Shout out: Hey all check out all of Crimsonwolfko stories! Why? Cause I told ya too! She is also working on one I helped her with called Last Goodbye- SO I know it's good!
Now ya see I didn't take long this time… Right? Eh eh? Ha yea… I think I'm just trying to get through these parts now so hopefully they don't feel rushed, but hey if they do please let me know. I'll go back and make changes, quality is important to me!
On a side note I've already written some for another story I'm writing with my pal Crimsonwolfko under an account called FairytailSyndrome, first chap shall be posted soon. Please keep it in mind.. And ALSO I'll be writing another GaLe one shot, I've started that one too, but not sure when I'll get it done seeing as Iron Gray has priority and I want to at least get the first chapter of the other story posted with my friend!
Notes to my reviewers below!
****A lot of edits were made to this chapter on 6/21/14****
Recap:
Don't worry Master, I won't let Laxus harm the girls." Her head went up towards the doorway with a firm look. "Or anybody else…" She added. Makarav regarded her with a firm look; he knew he could trust his Fairy Queen. She had never let him down, and he had complete faith in her. He just nodded his head as Happy's paws flew in the air.
"Yea! That's Erza for you!" The blue cat was shouting proudly. Natsu was laughing and smiling.
"Give him a punch for me Erza!" Natsu stated, Erza just turned to him with a small smile and nodded. Gajeel just stood there quiet watching the odd exchange between all of them not really feeling like he belonged in it. With that Erza's hand came out to her sides and then without another word she took off as a full out sprint.
"Ya think she'll win gramps?" Gajeel heard Natsu's voice question as he watched Erza's form get smaller and smaller as she took off down the street. There was a brief moment of silence.
"I have faith in her." The old man answered.
Iron Gray Chapter 37 The Thunder Palace
Thirty minutes had gone by since Erza had taken off out the guild doors to go find Laxus. The three men and blue cat were forced to just sit and wait in silence as the minutes ticked by and none of them were happy about it. The only sound in the whole Fairy tail guildhall was Natsu's grumbling as he stomped around out of impatience. Gajeel had found another pillar to lean against as his crimson eyes resorted to just following the Salamander's pacing form all around the room. Makarov was sitting down Indian style not to far away from the invisible wall, his hands were resting on his knees and his head was slumped down as he waited. It was clear he was sitting this way in an attempt to remain calm and patient, but his face looked weary and weighed down. Happy was hovering above them all, his large concerned eyes occasionally glancing in the direction of the six white statues still sitting on the stage as time was slowly running out. The tension in the room was inescapable as the minutes continued to creep by at snails pace, almost as if to just prolong all of their anxieties.
Gajeel was scowling as his red eyes continued to follow Salamander's movements and he couldn't fight the irritation building within him. He was annoyed that he was stuck there with nothing to do, but wait for time to run out. That and the fact that he was forced to watch Salamander drive a hole into the floor with his constant back and forth as he continued to mutter angrily. Gajeel closed his eyes and began grinding his teeth for a moment before finally losing his own patience with the other impatient dragon slayer.
"Oi! Will you knock it off!" Gajeel suddenly shouted in the direction of the Salamander. Natsu stopped in his tracks with his back turned and his head snapped back as he glared at Gajeel from over his shoulder.
"You talkin' to me?!" Gajeel just raised a studded brow.
"Yea who else is here? Moron… Can't ya see what yer doin' isn't gonna make anything happen any sooner?! Ya might as well just sit down and shut up." Gajeel replied his eyes shifting off of Natsu and back towards where the girls were, finally settling on Levy. Natsu's brow lowered and he raised his fist angrily at the iron dragon slayer as his body turned all the way around to face him.
"Like I'm gonna listen to you! You don't care what happens to the girls!"
"The hell I don't!" Gajeel's voice suddenly thundered back as red angry eyes landed back on the Salamander with a fierce glare. Natsu dropped his fist immediately at Gajeel's words, his whole expression looking bewildered.
"Say what?" the flame dragon slayer questioned. Gajeel's eyes went wide as he realized what he had just said. Unbeknownst to Gajeel, Makarov was watching him with one eye cracked open listening intently. Happy was also watching him with wide eyes, but he stayed quiet as the dragon slayers talked. Gajeel glanced away again as he tried to regain his composure and make himself appear calm, as if he hadn't just regrettably blurted out how he really felt.
"Ya think I want that guy to get away with what he's done?" He questioned his eyes closing after the words left his mouth. "Hell no, I got my own score to settle with him." Natsu raised an eyebrow as he regarded the iron dragon slayer. Makarov closed his eye again, but couldn't resist the tiny knowing smile on his lips. Natsu stood up tall and folded his arms as he watched Gajeel. Gajeel opened his eyes when he could feel the weight of Natsu's stare. "Why the hell you starin' at me Salamander?!"
Natsu just tilted his head to the side and opened his mouth to say something, but his voice was suddenly drowned out by a large cracking sound. Both Gajeel and Natsu's heads snapped up in confusion of the odd noise. Makarov jumped to his feet and Happy flew down to see what was happening. There was another noise like heavy dust hitting wood coming from the stage.
Natsu, Gajeel, Happy and Makarov all turned around just in time to see a now animated Lucy, her body no longer coated in white stone. There was no time to speak as the statue beside her also shattered into dust revealing a now free Mirajane. Within seconds Cana was also freed and the spell continued to shatter down the line of girls.
Gajeel's eyes were glued to Levy just as the stone coating over her cracked and shattered into mere dust. She stood there with her hands open as she had, had them in her petrified state and her wide doe eyes looked lost in confusion. Gajeel could feel a warm feeling wash over him as he watched her, his eyes taking in the fare color of her skin now that it was no longer covered in stone. He could feel the relief within him; somehow she was out of danger. He didn't know how nor did he even care. Now he just needed to keep it that way, that part couldn't be hard right?
All six girls were blinking and glancing around at themselves and their surroundings as if in a haze as they still stood at their places on stage; they were still trying to make sense of what had just happen to them. It felt odd having to adjust to just being able to move again now that they were no longer stone. Juvia was the first to speak before any of the other girls could find their voice.
"My, what happen to us…?" the water mage spoke as she glanced at her hands. Levy lowered hers slowly as she glanced around straining to think.
"I can't… remember…." She answered quietly. The men came running up to them once they got over their own shock of the spell being broken. Their eyes were wide with amazement as they all began to wonder how it had happened. Had Erza done it? Had she beaten Laxus? There hadn't been any updates on the wall so none of them were sure what was going on. Gajeel stood at the end of the stage now looking up at the girls with fist clenched at his sides and just the slightest hint of smile as the one side of lips were slightly angled up. Natsu was wearing his largest most heart-warming and laughing.
"HA!" Makarov cried out happily as if he had just landed a winning move.
"They're all back to normal!" Natsu announced both excited and relieved as his eyes landed on the blond celestial mage. Lucy was looking down at her hands, her face completely lost and blank when suddenly a blue cat started sobbing her name pulling her attention back up.
"Luuuucccyyyyy!" He wailed.
"Uhhh?! Happy?!" Lucy choked out confused as the blue cat flew head first with teary eyes right into her chest. He was clearly pleased and relieved to have her back despite how he often teased her. All Lucy could seem to do was look down at him confused as she was still trying to wrap her head around everything. That was when the sound of the runes changing could be heard from the invisible wall. The men in the room turned around and glanced up to see what it said as the girls continued to adjust from being suddenly freed from their petrified state.
"Erza versus Evergeen." Makarov began reading out loud so all of them could hear. "The winner is… Erza!" He finished sounding both ecstatic and satisfied. He turned back towards the group of wizards with a very proud smile.
"Well Laxus… you're all out of hostages boy!" Makarov clenched a fist proudly to show his victory. "Can't continue with your game now, can you!?" He hollered loud enough for the lightning wizard to hear in case he was still listening. Gajeel was still holding the tiny smile as his thoughts drifted to Erza, maybe she really is just as good as everyone says after all… His smile widened.
Now that the girls were free the ones that were wearing swimsuits went backstage to change. Levy was not one of these few so she just settled for glancing around the room. She couldn't help, but notice that the whole guild was empty now unlike before with the exception of the Master, Happy and Natsu. Well them and Gajeel, who she at first tried to act like she didn't see as she noticed his eye on her again like it had been earlier that day before the contest.
She stood by Lucy as she waited her hands grabbing at each of her elbows as she tried not to look up at him. Finally she couldn't seem to help stealing an uneasy glance with her large downcast eyes. There he was staring at her and the two of them locked eyes for a moment. He didn't move or seem alarmed as she did, but instead he just calmly blinked and then moved his head to the side, thus finally tearing his gaze off of her.
Levy could feel a slight warmth gathering in her cheeks. Her eyes went downcast once again and for some reason she felt embarrassed, because she was finally remembering now… Remembering that it was Evergreen she had seen, she had been the one who had turned her and the other girls into stone and it made her feel stupid. Stupid in front of Gajeel no less, for whatever reason she couldn't figure out. She had fallen for their trap and for some reason she felt like maybe he was thinking poorly of her, because of it. She didn't want him to think her weak or helpless, but the more she thought about it, the sillier she felt.
She looked around at Lucy who stood beside her and then Mirajane and Bisca who had finished changing. Cana had also come out and had already found herself a flask and had taken a seat on the edge of the stage. All of them had also fallen victim to the same trap she had… Then her eye noticed Juvia who was making her way towards Gajeel. He was still standing there with his head turned away dawning the same familiar scowl Levy was now already used to seeingasthe water mage approached him back in her normal clothing. Levy watched as Juvia spoke to him, promptly asking him if he was okay. He of course just grunted in response basically ignoring her. Maybe… maybe I'm over thinking this… Levy couldn't help, but think as she watched the two former Phantom members. I doubt Gajeel thinks of me as it is… let alone cares that I was tricked… She thought, it didn't really seem like he cared about anything most of the time. Wait… why do I care? Levy thought as her eyes went down and she shook her head at her own frustrations.
"I'm glad to see you all are back to normal. Do any of you girls understand the situation were in?" Makarov's voice broke Levy out of her muddled thoughts.
"Well kinda…" Lucy started saying. "Everything is a bit hazy…"
"Well I don't, what the hell is going on?" Cana threw in, her tone coming out as annoyed. "All I know is I heard Laxus's voice." She added after taking a swig from her flask and thudding it down on the stage floor. All eyes went to the master now as his face became grave and stern.
"It is all his doing… him and the Thunder Legion as you girls know. He was using you all as hostages in the battle of Fairy Tail. The rules were to find him and the members of the Thunder Legion all hiding somewhere in Magnolia. Then defeat them all in order for you to be set free, but there was another catch…" All the girls glanced around uneasily before looking back at the Master. "The members of our guild had to fight each other in order to do it." The girls gasped. "Freed set up enchantments all over town that forced our members to fight each other… The idea was to have only one winner to fight Laxus, but really I think he was just using it all as a way to get me to hand the guild over to him. " Makarov explained as some of the girls gasped again well others just looked angry. Levy stayed quiet and instead just looked forlorn about the news. None of them could seem to believe that this had happened, that Laxus had really gone this far.
Gajeel stood there scowling as Makarov recapped everything Laxus had just done. He could feel his anger stirring within him once again as he clenched his jaw. His eyes shifted back towards Levy who was watching the Master with a look of sadness, she looked almost as if she was ashamed. He didn't really get why… She seem to always look that way… He didn't bother to try and read into it this time. No, instead he mostly just looked at her to remind himself that she was okay and that that fact meant he needed to calm down now.
"And he called it the Battle of Fairytail?" Lucy questioned.
"Laxus out did himself this time…" Cana retorted in a grim tone.
"At any rate, it's over now. I played along with his foolish game, because your lives were in danger, but I won't indulge him anymore." The Master responded in a commanding voice. I can't believe this… and what's worst was he used us to do it… Levy was thinking still feeling responsible. I hope Jet and Droy are okay…
"Master… We can't let him get away with hurting our friends…" Mira spoke sadly pulling Levy out of her thoughts. Mira was watching the Master with a concerned and sad face; Levy could tell she was worried about Elfman. She understood, because she felt the same about Jet and Droy. Bisca who stood beside the barmaid looked furious as her mind drifted to Alzack. She unfolded her arms and made a fist, her face showing her determination.
"Yea! She's right! If we don't teach Laxus a lesson, than he'll never learn!" The green haired woman cried out outraged. Levy just watched her with wide eyes; she could feel doubt forming inside of her. This doesn't feel right though… She thought, there it was again. Her forgiving nature getting in the way, she didn't want to be angry, but she was… She just didn't know what to do about it.
"Ohhh don't worry." The Master suddenly chimed in. "I'm gonna give that boy a punishment he will never forget. He should know better!" The Master added as his anger spiked. "You can mess with me, but you can't mess with my guild!" That was when Natsu suddenly held out a hand to stop Makarov, making all of them turn to look at him. Was it possible Natsu maybe felt the same as her? Levy could only wonder as she waited for him to speak.
"Hey now, hold on a sec!"
"Huh?" Makarov questioned.
"I don't know about taking hostages, but I don't see any harm in finding out who is the strongest." Natsu said as he folded his arms. Maybe not… Levy's thoughts chimed in as she smiled weakly. "I think we should keep the battle going." Natsu continued. All the girls looked at Natsu as if he had gone nuts. Cana and Bisca had their eyebrows raised, Lucy looked annoyed and Mira and Levy just looked taken aback. Gajeel let out a groan with a huff, as Juvia just blinked at the other dragon slayer out of confusion. Lucy was moaning as some of the others started questioning him, but it didn't stop Natsu from announcing what he thought. "In the end I bet he was just trying to have a little fun for the festival! Give him a break!" Natsu threw in with his wide heart warming smile again.
Makarov just watched Natsu with a worried expression. The old man couldn't seem to fathom how the dragon slayer didn't take any of Laxus's threats seriously. Natsu began to laugh as he crashed a fist into his one hand as if excited by the prospect of getting to fight. "So in other words!" Now his fist went into the air as if he were cheering. "We got enough people here! Lets start brawlin'!" He cried out his fist waving in the air. "C'mon! Round two! Right now!"
"What!?" Some of the girls were shouting in response. Gajeel just shook his head without a word as Juvia smiled amused.
"Don't' even think about it, you fool!" Makarov was shouting back as Natsu came jumping up to Lucy a bundle of energy. He started punching at the air in front of the exasperated blond who just looked completely burnt out by Natsu's attitude.
"Aww! C'mon! I gotta do something with all this pent up energy I've got!" Lucy just sighed as Natsu continued to punch at the air in front of her.
"Give it a rest… You're always looking for a new excuse to pick a fight." She said to the wired dragon slayer. Cana was smiling slyly as she watched Natsu punch at Lucy; she had jumped down from the stage and was now standing.
"If you need to blow off steam that bad, I'm always ready to rumble." She stated. Bisca who had folded her arms just glanced at Cana as she spoke,
"Don't encourage her girl…"
"I don't think it's nice to beat up on girls, especially when they're your friends." Happy spoke up from behind Natsu with a paw up. He was so relieved that Lucy and the other girls were okay that he didn't want to see anymore fighting, but Natsu didn't seem to care. He just stopped his air punching and shrugged his shoulders with an unimpressed face.
"A girl, a guy, a friend, an enemy, who cares." Happy's fur stood up at Natsu's response, his face becoming angry.
"Hey! You keep this up and I'm gonna fight ya!" The cat charged back, but Natsu's excitement had him ignoring Happy as he started coming at Lucy again.
"C'mon Lucy!" He was yelling, as the blonde's eyes got wide. She started jogging away from him with hands up. Bisca, Mira, Cana and Levy just stood there smiling deeply amused by the pair, as they suddenly became the spectacle. "Let's see what you're made of! HA HA HA!" Natsu was cackling as he chased her arms in the air as if he were some kind of monster, all the meanwhile Lucy was just wailing back in a whining voice,
"Not-uh! No way! Wahhhh!" Levy couldn't resist giggling at the pair as she watched her best friend run past with Natsu tailing closely behind. They really knew how to lighten the mood, even in dark times.
Off to the side stood Gajeel and Juvia both of them had been watching the pair for a few minutes neither of them speaking a word throughout the Master's whole explanation. Gajeel's eyes had landed back on Levy as she laughed and smiled at the Salamander and the blond. She was unaware of it now and he seem to prefer that, his brow was low as he continued to look at her. She was safe for now… without his help… all of them were, but he hadn't expected anything like this to happen. Their enemy was a member of the guild itself, how was he going to be able to stop someone like Laxus should he ever pull anything like this again? Deep down he had this nagging feeling about the lightning wizard. He wasn't done yet… Maybe they had won for today, but Laxus would surely make trouble again considering he hadn't got what he wanted from the master.
Juvia had glanced over at Gajeel unbeknownst to him, her serene blue eyes noticing how deep in thought he was. She couldn't tell who or what exactly he was looking at, but she could definitely read that something was weighing on him heavily even though the Master said that the battle was over.
"Why, such a serious expression?" She asked, wondering why Gajeel hadn't eased any like the rest of them.
"It's nothing." He answered, his expression unchanging. The water mage let her gaze fall downwards as a small smile graced her lips.
"This guild is rather fun, isn't it?" She questioned her voice sounding happy and somewhat amused by Lucy and Natsu's antics. At this Gajeel looked away with one studded brow raised.
"It ain't boring at least." He stated in response. Just as the words left his mouth there was a sudden red glow, everyone glanced up at the doorway of the guild. It was now covered in bright red runes from top to bottom and they were making an odd sound too as they suddenly started floating off the door.
"What's going on!?" Mirajane questioned.
"That's weird!" Natsu stated as the runes seemed to be forming into the shape of something. Levy watched with wide eyes, quickly recognizing the runes as Freed's magic, she could tell that they were message runes.
"Don't tell me he's up to something else." Came Cana's voice.
"You're gonna have to fight us now!" Bisca cried out fiercely as the runes continued to spin and float into a giant red skull that took up the whole center of the guildhall. All of them stared at it the impressive display in amazement, but also in the ready stance in case it was some kind of trick or trap. That was when a loud voice came projecting out from the open mouth of the runic skull.
"Can ya hear me old man?" It was clearly Laxus's voice being broadcasted. Makarov's mouth fell open at this. "The rest of you better listen up too."
"What do you want!" Natsu hollered back still in a ready stance incase somehow Laxus was going to now show up.
"Looks like one of the rules has gone out the window. That's fine." Laxus's voice added calmly before continuing. Gajeel was biting down now as he also got in a ready stance all while glaring fiercely at the runes. "All just add a new one. In other words since I would hate to end the Battle of Fairy tail early, I've decided to activate the Thunder Palace." The loud voice stated darkly. At this news Makarov's eyes went wide out of fear and outrage. I fuckin knew this wasn't over… Thunder Palace… what the hell could that mean….? Gajeel's thoughts questioned as he glanced over to the Master beside him as he could see the old man's movement from the corner of his eye.
"Are you out of your mind Laxus!" The old man was yelling as his body had started trembling out of either fear or anger, Gajeel couldn't tell. Either way Gajeel's eyes went wide at his reaction, because he knew it couldn't be good.
"You have one hour and ten minutes. If you think you can win you better get moving. Unless you're ready to hand over the guild to me, Master!" Laxus was snickering and cackling evilly as the runes started floating away dissolving the runic skull into nothing.
What could this mean…? Levy was questioning. All of the wizards who were standing there looked puzzled, all of them wondering the same thing as they watched the runes disappear, all except for the Master.
Master Makarov instead lost his mind with fury at Laxus's news. His fist clenched into tight balls and then without warning he started summoning his magic power. Everyone's eyes were on the small man now as his rage spiked and then took over his body making him start to appear less human and more like a monster. His giant magic was unleashing at full force and there wasn't anything quite like it. There were cracks and flashes as the old man's eyes went white and a large vein popped out of his forehead.
"THIS GAME HAS GONE ON FOR LONG ENOUGH BOY!" He was shouting at top range up to the ceiling as everyone stood taken a back by his sudden outcry. Gajeel could feel the fear he had choked back for the old man seeping back into his gut as he remembered Fairy Law once again. This man was very powerful and capable of things he had never even dreamed of, it was so hard to remember that most of the time when being around him. And yet that was how the old man had earned Gajeel's respect, because Gajeel knew it to be so. That and the fact that he was humble about it, he was a man of moral… So seeing him like this… so out of control was just… Scary…
Makarov's monstrous yelling continued as his magic continued to flourish,
"I WON'T LET YOU DRAG INNOCENT PEOPLE INTO THIS!"
But as soon as Makarov got the words out something suddenly happen. The old man felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder and arm. He stopped shouting and suddenly clutched at his shoulder as if his dear life depended on it, letting out a groan. The magic around him disappeared just as quickly as it had formed; his body was shrinking back to its normal form. His fingers began to dig into the sleeve of his shirt and he was gritting his teeth as he cringed from the pain that ripped through his chest and arm. Everyone was standing there in complete shock from second to second… something was wrong now. What had happened to him?
"Master, nooo!" Cana shouted out as everyone's eyes went wide in panic.
"Is he hurt?!" Natsu questioned fearfully. Gajeel and Juvia both just stood there watching unsure of what to do. Gajeel felt frozen in place, one moment he had been standing there practically shaking in his boots at the old man's power and the next he was watching the old man whom he both feared and respected slowly collapse to a knee.
"What's going on?!" Lucy questioned in shock and confusion. Her question was answered as the old man finally completely toppled over; his small lie their sprawled out on the floor. Bisca was the first to react as she started running towards him. Gajeel stood there still completely useless beside Juvia in his breathless shock, he couldn't' even think as everyone else around him started scrambling. His wide eyes automatically shifted up to where Levy stood. Her hands were clasped together over her heart tensely, her eyes glossy like she might cry and her body quivering slightly out of worry.
"Oh no! I'll go get his medicine!" Mirajane cried out as she started running towards the stairs that led to Makarov's office. Bisca was kneeling down her hand slowly resting on the old man's back.
"Master! Can you hear us!" Bisca was questioning him.
"Hang in there Master, it will be okay!" Levy cried out fearfully as she stepped up and the old man moaned. Her heart was beating fast out of fear that she was telling him a lie. She suddenly glanced up just as the words left her mouth and she saw Gajeel's wide red eyes. He looked like maybe he was… scared…? She was having a hard time believing what she was seeing. That was when he glanced up at her suddenly and they locked eyes once again for a brief moment as the chaos continued around them. As Levy looked at him she got the feeling that he was asking her a question with that look. She held the stare for a moment her thoughts suddenly saying as if he could hear… This is bad Gajeel… Then both of them at the same time glanced back down at the old man on the ground before them. Natsu was also hovering over the old man his eyes wide and angry.
"What's he mean by thunder palace?!" Natsu questioned with urgency. Makarov was still clenching at his chest tightly, his eyes were closed and his face cringing, a cold sweat was appearing on his brow. Gajeel couldn't help, but notice how frail the old man suddenly looked. It felt very odd to see him that way after having feared him so much. He could feel a great uneasiness deep within… things were going to get worst now just as he feared… Levy seemed to realize it too. Now that the old man was out of commission Laxus was probably going to strike harder… he just knew it. His red eyes glanced over to Natsu who was watching the old man with his mouth open and eyes worried and Gajeel could only wonder if Salamander could sense it as well.
"C'mon gramps…" The Salamander spoke under his breath, his body tense. He knows, Gajeel's thoughts chimed in, as Natsu's words and body seem to confirm all of the iron dragon slayer's suspicions. He knew that was why Natsu was begging the old man for answers despite his condition… they needed to know what they were dealing with. Now more than ever too if the old man couldn't help them fight. Just then Mirajane came running down the steps from Makarov's office holding the Master's medicine.
"Hey, look outside you guys!" The flaxen haired barmaid cried out as she pointed towards one of the balcony doors.
"What is it Mira?!" Natsu questioned as she ran towards them kneeling beside Bisca to treat the ailing Master.
"I'm not sure, please go look and I'll take care of the Master!" She answered hastily making Bisca get back to her feet.
"Are you sure you got this alone, Mira?" The green haired woman questioned. Mira just nodded with a determined face, before smiling back up at her weakly.
"Don't worry I can handle this…" She said before looking back down, her smile disappearing. Bisca and Levy were still standing there for a moment as everyone else started running up the stairs to the balcony.
"Let's go Levy." Bisca said, Levy just nodded in response, she had managed to calm herself some as more urgent matters needed to be dealt with. The two girls left Mira to tend to the Master as they ran up the stairs and out the door to the balcony.
Now there were seven wizards and a blue cat standing on the balcony of the Fairy Tail guildhall with their heads looking up high into the cerulean sky above, but it wasn't the fluffy white clouds they were focused on. Gajeel's eyes went wide as he glanced up at the odd sight before him. He didn't know what exactly he was looking at. In fact none of them were expecting to see what they did. There in the air were tons of yellow floating spheres with what looked like a lightning bolt symbol on them. The even stranger part was that they were all surrounding Magnolia in a large circle. They weren't very big from the looks of it, but the most alarming thing was the sheer quantity of them. There had to of been hundreds of them just floating there suspiciously. Natsu was the first to question what everyone was thinking.
"What in the heck are those?!" Levy brought a hand up to her forehead to shield out the sun so she could get a better look. She knew exactly what they were, but it didn't stop her from being shocked to see them.
"They look like lightning lacrima to me." She answered. Gajeel glanced over to Levy for a moment then back up to the objects in the sky. Lacrima's… What the hell is he up to now? He glared at the floating objects spitefully, that bad feeling inside was only growing.
"That means Laxus did this." Cana added.
"They're floating all over the town…" Lucy said, her voice drenched in worry.
"They may not look that dangerous, but they're overflowing with lightning magic. This could get ugly, lets just hope he doesn't set them off." Cana explained gravely.
"Could this be the thunder palace he was referring too?" Juvia questioned.
"Yes… and its surrounding Magnolia." Natsu and Lucy turned to face Cana, with concerned expressions. Lucy pointed to the glowing lacrima's in the sky and finally asked the question everyone had been too afraid to ask.
"If those things are full of lightning, what will happen if he activates them?!" She looked at Cana fearfully almost as if she didn't want to know the answer; everyone was withholding a breath as they waited for Cana's answer. Cana's dark eyes shifted off of Lucy and she paused for a second. She looked back up to the sky her eyebrows lowering before she spoke,
"Everything within it will be burnt to a crisp..." She stated her voice heavy as they all began to picture the devastation those lacrima's would unleash on Magnolia. Large bolts of lightning raining down in a large glow of magical energy, blasting the town into oblivion. Everyone's mouths were hanging open and they all began sweating as they imagined it. Gajeel was closing his hands into tight fist as his eyes went wide; he started remembering the way Laxus's lightning had felt when it hit him… How painful it had been… Those people wouldn't be able to survive that as he had… Not only that, but he imagined the blast being much more severe… This guy is a maniac! He looked to Natsu, how could Salamander possibly of trusted him at all!? He's going to kill innocent people with this!
All Levy could think about was the nightmare she had, had the day before when she fell asleep in the library. The one where a large lightning storm had taken over the sky and started burning everything around her, chasing her until she couldn't run anymore... Her heart started pounding in her chest as the imagery returned to her mind. No way… Laxus… how could you? Then that was when Bisca finally spoke up making shaking Levy out of her thoughts.
"I won't let that happen!" She cried out bravely. "Requip sniper rifle!" She shouted. There was a bright red flash from a magic circle as a large sniper suddenly appeared into the gunner's hands. Everyone watched as she pointed it to the sky and then kneeled down letting the guns barrel rest over the top of the balcony to keep it steady as she aimed. The lacrima came into the sights of her scope and a green magic circle began to glow at the end of her gun. "Target locked on!" She shouted, there was a brief pause. "Stinger shot!" She shouted and then there was loud crack. A shot came blasting out of the gun in the form of a small globe of green magical energy. It charged through the air hitting one of yellow lacrima's in the sky in the dead center of the sphere. Everyone paused to watch, as there was a small delay in the reaction at first. Then almost as if the lacrima imploded, green energy came bursting out in a bright flash and then it just blew up into tiny pieces, leaving nothing, but a small puff of smoke where it had been.
"Nice shot!" Lucy cheered as everyone started smiling. Levy suddenly felt hopeful again as she continued to watch the small drifting puff of smoke in the sky.
"Awesome!" Natsu added proudly.
"Lucky we got a sniper!" Cana said as she shielded her eyes.
"Now all I gotta do is take out the res- AHH!" Bisca started saying, but she was cut off as yellow jagged streaks of lightning began to surround her body. Then before anybody could react the poor girl was being consumed with a blinding blast of lightning energy. All she could do was scream as the lightning consumed and raged through every part of her body. All the other mages were helpless to stop it as they all just watched with wide eyes.
"BISCA!" Natsu was shouting, Gajeel just watched with wide eyes. The hit this poor girl was enduring looked worst than what he had felt a few days before.
"What happened!?" Happy yelled mortified.
"Bisca!?" Levy was crying out in horror, she felt like she was reliving what she had seen with Gajeel as she started to smell that same unforgettable burning scent. The poor woman's screams just got more agonizing as the lightning continued it's assault on her and than finally after what felt like an eternity it released her and disappeared, leaving a now out cold Bisca to fall limply to the floor. Levy was the first one to fall to the green haired woman's side, as unshed tears pooled in her eyes. Everyone else was just standing there in complete shock out of what they had just witnessed.
"Why did she get zapped by that thing!?" Natsu questioned as he watched Levy slowly turn Bisca over. Her body was covered in burns and there was still smoke coming off of her. Levy slowly and carefully brought her shoulders up as everyone watched and she began to gently tap at her face in dire need to make sure she was alive.
"C'mon Bisca?! Wake up!" Levy cried out managing to keep her tears at bay.
"I don't get it…! How did that happen?!" Lucy asked her voice also sounding shaky as if she might cry. Cana glanced back up at the lightning lacrima's in the sky with a lowered brow, fighting to stay level headed after just witnessing what had happened to her friend.
"It must be body link magic!" The dark haired woman spoke.
"Huh?! What's that?!" Lucy asked.
"It's a type of spell that's been casted on the lacrima. If you destroy one of them than the magic energy used in your attack will be reflected back at you…" Cana explained as Levy's eyes just searched over Bisca and her wounds. Her body was shaking, as she tried to remain clam. Oh please Bisca… be okay… "So in other words…" Cana was speaking once again. "If we try to get rid of them we'll be risking out lives in the process…" She finished her voice going low. Levy couldn't take it anymore; she glanced up at Cana fearfully as she continued to cradle their fallen comrade.
"What should we do?! Those things could wipe out the whole town!" She questioned her voice consumed in panic.
"We gotta take down Laxus! FAST!" Cana answered, as she stood ready to run off and take action. Lucy was clenching her fist down at her sides her eyes looking determined.
"Okay! In the mean time I'll help the citizens evacuate!" The blond announced as she started running off wasting no time. Happy's wings suddenly appeared as he quickly was on her tail.
"I'm coming with you!" He shouted seriously as Cana watched them go she yelled back,
"Bixlow and Freed are still out there! Be careful you two!" She turned to look at Natsu with one last determined look before turning around and running off herself. Juvia followed just behind Cana leaving Levy, the unconscious Bisca and the two dragon slayers behind. Both Natsu and Gajeel just turned and glared at the lacrima's in the sky with gritted teeth both of them furious that they were useless all, because they were still stuck. Stuck and forced to watch as Laxus reaped havoc on their guild and threatened the lives of the whole town.
So what ya all think? Did it feel rushed, was it boring? Did you enjoy it, please be honest, but constructive. Let me know through review please! I hope it was entertaining still even though it all just rehashing stuff. The next chapter will have some GaLe as Levy needs to free the Natsu and Gajeel from the runes- as I assume ya all know!
Thank you all so much for reading, favoring, following and reviewing this fic! For sticking with me! It implores me to write!
To/For Reviewers:
ValinNight:.I'm glad you found the chapter funny! As for the other story I'm not quite sure if NaLu will be at all implied in it or not seeing as I'm writing it with someone else. It will kind of be following the original story in a way, but it's an AU so take that for what it's worth. The friend I'm writing it with tends to prefer LuLo though so I feel like it might go more that way… I dunno if it's your taste, don't feel the need to read if you think you won't like it. I can't rule anything out at this stage seeing as we just started it and I'm not writing it alone- So I guess the short answer is I don't know yet, probably not. As I've said I don't really have a preference though when it comes to who Natsu and Lucy end up with I usually just concern myself with Gajeel and Levy I guess and you can expect another story about them from me if you prefer that.
Samantha: Ha I'm so happy you made an account! Anyways can't wait till I can get the one shot up, because I was gonna call it Monster, before ya even sent me that song. I hope you will read that too once I do post it! Thank you for your continued reading and reviews!
8 O'clock: Thank you so much! And I shall keep writing seeing as I enjoy it so much! Thank you for reading my fic and giving me a review, I hope to not disappoint you!
AndreaRei: I'm so happy you are! And here it is, no long wait this time! To bad it isn't always like that eh? Well anyways thank your reading and still reviwing!