Justie: How was that last cliffie? Because I got no reviews at all. :( But I guess that's what happens when one is working with a fandom as popular as Fairy Tail. Just a quick announcement, I have some stuff coming up for school soon so my April and May are going to be fairly busy. If I don't update, please don't hate me, I promise I will work when I can but right now, it's just not an option to work on this all day. I love you guys and hope your support continues.
A golden flash of light crashed between Erza and Lyon, making the Ice Wizard back away and drop the blade. A shock of electricity shot into Erza's body, sending her face-first into a strong leg.
"If we lob off her arm, she'd bleed to death out here, get it?" Sylvia almost broke down in tears at the sound of the gruff voice and sight of blonde hair and a lightning-bolt-shaped scar.
"Laxus!" she cried as she broke free of Jura's hold and raced forward to throw her arms around her brother-in-law's middle, which proved rather difficult with the pack on his back. Laxus looked around him as he placed a hand on Sylvia's back. The exiled Wizard was dressed in a red t-shirt and dark-green cargo pants with his signature coat draped over his shoulders. The other Fairy Tail Wizards were staring at him in a mix of awe and relief. Jura's eyebrows were raised and Sherry's hands were at her chest and mouth in shock as Lyon looked from Erza's arm to the blade and then to Laxus. The Blue Pegasus Wizards were staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Carla's eyes had widened for a moment before she resumed her cool façade and crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't believe you're here!" Sylvia cheered as she pulled away a little. Laxus nodded as he removed his hand from Sylvia's back.
"Now Sylvia, care to tell me why I heard your sister screaming a little bit ago but I can't see her now?" Laxus asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sylvia's mouth opened and closed like a fish on a riverbank a few times before she sighed.
"You're not going to like it," she said. Laxus nodded.
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."
"But...My guess if Ava's fine! Right now we need to focus on Erza!" Laxus looked over his shoulder at the other S-Class mage.
"We wouldn't need to if Ava was here," he muttered.
"Hey! I'm right here you know!" Sylvia snapped. "I might not be able to remove the poison but I most certainly can keep it from spreading to the rest of her body! And you know, Ava's not all-powerful either. She may be able to remove the poison but she can't reverse the effects."
"In that case, we need Wendy," Carla spoke up, catching everyone's attention. "She can heal your friend."
"Wait a moment," Eve said. "You mean that little girl has some kind of Anti-Venom Magic?"
"Not just Anti-Venom. She can also cure fevers, relieve pain and heal wounds."
"Excuse me," Ichiya said as he slid in front of the cat, making Sylvia squeak and take shelter behind her brother-in-law. "I feel that my role in the group is being threatened and I find that rather unsettling."
"Would you rather have a threatened role or a dead Erza?!" Sylvia snapped.
"That's crazy," Sherry said dismissively. "Everyone knows Healing spells are Lost Magic. There's no way the kid could use them."
"Hold on, do these powers have anything to do with that whole 'Maiden of the Sky' thing that Brain guy mentioned?" Lucy asked.
"Yes it does," Carla snapped. "Because that little girl is Wendy, the Sky Dragon Slayer." Three sets of eyes widened as everyone gasped.
"She's a Dragon Slayer too?!" Laxus, Natsu and Sylvia all asked at one time.
"I'll give you all the details later...Although to be honest, there's really not much more you need to know. Wendy is the only one who can reverse the effects of the poison in Erza's body so we need her right now. Unfortunately, the Oracion Seis feel they need her too for some unknown reason."
"In that case we only have one option," Laxus said.
"We're gonna need to rescue Wendy," Hibiki added.
"We'll do it for Erza's sake," Grey said as he pulled off his jacket and draped it over Erza's front like a blanket.
"And Ava's," Sylvia continued.
"And Happy's too," Lucy finished.
"Alright, are you with me?!" Natsu cheered, throwing his fist into the air.
"Yea!" Most of the Wizards said as they copied him. Laxus and the Thunder Legion did not put their hands up. Sylvia shot her brother-in-law a dirty look before grabbing his wrist and pushing it up as far as she could, earning her a look from said blonde.
"All for Ava's sake, plus, we'll need help." Laxus slipped his wrist out of the blonde's grasp.
All around her was cold and dark. Ava clung to the furry paw in her hand and the girl latched onto her chest as they moved. Suddenly, Ava's stomach felt like it was dropping to her feet and shooting back up to lodge in her throat before she and her companions were thrown onto the cold, hard floor of a cave lit with candles.
Ava's eyes took a second to adjust but once she saw Brain standing above her, chuckling at them, Ava clung to Wendy more tightly than before as the girl whimpered.
"There's no need to be so rough! They're ladies and should be treated as such!" Happy defended as he stood in front of the girls, glaring down the massive Dark Wizard.
"Happy," Ava breathed. Brain glared down at the cat before he reached down and grabbed him by the face and picked him up, squeezing until Happy's arms and legs were flailing to try escaping.
"Let him go!" Wendy screamed. Brain dropped the blue cat and Ava's hand shot out, pulling him into the tiny space between hers and Wendy's bodies as she glared at the massive man in front of her. "You're not hurt too badly, are you?"
"Nah," Happy assured, panting for breath. "Don't you worry about me, little lady. I'm gonna do my best to find us a way out of here, I promise." Wendy smiled and snuggled the soft fur of his head.
"Thank you." Ava ran a hand over Wendy's hair as she snarled at Brain.
"What's the deal? I don't get why this girl's so important," Racer jeered as he reclined against the wall of the cave.
"Does she have something to do with Nirvana?" Cobra asked. Ava snarled at Brain again, showing her teeth as the man stepped forward.
"How do these people- No. They're a Dark Guild. They probably have information on anything and everything," Ava thought. Her blue-green eyes darted around, keeping an eye on the Seis as best she could. She locked eyes with Cobra, who was staring at her with a blank face but his eyes told a different story. The purple irises were swimming with emotions; surprise, shock...maybe even...pity? Remorse?
"Neither of them look all that special to me," Angel said flatly.
"Are they worth money? You're going to sell them to the highest bidder, right? Oh yea!" Hoteye cheered, earning him a bored look from Cobra.
"You realize cash ain't the answer to everything, right?" he said.
"Well I think it is, because money can buy everything, even love," Hoteye said, practically glowing as he smiled. The maroon-haired mage sighed.
"Heavens above and oceans below, give me a break." Ava's eyes went wide at the words but she clung to Wendy tighter.
"Wendy uses what's known as Sky Magic, it gives her the power to heal others," Brain explained.
"Isn't it a Lost Magic?" Angel asked.
"Of all the many practices lost over time, why in the world would we need a healer?" Cobra asked, turning to his leader but locking eyes with Ava again. Then his eyes widened and his head snapped to look at Brain. "Wait, you don't mean..." Brain smiled widely and threw his arms up.
"She is the key, with her power, we shall revive him!"
"Who are you talking about?!" Happy demanded.
"Listen, if you're asking me to help you..." Wendy paused and stood up, her hands clenched into fists as she turned to face Brain. "Forget it! I'd never do anything for jerks like you!"
"Yes you will," Brain said, a knowing smirk crossing his features. Ava stood up and put herself between the man and the child. "There's no doubt." Wendy let out her own little snarl. "Once you find out who it is, you'll be more than happy to help." The man turned to his Guild members. "Racer, bring him to me at once."
"Sure thing boss, but it's so far away it'll take me an hour to get there and back."
"No matter," Brain said dismissively. With a wave of the man's hand, Racer vanished.
"I see, once he's revived, we'll be able to find Nirvana. You're doing your name proud sir," Cobra said with a wicked smirk. Ava twirled her Trident in her fingers before pointing the tips at Brain, while also keeping her eye on Cobra.
"Who is it you're trying to revive? And how do you know Wendy?" Brain smirked. "Not big on talking? Fine. Then one last question, will doing this hurt Wendy?" Cobra gave her a bored look as Brain remained silent. "All I'm gonna say is that if it does, I'll rip you apart with my bare hands." With that, Ava pulled her Trident back and took hold of Wendy's shoulder to lead her to a corner of the cave and keep the girl in her lap.
"Cobra, Hoteye, Angel, I want you to continue the search for Nirvana," Brain ordered.
"But why? It's a waste of time," Angel objected. "We should begin the search after he's been revived."
"Come on! You guys just tell us who you're trying to bring back!" Happy ordered.
"Happy, come here," Ava said sternly. Happy backed up towards Ava but stood in front of her and Wendy with his paws stretched out protectively.
"I'd prefer to air on the side of caution. Midnight and I will remain here," Brain said with finality.
"Something tells me he won't make very good company," Hoteye said. Cubelios slithered away from Cobra and came to a rest in front of Ava, staring at her through one green eye as it hissed at her, tongue flicking out of its mouth. Ava regarded the reptile before focusing on keeping Wendy calm.
"Alright you guys, guess we better get going," Cobra said. Cubelios slithered back to its master and wrapped around his body, earning a gentle petting on the hinge of its jaw as the maroon-haired man walked out of the cave.
"You boys wanna race me?" Angel asked in a sultry voice. "Whoever finds Nirvana first wins a prize."
"In the amount of one million jewel! Count me in!" Hoteye cheered.
"Don't you think a million's a bit much?" Angel deadpanned as the three vanished from sight.
"Be honest with me," Happy said, turning to Wendy. "You don't know what these creeps are talking about, do ya?" Wendy shook her head.
"At least...I don't think so," she admitted. Ava placed a hand on the back of Wendy's head and continued to pet the girl's hair. The black-haired woman seemed calm but her mind was going a mile a minute.
"There's no way...But I haven't heard anyone but my family using that phrase...How did Cobra know it?" she thought.
"Please tell us what Nirvana does," Wendy demanded. "Won't you tell us that much?"
"It's incredibly powerful magic. It can swap light for darkness," Brain said, a dark, wicked smirk on his face, partially obscured by shadows, giving him a sinister look.
"What does that mean?" Wendy breathed.
"Yea, it doesn't make any sense," Happy said.
"Okay. I should probably get started now," Sylvia said as she knelt down next to Erza and placed her hands on the wound, closing her eyes in concentration as she reached out with her magic, holding the poison in place. Her hands glowed pale blue.
"What exactly are you doing?" Lucy asked gently.
"I'm holding the poison still. My grandmother taught me this trick."
"You can actually do that?" Lucy asked.
"Yea. Ava's better though, she can actually remove poisons without hurting the victim. If I tried that, it wouldn't be much better than what we almost tried earlier," the blonde Water Wizard explained.
"Well, you're sisters right?"
"Yea. She's older though by a few days. Gran said that might make the difference in power right now but eventually we should be on the same level...I think," Sylvia said.
"You and Ava mention your family a lot...but I've never heard either of you bring up your mother." Sylvia's eyes opened and she glanced at Lucy. "You don't need to answer if you don't want to but... What happened to your mother?"
"Come on Cosplayer, let her focus on Erza, will ya?" Bickslow said as he came over. "Yea. Focus, focus."
"Sorry," Lucy said as she stood up and moved towards Hibiki who'd summoned his Archive Magic to try tracking the different groups their alliance had split into.
"Mothers." Lucy turned back. "You can stick around if you want to hear more." Lucy sat back down next to Sylvia and the girl's silver eyes moved from Erza to Lucy. "Ava and I are really half-sisters...and cousins. That aunt she was talking about who summoned Pisces was my mother. Ava's mother...she was kidnapped about nine years ago and then murdered the year after. My mother summoned Pisces trying to find her sister. But that failed. My grandmother and lots of our family friends wen to the Magic Council, begging them to help us. But they turned us away, treating us like we were insane. We knew where they were but the people at the place outnumbered our little viallage so we couldn't go in without help. We even told those people we begged where they could find it but they never made a move against that accursed tower. Not until just before Laxus came home to tell Ava to come to Magnolia. My mother got really depressed after we learned of my aunt's death and left to...find herself...I guess. So Gran and our father, Gil, raised Ava and me. And that's our story until now," Sylvia explained. Lucy's eyes widened.
"Tower? Wait. Ava's mother was a slave in the Tower of Heaven with Erza and Jellal and those kids?!" Lucy thought. "And the Counsel knew what was going on?!"
"I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lose a mother. My own mother died when I was a little girl." Sylvia gave Lucy a gentle smile.
"Thanks." Lucy looked down and gasped slightly. The glow around Sylvia's hands had dimmed and the area the poison rested at had expanded. Sylvia turned her attention back to Erza.
"Sorry. I'll go now." Lucy got up and moved back to Bickslow, Evergreen and Hibiki. "Man...Every time I meet someone new in the Guild their backstories get darker and darker."
"Most of us came to the Guild as orphans. So you want to know everyone, be prepared to cry," Bickslow said. Lucy was honestly surprised by his gentle tone. FOr the first time ever, he didn't stick his tongue out, nor did he sound like he was about to crack a joke. Instead he looked at Sylvia, shoulders drooped before he turned back to Hibiki. "Find anyone yet?"
"Well...I found Ren and Eve...Then Mr. Ichiya."
"Wait, weren't they a group?" Lucy asked.
"He must've gotten separated somehow...But the Lamia Scale guys seem to be alright...By the way, Lucy, aren't you going to go join a group?" Hibiki asked.
"Nah. I need to stay here with Erza. I can't leave her. And it's not like I'd be any help, I'm obviously the weakest fighter in the whole group," the blonde sighed. Bickslow shook his head but didn't argue.
"You're just being modest. I've heard tales of your strength. There was the time you beat up 19 Vulcans who stood ten feet tall!" Sylvia snapped around and stared at her fellow blonde. "And in Fairy Tail's battle against Phantom! I heard you took out their infamous Master, Jose with your bare hands!" Bickslow pulled off his visor, pulling off his hood in the process and stuck a finger in his ear, scratching at the inside to make sure it was clear. "And the time in Ecolifa when you single-handedly took out an entire Dark Guild that had over a thousand members!"
"THat's stretching the truth," Lucy sighed, shaking her head.
"Explain to me why you think you're a weak fighter..." Sylvia breathed before turning back to her work.
"Ah! Here we go. Laxus and Natsu's group."
"So if she's a Sky Dragon Slayer, what does she eat for power?" Natsu asked Carla as she flew ahead of him, keeping pace with Laxus. Grey and Freed were lagging behind some.
"Air of course," Carla said.
"Does it taste any good?" the pink-haired Dragon Slayer asked. Laxus groaned.
"I don't know," Carla said, exasperated.
"This is gonna be my whole day, isn't it?"
"How exactly is that different from breathing?" Grey asked Freed, who simply shook his head, not knowing an answer.
"You know, the only reason she applied for this mission is because she wanted to get the chance to meet you two," Carla said, looking from Laxus to Natsu.
"Why us?" Laxus asked.
"Because you're both fellow Dragon Slayers. There was something she wanted to ask you two."
"Did she tell you?" Natsu asked as he quickened his pace so he was almost at pace with Laxus.
"Yes. Apparently, the dragon who taught her Dragon Slayer Magic mysteriously disappeared seven years ago. SHe was hoping you might be able to tell her its whereabouts," Carla said. Laxus grit his teeth and scowled.
"I need more info, what's the dragon's name?"
"I believe Wendy called her the Sky Dragon Grandine," Carla said, slightly hesitant.
"Sky Dragon Grandine...Seven years ago..." Natsu muttered, beginning to think over the information. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts, he didn't notice a massive root until it smacked him in the face, knocking him flat on his back. The group stopped running and Laxus gave Natsu a glare. "Hold on!" Natsu said as he sat up. "Laxus, do you know?"
"No I don't. Let me explain something to you, flame-brain. My-"
"We know," Grey said. "Gramps told us after you got expelled. Your Dragon Slayer Magic comes from a lacrima. You're not a real Dragon Slayer." Lightning engulfed Laxus' body for a second as the man glared.
"Watch it ice-freak. I'm as real as Natsu and Gajeel. The only difference is that my magic comes from a rock implanted in my skull that contains bits and pieces of a lightning dragon," Laxus growled, pointing to his scar when he mentioned the location of the lacrima. "Natsu and Gajeel were raised by dragons, while I was raised by a power-crazed rogue Wizard and a perverted drunk. Now let's get moving." Laxus turned around and stuffed his hands into his pockets as he started on his way again. Carla gasped in horror.
"What's happened here?!" she cried, paws to her mouth. The group turned and everyone's eyes widened at the sight of the trees that had all been turned to pitch-black.
"What the heck..." Grey breathed as Freed reached for his sword.
"Oh man, that's creepy," Natsu said with a shiver. A stomp alerted the Dragon Slayers and they snapped around to see two massive men with monkey-like features coming towards them.
"Word on the street is it's caused by Nirvana, ain't that right Big Bro Zatto?" one said. Laxus caught sight of the man's blonde hair from his place in the shadows.
"Oh yea," said the other one, Zatto as he stepped up next to the other. "Magic so powerful the planet can't take it. Everything it touches withers up and dies." Laxus glanced around as more and more of the Dark Guild members began to appear, all of them having monkey-like features. Freed and Grey backed up until all four Wizards were standing in a circle.
"Oh dear, this is bad," Carla said nervously. "They've got us surrounded!"
"Word on the street is it's caused by Nirvana, ain't that right Big-"
"Would ya stop repeating yourself Big Bro Gato?" Zatto snapped.
"Oh man, I didn't even realize it Big Bro Zatto."
"Oh man, Those two have got to be the dumbest monkeys I've ever seen!" Natsu said excitedly, throwing his arms up and leaping from foot to foot as if trying to imitate a monkey. Laxus snarled in irritation.
"Gah!" screamed a dark-skinned member who pointed at them angrily. "You freaks are members of Fairy Tail, you're friends with that blonde chick!" He launched into a rant as his bosses talked to each other, the words becoming too jumbled for him to make sense of anything anyone was saying.
"Oh! That one's an angry monkey!" Natsu cheered.
"Don't go messing with Naked Mummy, we're with the Oracion Seis," Gato warned.
"That's right. You got a death wish pal?" Zatto asked as he raised a fist, red magic coming to life around it.
"Naked Mummy?" Laxus said.
"If I recall correctly, Lucy faced against these people in Ecalifa, correct?" Freed asked.
"Yea. Took 'em out on her own," Grey said with a smirk as Laxus' eyes widened at the information. He looked around again, taking in the numbers.
"All of them?"
"I guess."
"It was a trap," Carla hissed past clenched teeth. "They tricked us into thinking we'd be fighting six Wizards!"
"Well I say the more the merrier," Freed said, unsheathing his sword. Lightning began to buzz around Laxus' arms. Grey place his fist in his palm and cold mist seeped into the air.
"No kiddin, bring on the monkeys!" Natsu cheered.
"What in the world's gotten into you four?! We should run while we have the chance!" Carla chastised.
"No way, that would be rude," Laxus said, a smirk growing on his face.
"Especially after they were kind enough to come to us," Grey said with a matching smile. Carla gasped as she stepped away from the males. "We're not leaving until they tell us where their base is." Natsu's hands became engulfed in fire and he began swinging his arm in a massive circle.
"Where're you hiding our friends Happy, Ava and Wendy?" he asked. Carla looked from the Dark Guild, which was now beginning to grunt like the animals they resembled, and then back to the Wizards she'd come with.
"I'm beginning to think these Fairy Tail Wizards are completely insane. DO they honestly think they can take on this entire Guild alone?!" Laxus glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Just watch us," he said.
"Sorry it took so long." Ava glanced up at Racer as he set down a massive purple coffin shaped like a cross with golden markings across the front. Chains were wrapped around it as if whoever had been put inside might resurrect and attempt to escape. "The thing's so heavy it was hard for me to build up any speed. I always thought I was fast but after that trip I'm starting to doubt myself." Brain stepped up to the Speed Wizard.
"Let me assure you Racer, there is no one on earth who can come close to matching your speed."
"What is that?" Wendy asked. Happy gasped as he looked up.
"It's a coffin..." Ava held Wendy close as Brain turned to them.
"It's time Wendy, are you ready to use your healing magic to resurrect the man inside?"
"No!" Wendy yelled. "I told you...I don't wanna do it and you can't make me!"
"Yea, you heard the lady!" Happy defended.
"I'm sorry, perhaps I forgot to mention; You have no choice in the matter!" Ava stood up, placing Wendy behind her and pointing her Trident at the man before her.
"Only rabid dogs threaten children! This is your one warning. One more word out of you that I think implies a threat and I'll run you through!" A brush of air on her back was all the warning Ava had before Racer grabbed her Trident and pulled it up against her neck, pulling her to the far side of the cave and away from Wendy.
"Miss Ava!"
"Stay calm Wendy. Someone's coming for us right now, I know it. So just relax. Everything's going to be fine, I promise," Ava assured with a gentle smile. Brain went up to the coffin and pulled on the chains, breaking them off. The purple front melted away, revealing a teenage boy with blue hair, held up by the chains with a red mark over his right eye. Some of his veins glowed pale blue.
"Allow me to introduce you to Jellal, a brilliant Wizard who once infiltrated the Magic Counsel," Brain said.
"It's not him...It can't be," Happy said shakily.
"But it is. Once he's revived, he will lead us to Nirvana."
"Revive him?!" Ava yelled. "As in bring him back from the dead?!"
"Is that really him?" Wendy breathed.
"How do you know Jellal?!" Happy cried.
"Overexposure to Eathernano caused him to fall into a catatonic state. Though rendered unconscious, he is far from dead," Brain explained before smiling at Wendy. "And you are the only Wizard with the power to revive him. Isn't that the least you could do after all he's done for you?" Wendy bit her lip.
"Wendy..." Ava breathed. "I need to send my Trident back...But to do that, I have to let go. And if I let go now, Racer can smash my throat in before it disappears...Just wait a bit Wendy. I know Natsu's on his way at least. If Laxus heard me, he's coming too. Please just wait a little longer."
Justie: Alright. I'd say time to cut off. Now...I'm going to put a few announcements here.
1) I'm considering making a Chirbit account for this story. Basically it means I'd be making an audio recording of this story. An audiobook if you will. If you guys think that would be a good idea, let me know.
2) I have some stuff coming up this month so I'm going to be extremely busy and might not be able to update. So please don't hate me.
3) Please leave a review!
