Natalia couldn't believe what was right in front of her. It was Eclear sealed away himself and he was right before her eyes. Finding Eclear was always the goal of E.R. and now it looks like he's finally been uncovered.
"I don't believe it." Natalia said. "Is that really him? Is that really Eclear inside that giant lacrima?"
"It is him indeed." Kojishi said. "After searching for nearly a century, we have finally found him. We actually uncovered him just a few weeks ago."
"A few weeks ago? How? Where?" Natalia questioned. "More importantly, if you found him, why target Fairy Tail in the first place."
"I'm only showing you this because you use to be a member of E.R." Kojishi said. "I thought you at least deserve to see this. You really want to know how we uncovered him? Very well. A few weeks ago, the four of us continued our search for him and our search led us to a mountain range."
"A mountain range?" Natalia said.
"Yes. Underneath that mountain range is a labyrinth that goes on for miles." Kojishi said. "It would take days or even months for a person to navigate through it. That's when we thought that it would be the ideal place to hide something that you wouldn't want discovered again."
"Eclear sealed away…" Natalia said.
"Exactly." Kojishi said. "That labyrinth wasn't just made. It was clear that it's been around for a very long time. For over a month, the four of us searched that place. We searched and searched every inch of that place we could….until it finally happened. We found him there just waiting for us to revive him."
"So he's finally been found." Natalia said as she wasn't sure what to think.
"All that is left is to break this lacrima and free him from his century long slumber." Kojishi said. "It's actually a relief knowing that the search has finally ended. Those who are still loyal to us will be glad to know about this."
"I still don't see what this has to do with Fairy Tail?" Natalia questioned. "If you found him, why didn't you get to work on freeing him? How come you and Kuma attacked the guild?"
"That's simple." Kojishi said. "It was to keep Fairy Tail from interfering with our plans. We still have not discovered how we can break this lacrima and revive Eclear inside. We also became aware that if word about this got back to Fairy Tail, you would do everything in your power to stop us."
"I think I'm starting to get it now." Natalia said. "So you and Kuma attacked the guild for that reason. Kuma sent Natsu and the others traveling around the world because you knew they were some of the guild's best fighters. You were aware defeating them would be a challenge. So you had to get them out of the way. Once you did that, it would have been easier for you to take the guild down."
"I'll admit that some of them did put up a good fight, but those seven were considered Fairy Tail's best." Kojishi said. "We knew that once we captured the rest of the guild, it would only be those seven remaining. We didn't expect for all of them to come together so soon. We thought we would have had more time and by then, Eclear would be free or we would at least have a way of defeating those who remained."
"You thought wrong, obviously." Natalia said. "I saw Erza and Gray take down Sasomoo and I'm certain that Hamuro and Kuma would have been defeated by now."
"Yes. You're probably right." Kojishi said. "Even so, I'm not going to show any mercy or surrender."
"I suppose I can see the reason as to why you wouldn't." Natalia said as she stared right at Eclear. "After this organization has been searching for Eclear for a century, you finally found him. You wouldn't want all that trouble to be for nothing."
"You could say that." Kojishi said. "Now there is only one thing left to do." He held out his hand with some frost coming from it. Natalia got scared from seeing his magic as her body began to tremble.
"What are you doing?" Natalia said.
"I told you that you are considered an enemy now." Kojishi said. "Therefore, I have to treat you like an enemy. I'll freeze you and use you as leverage against your guild. I doubt they'll attack if I keep you close by with the threat of ending your life."
"You…. You wouldn't." Natalia said as she tried to be brave, but it was hard as she thought back to the horror she saw with that ice of his. "Kojishi, you've always been more merciful. You can't."
"I'm sorry, Natalia. I might be more merciful, but there are times I'm willing to cross that line." Kojjishi said. "I told you that I would see you as an enemy and this must be done." Natalia was too scared to move or fight back and thought this might be it for her.
"Natalia!"
"That voice…!" Natalia said as she knew who it was.
"It seems like I'll have to deal with this nuisance first." Kojishi said as looked beyond the door. Out of nowhere, Natus dived right in with a fiery fist.
"Let her go!" Natsu shouted as he tried to attack Kojishi, but Kojishi caught his attack with the forces of ice and fire colliding. Kojishi kicked Natsu and pushed him back.
"Natalia!" Lucy called as she and Happy went over to her with Lucy placing her hands on Natalia's shoulders. "Are you okay? You're shaking."
"Of course she's shaking. We're dealing with someone who specializes with ice magic and she's scared of that." Happy said. "Sheesh, Lucy. Are you sure you're the smart one?"
"Is now really the time to be poking fun at me?" Lucy said.
"Don't worry about me. Worry about that." Natalia said as she pointed to the sealed Eclear.
"Who is that?" Lucy questioned.
"These creeps kidnapped someone else from their home?" Natsu said.
"No. That's Eclear. That's who E.R. has been looking for all this time." Natalia said. As soon as she said that, all of them were really shocked.
"That's him?" Lucy said. "The infamous evil wizard that these guys have sworn to bring back one day?"
"Not really what I expected." Happy said.
"Yes. This is Eclear. Once he is free from his lacrima prison, he'll be free to roam the land again." Kojishi said.
"And destroy anything he wants just for the sake of enjoyment." Natalia said.
"I don't get it. Why would you people want someone like that revived?" Lucy questioned. "What's in it for you and anyone else that joined E.R.? I just don't understand why you or anyone would want this."
"Little girl, you know nothing about us." Kojishi said. "We each joined for our own reasons. Some of us want Eclear revived because we no longer see the value of this world. Others do it because they desire power and are hoping that Eclear will give it to them. Of course, there are those who do it for their own reasons that aren't connected at all to this. I'm sure you remember Rod from E.R.7. The only reason he was a part of E.R., from what I heard, is because he thought it meant he could kill whoever he wanted."
"I remember that bastard." Natsu said. "He was insane just like the rest of you. I couldn't care less on what your reasons are. You attacked and hurt my friends!" Natsu didn't wait another second as he went on the attack. "That's all the reason I need to fight you!" Natsu drove his fist against Kojishi, but Kojishi was able to block it. Natsu was able to swing his leg around and hit Kojishi with it. Kojishi slid back and slammed against the lacrima. "Now get ready to say goodbye!"
"Natsu, wait!" Lucy called, but Natsu never was one to do that.
"Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!" Natsu tossed a giant fireball and it smashed right against Kojishi and the lacrima.
"You dummy! We want to prevent that guy in the lacrima from getting free!" Lucy called as she was afraid he did the work for E.R. Natsu didn't appear to hear her as he kept his sight on Kojishi. It appeared Kojishi was able to block the attack with a shield of ice. The ice vanished and Kojishi seemed unharmed.
"Have you forgotten how things went the last time we faced each other?" Kojishi said. "It's going to take more than your flames to beat me."
"Oh yeah?!" Natsu said as he went at him again and smashed his fist against him with a fiery explosion going off with the others being blown back from it.
"Did he forget we're in here?" Natalia said as they tried to endure the power coming from Natsu's fight.
"Maybe." Lucy said.
"You know how Natsu can be. Just hold on!" Happy said.
…
Outside
Gray, Erza, Wendy, and the others felt the building shake from the explosion of Natsu's attack.
"What was that?" Carla questioned.
"Nagare!" Gray called out. "What do you see up there?!" Nagare flew the ship around and tried to find what happened. He soon spotted smoke coming out of the bottom of the ship with debris falling out. He also saw two people falling out.
"Natsu?" Nagare said. Natsu created an opening in the ship and caused both himself and Kojishi to fall out of it.
'He did that much damage in just one attack?' Kojishi thought. He looked right at Natsu and could see the rage and power behind his eyes 'Just how powerful is he? This is no ordinary wizard.' Kojishi acted fast and froze a large area of the ocean for there to be something for him to land on. He landed perfectly, but when Natsu landed on the ice, he slipped and fell on his face.
"That hurt." Natsu groaned.
"You certainly are an interesting one. I'm starting to see how you were able to defeat some of the others." Kojishi said. "I knew you would be a threat to our plans, but it seems I greatly underestimated you still."
"Just wait until I get my footing." Natsu said as he tried to get up without slipping on the ice. "Once I'm able to stand and keep my balance, I'm going to knock you around."
"Have you forgotten how things went the last time we faced each other?" Kojishi questioned. "I could freeze your entire body and have it completely shattered. You should be careful when you run your mouth. Ice and cold can be quite a powerful force. Even if your specialty is fire, fire and heat can be output by ice. However, I promise I'll make your death as painless as possible."
"Enough talking! Let's just get right to it!" Natsu said.
"So be it. I'll show you that it was a mistake to challenge E.R. in the first place." Kojishi said.
"And I'll show you it was a mistake to mess with Fairy Tail." Natsu said. Two opposing forces, of fire and ice as well as two opposing affiliations, are about to clash. In the end, only one will be able to walk out of this one.