"But I failed. It's impossible for a mother to cast enchantments onto her own child. So I lost interest in you. I threw you away like garbage, left in the corner of some little mountain village."
"…Rosemary Village?" Erza whispered.
"I don't remember the name of the village," Irene replied coldly.
Wendy clenched her fists, horrified. To say such things… to your own daughter.
Erza's voice was steady. "I'm fine. In fact, I should thank you—for giving me life."
"I don't need trash thanking me."
Wendy couldn't hold back anymore. "How can you say that to your own child?!"
Erza stood tall, armor gleaming. "And I also thank you… for abandoning me. Because of that, I found my true family. Even if you are my mother by blood, if you threaten them, I will kill you."
"I once wondered," Irene said, her tone sharp, "if the memories of my swordsmanship, of battles past, could stir even a shred of maternal love in me. But no… I feel nothing for you."
She raised her hand.
"Boom—!!"
The ground beneath Erza erupted. But Erza was ready—she leapt through the blast, using its force to close in.
"Whoosh!!"
Her sword slashed down, only to be caught by Irene's wand.
"I became queen of a nation through my magic alone. Do you really think you can defeat me?"
"Dragon's Wing Strike!!"
Wendy's voice rang out, her magic crashing into Irene's side. Distracted, Irene faltered for an instant.
"Red and Black Swords!!!"
"Shhk!!"
Erza's twin blades carved across Irene's body.
"Guh—!" Irene staggered, unable to hide the pain.
"You actually… hurt me."
"I may pity your past," Erza said firmly, "but that is no excuse to harm my family."
"And I'll never forgive someone who doesn't love their child!" Wendy added, eyes blazing.
Irene's eyes narrowed. "Dragon Slayer girl… did I not mention it? The 'Dragon Seed.' There is one inside you as well. That means… my present is your future."
"It doesn't matter!" Wendy shot back. "So long as I live, I'll protect my family—even if I turn into a dragon!"
In her heart, she thought of Su Yan. On Tenrou Island, his brother had become a dragon to protect Fairy Tail. If becoming a dragon meant fighting Aknologia and protecting everyone, then she too would bear that fate without hesitation.
Irene's face twisted. "Foolish child! When you truly become a dragon, centuries will pass. Your guildmates will wither and die. You'll suffer alone, tormented by eternity—until your heart twists into something as broken as mine!"
"I'm not afraid!!" Wendy's eyes shone with unwavering resolve.
That look made Irene recoil, as if denied—denied by a little girl who had not suffered her centuries of torment.
Suddenly, a voice resonated:
"Don't worry. You will not become a dragon."
"What?!" Irene's eyes widened.
Wendy froze. That voice—so familiar. So precious. Her heart pounded, and powerful magic surged from deep within her.
"Ahhh—!!"
A brilliant white dragon emerged from Wendy's body, soaring into the sky.
"A dragon?!"
The battlefield fell into shock.
Irene herself gasped. She had… hidden a dragon?
"...Grandine…"
Tears streamed down Wendy's cheeks as she looked up. That white dragon—her mother, the Sky Dragon, Grandine.
On the northern battlefield, Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue felt their own hearts race. Their bodies burned hot with magic.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
With thunderous cries, three more dragons appeared.
"What—?! More dragons?!"
"Why are there so many?!"
The soldiers of Alvarez panicked. They had seen what Su Yan's dragon form had done—one dragon had leveled their empire's palace. Now there were several before them.
"...M-Metalicana…" Gajeel stared in disbelief at the iron dragon before him.
"Weisslogia…" Sting whispered.
"Skiadrum…" Rogue's voice shook.
Their dragons—the very ones they thought they had killed with their own hands—stood alive before them.
"Your eyes are still as vicious as ever," Metalicana growled down at Gajeel.
"Grandine…" Erza was stunned. "That's Wendy's foster mother—the Sky Dragon Grandine. She… she came out of Wendy just now."
The Sky Dragon's eyes softened as she looked at Wendy. "You've grown strong, Wendy. So very strong."
She had been within Wendy all along, watching over her, watching her grow into the wizard she was today. For a mother, nothing could bring greater joy.
The only regret was not being able to truly stand beside her like this, always.
"Grandine!! Where have you been all this time?! I missed you so much!!" Wendy cried, clinging to her mother's claw. Grandine gently stroked her with a talon, a tender smile in her voice.
Irene's expression hardened. "Grandine… you… you're still alive?!"
"It has been a long time, Your Majesty," Grandine said, raising her head.
Her voice carried old familiarity. Four centuries ago, Irene had been queen of dragons. Grandine, one of Ishgar's guardian dragons. Both protectors, both tied to humanity. Of course, they had known one another.