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.

29. Despondent Flames

Chapter 29 – Despondent Flames

Last chapter in the Oracion Seis Arc. Hope this chapter is a good one.

FOREWARNING: Longest chapter up to date.

To Recap:

Nic and Jura defeat Brain with ease and the group head up towards the Royal Throne, to which was a trap set by Brain and Jura is left unconscious. Erza defeats Midnight, seeing his weaknesses. Klodoa briefly battles Nic's group until Zero, the true Master of the Oracion Seis, arrived and seemingly eliminated them, though Nic saved everyone there. Nirvana misses Cait Shelter as Christina flew over and Hibiki explained that the only way to stop Nirvana was to destroy all six lacrima at each leg, one of which Zero was guarding. Everyone splits, with Natsu and Nic heading to where Zero was, as well as another Plate. Jellal on the other hand, started to remember Nic.

---

Chapter 29 – Despondent Flames

Natsu and Nic both ventured down the corridor, where the explosive and deadly duo emerged into a very large chamber. The chamber was large in area and height, with two columns, one on the ground and one on the ceiling, both holding a large spherical gray lacrima in place. The bottom of the lacrima was in a pit with some tubes from all sides running out.

The two were filled with energy as they were ready to take on Zero, who was waiting patiently in the pit. He had both arms behind his back and smirked ever so heinously with his red, demonic eyes.

Zero had let loose a hardy chuckle, seeing Nic and Natsu glaring at him. "Well now, fancy meeting you two here. Your little rouse was clever Luminous, I've heard that you defeated Jose and that Jellal punk, you have my reverence for your accomplishments."

Nic said nothing as he was solemnly focused on preparing for battle against this guy. Even from here, Nic could feel the vile, the hatred, and the intensity of Zero's power. It felt twice as strong compared to Brain. This fight may come close if Nic doesn't play his cards right.

Zero continued. "You two are looking for a fight? You both found one."

Natsu of all people felt excited; so excited, he was grinning and was having a fight-crazed look in his eyes. Natsu let a few chuckled of his own escape. "I wonder who'll make it out alive, us or you?"

Zero kept his calm self. "You seriously wondering who will come out alive brat?" His left arm reached down to his side and he put two fingers out, and Magic was surging and glowed dark green. "What a silly question, I shall be the victor! Dark Capriccio!" Zero shot his left arm out and from the two fingertips, the Dark Capriccio went at them both with a lot of power behind it.

Nic kept calm and bent his knees. At this point, he pinpointed the Plate. The Plate itself was inside the lacrima, meaning once that lacrima breaks, the Plate will be his, but his present concerns lied with the incoming attack, of which he skillfully took action of.

He shifted in font of Natsu. "I'll be the diversion, you find an opening." He ordered. The attack was coming in fast. "Tri Attack!" Nic opened his mouth and extended out his palms, to which three charged orbs came forth. From each, his right palm shot a Thunderbolt, his mouth shot a Flamethrower, and his left palm shot an Ice Beam, though it was one attack but three different beams. The Flamethrower section collided with the Dark Capriccio, where the Thunderbolt and Ice Beam went towards Zero.

Zero frowned as he didn't expect such a strong start. Zero moved his arm in a harsh arc, where the Dark Capriccio actually changed directions and looked like a worm. The Flamethrower section kept on going and caught up with the other two beams as Dark Capriccio circled around Zero and came in from his side and shot across, making a shield. The Tri Attack blasted the moving spell that intercepted them. The Tri Attack continued, which then resulted in the Dark Capriccio exploding in a small burst, scattering smoke about and making Zero cover up. This small burst of energy also stopped Tri Attack.

When the wind and smoke started to settle, Zero uncovered to see Natsu emerging from the smoke with a flaming fist. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu let loose a right hook that Zero dodged by ducking at the last moment. Natsu followed through the punch and he skid and pivoted to look back at Zero. He let in a heap of air. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

The inferno streamed towards Zero, who had took the assault head on, making a burst of flames erupt with smoke appearing not long after. Natsu tensed up as he awaited for the smoke to clear. He grunted as Zero was left without even a single scratch. The evil menace grinned in delight.

"Not too shabby. You both are doing a fine job in offense and defense." His eyes then narrowed. "But that was just the beginning!" Zero then unleashed another Dark Capriccio at Natsu.

"Natsu!" Nic shouted from his original position. He jumped in the air and landed in front of Natsu. Nic held out his arms and he then glared at the incoming attack. "Copycat!" Nic then emanated a black aura as he recalled how Zero unleashed Dark Capriccio. Nic then let out a battle cry as he then pointed two fingers from his right arm at the incoming attack. Nic then unleashed his own Dark Capriccio that collided with Zero's, both attacks streamed into the other with powerful foul winds being thrown about.

Zero raised a brow in interest as his attack was being intercepted yet again. "Oh, I see that someone can copy Magic, am I right?" He asked in a loud tone as the attacks continued to push the other back.

Though Nic was struggling, he was able to keep the attack at bay as he announced. "I can do a whole lot more than that!" Nic let out a yell as he gave his Copycat Dark Capriccio more juice and Zero grunted as Nic was pulsating more energy into his attack.

Natsu jumped over Nic as he did a midair forward flip with a flaming axe kick. "Fire Dragon's Claw!" Zero looked up and saw Natsu incoming fast. As Natsu was coming down, Zero grinned and used his spare right arm and grabbed the back of Natsu's leg, halting him in midair.

Natsu let loose a small gasp as Zero caught him, the Fire Dragon's Claw unable to make contact. Zero shifted his gaze and he made his Dark Capriccio make a shift in the direction. Zero arched his attack towards the left, to which Nic's Copycat followed the lead. The two Dark Capriccios were angled and had crashed into a part of the pit close by, sending debris all about.

Nic saw that Zero changed the direction of their attack and then saw him spin in place and throw Natsu towards him. The Dragon Slayer yelped as he was being send towards Nic. Nic held his place and had his arms out as he caught Natsu, but he has skidding backwards harshly, Zero's power being remarkably physical as well.

Regardless, Nic had a plan. "Natsu!"

As if by instinct, Natsu understood what Nic was going to do. He looked back at him as Nic was still skidding backwards harshly, almost making the rocks smooth. "Ready!"

"Okay!" Nic summoned up his strength and clenched Natsu's shoulders. As he did, the Plate wielder glowed and shifted into his Icicle Plate Form. He managed to shift to his side and he then summoned the force to do a whole spin and throw Natsu at Zero.

Using the momentum, Natsu ignited himself. "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" He went for a high speed headbutt that got Zero right in the abdomen, briefly knocking the wind out of him. Natsu propelled further as he ram Zero further, making him go backwards several feet from his original position. Zero grunted as he then got some ground and skid with Natsu still forcing his way.

"You little brat!" Zero brought both hands up and made energy in between both and he slammed the huge wave on Natsu. "Dark Wave!" He slammed his fists into Natsu's back and the Dragon Slayer smashed into the ground below, cracking the ground and sending dust soaring all about, rocks flying and Natsu grunting harshly.

Zero jumped into the air and was about to fire energy of darkness yet again, but he looked at the last moment and saw Nic launching his assault.

"Ice Beam!" A light blue ball came from Nic's mouth and fired multiple light blue beams from the ball. The Ice Beam attack had forced Zero to change his trajectory and then shot a Dark Rondo as an interception. The dark green and light blue clashed in midair, ultimately both assaults cancelling out the other in a small burst of dark green and light blue.

Zero landed on the ground and he saw the Dragon Slayer getting up and had an ignited fist. Natsu rushed in towards Zero and Zero leaned back to evade the flaming right hook. He also evaded Natsu's downward punch by sidestepping towards his right. Natsu then went for another right hook, but Zero caught his wrist and he pivoted and threw Natsu.

In midair, Natsu grunted yet he took in a deep breath, as to where Nic had made a glowing bluish green orb in front of his mouth.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

"Aurora Beam!"

The two individual attacks of fire and green and black energy went shooting at Zero, who remained still. Zero narrowed his eyes as he smirked. He extended out his arm and fired several spheres of darkness. "Dark Delete!" The multitude of spheres blasted away in order to intercept both incoming attacks. The result of all three attacks was yet another large burst of energy that shook the ground.

Smoke arose that quickly dispersed into thin air as the three were in a brief stare down. Zero saw the two side-by-side as they glared at him. He let a hardy 'hmph' out. "You two are no slouches, can't say I'm surprised."

"Yeah? Well we're just getting star-!" Natsu was left in midsentence when a sudden blast of fire shot at him from out of the blue, knocking the Dragon Slayer to the ground and narrowly missed Nic. Nic went wide-eyed as everyone turned to see where the attack came from.

"Who's there?!" Zero demanded.

Nic turned with very wide eyes and a slight gasp escaped his throat, too stunned to briefly move. Natsu was on all fours as he skid slightly from that brief burst of fire. Both Nic and Natsu looked with anger at the man who was above the pit they were brawling in.

"Jellal!" Natsu burst out, seeing the man smirking.

"You! Jellal!" Nic hollered with anger.

Aside from the two adversaries, Zero saw Jellal with a smirk on his face. "Well now, I take it that your memory has returned?"

Jellal kept his expression as Nic and Natsu both glared with feral eyes at the man who brought sheer misery and torture. The man who made Erza cry, of which Jellal will pay for. Nic of all people there started showing some feral teeth and a low growl as he was almost going to strike Jellal in the heart.

Jellal kept his pause before he spoke. "…yes."

Natsu was getting back up to his feet as he was mad at Jellal. "You shouldn't have come here." He struggled to warn. Jellal just glared at the two.

"You foul being." Nic snarled. "How are you here in the first place?!" Jellal didn't answer, which made both angry people rush at him impulsively, though Nic was faster.

"Jellal!" Nic and Natsu shouted in unison.

"Stop!" Jellal proclaimed, making fire in his hand and firing it at the two. The blast of flames burst upon impact, though it was directed more to Natsu than Nic, who stopped in place upon seeing the attack. Nic shifted into his Flame Plate just as the fire was coming at him and Natsu was engulfed in fire.

The Dragon Slayer brushed away some fire so that they could all see his face. "Did you forget flames don't work on me?!"

Jellal kept his smile. "Yes briefly, but I remembered just in time." This bit of news made Zero lose his smirk and narrowed his eyes. "Natsu, Nic, you two are the only ones who can take down Zero."

"What?!" Zero exclaimed, jerking back in shock. Natsu and Nic both stood in some surprise that Jellal had said that.

Jellal's hand went back to his side slowly. "Correct me if I'm wrong Natsu, but as a Fire Dragon Slayer, doesn't fire amplify your power?"

Nic turned towards Natsu, seeing how he was just as surprised as he was. Natsu looked as his body was coated in fire. Natsu was just as confused. "Yeah that's true, but why?"

"Liar! By your actions, it reveals your memories were not restored!" Zero accused.

Jellal stood as he frowned at the evil being. "I didn't lie to you, only my memories of Natsu and Nic have returned. I remembered how Nic unleashed his full power to stop me. I am determined to stop Nirvana, and the return of my memories will not affect my goal."

Nic narrowed his eyes even more. "I don't understand Jellal, what happened?" Nic demanded.

Jellal turned back towards Nic. "When I had awoken, I had appeared my memory had been wiped clean." He explained.

Natsu and Nic both gasped at this fact that this man who brought torture to a lot of lives had forgotten who he was. "What?!" Nic exclaimed, unable to believe this.

Jellal kept calm and he continued to explain. "Though I have absolute zero recollection of behaving like a disgrace to human nature, it seems that was the case. I have not only brought harm to you, Natsu, and Erza, but to all of Fairy Tail. It's time to atone for what I have done. I will help you protect Wendy's guild. I want to put an end to Nirvana, but we have to work together!" Jellal insisted on the last part.

Nic took a mad leap and sprung to throw a vicious right hook, leaving a bruise as Jellal stumbled back. "I don't believe you! I can't! Not after what you've done to us!"

Though pain flowed through his cheek, Jellal turned back towards Nic as Natsu came up as well with clenched fists. "Nic please, just accept my help and we can all move on." Jellal was trying his hardest to persuade an angry Nic, but that only led him to get clenched by the coat collar and drawn closer, staring into the heinous and feral eyes of Nic Pularis.

"You may have forgotten, but we all haven't." Nic growled.

"We remember everything Jellal." Natsu growled.

"YOU HAVE ERZA CRY!" Nic howled in front Jellal. "YOU BROKE HER SPIRITS AND THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN!" Jellal looked down at the ground as Nic yelled in his face. He then resumed his low growl as he clenched Jellal's coat tighter. "You've tortured her, nearly killed her, you shattered her, the woman that we can all never live without." Nic chose 'we' rather than 'I' as a cover up.

Natsu closed in with small angry pupils. "You killed Erza's friend and even though Nic took you down, he nearly died as well. Erza was shattered even more for weeks! WEEKS! You did this and you're gonna pay."

Zero shook his head at the sight. "How pathetic. If you three are going to argue, must you do it in front of me?" He then pointed two fingers and fired an unexpected Dark Capriccio at them. "Quite wasting my time!" The Dark Capriccio swerved and went shooting at Nic and Natsu's back. The two were too caught up in scolding Jellal that they didn't realize the attack was aimed at them.

When the beam was close, Nic and Natsu both turned their heads to see that assault about to hit them, unable to move. The Dark Capriccio was making impact…but it wasn't either.

Jellal slipped out of Nic's grasp and he zoomed passed both Fairy Tail members and held his arms out by his sides to protect them, but to their surprise. The Dark Capriccio made a direct hit on Jellal and made a burst of energy as the blue-haired man stood there, taking it all.

To say Nic and Natsu were horrified would be an understatement. Nic especially because it reminded him how Simon looked as he took Altairis. The brief memory of Simon protecting them all shrouded Nic's mind, a strong and caring individual taking his final blow.

Something within Nic snapped as he was completely still, unable to comprehend that this was happening a second time. It didn't matter if it was Jellal, the same concept was being used again, and someone was taking a possibly final hit. "…no, not again." Nic muttered with still eyes, fixated as Jellal was in agonizing pain.

Natsu had terribly shaken eyes as he too saw it, both were still as Jellal had heavy breathing going and he then slowly began to fall. Jellal was unable to stand as he was too hurt and he was breathing even more deeply and he fell to his knees.

Natsu looked down at Jellal. "Jellal!"

Jellal was looking down at the ground and was terribly exhausted. This very man that had caused misery had took a powerful blow for the sake of Nic and Natsu taking down Zero. The amnesiac huffed repeatedly as he had to use what energy he had left.

Jellal turned his head back to look at the confused and shocked duo. "If you want to kill me by all means, do what you must." He lowly said, almost choking. "I'm on my last legs anyway."

"…Jellal." Nic muttered, somewhat confused.

Jellal held up his right hand facing up. "But first, please allow me to bestow Natsu power." A golden flame then emerged and Natsu and Nic stared at it. The golden flame flickered in Jellal's hand.

"Golden flames?" Natsu murmured, staring at the flame.

---

Meanwhile, in the other chambers…

Sophie, Lucy, and Happy all ventured down the lacrima corridor, seeing as how this was going on forever. Thanks to Nic saving them earlier, they were up and able to stand. They were just dirty was all.

"Lucy? Sophie?" Happy asked, getting the two that were walking to look down at the feline. The two females awaited as Happy looked up at them. "Should we rest for a bit?"

Sophie blinked and she reeled back and turned away back up towards the corridor. "That's not necessary Happy. We may be hurt somewhat, but even if we were torn to ribbons, we'd still have to keep going."

Happy's concerns were still leaving the cat with a worried look. "Guess not." The problem wasn't the group he was worried, but was mainly towards Lucy, who was scratched up just like everyone else. "But Lucy used up all her Magic."

Lucy kept walking as she remained silent. The Celestial Spirit Mage was indeed out of Magic and she needed a lot of time to recharge. She herself was aware of her Magic depletion and how it was too good to be true.

Seeing how Lucy was down, Sophie let a small grin rise on her face that was suppose to be sincere. "Don't worry guys. We got this. Lucy may have used up her Magic, but I still have a little left, and that will be enough."

Feeling assured, the trio ventured down the corridor, relying on Sophie to take on the lacrima.

In corridor number four, Ichiya was inching as fast as he could like a Caterpie, though he was still roped to a stick, but that didn't stop the stout man from going on.

Struggling, Ichiya kept on worming forward and was all dirty and sweaty, but the world was at stake, and he couldn't let anyone down. "I am Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki of Blue Pegasus." He struggled to say. "I will fulfill my obligation to my guild and comrades!" He continued inching with struggle to no end down the corridor.

In the chamber that was labeled lacrima number five, Erza noticed that Zero wasn't there.

"Master Zero isn't here, I knew it." She cursed. She was as dirty as everyone else on Nirvana, but at least she was on two feet.

The redhead looked up at the lacrima, with some form of concern bellowing about a certain man who she hasn't seen all day. Her eyes narrowed. "It's all up to you, Nic."

Wendy and Carla were walking down the corridor that led to chamber six, which was where Jellal was meant to go. Carla was carrying Wendy, both carrying concerns for Jellal.

Wendy looked up at Carla. "Thank you Carla for carrying me…" She then had her gaze back up front, seeing a small light up ahead. Her head was even more concerned than ever. "I'm worried. I hope Jellal is okay."

Carla showed some uncertainty as well. "I know Wendy, but I am concerned of your well-being, are you sure about this?"

Wendy gave a nod. "I'm sure. I'm the one who caused this, so I'll do whatever I can to fix it." She then thought back to when Erza had left and Jellal had muttered Nic's name.

"What's the matter? Are you feeling alright Jellal?" Wendy asked as she looked up at Jellal, who was clenching his own head.

Jellal tried to ease the Sky Dragon Slayer's worries. "I'm fine." He said, though it was clear that he was not. "Forgive me if I'm wrong, but don't you use Healing Magic? Natsu and Nic are going to face Zero, so their energy need to be replenished. Think you can do that?" He requested.

Wendy was about to speak up, with her mouth open and about to say yes, but Carla was just a little more quick-witted than her. The white feline held up a paw in unyielding objection. "Do you know how draining her Healing Magic is, and how many times this poor child had to use it today?!" Carla exclaimed, caring for Wendy and keeping her safe. "Sorry, but this where the line is drawn!"

Jellal stil had his hand covering his left eye as he heard how this was tiresome to Wendy. "I understand." He said, slightly disappointed, but he thought of an alternative thanks to a certain memory. "It's fine. I can replenish Natsu's energy myself, but Nic's energy is something he has to work on his own."

Wendy and Carla both blinked, hearing how Jellal said he could do such a thing as replenish Natsu's energy. His hand left his face a she had both eyes revealed. "I've gained a memory. I remember that Natsu wields the power of hope, and what's more is that Nic is the light everyone follows, unyielding and sees through to the end. I also recalled that Nic has an undeniable force that can assure them victory."

Jellal then approached Wendy and crouched down to her level. "It's a tall order, but I'm asking you to destroy lacrima number six for me."

Wendy let a slight gasp escape. "Me? B-But I can't." She said.

Jellal was left unfazed as she stared at Wendy. "Why must you doubt yourself? You're a Dragon Slayer. Your Magic is so powerful, it was once used to face the most powerful dragons in the land." Jellal explained, making Wendy slightly wide-eyed.

"Unleash the power that lies dormant within you."

Hearing this, Wendy knew there was no turning back. "I'll do my best."

Wendy was standing in front of the lacrima and was determined to save everyone. "I'm gonna do it. I'll unleash the dragon inside of me!"

---

With Nic and co.

Jellal winced and he fell on his back, still holding the golden flame. He tried to smile as he was very well exhausted.

"Natsu, this known as the Flame of Rebuke." He explained, his energy starting to drain rapidly. Nic and Natsu were on their knees and looking over Jellal as he was bestowing Natsu these flames.

"What's the Flame of Rebuke?" Natsu asked seriously.

Jellal simply held up the flame as he continued to smile. "You two. Natsu. Nic. I do not ask for forgiveness, for I can never reason for such a thing. All I want is to give you strength."

Nic blinked, slightly narrow in the eyes. "Why?" He was wondering not only why Jellal was giving strength, but also why he took that attack. Nic could've used a move, but Jellal took it instead.

"Because…" Jellal said. "…I believe in you." This made Nic jerk slightly. Jellal said he believed in him and Natsu. Jellal continued. "Nic, I'm sorry that I don't have the strength for you, but I ask only, and only, that you find the truth behind my actions."

Truth. Nic blinked as he suddenly felt something in him snap, like when Simon died, he did so because the truth behind his action was to keep his loved one alive. The truth Nic sacrificed himself was because he made a promise to keep Erza alive. The truth behind his dedication to Fairy Tail was because they were family. The truth behind Jellal's action was because he believed in the two.

"Jellal." Nic muttered. Truth, the word that echoed through Nic, it was like a fire was starting to ignite within him. This fire was growing as he was realizing the truth of Jellal's actions.

"Erza trusts you two more than anyone, and so…I shall as well." Jellal said. Natsu went wide-eyed as Jellal believed in what Erza believed in. Nic was clenching his fists as Jellal's truth was because of one person that came to Nic's mind, Erza. The fire within Nic was beginning to surge throughout his veins, and this wasn't at all because he was using the Flame Plate right now, this was something more drastic. Nic narrowed his eyes as a brief memory flowed through him.

"…tell us the truth." Reshiram said.

"And the ideals behind your truth." Zekrom added.

"Nic Pularis." Kyurem said. "You were chosen to be one with the Plates. What would you wish to do with this power?"

Nic was lost in thought as Natsu has hesitant, but he slowly reached out at a smiling Jellal. Natsu finally grabbed Jellal's hand and the Flame of Rebuke engulfed Natsu. The golden fire engulfed Natsu as the Dragon Slayer was glowing gold.

Natsu stared at a smiling Jellal, grateful to have helped Natsu. Natsu then opened his mouth and started to take in the flames. Natsu was chewing as much as he can from the flames all around his body, eating them.

'The truth.' Nic thought. Now a cold chill was surging through in conjunction with the inferno within him. '…and the ideals behind the truth…'

Natsu swallowed the last bit of flames as Jellal's hand dropped to the floor. "I'm counting…on you…Natsu…Nic…" Jellal then fell quiet as he was no longer able to move from using all of his Magic.

Slowly, Natsu and Nic arose to look ahead. Natsu wiped his mouth. "Thanks for the chow Jellal…but that doesn't mean you're off the hook, not yet." Natsu stated.

"The truth…" Nic muttered.

Zero had a grin on his face, seeing what has happened. "Dragon Slayer, you have made a grave mistake. By eating the Flame of Rebuke, you now share the sins of your enemy."

Natsu glared darkly at Zero. "A couple of sins won't stop us. Everyone's got their share, but the biggest sin is turning your back on someone…" Natsu began to flicker golden flames slightly and his feet nearly crushed the ground. "Especially…" He was tensing up. "When they want to give you power to fight evil!" He turned towards Nic. "Let's go-!"

Natsu, Jellal, and Zero were seeing something different. Nic's entire body was giving off a fixed amount of heat, of which was making the Dragon Slayer feel hot. Impossible as it was, this was no ordinary heat as Natsu actually felt heat. The heat around Nic was making the chamber slightly shake, causing Zero to shake up slightly.

"What the?! What is this?!" Zero demanded.

Nic kept on pouring more of his feelings and power into the heat, making fire surge from the heat. Nic's flames then began to circle around him and spiral at a dangerously high level, making him become enclosed in several rings of fire like a veil of sorts.

"The truth…" Nic started in a normal and serious tone. "…The truth behind the matter is…" His voice escalated slightly as the flames expanded slightly, almost making Nic get incased in a cocoon of fire. The freakiest part was that as he was doing so, the air on the outside was freezing. First hot, now cold? Just what was Nic doing? The air was condensing into fragments of ice that began to circle like rings as well. The fragments of ice began to circle rapidly just like the fire, only the rings were separated by the opposite. The layer was fire and then ice, and fire, and ice, and so on. The heat and the cold were now enveloping Nic in a full veil of fire and ice that began to enclose on him and the fire and ice turned into orange and light blue lights.

"The truth of the matter is…I WON'T LET MY COMRADES FALL TO EVIL! BECAUSE THEY ARE THAT IMPORTANT TO ME!" The orange and light blue lights then started to make the ground shake even more. The power unleashed was unbelievably massive, of which that enveloped Nic. Nic was starting the glow with the lights now merging and basically it was an entire dome of light that made everyone there go blind and look away.

As the light shined and the chamber shook, they all heard a loud draconic roar of some kind. A giant wave of light engulfed everything and everything fell silent for a few brief moments.

When the light was beginning to dim, Zero opened his eyes briefly. "This light?! Just what happened?!"

When Natsu was finally able to see as well, including Jellal, the light was fading away and a brief image had taken place. Natsu also noticed that the air was incredibly hot as small waves of fire bounced about through the air, and Natsu looked down to see that the ground all around them was frozen, small stalagmites all around the faint image.

"What is that?" Natsu marveled. The image was clearing out, making everyone gasp in shock as to what it was.

The figure had taken Nic's place with stalagmites all around him and flames spiraling in the air. It was a few inches taller than Nic and it had yellow eyes and black irises with light blue pupils. The face was left as it was, but had fanged teeth showing. It had the end of Kyurem's wings all around the shoulder blades and the pointed ends sticking out backwards. The structure was humanoid, though there was a yellow horn in the middle of the headpiece. The yellow horn went backwards and split the two sides; the right was frozen ice while the left side of the beast's headpiece was a long, wispy protrusion. There were white scales that ran down the back of the neck and left the front side bare. The scales converged to the chest, where it was slightly feathered on the scales there. There were two thin, white lines that went down from the chest area and stopped when they reached the fairly toned abs. The jeans were replaced by white pants that had long, hooked ice spikes that were curved downwards and located on the knee caps. Small, curved ice spikes ran down from the top of the shin and traveled down to the base of the ankles, where the pants stopped. The spikes were separated by the shin itself. The curbed spikes were at a total of four, two on both sides. There were no shoes, revealing human feet that had white scales and claws on the end. The middle toes were crystal ice and larger than the rest.

The left arm had white scales that left the underside of the entire arm bare. The hands were covered in white scales on the back side and bare on the palms, and the fingertips and nails were replaced with sharp, white claws. The arm had a gray armband on the biscep and there was another one located on the wrist. There was a large, white wing that was attached to his forearm. The right arm was much different, however. The right biscep had white scales and the underside was bare as well, exclude the armband. The forearm was different as it was covered in crystal ice, like a gauntlet. The ice gauntlet even had the hand frozen as were the claws. The frozen forearm sported a wing identical to the white one on the other arm, but it was solid, thick ice in the shape of an attached wing.

The sleeveless coat was now a pure white, with the inside being gray. There were curved, crystal ice patches that trailed down the coat. There were three trails total: One on each end and one running down the middle. The two outside trails were curved inwards towards the center trail, which was curved downwards. At the base of the outer part of the coat, there were two circles that were separated by the middle trail of ice. One side was crystal ice while the other side was a brighter shade of white. There was a tail was reached out from the tailbone and under the coat. It was gray and conical and had sharp-edged crystal ice spikes that kept the long, wispy, white tail inside that had feathers sticking out, and sixty degrees apart from the other. The tail was close to being five feet long.

The creature remained still as the stalagmites increased in height slightly and the fire was spiraling above in a pressurized stream. The beast clenched its fists and let out an earth-shaking roar, one that made all of the stalagmites completely shatter and scatter everywhere, as to where the fire dispersed rapidly, heating up the air immensely. The icy ground itself shattered upon the brutal roar and a shockwave rippled about, making everyone cover up.

"What the-what is that?!" Zero exclaimed. He saw the fire and ice was no more in the area, but the beast was giving off a chill, a chill that actually…burned?

Natsu was wide-eyed, as was an immobile Jellal. Natsu himself had this cold was actually burning, like a freezer burn. 'This chill given off, it's like giving my body a serious burn upon touch. What's happening?'

Zero went wide-eyed at the power this one had. 'This level of power, it's beyond anything measurable. It's not even Magic, yet…it's incredible.' Zero gritted his teeth. "What are you?!"

"Legendary Force – White Kyurem!" Nic roared, making another rippling shockwave that made everyone cover up.

"No way…" Natsu muttered.

"Legendary Force?" Jellal muttered weakly on the ground several feet away.

Zero narrowed his eyes. "So, you simply powered up I see." The wisps all over Nic's body waved about, like it would on Reshiram. "This level of power you've just unleashed, just what is this power I wonder? Can it match me?"

Nic glared harshly at Zero, making the latter suddenly feel chilly. "Listen you pathetic swine." Nic declared. "You should be asking if you can match me."

Natsu looked at Nic's new form, looking at it with suspicion. "This power, it's like that one time…back at the Tower of Heaven." Natsu then got an image of Nic using his Black Kyurem Legendary Force and how he defeated Jellal with ease. "It's like this power is similar, yet different. And why does he have white scales instead of black? And why fire instead of lightning?" He muttered this all in confusion.

Nic turned towards Natsu as the golden flames were still flickering like crazy around the Dragon Slayer. "Natsu, let's go!" He shouted.

Natsu immediately retained focus and he showed his teeth in his determination. He then turned back towards Zero. "Yeah you're right! This jerk is going to pay for trying to hurt Wendy's guild!" His eyes narrowed. "And Jellal."

Jellal looked in some surprise. "Natsu."

Natsu remained still as the Flame of Rebuke went through his system, and he felt his power increasing to high levels. "What? It's like my power…" Scales began to cover his forearms and around his eyes. "It's like my power doubled, maybe even tripled!"

Zero was even more in shock. "So, this is a Dragon Slayers true power is. Dragon Force." He said. Nic and Natsu both turned towards Zero as he announce that Natsu had went into Dragon Force. "Your strength in Dragon Force is suppose to rival that of an actual dragon; however, I wonder whose power is stronger: Mine or both of yours?" His question was demonic as he stared coldly at the two.

Nic and Natsu turned towards the other and nodded and turned back towards Zero. "US!" They exclaimed in unison as Natsu lunged with golden flames coating him, while Nic's left claw glowed white, via Slash. Both Mages smashed into Zero, making the evil being gag as the two slammed their attacks into his abdomen in a speedy flash. The double impact made a brief single ripple shockwave as the force made Zero smash into the column on the ground, imbedded into it.

Zero winced as he was immobile for a small while as he had one eye open. Zero grunted as he got feeling in his limbs back and he pried himself free from his crater imbedded into the column. He glared with distaste as Natsu clenched his fists on the ground and Nic had taken flight, ten feet in the air and both glaring at Zero.

Nic brought his head back and opened his mouth. A round of loops circled him and fired a massive blue beam at Zero upon bringing his head forward. "Dragon Breath!" The beam went shooting at Zero, who held out both arms forward and unleashed a Dark Capriccio to intercept.

Even with Dark Capriccio, Dragon Breath was holding it off and was also starting to drive through it slightly, shocking Zero. "What?! My Piercing Spell is…being pierced?!" Dragon Breath eventually got the best of the Dark Capriccio and it went at Zero, lunged left to avoid the blue beam as the attack followed through and made a blue explosion.

Zero was able to dodge Dragon Breath, but that left Natsu to come in and deliver a multitude of punches at a fast rate, repeatedly bashing Zero and after a powerful uppercut, the empowered Dragon Slayer grabbed Zero and threw him overhead, making him fly overhead and the menace was quick enough to straighten out, landing on his feet and lunged at Natsu at a remarkable speed. Zero drove a knee into the Dragon Slayer, but Natsu held on as he let a small grunt escape and he drove an elbow into Zero's abdomen and did a powerful kick to send him flying in an upward angle.

Zero grunted in midair and he was going to fire at Natsu. He gathered energy as he was in the air, but Nic appeared in front of his face, emanating a freezing heat still that made Zero's body cold.

Nic delivered a swift kick to Zero's left thigh, throwing him off balance and stopping his attack. Zero flew down and crashed into the ground again, dust flying everywhere. Nic was just getting started. "Ice Beam!" Nic made a blue ball at his mouth and fired a terrifying multitude of light blue beams at Zero. When they hit the ground, each single beam had frozen the ground, leaving destructive trails of ice that converged on Zero.

Zero saw this through the dust he was lying in and he unleashed a huge burst of darkness energy, exploding like a dome energy and intercepted the Ice Beam. Nic saw that the dust expanded even more from that burst of Magic and then he saw Zero lung at him from the dust cloud. Zero went for a punch, but Nic caught it with his left hand. Zero smirked ever so evilly and he used his right hand that was encased in Magic.

"Dark Wave!" He rammed his fist forward into Nic, but Nic wasn't a fool as he was quite the reflexive type. With Zero's left fist clenched in Nic's left claw, he let go and grabbed the wrist and yanked towards his left, changing the direction of the Dark Wave. The burst of energy was aimed towards the left, missing Nic. Nic then let go of Zero's wrist and he spun in the air and slammed his tail into Zero, making him grunt harshly as he was send downwards and Natsu ran up to land a powerful punch on the falling man.

Zero saw Natsu coming as he fell and regained balance. "I'm not done yet! Zero Slash!" Zero straightened his body out and he made Dark Capriccio and it was attached to his arm, he then used it like a whip and he struck Natsu as he was coming in, hitting the Dragon Slayer while he was lunging in.

Natsu smashed into the rock with a harsh thud, making a small crater from Zero Slash. Zero turned to look up at Nic and he whipped his arm again. "I most certainly didn't forget about you!" Zero slashed again and this one was directed at Nic. The White Kyurem Legendary Force utilizer roared and he did Ice Beam again. The entire Ice Beam blasted the Zero Slash, not only stopping it cold (pun intended), but also completely freezing it, shattering in midair.

Zero gasped in shock as his Zero Slash was nullified. Nic then fired a Dragon Breath yet again and Zero saw it coming. Zero lunged right to evade and pivoted to move forward. Natsu was back up and he lunged his mighty fist into his gut, with Zero too focused on one opponent.

Zero was temporarily stunned from that blow, which led Natsu to unleash a golden Fire Dragon's Roar from below Zero, shooting him upwards and smashed into the ceiling with a fair amount of debris falling from the blow.

Nic and Natsu watched as Zero plummeted and crashed into the caved-in ground, making a crater. The two powered-up heroes regrouped as Zero was shaking as he struggled slightly.

Nic turned towards Natsu. "We got less than five minutes."

"Got it." Natsu said. "We'll make this go by quicker." The two then saw Zero emerge back on his feet and he was looking at the ground with a smirk. He was scratched up slightly, but nothing he couldn't handle. He then looked back up at the two.

"Well, well, well, I must say. This double teaming power you two possess, it's even more formidable than I could have imagined. Too bad you'll be eliminated." He then conjured up energy and fired spheres of darkness. "Dark Delete!" The attack went soaring after Nic specifically and the gruesome spheres went at him as he was merely keeping his position in the air. The spheres bombarded Nic, sending smoke flying and Natsu covering up as Nic was blasted head on.

Zero laughed as Nic took the hit. He stopped the attack and he awaited for the smoke to clear with a smirk. "See? I told you you'd be-!" He then stopped in midsentence as he gasped and went wide-eyed as he saw Nic emerge from the smoke cloud with hardly any scratches.

Nic glared at Zero, who was shocked to say the least. "So tell me, was that your best shot?" Nic asked before he roared down at Zero, making Zero cover up as Nic's breath was so cold, yet powerful and felt like he was getting burned as well.

When Nic ceased, Zero looked back up. "What's this? You took that attack head on?! And you didn't even have a scratch?!" Nic slowly descended back to the ground as Zero was still baffled. "Just what power do you have Luminous?!"

Nic narrowed his eyes. "The truth is something you'd never comprehend. I hold the powers of a Legendary, something you will never hope to defeat. Blizzard!" Nic's mouth glowed light blue and unleashed a powerful Blizzard attack at Zero, who even had his arms to block and still flew back and crashed from the sheer chilled assault, not to mention it was a powerful Ice-Type move.

Zero was getting up from his crater and he grunted from the attack he just took. He felt as though he was hit with a compressed blizzard that ravaged the arctic. "Curse you Luminous." He growled. He then fired a Dark Rondo from the crater that crashed into Nic, making him only grunt with little damage inflicted.

"I'm not done with you!" Natsu rushed in and had a flaming fist at the ready. Natsu jumped and rammed his fist downwards. Zero rolled left and Natsu's attack smashed into the ground, leaving Zero to strike the Dragon Slayer.

"Dark Gravity!" Brain slammed his hand on the ground, of which some light shined underneath Natsu, and suddenly the entire ground under the Dragon Slayer burst, making Natsu yell as he started falling downwards.

Zero jumped down, going to follow Natsu, but he had no idea Nic could be faster. The turbine on Nic's tail glowed red as the flames started to fuel up his burst of speed and the White Kyurem being suddenly dashed towards the lower levels of Nirvana faster than Zero dropping. All Zero saw was a mere stream of red as Nic sailed down and had caught Natsu before he could fall off Nirvana.

Nic grabbed Natsu by the shirt and stopped when they were on the lowest level, just before Natsu could drop. Nic changed direction and he and Natsu landed safely away from the hole. Nic looked up to see Zero coming after them from above, preparing a spell.

"Dark Rondo!" In midair, Zero unleashed several streams of dark green energy that converged onto Nic and Natsu, but Nic easily got to react faster.

"Dragon Pulse!" From his mouth, Nic unleashed a multicolored dragon-shaped beam of energy at the Dark Rondo, which easily nullified the attack from advancing. There was a big explosion of multicolors and dark green, which Nic took precaution of and backed away. Natsu followed suit and Zero emerged from the explosion above, landing on a knee and seeing the two on their guard.

"You're not getting away with that! Zero Slash!" Zero made a Dark Capriccio as a whip again and he went to whip them both, but Natsu and Nic both used their agile reflexive capabilities, with Natsu rolling and twisting in midair, compared to Nic simply shifting and leaning with ease.

Zero saw that Natsu was taking in fire as he was in midair and dodging. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu unleashed a blaze that engulfed Zero and stopped his assault. Natsu landed as to where Nic remained still in the air.

Nic narrowed his eyes as he saw Zero wave his arms out and shrug off the inferno, much to Natsu's shock. "Persistent, I'll say that much."

Zero narrowed his eyes with a smugged grin. "Well now, it seems that this battle has taken quite a turn. I can't believe that I'm beginning to fall at your mercy." He said in a coincidental tone. "I have to admit, taking two adversaries on may be a mistake on my part…so I'll have to level the playing field."

Nic narrowed his eyes in slight discomfort. "And how are you going to do that?" He asked in a demanding tone.

Zero shook his head while chuckling, slightly amused. "Ah Luminous, there's some things some people have to find out the hard way." Zero extended his right arm forward and then Nic went wide-eyed as he felt some pain in his abdomen intensify.

"Gah! What? What is this feeling?" Nic asked as his pain was starting to flood about. He was clenching his abdomen and he then felt something on his chest. When Nic looked down, he gasped at seeing a complicated purple circle that had taken up the space on his chest.

Natsu turned to see that Nic had some spell placed on him and he turned back towards Zero. "You monster! What did you do?!"

Zero let out a cliché evil laugh as he rejoiced in what he placed on Nic. "Simple young Dragon Slayer. Since I can't beat you both at a time, let alone that one with white scales, it seems I'll have to eliminate him." Nic's pain was held at bay for a short while as Zero paused.

Zero's evil smirk never left his face. "I've placed a Self-Destruction Spell on him. In a few minutes he'll be nothing but a memory."

Natsu and Nic both gasped in deep horror that Zero had taken the cheap way to victory. Nic bared his fangs and he clenched his claws and fists. "You foul coward!"

Zero raised a brow. "Am I? In the end it won't matter. With you out of the picture, I can easily take down that Dragon Slayer."

Natsu fumed as this logic; Zero was saying that Nic was stronger than Natsu, which he was. The Dragon Slayer felt offended to the upmost degree and flames ignited. He gritted his teeth as he was very displeased. "You coward." He scowled with a clenched fist. "You better disarm that thing now before I beat the code out of you."

"Just try Dragon Slayer, but I highly doubt you'll succeed." Zero arrogantly implied. Without any delay, Natsu engaged Zero in some combat, to which both were on par. Natsu let loose another barrage of attacks with his fists, scoring a few blows that Zero didn't block in time. Within the melee, Zero gave a harsh kick towards Natsu's chin and spun in midair, delivering a side kick into the Dragon Slayer's abdomen. The Dragon Slayer grunted as he skid back, trying to keep his footing.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu ignited his feet and he used them as boosters to lung at Zero at a much faster rate. Zero got a glimpse of Natsu turning and delivering a kick with his right hook, to which he blocked with his left arm and smirked.

"Dark Rondo!" Zero unleashed a point blank Darkness Spell at Natsu and the green beam had engulfed Natsu, to which the Dragon Slayer screamed as he was hit and soared into the air.

Nic could only watch as he feared any critical movement might quicken the countdown. There was no guarantee for sure, but Nic can only play it safe. But even so, this was unfair as Zero pulled a fast one on him. Then again, when are bad guys ever fair?

Nic wasn't going to sit around much longer; it's either do or die, and he most certainly wanted to live to see the light of tomorrow. Though people never should underestimate Nic's cunning when it came to battling. He knows full well that these situations could be dealt with in a certain way he was able to do.

Nic smirked as he knew just what had to be done. As he saw Natsu and Zero duking it out, Nic began to release a vast amount of energy yet again. He was making the place shake as he was unleashing a cold air yet again from his body, catching Zero and Natsu's attention.

"What is he doing?!" Zero exclaimed. "His power is shaking up the ground once more!...And this chill." He narrowed his eyes. "I can actually feel it burn my skin. How is a human doing that?!"

Natsu covered up with his scaly arms to keep the chilling yet burning air from hitting his face. If he could feel the burn, what exactly does this mean? The two adversaries watched in awe as the spell casted on Nic was…freezing?

Zero went wide-eyed as his Self-Destruction Spell was turning into solid ice, the spell was starting to become pure crystal ice as Nic kept unleashing such power. The walls themselves started to show frost gathering, and the spot where Nic stood was frozen and expanded slightly. The Self-Destruction Spell was now solid ice and the whole thing completely shattered in front of everyone's eyes.

"What? He nullified my spell just by freezing it?!" A shocked Zero exclaimed. "No one should be able to do that! Who are-what are you?! Tell me!"

Nic lowered the output, making the place cease its quaking. All there was now was a mist that was being released from that lowered chill burst. The mist soon dispersed throughout the area, making frost everywhere it touched on the ground.

Nic answered as he let out a cold icy breath. "I am Nic Pularis, your demise." He then brought his head back as he gathered energy quickly. "Dragon Pulse!" He unleashed a powerful multicolored dragon-shaped beam at Zero, of whom was still left in shock that Nic still froze the spell off of himself. Zero took a step back, but he didn't have any more room as the ground shook from the incoming Dragon Pulse. The attack swallowed up Zero and a multicolored explosion took place, hearing the anguish in Zero's howling yell.

Zero was revealed to have been several feet from where he stood, on his rear in a small crater that was at the end of a tarnished trail from the skidding thud he'd endured from Dragon Pulse. The maniac was grunting in searing pain as he wasn't expecting such a comeback, let alone a countermeasure.

As he got to his feet, Zero was hit right in the abdomen by a Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow catered by Natsu. Zero gagged as he was hit once again by an assault he wasn't prepared for. Zero flew back several more feet and did a skipping thud. He landed on his back first and then on his chest and then finally on his back.

The maniac arose yet again and he was left with several bruises and scrapes from the onslaught he had just endured. "You…little…brats!" He scowled under his breath. He coughed as he tried to say more. "You've done it. You've unleashed Hell. You missed your only chance to die at my hands, but now your very existence shall be erased." He grimly warned.

His tone had made Nic and Natsu both get on edge as he announced their demise. Was he holding back? The ground was beginning to shake yet again as Zero was exerting even more Magic energy than before. He was emanating a green aura, signifying his power.

"It's too bad I can't use your power for myself, such a shame. As an alternative, I'll destroy you both with my most powerful spell, one that shall erase you from existence and send you to the void of eternal despair!" Zero wasn't joking, he was preparing a move as he gathered a very large sum of Magic energy at his fingertips.

"Like hell we'll let that happen!" Natsu proclaimed. "No matter what, we'll win! You know why? Because our friends are counting on us! Their giving us every amount of support they can!" Golden flames were beginning to wave about him as he was unleashing a huge amount of Magic as well.

Nic stepped forward. "Agreed! We won't be erased because our hearts will never leave the other!" Nic not only recalled the trust everyone had, but he also remembered the most recent bonds he's made with the Allied Forces. The Allied Forces, reluctantly Ichiya, Jura, everyone, even Jellal. Jellal expressed comradery in a way that Nic couldn't repay. Nic did remember they had less than a minute to destroy the lacrima, so they had to smash it along with Zero.

---

Meanwhile…

The time was super close, and Gray stepped forward. "Well, I guess it's time." The Ice Mage then put a fist in a palm and summoned a Magic circle. "It's time to ring this walking freak show to go down."

With Lucy and Sophie, Sophie took in a deep breath as she pointed a finger at her head. "Okay, it's time we destroy this thing!" Lucy and Happy both nodded.

Ichiya used a potion on himself to enhance his body to superhuman levels, and his muscles were beyond enormous. He rammed both his fists into each other. "Hibiki, Ren, Eve, give me the strength…" He prayed, hoping for the best for his comrades. He then looked up at the lacrima with determination in his eyes. "YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET AN IMPORTANT LESSON IN STRENGTH AND DETERMINATION, CURTESY OF THE BLUE PEGASUS GUILD!" Ichiya then began to conjuring energy. "POWER PARFUME! TO THE MAX! MEEEENNNN!"

With Erza, she spun in a full circle. "Requip!" Erza glowed and she requipped into her Black Wing Armor, holding a long sword and stared at the lacrima. "I'll use the last bit of my power in this shot!"

With Wendy, she was beginning to feel the energy surge. 'I can feel it, the power rising up.' Wendy's hair was beginning to fly about as winds picked up.

---

With Nic and co.

"They're all depending on us to take you down, to send you back to Hell! We'll stop you!" Nic proclaimed. The tip of Nic's wispy headpiece was glowing orange, signifying a tremendous heat signature, and the spikes on the back of the ice pieces shot out and attached to the conical section of the tail. The tubes then glowed orange and the turbine and tail alike glowed orange and there was an extremely pressurized force swelling inside Nic. The air around Nic was beginning to intensify with burning frost for some reason as the area around Nic was expanding even more in terms of ice. Nic then began to emanate a circular reddish-purple aura around his body.

"Our friends' determination is pulsating like crazy, and we won't let them down!" Natsu declared as the swirls of golden flames kept on going. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art – Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!" Natsu swung his arms in a circular fashion, unleashing the golden flames and the flames went spiraling towards Zero, who had begun his final move.

"You two shall be swallowed by oblivion itself!" He declared. He brought forth both hands and the darkness energy became purple. "Genesis Zero!" A giant have of thousands of phantoms then gushed out, wailing about as they reached for Natsu. The golden flames were starting to diminish as the sheer number of phantoms were starting to swallow Natsu, starting to bring him into the void from where the phantoms came from.

"Wha-n-no!" Natsu was being overwhelmed by the number and the phantoms were starting to take Natsu whole. Zero grinned ever so satisfied of his victory…

Though they then felt an immense amount of force being emanated from Nic.

Suddenly, the phantoms were starting to burn away as the aura around Nic expanded. The air was freezing, and in turn was somehow cindering every soul that was devouring Natsu. Natsu went wide-eyed as he saw that he wasn't in a void, but was on the ground and on his feet thankfully.

"What the?!" Natsu turned to see that Nic was exerting his aura and the sphere around him was chilling the air to an extreme degree.

"Zero!" Nic shouted at a distraught Zero. "You!"

Zero stepped back as he was wide-eyed, actually feared for his life. "Y-you! You'd just burned away the souls…with ice?! That's impossible!"

"No more shenanigans! Time to obliterate you!" Nic lunged forth at Zero, his icy reddish-purple aura ever so large and Zero was helpless as Nic grabbed his shirt and he hurled him upwards, Zero's abdomen frozen upon touch. Zero was beyond helpless as Nic soared after him and yelled in the air as he charged so much energy. "Maxus Legendary Arts – Ice Burn!" Nic's entire body had then unleashed a multitude of reddish-purple beams that looked like fire that stormed everywhere in sight. The raging Ice Burn attack flared about, and Zero screamed as he was hit head on, swallowed up by the Ice Burn and he was shot forth at the speed of light, crashing repeatedly into several floors above. The flames touches everywhere, freezing the very spots they touched. Nic roared at the top of his lungs as with every floor hit, it was swallowed up in an inferno, freezing almost every floor in ice. When the Ice Burn shot Zero back up to where the chamber was, he crashed head first into the lacrima, completely obliterating it. The entire lacrima burst into a million pieces as something shining went flying from the middle upon shattering, something that was impossible of breaking. A shining pink Plate flung high into the air as Zero continued onwards and smashed into the ceiling. Upon gruesome impact, Zero was imbedded into the cracked ceiling and the area around the chamber was sizzling and the steam itself was cold.

Zero was deprived of pupils as his mouth hung open, frozen in the ceiling as his abdomen was cindered yet completely ice. His chin and the area around his eyes was solid ice as steam erupted and the very steam was leaving frost on his body. The ceiling itself was practically covered in ice thanks to Ice Burn's destructive power. Zero was beyond defeated as it was even hard to tell if he survived as his body was practically frozen yet cindered.

Jellal was still on the ground, and was not within the area that Ice Burn ran wild. He looked with wide eyes as Ice Burn actually nearly maimed Zero. Jellal's mouth was slightly open as he was baffled. 'This unbelievable force…is it that much more devastating than Dragon Force?'

Nic zoomed back up towards the chamber, he came to a halt as he was in midair and saw that Zero was defeated and frozen on the ceiling. Nic also saw something falling from a spinning flight, to which was the Plate that came out when Zero smashed into the lacrima. Nic saw it falling and he caught it with ease. The Plate shined ever so brighter upon reaching Nic and it blinded everything when Nic touched it.

Jellal gasped as he saw the Plate being infused into Nic, the pink Plate was shining the second the lacrima shattered.

When the light faded, Nic blinked. Even though Nic was infused with the new Plate, he wasn't in his new form at the moment, probably due to him already using Legendary Force. Regardless, it didn't matter as Zero was finished, the lacrima was destroyed, and he had gained a new Plate. Nic let loose a loud roar in victory.

Jellal grinned as he saw the accomplishment Nic achieved. 'Nic and Natsu's power, they exceeded my expectations. Nic has made promise, seeing the truth.'

The place was then beginning to shake about tremendously as the floor was beginning to come apart, startling everyone. Nic looked down below to see that everything was breaking apart. "Nirvana, it's breaking down." He said. He then looked back up. "If so, then that means all six were destroyed at the same time!" He grinned. 'Wait a go guys.'

Nic noticed that Jellal was back up on his feet and he saw the predicament he was in. It was clear Jellal couldn't fly. "Jellal, hang on!" Nic exclaimed. He only flew a few feet towards Jellal when the ground behind the blue-haired man was breaking apart, making both individuals turn to see something coming from the ground.

"What on earth is that?!" Jellal shouted.

The dust cleared as Nirvana was shaking, revealing Natsu and no longer in Dragon Force, but that wasn't it. It was the person that had him under his arm. Nic gasped in recognizing the figure that had Natsu.

"Richard!" Nic shouted. "Thank goodness!"

Richard looked up and kept his smile. "Oh yeah!"

Nirvana was beginning to come apart even more, as the ceiling itself was shattering and Zero's body attached to the ceiling was coming off and the everyone began to fall, including Zero, who plummeted towards the open hole that was the pit and fell to who knows where. Nic flew about, evading debris that was coming down. Nic looked around, seeing how this was looking bad.

"Richard, we need to get out of here, now!" Nic exclaimed.

"Right-O! I hear you!" Richard complied. Richard then carried a surprised Jellal under the opposite arm, now Richard had Natsu and Jellal to lead to safety. Richard looked back up at Nic. "And what about you?!"

Nic didn't show any reluctance. "Don't worry, you have your hands full. Besides, I'll find my own way out. Just get Jellal and Natsu to safety, now go!"

Without any arguments, Richard plunged into the ground, carrying Natsu and Jellal both, leaving Nic to look at the corridor and the turbine on his tail turned orange and he zoomed in a flash through the entrance back into the corridor as the chamber completely fell apart.

---

With Gray

Gray leaped out of Nirvana's giant hole, leaving him to fall and tumble down a hill as the monstrosity collapsed behind him. The earth was thundering behind him as he tumbled downwards and eventually got a grip and he now slid down.

"That was a close one!" Gray muttered as he was sliding down the hill, noting how he barely made it out. Gray made it to the bottom of the hill and he just kept running through the woods through with an open view of Nirvana crashing down from a distance.

Gray stopped and finally turned around to see the dust flying in the distance as Nirvana fell apart. "Man, I hope the others are okay. That thing's crumbling fast."

"Gray!" Gray heard a feminine voice called from behind. He turned around and saw Erza was alright, though she was in her white blouse and no armor.

"Erza!" Gray shouted in relief. When Erza caught up, the two turned back to see someone else who had escaped Nirvana. "And…"

The muscular and hulking figure ran joyfully towards the others, though he had a multitude of bumps on his head from rocks repeatedly pounding his head from when Nirvana collapsed. "I'm so glad you're safe My Honey!" Ichiya exclaimed.

Erza and Gray both paled and yelled in comical fashion alike as Ichiya was coming at them, mainly for Erza. When he stopped in front of them, Erza leaped back in fear and requipped a spear.

"Who are you?!" Erza exclaimed in fear.

"You heard her! Answer the lady or else!" Gray exclaimed, being appalled as well.

Ichiya raised his hands as a means to stand down, seeing them freaking out on him. "Please, calm down! Can't you see I'm your ally?" Ichiya assured, holding up a small tube that had his Power Parfume. "My Power Parfume has temporarily changed my outward appearance, but inside…" He began making manly poses for Erza. "I am still your beloved Ichiya, and you're My Honey!"

Erza was looking away in revelation, appalled by Ichiya even more as he was continuously posing and sparkling.

"Looks like your admirer went to full-scale stalker." Gray noted, in revelation like Erza.

"Don't remind me." She said. "I'd kick him out of the alliance if I had the chance."

From the sky, a giant grandfather clock emerged, startling them. The clock was revealed to be none other than Horologium, one of Lucy's Celestial Spirits. "'I am sooooo dizzy.' Miss Lucy stated with fatigue. 'Tell me about it.' The second blonde sarcastically implies." He repeated.

"An enemy." Ichiya said.

"Calm down." Erza said.

"Yeah chill, it's just one of Lucy's Spirits." Gray assured.

Lucy, Happy, and Sophie all exited Horologium and looked back up at him with hints of confusion. "Thanks for saving us Horologium, but I don't get it. I didn't summon you?" Lucy question.

"You didn't. I came on my own accord." He explained. "Hope you all don't mind."

Happy smiled. "You can rescue us anytime you want! Thanks!" Happy exclaimed.

"Miss Lucy's Magic is getting stronger by the day, so it's likely that you'll see more Celestial Spirits doing the same. I can be provided more useful as I can prevent oxygen deprivation, insect bites, and blemishes." Horologium explained.

Erza was beyond stunned. "No way! He prevents acne?!"

"Didn't know you had that issue?" Sophie said with a raised brow. With that. The clock vanished and departed back to the Celestial Spirit World.

Right as he left, Jura, Wendy, and Carla appeared. "Look, it seems everyone is alright!" Jura exclaimed.

"Even that silly blue tomcat." Carla said.

"Carla! You're okay!" Happy shouted in joy, though Carla paid no heed to him.

"Wait, is Natsu and Jellal okay?" Wendy asked in worries as they all finally regrouped.

"I'm afraid we haven't had word." Ichiya explained. "They might still be inside."

Lucy looked down. "Okay, now I'm worried."

Gray looked away. "I bet that pyro's lost somewhere in the woods. He'll come around."

"Natsu!" Wendy shouted out, trying to get where he was at, but no response.

Erza looked on in worry as she saw Nirvana collapsing in the far distance. She was worried about her teammate and her long lost friend. "Natsu. Jellal. I know you're out there."

Suddenly, the ground in the middle of the group began to liquefy and something emerged from it. Everyone there turned in shock as to what was coming up. The liquefied earth had solidified in the middle, and on solid earth was Richard carrying the two mentioned people. Everyone gasped.

"Love triumphs to save our friends! Oh yeah!" Richard exclaimed.

Gray grinned. "There's that pyro, always some form of dramatic entrance."

Richard had set Natsu and Jellal down and Wendy ran up with teary eyes at Natsu. She was overjoyed to see that he was okay. "Natsu!" Wendy hugged the Dragon Slayer's waist. "You did it! You kept your promise!" Tears scrolled down her face as she was happy. "You saved my guild."

Natsu blinked and then smiled down at Wendy. "It wasn't just me Wendy, we all saved your guild, including yourself." Wendy looked up a bit surprised.

"R-Really? But I didn't do much!" She testified.

Natsu brushed it off. "Don't be silly, you destroyed lacrima, that's a big job that you accomplished!" With that, the two smiled and high fived.

After a brief moment, Sophie blinked in remembrance, as though a necessity wasn't present. When she looked at everybody, Sophie nearly paled in realization.

"GAH!" Sophie shrieked comically, getting everybody's attention.

"Yeah? What's up Sophie?" Gray asked nonchalantly.

Sophie sweated and looked nervous. "Um, guys?" She asked. "I think we need to do a head count."

"Huh?" Almost everybody was confused as to what she meant. They looked around in wonder, and that's when Erza gasped with shocked eyes. Erza turned everywhere and there was no sign of him.

The Fairy Queen turned sharply towards the group. "Where's Nic?!" Everybody else gasped in shock in the realization that Nic wasn't there. Where was he?

Richard had a frown. "It would appear that Nic had decided to find his own way out." Everybody turned towards Nirvana in the distance, seeing it fall apart, which worried them greatly. "I'm afraid that young Nic may very well be in Nirvana still."

"Oh no." Sophie squealed as her friend was still inside Nirvana.

"You've gotta be joking?! Nic's still inside that thing?!" Gray exclaimed in disbelief.

Erza looked up as Nirvana was collapsing in the distance. Unconsciously, she walked forward a few paces and had a worried expression on her face. She stopped and she frowned even more. She saw the remains of Nirvana breaking down. "Nic please, come back to us." She muttered.

As if her call was heard, everyone there heard a loud boom from Nirvana's crumbling state and saw something bursting through the top, which made Erza gasp. They all heard a draconic roar and saw something icy and white soaring into the air that was streaming orange as it propelled up the night sky. Everybody there saw the figure was then changing direction and it was curving downwards…and was coming at them!

"Uh…i-is it me, or is that thing…?" Lucy panicked.

Sophie nodded. "Yeah, it's coming right at us."

Natsu gave his trademark grin. "Took him long enough to find an exit." He said.

Gray turned sharply towards him. "Wait, that thing coming towards us is Nic?!"

Everybody started spreading out as Nic sailed from above, all getting a large diameter. Nic landed with a loud and thunderous thud, making the land shake and dust fly. Everyone covered up for a few brief moments, but looked back to see that Nic was back on the ground and let loose one last roar.

"No way! Nic?!" Lucy exclaimed. Everyone there was greatly shocked to say the least. Nic was still in his Legendary Force and he had just gotten out of Nirvana.

Nic looked around and saw everyone, including a very satisfied Erza. Nic gave a general grin towards the group as he shined a rainbow glow, and he reverted back to his normal state. Nic was exhausted, and it was shown by his breathing.

"Hey…guys…" Nic huffed. "Sorry…for the…delay…"

Sophie raised a brow. "Well now, I guess Natsu isn't the only one who can make an entrance, but I gotta ask, what took you?" She wondered.

Nic tried catching his breath and he let out a relieving sigh. "As I was making my way out, my body gave in for a few moments. Using that last attack to annihilate Zero exhausted every bit of energy from my Legendary Force. I felt the aftershock as I was traveling through the corridor. I was drained and was immobile for a few moments. I gave it one last push and that brings us to right…now…" As Nic was finishing, he started collapsing forward, startling everybody.

As if by chance, Erza had caught Nic before he had fallen and held him. Erza felt the happiest person in the alliance with Nic safe and sound again. Erza's hold slowly grew into a hug as she smiled as Nic's tired head was on her shoulder.

"Nic…thank you." She said.

Jellal took notice of the joy that Erza was seeing, giving off a grin.

Some time passed by, allowing everyone to catch up to speed. Nic was lying comfortably against a flat rock as he rested up from exerting so much power when he used Legendary Force, at least this duration was longer than the first time when he was Black Kyurem. Natsu told the group of how Nic and he entered Dragon Force and Legendary Force and how immensely powerful Nic was. Jura explained how Richard became god and was on their side, and that left everyone up to speed.

"I'm glad we're all okay and all." Happy said. "But what about him?" Everyone turned to see who Happy was referring to, which was Jellal leaning against a rock. Everybody was confused as to who he was.

"Is he a pretty boy from Blue Pegasus?" Gray asked.

Erza shook her head. "No, it's Jellal." Lucy and Gray were in shock. Now that they thought about it, they never saw him in person. "He's changed. He's lost his memories."

Gray blinked as he still had doubts, but Wendy tried to explain while Natsu stared up at the sky, pondering how Jellal saved him and Nic earlier. Nic was somewhat conscious as his thoughts were focus on that matter as well. Nic was contemplating as he saw Erza and Jellal converse away from the group, which he felt unsure. Even after what he did to save them, he still had some form of worry when around Erza.

Erza leaned against the same rock Jellal was. "Thank you." She said. "We couldn't have done this without you." She smiled at him with sincerity.

Jellal glanced at her. "That's not true." He then looked back down at the ground.

She didn't care as she then was filled with curiosity. "What will you do now?"

Jellal's hair left a shadow over his face. "I don't know. I wish I knew."

Erza looked back out at the group. "It's alright. I'm sure you're not the only one feeling like that. Who knows what will happen next?"

Jellal began to tense up, which Erza took notice of. "I fear…" Jellal started. "I fear, that my memories will return."

Erza blinked and she saw Jellal struggling. "Don't be." She said and then smiled sincerely. "It wouldn't make any difference." This shocked Jellal as he turned towards Erza. Erza crossed her arms as she then shifted her gaze towards Nic, who was still spacing out and slightly drained. She then looked back at Jellal and smiled. "Whatever happens won't mean anything, because I care about you. I'm glad you're back."

Jellal blinked as he turned at Nic. He picked the pieces together faster than anyone could. He remembered full well that she smiled when she heard Nic earlier, and he saw the sheer joy she was feeling when she hugged him earlier. Jellal grinned. "I'm sure…" He started, making Erza blink and lose her frown. "You have plenty of people to care about."

Erza tried to understand, but she just took Jellal as a priority. "Yeah, I suppose so…but still…"

"MY HANDSOME FACE!" Ichiya exclaimed, making everyone stop what they were doing and the ones that were lying down got up.

"What now?" Gray aske in annoyance.

"I wanna go pee, but I ran into an invisible wall!" Ichiya exclaimed.

Wendy blinked. "Look!" She pointed at the writing on the ground that enclosed them in a large square.

"It can't be." Jura said, reaching outwards only for the hand to stop at a certain point.

"An enchantment." Nic growled.

"MEEEEN!" Ichiya exclaimed.

"Okay, who did this?!" Natsu exclaimed. "Show yourselves!"

Just then, on the trail, a large group of Rune Knights were walking, with a man with black hair and glasses leading. A carriage followed behind. The Rune Knights surrounded everyone in the enchantment, making everyone grow cautious.

"Who-who are all these people?!" Wendy asked, scared of the Rune Knights.

The man leading them walked forward. "There's no need for panic. We mean no harm." The man said. "Our apologies, but we had to restrain you."

"Who the heck are you?" Happy shouted.

"I am the caption of the new Magic Council's Fourth Custody Enforcement Unit, Lahar. And this is my army." He announced.

"No way?!" Natsu exclaimed, freaking out.

"A new Magic Council?! That didn't take long!" Gray exclaimed.

Lahar began his speech. "It is my duty to uphold the law and take in any and all evil doers, and keep justice throu-."

"Get to the point." Nic demanded, stunning Lahar. Nic paid no heed as he loathed the Magic Council and he wasn't afraid to show it. "We've had a long agonizing day, get to the point." Natsu and everyone else looked at Nic in astonishment, as though he was insane, even Erza was fairly astonished.

Lahar was baffled, but he could see the group was slightly desperate. He would allow the matter to pass just this once. He cleared his throat. "Very well then. I am here to take the Oracion Seis into custody. I ask that you cooperate and hand over the man codenamed Hoteye."

Richard and Jura both gasped and Lucy and Nic turned in shock. Richard, their new friend and faithful ally, was to be taken away from them.

Jura stepped forward and had both arms out by his sides. "No! Never!" The Rune Knights were armed and they tensed up, showing their weapons. They were slightly afraid of a Wizard Saint going cray on them, but then thankfully for them that Richard stepped forward.

"It's alright, I'll surrender." Richard said, startling everyone.

Jura turned back in shock that his new friend was giving up that easily. "Richard, why?"

Richard looked down at the ground and smiled. "I cannot fully embrace a life of virtue when my past transgressions continue to haunt me. It's my chance to atone for my sins." He then looked back up at Jura, still giving a sincere smile. "That way, I'll have a clean slate when I find my brother. That way I have nothing to hide, don't you agree?"

Jura paused with a frown, but he smiled when he realized the logic in Richard's actions. Even Jura would do this for the sake of a new and happy life. Jura then turned back towards his new ally. "Agreed. Shall I continue the search for your brother in your stead?" He requested.

Richard blinked and jerked that Jura would do such a thing for a friend. "You'd do that for me?"

"I'd be honored." Jura explained. "I just need his name."

Richard then spoke his name. "His name is Wally. Wally Buchanan."

The name a bell for Natsu, Lucy, and Gray, but for Erza, she recognized it, as did Nic somewhat. When it clicked, Natsu, Gray, and Lucy all exclaimed the guy who said 'dandy' a lot. "THE BLOCKHEAD?!"

"He's your brother?" Erza asked in shock.

Richard looked down at the ground, remembering his times with his brother before they were separated. "I miss him dearly. He was a good kid. The best little brother a guy could ask for."

A young Richard and Wally were in a wasteland, using gardening tools to get through the soil in front of their very small home. It was just them, no parents, leaving them to look after the other.

"Geez, this soil is hard as rock!" A young Wally complained as he kept hitting the ground with his tools.

"I know, but we've gotta keep working." Richard put down his tools and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "It may seem hopeless now, but if we just stay positive and keep working, it's bound to become rich soil eventually."

Wally was inspired by his big brother and he smiled. "You're right big bro! As long as we stay positive, there's nothing we can't do!"

Richard smiled as he was joyful, seeing his younger brother look up to him. Both brothers smiled through the hopelessness they endured as the days went by, and to which with their hard work, they managed to create a rich soiled field.

"My brother and I struggled to survive after losing both of our parents." Richard explained. "We worked diligently to grow vegetables in our garden. Unfortunately when it came time for the harvest, we were left…disappointed."

In their small garden, both Richard and Wally were upset as all of their plants were wilted and dead.

Wally began to cry out of failure. "I can't believe all that work was for nothing bro! Not a single vegetable grew! This sucks!" He cried tearfully.

Richard turned towards his somber brother without tears, trying to stay positive. "Come on, don't cry Wally." Richard looked back out at the small garden, seeing all of the dead plants. Richard felt sadness as well until he spotted something among the dead plants. A lone, healthy, plant was growing in the middle of the garden.

Wally saw it and he instantly perked up and humped for joy. "We did it! We grew one!"

"Oh yeah!" Richard exclaimed.

After the potato grew, it was steaming and was fresh on their table. Wally looked at the potato, almost begging for it. "I don't know about you, but I'm ready to chow down!"

Richard sat patiently and looked at Wally. "We're not eating anything until we say Grace." Richard and Wally both sat down and clasped their hands together. He then started. "A single potato may not look much, but in our eyes it's a harvest that has given us determination and hope. Thank you for this blessing."

"Yeah, thanks a lot for the food." Wally butted in, grabbing the entire potato. "Time to chow down-!" As he was about to shove the entire steaming potato into his mouth, he froze as he saw the nervous smile plastered on Richard's face. "…oh, right. You get half." He sheepishly reminded himself.

"My stomach's been bothering me today." Richard lied, wanting to see his brother eat. "You can have it."

Wally was shocked. His brother would starve to see his brother eat. Wally looked down at the potato and he then split it in half, surprising Richard as he held out a half to him.

"Why'd you do that?" Richard asked.

Both their stomachs growled. Wally answered in a lie. "Well, my stomach's been bothering me too, and I can't eat this all by myself. Help me out will ya?" He held out a piece with a smile.

Richard smiled. "Even though many years have passed by, I can still remember the taste of that potato."

Eraz stepped forwards toward Richard. "I know your brother Richard." She answered with a smile.

Jura and Richard both turned towards Erza in shock. "You do?!" He asked.

"Yes, he's an old friend of mine. He's happily traveling across the continent as we speak." She answered.

Hearing his long lost brother, about how he was healthy and alive, not to mention well, Richard began to tear up in sheer joy. Richard was having streams of tears scroll down his face and he grabbed his face and looked down.

"A-All these years I kept telling myself that…if I stay positive a miracle would happen. And Lord behold, it has!" The happy man sank to his knees and cried in his hands. "Thank you…thank you…thank you."

He sobbed. Everyone watched on with a smile as Richard cried in joy as his brother was told to be alive. After he'd finished his joyful sob, he happily got up and allowed the Rune Knights to take him away into the carriage.

Seeing their friend go, everyone frowned. "I feel bad for him." Lucy said.

"Me to." Happy said.

"It can't be helped." Gray answered.

"It must have been hard, but I think he'd made the right decision." Carla answered.

Nic looked on as he saw the last image of Richard before he went inside the carriage. "He's a good man."

"I'm glad he's happy and all, but release the enchantment so I can go pee!" Ichiya exclaimed.

Lahar wasn't moved. "Sorry, but that's not an option. That is, not until we've captured our true objective." He explained.

Now everyone was on edge, their true objective? Even Ichiya was on edge as they all tensed up.

"A fiend who destroyed the Magic Council, and fired Etherion. A man more villainous than the Oracion Seis." Lahar propped his glasses closer to his eyes. "I'm referring to you Jellal. Comply and come with me."

Everyone there gasped as Lahar announced that Jellal was to be taken into custody. Erza had horror in the eyes as her friend was to be taken away. Nic went wide-eyed as Jellal, a new comrade, was to be taken.

"Leave him alone!" Wendy shouted as Jellal looked down at the ground.

Nic clenched his fists. "You monsters!"

Erza was looking at the ground, still shocked in the eyes that Jellal was going to be taken once again. Erza looked on in sadness.

"Us the monsters?" Lahar scowled. "Fools, Jellal Fernandes is cold and black of heart as they come. He must be brought to justice!" Jellal was surrounded by Rune Knights and his hands were cuffed in front of him, and all anyone could do was watch. "Jellal Fernandes, you are under arrest."

Erza gasped as Jellal was held by two Rune Knights and was taken close to Lahar. Natsu clenched his fists and grunted. But Nic was having an even harder time, seeing another good man being taken from them.

"Please don't take him away!" Wendy shouted. "He didn't even know what he's done! He doesn't remember anything!"

"Ignorance of one's crimes isn't a defense." Lahar explained from the codes he remembered. "You may remove the barrier."

"Hold on!" Wendy implored.

"It's alright." Jellal said. "I will not resist arrest…please forgive me Wendy. I wish I could remember you, I'm sorry that I cannot."

Carla stepped forward. "When she was lost and alone, you took her in."

Jellal looked on with a pause. "Did I? I may never know the harm I may have inflicted in the past, but at least I knew I helped one person."

Nic looked back at Erza, seeing the sadness that was on her face said it all. Nic was slightly in shock as to what expression he read, but it was clear that Erza didn't want Jellal gone. Erza looked down at the ground and she was upset to say the very least, that was scratching the surface. Nic saw the sadness in her eyes, her brown eyes said everything; Jellal means so much to her now that he's back.

Something in Nic tugged at him, as if an impulsive thought ran through his head, yelling at him to make Erza happy by keeping Jellal here with them…but another half said that it was wrong, like the good and bad of a human being.

Nic looked back to see Jellal looking at him and Erza. Jellal spoke. "Erza, I won't ever forget your kindness." He then turned and allowed the Rune Knights to take him. Erza closed her eyes and she winced in despair, to which made Nic's heart tug even more.

'Nic.' Nic told himself. 'What the hell are you doing? Why are you just standing there, go and get Jellal!'

'But he made Erza cry…'

'He made amends! Just look at her!...Erza needs Jellal!'

'This wouldn't be fair!'

'Fair to who? Yourself!?'

'But…I…'

'Forget that! Erza needs Jellal more than you know! They were separated and now they're being pulled away again!'

'...This hurts!'

'Don't be selfish! Do it for Erza! If she cares more about Jellal…then so be it.'

Erza remained still as she clenched her fists. 'I can't let this happen. It's not right, it's not fair. All these years, he was sleepwalking through darkness and now he's seen the light!'

"Any more words?" Lahar asked as Jellal passed by him.

"…no." He answered.

"You'll get at least a life sentence if you're lucky. At any rate, you'll never see these people again." Lahar said, everyone looking on as Jellal was walking closer towards the carriage.

Wendy started to tear up. "He's gone."

Jellal was ten feet from the carriage, and Erza was more desperate than anyone else. "I can't let him go-."

"DON'T YOU DARE TAKE HIM AWAY!" Nic hollered with him and Natsu both punching Rune Knights out of the blue, shocking Erza tremendously and Jellal stopped to turn back in shock. Everyone was in deep surprise as Natsu and Nic repeatedly bashed Rune Knights as they tried to gain up on them, but the Dragon Slayer and Nic both easily used melee combat and Nic bashed repeatedly against all of the numbers.

"He's one of us!" Nastu shouted, shocking Jellal. "And that means he comes with us!" Erza's pupils shrunk in surprise.

"Erza needs you Jellal! Don't let her be!" Nic shouted, kicking with great force against a Rune Knight and sending him into others. "She needs you…more than any of us!"

Erza gasped that Nic had just said that. 'N-Nic…' Her heart just pulsed

"Stop them now!" Lahar commanded, the Rune Knights running towards Nic and Natsu. The Rune Knights were coming and Nic and Natsu bashed repeatedly, and eventually Gray joined in the ruckus.

"Keep going guys!" Gray shouted as he blocked us Rune Knights and punched them. "There's no way you guys can stop us! This is wrong anyway! Jellal helped stop Nirvana! He just saved a whole bunch of people!"

Jura punched a palm. "You'd punish him for his sins, yet chose not to reward him for his good deeds?!" He was prepared to fight as well as Rune Knights advanced.

Ichiya joined in and punched guys with his muscular body. "It pains me, but if you take him away, it'll hurt Erza more!"

Lucy was swiping away cowardly, unintentionally hitting Rune Knights. "Hey, I can't see who I'm hitting so I'm innocent, right?"

Sophie was joining in as well. "Stop this! Jellal deserves a chance!"

"Erza needs you! She did it all for you!" Nic shouted as he was bashing victoriously. Jellal was looking down as his new comrades were fighting for his freedom. "You're one of us now!"

Erza had a shadow over her eyes as she was lost and her heart raced. '…Nic…Jellal…'

"Arrest them all for obstruction of justice!" Lahar shouted.

More and more Rune Knights were coming and Nic and everyone kept fighting. Erza showed her teeth and she was choking. She couldn't bear this anymore. She wanted Jellal to stay, but she couldn't bear to see everyone fighting for his freedom. Seeing and hearing Nic yelling for the demand of Jellal's freedom tore her up, and then she finally snapped.

"STOP!" Her voice echoed coldly, making everyone freeze in place, her hair leaving a black shadow over her eyes. Everyone turned to see that Erza was putting a halt to this. She then spoke. "I apologize for this disturbance. It's gone too far. I am accountable. Now please…take him away."

Jellal paused and then he looked back down at the ground with a grin.

"But why?!" Natsu shouted.

"Sit down!" Erza demanded coldly, to which Natsu obediently did like a dog.

"Erza! The heck is wrong with you?! You need him!" Nic yelled.

"Enough Nic!" She yelled.

"NO!" Nic retorted coldly, making Erza step back in shock. "Don't you get it?! I nor anyone can bear the pain you would endure with Jellal gone! We're doing this for you both!"

Erza looked down at the ground. "Nic…"

"Nic." Jellal called, making Erza and Nic alike both turn towards Jellal. "It's alright. She has you guys. It's true that she cares about me, but she has others that are bigger priorities, and she should see that as well." He smiled. Erza was left speechless as Jellal turned away. The Rune Knights continued to walk him back towards the carriage.

Jellal then stopped as he had some realization. "I remember…" He turned his head back around and towards her. "It's the color of your hair."

A light wind blew as Erza was frozen. Jellal had remembered. Jellal then finally stepped into the carriage with his back turned. "Take care old friend." And with that, Jellal's image was gone and into the darkness of the carriage.

Erza's eyes were fixated on the last image of Jellal and when he left. Everyone looked on hopelessly as the winds blew and the Rune Knights left and Erza was left standing still, her lip quivering.

Everyone looked in sadness, but Nic felt like a failure. 'Erza…'

Erza then walked off to find peace of mind.

---

At daybreak…

A few brief hours rolled by rather quickly and everyone sat around dejectedly, still upset about earlier.

"Hey you guys, does anybody happen to know where Erza went?" Wendy asked.

Natsu grumbled as he stared up at the sky.

Lucy answered with sadness. "She just needs to be alone for awhile."

Sophie sat around dejectedly, knowing someone else whose presence wasn't exactly cared for. 'She wasn't the only who needed to be alone.'

---

Somewhere close by…

As the sun began to rise, Erza had her head on her knees against a rock perched high on a cliff, clenching both her arms and a shadow still cascaded over her eyes.

Out of sight, Nic leaned against a rock, seeing Erza in depression. He was as quiet as they came, so she had no idea he was there.

Nic looked on in sadness as he was in his new Mind Plate Form, trying to understand the pain Erza was going through. His sleeveless coat was black still, but the entire coat had nine pink circles, three rows for three circles, with smaller circles in them, like targets or ripples. He had on black shoes with pink lining. He also sported a dark pink T-shirt and cream-colored pants. His sunglasses were also framed with dark pink.

Nic looked on, and using his mental powers provided by the Mind Plate, he saw through Erza's thoughts, which was a flashback.

"My name is Jellal Fernandes." A young Jellal in the tower said.

Wally raised a brow. "That's a tough one."

Jellal didn't mind. "Yours won't be a problem, Wally Buchanan." He then turned towards Erza. "And what about you?"

Erza smiled and looked at the ground. "Just Erza, that's all I got."

Jellal blinked. "Well you need a last name." He then felt Erza's hair, surprising her. "Ohh." He marveled.

Erza shook him off. "What's the big idea?!"

"Your hair is pretty is all."Jellal answered, making Erza blush. "I got it! How about we make your last name Scarlet?"

Wally wasn't that moved. "You can't just make up a last name on the spot."

Erza looked away. "I-I like that a lot." She praised. "So now, I'll be Erza Scarlet."

There were no words to describe this feeling Erza had that Nic was sensing. It was unspeakable. She was hurt really bad, and worst of all, it was hurting mostly in her heart. If Nic could gasp right now, he might if not for Erza being there.

Nic had no idea Jellal meant that much. He felt as though he did more than fail, he felt as though he had nothing to give, not that he had anything to begin with. It was obvious now that Erza loved Jellal, and Nic's head turned down at the ground.

His eyes never left Erza as she started to show streams of tears. She was so broken and depressed losing her childhood friend that she finally had enough and she let it all out. "Jellal." She muttered. She started to cry immensely and bawled. Her mouth was open as she let it all out and bawled nonstop.

Nic felt some small tears swelling up in him as well. Without a single sound, he departed the somber scene and he escaped the madness. Nic quietly made it far into the forest, far away from Erza's crying and far away so that the group wouldn't hear. He shifted back into himself and without warning started punching a tree. Nic punched repeatedly to no end, furiously letting out his own frustration.

Nic kept going for awhile until the frustration had ceased the violent part and he had a fist imbedded into the tree trunk, his fist bruised from nonstop punching. A tear streamed down his cheek.

Nic was in pain. His body was shaking as he couldn't make his fist leave the tree. Another stream of tears went down his face. Nic's heart was hurt, not just from seeing Erza cry far worse than last time, but he felt as though he didn't deserve someone who loved another person, not that they were together anyway.

Still, Nic harbored feelings for her, and it pained him to a huge degree. He felt hollow and a failure for not keeping Jellal with Erza. He rested his head against the trunk, silently weeping at the turbulence going on inside of him.

---

Later, in Cait Shelter…

The Allied Forces were in front of the entire Cait Shelter. Most of everyone was wearing clothing in honor of Cait Shelter, though the ones who wore their own attires was, the Trimens, Ichiya, and Nic. Not that Nic was disrespectful, but he was in no mood.

Nic looked over and saw that Era was no less upset. She may or may not had taken a bigger blow than him. Even with this joyous occasion, she wasn't looking happy. Nic couldn't even look at her in the eyes.

Roubaul and all of Cait Shelter gathered. "Fairy Tail. Blue Pegasus. Lamia Scale. And Wendy and Carla. You have saved our village from Nirvana's wrath." He said. "Speaking as a representative of our guild, I, Roubaul, give you my gratitude." He bowed forward to them. "We are in your debt."

"Men!" Ichiya proclaimed. "We were happy to help you, Master Roubaul! Though quite the long battle it was, we have won! Through the darkness shined a light of friendship that had brought victory! Men!"" He posed nonstop with sparkles and the Trimens clapped for Ichiya.

"I suppose it's over now." Sherry said.

Jura laid a hand on both Sherry and Lyon's shoulders. "I am very proud of you both."

"Thank you sir." Lyon said.

"We deserve a victory arty!" Natsu proclaimed.

"Aye sir!" Happy shouted.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ichiya shouted. "Oh yes!" Everyone was pretty happy to want a party, except Erza still, and let's not forget Nic. The two looked on at everyone else. Erza seemed disinterested as she tried to take a small glance at Nic, but Nic kept looking away, hurt. Erza blinked and she looked back down and her heart pulled again. She remembered something Jellal said.

"I'm sure…" He started, making Erza blink and lose her frown. "You have plenty of people to care about." Erza remembered what he meant.

She also what Jellal also said. "Nic." Jellal called, making Erza and Nic alike both turn towards Jellal. "It's alright. She has you guys. It's true that she cares about me, but she has others that are bigger priorities, and she should see that as well."

True, Erza misses Jellal, but she also knows that people worry for her, and she did care for someone deeply, though she was still conflicted at the moment. She missed her dear friend, but she also knew a reason why her heart was tugging. She just looked back at the group that was happy.

"Is the Cait Shelter up to getting down?" Ichiya asked, but the entire, and I mean the entire village just had frowns and looked slightly dejected, almost immediately dying off the mood. Everyone froze and Wendy and Carla all looked back to see that even Roubaul was cascading a sad glance down at the ground.

Roubaul looked back up at the shocked group at their disappointment. "I'm truly sorry, I'm neglected to tell you of the Nirvit people. Please accept my sincere apology."

A long, long pause passed and someone tried to break it.

"It's alright Master." Wendy said sincerely. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

Roubaul sighed. "It's important. I ask that everyone listens closely." The atmosphere died to a low level, making it a more ominous and suspenseful feeling. "Listen to the tale I will tell…let me start off with something. The truth is that we are not descendants of the Nirvits."

Wendy jerked back in shock. "What?"

"…we are the Nirvits themselves. Four hundred years ago, Nirvana was created by my hands."

"By you?!" Lyon exclaimed.

"I don't believe it." Lucy said in shock.

"Four hundred years?" Sophie wondered.

Wendy stepped back in shock and had shaken eyes as Roubaul explained more. "I thought if I had made Nirvana reality, I could end the war. I would do so by changing the ambitions of those waving between light and darkness." His eyes narrowed. "We made our home there and prospered in a dark and shadowy world…however, it came at a horrific price. Nirvana didn't chase darkness, but absorbed it sort of speak."

Erza, Nic, and Wendy all looked on with surprise.

"With no light, there may be no darkness, without pros there are no cons, no purpose to be realized. Light is born from darkness and vice versa." Roubaul said.

"Yeah, that's what happened with us." Sophie said, remembering Sherry and Richard.

Roubaul continued. "All the evil, taken by those who were consumed in it was transferred to the Nirvits…it was hell." Roubaul remembered every detail of people slaughtering each other and killing each other off. "We slaughtered each other until no one was left standing." Everyone's mouths were gaped in horror, hearing this killing that went on.

"Though…I am the only survivor. Then again in this particular situation, survivor is misleading. In truth, my body ceased to function many years ago, what you see before you is just a projection of the man I once was."

Wendy's eyes had sharp pupils as a wind blew in ominous surprise as Roubaul was a projection this entire time.

"As punishment for my sins, this spirit that I am stood over watch for four hundred years, awaiting for Nirvana's destruction and relinquish it into history."

Roubaul paused and smiled after a long time. "…and now…I shall begone as Nirvana has been destroyed."

Everyone stood frozen as Roubaul announced his spirit will go away. Wendy clenched her fists and looked angry. "No, why didn't you tell me?" Erza saw the despair Wendy was feeling as well. The Fairy Queen gazed at the scene.

Roubaul closed his eyes and he sighed. Suddenly, his body looked wavy as though the projection was fading. He stood there as one member vanished behind him, followed by another, and then another, until people were starting to vanish left and right. Some were giving smiles as they saw Wendy one last time.

"What's happening?!" Wendy exclaimed in confusion. "Don't go!"

The members didn't answer, but they all smiled at her, glad for Wendy to have come this far. The members all then began to disappear forever.

Hibiki was wide-eyed. "Everyone's disappearing, right before our eyes!"

Wendy was starting to tear up. "W-Why are you doing this?! Please don't go!" Still, more smiling members disappeared.

Roubaul looked down at the ground. "I've deceived you Wendy; for that I am truly sorry. All your fellow guild members were illusions."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Natsu exclaimed in deep shock.

"Illusions with their own personalities?" Lyon questioned.

The illusions were almost gone, which left only Roubaul and a few others that were disappearing. Every single one of those people were gone. "For many years, I have lived in this deserted village alone, keeping an eye on Nirvana…until one day, a boy came with a young girl looking for help." Wendy gasped, realizing he meant Jellal. "His eyes burned with intensity and sincerity that I had no choice to take the girl in. I was to be in solitary existence, but there she was."

He remembered somberly as to how he gave Wendy a home. A family of Cait Shelter. He regretted doing this to her.

He continued. "I filled this village with illusions so she wouldn't be alone."

"S-So you created an entire guild just for Wendy?" Lucy asked in shock.

"NO ONE WAS A REAL PERSON?! HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO CRUEL TO ME MASTER?!" Wendy cried.

Roubaul kept a smile, despite Wendy's anguish. "Do not fret my dear. Calm down." As the last illusionary members vanished, he pointed at the Allied Forces. "You and Carla don't need imaginary friends. You're surrounded by real friends who care for you."

Nic's gaze at this spectacle was that of everyone, which was upsetting and mournful. First Erza, and now Wendy was losing someone.

Roubaul's body began to sparkle and he very slowly started to glow. Even in his last moments, he chuckled. He smile at Wendy as the young girl was crying nonstop as Roubaul was disappearing right before her eyes.

"A bright future awaits you child …" Roubaul's image then began to fade away.

Wendy ran as Roubaul was vanishing. "Master!" Everyone looked on despondently as Wendy lost her guild. Wendy was in the spot Roubaul was in as the last bit of light he was fluttering in the air.

His voice was heard in the wind. "To each and every one of you, I owe my deepest gratitude. I know I can leave Wendy and Carla in your hands…thank you…farewell…"

With that, the last light of Roubaul faded into nothing, leaving the man to rest in peace, his long task now finally over.

Wendy was on her knees as she was streaming tears to no end, everyone she knew was gone. Her Cait Shelter guild mark was disappearing on her right shoulder.

Wendy cried up to the sky. "MASTER!" Wendy broke down and cried while wiping her eyes to no end.

Everyone there looked on even more despondently than before. You could see the sorrow Ichiya, Lucy, and everyone felt for Wendy losing everything she held dear.

Everyone could only look on, with Nic looking upset, and he and everyone else went wide-eyed. Nic saw in surprise that Erza was kneeling behind Wendy and had a hand on the young girl's shoulder.

Erza kept her hand on Wendy's shoulder looking just as sad as anyone there. She remembered the last images of Jellal.

"I know all too well, the pain of losing someone you loved." Erza explained. "But you'll heal, we'll help you." Wendy turned around with tears in her eyes as Erza was comforting the poor thing. "Come with us, come to Fairy Tail."

Nic knew what she meant of someone who was loved, and he knew she meant Jellal. Nic's gaze lowered as he felt ever more torn up, seeing as how this will be much harder to fix for himself. Too many people lost one another today. Wendy lost her guild, and Erza and Jellal lost each other. Nic was left in question if Erza really had anything for him. All he could do was just watch as Erza comforted Wendy, with his heart damaged in all of its strings.

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Good news, I didn't get anxiety writing so much, probably since I knew where to stop. This was longer than I thought, so don't go hating me. I told you guys that these chapters would be insanely long in this Arc. Feeling sorry for Nic? Conflicted? Review if this chapter was good enough to give you the feels.

I should probably address something in regards to Nic's Legendary Arts. When Nic is not using Legendary Force, he's using Legendary Arts. When he's using Legendary Force, the Legendary Arts used are Maxus Legendary Arts, which are Legendary Arts at their most terrifying peak; furthermore, the Maxus Legendary Art has to match the Legendary Pokémon Nic is taking form of, get it?

Now that the Oracion Seis Arc is finally over, we can get back to normal length chapters! I have a plan for next chapter, and it'll be the small bridge that connects to the Edolas Arc.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys have enjoyed the battles and emotions I had set up and portrayed.

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Next Time: The Eyes of Satan