The small family sat on the dirty floor in contempt. It felt good to finally be together. In fact it was amazing. For so long, they had all gone without all the love required in a family bond, and now they felt complete.

"Um, as much as I don't want to interrupt this family reunion, we have company," The group of three had been completely unaware of Gajeel who was standing by the door. He had a light blush on his eyes, and it almost looked like he was about to cry. The small moment must have been too touching for even him to handle. Natsu was about to tease him until Lucy nudged him, giving him a silent no. Natsu helped Lucy rise to her feet as they started following Gajeel to the others.

"We need to get out of here as soon as possible," he said, clutching Nashi's hand in his as they quickened their pace down the hallway, fighting could be heard at the halls entrance. Natsu glanced over his shoulder; surprised to see Lucy had frozen in her place.

"Natsu, we can't leave just yet."

"What the heck are you talking about Bunny Girl, of course we're leaving," interrupted Gajeel.

"Natsu I need my keys."

"We don't have time for that now Luce," he said in frustration. He had to tell her about Nashi's situation, but he couldn't do it with said girl clutching his hand. It would scare her. Lucy walked up to the Dragon Slayer and grabbed his armored shoulders.

"No Natsu, you have to understand," she spoke, desperation laced in her voice, "If I don't get my keys back, everything we know could change."

"What are you talking about?" he asked quizzically. Gajeel raised an eyebrow in confusion as well.

Lucy sucked in a deep breath, "The Eclipse Gate is here."

Natsu's world suddenly stopped. Carla's vision suddenly resurfaced in his mind. At the time, the idea of seeing the Eclipse Gate was almost impossible, but hearing Lucy confirm it now…

What else could Carla have been right about?

"The master of this guild wants my keys so he can travel back in time to before Zeref became immortal, so he can take his immortality and do the one thing Zeref was too afraid to do."

"What?" Nashi asked nervously, holding her father's hand a bit tighter. Lucy stared into Natsu's eyes, complete fear evident in her own.

"To kill everyone."

The two Dragon Slayer's eyes widened in shock. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. Who would be crazy enough to pull a stunt like that? They had to be insane.

"Wait, doesn't he need Yukino's keys as well? I thought they needed all the Zodiac keys in order to open the Gate" Natsu asked.

"Technically, Hisui never needed all the Zodiac keys, it was just pure coincidence that both me and Yukino had the twelve Zodiac keys. My nine keys should be all they need."

"Wait, nine? I thought you had ten?" Lucy formed an "o" shape with her mouth, seeing her slip up. She forgot she never told anyone about what happened to Aquarius. She was just so heartbroken, and knowing she was pregnant delayed the inevitable. Lucy's brown eyes fell on the floor in front of Natsu.

"I don't have her anymore," she whispered, "her key was destroyed during Tartaros." Lucy was taken back when Natsu suddenly pulled her into a hug. He murmured into her golden locks.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lucy's lower lip trembled. She really thought she was over this, but it looked like she was wrong. She didn't exactly let all the sadness out or seek comfort from her friends during the period. Lucy could feel the tears begin to build up in her eyes. Before any could fall though, the Iron Dragon Slayer beside them let out a loud groan.

"Okay, I get it," grumbled Gajeel, "You two have some things to talk about, but we really don't have time for this," he said, gesturing to the sounds of combat just down the hall. Reluctantly, Natsu released Lucy and once again took Nashi's tiny hand. The four Fairy Tail mages started off down the hallway, following the sounds of their friend's spells.

When they reached the end of the hallway, a guard was being hurled in their direction. Natsu pushed Nashi out of harms way while Gajeel and Lucy jumped to the side. After the man came crashing into the wall, Natsu turned his attention to the person who threw him there in the first place.

"What the heck Gray, watch were you're chucking people," he yelled, throwing his fist in the air. Gray continued to fight against the oncoming soldiers.

"Well, you shouldn't have let your guard down Flame Brain!" he yelled back, punching a man in the jaw.

"Who are you calling Flame Brain, Ice Princess?"

"Fire Breather!"

"Popsicle Breath!"

"I see these two haven't changed since I left," Lucy mumbled as she clutched Nashi close to her. The small girl giggled at her father and uncle. Not wasting another second, Natsu jumped into the battle, determined to protect his family. A large group of Scarab's Wings members came charging at him. Natsu sucked in a large breath.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" a large burst of flames erupted from inside Natsu. Men went flying left and right after his attack.

"Go Daddy!" Nashi cheered from the sidelines. His daughter's encouragement fueled Natsu even more as he fought more and more men. Lucy watched in awe as all her friends fought their opponents. So much had changed since the last time she witnessed them fight. Natsu's flames had become larger, Gray's ice did wonders just by the flick of the wrist, and Erza was sporting fancy new armors. A prideful smile appeared on Lucy's lips.

I have such a great family.

More men advanced on the great Titania, but all were down at a seconds notice, Lucy couldn't even see her sword moving. At the same time, Wendy had created some form of tornado, causing men to fly throughout the room. Gajeel grabbed two guys and smashed their heads together happily. Juvia was fighting alongside Gray as more guild members surrounded them. The exceeds were using their combined strengths to take out other mages. Natsu was laughing like a maniac as he socked man after man in the face with his Fire Dragon Iron Fist. It didn't take long for the Fairy Tail mages to almost obliterate everyone that came their way.

"We're almost out of here guys!" Happy yelled, seeing the exit not far. Lucy turned to Natsu desperately.

"Natsu we can't leave, I still need my keys!"

"We don't have time for that now Luce, we have to get Nashi out of here. It's not safe," he said, referring to Nashi's condition. He still needed to inform the blonde about that, but Lucy persisted.

"Natsu you don't get it! If we don't, the world…"

Natsu glanced over at Lucy when her sentence went unfinished. Said girl was standing in place, almost flinching. Her eyes were wide with terror. Nashi looked up at her mother worriedly.

"Mommy, are you okay?"

"Ahh!"

Natsu and his daughter's eyes shot toward Juvia who was sinking down to her knees. She looked extremely uncomfortable and in pain. Another gasp rang out from Wendy, as the same thing was happening to her.

One by one, the Fairy Tail mages sank to the floor, all-gasping out. Now only the exceed, Natsu, and Nashi stood. Nashi ran to her father's side, being frightened by the sight. A clap rang out through the dark building. The five people still standing turned their attention to a figure standing on some stairs in the center of a large doorway. He had white hair and pale, gray eyes. He wore a maroon and purple coat with black dress cloths. Nashi shrunk in her place at the sight of him.

"I must say, this is a surprising development," the figure said in a chilling voice, " I understand why I can't control the cats, but for some reason, you two are unaffected by my magic." Natsu stared at him in confusion as Nashi trembled behind him. Natsu could feel her small body shaking. The man snapped his fingers, echoing through the now quiet room.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands came up from behind the exceeds and scooped them up. The odor of sweat and poor hygiene hit Natsu's nose, alerting him that the twins were there. Natsu turned around only for him too to be captured by large hands. He was thrown against the floor, his skull making a sickening sound as it came in contact with the stone.

His eyes shot toward Nashi when he heard the small child scream. He tried looking up at her, but his head was once again shoved back onto the floor. He watched from the corner of his eye as shadows surrounded Nashi then formed into the scary woman from earlier, a smirk ever present on her face. Natsu turned his attention back on the man standing on the stairs.

"It doesn't really matter Salamander, nothing you do now will change the inevitable. Speaking of which." The man strolled leisurely toward the blonde Celestial Spirit mage. Natsu growled as he stroked a hand on his Lucy's cheek. The woman flinched at the contact.

"It's time Lucy." Waving his hand simply, all the mages on the floor stood simultaneously. The sight startled Natsu and gave him an odd feeling in his stomach. Natsu was lifted off the floor and forced to follow the mysterious man as he led the other mages with his strange and creepy magic. He glanced at his daughter over his shoulder. She held a look of terror on her face; this only made Natsu's stomach feel even worse.

Something bad was about to happen.