Chapter 6 - I Can Hear The Voice Of My Friend
Master Hades stood atop the Grimoire Heart ship grinning as he looked up at his former guild member.
"Master…why? Is this some sick joke!" Makarov shouted aloud confusion boiling with frustration.
Hades didn't reply bringing his right hand up to cast a spell. A black chain came forth followed by two more which slammed into Makarov knocking him back towards the beach. The chains grabbed FairyTail's master as Hades pulled back and released only to hit him again, this time sending him flying into the mountain. The ruthless onslaughts vanished Makarov's GIANT magic as he shrunk back to his former tiny self-midflight. Hades jumped off the ship and headed for his prey.
Skillfully, Makarov caught his balance and landed safely on the ground. Yellow particles materialized before him as his white wizard saint coat now donned him. "I see you traded your ideals, for a darker road." Makarov said to his old master.
Hades shook his head in amusement. "After all these years, you still view the world from black to white. I had hoped giving you guild master status would make that view of yours better. Guess I ended up being wrong after all."
"Forgive me for I do not give a damn." Makarov stated. "I may have a narrow vision, but I see my enemies clearly."
"Haha." Hades chuckled. "At least you learned how to talk while I was away, boy."
"I always hated that nickname..." Makarov annoyedly spoke. "In fact, I wanted to always deck you every time you used it." He then clinched his fist, "but I have no desire to fight you now. Leave now before we do something drastic and endanger everyone on this island."
"Though it pains me to do so..." Hades began, "My path is all too clear at this point."
"What are you on about Precht?" Makarov questioned sternly.
"It seems as though the universe has chosen me to be the leader of FairyTail's destruction."
"If you want to try and destroy Mavis' guild then you can try, but first you will have to go through me!" Makarov shouted as yellow lights began to radiate from him shining brightly.
"If you wish to throw your life away, boy... then so be it." Hades said as black and purple lights emerged from him as well.
The two guild masters moved their arms with Makarov shooting first shouting, Beams of Light!
Hades countered with a DARK SHIELD. The blackened shield absorbed Makarov's light which Hades sent right back at the guild master who just barely dodged in time.
"In that case!" Makarov yelled as he released another spell. Hades chuckled as his Amaterasu Formula: 28 countered Makarov's magic again. "What! He cast the Amaterasu Formula 28 circle spell as if it were nothing!" Makarov mumbled. How strong have you become Master Precht?
"Understand what you're up against now?" Hades asked smugly. Catching the tiny man off guard he summoned another chain spell that locked onto Makarov and threw him further into trees. Reemerging into the battle he realized he was engulfed between purple magical particles in what was shaped to be a triangle. What is this? He thought as he then released his own powerful attack against Hades. THREE PILLAR GODS!
Unfortunately for Makarov, Hades countered bored with his Amaterasu: Formula 100. FairyTail's hope seemed to have run out as the seal was ineffective, and its magic power was felt throughout the island.
Following the conclusion of the blast, Hades who figured the battle was surely over was taken back in surprise after seeing the miniature guild master still intact. Despite the explosion caused by this Makarov you are still somehow alive...
As Master Makarov kneeled weakly just shy from Hades, he spoke. "Master Precht. What happen to you? You were such a good guild master. Did you change your mind, or was it all a lie?" Makarov questioned. He
He didn't get an answer as Hades grabbed his arm and tossed him into the ground face first remorselessly.
"Ah!" Makarov groaned out in pain as he attempted to get back up.
Hades looked down onto the third guild master then began to walk away. Before he parted ways with his former student he added, "It's time for you to rest boy. Just like FairyTail shall rest here, with Mavis."
Makarov hearing the threat clinched his fist in anger summoning all his remaining courage as he charged at Hades once more. Unbeknownst to him, Hades turned back around feeling his presence. PIERCING BULLET! Hades cast as a beam of darkness went right through Makarov's chest nearly piercing the heart as the third master of FairyTail dropped to the floor.
Wheezing in pain from the bullet, Makarov grumbled before slipping into unconsciousness, "It is not over Precht... not yet."
"Maybe not yet for your guild, but it is over for you Makarov." Hades finished as he walked back to his ship finished with the final shards of his past locked away.
Wendy's expression changed from worry to complete horror as she watched her brother-like friend disappear now leaving her all alone with this crazy lunatic. Wendy wished she could attack, but she wasn't able to go on the offensive do too having to protect herself from being roasted alive. She kept her healing magic on her as the flames tried to lick and burn her skin.
Zancrow smirked. "Eventually your magic will run out girl." He said as he kept her engulfed in the ball of flame. Hehehe. This will be fun.
Wendy began to cringe, desperation written all over her face. Natsu, please... I need you.
Her healing shield began to break down as her magic faded from exhaustion and the flames engulfed her as she let a blood curdling scream out. She passed out from the pressure of the flames and the heat as well as from the pain. After seeing the girl was down, Zancrow released the fire spell and watched as she fell to the ground. He then picked her up by her waist and slugged her over his shoulder.
Walking back to the ship with a job well done, he mumbled to himself, "Hahaha, dragon boy. Told you I would win, I took the girl and sent you flying into nowhere ya loser."
He laughed hysterically now as he thought about the pink haired dragon slayer's words. Bring it. You won't make it out of here alive. Zancrow smirked and said, "I believe I just did kid."
Shortly after he managed his way back through the overgrown forest, Zancrow rounded the beach walking up to the large dark airship. A large Grimoire Heart flag with their logo flew above it almost menacingly, as the god slayer approached his master who stood in front of it.
"Master Hades." He spoke bowing.
"Yes, Zancrow what do you have to report?" Hades responded.
"I encountered the dragon slayer once more."
"And?" Hades questioned.
"I defeated him and also took his, what I'm guessing is his sister, as a reward. She is also a dragon slayer and a member of their guild."
"Hmm." Hades thought. "Ah this could work for us rather well indeed. Take her back and lock her up. A FairyTail mage could help us make a bargain for the black wizard. You may go now."
"Yes master." Zancrow acknowledged as he walked towards the ship doors.
"Oh and one more thing Zancrow. Don't you ever think of defying my orders again or I will kill you." He demanded threateningly with purple particles ominously summoning before dispersing as quick as they appeared.
"Yes master…" Zancrow said understandingly with frustration as he carried the unconscious dragon slayer inside the ship.
He turned to the right of the ship and made his way to a small room. The room stored a dungeon vibe as it had shackles hanging from the ceiling as well as an empty seat with cuffs on the arm rests. This room was made exactly for someone who crossed wrongly with Grimoire Heart and needed to be taught a lesson.
Hmm, should miss dragon here sit or hang in the air? Zancrow asked himself. She is a sky dragon slayer after all so let's go with the air... He chucked darkly as he thought about a certain fire wizard who he beaten. Oh I am going to love shoving this in your face.
Zancrow laid the unconscious mage against the wall before grabbing her right arm and placing her hand into a cuff which would seal her magic. He then took her left arm and did the same before cuffing her legs similar to her arms. She hung in an X like shape, completely oblivious to what was instore for her later.
I can't wait for you to wake up dragon girl...besides you're just a stupid fairy. Zancrow smirked as he departed from the room and went to talk once more with Hades.
When Wendy came back to the real world, she felt like she was floating. Literally floating. In fact she was, for the most part. When she opened her eyes, she surveyed her surroundings and saw that she was positioned in an X shape hanging from dull chains. She tried to remember what had occurred, but as soon as she it all came crashing down upon her. Natsu had been blown away into the unknown and she had run out of magic power to keep up her healing shield quickly being consumed by Zancrow's black flames.
Wendy then feared for the next minute. Surely Natsu is okay? Right? It won't be long till he busts down that door and frees me... She thought to herself happily having no more doubts since it always seemed to work out this way. Natsu was a savior. Not long after she smelled two figures approaching. The figure smelled like fire. Yes, Natsu is here!
As the door opened though, Wendy's hope began to evaporate as Zancrow and who she could only assume be Grimoire Heart's master entered the room, closing the door behind them. Wendy began to say her prayers not liking the look the ladder man was giving her. All of a sudden, Hades summoned purple and black lightning bolts and shocked her with tremendous power as Zancrow cackled in the background loving every second of it. "NATSU!" Wendy painfully shouted for her comrade begging him to come and rescue her from this hellish nightmare as she continued to be electrocuted.
Natsu had been knocked unconscious from Zancrow's attack as he landed hard into the trees, falling towards the ground, and rolling to a stop near the same spot Master Makarov's battle with Master Hades had just finished. The dragon slayer had a brutal rollercoaster ride on the way down as he flew through tree branches, smacking into their trunk a few times.
Makarov had been laying there for a while still alive after the bullet just barely missed any important arteries. Upon waking up earlier, he noticed Natsu out cold next to him and immediately became alarmed.
"Natsu?" Makarov asked his guild member confusedly, unaware what had taken place prior to his state of condition.
"Natsu? My boy, are you alright?" He asked again only to get no response. He decided to lay back down as he tried thinking about what caused Precht to change who he was now.
After a long while, the fire dragon slayer began to stir out of his forced slumber. The first thing he awoke to was the sight of his blackened scarf which had been tainted from its usual white color by dark magic. When I find that man, I swear... Upon fully awaking and glancing around he went wide eyed remembering what had just happened to him. Not even acknowledging Makarov looking at him, he suddenly looked into the sky before roaring to the heavens, "WENDY!"
Master Makarov went from shocked to see his 'son' wake up to a worried expression as he heard him scream the sky dragon slayer's name.
"Natsu." The pinkette heard a voice call out to him bringing him from his thoughts as he turned to his left and noticed his guild master. A small smile came upon his face despite the threat that loomed.
"Hey gramps." Natsu said casually.
"Hello Natsu. Why did you shout for Wendy?" The guild master now intrigued by the fire dragon slayer's outburst wanted to know what happened.
"Wendy and I were left behind by the others who seemed to disappear and when we awoke, we were ambushed by that god slayer who I fought earlier. The same one, that attacked Mira and Elfman."
He then continued on hoping his memory recalled correctly. "I was close to finishing him off when he captured Wendy in this ball of fire. I tried knocking the spell so it'd cancel out but then he got a lucky shot and launched into the air before my magic gave out from over exhaustion. I'm not sure what happen to her after that... I've used to much magic in these battles gramps..." Natsu mumbled the last parts as he felt guilty at his failure.
Master Makarov went from calm to upset rather unexpectedly. "It wasn't your fault Natsu, these dark guilds are a pain and deserve to be taught a lesson. Don't you worry though my child, we will find her soon." Reassuring the dragon slayer he added, "Go and try to find her Natsu, we will meet back up with the rest later."
It wasn't long after Natsu had parted ways with Master Makarov when he heard a painful shouting scream. What made the matters worse, the shout was his own name.
He bolted off the soil from Tenrou Island's roots as he heard the anguished cry. That sounded like Wendy! He quickly thought to himself as he blasted through the thick forest.
Natsu was furious with himself after finding out Wendy had been captured from the last spot, they had been in. How did I fail her? It was my job to protect her!
Finally, he reached the cliff that he was thrown off and caught Wendy's fading scent near continuing to run deeper into the forest. Soon Natsu encountered Zancrow's scent which also went into the forest following hers.
I am going to beat that fire slayer wanna be into a pulp when I see him! Natsu's mind angrily flared with rage failing to notice he was then suddenly frozen.
"Very funny..." Natsu mumbled as he spawned flames to melt the ice however realized he was struggling to accomplish that. "Ok, what the hell Gray?" Natsu asked in annoyance finally burning through the solid and freeing himself. However, Natsu caught a scent hadn't recalled Gray smelling like a girl anytime recently.
ICE-MAKE: Frozen Swords! A voice shouted as they summoned sharp icy looking swords and charged the dragon slayer. They can use Gray's magic! Natsu thought impressed, but also a little confused.
FIRE DRAGON's ARM BLOCK! Natsu said grinning as the heat in his arm blocked the swords and instantly melted them. The threat neutralized, he lowered his defense to get a better look at his surroundings and challenger.
"Who are you?" Natsu asked intrigued completely forgetting about his mission to rescue Wendy.
"Hello, Natsu Dragneel." The figure spoke withdrawing their hood as their long dark hair fell behind them, an evil smile appearing on their face.
"How do you know who I am?" Natsu once again asked getting annoyed now as he once again summoned bright flames in his right fist. A woman?
"We all know who you are Natsu Dragneel. The Fire Dragon Slayer." She playfully smiled at his name.
"Who are you!" Natsu shouted as he grit his teeth. Not another one!
"I'm Ultear. Leader of the 7 Kin of Purgatory for Grimoire Heart." The woman now who was revealed to be Ultear said.
"The hell?" Natsu replied confused. "What do you Grim clowns want with us anyways?"
"It's Grimoire Heart Natsu... and what do want from you? We want Zeref." She stated. Ultear's right arm glowed as she summoned a white looking circular ball. "Give me a moment." She said to him as Ultear began to speak into it.
What the heck type of magic is that? Natsu wondered trying to figure out what it is was but ultimately failing to understand.
"Yes Master. Oh, you captured the sky dragon slayer? Lovely, I was just about wrapped up with the fire dragon slayer. You're sure? Okay, see you at the ship." Ultear put the lacrima communication device away and faced back towards her opponent.
"The hell you mean you captured her lady. Where's Wendy!" Natsu glared now with an angry expression forming across his features. Flames emerged all around him as he got into his signature battle stance.
"The sky dragon slayer?" She asked seeing Natsu slightly nod confirming her question. "She is currently with Master Hades and Zancrow. I'm sure she is having a nice time." Smirking at her words she saw an evil glint in his eyes before it disappeared instantly. What was that?
"I swear... If you guys touch her, I will destroy every single one of you!" He declared releasing a spell. FIRE DRAGON's WING ATTACK!
Ultear avoided the attack as she created her own ice structure. ICE-MAKE TOWERS!
Natsu watched as large towers of ice grew from the ground and made his way towards him. FIRE DRAGON's BRILLIANT FLAME! Natsu faintly heard another sharp cry of pain through his keen senses, assuming it was from Wendy. I can't keep being delayed by these jokers! She needs me!
He looked at Ultear and growled, "Get out of my way, I can hear the voice of my friend!"
ICE-MAKE BLOOM!
"Why the hell do you use the same magic as Gray?" Natsu asked her now interested in the magic she harnessed since it was so similar to his rival's.
Ultear stopped at the sound of 'Gray'. Is he talking about...Gray Fullbuster? She began giving off a killing-like aura. "DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK OF THAT NAME!" Ultear yelled nearly like a monster at him as she summoned gigantic shards of ice.
The hell? Natsu responded to her outrage. Time to finish off this crazy psycho.
FIRE DRAGON SWORD HO-the pinkette began but was quickly stopped before he could finish the spell.
ICE-MAKE: ROSEN KRONE! Ultear created white roses and spiked branches made from ice that surrounded and bound Natsu and his diminishing spell. What the? Natsu confusedly thought to himself as he found himself trapped unable to move an inch.
"I will destroy you for saying that name Natsu Dragneel." Ultear evilly chuckled as she walked up to her prisoner.
"You're all a bunch of pyschos you know that! What is so important about Gray's name anyways?" Natsu asked before Ultear swiftly struck a spike into his chest. Caught by surprise from the jab, his struggling attempts to break free and pound the woman before him began to lessen, he found himself quickly losing his vision for the second time that night. No, the hell? It's only a wound… He trailed off before nearly going completely limp in the ice.
"I told you dragon slayer; you should have never used that name in my presence." Ultear glared him as she stuck another icicle spike through his right shoulder piercing his red fairy emblem guild mark. She looked down as Natsu's body winced before swaying to the side, the pinkette losing full control.
"I will free her..." Natsu muttered almost in a trance as the last of his power began to fade with the final flickering flames of an angry dragon vanishing back into its den.
Ultear watched as the fire dragon slayer fell to the side of her plant trap completely paralyzed. She dispelled it and let her captured wizard fall into the dirt unconscious. Taking her right arm and lifting it to her mouth, she began speaking into the same device she had contacted earlier. A small figure appeared on her wrist as a chuckling noise was heard echoing from the communication lacrima. She cut the connection making sure there was no witness and lifted the downed fairy with her magic, teleporting them both away back to the ship.
Mest Grdyer was ordered from the Magic Council to find out what FairyTail was hiding in this island. He heard that Zeref had been here and was currently looking for the black wizard but it seemed his luck had run out. The council members decided to leave the FairyTail mages on their own after he and the two cats were separated. As Mest walked further into the forest he found a man with a black coat and a white robe that had his back to him and was looking up at the sky. That must be Zeref! Mest thought excitedly. He then heard the man speaking aloud to himself as if the earth could understand him.
"Natsu." Zeref began to say. "You are not ready to fight me yet. You must become stronger, and I was hoping today would be the day. However, I have sensed a greater evil is on his way to demolish this place. Oh Mavis, will Acnologia change history once more? Does this world not want me to see have freedom..." Zeref trailed off finishing his statement. Mest Gryder recalled everything the man had spoken and instantly teleported back to the Magic Council ships not caring for Zeref anymore, but rather caring for his own safety.
The iron dragon slayer and his exceed were currently walking back to the resting spot when they heard a shout.
"What was that?" Pantherlily asked.
"I'm not sure." Gajeel responded. "It sounded familiar though."
"Indeed, it did. Is one of the guildmates in trouble?" Pantherlily now aware asked.
Before Gajeel could respond to him the shout was heard again. This time with more voice and the words were clear. "NATSU!" The voice yelled for a third time. Gajeel and the exceed looked at each other immediately and raced off. "Wendy!" Gajeel shouted.
As Erza and Gray finished the bad guys off with Lucy helping as well, the FairyTail guild members grouped together and were about to go and find the others when they heard a shout.
"What?" Gray mumbled.
"Did you guys hear that?" Lucy asked them.
The voice shouted again. "That sounds familiar." Gray alerted them.
"It does." Erza replied. "Who could it be?"
The voice was heard again, and it yelled one word. "NATSU!"
"Natsu?" Lucy shockingly asked.
"No way... It's Wendy!" Gray and Erza both called out.
"We gotta go! Now!" Gray told his comrades as they all headed for wherever the voice was calling from.
As Hades continuously tortured the dragon slayer, she stubbornly refused to budge. They had asked her where Zeref was, or her comrades, or anything else they thought the guild was hiding. She couldn't take the pain forever and yelled for Natsu. This immediately got the guild master and god slayer's attention. Before they could speak back, Ultear appeared before them. "Sorry to interrupt your doings here Master." Ultear looked at him.
"No, it is fine." Master Hades said to her after her interruption with their interrogation. "Go on."
"I defeated the dragon slayer, Natsu Dragneel. I believe he knows information and with his sister in our clutches he will be forced to reveal it to us and find us the path to Zeref. And also... according to what I have encountered on this island. Zeref seeks the dragon slayer." She finished up rather proud with her work.
"Which one?" He asked.
"The fire slayer."
"Good. Bring him here, if what you say is true... then I want all the information on Makarov's children now." He smiled.
"Yes Master. I will be there right away." She ended the communication and disappeared.
Wendy was struck. They got Natsu? No! She knew exactly what they planned to do. They are going to use me as bait to get information from Natsu. I don't even know if he has secrets or knows anything that's going on though. Wendy was interrupted as she felt the lightning course majorly through her side and he didn't let up until she fell unconscious as light tears ran down her cheeks.
Not long after she had ended the communication call, Ultear had arrived in front of the Grimoire Heart ship. Welcomed by the soldiers for her accomplished mission, she was brought to Master Hades along with the newly captured dragon slayer.
"Good work Ultear. This is exactly why you are the leader of the Seven Kin." He chuckled. Zancrow only glared.
Noticing the bruises on the boy he added rather curiously, "what exactly happened between you two?"
"Oh it was nothing Master, he just brought up rather delicate and dark memories and I made him pay for it." She declared sweetly looking down at the mage in her arms.
Hades wondered what was brought up, but decided it was best to drop it. "Go and tie him up next to his guildmate. Let me know exactly when he wakes up." He ordered.
"Yes Master." Ultear responded as she followed her way into the dungeon room.
Once there, she chained the fire dragon slayer like the other one who was in the air. However, she tightened the chains more so the fire wizard couldn't escape. She knew the dragon slayer was dense, but he was aggressive, and she had no doubts that he would fight to the end. The last thing she needed was for her foolishness to be the reason of a prisoner escaping, specifically one who was now highly valued by Hades.
Wendy Marvell who had been captured for at least four hours now opened her eyes and what was next to her on the right side frightened her, the fears becoming reality. Natsu was chained the exact same way she was, but a little worse. His pink locks covered his eyes, his head hung low rendering him unresponsive. She noticed he had a sealed wound in his chest and a bandage on his right shoulder where his guild emblem was. Sensing the small movement she had within her binds she shifted her left hand so her small fingers could grasp his right to which she clutched it for comfort. I'm scared... She could feel warmth radiating from her friend which made her calm down knowing he wasn't dying. However, she prayed he wouldn't wake soon so they could rest. The electrocutions had become more painful each hour and all she wanted to do was get away from the excruciating pain the lightning had done to her. She kept her hand embraced in his as she drifted off into sleep fearing for the minute she would wake up.
After an hour past, Master Hades, Zancrow, Azuma, and Ultear walked into the torture chamber. Zancrow chuckled and Ultear smiled dangerously as they all saw the sky dragon slayer had awoken and interlocked their fingers. Zancrow kicked Wendy in the chest which woke her up as she coughed, unknowingly waking up the other prisoner in the process.
"Thinking you could get all lovey while being captured, hmm?" Zancrow taunted as he saw her look away flushed. However, Wendy didn't remove her hand from his as she glared daggers at captors.
"As long as he is with me, I'm not afraid of you people!" Wendy grit her teeth as she spoke with defiance and anger.
"That's rather cute girl." Master Hades now spoke as he stalked toward Wendy. "The thing is, I don't care."
Master Hades walked up to slap her for her disobedience, but stopped as he heard a dangerous voice growl, "touch her and I will turn your sorry ass into ashes."
They all looked over to the voice, except for Wendy who was beaming brightly within the dark chambers of Grimoire Heart's ship. Natsu Dragneel held his glare evenly against Hades as his eyes, the black orbs he usually held burned with raging fire. He then turned and grinned at Wendy, neither of them felt fear in that moment as they had each other and to them that was all that mattered.
As much as their pride held within the name of their guild, no one but Mest Gryder and Zeref, knew that an evil aura was headed directly for Tenrou Island and the bloodshed was about to rain down on FairyTail's most sacred grounds.
A/N: I know, I suck. Extremely sorry for the long wait on this chapter, I got side tracked again and forget to post. Anyways happy late Easter and hopefully the next chapter will be out much sooner then this one was! Arc 1 is almost complete so I hope you guys are looking forward to whats to come, thanks! Per usual, here's a sneak peek of Ch 7!
Zancrow stalked over to the frightened dragon slayer. "How is it up there?" He asked smirking. She just glared at him. "Don't give me that. Just because I beat your friend up, you can at least give me some respect cant ya?." Zancrow said as he planned to slap her again. However, a rising dark aura put him in place and he looked curiously over at the figure who made the magical presence.
"You would be wise to stop." Natsu snarled, the only thing holding him back from bashing the god slayer's face in was the chains that restricted his magic.
"Alright dragon boy." Zancrow evilly laughed. "Let's finish our battle. This time, to the death. Only one winner, the other dies." He added ominously removing Natsu's restraints and getting into a stance. As soon as Natsu felt his magic replenish, dark red flames surrounded his figure as his eyes turned to slits, Wendy watching on horrified.