"Su Yan!!"
Everyone in Fairy Tail looked up in surprise at the sound of Su Yan's voice. As the strongest in the guild, he had unconsciously become its backbone—many had even begun to see him as Makarov's eventual successor.
"Brat, how are you going to find them?" Makarov asked at once.
Su Yan glanced at the door. "Come out."
Two figures stepped into the guild.
"It's you?!!"
Faces across Fairy Tail tightened.
"Huh? Who are they?" Those who hadn't been on Tenrou Island didn't recognize Ultear and Meredy.
But the Tenrou team—and especially Makarov—knew them from Ultear's days in the Magic Council. Back then, the meetings happened often, usually because Fairy Tail had caused trouble and Makarov was hauled in for a scolding. Ultear hadn't led the reprimands; she'd watched from the sidelines.
Gray frowned. "Su Yan, why bring them here?"
Su Yan said, "We were enemies before, but Grimoire Heart is gone, and they've changed. There's no need to chase the past. Besides, Ultear was once in the Council and is on Tartaros's hit list. Our interests align. They can help us find Tartaros—that's enough."
Ultear's situation had reached Su Yan through Lyon. Visiting their master's grave, Lyon discovered someone living in Ur's old house. Realizing Ultear was Ur's daughter—her face near identical—he'd kept quiet with the Council and told Su Yan instead, even though everyone knew how badly Grimoire Heart had clashed with Fairy Tail.
"Find Tartaros?" someone asked.
"How?"
Right now, Laxus and the others were on the brink, and Natsu and Erza were missing—likely captured by Tartaros. The priority was clear: find Tartaros or nothing else could be solved.
"I heard your companions may have been taken," Meredy said. "Who among you is closest to the captured ones—ideally a couple?"
Su Yan touched his chin. He and Erza… well, there was something there. But with Mirajane right here, he kept his mouth shut.
All eyes drifted to Lucy.
"Me…?" Lucy blinked, flustered.
"Aren't Lucy and Natsu a couple?" someone whispered.
"Not at all!!" Lucy yelped.
"What?! I thought so!"
"Yeah, you two are so close."
"Where is it?!"
"It doesn't have to be romantic," Meredy said gently. "You just need a deep mental bond."
"That's fine," Lucy breathed. She and Natsu were teammates, and Fairy Tail's bonds ran deep.
"Think about him—focus," Meredy instructed.
Lucy flushed but obeyed, letting Natsu's image fill her mind.
Meredy raised her hands. A sigil bloomed on Lucy's wrist. At the same instant, the same mark flared on Natsu—wherever he was within Tartaros. As the caster, Meredy felt the pull at once.
"Found him!"
"Where?!" Guildmates surged forward.
"Very far—and moving fast. The trajectory is… this way."
"What?!"
Fairy Tail froze.
Makarov's face tightened. "You mean Natsu is coming here? Are they alright—are they on their way back?"
Suddenly Happy swooped through the window in a frantic flutter.
"No—this is bad!"
He crash-landed on the floor, too spent to stay aloft.
"Happy?!"
"What happened—where's Natsu? And Erza? What about the former Speaker?!"
"Erza and Natsu have been captured! The former Speaker is a traitor! He sold out all the councilors!"
"What?!!"
Faces across the guild went pale as Happy hurried through everything he'd seen.
"I can't believe it… the former Speaker…"
"Erza and Natsu got taken—dammit."
"I… I want to save him… but…"
"Don't blame yourself," Pantherlily said firmly. "Tell us about their base."
Su Yan ruffled Happy's head. "It's alright. We'll bring them home. I'll rescue Natsu and Erza."
"Aye! Their base is a cube-shaped island—floating in the air and constantly moving."
"Moving?" several echoed.
"Master," Su Yan said, looking to Makarov.
Makarov nodded grimly. "Sounds like they're coming for us head-on."
With Natsu captured yet closing in on Magnolia, it was obvious: Tartaros planned to crush Fairy Tail and the councilors under their protection in one stroke.
"Good," someone snarled. "I was looking for those bastards anyway. If they dare show up—"
"They hurt our comrades and took them away. We won't let it slide!"
"Fight them to the end!!"
The guild roared its agreement. Su Yan, already burning, could wait no longer—Tartaros had crossed the line. He wanted to end them.
"Which direction?" Su Yan asked Meredy.
Meredy pointed, eyes hard. "From there."