A/N: A new chapter commeth!
Well, I have got to say, today's episode of the Walking Dead was really good. They took the comic route and nailed everything perfectly, but I have to say I am sad at how everything happened. I can't wait to see Season 8 this October, the fucking war is going to be intense!
Now, coming back to Fairy Tail, this is going to be chapter 48 of the story. This chapter is going to being the war of Fairy Tail vs Grimoire Heart. There's going to be some interesting exposition along with a few other thing, including a fight at the end, so I hope you like it and let me know how I did.
I just finished Chapter 50 and will be starting 51 soon, and I've got to say...Holy shit, what a ride this arc has been. I'm loving it so much more than Edolas, and you know how much I detest that arc. I truly don't hate it, but writing for it was a pain in my ass, something I should have avoided, but I shall stop complaining about arcs past. It's going to be an emotional fight, and don't worry, I shall provide some tracks for said fight. It shall hopefully make the experiance of the battles a bit better, after all what's a fight without some tunes to listen too?
Anyway, I'll leave you with this chapter...hope you all like it..
Song of the Day: Can You Feel My Heart by Bring Me The Horizon.
This is such a great song. I've always loved singing to BMTH and this is my top favorite song from the Sempiternal album. I hope you guys like it too, I guess it sets the mood for Fairy Tail, since it's a guild all about having heart.
Tenrou Arc
Chapter 48
Phase Two: Enter Grimoire Heart
His legs burned and ached, pleading for him to stop. But he wasn't going too. He didn't know how long he had been running for, an hour at most? With a few breaks in between, but he had spent most of the time trying to get away. The wildlife on the island was relentless, no matter how fast he ran, how far he ran, the large Pig like creature wouldn't stop following him. He grit his teeth, glancing over his shoulder. He let out a yelp, almost tripping on a root. He quickened his pace, avoiding all of the big rocks in his path.
It had started rather easily. He and his girlfriend were looking for Mavis's grave, as per his exam. He had found a good sized tree and decided to use his fire to carve their names into the bark, like those cheesy romance flicks. But what he didn't know was that the tree he had chosen was actually a large Pig mole, and now it had been chasing him in retaliation.
Wendy had been run off the path a long time ago and he hadn't been able to go back for her, so he only hoped she was alright. He took a deep breath, making a mental choice. He would have to take the creature down. He slid to a stop, only to fall backwards into a pit. He screamed as he slammed into the sides of the rocky wall, falling through the pit until he hit the ground. He groaned in pain, seeing nothing but lush greenery and blue skies.
"Fucking shit! Everything on this island is trying to kill me!" he cried out, slamming his fists into the dirt. He stood up after catching his breath, grabbing his discarded pack. Thankfully the Pig Mole had wondered off, but now he was lost and unable to reach the top part of the island. He frowned and turned round, looking at the worn down path.
"Maybe this one will take me to the grave." he said, walking down it. He was limping a bit, having hurt his leg on the fall. Without Wendy's healing magic, his injuries would take longer to heal. He was thankful for the Tenrou Tree's blessing, without it he would probably have died a while ago.
As he walked, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched. All of the animals scurried away as soon as he passed, only a few brave Tenrou Squirrels were able to get close to him. He smiled at the docile creatures, tossing pieces of his lunch at them.
He stopped mid stride and glanced over his shoulder. The wind blew a bit hard, sending dry leaves in all directions. He took a whiff of the air, but didn't find anything. He swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling a shiver go down his spine. He let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and kept walking.
"Easy Aiden, you're just psyching yourself up. Being alone sucks, but you're a big boy." he said, making himself chuckle.
He didn't realize just how much he depended on his friends. He had grown used to Phoebe being near him, along with Wendy and Carla, and now that he was alone, he was scaring himself. He kept walking down the path, seeing the incline head of him. He ran to the top of it, eyes widening.
Before him lay an abandoned town. The stone buildings had long since crumbled, being over taken by nature. Large trees grew out of some of the buildings, moss covering the walls of the northern buildings. There was a broken down building that seemed to stand over all the other ones, though it was much in the same state as every other place.
"Master Makarov never said anything about a town being here." he muttered. He felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down, seeing a few Tenrou Squirrels sitting next to him, one of them pointed to the large building, as if they wanted him to go in there. He shrugged, tossing the last of his sandwich at them. He fixed his scarf and continued walking down the path.
Aiden had been in destroyed and abandoned towns before. It was always an eerie feeling, as if the people were still living there. It had been a bit of a challenge for him to go back to Shamo Village after so long. His search for survivors had ended with Yukino, as he hadn't found anyone else who had survived. He had been meaning to visit Angel in prison to tell her about it, but real life got in the way of it. He stopped in the middle of the village, looking at the buildings.
No doubt they had been beautiful in their hay day. They all looked like comfortable places to live. One building still stood, mostly undisturbed by nature, the town library. It was as if someone had put a magic spell on it so nothing happened too it. He tested the doors, but was unable to get them open. Frowning, he jumped down from the steps, walking toward the large building at the back of the town.
It had a large red mark on it, or at least that's what he saw it as. The paint had long since peeled away. To him it looked like a half moon, or a reptile of some sort. He looked around, seeing a worn wooden sign laying on the ground. His eyes fell over the name, a low hum escaping his lips.
"Red Lizard, I think I heard of that guild...didn't think this was where it was located." he said to himself. He looked up at the worn steps, and decided to check it out. He still had plenty of time to find Mavis's Grave. After all, this place could also hold a clue for it's whereabouts.
The doors slowly creaked open as he got to the top, something he found odd. He stepped into the building, seeing the dilapidated state it was in. the tables were broken and the wooden chairs were eaten away by termites. The bar was also destroyed, and he smelled the remains of ash. No doubt, this place had been set aflame before, the scorch marks on the wood and rock had been a clear indicator. He walked further into the guildhall, using his hand as a torch. Once he reached the center of the building, the doors slammed shut. He jumped a bit, looking over his shoulder.
"Alright, this is creepy." he muttered.
He noticed a light blue glow coming from his guild mark, and he found it a bit odd that it was glowing. He looked around, hearing the creak of a floor board. He turned around, hearing shuffling sounds to his left. He threw a fire ball at the bar, shattering the unbroken bottles that had been placed on the shelf. He heard a small squeak, seeing a white rat racing from around the bar. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"This place is getting to me. Damn rats." he said.
"Tell me about it, I've been dealing with those for awhile now."
His eyes widened and he turned around, taking a few steps back. He glanced at one of the support beams, seeing a pair of olive colored eyes looking at him.
They belonged to a young girl, who had long brown hair tied into ponytails with red ribbons. She was wearing an orange halter top, that reached down past her waist. She was wearing a tan colored skirt, with black leggings and brown boots. She was looking at him, a shy look on her face.
"I uh...wasn't aware that there were people living here." he said firmly.
"Not a lot of people come here...do you...need something?" she asked.
"Directions to Mavis Vermillion's Grave would be nice...but first tell me who you are, you know...non Fairy Tail members aren't allowed on Tenrou Island right?" he asked.
"I'm well aware of that...I was here before you arrived. In order to reach the Grave, you need to head out of town and head East. You'll come to a river, follow it North and then cross it when you get to the falls, there's a path that leads to the grave." she said.
"Thanks." he said simply. He turned to leave, only to hear the girl move. She seemed to have gotten brave enough to stand away from the support beam. She wasn't much younger than he was, a year at most, and she was almost taller than him, though he figured her boots gave her a few inches.
"Would you like to know more about Mavis?" she asked. He glanced at his pocket watch, noticing two hours had passed. He shrugged, turning to face the girl.
"I guess, I have some time before I need to find the grave...but how about you tell me your name, so I can address you properly." he said.
"Right...my name is Zera...I'm one of the Fairies of Creation." she said.
"A what?" he asked.
"Nevermind, that part isn't important. What's your name?" she asked, looking away from him.
"Aiden Flame, future S-class mage of the Fairy Tail, it's a pleasure meeting you Zera. Not a lot of pretty girls like exploring ruins you know." he said, giving her a smile. She blushed a bit, not looking up at him.
"Um...well...I guess I'll tell you more about Mavis. She's...she was a very special person. With her words alone, she had the ability to gather people, she would be able to make friends out of even the toughest of enemies. She was a sweet girl, and a friend to anyone and everyone in Fairy Tail." she said.
"Wait...you sound like you know her, but that can't be possible, as she's been dead for a hundred years...wait...are you a spirit?" he asked.
"Sort of...you could say I'm stuck in a state of limbo. The Tenrou Tree protects those that live here, so those who die on the island and loose their body live on as souls. Most of us have passed on, but since I was so young, my soul is still bound to this land." she said.
"Oh I'm so sorry. Here I am being rude and intruding on your home." he said.
"No no, it's okay. The exam has been held here for as long as I can remember, anyway...we used to live here, Mavis and I. I'll admit, I wasn't very nice to her...but one night, Blue Skull attacked our guild, Red Lizard. That night, my physical body died, but my soul lived on, and she was able to use her magic to strengthen it, creating an almost lifelike illusion. Years passed, and we eventually met the future founders of Fairy Tail."
"Warrod Sequin, Yuri Dreyar and Precht Gaebolg." Aiden said, earning a nod from Zera.
"Yes, a lot of things happened, and eventually I had to return here. But I did know a lot of what Mavis was doing. She became a talented tactician, making herself known as the infamous Fairy Tactician. That brought even more fame to the guild, eventually she passed on and her grave was made here, on her favorite spot to read. The grave is special, it holds something that will strengthen your bonds with everyone else in Fairy Tail, those who are worthy, will receive more than just a blessing from Mavis." she said.
"More than a blessing huh? I'm not sure I'm worthy of that then...I'm not the most spotless individual." he said.
"It doesn't matter, whatever you did before joining Fairy Tail doesn't mean anything to Mavis. If she thinks you are worthy, she will give you her blessing. I've held you up long enough, you should go." she said. He nodded, spinning on his heel.
"Um...if you'd like to tag along, you can." he said.
"Oh no...I'm not that good with people. You're a lot closer to my age so you're easy to talk to." she said, glancing away from him. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"You remind me of my girlfriend, she used to be really shy too, but she became a social butterfly...or at least more like a social butterfly." he said.
"You have a girlfriend? She must be really sweet...again I'm holding you up."
"Right...it was nice meeting you, and thanks for sharing that information about Mavis. I feel like I understand her and the guild a lot better now." he said, reaching for the door knob.
"I..have a request for you...please...save us." she said.
"Huh?" he asked, glancing back her.
"Mavis is in danger...I can't explain but...after the exams are over, meet me in Magnolia Town, in the Fairy Tail guildhall, I will explain everything then...you have to save us." she said. He nodded, concern washing over his face.
"I promise...I'll be there."
He swallowed hard, leaving the Red Lizard guildhall. He took a deep breath, running down the stairs, he looked around, finding a path that lead into the woods, remembering Zera's directions, he took off into the woods, hoping to find the grave before the others did.
xxx (Earlier) xxx
"We've received word from the reconnaissance team. It seems all of the core members of the Fairy Tail guild, including the S-class mages are present on the island."
"Interesting...so it seems this war will be a lot more fun than I had previously anticipated." came the voice of the Ice Dragon Slayer, as he was glancing at Ultear.
"Master Hades, how shall we proceed?" the Time Mage asked, glancing at the man who was hidden in the shadows. He leaned forward, revealing the face of an old man, he wore a patch over his missing right eye, and was wearing a metal headgear on his head.
"Zeref has been located on the island, and it seems Fairy Tail has become unfortunate. We will pave the ground with the blood of the Fairies and proceed as planned." He said.
"Hahaha, I can't wait for this. I'm going to burn them all to a crisp!" came the voice of the Flame God Slayer, Zancrow. Brandon hissed under his breath, a bit of cold steam escaping his lips.
"As if, you couldn't burn a single person even if you were trying." he said. The blonde haired man glared at him, hand glowing with black flames.
"You think so, I have more power in this finger than all of those mages combined!" he said.
"Which is why they sent Azuma to check things out instead of you, really powerful. So scary." Brandon said, taunting the man. He grit his teeth, hand clenched in anger.
"Settle down you two. We mustn't fight against ourselves."
"Shut up Rusty, don't get involved in this!" Zancrow snapped angrily.
"He can try to take me on if he wants, in the end he'll make another piece for my collection." Brandon countered.
"That's enough! We are in the presence of the guild master, set a good example for all of the soldiers." Ultear snapped, ceasing arguments between the two men. Hades chuckled a bit, shaking his head.
"It's alright Ultear, let them blow some steam, we need them to be limber when we drop down on Tenrou Island. Caprico, are the troops ready?" He asked, glancing at the Goat man.
"Indeeed, all of the soldiers are ready to go." he replied.
"Alright then, when we receive word from Azuma, lead the soldiers into battle. Take down any Fairy Tail member, and don't leave anyone alive, Zeref will belong to us. Grimoire Heart will rule the new Grand Magic World!" Hades said firmly, earning nods from his pupils.
Meanwhile
"Ugh...I cannot believe this." Wendy muttered, as she put a hand on her tattered dress. She and Aiden had been taking a romantic path through the island, only for a gigantic Pig Mole to race after them. True he did etch a heart on its back end, but it didn't need to chase them all over the island.
She had found a path in the woods and followed it, leading her toward the bluffs. The fresh sea air was a welcome sight for her, and she felt like she could breathe again. She looked around, seeing a small patch of flowers. She smiled, kneeling in front of them.
"Wow, these flowers are so pretty. I'm sure Aiden would like them." she said. Her boyfriend had some very peculiar tastes, one of them being flowers. The two of them had planted plenty in the gardens as the mansion, though he didn't talk much about them. She heard footsteps behind her and looked over her shoulder.
"Wendy, hey!"
"Hi Yuna, what are you doing here?" the Sky Dragon asked. She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, pointing at Mest, who was busy looking around.
"Since we lost the challenge, we decided to explore the island. I know we were supposed to head to the base camp, but this place is too beautiful to pass up. Besides, exploring is in my nature!" she said happily.
"Yeah, you get to see some pretty amazing things. I'm sorry that you two lost, heard you went up against Gray and Loke."
"Yeah, those two were no joke. Even with my fighting prowess." Mest said firmly.
"What are you doing here? I thought you and Aiden were in it to win it?" Yuna asked.
"We are, but we got separated awhile ago. I'm trying to find my way to the base camp, maybe he went there or passed through it." she said.
"Oh, I get it. I sort of lost our map, so we're just wondering around. I'm sure Erza or Mira will come looking for us eventually." she said. The two of them suddenly stopped, glancing toward the center of the island, where hundreds of small birds shot out, flying high into the sky. Wendy swallowed hard, placing her hand on her chest.
"Did...you feel that?" she asked.
"Feel what?" Mest asked curiously.
"Yeah, I didn't feel anything. Man, whatever scared those birds must have been huge." Yuna said, shielding her eyes with her hand.
"No way...they didn't feel that dark magic? It was so powerful...I need to find Aiden." Wendy thought to herself.
"Heh, no way...I knew Fairy Tail was hiding a massive secret...but Zeref being on the island? I'm gonna get a promotion with this information. But do I report now?" Mest thought to himself, glancing at the two girls. Yuna had been busy looking out at the ocean, but Wendy hadn't moved an inch. He bit his lip.
"The Sky Maiden...she certainly felt that attack...I can't let her know I felt it too."
"I wonder what these flowers taste like!" he suddenly said, taking the bouquet from her hands, and shoving it in his mouth. Wendy let out a surprised yelp, eyes wide in shock.
"Mest! You're supposed to smell the pretty flowers not eat them!" Yuna cried, shaking her head.
"What's wrong with him?" Wendy cried out.
"I'm not entirely sure." Yuna said firmly. The two of them heard a sudden explosion, and turned their eyes to the sky, seeing a glowing red orb high in the air. Yuna looked at, curiosity etched on her face.
"Uh...do you know what that means?" She asked, looking at Wendy, who shook her head.
"No, I was never told what the flares meant...it's red..so I'm assuming it isn't anything good."
"Mest, do you know what that mean?" Yuna asked, pointing to the flare.
"Um...no?" he replied.
"Wendy! Yuna!"
Wendy jolted a bit, quickly turning around. She was surprised to see Carla flying toward her, with Pantherlily in her arms. She landed on the ground, allowing her wings to disappear. Pantherlily instantly jumped out of her hands, landing in front of Yuna.
"Get away from that man, he's dangerous!" the black exceed said.
"Huh...what are you talking about Lily?" Yuna asked curiously, glancing between the man in question and the exceed.
"This guy has been lying since day one. He isn't Mystogan's pupil, the fact of the matter is he's not even a Fairy Tail member!" Carla snapped, pointing at the man.
"What are you talking about? My name's Mest Gryder...I'm friends with Mystogan, remember?" he asked. Almost faster than he could blink, a giant black fist slammed into the rock behind him. He glared at Pantherlily's battle form, now extremely nervous.
"Tell us who you really are, my Prince never had a pupil in Earthland. It's also obvious you aren't from Fairy Tail, as you didn't know what the flare even signified. Who are you really?" he asked firmly.
"Lily, do you really need to go this far?" Yuna asked, clearly confused.
"Ugh...see, this is why I told you not to trust him! But you two didn't listen! Where's Aiden?" Carla cried, looking around the area.
"Somewhere on the island, would you mind telling me what's going on now?" Wendy asked firmly, turning to face Mest, a firm look on her face. The man chuckled, shaking his head.
"Looks like the jig is up. And I was so looking forward to that promotion." he muttered. Pantherlily looked at him curiously. Yuna grit her teeth, summoning one of her guns into her hand. She stood next to Pantherlily, aiming it at the man.
"Alright, talk! Who the fuck are you?" she asked angrily.
"Me, I'm not one special, just a member of the magic council. I'm here looking for dirt so I can shut Fairy Tail down. But I found something else, something so much better than anything else." he said. Wendy grit her teeth in anger, the air around her becoming a bit sharp. She was about to attack the man, only for her to stop the attack. She glanced over her shoulder, eyes widening at what she saw.
"What?"
Mest seemed to notice it too, because he flashed away, stunning Pantherlily who quickly turned around. He appeared in front of Wendy, wrapping her arms around her small body.
"No, Wendy!" Carla cried, reaching her hand toward her.
"Get down!" he cried, teleporting away, just in time to avoid a towering plume of flame. Pantherlily flipped out of the way, summoning his wings. He held Yuna protectively in his arms, the girl looking very confused. Carla shot into the air, having avoided the attack entirely.
"Show yourself!" Mest shouted, looking in all directions. A chuckle suddenly filled the area, and it seemed to be coming from a nearby tree. They all watched as a face appeared on it.
"Very good, I wasn't expecting someone to actually notice my presence." he said.
"You're a real coward, attacking a little girl, really?" Mest snapped, standing up. Wendy huffed, brushing her dress off.
"I'm not defenseless you know...but thanks." she said, earning a nod from the man. Lily and Yuna landed on the ground, the white haired idol aiming her gun at the tree.
"Why don't you come out of that tree asshole? Show us your face." Mest taunted. The man chuckled, stepping out of the tree.
He was a tall man, with dark colored skin, and brown hair. He was wearing a tribal outfit, with light tan being the main color. He had a firm look on his face, arms crossed with disdain. He didn't seem to pleased with the outcome of his attack.
"Very good, I didn't think you could tell my presence. I suppose I should introduce myself, my name is Azuma." he said firmly. Mest gasped, eyes widening in shock.
"Azuma of the Great Tree, one of the Eight Kin of Purgatory." He said.
"Eight Kin, Grimoire Heart?" Wendy asked curiously.
"A dark guild...what could they want here?" Carla asked curiously.
"This island has something that we want. The dark wizard Zeref is here, but our mission isn't just to acquire him. It's also to eliminate Fairy Tail." He said firmly.
"You think you can just waltz onto our island and threaten us? You got another thing coming!" Yuna said firmly, pulling the hammer of her gun, her grip tightening on the firearm.
"As if you can eliminate me. You aren't a worthy opponent for me, just so you know, the rest of the Kin are preparing to invade the island. If you value your lives, you'll leave...as if we'd let you." he said, giving them a smirk.
"The whole guild is coming?" Pantherlily muttered, teeth firmly grit. Wendy swallowed hard, getting a bit nervous.
"Man, this is even better than I thought. Taking down Zeref and Grimoire Heart in one fell swoop, I'm sure to get a promotion now. Thankfully I brought that fleet of warships." he said. Azuma smirked, glancing over his shoulder.
"Oh, you mean those warships?" he asked, moving to the side, revealing the fleet of Council ships. A second later they exploded, sending wooden planks and debris in all direction. The mages all gasped in shock.
"All of those people...you're a coward!" Yuna cried angrily. Azuma smirked, brow raised in curiosity.
"You talk big game little girl. Such a shame too, I used to love listening to your music." he said, holding his hand out. Pantherlily raced forward, slamming his fist into Azuma's chin, sending him back a few feet. The man didn't even look phased. He continued on with his attack, as if nothing had happened.
"Bleve!" he chanted. A plume of flames burst from his hand, enveloping Pantherlily. He growled in pain, but powered through the attack, punching the man across the face.
"Damn, if only I had a sword." he muttered, wiping his lip.
"You hit pretty hard for a cat...but it isn't enough to take me down." Azuma replied.
"We can't let him fight up there alone. Wendy, I need your help." Yuna said, earning a nod from the Sky Dragon.
"Go, I'll handle the support." she said.
"Are you insane, you two can't fight Grimoire Heart. They'll kill you all!" Mest cried out.
"They can go ahead and try, but they aren't going to defeat Fairy Tail! Stout Winds that Tear the Heaven, Arms, Fast Wind that Runs the Heaven, Vernier!" she chanted.
"Amazing, this is what support magic feels like?" Pantherlily cried. He grinned, shooting forward with great speed. Azuma narrowed his eyes, sending out hundreds of explosions at the black cat, who dodged them all with ease. Yuna raced forward, body glowing a bright gold.
"Requip: Sweet Lolita!" she cried. Jumping into the air, she pulled her Sweet Scythe back, throwing a slash at the brown haired man. Azuma easily caught it, forming an explosion in his hand. She cried in pain, being launched back several feet.
"You're wide open!" Pantherlily cried, delivering a fierce kick to the man. He took the brunt of the impact, being sent back several feet. He shook his head, crossing his arms.
"You're both weak. Not even worth the effort." he said.
"Stop taunting us, you're going down!" Yuna snapped angrily, pulling her scythe back. The blade glowed a bright blue color as she swung it forward, sending a crescent blade of energy at him. He easily blocked it, batting it away.
"Mest, stop standing there. Do something!" Wendy snapped angrily.
"What do you want me to do? There's no way we can defeat him!" he replied. She shook her head.
"You can teleport right? Can you help me, I'll take care of the rest." she said. He followed her train of thought, a smirk on his face. He wrapped his arms around her body, flashing out of sight. Azuma pushed Pantherlily and Yuna back, leaving himself wide open. Mest and Wendy flashed behind him.
"I got one shot at this. So take it, Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"You are all fools. Tower of Flames!" Azuma chanted, his arms snapping out. A large towering flame burst from his hands, enveloping the Fairy Tail mages. They all howled in pain, being launched back several feet.
"Pathetic, is this Fairy Tail's fighting force? Children and Cats?" Azuma asked, glancing at all of the mages. He jumped out of the way, avoiding Yuna's scythe. She was panting a bit, her body littered with scratches. Her armor glowed brightly, disappearing into her Space pocket.
"You forget, I'm still here. I trained with the Fairy Queen, and there's no way I'm going down without a fight!" she said firmly. The man smirked, crossing his arms.
"Alright Idol girl, show me what you've got."
xxx Earlier xxx
"Ugh...is it just me, or did it get hotter?" Aiden muttered. The squirrel on his shoulder chirped, shaking its head. He had easily made friends with the squirrels, mostly because he fed them, but they seemed like the friendliest critters on the island.
He had been following Zera's directions for the better half of an hour, and had yet to find the grave. He was sure the girl wasn't lying, that and perhaps he got lost along the way. He sighed, wiping some sweat from his brow. He glanced up at the sky, which was still bright blue. He had some time before sundown. He just hoped no one else ran into him, or reached the grave first.
The squirrel on his shoulder suddenly jumped to the ground, running away from him as fast as it could. He watched it go, a look of curiosity on his face. That's when he noticed all of the trees around him wilting and dying, the leaves started falling, turning into ash in mid air. He glanced around, getting into a battle stance.
"What the hell is going on?" he muttered to himself. He started running, following the directions Zera gave him. He ran into an open clearing, the sound of the waterfalls not far from where he stood. He heard footsteps and immediately turned around.
There was a young man walking into the clearing. A black haired young man, that looked exactly like the one Carla had described. He had a scratch mark on his cheek, and seemed to be crying. He looked up, gasping a bit.
"No...what are you doing here?" he asked quietly. He seemed stunned at Aiden's appearance. The young man grit his teeth, igniting his fist.
"I could ask you the same question, who are you and what are you doing on Tenrou Island?" he asked firmly.
"Please...I mean you no harm, Aiden."
His brows furrowed at the sound of his name. How the hell did this young man know him? He had never met him in his life. Aiden took a step forward, but the man held his hands up.
"Please, don't come any closer. I don't want to hurt you." he said.
"Then tell me who you are, and how do you know my name? Answer me!" he cried. The man fell to his knees, a black wave swirling around him. The entire clearing seemed to die in that instant, something that scared Aiden.
"Please...run away Aiden, I don't want you to die." the man said.
Aiden wanted to know who this man was, but he couldn't approach him. He didn't know what it was, but that black wave of magic felt familiar. He could tell it was deadly. He quickly turned around, running in the opposite direction. He ran as fast as he could, running out of the dying clearing. He tripped on a root, falling into the river. He quickly stood up, racing into the forest. He hid behind a large trees, hundreds of meters away from the young man. He finally took a breather, looking at his shaking hands. He felt something hot on his face and reached up to his cheek, feeling the fresh tears.
"Why am I crying?" he asked, clearly confused. He glanced around the tree, but didn't see anything. He couldn't even feel the man's presence anymore. He reached for his belt, pulling out one of his gate keys.
"Open, Gate of the Unicorn: Monoceros!" he chanted. A loud whinny filled the air as the Unicorn raced through the gate. Ever since meeting the spirit, it had adapted their contract. It now had a leather saddle on it, along with some saddlebags filled with supplies. Aiden climbed aboard, taking a hold of the rains.
"Let's go!" he said, Monoceros lift itself up to his hind legs, before racing off into the woods. He didn't know how long it had been, but he finally burst into another clearing. He pulled the unicorn to a stop, both of them looking around.
The clearing was rather large, and had tree roots growing in all directions. He looked up, seeing the trunk of the giant Tenrou Tree that rose several hundred meters into the air. His eyes fell onto the base of it, seeing a small structure. Several pillars had been created there, and it had some green moss on it. Atop it sat a headstone, with Mavis Vermillion's name on it, along with the mark of Fairy Tail. Sitting at the base of it was Master Makarov, who was instantly pulled from his meditation.
"So, you are the first one to arrive. Congratulations on passing the second trial." he said.
"Master, there's a guy on the island. I don't know who he is, but he's really strong. He destroyed an entire clearing." he said, dismounting from the Celestial Spirit, who disappeared into the Spirit world. The man stood up, looking right into his eyes.
"Nonsense my boy. This island is off limits to everyone who doesn't bear our mark. It is hidden from plain view, that's why no one knows it's location." he said confidently. Aiden looked over his shoulder, shuddering a bit.
"There's no way Master couldn't have felt that guy. There's a lot of magic power here, that's probably it."
"Well, since you have passed Phase Two of the exam, it is time for you to move onto Phase Three." he said, pointing to the grave.
"Our First Master, founder of this guild, rests right here. Her spirit, love and dedication to our guild is transcribed into this special shrine. I would like for you to pay your respects to her. Once you receive your blessing, I shall tell you what what you must do next." he said. Aiden nodded, slowly walking toward the grave. He knelt before it, bowing his head respectfully.
"Hello Mavis...I'm Aiden Flame...it's good to meet you. You've created a wonderful guild, one that I'm proud to call my home. Thank you...thank you for everything...I feel like I found my place to be. It wouldn't have been possible without you." he said happily.
"I promise...I don't know what's going to happen to you, but I will help you. I made a promise to Zera, and I never break my promises. I'll protect you and everyone in this guild." he said mentally. He didn't want Makarov to hear that last part. He noticed a bright light form around the head stone. He looked up, seeing the small gap between the pillars was glowing a bright gold.
"Whoa...what's going on?" He asked, glancing back at the master, who only smiled at him.
"It seems like Mavis is granting you her blessing. Go on, place your arm in that gap." he said. Aiden nodded and stood up, slipping his arm into the hole between the pillars.
"I hope you keep your promise to us Aiden. I'll hold you to it!"
"Did you hear that?" Aiden asked, glancing back at Makarov.
"Hear what my boy? I haven't heard anything." he said. Aiden glanced back at the grave, seeing the glow intensify. When he pulled his arm out of the hole, he noticed the glowing red mark on his arm.
The mark resembled that of Fairy Tail, and seemed to wrap around the top of his hand, and around his wrist. The wings on the fairy were more defined, along with the tail. There were small runes circling the mark, spelling out some words, in a language he didn't understand.
"What is this? I feel a warm magic coming from this mark." he said, his eyes focusing on the glowing red mark he had just received.
"You've received her blessing. Fairy Law, one of the three Fairy Magics...though this one is a single use spell. It takes years of practice to learn it, but since you've gotten her permission to use it, you might be able to learn it on your own."
"Fairy Law...I'll treasure this always. Thank you Mavis." he said, glancing at the sky, a smile on his face.
"Well my boy, since you've finished Phase Two, it's time for the final Phase of the exam. On this island is a special relic, one from a legendary collection, you should know it as a Gem of Avalor...this one is named the Magenta Diamond. Your task, find this gem and bring it to the West side of the Island, and present it to the special shrine dedicated to our first Master's Best Friend. Complete this by tomorrow morning, and I will name you S-class." he said firmly. Aiden nodded, shaking a bit.
"I won't fail you master." he said, heading toward the exit of the clearing. He needed to find Wendy, knowing full well this next task would be harder than the previous one. As he was leaving however, he heard a loud pop, a crimson light filling the area. He looked up, eyes widening.
"A flare?" he asked.
"Condition Red, there are enemies on the island." Makarov said. Aiden looked at him, eyes wide.
"It's that black haired man I told you about. His magic killed an entire clearing, we have to stop him." Aiden said.
"I believe it's something else, but I will look into the matter. For now, the exam will be put on hold. Head to the base camp and meet up with the rest of the guild. I will take care of it."
"Maybe I should come with you, just in case." he said.
"I'll be fine on my own my boy. You must make sure everyone else is alright, so please do as I ask." he said. Aiden sighed, giving him a nod.
"Alright Master, I'll head to the base camp. Be careful." he said, racing into the woods, heading toward the general direction of the camp. Makarov sighed, glancing back at the grave.
"Master Mavis, I'm sorry for allowing enemies onto our holy land. I shall take care of it post haste, I hope you can forgive me." he said firmly, leaving the clearing.
xxx
Yuna grit her teeth as she stared down her opponent. Her friends had passed out from that one massive attack, and she had barely survived it herself. Facing an opponent this strong on her own normally wouldn't be something she would consider, but they were invading Tenrou Island, and she wasn't going to let that happen.
"You're a rather interesting person, able to go into trees. I've never heard of that type of magic." Yuna said. Maybe if she made conversation, the man would talk about his magic specialty. He smirked, sending some explosions her way. She easily dodged them, jumping too and fro.
"Nice try, trying to get me to talk. I suppose since you are going to die, you deserve to know my magic specialty. It's called Great Tree Arc, a lost art. It allows me to control trees and bend them to my will. I can create explosions from thin air and destroy anything in my path." he said, sounding rather proud of his magic.
"Interesting, but your magic is only useful if you have trees near you." Yuna said, her body glowed a brilliant gold as she Requipped into her Baby Metal Armor.
She strummed her guitar, sending a loud sound wave at the man. He blocked his ears, forcing his eyes shut. Yuna hit a high note, causing the ground around them to rumble from the attack. The tree behind Azuma burst into smithereens, destroying it completely. All of the trees in the area met the same fate, clearing the bluffs of plant life.
"By removing the trees you have eliminated one style of fighting. But that doesn't remove my ability to make you explode. Bleve!" he chanted.
"Repel Wave!" Yuna cried, strumming a sharp C on her guitar. Both attacks met in the center, causing a loud explosion. Yuna jumped out of the way, requipping into her Songstress Armor. She opened fire at the Tree mage, who launched more explosive orbs everywhere.
"Guns Magic: Tornado Shot!" She chanted, launching a massive twister at Azuma. The man easily dodged it, crossing his arms as in disappointment.
"You aren't a good opponent. I'm not even breaking a sweat. Burst Claw!" he chanted, launching several growing roots at the girl. She grit her teeth, jumping away from the roots. She tripped over one, falling to the ground. She howled in pain as all of the roots exploded, sending her flying back into a boulder.
"Damn it...that one hurt." she mumbled, her body glowing as her armor disappeared. She stood back up, brushing her shirt off. Her body was littered with scratches, and her body hurt, but she wasn't giving up yet. Azuma sighed, taking a deep breath.
"Well, you've lasted longer than I thought you would. A singing prodigy and an excellent mage, Yuna is definitely full of surprises." he said firmly.
"Don't you dare say that name. Only my friends call me Yuna, you may call me Peyton! Remember it as the name of the girl who kicked your ass! Requip: Sweet Devil Armor!" she chanted. Golden light burst from her body, swirling around her very form.
The new outfit consisted of black frilled bra, with light pink buckles on it. She was wearing an armored black top, which left her shoulders bare, the collar being a light pink in color. It had long sleeves with matching pink cuffs and butterfly shaped buttons. She was wearing an armored layered skirt, which was black in color and had pink ruffles.
She wore a pair of see through stockings, with pink garterbelts. Finally, she was wearing a pair of black leather boots with pink heels. Her hair had been tied into twin tails, with black and pink butterfly hair clips. A pair of devil wings sprouted from her back, an aesthetic part of the armor itself. Her entire body seemed to glow as her magic and defenses rose.
"I've been saving this armor for a strong opponent, and it seems it's time has come." she said, holding her hand out. A beautiful long sword appeared in her hand. It was silver in color, with a butterfly shaped hilt, which had a pair of devil horns coming from the middle of the blade. She ran forward, the sword glowing brightly.
"Element of fire, heed my call! EnFire!" she chanted. Her sword burst into flames as she swung it, slashing Azuma across the chest, his body bursting into flames. He jumped back, brushing the fire off easily.
"Your power has increased...you might be a challenge after all." he said.
"I'm not just going to lie down. Erza taught me that no matter how tough the fight is, I should never give up!" she said firmly. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"The Fairy Queen has taught you well, but it won't be long before she dies on this island. Burst Claw!"
"Enchant, Haste! EnThunder!" Yuna cried.
Her body glowed purple as she zoomed forward, dodging all of the exploding tree roots. She jumped into the air, Lightning crackling from her sword. She slammed it into Azuma, sending him flying back. She threw several speedy slashes at him, the man dodging each one with ease. She smirked, jabbing her sword at his face, slashing him across the bridge of his nose. His hand flew to his face, feeling the blood oozing from his new cut.
"Well shit...that's a first." he said, a smirk on his face.
"Don't under estimate Fairy Tail." she said, a firm look on her face. He snapped his fingers, several thick roots wrapped around the girl, raising her into the air. She grit her teeth, as they squeezed the life out of her.
"You were a tough opponent, but I'm through playing with you. Consider yourself lucky, you might not make it to my top ten list of worthy foes, but at least you're on it." he said.
Yuna grit her teeth, she saw spots in her vision, but she wasn't about to give up. She held her left hand out, summoning one of her guns. She took aim at Azuma, pulling the trigger. He easily dodged the bullet, which exploded behind him. He shook his head, tightening his roots on her. She groaned in pain, loosing her grip on her weapons. She fell into unconsciousness, her body becoming limp. Azuma tossed her aside, glancing back out to the ocean.
"Targets have been neutralized, feel free to send reinforcements." he said, speaking into his communication lacrima. It wouldn't be long until the island was filled with his guild mates. With that, he moved on, walking deeper into the island.
Aiden ran through the woods, trying to find his way into the base camp. Thanks too all of the winding paths on the island, he had once again gotten lost. He came to a stop next to a large tree, looking at it closely. He nodded and propelled himself onto the high branches, climbing his way to the top. He brushed aside some of the leafy branches, now being able to look into the ocean. His eyes widened as he saw the airship approaching the island. He swallowed hard, seeing the mark painted onto the front.
"Grimoire Heart...so...our time has come, hasn't it Brandon?" he asked himself.
"It would seem so, little brother." the man in question muttered, glaring at the island. He knew his brother was on it, most likely waiting for him. He smirked, knowing his fight against his brother would be the best one yet, and he would be the winner, he would make sure of it.
