Chapter 46

Dragon Graveyard

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback you

Location / Date / Time Skip

Honeybone Inn

"Say that to my face!" Natsu shouted at Gray.

"Alright, fine." The Ice mage replied before turning around. "I'm sick of you screeching like a banshee. It's killing the party."

"You wanna fight, ice lips?" Natsu growled.

"Cut it out." Lucy demanded. "You destroyed the place once. Isn't that enough?"

"Natsu!" Makarov drunkenly called out. "If you're goinf to fight, show tha same spirit you did in the arena!"

"Get ready to cry." Natsu chuckled as he ignited his fist.

"You'll be the one weeping." Gray replied before bringing his hands together. Their spells collided against Happy, freezing him and burning his fish.

The frozen cat threw through the air and crashed into the back Nicholas, sending him face first into Erza's slice of cake. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!" He cried out before Erza stood up.

The redhead grabbed him, then Natsu and Gray before slamming them together. "That's enough!" The three crashed to the ground in pain, Brianna soon pulling her partner to the side. "Listen well. We're here to prove that Fairy Tail is the number one guild in Fiore. That's the only reason we're competing in the games. The final match up is right around the corner.

"We barely managed to get this close to the first place spot, but we still aren't done. We need to be focused and level headed, so what was the point of ruining my cake?" Her question shocked the two before she summoned her sword. "Stand up and die with some dignity."

The door to the bar opened and Gajeel walked in. "If I ever see another mine cart again, it'll be too soon." He complained.

"Why'd you take off in the middle of our match?" Natsu asked, completely forgetting what actually happened.

"YOU were the one who pushed ME into that stupid cart, ya stupid lava brained tool!" Gajeel growled out.

"...Is that true?" The pinkette asked Nicholas.

"How do you not remember that?" Nicholas asked. "It was the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life."

"Shut up." Gajeel growled back, cracking his neck. "It doesn't matter right now. Rockslide, Salamander, the little kid, come with me. Got something to show you all."

Crocus Garden

Sting and Rogue stood before Jiemma covered in bandages. "Sting... Rogue... What should I do with you two?" The master asked, only to receive no answer. "Nothing? I thought you were true Dragon Slayers. You used to love reminding us, always telling us how strong you are. So imagine my surprise when you got your asses handed to you by a lesser Dragon Slayer. What do you have to say?"

"...You spelt it out clearly." Rogue spoke up. "We were defeated. Natsu was somehow able to subdue us without the full extent of his power. He's far stronger than we anticipated. He may be unbeatable."

Instantly, the master was in front if the two, anger in his eyes. "That sounds like a weaklings whining to me. Is that what I'm hearing? I don't recall asking for your excuses, or for you to lose in such an embarrassing way!" His magic blasted the two back and sent them tumbling away and their Exceeds raced after them.

"Losers like you don't have the right to call yourself members of Sabertooth! I don't ever want to see your faces here again. Our guild has no need for weaklings like you. Remove your marks and leave at once!" He demanded.

"M-master..." Lector nervously spoke up. "Sting and Rogue did their best... And you know, they say you learn more from failure than success... I-I'm sure the next time they fight Natsu, they'll kick his but."

"...Who are you?" The master asked, even as the cat showed his guild emblem." "Why is this animal sporting the noble crest of Sabertooth?" He raised his hand and magic began gathering at it. "Begone."

He fired a blast of magic right at the cat, wiping it from existence. "L-l-Lector..." Frosch mumbled in fear before Rogue shielded his cat.

"How could he...?" Yukino asked in shock.

Tears fell from the blondes eyes as Jiemma stared down in disgust. "It got what it was deserved." The master coldly declared. "Now remove your emblems before you join that fleabag." Sting cried out in sorrow, only angering Jiemma even more. "Would you stop your damn blubbering? It was just a lousy ca-"

Sting cut him off by punching a hole right through the bearded man. Jiemma stumbled backwards before falling over, making Minerva give a soft smile. "So be it."

Caves

"So, what did you find down here?" Wendy asked as the four Dragon Slayers and their Exceeds walked through the cave.

"And why'd you only bring us?" Nicholas asked.

"Maybe he found something related to Dragon Slayer Magic." Happy surmised.

"So, why did the gawkers tag along?" Carla asked, glancing over at Gray, Brianna, Lucy and Lisanna.

"Excuse us for being gawkers." Brianna replied. "But where Nicholas goes, I go. Same with her and Natsu." She pointed at Lisanna and the girl blushed.

"Can't blame us for being curious." Lucy chuckled.

"This is it." Gajeel said as they came to a stop.

"What are those things?" Lisanna asked. "Giant bones?"

"Not just any bones..." Natsu mumbled. "Those are dragon bones."

"These were all dragons?" Happy asked.

"Why are they here?" Gray asked.

"I would sure like to know." Natsu said. "Why are they all here?"

"Maybe we'll find Igneel here." Happy said before Slate whacked him in the head. "My bad..."

"He ain't here." Natsu declared.

Nicholas walked over to some stone and ripped a chunk off, holding it to his nose. "Our dragons disappeared fourteen years ago. Just by the smell of this rock, I can tell these have been around for a lot longer..."

"That might work." Wendy gasped, confusing the others. "The Milky Way spell. I thought it was another combat spell that Grandeneey passed on, but I think it might let us talk to the dragon spirits that have passed on."

"Seriously?" Natsu asked.

"If we can somehow commune with the spirits, one of them might be able to tell us what happened here." The petite girl explained as she grabbed a stick and started drawing a magic circle. "And maybe something about our dragons as well." She quickly finished the circle and tossed the stick to the side. "I need everyone to step away from the circle."

Gajeel and Gray stepped back as the girl went down on her knees. "Oh wondering spirits of dragons long past, reveal thy self and share your wisdom with me. Milky Way!" The seal started glowing and a pulse of light started shining throughout the cave.

"What's it doing?" Lisanna asked as the bones started glowing.

"I'm trying to contact a dragon spirit." She explained. "But there's so little energy left here, it's very old and fading." Wendy gasped as she opened her eyes and clasped her hands. "I found one."

The light transformed into a spiral and a ghostly dragon ripped through the light, unleashing a roar that scared the non Dragon Slayers. "Ha! Even in death, scaring the pants off of humans is hilarious." The spirit chuckled. "My name is Zirconis, the Jade Dragon. I'm impressed you were able to conjure my spirit.

"Seems like the work of the Sky Dragon Grandeeney. Who was it?" He looked down and stared at Wendy with a smile. "How adorable. To think someone this small could do something so powerful."

"Leave her alone!" Natsu shouted.

"Calm down, pinky. What can I do when I can't even touch you?" The spirit asked, poking his finger through Natsu.

"Why is it we always get the crazies?" Lucy complained.

"So what the heck happened here?" Happy asked, catching the spirits attention. "We were wondering why there were so many dragon bones here."

"I have no interest in talking to humans." The ghost declared.

"How about Exceeds?" Slate asked.

The spirit scratched its chin and smirked. "It's been over four hundred years. Dragonkind once ruled over every corner of the world. The skies, the seas, the land, we ruled it all. Even the humans belonged to us, and they were quite tasty. And yet, there was one dragon who felt our reign was unjust.

"It zealously spread the idea of a world where coexisted with humans. Some fully agreed with the idea, sparking a long war between the two sides. I was necer found of your kind, but I was never against eating you. Both sides were evenly matched, so the coexistence side did something that doomed us all. They taught humans the power that would be known as Dragon Slayer Magic, and mankind joined the war."

"That"s how Dragon Slayer Magic came to be?" Pantherlily asked.

"The Dragon Slayer's power turned the tide of war very quickly." Zirconis continued to explain. "Victory seemed certain, but no one could predict the tragedy that would happen next. The humans turned on their dragon allies and started slaughtering their allies. It was a genocide. There was one man who bathed the country side in the blood of my kin.

"I shudder even now, thinking of his name. This 'man' slayed countless dragons, and soaked in their blood. He used his power so often that his skin turned to scales, his teeth sharpened into fangs, and he stopped being human all together."

"Do you mean... he turned into a dragon?" Lucy asked in fear.

"That is the fate that awaits all Dragon Slayers." The ghost answered back. "All the bones here are victims of this monster. Despite his human origins, he becsme the king of dragonkind. The war that birthed him, would be known as the dragon king festival. His name was Acnologia. Once a human being, now a dragon cloaked in wings of darkness."

The wizards gasped in shock as their eyes went wide. "Acnologia..." Lucy repeated.

"That thing used to be human!?" Gray asked.

"Impossibel!" Gajeel shouted.

"Most of my race now rots thanks to that thing." The ghost said as his body started glowing. "All of this happened in the distant past, but you and I-"

The spirit turned into dust and faded away as the seal stopped glowing. "I'm sorry. All the energy he had is gone." Wendy said.

"So does this mean we're gonna turn into dragons?" Natsu asked.

"The hell would I know that!?" Gajeel shouted back.

"Not likely." A new voice said, catching everyone's attention. "I eavesdropped on your little history lesson. And our research is in line with history. Tell me, have you heard of the demons of Zeref? The stories tell that Acnologia was turned into a monster by Zeref himself. So you see, if you subdue the Black Wizard, you subdue the Black Dragon."

"Who are you?" Nicholas shouted.

'The white knight from my visions.' Carla thought in fear.

"My name is Colonel Arcadios, captain of the Sacred Cherry Blossom knights of the Royal Fiore Army." The armored man introduced as he walked over.

"So what business does the military have down here?" Gray asked.

"Allow me to clarify." The Colonel started. "For the past seven years, I have been working on a classified project that needs the power of a Celestial Wizard. And for this task, I request your assistance Lucy Heartfillia."

"Get to the point!" Natsu growled out. "Cut the formal crap and just tell us what you want!"

"Natsu Dragneel himself." Arcadios chuckled. "It's an honor to finally meet you. I must say, your recent victory was quite impressive."

Instantly, the pinkette was in the man's face. "I said skip the formal crap." He growled out. "When I ask someone a question, I expect an answer right away."

"Wow, you have your work cut out for you." Brianna chuckled, elbowing Lisanna.

The two men stared at each other before Arcadios turned around. "Very well, follow me." He declared as he started walking away, "I'm about to show you something that could end both Zeref and Acnologia before they ever become threats." Natsu glared at the man before turning to the group. They nodded as well and started following the armored man

Mercusius Depths

"A reminder, this is the King's castle." Arcadios said as he lead them down a staircase. "So be on your best behavior."

"Don't remind us." Nicholas said as they entered a long hallway.

"I must apologize to Miss Lucy." The Colonel said. "My misguided actions put her in harm's way. In my haste to complete the project, I was too aggressive with my orders. I falsely believe that you were our only hope for the magic we needed. It was a lapse of judgement.

"In truth, the Grand Magic Games have been a ruse. A mechanism for syphoning magic power from the contestants. Say whatever you want, but the ends justify the means in this case." He came to a stop and the guild Wizards gasped in shock at the massive gate. "The Eclipse Project... The door that will change everything.

"Without massive amounts of magic power, it never would have been constructed. When the sun and moon intersect, we will use the Zodiac keys to open this door. What lies beyond it is time immemorial, allowing us to slay Zeref before he gains his immortality. His doom is our ultimate goal."

The group gasped in shock as they stared at the gate. "According to our research, time moves slower in the Celestial Spirit World than in our world. By using the dimensional properties of their world, we can travel through time. But since Celestial Wizards are rare these days, we thought about using a vast amount of magic power to compensate.

"But now that we know all twelve keys are in this city, the plan can proceed as intended. The time for action is almost upon us. When the sun and moon meet in three days, on July 7th, we ask for your both of your help."

"Wait, July 7th?" Natsu asked.

"That the same day our dragons disappeared." Wendy realized.

"There's no way that's a coincidence." Nicholas declared.

Heavy footsteps caught everyone's attention as a swarm of guards surrounded them all. "What is this!?" Arcadios demanded.

"It would be wise of you to surrender now." Darton declared from the swarm of soldiers. "Have you lost your mind; revealing state secrets to outsiders is treason?"

"These are no outsiders! Their inclusion is paramount to the Eclipse Project!" The colonel shouted back.

"You do not have the authority to make that decision." The Defense Minster declared. "This plan of yours will alter history. Don't you realize that could destroy our very civilization. Colonel Arcadios, you are under arrest for treason against the kingdom! Take Celestial Wizards into custody as well, and expel the others."

"But I haven't done anything!" Lucy shouted as the guards grabbed her.

More grabbed Lisanna, but they were calling her Yukino. "My name is Lisanna!" The Take-over mage shouted in annoyance.

Natsu glared at the guards as he ignited his fist. "Let her go now!" He demanded.

"Stop! You can't use magic here!" Arcadios shouted. The gate surged and the flames died before Natsu fell over.

"Didn't the Colonel not tell you; the Games are just a ruse to feed the Eclipse." Darton chuckled. "If a wizard were to use their power this close, the Eclipse will completely drain all of their magic power. I trust you won't cause anymore trouble." The guards dragged Lucy and Arcadios away before they forced the others out of the castle.

"You must understand, my intention was never to harm anyone." Darton said, trying to make himself the good guy. "There is simply too much at stake. You should know that His Majesty is extremely fond of your guild. If you can claim victory in the Games, I shall grant you an audience with him. But I'll have you know we have acquired Yukino Agira as well. Only the winning guild will be able to speak to his highness."

He turned and walked away from the group, his soldiers flanking behind him.

Honeybone Inn

"Lucy's been taken into custody?" Erza asked in shock as the group explained everything.

"That she would be involved in some secret plot is utterly ridiculous." Makarov declared from the bar.

"And now the only we can get her back is we can get the top spot in the games." Laxus added.

"That's if we can even trust these guys." Nicholas spoke up. "And just based on my history, I don't think we can."

"How about we stop blabbering and go save her!?" Natsu, now tied to a wooden beam, shouted.

"We can't fight against thw whole army, you know that." Lisanna said, patting his head.

"Reckless actions will do us no good in this situation." Makarov declared. "But the kingdom cannot know that they treat citizens like this. It's more than likely they want the Eclipse Plan called off, so they're using her as a hostage."

"But I still don't get why the just let us walk out of there with this info..." Brianna mumbled.

"Arcadios was the primary target." Slate declared. "They either want us as witnesses against him, or know that no one will believe something so crazy."

"Perhaps they feel like they can't keep it a secret for much longer." Erza mumbled.

"That still doesn't explain why the let us go." Gray said.

"Some of us are competing in the games tomorrow, and we're tied for first. Maybe they thought it would be too suspicious if a bunch if you didn't show up." Nicholas guessed.

"They don't want to get on the bad side of every wizard guild in the country." Juvia added. "And with them giving the same offer to Sabertooth, they most likely want to tire us out before we can do anything."

Natsu had had enough and tore through his ropes, only to get punched to the ground by the masters giant fist. "Simmer down now." He declared as Lisanna dragged him away. "A member of our family has been taken against their will. Justice will be done, but it must be done in smart way."

The Next Day

The colosseum was a sea of cheers as fireworks filled the skies. "And the long awaited final day has come at last!" Chapati declared. "Today, one guild will be crowned the number one guild in Fiore! As always, Mr. Yajima and myself will be on commentary. But joining us today is none other than our very own mascot and referee, Mato!

"And now let's meet the teams!" One by one, the teams entered the arena. "And now the two teams tied for first place." Sabertooth entered first, followed by a very surprising new version of Team Fairy Tail. "It looks like Natsu has been replaced with Juvia Lockser!"

"Natsu isn't with them?" Rogue asked in confusion.

"That's the best news I've heard in two days." Sting chuckled.

Darton looked down from the top of the stands. "It seems he hasn't recovered from Eclipse."

The Fairy Tail guild was cheering as loud as possible as Mavis appeared next to Makarov. "Very clever, sixth master."

"It was the only choice I had." He replied. "There is a chance winning the Games will get Lucy back to us, but a chance isn't enough in this situation. Everyone is focused on the Games, which means no one will be paying attention to our rescue mission. A two-pronged attack."

Streets of Crocus

Natsu stared up at the coliseum and smirked. "They had better not lose." He chuckled before he joined Wendy and Nicholas as they raced forward, the four Exceeds flying by them.

And the game is on. Changed things up since Yukino wasn't kicked out, but she was kidnapped. I also feel like setting Sabertooth and Fairy Tail against each other for the final day would have been a hell of a lot more interesting than just a regular final day. And I didn't show the jail cell scene because it honestly added nothing to the story. It could have been a great moment, but they just sat in there and talked.

See ya next time.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang