Chapter 9: Arriving on Tenroujima

The boat trip to Tenrou Island was enjoyable for everyone, except the dragon slayers. Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, and rouge had taken their positions, two on each side, puking up their guts. Laxus was handling it better by keeping the motion sickness away with pure strength of will, and by laying his head on Lucy's lap. The weather was mild and the sky was clear. Laxus was looking up at the clear skies when an unexpected thought came into his head. "Is too… amazing… for a bunch of Demons to destroy everything. Everything is just so fucking perfect." Just as his thoughts were starting to go on rampage about the cruelty of demon's destroying such a perfect day the boat stopped and everyone headed to shore. Once everyone had set foot on Tenrou Island's beach Makarov addressed everyone.

"LISTEN UP YOU BRATS! You should all remember when the guild took down the dark wizard Zeref how he was thought dead, correct?"

Everyone gave a unison 'Yes'.

"Good, well he's not. However, by being defeated all of his dark magic is gone, leaving him with only with his light-based magic. He was then cleansed by the Celestial Queen Andromeda herself. We are here today because even though he has been cleansed and defeated, the demon's he created in his prime are still rampaging about. As you can assume, this is not a good thing. In addition to this, I have been informed that Ivan and his guild have also been cleansed by the Celestial Queen Andromeda, and they are going to assist us in taking down these demons. I tried outreaching to the other guilds and failed, all of them already doing the best they can to defend the Capital and major towns and cities. So basically, were on our own. The dragons, Ivan, and Zeref, who now goes by Tenebris, are waiting for us to arrive in the center of the island. Let's go."

The group ventured farther into the sacred island until they reached the center of Tenrou. When they got there a camp site was set up and a large group was sitting around a fire. Laxus recognized Ivan, the Raventail members, Tenebris, and Ikazi in his human form. Everyone else was foreign to him, he could only assume that they were the other dragons in their human forms. He figured large man with black waist length hair, piercings, and black scaled pants was Metalicana. He also guessed that the medium sized man with pink and red waist length hair, orange scaled pants, and a white scarf was Igneel. It also made sense to him that the petite woman with long blue hair held in a high ponytail and blue scaled dress was Grandeeney. He didn't know who the other woman was. She looked almost exactly like Grandeeney, but everything was black.

Just as he was about to approach the group Natsu took off running and tackled the man he figured was Igneel to the ground. Soon all of the dragon slayers were heading towards each of their parents. Gajeel calmly approached Metalicana while Wendy ran and hugged Grandeeney. The only ones who didn't rush towards the group of dragons in human form was Lucy, Laxus, and Rouge. Laxus didn't want to leave Rouge by himself, knowing that his dragon parent was dead, but he would never admit it. However, Lucy wasn't as tactful about it.

"Hey Rouge, want to meet the Celestial Spirit Dragon Draconia? She's really cool."

"Um…sure."

Draconia then appeared, also in her human form and the four of them joined the group. Makarov and Tenebris were talking away from the group. Laxus suspected that they were probably discussing tactics and figuring out who would team up and go after which demons. He took the opportunity to introduce Lucy to Ivan, properly.

"Hey Blondie, come 'ere for a second."

He then took Lucy's hand in his and led her over to Ivan.

"I realize that you two know each other by names and deeds, but I wanted to properly introduce you to each other. Lucy this is my father Ivan. Dad this is Lucy. She is the only active celestial mage in Fairytail who also specializes in a secondary magic, and she is my wife."

Ivan offered Lucy his hand as he addressed her. At first Lucy was reluctant to shake his hand, but after a second she did anyway. 'There's no point in holding onto grudges, if Laxus can forgive him then so should I. As for trust him, that he has to earn.' The small touch was brief but enough to allow Lucy the time to get her wits about her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Lucy. Please accept my sincerest apologies for all the trouble I have caused, especially at the Grand Magic Games six years ago."

"The past is the past, as long as you never stoop that low again I'm sure we will get along. Besides, it's our future actions that define us, is it not?"

"Wise words from one so young. I see why my son likes you."

Lucy was just about to say something else when Makarov called everyone to attention. The meeting between him and Tenebris over and it being time to assign teams.

"ALL RIGHT YOU BRATS LISTEN UP!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and paid attention to Makarov, Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel pausing mid brawl. As soon as Makarov saw that everyone was paying attention he continued.

"Now that I have your attention let's get to business. As I told you before we got to the camp site, we are here to take down some demons that think it's okay to go on rampage and make our lives harder. There is a total of ten demons. However only one of those is any real threat, and that's the demon Nox. Zer….er Tenebris here has informed me that the other nine demons are only as strong as Deliora, many being much weaker. Now I know that seems like a big power gap, but these demons have a weakness that Deliora didn't. They are more human then demon, meaning that they do not attack blindly. While that may seem like a disadvantage now, it isn't. Tenebris will explain why."

Tenebris walked up from behind Makarov and addressed everyone there.

"I know that I have caused many of you here heartache when my heart and soul was overcome by darkness and I wish to give you my sincerest apologies. However, now is not the right time for me to stand here and try to make amends, because there is the issue of the demons I had once created. As Makarov said there are ten demons, nine of which are loyal to one: Nox. This is by far their greatest weakness. They are loyal to her because the know nothing but servitude. Before you attack one of the demons talk to them, several of them may turn away from her willingly and choose to be cleansed or exiled instead. If this is a route you can take I implore you to do so because if one of the demons separates itself from Nox willingly then they will lose their power and turn into a normal human. It was a safeguard I put into them when I created them so that they would never attack me directly. Their biggest weakness is their humanity. Makarov, if you would."

Tenebris then stepped back and gave Makarov the spotlight.

"This being said, there are a couple demons that tactic won't work on. We have created teams based on who we believe will work best together and have assigned those teams to demons based on who we believe will be the strongest against each demon by their abilities. As you all know the dragons have returned from their self-inflicted exile to help us with this. Each team will be accompanied by a dragon. As for myself, Tenebris, Ivan, and Acnologia we will stay here to treat the wounded as they return here and to prepare a plan to take down Nox herself. Any questions so far?"

No one had any so Makarov continued.

"Very well, when I call your name group up. I'll give each team their demon or demons once all teams are created. Team Laxus will be made up of: Laxus, Lucy, Freed, and the Celestial Dragon Draconia. Laxus will be the leader of this team. Team Erza will be made up of: Erza, Jellal, Wendy, and the Sky Dragon Grandeeney. Erza you are the team leader. Team Igneel will be made up of: Natsu, Gray, Obra and the Fire Dragon Igneel. As you have assumed, Igneel is in charge of this team. Team Rouge will be made up of: Rouge, Flare, Gajeel, and the Iron Dragon Metalicana. Rouge, you're in charge. Finally, Team Ikazi will be made up of: Nullpudding, Kurohebi, and the Lightning Dragon Ikazuchiryū. Ikazuchiryū, you of course are in charge. Alright, is everyone in their teams?"

Makarov waited a couple of minutes to make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be and then he continued.

"Now each team except for team Ikazi will be facing two demons each. Before you head to your second target, come back here so we can do a quick regroup and each team can heal and rest. Now for your demons. Laxus, your team will be facing the demons Malum and Lucrum. Malum is a female demon that controls three types of magic: Shadow, curse, and darkness magic. She cannot be reasoned with but feel free to try. Her curse magic should not be much of an issue; however, her shadow magic and darkness magic will be. She has been causing a ruckus in the Town of Clover. Lucrum is the demon of Greed. You MAY be able to pay him off to leave Nox. Try that first. He hasn't been causing too many issues but has been tracked down to the Worth Woodsea. If you do have to fight him he uses Acid, Living, and Copy magic. Be very careful against him."

Laxus smiled hearing who his team had been sent to defeat. He then jumped up and addressed Makarov.

"Understood Gramps, my team will leave immediately."

"Good. Now on to you Erza."