Hello everyone! I have returned at last with some new content! Although, I'm sure none of you need reminding of the situation our world is currently in.

This brings a small note I'll get out of the way here and now. Covid-19, Coronavirus. Hopefully none of you are amongst the number of people who have got this terrible infection. To those amongst my viewers that might have Corona, I do hope you the swiftest recovery and can get back on your feet regardless. It's unfortunate that a brand new decade has to kick off with such unfortunate events, but we must be strong. To those who live in the UK, please listen to reason and only head out if it's urgent. To those around the world, please take all precautions.

The best way to beat this plague will be to remain united, even at a distance. I apologise for bringing this dreary topic to Fairy Tail, but I feel like it's the only way we stay together.

Real life stuff aside, let's get back to some long awaited Fairy Tail!


Chapter 21: The Battle of Magnolia

Title Song: Keeper of Lust (Persona 5 Scramble ver.)


From his aerial friend's arms, Marcus quickly saw Natsu bashing on the cannon. "Natsu!" He called out.

"Marnie! I can't scratch it!" Natsu called up.

Marnie? Seriously? That doesn't even closely sound like my name! Marcus thought with despair.

"If Alicia was here, this cannon would be in the shape of a pretzel in no time," Melody said. "Natsu! Happy! Best way you're probably going to be able to destroy that weapon is gonna be to destroy the focusing lacrima in the control room!"

"I was thinking something alone the same line!" Happy grinned. "Natsu! Let's go break the control room!"

He and Natsu leapt down into the mouth of the cannon. "Meanwhile, let's cause some trouble!" Marcus smirked.


"Totomaru should be able to handle the Salamander, Winona, I want you to intercept that icy fool, kill him!" José growled, turning to the girl. "Gajeel, find Miss Heartfilia, bring her back here. Our client gave us a handkerchief she used before she left." He then turned to the Dragon Slayer, handing him a piece of cloth.

Gajeel smirked darkly. "I'll take Sounds and Mirrors with me, we'll find her. Gihi!"

José nodded. "Go, and do not fail me." Both wizards bowed and left the room.

"Want me to give you a lift to Magnolia?" Winona asked, holding a hand out and a wooden broomstick with a metal brace around the bristles and a handle at the front appeared.

"On that thing? No thanks, Sounds can mask our approach, we'll find the little princess," Gajeel replied quickly.

Winona nodded. "Well, in that case, at least have Aria drop you off where Fairy Tail won't see you," She suggested.

"Nah, Master José's got the Elements on standby for the Giant, ju~st in case those Fairy punks smash Jupiter. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be stopping Kaiser?" the Iron Dragon Slayer asked.

Winona nodded, running towards one of the open windows and springing out. Putting the broom under her, she landed and channelled her magic into it.


"Marcus! We have a contact heading our way!" Melody called. Both were on an outside walkway, walking over the unconscious bodies of Phantom Wizards.

Both looked up to see the girl Marcus had seen Sarah fight. "Winona Raymond the Wand wizard," He nodded in respect. He'd never met her before, but he'd heard of her feats from Emma, who followed the girl through Sorcerer Weekly.

He'd done his own homework though. In her seventh year at the famous wizarding school known as Ilvermorny, she had defeated terrifying wizards that threatened her school. Her other notable achievements included stopping a wyvern attack with her broom skills and winning a brutal and deadly tournament which selected her to represent her school. She also had a very unique scar on the right of her forehead, in the shape of a snake's coil.

"And you are Marcus Cersy, Ice Dragon Slayer with the alias Kaiser of the Cold," Winona glanced back down. "You've been an annoying piece in the game that was not planned by Master José. You and your friend are going to have to surrender or I will have no choice but to kill you."

"Really? Don't you realise that José is going mad? He just tried to wipe a strip of Magnolia off the map! How long must we fight before you see that he's going to kill innocent people!" Marcus shouted.

"It seems you leave me with no choice," Winona sighed, a tear trickled down her cheek as she raised her wand.

"Avada Kedavra." A shimmering green bolt shot towards Marcus.


Across the city of Magnolia, an unmarked warehouse sat quietly. Inside, Wendy nervously sat still while Reedus painted her. Carla was pacing while Lucy was sleeping nearby. Suddenly, Wendy and Carla looked up, before glancing at each other.

I've got that bad feeling again… Marcus is fighting someone… someone strong. Wendy thought. Please… be careful you two…


Winona looked down at the explosion of dust and smoke. She hated that spell.

As she began to turn back to the guildhall, her eyes widened. There, hovering before her on white wings was Marcus. Her eyes then narrowed as she realised an orange furred cat, like the blue one of Fairy Tail, was holding him up.

"Phew, that was close," Marcus panted. "Thanks for the save Melody."

"Hey, when Wendy's not here to watch your back, it becomes my job," The cat smiled. "Seriously though, watch out for that spell. It's one of the forbidden wand spells."

Forbidden huh? Marcus thought. "Your master seriously allows you to use forbidden spells of your practice? There's a reason spells are prohibited from use. It's to stop people like you from killing or critically maiming someone!"

"Ice Dragon Frigid Hammer!" Melody shot forwards as Marcus raised a fist encased with ice. Winona willed her broom to descend, avoiding it.

"Incendio!" She called out, letting a stream of fire spout from the tip of her wand. Marcus grunted as the flames licked across his body. He wasn't the only one either, Melody also yelped at the burning heat.

"Ice Dragon ROAR!" Marcus kicked up, Melody following his instructions, taking them above the fire. He took a deep breath and let out a wide ranged wave of ice and snow, swamping over Winona who shivered at the frigid winds.

"If you people don't stand down, you're no better than a dark guild!" Marcus snapped. "Think about it. If it wasn't for Erza and Sarah, Magnolia would be missing several city blocks!"

Winona let her bangs cover her eyes. "I'm well aware of our… clandestine actions…" She sighed. She then flicked her wand wordlessly, a red bolt shooting from it and hitting Marcus directly.

Marcus grunted as he and Melody were sent rolling back through the air. "She can cast spells without a command?" He asked.

"Seems like it. Who knows what other spells she can do without an incantation!" Melody called back. Marcus leaned left, Melody following his wordless instructions.

"Avada Kadavra!" A fresh green bolt shot towards them. Melody jolted up, avoiding the deadly spell.

"Stop using that spell!" She snapped.

"I must do whatever it takes to please Master José! After I finished at Ilvermorny, I looked for somewhere to take me in. Master José found me when I was sleeping in an alleyway in Oak Town. I owe everything to him!" Winona called back.

"Mel, plan 4a!" Marcus whispered to his partner.

She nodded, shooting up. Winona followed, shooting a column of Incendio from her wand.

Melody angled herself and banked into a spin, levelling out. A red bolt then struck Melody directly, causing her to yelp and drop Marcus.

"Whoa!" Marcus gasped. He noticed Winona coming up to meet them, and angled himself toward her.

"Ice Make: Glider!" He called quickly, summoning a thin wedge of ice that descended along the air. "Ice Make: Lance!" He then called, shooting several spears of ice at Winona.

The wand wizard twisted and dodged, but one arrow sheared the back of her broom. "No…!" She gasped. If it snaps… it'll be unable to fly! She thought as the broom started to plummet.

"Melody!" Marcus called, still on his glider. An orange blur shot towards Winona, trailing pink magic power.

The wand wizard jolted as she was suddenly caught by the feline. "I gotcha!" She called down.

Winona gasped, if the cat hadn't caught her, she would have either hit the water or the hard stone, neither were good options.

The two girls returned to the ground, where Marcus stood waiting. "You're welcome," Melody smiled, releasing the Phantom wizard.

"I'm grateful for you saving my life," Winona said. "I've never been a good swimmer, and I don't have any spells to stop my own descent." She stepped a short distance away.

"We don't have to continue fighting you know," Marcus suggested. "You seem like a nice girl."

"You don't understand!" Winona groaned. "I never had a family really. Ilvermorny was my home really, my fellow students were my family! However I haven't seen or heard from them since leaving. Master José found me and took me in. He was more of a father to me than any teacher or senior student."

"Maybe I do understand some of what you're saying." Her eyes widened, Marcus stood next to her. "In the year X777, on the 7th day of July, my dragon mother-figure, Frostfall, suddenly up and left me and my sister alone. We were on our own for a good time, before we encountered Cait Shelter. Roubaul has become something of a grandfather to us. To all us cats."

"Your dragon disappeared on 7/7/X777 too?" Asked Winona.

"Wait… what do you mean?" Asked Marcus.

"Gajeel. His dragon father Metalicana left him on the exact same day," Winona said.

"Four dragon slayers… all had dragon parents that vanished on July 7th X777…" Marcus thought aloud.

Suddenly an explosion rocked that ripped the Jupiter cannon apart. "Whoa!" Winona gasped.

Marcus laughed. "Fourteen and a half minutes… jeez that pyro is slow," He chuckled.

"Salamander did that?" Asked Winona.

"Yup," Marcus smiled. "What now? Pick up where we left off? Or do you want to quit?" He asked.

"I'll yield," Winona closed her eyes, grinning. "I'm smart enough to see that I'm outmatched and outnumbered."

"In that case, I trust you not to continue the fight. I'm going to go check on Natsu," Marcus said. He sprang off the ledge, Melody quick to grab him.

Before he could do anything though, the two gasped as the walls they were on previously began to shift and turn. Looking back, they saw Winona running towards a flat area as the spot she had been standing on began to tilt.

"Mel!" He called out. Not needing any other words, they shot down, just as Winona slipped and began to fall. Marcus caught the girl in his arms.

"Gotcha!" He grinned.

"Thanks, that's twice I owe you guys!" Winona gasped.

"No problem, but that might be! What is going on!?" Demanded Marcus.

"It's the Giant! Phantom's ultimate weapon!" Winona explained. "But why is he activating it now?" She asked.

All three watched the arms of the giant begin to rotate clockwise. "Uh oh…" Marcus and Melody muttered, eyes wide.

"Master José… why…!" Winona cried.

"That's the magic circle for the Abyss Break! No way!" Melody gasped.

Marcus looked at the arms and the distance apart. "I… A black magic wave that powerful will raze the entire city! Is he completely mad?! Thousands of innocent citizens would be vaporised!"

"He'd go to such lengths to defeat Fairy Tail? He couldn't!" Winona sobbed.

"He can and he will, unless we stop him!" Melody said.

"She's right, what powers something this large? The Abyss Break is based off the four elements, Fire, Water, Earth and Air…" Marcus thought aloud. A lightbulb then went off above their heads.

"The Element Four!" The two realised.


Across town, Wendy took a chance to look out the window, and gasped. "Carla, come and look at this!" She gasped.

"Hmm? What is it Wendy?" Carla asked. She glanced at Reedus, who was painting a picture of her cat form. "Can you finish without me?" She asked.

"Oui, I have the most of it finished," The large man nodded.

Carla hovered over, looking outside, "Oh my!" She gasped. "Phantom Lord has completely lost their minds! That's Abyss Break!"

"Abyss Break?!" Reedus made a double take as she said it.


Back at Fairy Tail, Cana threw some more cards, striking down three phantom soldiers. "Jeez! How many of these things are there?" She demanded.

"Look at their guildhall!" Alzach called out.

"It's drawing something!" Bisca added.

"A magic circle!" Laki warned.

"That's the magic circle for the Abyss Break. One of the forbidden spells!" Mira said, currently disguised as Lucy using transformation magic.

"Look at the size of it!" Loke called out. "A black wave that massive would wipe out the entire city!" He called.

Suddenly, six phantoms got within Loke's blind spot, and as he turned to face them, he realised they were too close for his ring magic.

A sudden bolt of lightning surged through them. Loke and his battle partner Cana both turned, seeing four unfamiliar wizards standing by the side of the guildhall.

A young man wearing a black jacket with yellow zagging stripes. Lightning sparked from his extended fist.

A young woman with bright red hair.

A young man wearing a black hoodie with a red hood.

A young woman holding a metal quarterstaff.

"Who the hell are you?" Asked Cana.

"Is that the way to treat your reinforcements?" Asked the brown haired hoodie wizard. "Bullet Magic: Azure Spear!" He called, raising his hand and releasing three blue bullets that shot through three shades.

"Alright Cait Shelter, let's go to work!" The quarterstaff holder said. Her staff then changed into a scythe and she slashed through a shade coming at her.

Hyde ran over to join the team of Macao and Wakaba. "Purple Rain!" A magic circle appeared before Macao, releasing a salvo of small purple pellets of fire.

Wakaba narrowly avoided a shade, when Hyde jumped in. "Ahvel!" His fist coated in lightning, he slammed it through the assailant, followed by the other three that followed it.

"Keep going old man, I've got you both covered!" He said.

"I may be getting on a bit, but I've still got fight in me," Wakaba snorted, getting back up.

Alicia joined the team of Cana and Loke. "Ring Magic: Twister!" Loke called out, releasing a large cyclone of wind.

"Not bad, watch this!" Alicia sprinted past, slicing through several phantom soldiers. She then altered her weapon with a cry of, "Metal Manipulation: Twin Piercer!" Her staff split down the middle, forming two spears.

Loke and Cana watched as she began to slash and stab through more phantoms, "Whoa, she means business!" Cana grinned.

"Don't think I'll be asking her out for dinner," Loke chuckled.

"You'd better not," Dan ran past, "Bullet Magic: Jade Web!" From the fingers on his left hand, he shot five green bullets that lined out, then merged into a net of magic energy. When the net collided with a bunch of shades, it wrapped around them and dropped, the shades dissipating.

"He's got the right idea! Guns Magic: Sunlight Shot!" Alzach called out, blasting away with a solar flare. "Now Bisca!"

"Requip: Guns!" Bisca called out, switching her shotgun for a pair of magic tommy guns, blasting away with a cry of "Yeehaw!"

"Hellfire Tornado!" Lilina then cried out, a ruby and an emerald in hand, glowing red and green respectively. A magic circle appeared and a raging fiery spiral roared forwards, blowing away a sizable chunk.

At that moment, the faint remaining mist from the shades began to reform, before they became the same army that the wizards had just destroyed.

"Oh come on!" Bisca cried out.

"They regenerate?!" Alzach asked.

"We just can't seem to catch a break, can we?" Macao sighed.

"Doesn't matter. We keep them away from the Guildhall! Wipe them out!" Cana commanded.

"Cana, I want to go check on the hideout, we might have to evacuate them, not to mention the entire city," Loke said.

"Sure, then relieve Wendy and Carla, I have a feeling we'll need air support," Cana said, before throwing a card.

"Alicia, go with them, I feel like you'll have better luck dealing with any human opponents instead," Dan suggested.

The black haired girl nodded, "Lead the way Fairy," Alicia said to Loke.

"Right, follow me cat," Loke smirked back.


Wendy and Carla were casually playing a game with a deck of cards, "Reedus, how did you summon that carriage and boar earlier?" Asked Wendy.

"I use Picto Magic, a user of such magic can use a canvas to draw anything they like and bring it to life. Normally, I would need a sketch pad or such to use my spells, but Master helped me and cast a spell, making me look like this," Reedus explained.

"Wow," Wendy smiled, "Impressive."

"I rarely compliment men, but indeed, a magic that brings creations to life…" Carla agreed.

"Thank you my dears. Now, just in case we end up fighting the enemy after all, what magic do you both use?" Reedus asked.

"Moon Magic, general use combat magic, works better with the moon out," Carla gave a smirk.

"And I use Sky Dragon slayer magic, I have a mix of attack and support spells," Wendy added.

"Interesting, I'm sure I could come up with something, should a fight occur," Reedus put the finishing touches on Carla's painting. "There we go Miss Carla," He said.

"That looks incredible," Wendy marvelled at the picture.

"I'll take it back to Cait Shelter, once this crazy mess has ended," Carla smiled.

They were then interrupted by the awakening of Lucy, who looked drowsy as she looked around.

"Where am I?" She asked. "Wait! Phantom!" She gasped, looking around.

"Not here, we brought you to a hideout of Fairy Tail," Carla said.

"Oui, Mira put you to sleep and we brought you here to the hideout across Magnolia," Reedus said.

"Oh… I see," Lucy sighed.

"Don't take it so negatively my dear, Fairy Tail and Cait Shelter have both got reasons to fight. We want to keep you safe and get payback for our fallen comrades," Reedus explained.

"I know… but I still wish I could fight with you guys!" Lucy protested.

"Look Lucy," Carla spoke up. "Since Fairy Tail don't have to worry about keeping you out of Phantom's hands, they can fight the enemy at full force and full focus."

Reedus decided to start a painting on Lucy, and the Cait Shelter girls returned to their card game.

After a while, Wendy glanced out the window, "Hey guys, look, the Giant has stopped! Abyss Break was cancelled!"

"Well that's a-!" Carla was interrupted as the door suddenly blasted open, three individuals entering the room.

The first was a girl of dark skin, wearing a purple Phantom marked hat, a blue sleeveless shirt and green combats.

The second was a man of similar skin, bald and wearing a white bomber jacket with blue fur around the collar, a red shirt underneath and black pants. He was wearing a pair of sunglasses, but one lens was shattered.

The third made the occupants of the room gulp, they could only guess it was Gajeel, Iron Dragon slayer.

"Well, what do we have here?" Gajeel asked. "Hide and seek is over Fairies."

"Iron Dragon Gajeel," Wendy noted, "I'd say it's a pleasure to meet a fellow dragon, but the way you've been treating my friends means you'll get no smiles from me."

"Looks like we've got no choice," Carla said, transforming into her human form. "You two stay back, we'll take care of these guys."

"What, two little girls are gonna pick a fight with us? Sounds, Mirrors, earn your keep," Gajeel said.

"Roger that! Sound Magic: Howling!" The bald guy snapped his fingers, music notes flying from a magic circle. As they appeared, they created a nasty screeching sound.

"Mute that noise! Full Moon Blaster!" Carla snapped, firing a pink/white laser from her hands, hitting the man in the arm.

"You punk! My turn, Mirror Magic: Mirror Move!" The Phantom girl said, a mirror appearing before her, which had Carla in the reflection firing another laser, this time at the girls, who ducked.

"Picto Magic: Boars gone mad!" From behind the two, several pigs suddenly surged forwards, surprising the two phantoms.

"No you don't! Sound Magic: Roar!" Sounds snapped his fingers, this time a single roar came from his hands, but the shockwave of the roar sent the boars spiralling out of control.

"I refuse to sit on the sidelines! Open, Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" Lucy snapped, opening a gate. This was the first time Wendy and Carla had met the pink haired maid with chains on her wrists.

"Is it punishment time?" She asked.

"Maybe if you don't stop those crazies!" Lucy requested.

Virgo turned like a Vulcan on heat, rushing towards the two, before making a hole in the ground between them, making another hole beneath Mirrors, causing her to fall in a pitfall.

"Ok, enough of that!" Gajeel suddenly made to intervene. "Iron Dragon Hard Fist!" He called out, springing forwards.

"Now I step in. Sky Dragon Wing Attack!" Wendy called out.

"No way! You're a dragon slayer?" Gajeel gasped, as Wendy's wind sickles sliced at his skin. He powered through though, landing a heavy hit in her stomach.

Wendy gagged at the heavy slam, but managed to recover. "Enchant: Arms, Armour, Vernier!" She said, making her enchantments active to all her allies. "Sky Dragon Roar!" She called out. Her powerful breath attack picked up the heavy dragon slayer and sending him sprawling across the floor.

"Not bad pipsqueak, you might be fun to play with after all!" He grinned.

"I knew they could do it!" Loke smirked, pausing to look back when he heard the citizens saying about the magic circle disappearing.

"You doubted Marcus and your friends?" Alicia asked.

Both were interrupted from any further talk when a nearby roof partially erupted.

Inside the hideout, Reedus looked awful, having shielded Lucy from most of the attacks. "I'm not finished yet! Picto Magic: Roar of Silver!" He called, quickly painting several Vulcans on his chest, then they came to life.

"No you don't! Mirror Magic: Form Mirror!" She called out, creating several mirrors that absorbed the three Vulcans, which then shot them back as magic power. Three purple beams slammed into Reedus who collapsed from the pain.

"Reedus!" Lucy gasped.

"Lucy, run! We'll hold them off!" Wendy called, ducking under Gajeel's iron clubs.

"She's right! Go!" Carla called. "Crescent Moon Kick!" She called out, a foot lighting up with lunar energy, which she used to slam into Mirrors.

"Sue!" Called Sounds.

"Nice move kitty cat, my turn!" Sue, Mirrors, whichever, raised a hand. "Mirror Magic: Mirror Coat!" She called, a focused beam of power fired, slamming into Carla, knocking her back into Lucy, out cold.

"Carla! Lucy!" Wendy called. Last one standing… She thought.

"You two, grab the girl and get going!" Gajeel called to his allies. "I'll keep little blue busy."

"Got it boss!" Sounds nodded, grabbing the blonde who was trying to rouse Reedus or Carla. "You're coming with us blondie."

Wendy made to intercept, but Gajeel was suddenly there, slicing at the air she would have occupied a second later. The sky maiden's eyes widened when she saw his arm was morphed into a sword with blades moving at high speed. "That looks dangerous," She observed.

"You're looking at the Iron Dragon Sword, slices through anything and anyone," Gajeel introduced his weapon.

Wendy leapt over the sword as Gajeel attempted to cleave her in two. She then sprinted at him, fist swelling with sky magic. "Sky Dragon Breakdown Fist!" She called out, making to punch him in the shoulder of his weapon arm.

Gajeel just smirked. "You've been fun kid, but I'm still just warming up!" He laughed. His hearing and nose then alerted him to newcomers, and leapt back before Wendy could hit him, then to the right as something impacted the ground he just stood in.

"Heck of a way to say hello!" He grinned to the new arrivals. Wendy just sighed with relief as Loke emerged from the dust.

"Where's Lucy?" He asked.

"She's already on her way to the boss, I just wanted to make sure the runt here couldn't follow," Gajeel said.

"You ok Wendy?" Wendy turned to see Alicia enter through the front door.

"Am I glad to see you!" She grinned.

"Sorry to interrupt the reunion, but now you furballs can bite the blade together!" Gajeel slashed at the two girls.

Alicia quickly moved. Her staff stood between her and his sword. Uttering a quiet reinforce spell to her weapon, she blocked the sword.

"What the hell?" Gajeel asked. Alicia put her hand on his sword.

"Metal Manipulation: Flexible!" She said, and Gajeel actually paled as the metal on his sword began to bend and warp.

"What the crap kinda magic is that?!" He demanded, dispelling his sword, his hand returning to normal.

"Your worst nightmare. You must be the 'rivet faced monster' Marcus told Master about. The one who put poor Emi in the hospital," Alicia muttered. It scared Wendy how quiet the usually cheerful girl was.

Gajeel was also starting to sense that he might be just slightly outmatched here. Metal Manipulation? Just my luck that she uses a magic that completely counters my own. He thought.

Loke then got a hit in, hands glowing golden as he swung at Gajeel from behind, sending the dragon slayer reeling. He grunted.

"We'll settle the score someday pipsqueak," He said to Wendy. He looked to Alicia. "As for you… we'll have to have our own party sometime." With that, he bolted.

Loke grunted as he flickered. Damnit… looks like I don't have long left. Guess I'll be seeing you again soon, won't I Karen? He asked, looking at his reflection in the window. His own face smiled back, with a blonde woman who's bangs covered her face glared back with a single red eye.

Wendy, looking a little worse for wear, knelt down, beginning to restore the stamina and heal the wounds of Carla. "We failed…" She sighed.

When Carla was back up, Wendy was about to move onto Reedus. Loke stopped her. "Don't worry about him. Save your magic for later," He said. "I'll keep an eye on Reedus, you ladies head back to the battle."

"Alright, take care of yourself," With that, the three Cait Shelter wizards headed back to Fairy Tail. Carla carried Wendy, while Alicia stood on a rooftop.

"Metal Manipulation: Razorwing!" She called out, putting her staff behind her. Four wings, two large, two small, appeared at each end. Alicia leapt, beginning to glide along, using currents and lit chimneys to keep her airborne as she followed her companions.


Marcus ran into a large open room, "Whoa, Gray, Elfman!" He said, spotting his allies. He was surprised to see Mira though.

"What are you doing here Mira?" Melody asked.

"I could say the same about her," Elfman pointed out, pointing to the wand wizard that walked up behind Marcus and his partner.

"Eh, she realised José just might be in the wrong," Marcus shrugged. "Not important. What's the story here? I noticed the Giant stopped the spell."

"Turned out it was powered by the Element Four. Look over there," Gray pointed.

Winona gasped. "No way! Aria is out?!" She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Look who beat him," Elfman was next to point. This time it was to a mop of red hair leaning against a pillar, with a long amount of blonde knelt next to it, tending to any wounds.

"Wha…? Sarah? Erza? What the hell are you doing here?" Melody asked.

"We beat the crybaby over there… well… Erza did," Sarah said.

"I feel like you've already gotten enough flak from these guys, so all I'll say is: You two are absolutely crazy," Marcus sighed.

"Have you met Fairy Tail? Our entire guild is crazy," Sarah shrugged.

"That's also fair," Marcus couldn't find another comeback for that.

As if waiting for their conversation to end, a sudden feeling of evil washed over Marcus. "What the… I feel… like all the happiness in the room just got sucked into a single point and got squashed."

"I've never felt something like this!" Gray gasped.

"Whatever it is, it's super un-manly guys," Elfman threw in his own comment.

"It's like a cloud of pure darkness…!" Mira gagged.

"Well done Fairy Tail. As well as you Cold Kaiser," Marcus and Elfman bravely stepped between the new arrival and Mirajane, who nervously stood back. "You managed to take down my elite Element Four, as well as seemingly turning Winona against me," He said, giving a scowl to the woman.

"Master… you've gone too far! You dared to use Jupiter, then you chose overkill when attempting to unleash Abyss Break. It's too much! I understand you hate Fairy Tail, but there's no need to take out that anger on the innocents of that city!" Winona protested.

"Enough, foolish girl! You have betrayed Phantom Lord, the only penalty for such a crime is death!" He yelled, releasing a sudden spear of darkness magic, lancing towards the girl.

"Winona!" Marcus gasped. He was surprised when Sarah suddenly stepped between the girl and the attack, and with a glow, summoned the Shield of Ignis. "Solar Wall!" She called out.

The spear of darkness slammed into it. Sarah slid backwards, but then dug in. "Let me help!" Winona called out, her wand in hand. "Protego!" She grit her teeth, a barrier forming between Sarah and her shield. Sarah, getting the idea, lowered her shield, dispelling it. She grinned in relief when the spell suddenly reversed course. José snarled, a palm reflecting the spell into the wall.

"Primarily a shield spell, hard to use on big spells, occasionally can repel the nasty ones," Winona gasped, glad that she and her allies were not dead yet.

"Fine! I'll kill every last one of you!" José roared.

"Uh oh… he's pissed," Gray muttered.

"Ready to go lads?" Marcus asked. "You girls stay back."

"You bet!" Elfman and Gray both nodded, the three wizards charging.

"Ice Make: Saucer!" Gray conjured up an icy saw blade, which ripped through the air towards the mad master.

"Beast Arm: Manly Throw!" Elfman roared, his arms mutated as he threw a stone pillar.

"Ice Dragon Frozen ROAR!" Marcus added, releasing the hailstorm variant of his breath attack.

"No! Don't!" Erza gasped.

The attacks connected, dust thrown into the air.

"Did that get him?" Gray asked.

"No. Not even close," Winona sighed.

"Goodness, that tickled!" The three front runners gasped, fearful as the dust settled to show José none the worse for wear.

"No way… that did nothing?!" Gray asked.

"Yeah… sure looks that way…" Marcus winced.

A magic circle appeared before José's outstretched hand. "Dead Wave!" He yelled, a black beam of darkness swelling out from his hand, he made to swipe it around the room, intending to throw everyone aside.

"Gray!" Marcus called out. "Together!"

"Ice Make: Rampart!" The two ice wizards combined their powers, making a thick wall of ice between them and José.

It did nothing, the black beam ripping through, washing everyone off their feet. Marcus groaned as he shook off the attack. Gray and Elfman were buried beneath a collapsed wall. Melody was blown out the room. Winona was unconscious against the wall, a red mark just above where she impacted. Erza and Sarah were prone, in pain.

José then swiped his hand, causing an implosion to spark in the middle of the group. Marcus growled. Kicking them while down? Low blow.

Erza suddenly was on her feet, slashing at José in her Black-Wing Armour, he ducked and weaved, he then gripped her wrist, throwing her across the room, Erza rolled with the momentum and flipped back to safety.

José then found himself shooting thin purple lasers from his fingers at purple bolts shooting at him. Sarah snarled as her attack was foiled.

"You two are most impressive. You both stopped Jupiter at full force and somehow still have the strength to fight on?" José asked.

"Only because my friends have filled my heart with strength!" Erza stood tall.

"Pain can keep coming, we'll keep getting back up if it means protecting those that fight by our side. Either here or on another front," Sarah added. "We'll do anything to protect them. Personally, I'll fight with both arms missing and no magic at all if it meant keeping them safe."

"Powerful, courageous and exquisitely beautiful. Destroying the pair of you will bring me unbearable pleasure," José hissed with an evil smirk.

From where he was lying, Marcus suddenly heard the sounds of battle far above in the tower. "Natsu…" He realised. "I'm gonna feel sick about this… but do you both think you can manage?"

Sarah nodded. "Go make sure that he comes back in one piece." She said.

Marcus nodded. He spotted Gray barely awake in the corner. "Gray, keep an eye on things down here. I'm gonna go back up your fireball upstairs," He said. He frowned, realising he'd have to first get around the fight with José, then climb the Giant.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled a build-up of mist, which covered the room. As José looked around, confused, suddenly a flaming comet raced towards him, Sarah holding her shield.

He grunted, dodging and getting ready to backlash.

What he didn't realise was that Marcus had gotten past him. The ice dragon followed the hallways, before he spotted a tunnel of debris and wreckage, diagonally heading upwards, with flames roaring at the top. Marcus chuckled. "Natsu sure makes it easy to find him."


At the top of the tower, Gajeel smirked. "I knew I smelled him." He grinned.

"GAJEEL!" Natsu roared. However, before either Dragon Slayer could move, an icy blast hit him in the stomach.

Gajeel grunted as he self-righted, Natsu's fire had dimmed as he looked at Marcus, who fully leapt up to join him, holding an icy cannon.

"We've got some unfinished business rivet face," He said calmly, a glare on his face. He turned to Natsu, who was still fired up. "On a previous job, he almost sliced my sister in two thinking she picked his pocket. She still has the scar."

Across the room, Lucy gasped. "You like beating up innocent girls, don't you?" She frowned. Gajeel growled, sending an iron club shooting into her gut.

"LUCY!" Natsu, Happy and Marcus were shocked, he didn't even hesitate to hit her. Happy ran over.

"I'm ok... I've gotten used to it by now. He's been toying with me ever since we got back here," She grunted, getting to her feet.

The two Dragon Slayers started, then fury hit their eyes. Marcus and Natsu readied themselves as Gajeel settled into a cocky grin, ready to lunge at them. This was going to get crazy.


Marcus: Battle after battle, geez.

Sarah: Not done yet, shouldn't be long before this comes to an end.

Wendy: You're the one facing a wizard saint, not us.

All: Next time: Light in the Darkness!