Present Day:
A light enveloped Aveline, and her body was drawn toward Mar's open palm. Her head rose from her bed like a woman in a trance, and once she had sat up, her eyes slowly flickered open.
"Mmmm….Dad?" She called out.
"I'm here baby girl!" Colby replied quickly, his heart beating furiously from the sight of his daughter alive and well.
"Dad….why are you here?" The young woman asked.
"I didn't go anywhere honey, you came back! You actually came BACK!"
"What…..how?"
The old mage tipped an imaginary hat at the girl.
"You….I saw you in the darkness. You and dad….you two grabbed me, and pulled me into the light…did you…..save me?"
The old mage nodded, and motioned his head to the child's father.
The two embraced for a long time, and tears flew from everyone there, even the old mage's son.
Some time later, the group were sitting back in the waiting room, having heard the declaration of Aveline's new condition. She no longer bore any mark of the corruption that had once taken her from the world, and Mar had given specific instructions to the doctor in the event he saw such a thing again, and to spread the word.
Colby was still overwrought with joy. He couldn't believe his fortune, and kept trying to get people to pinch him so he could wake up. Until the old mage sat down next to him and put his hand on his shoulder, he was borderline hysterical.
"Still want the rest of my story, Quesnel? I know hospital bills can be a little…..up there."
"Mar, you saved my little girl. You saved her and everyone else that would be taken by that terrible thing. You owe me NOTHING. If you don't want to tell me the rest, I'll deal with it."
Mar chuckled at the reporter. "Good. Good. Your soul is a bright one, Quesnel. You get the whole deal, right to today, and I EXPECT you to make good money off of it!" he said with a quiet smile.
The reporter had no words, but couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't believe his fortunes had taken such an upward turn.
Mar grinned at the man's state. "Now ya know exactly how I felt when Mira invited me into her home. The futures I saw before us, going one way or another."
Colby looked up at the old mage, with his eyebrow up.
"Well, sorta!" Mar added.
The group of them burst into minor laughter, and when they calmed, Lang asked his dad, "So, when did mom break the news to you?"
Mar smiled warmly, recalling the pleasant memory.
X784
A couple weeks passed since our Edolas adventure, and we had been treated like royalty for bringing Lisanna back, safe and sound. Elfman was over protective, of course, and I defiantly wasn't innocent of joining in!
Mirajane had held off on telling me about her pregnancy the second time, obviously waiting for the opportune time, or a good one anyway!
Lisanna's return was heralded by the biggest party Fairy Tail had held in months, if not years. Certainly not in my time there had I seen such an occasion.
Erza caught up with me during the festivities and pulled me into a side room.
"Mar, do you remember what you did that night we carried Jellal and Cana?"
"Clearly, why?"
"Did you put me in bed beside Jellal?"
"I did. The floor looked uncomfortable, and I know you two are downright smitten for each other."
"Y-You knew?" the scarlet haired woman said as her cheeks turned the same colour.
"Ha, it wasn't that hard to see Erza. I was just helping fate's wheel get a boost is all."
"Haha, that you were. Thank you Mar. We've become a couple, and we are very happy together. Thank you. if it wasn't for you forcing that ungodly awkward conversation on us, Jellal may have never blurted out his feelings."
"Bah, it's nothing Erza. Keep in mind, this is the THIRD time now I've meddled in relationships. Fourth if you count Lisanna and Natsu, but I'm not going near that one as anything but a messenger or mediator. Ah, I just remembered something, what happened between you and Edo Erza?"
"We fought, I literally beat some sense into her. She was a good person in the end. Thanks again for setting us on that island, we fought till the damn thing hit the ground and we were both drained of Magic."
"Yikes. Remind me never to get on EITHER of your bad sides."
"Haha! But seriously Mar, I can never thank you enough. Not only did you push Jellal and I into a relationship, you are the reason he's not rotting in a cell right now, or even on the chair! You have saved his soul more than once, and from the way he talks about you, I sense that he sees you as a hero."
"Erza, I'm no hero. I'm just a guy who gets far too many opportunities and doesn't know how to say 'No'."
Erza laughed at my odd level of modesty, and I joined her. She stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder while I was still sitting, and said, "Thank you Mar. I couldn't ask for a better friend." Erza then, to my surprise, reached down and kissed my cheek.
I sat there dumbstruck with my hand on my cheek while Erza left and Cana came in. She had probably seen us come in the side room and was waiting for me to be alone.
"So, how are things with Mirajane nowadays Mar?"
I caught onto the hint in her voice, "I wasn't doing THAT with Erza, Cana. Actually, I was talking about her and Jellal."
"Ahhh, do share!"
"Ah, nothing much. I just helped them along is all."
"Them too? You have to find me a steady boyfriend one of these days Mar!"
I chuckled at her joke, then asked, "Anyway, why are you trying to get me alone, you know I'm married, right?"
Cana laughed at my turning of her own joke against her, then told me, "I remember you said that you wanted your fortune read, and I figured now was a good a time as ever."
"Oh? I'm finally going to get a reading from Fairy Tail's card mystic?"
"You bet!"
Cana prepared the cards, and drew mine.
"Hmm." she said, clearly stumped.
"What's up? Cards being weird for me? Oh who could have guessed!"
"Ha….but this IS strange…..according to the cards, you are in for two reunions, one painful, and one joyous…..and you seem to be drawing near to a new purpose in life. The two could very well be related."
"Two reunions? Hmmm, I suppose I could see that little tyke again…..Lang was his name! Yeah! From Nohl!"
"A good possibility for joyous….but painful?"
"That could be taken literally, Cana. I have made QUITE a few enemies during my time here. Like that assassin guild, Trinity Raven, they'd be a good match."
"Very true…..still, a new purpose?"
"Too vague. Even I can't hazard a guess there. Though, I already have a good enough purpose as it is!"
Cana shook her head and stood up. "Sorry, my cards must be off today, can we try again tomorrow?"
"Of course! I look forward to it!"
Cana then up and walked out, content, and determined to get it right the next day.
I got up to get out of the room, but sure enough, Lucy was there to drag me back in, causing me to laugh at my odd schedule.
"Sorry Mar, I've just been meaning to get something off my chest. Brace yourself okay?"
"Lucy, I can handle just about anything right now, I'm still riding on helping to bring my wife's sister back safe and sound."
"Well, I hope so. Mar, you remember that day you came with me to save the trade guild that my father was going to?"
"Yeah, fond memories. Well, aside from getting shot six or seven times. Even then, it was to protect you, so I have no reason to regret it."
Lucy smiled at my answer, she clearly wanted to hear something like that. "Mar, that day, I saw you as more then a friend."
"Oh?"
"I think...I think I have feelings for you Mar."
I wasn't ready for that. "Sorry, what?" I asked, hoping I had misheard.
"Please don't make me repeat it, I feel bad enough already." Lucy said as her head bowed and her eyes moistened.
"Hey hey, calm down. I just wasn't expecting that is all."
"God, I know I shouldn't feel this! You're married for fucks sake!"
"Hey, you can't help what you feel. Come here." I said as I drew her into my arms.
I let her cry on me until she was finished, then she asked me, "Mar, can you answer my feelings?"
"I'm sorry, I can't."
"I knew it. I'm sorry for even bringing this up."
"Don't be. We are friends Lucy. Damn good ones. Whatever happens, that will NEVER change. It's a good thing to share these feelings, they fester and turn into something ugly if you don't. Now, define 'Feelings'. Do you think you love me?"
"Yes..."
"It just so happens I read something about this recently, you have no real idea what your feelings are pointing you toward, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Hug me. Let your body convey your feelings for you." I said while standing up.
Lucy stood up as well, and pulled me into an embrace, reaching as far around as her arms could reach. She did not grab my shirt for support, however, and she buried her head into my chest.
"I see now, you can stop if you want to."
"No, I think I'm good here."
"Ha, Lucy, you love me like an older brother. You see me as a protector and a confidant. These feelings were probably just enlarged by the traumatic experience we shared."
Lucy was lost in thought for a minute, and then started giggling into my chest. "….You're right! Absolutely right!...It's just…..I never HAD a brother before, or a sister for that matter."
"Ah, right. You were an only child…..sorry to say."
"Don't be. I'm who I am today because of it."
"Well said…..You can come to me any time you want Lucy, I'll be your big brother, gladly."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. Family ties are easy for those of us who are used to nothing. Got a feeling that's why this guild is so close knit."
Lucy smiled in my arms, and broke away from me. "Thanks Mar. You're a good person, truly."
"….Thanks." I accepted.
We walked out of the small room, and I went to the bar, and started talking with Mira, hoping to get her to spill her secret. I was less than successful, most of the night we were keeping a close eye on Lisanna and Natsu, dancing the night away like the kids they were!
At one point, I just felt an urge in the back of my head, and when I looked from Mira to the floor, she instantly knew what I was thinking.
I signaled the band to play something slow, and once the music started, I offered my hand to Mira. "May I have this dance?" I asked in a manner befitting a gentleman.
Mira giggled and took my hand, and I led her around the corner of the bar, and spun us into the center of the floor.
The Spanish sounds drifted through the hall as Mira and I performed our Tango, stepping as precisely as we would in battle. As we shifted closer and further in rapid succession, spinning about the room, everyone seemed to stop and watch.
As the music began to increase in tempo, and our pace along with it, I caught a brief glance of my sisters. Mavis was cheering, and Noa was dumbstruck! One thing I remembered when I was a kid, I was as clumsy as a drunken ox!
The music rise and fell, and with it the speed of our movements, eventually leading to the final crescendo. The music became louder and louder, and faster and faster, until it, all at once, stopped DEAD as I let Mirajane fall, supported by my hand in hers, and one on her back.
The music finished with a few quick notes as I kissed my bride, causing an absolute uproar from everyone watching.
We stood there for a few seconds after, but as we were to part, she grabbed me, and pulled herself next to my ear. She whispered to me, softly and quickly, "You're going to be a father."
I separated from her, still in the daring pose the Tango demanded. The realization rocketing through my brain. I hadn't even thought of it that way yet! I had recognized that she was pregnant, sure, but it never really sunk in that I would be the father!
A huge, goofy grin covered my face, and I couldn't help but shout in joy, "I'M GONNA BE A DAD!"
The uproar was cause for renewed celebration, and it didn't quiet down until we started dropping from exhaustion!
At the end of the night, Lisanna lay passed out in one of the guild's beds, so I decided to get her up and take her home. Poor girl must have been run ragged by Natsu! Us Dragon Slayers and our bloody stamina!
I walked out and noticed the beautiful night sky, so I gently placed Lisanna on the ground, took off my coat, and tied the sleeve to my leg. I then picked her back up, and took off across the top of the moonlit city.
On the way, Lisanna awoke in my arms, and I decided to slow down for her to enjoy the view.
"Mmm, what time is it?" she muttered.
"Around 2:30. AM."
"Wow, thanks for getting me home Mar...are we flying?"
"Yeah. I figure if I have wings, may as well use them! Plus, people seem to find the night sky relaxing when I bring them along."
"I can see why, big brother."
"Ha!...Lisanna, be honest, do you accept me as a brother? This has just been something that's been bugging me. My introduction into your family wasn't exactly done with your consent."
"Don't worry about it big bro, I accept you entirely. I'd accept ANYONE Mira would even consider going out with, let alone someone she tied the knot with! Plus, you kind of were my brother back in Edolas, although you were my little brother there."
I let out a sigh of relief, then said, "Thanks sis. That means a lot to me."
We gazed at the stars on our way, and Lisanna began to sing. I recognised the song right away as the song that Mira sang to me when I couldn't sleep. "Fly me to the moon, and let me play, among the stars, let me see what sunset is like, on Jupiter and Mars..."
We touched down outside of the Strauss household, and I opened the door, Lisanna still lying in my arms. I brought her into her room and tucked her in, telling her to just let me handle it because I knew she was tired.
As I laid her head down on a freshly fluffed pillow, I asked her one last question. "How are things between you and that hot head friend of mine?"
Lisanna smiled, then said, "We're taking it slow, seeing if anything has changed for the negative over the last two years. We're catching up tomorrow, I guess you could call it a date!"
"Ha! Wonderful! I'll catch up to Natsu tomorrow and tell him to just act natural around ya. No doubt he's scared out of his mind at what he thinks could happen!"
"Perish the thought!"
"Haha, you're exactly as Mira described you, both in body and soul. You haven't changed a bit these last two years, have you?"
"I'd like to think I became stronger from having to live without my Magic, but otherwise, no, I really don't think so."
"Good. I hate when people change, especially into something that doesn't suit them." I said, smiling while locking eyes with Lisanna. "I guess I'm just old fashioned."
"Ha! What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, crap, that's right. You don't know about my past, do you?"
"Not a lot of it. Mira mentioned you invented a Magic called Archive though, a Magic capable of copying any Magic you please, and sharing them when needed."
"Ha, she only told you that? Mira, I'm shocked!"
"Oh? Am I going to get a bedtime story?"
"Oh what the heck, you weren't planning on sleeping tonight, were you?"
"Haha, I think I can go for a day without."
"Alright then. One hundred and fifty years ago….."
I told her everything. My life as a wretch, The Thunder Dragon, the receiving of my name, details on my training, that parade that was held on my return to the small town, everything I could remember. I told her of Mavis, her parents, and how they raised me without even knowing my name, heck, without ME knowing my name! I told her of the journalists that paid my way into the city, and how I took Mavis with me. I told her how I met Leo, and how the three of us became great friends. I told her of my fascination of Magic, and wanting to find a central point from which all other Magic did branch from, leading me to Archive. I told her about how I shared my findings with the world, hoping they would help a war ridden planet, but how they were instead used as a weapon of mass destruction. I told her how I became secluded, and buried myself in books, hoping to find a way to destroy my very own creation. I told her, that when I found none, I left a note saying that I chose death once more, and used Magic to travel through time and space itself, alone. I told her of the years of pain I endured, wondering just how many births in my new time were stopped by my very own actions, and finally seeing Natsu and his friends on the news for what was called, "The Lullaby Incident". The only thing I refused to recount was my time in the army.
"I saw Natsu's mark, and I asked someone nearby where it originated. The search led me to Fairy Tail. That mark...Mavis told me that if I was ever in pain, to seek it out, even if she had passed. She said her spirit was forever entwined with her children, her 'Fairies'."
"Mar, I'm curious, where did she get the idea for the Fairy Tail brand? Do you know?"
"She never told me directly, but I know."
"Where?"
"My chest. I got a tattoo shortly after moving to the big city, to celebrate a new life. It has the actual brand over it now, and it looks all the better for it, but under my mark is the exact same symbol. I asked the artist to create something unique, something to symbolise a new beginning, and I ended up with this. Mavis loved it so much that she must have taken it for Fairy Tail, possibly to remember me."
"Must have?"
"Fairy Tail wasn't founded until I was already in the future, but the idea was with Mavis at the time. She wanted to make a positive difference in our war ravaged world, and I even pledged to be a member, an oath that I didn't carry out until six generations later."
"You still held true big brother."
"I know, but I find myself wishing that I didn't do what I did sometimes, that I never came to this time."
"If you had stayed there, you would never have met any of us. You would never have met sis!"
"...You're right Lisanna. You're absolutely right, but it still hurts. My old life wasn't much of one outside of Mavis, but it was still MY life, you know?"
"Well…..we're all HERE now, so isn't it like you all just took a century and a half nap? I mean, what's changed since then?"
"The world's a lot more stable. No major wars, no weapons of mass destruction."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"…..Yeah. Yeah, it defiantly is. Thanks….sis."
I told her of the adventures I had had upon arriving at Fairy Tail next. Galuna, Loke, Seis, Edolas, Jane, The Tower, and of course, the Phantom Lord civil war, and I took my time with telling her how Elfman saved her older sister by mastering his Beast Soul. Lisanna looked so proud, I could tell, even though she was very tired.
By the time I had finished, it was already close to 7. I didn't want to wake Mirajane, it was still too early, so I just laid next to Lisanna, on top of the sheets, and untied my trenchcoat after I realised it was still on my leg. I kissed her on the side of the head and said, "I guess we're late risers today."
She giggled, then we drifted off to sleep, my wing wrapped around Lisanna. I woke up only a couple hours later, mostly refreshed. I sat up on the big bed, and looked to Lisanna. So radiant, just like her sister. The both of them can light up an entire room.
I walked out of the room silently, grabbing my coat on the way. I came into the living room to find Mira and Elfman talking, so I decided not to interrupt, and I just snuck out the door with a bow.
I threw my coat on outside and walked to Fairy Tail. I needed time to sort through my thoughts.
I got there just in time for Makarov to make a big announcement, the S class wizard exam was to happen in one week! The candidates were Natsu, Cana, Freed, Elfman, Levy, Juvia, Grey, and Mest.
I remembered people talking about Mest the previous year, how he almost took home the gold, but was stopped just short. Couldn't remember who they said stopped him though.
Makarov announced that each of them was to choose a partner who was not already S class, and that they'd NEED them, for only one would attain S rank this year.
Balls. I was kind of hoping to help someone to S class. Oh well, at least this gives me an excuse to spend some time with Mirajane.
Makarov then said the trial would be held at Tenrou Island! Back at the site of my reunion! The memory brought mixed feelings and just a bit of guilt over me, but I couldn't help but smile regardless.
The pairings were done before the day was out, Natsu decided to go with Happy, Cana took Lucy, I set Lisanna up with Juvia, and Evergreen with Elfman, Freed took Bickslow, Mest took Wendy, Grey partnered with Loke, and to my surprise, Gajeel offered to go with Levy, despite their history.
Makarov pulled me aside during the excitement, and explained my role in this exam. I was to act as a block for aspiring S class wizards, to test their strength. Makarov explained the first test was one of luck and strength, and when a team chose my path, they would have to fight me to get past. I was to take the place of Mirajane, who wasn't going to participate in combat for obvious reasons. She was going to help run an aid station on the island, of which he gave me a map to. "Not that you really need it." he added with a wink.
I looked at the map, curious as to how me and two other S classes were going to fight 8 teams of mages, and I realized I was being stupid. Four of the remaining five would fight each other, and the fifth would get a free pass. Luck really DID play a good role.
I was thankful when I heard Mavis was just going to be with Mira and Noa at the aid station the entire time. Noa wasn't nominated, sure, but had already insisted she come and help with the hurt. But MAVIS…..man, she is SCARY when she gets serious. That woman is able to predict every minor twitch your muscles can make. Worst of all, she can do it mid combat! If there is a defence for it, she knows. Period.
The next week was overly chaotic, at best. I never did get that re reading from Cana. She seemed in an overly foul mood, so I gave her space. I figured it would be best to just wait until the exam was done, and one of my friends was a newly crowned S class!
Six days after the announcement, a boat arrived to take the S class wizards to Tenrou, so we could get set up in preparation for the next morning's events. Nothing too exciting happened, really. I set up a couple tents, and hung a few lettered banners over the first testing area, but nothing overly exciting. It was bloody hot out though, I had to take a dip before the boat docked on Tenrou. God, I love my wings.
I of course got homesick and sappy being just an arms reach away from my family, and called them on a communication lacryma before bed. I made sure Mira was feeling alright, and wished both of my siblings luck, ESPECIALLY if they went toe to toe with Erza or Gildarts.
The next day, I sat on a high branch in a tree near the entrance to the cave systems. I was informed that the exam would actually start while they were still out to sea, so it seemed likely a couple of wizards would get here first. Juvia for sure, I thought.
The caves would erect magical barriers when everyone involved in them was inside, to prevent someone from dashing through. I knew mine was B, so I dashed in to get ready. When I felt the barrier seal, I would release that….new form of mine to announce my presence.
As I waited, I started to contemplate a name. Never was good at them, and had no real reason to be! I thought, since I already had an Archangel, it had to be something higher, to match…..or maybe….something lower! My thoughts drifted to the seven princes of the underworld, and after consideration, I really couldn't help but pick my "Favourite" to lend me his name.
A distant sound was heard, and I felt the magic barrier activate. A smirk crossed my face as I let the power overflow and my armor form. My runeblade appeared in my hand, and once again, I stood tall in the visage of an angel with darkened wings…..the fallen angel…..Lucifer.
I noticed the undershirt of the armor had a hood at this point, and put it up, darkening all but the lines across my skin.
I felt two magical presences slowly approaching, though the barrier made it impossible to tell who they were. (Makarov you clever bastard.) I decided to yank their chains, since I was more or less unrecognizable to at least half the teams.
I planted my sword in the ground, right in the middle of a clearing in the cave, and ducked into the shadows above. Slowly and slowly, they got closer, until I saw a glint of blonde hair from my place of hiding.
I could barely contain the excitement and laughter I had as I realized who I had been matched with. I was to fight Elfman and Evergreen!
They slowly approached the sword in the middle of the room, and examined it. I could see the terror in Evergreen's eyes as she said something aloud. "A-A-A-A sword?! Then….that means-!"
"Erza!" Elfman finished. "But….why did she leave this here? And where is she?"
*CRASH* went the ground as I smashed into it from above, back facing the pair.
I slowly walked toward the sword, and yanked it from the stone beneath us. Pointing it toward the people behind me before turning myself, I heard Elfman quietly ask out my name, followed by Evergreen shouting something along the lines of, "That Angel is MAR?!"
"I won't be holding back, just so you two know." I said with a smirk.
"Wouldn't have it any other way brother." Elfman said as he took on his full take over, and Evergreen removed her glasses.
Elfman lunged across the room and attempted to strike me, to witch I blocked with my unarmed hand, with ease that surprised even myself. I felt no different than if I was pushing against the sand.
I threw the runeblade aside, thinking it was unnecessary for now, and engaged both of my brother's feral fists in a duel of strength.
"Come on already Elfman! Kick his ass!" Evergreen shouted from the sideline.
I turned over and noticed something different about her than before….something minor, but defiantly different.
It snapped to me in an instant. "You let your hair do-!"
I was interrupted by Elfman striking me hard enough to send me into the cave wall behind me, embedding me in the rock.
I looked up to see that both of them were outright confused. I yanked myself out of the rock and cracked my neck both ways.
"What? I notice things!" I said plainly as I lifted my hand.
Lightning began crackling around it, arcing off to the floor and ceiling around me. "Ready to get serious?" I asked.
Evergreen smirked at me as I noticed the dust surrounding me.
"Ah." I said. "Well played." As the dust around me detonated violently, blowing the very rock from the walls of the cave.
"I got him!" I heard Evergreen shout.
"Don't count that guy out yet!" Elfman threw in.
I walked forward and brushed myself off, inspecting the damage as I did. The woman had actually damaged my armor! Anything covering my arms was now useless, so I just took it and threw them to the ground.
"Hmmm…." I wondered aloud.
"Is it me or is he not taking us seriously?" Evergreen whispered to Elfman.
"Oh, I am!" I shouted. "You two haven't noticed?"
Elfman and Evergreen started looking around cautiously, and of course found nothing.
"Ah, right, my bad. I spent some time with Freed and Aika recently, you see, and together they taught me a rather interesting trick." I said as I snapped my fingers, revealing yellow runes everywhere I, or my sword had touched in the time they were here. Even Eflman's fists were glowing. "Checkmate." I said as I raised my hand in the mock form of a gun. "BANG!"
All of the runes erupted lightning, filling the room with sheer elemental power. The rock splintered, cracked, and was destroyed, and my opponents were forced to the ground from sheer overwhelming strength.
Another snap of the fingers and everything ground to a halt. I walked over to my opponents and knelt down over them. "Either of you still awake?"
"Like I'd….give up!" Elfman spat at me, not bothering to raise his face from the stone.
"Ha, that's my brother." I said as I helped him to his feet. Man could barely stand, and he still put up his fists against me.
I snickered to myself and began taking off the armor, leaving only the hooded undershirt. I took the hood down and got my dukes up too, asking, "Shall we settle this like men?"
Elfman replied by method of jabs, faster than I'd think him capable at the moment. I dodged out of the way, and delivered an uppercut to his solar plexus, causing him to grunt, but did not deter him.
I backed away slightly, and we both went for overhead crosses. We made contact damn near simultaneously, and they rattled both of us. Elfman took a couple of shaky steps back then fell flat on his back, while I ended up falling to a knee.
I stood back up and walked over to my brother, once again offering him a hand. He took it and we once again began exchanging blows. One in particular, sent my vision past the place where Evergreen was lying. I gripped my head to try and make my ringing ears be quiet, and I failed to notice that I was staring straight into Evergreen's glowing eyes.
"Checkmate, Mar." she told me, causing me to snap to reality.
My body was going stiff, and I looked down to see stone enveloping my torso, having already claimed my legs.
I closed my eyes and smiled as the stone reached my neck. "Well played you two. Well played indeed."
I awoke a few minutes later, and noticed the barrier was gone, as were my opponents. My flesh had returned to normal, and my possessions were laid out neatly next to the spot I had been laid upon. They actually BEAT me! Amazing. Just amazing! They actually used my over confidence against me! I had assumed Evergreen was down and out, and they made me pay for it! Genius! Brilliant!
Pride enveloped me at the sheer brain my friends showed. Had they planned that from the start, I wonder? I would have to ask!
I gathered my things and proceeded through the cave until I came to the rest stop on the other side, immediately looking through for my brother and Evergreen. I found them, talking to Mirajane while sitting on some overturned logs by a fire pit, of course. Evergreen and Elfman seemed to be getting along well, and were laughing WITH each other.
Briefly, I flashed back to the fighting festival, remembering how vain, how sadistic Evergreen used to be. Her transformation brought no small amount of joy to my heart.
I made my presence known and sat next to my wife, giving her a kiss as I did.
"W-Wait a minute, the S class mage you beat…..it wasn't-?!"
"It was me." I said plainly. "These two managed to OUTSMART me, Mira! I look forward to what THEIR kids are like!"
Both Elfman and Evergreen started doing their best tomato impressions, trying not to look at each other.
"And that, that is for turning me to stone." I said with a smirk. "Now, I NEED to know, did you plan that, or was it improvised? I'm honestly impressed either way!"
"We….had a general plan if we were to fight an S class mage, but I thought Evergreen was down for the count after that trap of yours. THAT much was an accident." Elfman admitted humbly.
"Perseverance, determination, sheer dumb luck and grit! I love it! You both made me a proud man, for what it's worth!"
I watched the exits from the caves carefully. Gajeel and Levy were first. Gajeel was just right beside himself that they got the free route. I could relate, it's always more fun with some competition!
Natsu came through with Happy, with Gildarts behind them, admitting defeat. Even I damn near had a heart attack at that one!
Lucy and Cana came through next. Shortly after, Freed and Bickslow. They beat two of the Rajin Tribe. Impressive indeed!
Grey and Leo came through with Wendy, and Mest coming from behind them. Poor bugger got stopped on the first trial this year! What a shame, I was looking forward to Mest kicking some ass in the finals!
Erza walked through last with Juvia and Lisanna in either hand. Poor girls, I REALLY felt for them there.
Shortly after everyone arrived, Makarov showed up and explained the second trial: A search for the grave of the first. Mavis' former grave!
I kept a straight face as Makarov announced that the grave is clearly marked with a small clearing, and they would likely find me there.
He wasn't wrong, I had vanished before Makarov was even done explaining everything! I booked it straight there, if only just to have a place where I can sense who's close and who's not!
When I got to the grave, I noticed it was still just a bit of a mess. I guess we hadn't really thought of cleanup in the confusion!
I got to work and started kicking dirt back into the hole, and straightening the shrine and the headstone. It was only when I reset the stone, that I noticed the ring in the center of it had quite a level of Magic residue coming from it.
Unconsciously, I ran my hand across the edge, and felt a strange feeling from the radiating power. Familiar, that much was for sure. It kind of felt like an incomplete spell….or one that was left here long ago. Either way, it was not meant for me, so I gave it no more heed.
I stepped back to marvel my restoration work. The ground at least looked semi natural, and the grass would cover up what was still wrong in a few weeks. The stone was perfectly straight again, but the shrine itself was still splintered and stripped of paint in several places. I would need to get some wood here to fix it entirely.
It was now I heard a distant hissing noise, followed by an explosion! I turned my attention to the sky to see one of our emergency flares burning out! Something was going on!
I tried to take to the sky, but before I could, a Magic was fired off somewhere nearby, so vile and powerful in nature, that it felt like my brain was being scraped on sandpaper! I ended up on my knees, screaming in pain! It lasted for a few seconds, but faded quickly.
Whatever did that….whatever just took me down from sheer PROXIMITY….I had to destroy it! It had to be a weapon, no MAGE is that powerful! That however, could wait until my friends were out of danger!
I left my coat, and flew out of the clearing to find the source of the flare, homing in on Erza wearing….very little, next to Juvia. I landed next to them and asked, "What the devil is going on?"
"We're under attack." Erza replied. "A dark guild has invaded the island, and they want us dead, that much is certain. They already almost killed Levy and Gajeel!"
My Magic spiked for a moment, releasing a torrent of power, but I quickly subdued it, not wanting my friends to see my darker side right now. Not with Mavis' resting place here.
"How did they get here?"
"An airship" Juvia said, as she pointed out over the water.
I recognised the mark on the airship. Grimoire Heart, one of the big three Dark Guilds, and the most powerful. I didn't know whether to feel flattered or worried.
I knew that Erza would keep Juvia safe, so I dismissed myself and flew high into the sky.
I flew around, looking for my friends, or the invaders, but before I found anyone, a horrible sight greeted me. Makarov made a stand against Grimoire Heart's ship alone, only to be shocked by something the Heart master did, then shot through the chest by the ship. He fell onto the island after regressing to his original size.
I flew over quickly to try and give Makarov first aid, but as I got there, Natsu came tumbling down the hill, and told me he could handle this. I trusted the man and took off, and I would have left him alone had I not noticed the blonde haired man with murder in his eyes following Natsu. I tailed him, and not long after he caught up to Natsu, he had Makarov, Natsu, and himself in a Mexican Standoff situation. He was to be crushed by Makarov, Makarov was being burned by the man's black flames, and Natsu was being incinerated in a cloud of flame. From this close, my sensory ability was working to an extent, so I felt Natsu's presence...disappear. Rage fogged my mind and I marched into the clearing, murder on my mind as well. If Natsu hadn't burst through the fire by eating it and taking down the mage….well, I shudder to think.
I noticed that Master and Natsu were looking at me strangely, and I realised that they must have seen me enraged. I apologised and flew off, not wanting to damage my own image any further. I also noticed that Natsu was wearing white and that his scarf was now black. Weird.
I continued along, and tied to sense if any of my friends were in trouble. There was trouble all over, but the closest I could feel...were Mirajane and Lisanna, along with someone I'd never met. Probably another Grimoire asshole. If I remembered what I read about them, they would only have seven elite mages, along with a deputy, known as Bluenote. I landed in the clearing where Mira in her Satan Soul and the man were fighting, and I noticed that Lisanna was in an odd contraption made of wood with a counter on it, going down. My thoughts raced and my pulse quickened, shit, a fucking BOMB?!
"Mira." I said in a commanding tone. "You're walking for two, get back and save Lisanna."
"Got it." She said as she dashed to the device and tore it apart. The man tried to stop her, but was met by a thunderous backhand from me, sending him into a tree.
"Lightning….a close kinship with Mirajane…are you Mar Strauss?"
"One and the same." I said coldly.
"Ha…hahaha…..HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! TWO STRONG OPPONENTS IN ONE DAY! FORTUNE FA-"
"None of that." I said simply as I dashed over in Lightning Form and covered his mouth with my hand.
"When di-"
"None of it. No rants, no speeches, no monologues. Go. To. Sleep." I said as I threw him into the open air.
Lightning form got me behind him for a haymaker, sending him into the tree where he just was, and the ice I shot after him rooted all but his head in place.
He smirked at me, and sank backwards into the tree. I looked around to see if I could catch him before he caught me, but it was to no avail. He appeared out of a branch above me, and ignited several explosions around me. Without my transformation or my armor, it caused….significant damage. Both of my arms separated from my body and landed on the sidelines, right next to where Mira and Lisanna were sitting after Lisanna had been freed.
I glanced back, and Lisanna's eyes were wide, and she looked like she was about to throw up. Poor girl, she didn't need to see that.
"SHE DIDN'T NEED TO SEE THAT!" I shouted at the nature mage.
My arms slowly crept back to my body, and re attached themselves in their sockets as the nature mage and Lisanna watched in horror. Mira was more or less indifferent about it.
"I-Impossible….no mage can do that! No HUMAN can do that!" the Grimoire mage shouted at me.
"I'm no longer human." I stated as my Lucifer form overtook me, and the blade appeared in my hand.
I immediately turned the blade for the root I was standing it on, and stabbed it deep in. "I won't need a weapon to beat you."
"Arrogant piece of-"
"Name." I demanded.
"….Azuma! Know it well!" he bellowed while an explosion went off behind me, sending me forward into his kick.
I merely flipped backwards through the air, and landed on my feet. No damage was done.
"What the hell?!"
"Justice comes for you, Azuma." I said as I began walking toward him.
Explosion after explosion rocked my armor and my body, growing increasingly frenzied as I got closer and closer.
I reached out my arm toward him, and he began backing away, sweating profusely, and screaming for me to stay away. Eventually, his back hit the trunk of Tenrou's great tree, and he attempted to meld with it, and began screaming in terror when he couldn't.
"Curious, hmm? I wonder why you can't escape?" I taunted. "Ah, yes, I planted a device in this tree that absorbs any magic in its vicinity. You COULD meld if you tried hard enough, I'm sure, but the effect would be….less than desirable for you."
"! The sword?!"
"Bingo!" I said cheerfully as I wrapped my armored sword hand around his throat and pulled him away from the trunk, and carried him toward a drop into a crevice below.
I swung him over the drop, and he began squirming and attempting to scream, so I put my spare hand over his mouth. "Listen well, Azuma. You will live, the drop isn't THAT far. If you are unconscious on impact, when you wake up, get the hell off this island. If I catch you here again, I'll kill you. If I catch you near my FAMILY again, I will do much, MUCH worse. Goodbye."
And with that, I let him fall. I watched as he descended and landed in a shallow lake. Enough to cushion the landing, but not enough that it wouldn't hurt like hell.
"Two down." I noted. "Six to go."
I would be lying if I said I wasn't worrying about at least two of them. From what I read, Bluenote and Hades were two of the most powerful dark mages out there. People like that….they might know some of Zeref's magic….if that was to be unleashed on my friends, I would be mourning much more than my second lost life.
I made a brisk run for my family, off to the side. "Oh, Mar, thank goodness!" Mira said.
"You were awesome brother!" Lisanna said while getting up and hug me. "Thank you for saving me. I don't want to think what would have happened if you weren't here."
"Easy, easy Lisanna. It's not like it was a conscious choice, I see my family is in trouble, then I'll help them. Speaking of, where's Elfman?"
"He's with Evergreen, Mar, and besides, he can look after himself." Mira said.
"Ha, true that." I said before closing my eyes, attempting to sense magical disturbances around the island. I needed to find the thing that put me on the ground, and I had to do it quick! When I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary, I decided to take flight and scout the island myself. Before I left, I told Lisanna, "You keep your big sister and your niece or nephew safe, you hear me? Lay low, and DO NOT expose yourselves!"
I flew around the island, hoping to find one of our opponents, or whatever it was that hurt me. I ended up zeroing in on a strange young man I had never met. I found him sulking under a tree by a creek.
It was so strange….he seemed so familiar, yet so distant at the same time…..had I met him before? I walked over and touched his shoulder, hoping to get his attention, but all I got was him to shout "GET AWAY! I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T!"
"What are you talking ab-" at this point, that feeling I had from earlier returned in force, much stronger than before. My vision kept cycling between black and faded and I fell to the ground. I could hear an incredibly loud ringing, and any other sounds seemed very, very far away.
Even then, I could still hear the boy say, "No! Get up! You HAVE to get up! Get away!"
This feeling, was it him?...But, how…how could a mage be so powerful? Gildarts couldn't do this to me with proximity!
All at once, everything stopped. My senses were cut off, my body went limp. Had he….killed me? Truly?
My vision returned slowly, and I found the man standing over me, shocked, and with tears in his eyes. He…didn't mean to do that to me? But….that would mean he can't control it…..what a terrible curse.
"I don't die that easily." I told him. "Now, what was that?"
"You….no, that's not possible! There's no way! How could you….."
"Get on with it already! What's not possible?" I said with a smirk.
"Your name! What was your birth given name?!"
"By birth? I don't remember. It was a long, long time ago, and I can't remember anyone using that name with me."
The mage seemed taken aback. "No…..not possible!...Vahn?"
"Who's Vahn?" I asked.
"I…..I'll show you." He said as he put his hand to my head.
Memories began flooding into my head. This man was timeless, an immortal like myself, and had many lifetimes beneath his belt. I saw him meet a beautiful woman, and fall in love. Three children were born from the union, but I could not see their faces.
However, his peace did not last. A mob came to the family's house one day, bearing torches and steel. When they attacked, they took his wife from him, and while the children escaped out the back.
He couldn't contain himself, and the magic he had been supressing for years came forth in a wave of darkness, killing everyone who had come to do him harm.
He screamed atop their bodies, and thus the memory ended. From there, my memories began flowing outward.
The memory chosen led me to a realization. The memory was a familiar one, and one I had spent many nights attempting to drown out. Of me, Noa, and Avalon escaping from our burning family home and into the woods. Of Noa being torn apart by wolves, and me losing my brother to the world.
This man…..there was little doubt in my mind now.
"…Father." I whispered. "Is it truly….is it you?"
"Vahn…."
"Was that my name?...ha. I'm known as Mar now. I couldn't remember my name after that day."
"….I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, Va-….Mar. Your life turned out the way it did because of me…..because of my damn curse!"
"I would change some things father, that much is certain, but listen to me. I met people I care incredibly deeply for. That wouldn't have happened without the tragedy that night. Look." I said as I raised the hand with my wedding ring on it, and removed the gauntlet.
"Ha…you fell to the plague of love too?"
"I'm expecting my first now."
"…..Wonderful." he whispered with a warm smile.
"…..What am I, father? What exactly am I? I'm not human, that much I've figured out."
"….You are my greatest creation, my son. You and your siblings. I called you Shadows. You belong to a unique race of demons capable of ascending their own power through rage. Every step would bring you closer to godhood."
"…..The angrier I get…."
"The stronger you will be."
"Father…..who are you?" I asked from the blue. "I'm immortal from what I did to myself after a few life mistakes, but that was circumstantial. How are you still here?"
"….I was already over two centuries old by the time I met your mother. I was born four hundred years ago."
"Four hundred years?...No!"
"It's as you think."
"You?! Truly?!"
"Yeah."
"Huh. My father….the Dark Mage himself."
"….."
"Zeref…"
"…"
"You don't seem like a bad person, father. You don't seem like some demon creating monster to me. Heck, you barely seem more than a young man."
"As I've been told. Same goes to you by the way!"
"Haha, you got me."
"…Noa. Avalon…do….do they still live?"
"…Avalon…..I don't know. Noa died the same day mom did. I brought her back from the grave recently."
"….Did you use Reanimation? How could…..ahhh. clever. Your immortality runs on your own magic power, doesn't it?"
"Yup. Giving away life force means very little to me nowadays. Hypothetically speaking, I could be a cure to death."
"A cure to…death, huh…?"
"Father?"
"My son….Mar….I need you to kill me."
"?! Why the hell would I do that?!"
"I can't control my magic….ever since that day, it's just been getting worse and worse. When it comes out, things die. People, plants, even animals don't survive my darkness. I've been living in solitude for as long as I can remember. People I love, people I care about…they all die! I kill them, even though I don't want to! Mar, I can't handle it anymore! End my curse, PLEASE!"
We were both silent for a long time, my father's tears dripped down onto me. I finally sighed and decided. "Very well." I said, resolute, "I shall destroy you. Stand."
He was silent as he backed away and stood tall. He however, seemed….relieved. Happy and relieved that his life was coming to an end.
He truly wished to die….it was just…too sad. I had finally met him again, finally remembered who he was….and now I would be the one to kill him, after all this time.
My Lucifer armor and blade appeared around me, shocking my father, but he quickly faded to a smile.
"So the wings DID mean something greater…..my own son has become an angel! I could ask for no better death."
I gripped the runeblade tightly, and raised it above my head, both hands attached. If my father was to die by my hand, he would not suffer any more than possible.
"….Goodbye father. Say hello to mom for Noa and I."
"…I will my son. I love you."
I choked back my sadness as I brought the blade down with all my might, colliding with my father's throat. My eyes closed as impact was made, not wanting to see what I had done.
And yet….after a few seconds, I opened my eyes to behold something truly amazing. My blade was stopped dead at his skin. It hadn't even cut!
My father's head dropped, and he sighed. "Even with such power….it seems I still cannot be destroyed…..Natsu won't be able to kill me now if this can't…is this age truly doomed to destruction?"
"Dad?"
"Mar….listen to your old man. Get away from this place, FAR away from Tenrou. Live, and find me one day. You need to end my life by the year of 792. If you don't….I will bring the world to an end."
"Wha-"
My father interrupted me with a forceful spell to my chest, sending me backwards through the trunks of trees and into the woods. "Run my son! Acnologia comes!"
I got up and ran back to the creek to find him again, to no avail. He was gone. I had no time to wonder, I soon felt Lucy in trouble! And she was nearby too!
I blitzed through the woods like a madman possessed. Near Lucy I could feel an unfamiliar presence! Damn! One of the seven found her! I needed to get there NOW!
I quickly came across a sleeping Lucy, with a rather large man standing above her. The moment I saw him raise his foot, my heart sank, and I dove at him as fast as I could.
"HEY BIG MAN! CATCH THIS!"I roared at him before tackling him away from Lucy. I didn't want to use Magic and risk hurting her, after all. The two of us went tumbling through the woods, exchanging blows on the way. We soon came to a large rock formation, so I shifted our weight and threw him against the rocks with all the momentum we still had. I could see that hit home, but I didn't relent. I got to my feet and dashed to him before he slid off the rock, and I continued pounding his midsection and head with lightning enhanced blows. I wound up my right hand for a haymaker, and delivered it across his jaw, shattering the rock when I made impact. He slid to the ground, eyes glazed over, but breathing.
I turned to the trail of destruction we left and started for it, hoping Lucy was okay, but as I did, the man got back up, slowly, but surely.
"Pal, I have no idea who you are, but protecting one of these people makes you my enemy! DIE!"
I turned just in time to receive one of his massive fists across my face, sending me flying through the woods, splitting several trees horizontally before I finally landed. I got up, noting the large splinters in between the gaps of my armor, so I let some fire surround me to burn them away.
I walked back through the tree line to the man and said, "Huh, not a bad punch. Was that your best?"
He could only growl and sweat. He was nervous, that's a good sign. That was likely all he had in him.
"No answer?" I said, before cracking my knuckles. "Alright then! Here's a REAL punch for you!" I announced as I twisted my torso back and charged lightning in my fist.
"Like I'd let that happen!" he shouted as he dashed at me, fist held high.
I waited for him to get close, and when he swung, I read the path of the strike. I dodged to the left of his strike, exposing his back to me. Tightening my fist once more, I delivered a bone breaking uppercut to his mid back, sending him skyward.
I heard him shouting the whole way up, so I flew up as fast as I could, and yanked both of his arms behind him, restraining them.
"What are you doing?!" he shouted at me.
"Taking you down is what."
I turned us toward the earth, heads first, and began to spin us.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! YOU'LL KILL US BOTH!"
"Speak for yourself. And besides, you're resistant, you'll live. Barely."
We accelerated to an incredible speed, spinning as fast as a drill. Just as we were about to hit the ground, I let him go and pulled up, leaving him to make a large crater in the ground.
He was out cold all right, and I don't think that he was capable of getting back up for a long while. I checked his pulse just to make sure he was alive, and I got a heartbeat. Once I confirmed he was alive, I burned a message into what was left of the rock face, and turned his head toward it so he would read it when he awoke.
The note wasn't anything special. "I respect your strength, blah blah blah, get off my island.", or something of the like.
I ran back to Lucy and shook her awake. "What the- Where am I?!" Lucy asked, franticly.
"Calm down Lucy, I have you." I said in a caring tone.
"Ohh, my head? Where's Cana?"
"Cana? Did she do this to you?"
"I….I think she did! I know she wanted to become S class more than anyone else….she has a reason Mar. She has to prove her worth to someone."
"Prove her worth? What kind of hair brained-*ahem* sorry. Who is she trying to prove herself to?"
"I….I can't say, not until she's ready to say it herself."
"Fair enough. I'll worry about it later. For now, we still might have five powerful mages on this island, and I NEED to make sure they don't hurt anyone!"
Just as I finished my sentence, Natsu and a woman clad in white tumbled through the trees, fighting, and landed near us. Her smell was far too familiar.
I separated the two of them and stared into the woman's eyes, then said, "Yes, you ARE the one from Galuna! The short fellow! I owe you my thanks."
The woman receded at the unexpected reaction, and seemed to lose her hostility. "What do you mean?"
"Ma'am, did yo-"
"Ultear. My name is Ultear, please don't use ma'am."
"Alright then, Ultear, did you ever find out what happened to Deliora?"
"I ceased caring once I knew the demon was free. If I remember correctly, you were not only the only one standing before it, but the one who released it as well."
"I was. Ultear, that demon killed me."
"You're lying, everyone only dies once."
"Really?" I said, taking out Ivory, then blowing my own arm off, causing both Natsu and Lucy to scream. As it re attached itself, I said, "I seem to have made a habit out of it since I took down Deliora."
Ultear was stunned, then said, "I can see my winning here is impossible, may I retreat?"
"Because I owe you, just this once. Also, you'll find Grey on this island...somewhere. I have a feeling you need to talk to him, Daughter of Ul."
"H-How do you know that?"
"The ice. It had the same feel of Magic as yours, and you certainly don't look old enough to be Ul's mom. H Now go, but cause my friends any problems, and I will not have any mercy in my heart."
"Fair warning. I shall go now." Ultear said as she began to walk away.
"Mar, why did you let her go?" Natsu asked.
"I have a feeling that Grey needs to talk to her as well." I said with a smile.
I then took flight once more, my work there was done. On the way up, I yelled to Natsu, Happy, and Lucy, "I know I can't ask you to stay out of this, so stay safe you three! Don't split up!"
I flew back toward Mavis' grave. I had an odd feeling it was where Cana was headed, where else could she go to prove herself a worthy S class?
I was worried. The reason for her to want to be S class so badly….It had to be something earth shattering. I can't say I looked forward to finding out what…..too much.
I arrived in the grove before Cana showed, so I hid in the shadows in the surrounding treeline, hoping to get some sort of information out of Cana. I also noticed the magical residue was now glowing a bright golden light.
She showed up quickly, and inspected the grave. To my surprise, runes showed up, and she read them out. Fairy Glitter was sealed in that stone, and the mention of the name made my heart jump. Fairy Glitter could be a perfect weapon against Grimoire! I could modify it myself to avoid any lethal effects!
Cana began ranting to herself, as if someone was there to help her. She asked the very air if she had passed the S class trial, and was finally strong enough to meet her father. She recounted her tale in bitter words, telling the trees and the plants of her strong Magic lineage. I learned right there, that Cana was the daughter of none other than Gildarts. That explained the rash action, that's a hell of a dad to live up to. She yelled that her own father didn't recognise her, and she vowed to tell him once she achieved S class. She said that this was around the sixth time she had been nominated, but she failed every time. She stated that if she failed this year, she would quit the guild.
Cana broke down, and began crying. She seemed to be remembering something, when I heard what sounded like Lucy saying "Help! Help!"
Cana took out a card and said she had been a fool, and apologised to Lucy for putting her in danger.
Danger? Shit! I sensed around the Island, and sure enough, Lucy, and a number of others were facing an opponent, a DAMN strong one. This man must be a higher up of Grimoire Heart! That would mean either Bluenote…or…..shit! I had to get there, NOW!
Before I got out of the shadows, Cana shoved her hand into the gap in the stone, and her sleeve was blown to shreds, imprinting a unique sigil on her arm. Pride swelled up in me again as I realized that Cana had grabbed the spell! She had enough magic to have the spell in her without it being harmful!
She smiled, then dashed off into the woods, using that card as a guide. I followed her as fast as I could, but damn she could run like the wind.
We broke into a clearing that had rain falling, and a large man with a long ponytail standing tall on an elevated area. Cana went in to attack, but was deflected. She yelled for Natsu to help distract him, but Natsu appeared unable to move, so I leapt out of the trees and dove at the man, knocking him to the ground, and straddling on top of him. I could tell this man was almost as powerful as Gildarts, if not on par with him. I had to keep him occupied!
Summoning the power of Crash, I struck blow after blow against him, forcing him to defend.
Even under pressure of my assault, this man showed no emotion. "Crash? Ah, you must be Gildarts Clive. Strange, younger than I imagined, and much more armored."
He wasn't taking me seriously! If he incapacitated me, he could attack my friends! I couldn't let that happen!
I summoned all the power I could for the sole purpose of holding this man down, and shouted to Cana, "FAIRY GLITTER! NOW!"
"But I'll hit you! What if y-"
"JUST DO IT CANA!"
Cana could sense the seriousness in my voice, so she started casting. "Gather! O river of light that's guided by the fairies! Shine! In order to perish the fangs of evil! Fairy Glitter!"
He got me to my feet and began striking me as a ring of light appeared around me and the man, and every cell in my body began burning in pain. My armor was blasted from my body.
He wasn't doing much better, he was screaming at the top of his lungs, but then, to everyone's surprise, he raised his hands, then lowered them, sending Fairy Glitter into the ground!
He took advantage of the situation and hit me with the same magic, sending me to the ground weighing several hundred times what I did normally.
He walked toward Cana, saying that he would take Fairy Glitter from her when she was dead. I felt helpless looking onward at the scene, in the pitiful state I found myself in. However, I had one option left. Thanks to Cana, I had one more trick up my sleeve.
"HEY! ASSHOLE!" I shouted at the man, getting his attention.
"Hm? Your organs haven't caved in yet? How troublesome." He said, turning his attention to me, and walking over to step on my throat.
I couldn't help myself but laugh at the man's arrogance. "Ha….haha….hahaha! You're a fo-" was what I got out before he stomped on my throat, muffling my words.
I just smiled at him as I fought through the gravity and grabbed his leg.
"What can you hope to accomplish, Mage? You can barely move." He said as he tried to kick my hand away. I refused to let him. "Let go. You've lost. Accept death like a man." My hand remained firm. He sighed at me and said, "Very well then." Before grabbing a stray shard of metal from my armor and using it to cut off my arm in one clean strike.
Still, my grip refused to let loose. He reached down to open my fingers, only to see the ugly part of my Regeneration at work.
My arm had already re attached itself to my body, and it caused him to stagger backwards, breaking his concentration on the gravity magic that bound me.
I let go of his leg as he stared at me in surprise. "What the….there's only ONE mage rumoured to be able to do THAT in Fairy Tail!" he said, his composure slipping.
"Say it! Say my name!" I goaded him on.
Simultaneously, we shouted, "Mar Strauss! Archivist, and Lightning Dragon Slayer!"
The realizations dawned on him one after another, making him visibly nervous.
"You're starting to see?" I taunted. "Good. Now, are you wondering why Fairy Glitter didn't work on you?"
"Wondering? I know. This trash has nowhere near the right level of Magic Power to cast it!" he said, gesturing to Cana.
"Trash? No. Not even close. That woman has almost as much power as myself, she had just used most of it is all. Now, someone like ME on the other hand…." I said as I began to pull back my sleeve.
"Ha! Cute bluff kid. She is the only one here with Fairy Glitter! The mark is still on her pathetic arm!"
"Is it now?" I said, pulling my sleeve up all the way, revealing the same inscription currently on Cana's arm.
My friends around us began laughing in relief. They knew it was just a matter of time until this was over now. Even Cana seemed relieved.
"No…! Not possible!"
I merely smirked and held my hand forward. "Gather! O river of light that's guided by the fairies!"
"I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!" he bellowed as he dashed in to strike me, forcing me to use his own magic against him, sending him to the ground.
"Shine! In order to perish the fangs of evil! Fairy Glitter!"
The name of the spell seemed to echo across the heavens as the man was engulfed in golden explosion of light, blowing me backwards and onto my ass. A pillar formed, stretching into the clouds and above! The pillar expanded rapidly, tearing the ground apart as the light met the dirt. The man was attempting to scream, but could not get words out among the pressure of the power around him.
When the dust settled, his body began falling to the ground, having been lifted by the upward momentum of the spell. In an act of compassion, I caught him, and placed him gently atop the ground.
I stood up after determining he was out like a light, and gave the thumbs up to my friends, noting that the Fairy Glitter symbol was disappearing from my arm, the spell retreating back into the recesses of my soul.
I smiled as it took its place with Archive. Even across miles of ocean, and the very barriers of time and space itself, Mavis still bailed me out.
I got all my friends to their feet, saving Cana for last.
I held out the arm that had had Fairy Glitter on it, and let the inscription run over my arm.
"I wanted my fortune read, not matching tattoos!" I jested. "You alright?"
"No, I'm not. I'm a failure."
"Cana, knock it off. I heard you at the grave."
"Wait, you were there?"
"Yes. It doesn't matter who your parents are, or what your legacy is. You are you. You are Cana, the woman I currently hold in my arms, Card Magic extraordinaire! Besides, Cana, Fairy Glitter is a complicated spell. I had to channel both sunlight and moonlight to get it to work. Had it not been for Archive, I would have failed as well, or worse, had it backfire on me! YOU on the other hand, channeled the spell completely and perfectly, without someone or something helping you! Your only fault was misjudging your remaining Magic. Hell, EVERYONE does that!"
"Even you?"
"Yep. You have nothing to be ashamed of, my friend."
"...Thank you."
"Oh yes, I just remembered, your reading was right. I've been through a reunion…..though I can't decide if it was joyous or painful. It also gave me a new purpose, yet, I have yet to see this second reunion."
"Hang on, YOU reunited with someone? Oh! Was it your brother?!"
"My….brother?" I thought on it for a second…..there were no clues to my brother's status one way or the other, he could very well be alive….Yet, time had not stopped for him as it did me.
"Mar?" Cana asked, pulling me from my stupor.
"Hm? Sorry, I got distracted. No, it wasn't….." I trailed off, debating if I should reveal the identity of my father or not. It didn't take me long to decide not to name names. "I met my father again. I know what I am…..I know what I must do."
"Truly?!" she asked. "What a-"
I responded only with a glare, signaling that I wasn't ready for that topic yet.
"Anyway. I think it would be best if I kept moving. There are more Grimoire Mages out there, and I need to ensure everyone's safety!...I just wish I knew who HE was." I said while pointing at the passed out mage.
Natsu raised his hand to us and said, "He called himself Bluenote!"
My eyes popped open and I turned back to the unconscious mage. THAT was Bluenote?! I just took out their second in command?!
I shook the thoughts from my mind and took to the sky, scanning the island as I did. There were still fights around the island, Freed and Bickslow seemed to be royally shit kicking someone, Juvia seemed have robbed the will to fight from another, and Grey was fighting Ultear. No real surprise there I guess, though I hoped they both made it out the other side. Ultear was simply misguided, that much was easy to see. Yet, I know I didn't want to see Grey die to redeem her. I would only intervene if the need arose.
I felt around for Elfman and Mira. Mira was still okay, lending support to Freed and Bickslow when she could, but she was still low on Magic. Elfman appeared to be down for the count, next to Evergreen and some others. I could tell they wasn't dead though, and had several friends nearby, so that satisfied me.
The last thing I felt was distant, a whiff of...Lightning? I focused harder, and I realised who it was. Laxus had felt our plea, and was coming for us! I smiled, he probably knew where the Island was, but just to be sure, I took off in his direction at full speed. My friends could take it from here, so long as they didn't attempt to fight this "Hades" fellow without me.
It took me about twenty minutes to find Laxus, literally running across the water at a blinding speed with his Lightning Magic.
"How you doing these days Laxus?!" I shouted over the sound of the splashing.
"Mar?! What the hell are you doing out here?! You up for S class?! What's with the wings being ATTACHED to your back?!"
"In order, I'm testing people for S class, I got bumped up myself a couple months back, and these were a fortunate side effect of a misadventure a couple weeks back!"
"Ha! Tell me Mar, what's this weird feeling I'm getting, like if my old guild and grandfather are in danger?!"
"Exactly what it is Laxus! The guild is under attack! Grimoire Heart came to play!"
"Grimoire Heart?! Holy shit! Is everyone okay?!"
"I could tell everyone was alive when I left to come meet you, and it wasn't likely to change unless Grimoire's Master came onto Tenrou! At least four or five of the higher ups in Grimoire were incapacitated when I left, including their second in command!"
"How many higher ups are there?!"
"Eight, I think! Then this so called 'Hades'!"
"Good! We'll be there for the grand finale then!"
As I led Laxus, I felt a dark Magic in the distance. My father's magic was going haywire again! I felt a Grimoire mage fade away…..the fire user that Natsu and Makarov were fighting, he just…..stopped existing. His life was cut brutally and instantly short, without a tinge of doubt.
I grit my teeth and choked back the dark feeling I had. I would end your curse father. Somehow, someday.
As we neared the Island, I could feel only a single battle taking place, and I determined that it was with none other than Hades himself. All of Team Natsu was there, along with Wendy, Happy, Carla, and Lily. Poor Gajeel must be injured, he's going to hate missing out on this!
I guided Laxus to the airship where the fight was taking place, and I felt Hades gain the upper hand! He was going to kill Natsu!
Two bolts of lightning struck the side of Grimoire Heart's ship, tearing through every one of the hulls, with one striking Hades in the arm, stopping his attack, the other landing in front of Team Natsu and co.
From the lightning nearest to Hades, Laxus appeared! From the bolt closest to my friends, I sprung forth.
"Sorry I kept you all waiting, but look, I found a friend!" I said in my usual manner.
Laxus spoke up, and asked Natsu a question, "Is this man my grandfather's enemy?"
When Natsu replied with yes, Laxus proceeded to head butt Hades, and then started beating him senseless.
When it seemed Hades would be the one to fall, he launched a Dark magic attack at a weakened Natsu, and before I could react, Laxus took the hit, weakening him immensely.
It was a downhill struggle from there, Laxus was losing horribly, and as Hades prepared his finishing attack, Laxus collapsed to his knees, unable to rise again.
I realised the situation and jumped in the way of the blast, donning my once destroyed armor without difficulty and taking the full brunt of the blast.
As I caught my breath, I saw that Laxus had fainted behind me. I also noticed that the room seemed a bit more...electric. I turned to my friends just as Natsu started screaming in pain, lightning surrounding him.
"Good lord…." I thought to myself, "He didn't?!...I need to buy some time!"
I remembered Natsu eating Etherion. He got a major power boost sure, but it HURT him for awhile! I needed to let him get to his feet!
"Ha! Now it gets interesting!" Hades taunted. "A Dragon Slayer absorbing an element that is not his own, and an angel? I'll enjoy this!"
"I AM NO ANGEL!" I bellowed as my sword appeared in my hand. "I am Justice! I am Lucifer! And I WILL shut you down, Hades!"
My blade moved faster than I was aware my arm could move, and Hades blocked each and every swing. He was smiling the entire time, clearly not taking me seriously.
Finally, he got bored, and ducked under an overzealous swing of mine, and socked me in the gut with a fist cloaked in dark magic. Even through armor, it hurt like hell. He shattered two or three ribs, easily.
Still, I did not let it dissuade me. I stood firm.
"Impressive tolerance, whelp. You would have made a good Grimoire Mage."
"I would have made the best." I smirked at him. "Shame I don't like people like you." I said as I raised my hand at him, making my palm face him.
"What are you going to do boy, you should know by now that you can't win."
"There is ALWAYS a way!" I proclaimed as a dark ball of energy appeared in my hand.
"That Magic…..ZEREF?! No, it can't be, you look nothing like him!"
"You're right Hades. I'm his son!" I proclaimed as the ball of energy rocketed out of my hand, tearing apart the wall behind Hades. The edges of the hole were coloured grey, as if they had aged a thousand years at once.
Hades looked back at the wall, and back to me with fear in his eyes, burned into his very soul.
"I am Mar Strauss, formerly Vahn Zeref. You shall leave this island and never trouble the guild I am lucky to call my own again, or next time, I will not have mercy."
Hades didn't have words, but instead backed away from me, and removed his eye patch, revealing a glowing red eye.
"Son of Zeref or not, you will NOT stand in my way! Nemesis!"
Otherworldly shapes began forming from the floor, purple in colour. As they grew, they shaped themselves into demons, things of nightmare and legend.
I sighed, and primed another Death Ball, this time aiming for the other source of magical power I had felt aboard this ship, in the back.
Less than two short seconds later, Nemesis was dispelled, Hades' eye stopped glowing, and he fell to the ground, clutching his chest.
"H-How did you-"
"Get a better dossier on me next time. I possess a rare form of Magic Sensory that allows me vision of any and all magic nearby, even if its levels aren't peaked by combat. Your….'Power Source' was blatantly obvious since before I set foot on this ship."
"Then….you've been-"
"Toying with you, yes. I don't really know why. Maybe some form of abstract vengeance for the pain you inflicted on us, or maybe a way to announce my heritage to everyone without making an overly large deal about it in the moment. I don't know, and frankly, YOU shouldn't care. All you need to care about is gathering the surviving Grimoire Mages and leaving this place. Now."
"! Survi-"
"I am sorry if you did not know. My father claimed one of your mages, a blonde one who could manipulate fire."
"…Zancrow….."
"I'll remember his name. He may have not been honorable, but no one deserves what he got."
"…..Thank you for telling me, pup. Sadly…..this old man can't abandon his path so easily! I WILL have Zeref!" he roared, getting to his feet as he did.
"…..Are you sure you want to do this, Hades?...Fine. Natsu, you're up."
Natsu raised no objection, and jumped into the fray, between me and Hades. I had noticed his full recovery around the time Hades exposed his eye.
"At this point Natsu, I would say we are on equal footing. Beat Hades, and you prove his guild has no chance of beating us Fairies. If you lose…..well, let's not think about that." I said as I patted him on the shoulder and walked toward the front of the ship.
I glanced back to see Natsu beating back Hades with both fire and lightning, a sight that brought pride to my heart. They had it handled, I was good to go.
I walked out and looked around in the late afternoon's sun, when a feeling of dread overcame me. I scanned my surroundings and once again, found nothing out of the ordinary…..well, besides the rather large ship I had just come off of.
The feeling got stronger and stronger, until I finally got the direction of something….terrible. A massive presence, darker than night in nature, was coming straight toward Tenrou. The worst part was? I could tell it was still miles away, possibly hundreds! THAT far away, and it was already setting me off!
"Abandon this place, my son. Acnologia comes to destroy the island."
I looked down to meet the eyes of my father. "Destroy?!"
"He is a great dragon, black in colour. Everyone here is as good as dead already, but you can escape."
"Black Dragon…..Gildarts…"
"My son?"
"Never mind! Father, you should get out of here then."
"You won't retreat?"
"Hell no. I'll get my family out of here…..beyond that, I have an idea. Bad one, but it's better than being destroyed."
"Vahn? If you die here-"
"I won't. I WILL free you one day."
My father considered everything for a second, then nodded. "Be quick. You have less than an hour."
"Thanks father." I said before tearing through the sky at the medical area.
I had a rough landing in my haste, but got up and located my siblings and wife.
"Listen to me, and listen to me very closely, each of you! All three of you need to get off this island, NOW. Get back to Fairy Tail, and don't you DARE look back!"
"Mar, calm down, what's going on?" Mira asked me.
"Dragon, BIG one, the one that hurt Gildarts! It's coming here! You need to get out NOW!"
"Dragon?! Mar, we have to tell-"
"No we don't! Listen, you and Lisanna are the only ones with enough Magic left to fly, you two need to carry Elfman and get out of here!"
"Big brother, what about you?" Lisanna asked.
"I have got a really, REALLY stupid idea, and if it works, I just might save everyone else here."
"If it doesn't?" Elfman added.
"Better than being vaporized by that thing."
"Mar-" my wife tried.
"Don't. Just get out of here Mira, please! Just trust me, and take that kid of ours back to Fairy Tail! I'll see you soon." I choked out.
"…..Alright. I trust you." Mira agreed before going Satan Soul, signalling Lisanna to use her Beast Soul. "You BETTER come back to us, with everyone else, alright?"
"I will do my best. I promise."
My family silently took flight and blew away, as if a leaf on the wind. Soon after, they were out of sight.
I noticed as I started to walk back toward the beach that an airship bearing a Grimoire seal was leaving the island. Good, I didn't want them caught up in this too.
I began running toward the beach as the dark feeling grew stronger and stronger. It was close now.
I burst onto the beach to a scene of celebration. Gildarts even seemed to be giving Laxus a hard time about being exiled, though he was taking it well.
Everyone sat around a campfire, laughing and cheering. They had no idea what was coming.
I decided to duck out and head back toward Mavis' grave. It felt….wrong to spoil the mood. There was nothing they could do to stop a dragon, so why should it even concern them until it was here?
I arrived at the site quickly, and touched the restored headstone. "I'll see you soon too Mavis. I swear upon my immortal life! You….Noa…..Elfman….Lisanna…..Aika…Mira. I WILL be back….for now though…..I had to do this."
A sky sundering roar pierced the air, and even through the foliage, I could see the form of a dragon, landing on Tenrou.
Just a few minutes now. I knew there was only one way a Dragon could physically eradicate the island. It was going to be our saving grace.
I sighed as I brought my hand before my eyes. Still armored, but unremarkable otherwise, as usual.
I stripped off the armor, leaving nothing but my pants on, letting my wings fly unrestricted.
As I summoned all of my Magic, my body began to glow a golden hue. Our last chance would be one of the spells Mavis taught me, all those years ago. A few modifications later, and a fusion with Arc of Time for effect, I had the spell I wanted.
Fairy Sphere had evolved into Fairy Time Lock.
The dragon rose above the island, and prepared to unleash its breath attack. This was the final curtain, one way or another.
I rose to challenge the dragon, whom didn't even notice my presence.
I glanced down at the beach to see all of my friends and comrades linked by the hand, forming a circle. Even in the face of death, they stood firm. Yet another unneeded reminder why I loved all of them.
And for them….I couldn't fail! It wasn't a damn option!
The dragon unleashed his fury as I raised my hand. A tidal wave of energy surged over the site of Tenrou, and when it settled, nothing but a crater in the sea remained.