Running steps echoed through the hallway as the two boys ran, staring at the path in front of them.
"Are you kidding me?! We're going to work together?!"
"You can't put fire and ice together! They contradict each other!"
"Erza's too selfish! What is she thinking?!"
"She always decides for us!"
"I can fight Erigor myself!" they said simultaneously. "Don't mimic me!"
They stopped when they reached the hallway, two paths on either side.
"We split up."
They stood at the opposite sides, their backs against each other.
"Natsu. We're dealing with a menacing person who wants to unleash dangerous magic. If you're the one who's going to find him, beat his sorry ass."
"You don't need to tell me that. He's a person who dared to pick a fight with us. He won't get away."
Gray whispered, "Be safe"
"Huh?"
"Nothing!"
Gray run on his side, continued running until he spotted a set of speakers. "Wait, if he's planning to broadcast the Lullaby here, then he's at the broadcast room!"
He kicked at the door, but found no one inside. The room was dark but Gray went inside. "Was I wrong? If he's broadcasting it, then he should be here"
On the ceiling, Rayule grinned. Gray barely dodged an attack that came to him.
"Your intuitions are too good" the dark guild member said, "You're an obstacle in our plan"
Gray smiled, "Looks like you can have another plan!"
"Someone's coming out!"
The people stared at the woman who emerged in the second floor of the building, holding a speaker in her hand, "If you value your lives, get away as far from here! A dark guild plans on broadcasting a death song to kill everyone here!"
People began to ran away from the station after her warning.
"H-hey! Why would you cause a panic like that?"
Erza looked at the soldier, "It's better for everyone. It's probably better if you go too."
The soldiers also followed after the townspeople.
Erza sighed, "Now, there's no one left except us. I wonder what will be his next move?"
"What?!" A barrier of wind suddenly began to form in front the station. "The whole station's being surrounded!"
Erigor chuckled behind her.
"You can't escape my urumi swords!" Numerous rope like objects went through Gray's direction.
Gray put his fist on top of his palm. "Ice Make: Shield!"
"Ice Magic?!"
"Ice Make: Knuckle!" Five fists shot up from the ground, hitting the man's face as he went thru the wall. "What really is your plan? You're not really broadcasting Lullaby on the speakers, right?!"
The man chuckled darkly, "Erigor's Magic Wind Wall shall be done by now."
"Wind Wall?"
"It is a wind barrier that prevents you flies from escaping!"
"I always want to fight you, Titania" Erigor stated as he floated. "But I am a busy person as you see. I don't have time to deal with you"
He flashed a light that Erza couldn't help but to cover her eyes, and the only thing that she felt was she was pushed inside by a force. "Erigor!"
She tried to break through but the said man only snickered. "You can't break it. It is a one way and if you try to leave, the wind will break your bones apart"
"What do you mean?!"
"You flies wasted a lot of our time. I must be really going by now"
"Wait!"
The said man flew away and he was gone. "Where is that bastard headed?! His target wasn't the station in the first place?"
"He wasn't targeting this station" Aira emerged outside.
"What?!"
"I read his mind. He is planning to kill the guild masters who's in the conference."
"How could we get there? This is an impenetrable wall!"
"Clover Station is our target. Seem familiar now?"
Clover is where the masters conference is. They're planning to kill our masters?
"I'm not letting you kill the masters that are like parents to us!"
"There's nothing you can do anymore!"
"Bastard!" Gray freeze the man until his whole body was covered with ice.
Tsk. I might as well find them.
"Erigor! Where are you?!" Natsu blasted on the doors, fists flamed.
Doesn't he know what doors are? Kageyama snickered.
"Come out!"
Pathetic. He appeared from the shadows, readying his attack. He grazed Natsu a little bit as he was thrown to the side.
"You'll pay for that!" The fire dragon slayer put his hands between his mouth "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Kageyama tried to dodged, but he was hit nonetheless.
"Where is Erigor?!"
Kageyama chuckled, "He was long gone!"
"What do you mean gone?!"
"It was to trap you pests here! He's going to kill the masters!"
"You jerk!" He hit Kageyama's face with a force that he was thrown on the boxes stacked with each other.
"I'm not going to let you do that!"
"Erigor must be there right now. You can't do anything any more!"
They both attacked at each other again.
"You have to go through me first!"
"Like hell I will!"
"Where is that man?" Lucy said frustrated. She once again rounded the unconscious forms of the soldiers. "Happy, do you think we should get back?"
Happy trembled, "You have the nerve to go against Erza's wishes?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"She'll be mad if you come back with no one"
"That doesn't matter" she glanced at the male cat with her cold eyes "Are you coming or not?"
"Aye!"
Byard was conscious when he heard the scarlet mage and the female cat conversing.
"What about that man? Kageyama is it? He lifted the spell of Lullaby right? So maybe he can also de-spell the wind barrier"
"Good thinking! We should find him before he gets beaten up!"
Gray approached the two of them while he was running, "Erza! Eisenwald's purpose is not the station! It's the guild masters!"
"We know. We're going to look for Kageyama as we speak."
When they were gone, Karacka appeared from the ground to talk to Byard. "What are we going to do?"
"Find Kageyama before them. Eliminate him if necessary."
"But-"
"It's for the good of many people, Karacka"
The man sighed, disappearing once again in the shadows.
Kageyama trembled while his back faced against the wall, he closed his eyes waiting for the attack but nothing came.
He slowly opened his eyes to see that Natsu was stopped by the Titania. "You!"
"I don't know what I did but stop!" He squeaked when Erza threw her sword, only to go past his side and hit the wall inches before Kageyama's shoulders. The dark guild member sat there shaking.
Karacka stayed on the side of the wall, waiting for an opportunity to attack and pierce Kageyama so he couldn't lift off the spell out of the building.
He plunge his hand on Kageyama's,and retracted his hand quickly. In a blink, the wall that he was hiding on was demolished by a raging Lucy. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
He shook while averting his gaze at the angry blonde, "Sorry Kageyama"
"W-what?" Kageyama shakily asked as he tried to stop the blood flowing out of his chest. The gang soon surrounded Kageyama who was gasping, while Lucy stood on the side.
"Byard told me to eliminate you so that you can't help them."
Kageyama couldn't believe what he had heard, even though he was barely conscious. It wan't helping when Erza is beside him, shaking his shoulders to prevent him from losing consciousness. "Kageyama! Hang on! We need you to lift the spell!"
Lucy grasped Karacka's clothing. "How dare you eliminate your own guildmate!"
The roundish man croacked, "I didn't mean to! I was just following orders"
"Let him go, Lucy. We don't need to waste time for such bastard"
Lucy loosened her grip, "I went here because I heard what that Byard man told you. We don't really need Kageyama but we need to treat him first"
"What do you mean?"
"I have a spirit that can dig on the grounds. Come on"
"What are we doing with him?" Gray gestures towards Kageyama which he is carrying, who is unconscious and wrapped in bandages.
"Just let him come, he wouldn't harm us"
"Well, if you say so" He pauses, "Where are Lucy and Natsu? Happy and Aira are missing too!"
"Mistress went away the moment she stepped out of the ground, she was with a salmon head" Virgo, who was standing by their side, stated.
Gray facepalmed, "They already went without us"
Erigor flew on top of the rail tracks, on his mind chuckling. An instrument that is convenient. Lullaby can kill people just by hearing its tune. An instrument that can take their souls, just like me. Wait for me old masters, I'm almost there to collect your souls!
Before he knew what was happening, he was kicked in his side, and plummeted into the ground beneath him. "The hell?" He cursed while wiping his mouth out of dirt.
Who had the guts to do that to him? The reaper himself? His blood was already boiling in anger at the person who had the strength to do that. When he arose, he saw two people high-fiving each other, a smile on their faces. How did this flies caught up to me? I control the air!
"You don't" said the female cat.
"You will pay for that." He spoke in a dangerous tone but it seemed to take no effect on them because they laughed.
"We just kicked your butt!"
"I second him."
"You flies just don't seem to learn" he snickered, "allow me to punish those who oppose us myself"
"Natsu, fight him first"
"How about you?"
"I'll join you later. I'm just going to take a rest"
The two whispered at each other that Erigor can't help but to be irritated. "You think I'm an easy foe? How dare you just pass me to him?!"
He disappeared, and Lucy dodged before his scythe can land a blow on her.
"How did you hear what I said?"
"The air tells me things. I control it therefore it follows me!"
Fool, she thought. "I guess I should join the fight then"
She cracked her knuckles, while positioning herself in an offensive stance. Natsu did the same. Their minds seemed to work in sync as they attacked at the same time, exchanging blows with Erigor. The latter returning back his punches as the same intensity as them. It went for a few minutes before they pulled away, a small distance between them. Sweat formed in their foreheads as the two released puffs of air.
"Tired yet?" Erigor grinned.
"Of course not."
"Should we get serious now?" Lucy smirked.
"Lets!" Natsu agreed.
"If that's what you wish, then I am too"
A wind barrier began gathering around Erigor's body as he chuckled humorlessly. The two observed, looking at the thin air becoming solid, forming to an armour on the enemy that will be soon hard to break. "Natsu go!"
The dragon slayer yelled in response before attacking at the reaper. Natsu was thrown aside before he could land an attack on the enemy. Erigor only chuckled back. "You couldn't even land a punch! Fly!"
"What did you say?!" Natsu flamed his fists, before jumping to his direction, but the same thing happened to him just like earlier. Lucy went silent on the side, still waching the fight between the two, Natsu's hidden powers can be awakened by him. I should just let him.
"Damn it! Why can't I break through your barrier!" He shouted, pulling one of the railings off the rail tracks. Fire began to surround him, a symbol that his patience is already at the highest. Lucy and the two cats seemed to have understood what they need to do to push Natsu further.
"Natsu. Let Gray and Erza finish him"
"What did you say?!" His eyes burned with rage as the fire surrounding his body got bigger, also taking the air barrier that took form around Erigor's body.
Why is my air being sucked up by his fire? Those abilities, I thought it was gone for the past hundreds of years?
The air that encircled him and acted like it was an armor was gone. The reaper blinked before his eyes widened at the Fire Dragon slayer who is now preparing for his series of attacks. Flames of Emotion? Impossible!
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Erza was going in high speeds while using the rail tracks as her only direction, her mind wondering if Lucy and Natsu managed to caught up and defeat Erigor. They can defeat him, I'm sure of it. She clenched her teeth, before pumping more magic power to the SE plug.
Inside the cart, Gray was sitting only wearing his shorts while he stared out of the window. Kageyama leaned slumply on the other side of the vehicle. "Why are you helping me? I' did nothing to help you and instead caused you trouble"
"Even if you're from a dark guild and we're from what you call a 'legal' guild, it doesn't matter. We're all the same, living to experience things. Enjoy and share them with what we call our family, who have our backs in times of dire need, who would help us even if it's impossible" Gray paused, before looking at Kageyama "Live a little more cheerful and positively. That goes for all you"
Kageyama didn't say anything more, as the side wheels of the cart went off the tracks that Erza was driving on as the vehicle came to a stop, hitting their backs in the process.
Gray shouted from the car, "Erza, what happened? Are you okay?"
Erza replied back, "Yeah, something just hit the wheel"
Erza clutched her head, her eyesight becoming blurry as time passes, Damn. I used too much. I'm running out of magic power quickly, they must defeat him.
Before Natsu can land his final attack, he was stopped when Lucy appeared infront of Erigor, a smile gracing her lips. "Me too, Natsu"
"Eh?" His fire now dancing lightly on his fists.
"I told you I'd join the fun"
The reaper stares between the two, his mind thinking of things how to finish them both quickly before he could run out of magic power.
"Nuh uh" Lucy wiggled her finger, "you can't escape even if you plan to"
Lucy stared directly into Erigor's eyes before whispering something that only Erigor could hear despite the bickering of Happy and Natsu in the background, "You see, I'm a reaper myself too" a smirk flashed in front of him before he was knocked out by a blinding light.
The two slayers fist bumped each other as Erigor laid there, unmoving. The sound of a roaring vehicle reached their ears as they looked at the direction of where it's coming from. "They are here."
"Yeah"
The magic car went to a complete stop a few meters away from them, as its driver and passengers stepped their feet on the ground. They did not make any movements first but continued walking when they saw Erigor's figure on the ground. "You defeated him!"
Kageyama gazed at the unmoving figure on the ground, I can't believe that these two defeated Erigor. He was like an untouchable figure to us.
"WE defeated them"
"Tsk, you didn't even wait"
"Well, I'm glad that he can't go to Clover to interrupt the masters"
"We can go to Clover! Like browse some stores there"
Kageyama stared at the three people laughing, and the cats who were talking to themselves. A thought came to him and he grinned, looking at the instrument that laid on the ground near him, This pests think that it's all done. I should continue what Erigor cannot do.
The unsuspecting people were still talking, until a shadow covered the sun that's been shining on them. "Fools! Believing in someone you don't know!"
He laughed as his shadow magic gave the vehicle multiple legs that made it able to shot up of the ground, and quickly going out of their sight.
"Kageyama!"
Before Natsu can escape from the three of them and follow Kageyama himself, Lucy grasped a portion of his scarf, pulling him in the process, "Don't leave again without us"
"But!"
"No buts" Lucy's cold gaze once again bore in to him, that he couldn't help but to gulp. "Aye sir!"
"I was just scaring you!" She sighed, "How do we get there? This is only the way to get to Clover" she pointed to the rail tracks.
"We run" Erza started running towards the rail tracks.
"You didn't even gave us a head start!"
"You can't fly there with Happy and Aira!"
"Man! I was planning to"
"Heh. I'll be the first one to arrive there." Lucy grinned before disappearing.
"Lucy!"
Thousands of soldiers marched on the side of the mountains, only a few number of soldiers rode in the horses, a spear and shield in their hands.
"Someone reported that Eisenwald plans to kill the masters at their conference! We are to rush there and save them! Doesn't matter if they're wizards! We are the Fiore Army!"
The soldiers cheered.
Kageyama stood on a hill over looking the conference hall, his one hand leaning on a tree, and the other one holding the instrument. This distance should be enough. They can hear Lullaby from here. The time has come!
He froze when he heard a voice behind him speak.
"These girls are so lovely! Wizards now are so high-level inside and out! Their shouts are the best!"
The old man went down on the rock that he was sitting on, "This is no time for this! I have to finish this conference so I can go back tomorrow. Those brats will destroy anything that they touch.."
The master jolted when he saw someone on his back. "This is not what you think it is! I was just searching!"
"Um, you don't need to make excuses.."
The master looked on Kageyama's body, "Huh? You're injured and you are wandering here alone?"
"I was taking a walk for fresh air" the dark guild member reasoned. Wait, he's Makarov from Fairy Tail! why do they always stand on our way?
"Excuse me" Kageyama called "Can I play you a song?"
The master just stared at him.
"They don't really allow us to play our instruments in the hospital, so.. I want to play for someone atleast for a bit"
"That's a creepy flute!'
"It is not really scary no matter how much it looks like that!"
Makarov seemed to contemplate before answering, "Alright. Just one song because I'm in a hurry"
"Sure!" We win. "Listen then!"
He began to put his mouth on the embrochure hole of the flute when he stopped, this is finally it, our sufferings are going to end. Various thoughts began to flash in his mind.
"Legitimate guilds are nothing but a joke!"
"For people with so little skill, they shouldn't act so highly!"
"This is revenge against the magic world that imprisoned us and took away our normal lives! Leaving us in the darkness!"
Lastly, the Fairy Tail wizards words seemed to have taken an effect on him. "That wouldn't give you your rights back!"
"Live a little more cheerful and positively. That goes for all of you."
"Kageyama! We need your help!"
"How can you do that to a member of your own guild?!"
He still stood there, not moving. A sweat dropping from the side of his face.
The team appeared a few trees away from the two men. "There he is!"
"Master!"
"Gramps!"
A man become visible on their back, "Shhh!"
They jolted in surprise.
"It's getting good! Just watch quietly!"
He cooed at Natsu and Gray who was visibly shaking, "You two are so cute! Just my type!"
"Who is this?!"
Both Lucy and Erza greeted, "Master Bob!"
"Erza and Lucy! You both are grown ups now!"
On the other side, Makarov was waiting for the lad to play his instrument. "What's wrong? Hurry up!"
Kageyama gulped, putting his mouth closely to the flute.
"He's going to do it!"
Goldmine said while he leaned on the tree, "Be quiet and watch only. This is getting good."
"Well?"
Just play it, one note and everything would change. Do it.
Makarov sighed before looking at the young man in front of him. "Nothing will change."
Kageyama blinked twice.
"The weak will always stay weak. But having a weakness doesn't mean its bad. People are weak creatures naturally. Guilds exist because of people's insecurities, why comrades exist. They come together as one and move forward, having fun and living their life to the fullest. If you're graceless, you might face more obstacles, and take more time. But as long as you face them head-on and have faith on what the future might bring, you will find your strength and your courage will emerge on its own. You will find that you are able to smile and enjoy your life. You don't need any special instrument to prove that"
The flute that Kageyama was holding fell into the ground. He kneeled on the ground, his head down, "I'm sorry! I give up!"
The team smiled before approaching them.
"Master!"
"Gramps!"
Makarov asked dumbfounded, "What are you guys doing here?!"
Erza hugged him first, "Your words were really touching! That was well said!"
His face met the hardness of Erza's armor, Hard!
"I had enough of waiting nerveless weaklings!" The flute on the ground suddenly talked, and smoke slowly came out until a large monster is in front of them.
"What's that?!" The guild masters shrieked.
"If you can't even simply play me, I'll just eat you all! Including your souls!"
Goldmine stated. "I think that's the true form of Lullaby, in the flesh. It is powered by Zeref's magic, the living magic."
The soldiers cheered before charging to the monster, but they were stopped when Lullaby extended its arm towards a mountain, a dark light forming through his finger. It went to the direction of the mountain, instead of the mountain taking a slight damage, it completely disappeared.
"The mountain is gone?! Retreat!"
The demon laughed, "I will eat your souls and no one cam stop me!"
"How do we handle that monster?!"
Erza yelled, "Leave it to us master!"
The team charged to the monster, their magic ready. The masters watched as they surrounded the monster who was still attacking the soldiers.
Lullaby's foot was up in the air, ready to stomp the legion of soldiers who were retreating for safety.
"We're dead!"
Before his foot can land on the ground, a fast object appeared, while the soldiers had their eyes closed, awaiting their deaths.
The monster howled in pain, and pulled back his foot.
The masters gasped, seeing Lucy on the supposed-to-be spot with a long object on her hand, its blade pointing upwards . They though it hit the demon's foot.
She smirked, "Not on my watch, demon" she glanced to the soldiers, "Run! While we distract him!"
"We owe you our lives!" The soldiers ran away.
"Did she just?!"
"What is she holding?"
"It looks like a scythe?"
"A scythe?!"
"Is she the one that defeats dark guilds in Giltena? Look! The description fits!"
"That's impossible!"
"Makarov, did you know that she's the Golden Reaper?"
"I only heard that until now!"
They wondered, "How come such powerful mages are in Makarov's guild?"
"You brat! How dare you do that!?"
"You're killing people who are innocent, I can't let you do that" Lucy snarled."Now!"
Erza requipped into her armor, "The Knight" and flew to Lullaby, she slashed two swords at the monster's chest.
Gray put his fist on top of his palm, summoning countless ice shards that went to the enemy's direction.
Natsu did his move too. "Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Kageyama gaped, "I have never seen such combination moves before!"
"Attack it one more time!"
"Ice Make: Lance!"
Erza changed armors again.
Goldmine said, "It's the Purgatory armor! It amplifies the wearer's attacks!"
"Ice Make: Turbine!"
"With the fire in my left hand, and my right hand. When I'll put it together, take this! Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
The monster still stood with those attacks, now laughing at the wizards. "You can't even beat me! It would be delicious to devour your souls!"
"They didn't beat him?!"
He gulped the violet circle on top of him, and the air that surrounds him. The plants slowly died as they can't do anything but to only watch.
"It's going to play the Lullaby!"
"We don't stand a chance!"
They all covered their ears to atleast muffle it, but they knew it wouldn't save them nonetheless.
The devil opened its mouth, now preparing to play its purpose. "What!? Where did my beautiful melody went?!"
Happy stated, "Their attacks resulted into holes in the monster's body, and had caused to lost its tune"
Aira added, "But still, it's not done yet."
"The hell with this!" the monster snarled, opening its mouth and directing the attack to the masters.
Fire bursted from its mouth and before it can land on the masters, Gray appeared, doing his usual stance.
"Ice Make: Shield!"
"He's so fast!"
"Incredible Make Magic!"
The different masters who were now whispering amongst themselves was interrupted when a yellow light flashed in front of their eyes, surrounding the demon and trapping him in the circle on the ground. "What is this?!"
They all opened their eyes when they heard the devil growled, and spotted Lucy a few feet away from the devil's feet, a line drawn in front of her.
"When did she have time to do that?!"
She was smirking, "Guess you forgot about me huh? I'll finish you now!"
She did a strange motion with her scythe, "Celestial Secret Arts: Stars Purgatory!"
The circle that was surrounding the devil bursted with light. They can hear the devil screaming once more before the light died out, the monster nowhere in sight.
"The monster disappeared?!"
"Just what is she?!"
"Lucy's amazing!" Natsu cheered.
"We're all amazing!"
Kageyama stared at the gang who was now laughing and high-fiving each other. He sincerely smiled while looking down on his hands, They're crazy. I guess I can't even begin to be compared to them after all.
A cold hand touched his shoulder, "Come now, child"
"Huh?"
"We need to take you and see the doctor!" Blue Pegasus master squealed, hugging Kageyama tight who is trying to gasp for air.
Goldmine stated, "I guess we owe a thanks to Fairy Tail, though I'm not really sure what happened in front of our eyes."
"It was nothing" Erza said. "It's for your sa-"She paled when she noticed something across her. She sighed.
"The conference hall disappeared?!"
A huge hole was now on the ground and the place where the conference hall stood was now gone, completely without trace. "They did too much!"
Master Makarov trembled, before his soul left him.
Lucy laughed, "Something went out of master"
"We really destroy everything!" Natsu cheered.
"Bring the hall back!"
"Catch them!"
Lucy scampered off, the hole was there because of what I did. Jeez.
"Don't try to run away!"
