Chapter XXXV: The Legion vs Fairy Tail!
The Legion's Objective Revealed
Panther Lily's Declaration
In a clearing not far from the main battle, Wendy, Carla, Panther Lily, and Cumber had cornered Earth Land Coco. The young Sky Dragon Slayer maintained her defensive stance, ready to heal any injuries while supporting her companions, while Cumber stood beside her with his characteristic quiet protectiveness.
Earth Land Coco moved with the enhanced speed that Uruk had identified earlier, her bio-magical augmentation making her a blur of motion as she dodged Wendy's support spells and Carla's aerial attacks.
"She's too fast!" Carla complained, her wings beating furiously as she tried to intercept the woman's movements.
Cumber's eyes tracked Earth Land Coco with the precision of someone who had trained under both Saiyan and magical combat disciplines. "Her speed follows predictable acceleration patterns," he observed quietly. "Panther Lily, strike point three meters ahead of her current trajectory in 2.3 seconds."
Panther Lily's expression had grown increasingly troubled as he watched their opponent. Despite the physical similarities to the Coco he had known in Edolas—someone he had worked alongside, someone who had shown kindness and uncertainty in equal measure—this woman's cold efficiency spoke to a fundamentally different person.
With a surge of magical power, Panther Lily shifted into his battle form, his small cat body expanding into the massive warrior configuration that had made him a captain of the Royal Army in Edolas.
"Even though you look like someone I once knew," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of difficult decisions, "you are my enemy. And I will strike you down to protect my friends."
His sword, Musica, gleamed in the fading light as he charged forward following Cumber's tactical guidance. The strike came exactly where predicted, and Earth Land Coco barely managed to dodge, her bio-magical enhancement working overtime to compensate for someone who could predict her movements.
"How did you—" she gasped, rolling away from a follow-up strike.
"You're fighting a Saiyan warrior raised by the Destroyer herself," Cumber replied simply, his power beginning to manifest as he prepared to cut off her escape routes. "Pattern recognition is the first lesson Mother teaches."
Wendy took advantage of the opening, her Sky Dragon Slayer magic creating wind barriers that funneled Earth Land Coco's movement options, forcing her into increasingly predictable paths that Panther Lily and Cumber could exploit.
Gildarts and Teilanne vs. Byro
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, Gildarts Clive had encountered the true leader of the Legion Corps assault. Earth Land Byro sat atop his massive octopus mount Kanaloa, his youthful appearance contrasting sharply with the ancient power radiating from both rider and creature.
But before the confrontation could fully develop, golden energy erupted beside Gildarts as Teilanne materialized, her Destroyer instincts having tracked her husband to this location.
Byro's expression shifted immediately from confident to wary. "The Destroyer herself," he said carefully, his tactical mind rapidly recalculating the odds of success. "The intelligence reports didn't mention you would be directly involved."
"Your intelligence was incomplete," Teilanne replied, her power beginning to manifest around her in a controlled aura. "Attacking my family tends to get my personal attention."
"You must be Gildarts Clive," Byro observed, trying to maintain his composure despite facing two legendary warriors simultaneously. "The legendary crash mage married to the Destroyer herself. I must say, the intelligence reports didn't adequately convey your... combined presence."
Gildarts cracked his knuckles, his crash magic already beginning to manifest around his prosthetic limbs. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you. Though I have to admit, I'm getting tired of people attacking my guild family."
Before the battle could properly commence, rustling in nearby bushes announced the arrival of an unwelcome observer. Jason from Sorcerer Weekly Magazine burst into the clearing with his camera lacrima already recording.
"COOOOL! The legendary Gildarts AND the Destroyer facing off against a mysterious enemy! This is going to be the best article ever!"
Gildarts sighed deeply, recognizing the reporter who had been following him intermittently for weeks. "Jason, are you still tailing me? I thought we agreed you'd gotten enough material."
"One day in the life of Gildarts Clive married to the legendary Destroyer is going to be the most popular article in Sorcerer Weekly history!" Jason insisted, his enthusiasm undimmed by the dangerous situation he had inserted himself into.
"Jason," Teilanne said with dangerous calm, "if you don't leave immediately, you'll get an exclusive firsthand account of what happens to people who interfere with my family's battles. I promise it won't be pleasant to experience."
The threat, delivered in her characteristically controlled tone, somehow carried more weight than any amount of shouting. Jason's survival instincts finally kicked in, and he scrambled into the bushes to observe from a much safer distance.
Byro launched his first attack, Kanaloa's tentacles lashing out with speed that belied the creature's massive size. Gildarts countered with his crash magic, his fist connecting with one of the tentacles and causing it to shatter into fragments.
But to his surprise, the tentacle reformed almost instantly, the damage seemingly meaningless.
"Interesting," Byro observed. "Your crash magic is formidable, but Kanaloa exists partially in a dimension beyond physical harm. You'll find conventional destruction techniques rather ineffective."
"Then it's fortunate," Teilanne said, her power spiking dramatically, "that my techniques are anything but conventional."
Her Saiyan ki erupted outward in a controlled burst that made the air itself vibrate with potential violence. Unlike magic that Byro could nullify, ki operated under completely different principles—it was life energy refined and weaponized, not subject to the same laws that governed magical attacks.
Kizuna and Mirajane's Combined Assault
On another front, Kizuna and Mirajane had tracked down Earth Land Sugarboy, who had separated from Natsu's engagement to attempt a flanking maneuver. The Super Saiyan and the demon mage moved with the synchronized precision of partners who understood each other perfectly.
"The slime composition changes based on absorbed magic," Kizuna observed, his analytical mind combining with his raw power to create devastating efficiency. "Mira, use your Satan Soul's darkness magic—it's harder for organic compounds to adapt to conceptual elements."
Mirajane's transformation into her Satan Soul form was instantaneous, her demonic power manifesting as she launched attacks that combined physical force with darkness manipulation. Each strike she landed forced Sugarboy's slime to attempt adaptation to magic that existed partially outside normal physical reality.
"You're the one who fought alongside the Destroyer's daughter earlier," Earth Land Sugarboy observed, his theatrical demeanor cracking slightly as he realized he was facing opponents who could actually threaten his mission. "The reports didn't mention the family's tactical coordination."
"That's because most people don't survive long enough to report it," Kizuna replied, his fist crackling with concentrated ki as he struck the slime construct with enough force to temporarily destabilize its molecular structure.
The combination of Mirajane's conceptual darkness magic and Kizuna's ki-enhanced physical attacks created a problem Sugarboy's slime couldn't easily solve—it could adapt to magical properties, but ki and demonic essence operated under different fundamental principles.
Gine and Laxus Coordinate
Gine and Laxus had pursued Earth Land Hughes through the forest, their combined combat experience allowing them to track her despite her attempts at evasion. Lightning crackled around Laxus while Gine's Super Saiyan aura blazed with controlled intensity.
"She's heading toward Lucy's position," Gine observed, her emotional intelligence reading the tactical situation. "This isn't pursuit—she's leading us away from something."
"Or toward something," Laxus added grimly, his lightning magic allowing him to sense electrical impulses in the air that suggested Hughes was communicating with her team via some technological means.
Their suspicions were confirmed when they crested a hill and saw Lucy under Hughes' control, the celestial mage's body moving against her will to retrieve the clock hand while Michelle lay unconscious nearby.
"Laxus, fast approach," Gine commanded, already moving. "I'll disrupt the puppetry connection, you secure the artifact."
They moved as one, their relationship providing almost telepathic coordination. Gine's ki flared in a precise burst designed to interfere with Hughes' magical control threads, while Laxus's lightning magic shot forward to intercept Lucy's controlled hands before they could place the clock hand into enemy possession.
But Hughes had anticipated interference. Her puppetry magic shifted suddenly, using Lucy's body as a shield between herself and the incoming attacks. Both Gine and Laxus were forced to abort their strikes, unable to risk harming their guild mate.
"Clever," Gine admitted grudgingly, already recalculating her approach. "But there's always a solution."
Uruk's Tactical Analysis
While his siblings engaged in direct combat, Uruk had been coordinating information across the various battle sites using a combination of magical communication devices and his own analytical abilities. His position near the guild hall allowed him to receive updates from multiple sources and formulate a comprehensive tactical picture.
"The Legion Corps is operating with precise coordination," he reported to Makarov via communication lacrima. "Each member's abilities complement the others—Hughes' control magic, Sugarboy's adaptive slime, Coco's enhanced speed, and Byro's nullification. This isn't random villain recruitment; this is a carefully constructed tactical unit."
"Can we counter their coordination?" Makarov asked, understanding that Uruk's analytical mind was their best asset for finding strategic weaknesses.
"Already implemented," Uruk replied, his fingers moving across a hastily constructed tactical display showing positions of all combatants. "I've positioned our fighters to exploit the gaps in their coverage. The problem is that their objective was never to defeat us—only to retrieve the clock hand and withdraw. Every moment we spend trying to stop them is a moment they're maneuvering closer to their goal."
He paused, reviewing incoming data from Gray's engagement with Sugarboy. "Natsu's about to attempt something characteristically reckless with the slime. Gray's inbound to provide support. Erza should disengage from cleanup operations and move to support Father and Mother against Byro—his nullification field can't handle multiple high-level threats simultaneously, especially when one of them uses ki instead of magic."
"You've inherited your mother's tactical brilliance," Makarov observed with a mixture of pride and concern.
"And Father's tendency to get directly involved when family is threatened," Uruk replied. "Which is why I'm moving to Lucy's position now. Gine and Laxus need support against Hughes, and I believe I can disrupt her puppetry magic through targeted interference of her neural control patterns."
The Convergence
As the various battles reached their critical moments, the Legion Corps' true objective became clear. Earth Land Hughes finally maneuvered Lucy's controlled body to retrieve the clock hand, using her own hands as puppets to place the artifact directly into enemy possession.
"No!" Lucy's voice was filled with desperation even as her body betrayed her will. "Michelle... the guild... everyone fought to protect this, and I just..."
Uruk arrived at that moment, his analytical mind having calculated the exact timing needed. But he was one second too late—Hughes already had the clock hand in her possession.
"Fascinating," Uruk observed even in failure, his scientific mind noting the artifact's properties. "The clock hand resonates with temporal magic on frequencies I've never encountered. Whatever this is part of, it's not merely a powerful artifact—it's a key to something significantly more dangerous."
Hughes produced a green flare from her equipment, firing it into the sky where it exploded in a brilliant emerald burst visible for miles. The signal was clear—mission accomplished, all units withdraw.
Across the various battle sites, the remaining Legion Corps members received the signal and began their tactical retreat. Earth Land Coco disengaged from Panther Lily, Cumber, and Wendy with one final leap that carried her beyond their reach. Earth Land Sugarboy dissolved into his remaining slime, escaping through the forest floor before Kizuna and Mirajane could stop him.
At Byro's position, Teilanne's ki-enhanced strike had finally penetrated his nullification field, proving that Saiyan energy operated under different enough principles to bypass his magic cancellation. But the moment the green flare appeared, Byro disengaged.
"This conflict is over for now," Byro announced, his nullification field expanding to create a barrier between himself and the three powerful warriors facing him. "But I suspect we'll meet again. Your family's reputation is well-earned, Destroyer. I look forward to a rematch under more favorable circumstances."
Before Teilanne, Gildarts, or Erza could respond, Kanaloa released a cloud of ink that obscured all vision. When it cleared moments later, both Byro and his mount had vanished.
The Aftermath and Family Unity
As the various Fairy Tail members regrouped, the weight of their collective failure settled over them. The Clive family converged on Lucy's position, where Wendy was already working to heal Michelle's injuries while Cumber stood protective guard.
Lucy knelt beside her relative, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I should have surrendered from the beginning. Then none of this would have—"
"Don't," Gine's voice cut through Lucy's self-recrimination, her emotional intelligence immediately recognizing the spiral of guilt threatening to overwhelm her guild mate. "You did exactly what any of us would have done—you protected your family by refusing to give our enemies what they wanted easily."
"But they got it anyway," Lucy replied miserably.
"They got one clock hand," Laxus corrected, his lightning magic still crackling around him from the pursuit. "Which means there are others. And now we know what they're after, we can prepare."
Kizuna approached with Mirajane at his side, both showing signs of their intense battle. "The Legion Corps is well-trained and well-coordinated," he reported. "But they're not invincible. We forced them to work harder for this than they expected."
"And we learned valuable information about their capabilities," Uruk added, consulting the tactical data he had compiled. "Byro's nullification has limits—Mother's ki penetrated it. Hughes' puppetry requires line-of-sight and concentration. Sugarboy's slime has an absorption threshold. Coco's speed enhancement follows predictable patterns."
Teilanne moved to stand beside Gildarts, her hand finding his automatically. "They made a mistake attacking Fairy Tail," she said quietly. "They've shown us their capabilities, revealed their objective, and demonstrated their coordination. Now we know what we're facing."
"And they know what they're facing," Gildarts added grimly. "A family that includes the Destroyer and her children. That knowledge might make them more cautious, but it also means they'll come back with better preparations."
Makarov, who had finally arrived after dealing with the aftermath at the guild hall, looked around at his assembled family—battered, exhausted, but unbroken. The Clive family stood together as they always did, a unit of legendary warriors whose power had proven decisive in minimizing casualties despite the mission's failure.
"Fairy Tail," he announced in his guild master voice, "has just been declared war upon. These Legion Corps don't know it yet, but they've made a critical mistake. They've threatened our family."
He looked at each member present, his eyes lingering on the Clive family. "Teilanne, Gildarts—your tactical experience and power will be crucial in the conflicts ahead. Kizuna, Gine, Uruk, Cumber—you've already proven invaluable in protecting your guild mates. Together, we represent a force that even well-coordinated enemies will struggle against."
Teilanne stepped forward, her Destroyer reputation settling around her like a mantle. "The Legion Corps wanted to avoid directly engaging me and my family. That was wise of them. But they've taken something from one of our own, hurt people under my protection, and threatened the guild my children call home."
Her power began to manifest, carefully controlled but unmistakably present. "When we find them again—and we will—they'll learn why legends exist. Why people across multiple continents know to fear the Destroyer. Why attacking Fairy Tail when my family has made it our home is the last mistake any enemy organization makes."
Gine moved to stand beside her mother, her own power flaring in support. "We protect our family. Always."
Kizuna, Uruk, and Cumber joined them, forming a line of Saiyan warriors whose combined presence made the air itself feel heavier with potential violence.
"The Legion Corps has the advantage of one clock hand," Uruk observed. "But we have the advantage of knowing they exist, understanding their capabilities, and having the resources of both Fairy Tail and our family's combined experience to draw upon."
"They're the ones who should be worried," Cumber added quietly, his arm unconsciously moving to a protective position near Wendy.
The assembled guild members raised their voices in agreement, their exhaustion forgotten in the face of renewed purpose. The battle had been lost, but the war was just beginning.
And somewhere in the shadows, the Legion Corps was beginning to realize that acquiring one clock hand from Fairy Tail might have been the easy part. Keeping it—and obtaining the others—would require them to face not just a guild, but a family that included the legendary Destroyer and her children, whose power operated on scales they were only beginning to comprehend.
The clock was ticking toward a confrontation that would reshape Fiore's magical landscape, and everyone involved knew it.
Investigations and Revelations
The Guild Hall Briefing
The Fairy Tail guild hall bore the scars of the Legion Corps assault—scorched walls where lightning and fire had clashed, structural damage from the slime's corrosive properties, and the lingering magical residue of a battle that had pushed everyone to their limits. Guild members gathered in the main hall, exhaustion evident in their postures but determination burning in their eyes.
Gildarts stood before the assembled family, his crash magic having been used to clear away the worst of the debris. Beside him, Teilanne's presence added weight to his words—the Destroyer's reputation making it clear this wasn't just a guild matter, but a personal one.
"The people who attacked us are called the Legion Corps," Gildarts announced, his voice carrying across the damaged hall. "According to Jason's research and what we learned during the fights, they're an organization with at least six known members, each with unique abilities specifically designed to complement each other."
"They're not just strong individually," Uruk added, consulting notes he'd compiled from analyzing the various battles. "They're a tactical unit. Every member's abilities cover another's weaknesses. Byro's nullification, Hughes' puppetry, Sugarboy's adaptive slime, Coco's enhanced speed—they're designed to handle any conventional magical threat."
"But we're not conventional," Kizuna observed, his arm around Mirajane's shoulders. "Mother's ki penetrated Byro's nullification. That's significant."
Lucy sat at a nearby table, her head down and shoulders slumped with guilt that was almost palpable. "It doesn't matter how unconventional we are," she said quietly. "They still got what they came for. My family's memento is gone because I couldn't protect it."
"Hey," Natsu called out, his voice carrying the unshakeable optimism that defined him. "We'll just get it back! That's what Fairy Tail does—we take back what's ours and teach the thieves why that was a bad idea!"
The guild erupted in agreement, voices rising in support of their celestial mage. Even those still nursing injuries from the battle added their voices to the chorus of determination.
Makarov raised his hand for silence, his guild master authority cutting through the noise. "Lucy, tell us everything you know about the clock hand. Where it came from, what your family knew about it, anything that might help us understand why the Legion Corps wants it so badly."
Lucy took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. "My family has been safeguarding it for generations. The inscriptions are in ancient Potamelian, and they say 'Time is etched and then chaos descends.' We found references to something called the Infinity Clock in old texts—a powerful artifact that was supposedly disassembled and scattered to prevent its misuse."
"An artifact powerful enough that pieces of it are worth organized assault on a major guild," Erza observed grimly. "Whatever this Infinity Clock is, it represents a significant threat if assembled."
The Zentopia Connection
Gray leaned against a wall, arms crossed as he processed the information. "What about those church attacks that happened before they came after us? Kinana mentioned them during the fight. Are they connected?"
"They have to be," Levy said, having researched the incidents while the others recovered. "Multiple churches across Fiore have been attacked over the past few weeks. Each time, the attackers seemed to be looking for something specific. If the clock hands were scattered and hidden, religious institutions would be logical places to keep them."
"So the Legion Corps has been collecting these pieces," Wendy said quietly, her healing magic still working on some of the more seriously injured members. "And they attacked us because Lucy's family was guarding one."
"Which means there are more pieces out there," Gine observed, her tactical mind already working through the implications. "And now that they have Lucy's clock hand, they'll be going after the others."
Warren, the guild's telepathic specialist, spoke up from his position near the communication lacrima. "I tried tracking them after they retreated, but they have some kind of magical shielding that blocks telepathic detection. I lost them within minutes of their withdrawal."
"They're professionals," Teilanne said, her Destroyer instincts recognizing military-grade tactics when she saw them. "This isn't a random dark guild looking for power. This is an organized operation with specific objectives and the resources to achieve them."
Uruk's Reflection
Amid the strategic discussion, Uruk found his thoughts drifting back to his brief encounter with Earth Land Coco. Her bio-magical enhancements had been fascinating from a purely scientific standpoint, but it was the moment before she disengaged that stuck with him.
When the green flare had signaled retreat, she had paused for just a fraction of a second. Her eyes had met his, and he had seen something there—conflict, perhaps even regret. Not the cold efficiency of a loyal soldier, but the hesitation of someone questioning their orders.
"You don't fully agree with what you're doing," he had observed in that moment, his analytical nature reading the microexpressions that most people would miss.
"It doesn't matter what I agree with," she had replied quietly, too softly for anyone else to hear over the chaos of battle. "Some things are more important than personal feelings."
Then she was gone, her enhanced speed carrying her beyond his reach before he could respond. But the exchange had left him with questions that his analytical mind couldn't easily dismiss.
"Uruk," Gine's voice pulled him back to the present. His sister was watching him with the emotional intelligence that made her so effective in combat and family dynamics. "You're thinking about her. The Coco from Earth Land."
It wasn't a question. Gine had always been able to read her siblings with uncanny accuracy.
"She's conflicted about her mission," Uruk replied, seeing no point in denying what his sister had already intuited. "Her enhancements are impressive, but they don't explain her hesitation when engaging in actions that harm innocents. There's a contradiction between her capabilities and her visible reluctance."
"Maybe she's not as committed to the Legion Corps as her teammates," Laxus suggested from where he stood with Gine. "Or maybe she has information about why they're collecting these clock pieces that makes her question the whole operation."
"Either way," Teilanne interjected, "it represents a potential weakness in their organization. Someone with doubts is someone who might be convinced to share information."
"Or it's a trap," Kizuna countered pragmatically. "Showing apparent conflict to make us think we can turn her, while really she's just gathering intelligence on our responses."
"Both scenarios are possible," Uruk admitted. "Which is why I need more data before drawing conclusions."
The Church Under Siege
The guild's strategic discussion was interrupted by the communication lacrima flaring to life. The image of Lahar, captain of the Rune Knights' Custody Enforcement Unit, appeared in the projection, his expression grim.
"Master Makarov," Lahar said formally, "I'm contacting all major guilds with information about a developing situation. Another church has been attacked, but this time we were prepared."
The image shifted to show the smoldering ruins of a church, Rune Knights moving through the debris in organized search patterns.
"We had the entire perimeter secured," Lahar continued, his voice carrying professional frustration. "No one should have been able to approach without detection. But somehow, an assailant appeared inside the church itself—a large teddy bear of all things—and detonated explosives that destroyed the building and injured several of my knights."
Natsu perked up at the mention of a teddy bear. "Wait, like a stuffed animal? How does that work?"
"The attacker identified himself as Jackpot," Lahar explained. "He displayed abilities that suggest space manipulation or teleportation magic. After the explosion, he appeared directly in front of me, taunted the Rune Knights, defeated most of my squad in hand-to-hand combat, then vanished without a trace."
"Cheerful name for a church bomber," Gray muttered.
"The point," Lahar continued, shooting a glare toward whoever had made the comment, "is that these attacks are escalating. If your guild has any information about the Legion Corps or their objectives, the Magic Council would appreciate your cooperation."
Makarov stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "We'll share what we know, Captain Lahar. But in return, we need access to any information you have about these church attacks and the organizations involved."
After a brief negotiation, Lahar agreed to the information exchange and terminated the connection.
"So now we have multiple factions going after these clock pieces," Erza observed. "The Legion Corps that attacked us, and this Jackpot character who's bombing churches."
"Or they're working together," Levy suggested. "Different teams with different approaches to acquiring the same artifacts."
Gildarts' Secret Mission
As the guild continued discussing strategy, a communication lacrima on Makarov's desk chimed with a priority message. The old guild master read it quickly, then looked up at Gildarts with an expression that suggested uncomfortable complications.
"Gildarts, I need to speak with you privately," Makarov said, gesturing toward his office.
In the privacy of the master's office, Makarov activated privacy wards before speaking. "The Magic Council has requested your assistance on a classified mission. They're forming a special task force to investigate the clock piece attacks, and they specifically asked for you and one other mage with complementary abilities."
"Let me guess," Gildarts said dryly. "They want me to bring Teilanne, assuming the Destroyer's reputation will intimidate anyone we need to interrogate."
"Actually, they want you to partner with someone else," Makarov replied carefully. "Someone with investigative skills and strategic thinking to balance your more... direct approach."
Outside the office, Cana had positioned herself near the door, her card magic allowing her to enhance her hearing just enough to catch fragments of the conversation. When she heard the word "partner" and "secret mission," old insecurities flared.
She pushed open the door without knocking. "Whatever mission you're planning, I'm not going."
Both Gildarts and Makarov looked at her in surprise.
"Cana," Gildarts began, but she cut him off.
"I know I just found out you're my father, and I know we're still figuring out what that means, but I'm not ready for some father-daughter bonding mission where we pretend eighteen years of absence didn't happen," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush fueled by complicated emotions.
Gildarts' expression softened. "Actually, they weren't going to send you. The mission requires someone with specific analytical abilities, and while you're talented, they were thinking more along the lines of—"
"Oh," Cana said, deflating slightly. "So you weren't even going to ask me."
The hurt in her voice was evident, making the situation even more awkward.
"I would have asked you," Gildarts said gently, "if I thought it was appropriate. But this isn't a mission where I want to put my daughter in danger. Not when we've only just started building a relationship."
Cana was quiet for a moment, processing this. "So you're protecting me."
"I'm being a father," Gildarts corrected. "Probably doing it badly, but I'm trying."
Despite her initial hurt, Cana found herself smiling slightly. "Yeah, you kind of are doing it badly. But I guess that's better than not trying at all."
The Archbishop's Dream
Far from Magnolia, in the grand cathedral that served as Zentopia's central seat of religious authority, Archbishop Rahal sat in his private chambers, staring at the clock hand that had been recovered from Lucy's possession.
"Time is etched and then chaos descends," he murmured, reading the ancient Potamelian inscription for the hundredth time.
The elderly archbishop had barely slept in weeks, plagued by dreams of a catastrophe that his waking mind couldn't fully recall. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw images of destruction, of time itself unraveling, of reality breaking apart at the seams.
"Your Eminence," one of his attendants said quietly from the doorway, "the anniversary celebration preparations are nearly complete. Should we proceed as planned?"
"Yes," Rahal replied, though his attention remained on the clock hand. "But summon the cardinals as well. We may need to make difficult decisions in the coming days, and such choices should not rest on one man's shoulders alone."
"May I ask what troubles you, Your Eminence?"
Rahal was quiet for a long moment before responding. "I keep having the same dream. A clock counting down to midnight. And when the final chime rings... everything ends. Not just one city or one kingdom, but everything. Time itself stops, and in that cessation, there is only chaos."
"Dreams are often symbolic—"
"These aren't symbolic," Rahal interrupted gently. "These are memories of something that hasn't happened yet. Or perhaps memories of something that did happen, in a timeline that no longer exists. I can't quite tell which."
He set the clock hand down carefully. "That's why we're collecting these pieces. Not to assemble the Infinity Clock, but to ensure it can never be assembled. Some doors should remain permanently closed."
Team Natsu's Investigation
Back at Fairy Tail, Team Natsu had volunteered to investigate the Heartfilia mansion for any clues about the clock hand and its connection to Lucy's family. Wendy and Carla had joined them, bringing the team's total to a comfortable size for exploration of the large estate.
The mansion stood exactly as Lucy remembered it—grand, imposing, and carrying the weight of family history in every architectural detail. But it also bore the signs of years of abandonment: dust coating every surface, sheets covering furniture, and an atmosphere of melancholy that came from houses meant to be filled with life standing empty instead.
"Okay," Lucy said, organizing the team with practiced efficiency, "Michelle and I will check the attic. Natsu, Gray, Erza—you search the ground floor. Wendy, you and Carla check the study and library. We're looking for anything related to the clock hand, ancient artifacts, or family histories about safeguarding mysterious objects."
The team split up, each group heading toward their assigned areas. Lucy and Michelle climbed the narrow stairs to the attic, where generations of Heartfilia family possessions had accumulated like archaeological layers of history.
Dust motes danced in the dim light filtering through a small window as Lucy began sorting through old trunks and boxes. Her hands trembled slightly as she uncovered a portrait of her parents—young, happy, before the complications that would eventually drive their family apart.
"They look so in love," Michelle observed softly, looking at the portrait over Lucy's shoulder.
"They were," Lucy replied, her voice thick with emotion. "Before business consumed him and illness took her. Before everything fell apart."
She set the portrait aside carefully. "I'm going to buy this mansion back someday. Restore it. Fill it with family and laughter like it was meant to be. That's a promise."
"That's a beautiful dream," Michelle said warmly. "And if anyone can make it happen, it's you."
The Mysterious Book
Their exploration eventually led them to Jude Heartfilia's study, a room that had been his private sanctuary during Lucy's childhood. The massive desk dominated the space, shelves lined with business documents and ledgers that represented years of commercial empire-building.
Michelle was examining a bookshelf when something caught her attention. "Lucy, look at this."
She pulled out a leather-bound volume with an unusual title embossed in gold: "To My Daughter."
Lucy's breath caught as she recognized her father's handwriting on the spine. "I've never seen this before. He must have hidden it here after I left home."
They opened the book carefully, only to find every page completely blank. No text, no illustrations, nothing but pristine white paper from cover to cover.
"Maybe it's magical?" Michelle suggested. "Some kind of enchantment hiding the contents?"
Lucy summoned Crux, her celestial spirit who specialized in accessing stored information and memories. The elderly spirit materialized with his characteristic grumpy demeanor.
"You summoned me, Miss Lucy?"
"Crux, can you tell us anything about this book? Is there invisible ink, hidden spells, anything that might explain why it's blank?"
Crux examined the book thoroughly, his magical senses probing for any concealed information. After several minutes, he shook his head.
"There is no magic on this book, and no invisible ink or hidden writing. However..." He paused, his expression thoughtful. "The title itself may be the message. 'To My Daughter'—perhaps it's an anagram or code meant to direct you toward something else."
The Anagram Puzzle
Soon, the entire team had gathered in the study, trying to decode the meaning behind the book's title. They sprawled across the furniture, calling out possible letter combinations and discussing various interpretations.
"Maybe it means 'touch my daughter'?" Natsu suggested, earning immediate skeptical looks from everyone present.
"That's both weird and grammatically impossible with those letters," Gray pointed out.
"What about 'moth eats daughter'?" Happy offered, his contribution not significantly more helpful than Natsu's.
Erza paced the room with military precision, her tactical mind approaching the puzzle as she would a battle strategy. "There must be a logical pattern. Lucy's father was a businessman—he would think in terms of clear communication, not abstract poetry."
Carla, who had been staring at the title with her characteristic feline intensity, suddenly spoke up. "I see 'myth' in those letters. M-Y-T-H."
The observation sparked a cascade of discoveries. Wendy identified "duo" and "great," while Gray found "to" and "heart."
Lucy's eyes widened as the pieces clicked together. "The Two Great Myths! That's a book series—one about clockwork mechanisms and one about celestial keys. I have both of them here in the library!"
She rushed to a nearby shelf, pulling out two volumes with practiced familiarity. "This one is 'Life of the Clockwork,' and the other is 'The Key to the Starry Heavens.' Father must have been trying to tell me to look in these books!"
As she held up "The Key to the Starry Heavens," Carla suddenly flinched, a wave of precognitive energy washing over her. For just a moment, she saw the book's cover transform, the title replaced by a single word in red letters: "NO."
"Carla?" Wendy asked with concern, noticing her friend's distress. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Carla said, shaking off the vision. "Just a feeling. Please continue."
The Legion Corps Returns
Lucy opened "Life of the Clockwork" carefully, searching for any messages her father might have hidden in its pages. The others gathered around, watching as she flipped through the intricate illustrations of gear systems and temporal mechanics.
That's when the study door began to bulge unnaturally, the handle expanding like balloon before the entire door burst inward with explosive force. An Exceed floated through the opening—not much larger than Happy or Carla, but radiating an air of intellectual superiority that immediately set everyone on edge.
"Pardon the dramatic entrance," the Exceed said in a cultured voice, "but we're on a rather tight schedule. I am Samuel, and I represent the intellectual division of the Legion Corps. I believe you have something we need."
His eyes fixed on the books Lucy held. "Specifically, the information contained in those volumes."
"You've got to be kidding me," Natsu growled, flames already igniting around his fists. "Another one of you?"
Erza, Gray, and Natsu launched simultaneous attacks—fire, ice, and steel converging on the small Exceed with enough force to level a building. But before any attack could land, a massive figure in ornate iron-clad armor materialized in front of Samuel, his presence filling the room.
The combined attacks struck his armor and reflected back harmlessly, the rebound sending all three attackers stumbling backward. The mansion's study walls cracked from the redirected force.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the armored figure said in a voice that dripped with theatrical romance. "I am Dan Straight, knight errant and protector of the defenseless. My Sacred Shield reflects all attacks directed toward those under my protection."
He stood with the confidence of someone who had never been defeated, his armor gleaming despite the dust of the abandoned mansion.
"Now, if you would kindly hand over the book—" Dan's words cut off mid-sentence as his helmet's visor focused on Lucy. His entire posture changed from military professionalism to something approaching religious devotion.
"By all the stars in heaven," Dan breathed, his voice filled with awe. "You are... you are the most beautiful vision I have ever beheld. Those eyes, that hair, the elegant curve of your—"
"Okay, this is getting weird," Gray interrupted, but Dan was already in full romantic rapture.
"Your beauty surpasses the morning sun! Your grace rivals the moon's gentle glow! Your figure—oh, your magnificent figure!—could inspire poetry from stones and song from the sea itself!"
The entire team stared in stunned silence as the armored warrior continued his passionate soliloquy about Lucy's physical attributes. Even Samuel looked vaguely embarrassed by his partner's display.
"Dan," Samuel said with the long-suffering patience of someone who had witnessed this behavior before, "we're here for the book, not to compose love ballads."
"Right, yes, the mission," Dan agreed, though his attention never left Lucy. "But surely such radiant beauty deserves proper appreciation before we conduct mere business?"
The Battle for the Book
Erza, recovering from her initial shock, moved to position herself between Dan and Lucy. "Michelle, Lucy—run! Get those books somewhere safe!"
Natsu and Gray launched another coordinated assault, but Dan's Sacred Shield continued to reflect every attack back toward the attackers. Each reflected blow caused more damage to the mansion's structure, walls cracking and ceiling beams groaning under the accumulated stress.
"This is pointless," Gray grunted, creating an ice wall that immediately shattered when his own reflected attack struck it. "We're basically fighting ourselves!"
Dan moved with surprising speed for someone in such heavy armor, his spear extending toward Natsu. The pink-haired dragon slayer dodged, but the spear's tip grazed him—and immediately, Natsu began to shrink.
"What the—?!" Natsu's voice rose in pitch as his body reduced to the size of a small doll. "What did you do to me?!"
"My Sacred Spear grants me dominion over size," Dan explained, still somehow managing to steal glances at Lucy even while fighting. "I can enlarge or diminish anything I strike. A most useful ability, wouldn't you agree, my beautiful goddess?"
"I'm not your anything!" Lucy shouted, running toward the study's exit with Michelle close behind.
But Samuel blocked their path with surprising speed. "I've analyzed all possible escape routes from this room," the Exceed said calmly. "Every path you might take, every decision you might make—I've already predicted and countered them all."
"We'll see about that!" Lucy summoned Taurus, the celestial bull spirit appearing with his characteristic enthusiasm.
But before Taurus could engage, Dan's spear struck him, and the massive spirit shrank to the size of a action figure, his mighty battle axe becoming a toothpick in his tiny hands.
"This is not mooving well," tiny Taurus observed before Lucy was forced to close his gate.
Erza requipped into her Flight Armor, attempting to grab Lucy and Michelle and fly them out through a window. But Dan's spear extended impossibly far, striking the window frame and causing it to shrink to the size of a postage stamp, making escape through that route impossible.
The ceiling above Gray and Wendy began to crack, structural damage from the reflected attacks finally reaching critical mass. Samuel nodded with satisfaction.
"All according to plan," he said. "The mansion's architecture is 137 years old, designed before modern structural reinforcement spells were common. The weight distribution calculations suggested this ceiling section would collapse after approximately 47 seconds of sustained combat. Right on schedule."
The ceiling came down, forcing Gray to create an ice dome to protect himself and Wendy from the falling debris. In the confusion, Lucy and Michelle made it to the hallway, with Happy having grabbed the miniaturized Natsu in his paws.
"I'll take the books and fly away!" Happy declared, but Samuel was already there, having predicted this move as well.
"Actually," Samuel said, producing the real copy of "Life of the Clockwork" from beneath Michelle's dress with clinical precision, "I believe this is the genuine article. The one you're carrying is a decoy. Lucy Heartfilia is clever—she would never run with the real target in such an obvious manner."
He produced a pair of ornate glasses that began glowing with magical energy. "Gale-Force Reading Glasses—capable of processing written information at speeds human eyes cannot achieve. In approximately 4.3 seconds, I will have absorbed all knowledge contained in this tome."
The glasses glowed brighter as Samuel's eyes moved across the pages at supernatural speed. True to his word, within five seconds he had finished.
"Fascinating information," Samuel mused, closing the book. "But we no longer need the physical copy. Thank you for your cooperation."
Dan appeared at Samuel's side, having finished neutralizing the remaining threats in the study. But before departing, he turned one last time toward Lucy, his armor somehow conveying longing despite being completely solid.
"My beautiful goddess," Dan declared, "know that this separation pains me more than any wound could. But fear not—we shall meet again! And when we do, perhaps you'll grant me the honor of courting you properly? A romantic dinner, walks beneath the moonlight, poetry composed in your honor?"
"Never!" Lucy shouted.
"Playing hard to get!" Dan interpreted with delight. "How perfectly enchanting! Very well, my radiant star—until we meet again!"
With that, both Dan and Samuel vanished, leaving behind a partially destroyed mansion, one miniaturized dragon slayer, and a team of Fairy Tail mages who had just learned that the Legion Corps was far more diverse in their abilities and motivations than anyone had anticipated.
Lucy stood in the rubble of her father's study, holding a decoy book while the real one vanished with their enemies. She looked around at the destruction, at the home she had promised to restore, now damaged even further.
"What were you trying to tell me, Dad?" she whispered to the empty room. "What was in that book that you needed me to find?"
The answer would have to wait. But one thing was certain—the Legion Corps was always one step ahead, and Fairy Tail would need to become much more unpredictable if they hoped to stop whatever catastrophic plan was unfolding across Fiore.
To be continued in Chapter 36: Search for the Clock