Chapter 7

Normal POV

A a few seconds later, a small, petite figure stumbled into the moonlight. Her wavy hair swayed around her. Wendy looked a little panicked. But noticed the three other wizards, plus Midnight, and sighed in relief. Carla followed her but stayed silent.

"Isn't that an Oracion Seis member?" asked Wendy. Makoto shrugged. Jellal nodded.

"It was," said Erza. If it wasn't for Makoto, the battle would have been much longer and painful."

"So, are you implying that you would have won if I hadn't arrived?" asked Makoto skeptically. Erza looked at him pointedly. "You're right though." Jellal looked around, wincing every so often.

"What do we do now?" asked Wendy. Makoto suddenly closed his eyes and stopped breathing. He reached out his hand, and made a grabbing gesture, then handed something invisible to his right. As Makoto opened his eyes, he stumbled into Wendy.

"Woah!" She exclaimed as she tried to support Makoto. Makoto rubbed his head.

"Well, for starters," he said panickily. "We need to find the others, fast."

Natsu POV

Natsu still wasn't totally sure what had just happened. Neither were his friends, who were still looking where the phantom armor was. He tried to recall the scene he had just witnessed.

"The staff is talking!" exclaimed Happy.

"You're saying that now?" asked Lucy. Brains staff began to laugh, as it slowly rose into the air, its eyes glowing.

"What is going on?" wondered Gray. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around the staff and whacked it on the ground.

"Would you please shut up?" asked the mystery person. Natsu then noticed the white armor with blue visor.

"Makoto?" asked Lucy. "Why did you come back? I thought you went to look for Erza." Makoto looked slightly confused, then seemed to understand Lucy's confusion.

"Makoto isn't here," said Makoto. "Just his armor."

"WHAT?!" they all asked in confusion.

"Yeah, I just came here to grab the staff," said the armor. "I would recommend watching Brains body also."

"Why?" asked Happy. "He's already knocked out." Before the armor could answer, the staff jumped out of its hand and began to hop away.

"Looks like it trying to get away," the armor sighed and took off. "It's your problem now!"

Natsu noticed the staff seemed a little worried. Eh, it I'll more fun that way!

"Let's go!" he yelled as his fist wee covered in flames. He and Gray jumped at the staff with such speed, only to be whacked in the face with the wooden shaft. It then released a barrage of lighting, making their bodies dance. OW! Natsu grunted as the two wizards felt o the ground.

"Oh no!" yelled Happy. "This thing is actually strong!" Natsu looked up to see the staff a little distracted.

"All six generals have been wiped out," the staff murmured. "That me-eans he's coming!" The blue sphere between the staff's teeth fell out and shattered on the rocks. Who is he talking about? Maybe Brain?

"If you're talking about Brain," said Natsu. "Jura already kicked his butt."

"No.." trembled the staff. "Brain has an alter ego, Zero!"

"Zero?" wondered Happy.

"Due to Zero's magic, Brain sealed him away with six keys." said the staff.

"Oracion Sies!" exclaimed Gray. So, there is an even more powerful foe. Natsu smiled inwardly. This was going to be fun! Suddenly, a huge explosion blasted the wall to his right into pieces. A large shadow walked out of the rubble. The moment the person revealed itself, the staff jumped to grovel at the person's feet.

"Welcome back Master Zero!" groveled the staff.

"Master?" asked Lucy.

"So these brats defeated my guild?" quietly asked Zero.

"Yes, I am very sorry sir!" said the staff.

"I will deal with them, myself," decided Zero. He ripped off his coat, Gray style, and began to release green energy around him. Ew.

"That is some nasty magic," noted Natsu. A green jacket with tigerlike dark green stripes over it. His eyes were dark red, with black dots in the middle of his eyes.

"Now, to eradicate the bald man who hurt this body," said Zero. Is he attacking an unconscious enemy?

"Are you attacking a person who isn't moving?!" exclaimed Natsu.

"He hasn't been eradicated," said Zero as he raised his hand at Jura's limp body on the ground. A multitude of green beams shot at Jura, only to be blocked by Gray's ice wall. It began to crack. Small pieces began to flake off. Gray grunted in effort. Crash! Gray and Jura were blasted into the back wall, collapsing it on top of themselves. How powerful is this guy?

"Old dude!" he yelled.

"Gray!" screamed Lucy. Natsu growled and jumped at the white-haired man. He couldn't let anyone hurt his friends. His fist collided with a purple magic circle, acting as a shield. The floor cracked around them. Why won't this budge?! Zero smirked and pushed his pointer finger into Natsu's chest. A huge amount of force blew him back, and landed on the ceiling, then fell to the floor, face down. A pain radiated out from the spot he was pushed. He almost black-out, but managed to hear the distant thoom, and thump onto the rubble. He could hear distant laughter.

Hibiki POV

Hibiki probed the surrounding area, trying to look for any allies in the area. Anyone? Anyone! Can you hear me? He was getting desperate. Nirvana strangely hadn't fired yet, but it was getting close. That voice…is it Hibiki? said Erza in his head. Wendy and Erza's heads appeared on the monitor. Erza and Wendy.

"You guys are okay!" replied Hibiki. He was relieved that they were okay. I'm okay too. added Iychia's voice.

"Senpai! You're okay too!" said Hibiki.

How did you get Christina into the air? wondered Erza. It was shot down like a fly. added Carla. Hibiki smiled inwardly.

"It was a team effort to get her back into the air. Lyon is using his creation magic to replace the destroyed wing. Ren's wind magic and Sherry's doll magic are keeping the hull intact. Eve is ready to change Nirvana's course, as a backup plan." Suddenly, Hibiki could hear a few cracks and clunks behind him. He turned around to see the rest of the wizards were struggling to keep the ship afloat. The wing began to crack. Cries and shouts could be heard from the wizards.

"We're running out out magical power," He muttered. "Don't worry about us, but you have to listen to this. I found the blueprints to Nirvana in the depths of my archive magic; the way to stop Nirvana!" A collective gasp filled his head.He waited for it to die down before he continued. "You see those six legs on Nirvana?" Um, technically we don't see them. mentioned Makoto. Hibiki heard a stifled giggle.

"Anyways, the legs are more like pipes, sucking in magic from the Earth," continued Hibiki. "Each has a lacrima regulating the inflow. If all six were destroyed at the same time, then Nirvana would be deactivated. Destroying one at a time won't work. The lacrimas are regenerating, so if one was destroyed, the others would immediately repair it." How would we coordinate that? asked Erza.

"I can't maintain telepathy long enough before Nirvana fires, so I've decided to download a timer into your brain." said Hibiki. Gee, thanks. said Makoto. Maybe ask for consent next time? Hibiki ignored the comment and forgot something.

"As you can see," he started. "We only have 20 minutes before Nirvana fires. Eve can block one of the shots, but I don't think Christina is going to stay afloat for that long. But I know you guys have this!" He winced in pain. Impossible! yelled a new voice. That voice. started Erza. It's Brain! finished Wendy. Hibiki was surprised to hear a new voice. He was extremely skilled in his telepathy.

"He jacked my telepathy?" asked Hibiki. I am Zero, master of Oracion Sies! continued Zero. First, I must praise you. I would have never thought another wizard could use archive like Brain. So that's how he managed to find Nirvana. realized Hibiki. Listen wizards of light! Announced Brain. I will now start to destroy everything! To start, I have defeated three of your allies. A dragon slayer, an ice creation wizard, and a celestial spirit wizard. And a cat too? What?! exclaimed Erza. That has to be a lie! added Wendy.

And about your little plan, I am standing in front of one of the lacrimas. announced Zero. As long as I'm standing here, Nirvana will not fall! Lighting zapped Hibiki, sending a sharp pain into his hands. Then Zero's voice cut out. A few seconds of silence passed. Are you forgetting something? asked Carla. We don't have six wizards! The realization hit Hibiki like cold water. I-I don't think my attacks are strong enough to destroy a Lacrima. mumbled Wendy. We have three. reported Erza. Is there anyone else? My honey, I am still here. said Iychia. Although, I am tied up.

"That makes…four," said Hibiki. He stumbled onto the floor, exhausted. "I'm almost out of magic power." His head went silent, as he leaned against the wall, hoping, by some longshot, The rest of the wizards would hear their voices.

Gray POV

"Gray," said a voice. "Stand up. You are a proud disciple of Ul, and you will not lose to the like of them!" Gray, roused by this impassioned rant, slowly opened his eyes. His body felt like it was being poked with hot needles everywhere. His head was turned to the left. He focused on a small pebble in front of him. He heard someone behind him grunting with effort. Natsu! He realized. Gray couldn't be outshone by his rival and began to push himself up. Gray felt tired and wanted to close his eyes, but he knew, people were counting on him. He was already panting from getting up. Guys! said Hibiki. Can you hear us?

"We…we can..hear you," Natsu managed to say. Gray suddenly knew what the plan was.

"We….destroy all six lacrimas…at once," he stumbled.

"The lucky one gets to fight Zero," added Lucy through pants.

"Only 18 minutes left," said Happy. "We will protect Carla and Wendy's, guild!"

You should have the map I sent you. said Hibiki. I've numbered the lacrimas, so decide which ones you want to take.

"One!" said Natsu.

"Two!" decided Gray. I hope Zero is there. Gray thought.

"Three," said Lucy. "I hope Zero isn't there!"

"Four," said Iychia. "My parfum tells me that is the closest one."

"You mean the map told you," corrected Erza.

"Hey, you stole joke!" complained Makoto.

"I'll take five," Erza cut in. She's okay! Looks like Wendy did her job.

"Erza! You okay?" asked Natsu hopefully.

"Thanks to her," said Erza, which Gray interpreted as Wendy.

I'll ta-," said an unfamiliar voice. Who was that? He sounds familiar. Someone cut him off. A few seconds passed before anyone said anything.

"Wendy is taking number six," said Makoto.

"I-I am?" asked Wendy nervously.

"She is what?!" demanded Carla. The telepathy suddenly disconnected, and Gray couldn't hear Erza or Wendy anymore.

"The telepathy just disconnected," said Gray.

"That was his limit," guessed Lucy. A moment of silence passed.

"We have six, so let's go!" yelled Happy. "Whoever runs into Zero is responsible for defeating him!" They all nodded and began walking through the hallway that would take them to the lacrimas. Their steps echoed through the corridors.