A/N: Episode 184.

Enjoy!

edited on december 6th, 2024 @ 7:56pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝙾𝙽𝙴,
𝓣𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙽𝚃𝚁𝚈 𝚄𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙻 𝚃𝙾𝙼𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚆.

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𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗨 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗘 currently walking around Hell Palace. "We keep going, but it all looks the same. It throws off your sense of direction, too." Lucy stated.

"In fact, is this really the right way?" Natsu asked.

"I can feel a slight breeze. I think we're good." Wendy reassured.

"Come to think of it, how did you get here, Loke?" Mira questioned as Loke and Samuel were supporting Arcadios.

"I jumped." Loke responded.

"It's important to also think of what happens after."

"Actions before thoughts."

"You make a good point once in a while!" Natsu commented.

"Once in a while?" Loke quoted.

"Will Arcadios-sama be okay?" Yukino asked.

"Well, he'll survive, but..." Samuel trailed off.

"It's unusual for anyone to live swimming in lava." Happy finished.

"Now that you mention it, did Horologium do something?" Carla questioned.

"No. He'd already jumped into the lava by then." Lucy answered.

"He's the paragon of a military man. I'm impressed." Lily complimented.

"It's probably thanks to the jade amulet he's wearing." Loke pointed out. "It's a powerful charm that's doing its duty."

"Speaking of jade, that reminds me of the Jade Dragon, Zirconis." Wendy recalled.

"Oh, that guy." Natsu said.

"That dragon sure talked a lot." Lucy commented.

"I recall the name of the princess is Hisui, which means jade." Yukino recalled.

"He said we should decide for ourselves whether Eclipse is the right way to go, right?"

"Although the princess is the one who dropped us in here." Natsu reminded.

"Anyway, I want to escape from here and put everyone who's fighting in the Grand Magic Games at ease." Loke informed.

"Yeah." Lucy nodded in agreement as her face turned serious.

"We keep proceeding downwards." Lily said.

"We have no idea how deep this place is." Mira informed.

"It's so big, they could have built another town down here."

"Here?"

Happy screeched when he saw bugs crawling out of a human skull as the group continued down a staircase.

"I smell something!" Natsu informed.

"It seems we're close to the exit." Wendy stated.

"Then the leader of the executioners was telling us the truth, huh?" Samuel questioned.

"Come to think of it, I know all of their names but the leader's." Lucy pointed out.

"True. Okay, I'll decide on it." Mira said. "Kama!"

"Meaning 'sickle'!"

"Hey, look at that!" Lily pointed towards something as the group saw a large door in front of them.

"A door!" Natsu exclaimed.

"It might be the exit!" Happy said.

"We can finally get out of here!" Lucy added.

"That's also a lot bigger than it has to be." Lily pointed out.

"It looks like a sturdy door." Wendy stated. "How can we open it?"

"Leave it to me! Fire Dragon's..." Natsu rushed forward and was about to use his breath attack.

However, before he could make an attack, the door opened by itself. "Huh?" Lucy questioned.

"It opened!" Happy shouted.

The door opened wider, revealing a bright white light. "Why?!" Carla said.

"An ambush?!" Wendy guessed.

Two silhouettes were shown as Natsu stopped in front of them, causing him to glance up. A gust of wind blew through the two stranger's cloaks.

Natsu narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

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Mercurius . . .

"P-Princess! Princess! It's terrible! Princess!"

"What is it?! Contain yourself!"

"When a scheduled update from Hell Palace didn't come, troops went in... The report states that the Garou Knights were wiped out!"

"What?! It can't be!"

"Just against several wizards?!"

"What happened to the criminals?"

"We believed they escaped Hell Palace."

Hisui lets out a sigh of relief upon hearing the news.

"How can this be?!"

"You shouldn't be sporting an expression like that." Darton's voice was soon heard. "Anyone can tell what you're thinking."

"Darton! I thought you were at Domus Flau with my father." Hisui said.

"I returned after feeling a sense of foreboding. And I suppose this is what it was about." Darton stated.

"What do you mean by that?" Hisui questioned. "You're the one... You're the one who plunged Arcadios into Hell Palace without a trial!"

Darton narrowed his eyes. "And you used Fairy Tail to rescue Arcadios for you, right, Princess?" He accused, leaving the guards in shock. "You're the real power behind Project Eclipse, after all. Arcadios did a brilliant job playing the bad guy in front of me, while someone was behind him. In other words, he was covering up for you."

"You figured all of that out? Impressive." Hisui stated.

"Princess, think about it! That's a dangerous thing. We mustn't change the world." Darton said as him and Hisui stared at each other.

Hisui closed her eyes before looking at Domus Flau. "No. I think the world has to be changed."

"You think?" Darton repeated.

"I promised them I wouldn't tell anyone about this... But it seems I should share it with you. About Project Eclipse 2." Hisui said.

"Two?"

"The true Project Eclipse." Hisui explained as wind blew through her hair. Darton widened his eyes. "If the project fails, tomorrow... this country will be destroyed."

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Domus Flau . . .

The audience cheered and waved Fairy Tail's guild emblem in the air. "Fairy Tail still doesn't have any fallen members! Talk about strong!" Chapati announced.

"Of course. Say what you will, but it's because my Laxus is there." Freed commented.

"Not yours, but the Raijinshuu's, right?" Evergreen corrected.

"Whatever! Just finish 'em off, Laxus!" Bickslow cheered.

"At this rate, we've got a lock on victory. That's my Laxus!" Freed claimed as he smirked, a sparkle shown in his eye.

"You're jumping the gun!"

"Laxus! Show us how brave you are!" Freed cheered.

"Go, Laxus, go!"

"Quiet down!" Makarov ordered.

"By the way, First Master, what's going to happen next?" Evergreen asked.

"If my calculations are correct..." Mavis started to say.

Juvia suddenly stops in her tracks. "Juvia was told to be right here, right now." She thinks to herself as a gust of wind blew, causing her to turn around.

"Sky God's Boreas!" Sherria shouted, attacking Juvia with black wind.

"Just as First Master predicted!" Juvia noted as the wind cleared. "Juvia and Sherria will clash."

"Here comes Sherria-tan!" Chapati exclaimed.

"Yes, yes..." Yajima muttered.

Sherria pointed a finger at Juvia. "You're the one Lyon loves!" She accused.

"I don't want to be loved!" Juvia claimed.

"In that case... vanish!" Sherria blasted more black wind towards Juvia's direction.

"God Slayer, Sherria... I recall she can heal herself." Evergreen pointed out.

"How can she be taken down?" Bickslow questioned.

"Just immobilizing her is fine. Meanwhile, Erza will fight Minerva." Mavis responded.

"She looks triumphant!"

"First Master, is Minerva that woman from Saber? The one that kept hurting Lucy... She's a dangerous opponent." Freed said.

"But if she's going to throw down with Erza, there's nothing to worry about, right?" Evergreen asked.

Erza stopped at a location. "Here..." She thinks to herself. "According to Number One's strategy, I'll run into Saber's..."

She suddenly felt a presence behind her as she turned around, seeing Kagura charge at her. "It's Kagura!" Chapati shouted as the audience cheered while Mavis was left in shock.

Erza requipped two swords. "Number One's prediction was off?!" She thought, clashing swords with Kagura.

Both Erza and Kagura leaped back. "She's strong!" Erza noted.

"The warrior I've heard so much about. Show me what you've got, Titania!" Kagura thinks to herself.

"N-Number One! What does this mean?" Makarov asked. "I thought Erza's opponent was supposed to be Minerva from Saber!"

"So even the First Master, nicknamed the Fairy Tactician, can miscalculate." Freed stated bluntly.

Bickslow and Evergreen shushed him, pointing to Mavis.

"My calculation was... How?" Mavis began to tear up, causing everyone to pale.

"N-Number One!" Makarov exclaimed.

"I-I'm not crying! I'm not crying at all..." Mavis claimed.

"S-Somebody!"

"This is your fault, Freed!"

"Soothe Number One with all your might!"

Erza and Kagura continued to stare at each other. "You're this strong even with the sword sheathed?" Erza wondered.

"Oh, my! They're at a stalemate with one sword still sheathed!" Chapati exclaimed.

Minerva soon made her appearance, throwing the two of them back. "Do you mind if I play, too?" She asked.

"Minerva's gotten between them!" Chapati said.

"It's... unpredictable..." Mavis muttered.

"Oh! My! Goodness! It's become a three-way battle! A showdown between the foremost wizard women of this tournament! Who will survive?!" Chapati questioned as the three women stared at one another.

"I feel incredibly nervous. That's because there's no telling what will happen." Freed commented.

"You think Erza could lose?!" Evergreen questioned in disbelief.

"No, but look at her opponents..." Bickslow said.

"Kagura, we're counting on you!" Arana exclaimed.

"She'll be okay, won't she?" Beth asked in worry.

"Better not underestimate Kagura!" Risley replied.

"But I'm scared!" Beth confessed.

"I have faith in Kagura. All you have to do is believe in the strength of her heart." Risley reassured.

"Erza... and Kagura. I remember how strong they are. But my lady is going to win. Master's daughter, the strongest wizard in Sabertooth, easily surpasses the Twin Dragons, Sting and Rogue, when it comes to power." Rufus commented.

"I don't care who my opponent is. I'll go right through you." Erza declared.

"Erza, why are you hiding Jellal? According to Millianna, the agony he put you through should be unforgivable." Kagura thought.

Minerva chuckled. "People have lost a lot of confidence in Sabertooth. Naturally, it goes without saying that your guild is responsible. Erza, Kagura. To prove to everyone that our guild is the strongest, I'm going to get rid of you together." She claimed as a purple magical aura surrounded her.

"You talk a good game." Erza said.

"No need for tedious talk. Come!" Kagura added.

Erza and Kagura's magic power exterted as well. Erza was covered in a red glow while Kagura was covered in a blue glow.

"Th-This is... Yajima-san, I think I can feel the vibrations from here!" Chapati said, turning to Yajima.

"That shows just how powerful and concentrated the Magic of those three is." Yajima commented.

"It's okay! I know you can win, Erza!" Makarov encouraged.

The three women had a stare down before their magic power dispersed and all three of them charged forward at each other, both of Erza and Kagura's swords clashed with Minerva's Magic, causing a huge explosion. The explosion disappeared as they continued fighting.

Minerva placed the tips of her fingers against her palm. "Ragudo!" She shouted, trapping both Erza and Kagura.

"Niel Wielg Mion Terse Elcantaeus!" Minerva chanted.

"What language is that?" Bickslow wondered.

"I don't know, but it seems ominous." Freed replied.

"Run, Erza!" Evergreen warned.

"That's..." Mavis started to say.

"Number One!"

"... Yakuma's 18 Battle Gods Magic?!" Mavis finished in shock.

"Yagdo Rigora!" Minerva finished her spell, causing a monster to appear as well as a yellow beam of light followed by an explosion. The light disappeared, shocking the audience.

"That's my lady." Orga commented.

"That Magic... I definitely remember it." Rufus claimed.

When the dust settled, it showed Erza and Kagura still standing. "Wha...?! They're unharmed!" Chapati exclaimed.

"What'll happen with these three?!"

"This goes way beyond awesome!"

"It's dangerous!"

"They've got me on the edge of my seat!" Makarov commented.

"She can command that Magic..." Mavis mumbled in shock.

"All three of them are scary." Bickslow claimed.

"Does this mean their Magic balances out?" Evergreen questioned.

"For right now..." Freed responded.

"I see. I certainly didn't expect you to make it this far. Titania... Erza Scarlet. And Kagura Mikazuchi... We'll get nowhere at this rate. I'm going to make a little change." Minerva spoke as a person appeared in a bubble beside her.

"Yajima-san, what is that?" Chapati asked.

"A person?" Yajima guessed.

Both Erza and Kagura gasped, seeing Millianna. "The kitten I captured earlier." Minerva announced.

"Millianna!"

"What are you doing, wench?!" Erza questioned.

"Can't you see this girl suffering? I'm stealing her Magic even now in that space." Minerva answered as Millianna's face morphed into one of pain. Flashbacks of Millianna appeared in Erza's mind.

"Er-chan!"

"Kitty-cat!"

"Er-chan, long time no see!"

"Millianna!" Erza exclaimed.

"That's low!" Arana said.

"What should we do?! Millianna!" Beth said.

"What's she doing with Millianna?" Risley questioned.

"Relax. I'm not using her as a hostage to make you give in. As I said, I'm just going to make a change." Minerva spoke as both Erza and Kagura gritted their teeth in anger.

"That's it. That's the expression I wanted to see." Minerva said.

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Mercurius . . .

Darton had a disturbed look on his face. "If that's... If that's the truth, the Grand Magic Games must be cancelled at once..." He informed.

"No. I'm still skeptical about what they said." Hisui claimed.

"Yes, but even if it isn't true, if the public is in imminent danger..." Darton started to say.

Hisui gulped. "That person knows the future. They know the results of the Grand Magic Games. I was told that a certain guild wins through an unbelievable outcome." She said.

"Unbelievable outcome?" Darton repeated.

"Owning to the special outcome, predicting it is impossible. If that outcome becomes reality, I'll believe what that person told me." Hisui stated.

"Y-You would let the future of this country ride on the results of the Grand Magic Games?!" Darton questioned.

"In a way. After all, I still can't believe that outcome." Hisui responded.

"But if what that person told you about it comes to pass..."

"... then it's safe to say everything they told me about the future is true." Hisui finished. "Then I'll open up the Eclipse Portal."

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Hell Palace . . .

Natsu narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?!" He asked the hooded figures before he sniffed the air. "Hey, wait a second! These scents..."

"Natsu..." One of the hooded strangers spoke before a tear fell from their eye as they covered their mouth.

"We're sorry!" The second hooded stranger finished, a tear falling from their eye as well.

The hooded strangers continued crying. Natsu widened his eyes. "You're..." He muttered in realization.

"Help us!"

"Those voices..." Yukino muttered.

"What is this?" Mira asked.

"It can't be..." Wendy mumbled.

"You two are..." Loke started to say.

Lucy and Samuel stepped forward. "Hold on there!" Lucy exclaimed.

The hooded strangers removed their hoods to reveal themselves, making both Lucy and Samuel gasp.

"They..." Hisui started to say.

Arcadios opened his eyes as Natsu, Lucy, and Samuel were stunned.

"No way!" Samuel exclaimed.

There, standing in front of the group, was himself as well as Lucy. Tears continued falling down from their faces.

"... said they came from the future." Hisui finished.

"Sam and Lucy!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Two Samuels and Lucys? What, are they from Edolas or something?" Happy asked.

"No. This doesn't seem to be anything that simple." Lily replied.

Carla took a step back, horrified. "No... The vision I had... Could that be...?" She wondered.

"Please... help us!" Future Samuel pleaded, tears still streaming down his face. "Soon, this country will be..."

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A/N: Yes, I had Samuel come from the future. However, Samuel came from Rogue's future, not Lucy's. Which explains why he's alive. In Lucy's future, he isn't. I bet you're all wondering where I'm going with this. I did change Future Samuel's quote in the beginning as he doesn't die. 

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2543 words.