Now that Ankhselam has gotten his hands on Natsu's power, he has everything he needs to revive Acnologia. He actually managed to beat Fairy Tail. He is so close to his goals. Thanks to the help of Serena, he was able to arrive in Hargeon in almost no time with her and Terran. When Ankhselam and his two best fighters arrived, he saw some of his soldiers around.
"Excellent. Hargeon is secured." Ankhselam said. "Seeing as how this is where Acnologia fell, the spell must be done here to bring him back."
"Word has been sent to our remaining forces. Everyone is converging here." Serena said.
"If anyone tries to interfere, they'll have a massive army to deal with." Terran said.
"Good." Ankhselam said. "What about the remaining members of The Ten? What happened to the rest of them? Where are the ones that were suppose to be stationed here?"
"I'm afraid we're all that's left." Terran said. "Kisaru and Reginald are too injured to keep fighting. Everyone else has either been captured or are too injured to continue fighting."
"That's not exactly true." Serena said. "I heard that Norita is actually dead."
"Is she?" Ankhselam questioned.
"I thought you said that this Fairy Tail doesn't kill their enemies." Terran said.
"I said it was unlikely, not impossible." Ankhselam said. "It would be rare for someone from Fairy Tail to actually kill their enemies. Although, it probably wasn't anyone in Fairy Tail. That goes to show you that it's not just them we should be weary of."
"It's rather strange. The Ten Gates of the Underworld have been dropped down to a mere two." Terran said.
"Perhaps, but you and I are the top two." Serena said.
"Even so, I never thought I see the day." Terran said. "Even just one member of The Ten defeated is certainly a surprise."
"That goes to show you that our enemies should not be underestimated." Ankhselam said. "Oh well. It doesn't matter at this point. The time has come for me to bring back the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse." He held out a dark flame in one and the glowing shard in the other. "Soon, this world will be just a mere memory."
"By the way, what about Fairy Tail itself?" Serena said. "Do you think they'll still try to get in the way?"
"I'm not really sure. They're not ones to give up the fight, but they might feel devastated." Ankhselam said. "Zeref was the brain and Natsu was the heart, two of the most vital organs of the body. They're gone now. Fairy Tail has never faced a defeat like this before. Maybe they're finished." Ankhselam might be right about this. Fairy Tail has never dealt with a defeat like this one.
...
Magnolia
Magnolia is in ruins now. Ankhselam's attack on Magnolia has devastated the town. Many are injured from it. The ones that are suffering the most are Nashi and her family. Nashi continued to cry against her father's lifeless body. Happy and Lucy were heartbroken. Natsu and Zeref are now dead with Ankhselam claiming Natsu's power. Magnolia is destroyed and two vital people in Fairy Tail are now dead. Is it really over? Has Fairy Tail really lost?
"Nashi..." Storm said. All he could do was just stand there. All those who saw what happened gathered together and they couldn't believe what has happened. None of them thought it was even possible that Natsu would end up being killed. They even felt horrible that Zeref was gone. He was such a big help to all of them and now they can't rely on his intellect anymore.
"I can't believe this is happening." Erza said.
"No joke. How could it?" Gray said. None of them really knew what to do. Laxus was taking this just as hard. As the guild's master, in a guild that feels like a family, he felt like he lost a family member.
"Dad!" Laxus looked and saw his family and Raio coming over.
"What happened here?" Nova asked.
"Something horrible." Laxus said. All of them looked and they saw what happened to Natsu and Zeref. They were just as shocked as the others. Other members of the guild were gathering around Kardia Cathedral when they followed the destruction, wanting to know what happened. They all saw what happened and they were all left speechless. Simon and Sasha were among the crowd and they made their way through. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"What happened here?" Simon said.
"It was Ankhselam." Storm said.
"What the hell did he do?" Gale asked as he showed up.
"Erza, Gray, Gajeel, Natsu, and myself tried fighting Ankhselam." Laxus said. "He was able to fight off all of us. Zeref tried helping Natsu out, but even their combined power wasn't enough. Ankhselam was able to take Natsu's power."
"But with his power, he's going to revive this Acnologia." Damien said.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Nova asked.
"Honestly, I'm not sure there is." Laxus said. Things were looking grim if Laxus thinks there's nothing more they can do. "Natsu was one of our best members. He had more Fairy Tail heart than anyone I ever knew. We've never faced anything like this before. I hate to say it, but...we've lost." None of them could believe that their master could actually say that.
"Don't say that." Nova said as she got everyone's attention. "Don't you say that. We've never given up before, and we're not going to start now. We're still here. We're still standing. This is what Fairy Tail does, doesn't it? We never gave up. Natsu fought to his last breath. As our master, you can't say we should give up. We also have to take revenge for what they did to our friend. Isn't that the way of Fairy Tail."
"Nova's right." Simon said. "We fought till the very end and we're not going to stop now. Everyone is here because they're willing to fight. We have to keep fighting, otherwise Natsu's and Zeref's deaths are for nothing." Everyone felt the same as they did. They wanted to keep fighting until the very end.
"We may have lost possible the best member in all of Fairy Tail, but we're still here." Sasha said. "One thing that I learned from Fairy Tail is that we're stronger together. As long as we're all together, we can make it through everything."
"That's why we're all willing to fight." Gale said. "The rest of us are still here. As long as we're still all together, we're willing to fight. We're willing to fight because we can make through just about anything with each other."
"You also don't need to do it alone, Fairy Tail." Everyone noticed Michael, Shae, and Crime Sorciere stepping in. "We're here to help you out as well." Michael said.
"Fairy Tail might be strong, but that's because your bonds with all of us is what makes you strong." Shae said. "You have us all to help you in this fight." It's not just Fairy Tail. Everyone Fairy Tail has bonded with is willing to fight as well.
"Do you get it, Dad?" Nova said. "We've got to go after Ankhselam. We need to head for Hargeon so we can put an end to this war. There's still a chance for us." Laxus was real proud of his daughter. She's inherited Fairy Tail's ways well.
"You're right." Laxus said as his hopes were reigniting. "We can't give up. Fairy Tail fights to the very end."
"I've got to say, we've raised some great children." Erza said.
"You're right. They're willing to fight to the very end, and have inherited the ways of Fairy Tail well." Juvia said. The parents of the guild felt real pride for their kids.
"So, where did that miserable bastard go anyway?" Gale questioned.
"I'm sure he went to Hargeon." Levy said. "It seemed like they wanted us out of there. Southern forces never came here in the first place."
"Levy's right." Gajeel said. "That's where they were heading. He's got two members of The Ten with him."
"That's also where Acnologia fell. Ankhselam said he needs to be there to revive Acnologia." Laxus said. "That's where we're heading. Alert our allies. Tell them all to go to Hargeon as well. We're going to end this war there!" Everyone's fighting spirits were being lifted again. It might seem hopeless, but Fairy Tail is bouncing back. They may have lost one of their best, as well as someone who was a big help to them, but they are going to keep going for them. All of them were ready to finish this fight. As for Gray, he walked over to Lucy as he placed his arm around her.
"Lucy, come on. We've got to keep going. Natsu and Zeref would want that." Gray said. "They'll be time to moan about the losses, but we have to wait until the end."
"You're right." Lucy said. "Zeref did what he could to help us in this war. He gave up his life for us. Natsu would do the same if it was any of us."
"That's right." Happy said as he was getting the will to get back up. "We've got to make Ankhselam pay for this! He can't getaway with what he did here!" Everyone felt the same way. It began to look like it was hopeless, but Fairy Tail was bouncing back. There was too much riding on this. The fate of the world depends on Fairy Tail winning this battle. Everyone else looked ready to go, but Nashi didn't look like it. She still had her face against her father's chest. Storm walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Nashi..." Storm said as he was worried about her.
"I always thought...that my dad was invincible, that nothing could stop him." Nashi said. "He may not have been that smart, loved fighting, but it was all because he had such a big heart that loved and valued life. I never would have thought something like this would happen."
"Nashi, I can't imagine what you must be going through, but you've got to stay strong. We need you." Storm said.
"All I ever wanted was to be as strong as my dad." Nashi said. "I feel like I just found my uncle, and I just lost him." Nashi tightened her grip on Natsu's clothes as she kept thinking about all that just happened. She finally lifted her head. It might have been stained with tears, but there was much fury and anger in them. "Maybe I can't be as strong as Dad was, but what I can do is make that heartless monster pay for this." Storm was worried Nashi wouldn't be able to keep going, but it seems like she's more fired up than ever before. She stood up and still held the strong will to fight. "We're going to Hargeon to finish this once and for all." Nashi was ready to keep fighting. Not only will she avenge her father, but she'll make sure that Ankhselam is stopped. Fairy Tail is not out of this war yet.