The Fairy Contender

by Insane Dominator

One day, Nic Pularis is drawn into a sub-dimension, where he encounters Legendary Pokemon. He is entrusted with Plates by Arceus, and send to the land of Fiore, where he encounters Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza. He must go through multiple perilous journeys with his Pokemon and Fairy Tail, and triumph and endure hardships to master all eighteen Plates and save the universe. OCxErza.

26. Change of Heart

Chapter 26 – Change of Heart

Hey guys, I have returned! I am so sorry for not updating. I had technical difficulties, and I guess I should be explaining myself. The hard drive on my computer was damaged and that's where all of my FanFiction is related to, meaning while it was getting replaced, I was unable to do any work. It took all this time to find someone and get the parts to fix it. I was so bored these past couple weeks without it, but now I'm back and I'll be cranking as many chapters in order to catch up.

GoldenCyclone4: To answer your first question, in a way, yeah. Since Laxus and Cobra have Dragon characteristics. Secondly, Cubellios would just be Poison in terms of Type if related to Pokémon. Also, thanks for the correction for Lamia Scale.

Okay, I'm finished explaining. Now is the time to enjoy the reading. I might be a little rusty after all of this time off. Also guys, no big deal, but as of July 3rd was the 6 month anniversary of me joining FanFiction.

Also, thanks to RavenousEds for helping me in aiding with the fights for the rest of the Arc. Check out his stories.

FOREWARNING: Really long chapter, well over 17K. Longest chapter up to date!

To Recap:

With Nic having lethal injuries, Erza and Arbok decided to remain behind at base camp with Hibiki and Lucy. The rest went to find Wendy and bring her back to heal Nic. Natsu and Fairy Tail encountered Erigor again and Natsu defeated him. Wendy was forced to revive Jellal, much to Natsu's shock. Racer quarreled with Gray and Sophie, with Lyon and Sherry aiding as well. Though Racer went down in the end, he was found to have a bomb and Lyon jumped off the cliff with Racer in order to save his comrades.

---

Chapter 26 – Change of Heart

As Natsu was running through the forest, Happy squirmed in in arm, making the former stopped and check on Happy. "Hey Happy, what's up buddy?" Natsu wondered.

Happy was slowly accumulating his strength, but all he could do was point out towards the darkness within the forest towards the dim light. This didn't go unnoticed by Natsu as he looked and saw the light as well.

"Whoa. What is that?" Natsu was peeked to know what that was, but he didn't have time as Nic's life was at stake. He turned back towards the front and looked ahead. "I can't worry about that right now. I gotta get back to Nic." Natsu grumbled.

Just then, Natsu ceased a step ahead as he heard Hibiki talking through his head again. 'Natsu, it's me. Hibiki.' The voice echoed through his head. 'There's something up. Nic's body is beginning to react to something. Erza felt a strong feeling echoing through Nic's chest and she thinks Nic's body is fixed on something like a radar.'

Natsu narrowed his eyes and he then remained still. "Is that a good thing?"

'We don't know. Whatever it is, it's close. Can you guys tell me what's in your surroundings?'

Natsu then looked about in all directions, seeing nothing but plants here and there. He looked towards his left and saw the dim light in the distance. Maybe…

"I think there's something." Natsu said. "There's some sort of light in the distance not too far from us. I can't make out what it looks like."

Natsu heard Hibiki let a slight gasp escape and heard some mumbling from the group with Hibiki. Natsu blinked and then he saw the light fluctuate in brightness, meaning the signal was getting weaker and stronger depending on the range, which was in the middle.

'Hang on, I'll make another map and have you take a path that goes towards the light. Maybe that's what might help Nic, but we can't be sure. I'll put that in conjunction with the map I already downloaded into your head.'

"Hey hold on, I thought I told you to stay of my head?" Natsu argued, but it was of no use as he was now having a bar over his head that quickly reached one hundred percent. Natsu went wide-eyed as he now had a new map to follow.

'Unfortunately this route is a little longer, so be super quick and check it out. If possible, have Happy fly you back. We'll be waiting.' And with those words, Hibiki ceased signaling through Natsu's head and left the Dragon Slayer to make way through the woods.

Natsu showed his teeth within his frown. "Hang on guys, we'll be there soon." Natsu muttered before jumping over some underbrush and ran towards the light. Natsu tried to pick up the pace if it were possible and he dashed as much as possible.

Within two minutes of trekking through the forest, Natsu actually saw the light and it was revealed to be in the hole of a large tree, though he still was making way. "Geez, it's like this part of the forest is thick…and sticky?" Natsu could feel the ground and bushes around looking as though they had really thin cobwebs, meaning there were probably insects all about. He still pressed on and finally made it towards the light within another minute.

The light looked to be coming from what seemed to be a light green rectangular plate of sorts, wedged in the hole of a tree that was surround with cobwebs and spider nets from nearly every corner of every branch, giving the tree and area an ominous feeling.

"Man, it's like every nerve in my body is tensing up." Natsu noted, feeling goosebumps while holding Wendy and Carla as well. He then felt Happy squirm in his arms, now having some strength.

"Aye." Happy groaned.

"Happy, are you okay?" Natsu asked. His feline pal nodded but groaned as he was still tired somewhat, but even he felt uneasy with this sensation.

"Natsu? What is this feeling? It's like bugs are crawling up my back but they're not there." Happy explained. "Is it because of that thing up there?"

Natsu began to walk closer towards the tree. "I don't know, but whatever it is let's hope it doesn't slow us down." Natsu was going to scale the tree, but he stopped when he felt an ominous feeling, as though he was being watched.

"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?" Happy asked.

Natsu turned left and right, wondering what that was just now. "I don't know. Something feels off."

"Maybe you just got gas or something." Happy commented. "Or maybe you need to go to the bathroom?"

Natsu stood affirm, zeroing in as to what this feeling is. It was creepy, and it felt as though they were being observed. Natsu looked down in pondering of what this was.

He remained still as he then blinked, realizing something. There was a shadow over his, and it had appendages much like a…

Natsu gasped and looked up, seeing something that could give even the toughest of Machamps nightmares. This was an enormous spider. We were talking fifteen feet long and ten feet high. It was primarily black and looked to have Wolf-Spider like resemblance in the head, the mouth all fury and the black eyes fixated on Natsu and the smaller ones. It had a large posterior with spiky fur and the appendages were lined with gray.

It was hanging upside down and right above Natsu, hanging from the thick string of thread from the high-above branches.

Natsu and Happy shrieked in fright as they never saw this coming. "GWAAAHHHH!" Both screamed. The creature hissed and it bared its front legs and dropped from above. Natsu leaped back and evaded the giant spider's assault. Natsu landed a fair distance away and grunted as he and the others were in trouble.

"That's a big spider!" Happy squealed as the large creature gazed at them.

"Yeah I know. It's gotta be the biggest bug I've seen." Natsu stated.

"But spiders aren't bugs Natsu!" Happy exclaimed as Natsu gently set Wendy and Carla down along with Happy himself.

Natsu kept his gaze on the arachnid and grinned. "Doesn't matter, it'll get squished anyway. Happy you watch them while I take this freak of nature down."

Happy wanted to say something, but there was no time as Nic's life was slipping away with the wounds he had back at camp. "Hurry Natsu!"

Hearing this, Natsu bared a fist. "Alright you eight-legged freak, let's dance!" The large spider hissed and it made a large jump into the air catered by the strong legs. Natsu saw that the spider was screeching as it came barrowing down on him, but it wasn't Natsu's nature to run. He leaped and flamed a fist.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu let loose a brutal flaming punch as the heavy creature came down, effectively making the creature screech as it soared back up in the air. The Dragon Slayer landed and he propelled himself by using his Fire Dragon's Claw and shooting back up to the spider. He turned upside down and spiral kicked the creature across the prickly face.

The spider hissed harshly as it hit a nearby tree with its back. The foul creature land with a crumbling thud back on the ground and it got back up. It saw Natsu descend and it open its horrendous mouth and shot a stream of thick thread, hitting Natsu and sticking him upside down to a nearby tree.

"Gah! Hey! That's fighting dirty!" Natsu retorted while being upside down on a tree trunk. Apparently his appendages were hardly moveable and he struggled but to no avail. "Come on! Come on!" Natsu had a hard time prying himself as the spider hissed and was moving towards him.

Happy shrieked. "This is bad!" Happy exclaimed, unable to think as to what could be done with Natsu like this.

The giant spider was making its way towards its captured prey. The creature's eyes were targeted onto Natsu and its legs made it pounce, making it leap into the air and bared its fangs as it was coming down.

"Natsu!" Happy shouted.

Natsu saw the huge beast screeching and having its mouth open and was about to come down on Natsu, but the foul creature did not take into account that Natsu had the ability to breath fire.

Natsu sneered and he took in a quick breath. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Still upside down, he unleashed a stream of fire and scored a direct hit, engulfing the spider in fire. The giant being screech and hollered as it was being incinerated in midair.

"Whoa. Nice shot." Happy muttered as he witnessed the stream of fire ending and saw the giant spider beginning to fall. It looked completely cindered thanks to the blast of fire.

Natsu coated himself in fire and he easily pried himself free with the threads being burned off. He straightened out and then he lunged off of the trunk head first at the falling spider. "We haven't got time for freaks like you! Our friend is barely hanging on to his life and you're making a snack out of me?! You'll never harm my friends!"

Natsu smashed head first enflamed into the creature's cindered abdomen. "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" He headbutted the spider and it let loose one final screech before Natsu propelled even further and hammered the creature into the cobwebbed tree with the glowing plate of sorts. The creature and Natsu crashed into the tree, making smoke burst about and effectively bringing down the tree as well. Happy watched as the weird plate went flying into the air, and he used his Aera Magic and he spread his wings, zooming up and catching the shining light green plate before it could fall to the ground.

"Got it!" Happy exclaimed, though he had to admit that it did feel kind of heavy, not to mention the creepy feeling was still all around him. He looked down from midair to see that the smoke cleared, seeing as how the big tree with webs was pretty much knocked to the ground and there were scattered webs everywhere. Natsu was standing on the spider that was on its back and had its legs curled in, absolute no movement, meaning Natsu had won.

Natsu looked up with a proud grin. "And that's how Fairy Tail rolls!"

Happy floated in the air, holding the shining plate and spoke to Natsu. "Are you finished down there?"

"Yeah, piece of cake. Come on let's get moving!" Natsu leaped off of the spider and ran over towards Wendy and Carla and picked them up and he got to his feet. "Alright then, let's go." He then turned towards his flying comrade, who was hovering above. "Happy you stay in the air and follow me with that thing!"

"Aye sir!" Happy shouted, carrying the plate and allowing Natsu to keep a fast pace. As Happy and Natsu were now getting back on the path they were currently on, Happy noticed that as they got closer to base camp, the brighter the plate was glowing.

---

With Erza and co.

Erza was looking carefully at Nic, with Arbok doing the same. She still had a tender hand on Nic's chest, hearing his heart getting slower and slower, yet feeling some force within him palpitate. It was growing stronger and stronger.

Lucy and Hibiki gathered around to check on Nic's conditions, and it seemed to be that his injuries were beginning to make him suffer even more.

"Come on Nic. Hang in there." Lucy muttered.

Hibiki looked as Erza was tending to Nic. "We hardly have any time left. If nothing is done very soon…" He was then silenced by a glare from Erza, a shadow cascading over her forehead.

"Do not come to that conclusion Hibiki." Erza threatened. Arbok hissed harshly and he showed his fangs, almost tempted to unleash an Ice Fang.

Hibiki's eyes narrowed. "But you know I'm right." He said unemotionally. With this stated, Erza then softened her stare and she slowly dropped her head, seeing as how he was right. Arbok remained still, but he glanced back at Nic. In truth, this was a fact that cannot be denied.

They were just about out of time.

They then heard some rustling from some underbrush nearby. Almost immediately, Lucy jerked up in wide-eyed surprise and turned towards what might be coming. Erza was ready as well, getting up to her feet and summoning a sword. Arbok sprang to their sides and readied Ice Fang.

Natsu with Wendy and Carla appeared, with Happy carrying the shining plate. "You miss us?" Natsu cheerfully exclaimed.

Seeing this, Erza and everyone else eased. "Natsu!" Lucy said, happy to see that Natsu was back with Wendy and Carla.

"I gotta say, we're lucky you're here at last." Hibiki said. He then stepped forward with a frown. "How's Wendy?"

"She's fine!" Natsu said, setting her down and began shaking her. "Time to wake up! Come on!" He continuously shook her to no end.

Lucy looked startled. "Geez Natsu! Don't be so harsh!"

Erza was more than happy to have Wendy here to heal Nic, but then she saw the glowing plate that Happy was carrying, which was glowing fairly bright. She turned towards the flying feline. "Happy, is that what you guys found?"

Happy nodded. "Aye. We found it not too far from here. It keeps getting brighter and brighter the more close we got to here for some reason."

Erza blinked and nearly jerked back at Nic, who was still lying on the ground. She specifically remembered that Nic had to look for these Plates that were essential to save the universe and what not. Erza stared at Nic, seeing him still not moving.

"You fool!" Arbok sneered. "That'sssss at Plate! It'ssss one of the essssssentialssss that Nic needssss!" Arbok's sudden tone startled Happy and made him nearly drop it. "Careful you flapping feline!"

Erza turned towards Arbok while the Plate was shining brightly. "The Plate matter is for later, right now healing Nic is our priority." Erza desperately wanted to save Nic, even more than she wanted to see what happens with the Plate.

Wendy began to open her eyes and after a few moments, she went wide-eyed and squealed. She pushed herself away from Natsu in order to get room. She looked around quickly and she looked scared.

Lucy and the rest were surprised Wendy was scared like this, which made them blink.

Wendy clenched her head and closed her eyes. "I had to do it! I didn't mean to, but it happened!" She shouted. Natsu knew exactly what she was talking about and was standing with a blank expression. While everyone else was confused. Wendy was almost trembling.

Natsu got to his knees and bowed to her, making her look back at him. "I'm willing to overlook that right now." He explained with a bowed head. "Nic was nearly killed taking a combined assault! He's losing life! Please, you gotta save him!"

Wendy slowly took her hands off her head and look innocently at Nic. "He's hurt?" She then saw that Nic was severely bruised and damaged to a great degree.

Erza looked at Wendy. "We need Nic in order to stop the Oracion Seis. We don't have enough force without him. Please Wendy." Erza stated, almost as though she was begging. Now Erza got to her knees and was on hands and knees. "I'm begging you. Please…please save him." She was almost shaking. "People need him more than you know."

Arbok lowered his head. "Pleasssse Wendy."

Lucy was on hands and knees as well. "Please Wendy. We need Nic now more than ever."

Seeing how everyone was begging her, Wendy knew she had to do this. She had her fists clenched. "Yes, I'll try and save him! NO, I WILL!" She proclaimed. Everyone looked up from begging with smiles, but no one was as happy as Erza. They all watched as Wendy walked over to a wounded Nic and sat on her knees and looked over him.

Everyone there watched in anticipation, hoping for the very best. Erza had an armored fist clenched tightly at her large chest, hoping for a miracle to bring back Fairy Tail's light.

Wendy had her hands over Nic's chest and a blue-green light took place. As the light was commencing to heal Nic, Wendy began to mutter. 'I heard Jellal did terrible things to them all.' They all watched as Wendy's magic was quickly ridding and vanquishing the bruises and damages Nic had gained. His internals were being rebuild and his heart was beginning to pump faster.

'That's hard for me to believe.'

---

Meanwhile…

Deep within the woodsea, somewhere in a rocky terrain that had rooted rocks, Jellal was walking quietly with Erigor's clothing. Jellal looked around in silence in front of what seemed to be a light purple object that seemed to have branches of sorts and was chained to the rocks, though it was hard to tell if said object was in light purple cobwebs. Jellal continued onwards towards the large object.

Cobra was sneaking around and following him, tracking his movements. He looked behind a rock and scrutinized Jellal's footsteps. He seemed to be rather perplexed in the process. 'For some reason, I can't hear his inner voice.' Cobra thought. 'If I could, I wouldn't have to be following him around like this.' Cobra then saw Jellal stop in place, looking up at the chained contraption, whatever it was.

Cobra saw the huge object. "What the hell is this place?" He muttered. He then looked up along the tree or whatever it was, and he had a nervous smile. "Could this be what Brain said? Is this where Nirvana is sealed…?"

Jellal stared at the tree thingamajig and he gazed solemnly up front, where he was planning something, though not sure if this was instinctive. With no other way, Jellal slowly brought his hand up and placed it in front of the tree thing.

Slowly, as he was making contact and keeping his hand on the object, the object was lighting up, giving a faint glow that soon turned into a bright light that erupted the ground beneath, sending forth a bright light into the sky.

"We found it!" Cobra shouted. "Our future!"

---

With Erza and co.

Wendy wiped her forehead. "Well, I repaired his wounds. He should be up again soon. All we have to do is wait." She said.

"WAIT?!" Everyone exclaimed.

Happy was still holding the shining Plate from a close distance while everyone else was observing to see if Nic would come around. Nic was still not moving, which concerned Erza and Arbok. Natsu and Lucy were getting a little anxious as well, even Happy was getting anxious.

Everyone kept their composure to the best of their abilities, and sure enough it was beginning to pay off. Pretty soon after a short few moments, Nic's eyes winced once, then twice, and then finally after the third wince they slowly opened.

"Ooooooiiiiii." Nic groaned.

"HE'S OKAY!" Natsu, Lucy, and Happy exclaimed. Happy jumped for joy while Natsu and Lucy high-fived. Erza got to her knees with both hands over her mouth as she was so relieved that Nic was okay. To be perfectly honest, she felt like shedding a few tears of joy, but she had to remain composed in front of everyone. Still, she was far more happy than the entire Allied Forces put together.

Happy went over to a stoic Carla with a free hand. "Don't leave me hanging!" Happy shouted with joy.

Carla looked away and held up a paw. "Fine, just this once." They then high-fived.

Nic was slowly coming around, his eyes blinked and he turned his head both left and right. "What happened?" He quietly asked. "The last thing I remembered was taking a gruesome-!" Nic winced as he still felt a sting somewhere along his abdomen from the attack. Wendy's Magic healed him of his injuries for the most part, but still left a stinging sensation through his body.

He turned his way and saw that Erza and Arbok were on his left. He sat up and noticed how relieved their expressions were. He saw Erza smiling a concerned yet happy expression. Seeing how happy she looked, he tried to pull off a weak smile. "Hey Er-!" He was then grabbed by Erza as she instinctively hugged him and held him close, as though he might disappear if she loosens her grip.

Nic blinked as he then felt Erza getting shaky and he felt her scarlet hair press against the right side of his face. He decided he would just let it flow and he wrapped his arms around her waist, accepting the embrace.

"You were almost dead." Erza muttered with eyes closed over his shoulder. "You were blasted in front of my eyes. I almost thought I-we lost you again. I was in a panic as your heart was slowing down. I couldn't…" She paused as she was feeling a small tear coming and glistening in the corner of her eye. "…I couldn't leave you, not this time. We need you now more than ever Nic, we did everything in our power to get Wendy back. For your sake. For our sake…for my sake. I thought you were almost gone for good." She was shaking even more now and a tear slowly fell. "I wasn't there to help you when you needed me. I'm not worthy of such forgiveness, but please…please don't ever do something like that again." She begged. "I can't bear it if you sacrificed yourself like that again. I can't live with such guilt. Please promise."

Nic softened his eyes and he felt sorry for himself, but he didn't know what came over him when he took that assault. What made him make the bold move? Was it his heart? Right now wasn't exactly the time as Erza was making him promise. Nic saw the pain within Erza's voice. It was almost broken, like when he returned after his 'death'. He could feel the guilt twisting him over and over as did the last time.

Nic reluctantly pulled away and gently eased Erza off of him, despite wanting the embrace to go on. "Okay, I promise." Nic said. He recalled the pain he saw in Erza's eyes when he returned from his 'death', and when he saw Erza at his own funeral. Both sights were unbearable. He almost left again, and this was the second time he did it impulsively to save Erza. He was hoping in silence that he wouldn't have to do that again.

Erza shed yet another tear and she then forcefully kissed his right cheek, regardless of whoever was watching. She almost lost him again, and she was more than happy to have him here in front of her again. She maintained that one kiss on his cheek for a few moments before she recoiled and she looked at Nic with a slight blush, to which Nic just smiled in sincerity, feeling the same way.

Though this was a fun time to tease, Happy knew as well as the others that this was meant to be a personal moment, so he just stood by while watching the heart-warming site. Everyone there had smiles and looked with satisfaction that Nic and Erza were embracing, to which no one argued.

Arbok slithered towards Erza's side and lowered his head and bowed before his master. "Nic-ssssama, my deepessst regretsss for not helping you. I am at fault for not aiding you in taking down the enemy. I have sssullied mysssself in pity. I am sssory I have failed you."

Nic blinked and he sighed. He let loose a happy grin and he laid a hand on Arbok's head and gently petted his pal. "No one's to blame Arbok." Nic said. "Nobody saw it coming. No one single individual is to be blamed, especially you." Arbok gasped slightly and jerked his head up towards Nic. "You were doing exactly as I told you, and I am still proud of you in the end." Nic then slowly arose to his feet with Erza and Arbok spotting him. "You did well in quarreling with Cubellios. Thank you."

Seeing as how Nic was still pleased with Arbok giving it his all, the Cobra Pokémon couldn't help but smile and have his head in Nic's chest, letting him pet his head even more. "Thank you Nic-sssama."

Arbok slowly backed away and Nic pulled out his poke ball. "You and the others' loyalty have no bounds, as my loyalty to you guys. It's best that you rest your worries and conserve your energy." Nic then looked out at the woodsea. "I have a feeling we'll be running into them soon; until then return."

"Asssss you wish." Arbok obediently went back into his poke ball for some well-earned rest, leaving them all to feel relief with this situation going well.

Natsu turned towards Wendy. "Hey, that was amazing Wendy, thanks!" Natsu thanked Wendy for helping to save Nic. The two Dragon Slayers then high-five just like everyone else. Natsu had his trademark smile showing his teeth. "Looks like we owe you one!"

"Well now, since your friend is healed please refrain from having Wendy use anymore of her Sky Magic." Carla stated. Everyone then turned towards her. "She'll insist that she's okay after using her Sky Magic, but it exhausts her regardless."

"That won't be an issue for me anymore, don't worry." Nic assured. He was then glowing yellow, everyone watching as Nic had the power to use Recover and his stinging feeling was gone. When the light ceased, Nic looked like he didn't even see battle. "You won't have to worry about healing me anymore. Now that I am conscious again, I can restore myself. Thanks to you again Wendy."

Wendy blinked and nodded, looking happy.

Lucy pumped a fist. "Alright, look out Oracion Seis! We're coming to get you!"

"Aye! You won't get Nirvana!" Happy shouted, still holding the shining Plate. As Nic was about to turn towards the Plate, the entire group saw the forest ahead of them glowing. The sudden glow and shine startled them as they weren't sure what this was.

"What is that?!" Lucy exclaimed. They all saw the light dim, but saw it shoot up into the sky to no end. They saw the white beam ascertain fragments of black within its beam and saw a chaotic tangle of black energy surrounding it.

Wendy looked with concerns. "A giant pillar of black light."

"No way." Carla said.

"Nirvana has been unsealed!" Hibiki exclaimed, shocking everyone. They all saw the pillar of black light continuously going on and the earth itself was shaking slightly and then subsided. "That's gotta be it."

"Seriously, then how did the Oracion Seis get there first?" Lucy exclaimed.

Natsu stood there with clenched fists, seeing the pillar of light there in the sky. "That pillar of light…I know Jellal is there!"

Lucy and everyone else's eyes opened wide in shock at the mention of Jellal. They all saw Natsu rush off to where the light was, where Jellal was.

Lucy didn't have enough time to register after the shock of Jellal that she saw Natsu flee. "Wait, how is Jellal here?" But Natsu was already out of sight.

Erza was left still with a super shocked expression, hearing that Jellal of all people were here. She was completely baffled that someone from her past returned, again.

"Jellal?" She muttered.

"No way." Nic muttered. He was baffled as well, though not as badly as Erza, who looked as though she was transfixed. He turned towards her. "I-I thought…I…"

Erza turned towards Nic as well, just as stunned as was he. "Yeah…I thought so as well."

They all saw Wendy trembling and she had her hands close to her mouth. She looked very upset, like she was going to break down. "N-N-No…what have I done." She said in utter regret. "This is all my fault."

Everyone was perplexed, but Erza and Nic were stuck in their own worlds.

'Jellal.' Erza thought.

Nic was clenching his fists unconsciously. He had a few images of Jellal and the pain he caused. It was he who caused Erza to suffer. It was he who turned towards the darkness. It was he who tried to kill Erza. It was he who killed Simon. It was he who Nic thought he would never have to see again.

'Jellal.' Unconsciously, Nic's teeth looked sharp as though his anger was making him bear his canines. 'That bastard…I gotta stop him. I need to protect Erza!'

"Why would Natsu bring up Jellal?" Lucy exclaimed.

"We'll explain later, right now we need to stop him!" Happy said. Suddenly, they heard Carla let loose a quick yelp. They all turned, seeing that Nic and Erza had disappeared.

"Of all the nerve!" Carla exclaimed. "Where are their manners?! They didn't even warn us!"

Happy then realized something else as well. "Gah! Nic also took the Plate!" Everyone there saw this phenomenon and they too were shocked. Natsu, Erza, and Nic were all gone.

They all then saw Wendy clench her head and she was starting to break down even more. "T-This is all my fault! I should have never healed him! Natsu would have never taken off. And Nic and Erza would still be here. Nirvana would have been left alone…this is all my fault…"

Hibiki looked at Wendy and quickly extended a hand. "Force Blast!" Hibiki then used his Archive Magic and made several Magical screens in front of Wendy and they all exploded, making her fly into the air and land on her back.

"Wendy!" Lucy shouted.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Carla exclaimed.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Happy exclaimed. They all then saw that Wendy was being carried on Hibiki's back.

Hibiki then looked back towards the others. "I'm sorry, but I simply knocked her out." He stated, and then he started running with the others following reluctantly.

"Why?" Lucy demanded.

"Wendy may be a whiner, but that's no reason for you to strike her!" Carla exclaimed.

Hibiki paused and he looked down. He then eventually came to a stop. "I'm sorry…but I did it for her safety." Everyone was confused as to what he was doing or where he was going with this. Safety from what? Then Hibiki explained after a longer pause. "…I haven't been completely honest with you guys. I know Nirvana know than I originally had let on."

Everyone jerked in surprise.

"What? Why didn't you tell us?" Happy said.

"I couldn't." Hibiki stated. "The very nature of the Magic itself should've been unheard. Just mentioning it now is risky and will endanger us all. That's why Guild Master Bob only told me about it. Ichiya and the others have no clue."

"What was it exactly he explained in detail?" Carla asked.

Hibiki then turned towards the others. "Nirvana is a terrifying Magic like no other. It alone has the power…to turn light into darkness."

Everyone there nearly gasped and they were a little freaked out right now. "For real?" Happy said in surprise.

"It can really switch them?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, but that doesn't happen until its final stage." Hibiki explained. "The first stage is that black light that's ahead of us. It then goes in search of those who are mentally weak and will switch anyone wavering between light and darkness. In other words, the good guy who's feeling down…will fall to the dark side."

"So that's why you knocked Wendy out." Carla said, understanding.

"Yes. She was a target because of her guilt. If I didn't step in, she would've fallen to the dark side. Such negative and self-doubting thoughts attract Nirvana."

"So when Nirvana activates, everyone on the Allied Forces can turn evil?" Lucy asked.

"Quick question." Happy said, raising a paw. "If it turns us evil, does that mean the Dark Guild guys will turn good?"

"It's possible, but one cannot be certain." Hibiki explained. "The scary part about Nirvana is that it can be controlled to do as the caster seems fit. I'll explain; let's say a Mage uses Nirvana against a guild. They can have the members start killing each other, or make them go to war against other guilds for no reason. And they barely have to lift a finger."

"S-Seriously?" Lucy was rather terrified right now.

Hibiki then began walking a few paces forward and then spoke once more. "We wasted too much time. We need to go and stop Nirvana."

---

With Jura

Jura knew full well that a member of the Oracion Seis was hiding among the forest. He stood affirm and awaited for a response, but the enemy was still remaining hidden. Jura remained calm and collected with his serious frown, only turning to where he senses a strong Magic energy.

Jura turned his head and narrowed his vision slightly. "You don't honestly think you can hide from me, right?" He stated. "Show yourself at once." Jura turned once more and the ground around him was beginning to get wavy. Jura then saw waves of Liquid Ground emerge and try to attack him.

"How silly of me, taking on a Wizard Saint." Hoteye stated. He then saw Jura using his expertise and solidified the earth just before impact, making it solid and spread apart, allowing Jura a quick shot and shot stone columns at Hoteye.

Hoteye kept calm and chuckled. He put two fingers close to his eyes and they burned a bright red. His eyes created a yellow field in front of his face that not only stopped the attack from Jura, but also heated up the rock itself and made it liquid, making the attack plop to the ground as though it was mush.

Hoteye chuckled as Jura stared seriously at him, awaiting to see what will be done next. Hoteye then spoke. "We both use Earth Magic and yet our powers are so different. Mine heats up and softens the soil while yours solidifies it. Oh yeah!" He judged. "I wonder whose power is the strongest, don't you?" He maintained his usual smile.

Jura kept two fingers up and positions if ready to strike. "No! Magical ability is irrelevant, the stronger ideology always wins." Jura explained.

Hoteye still looked proud and happy. "I'm afraid you're wrong. No matter how hard you try, the ones who triumph – are the rich! Oh yeah!"

A few moments before they were about to commence, they heard and felt the earth shake and palpitate to a vast magnitude. Both sides were able to keep balance, but they looked up and saw that a white beam that was soon mixed with darkness came forth from a far distance and they both looked on as it went on to no end.

Hoteye's hair flew about as he and Jura looked on in deep surprise and horror at this huge beam of light that shot forth from nowhere. When the light subsided somewhat, only having the beam shoot up, Jura turned towards it.

"What's happening? What's that light?!" Jura exclaimed.

Hoteye recomposed himself. "It's Nirvana! Oh yeah!" He exclaimed. Jura turned back towards Hoteye in a horrid shock that Nirvana had activated. "There's no reason for you to get all worked up. Its main operation hasn't been activated yet!" He assured the Wizard Saint with sincerity. "The light simply means that the seal has been broken." He then paused again. "It's also a sign that we'll be rolling in dough! Oh yeah!" He then chuckled at the amusement he was having.

Jura looked at Hoteye with some astonishment and unsure awareness. This was bad, now that Nirvana was unsealed who knows what will happen? Jura's calm demeanor was getting broken as he clenched his fists in worry that Nirvana might destroy everything now.

'Fighting this buffoon will mean wasting time. Then again, defeating the Oracion Seis is the prime objective of our mission. Should I stay and fight, or should I go and stop Nirvana?' Jura was conflicted as to what two options he had. The bigger question was who was the bigger threat? Just who was the biggest worry, the Oracion Seis or Nirvana? Jura contemplated to an exhausting level as Hoteye continued to chuckle.

Hoteye couldn't stop chuckling; that is, until he spat out more money talk. "Money. Money! The world will be incredibly wealthy-!" Just then, he stopped and went very wide-eyed. He gasped as this was happening. Suddenly he tensed up and he was still.

Jura gasped as he saw Hoteye now screaming as he clenched his face. Hoteye screamed as he couldn't stop this overwhelming feeling taking over him of sorts.

"W-What has gotten into him?" Jura wondered.

"GRAAAHHHH!" Hoteye shouted in agony. "Money! Money! Money!" He shrieked in agony.

"It's like he's been possessed!" Jura concluded.

"MONEEEEYYYYYY!" Hoteye yelled, startling Jura even more. Just then, Hoteye suddenly turned all bliss and had sparkles, meaning he shined sort of speak. "…is the root of all evil. Oh yeah." He finished.

Jura then looked in a comically shocked expression. "That's not what you said a second ago!" He retorted with confusion.

Hoteye then had joyful tears stream down his cheeks as he felt anew. He never felt so alive for so long. This felt all too good to be true that he was tearing streams down his face with facial sparkles. "You see, I have been desperately searching for my long lost younger brother, and I thought if I accumulated enough money I'd be able to find him. Oh yeah!" He joyfully expressed. He then began clenching his fists and was shaking. "However, I have finally realized how foolish it was of me to think that way! I was wrong!"

Jura still had his comically shocked wide eyes with no pupils, beyond baffled. "Huh?!"

Hoteye then opened his arms out. "Jura! What do you say we bury the hatchet and become friends? Oh yeah!" He tearfully exclaimed. "The world around us is overflowing with love! Oh yeah! All to burst with sweetness and compassion! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH THE POWER OF LOVE ON YOUR SIDE! Oh yeah!" He joyfully proclaimed to the world, unable to stop the flow of tears.

Unable to hold such grudges, Hoteye hugged Jura and streamed tears on his bald head, though Jura was still in shock as to what this phenomenon is. "What do you say we work together to put an end to my former comrades' plans? We must teach them of peace, love, and harmony. Are you with me?" Hoteye was just so full of joy he was almost squealing.

Jura blinked as the river of tears fell down his bald head. "S-Sure." He managed to croak out from the embrace of a new comrade.

---

With Gray and co.

After Lyon had met his demise, Gray assumed that he could very well be alive. He knew Lyon better than anyone, and even he knew Lyon wouldn't go down so easily. There was absolutely no way Lyon was destroyed, so Gray and Sophie began to search at the bottom of the cliff in the ravaged terrain comprised of a multitude of shattered fragments of wood and tree trunks.

Gray and Sophie were working hard to find Gray's sibling student, as to where Sherry was standing with a dark shadow cascading over her entire face. "Lyon's gone…someone's gotta pay…" She muttered. Sherry was in deep shock that she was unable to even move. All her mind could fixate on right now was Lyon. With him gone, what was she? "…someone has to fall…"

While she was in horrific shock, Gray and Sophie both threw away more debris. Gray wiped his forehead. "I know he's here somewhere. We just gotta keep looking." Gray wasn't going to stop looking for Lyon, even if anyone would convince him otherwise.

Sophie wasn't complaining. If she had a sibling student, there was no way that she would give up searching for said student, even if Armageddon were to happen. Sophie threw away even more wood, trying to help find Lyon. "I know Gray. We'll find him, no worries." Sophie said. "We have to find him for all of our sakes."

Sophie's encouragement and factorization was undisputed. At this point, they assumed Nic was knocking at Death's door since they got no word on Natsu and Happy. There priorities were to get Lyon and race towards the Allied Forces as quick as their legs could carry them.

Gray tried calling out to Lyon. "Hey! Answer me Lyon! Hey! Can you hear me?!" Gray shouted over a vast distance, trying to see if Lyon was around, but no signs.

"Lyon! Answer us! Are you here?!" Sophie hollered, but even her voice fell on deaf ears.

Sherry stared coldly at the two. 'Those two must fall…'

Before anymore hollering and searching could be done, they all saw a vast light deep within the woods. Sophie and Gray turned to see the light diminish and a black beam was shooting upwards, making the ground palpitate slightly.

Gray and Sophie were heavily startled at the site. "What is that?! Is that Nirvana?!" Gray exclaimed.

"This is bad!" Sophie exclaimed. As the light beamed upwards and the rumbling was subsiding, Sherry's shadowy gaze looked even more ominous than before, as her blue eyes looked hazy and her forehead was of shadows, giving her a possessed vibe.

Seeing the light for a moment made Gray get sidetracked. "We have to keep looking for-!" Suddenly, Gray was being binded by roots and he was being constricted as though he was trying to be suffocated.

"Gray!" Sophie shouted. She then turned sharply to where the roots were coming from, which were from Sherry's Wood Doll. "Sherry! What the hell?!"

Sherry gave no immediate response as she had that evil look in her eyes and the roots binded Gray tighter, making him scream. Sophie grunted and quickly turned towards Gray and she quickly had a finger at her forehead. "Memory-Make: Pyro Saucer!" Sophie created vast blades comprised of fire and she had cut the roots with ease, freeing Gray and he fell to the ground.

Gray landed with a thud, but was nevertheless conscious. He was on his hands and knees in no time and coughed. Sophie called his name and ran towards him and checked on him.

"Are you okay?" She knelt down towards her comrade and Gray slowly got back up.

"Yeah, thanks for the save." Gray said. Now back on his feet, the Ice Mage and Sophie both turned towards Sherry. "What the heck was that for Sherry?! What's wrong with you?!" Gray and Sophie both turned to see that evil gaze and the Wood Doll behind Sherry was waving even more roots around.

"I must avenge my love. You all shall fall." She coldly concluded, giving Gray and Sophie chills.

The two stepped back. "What is it with her? Is she possessed?" Gray wondered.

Sophie narrowed her eyes. "It could be Nirvana, but we can't be sure." She and Gray both then gained fighting stances as Sherry's Wood Doll was making the roots wiggle about as they came ever so closer. "Whatever the case may be, we have to knock her out before any harm happens."

"Agreed." Gray said. "Here she comes!" Sherry then extended her arm and the roots went at them, hoping to bind them. Gray countered by making Ice Make: Sword and easily sliced and cut through the roots. Sophie just used her Memory-Make Magic and she cleverly made more Pyro Saucers that cindered and had cut through even more roots. The roots kept on coming and they continued to intercept.

Sophie then used her Memory-Make again and made the armored winds she used against Racer and completely shredded up the roots, but that's not all Sophie had done. Sophie had also made a few other twisters that were surrounding Sherry and her Wood Doll.

"Take this!" Sophie swiped both her arms, converging the armored winds and ultimately directing all of the attack onto the Wood Doll, shredding it up and leaving hardly any trace. The armored winds expanded like a burst and Sherry flew back and tumbled, leaving her even more scratched up than before.

Sherry slowly got back up and looked back at her doll as excess winds blew about, leaving slight tears around her dress and her hair blew about and covered up. As the winds dialed down, she looked back at them again. "I will avenge my love. Fairy Tail must fall."

"Not gonna happen you puppet. Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!" Gray pounded his hands to the ground, and under Sherry a tower of ice emerged, sending her flying and the ice shattered upon impact. Sherry let loose a harsh scream as she was hit and fell with a thud.

Gray and Sophie both stood affirm with their Magic at the ready if she is up again; fortunately, Sherry was shaking as she tilted her head towards them.

"I must…avenge…my love…" Sherry then blacked out and she was left unconscious, leaving Gray and Sophie up still.

The two remained calm as they went over towards and unconscious Sherry. The two looked down and stared at her as she still looked like a hazard.

"What do you think happened?" Gray wondered, still looking down at her.

"I don't know. Like I said, it could be Nirvana." Sophie explained. She paused as she saw Gray pick her up and put her on his own back.

"Well we can't just leave her here; and besides, we have to continue looking for Lyon." Even after this quick melee, Gray was intent on searching for Lyon. Sophie had no arguments as she turned towards the light.

"You're right. Perhaps he managed to escape and he took off to stop Nirvana. Perhaps we need to keep going. I can only assume Natsu got Wendy back to Nic in time." She guessed.

Gray nodded. "Okay then, let's move!" Gray and Sophie then pressed onwards from the debris fields in hopes of finding Lyon.

'Nic, I hope you're okay. Erza and everyone is counting on you.' Sophie thought.

---

With Natsu

Natsu was dashing along a small cliff that led down to a river in the forest below. Natsu was determined to put an end to Jellal, as was Nic, of whom went off on his own along with Erza, though no one was for certain if they went their own way or not.

Natsu was dashing when he caught a whiff of something, or in this case someone. Natsu stopped in his tracks after a screeching halt and he sniffed the air again. "Wait, I know that smell." He leaped off the cliff and skid down its slope, making way to where he came across the trees and grass. "I knew it!" He then saw that Gray was lying in the water on his stomach, and head tilted upwards, looking unconscious.

Natsu made way into the water to aid his waterlogged comrade. "Yo Gray! This ain't no time to take a nap, and what happened to that speedy dude?" Natsu asked, now in front of him. He got no response after a few moments and he was left to call out to him again. "Wake up!" Still, Gray didn't respond as he was out cold. Natsu turned and he saw the dark beam up ahead, still going up into the sky. This was no time to be down and out. Natsu had to get Gray up and fast. He turned back towards his fallen pal and tried to pick him up by the shoulders.

"Come on Gray, we gotta move." Natsu urged, trying to shake him if possible. "I'm in a hurry. Wake up dude." A few moments passed and Gray was back to his feet slowly, relieving Natsu. Natsu looked appeased, but he then frowned and looked startled at the dark and dread-like expression Gray was giving off. Natsu backed a foot away, freaked out. "Er, you okay man?"

Just then, Natsu was beginning to feel wobbly and then a long raft made of wood and rope appeared from being submerged, stunning Natsu as he and Gray were now on a raft. Natsu was beyond baffled, giving off a comically shocked face. "Gah! How did you even hide a raft down there?!" Natsu exclaimed. He then began to wobble a bit and swayed his head until he finally plopped forward onto the raft with puffed up cheeks, his motion sickness getting the best of him.

"Poor Natsu, your motion sickness will be the death of you." Gray sneered coldly. Natsu wasn't able to hold it in and he let loose a bit of his vomit, which made him feel even worse.

With his mouth empty, he slowly turned his head up towards Gray. "What gives…?" Natsu muttered while shaking up. Gray then stomped on his defenseless head and kept him pinned.

"Let's face it, fire and ice never mix!" Gray retorted with disgust. He then made what seemed to be a big spear by his Ice-Make. "It's time we end this for good!" Gray then gave a dark smirk as he was ready to finish him.

As Gray was bringing down the spear, it somehow was shattered in a flash. The ice pieces shattered about and Natsu was spared from a terrible demise. Gray sneered and he turned towards the Magic he sensed some distance away.

He stood up and readied Ice-Make: Lance with one hand. "Show yourself!" He then launched the attack at the shore of the river, and it was as he launched the lances he saw arrows pierce his lances, making him grunt.

It was Lucy alongside Sagittarius and the rest. Lucy and the others got there in time and Lucy summoned Sagittarius in the last moment.

"Mind telling me what the heck is going on?!" Lucy pointed and demanded.

Happy was on the ground with big shocked eyes. "Looks obvious to me!"

Sagittarius had a bow in one hand and saluted with the other. "It would seem we have foiled his foul play." He stated.

Natsu turned his head towards Lucy and the others and he looked pale. "Nice…shot…Lucy…" Natsu managed to say before he spewed over the raft's edge.

Lucy was disgusted and appalled. "I knew you were motion sick, but watching you spew after saying my name is killing my self-esteem!" Lucy exclaimed.

Sagittarius salute at Lucy. "Shall I shoot him?"

"NO!" Lucy exclaimed.

The raft then came to a halt on the river at last and Gray stood and glared at Lucy and the others. Happy called out to him. "What the heck is wrong with you Gray?! You went way too far…unless he stole your fish then it's completely fine!"

"What is wrong with you stupid cat?!" Lucy reprimanded.

Gray looked disinterested, but still maintained a sadistic smirk. "Mind your own business! Don't worry, you'll get your turns after I deal with Natsu here!"

The others looked in shock that Gray was behaving very foul-like, which made them unease. "Is he under Nirvana's control?" Lucy wondered. "It already switched one of us to the dark side?"

"Get me…off of this thing…right now." Natsu muttered with puffed up cheeks and looking very sick.

"How are you still sick when it's not even moving?!" Lucy exclaimed, sounding rather annoyed.

"Hang on, I'll come and get you!" Happy initiated his wings and flew in to help get Natsu off. In a flash, Gray effortlessly froze Happy without even blinking. The feline was in a block of ice and he fell onto the grass.

Lucy was greatly upset by this. "How can you do such a thing?! That's no way to treat a friend!"

Gray wasn't even fazed by her reprimanding attitude. "Happy may be able to fly, but he can only carry one person. He doesn't possess any combat skills, that's all the info Gray has on him." 'Gray' explained.

Lucy raised a brow. "You're not making any sense at all. What's gotten into you?"

Hibiki looked back at the scene after he sat Wendy beside a tree log so as to have her rest. "My guess is that he fell victim to Nirvana, he switched to the dark side." Hibiki then got to his feet and he turned towards Gray.

'Gray' just kept on going. "Gray's got plenty of info on Lucy; a new member of Fairy Tail, easy on the eyes, he likes the whole package."

Lucy's eyes looked like circles and she was blushing with a ton of steam erupting from her body from embarrassment. "U-Um, am I hearing this right?!"

'Gray' pressed onwards. "She can be as hot-headed as Erza, but even those two put together aren't enough against Nic's wrath. Lucy is terrified by Nic when he's angry and Nic is among the fastest in Fairy Tail. Lucy also seems to have a heart as pure as his…and oh, she's a Celestial Wizard?" His voice raised at the info of Lucy being a Celestial Wizard and he got into a battle stance that startled Lucy.

'Gray' then smirked and he conjured up ice and he went and blasted Lucy with it, sending the ice her way. Lucy was still in shock from the sudden…'words' 'Gray' mentioned of her body. Fortunately Hibiki was able to intercept in time and he was able to use his Archive Magic in order to make several small screens and barricade the attack from hitting him and Lucy.

As the ice shattered, Hibiki's eyes narrowed. "That's not Gray." He explained. His screens vanished and he called out to 'Gray'. "I can tell you're an imposter! Drop the act!"

Lucy was confused. "What are you saying?"

'Gray' was just standing there, taking in more information on Gray and his allies. "Accessing information on Hibiki. Hibiki is a member of Blue Pegasus, and a lady's man, nothing else it seems." He said.

Hibiki's eyes narrowed as his suspicions were growing even more anxiety as his information was accessed, but was fortunately left to that much information.

Carla was right next to Happy, of whom was in a block of ice. "We're wasting our time with this nonsense. They should incapacitate the fool so we can get to Nirvana." Carla said.

Suddenly, Lucy realized something when Carla mentioned Nirvana. "That's it." She said. "Only those whose emotions waver between good and evil switch to the other side. So that can't be Gray because he's as cool as they come!" Lucy then got defensive and stood affirm. "Who are you?!"

'Gray' smirked and then he chuckled, giving an uneasy feeling and he had his eyes become black circles. And then just like that, he turned into a puff of smoke and everyone expected it to be the enemy, but it wasn't.

'Gray' had then transformed into 'Lucy' with a heinous smirk. Lucy let out some gasps in disbelief as she saw herself. "M-Me?!"

"You've gotta be kidding me." Hibiki said, fed up with this act. "You honestly think we can be fooled? We know Lucy is right here, so you might as well show your true form." He insisted.

'Lucy' had a hand to her hip. "Oh, I'll show you alright. And I think you'll find it as real as that bimbo." Just then, everyone saw 'Lucy' grabbing the bottom of her shirt and then Lucy nearly pale when 'Lucy' pulled up her shirt and bra, revealing her huge breasts to everyone there. Lucy shrieked as she clenched her clothed chest, seeing the humility the doppelganger was bringing to her and Hibiki and Sagittarius gaped their mouths and almost passed out. The two men were perking smiles and pounding their fists on their own hands as if an epiphany emerged. Natsu, however, could not enjoy this sight as he was motion sick.

"Yup, they're real alright." Hibiki and Sagittarius proclaimed in unison.

Lucy then kicked them both, sending them spiraling. "I HATE BOTH OF YOU!"

Carla looked unimpressed and sweat dropped. "Think about the example you're setting for Wendy you fool!" Good thing Wendy was still knocked out at this point in time.

Lucy then turned back towards Carla as 'Lucy' was redressing. "B-But that's not me. I-I mean it is, but it isn't!" She then got her knees and comically pouted. "Why does this stuff always happen to me anyway?!"

'Lucy' then gave a dark grin. "Sorry blondie, but it's only gonna get worse from here. You see, I now know which Keys you have." This bit of news now brought Lucy out of her pity and she almost went wide-eyed.

'Lucy' continued. "You had an audience with the Celestial Spirit King? How'd a newbie like you get to do that? Whatever." 'Lucy' then pointed at Sagittarius and smirk. "Listen up Sagittarius…destroy them."

Hibiki then turned towards Sagittarius, but was too late as Sagittarius shot arrows at Hibiki, damaging him.

"Did I do that?!" Sagittarius exclaimed, disbelieving what he did and saw Hibiki fall on his back. Sagittarius was all shaken up and Lucy and Carla turned towards Sagittarius.

"Are you crazy?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"You only take orders from Lucy!" Carla reminded the confuse Celestial Spirit.

Sagittarius was shaking still, now seeing his body was acting by itself. "Sorry my lady. 'Tis not I, but my body is out of control!"

Lucy went over quickly and examined Hibiki, who was shaking as he clenched his shoulders. "Hang in there, it's gonna be alright!" Lucy then turned towards 'Lucy' with frustration. "Tell me, how are you controlling Sagittarius?"

'Lucy' made a pose. "I'm an exact copy of you, so your Spirits are forced to take my orders." She devilishly explained.

Sagittarius was doing his best not to move, but he was being controlled and he was aiming arrows at them. "F-Forgive me Lady Lucy and Sir Hibiki, I'm fighting with all of my strength, b-but I cannot...hold it!" Saggitarius then fired arrows at them, but fortunately Hibiki had up screens just before he was shot earlier, though some didn't save him from before, but this time there was enough to suffice while Lucy gets an arm and helps Hibiki in support.

"Carla, get Wendy to safety and as fast, go!" Lucy shouted as arrows continued bombarding the screens. Carla picked up Wendy and flew up into the air in a flash.

"I was just waiting for you to say that." Carla sneered as she was high in the sky.

When the arrows from Sagittarius subsided, Lucy pulled out his Key. "I'll close your gate so you can take a break! Don't worry, I know it's not your fault!"

Sagittarius turned towards Lucy with a salute. "I regret that I could not aid you further Lady Lucy!" Sagittarius said. Sagittarius then vanished.

'Lucy' looked pleased. "It's about time. Open: Gate of the Archer – Sagittarius!" A Magic seal came forth and then Sagittarius was summoned forth once again in a salute.

"I am happy to jump back into the fray Lady Lucy!" Sagittarius exclaimed with a salute.

"HUH?!" Lucy exclaimed in shock. Sagitarius came back just like that, but was now on the enemy's side.

Sagittarius then went wide-eyed and realized that he wasn't serving Lucy, but 'Lucy'. He too was baffled. "H-How did…? This cannot be! That means you have summoned me!" He turned towards 'Lucy' with accusation.

"Keep your mouth shut and you'll live longer." 'Lucy' said. She turned to pull off a charming face. "All that matters is that I summoned you so you have to do as I ask."

But Sagittarius was no fool as he was loyal to Lucy. "I shall betray Lady Lucy, no matter what you say." He stated affirm.

"Oh really, let's test that." She then pointed up at Carla and Wendy high in the air. "Shoot right in the middle of that white cat's back!"

Sagittarius was actually being commanded to shoot Carla, to which he had some trouble resisting. "I-I cannot do that." He protested.

"What's that?" 'Lucy' asked in a sadistic manner. "Are you disobeying an order from your master?"

Sagittarius was doing his absolute best to resist as he was shaken up now, confliction upholding him. "You may share the appearance and abilities of Lady Lucy, but comparing you to her is a travesty!" Unfortunately, Sagittarius wasn't doing well in the fight as his body was being controlled and he was taking aim with an arrow at Carla.

"Keep fighting her!" Lucy shouted.

"Please, send me back my lady!" Sagittarius pleaded as he was trying to hold the pose.

Lucy frowned. "Okay, I'll close your gate!" Lucy then held up Sagittarius's Key and forcing a Gate Close, but when she swiped it nothing happened. "Huh?"

'Lucy' then smirked. "Moron, you forgot I summoned horse face, so only I can force him back." Lucy was startled as she was now unable to do much of anything except watch. 'Lucy' pointed at Carla. "Shoot that cat already, come on."

Sagittarius was very close to firing the arrow, and he would have shot it in about a couple of seconds if not for footsteps coming.

"That's quite enough. Nirvana is close at hand so the brat is useless." A feminine voice said from the other side of the river. "Quite wasting energy my pets."

'Lucy' crossed her arms and sighed. "As you wish." 'Lucy' then turned in a puff of smoke, and Sagittarius was beginning to vanish again.

"Sagittarius!" Lucy shouted.

Sagittarius, though in vain, salute one last time before his vision was gone. "My deepest apologies Lady Lucy. I shall be stronger next time we meet again." He was then gone and send back to the Celestial Spirit World.

From the smoke, 'Lucy' revealed herself to be none other than Gemini. "Peedy. Peedy." Gemini chanted.

It was revealed that Angel was there on the other side and greeted Lucy. "Hello Lucy darling! How does it feel to gaze upon an angel?" Angel modestly implied herself.

Lucy was shocked to say the least. Angel was pulling the strings. "Wait, you're with the Oracion Seis!"

Angel chuckled. "Indeed. Have my pets been entertaining you? I for one adore their trick."

"I'm Gemi." The male part said.

"And I'm Mini." The female part said.

"Peedy. Peedy." They chanted in unison.

"I believe you know them as the Gemini Twins." Angel said, and then her expression grew dark. "Celestial Spirits are just fun pets to tear others apart."

"You're a Celestial Wizard? That's beyond revolting!" Lucy proclaimed. 'I don't think I'll be falling over to the dark side, and I doubt Miss Psycho Swan will be fighting for justice with her ambitions. At least I won't have to worry about Nirvana at the moment. Hibiki is hurt, and Natsu is motion sick. It's all up to me.' Lucy gave forth a determined expression.

Lucy then had a confidence booster in terms of a river, which brought a grin upon her face. 'We're near water, and that means I can call upon Miss Sassy Fin herself.'

Angel grinned with glee. "Your Gate Keys would make a lovely addition to my arsenal of pets. Hand them over now or you'll be teared apart!" She threatened.

"Never in my life!" Lucy shouted, pulling forth Aquarius's Key. "Here we go! Open: Gate of the Water Bearer – Aquarius!" Lucy swiped the Key and Aquarius appeared floating above the water, ready.

"Get lost you two." Angel then sentenced them back to the Celestial World, now seeing Aquarius and waited patiently as to where this was going.

Lucy pointed at Angel. "Take her down! I don't care if you have to take me with her!"

"You didn't even need to ask me." Aquarius said. "I was going to do that anyway." Aquarius then began to conjure up as much water as she could from her thingamajig (I still don't know if it's a jug or a pitcher) and was looking ticked. "I'M GONNA BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF EVERYBODY!"

Angel wasn't at all flinching nor terrified as she had a countermeasure against Aquarius. Angel smirked and held up a Golden Celestial Key. "Open: Gate of the Scorpion…"

Lucy looked on in astonishment as she had a scorpion on her side. "What did she say? Oh god!"

"-Scorpio!" Angel then swiped the Key, summoning forth a Celestial Spirit with a tan body with red hair on one side and white hair on the other on top of his head. He had gauntlets and a red attire where it looked like frills around his neck and a cape-like structure below the big belt. The emphasis on him was not only his rock-on hand sign (yes I'm a metalhead, sue me!), but also the big curved, silver plated tail that was also black and at the end was a gun of sorts within the sting-like end.

Scorpio smirked and chuckled. "I was born to be wicked!" He echoed.

Just then, to everyone's extreme surprise, Aquarius was…different. Aquarius looked infatuated and she looked all too happy. "My hunk of a man has arrived!" She blissfully cheered.

"HUNK?!" Lucy shouted in surprise. Lucy shook in revelation as she saw Aquarius snuggle up to Scorpio.

Scorpio also looked pleased to see her. "Well what do you know, it's my mermaid of delight, Aquarius! Back that wicked tail up for me!" He said, to which Aquarius did and she was all rosy in the cheeks.

"Oh you don't know how much I missed you love muffin." Aquarius sighed in joy.

"N-N-No way." Lucy stammered, unable to believe what she is seeing. She slowly pointed an accusing finger. "Please don't tell me that Scorpio…"

Aquarius was still pink in the cheeks and put her hands to her cheeks. "Yes, my boyfriend!" She joyfully squealed.

Scorpio turned towards Lucy with his rock-on signs. "I've heard a lot about ya. Finally got to see who my blue bombshell's Mage is. Wicked." Scorpio said.

Lucy was now freaking out, just peeked to wonder what Scorpio heard. "Gah! So what exactly has she told you?!"

Just then, Aquarius got up in Lucy's face with a dark expression in her menacing narrowed eyes, making the blonde shrink in fear. "Look here blondie, if you want to live then hear me; if you even so much as think of embarrassing me in front of my Scorpio, your soul will drown with your body in the depths of my wrath. Are we clear?"

"Yes! Crystal clear!" Lucy squealed, being more terrified than usual. She then turned her back and sulked. "She's going to kill me one day, I swear."

Scorpio wrapped an arm around Aquarius and they had hearts around their background, giving it a romantic vibe. Scorpio turned with his girlfriend and waved back at the others. "I'm taking my lady out for a night in the town Angel, you got this right?"

Angel had a quick out and waved to them. "Have fun." She said, making Lucy realize that one of her most powerful Spirits was exiting the battle.

"H-Huh?!" Lucy turned and extended a hand and raced to them in the still river. "Wait, you can't leave me here-!" But it was all too good to be true as Aquarius and Scorpio vanished, leaving Lucy and Angel once more. She got her knees and sulked. "WHYYYYYY?!"

Angel shook her head as she approached Lucy. "How do you survive this long without knowing how the Celestial Spirits relate?" Angel then picked up her leg and kicked Lucy, sending her flying. "A mere novice such as yourself has no chance in beating me!" Lucy fell into the water, with her headband floating away, leaving all her hair to silk down.

'How am I suppose to take her on without my strongest Celestial Spirit?...wait!' Lucy realized that she had a backup and she opened her eyes underwater and shot back up to the surface with another Celestial Key. "Aquarius isn't the only power house I can call! Open: Gate of the Lion – Loke!"

Loke emerged and was ready for battle. Loke had his glasses on as always, but his orange and spiked hair was more wild than when he was human. He had on a black suit and a red suit and was cross-armed and grinning.

"Your handsome prince has arrived." Loke said. Hibiki looked on in utter shock as he had recognized Loke from his past when he was under a contract with Karen, Hibiki's love. Seeing Loke again was starting to bring back those memories. Hibiki was still while he remembered Karen, her death, and how Loke wasn't heard from until now. He was under Lucy's care.

"L-Leo?" Hibiki said.

Lucy pointed at Angel. "We have to beat this woman. The entire guild and everyone alike will be in danger if not stopped!"

Loke looked amused as he kept his cool. "Sounds easy enough."

Unfortunately, it wasn't smooth sailing for them as Angel had yet another plan to deal with Loke; this time, someone who would leave them all speechless. Angel kept her amusement and she giggled. "You're a slow learner, aren't you Lucy?" Angel mocked. "I will have to give you yet another lesson in relations."

Angel brought forth another Golden Celestial Key. "Open: Gate of the Ram…" When Lucy and Loke heard that phrase, they both immediately tensed up, remembering just who was to be summoned. Lucy narrowed her eyes and Loke's eyes were astonished. They both saw a pink-haired girl with locks on the ends of her hair that went down to her shoulders. She had soft brown eyes and ram horns. She had on a wool dress and she looked away. "-Aries!"

Aries looked away in awareness of being in the presence of an old friend. Aries hasn't seen Loke in such a long time and this is how they meet again? Aries couldn't even make eye contact. "I hope you can forgive me, Leo." Aries timidly said.

Loke gasped and was deeply wide-eyed, seeing Aries once again. "It's you." Loke stated.

"No way." Hibiki was still damaged from earlier, but even he was able to see Aries again, another Celestial Spirit that was under a contract with Karen. Hibiki was even more baffled. "It can't be…Aries?"

Lucy clenched her fists. "How did she get her hands on Aries? I thought she was one of Karen's Spirits?" Lucy curiously asked. She then looked on and realized she can't have Loke do this. Not to an old friend. No one should bear with the guilt of hurting a friend, even if it was on purpose. Natsu and Gray is one thing, but Celestial Spirits is another. Even Lucy wouldn't dare hurt a friend, and this was no exception.

"There's no way." Lucy started. "I…I can't have Loke fight against a dear friend he protects with his life."

Hibiki was stuck in his own little world, feeling ominous and he didn't feel any signs of good. This situation in general was terrible. Hibiki seeing Aries again made the past even more potent in negativity. "Aries. How is she here?" He was almost shaking.

Lucy narrowed her eyes and demanded. "How did you end up with one of Karen's Spirits?!" She sounded very forceful.

"Simple." Angel said nonchalantly. "I killed her."

Hibiki and Loke both jerked in horror as no words could even begin to describe what they were feeling. Karen was killed by Angel's own hands. Angel put Karen six feet under and left Hibiki alone and Loke with guilt until Lucy reached out to him before they went to the Tower of Heaven.

Angel closed in and patted Aries's soft head, much to everyone's disgust. "And I got whatever Keys she had on her."

Aries looked very uncomfortable. "Please, just stop." She begged, but to no avail as Angel kept explaining and frustrating everyone there.

"She wasn't much of a fighter. She tried to open two Celestial Gates at once, yet she could barely even stand. The fool practically handed her keys over to me." Angel finished, leaving Loke to grit his teeth in anger as to hearing how Angel stomped all over Karen like a bug. His eyes were nearly twitching.

Angel's expression then grew dark. Very dark. "So many Celestial Wizards have lost their lives and their Spirits to me that I cannot count. You're just going to be another lost soul swimming in the abyss of despair." She explained, making Lucy's spine scale up and down with goosebumps.

Hibiki was clenching his right arm in pain as he was shaking in misery. 'Karen. How could she fall? How could she fall to someone like Angel?' Hibiki could barely keep himself up as he was hurting emotionally and physically. 'Angel…took my love away from me! Karen was murdered by one of her own. A Celestial Wizard…I hate them all! They'll never be forgiven-!' Hibiki then remembered of Nirvana for a brief moment, recalling something. That something could have drastically changed him if he did not recall it that second. He shut his eyes and he bend downwards, clenching his fists. 'No, don't! This is exactly the kind of thinking that allows Nirvana to change people! I can't give in! I gotta shut all hatred out!'

Lucy was very upset herself. "Loke, you and Aries finally get to see each other again and you have to fight?" She sounded as though she was going to break down. Lucy wouldn't allow this. She had Loke's Key in her hand. "No, I won't let you go through with this." As she swiped, Loke grabbed her arm, forcing her to cease moving.

"I don't need you to protect me Lucy." Loke explained. Lucy turned towards Loke. "It's true Aries and I are like family, but if we're summoned to fight for the Mages that summoned us, then we will." He stated firmly.

Aries nodded in agreement. "That's right." She pointed out. "I may owe you my life Leo, but in this instance you are my opponent and we must fight!"

Lucy narrowed her eyes in deep sorrow, seeing friends being forced to fight though they don't want to. She watched as Aries conjured up pink wool while Loke's hand glowed in light.

"For a Celestial Spirit…" Both said in unison, now running towards each other. "…IT'S A MATTER OF PRIDE!" The then began their unbearable brawl.

Lucy held a clenched fist to her chest as she was shaken up inside. 'This isn't right. This shouldn't be happening.'

In slow motion, Loke delivered a punch that Aries blocked, but she pivoted and Loke tailed her and delivered a right hook comprised of light that landed a hit on her, making her wince and jeer away.

Even Angel was surprised by this event. "Well what do you know, they're fighting. Didn't see this coming, but who am I to stop such a good show?"

Loke delivered a punch that made Aries yelp in pain and she regrettably returned the favor by shooting pink wool at Loke, who had to cover up from the attack.

Lucy was shaking. "Stop it!" She saw Loke miss a punch and Aries saw this as an opportunity and delivered a pink uppercut, hitting Leo and making him wince. True, Aries assaults were never powerful, but it wasn't the attacks themselves that hurt Loke, it was in truth the fact Aries and him were fighting. They both were regrettably going on as Lucy watched.

Lucy was now beginning to tear up slightly. "Friends shouldn't try and hurt each other." The tear scrolled down her cheek. "I beg you."

"Wool Bomb!" Aries extended her arm out and a spiral of pink wool was send towards Loke. Loke was surrounded in pink wool, unable to see Aries. He encased his hand in light and he punched downwards, cutting through the wool.

Aries popped up from behind and leaped from out of the wool and gave a downward wool encased punch. Loke turned and leaned back to avoid the downward assault. With his left hand he grabbed the fist and the two were in a stalemate. Loke and Aries were in place, with Loke giving a determine expression and Aries was giving a shy and less confidant expression. Regardless of their expressions, the two dear friends looked at the other's eyes and saw struggle.

Loke then proceeded with a right hook and Aries backed away quickly to evade and Loke circled around and Aries and Loke remained still for a few seconds. The two caught their breath again and they refocused on offense. Aries moved in to kick, but Loke leaped behind her and then lands behind. He was about to strike, but Aries coated her hand in wool as a scapegoat and ducked as Loke took the bait. Aries leaped and got a fair distance from Loke.

"My, my." Angel said, surprised. "I never expected Aries of all Spirits to be going up against a combat-oriented Spirit. But am I gonna worry? I think not." Angel casually pulled out a Silver Celestial Key and waved it as though it were a wand. "Open: Gate of the Chisel – Caelum!"

Angel opened up another Celestial Gate, summoning forth a Celestial Spirit. The creepiest part about it is that Caelum wasn't a living humanoid figure, but was a metallic spherical-shaped being that was silver on the top and bottom and was a dark gray along the middle with a green dot in the middle of it all, resembling a poke ball. It also had a halo.

"Are you ready? I got some fresh targets for you." Angel implied. Caelum just floated in the air, awaiting for Angel's command. "As soon as Aries stops Leo in his tracks, do what you're good at."

Caelum slightly opened in response, revealing red lining and the circles on his sides popped out. Caelum then glowed and began to shift into a new shape. In the new cannon-like form. Caelum's sphere was split and between the two pieces was a gun with black on the top and bottom with the center where there was the charging point. Around the gun was the halo, and the piece atop of the sphere was like an adjusting point for leverage.

Caelum was quickly storing energy at its tip and Angel gave off a sadistic smirk as the mechanical being was fully charged. Caelum then let loose a forceful green blast of energy that that heading not just towards Loke, but unfortunately Aries, who was in the way.

"Guys! No!" Lucy shouted and helplessly watched with horror and an even more horrific gasp as the beam pierced Aries in her abdomen and was followed up by Loke in that very same line and place. Both Celestial Spirits were pierced in the abdomen in one strike and the two were left paralyzed and dazed as they felt as though they were torn up from inside.

Angel let loose an amused yet sadistic laugh at the glorious spectacle. "Now that's a great ending to a show, I swear." She wheezed.

Aries and Loke were both falling with their bodies starting to turn into gold light. The light started from the holes in their abdomens and their bodies were slowly being sucked back into the Celestial World.

"No Leo!" Aries reached out as she was falling slowly in the opposite direction of her dear friend.

"A-Aries!" Loke also reached out to her as he was also starting to vanish back to the Celestial Spirit World. The two friends were trying their best to reach for the other. "Sorry Lucy, I failed you." Loke regrettably let down Lucy, whom he swore to protect with his life.

Loke then saw Aries actually pulling off a smile and was starting to cry. This wasn't pain, but envy. Loke had a caring and compassionate Mage to guide him and Aries was left with a heartless person. Aries couldn't help but feel happy for her friend.

"Someone who cares for you. Wish I was as lucky." Aries said, now having more tears come as Loke's and her own body were vanishing. Their bodies were gone and now the only thing slowly left out was the hands. The hands were reaching out towards one another. "…until we meet again…" Aries's words echoed as the hands and fingers finally turned into light before they could even touch, leaving the two Celestial Spirits to head back to their world without the grasp of friendship.

Lucy was dead silent and she looked as though she had seen a ghost. Her gaze was blind and in shock as she replayed Aries and Loke getting hit and they failed to reach out towards the other. She was incapable to even lift a finger.

Angel looked on, not giving a care to the world. "You see, that's how you pull of multiple Gates." She said. Caelum then shapeshifted back into his original spherical form. "Looks like your down yet another pet."

Lucy was finally shaking with clenched fists. Her eyes had tears. "You disgusting psycho." Lucy growled.

Angel raised a brow. "Are you crying?" She teased. "They didn't die you know, so why bother wasting tears?"

"THEY DO FEEL PAIN!" Lucy shouted, making Angel silence. "They're not mindless dolls for you to control! A real Celestial Wizard would respect their Spirits!" She exclaimed.

A dark grin covered Angel's face as she looks sadistic-like. "Oh?" She wasn't even fazed as she simply chuckled.

Lucy pulled out another Golden Celestial Key. "Open: Gate of the Golden Bull – Taurus!" Lucy summoned forth Taurus from a Magic seal and the cow man came forth ready for action.

"Moooooo!" He shouted.

Angel smirked and waved Gemini's Key. "Gemini, come out and play." She said. In a puff of smoke, the twins reappeared back beside Angel.

Caelum assisted by shapeshifting yet again. Now Caelum had a spherical end with a black handle. Ninety degrees from the handle was a long black sword with a halo.

Taurus's grip on his axe tightened. "Making Lucy cry was the worse mooove of your life. Get ready for a rodeo of pain-!" Taurus was about to attack, but then was left a little surprised by Gemini transforming. "Moo?" Taurus blinked as he saw Gemini transforming into Lucy.

Gemini gripped Caelum and she got in a sexy bend pose, giving off quite a hot show of her curves. "Come get some you beastly hunk." Gemini seduced Taurus, of whom was one of the biggest pervs you would ever know.

In a split second, Taurus dropped the axe and went dashing like a madman at Gemini. "I am in the mooooood!" He shouted. Lucy screamed in disgust as Gemini was using a more seductive side much to her horror and Taurus's weakness.

Just like that, Gemini swung Caelum like a bat, sending Taurus flying and spiraling overhead. "And he's out!" Gemini exclaimed as Taurus vanished in the air.

Lucy stepped forward. "No, Taurus!" Lucy then felt her body get weak and she grunted and fell on her knees into the water. She had her hands to keep her up. "No, I used so much Magic." She concluded.

"You're outgunned." Angel said. "My power exceeds a novice like you."

Lucy's eyes winced, seeing as she had no options. "No way." She muttered. Gemini then went on the offensive and kicked Lucy, making her fall back. Gemini then sung Caelum and hit Lucy. Gemini relentlessly continued to kick Lucy about and hitting her with Caelum, making Lucy suffer.

Angel chuckled at the sight. "Poor thing. Why you hitting yourself?" She mocked and then she broke out into a loud laugh that proved to be malevolent. She saw Lucy get swat by Caelum into the water and was on her hands and knees, trying to get up once more. "I think she needs more pain."

Hibiki was looking down at the ground and his eyes were hazy. "More…pain…"

Lucy was trying to get up, but she could only turn and fall back down. Lucy barely had the strength to stand. She looked up and she leered at Angel.

Angel saw this and she was discomforted. "Quit staring, it's creepy."

"Release Aries from her contract." Lucy demanded. Gemini, still as Lucy, stopped moving and went wide-eyed at this demand. A fellow Spirit wanted to be freed and Lucy wanted to make it happen.

Angel raised a brow. "You're joking, right?"

Gemini looked down as Lucy continued.

"Karen tortured her, broke her almost every day." Lucy got to her feet at last. "She deserves to be happy, but that won't happen until she's free."

Gemini's eyes were shaking for a moment at Lucy's words, but Gemini stayed strong and she frowned and then used Caelum and swatted Lucy yet again, with the latter hitting a small island in the river.

"What do we say when we want something from someone?" Angel taunted. Gemini's feeling somehow were conflicted as Lucy was reaching out for other Celestial Spirits.

Lucy clenched her arm and she looked up at Gemini and Angel. "Please. I'm begging you, release Aries." Lucy had her head down and she was wincing. She was beginning to cry for the sake of freeing Aries. Now Gemini looked guilty. "She deserves to be with Loke, and we can make it happen for them." She looked up at Angel. "I don't care what you do to me, just release Aries so she can be happy!"

Angel raised a brow in amusement. "For free?"

Lucy had her head down again. "You can have anything. EXCEPT MY SPIRITS! YOU CAN EVEN TAKE MY LIFE TO GIVE ARIES FREEDOM!"

Angel's expression grew dark. "Oh my, what an offer. Gemini, finish her!"

Gemini slowly raised Caelum into the air, but she saw Lucy was shaking and was almost beginning to cry once again. Gemini had shadows over its eyes as it was still, stalling to bring Caelum down on Lucy for some reason.

Angel grew impatient. "Now!"

Gemini leaned sideways somewhat, shaking. "Huh? I hear a voice. It's in my head." The twins' voices echoed, feeling a flood of Lucy's memories of Celestial Spirits emerge.

'I love Celestial Spirits so much mama! Can you teach me how to summon them? CELESTIAL SPIRITS ARE MY FRIENDS, NOT MY SHIELDS! I CAN'T SIT AND WATCH MY FRIEND DISAPPEAR RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES!'

Gemini was feeling the emotions emerge as it heard Lucy's voice cry out about the deep love and friendship she had with her Celestial Spirits, making Gemini shed some tears in place. "No, I can't."

Gemini was now crying and it was beginning to sob over the intense feelings. "She loves us. She's willing to give up her life for us. We envy her Spirits." It cried.

Angel gasped at Gemini defying her and not wanting to hurt Lucy, leaving her also in shock.

Lucy looked up at Gemini slowly. "Gemini."

Angered, Angel swipe Gemini's Key. "Begone!" Gemini then vanished, leaving Caelum floating in place. Angel then looked in frustration at Gemini's Key. "You'll regret ever doing that." She threatened to the Key. Angel turned and she saw Hibiki behind Lucy.

Hibik looked dazed as he was now on his knees and Lucy gasped when she felt his hands around her neck, holding her. Hibiki grinned slowly.

"H-Hibiki?" Lucy asked.

Angel laughed. "No way! Your friend switched sides!"

Lucy was worried, but she then felt Hibiki's hands travel down to her shoulders, where they started glowing. Hibiki's eyes looked normal. "Relax. This will feel funny. I'm gonna use Archive to teach you a powerful Magic." His hands then quickly grabbed her head and Lucy gaped and was feeling his hands glow. "This is a one-shot, so make it count!"

Angel and Caelum backed away as Lucy screamed and a golden Magic seal appeared right underneath her and Hibiki. There were several download bars around Lucy as she was feeling some pain.

'Talk about a close call.' Hibiki thought. 'I was on the brink of light and darkness for a bit. But then the love you feel for Celestial Spirits drove every bit of evil away. If anyone can do this, it's you Lucy.'

Angel was panicking, not knowing what was happening. "Caelum, finish them!" She demanded. Caelum then shapeshifted back into a cannon.

When most of the download bars reached one hundred percent, Hibiki fell backwards in exhaustion. 'I have faith in you, Lucy.'

When the last download bar reached one hundred, the area around Lucy and everyone else became surrounded in a blanket of what seemed to be cosmic. Then a huge amount of what seemed to see colorful spheres that looked like planets appeared.

Lucy was caught in a trance as she began to chant. "Those stars far and wide that embody the Heavens. By thy radiance reveal thy form to me. I implore you, oh Tetrabiblos, ruler of the stars. Let your unrestrained rage flow."

"What?! I've never seen a Spell like this!" Angel was panicking even more now, desperately wanting to end it. "Caelum, hurry and blast her!" Caelum was charging as fast as he can.

"With the eighty-eight Heavenly bodies…" A silence bloomed, and then Lucy's eyes shot open with a gold seal. "Shine! Urano Metria!"

As Caelum unleashed his beam at Lucy, Lucy's body began to glow, and the water that was left circling her within the spell cancelled out Caelum's assault. The blast was nullified and all of the numerous planets around shined.

Angel gasped and she was terrified and she covered up. All numerous planets then went blasting at her, making Angel scream in agony as she was feeling the full impact.

The area then returned back to normal, the landscape as it was. Lucy's eyes got back from their hazy state. Lucy blinked as Hibiki smiled. Lucy then flinched when she heard Angel fall into the water with a loud splash.

Lucy looked in shock and some confusion. "Did I win?"

'I knew you could do it. Well done Lucy.' Hibiki thought with a proud smile before he blacked out.

Lucy looked around and was confused. "Wait? What happened to everybody?" She then saw that Hibiki was out and Happy was still frozen. "Hibiki! Happy!" She turned to find that Natsu was still where he was before – motion sick on a raft. "Natsu, are you alright?" To which the Fire Dragon Slayer was twitching and immobile due to his weakness.

Lucy walked on over to Natsu, but then heard a sudden burst of water behind her. Lucy got stiff as she turned and saw Angel and Caelum emerge from the water. Angel looked badly damaged and she had a creepy look in her eyes.

"I will kill you!" She declared. Caelum became a cannon once more and began charging. "I am one of the Oracion Seis! I will not lose!"

'Why is she all banged up? Was that my doing?' Lucy wondered.

"I'll use the last of my powers…TO BRING YOU TO YOUR DEMISE!" Caelum then unleashed a piercing green beam of energy. The energy beam was rapidly making way towards Lucy, of whom was unable to move due to exhaustion.

The blast then actually curved itself, sparing Lucy as it actually hit the tree stump that kept the raft in place, destroying it.

Seeing this, Angel was in revelation. "No, you missed. Traitor!" She yelled at Caelum. Caelum simply beeped twice and then he vanished away. With all of her strength gone, Angel fell back into the water, unable to continue.

'My Prayer…was too vanish…into the Heavens…like an angel, pure and white…'

Angel then splashed into water. "But I ended up all wet!" She pouted.

Lucy looked back and saw that Natsu was beginning to float downstream. She called out to the motion sick Dragon Slayer.

"Natsu! Hang on!" Lucy shouted. She trudged as fast as she could through the water towards the swift raft. "It's moving too fast! Natsu you've gotta pull yourself together!" She exclaimed as she tried her best to get to Natsu.

Lucy was close enough and she extended her arm out. "Come on, I know you can do it! Take my hand!" Natsu was looking as though he was traumatized and he was still pale, yet he heard Lucy's call. With whatever strength he could muster up, he slowly reached out to her.

Lucy and Natsu managed to grab the others hand. "Got ya!" Lucy smiled and Natsu perked a smile though his shaken white eyes said motion sickness still.

Suddenly, the raft fell down a small waterfall, with Lucy being dragged onto the raft with Natsu. She yelped as she and Natsu were then found zooming down rapids.

"Where did these rapids come?!" Lucy exclaimed as she and Natsu zoomed down the bumpy and wavy river, much to the latter's extreme discomfort. Lucy looked ahead and saw something even more troubling. "No way! A waterfall?!"

---

With Nic

He had his sunglasses back on his face, but now the lenses were red and hexagonal, like a multi-cell lens. The sunglasses also extended to the front of Nic's ears, looking like curved yet large compound eyes. Nic's sleeveless coat was replaced by a thick, white web in the design of the sleeveless coat that reached down towards the back of his shins, enabling everyone to see his light green T-shirt. His pants were now a darker shade of that green, but on it were pure white spider web designs all about the pant legs. His shoes looked to be of his running shoes, but of grasshopper green with patches of light green and laces. He had four wings, two on each side, sticking out through his web-like sleeveless coat. The wings were clear as a dragonfly's and reached out a foot farther than Nic's arm span on both sides. He also sported green gloves with very small spikes and his shoes were the same,

Nic was dashing through the trees and easily leaping towards the light of evil. Nic kept a very narrow gaze as he tried to move as fast as he could.

'Jellal isn't going to even touch Erza!' Nic growled, now sprinting through the trees like a ninja. Thanks to his new Insect Plate, his gloves and shoes made it so that he could even scale the largest of trees and leap without the worry of falling.

'I have to protect her! I can't let Jellal get away with this!' Nic had to move fast to get to where he needed to go, which was where Jellal was. He had to get to Jellal before Erza does. That is a must.

His multi-cell red sunglasses then detected thermal levels that were close by, and his lenses also enabled him compound vision, meaning he could see in almost every direction. As he was now reaching the tree line, he saw what appeared to be a waterfall. He sensed and saw what appeared to be two signatures that were about to go over.

"That can't be good." He said out loud as he then jumped once more before becoming airborne and use his quadrupled wings to fly the last remaining bit out of the tree line and saw Lucy and a motion sick Natsu now going over. Nic recognized them very fast and he flew in at fast distance, but even that wouldn't be enough because he remembered he's one person.

He had to make a quick move so that he could catch them. "String Shot!" Nic then shot a long and thick thread from his palm and the thread quickly tangled itself around a falling Lucy that was carrying Natsu. Lucy opened her eyes when she realized she was no longer falling and she found out that her body was tangled in thread, but only wrapped around her body a few times and not her entire upper body.

"Huh?" She turned her head about and saw Nic in the air above, holding the String Shot with both hands. "Nic!"

Nic grinned. "Are you two alright?" He called from ten feet up.

Lucy looked back at a still motion sick Natsu. "Yeah we're okay, but we should get to land pronto!"

"Alright!" Nic then turned and headed away towards a low level of land in order to drop off Lucy and Natsu safely. Silently, Nic hoped Erza doesn't get to Jellal before he does.

---

Oracion Seis Hideout

Brain watched as the black beam of light was continuously going upwards to no end, now casting a smirk of triumph. He then felt a painful sensation through his marks again and he went wide-eyed and gasped at this feeling, much like what happened to Racer.

Brain held his right cheek. "This is beyond impossible. Angel has been defeated as well." He grumbled. He let go of his cheek and a mark on that side vanished, leaving two on each side.

He then looked up at the beam again with anger. "Hear me out, I shall avenge you all. Soon the light in this world shall be turned into darkness!"

---

With Angel

Angel laid on her back staring up at the sky while still in the water in hopeless defeat.

She had a despondent expression cascading on her face. "I'm still alive you know." She remarked sassy-like.

---

With Erza

The famous Titania ran through the forest towards the light in hopes of stopping Jellal. That man had done horrible things and Erza was determined to stop him all by herself. Though the last time, she couldn't do it and Nic and Natsu had to step in and do the rest.

Erza was contemplating if it was the right choice to go off without Nic, who seemed to have taken a different way to stop Jellal. Maybe if they stopped Jellal together…

Erza's eyes narrowed at this feeling when she thought of the word. Together. Together forever? Wait, what? Was Erza even thinking right?! This wasn't the time to be thinking of such things…right? I mean, Jellal was Erza's first love, but the major factor was that he was cruel and tried to kill her.

Erza kept on running towards the light. 'Jellal. He's come back.' Erza then got images flooding through her head of him. Those dark recent images of Jellal's cruelty. 'How is that possible? Nic destroyed him, so why is he here of all places?'

Erza looked down as she was in even deeper contemplation of Jellal. An image of the Jellal from her past was in her head and she felt her heart cringe for some reason. This boy from her past was back, again. Now Erza had to confront this head on. Her head was in a full-scale war of the two Jellals she remembered. She was thinking of the evil one, and the good one from all those years ago.

Her eyes narrowed and eased in her confusion. 'I wish I knew what I was suppose to be feeling right now. I have to get to Jellal to stop him and protect Nic.'

Suddenly, Erza was having images of Nic now, his cool and calm self, yet serious now, a true-hearted individual who has an absolute-zero tolerance for evil and will use his strength to protect his friends and her, not to mention they know they had feelings for the other and went on a date. Now Erza was feeling even more torn up. True she needed Nic, but Jellal from all those years ago was also there. Who was she to think of?

Erza pressed on, closing in on Jellal and to stop Nirvana. '…Jellal…Nic…'

---

Again, I am truly sorry for the late update. I am doing my best to keep up. I got this one done in three days. 7K one day, 9K the next day, and I finished the rest the next day. I am moving as fast as I can and shifting to EDventures in Kalos and back. I need to get those views back up to a high number on both stories.

I know you were all bored this chapter due to the exceeding length, but I ask that you bear with me for just awhile longer. I want to get the Oracion Seis Arc done in the minimal chapters so I can get started on the Edolas Arc. The next two or so chapters may be of this length, but please bear with me. I know it's a lot to take in, but we're getting to the climax. I promise you once the Oracion Seis Arc is finished, I shall be going back to normal length chapters.

Please favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys welcome my return and are satisfied with this plot and upcoming events.

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Next Time: Light within Darkness - Part I