Author's notes: Sorry for the atrociously late update. I've been too busy with tons of stuff, or stressed out, or whatever. But some reviews might alleviate that stress :) I haven't gotten as many for a while, but it's doubtful I'll get some more now, since it's been such a long update gap. Unfortunately, this story is backseat to my other one, so…
Also, and I know I'm being inconsistent, but I'm switching to the official translations of the names, now :/ Sorry if this confuses anyone.
Tales of the Fairies
Chapter 10: Erza Takes Action
The trip back to the guild was eventful, but not boring. Lucy, and indeed all of the others besides Natsu, was absolutely exhausted from their two consecutive battles with Oración Seis mages. The Stellar Spirit mage, however, put on a smiling face for Natsu in an effort not to seem weak in front of him. That seemed to matter to her all of a sudden as he chattered away happily about nonsensical things, such as what Happy ate for breakfast. She didn't mind just listening to him talk – she had softened to him over his two years of absence.
In her tiredness, she stumbled and nearly fell, but Natsu cut himself off mid-sentence to catch her, giving her a sort of reprimanding look.
"I didn't know you were this tired! Why did you insist that we keep walking even though you were this weak?" he chided, slinging her arm over his shoulders. She flushed slightly at the contact, but anger grew at his comment about her being weak.
"I'm not weak!" she resisted, until tripping over her own two feet again. She sagged against Natsu. "I guess I used up a lot more energy than I thought back there…" she mumbled.
"I was beyond impressed by your skill," Porlyusica said to her approvingly. "You fought very well. Without you, the battle would have been more difficult."
"Hmph," Miki growled, crossing her arms and turning her head away, unsettling the poor bird's rest on her head. Pii-chan chirped in protest at his master. Miki, too, was definitely worse for wear – her leopard-print clothing was ripped in places, and she was favoring her right arm and leg.
Gildarts and Porlyusica, despite their age, were only tired from the amount of magic they had released, and had received little to no wounds. Lucy was astounded by them – they were truly the greatest of S-Class mages. Would one of them claim leadership of Fairy Tail once they returned? She didn't know if Gildarts would be suited to the position, or if he would be trusted by everyone, but if Makarov was like him once upon a time, Gildarts could be, too. If not, Porlyusica would probably have popular vote.
Alzack grumbled. "When are we going to get back?"
"Stop whining," Cana groaned, rubbing her aching head. "You'll see Bisca again soon."
"Natsu," Lucy whispered into her friend's ear. "I never really got a chance to thank you for saving us."
"Don't worry about it," he said, giving her one of his biggest grins again. "I gotta do what I gotta do." She smiled, and brought her lips to his cheek. The fire mage reddened immensely, his whole body heating up almost to the point of being uncomfortable for Lucy. "What was that for?"
Lucy flushed. "I don't know." Natsu's body was pleasantly warm, protecting her from the suddenly chilly air. And then Lucy's eyes widened. Someone was casting magic…!
She pulled away from Natsu just as he was separating himself from her, the fire mage hurling fire and Lucy erecting a barrier above the two, using the last of her magic reserves to protect them both. Snow swirled around them, obstructing the view of everything outside of Lucy's protective globe.
"Wait! Stop!" someone shouted, just as she heard the telltale sounds of magic from Porlyusica, Gildarts, and bullets from Alzack. The snowstorm died down and Lucy fell to her knees in the snow, totally spent. Natsu stood protectively over her. Lucy looked up at the newcomers, surprised at who they saw.
The one to cast the snow magic was Eve Thylm, of the Blue Pegasus Guild's the Trimens team. At his side was Ren Akatsuki. Neither of the two wore their formal suits anymore, having long since switched to more casual – and practical – clothing for their fights. Eve was clothed in a white and blue jacket and blue pants, with the symbol for his guild along his sleeves. Ren wore a black vest and nondescript matching pants, with bracers on his wrists.
The one to shout out was Hibiki Laytis of the same team, running toward them all from behind his two teammates. He glared at Eve and Ren disapprovingly, but smiled at the Fairy Tail mages. Hibiki alone looked the same as the last time Lucy saw him, donning the same suit, since he wasn't much of a fighter. She smiled back, having a particular fondness for Hibiki and considering him a friend. That is, until he blew a flirting kiss at her.
"Lucy, you look lovely as always," Hibiki said to her, while Eve and Ren were still standing around them suspiciously. Lucy's own teammates did not lower their fighting stances.
Looking down at herself, Lucy severely doubted Hibiki was speaking the truth. She rolled her eyes. "Why did you guys attack us?"
"These two have been more paranoid than ever," Hibiki said to Lucy and Natsu. Natsu lowered his guard, giving them friendly smiles.
"You've got nothing to worry from us!" he shouted.
Eve smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. We thought you might have been Angel's clones."
Lucy gave him and Ren a blank look. "Angel has been dead for months…"
But they ignored her, having taken notice of Cana and Miki, respectively. Eve was laughed at and Ren was promptly socked across the face.
"You look like you all just came back from hell," Hibiki commented as they all started walking again.
"Are these friends of yours, Lucy?" Porlyusica asked, while Gildarts stared at the Trimens suspiciously.
"Yes," she affirmed. "They're members of Lamia Scale, one of our allies. We can trust them." She glanced at Hibiki as Natsu pulled Lucy's arm over his shoulders again. "Are you three on a mission?"
Ren nodded. "We're actually on our way to your guild."
"It's lucky we ran into you!" Eve said brightly. "We would never have found it."
Hibiki looked at Lucy gravely. "We have information to report to Erza and the Fairy Council," he said solemnly. Lucy blinked.
"I am on the Fairy Council now," Polyushko told him. "You can tell me."
"I'd rather let Erza know first," Hibiki said.
"Sounds important," Gildarts commented gruffly.
Miki snorted. "Who cares? Let's get back, I need to rest and beat someone up."
Lucy rolled her eyes at her comrade. "So contradictory…"
"What happened to you guys?" Hibiki asked again. "Must have been some tough mission to tire you out."
Natsu grinned. "They took down Hoteye!"
Hibiki's eyes widened. "Of Oración Seis? He's dead?"
"Yes," Cana said to him. "Though Midnight came and almost took us all down. He's tough, really tough."
Hibiki, Ren, and Eve all looked down at the ground. "Hoteye… He's finally dead," Hibiki said, almost in awe.
Lucy gasped, suddenly remembering the significance of that.
Hoteye was the one to kill Ichiya almost a year ago. The leader of the Trimens was avenged. She didn't question how the three mages felt now.
The walk back to the Fairy Tail guild headquarters was in complete silence.
Max Alors pushed his neatly-cut blonde hair to the back of his head, sighing fitfully when it fell back limply. He didn't want to be outside today. Lately, he didn't feel like doing much of anything, but it was his turn to do his part for the guild, so he was on patrol duty in the forest outside of Magnolia Town, watching for anyone (friend or enemy) who wandered too close to the Fairy Tail Guild.
His ever-present confident smirk was gone these days, instead replaced with the solemn mask nearly every member of Fairy Tail wore.
Max's quiet musings were interrupted by the sounds of hushed whispering below him. Far above in one of the many trees, he couldn't see nor hear them correctly, so his body simply fell apart into thousands of grains of sand, falling harmlessly to the ground. Part of his body reformed from the pile of sand at the base of the tree, peering out at the new arrivals. Most of them he recognized, but some he didn't. However, they didn't seem to be hostile.
"Hello," he said to them, his voice flat and his hands in his pockets. He strode out into the path. Lucy greeted him with a weary smile. Cana Alberona was suddenly in front of him, gripping the collar of his shirt, glaring at him hard.
"Go in the guild and get me some alcohol. Now."
Lucy wavered on her feet as she and her teammates stood in front of the Fairy Council with the three Trimens at her side, but Lucy wanted nothing more than to get some sleep. But Erza demanded that they report the results of the mission to her. Hopefully, the Trimens' news would be intriguing enough to keep her from falling to the floor…
"We haven't had contact with Blue Pegasus or Lamia Scale in a few weeks," Erza said with crossed arms. "What is happening?"
"All is fine with our guild," Hibiki told her. "But… We have some very unfortunate news."
"What is it? And don't beat around the bush," Laxus intoned, leaning back on his chair. Gajeel, near him, had his arms crossed, while Juvia looked forward in anticipation.
"Our spies within the Grimoire Heart guild revealed that Gérard has left them to pursue the power of Nirvana on his own," Ren told them dutifully.
"We think Zeref is controlling his actions," Eve said, putting in his opinion.
There were various reactions of surprise, but Erza's face was stone cold. "How reliable is this information?"
Hibiki nodded his head. "Those spies died getting it to us."
"You know what this means, right?" Natsu asked them all, punching his fist into his palm. "Gérard is separate from all of them… We can get Happy and take him down!"
"Just one problem with that, hot stuff," Gildarts told him gruffly, poking him in the head. With all the people in the Fairy Council room, it was getting very crowded. "Zeref is too strong."
"And Happy is still untrained as the Holy Dragon Slayer," Mirajane pointed out.
"Natsu is right," Erza said calmly, her eyes closed and her arms crossed. "Gérard needs to be taken down now." Lucy stared at her friend in sympathy. It was obvious and left unsaid: Erza would defeat Gérard herself.
"I'll come help you," Lucy said to her.
"No, it needs to be done immediately, and you're still too weak after your last battle," Erza said to her, not unkindly.
"Then I'll help you beat him!" Natsu shouted.
"I don't want the help of my teammates for this," Erza said, lowering her eyes. "It's something I need to do alone."
"Are you crazy?" Gajeel demanded roughly, approaching her. "There's no way you can beat that psycho by yourself. This isn't a solo mission – the Council has to decide that together, don't we? And I say no." Erza glared at him, daring the Metal mage to cross her further, but she backed down.
"Fine," she said, barely above a whisper. "Natsu, you're coming."
"I think you need more than that," Mirajane said, butting her way into the conversation. "Zeref is taking over Gérard's mind, isn't he?" At Erza's reluctant nod, she continued. "So we need to get Zeref out of there and free him. To do that, you'll need a Mind magic expert."
Erza's eyes widened, but she tore her gaze away from Mirajane. "Warren can't… He isn't strong enough to go up mentally against Zeref himself."
"Give him some credit. He's grown in the past two years, just like all of us," Mirajane argued, approaching Erza. She placed her hands on her shoulders reassuringly. "Bring a few others along, too. You can do it. I know you can."
Erza's eyes became filled with determination and gratitude for her friend. "Fill out a mission report. Objective: Restore Gérard. Team Leader: Erza Scarlet. Attack: Natsu Dragneel, Warren Rocko. Defense: Max Alors, and Support: Lucky Olietta. Dispatch immediately."
"You got it! Get going!" Mirajane said, giving her a cheery smile. Lucy and Erza exchanged nods – You'll be okay, Erza, Lucy thought.
"Give me a moment, I'll download his last known position into your mind," Hibiki said, and suddenly Erza was filled with the knowledge.
Gérard stumbled forward, grasping his head, trying to force back the painful intrusions of Zeref upon his mind. He was making slow progress, but he was far enough away from Grimoire Heart to be safe. Now he had to just deal with the enemy he brought along with him.
And then he would be free…
Their carriage sped through the wilderness, Erza at the front, holding onto the reins and propelling it with her magic. She had no care for anything that was in her path, singularly intent on intercepting Gérard before he unleashed the power of Nirvana on the world. Max, Lucky, and Warren all used their magic in frenzied attempts to clear the way the best that they could, but Natsu was slumped over at Erza's side, clearly sick.
Hibiki's magic revealed the path Gérard was taking, but Erza had plans to ride to Nirvana first and cut across his path. She knew its general location – those climactic events two years ago were hard to forget – she just had to get there faster. Was he using his Meteor magic? If so, would he have gotten it already? She couldn't take chances. She surged more of her magical energy into the carriage, willing it faster and faster. She would be weakened after this, she knew, but she just didn't care.
Zeref's influence was too strong… He couldn't… He couldn't resist. The monster didn't take total possession of him – not yet – but Gérard was urged on more quickly.
"Meteor!"
"Look into the endlessly expansive air-sea!" Lucky cried in her horrible speech mannerism. "Is that him?"
Erza diverted her piercing gaze from the road in front of her, seeing a figure streak across the sky, ready to pass them… a blue-haired figure using his Meteor magic. She grabbed Natsu by his scarf. "Natsu!" The boy was alarmed, but before he could do anything, Erza hurled him into the air with all her strength.
Natsu was disoriented for a moment as the wind whacked at his face, but he was no longer on that dreadful vehicle. Reaching the apex of his height, he smirked, and fire exploded from his feet, propelling him forward and right into the oncoming Gérard. He pulled back his fist.
The clash of Gérard's energy and Natsu's fiery punch created an explosion large enough to be felt by the other mages below. Natsu's body emerged from the smoke, his form launching into the ground and the forests surrounding Nirvana. Gérard, knocked back considerably from Natsu's attack, was angered and went on the offensive with feral enthusiasm.
"Help him, quickly!" Warren shouted. Max and Lucky leapt from the carriage, the former speeding along the ground in a burst of sand while Lucky rode through the trees, utilizing her wood magic.
Erza, despite the drain on her magical power, was fastest of them all. Her Heart Kreuz armor fell away, being quickly replaced by her Heaven's Wheel. Her wings unfurled, she joined the battle in the sky.
"Fire Dragonslayer!" Gérard called, his voice being echoed by Zeref's. "How foolish of you to confront me without the other dragons!"
"He doesn't need a dragon!" Erza roared, suddenly appearing and swinging her sword with all the fierceness of one. Zeref maneuvered Gérard's body around the blow, but was forced to quickly duck underneath another horizontal chop. From underneath, the Dark Dragon Slayer threw out his hand, unleashing an orb of darkness that clashed against Erza's heavenly armor. She sliced through the magic, and Natsu took her place.
"Fire Dragon's Guillotine Kick!" The light of the fire and tremendous power behind it rocketed Gérard right into the ground, where he was caught by the thick branches of a tree. Lucky was there.
"Wood Magic: Constrict!" The branches of the tree all converged on him, but his dark magic exploded outward, incinerating the tree. "Wood Magic: Bark Enclosure!" Lucky cried, in an attempt to shield herself from Gérard's wrath.
"Sand Wave!" A torrent of sand smashed into Gérard, throwing him against the ground as Max rode by as if on water. As Zeref's black flames were about to attack him, Warren appeared with his hand held out, throwing Gérard against another tree with his telekinesis.
Natsu and Erza landed on the ground. "Have you got him?" Erza asked, her swords pointed at the possessed mage. Gérard writhed against the tree, held back by Warren's mental strength. The mind mage was sweating, using all of his power to hold him there.
"Zeref's influence is so strong… If you're going to do this, do it now!" Warren urged. Lucky plunged her hand into the tree, causing pieces of wood to bind Gérard's limbs in place while Warren prepared another spell.
"I'm ready!" Erza announced. Gérard shouted as he shook with the force of trying to unleash his own magic. "Do it!"
As Warren released his hold, Natsu and Max rushed the former Wizard Saint. Warren stood between Erza and Gérard, holding his hands out to both of them.
"Mind Link!"
Erza fell to the ground, and Gérard became limp.
Author's Notes: A little short, I know, but I just needed to finish this chapter. It's been bothering me for months. I know by now that this has totally deviated from the manga, so you can now consider this AU. If there are any readers left, please review!!