[Mini Story : A Special Gift]
These events took place after Team Natsu's battle against the Nega Mother Wisp.
Before returning to Magnolia, they spent one last night at Chao Garden before departing. They were all sleeping in their tents when Sonic got up and transformed into a werehog. It was 6 AM, and the sun was about to rise. He quietly entered the girls' tent and, using his elastic arms, grabbed Wendy and pulled her out.
Sonic (returning to his human form): Wendy?
Wendy (still half-asleep): Hmmm, what now? Have the Wisps turned into cats?
Sonic: Huh??
Sonic shook her gently, and she opened her eyes.
Wendy: Huh? Sonic? What's going on?
Sonic (smiling): I wanted to give you a keepsake.
Wendy (yawning): Couldn't this wait until morning?
Sonic: No, you told me you didn't want to forget these moments here, right?
Wendy: Yes.
Sonic (showing her a Chao with a new form): Then here you go!
He showed her a blue Chao with spines and black eyes—it was a Sonic-Chao!

Wendy: Huh? What's this??
Sonic: What do you think? Look closely!
Wendy looked again at the Chao, who smiled at her like a baby looking at its mother.
Wendy (blushing): S-Sonic... I-I didn't know male Mobians could have babies...
Sonic realized she thought he had given birth to it.
Sonic (turning red): No, idiot! I just cuddled this Chao earlier!!!
Wendy (laughing nervously and scratching her head): Ah, uh... sorry.
Sonic sighed.
Wendy: But wait, is this really for me?
Sonic: Yes. Technically, he and I are connected, so if one day I'm somewhere else and you notice the Chao acting strangely, you'll know something's wrong with me. It's kind of like a pet.
Wendy: A pet?
Sonic: Yeah, I know you love cats... I don't know what made me give you a hedgehog...
Wendy (snatching it from him): Are you kidding?! He's adorable!!! And he looks just like you!
Sonic: We don't look that much alike...
The Chao floated up and sat on Wendy's head.
Wendy (giving Sonic a kiss on the cheek): Thank you so much, Sonic!
Sonic: Oh, uh... it's nothing...
A few hours later, Wendy introduced her new little companion to the others.
Wendy: Isn't he cute?
Lucy: Aww, he really is adorable.
Lucy cuddled the Chao, who struggled to return to Wendy's head.
Erza: He's definitely as protective as a certain blue hedgehog.
Feeling called out, Sonic looked away as if he hadn't heard anything.
Natsu: Can he roll into a ball too?
Omochao: He has the same abilities as Sonic, but in a reduced form, so yes.
Gray (staring at the Chao): So, is he a pervert too?
The blue Chao got angry and unleashed an electric shock, zapping Gray.
Happy: He can use lightning too!!!
Sonic: Well, we should head back, right?
Erza: Yes, you're right. Thank you for your hospitality, Omochao.
Omochao: Oh, it was nothing! See you later, friends!
Sonic opened a portal that took them back to Magnolia.
[End of the Mini Story]
Timeskip (no one's POV)
It was the fifth and final day of the Grand Magic Games. Natsu and his friends were fighting the Hungry Wolf Gang while the rest of the team completed the last event. Natsu saved Lucy and Yukino, who had been imprisoned after discovering Eclipse Gate, the portal that allows time travel. They had defeated the Hungry Wolf Gang and were about to leave the castle when they encountered another Lucy, who turned out to be Lucy from a very near future. She explained what had happened in the future and why she had come here.
Sonic: But how did you get here? Did I give you a portal ring?
Future Lucy: Well, actually...
???: She came with me.
They turned around and saw a white hedgehog walking towards them.
Sonic: Who are you?

Silver: My name is Silver. I'm a hedgehog from 200 years in the future. To save the future, I must eliminate you!
Sonic: Huh?? Lucy? You didn't mention killing me in your plan.
Future Lucy: Silver, what are you talking about? Why kill Sonic?
Silver: I should have told you earlier, but it's because of him that this war has continued for 200 years.
Natsu: What do you mean it's because of him?
Silver: Silence!
He emitted a green light from his hands and, from a distance, made a pushing motion, sending Sonic and Natsu crashing into a wall.
Present Lucy: Stop! What's wrong with you?
Future Lucy: Silver, why are you doing this? We never talked about killing one of our friends!
Silver: It's because of Wendy's death that this happened.
Sonic, shocked, looked at Silver.
Everyone: What?
Silver: Wendy lost her life in front of Sonic, which drove him mad. He only wanted one thing: to destroy everything in his path, especially dragons. But what he didn't realize was that the more dragons he slew using his power, the more he transformed into one of them, until he became a fearsome dragon that spread chaos and destruction for years. I am the sole survivor of my species today.
Everyone was shocked to hear this. Sonic becoming a dragon? Wendy dying before his eyes? They didn't know what to say. They snapped back to reality when Silver made Sonic levitate and sent him crashing through several walls, leaving him unconscious. Wendy rushed to him.
Future Lucy: But... but that's still no reason to kill him!!!
Silver: If I can't prevent evil from being created, at least I can stop it from spreading.
Silver was about to finish him off when he suddenly felt paralyzed. He looked down and saw shadows binding him. A figure emerged from the ground and rose—it was a man with black and white hair, resembling Rogue!
Natsu: Who are you?
Future Rogue: Come on, Natsu, don't you recognize me?
Wendy (shocked): This scent...

Future Lucy (terrified): Rogue?!
Silver: How did you get here?
Future Rogue: I simply used Eclipse Gate to return here. Apparently, I arrived just in time since you're incapable of eliminating one of your own kind.
He raised his hand, and the shadows tightened around Silver, but he managed to teleport away from the shadowy area.
Silver: What's gotten into you all of a sudden?!
Future Rogue: You can only count on yourself. That's why I will eliminate all of you!
Silver clenched his fists, ready to fight, while the others stood in shock. Future Rogue's aura was dark and menacing, unlike the Rogue they knew.
Natsu: Oi, oi... What's up with this guy?
Wendy (worried): His scent... it's just like Rogue's, but much darker...
Future Lucy (trembling): He's no longer the Rogue you knew... He changed after losing Frosch...
Present Lucy: Losing Frosch?
Future Rogue: That's right. My dear companion was slain in my timeline. I lost everything that mattered to me, and in my grief, I embraced the darkness.
He raised his hand, and massive dark tendrils surged from the ground, heading straight for the group.
Silver: Damn it!
Silver used his psychokinesis to block the shadows, but Rogue's power was overwhelming. Natsu ignited his flames, countering the dark energy with an explosion.
Natsu: Tch, this guy's a pain!
Wendy: Sonic! Are you okay?!
Sonic, still recovering from Silver's earlier attack, slowly stood up, shaking his head.
Sonic: Urgh... Yeah... I'm good... What's going on now?
He looked at Rogue, who grinned wickedly.
Sonic (raising an eyebrow): Who's this guy supposed to be?
Silver (serious): He's Future Rogue. And trust me, he's just as dangerous as I am.
Future Rogue: More, actually.
Dark energy erupted from him as he launched another wave of attacks. The group scattered, dodging the incoming darkness. Sonic quickly reacted, dashing toward Rogue with a Spin Dash. But just as he was about to hit, Rogue vanished into the shadows, appearing behind Sonic.
Future Rogue: Too slow.
With a powerful kick, he sent Sonic flying. Wendy gasped and rushed forward, catching Sonic with her Sky Dragon's Wings spell.
Wendy: Sonic! Are you okay?!
Sonic (grinning despite his pain): Heh, nothing I can't handle.
Silver: We need to work together!
Silver charged his energy, lifting Rogue into the air with psychokinesis. Natsu and Sonic both saw an opening.
Natsu: Time to finish this!
Sonic: Let's go!
Natsu engulfed his fists in flames while Sonic spun in place, generating blue electrical energy. They both launched their attacks at Rogue, who struggled to break free from Silver's grip.
Future Rogue (gritting his teeth): Tch... Impressive... but not enough!
He unleashed a massive explosion of shadows, breaking free. The shockwave sent everyone flying backward.
He launched a wave of shadows that destroyed the force field, then hurled a shadow spear at Present Lucy, but she was protected by Future Lucy, who took the blade straight to the stomach.
Everyone: Lucy!!!
She collapsed into Silver's arms.
Silver (panicking): Oh no, no, no, Lucy, don't do this to us!!
Present Lucy (starting to cry): Why did you do that?
Future Lucy: If you died, I would have died too, so...
Silver: The future one had to be the only one affected.
Natsu: Lucy...
Future Lucy: Don't worry about me, you have to stop Rogue. If he opens the Eclipse Gate... it will be...
She closed her eyes without finishing her sentence. She had just died. Rogue chuckled while the others were left in tears.
Silver (laying Lucy on the ground): Friends, go stop the Eclipse Project from starting! As for me...
Rogue screamed in pain after being struck by a flaming punch from Natsu. He was crying in rage. The others left, leaving Future Lucy's body with Silver.
Silver (stopping beside Natsu): Fire Dragon Slayer, let's team up to defeat him.
Natsu: ...
Future Rogue: Don't think for a second that you have a chance against me. I'm not the same Rogue you once knew.
Meanwhile, Lucy, Wendy, Mirajane, and Yukino found Princess Hisui, who had already opened the gate. That's when disaster struck—seven dragons emerged from the portal.
Lucy: We need to close the portal!!
She tried using the switch, but it wasn't working. Yukino had an idea.
Yukino: Lucy, we can probably close it if we use our spirits!
Lucy: Good idea!
They joined hands and summoned all the Zodiac Spirits, who charged at the portal to close it. An eighth dragon was about to emerge, blocking the portal, which was nearly shut. It was stronger than the spirits and was slowly prying the door open. Suddenly, a green laser shot from a portal ring, hitting the dragon and forcing it back inside, allowing the spirits to seal the gate.
Hisui: What was that?!
???: The Eclipse Cannon.
They turned to see a man dressed in black with a red-lined jacket and rings on his arms.
Yukino: Shadow!
Wendy: Him again?!
Lucy: Was it you who activated that laser?
Shadow: It's a cannon from Mobius. I fired the shot remotely and then opened a portal here.
Wendy: That cannon was incredibly powerful!
Shadow: That's because it requires special objects for activation. And that's exactly what I came here to find.
The princess immediately understood what he meant when Shadow looked at her.
Hisui: You're talking about the Chaos Emerald?
Shadow: Exactly! That's what I was searching for during my raid on the capital. With all seven emeralds, I'll be able to use my machine's full potential and maybe take down those dragons.
Lucy: But you're Dragon Slayers, you can defeat them...
Shadow (interrupting her): These dragons are still too powerful for us. Even with Dragon Force, we'd only be able to scratch them.
Hisui (holding out a green gem): Then take the emerald!
Shadow: Thank you, Princess. Now, I need you all to find a way to hold them off while I prepare the next shot.
Yukino: Are you sure you don't need help?
Shadow: Don't worry, Yuki, I'll go with someone else.
He teleported away, leaving the group to handle the dragons. He began searching for Sonic for a reason even he didn't understand…
Timeskip : Natsu, Silver, and Rogue were fighting on top of a gray dragon, which had started laying eggs. The eggs hatched into mini-dragons, making things even worse. Wendy and Laxus were battling Zirconis, the Jade Dragon. Meanwhile, Lucy, who was far away, had found a way to defeat the dragons and was hurrying back to the others. That's when Ultear's spell, which rewound time by one minute, took effect.
Laxus: Where the hell is Sonic?!
He created a Lightning Barrier that surrounded the dragon.
Wendy: The last time I saw him, he went to check if the rest of the guild was okay, but he still hasn't come back.
The dragon broke free. Laxus and Wendy unleashed a Dragon Roar on it, but it didn't seem to weaken.
Zirconis: At this rate, you won't be very appetizing anymore. Are you still going to keep squirming?
???: Then let me entertain you!
A force field appeared around the dragon, preventing it from moving.
Zirconis: What is this?!
Silver appeared before them.
Laxus: A white hedgehog?!
Wendy: Silver?
Silver: These dragons are incredibly powerful. We must not underestimate them.
Wendy: Where is Natsu?
Silver: Don't worry about him. He can handle himself.
Lucy: Guys!!!
Lucy came running toward them, wearing a different outfit and holding a book in her hands.
Yukino: Lucy, are you okay?
Lucy: Yes! I think I've found a way to defeat the dragons.
Hisui: How?
Lucy: I read my future self's notebook, and she wrote that the dragons have existed since the portal remained open.
Wendy: What are you getting at?
Lucy: If we destroy the portal, the dragons will disappear!
Laxus: So we just had to destroy the portal?
Hisui: Except this portal is made of magic-resistant metal. I don't see how we could destroy it…
Yukino: Lucy, do you have enough magic left?
Lucy: Yes, why?
Yukino: Let's try Celestial Magic! Maybe with the spirits, we can destroy it.
Wendy: We can try helping too!
Silver (keeping his hands in front of the still-paralyzed dragon): Go ahead. I'll hold the dragon back.
| A few minutes later |
Despite the spirits' power, they still hadn't even managed to crack the portal.
Lucy (collapsing to her knees): I... can't... do this... We're not strong enough...
Yukino (exhausted): If only Shadow knew about the portal, he could have redirected the Cannon toward it…
Shadow: I already know.
They all turned to where the voice came from, but they saw no one. Then, another voice spoke.
Sonic: The Cannon is ready to fire!
All eyes turned to Wendy, and they noticed that her red hairpins glowed every time the voices spoke.
Wendy: Sonic, you were listening to us?
Sonic: For a while now, yes. Look up at the sky!
They all looked up and saw a planet visible in the sky. The planet opened a cannon, which began charging before firing a massive green laser straight at the portal.
Hisui: Everyone, get away from the portal!
The portal began to crack. At that moment, Natsu came hurtling toward it like a flaming comet—with Rogue.
BOOM !!!
A massive, blinding explosion erupted from the impact of Natsu and the space laser. The portal shattered into a thousand pieces.
Lucy: Did we do it?
Silver looked at the Jade Dragon, which started to fade away. He himself began glowing as well.
Silver: Yes, this is the end. You've put an end to 200 years of suffering. The future is saved—and so is Lucy.
Carla: Are you returning to the future?
Silver: Yes. The dragons will also return to the past. Thank you for everything. I will never forget you, Fairy Tail mages.
He vanished, along with the other dragons.
Hisui (sadly): The Eclipse Project ends in failure—and a terrible mistake on my part. I should never have opened that portal. Crocus wouldn't have been destroyed…
Lucy: Don't worry! What matters is that you were able to change things.
Natsu: We won?
Lucy (hugging Natsu from behind): Yes, we won…
Carla: Look up there!
The planet in the sky started approaching Earth—it was about to crash!
Wendy (touching her hairpins): Sonic, what's happening??
Sonic: Wen... too late... out of control... can't contain it...
Yukino: There's interference! Did something go wrong??
Lucy: Is the planet going to crash here?!
Hisui: The impact could be catastrophic!!!
Yukino: Shadow…
Natsu: Oh no, Sonic!
The planet was hurtling straight toward Crocus Castle at full speed.
What happened on Sonic and Shadow's side?!
[Mini Story : I will bring you back !]
On the evening of the second day of the Grand Magic Games, Yukino had been reprimanded, humiliated, and banished by the master of Sabertooth. The three Dragon Slayers and the two Exceeds were discussing what had just happened.
Rogue: He shouldn't have done that!
The others looked at him.
Sting: Why do you say that?
Rogue: She didn't deserve to be kicked out of the guild after everything she had done.
Sting: But what do you want us to do? It's the master's decision; we can't do anything about it… Right, Shadow?
Shadow: …
Sting: Don't tell me you're on her side too.
Shadow: She was weak—there's no denying that. But it seems like you haven't opened your eyes to the potential she had. That girl possessed something that you don't.
Sting: And what exactly do we lack?
Shadow: I'm not going to think for you. You have brains too—figure it out yourselves.
He teleported away.
Sting (sighing): Seriously, we'll never understand that hedgehog.
Shadow appeared in town and started looking for Yukino. Five minutes later, he found her, sitting sadly in front of a fountain. He appeared before her.
Yukino: Shadow, what are you doing here?
Shadow: Do you really want to leave?
Yukino: I...
Shadow: It was your dream to be in the guild, and all of a sudden, you decide to leave without even resisting.
Yukino: You... You know very well that there wasn't much I could do...
Shadow: To the point where you lost your dignity by stripping in front of everyone? Sure, you have a beautiful body, but it's not meant for a striptease.
Yukino: Shadow... (She burst into tears.) I'm sorry... I'm so weak that I can't even take care of myself.
Shadow looked away, still visibly angry.
Yukino: Since we met, you've always taken care of me like a little brother, but I was never able to return the favor. I'm so sorry, Shadow…
Then, Shadow did something he had never done before—he hugged Yukino, stopping her from speaking.
Shadow: You've given me more affection than I've had in a long time, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad to see you leave like this.
Yukino: Shadow…
Shadow: I will bring you back.
She looked at him, confused.
Shadow: I will bring you back to the guild, but not yet. First, I will change the corrupt ways of this guild, even if I have to eliminate them.
Yukino: Shadow, no!
Shadow: Yuki, I promise you, you won't suffer like this anymore. I will be by your side no matter what.
Yukino: Thank you so much, Shadow.
Shadow left her and returned to the guild, while Yukino went to meet Lucy.
| One Hour Later |
An explosion echoed through the Sabertooth guild—it was Natsu, who had stormed in, furious after learning what had happened to Yukino. As Natsu fought the guild members one by one, Shadow sat at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, watching his guildmates get beaten up.
Shadow (thinking): Maybe this Fire Dragon will knock some sense into them.
[End of the Mini Story]