Titania and The Hunter

Chapter 58: Ve gentil en esa buena noche

Awwww, it's nice to be back. Sorry I've been gone so long. Just...lots of shit to focus on lately.

########Hunter########

"We need to get moving."

"I know. And I agree, but we should give them a few more minutes."

"We can't waste time like that!" Carla huffed as she looked up at the pillar of black and white magic flying and peeling off into the surrounding area. She pointed one of her tiny white paws up at the dazzling but dangerous phenomenon, "That should be enough of an indicator that our enemies have found what they're looking for! Which means any minute now they're going to take control of that magical energy and use it for whatever they want!"

"Carla, stop!" Wendy whispered in a hushed, worried tone. She looked over at the couple as they stared up at the ancient magic flying into the air, "They understand how important this is."

"Then why-"

"Because someone from their past is in the center of this madness." Hibiki said, restating what they already knew as he stared at the two Fairies sympathetically, "This is a lot to process for just about anybody."

Erza and Naruto stared up as Nirvana was released from its confines. As they watched, the redhead whispered to her lover, "Did he do that?"

"I'm sure he did." Naruto nodded, "They were floundering around searching desperately for the magic, and within an hour of his revival it's suddenly revealed. That can't be a coincidence."

"Do you think he's doing it of his own free will?"

"I don't know." Naruto shrugged, "He could be working in league with these people or they could be torturing him in order to get what they want." They looked at each other, "Either way, we have to find him."

"We can't let him take this any further." Erza said in agreement as she turned around and made her way back to the group. Hibiki, Wendy, and an impatient Carla watched them approach as the armored Mage looked at the Pegasus Mage, "Can you get in contact with any of the other teams?"

"I already am." His fingers were on his temple, "It burns through my magic if I use it constantly but if I'm just keeping a note of their locations then it can last longer. Do you have a message?"

"I'd like you to make contact with each team and get an idea of what they think about the pillar." Erza stated, "How close are they to Nirvana and have they noticed any changes in their surroundings?"

"I'll see what I can find." Hibiki nodded and closed his eyes as he started to focus, "Jura-San, can you read me?"

("I hear you Hibiki-dono. How are things on your end?")

"Wendy-chan has been rescued and Erza-San has fully recovered."

("I'm glad to hear that. And Kichiyo is very, very happy to hear that as well. So I take it this is about that magic being released over there, correct? Is that the Nirvana?")

"It is. So I wanted to ask if you have noticed any changes or side-effects since its release?"

("The landscape is warped and its color changed but that was happening before it was turned into a pillar - most likely from the residual effects of it being in the ecosystem. Unfortunately I have nothing to report.")

"Thank you Jura-San." Hibiki focused, "Natsu-kun, Gray-kun, can you-"

("GET HIM AWAY FROM ME! GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!")

("NO YOU IDIOT I TOOK MY HUGS! NOW ITS YOUR TURN!")

Hibiki flinched and rubbed his head as the two boisterous Fairy Mages screamed directly into his mind. He blinked a few times as his hearing slowly returned to him. The dirty-blond Casanova looked over as Erza, Naruto, Wendy, and Carla looked at him in confusion, "They were screaming very loudly."

"Yes," Erza nodded, "They tend to do that."

"We should've warned you." Naruto nodded apologetically.

Hibiki hesitantly put his finger back to his head, "Are you two okay?"

("We're trying to deal with that Hoteye guy right now!")

"Are you still fighting him?"

("No, we beat him already and were about to capture him! But then that big pillar of light shot up into the sky and he started acting differently!")

("One second he was saying he was gonna kick our asses in order to finally make a profit off of Nirvana! The next he's hugging us, saying that money doesn't matter and that love is all we need to live in the world!")

("Gray, he's hugging too hard! Take over!")

("Piss off!")

("Happy-")

("I-I'm not involved in this!")

"Um," Hibiki looked at the others oddly before shrugging, "They're apparently dealing with Hoteye at the moment."

"Do they need help handling him?"

"Maybe, but not exactly in a fight. They already defeated him and now, apparently, he's hugging them and telling them he loves them and just being overly affectionate for some reason."

...

"Excuse you?"

"They say his demeanor and personality suddenly changed drastically...when the light appeared in the sky."

The other Mages looked at each other in surprise as Wendy covered her mouth, "You mean he changed when Nirvana appeared?"

"I doubt we're lucky enough for something like a sudden shift in a Dark Mage's personality to just be a coincidence." Carla stated.

Hibiki nodded, "I think so too. Everyone, if you can hear me, be careful. We have reason to believe that Nirvana is capable of changing people's thoughts or personalities. I'm not sure how to block or stop its effects so watch out."

("Well I guess that explains how this happened!")

"Ren?" Hibiki heard his comrade's strained voice, "What's wrong?"

("It's Sherry! Something's wrong with her!")

"Lucy-San?" Erza and Naruto perked up as, "What happened to Sherry-San?"

########Hunter########

"Lyon and Eve jumped on the Christina to try and take it back! But it fell out of the sky and we don't know what happened to them!" Lucy explained as she ran as fast as she could, Ren right beside her while carrying an injured Angel over his back, "Sherry screamed and freaked out and now she's - GAH!"

The ground under Lucy's feet shifted and caused her to tumble into the dirt. However the Celestial Spirit Mage felt the rumble in the ground and immediately rolled to the side. Her urgent movement allowed her to dodge the giant stone fist that shattered the spot she laid in a moment earlier.

The blonde Mage looked up in fright as a familiar sight, a giant menacing stone golem loomed over her with malicious intent. And at its feet was their comrade Sherry, her expression darkened by her hair like a curtain over her face as she murmured to herself, "Make them pay. Make them pay. Make them pay. Make them pay."

Lucy instinctively reached for her keys but stopped herself from summoning anyone. Remembering how Sherry could control her Spirits and how poorly it had worked out for Angel, she instead drew out her whip and pleaded to her comrade, "Sherry, you have to stop! Lyon is strong! There's no way he'd die that easily! There might be a chance that he-"

"Silence." The woman spoke without emotion and ushered her golem forward, causing it to punch the ground again as Lucy had to jump aside. The pink-haired Mage stared at the woman bleeding on Ren's back, "That woman was part of it - is part of it. She should be punished. She needs to pay for what she's done."

"I think you've already done that." Ren spoke up, feeling the wound Angel received at the end of her own Caelum bleed into his back as the Dark Mage coughed by his ear, "She's beaten and injured. You've won and we have her in our custody."

"I-I'm not done yet." Angel coyly remarked by his ear with a pained expression, "Write me off and I might end up slitting your throat when you least expect it."

"Must you threaten my life when I'm trying to save yours?"

"Sorry," Angel apologized without sounding remorseful in the slightest, "But I'm still alive, and I want to get what we came here to find. And if I can get it even at the cost of killing the handsome guy saving my life, I'm gonna do it."

"See. She's beyond saving." Sherry muttered, "They are the worst of the worst. They deserve to pay with their lives, just like Lyon-sama did. So if you choose to protect that detestable wretch when her time comes, then you're just as bad as she is." Sherry's harrowing, distant gaze shifted between Ren, Angel, and Lucy, "And you deserve to share the same fate."

Sherry raised her hand, and her giant golem mirrored her movement. The grotesque construct reeled its fist back and brought it down like a hammer-

"Aerial Phose!"

Ren created a whirlwind of Air magic between them and the Rock Doll. Pieces of stone and rubble peeled off the body of the golem as it was treated to intense wind that reduced it to rubble. Sherry shielded her face against the onslaught of air before she felt something tie around and bind her feet.

She looked down to see Lucy's whip had entangled her legs, ceasing any movement she could make. The blonde gave a forceful yell and yanked down on her weapon, pulling the Pegasus Mage's feet out from under her and causing her to drop on her butt.

"Urgh!" Sherry growled in anger before grabbing the whip around her feet. The lifeless weapon suddenly started to shift and move to her will, snapping up and forcing itself out of Lucy's hand before snapping back to try and attack her. The blonde Fairy guarded herself and jumped aside before grabbing one of her keys.

"Open, Gate of Canis Minor, Nikola!"

"Puun!" The spiral-coned nosed creature appeared by her feet and charged at Sherry. The irritated Lamia Mage snarled in anger before reaching with her hand and taking control of the Celestial Spirit. Plue turned around and viciously dove at Lucy in order to spear her through the chest.

Only for the feeble little creature to bounce off her body harmlessly.

"I guess you're so angry," Lucy said as she reached out and grabbed the whip that was no longer under Sherry's control, "You don't remember that controlling Plue didn't work before either!"

She pulled roughly on the whip and caused Sherry to drop back down into the dirt. Yelling in anger, Sherry lifted herself up to attack again-

But found her arms pinned over her head as Ren tackled her to the ground, "Get off of me! Let me go!"

"I won't!" Ren yelled down at her as she thrashed angrily under his grip, "Not until you come to your senses!"

"I don't think she will." Angel unhelpfully added from the side, seated against a tree and nursing her injury with her hands pressed against it, "You're not exactly going to talk her out of her murderous rampage by being her buddy and pal."

"That's enough out of you." Lucy said as she dropped by the Dark Mage's side, tearing off a portion of her clothing and pressing down on Angel's wound to try and stop the bleeding. While she did she paused and then reached behind the Oración Seis member, pilfering through her pockets and retrieving her keys. The Fairy woman held them up between her bloody fingertips, "I'm not leaving these with you right now."

"Kehehe." Angel gave a weak chuckle, "Isn't it a faux pas to be stealing another Celestial Mage's keys?"

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't have summoned one of them to help you escape?"

"Oh I wasn't complaining. Just noting that for a goodie-goodie, you're committing quite a bad taboo. You might get in trouble~."

"I can live with that." Lucy put them aside and focused back on pressuring her wound. She looked over at Ren as he continued to hold Sherry down, "Sherry, please come to your senses!"

"Let me go! Let me gooooo!"

"Enough!" Ren yelled, silencing Sherry's frantic, emotional screaming as the Pegasus Mage tried to control the situation, "Sherry, you need to come back to your senses! This isn't you!"

"Shut up! You don't know me!" She cried, "You don't know anything about me!"

"I could tell you were a good person, who cherished her comrades and the way they made you feel! How else could losing someone hurt you this much if you didn't care about them?!" He struggled to hold Sherry down. Her body was pinned, but she was already using her magic to try and affect the area around them. He could use his Air to deprive her for of oxygen and knock her out. But he decided to keep that as a last resort, "But don't let their loss turn you into this!"

"Why wouldn't it?!" Sherry cried out in his face, tears forming in her eyes as her desperation bled through with the pain she couldn't stop feeling, "This is how it always is!"

Ren stared down at her quietly as the pink-haired woman sobbed, "When I lost my family to Deliora, it hurt so much. All that I had left was pain and anguish. After I came to the guild, I-I found a semblance of normalcy and life again. And when Lyon gave me a goal - to destroy the monster that ruined my life - I finally felt like I had meaning again. I felt relief and joy and so much love. A-And now all that love has blackened into hate! It's just like it was back then!"

"Sherry." Lucy whispered as she saw her former foe anguish and scream in dread.

("Lucy-San!")

"Hibiki?" She heard her comrade's voice in her head, "What's wrong?"

("Natsu-kun and Gray-kun just finished explaining to me what Hoteye told them about Nirvana. It's a magic to change people's moralities and personalities from light to dark! And vice versa!")

"W-What?"

("When people are being effected by Nirvana's influence, their light becomes dark! If they were good, they become bad! If they were bad, they become good! It's a magic to change people at their most basic level!")

"W-What?" Lucy looked over at the screaming Sherry before shaking her head, "Can we reverse it?"

("I don't know. Nirvana hasn't completely activated yet so it might be possible to reverse the effects before it's too late. Lyon-kun and Eve are already making their way over to you-")

"They're still alive?!"

("Of course. They escaped before the ship crashed on them.")

"Tell them to get to us as fast as they can!" Lucy yelled before looking over to her comrades, "Sherry! Lyon's still alive! He's making his way over right now!"

"You're lying!" She screeched, "You're lying!"

"We're not! Hibiki just told us! Didn't you hear him?!"

"Let me go!"

"We're staying here until Lyon and Eve find us!" Ren proclaimed, "Maybe seeing him again will jog some sense back into your head!"

"No! No!" Sherry wept, "Everything I felt and had is gone now! A-All that's left is hate!"

"No it isn't!" Ren yelled, "There is still love in your heart and in the world! And I will show that to you, whatever it takes!"

Sherry paused and stared up at the man over her, eyes tearing up and frantically breathing in as her magic slowly faded away around her. As they stayed there in silence, the altered young Mage wrestling with whether to keep attacking or waiting with the strange man over her, the bushes and leaves shuffled to the side.

A ragged Lyon and Eve emerged from the thicket and spotted their comrades. Lyon looked down at Ren and Sherry before raising an eyebrow, "What happened while we were away?"

"L-Lyon-sama." Sherry whispered in disbelief. She then looked up at Ren as she realized he was telling the truth. A soft sigh came from her lips before she closed her eyes and relaxed into the ground. As she did, a black light formed in her chest before rising up. Ren leaned back and everyone watched as the dark light rose into the air before dissipating.

"Was that-"

"Nirvana." Eve and Lyon looked back down and finally took notice of their comrades; how exhausted they looked and the fact that their enemy, Angel, was tied with Lucy's whip and had a bloody injury that didn't look like it was getting any better, "Things must have gotten wild while we were away."

"We were really worried about you guys, but I'm glad you're back." Lucy stood up and patted down her skirt, "If Nirvana is already released, then we need to meet up with everyone and make a plan for what we do next."

"But everyone is separated, right?"

"Hibiki should still be in the same place with Naruto, Erza, and Wendy together there too." The blonde Fairy Mage said as she looked back in the direction they'd come from. She then looked down, "Question is...what to do with her?"

"I don't mind sitting here, bleeding to death if you're wrestling with the choice." Angel still sounded obstinate and cocky despite her paling face and crimson splotches marking her white dress, "I simply ask that you take your little fetish bondage toy and leave me with my keys. The last request of a dying woman."

"I don't think we can give you your keys back," Eve said with a disarming, charming smile as he approached the incapacitated Dark Mage, "But I don't think we have to let you die either. I'm sure we can get you some help."

Angel looked the boy over and scoffed, "You must be insane."

"Not at all. There's a woman injured in front of me and I can't just stand aside not doing anything." Eve knelt down in front of her, supporting her under the shoulders and knees before lifting her up, "If you promise to behave while in our custody, I promise we won't let any more harm come to you."

Angel glared balefully at the younger man, "I'll choke you the first chance I get."

"I prefer girls older than me, but I don't think I have a kink like that I'd like to explore."

As Eve carried Angel towards their destination, Ren carried an unconscious Sherry against his chest like a princess. As the two Pegasus Mages walked away with women in their arms, Lucy and Lyon stared in confusion, "I seriously need someone to explain to me what happened while I was up on that gaudy ship."

"I can try to tell you but I'm not totally sure I understand everything I just saw. I can tell you that Sherry may have received a veiled confession of love from Ren, but I might just be looking into that."

########Hunter########

"Lucy-San just updated me," Hibiki looked back at the others, "They're coming this way to reconvene and plan our next move."

"That's a relief." Naruto sighed in relief, "At least we're managing to hold some level of control during this clusterfuck."

Erza nodded in agreement with her lover's exasperated statement. She stepped forward and approached the focused Pegasus Mage, "Hibiki, can you keep us informed with each other? Updates on anything that happens to our situation or Nirvana?"

"I can but why are you asking?"

"Because if we need to stop Nirvana at the source-"

"Hold on." Naruto reached out and grabbed her hand before she could take another step. The shorter redhead looked up at him, "Are you doing what I think you're doing?"

"If Jellal is at the center of that light, we need to apprehend him. For the crimes he committed against Fiore and to stop him from helping the Oración Seis any further."

Naruto looked up at the pillar of changing light before looking back down at Erza. He nodded, "Alright, the I'm coming with you."

"No you aren't." She denied, "You're hurt."

"You only just recovered from your poisoning!" Naruto yelled with exasperation, "Don't think you can play the 'I'm hurt, you're not card' after you just got fixed up!"

"But I have been fixed up!" Erza retorted, taking a power pose and puffing out her armored chest with pride, "The poison is gone, my wounds are healed, and any damage I might have received while fighting the Oración Seis has completely disappeared with Wendy's healing. Plus since my wounds are gone and I did the least amount of fighting before I was bitten, I still have nearly all of my magic. Out of everyone on our side I might be the one closest to 100%." Erza argued before looking him over, "You on the other hand-"

"Were beaten around by an enemy moving so fast you couldn't hope to catch up with him. Treated as a punching bag for punches that nearly broke the sound barrier. And have been so singularly focused on your task of saving your girlfriend that you've nearly run yourself ragged."

"No comments by the peanut gallery!" Naruto barked out before narrowing his eyes and eyeing the white cat with his glare. The sassy feline crossed her paws and turned her nose up in response. Despite flaring his nostrils and feeling his lip twitch with a snarl, Naruto looked himself over to see just how ragged he looked. His clothes were tattered, not to mention he could plainly feel the darkening bruises underneath from the barrage of blows Racer had unleashed on him before he could turn the fight around.

Out of the two of them, he clearly looked liked he needed to sit down and rest while leaving it to her. Normally he would be able to do that without any worries, but this time...

"Erza-"

"I know you're worried, but I can handle a fight. You know that." Erza gave a coy smile, "You think I need you protecting me all the time?"

"No." Naruto chuckled and shrugged, "In fact I'm pretty sure anything I can do, you can do with far less injuries by the end." They shared a smile before his slowly lowered into a thin line and complicated look. He stared down at his lover, "But it's Jellal..."

Her expression shifted as well as just hearing their former friend's name reminded them just how dire the situation was. She nodded, "I know. This won't be easy. If he's back to his full power, we're in trouble. I don't want to think about what would happen if we have to fight him again like that." She reached out and gently cupped his cheek in her hand. Despite the gauntlet over her hand he leaned into her touch, knowing she was trying to ease his worries. But her eyes hardened and tempered like unwavering steel as she nodded, "But we can't just let Nirvana unleash and run rampant in the world because we don't want to face him again. I'll go there first and try to gauge what is happening. And while I do, you'll stay here, take charge of the reconvening, and come to help me when you are all ready."

Naruto still looked a little hesitant, but as their blue and brown eyes met, he knew she wouldn't take this lightly. He gently pulled her hand off his face and nodded, "Stay on your toes with him. We don't know what he'll pull."

"I know. And if there's a chance I can make him stop without fighting..." She didn't continue because she felt deep down that it might be impossible, and she believed Naruto knew that too. But her sentiment seemed enough to ease his worries as he nodded. She turned-

"E-Erza-San!" Wendy called out before the S-Class Mage could leave. The little Dragon Slayer looked up at the older woman and suddenly seemed intimidated to be standing in her presence. She looked down nervously and forced her fear down before speaking, "I-I know I shouldn't have healed Jellal. I know it was the wrong choice, and whatever they could have done to me or him, I should have refused. A-And I know after what he has done to you, I couldn't ask you for anything." She paused and swallowed the lump in her throat before looking up, "B-But please-"

"I won't." Erza promised, kneeling down and facing Wendy directly with a firm, caring smile, "I don't want to kill him either. I'll fight him and beat him if I have to, but I won't go that far. There are things we want to say to him, and you have something to say as well, right?" Tears filled Wendy's eyes as she wordlessly nodded in agreement. Erza smiled and stood up, "Then just wait. I promise to have him back soon."

Her body glowed with light as her base armor was switched out for her Flight Armor. And like the wind she vanished, dashing into the forest as a powerful gale rushed over the people she left behind. Naruto easily withstood the force of wind as his cloak whipped about rapidly while Wendy stumbled on her feet.

Before she fell over however Naruto's hand held her back and helped her stand up. She looked up at the older man as he gave a confident smile and looked back in the direction the Titania had charged into.

Carla sighed, "These people sure like to make a show of everything."

"That's love." Hibiki said fondly, "I remember my time with my beloved Karen before she was taken. The dates we shared together. The bags I carried while she went shopping. The many men and women that pointlessly professed their love alongside me even though she had eyes just for me. Ahhh, first love."

Naruto, Wendy, and Carla looked at the Blue Pegasus Mage in surprise. Wendy opened her mouth, "Hibiki-San-"

"Don't." Naruto interrupted, shaking his head at the two Cait Mages before they said anything, "Just leave him be in his fantasy. Ignorance is bliss or whatever."

"More like stupidity leaves you blind." Carla rolled her eyes.

########Hunter########

Honestly, considering how the object of their desire was a few thousand meters away and they had enemies on all sides, they should have felt a sense of dread pressing down on them.

Yet all Brain felt was an eerie calmness as he sat down and looked out over the forest.

He stared at the pillar created by Nirvana as it shot up into the sky and possibly even further. The contrast of the bright, changing pillar of light against the falling sun was quite startling.

It was so amazing that the Dark Mage almost didn't realize as a line on his face slowly disappeared and signaled the defeat of another Pillar.

These insects were more…capable than he gave them credit for. When today started he believed they were just sad, pathetic little warriors of justice that were going to get themselves killed standing in their way.

But now there were lines missing from his face and members of his invincible crew that were beaten or dead.

Jellal had been more uncooperative than he expected. Perhaps he had underestimated the boy more than he should have. In hindsight it would have been prudent to add some Runes or inscriptions on his person that caused agonizing pain when his orders were defied.

Yes...that was definitely a plan to consider in the future.

Now with members of his group defeated, Jellal running off on his own, Nirvana unleashed outside their control, and all the little gnats still running around, Brain should have been in the middle of a panic attack.

But he felt content...and assured that they would reach their goal.

Why?

Because the sun was setting.

The day was falling away.

The night was starting to take hold.

And midnight...was close at hand.

A confident smile stretched his wizened face as he heard gentle footsteps shuffle the gravel behind him.

A yawn prefaced the young, tired voice of the man behind him as he scratched his head, "Hello Father." He greeted Brain in his customary fashion as he walked up beside him and looked out over the forest and sky, "I suppose I missed quite a lot while I was under, huh?"

"Your sleeping habits are never more inhibiting than in a time of crisis like this, Midnight." Brain looked up at his final trump card and loyal subordinate. The young man was no longer napping on his magic carpet. And as he stood up his youthful features, dark vest, and mixed hair were more obviously viewed. As his eyeliner-covered eyes looked down at him, Brain smirked, "Although I'm thankful for your arrival now more than ever."

"I'm guessing that's Nirvana." The young man nodded towards the pillar of light, "I see we finally found it."

"Yes, at the cost of several members and the risk that it might not be in our control soon enough." Despite his pessimistic words, Brain couldn't help the grin of joy that came to his face as he stood beside the young, powerful Mage. With him at their side, the tide had turned in their favor, "Which means I'm counting on you to go out there and make sure things turn in our favor."

"And how exactly do you want me to do that?"

"You should know already." Brain watched his loyal soldier already make his way out the cave and towards the pillar of light, "I'll secure Nirvana, and you kill anything and everything that gets in your way."

"As you wish, Father."

########Hunter########

"The ancient, most powerful magic used to shift light and darkness, warping morality and mentality at the deepest level to change peoples' lives around completely and bend them to your whim. Hidden underneath a big fucking tree in the middle of the Woodsea." Cobra snickered, shaking his head in disbelief as he stepped out of his hiding spot and stood across from the former Wizard Saint he'd been tailing until now, "So was that your choice, or did the Magic Council just have this stupid little plan dropped on them generation after generation?"

As Cobra tried to egg Jellal on or get some kind of response in return, the blue-haired Mage just stood silently and wary of the Dark Mage. The burgundy-haired man stepped forward, his eyes squinted as he walked closer while his target was silhouetted against the bright pillar of light, "You think you could turn that thing down a little?"

Jellal narrowed his eyes and remained silent.

"I'm just asking because you're the one in charge of it. Thought it might come with an adjustment setting or something." The Dark Mage scratched his head before chuckling and eyeing Jellal over, "Speaking of which, I'm gonna need you to tell me how it is you control that thing. Do it willingly and we can spare your life. Well, actually I can't make that promise because you really pissed off Brain, but maybe I can convince him to make it quick?"

He didn't need to say anything. Cobra had asked the question aloud, which meant Jellal's subconscious thoughts would probably go to Nirvana and all the ways he controlled it. Once he heard it with his Sound magic, he'd could kill the traitorous fool and take Nirvana for themselves.

But all he heard was static and broken speaking when he focused.

It was one thing when Jellal was just mumbling to himself like a madman. But they were so close and Cobra was focused solely on his thoughts but still he couldn't discern anything clear or understandable.

It was just a faded, broken mess. Like hearing something whispered through a thick blanket or from the other side of a wall. It was hazy. Misted. Missing...

Gone.

"Oh you poor fucking bastard," Cobra palmed his forehead in disbelief, "The Etherion melted your brain, didn't it? Can you remember anything about Nirvana? Do you even know who you are?"

Jellal remained silent.

The Dark Mage sighed, "Well that's fucking worthless. Without the know-to or experience of the former Wizard Saint that controls this magic, you're just some poor bastard we can't even use to help us." With a shake of his head Cobra jerked his head to the side, "Get out of the way. If you can't even remember who you are then I feel like I'm just killing some dumb, defenseless animal. Which usually doesn't bother me but I'm feeling oddly merciful at the moment."

"No." Jellal finally spoke, standing firmly in Cobra's path to Nirvana. The amnesiac blue-haired man stood firmly in the Dark Mage's way, "I don't know who I am but I know this magic is dangerous. The word Nirvana brings only fear and horror to my mind when I think about it. And I know leaving it in the hands of someone else can only bring disaster."

"Oh?" A dangerous glint came to Cobra's eyes, "And what exactly are you going to do to stop it from falling into the hands of other people?"

"By destroying it with a self-destruct spell."

Cobra seethed with rage, "Oh, is that so? Then if that's the case then you can forget about that mercy I had a second ago. If you have any plans to destroy Nirvana, then you've signed your death-"

Cobra leaned aside and avoided the blast of magic Jellal released from his palm.

The Dark Mage immediately set upon the amnesiac former Council member, slipping between the sudden but weak blasts of magic he released every second. The Pillar slid into Jellal's guard as the blue-haired Mage was forced on his back foot, the Dark Mage jabbing his fist towards his flank.

Jellal jumped back, stumbling on his feet as the more agile, dexterous Cobra quickly followed after him. The burgundy-haired man yelled with intensity as he chased after the former Wizard Saint and swiped for his vital points. Jellal retreated and tried to retaliate but couldn't act fast enough to counter Cobra's assault.

A long purple serpent traveled up Cobra's back and slid along his arm and off his hand. Cubellios snapped forward and aimed to bite down on Jellal's head, only for him to duck down and avoid its poisonous fangs.

Cobra's boot dug into his cheek while he was bent down, knocking his head back violently. As Jellal went flying back and tumbled along the ground, Cobra cackled and gently stroked the serpent coiling around his body, "You might have the magic of a Wizard Saint but without the knowledge, experience, or memories you're like a dumb toddler with a weapon. Using something dangerous but a lot more likely to kill yourself than anyone else."

Jellal groaned as he lifted himself up, "I-I can't let anyone have magic like this. No matter what happens to me, Nirvana cannot be let loose."

"I gotta say, I'm surprised." Cobra cracked his neck, "Wiped of everything and left as just a blank slate, you surprisingly skew towards the stupidly heroic and self-sacrificing. Who'd a thought, huh? Considering you're the same guy that threatened genocide on a massive scale, nearly destabilized political control in Fiore, and betrayed god knows how many people just to get what you want."

Jellal paused, catching his breath as Cobra's words sunk in, "Did...did I really do those things? Was that the man I was before?"

"Yes, you really were like that. I'm a member of the largest Dark Mage association in Fiore and even my sins pale in comparison to yours." Cobra paused and blinked a few times before grimacing, "Oh shit, does that mean if I kill you I'll actually be doing a good thing?" He palmed his face, "Oh, definitely didn't expect that." Looking over his shoulder at the pulsating pillar, he smirked, "Well, good and bad are about to be whatever we decide they are, so I guess I can spare one righteous deed before it all gets fucked."

Cobra's hand tensed and something started to grow up it from his forearm as he prepared to rip Jellal's throat out once and for all.

His ears perked as he heard something barreling towards them.

His eyes widened and he preemptively jumped back before the speedy blur dashed by and carried Jellal away. The Dark Mage covered his eyes against the rush of wind and dust that kicked up in the path of the fast savior. Lowering his arm and looking over, Cobra just let out an annoyed sigh and clicked his teeth, "Didn't expect you back on your feet so soon - or ever for that matter."

"Your poison bite did put me out of commission for longer than I'd like. Fortunately we had a prodigious healer at our side to help us."

"Oh, that kid, seriously?" Cobra groaned and rubbed his forehead, "Brain really fucked things. I knew we needed to either knock her out or kill the cat to pacify her."

"You should be glad you didn't. If any harm had come to either Wendy or Happy, I promise the retribution from our comrades would make you regret ever being born."

"Scary words from the righteous and holy."

"The righteous and holy that have already defeated a number of your comrades and will put you down next."

"Oh, you have a surprisingly sharp tongue. Guess I didn't notice that while you were curled up on the ground dying from poison."

Jellal panted for breath and slowly lifted himself up. It took him a moment to realize he hadn't been hit by the despicable man's attack and had instead been dragged across the large clearing in front of Nirvana's pillar. As his senses slowly returned to him, he looked up...

The strong, confident posture of a powerful Mage equipped in an armor that increased her speed a dozen times over. Her hands glowed as swords appeared in them - prepared to face the man in front of her. And in the tempest kicked up by Nirvana's volatile activation, her beautiful scarlet hair billowed wildly with the wind.

"Erza."

Jellal didn't know why he whispered that name or even what it meant...

He only knew that it made sense to say that word.

########Hunter########

"We're back!"

"Welcome to our little clearing."

Naruto greeted Lucy and the others as they returned. Wendy stopped healing his wounds to look back at the others as they arrived at their appointed alcove. The young Dragon Slayer had been fretting and worrying about his injuries for awhile, and after much insisting she finally broke Naruto and got the chance to heal some of his injuries. He said he didn't want her using up any more magic because all this healing was going to quickly drain her but Wendy denied the claim and promised she was fine.

She certainly wasn't feeling any fatigue or weariness after all the healing she'd been doing!

The blond Fairy stood up and met Lucy as she, Eve, Lyon, Ren, Sherry, and Angel returned to their base of operations. Eve walked over to a tree to place Angel down and Ren did the same with Sherry as Lyon stayed by his side, Naruto walked over to his fellow Fairy, "So what happened exactly?"

"We thought Lyon and Eve were killed and that sent Sherry spiraling. Nirvana started to affect her and she used her magic to attack Angel. We had to escape for a while until Lyon finally appeared in front of her and she passed out." The blonde girl sighed and rubbed her eyes before shaking her head, "She's been asleep since then."

"And Angel?"

"She passed out while Eve was carrying her. She's lost a lot of blood."

"D-Does she need to be healed?" Wendy asked uncertainly as she looked over at one of the Dark Mages that had captured her, "B-Because if she needs help-"

"That's okay, Wendy-chan, don't exhaust yourself." Eve said with a warm smile before looking over, "Naruto-San, do you still have that sword? The one you were using to help Erza-San?"

He already summoned the Sky sword copy to his hand and tossed it over to Eve, "Just channel your magic." The Pegasus Mage gave his thanks and started to heal the Dark Mage's injury. Naruto looked to his guild mate, "Will we be safe keeping her here?"

"I took her keys and I'm not giving them back." Lucy answered, "A Celestial Spirit Mage's greatest weakness is there physical capabilities, so if we bind her down and keep her keys away from her then I think we should be safe." The younger blonde still looked uneasy and turned to her older comrade for support, "But I could be wrong about this."

"Then we shouldn't heal her injuries." Lyon piped up from the side with a stern, watchful eye on the Dark Mage basking under the healing glow of the Sky sword, "I can't be the only person here that thinks it's a bad idea to heal and revive one of our sworn enemies that would certainly kill us if she had the chance, right?"

"I have to agree." Carla agreed, "Bringing her back to full strength can only bode poorly for us. Is here a way to heal her without compromising our safety?"

"It's not really in a Blue Pegasus Mage's heart to help a woman halfway," Ren said. The dark-skinned man then scratched his head and sighed, "Although considering the situation I suppose it would be a better call to leave our enemy immobilized. Eve," He called out to his younger comrade, "Do you think you can heal the worst of her injuries without making a full recovery?"

"I've already stopped the bleeding and I'm closing up the worst of it." The young Snow Mage informed with a small pout, "But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to allow a woman - even an evil one - to remain like this in my presence."

"Well swallow the pain and deal with it." Lyon curtly said as Carla nodded in agreement. Naruto, Lucy, and Wendy looked a little more conflicted by the decision as the Pegasus Mages looked put-off by the idea.

But their distaste and conflict with the situation disappeared as Angel groaned and started to stir awake. As the white-haired woman slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Eve's warm smile greeting her back into consciousness. She sighed, "Oh, right, this was happening before I passed out."

"Good evening, Angel-San," Eve greeted, "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." She brusquely answered as she shifted around and groaned in discomfort. Looking down at herself she noticed that even though the blood had stopped seeping out the pain still lingered. Her eyes shifted over the Mages in front of her and she smirked when Wendy flinched under her gaze, "Did our resident little healer fix me a little?"

The little blue-haired girl looked nervous trying to come up with a response but Naruto stood between them. Angel kept her condescending smirk on for a moment before looking aside and clicking her tongue, "So what happens to me now?"

"We keep you here until we beat the rest of the Oración Seis, seal Nirvana away for good, and then send you off to jail so you can stand for your crimes."

She cocky Celestial Mage nodded, "So I wait here until the others finish killing you and then I'm free? Wonderful."

"That's implying that they'll be ready to save you when they find you." Hibiki offered, a cheeky smile on his face as he saw Angel's smirk lower, "You know them fairly well - do you think they'll greet you with open arms when they find out you've been captured and restrained by the enemy?"

All eyes turned to Angel in response as the white-clad Dark Mage's smile turned into a frown. It deepened before she looked aside angrily, "Fuck it - whatever. I'll just sit here then."

"You know if we're using this space to collect Oración Seis members, I should probably go pick up Racer." Naruto spoke up with a shrug, "I left him back at our battlefield."

"What?!"

The others balked in shock at the S-Class Mage's foolish, brash action concerning such a dreadful opponent. As Angel laughed to herself, Lucy looked at him, "Naruto, tell me you didn't leave one of the Oración Seis alone after you beat him!"

"Well I knocked him out and tied his hands. I thought that would work for a while."

"And this is why you losers are never going to beat us." Angel chuckled as the others looked at the Fairy Mage in exasperation, "Because you guys can't go any further than you'll allow-"

"You also broke his legs." Carla helpfully added.

That left a wave of quiet confusion over the entire clearing as they looked at the whiskered blond in surprise. Only to see him frown and sigh before looking back at the feline, "I didn't break his legs, you little furry gremlin. I dislocated them. Very different. One way leaves him crippled for months, the other just needs him to push the joints back in."

Wendy raised her hand, "B-But doesn't that still hurt?"

"Oh yeah it does, but at least I didn't break them."

"Are you sure?" Carla doubted, "I think dislocating should sound a little something more like popping. And I know I heard a crack instead."

"Okay - well I was tired, beaten, bloody, probably had a concussion, worried about Wendy, and still on a timer with a dying Erza! Sorry if I might not have been totally surgical with how I dealt with everything! Plus you didn't help!" The tiny, petulant white cat flew up into Naruto's face as they stood across each other with glares, "You certainly weren't helping matters screeching 'We have to help Wendy! Wendy needs me! Hurry up and incapacitate this man already so we can go!'"

"I did not sound like that!" Carla indignantly yelled, "Also I was a little perturbed from seeing a man's broken legs for the first time so I was on edge!"

"They weren't broken! They were dislocated!"

"On second thought," Angel whispered as she dragged her legs into her chest, "I'll just sit here and be on my best behavior."

"Hey you two, no fighting!" Hibiki jumped up and waved his arms rapidly as he interjected between the man and the cat, "Nirvana can alter our minds and behavior if we start letting them drift too far into darkness! We need to stay light and happy! Light and happy! So behave yourselves and play nice!"

...

"You can't be serious."

Hibiki pointed over at Sherry, "She was already nearly corrupted by Nirvana's influence. I don't want either of you falling for it either. So please don't argue."

The man and cat seemed skeptical and didn't look ready to makeup. However their insistence on staying bullheaded and argumentative wavered when a head of blue hair approached them. They looked down at Wendy as the young Mage looked up with sad eyes and pleaded, "P-Please don't fight."

"..."

"..."

"I apologize." Carla said with a forced smile and twitchy eyebrow, "I didn't mean to sound angry or short with you. It's just I've never worked with someone so stubborn, impetuous, and prone to danger so my common sense is being pushed to its limits here. Ahaha!"

"It's okay!" Naruto said with an equally forced grin, "I've never had someone challenge my every decision, demean me every chance they get, and still demand my help while openly critiquing me! I'd say you're probably the most annoying cat ever I've met - and I know Happy personally!"

"Yes!" Hibiki celebrated, "That's a good start! We're already playing nice!"

Lucy grimaced, "They seem way worse than they were before."

Angel groaned, "What the fuck is even happening?"

"Lucy, help us!"

The blonde Celestial Mage was nearly knocked off her feet when a blue blur barreled into her chest. She looked down, "Happy?"

"We can't do it anymore!" The blue cat cried, "It's so weird! We're so confused!"

"Run!"

"He's coming!"

Natsu and Gray burst into the clearing, desperate and panicked expressions on their faces as they stopped and quickly caught their breath. However that moment of pause was enough for their chaser to reach them-

And envelop them in a mighty hug.

"Oh friends!" Hoteye happily cheered in a singsong voice as he carried them around with a laugh, "I'm so thankful to be able to join your group of comrades with you!"

"W-We said you could come but you don't need to hug us!"

"We'd prefer if you didn't!"

"Do none of you Fairy Mages take this seriously?" Lyon said with exasperation, "Gray I thought we could at least rely on you-"

"Hey - see that moody guy with the sky blue hair? Hug him! He can be a friend!"

"Oh joy!" Hoteye dropped them and scooped the more serious Maker Mage off his feet before he could respond. Spinning around on his heel, he dragged the uncomfortable, taciturn Lamia Mage around with a gleeful smile, "It's just wonderful to find new friends, deepen our bonds, and indulge in the beauty of love! Aahhh, so wonderful~!"

"H-Hoteye?!" Angel called out, "What are you doing you idiot?! Get over here and untie me!"

Hoteye dropped Lyon like a brick as he looked over at his comrade. A bright, warm smile overtook his face and Angel felt a uncomfortable chill run up her back when she it was aimed towards her, "Sorano!" He cheered and ran over before dropping down in front of her and grinning, "I'm so glad to see you okay, dear friend! Let me hug you!"

"N-No, stay away!" Angel's foot pressed into his cheek and kept him at a distance as his arms desperately waved around to grab her, "No hugs!"

"But Sorano, we're old friends! We should be allowed to show our friendship without embarrassment or judgement!"

"S-Stop saying my name you fucking idiot! What's wrong with you?!" She looked over at Natsu and Gray, "What's wrong with him?!"

"Oh, that Nirvana light thing hit him and now he's all good." Natsu innocuously answered, "Which is good because we don't need to fight him anymore but he is like super clingy now."

"YOU WERE AFFECTED BY NIRVANA?! OH YOU IDIOT! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE USING NIRVANA ON OTHERS, NOT OURSELVES!"

Lucy giggled cheekily with a smug smile, "Can't help but feel like this is karma~."

"Hey, big guy," Gray patted Hoteye's shoulder and got his attention, "See the whiskered guy over there?" He pointed to Naruto, "He knows your brother."

"YOU DO?!"

"HOLY-" Naruto raised his guard as Hoteye came barreling towards him. But instead of a tackle the large, angular man stopped short of impacting Naruto and stared at him with hopeful eyes, "W-What? What do you want?"

"Our mutual friends told me you know my brother?" A desperation was clear in his voice as he pleaded, "Do you really know Wally?"

"Wally?" Naruto dropped his stance in surprise, "You're Wally's brother?"

"Yes! My name is Richard! Richard Buchanan!" The blond man looked down at the altered Dark Mage as his eyes watered, "Can you tell me what happened to my brother?"

"Um - I-I only reconnected with him a few weeks back. We were both in the-uh-"

"The tower!" Hoteye finished, "I know! Wally and I were taken there together!"

"You were in the tower too?!"

"Of course! Everyone from the Oración Seis came from the Tower of-"

"HOTEYE!" Angel screeched out his name, all eyes turning to her as she seethed with a red face and baleful glare, "Do. Not. Talk. About. The tower."

Naruto looked between the two Dark Mages in surprise. The other Mages gathered looked confused but his comrades completely understood what it was they were talking about. They were there with him when he explained his and Erza's past in the Tower of Heaven. And apparently it was something the members of Oración Seis experienced as well.

Naruto bent down to face Hoteye directly with a kind smile, "Wally's traveling the world with a group of friends right now. I'm sorry that I don't know where he is, but I promise you if he's with them then he's okay."

Hoteye stared up at him silently before tears started to fill his eyes. They streamed down his cheeks unburdened as a weight was lift from his shoulders. The confirmation that his long-lost brother was alive, well, and happy exploring the world brought Richard greater joy than he could believe. He nearly curled up on the ground and wept with joy, "T-Thank you. Thank you."

Naruto gently patted the larger man's back as his emotions flowed out. The others watched the strangely comforting scene between the weeping Dark Mage and their comrade. Carla rolled her eyes and sighed while Wendy had to wipe the tears away. Lucy smiled as she watched before turning to Natsu, "We can trust him, right?"

"He was a tough fight for us to handle, but when he was hit by Nirvana he became super nice. Clingy, but really nice." Natsu nodded, "I think we can trust him."

"Jura-San and Kichiyo-San are on their way over. They should be reconvening with us soon." Hibiki informed from the side, "And if Erza-San's location is correct she should be by Nirvana at this moment."

"Alright then." Naruto stood up, "Hibiki, there's a spot in the Woodsea that's been uprooted and trees that were burned with a bomb. If you send someone that way they'll find Racer either unconscious or awake but in binds. You should probably bring him here."

"Alright," Hibiki nodded, "So then should I assume..."

"Yeah, Erza and Jellal are by Nirvana, and that's where I'm gonna go." Naruto stood up and faced the pillar of light, "I need to be there."

"Erza's up and fightin'?" Natsu's fists blazed with flames as he pumped up with energy, "Then I'm up to come along!"

"Then you better keep up."

Natsu roared with passion and charged forward towards the pillar of light in the horizon. Naruto shook his head and steadily chased after his friend's literal trail of fire. Happy quickly followed after his best friend while Lucy and Gray groaned about not getting a chance to rest.

Wendy shuffled on her feet nervously before stepping forward. Carla looked at her oddly and the blue-haired girl turned to her feline friend anxiously, "Carla, if Erza-San and Jellal are there and either of them are hurt, I-I want to-"

"Fine." Carla sighed as she floated in front of her friend, "Then we better hurry up."

"O-Okay!" Wendy and Carla quickly followed after their Fairy counterparts into the forest and towards their next destination.

"Ugh, Gray and friends have no sense of urgency." Lyon groaned and looked around. He paused, "Where's Hoteye?"

"He said he wanted to follow his new friends and ran off with them towards Nirvana."

"Oh, of course he did. Goddammit."

"Oh!" Hibiki exclaimed, "I still haven't contacted Aniki! I hope he's doing alright."

########Hunter########

"Dear leader, thank you for your guidance!"

"We cherish what you've done for us, Ichiya-sama!"

"All praise Ichiya-sama!"

The Blue Pegasus Mage stood in front of the members of the Dark Guild that were cheering and praising his name. Simply talking to them and helping them sort through some of their problems had made them change their view on life and abandon the evil path they were traveling on.

This...this was one of the proudest moments of his life.

The elegant, charming Blue Pegasus Mage jumped up on a rock and looked out over the crowd of people, "Friends, hear my words!" They turned to him as he stood over them and struck a pose, "It has been the honor of my life to stand here with you all and show you the beauty you had to rediscover in your lives! But now...I must go."

"NO!"

"I must!" He yelled with small tears in his eyes, "Because even though I have made many new relationships this day and discovered new friendships that I shall always cherish, I have other friends who are relying and trusting me to help them in their time of need!"

"But what about our time of need, Ichiya-sama!"

"You are not needy, my friends! You are no longer lost or confused! You have found the paths you wish to take to reclaim the reins of your lives! I don't need to help you walk those paths to find yourselves. All you need...is the courage to take the first step..

"I-Ichiya-sama!"

"We love you!"

Ichiya felt a pang of sadness and regret at the idea of leaving his new friends alone before he could help them take the first step. But he couldn't be there to hold their hands, and they needed to find themselves first before they could rely on him. Plus he had comrades he needed to help more than anything. So right now-

"Oh, what is this?"

Ichiya and everyone looked over as a young man with colored hair and eyeliner walked from the trees and into their area. He looked around, "I didn't expect to find so many people here at once so soon after waking up."

"My friend!" Ichiya jumped over the crowd and faced the young man with a twinkle in his eye, "Are you lost as well? Do not fear. If you need the guidance to find the first step to finding the beauty within yourself, then we are more than willing to help you with your purpose."

"I don't need to find beauty or purpose. I already know what I'm supposed to do."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Kill all of you. That's what Father said if I came across anyone."

"Hmm," Ichiya frowned with a complicated expression before shaking his head, "I think that's a bit of a dreary life plan to have right off, don't you think? Do you not wish to workshop it just a little bit?"

"No."

"I see. Friends!" He spun around and faced the rest of his new group, "What do you think we should say to our new friend in order to help him reconsider his...um, are you all alright?"

The entire Dark Guild was huddled together in panic and fright, "I-Ichiya-sama, we're going to die."

"Why would you say that?"

"B-Because that's Midnight-sama! A member of the Oración Seis and the strongest member of the guild! AND HE'S COME TO KILL US!"

...

Ichiya slowly looked over his shoulder at the taller, suddenly imposing stature of the young man illuminated in the dark colors of the setting sun.

Sweat dropped down the elegant Mage's face, "O-Oh. I see."

########Hunter########

Erza felt a wave of confusion at the scene she had forced herself into. Nirvana had been unleashed but not controlled yet. Oración Seis had revived Jellal for his help but they had nearly killed him if she hadn't stepped in. And Jellal, their former friend turned enemy - who nearly killed them and destroyed the world as they knew it - said her name...

And yet there was such defeat, bewilderment, and hope in his voice when he said it that she couldn't believe it was the same man that had reconstructed the Tower of Heaven.

Erza had many questions and wanted to clear everything up, but there were more important matters at hand.

Mainly the unleashing of an ancient, uncontrollable magic and the Dark Mage stood across from her blocking their way.

Erza charged in to meet him, letting her Flight Armor's power take control and propel her at super speed. Despite the increase in velocity, Cobra was still able to anticipate her movement and dodge aside before she could cut him. While she slowed down, she looked over her shoulder to see Cobra diving over to strike her blindside.

Her head snapped aside and his clawed, scaled hand cut a few strands of her scarlet hair along the way. She twisted her sword around and aimed for the Dark Mage's chest only for his talons to wrap around the blade before it could pierce him. They struggled against each other for a moment before Cobra laughed, "I guess you haven't really learned from your mistakes yet, have you?"

Cobra's giant serpent slithered across the cave grounds towards Jellal. It lunged off the stone and aimed to bite down on the blue-haired man's neck.

A blade was summoned down by Erza's foot and she kicked it forward with incredible speed.

Cobra turned, "CUBELLIOS!"

The Dark Mage's desperate command stopped the snake in its tracks. That was the difference between being skewered and suffering just a long slash against its scales. As the serpent hissed in pain, Erza dashed forward and cleared the distant instantly to grab Jellal and drag him away.

"Cubellios!" Cobra slid down to his best friend's side and inspected the laceration on its body. A vein bulged in his forehead and his eyes constricted in anger before he turned towards his foes. Scales ran up his arms and neck as he snarled, "You stupid bitch!" He reeled back as his chest expanded, "POISON DRAGON'S-"

Erza felt her instincts flare at the familiar pattern and grabbed Jellal's collar before bracing herself-

"RROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

A dark purple cloud of concentrated poison mist shot from Cobra's mouth, traveling out like a burst of smoke and steam that Erza and Jellal desperately avoided. Erza slid to the side and dropped Jellal down as she watched the purple smoke impact and press against the cave's interior. Cobra kept roaring for several more seconds before closing his mouth and cutting off the wave of poison smoke. As he did, Erza noticed the stone and rock had started to melt under the poison's acidic nature as a vile, sickening smell started to emenate from the same spot.

Jellal muttered, "What…was that?"

"That was Dragon Slayer magic. So that means you're a Dragon Slayer." Erza stated as Cobra smirked and turned her way. Under the light of Nirvana she noticed that his skin was far scalier and coarse than she remembered. He was looking more like a hybrid of himself and the serpent he kept so close to his side. She stood ready, "I suppose I shouldn't be confused by how strong you are then."

"I am a Dragon Slayer, but not like the idiot and the kid you work with. I'm a Second-Generation Dragon Slayer."

"I'm familiar." That meant he was just like Laxus. Master had told them he didn't learn his magic directly under the guidance of a dragon but had a Lacrima inserted into his body that gave him the properties of a Dragon Slayer's magic. But instead of Lightning or Fire this one appeared to be Poison.

That was bothersome, but hopefully this man wasn't as strong as Laxus.

Her eyes turned to the man trying to catch his breath by her side. She focused back on Cobra while speaking to him, "Jellal, I don't know what you are doing here but for the sake of your own preservation I suggest you either get ready to fight again or get out of my way. If you fight and turn against me-"

"J-Jellal...everyone has been saying that word around me." Erza's eyes widened and she turned to look down at him. For the first time since seeing him again after the Tower of Heaven she realized just how confused and lost his expression was. He looked up at her, no recognition - only fear and bewilderment - in his eyes, "I-Is that my name?"

"What-"

"Oh, that's right! You don't know, do you?" Cobra cackled wildly as his purple serpent coiled around his body, "He's a blank slate now. Whatever happened with Etherion in that tower has left him lost in the fog! Ahahaha, I'm sure you wanted to tear into the bastard for all the trouble he caused but he doesn't remember a thing! Hey but don't let that stop ya! Go nuts!"

As Cobra laughed, Erza looked down at her former friend. As he lowered his head in shame, she asked, "How did you know my name then?"

"I don't remember much. J-Just bits and pieces of information come back to me, like Nirvana and that I needed to stop anyone from reaching it. And when I saw you, that word came to mind." He looked down as he clenched his fists, "That word has been popping up in my head constantly since I woke up. That one and another - Naruto. I-I don't know-"

"So that's why you wouldn't listen to reason?"

Erza immediately summoned another sword to her hand and leveled it towards the other end of the cave. She and Jellal watched quietly as Brain slowly emerged from the shadows, his eyes firmly set on the shifting black and white light that sprung up from the center of the cave. Even though his attention was preoccupied, he continued the conversation, "I should have expected as much. Being exposed to such raw, powerful magic like Etherion like that would vaporize any normal person. We should honestly be surprised he was durable enough to only be poisoned and amnesiac after all is said and done."

"About time you showed up." Cobra jerked his head towards the pillar, "You should head over there and get that thing under control. This idiot was about to destroy it and himself in the process in some attempt of self-sacrifice. What a punk, right?"

"Watch my back while I get to work." Brain started waving his fingers around and sorting through Nirvana, "This shouldn't take long."

"Get away from-"

"HA!" Cobra slid in front of Erza before she could reach Brain and knocked her sword aside with his dragon-like hand. The Dark Mage and Fairy Mage started to exchanging blows - their attacks simply blurs as claws and swords crossed and sparks flew. Erza blocked his poison-coated jabs and stepped back as he started to press her, attacking in quick succession. His clawed hand reached for her face-

She leaned back and countered, slashing at his chest as Cobra had to lean back. Erza took that as her moment to press back, slashing rapidly at his neck and legs. Cobra jumped, flipping over the slashes aimed at his legs and trying to counter as he did.

He landed on one foot and wreathed both of them in his Poison magic before he flipped forward and threw a spinning kick towards the redhead, "Poison Dragon's Spiral Jaw!"

Erza blocked his strikes and slid back as he landed. She looked down and saw the steel of her blades had melted. Her eyes narrowed angrily as Cobra snickered mockingly.

"Done."

Brain waved his arms up as the giant pillar of light in front of him surged with power before disappearing. There was a quiet moment of suspense in the cave as everyone was surprised when it suddenly vanished.

Only for everything around them to shake and crack as something massive pulled itself out of the ground.

########Hunter########

"LET'S GO!"

"Natsu!" Lucy called after her teammate and panted softly as she tried to keep up with his mad sprint, "C-Can you just slow down!"

"No way! Erza and Jellal are that way! We can't stop for nothing!"

"Hate agreeing with him but he's right!" Gray said by her side, "We can't waste another moment when things are this bad!"

"Then let us all venture forth to reach our beloved comrades in their time of need!" Hoteye merrily skipper besides his new friends, "Ahhh~, this new sense of camaraderie is so refreshing! I adore my new friends!"

The Fairies watched their new ally skip and giggle haplessly to himself by their side before Happy flew down by Natsu's ear, "You know maybe it wasn't Nirvana that made him like this? Maybe you and Gray just hit him so hard he turned out like this?"

"What?" Gray scoffed, "There's no way I hit him hard enough to break his brain this badly!"

"Yeah, Gray can't hit that hard!" Natsu agreed with nod.

"Hold on, we're saying the same thing but I seriously think you mean it in the demeaning way." Gray snarled as he butted heads with his fiery counterpart as the sprinted along, "Got something to say, dipshit?"

"Oh I can say plenty."

"Not now! No fighting while we're running!"

Carla watched the scene in front of her and sighed, "Idiots, all of them." She looked down beside her to see her charge a little winded and struggling to keep up with the older Mages' sprint. She lowered herself down by Wendy's side, "I can carry you if you like?"

"N-No, I'm okay." Wendy panted in response, swallowing the heaviness in her voice as she pressed on, "I can at least do this much. I don't want to be a bother to anyone else."

"You aren't bothering anyone." Wendy let out a little squeak and looked up as she finally noticed that Naruto had slowed down to run alongside her again like he had done earlier. The whiskered Mage smiled down at his young friend, "Some of us wouldn't have made it this far without you. You saved Erza, and I'll always be grateful for that."

"Y-Yes, but I also revived Jellal and started this whole mess." Wendy said self-depreciatingly as she hung her head while jogging, "If Nirvana is unleashed and hurts anyone because of me-"

"We won't let that happen."

"But if-"

"Wendy," Naruto interrupted her and grinned down at the fretting young Dragon Slayer, "I know you're worried but believe me. Erza went ahead and we're going there to join her. When the people at Fairy Tail promise do to something, consider it already done. So believe in us, okay?"

"Naruto-San."

"Hey!" Natsu actually slowed down and pointed up over the trees. Everyone followed his gaze into the darkening sky and noticed there was no longer a pillar for them to run to, "What happened to Nirvana?"

"What-"

The ground beneath them quaked and shuddered before several deep cracks stretched over the entire forest. As the ground fumbled and shook, everyone struggled to stand on their feet. Lucy toppled over and Natsu grabbed onto Happy for balance as Gray and Hoteye stumbled. Wendy nearly fell over before Carla dropped down to help her. Naruto looked around, "What the hell is happening?!"

The ground suddenly cracked upwards as a gargantuan, spindly leg made of stone and plaster pulled itself out of the ground. The Fairies and their companions found themselves standing atop one of those legs as it emerged. They quickly dove aside to try and avoid its path-

But Wendy found the ground directly underneath her give away as one of the massive stone structures emerged beneath her feet. The little Dragon Slayer wavered on her feet and nearly fell over as the rock limb quickly rose into the air.

"Wendy!" Carla called out as she flew up to help her charge before it was too late. The giant limb shifted and Wendy fell off entirely as Carla sped up, "WENDY!"

The young Cait Mage screamed as she fell over before she suddenly felt her drop come to an abrupt stop. She opened her eyes and looked up to see the the Woodsea rushing over her head. It took her a moment to realize she was upside-down and looked behind her.

Naruto was standing on the stone structure as it moved and had his feet planted on the rock even while they were hanging upside-down. Before Wendy's surprise could pass, he looked over, "Carla!" He called out to the feline flying their way, "Take Wendy!"

"With pleasure!" She stopped beside them and Naruto handed the Dragon Slayer over as Carla helped her fly through the air, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Carla." She answered, "Naruto-San, are you alright?"

"Just startled." He answered honestly before he started running up the limb. The Cait Mages followed after him as he shifted directions, running from underneath the stone limb to along its side before reaching the top of it. Once he did he stopped and looked at the point all the giant stone limbs connected to.

A massive city was situated on top of a giant pedestal which connected all six stone limbs together. The entire structure that made up the mobile city was larger enough to cover a section of the Woodsea and tall enough to crest the clouds. The sudden appearance of this thing would have left anyone else shocked and awed.

But for the Mages that realized it had sprouted out from the spot Nirvana had been settled in, it left them with nothing but dread.

"Is that a city?" Wendy asked the question they all had on their mind, "Why was a city hidden underneath the ground?"

"I don't know, but we need to find out." Naruto looked down and saw Natsu and the others trying to climb up a moving limb. As he knew they were going to make their way up, he decided to go on ahead and survey what they had to deal with, "Come on!"

Naruto ran along the limb as Wendy and Carla followed along.

########Hunter########

"Well that is an odd sight."

Midnight looked up as a giant stone limb emerged from the earth and eclipsed them all in shadow. The confused former Dark Mages looks just in shock as well at the giant stone appendage. And, of course, the man that had been caught in its rising glory.

"W-What is this?! MEEEEENNNNNN~!" Ichiya cried out as his suit was caught in a crevice of the giant leg and he was lifted up while it moved, "Let me off!"

Midnight watched his prey get carried away and let out a little chuckle.

Should he let his little rabbit escape before he could finish him off?

No way.

The Dark Mage reached out and grabbed hold of the rock before he was carried away as well. He started to climb with the aim of reaching Ichiya again before he could escape.

The liberated Dark Mages watched them leave before anyone could get hurt. They looked between each other, "A-Are we safe?"

"Is he coming back?"

"Did Ichiya-sama lead him away to save us?"

"He didn't want us caught up in the fight!"

"He's so thoughtful!"

"Praise Ichiya-sama!"

"MEEEEEEENNNNNNNN~!"

########Hunter########

Erza and Jellal slowly opened their eyes after all the shaking and turbulence had stopped. As they looked around they realized they were no longer confined into a smaller cave system with a giant pillar of light released in the middle of it.

Now they stood atop an ancient, dilapidated city moving through the sky with several giant legs carving a path through the Woodsea.

Erza stepped to the edge of the large building at the center of this new city and looked out over the new location they found themselves on. The redhead stared out breathless, "What...what is this?"

"This is Nirvana in its truest form." Erza and Jellal turned around and realized that Brain and Cobra stood atop the same stage they did - staring out over the results of their victory as it moved forward with Brain's encouragement, "An ancient magic formed in the shape of a city that its creators, the Nirvit Tribe, lived in while traveling and changing the world to their whim." Brain smiled contently as he closed his eyes and let the wind rush over him, "Quite the magnificent sight, isn't it?"

"Nirvana?" Jellal whispered and stood up before glaring at Brain's back, "So what are your plans for this magic now?"

Cobra shrugged from beside his leader's spot, "You know, the typical stuff. Change influential people to better match our goals. Make allies of enemies. Enemies of allies. What anyone would do with a super weapon that lets you change people's hearts and minds."

"But first I think we should test this our new weapon out." Brain smirked, "And I have just the target in mind."

"Oh no you don't!" Erza ran at his back and prepared to slash the older man's unguarded form. But Cobra slid in between them and took a deep breath-

"POISON DRAGON'S ROAR!"

Erza jumped back before she could run into it and Jellal jumped off the side of the building. The giant cloud of purple smoke expelled from Cobra's mouth settled over the top of the palace before the wind rushing over the city pushed it away. As it did it revealed that both Mages had disappeared from sight before the poison could reach them.

Cobra whistled, "Impressive."

"Cobra," The burgundy-haired man looked aside as Brain looked at him intently, "Don't let them walk around our new place too much."

"Heh, like you even had to ask."

Jellal and Erza jumped down from building to building before reaching the empty streets of the old city. Erza took a breath and wiped her cheek as she looked up at the palace and the giant purple haze that finally started dissipating, "Did you breathe any of it in?"

"I-I don't think so." Jellal caught his breath, "I think I'm fine."

"You'll know otherwise. Believe me, that poison hits hard." Erza walked through the street and noticed that the buildings that lined it almost looked like homes, "These must be the homes that Nirvit tribe inhabited."

"Did a tribe really live on a giant moving city like this? Did they control Nirvana from up here?"

Erza didn't answer his questions as she approached one of the homes. As she did she noticed the discoloration of some stones like they had been stained and marred with-

Were those cuts? From a blade?

"There you are!" They looked up and saw Cobra hovering over them, standing on the back of Cubellios as the snake grew wings and flew above them. He grinned mockingly down at them, "I thought you were resilient but I guess the better comparison would be a cockroach or drowning rat."

Cobra smirked down at them as Erza and Jellal turned to look up at him. Poison shifted off his hands in waves as he snickered, "Queen of the Fairies and a Wizard Saint. Man, what a score."

########Hunter########

Jura didn't know what to expect when the ground uprooted and he found himself climbing up a stone limb. What he certainty didn't expect was at the end of the limb was an abandoned city centuries old.

An intact, completely abandoned ruin preserved underground and-

"KNOCK KNOCK!" Kichiyo started slamming on a door expecting an answer, "KNOCK KNOCK! ANYONE IN THERE! I PROMISE NOT TO HIT YOU WITH ONE OF MY CLASSIC KILLER JOKES IF YOU DO!"

"Kichiyo-"

"ALRIGHT, YOU SAW THROUGH ME! I HAD ONE PERCOLATING THE MOMENT I SAW THE DOORS - BUT IT'S A DOOZY!"

"Kichiyo stop." Jura repeated as the golem obliged and walked over to join his side. The Mage and rock construct looked out over the city as the Wizard Saint marveled at what he saw, "This entire city has been abandoned for lifetimes. Not a single soul still resides here. Untouched after all this time-"

"MEEEEENNNNN~!"

A figure bounced off the top of a building by their side and spun through the air before face-planting into the street in front of them.

"AND IT'S RAINING MEN! HALLELUJAH!"

"Ichiya-dono!" They ran over to help their Blue Pegasus comrade as he struggled to lift himself up from the ground, "What happened to you? Why were you flying over the buildings?"

"Jura-San," The Pegasus Mage looked up and showed the cuts on his body and the blood running down his face as he fought for his breath to come under control again, "We need to run! He's too strong!"

"Who?"

A quiet footstep displacing dirt behind them was their answer. Jura looked back and saw a thin, young man in a vest standing with his hands in his pockets. Jura's eyes narrowed dangerously and the young man matched his gaze unflinchingly.

"Never mind. I think I found the man you were referring to."

########Hunter########

"Erza! Where are you? Can you hear me?"

"Keep it down you moron! We don't know if there's anyone-"

"Erza!" Carla grumbled in annoyance as Naruto rolled his eyes, "Oh please, a giant rock city just popped out of the ground. Obviously the bad guys know we're gonna make our way up here. Let's be more concerned about where Ezra is and what happened while we were gone."

"Erza-San!" Wendy joined in and called out for her comrade, "Erza-San! Naruto-San, she might be anywhere in this city."

"I know. We gotta start looking a little harder."

"We could split up if that would help find her."

"We don't need to split up, Wendy." Naruto shook his head, "Let's stick together for now."

Carla hummed, "So you can be rational?"

"Carla, please stop arguing with-"

Naruto's fist whipped out covered in Armor and punched a spinning beam of magic that came from behind. Wendy and Carla yelled in surprise before the magic finally disappeared against Naruto's fist. The blond looked down as the grinding marks along his knuckles that pushed through his magic before scoffing, "Attacking from behind?"

"You're the ones who are trespassing." The Mages looked over as Brain walked down the street and faced them directly, "I knew we had intruders in our new base but I didn't expect to see the young Dragon Slayer here again. Have you not yet learned your lesson, young lady?"

Wendy trembled, remembering the fear and anxiety she had the last time she was faced with the man across from her. Carla stood in front of her defensively as Naruto stepped forward and glared at the older man, "Where are Erza and Jellal?"

"Most likely being killed by Cobra at this very moment. You shouldn't worry about them - they're most likely already dead."

"If you think Erza is gonna die easy then you're an idiot."

"Such blind faith in your comrade shows you're naivety." Brain retorted, "There are only three members of the Pillars left, but we are more than enough to extinguish the remainder of you fools of light and assure our victory. We already have Nirvana! And after we fire the first shot, no one in the world is going to be able to stop us!"

"The first shot? Where are you taking this thing?"

"The Nirvit Tribe created Nirvana 400 years ago. They were the progenitors and knew how to control it better than anyone." He pointed his skull staff out towards the horizon, "And once we destroy their descendants, there will be no one that can take it away from us."

"W-Wait," Naruto looked back and saw the looks of shock on Carla and Wendy's faces. The feline shuddered, "T-That direction. That's-"

"Cait Shelter." Wendy whispered, "We're heading towards the guild."

"Cait Shelter houses the descendants of the Nirvit Tribe which is why they are situated so closely to the Woodsea. They are bound by tradition to stay near their tribe's greatest creation in order to rein it in if it ever goes out of control." Brain smirked, "And once I've destroyed them, there will be no one left who can stop us."

"N-No, not the guild." Wendy shook her head, "Please."

"It's too late. It's already begun." Brain smiled at Wendy's horrified expression as tears came to her eyes, "Hahaha! AHAHAHA-"

Brain's eyes widened and he jumped aside as a blade of Wind flew down the street and left a cut along the stone. Wendy and Carla looked up in surprise as Naruto's cloak billowed wildly behind him.

"Wendy! Remember what I told you?" He said over his shoulder, "About what it means when a Mage from Fairy Tail makes a promise?"

Wendy looked up at her friend's back, "T-That it's already done."

"We'll stop Nirvana, and save your guild." Naruto's smirked at Brain as the older man raised his staff, "Trust me."

########Hunter########

Done

I swear...I swear! The next chapter will be out sooner!

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