The next morning, everyone had gathered at the front of the hotel. Erza had done a head count and just as the Ring Master said, no other death had occurred after the now buried woman. Everyone gathered around Erza and the fairies, recognizing them as Fairy Tail mages, the infamous Team Natsu and the only ones from a mages' guild. It was pretty obvious on who would lead in a situation like this and with Erza there, the Titania, the crowd felt more at ease.
Though Team Natsu, Levy, Mira, Gajeel and Lily were the only ones that belonged in a mages' guild, Yeongi also revealed himself to be a mage as well. Making 7 mages in total and 3 exceeds. Erza then began to discuss, with everyone else's input, how they would protect each other. Seeing as all of them in total were 100, not including the woman who died just a few ours ago. But since those without magic feared for their lives, they decided to stay as one large group.
Once that was settled, the group of fairies and Yeongi went to train so that they would be ready for what's to come. They remembered that the Ring Master said that he did not have control over the elimination methods, so they were stuck guessing it. Erza, Levy, Mira, Wendy and Carla decided to train by heightening their senses by meditating at the beach. The boys worked on their strength and magic. Natsu and Happy introducing Yeongi to the other guys.
It was then revealed that Yeongi was a type of holder and caster mage. He was able to control the earth with both his sword that was on his back and body. Unlike Lucy who was a holder mage and Natsu who was a caster mage, Yeongi was like an equal combination of the 2 types. Once they got that out of the way, Natsu and Yeongi decided to train with each other while Gray, Gajeel and Lily sparred.
Both boys exercised by dealing with stamina first and reflexes last. They were on concrete ground, so Natsu and Yeongi thought it'd be good to increase their physical capabilities before actually sparring. Happy timing them and being sort of their motivator. Once they did each set of exercises 50 times, they took a water break. Deciding to spar after they got their energy back. Gajeel, Lily and Gray soon starting their 4th or 5th spar when Natsu and Yeongi began their first spar.
Natsu started their spar by casting his usual Fire Dragon's Roar, but Yeongi anticipated that. He plunged his sword to the ground, suddenly making a rock wall the size of his entire body to block the fire from hitting him. When the fire was dismissed, Yeongi's blade was completely surrounded by rock and the brunette dashed towards Natsu with incredible speed. Natsu, knowing he didn't have enough time to dodge, encased his arm in fire and clashed with Yeongi's sword.
Both smirked at each other, satisfied with their strength. Natsu took advantage of his free hand, since Yeongi held his sword with both and tried to punch Yeongi square on his face. But the older boy was much quicker than Natsu thought. He ducked last minute and tripped Natsu by kicking his foot, making the slayer fall. The rocks surrounding his sword dispersed as he tightened his grip on the handle and pointed the blade unto Natsu neck, just barely poking the flesh.
"Natsu is unable to continue!" Happy announced like those Pokemon referees. "I deem Yeongi the winner!"
"Heh, looks like I win." Yeongi said proudly.
"What're you talking about?" Natsu joked. "You just got lucky, pal."
"Yeah right." Yeongi replied, sheathing his sword and lending a hand so Natsu could get up. "So am I supposed to assume you lost on purpose then?"
"Believe what you want." Natsu said, taking Yeongi's hand to get up and then dusting himself off.
"Whoa, those were really cool moves." Happy praised, flying in between them. "You were really quick to dodge Natsu's fist just then."
Yeongi laughed at Happy's praise and ruffled his hair. "Before my sister disappeared during the Chrossalis incident, I used to constantly tease her. Usually it resulted in me getting my body thrown." He explained. "Even if she was 6 years younger than me, I still had to keep up my guard."
"Boy do we know how that feels." Natsu said as Happy laughed since he knew what Natsu meant. The memory making the blue exceed feel nostalgic, though Yeongi didn't understand why it was funny.
"Every time we came to Lucy's house, she'd always yell at us and kick us out without warning. Especially Natsu. Something about barging in, I don't know." Happy explained. "Even if we came during the morning! You'd think Lucy would still be too tired, but her kicks were twice as strong at that time of day."
"I wonder if Lucy and my sister ever met." Yeongi suddenly brought up. "They would've been good friends. My best friend was always a playful guy, they probably kept him on his toes."
"Maybe they're talking about us right now?" Happy suggested.
"If they met, most likely." Yeongi joked before a sad smile appeared on his face. "But, just like how my friend died... I can't help but worry about my little sister too."
When Yeongi said that, Natsu's mood darkened and he looked out into the vast waters. "Luce..."
"Hey." Gray's voice spoke up as he, Gajeel and Lily walked up to the 3 of them. "Erza and the other girls called us over. Sounded like she was curious about something."
Natsu, Happy and Yeongi nodded at the 2 mages. Gray, Gajeel and Lily leading the way to where the girls were at the beach. It wasn't that long of a walk to the beach, so when they found the girls, they began to feel magical energy in the air. Wendy, Carla and Levy were reading some books that the bookworm had packed about magic while Erza and Mira were in some sort of serious conversation.
When the girls noticed that the boys had arrived, the 2 bluenettes and exceed joined Erza and Mira as the boys approached them. Judging by their looks, they seemed pretty skeptical about something. "Is there something wrong, Erza?" Happy asked.
"Do you feel the magic energy around here?" The scarlet haired mage asked, going straight to the point.
"It's clearly not one of our own, that's for sure." Yeongi noted. "But it somehow seems... familiar?"
"From what I can gather, it feels almost like a mixture of magic energy that seems to be lingering around after a battle." Lily explained, trying to get a better sense of the energy around them. "But I too have a sense of familiarity with it."
"Could it have been magic energy left by the people who came here before us?" Wendy suggested.
"It seems that way, assuming that they had finished their game right when we arrived yesterday." Mira replied. "But there was no one at the docks when we arrived so the last 2 survivors might have left before we came here. So the magic energy should've faded off by now."
"The magic energy here is still pretty strong to sense so there's no way that it had been awhile since the last game." Levy said, massaging her temples. "But then again, who's to say that the 2 survivors even left."
"You saying that they're still here? On this island?" Gajeel asked, crossing his arms. "If they are here, then why haven't they shown themselves yet and help us out?"
"Yeah, they could've helped us make sense of this entire game!" Natsu agreed, suddenly feeling a sense of unfairness. "Maybe even have stuff that they've found while they were stuck here."
"Will you calm down?" Carla spoke up in her human form. "If the 2 survivors are here and are aware of our presence, then the Ring Master might have locked them somewhere so that they would not interfere and try to get us to leave when we arrived in the first place."
"Carla's right Flame Brain." Gray said. "They might know where the Ring Master is, but they could be trapped somewhere so we can't find out."
Erza thought about everyone's words, but then noticed that it was the afternoon and they have yet to eat. "Let's figure it out some other time." She said. "Right now, we should go get some food."
After eating lunch, everyone decided to split up to see more of the island. Erza and Mira decided to stay at the hotel to devise to try and contact Makarov, Wendy, Carla and Levy went to the west side of the island, Gray, Lily and Gajeel to where the dock was to get a better looking at the magical barrier while Natsu, Happy and Yeongi went to the east side of the island. No one seemed to want to go there since it was pretty much surrounded by trees.
Natsu lead the way as Happy flew just above them, just so he was able to lead the way out if they went too far. Yeongi was just taking in their surroundings, seeing fallen branches and slashes on most of the trees. No doubt that when the first group of people were fending off for themselves, they made their way here and by the looks of it... the battle was pretty hectic. One could see burns on the grass and even some trees were cut.
Yeongi was going to comment on it when he noticed Natsu had stopped walking, Happy even descending to also freeze from where he flew. They said nothing and Yeongi honestly didn't want to know what made them statues. But when he looked over Natsu's shoulder, he was shocked to see a barren land. Cut down trees had been moved to the side to make space for the wooden planks and piles of dirt that represented a grave.
The land was short in length, having to only be 4 total rows, but it was quite wide. A total of 182 columns spread before them. The wooden planks had R.I.P scratched on them and at its feet was something that belonged to them. Whether it be a weapon, a picture frame or even an accessory. Each grave having a single wilted flower on it. Natsu, Happy and Yeongi could easily say that these were the bodies of the people that came before them.
"There're so many..." Happy whispered, his eyes scanning at the land.
"For every death... they all must've buried the bodies on their own." Yeongi said, his eyes showing sadness.
"I can't believe that Ring Master guy!" Natsu shouted in anger, gnashing his teeth. "Even if it's the last thing I do, I'm going to get all of us out of here so that no one would die! That I promise!"
Yeongi and Happy nodded, agreeing with Natsu's declaration. But then Erza's signal for everyone to gather in front of the hotel was cast, making the 3 boys realize that the sun was starting to set. They didn't realize that walking through the small forest would take up so much of their time. They made their way back to the center of the island, with Happy leading the way and seeing that everyone had gathered except for them.
Everyone had clumped together, forming a circle and the fairies including Yeongi were spread out at the front. Erza nodded to Gray, who proceeded to make a large ice dome around them and then to Yeongi, the brunette stabbing his sword to the ground to make another layer under the ice for extra protection. Natsu being the light source as his hand on fire and the exceeds holding torches from above.
Erza and the other girls began to try and sense if anything could come their way. They didn't know what kind of elimination method would be used and considering that the island itself was the one that made the methods happen, then anything was possible. Gajeel, Wendy and Natsu sniffing and listening for anything suspicious coming from outside. At that moment the sun went down and for 5 minutes did they stay within the protective dome.
The night sky soon taking over.
Suddenly, a large gun shot could be heard by everyone. It hit the top of the dome and in its wake was a large hole at the top of the dome, letting light from the lampposts outside to seep in. The fairies' eyes widen, not only did the gun shot reveal a hole at the top of the dome but it also revealed shadows that loomed above them. Screaming as the light made them disappear. That's when the shadows that weren't being hit from the light made themselves known.
"Shadows!" Erza said, before shouting at the rest. "Shadows are the threat! Bring down the dome!"
Everyone except the fairies and Yeongi began to scream with panic as Yeongi and Gray took down their layer of the dome. The shadows avoiding the light source from the lampposts. More shadows began to move past the lampposts with caution as the mages began putting everyone under lampposts. But because of the shadows being produced by the people under the light, more shadows just formed and surrounded them.
"They just keep coming!" Carla shouted in her human form, attacking the shadows.
"Whenever we cut down one of them, more just keep coming!" Lily added in his larger body form, extending his sword to cut more of the shadows.
"Fire Dragon's... Roar!" Natsu shouted as he shot towards incoming shadows from afar. Only for the shadows to just duck to the ground and the rise after the spell was done. "Stop dodging dammit!"
Gajeel began to slice the shadows in half with his Shadow Iron Dragon's Sword. He had transformed into his Shadow Dragon Mode and tried eating the shadows for more energy, but he instantly regretted it when the shadows started moving in his mouth. Thus, making him spit it out without hesitation. As he sliced the shadows in half, some of them were tougher and just stuck to the sword, then slithering their way up his arm.
"These things just don't know how to give up!" Gajeel complained as he flung them off his arm.
Mira on the other hand was in her standard Satan Soul form. She shot orbs of her magic to the shadows below, her wings lifting her in to the air. She was hovering between 2 lampposts to protect both groups within the light and she wondered how the shadows continued to spawn. But she dismissed it to the back of her head, her top priority being to protect the non-mages from dying.
"I wonder how long we can last..." Mira thought, trailing off as she attack each group of shadows. "We might get tired soon enough..."
Levy stood in front of another group of people under a lamppost, casting any Solid Script word that could produce light. Light, Fire, Lightning. Words like that. It warded off the shadows to some extent, but she was starting to get annoyed with turning one way and writing out a word and then turning the other to do the same. It was putting a strain on her torso. She wasn't exactly the type to be good on stamina, but she managed well enough.
"If only I could write several words at once..." She said to herself, but then quickly shook her head. "No time to be depressed Levy! You gotta protect the people!"
As more and more shadows began to spawn, completely surrounding the mages and the people, a light shined from above them and punched the ground to make a light spread across the ground. The shadows surrounding them dispersing back into the dark, far from where everyone stood. They looked to the figure in front of them, the mages in front, and was about to say something to the person. Until, the fairies heard his voice.
"Of course it just had to be shadows..." The figure before them groaned.
The fairies took in his appearance, his voice already completely familiar to them. He had orange hair that went every which way, orange cat ears poking out and glasses on his face. He sported a black tuxedo and rings on his fingers. The man stretched his arms and adjusted his tie along with his rings. But when he turned to face the crowd, his expression mirrored the mages in front.
"No way... impossible..." Natsu said in disbelief. "...Loke?"
The lion spirit stared at the mages before him, completely forgetting about the shadows that were now heading their way towards the crowd. "This isn't right..." Loke said. "Why are you all here? Why did you get on that boat!?"
"Why are we here!?" Gray asked, repeating after Loke. "We should be asking you that question!? You disappear with Lucy for 2 years and we find you here of all places!?"
"Is she with you!?" Mira asked. "Where is she!?"
Before Loke could reply, a gunshot echoed from above crowd. On top of the roof, Taurus stood with a gun that was almost as long as his legs in hand. The cow's ax strapped to his back. The bull spirit jumped down beside Loke and even he was shocked beyond compare to see the fairies. Clearly both spirits weren't happy to see Lucy's friends here. Yeongi on the other hand, focusing on the familiar gun in Taurus' hand.
"That gun..." Yeongi thought, his eyes wide.
"Taurus!?" Carla exclaimed. "You're here too!?"
"I'd say the same thing toooo yoooou." Taurus said, extending the sound of 'to' and 'you'.
"Where's Lucy!? Answer us!" Erza commanded in anger.
Before the 2 celestial spirits could reply, a girl's voice decided to interrupt them. "Taurus sunbae! Loke oppa! What're you both doing!?" She asked, clearly annoyed. "Get the people to fight to! If someone dies, Unnie is not going to be too happy that we failed!"
At the sound of the girl's words, Taurus headed for the front where the shadows were coming from and placed the gun on his back. He took out his ax and sliced the shadows with little to no effort. Loke adjusting his rings yet again before surrounding his fist in light. "Listen, we'll talk after the fight alright?" He said.
Before another words could be said, Loke dashed into battle, a girl suddenly jumping from a tree to slam into the ground with a sword in hand. It created small cracks in the dirt and the shadows slithering across the ground began to sink within the cracks, not getting out. She took out her sword and flipped her orange hair back. Yeongi's eyes staring into her back. Her voice very familiar to him, especially the way she fought.
"It can't be..." He said as he recovered from his shock. Without hesitation, he ran to join her, Loke and Taurus to fend off the shadows. The rest of the fairies going back to fight too.
"Somin! Is she ready yet!?" Loke asked, Yeongi recognizing the name well.
"Sagittarius and Unnie are just about ready as we speak!" The girl, Somin, informed. But when she turned towards Yeongi, her eyes went wide as they both made eye contact.
To say Yeongi was surprised to see his younger sister on this island was an understatement. He was completely and utterly shocked to see her there. Somin had grown the last he'd seen her, but it was to be expected after disappearing for 2 years. She had gotten taller and her hair was longer and drifted to the middle of her back. He could tell that her physical and magical prowess had gotten considerably stronger too.
But while he was glad to be reunited with his missing sister, her expression was entirely different from his. Somin looked like she was ready to scold Yeongi and he didn't even know why. She held her sword with one hand, something she never did 2 years ago and dashed past him. Slicing 4 shadows at once with one swift move. Yeongi was impressed, but at the same time he didn't want to be the receiving end of her wrath.
"What are you doing here, Oppa!?" Somin asked in anger and confusion.
"That's how you greet your older brother after 2 years!?" Yeongi asked as he and Somin fought back to back with perfect teamwork along with Loke and Taurus.
"I can't believe this." She groaned slicing more shadows that came her way.
"You can't believe this!? I can't believe this!" He retorted, gripping his sword tightly with both hands. "I search all over for you, only to find you in this hell hole!? And don't get me started on Keith-"
"Oppa this is not the time!" Somin protested in distress, cutting Yeongi off. "I'll tell you everything later! About this place, about Keith! But for now please just focus on the task at hand!"
Yeongi huffed but conceded to his sister's demands. He knew that she was right and that answers would have to wait until the sun rises. "Fine..." The brunette said. "You better explain once we're done here."
The 2 siblings nodded at each other as they began to mirror each others attacks, back to back. Slicing as many shadows they could with both their swords and the earth beneath them. Loke and Taurus gathering as much light they can to their attacks to ward off the shadows. The shadows dispersing just by a single touch of the celestial attacks, before recovering and coming back again.
After what seemed like an hour or 3, the Fairy Tail mages, Yeongi and the rest of the crowd began to feel tired. Feeling sleepy as their magic energy was depleting. They had woken that morning and exhaustion plus the need for sleep began to take over their bodies. The shadows soon surrounding them yet again. Somin, Loke and Taurus unable to fight to protect all 100 of them. Natsu and Happy yawning most of the time.
But they were all woken up when a bright golden light appeared out of nowhere, along with a very familiar voice to Team Natsu. "Star Shot!" A female shouted.
Somin stopped along with Loke and Taurus. The 3 looking towards the roof of the hotel to see someone stand atop it. Beside her was a man dressed in a horse costume, shooting arrows that soon turned into more arrows that fell towards the shadows like shooting stars. Piercing them and making them disappear. The fairies' jaws drop at the sight of the person who had just woken them up.
"Unnie!" Somin exclaimed happily.
"That magic energy...!?" Levy noted as she knew the magic well.
"Unbelievable!" Mira said in disbelief.
She stood proud an tall with a large orb of celestial magic behind her. Her blonde hair tied in a very high ponytail and her brown eyes narrowed to show her seriousness. She had no smile on her face as she held a bow on her right hand and an arrow in the other. The blonde wearing a green outfit that was Sagittarius themed along with golden boots. Team Natsu, Mira, Levy, Gajeel and Lily looked at the girl that they had been looking for for 2 years with amazed expressions.
"If you wish to survive, I suggest you listen to my orders well." She announced, her voice holding authority. She looked down to the fairies, whom she called nakama, but they were surprised that she didn't seem happy to see them much like Loke.
"Lucy!?" They all shouted.
And that's that chapter! So now, Yeongi had reunited with his younger sister Somin. Natsu and the others reunited with Lucy. But clearly both girls seem not too happy to see either parties. Will they survive with Lucy and Somin's help? Or will someone die just as the night before? Will Lucy and Somin explain everything? Or will they keep everyone in the dark instead? Review your thoughts^^
Ja ne~