Coven Fairy
"Ugh!" Happy gasped as he woke up. "I'm totally surrounded by kitty cats. Whoa where am I? Creepy."
"Meow." Millianna smiled, her eyes seeming bigger than before.
"A creepy cat girl." Happy shouted jumping in surprise.
"So how are you feeling?" Millianna asked, motioning her hand like a paw.
"Well, I've been better." Happy stated.
"Wow! I've got a talking kitty." Millianna cheered hugging him instantly.
"I'm not one of your dolls, you're going to hug me to death." Happy shouted.
"Milli, doll. Better let go before you knock off that cat." Wally exclaimed.
"Meow."
"It's you." Happy shouted.
"Sure a talking cat is dandy. Know what's dandier? A cat that can talk." Wally said making an awful pun.
"But that's the same thing." Happy shouted as Millianna swiped her hands in excitement. "How'd I end up in this place, and what happened to Natsu?"
"Don't get mouthy, or you'll end up six feet under just like your little pink haired friend." Wally stated pointing his weapon hand at Happy.
"There's no way this guy could have taken down Natsu." Happy stated as two guards came running up to the room.
"We got bad news." One of them said.
"Erza Scarlet has escaped her cell." The other one said.
"She did? That's Erzie for you." Millianna smiled.
"Well, ain't no way the broad's busting out of this tower again. She may be powerful, but it would take nothing short of the power from a Wizard Saint to escape here." Wally stated.
~Tower Docks~
"They got a ton of lookouts." Grey stated.
"Let's charge 'em." Natsu smirked.
"Don't even think about it." Lucy growled. "Remember they have Erza, and Happy. If we screw this up, we could be putting them in danger."
"Man this is going to be tricky." Grey exclaimed.
"I wasn't able to find any ways in from above without being spotted." Kali said coming down from her flight on Sapphire. "Juvia might have had better luck then me."
"I did, I found an underwater passageway into the tower." Juvia said reemerging from the ocean.
"Seriously? Way to go." Grey praised.
"You hear that Lucy? I was just praised by Grey, not you." Juvia mocked.
"Yeah, yeah." Lucy sighed in annoyance.
"We can swim there in ten minutes." Juvia stated.
"We can hold our breath that long right?" Natsu questioned.
"Probably." Grey stated.
"Holding your breath for ten minutes is not humanly possible you dopes!" Lucy screamed.
"Maybe not, but for a non-sea dragon, it's no problem." Kali said. "Though Natsu might not be able to. Water's his natural enemy to his fire."
"In that case, I suggest you wear these." Juvia said holding a giant bubble of water in her hand. "It's a water shell containing oxygen. This way you can breathe while underwater."
"Wow, you're awesome, and who are you again?" Natsu questioned causing Juvia to feel depressed.
A while later, with Kali, Juvia, and Lucy in bikini's for swimming, and Sapphire on Kali's back, the group of five began swimming through the ocean, entering a whole new world of underwater reefs, machinery, and skeletons. Eventually they made it to the entrance of the tower under the ocean's surface, climbing up one of the rocky walls where they proceeded to remove their breathing masks.
"So we're beneath the tower now huh?" Grey questioned.
"I wonder where they're keeping our friends." Natsu exclaimed.
"They may look silly, but they sure do work." Lucy chuckled admiring the skill of Juvia's magic with the water shells.
"I'm impressed you made it here because I purposely made your shell smaller so you'd have trouble breathing." Juvia said evil stars in her eyes.
"Gee thanks." Lucy stated in concern and sarcasm.
"Behave Juvia." Kali said, Sapphire shaking the water off her like a cat.
"Intruders." A man shouted riding on a monstrous beast spotting them.
"Uh, oh." Lucy gasped.
Dozens upon dozens of guards made their way out, cornering the four intruders instantly while trying to intimidate them.
"Identify yourselves." One of the guards shouted.
"Guess we don't have a choice, we're gonna have to fight them." Grey exclaimed.
"Yes." Juvia agreed.
"Let me handle this one." Kali said, Sapphire taking on her staff form again.
Jumping up, and flying through the air, Kali let her Boiling Isles Magic flow freely out of her whole hand as she focused on one spell, while Sapphire flew into one giant circle around the cavern.
"Sleep Spell." Kali called out, dispersing the magical energy gathered, and knocking out all the guards within the room.
"Damn, she's gotten better at controlling that magic." Grey whistled, as Sapphire came flying back down and Kali landed on the ground, breathing heavily a bit.
"Kali, are you okay?" Lucy asked, concern clear on her face.
"Yeah, just a bit tired. Doing a spell that large takes a lot out of a witch." Kali huffed.
"Aw man, why'd you have to put them all to sleep?" Natsu questioned.
"Because we don't have time to waste on them. We have to keep going to save Erza and Happy." Kali said, recharging with a ball of fire Sapphire blew into her hand.
"That seems to have done the job though." Juvia said as the last man fell to the ground succumbing to the sleep spell. "All the guards are passed out, and there's nothing really standing in our way now."
"Good work Kali." Grey said.
Without anyone saying a word, the stone face on the wall opened and created a ramp for them to climb up onto.
"What's that?" Natsu questioned.
"I think it's their way of saying, come on in. Be on your guard." Kali said as Natsu started climbing first.
~Twenty minutes later~
"Hey blockhead." Natsu shouted.
"Geez, would you keep it down?" Lucy scolded.
"I don't see the point in sneaking around anymore. I mean whoever opened that door for us, clearly knows we're here, and even had this spread set out for us to dine in on when we arrived." Kali said as they were sitting at a large table eating. "They probably need us alive for something, which explains why there's no poison in the food."
"What the heck are you guys eating?" Lucy questioned.
"I suggest you join them before there's nothing left." Virgo said.
"No thanks." Lucy sweat dropped.
"Kali's right though. The door that welcomed us in was controlled by a magic user." Juvia said.
"Which means they are well aware of our presence." Virgo confirmed.
"Why would they let us in?" Lucy questioned.
"You think they're trying to provoke us?" Grey asked.
"I don't know." Lucy said in thought. "It could be Kali's right though, they could need us for something."
"Not to be rude, but your bikinis leaves little to the imagination." Virgo stated.
"Should I change?" Lucy asked covering up her chest with her arms.
"Yes. I'll help you." Virgo said, in anticipation.
"Wait you mean, right here?" Lucy questioned as Virgo removed her top.
"You're not changing my clothes next." Kali said, bringing her arms up to her chest.
"Holy…" Grey stated the food in his mouth dropping to the ground, as his face reddened and his pupils widened to where his iris wasn't visible when he saw Lucy's bare chest.
"Please stop looking at her Grey." Juvia begged.
Before long, Lucy was changed into a more concealing outfit.
"I brought this over for you from the celestial world." Virgo explained. "I also brought some clothes for the others as well."
"I'll just go with a pair of pants and shoes." Kali said, taking the pants and shoes, putting them on over her tankini bottom.
"So boys, what do you think? Do I look super cute in this outfit or what?" Lucy questioned doing a pose, wearing a big dress with a floral celestial design and a bandanna.
"Oh yeah. You look great." Grey said.
"Don't compliment her." Juvia cried.
"He loves her." Virgo mocked.
"Don't you start doing that to." Lucy sighed in annoyance as the three of them went black and white like old cartoons.
"And just when were you hanging out with Happy, Birdo?" Natsu questioned.
~Millianna's Room~
Achoo… "I think I'm going to go crazy if I have to stay in this place much longer." Happy complained.
~Back with the gang~
"I wish you luck, princess." Virgo explained.
"Thanks for the help Virgo." Lucy smiled as her celestial spirit vanished in rays of light. "Oh, did you guys want me to ask her to leave you the dry change of clothes too?" Lucy questioned turning to the two men.
"Nah, this does the trick just fine." Grey said drying his pants to the heat of Natsu's flames he was producing to dry himself off with.
"He's not a dryer you know." Lucy shouted.
"The intruders." A guard shouted as five of them came storming in.
"We found them." Another shouted.
Before the five of them could do anything, two rays of light sliced through the air, knocking the five guards to the ground as the sword wielder, Erza Scarlet, knocked them back.
"Erza." Natsu and Grey shouted in unison.
"Thank goodness you're okay." Lucy smiled.
"Wow, she is so cool." Juvia said in awe.
Erza turned to the group, her expressions turning from one of determination to fight, to complete shock at seeing her friends there.
"It's you. What are you doing here inside the tower?" Erza questioned.
"Looking for you." Kali stated.
"We haven't met, Ms. Erza, my name is Juvia and…"
"Go home." Erza stated interrupting Juvia. "This place is far too dangerous."
"You're not going to scare me into leaving. I ain't going anywhere till that blockhead gets a good taste of my fist. I'm gonna make him pay for shooting me in the mouth." Natsu argued.
"You have to go." Erza repeated.
"But why?" Lucy asked.
"Your friends kidnapped Happy. I can't leave here without him." Natsu exclaimed.
"They got him to? It must have been Millianna." Erza said. "He'll be fine Natsu, Millianna is a cat lover, she wouldn't do anything to hurt him, and she would even fight her own friends to protect a cat she loves, especially a talking one like Happy."
"Where can I find him?" Natsu questioned.
"I'm not sure." Erza answered.
"This means war." Natsu glared swiping his thumb against his nose.
"Who are you declaring war against?" Grey questioned.
"The jerks that kidnapped my little buddy." Natsu shouted running off with a trail of smoke in his wake.
"Wait. Natsu." Erza began.
"He'll be fine Erza, remember, he's stronger than he looks, especially when it comes to his friend's safety." Kali said.
"What a moron." Grey sighed.
"Poor Natsu." Juvia exclaimed.
"Let's go and help him." Lucy shouted.
"No." Erza stated raising her blade, pointing it to the wall. "I promise I'll bring them both back to the guild with me, but you four need to leave immediately."
"Don't be ridiculous. We can help you." Lucy complained.
"We don't need or want your help." Erza stated. "This is my problem, it doesn't involve you."
"How can you say that? You saw Natsu. I'd say we're plenty involved." Grey stated.
"Erza, what's up with this tower, and who is this Jellal guy?" Lucy questioned, her expression softening.
"I can understand if you don't want to tell us. You said the creeps who kidnapped you used to be friends of yours, right Erza? Well, we're your friends now and we're here to help you, and no matter what happens, we're always going to have your back." Kali said, standing her ground with Sapphire on her shoulder.
"Yeah, she's right." Grey stated.
"Leave." Erza said, almost on the verge of begging. "Please just go, this is personal to the both of us."
"You're freaking me out 'cause this isn't like you at all." Grey exclaimed. "What happened to the woman who'd tell us to shut up, and come along whether we wanted to or not?"
"We're not leaving Erza." Kali stated. "We're here to stay and fight, and if you need help, then we will more then gladly provide you with the support."
"We wanna stay here and help you out." Grey continued. "Master taught us, that even the strongest warriors need a little backup every once in a while."
Erza slumped her shoulders, before she turned around, revealing the saddened look of desperation on her face.
Grey flinched and put his hand to his chest as he had never seen Erza like this, and Lucy gasped a bit in shock, with Juvia looking a bit confused and concerned at the same time. Kali was in shock, and couldn't understand what was causing this.
"I'm sorry, but you can't help me now." Erza stated. "The odds are stacked against me. Win or lose this battle, I'm staring death in the face. I doubt even I can come out of this one unscathed."
"What do you mean by that?" Grey questioned.
"There's no point in fighting what's inevitable. I can't. But what I can do is share my story with you…" Erza stated. "While I'm still here."
Lucy, Grey, and Juvia looked at the duo with anticipation etched into their expressions, while Kali just looked concerned at the redhead.
"This building is the Tower of Heaven. It's also called the R-System. Over a decade ago, a cult dedicated to black magic began its construction. It would be used to cast a forbidden spell that brings the dead back to life. The spell required multiple human sacrifices. So the cult abducted citizens of the surrounding areas, and forced them to build the tower as their slaves. The only reason I know this, is because I was once one of those people, forced to build this monstrosity of a tower." Erza explained receiving a gasp from the three teammates. "Anyone who dared to resist the cult or tried to escape the tower, would mysteriously disappear. We never had any peace of mind. We lived in constant fear. But we bonded and made friends, we could trust despite that, even though we knew we couldn't be together long. One of my friends in the tower was a boy named Jellal. I was being punished for something I was innocent of. After I returned everything changed. So we took a stand for our freedom. We hoped to save our dear friend Jellal, losing Grandpa Rob in the process."
"Rob?" Kali asked.
"You know of him?" Grey asked.
"He was one of Gramps best friends. A member of Fairy Tail before any of you even joined. The last I'd supposedly seen of him before his disappearance, was when I was an infant." Kali said. "I don't remember him, but Gramps said that Rob would often defend me, and keep me out of my father's hands as an infant, protecting me from experiments that could have otherwise killed me."
"But when I freed Jellal, he was corrupted by the spirit of Zeref. He told me I could leave, and threatened to kill all our friends, if I ever returned on my own accord. But now he's gone too far. He's corrupted my friends. Don't you see? I have to fight Jellal, I have no choice; I have to do it."
"I don't know, maybe it's just me, but for some reason the name Zeref sounds familiar." Grey stated.
"He was a legendary black wizard." Kali stated. "This tower is one of his designs. I've told some friends on the Boiling Isles about him and a dragon named Acnologia, who they happen to have legends of there."
"Wait a minute, I remember someone saying the monster that came out of the Lullaby flute we destroyed in Clover, was one of Zeref's demons." Lucy exclaimed.
"The demons are known as the Books of Zeref." Kali said. "It's common lore that each one of the Demons from the books of Zeref, is as strong as all Ten Wizard Saints combined. Whether that Lord has any merits to truth or not, is uncertain."
"I never mentioned it, in case it opened up some old wounds. But I suspect Deliora was a book from the Library of Zeref as well." Erza explained causing Grey to gasp in shock.
"If this sorcerer is as evil as you say, then why would Jellal want to resurrect him?" Juvia questioned.
"I don't understand his motives either. However, my old friend Sho said something to me about Zeref getting them to heaven." Erza stated.
"This tower isn't designed for that." Kali said. "I've read the books, I've studied the artifacts of Zerefs work, hell I was raised by my Dragon Mother in the very ruins that he called home. This tower will only work once, and can only bring one person back to life. If it's forced to keep the gates of the afterlife open, then the dead will walk the earth and all of humanity will perish."
"Sho said that when they resurrect Zeref, the world will be reborn, and they'll become its rulers." Erza explained.
"Okay, there's one thing that confuses me about these people who claim to be old friends of yours Erza." Lucy stated. "Why are they accusing you of betraying them? Don't they realize Jellal's the bad guy here?"
"It's not their fault. I'm sure he fed them all sorts of lies about me once I left. That doesn't change the fact that I abandoned them so long ago." Erza exclaimed. "In the end, I guess you could say I did betray them."
"Don't say stuff like that Erza. You didn't have a choice. If you returned Jellal would have killed them all." Kali said in a scolding manner.
"None of that matters anymore." Erza stated. "If I can defeat Jellal it'll all be over. Leave it to me okay?"
'Why do I get the feeling she's hiding something?' Grey mentally questioned as their conversation a few minutes ago played back in his mind. 'Why would she say those things? What do they even mean?'
"Sister, that's not true."
The group of five turned to see a bruised Sho standing there, a hurt and angered look on his face.
"Why? Why are you lying to them?" Sho questioned.
"Sho." Erza sighed.
"You think by making yourself the martyr you're going to get sympathy from your friends?" Sho questioned before Kali grabbed him by the front of the shirt.
"Would you shut your mouth and open your eyes?" Kali shouted. "Jellal has been playing you all for saps, he's been manipulating you from the very beginning, starting with the lie he told you all about Erza abandoning you."
"That's not true." Sho shouted directing his attention to Erza. "Tell them the truth. That's not how it happened and you know it. You blew up the boats we were going to use to escape, and then you left on your own. We would have ended up at the bottom of the sea if it hadn't been for Jellal. He saved us. He warned us not to trust sorcerers and sorceresses like you, who haven't learned to use their magic properly. He said that you had become drunk with magical power and you didn't want anything to do with your past or the people you left behind."
"Dumbass. Did you ever think he might be lying, trying to turn you against Erza, make her out to be the bad guy? If you truly knew Erza, then you'd know she'd never do something so horrible." Kali exclaimed, her grip on Sho's shirt tightening as Sapphire hissed.
"You only think you know her. You weren't there back then, you don't know anything about us." Sho stated. "After you left big-sis, Jellal's words were my only salvation, and that's why I've spent all these years working to finish the tower for him. I did it for his sake. Now you're trying to tell me that it was all a lie? You really expect me to believe you're telling the truth and Jellal's been lying to us this whole time?"
"That's right." A familiar voice rang out.
A dark shadowy form appeared from nowhere behind Juvia, revealing himself as Simon.
"Why you…"
"Wait." Juvia said, holding her arm out, blocking Grey's path. "He doesn't pose a threat my dear. He never meant you any harm. At the resort, he knew he was attacking your ice decoy."
"But how?" Grey questioned.
"Since it was him who cast the darkness spell, it would make sense that he would be the only one to see through it as if it were never cast at all." Kali said her glare still on Sho.
"Please child, let him go." Simon said, putting a gentle hand on Kali's forearm.
Kali looked up at Simon, before her gaze turned to Sapphire, who was sniffing Simon's hand, before crawling up his arm and rubbing against his cheek, purring with affection like a cat.
"Alright. But if Sho tries anything I won't hesitate to cut him down." Kali said, releasing Sho.
"You knew about this Juvia?" Grey asked, turning to the Water Witch. "An' you didn't say anything?"
"I came along in the hopes of discovering why he'd chosen to spare you." Juvia explained.
"I'd expect no less from one of the Element4 of Phantom Lord and the Kali the Beast from Fairy Tail." Simon exclaimed.
"I don't understand." Sho said in disbelief.
"I had to fool you and the others into thinking I'd killed him, but I'd hoped our attack would lure them here." Simon explained.
"So you were lying too? How could you do that to me?" Sho questioned as Simon stepped closer.
"I'm sorry." Simon said softly putting a hand on Sho's shoulder. "Jellal had you under his spell and I couldn't convince you otherwise. So I played along until the time was right."
"So you knew all along." Erza stated.
"I've always believed in you, Erza, and there's nothing that could change that." Simon said turning to her, a clear image of his undamaged face shinning behind him. "I mean those words from the bottom of my heart."
"Simon." Erza gasped as said man pulled her into a hug.
"Get a room you two." Kali scoffed, Sapphire returning to his shoulder.
"I never knew. I can't believe I blindly followed him all those years." Sho exclaimed as he began sobbing. "I doubted you. 'Cause you left me all alone. You have no idea how much that hurt. I don't know what to do. I don't even know which one of you I should believe anymore."
"I know it must be difficult, to take all of this in at once. But Sho, there's something that you should know. Though it's been many years, I have never once forgotten about any of you." Erza said as she hugged him. "I'm sorry I couldn't stand up to him. I was so weak back then. Please forgive me."
"Now you're stronger and ready to face him, with the full wrath of a dragon behind you." Simon stated, before looking at Kali. "Isn't that right?"
Erza gave a silent response, with a slight nod of her head, as Kali gave the same head motion, with a determined look in her eyes.
"I've waited all these years for this very moment. When a group of powerful sorcerers and sorceresses would gather here." Simon said.
"So what do you have planned?" Lucy asked.
"We're going to take down Jellal. We can do it if we work together." Simon explained. "But first, we must keep Salamander and Wally from clashing."
"Good luck with that. Getting Natsu to calm down after someone's kidnapped Happy, would be the equivalent of walking a non-magical snowball across a tightrope strung across the top of a volcano with only a foot between the rope and lava." Kali sighed.
Before anyone could say anything else, to try and get the plan sorted out, the sound of a speaker system turning on rang out, and Erza's eyes widened at the voice she heard echoing around them.
"I welcome you to the Tower of Heaven. My name is Jellal, and I am the ruler of this tower. I see the players have been arranged. I'm delighted you've come all this way to see me. Shall we play a round of Heaven's Game? The rules are really quite simple. I wish to use Erza as a sacrifice in my ceremony to resurrect Lord Zeref. If I succeed, the gates of heaven will open, crowning my victory. However, if you can manage to find a way to stop me, you'll be the winners of the game. To make things a little more interesting, I've enlisted three knights to battle on my behalf. The only way you'll be able to get to me is if you can defeat them. In other words, a three on nine battle royal, and there's one more surprise. The magic council has the satellite square focused directly on this tower, and it's highly likely they will attack. At this very moment, they're in the midst of voting on whether they should fire an Etherion blast."
"That maniac." Kali glared.
"We have to stop him." Simon said. "Time for a change of plans."
"I can get to him the fastest." Kali said. "Sapphire can provide me with transport and cover at the same time." She stated, the Palisman hopping to the ground.
"How is that little thing gonna…" Sho stopped questioning Sapphire's abilities, when the small dragon Palisman began to grow, and became so large, she stood three feet above their heads.
"I had no idea she could do that." Lucy gasped.
"Sapphire was carved with a lot of tricks up her sleeve. One of which runs a risk with her own peril." Erza said, requipping a weapon from her armory as Kali jumped onto Sapphire's back. "Kali, take this." She stated, throwing the sheathed blade up to the teen.
Catching the blade, Kali gasped when she saw it was a wakizashi with the hilt carved to look like a dragons head, with a breath attack engraved on the scabbard; removing the blade partly from the sheath, Kali saw the sheen of the sword's red metal and the blue engravings as it looked like the blade was coming out of the dragon's mouth.
"This blade, it's…"
"A custom commission, a gift I had especially made for my little sister to celebrate her name being cleared, and her return home. The hilt is carved from Wyvern bone, and the blade is made of Celesta Steel, forged with grains of Fire Lacrima embedded into metal. I even used some of that blue stuff you made your portal knife out of to engrave the words, Family, Honor, Strength, Loyalty, into the side of the blade, when the metal was still malleable from heat." Erza smiled.
"Blue stuff? You mean the liquid magic Eda left with Gramps? I thought it had been destroyed when the Guild Hall collapsed on itself during the War with Phantom Lord?" Kali questioned, closing the blade completely.
"After the initial attack, Erza took the jar of liquid magic and stored it away in her Requip Dimension." Grey said. "Now get going, you're burning precious time."
"Sapphire, let's go." Kali said.
Sapphire let out a roar as she turned around and headed straight for the stairwell they came in through, her body barely being able to fit through, before she broke through back into the cavern bellow, and dove into the water.
Holding on tight to Sapphire, Kali gasped for breath as her overgrown Palisman broke through the docks, and began flying up through the air, circling around the tower.
"Come on Sapphire. We've got this." Kali stated, before her sharpened senses picked up on something. "Hold up Sapphire." She said, stopping the dragon from flying higher. "Something's coming this way."
Keeping on her guard, Sapphire and Kali made sure to keep a watch on each other's backs. But even then, when Kali's ears picked up on a somewhat familiar sound, she couldn't help but blanch.
"Hoot-hoot."
"No way." Kali said, turning to where the sound came from, and gasped when she saw her opponent. A man with the physique of a body builder, and the head of an owl, flying right at her with a magic powered jet pack strapped to his back. "Hooty?"
Sapphire flew through the air, doing her best to evade the flying owl man, but he still managed to get the upper hand on Kali and the Dragon she rode, as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere from behind, and struck her in the face, sending the Dragonslayer flying off Sapphire's back and through the wall on a higher level of the tower, filled with cages and chains designed to hold beasts larger then humans.
"Okay, definitely not Hooty." Kali groaned sitting up on the cage she landed on. "What the hell was that?"
"Kali it's you."
Kali turned around, to see Simon looking right at her.
"Simon, hey." Kali said. "Have you found Natsu yet?"
"I found him with Wally and your other friend, Happy." Simon stated. "I explained everything to them."
"Good. But I'm kinda busy at the moment." Kali exclaimed, sticking her thumb and index finger in her mouth and whistling loud and hard. "Sapphire, Formation Beta."
The large dragon came flying through the opening in the tower, shrinking in size before her body began to slim down, and an electric blade sprung from her mouth, highly resembling the design of the Wakizashi, Erza had given her moments ago that remained on the waist of her back.
"Good girl Sapphire." Kali said, the hilt landing in her hand.
"That beast is amazing." Simon said.
"She's a Palisman. A creature of sentience and intelligence carved from a material known as Palistrom Wood, brought to life after having been given form. This is one of the formations I carved her with the intent to have. Kinda went overboard when I had carved her at ten years old. But then again, these transformations of hers, wouldn't even be possible, without the Palistrom Wood having absorbed Ether from Earthland's unique atmosphere for quite a few decades." Kali explained.
"Still, for such a creature to exist, it's amazing."
"Since I have you here. Let me ask you, who is this Jellal guy, and why is he having us play this twisted game of his?" Kali inquired.
"Jellal has a sick, twisted sense of humor. He's the twin brother of one of the Magic Council members, Siegran." Simon said. "It's likely that's how he knows the Council has the satellite locked onto the tower's location."
"If this whole thing is just some beef between brothers, I don't care if Siegran is a member of the council, he's gonna feel my wrath." Kali growled.
"It's possible that's all this is. I'm not sure on the specifics of their relationship or whether they are at odds, or if they're in on this plan together." Simon said.
"Hoot-hoot." The voice of Kali's attacker echoed through the room.
"No it can't be." Simon said.
"I will not tolerate the breaking of rules. Now prepare yourselves to be punished in the name of Justice." The owl headed man said.
"At least he doesn't sound like Hooty." Kali glared.
"Kali, be careful. This opponent is strong." Simon warned. "That's Fukuro. One of the three mercenaries Jellal has under his control from the Death's Head Order, a Dark Guild. He believes anything he does, and anything his employer does, is in the name of true justice, that's why he calls himself, Fukuro the Knight of True Justice. He's part of a team known as Trinity Raven."
"I don't care if he's the Head Commander of the Rune Knights." Kali growled. "If he's with Jellal, then he's helped in the murder and enslavement of thousands of innocent people."
"Dark Moment." Simon called out, casting his magic.
"What the hell Simon?" Kali questioned.
"Let's get out of here, we don't stand a chance against the Owl." Simon said, grabbing Kali and throwing her over his shoulder as he made his move on getting them out of there.
"Are you kidding me? Put me down dumbass. My grandmother is literally known as Eda the Owl Lady. I have experience fighting Owl Monsters." Kali huffed.
"Be that as it may, we're still no match for Fukuro." Simon said. "Neither of us are."
"Ha." Fukuro called, zipping past Simon from behind.
"Simon." Kali called out, spotting Fukuro's glowing eyes.
"Even in the darkness, the light of Justice shines through." Fukuro stated, his fist glowing with light as he threw a punch.
Before the attack could strike Simon, Kali drew a circle of magic in the air, using a light spell to blind Fukuro as Kali kept her eyes shut, giving her the advantage as she jumped from Simon's shoulder, and struck Fukuro in the face with a double kick, and sending him flying back.
"To see in the dark, an Owls eyes dilate to where there's almost no sclera visible." Kali said, the darkness around her vanishing as she landed on the roof of a cage. "It's a strength, but also a weakness when an unexpected source of light, just flashes in front of their faces. That's the same for you Fukuro."
"I'll admit." Fukuro said, picking himself up. "You have truly been the first to use that tactic on me. No one else seems to know that about my eyes and their sensitivity to light. You must have done your research on me before battle, somehow knowing I was part of Jellal's game."
"Don't flatter yourself bird brain." Kali said, Sapphire's blade scratching against the metal surface at her feet. "My grandma is Eda the Owl Lady. Cursed to turn into an Owl Beast whenever it takes hold. I'd studied owl behavior for when I met her, and if I ever had to distract her long enough to make the curse retreat back into her. Who'd have thought though, I'd have to use that information, in a life and death battle?" She stated, pointing her blade at Fukuro.
"Kali stop. Trinity Raven are professional assassins, you cannot defeat them, even if you got in a single strike." Simon said.
"Stay out of this Simon." Kali declared, not even taking her eyes off him. "Fukuro, I recognize that name. You're responsible for killing thousands, in the Coprea War."
"Those men were evil."
"Those soldiers, were fighting for their loved ones. Their families." Kali stated.
"You care so much about lives, even the lives of those who tried to invade Fiore." Fukuro said.
"I believe in finding peace through non-violent resolutions, and violence should be a final and last resort." Kali said.
"Well let me tell you a little secret then child." Fukuro said. "What the history books won't say, is that after we defeated all those officers in the war, Trinity Raven hunted down and slaughter every last woman and child, who had a connection to those soldiers. All in the name of justice."
Kali's eyes widened in anger, before she let her power run wild, and she raised her blade to cut him down.
"Kali no."
Simon's eye went wide hearing that voice, before a vine came out from bellow, and grabbed her wrist. Looking down, Kali gasped when she saw Luz, Willow, Gus, and Eda making their way up to her, with Willow being the one responsible for the vine that stopped her.
"Guys? Eda, what… how are you here?" Kali asked.
"Luz stuck the portal key in the air where you sliced open your own portal to Earthland, like there was a key hole there." Eda said. "An' surprisingly, that allowed for my portal to open up and make a connection here."
"Kali we heard what this guy said." Luz stated, as Eda used Owlbert to tie Fukuro up in magical chains. "He's a monster, but he's not worth throwing your would away."
"I just… My family is broken, and hearing how he destroyed so many happy families, not even sparing the children I…"
"It's okay Kali." Willow said, as she and Gus hugged her. "You're not alone."
"She's right kiddo." Eda said, joining the hug with Luz. "You're not alone, and we've always got your back."
"So, what's the plan?" Gus asked, as the hug ended.
"I have to get to the top of the tower." Kali said, Sapphire returning to her normal form. "Jellal is waiting there, for whoever can some and stop him. He's turned this all into a game."
"What kind of game?" Eda asked.
"The kind with a deadline." Simon said, kicking Fukuro off the cage and down the caverns of the tower.
"Did you just murder him?" Gus asked.
"He'll live. He'll just have a few broken bones for a while." Simon said. "The deadline is this, we either stop Jellal, and get the Magic Council to cease fire with the Etherion Satellite, or the Council fires on us. An' Jellal wins if we all die."
"Then we'd better get going." Willow said.
"No." Kali stated. "I'm going. The rest of you, spread out, and go find the others. Gus your Illusions could come in handy to help Grey and Natsu. Willow your plant magic could really help out Lucy and Juvia."
"What about us?" Eda asked, gesturing to her and Luz.
"You two stick with Simon. There's bound to be more obstacles along the way, and we're not prepared to take them all on." Kali said. "Luz, do you have that wand Reedus gave you?"
"The Palistrom Wood one? Never leave the Owl House without it." Luz said.
"Good. Give it here." Kali said.
Luz reached into her pocket and handed the wand to Kali. Without a moments hesitation, Kali used her magic on the wand, and it began to grow, before it turned into a magic staff.
"The Good Witch Lazura can't go fighting evil without her magic staff." Kali smiled.
"Yes, my very own Palisman Staff." Luz squealed.
"Not a Palisman staff. There's no figure head, so it's just a regular magic staff with magic embedded into it." Kali stated. "Once you carve a Palisman, then it'll be a Witches staff."
"Are we going or what? We're wasting time here." Simon said.
"Right. Everyone got the plan?" Kali asked.
"We've got it kid." Eda smiled.
"Good, then let's bring the house down."