Chapter 16
Coup Échec
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
A stone leg pulled itself out of the ground before all of Nirvana started to move. Instantly, Erik's motion sickness kicked in and he hugged the leg as hard as he could. "Seriously?!" Gray complained.
"Are you getting sick right now?" Lucy asked.
"I can't help it..." He groaned in pain. "This things moving..."
"Just cause it's moving doesn't mean it's a vehicle!" Gray shouted. "Remember that!" Erik stood up and took a few steps before collapsing in pain.
"Just think of it like a giant octopus!" Lucy shouted. "Riding an animal doesn't bother you, does it!?"
"Why is an octopus in the forest?" Erik asked.
"Skip the details and move!" She shouted back.
A leg slammed into the ground and Erik rolled off the limb. Just before hitting the ground, Happy flew over and grabbed him, lifting him into the air. "Thanks pal. I owe you one."
"Isn't this better?" Happy asked as he loop-de-looped. "Feels like you're one with the wind, doesn't it?"
"Yeah it does." Erik nodded before they floated above Gray and Lucy.
"Go straight for the top." The Ice wizard shouted. "We'll go through that hole and see what's on the other side."
"Right." The slayer nodded as the two flew over the wall, finding themselves staring at an old city. "That's weird..."
"It's like some kind of creepy city." Happy said.
Erik sniffed the air and stared at the center building. "That smell... it's him."
With Salamander and Brain
Salamander landed next to Brain as Cubelious slithered over. "Where are the others?" The leader asked.
"You tell me." The pinkette said back. "You knew they were beaten long before I did, including Angel."
The leader let out a sigh of disappointment before tracing the lines on his face. "The only ones left are you, Midnight, and myself."
"Don't worry, Brain. He's not coming out." Salamander assured the leader before studying a pillar. "I still can't believe you pulled this off. Nirvana belongs to us now." Brain chuckled at the success of his guild. "A city of the dead brought back to life. Isn't that amazing, Cubelious?"
The snake hissed in response. "Behold, Salamander." Brain called him over. "Look st the world spread out before us." Natsu walked over and stared at the old ruins. "Released from time, this is the true form of Nirvana. And from this seat of power, this land shall obey me!"
"So, you clearly have someone in mind." Salamander observed. "Where are we going?"
"I know exactly what our first target shall be." Brain chuckled back. "A certain guild hall."
"So, it's them, is it?" Salamander asked again.
Brain raised his staff before pointing it forward. "It shall be the first light to be extinguished." He moved it to the side and a series of runes appeared. "Nirvana, go forth!" The last rune appeared and a command center popped up. "Let my darkness destroy the light!"
A twinkle in the sky caught their attention. Both looked up as Erik, poison around his fist, swung it at Natsu. "Salamander!" He dodged the blow but the control system was destroyed.
"The Poison Dragon!" Brain shouted in annoyance.
"I'm starting to really hate this guy!" Salamander growled as Erik pulled his head back. "Brain, cover your mouth!"
The leader listened and blocked his mouth with his robe as Erik unleashed a roar of poison. "Deal with this idiot at once, Salamander!"
"Loud and clear." He said back. "Cubelious!" The snake shot forward and head butted Erik away.
"That does it..." The maroon haired man recovered just as Salamander was catapulted into the air by his pet. An open palm thrust rocked the light wizards, sending both flying back until Happy recovered. "You okay, Happy?"
"Aye..." The cat weakly groaned. Erik turned back and went wide eyed as wings unfolded from Cubelious' side. "That's not fair! Snakes can't fly!"
The snake hissed at the cat, scaring it. "Hold on, don't you get sick on vehicles or something, Cobra?" Natsu asked. "Why ain't you puking your guts out?"
"Happy's not a vehicle!" Erik shouted. "He's my friend!"
"I get it..." Salamander said with a wicked grin. "So you have to keep flying, because you can't fight on Nirvana while it's moving. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
"It makes sense to me!" Erik shouted. "Now move! I gotta stop this piece of junk."
"Not gonna happen." Salamander said back. "No way am I letting you anywhere near Brain."
"Huh?" Erik looked down at the leader. "So he's the one driving it?"
"Bring it, Poison Dragon Slayer." Salamander said.
"You got it!" Erik shouted as Happy took off towards Brain, making Natsu's ears twitch. "Psych! I'm going for the boss man." Cubelious swung her tail and hit Erik in the gut, sending him back. "Okay, that hurt..."
"How'd he know where I was going?" Happy asked aloud.
"I can hear your movements before you even make them!" Salamander shouted. "Loud and clear."
"Fine." Erik wiped a bit of blood from his lip. "You still gotta pay for what you did to Simon."
"Let's dance, Cobra." Natsu waved his hand forward, egging him on.
Erik launched forward and threw a punch that Natsu blocked easily. He pushed the fist to the side and delivered a kick to Erik's face. Erik tried to duck but Salamander reversed course and slammed it on his opponent's face. He recovered from the blow and tried to head but the pinkette, but that was easily dodged and countered with a clothesline, sending Erik falling.
Happy pulled up just before they hit the ground and returned to the same height as the snake owner. "Why can't I hit him?" Erik asked himself.
"Maybe it has something to do with his magic." Happy suggested.
"Either way, we have to beat him." Erik looked down at Brain. "It's the only way we can fight the boss."
"You? Beat me?" Salamander chuckled. "That's a riot. But still, this should be a little fun before we reach our target."
"Don't underestimate us." Erik said back.
"When we work as a team, there's no beating us!" Happy shouted.
"Salamander, finish those fools off quickly." Brain ordered.
"With pleasure, boss." He said back. "Cubelious here could use a snack." The snake flared her tongue out at the two. "Let's go!" The snake reared its fangs and flew forward, snapping its jaw at the two as Happy flew around it.
"Get me close, Happy." Erik requested and it was answered as Happy flew in close. "Poison Dragon Grip Strike!" Poison coated his hand as his reached for Salamander, who easily ducked and delivered an uppercut to the jaw. "Try this! Poison Dragon Twin Fang!" Massive amounts of poison shot up and formed tendrils that Salamander easily dodged.
"You can't hit me." Salamander teased.
Erik growled as his fist bathed in his poison. "Poison Dragon Iron Fist!" He swung his fist and missed, letting Cubelious flick her tail at them.
"Did you seriously forget what I told you at the tower?" Natsu asked. "I told you I can hear your movements before you make them. You can't beat me."
"I can too!" He shot forward and Cubelious hit him again, before whacking the top on his head.
"Now fall!" Salamander shouted as the force sent Erik crashing down.
"Pull up, pull up, pull up!" Erik shouted in a panic as the ground grew closer.
"Aye!" Happy pulled with all his might and just before impact, pulled up and flew over the ground.
"That was way to close." Erik said, looking around. "Where is that son of a-" Salamander appeared next to him and Cubelious snapped her jaw, forcing them in the other direction.
"The more you run, the more fun the thrill of the hunt is!" Salamander shouted. "Once I see my prey, I'm not letting go until you're dead."
"I really hate this guy." Erik growled.
"He must be one lonely dude." Happy said as he flew into an old room. "I can't imagine anyone falling for this guy."
"Hold on." Erik said, brining Happy to a stop. "We'll hide in here and do a surprised attack, like a viper." He whispered his plan, making the cat nod. They hid behind a wall and wait for any sign of Salamander, but a hand burst through the wall and grabbed his throat.
"Did you really think I'd fall for something as stupid as that!?" Salamander pulled them through the wall before Erik bit his hand. "You fucking animal!" He let go and Happy floated back up. "I might be cocky, but I'm not lonely, you blue fleabag."
"What, you got some working girls keeping you company?" Erik mocked.
Natsu stared at him before he exploded at him. "HOW DARE YOU!"
With Lucy and Gray
"So, any idea what this place is?" Gray asked as the two looked around the old city.
"Other than some old ruins on the back of a moving weapon?" Lucy asked. "No clue? But if this is a city, what happened to the people?"
"Good to see you both are well." Both wizards looked as Jura, hugging his stab wound, as he walked over.
"Well, that might be stretching it." Lucy said. "Wait, where was Lisanna?"
"She went ahead of me." The saint explained. "She has some buisnees to take care of." Torches lit up behind them, catching their attention. "I assume the one controlling this monstrosity is there. Let's end this." The others nodded and ran towards the tower, unaware that Midnight was watching them. He turned his head and headed in the other direction, towards another large magical energy source.
In the Air
"You'll pay for that insult!" Salamander swung his fist and hit Erik. He tried to do the same, only to miss again.
"Quit dodging me, will ya!?" He shouted.
"After what you said about Angel, not a chance!" Natsu shouted before kicking Erik away again.
"You're nothing but a bastard whose scared to get hit!" Erik shouted.
"It's his magic." Happy said. "What ever he's using let's him predict our attacks."
"No, it's magic that lets me hear you." Salamander bragged as Cubelious rubbed her head against his shoulder and he scratched her chin. "I can hear your thoughts so I know what your attack is gonna be, and then I listen to your muscles so I know where your aiming."
"Prove it." Erik ordered as the two stared at each for a bit as Natsu read his thoughts.
"Are you seriously thinking about alchemy experiments right now?" He asked.
"Holy crap, he's telling the truth!" Erik shouted in a panic.
"Do me, do me!" Happy shouted.
"This isn't some cheap parlor trick!" Cubelious flew at the two as Natsu punched them in the head.
"How do we beat this guy if he knows what we're gonna do before we do it?" Erik mumbled in frustration.
"I have an idea." Happy whispered his plan.
"Think going left, when you're going from the right." Natsu said the plan, shocking the two. "Do you really think your the first to come up with that plan? I can't count the number of wizards I pave beaten who used that plan." Erik growled at him and Natsu heard it all. "Interesting. You're flooding your mind with ideas. Several hundred ideas at once can be taxing, and some ain't that bad of ideas. But it's gonna take more than that to beat me."
"You bastard!" Erik roared as Happy flew forward. "Then well just go with plan T! Take em by storm!"
"Right hook." Natsu dodged the poisoned fist. "Left kick." He dodged the foot. "Back kick." He dodged the other leg. "Then a punch to the face." A drop of poison rolled off his face before Erik punched it again. 'Hold on! Did he really shut off his brain?' Cubelious helped her owner up and he held out his hand, blocking a punch.
"Not bad, kid. No ones ever hit me that many times before. Looks like I need to move on from cheap trick." His arms became engulfed in smoke before flames burned Erik's hand, forcing him to pull it away in pain.
"That was hot..." Erik mumbled.
"You okay?" Happy asked as the smoke faded, showing Salamanders scaled arms.
"Fire Dragon Salamander, ready for action." He said as flames rolled off the claws. "You've done it now, punk."
"Please tell me I'm seeing things..." Happy begged.
"No, it's real." Erik nodded. "He's a dragon slayer."
"Fire Dragon Crushing Fang!" Salamander swung his arm and his flaming forearm struck the surprised Erik, sending him backwards. Cubelious launched her master into the air and he ignited his foot before swinging it, catching the poison wizard in the jaw.
"You okay?" Happy asked.
"Yeah, just singed a little." Erik said as they flew back over.
"Well, I'm just getting started." Salamander said as he ignited his hand. "My fire is so hot, it destroyed anything it touches. You'll cook from the inside out."
"I'm not scared of you." Erik said back. "In case you forgot, cobras eat salamanders for breakfast. Let's go!" He wrapped his hand in poison and Happy flew over. "Poison Dragon Iron Fist!"
"Char and burn!" Salamander dodged the punch as flames shot out of his elbow. "Fire Dragon Flame Elbow!" With the boost in power, he sent Erik and Happy apart. The cat summoned his wings as Erik crashed into a building.
"Sorry!" Happy picked Erik up just as the motion sickness started to kick in.
"That's just sad, ain't it girl?" Salamander asked and the snake hissed in agreement. "Head full of nothing and a lame-ass weakness."
"Can't you do that thing were you shut your brain off again?" Happy asked.
"I'll try, but finding out he's a Dragon Slayer threw me off." Erik said. "It's all I can think about right now."
"That's no good, you have to try." Happy said. "If you don't shut it off, he's just gonna keep messing with you. You're the smartest guy I know, so you have to pull this off."
"I'll try. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Happy." Erik said back.
"Well, smart is subjective." Happy added, sparking an argument. Snake and owner looked at each other confusion before Natsu nodded at her.
"Will you just shut up!" The snake charged the two and Natsu ignited his palm. "Fire Dragon Sharp Horn!" He slammed his hand on Erik's head and a plume of fire shot him downwards before Happy pulled up. "I'm getting sick of listening to you idiots!"
"Cheap shot!" Erik had Happy charge as he wrapped his foot in poison. "Poison Dragon Talon!"
Salamander dodged the blow before jumping and spinning in the air. "Fire Dragon Spiral Jaw!" He ignited his own feet and hit Erik repeatedly as waves of flames followed suit.
Happy kept Erik stable in the air before pulling out a vile of poison from his satchel. "Eat up, Erik!"
"Thanks, I'm starving." He ripped the cork off and poured it down his throat. His stamina replenished and his magic power returned to him. "Now I got some juice in my fangs."
"Enjoy your last meal, ya little Gardner snake." Salamander said. "Cause I'm gonna end this right now! Fire Dragon Scales!" He sung his arm and flaming scales shot out at Happy, who dodged them all before bursting out of a cloud of dust. Salamander turned and blocked a punch from Erik. "Don't you get it? No matter how hard you try, you can't hit me!"
"Let's try this!" Erik shouted before both grabbed each other's face and blasted them with their respective elements. The flames sent Erik flying backwards as Salamander coughed in disgust.
"That's nasty." He lit his body ablaze as Happy caught Erik. "But my fires so strong it can burn anything, even your poison."
"Well there goes that plan." Erik said as the flames died and Salamander stood fast.
"It was a good idea." Happy added.
"I'm starting to get a little peckish. Cubelious." The snake opened its mouth and flames shot out, surrounding the dark wizard.
"That thing can breath fire!?" Happy shouted. "That is way to OP!"
"This can't be good." Erik mumbled as the flames spiraled into Salamander's mouth. "He's eating the fire?"
"Maybe he'll burn his touge off." Happy hoped.
Salamander wiped his mouth before pulling his head back. "Here's a thank you gift for earlier. Fire Dragon-"
"He's got a breath attack?!" Happy asked in shock.
"Roar!" Flames shot out of his mouth and hit the two, charring their wings and clothing.
Happy lost his strength and started falling before pulling himself up. "My wings... he's burned them up... I can barely keep us in the air.
"What do you think of my roar?" Salamander asked as flames rolled off him. "The fires too hot for you? Then just let me burn you into ash and end this. Your fate was sealed the moment you picked a fight with me." He stared in momentary shock as wings of poison shot off Erik.
"I'm getting sick of hearing your voice!" Erik shouted before flinging his arms forward. "Poison Dragon Wing Attack!" Whips of his element shot towards Salamander, who jumped off his snake and kicked Erik in the face after dodging them all.
"How many times do I have to tell you I can hear your moments?!" He asked as Erik recovered and sparked an argument with Happy. "Could these morons possible be anymore annoying? Hey!" He shouted at the two, gaining their attention. "If your done with this little lover's quarrel, can we get back to fighting!? That is if an old-style Dragon Slayer is still up for it."
"Old-Style?" Erik asked confused.
"That's right." Natsu nodded. "I'm the new and improved model. See, I got my powers from a Dragon Lacrima that was infused into my body, making far superior to anyone who came before me!"
"He's just like Laxus..." Happy said. "He's no real Dragon Slayer."
"A 'real' Dragon Slayer?" Salamander asked. "That's a crock of shit. There's no way to learn Dragon Slayer magic unless it's from a dragon. Humans can never use that power in this day and age. After all, there aren't any dragons left alive today."
"That's a damn lie!" Erik shouted. "Doyaku is out there and I'm gonna find him!" He charged the second gen and missed.
"So how come you're the only one whose seen him!?" Salamander asked as he summoned a ball of fire in his hands. "Fire Dragon Brillant Flame!" He threw the ball and hit Erik square in the chest before it exploded. "My flames don't leave anything unscathed."
The dust settled and Happy was barely flying in the air. "I can't... keep flying..."
"Drop me." Erik said, shocking both Happy and Natsu. "Drop me right on top of him."
"But you can barely move!" Happy shouted.
"That's why we have to end this now..." Erik said.
"Let me guess, a full power Sword Horn?" Salamander asked. "Even if i couldnt hear you, I can burn your poison away."
"Now." Happy let him go and he fell towards the Second-Gen Slayer.
"Here comes the sword horn." Natsu moved to the side as Erik reached out and grabbed his scarf, pulling him down with him. "The fuck?" Erik spun around and held on to the gut, forcing Natsu to the front. "Are you insane!? You'll kill us both!"
"This is for Simon!" Erik shouted as Salamander punched his back.
"Cubelious!" Salamander called for his pet, only to find Happy pulling on her wings. "Get your paws off her!"
With a roar of might, Erik and Salamander crashed into the ground at terminal velocity, creating a giant grater and a large amount of dust. A hand burst out and Erik pulled himself out of the hole before succumbing to his weakness.
"Way to go-" Happy started to cheer before Cubelious broke free and wrapped around him.
"Happy..." Erik groaned as Salamander, blood trickling from his head and his back battered, stood up behind him and planted his foot on Erik's back before igniting it.
"First, I'm gonna kill you, then I'm gonna kill that blonde bitch of yours." Salamander growled. "One by one, you will all die! No one is going to stop us! Not you, not that Saint, not even god himself!"
"Iron Rock Wall!" A pillar of stone shot out of the ground and hit Salamander in the jaw, forcing him back. He looked up as Jura, Lucy and Gray stood across from him, the latter trying to pry Happy out of the coils with his ice.
"Let her go!" Salamander shouted before a beam of dark energy shot by him and hit Lucy in the gut.
"Calm yourself, Salamander." Brain walked forward. "Call her back to you, and then we shall deal with these maggots."
"Fine, but leave the blonde alive for me." Salamander whistled and Cubelious slithered back to him. "She needs to pay for what she did for Angel."
"Very well." Brain nodded and pointed his staff forward. "Dark Capriccio!" A beam of green and red energy shot out of his staff.
"Ice-Make: Shield!" Gray slammed his hands to the ground and created a giant shield of ice that blocked the attack. "Let's get this guy!" He charged Salamander and swung a sword of ice, only to miss and have him break it.
"Dark Delete!" Brain waved his staff and shots of darkness shot out and Jura blocked them with his rock wall. "Nirvana belongs to us! No one is going to take it from us!"
"Rock Avalanche!" Jura raised his hand and boulders flew towards the master, knocking the staff out of his hand.
"Ice-Make: Cannon!" Gray crafted a frozen cannon and fired.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" Salamander unleashed a breath of flames that met the frozen blast, creating a massive amount of steam. 'Perfect.' He jumped out of the steam and ran away.
The steam cleared and Brain found himself alone. "Salamander! How dare you flee during a battle!"
"Iron Rock Maiden!" Four pillars shout out and trapped Brains limbs. "Your allies have abandoned you."
"Allies?" Brain asked. "I have no allies, only servants. I pulled those five from hell for my own purposes. Now that Nirvana has been unsealed, I have no further use for any of them. Especially if they fell to the likes of you."
Inside an old building, Salamander listened to Brains true intentions. "Well, isn't that ironic..." He chuckled as he set the charge on the bomb. "We both planned on betraying each other.." Cubelious reared her head up as a scent entered her mouth. "What is it, girl?" He looked up Gemini floated by.
"We gotta find Lucy!" Gemi said, holding his and Caelums key.
"Now that Angel's been arrested, we can make a contract with her!" Mini added, holding Aries and Scorpio's keys.
"You little shits..." Salamander reached out the window and grabbed the two, pulling them inside. "You think you can just leave her side?" His ears twitched as he listened to their thoughts. "You dare betray her!?"
"Throw them!" Gemi shouted. The twins threw all for keys towards the window, and Salamander caught three of them; Aries', Gemini's and Caelum's. "No..."
"Go back where you belong!" Salamander shouted as they faded back to their world. "Now for the last one." He looked down as a small white snowman grabbed the key and ran out the room. "Cubelious." The snake reached out to swallow it, but it fade away, the key in its hand. "Another Spirit? Fine, whatever. I have more important things to deal with."
"Why are you going towards Cait Shelter?" Jura asked for the tenth time before noticing Salamander walk out of a building behind the leader.
"Bombs away!" He threw the bomb and it dug into the rock holding Brains arm.
"Salamander, what are you doing!?" Brain shouted infuriated.
"Call it a change in command." Salamander answered as he threw the detonator around in his hand. "You planned on doing the same to the rest of us after all."
With Midnight
Midnight fell backwards defeated after Erza saw through his illusion. 'My prayer... I just wanted to sleep...' He hit the ground as Erza walked over to Jellal who was on his knees.
With Brain
A line slowly vanished from Brains face and his eyes went wide. "Salamander, stop! My failsafe!" Natsu pushed the button and bomb exploded with tremendous force, breaking the barrier Jura had erected. The three mages plus cat stared at the destruction. Flames licked off the buildings and chunks of stone fell over, completely destroyed by the blast.
"Holy shit! That guy really did have a bomb?" Gray asked in shock.
"And just like that, Nirvana belongs to me and Angel!" Salamander cheered. "I can't wait to show her the power we now wield!"
"So, are you a good guy?" Lucy asked as she picked up Plue, who some how appeared next to her.
"Nope, not even a little bit!" He answered as Wendy and Carla turned a corner.
"What happened?" Carla asked.
"Salamander just blew up his leader." Happy, standing over Erik, explained.
"That's a dark guild for you." Gray said as Wendy moved on to heal Erik. "Always ready to stab each other in the back for personal benefit."
"Oh, don't talk to me like that, stripper." Natsu said back. "I just did you a major favor. I took out the second biggest threat in the Oraciōn Seis."
"So, are you gonna let us go?" Lucy asked.
"Do not get me wrong." Salamander chuckled, cracking his knuckles as he walked towards them. "I'm still gonna beat your worthless skull into the ground until it's paste for what you did to Angel."
"Salamander..." A singsongy voice spoke up from the flames, and Salamander stood wide eyed in fear.
"No, no, no, no, no..." Salamander slowly turned around as Brain, with pure red eyes stood unharmed from the blast. "Zero!" The master swung his arms and the flames disappeared as he stood in a militaristic garb, his left arm hanging from the side. Terrified, he could only stare as a green hand wrapped around his waist and flung him over head.
Zero jumped up into the air and started a curb stomp on Salamander and Cubelious. "Should we help them?" Wendy asked after casting Troia on Erik.
"Why should we? He's our enemy." Erik pointed out.
"Go find away to stop this thing." Jura said as he walked forward. "I'll deal with this Zero."
"Are you sure?" Lucy asked and the Saint shot her a look. "Okay, we're going." The blonde turned and joined the others, clutching her gut, as they ran towards the large tower.
Zero slammed his feet into Natsu's face, forcing him down. "I can suffer you treachery, but not your incompetence!" The two hit the ground with a heavy slam and he pulled Cubelious off her master before picking him up by his vest. "Treachery requires NO mistakes!" He spun around three times before throwing Salamander through multiple buildings. Cubelious slithered after her master as Zero turned and faced Jura.
With Salamander
Natsu weakly opened his eyes and found himself buried under a ton of bricks and rubble. Cubelious slithered into view and licked her master as blood trickled out of a cut on his cheek. 'My prayer... I just wanted to live... with the only two girls... I ever really cared for...' He closed his eyes again as another person stumbled across him.
And thus, Zero has entered the fray. The title of this chapter translate to 'a failed grab at power', which is just what happened. I'm certain that Brain would have a failsafe incase someone wants to betray him.
I don't know why some people reviewed the last chapter and thought I would turn Natsu good in this story. I will do a lot of weird and wonderful things on this site, but turning a bad guy 100 percent good when they're the main character isn't gonna be one of them.
The next chapter is the last one before the Infinity Clock arc, and will introduce FOUR of his potential haremettes... haremits... what, whatever the girls in a harem are called.
Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.
