A/N: Episode 191.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: NATSU VS. ROGUE
Natsu turned to face the group. "Lucy, get outta here." He instructed.
"But..." Lucy began to protest, looking at Samuel's future self.
Samuel stands up, taking Lucy by her hand. "We'll only get in Natsu-san's way if we stay here." He informed.
"You're being targeted! You've gotta get away from him!" Happy reminded.
"R-Right!" Lucy agreed.
"You're not getting away!" Future Rogue shouted as Natsu sent another punch his way, sending him down.
"Natsu Dragneel!" Future Rogue seethed. Natsu sent a kick to his face, causing him to skid back again.
"I figured you would stand in my way. But since you're fated to be killed by a dragon in the future anyway..." Future Rogue paused as he disappeared into the shadows and onto the wall. "...killing you myself shouldn't have an impact on history."
"Is this how you've always been?" Natsu asked.
"Time changes a person." Future Rogue soon appeared. "Die here, Natsu Dragneel!"
Shadows soon headed for Natsu, who crossed his arms and placed his head down. The shadows soon disappeared.
"If Gray saw what you did to his little brother, he would be absolutely furious. Do you know what happens to those who harm or kill a Fairy Tail member?" Natsu questioned, having an angered look in his eyes.
"I got no faith in the way you do things. I'll protect the future with the way we do things!"
"Yukino!" Mira shouted out as she was in the palace gardens. "Where are you?! Yukino!"
"Mirajane-sama..."
Mira spotted Yukino sitting down with her arms crossed over her chest. She soon walked up to her. "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I'm sorry. I..." Yukino started to say.
Mira held out her hand towards her. "Come on. Let's go."
"I can't." Yukino informed, getting Mira's attention. "If you're with me, you'll be stuck with misfortune. It's always been that way with me. Bad things always happen to the people around me."
"None of the people around me blame anyone else when bad things happen to them." Mira claimed.
"But..." Yukino teared up.
"It's okay."
Yukino opened her eyes to see that Mira was hugging her. "Everyone's life has meaning. Your life has meaning." Mira said, making a few tears fall from Yukino's eyes.
"To prepare for the dragons' attack, I shall enter the Eclipse Cannon firing sequence." Hisui raised her hand in the air. "Unlock!"
"The portal will open at last..." Darton noted as the portal slowly began to unlock.
"I'll bear witness to the will of the princess to the very end." Arcadios told himself.
Hisui turned back around. "Is there news of the dragons' advance?"
"There are no sightings from the western observation posts!"
"All is clear in the east as well!"
"What of the citizens' evacuation?" Hisui asked.
"The soldiers are guiding them in an orderly manner."
The portal continued to unlock. "I pray we're able to destroy all of them with one strike. It'll take a matter of years to replenish this much magic power." Hisui said.
Carla, Wendy, Happy, Lily, and Lucy peeked their heads out from behind a few bushes. Samuel had gone to inform their guildmates after asking a royal guard where they were gathering.
"We've stumbled across something big." Carla commented.
"It looks like the portal is opening." Wendy added.
Happy looked around. "Huh? Loke isn't here." He realized.
"That's because Magic doesn't work near the portal." Lily reminded.
"When Rogue came from the future..." Lucy trailed off.
"Someone interfered with the opening of the portal. Because of that person, the portal wasn't opened. The Eclipse Cannon that was pointed at the 10,000 dragons couldn't fire. Someone led the world to destruction."
Lucy looked down as she recalled what Future Rogue had said.
"There's no need to hide." Arcadios spoke up, getting Hisui and Darton's attention. "Come out."
Happy jumped out from the bush. "We didn't do anything wrong!" He declares defensively.
"If Arcadios is with the minister, then..." Carla started to say.
"Various circumstances have changed." Darton explained.
"Fairy Tail..." Hisui muttered.
The group soon stood in front of Hisui, Arcadios, and Darton. "You have my deepest apologises. Owing to our current emergency situation, I'll give you a formal apology at a later date." Hisui said.
"She's the princess, Carla." Wendy spoke in awe.
"Yes."
"Also, congratulations on winning the Grand Magic Games." Hisui congratulated them.
"We won?!" Happy exclaimed.
"They did it!" Wendy said.
"I knew they could!" Lily added.
The sound of the portal being unlocked got their attention. "Why are you opening the portal? The dragons aren't here yet!" Lucy said.
"They know about the dragons..." Hisui mumbled.
"Yes. They're aware of the situation." Arcadios told her before looking at the Fairy Tail Mages. "Come to think of it, where's the Samuel that came from the future?"
Lucy and Wendy glanced down. "He was murdered." Lily revealed, opening his eyes. "By another man who came from the future."
"That man said something. He said the Eclipse Cannon didn't fire because I interfered with the portal opening." Lucy informed.
"That's why he tried to kill you?" Arcadios questioned.
"Are you going to interfere with the opening of the portal?" Hisui asked.
"Of course I'm not!" Lucy replied, shaking her head. "I'm just wondering why you're opening the portal when the dragons aren't here."
"That's simple. It takes time before it can fire. We wouldn't have time if we waited for the dragons to appear." Hisui stated.
"Will that really be able to defeat the dragons? All of them?" Lucy questioned.
"I can't say with any certainty, but I'm sure his Majesty is also taking measures to prepare for a worst-case scenario." Hisui answered.
This is the city of Crocus. At its center is the Li In Crystal.
All of the guilds were gathered in front of an elderly man surrounded by royal guards.
And this man is the king of Fiore, Toma E. Fiore.
"And so, I'm terribly sorry we don't have time to bask in the afterglow of the Grand Magic Games, but I just heard that this country is facing a critical moment."
"10,000 dragons?!" Makarov exclaimed.
"Even though we were no match for just one of them, Acnologia." Cana claimed.
"And even if that was a special case..."
"...10,000 of them..."
"Right now, a large-scale strategy is underway at the palace. The Eclipse Project." Toma continued.
"Eclipse?!" Lisanna quoted.
"The objective of this strategy is to eradicate all 10,000 dragons."
"Eradicate? Can you really do that?" Cana asked.
"I couldn't really say... As the enemy is a swarm, I'm sure several of them, maybe even a several hundred of them, will survive." Toma replied.
"Yes, that's more realistic." Makarov commented.
"Wizard guilds, I must request that you please lend us your aid. I would like you to use your power to slay the dragons that survive." Toma said. "That is all. Please save this country!"
It went silent for a moment before everyone cheered.
"Naturally!"
"Leave it to us!"
"Yeah!"
"We won't let monsters do us in!" Lyon claimed.
"Right!"
"This country, which goes hand in hand with Magic..." Sting started to say.
"...is our country!" Rogue finished.
Toma began to shed tears as Erza turned to a nearby guard. "Our comrades have been captured by the royal armed forces." She spoke.
"They're safe. We just got a report that they joined up with the princess."
"All right! I'll go on a rampage one more time!" Gajeel claimed.
"The opponents are dragons." Sting said.
"Therefore, it's time for us Dragon Slayers to step into the spotlight." Rogue stated.
"Good luck, Sting-kun!"
"Fro will cheer you on, too!"
"Where is our lady?" Rufus asked.
"I dunno." Orga replied.
"All of the guilds' wills are one."
"What a lovely parfum."
"Dragon versus Pegasus, huh? It'd be perfect for a painting." Eve said.
"Let's do our best." Hibiki stated.
"Crap. Guess we have to." Ren said.
"Kagura-chan, you need your rest!" Millianna told her.
"No. Everyone must fight." Kagura informed.
"Wild Four!"
"We're the Sexy Four." Arana claimed.
"Fighting alongside you brings back memories." Lyon told Gray.
"Don't hold me back." Gray said before having a worried look etched on his face.
"Gray-sama." Juvia spoke up, getting Gray's attention. "I'm sure Samuel-kun is okay."
"Yeah." Gray agreed. However, it didn't ease his nerves. "But for some reason, I've had a bad feeling..."
"Nii-san!"
Gray and Juvia turned upon seeing Samuel breathing heavily. "Sam, you're okay!" Gray exclaimed.
"Well, for the most part." Samuel stated, confusing Gray. "Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Happy, Lily, and Carla are okay, too."
"A battle, eh?" Jura said.
"I'll spin, too! Violently!" Obaba claimed as she spun around.
"Thank you... Thank you..." Toma thanked them all.
"King..." Erza trailed off.
"Thank you... Thank you... kabo..."
His last line leaves everyone stunned. "'Kabo'?" Erza quoted.
"The parfum of that last bit..." Ichiya trailed off.
Toma looks around at everyone's stunned faces, clearing his throat.
"Everyone, I'm counting on you!" Toma shouted, making everyone cheer.
Lahar and Doranbolt were standing on a balcony, watching the guilds get together.
"This is unbelievable." Lahar commented.
"All of the wizards coming together..." Doranbolt said.
"Eclipse? It's very existence violates 30 laws. I think we'd better contact Council headquarters about this." Lahar claimed.
"Lahar and Doranbolt..."
The two men turned around to see Jellal standing behind them.
"Jellal!"
"What are you doing here?"
"I have a favor to ask." Jellal replied.
Natsu charged forward as Future Rogue did the same thing, their Magic colliding with one another as both of them flew back. Future Rogue then disappeared into the shadows.
He climbed up the walls as Natsu looked around. Soon, Future Rogue appears and strikes Natsu with shadows, causing his feet to skid on the ground before finally collapsing to his knees.
"Did you really come to save the future?" Natsu questioned, a dark shadow casted over his eyes before he glanced at Future Rogue. "'Cause you sure as hell smell evil!"
Future Rogue only grinned in response.
Outside, portal was finally finished unlocking as smoke appeared and the doors soon began to open slowly.
"The portal... is opening!" Lucy muttered.
A bell rang throughout Crocus as it struck midnight and the date changed to July 7th.
"July 7th..." Gajeel muttered.
"That's the day the dragons disappeared, right?" Levy questioned.
"Are the dragons gonna appear on this day?" Gajeel asked himself.
"Fairy Tail will defend this central plaza!" Makarov informed.
"What about the guys from the other guilds?" Warren questioned.
"They're all standing by throughout the city." Max responded.
Cana was carrying a barrel of booze. "Erza, with those injuries, you need to sit this one out." She told her.
"This is nothing." Erza reassured.
"I can more or less move again thanks to Lyon, this healing girl, and the royal healer." Gray said.
"Although if Wendy were here too, we'd be healed a little more." Juvia stated.
Samuel recalled what his future self had said before dying.
"Finally, it's over. My life was... nothing but suffering."
"Something about his words bother me." Samuel thinks to himself.
"Sam, are you sure you're okay?"
Samuel snapped out of his thoughts and saw both Gray and Juvia looking at him with worry. "I'm fine, I promise." He reassured.
"I can't think about that right now. We got more important things to worry about." Samuel reminded himself.
"At any rate, that's a creepy moon." Freed commented, looking at the now full blood red moon.
"Eclipse... a lunar eclipse..." Laxus muttered.
The Eclipse portal continued to open.
In the palace hallways, the ceiling began to crumble. "What's that sound?" Natsu wondered.
"The sound of Eclipse opening." Future Rogue replied, charging forward. "I'm surprised it opened with Lucy surviving!"
Natsu easily blocked the attack from hitting him. "But I'm sure she'll interfere!" Future Rogue claimed as Natsu leaped back. "The portal is destined to close!"
Future Rogue fired shadow spheres at Natsu. "Lucy's not gonna do that! She'd never destroy everybody's future!" Natsu shouted.
"Move!" Future Rogue ordered, blasting Natsu with shadows once more. "I'm off to kill Lucy!"
Natsu flew up into the air. "You're not goin' anywhere!" He exclaimed as flames and lightning combined. "Lightning Fire Dragon Mode!"
Flames and lightning struck down at Future Rogue, causing it to lit up the hallway.
"So that's the power you hid seven years ago..." Future Rogue commented.
Future Rogue's eye soon flashed white as he got covered in holy light along with shadows. "White Shadow Dragon Mode!"
Holy light strikes Natsu's side. "These are the twin attributes of light and dark." Future Rogue claimed as Natsu clenched his side in pain.
Future Rogue's hair was now spiked up. "White Shadow Dragon's Rough Silk!" He called out as streaks of shadows and holy light struck Natsu.
Natsu flew back and collapsed to the ground. "White... Shadow..." He mumbled to himself.
Future Rogue chuckled. "It's the power I stole from Sting after killing him!" He revealed. "That being said, it's still a little while after this time period."
"Did you always think... people's lives were worthless?!" Natsu asked.
"That's right. And you're going to die here, too." Future Rogue replied.
Natsu struggled to stand up. He could feel his energy leaving his body and his vision getting blurry as Future Rogue was about to send another attack at him.
"White Shadow Dragon's..." Future Rogue began. "...Rough Silk..."
"Flash-forward!"
An attack was sent straight at Future Rogue, causing an explosion as Future Rogue disappears into the shadows.
Natsu soon collapsed to the ground as it was revealed Ultear had saved him.
The ball soon returned to Ultear as Meredy looked around frantically. "He escaped!" She informed.
Ultear rushed towards Natsu. "Natsu! Wake up! Natsu!" She shouted, holding Natsu in her arms. "Meredy, bring first-aid meds, quick!"
"Right!"
Meredy glanced over at a deceased Future Samuel with a saddened expression. "Hey... What is this?!" Ultear questioned. "Natsu!"
Natsu began sinking into some shadows. "This is bad! He's sinking into the shadows!" Ultear said as Natsu sunk lower into the ground.
"Look! The portal for the hope of the human race is opening!"
"The portal of victory is opening!"
Everyone continued to stare at the portal opening as Happy's whiskers moved. "That's some incredible magic power, you know? My whiskers are wiggling." He said.
"Certainly, with this, we may have a chance of exterminating the dragons." Carla stated.
"All this Magic concentrated in one place..." Lily muttered.
"The future can be saved with this, right?" Wendy asked Lucy.
"Yeah." Lucy nodded.
The portal continued to open as Wendy smiled. "And Samuel from the future can rest in peace." She said, tearing up a bit.
Lucy's eyes widened as she stepped forward towards the portal, confusing Wendy. "Lucy-san..." She called out.
"No... The portal mustn't be opened..." Lucy mumbled as a dark shadow casted over her eyes before she looked up.
"I need to close the portal now!"
Lucy's sudden statement shocks everyone that heard her.
A/N: Another chapter is finished!
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.