Back with Natsu X Ultear Fanfic continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
"An infiltration plan?" Lucy asked Gray
"That's right." Gray replied
Right now, Natsu, Gray, and Lucy raced through the forests on the backs of Weretigers towards Malva the location on where Avatar's purification is on the way.
"While investigating a lead on the whereabouts of Zeref I became privy to Avatar and their plans." Erza explained. "I asked Crime Sorciere for assistance and they gathered more information for me. When their investigation bore no real fruit I ran into Gray."
"She came to see Porlyusica and I just happened to be there." The ice wizard added. "Thanks to her I can control the markings on my body now."
"As we caught up I explained the situation to him and asked for his assistance. That's how we came up with the idea for this mission."
"Erza came up with most of it. At first I didn't want to do it, but after I thought it would lead me closer to the Book of END I decided to go through with it."
"Why do you need END's book?" Lucy asked.
"It was request from my Dad before he passed. He wanted me to destroy it."
"Why didn't you tell Juvia about this? You know she would have helped you out."
"That was my fault." Erza revealed. "I thought it best to keep the circle small. The less people who knew, the less likely it would be for Avatar or Zeref to know what we were up to."
"So you were trying to protect her." Natsu said as Gray nodded
"Still…" Lucy trailed off. She was uneasy.
"I know" Erza said "I regret what Juvia must've gone through. I did not foresee the extended length of this mission"
"After I was under for about a month or so our mission changed." Gray said. "At first we were only investigating the cult's inner workings, but then we came across Operation: Purify."
"That's the plan that weird monk guy was talking about." Lucy said "What is it?"
"It's Avatar's master plan." Erza stated. "They plan to sacrifice an entire town, hoping the widespread death will bring Zeref to them. They see death as some kind of beacon that will lure Zeref."
Lucy got shocked as she imagined a horrid vision of a town massacred
"We gotta take them down no matter the cost." Gray declared.
"Why did you guys just beat them all up?" Natsu asked. "You and Erza could have done that easily."
"It wasn't safe." Gray answered. "Avatar was way bigger than we thought. What you guys saw was only one branch, and despite how strong those guys were even they don't know where the cult's headquarters is."
"One mistake could have unraveled our entire operation." Erza continued. "We had no choice but to wait until now to make our move."
"All the branches will be in Malva. This is our best – and probably only – chance to crush both them and Operation: Purify once and for all."
Lucy was overwhelmed. She had no idea that Erza and Gray had been doing all of this while the guild was disbanded.
"Hey, Lucy."
"Yeah?"
She was brought out of her thoughts at the call of her name; looking ahead to an apologetic Gray.
"Sorry for what I said to you earlier. I was trying to sell it for those Avatar creeps, but I might have went a little too far."
Lucy smiled at him. "It's ok. I'm just glad you didn't really mean it."
"but the one who you should be apologizing is" Lucy wandered of as she motions to the father of a family
"keep it for now, apologize when you meet Ur-san and the others" Natsu said as Gray nodded
Erza smiles as she was happy that the team was back in action
"Let us show them what we're made of." Natsu said with a smirk as everyone nodded
"Yeah!"
The town of Malva was a peaceful place similar to Magnolia in scale. Housing over thirty thousand inhabitants, the city was nothing special in terms of trade or commerce, but it was more than nice enough for those that lived there.
The people of Malva normally enjoyed their days laughing, playing, and enjoying themselves, but on this day that status quo would shaken in a way none of them imagined. For dark clouds were creeping ever closer just over the horizon.
Arlock lead his forces to the town limits. A few more moments and Operation: Purify would begin in earnest.
"Briar, where are Gray and Gomon?" asked Jerome. "We will begin soon."
"They stayed behind to deal with those prisoners."
Jerome was perplexed by her answer.
"What is it?"
"I understand Gomon staying, but why Gray? Could he be-?"
"Look, Bottom Eyelashes. It doesn't really matter anymore." Briar quickly interrupted.
"…Bottom eyelashes?"
"Take a look down there would you?" she pointed to the members of Avatar advancing below the plateau they stood on. "All of those followers are gathered here in one place. Even branches we never knew about are here. Not even the council could stop us now. Soon all will be powerless before our faith."
"I suppose you have a point." Jerome conceded.
"Operation: Purify is about to begin!" laughed Able.
Mary smiled with glee. "We will finally meet Lord Zeref."
Arlock faced Avatar's forces, all of them eager to hear the words he would speak to them on this long promised day.
"The moment has come! This town, Malva, is one free of sin. All of its inhabitants lead their lives carefree and unaware of the greater purpose they are about to serve. Their noble sacrifice will surely lead Him to us! Our lord! The black wizard Zeref!"
The members of Avatar roared in excitement at the chance to meet the black wizard.
"All thirty thousand of these souls will be offered up so that He may walk among us again! Every life will be purified! Now forward!"
Avatar's forces charged towards Malva with renewed vigor.
"Someone's blocking the gate!"
Further ahead three figures could be seen standing in front of the town's entrance.
"Who are they?"
"Who cares?! If they wanna be the first ones to die then so be it!"
"Zeref's will be done!"
"Zeref's will be done!"
"Zeref's will be done!"
Suddenly a large explosion erupted from the front. Avatar's generals stood shocked as their soldiers flew in all directions from the blast. When the dust finally settled Natsu, Gray, and Lucy stood tall in front of the army
"you really gotten strong" Natsu said with a smirk to Gray
"well I haven't been training for nothing, you know" Gray replied with a smirk
"let's go guys!" Lucy said as she pulls out one of her Golden Gate keys
STAR DRESS: TAURUS
"Don't forget about me." Lucy cracked her whip with Taurus at her side.
"We'll moo them down!" the spirit shouted.
"What are all of you doing?!" Briar shouted to her flabbergasted men. "There's only four! Hurry and dispose of them!"
"That traitor!" Jerome fumed at the sight of Gray with the enemy. "I knew he-"
"Master Jerome, the rear guard is collapsing!" A frantic soldier reported.
"What?! Has the council already found us?!"
"That's the thing, sir…it's...it's just one knight.."
Erza came in riding her steed as she takes out any Avatar goons in her way
Natsu cracked his knuckles as his fists were ignited in flames "Let's get this party started!"
"we'll give them all a show!" Gray said with a smirk
"It feels like old times!" Lucy said as she stretched her whip
"the ones to be purified are you!"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye