Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 22 - The Eve of Change

Laxus stood outside the door of Blue Pegasus's war room. It used to be a bar, but, given recent times, had to be converted. His arms were folded, head bowed, a concentrated expression adorned on his face.

Refugees and wizards alike milled about the place hurriedly. Word had broken from some of the scouts Blue Pegasus had on hand that the Hunters Division was wiping out guild strongholds in a pattern that had this place right at the heart. There was nowhere left to run.

Gramps was in the other room with Master Bob running all of this over with Hisui on a flimsy communication line. Hisui, to her credit, didn't lose an ounce of her composure when they heard about it. The final standing of guilds in Fiore was facing imminent destruction? Best not to plan for worst-case scenarios and anticipate at least a middling scenario.

Fried and Bickslow were with Porlyusica and Evergreen in the recovery room. Laxus had one eye on the door there. Apparently, they were supposed to get good news on the Evergreen front any day, and with the Hunters Division boring down on them, that day had to be coming up quickly. Ever would be valuable in holding off sneaky assassins and thinning their numbers to let the heavy hitters focus on the rest of the wizards.

Especially because it wasn't just some of the Hunters Division heading their way. It was everyone. Captain included.

Laxus couldn't help the slight feeling of anticipation eating away at him, to finally get to test his true, fully tapped strength against one of the five most reputable wizards in the Empire. He could stomp that Lightning God Slayer, too. Laxus wasn't going to rest until Fairy Tail could finally help the rebellion get one over on the Empire, even though, by the sounds of things, the others in the Grand Magic Games were doing a good enough job of that.

The conversation with Hisui ended. Laxus stood straight to go in and see what was going on, but the door to the healing chambers opened, revealing Evergreen. Right away, from the way she stood, sneered, and held herself, she looked like herself, the second Titania. She adjusted her glasses and calmly spoke with Bickslow and Fried.

Laxus unfolded his arms and approached. Fried snapped to attention while Evergreen calmed down a bit. Laxus smiled at her.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

They locked eyes, something he hadn't done in a while.

"Much," Evergreen said. "And I heard the Empire's on their way here?"

"It's not your fault," Laxus said, getting ahead of it.

"I know," Evergreen said. "I just wanted to make sure they were. I'm going to ruin them for what they've done to me. You boys better not get in my way."

Laxus nodded with a smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."

"But!"

The old voice came from the other room, barking up at them. Porlyusica clambered up the rest of the way and jabbed an accusatory finger at Evergreen.

"Don't get hasty for now, young lady. Perform your meditations like you have been. Your mind is recovering and much stronger, yes, but not fully back to what it was. If the Ethereal Witch confronts you I'm unsure what may happen to you."

"Nothing," Fried said. "We'll make sure she never touches Evergreen."

"Ah, you punks," Porlyusica said, waving her hand at them. "So impetuous. Where's that old man gone to, anyway? Both of them. I want to tell them of your progress, missy."

"I'll go with you," Laxus said. "You guys get settled in for a bit."

The Thunder Tribe nodded, allowing Laxus to follow a scurrying old lady into the war room. The two geezers were sitting in big chairs. Makarov's hands were folded in front of him while Bob had a steaming cup of tea in his hands, a warm kettle sitting off to the side. Remnants of the bar were quite evident in the room, as a few exquisite bottles lined the wall.