Chapter 32

Fairy Tail was currently recovering itself after the attack from Carbuncle, they were completely caught off guard. The injured were being treated, and Lucy was crying for her failure to protect Eclair.

"Damn it," Gray punched some rumble. "How come we let this happen,"

"I don't know," Erza shook her head.

"Erza are you okay," Mira asked.

Erza nodded "Yeah Kurama's power heals me from any suffering injuries,"

"What was that guy anyway, whenever he inflicted damage on himself, you were given the same injuries," Cana asked.

"I don't know, it's probably some kind of body link spell," Erza suggested. "So we have to be careful when we go and rescue Eclair,"

"They're going to pay for this," Gray growled.

"How unfortunate," Makarov said sadly as he walked in with Jellal and Crime Sorciere. "They gave us a beating we won't forget,"

"Jellal, "Erza then bowed to Makarov "I'm sorry Master, I wasn't able to protect the guild for you,"

Erza and the others then went into the basement with Makarov and Jellal to discuss a plan.

"There has been a surge in magic power recently, so we investigated," Jellal told them, "That's when we arrived in Veronica,"

"Eclair told us about that place," Happy said.

Gray nodded "Yeah she said, they might have been the ones to have stolen the other stone,"

"The guild who attacked was called Carbuncle, mercenaries," Meredy said. "They were hired by Veronica's Prince Cream,"

"We heard a rumor that they were hired to kidnap someone named Eclair," Ultear explained.

"Veronica is also supposed to be throwing its 400th birthday tomorrow, and Cream is going to perform some kind of ceremony by putting the two stones together," Jellal added.

"And what will that do," Erza asked.

"According to legend those stones when put together could summon the ancient phoenix wil give the one who summoned it eternal life," Jellal answered.

"Eternal life," Erza said shocked along with the rest of the group.

"When the people of Fire Village sealed away the Phoenix long ago, many lives were lost, I can't pray to tell what would happen if it was released today," Makarov said grimly.

"All we have to do is dispel one of the stones and it will never happen," Gray said. "That explains why Kalard was worried about her being there and bringing the stone,"

"If this happens Cream will have the power of the phoenix and eternal life nothing could stop him," Jellal said. "And if the phoenix where to go on a rampage again, then Cream will be only left to rule,"

Gray slammed his fist on the table "We won't let that happen,"

"Let me go, I need to help Eclair" Lucy volunteered.

"I'm going to," Gray said and Juvia agreed to go as well.

"I'm going as well," Erza said.

"But Erza we still have no idea what that guy did to you," Mira said.

"Yeah he inflicted the pain he dealt himself on to you," Lilly said "Hows that even possible,"

"Possible Body link magic," Carla suggested. "But how was he able to link himself with Erza,"

"I don't know," Erza answered "All I know is that he mentions someone named Jashin before he did it to me,"

"Did you Jashin," Makarov's eyes widened and Erza nodded.

"Do you know it, Master," Erza asked.

"Not much but yes, Second Master Prect told me," Makarov answered "Jashin was an ancient being that was worshipped by cult thousands of years ago, but I thought its members were all wiped out,"

"Well guess this guy didn't get the memo," Gray groaned.

"Not only that but legends say that they discovered a key to immortality," Makarov stated.

"Immortality," Erza shouted.

"I see that could explain why he hurt himself so recklessly he knows he won't die from his wounds," Carla said.

"But that doesn't explain why he was also able to inflict damage on Erza by only hurting himself," Mira said.

"Wait now I remember," Kurama said.

"What Kurama," Erza asked the fox.

"Naruto and his friends faced a guy like that and the key to the body link is that he consumes his victim's blood and remains inside the pentagram he draws," Kurama explained.

"My blood and a pentagram," Erza blinked.

"We'll have to figure it out later right now Eclair needs our help," Lucy shouted and everyone nodded and decided to head out.

"Right Master we'll head to Veronica now," Erza told him.

"We'll go as well," Jellal and Crime Sorciere volunteered.

Makarov nodded "Alright be safe out there, and save Eclair, I will go and seek help from the Council Now Go,"

Everyone nodded and they all headed straight for the train station that heads to Veronica. Makarov stood outside the door as he watched them leave.

"Are you going to go there as well," Makarov said to the darkness. Above him, there was a man covered in a black cloak and hood. "I know you have bitter feelings towards the guild, but that won't change the fact that you are my child. They need your help in dealing with this threat. So please I beg you to go and help them," The cloaked man said nothing and just vanished.

...

Veronica

Inside the dungeons where Eclair was chained, she witnessed her cell door open revealing Duke Cream and Dyst.

Cream stood over her mockingly "What perfect timing this is what I was hoping for," he said as he took Eclair's half of the Phoenix Stone.

"Listen to me if you summon the Phoenix then you'll unleash a calamity upon this world," Eclair shouted. "No man can control its power,"

Cream mockingly grin "That's not true because I can do whatever I want," in response, Eclair headbutted the spoiled brat giving him a bloody nose and bruise. In anger the Duke cut her arm with his dagger "How dare you to strike me," he whined "now you will be executed,"

Cream and Dyst then left the cell and Eclair glared at them "How dare she strike does she not know who I am," he complained.

Dyst was silent "I having a feeling her friends might come for her, I'll have my men ready," and Cream nodded and headed to get the other half of the stone.

The Duke was standing over a pedestal "By the sacred blood of antiquity. I order thee to stagger forth open and reveal thyself" it was then the pedestal glowed and opened revealing the second half of the Phoenix stone. It was then outside of Veronica's capital, stood Erza and he team ready for battle

"We're coming Eclair don't worry," Lucy declared.

Inside the castle of Veronica, Dyst was currently organizing his guild to defend the castle as he knew Fairy Tail will try and save Eclair, he was then confronted by his scythe-wielding teammate.

"What do you want," Dyst glared.

"Well I'm going to give you a piece of my mind for interrupting my prayer last time," he shouted. "How am supposed to be please Jashin-sama if someone won't let me give him a sacrifice,"

"You and your stupid cult," Dyst signed. "Wow can't you just follow order Ryuji,"

Ryuji scoffed "The only reason I joined your guild is that you guys offered I can kill as many people as I want for Jashin-sama,"

Dyst just looked at Ryuji "The only reason I let you join is that you hold a secret to immortality that you refuse to share the secret of,"

Ryuji shrugged "Like I said I don't know what those guys did to me, they just performed the same ritual on me as they did to my predecessor Hidan-sama,"

Dyst signed "If you want to kill someone then Fairy Tail is more than likely coming to save the girl so you can go and kill one of them,"

Ryuji grinned evilly "Good hope that redhead shows then I can finish what you interrupted," Ryuji then left Dyst.

As Eclair was being escorted to her execution she saw a statue that sparked a memory of her past that made her smile "I see my life has come full circle,"

...

As Erza ran through the city with MonMon and Happy the Coordinator appeared before her.

"Ah Titania I'll have great pleasure in killing you," The Coordinator mocked.

"I don't have time for this," Erza formed a Rasengan in her hand and unleashed it on the Coordinator.

RASENGAN

"AAHHHH" The Coordinator screamed as she was knocked out instantly.

"Let's go before it's too late," Erza shouted

Erza continued to dash through the city, it was then Ryuji appeared from the sky prepared to strike her down, but she managed to dodge it in time.

"Yo where were we," Ryuji grinned sinisterly.

Erza glared at the man "Happy, MonMon go to the others and save Eclair, I'll hold this freak off," Happy and Monmon nodded and flew off.

Ryuji grinned evilly "So how about we finish my prayer," Erza just glared in response.

"End this quickly my power," Kurama told her.

Erza nodded and activated the Chakra mode.

"Oooh Shiny," Ryuji whistled "But that pretty light show won't stop me from killing you,"

Erza then charged at the Jashinist, and Ryuji grinned "hahaha your mine," he brought up his scythe.

POW

"Gaaah," Ryuji gasped, Erza directly punched him in the stomach at lighting speed stunning the man.

Ryuji fell to his knees "How,"

Erza looked down at the man and drew her sword "My ancestor fought a guy like you before, and he gave wisdom on how to handle someone like you,"

Erza then swung her sword at Ryuji's head severing the head from his body rendering him immobile.

"HEY" Ryuji yelled as his head rolled on the floor. Erza then picked up Ryuji's head "Hey what are you doing,"

With all her strength Erza threw Ryuji's head across the sky sending it as far away as possible.

"I'LL BE BACK!" Ryuji screamed.

Erza signed in relief "Now to go catch up with the others,"

…

"Now my wonderful I will put the Phoenix stones together that will unite us all," Duke Cream announced.

"NO, YOU MUSTN'T SUMMON THE PHOENIX I BEG YOU," Eclair pleaded but it fell on deaf ears, and the guards lit the flame so that she could burn to death.

Nearby, Lucy was running alongside PantherLilly, Carla, and Happy and Monmon who they just met up with. The group manages to brush away hordes of guards, well mainly Lilly and Lucy's spirits did the work.

They arrived in time only to see the light of the stones and the fire that engulfed Eclair. "ECLAIR" Lucy cried out.

It was then in a fit of determination Monmon flew to the fire jumping in with no regard for his life "Don't worry Eclair," Monmon said as he tried to break her chains as the fires burned him "I'll save you, just hold on," but Monmon's body burned away before he could finish.

"NOW PHOENIX STONE GRANT ME YOUR BLOOD AND GIVE ME IMMORTALITY," Duke Cream yelled.

Dyst who was by his side just smirked "You don't deserve the phoenix's power,"

"What," Cream said shocked, but he was then flung into the air. "AAAAAAHHHHH!"

"Now Phoenix gaze upon your new ruler, grant me eternal life," Dyst shouted, the light from the stones shined brighter, and inside the light, something began to form from the stone. As the creatures formed the castle started to fall apart.

Dyst grinned evilly "Phoenix grant me with the blood that gives eternal life," but Dyst's eyes narrowed when he saw the creature emerged it was a giant stone-like barely bird-like creature "What's this that's not firebird," Dyst then jumped on top of the creature "Still it must have blood to be shed,"

Gray and Juvia who was in another part of the city after beating Canon and saw the creature felt its power, "That thing's power is insane,"

From the rumble of the castle, Erza arrived and saw Lucy and Happy trying to help the injured Eclair.

Erza ran up to them "Are you guys alright,"

Lucy and Happy nodded, while Eclair nodded weakly "Where's Monmon,"

Happy who had tears in his eyes "He sacrificed himself to save you,"

"I see," Eclair said sadly.

"We have to move it's not safe here," Erza told them.

It was then a big piece of falling rumble almost fell on the group, but Erza managed to catch it in time. "Quick get her somewhere safe,"

"There is no safe place, if the phoenix lives then we are all dead, you have to stop it before it's too late," Eclair shouted.

Erza nodded in understanding "Let's go Kurama," Erza then activates her Chakra mode.

Kurama nodded. "Right,"

"Happy I need you to fly me up there," Erza told the Exceed "After that go back to Lucy and Eclair,"

Happy nodded "Aye sir,"

Elsewhere in the city a cloaked man stood and watched the destruction unfold, it was then two people appeared behind him, it was Makarov and Jet, and Makarov was holding a large box with a seal on it.

"Hmmm," the cloaked man said "It seems like you do need my help after all Erza can handle the guy on top, but this creature I don't know,"

Makarov nodded "That's why we need your help in stopping it,"

The man looked at the item he brought "Did that council give approval for that thing,"

"Screw the Council," Makarov said in a serious tone. "That's why we need your help,"

The man then removed his hood revealing his salmon-colored hair.

"Will you help us Natsu,"

And Natsu just remained silent.

A.N. Here you go an update, next chapter will be the last one in this arc then we are on to Tartaros. Be sure to let me know what you all think were you all surprised at how limited that OC character. I mean I wanted to end this arc soon, so I took the easy way and have Erza one-shot him. The only reason he had an advantage last time was that Erza was caught off guard.