From the Ashes, part 1

Fairy Tail - From the Ashes, Part 1

Darkness loomed across Fiore. The guilds had all been destroyed. The once dependent populace had turned their backs on all mages. The mage hunt began with the new ruler. The king had been overthrown and a new dictator-like emperor took his place. He seemingly appeared from nowhere with a large army and called for the eradication of all magic. The dark guilds were the first to go. Then, one by one, the other guilds fell, starting with the weakest. Only a few still persisted. Rumors of the major guilds echoed through the streets. The citizens had no choice but to turn over any known mages or face dire consequences. Fairy Tail detested being relegated to the shadows, but they were criminals now, part of the rebellion. A few members had already been taken prisoner or worse. The usual joyful noise of the old days was absent. Those who met together maintained only small groups or risked drawing attention to themselves. The fairies took it hard; It seemed like Edolas all over again.

Lucy silently bandaged Natsu's bruised ribs. He only managed to escape with the help of her spirits. In the fight, he refused to back down, but things weren't going well, so Virgo grabbed him from below and made haste while Loke distracted the hunter troop. Natsu never really stepped away from a challenge and this one was personal. Exceeds held a fair bounty and Happy had finally been cornered. Natsu's breaths were still somewhat erratic, but he was finally calming down. Across from him, Lisanna held the battered feline securely bundled in a blanket. Lucy glanced toward them sullenly and returned to her task. When she finished and tied off the dressing, she inadvertently placed a hand over the wound. Without flinching, Natsu said, "Leave it. It's fine." Lucy sighed and looked around the glum cellar in which they had found refuge. If only the troops didn't have those strange weapons, the roles would be reversed. In the distance, Mirajane lit candles, one for each fallen comrade. The guild had been split into groups, concealing different numbers of members in several locations under the cover of night. Just what was Fiore coming to? Lucy looked over the grim faces of her comrades. She felt helpless. So many mages had faded from existence, others still were tormented in the dungeons of the new emperor. She knew many of her friends were currently safe, but a few guildmates were unaccounted for. The last raid had hit hard. She got lost in the memories until Natsu's voice jarred her back to reality. "Thanks", he begrudged. Lucy sent a soft smile, glad he was safe. Turning to Lisanna, she inquired, "How's he doing?". The girl gently stroked the exceed's face. Her 'son' had been brutally battered. When her gaze met Lucy's, her eyes were red and her face lined with worry. Forcing a grin, Lisanna replied, "Happy's tough. He'll pull through." Lucy's couldn't help but noticed the rising tension in Natsu's fist. He was getting angry again. How could the emperor's men be so cruel? He recalled running toward the group, fists blazing. Happy was on the ground, his wings broken. The hunters knew exceeds could fly and saw to it that they didn't lose their prize. Relief crossed the feline's face at the sight of his partner. He was bleeding badly and losing consciousness. The last thing he saw was a blast of fire raging across the ranks of his captors. Now, he slept in Lisanna's arms, bruised and wheezing. Lucy set her hand upon Natsu's arm and tried to give a reassuring smile. Things would be all right, wouldn't they?

"I wish Wendy were here", uttered Lisanna. "Yeah", said Natsu, forcing himself to relax. "Just be glad we found him in time", offered Lucy. Mira brought blankets for her comrades. This huddled hiding place was getting to all of them. She worried for Happy and also for Elfman. They had gotten separated during the last raid. She watched him shout to her to get away as he used his body to protect the unconscious Evergreen from the onslaught of magic nullifying rounds. The last thing she heard him say was, "Protect Lisanna!" She looked to her sister's face with concern. Though physically unharmed, her heart took a heavy blow with the latest events. Around the gloomy room, only Macao and Romeo slept in the far corner. Draping a blanket across her little sister's shoulders, she said, "Get some rest." This was their chance at a few hours peace. Once the suns rises, the hunt would begin again.

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A few weeks ago...

Everyone celebrated the end of the Magic Games. The dragons had been defeated and Eclipse had failed. The participating wizards all returned to their respective
guilds amid the cheers of their fans. So few were truly aware of the danger that had passed, but smiling faces lined the streets as citizens welcomed their heroes. It seemed to be
an all time high for Fairy Tail. They'd reclaimed their place and restored their pride. Jobs were pouring in and everyone wished the glee would last. However, it was soon to be
cut short. A strange notice had been received. It said, "Magic Illegal. Terminate Guild Now or Face The Consequences." Everyone laughed; No one took it it seriously. It seemed
like some sort of odd prank that wasn’t really funny.

The next day, the guild door busted inward. Several men in unfamiliar uniforms stood with weapons poised. "Desist your evil ways", said the leader. A lacrima rolled into the center of the room. An image opened for all to see. A smug man stared down his nose at the mages. "Fairy Tail, always troublesome. I hate these devices, but it seems you ignored your warning letter", sneered the man. "What kind of joke is this?!", demanded Natsu. Everyone watched carefully. Just what was happening? The man in the video straightened his posture. "I am your new sovereign. The king has fallen. I claim Fiore and all of its people, riches, and resources. My first order of business is destroying these so called guilds. Magic *will* be eradicated", he stated. "Is that right?", said Natsu, cocky as ever. Not about to let him have all of the fun, Gray stepped up. "Do you really know who you're messing with?", he taunted. The man in the image sighed. "I knew it would come to this. Proceed with your orders", was all he said. The image blinked out. One of the uniformed soldiers stomped the lacrima into pieces. "In the name of our Lord, you are all under arrest", stated the man. A fierce battle ensued, resulting in the destruction of the guild building and much or the surrounding area. Makarov defended his children to the last.

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Presently, no one really knew his fate. Whispers that he was taken prisoner were all that remained. Many guild members were injured. Those out on jobs came back to decay and horror. This new law swept the land. No one was safe. Every city had armed 'hunters'. Those citizens that harbored mages were made extreme examples of. The guilds all fought back at first, but that seemed like so long ago now. Crime followed the fall of the guilds, but was easily dealt with. Still, shadow organizations made good money at the expense of their former heroes. Any registered wizard had a listed bounty. The most prized were the guild masters and dragon slayers. Any magical creatures caught a fair price, too. This new regime crept in seemingly over night. Investigations by the magic counsel into the king's disappearance ended with a quiet surrender. Even the ten saints stood no chance in the face of this menace. Strangely, every guild reported a different face on the lacrima's projection and no one seemed to know the emperor's name. Even the soldiers only ever referred to him as 'lord' or 'master'. His past was a mystery. Despite the danger, the guilds kept in touch, trying to build a counteroffensive. So far, only prisoners, corpses, and mass injuries came of their attempts. So much blood had been shed and so many tears had fallen. These new weapons were deadly. Some nullified magic, others simply attached and electrocuted the victim into submission. The emperor claimed a loathing of magic, yet a few mages were in his command. They were the elite operations. They, too, seemed to come from nowhere and each specialized in countering different types of magic. Even the old antimage units never held a candle in comparison.

Now, everyone was left to their own devices. Natsu, Happy, and Lucy had ended up with Mira and Lisanna. Macao was injured, but gave his all to save his son. Romeo had nearly been captured. Elsewhere, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, Lily, and Levy pondered the fate of their comrades. Laxus and the Raijinshuu were the target of the last attack. That was where the Strauss family split. With luck, they ran into Natsu's group. No one had news of Erza or Wendy. Other guildmates were counted among the casualties. Max and Droy had been arrested some time ago and Jet and Warren were simply missing. They were assumed safe, given their abilities, but no one really knew for sure.

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That night, Natsu stood watch, staring into the darkness. A shimmer in the distance caught his eye. Another and another. Straining his eyes, he made out the form of his comrades signaling with an ice mirror. With a slight grin, he responded. Morse code with fire upon the tip of his finger. Anyone else would simply figure it a flickering candle. They had to be careful. It seemed that group was still safe for now. Without warning, a building exploded a few blocks away. Screams echoed into the night. Someone had been caught practicing magic. Natsu grit his teeth as he glared from the shadows. Even people unaffiliated with the guilds were targeted. It could have been a child, trying to learn, or even something as simple as someone using a magic device like a lacrima. They was no mercy, no tolerance, and no warnings. People simply vanished without a trace now. Since the guilds could not protect them, despair ravaged the citizens. Some took to working for the hunters, gathering information on mages in exchange for their family's safety. With a heavy sigh, Natsu headed inside. If he got spotted here, the innocent lives nearby would be in danger. Mira was watching through a tiny window as yet another riot started in the street. Natsu punched the wall, frustrated. He held back, knowing that he couldn't risk Happy's life again by destroying the building. Lucy observed her partner carefully. She knew how he felt. They all shared the feeling of helplessness. Briefly catching his eye, she watched him pass her in silence. Mira covered the glass once more and stroked the hair of her sleeping sister with worry.

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A short distance away, Juvia watched wide-eyed at the unfolding horror. Gray's firm hand on her shoulder was the only thing keeping her together. Another raid, another child left wondering what their parents did wrong. Gajeel and Levy stalked the shadows below, ushering survivors to safety. Despite their illegal status, Fairy Tail would not stand by idly. Gray's eyes grew cold, remembering how many children were left alone when Deliora struck all those years ago. When the sirens faded and the ashes smoldered where a home had once been, a scared little girl clinged to Levy's arms in tears. She was safe, but what about her mom and dad? Juvia was on watch with Lily above them. Another refugee to shuttle. They were running out of places to put them. The story was the same all across Fiore, especially for any city that once housed a guild. Levy held the small girl, her expression sympathetic. Gajeel assured the child everything was going to be all right. She nodded, grateful to be safe, but still so afraid as they returned to their hideout. Eventually, she cried herself to sleep. "It's our turn. We'll take her tomorrow", said Gray. Glances were exchanged and Levy shook her head. "She doesn't know you. She'll be more comfortable with us", she replied. With a sigh, Gray agreed. He and Juvia would smuggle the next orphan out of the city. For now, he just hoped the rest of the night would remain quiet.

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To be continued...