Chapter 22: Death and Anger

Back at the Night Raid Base.

Everyone woke up in their pajamas.

"What was that explosion?" Gajeel asked.

Mine opened her door with her hair messed up and rubbing her head with her hands. "Man, talk wake up call."

Natsu was awake but was laying in bed. "What the hell was that sound?"

Happy wondered that too. "Aye, I was dreaming about being at fish sale."

Najenda was looking out her window. "This can't be good, I have a feeling its not the Jaegers."

Meanwhile

The three Jaegers entered the hallway as they did parts of ceiling and walls were broken while some parts of rubble fell and loud sounds.

Run then noticed two ways one side leading to the kickball field while other lead forward. "You two check for anyone in the kickball field while I'll continue searching inside."

"Right." His teammates saluted.

Run quickly ran into the hallway until he came to the conference room and there he saw the three fortunate tellers covered in blood on their bodies. "How did this..." Suddenly he noticed blood footprints which had three toes that seemed to have sharp claws at the end of each toe .

Kurome ran to the kickball with Wave at her side. "Wonder what happened here?"

Wave wondered that too. "Not sure..."

As they ran outside to where the kickball field was they stopped abruptly at the sight they were now seeing.

A guard was laying above the stairway leading down with slash mark on his chest and blood stain.

Wave crouched down and picked the guard in his arms. "Hey, what happened, wake up." No sound came from the guard meaning he was dead.

Kurome walked further and looked down to the kick ball field and gasped in horror. "Look down there!"

Wave put the guard down and then looked down the center of the cathedral, there was several of the kids laying motionless on the field and so was Seryu, her stomach was crushed and her neck was slit. "No, this can't be...no..." He mumbled clearly horrified seeing such a gruesome sight.

Poison Ivy was looked down from the another part of the cathedral's roof. "(Looks like the Jaegers finally showed up, Rachena's plan seemed to be going on its first step.)"

Flashback scene.

Poison Ivy and her comrades were outside the Kyoroch city. "Listen up, after Saki and the others informed me about the Empire and its dirty work, I think its time to make things more entertaining."

"How entertaining?" Leon asked.

"Something that could make the Night Raid look like bad guys for a time being but then the Jaeger's reputation will go up in smoke." Rachena replied with a sinister smile.

"What do you mean?" Beni asked.

"I think I like where this is going." Goliath said looking eager.

"First off, Beni I want you to return to the base while the others handle our plan here." Rachena replied.

"Understood." Beni saluted.

Rachena smiled wickely. "Now then, listen to my plan..."

Flashback ends.

Run came running towards his teammates. "Wave, Kurome, the three..." He stopped as he saw the dead children including Seryu's body.

Wave lowered his head. "I know the kids are gone and so is Seryu."

Run didn't answer which got his teammates to stare with confusion. "Run...?"

The Mastama user was staring off horrified as images of his dead students went through his mind.

Kurome tucked the part of blonde's shirt. "Hey, are you spacing out or something?"

Run recollected himself. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Just then faint steps were coming from the across and there on the other side was another stairway and behind a support beam was Jeremy.

"Its Jeremy!" Kurome exclaimed.

Wave sighed in relief. "Oh thank goodness."

Run shared the same feeling. "Come on over!" Jeremy ran over to the three Jaegers.

Poison Ivy smiled wickedly then put her arms out. "Toxic Spikes."

A large sphere ball was fired from her hands then straight, however her attack broke into 12 purple spikes going down to the kick ball field.

Jeremy then stopped in his tracks as a purple light was covering his entire body as he yelled in pain.

"What the hell?" Kurome yelled in shock.

Then dark vines emerged from the ground that took hold of Jeremy's legs and arms.

"What's going on?" Wave inquired.

Poison Ivy jumped to another stairway. "My toxic spikes are doing well on this brat."

Wave was shocked at what he just heard. "(Toxic spikes, that means...)"

Run activated his Imperial Arms and flew towards the Demon. " Oh, so you want to fight me pretty boy, do you have the spine do it?"

"You'll pay for hurting that child!" The blonde yelled.

Suddenly Leon appeared and punched the blonde in upper part of his chest. "Drain Fist!"

Run felt weak like his energy was drained almost of it. "(Damn it, my energy feels like its drained.)"

"Run, no!" Wave yelled.

Run felt weak but had enough to fly over to his team but he knelt down breathing heavily.

Goliath/Dr Stylish then flew down and stood straight narrowing his eyes at his former teammates. "Looks like little insects found there way inside."

"Dr Stylish, why did you side with Tartaros now?" Run inquired.

Their former teammate was quiet. "Answer us!" Wave demanded.

Kurome wanted answers too. "Yeah, more importantly why is Seryu here and dead."

Goliath/Dr Stylish revealed his left hand which had dried blood.

"Wait, did you...?" Kurome began to say.

"You manic, she was our teammate!"" Wave shouted as he prepared to take out his sword.

Run put took hold of his wrist. "Stay calm!"

Poison Ivy smiled wickedly. "Its time for me to wipe this pathetic cathedral and humans out." She then put her hands up in above and a circle appeared in front of her hands.

Jeremy then glanced at the Plant Demon and pointed to her. "JAEGERS, LOOK UP!"

They looked to where Poison Ivy was and noticed she put her hands up in the air above her head and circle of some sort was in front of her hands. "Is she powering up an attack?"

Poison Ivy noticed the country boy Jaeger. "Now its time to learn what happens when humans lie to the Demons of Tartaros, I will start by eliminating this brat including this cathedral!"

Wave wasn't like this scene but before he could rush down. "Wait!" He stopped as Jeremy looked directly at him. "Wave, don't waste your time, this purple glow is some kind of poison, I can't move, and if you walk onto the kick ball field, you'll be poisoned too!"

Poison Ivy's attack was almost powered up. "The runt's right, you'll end up dead, and even if you managed to grab anyone that touches him will be poisoned too."

Kurome was narrowed her eyes. "You're kidding!"

"Just leave me, get out of here!" Jeremy shouted.

"We can't just leave you here!" Wave shouted loudly.

"Please, there's no reason for you or your friends to die with me and the others." Jeremy begged shaking his head.

Wave hesitated a bit as he clenched his hands.

"We'll meet again, you can count on it that includes Night Raid and their wizard friends." Dr Stylish climbed the wall up the roof to meet up with Leon who was outside the cathedral.

Jeremy saw the Jaegers weren't still leaving. "PLEASE GO WAVE TAKE YOUR FRIENDS AND GET AWAY!"

Wave shook his head and was about to help the boy when he felt someone grab him by his shirt and was pulling him away who was Run. "I'm sorry we have no choice."

The country man glanced at his blonde friend. "Run, let me go, no-." He stopped as he noticed Run shedding a tear.

Kurome felt a sense of hesitation but ran off.

"SOLAR BEAM!" A beam of solar sun energy was fired straight down to the kick ball field as the Jaegers were riding away on their horses.

Run was riding in the front while Kurome was riding beside Wave who was totally devastated. "DAMN IT, NOOOOOO!"

The Solar Beam attack struck the ground causing a large explosion that destroyed the cathedral and the ground to tremble violently then other buildings that were nearby s were destroyed while some buildings were left in half.

Half hour later.

Team Natsu wearing cloaked hoodies were seeing the destruction of the cathedral from nearby darkalley.

Najenda looked through binoculars. "Such a horrific destruction."

Wendy was shocked to see this. "Those poor children."

Carla felt the same feeling. "Those kids were innocent but now..."

Natsu clenched his hands tightly and was furious. "Damn, we should've been here."

Lucy put her hand on the pink haired man's shoulder. "I know, but we can't stay here for long."

Najenda removed the binocular from her eyes and sighed. "I can't be sure who attacked those kids but we will find out later."

Akame appeared next to the boss. "Boss, so far nothing has been spotted, but I wonder if the Jaegers are going report this to the Empire."

Leone then approached them. "Boss, Akame, word is on the street that some people that lost their houses are leaving the city."

"Is that wise?" Lub was approaching.

"It is." The two teens looked at Akame. "Its dangerous to live out in the open, besides that those people that lost their houses will live somewhere in another village from 2 miles from Joyou."

"Joyou is that where Run was a teacher?" Lub asked.

"Of course, but for now, Boss what is the next task?" Akame asked.

Najenda turned around and looked at the three teens. "We must return to Capital and to the our other hideout."

"Understood." The three teen saluted.

At the headquarters of the Path of Peace.

Esdeath was talking with three of her Jaegers who told their leader of the incident.

Esdeath was left silent after what she was told. "To think, those kids were victims of Tartaros and not only that Seryu was killed by Dr Stylish."

Kurome was disgusted about second thing her leader said. "That insane freak, he was our teammate and this is how he reunites with us."

Wave sitting on a chair and abruptly got up. "Damn it, we not only have a teammate that betrayed us but killed one of our own, and now Jeremy along with the children are dead!"

"Please, Wave you need to stay calm." Run said calmly.

The country man took his blonde friend by his shirt. "Why couldn't you save him, I mean you could've flew towards Jeremy and picked him up!"

"You forgot that Poison Ivy mentioned if we touched Jeremy while he was being poisoned we would get poisoned as well." Kurome replied.

"Wave, stand down!" Esdeath commanded.

Wave ignored his commander and roared. "STAND DOWN, THOSE KIDS WERE MURDERED BY DEMONS AND ONE OF OUR OWN RETURNS TO US AND KILLS ONE OF OUR TEAMMATES, HOW CAN YOU THREE JUST BE SO CA-"

Esdeath slapped the country man causing him to fall down. "THAT IS ENOUGH WAVE, NOW YOU WILL PUT YOUR EMOTIONS SIDE, SECONDLY IF I SEE YOU TRY TO ATTACK ONE OF YOUR TEAMMATES I'LL WILL SEVERELY PUNISH YOU MYSELF, IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"

Wave growled but calmed down a bit and stood on his feet.

Run coughed and looked away. "Believe me Wave, I don't like how those kids were killed nor the fact that Dr Stylish has betrayed us let alone killing Seryu, I understand how you must be feeling about this."

Wave recalled how he felt when Bols was dead.

"Now we must get our stuff packed and then we'll return to the Capital then talk with the Minister and the Emperor." Esdeath said.

"Roger." The two Jaegers saluted.

Wave just responded slowly. "Yes, commander."

Esdeath thinking about losing Seryu. "(Such a waste of potential.)" She scoffed as the thought of Dr Stylish return. "(I knew he was insane before, but now he's more then insane, he's a mad man.)"

Back at the Night Raid base.

Everyone was packing their stuff.

Natsu was in his room with Happy. "Damn, those kids were innocent."

"Aye, from what the Founder told Najenda and then told us, not only were the kids gone but also the three other fortunate tellers were killed as well." Happy said sadly.

Natsu took a deep breathe and had a sheer determination. "But we must keep moving forward and help overcome this disgusting empire."

"Aye sir!" Happy saluted.

Lucy was outside with a five carriages and was putting her luggage away in one of them. "Phew, that should the last of my stuff."

Loki appeared out of nowhere putting his arm around his master's shoulder. "You need a massage or something?"

The blonde kicked him the stomach. "Idiot!"

Inside the forest

Tatsumi was walking around gathering firewood with Lisanna and Mirajane.

The browned swordsman clenched his hands tightly.

The youngest Take Over Sibling noticed the boy's reaction. "Something wrong?"

Tatsumi recollected himself. "Nothing, its just that those kids, were innocent and now they're gone."

Mirajane had to agree. "Yes, their parents are just as upset as we are."

"Losing young ones is such a tragic." Lisanna added. "But I doubt the Jaegers did though, but the question is who was the one that attacked them."

"Maybe was Tartaros." Mirajane replied.

"If that's the case, then why would those fiends attack and kill the children and the other fortunate tellers?" Tatsumi inquired.

"Good question." The three turned to see Mine. "However Najenda wants us to focus on getting back to the other hideout, so continue gathering supplies."

"Right." The three saluted to the pinkette girl.

Walking down the hallway in the hideout was Taran. "(Those kids were slaughtered, judging from the damage that was reported, it looks like Tartaros' doing.)"

Juvia was in her bedroom packing. "Those children were killed, I bet their parents aren't taken this well as we are." She looked down clenching her hands. "(I will keep fighting no matter how crazy things get.)"

Shortly later Najanda, Night Raid assassins and the Wizards were gathered together.

"Now listen, we can't let the death of the children and the other fortunate tellers get to us, we need to keep fighting and overcome this Empire until the end!" Najanda proclaimed.

"ROGER!" Her Team saluted.

"Now let's return to the other base!" Najenda added as she rode off while some rode in the carriages and rode on Horses.

Natsu was riding in the carriages with Wendy. "Oh, my stomach, this sucks."

Wendy was feeling woozy. "Ah man, this is going to take awhile."

Carla sighed. "Stop your whining."

"Aye, be a man you two as Elfman would say." Happy added.

Lucy face palmed. "You realize that Wendy is a girl not a man."

Gajeel was riding on his own horse. "At least, I'm riding on my own horse."

"You forget I'm riding behind with you." Levy corrected.

Lilly was sitting one of carriages with Erza and Elfman. "Least its better than flying to exhaust myself."

Elfman agreed to that a bit. "Yes, a man needs to relax."

Erza giggled a bit. "True, even myself needs to rest."

Lubbock was sitting one of carriages with Su and Tatsumi. "Man, I wanted to ride with a few of the chicks."

"Its not like we get that chance every time jackass." Tatsumi growled.

Susanoo chuckled at the two young ones attitude. "(Such human youth like them is quite interesting.)"

Gray was in one of the carriages with Juvia, Akame, and Taran.

"Such work we did." Taran sighed.

"Yes, but once we return to the base in the forest from the Capital, we probably have to hunt down more criminals." Akame pointed out.

Gray put his hands behind his head. "No kidding, this world is crazy like ours." Little did he know his was half-naked.

"Gray, your clothes!" Taran exclaimed.

"Huh?" The ice wizard looked down. "Oh man!"

Akame turned her head away and hide her blush.

Juvia squealed excitedly. "Oh darling such manly muscles!"

Meanwhile in the Path of the Peace Headquarters.

The Jaegers were gathered outside and preparing to hide back on their horses.

"Alright, let's return to the Capital." Esdeath proclaimed.

"Right!" Her three soldiers saluted.

Already in the valley.

The Demons were making their way to the hidden lab.

"Did you see the look on country boy's face?" Leon asked.

Dr Stylish just smirked wickedly. "Yeah, groveling is what humans do sometimes."

Poison Ivy had other thoughts. "(Hmm, Run seemed to taken when he saw the death of the kids including that last brat's suffering from my toxic spikes, I have feeling there's more to him then the pretty boy he is.)"

At Tartaros new lab.

Lamy was walking through the lab giggling. "Ha, ha, ha, this might be the Tartaros guild." She then put her fist on her forehead as her face darkened a bit before smiling at a container that opened. "Its well, cause as long as we have this lab, we can keep coming back, isn't that right, Fang?"

The wolf demon stepped out of the container. "Right, I can't wait to do more damage."

Saki approached her alongside with Kay, Snapjaw, and Rachena. "Yes, we must be careful, word is from Leon and Poison Ivy that the she-devil Mira is here."

Lamy gasped and her face darkened a bit more. "That bratty pretty girl messed the last Tartaros lab, that little shank will pay."

"No matter, they don't know, as long as no word gets out to the Empire, to Night Raid or the Jaegers especially Fairy Tail." Saki stated as her face darkened. "I will see to it that the Empire will be ours and that the humans here including Fairy Tail will fall."

Rachena smiled wickedly. "Yes, no doubt it'll be not too long before the Revolution makes it move against the Empire then war begins."

Kay chuckled. "Yes, no doubt we can find some useful guards to turn into our lost Demon grunts."

"Good idea, we'll talk about that later." Rachena said.

"With Kay's Neo-Necromancer curse, he can do that." Snapjaw added.

Saki cleared her throat. "Anyway, for now once the others return, we'll decide what else to do next."

The Demons started to laugh manically.

End of chapter