Watching the Multiverse

by thehappy

Fairy Tail watches different timelines unfold from across the multiverse. Will contain violence, swearing and other mature themes. Don't like it, don't read it.

12. Chapter 12: Dragon of the COG

So here I am with another chapter! Now I don't mean to ignore requests or ideas, but if I get an idea in my head either using characters from other stories of my own or just random stuff, I'll write it because I wont be able to think of anything else. I will say I'm not interested in writing Naruto or Harry Potter. Just not up my alley.

Anyway, this is will be a close variation of DoTCog with some time skips and all that! Once it's done, I'll write another for Rising then back to Bisca's Journey!

Also, keep in mind that it is SUMMER so I want to do fun stuff outside or other activities. Just please be patient when waiting for updates.

Now…onto the chapter!

Chapter 12: Dragon of the COG

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Tables were tipped over while several chairs had been thrown, broken or laying haphazardly among several fallen mages who had taken the worst of the beatings. Numerous glass bottles, spilt drinks and sheets of paper were scattered across the guild floor while Cana and Mira started to sweep.

"So that's what a guild brawl looks like. How entertaining" Giving another clap, Queen Hisui had been thoroughly entertained while her two royal guards watched with critical gazes.

"How unbeautiful of them" Cosmos spoke with a quiver of disgust, the plant mage finally releasing Elfman and Evergreen from the tangle of vines.

"Let me go!"

"Such a manly fight!"

"Shut up, Elfman" Evergreen uttered with mild annoyance as she was set down, the woman brushing off her dress before starting to pick up some errant sheets of parchment.

Of course, Erza stood in the center of the guild with her arms crossed, the knight watching the members start to pick up the mess they had caused.

Natsu grumbled as he picked up the chair, glaring across the guild at Gray who sent dirty looks his way. "Perverted Ice bastard…"

"I heard that! You think I'll stand by and let your female variant seduce me you sicko!" Dropping his broom, Gray started to form ice in his hands.

"You're the one who's in love with me!" Dropping the chair with a clatter, Natsu was fully eager to punish the pervert.

"Enough you two!" Stern and vocal, Erza moved, standing between the two as her withering glare bore into both men in moments. "If you haven't forgotten, I was a male there, so I too felt disturbed by the sight. Now calm down and help clean up the guild"

Natsu grumbled, then turned away, not wanting to re-incur the wrath of the redhead.

"Fine" Gray uttered with a short tone, the ice mage going back to sweeping as the guild continued their efforts to repair and clean the ravaged guild hall.

Barely half an hour passed before it was in a moderate state once more, the mages retaking their seats around the hall.

"I still wonder what Natsumi's and Gray's children would look like. Maybe we'll find out in the future?" Lucy asked out loud, the blonde having a pondering look.

"Oh, come on, Luce! Why you say something like that!?" Natsu shouted with obvious horror.

"Hehehe, you were a girl" Gajeel teased, only to get a few glares from the female populace.

"Is there something wrong with that, Gajeel?" Levy asked, the short woman not liking the implications as a few others such as Juvia, Laki, and Lisanna stared.

Gulping slightly, the iron mage laughed awkwardly. "Uh…of course not. Ha…ha…" Going quiet, he sat down, only to receive a comforting pat on the shoulder from Pantherlily.

"How about we start a new timeline?" Mira suggested, looking for a volunteer as she retook her seat near the multiversal cube, it's surface unaffected by the current guild brawl.

"I'll give it a shot" Wakaba stated, the smoking mage walking forward with purpose. Pressing the green button, he moved back to his seat as the cube started to glow among purple lines, the lenses giving a flare as the pixels of light fell upon the far wall.

"Better be better than the last universe, that was a nightmare" Gray muttered, the man still cross while Juvia watched him, then studied Natsu with a critical eye.

Crocus sprawled outward, the city bisected by a winding river that curved past the royal palace grounds. Skyscrapers and squat apartment buildings populated the massive metropolis. To the Western portion of Crocus, the Domus Flau stood, the stadium overlooking a large hiway that pointed southward.

In the center of the magical games stadium, artillery pieces spat fire like belching reptiles, the crews working nonstop to send raining metal downward into the city of Crocus. Settled on the Western edge of the field, a large aircraft rested on landing struts as lines of people boarded, some with only the clothes on their backs.

Explosions rocked several buildings along the Eastern bank while firestorms burned whole neighborhoods to ash. Flashes of gunfire rippled across several of the spanning bridges over the river while several helicopters roared over the city, their blades thundering while howls of screams rose from the populace.

Several portions of the royal palace were missing, the damage prevalent as fresh explosions ripped through a riverside building.

"A war? In the capital?" Hisui whispered, the queen instantly disturbed by seeing the seat of her country under attack.

"By who? Bosco?" Lucy asked as another series of echoing screams came from the city. Wringing her hands, the blonde didn't like the implications.

Zooming in upon one of the flying machines, the aircraft banked lightly through some billowing smoke, the acrid ash and embers flaring from an apartment building engulfed in fire.

Inside, four women were seated, each adorned in heavy armor with a series of blue lights along the flanks. Rifles were cradled between their legs, the bulky, large weapon equipped with a chainsaw bayonet as the aircraft jinked, making all four women tilt slightly from the pilot's action.

Bisca adjusted her dirty, ratty cowgirl hat while green hair fell to her neck line, the material frayed as she scowled, her gaze looking down at the burning Crocus. "Fucking Grubs"

Next to her was Evergreen, the brunette wearing a pair of red tinted goggles upon her head. A small scar adorned her chin on the right, the blemish only an inch long, but visible. Her own armor held numerous scratches and gouges from former fights as she reached down and hefted her rifle. Checking the weapon now splayed across her lap, Evergreen remained silent before looking across at another brunette and Erza, the redhead having stylized her hair into a single ponytail.

The unknown brunette spoke, her beautiful face adorned with a small, horizontal scar below the right eye. Brown hair only reached her ears, the cropped style fitting her as her own armor was marred by old blemishes as well. Her skin tone was lightly tanned, at least the minimal seen from her exposed facial features.

"Thanks for filling in, Ever. Levy being up in orbit working on the H.O.D. made us short handed. Well, I could've brought Wendy, but she's one of the few healers left alive in Clover Town"

"Pretty sure bringing a fifteen year old into a warzone is irresponsible, Sam" Erza retorted with a snort. "Not that Clover Town is much better than here"

"Whatever Knightwalker. Not like she hasn't seen people die before…fuck, Did I mess up raising her?"

"We're all fucked up, not like the grubs will spare children anyway" Bisca added as her gaze hardened once more.

"What's a grub?" Gajeel asked, only getting shrugs in return.

"I don't know, but that variant of myself looks…harsh. And if I'm remembering, didn't that Marvell in Raccoon City mention her team as Sam, Knightwalker, myself and Levy?" Hugging Asuka closer, Bisca felt unnerved by her heavily armed self in the helicopter.

"This could be them, or a close variation. Though, I would have to assume they're all soldiers" Carla added in observation.

"I wonder how Knightwalker ended up on Earthland? It's rather strange for her to be there, and if she's there with Bisca and Evergreen, where am I?" Erza asked, only for more questions to be raised.

Two of the helicopters nearby tilted further to the East, passing over several raging fires consuming numerous structures while artillery impacts crashed below with horrendous bursts. Gunfire flared in numerous locations across the city along with rampant blasts, the battle for Crocus a maddening hellscape of dozens of individual firefights that consumed the Eastern portion of the city.

Looking out the open bay door at the closest Raven, Sam squinted before spotting something speeding toward the nearby craft from a rubble choked street below. "INCOMING CYST!"

"Fuck!" the pilot screamed out as he evaded with a yank of the controls. Barely missing the incoming creature, the closest Raven took the full brunt as an explosion tore into the flying machine. Debris and bodies rained down as the air transport spun in a fall, its body dragging across a nearby building as brick and glass fell, adding to the destruction.

"Get us down! Now!" Sam roared out, not that the warning was needed as the remaining two helicopters descended rapidly toward a street half engulfed by flame and damage. Gunfire flared below as people screamed and ran, none even concerned except to flee.

"Zone is hot! You'll have to reach King One on foot!" Hollering over the noise, the pilot didn't even bother setting down over the street while more incoming gunfire pinged against the Raven's armor.

"Let's go!" Jumping out, Sam hit the pavement first and sprinted low toward a pile of rubble that had fallen in the street, crushing several vehicles. Numerous civilian bodies were among the ground, the blood still fresh as more ran and screamed in panic. Alongside of the moderate roadway, buildings were missing glass, some stores having their front walls blown out. A nearby apartment building burned as fire licked and spurted from windows as ash and smoke filled the air.

Abandoned cars and a few trucks littered the roadway, some charred or ravaged by bullet damage while the corpses of victims still sat in the seats. A city bus on the right had crashed into a pharmacy before tilting on its side, the undercarriage exposed among rampant debris. More bodies laid around the city transport, the humans cut down without mercy as they stared lifelessly into the sky.

Lining up next to her along the low wall of rubble, Bisca, Evergreen and Knightwalker huddled low as bullets screamed above them, the impacts dusting the asphalt around them.

Several dozen drones fired, the gray skinned beasts covered in leather armor's as they held an assortment of weapons that spat horrendous gunfire. In the center of them all stood a larger companion, this carrying a weapon with a long barrel that started to spin faster. Wearing thicker leathers and a heavy helmet, its hulking mass stepped forward along the battle damaged neighborhood.

"Hehehe…Grind…" Noise and flashes of fire erupted, the bullets cutting down several more fleeing civilians as the monsters laughed and shot, showing off their pointed teeth, yellow eyes and terrible horror.

Men and women fell, some suddenly missing limbs as explosions of gore burst outward from the impacts. Sinew and muscle tore while crimson blood flowed, the screams a nightmare as the four women fired and fought the horde. A fatter man fell with a terrified scream, the civilian starting to crawl away in desperation.

A drone stomped his head into a paste, letting brain matter and gore coat it's boot as it continued to walk forward, firing into the fleeing backs of civilians desperate to escape the monsters.

"Grinder! Ever! Dust that bastard!" Sam shouted as she popped up and fired, her rifle chattering as spent casings flew with hot lead cutting down one of the drones.

"Got it!" Raising her palm upward behind cover, Evergreen formed a roiling ball of yellow dust particles, then sent the magical ball up and over. It impacted the lumbering Grinder, causing a maelstrom of explosive damage that ripped across the street, killing eight additional drones as they snarled and fired.

"Oh god…Evergreen whispered, her mind in shock at the presence of monsters brutally killing and maiming without care nor mercy. Her variant was now firing, not missing a beat as she fired alongside Knightwalker.

Some of the other mages turned visibly green with even Happy hiding against Natsu's chest, the tiny cat terrified. Growling, Natsu glared as he held his friend, anger rising in his throat. "I take it back…the last world wasn't a nightmare compared to this…KILL THOSE MONSTERS!" Suddenly shouting while growing visibly angry, Natsu wanted those creatures dead already.

"I have to agree with you Natsu" Gray uttered, the man sickened by the slaughter of innocents.

"I wish it had been Bosco…" Gulping, Lucy knew that those monsters would give her nightmares.

"THIS IS HER WORLD!" Wendy suddenly shouted, the young woman's lips trembling as she frantically looked around at her friends. "This is Marvell's world!"

"Sadly…that explains a lot…far too much" Mira said with a fearful gasp of horror at the sight of such terrible, bloodthirsty creatures with no sense of morality.

"Got one!" Bisca yelled out as the woman dropped another drone in the middle of the street, the soldier dropping down to reload as Knightwalker rose, the redhead firing off half a magazine into a locust as it tried to make cover.

With half their number dead, the locust were taking cover as they fought and fired from the fallen rubble of the roadway.

"Fuck this! We need to regroup with King One! Phoenix Fire!" Snarling out the words, Sam suddenly formed a roiling ball of crackling, red magic in her open hand before throwing it down the street at the surviving locust. Brewing upward in a horrific blast that consumed a portion of a store front, the drones screamed in dying torment as their skin burned from their bones.

One survived, the half charred beast trying to crawl behind a charred car still containing the dead family inside, their corpses still smoldering and charred.

Stepping into the open, Bisca walked forward, her heavy boots thudding with purpose over spent casings and shattered glass. "Where do you think your going, grub?" Voice laced with hatred, Bisca flipped a switch on her lancer rifle, the teeth of the chainsaw starting to howl. Plunging it into the monster's back, blood and viscera sprayed across her boots and greaves, the teeth churning before she yanked it out once more.

"Shit. I got some on my boots" Trying to scrape some off on a nearby pile of rubble, Sam called out. "Forget that. We gotta move. This way" Cocking her head toward an alley strewn with garbage, Sam raised her rifle.

"That…that was disgusting…" Bisca stated, the mother and wife in disbelief at the casual extreme violence unfolding.

"I'm kinda glad she did though. Those monsters are horrible and have shown no remorse in those they kill" Setting a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder, Alzack tried to be supportive.

"I hate to say it, but I'm getting the sense these variants of Evergreen and Bisca have been at war with these monsters for quite a while. Using such tactics doesn't come easy" Makarov said with a morose and sad tone.

Honestly, seeing his children in any fight hurt him, but this…this was war. Far worse than any he's witnessed or heard about in his long life.

"The magic employed seems to be far more lethal too. Did you see what that Sam woman used? Just blew up those monsters with such violence" Juvia stated, the mage trying to reign in her horror.

"Can't say I blame her" Gray added with his own disturbed tone.

"It's all so awful though" Hisui added with a whisper as Crocus continued to burn under her gaze. It was her hometown, the seat of Fiore. Yet she watched monsters butchering and killing with impunity while ash and fires spewed.

Sam had taken point, the soldier stepping over a dead drone's splayed legs that laid across the alleyway. Nearby, a dead man lay, the body ravaged by gunfire. Walking behind her with rifles raised were Knightwalker, Evergreen and Bisca, each confident in their steps as they moved.

A nearby explosion rumbled several buildings around them, along with an updraft of heat and fire. Turning right at a T-intersection, the left alley was clogged with rubble and broken beams, the nearby building half caved in.

Tearing of flesh came from the end of the alleyway near an overturned wreck, the bodies of several deceased humans among piles of errant brick and glass.

Halting, Sam took a knee, the brunette indicating quiet as the pack of creatures continued to feed and tear meat from the dead. They were gray skinned, the tone pallid and sickening while one gulped down a piece of leg flesh. Wearing light body armor of a dull beige over the central torso, shins, and forearms, the creature had a slightly sloped head, beady reddish eyes, and razor sharp teeth.

"Shit. Wretches" Evergreen whispered softly as more gunfire raged nearby, along with more screams of dying citizens in nearby sections of Crocus.

One of them sniffed the air, turning to face the four women as meat fell from between its teeth. Suddenly pointing, the creature opened it's mouth.

'SSSHHHHRRRRIIIEEEEKKKK!'

The ear-piercing noise reverberated along the alleyway walls of brick and stone, bringing a dozen of the feral beasts to start galloping toward the four. A few jumped to the walls, their sharpened claws digging in to hunt the women as they opened their maws of razor sharp teeth.

Knightwalker fired first, her lancer spitting hot lead in a staccato. Dropping the first three, she wasn't alone as the others gunned down the monsters, the bodies dropping with meaty thuds. Leaping, the last one jumped from the wall, raising its clawed hands to swipe at Evergreen.

She revved up her chainsaw, the blades turning just in time as the wretch practically landed upon the roaring teeth with a scream of bloodlust.

"DIE!" Spewing blood and gristle coated her front armor, neck and parts of her face, the crimson gore flaying outward as the wretch died. Pieces of large chunks fell to the ground as Evergreen lightly kicked the corpse. "Nasty little things" Wiping some of the blood away, Evergreen didn't even bother trying to clean up, leaving most of it there.

An uptick in the sounds of battle increased nearby, the crackling gunfire and howls of battle vibrating the ground as broken glass and debris jumped and jounced.

Holding a few fingers to her ear, Sam nodded. "Come on, King One is under heavy attack. We need to move"

"I hated that thing! The scream was so loud!" Bicslow yelled, the helmeted man then looking at Evergreen. "You didn't even seem to care about the gore and blood! That's so messed up!"

Evergreen had turned a little green, her eyes brimming with a loud gulp. "No…no she didn't. But those are monsters so feeling anything for them…they need to die. I'm just glad she didn't get hurt"

"I guess…so bloody though. I don't want to see that chainsaw used on a human" Romeo said with his own quivering tone.

"It's obvious those 'wretches' are part of the same army as those foot soldiers, but so different. Are there going to be more classes?" Kamika asked, the royal knight trying to push away her horror with curiosity.

Suddenly, the images shifted Eastward by several city blocks toward a wide boulevard rampant with battle.

Hundreds of locust drones marched down the wide roadway, the beasts firing with impunity as more citizens ran and screamed, many being cut down. Joined by several Grinders and Boomers, the monsters fired with impunity. Rubble from damaged buildings, fires, glass and brick had spilled across the roadway, forming numerous places for the locust to halt and take cover, often to reload.

To the Western end of the street near an intersection, a dozen city buses sat as men, women and children were hastily loaded onto the transports as they fled from several taller buildings, some on fire. Four armored vehicles flanked the transports, the top turrets manned by helmeted soldiers as they added a heavy weight of machine gun fire. Tracers screamed outward into the attacking horde, cutting down several with simple brutality.

A semicircle of defensive blocks, cars, and barricades were manned by soldiers as they exchanged fire with the drones, the noise a numbing brutality.

Cosmos was crouched down behind a concrete barricade with a familiar Sorano and Cana Alberona, the three wedged among the line of soldiers. Several blood spatters graced Sorano's cheeks and upper armor, the silver haired woman firing into the horde, dropping two before ducking down.

"Reloading! Alberona, Can't you thin these assholes out!? We're still evacuating the block!" Slapping in a fresh magazine, the woman snarled before popping up and firing once more as bullets flew. A solider screamed just a few feet away, the man taking a bullet to the throat as arterial blood sprayed.

"MEDIC!" Another yelled as the woman crouched low, trying to stem the bleeding.

Cana watched the blood flow, then shook her head to dismiss it as numerous bullet impacts dusted her cover. An explosion wracked the position a moment later, flinging shrapnel.

"I'm not fucking Levy! Best I can do is a few at a time!" Forming a few magical cards in her right hand, Cana waited a few seconds before slightly exposing herself to fire. "Card Slicer!" Flinging the trio of cards, they flew across the battlefield before cutting through a boomer, literally slicing the beast into three parts that slid to the ground in piles of spilling flesh.

Retaking cover, Cana stayed low as gunfire increased in intensity, the horrid bullets cutting down a few civilians that failed to reach the evacuation point. "Fucking dammit Sorano! Where's the king anyway!?" Returning fire, Cana shot a drone in the leg, causing the beast to collapse before she finished it off near a burning car billowing ash and smoke.

As if answering her screaming question, a man rushed up low and fast before he took cover in a slamming run. Located to the left of Cosmos, the man rapidly summoned a flaring ball of fire in his hand, then promptly grew it larger as bits of lightning crossed the roaring surface of roiling heat.
Throwing it overhand from the place of cover, the orb burst among the attacking horde, vaporizing dozens in a flash fire that consumed flesh.

Another dozen drones screamed as their skin charred, the beasts trying to beat out the flames as their bodies burned.

"Fucking Grubs!" Forming another roiling ball of sparking fire between his hands, the orb grew far larger as the man snarled with hatred and fury. Throwing the larger orb, it flared along the street, consuming locust beast and flesh.

"Fall back!" A drone howled, the numbers reduced before he took a bullet to the face, the skin and bone erupting in a burst.

Starting to retreat as they fired, the humans weren't about to give them mercy as the soldiers fired into the drones, dropping another nine before the monster's broke contact, falling back into the city.

Standing up at the momentary halt of battle as numerous fires burned, the man stood tall as blood spatters, scratches and abrasions decorated his body armor. Across the breastplate was the painted words 'Grub Slayer' the letters faded from red paint. Hefting a lancer rifle that had it's own mess of gore among the teeth, Natsu checked it as his eyes surveyed the death and destruction around him. Running vertically from his left eyebrow to the corner of his mouth was an old scar, the blemish worn from years of battle.

"Threat neutralized. Let's get the rest of the civies on the transport's before the grubs hit us again" His voice was rough, hewn from years of hardship.

Cosmos studied the man as she slowly stood, the woman showing her own exhaustion. "My king, you should've stayed at the castle with the queen. Your too important to the country"

Natsu grunted, then moved past the barricade toward a half burned locust drone still struggling to crawl. Stomping its head in with no remorse, he turned to Cosmos. "You think I'd sit on the sidelines while the world burns? Now drop it" Ending the conversation, he pressed two fingers against his right ear. "Sam, area secure. Link up with us at Royal Avenue and Tenth street. Dragneel out"

"Holy crap…I'm king there? Like…the actual king?" Natsu asked, his mind amazed at the information.

"That scar…" Mira whispered, the barmaid not liking the implications of how he got it. "He looks so tired…and his eyes are missing all the joy. How long has he been fighting these horrors?"

"Too long. Far too long if I had to guess" Erza added, the knight knowing that they'll never get a full picture of what happened in this other Earthland.

Gajeel grunted, the dragon slayer crossing his arms. "I hate to say it, but I would never fight that variant of Natsu. That guy…He probably would've killed me during the Phantom Lord war…which really isn't much of anything compared to this"

"Not wrong about that" Elfman added, the normally jovial man clearly disturbed by everything so far.

"Wait. If he's king and I'm queen…oh my" The connecting thoughts caused Hisui to lightly blush at the cheeks, the implications quite easy to understand.

"I'm more concerned at the presence of that dark mage, Sorano. She has no business there" Cosmos added with light hostility before she was silenced by her partner.

"That's a stupid thought, Cosmos. She might never had fallen down that path in this timeline. And honestly, with the monsters their fighting, I'd have to say every available mage and adult is needed" Kamika finished, the slender knight having spoke her piece as they went back to viewing the horror beyond.

Civilians scrambled onto the city buses, some wounded, others clearly terrified or wracked with loss as they cried.

Standing with purpose near the defensive line of vehicles and concrete barricades, Natsu squinted while watching the street where the drones had retreated.

"Dragneel"

Momentarily distracted by the call, Natsu looked to see Sam and her group approaching from a nearby alleyway.

"Sam" Lifting up his rifle, the two butted the chainsaws against each other in a form of greeting.

"We miss the party?" Grinning with a slight cockiness, the brunette ignored the nearby crack of gunfire and explosions wracking the city around them.

"Doubt it" the king replied as he gave subtle nods to Evergreen, Bisca and Kngihtwalker. Looking once more at the buses, they were almost filled as civilians climbed on board, practically stuffing the transports with desperate individuals.

The ground began to rumble, shaking loose brick and debris from several damaged buildings. The charred bodies of drones and dead humans jounced among the dancing rubble, which caused Natsu and the named soldiers to quickly take cover.

"Breaks over! We got incoming locust!" Shouting with a rough hew, Natsu peered over the edge of a concrete block next to Bisca, the green haired woman glaring, her gaze filled with hate and rage.

The pavement started to buckle halfway up the boulevard, the surface cracking as nearby buildings shook from increased damage.

Suddenly, several massive limbs shot upward as the street surface crumbled, the pavement collapsing as the beast emerged. Standing taller than a four story building, the arachnid like Corpser took a few steps forward as it opened its maw, letting spittle flow from horrendous razor teeth taller than a man. Sinister, clumps of yellow eyes burned, adding to the menace as dozens of fresh drones emerged behind the monster, their attack resumed. Ticking, scuttling little creatures emerged among them, rushing forward while Wretches galloped between immobile wrecks, the vile monsters occasionally unleashing ear splitting shrieks.

"RRRROOOOOAAARRR!"

Shaking glass and vibrating the bones of the soldiers, the arachnid then slammed several of its limbs into the nearby pavement, crushing a few vehicles.

"CORPSER! Get those civvies loaded now!" Dragneel roared as he started to fire, dropping a drone as it crouched in a run. Shifting his aim, he unleashed more hot lead into the horde as Bisca did the same.

Lucy went slightly green, or pale green along with several others as she gulped loudly. "Oh god…giant…spiders? And they come from underground?" Asking as she started to sweat nervously, Lucy felt a minute calmness as Natsu set a hand on her shoulder, his mere presence reassuring.

"I think they'll beat it. They have to" Natsu reassured, his voice hiding his own fear at such a creature.

Bisca clutched Asuka to her bosom, not wanting her daughter to see such a horror. "I…I must be scared…so scared fighting that…that Corsper" She tried to stay calm for her daughter, but the mother and wife only felt dread and terror climbing up her skin, leaving goosebumps.

"Transports are full, sir!" A random soldier shouted as he popped up and fired, the bullet lost among the terrible exchange of munitions,

"Then get going! We have to get these civilians across the river!" Natsu shouted once more as he ducked, a few bullets smashing into the barricade to send chips and shards flying. His features glowered, the man's own rage building as he glanced at Bisca. "I'll need some covering fire"

"Just roast that Corpser before it stomps us!" Firing once more, Bisca cut down a charging drone without mercy before quickly ducking herself. Next to her, Knightwalker and Sam fired in unison, their rifles barking thunder.

A bullet smashed into the body armor of Knightwalker right in the central breastplate, bowling the woman over.

"E.K!" Checking on her friend, the redhead batted the hand away as she gasped. "Fuck..fuck that hurt!" Clearly angry, the redhead retook her position as she held up her open palm. Purple, crackling lightning began to form, the electricity raging among popping strands.

Another soldier screamed nearby as the buses started to roll away, the man taking several bullets to the collarbone and right arm.

"Natsu! You ready!?" E.K. shouted over the howls of gunfire, explosions and monstrous screams that filled the battlezone. Drones were rapidly approaching, the monsters laying down hellish fire as the Corpser stomped closer, its maw of razor teeth showing in all their horrendous glory.l

"I'm always ready to roast some grubs" Snarling the words, he started to breath in, taking the time to build up his own signature magic.

It didn't take long.

"FIRE KING'S ROAR!" Magical fire erupted from Natsu's own mouth, the flames a mixture of blue, white and red with hints of lightning mixed in.

Erza didn't wait either, the native of Edolas's letting her fingertips spark. "OZONE BURNER!" Letting the magical attack unleash in conjunction with Natsu's own dragon roar, the attack mixed together to wash over the attacking locust, incinerating some while others had their eyes and interior fluids sizzle from the heat.

Washing over the drones, Natsu's roar traveled down the avenue, igniting buildings, fallen bodies and all that could burn.

Momentary silence billowed among the flow of ashes and embers, Natsu cradling his rifle while the falling dust fell around him. "Come on, let's get across the river before they leave without us" Turning, Natsu climbed on board one of the military vehicles, the burning hellscape of drones, charred human remains, and the whole neighborhood an apocalypse. Near the end, the Corpser barely stood, its skeletal remains burning while juices sizzled and popped.

With a rumble of heavy tires, the rest of the convoy drove through the streets of Eastern Crocus, their destination the river and sprawling bridge of stone and concrete.

"Holy crap…Knightwalker has some awesome magic" Laxus admitted with admiration.

"You're just saying that because you use lightning too" Evergreen shot back, the brunette relieved her variant was leaving the battlefield for the time being.

"Dammit…Dammit! He's way stronger than me! Did you see that awesome dragon roar!? He roasted all those monsters!" Clutching his head, Natsu felt jealousy build in his chest, the slayer wanting that type of power.

"He probably achieved that strength from constant fighting. Who knows how intense his training was to achieve that level of magic. And Knightwalker…she probably could defeat me with that level of magic" Erza concluded with a depressed tone.

It was obvious to her that her battles and victories were minimal compared to the carnage she had just witnessed.

The images went black for a moment, the mages now familiar with the concept as the cube device instigated a time skip without warning or a sense of order.

---

The port city of Hargeon hugged the Southern coast of Fiore, its usual splendor of sea side resorts, restaurants and fine architecture swallowed by massive slums that crowded every park, open lot and the outlaying limits of the city. Smoke stacks of industrial plants and factories belched smoke, making the skyline dingy and depressing while several helicopters flew above, most likely on patrol.

Dozens of ships, some wooden, most of metal floated in the harbor while even more waited off shore, the vessels linked by mooring cables as impromptu communities formed on the collections of water vessels that declared flags from half a dozen countries.

Near the main harbor, a large fortress had been constructed, the structure squat, ugly and rife with defenses.

But despite the lack of locust, there was a tenseness to the average citizens as they constantly looked to the ground, or the sky, some clearly fearful as they went to their assigned employment.

"Apparently, Hargeon has a major naval presence in this other world, along with more advanced warships" Sighing, Hisui was mostly relieved that there were no locust attacking the city.

"Very true, your highness, but I vastly prefer to see Hargeon how it should be. Happy citizens. Fine restaurants and places to enjoy oneself" Makarov relayed, the guild master idly looking her way before sipping a portion of his beer.

The images flashed inside the fortress, rushing to a drab, square room located in the center of the structure.

Half a dozen men and women worked at communications or computer stations, gaining updates constantly as they worked along the right and left hand walls. Toward the far back of the room, two dozen screens had been built, the device currently showing war images flooding from half a dozen countries. Slaughter and violence reigned, the Horde mercilessly cutting down the masses.

A reporter on one of the screens screamed, the man torn apart by wretches in the burning ruins of Bosco's capital before going black.

In the middle of the chamber was a sort of floating representation of Earthland, the display lightly flickering as Natsu stood before it, the man out of his combat armor. Wearing a dull, gray tanktop, it revealed his larger biceps and overall larger frame. Scarred tissue adorned his bare left shoulder, the uneven healing disappearing beneath the material.

Across from him was Levy McGarden and Queen Hisui, the later brushing a few of her emerald bangs away from a shallow scar that ran across her forehead from the left eyebrow to her hairline. Her clothing was somber and dark, utilitarian and more at home on a common citizen than the leader of a country. Over the dark shirt was a webbing harness with a silver looking rifle hanging from her back while a belt of pouches ringed her slender waist.

"Natsu, we've waited as long as we can. But every day, the locust take more and more territory, wipe out more cities and towns. Hell, even Alverez has been pushed back to a single, fortified peninsula along their East coast. Bosco is basically gone, Joya forces are retreating to some of their mountain fortresses and cities. Minstrel, Iceberg…all of them have lost millions of war dead" Levy informed with a heavy tone, the short woman with a scar across her left cheek then highlighting the holographic representation of Earthland.

Normally serene, the globe turned to a sinister red across nearly eighty percent of the surface. "There. That's how much territory humanity has lost to the horde in the last few months. And once they're done clearing out every city…butchering every human they can, they'll hit every fortified zone where they can't dig through"

Hisui gripped the table's outer ring, the metal band surrounding the construct as her eyes hardened. "I'm well aware of what the horde will do, Levy. Just…" Her eyes brimmed, the queen feeling the anguish and death that had befallen the entire world.

"It needs to be done. Right now, the locust are distracted…enjoying the slaughter of countries easier to attack. Hell, out in Pergrande, they're still using swords and magical spears to try and fight the horde. They're all dead, just a matter of time" Gaze hardening, he studied Hisui once more. "If we're to save Earthland, this is the only way"

Staying silent for a full minute, Queen Hisui watched the images of Earthland turn, the planet burning under the locust bootheel. "Saving a planet by killing it…" Resolve replaced her sorrow, the woman approaching a console on the left of the wall mounted view screens still showing the slaughter and horror.

Natsu went to a console on the right, the king pulling a strange key as Hisui did the same.

"I've already programed the H.O.D. It will take approximately sixty hours to cycle through all the targets" Levy informed, the script mage's voice dull and void of mirth or joy.

"What is my variant doing? Are they planning some sort of counter-attack?" Hisui inquired, the queen's voice low and soft like a tiny mouse.

"Perhaps the Etherion Cannon? But with millions dead already…what a terrible war" Kimika shook her head, trying to be supportive of the queen.

"If they use it, that would surely kill some of the locust. But not all" Levy added with her own words while idly wondering what H.O.D. meant.

Natsu looked over to Hisui, the king giving a subtle nod. "Three. Two. One. Turn"

With a simultaneous click, the king and queen of Fiore unlocked the H.O.D. releases before Natsu moved toward a red button covered by a clear case. Flipping it up, his finger hovered for a brief moment.

"May our children forgive us"

Pressing it with finality, Natsu stood back as Hisui gripped his hand, the queen shedding a single tear.

High orbit of Earthland appeared, the planet below glowing as cities burned below. Alverez. Minstrel. Caelum…all seemed to suffer.

In orbit, dozens of satellites began to open, the orbital platforms long with supporting arms of flat panels. Unlocking as arms near the aperture narrowed into a focus, an ominous orange glow began to ebb with greater luminosity.

Suddenly, a heavy beam of light erupted from dozens of satellites, plunging toward the planet below.

Following the pulse to the capital of Bosco, people ran in the streets as the horde slaughtered with impunity. Screams were drowned out by gunfire as the few remnants of the military tried to fight, the men and women often being overwhelmed by the locust horde.

"NO! NO, THEY DIDN'T!" A man howled in a broken doorway as he held two children close to his bosom while several drones approached, the monsters supported by screeching wretches eager to feed and tear flesh. Clutching them close, he cried as the laser pulse impacted the city center.

It was a cataclysm of heat that washed outward, consuming vehicles, blowing out the glass of buildings…even setting brick aflame. Roiling along the roadways, it torched and burned everything in sight, sparing nothing as the laser pulse continued to expand toward the King's Palace of Bosco, the building already engulfed in a horrid blaze.

Humans were consumed like matchsticks, their fate sealed as some tried to hide or escape, not that it mattered.

Like the innocent lives, the Locust were consumed, the monsters burning alive as the firestorm continued outward from the devastated city center.

Across the horizon, more plunges of fire fell from the Hammer of Dawn, signifying more planetary devastation.

"Oh god…oh god…" Lisanna trembled with tears in her eyes, the orbital bombardment continuing in all its horror.

"How…how could I do something so horrible?" Natsu asked, the man himself showing some tears as he wiped his cheeks.

"Desperation. They're desperate, Natsu" Makarov said in a silent, depressing tone, the man suddenly thankful with all his soul that those events wouldn't happen on his world.

Levy clutched her head, the sounds of crying coming from her throat as her eyes burned. "I…I helped burn Earthland…She…me…I'm a monster…" Levy looked up, the orbital bombardment now gone as the floating screen went dark for a moment.

"Me too…I just condemned millions to die…tens of millions" Hisui sniffed, the queen allowing to tears flow, her cheeks going red with puffiness.

---

Ash floated above the street, the grayish particles dancing on a soft wind. Charred vehicles littered the roadway of cracked and crumbling asphalt, the transports a snarl of abandonment and ruin. Nearby buildings were only half standing, some having fully collapsed as dust and ash swirled.

Nothing but silence reigned, no birds…no life.

Frozen pillars of people were running, their ashen remains halted in the last moments. Huddled behind cars, trying to escape….the visages wore nothing but their last frozen moments of fear.

Laki gulped, her own face streaked with tears. "Those…those are people. People burned to ash. Levy? Can we please watch a different reality? This is just too awful"

"I doubt it will be that easy. Remember Turkey Face? We tried a dozen different timelines and that's all it showed. This nightmare will keep showing up because of what the cube decides" Her tone was cracking with horror, filled with anguish at the part she played in planetary genocide. "No wonder I went crazy…"

The majority of the mages just went silent, understanding as they returned their attention to the floating screen against the far wall.

A low, squat vehicle soon rumbled down the cracked road, occasionally crushing a pile of ashen remains. Coming to a stop near a building that had a domed roof, the structure had clearly started to collapse.

Climbing out with purpose and grim features were six adults. Natsu led the group, the man fully armored as he cradled his chainsaw rifle. Flanking him was Sorano, Bisca, Gray, Evergreen and Cosmos, all equally decked out in combat armor, weapons and presumed supplies adorned in utility belts.

"I hate coming to the ashlands. Nothing but death out here" Gray grumbled, the dark haired man stepping forward, his gaze sharp as he studied the ruined cityscape.

"Except for the seismic tremors" Natsu replied with his signature rough hew of a voice. Avoiding the huddled form of ash near a rusting car, his own gaze gathered information with assessment.

"Why? The grubs cause tremors all the time. This is a waste of time, Natsu" Evergreen added as she walked to the right, peering into a former café. Huddled forms of gray embers crouched near the counter, some the size of children. Staying silent for a moment, Evergreen's eyes showed nothing…just deadness.

"Because they're big tremors, Evergreen. And our king is concerned. The government is concerned" Sorano added, the woman's tone taking on a hint of bitchiness.

"I'm worried the grubs have another one. Another Riftworm. Either from Sera, or home grown" Natsu voiced, the man slowly assessing once more for…anything.

"Shit" Bisca started to say before she was interrupted by the king.

"Yeah"

The ground trembled, vibrating and shaking with extreme violence as the roadway cracked, fissuring down the middle as several nearby buildings fully collapsed.

"Fuck! Get back to the APC!" Cosmos warned with a yell, the pink haired soldier starting to turn, but the next tremor threw the six to their knees, sprawling them across the pavement as it got worse.

"C'mon! Get your asses up!" Pulling himself to his feet, Natsu moved toward Bisca, helping his comrade to her own two shaky feet as the tremors continued.

"My king!" Raising her arm as several piles of brick and rusting steel fell nearby, Sorano moved to assist Natsu toward the APC. Pulling the man along by the shoulder, the trio raced toward the vehicle while the others trailed just a few feet behind in a hunched run.

The soldiers piled in, barely making it as numerous fissures opened in the earth. Taking the wheel, Natsu hit the starter, the vehicle rumbling to life. "Hang on to your asses!" Flooring the pedal, tires spun as loose dirt, gravel and ash flared from the kickup. Running over a few of the ashen people, Natsu yanked the wheel toward the route they had come.

Suddenly opening up, the ground erupted as a massive maw of teeth shot upward, the mass of the body barely visible as it swallowed the APC whole…along with most of the city block. Leather hide of sickly gray emerged, its circumference a quarter mile wide while its narrow, barely seen eyes of white squinted under the ashen sky. Diving back into the ground near the more built up city center, the worm caused even more collapse and destruction of the fallen city as structures collapsed and fell.

By happenstance, it had eaten a building in its dive, the crumbling brick disappearing into its gargantuan maw as the tremors continued and continued in its wake.

"SERIOUSLY! GIANT WORMS NOW!? YOU'D THINK THE LOCUST WERE BAD ENOUGH!" Elfman roared out in disbelief at the sudden turn of events.

"I just died! From being eaten by a worm!" Evergreen yelled in her own wave of disgust and horror.

"The locust have a monster like that? A creature that big has to be miles in length…and now I'm dead there too" Cosmos said with her own disgust and sorrow after watching herself get eaten.

"Dammit…all of them just killed like that" Shaking his head morosely, Gray really didn't want to think of himself as worm food.

The visual screen changed suddenly, a fact pointed out by Kinana with a shaking finger. "Look, it's changing again"

Burning headlights cut through the stale air, landing on a wall of dripping flesh that glistened with wetness. Nearby, standing yellow spikes rose from the meaty ground, resting near pools of bubbling liquid that roiled and popped. In the distance, a few other rusting vehicles sat, their metal being consumed by acid while portions of several buildings inhabited the monstrous cavern.

Rolled on its roof upon a pile of concrete, the APC was a wreck as one of it's wheels hung at an odd angle. One of the indented doors opened with a groan, Evergreen slowly climbing out with a groan. Clutching her rifle, the brunette gasped, then reached back inside. "Cosmos? You alright?"

"Yeah…dammit, what the hell happened?"

Natsu opened the driver door, the piece of metal falling with a thud as the king fell out, then picked himself up. Looking around, Natsu's own gaze was harsh with realization. "We got eaten by the worm"

"Shit man, isn't this like…the fifth time you've been eaten by some monster? Your bad fucking luck, Natsu" Gray grumbled as he climbed out, the man gripping his rifle.

"For your information, this is the fourth time. The Seran Riftworm, a Leviathan, and a Corpser…asshole"

"Yeah, I'm the asshole" Scoffing, Gray wrinkled his nose. "Does smell like one in here"

"Don't blame me for you volunteering for this, but you were concerned that I'd get Cosmos killed or some shit. Like the women of our world need a helping hand with fighting the grubs"

Bisca gave a small grin, nudging Evergreen. "He's not wrong, we all can handle ourselves against the horde. You know, aside from the horror of it all and the nightmares"

"Still, rather not be in here" Looking upward, the ceiling quivered, the mass of flesh shifting while ichor dripped and slid against the walls. Some fell in sickening droplets while a few fell on Evergreen. Absentmindedly wiping away the mass with disgust, she shifted her stance. "Any idea how long we were out?"

"Couple of hours at least, we could be anywhere now" Sorano added, the silver haired woman standing near Natsu, the woman protective of the king.

"I think I'm going to be sick. So unbeautiful…" Gulping, Cosmos had turned a light green at the sight. Breathing deeply to prevent the tumbling of her stomach, the pink haired knight finally managed to quell herself…for now.

"At least we're all alive…but…so disgusting. No, revolting" Evergreen groused with a moan of her own disgust.

"Four times? I've been eaten by monsters four times!" Natsu shouted with shock, the man clearly disturbed as Erza laid a hand on his shoulder.

"He must suffer from numerous nightmares" Erza stated, the busty knight clearly disturbed as she tried to look away.

"I bet they all do" Bisca said with her own disturbed tone, the mother fully shielding Asuka from the horror.

"Alright, so what's the plan? We blast our way out with magic or what?" Gray asked, the ice mage stepping in something vile.

"No. For one, we don't know where we are now. The last thing we need is ripping a hole through this thing under a lake or ocean. Or we could be in grub central by now. Now I don't know about you, but I can't take on the entire horde"

"So what do we do?" Cosmos asked.

"We kill it the old fashioned way…from the inside" Starting to move down a path, Natsu wrinkled his nose. "Don't touch anything down here"

"No shit, Natsu. I'm not a fucking idiot" Evergreen added, the brunette walking behind Sorano as the six started to walk along the banks of a roiling acid pond. Nearby several spikes rose upward in clumps, the fronds razor sharp as they kept moving.

"Smells like shit in here" Gray commented, the man wrinkling his nose as they kept along the path, the meat having a slight give beneath his heavy boots. Looking around, a few hanging nozzles spewed acid, the vile concoction falling upon some broken building debris.

"Thanks captain obvious" Cosmos uttered with stressed sarcasm. Walking across an arching bridge of flesh, the woman stumbled as the worm shook. Pools of acid trembled as a loud 'crack' reverberated behind the group, drawing their attention.

Natsu looked backward, a wall of debris, dirt and other unmentionables roiling toward them, crushing the APC like a tin toy. "Move! It's swallowing!" Breaking into a hunched run, the six moved with haste toward a closed sphincter. Barely stopping, Bisca shot the opening, forcing it to snap open. Moving through, more of a winding path lay before the group, leading to another closed sphincter in the distance.

"Don't stop!" Running as fast as they could while avoiding the ponds of acid, deadly stomach fibers and the encroaching wall of mass, the six didn't even look back. Running through the desolated and broken remnants of an apartment building, Gray knocked over a rotting chair, almost tripping but keeping his balance.

Cosmos assisted, her face grim as panic sweat poured down her forehead. "Watch your step! Otherwise Lucy and Flare will kill me!" Exiting the crumbling apartment building, the two moved up a winding incline as Sorano fired at the next closed sphincter, the flesh pulling away as dripping fluids fell upon her head. Ignoring the vile stench, she ran through as the wall of digestive debris started to crush the ruined apartment structure.

Running through after Natsu, Sorano kept pace while the sphincter snapped shut behind Evergreen.

"Think an ice wall will work!?" Gray yelled with a shout as he kept running, the path of flesh cutting through another hellish meadow of digestive spikes.

"You'll just get killed! I doubt even I could stop it now!" Natsu replied with growing dread and a blunt yell. Running along another winding path of flesh, he narrowly avoided a pool of acid that encroached, the bubbling liquid a sickly green.

The group reached the last sphincter, Natsu unleashing half a magazine at the joining of flesh, the flap opening with another pull of rancid skin. "THROUGH! NOW!" Turning, he waved in the rest of the squad, then dove in as the flap snapped shut. Landing on some pinkish flesh and gristle, Natsu rolled over as the wall of muscle halted the digestion with a resounding thud.

"Fuck…fucking hell" grumbling with his signature rasp, he took Bisca's extended hand, the woman pulling him to his feet.

"Okay. That was disgusting. Like, I would vomit right now if I had anything left" Gray uttered, the man squeamish as Juvia used a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Same. Ugh, literal stomach acid and…digestion" Gulping heavily, Evergreen could see that half the guild was close to their limit, many having the body language of those close to losing their stomach contents.

"They made it through that nightmare. Gods, I can't fathom actually running through that crap. Worst thing I've seen" Shaking his head, Gildarts drank the rest of his beer before turning his attention to Natsu. "Your variant seems to be one tough bastard. Hell, they call him King of Fiore? Probably a good reason"

"I guess…its really depressing though and horrifying" Natsu spoke with reserved sadness, the man petting Happy who seemed to curl smaller in worry.

The six soldiers started to walk, the encroaching sound of heavy thudding and vibrations getting louder and louder. Moving along a path of sickly flesh, the path turned into a narrow passage as heavy blocks fell, crushing matter into paste. Equally large blocks rose from the flesh, causing more tremors as Cosmos gave a light gulp. "What are those?"

"The fucking teeth. Hey Natsu, wouldn't it be the teeth first, then digestion for this thing?" Evergreen inquired with sarcasm.

"What do I look like? A fucking biologist?" Crouching low, Natsu started to run, swerving through the crushing labyrinth as the multiple ton teeth crushed and shook above their heads. Not daring to rise or even look above, the six made it through the deadly hammering of worm teeth. Emerging on the other side, the walls of flesh took on a more sinister green, the walls dripping with clear liquids like a hellish sheen. Whisps of yellow gas started to linger, emerging from a nearby tunnel.

"Looks like the intestines" Bisca offered in her own disgusted tone, the woman giving a light cough.

"Man! Fuck this crap! Like the locust aren't bad enough now I'm running through literal intestine!" Coughing, Gray started to raise his rifle as the others started to cough as well.

"The gas! Don't…*cough* Don't breathe it in!" Evergreen wheezed as she coughed harder.

"Th..through here!" Natsu managed to say as he ran into the tunnel, the yellow gases becoming far more thicker and noxious. Winding tunnels of disgusting green lined the pathway, its surface coated in physical remnants of the vile fumes. Coming to a wall of flesh near the back, Natsu revved up his chainsaw rifle and plunged it in, the teeth spewing copious amounts of blood that sprayed like water.

"C..cut through this bitch!" Bisca uttered as she stepped up, her own rifle churning and spewing gore across her armor. Advancing into the torn flesh tunnel, the two soldiers cut their way through a fresh membrane. Stumbling out, the area was far more illuminated, not that really concerned the group.

"You could've just used your fire back there" Gray muttered, the man taking deep lungful's of air while Cosmos did the same. "It could've been flammable. Besides, you didn't use your ice magic either, smartass"

"Whatever. Now where the hell are we?" Looking around, the path before them was far more crimson in coloration with gristle and interior flesh having a wet, shimmering look.

"Sternum? I think? Hard to tell" Natsu grumbled as the man took a few steps forward, his chestplate now covered in blood and gore, along with the teeth of his rifle.

'…thud'

"Hey, you all hear that?" Evergreen offered, the female stopping as the minimal sound vibrated through the stale air.

"Sounds like a heartbeat" Sorano offered a moment later, the female passed by Natsu who had a grim, knowing look. "Yeah, and then we cut it out. By the way, there's probably going to be four chambers if this worm is anything like the last one. Can't believe I have to do this shit twice"

Gajeel grimaced, the dragon slayer looking over to Natsu while Jet and Droy breathed deeply, each of them trying to look away from the sickly flesh walls around the soldiers. "I really hate to think what mages like those six would do during the Phantom Lord war. Not even a war when you compare" Mostly stoic, he was doing better than most, but not by much.

"Probably with the same level of viciousness we've seen" Mira offered sadly. Gulping, she returned her attention to the visual display.

Natsu led the way through a narrowing of the flesh passage, a few droplets of ichor landing in his hair. Flanked by Sorano, the warrior kept her rifle ready, the woman stepping in something soft and disgusting that squelched beneath her heavy boots. Vibrations of thudding heartbeats grew closer, but were still distant as the six hopped down a small plateau of flesh.

"Where do you think we are anyway? Like country wise?" Evergreen asked, the brunette wiping a few falling droplets while the next chamber opened up, the walls rising several hundred feet with pulsing vines.

Cosmos walked behind her, the woman looking upward as dozens of hanging sacs of white pulsing flesh hung, each covered in reddish veins that bulged. "No way to tell down here. We could be below Minstrel by now. Fiore or across the ocean" Narrowing her gaze, Cosmos walked slower in caution. "King Dragneel"

"Natsu, Cosmos. Enough of the king shit, I get too much of that from Sorano" Walking toward the center of the chamber, he grunted with a wave of his hand. "Whatever, what?"

"What do you make of those up there? Familiar to your first go-around on Sera?"

"No" Narrowing his eyes, he gripped his rifle tighter as a few of the hanging sacs started to tremble. Ripping flesh soon erupted as viscera spilled from a dozen ripping open, the contents falling to the fleshy floor.

Standing up to their full height of an average human, the creatures were a pallid, sickly gray with thick, powerful legs. A torso covered in sinewy muscle and flesh dripped with ichor, leading up to a head with six, yellow eyes. The arms were thick at the shoulders, then angled downward to an angled joint that rose in the second portion of the limb. Angling at a second joint, the creature had no hands nor fingers, but simply sharpened, deadly points that glistened like knives.

One opened its mouth, showing rows of razor sharp teeth that would tear flesh. 'SKKKKKKRREEEE!" Jumping into the air, one homed in on Bisca as the others unleashed more hellish screams of rage.

"Kill them all!" Firing at a charging trio as more of the sacs ripped open above, the chamber turned into a charnel house of screaming monsters as bullets flew.

"Ggrrhhh…FUCK!" Falling under the mass of one, Bisca used her rifle to brace the stabbing limbs. Sharpened bone blades dragged along the side of her skull above the ear, tearing flesh, but she ignored it as the monster tried to bite her face. Managing to flip the switch of her lancer, the chainsaw rumbled as she pushed upward. Digging through one of the limbs, then the torso as red blood flowed in spillage across her face and chest armor along with horrid bits of flesh. "DIE! FUCKING DIE!" Standing rapidly, Bisca used her chainsaw bayonet on a second monster that got too close, more gore splattered among the battle. Spraying across her waist and ammo belt, the dripping flesh slid as she lifted her rifle and shot three more in rapid succession.

"Ice Spears!" Summoning a rapid spell, Gray slung half a dozen of the shimmering ice lances into a screaming group, skewering them as they were carried and embedded into the nearby wall of flesh. Turning rapidly as he and Natsu pressed back to back, the duo fired a new staccato of rounds, the bullets tearing into more of the horde.

Bisca slapped a hand over her mouth, barely able to keep her stomach contents down. The screaming and gore…the monsters. One more thing and she would lose it.

"Dear god…monsters within a monstrous giant worm with stabbing bone arms?" Laxus said with a warble in his tone, the male unnerved by the sudden emergence of horror.

"At least my counterpart uses his ice magic efficiently. Never even thought of using such deadly force though. Kinda glad he did"

Elfman suddenly jumped up from his seat, surprising a few mages while raising his thick, muscular arms upward. "DAMMIT! THEY'RE ALL SO MANLY! FACING MONSTERS! SAVING THE WORLD! THEY'RE ALL SOOO MANLY!"

"What's so manly about facing fresh horrors at every turn and seeing countless people die? They suffer so much, even now" Lisanna whispered, the woman curling her fist and pressing it against her bosom. "I'm sure some of us are dead there…nothing manly about that" Sniffling, her words cut through the guild, especially toward her brother.

Elfman sighed, sitting down, his face scrunched up in sadness. "I guess fighting monsters isn't that manly"

Cosmos plunged her lancer into the back of the last creature, the saw teeth ripping flesh as gore sprayed. "Disgusting trash" Pulling the weapon free as blood dripped, she turned to Bisca, the gun mage's head dripping red from the fresh tear across her left scalp.

"Bisca? You good?" Natsu asked with some concern, the dragon slayer reloading with a swapping of magazines.

"Fine. Just fucking fine" Wiping a few flecks of gore from her chin, Bisca adjusted her hat, the woman stepping over monster remains and guts.

Natsu gave a slow nod, his gaze returning to the exiting tunnel as the thudding of heartbeats reverberated. "Alright, let's kill this fucker and get the hell outta here" Moving forward, the six kept an eye on the walls, looking for more of the hellish creatures.

"Stabbers"

Evergreen looked to Sorano, her face questioning. "What?"

"We should call those things stabbers. Because of their stabbing arms" Speaking matter of factly, Sorano turned her gaze to Natsu among the increasing vibrations. "What do you think, my king?"

"Fine. Call them whatever you want, I don't give a shit" Hopping down another ledge of flesh, Natsu was the first to enter the next chamber. Halting, he started at the long, thick artery that fed into the beating mass of muscle, the tendril running along the left wall. Above, more hanging sacs of white stirred, the contents holding new nightmares. Past the beating heart, another passage loomed, presumably leading further into the beast.

"This is going to suck, isn't it?" Gray asked while giving a side glance to his old rival, then to the ceiling of flesh as the sacs started to rip and tear, the next wave of Stabbers already starting to emerge.

"Yeah…it really fucking sucks" Rushing up the incline of meaty muscle as the team started to fire at the emerging monsters, Natsu approached the large artery blocking the path. Raising his lancer, the teeth spun in a fresh whine. Plunging the weapon downward against the leathery artery, it screamed as fresh, copious amounts of blood sprayed against Natsu, the man grimacing. "Damn! That's fucking nasty!" Separating in a final tear of flesh and skin, the nearby heart staggered as a literal river of crimson blood flowed from the separated artery. Waving an arm, Natsu moved as the gore flowed among the screaming stabbers and gunfire from his team. "Let's go!"

Wading through the pooling blood already ankle deep, Bisca and Evergreen rushed up the incline. Turning on her heel, Evergreen lay down another burst of fire at several Stabbers crawling along the walls. "Fuck this place! Giant worms, blood, monsters! FUCK IT ALL!"

Bisca couldn't take it anymore as she jumped up, running to the bathroom while clutching her hand over her mouth. Joined by Lucy, Mira,Lisanna Hisui, Freed and Wakaba, the suffering mages sprinted to the bathroom…not that the rest weren't horrified.

Natsu gulped deeply, his eyes revealing his own horror. "This…ugh…so much blood" Looking to Erza, the knight was breathing deeply herself, her face tinted green.

"Two of them! Bisca! Gray! Take care of it!" Natsu yelled as he stood in the next chamber, the blood filling past his boots as more Stabbers shrieked and jumped toward the soldiers. Rushing toward the next grouping of arteries, Bisca and Gray cut through them with the copious amount of spraying blood. Gushing faster as the heart shuddered to a stop, the six moved to the next chamber under a wave of gunfire, gray skinned monsters and flowing crimson.

Levy jumped up, the slender woman rushing to the bathroom herself, unable to handle the hell unfolding.

"I don't know how much more of this I can watch" Gajeel uttered, his own mind reeling. Managing to keep his food down, he didn't pity Nab as the man rushed past, unable to handle the view-scape unfolding.

Fortunately, it switched, only to show Crocus in flames as the emerging worm punched through the center of the city. Rising upward as buildings crumbled, the giant worm writhed while countless fires consumed the city of Crocus. Air transport's were lifting upward from the stadium of Domus Flau, the craft overloaded while numerous convoys of ground vehicles laden with equipment, supplies and troops left the crumbling outskirts of the doomed metropolis.

The riftworm opened its maw several miles upward above the city's skyline, gore bursting forth as it bellowed. Near a crumbling roof of a half sunken apartment building, the worms side bulged…then burst with a ripping of its hide.

A tidal wave of red crimson flowed outward, spilling the six soldiers onto the tilting roof. Coughing, Evergreen wretched blood, the woman hacking painfully. "Ugh…god…I'm puking blood that isn't mine…" Trying to stand, she slipped on the slick gore, her entire appearance was red.

Evergreen herself was green in the face, breathing heavily as she gulped down bile. "I'll never forget this…"

"I…I think it's in me…" Cosmos said with horrified disgust as Natsu stood, the man doused head to toe in worm gore. Looking upward, his eyes narrowed before he spat some blood from his mouth. "Crocus…" Tapping a few fingers to his ear, the man spoke. "This is King Dragneel! We need immediate pick-up near the worm's base!" Listening for a moment, his face became more drawn. "Understood control"

'SKKKKRREEEEE!'

"Shit! Can't even cough up blood in peace!" Sorano barked as she fired her rifle, the bullets cutting down two of the emerging monsters climbing through the raw wound of the worm.

"Hisui's dropping the hammer in less than a minute! Pick-up thirty seconds!" Natsu roared as he unleashed a fusillade into the shrieking horde. The six soldiers fired, tracers and bullets digging into the wave of beasts. Some fell, only for some of the Stabbers to fall open them, ripping flesh in a mad eating frenzy.

"Yo man! Are they eating each other!?" Gray shouted as he reloaded, the man glancing to the still dying worm jutting into the sky.

"Who gives a fuck! Magic Mulcher!" Forming a Grinder in her hands, Bisca unleashed a deadly hail of green bullets that cut through the monsters, her rage palpable while her eyes reflected hate.

Gusts of wind and debris were kicked up as a transport hovered above, its twin engines humming while Crocus burned. Settling on the tilting building near a roof access door, it barely set down.

"Get in, now!" Natsu roared as he started walking backwards, the man laying down a continuous fire. But for every one of the horrendous creatures they killed, three would take their place.

The roof access door was kicked open, a boy of thirteen pulling a girl of seven years along. Clutching a tiny kitten, the children were terrified as they nearly tripped. "WAIT FOR US! DON'T LEAVE US!"

"Civies! Get them on board!" Sorano shouted, the women stepped up next to Natsu. Finally turning as the children ran on board, Sorano nearly pulled Natsu onto the transports ramp as the sky above started to glow. Holding onto a strap, Natsu reeled as the pilot lifted upward, leaving the sinking building and the worm in their wake.

Plunging fire erupted from the heaven's seconds later, cutting through the open maw of the riftworm. Traveling down its length, the super heated particle beam exploded outward, the wave of destruction cratering Crocus as the capital become consumed in a hellish firestorm and charred masses of flesh. Flying above the evacuation ground convoy heading south, the transport joined dozens of other aircraft, each laden down with soldiers and supplies. Watching with smoldering eyes, Natsu didn't move as the city died under the fresh firestorm "So long, Crocus"

Nearby, Cosmos cried, the woman braced by Gray as the two children looked upward with shattered eyes, the two crying as the girl clutched her kitten, her blonde hair dirty and filthy.

"Shit Natsu, what the fuck do we do now? Crocus is gone" Gray asked, the man still holding Cosmos as the aircraft tilted, the open bay whistling with air.

"We keep fighting" Uttering the simple words, he kept standing near the open bay door, the roiling firestorm consuming the fallen city as they moved across the land, their destination southward.

"This timeline is hell. Nothing but hell" Hisui sniffed, the queen crying at the loss while the mages from the bathroom had returned, catching the last of the devastation.

Cana drank, the brunette downing whatever she had left, her eyes brimming. "How…how can they keep fighting after losing so much?"

"They have to. They can't stop or they die" Gildarts told his daughter, the father using a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's changing again" Wendy pointed out, the young woman showing extreme sadness and depression as the floating screen went dark for several minutes.

---

Magnolia sprawled under a blanket of dirt and soot, the belching of dozens of factories interspersed among equally drab and dour structures. To the north, a massive wall was erected, its length running to the East and West beyond the city limits.

In the main park of the city, the famous old tree was gone, reduced to kindling as dozens of artillery crews fed fresh shells. Erupting in belches of fire moments later, the crews sent the munitions flying past the massive wall, striking targets beyond.

Located in the center of a round-a-bout, a statue stood of Juvia and Natsu, proclaiming them as the 'Savior's of Magnolia' Covered in grime and soot, it looked depressed as soldiers rushed past, laden down with equipment.

Around the city, several fires burned while tracers of gunfire erupted skyward, one cutting down a Reaver as it careened into a building, blowing away the upper corner.

The Fairy Tail guild hall stood defiantly, several of its towers showing extensive damage. Aircraft defenses were mounted in the remaining towers, each unleashing flashes of red light into incoming Reavers. At the top, the flag still flew, burned and half torn while numerous Raven helicopters flew overhead, banking toward incoming gas barges.

"At least Magnolia is still standing, along with our guild hall" Romeo said with his own sadness.

"Yeah, but it looks like those monsters are attacking Magnolia too" Laki observed, the wood mage dulled by the horrors of constant war.

Hundreds of gas-bag barges laden with drone troopers flew over the massive wall under horrendous defensive fire. Dozens were hacked down by helicopters or attacking fighter aircraft, the human machines spitting machine gun fire into the bulbous gas bags. One crashed into a six story apartment building, the bodies of locust drones falling to their deaths. Another plowed into a nearby street, ripping up pavement in a furrow. Crashing into a store front, several drones staggered out of the burning wreckage, the monsters immediately under attack by several human soldiers as the roadway became filled with the sounds of battle and crackling riflefire.

But the rest came on, with a dozen hovering near the rear of the famous guild hall. Ropes fell from the sides among the conflagration, allowing dozens of drones to start sliding down the lengths to carry on the war. Anti-aircraft fire ripped into one as the drones descended, the barge falling upon the beasts, but the rest made it to the property ground safely.

Inside the Fairy Tail guild hall, broken glasses, sheets of paper and debris covered the floor as numerous tables were overturned, forming a U-shaped defensive line inside the main hall.

Behind the far, Kinana manned a machine gun onto the bar top, the woman joined by Bisca who wielded her familiar rifle. In the middle of the hall near the central pillar, Lucy stood erect, the blonde clutching a lancer rifle as Max stood to her right. A few other helmeted soldiers were with them, the men and women waiting. More soldiers waited on the second floor, taking cover behind the railing of stone and wood.

Scrunching up her face, Lucy glanced toward the bar, a small scar tracing down her chin. Numerous gouges and blemishes covered her armor, the woman having faced numerous battles. Peering around her pillar of cover, Lucy watched the hallway leading to the rear of the guild as harsh thuds came from beyond the rear door.

"Come on you fucking bastards…" Remembering something, Lucy turned to Max. "Make sure to rip their damn skin off with your sand, Max"

"Don't have to remind me. They've killed too many of our guild already" Starting to form a roiling ball of dust-like grains in his open palm, the sand user sported several burn scars along his neck, the old wound trailing beneath his armor.

"I'm still alive there. Thank goodness" Lucy said with relief, though she did notice what the variant of Max had stated.

"Same. I fully expected myself to be dead already" Max uttered in his own relief of words.

"I'm fighting again? Just after the horrors of that giant worm? Where's Alzack? Or the rest of the guild?" Bisca asked, the woman fearing the answer was heartbreaking.

"Max did just say some of our guild have been killed. I…I could be one of them" Alzack realized, his stare toward his wife filled with pain.

Kinana moved slightly behind the bar, matching up the location with her variant. Looking down at the polished wooden surface, she checked once more. "Here. Right here I'm about to fight those horrors…" Gulping, she touched the surface, but was drawn to a fresh explosion of noise coming from the viewscape.

"Here they come!" Lucy roared as she leaned out and fired down the hallway at the first drone. The bullets ripped into the chest of the beast, tumbling the monster, but more came on as they rushed or took cover in doorway alcoves.

"SAND BLASTER!" Unfurling a flare of particles, the grains of dust flowed and ripped through several drones, flaying their hide as they screamed. Flesh ripped and was sundered, Max merciless in causing suffering.

Lucy was merciless, cutting down the wounded, but more came onward, half a dozen emerging into the main hall of the guild.

"DIE!" Squeezing the trigger of the machine gun, fire erupted as Kinana tacked back and forth, the ripping of bullets smashing into the walls, décor of the guild and of course, the locust. Limbs were chopped and severed while blood flowed.

"KILL MAGES!" A drone snarled as it rushed low, heading toward Lucy with his own lancer rifle, bullets kicking up near his feet. Meeting the blonde near her cover, the due engaged in a chainsaw duel, the howl of teeth and sparks a horrendous whine among the flowing battle of the guild hall.

"Die…female…" Snarling the words as sparks flew, the monster tried to press forward.

"Just eat shit and die!" Pushing forward with all her strength, Lucy won the duel as her chainsaw ripped into the shoulder of the drone, spewing ichor, sinew and blood across her armor chest plate, neck and chin.

Lucy gulped, the blonde slightly trembling. "One mis-step and I would've died. There's no room for error at all"

"A terrifying prospect" Erza added, the knight sickened with stress.

An explosion ripped through one of the nearby walls, flinging debris of wood and stone inward as several larger locust lumbered in. One of them raised a large shield, walking forward under gunfire as bullets sparked and careened off the steel plate.

"BOOMERS AND MAULERS! Three O'clock!" Bisca screamed out as she fired into the larger creatures, the rounds ripping into its hide. Collapsing, the second Boomer snarled as it started to swing its weapon toward the gun mage.

The Mauler still walked forward, the massive beast keeping the riot shield upright. Swinging it's large flail, the spiked ball swung through one of the nearby beams, shattering wood while flinging shrapnel. A few soldiers rolled away, the men barely avoiding death.

"I got it!" Swiveling the machine gun to the right, Kinana squeezed off a fresh burst, cutting down the beast. Firing another long burst into several drones, the monsters howled as two were cut in half, their innards spilling.

"DUST!" Flinging a magical spell of explosive particles into the attacking forces, Evergreen caused a fresh explosion to rip through the guild hall. Fire and pieces of bodies flew, the flesh singed while spatters of blood decorated the walls. The Mauler was sundered, the monster missing pieces of itself as the gunfire raged.

"They're falling back!" Lucy howled as she fired into the retreating back of a drone, the bullets punching through its chest cavity near the guild bathrooms. Reloading, the blonde moved into the open, the woman followed by the defending soldiers now on the attack.

Emerging from the broken rear door of the guild, Lucy immediately moved into a nearby graveyard, taking cover behind a headstone. Staying low, the locust held the northern reaches of the yard as the battle of Magnolia raged around them.

Bisca slammed into a headstone nearby, the woman tilting her hat as snapping bullets chipped away at the stone. Returning fire, she wounded a drone, then ducked down once more as a grenade burst on the other side of the grave, sending shrapnel flying in all directions. "Damn grubs…sorry they're fucking up your grave, Alzack" Snarling, Bisca popped out and fired, killing a grub as it tried to avoid rifle fire from Lucy.

"SANDSTORM!" Yelling as he pushed more magic outward, Max had taken cover behind a stone pillar of a fence, the barrier separating the graveyard from the rest of the guild's property. Feeding more magic into the spell, swirling particles of sand gathered and danced, the sand growing faster and more powerful as Max literally formed a cyclone of grit and earth.

Consuming the locust hunkered down to the north, the creatures howled as their skin was flayed and slashed, reduced to red rawness as Max sneered. "Think I'll let you invade Magnolia you trash? Just suffer…" Increasing his magic, the sandstorm spread, consuming dozens of drones in a tearing frenzy of flesh. Cutting off the flow of his spell half a minute later, only the bleeding, skinned forms of the locust were left among the gravestones, their flesh peeled raw.

Hitting her radio piece embedded in her right ear, Bisca stayed low behind Alzack's grave while the rumble of artillery flew overhead, joined by the constant crack of gunfire, explosion and battle. "This is Emerald Squad at the guild. Immediate threat neutralized" Listening for a moment as she reloaded, the female nodded. "Confirmed. Moving to assist" Standing up, she moved to Lucy, her friend wiping away flecks of gore from her chin. "Grubs are hitting the wall pretty bad quarter mile west. We're moving to assist"

"Shit. Assholes can't even give us a day off" Shaking her head, Lucy looked to the rest of the soldiers, most already taking defensive positions. "Shake your asses, Emerald! We're on the wall until we beat those grubs back!" Starting to move out, most of the squad left through a hole in the property fence, the twisted iron and tumbled brickwork shattered by previous battle damage.

Hanging behind for a moment, Bisca crouched down at Alzack's partially shattered tombstone, her eyes showing barely any emotion. "In a way…I'm glad you died in the early days of the war. You never had to know how bad it got…how many have died…how much of a monster I've become. All we know is war now…carnage and loss" Rising up, she looked at the other graves.

Macao Conbolt

Romeo Conbolt

Laki Olietta

Nab

Vijetter

Jet

Droy

Bicslow

Mirajane Struass

Erza Scarlet

Wakaba

Levy McGarden

Alzack Connell

"I know in other universes…other timelines you're all alive. Worlds where the biggest problems are Lucy paying rent or Erza freaking out over cheesecake. Where Natsu and Gray fight over the dumbest crap, but not here" Taking a breath as tracer fire bore into a Reaver above, Bisca gripped her rifle. "Natsu thinks Levy, Erza and Mira might still be alive after the dimensional gate was blown up by the locust, but the chances are…" She paused, listening to the roar of battle. "Doesn't fucking matter. We're all dead anyway" Moving on, Bisca left the graveyard to rejoin her squad in the defense of the city as more snaps of gunfire popped nearby.

Mira had gone almost white, her complexion nearly matching her hair. "All of us? I'm…dead?" It was a horrible realization. Feeling a comforting hand, Lisanna gave some support, the younger sister clearly upset as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Poor bastards" Laxus said in a harsh tone, the man seeing that Bicslow was having a tough time with the newest piece of knowledge.

"I doubt the other guilds fared much better if I fell in battle" Erza voiced, the red head feeling a comforting hand coming from Natsu next to her. Looking at the dragon slayer, he was clearly upset, but doing his best to not tear up himself.

"Wait…maybe that crazy variant of myself a couple timelines ago…maybe that's what ends up happening? McGarden mentioned being 'stuck' randomly jumping dimension's, except this would be with Erza and Mira?" Levy theorized, her tone taking on a slight bit of hope.

"Could be possible, but that's hardly better. Shifting between timelines, facing unknown threats and horrors? Death would almost be preferable" Alzack added, the husband starting to wallow in his own guilt while Bisca started to gather tears at the corner of her eyes. "I can't imagine the heartbreak and pain she must feel…poor woman. Losing Alzack…all those friends and family. It's awful"

"It is, my dear. These fiends thrive on causing suffering, that much is clear" Makarov added, the guild master not in the mood to refill his empty mug as the floating screen of pixels went black for several moments.

"It's changing again. Probably another time-skip with more monsters" Wendy whispered, the young woman sniffing before wiping at her nose.

---

Ruins of a devastated city loomed in the distance, the skeletal remains of buildings and man-made structures easily seen under a blue and lightly cloudy sky. Swathes of forest lined the abandoned freeway as forgotten vehicles sat, rusting. Towering mountains and rugged rocky terrain rose from the earth to the South and North, creating a sort of bottleneck.

Crunching, massive tires pushed large machines forward, the transports carrying dozens of armed soldiers on a flat, upper platform surrounded by a metal barrier. Attached to the rear were two large arms while pods dangled, the devices intent for future use. Further pods were stored along the interior length, enough for the riding soldiers. Traveling in a staggered line, the transports were escorted by squat, treaded armored machines with long cannons, one of which crushed a car before moving on along the cratered hi-way.

Above, helicopter and attack planes roared while cutting through the air, only to be outdone as high altitude bombers hummed farther above, their destination the ruined city. Reaching the far city, they disgorged falling bombs, causing a hell storm the burned the horizon like kindling.

"Look at all those machines and soldiers, what do you think they're doing?" Wendy asked, the young woman trying to dry her tears.

"If I had to guess, it's a counter-attack" Kimika voiced, her opinion quite possible as the mages couldn't help but agree.

"Good. That mean's they'll destroy those monsters" Natsu stated matter of factly, the man having no remorse or regret for the creatures. Noticing the floating screen focus on his scarred and battle hardened variant, the dragonslayer stayed silent once more.

King Dragneel was near the front of the Grindlift, flanked by Sorano, Cana, and Evergreen, the three females eying up the two dozen soldiers that rode along with them.

"Bout time we counter-attack" Evergreen stated, the brunette holding her position as the vehicle rumbled along, its massive tires crushing all before it in the trailing line of assault.

"Can't argue with that. Breaking the siege on New year's was brutal though" Cana replied with a shrug as several of the Ravens above banked, their attention diverted while the cracks of heavy machine gun fire echoed. "Shit, there goes our relaxing drive toward Bosco"

"Yeah, looks like it" Turning, Natsu's face grew more serious. "Shit's coming our way, knights! Kill anything that isn't human! And watch the fucking sides!" Barking his orders, Natsu eyed the sky as a raven spun out from damage, the air transport crashing into the nearby forest. "Reavers incoming! Sorano! Get on that turret!" Rushing to the side of the rig and pressing himself against the metal plating, Natsu and the others made it just in time as an explosive blast ripped across the decking, spewing fire and shrapnel while wiping away three of the soldiers, leaving nothing but bloodstains behind.

Twisting in the air while four tentacles billowed behind it, the beast was covered with frontal armors of dirty red. A locust pilot steered the creature, its face covered by yellow goggles as it gave a sneer. A secondary drone then began to fire, peppering the grindlift with gunfire.

Above, a secondary Reaver dove down, its frontal cannon spewing an explosion that burst to the side of the rig, rocking the large vehicle.

Sorano swiveled the turret, unleashing a hellish fusillade of rounds into the flank of the first Reaver, its hide sundered from gunfire as the entire assault convoy came under attack. Breaking through the hide, the Reaver fell away in a ruin of flesh to be crushed under the wheels.

"Fireball!" Throwing a roiling ball of crimson at the second Reaver, Natsu's magic consumed the beast, only for another to start diving downward toward the rig. With its maw open, the Reaver pilot fired a fresh blast, the explosive raining down.

"Incoming!" Cana roared as she ducked, the cover of the rail guard with the others. The blast hit the grindlift, rocking it badly as one man screamed, the shrapnel ripping into his armor and flesh beneath. Several fresh cuts had appeared on Cana's face from flying shards, the blood seeping as she summoned a few cards in her hand. "Card Slicer!" Throwing the deadly parchment, they cut through the Reaver's main body, nearly cleaving the beast as it fell, only to explode with a gristle of bursting gore.

Howling wind and fresh blasts of machine gun fire roared above as fighter planes cut into the Reavers, the machines destroying several more while tinkling brass dropped from the sky.

Evergreen was assessing the fallen man, but slowly stood as he stopped moving, his wounds too severe.

"This isn't going to be easy for them, is it?" Hisui asked her bodyguards, already knowing the answer.

"Highly doubtful based on everything we've seen. These locust are ferociously evil" Cosmos replied, the pink haired knight maintain a level tone despite the unfolding chaos of yet another battle.

The locust began to attack the assault force in earnest, drones pouring from the forest, or from emergence holes as they fired their rifles in an attempt to disable the lumbering vehicles. Near an outcropping of jutting boulders, a massive creature with sickly gray skin emerged, its arms like tree trunks that were adorned with heavy machine guns. Walking on thick, hind legs, the beast was easily the size of a small building as the locust driver and gunner moved toward the closest vehicle. Opening it's maw, rows of razor sharp teeth larger than a man glinted in the sunlight, only to close while it stomped closer with heavy footfalls.

'RRROOOOAAARRR!' Bellowing with rage and fury as the frontal grind lifts spread out from the narrow canyon, the Brumak stomped forward as the artillery piece mounted upon it's head was fired. Smashing into one of the rigs, metal was twisted as several soldiers were flung from the sides. Raising it's arms, the twin machine guns erupted in fire, the men and women on the doomed grindlift dying with screams.

"BRUMAK!" Sorano roared out as she shifted the turret to the left, the weapon unleashing a fresh wave of tracers.

"What a vile, terrible creature. How many people did it just kill?" Lisanna asked, the woman's skin crawling.

"Too many. Far too many" Juvia replied with her tone soft.

Air support from several Raven's poured fire into the massive beast, the heavy rounds concentrated on it's head in conjunction with Sorano's own machine gun fire. Other gunners from passing Grindlifts did the same, the soldiers adding a hell of metal.

Clangs came from the sides, hooks digging and scraping across the deck while one man was hooked, the barbs pulling him over the side as he screamed.

"They're climbing the sides!" Cana shouted as she moved to the edge and fired downward, killing the first drone in line with a head burst. Unhooking the grappling hook with haste, two more locust drones fell to be crushed under the grind-lifts massive tires.

Natsu killed three, only for one of the horrible beasts to make it to the top. Climbing over the barrier, it snarled as its lancer rifle roared with spinning teeth.

"Fire…king…"

"Fucking grub!" Meeting the abomination in a chainsaw duel, sparks flew and howled, the two opposing forces trying to kill each other. Pushing forward, flesh spewed and flew as Nastu proved victorious, his chest piece now splattered with copious gore. Kicking the pieces of body away, Natsu kicked the hook away, letting more drones fall.

Nearby, a Corpser emerged from a large fissure, it's massive limbs flaring outward as it attacked another grind-lift. Fortunately, a tank fired, it's searing beam of light erupting from the cannon's aperture to cut through the monster's neck, spewing burnt flesh and gore across the rig, the vehicle pushing the dead arachnid to the side with a groan of metal and added engine noises.

"Is it me, or was that really similar to the Jupiter Cannon from Phantom Lord?" Gray asked, the man a little curious about the vehicle mounted weapon.

"Wouldn't surprise me if they used it to fight the locust. It is a powerful weapon" Erza reasoned, the knight also curious how or who transferred it to those tracked tanks.

"It is an interesting concept…" Hisui stated, the queen's mind seeing the uses of such a weapon in case of conflict with another nation.

"Looks like the assault force has made it past the locust attack and if I'm not mistaken, I think that city is Vockerode, the Bosco capital" Kamika voiced, her tone saddened as the city had clearly seen better days as the assault force started to work past the devastated ruins, rubble, and the skeletal remains of structures that hugged the streets. Freshly damaged from the aerial bombardment, craters and smoke rose among concentrations of locust corpses, the abominations relentlessly hammered in this sector.

"Is there even anybody left in Bosco?" Cana asked Natsu, the man watching the nearby buildings for snipers or ambush. A few distant cracks of gunfire still echoed, but none came his way.

"A few small towns and mountain cities where the grubs can't dig through. Estimated fifty thousand survivors. We've been supplying them by airdrop when we can. Will say that the surviving officers and citizens have established locust kill zones among the mountain passes. Pretty sure they grubs gave up wiping them out for the time being" Speaking matter of factly, Natsu felt the grind-lift steer toward a park, the grass overgrown among pockmarked craters.

"Guess Fiore is lucky then. We still have a few million left" Cana replied, the woman refilling her ammo as the lift halted in the middle of the park.

"Yeah, guess so" Dismissing the conversation, Natsu stepped forward as the first pod swung inward, dangling near him as the door opened. Stepping in, Sorano joined him, the woman fervent on defending the king. Closing with a hiss, the pod swung over the open ground as numerous grind lifts did the same to the left and right.

Pulsing light came from the bottom of the pod, it's hue a harsh orange before a pulse burned through the ground. Falling, the pod fell into the earth, the soldiers finally taking the war to the grubs. Trembling with vibrations, shafts of orange light filtered through the small viewing port as Natsu and Sorano fell into the planet.

"They're…attacking underground?" Freed inquired, finding the tactic strange.

"Makes sense if that's where they come from" Evergreen replied, the woman watching with intent as her variant stood in silence, the pod rocking and jouncing for the decent into the planet.

"I still can't imagine doing that. Just…dropping into the planet like that to fight monsters" Cana sighed, her mood depressed and dour. "Braver than me"

"Well, you're the same person so you'd probably be just as brave in a similar situation. Not that I would hope that to happen" Levy told her fellow guild mate, who simply sat there in wallowing sadness.

"Wait a second…" Narrowing his eyes, Natsu watched his variant be jounced around, the pod shaking with violence as it continuously burned downward. "HE DOESN'T HAVE MOTION SICKNESS!"

"You just noticed that? After he's ridden in helicopters and that assault derrick? Not to mention that terrible city destroying worm?" Gray asked with an incredulous tone.

"It's not fair. Why do I get sick on transportation while he gets to ride cool stuff?" Clearly grousing, Natsu wanted to know how his variant managed.

"You do remember his whole world has been devastated by war and monsters while losing numerous friends, right? Being jealous of motion sickness is a pretty low priority, Natsu" Lisanna reminded her friend with a scolding tone, the man slightly huffing while crossing his arms. "I know that, just…jealous a bit is all"

"Sure, does make you look super lame, Natsu" Happy spoke matter of factly.

"Oh, come on Happy! I'm still awesome" The fire mage retorted rapidly.

"I wonder if it's a natural occurrence for your variant? Or perhaps training? Either way, it greatly improved his ability to fight" Erza pondered as she lightly thought to herself. "Maybe I can trap Natsu on a boat for a month until he's used to it? That might work?"

"Are you thinking of trapping me somewhere on the ocean?" Natsu asked suddenly, the man noticing Erza's pondering look.

"Of course not"

"Hey. The whole screen changed again"

The floating screen of pixel light went dark again, gaining the attention of all as the scene changed.

---

Ocean swells bobbed hundreds of squat, elongated craft crowded with troops as they churned their way to a distant island under the booming bombardment of naval vessels. Collected offshore, the navies of Fiore, Alverez, Minstrel and even Joya were represented, the metallic craft floating under a bright, sun-drenched sky. Gouts of flame erupted from a three gun turret, the heavy munitions cutting through the air to land upon distant targets.

Natsu was shoulder to shoulder with men and women around him, the armored soldiers packed like sardines as the watercraft pushed through another swell of water, spraying most with the salty liquid. Creating a wave, the hundreds of craft were pointed toward a distant beach, each churning and rumbling with the sounds of engines.

Pressing two fingers to his earpiece, Natsu spoke as Bisca, Cana and Sorano stood around him, the females equally crowded as they held their weapons tightly to their chests. "This is King Dragneel. Remember, the locust have erected magical nullification towers across the entire island of Enca so if you plan on using some fancy spells, don't bother. We'll be killing them the old fashioned way" Giving a slight pause, he studied the hard faces of determined troops, men and women hardened by war and loss. "This is it. This is our last chance to beat these monsters and send them to hell. Our goal is to take the Genetic Desolator and fire it against the Horde. We take it, we win. If we fail…humanity dies today. That's why failure is not an option. Fight hard…and make these grubs pay for everything they've done to our planet…our home. Fight…for our children, so they can have peace" Ending the transmission as another swell of water sprayed across him and others, Natsu turned to Bisca. "When we hit the beach, you three stay behind me. If I go down, don't stop. Ending the war is far more important than my life, do you understand?"

"The same can be said about all of us. If I die in the next few minutes, make the grubs pay" Bisca replied, her tone almost dead and resigned as she stared at the back of Natsu's head. "See your packing a Scorcher"

"Yeah, well, at least I'll still be able to burn the grubs out even with no magic" Grunting with a light laugh.

Cana shifted, jounced a bit as the landing craft surged over a tidal swell, dousing the woman. "You know my dad said after we win, I should give him a grandson with you, Natsu. Name him Gildarts Junior"

"That's fucking stupid. If we have a kid, he'll be named Drake to keep in tune with dragon themes. Of course, all you women are insane anyway with your harem crap"

"You are highly desirable among the female population, my king. Also, the global population has been decimated, you will have to provide numerous children. I will gladly volunteer with Bisca" Bowing lightly, Sorano had a slight blush to her cheeks as the watercraft dipped into a swell, causing more douses of spray to lay upon the soldiers.

"I prefer one on one if you ask me" Bisca lightly teased, the woman allowing herself a moment of mirth despite the drenching.

"Insane. We're heading into battle and you're talking about bearing my children" Going silent, Natsu heard the first incoming roar from a locust battery, the shell impacting the water nearby.

"That bastard…I bet he's already slept with half the women here!" Makarov said with indignation, the guild master glaring at the resident dragon slayer.

"Should we beat up Natsu? Just in case?" Wakaba asked, the man eyeing the resident fire mage who glared back.

"Ugh…I had my suspicions…but seriously, part of a harem? What am I thinking?" Bisca complained while breathing heavily. Sensing her husband, Alzack had remained calm, his face understanding. "Don't worry about that so much. They've all clearly suffered and if that works there, then that's what they need to do. Besides, like that Dragneel just said, they're heading into battle to win the war. Getting upset of some harem issue in another universe won't do anything"

"Still, such perversion" Shaking her head, Carla felt a moment of disgust at the revelation of such a relationship. However, her words of indignation and judgement were quickly replaced as a nearby landing craft exploded, the fire and shrapnel spewing metal and bodies.

More locust shells landed among the advancing craft, most spewing water from the oceanic impacts, but some striking craft dead on or causing close blows that crippled craft. Howls of wounded and dying emerged from the humans as the beach rapidly approached, the sand grit covered in fresh craters and numerous obstacles of debris. Above the seawall fifty yards away, numerous gray, concrete bunkers sat, each with a slender opening that faced the ocean. Built among the abandoned ruins of a seaside town, the community had first been devasted by the locust invasion, then the current bombardment that cratered streets, toppled ruins and left more ruin.

"Remember! Low and fast to the sea wall! Spread out and don't bunch up! Once we enter the town of Riga, we push toward the center of the island!" Natsu roared as the craft ground against submerged gravel and sand.

The ramp lowered, clanging to the sand as the first soldiers rushed out into the hellish gunfire of interlocking machine gun tracers and bullets. Men and women screamed, their bodies ravaged as several had limbs go flying.

"Over the side!" Pushing Bisca over the side of the boat as more of the front ranks were gunned down like fish in a barrel, Natsu followed into the surf with Cana, Sorano and others in tow. Partially submerged, Natsu tried to find some purchase as bullets cut through the water, slowing perceptibly in furrows. Emerging with a gasp, he finally managed to move forward as a locust shell landed among the next beached landing craft, the blast flinging bodies and pieces of men among roiling fire.

"Keep moving forward!" Yelling as he partially emerged, bullets took off the head of a nearby soldier, the helmet bursting while soaking the tide crimson. Finding Bisca, he pushed his lover and comrade forward, the two emerging from the bloody surf as more tracers and machine gun fire stitched into the human forces.

"MOM! MOMMY!" A man howled on the beach, his innards ripped open as he tried to scoop them back in, his life already forfeit. Tripping over the dying soldier, Cana fell near a severed leg, the owner unknown as bullets singed and snapped over her head.

"Fuck…fuck" Rising into a crouch, Cana rushed to a pile of debris, the rusting boat long forgotten as a dozen soldiers crouched behind the cover. Slamming into cover, she found Sorano, the woman's face sprinkled with sand and bloody mist. "We have to keep moving! We'll die here otherwise!" Hollering over the ear-numbing crack of battle, Sorano peered around the stern of the boat, observing the sea wall thirty yards away.

"Is there no end to the horrors these people have to endure?" Lucy asked with a shaky tone, her mind reeling from the unfiltered violence.

"Luck…nothing but dumb luck is keeping our variants alive. Those bullets and bombs don't care if you have strong muscles, are smart, or the bravest…they just kill and maim whomever they find" Cana relayed, her tone having fallen into sadness. It was hell to her eyes, and she was close to tears again as more artillery burst among the incoming waves of soldiers, killing and maiming with impunity.

"I'd be terrified" Natsu admitted, the man used to fighting with fists of fire, not shrapnel, bullets or bombs.

"Yet they still face it" Gray added with his own tone, the man not judging his rival because honestly, he would be terrified too in that situation.

"Look! Natsu and Bisca made it across the beach to the seawall!" Laki observed, her pointed finger unnecessary for the guild as they could all see the unfolding warscape.

"They can't angle downward at us! Let's go, Gears!" Waving his arm forward, Natsu climbed over a mound of shattered rubble and brick, the man dropping into an angled trench at the top of the low ridge line.

"Groundwalker…" Hissing out with hatred, a drone tried to turn toward Natsu, but was shot in the head as the soldier moved to a concrete opening, the darkness beyond leading into a bunker manned by the horde. Pressing his body against the frame, Natsu unslung his scorcher, the long weapon with bulbous tanks quickly lit with a tiny flame. Growls came from within, along with heavy footfalls as numerous drones rushed toward Natsu, Bisca and the soldiers starting to take the trench line.

Leaning out into the doorway, Natsu sneered, his scar pulling upward as he hefted the flamethrower and squeezed the trigger. Flame erupted, washing over the drones before spreading down the dark corridor. Spewing from the firing slit facing the beach, drones howled as flames engulfed their flesh, one even climbing out of the bunker to tumble downward toward the seawall.

"LET EM' BURN!" Cana shouted as she rose up and ran alongside Sorano, the two part of the massive wave that was slowly making their way past the killing fields. Rolling over the crumbling seawall as other locust strongpoints tried to stem the tide, the mage slipped on some human gore, faceplanting near the ripped open stomach of a woman. Wiping some of the red away, Cana's cheeks were smeared with crimson as she ducked, incoming rounds from several locust still fighting from the trench.

"Frag out!" Sorano shouted, the silver haired mage throwing an object that managed to tumble into the locust trench. Brewing up in a spray of shrapnel, pieces of monster flopped over the ridge as more soldiers lay down fire.

"Stop dicking around and move! Don't let them regroup!" Staggering upward, Cana reached the ridgeline and blasted a wounded drone with her shotgun, blowing the beast backward before hopping down with more humans. Running toward an intersection, she halted at the corner before taking a peek.

Locust were coming, and they wanted to kill. Throwing a grenade herself, Cana barely waited as it burst, sending pieces of drones flying as two men rushed past, killing with impunity.

"I promise that once we beat these bastards, I'm giving Natsu a night to remember…maybe two nights" Grinning mischievously, Cana glanced at Sorano, the woman fully understanding before they moved onward toward the next point of battle.

"Honestly, can't say I blame her…er, myself? All that carnage, bloodshed and fear? Getting through all that would cause anybody to relieve physical stresses" Rubbing her temple, Cana tried to smile, but it was uneasy and awkward at best.

"Still a very odd thing to say during such brutal combat" Erza replied to Cana, the redhead sighing. "But I suppose it could be seen as a relief valve, something to concentrate on beside just killing and war" Honestly, Erza was still more worried about the combat and war for saving humanity over some intent of Cana.

Natsu moved out of the trench with Bisca on his bootheels, the duo moving to the shattered wall of a church that had clearly seen better days. Crouched low, they were joined by another dozen soldiers. Heaving herself over the broken wall of the structure, Bisca's boots crunched plaster and shattered wood, the interior empty except for a few skeletons of the former residents.

"I'm getting a vantage point" Bisca relayed, the mage moving to the rear stairs behind the podium. Climbing hastily, she walked around a second floor catwalk to the bell tower, the tower itself missing gaps in the walls. Reaching the top, a bleached skeleton sat, the scraps of clothes ragged and rotted while the empty eye sockets stared. Unslinging her longshot, Bisca looked through the scope, her gaze falling on movement further inside the town near a central fountain that had been peppered by riflefire and neglect. Piles of rubble choked the road from collapse of homes and small businesses, the ruins inhabited by several locust as they waited for Natsu and the other soldiers to attack.

"Your life is mine to take…" Whispering to herself, Bisca then exhaled slowly before squeezing the trigger.

A locust head burst, the beast crouched down in the dried bed of the fountain.

Working the bolt, a casing of brass spun as Bisca searched for her next target. Finding one, her face was neutral, devoid of emotion. "All of your lives are mine to take"

Another locust cranium burst with an explosion of gore, missed as her comrades started to exchange rifle fire from the church and another nearby home across the street. Several soldiers sprinted across the roadway, moving past piles of rubble and into a four story structure, the building missing the upper floor entirely. They started to add their weight of fire to the battle from the third floor, the cracks of gunfire a rising crescendo.

"Is it me, or is my variant unhinged with how damn calm she is?" Looking around the guild hall, Bisca wanted an answer, finally getting one from Makarov.

"Unfortunately, she's probably seen far too much violence and horror to retain much of her humanity. To her, taking lives has become so easy it's like breathing. I doubt she would feel remorse to take human lives at this point" Clearly upset, the guild master felt another jolt of pain in his heart, an anguish at the suffering he witnessed.

"I don't believe that. Bisca can't be dulled to everything" Alzack protested, his hand grasping his wife's in support. Wringing it away, the green haired mage sniffed away some tears, wiping them before Asuka could see. "She lost you…seen cities burn, the bloodsoaked nightmare of the Riftworm…this brutal hellscape in a last desperate bid to save her world. They must be all so…broken inside" Sniffing again, Bisca didn't want to cry as the floating screen went black once more.

Gunfire ripped across a roadway, the area clogged with spilt rubble, wrecks and abandoned buildings that were pulverized by war and conflict. Stabbing upward into the sky was a massive tower, the structure a dull metal with a wrapping staircase leading to the top several hundred feet upward.

Crouched behind a low wall of a former store, Natsu popped up to fire his rifle while flanked by Bisca, Cana and Sorano. Further along the length of cover, four more men crouched, one wearing a do rag of worn, gray material with a gear symbol in the center. Scarred along his cheek and visibly older, the man fired at a drone, killing the beast.

"WOOO! Damn Natsu baby! You know how to bring us to the big game!" Shouting in glee, a larger, dark skinned man stood up, spraying rifle fire into the street before ducking down.

"Oh yeah, it's a real fucking party, Cole!" reloading, a blonde man with blue goggles strapped at his hairline then fired into the carnage, winging a Theron Guard.

"Just keep hitting em! We need to get to the desolater!" Another man yelled over the carnage, his thick beard and tired eyes still showing determination to kill the horde.

"FIGHT MY CHILDREN! WE WILL ERADICATE THE HUMANS AND CLAIM THIS WORLD!" A loudspeaker roared from the tower, spurning the surviving drones to fight with even more ferocity in the former capital of Enca.

"Really wish that bitch would shut the fuck up" Grunting with annoyance, Natsu fired a burst, killing a drone. Sensing the lacking of gunfire, the man moved closer to an old refrigerator in the road, his hands swiftly switching to his flamethrower. Leaning to the left, a few bullets pinged and smashed into the appliance before he unleashed a long stream of fire. Roiling toward the strongpoint like a jet stream, the napalm burned over the surviving drones. Consumed like kindling as their flesh burned, the drones howled as the humans shot them dead without mercy.

"Let's go Delta! We reach the Genetic Desolator and we win the war!" Fenix shouted, the man following Natsu and the Fairy Tail mages up the metal stairs.

"I wonder who those guys are? I obviously know them there, but I've never met them?" Natsu asked, his tone questioning of the unknown soldiers.

"Well, he probably met them while fighting this war, maybe on Sera?" Laxus suggested, figuring it was a reasonable guess.

"Doesn't really matter. They're world could die in minutes or hours…they have to win" Mira said hopefully, the woman folding her hands in prayer. "Come on, you can beat them…" Knowing the other universe couldn't hear her, Mira still hoped it helped in some way.

The soldiers reached the top of the tower, each moving to a support pillar that rose from the metal plating. Numerous drones in heavy armor of mottled black started to fire, trying to halt the humans. At the far end, several metal rings still sat motionless along the weapons length while a goggled drone typed frantically at a computer console. Rising upward past the motionless rings, the weapon reached a pinnacle, its dull copper appearance interrupted by several blue tinted rings that wrapped around the machine in a horizontal manner.

"Baird! Get to that console! Cole! Cover him!" Fenix yelled as he fired at a locust guard, the monster spraying rounds.

"Shit, this is the final play of the game baby! You know the Cole Train's got this!" Moving, he managed to kill the locust tech.

"NO! I won't let you win!" Shouting from a grotesque, flying creature, the locust queen appeared as the beast's wings hummed and flapped with a buzz. The rear thorax started to glow a deep yellow, the vile queen aiming at the humans.

Covered in regal armor of dark crimson, the very human looking woman wore a crown of curved metal as she snarled. "Kill them! Kill them all!" Considered beautiful by normal standards, that physical beauty didn't matter with how terribly evil this woman was and the suffering she had caused.

"That's the locust queen? A woman? That's…that's so messed up!? I thought she would be like a giant bug or some terrible monster with eight eyes!" Laki shouted, the wood mage standing up in shock, her eyes disbelieving. "How is she leading monsters that killed so many!? How!?"

"I don't know, but despite her appearance, she's pure evil" Hisui said in a low voice, the tone filled with rage at how a woman could betray humanity to such a degree.

A pulse of super heated light burned across the top level of the tower, narrowly missing Natsu and Cana as they took cover behind one of the supporting pillars. "Knock that damn bug zapper out of the sky!" Bisca roared out, the woman firing at the flying beast before taking cover from another blast of energy.

The soldiers fired, bullets raging as they defeated the few remaining guards before turning their attention to the locust queen and her brutal steed.

"Die you bitch!" Sorano yelled, the woman firing into the pulsing mass of flesh that would erupt once more. Brass flew as the men and women continued to fight, their determination and victory within their grasp while Biard typed frantically at the locust terminal.

"YES!" stabbing down one final button, Baird grinned as the rings above started to spin, the power starting to move upward of the tower as more clear rings started to glow a serene blue.

"NO…NO MY CHILDREN!" Flying forward, the beast collapsed in a crash from too much damage, the beast ripping across the platform as the rings spun faster and faster, building up a charge that raced and popped up the tawer to a conical tip of dark metal. Struggling to stand, the locust queen tried to free herself from the fleshy debris. "No…NO!"

The Genetic Desolator fired, sending a pulse of blue light outward, the energy passing through locust still fighting in the streets below. Suddenly howling, the beasts started to fall apart, their flesh dissipating as the weapon worked as advertised.

"Natsu…" Holding up her hand, Bisca's voice was filled with disbelief and fear as her skin started to glow, while pieces started to fall off like dust. "Natsu! The Stabber…the riftworm…Did it…ca-"

"NO! BIsca!" Running forward, the woman disappeared in a puff of glowing dust and a terrified scream, leaving nothing but falling particles and dust behind.

Not even her hat remained. Just…nothing.

"NO! I died! After all that!? After so much loss and suffering? To die right at the cusp of victory!?" Shouting with visible anger, the mother stood up, her tone horrified as she was reduced to dust right before her eyes and the eyes of the guild.

"THAT'S NOT FAIR! THEY WON!" Natsu roared, the man visibly furious at the death of Bisca.

"How terrible…to lose another friend right there…right at the end?" Levy stated, the script mage sniffling her nose as tears formed once more.

"Hahaha…does it hurt, Natsu? Does it hurt having one of your little mates die before you? Why, she probably got infected inside the worm! HAHAHA!" Laughing in unhinged maniacal torment as she stood, Dominic Santiago rushed forward, pulling his sheathed combat blade before stabbing Queen Myrrah in the stomach.

"Feel that? That's for my wife Maria…my children Benedicto and Sofia…my family and the billions of lives you've taken you bitch" Snarling the words as he twisted, Dom left the knife inside the queen, the woman stepping back, her face stunned. "No…We fought so hard…you damn humans…"

Natsu strode forward, his face a calm storm of rage. Stopping to pick up a fallen butcher blade, the edge was chipped and broken, needing serious repair, but Natsu didn't care as he stopped before the struggling queen, her hands clasping the still stuck blade.

"I made you a promise…all those years ago that when this war ended, I would put your head on a pike for the world to see. It's time to collect" Bringing the machete upward, Natsu brought it down on Myrrah's exposed neck, her plead of mercy falling on deaf ears. Crimson, warm blood splattered across Natsu's chin, neck and frontal armor as he hacked once…twice…and a third time. Ripping the head free as sinew snapped and tore, Natsu found some errant shaft of metal nearby. Sinking the tip into the neckhole, Natsu stabbed the shaft into a gap of the floor grating, letting Myrrah's head sit upon the pike for the world to see.

Across the planet of Earthland, the pulsing wave of energy continued to roll across the land, but through the crust as well, consuming locust of all types in howling, dissolving death. Hordes of Stabbers were consumed, the snarling beasts vaporizing en masse as they disintegrated.

"Did…did they win? They won! They actually won!" Jumping up, Wendy hugged Romeo, the young woman clearly overjoyed, not seeing the slight blush from the young man.

"They beat them…THEY ACTUALLY BEAT THEM!" Evergreen yelled in joy, the mage jumping up from her seat and hugging the hulking form of Elfman. "MANLY! SO MANLY!"

"THEY DID IT! WAY TO GO!" Lucy shouted with a bounce, her ample bosom heaving beneath her shirt as she punched the air in victory.

"But the cost…the cost has been terrible for them all" Natsu said in hollow tone before looking over at Bisca, his eyes holding a few tears. "I wish she could've seen her world at peace"

"Me too, Natsu. Me too"

Natsu stood silently, the man staring out at the horizon, the ocean now too distant to see. Sunlight broke through some clouds, casting rays downward into the ruined capital of Enca.

"Natsu…Natsu, we did it. We beat the locust" Cana uttered in disbelief, the woman resting a gloved hand on his heavy shoulder. Covered in grime, blood and dust, she was filthy and sweaty, but smiling radiantly. "We won"

"Yeah…but what's left?" His tone sad and broken, Natsu stared blankly at the horizon, the ruins below still smoldering from battle.

"Tomorrow. We finally have a tomorrow" Tears dripping from her eyes, Cana gulped, the joy bursting forth as Natsu slowly looked at her, his eyes tired from years of conflict.

"Yeah, you're right. And we can't waste it…for all those that couldn't be here" Curling his fist, the man's appearance took on a fresh determination as the news of victory spread.

"I hope they get to live in peace for the rest of their days. That level of conflict…loss and bloodshed, they've more than earned a peaceful future" Lisanna said quietly, the younger sister relieved that they had won.

"Indeed. I pray they never endure such violence for the rest of their lives" Hisui said with noble grace, the tone smooth with hope.

"It's changing again" Juvia observed, the woman praying that it would be something nice and peaceful for once since they locked onto this terrible timeline.

A pristine, calm lake shimmered under a summer sun, the shoreline bursting with foliage, green shrubs and the falling lengths from Willow trees that graced the water. Several deer drank from the lake, their brown fur mottled with white spots as a family of ducks swam past. Bugs buzzed and hummed, moving among low lying flowers the hugged the shoreline.

Near a small clearing by a large tree that provided ample shadow, Natsu set down a cooler of stored food, the man dressed in a red tank tank top that was missing the sleeves, allowing his large biceps and shoulders to be graced by sunlight. Happy quickly landed, the blue furred feline holding a small fishing rod while three young children watched in anticipation.

The first was a boy with emerald green hair that had splotches of pink, the style almost identical to Natsu. Wearing brown shorts, boots and a green shirt, the young boy also wore a scale patterned scarf. Next to him were twin girls, each about five years old like the boy. One had radiant blue hair, the ends colored pink while she wore a aqua blue dress. Her twin had similarly styled hair, except this was radiantly pink with blue tips at the end which matched her bright, pink dress.

"Azura is super excited to fish with daddy!" Pumping her fists, the young girl gave a slight jump as her twin looked at her oddly. "You talk just like mom, weird as always, Azura" Crossing her arms cutely, the girl was grinning in victory.

"Azura does not talk weird, Tempest! You're the weird one!" Waving her arms in defiance, the child lightly stomped her foot.

"You're both weird. But luckily your older brother Igneel is here!" Clutching his fist, the child grinned. "Just wait until I'm older like dad! I'll be a great war hero and king!"

Grunting with slight amusement, Natsu turned to the children. "Enough you three unless you don't want to fish with Happy and your dad"

That clammed up the children, each staring wide eyed as Natsu let out a small grin, the man holding out three small fishing rods and a tin of worms. Getting their hands grubby with dirt and wriggling worms, the three children clumsily hooked the worms on the hooks while Happy did the same.

"I bet you a thousand jewel that Juvia is the mother of those two girls" Gajeel chuckled while looking at Gray, the ice mage shrugging. "Why would I care?"

Obviously, Juvia was struggling mentally as she was torn between the cuteness of the twin girls…and the fact that Gajeel was right. "Juvia had twins…with Natsu…?"

"Makes sense considering how many died during their war. Who knows, maybe Natsu fought you during the Phantom Lord incident, causing you to fall for him instead" Kinana suggested while Hisui breathed deeply, her stare falling on the green haired boy. "That's my son…" Gulping, she looked at Natsu, the man grinning like an idiot. "Ha! Igneel lives on! I obviously have a great gift for names!" Stroking his chin, Natsu nodded. "If I have some kids, I could teach them to set Gray on fire…"

"Bastard"

"Don't have children for that reason!" Lucy scolded as she went back to watching.

Easing himself against the tree, Natsu looked up, watching a few birds hop among some branches, their chirps peaceful and vibrant. Leaves kept the shade pleasant, the sunlight filtering down as a light breeze rustled over the lake.

"I'm gonna catch a big fish!" Happy said with a smile, the blue cat wedged between Igneel and Azura. "Yeah! A super fish!" Igneel said loudly, only to get a light shove from his sister.

"No need to shout or you'll scare the fish away" Natsu said softly, the man letting his lure bob easily on the water. Breathing contently, the scarred man watched his children for a moment, their smiles and joy radiant as they fished.

A fish jumped out of the water in the middle of the lake, causing ripples while white clouds rolled above, the breeze warm and pleasant.

"Peace…I'm glad my children get to grow up in a world of peace" Saying it softly, Natsu allowed himself a small smile, his vertical scar pulling upward as his children laughed and continued to enjoy themselves.

Levy finally hit the red button, severing the connection as she breathed deeply, then stood up. "Okay…they won and those were some adorable children, but…I think I need a break after all that. That was just too much"

"Agreed" Slowly standing upward, Erza's feet were unsteady, the hellish carnage and images she had seen still imprinted in her mind.

"I think a long break is needed after all that. Let's refrain from watching a new universe for at least an hour just to decompress and assess. I know some of you will need longer so please, just take a break" Makarov asked, the guild master folding his hands in a tight clasp as the mages started to rise, some heading outside into the summer heat, others just…wandering around the guild to decompress their thoughts of the recent timeline and everything they've seen.

So, sorry it took longer, just a few guys quit at work, which means extra hours etc. And for your information, this is a very close variant of 137-C. Not quite the exact same, but razor close. Also, if you're mad that this is FT/Gears, too damn bad. I wanted to write it and honestly, surprised I didn't on chapter one! I'll probably hit Rising next, then Bisca's Journey after that. And hopefully Shifting again at some point soon!

Thanks for reading!

TheHappy