Chapter 32

Hardly-Baked

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's and Ideas

.:+:.

There was the deep, solemn ringing of a bell that echoed over the silent figure of Crocus. The city and everyone in it stood quiet, waiting with baited breath, and bathed under a blood red moon.

"On this night July 7- ten thousand dragons will descend on Crocus, and the kingdom will be decimated."

Hora grimaced slightly, her blue eyes turned a muddy violet hue as they reflected the crimson glow overhead. She felt the dread still hanging over her head, a dark shadow that had not gone away even after finding the one that had lurked at the edges of her vision the last few days.

This is it... Time's almost up

10,000 Dragons on their way, ready to destroy everything... Like they've managed twice already

She bit the inside of her cheek, her hands clenching into fists at her sides and grumbling internally.

It had to be enough, right? That things hadn't gone the way they were supposed to? Enough that she was there now? Very much alive and not bending to the will of the Future, denying it her death even when it seemed to be trying so hard to snatch her life from her?

It had to be enough... but even still.

... This is gonna be bad, huh...?

She shook her head furiously at herself for the intrusive thought, gritting her teeth.

Shit, I shouldn't think that-

'-It's better than fooling yourself with unrealistic notions.' Lixue intoned dryly, and she grimaced at it. 'None of this will be 'good'- you and all the rest of the Wizards are planning to face the might of a horde of Dragons, and one of a number that is larger than what Mages you have on your side. Even a band of 50 or 100 Wizards against a single Dragon would have a difficult time- you are all at quite a disadvantage in this.'

... Well you're a ray of sunshine Lixue... Thanks for that...

'I'm simply being rational.'

She huffed lowly under her breath at him, her teeth gritting further at the words- but hell, he had a point.

I hate it when you're right though

'As do I, occasionally.'

Hmph

The conversation got stopped there (though Lixue did seem to grumble a bit in the back of her head for it), and Hora's attention diverted to her right, Lyon stepping up beside her. A few feet to their right and a bit behind them both was Juvia and Gray, the Fairies having been talking to Lyon quietly for a moment or two before he broke off- and Sherria was somewhere a few streets over now with Yuka, Tobi and Jura (Sherry had apparently decided to join her fiancé for the incoming fight and gone off with Blue Pegasus).

Lyon's eyes narrowed at the eerily red moon overhead as he paused beside her, his eyes trailing from the sky to catch her gaze from the side. He smiled faintly as their gazes matched, only just, and a little sadly too for a moment and she bit the inside of her cheek for it- but the look was gone soon enough and he let out a small sigh.

"... I suppose we'll be seeing which of the three of our Ice Magics compare soon here, hmm?" Lyon murmured lightly, and Hora smiled a touch nervously at it.

"... Ah, you two are totally gonna outclass me..." She mumbled quickly, her hand rubbing the back of her neck a bit. "I've not actually been able to use the Ice Magic half until... Well, a day ago actually..." She explained softly and Lyon blinked in surprise at it. "... It was kinda blocked off, while I had that Possession Link on me... So it came back, when the Link was gone... But I don't really have any experience with it, so I can't even begin to compare to you two. Especially not since you've been using your Maker Magic for as long as you have..." She mumbled, and Lyon tilted his head curiously.

"... Would you not have gained experience using it before the Possession Link was placed on you?" He mused, and Hora smiled nervously still.

"... Uhm... Not really...?" She mumbled, "... Ah, I'd only had this Magic for like a little over a year or so before Jiemma put the the Link on me... And I was mostly trying to figure out the Devil Slayer part, not the Ice portion... I figured out a few things with the Ice Magic... Like tiny, simple Spells... But nothing substantial really..." She mumbled, tapping her fingers together a bit pensively as her eyes fell from Lyon and toward her hands. "... It didn't really help anything that Lixue didn't really like me back then either, so it wasn't like he helped me out in trying to learn his Magic better... And then when he got caught off by the Possession Link... Well, any amount of using his Magic is just the little I figured out when I was a kid, and... I guess just forcing it, for all the rest." She murmured, her eyes flashing a little. "... I don't know it well enough to manage any fancy Spells, or anything with all that much control and precision, not like you or... Gray would be able to..." She added quietly, and Lyon blinked slowly.

"... Who is 'Lixue'...?" He mumbled, and Hora stiffened.

"O-oh, uhm... Well..." She murmured quickly, smiling nervously again and tapping her fingers together still. "... It's gonna sound crazy, but... The Lacrima in my chest, where the Ice Magic comes from...? It's not just a regular old Lacrima, it's actually got the LifeForce of a Creature that uses Ice Magic in it... And that Creature is Lixue... That's his name, and he's still... Kinda alive, even though he's in the Lacrima... And I can hear him in my head, since we're connected... And talk to him..." She mumbled, all too aware of the way his face fell at the information, and how unsure he seemed about it. "... Uhm... So since he's still technically alive... It... It is his Magic, and he has control over it along with me, so he can choose to some degree how much I'm allowed to use it... Or well... I could technically force it and use it whenever I want, without getting permission or whatever, but... it's generally better if we agree on everything and work together... Uhm..." She mumbled, trailing off again and smiling apologetically at him. "... I'm sorry, I know that sounds insane... But I'm telling the truth, its... Just kinda hard to explain, or... Wrap your head around... I swear I'm not crazy and hearing a voice that isn't real... He's definitely real... I just... Have no way to prove that... Ah... At all..."

Lyon just blinked once more, the confusion and unease on his face fading as a more neutral look overtook his expression, and he nodded slowly.

"... I can't say I understand it really, but... I know you're telling the truth, it's just... Unheard of to me, so it is hard to wrap my mind around." He murmured at length, and Hora smiled a little wearily at it. "But from what I think I'm gathering... You never learned much about using your Ice Magic because... Well I suppose if Lixue wasn't overly fond you back then, then he would not have allowed you much use of the Magic even before he was... Blocked off...? And that is why you have so little experience with it...?" He asked slowly, and she nodded.

"Ah, yeah that's pretty much the gist." She hummed, and he nodded a bit, looking thoughtful for a few moments, and Hora let him be.

To be fair, her lack of experience with Lixue's Magic wasn't so much an issue in the grand scheme of things, she was fairly well proficient with her Devil Slayer Magic, and it would be plenty enough on it's own- especially for all this... Or well, she hoped so. And besides, Lixue was still damaged after the Possession Link fiasco, so using any of his Magic wasn't really a good idea right now anyway- lest using it end up doing more harm than good, and make Over-Drive all the worse when it finally hit.

"... Are you and Lixue... On better terms now?" Lyon murmured next, and Hora paused, her eyes dropping a moment.

.:+:.

"So instead, I will make it simple, and I will only tell you what I know as truth." Lixue murmured softly. "You are not perfect. You are insecure, scared, haunted, and at the best of times- truly a mess. And you have made many, many mistakes in your short life- some of which could have been perhaps avoided, or handled better, that is true." He told her rather matter-of-factly, and Hora grimaced, her shoulders hunching. "You have hurt people, mostly without want to, and you do feel regret for it. But of anyone, you have hurt yourself the most- by far. You are not unendingly strong, and a large fraction of the time, your success's are drawn mostly from stubbornness and dumb luck. And you are certainly not the strongest human, or even close to it- and you are certainly not the brightest either. There are plenty more in this world stronger, more powerful, more intelligent, and more capable with Magic than you."

She hunched a little more, her hands falling from her head to holding her cheeks, hiding her face almost as she hissed, her breaths still raggedy and shallow. "Tch... If this is supposed... T...to be a pep talk... Lixue... It sucks..." She whispered, and Ultear looked like she agreed- but Lixue just sighed heavily at the comment.

"Let me finish." He grumbled. "All of what I have said is true... But none of it matters." He told her, and Hora paused, her mind stalling in confusion. "You do not have to be the strongest, or the most powerful, or the smartest, or even be the most capable Mage. You do not have to confident, or fearless, and you do not have to be incapable of making mistakes- all living beings make mistakes. It is a part of being alive." He rumbled lowly, "You do not have to be any of these things, and you do not need to be perfect... Because the simple truth is that you are enough, just as you are."

Hora blinked, her heart skipping a beat as the words seemed to ring on her ears for a moment or two.

W...what...?

"Despite all your shortfalls, and your mistakes, and the pain you carry with you always- you are enough. You always have been, and you always will be. You are enough, just as you are, and with every flaw included." Lixue rumbled, "You are enough... And you needn't be the answer for everything, you needn't be the key to stopping the destruction this world is fated for- you needn't be the hero of this story who slays the beast and saves the world all on your own. Your life spared does not make you the sole being capable of these things, and you shouldn't believe it does... You being alive is enough."

Hora swallowed hard, her eyes flashing and trembling still, locked in place and her ears ringing with every calm, steady, rumbling word.

"The simple fact that you are still live when you are not meant to be is all the proof needed to believe that fate can be changed- that is all that is needed. You do not need to be the hero, and you do not need to have all the answers. Things will happen as they do, it is not up to you to fix everything. The only thing you need do is be there, in any capacity you are able." Lixue rumbled softly, his head bending slightly as his nose pressed against the top of her head. Hora choked on the sob that hit her, her eyes flashing, and trembling under the gentleness of the touch.

"Just live."

.:+:.

I guess... We are on better terms now, aren't we Lixue?

'... Hmm, very much so. Of all those I have known before, and been bound with- you certainly rank as one who I am happy to be bound to... Regardless of your stubbornness.' Lixue murmured gently, his voice cool and soft, and she smiled a little for it, nodding a bit as her eyes glittered. A small, soft smile suddenly crossed her her face, and Lyon tilted his head at it.

... Me too, Lixue...

"... Yeah, we are." Hora murmured softly in reply to Lyon's question, her eyes still down as she said it and Lyon's head tilting a little more for how... Happy she seemed just then, before he smiled slightly himself for it, his expression softening.

"... That's great." He murmured softly, his hand falling on her shoulder lightly and Hora glanced up at him again, dark blue eyes gleaming as she nodded a little. "I am wondering though... How long have you had this Magic...? You would have gained both the Fire Devil Slaying Magic and Lixue at the same time, if the Ice Magic was meant to counter the other, as you explained to your Guild... Right? If you only had it for a year or so before meeting Jiemma, when did you learn it? And how, if you don't mind my asking...?" He murmured next, and she hesitated, the smile breaking a bit and he noticed it instantly. She seemed to swallow, her eyes darting away from him and her hands wringing together in front of her,

"... Uhm... I uh... Received both Lixue and the... Devil Slayer Magic from... A man I didn't know, really..." Hora mumbled quietly, tensely even and Lyon's eyes narrowed slightly. "... He... Passed the... 'mantel'... So to speak... To me... Uhm... That happened... W...when I was... Six... Almost seven..." She explained lowly, and Lyon stiffened in surprise at it.

She was that young? That couldn't have been much longer after-

She shifted a bit uncomfortably, her hands unlinking and her left one gripping tightly to her right arm, digging slightly into that deep, long scar that stretched down the arm from shoulder to wrist, and Lyon went rigid at the sight of it, and how his thoughts clicked together so quickly for it.

"... Uhm... It... It was... When... Y...you know..." She mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper as she said it and Lyon grimaced. She swallowed hard, her hold on her arm getting a little tighter for a moment and he instantly regretted asking at all. "... Ah... A...anyway... It's... Not really a pleasant... Story... But uh... I hope that... Answers your question...? I've had it... A long time..." She mumbled and he nodded,

"... Yes, it does... I am sorry for bringing it up, Horatia..." Lyon murmured quickly, his hand finding her shoulder again and looking quite uneasy now. "... I didn't mean to bring up further... unpleasant things..." He mumbled and she shook her head a bit,

"... It's okay, you didn't realize... You were just being curious..."

Gray bit the inside of his cheek a little, casting Lyon and Hora a glance over his shoulder and grumbling slightly under his breath. Juvia beside him was quiet too, and listening to the Lamia and Saber Wizard in sheer silence. Both Juivia and Gray had tuned in on Lyon and Horatia talking, eavesdropping sort of, but it wasn't like they were that far away so it was easy to hear... Not that either of them really got any of it, mind you.

Gray huffed, his eyes flashing as he shot them one more, lingering look. his eyes narrowing to slits.

He only caught the tail end of the thing about 'Lixue' (and decided quite quickly he wasn't gonna think about it, it was way too crazy for his taste)... but the ending bit about her getting her Magic and when was what caught his main focus. Because clearly there was something Lyon knew in that conversation Gray hadn't a clue about, and given how jumpy Horatia looked when it was mentioned- it only made him more curious about whatever the 'you know' was, as she had put it. But more so than that, what irked him most was how strangely close Lyon and the Saber seemed. They hadn't known each other that long at all, they'd only met a few months ago and not seen each other since, right? Sherria had mentioned what had prompted any of Lamia meeting Hora in the first place a bit earlier, and how they'd not seen her since that time- so what the hell?

Why did she and Lyon seem so... Chummy? It was really freaking weird- Gray knew Lyon, and that guy wasn't chummy with anyone.

Gray grit his teeth, huffing again at the thought and looking away from the two of them altogether.

Something about Horatia irked him still- she'd been irking him since he met her and it had not gone away... And he hated it, it was annoying as hell and he didn't get why- he especially did not get why she seemed so nervous around him, and for no good reason.

I ain't done anything to her, so what is her deal?

It is just with me too- she hasn't been acting weird around anyone else, not Lyon or Sherria- hell, she wasn't acting weird even with Erza.

She's all friendly with everyone else and she's not fidgety unless I pop up- it makes no sense.

Tch... She's definitely got some kind of screw loose or something...

He grumbled at the thought, shaking his head roughly and tossing it away as quickly as he could manage- he couldn't brood about it, he had to keep his head in the game.

Hmph... Her weirdness better not be an issue when we're fighting those Dragons, that's all I'm saying...

Hora forced a small breath, unlatching her hand from holding her arm and shaking herself out a bit as she did so. Lyon retracted his hand from her shoulder and gave her a moment to settle again, still looking faintly guilty for bringing up the subject even despite her assurance it was fine... He had more he wanted to ask of course, a great deal more, but he didn't wish to upset her again- she'd been upset enough when he confronted her earlier about her relation to Gray, and for tonight, that was all she needed (and could handle, as she said).

And besides, there was still that incoming disaster looming over their heads- it was probably best to end the distractions there and be ready for whatever may come.

Hora stiffened suddenly, her head snapping left, and turning slightly back toward the center of the city as her ears picked up on the distant sound of something heavy grinding. The earth under her feet rumbled faintly, imperceptibly so, but it definitely shook, and she bit the inside of her cheeks. Lyon, Gray and Juvia all noticed the reaction right off, their eyes narrowing at the Saber and instantly on edge as she was.

"What is it?" Lyon murmured lowly, Hora shook her head a bit.

"... I think they're activating the Eclipse Gate now." She mumbled lowly in reply, "I can hear the gears grinding, back in the direction where it's supposed to be... The ground is shaking a bit too." She murmured, and they all nodded a bit to the news.

"... It's starting then." Lyon murmured lowly, his eyes moving from having looked back where Hora was and out toward the edges of the capital, and the dark lands waiting beyond. "... 10,000 Dragons coming to this city, all tonight." He mumbled, Hora bit the inside of her cheeks a little further.

... Rogue... Sting... Natsu... Lucy.. Everybody... Please... Please be careful...

She stiffened a bit further when the grinding on the edge of her senses cut off with a loud clang, and then the feel of the shaking grew a bit firmer, and a bit more persistent. She growled under her breath at it, her eyes moving to the edges of the city too and the dark horizon along with all the rest- all the Mages waiting on the streets of Crocus, quiet, tense. Waiting and watchful for what deep, dark storm full of fierce, legendary, and oh-so dangerous creatures were to descend upon them with intent to wreak complete, and utter havoc.

It was deadly quiet. So much so it seemed incredibly unlikely that that amount of Dragons could so suddenly appear in the sky and cause what damage they were fated to bring about.

... Seriously, nobody's seen Dragons in more than an age, besides Sting and Rogue and the other 1st Gen. Dragon Slayers... And all of a sudden there's gonna be 10,000 of them? All at once?

'Unlikely' doesn't seem a good enough word... 'Impossible' either, really...

'... A good point.' Lixue murmured lowly, 'Especially so since I was under the impression the bulk of the Dragons had all perished long ago... I cannot imagine where they would have been all this time, to remain so hidden, and with such number.'

... Yeah, I can't think of where they'd have been all this time either...

Her eyes narrowed to slits as a shiver ran up her spine, that same lurking dread and shadow still persistent- and suddenly sharper with the thought.

There it was again- that feeling something still wasn't right.

Because it... Doesn't make any sense... Does it...?

... Lixue, are you really sure that the Dragons would all mostly dead by now...?

'I am a bit out of the loop certainly, having been not technically living for so long- but I had believed the time of the Dragons had come and gone, yes.' Lixue replied quietly, and she bit down on the insides of her cheeks even harder for it.

... Yeah... them having reached the end of their time makes more sense then... Them not being... Dead...

'... What are you thinking, Horatia...?' Lixue asked slowly, and she shook her head a little stiffly.

"... I don't know..." She mumbled under her breath, and earning a few curious glances from Juvia, Gray and Lyon alike at her sudden mumbling, but Hora paid them absolutely no mind. "... I just... Can't think of any reasonable explanation of why... They'd just... Pop up... With no warning..." She mumbled quietly still, her eyes narrowing at the eerie red moon overhead, her arms falling on her hips. "... Or why he was so convinced... Lucy closed the Gate... Even if it meant... Condemning... Everyone..."

The rumbling deep in the earth underneath her feet sharpened a bit, jumping almost, and she heard the low humming from the direction of the Eclipse Gate get a little louder- and then slowly followed by metal hinges grinding, and the hiss of air and pressure releasing.

"... Or why... I'd still have to... Be dead... For his plan... To... Work..." She mumbled quietly still, another chill running up her spine (and everyone else's too when they caught the words- because what?).

"... If it was just about... Diverting the disaster... Why would I... Have to die...?" She mumbled softly,

.:+:.

"... if any of them were as they are, where I am now, they would try and change what will come... but I cannot risk the future changing, the Dragon King Festival must go on... the Eclipse Gate must open."

Hora gulped, her mind racing her heart pounding like a drum.

Dragon King what...?! And what the hell is an 'Eclipse Gate'...?!

"... this must happen for the future to remain as I need it... even with you no longer at the Inn, when Jiemma acts, Rogue will understand what has happened... he will know why you never come back, Horatia." The voice went on lowly, every word of it making her heartrate pick up and the terror get worse-

N-never come back...? W-what... what is this... guy talking about...?

"... and he will know who to blame, and who it is who is responsible for killing you."

She felt her heart stop altogether, her breath snatched away and eyes wide- paralyzed, taken and blind, with someone whose breath still brushed against her neck- her world gone and empty and cold around her and her nose filled with a scent that was so close to being familiar, but that was so, so wrong... so twisted.

And a voice that was so cold and empty and still... s...still...

... w...why... why does it almost... s...sound like... R-Rogue's... voice...?

A-and... what does he mean... k..kill me...?

"And his convictions will solidify when they find your body... when he realizes that you died alone... with your death, the future unfolds as it should... and the Eclipse Gate will open, the Dragon King Festival will go on- and I will still have what I came for."

W-wait... I.. i...?!

The hands moved, releasing her but her body still wouldn't listen- she couldn't see him, her Captor, everything was still too dark, they were still floating in a world of jet black- but she could feel that Stranger move, trailing around her until he was in front of her. They were so close she could feel their body against hers, their hands hooking behind her head and her neck as she felt their body-heat wash against her face... they... whoever it was, they were pressed so close... too close...!

"... hmm... alone and in agony... left to die on the streets without anyone near... destroyed by the actions of someone you and I once called friend." He hissed, his thumbs tracing across her cheeks as he held her face... gently.

"Forgive me, Horatia. But even I won't wait to see you die a second time."

.:+:.

... Was... It me dying... That turned him into... What that Future Version was...?

... The one willing... To kill me... And Lucy... And... Maybe more than just... Us...?

The creaking sound and grinding metal kept coming, the hissing with it getting a little less fervent and the rumbling in the earth kept bumping up a tiny bit... And then there was something heavier that shook the land, a singular thing, followed by another, and then another... Like...

... Heavy... Footfalls...

Her eyes snapped off the moon and she turned back toward the center of the city, her heart skipping a beat and muscles locking when she heard a low, rumbling roar- far off, muffled almost, but getting closer, and her blood turned to ice.

She knew what that sound was, instinctively, and she knew what made it, and Lixue did too.

'Tch... That thing's primary use was a Doorway through Time, was it not...?!' Lixue snapped lowly, instantly on edge, instantly alert- both them were, and they both reached the same conclusion in an instant.

All the Dragons are already supposed to be dead- so how would they just appear here, with no warning...?!

Why would Lucy have tried to close it at all..?! Lucy who was more trustworthy than whatever twisted version of Rogue that had been, and who was so hellbent about-

Another roar swept out over the capital, louder this time and rolling like thunder out from the center- Hora wasn't the only person to hear it this time, and everyone else around her went stiff as stone.

"... what was that..?" Juvia mumbled,

"... And why is it coming from the Direction of the Eclipse Gate...?" Gray hissed, and Hora started moving immediately.

"He wanted it open...!" She snapped tensely, the Saber whipping around all the way as she did it, heart pounding. Her arm swung forward as she turned, the inky black Markings swirling up her arm and orange and red flame springing up as she swept her hand up into the air, her eyes flashing.

"W-wait what are you doing-?!" They snapped quickly, but she didn't stop.

The spire of flame she shot off rose above their heads at breakneck speed and quickly took the form of some large, fiery bird. It's wings beat down, ruffling everyone below with a storm of hot, wild air as it climbed high up over the roofs of the buildings and into sky- blazing orange and red against the dark backdrop of the night and letting out a loud squawk. It left immediately, streaking across the city and in the direction of where the Gate stood, and where a louder, more rumbling roar came from and so loud the buildings rattled for it.

And then it was followed quickly by another, and more heavy footfalls- SHIT!

"What is going on-?!" Gray and Juvia snapped in unison, Lyon quick to ask it too and the Saber turned to face them again, grim-faced and ruffled.

"Those are Dragon roars!" She snapped back quickly and they froze under the assertion, "That guy from the future who went after Lucy and I said the Gates had to open because it was the only way to destroy the Dragons- but that had to be a lie! Those roars are coming from where the Eclipse Gate is opening, all of a sudden there are Dragons in that direction- the Dragons are supposed to be dead, so how are they just popping up out of nowhere?!" She hissed, blue eyes flashing and shaking her head hotly, and their expressions fell into panicked and serious in three seconds flat.

"The Eclipse Gate's main purpose is to be a door through Time- opening it wasn't meant to destroy the Dragons, it's letting Dragons through! Right here, right now into our time, from sometime in the past where Dragons were still around!" Hora snapped, "He lied about what the Gate does! And Lucy doesn't try and close the Gate to ruin everything- she tries to stop the Dragons from getting through!"

"They have to close the Gate before any Dragons make it all the way here!"

The bird born of fire soared over the city and on a beeline for that huge, looming Gate spilling forth dust and harsh light- the Kingdom Soldiers, the Princess, Arcadios, Yukino, Mirajane, Wendy and the Exceeds wide-eyed and stunned. Lucy stood before the door, the blonde having started toward it the minute it began to open, slow, trance-like, her voice low and urgent.

"Close the Gate... We have to close the Gate."

There was a Dragon already stepping through it, it's roar that shook the city pushed them all back, knocking them from their feet and snapping them all from their stunned state- Lucy too, the blonde quick to realize the very thing Hora did, and hissing as she struggled to get back to her feet. The Princess of Fiore looked on in horror, stuck in place and heart plummeting at the sight of such a massive, powerful beast coming through the very thing that was supposed to destroy it.

We were tricked

Horatia's FireBird screeched as it came up over their heads, ash and ember falling from it's body- and a loud, clear voice erupting from the creature made of fire and ringing on their ears heavily.

"Close the Gate!"

The Mages grit their teeth, Lucy the first on her feet and darting forward toward the massive doors she'd been thrown away from, and the Dragon walking through still with more behind. The Firebird was quick to follow Lucy's movement, Yukino not far behind the blonde, and the bird made of flame diving headfirst into the Dragon in a blaze of fire, keeping it's attention off anyone else and sending hot air to whip out around the area. The Dragon roared as the Firebird clashed with it head on, the Dragon skidding back into the gate only an inch or two, before it threw it's weight forward against the bird and plunged it's claws into the fire without hesitation- and then ripped the bird to shreds. The Firebird screeched as it was ripped in two, before cutting off abruptly and falling deadly quiet- nothing but wisps of flame and a spray of ember left of it, and then quickly blown away into oblivion when the Dragon roared in fury for the resistance.

The Dragon lurched forward then, jumping through the gate entirely and another quick to follow- their calls shaking all of Crocus to the very core and Hora hissed, instantly aware her bird had been ripped apart and stiffening against the sensation.

"...Shit..!" She hissed under her breath, the black markings swirling across her skin again as flame sprung off her hand, intent on making another bird.

"Oi, what just happened?!" Gray snapped behind her, and she stiffened further against it, but that was it.

No time to be twitchy about him-!

"My bird just got ripped to shreds!" She hissed back, her arm sweeping up again and another bird bursting to life above them. But that bird got ripped apart before it ever fully formed by a flurry of wind that swept through the city. Hora, Lyon, Gray, Juvia, and everyone else in the city stumbled back by the sheer power behind it, and shielded their faces against it. The ground rumbled, a line of destruction carving through the city and obliterating buildings and entire streets as it went- throwing up rubble and huge slabs of debris, stone, wood, what have you. The Mages whipped about, stumbling as they fought to keep their feet and many struggling to back off from the sudden wanton destruction out of nowhere- Hora went rigid for it, blue eyes glittering and a heavy lump falling into the pits of her stomach.

"... was that... from a Dragon..?!" Juvia stammered, all four of them narrowing their eyes and trying to blink away the dust that had been churned up. Hora's eyes never found the bluenette as she stammered the question, she heard the flapping of great wings overhead and her attention snapped upward- the eerie red light of the moon blotting out as a massive shadow fell across it... no, shadows.

Three shadows, and from the roars at the gate there were certainly already more through-

SHIIIIIIITTTTT!

Hora's head snapped back around in the direction of the Eclipse Gate, golden light glowing faintly passed the roofs blocking her line of sight, and she grit her teeth.

She knew what the gold light had to be from, or at least- she hoped it was the glow of Lucy and Yukino's Celestial Magic. She hoped they'd realized what was going on, taking her bird's warning, and were already rushing to shut the Gate before more Dragons got through- and hopefully long before there were too many of those great and powerful beasts to contend with... shit, even one Dragon was bad enough, and there were already three..!

She hissed lowly, her arms swinging forward and fire burning bright off her skin, three dozen streams breaking off and condensing down into birds again- these ones were smaller than the first two, but she needed quantity over quality or strength now.

"Warn the rest of the Wizards in the city what's going on, help those at the Gate if you can, and keep track of how many Dragons get through!" Hora ordered sharply, the birds letting out shrill calls in answer before taking off at breakneck speed in all directions.

"Horatia, how did you know the Gate is supposed to let the Dragons through?!" Lyon asked quickly, "And what were talking about beforehand?! Who wanted it open, who said you were supposed to be dead...?!"

"Yeah what the hell is going on?!" Gray snapped hotly, and Hora grit her teeth harder, her eyes breaking from the distant gold glow and the continual shaking, and roaring of more Dragons breaking into their time.

"The other person from the future that went after us... None of it made any sense, nothing he said made any sense... Him saying I had to die in order to make sure the future that he needed to happen came about did not make any sense." Hora hissed, her blue eyes glittering as her expression pulled, slightly pained for a minute and they stiffened at the look. "The Rogue I know wouldn't try to kill me, not even if it was somehow going to save the future." She hissed lowly, "But a Rogue that wouldn't hesitate to try, and who needed me dead... And needed my Rogue to know I had died, so things would work out the way he wanted- that Rogue is someone I don't recognize, someone I don't trust... He never cared about saving the future, because that Rogue can't care about anything other than himself. He was a Rogue that was dead set on a future I wasn't alive in, and where no one would interfere with that Gate opening." She told them quietly, and their eyes grew even wider, their minds reeling.

"... W...wait... The other person from the future was... Rogue...?" They stammered, and Hora swallowed hard, her eyes flashing.

"He wasn't my Rogue." She grumbled lowly, "My Rogue would never do any of this... But that future one... I died in the Future Rogue's version of history..." She hissed, her eyes breaking from them and to the Dragons circling over their heads- six now.

"... And in that timeline... He... Became this... Awful, twisted version... That's... Tricked the Kingdom onto... Opening the Gate... Letting the Dragons in... For what I don't exactly... But..." She said lowly under her breath, her voice shaking slightly as she broke off- because that next thought that came was one that ached terribly.

...I think... I might have been the reason he... He turned into someone... Who could do all this... When I-

"... T...this is insane...!" Gray hissed,

"... B-but... Horatia if you're dead in the Future Rogue's timeline... Shouldn't that timeline have been erased already...?!" Lyon snapped, "You are still alive, how can you still be alive and a Rogue still exist from a timeline where you are not?!"

"Yeah, that doesn't make any sense-!" Gray chimed in, but Hora's eyes narrowed to slits, the Saber woman shaking her head curtly and the turmoil in her expression turning into steadiness in an instant.

"That Future that the Other Rogue wants is trying everything it can to return to the way it wants to be- the one where I'm not alive!" She snapped hotly in return, cutting them all off. "I know it sounds crazy, but that is the truth! A woman named Ultear found me, she told me what was gonna happen, and she told I'm supposed to be dead- but since I'm not, the timeline is in turmoil and it's trying to right itself, by any means necessary!"

She hardly noticed it, but the mention of Ultear earned shocked and familiar looks from the Fairy Tailers- though Hora did not pause.

"I'm not dead, but that doesn't mean the timeline is gonna stop trying to correct itself- it wants to go back to the way it already unfolded before now. That future exists still, it has to, as long as Time is trying to go back to the way it wants- that means the Future Rogue will probably exist all the way up until the very instant the future has no chance to go the way it wants. Me being alive is a hiccup, but things can still go badly enough that Future Rogue's future comes about-!"

Her words got caught off, everything shaking again and another wash of air sweeping through the city with much more fervor than before, and this time they weren't able to keep their feet. The glow of gold in the Direction of the Gate reached an all time high, the air itself vibrating with the intensity of it and the stars overhead almost burning white hot with no warning whatsoever. It was like the heavens suddenly surged, specks of terrifying power and heat sweeping across the sky and converging in over where the Gate was like a funnel- and then pouring downward out of the sky, blindingly bright and suffocating with how much pressure it gave off.

The wave of force and air it sent off upon making contact with the Eclipse Gate was enough to topple a few more buildings around it, as well as knock the Wizards from their feet- Hora stumbled back and landed in a mess with everyone else, her ears ringing for the boom, and the thundering, explosive clap of sound that came with something slamming shut.

Most, if not all, of the birds she'd sent out hastily not two minutes beforehand were snuffed out by the wind- only two remained, stubborn and resistant. One shot up high into the sky and imploded, the flames of it's body forming into an 'O', and Hora's eyes gleamed from where she'd only picked herself up a little of the way from the ground.

"They closed it-!" She said breathlessly, but again, she got cut off.

The last bird followed the first, rising high into the sky to be visible from all sides, it's body melting into the figure of a number- harsh red and orange against a deep black sky now being overtaken by massive, much too fast beasts.

'8'

Her heart dropped into her feet, her blood running cold and panic racing through her in an instant.

"... E-eight Dragons got through...?!" She stammered, everyone else around her wide-eyed and fearful- especially so when the bit of flame got broken apart, a Dragon's body slamming straight through it and snuffing out the orange light.

"Tch, that many...?!" Gray hissed, "The Gate was only open for like five minutes...!"

"That's more Dragons than we even have Dragon Slayers...!" Lyon hissed breathlessly,

The Dragons swept out over the city, incoming fast in all corners and dropping down into the streets, decimating entire buildings in swift flyovers, the debris bouncing off their scales harmlessly- and cutting the distance between themselves and the edges of the Capital and everything else with every second.

"They're destroying everything so easily...!" Juvia stammered,

"Shit...!" Gray hissed, him, Juvia, Hora and Lyon staggering to their feet as quickly as they could. Hora stared, her eyes growing wide and her heart skipping a beat to see one of those massive, deadly, utterly powerful beasts getting closer with each frantic beat of her heart, the tops of buildings snapping off like twigs as it's belly ran into them. A Dragon, with deep blue-green scales, twisted horns, a long, lean, powerful body, and it was incoming fast. It's wings and claws were wickedly sharp, and it's emerald eyes glowed in the dim as they locked straight to where they were standing.

... No, not 'they'

The Dragon's green gaze locked with Hora's, and her breathing stalled, her mind wiped clean in an instant- frozen.

That Dragon-

"It's headed this way-!" Lyon barked, but she barely heard him at all.

'Move!'

In five minutes, things went from bad, to worse- to utter chaos.

Everything got torn up, the buildings, the street- in three seconds it looked nothing like the place they'd been standing, and in three seconds, Hora lost sight of everyone... In three seconds that Dragon swept down, overtaking them, the air suddenly heavy with moisture and smelling like deep ocean- the Dragon's maw open wide and hundreds of milky, almost translucent, and deadly sharp teeth headed straight for Horatia.

Lyon, Gray and Juvia saw the Saber in the path of the Dragon's maws for but a second, before they were suddenly thrown back in all directions and they lost sight of her entirely, their ears hounded with a sickening snap of the Dragon's jaw slamming shut.

"HORA!"

They bounced painfully against the ground, slabs of earth rolling up under them as the Dragon slammed down and it's weight cracked the ground underfoot, a ripple of destruction circling outward and throwing them a bit further. They coughed, their already battered bodies from the Games jostling painfully with the impact, but paying it little mind as they quickly scanned the space where the Saber was supposed to be.

"Horatia..?!"

"Where is she...?!"

"D-did she get swallowed by that thing...?!"

Their eyes locked to the center of the destruction, to where the Dragon stood, it's head lifting and whole sections of stone and cement crumbling between it's teeth to thud back into the ground, and hissing in what seemed like... anger...?

"... W...where is...?" Lyon stammered breathlessly,

"Tch... You idiot were you just gonna stand there and get eaten...?!"

Their eyes snapped away from the Dragon and toward the irritated voice, breathless and wide-eyed to see both Horatia and Doranbolt standing at the edge of the clearing of destruction that had been made- with Hora held tightly in the Rune Knight's arms. He'd Transported himself to Hora and her away with him just before the Dragon touched down all the way- he'd cut it close though, and he was ruffled, on edge, and instantly annoyed for it. Hora jumped slightly in his hold as he asked the question, a little winded herself with suddenly being there, before her eyes snapped to him and his irritated face, and then quickly back to the Dragon- who's head twitched the minute Doranbolt said anything.

"N-no I didn't mean to stand there, but-" Hora started quickly, panic getting clear across her face again as the Dragon moved, it's head swinging around in their direction and her hands snatched Doranbolt up tight enough he might have started bruising.

"Move us again, now!"

He did as she asked, the both of them disappearing from view- and not two seconds before the Dragon lunged forward with a terrible roar, it's jaws snapping shut on empty air and screeching in frustration.

Hora and Doranbolt reappeared on the opposite end of the clearing, the Dragon's ears swiveling back in their direction and Hora hissed. She broke free of the Doranbolt's hold and stumbled to the side, waving a hand back at him fiercely and blue eyes glittering.

"Get away from here!" She ordered sharply, and he stiffened, his eyes snapping from her and toward the Dragon- whose tail swung their way, spiny fins lining the end of the appendage and razor sharp. He hissed, disappearing from view and missing the tail by a centimeter only, leaving it still swinging hard and fast on a beeline for Horatia and she struggled to back off and dodge it. She staggered backward, the Markings across her skin swirling over her arms and fire spiraling up in front of her with a swipe of her hands.

"Fire Devil's Guardian Circle!"

The line of fire carved a path in the ground before her, the wall of flame springing up in blue and red- the Dragon's tail bounced off the wall with a awful boom. But the Spell faltered under the sheer force and Hora did too, causing her to lose her hasty footing a little more, her shoulder slamming into the earth as she lost her feet all the way. She wasted no time in rolling over and back on to her feet, stumbling back a few paces within the confines of the circle of fire. Her heart sank again to catch the Dragon's green eyes, the huge beast whipping around and Magic swirling around it's body- wild, rushing, powerful surges of water.

"Shit-!"

"Ice-Make: Wall!"

A huge torrent of water spun out toward her, a burst of it shooting forward as the Dragon opened it's mouth and let out a roar. Two massive walls of ice shot out on either side of the water and crashed into each other in the middle, blocking the attack for only a few seconds before the water and ice made contact- and the icy walls broke apart with an earsplitting shattering sound. The barrier the ice made was short lived, but it was long enough Doranbolt reappeared beside Hora and Transported them both of out the line of destruction born of the water- which overtook her Guardian Circle Spell completely, the flames hissing and obliterated in seconds.

They reappeared somewhere else, and Hora grit her teeth as she scanned the area quickly in search of the beast, only to find they were now somewhere completely away from the clearing of destruction the Dragon had created. She almost snapped at Doranbolt for grabbing her again, even when she'd pulled away two minutes beforehand- but no sign of the clearing immediately made her wary of seeing no sign of everyone else... But that little bit of worry died off when she caught sight of Gray, Juvia and Lyon standing with them, breathless and ruffled- very much like Doranbolt. He must have Transported everyone away with them, but how far were they-?

"Is it just me, or is that thing going after you specifically...?!" Doranbolt snapped hotly,

"Yeah, it didn't even look at us- it just kept after you!" Gray hissed,

"Why would it...?!" Lyon and Juvia questioned quickly, and Hora winced internally for the loudness of all their voices- it was a fucking Dragon, even if they'd moved a way away it could totally hear them...!

"Tch, don't yell...!" She ordered quickly, her eyes sweeping over the four and then darting between Gray and Doranbolt with a shake of her head, and then Lyon and Juvia after. "And yeah I kinda noticed it's locked on to me, but I don't have a fucking clue why-!"

'-she knows who you are.' Lixue imputed quickly, his sudden intervention causing Hora to break her words off, and her jaw to snap shut so quickly her teeth clacked together rather audibly- and everyone else stared in bewilderment.

'Or rather, she can smell my scent alongside yours- and she recognizes the scent of your Devil Slaying Magic too, I imagine.' Lixue went on, calm but straight to the point and Hora went completely still, her eyes locked ahead and onto nothing, and not even daring to breathe. 'Her name is Callan, and she is not overly fond of me- when I still had a body of my own we were something like... rivals, I suppose. And her disposition toward me did not improve when I allowed myself to he bound to a human in order to counteract the Fire Devil Magic. She was not at all pleased with my decision to do so, and was rather fervent in trying to kill both me, and the first human I'd bound myself to- for a number of years. I think she believes I robbed her of her chance to defeat me firsthand- she's clearly still holding a grudge.'

"... Y... You've gotta be... Fucking kidding me... Lixue..." Hora stammered breathlessly, earning even more incredulous looks from everyone else- not that she noticed.

'I wish I were, but I am not, unfortunately.' Was the all too steady reply, 'It is even more unfortunate Callan was one of the few to make it through the Gate... Though I suppose it's probably likely she caught a whiff of our scents from the other side, and she purposely made certain she got through before it was Sealed. She's a relentless personality, ill-tempered and stubborn- she will not stop trying to kill you. She was quite set on doing so in the past, and she seems quite set on it still, even now.'

"...tch no kidding...!" Hora snapped lowly, her blue eyes glittering and shoulders tensing as she grit her teeth. "What the hell am I supposed to do about that, huh Lixue...?! I can't dodge her forever-!"

'You will have to fight her.' He interrupted coolly, and she stiffened further,

"Fight her?!" She snapped. "I couldn't lay a finger on her, damn it! She's using some kind of crazy powerful water Magic, even my Guardian Circle Spell didn't hold up against her! I use Fire-Based Magic Lixue, against Water Magic I'm already at a disadvantage- but a Water Dragon...?! I don't stand a damn chance-!" She hissed furiously, but Lixue intoned again, steady as before, if a touch exasperated now too.

'You do have my Magic, need I remind you. Ice Magic against Water is a very good matchup.' He intoned,

"That doesn't do me any good Lixue, I dunno how to use your Magic on an level even close to being enough to take on a Dragon...!" Hora muttered hotly, "Even if I were to somehow manage complex Spells without having any idea what I'm doing, it isn't-!"

This time she cut off abruptly, her voice breaking and her small, agitated movements stalling too. She went stiff, and still, utterly unmoving as her eyes went wider than ever and she stared at the ground- while what Lixue said next rang in her head heavier and more pressing than ever before.

She went quiet for a few heartbeats and the sudden stillness was enough everyone else had a chance to bud into the seemingly one-sided conversation the Saber woman was having with herself- because of course they couldn't hear Lixue.

"Oi, what the hell are you talking about..?!" DoranBolt and Gray snapped in unison, while Juvia and Lyon just grit their teeth, uneasy and very, very lost. Hora heard them this time, though only just, her lips pulling into a tight line and swallowing hard. Her hand curled into fists at her sides, her eyes flashing as she shook her head a bit stiffly and spared them a fleeting, and very unnerved look.

"U-uhm, short version, that Dragon... Callan... She really hates Lixue..." She mumbled quickly, "... Which means she hates me too- she wants to kill us. That's why she's going after me none stop... Which means I don't have a choice but to fight her, not unless I wanna get-" Hora mumbled, one hand reflexively coming up to press against her chest, though her eyes darted away from them all in the next instant, and she stiffened.

Shit-!

She sucked in a sharp breath of air and her hand left her chest and swept backward in the direction of everyone else, the pitch black Markings swirling across her skin with a fervor and her eyes caught Doranbolt's from the side for only half a second. "Get everybody away from here, now!" She ordered sharply, and he really meant to do what she asked, but both he and Hora's warning were much too slow.

Everything shook, the buildings around them groaning and crumbling as something heavy bowled through them with an insane amount of force. They all lost their feet, stumbling and scrambling to try and avoid the rubble flying every which way and not get crushed- the bulky form of the Dragon so hellbent on Horatia roared as it rendered the street to dust and debris, just as easily as it had a few minutes before.

"Cease running you puny little child!" The Dragon roared, her voice clear, rumbling and full of fury. "Is this what it's come to, Lixue?! Letting yourself be bound to a human was already bad- but now you're stuck with a weak little girl?! You damned fool!!!!"

The beast's front feet slammed down on the ground and it shattered under it's weight, the air instantly heavy and humid and the smell of water overpowering- great torrents of foaming sea rose up under it's claws and rushed out over the area in a massive wave, the hearts of the Wizards still staggering and trying to regain their feet, dropped at the sight of it.

"Where's your Ice Magic now?! Can this girl not even manage a single Spell?! Can she conjure nothing but that wretched Devil Magic?!"

The water rushed outward, swallowing the Mages and the entire area whole. Gray and Lyon swung out and erected walls of ice to try and spare themselves the brunt of the attack, with Doranbolt disappearing from view, and Juvia quick to try and redirect the water herself. She managed it, for a few heartbeats- but it had too much force and violence behind it for even the Rainwoman to handle.

The water rushed over them, knocking them backwards and plunging them into chilly, dark depths with no end in sight for several, terrifying minutes. There was no sense of up or down the whole way through, and they had no idea where they were when their movement got stopped- Juvia managing to erect a dome inside the ocean of dark water and catch Lyon and Gray inside of it. Both Ice Mages sputtered, stumbling and barely keeping their feet once they were in, lungs aching from the lack of air and looking around quickly to try and see anything through the walls of black on all sides.

"Darling Gray, are you alright...?!" Juvia asked quickly,

"... I'm fine..."

"Where is Horatia and that other man..?!" Lyon murmured lowly, Gray shook his head a bit- they couldn't see anything through the water no matter how hard they tried.

"... Shit... This sucks..." Gray hissed,

The water receded after a few more moments, dropping in level and enough so Juvia could let her dome down without risking them getting pulled under. The buildings were in ruin, water-logged and barely standing where they hadn't been tumbled completely... They were several streets away from where they had started, and the line of destruction stretched that entire distance and more. The amount of power that Dragon had was... Unbelievable.

Shit, this was really bad- if just one Dragon was rendering whole blocks nothing but smithereens, and none of their attempts to defend against it were working- how screwed were they...?! There wasn't just one dragon, there was seven more scattered all through Crocus!

They stiffened, the water running away enough they caught sight of the Dragon again, perched up on a building turned into a pile of brick and stone and glaring down at the space they were in, lips pulled back in a snarl. It's head, and Lyon, Gray, and Juvia's all snapped around when the sound of coughing caught their attention- and they locked to the sight of Horatia and Doranbolt on the far side of the clearing. They were both on their knees and drenched, leaning into each other slightly as they coughed up what water they'd unintentionally sucked in. Doranbolt had managed to grab onto Hora just before the water swept them both up, and Transport them a few streets over- but a few streets was nowhere near far enough to be out of the reach of the water, and they got rammed into by the waves as soon as they finished the move.

The Dragon was moving already upon seeing them, and long before either Hora or Doranbolt were done sputtering for air- Lyon, Gray and Juvia didn't hesitate to move this time though.

"Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!"

"Water Nebula!"

"Ice-Make: Eagle!"

Water and Ice rushed out on a beeline for the Dragon, Lyon's ice-made Eagles spinning in tandem with Juvia's Magic while Gray's shot straight through it's center. All three attacks rammed into the Dragon's side with a loud boom... But the Dragon itself didn't even flinch under the attacks, or seem fazed- at all...!

All three of them faltered, their hearts sinking and swallowing hard as the Dragon paused, it's green eyes shifting their way and lips pulling in an even deeper snarl.

"... Our attacks did nothing...?!"

"S-shit...!"

"N-not good...!"

Hora hissed, hers and Doranbolt's attention snapping upward in the instant the two Fairies and Lyon sent off their attacks- and both of them frowned for what little good it did.

"... This is insane...!" Doranbolt hissed to her right, Hora grit her teeth, blue eyes flashing. She pushed herself forward and onto her feet in the next second, heart racing and mind too the instant the Dragon's eyes found that three on the far side of the clearing. Doing so ripped her from Doranbolt's hold and he snapped something at her she never heard.

Shit, shit, shit!

Hora stumbled forward only a few steps before planting her feet firmly, her aching lungs aching all the more as she forced herself to take in a big, big gulp of air- her cheeks puffing up in the midst of it and eyes flashing icy blue.

I've seen them do this a million times- it can't be that hard, right?! It can't be that different from my Devil's Rage attack, yeah...?!

Shit... Shit..! Please work!

The Dragon growled lowly, it's maw parting as it swung it's head around toward Lyon, Gray and Juvia, it's neck craning a bit as it did and hissing.

"You stupid little pests, bug off!" The Dragon snapped, it's mouth opening wider and water swirling violently in the depths of it's throat and stomach- and then shot out in one, massive, violently churning spire, straight toward them. It was way too big, and way too fast to dodge, or even think of guarding against- even when they instinctively moved to put up Ice Shields and Barriers of water both. The water was not ten feet from them in the matter of a few seconds, stretching far above their heads and roiling angrily.... before it got course corrected at a narrow, and yet rather abrupt angle.

The three standing there stared, eyes wide, stunned, and shaking slightly as the spire of water got swept up in a second spinning vortex made of chilly white. The air dropped several dozen degrees and sparkled with frost born from the tornado of ice that pushed the water to the side, growing as it connected with the liquid and creating several dozen spires and towers of ice that only just avoided them altogether. The attack, and subsequent second show of Magic, barely missed them entirely- and by only about an inch.

"W-what the hell...?" All three stammered, reeling- and remaining that way even as they watched the ice suddenly crack in front of them. It, and it's movement sideways broke off soon after making contact with the water, shattering all up it's length and clattering to the ground along with the leftover hundreds of pounds of water it hadn't managed to freeze. Gray, Lyon and Juvua stumbled as the water ran into them, catching them off guard for only a moment before Juvia redirected the now no longer raging water away from them- and the Dragon didn't pay it any mind.

No, the Dragon hissed, it's head snapping around in the direction of where Hora and Doranbolt were and looking none too pleased.

"That was the most pathetic excuse for a Breath Attack I've ever seen!" The Dragon- Callan- snapped furiously, before cutting off when her brief view of Horatia and DoranBolt ended when the man caught hold of the fiery-haired woman and they both disappeared in an instant. Callan's head swung around again for the other three humans, but they were gone as soon as she looked around too- and she reared up, tossing her head back and wings beating furiously as she let out a booming roar.

"I said stop running stupid HUMAN!!!"

The Dragon's roar and words were a distant drone when they touched down again, much farther away this time, and Doranbolt huffing slightly for the distance and the number of people he'd had to whisk away. He staggered when their feet hit the floor again, Gray, Juvia and Lyon reeling slightly and a little lost to see themselves someplace else once more. Hora stumbled forward a pace and nearly tipped over though, only to be saved from doing so as Doranbolt caught her in just enough time, but not enough to keep them from sinking hard onto their knees when Hora's gave out on her.

The Saber woman hunched, doubling over Doranbolt's arm a bit and sputtering, her breaths raggedy and quickly broken by several, harsh coughs that racked her body painfully. Her eyes shut tight against the icy pain rushing through her lungs with each one, and the faint metallic taste in the back of her throat- she couldn't breathe, her lungs felt like they were spasming and she couldn't even hold herself up for a few, very long heartbeats. It took everything she had to just try and quell the coughing and catch her breath again, and she couldn't right away.

"Hey, you okay...?!" Doranbolt hissed next to her ear, and she hissed, swallowing hard and managing to cease the coughing for only a second, before sputtering some more.

... That... That really sucked...

'... You took in much too big a breath.' Lixue intoned dryly, 'It is a similar Breath attack to that of your Fire Devil's Rage spell, but that was ice, not fire... Heat expands, but cold does the opposite- of course your lungs spasmed. The air and the Magic in your body chilling so abruptly had them contracting, and very much so on such a big intake of air.' He muttered matter-of-factly and Hora grimaced at it, her teeth gritting in agitation.

Fuck off, that was my first try-!

'I am aware. I would caution smaller breaths than that from here on is all, lest your lungs give out on you altogether.' Lixue interrupted coolly, 'This will be a large learning curve for you, but you have little choice.'

Tch... No kidding damn it-

"... Horatia, are you alright...?" Lyon was the next one to ask if she was fine, and not more than two seconds after Doranbolt had. The Lamia Wizard darted up to be on her other side, panicked slightly, and she frowned at it, and the fact she couldn't really manage talking just yet still... damn it.

"Yeah, and what the hell just happened...?!" Gray hissed quickly, "What was that attack you just sent off...?!"

"The Dragon said it was... A Breath attack...?" Juvia mumbled, and Hora coughed one last time, swallowing hard against it and forcing a heavy sigh. She leaned back out of Doranbolt's hold and nodded at him and Lyon,

".. Uh... Yeah I'm okay, I kinda... Executed that poorly... Apparently..." She mumbled, grumbling a bit and forcing herself up and onto her feet rather quickly- and so quickly so both Lyon and Doranbolt jumped at it, hovering a bit, but she seemed steady enough. She forced another breath once she was on her feet, which that breath hurt still in her lungs, but not enough she couldn't handle it. She paused, her lips pulling into a tight line and grumbling under her breath a moment.

'What the hell just happened'...?

I panicked... And sucked... I'm not... Tch...

... Callan is strong as hell, and there are seven others... Shit...

... Even if... We give it our all, and I somehow manage a miracle...

... Do we win this...?

... I don't know how to-

She bit down on her tongue hard, quiet still and trying her best to garner some response to those still waiting for it- but she didn't get to it before being interrupted again- this time not by Lixue, or Callan, but something else entirely.

A massive, looming shadow dropped over them and their heads snapped up to see an utterly huge Dragon blotting out the sky directly overhead- it was bigger than even the one coming after Hora now and they gulped at it. Each beat of it's wings to keep it aloft sent a flurry of wind over the city below, and as it got directly above them they had to steady themselves against it- for the moment forgetting all about what questions they had, and what they'd been talking about... And Hora went deathly still.

Her nose twitched, the wind bringing with it a scent that was all sorts of wrong and now forever imprinted on her mind- the Future Rogue, and from where it was coming... Is he up there, on that Dragon...?!

Her eyes flashed, heart skipping a beat as a flash of fear and uncertainty hit her straight in the chest.

... W...wait, wasn't he fighting Natsu...?! What happened to him, if the Other Rogue is up on that Dragon...?! Don't tell me-!

She stiffened again, a glare of red and orange up overhead and a bit to the left catching her instant attention. It was bright, burning and clashing with the dark sky overhead and it shot straight up off a building and into the air with some insane, almost impossible amount of speed and power. And she wasn't the only one that noticed it, everybody else did too- the streak of orange red arcing above the Dragon swallowing the sky whole, blazing like a beacon or some massive, wild star-fire.

Hora's eyes gleamed, her heart skipping a beat as another waft of air brought a new scent and she stared, wide-eyed.

Is that-?

The blaze of wildfire up above the Dragon suddenly changed direction, streaming straight downward toward the beast's back and fast as hell. The fire erupted as it made contact, spiraling out on all sides and booming- while also pushing the Dragon several dozen feet downward in air and earning a pained and angry roar from it, while it's body bent under the sheer force.

H-holy shit- what kind of power is that...?!

He actually moved the whole fucking Dragon...!

"Incredible..." Lyon mumbled, him and everyone else looking just as stunned as Hora did herself.

"...tch, is that Flame-Brain up there-?" Gray mumbled, only to get cut off.

"LISTEN UP!"

Hora flinched slightly for the shout that suddenly rang out overhead and what ridiculous amount of noise it was- it made her ears ring slightly, but even still she smiled breathlessly at it.

"... Definitely Natsu..." She mumbled under her breath, before flinching again when the Fire Dragon Slayer kept on, still just as loud.

"IT'S CALLED DRAGON SLAYING MAGIC FOR A REASON!" He snapped hotly, "THERE ARE EIGHT DRAGONS, AND EIGHT DRAGON SLAYERS- SO GET YOUR ASSES IN GEAR AND GET GOIN!"

"Eight...?" Juvia mumbled,

"... Can he not count...?" Doranbolt grumbled lowly,

"... Dumbass..." Gray muttered, but Hora just went stiff as a board, eyes wide and staring.

"THIS IS WHAT OUR MAGIC IS MADE FOR, THIS IS WHY DRAGON SLAYERS EXIST! SO LET'S DO THIS!" Natsu kept on, his voice loud and clear and the glow of his fire overhead burned all the brighter, explosive and wild as he rammed into the Dragon again- the beast roaring as it got pushed downward another dozen or two feet, it's entire back swimming in bright, furious flame.

"TIME FOR SOME DRAGON BBQ!"

"... Hmph, he's an idiot but he has a point." Gray mumbled,

"We have no choice but to fight." Lyon agreed, his eyes trailing toward Horatia. "And if this Dragon is after you, we won't leave you alone- we will fight it together."

"Yes, even if our Magic may not be suited for it, we will do our best." Juvia murmured steadily,

"... You people are crazy... Wouldn't it be easier to run...?" Doranbolt sighed, his eyes trailing toward Hora too and pausing- just like everybody else. Because the Saber Woman's eyes had fallen closed, a heavy sigh escaping her, and she was tapping her fingers together in front her, almost fidgety... She looked nervous, and uneasy, and even sort of exasperated- and they weren't sure why...?

"... Uhm... Yeah... Fighting or no isn't really an option... And I will really, really appreciate the help... She's gonna keep coming after me, and she'll find us pretty soon too... But uh... There's just one thing... Natsu kinda didn't count wrong... Though I don't even get how he... Knows... Or would know... But uh..." Hora mumbled, another heavy sigh escaping her and she glanced up at them all almost cautiously, a shaky, uncertain smile crossing her face now and they faltered.

"... Lixue is a Dragon." She mumbled and their faces fell utterly flat in an instant, which just made her all the more nervous, and her tapping fingers stumbled a bit- and instead her hand separated and one found the back of her neck. "So technically, since his Lifeforce and Magic both are in the Lacrima in my chest... I guess that technically, kinda... Makes me a 2nd Generation Dragon Slayer...?" She mumbled quietly, and their faces fell even flatter- if that was possible.

...

...

...

"... WHAT?!"

Hora flinched a little at the very loud, and very incredulous outbursts from all four as a whole, sweatdropping heavily for it while her nervous smile broke a bit.

"Are you serious?!" Gray hissed, wide-eyed along with everyone else.

"Y-you're a Dragon, and a Devil Slayer...?" Lyon stammered, "With two... Separate elements...?!"

"T-that's... That can't be possible, surely...?" Juvia mumbled, "How can anyone have multiple Slayer Magics...?!"

"No kidding! They only person I know who has more than one is a Wizard Saint!" Doranbolt hissed, before pausing half a second and rounding on Hora all the more. "Woah, woah- what the hell?! Why is the first we're hearing about it?!" Doranbolt snapped hotly, Hora wilting a bit under the rounds of questions and whatnot, and more so for the Rune Knight's. "Don't you think mentioning you're a Dragon Slayer might have been a good idea way earlier than this?!"

"W-well I didn't think about it like that at all...!" Hora replied quickly, "I mean I knew Lixue was a Dragon but... I've never considered that it would technically mean I'm kinda a Dragon Slayer too..!" She replied, but the answer just made Doranbolt puff up in further agitation.

"What are you, dumb?!" He snapped and she frowned at it, her hands balling into fists and looking agitated too- but not quite as angry, more exasperated.

"Shut up! It's not my fault, I have literally never learned how to use Lixue's Magic at all, least of all to a degree that would warrant Slayer Magic..! I haven't even been able to use any of it until last night, it's not something I've practiced with or had to consider before just now, damn it! Of course it didn't occur to me..!!" She snapped back, "I've never done anything with that part of my Magic, why would ever think of it in that way?!"

"Because you've got a Dragon talking to you in your head?!" Doranbolt snapped back, "That's who you said you were talking to, right?! Normal people would make the connection between a Dragon Lacrima and being a Dragon Slayer right off!"

"Enough, quit arguing damn it!" Gray interrupted quickly, breaking the bickering off in an instant. Hora and Doranbolt's heads snapped his way, looking ready to tell him to bud out- but they faltered when they caught sight of the Ice Mage, though Gray didn't pause.

"None of that matters right now- you've got a Dragon on your ass, and you're a Dragon Slayer, like it or not! Natsu's got a point that Dragon Slayers have the best chance to take a Dragon down, so you gotta focus!" Gray hissed, "Especially if what you're saying about never using that Dragon's Magic before is true! Lyon's right, we ain't gonna leave you to fight alone- but are you gonna even be able to do any damage against that thing..?!" He hissed, only to break off when he registered the sort of bewildered looks he was getting, ".. What?!" He hissed in annoyance,

"Why are you in your underwear...?!" Hora and Doranbolt mumbled in unison and Gray stiffened, his eyes snapping down to his person and looking annoyed.

"Damn it!"

Lyon sighed, stepping forward quickly and catching the conversation before it went too far off track again.

"Gray is right, we must focus...!" The Lamia Mage murmured quickly, catching Hora and Doranbolt's eyes as he stepped up. "Horatia, you yourself told me you have no experience with Lixue's Magic, and if you weren't even thinking of it in the way of it being Dragon Slaying Magic- how well do you expect you'll do now?" Lyon pressed, urgently so, and Hora swallowed at the question.

"I... I don't know, Lixue can help out a little but it's gonna mostly be luck and trial and error..." She replied with a small shake of her head. "But it's not like I have a choice, it's either try and fight or get killed... I can't just run and do nothing either, everybody else is gonna be fighting Dragons too, I have to do what I can...!" She hissed and he frowned a bit at the answer, looking just as uneasy and she did, but she was right- there was no option.

All they could do was try and fight- and hope all they could give would be enough.

"Right." Lyon murmured, "We will do whatever we can, and give it our all along with you." He told her, nodding stiffly and just once- the action mirrored by Juvia and Gray both, and Hora nodded back, though more tentatively than she meant to.

"Yeah, we're gonna kick ass, right?" Gray murmured, "Between three of us with Ice Magic and Juvia's Water Magic, that Dragon won't stand a chance." He huffed and Hora's eyes glittered a bit for the little show of confidence, where she had very little... Because honestly?

'Large learning curve' was putting it lightly... This wasn't a learning curve of any sort, all she could do right then was wing it. Utterly wing it.

"Tch... I still think you're crazy."

Hora's attention snapped toward Doranbolt as he grumbled the words just to her right, the Rune Knight huffing as he caught her eyes and looking not at all pleased- but he looked mostly calm despite that, and so much so she blinked at it. He forced a heavy sigh and shook his head,

"... But... Hell, you defeated a Demon of Zeref all on your own- how hard can a Dragon be?" He mumbled, and she stiffened a bit in surprise at the comment, and more so for the weary look on his face (while everyone else went utterly rigid). "... Grant you, you almost died doing it... But still, you did win." Doranbolt mumbled with another shake of his head, his expression calm and serious as he gave her a slightly pointed look. "Hmph... So go slay that Dragon, alright? And try not to get killed or nearly so in the process, got it?" He grumbled lowly and Hora blinked, her blue eyes flashing and stunned- before a small smile broke across her face and she nodded, and with much more surety this time around.

"Got it." She hummed and he huffed again,

"Fine... I ain't much for fighting, but I oughta get back to Lahar, and the rest of the Knights. It seems like all the Guilds could use a bit of help, so it's probably time we start in too." He grumbled, "And don't run off from these guys, okay? Ira ain't gonna be able to track you down like last time if you charge in ahead and handle everything yourself like you did in North Wind." He muttered with a gesture of his hand toward Lyon, Juvia and Gray- and Hora nodded again.

"I won't." She mumbled, "Don't go getting yourself killed either, okay? Same thing for Lahar and Ira, tell them for me, yeah?" She murmured and he seemed to grit his teeth at it, looking away pointedly.

"... Tch... Fine." He grumbled, his eyes casting toward the other three and shaking his head. "... Good luck... you're gonna need it." He muttered, before disappearing in a blur, and leaving the four of them alone again. Hora took in a big breath and caught everybody else's eyes, her hands curling into fists and resolution working it's way into her expression quickly... So quickly it didn't seem possible, and they faltered a bit for it, and the little exchange they didn't quite get.

But their attention on Hora diverted by the sudden roaring of the Dragon overhead, and then the subsequent bursts of light that dropped down from it and meteored toward the earth. The ground rumbled with the hundred or so heavy impacts that touched down around them, and a hundred more peppering the city- it had them all instantly alert and on edge, hissing and tense. Hora's head snapped left when the sound of cracking caught her ears and then it was quickly followed by roaring- less loud than Callan or the Dragon hovering over the city, but definitely dragon-like, and her heart along with everyone else's dropped.

"Don't tell me-" she hissed, her eyes catching what everyone else's did, and all the wizards around the city faced with the same sight too.

"-are those mini Dragons...?!"

There were dozens of them already rushing forward through the rubble, taller than a human all, all of them shining silver and metallic with beady, red eyes- and wicked sharp claws and teeth. Several darted forward without hesitation toward their little group, and they all shifted, readying themselves for the incoming (and completely unanticipated) wave of enemies. Hora drew herself into a defensive stance in the same heartbeat as everyone else, the roars of the Mini-Dragons shrill and high-pitched, but not enough to drown out the shouts and yells of dismay from the other wizards all over the city suddenly set upon too.

Shit, you gotta be kidding me- more Dragons...?! Even if they are little ones, why does there have to be more...?!

She flinched, her ears honing in on something other than the shrill calls of the little beasts, and she grit her teeth hard.

"YOU SHALL NOT RUN THIS TIME YOU LITTLE PEST!"

The words cut straight through all the other noise, and then were followed by the sound of earth shattering and rubble clattering- the earth bounced this time under their feet and they struggled against it. The hefty form of the Dragon Callan suddenly dropped down not a few dozen feet from them, utterly furious, and Lyon, Juvia, Hora, and Gray all collectively grimaced.

"Juvia thinks things just got a lot worse...!" Juvia mumbled,

"You have gotta be kidding me-" Gray muttered hotly,

"... We are outnumbered now." Lyon murmured grumpy, and Hora's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Tch... Shit." Hora hissed. She was quick to right herself after stumbling, her feet squaring on the badly battered stone and shaking her head once.

"Yeah, well there ain't nothing for it, we just gotta give it our all!" Gray hissed, starting forward with little to no hesitation as his arm swung out, Ice forming in his hands in a large sword. He swept it out and caught the first line of Mini-Dragon's in the blade's icy quake, Juvia at his heel with a wash of water to take the next. Gray cast a glance over his shoulder toward Hora and Lyon, deep blue eyes gleaming.

"We'll keep the smaller ones off you two, while you handle the big one, kay?!"

Hora and Lyon hesitated for only half a second at the words, before they nodded and shifted their attention in the opposite direction. They stepped up, shoulder to shoulder and instantly moving into defensive position in near perfect unison, ice and frost already sparking at Lyon's hands and Hora moving her arms up slightly to her sides.

"I'm right behind you, Horatia." Lyon cast the comment her way quickly, their eyes meeting for half a second as they tensed, prepared to start forward, and she smirked slightly at it.

"Thanks Ice-Boy- let's give her some hell, yeah?" She hummed, Lyon smirking faintly to it before her eyes shift from him and locked straight ahead to that Water Dragon who was seething, and ready to start forward into all-out battle.

Hora's eyes locked with Callan's, the she-dragon snarling as their eyes matched, and Hora's own lips curled as she bared her fangs a bit, her usually dark blue gaze flashing a chilly, icy blue- and the air dropped more than a dozen degrees between her, Lyon, and Gray all combined.

"You still looking to test yourself against Lixue's Magic, Callan? Let's go then!" Hora hissed lowly, her heels digging in as the she-dragon snarled lowly at the question- and then both Hora and Lyon started forward toward her, icy cold blazing at their hands and heels, steadfast and unflinching.

"One hardly-baked Ice Dragon Slayer at your service!"

.:+:.

Hello everyone!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Stuff is gonna GO DOWN in the next one, so be prepared! haha

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