Sonya gathered herself in the anteroom connected to the much larger throne room. It was odd to be in there by herself, with no advisers on hand. They were all out in the throne room, attending to the high-level guests awaiting her arrival. August had requested them, and so they abandoned their queen in favor of that man. She gathered parts of her dress in bunches, holding tight to them.

Reports had come flying in for the last several minutes about what'd happened down below. Fairy Tail, some rogue group of wizards, came hurtling into the city and seemingly left fruitlessly. Speculations rose that they wanted Mirajane, a new recruit of Tartaros, or that they were seeking some sort of treasure out of the city. But they left empty-handed, leaving only destruction in their wake.

To Sonya, the destruction was all that they needed to leave behind. Nobody had ever left such a mark on the Empire in all its years; not even the full might of her country, Stella, could leave a dent so thorough in the Empire's armor. At the same time, though, Zeref had been present in all of that. He would have put an end to it immediately. August, Sonya had no doubt, could have done the same, but stayed his hand.

She bit the inside of her jaw. To what end did he do this? It was indeed a coincidence that Sonya awoke at the same time Fairy Tail arrived, right? But the public, and the rest of the Imperial forces, couldn't see it that way. How could she distance herself from this? Would she take the blame?

A year she'd been asleep, and in that year, so much changed. She had so much to catch up on that she could not properly mount or bolster defenses. Sending the Crystal Division should have been enough, especially when combined with the power of the Dragon Division, unless that order was ignored.

The only true loss she knew they suffered was Lyon, as word was that he'd either been killed or kidnapped. Nobody seemed particularly fazed or bothered by the idea, though.

The door to the anteroom cracked open of its own will—no, of August's will. He grew bored and wanted to get proceedings over with. Sonya let her dress go. It wasn't so large that she had much to hold onto, as it hugged her figure tightly, but it was comforting to have something to hold. It was a feeling she still wasn't quite used to. Even married to Zeref, she never touched him intimately, not in a way that a couple of married people should. She yearned for…anything.

But she followed the beckoning call anyway. Sonya eased open the door. Her footsteps silenced the small crowd before her.

August led the coalition of the Twilight Division that sat in their own arranged seats—Invel, Brandish, Dimaria, and Neinhart all sat with him, too. They were not the only Generals in the room, to Sonya's surprise, as, alongside the standing Sting and Rogue was the newly returned Zash Caine, that vile son of a bitch who smugly smoked a thick cigar.

The other Divisions did indeed only send their Captain or an estimation of their Captain. As Jacob Lessio was still the rebels' hostage and Minerva was away on some vain mission, Orga represented the Hunters while Ajeel, his arms folded as he stood bored, was there for the Crystal Division. Mard Geer stood solid as a statue, representing Tartaros.

Shadows loomed heavily in the throne room. Sonya stepped by the Spriggan throne, that great piece of black stone that seemed so otherworldly and ethereal. Magic oozed off of it. She took her own, an uncomfortable carving of Stellanium that imbued her with a bit of strength. All others standing, save for Sting and Rogue, took a seat.

"August," Sonya prompted, and the Wizard King rose back to his feet. Sonya was surprised his newest pupil, that blue-haired little thing Levy, wasn't with him.

"In light of recent events," August said, "I would like to propose something to my peers and colleagues."

He meant the other Captains. He should have said equals, Sonya thought.

But even they weren't remotely close to being equals with August. No wizard in the room was.

"What's unfolded upon our city streets is a travesty of the highest order, one we cannot allow to persist in the public eye," August said. "True weakness is the only natural next step of perceived weakness, and any amount of defeat we may have just suffered is a perceived weakness. So, that then begs the question: who here has displayed weakness?"

Zash Caine let out a low chuckle but nobody else made a sound, nor move. Invel, in truth, looked as if he'd have rather been anywhere else. Mard Geer sprouted a small grin.

"I'll ask a different yet related question, then, and that is on the identity of the orchestrators of the events these last few weeks that have had disastrous fallout on us?" August asked. "The Grand Magic Games led not to victory for us, but for rebels. And here? One of our own is gone, and another recruit was defeated. Indeed, Lucy Heartfilia faced temptation and resisted it, but a Fairy Tail wizard was able to sneak through our defenses and reach the Dragon tower of the palace. That cannot go unpunished."

Sonya sighed. August stepped back to give Sonya space. What happened next was not up to him. It was a responsibility typically reserved for Emperor Spriggan, but in his absence, power and responsibility fell to Sonya. August only acted in her stead while she was unconscious.

Sonya stood, feeling the weight of her power upon her shoulders.

"Sting and Rogue," Sonya said. The Twin Dragon Slayers bowed their heads. "Your actions, and inactions, of the last few weeks have marred the face of the Twilight Empire. As such, I have been given no other choice but to demote you as Captains of the Dragon Division. In your place, counsel has advised Zash Caine to take your place."

The two Dragon Slayers kept their heads bowed. Sting balled his hand into a fist, though not in anger, clearly.

"Go now," Sonya said. "And await your orders."

She had no further advice to give them. Sting was the overseer of the Grand Magic Games in Clover Town which only yielded Lucy's kidnapping but ultimately led to the entire Dragon Division getting smoked by Fairy Tail, and exposed critical weaknesses of the city's defensive infrastructure. How they managed to sneak into the city remained something of a mystery, though with their skillsets it was only a matter of time before they made it into the city. Invel mentioned there being some other man with them that he didn't recognize, so, perhaps he was the key?

Rogue led Sting out of the room. Before the door, Sting paused, hanging onto the heavy door as if to turn and say something, but ultimately dropped his arm and vanished from sight. The guards closed the door. Sonya reached instinctively to grasp her dress again.

"We should have them killed," Zash said.

Sonya leered at him. August did the same while Mard Geer's grin spread and Ajeel laughed.

"I already like this guy," Ajeel said. "Why wasn't he Captain in the first place?"

"It would have been unbecoming of the Emperor to elect a mere Second Generation Dragon Slayer to the role of Captain," August said. "Sting and Rogue are part of an elite echelon—Dragon Slayers of a bygone era, born and bred with the purpose of defeating a stalwart enemy. However, their purpose is…unnecessary now. Power is what matters, and they have shown a lack of it."

Sonya eyed Zash Caine. A despicable man. Rumor had that he once wished to come to Stella and conquer it, using the very Quartum Army he developed as a means of doing so. The Dragon Cry weapon was key to all of that. In exchange for handing over the Dragon Cry, he received his lacrima and became a Dragon Slayer.

"I won't take this role lightly," Zash said. "In fact, how about I go ahead and give our new, revamped division a mission statement?"

He clenched his fist. Dark fire sprang from it, impressing nobody but himself.

"Let's kill all of the Fairies," Zash said. "And then we can think about what to do with Sting and Rogue."

"Those two are valuable members of the Empire," Sonya said. From what she heard, some valiant wizard, some third party, stepped in and surprised Sting, getting the ones he'd been fighting away. Without them, Sting would have won the fight. "You won't kill them."

Nobody stepped up alongside Sonya to agree with her. Nobody said a word nor looked her way, lending Zash to light his cigar with his flames.

"Sure," Zash said. "Whatever you say."

"That'll do, Zash," Sonya said.

His sneer turned to a frown, but, when he spotted August's downward eyes, he said nothing more, and decided it best to take his seat.

Sonya did the same, easing into her small throne. She sighed.

"Alright," she said. "Let's continue with our business, then."

It was several hours later, as day was turning to dusk, that Axel finally came back. He was riddled with sweat, though didn't appear quite tired. Lucy was in the living room reading. Levy had left a couple of hours prior, and Leo and Taurus were back in the Celestial Spirit World. All of it happened without a trace, without a hint that anyone had been there.

Axel set some of his gear down and sat on the couch across from Lucy, who eyed him. He leaned his head back. He was flexing, clearly, trying to use his slick skin as a means of attracting him, maybe trying to get her to sympathize. What she instead saw was a loser as well as her opportunity and a ticket to defeating the Empire.

"Couldn't catch them?" Lucy asked.

"Had help," Axel muttered. "Lindara almost had them at the gates but when the rest of us showed up they were already gone." He leaned forward, growling. "That damned bitch Yukino. Sting was a fool for loving her."

Lucy raised an eyebrow and turned the page of her book. Yukino was no slouch in terms of being a traitor. The strongest Celestial Spirit Wizard in the world just up and vanished—worse, joined Fairy Tail? That would be a tough one for the Empire to swallow.

"I thought they were running to the stadium," Lucy said.

"Natsu did," Axel said. Lucy turned the page to mask her horror. "But Rogue turned us away to beat Natsu himself. That didn't work out, clearly."

Lucy nodded. Natsu managed to beat one of the Twin Dragon Slayers? Nice!

"But," Axel said, eyeing her up. "You weren't lying to me, Lucy. You led me straight toNatsu. I—I'm speechless. I thought he was your—well, anyway. You really showed yourself, Lucy."

He stood, then quickly fell to a single knee. Lucy feigned shock as he reached behind his back to create a small diamond.

"You've shown a true commitment to the Twilight Empire ever since you came here, something that the other women I've been with have only ever feigned. You awoke to a new world and embraced it so quickly. It's rare for a woman to be like that. It's rare for a woman to be likeyou. And I can't let you go. I have to have you."

He cupped his hand in hers. She gave him a faux smile as he opened her hand, a ring already on her left ring finger.

"Forever," he said. "Lucy Heartfilia, will you marry me?"

Bingo.

Lucy nodded. "Yes. I will, Axel."

He beamed and stood, beckoning her to do the same. He wrapped her in a tight, sweaty hug, making sure to brush his hands against her butt as he did so. Lucy simply stood there, arms lip at her side, eyes closed to what she'd known was coming.

Yet, it was what shehadto do. Staying as just Axel's girlfriend wasn't going to cut it. He was right, she'd shown her commitment to the Twilight Empire by not escaping, but to take that a step further would be to commit herself to one of its members. Becoming Mrs. Axel the Diamond Dragon Slayer put her in the same position as Yukino, allowing her into more secretive meetings and the like.

He bent his head and kissed her neck, slobbering over her. He reached to grab her butt once more. She pushed him back, gently.

"Please," Lucy said. "I—after a long day like this, I'm tired. Plus, I want to write to my father. I'm sure he'll want to hear this amazing news."

"Right," Axel said, wiping his lips. "I should inform my colleagues as well!"

Lucy snagged his hand before he stepped away.

"Wait!"

Now for the hook, the hinge upon which her plan had to start on.

"No engagement gift? You know a girl like me deserves a little something, right?"

Axel gawked, letting his jaw slacken. He entwined his fingers with hers.

"What were you thinking?"

"I want to be useful, Axel. Not just some face. Yukino's gone now, right? Sounds like you all need a Celestial Spirit Wizard to fill out your ranks. Let me do it. Get me the scrolls and lessons that helped Yukino get that strong." She tightly gripped Axel's hand. "I havetenZodiac keys to her two. You don't think I can be stronger? More useful to the Empire?"

Axel's eyes widened. He clearly saw the potential right there: himself, a stout general of the Dragon Division, and Lucy Heartfilia, the most powerful Celestial Spirit Wizard as, no doubt, a General of the Twilight Division. The next true power couple of the Twilight Empire.

"I'll have them sent right away!" Axel exclaimed.

Lucy released her grip on him, and let him jaunt out of the room. The door shut, and she slumped onto the couch. But she didn't cry.

She had work to do. No time for tears.

It was around dusk that a knock came at the door. Wow. The scrolls, already? Lucy set down the book she was reading—a recent history of the Twilight Empire—and opened the door to a friendly face: a man who had a bit too much dirt on him, but still wore the uniform of the Twilight Empire. Curiously, he didn't have hands.

But, his smile was warm. He had several scrolls tucked under his arms, and a book was there, too. He gestured.

"For you," he said. "From Axel."

"Thanks," Lucy said. She spotted the Dragon Division lapel. "I didn't know Axel had lackeys."

"Oh, no," he said. "I'm another General. I offered to run these up to you while he's out celebrating. Congrats on the engagement, by the way."

Lucy took the scrolls, leaning in to take them from him.

"Everyone's safe," he said, so quiet that she almost didn't hear him. "It's up to us now."

She stood up. His eyes twinkled.

"W—who are you?" Lucy asked.

"Kip," the man said. "Cavern Dragon Slayer. And, if you're interested, I think we could become very good friends, Lucy."

Flurries of soldiers rushed out of the city gates. Nothing, normally, that the Fairy Tail wizards couldn't handle, but everyone was wiped out. Erza was doing all she could to keep the group moving. Kip would've been a huge help in their efforts to get away from the city, but everyone was more than understanding about his vendetta.

"Besides," he'd said before leaving, "Lucy and Levy are in there. We'll take care of things from here until the time is right."

The group was a good few miles away from the capital and hidden in a small grove. Gajeel and Elfman slumped against a tree while Wendy tried to summon up some of her healing magic for Erza. Juvia was able to help a little bit; of all the wizards, she had the most strength left in her, though that wasn't saying very much at all.

"We can continue along the countryside for some time, but we need to stop by a village for supplies soon," Erza said.

"Right," Carla said.

"I could use a few good fish, too," Happy said. "Anyone know of a good river around here?"

Carla glowered at him, but, his heart was in the right place. Food was going to become a problem quickly if they continued to move at their slow pace.

Elfman maintained a downtrodden expression. Erza smiled at him, trying to catch his eye, but he wouldn't meet it. She closed her wounded hand.

Mirajane…

Wendy and Gajeel perked up. Gajeel's nose twitched.

"Is that Salamander?" he muttered.

"And Gray?" Wendy wondered.

Juvia spun, searching the skies, and gasped at the sight that descended before them.

Gray and Natsu touched down onto the ground in the middle of the grove, coming in with a bit of a hot landing, as they clung to a woman with a fish on her head.

"Hang on," Erza muttered, "she's familiar…"

"Gray! What are you doing?" Juvia shrieked. "With afish? Is that what I've been doing wrong all this time?"

Natsu and Gray slumped forward, exhausted beyond measure. Wendy got to her feet and joined Happy and Carla in helping Natsu, while Lily checked on Gray.

The woman sighed, and in a flash of light, was in new attire—it was Imperial by design, but wore no Imperial emblems, and lacked the dark coloring. Instead, it was much lighter, with fairer shades of blue mixed with white. It was a bit scandalous, but, what good wizard didn't wear some revealing clothes from time to time?

"Thank you for bringing our friends," Erza said, struggling to her feet. "But—who are you?"

"My name is Yukino," she said.

"She saved us," Gray said, and even Natsu nodded.

"My husband Sting was about to kill them," Yukino said. "I had to step in."

"You're the woman from the gate," Carla muttered. "You opened the door for our escape."

"You did?" Natsu asked. "Dang, no wonder you took so long to get to us."

"Then that's twice you've helped us with no explanation," Erza said. "You're with the Twilight Empire. What do you want?"

Yukino met Erza's eyes, and within them was not the coldness she anticipated as would be befitting a powerful Wizard in the Empire. No.

There was instead a fire, burning bright with the flames of justice. Where once may have been a despondent wizard was instead one Erza recognized all too well: one seeking to help those in need and tear down the structures of darkness hoisting a violent, malevolent world.

"Simple," Yukino said. "I want to help Fairy Tail take out the Twilight Empire. I want to bring back the world you all vanished from and then make it shine all the brighter." She flashed three Zodiac keys. "Lucy may be doing whatever she needs to in there to survive, so in her stead, let me serve your connection to the Celestial Spirit realm. Let me help you fight this fight."

END OF ARC 3: ICE AND FIRE, LIGHT AND SHADOW