Chapter 21 – Lightning Round
Making this into a two-part battle. Either you'll be shocked (not literally), surprised, wanting more, or all of the above.
For the record, last chapter got 8 Reviews, so that's an achievement. I'll keep up the progress.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon nor Fairy Tail, they belong to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Hiro Mashima. I also do not own Sophie, as she was an idea from DeoxysSpeed.
To Recap:
Nic had Staraptor help him in defeating Evergreen and turning the girls back to normal. Just after, Laxus makes his Thunder Palace, but Nic countered by having his Garchomp destroy every single lacrima. Sophie gets help from Staraptor and Greninja in order to defeat Bickslow. Freed takes down Cana and nearly kills Elfman, which was when Mira snapped and unleashed her Satan Soul to defeat Freed, but forgave him in the end. Nic meets up with Mystogan and the two walk over towards the Kardia Cathedral, determined to stop Laxus.
Chapter 21 – Lightning Round
"So boy, why is it that you're not participating in the Fantasia Parade this year?" Makarov asked seriously towards a younger Laxus, who literally turned his back.
"Nobody even cares if I'm there or not." Laxus said. He then turned sharply back at his grandpa. "In case if you haven't noticed, everyone always refers to me as your grandson." He sounded rather accusing and harshly. "I'm never called Laxus, I'm just called Makarov's grandson! It's like I get no credit. It's like my life is in the shadow of the Guild Master!"
Makarov narrowed his eyes. "Ah, so that's what this is all about."
"It's bad enough living in your shadow, but you crossed the line expelling dad!"
Makarov looked down at the floor in slight remorse and quite little guilt for his son being overlooked. "I'm sorry.'
Laxus pointed a finger at him. "Don't give me that crap old man! Where's your heart?" Makarov huffed and sighed. "You didn't have to kick my dad out!" Makarov sighed and looked even more upset and guilty for such actions. "Why?!"
Makarov looked back up at his grandson and explained. "Your father had tried and put great harm on all of us. He had dealt pain to Fairy Tail."
He had a point and Laxus couldn't disagree. "Okay, so he made a few stupid mistakes, but that still doesn't change the fact that he's my dad! He's your son dammit!"
"Flesh and blood or not, an member who would endanger the lives of his brethren must be banished without exception! That's how this guild was preserved over the years, and it's the way Fairy Tail always worked!" Makarov barked.
"Then why not kick me out too, huh?! That way I can go join his new guild and me and dad can work together!" Laxus retorted with such disturbing information.
Makarov gasped at the fact Ivan had his own guild now. "He's established his own guild?! Where is it?! Where is he?! If you know, tell me!"
Laxus turned his back and ignored him. "Find him yourself." He then began walking away.
Makarov reached out. "Please you must tell me at once! Ivan left with information that could harm Fairy Tail! It's life or death! The guild is at stake!" Makarov explained with a hint of plead.
Laxus stopped, but didn't bother to turn around. "That's your fault. I'll surpass you one day, but for my sake alone." He then turned with a cold look. "And you'll live under my shadow."
"Can't say I didn't warn you old man." Laxus coldly stated, getting up from the step, feeling a strong Magic energy approaching outside. "The Thunder Palace may have been destroyed, but I guess I should fight to the very end."
The doors open, revealing Mystogan and Nic calmly walking in. Laxus had a grin on his face as he had expected to see the two. "Well, well. Mystogan and Nic. Been expecting you two.
The two stared at Laxus with discontent.
"Laxus, your Thunder Palace had tried and brought harm. If it wasn't for Nic's friend, this situation would be far more drastic." Mystogan said.
"Give me a break." Laxus said. "You only came to find out who the strongest is." Laxus chuckled. "I'm surprised really. Didn't expect you to be the competitive type."
"He's not." Nic stated cool and collected-like. "This isn't even a competition, it's a massacre you were about to make."
"Oh really?" Laxus grinned even bigger. "How are you so sure?"
"Don't play games Laxus. We've had enough of that already." Mystogan said. "The strongest in Fairy Tail doesn't come from just blood."
"You're on to talk. I wonder if you are really on par with me, Mystogan." Laxus said.
"Don't be so witty as to forget Erza. If you can't put her into the equation, you're a blind Zubat in a storm" Nic said.
Laxus raised a brow. "You kidding me, that red-head. I admit she has spunk, but she's weak, and so are you Mystogan, or should I say-!"
Nic and Mystogan both snapped, Nic as Laxus called Erza weak, and Mystogan for almost having his alias mentioned. Nic transformed into his Meadow Plate Form and launched a Magical Leaf, as to where Mystogan used the Magic stave in his hand and fired a blast from it. Laxus used his reflexes and fired a lightning blast to intercept the two attacks.
There was a vast explosion that resulted from the collision. The blast shattered the class all about and some of the pipes were damaged on the organ behind Laxus.
With Erza and Co.
Erza had just met up with Sophie, Greninja, Staraptor, Natsu, Lucy, Gajeel, and Happy. The four rendez-vous at the center of town, where they all reported with no sight of Laxus.
"Was anything found?" Erza asked.
Happy and Lucy both shook their heads. "No, not a trace of him." Happy said, floating right next to Lucy.
"Man, Laxus has gone and hid himself better than we'd expected." Lucy said.
"That jerk is a pechdan and a mamzer! He should know better than to harm his allies." Sophie swore calmly.
Erza turned towards her. "Well since the Thunder Palace is down, we can find Laxus with more time."
Natsu had a fist in his palm, having so much energy from being free from the Enchantment thanks to Levy. "We better find him and soon. We owe him some serious payback."
Sophie nodded. "Agreed."
Erza nodded as well. "We should split up again and take different-!" They then heard an explosion in the distance. They heard it echo slightly, alarming the group.
Everyone turned northeast, where the sound came from.
"Sounds like a serious ruckus to me." Gajeel confirmed with crossed arms. They all saw smoke rise slightly over at the Kardia Cathedral.
"It's at the church!" Natsu confirmed.
"So, that means it's at Kardia Cathedral." Erza stated.
"So, who could it be?" Lucy questioned, seeing the smoke clear.
"Only one way to find out." Natsu grinned and he started running.
"Sounds like the fun begins." Gajeel grinned and started after Natsu.
Erza, Sophie, Lucy, and Happy all ran in pursuit and they headed off towards where the church was.
With Nic and Mystogan
The dust and smoke had cleared, and Mystogan's cape was flowing about gently, as was Nic's coat, even Laxus's. The wind had ceased and the three were left untouched by the attack.
"Tell me." Mystogan said. "How do you know about that?"
Nic turned towards Mystogan with some suspicion. This sounded so classified that not even Laxus was suppose to know. Nic tried to brush it off and focus back on his own worries.
"And you just called Erza weak." Nic added, finding Laxus calling Erza such a weakling in front of him was something that shouldn't be said.
Laxus grinned, rather shocked and amused. "My, my. I expected Nic to go on an outburst like that, but you Mystogan? You were always to calm and collective type." His grin then went rather dark. He had his gaze solemnly on Mystogan as tensions were running rather high now. "How about this Mystogan: Beat me, and I swear I'll tell you everything that I know." He sounded ever so confident as ever.
Mystogan grunted, rather annoyed. "Laxus."
Nic looked at Mystogan yet again and noticed something was a little off. Earlier, he sensed great power from him, but after that one shot, he didn't feel as much power from him.
"Hey Mystogan, are you okay?" Nic asked in concern. "I don't sense as mush Magic."
Mystogan's stance shifted and he looked more defensive, holding the stave in an angle. "Yeah, I think so."
Nic narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but he could feel everything in his meadow Plate Form, even various powers from such a fair distance. He narrowed his eyes even more, sensing Erza and the others coming. "They'll be here soon." Nic assured.
Laxus smirked. "You done talking?" His tone was more menacing, and his phrases afterwards sounded far more menacing. "Listen up Nic, you'll never compare to me! Mystogan and you will see just how much stronger I am!"
"I'll go first." Mystogan said. All of his Magic Staves then drove out from the sac they were on his back and the ends stuck into the ground, each stick different than the other. All of them lined up across Mystogan.
"Skyscraper." A dark Magic seal appeared in front of him. Just then, Nic saw Laxus panicking slightly, as he saw Laxus get all wobbly and he was seen screaming in a panic. He then had a belt entangle him as Laxus shouted a demon was in front of him.
Nic narrowed his eyes, wondering what Laxus was seeing; then again, he knew it was for the best he didn't find out. Nic turned to Mystogan.
"Do not be alarmed. He is under the illusion of Skyscraper." Mystogan explained. "Attack while you still can."
"Got it." Nic nodded and then jumped into the air. He created a glowing football-sized seed that was glowing light green. "Seed Bomb!" He then threw the attack at a startled and disoriented Laxus, but Laxus was enveloped in lightning and screamed, shattering the belt and his vision returned to normal. He unleashed more lightning in a veil of sorts to protect from Seed Bomb as it was hit with the veil of lightning and exploding mildly, causing no damage towards Laxus. Nic grunted as he didn't expect Laxus to shake it off that quick.
Laxus has a manic face on him and laughed like a psycho. "Now that's funny!" He sounded extremely pissed. "Did you two really think a stupid illusion could stop me?!"
Nic then remained still as he saw five multiple colored Magic sealed that Mystogan over Laxus. 'Whoa, that shift of those stick things was quick! Did he snuck those in while Laxus was blocking my Seed Bomb?'
"Not bad." Mystogan admitted. "But you are too slow as ever." Laxus was enveloped in a purple light and the circled all aimed down on him. "Five Layered Magic Circle: Sacred Song!"
Laxus grinned. "You think I'm slow? Just look under both your feet!" Mystogan and Nic then looked down in surprise that a yellow Magic seal was under them.
"No!" Mystogan shouted.
"This ain't good! Brace yourself Mystogan!" Nic warned as Mystogan's attack drove downwards a concentrated beam on Laxus, as a lightning beam shot up from underneath Nic and Mystogan.
Laxus merely laughed while Mystogan yelled and Nic grunting, not taking as much damage. There was an explosion of purple on Laxus's side and yellow on Nic and Mystogan's side. The explosions collided and winds and dust scattered all around.
When it cleared, Laxus was seen with a grin, hardly looking hurt. Mystogan also seems unfazed as he had Air Magic to float upwards through the dispersing dust. Nic was still on the ground and grunted. "Hmph. That packed as much as a wallop as did a Thundershock." He muttered. 'He's warming up.'
Mystogan grunted as he felt much less Magic energy than before. 'What is this draining sensation? It's like my spells take up far more Magic than I imagined. Is it because Laxus did this?' He had to pull off another spell for the sake of taking down Laxus. "Ground Shattering Wave!" He put his index fingers together and made a Magic seal. Laxus then looked around and saw purple Magic tendril streaming up from all sides. Laxus moved fast enough and leaped into the air and avoided the attacked that arched downwards, centering where he was and watching it explode.
Laxus then looked back to Mystogan, but Nic wasn't one to be left out of the action. He leaped in front of an ascending Laxus and used Needle Arm. Laxus immediately shifted into a bolt of lightning that soared upwards, evading the angled swing by Nic.
Laxus laughed in his lightning form and Nic fell safely to the ground. He shifted his target solemnly to Nic and he dove down onto him. Nic pivoted his right foot and his feet foot swung back, giving him a batting stance with Needle Arm still in play.
"Batter up!" Nic then deflected the bolt with his sharp arm just as it made impact and Laxus, which was the bolt, was bit like a downwards baseball being swung at by a bat at perfect timing and Laxus's new and forced direction led him into a pillar at the far column. The bolt crashed, shattering a fraction of the pillar and dust flew slightly.
Nic retracted his Needle Arm as Mystogan dropped to his side and heard Laxus laugh from in the dust. Laxus got up with a big smile and wiped his chin with his sleeve.
"Say, that wasn't too shabby." Laxus admitted at Nic. "Surprised that you were able to deflect me just in time." Nic knew Laxus was fast, but from awhile ago, he remembered that he was able to corner Laxus with his own speed. "I have to admit Nic, your speed and reflexes are even faster than what I had expected, they might even be better than last time when we almost quarreled after that Phantom skirmish."
"You caught me off guard with that ground shot, but that shook me awake." Nic said.
Mystogan narrowed his eyes and he had lost a lot of his Magic energy. It didn't make sense; this never happened before. He was just about low, and it hasn't even been two minutes. He looked over and saw that Nic himself was unfazed. This didn't add up until Mystogan stepped forward.
"Laxus, what have you done?" Mystogan demanded. Laxus had his smirk and a raised brow.
"Oh dear Mystogan. It's not like you to lose that much Magic energy now." He taunted. Nic had a suspicion that Laxus had done something earlier so that Mystogan would be put at a disadvantage.
Nic narrowed his eyes. "Enough beating around the bush. We've had enough of that already. Best start talking, please."
Laxus stopped his toothy grin and he just smirked. "Is that so? Well then, since you've asked so nicely, I'll let you in on something." He then turned his head towards the exit/entrance doors where Nic and Mystogan came in and the said two turned as well and saw that there was an inscription far above. Laxus chuckled while Mystogan grunted. "I had Freed write an Enchantment that makes anyone but me exhaust far more Magic than usual. I've heard that Nic's Magic is like anything Fairy Tail's ever seen, and I wanted to see for myself just how invincible his Magic is."
Mystogan and Nic both turned back at Laxus. "So, this was your plan. You wanted to quarrel with Nic alone." Mystogan said.
"That was a coward's play Laxus." Nic reprimanded.
Laxus chuckled. "Oh really? Well, seems like we'll have to see who the real coward is here. I wonder how much Magic you have? You've gotta have a huge reserve if you can keep this up."
'Looks like he doesn't know that I don't have Magic, but I use the power of the Plates instead.' Nic noted.
Mystogan grunted, seeing how this situation was bad and his Magic would be exhausted. Apparently, this wasn't a battle in his favor. There was no choice. "Nic, I'm sorry, but I can't resume."
Nic gasped and turned to Mystogan. This was a startling play as he never expected Mystogan to do such a thing.
"I know this is a bad move on our part, but he's got me in a bind and if I use maybe one more spell my Magic would be depleted. The others should be here soon to help you. You have to warn them about Laxus's trap." Mystogan said.
As much as Nic wanted to protest Mystogan for passing the baton over to the ones coming, he couldn't argue. Nic just had to accept this and nod with uncertainty.
"I apologize, but I must forfeit." Mystogan then had his body turn to mist and he quickly dispersed, leaving in thin air.
Nic then heard his name being called out by Natsu and Erza from just outside the church. He saw them rushing at the entrance and stopped at the entrance.
Nic turned towards the guys, as did Laxus. "Well now, seems as though your cavalry came just in time." Laxus noted.
"Guys!" Nic exclaimed rather alarmingly.
Natsu stepped forward into the church, not knowing that he had stepped into a trap. "Grr. Laxus, just what have you done?!"
Nic held his arm out at them. "No! Stay back!"
The others looks surprised that Nic told them to stay out of this. Natsu took a few more steps forward and held up a fist. "What are you talking about Nic? You can't take him alone!"
"It's not that, it's-!" Nic then saw a lightning bolt coming from Laxus from the corner of his eye. Nic ducked and evaded the oncoming bolt as it rushed onwards and blasted a small fraction of one of the enormous windows.
"Come on now, did you forget where your attention is suppose to be?" Laxus warned. Nic looked back and grunted at him.
Everyone then came in and they all stood in battle-ready positions. Erza requipped into her Black Wing Armor, Natsu had a flaming fist ready, and everyone else was just about set.
"This has gone far enough Laxus." Erza stated, holding her sword in a stance that poised to strike. "End it so that this will all be dropped."
"If anything is dropping red-head, it'll be your bodies!" Laxus then extended his hand coated in lightning and shot a bolt at them. Everyone braced to stop and attack it, but Nic proved himself to be faster than you give him credit for. He leaped in front of them and intercepted the bolt of lightning with his Energy Ball. The two attacks zoomed into the other and neither attack gave in and they ended up exploding. There was a brief explosion that left everyone okay. Nic glared Laxus down. Laxus himself grinned.
"It's me you wanna face, isn't it Laxus?" Nic taunted. "That is why you had Fred make that Enchantment in the first place after all. So why go and hurt them?"
Everyone there was confused. Enchantment? Lucy blinked and spoke. "Wait, Enchantment? Nic just what is going on?"
Nic didn't take his gaze off of Laxus as he explained. "Laxus set a trap that'll make anyone but himself exhaust more Magic. He wants to get rid of you guys more quickly." Everyone looked on with a few gasps as Nic explained what Laxus had Freed do.
Erza gasped and she turned around. She looked at the entrance to see lettering at the top in purple lettering. It said 'Anyone who is not Laxus Dreyar will exhaust more Magic when used'. That would explain why Erza herself felt some of her Magic get used up more than usual when she requipped. Erza narrowed her eyes while reading. "We were tricked."
Laxus laughed. "Oh come on! You're telling me you're all Fairy Tail Mages and you didn't see that coming?" He mocked. " Though I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from a couple of chumps."
Sophie grunted. "You pechdan." Sophie reprimanded, calling him a coward in Hebrew.
Gajeel crossed his arms. "So he's had us set up as soon as we stepped inside this dump."
"Laxus!" Natsu shouted. He jumped into the air and had a flaming fist ready. "You aren't getting away with this!"
Nic saw Natsu jumping over him and had to stop him before he used Magic, but it was too late as Laxus took off his headphones and coat and had a fist coated in lightning. Natsu jumped down and collided fists with Laxus, sending lightning and fire in a small area around them. Natsu then set his feet on the floor and he was grabbed by Laxus. Laxus snagged his arm with his left and he delivered a punch coated in lightning to the face. Sending Natsu flying and skid to the front of Nic.
"Damn you!" Erza shouted as she rushed at Laxus with a sword.
'Well, no stopping now.' Nic thought. He then moved his arms in different directions and unleashed a tornado of green winds and glowing leaves at Laxus.
Laxus still had his arrogant smile and he countered with a big lightning blast against the Leaf Tornado, dispelling both attacks on the spot. Erza then swooped and slashed downwards, but Laxus stepped backwards and Erza raised her blade again and slashed at Laxus's left, but he remained motionless as he had his lightning-enshrouded arm block the attack, feeling nothing.
"Oh come on." He grinned. "Don't tell me that's the best you've got dollface."
Erza grunted and Nic's eye twitched. He didn't like hearing Laxus call her that and he leaped high into the air and glowed, shifting into his Icicle Plate.
"Aurora Beam!" A bluish green orb appeared in front of Nic's mouth and he fired a glowing black and green beam at a steep angle. Laxus saw that coming a mile away; he zapped Erza's body, making her yelp and she stumbled back and Laxus leaped back and evaded Nic's midair assault. Laxus looked right and saw Natsu darting at him. He then saw Gajeel coming from his left.
"Time for me to get in this action!" Gajeel exclaimed. Both the Fire and Iron Dragon Slayer leaped at the same time.
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Both assaults went darting at Laxus, but Laxus wasn't strong for any reason. He jumped, avoiding the long column and electrified his own body, and then he made contact and landed on the club, shocking Gajeel and making him grunt. Natsu came in and fired his fist, and Laxus leaned left as the fist swung, dodging it. He leaped off the column and gave Natsu a right knee to the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby column.
Nic stood still and had an orb of light blue energy in front of his mouth. "Ice Beam!" He then unleashed multiple light blue beams at Laxus, and Laxus countered with his blast of lightning, making the two attacks have a standoff that resulted in an electric and ice fused explosion.
With this time to her advantage, Erza used the explosion as cover and dove in from above over the cloud. Laxus waited and then spun about in a whole three-sixty, having his fists charge up during which and Erza brought her sword down. Laxus used his right fist to swat the sword from its side, deflecting it. Laxus then brought his left fist forward into a hook and drove it into Erza's face, making the latter smash into a nearby pillar.
"Erza!" Nic shouted. He then growled at Laxus and Laxus sparked in lightning with a smile. He gave Nic a rather sadistic look that would creep a normal person out.
"Oh, did I strike a weak point?" He then looked at Erza and proceeded blasting at her while she was trying to dislodge herself.
Natsu dislodged himself from his own column and jumped off from it, hurling towards the attack. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He cuffed his hands and unleashed a blast of fire while still zooming in from an angle. The flame attack intercepted the lightning blast just before it could get close to Erza. There wasn't a big explosion, but it did provide Erza some cover and time to dislodge herself and leap back to Nic's side.
Gajeel regained his composure and darted in from ten o'clock, from Laxus's view that is. He lunged and he straightened out his arm. "Iron Dragon's Sword!" His arm then became a jagged steel blade that he swung straight down. Laxus was too quick as he easily evaded by leaping backwards.
Natsu and Gajeel leaped back and were by Nic and Erza, the four composing themselves. Sophie and Lucy, not to mention Happy, all looked on. Unfortunately, they knew Laxus was extremely dangerous and they were nowhere close to being as powerful as him. All they could do was just watch from a safe distance, much to their displeasure.
Nic and everyone their bared their unhappy frowns, seeing as how Laxus was intercepting them. Erza had to resort to a Requip.
"Requip!" Erza glowed and now had golden armor and light bluish in color. The breastplate had gold trimmings and thin plates surrounding her neck. Her head got a band with two ribbons, one on each side, and her hair was styled in a long braid. Her spear was very long and was also shown to a shield-lie circle decorated on it, which also had a ribbon.
Laxus raised a brow. "Ah, your Lightning Empress Armor." He said. "Not bad, but I doubt that thing can stop me!" He then fired a lightning blast, of which Erza went ahead of the others and put the spear down. Her spear then created a lightning barrier and the blast smashed into it. Erza gritted her teeth as she was struggling by the force of the attack. After five seconds, the lightning blast ceased, but the barrier shattered.
Laxus chuckled and turned into lightning. He shot straight up and arched downwards onto her. "Your armor can't stop me this time!"
"Hey, you're forgetting about us!" Natsu shouted. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"
"Iron Dragon's Roar!"
"Blizzard!"
All three attacks went surging at the lightning Laxus. The three attacks closed in on each other and fused into a gray, fire, and snow layered attack that rushed at him. Laxus was no fool as he spiraled around the attack and had it shoot up and smash into the ceiling, having rock and debris fall. Below. Laxus worked his way around the attack like a serpentine and finally closed in on the guys. He then bashed into all three, making a flash and a thundering boom upon impact. Natsu skid back, as did Nic and Gajeel. Natsu and Gajeel both grunted as their breaths were rather heavy.
"Man." Natsu said with a tired look. "Looks like…I am losing Magic." He heaved.
"It's just as Luminous said." Gajeel growled. "That light bulb is having us exhaust far more Magic."
The two straightened up. "Well I guess we better take him out faster!" Natsu shouted. Natsu and Gajeel both lunged into Laxus while Erza twirled her spear in the air and then fired multiple lightning streams at Laxus.
Laxus showed his teeth and he looked on with crossed arms as the attacks came in. "This is too priceless." He saw Natsu's Fire Dragon's Iron Fist and Gajeel's Iron Dragon's Hard Fist coming at him and he pressed his palm down on Natsu's incoming forearm and leaped and came across his face with a knee, driving Natsu into Gajeel and making them fall to the ground with a big thud.
He turned and stood perfectly still, letting himself get hit with Erza's attack. He was hit head on, but his body only sparked blue and he looked unharmed.
Erza went wide eyed. "But how?"
Nic narrowed his eyes. "Is he able to absorb lightning?"
Laxus now had the blue sparks turn yellow as he absorbed it and amplified his power. He laughed. "Come on, you can do better than that!" He then had his hands coated in lightning and he brought both forward, making it a double punch. The fists unleashed pressurized and brutal lightning beams at Erza. Erza had to leap over Laxus's head, to which he trailed his lightning blasts on the roof and following her, making the building shake.
Sophie, Lucy, and Happy all covered up, glad yet not glad they weren't fighting.
"This blows." Sophie said as the rumbling ceased and saw Erza flip and was behind Laxus now.
"I know, right?" Lucy wasn't liking this either. They wanted t help, but knew their Magic would get drained quickly.
Erza twirled her spear and she had to use another blast of lightning, but more powerful and see if it'll damage him. Laxus grinned and chuckled as he was then hit and was severely electrocuted, but didn't even budge.
Erza grunted as she saw Laxus smiling and taking in the entire blast. Erza ceased and Laxus's body then glowed yellow and the sparks became yellow. "Now it's my turn red-head!" He unleashed a pressurized blast of lightning at her and she tried blocking with her spear, but the blast was too powerful as it zoomed with such velocity into her. The attack enveloped her, breaking her spear and making her yelp.
"Erza!" Nic and Natsu shouted. Erza flew back close to the steps and her armor was steaming slightly from the extreme intensity. Even if the armor weakened Lightning Magic, Laxus was all too strong to let some Lightning Empress Armor get the best of him.
Erza sat up, but that's when Laxus punched the ground and had a ring of lightning trail at her, breaking the ground as it went to her. Nic leaped in just in time and was in front of Erza.
"Frost Breath!" His mouth glows light blue and he releases a snow in wind with blue sparkles; and since Frost Breath was always a critical hit, this one was able to not only disperse the lightning ring heading their way, but also blow and make Laxus skid. Laxus grunted as he then looked behind himself and saw Nastu and Gajeel both remaining still as Laxus continued his skid.
Natsu jumped. "Fire Dragon's Claw!" He then did a side kick as Laxus tried turning his body and was hit in the chest by Natsu's right leg, making him skid towards Natsu's left now.
"Iron Dragon's Club!" Gajeel jumped in and hit Laxus's right side with an extending column. Laxus was send soaring into a column with dust flying. Gajeel retracted his column and the Dragon Slayers grinned, thinking they actually damaged him.
Laxus emerged from the dust and he had his smile of arrogance turn to a half grin. He felt that one. He cracked his neck and turned towards the Dragon Slayers. "Hmph. Not too shabby, though aren't you getting a little tired?"
Natsu and Gajeel were wincing as they felt their Magic reserves were almost out. This Enchantment was making them lose huge amounts of Magic for just a few good hits.
"Crap. I can't take much of this." Gajeel muttered, feeling his Magic run low.
Natsu growled as he enveloped his body in angry fire. "Laxus! I'm not through with you! Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" He lunged with a headbutt in flames and Laxus awaits until he was close enough.
He coated his foot in lightning and had it up. "Here it comes!" He then stomped on Natsu's head, ceasing the attack and having Natsu's head in a crater. Natsu gagged when Laxus raised his foot and was punched straight down on his back by a lightning coated fist. The attacks force made Natsu yelp and the crater increase in area slightly.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted. She got to her feet and requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. "Enough Laxus! This ends now!" Then she flew into the air and summoned twenty swords, which chunked of some more of her Magic. 'The Enchantment is taking a toll. I have to stop him with the few moves that I can use.' "Dance, my blades!" The swords then began to spin around her and were aimed at Laxus. Laxus saw this and he grinned. "Circle Sword!" The swords separated and flew into Laxus.
Laxus lunged forward and yelled as he unleashed a lightning explosion that was short ranged. Natsu, who was getting up, was tumbling away and the ground under Laxus shattered under the pressurized release. The small explosion expanded slightly and shattered the incoming swords into tiny fragments, shocking Erza as she floated in the air above in disbelief.
"What is this? So much Magic energy I can't even tell how large it is!" Erza exclaimed. The explosion ceased and Laxus looked up with his grin back and coated himself in lightning and lunged at Erza.
"Aurora Beam!" Nic shouted, unleashing a beam that was able to hit Laxus just as he was closing in on her. Laxus was engulfed in an aurora-like explosion and he fell back to the ground safely. He was glaring at Nic, but had his half-grin. Nic was glaring at Laxus and then Laxus shot a blast at Nic, to which Nic countered with his Ice Beam, creating a more potent explosion of electricity and ice scattering about. Natsu and Gajeel covered up, as did Erza, as sparks and ice flew about. Ten seconds later, it ceased. The three saw the dust and elements clear out, seeing Nic and Laxus both locking and trying to crush the others fingers.
Nic pushed Laxus back slightly, but Laxus shocked Nic, to which the Multitype Mage with an attitude countered by continuing and clutching Laxus's fingers and doing an almost point blank Icy Wind, having his mouth glow light blue and releasing winds and snow similar to Frost Breath.
Both Mages backed off and shoved each other away, with Nic feeling some pinch to that zap, but Laxus just felt his face being super cold. Laxus chuckled mildly and then he lunged at Nic. He had a lightning coated fist ready and Nic readied Ice Punch.
Laxus closed in, but for some reason felt slightly slow. 'What's this? Why am I feeling so-!' He about to thrust his left fist forward, but Nic delivered a blow across Laxus's face, making the latter fly towards Nic's left and skid while on one knee.
Laxus grunted and regained his flooring. He got back up and saw how Nic wasn't even fazed by Laxus's Magic or power. "You know." Nic said. "I've fought worse."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Laxus's voice boomed, now unleashing booming thunder and lightning from his body. "I'm way stronger than any Fairy Tail half pint! I'm even stronger than you!" He showed his rage and his voice echoed just like that time Nic quarreled with Jose. Nic wasn't even fazed by Laxus's rage.
"I fail to see how power alone can give you strength." Nic said.
"You're wrong! My power trumps everything!" Laxus berated. "I'll take the guild by force if I have to make my point across!"
Erza flew over Laxus's head and she went over towards Natsu and Gajeel. The three stood in a row and she looked at the two.
"We'll have to put every last bit of our Magic into this attack in order to stop him." Erza said. Natsu and Gajeel agreed and Erza summoned as many swords as she could, roughly fifty were summoned.
"Ready?" Erza shouted. "Blumenblatt!" Erza then send all of her swords at him with every bit of effort she could ever put in her attacks.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
"Iron Dragon's Roar!"
"Don't forget about me!" Nic shouted from the distance. "Blizzard!"
All four insanely brutal attacks went flying at high speed with so much force behind them that the very wind itself was sliced, frozen, burned, and crushed. The two roars, Blizzard, and fifty swords went at Laxus and all of the assaults exploded. Laxus was engulfed in a rapid and heavy explosion that nearly shattered nearby columns. Erza, Natsu, and Gajeel all stood in that row with heaving breaths, just about out of Magic energy thanks to the Enchantment.
Erza heaved as she was out of Magic. "That should…do it." She huffed.
Natsu and Gajeel were huffing and grinned.
"Yeah…we got him." Natsu said. "He couldn't stand a chance against us." The explosion was dispelling, but then the explosion itself dispersed rapidly, sending winds flying everywhere. Everyone there covered up and felt electrifying winds tackle them, nearly knocking them over. Erza, Natsu, and Gajeel all gasped and were wide eyed at the site of Laxus's lightning booming with incredibly dense power, so much that the whole place was shaking.
"No…but how?" Gajeel muttered. Nic grunted, not expecting Laxus to have this much power after those assaults.
'This guy, he's more than a monster. He's not even human.' Nic thought, though knew he himself was exaggerating. Laxus looked unfazed by all of their attacks and had a dark look on his face.
Laxus showed his teeth and frowned. "You know." He said as the lightning and booming dialed down. "I think you guys had your fun, now I do believe that it's my turn to have fun." He then raised a clenched fist and then he had lightning get drawn into the air into a concentrated bolt above.
"Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder, lunge from the heavens and reap destruction!" The enormous bolt then concentrated into dense lightning that was ready to be launched down onto the three.
"Guys! Get out of the way!" Nic shouted.
Natsu growled with shaking eyes, not giving up. "Laxus!" Natsu was charging forward with a fist.
"Don't be stupid!" Erza shouted.
"Too late you fools! Raging Bolt!" Laxus brought down his fist and the huge bolt of lightning shot at Natsu, Gajeel, and Erza. They all looked and shouted as they were hit with the whole impact. The bolt made whole contact and there was a boom and a blinding flash.
"Guys! Erza!" Nic shouted as he was forced to cover up. Everything was so bright and electricity boomed about. Nic opened his eyes and uncovered himself. He looked with wide eyes and a shocked expression that the three were in a crater and their bodies were sparking. They were all lying there, with Era's armor completely shattered and Natsu and Gajeel on their sides. The three looked like they were out for the count. Nic's eyes twitched and he grunted. "No! Erza! Guys!"
Natsu and everyone there barely looked conscious. He saw a few twitches coming from all three, and Nic heaved. 'Good, at least they're still alive.'
Laxus laughed. "Well now, that's three down on the spot. How's it feel to be helpless you punks?!" He then laughed at the ceiling and Natsu could barely even move.
"H-How did-did he get so much power." He muttered. "I-I can't…I can't move."
"Damn you Laxus." Erza muttered with whatever consciousness she had.
"This guy drained us." Said a twitching Gajeel. "W-We can't keep going like this."
Laxus laughed even harder now. "You guys can't even begin to fathom the full extent of my power! And you're helpless now that you guys are out of Magic!"
Nic rushed in towards the fallen members. He rushed with such worry he nearby stumbled. He rushed towards everyone and got to his knees to examine them. "This is bad." Erza was trying her very best to keep going, as she was trying to move her arm over towards Nic. Nic saw this and gasped. He shifted over to where she was and he held her. "Erza, are you okay?"
Erza winced and she looked up at Nic and his worried expression. "Nic. I'm so sorry." She said, her eyes seeing his. "Freed's Enchantment outdid us and we can't stop him. Our Magic is depleted."
Nic frowned even more, not being able to step in front and take the hit. Nic huffed and spoke softly. "It's okay Erza. You and the others just take it easy. You did a great job."
Erza smiled and she tilted her towards Nic's abdomen, resting it. "Can we count on you?" She spoke softly.
Nic nodded and leaned in. "Yeah, I won't fail." With that said, Nic gently set her back down and she smiled continuously.
She managed to mutter for him to be careful, and along with Gajeel and Natsu, all went unconscious.
Nic frowned and he rose back to his feet and turned towards Laxus, who had a smile of triumph on his face, which irritated Nic.
Nic narrowed his eyes and got into a stance of authority. "Lucy, Happy, Sophie." He ordered, still having his gaze on Laxus. "Get these three out of here and away to safety." He spoke with such a cool demeanor it was almost terrifying. He took a few paces towards Laxus and stopped. "I'll stop him."
The three really didn't have any say. They knew Nic would lash out if they questioned him, and they knew that option wasn't a good idea. The only way they could really help was get them to safety. With simple nods, the three rushed over and Happy carried Natsu away, Lucy grabbed Erza, and Sophie had Gajeel over her shoulder. The three then rushed out of the church as fast as they could possibly go, leaving Nic and Laxus alone.
Nic glared coldly at the blonde maniac. He clenched his fists and kept a straight face. "Looks like you got your wish. It's just you and me now."
Laxus's grin got even more diabolical as sparks circuited around his body. "Yeah, and once I finish you, I'll go claim my title."
Nic shifted into his Dread Plate Form, he had his sunglasses hooked onto his V-Neck and he went cross-armed. "There's more to a person than a dumb title. Titles mean nothing, it's the person himself that makes up that title. You're not worthy of such a thing, and you won't deserve it in a lifetime."
Laxus now gritted his teeth and now some lightning flared about. "You better wish that you never said those words!"
With Lucy and Co.
They were moving as fast as they could through the streets. They were rushing back to the guild so that the guys could get treated.
They were running with the three injured on their backs when they saw Levy running through the streets, along with Greninja and Staraptor. Greninja and Staraptor went back to the guild earlier to see if everything was okay there, and it wasn't okay.
"Levy!" Lucy shouted. Levy and the other two saw them and rushed towards them.
"Lucy!" Levy shouted with some distress in her voice. She finally caught up to them and they all stopped and exchanged worried looks. "Lucy what happened?"
Lucy looked down in sorrow. "Laxus had Freed make an Enchantment that would make us exhaust more Magic and he got the better of us." She explained. Levy covered her own mouth in shock, as it explained how Natsu, Gajeel, and Erza were all damaged badly.
"Now this situation has gotten worse." Levy remarked. "This is really bad."
"What is?" Sophie asked.
Levy wanted to say more, but she almost choked on her words. This was painful to say. Levy turned over to Greninja and Staraptor, and the two nodded in understanding and took over.
"To put it bluntly, Makarov is on his death bed." Greninja pointed out with distaste in saying it. Lucy and Sophie, and Happy as well, all gasped in horrific shock as this was happening. Greninja continued. "There isn't much time. We have to find Laxus and tell him."
Staraptor flapped her wings and she hovered over Erza and Gajeel. With her immense leg strength, she gripped both by their clothing and took them off of Sophie and Lucy's backs. Staraptor then turned back down towards Greninja.
"Greninja, me and that cat over there will take the injured back to the guild." Staraptor said.
Greninja nodded in understanding. "Okay, then I'll stay with Levy and accompany her." Greninja then turned back towards the others while Staraptor began to fly away and holding the injured two and Happy carrying Natsu back to the guild. "Where is Laxus?"
"He's doing battle with Nic as we speak in Kardia Cathedral." Sophie said. Greninja and Levy then went off to the battle and tell Laxus about Makarov's condition. As to where Lucy and Sophie followed Sophie and Staraptor back towards the guild to check up on their Master's condition.
With Nic
The Multitype Mage narrowly evaded Laxus's lightning blast by shifting left and then charged in to do a Night Slash, but Laxus jumped into the air and evaded the horizontal slash of darkness. He reached his arms down while in the air and used his Thunder Bullets, which were a rapid succession of lightning orbs at Nic from above. Nic used Feint Attack and vanished on the spot, evading the exploding bombs.
Laxus grunted as he was reaching a critical point in the air and was about to fall back down. His eyes squinted as he felt Nic from above. Nic came down with an axe kick for his Feint Attack and Laxus narrowly blocked by using his arm just in time. Laxus then brushed Nic's leg from above and grabbed it, doing a three-sixty and throwing him. Nic grunted and straightened out in time before he could hit the intended column. Nic straightened his body and he went feet fist onto the column and used the force being that throw to force himself off the column and lunge at high speed back at a descending Laxus.
"Crunch!" He opened his mouth wide and his canines glowed white and extended, becoming almost three times the normal size. He launched into a surprised Laxus and snared his fangs into his arm that he used to block, prompting the maniac to yelp at the biting power behind that assault.
Nic still had his fangs in Laxus's arm and he turned his whole body and flung Laxus into the ground below at an angle. Laxus crashed into the flooring below with some dust flying. Nic was beginning to descend when Laxus lunged from the small dust cloud with a huge coat of lightning on him and drove his body into Nic's abdomen, making the latter gag. Laxus made no haste then as he drove his lightning coated knee into his abdomen and followed that up with lightning coated fists punching Nic across his face twice. Laxus then did a sharp and brutal jab and drove the punch into Nic's chest.
Nic yelped as he had felt sharp and painful sensations coursing through every bit of his body, and it got worse when he smashed into the ground on his back and tumbled backwards, hitting the flooring twice more, and finishing with a booming thud.
"Okay, even I had to admit that one had some bite to it." Nic remarked as he got to a knee and was getting back up. Laxus landed far from Nic and he used another lightning blast. Nic grunted as he didn't recover from that consecutive counterattack by Laxus. He couldn't move, so he had to intercept. "Dark Pulse!" He unleashed his attack at Laxus's lightning assault. The two attacks collided and exploded yellow, black, and purple all about.
Laxus coated his legs in lightning and lunged at Nic as the explosion died down. "You're going down you punk!" He then swung his left leg, but Nic jumped and dodged. Laxus followed through with his kick and he pivoted and leaped to Nic's elevation, which was fairly low. Laxus then brought his right leg coated in lightning and proceeded to kick Nic's left side.
Nic used his left arm to intercept and then he grabbed Laxus's leg, knowing he would be shocked slightly. "Come on, don't tell me that's all you've got!" Nic said, wincing with a shut eye as he felt zapped when grabbing Laxus's leg. "Foul Play!" He then yanked his leg, bringing Laxus forward, where Nic grabbed his waist, spinning a whole three-sixty, turning Laxus around in the process, and then threw him into a column. Since Laxus had so much more strength, this Foul Play did a shrieking amount of damage, driving Laxus into the column, smashing it entirely, and making him smash into the ground behind said smashed column, all the while screaming in pain.
Nic landed and huffed as much as he could. He felt fairly exhausted and drained. He shifted back into himself and took a few steps forward, seeing how Laxus was now under quite a bit of rubble.
"…he's got plenty more." Nic said, not doubting Laxus's strength. He was right. The entire church was beginning to quake slightly as Nic could feel a huge, and I mean huge, amount of Magic swelling up from under the rubble. He narrowed his eyes and then saw a lightning blast zooming in from within the now destroyed rubble. Nic ran towards his left, evading such a blast and he leaped and ended up avoiding the blast. He huffed and puffed some more and saw some dust flying about slightly. Laxus simply walked back in opposing position and had lightning coursing all around his body, though he did have some scratches here and there.
Laxus had a frown on him. "Hmph. I have to admit, you've got more potential than I give you credit for kid." He said in an arrogant tone. He then broke out in a smirk. "That last one actually hurt. You're holding out better than I thought you would, I guess I'll let you have a hint of my power as well."
Nic didn't like the sound of that. If Laxus wasn't using his true powers now, then this could get really ugly for Nic. "I don't like where this is going." Nic said out loud with narrowed eyes.
Laxus chuckled. "I bet you won't either. I never showed this power to anyone in the guild because of the old man's lectures…but I can make an exception with you." Just then, his canines had begun to sharpen and grow slightly. His body then began to spark tremendously, and his upper body began to get monstrously bulky, ripping and tearing off his purple shirt. His arms began to bear the resemblance of scales, and he had increased in height by a large margin. At this point, he was even more bulky than a Machamp and an oversized Gurdurr put together.
Laxus roared up to the air and he let loose insanely brutal lightning around his body, frying the air and causing a brief quake. Even Nic could sense such an immense power increase. This was Laxus's true power he was witnessing. "Well…this is the opposite of good." Nic deadpanned. "You're a Dragon Slayer. I didn't that one coming." He tried to speak calmly.
The thundering lightning diminished, leaving Laxus in tremendous sparks. "That's right, and you won't live to tell a soul." Just then, Laxus vanished in a flash of lightning, surprising Nic.
Nic was about to freak out, but then he remembered something, something that made Nic know that titles did not matter. As he thought about this, he felt some power surging through his five senses and veins.
It was the final battle. Nic's Greninja against Diantha's Mega Gardevoir. Both Pokémon had taken large amounts of accumulated damage. Greninja was able to hold up this long thanks to his Speed and ninja-like movements, but he was soon hit with a powerful Moonblast that made him feel pain all over his body.
Greninja was heaving heavily as he had taken a big blow. Mega Gardevoir was also panting slightly from some damage taken earlier by Greninja.
Nic also felt the pain of his Greninja, as the two were one after all. They have been on this journey for over eighteen months now, and they've all gotten this far. Their pain was Nic's pain, and vice-versa.
Nic grunted as he saw Diantha smiling. "Your Greninja, it's gotten so strong since the very beginning." She said. "You're pokémon have been by your side, taking blows and sticking through to the end of their fights, just like how I finish through with my roles."
Nic wasn't sure whether or not to be complimented, or annoyed, or both. Throughout their battle, Diantha kept saying 'Checkmate' whenever she delivered a finishing blow on his team. The only one that was left standing was his Greninja, and the two were exhausted.
"You and your Pokémon had been through so much up to this point. Your role as a Trainer has brought you very far. As the roe of Champion, I must not let your role surpass mine!" Diantha continued.
Nic grunted, as did Greninja. To be perfectly honest, Nic's only purpose of going on this journey was to grow and see the world in a better light, unlike his hell prison back home. This battle meant a lot, as it would prove that he and his Pokémon had ventured and bonded ever so much into a family. If he lost, would those bonds mean nothing? No. He refused to accept that.
Their quarrel was in Diantha's Champion room, which was large and had huge clear curtains and symbols of all of the types in a big circle.
"Listen here." Nic said. Diantha looked on in surprise that Nic didn't concede. "You can blast us all day to kingdom come, you can keep saying checkmate, you can talk all day long about roles and such, but what you cannot do is keep us down! Even if you defeated five of us, we all put our solemn fate in Greninja and myself. I will never doubt what we have worked so hard to achieve."
Diantha blinked in surprise. "Oh dear." She smiled. "It seems that this final battle has proven to be exciting. I have felt every connection with your Pokémon, and you all have come to care deeply for the other. I do not underestimate that. I assure you." She then extended her hand out. "Use Thunderbolt!"
Mega Gardevoir engulfed herself in electricity and she unleashed a bolt at Greninja. Greninja squinted and he knew exactly what Nic was thinking.
The two nodded in unison without looking at each other. "Go, Water Pulse!" Greninja created a sphere of blue energy and forced it at the incoming Thunderbolt, with the attack taking the hit and exploding blue and yellow. Using that to their cover, Nic had Greninja use Bounce. Greninja leaped insanely high into the air, making Mega Gardevoir surprised when the explosion ceased.
"It's coming from above, use Moonblast!" Diantha shouted. Mega Gardevoir gathered energy from the Moon and formed an orb of pink energy and fired it above.
"Deflect it!" Nic shouted. Greninja then got ready as it was falling onto Mega Gardevoir. Greninja had the orb touch his fingertips and he swooped his hand under him, making the Moonblast attack shoot at an upward angle and exploding above Greninja. Greninja came down on a heavily shocked Mega Gardevoir, having the latter then smash into a crater on the floor, not that there were many already from earlier.
Greninja hopped off of Mega Gardevoir as she was slowly getting up, but not without being held back by the paralysis from Bounce.
"Mega Gardevoir!" Diantha shouted. "Don't let them get checkmate. Use Thunderbolt!" Mega Gardevoir unleashed her attack again, and this one had zoomed in with such force at Greninja. Greninja was blasted head on as he was descending from jumping off of Mega Gardevoir. Greninja yelped in searing agony as he was blasted and crashed into the floor with such intensity from Thunderbolt.
Nic stood frozen, looking down and not giving off any expression. He knew all too well what had happened.
Dinatha closed her eyes and smiled. "Checkmate." Greninja ended up in a small crater with dust flying about. Mega Gradevoir was sure this Thunderbolt would have finished Greninja off.
She was wrong. Greninja slowly got up from the dust and crater, with endless bruises and scratches on his body. He was badly shaking up, but he showed a hint of his grin, shocking Mega Gardevoir.
"What?!" Diantha shouted in surprise. "That's almost impossible!"
Nic grinned. "You should never doubt the bond me and Greninja, and the rest of my team share. I had faith in Greninja from the very beginning." Greninja said his name and crouched. His body was then cloaked in a blue aura, meaning Torrent was activated.
Diantha smirked. "I never doubted your bonds, but I never knew they would have you last this long. Mega Gardevoir, Shadow Ball!" Mega Gardevoir then created a sphere of black and purple with black static around it. She then fired it.
"Dark Pulse!" Nic shouted. Greninja then fired his attack and the two attacks collided, making a black and purple explosion engulf the area between the battlers.
"Don't give up Mega Gardevoir, use Thundrebolt!" Diantha commanded. Mega Gardvoir let loose a bolt of lightning, but Nic and Greninja knew just what to do.
Nic moved his arm in an arc. "Smokescreen!" Greninja made hand signs and then huffed out a huge smoke cloud. The Thunderbolt ventured into the cloud of smoke and they heard a crash sound, meaning the bolt had hit and crashed into the ground.
Mega Gardevoir saw Greninja over the smoke cloud. Diantha ordered Mega Gardevoir to use Moonblast and the pink attack went sailing into Greninja.
"Greninja, Water Pulse!" Greninja created a bigger blue sphere of energy and fired it. The sphere launched with such force behind it that it left rippling water flow as it zoomed into Moonblast. The attacks collided and created a huge explosion. Mega Gardevoir was pushed back several feet from the sheer force. Greninja jumped back down and Nic and Greninja both looked back at the other and grinned.
"I'm proud of you buddy, we've come a long way. Now let's end this here and now!" Nic shouted. Greninja turned back and shouted his name, agreeing.
"Very well then. Mega Gardevoir, Moonblast! Give it everything you got!" Diantha ordered. "Make this scene the best one!" Mega Gardevoir yelled as she then collected as much concentrated energy as possible and fired the heavily compressed orb that almost make the air break.
Greninja crouched and he and Nic braced themselves. Diantha smirked as she knew they wouldn't dodge. "Checkmate." She muttered.
The attack rushed at Greninja, and that's when Nic and Greninja had their arms out in unison and acting as one. Greninja had the Moonblast touch his hands and he held onto it. He grunted as he was driven back and trailed, breaking the ground while still holding onto Moonblast. He stopped right in front of Nic and Greninja heaved ever so heavily, he had finally stopped trailing and he was found to still have the Moonblast in his hands.
Mega Gardevoir yelped as she had never saw this coming. Diantha had the very same reaction.
"Mega Evolution or not, Type or not, we don't back down!" Nic shouted. "All the way buddy! Water Pulse!" In conjunction with the Moonblast in his palms, Greninja created his super enhanced Water Pulse. The Water Pulse had fused with the Moonblast itself, making it look like an orb of blue with a super bright pink center.
"How can that be?" Diantha was beyond speechless. Did Nic and Greninja pull the combination off because they knew they could? They never even tried.
"It's just like you said Diantha, checkmate!" Nic said, using her logic against her. "Now, put the hurt on Mega Gardevoir!" Greninja gave it everything he had and he yelled and threw with extreme force, shattering the ground as the attack flew, creating a trail. The attack zoomed into Mega Gardevoir, but Diantha wasn't going down without a fight. She was the Champion after all.
"Thunderbolt!" She shouted. Mega Gardevoir then unleashed a bolt at the incoming unison attack. The two attacks made contact, but Greninja's attack was slowly pulsing through.
"ALL THE WAY!" Nic shouted, and Greninja in his name. The attack pulsed through Mega Gardevoir's attack and Mega Gardevoir went wide eyed as the attack roared as it came at her. She screamed in sheer pain as the unison attack blasted her, sending a light up slightly and making a compressed blue and pink explosion. The explosion expanded and engulfed everything, the battlefield, the Pokémon, the trainers, the entire Pokémon League building itself was quaking with such compressed force.
"Mega Gardevoir!" Diantha shouted. The explosion lasted for a long thirty seconds until it finally settled down. Both people looked out as the smoke cleared and they saw the shattered and destroyed floor that happened into explosion. They both saw Mega Gardevoir and Greninja perfectly still.
Nic and Greninja both smiled and turned towards each other, leaving Diantha stunned. Her Mega Gardevoir fell forward and she reverted back to just a regular Gardevoir. Nic had just won.
"WE DID IT BUDDY! WE WON!" Nic ran up to his froggy pal and the two hugged. "We rocked buddy! We made it!"
Diantha was baffled and she let loose a smile. She nodded in silence and returned Gardevoir. She then looked at her poke ball. "That was truly amazing Gardevoir. That was a battle worth remembering." She then walked up to the celebrating duo. She stood in front of them and clapped, getting their attention. "You're battle touched my heart. I'm so choked up that I can't even find the words."
Nic and Greninja both turned to Diantha. She continued. "I guess…I was so glad to be Champion and good enough to be one. It gave me a chance to battle you and all of your wonderful Pokémon."
Nic nodded. "Yeah, this whole experience in general has really done some good. I formed new bonds and have a family that I fight alongside with." He then turns back at Greninja and the two nodded in unison.
Diantha continued to smile. "Well now, seems as though my role has come to a close."
Nic stood still. He was super happy he won and all, but was the title even worth it? He didn't travel to be the best Trainer in all of Kalos, he wanted to see new people and adapt to the world. This had absolutely nothing to do with him getting the title.
Diantha continued. "Congratulations Nic Pularis, you are-!" She was stopped in mid-sentence when Nic held up his palm.
"Stop." He objected, shocking her. Greninja remained silent, knowing Nic's intentions inside and out. "Listen Diantha, I'm really happy I won and all, but I don't want the title."
This shocked Diantha very much, hearing Nic turn down the very title she herself worked so hard for.
"I came on this entire journey to meet people and Pokémon. I had no intention on roving to be the best. Don't get me wrong, I earned the title, but to me, a title is just a title."
Diantha was interested by where Nic was going with this. "Huh? Go on."
Nic continued. "You're the Champion, and a famous movie actress, those are two titles you respectfully earned. I do not wish to deprive you of something you have worked so hard to achieve. The title of Champion would make people forget how I got it in the first place. I worked for it, but they don't know that, nor care. They only care about the title, a burden that I do not wish to engulf what made me and my team who they are now." He turned towards Greninja, who smile and nodded. He then turned back towards Diantha. "Keep the title Diantha, I just wanted to win to prove me and my team came this far down the road."
Diantha was so moved. She couldn't even begin to wonder how Nic could think of such a thing. He beat her, yet he refuses the title? This guy is something else. Though Nic had a point. The title itself was all that people ever talk about. Nobody really cared about said individual, but mattered about their strengths. This is why Nic had her keep it. It was nothing special, and Diantha realized that.
Diantha put a hand on his shoulder. "Nic, your words have brought out a pure light. You have let me keep the title, of which I will accept. You are a true and kind soul. Though not having the title, you are the real Champion at heart, you and your Pokémon."
And that's how Nic will win this fight, with his senses and heart.
He closed his eyes and concentrated. Just then, he shot his eyes open, throwing his arm above him and blocking a downward punch by Laxus.
"What?!" Laxus was baffled. Nic then remained stable and then he clenched Laxus's own fist. He then used his powerful core and drove Laxus into the ground in front of him.
Nic then leaped away a safe distance and Laxus arose from the ground and he had lightning surge about insanely like when he finished transforming earlier. Laxus was enraged big time.
"GRAAHHH! YOU'VE MADE ME MAD NIC PULARIS! JUST DIE ALREADY!" He roared at the top of his lungs. He then brought his head back and made a Magic seal. Nic readied himself for such an impact. "Lightning Dragon's Roar!" He shouted and echoed through the electrified air. He shot forth a very destructive and concentrated blast of lightning at Nic.
Nic narrowed his eyes. "Laxus…" He felt a big surge of energy swell into his mouth. "I'll show you what happens…" He felt the energy concentrate at the center of his mouth. "WHEN AMBITIONS GET THE BEST OF YOU!" He yelled. When he finished yelling that last part, he expelled the energy, which was an insanely dense and destructive dark purple energy with dark black energy around it. The beam drove straight into Laxus's Lightning Dragon's Roar and was starting to overpower the roar, pushing it back with pulsating force behind it.
The attack drove into a very surprised Laxus and he screamed as he was just hit with the full force of the attack, causing a very dense and rippling explosion. The shockwave made the ground in the church shatter, leveling out the entire place, and columns everywhere in the church were either cracked or arts were chipped off.
Nic didn't move as he couldn't anyway. His body had just exhausted so much energy and he has to recharge from such an attack that was out of the blue.
Nic blinked. "Er…was that Hyper Beam just now?" He said out loud. The wind had ceased and dust was scattering slightly less than normal, revealing a still standing Laxus, but he had a few scratches here and there due to that brutal force. Nic grinned and looked at the surprised fool. "Well Laxus, seems as though I unlocked the Normal Plate!"
Laxus clenched his fists and thunder booms about. Nic only had a little bit of time to recover before Laxus would attack. Laxus gritted his teeth with such rage. "I never knew your power could reach such power levels. That one bit me pretty hard, but now let's see if that'll save ya from me!" Laxus then lunged at Nic with lightning-coated fists at the ready.
'Crap, still need to recharge some more. Looks like I have no choice then.' Nic calmly thought and took a deep and quick breath. "…Garchomp!"
Just then, from under Laxus, the ground completely broke apart, and something menacing rose up and bashed head on into Laxus with so much intensity that it made the Dragon Slayer gag. Garchomp rushed Laxus upwards and Laxus flew in the air and grunted in pain, having felt that Ground-Type attack.
Laxus skid back several feet upon landing and looked at the hammerhead that was in front of Nic. "Crap, the hell is this thing? And why did that attack hurt so much?"
Nic grinned. "Sorry to keep you waiting Garchomp."
Garchomp turned his head and showed his fangs that showed displease. "Another ten seconds and I would've gone nuts! Holding back with all of this action going on up here made me itch all over!" He stomped on the ground, making it thud and turned towards Laxus. Garchomp clawed the ground with his feet, leaving claw marks in the ground. "Finally." He smirked ever so demonically at a sparking Laxus. "Now I get my turn."
Nic, now recharged, walks up to Garchomp's side. "Yup, he's gonna learn a painful lesson about Ground-Types."
Laxus, now sparking even more, gritted his teeth and stomped on the ground. "What the hel are you talking about?"
Nic cracked is knuckles and grinned. "Laxus, I didn't wanna have to do this, but you left me no choice. Meet my rather violent friend, Garchomp." Garchomp roared at Laxus and stepped forward, almost eager to strike upon the word.
Laxus grunted and figured it should be easy to take them down; little did he know, he was in a world of trouble.
"Garchomp." Nic declared. "Let's go!"
I know there's no such thing as a Normal Plate, but I wanted Nic to unlock some new Plate and I wanted him to get his Normal-Type under his belt. Though I doubt you guys mind anyway. I figured with Nic wanting to be himself, the Normal Plate seemed reasonable at that time.
I hope you guys aren't too ticked off with how I set up the fight with my own couple of twists. I know you guys might be ticked with Erza and the others out, but I hope the flashback and fight onwards made up for that.
I'll do a chapter on EDventures in Kalos for a little bit, just so Reviews can filter through and give me some time to process them.
Hope you guys leave positive Reviews on the fight.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys are enjoying and loving the action and plot twists I input into this work.
Next Time: Painful Reconcile