Chapter 23
A New Path
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback you
Location / Date / Time Skip
One Month Later
Era, Magic Council Building
"Enough!" Gran Doma, Chairman of the Magic Council, roared as he clanged his staff twice, silencing the room. "We are here to discuss Tartaros today, not Fairy Tail. Guilds associated with it have been wiped out over the last seven days. We don't know who or what is responsible, but this is both a blessing and a concern."
"If this was done by an official guild, we'd have heard something about it."
"Is it that independent guild?"
"Crime Sorciere?! I suppose it's possible."
"Are we going to ignore the possibility that Tartaros did it themselves?" Org asked, shocking the room. "They could be trying to strengthen their forces while removing the week links."
The entire room burst out laughing, angering the bearded man. "That is a possibility." Gran Doma mumbled, shocking the room silence. "We've turned a blind eye to them for too long. The true power of our enemy is unknown. Now is the time for the Magic Council to show its strength." The others went wide eyed as Org smirked.
Outside the door, Lahar and Doranbolt stood guard with smiles. "It's about time they stop talking about Fairy Tail." The scarred man chuckled.
"Agreed." Lahar nodded. "Maybe now they can actually focus on-" A glow from under the door caught their attention before an explosion absolutely destroyed the entire building. Fire rippled through the halls and burned anyone as the dust finally settled.
Pushing himself up, Doranbolt looked around at the carnage and panicked. Finding his friend on the ground, he crawled over and shook his shoulder. "Lahar…" He groaned out as his friend gripped his head.
"Doranbolt…" The captain groaned, blood coming from one his eyes. "What happened?" The two turned to the massive hole in the ceiling as the bodies of the council members littered the ground. "Is anyone still alive!?"
"Lahar…" The two turned to the sound of the Orgs voice, only to go wide eyed in horror as a canine man pushed his hand on the councilman's skull.
"Ah, ah, ah… No survivors." He chuckled. "I'm supposed to kill all nine of you. Time to die." His hand started glowing and the light started moving towards Org's head.
"STOP IT!"
"Doranbolt, take Lahar and run!" Org ordered.
"We can't do that!" He shouted back.
"Fiore can't lose both of you as well!" The elderly man declared.
"You can't outrun my explosions." The bomber chuckled as the glow intensified. "The name is Jackal, one of the Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros. Remember that in hell, as the one who killed the entire Magic Council."
"Live and carry out justice for us!" Org shouted as Lahar put his hand on his friend's shoulder. With shame, the two teleported away as Org himself exploded, kicking off an even bigger blast.
Hours had past since the attack, and people were still sifting through the rubble. Below them, Lahar and Doranbolt walked through the prison before stopping in front of the cell of Salamander. "Didn't think two of you would survive." He chuckled. "Nice bandage, four eyes. Or should I not call you that anymore?"
"You heard what happened up there, didn't you?" Lahar asked, ignoring the joke.
"I thought you were the smart one." Natsu replied. "This cell sealed off all my magic. I just heard the loud boom."
"Tell us EVERYTHING you know about Tartaros." Doranbolt demanded.
"I'm not squealing for free." Salamander chuckled. "You're gonna let me and my friends go. The six demons are gonna walk free."
"You know we don't have that level of authority." Lahar retorted.
"Then talk to the higher-ups." The pinkette huffed in annoyance.
"They're all dead." Doranbolt declared, actually shocking Natsu.
Recovering his composure, Natsu chuckled. "Guess they really went all out."
Instantly, Doranbolt was behind him, a knife to his neck. "Everyone we cared about is dead, and our patience is wearing thin." Lahar declared. "Spit out what you know, or your life is forfeit. And your friends will rot here."
Salamander chuckled as he turned to Doranbolt. "Don't pretend you're actually gonna kill me." He replied. "Lahar here is too by the book to actually agree to this."
"At this moment, I don't care what he thinks." Doranbolt said as Lahar turned his back. "Besides, who's to say you didn't die in the blast as well?"
"I'm not budging on that condition. Those are my comrades, no matter what." He and Doranbolt stared at each other in the eye, neither one budging. "I can tell you this about Tartaros, though; not a single one is human. They're all demons from the books of Zeref. Their boss is called E.N.D, the strongest demon out of Zeref's entire library." Lahar turned and stared in shock as Doranbolt dropped the knife.
"That got your attention, did it?" The pinkette chuckled. "So, we got a deal?"
Doranbolt looked up at Lahar, who could only sigh. Doranbolt left the cage and pulled out the key, unlocking the cell. "What do you know?" Lahar asked.
"Tartaros is after a Magic Council weapon called Face." Salamander explained, rolling his shoulder. "I don't know how it works, or what their plan for it, but I know what it can do. Face is an Anti-Magic Pulse bomb. Once that goes off, every wizard on the continent will lose their magic. After that, whatever they do is up to them."
Standing up, he bumped into Doranbolt and glared at him. "Now free my friends and get us out of this dump."
Shaba Desert
Raising his arms to the sky, Natsu let out a sigh and smiled. "Nothing like the sound of freedom, am I right?" He chuckled, looking back at the original Oración Seis and Huntress.
"That was uninspired." Huntress replied, earning a soft punch from Angel.
"Cut him some slack, he did get us out." Racer chuckled.
"You've done well, Salamander." Brain confessed. "I never thought you were also a shrewd negotiator. At long last, The Oración Seis are free-"
Natsu rushed past him, burning a chunk off Brain's side, killing the 'leader'. Angel stared blankly as Racer, Hoteye and Huntress stared in shock. Midnight said nothing as the body hit the ground. "No complaints, right Midnight?" Salamander asked. "This guy was never your father.
"The stunt he pulled back at the Infinity Clock should have proved that. We were nothing more than pawns for him to use and discard. That's why he tried to kill both of us in that hellhole."
"Yes, it is true." Midnight replied, shocking the stalwart trio. "Goodbye, father. May you burn in hell. We'll be moving on without you."
"So, what do we do first?" Racer asked in excitement.
"I plan on finding that bastard from jail." Huntress declared, gripping her weapon in anger. "Anyone care to join my hunt?" Racer waved his hand in solidarity.
"I plan to find my missing brother." Hoteye declared.
"I assume you'll want to go and find Cubelious?" Angel asked her love before noticing his ears twitching.
"Well, this is serendipitous." The six looked up and smiled as Ikaruga and Imitatia stood over them on a sand dune. "And to think, we were on our way to bust you all out." Ikaruga chuckled as the two slid down hill, coming to a stop before them. "Angel, Huntress."
"Ikaruga." The red head said with a mild smile.
"I see you two have some new toys." Angel chuckled, noticing the new weapons they pair held.
"Save this reunion for later." Salamander declared, catching everyone off guard. "We got company." The others turned and looked forward, finding Jellal, Ultear and Meredy were now standing before them.
The wind blew around them as Jellal stepped forward. "Both of you stay behind me."
"There's eight of them, so we should-" Meredy started before her 'mother' placed her hand on her shoulder.
"We need to trust him, Meredy." Ultear said before the two stepped back.
"You're seriously underestimating us." Racer growled out in annoyance.
Huntress gripped her head, catching Ikaruga off guard. "Everything okay?"
"I'm fine…" The red head replied, eyeing Jellal. 'Was that… a memory? How could I know him before today?'
"Now I get it. You three are Doranbolt's back up." Salamander chuckled.
"So you three are going to drag us back to jail?" Midnight asked.
"We're three of the most wanted criminals on Earthland. Do you really think we'd hand you over to them and get off scot free?" Jellal questioned back.
"We won't let anyone take away our freedom." Racer growled.
"We'll even kill you, Jellal." Salamander added.
"Uh, I promised myself that I'd never fight out of anger again. So I won't fight." Hoteye declared.
"The hell is wrong with you?" Angel asked.
"And that is his right." Midnight added. "We fought to gain freedom, so Richard is free to make his own choices. My name is Macbeth, and I'll destroy anyone who threatens my freedom."
"Then we fight." Jellal declared as he raised his hand.
"I was hoping you'd say that!" Racer shouted from behind.
Meredy reached out to help, but Ultear stopped her. "You're indeed fast, Sawyer." Jellal conceded as he dodged the speedy attack. An arrow punctured the ground beneath him, forcing him to jump. The arrow detonated and turned into sparks, zapping the runner. "As well with a bow as your doppelgänger is with blades, Huntress."
"You're wide open!" Salamander charged in with a burning punch.
The attack hit, only for him to find Jellal had caught it. "As hot headed as ever, Natsu." He replied before throwing him into Racer.
Ikaruga and Imitatia charged in and swung their blades, forcing him to duck. "I always wanted to trade blows with you, Ikaruga." He confessed before turning to the doll. "Would your sister approve of your actions?"
"Shut up!" Imitatia unfurled her shield and launched it at him, but he moved to the side and pulled on the whip. He spun and launched her, sending her crashing into Ikaruga.
"Come forth, my angels!" A chant caught his attention and he turned to find toothed cotton balls flying at him. "Eat everything, down to the bones!"
The creatures circled around him and started piling together. "Did you learn a new magic, Sorano?" He asked, angering both her and Salamander.
"Don't call me that!"/"Don't call her that!" Both shouted before the pike of 'angels' exploded, blasting the swordswomen back as well.
"We'll have more fun than seven years ago." Midnight chuckled' his eyes glowing red.
Jellal jumped back from another sword swing from Ikaruga. She leaned back and let Salamander slash at Jellal before Racer punted him in the back. Imitatia hit him with the blunt side of the blade before Huntress fired another arrow.
This one hit the ground near his foot and froze it in place, letting Angel summon a larger 'angel' to push him back. "I finally finished warming up." She chuckled as she stood between Huntress and Imitatia.
Salamander, Ikaruga and Racer were in front of them as Meredy tried to race forward, only for Ultear to stop her. "We can't just do nothing! We have to help him!"
"This is something he has to do alone." Her 'mother' replied as Jellal managed to stand up.
"We won't let anyone mess with our freedom!" Racer shouted as he, Salamander and Ikaruga raced forward.
"I worked too hard for you to screw it up!" Salamander added before both threw a punch. Jellal crossed his arms and blocked, only for Ikaruga to deliver a flaming slash from behind. Racer hit a kick to the head before Natsu slammed his fist into Jellal's gut.
"The chains that once bound us are no more!" Angel shouted as Huntress fired a duo of arrows.
"For most of us, our path began in the Tower of Heaven." Midnight declared as Jellal was hit by an explosive arrow before a net wrapped his arms. He slid along the desert sand and smashed into Imitatia's shield. "We believed that Brian had saved us, but that was a false freedom. Torn from each other, we cursed the world and found others like us.
"Even after seven years of service to his clone, he discarded us like nothing. We were nothing but pawns to seal Zero. Now, finally true freedom lies before us. We-"
"I shall free you!" A glowing Jellal cut him off, ripped his arms free of their bindings, and slammed his fist into a charging Racer, slamming him to the ground. The others stared in shock before the independent wizard rushed past Salamander, hitting him in the chest. "Your freedom is still a lie! And it always will be, as long as you remain in the darkness!"
He turned and caught the blade of Imitatia before holding her in place. An arrow hit her shoulder and burst into ice before he kicked her back. Panting in exhaustion, he turned to see the seven staring at him, Ikaruga slicing and melting the ice off the doll. "You'll free us?" Midnight chuckled. "What could you possibly do in that state?"
"I can defeat you." Jellal declared, shocking the others. "Where you all stand, disappear!"
"YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR, JELLAL!" A spiral of green and red magic shot past Salamander, shocking everyone as they turned around.
"Zero!?" Angel was in shock.
"How'd the seal break!?" Racer asked horrified.
"Did he fake his own death!?" Natsu questioned. "I didn't hear anything!"
Jellal didn't have time to react as the spiral punched straight through his gut. Meredy was horrified as Ultear tightened her grip, both missing the eyes of Midnight glowing. As Jellal laid bleeding on the ground, Zero jumped down and slammed his fist into him, creating a massive explosion. A single smoking boot landed behind the two female, scaring Meredy.
"He wiped him from existence…" Angel mumbled in horror.
Zero laughed maniacally before a crack formed on his face. More formed and he shattered like glass, revealing Jellal standing with his eyes closed. Midnight gasped in shock as he looked at the face, blood coming from his eyes. "He crushed his own eyes!?"
"Impossible!" Racer called out.
Seven bright lights erupted from the ground around the fighters, forming a constellation. "A three dimensional seal formation!" Huntress shouted.
"When the hell did he set this up!?" Salamander questioned.
"May the seven stars grant judgement upon you." Jellal chanted as he placed his hands together. "Grand Chariot!" The pillars exploded and blasted the seven fighters. Jellal then waved his hands to the ground as a storm gathered above them. A bright object slowly descended from the apex as the dark wizards pushed themselves up.
"Is that-" Angel stared up at the sky in shock.
"True Heavenly Body Magic?" Midnight questioned in surprise.
"A FUCKING METEOR!?" Natsu shouted before the satellite hit.
"Sema!" Jellal finished the spell as it obliterated everything it touched. The three non-combatants held on for dear life as the smoke started rising from the crater. All seven combatants laid on the broken ground, covered in bruises and cuts. Imitatia tried to stand with her sword, but her legs gave out and she fell over.
"…It's our loss…" Midnight reluctantly confessed. "Kill us."
"I have no intention of doing so." Jellal confessed.
"Will you take us… back to jail…?" Angel questioned.
"No." His answer shocked them as he walked over to Macbeth. "Our independent guild, Crime Sorciere. Join us." Another wave of shock washed over as he stood over the illusionist. "Your prayers will be heard, I promise you."
"But for what sake should we be doing this?" Midnight asked before Jellal grabbed his jacket and pulled him up.
"We should be fighting the same enemy!" He shouted, showing his blood stained and damaged eyes. "Together, we must defeat Zeref!"
Hours Later
Meredy guided the blinded Jellal forward by her hand as Ultear walked behind them. Richard followed close by, while the rest of the Oración followed him. "Careful, the ground here is uneven." The pink-haired girl warned.
"Thank you." He replied.
"…How long are we gonna follow them!?" Racer shouted in annoyance.
"What are you asking me for?" Angel questioned back.
"Cause your boyfriend insisted on this!" The speed freak growled back.
"I'm more annoyed that they choose to ignore us." Huntress said before they reached a brook.
"We should rest here for a bit." Ultear declared. "Give us a chance to recover from all this walking."
"Are you seriously gonna follow these losers?" Racer questioned. "Cause I'm sure not."
"It is much to take in." Ikaruga nodded. "Can we kill Zeref? I do not know for certain."
"Enough with the damn haikus." The blonde snapped back. "I say we just kill all three of them and be done with it."
"I'm getting sick and tired of hearing you complain about it." Salamander growled.
"Don't tell you actually trust these three? After everything they you through, let alone us?" Sawyer questioned.
"Jury's still out." He chuckled back. "But the voices are getting louder. They're not even voices. Just screams."
"That's unsettling." Imitatia stated. "Do you know what they're screaming about?"
"No clue." Natsu honestly answered. "But stick with them, and we can find out all kinds of things. Whatever this thing is, I gotta hear it for myself."
A small abandoned village played shelter as Jellal panted. "Can I get you some water of anything?" Meredy asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm fine… thanks…" He replied.
"His eye injures don't seem to severe." Hoteye declared. "I fear its his other injuries. He fought seven members of the Oración Seis alone. There's no way he came out of it unscathed."
At the edge of the town line, the wary members stared up at the sky as a storm started rolling in. "A big one's coming…" Racer mumbled.
"Feel like cuddling up with Jellal?" Angel teased.
"Don't be stupid." He huffed back.
"So a different house, then?" She chuckled, wrapping her arms around Salamander. "There's plenty of house around here. Feels like a ghost town."
"That's not what I'm getting at." Racer said. "This storm could be our ticket out of here."
"Quite. One of them is coming." Ikaruga declared, making the group look to see Ultear walking over to Salamander and Angel.
"Salamander, we need to talk." Ultear said, looking around. "Alone."
"I don't think so." Angel said, standing next to her boyfriend. "Anything you have to say, you can say to both of us."
Ultear sighed before turning around. "Very well, come with me." The two followed her into a house, where she undid her cloak. "Do you remember that conversation we had during the Dragon Invasion? And then you tapped my shoulder before going back to fighting Future Rogue?"
"That was his name?" He asked, uninterested. "Yeah, I remember that. What's your point?"
"After you left, I took your advice and used a spell to reset time." She explained. "I cast a spell called Last Ages, which uses the casters own life force to go back in time. After the spell, I saw that we went back one minute. I thought I had failed, it seems like i was mistaken. So many lives were saved that day."
"Sorry, can we get back to the part where you used your life to save people!?" Angel requested. "How are you even still alive?"
"That is what I wish to discuss." Ultear turned to the side and showed them her back, making both gasp in shock. A large scar covered her lower back and over it was a large, ornate red dragon tattoo coiling on her skin. "A few days after the battle, I noticed this when I was bathing. Care to explain what a mating mark is on me?"
"Mating mark?" Salamander repeated as Angel took off her glove.
"That's what this is?" She repeated, showing off her own tattoo. "What's going on?"
"A mating mark is something Dragons have." Ultear explained as she turned back around, sitting forward. "It represents the bond they have with the being they care the most about, and only appears in the most dire situations. However, in all my research, I've never heard of a Dragon Slayer having one, let alone multiple mates."
"What about a Dragon King?" Natsu questioned, confusing the two. "During the fight, I teamed up a big fire dragon called Atlas Flame. He explained the lacrima inside of me was made from the king of all Fire Dragons. I don't understand it myself, but it's what let me kick that Future guy's ass."
"That might be it…" Ultear mumbled. "However, the mark on Angel is the one seen as a primary mark. Essentially, you are the alpha mate."
"I'm on top. As it should be." She chuckled, hugging Natsu. "So how much competition can I expect?"
"That I cannot say." Ultear replied, recloaking herself. "However, I can say that I am grateful for what you did. If it wasn't for this mark, I'd most likely be dead by now. Whatever the future holds, I will be by your side. Whether or not I fall in love you, that remains to be seen. But I am willing to try."
"I won't give you a chance. I already have enough problems with that pink haired skank." Angel chuckled before the three left the house.
"Something wrong with your ears!?" Racer shouted, annoyed at Midnight.
"Will you shut up over there!?" Natsu declared, his ears finally heard enough from Racer. "How about you try using your head for once!?"
"I'll shut up when I'm finished." The blonde snapped back as the couple returned to the group.
"I've decided." Imitatia spoke up, catching everyone's attention. "I'm joining Crime Sorciere."
"Figures the puppet needs a master." Racer huffed. "And the rest of you? Feel like going back into slavery? We finally have a chance at real freedom after spending all of our lives in prison. This world has done nothing for us, why should we do anything for it?"
"I've made up my mind." The doll replied. "I will join Jellal of my own will."
"And the rest of you?" He asked, gaining no answer. "Suit yourself. As for me-"
"Never again." Midnight spoke up. "I'll never be a pawn in someone's scheme again. I'll live and die just as free as I am now."
"Finally, someone's making sense." Sawyer cheered. Salamander chuckled, angering the blonde once again. "You laughing at me?"
"No, I just heard a voice I never thought I'd hear again." He turned to the side and stared at a swath of purple mist. "Thought you kicked the bucket all those years ago."
The others prepared for a fight as lone figure walked out of the mist. "Is that anyway to speak to an old comrade in arms, Salamander?" Ultear flinched at the voice as she turned as well. "Though, to be honest, I thought you'd be in prison right now. And for the rest of your lives for that matter."
The figure stepped out of the mist, revealing a much older Rustyrose from Grimoire Heart. "So what brings the Oración Seis here?"
"Who the hell is this guy?" Racer questioned.
"Rustyrose!" Meredy shouted as she raced forward.
"You're here, Meredy? Why are you and Ultear with them?" He questioned.
"It's… complicated." Ultear stepped forward. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing important, I'm leaving." He turned around and started walking away. "I no longer have business with either of you. The past is dead."
"Slow down, your old friend isn't only one with questions." Salamander said, his ears flexing. "Something's got you scared. I can hear it in your voice. Never gave me the vibe of a push over, so I'd like to know what that is. We all would." Ikaruga and Imitatia held their blades up as Huntress pointed her spear at him.
"…Very well. I shall tell you my tale." He defeatedly said before explaining everything as the rain started falling. "And thus, she left me alone. I saw something in the shadows, far worse than you could ever imagine."
"That takes some guts, storming Tartaros with only creations of your mind." Salamander chuckled. "Now if only I could care."
Midnight turned to the sound of footsteps and saw Richard leading Jellal over. "She said Zeref was coming, did she? Said it with certainty, meaning that Tartaros is trying to make contact with him?"
"Find out for yourself." Rustyrose replied. "I'd rather face the lord of death himself than that woman ever again. Good talk." He walked away from the swordswomen and back into the fog.
"We could have helped him…" Meredy mumbled. "We could have pulled him out of the darkness. Instead, we left him…"
The rain started to pick up as Jellal turned away. "I'm heading out to find Tartaros."
"Jellal, we both know you're in no condition to fight, let alone travel." Ultear said.
"True, but I must do this." Jellal replied before walking away. "There's no other choice."
"We won't go with you." Midnight spoke up. "Not to attack Tartaros. They may have broken their pact with Grimoire Hearts, but not with us. Unlike Brain, we intend to keep our word. That was the only good thing he taught us. We won't forsake the one source of integrity we have left."
"That's disappointing… but I must go." The blind man replied as he continued his walk. "Even if it means I go alone. For now, I'll say farewell. But I will come for you again, I swear it." Ultear and Meredy ran towards him as the others just stood in the rain.
Ultear lead Jellal through an autumn forest as Meredy took point. "Careful, there are lots of roots to trip on."
"Thank you, Ultear." Jellal replied as they started going down a hill.
"So I was wondering…" Meredy started, catching their attention. "Why do you two care so much about the Oración Seis? Is it because of something Doranbolt said?"
"…They were all prisoners." Her 'mother' confessed. "A cult of Zeref captured them as children, and forced them to work on the Tower of Heaven. Their circumstances were the same as Jellal's, but I manipulated him, turning him into what he despises. After a while, Brain came and took the original five members with him."
"We lost our childhood there." Jellal said as he stopped on a stump. "No matter how old we get, part of us will always be locked in that tower. That bond is eternal, and none of them would deny it. Not even Sawyer."
"And you share that pain…" Meredy mumbled.
"Pain and prayer were all we had." Jellal explained. "The Seis prayed for Nirvana to take the darkness from their lives away and give them light. Nirvana's spell has faded, but their prayers remain."
"Prayers?" The empath repeated in confusion.
"Richard prays to find the brother he lost when he was taken. Sawyer, to be fast enough to never be caught again. Sorano prays to stay with the one she loves forever. Macbeth prays to finally be free of his nightmares and sleep. And Natsu, he prayed for a life of peace with the only two beings he ever truly cared about." Ultear rattled off. "These prayers granted them great power, but Zero twisted them. Turn their hope into anger, took advantage of them. As did the both of us."
"Are you still going to punish yourself for that?" Meredy asked.
"Darkness can only exist where one lets it." She replied.
"Erik told me something when we fought in the tower." Jellal said. "I still think about it, even now. Helping to free them the way Erik did me, it's part of our atonement."
"I understand." Meredy nodded.
With the Seis
Salamander huffed, catching Midnight's attention. "What did you hear? Anything to worry about?"
"No, just Jellal yammering." The scarred man said back. "If he would just shut up, I could tune him out. The asshole needs to stop saying my real name."
"Only I can call you that." Angel teased.
"That's right." He nodded, scratching his cheek.
"You are so whipped." Racer chuckled.
"Wanna say that to my-" His eye went wide and turned back to the direction of the trio. "Oh… oh that's bad."
With Crime Sorciere
The three resumed their walked, this time Meredy leading Jellal. "So, did you have a chance to talk to Salamander, Ultear?" He questioned.
Before she could answer, a beam of energy split the trio away, trapping the two women in a large glowing tower. "I was wondering when you three would be passing by." Rustyrose chuckled from the ground.
"So this was your plan all along!?" Ultear shouted as he came to a stop.
"You've got it wrong: I don't want to hurt either of you." He said back. "I'm trying to rebuild. Grimoire Heart can live again through us, together."
"And what if we don't want it?" Meredy asked back.
"Then I'll just have to persuade you both." A creation of Azuma stomped on Jellal's back as the tower zapped both women. "There's no way for you to win this. Join us, I don't want to hurt old friends any more than I have to. Don't tell hanging around this buffoon has made you both soft?"
"You said it yourself, the past is dead." Ultear snapped back. "And yet you're trying to bring something back from the dead? What does that make you?"
"Seven years I wandered!" He shouted back. "Seven long years, I searched for both of you! That hope was the only thing I lived for!"
"We've moved on! And you can do the same!" Meredy yelled. "Don't let the past constrain you. Look to the future!"
"SHUT UP!" Rustyrose waved his hand and a blast of energy hit both trapped women. "Don't force me to kill you! Join me and you can both live!" A glowing procession of the Grimoire Heart members appeared behind him, urging the women to reunite with them
"That's… not real…" Ultear groaned out, looking at the old version of herself. "The past doesn't define who you are. It's just the starting point for who you're going to be. I will never go back to being that woman, ever again. I strive to do better everyday, and you can't drag us back."
"Then I shall force you." Rustyrose declared. "You won't blow me off once you have nothing left."
"Leave… them… alone…" Jellal groaned, finally back to his feet.
"How can you possibly fight me in that state?" The imagination mage chuckled. "You're holding them both back, so be gone from this world!" He thrusted his hand forward and it turned onto a claw, flying straight at Jellal.
He braced himself for the impact, but it never came. Rustyrose groaned in pain as he was hit back, confusing Jellal. "What just happened? Where is he?"
"You can ditch that scrap of cloth and see for yourself." A blade cut through his gauze and he looked up to see Meredy and Ultear standing before him. The trio turned to the side to see the Oración Seis, new and old. "Don't get the wrong idea. We only came cause there was nothing better to do." Salamander chuckled.
"So for now, we've decided to tag along with you three." Racer declared. "See how we like it."
"I go my own way, but I have respect for yours." Midnight declared. "To free the victim in your heart, you must free yourself."
"Agreed."The three founding members turned to see Rustyrose pushing himself up. "You too will have to find your own way forward. However, the isolation tormenting you can finally cease. When you find yourself ready to make amends, there'll be a place for you in Crime Sorciere. Until then, fair well."
They started walking away as Rusty pushed himself up. Tears fell from his eyes and he turned, only to gasp in horror. A scream caught their attention and the group turned around to see a now withered Rustyrose fall to the ground. "Natsu… It's you again." A black and white clad man stepped forward, the foliage around him completely dead.
"Who the hell is this guy?" Racer asked, getting ready for a fight.
"Z-Zeref…" Ultear mumbled in utter horror, catching everyone off guard.
The poll is officially over, and I'll officially announce who's in it right now. Just a heads up, if there was a tie, I pretty much flipped a coin to decide who was in or out: The official harem for Natsu here is: Angel, Kinana, Lisanna, Sayla, Ultear (incase it wasn't obvious by this chapter), Flare, Knightwalker/Huntress, Minerva, Ikaruga and Briar.
This is probably THE single strangest harem anyone's ever put together for Natsu, and I don't mind one bit. A lot of fluctuation happened, but this is the final result. NO CHANGING beyond this point. But as for the chapter itself? I liked it. A lot happened, and yes, another loss for Natsu. But I'm in the mind that QUALITY matters more than QUANTITY.
The Seis are fulled reunited, joined Crime Sorciere, and what's this? A new challenger approaches, the biggest one yet. I can't guarantee the next chapter comes out this year, but I'll tell you this: I'll do my DAMNEDEST to get it out then. See ya then.
Beta read by The 3rd Dragneel and General Feng Xiang
