Gajeel led the group to the cellars where he suspected the rebels were hiding out. Erza stood with him, side-by-side, as they delivered the news about Tartaros. Lisanna was outside, hidden in one of her Animal Soul forms to keep watch alongside Lily while Elfman, Erza, and Gajeel helped the rebels pack up. There weren't any secret ways out of the town, unfortunately, but they were able to begin scrambling out of the castle.

Gajeel folded his arms as he watched them go. Not nearly that many, and few of them were wizards. Erza didn't recognize anyone among them.

"It would've happened sooner or later," Gajeel said, gesturing to the group. "Getting found out like this. Ruins or not, eventually the Empire was gonna come for the castle."

"It's a manly place," Elfman said.

"A good fortification, and foothold in the region," Erza said. "I suspect the reason they didn't bother with Oak Town just yet was their reach to the wider world. Think about it. Why focus so much on building an airfield and port into Cedar if not to expand trade? What good is a castle such as this when it comes to that?"

"I hate when you think strategically," Gajeel said. "You're too sensible to be hangin' out around Salamander all the time."

"My sensibilities help balance out his erratic nature," Erza said. "But thank you."

He nodded. He hadn't spoken much since they arrived at the castle. Gajeel had hesitated before opening the door to the cellars. It wasn't until they were in there that Erza realized they were, in fact, training grounds. It was divided into five different zones, each marked by a different sign, that was clear to distinguish: the four natural elements, and one of iron.

"Must've been an honor for Master Jose to create an entirely different area just for you," Elfman said. "Separate the men from the boys."

"Yeah, that was the thinking," Gajeel said. "We couldn't be bothered with the other wizards in the guild. They were too weak. Porla didn't want us getting mixed in with that or it could start softening us up."

"Not much of an honor if he thought like that," Elfman said.

"Not at all, big guy," Erza said.

Gajeel's back was turned to the area. While he still faced the castle, he was looking up, as if away from it. Any remnants of Phantom Lord were gone—sigils, flags, and markings had been wiped away in whatever battle took the castle down. Still, there was the memory. Erza had been back to the guild hall and while she felt at home, it was not the same place at all.

There were a few more remaining, some who took a little more time to get their things, maps, and such, to ensure they had a clear path ahead. All bases were off-limits, so they'd have to regroup somewhere remote and try to restart. They wouldn't have the comfort of the castle, unfortunately, but at least they'd be alive.

Before that last batch was out of sight and they could close up the cellar, a few of the ones from the front of the pack reemerged, moving with haste toward the group. Erza raised an eyebrow.

"Is Tartaros here, did they see the enemy?" Erza asked.

Gajeel leered. "Weird. I didn't smell anything."

Just then, a few stopped. They were the wizards of the bunch, most having to use Caster magic to compensate for their lack of strength. They slammed their staffs to the ground, with one at the front of the pack carving a magic circle into the ground. The last of the rebels stopped to look at them, confused when at once they too locked up.

The rest of the rebels quickly came from behind the wizards, rushing at Elfman, Erza, and Gajeel.

"Are they setting up a defensive wall of some kind?" Erza asked.

She started toward them.

"Erza, stop! Just run! They're not in control of themselves!"

It was Lisanna's voice, a small one that echoed throughout the ruins of the castle. Erza drew to a halt, trying to find Lisanna.

There, coming in through the rubble as a tiny mouse.

"What are you talking about?" Erza asked.

"Something's controlling them, we need to run," Lisanna said. "I—I just saw them all stop all of a sudden. Some of them were crying, they didn't know what they were doing, they couldn't stop themselves."

A red light poured out from the magic circle, and then mist followed. Tendrils of blood and shadow warped the air around it. The rebel who drew it fell back while the rest stood tall with their magic.

"Kill."

The voice was sharp, lancing through the ruins of the castle, and at once, all of the rebels took off. Swords were drawn, arrows nocked, and the wizards—Erza noticing only too late that they, too, were in a magic circle formation—raised their staffs to the sky.

"Back away, don't harm them!" Erza called as one swung their sword at him.

Erza blocked, parried, then shoved another back. But the tide was massive. All of the rebels helplessly flung themselves at her.

"Iron Dragon Roar!"

The blast knocked them all away, but did not deter the figure emerging from the magic circle. Amber and scarlet eyes burned through the shadows that summoned her as her wings busted out and broke them apart, scattering them over her reluctant compatriots.

Elfman sucked in a breath as Lisanna buckled, finally back in her human form.

Mirajane brushed the shadows away.

"Good to see you all," she said. "I knew I'd find you all here. Seilah has good intuition."

"Is that your Etherious ally?" Erza asked.

"Very good, Erza," Mirajane said. "I offered for her to join me but she prefers to do things in a hands-off manner. But I couldn't wait to see the looks on my family's faces." She raised her hand, pointing a finger at Gajeel. "You have business elsewhere, my friend. I suggest you check on your dear cat."

"What?" Gajeel barked.

"Don't worry, he hasn't been harmed," Mirajane said. "Yet. You'll see to that, I'm sure."

"Mira you need to stop this!" Lisanna screamed.

Mirajane raised her hand. It took a moment, but the rebels who'd recovered from Gajeel's blast did stop.

Lisanna scowled.

Erza stepped forward. "If it's a fight you want, leave them out of it."

"It's you I want out of it, Erza, none of this is your business," Mirajane said. "Seilah's here to kill you and the rebels. I'm here to bring Elfman and Lisanna back with me." She pointed to the magic circle behind her. "That's our ticket to hell, family, where we can be fully together once again."

"We were together already," Lisanna said. "We were together as humans!"

Mira leered. "Lisanna. So quick to forget the thin veil between life and death. You of all people should know better. So let me offer you the chance to remove that veil entirely. Through Tartaros, you may live forever. With me, and with Elfman. Isn't that what you want?"

Lisanna blinked away tears. "I want my sister back."

"So come get her."

"Enough!" Erza bellowed.

"I agree," Mira said. "Be a good girl, Erza, and butt out. Seilah? Go for it."

Like a string snapping, the rebels surged at Erza. While the rebels seemed to have control of their magic, they still pounced on her with all their might. Erza took a step back while they completely ignored Elfman, who scrambled to keep up with things.

Mirajane slowly approached.

"Run, you two!" Erza exclaimed. "Get out of here, now!"

Erza held her ground while the first wave approached. These were her peers, these were people she was sent to protect.

"Requip: Flight Armor!"

Cut through without harming anyone. Move. Dodge.

Strike at the only opponent that—

"Sitri Inferno!"

A massive magic circle appeared from Mirajane's hand. The spell was going to engulf everyone. Wipe them all out.

"Flame Empress Armor!"

Erza canceled the Requip and moved but slammed into the tide of rebels that knocked her back. Mirajane barked a laugh and lowered her hand as she focused her attention on her family.

A bluff, or perhaps a warning. Stay out of the fight.

Or everyone dies. After all, what would she have lost if Elfman and Lisanna died? They'd just be resurrected as Demons, like her.

Erza ducked under a spear, and shut her eyes as she punched right into the gut of another woman, then slammed her elbow through the shield and into the face of a soldier. She spun and snapped a spear in two.

"Fight, you two!" Erza shouted. "If you can't run, fight until I can reach you!"

Neither Elfman nor Lisanna moved, not until Mirajane did. Not until Elfman, without his Beast Soul, slammed Mirajane in the side as she lurched for Lisanna.

"No!" he shouted. "A real man defends his family! Mira, cut this out!"

A beam of black caught him across the face, knocking him to the ground. It was so fast, he had no chance to dodge it, and it hit him with the full force of a moving high-speed train.

Lisanna wove out of Mira's way initially but as she transformed Mira caught her by the throat. She momentarily made eye contact with Erza, then she moved for the portal.

Elfman, recovered, also charged.

Erza roared. She couldn't be this helpless, this useless!

"Requip! Black Wing Armor!"

Her wings shot out at her sides, knocking out the rebels in front of her. Erza tried to launch forward but was pinned down by a series of tackles.

Lisanna screamed as Elfman at last transformed into Lizardman, diving for and landing a strike on Mirajane that knocked her aside. She didn't lose her grip on Lisanna until Elfman's second attack, a kick, slammed into her chest. They were right next to the portal.

"You'll keep your hands off of her," Elfman said. "Until we have our Mirajane back."

"Your Mirajane is right here, finally at full potential!" Mirajane exclaimed, blasting her aura around them. Her siblings stumbled but didn't fall.

Erza finally broke free of some of the holds but a hand, that of a young rebel, wrapped around her arm. She paused, unable to strike this one. They couldn't have been any older than thirteen or fourteen. And they'd been turned into nothing more than a weapon.

Elfman cried out as he attempted to land another punch on Mirajane, who blocked it and knocked him back. He jumped over the portal but was further from Lisanna.

The girl attempted to run toward Erza. Mira was much faster, though, arriving in front of her in no time. Elfman dashed in again. Mira glanced over her shoulder.

"Good," she said with a smile and held out her hand. A dark beam shot out of it, and lanced Elfman right through the shoulder.

He stopped dead in his tracks as the force of the blast knocked him back.

The kid slammed Erza's head to the ground as more bodies piled onto her, trying to keep her pinned. She felt swords trying to break against her armor while she kicked out, knocking some rebels away.

She shook the child loose. Lisanna threw a meager punch at her older sister who retaliated with a mean right-cross that knocked Lisanna out cold.

Erza charged.

Mira looked up with a grin.

"I warned you."

The spell launched at Erza—she hadn't disengaged it, she'd only been holding it in. Searing flames from the furthest corners of hell wrapped around Erza and shot her back through the rubble thankfully only focusing on her and not the rebels behind her.

Erza slid to a halt, getting back up and Reuipping to her Flame Empress Armor as Lisanna was dragged mercilessly toward the portal.

Where Elfman stood, one arm outstretched, ready to keep fighting. Erza shook off her daze and blasted forward at top speed as Mira raised yet another hand to her brother.

This time, the beam was aimed right at his heart.

Gajeel escaped the castle to find Lily in his muscle form all alone, sword drawn, facing away from him. There was another scent nearby, a foul musty one, but he couldn't pinpoint it. Not with the mess of smells coming from right down below.

"What's going on, Lily?" Gajeel asked.

Slowly, Lily turned. His muscles twitched, and his eyes quivered.

"Get outta here, Gajeel," Lily said. "She's got me."

Gajeel narrowed his eyes. Seilah, whoever this Tartaros bitch was. Just like how she had the others down there, she must've gotten to Lily.

"It's alright, Lily, I ain't gonna fight you. I'll find Seilah and kick her ass."

Lily twitched, and his chest seized. His breathing stopped, and the twitching in his body became way more violent.

"What the hell's going on?" Gajeel asked.

"Throw a punch and I'll make it stop."

The voice was indeed nearby and came from a small outcropping on the mountain face. There, a woman with big horns on her head sat, reading a book and tossing a rock back and forth between both hands. Her legs dangled freely in the air.

"If you don't fight, he dies. It's that simple. I control his body. You think I can't control his ability to breathe, too?"

"Get down here and fight me your—"

Lily gasped, clearly out of breath, and with eyes ready to bulge out of his face.

"Punch," Seilah said. "Now."

Gajeel tensed. If he did, so what? A win for the Empire, right?

"Sorry, Lil," Gajeel muttered, then rushed his friend. He closed the distance in seconds, throwing a fist up at Lily that would land not too hard, and not anywhere that would break—

Lily's breathing returned and his arms dropped, swinging the sword at Gajeel with remarkable speed. Gajeel had hardly a half second to throw up his arm and block, sliding aside along the broken stone of the castle.

"Run and he dies, forfeit and he dies, do anything but try to kill your best friend," Seilah said with a horrible half-grin, "and he dies."

"I'll get you for this, you little bitch," Gajeel said through hard teeth.

"Sure. Everyone else who did as I was told has said the exact same. You just get to be one of the rare humans I don't have to cast any spells on to control."

Lily waited. Gajeel had to make the first move. Maybe it'd be just another sneak attack, or maybe he'd actually land the blow.

"And I want real punches. I want a real fight. Entertain me. I'm bored," Seilah said. "Got it?"

"Do it, Gajeel," Lily said. "Your weak punches won't harm me, anyway."

Gajeel sighed. "You're a good friend, you know that?"

Lily couldn't smile. But his eyes were alight nonetheless.

And then, Gajeel flung himself at his only true friend left in the world. He watched Lily's sword come down again, and for a moment, wondered what would happen if he let it drop without a defense. Lily would swing true. He had no say in that manner.

But how would he live on, knowing he killed Gajeel?

Gajeel blocked the sword again and this time kicked Lily back to gain speed before coating himself in Iron. Lily waited as Gajeel had to move again.

He wouldn't kill Lily, and Lily couldn't kill him. But Seilah could kill Lily. And all Gajeel needed was a single opening on her to do the trick.

Gajeel attacked. Lily blocked and fought back. Gajeel did the same, because, until he found that opening, he had no other goddamn choice.

"You're as crazy as you look," Natsu said. "Uncle? I don't even have a brother or sister!"

Larcade smiled. "I'm no lunatic, nor am I a liar. I am Dragneel, same as you. It pains me that you don't know the full truth. Then again, as you are now, perhaps it's because he hadn't deemed you worthy to know. You're no great thing. I will snuff out your flame today, Natsu, and put an end to all of this nonsense."

"Now you're speaking my language!" Natsu exclaimed. "I'm all fired up now. Let's go, blondie!"

"Your move."

Natsu took it with pleasure, closing the distance between him and Larcade in seconds, already with a flaming fist pulled back to wipe the smirk off the Etherious's face. Kip was staying back, true to Larcade's command. It would be one on one.

Perfect.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

Natsu swung, and a massive portion of the block behind Larcade was wiped out. But Larcade was unharmed—he'd tapped the attack aside with ease. Larcade merely chuckled as the debris settled.

"Try again."

Natsu did, in a flurry. Jabs, crosses, hooks, all sorts of punches, everything Natsu had.

Miss. Miss. Blocked. Miss. Blocked. Again and again, all without Larcade so much as breaking a sweat, but with Freesia taking quite a bit of damage. Flaming wreckage flung about everywhere while Natsu continued his barrage against a seemingly bored Larcade.

Natsu slid back.

"Alright, good, glad you could let me get warmed up."

"Bravado in the face of defeat is foolish. But I won't deter you. Go on. I know you can summon the power of a Lightning Dragon. Let me see that."

"Gotta earn it first."

"Not even for your dear family?"

"Will you shut up about that? Ragh!"

Natsu attacked again. Larcade stepped into the attack so that he could bump Natsu with his shoulder, throwing Natsu's line of attack off initially. But only initially. Natsu leapt and spun.

"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!"

Both hands ablaze Natsu swung, two wings of flame ready to strike Larcade that obliterated their surroundings but passed over him as if he was hardened stone.

Natsu landed and swept his legs but Larcade merely stepped back. He placed his hands together in a prayerful position. Natsu winced at that twinging in his chest again. He pushed it aside. Some stupid Larcade magic. Didn't bother him.

What did bother him was all this dodging, none of this fighting.

Natsu surged on. Didn't matter. If he got through Larcade's defenses, it was over. Sure, maybe his attacks were a bit predictable.

So, he had to stop thinking about it. He just had to go for it, like his fight against Cobra.

Once more, he closed the distance between the two at breakneck speed, and his spells ignited around him before the words could leave his mouth.

He left behind a smoldering crater before at last pushing Larcade back by force, not just by making him dance around the attacks.

"Now we're talking," Natsu said.

Larcade still said nothing but beckoned Natsu on anyway. Natsu did as the demon requested. His first blow missed, and with a swift chop to his back, Natsu bucked forward and slammed into the ground. Larcade rested a foot on Natsu's head.

"Father was right. You are far more human than he'd have liked."

Natsu swung and missed. Larcade floated back, landing on a small boulder with his legs crossed, hands prayerful.

"But, it was his fault, I suppose. He left you to become as such. He left the materials for a weapon not in the hands of a warmaster, but a peacemaker. What a shame."

"You're delusional!" Natsu shouted. "I was raised by Igneel, the greatest dragon in the world."

"I know," Larcade said. "In a way, it is what grants you the power you have now. But in many more ways, it was his ultimate failing. A pipe dream, that's what you are, Natsu, in every sense of your purpose. You always punched up. You always fought bigger than where you belonged. Father found that amusing, didn't he? Look where that put us all."

Larcade unfolded his hands. Natsu charged.

When Larcade opened his eyes, a wave washed over Natsu, stopping him in his tracks. He didn't double over but slowed down enough that it gave Larcade the chance to get down from his boulder and approach Natsu.

"There are spells in my arsenal," Larcade said, "that I know could torture you, could show how useless you really are, Natsu. But I won't. In fact, I hardly have to use a fraction of my power to render you utterly useless."

Larcade landed a backhanded blow on Natsu's face that sent him careening into more rubble. Natsu picked himself up right away.

"As such," Larcade said, "I'll draw a line in the sand. No more magic from me. I'll beat you with the strength imbued by my father, the training gleaned from years of torment knowing that I, in his eyes, would never be you." Larcade's grin was more malicious than any Natsu had ever seen. The holy glow was warm around the demon. "It's a shame he can't be around to see me beat you senseless."

"You aren't talkin' any sense, man," Natsu said. "But if you want a handicap, be my guest! I'll kick your ass anyway!"

"Such a pain, humans," Larcade muttered. "Utterly ambitious and hopelessly outmatched at every turn."

"Doesn't matter if I'm outmatched. My friends are in danger, the world is in danger! I'll beat you and protect them no matter what."

"Friendship," Larcade said, "is what put us all in this position in the first place, Natsu. A friendship that burned into a love so dear and passionate it stifled all those impacted by it, leaving scorch marks we can feel today, all the way to the top of the Empire." Larcade rested a hand on his chest. "From within depths of my soul, to the ends of August's mind, even reaching toward our dear Empress, that love wrought with suffering lives on."

Natsu balled his hands into fists, and with a jolt, summoned lightning around him.

"If you're anything like your dad, he probably deserves to get hit as hard as you," Natsu said.

"No, I'm afraid we're quite dissimilar," Larcade said. He raised a hand to his chin. "I wonder. Perhaps I needn't inflict magic on you to imbue more suffering. Perhaps a simple name, a revelation, is in order."

He rested his hands on his hips.

Natsu was on him in a blink, one hand already pulled back, as a feint, while the other charged up enough magic to wipe Larcade off the map.

"But I think the mystery should live," Larcade said.

"Lightning Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

The feint jabbed and his other hand came flying in, lightning sizzling the air, fire scorching everything around them.

Only for Larcade to bat it aside, to create a massive explosion at their feet. He leaped into the air, still holding Natsu, and delivered three precise strikes that put Natsu's arms out of commission, then, with power unparalleled, kicked Natsu into the ground.

"H—how?" Natsu breathed out as Larcade landed gently on the ground as if nothing had happened.

As if Natsu, who had melted diamond, couldn't burn him. As if Natsu, who had thwarted the great Master Hades, couldn't hurt him.

"It's simple," Larcade said, "but a hard truth. My father was wrong. You were not his greatest accomplishment, Natsu. It was me. It was always me. Now? I'll prove it to him by breaking you into as many pieces as I wish."

Sleep had, in the last few days, been near impossible. The dream was recurring, much to the point that it was becoming a nightmarish purgatory of sorts.

Sonya was with Zeref, with Acnologia, but she did not know where. She did not hear them. She did not know what led them there, but there she was regardless. It agonized her each time she woke up to know there were no answers as if there was nothing meant to be gleaned from it but her own torture.

She sat up in bed as she'd tried going for a midday nap. Supper was coming soon. It would hopefully put her mind at ease. She tried not to think of things. August was taking care of it.

And soon, he'd take care of her.

Her shoulder sagged. Sonya ran her fingers through her hair, staring across the grand room that was all hers. She swung her legs out of bed and dressed out of her sleepwear into something a bit more royal.

But she couldn't figure out what to do with her hair. Nothing felt right. She clipped it, bobbed it, and pulled it all the way back, but nothing worked.

Her hands skimmed over another drawer, one she hadn't touched in some time. Maybe before she'd even gone to sleep. She opened it and smiled.

Ribbons. She'd always loved to put her hair up in ribbons as a little girl. She reached and grabbed one, a golden one that would've matched her outfits from her days as Queen of—

"Sonya...

There you are."

She dropped the ribbon, and the pressure that swamped her entire being faded.

"Animus?" she muttered, but the dragon was silent, slumbering within her soul.

So, no. Not Animus. But she'd heard that voice before, very faintly, a few days ago. It was far more familiar this time, and unlike the other voice in her head, not entirely filled with malevolence.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She reached forward and grabbed the ribbon again. The pressure enveloped her once more. Even August could hardly match how great it was. She held tight to the ribbon, which seemed to have a beat of its own. It...guided her.

The voice remained silent, save for the occasional call of her own name, as she moved across the room toward a tiny bookshelf. She shoved it aside, revealing a panel in the room just off-color from the rest. She placed her hand on it.

Nothing.

She raised the ribbon to it, and the ribbon vanished in her hand as the panel did, revealing a long stone hallway carved through the palace, one that wound down and down, with the only light a distant luminescent one.

Sonya steeled herself. Did August know about this? Animus?

Zeref?

She slipped into the small opening, pulling the shelf back into place to cover herself. She had to stay ducked down for quite a few feet until she managed to at last rise as she passed a piece of Stellanium beaten into the path.

She raised her hand to it, feeling its familiar glow. Stellanium. She'd not seen a natural chunk of it in some time. A tender smile graced her face, and she continued on.

The corridor was thin, clearly meant only for one person. And it was deep. Time passed slowly, and the Stellanium lights were consistent. An inkling of memory tried to push into her mind, but nothing truly material could form. A barrier resisted it, one that, Sonya predicted, had been erected by Animus, or perhaps even Zeref.

At last, the corridor turned a bit wider, and it leveled out when she knew she was deep below the castle, lurking close, no doubt, to the Dragon Graveyard. Sonya pursed her lips. She had no weapons, she had no means to defend herself unless Animus could lend her some power. But she didn't wish to wake Animus, to inform them of what she was doing.

She already knew she'd have much to answer for when her handmaids came to bring her food and she was missing, without a single trace of her in the castle. But that all could wait.

"Ah. Sonya."

She turned a corner, her footsteps echoed slightly in the corridor that turned from mere stone to complete Stellanium. Its power blared over her, but the light of it did not overwhelm her.

The corridor at last had an end to it: a massive set of iron bars, perfectly in place within the crystals. A man was there, resting against the iron bars. Sonya gulped, unsure of who he was at first.

With each step, his identity, once fuzzy, became clearer. It made each step both heavier, yet, more worth it. Because at last, she'd figured out one of the great mysteries of their Empire.

The man shifted, showing her his chained hands, and his smile confident in his inevitable escape. There was no key around, and Sonya had no intention of letting him go.

She'd seen this face only once, but it was not one easily forgotten. Besides, she knew his other one far better. It was the way they'd first met, four hundred years ago.

"It is good to see you again, Empress. Or, dare I say, old friend?"

Sonya stopped just before the bars, where she could feel no magic, but stared right into his petrifying blue eyes.

"You've been calling for me. So, what is it you want, Acnologia?"