Chapter 18: Eisenwald's Rampage
After dealing with Team Rocket, Fairy Tail wasn't done. A new force marched their way to the wizards of Magnolia City's guild. The army were lead by two orange-haired men. They had hardly any differences as they wore dark red coats and black khakis. "The Eisenwald Twins?" gasped Lucy. "How?"
"I know," Erza gulped. "I thought the Dark Guild had disbanded! What's going on?" This made May turn to Erza.
"The… Dark Guild!?" she gulped.
"Actually, the Eisenwald Guild was one of the Dark Guilds that are not recognized by the Magic Council and considered criminal organizations," Erza clarified. "I should remember them, they tried to eliminate the guild masters years ago with a magical item known as Lullaby."
"Then you should be lucky we don't have Lullaby," one of the two leading redheads coughed.
"You guys destroyed it!" the other snapped.
"Yeah!?" snapped Natsu. "Like we'd let you deal with our guild!"
"That's what you think!" sounded one more. All turned to see a bare-chested silver-haired man with blue tattoos across the chest. He also wore a tattered robe and sandals as he carried a scythe
"Erigor!?" named Gray. Erigor floated above the army.
"Well, well…" he sneered. "Isn't this a hell of a reunion…? Not to mention that I'm seeing new faces." The other wizards glanced to Natsu, Lucy, Gray and Erza.
"You've faced them before?" asked Gajeel.
"Oh, did we!" growled Natsu. "Last I remember is that you fell into the ravine along the tracks!"
"Ah, yes…" Eirgor sneered. "How I should've died if you didn't catch me and have me arrested. It's a mistake several years to regret that decision… and now, it's here!" With one swing of his arm, Erigor created massive winds that blew the Pokémon from Ash and Delia, only for Elfman to catch them.
"These guys never learn," growled Erza. "Requip!" In a flash, Erza changed to a metallic silver spiky dress with a rather small brassier, large wings and scales over a large white skirt. She also donned a winged headband and two swords.
"Heaven's Wheel can disperse Erigor's band!" sneered Lily. Bisca realized the danger and turned to her daughter.
"Asuka, go back inside the guild with Ash's and May's Pokémon!" she ordered.
"Okay," Asuka obeyed. Reaching Elfman, Pikachu and Skitty joined Asuka and retreated.
"May, keep Asuka safe," Ash pointed out.
"Can do," May agreed before running back.
"Alright, you pompous blowhard!" scowled Natsu. "Fairy Tail beat you before! We'll be glad to offer a repeat performance!" The army charged, wielding various weapons. The battle was on. Two men wielding short swords had sneaked around and confronted May and Asuka.
"Well, the little girl can be saved for a few years," one man regarded Asuka.
"Don't worry," the other sneered. "Besides, she's ready to go for some action." May became worried. Romeo heard the men after May and Asuka and raced in.
"Not to my girlfriend!" he shouted. "Purple Flare!" He extended his arms that purple circles emerged and glimmering purple flames flared. "Purple Net!" Romeo was so close to the men, they couldn't dodge flaming nets that ensnared and scorched them. Those two caught and burned, the flames were shaken off so that he could help May and Asuka to their feet.
"Did you just call me…" started May.
"No time!" halted Romeo. "Let's get in!" Asuka ran ahead but as Romeo was ready to escort May to the guild, she turned Romeo around and held his lips with hers for a solid three seconds.
"Always time for that!" she sneered. Romeo blushed before recovering and dragging May by the hand.
"When this is over," he smirked. "We'll do what Ash and Wendy did."
"Deal!" agreed May. Everyone else continued the fight. Natsu and Gray combined forces.
"Ice-Make Bazooka!" chanted Gray as he made a bazooka like before. "Natsu, now!"
"Alright!" grinned Natsu before inhailing. "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" He blew the intense flame into the bazooka before Gray pulled the trigger. The Roar became a bomb that exploded and sent the rogues flying in all directions. Still more approached as a strange purple mist began to billow around. Erza's swords struck more, scattering the men to different directions as more of the mist emerged. Delia had barbed vines wrapped around her arms and knuckles. The vines caught the weapons before she pulled the men in for some literal fistacuffs with Ash standing back-to-back with her.
"Wasn't the saying, 'Like mother, like son'?" she asked.
"Wait, you were studying my techniques?" gulped Ash.
"Ever since I saw Jessie's attempts to take Pikachu," Delia briefed. "I wanted to protect him if you didn't need Pikachu anymore."
"Like I'm giving up Pikachu anytime soon!" snickered Ash. Lucy wanted to get in on the action as well.
"OPEN!" she shouted. "GATE OF THE MAIDEN! COME, VIRGO!" With a turn of a key, Virgo emerges… but bounded by rope.
"Is it time for punishment, master?" she asked.
"To those guys, yes," Lucy corrected. Virgo somehow undid her bondage and prepared herself for the opposing guild.
"Master, I suggest you join in punishing them," she suggested. Holding Virgo's key, Lucy pressed the key to herself.
"STAR DRESS!" she chanted. In a flash, Lucy transformed into a similar maid outfit but without the shoulders garbed. "Shall we?" They joined the fight as did Juvia, Cana, Elfman and others. During this time, more of the mist continued to envelop the area. The Eisenwald twins also engaged where they clashed and the mist continued to cover. In the guild, May began to see the one-sided battle by looking out the window with Asuka and the Pokémon.
"Something's wrong," she noticed. "It looks too easy for everyone." Asuka noticed the mist.
"What's with that powder?" she wondered. The Pokémon also noticed. Almost every rogue fighter had fallen and mist clouded the area.
"I know that was a lot of wizards after all of us," Elfman groaned. "But a lot of them didn't really put up a fight." That's when a thud was heard. All turned to Mirajane who laid face-down. "Mira!" Hearing the white-haired girl's fall, everyone gasped but the Eisenwald Twins who woke. Delia took a step to go after Mirajane when her body just fell and hit the floor.
"Mom!" gasped Ash. As he took a step, his body became numb and collapsed to the ground. About everyone in Fairy Tail fell from the mist. Lucy struggled but couldn't move as Virgo reached her side.
"Master!" she gasped. Lucy tried to move.
"The hell!?" she yelped. "Why can't I move!?" Erigor cackled at the scene as the mist continued to hover around.
"It's this mist!" groaned Wendy. "It's… stopping… all of us!"
"About damn time you figured it all out," Erigor scoffed. "This is a nerve poison. After several experiments, I managed to create a trap that you'd all fall for, regardless of how smart you were as a whole." His maniacal laugh angered those around as they laid helpless.
"Poison?" repeated Levy.
"Oh, don't worry…" sneered Erigor. "The poison won't kill you. It's already done its job. Those who've inhaled the mist will not be able to move." The army began to rise despite the beatings they took. Immediately, Delia sensed something amiss.
"That makes sense that your guild's had repeated exposure to build tolerance to the poison," she hissed. Erigor turned to Delia and grabbed her by the neck to lift her. The poison rendering her body immobile.
"Rather astute knowledge for a Fairy Tail flunky," he scoffed. "I take it that you've had exposure to various toxins to get the idea?" Delia feigned to answer.
"Put her down, coward!" growled Macao.
"Oh, why should I?" grinned Erigor. "Look at her: such an elegant woman who could bear many children for me and the Eisenwald Twins for starters… unless you've been busy with her and I can even kill your baby before it's born!" Looking around and finding Lucy, Erza, other girls and women, Erigor's grin grew. "However, that doesn't mean she'll be the only one." Erigor tossed Delia toward Ash. Trying not to cut themselves on the silver, the twins hoisted Erza up.
"Unhand me!" she scowled. Erigor lifted her head by the chin.
"How long has it been since I had the infamous Titania in my hands?" he sneered. "The years haven't done a thing to your beauty." Erza seethed at Erigor's attempt at flirting. A couple of men hovered over Levy. Her men didn't like the look of it.
"LEVY!" shouted Max, Jet and Droy. One more got to Lucy.
"You ask me, this one is ready for the whole shebang," one of the men laughed. "I mean, look at her! She's ready to serve you, boss! No matter what!"
"And make it two with her partner!" another motioned to Virgo, who was prone to the ground. Lucy turned to Virgo and got upset.
"Virgo, you're a Celestial Spirit!" she snapped. "The poison doesn't affect you!"
"I still failed to protect you, Master," Virgo admitted. "I deserve punishment."
"Oh, don't worry," one Eisenwald assured.
"We can give you two proper punishment," the other Eisenwald promised. Asuka came out and ran to her parents' side, standing in front of Bisca.
"Don't touch Mommy!" she yelled. May followed, worried about the men and the poisonous mist.
"Asuka, get back here!" she called back. One man hooked his arm around May's neck before lifting her and one lifted Asuka by the back of her shirt.
"You should've listened and stay back!" he scorned at Asuka.
"HELP!" cried May as she and Asuka struggled. Ash felt paralyzed, figuratively and literally. Delia had an idea.
"Ash…" she called. Ash turned his eyes to Delia. "I got one shot but I think you can use it. Do you know about Aromatherapy?" Ash thought back to his adventures.
"Yeah, it cures a Pokémon of status ailments," he replied softly while getting a hint of his mother's idea. "Are you sure about that?"
"It's the only thing I can think of and you're within range. I'm gonna connect my vine to you and use it. You take a deep breath and wait for me to say it, get up and see about clearing this mist." Ash thought of how to execute Delia's plan.
"It's a long shot. Whenever you're ready."
"Extension…" A vine from Delia reached Ash. He took a deep breath as one man was reaching for Lucy's skirt. "Nature's Filter…" The vine was aglow before it made Ash shine. After a few seconds, Ash slowly began to move. He pushed himself up and faced the men as some began to approach his mother.
'Let's use Phoenix Spin, but freeze it.' A magic ice blue circle emerged and Ash was ready to exhale. "Centigrade Spin!" Erigor and the twins turned to find a tornado forming around Ash as the mist came toward him like being sucked by a vacuum. The mist evaporated and Ash collapsed onto a knee.
"What's going on!?" growled Erigor. "That was supposed to keep you down as we take your women and leave you to die!" Ash stood up.
"Let May and Asuka go," he snarled.
"And why should we?" taunted Erigor. One of the twins took note of Ash's call and magic.
"Boss, that name…" one of the two spoke. "Centigrade… doesn't that mean anything to you?" Erigor turned to the spoken twin.
"Should it?" he muttered. Finding Wendy, Ash came up with a plan.
"Virgo, get Wendy over here!" he commanded. Virgo didn't budge.
"I will only respond to Master," she reminded.
"No, listen to Ash right now," Lucy gritted. "You two are the only ones who can move. Get Wendy to Ash." Virgo nodded before flinging chains at the men who lifted Lucy's skirt. The heavy chain blasted the men clear. Virgo recovered Wendy and brought her to Ash.
"Where do you think you're taking her!?" one of the men shouted. They leaped with swords and axes over their heads. Ash saw them and attacked.
"Phoenix Blade!" he commanded. "Silfarion!" The flames formed into one of Haru's swords which Ash copied before slashing at the men. They flew back and slammed into walls. Erigor and the Eisenwalds looked on in disbelief.
"Centigrade, Phoenix…" listed Erigor. "That must mean he also has Thunderbird to complete the clan of the Tempests." Wendy was escorted to Delia before facing Erigor.
"Surprised?" he sneered. "Thunderbird Blade: Blue Crimson!" In both hands were long swords. "Thunderbird Quick!" He vanished and swiftly struck both of the twins to which Erigor smashed to the ground, rendering them unconscious as the blades vanished.
"So, this is the power you hold: the Tempests Mages of the avian gods," Erigor determined. "Centigrade, Thunderbird and Phoenix… I'd rather have your powers than you yourself. Let's get that started!" He flew down at Ash.
"Phoenix Blade: Leaf Blade!" Ash's arms became Grovyle's Leaf Blades as Erigor swung his scythe. Ash sprinted ahead and slashed, avoiding the big blade and swinging his. Erigor palmed the air inches from Ash's face. Without warning, Ash was hurled to the ground by an unknown force. He got to his knees, but was struggling heavily to stand. His body was shredded.
"Oh, my Storm Shred wasn't something to expect. Neither will this: Storm Mail!" Summoning winds, Erigor crossed his arms and the winds swirled around him. He raced after Ash as he tried to jump out of the way.
"Try this: Centigrade Tomb!" Ash flung his arms across with his fingers out. This created icy winds that formed a cage which landed on Erigor. However, Erigor smashed the attack away and slashed Ash with his scythe. Splashes of blood oozed from the wound.
"ASH!" cried Wendy and Delia. May held Asuka close as Ash writhed in pain, but he seethed.
"You're weak and it shows," Erigor taunted. "All they'll know is that one boy stood up to a storm and died doing something stupid." Despite the pain, the loss of blood and the fatigue against him, Ash stood up.
"That's because I wasn't using my full power," he coughed. "Now, it's serious. Now… it's time to let it go." He braced his arms before eyeing Erigor. "This technique I learned from my world: Centigrade Chest!" Ash's chest and torso was imbued in ice. "Thunderbird Legs!" Ash's legs were coated with electricity. "Phoenix Wings!" Ash's arms were engulfed in fire. "Let's go!"
"To your death!" Erigor shot blades of wind at Ash.
"Thunderbird Quick!" Ash vanished and none of the blades hit anything, not even ice. "Phoenix Trailblazer!" Ash appeared behind Erigor before punching the Storm Mail, bashing it out of the air. As they fell, the Storm Mail was inflamed and Erigor stopped the winds, but it left Ash holding his arms forward. "Centigrade Hail!" From Ash's arms was a cascade of hailstones pelting Erigor to the ground, but he landed on the fallen twins. He turned around and slashed once more, the scythe striking the icy chest. It didn't pierce through and Ash took advantage. He rolled out and delivered a series of punches before Erigor forced a palm in, stopping Ash and hurdling him several feet back.
"I've never met anyone other than Salamander who's pissed me off, and this boy is the one who will pay dearly." Reactivating the Storm Mail, Erigor flew at Ash while spinning his scythe. Ash got up and closed his eyes.
'Now or never…' Ash steeled himself at the oncoming deadly strike. "This is my punishment to you! Tempest… Tri-Beam!" Ash raced in and he and Erigor met. Point blank, Ash forced energy forward. That's when a rainbow beam engulfed Erigor and the Storm Mail. The spinning stopped for good and Erigor was imbued with so much shock, frost and burn that his body deteriorated within the beam. It shot through the enemy and vaporized him to which there was nothing left. Erigor was dead, but he left Ash something in return as the scythe pierced through Ash's waist. Ash stood frozen, his eyes rolled all the way to the back of his head, blood seeping from wounds from the scuffle.
"He-" gulped Natsu. "He won?" Everyone awed the scene but Ash came down to his knees and then altogether. Pikachu sprinted to Ash, hoping to be okay. Delia and Wendy, now able to move, saw Ash collapse.
"ASH!" cried Wendy.
"MY BABY!" gasped Delia as they ran to Ash's fallen body. Delia held Ash's head as Wendy removed the scythe that stuck within him. May and Asuka also joined.
"Big Brother!" cried Asuka. Ash didn't move at all. "Big Brother!" Hearing Asuka's cries made Lucy and Erza watch in dismay.
"Come on, Ash!" whined May. "You won! This is your moment!" Still no response from Ash.
"This is your mother, Ash!" demanded Delia. "Wake up! I know you can!" Nothing… Delia gasped, her child not moving much. Wendy began to fear for her boyfriend not waking up.
"Ash, please, don't die!" she teared. Everyone, still under the effects of the poison, watched helplessly at the ultimate sacrifice… except for Jessie.
"Now that you're no longer around, we can take Pikachu back!" she snickered. Virgo picked Jessie from the ground.
"I wish for a punishment that will be with you," she scowled. "Permanently!" She slammed Jessie's head through the ground. Dusting herself, Virgo returned to Ash's fallen body as James and Meowth feared for what Virgo could do to them. Wendy was using her Healing Magic but it may not be enough. Ash ended Erigor's reign, but at what cost?
TO BE CONTINUED…