A/N: Episode 196.

Enjoy!

edited on march 7th, 2025 @ 10:30pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴,
𝓢𝙸𝙽 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚂𝙰𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴.

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"𝗝𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗟..." Millianna muttered.

"Millianna!" Jellal exclaimed.

Erza quickly slaps Jellal's hand away. "Millianna, wait!"

"It's okay, Erza." Jellal tells her.

"No, it isn't." Erza protested, facing Millianna. "I've forgiven Jellal."

This made Millianna get taken aback. "Why protect Jellal? He killed Simon!" She argued. "I don't forgive him! I never will! I'm going to kill Jellal!"

"That wouldn't solve anything. You wouldn't get anything out of it, Millianna!" Erza told her.

"So you're saying I should forgive him? You're wrong!" Millianna exclaimed.

"That's true. She is wrong."

Ultear soon arrived. "Ultear..." Jellal mumbled.

"In the first place, your grudge against Jellal is misplaced." Ultear claimed.

"Who are you?" Millianna questioned.

"I'm the woman who manipulated Jellal from the shadows." Ultear answered, confusing Millianna.

"You're lucky, boy. You get to meet a god. As the most powerful wizard in history, I am a god. Follow me. Hatred itself is my existence."

"True freedom is right here..." Jellal told Erza.

"What are you saying? We have to get off this island together!" Erza informed.

Jellal throws her back as she crashed to the ground. "Go ahead and leave this island. Go find your transient freedom. However, if anyone on the outside notices the Tower of Heaven, I'll kill everyone! That's your freedom!" Jellal exclaimed.

"You're responsible for the lives of your comrades, Erza!"

"Stop it, Ultear!" Erza said.

"That's the kind of woman I am." Ultear chuckled. "It just doesn't work for me. No matter how long I play at being on the side of justice... I'm just corrupt at heart."

"Did something happen?" Jellal questioned.

"Not especially. More importantly, this is no time to stand around and chat. Those mini-dragons are still crawling around the woodwork. Let's split up and beat them. Also, kitty-cat..." Ultear paused, turning to Millianna.

"I'm the one who murdered Simon. And I'm the one who ordered the Tower of Heaven built." Ultear confessed. "If you want to hold that against me, survive. I'll give you a chance at revenge later on."

Ultear waved goodbye as she left.

"The truth is, she's a victim, too. She was never taught the difference between right and wrong." Erza informed.

"I... I don't understand any of this..." Millianna muttered in confusion.

Jellal looked up at the sky. "There's something wrong with this world."

"Even so, we have to live." Erza said.

A little ways away, Kagura sheathed Archenemy, conflicted with her own thoughts.

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"The only way to put the world back the way it was... is by killing Rogue..." Ultear told herself.

"The present-day Rogue hasn't done anything wrong. Kill him, you say... You want us to go down the wrong path, too?"

Future Samuel's words rang in Ultear's ears as she dropped to the ground, clenching her fist. "This... is me..." She thought, standing back up and continuing on her way.

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"What're you just standin' around for?!"

Rogue heard Sting's voice as he turned around. "Sting!" He exclaimed as Sting was running towards him.

"I'll give you a hand! Let's go!" Sting shouted.

"Did you take one of them down?" Rogue asked.

The dragon appeared behind Sting, crashing into some buildings. "Nope! I brought it with me!" He replied.

"What?!"

Sting laughed. "This is funny?!" Rogue questioned as Sting began running in place.

"No matter what anyone says, we're partners!" He claimed.

"Scissor Runner, my capture mission is quite a chore. Help me out."

"I don't care about that Levia." Scissor Runner said as him and Levia looked down at Sting and Rogue. "I'm going to obliterate all the humans!"

"Let's show 'em the power of the Twin Dragons, Rogue!" Sting grinned.

"Sure." Rogue agreed as him and Rogue stood back to back, facing Scissor Runner and Levia.

"That's right. As long as he's with me, everything's okay." Rogue thought as Sting winked and still had a grin on his face. "And if I become steeped in evil, I'm sure the light will kill me!"

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Gray, Samuel, Lyon, and Juvia dodged the incoming beam as Samuel and Lyon both leaped into the air, their fists placed together.

"Ice-Make: Snow Tiger!"

"Ice-Make: Snow Wolf!"

The two ice animals charged forward as the beams shattered both of them, causing Lyon and Samuel to grit their teeth in frustration.

"Ice Cannon!" Gray shouted as the ice cannon was destroyed.

"Gray-sama's Ice Cannon... was pulverized?" Juvia muttered to herself as Gray landed on the ground next to Samuel.

"It's not in my nature to be on the defensive end like this. Let's go, Lyon, Sam!" Gray said.

"Of course!" Lyon agreed.

"Ready when you are, Nii-san!" Samuel informed.

"Ice-Make: Freeze Lancer!"

"Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!"

"Ice-Make: Eagle!"

The three attacks combined, destroying three of the mini-dragons and causing an explosion. However, three more showed up.

"Bastard!" Gray cursed.

"They just keep coming!" Samuel exclaimed.

"Secure the shields! Let's go!" Lyon said, rushing off as Samuel followed him.

"Gray-sama!" Juvia called for him.

"I know!" Gray responded as beams were shot at them. Gray, Lyon, and Samuel used their Ice Magic to put up a large ice shield around them, blocking the beams.

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"Damn things keep poppin' up... I'm sick of ya!" Wakaba blew out some smoke.

Macao, Takashi, and Romeo were blasting purple fire from their hands. "Keep it up, Takashi, Romeo!" Macao encouraged.

"We know!" Takashi said.

Macao, Takashi, and Romeo's attacks combined with Wakaba's as it made an explosion. Two of the mini-dragons fired their beams as the four of them ducked down.

"Dammit! Those sons of bitches are tough!" Takashi claimed.

"There's no end to 'em! What do we do, Macao?!" Wakaba asked.

"You're asking me?" Macao questioned.

"Are you giving up, Pop?" Romeo asked. "Are you givin' up?!"

"Idiot, who said anything about that?!"

Romeo fell forwards as Macao caught him by the shoulders. "I'm not gonna let you die on me." He claimed.

"Don't treat me like a little kid." Romeo looked up at his father. "Pop, I'm a Fairy Tail wizard, too!"

"Hey, father and son! No time for a tender moment! We got incoming!" Wakaba informed as beams fired at their hiding spot.

Takashi had shielded Romeo from the blast. "Romeo..."

"I've still... got a long way to go..." Romeo stated.

"Dammit. That hurt." Takashi groaned, falling back.

"Cripes... I'm gettin' old, too. Good grief..." Wakaba commented.

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"Are you a Dragon Slayer?" The rock dragon asked Cobra.

"Don't address me so familiarly. Your vile voice makes my ears ring. I'm in high spirits after being locked up for so long. I wanna absorb many voices. So don't get in my way, stone monstrosity!" Cobra claimed.

"Cheeky human!"

Cobra avoided the attack as he leaped into the air. "I can hear your attack!"

"I'll lend you a hand!" Ichiya offered.

"Out of the way, you extra!" Cobra declined, poison coming from his fist as he slammed it down on the dragon. "Poison Dragon's Sharp Horn!"

"You're calling me an extra...?!" Ichiya said, offended as he narrowly avoided the poison coming at him. "My rear is cooking! Men!"

Ichiya flew up in the air. "I warned you to get out of the way." Cobra said as the dragon roared once more. "Bastard. So that didn't work?"

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Future Samuel was still riding on Atlas Flame. "You're built to last... but come on!" Future Samuel challenged.

"One who has determination knows no defeat!" Future Rogue claimed.

"Is that right? Well, the same thing applies to me!" Future Samuel said as Motherglare and Atlas Flame clashed.

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Meanwhile, Ultear was walking through the destruction as the battle against the dragons raged on before she finally stopped and fell to her knees.

"He stopped me." Ultear thought as wind blew through her hair. "I didn't kill him, but that's not the point. I was about to kill an innocent human being! I was on the verge of snuffing out a person's life... without considering the consequences."

Ultear's hand shook. "I really haven't changed." She continued to think as a tear fell onto her palm. "What good is Crime Sorciére? My crimes can't be expunged."

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Lucy was running through the debris holding her future self's journal. "Where is everyone?!" She called out. "I have to tell them about this!"

A beam was suddenly shot at Lucy as she collapsed to the ground. "Ow..." She mumbled. Lucy looked up as she saw that she was surrounded by the mini-dragons.

"The little dragons! Oh, no! I'm surrounded!" Lucy exclaimed as the mini-dragons prepared to fire once more. "I don't have time to..."

Red hair suddenly appeared out of nowhere followed by an explosion. Lucy was lifted into the air, safe from the attack before she was brought down.

"What is this?" She wondered.

Lucy looked behind an alleyway, flinching back when she saw her savior was none other than Flare. "Flare?!" She exclaimed.

"Um... Thanks!" Lucy thanked her before continuing on her way, missing the way Flare's cheeks turned pink a little.

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"Take this!" Laxus shouted, firing lightning at Zirconis. "Wretch! You're outclassed, dirty old man!"

"I wonder how long you'll be able to prattle, snot-nosed brat." Zirconis claimed as Laxus continued firing lightning at him.

Zirconis, however, fired the attack right back as everyone else ducked. Laxus was attacked as he fell to the ground.

"When you call someone a snot-nosed brat, be sure you're prepared to face the blowback that goes with it!" Laxus shouted, attacking Zirconis with his lightning once more.

"Come! Bring it on, stripling!" Zirconis challenged.

"Bastard..." Laxus muttered.

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Erza continued to slash at the mini-dragons before dodging the incoming beams. Jellal leaped into the air, attacking four of them with a black hole that expanded while Erza took down another.

"There are too many of them!" Erza informed.

"That's unusual. Are you complaining, Erza?" Jellal asked.

Erza slashed another dragon. "It's not a complaint!" She replied.

"That's fine." Jellal turned around. "With the two of us together... we'll fight to the very end!"

"I know! Let's go!" Erza said.

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Jet was helping Droy stand up. "Stand up, Droy!" Jet said, trying to support him. "You're heavy!"

"I can't! My legs won't listen to me..." Droy informed.

"Dammit! Get ahold of yourself, Droy." Jet told him as he struggled to lift Droy up. "This is why I'm always tellin' you to go on a diet!"

"Jet... You've done enough. Leave me here." Droy said.

"Idiot! Like I could do that... I'll move you through will alone!"

Three dragons fired their beams at the two as they both laid on the ground. "Damn, that hurt!" Droy exclaimed.

"That was close..." Jet sat up. "Come on, stand up... while you have the chance."

"I'm telling you... I can't... I'm worried about Levy. Please, even if it's you alone... go help her..."

"Stand up!" Jet winced. "Jeez... You're not makin' this easy... Feels like I've got one foot in the grave myself... I'm not going to help Levy alone. The two of us are goin' together."

Jet stands up again, supporting Droy. "I swear... we're gonna help her together..." He continued.

"Sorry I'm so heavy..."

"Don't give in! If your spirit breaks, it's all over, Droy!"

Another dragon came up and fired their beam at them.

Lucy continued running. "I have to tell them! I have to tell them all!" She claimed.

Arcadios and Lily were fighting off the mini-dragons while the royal guards surrounded Hisui to protect her.

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Elfman narrowly avoided the dragon's beam. "Elf-nii-chan! Are you okay?!" Lisanna asked in worry.

"Stay back, Lisanna!" Elfman told her.

Lisanna turned around. "If it's tough on one person, then two people..." She started to say.

"No, you support somebody else. There are too many of these things here. While I charge 'em, you get away!" Elfman charged forward. "I'm gonna show 'em just how damn strong Fairy Tail is!"

"Elf-nii-chan!" Lisanna screamed out.

"Man!"

Kali slashed more Light Magic with his Maverick Moonlight blade, destroying the hatchlings. He used his blade as support, trying to catch his breath as more mini-dragons surrounded him.

"They just won't stop coming... Takashi... Samuel... I hope the two of you are okay..." Kali thinks to himself, worried about his friends.

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"Devour this! Iron Dragon's Roar!" Gajeel released his breath attack on the dragon, causing an explosion. "Now, that had some effect."

However, the dragon was still standing. "Dammit! It's like brand-new and just-out-of-the-box!" Gajeel said.

In the sky, Mother Glare and Atlas Flame clashed again. "That's the way, Atlas!" Future Samuel cheered.

"Mother Glare!" Future Rogue shouted.

Mother Glare lifted into the sky before diving down, causing Atlas Flame and Future Samuel to crash. Mother Glare lifted into the sky again.

"That's what happens when you underestimate Dragon Manipulation Magic." Future Rogue claimed.

Atlas Flame and Future Samuel appeared from the smoke. "I'm only just gettin' started!" Future Samuel shouted as Atlas Flame rammed into Mother Glare.

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Happy soon saw an explosion up ahead. "Are you okay, Takashi-nii?" Romeo questioned.

"Y-Yeah. Yeesh. What a bind." Takashi answered. "It feels like winnin' the Grand Magic Games happened ages ago."

"You're okay, Romeo!" Happy appeared above them.

"Happy!"

"Takashi! Wakaba! Um..." Happy trailed off.

"It's Macao!" Macao told him. "Like I have to introduce myself?!"

Debris fell on top of them as Romeo was clenching his shoulder in pain. "Dammit! My shoulder..." He said.

"My lower back... just gave out..." Wakaba informed.

"All right. You're still unharmed, right?" Macao asked Happy.

"I'll call for help! Wait here!" Happy replied.

Happy was about to fly away but Takashi grabbed onto his tail, preventing him from going any further.

"What's wrong?" Happy questioned.

"We're fine. We don't need no help." Takashi responded.

"But you're all beat up." Happy argued.

"I know I ain't as sharp as I used to be when I got you worrying about me." Wakaba claimed.

"You heard Takashi. We don't need any help. Get going, Happy." Macao said.

"But I can't leave you like this!"

"We're Fairy Tail wizards!" Macao exclaimed.

"Pop's right." Romeo agreed.

"Romeo, you too?" Happy asked.

"We're fighting. Natsu-nii and everyone else... Right now is the time to fight!" Romeo replied.

"Romeo... Got it! But promise me."

"Promise?" Wakaba repeated.

"Promise that you'll live through this!" Happy said.

"Okay, you got it. I promise." Takashi told him.

"Good!" Happy nodded and flew off.

"For what it's worth..."

"Pop..."

"Actin' cool in front of your son..."

More debris fell on top of them as Happy flew off.

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Beams continued firing and causing explosions. "Juvia!" Meredy shouted out.

"Meredy!" Juvia exclaimed.

"Have you seen Ul? I got separated from her!" Meredy asked.

"I haven't seen her, but..." Juvia trailed off as beams were pointed right at Juvia and Meredy.

"Look out!" Gray warned as he grabbed onto Juvia and Meredy, making them duck for cover.

"Don't lose focus!" Lyon shouted as he froze another dragon.

"This is a battleground!" Samuel reminded, freezing a hatchling solid.

Gray and Meredy stood up. "Sorry!" Meredy apologized.

Juvia's face was red. "Gray-sama touched Juvia's behind..." She muttered.

"Juvia..." Gray called out her name, getting her attention. "Juvia, I want to tell you something."

Juvia sat up. "W-W-What is it?" She asked.

"Oh, it's not important..."

"It may be important to Juvia!"

"I can already tell this involves a huge misunderstanding." Meredy mumbled.

"Maybe he's going to confess his love for me..." Juvia thought as she clasped her hands over her mouth. "W-What should I do?!"

"Juvia!" Lyon suddenly shouted out in warning.

A dragon aimed its beam at Juvia. But before Gray could do anything, he was suddenly shoved aside by Samuel who grabbed onto Juvia's shoulder, pushing her down and causing the beam to strike him instead. Lyon and Meredy watched with wide eyes.

More beams fired at him as both Gray and Juvia had tears forming in their eyes. "Huh?" Samuel spoke in confusion.

Another beam soon struck Samuel in the head as he collapsed sideways onto the ground.

"No!"

"Samuel!"

Meanwhile, Ultear was still on her knees as a tear fell from her face. "I don't deserve... to live anymore..." She thinks to herself.

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A/N: Whoops :)

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2672 words.