Back with the continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
"So how should we do this?" Lyon asked Jura. They all were forming a plan of how to deal with their enemy. So far they weren't off to a great start.
"Our priority is Oracion Seis's destruction, but now that they've taken Miss Wendy and Miss Carla, we'll have to figure out how to bring them back in the process." Jura stated.
"How do we find her? They could be anywhere." Lucy asked.
"Not to worry. Before they made off, I tagged her before we headed out." Hibiki said as he stepped forth and a magic screen containing a map flashed on it.
"She should be somewhere in the area beyond the forest." A red dot was flashing indicating where she was. "I can't get a clear signal, but that's where she was last transmitting." He explained.
"So, I guess we need to divide our forces for this. We rescue Wendy, and go on the offense while we're at it." Lyon nodded in agreement.
"Someone's going to need to keep an eye on Erza as well." Sherry pointed out.
"I'll stay with her." Lucy said. "I'll keep her safe."
"I'll stay as well. I can relay battle information via telepathy. I'd be much more effective as a monitor for the battles." He said.
"I agree. Let's separate and take the fight to them." Gray was in accordance with the plan.
Natsu was just sitting cross legged on the stump, his eye was closed and he looked to be in thought.
"What's up with you?" Lucy asked as she came over to the dragon slayer.
Natsu was still remaining motionless as Lucy got in front of her
"Hey, Natsu? You awake?" Lucy asked again, snapping her finger in front of him.
"Hm?" Natsu opened his eye and looked at her.
"I guess we're going to divide forces and take offensive." She explained, just in case he didn't hear.
"I heard." Natsu said.
"Well what are you going to do?" She asked.
"something" Natsu replied before he gently pushes Lucy away from him
"what are you?" Lucy asked before seeing Natsu punch his gauntlet down behind him and the ground was torn up and destroyed in a straight trail. A shock wave tore through everything in its path up to about fifty feet in the forest.
When the smoke clear, there was about twelve robed men and thugs lying unconscious on the ground gawking at the sudden attack. Everyone looked in his direction and were surprised to see the men in the forest.
"Enemies?" Lyon said as they walked up.
"just plain small fries." Natsu said.
"Leave Wendy to me. You guys go after the hundred other guys spread out in the forest." He said and walked toward the cliff.
"You picked her signal up in the mountain, right?" He turned to Hibiki.
"Y-yeah. Wait, what do you mean 'hundred other guys'?" He asked as he shook his head.
"I can smell em'. I can hear them." He said, turning to the forest below the cliff. "That was just a little scouting party. The bulk is down there." He pointed.
"Oracion Seis was expecting you guys and laid a trap. Pretty impressive actually." Natsu shrugged.
"How can you tell?" Eve asked, still unsure about Natsu.
"I'm a Dragon Slayer." Natsu turned and smirked. "This is my specialty."
"No way." Ren was baffled.
"He's serious. He's the Fire Dragon Slayer." Lucy explained with a smile.
"Another Dragon Slayer. No wonder you made wizard saint level." Jura smiled.
"Well, I'll head to Wendy's location now." He waved.
"Wait, what if you run into-?"
"In to what?" Natsu turned to Eve with a narrowed look.
"Next time I see them..." He then faced forward with a glare of determination.
"I'm not showing any mercy." He then jumped down into the forest. They all just watched for a few moments.
"...What is with that guy?" Gray shook his head in confusion.
"Lets head out as well. We'll leave Natsu-dono to rescue Wendy." Jura ordered.
"Alright, let's do this!"
"Yeah!" They all gathered and cheered at once.
Elsewhere
In a cave
"Uhh..huh?" Wendy groggily woke up, not knowing where she was.
"Wendy?" Carla asked.
"Carla, where are we?" She asked, still unsure of her surroundings. They were in a dark cave of sorts. She got up and dusted herself up.
"I see you have awaken." Brain said who was sitting in a corner with the rest of the Oracion Seis's members.
"AHH!" Wendy jumped in surprise. Startled by the large man.
"Sky Maiden. We have need of your abilities." Brain said. He walked up to her with his wooden staff.
"My..abilities?" She asked.
"Yes. We need your help to bring back 'him'." He specified.
"Forget it! Wendy will not help a dark guild!" Carla said as she blocked his path.
"Oh I won't even need to force her. She'll WANT to help after seeing him." He snickered.
"What?" Wendy was just as confused as ever.
"Oi, Brain." Racer asked. He turned to the bruised mage and he seemed to be sporting an annoyed look.
"Something wrong Racer?" Brain asked.
"Why'd we pull out? I run towards my enemies, not away from them." He questioned.
"I would have finished them on the spot, but that Monster was with them." He said the name with detest.
"So what? We could have taken him down too." Cobra said, who was stroking his snake's head
"He is not to be underestimated. He shows almost next to no mercy for dark mages."
"That punk with the pink hair?" Angel asked who had crossed her arms.
"Do not let his appearance fool you. He may look young, but that kid is a Wizard Saint." He emphasized.
"Huh? There's just no way." Cobra shook his head. "Then again, he did make Racer eat the dirt more than once." He chuckled at his guild member's loss.
"Say that again Cobra! I'll hit you so hard you won't even be able to tell how many times!" Racer threatened.
"Enough!" Brain said raising his staff.
"Teh."
"Kch!" The two looked away from each other.
"Anyway, I don't think it would be wise to attack him one-on-one."
"How do you know this guy's good? He could have just been lucky." Angel asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Look, hear what I heard what happened..." He began explaining.
Forest
"H-He's too strong!"
"I think we should retreat!
"MY ARRM!"
"Mooooommmyyyyyy!"
Thugs of the dark guilds allied with Oracion Seis runs away screaming from a forest fire as dozens more of them were in a pile, beaten, and burned up
"how weak" Drac said as Natsu caught one thug trying to sneak attack him but failed as Natsu caught him by his neck before slamming him down to the ground and immediately knocking him out
"just bear with it, till we find one who is strong" Natsu said before he tilted his head to the side to dodge an air sphere flying towards him
"I've been waiting!"
A voice shouted out as Natsu looks up and sees Erigor on top of a tree branch
"you again?" Natsu said as he looked bored to the man
"this time won't be the same! I've been training just for this day!" Erigor exclaimed as he was about to attack Natsu who disappeared
"what?! Where did he g-Gaaaah!" Erigor looked for Natsu in the area before getting hammered down by Natsu
"you..!" Erigor tried to get up but Natsu grabbed his head and then slammed it down again
"you're like a thorn on my side" Natsu said as he lifted Erigor's head by his hair
Erigor grunted as Natsu pulled him up and looks to him
"usually to small fries like you who come for seconds, I would usually teach them how to play dead" Natsu said as his eye glowed crimson
Erigor looks in fear as Natsu raised his gauntlet up as it was ignited in crimson flames
"let's see how fast you learn" Natsu said as Erigor's face paled and sweat drips down his face
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
BOOM!
Elswhere
"Ahh good. He's here." Brain smiled as Racer arrived in their hideout as he was carrying a coffin
"Sky Maiden, this is who we need you to revive." He showed Wendy who was wide eyed with a look of horror and surprise as the coffin opens
"J-J-Jellal?" She managed to say. Indeed, it was him. He seemed to be chained to a coffin and unconscious with lacrima pumping through his veins.
"He's in a coma-like state. We've been unable to bring him back by ordinary means. But with your Sky Dragon Slayer Magic, he will lead us straight to Nirvana." Brain explained.
"This is crazy!" Carla protested. "Wendy wouldn't-"
"But..." Wendy began to say which confused Carla. She wasn't seriously thinking of helping the bad guys...was she?
"He's..my friend." She frowned sadly.
Back with Natsu
He was walking towards the direction of the whereabouts of Oracion Seis hideout
"nothing but small fries" Natsu said as he walked to a clearing while leaving a pile of beaten up mages in his path
"there it is" Natsu said as he saw a clearing and a cave in the bottom
BOOM!
An explosion occurred in the cave as Natsu saw Wendy and Charla flying out of the cave from the explosion
"what the?" Natsu said as he jumps down to the bottom
Back with Lucy with the others
They were staying and watching over Erza before they heard the scream and the explosion
"looks like Natsu is letting loose" Lucy said as she knew that the scream and the explosion was caused by him
"your guild really is destructive" Hibiki said with a sweat drop as he was typing on his archive
"yeah" Lucy replied with an awkward smile
Back with Natsu
Natsu was just carrying the little dragon slayer and the white cat calmly through the forest. He kept a watchful eye around him to make sure no mages were lying in ambush, because he was still in enemy territory.
"...mmmgh." Wendy slowly stirred and suddenly she woke up. She realized she was being carried through the forest. Natsu stopped and heard her and suddenly let her off his shoulder. She stumbled a little and fell on her behind clumsily.
"Ow~! Eh?" She looked up and she felt a dark presence coming from Natsu as he stared at her blankly. "Eeeek!..." She felt afraid as she backed up to a tree and shook with fear.
"What?" Natsu asked.
"Y-y-you're with Oracion Seis...aren't you?" She asked nervously.
"No." Natsu answered simply. "You're Wendy, aren't you?" He asked.
"Y-yes. Um, is Carla okay?" She asked, noticing the way he was holding her.
"This thing?" Natsu asked, looking at Carla curiously.
"Mmm..huh?" Suddenly Carla woke up and the world was upside down.
"Rise and shine." Natsu said as she looked up at him.
"...Unhand me this instant!" She flailed around while Natsu held her by the tail.
"It talks?" Natsu raised his eye brow. "Now I've seen everything." He dropped her on the ground and suddenly she sprouted wings and flew up right, and hovered protectively in front of Wendy. "It flies AND talks. This day just keeps getting better and better." Natsu applauded.
"Who are you, you cotton candy haired brute?!" Carla demanded.
"C-C-Carla, I don't think you should make him angry!" Wendy tried to stop her.
"You're too naive Wendy! Show some tact in the face of your enemy-" She suddenly found herself shying away from the overwhelming pressure that he was exerting, the look in his eye was that of a demon condemning his victim to eternal damnation.
"Y-you stay away from Wendy!" Carla demanded, but was trembling.
"Calm down hairball, i'm not gonna hurt you or Wendy." He assured her.
"I have a name, and it is Carla!" She pointed out.
"Right." Natsu furrowed his eye but then softened his look when he turned to Wendy. "I'm from Fairy Tail. My master told me that you guys could use a hand. I'm Natsu Dragist." He introduced himself.
"Huh?" Wendy and Charle exclaimed in unison.
"Natsu...Dragist?" Wendy repeated.
"Yeah. Nice to meet you, kid." He smiled.
"Y..yeah..." Wendy said as she gulped.
"Well lets move, we're sitting ducks out here." He said and the three continued their trek through the forest. The distance Carla and Wendy were following him by was measured to be about ten feet.
"Wendy?" Carla whispered.
"Hm?" She looked at Carla as they walked on.
"If this is Natsu Dragist, we should be careful. I'm sure he's here to help us, but after what those dark wizards said...i'm not sure how to think of this."
"But, he helped us this far. He doesn't...seem like a bad person." She said looking at his back.
"But what about Jellal? He just up and attacked you like he didn't know who you were. I thought he was your friend." Carla reasoned.
"Maybe...he was just confused. Perhaps whatever happened to him, it did something to his memory. He was probably just confused because he didn't know who anyone was." She tried to defend him.
"(Sigh), Child, please try to have an open mind. People change over time, he may not even be the Jellal you knew."
"Maybe...but.." Wendy frowned.
"Your friend huh?" Natsu suddenly said and the other two gasped. "I knew my nose wasn't wrong when it picked up his scent here"
"I don't know what he was like when you met him, but he tried to do something...no, he DID do something unforgivable to a friend of mine." He recalled.
"H-he did?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah" He frowned a little.
"Why?" Wendy suddenly asked.
"I really don't know why he got obsessed in the first place, and he did some terrible things to a friend of mine" Natsu said
"Your friend...she must have thought of him as a precious friend to her." Wendy frowned.
"She did, from what I gathered." He said as he stared blankly.
"She...cared for him...didn't she?" Wendy had a sad expression.
"...yeah." He said, sighing once more
"Natsu?" Wendy asked nervously.
"Hm? Sorry, I was just thinking." Natsu turned to her.
"Um, I had one more question." Wendy gripped the bottom of her dress.
"what is it?" Natsu said simply.
"When we were being held captive...the mages were..saying things about you." She looked away.
"Wendy, you don't need to-!" Carla tried to stop her.
"quiet." Natsu silenced Carla as he crossed his arms and motions for Wendy to continue.
"They said...you did...bad things."
"Oh?" Natsu seemed interested. "And what did they say?" He asked curiously.
"They say you...were a dark mage and killed a lot of people..." She seemed a bit scared now. "I just want to know...did you do those things?" She asked. Natsu just stared at her blankly. He then looked down at the ground.
"...i'll tell you when this is all over. But right now, i'll say this." He turned to her and stopped. "I had lingered in dark places longer than I should have. But i'm not the same as I once was." He said firmly. "...by the way, are you a dragon slayer by any chance?" He asked her suddenly.
"Y-yes! I'm the Sky Dragon Slayer, Wendy Marvell! Nice to meet you!" She bowed immediately.
"So you are Grandeeny's student huh? So you're the one she picked." He smiled and crossed his arms.
"H-huh!? You know Grandeeny!? How do you know Grandeeny?! D-d-do Kth!..Oway~! I bit mah tongue." She was asking way to fast and recoiled from biting her tongue.
"Slow down." Natsu sweat dropped.
"How do you know about Grandeeny!? Do you know where she is-?!" Wendy was then pushed out of the way by Natsu, and suddenly Natsu grabbed a hold of the person in question and slammed them into a tree. It was Racer.
"Kch!" He scowled and got back up.
"again?" Natsu smirked evilly
"You got lucky last time! But this time you're gonna be helpless when I knock you into next week!" He said and disappeared. Natsu then stood next to Wendy.
"Stay close to me." Natsu told her.
"He's one of the members of Oracion Seis! Racer!" Carla warned him.
"He's so fast!" Wendy exclaimed as his after images surrounded them.
Racer use his speed to move around Natsu and tried to land a blow but failed as Natsu blocked his attempt with such ease
"Drac" Natsu voice out as the gem on his gauntlet glowed
"as you wish" Drac said as the upper part of the gauntlet transforms into a crossbow
"dodge this" Natsu said as he shot an arrow behind him as Racer appeared and nearly got shot from it
"You bastard!" Racer got up and dashed towards Natsu.
"Ice Make: Rampart!"Grey suddenly shouted and a massive wall of ice got in front of Racer, making him crash into it.
"Gray?" Natsu looked through the other side of the wall.
"Looks like you found Wendy!" He smiled. "Nice job."
"Yeah." Natsu replied with a grin.
"You leave this guy to me, i'll take care of him." Gray declared. "You go get Wendy to safety."
"Best of luck" Natsu said before he and Wendy took off.
"Don't get in my way pal, or you'll be eatin' my dust!" Racer glared.
"Sorry, but i'm putting the brakes on you right here!" Gray declared and readied his Ice Make magic.
Somewhere quite far
"Will he be okay?!" Wendy asked Natsu worriedly.
"Well it's Gray so...yeah. I think he'll be alright." Natsu smiled. "Lets just get you back to the group." Natsu told her.
"Hold it! Get him!" One of the dark mages from a group coming at them shouted.
"so annoying" Natsu said as he pushed Wendy behind him
"close your ears you two" Natsu told Wendy and Charla as he took a deep breath
Wendy and Charla quickly close their ears as Natsu breath out a flame breath at the goons as they were all sent flying
"He...beat them all. In such a short time." Carla was wide eyed.
"Lets go you two, can't dawdle here forever." Natsu turned to Wendy and Carla.
"Y-yes!" Wendy immediately complied.
Back with Lucy
Lucy and Hibiki were standing watch while looking after Erza before they saw Natsu, Wendy and Charla coming towards them
"Natsu!" Lucy happily greeted. "And you brought back Wendy!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Yeah, met some annoying flies on the way here, but I swatted every single one of em'." Natsu smirked before looking to the screen of Hibiki's Archive
"Natsu?" Lucy asked.
"..."
"Natsu."
"Huh?" Natsu turned to the blonde.
"Something wrong?"
"Uh, no." He said
BOOM!
"Huh?" Natsu and everyone turned to an explosion they heard in the distance.
"An explosion?" Hibiki said.
"The enemy?" Lucy wondered.
""...you better be alive Gray. Or Ur-san Is going to kill me""Natsu thought in his mind.
"So where are we at?" Natsu asked Hibiki.
"Well as far as battles go, looks like Jura is engaged with someone currentl-...Huh?" Hibiki suddenly had a surprised look.
"What?" Natsu asked.
"Lyon's..gone?" He said slowly.
"Huh? What do you mean he's-?!" Natsu then turned to the spot he heard the explosion as he narrowed his eye.
"W-what's going on?!" Wendy asked desperately.
"Are we in danger or what?!" Carla demanded.
"Not currently...is Gray still alive? He ran into Racer down there." Natsu asked as he explained what happened.
"...yeah. Okay, but be careful." Hibiki seemed to be in the midst of a conversation.
"Hey." Natsu urged.
"Gray said he's going to go look for Lyon. Racer was beat, but tried to take Gray with him with an explosive lacrima vest, but Lyon got in the way." He explained.
"So that's what that was." Lucy and Wendy looked over toward the cloud of smoke in the distance.
"Um, Natsu?" Wendy asked as she came up to him.
"What?" He asked turning to her.
"I'm really sorry." She bowed apologetically.
"For what?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Because of me...because I helped them bring Jellal back-" She seemed to be upset.
"You had to do what you had to do Wendy. No one's blaming you for anything. You made the right call, if you didn't, they'd have probably killed you." He explained to her. "And don't worry about us, or Jellal. We all know how to pull our own weight." Natsu patted her head and smiled softly to her
"But your friend Lyon.." Wendy wanted to protest.
"We don't know that for sure. The guy's stronger than you think. I think he'll be alright." Natsu assured her.
"rest a little. We got a long battle ahead of us." Natsu told and went to go sit on the tree stump he sat on before. As he did, Lucy came over.
"Do you really think Lyon survived?" Lucy whispered.
"This is a battlefield, Lucy. I'd be surprised if we all survive." Natsu sighed.
"Oracion Seis is a lot more powerful than I thought." Lucy frowned. "Everyone else is strong, but I feel like i'm not much help."
"Don't sweat the small stuff Luce. The fact that you want to help is enough. The only difference between you and everyone else is experience." He pointed out. "Think of this opportunity as a chance to see how a battlefield works." He tried to cheer her up.
"..yeah. You're right." Lucy smiled.
"But if you slip up, you'll die a gruesome death." Natsu said before yawning.
"Gr-gruesome?!" Lucy suddenly cringed in fear.
"Heh." Natsu just scoffed and smirked.
"...(sniff)..(sniff).." Natsu's nose suddenly picked up a scent. His expression turned to a look of surprise.
"What is it?" Lucy noticed he tensed up.
"Gray?" His nose picked up the ice mage's scent somewhere close by.
"Gray?" Lucy repeated.
"Stay here Lucy, i'm gonna go check it out." Natsu said and began leaving in the direction of the forest.
"Where are you going?" Hibiki asked curiously.
"I sense something near by, it might be Gray. I'm gonna go check it out." Natsu explained.
"But...isn't Gray down there?" Hibiki looked in the opposite direction.
"I'm sure he is, which is why i'm going to go check it out." Natsu said and began exiting. "Keep a look out you guys."
"It might be an enemy." Carla said.
"Back in a few." Natsu said and made his exit.
In a river stream
He walked for about five minutes and he came upon a stream in an open area. The first thing he saw was Gray lying unconscious on a wooden raft. He raised an eyebrow at this.
Natsu squinted his eyes at the man before walking to the end of the raft and stomped the other end as it sends Gray flying in the air from a catapult
"GYaaaaahhh!" He yelled in disbelief. He landed in the water with a loud splash. "The hell!?" He erupted out and scowled.
"that's taken care of." He brushed his hands as he bid the raft good riddance.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" Gray yelled in disbelief.
"Well that depends." Natsu shrugged.
"Depends on what?!" He yelled angrily.
"Are you really Gray?"Natsu's expression suddenly changed to a dark one.
"Huh? The hell flame brain!?" Gray yelled in annoyance. "What do you mean if I'm me?! Obviously I am!"
"Then how can you be in two places at once?" Natsu asked.
"Hell if I know. Obviously the other guy is an impostor." Gray scoffed.
"no, you are" Natsu said as his bracelet glowed and transforms into his gauntlet
"prepare to die" Natsu said in a deep voice as he slowly walks towards Gray
"Look, you want proof?! We took down Lullaby! I battled against Erigor and lost! You stopped Phantom Lord from blowing the guild to smithereens!" He named off the events that took place.
"Anyone could come across that info." Natsu pointed out.
"What about on Galuna Island?! We took that quest together!"
"no convinced" Natsu said as he punched his gauntlet through Gray's stomach as it blew a hole on the man
Gray flashed in light and two little figures emerged and they were little blue creatures.
"Gemi!"
"Mini!" They both clutched each other worriedly.
"..Hmph." Natsu scoffed and turned around.
"H-how!? We were completely right!" They both whined in unison. "We can have the persons personality and memories! Why didn't you believe us!?" They had to know.
"Doesn't matter if you completely memorize someone. How you react when facing certain death is what draws out your true nature." Natsu said as he looks to them with a narrow look
"you can fool me and my nose but.." Natsu raised his gauntlet up as the gem glowed
"but not me, spirits"Drac spoke to them
"Monster!" They quivvered in fear. "But to beat a monster, we will become one!" They said in unison. They suddenly transformed in a flash of light and turned identically into Natsu.
"heh?" Natsu hummed amused.
"Heh, now I can beat you!" His look alike said. He then lit his hand aflame, but suddenly he felt like his hand was caught on fire. "GYAAAAAHHHH!" Gemini screamed in pain.
"..." Natsu just watched was Gemini struggled to put out the fire in the water.
"W-why!? Even though you can do it!? Why did it hurt~?" It demanded.
"my fire is my own fire, no one can copy it" Natsu said as he did a slashing motion with his gauntlet hand as the fake Natsu got cut in half and disintegrated into light sparkles
He whipped his hand before walking back to Lucy and the others
When he got back, he sees Lucy out cold with the others and a member of Oracion Seis who goes by the name Angel
"looks like she was beaten" Natsu said as he lifted Lucy up and leaned her to the ground to rest
"good job"
He then heard grunting as he looks to see Wendy waking up
"Wendy, are you alright?!" He asked worriedly as he came over to help her up.
"We were...ambushed by Angel...and Hoteye. They split us up, and we got attacked." She recalled.
"Yeah. I came across a doppelganger in the woods trying to impersonate Gray. But I took care of it." He assured her. "What happened to Erza?" He asked suddenly.
"She was gone...before we got attacked. I think.." She wanted to say more but Natsu stopped her.
"Don't worry kid. Lets take a rest before you pass out. Hows your cat?" He asked, noticing her clutching Carla who seemed to be out.
"Mm...Carla is okay. She...got hurt and tried to fly me away." She said as she frowned sadly. "She...always protects me. And yet, I'm so clumsy, and easily afraid." She sniffed while hugging Carla tighter.
"..." Natsu sat down next to Wendy and the two stared out towards the setting sun. "You know, funny thing." He began to say.
"Grandeeny always said that she wasn't gonna take on a student, because she was worried about frightening humans."
"Huh?" Wendy looked up curiously.
"When I first met her, it was pretty interesting..." he spoke as he told her his story of his encounter with the Sky Dragon who was like a mother to him
"I learned a lot from her, despite it being only a few days a month." Natsu smiled. "She taught me my manners, she taught me a lot about conversing, how to become friends with people. And a lot about women's feelings" He said with a soft smile to the memory.
"..." Wendy was just wide eyed, immersed into his story.
"A lot of other things happen after that, but eventually, she just disappeared." He shrugged. "I tried looking for her after Igneel was gone. But the spots she normally would stay at were empty." He concluded.
"I see." Wendy frowned.
"But I'm sure she's still out there." Natsu said which made her look up. "I'm sure she's had a good reason to not show herself. Don't you think so?" Natsu asked Wendy.
"Yes...she must still be out there." She smiled happily. "I'll just have to keep looking! And when I find her, I'll help you find yours." She promised.
"..." Natsu suddenly frowned his face a little. He looked away and sighed. "I know where my dragon is, kid." He said.
"Huh? Then-" Wendy started to get enthusiastic.
"He died." Natsu simply said. Wendy was shocked.
"a disease robbed him of his life."
"I..I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to.." She frowned and bowed her head apologetically.
"It's alright Wendy. I've come to terms with it." He said while his hair hid his eye.
"When we get back, I'll tell you some more, but for now, it ain't exactly the best time to be telling stories." He smiled at her.
"You're right. Right now, Oracion Seis is still out there. And everyone is still fighting." She nodded.
"Still though, I wonder what the heck happened." Natsu wondered.
"What happened?" Wendy blinked.
"You saw that pillar of light didn't you?" He asked her.
"Um...no? I was unconscious, then woke up when Carla dropped me." She said, confused at his question.
"Hm." Natsu hummed curiously. "Huh?" He looked up and he saw Gray and Lyon coming up over the hill.
"looks like Ur-san won't kill me after all." He welcomed them as the two tiredly supported each other.
"Heh, it was a bit of a scrap, but we beat him." Gray smirked. Sherry was also behind them as well. She seemed to have a relieved look on her face.
"Don't worry about Racer, he's sleeping off a nasty bump on the back of his head."
"I see you all have won your battles." Jura said as he came out of the woods, holding a beat up Hibiki over his shoulder. "Where is miss Erza?" He noticed that she was not among them.
"Don't know. She disappeared when I took out a doppelganger that was impersonating Gray." Natsu explained.
"Then afterwards, I came across Lucy and Angel. Looked like Lucy took her down. " He smiled as he turned to the unconscious blonde.
"I see. So if Racer and Angel are down, that only leaves four more of them." Lyon said as the two regained their composure.
"I ran into the one called Hoteye, but he had a strange switch in personality. He did not seem to be evil anymore. Then afterwards he told me about Nirvana..." Jura explained to them about Nirvana's orgins, and their interest in attaining it. "Afterward, he took off." Jura explained.
"Nirvana..." Hibiki suddenly said which got everyone's attention. "It possesses the power to...switch light with darkness. You all felt it, didn't you? That tower of light that erupted over there in the distance? " He asked them.
"if you knew, how come you didn't tell us?" Natsu asked him with an accusing look to him
"I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if I could trust any of you yet." He confessed.
"Tch." Natsu scoffed in annoyance. "Well, I guess for now we can catch our breath. I'm sure after giving those guys the beat down, they'd think twice before engaging us." Natsu figured.
"I agree, let us use this opportunity to-"
RUMBLE!
The ground suddenly started shaking violently as if it was an earthquake
"What the-?!"
"What is going on?!"
"Wahhh~!"
"The ground is-!"
Everyone was trying to keep their footing, as the earthquake shook the earth around them violently. Lucy and Carla woke up after feeling the vibrations, and suddenly wide eyed.
"Wendy!" Carla immediately shouted worriedly.
"Carla!" Wendy clutched her while the earth kept shaking.
"What's going on!?" Lucy was struggling to regain her balance.
"What the heck is that?!" Gray pointed towards something rising in the distance. It was dark, but everyone's eyes could see it clear as day. Shaking stopped, and everyone was wide eyed at what they saw.
"Look at the size of that!" Lucy exclaimed.
"It's huge!" Wendy gawked. It was a massive city on a platform, walking with mechanical legs equally as large to support it.
"Is that...Nirvana?" Lyon wondered.
"Are we too late?!" Gray wondered.
"It's moving!" Jura pointed out. It seemed to be heading towards...
"..Oh no..." Wendy had shocked look.
"What is it?" Natsu whipped his head around and asked her.
"It's...it's heading towards Cait Shelter!" She exclaimed.
"What!? Does it intend on attacking that guild?" Hibiki wondered.
"Everyone!" Ren and Eve suddenly showed up, battered and bruised like the rest of them.
"Ah, thank goodness you're okay! What happened!?" Hibiki asked them.
"Oracion Seis has awakened Nirvana?!" They ignored his question and were wide eyed at the site of the massive city.
"Looks like it. It's heading towards Wendy's guild!" He explained.
"We have to stop it!" Lucy said.
"(sniff)...I'll go on ahead. I found Erza's scent, she's heading towards Nirvana." Natsu noticed.
"Isn't splitting up the last thing we should do?" Lucy asked.
"Don't worry about me. I can move faster on my own. I'll meet you guys on the city after I get Erza." He told them.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Jura raised an eyebrow.
"It's not" Natsu said as his eyes glint red before the man squatted his legs and then did a very high jump and landed 10 miles away from the others as he did so until he reaches Nirvana
"that guy is really scaring me" Ren said
"welcome to the club" Gray said to him before they all started running to catch up with Natsu
That's a wrap!
Bye bye