Night, Aqua Crown Resort, Casino Area
The air was thick with the scents of expensive perfume, sweet cocktails, and the ocean salt drifting in from the terrace doors, and the faint metallic tang of coins. Every few seconds, a roulette wheel chimed, cards snapped, or a slot machine erupted in a burst of lights and music. Near a row of slot machines sat Tamamo and Misuki with Gray a little further away.
Tamamo was seen pouting with her three tails flicking in irritation as the machine in front of her chimed brightly. "I should be with my darling right now," She complained, tapping the lever with all the enthusiasm of someone being forced to do chores. "Instead, I am being treated like a walking charm."
Misuki didn't even look up from her neat stacks of chips, eyes sharp and calculating. "All we need are Ten jackpots," She reminded her calmly. "That's all you need to hit. Then you're free."
Tamamo gasped. "Ten?! You said five earlier!"
Misuki smiled, politely, sweetly and terrifyingly. "I said at least five."
The machine in front of Tamamo flashed.
JACKPOT.
Lights erupted. Coins shimmered into existence before funneling neatly into Misuki's growing pile.
Tamamo slumped forward. "I hate that this keeps working…"
Misuki calmly added another stack to her pile. "Nine more."
Tamamo whimpered. "My love… forgive me…"
A few rows down, Gray's attention drifted from the slots when he felt it again, that sensation he'd noticed ever since he trained Akitsu. Someone was watching him.
He quickly turned and seated at the adjacent machine was a young woman with long blue hair, wearing a simple but elegant blue evening dress. Her posture was stiff, hands folded in her lap, eyes fixed on Gray with an intensity that bordered on unsettling.
"…Uh," Gray said cautiously. "Can I help you?"
She gasped softly, hands flying to her chest. "You finally noticed Juvia!"
Gray stiffened. "…Juvia?"
She nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling. "Yes! Juvia is Juvia Lockser. Former mage of Phantom Lord."
Gray groaned softly. "Right. I remember you… So what are you doing here?"
Juvia clasped her hands together, leaning forward just a little. "Juvia is currently a free mage and wishes to join Fairy Tail. With Master Jose gone, Juvia is seeking a warmer place." Her gaze softened, then sharpened again as she focused on him.
Gray felt a chill crawl up his spine that had nothing to do with ice magic. "Why do I feel like that's a problem?"
Juvia tilted her head. "Maybe because we were fated to meet."
He stared at her. "That's not reassuring."
Still, something about her wasn't hostile. Awkward, intense, emotional—yes. But there was sincerity there, raw and unpolished.
"…You'll have to talk to Makarov," Gray said finally. "If you're serious."
Juvia's eyes lit up like she'd just won the grand prize. "Then there is hope!"
Gray sighed. "I'm gonna regret this, aren't I?"
It is then that another chime rang out with coins raining out of the machine.
JACKPOT.
Tamamo didn't even look anymore. "That was eight, wasn't it?"
Misuki nodded. "Correct."
Gray glanced back at them, eyes wide. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Tamamo sighed, resting her chin in her hands. "If I stop thinking, luck happens. If I think about it, it doesn't. I am trapped."
Misuki placed a reassuring hand on Tamamo's shoulder. "Just two more, and you can return to Issei."
Tamamo's ears twitched. "You swear?"
"On profit margins."
—-------------------------------------------------
The casino's outer promenade glowed beneath soft crystal lights, its marble floors reflecting gold and sapphire hues as guests drifted between gaming halls, lounges, and private balconies overlooking the moonlit sea. Music flowed gently here, less raucous than the main floor, more intimate, punctuated by the distant chime of winning bells and the low murmur of conversation.
Issei walked at an easy pace through it all, hands relaxed, posture loose. On either side of him, Miya and Akitsu clung comfortably to his arms. Miya resting her head against his shoulder with contentment and Akitsu holding him with quiet assurance, her fingers interlaced around his sleeve as if anchoring herself to the moment.
Perched proudly on his shoulders was Ruby, her red fur catching the warm light as her tail swayed with curious energy. She leaned forward, peering at every glowing sign and ornate stall they passed. "There's a lot of shiny things," she observed. "But… do you know anywhere they sell food?"
Issei chuckled. "Priorities, huh?"
Miya smiled, squeezing his arm. "She's not wrong. We skipped dinner when coming to the casino, remember?"
Akitsu nodded softly. "I wouldn't mind something warm. But… I'm fine like this." She glanced up at Issei, the faintest smile touching her lips. "Walking together is enough."
Ruby's ears flicked. "Still. Something smells good. Like sugar. And… fried fish." She sniffed the air again, eyes lighting up. "Definitely fried."
They slowed near a corridor lined with small gourmet stalls, artisan sweets, confections that shimmered faintly, skewers sizzling over enchanted coals. Ruby gasped. "There! That one! With the spinning pastries!"
Issei followed her gaze. "Alright, scout approved."
As they turned, they became acutely aware of the attention gathering around them.
Whispers rippled through nearby groups. Heads turned. More than a few patrons paused mid-step, openly staring.
"Is that… a talking cat?"
"Those women—are they with him?"
"How is that fair?"
Issei felt it immediately, the weight of curious eyes, the barely concealed envy. He resisted the urge to sigh as he had gotten to used to this.
Miya noticed too. She leaned in closer, unfazed, her voice low and teasing. "You're drawing stares again."
Akitsu added calmly, "They are curious. And… perhaps a little jealous."
Ruby glanced around from her high vantage point, unimpressed. "They stare a lot. Is that a human thing?"
"Pretty much," Issei replied dryly.
A pair of well-dressed guests passed by, one of them glancing back a second time, then a third, before catching Miya's gaze and quickly looking away. Akitsu's grip tightened just a fraction, not possessive, just present. Issei felt it and smiled.
"Sorry," he murmured. "Didn't mean to turn a walk into a spectacle."
Miya laughed softly. "It's not your fault. Besides—" she tilted her head, eyes warm "—I like being here with you."
Akitsu nodded in agreement. "So do I."
Ruby tapped the top of his head with a paw. "Less staring, more eating?"
He laughed, the sound easy and genuine. "Right. Lead the way."
They headed toward the food stalls together—an island of quiet intimacy drifting through a sea of light and sound—while behind them, the casino buzzed on, already weaving new stories around the unlikely trio and their very patient, very lucky guide.
—--------------------------
At one of the largest roulette tables stood Natsu, fists clenched, eyes blazing as the wheel slowed.
"C'mon, c'mon—RED! RED!" He shouted, leaning so far forward that Happy had to grab his scarf to keep him from faceplanting onto the table.
The ball clicked… bounced… and landed on black.
"…Dang it," Natsu groaned.
Before he could flip the table or try to burn it, Lucy was already there, hands on his shoulders. "Natsu. Deep breaths. Remember what happened last time you got mad?"
Natsu paused, thought about it, then grimaced. "They kicked us out?"
"And charged us for the table," Lucy added sweetly.
"…Fine," he muttered, slumping back into his chair. "One more spin."
Happy zipped in front of Lucy's face, holding a small pile of chips. "Aye! Lucy, we're still up a little! Probably!"
Lucy eyed the stack suspiciously. "Probably isn't comforting."
Standing just to the side was Yashima, calm and composed, her hands folded neatly as she watched the wheel with serene focus. When she placed her chips, she did so without hesitation—small, precise bets that looked almost timid compared to Natsu's wild spreads.
As the wheel spun again, the ball moved until it landed.
Red.
A soft chime rang out as Yashima's modest stack doubled.
Lucy blinked. "Wait… you won?"
Yashima smiled politely. "It seemed… like an appropriate time."
Natsu squinted at her. "How are you doing that?"
"I just pay attention," Yashima replied gently. "To the wheel and to the rhythm."
Happy gasped dramatically. "She's got casino magic!"
Lucy stared at Yashima's growing pile, then slowly slid one of her own chips closer. "…Can you stand next to me next round?"
Yashima nodded. "If it helps."
—-------------------------------------
Across the casino, the atmosphere was entirely different.
As the atmosphere felt tense, quiet and deadly.
A high-stakes poker table sat beneath a chandelier of floating crystals, its players locked in a battle of nerves and subtlety. At one side of the table lounged Uzume, legs crossed confidently, a sharp grin playing on her lips as she lazily fanned her cards.
Beside her sat Yuuka, posture relaxed but eyes razor-focused, her fingers tapping the table in a slow, deliberate rhythm. On the other side, adjusting her glasses with clinical precision, was Matsu, her gaze flicking between players, cards, and betting patterns with frightening speed.
Several seasoned gamblers sat across from them, men and women who had clearly thought this table would be easy money.
They were wrong.
Uzume leaned back. "Raise."
One of the men frowned. "Already? You sure you want to do that?"
Uzume winked. "Oh, sweetheart. I love doing that."
Yuuka glanced sideways. "You're bluffing again."
Uzume shrugged. "Maybe."
Matsu adjusted her glasses. "Statistically speaking, she is bluffing. Emotionally speaking, you should still fold."
The dealer cleared his throat nervously.
Cards were revealed.
Uzume's hand was garbage.
Yuuka's wasn't.
The table erupted as Yuuka calmly collected the pot, offering a small, satisfied smile. "You overthought it."
Uzume burst out laughing. "That's what I was counting on!"
Across from them, a man wiped sweat from his brow. "Who are you people?"
Matsu stacked her chips with methodical precision. "We're on vacation."
The man stared at the towering pile in front of her. "…Of course you are."
—--------------------------------
At one of the more refined corners of the casino, beneath a chandelier, a blackjack table had become the center of quiet fascination. Stack after stack of chips sat neatly arranged in front of Erza Scarlet.
She sat perfectly composed, crimson hair cascading over one shoulder, posture straight and unyielding. Each time the dealer flipped a card, the result was the same. Victory again and again.
Whispers rippled through the onlookers.
"Another natural twenty-one…"
"She hasn't busted once…"
"Is she counting the cards?"
Erza simply smiled politely, folding her hands atop the table. "Luck favors discipline," She said calmly, as the dealer pushed yet another pile of chips toward her.
The current dealer wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a professional smile as he reached for the deck. "Y-Yes, miss. Quite an impressive streak."
He began to reshuffle.
Then a shadow fell across the table.
"Hold it." The voice was smooth, young and certain.
The dealer froze mid-motion as a young blond-haired man with dark skin stepped into view, dressed in a sleek black suit trimmed with faint silver lines that shimmered unnaturally under the casino lights.
"I'll be taking over this table," The newcomer said casually.
The dealer blinked. "E-Excuse me? I wasn't informed of any—"
"You weren't," the man replied without even looking at him.
The dealer hesitated, then glanced nervously toward the pit boss. No signal came. Swallowing, he stepped aside.
The newcomer sat down and the air changed instantly.
Erza noticed it but still, she didn't bother looking up. "It doesn't matter who deals," she said confidently, sliding her chips forward. "My luck is good tonight."
This caused the young man to smile. "Oh?" he said softly. "Then perhaps we should raise the stakes." He gathered the deck and began to shuffle skillfully. The cards moved like liquid between his fingers, patterns flashing for just an instant before vanishing.
"The rules are changing," he continued calmly.
Erza frowned slightly as she looked at his hands. "Changing?"
"Yes," he said. "We'll no longer be gambling with coins."
The murmurs around the table died instantly.
Instead of dealing normally, the young man placed five cards face-down onto the table—one by one, each landing with a soft but ominous tap.
"Tonight," he said, "we gamble with life."
He flipped them over.
D E A T H
The word stared back at everyone present.
A chill swept through the table. Spectators recoiled instinctively. Even seasoned gamblers felt something twist in their stomachs.
Erza's eyes narrowed. "This isn't funny," she said firmly, lifting her gaze at last. And then she froze as her breath was caught and her pupils shrank. "…Sho?" She whispered.
The young man's smile widened, not cruelly, but knowing. "Yes," He replied gently. "It's good to see you again after all this time…" He leaned back slightly, folding his hands. "…Big sister."
—-----------------------------------------------
The slot machines continued to sing as coins materializing in shimmering cascades as Misuki calmly collected yet another stack of winnings. Her movements were precise, efficient, the practiced ease of a woman who already had plans for every coin she touched.
Beside her, Tamamo slumped dramatically against the machine, tails drooping as the lights flared again. "…That makes eleven," Tamamo muttered. "I feel so used." She said with tears.
Misuki smiled without looking up. "Excellent. One more for the buffer, then we can leave."
Tamamo gasped. "You added another one?!"
Gray, seated a row down, barely noticed. His attention was elsewhere as Juvia's hands clasped nervously in front of her blue dress. The intensity in her gaze hadn't faded, in fact, it had sharpened with every passing minute.
"Juvia is serious," she said earnestly. "Juvia wishes to join Fairy Tail."
Gray scratched the back of his head, already tired. "Look, I told you, you're going to have to talk to Makarov. I don't get to decide who joins."
"But Gray-sama is important," Juvia replied immediately. "If Gray-sama accepts Juvia, then the guild will too."
Gray opened his mouth to protest and then the lights seemed to dim as a massive shadow fell over them. The air pressure shifted and the cheerful chiming of the slots abruptly cut off.
A tall man loomed over them.
His presence was big as he was broad-shouldered, his head covered by a turban, one eye hidden beneath an eye patch, and his jaw looked to be made of iron. Literally. Metal plates reinforced his mouth, catching the casino light with a dull sheen.
But before anyone could react—
SMACK.
Juvia was sent flying sideways, crashing into a nearby machine with a startled cry as coins exploded around her.
"Oi, Juvia—!" Gray shot to his feet instantly.
The entire row erupted into gasps.
Tamamo moved on instinct, stepping in front of Misuki with a sharp summon of her mirror, three tails flaring outward. Her eyes were no longer playful as they became alert and dangerous.
"Careful, big guy." She said softly, dangerously calm. "You're just about to cross a dangerous line."
Misuki didn't panic as Tamamo was more than enough to protect her, but her gaze sharpened as her hand summoned her handgun.
Gray clenched his fists, ice beginning to creep along his knuckles. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" he demanded. "You don't just hit people!"
The man didn't even glance at Juvia. He turned his head slowly, until his uncovered eye locked onto Gray. "You," He said, voice deep. "Are you Gray Fullbuster?"
Gray stiffened. "…Yeah."
The man stepped closer, towering over him, the pressure of his killing intent finally making itself known. Nearby gamblers backed away instinctively. "Then answer me," the man growled. "Where is Erza Scarlet?"
The name hit the air like a dropped blade.
Tamamo's ears twitched sharply while Misuki's eyes widened just a fraction.
Gray felt a chill that had nothing to do with ice magic.
"…Why do you want to know?" he asked cautiously.
The man's iron jaw tightened. "That," He said slowly, "is between her… and us."
—------------------------------------------------
At the roulette table, the ball rattled as the wheel spun until it slowly stop, before the ball finally settled.
"…Black," the dealer announced calmly.
"That's BULL—!" Natsu angrily slammed his hands on the table, veins popping in his neck. "That's the third time! You're rigging it!"
The dealer raised both hands, his professional smile cracking. "Sir, the wheel is magically regulated to—"
"IT'S MAGICALLY RIGGED!" Natsu shot back.
"Aye! Tell him, Natsu!" Happy cheered, hovering beside him with a fist pump. "The wheel hates us!"
"NO, IT DOESN'T," Lucy Heartfilia hissed, grabbing Natsu's scarf and yanking him back. "You're about to get us thrown out!"
Beside them, Yashima attempted to do the impossible, make herself smaller. She shrank behind Lucy, shoulders hunched, praying no one would associate her with the fire-breathing disaster currently arguing with a casino employee. "Please stop," She murmured. "We are drawing attention."
But then a soft tap of ash into a crystal tray cut through the noise.
"Now that's enough boy." The voice was smooth, calm and almost bored. Causing everyone at the table to turn.
A dandy man sat nearby, legs crossed, a cigarette held lazily between his fingers. He wore a fitted suit and carried himself with unsettling composure. But what made every eye widen wasn't his clothes—it was him.
His body was weird. Perfectly squared. Rectangular limbs. A torso shaped with unnatural symmetry, as though a human silhouette had been carved by a ruler. He looked like a man rendered by geometry rather than flesh.
He exhaled smoke, eyes half-lidded. "Can't you see you're making a scene."
Natsu bristled. "Who asked you—?!"
The man's chair then spun, once, twice as smooth as clockwork. "Let me give you some advice," he said lightly, still spinning. "There are only two ways to live."
He then stopped. "Like a dandy," He continued pleasantly. He rose in a blur. "Or."
THUD.
Natsu was slammed face-first to the floor before anyone could react. Gasps erupted as the man planted a foot on Natsu's back, pressing him down effortlessly.
The dandy man drew a gun, sleek and black with the muzzle shoved into Natsu's mouth. "You die."
This caused the casino to explode into screams.
"HE'S GOT A GUN!"
People fled in all directions, tables overturning, chips scattering like rain. Security froze, uncertain whether to rush in or run.
Lucy's heart slammed against her ribs, but she didn't hesitate. She snapped her key into her hand, golden light flaring. "Natsu—!"
Yashima summoned her war hammer, its massive head materializing with a heavy thrum, but she held position, knuckles white. She didn't attack yet as one wrong move could cause the man to kill Natsu.
Happy hovered frantically. "N-Natsu…!"
Natsu, for his part, growled around the barrel, eyes blazing even with cold steel in his mouth. "Ghh—what's your DEAL, blockhead?!"
The man didn't flinch as he leaned down slightly, voice calm, almost polite. "Answer me. Where is Erza Scarlet?"
The name hit like a thunderclap.
Lucy's blood ran cold as she wondered what this guy wanted with Erza with Yashima and Happy tensing up.
—---------------------------------------------------
Back at the blackjack table, Erza Scarlet stood frozen, her body tense and trembling despite her iron will. Her eyes searched the face in front of her, older and sharper but unmistakable. For a moment, the glittering casino lights, the murmuring spectators, all of it blurred into meaningless noise as memories clawed their way to the surface of chains, screams, a tower of despair.
"S… Sho…?" Her voice came out smaller than she wanted, sounding raw and unguarded, like she'd been dragged back years in an instant. Her hands trembled despite the iron discipline she usually carried. "How…?"
The word how carried everything: How are you here? How are you alive? How did you find me?
Sho's smile didn't waver. If anything, it sharpened, too polished, too pleased. It wasn't the timid boy she remembered. It was someone wearing that face like a mask. "Oh, Erza," He said smoothly, as if they were simply catching up over tea. "Is that really the first question, big sister?" Sho asked softly. "Not why… or for whom?"
Erza's eyes narrowed, trying to force her heartbeat back under control. 'Think. Assess. Breathe.' But no matter what she did, she couldn't regain control.
But then darkness crashed over her, instincts screaming as dark magic blackened the room and made her lose sight of the boy.
—----------------------------------
Across the casino at the slot machine row. The moment Juvia struck the ground from where she had been flung, her body dissolved, splattering into a clear, fluid silhouette that splashed apart, flowed, and then rose again. In seconds she reformed into herself, dress intact, hair dripping only for a moment before it settled perfectly back into place.
Tamamo's eyes sharpened as she saw something new. 'Intangibility. So she can turn her body into water.'
Gray's fists clenched as cold crept instinctively along his skin. "…You're okay?" Gray asked, half-surprised, half-wary.
Juvia blinked, then nodded with solemn intensity. "Juvia is always okay. Water does not break so easily."
Misuki was already standing, posture composed, but her gaze had the cold focus of a woman calculating. Tamamo stepped subtly in front of her, tails fanning out in a protective arc.
The towering man with the turban and iron jaw stood like a wall, not even acknowledging the tension he'd ignited.
Gray glared up at him. "You still haven't told me. Why are you looking for Erza?"
The giant's visible eye narrowed. But that was when the towering iron-jawed man froze. A magic circle bloomed next to his ear, rotating silently. A distorted voice filtered through it.
'Target confirmed. Erza Scarlet located.'
The man grinned. "Guess I don't need you anymore." He then raised one massive hand.
Gray's stomach dropped. "What—?"
"Black Moment."
The moment the spell detonated outward.
A wave of pitch-black darkness poured outward from him like ink dumped into the air, swallowing light in a heartbeat. The chandeliers blinked out. The glowing runes along the floor died. Even the slot machines' screens vanished as if they'd never existed. Darkness swallowed the casino and Light vanished as if erased from existence that was quickly followed by screams erupted as patrons were plunged into absolute pitch black.
Tamamo didn't hesitate for a second as the moment the darkness fell, she moved instantly, grabbing Misuki by the wrist, she then picked her up and left.
—-------------------------------
At the poker table, everything was normal until in an instant, Matsu's smile stretched wide as she went all in, only for the world to plunge into darkness without warning causing Matsu to whine as she was about to win,
Yuuka meanwhile hissed sharply, her hand already moving on instinct as her revolver materialized in her grip. "What the hell?!"
Uzume's voice came from the shadows, low and amused in the most unsettling way. "Looks like someone decided to start trouble."
Matsu's tone was clipped, all humor gone, her focus razor-sharp. "This is definitely not normal. Even my visual enhancements can't compensate for this."
The girls pushed back their chairs and stood as one, tension coiling through the air. Uzume cracked her knuckles, a grin tugging at her lips. "Let's go see what's going on. My money's on Natsu or Issei."
Matsu straightened, calm even as chaos loomed. "That," she said flatly, "is a fool's bet. Hopefully nobodies dead"
—------------------------------------------------------
At the roulette table, darkness swallowed everything with Lucy screaming Natsu's name. Happy cried out beside her, his voice small and terrified, and in the suffocating black darkness.
The polygonal "dandy" moved as he squeezed the trigger..
Lucy's heart seized at the sound of it. Just one noise, sharp and unmistakable, slicing through the silence like a blade.
BANG.
The gunshot tore through the casino, echoing like a death knell. The world seemed to freeze in its wake, the sound collapsing into a hollow void.
Before Lucy and Happy screamed Natsu's name again, panic and fear were bleeding into every syllable.
—------------------------------------------------
Outside, on one of the casino's balconies overlooking the sea, Issei halted mid-step, Miya and Akitsu still in his arms, Ruby perched on his shoulders. The laughter and music from moments ago cut off abruptly, the sudden silence jarring, then they saw it.
The entire casino went dark.
Issei's body tensed instantly, every instinct screaming at once. "…That's not right," he muttered, dread creeping up his spine as his thoughts snapped to the rest of his girls still inside.
Miya's grip tightened around his arm, her fingers digging in as Akitsu instinctively moved closer. Ruby's ears flattened as she stared at the blackened structure, unease rippling through her. "This feels like magic."
Issei didn't hesitate for even a second. "We're moving. Now."
The girls nodded without question, breaking away as one. In the next heartbeat, the group was already running—feet pounding as they sprinted straight for the casino entrance.
—-----------------------------------
As the light bled back into the world. At first, Erza Scarlet saw only blurred shapes and warped color, her senses struggling to re-anchor after the darkness. The casino floor slowly reassembled itself.
As she looked at where Sho was, her breath hitched. "Sho…?" She called to look at her childhood friend but the blackjack table stood empty.
The chair across from her was untouched. The cards spelling DEATH still lay on the table but the man who had placed them there was gone.
"Looking for me?" Sho's voice whispered behind her.
Erza spun, heart slamming into her ribs.
Sho stood several steps away, hands clasped behind his back, smiling as if this were a casual reunion rather than a nightmare resurrected.
But something was wrong. Very wrong as Erza's eyes widened as she took in the surroundings properly. The casino was empty.
No screaming patrons, no fleeing gamblers or security.
Only silence until she noticed the floor. Around the red carpet were cards. Dozens of them. Hundreds. Each one translucent… each one containing a tiny, animated figure inside. People screaming, banging on invisible walls. Reaching outward in terror.
Erza's stomach dropped. "What… what did you do?!"
Sho chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the horror dawning in her eyes. "You noticed." He tilted his head. "Surprised?"
"…You're using magic," Erza said slowly. "You couldn't before."
Sho's smile widened, sharp and proud. "What can I say people change."
"How?" she demanded. But before he could answer—
"Myaaa~!"
'That voice.' Erza froze as she turned sharply.
Standing a short distance away was a woman with brown hair, feline features, and bright, familiar eyes filled with emotion and excitement.
"Er-chan!" Millianna cried happily. "It's been so long!"
Erza's breath caught painfully. "Millianna…? You're alive…as well." Erza whispered.
Millianna nodded enthusiastically. "Mm! We all are!"
Before Erza could process that—
Cubes began to appear.
One by one, geometric blocks of light materialized in midair, snapping together with mechanical precision. From within them stepped a tall, squared man in a suit whose body looked almost sculpted.
Erza's eyes widened further. "…Wally?"
The man grinned broadly. "Surprised you recognized me." Wally said cheerfully. "After all I'm much more… well-rounded now."
Erza's gaze sharpened. "You're using magic too."
A new voice cut in—deep, calm, heavy with unspoken sorrow. "Anyone can. If they've got the talent."
The air shifted as a tall man in a turban jumped down from the shadows.
Erza's knees nearly buckled. "…Simon."
Simon inclined his head solemnly. "Erza."
Her voice shook. "You're all—"
"Here," Sho finished for her, stepping forward. "Together again." He spread his arms theatrically. "And now… it's time to go home."
Erza clenched her fists. "Home? After everything—you think—" Her words died in her throat. Because Wally lifted his arm and dangling from his grasp— "…Happy?"
The blue Exceed squirmed weakly, eyes wide with fear. "A-Aye…?"
Erza's blood ran cold.
Wally smirked. "Found him during the blackout. Thought he'd make a nice present."
He tossed Happy lightly.
Millianna squealed with delight and caught him, immediately cuddling the startled cat against her chest. "So cute~! Thank you!"
"Put him down!" Erza shouted, taking a step forward.
BANG.
The sound was sharp.
Erza felt a sudden, burning sting in her side—then numbness exploded through her body. She looked down just in time to see the small dart embedded in her side. "…A sleeping bullet…" she breathed. Her legs gave out.
As she collapsed, the last thing she saw was Sho looking down at her—not with hatred, but with something far worse, sorrow.
"Sweet dreams, big sister," He said softly.
Darkness was quick to claim her once more.
—-------------------------------------------
As the lights surged back to life in uneven waves, the casino was revealed to be in a terrible mess with the chandeliers sputtering, The glossy marble floor covered in trash.
It is then that Issei bursts onto the main floor with Miya, Akitsu, and Ruby close behind, his eyes then starting sweeping the sight left to right with his body ready to fight.
But there were no enemies, only the aftermath as the tables laid overturned, chips were scattered across the marble, a few chairs had been snapped clean in half, and near the bar, glass glittered in jagged piles, catching the light.
Issei's shoulders eased a fraction despite himself. "…Damn it," he muttered.
Whatever had happened here—it was already over. They were too late.
Ruby shifted on his shoulder, ears flattened as she sniffed the air with sharp feline caution. "I really wonder what happened here?" She murmured with her tail twitching once.
Akitsu's gaze moved calmly over the wreckage, but her posture stayed poised and ready. "Maybe it was a battle," she said, voice even.
"Whoever did this didn't linger," Miya added, her eyes lingering on scorch marks and splintered wood as if reading the room like a story written in violence.
But before Issei could respond, a familiar voice called out.
"Issei!"
He turned sharply—and felt his chest loosen at once.
Matsu, Uzume, and Yuuka emerged from another room, weaving carefully through the debris. All three were unharmed, but their expressions were tight with lingering adrenaline.
Issei exhaled with relief unmistakable. "You're okay."
Uzume gave a crooked smile, trying for humor even as her eyes kept scanning the room. "Yeah. Looks like we missed the fun."
Yuuka shook her head, voice dry. "If that was 'fun,' I'm glad we did."
"Matsu, do you know what happened?" Miya asked.
Matsu adjusted her glasses as it was slightly crooked from earlier and pushed them back into place. "We don't know. One moment we were winning a game of poker, the next—everything went dark."
"Not normal dark," Uzume added, frowning. "Like the world just… vanished. I believe it to be a type of spell that did this."
Matsu nodded quickly. "We couldn't even tell where we were. I walked into a chair. Twice."
Yuuka crossed her arms. "Uzume tripped me."
Uzume scoffed. "Hey, you ran into me."
Issei grimaced, because it lined up perfectly with what he'd felt on the balcony. Miya then looked around the ruined floor again, her expression turning thoughtful. "Whoever caused this must've been targeting someone else and we were simply collateral."
Akitsu's eyes narrowed. "Meaning the others might know more than we do."
Issei nodded once. "Then let's go find them." He then stepped forward, already scanning the casino for familiar faces. "If something like this happened, Lucy, Natsu, Gray or Erza are bound to have answers."
Ruby straightened, tail flicking with sudden seriousness. "And if someone took someone," she added, "we should hurry."
Issei didn't argue.
Together, the group moved deeper into the casino, stepping carefully through the aftermath, past abandoned tables and scattered winnings and spilled drinks.
And then a sob cut through the stillness that caused Issei's heart to drop.
Across the floor, Lucy Heartfilia knelt on the marble, tears streaming down her face as she cradled the unmoving body of Natsu Dragneel. Her hands shook as if she couldn't decide whether to hold him tighter or let him breathe. Beside her, Yashima knelt as well, one hand steady on Lucy's shoulder, her voice low and soothing, trying to keep Lucy from spiraling into something worse than fear.
Issei didn't wait. "Natsu!" He was already moving, already dropping to one knee beside him, hands hovering for a heartbeat—afraid of pressing too hard, afraid of doing the wrong thing and making it worse.
As he leaned closer, his stomach clenched.
There, inside Natsu's mouth, was a scorched wound, the edges blackened by heat and strange magic. It looked like something that had burned from the inside out.
"…Damn it."
Ruby's ears flattened, nose twitching. "He smells of gunpowder."
And then Issei's eyes flicked around instinctively, fast and sharp as he noticed that something was out of place. "…Where's Happy?"
The question landed like a stone.
The girls turned to Yashima at once.
Yashima inhaled slowly. "A strange man attacked us. He took Natsu hostage… questioned us about Erza's whereabouts. Before we could understand what was happening, the lights went out. In the darkness, he shot Natsu… took Happy… and escaped."
Lucy choked on a sob. "I thought— I thought he was—"
"Whaa—!"
The sound was sudden. Too sudden as Natsu's eyes snapped open as if he hadn't been shot through the mouth a minute ago. He sucked in a sharp breath, then groaned, voice thick. "Ugh… my mouth tastes like—"
Lucy slammed into him, arms wrapping tight around his neck with desperate relief. "NATSU!" She cried openly now, face buried against his chest. "Don't scare me like that!"
Natsu froze, then turned bright red, flustered by the intimacy even while half-dazed. "H-Hey! Lucy—!"
Issei released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Relief washed through him like a wave. 'Good. He's okay.'
Natsu blinked, finally registering the crowd and the tension. "Why's everyone freaking out? And why did someone say Happy was kidnapped?"
Lucy pulled back just enough to look at him, wiping her eyes with trembling fingers. "…Because he was."
The words hit like a punch. Natsu's expression emptied for a heartbeat… and then the rage returned, brighter than any flame. "What," he said quietly, voice dropping to a dangerous edge, "did you just say?"
Lucy explained and with every sentence, the temperature around Natsu spiked. Flames licked along his arms, heat shimmering off his skin.
"I'll find that bastard and—"
"Stop." Issei's voice cut through the heat, calm but firm, the tone of someone who understood his rage but refused to let it lead.
Natsu snapped his head toward him. "Issei—!"
"We don't know everything yet," Issei said. "Running in blind won't help Happy. We need answers. And we need to check who else is missing."
As if summoned by his words, footsteps approached from the far side of the floor.
Gray Fullbuster emerged with Tamamo and Misuki—and a blue-haired woman Issei didn't recognize walking alongside them.
But Lucy stiffened instantly. "…You," she whispered.
The woman, Juvia, hesitated, eyes downcast, the weight of old crimes hanging around her like a damp cloak.
But Gray spoke first, fast and clipped, as if he didn't want to give panic time to grow. "A tall man with a turban and an iron jaw confronted us. He was asking for Erza." His jaw tightened. "Then he got a call. Said they'd found her. He then used some spell that blacked out the entire casino."
Silence.
Lucy's voice barely worked. "Does that mean—"
"Guess she's been taken as well," Issei finished, expression hardening.
"No way," Natsu snarled immediately. "Erza's not that weak."
Gray's jaw clenched. "Yeah. No one just takes Erza."
But Tamamo quickly stopped them from thinking foolishly. "If she weren't taken," Tamamo said coolly, eyes sharp, "she'd be here already."
Unfortunately this caused Natsu to bristle and Gray's fists to clench in anger.
"Say that again," Natsu growled, more emotion than threat, anger trying to deny fear.
Tamamo's tails flared slightly, and her smile vanished. "Calm yourselves. Or I will calm you."
This quickly stopped both men. They'd never fought Tamamo, but they didn't need to. The air around her carried the promise of effortless domination, of being pinned to the floor with a polite smile and a terrifying amount of power.
Issei exhaled. "Arguing about whether Erza lost or not is a waste of time. If Erza and Happy were taken, then there's only one thing to do."
Lucy swallowed, voice tight. "…But how do we find them?"
Tamamo's eyes gleamed. A small, sharp smile touched her lips—proud, not playful. "When the darkness fell," she said, "I moved Misuki to safety. And while doing so…" She paused deliberately. "…I placed a tracking talisman on the man who attacked us."
Issei's eyes widened then he grinned. "Nice."
Uzume let out a breathy laugh. "That's our fox."
"Then we can track them?" Lucy asked, hope trembling in her voice.
"Yes," Tamamo replied. "Erza and Happy won't stay lost for long."
The tension shifted, fear giving way to grim determination.
"Alright," Issei said. "We move."
But Misuki stepped forward, adjusting her posture like someone returning to a business schedule. "Actually, I'll be heading back to Magnolia since our vacation is over."
Tamamo groaned instantly, shoulders sagging in exaggerated despair. "My darling… our romantic getaway—ruined."
Yuuka sighed. "We were having so much fun too…"
Uzume clicked her tongue. "Figures."
Issei placed a reassuring hand on Tamamo's shoulder. "There will be more dates. I promise. Right now our friends come first."
Miya nodded, voice gentle but firm. "Issei makes a good point. But I'll be returning with Misuki. I'm not built for violence."
It wasn't true—everyone here knew it wasn't true—but nobody challenged her. Not now.
"And I'm not built for combat," Matsu added, adjusting her glasses again. "I'll support you from home."
"That's fine," Issei said. "With this many fighters, I doubt this will be difficult."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, flames flickering again, this time controlled and focused. "Whoever took Happy… is going to regret it."
Gray nodded, ice forming faintly around his fingers. "Same for Erza."
The decision settled and with Tamamo's talisman guiding them, the group moved out, leaving the ruined casino behind as the night turned into a rescue mission.