Chapter 49

Vengeance Will Be Mine

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback you

Location / Date / Time Skip

The rescue party stared in shock as Natsu looked at his girlfriend. "Lisanna..."

"Shouldn't she back at the coliseum?" Nicholas asked.

"Are we sure this isn't Gemini?" Yukino questioned.

"I know it's not the one from Edolas..." Happy mumbled in sadness.

"I know that you've heard of Eclipse..." The robed girl mumbled, catching their attention. "I was able to use its power to meet with you today."

Everyone gasped in shock as Carla spoke up with wide eyes. "You've... come from another time..."

'Lisanna' nodded as she looked up, wiping tears from her eyes. "Yes, I'm from the future." She nodded, shocking the group even more.

"Then why have you decided to come here?" Lucy asked.

"Because I came to warn you..." She groaned out. "The kingdom is... doomed." She fell over and Natsu ran forward, catching her.

"She's just passed out." He told the group.

"What the heck is going on around here?" Happy asked.

"Well, we can't just leave her here." Natsu declared, picking up the robed girl. "We'll fire off the signal flare once we're outside and work the rest of it out later. But I don't think anyone saw this coming."

Hisui's Chamber

"There's something I don't understand, Princess." Darton spoke up. "You need a Celestial Wizard to open the Eclipse Gate, and yet you threw them both into the Hell Palace. Why would you hinder your plans like this?"

"It does and it doesn't." She confessed. "I needed only the twelve Zodiac Keys, not the wizards they were contracted with."

"If it's the Keys you need, then you failed there as well." The Defense Minster declared. "They're back with their wizards right now. Seems foolish to pass keys to a door you wish to open."

"The Keys are no longer needed." Hisui declared. "I already used them to open the lock. The door through time and space can be opened now. All someone has to do is walk through it."

"And is this someone prepared to accept the consequences for the lives they ruin by changing history?" Darton asked back.

"I can't shoulder this burden alone." She replied. "That's why I need both you and Colonel Aracidos by my side. Whether we open Eclipse or not rests solely on the outcome of the Games. For now, we must wait and see how it unfolds."

"With the Games ending the way you describe them, it would be a miracle for that to actually happen." Darton said. "But I have my doubts as to whether or not it will actually pass. It's all but impossible."

"I have the same doubts as you, minister." The princess replied. "We can only hope my contact is mistaken, and the Games do not end the way they said so."

With Erza

Minerva smirked at the hate-filled glares from Kagura and Erza. "Release her at once." Kagura demanded.

"Maybe after I show you how a queen fights." Minerva chuckled.

Kagura dropped into a fighting stance, her sword held tight. "This is your last chance. Release her and I'll let you live."

"If you think you beat me when you couldn't best Yukino, be my guest." The Spatial Mage said.

With anger, Kagura charged forward, ready to swing her sword. Minerva smirked before suddenly turned onto Erza. Both swords women gasped in shock before the redhead blocked the attack with hero own swords. "You ladies can go ahead and battle it out. I'll take on the victor once she's weakened."

"You're running from a fight you interrupted?" Erza asked. "You call yourself a queen."

"A true queen arranges the pawns to her favor." Minerva declared as she walked over to the orb holding Millianna. "If anything, you should be flattered. I underestimated your combine power, and now realize I wouldn't stand a chance against the two of you. No matter. A queen does not yield to power alone."

"Let Millianna go now!" Erza shouted, making Kagura tighten her grip on her sheathe.

"I'm warning you..." She growled, catching Erza's attention in time to receive a headbutt from her. "Don't you dare pretend to be her friend!"

"Seems that you ladies have issues you need to work out." Minerva chuckled, waving her hand and sinking the orb holding Millianna. "I'll just be on my way."

"I accept your terms, now let her go!" Kagura shouted.

Minerva merely chuckled as she vanished from sight. "She's got us on quite a bind." Erza mumbled.

"Be quite." Kagura growled out. "I don't speak to my enemies. I destroy them."

With Gajeel

"This sucks." The Dragon Slayer mumbled as he walked through the city. "The First Master's plan's gone right off the rails. Some tactician she is." He came to a stop as Rogue stepped in front of him. "You're a pesky little bug, aren't you? I ain't nowhere as nice as Salamander, so just remember that."

He launched his hand forward and a pillar of metal shot forward. Rogue faded into a shadow and snuck behind him, only to get hit by a punch in the gut. He slid back and Gajeel lowered his arms. "You can't get stronger than me in one day. You can't beat me if you weren't able to beat Salamander."

He turned and walked away, angering Rogue. "You aren't as strong as Salamander."

Gajeel suddenly stopped and glared back at him. "What did you say?"

With Laxus

The Lightning users stared each other down from across an open plaza. "In case you haven't figured it out, I'm a Lightning God Slayer." Orga declared.

"That's gonna make it embarrassing when you get your butt kicked by a fairy." Laxus chuckled before the two raced forward, slamming their elbows into each other. Lightning exploded out around them as the two glared at each other.

The force of impact pushed the two apart as footsteps caught their attention. "Some strong warriors are here." They turned to see Jura walking over to them. "Mind if I join?"

With Juvia & Chelia

The two girls were trading blows and hair pulls, shouting about their love life. Lyon and Gray walked up behind, catching their attention. "You seem to be worse for ware, Gray." The older Ice Mage teased.

"I'm still strong enough to take you down." Gray chuckled as Juvia swooned over her crush. "This is not the time, Juvia!"

With Sting

"Heh, that's m'lady for you." Sting chuckled as he sat in a hidden ally. "It won't matter. I have a way to guarantee our victory. I'm gonna make you proud, Lector."

With Erza & Kagura

"Looks like the end has come for one of us." Erza said.

"I'm not going to hold back." Kagura declared before she charged.

Erza summoned a sword of her own and blocked the attack. "I'd be insulted of you did." Erza growled before she was pushed back by the force of the attack. She flipped backwards and changed armors, launching an attack with her Heaven's Wheel.

Kagura flipped through the air and avoided the hit, staring directly at Erza. "Archenemy - Strong Form." She dived at the ground and crushed the stone, sending Erza falling through the air. "Slicing Form!"

Erza quickly donned her Adamantine Armor, only for Kagura to zoom past her. Instantly, her shield and armor cracked and shattered into thousands of pieces. "How did she-"

"I'm impressed you survived." Kagura declared as Erza glowed again.

"Flight Armor! Sonic Claw!" She zoomed passed Kagura and sliced with speed, only to instantly be hit with a series of strikes herself, sending her crashing to the ground back first.

Kagura landed on her feet as Erza coughed in pain, a few drops of blood escaping her lips. "I'm surprised... To think such power exists..." The red head confessed. "Does this all stem... from your hatred of Jellal?"

Instantly, Kagura was in front of her and kicked her in the stomach, sending Erza flying into a pillared room. "If you want to hold onto her hatred, fine. But don't you dare force Millianna down that road with you. She's moving on."

"This was her will." Kagura replied before batting Erza into a pillar. "And now it is mine. I will kill Jellal!"

"What happened to drive to these extremes?" Erza asked as she gripped her side in pain.

"My brother is someone you knew very well." Kagura declared as she walked over. "His name was Simon, and Jellal killed him."

Erza gasped in shock as her friend flashed into her mind. 'His sister?'

"Our family was poor, but we were happy." The standing woman explained. "But that happiness was stolen by a cult who attacked our home village. It was a child hunt. I alone managed to escape, and spent years looking for my brother. Until I found Millianna who told me everything. He was imprisoned, tortured, and enslaved, and then killed by Jellal. On that day, I swore I would kill the man responsible for his death!"

Erza stared up in shock before she lowered her head in shame. "You should know... Millianna wasn't there to see your brother die." She told Kagura. "It was only Jellal, Simon, Natsu, and myself... Jellal didn't kill your brother... It was me."

Kagura gasped in shock as her eyes went wide in anger. "You'd resort to lies just to be that killer's scapegoat!?"

"No, it's the truth..." Erza replied as tears ran down her real eye. "My weakness... killed Simon... I'm sorry."

Growling in anger, Kagura gripped her blade and stared down at Erza. With tears in her eyes, Kagura ripped the bindings off her blade and swung, sending a massive shockwave through the city and splattering the stone behind Erza with blood. A single cut rested on Erza's shoulder as she blocked the attack with her own katana.

"I'm sorry, but I can't afford to lose." Erza declared as she stood up. "Simon saved my life... as did Grandpa Rob..." He body glowed as her Armadura Fairy armor covered her. "And so did many of my friends. If I throw it all away here and now, I would dishonor everything they've done for me."

"I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!" Kagura shouted as she charged, only Erza blocked with her own blade.

"If that's what drives you, then so be it." The red head declared as she pushed back. "It's not my place to tell you what to think! But I will not lose!"

Both women charged again and Erza swung faster, sending Kagura tumbling backwards. She landed on her back only to start pushing back up. The stone overhead started to crumble, catching Erza's attention.

"LOOK OUT!"

The rock hit the ground and blinded all the cameras. When the dust finally settle, Kagura stared in shock as Erza was trapped underneath the rock, her leg pinned to the ground. "Why... why would you do that?"

"Simon... talked about you in the tower..." Erza explained in pain, shocking Kagura. "He never stopped... hoping you were alive... I know you think... killing Jellal would avenge him... but you should know... he died saving my life..."

Kagura's eyes went wide as tears started welling up in her eyes. Standing up, she pushed the rubble off Erza's leg. "I still can't make up mind." She confessed. "However in this fight, I lo-"

*SHINK*

Erza gasped in shock as Archenemy was shoved into Kagura's stomach by Minerva. Pulling out the blade, she flicked the blood off the sword as Kagura fell over. "You won this fight, Erza, but the points are mine." The woman smirked as she tossed the blade aside. "This is the manner in which a queen fights. A queen demands worthy prizes, and I think a mermaid's tail and fairy's wings are proper tribute."

Erza glared at the woman as anger as Kagura held her wound. "You're the next one, Erza. Do try to make this a bit interesting for the crowd."

"Pl-lease..." Kagura begged out. "S-save Millianna..."

"Millianna?" Minerva repeated. "Oh, the kitten?" She waved her hand and the cat girl appeared. "She's unable to fight, I think that's another point."

"Millianna!" Erza shouted as she raced over.

"Stop over reacting." Minerva said. "She's just unconscious from having her magic drained out of her. Now stand, Erza. Let us see who deserves the title of strongest woman in the country."

Mercusius

"How'd we get this lost?" Loke asked.

"Don't ask me. I've never been here." Nicholas replied.

"Either way, we need to find a way to get out of here now." Slate said.

"It's not like we can just fight our way out. Not with the wounded." Wendy pointed out. "And we can't risk the outcome of the games with everyone else fighting so hard."

"Didn't we just beat up their executioners?" Yukino asked. "Pretty sure we crossed that bridge already."

Natsu stared at the future version of Lisanna, deep in thought. "I've never seen him so focused before." Carla said. "It's weird to think that's Natsu."

Future Lisanna started groaning as she pushed herself up. "Hey, don't push yourself." He said.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Still in the palace." Lucy replied.

"This is bad. We need to get out of here before the army comes for you guys." She said. "If we don't..." She looked up at Natsu and tried to fight back the tears.

"Hey, it's okay." He said, kneeling to her level. "We aren't going anywhere. I promise."

"Hey, Future Lisanna." Wendy spoke up. "Just tell us; what was so important that you came back to this time?"

"I came back to change the worst future." She replied, confusing the group.

Hisui's Chamber

"That person told me that a swarm of 10,000 dragons will attack our country by tomorrow." The princess said to the Defense Minister. "They will burn our city, destroy the palace, and kill thousands of lives. The only way I'll know if they're telling the truth will be with the outcome of the Games."

Holy hell, talk about a nuke drop in this chapter. If that's not a reason to change history, I don't know what is.

I changed up the scene with Millianna because, honestly, the lashes were pretty unnecessary. Seriously, Minerva already stabbed Kagura through the chest. That's reason enough for Erza to want to kick her ass. I also never got why everything had to be connected back to Erza. We didn't really need to see Erza saving Kagura to know that she's a good person.

Well, see ya next time.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang