Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks.

Kanji's POV

We got tricked again; Lucy and Natsu had gotten taken by the Oracion Seis. All of us fell for Michelle's trick. That thing in the sky, just what is going on?

Why use Michelle…Why the broken teams…is this just a play for time? The Oracion Seis could have taken Lucy back at the tomb, why make Michelle or Imitatia do it for them…What's Midnight's game? Kage's information from Erigor only said that they needed Lucy but not why they needed her.

Some archeologist showed up and asked for Lucy. One of them was a descendant of Will Nevil; he was the one who gave Lucy's dad the clock part. The man explained that the clock brings about Real Nightmare, a spell that alters someone's perception of time leading to mass confusion. The man requested that we stop the clock.

"Weren't we gonna do that anyway?" Elfman asked.

"Yeah." Gray said.

"We can rescue Natsu and Lucy while we're there." I added.

The man was grateful that we accepted the request. He gave Erza some hammer that could 'Ward off evil'; they said they'd do whatever they could to help us.

"How are we even gonna get up to that thing?" Kage looked at the sky.

"Don't worry." Cana said "Help's on the way. There's your ride now."

"It's that ugly airship." I mumbled.

"Christina."

Ichiya crashed to the ground before us.

"We're counting on this guy?" Gray asked.

"They're the ones with the airship." Cana told him.

"Yeah, but he's so annoying." I grumbled.

"Quit bellyaching and get on!" Gramps yelled.

"My prediction is spot on this time." Cana said telling us who would be going to the castle.

Our team consisted of Me, Erza, Mira, Gray, Gajeel, Wendy, Elfman, the cats, and Warren.

We didn't even get too far out of town when we blew an engine.

"Can't you steer this hunk of junk?!" I yelled at Ichiya.

"What's the problem?"

"There's damage to the hull." Ichiya said.

Mira and Elfman went out to look at the problem. It was taking them an awfully long time to come back in.

"I'm starting to get worried." Erza said.

"Yeah me too."

I heard a crash and looked out the window to see Mira and Racer falling off the ship.

"Mira!"

"Turn back now." Erza said.

"I can't." Ichiya told her "If we turn back with the engine damage we won't make it."

"Just go!' Elfman yelled "Let Mira handle it."

Be careful Mira he's incredibly strong. I want you to come back in one piece.

We had to make repairs to the ship in order to stay airborne. At one point there was a magic pulse that resulted in a time distortion. I'm just gonna say that being a toddler for all of ten seconds and having Erza bonk me over the head sucks.

We got close to the cathedral and they started firing at us, so we fired back. They sent that giant octopus at us. The thing wrapped around the ship and tried to drag us down.

"Find a way to knock it off!"

The mollusk spit acid all over the deck and started to corrode that ship. Ichiya sent out so chains that tied the monster down.

"I shall defeat this monster by sacrificing Christina." Ichiya said "You must leave now."

He's really gonna do it.

"You heard him were leaving!" I yelled

We got close and jumped over to a nearby tower. From there we watched the airship plummet to the ground and crash.

"That jerk acting all cool." I sighed.

"He was so manly…" Elfman cried.

"He'll be fine." I grumbled "That toad never seems to bit the big one."

"Surviving danger is what he does best." Erza said "Let's find Natsu and Lucy."

We headed deeper into Zentopia territory looking for Natsu or Lucy.

"Hold up. I hear Gildarts."

"What's he saying?"

"Apparently the Archbishop is being control by a cardinal." Warren explained.

"Let's hurry and get to them." I said.

We went inside towards the Archbishop's chamber. We entered and found Natsu, Gildarts, Laki and Coco there.

"Wendy tend to the Archbishop." Erza said.

"On it."

"To think you'd break into the Grand Cathedral." Byro said.

That cardinal appeared and said that the world would now come to an end as a result of the Infinity Castle.

"If you want to stop the clock all you have to do is kill the girl. But I know you won't do that. Which means Chaos is inevitable!"

He started fading away.

"He was just another fake. I doubt he even knew he was just a tool." Gildarts explained.

"I now know what must be done." Byro said "If I'm to stop the clock Lucy Heartfilia must die."

"You won't touch her!" Natsu charged in only to be thrown back.

"Leave this to me I owe this guy a beating." Gildarts said stepping up "You go find Lucy."

"It's the other cat!" Gajeel yelled.

"What are you going to do?"

"Follow Lord Byro." The cat said "I won't let you reach your friend."

"Get him!"

Byro nullified Scruff and Lily's wings making them fall to the ground.

"You're fighting me!" Gildarts said blowing him back "Hurry and find Lucy!"

"Warren you stay here everyone else with me." Erza said.

"Roger!"

Gildarts held Byro back so we could follow after Natsu. We climbed up the flying ship and chased that other cat. We took the path up the middle and entered the castle.

"Anyone else hear that?" Elfman asked it.

"It's Warren but it's so full of static I can barely hear him." Gray hissed.

"He says if we defeat the Oracion Sies we can save Lucy."

"That's a plan I can get behind." Gajeel said.

"End of the line."

I looked up and saw Cobra was blocking our path.

"I hear it all. Every one of your emotions." He stared at us.

"I'm gonna char those ears off." Natsu said.

"I'm leaving you for last Salamander." He pointed at me "He and I have unfinished business."

"Do we?" I said playing dumb.

He jumped forward and tried punching me "Where is she?!"

"Like I'd tell you!" I said pushing him back "You guys go I'll have to settle this."

I won't let you touch her ever again.

"We can help you." Scruff said.

"No." I said "he wants me because I took his pet all those years ago. He couldn't hear the cries like I could."

"Shut up!" he said throwing a blast at me.

I blocked it with a shield "Erza can stay the rest of you go!"

"If you two die I'll kill you!" Natsu yelled running off.

I just laughed.

"What's so funny?" Cobra asked.

"You really think I'll let you near her. What a fricken joke. If you listen so well you would have read my mind to find her location. Now" I said handing my coat to Erza for storage "Let's finish this!"

We both charged forward and collided.

"Give her back!"

"Not in a million years!" I yelled.

"RAH!" the two of us traded blows before we broke apart.

Erza jumped in and tried slashing him a few times but he dodged every strike.

"Demolition Fist!" I threw a punch at the man

"Sound Blast!"

He blew up the floor and the three of us fell into a lower part. We started brawling again when that nasty goop tried to swallow us.

"That magic." I cursed.

"Sugarboy…"

"Woo!"

"Why are you still fighting us?" Erza asked

"Lord Byro gave us orders to keep you away from the clock." He said "Snake-boy will tell you the same thing."

"May your own voice be your destruction." Cobra glared.

Cobra blew the man away like it was nothing. Sugarboy's own slime swallowed him up and he fell out of the castle.

"Get lost…Now then shall we continue."

"Lightning Dragon Laser Eyes!" I tried to blast him but he bent his back to avoid the attack.

Erza came up from behind him "Circle Sword!"

He avoided that attack as well. I flashed in front of him and nailed him with an uppercut.

"Demolition Fist!"

"Sound Blast!"

Erza was able to block most of the attack but we were struggling to find an offense against Cobra's magic.

"I can obliterate anything with sound."

"Can you hear what I'm thinking?" I asked.

"You're talking yourself up. You still think you can win…She's thinking the same thing."

"I will not think about her any more till I defeat you." I told him.

"Who are you talking about?" Erza asked.

"Be quite." I said "I have to stay focused or someone might get hurt."

I jumped forward and landed in front of the man.

"Volt Breaker!"

I tried to punch him but he stopped my hand with sound.

"Give up the fight."

"I'm not afraid of you Cobra. I will never lose to you. As long I can hear her, I'll never let you have her back."

"You're hallucinating!" he snapped.

"No I can hear her loud and clear. I hear the promises I made seven years ago. I won't let you hurt her again! Lightning Dragon Roar!"

"HA!" Erza slashed at him with a flaming sword.

"Be quiet." He said blasting her out the wall.

"Erza!"

I shifted into lightning and caught her in the air.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"Not a problem."

"The person you're talking about."

"Don't think about it, he might hear you." I told her "I'll tell you when we get home."

We landed on the chains outside.

"You're stubborn." Cobra spat.

"I was in the Tower with you." Erza said "Why do you want people to suffer like we did?"

"Are you referring to the Real Nightmare? I could care less, you two always going on about love and comrades. It makes me sick, why do you get this and I lose the only friend I ever had!"

"Accept you pain, step into the light." Erza told him.

Erza and I tried attacking the man but he just avoided it like he always does.

"You don't understand at all."

"I will beat you." I said standing back up "Not just for Cubellios, but for Lucy. Answer me quickly what is Michelle."

"What do you think?" he asked blocking me.

"She's a puppet like that cardinal."

"What?!" Erza said.

"Yep." Cobra answered "Nothing but a doll given life. Brain could make her cease to exist whenever he wants."

"Electric Shotgun!"

I blasted the man in the chest and he stumbled back.

I have to go faster if I want to save Lucy.

"I heard that, if you beat me my seal will be removed." Cobra said "But you don't have that much time. Just give up."

"Like I'd give in to you." I glared.

"You can't win by just believing in friends!" he said.

"Re-quip!" Erza jumped in and slashed at him with her Sea-Empress Armor

"Power requires sacrifice! What we gave up can't be replaced. Erigor's memories, Racer's humanity, Angel's life force. You don't have the strength for that!" Cobra yelled.

"Arcing Bolt!" I shot at the man and made him back away from Erza.

I ran up to the man and we traded punches

"AGH!"

"RAH!"

"Why are you going so far? Do you want her that bad?" I screamed punching his jaw.

"I have to do this if I want to face her! Don't you understand I have no fear of losing? That is true power!" he punched me back.

Listen up!

Warren.

The Archbishop came over the telepathic link and said that destroying the chains holding the castle would help get Lucy more time.

"Erza did you hear him." I looked over.

"Yes." She said taking out a large sword "Just hang on Lucy."

"It's time for me to finish you off." Cobra said activating his dragon force capabilities "This is the last breath Cubellios gave me, and now I'll use it to destroy you, the man who took her from me!"

Without Laxus close by I can't get the Lacrima to full power like his.

"I'll rot your bones! Poison Dragon Roar!"

"Lightning Dragon Roar!"

The two attacks collided but his was overpowering mine.

Crap!

Erza stepped in front and blocked the attack with her hammer.

"This weapon wards off evil."

"She grabbed it on instinct…You're gonna cut the chains and risk killing all three of us!"

"Erza do it!"

Erza swung and shattered the chain we were on. We moved from chain to chain breaking the links and holding off Cobra.

"You said power comes from sacrifice. Having nothing left to lose won't make you strong." I told him.

"What's your point?!"

"Protecting is what true power is. You can't live for yourself. You're nothing but a coward! Erza Now!"

I jumped back and landed on Erza's hammer.

"How will you even look her in the eye!" I yelled "I'll kill you before I let you near her again!"

"Here we go!" Erza swung forward and I shot at Cobra.

"Just shut up! Die!" he got ready to attack my but suddenly stopped "AH! I hear her…I can hear her mind, but not her body."

"Stay focused!" I yelled tackling him off the chain.

"AAH!"

"Having friends makes me strong not weak!" I yelled.

I know he heard her.

I rotated in the air and plowed the man into the dirt when we hit the ground.

Erza keep breaking the chains. We have to save Lucy…

I stood over the man in the crater.

"You've lost." I told him.

"Static Resonator!" I kicked the ground.

She'll be here soon.

I grabbed Cobra's neck "I won't let her near you, I'll kill you here and now."

He gasped for air "Your guild doesn't kill people."

"If it means I can protect her I'll get blood on my hands."

I sat there crushing the man's throat.

"Ahh…Ahh…you…bastard…"

"I heard her cries seven years ago; you claim to be her friend but you didn't hear her at all. You never saw the cursed girl; you only saw the snake." I growled "She's not your property!"

"KANJI!"

"Kinana…"

"What are you doing? Stop it right now! Let that man go."

I threw Cobra to the ground.

What the hell was I thinking?

Lucy used the Real Nightmare to free Natsu.

What's Romeo doing here? Lucy really managed to control that magic. Why can I hear them.

I listed closely and I could hear Lucy.

She's trying to control the clock…you can do it Lucy, don't give up.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Kinana asked Cobra.

"Leave him alone." I told her.

"He's hurt we should help him."

"Get your hands off me." Cobra grumbled.

"You're the person that's been calling out to me." She said.

"It's you!"

He knows…

"Watch it." I mumbled when he pushed her down.

"What happened to your eye?" Kinana asked him.

I sat on the edge of the crater watching the two.

It's like she never met him. She's not like the snake I first met. She has her own emotions and feelings; I can try and protect her from her past or I can let her face it…

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Erik."

Cobra turned and looked to the side. Lahar and Mest showed up with an unconscious prisoner.

"The others are already in custody come peacefully." Lahar said.

"Wait he's not a bad guy." Kinana jumped up.

Kinana's arms were getting corrosive.

"Hey calm down." I told her I looked at the two council members "I'll trade Cobra for the girl on your back."

"What?" Lahar seemed taken aback "Since when is this a negotiation."

"It was just a puppet not a member of the Oracion Sies." I told him "It's just Michelle."

"This was just a puppet?"

"The Real Nightmare gave the doll a soul; it's a real girl now." I explained.

"You're telling me this was just a puppet?" Lahar said.

"He's telling the truth." Cobra said "We made it, it was under our control, it had no free will."

"I'd be awfully grateful if you'd turn her over to me." I said "Fairy Tail has a good track record of reforming mages who had fallen to darkness. This was just a puppet can't you look the other way."

"I'm supposed to bring in all the members." Lahar said.

"Without Fairy Tail what would have happened here. Who would have stopped the Infinity Clock." I said "We'll call it even if you give me Michelle."

"…Fine." Lahar said "You give me Cobra I'll give you this girl."

"Sounds like a deal." I walked up and took Michelle…or Imitatia whatever we were gonna call her now.

"Is that other girl with you?" he gestured to Kinana.

"Yeah she's with the guild." I said, I looked over at Doranbolt "Hey you."

"What…"

"No one thinks you're a coward, you didn't abandon us. I heard you saved Wendy back then…Thank you."

I took Michelle and Kinana and we walked away.

LATER

I found the other's just after they had recovered Lucy.

"Hey we're back!" I called out.

"What's Kinana doing here?" Gray asked.

"What's that on your back?" Erza asked.

"Hey Lucy I got you a present."

"Hmm…HA!"

"I found this a few miles away. I managed to broker a deal for her." I smiled.

"Hmm…" the girl on my back stirred "Where am I?"

"Where you belong." I told her "With your family."

"How…I'm…just a doll." She said.

"I thought she was just a puppet." Erza said.

"She was." I said "I think Lucy's time controlling the clock…made her a real girl."

I laid the girl down by Lucy.

"Thank you, Big Sister." Michelle cried hugging Lucy.

"How?" Erza whispered.

"Really, I don't know…just a miracle I guess. Sometimes it's best to just accept the good things in life right." I said putting my arm around her shoulder

I leaned down and kissed her.

"Yeah it is." She smiled.

AN

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Till next time!