One's Road to Remembrance

by Insane Dominator

For 4 years, a lone guy has been suffering from memory-loss, and can only remember his name: Craig Crius. The 4 years have been very unfriendly, and in turn has become rather desolate. With the help of Cana Alberona and from Fairy Tail, Craig will endure horrific hardships, take on dangerous tasks, and unleash power he never knew he had in order to understand who he was. OCxCana.

30. Perseverance

"Spiral Dragon Slice!" Craig didn't waste a beat as he spiraled through many of enemy mages in one go, his swordsmanship as sharp as his attitude and tongue alike. Blood spilled from cuts as five fell in one go.

Cana slid along the ground, swiping her arm in an arc and throwing cards at the numerous mages on her left. "Sun's Strength!" Her cards that went flying incinerated, becoming fireballs that collided with enemy bodies and exploding upon contact.

Craig ran straight ahead, blitzing in a line and making a break for the deep fray. "Dual Guillotine!" His mouth blade and two swords were reach out, and as he zipped through the battlefield towards the guild hall, he passed Silver Cauldron members, leaving cuts into their waists and shoulders, sometimes necks. Again he spilled red but dared not look back as he darted further. "Come and get some, scum!" He took a big leap and went into the air. When he came down, he brought his two swords down, both clanging against the ground, but also sending projectile winds around through the sliced crevices all around Craig made many go flying off.

As Fairy Tail Mages were fighting, they were tussling with Silver Cauldron Mages, throwing spells left and right. As they attacked the other, the shockwaves of Craig's attacks reached them, the ground getting clean slice marks that spread to their feet. Fairy Tail Mages steered clear while the ankle-deep crevices made many enemies sink and get caught stuck in the crevices.

Macao looked over and saw where the shockwaves came from, which also left a little of his clothing cut. "Huh?" His eyes widened. "Wait, you!"

"He's here?!" Wakaba exclaimed.

"It's him." Gajeel said, slightly baffled.

Gray incapacitated a fellow man in his Ice Magic, and noticed the momentary shock everyone was caught up in. "That's…" His eyes widened, seeing Craig, with Cana walking up right beside him, Craig's sharp teeth were bared with his swords. Immediately recalling all of those flashbacks he and the guild had to witness, he got uneasy. "Why is he here? Shouldn't he be sobbing or something?!"

Craig snarled back at Gray, the distance being irrelevant as everyone within earshot felt their spines tremble. Craning his neck up, Craig let loose another violent, dinosaur-like roar, the earth trembling as his vocals palpitated without injury.

Juvia's eyes widened. "He looks ready to fight to me, darling."

Closer towards the enemy guild hall, Natsu and Erza slashed and punched two more enemies. As they regained footing, they saw Craig.

"It's Cana!" Erza exclaimed. "And…!" Her shock surmounted by not just the Card Mage's late appearance, but also her associate. "It's Craig."

Natsu looked uneasy. "Him?! Why is he here?!" He sounded angry. Although he did mournfully pity Craig and understood from the flashbacks of the blood and tears he had to shed before, he still found him…unapproachable.

Cana put a hand to her hip. "Not even a minute in and everyone's throwing crap at you."

Craig snarled around, craning his head to make the mouth blade move some. "Like I give a damn. These pansies'll suck it up sooner or later." He raised his head. "Hey! Keep your eyes on the enemies in front of you! They took a comrade, right? So quit standing there like statues and get to it already!" Wasting no time, he swiped his dark red sword, slashing and cutting down the umpteenth mage on his left.

Some were able to come over their shock, but others like Gray and Natsu were more than unwelcoming. They knew Craig was right on all cylinders, but after learning about him being an amnesiac, and the atrocities he had to endure, their perspectives on him were really more of pity. Gray lost Ur and Natsu lost Igneel, and Craig suffered losses equally as harsh if not far worse. How can he really be alive and enduring so much hardship? Erza herself couldn't have lived that long. Should they be taking orders or listening to someone who was perhaps half-dead to the world?

Their distaste for the man aside, the reality of it all was that Craig was dead on when Laxus was of importance. Everyone hurried and turned back towards the threats containing Laxus. For now, they must focus their Magic Power on getting their comrade back. Macao, Wakaba, and the others turned back around and attacked their startled enemies, effectively turning the tide of the fight.

"Let's be real men and not shirk!" Elfman in his Beast Soul Take Over swung his arm like a hammer, swatting mages off to the side and knocking them down like bowling pins.

"The Thunder God Tribe and Laxus are counting on us! Let's go!" Mirajane in her Satan Soul Take Over unleashed a darkness coated fist, colliding with mages and making an explosion of darkness erupt all around, throwing many more into disarray.

A fellow dark mage reeled away. "Woah! These guys just won't quit!"

"Just what is up with them?! Don't they know the Master has already begun the process by now?" Another said as he stepped back.

"Hey, look at him!" A mage holding a weapon looked at Craig in the distance, spreading his legs and preparing for an attack. "Is that who we think it is?"

Another mage looked at Craig and was immediately intimidated on the spot. "H-he's that guy who killed Mystis! He slaughtered him in cold blood!"

"The s-second in our guild, and he destroyed him?" Another mage clutched his weapon in his own fear. Looking at Craig, they could see his sharp teeth, his jaw so strong that he could tear through wooden planks like they were crackers. "L-let's take him out first!"

"Yeah! He's the biggest threat! C'mon!" Another enforced, leading many mages still dueling away from their targets and after Craig. They all knew that from the scouts that saw afar that Craig attacked and killed Mystis, and he was a very capable mage; to have a monstrous man around meant they had to eliminate him first. Huge mistake.

As many went charging at Craig alone, Cana moved to close them off. However, Craig elbowed her, making her stop from interfering. He stepped forward, his footsteps flat and heavy. He got in front of Cana and spared two fingers on his right hand to hold his mouth blade. As the many scared mages went lunging ahead, Craig took in a deep breath, his chest expanding some.

In one foul breath, he released a very violent, very loud roar. His sharp teeth bared as his roar reverberated through the earth, making even it tremble. Literally, the airspace and land shuddered with a weak magnitude from Craig's blood-curdling bellow. The dozens of members all skid to a stop, all of their own hearts stopping and going silent as Craig's monster roar silenced their potential raid. All stood in place, petrified and paling to a ghostly white as Craig's roar continued to reverberate through the air molecules nonstop.

His roar ended, and with a harsh glare with squinted eyes, the mages all screamed until they were too scarred for life to even move.

Craig lunged, blitzing right past them. With swords stretched out, he swiped, his impact sending the mages flying into the air. With an exasperated gaze forward, he adjusted his footing and lowered his blades just as the mages fell on either their sides or backs.

Craig looked around, his posture straightened out, and all four blades where they were meant to be. "Anyone else?" Those who were several feet away were scared out of their own boots with what Craig's speed and ferocity unleashed. With many distracted, they fell prey to Gray and Juvia, who blasted them from both sides. Water and cold ice collided, spraying all around.

"Now that's a way to scare the pants off these clown." Gray smirked.

Juvia blushed. "I just helped out my darling~."

Erza slashed at another member, knocking them down. She was adorned in her Heaven's Wheel at the time, and she turned towards the guys in the front entrance. "Their numbers are strong, but we're weakening them considerably. It's only a matter of time before we reached Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe. Hang in there!" She twirled around, causing her swords in hand to follow her lead.

"Pentagram Sword!"

The Requip Mage passed four at once, slashing in a pentagon motion.

Cana flashed a card. "Alright! Let's kick some ass! Thunderbolt's Fate!" The tarot card in hand discharged bolts, causing the other mages around her to become electrocuted down to the bone.

Once her attack finished, she looked at Craig. "Cranky, kick their asses already!"

Craig looked back at her, his mouth blade turning to cut into a sword of an enemy, then falling him. "What the hell do you think I'm doing? I'm doing almost all the work her, Brownie!" He sneered.

"You should've put them out of their misery already." She notified.

"There's too many duds around for me to go nuts on them."

"You're already nuts."

"You're one of those duds."

"You're a dud right now!" She yelled.

"I've done laps around you the moment I met you!" He rebuffed.

Erza turned towards them. "Both of you, focus!"

"Stay out of this!" They both shouted. The shout to the S-Class Mage – the mightiest Titania – and in front of her peers, it was an immense shock. All of the enemy mages were also caught surprised that even they were frozen. Erza was caught slightly surprised, but Craig and Cana went on like it was noting. Like they all were nothing.

"You're pushing my buttons!" Craig continued yelling at Cana, even while doing so, he subconsciously backhanded a mage who was still frozen in shock behind him.

"I'll push your buttons so long as I don't hit the red one!" Cana berated, throwing a random tarot card and it landed beneath an enemy mage some distance behind her. It unleashed a volatile spray of water that jetted uncontrollable geysers around, catching and striking down more numbers.

Craig pivoted, swiping his blood and dark red sword as he struck down three in a split second. "I'll make sure to install an eject button so you can shut up!"

Cana swiped a card, unleashing an air draft from below and sending more guys soaring. "And what might that eject button be?!"

"This!" Craig shifted out of the way of a Silver Cauldron Mage and brought his foot down in an axe kick on his back. The impact hit him hard, sending him to the earth with a loud thud. Using one hand, he tossed him at Cana, where the brunette turned and saw the guy incoming. She swiped and shot explosive, glowing cards at the incoming mage, exploding upon contact. The eruption caused a small tremor that made the dirt and dust shift in a maelstrom between Craig and Cana alike. The man hit was sent flying over Craig's head, crash-landing like a meteor into two three other guys down below, falling all at once.

Craig just stared despondently at the fallen mages before he slouched and looked back at Cana. The brunette smirked.

"Looks like I know how to manually override your eject button."

"You're despicable." Craig growled.

"Are they seriously arguing as they fight?" Lucy sweat dropped.

"Uh…I'm not sure what to think of that." Wendy nervously added.

"Clearly both have no sense of shame, not that I blame given the circumstances." Carla chimed.

Everyone just watched with backs turned as Craig and Cana yelled at one another, with Craig slashing violently and punching guys so hard their bones shattered into pieces. Cana used so many spells it was like a flashy rainbow fireworks display. They were yelling like an old married couple, yet Craig was ferociously on the task, pivoting and taking down dozens upon dozens still standing, with Cana barely far behind.

"Anywhere near my buttons and I'll bite!"

"How's about a muzzle!"

"I'll rip it off and chuck it through your window!"

With a violent grab of someone's head, Craig clutched his iron hold and threw the guy with all his might. He shot like a rocket past Elfman and everyone, and Erza had to move out of the way in a flash as the guy flew off and smashed into the numerous remaining mages positioned at the front entrance. That impact shot a third of them off in all directions.

Craig unsheathed all his blades together one last time, and then he lunged ahead, passing Erza. The Requip Mage was again caught shocked at Craig passed her in a heartbeat. Craig zipped in front of the many numbers still retaining and went for his attack.

"Spiral Dragon Slice!"

Another pivot and spin, and Craig funneled like a sideways twister with razor-sharp edging. He went clean through the remaining perhaps hundred with light treading and spilled vast amounts of blood as he funneled on. After a minute of complete decimation, he sliced into the last of which were willing to fight. A land and pivot, and he sheathed his swords. With that solemn clang, that signaled the remaining fallen lying on the ground, incapacitated with cuts and bruises.

Natsu stared with exasperation. "You're kidding me!"

"He took them all out in that one go?!" Gray exclaimed.

Erza stared with intense shock still surmounting her. She remembered one of the more prominent memories that she witnessed of Craig quarreling against 100,000 men all by himself, coming out with his entire body bathed in blood, and the rest of those 100,000 were all killed. If he could handle that many in terms of numbers and weapons, then this was pure nothing. She could admit to herself that she never fought so many at once, nor could she possibly ever, but to do it all alone was unspeakable.

Craig turned back towards the infamous Titania. "You happy now?" He told in a spiteful tone.

Redoubling their individual focus, the Fairy Tail Mages all caught realization and they hurried on over. Once the many ventured up to the front entrance of the doorway, they all looked up at the small castle-like exterior.

"For something so small, it held large numbers." Lucy said.

"Those were hundreds, and yet we were held off for some time. I doubt we'll save anymore." Carla said.

Erza stepped forward. Requipped into her usual Heart Kreuz, she had two swords in hand. "Allow me."

On the other side of the door, there was darkness, and what one could say was dim lighting on the high ceilings. The stone wall surrounded the set of locked double doors. It was quiet, but not in a good way. The wooden double sword suddenly glistened with a silhouette of slash marks set in consecutive fashion. The door was diced apart, falling into splinters as Erza stood at the entrance with her two swords disappearing.

They all walked in, getting the layout of the interior. The inside was large, with the first and second floors both under a single vaulted roof that stretched on like a hallway. Everything was set in stone, literally. There was poor lighting, and it looked very much run-down.

"A very fitting location for a rising Dark Guild." Makarov sighed as he slowly trekked on in.

"This appears to be an old castle. It's clear it was long-since abandoned for good reasons." Lily speculated as he walked on foot.

"Aye, but I'm sure we'll be there soon enough." Happy announced.

Natsu ran ahead, calling out. "Hey! Laxus! Come on! Where are you?! Laxus!" He yelled out, but with no answer. "La-!" He was cut off by Erza, who put an armored hand over his mouth.

"Natsu, don't speak." She protested.

Natsu grabbed her hand and moved it off to the side. "Hey, what gives?!"

"Shut up, you idiot. You trying to draw attention towards us?" Gray berated. "You can't just go yelling out aimlessly, that's nuts."

"Then how are we supposed to find out where those guys are? We can't just wait for them to come to us!" Natsu announced.

Makarov crossed his arms, pondering some. "The odds are that we've already defeated the members of Silver Cauldron. All of them were stationed out front. If the building was empty this entire, then either they were evacuated outside, or there's a project that requires space and concentration."

"Rather, both." Craig speculated.

Cana turned towards him, a raised brow confirmed. "Eh?"

"Well think for a minute. Those two concepts are virtually one and the same. This castle is small, and that means their numbers were all up front for a reason. To keep us out, because they knew that our targets is in here somewhere. As obvious as 1 plus 1."

Natsu's ears twitched, an odd sound entering through the canals. "Huh?"

"Natsu?" Erza saw Natsu's inquiry.

Natsu paced a couple feet forward, the ears twitching, but the nose was also as equally rattled. "I hear something."

Wendy's nose twitched. "Yeah, I smell something too."

"Definitely hearing it too, and it ain't sounding pretty." Gajeel noted.

"What is it?" Lucy asked, her tone sounding heavy with anxiety.

Natsu led the charge. "This way!" He sped on ahead, running down the long, wide hallway, his sniffer being his own guide. Without any form of alternative, the others disembarked down the hall, heading with steadfast efforts to reach the location of the sound and smell.

They all sped down the hall, all of the remaining perhaps eighty to ninety able-bodied members trekking and making their mark as Natsu led the charge, his face showing very eager intentions. He couldn't wait until he got to the bottom of things so that he could end it with a fist. His only solution was indeed by fighting. He wanted to be the strongest, no matter what. With every inch closer they got, the closer to possible danger they came.

Natsu's eyes caught sight of three bodies lying among rubble outside of a room that was crackling yellow. The flashy lights were a little distracting, but the three bodies moaning were more than a priority.

"Look!" Wendy shouted.

"Up there, isn't that…?" Gray trailed off as he saw the three figures that were lying in despair, possibly unconscious.

Makarov's eyes widened once he got close enough. "It can't be…"

But his eyes didn't lie. Lying amongst the debris was none other than Freed. Bickslow, and Evergreen. The three mages were all severely beaten, mainly by means of miscellaneous force. The trio that comprised the Thunder God Tribe was unable to respond right away, mainly due to them being out or so long. The one thing they all had in common was their hair and body tingling with small fragments of static. It was weak, but it did put their hair up. Freed was the only one who may seemingly respond, considering that his eyes were wincing when shut.

"Freed, can you hear us? Freed!" Makarov insisted. He got no valid response, but he did after a couple seconds.

Freed's eyes slowly opened, but his vision was all blurry. "Gnnngh…where…where am I?" He weakly groaned. All he could rely on was his hearing, for his vision was so tiresome and his body could not respond due to the static's paralysis.

"Stay still. We're here to help." Mirajane said, kneeling down as she tended to look at Freed's injuries. She tried reaching out to him, but then her finger reeled back from a spark. Her eyes widened. "Static?"

"Please, you all need to help…" He begged. The head of the Thunder God Tribe weakly called out to everyone once more. "Hurry…save…*cough* Laxus."

"Laxus?" Erza noticed that Laxus was not amongst the defeated Thunder God Tribe members. Instinctively her head turned towards the room that lied head. She saw yellow crackling reflect off of the walls. She was beginning to get a bad suspicion running up and down her spine. "Tell us everything." She demanded from Freed.

Nab and Alzack came on over, helping Freed sit up. Once they managed to support the badly wounded mage, they were given a synopsis.

Freed took a moment to catch his breath. He was still weak, but was able to tell the story. "About a week ago, we followed Laxus to this guild. The job was to eradicate Silver Cauldron. It's numbers were growing, and the Rune Knights were incapable of holding up against such numbers. We came in to help, only we found our odds…against us."

Levy's eyes widened when her memory resurfaced. "Hey, yeah. I remember that job being taken about a week ago. We haven't seen you since then. We were wondering what happened to you."

Freed continued. "There were hundreds of them. I never thought such a Dark Guild possessed numbers so big, it caught us off guard. We were fighting hard as we could. We were only four, but our power was looking undeterred until the numbers began to wear down on us." Freed took a moment of silence, recollecting the failure of a job it turned out to be. "It wasn't until long that our magic reserves ran on empty; and Laxus as well."

"…then you were incapacitated." Makarov surmised.

Freed nodded. "Yes. When the Guild Master realized who we were, he knew we had a use. He exploited us. He used Laxus' own memories against us. He used his advisor's magic to look into Laxus' memories."

Lisanna's eyes widened. "Which explains why that guy found out about our guild's location in the first place!"

"I'm afraid so. And when they got the information needed, I'm afraid the Guild Master was already beginning to build up on his experiment." He put a hand to his head. "It's…a little hard to make sense of, but I recall him saying about hypnotism."

"Hypnotism?" Cana asked.

Craig looked up from Freed and cascaded his glance at the doorway. It was open, and yellow flashes only indicated bad omens. "…oh no."

It was bringing back unpleasant memories. A couple of his friends he's known were hypnotized by the world's most bizarre scientists. They too were powerful mages. This situation, it was bringing back some scornful memories. His body went hollow as a log.

1 1/3 Years Ago

No winds blew through the air ducts, so no hot air from the outside was making way into the building. Inside, the tension was as cold as ice, making skin crawl. In a white building in the far reaches of the country of Desierto, a country known for its wide deserts, there stood a lab, hidden away far underneath the sands of time. Even underground, the heat was able to penetrate to such depths.

Craig was making little progress. He had to reach the main power room and shut down all systems. If he could do that, odds were that the entire lab would collapse. He ducked and dodged a laser gunshot fired from behind, missing by a fraction of a hair.

He turned around, his eyes wide. "Damnit. They caught on so soon." He made a break and escaped from more laserfire from the troops. He tumbled off to the side, escaping into the hallway intersecting.

He was the only one left; the only one who was able to end this, end her. End it all. Ever since he came across Desierto, he found its people more than…robotic in tone. But only most. Those under the age of 16 were sane. Nobody was able to manipulate their own wills. Their president was Sandra Mercilicelia, a tongue-twisting last name, but she hated confusion. She hated how carefree others can be when not equally under a single influenced. That's when her little program came in.

All over the age of 16 were given certain 'shots'. If given one, a device connects to your cerebral area, and by a single press of a button, one can turn into a slave you can order around and wouldn't fight back. It was disgusting and inhumane, but Sandra had all the power, even her most trusted advisors were turned robotic.

Craig was the only one. Though borderline 17, he was about 16, and when he announced and revealed the intensions of Sandra desiring to overpower the rest of Ishgar for all of its power, the citizens had to fight back, but the psychological effect was like instant hypnotism. Those who somehow managed to slide in the injection were subjected to psychological play by Sandra herself, the queen of Hypnosis Magic.

This was anarchy, a horde of cockroaches lying underneath a bed just waiting to come out once you lay on the mattress.

Being a mutation, Craig was somehow unaffected. Being part Zeldoron and Excalon, he was fully conscious, and despite Sandra herself subjugating him to her most powerful level of hypnosis, Craig was immune to hypnotism and psychological influence; a permanent clean slate.

All of the troops that were the citizens that Sandra tucked into the lab for experiments on hypnotism were firing lasers down the hall. They closed in fast, but Craig realized there was a panel right next to him. Pivoting, he turned in front of the panel and activated the code to shut off the hallway. With the final push of the button, a long beep grated ears as a shutter closed from side to side and then up and down.

Craig huffed. He stepped back, relieved. "At least I bought myself some time." He looked off to the side, his gaze narrowing. "But I know I don't have much time to spare."

A pair of footsteps were coming down from the hallway behind him. His ears twitched, hearing a gun adjusting. He turned around, his shock surmounting again as he saw a certain someone advancing. It was a boy his age, apparently 16 just like him. He was in the troopers uniform and he had short blonde hair. His gaze was empty behind is hazy blue eyes.

"Jim!" Craig sounded surprised and glad at the same time. He couldn't be anymore glad to have met someone who was trying to escape just like him. He and the other met just a day ago, and already Craig and him had an understanding of one another. Craig had a goal; to find out who he was before his memory was wiped all those years ago. Jim had his own dream. He wished to live in a free world, a world in which no one would be under tyranny. His start was Desierto, to free his people.

Earlier he and Craig got disguises and ended up splitting…just what happened?

"Jim, you okay?" Craig asked.

Jim just walked on, holding up his laser gun.

Craig felt uneasy. "Hey, don't point that at me." He said, but he fell short when his comrade fired, the laserfire missing as Craig veered right, shifting and dodging. Sliding back up, Craig looked back. "Is this a joke?! We dropped that charade the moment we were caught!"

Craig's eyes widened, a gasp coming from his throat. As he stared at Jim, it began to make sense. "When we were caught…wait, she failed to hypnotized me, but…" Craig's worries skyrocketed. As he looked at Jim with shock, he could feel his insides shudder. Slowly, his head shook as he stepped back. "Oh no…no…"

Jim fired more lasers from his gun, but Craig ducked and dodged. He tumbled rolled and adjusted. He looked back at Jim, seeing his hollow eyes. "Jim!" He called out again, but was only stared at with a gun pointed to his head several feet away.

Craig and Jim were slowly tailing the other, their footing creating a large circle around the small hallway. Jim had one target, and that target was moving around, staring defiantly and worriedly. Worry. Strife. Prosecution. Such things he was not told. He had the order from Sandra.

'The sheep who don't follow the shepherd will be slaughtered. Not a single one lives. End any defiance.'

The code and order of Sandra's hypnosis was all he desired. To him, Craig Crius was nothing more than a sheep. His memories, his trust, all of the time he planned with Craig liberating the country, it never existed.

"Jim! It's me!" Craig's been played for a fool before. And he knew the art of double crossing, and double agent. Usually the charade drops when no one's around. Just what did he do to provoke him? 'What did I do? How did she get to him? Jim, you had a strong will, so what happened?' He recalled mournfully that once you're under her magic, you're pretty much dead to the world. In return, the world was oblivious to you. The only connection was you and Sandra's desire. Her hypnosis was the most lethal in the world. Craig saw even the grumpiest and most defiant men get hypnotized right before his eyes. And he saw them shoot the other until they were all dead, proving that Sandra's magic was up until the point of death.

The horrible reality hit him. Jim was hypnotized. He was gone.

Still, Craig had to try. "Jim? Jim, it's me, okay? It's that guy you met on the street. It's me, Craig." He reasoned.

Jim continued circling around, his gun pointed at Craig. He gave no response.

"Hey, you there? Jim! Jim!" Craig yelled out once more, but found that hard. Jim fired again, not a beat missed as Craig ducked and dodged another laser fire. Craig dodged another laser, unable to get closer. He could only go right as Jim was firing at him.

"Damn you! Sandra!" Craig had no choice. He had to snap him out of it if he can. Unsheathing his dark red sword, Craig blocked the laser, making it ricochet off the blade towards the nearby wall. Craig bent his sword and tilted as he tried to fend off Jim's attacks. Jim fired profusely, but his face showed no emotion. When he fired a gun or used a weapon like a bomb, he always had some anxiety shown on his face. This wasn't Jim, not anymore. And Craig saw that.

He still was one when it came to persevering, however. He rushed on ahead, finding space to slash and cut the gun out of his grip. Craig fell atop of him, pinning him to the ground. Jim struggled to break free, albeit violently. With Craig's knee pinning his chest, he glared into the hypnotized eyes.

"Jim, Jim look at me. Look at me when I'm talking to you." Craig said, his tone and voice much lower than before. "Jim, we made a promise, okay? Remember that promise?"

Jim just stared at Craig, trying to reach up at him to choke him, but failing.

Craig nodded. "Yeah, you wanted to liberate order, make a society. A society that everyone can be whoever they want. You wanna be free, don't you? Don't you? You gotta show me. Okay? Show me!"

Jim stopped moving at long last. He stared up at Craig, looking right at him. He was seemingly understanding. The haziness in his eyes didn't falter in the slightest, but he looked calmer.

"That's it." Craig smiled, slowly letting up. He allowed for Jim to have room, since he didn't look like he was gonna strike. Craig got back up, with Jim slowly following. The man was slowly getting back up, and Craig stared at him, watching him stare.

It was a long pause between the two. Craig could see him clearly, but if his words could work, then maybe there was hope against her magic. That is, until Jim lunged at him violently, pinning Craig against the wall, hands around his neck.

"GAH!" Craig gagged as his head with the steel wall, throbbing with pain. He was being choked, and Jim was no way letting him live. The haziness in his eyes never faltered still, showing how determined Sandra's magic was yet again. Craig struggled to get himself free. "J-Jim!"

Jim's face was still showing no emotion. Craig forced himself to raise a leg and kicked Jim in the gut. The heavy impact threw Jim off Craig and towards the opposite wall.

Craig looked away from Jim as he was rising, watching the shut doors. He was in a tight spot, a very tight one. This was far from okay. He was caught cornered, between a rock and a hard place. He had little time left. He had to make a move. If he stayed around too long, the doors would open again, and then he'd be done for. Who knows how much more time he had?

One thing was certain: He had to stop Jim, but he was gone.

Craig swallowed a lump. He stepped back, processing what had to be done. He did not like it, but it's gotta be done. He shook his head, his overwhelming responsibility overshadowing him. As Craig lost ground, Jim grabbed the gun, adjusting it and advanced onto Craig.

"Jim…I'm asking you just one more time…" Craig's eyes shuddered, along with his body. His hold on the blood red sword wavered. "If you're there…show me."

Jim fired again, his unemotional expression not showing any signs of his go-luckiness. He fired some more, but didn't land his marks on Craig. The boys were lost in their own worlds. Craig did not falter, but Jim was caught in the hold of Sandra, and to Craig, he was talking to a dead body.

"I hated to admit this to myself, I honestly did…" Craig composed himself, stopping his shuddering. He began to unsheathe more of his blades. "But the facts are in…" He had all of his blades in his grasps and jaws, having a stance. "You're no longer the man I thought you were. You're a mindless drone. I swear, I'll make Sandra pay with her life." His blade hold tightened some, but his grip was still shuddering from what had to be done.

Teeth gritted as he recounted his time with Jim, before they were captured. They had a good run, and they both had dreams, but just like the rest, one dream ends here and now. A shadow went over Craig's head as he looked at Jim.

'Jim…'

His eyes misted, but his resolution was firm. This was it. If he doesn't stop him, then he'll die, and then no one could stop Sandra's fleet. His eyes shut, just as he was misting up harder.

Jim fired his gun again, but missed for the umpteenth time as Craig deflected with his mouth blade. With a harsh cry from the bottom of his throat, he closed the gap between himself and Jim, bringing his blades and passing him.

In a bright flash, time slowed down as Craig leaped behind him, and the body of the forever-lost Jim ascertained numerous marks all over, spilling blood. The hazy eyes remained that way, even as the 16-year-old fell over with an open wound along his neck, straight through the ribs, and torso.

Jim fell, his body landing on its back with a thud. The blood from his neck poured out as his hazy eyes went dark signaling his end.

Craig ran on ahead, daring not to look back. As he ran, tears poured down his cheeks. His mouth blade and swords were in hand, and his grip was so tight that no iron claw could pry them off. His salty tears streamed past his lips as they converged onto his chin, falling a single drop that splattered to the floor.

'Goodbye…Jim…'

Craig ran on, just as the security doors he had locked opened, the hypnotized troops under the spell firing lasers and advanced, going so far as to trample over Jim's corpse.

The memory left Craig oblivious to the world. He was so empty as he was looking at the ground the entire time. He was lost in cloud nine, his worries and insecurities clouded with the prospect of the return of hypnotism. Back then, the enemy was Sandra, and she wanted everything under her rule so no one could defy her power. He lost a friend because he couldn't undo hypnotizing without killing Sandra. He hated hypnotism, it caused him to lose valuable ones.

What he didn't realize, however, was that many of them saw the predicament he was in. They are stared at him despondently, seeing as how he was lost in his mourning. No one blamed him. They couldn't. They all stared, looking as Craig was lost.

"Craig…" Cana said low.

Craig looked back up, and he suddenly blitzed on ahead.

"Hey, Craig! Wait!" Lucy called out as Craig darted straight for the open doorway.

'I have to hurry and see for myself. I have to see if I can stop the hypnosis. If I can't, there's a two-prong way. I can either stop the hypnotized himself, or I can take down that Guild Master. I know all too well why they're doing this.' "Scumbags too low to do their own dirty work." He mumbled as he shifted in front.

When he made it in front, his eyes widened a little, but his shock was still as swift as was the amount of static flying all around.

Natsu and Erza, Cana, and the others followed behind, all of them inquiring to extremes.

Natsu's eyes dilated, fixation slowly taking his senses. "…what?"

Erza's shock was equal. "I can't believe my eyes."

"Oh my goodness." Mirajane gasped.

Makarov stared into the room, his eyes wide. "It can't be…"

Everyone looking ahead saw what appeared to be an actual cauldron. The black inside was hollow with a number of lacrima for channeling energy towards a man without a shirt on. He was insidiously bulking with lots of wiring attached to him that same from the pot-top of the silver cauldron. With the front half of the cauldron exposed, inside was Laxus, behind a bulletproof window. Lightning and static crackled through the wiring as the Dragon Slayer was stuck inside, not moving as he rather sat cross-legged like a behaved dog.

Standing on a podium close by was a man in a purple cloak. He had messy brown hair and large glasses. His green eyes had a sense of red along the sides, signaling fatigue. His yellow shirt and tattered blue pants were accompanied by a pair of boots. The cloak also appeared to have a large Silver Cauldron emblem on it.

The Guild Master looked over his shoulder, realizing he had company. "Eh?"

"What so you think you're doing?" Erza demanded.

The Guild Master looked away. "Tch, they were supposed to keep you out while I work." He grinned. "But I guess this is as good as an opportunity can offer."

"Who are you?!" Makarov demanded.

The Guild Master whipped around, hissing as he revealed himself. "You really are an impatient bunch! Can't you see I'm in the middle of my best project?!" He took a moment, his pause giving way to his realization with the numerous guild marks he saw on a lot of people. "Oh, wait…" He grinned. "You're here for your friend, right?"

Makarov stepped forward again. His stare was cold and half-hearted. "I will ask one more time. Who. Are. You?" He demanded in a low scowl.

The Guild Master sneered, his excitement riling him up. "I'm Silver Cauldron's mastermind, he who puts ingredients onto the top, and mixes them until the recipe comes up perfect to where all else is irrelevant! I am Ghest, and I welcome you to my latest soon-to-be success!"

"Laxus!" Natsu shouted. "Laxus, snap out of it, would ya?!"

Laxus did not move. He was unable to respond as Natsu called out for him. He only stared ahead, eyes devoid of pupils.

Ghest smirked. "It's no use. We've played with his psychology and hypnosis long enough that yelling out to him won't do any good. Just ask his little targets. They were perfect subjects to how well he would listen to me."

Mirajane's eyes widened. "He's talking about the Thunder God Tribe."

"You mean he's been turning Laxus against them?" Gray exclaimed in horror.

Craig stared ahead, pacing a light bounce towards the Lightning Dragon Slayer. "So that's Laxus."

Ghest's smirk never lifted as he turned around. "I've been wondering for quite some time. If I had numbers, what would happen if I added quality to quantity? Then it hit me. When those four got captured that day, it was a sign, a sign to finally unleash my true power." His brow raised. "With this experiment, not only can I make the mightiest of mages do my bidding, but as a good measure, I can draw out their true power. I can make them exert so much magic that it puts shame to all mages alike."

"Wait, so if he hypnotized Laxus, does that mean he can use his full power on us?" Elfman sounded baffled, but at the same time scared. He knew how deadly Laxus was, and he sure would rather stay away from him.

Erza requipped a single sword, pointing it at Ghest from afar. "Tell us, what do you intend on turning Laxus into?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Everyone turned towards Craig, hearing him announce that one sentence. They were all a little clueless, but knew Craig was onto something given his experience with the ideal of psychological warfare.

"Why do you think bodyguards are hired? Why is there security? Because there are those who can't protect themselves. They'll use whatever resources and turn it into their advantage to claim power. They'll coax the strongest to be at their beckoned call to protect them, so that way none can oppose them. They wanna make a weapon out of the strongest people out there to make themselves look stronger. Since they can't do the heavy lifting themselves, they'll turn Laxus and whoever was unfortunate into a slave to claim the top." He shot a glare at Ghest. "Am I right?"

Ghest was about to offer a rebuttal, but he was caught startled when Craig was actually dead on. He wanted to be powerful, but was too weak to do it alone, and he had to resort to using force. He wanted to make even the strongest yield to him. Since Gildarts wasn't around, making do with Laxus was a break. He snickered. "Wow, you're even smarter than I thought you'd be."

Cana clutched a fist. "Alright, you got five seconds to give it up or we'll take back what is ours ourselves." She demanded.

"Yeah. People aren't tools you can twist to your desire." Lucy stated.

Ghest snickered as he looked over his shoulder. "And yet people are used and manipulated every day. That belief is nothing more than an overrated, misplaced idea that's nothing but meaningless words coming out of your mouths. Go ahead, deny it all you want, but it's true. Humans are tools to the other's disposal." He raised his hand. "So how's about I demonstrate for ya?"

"You can't!" Makarov yelled.

"Watch me, you crabby old geezer! Watch me unleash the full power of Laxus!" His fingers then snapped.

Craig felt an intense pressure change. Looking around, the room was beginning to feel the power resonating from the open cauldron. The lightning and static shrilling all around began to thrive. The lightbulbs above began to surge so much voltage that they shattered. The glass fell, causing Craig to cover up. The Dragon Slayer being used was crackling and discharging so much power. The static was so massive that the entire building's lighting was flickering on and off. The energy was brimming, and no one could remain still as the chamber and Laxus was shuddering.

Droy stumbled backwards, his hair on the fritz. "D-do you feel that?"

Jet was equally as perplexed. "T-this can't be…!"

"So much Magic Power." Erza couldn't believe it, but this was pure Magic Power that was coming from a single source. "Is this really all the magic Laxus has inside of him?"

"Man, talk about crazy." Cana's hair had static, causing it to stand up, along with everyone else.

Craig's slicked hair wasn't really fazed, but as much as he wanted to snark at Cana for her messy hair, he saw Laxus' eyes open up, His own eyes widened. "Everybody get down! Now!"

"What?" Natsu questioned.

The entire castle was seen from its rocky quarry, everything the castle stood for, and everything about the castle…completely exploded. A discharge of lightning and electricity went all around, roaring in the quarry. A pillar of lightning shot up from the castle, completely obliterating it from where it stood. The earth rumbled as everything went white and yellow. All anyone could have felt was a massive dose of lightning hit them in one go. The only one prepared being Craig as he ducked low so that the field of extreme lightning passed overhead.

One, maybe two, minutes passed before the dust and all of the debris settled. Craig was sprawled in the exact spot he was while everyone else was sent flying and was littering the ground in an unkempt manner. Debris covered many, while nearly all of them were petrified by the voltage they've sustained. Macao, Wakaba, Nab, along with the Thunder God Tribe, were all lying amongst the wreckage with the others, lost in the pain they've been given.

Freed's body twitched. "He's increased Laxus' reserves to extremes…"

Erza's body was petrified in static. She struggled to get up, but she managed. Fighting every nerve that tingled with electricity, she managed to find her footing. She looked around, inspecting the numerous bodies that fell, along with the castle.

"This…this is insane. I didn't know Laxus had so much might to destroy an entire sanctum-!" Again she was left petrified, but not because of the static coursing through the air; something far worse.

Natsu opened one eye as he got up. "What is it, Er-?!" He too was caught speechless as he looked ahead.

Gajeel's eyes widened. "No way…"

"Hang on, are you saying, that he can make Laxus use that?" Lucy exasperated, barely able to get up.

Cana's shaken body was looking ahead, lightning surging around the form of Laxus. Her purplish eyes were of great shock, along with the rest of her. "This can't be. He can make Laxus…" Ahead of her was Laxus, and he was a brute. His muscularity was enhanced considerably, and his canines were all stretched out like Dragon Slayer fangs. His white eyes were now streaming static, his veins more prominent than before. "He can make Laxus use his full Dragon Slayer Magic?"

Craig goy up, unhindered. His eyes were narrow as he looked at Laxus. "God, three minutes in, and the guy's already pissing me off…"

Ghest emerged from the rubble, seemingly surprised. His attire was torn up some, but he was shocked that his experiment worked. "It…it worked!" He yelled. He shot up. "Success! I have now unlocked Laxus' powers to exceed their limitations!"

Makarov clutched his fists, his anger rising. "You madman…!"

Ghest smirked. He raised his fingers. "Heh."

With a snap of fingers, Laxus obeyed. The Lightning Dragon Slayer turned into a bolt of lightning and disappeared. Makarov's eyes widened when he felt an immense magic energy swell behind. Before he had the chance to turn around, Laxus' arm was drenched in heavy lightning. As it was brought down like a battering ram, the impact made a thunderous appeal. Again another lightning show flashed, and among the sound of thunder and lightning, rock and debris of the castle surged. The few members close by all screamed as they were engulfed in the lightning. Once the lightning show faded, a few flashes and Laxus stood above his grandfather, standing like a soldier with a hefty bulk.

Makarov was in the center of a crater, his small frame and old age not helping him as he winced in agony. The Guild Master grunted as every bone in his body ached. That last attacked did him in, and he was unable to move.

"Gn-gnnnngh,,,!" Struggled all he might, but the elderly man was in no position to attack. "Laxus…I can't believe they let this happen to you…"

"Master!" Erza called out.

Makarov turned his head. "Erza! Stay back!"

Erza requipped into her Lightning Empress Armor, readying herself. She twirled her spear around, readying her technique. "Don't worry. I can tolerate him."

"You think so?" Ghest challenged. "Go ahead, defeat me, but the only way now to undo the hypnosis is to hit him so hard that he'll fall. Doubt it'll happen though."

Gray stood back up, his hands pressed together. "You think you've won this, but you're dead wrong!"

Juvia stood up alongside him. "Fairy Tail never gives up the fight!"

Gajeel was next. "I was looking for an excuse to punch that light bulb. Now I got the chance."

Natsu smirked, the glee on his face all too clear. "This is so awesome! I can't wait to sock him I the teeth! I've been waiting for this chance for a long time coming! You and me!"

All of the mentioned who were still able to get up readied to attack. They got their spells set, and their attacks were charging up. But as they readied, Cana was gonna make her mark.

"Alright, a little Sun Strength should-!"

"Brownie!" Craig warned.

"Huh?" Cana looked back at Craig, who was instead looking wearily ahead. "What's wrong?"

Craig's eyes narrowed. "Don't be stupid. You know something bad is gonna happen." And truth be told, Craig was right. Cana wanted to argue, but she learned from her experience, and when Craig says something, it's true. He was right, as everyone was running into a deathtrap. Cana knew all too well. She was damaged from that last explosion. She could only watch as the others made the foolhardy choice.

"You're going down, Laxus!" Natsu challenged. His Fire Dragon's Iron Fist connected with Laxus' bare chest. It felt like hitting an iron wall. Natsu's feet planted, but his fist was not moving the Dragon Slayer in the slightest. "Wait, what-GAAAAAH!" Laxus' close-range did have some drawbacks. Natsu was electrocuted right on the spot, high voltage pouring through every vein in his body. The heavy dose of lightning was causing him to stumble backwards, causing him to be open.

"Finish this." Ghest snapped his fingers.

Laxus' eyes widened, and he opened his mouth. A massive roar bellowed, and a heinous beam of lightning fired with great might. The beam was so huge that it could've enveloped the entire guild hall.

Natsu. Gajeel, and everybody else who went too attack; their attacks all faded as they were fried from exposure to Laxus' Lightning Dragon's Roar. Natsu, Gajeel, Gray, Juvia, everyone fell victim. Another explosion of lightning traveled in all directions, with many currents traveling underground and prodding out of the cracks. Nearby debris was obliterated, and Craig and Cana hid behind a singular piece of rock in the distance while bodies and rock flew with the lightning.

When it all settled, Craig and Cana both peeked their heads slowly above the rock mound. Their bodies slowly arose as they began to take in the scenery. The landscape had changed. The rock was reduced to nothing, leaving bare ground in a large radius. The area beyond was rock mound upon rock mound, making stepping stones mixed with paralyzed bodies. Natsu and Gajeel were both dazed, their bodies twitching as they were paralyzed and unable to respond.

Erza was on a knee, huffing and panting close by. Her armor was still in one piece at least, but even though it was supposed to reduce the lightning damage, she could barely tolerate that much. "Laxus' power is too great. I never thought I'd be incapacitated like this so early." She chided to herself, mentally cursing for Laxus' superior prowess. "Damn you…!"

Erza charged again, lunging with her spear. Laxus disappeared in lightning, much to Erza's shock. 'He's faster than before?!' Laxus reappeared above, his hulking physique dominating. Erza was in mid-lunge and was unable to gain footing before Laxus brought his two hands together. Lightning surged crazy and a pillar of light shot up. The ground trembled in fear as it was broken yet again. Erza screamed as her spine was slammed down on by Laxus and his Lightning Dragon's Jaw. The harsh impact was so gruesome that everyone who wasn't blind cringed as they could hear her bones crackle.

Natsu cringed as he saw the feint image of Erza getting struck down by Laxus. "Erza!" He screamed.

The redhead requipped into her default armor once Laxus let up. The hypnotized man stood tall over her. The redheaded S-Class Mage was down, her body coated in static, making her limbs cringe as she was unable to stand. Her teeth gritted.

'That one hit. It was so full of muscle and Magic Power. I don't think I can take another one directly. I can't move either. Damnit! What does it take to defeat him if his power's already through the roof? Even as a guild, are we all that much weaker than him?' She thought in discontent.

Ghest smirked, his sneer escalating to new levels. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this. Fairy Tail's been defeated by its own mage. How's it feel that your most reliable has conquered you?" His eyes narrowed. "Does it make you feel contempt? Despair? Sadness? Well…" He chuckled before inhaling. "We'll take care of that once I finish up the rest of you. I think my next target will be Jura of Lamia Scale, I could use a Wizard Saint in my arsenal of hypnotized underlings." He raised his chin. "Silver Cauldron will stir up all of Fiore in a maelstrom that no one shall be safe from!"

As he laughed, Erza and Natsu and many of the other guild members were unable to respond. They were not strong enough to contain Laxus' overload of Magic Power. By hypnotizing and on command, Ghest was able to draw out Laxus' wrath and highest level of Magic Power. Was there really any hope?

Natsu punched the ground. "Damnit, how the hell are we supposed to bring this guy back to his sense?!"

"End them!" Ghest commanded.

"Hey!"

Ghest raised a brow, humming with question. Laxus' static-brimming body looked up as well, seeing something with a thing jacket tied around their waist, holding three sheaths in place.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you." It was none other than Craig, and he was getting Laxus' attention for sure now.

Ghest raised a brow. "Eh, who are you supposed to be?"

"I wasn't talking to you." Craig spited, making Ghest reel back with shock. He looked back at Laxus. "Hey, I don't care whether or not you're in there, but I'll tell you this. It isn't funny when you end up killing your own when you're not conscious to witness. If you're expecting a laugh, no one's gonna be laughing with this excuse of a miserable joke."

"Oh please, like you have anything to say to reach Laxus." Ghest answered. "Like I said, defeat me, but the only way to end the hypnosis is to defeat Laxus. And we all know that's impossible the way things are now."

Craig pointed a blood red sword at Ghest, catching his attention yet again. The man fell silent as Craig leered at him, a primal gaze so dark and so silent; a ghost was staring at him, and the Guild Master could only look in subtle fright.

"Have it your way." Craig answered.

Cana looked at him. "Craig…"

"Don't say it, Cana. I know." He said. "I'll try not to kill him, but don't expect him to come out of this with no less than a few wounds. You just worry about getting the redhead to safety." His eyes narrowed. "Mistakes sometimes repeat, but I'll put him in his place and snap him out of it."

Cana can understand. Craig was sound and resolute. He refused to let another ally end in the hands of hypnosis. This time, he'll snap him out, and get Laxus' conscience back for sure. Sandra was another story. Her magic was permanent until her death. Until the victim's death. This wasn't Sandra, and as long as he had hope, as long as he never gave up, he will never stop trying to help mindless drones. They were sentient, and they needed to snap back to reality. And Craig wasn't gonna end them as long as they were on his side and they were innocent. He's terrible with promises, and he hates keeping them, but he'll never let hypnosis tale over again. Not while he has a mind of his own.

As Craig and Laxus stared at one another, one with a blood red sword and the other crackling in lightning, their terrorizing fangs and teeth were against the other. This was a battle no one could walk away from.

Cana passed Laxus, grabbing Erza. "I gotcha."

Erza winced in pain. "Cana…"

"Stay still, I'll get you elsewhere." The brunette hoisted Erza's shoulder over her neck and stood up. "This'll be a bit rough, but hang on."

"Okay." Erza winced as Cana started moving away, closer towards Natsu. The immobilized Dragon Slayer was unable to respond as Cana was getting Erza towards him.

"Erza…" Natsu cringed again.

"Natsu…" Erza muttered. She was unable to protect him with her own power. She hated this feeling, but at least she and Natsu weren't dead. "Cana, set me down next to him."

Cana did as told. Once she got to the point, she put Erza down, lying next to Natsu. The brunette huffed in pain as she overlooked her defeated comrades. "You sure you all are gonna be okay?"

Erza nodded. "Yes, thank you." She frowned. "But…"

Cana turned around, looking at Craig. His feet were spread apart and he snapped his jaws, as if he was ready to take a bite out of Laxus. The brunette looked back at Natsu and Erza, her frown more serious.

"I'd rather worry about Laxus if I were you." Was her only say in the matter.

Erza looked ahead. "That's my point…this can go…"

"Erza." Cana stopped the S-Class Mage cold. Her purple eyes darted into Erza's brown ones. Her eyes narrowed, silencing her. "You and I both know how this will turn out. You saw what happened in those flashbacks, and don't you dare deny it…Craig is gonna bring Laxus to his senses."

Natsu and Erza looked at each other, sharing a similar gaze of wonder. They knew Craig was…something else. They saw the flashbacks, and they knew he took down enemies with so much Magic Power that it'd put Gildarts to shame. For Craig, he'll pull through…alone.

Ghest sneered down from high above the rock mounds. "Laxus, destroy that fool."

Laxus clutched his fists, lightning beginning to crackle profusely. He heard the command, and by any means, he was gonna follow it. Anything that stood in his way, he will destroy it. It didn't matter if it was sentient. He must and will end Craig.

Craig kept his blood red sword drawn, pointing it at Laxus with a heightened stance. "I guess it's the hard way."

Laxus disappeared in a bolt of lightning. He ended up directly in front of Craig, with the energy fiercer than ever. He clutched a fist brimming in harsh Dragon Slayer lightning and threw a hook punch down at Craig. Craig flicked his blood red sword over towards his left hand and used his now-open right hand to catch Laxus' attack. Immediately he was met with an immense voltage that coursed through his veins. The discharge of lightning poured with so much intensity, and yet Craig endured it with gritting teeth.

"Is that all you got?" Craig challenged, still blocking Laxus' bulk with the one hand, he swung his left arm in a full loop and slashed upwards, cutting into Laxus' left pectoral and shoulder. The Dragon Slayer lurched and faltered back from the slash and Craig got a foot behind himself. He brought the sword around and attacked in a sideways stab manner, but Laxus grabbed the sharp blade, holding it in place.

The menacing look on Laxus' face was challenged with Craig's own expression, his snarling, authoritative-defiant expression glaring so hard that his eyes were sharp and predatory. Lightning surged down the sword again and Craig was electrocuted with immense levels of Dragon Slayer lightning, and yet he still hung in there, not at all deterred.

"I've felt worse voltage!" He challenged. Compared to the past, where he's dealt with many who specialized in lightning, all he felt was a harsh vibration course through him. It stung only a little, but it didn't hurt as many would think. He twisted his arm and yanked, prying the sword out of Laxus' hold and having the sharp edges cut into the Dragon Slayer's fingers.

Craig twirled the blade around and put it back into its sheath. He readied as he was going to go hands-on.

Laxus charged again, fists coated in lightning. Craig lunged ahead, meeting Laxus in the middle. Craig blocked and parried a number of Laxus' physical assaults with his armbands, which were that if titanium and heavy. He blocked and held his ground, sliding and maneuvering around Laxus as his larger body gave him less maneuverability in this fight. Eventually, Craig found an opening once Laxus went for a lightning-coated kick. He flipped himself so that his head and nose was facing the rolling kick beneath, and his lower body was kicked up, so he had the chance to backwards-axe kick Laxus in the face. The blow was so powerful with the influence of Craig's leg weights that Laxus stumbled backwards.

When he opened his eyes and looked back up, Craig was in front, a fist balled up and reeled it back.

"Smash!"

With a devastating punch to the face, Craig's impact made a bone-cracking sound erupt. Laxus was momentarily dazed as the shock left him in suspense until the shock finally caught up to him. He shot back, leaving a dirt trail to follow.

The enemy found his footing and slid along the round. As he did, he whipped his head up front, disregarding the pain flaring on his left cheekbone. Hands stretched out, he unleashed a barrage of orbs that resembled much like ions. The huge discharge fired like bullets the size of cannonballs and with equal fire power. Craig veered and shifted left and right, sliding and maneuvering around each one that went his way. When one went straight for him, he took a leap and flipped right overhead, dodging and landing as the last of the move exploded in a display of immense lightning power. A discharge field erupted behind Craig, but that only served to give him a tailwind as he closed the gap between him and Laxus.

Craig clutched a fist as he was right beneath Laxus, who brought his hands together with lightning surging so much that the earth beneath crackled with lightning. He brought his Lightning Dragon's Jaw down, just as Craig brought his fist up.

"Soaring Pain!"

Apparently Craig was just a little faster. With a jump added into his uppercut, he unleashed a gruesome uppercut right underneath Laxus' jaw. The impact was so terrifying that it stopped Laxus cold and sent him flying skyward by at least fifteen feet.

Laxus regained himself while in the air and pointed his hands down at Craig. The midair Dragon Slayer unleashed another barrage of overgrown ions, discharging them with the position to make it look like bombs dropping. Craig zoomed and zipped, running to dodge the impending attacks coming from below and dropping with voltage to erupt so hazardously. The ground rumbled and shook violently, but he jumped right through various lines of static that went all over the place.

"You're kidding, right?" Bisca wondered.

"Is he…really putting Laxus on the defensive?" Alzack questioned.

"He's taking him on like he was a chump." Gajeel grunted, his body still partly paralyzed.

Cana looked ahead, disregarding what various comments were being thrown out. It mattered not what they said, for she knew that Craig would win, one way or another. She's watched his numerous fights, and all of the solo ones he's endured always ended with his end on top. She still thought he was despicable, no question, but in the end she always ends up watching him kick ass like a demon.

Craig pivoted and looked up at the incoming bombs. As they fell down, he began to collect upon himself, watching the overgrown ions fall like bombs. As he watched them descend, time began to slow down. He looked on, zeroing in on the energy waves aiming right for him.

'I can see it again, the chi flow.' Craig saw it for sure, and this was as good as an opportunity could get. He saw chi waves crackle and mingle within the condensed spheres of lightning, the lightning orbs themselves but hundreds upon hundreds of strings that Craig could envision.

Finally, he made a jump. He lunged straight up at Laxus, his hands both as light as feathers. As he passed a falling orb of energy, he passed his left palm across, the fingers and the chi flow catching the various waves of energy flaring. Like he did against Essence and the Behemoth, Craig did the impossible, and made the chi flow his own. His left hand was coated in lightning, shaped into a prolonged blade. His right arm did the same thing, grazing an incoming bomb and making another chi blade.

His eyes narrowed, his mind as empty as a hollow shell.

He jumped from bomb to bomb, his feet planted and leaping from one to another like stepping stones. As he jumped, he slashed his blades, the lightning coating his arms slicing straight through incoming attacks until he took the final leap above the last large ion.

"Did he just jump on actual lightning?!" Levy gasped.

"How!?" Elfman exasperated.

Craig slashed a chi blade, the impact so gruesome Laxus screamed out in pain as he fell in a steep slant towards the ground. He landed with an insidious thud, making dust fly. Craig landed, but once he got into his crouched position, he darted after Laxus.

'I have to keep moving. If I stop, the chi flow is gonna end.' He reminded himself.

Laxus emerged from the dust cloud, somewhat enraged. Lightning crackled all around his body, and he extended his hand out as Craig. He fired a roaring blast of lightning that made the earth and land alike shudder in fright. As the blast of lightning went after Craig, he crossed both blades and slashed. The lightning-on-lightning attack making an X formation. Craig beamed right on through, cutting right down the middle and dissipating the blast of lightning.

"What?!" Natsu exasperated.

Craig slid in front of Laxus, pivoting and spiraling in place. The chi blades followed, slashing Laxus with his own lightning a second time. The hypnotized Dragon Slayer stumbled back as Craig was on the offensive. He slashed and didn't let up, and Laxus could only block as his own lightning cut right into his fiber.

Finally reaching a critical point, Laxus jumped away in a backwards skid, missing Craig's horizontal swipe. The Lightning Dragon Slayer opened his mouth, unleashing another Lightning Dragon's Roar of voluminous magnitude. The immense and compressed beam of lighting traveled across the ground, reaching Craig. As the attack closed in, Craig did a vertical flip, the very brink of his body barely missing the intense beam of lightning heading his way. As he flipped, his feet landed on the lightning beam's top, which he used as a stepping stone for a much larger leap.

"That can't be right!" Gray yelled.

"He can actually travel atop of lightning? What kind of energy is he using?" Makarov questioned with intense disbelief.

Craig flipped again, coming down onto Laxus with both blades crossed in another X formation. His teeth gritted, and he was ready to finish this, one way or another. Laxus' attack dissipated, and the Dragon Slayer didn't look like he was gonna survive this next attack.

"Energy Arts – Furious Slice Crash!"

Craig slashed in an X, the lightning blades following him. Just as he was making contact with Laxus, the mage disappeared in a bolt of lightning, dodging the attack. Time slowed down as Craig's shock surmounted him, ending up losing momentum and beginning to fall towards the ground. 'He…vanished?'

Laxus reappeared behind Craig as he continued to fall. The hypnotized mage at full power had his fists coated in lightning and he drove a punch to Craig's left ribs. The impact was so intense that Craig felt his gag reflexes kick in. Pain flared as his chi blades dissipated. With the chi blades gone, Craig had nothing to use against Laxus. Laxus sent Craig flying forwards, but he didn't let up. He lunged ahead, following Craig and forcing him to turn around. He unleashed a barrage of punches to Craig's jaw, abdomen, and all over, keeping him in midair and flying backwards. Craig felt nothing short of intense agony, boiling up with every blow. The lightning was a bonus, but it felt like stabs with every impact. Another blow across his own cheek and he felt his muscles flare with intense pain, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Laxus disappeared in a second bolt of lightning, reappearing behind Craig as he continued to sail backwards. Laxus put both hands together and made them crackle in lightning. He unleashed a sideways Lightning Dragon's Jaw, the blow connecting with Craig's back. Craig's world went blank for just that one moment, and the impact was like a baseball to a bat, because Craig gagged blood as he went soaring skyward, uncontrollably flipping with zero momentum.

"Craig!" Cana yelled out.

Laxus opened his mouth, and static and lightning infiltrated through the gums. With Craig unable to respond properly, he unleashed his attack. Another monstrous beam of lightning blasted from his mouth, another roar that traveled through the sky, making a sideways pillar that reached up towards ten heavens, dissipating any clouds in the sky. Craig was engulfed in the monstrous attack, a wall of sheer voltage hitting him head-on.

A yellow explosion engulfed the skies, making everyone cover up as overflowing lightning reached them from the scouring above. The pain was far from okay as their arms tingled in lightning.

The explosion settled, dissipating dust from below. As Laxus stood tall and full of confidence, Craig fell from the sky, looking like he wasn't able to move. He fell on his side with an ear-splitting thud, making the rock beneath that broke his fall shatter. He let out another horrendous shout of pain, his body suffering from voltage and stunning pain again.

He winced on the ground, his eyes opening back up. His sharp teeth gritted to subdue any pain accumulating. Persevering, he tried to get up, craning his neck to stare at Laxus. His anger and annoyance was at a peak, and yet he w=refused to stay down.

"You're still alive? Even after all of those full power attacks?" Ghest speculated with shock. "You must have some crazy death wish, kid."

Craig stomped, finally back on his feet. He was bruised and battered, but he was far from panting. Static overflowed his body, though he was fighting paralysis with all that he had. Erza and Natsu and the others were just overcoming their own paralysis, and they couldn't move, but Craig took a roar head on and he was moving like he got out of bed. The static all around him was fairly great, but it wasn't something to hold him back.

"I'll make this clear for you." He said. "You will never win. The bad guy never wins in the end." He stomped yet again. "Come on! Was that really your best shot?! I've been hit by a freakin mountain and gods! You think you can stop me?! Hit me with your best shots, assholes!" He challenged with an exasperated roar. One could say Craig may have gone mad, but it's true that he's suffered far worse, hence his body still moving with every gesticulation.

"Is he nuts?!" Warren exclaimed.

"He just might get killed!" Wendy shuddered in fright.

"Craig! Stop!" Makarov yelled out.

Ghest's eyes narrowed; left eye twitching. His anger was reaching a critical point. He had it with Craig. He wanted him gone. "Grrr! Fine! We'll have it your way! Laxus! Kill him!"

Laxus gathered a great swell of lightning, his Magic Power blooming with so much monstrous force. The Dragon Slayer opened his mouth, firing a much stronger blast of his Lightning Dragon's Roar. The roar was almost twice as big as it was before. The ground nearly split into fragments with cracks resembling lightning as the attack traveled across the ground. The beam was making way for Craig as he hunched over, raising a row with a twisted snarl as all he saw was yellow.

He embraced the impact heading his way, knowing that no matter what, he will not let Laxus have his way. As he was low on options, he knew he couldn't dodge, nor block, and cutting through it would be another story. He could probably do that, but something was telling him to just…wait. Everything for Craig went from yellow to black as the attack closed its gap, and the roaring of the incoming attack seemed to fade away into a silence.

Craig, still nine it seemed. He was in his green hakamas and top, and he was standing in the lush flat top with a view of a ninety or hundred-year-old man who was still kicking with no brakes in his compartment. The man looked at Batto-Ba, petting him with a soft grin. The large wyvern growled low in satisfaction.

He looked around, looking at the nearby rock slab that looked to be a makeshift bench. Curious as he was, he waltzed on over and looked down at the rock slab. It was half an inch thick, but looked fairly sturdy. He looked down at his two fingers.

"Hmmm…how did he do that chi thing again?" He questioned. The first thing he recounted was him closing his eyes, and then channeling the energy. He exhaled, and inhaled. Exhaled, and inhaled. He calmed himself, trying to focus all of his chi to bending and coursing into his fingertips. He took a minute, but when he finally got it, he struck down with his two fingers like a chop, hitting the slab of rock. At first he thought it was a delayed reaction, but the rock was unmoved, as was Craig. His eyes slowly misted up as his two fingers began to swell.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" He yelled, holding his two swollen fingers as they were in pain. "Ow! Stupid rock!"

He heard an old laughter from behind, the attention he was getting finally received. Craig turned around, and saw the old man and wyvern looking at him. "I see you're still trying to get the chi concept down." The old man grinned.

Craig turned away at his own embarrassment. "Stupid rock."

The old man laughed yet again. "Don't fret, Craig, you'll get there. I'll help you out."

Craig turned around, the swelling finally settling down. "Your chi is too good! You can shatter boulders with two fingers, you can move paper beneath bowls, and you can even do…" He tried an odd and wild swiping motion. "That!"

The smiling old man chuckled yet again. "Yes, I suppose this stuff does take years to develop. Well, we'll keep practicing with that, but for now, why don't I keep your eyes up to where they should be, what do you say?"

Craig frowned. Ever since he witnessed the chi blades, the rock smashing, and the paper spinning, he's been practicing with his teacher's back turned. He's only had little progress, but he thought he was getting there. A few setbacks including headaches and near-broken appendages, but nothing Craig couldn't recover from.

"Okay." He huffed.

"Good, what I'll be showing you is very much like an adaptation of the technique I developed from the chi blades, can you explain what the steps are?"

"Uh…feel the energy in your arms…uh, relax muscles, and…uh…no thinking, but picture the flow of chi coming at you…?" He sounded questionable. Even he kind of forgot. It was all starting go by instinct in his books that he had trouble explaining.

"Close. You need to relax all muscles, and clear your mind. Only picture the flow of chi and the waves of energy that flow like rivers in the tips of your fingers. An energy wave coming right at you, you need to make it become one. That's the chi blade method. However, this next technique is gonna be different." The old man walked away, over to where Batto-Ba was. He stood several feet away from the wyvern, readying himself.

"This technique, it has the same steps. You need to relax, clear your mind, and you have to picture. But now you have to do more than just shape and bend it as a weapon."

Craig blinked. "Like…?"

"You need to make it…as a projectile."

"A projectile?" Craig questioned. "You mean like return the attack to its sender."

"Exactly, BUT, if you can do this correctly, then you can send it back with twice the stored power, perhaps three times." He explained. He faced Batto-Ba, his hands spread out. "The next steps, they're to see and picture the chi flow. Then, you have to guide that flow into a compressed point. You need to guide so much that it can fit into a single point only you can bend and compress. Once you believe you gathered enough…you release. Batto-Ba!"

The wyvern opened his mouth, gathering energy to fire a beam. Craig watched in anticipation as to how his tutor was gonna defend. With the blade technique? But he said he was gonna compress it into a sphere?

The wyvern unleashed his blast of energy at the old man. The old man did not move to block or dodge. All he really did was take a deep breath, calmed his mind, and he swerved his arms into small circles. As the small energy blast closed in, he got a foot behind for some traction. The blast made contact, but the beam diverged, and it followed the flow of his arms into a single spot, like a small spiral converging onto a single point. Craig was wide-eyed as the old man was taking in more and more of the small beam and it was being molded and shaped into a compressed sphere of energy in his center. Batto-Ba let up, allowing for the old man to show Craig the compressed energy in his palms.

"Whoa." Craig muttered.

"You see? I channeled the chi of the attack into a single point. And notice what I'm doing?" He referred towards his abdomen, where his hands were cupping and suppressing each different section of the sphere the size of a baseball. The blue energy was perfectly round, and it looked very much contained.

The old man turned towards the blue sky, facing away from the sun in the west. "Now watch as I unleash all of my energy." He hunched over and brought the hands behind the sphere. He raised them, and he let out a loud scream as he projected all of the compressed chi skyward. The energy stored and compressed was twice as powerful as it was when unleashed onto him, and he sent all of that energy into a large beam. The beam was twice as large as the one Batto-Ba fired, and it roared with so much intensity. It could've been seen from miles away all the way up into the sky.

Craig's mouth gaped wide, his shock so great that he was borderline paling. Awesome couldn't even begin to summarize what he had just witnessed. The chi blades were great in close-range, and now he had an offensive to learn for long-range.

The man looked back at Craig, grinning as he looked at his shocked face. "Ho! I see chi's fun, right?" His eyes opened again, but his gaze, it was much more serious, just like after he showed Craig that chi blade technique. "Craig, do you remember what I said before? You can do this."

Craig's head tilted. "I could?"

The old man smiled. "I have no doubt in my mind. You CAN do it. You'll remember; remember that you have this special gift, a gift unlike any other. If you mix that with your chi…you can turn any form of magic into your own defense. You'll stop large rocks and beasts with just a stare, or even bend fire, run on lightning. You can change the world's face, and make it something new that no one ever could have before."

Craig's eyes widened, a gasp escaping his throat.

The roar of Laxus' attack erupted, engulfing everything within sight in a harsh explosion of sheer lightning. The lightning itself, obliterated the earth beneath, and the shockwaves were so potent that the fallen mages were turned over. Natsu and everyone else close by covered up as the earth rumbled in fright and terror. Happy and the other Exceeds were sent flying off randomly, and many more barely held on as the sheer roar seemingly obliterated, nee, leveled everything.

"He's exerting so much Magic Power!" Cana shouted out.

"I can't believe Laxus has this much! It's insane!" Gray yelled through the maelstrom.

Everyone held on as the dust and raging earth shuddered with ferocity beyond comprehension. They all hung ion, and soon enough, the blast wave finally dissipated. The waves of electricity crackled through the cracks in the ground, and the flashing was beginning to disperse.

Ghest smirked. "Heh, I knew I could draw the full power of the mightiest of mages. At last, I got rid of some impudent scum!"

As he laughed, Laxus stared at the dissipating dust cloud. His bright yellow eyes went wide when he saw something within the dust cloud, conjuring something. The dust cloud whisked itself off, and it revealed Craig.

Ghest's eyes widened. "What? Impossible!"

Natsu's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "No way!"

"He survived?!" Gray yelled.

Erza looked perplexed. "He didn't even look like he suffered a single scratch from that attack. But how could he endure such a…" She trailed off as she looked at the energy that was all around him. The static and discharged energy waves were all drawing into the center. "What is he…?"

Cana move a piece of rock over her off to the side. She looked back at Craig, seeing as how he was doing something weird. "Craig?"

In Craig's center, he was cupping and containing what appeared to be a yellow sphere. It was no bigger than a baseball, but it was pure lightning that he got to converge from Laxus' immense roar. All of that Magic Power that was supposed to hit him spiraled and converged towards the tip. His arms were coated in static, but they didn't look stressed. He stared ahead, glowering at Laxus with a clear conscience.

Cana was gain startled. "Cranky, you persevered?!"

Ghest clutched his fists. "Grr! How?! I put that spell's capacity to 110%. You shouldn't even be alive!"

"Drawing out power through rage and hypnosis, bending those to do your bidding. You're a very skewed human being." Craig cursed. He moved his hands around the sphere, keeping the energy contained.

Ghest swiped his arm from atop his rocky unstable perch. "Laxus, kill that defiant twerp! Another roar!"

Laxus opened his mouth, and a massive flow of energy began to surge for the umpteenth time. He released another blast of lightning that went blazing across the ground, heading after Craig. The attack closed on in, and Craig kept moving his hands around the small sphere, keeping its shape. His eyes narrowed as the next attack came after him. Getting a foot behind, Craig held his ground, extending his arms ahead and swirling the chi from the incoming lightning around, channeling into the compressed sphere of lightning. The monstrous beam kept raging, and yet Craig was using the chi flow and whirling it so that it was transcending into the biding lightning. The ground shuddered and numerous sparks flared from the sphere, crackling with so much intensity. Craig suffered a crackling sting everywhere he moved his arms, but he was channeling the remnant energy still around into the compression state, morphing a slightly larger sphere of lightning; this one crackling like crazy.

"He channeled Laxus' attack." Gajeel observed with immense shock.

"You're kidding. Just how many more surprises is this guy about?" Gray wondered with shock. "I know this guy doesn't have magic, but how else is he doing that…?"

Craig glared ahead as he was still handling the massive energy in his palms. The sphere was overwhelming, but nothing he wasn't gonna get through. He looked on as Ghest was losing his patience. This next one would decide it.

Clutching his fists, Ghest was out of breath. He was scared. He had to defeat Craig. He had to use Laxus' most powerful spell. With the amount of magic he had, it should be no problem. Right? He never had a lot of magic, but as long as he had a lot supplied by other powerful mages, then he should be in the clear. He snapped his fingers, his agitation causing him to yell out.

"Use the last of your magic at full blast! Obliterate him!"

Laxus raised his hands, a large magic circle appearing over his head. All of the lightning that was centered around Laxus drew into the circle, where a massive halberd of pure lightning was morphing. The intensity was so great that the ground beneath cracked some from the pressure given off. This was Laxus' more powerful version of spells: Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd.

Craig remained silent and steadfast as he watched Laxus throw the sphere with all of his might. The attack traveled, creating the sound of thunder with every yard crossed. The halberd closed in at rapid speed, many worried that wasn't gonna be able to handle it.

But Craig doesn't stand up for no reason.

The halberd collided with Craig's sphere. Craig swirled his arms around and yelled out as he was trying to suppress the energy that was coming at him. The impact was so powerful that it was pushing him back, his feet sliding against the ground. Still, the massive flow of pure lightning converged, compressing as his chi flow was containing the full impact and biding it into the sphere. Lightning discharged on so many levels, but no matter what, Craig refused to have himself be beaten by his own impulse. He had every bit of his chi channel and guide the energy within the lightning, making it surge into the compressed sphere.

Once he came to a stop, he maintained his footing, and kept cupping the sphere of lightning. Static still struck him, but he was far from deterred as he compressed the sphere into a smaller fragment. Everyone watching was paralyzed in astonishment as Craig had in his hands Magic Power channeled and controlled by his chi. He stared ahead, his position proper.

Ghest was wide-eyed. "W-what?! N-no! No!" He looked down at Laxus. "Fire again!"

Laxus clutched his fists, veins popping out of his Dragon Slayer body, and yet he could only gather a few sparks. Otherwise, he was depleted. Ghest looked back up, horrified.

"Time for you to wake up!" Craig screamed. He surged and swirled his hands around, guiding the small sphere.

"Energy Arts – Bide Exploder!"

As Craig yelled out that attack name he made up on the spot, he brought his head forward, shooting his arms straight out at Laxus. The compressed energy was finally unleashed in a monstrous yellow beam of Dragon Slayer Lightning. Enormous amounts of dust and winds went flying like shockwaves on all sides as the lightning blast went back at Laxus with far more power than anyone could have expected. The beam was so wide and so potent that it was like the Jupiter Cannon – only three times greater!

Laxus gasped and went wide-eyed. He was unable to respond due to being hypnotized, but he was left stunned as the sudden burst of power went after him in one go. The beam swallowed him whole, and all that was seen was yellow. Everyone covered up as a yellow explosion erupted like crazy. The explosion shot billions of lights and voltage straight up into the sky, flashing and flickering like pillars disappearing and reappearing. The shockwaves from the discharge also exploded, expanding so far out that everyone was engulfed into the cataclysmic waves that leveled everything in sight. Dust and high winds surged like a hurricane added in with a thunderstorm, lightning and yellow blinding everything and everyone.

Cana was right beside Erza, covering up as gigavolts of lightning, dust, rock, and shockwaves passed her. The brunette's hair flared hysterically as she tried to keep herself from flying off like the rest.

"So much power!" Erza shouted, but was blocked out by the unshakable roar of thunder that rattled everyone's eardrums down to the tissue.

The ground shattered, rock and earth spilling lightning everywhere. The discharge was so great that the ground gave in, sending everything into a hurricane of insanity. No one could see straight as they were blind by the impending blast waves.

After about a minute, everything finally began to clear up. Static no longer filled the atmosphere, and Makarov coughed. Dust enveloped everything, everyone else on leveled ground as the rock they laid on was decimated. The old master coughed yet again, looking around. "What in heaven's name…?"

Natsu supported Erza, both finding their footing as the dust was eye leveled. "Erza, are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think so." Erza answered, though that blast did knock her for a good loop, but Natsu fared no better as he was badly wounded in all the wrong places.

Cana, Lucy, and all of the other Fairy Tail Mages stood up, peering through the thinning dust to find Craig and Laxus both still standing, both sides severely bruised and dirty. Their bodies were all rugged with dirt kicked up. Static dissipated from either side, and each panted with heavy labored breaths. Craig wobbled some, barely supporting himself with a hand against one knee.

There was a long pause, with Craig looking ready to keel over, but he stood tall and kept his feet beneath. Laxus, on the other hand, had been wobbling. At long last, the mighty Dragon Slayer, with supposed immense Magic Power, had fallen. He thudded on his side, his thud booming. His body returned to normal, his eyes shut as he was unconscious at long last.

Craig lifted himself, grinning. "Took long enough." He mumbled.

Makarov's eyes widened. "It can't be…"

Levy sprung up. "Yeah! Alright!"

"He stopped Laxus!" Jet exclaimed.

"Thank God!" Droy shouted.

"Wait…he beat Laxus?!" Reality hit Natsu hard. He had wide eyes and was beyond shocked. When he had to fight Laxus, he needed help, and barely won if not for Gajeel helping out. Craig, however, didn't need help, and he stood tall in the end while Laxus was eating dirt.

Cana pumped a fist. "Cranky, now that's how you kick ass!"

Craig craned his neck around, letting out a loud roar all throughout the area. The rocky quarry was nothing but flattened land thanks to that attack, with a few scattered rock mounds here and there. Everyone cheered as they've claimed victory, their satisfaction overwhelming them. They got Laxus back, and it was thanks to the arrival of Craig and Cana alike.

Elsewhere, Ghest moved the rock that covered him. He coughed as that last impact blew him away. He tried to pick himself up, albeit discretely. He stumbled up to his feet, keeping himself stable as he looked on as the Fairy Tail Mages were gathering around Craig…only for him to snarl back, maintaining a distance from the others. Clearly backpats were the least of his concern.

Slowly, Ghest began to creep away. "Uh, I think it's best that I should-!" A blinding flash suddenly came from behind. He went stiff from that light, and the next instant he found himself in a card. The card carrying him fluttered to the ground.

"Hey, let me out! Let me out! Damnit!" He screamed, banging against the card's inside like a glass box.

Cana put a hand to her hip. "Don't think we forgot about you." She warned.

Inside the card, Ghest sweated bullets, nervous as to what would transpire.

Barely on their feet, the Thunder God Tribe began to close in onto Laxus. They all got to a knee, their shock overwhelming them. "Is he okay?!" Evergreen exclaimed in fright.

"I-I don't know! He was just blasted with his own magic for crying out loud! And at least three times the power!" Bickslow exclaimed.

Freed discerned Laxus' injuries. "These wounds committed, they can't be too fatal. We were lucky that Craig swore he wouldn't kill Laxus, but that last blow was enough to turn the plains themselves upside down…" He reached over, checking Laxus' arm. He sighed, relieved of what he was hearing.

"Well…?" Bickslow asked.

Free backed off. "He's outcold, but I don't think he'll be up for quite some time. In any case, he still has a pulse. And now that Ghest has been incapacitated, he should be back to normal in no time."

Bickslow and Evergreen turned towards the other, huge smiles on their faces. They were so happy to hear that.

Craig looked at the defeated Laxus, staring just for a short while as he thought of Jim. His eyes soften as he looked away. 'At least I made things right.'

---

That evening came by quicker than what many had anticipated. They all arrived back at the guild hall just as the evening skies rolled around. The conclusion was fairly simple. Ghest and the rest of Silver Cauldron had been apprehended, their guild name terminated, and all legal and illegal information acquired by them was seized by the custody. Meanwhile, Fairy Tail celebrated their victory, although with the condition everybody was in, a scuffle wasn't gonna happen anytime soon.

"Cheers!" A number of Fairy Tail Mages held mugs up in celebration of their own homecoming, as included the Thunder God Tribe. They all were so thrilled, just as Fairy Tail was meant to be.

Elfman raised his arm. "Yeah, we stuck it out like real me-ow!" He winced, the pain still grand.

"Take a deep breath. We're all still a little banged up from earlier." Mirajane advised.

Lisanna giggled. She looked over to where Gajeel, Gray, Juvia, and Lucy were, all of which were talking it out. "This day certainly went from bad to good."

At the table, Lucy smiled as she continued her conversation. "Yeah, I was still shocked myself."

"Hypnotism to bring out full power, no that's low." Gajeel grunted.

"If Craig and Cana didn't arrive, I shudder to think what you've happened." Juvia sighed.

"Speaking of those two…" Gray's gaze veered away from the group over towards another table. There, he saw Craig and Cana sitting directly opposite of one another. One was drinking, while the other put his head down on his crossed arms.

Cana finished her mug – her fifth one to be exact. With a hefty sigh, she grinned. "Yeah, now we're talking."

Craig turned his head away, growling as he was trying to drown out the noise pollution. "You guys really are a bother if you can't shut up." He sneered.

"Well that's Fairy Tail. We're rowdy even on rainy days." Cana said.

"Maybe a hurricane will shut you all up so I can sleep." Craig growled.

"A hurricane? Really. If it did happen, perhaps it'll whisk you away and drop you off somewhere else." Cana mused.

Craig adjusted his head and raised a brow. "Wouldn't be the first time. Happened before."

Cana blinked. "Wait…it did?"

"Twice." Craig held up two fingers. "One carried me to the other side of the country. Other carried me from the ocean to an island 50 miles away. The screwed up world has wonders."

Cana didn't know how to respond to that. She looked away, grabbing her sixth mug. "You're weird." She mused.

"And you're a nutcase." Craig snarked.

Before another comment could be exchanged, Natsu came along, and not just him, but Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Erza were all present as they approached Craig. All five of them got the two's attention.

"Hey, guys!" Natsu beamed.

Craig twisted his brow. "What now?"

Natsu crossed his arms, smirking. "We just thought we'd stop by, say hello."

Erza nodded. "Indeed. Fairy Tail has a great deal of commemoration to uphold. If not for you two arriving, we might not have gotten Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe to safety." She praised.

"Aye! That was super awesome! Craig was all like 'WHAM'! And then he did that thing at the end, like 'BOOOM'!" Happy did hefty exaggeration as he tried to mimic Craig's last technique. Craig's eyes narrowed, unimpressed, and more annoyed than ever.

Carla huffed in irritation. "What the tomcat is trying to say is how did you do all of that? Those attacks were beyond caliber, yet were they really magic?"

Natsu raised a brow. "Yeah, spill it."

Craig's eyes opened up, glaring hefty daggers at the three. He opened his mouth, showing his many sharp teeth. While some normal human teeth were evident, the fact he could eat an animal's head clean off scared them silly; it most certainly didn't help that he snarled.

"You all make me sick." He sneered. "I wanted my privacy, and you went and stuck your noses where they didn't belong." He paused briefly, glaring even at Erza. "I had every right to keep my history to myself, and you all went and deliberately traumatized yourselves. You know by now why I never spill my own secrets, and yet here you are, trying to extort me." His eyes narrowed and sharpened, his threatening disposition sending a chill down their spines. "Now you listen well. I hold crap for you guys when it comes to respect. You all are just a pain in the ass, and I gotta go and clean up your messes. If you want anything more out of me, it'll be my guts rather than anything you haven't seen from those memories you had to endure."

All of Fairy Tail went silent. Clearly even they were hearing Craig's deadly threat. And yet, everything he said…it was true. They violated his space, and now he holds no respect, not that he did to begin with. They all felt their cores rot when they recounted where Craig froze up before saving Laxus, clearly he was still traumatized, and forever will be. They all looked away, recounting the number of times he's cried. They crossed lines, they admit, and Craig had every right ever since the start to hate them. But the pity was really put on Craig, but Craig took it in stride since pity would only make him feel like misting in the eyes.

"We're sorry." Erza apologized. She knew that a simple apology wouldn't cover it in the slightest. A diary is one thing, but memories to one's own accord was equally downright wrong. Her curiosity did, however, reveal that Craig's suffered hundreds of gory experiences such as wars and concentration camps, slavery, and deaths. The battles he's waged were beyond extreme as well.

Craig looked away. "Whatever."

Wendy, however, tried to steer the conversation to a lighter note. "But we were thankful that you came around when you did." She said.

Cana grinned. "Guess so."

Wendy then asked another question. "So Cana…where were you yesterday?"

Cana's eyes widened, and Craig's did too. Both were caught surprised by the question. Both turned to look at the other, the shock on their faces the exact same. The memories of the past two days came rolling back into their minds. They remembered Cana comforting Craig, sleeping and holding him tight and soundly like a baby. She remembered yesterday, where she and Craig exchanged stories, and had some meals together; their snarking going on for a few times as well. The duo went blank.

Cana stared bluntly at Wendy. "Hell."

Wendy tilted her head in confusion.

"Hey, Craig." Craig's ear twitched as he heard his name. He looked on over, noticing Bickslow walking on over.

"Yeah, what is it?" He asked.

"The Master wants a word with you." He said. "Says it's pretty important."

Craig let out a groan. He knew something like this was gonna go down. "Geez…" He got up from his table. "Cranky is suckish enough, now I gotta deal with that crabby old timer? Just my luck." He sarcastically mused.

Cana raised the mug to her lips. "Sounds to me you're hitting the jackpot." She teased.

"Drink yourself into a comma while you're at it. I ain't stopping ya." Craig barked back.

---

Inside of the office, Makarov sat on one of his chairs. He was looking stern and patient. He was just waiting for when he'd get to meet Craig again. His old heart was beating, and he knew he was gonna be conversing with a broken man, who's seen things far beyond his years. He had every right to be anxious, because Craig's taken down monstrous enemies with near-infinite power before, and him being pissed and cranky was a bonus.

Beside him was Laxus, his own will and conscience back. His head was hung as his entire body from head to toe was covered in bandages. His arms were crossed and he was looking worn out. He came around just about two hours ago, and he had gotten out of bed just recently.

The door opened and close. They both looked ahead as Craig waltzed on in. "You called?" He asked.

Makarov looked up at him. "Craig Crius, I've been expecting you. Your timing in the battle was impeccable. We owe so much for your help."

Craig craned his held up. "You don't owe me anything. I don't need anything, besides space and for your little party outside to shut up." He replied.

Makarov huffed. "As I expected. I'm sure Erza apologized for what we did."

Craig knew what he meant, but he wasn't having it. "If you're here to talk about my memories…then we have nothing to speak about." He began to turn, but Master called out.

"It's not that!" He yelled. "Listen…you have every right to hate us, you can loathe and disrespect us. But please, allow us to show gratitude for saving Laxus."

Craig looked back, slowly turning himself back forward to face the duo. He faced Laxus, who sat back in the chair. The two had a long stare-off before one broke the silence.

"So, you're the one everyone talks about, but are too afraid to look at, huh?" Laxus asked, his demeanor back as well. "You're Craig, right."

"Yeah, and you're Laxus." Craig answered.

"Heard how you saved this guild's ass all by yourself." He looked down at the ground. "I really did all of that…"

"Don't beat yourself up over what happened, got it?" Craig said. "You were hypnotized. If anyone's to blame, it's that hypnotic damnation that Brownie managed to stow and take out. It ain't your doing, no matter how much devastation it was."

Laxus looked back up at Craig, right into his sea-blue eyes. Craig's words weren't wrong, but this guilt was going to take time for Laxus to recover from. Still, the Lightning Dragon Slayer was grateful for Craig stopping him. He remembered it took a few hefty numbers to subdue him before, but Craig was a one-man army. This was going to be over his head for quite some time.

"So, Craig, what will you do now?" Makarov asked.

Craig crossed his arms and looked away towards the carpet. He was wondering himself. "…not sure. You guys just might end up dead if you try and help me in my cause, and I'd rather not be there." He mournfully spoke.

Makarov looked down at the ground. "We understand. Those who said they wouldn't help, they ended up helping in the end…and now…" He trailed off as he recounted all of those who swore they'd stay out of Craig's way and his own road to remembrance, only they end up helping and dying. And in the end, Craig still didn't get clues. "I know you're a soul in need, but if we end up dead, we'll try and be sure it's not by your cause. That prospect has been drilled into our heads. But still, if you have anywhere to go, we won't stop you."

Craig turned his back, facing the doorway. There was another small silence as he was pondering. He wanted to leave, but ever since meeting Cana, he was beginning to figure out himself more and more. It was like Cana was a key, a key to help him persevere. He couldn't explain, but something was compelling him to just…stay and learn. "Just don't be too big of noses from now on, got it?"

That was all he said before he walked out, declaring himself to stay. As he walked back to Cana, his lips broke into a small grin.

"Hey, Brownie, you in a comma yet?"

---

The man in the cloak was standing on the lush plateau. His cloak shifted in the night winds, his extraordinary prowess making the winds shift north instead of west. The waxing crescent of the nighttime moon was beginning to arise from behind, the lake shimmering with the moon's reflection.

The man looked away, a small grin on his face. "That took longer than I had hoped."

Behind him, lying amongst the shrubs was Deity, her body lifeless, her eyes still open with horror written into them. She failed miserably, but she never stood a chance in the beginning. Her enemy, he was so much prowess, it was uncanny.

The cloaked man turned around, facing the lake. "I'm sorry, but you are needed. You've been hiding much too long. The time has drawn near. Your kind's power will help us reshape the world, a world that we can bend to our desire. He raised his head, the moonlight revealing his red pupils. His half-grin was evident. "You are the first of many to be discovered, Three-Gem."

In the lake's watery surface, there he was, the Three-Gemmed Great One Deity tried so hard to protect. The beast was upside down, showing some marks resulted from injury of sorts. It was unconscious, and it looked battered as its clam-like helmet was open, revealing its shut eyes.

"The supposed Acnologia would be demolished by your kind's power…" He smirked as he drew near. "But…I ain't no Acnologia. Your use will help desecrate all that's ben disobedient from that start. The world shall be reborn…one Gemmed-Beast at a time."

---

Sorry for the wait, but here's the latest chapter! This one, I made 3 times as long, just so I could cram the rest of the Silver Cauldron Arc in. Hope you guys loved the CraigxCana moments, as well as the various memories you read of Craig's past. I made one from the 4-years, and one that was forgotten, but then remembered. I did my best to make the big fight as intense as could get, which was Craig against Laxus, and Craig learning a new technique other than the chi blades.

As always, review and throw in a comment! Thanks for reading another thrilling chapter!