Chapter 129

A New World

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"Flashback"

"Magic"

Location/Date/Time Change

"Did Magnolia and Crocus fuse together?" Natsu asked staring up at the castle.

"But the guild's not here!" Happy shouted from above. "And the rest of the town is completely gone!"

"Is this a joke?" Rose mumbled as Laki turned her head.

"Hold on… someone's coming…" She declared, sniffing the air. "This smell…" Rounding the rocky corner, Gray and Juvia walked out, the ice user carrying a heavily wounded Erza. "Gray, Juvia!"

"Natsu…" Gray begrudgingly mumbled.

"Laki, Happy and Rose, too!" Juvia cheered.

"Is that Erza with you?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, she's pretty beat up, though…" Gray replied. "We were on the way back to the guild when this happened."

"That's all well and good, but we've got no idea where the guild went!" Natsu pointed out. "This is gonna suck!"

Mercuius

"What monstrous strength…" Arcadios groaned on the ground as he stared at tall, voluptuous woman with thickly braided, bow-adorned, scarlet hair standing over him. Donned in a risqué version of the typical witch's garb, her black top has a diamond-shaped opening, exposing a portion of her breasts, and a heart-shaped pattern around the borders. It extends down to the naval of her stomach where it meets a large angular scar, is draped over by a dark-colored cape with a light-colored inside and two medallion gold-like ornaments, and is held together by a golden chain.

Not left bare, too, her neck is decorated by other small cloth-based accessories, including a wide bow. Additionally, the woman wears an elongated black loincloth with the symbol of the Alvarez Empire emblazoned on its front, having white borders on its edges and being connected to another cloth piece with the very same heart-shaped design. She also wears black thigh-high boots with heels that have a white-colored border near the top and gloves of the same color and design, only having claw-like extensions. Her black witch's hat is much larger than her head and possesses dreadlock designs with white bandaging near its ends and a fur lining near its edges.

Irene smirked as she walked over the beaten army, forcing the king in front of Hisui. "I… I beg of you! Do with me what want! But spare my daughter!"

The redhead merely smirked and waved her hand, hitting Hisui with a spell. In a puff of smoke, the girl was replaced by a small green mouse. "Do you still have love for her, even in that pathetic form?" She asked, hatred in her eyes. "Can you truly look her in the eyes and say you love her?"

"Of course I can, you fiend!" Toma shouted, holding the mouse close. "No matter how she looks, she'll always be my daughter! No matter what it takes, even if it kills me, I will fix this!"

The sick smile on her face faded as her staff started glowing. "What a bore…" A sense of magic caught her attention and she rushed over to the window, her eye glowing.

"Natsu, what is that thing?" Happy asked, making everyone look upwards. A massive eye was hovering over the land, scaring everyone.

"Scarlet hair…" Irene mumbled in shock. "It couldn't be…"

Makarov's enlarged fist slammed into the ground and forced the soldiers back. "Little whelps, there's no end to them!"

"We just gotta keep fighting!" Lucy shouted, Taurus swinging his axe behind her.

"I just hope Elfman is okay…" Mirajane mumbled as she kicked a soldier.

"Try to keep up!" Jet shouted before the ground suddenly tripping, a substance caught on his boot. "What is this stuff?" A black cloth wrapped around his leg before throwing him away.

"Who are these losers? So weak…" A girl in white teased.

"Irene Squad has entered the fray!" A ninja like girl declared before more soldiers charged into battle.

"We need to get back to the guild fast!" Cana shouted. "The first is…"

"I know! But I got no clue where it is!" Warren snapped back.

The girl in white dived at Mirajane and Lucy, forcing them to jump back. "What is all-?" Mirajane questioned the gluey substance before black bindings wrapped around her.

"Hey! No fair!" Juliet shouted. "You stole her from me!"

Mirajane transformed and ripped through the bindings before blasting the two invaders with magic. "Lucy, go and help the others." She ordered. "I can handle them by myself. Trust me."

"Right." The blonde nodded and ran back to the guild as the smoke cleared.

"You can't take us both…" The ninja girl spoke up. "Prepare to die, fool."

"I'll kill you while she takes notes." Juliet questioned before jumping into the air, throwing magic mucus at the model.

"This slime… it's burning me." Mirajane shouted before getting kicked in the face. Rolling along the ground backwards, she pushed herself up as the two stared at her. "Guess it's time to use the ace up your sleeve." She mumbled, her body glowing as she transformed. "Satan Soul: Mirajane Algeria!"

"What is that!?" Juliet shouted in shock.

"Awe fought against Tartaros, and I collected many souls before it was all over." Mirajane chuckled, licking her lips. Instantly charging forward, she grabbed the two and slammed them face first into the ground, creating a massive explosion. As the smoke started fading, Mirajane's body returned to normal as she dropped to her knees. "That used up so much magic power…"

She glanced over her shoulder and watched the smoke clear. "Please stay down. That's more than enough for today." The model watched as the girls faded away and a pair of swords were left in the ground. "An enchantment technique… To think there's a wizard with that much power…"

A sudden pulse of magic appeared behind her, freezing her in place. "It seems you showed my 'children' quite a bit of affection… how nice of you."

'Wha… what is this magic power?! It's beyond terrifying…'

Irene waved her hand and black bindings shot out of the matching sword, pinning Mirajane to a rock. The Scarlet Despair then snapped her fingers, causing mucus to fly out of the white sword and splash onto Mirajane, burning her skin. "First things first… I'll take that beautiful white, silky skin and make it so unsightly you'll look more disgusting worn out rag. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be no more than a lump of rotting meat that would make anyone avert their eyes."

"Irene." The red head turned her head to see August and Brandish walking up. "Those habits of yours are uncouth, to say the least."

"Oh my, it's nice to see you again after so long, Lord August." Irene said, walking over to the two. "And Brandish, is that you? You've grown so big I hardly recognize you."

"You used Universe One without His Majesty's permission, I see." The Wizard King declared.

"Indeed." She nodded. "With Acnologia staring me in the face, I'm afraid I had little choice but to take drastic measures. That said, I not only successfully drove him away, but I managed to send His Majesty straight to Fairy Tail while at it. You should have no grounds to criticize or reprimand me."

"For now, the Twelve shall gather and convene at His Majesty's side." August ordered, much to Irene's annoyance. "This is my order as the general of the Spriggan 12. There will be no compromises." The two stared at each other as Mirajane froze in fear from the sheer amount of magic power.

"So be it, I'll let you save face on this occasion." Irene sighed before glancing back at the model. "That being said, I'm going to finish off this little girl who dare raised her hands against my beloved 'children'. I won't comprise on-"

A beam of pure magic energy shot out of Augusts finger, puncturing Mirajane's chest and destroying the rock behind her. "I pierced her heart. I assume that will suffice?"

Mirajane dropped to the ground as Irene smirked. "I suppose that works for me. Shall we be off, then?" Brandish stared at the model before turning away and following the two.

As the waves lapsed against the shore, Lisanna ran along the shore. "Mira!" Lisanna cried out as she rushed over to her downed sister. Picking her up, tears almost fell from her eyes before Mirajane started coughing up blood. "You're okay!"

The model felt her chest, finding the hole in her chest had shrunk in size. "Did she…" Shaking her head, she turned back to Lisanna. "We have to get back to the guild! The Twelve are gathering together!"

"Are you sure this is the way to go?" Yukino asked, walking in between Elfman and her guilds Exceeds.

"No idea." He replied, pushing a branch out of the way. "It just feels like the manly thing to do."

"That's encouraging…" Lector mumbled.

Rustling leaves caught their attention and they turned to see Angel walking out into a clearing. "Sister?" Yukino asked.

"Yuki… no?" Angel questioned, shocking the males.

"It is you… isn't it?" Yukino mumbled, making Sorano huff.

"I have no sister…" She declared, turning around.

"What are you saying? Of course you do!" Yukino shouted. "I've been searching for you ever since those awful men came and attacked our home! No matter what happened, you always protected me… I loved you more than anything!"

"Like I said… you've got the wrong person." Sorano replied, angering Yukino. "You don't have a monster like me for your sister. My little sister is a kind, decent human being! She can't be mixed up with someone as awful as me! If I ever atone for all my sins, I'll come back and give my sister the biggest hug in the world!"

Yukino wiped a tear from her eye as she smiled back. "Just knowing she's alive… is enough for me."

"Mirajane… Lisanna…" Elfman mumbled. "I hope you're okay…"

Dimaria crawled along a wooden bridge, still bound to her chair. "So, but we can't let you escape." A man said, grabbing her leg. "It's nothing against you, but if you got away, we'd never hear the end of it from Olba."

A white glow suddenly covered the two before they started screaming in pain. "Fire! Put it out!" One man shouted before jumping into the river below.

"Bugs! Bugs everywhere!" The other one cried out, scratching his skin off before tumbling onto the rocks.

"I've come for you, Dimaria." The blonde looked behind her to see a pale blonde man walking forward.

"Larcade Dragneel…" She mumbled in annoyance.

Fairy Tail Guildhall

Zeref and Mavis stared at each other, hatred for each other in their eyes. "It feels it's been a hundred years since we meet." Zeref said. "The entire time I could hear your voice, feel your presence…" An icy wind blew forward and suddenly Mavis was trapped in an ice shell of her own body. "That's not necessary, Invel."

"Your majesty, I am aware of your relationship you and she once had, however she is the Fairy Heart. Which means that she could use that power against us at any time." His adviser reminded him.

"Mavis understands better than anyone that the Fairy Heart cannot be used." Zeref declared. "Even if it were to deliver my long awaited death, the residual effects could be… catastrophic."

"But still-"

"Mavis was trapped inside that crystal for nearly a century, completely immobile." The Emperor continued. "It pains me to see her such a state again. So if you please…"

Invel and Zeref stared at each other before his follower nodded, shattering the ice around Mavis. Before she could even take a step forward, a collar of ice was latched around her neck. "I leave her body unfettered, but her mind restrained."

"Honestly, Invel. You worry far too much for your own good." Zeref said, walking towards the door. "Mavis, please come with me."

The blonde slowly followed behind against her will, looking out over what was once Magnolia. To her horror, the entire Alvarez army was surrounding the guild, the Spriggan 12 at the guild hall itself. "Your friends are coming for you. After all, you are the heart of the guild and this hall their beloved home. However will they be able to survive the harsh journey?"

"How far can your grit drive you? The truth is, you will not live after tomorrow, Fairy Tail." Zeref declared.

Erza looked out over a cliff at what was once her guild hall. "Magnolia used to be a town of light, and the guild are home. But those days are gone now…" She glanced behind her at her sleeping guild mates. "Cherish your dreams, and rest well… because this may be the final dawn we face together…"

"Final? Not if I can help it." Natsu declared as the others started waking up. "We'll bust in and get our guild back. For the sake of our future, for Fairy Tail!"