SailorStar9: We now continue with Chapter 148 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs.

Chapter 148: Alvarez Empire Arc: Fighting Spirit

Near Hargeon...

Before Lyon, Gray and Ulyo's eyes, Ul appeared.

"Alright, it's time for your training." Ul declared.

"If it ain't Meredy." Zancrow appeared before Meredy.

"What's going on?" Juvia wondered as Keyes manifested. "The dead are..."

"It seems memories of powerful foes are being given physical forms." Keyes noted.

Meanwhile, a fully transformed Ezel loomed over Sherria and Wendy.

"This is a cruel joke." Laxus growled as Hades stepped in front of him.

With Neinhart...

"I do hope you'll entertain me more." Kyôka grabbed Erza by the head.

"This is how little you've grown?" Ul mocked, easily tossing Gray away. "You're still a long way from ever defeating me."

"Ul..." Lyon muttered.

"Get yourself together, Lyon-nii!" Ulyo barked. "That's isn't kaa-sama!"

"I know." Lyon hissed. "I know it's the enemy's magic at work. But even so..."

"Rosen Krone!" Ul unleashed her icy rose bush at the trio.

"Talaria, invoke!" Ulyo activated her Winged Sandal and took to the skies to dodge the attack.

"Even her magic power is as strong as Ul's." Lyon winced.

"We're no longer who we were back then." Gray reminded. "Overcome it, Lyon." he snapped, firing off an ice shard at Ul's cheek. "She's an enemy. She's only taken on Ul's form. We can't let her defile our master any further."

With Neinhart...

Kyôka, Ikaruga and Azuma were triple-teaming Erza.

"Dimaria and Wall are truly pitiful." Neinhart tsked. "Overpowering these weaklings is actually quite easy for me."

Ikaruga and Kyôka attacked Erza simultaneously, with Azuma making a sneak attack from the air.

Erza immediately shot up to engaged her aerial opponent, only to be punched right back onto the ship.

"Isn't this fun, Erza?" Kyôka closed in for an attack and sent her flying towards Ikaruga with a claw swipe, the other swordswoman followed up with a strike from her blade.

Azuma then blasted Erza with his linear explosions.

"What a splendid look in your eyes." Neinhart grinned. "You'll certainly be a lovely Historia of the Dead for someone else."

"Pull her up, Azuma." Kyôka instructed and Azuma tangled Erza with his vines. "Doesn't this bring back memories, Erza? Of that underground torture chamber. Would you like some more of my tender love?" she whipped Erza. "I've increased your sense of pain tenfold. Now, should I raise your pain eve more?" she tightened her grip around Erza's waist. "Or should I increase your sensitivity instead? Feels like old times, doesn't it, Erza?"

"Yeah, I'm through with this reunion party." Erza muttered. "You all stood in my way at one time, as powerful foes. However, everyone of you also lost." she glared, her deadly aura flaring in defiance. "Begone, specters; before I strike you down once more."

"What?" Neinhart was stunned to see his Historias vanishing. "Impossible. This can't be." the Historia grew afraid and dissipated? This woman...

"Erza!" both Kagura and Jellal hurried over.

"She's badly injured." Kagura turned Erza over and was startled to sense an enraged Jellal glaring at Neinhart.

Erza, scarlet hair... Neinhart was taken aback. And this magic power... could it be? Is she Irene-sama's...?

"I'm going to commit just one more sin." Jellal growled.

Neinhart then looked up in the sky and saw the clouds splitting apart, signaling the beginnings of the 'Grand Chariot' spell.

"Now what's happening?" Juvia gawked at the starry sky.

"It's Jellal's magic." Meredy explained. "Juvia, link with me." she activated her 'Maguilty Sense'. "When two people with mutual trust share their senses, their power multiplies too. This is actually how it's supposed to be used."

"Waltz, Misty Wind!" Ulyo had engaged Ul in hand-to-hand combat.

"We can't possibly win." Lyon stated as mother and daughter decked it out. "Not against Ul."

"That isn't Ul." Gray reminded. "Ul is dead. She died because of me. You know that, Lyon."

"You and Ulyo-imoto have walked many different paths to get where you are now." Lyon admitted. "And some of those paths; they've helped the two of you get over Ul. I never had those paths to follow."

"Then, this is your first one." Gray heaved Lyon back on his feet. "I didn't just casually reach this point I'm at now. Ulyo and I... we've only made it this far because we had to keep pushing forward. Take your first step, Lyon."

"I'm impressed, Ulyo." Ul praised, fending off her daughter's 'Waterfall Carp' technique. "You completely the 'White Hits' style.

"This single step..." Lyon started as he and Gray pulled off their shirts to take advantage of the opening Ulyo provided for them.

"Ice Devil: Zero Long Sword!" Gray fired off his attack.

"Ice Blade: Swan Wings!" Lyon let loose his flurry of winged blades.

"Maguilty Water!" activating 'Unison Raid', both Meredy and Juvia took out both their opponents at the same time.

With Neinhart...

"May the seven stars bring judgment upon you." Jellal chanted.

"Jellal, I already know who your Historia is." Neinhart bragged. "Simon." he summoned Simon. "You can't attack him."

"This thing isn't my brother." Kagura took out Simon. "Do it, Jellal!"

"Grand Chariot!" Jellal cast his spell, taking out Neinhart and the entire naval fleet.

Later that night...

"You're awake." Kagura was relieved when Erza opened her eyes. "Take it easy for now."

"Your wounds were deep, so it'll take time for them to completely heal." Wendy supplied.

"But, there's no need to worry." Ulyo assured. "Between Wendy and myself, we made sure there won't be any scarring."

"Everyone..." Erza blinked. "What became of the battle?"

"We successfully freed Hargeon and took back the port." Gray grinned. "Jellal's team are still going after the remaining soldiers, but it's just a matter of time before they're all gone. We're heading back to the Guildhall."

"I'm worried about everyone there." Juvia admitted.

"Lamia and Mermaid said they'll look after things here." Wendy added.

"In that case, I'll come with you." Erza insisted.

"You still need to rest more." Kagura protested.

"I can't do that." Erza got out of bed. "What happened to Laxus?"

"He fought off two monsters in a row." Ulyo replied. "It's only natural he'd be down for the count."

"Erza," Kagura started. "I'm... sorry about this." grabbing Erza by the face, she kissed the older swordswoman. "Accept that as my apology."

"I don't even want to know how that came about." Ulyo sighed.

In the north of Fiore...

"The sacred mountain, Zonia." Irene entered the fight. "The heavenly black maiden and white maiden fought here long ago. Following the white maiden's victory, white snow began falling on these mountains forevermore."

"I'm impressed you know this kingdom's old history, Irene-sama." Juliet Sun chirped.

"You dolt, Irene-sama is from Ishgar." Heine Lunasea rebuked.

"The heavenly white maiden and black maiden," Irene chuckled. "Almost sounds like you two. If you two were to fight, I wonder who would win. The heavenly maidens supposedly fought over a man. It's a lovely story. But as lovely is it is, it's a bit cold for my liking."

Meanwhile, in 'Beast Soul: Lizardman' mode, Elfman was fighting off the soldiers who had captured the Sabertooth and Blue Pegasus members.

Mirajane was also wrecking havoc in her 'Satan Soul' form.

Lisanna was also battling using her 'Animal Soul: Harpy' form.

"Sting, wake up." Gajeel, Pantherlily and Levy had brought the defeated mages to safety.

"Gajeel, the others..." Sting winced.

"We rescued them." Gajeel assured. "Don't worry."

"We're pathetic." Sting muttered. "Damn it. We're so pathetic."

"Leave the rest to us." Gajeel replied. "We'll take your frustration out on them, too."

"Gajeel." Levy warned.

"What is this?" Sting had also sensed the shift in magic.

"The snow..." Levy cast a look at a cluster of flowers that had suddenly bloomed. "It's disappearing."

"Way to go, Irene-sama." Juliet squealed as the snowy ground turned into a grassy meadow.

"It seems we have some new guests." Irene noted. "Is everything ready, Bloodman, Larcade?"

"Damn it." Sting cursed, Rouge had also awoken. "They have three monsters on their side."

"We've got six monsters on our side." Gajeel smirked.

"I'm a monster, too?" Levy blinked.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.