Shadows Return: Sequel to The Unbroken Spirit

The Last Guardian

Ten years flew by after Natsu was reunited with his parents. The little girl, Allison, who had arrived with Natsu's parents, had grown up into a well trained wizard.She had taken on glyph magic which used different magic circles to attack or defend. Allison was now sixteen years old, Auska was twenty, and Romeo was twenty-six. Some of the older members of Fairy Tail had retired and lived in Magnolia.

The land of Fiore was peaceful without the thick, black cloud shrouding the sky. However, a few years ago people started to mysteriously die. Three years ago the army was questioned, the citizens of Fiore believed that the national army was behind these killings. The army stayed quiet on the matter which only stirred the public more. Wizards were especially nervous around the army, what if they were next?

When the army caught wind that they were feared the King used that power to restrict the rights of wizards. Each year magic became more rare as more laws were passed and soon using magic was illegal and punishable by death. Since magic was no longer an option all the guilds started to disband, even Fairy Tail.

One year ago the army released why some people were mysteriously killed, they were Guardians who fought against the guilds in the Great Battle. That information only struck more fear into the people, the army had the power and skill to kill the worlds most deadliest assassins. To keep the peace the army started to regulate populations, keeping them small so no one town could start a revolt. They moved people and separated families to maintain their power.

However, the people in the far south of Fiore was unaware of what their country was doing. In the shallow valleys a village of only a few dozen people carried on their normal lives, without any technology. Two women, thickly clothed, watched a group of children playing in the soft clay. As the sun reached the peak of its travel across the blue sky the women called the children into one of the straw huts. One of the women exited the hut a moment later and slowly strolled to her own.

Inside she took off her two thickest outer layers, leaving one thin layer of cotton cloth on her body. Her body was lithe and she held herself proudly. Her long dark brown hair draped over her shoulders and down over half her back. She went over to the fireplace that had little embers still glowing in the noon day sun. The humid air made her perspire slightly, the beads of sweat sliding down the side of her face.

The rest of the day drug on lazily, the air growing cooler as the sun dipped below the horizon. The woman put on her wool shawl, resting the cloth over her head so it cast long shadows on her pale face. She walked outside as hoof beats thrummed on the ground, growing closer and closer. A tall thin man riding a horse skidded to a  halt and hopped to the ground.

¨Where is your leader?¨ He asked, his blonde hair twitched in the breeze. In his hand was a rolled up piece of parchment. The Chief strode to the newcomer and took the scroll from him and watched him ride away on his horse. He opened the official letter and read it,

'By the order of the King of Fiore: All magic users must report to the capitol city to have their annual extraction on magic energy. Failure to do so will result in immediate death. In the next couple months the census will take place for each region and the population relocation process will begin. Thank You.'

The deep, accented voice of the Chief rang through the villages uneasy murmurs as he finished reading the note. The people returned to their homes, mumbling to each other about how the capitol shouldn't bother them when they never used magic. The woman wearing her shawl quickly turned away, another woman followed after her,

¨Is something wrong Alyssa?¨ She asked her friend who was quickly walking back to her hut.

¨No, Olivia, its just that its odd that they would come here bearing news of magic when there isn't even a lacrima in this village.¨ Alyssa responded, glancing over her shoulder at Olivia. Olivia, nodded slowly, not convinced by her friend but she returned to her own hut, being greeted by her one daughter.

Alyssa went inside her hut and stood in the middle of her home for a long time, she then went to the back, under several hides that were used for winter were two handmade steel dual swords. They were covered in a custom sheath and wrapped in a black coat. Alyssa took off her shawl and put on the coat that had little impressions like dragon skin, clipping the sheath over her shoulders and around her waist.

Under her cot she grabbed a thick two sided sword and inserted it between her body and the dual swords, leather straps in the coat catching the heavy sword and preventing it from falling. The end of the handle was barely visible from the collar of the coat. She glanced outside and saw the morning rays of the sun starting to peak out from the tree tops.

The village came to life before the sun came out, women fetching water, children scampering around, and men going out on hunting trips. A loud humming hung in the air and grew louder as a magic vehicle approached the village.

¨Here! That's where it's coming from!" Seven men got out of the vehicle, all wearing army uniforms, they came and threatened the people, asking for something, or someone. The Chief emerged from his hut,

¨Whom are you looking for?¨ He asked calmly,

¨There is a dangerous magic wielder in this village w-¨ The soldier was cut off when a black beam of magic hit him square in the chest. The Chief and the whole village turned to see a dark haired woman with a black coat on glaring defiantly at the soldiers. The soldiers got into formation but they didn't last a second against the woman.

The Chief looked at the woman closely,

¨I had my suspicions about you Alyssa.¨ He chuckled, Alyssa turned to face him, her deep blue eyes sparkling with memories.

¨It's not Alyssa, its Keira. Keira Schenne.¨ She murmured, the sun breaching over the horizon and lighting up her heavily scarred face. Each scar glinting in the new day sun.