stay here!" Future Lisanna snapped back at me. "If we don't leave while we can, it'll be too late! It'll all happen all over again! Besides, isn't that what she is?! You barely even know her, and considering that she's a part of the Royal Army, I'm not about to waste time looking for her."

I felt a pang of anger rush through me as I glared.

Lisanna was angry, too. "How could you even say something so cold?!" she asked incredulously. "I don't care if you are the future me, but I would never say something like that!"

"When you've been through hell like I have, you learn not to take any chances," said Future Lisanna. You must do whatever it takes to survive and consider anyone who slows you down a liability, ally, or stranger. Otherwise, everything you worked so hard to achieve will be instantly destroyed. You will die."

I couldn't help but stare, not believing my ears.

"You are right about one thing. I may have once believed your values," Future Lisanna continued to say to her present self. "But you and I are two completely different people. You may be willing to drop everything to save the life of a comrade or an outsider who you think is a friend, but I no longer hold such compassion. You can't save everyone in the world. If we don't get out of here, then everything we've done to get this far will be for nothing. There won't be another chance."

There was a brief pause.

Despite how harsh she sounded, Future Lisanna was right. But I didn't want to just up and forget about Yukino either, even if it was for my own safety.

"That may be true, but Yukino's not just a stranger. She's a friend," I told her. "While you may think we're wasting our time, we're going to look for her anyway."

"That's right," Mira agreed. "We understand that time is of the essence, and you're right when you say you can't save everyone, but that's not our style. You know that, Lisanna."

Future Lisanna was silent as she adverted her eyes while scowling.

"We won't take too much time looking through the palace," Mira continued. "All we need to do is let Willy find her using his Aqua Sense. Once we do, we'll leave right after that."

"Do what you want," Future Lisanna mumbled huffily. "It's not like you'll listen to me anyway."

Mira smiled. "Thank you. Now, Willy? If you wouldn't mind."

"Not at all," I said to her as I placed my hand on the floor and began using my Aqua Sense.

I could see multiple magic powers inside my mind, most likely the royal soldiers. Some were either moving or walking around, probably stationed to stand guard, while others were on the move, heading towards Natsu's group's location. However, I didn't see any sign of Yukino among them.

"Come on. Where are you, Yukino? Remember, Willy! Remember what her magic power felt like! She has to be around here somewhere!"

I reflected on Yukino's fight with Kagura and focused harder, trying to remember Yukino's magic aura. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sense her anywhere.

"It's no use. I can't sense Yukino anywhere here," I told the girls. "I don't even think she's in the palace anymore."

"That means she must have gone outside," said Lisanna. "Maybe she's somewhere in the courtyard."

"If that's the case, then it works out for us," said Mira. "We were heading outside anyway, so let's look there. Future Lisanna, do you think you can lead us back outside?"

Future Lisanna answered with a nod. "Yeah. Follow me."

She then led us down to the right corridor, and we followed. But as we did, a sudden, intense chill ran through my spine, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. I looked back, staring at the hallway, glancing around, trying to ascertain what that was.

"Willy? What's the matter?" asked Mira.

"I don't know. I felt like a trout swam just over my grave."

"If you're worried about Natsu and the others, I'm sure they can handle themselves," said Mira. "But right now, we have to keep moving."

"Y–Yeah."

I then resumed following the others, but that chill still didn't sit right with me.

"I hope that was nothing more than a random chill. But considering our situation, I can't help but get the feeling that something happened — something bad."

Our group continued to run through hallway after hallway, navigating carefully past guards until we eventually made our way outside. It was already nightfall, and the moon illuminated the city and billions of stars. However, when I saw the moon, I noticed it had taken a strange blood-orange color. However, I dismissed it, not wanting to overthink it.

We then spread out and searched the courtyard.

"Yukino! Where are you hiding?!" Mira called out. "Come on out!"

"Yukino!" Lisanna also called. "Where are you?!"

I carefully skimmed around the area, checking every corner of the garden maze.

"Yukino! If you're here, please say something!" I shouted. "Please let us know that you're here!"

At first, there was no answer, but as I was about to use my Aqua Sense to try and find her again, I heard a small voice.

"I'm over here."

Immediately, I looked to my left and finally saw Yukino. She was sitting on the ground all alone at a dead-end, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Hey, guys! I found her!" I called out. "She's over here!"

I then approached her, and it wasn't long before Mira, Lisanna, and Future Lisanna came, too.

"There you are," I sighed in relief. "You had us worried for a bit. What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I'm sorry," apologized Yukino. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

"It's all right," smiled Mira. "But what do you say we get back to the others?"

"I can't," said Yukino quietly.

"But why not?" I asked.

"Isn't it obvious? It's because I bring nothing but misfortune. It's all I ever seem to do these days," replied Yukino bitterly. "If you stay near me, I'm sure it'll happen to you, too. Just stay away from me."

Hearing her say this made me remember exhibiting the same behavior when I had the same mindset.

"Hey. I don't know if you know this, but I used to think the same way you did," I told her. "A while back, I used to think that keeping to myself was the only way to keep my friends safe, considering that I was a "wanted criminal. In a weird roundabout way, I thought I was the embodiment of bad luck."

Yukino looked up.

"And no one I know blames the wrong bad luck on other people," Mira also spoke. "He doesn't, and I certainly don't either."

She knelt down and gently embraced Yukino while nuzzling her forehead against hers.

"Every single life has meaning and purpose," she continued warmly. "Me, Willy, Present and Future Lisanna, and so do you."

Yukino was motionless before tears started trickling down her face. She also smiled, gratefully returning the embrace.

Future Lisanna then cleared her throat. "Sorry to break up the moment, but we should probably get out of here," she said. "Now that we found her, shouldn't you be focusing on lighting the signal flare?"

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot about that!" exclaimed Lisanna.

"In that case, let's go," I said. "Once we do, we should probably meet back up with Natsu and the others and back them up."

Our group then left the courtyard as soon as we could. Once we did, we looked around for a place to fire off the signal.

However, just as we did, I took notice of something. As we came to the street, we saw several people walking past while some guards led them away. They were all carrying luggage and pulling carts, rushing as fast as they could.

"What the…? What's going on?" asked Lisanna.

"From the looks of things, the city's being evacuated," observed Mira.

"But why?" I wondered. "Unless something pretty big is going on, or maybe…" I then remembered Arcadios. "Yukino, do you remember seeing Arcadios anywhere?"

Yukino shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I haven't seen him since we left the group," she replied. "But if I were to make a guess, knowing him, he's most likely gone back to the princess."

"But why? Given his current state, he shouldn't have been able to move," said Future Lisanna. "Unless…"

Before anyone could answer, a bell was heard tolling in the distance, going around twelve times, signaling that it was midnight. Then, several deep rumblings made the ground shake beneath our feet. Each tremor grew more intense, shaking the trees and trembling the pebbles.

"Wh-What is that?!" exclaimed Mira.

"I don't know!" said Lisanna. "Is that some kind of magic?"

I then looked across to Future Lisanna and saw that her face had turned a new shade of pale. Her eyes were also wide with horror as she trembled like a leaf.

"No… No, please. Not again…" Future Lisanna murmured in a croak.

"What's the matter, future me?" asked Mira. "Do you know what that is?"

But all Future Lisanna could say was the same thing as she held herself, tightly clawing her arms.

"No… Please, no! Not again! Not again! After everything we went through to try and prevent it…! It's happening again!"

Then, there was the sound of a bellowing, beastly roar, which caused the wind to buffet about. As I braced myself, trying not to be blown away, I immediately recognized what that sound was as memories of Tenrou Island raced through my head. In addition, my body became cold as ice as I felt my heart seem to stop in my chest.

"N-No way… that roar… It sounded like…"

At that moment, a great big shadow loomed beside the palace. Upon seeing it, I couldn't help but let my jaw drop.

It was a giant dragon.

This one was covered with gray swirl-pattered scales, except for its lavender underbelly and enormous wings. It also had a cone-like head with razor-sharp teeth in its mouth and gleaming red eyes.

"No way! It's a dragon!" Yukino shrieked in alarm.

"But… where did it come from?!" Lisanna also cried out.

But there was worse to come. As the dragon stomped toward the city, a few more followed after. A blue dragon with a beard, another made entirely of flames, a brown one with spikey stones on its back, and a magenta-colored one with horns all over its body.

Each one released a roar that shook the earth as they rampaged around the town.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Lisanna murmured in utter disbelief. "There's more of them?! I thought Acnologia was the only one!"

"And it looks like they're coming from the courtyard!" said Mira. "But… how is this even possible?! Other than Acnologia, dragons should have existed hundreds of years ago."

At that moment, Yukino gasped. "Hold on a second. I think I may know the reason," she gasped. " It has to be the Eclipse Gate!"

I then suddenly remembered as I looked up at the moon. "That's right! Arcadios said something about activating it when the eclipse happened! And there's an eclipse going on right now! It's the only explanation! "

"But wait a second! I thought he intended to use it to go back in time to defeat Zeref!" Lisanna cried. "If that thing is the cause of all this, why are dragons coming out of it?!"

"I'm not sure, but my guess is that something must have happened that's caused it to be set to a different time rather than when Zeref was alive!" said Yukino. "And that period was when dragons ruled over Earthland!"

Future Lisanna then collapsed to her knees, tears of fear trickling down her face as she stared at the dragons. "It's all over... after everything we went through to prevent this from happening…" she murmured. It was all for nothing. The dragons are here… we're all going to die."

But despite what she said, I wasn't about to give up. This can't be where it all ends for us. It can't.

"No. It's not over. Not yet!"

I looked back at the others. "There's no way this can't be where it ends! No way! I refuse to believe it!"

"Don't you get it?!" Future Lisanna snapped at me. "The dragons are here, and we can't do anything to stop them! Face the facts, Willy. No matter how determined we are or how much we struggle… It was all for nothing."

"But you're wrong about that!" I argued back. "The future has changed! Remember? You said we were inside Mercurius when the dragons showed up, right? But we're outside and still alive, which means the future has changed! And now that we know where and how the dragons got here, we still have hope!"

"But… how are we supposed to beat all those dragons?" Lisanna asked. "We couldn't beat Acnologia back on Tenrou Island, and we're dealing with a whole army of them!"

"We're not focusing on the dragons right now," I told her. "Our biggest problem is the Eclipse Gate. If it has been opened and the dragons are coming out of there, we need to close it before any more come out!"

"Willy's right!" Mira realized. If we can close that gate, we can prevent more dragons from coming out, minimizing the damage! Yukino, do you have any idea how to close it?"

Yukino briefly took a minute to think before coming up with an idea. "Yes! There's a pedestal with a handle on the side of it! It was made as a countermeasure in case something like this happened! A celestial wizard's magic power can shut the gate!"

"In that case, we need to get you over there so you can shut that gate!" I told her.

"What about Lucy?" asked Mira. "She was with Natsu and the others inside of Mercurius! Shouldn't we look for her?"

"I don't think that's necessary," I said. "Call it a hunch, but Lucy might already be there along with the others. If that's the case, we have to back her up. "

"But… what about the dragons that have already come through?" Lisanna asked worriedly. "Those things could kill us with a single roar."

"We'll have to cross that bridge when we get there," I said. "We have to get Yukino to the other side of the courtyard. It's as good a plan as we have right now. Are you guys up for this?"

There was a long pause before Mira bravely approached me, her face lighting up with a smile.

"As if you need to ask us," said Mira. "I told you to count on me whenever you needed help, so I'll back you up."

"Me too," chimed Lisanna.

"I'm not sure what else I can do to help," said Yukino. "But I want to help, too. It's the least I can do after all of your kindness."

I then looked at Future Lisanna. "And what about you?" I asked her.

Future Lisanna stared blankly at me. "How…? How can you still be so hopeful? Even against all of this? Don't you know that you'll all die if you go?"

"Yeah, but we're still going," I told her. We can't just stand idly by and do nothing. We haven't given up before, and we ain't going to start now, no matter what we're up against. Besides, there are a lot of people in danger. If we don't help them, who will?"

I then held out my hand to her.

"Lisanna, I know you believe our future's been set in stone, but if it has, I'll wash it away with every drop of water I've got. And I know that you feel the same, too. So, will you fight with us or let everything you and Lucy have done to save us go to waste?"

Future Lisanna was silent, staring at me before looking back at my outstretched hand.

Then, she slowly stood back up before walking past me.

"You already know the answer to that," she said huffily. "I said I would do whatever it took to save the future. I… just needed to be reminded, is all."

I then smiled. "Glad to hear it. Now, let's go!"

Our party then raced back into the courtyard, going around the other side until we could finally see the Eclipse Gate. Just as we did, another dragon came stomping out of it, a large brown one with numerous stones protruding from its back. Every footstep made the ground tremble violently, and as it roared, its loudness alone made my eardrums feel like they were going to rupture, but I kept running, refusing to give in.

Soon, we could see the pedestal, and just as I predicted, Lucy was pulling on the handle, struggling with all of her might while Wendy, Happy, Lily, and Carla watched on, trying not to be blown away. I could also see Arcadios donned in white armor and Princess Hisui staring vacantly at the gate, looking stupified and horrified.

"It's no use!" Arcadios cried out. "She doesn't have enough Celestial Magic to close it alone!"

"Then let me help!" shouted Yukino as she pressed ahead as we arrived.

Everyone looked at us and immediately lit up with hope when they did.

"Yukino!" cheered Happy.

"And Willy, Mira, and the Lisannas, too!" Wendy cried, thankfully.

"Sorry, we're late!" I shouted out. "But let's save the reunion for later! Hurry up and shut that gate!"

"Lucy, we need to use all our zodiac keys!" yelled Yukino. "If we combine our magic powers along with them, we should be able to seal the gate!"

Lucy looked back, and when she saw Yukino, she flashed a determined smile. "Right! You got it!"

Lucy and Yukino threw their keys up as they stopped midair, forming a circle. All twelve began to shine in a golden light that illuminated the area. The two celestial wizards got on their knees, held each other's hands, intertwined fingers, and touched foreheads as a golden magic circle appeared beneath them while they both spoke an incantation.

"O, CELESTIAL SPIRITS OF THE TWELVE KEYS…"

"... LEND US THE STRENGTH TO SEAL AWAY THE WICKED!"

"OPEN! GATES OF THE TWELVE SIGNS! THE ZODIAC!"

The light keys emitted shot down a beam, bathing the two wizards with its glow, and from the magic circle, all twelve of the zodiac celestial spirits appeared around them.

Seeing this sight filled me with wonder and amazement, never seeing anything like it.

The twelve spirits then sprang into action, each taking a door by six and began to push with all their magic power and strength. With a dull and loud groan, both doors slowly started closing.

Then, another dragon began going through the doors, roaring loudly and trying to hold them open. This made me tense up, and I felt the need to intervene. However, the celestial spirits continued pushing, and despite the dragon's attempts, the doors didn't stop until finally, with a thunderous boom, they finally shut, ceasing all function entirely.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you see you in the next chapter!

Dragomaster, signing off!