Taking Lucy, Yukino and Arcadios away, Darton states he will let nobody use the Eclipse Gate and escorts the Fairy Tail Mages outside the palace. As the Dragon Slayer collapses to the ground, Darton explains that the Eclipse Gate has been stealing small amounts of power from the Grand Magic Games participants, but to use Magic directly in front of it will result in the Mages powers being sucked out completely. Lucy questions why she too is being arrested, and Natsu quickly tries to come to her aid, coating his fists in fire as he prepares to attack however, the Eclipse Gate suddenly lights up, sucking Natsu's Magic away. Thinking over Darton's words, the Fairy Tail Mages agree, reasoning that changing that past would have unknowable consequences on their own timeline, whilst, to their surprise, Darton commands that Arcadios, Yukino and Lucy all be arrested for crimes against the state. Becoming angry in return, Darton confirms that is is against the plan, stating that changing the past is far more dangerous than Arcadios seems to think. Questioning why Arcadios would leak vital military information to outsiders, Darton is met with anger from Arcadios, who reminds him of Lucy's vital role and accuses the Minister of being against the plan as a whole. Recognising the date immediately as the date their Dragons disappeared 14 years earlier, Gajeel, Natsu and Wendy become hesitant at the idea of the operation, questioning the coincidence of the similar date.īefore Lucy can reach a conclusion as to her participation, the group are interrupted by the Minister of Defence, Darton, and the Royal Army, who surround them and ask for their surrender. Asking for Lucy's assistance in the plan, Arcadios tells her that they will be opening the Eclipse Gate in two days time, on the 7th of July. Continuing, Arcadios adds that they originally planned to use a pseudo-Magic to force the Gate open, but, now being in access of the 12 golden zodiac keys, can utilize what they consider to be the strongest option for a successful time jump. When the others question how such a feat is even possible, Yukino explains that the Celestial Spirit World functions of a completely different timeline to their own, and through using their time as a dimensional boundary, they will be able to access the past. From there, the Eclipse Plan will be executed: using the Eclipse Gate, Arcadios and his team will travel back in time by 400 years, finding and killing the Dark Mage Zeref before he obtains immortality.
When the sun and the moon cross over one another, the twelve golden keys of the zodiac will be used to open the gate. Arriving at a much larger room, the group are startled to be met by a humongous gate, with Arcadios explaining that the Magic Power stolen from the Grand Magic Games participants will be used to power it. Being taken to Mercurius, the group are informed that the entire Grand Magic Games is merely a show in order for those involved in the Eclipse Plan to secretly extract the Magic Power needed for their operation, with Arcadios also paying Lucy an apology for attempting to kidnap her a couple of days earlier, an action he states was an error of judgement on his behalf. Inquiring into Arcadios' plan, the group is asked to accompany him to another location, with Yukino herself personally requesting that Lucy follow. Introducing himself the the group of Mages under the Domus Flau, Arcadios explains that the ex-Sabertooth member Yukino is also now a temporary sergeant of the Royal Army, as their plan to stop Zeref and Acnologia requires the assistance of Celestial Spirit Mages.