Chapter 54
Live for Today
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
"Chelia!" Lyon shouted into the field as Meredy and Juvia stood over Gray's body. "Where are you!? Chelia! We need you! You're the only one who can save him! He'll die!"
"Lyon…" Suishou grabbed the ice wizard's shoulder and shook his head.
"I… I think it's too late." Meredy mumbled through her tears.
With Natsu
"The time has come for your death." Rogue declared. "Now finish him!" Motherglare charged and Atlas Flame flew aside, forcing another chance.
"I'll never give up!" Natsu declared before jumping off.
"Doesn't matter how much power you have. You're still too injured to do anything!" Rogue declared as he moved and dodged the punch. Natsu landed back on his uncle and Rogue smirked. "Sooner or later, you body will give out. And then you will die!"
With Ultear
The time mage still stared up at the sky, her eyes glancing to a nearby clock tower. 'My whole life has been in the shadows. I thrived on manipulation and scheming. But still, Gray gave me a chance of forgiveness, compassion… Crime Sorciere was my chance to atone for my sins. But I was only fooling myself.
'Someone like me can never change, a witch crumbling under the mass of her sins. I would take the life of an innocent. I no longer have any right to life.'
16 Years Ago
Grimoire Heart Airship
Ultear sat at a desk in the library, reading a book. "All these books are about Time Magic?" Hades asked, making Ultear leave her seat and kneel. "You have no reason to kneel to me, child."
"Master, you once spoke of a magic that could return lost happiness." Ultear said as she stood up. "Well, I finally found something."
She turned and picked up a book off the desk, letting Hades see it. "Last Ages…" He mumbled. "You must never use that spell."
"Why!?" She asked back. "This is exactly what I was looking for! It turns back time and lets you do things over again. I would do whatever it takes to master it."
"The price to master that spell is too great to pay." He replied, confusing her. "It does turn back time, but at the cost of the users own time. In other words, their own life. Time will travel back for the world, but the casters own time will be used in return."
Present
'I will gladly pay that price.' She declared as she stared at her own hand. 'If it means I can end this life of sin with some dignity, I would gladly do so.' Her hands started glowing before she slammed them to the ground, causing a glowing eruption of magic around her. "Arc of Time: Last Ages!"
The glow intensified as her body started burning up. 'Let my life be enough! Turn the world back to when it was normal, or at least before the Gate was open!' Her clothing started tearing and her skinned darkened from the spell before it finally died. In pain, Ultear started falling over. 'I… I did it…' She glanced over to the clock and went wide eyed. 'One minute…!? That's all my life was worth? I couldn't… save anyone…'
Gray, Meredy and Juvia blinked in confusion. "The hell was that?" He asked.
"I saw it as well." Juvia added, making the group look over. More dragon creatures appeared and Gray blasted them with Ice Magic.
"That's what I just saw!" He shouted. "How the hell did that happen?"
"Fight now, figure it put later!" Suishou shouted, blasting another group with jewels.
Wendy and Laxus blasted Zirconis back with a pair of roars as the others stared in confusion at what they just witnessed. "Princess, we should leave this to the mages and retreat." Arcadios said as he shielded Hisui.
"We'll provide cover for you." Yukino added.
"No, please let me stay." The princess replied. "It's my duty to see this through to the end."
"Everyone!" The three looked over to see Lucy running over holding a book. "You guys have to see this!"
"What is it?" Yukino asked as she took the book.
"It's Future Lisanna's diary." The blonde explained, flipping it open to a page. "It shows us how we can stop this. All we need to do is destroy the Eclipse Gate in this time. Then the one in Rogue's time will fade out of existence. And he'll have no way to come back to the past!"
"Sounds to me like we need to do what Fairy Tail does best." Slate declared as the Exceeds reached the humans. "We need to break that thing."
"But there remains a major hurdle." Arcadios stated, looking at the Gate. "We lack the means to destroy something of this size."
"We still have to try!" Lucy shouted as she and Yukino pulled out their keys and summoned their Spirits. The twelve smashed into the Gate and started punching structure again and again.
With Natsu
Motherglare and Atlas Flame crashed through the city before Natsu ran off his 'uncle's' back. "Go back to your own time!" He shouted as he punted Rogue in the chest, sending him sliding back.
"I can't do that!" Rogue shouted back before sinking into the shadows. "As long as Acnologia exists, there is no future! That's why I'm here, to save it!" He snaked along the dragon's scales and rose up in a slash. The attack cut Natsu along the side and he gripped his wound as Rogue unleashed a blinding wave of light and shadows.
"I've finally gotten my hands on some hope, yet you continue to stand in my way!" In anger he launched the attack and found Natsu was dodging everything.
"So you can throw this world into despair!?" Natsu shouted as Atlas Flame grabbed him and ignited the slayer. "You don't have the right to choose our future! We all have the right to choose! We might not know what's coming tomorrow-" He slammed into Rogue and blasted him in the chest, spearing him. "So we can live today for the fullest!"
Mercusius
A burning sensation caught Happy's attention and he turned to see a flaming comet flying at them. "Everyone! Get away from the Gate!" The group ran for cover as Natsu and Rogue crashed into Gate, carving a massive hole into it before it toppled over. Motherglare fell and destroyed whatever was still standing, kicking up more dust.
"I don't believe it…" Arcadios mumbled in shock. "The anti-magic Magnesium alloy Gates were utterly destroyed."
"What happens now?" Hisui asked.
"If Lucy is correct, the Gate shouldn't exist in the future anymore." Yukino spoke up. "And that means this Rogue has no means to come to our time."
Natsu panted in exhaustion as the time traveler started glowing, golden spots drifting off him. Motherglare started glowing as well, as did Atlas Flame. "It appears I must return to my own time now." The fire dragon said. "I will not forget you, Natsu Dragneel."
He turned into a trail of glowing powder, fading from this time. "Thanks for the help, uncle." Natsu said, unsure if he heard it or not.
"No! What is this!?" Zirconis asked, staring at his glowing claw. "Beaten by some puny humans! You're worthless as anything other than food!" He slammed his hand down and force Wendy and Laxus back.
"I'm sorry." Hisui declared as she walked forward. "I'm the one responsible for the construction of the Gate. I'm the reason for your disruption into our world. You, who lived four hundred years ago, were never meant to any of us. I was the one who made time crumble."
"And you are?" The dragon asked in curiosity.
"Hisui E. Fiore." The princess answered, catching the dragon's attention. "In my ancestor's language, it means 'jade'. The same color as your body."
"The same, you say?" The creature asked, brushing his chin. "The Jade Dragon… It's got a nice ring to it." A smile on his face, he faded from the time as Rogue stared at his hand.
"The Rogue I know won't turn into you." Natsu declared, catching his attention.
"Shadows…" He mumbled, confusing Natsu. "The shadows, they're trying to consume me. They come for me, time and time again. The darkness within me is permanent."
"Then just stay next to some light." Natsu said, making Rogue smile.
"Such simple advice…" The time traveler chuckled as he faded from the time line, finally ending the carnage.
Three Days Later
Changing Room
Yukino had a blush on her face as she stood in a fancy dress. "Do I really need to wear this outfit to the celebration?" She asked.
"Yeah, cause it looks amazing on you." Lucy cheered.
"It looks great." Brianna added.
"Brianna, can I get some help here?" Lisanna asked, trying to tighten her corset.
Mercusius
Lucy gasped in amazement as she stared at the massive array of food and amazement. "Wow, this is incredible!" The blonde cheered.
Kagura huffed as she walked into the room, as fancy looking as everyone else. "I can't believe I'm wearing this ridiculous thing." She mumbled.
"Now now, Kagura, you look stunning." Aranã said. Behind the other team members, Millianna hung her head in thought.
"Never thought I'd see the day that we'd be in the palace." Makarov chucked as he sat around his old team.
"Old age has its perks." Yajima smirked as well.
Lucy hugged the deserts table, eating a sweet looking tart. "Oh, Lucy." She almost choked on her treat as Hisui walked over to here. "I'm glad you're enjoying the food."
"Yeah, I guess so." She chuckled as rhe two laughed.
"So you are part of the illustrious Heartfillia family." Hisui said.
"My dad made quite a name for himself." The blonde joked.
"He was a personal friend of mine." The princess added. "Which makes me feel all the more for causing you trouble."
"It's nothing. That's the life of a guild wizard." She joked back, making the princess smile.
"So tell me, where is that pink haired boy from your guild?" Hisui asked as she looked around the party.
"Gray, my love." Juvia called out as she walked over to the ice mage. "Please, dance with me."
"I'll pass." He snapped back, crushing her. "From now on, I'll just spit out wither I like stuff or not. And right now, I don't like you."
"Then that means I have hope." She replied, scaring Gray even more.
Chelia and Wendy stared a fruit filled jelly in amazement. "It's so pretty. It looks like a jewel." Wendy said.
"I wonder what it tastes like." Chelia added before they both took a bite of it.
"So good." Both moaned out, unaware that they were disappointing Mavis, who couldn't have eaten anything.
"I can hardly walk in these." Kagura complained as she walked through the party before Erza finally stopped her.
"So you were able to come after all, Kagura." Erza said with a smile.
"As were you." She replied.
"I have a proposition." The red head spoke up, offering a hand. "Can we let go of our pasts and be friends?"
"No." Kagura replied, a small blush on her face. "Because I'd… rather be your sister."
Erza stared at her and smiled before pulling her into a hug. "Such a little sweetheart." The other team members laughed before the redhead noticed Millianna off to the side. "I really wish you'd cheer up a bit." The cat-girl huffed before Erza smirked. "I know what will cheer you up."
She moved her dress and Happy stepped out in a fancy suit. "Kitty-kitty!" Millianna cheered before huffing again, trying to hide her excitement. Erza shook her dress again and the other three came out, finally cheering up.
"Yo, Natsu! Let's have a drink!" Sting cheered as he held up a bottle and a glass to Nicholas. "Huh, where's Natsu?"
"How would I know?" He replied as Gajeel stepped towards Rogue.
"Ryos." He called out, making the third gen shake his head.
"It's Rogue." Rogue said back. "And don't worry, I won't end up like that future version of me." He said with a smile before gasping in shock. Sting and Gajeel turned to see him staring at Yukino as she walked over.
Frosch cheered as he raced forward, hugging her leg. "Hello." Yukino said with a smile.
"It's good to see you again." Sting said with a smile. "You should know that during this attack, Jiemma and Minerva are missing now. I've taken the reigns as master. We're rebuilding the guild from the ground up, trying to be a guild that cares about its members."
"That sounds lovely." Yukino said with a smile at Rogue. "I look forward to working with you all again."
A trio of bangs caught everyone off guard as Arcadios stood up on a balcony. "Everyone! His Majesty, King Toma E. Fiore will address you all!" Everyone turned to the outlook and watched as the short king step forward, ready to give a speech.
"Seriously, where is Natsu?" Nicholas asked, leaning to the side. "It's not like him to miss a party. Or free food."
"I'm right here." Nicholas snapped as he turned to see Natsu next to him.
"Huh, thought you would have been louder here." He confessed.
"Yeah, well…" Natsu mumbled as Lisanna held his hand. "I have a reason to behave tonight." He said as the two shared a smile. "So you good here?"
"Not really. Not used to all this stuff." He replied, loosening his collar. "Still, it's better than being chased, right?"
"Yeah." Natsu chuckled as Brianna and Lisanna talked with each other. "We sure are some lucky guys."
And with that, we close the door on the Eclipse project. And yes, the pun was intentional. Changed up more of what happened after the battle as well, lost some of the, in my opinion, unneeded humor. See ya next time.
Beta read by General Feng Xiang