The last known location of the Urdstatz Library was a village in a remote section of the mountains. It was a prominent exporter of snow-based lacrima, an incredible amount for ice and frost wizards, as well as those southerly cities and nations that needed coolant for the warmer seasons. The village totaled around ten huts and houses in all, and their village elder was a master when it came to wintry magic, able to make the skies turn dark with snow capable of freezing anyone over. It was said, in those mountains, that no fire would ever burn bright upon their homes.
But it's people? That was a different story.
Burning flesh crackled all across the village while men and women screamed, in search of a way out of a town locked in time and space. Infernos roiled upon the village huts, summoned forth from a great, burning hearth deep within the capital. Footsteps were hurried and rushed upon the snow. Most were filled with blood, bile, and excrement.
One set of footsteps remained entirely clean, well-trodden, and precise. It was the same that formed a spear through the line of soldiers doing their best to stand up to the threat that wiped their entire history away. The village would soon have no name or memory. It would burn in the skies for some time, and then, the ash would lay still while years of snow and debris buried it.
Such was the fate of any who dared defy the Twilight Empire.
The village elder awaited in his hut at the top of the hill. Unprotected citizens huddled together there. Died together there. Their final words had been of cowards willing to do whatever they could to survive. They would not be long for time in the Twilight Empire.
The hut door was blown open. More corpses lay burning at its threshold while the village elder was pinned above a mound of the sick and injured. A fire raged beneath him.
He was a feeble man, one certainly not befitting the title of a great wizard. His ice was melted. His friends were gone and dead. All that was left was the quivering sack of meat and magic held up to verify all the information his little villagers had so willingly given away, all with the hope they could be spared.
"But," Minerva, the Ethereal Witch, said, "when you eliminate an anthill, you must be merciless. Thoughtless, almost, lest any of them escape. The ants may be harmless on their own but they can spread things to other places."
The elder wept.
"The man within the Urdstatz library. You know he was headed west?"
"To the land of sunken hills, yes!"
Rufus was always the poetic one. He liked to hide his secrets in his little words, his memories. The land of sunken hills was a small patch of Fiore, begotten by most wizards save for those who had experienced the first full-powered attack of the Sabertooth guild. If Rufus was hiding, he was only doing so from those who did not know him.
And even then, the others of Sabertooth who'd become one with the Empire may not even know, or remember. But Minerva never could. She had to remain the best of all in Sabertooth. Her magic had to be stronger than Orga's, more brilliant than Yukino's, more modern than Sting and Rogues, and her strikes more deadly than Dobengal, her presence more imposing than her father, and her memory sharper than Rufus's.
The land of sunken hills it was, then.
"Why must you kill us? We gave you what you wanted."
"You did. But you still don't deserve to live," Minerva said. She coiled her fingers together. A magic orb formed around his head, slowly closing in around it. He struggled for air. "Is it a sin to eliminate ants?"
She crushed her fist as his head popped like a balloon. The village elder dropped to the flames. The last man of the village faded.
Minerva easily swung her hand out. There was no time to return to get backup or report what her status was. She wouldn't need it.
She had to head to the land where she and Rufus first displayed their power so that she could display how inferior it'd always been to her.
It was fairly unbelievable how quickly things had turned on the day as if it'd started well from the start. Yukino was gone. Gone. Left Sting because of some conversations with Natsu and Libra as if those fools knew anything.
Then, Fairy Tail erupted around them. Those wizards had a helluva knack for pulling that off, and then, just as fast as they'd arrived, they scattered. Natsu was gone. Erza, some big cat, and the water woman had vanished. Gajeel and Wendy were clearing a path.
And it left…them. The ones who sullied Sting in the first place.
They stood opposite Sting as the rubble all around them finally settled. Rogue was just behind Sting, waiting to pounce, while Sting ignited his aura. Gray and Elfman also prepared their magic. Elfman was in his Lizard form immediately. Smart move, he was going to need all the help he could get.
"Let me handle these jokers, Rogue," Sting said. "I owe them for what happened in Clover Town."
"You need my help."
"I don't need anything!" Sting roared. His power surged.
Yukino was gone, and in her place in his heart was a wellspring of raw rage waiting to be unleashed on those two Fairies who showed her how weak he was in the first place. For that? The only suitable punishment was death.
"Find Natsu. Bring him back. Then we'll kill him together, he and all the other Fairies."
Rogue said nothing. "You two!"
Sting sniffed out new presences arriving, ones that made Gray and Elfman ahead of him shudder.
Thomas and Kristine, the Darkness and Spark Dragon Slayers respectively, had finally arrived. They landed on a makeshift balcony, one that'd formed only out of the rubble from the dungeons, their own powers ready to go.
"I told you to leave me alone!" Sting shouted. "Rogue? You deal with them!"
"Right. Both of you, find and kill Gajeel and Wendy. They're making to escape from the city, now. Once you're done, turn back to find me. I'm off to eliminate Natsu."
"And the other members of the Division?" Thomas asked. Always the cautious one.
"They'll be mustered. I'm sure they've seen the destruction. With any luck, they'll be right behind you to finish off any other potential rebels."
Thomas nodded. Kristine blasted back out of the debris and followed. Rogue hesitated, giving Sting one more look. Sting waved him off.
"I won't be long," Sting said. "I promise."
Rogue still didn't seem satisfied by the answer. He'd never been one to willingly leave Sting to a questionable fight, and it offended Sting just a bit that Rogue saw the fight as dubious as he did. Ultimately, though, Rogue relented and vanished like the shadow he was.
"You sure like fighting us around a lot of rubble," Gray said.
"You're gonna regret wasting time jabbing words at me," Sting said. "Save your energy for trying to hold your guts together after I've destroyed you two. You got lucky in Clover Town."
Sting's power surged. Yukino's face flashed over his mind's eye again. His heart beat quicker when he thought of her, and the rage from that morning, when she was gone and he saw her travel back completely gone with some of her clothes…
White lightning crackled around Sting. Scales grew along his arms and up his face. His aura sharpened and intensified. He unleashed a powerful roar signaling the fulfillment of his Dragon Force. Gray and Elfman braced.
Sting held his hand up.
"White Dragon's Flash!"
The world exploded in bright light, and through it, Sting launched his assault.
Gajeel and Wendy sprinted through the confused streets as soldiers tried to keep everyone and everything calm. The Exceeds, who'd just caught up with them, continued on toward the gates as means of scouting out the situation.
They were lucky to have the carnage, Gajeel realized. Nobody thought to recognize them, and few in the crowd were going to be looking out for their guild symbols. The Exceeds were out of anyone's eyesight, too.
Gajeel and Wendy used their noses to follow the path to the once they thought they had to clear a path, it seemed all members of Fairy Tail were responsible for that. Gajeel and Wendy were going to be the ones simply opening, and then holding the door.
Both rounded a corner at speed, moving as fast as they could to get toward the gates. They blitzed through a plaza and entered a wide thoroughfare. Gajeel's nose twitched, and he moved on instinct.
He slammed his feet down, halting his run. A ball of light exploded from where he would've been, shooting dust and stone all over. He covered himself in his iron scales. Wendy skidded to a halt, then swung her arms around to block a beam of pure darkness from slamming into her. Wendy quickly dropped to a knee, a magic circle forming around her.
"Arms!"
Gajeel sneered. Damn. The little pipsqueak understood the situation that fast, huh? Gajeel cracked his knuckles and turned in the direction of their new friends.
Suspended above a building as she hovered on a discus crackling with lightning while emanating pure white light was a woman clad in tight robes, her hair cut to a stiff bob. Her eyes were fierce, intently staring down at Gajeel. Opposite her, rising on the ground, was a man who wore a short-sleeved cloak that revealed two arms twisted in writing tattoos. The open-air brushed against his chest, revealing the pulsing black lines of magic toward a lacrima.
"Dragon Slayers," Wendy said.
"Second Generation, just like Axel," Gajeel said in agreement. "Nice."
"There is nowhere to escape to," the woman said. "Your deaths are in service of the Twilight Empire."
"We aren't above making this painless if you submit now," the man said. He closed both hands into fists. "But are more than willing to drag this out."
Gajeel felt Wendy's magic surging in him, practically begging him to go on and punch these two in the face.
"Listen, we don't have time for dragging anything out," Gajeel said. "We've got a few people counting on us to open a door, so we have to go head out to do that."
"They too will fall before us," the woman said. "No rebel has ever escaped the capital alive before."
"We're not just rebels, lady," Gajeel said. He pounded his fists. Sparks flew. Magic burst. "We're Fairy Tail wizards. Kid! Back me up, but feel free to join in whenever you want!"
Gajeel bellowed a roar that had roots in his draconic heart, one his father Metallicana would be proud of. He then shot forth with strength untoward, strength gifted by Wendy. He moved for the man, who braced, then, with a pivot, launched into the air.
The woman, startled, faltered. She swung her hands up in a blinding light. Gajeel barked a laugh.
"Iron Dragon Club!"
He swung his arm down, making contact with the bright Dragon Slayer. She slammed into the cobblestones below. Gajeel landed and ducked beneath the fast, powerful, punch of the other guy. A gaping hole of darkness appeared just where Gajeel's head had been. Gajeel delivered his own jab that sent the other guy flying.
"Spark Dragon's Augite Heavens!"
Another blinding light scooted Gajeel back, into the direct aim of the recovering dark Dragon Slayer guy.
"Darkness Dragon Roar!"
Gajeel set his jaw.
"Iron Dragon Lance!"
He swung his arms out and a whirlwind appeared from the force of his movements. The spell lurched aside in its strength. Gajeel was quick to set his feet and strike at the oncoming woman, who moved with incredible speed. It was similar to Laxus, if a tad slower. Not quite the speed of light like Laxus had, but damn close enough if Gajeel was distracted.
She reemerged in the ruin of the spell Gajeel had just deflected and delivered a decisive kick in Gajeel's side. He slid back, feeling the bruise welling beneath his skin.
The two enemy Dragon Slayers nodded to one another, and, at once, moved for Wendy. Wendy, startled, broke her concentration on the spell enhancing Gajeel's strength.
Gajeel moved, fast, but not nearly quick enough to catch them.
"Iron Dragon Roar!"
He launched his desperate spell. Just before it could reach them, the two Dragon Slayers broke apart, leaving Wendy wide open, and shocked, by the coming attack that blasted her back. Gajeel slid to a halt.
"Darkness Dragon Abyssal Jaw!"
"Spark Dragon Heavenward Lance!"
Gajeel was unable to block either attack and was sandwiched between both. The explosive collision of magic sent him into the air, prone to a followup punch by the Darkness Dragon Slayer that the Spark Dragon Slayer immediately seconded with a kick that sent Gajeel clean through a building. Gajeel tried to get up but was yanked forward by some dark chains wrapped around his arms. He couldn't resist the pull of the darkness and was punched hard in the face by the woman's brilliant, blinding fist.
Stars wheeled around Gajeel who flipped end-over-end into the cobblestones. He shook them off, aware of their oncoming assault. He whipped around but was saved from another desperate spell by a massive gust of wind that swept the two back.
Wendy joined his side, her own speed having been enhanced.
"Ile Vernier!"
The magic circle expanded with a quake, capturing Gajeel in its wake. His legs and arms trembled, kinetic energy shivering within his magic circuits.
The two Dragon Slayers came to a halt at last, shaking off Wendy's attacks.
"A bit tougher than they look, I guess," Gajeel said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Wendy said.
"But they ain't real dragons, kid, and they're trying to use it against us," Gajeel said. "They're using practiced attacks and maneuvers to get the better of us."
"Got anything up our sleeves like that?" Wendy asked.
"Just one, but nothing we need yet," Gajeel said. "How about you cut the support crap and get your hands dirty?"
"You mean it?"
Gajeel cracked his neck. He backed up the magic feeding into his iron scales. A green aura burst around him.
"Sure," Gajeel said. "If we can deal with these guys faster, it'll save us magic in the long run."
"Oh, you're right."
"Then let's get moving!"
He shot forth like a rocket, even starling that Spark Dragon Slayer with his speed. His strike came even faster. Blood sprayed from her broken nose as she blasted back. He turned his attention, immediately, to the Darkness Dragon Slayer who conjured up a spell to knock Gajeel back but—
"Sky Dragon Wing Attack!"
Gajeel danced back from the tumultuous winds that pummeled the Darkness Dragon Slayer. He ultimately relented to them, flying into the skies. Into Wendy's domain.
The Spark Dragon Slayer rushed to help her friend. Gajeel dove ahead.
"Iron Dragon Roar!"
She vanished in a blink, Gajeel's spell launching wide.
Good.
She reemerged, but Wendy had already sniffed her out. The little kid's instincts weren't quick as sharp as Gajeel or Salamander, but she was a First Generation Dragon Slayer. The real deal. She could track a scent, could track movements, with precision.
And, again, they were in the sky, where she was ruler.
Wendy kicked her leg out, buffeting the Spark Dragon Slayer with some magic. Gajeel was able to catch up with ease.
"Iron Dragon Sword!"
His arm turned to a blade, one he swung with power and speed own on the feeble Second Generation Dragon Slayer. She blocked with a discus that shattered on impact and she hurtled to the ground.
The Darkness Dragon Slayer, out of sight but not quite mind, had at last finished charging up his spell: a wheeling ball of darkness that he held overhead.
"This is the darkness that swallows all in its path!" he roared. "Even you, Fairy Tail! Darkness Dragon Abyssal Terror!"
"Let me take this one, kid," Gajeel said as they began to float down. "You make sure our friend down there stays out of my way!"
He flipped and landed on a rooftop while Wendy glided down to the ground with controlled ease. The ball of darkness closed in. Gajeel summoned a deep breath. It was an impressive amount of magic, sure, and probably something that would get a ton of wizards running. It was, indeed, sucking up the buildings around it, breaking them apart in its embrace.
But, what was a little bit of darkness to Gajeel? He'd left a Wizard Saint's guild, he knew the consequences he could face in doing so.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Karma Demon: Iron God Sword!"
He slammed his hands together, the two arms forming a massive sword. With the speed of Vernier still on his side, he blitzed into the air straight toward the dark ball that was supposed to eat him up and consume his soul…or whatever.
Instead, magic surging forth, the blade ripped through the ball of darkness, startling the Darkness Dragon Slayer on the other end, who nimbly got out of the way of the attack, but wasn't quick enough to dodge Gajeel's kick out that struck him down to the ground.
The Darkness Dragon Slayer bounced off a building and lurched to attack Wendy. She dodged out of the way.
"Hey, kid!" Gajeel shouted. "Get ready!"
He let his Iron Scales plummet him to the ground, then, he dropped them, startling their opponents. Gajeel rushed toward Wendy.
"All yours, kid!" he exclaimed.
The two Dragon Slayers were out of tricks, out of ideas. They'd been trained for total dominance, trained to use little tactics that were a surefire way of winning the day.
Yet, a real dragon had a warrior's heart and had a spirit burning within them that told them to win no matter what.
"Get 'em, Wendy!"
Wendy jumped into the air. Gajeel used his feet against hers to push her, shooting her forward. The winds tore by Wendy, who swung her arms around, magic power exploding out of her.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Shattering Sky Drill!"
The radiant winds shook the thoroughfare around them as the two Second Generation Dragon Slayers stood no chance against Wendy's attack in their surprised state. They flew into the air, vanishing beyond the bounds of city, within seconds. Towers shook, and the world stood still, until Wendy came to a sliding halt, at last dropping her pose.
But not her magic, which she and Gajeel used to continue their march forward.
"I'm sure that attracted a bit of attention!" Wendy exclaimed. "Armor! Ile Armor!"
"Save your strength, kid, cuz I think you're right," Gajeel said. "This ain't even close to over."
Yet, he couldn't help but feel that didn't matter. Wendy showed out time and time again. This latest outing? Who was she fooling with this impish act?
She, like Gajeel, like Natsu, was a true Dragon Slayer. One Gajeel was proud to fight alongside.
Natsu had jumped out of Lucy's window with incredible confidence that he'd figure out where to land. However, it seemed that the tall tower of the Dragon Division was quite a bit higher than some of the other buildings around it.
His shout followed him as he plummeted, trying to find any place to land that wouldn't turn him into a pancake. He tried shooting forward with fire but was falling so fast he wouldn't get anywhere in time. Come on! A dragon couldn't die in flight!
Natsu prepared a spell that would use way too much of his magic but was spared from having to execute it as the ground shot up as if to meet him. He hit the sudden growth and rolled all the way down the streets, bounding and bouncing all the way to a halt. Natsu dusted himself off, proud of having found the right place to land, as the ground resettled itself.
"Huh," he muttered. "Probably a trap."
"Not quite!"
Natsu whirled around. There, rushing from an alleyway, was a familiar face. But…what was this guy's name, again? He was the wanderer that they'd picked up on the way to Crocus.
"Hey, you," Natsu said. "I remember you."
"Kip, Natsu, my name is Kip."
"Right! Yeah! Good to see you, man." Natsu gestured at the ground. "You do that?"
"I did. The others and I figured you'd be probably doing something reckless and sent me to come find you." Kip pursed his lips. "I thought you'd be with someone else."
"She's sticking around, she has a mission to do. We need to get outta here, though."
Kip pursed his lips. "Yeah."
"What's the matter?" Natsu asked, sensing hesitation.
Kip sighed. "That little stunt I pulled might've cost my head. See, I'm the Cavern Dragon Slayer, a General in the Twilight Empire's army. Or, well, that's what they think. Truth is, I've been away training for a while, and—look, it's not important! I can't cast much more magic around here or I might get recognized, but I know the city well enough to help you get to the gates where everyone else is!"
Well, that certainly explained why he'd been so shy, and how he made the ground literally rise up for Natsu. Another Second Generation Dragon Slayer? Man, how many of these guys were out there?
And how many were they going to have to fight through to get out of the city?
"Come on, then!" Natsu exclaimed. "Lead the way!"
Kip nodded and did so, taking off at a sprint while Natsu followed.
Soldiers were rallying all around. Panic surged in Natsu at the thought of Kip being exposed, but the man had a well-placed hood and cloak on to hide himself. The use of his magic may have stirred the men in the barracks, but, that could've been any other wizard. The Empire didn't seem to have much of a care for its own wizards. Natsu had to imagine that few were dumb enough to question it.
Then again, just the day before, Yukino had done exactly that.
Kip led Natsu away from the towers, into the city proper, where lines of soldiers were charging toward the battle away from Natsu.
"That's the Crystal Division," Kip said. "The Dragon Division is getting reinforcements! Mind clearing the way?"
"Not a problem!" Natsu exclaimed. "Fire Dragon Roar!"
Natsu dove forward with his attack, but before it could reach the soldiers, a wall of ice formed and blocked the flames from the other warriors, who continued unimpeded. Kip slid to a halt while Natsu barreled toward the ice. Said ice, at once, lurched and a fist launched out of it that punched Natsu back a few steps.
A figure descended on the two Dragon Slayers, breaking the ice upon impact. Mist swirled around him, until ultimately revealing yet another familiar face. But this one, at least, Natsu recognized.
"You," Natsu said. He pointed to their impediment. "Get outta the way, Lyon!"
Lyon flourished his hands. Icicles flecked off of both. His eyes were sunken and vacant, his clothes dark compared to the usual light colors he wore. Gone was the calm ice warrior that helped defeat the Seis.
"He's Broken," Kip muttered, keeping his voice down in case Lyon recognized it. "Whoever you think that man is, he's just a husk."
"Yeah? I bet just as powerful as before, though."
"If not more," Kip warned.
Natsu crashed his fists together. "Good. Sucks that we can never fight when Lyon is in the right head-space, but a rematch like this is getting me all fired up!"