Chapter 5

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback you

Location / Date / Time Skip

"I was hoping I'd never hear about those words again." Natsu huffed having heard about the Seis reunion. "Though that would explain why me and Makarov are being called to the council. We helped take them down all those years ago."

"You should be going, too." Juvia said to her husband. "Makarov is waiting for you at the station." She handed Natsu a small bag before giving him a kiss. "By the time you get back, this will all be over." The master nodded and the pinkette left the guild.

"While we were asleep for seven years, they got a lot stronger." Gray huffed.

"We were so utterly hopeless against them." Carla added.

"So what are we going to do now?" Michelle asked.

"We find the Infinity Clock and take it out." Talon said.

"And how do we do that?" Gray asked. "We don't have a clue where the Oracion Seis are, let alone the Clock."

"At least I'm trying to think of something." The Lightning user replied. "Besides, with Gildarts and Laki still on their mission they can't help us."

"At times like these, we need all of our players." Erza mumbled.

The doors opened as the Thunder Legion walked into the guildhall. "What's up? The Thunder Legion is back!" Bickslow said, surprised by the looks. The group quickly caught the trio up to everything that happened and Freed mentioned something he saw. "Man, we are really up a creek aren't we?"

Macao perked up as Kinana walked down the stairs. "Easy, Kinana. That was a nasty fall you had." The barmaid ignored him and picked up a fork. Jouki ran over to his favorite 'aunt' only for her to push him aside and started carving something into the wall. Seconds later she finished and passed out into Mirajane's lap.

"What was she mumbling about?" Wendy asked.

"Is it something from her past?" Lucy asked.

"Hey, this is ancient Prodomelian." Levy said, leaning into the wall.

"Like in the clock hand?" Juvia asked.

"It appears to be a description of a man named Will Neville." Freed said.

"He's the author of Key of the Starry Heavens, isn't he?" Erza asked.

"This is a rough translation, but it says in life Will Neville was a great wizard who made many contracts with Celestial Spirits and was remarkably skilled at using them." Levy read out. "In life, Will Neville had many followers. But when he died, his pupils scattered to the winds to places unknown."

"Both an author and a wizard?" Gray asked.

Lucy gasped before she pulled out an encyclopedia. "I think it can help us." She flipped through the pages before stopping at his page. "Will Neville; author and cardinal in Zentopia?"

"He was a bird?" Asuka and Jouki asked at the same time, making their mothers chuckle.

"According to this, he was very dedicated member of the church." Lucy continued. "He also did extensive research on Zentopia's history. That is until he suddenly left the church for a long time, re-emerging as Will Neville children's author. But there's no mention of him being a Celestial Wizard or having any kind of following."

"Is no one else freaked out how Kinana knows stuff not in the encyclopedia?" Talon asked. "And how is any of this gonna help us find the Clock or the Seis?"

"It's not like we can just ask him. Will Neville has been dead for some time." Gray added.

Cana yawned herself awake before rubbing her eyes. "Can't a girl get some beauty sleep around here?"

"You really think this is time to do that?" Wakaba asked.

"I know, but I just can't seem to wake up." She replied. "Now, do you boys and girls wanna find these creeps or not?"

"That's right, your fortune telling." Erza said.

"Now stand back and watch the magic." The brunette chuckled before throwing the cards at the map.

Macao walked over and pulled out the cards. "Okay, first we have Freed and Gray. Then we have Erza, Evergreen and Max. Following that is Gajeel and Max, Wendy and Bickslow, an all exceed team. And it looks like the last team is Talon, Elfman, Lucy and Michelle."

"Wait, that means I'm stuck here!?" Kageyama asked. "This is complete and utter bull-" He felt a dark aura from behind as Juvia and Bisca glared at him, covering their children's ears. "-poo. Bullpoo."

With Gildarts and Laki

The two S-Class wizards stared out over the barren farmlands. "It's a shame this place is like this. The time for harvesting crops has passed." Laki said as they walked towards the farms. "They've withered on the vine like those who once worked here. It would be a distant memory, if anyone still remembers. Now this once majestic place is just a window to the past."

"Long story short, it's been a while since anyone's been here." Gildarts said.

"This is the place where Michelle said she grew up, her family plantation." Laki added. The two walked away from the house and up a hill behind it, with Gildarts trying to pick up Laki. "Careful, say one wrong thing and I'll tell Cana. Some will be true but I'm mostly just gonna make stuff up.."

They reached a wooden monetary and knocked on the door. A woman slid a slot on the door opened and denied them entrance before closing the slot. "Well, that didn't work. Laki, you're up." He said, confusing the girl. "Look at the monastery, what do you see?"

She pushed up her glasses before a magical seal appeared on wall. Laki grabbed Gildarts and the two started crawling through the building. "Hey! No coping a feel while we're trying to sneak in!" She scolded before a fart forced them out. The nuns and monks began crawling at the two, creeping Laki out.

"Okay, you guys are getting on my nerves." Gildarts blasted them with magic and the charging people into blocks off wood and bricks.

"What kind of magic does this?" Laki asked. "Seems like we stumbled onto something even more sinister than even Master Natsu realized."

With Elfman, Talon, Lucy and Michelle

The strange bear creature laughed before pulling its lever. Chunks of ice flew forward and slowed the charging men down before they crashed into each other. "Damn it, how can we beat this when he just counters everything we throw at him?" Lucy asked before summoning Cancer.

The three men charged with their magic at the ready before steel walls surrounded them. The second Talon touched them, lightning shot up and zapped them all. The metal fell over and the three were shown to have had afros. "Cancer, don't touch the hair now!" Talon shouted.

"I don't get it." Lucy mumbled. "Cana said this was the best team for the job. But they aren't getting along at all. She's usually right on about this kind of thing."

Lightning crashed down on the two blondes before it curved and spun around Talon. "Big mistake, pal. Take this!" He shot his hands forward and the lightning went forward only for the creature to counter with a rain of black cotton. "Oh, come on!" He shouted before the fluff hit them.

Cancer merely smiled before slicing the fabric away, freeing the group before washtubs hit them all on the head. Cancer faded underneath the pile before rain started falling. The blonde summoned Aquarius, who instantly started berating her owner. "If you're looking to blame someone, blame that creepy robot!"

Aquarius just shook her head and fired off a stream of water. The creature then pulled its lever and a 'u turn' symbol appeared, sending them all crashing into each other. "Now this is just getting embarrassing."

With Wendy and Bickslow

"You okay back there, Wendy?" The masked man asked before dark clouds filled the sky. "I know mountain weather was pretty weird but nothing like this." Lightning flashed across the sky before wind pushed against the two. "The storm just came out of nowhere."

The two looked up to see Erigor sitting above them. He pointed his scythe at the two and wind tore the ground up before tornados pushed against Bickslow's dolls. "I can control the very laws of nature itself and destroy flies like you."

Wendy triggered her support magic and the two charged him, only for a tornado to rise from the ground and pushed them back. Erigor raised his scythe to the sky before unleashing a sparking tornado at them. Wendy jumped in front of the man and opened her mouth before eating the spell. "Since when could you do that?"

"Remember Tenrou Island?" Wendy asked. "Laxus gave me some of his lightning to fight Hades. Ever since then, lightning hasn't really bothered me."

"It makes no difference." Erigor declared. "I don't know what you did to my spell, but this where you die." He took to the sky, surprising even him before sending another blast of wind at the two. Wendy crawled over and started to heal him, confusing Erigor. "Abandon him, and you will live." He fired another blast only for a wall of shadows to protect her.

Both looked on in confusion before Kageyama rose out of the shield. "Seems like I was right to trail you two." He chuckled before looking up. "Erigor! Why are you doing this!?"

"Who are you? What happened to my storm?" The cloaked man asked.

"Wendy, take Bickslow and get out of here." The shadow-user said, his magic rolling off him. "This is between friends."

"I... I can't." She replied. "I won't abandon any of my friends! So I'm staying wether you like it or not. Now shut up and let me save him!" Her healing spell exploded in range before covering Erigor.

Four shadows stood in front of him before fading into light. Erigor grabbed his head in pain before staring at Kage. "Why are you here!? What did you do to me!?"

"Wendy, whatever you did keep it up." Kageyama said, just as confused as the other three. "Bickslow, how does his soul look?"

"His memories are coming to the surface but something is blocking them." The Seith user said. "Whatever is going on is tearing him apart from the inside out."

"Wendy when I give the signal, use a roar and a healing spell at the same time." Kageyama said, coating himself in Shadow Magic. "We're saving him from his pain..." Erigor shot a spell at the group, lightning sparking off the tornado. "Now!" Wendy unleasjed a healing roar as Kageyama jumped into the air. The wind carried the shadow user up into the air as he pulled his fist back.

"Wake up!" With all his might, Kageyama threw a punch and Erigor crashed to the ground. Black sparks shot off him before he groaned in pain. Wendy ran over and started healing him as Kageyama helped him up. "Will he be alright?"

"I think so." She replied. "But his memories are just returning, so he might not know everything."

"It's just a haze..." Erigor mumbled as he gripped his head. "I don't even remember what I was doing."

"Do you even remember how you got here?" Bickslow asked.

"I remember a horrible nightmare when I was in prison." The wind user replied. "It's like someone snuck into my dreams and played it like a harp."

"It sounds like someone cast a spell on you." Kageyama said.

"Kageyama..." Erigor mumbled before a small smirk covered his face. "So, how is the fly life treating you?"

"Focus." Bickslow said. "Someone was using your dreams to control your mind. Probably by the brain waves, taking you over slowly without being noticed."

"Before I knew it, I agreed to give up my memories for power." Erigor mumbled. "I forgot everything, it was gone in a flash. I never understood why people said great power comes at a price until now." He looked up at Wendy and the girl flinched. "I was lost until I heard your voice calling to me. I won't be your friend, but I will thank you."

"Hold on a second..." Kageyama mumbled before going wide eyed. "Cana said she was feeling tired before she picked the teams. You don't think that they got to her as well?"

"It would make sense." Erigor added. "They wouldn't want you anywhere near me. You might have jogged something lose."

"They manipulated her into picking teams that worked for them!" Bickslow shouted, kicking a rock. "Damn it! We've fallen right into their trap!"

With Talon's Group

"Okay, now I'm pissed off!" Talon shouted behind Elfman and Leo. "How can the three of us not land a single hit on this guy!?"

"Do you think Cana's fortunetelling backfired?" Lucy asked.

"Doesn't matter. We just have to beat him!" The Thunderbird replied before they charged again. Michelle merely watched the ground as Byro watched from his cliff. Rubber fists on cables shot put pummeled the three, leaving only Talon standing.

"Sorry, but I don't have time to play anymore." Jackpot said before turning around. "See ya, loser." He ran over to a church nearby and pulled his lever, making his dial stop on three bombs before the building exploded.

"This is blasphemy!" Byro shouted, finally moving. "I will not stand for this." The machine spun its slots and a red dagger shot into the church remains. "What did you just do?"

"Don't get your panties in a bunch over things that don't concern you." The machine chuckled. "You just need to carry out the cardinals orders like a good little boy."

Talon shouted and lightning crashed down on the teddy bear, much to his surprise. "You will suffer the consequences for your sinful destruction!" Byro declared, his staff glowing. Talon crushed the slots before unleashing two more powerful spell, knocking it to the ground.

Talon chuckled before the sky turned red and lightning filled the air. Stone chains shot into the ground as the trio looked up. "Oh, what now!?" He complained.

"It would appear the Infinity Clock has been activated." Byro said.

"We've got to find a way to stop it!" Lucy shouted.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that." The platoon member replied. "I've been ordered to take you to the cardinal. I don't understand it myself but it is my duty to follow orders." The other wizards protested, making Byro lower his head.

"Enough thinking, Byro." The bear said as a zipper opened up. "Simply remain loyal to the doctrine and carry out your orders." A skull staff too familiar to Lucy rose out. "My name is Klodoa, the seventh member of the Oracion Seis."

"Wait, aren't you short a person?" Lucy asked.

"Enough hiding, time to show your true self. Shed that disguise you've been hiding behind and reveal your true self!" He told Michelle, who cried a little bit before her body glowed.

A shield flew out and cracked both Lucy and Talon in the head, knocking them out before it returned to Michelle. "Byro, take these two to the cathedral." The traitorous woman said, throwing a golden seal into his face. "That means I have the same authority as your beloved archbishop. So take them both as prisoners."

Byro growled in reluctant obedience as the staff looked around. "Hang on, shouldn't there be a third member? Did he get away?"

Elfman pulled his head back behind a rock and growled in anger. "We're in serious trouble here." He whispered into the card.

I don't really have a lot to say, so see ya next time.

Beta read by JballinR12.