~*****~

Burning. That's all I felt in my body. The usual chill in my body had disappeared, giving way to the unforgivable burning raging throughout my body. "Wake up!" Natsu barks angrily, and I feel my world start to shake. I let out a shout, my body locking up from the horrible burning sensation. "What the hell were you thinking?! A little heat magic isn't too bad!" I can't move my lips to tell him to bite me. Not figuratively, literally. Good thing about that stupid mating bond is we can heal one another for a short period of time, saving the other from a life-threatening injury using the ancient magic created with the bite. But the more it's used, the more the bond deepens, causing a horrible strife of jealousy and possessiveness, which is so not what we need right now.

"Aria, we could've handled it," Lucy stammered, swiping at my face as I try to open my eyes.

Ballad starts sobbing. "No, you couldn't have-" Ballad sniffles. "I could feel something awful coming. If she hadn't- one or more of us would've been- would've-" Ballad began to wail and if I weren't injured, I would've tried to calm her down because the wails were hurting my ears.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asks.

"I saw it- Lucy, Mest, Happy- all burned to a crisp..." Ballad sobbed. "It was awful!"

"I don't care about that crap right now; how do we fix this?!" Natsu cries, his hands burning against my shoulders again.

Ballad continued to sob. "I don't have enough magic power to heal her! She needs- needs ice magic!" Ballad's wails get louder.

Then, out of nowhere, I feel teeth puncture my neck again. "Natsu! What the hell are you doing?!" Lucy shouted and I feel her grabbing at my shoulders to try and pry him off. A loud hissing noise erupted from my skin and I can't help the sigh of relief as the intense burning stops. "Wh-What's going on?"

My eyes finally crack open, and it's a bit hazy, but my vision returns to normal. "Took you long enough-" I groan. I sit up, waiting for Natsu to release his grip on my neck. I can vaguely feel his jaw working, and I wonder if he's lost himself in the moment. I snag at his hair and tug back, grimacing at the feel of his teeth pulling out of my skin. Blood dribbles from the wound for a moment before it coagulates. "Thanks."

"What the heck just happened?" Lucy asked, face flushed as I rub at my neck.

"It's just a form of old dragon magic," I retort. "Don't bite me so casually, now you've gotta use your head a bit more from now on, otherwise you're gonna be squaring up with every man in a mile radius."

"It's not like I had a choice!" Natsu retorted irritably. "Why? Is there a guy near?"

I sigh irritably as Lucy peers at him. "What, possessive much?" Lucy asked irritably.

"No!" Natsu retorted, nose turned up. "Just don't like 'em lookin' at Aria, is all!"

I shake my head. "I'll explain later, but for now, would you help me walk? I'm afraid my body is still trying to heal itself."

Lucy nods. "Anything."

Ballad leaps into my arms and rubs her face into my chest, sobbing still. "Can you stop crying? I already feel horrible." Ballad sniffles loudly and her sobs die down to little hiccups. All of a sudden, Natsu lifts me up and cradles me like a child. I grimace and sigh out in irritation. This possessive shift better die down soon.

~*****~

"Mercurius next to Kardia Cathedral?!" Lucy gasps out.

My gaze snaps up. "I don't remember them bein' this close!" Natsu exclaims.

"Yeah, because they're supposed to be hundreds of miles from each other!" Lucy retorts.

"Now that you mention it," I hum as I sniff at the wind. "Something's different about Fiore. Despite the obvious, you said there was a bright light, correct?" Lucy nods. "Then it only seems logical to assume someone from the twelve has altered the landscape, and seeing as how we were transported far away from August and Brandish, and even Mest, if my hunch is correct, I am certain it's the strongest woman in Alvarez."

"Why would you assume that?" Lucy asks shakily.

I hum softly. "August meant to kill us, he wouldn't use a powerful spell like that to send us away." I explain.

"Hoo boy-" Lucy stammers, rubbing her arms. "I don't wanna imagine someone stronger than August."

"Let's go-" I urge. We tromp out of the forest.

"How in the heck are they right next to each other like that?" Lucy whines.

"I don't know. They look like they're in two different cities. Did they merge somehow?" Natsu asked.

"I don't see the guild hall anywhere!" Happy calls out. "Or any other buildings! It's like the rest of Magnolia disappeared!"

"What?" Natsu barked.

"That's crazy!" Lucy cried.

"Wait- that smell!" Natsu exclaims. "Someone's here!" Just as the other group rounds the corner, we all gasp in shock. "'Sup, Gray!" Natsu chirps.

"Good to see ya!" Lucy, Happy, and Ballad cheer.

"Hey," Gray hums.

"So glad we found you." Juvia beams.

"What's goin' on with her?" Natsu asks as he peers at Erza.

"Could say the same about her-" Gray retorts. Natsu immediately huffs and shoves my face into his chest. "Uh, you okay?"

I shove off of him and angrily. "Would you quit it!" I bark. "She okay? She looks beat up."

"Yeah, she had a pretty brutal fight," Gray nods.

"We were trying to get her back to the guild." Juvia hums.

"Yeah, that's where we were going, too," Lucy nods.

"I'm super worried about Carla!" Happy mentions.

"And Aria needs a lot more medical attention then I can give her, so we were hopin' Wendy would be there, too." Ballad murmurs.

"Problem is, we don't know what direction it's in." Gray mentions.

"This sucks!" Natsu complains.

I go to roll my eyes, but at the second my eyes lift to the sky, I flinch and kick around wildly. "What the-" I cry out, grasping onto Natsu's hair.

"What the hell-" Natsu cried out. I turned his head up, causing everyone to look. In the sky, a giant eye peered down at us.

"An eye?!" Lucy cried.

"A huge one!" Gray stammered.

"Let's get the hell out of here!" I exclaim.

"Yeah, no kidding-" Natsu grunts, a skeeved out look on his face.

We all run off. "Listen up!" An unfamiliar voice rings in my head, and I strain to pay attention as I start to bounce uncomfortably. "To get to the guild hall, start heading north, now!"

"You guys hearin' that, too?" Gray asks.

"You need to assemble at the guild hall before it's too late! The enemy may have separated you, but you have to come together now!" The voice exclaims.

"I think the guild's that way!" Natsu shouts.

"Sounds like we should get there," Lucy nods.

"Aye!" Happy cheers.

"But can we really trust some random voice?" Gray asks.

"What if they're trying to steal you from me?" Juvia chirps.

"Mavis is in trouble! Go and help her!" The voice commands. "I know she's like a mother to all of you, so don't waste any time and get over there! It's your duty to protect her!"

"Let's go!" Natsu roars.

"But still..." Lucy trails off.

"This voice...." Juvia hums.

"I wonder who it is, and why they care," Gray mutters.

"Who gives a crap, man! Let's head out!" Natsu grins.

"Came off pretty bossy, ya know?" Gajeel's voice rings out in my head. "I think you could've sounded a little sweeter, maybe even said please. You sure you're friends with our First Master?" I give a laugh of relief at Gajeel's voice. I make a mental note to tell him about our blood relation at a later time, seeing as how I didn't get the chance to earlier.

"Back to the guild, you guys! We've got work to do!" Natsu cheers.

I growl out as he runs, causing me to bounce uncomfortably again. "Can I run by myself?! I feel better, you know!" I complain.

~*****~

Somewhere along the way, Natsu does eventually let my run on my own. We stop for a few hours, to get some rest, but since I've been carried for hours, I feel as if I have no choice but to stay awake with Erza. "Magnolia used to be a town full of life," Erza hummed. "And our guild was at its heart. But those warm and joyous days are gone."

Natsu's snores ring out and I shake my head in amusement. "They sure are peaceful despite the long road ahead of us," I mention. I perch my hand on my brow and sigh. "This may well be the last dawn we face together."

"Yes," Erza nods. "We'll need our strength, and each other."

"The final one? Not if I can help it." Natsu suddenly mentions. I peer over my shoulder again and smile.

"It'll be tough, but Fairy Tail isn't gonna give up that easily." Happy states.

"We'll kick their butts to kingdom come!" Ballad chirped in agreement.

"Come on, let's go!" Lucy urges.

"We'll bust in and get our guild back." Natsu states. I snort lightly, but I can't help but feel invigorated by his words. "For the sake of our future. For Fairy Tail!"

"We shall," Erza hums proudly.

Lucy peers over the edge of the cliff and swallows loudly. "That's a whole lotta soldiers," Lucy murmurs.

"If we wanna get back home, they're in the way," Natsu mentions.

"We're gonna have to fight our way through," Gray hums.

"Sounds good to me," Happy grunts.

"Since there's such difference in numbers, I suppose we should think of a plan before we charge in," I mention.

"Come on! We'll have backup before you even know it!" Natsu cheers. "No way these jerks'll stop us!"

"Yes, you're right, Natsu. Let's move forward." Erza nods. "When the others get here, we'll push harder until we reach the guild!"

"When we do, Master Mavis will be waiting for us." Lucy adds.

"So, who's gonna beat Zeref first, huh?" Gray asked. The mention turns my stomach as I recall Zeref's words. "Let's make it a race, Natsu."

"Yeah! Fire's in the belly!" Natsu grins. Just as he mentions it, his stomach begins to growl loudly. "Uh-oh."

"Doesn't sound like there's much in there to me," Gray comments irritably.

Natsu rubs at his belly as I stare hard at him. If it came down to it, and it was Natsu's life or anyone else's, my mind immediately wanted to save Natsu's. Even if my own life were forfeited. "Let's go!" Natsu suddenly shouted. "Fairy Tail! Here we come!" I'd think about it when it came to that. For now, I was content with breaking a few bones.

Charging through the horde was simple enough, with the team we had already. Erza, Lucy, Juvia, Gray, Natsu, and I, along with the cats, these soldiers didn't stand a chance. Attacks were being fired off every which way, destroying the army as if it were child's play.

"Sorry we're late!" Wendy's voice suddenly cries. I glanced up from my position holding two soldiers in a harsh headlock, barely registering their fists trying to do some damage against my stomach and back.

"Wendy!" I cried out in happiness as I slam the two soldiers into the ground.

"Carla's here!" Happy cheered.

"Sky Dragon Roar!" Wendy shouted, destroying her own portion of the army.

Rumbling echoed out from the opposite side of the battlefield. "Beast Soul: Ape!" Elfman's voice rang out.

"You're not alone, Fairy Tail! I'm here to help!" Yukino's voice called out.

"I suppose I could lend a hand or two," Sorano hummed.

"Hey, it's Elfman, isn't it?" Gray mentioned.

"And it looks like he brought some company!" Lucy chirped.

"Friendship sure is a beautiful thing, ain't it, Frosch!" Lector cried.

"Yeah, I think so, too!" Frosch agreed in that sweet tone I couldn't help but adore.

"Charge!" Familiar voices screamed.

"And there's our backup!" Natsu laughed.

"Oh, yeah!" Lucy cheered.

Vibrations rattled under my feet, and the hairs stood up on my neck. Leaping away, I barely manage to avoid several dragon heads suddenly bursting from the ground. "Look, up in the sky!" Erza calls out.

"They're dragons!" Elfman gasps.

Leaping from the top, a rather flamboyant looking man landed in front of our group. "Ker-Swoop!" The man chanted.

"What'd he say?" I murmur to myself irritably.

Standing up, and posing ridiculously, I immediately recognize him. "This is as far as you buffoons go!" God Serena exclaimed. "Because the undead version of God Serena has made his godly descent!" I glance back at Juvia and shrug as she shares the same confusion. "Purgatory Dragon Blazing Inferno!" God Serena shouts. A gust of blazing hot fire blasts towards us.

"Is that Fire Dragon Slayer Magic?!" Gray snaps.

"Time to chow down!" Natsu cheers. He immediately starts gorging himself on the flames, causing God Serena to flinch in confusion.

"Ah, well, if that's the case... Sea King Dragon Water Vortex!" God Serena shouts. Shoving Natsu back, I suck in a deep breath.

"Ice Dragon Roar!" I bellow. My roar meets his head on, slamming it back effortlessly, leaving a glacier on the battlefield.

"Tempest Dragon!" God Serena starts sucking in a breath. "Song of Moon and Wind!"

My fake eye snapped shut. "Seer's Rebuttal: Silence!" Blasting from my outstretched palm, I once again met Serena's spell perfectly- although, this one was going to be tough to push back with such an ancient form of magic that may or may not be causing my eye to go blind. Then, just as I feel as if my eye is going to explode, the spells are cancelled, and my vision returns to normal, despite the smoke and dust kicking up. A familiar scent burns into my nose and I whirl my head up, desperately willing my face to stop flushing.

"Yo," Gildarts hummed in a low tone. I fawned over him immediately.

"It's Gildarts! Ha!" Natsu cheered.

I cleared my throat delicately and tapped my fist onto his shoulder. "Sure took you long enough."

Gildarts just snorted. "Don't be so mad about my stealin' your fight," Gildarts retorted in a flirty tone. Okay, that did it for me. I was satisfied with my life. I grin and shake my head. "I'm feelin' hungry. I wanna go back to the guild hall and have a snack." As if on command, his stomach starts growling. I palm at my face in embarrassment.

~*****~

It was silent for a few tense moments, but if anyone could match God Serena with magical prowess, it would be Gildarts. Sure, I could get in a few good hits, but his magic far surpassed my own.

"The old man's here!" Natsu chirped happily as I stepped back and out of the fire.

"I knew we'd see him again someday!" Happy cheered.

"Awesome!" Lucy giggled.

Everyone began to cheer in response. "That's what I call serious back up," Gray chuckles.

"I'll say," Erza hums.

"Always been your style to just show up whenever you please, huh?" Cana teases. "Don't I know it."

"Hi, Cana. My sweet baby girl!" Gildarts suddenly chirps as he engulfs her in a tight hug.

"Ew! Let go of me!" Cana shouts. "And pay attention to the enemy!"

Gildarts grunts irritably. "Oh yeah, this guy. His magic power feels weird. Like it's comin' from a corpse or somethin'."

"Say what?!" God Serena gasped.

"Too bad, really. If you were alive, you'd be one hell of a wizard. But like this, you're a punchline." Gildarts commented.

God Serena guffawed. "You like to run your mouth, don't you? Soon you'll stand in awe of the might of Eight Dragon God Serena!"

The two collide with a headbutt, but you can immediately sense the danger behind it. "Oh, whoa! Such incredible magic power!" Wendy cries.

"From a headbutt? That's crazy!" Gray exclaims.

"He's so cool~" I chirp adoringly.

"And there goes Aria with her crush on Gildarts~" Ballad chimed. A gust of wind carrying a large plum of dust and dirt suddenly kicked up.

Sand burned at my skin again and I snort irritably, glancing towards the sandstorm with my brow raised. "Hey, Fairies! Time for you to shrivel up and die!" Ajeel's voice rings out.

"Didn't I kick your butt once already!" I call out loudly.

"A real man isn't afraid to get dirty!" Elfman growls and charges forward.

"Elfman!" Natsu shouts.

"I'll handle this jackass!" Elfman exclaims. "His dusty ol' attacks won't work against my Sand Beast!"

"A big oaf like you will sink like a stone!" Ajeel shouted. "Antlion Pit!"

Elfman sinks into the pit, but just in the nick of time, Lisanna swoops in and saves him. "That was a freakin' manly save, Lisanna!" Elfman chirps.

"You can fly away, but you'll never escape the Spriggan Twelve!" Ajeel shouts.

"Right then, I'll make the lot of ya disappear." Jacob's voice rings out. Mirajane quickly cracks her fist against his face.

"Sorry, but you're gonna have to deal with me!" Mirajane snaps.

"Go, Mira!" We all cheer.

Jacob rubs at his face. "I like your spunk, but you've made me very angry!" He turns to her, only to turn his nose up in embarrassment. "Whoa! So indecent!"

"Whoopsie!" Mirajane chirped.

"Oh, yeah! Although it's a lot of fun playing judge and jury, my favorite role is executioner!" An unfamiliar man I assume is one of the twelve shouts. "It's boom-boom time!" Rogue and Minerva appear, looking ragged but standing strong. I gaze up in awe as the missiles launched into the air are forced to detonate in Minerva's magic.

"I don't like these insects in my territory," Minerva hums.

"Rogue and Minerva are here!" Yukino cheers.

"We are here to render aid." Rogue mutters.

"Thank you. Where's Master Sting?" Yukino asks.

"We became separated after the sky lit up." Rogue mentions. "But I'm not worried. He can handle himself."

"I'm curious how to the two of you were able to find your way here." Yukino mentioned.

"We were lucky to have this girl guide us." Minerva comments as Kinana walks up.

"Kinana!" I chirp happily.

The boisterous twelve member chuckles nastily. "More wizards for us to devastate!" He chirps.

"Do you feel their strange magic power, m'lady?" Rogue asks.

"It's quite odd. I believe they may be dead." Minerva comments. 

"Which means somebody's controlling them." Rogue nods. "Yukino, will you deal with that?"

"Of course!" Yukino nods.

"It's amazing how nice you are to people who aren't even in your guild!" Sorana tittered.

"Just who is this overly sappy girl?" Minerva asked.

"Uh, long story." Yukino hummed.

The soldiers charge again. "Look at 'em all go!" Natsu gasps as the guild and other wizards begin fighting back. "Everyone's tryin' to clear a path to the guild!" He raises his fist and I knock mine against it. "You better get outta our way!" Natsu bellows.

There's a blast behind us and I fling my head back in surprise. God Serena is going flying with one of Gildarts attacks. "I hope you're ready guys! We're headin' to the guild hall!" Gildarts states.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Natsu shouts.

It's a full-on charge forward and if it weren't the fact that the very existence of Fiore was in danger, it would've been super fun. I hear Natsu shout out in irritation, and I glance over to see a massive arch of ice spreading from his mouth.

"What the hell'd ya do that for, Gray?!" Natsu barked at him.

"I didn't do anything," Gray shot back defensively. "It's weird. The air is changing."

"Cold-" Lucy stammers.

"You should try wearing some clothes, Lucy." Juvia retorts as I flop my cloak onto Lucy's shoulders, relishing in the chill in the air.

"It's freezing!" Lucy continues to complain.

"I'm going numb!" Juvia groans.

"Let's fire it up!" Natsu exclaims. Despite his high magical prowess with his magic, the flames are suddenly turned to ice. "What- no way." Natsu murmurs as he peers around, then, without so much as a sound, he's turned to ice.

"Natsu!" Gray exclaims. "Lucy! Juvia!" I turn in shock as the others are quickly turned to ice. Happy and Ballad are both frozen solid, clinging to one another as if to share warmth.

"Ah. It would seem you two are resistant to cold." An unfamiliar voice chimes out.

"It would seem so," I retort sharply. I stick my hand out in front of Gray. "You figure out how to free them. I'll take care of him."

"You sure?" Gray asks.

I jut my thumb into the air and offer him a smile. "One hundred percent." I turn my gaze back onto the new enemy. "What's your name? I'll want something to write on your gravestone."

The man snorted haughtily. "I'm Invel Yura, Winter General. Your confidence is something to behold. It seems his majesty was right to send me after you." Invel commented. "I'm sure you're aware you're severely outclassed. You may be able to handle the chill, but I bring winter itself."

"Then I'll devour that winter you bring." I retort calmly. "No doubt your master let you know; Ice Dragons can sneeze harsher winter's than what you'll bring me."

"You tell 'em, Aria!" Natsu's voice suddenly rings out. I flinch forward and slouch, turning my gaze over my shoulder in astonishment. "Because that's the Fairy Tail way!"

"I'm not a popsicle anymore!" Happy cheers.

"Owie! Please stop!" Lucy cries.

"Gray, my love, are you okay?" Juvia asks.

"You unfroze them that fast?" I question Gray as he stares in shock.

"I didn't do anything!" He exclaims.

"All right, now it's our turn!" Lucy states loudly. "I say we give him a Fairy Stampede!" I don't say anything to her response, nothing intelligible, anyway, as I'm going swept up in a giant's grasp. I'm shouting out profanities left and right, kicking my legs back and forth in an attempt to squirm free. Then, Lucy's boobs are suddenly in my face. My gaze slices up and Brandish's huge head is in my field of view.

"Hey!" Gray shouts. "What the- Put 'em down!" Gray shouts again.

"Yeah!" Natsu shouts irritably.

"What are you doing?!" Lucy cries. I attempt to ask the same thing, but my voice comes out muffled.

"I'm taking what's rightfully mine." Brandish hums irritably.

"Like hell you are! Let us go!" Natsu roars.

"I realize you're mad, Brandish, but we didn't know-" Lucy says softly.

"Be quiet." Brandish snaps. The grip on us is tighter and my oxygen is cut off.

"Couldn't you lose some weight; your boobs are crushing my face!" I complain as I squirm my face from them.

"Well excuse me!" Lucy shouts at me.