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.

40. Will of Fire

Chapter 40 – Will of Fire

Hello once again, loyal and faithful readers! Insane Dominator is bringing you yet another thrilling and exciting chapter of The Fairy Contender!

Has anybody watched the recent Fairy Tail episodes 80 and 81? I personally thought that the manga should've gone like the anime. Laxus added in was a nice touch, and major applause for Gajeel's development throughout the series and kicking behind too!

I made the OVA 2 remake, so check that out if interested. It's called Fairy Academy's Light. It's a remake of OVA 2 with Nic and friends involved. Hope you all enjoy and Favorite, Follow, & Review that story!

Get ready for a superheated chapter this time! Let's go!

To Recap:

The group made way through Route 17 briefly, making way towards Anistar City, where Nic met Diantha, who spilled the beans that Nic beat her and he declined the title of Champion. That night, Sophie played a trick and Erza and Nic got their own room in a hotel. Reflecting on recent events, Erza promised to protect Nic and slept with him that night. The next morning, Nic finally senses a portal and takes off through Route 18 towards Terminus Cave. There, Nic and the group find the portal guarded by Zygarde. Everyone had a slim chance, but Nic pulled through thanks to Arbok and Erza backing him up and defeated Zygarde, but barely. Despite his victory, the portal closed and the group were still stuck in Kalos. The group then resumed their journey as Zygarde was cleansed of his tainted energy that was Giratina's antimatter.

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Chapter 40 – Will of Fire

The group was currently taking a short break in a clearing in Route 19, just south of Couriway Town. They spent all day yesterday traveling through Route 18 south, and barely made it to Couriway Town. This time, Sophie didn't play her trick, which internally left Erza disappointed somewhat. The next morning, which was their current location, they left early to get on the road. They were having a quick breakfast as the sky was heavily cloudy, forecasting rain.

"Is anybody else feeling that there'll be a downpour?" Lisanna asked.

Nic swallowed as he leaned against a tree. "Most likely. This Route is more likely to have rain. Some Routes in Kalos are like that." The collected person with earbuds in his ears explained.

Wendy took a bite of a fruit and she turned towards Nic as she looked relaxed. "So you've traveled in all of the Routes in Kalos?"

Nic glanced towards Wendy. "Right. The normal Trainer would've made it to the Pokémon Center in a year, but I trained for two years before I took up the challenge." He paused as he looked up at the cloudy sky. "I'd spent a few weeks within each Route, adapting and training in the environment. I can't begin to tell you how we barely changed the landscape in a few places."

Lily turned towards Nic as he sat with Happy and Carla. "So you've spent the entire time to train and grow stronger physically?"

Nic nodded. "Right. Trainers have the responsibility to make sure that their Pokémon get quality training. The more battles they win, the more experienced they get. The same concept in their training."

Lily smirked. "Sounds interesting."

As everybody continued to converse, a lone Trainer yawned as he made way through the clearing some yards away. He had a simple light blue shirt and black pants, with gray shoes to accommodate the attire. He had a red backpack and brown hair, a common Trainer around these parts.

He took notice of the small group several yards away from him. "Huh?" He turned and saw several individuals and three cats, to which peeked him. "Hello?" He said curiously. He then made way towards the group.

"Heh? Looks like we got company." Gray said, looking over his shoulder. Gajeel, Natsu, and everyone looked with hidden shock as they saw the teen approach them. Immediately, Nic stood back up and he tried to keep his cool.

The kid approached them. "Whoa! There's a lot of people in one spot!" He stated, pointing out the obvious. He scanned them all, seeing as to how they varied. "This a first. Are you guys in a group?"

The group looked at each other and blinked in unison. This situation has gone from being catastrophic to pure awkward. They never expected to come across a Trainer this time around. They had to think of something fast. Fortunately for them, Nic had an idea up his sleeve.

"Yes. We're traveling as a group. We were just about finished and we were about to head out, right guys?" Nic said the last part slowly, as to lead the group on.

Lucy was startled, but she followed. "R-Right! Right!" She said. "We really don't have much time to lose and all."

Erza nodded. "We have somewhere to go. Sorry to have you at an inconvenience."

The kid waived them off. "N'aw don't worry. At least someone have a battle with me." He stated. Nic and Vanessa mentally scowled as they remembered the rule.

'I forgot about that rule.' Nic groaned.

'This isn't good.' Vanessa said.

Nic quickly stepped forward, and as he did, he glanced over at the gathered Exceeds and made a gesticulation to zip their mouths. Lily and the other two followed as Nic signaled and they remained still and quiet. Nic looked over at the kid and cleared his throat. "Very well, I'll follow the rule and battle you."

Sophie leaned over towards Vanessa. "Is there really such a rule?" She whispered.

Vanessa looked at Sophie and sulked. "I'm afraid there is. The rule is that when two Trainers make eye contact, they have to battle. No exceptions."

"That sucks. Looks like Nic managed to save our bacon." Gray muttered, adding into the whispering. Erza nodded in agreement and looked back at Nic.

The Trainer had a fist ready. "Alright! This will be a great warmup for the Snowbelle Gym!"

Nic folded his arms. "I see, so you have seven badges?"

The kid nodded. "Right! My eighth badge is just around the corner!" He then took notice of the Exceeds, how stood still as the kid took notice of their presence. "Whoa! Are those Pokémon?!"

Everyone there mentally gawked as this was very problematic now. They were in a very dangerous situation now that a Trainer saw the Exceeds.

"Uh…oh." Lucy muttered.

Wendy shivered. "Oh man, hope Nic can get us out of this one."

Gajeel crossed his arms and grunted. "Knowing Luminous, he's got some plan."

"He better, cause otherwise we're in trouble." Gray said.

Natsu narrowed his eyes as he looked at Gray. "Well we're in enough trouble already pal."

Gray's face twisted as he glanced over at Natsu. "I mean we'll be kept up longer. It's pretty obvious we're in enough trouble as we are already." He stated.

The two then turned towards the other and glared, ready to set off their respective auras. "You wanna lose a few teeth?!"

"You wanna lose some more of that burned brain of yours?!" Gray retorted. Before things could get out of hand, Erza bashed the two together, making them slump to the ground silently. Erza quietly glared at the fallen fire and ice duo, and then she glanced up back at the real dilemma at hand.

The Trainer went up at the stiff Exceeds as they mentally panicked. Happy failed to keep a straight face as she gaped and shuddered. Carla crossed her arms and kept her tongue shut, and Lily remained composed as the Trainer crouched and looked at the Exceeds at a closer distance.

"Mmmm…" Nic tried to think. "…yes, but they're not native from here."

The Trainer turned with curiosity. "Oh? Where are they from?"

If he wasn't so composed, he would've been gulping, but his time in Fiore made him a more serious individual who was able to handle situations without having the need to panic.

He quickly made up a scenario. "To be honest, we found them along the shores of Route 8. We don't know where they came from really." He lied. Everyone made a small sigh of relief as Nic made a cover-up.

"Oh." The Trainer said. "So they're not yours?"

Nic looked back at the worried Exceeds and quickly followed it up with another lie. "Oh, they're mine. They decided to follow me." He lied.

Lily gulped as he also tried to suppress any intention on harming anyone. Carla narrowed her eyes as she had to use every ounce of her willpower to suppress a growl at Nic's accusation. All Happy did to keep his mind calm was think of fish, in which it worked as he was beginning to drool.

Gajeel growled. "Luminous, that's my cat. When this is over…"

Erza looked at Gajeel. "Relax Gajeel. Nic's doing his best." She informed.

The Trainer got back up and turned towards Nic. "What are they?"

Nic tried to make it simple, and he pointed at the Exceeds individual. "Well, this one is Carla, that one is Happy, and the one right there is Panther Lily." He explained. "Since we don't know what they are, we just thought it'd be best to nickname them."

The Trainer nodded in understanding. "I see…" He then turned to look at the Exceeds once more, but much less suspicion. He then took a moment before glancing back at Nic. "About that battle…I wanna battle one of those three."

"EEHHH?!" The group exclaimed comically, Nic included. The Exceeds paled and turned white at the thought of fighting Pokémon. After their recent luck, Pokémon seemed a bit much for them. Although for Lily, this seemed like a challenge to him.

"You're joking, right?" Nic stammered.

The teen shook his head. "Nope. I wat to battle one of those things. Surely they're strong if you're here in Route 19." The Trainer persuaded. At this speculation, Nic saw that there wasn't much of a choice. He looked back at the Exceeds, seeing the worried looks on their faces, and he glanced back at the disturbed group behind him.

Nic turned back towards the Trainer and he maintained a frown. "Very well, I accept."

Everyone either gaped or looked with sheer astonishment that was accompanied by sweatdrops. They couldn't fathom the potential doom Nic was dragging the Exceeds into, but he really didn't have much of a choice, however the Trainer did say he wanted to battle one of them, and Nic realized he had an opportunity to think of a way out of this situation.

As the Trainer walked away to gain space for the battle, Nic went over and crouched down at the Exceeds, who were petrified or fuming, much like Carla.

"Are you out of your mind?! I thought you were the only sane one in Fairy Tail?!" Carla whispered harshly. "Now I realize your all lunatics!"

Happy shuddered. "I don't want to die in a fight against those things!"

Nic raised a brow. "Everybody calm down." Nic whispered. "I understand your protests, but I have to follow the rules of being a Trainer." He paused as he looked at them individually as they slowly calmed down. "Listen, he stated that only one of you will battle, and it's clear that Lily should have a chance."

Lily didn't gulp, but felt nervous. "Nic, are you sure about this?"

Nic let a low hum escape his throat as he picked up Lily. Nic got back up to his feet and turned his head as Gajeel scooted in front of him.

"I hope you know the consequences if my cat gets hurt out there Luminous!" Gajeel exclaimed, shaking intensively. "If my Lily gets pummeled out there, you're eating knuckle sandwiches for an early lunch!"

Nic remained composed, despite Gajeel's warning. "I'm aware Gajeel, however you must know that I'm a highly experienced Trainer. I won't underestimate Lily's abilities, and neither should you." With that, Nic walked towards another section of the clearing while holding Lily.

"Nic, I hope you realize that I don't know any of these so-called 'moves' these creatures use." Lily informed him.

Nic looked down at the Exceed in his arm. "I know, just follow my lead. That's all you have to do." Nic stopped and turned around, facing the Trainer that was roughly forty feet away. He set Lily down in front of him. "Alright, we're set."

Vanessa ran out between them. "The battle between these two Trainers shall now begin! Both side will use one, uh…Pokémon, each! The battle will be over when one side's…Pokémon is unable to battle!" She announced, feeling awkward when considering Lily a Pokémon. She had to play along so a snot to blow their cover.

The Trainer pulled out a poke ball. "Alright! Here we go! Roserade!" The Trainer shouted. He threw a poke ball, revealing a Pokémon that has a white head-top and a green masquerade mask over her red eyes. She had a leafy cape and blue and red bouquets for hands.

The Grass and Poison-Type posed. "(Let's be graceful in this battle.)"

Vanessa pulled out her Pokedex as she has never encountered a Roserade before. Everyone from the group listened as the Pokedex opened up and revealed the image of Roserade.

"Roserade, the Bouquet Pokémon. With the movements of a dancer, it strikes with whips that are densely lined with poison thorns."

Gray crossed his arms. "Looks like Lily is gonna have to be careful with this one."

"Gray, clothes." Sophie warned, and Gray saw that he didn't have his shirt and freaked out.

Gajeel looked on with a death-like aura. "Luminous…Lily better not get hurt…"

Nic looked on at the adversary before him. 'Roserade are primarily long-range fighters. Of all the opponents that Lily could fight…' Nic was kept out of his thoughts as he extended his arm out. "Very well. Go, Lily!" Nic and Lily couldn't begin to tell how awkward they felt, with Nic giving an Exceed an order, and on top of that, Lily wasn't Nic's to begin with.

Lily ran ahead a few feet and stood affirm in front of Nic, looking at his opponent from afar. He remained still as he saw the dainty yet serious look in his opponent's eyes. 'My adversary should be very adept to fighting others that are versatile. If I could, I would…'

"Lily." Nic said, pulling Lily out of his thoughts. "I do believe we should show him when you enter battle."

His signal rose suspicion as the opposing Trainer had a question mark on his head. "Heh?"

"Lily, your 'Ability'? Right?" Nic followed. It was taking some time, but soon enough, Lily finally caught and his eyes widened slightly. Nic glanced back up at the Trainer. "I should warn you that Lily's Ability enables him to transform when he's in battle."

The Trainer's eyes blinked. "L-Like Aegislash almost?" He stammered.

Nic grinned. "Right." Nic extended and arm out forwards. "Alright Lily, let's go!" With that, Lily played along and tensed up again, slight hesitation overcoming him.

'It seems rather bold to go into Battle Mode, but I guess these Pokémon have this special ability that Nic said.' The hesitation subsided, and Lily let a loose gulped down his throat as he glowed. Everyone there watched as Lily grew in size and was revealed to be in his Battle Mode.

The Trainer blinked repeatedly and gawked. "I…w-what?! It's Ability lets it change into that?!" He exclaimed. He had a little trouble comprehending what Lily transformed into, and his Roserade sweatdropped.

Nic calmly put his hands back into his pockets as he nodded. "Yes, that's when he battles. You want to proceed?"

Though hesitant at the situation, the Trainer sought this to be a great opportunity to get stronger. "Heck yes! Now let's go!"

Roserade spread her feet apart and readied for battle. "(Care to dance?)"

"COME ON LILY! YOU CAN BEAT THAT OVERGROWN DAISY!" Gajeel shouted, clearly taking 'his cat's' side.

"Well then…" Vanessa then brought her hand down in a chop and scooted away. "In that case, let the battle begin!"

The Trainer immediately took action. "Let's rock their boat!" He extended an arm out. "Roserade, Sleep Powder!" His command followed through and Roserade put her bouquets in front of her.

"(Let's take a nice slow dance to dreamland.)" She suggested softly with a smirk, and then released light green spores that clouded towards Lily.

Lily balled his fists as he awaited Nic's command, which came rather fast. "Lily quick, leap back and dodge!" Nic's command was forceful, as was his previous battles with Zetta and Zygarde when he used Arbok. Lily followed the command and grunted as he used his lean legs and jumped back several feet, evading the cloud of light green spores that son dispersed from where Lily originally stood.

'Given by the name, I would've been put into slumber if I were to have inhaled that.' Lily thought, analyzing the move used and got his feet closer under him. He stood affirm as Nic then extended his arm out.

"Lily, get in close!" Nic commanded. Lily then started running ahead towards Roserade, shortening the distance between the two.

The Trainer moved his arm in an arc. "Oh no you don't! Roserade, Venoshock!" Roserade did as told and aimed carefully at Lily and she aimed her right bouquet and gushed out a green blob that went shooting through the air towards him. Lily expertly shifted left and evaded the incoming attack and pushed onwards towards Roserade.

"YEAH! THAT'S MY LILY FOR YA!" Gajeel shouted.

Lucy looked on, startled and feeling awkward with Gajeel cheering for his Exceed. "Eh, don't you think you're a little excited?"

Lily continued his dash and was now two feet in front of his opponent. "Use Slam!" Nic commanded. Lily used his quick military interpretation skills to quickly understand how Slam worked. By Slam, he thought Nic meant slam Roserade into the earth, in which he tried to do. Lily grabbed Roserade, raised her high, and with all his might, he threw her into the earth below, making dust fly and a crash sound erupted.

Nic grinned as Lily performed Slam perfectly. "Nice job Lily!"

Lily looked back and grinned. 'Looks like I performed it right after all'

Everyone looked on with glee and some of the girls clasped their hands together as Lily dealt some damage to the opponent. They all didn't realize Lily was that forceful in his attacks, well, except Gajeel. He looked with a triumphant smirk as Lily had dealt the first blow. "That's my Lily! Slam it some more!"

Erza looked over at Gajeel with a cold stare. "Be quiet!" And that made Gajeel acquiescently comply.

The Trainer grunted as his Roserade got back to her feet. Despite the appearance of Panther Lily, he shouldn't have underestimated him. "That was good." He admitted. "Now try this!" He moved his arm in an arc. "Venoshock! Keep it from being still!"

Roserade smirked and she aimed her bouquets at Lily. "(Let's see how quick you are on your feet.)" She then fired consecutively at Lily's feet, forcing him to jerk and jump away in various direction so as not to take damage.

As Lily tried to shift in one direction, Venoshock continued to gush away and he had to go the opposite direction, and he would have no room to make a counterattack. He grunted. 'This long-range style is keeping me away. I won't last too long now in this form. I gotta get in close somehow.'

Nic came to the rescue. "Lily! Tumble forwards and use Mega Punch!" Nic shouted. Lily ceased his movements and he ducked, evading the green glob that went over his head. He lunged forward and tumbled forwards towards Roserade. Before Roserade could douse Lily, the black Exceed got to his feet as he rolled forward and reeled a fist back and rushed it ahead of him. Lily's fist collided with Roserade's face, and there was a ripple that surged in the air as Lily thrust his fist once more, the force finally shooting Roserade back several yards, eventually coming to a skidding thud and flipped, landing on her abdomen with a loud thud.

The Trainer looked with shock. "Roserade!" He shouted. He then grunted. 'I didn't expect it to be so agile.'

Roserade managed to get to her feet as she winced. She huffed as those two attacks were quite strong. "(You really are…light on…your feet.)" She said in between her steady breathing.

Lily grinned as he was actually finding battling amusing, despite having to take orders constantly. He was able to overlook this as long as he wins. Nic kept his calm and serious demeanor plastered on his face as he saw Roserade stand back up.

He extended his arm out. "Use Slam!" Nic shouted. Lily crouched and got into runner's position and he began a sprint towards Roserade as the latter's eyes shot open.

The Trainer smirked. "Oh no you don't! Giga Drain!" Roserade's bouquets glowed light green and streams of thorn vine-like energy emerged from underneath the bouquets and the various wine energy converged in front of Lily. Lily leaped right, dodging one stream that crashed into the earth, then leaped left and shifted even more left to avoid even more incoming threads.

"In front of you!" Nic warned. Lily looked ahead and fell short on luck when a thread darted and coiled around his abdomen, wrapping around him as he was caught off guard. Roserade smirked as she snared Lily and the Exceed struggled as the energy wrapped his abdomen and his arm were then wrapped individually by the other light green vine threads.

"Oh no!" Lisanna exclaimed.

"Is he okay?" Wendy asked.

Gajeel fumed as Lily had taken a hit and his death-like aura came back. "WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?! YOU LET LILY TAKE A HIT LUMINOUS!" He shouted and gritted his teeth.

Vanessa looked on at the battle with slight worry on her face. "Giga Drain is a move that drains the target's energy and transfers it back to the user. Roserade is healing the damage she lost." She explained.

"Is that even fair?!" Natsu exclaimed, to which Vanessa nodded.

Nic grunted as Lily was temporarily immobile due to Giga Drain. He had to find a way out and fast. Lily, on the other hand, felt his energy being sapped and he was beginning to feel tired already. He didn't take into account that certain moves could drain his energy and restore the user. Lily mentally cursed as he let his guard down.

"Petal Dance!" The Trainer shouted. Roserade let go and receded her Giga Drain tendrils from Lily, making him feel the ground under him again and he grunted once more. Roserade jumped and let loose a battlecry as she spun like crazy and shining pink petals stormed and raged about in a wide area that struck Lily once again. The Exceed had to keep back a scream as he had to refrain from talking. All he could do was cover up as he was swallowed by the Petal Dance.

"Hurry! Get out of there!" Lucy shouted.

Gray crossed his arms. "That attack has Lily trapped again. He needs to hurry up before time runs out." He explained.

Gajeel's eyes twitched to no end. "Luminous…I will make you eat iron…"

"Are you doubting Nic Pularis?" Erza glared heavily behind Gajeel, making him freeze as to not invoke her wrath. Gajeel turned back towards Erza. "Nic can get Lily out of this. We just need to have faith in him."

Gajeel kept his mouth shut as he clenched his fists and watched as Lily was being shoved back inch-by-inch backwards and saw Nic narrowing his eyes.

'Curses. Lily's at a disadvantage now.' Nic thought, seeing Lily get pushed back by Petal Dance as Roserade kept up the attack. Nic remembered that Petal Dance had a limit, and he needed to wait just until the right moment. Once Petal Dance stops, he had to strike.

Lily endured it with like it was nothing, but he had to admit the attack was persistent and quite fierce. 'I remember Nic's counterpart's Charizard was far stronger in offense and defense. This should be no problem.' Lily encouraged himself, which made him cease skidding back as he grunted and then slowly leap ahead as he had his arms covering him.

The Trainer was surprised that Lily was charging through the Petal Dance. "What?! But Petal Dance is a really strong Grass-Type move!" He shouted. Lily continued to dart with as much force as he could muster. He was beginning to feel as though he was overpowering the Petal Dance, and he was lucky as Roserade started slowing down, meaning Petal Dance was coming to an end.

Nic extended his arm out. "Lily! Charge right through and use Double Hit!" Lily narrowed his eyes as he processed the move. As in Double Hit, he meant hit it twice, so he would follow those guidelines.

Lily saw that Roserade's Petal Dance stopped at last and he uncovered himself as he saw Roserade in a dizzy and dazed state.

"Roserade! Look out!" The Trainer shouted, but it went unanswered as Roserade stumbled and Lily unleashed an elbow into Roserade's face, making Roserdae gag and Lily followed it up with a sideways chop, in which Roserade skid back several feet and bent a knee in pain.

The Trainer looked surprised. "Just how strong is that thing?" He muttered. He looked and saw that Roserade was slowly getting back up, but was very wobbly from her confusion.

Nic narrowed his eyes. "I have to make this quick." He said. "Now! Finish with Close Combat!" He shouted.

'I guess I cut loose on all the punches here. Here I go!' Lily charged and stopped in front of Roserade and then unleashed an endless sorts of punches and chops and a few knee strikes as he went lose on all of his fighting tactics, with Roserade being defenseless.

"Roserade!" The Trainer shouted and Lily gave it one big uppercut as he finished up his Close Combat. Lily's position remained still as he looked on with a glare as Roserade sailed in the air everyone watched in amazement as Lily expertly, not to mention boldly, handled that Petal Dance and finishing it off with 'Double Hit' and 'Close Combat'. Gajeel just smirked in glee as Lily took the situation like the bold and aggressive fighter he was.

Roserade landed with a thud on her back, making dust fly as a crash sound was heard. The Trainer looked with disbelief as one of his strongest Pokémon was dealt with damage in such a rapid succession. When the dust cleared, Lily eased himself when Roserade was spotted fainted on the ground.

Vanessa finally called it. "Roserade is unable to battle, Lily is the winner! The match goes to Nic!" She announced. After she called it, Lily turned into a puff of smoke and he was found reverted back to his little size and landed on his feet. Aside from one or two scratches on his body, he was fine.

The group ran up to Nic and Lily, congratulating him and giving him pats on the back. They were relieved that Nic managed to pull off a win.

"That was awesome!" "That's my cat alright!" "You improvised so well!" Various praises were given and Nic just remained collected as he was bombarded with comments that made him half-grin.

The Exceeds gathered, and conversed really quietly so the Trainer wouldn't hear them, though he was occupied with coping that a black cat defeated his Roserade. Happy was the first to act as he looked excited. "That was awesome Lily!"

Carla had hands to her hips. "I must say, you improvised really well."

"Thanks…although…" Lily sweatdropped. "I felt degrading."

Carla looked away, with absolute zero worry. "You were fine. Honestly, just be glad Nic was able to cover up this dilemma."

"Aye sir!" Happy said.

The Exceeds' conversation was kept low as the Trainer's Roserade was returned and the dilemma was solved. There really wasn't much that happened after that. The Trainer commented how strong Lily was, which made Gajeel put on a triumphant smirk, and some comments were shared and the Trainer was off, and Nic and his group went off in their own direction as well.

---

Later…

Gray had hands in his pockets and looked at Nic. "Anything?"

Nic's Plates didn't react to anything, as they weren't anywhere close to a portal. Nic looked down at the ground. "No. Nothing so far."

Gajeel grumbled. "Better find something soon. After seeing that battle, I'm itching to get some action."

Natsu pumped a fist as he walked. "Yeah! I'm fired up for a real battle!"

Nic turned back towards Natsu. "You are not going to get into a clumsy fight!" He shouted. "Remember the other day?"

"Ehhh…" Natsu remembered full well the avalanche he started and the painful things when they got out of the snowy valley.

Nic narrowed his eyes. "Do that again, and Erza and I will make it so you won't move for a week." He warned distastefully, not fond as to how Natsu's behavior got the Dragon Slayer into messes that somebody else had to fix.

Lisanna sighed. "Oh dear, somebody never lear…" She stopped and her senses picked up something. "Hmm?" Lisanna looked over to her right to where she saw some large pink flowers, but beyond that were trees.

"Is there something wrong?" Erza asked. She and everyone else stopped and turned towards her, where she was still looking curiously towards her right.

"I'm not sure, but…" Her eyes could tell that she was uneasy. "I think there's something close by." She trailed off as everyone could see some slight rustling among the flowers.

For some odd reason, Nic felt an incinerating feeling deep inside of him. He looked distracted as he could feel this malevolent feeling. It was very faint, but if he could sense it, it must mean it's in this Route. 'This feeling, it's like from before…very weak but…'

A wild groan was heard from within the tall flowers and the group tensed up and Erza requipped a sword as a precaution. Everyone saw the flowers spread apart as something big began to crawl towards them. Nic got into a fighting stance.

The creature slowly came out of the flowers, but it was unlike anything anyone could have ever guessed. The site horrified them.

There a giant scorpion with claws and pincers. The arms were connected to the head, and segments were either purple of dark purple. Aside from the coloration, it was something more disturbing than its actual presence. The entire body was charred, and parts of the armor were burned or were raw. It looked as though it had jumped into a volcano or was cooked alive.

Nic's eyes widened as a gasp escaped his mouth. The girls had hands over their mouths at the horrific site as they never saw anything so shocking…that wasn't Nic's bloody torture a few days back of course.

"Oh my god! What happened?!" Vanessa shrieked. She was trembling as she never saw a Pokémon so damaged that it could still be alive. Seeing the raw arts on the giant scorpion made her pale.

Lisanna looked frightened. "Oh dear…"

The wild creature saw the group and was heaving as he could barely go on. "(You…help me…please…)" He begged before falling forwards and twitching.

Nic and a few others rushed ahead while Natsu crossed his arms and pondered. "You know, I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I don't think it's supposed to look like that." He said flat.

"Ya think?! You really are a dunce!" Gajeel exclaimed.

Happy looked at the twitching scorpion from a close distance as he was uneasy. "Is it gonna be alright?"

Nic looked and examined the body from tail to head. It looked terrible. "This is bad." He said. "This is beyond comprehension. There's no Fire-Type move that could incinerate a Pokémon like this. Whatever it was, it wasn't normal fire." He explained.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know." Sophie shook her head, seeing the scorpion twitching nonstop and barely breathing.

Vanessa gulped as she analyzed the giant scorpion. She looked on as the screen showed the scorpion's picture when it wasn't incinerated or charred.

"Drapion the Ogre Scorpion Pokémon. It takes great pride in its strength. Even though it can tear foes apart, it finishes them off with powerful poison."

Vanessa put her device away and she crouched down towards the aching Drapion, hanging on to dear life. "(My body. It's like…I'm melting…)" The charred Drapion wheezed.

Nic looked down at Drapion's face. "What happened?!" He exclaimed with concern.

Drapion's weak eyes looked at Nic, noticing the very cloudy sky above as well. "(Humans…save yourselves…the flying monster…will burn you from the inside…)" He warned.

Lisanna looked concerned, almost misty in the eyes as an animal was starting to die. "Is there any way we can save him?"

Nic clenched his fists and grunted as he looked frustrated. "…I don't know." He looked out towards the trees and the area to his right. "For all we know, we might end up like him given his warning."

"We can't leave him to die!" Lisanna shouted, making Drapion glance up towards Lisanna. "He's a living being! We can't just move on while he slowly burns!"

"Lisanna, calm down." Erza insisted. "We know how you feel. We won't leave him until we find a solution."

"(…young girl…)" Drapion slowly moved his raw pincer close to Lisanna, where she gasped as Drapion was reaching out to her. "(You really do care…I can see it in your eyes…thank you…)"

Lisanna was beginning to breakdown as she crumbled whenever an animal would die in front of her, and Wendy looked on, about to breakdown from the site too. "I have to find a way…I have to…!" Lisanna was then struck with an epiphany and she jerked up, getting everyone's attention.

"What?" Vanessa asked.

Lisanna turned towards the group with her misty eyes mixed with determination. "Guys, I could use my Take Over! That should save him!"

"Your Take Over? Will that really save him?" Lucy asked.

Natsu came to a realization. "Oh yeah! Lisanna's Take Over is Animal Soul! She can absorb that thing and save it!"

Nic and everyone stepped back as Lisanna got to her knees in front of Drapion. "Listen to me. I can save you. I can use my powers and keep you from dying!" She persuaded. "You can keep living, but your body is in my control. Are you okay with it?"

Drapion could barely speak, and a whole minute passed before he gave an answer with a small grin. "(Yes…bless you child.)" He agreed.

Lisanna gulped and grinned. "Okay then!" She put her hands in front and touched Drapion's charred head, which stung him greatly. "Just hang on! Take Over!"

Drapion looked on without any second thought. He saw that this child wanted to save him, though if a couple minutes passed, he would be dead. He could live on thanks to the child and he grinned as his body glowed. "(…thank you…)"

Everyone saw that within a matter of minutes, Drapion's body was consumed in sheer light and they all watched as his body disappear and Lisanna's hands glowed and returned to normal, and the white-haired Mage sighed in upmost relief.

"I did it. He's safe." She said, to which the group smiled.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Wendy asked, concerned.

Lisanna nodded. "Don't worry, he's fine. He just can't have his body is all. Though I do hope his powers aren't too frightening." She smiled nervously.

Nic looked with a half-grin. "Drapion are great with close range combat. You got a tough Take Over." He continued to half-grin as he looked over the area, but his expression faded into one of worry as the incinerating feeling lingered about and actually expanded a little. 'This foul feeling. I can't shake it. It's like Drapion said. We gotta move.'

'(…)' Nic's eyes narrowed as he had a very uneasy feeling that something massive was gonna come their way, so he had to get the group moving as quick as possible.

Nic then turned towards the group. "Guys, we gotta move. I don't think it's wise to stay in this place for too long. I got a bad feeling."

Everyone turned towards him as he started for west. Natsu intervened. "Hold up. You're saying that that thing the scorpion warned us about is still out there?" Natsu asked.

Nic stopped and a small breeze flew by. "I'm not certain, but whatever the case may be, we have to stay sharp." On that note, the group pressed on as they were uneasy as they saw the clouds overhead darken and the areas that were beyond their sight was uneasy. As they traveled, Nic's burning feeling escalated. The energy slowly increased the more they got closer to the valley, where the massive swamp was below them.

Everyone looked down over the edge, where they saw the swamp water below. Before them was a big bridge that stretched for the longest time.

"Should we cross?" Happy asked.

Lily started walking. "It seems to be our only option at this time." Lily and everyone made haste as the group went across.

Nic continued to feel the heat burn. '(…)' This feeling as though he was being watched escalated even more, and he was actually starting to get hot. '(…The fire shall burn your soul.)'

Nic stopped in place and looked distraught. He tensed up as this level of foul energy continued to boil. Everyone was beginning to catch on as they felt the temperature increase a little, and this energy that Nic sensed is finally starting to come about.

Lucy was feeling uneasy. "Uh, guys? Anyone feeling hot?"

Erza looked around, the energy looming about as she still had her sword out. "I know, I feel rather hot as well."

"Yeah…hot for Nic." Sophie muttered and she and Vanessa turned towards the other and suppressed giggles.

Erza whipped her head back. "Did you say something about me?" She threatened.

"Nothing!" The two females squealed in unison.

Natsu's nose twitched and a foul energy stuffed his nose. Immediately, he balled his fists. "Guys, you feel that?"

Gajeel gritted his teeth. "Yeah, it's just as strong as before, and it's growing, meaning it's coming to us."

Gray looked up at sky. "I'm not liking where this is heading. Whatever's coming, this feeling given off by it is pretty hot."

Wendy looked about with concern. "Guys, the energy is getting stronger by the second!"

"Nic?" Vanessa looked to see her brother looking up into the sky as the temperature increased, and their skins crawled from the negative energy given off. She was having a bad feeling. Just as bad as the others, but Nic seemed to have the worst of it.

Nic remained still as he had to restrain from twitching. His insides felt hotter than ever. The foul energy given off was ringing like a bell. '(The skies shall rain down and burn you from where you stand.)' The same ominous voice ranged in Nic's head. '(Glorious red shall be wallowed in flames of Hell.)'

Nic narrowed his eyes as everyone could feel the energy at its peak, and then they saw something high within the cloudy sky. Everyone's heads turned upwards as they saw something purple clouded up in the atmosphere above.

"It's here." Natsu said. Everyone remained still as they felt the foul energy from the bridge they were on. From above, they then heard a loud cry that echoed about within the air, and the clouds from around burst out of the way, leaving a hole in the clouds and everyone saw the foul flaming creature.

Vanessa's eyes were shaken. "No way…is that even right?" She muttered as she saw the massive avian flapping in the air.

The large bird had blue feathers, and the fire on the wings and head was purple. The avian let loose another cry as it took sight of Nic and the others. From her position, she saw Nic down below, and her blood red pupils were fixated on him.

In a few moments, the large avian swooped down from the skies, the flapping causing heated currents to fly about, the heat waves actually making the ropes on the bridge sizzle, and nearby grass burn and incinerate like that. Everyone covered up as they felt their skin (and armor) become hot and they all watched as the tainted avian descend until it was fifty feet high above them.

The bird gave off purple embers that spread about and eventually made the ropes of the wooden bridge catch ablaze. Seeing as how the bridge was bound to catch fire everywhere else, Nic looked forward. "Everyone to the other side! Hurry!" He ordered.

"Right!" Everyone made haste with as much speed as possible as the flying avian watched Nic and the group run.

She narrowed her eyes. "(No turning back for you humans!)" The wings on her glowed light blue and then an Air Slash was unleashed. Massive light blue and heavily jagged sawblades showered down behind the group, bombarding and slicing right through the bridge behind them. The force making Wendy and Vanessa trip, but they got back to their feet quick and made way across, where the avian watched and saw Nic and the group make it across the bridge at last, just as the bridge finally burned and shattered when the flames snapped every bridge rope and the Air Slash destroyed the midsection, the entire bridge fell down below, into the messy swamp below.

Nic watched with awe as the beast only had to flap and use a mere Air Slash and she wasn't even trying. "The entire bridge…"

"…it's gone. Just like that." Lisanna finished.

Sophie looked on with sheer surprise. "If that thing didn't even try that time, then we're in for a hard fight guys." She warned.

The avian flapped in front of the group over the cliff, watching them from above and her purple flames sparkling and burning the air around her. "(I am Moltres, the Flame Pokémon.)" She said. "(My flames shall burn through your hearts and souls!)" She then screeched, piercing everyone's ears and made them grunt.

Nic uncovered as soon as the noise dialed down and he looked up at Moltres, whose dark flames were making the temperature boil. "So you're the one who's emanating this foul fire."

Moltres was unmoved. "(Those who I see I scorch with my flames. All life that I see must be burnt and wither into nothing.)"

"Hold on…" Nic couldn't help but feel the energy resemblance back to Zygarde, but the primary epiphany he realized was that Drapion barely managed to survive Moltres when they met. Which meant that those who were close in proximity to Drapion were…

Nic clenched his two fists. "Damn you. You're gonna pay!" Nic then shifted into his Splash Plate Form and everyone looked set to battle for the most part.

Ntsu had set a fist on fire. "Oh yeah! I'm all fired up now!" He declared.

Erza pointed a sword at Moltres. "You scoundrel! We won't stand for you hurting innocent lives!"

Moltres just flapped in the air. "(Oh? Just try and stop me.)" Moltres flapped a little more and escalate several feet higher than before.

Gray readied an attack. "Let's put this giant rubber chicken on ice! Ice-Make: Lance!" Gray unleashed his lances made of ice, which shot through the air towards Moltres. Gray was certain that his attack would hit as long as Moltres didn't move, which she did, but remained still, as if anticipating the attack.

Moltres kept flapping in the air as the temperature given off from the tainted flames surged through the air and the Ice-Make: Lance evaporated into thin air before it could reach the giant avian.

"You're kidding! That didn't even touch it!" Gray shouted in shock.

Sophie had a finger pointed to her head. "Then let's see how this one fares with its own element! Memory-Make: Pyro Saucer!" From a chain of memories, Sophie let loose multiple sawblades made of fire that went towards Moltres. The attack sliced through the air and made contact with Moltres, but little to nothing happened. The saucers were like puff shots to Moltres as she didn't even have a scratch.

Sophie grunted and Natsu stepped forwards. "Alright then, looks like it's my turn!" He then inhaled. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu unleashed a torrent of fire that shot like a rocket towards Moltres. Moltres looked to see the vast fire storming and she made her wings flap harshly, slowing down the fire stream and making it go off in various directions around her.

"No way." "Even Salamander's flames couldn't do anything?!" "This guy ain't messing around!" The group was uneasy as Moltres hadn't even attacked them yet. They were wasting their Magic and Nic inhaled.

"I'll handle this!" He shouted. He then felt a massive amount of water surge from within him. "Brine!" Nic unleashed saltwater that went towards Moltres, whose eyes narrowed and she remained composed as the Brine was coming close. The Brine began evaporating, but Nic pulled through and kept it at a steady pressure. Ultimately, the weakened Brine landed a hit, making steam surge as a result of hitting Moltres's inferno-like body temperature.

Everyone grunted as the steam was beginning to fade and left Moltres without a scratch, but the attack did leave her agitated as she detested water. Moltres spread her wings and she then gave one big flap and winds of flames were unleashed, via her devastating Heat Wave.

Nic saw that the flames in the Heat Wave were much different, as they weren't orange like they should normally be, no, the flames exerted were purple, and the heat and range together was massive. Utilizing whatever was possible, Nic tried to counter with his Hydro Pump, a move that was sure to hold off the hot attack heading their way. As a precaution, everyone got back while Nic made a mirror of water and fired a raging torrent at the Heat Wave. He grunted as their power was surprisingly even, and steam erupted like crazy, blocking everyone's vision as a huge cloud was between them and Moltres.

As Nic's Hydro Pump stopped, the group all gasped as the Heat Wave proceeded through the attack, but looked severely weakened. Nic leaped back as he was the only one who was in range and he leaped back with as much force as he could, barely evading the attack as it engulfed the ground in front of him in a super-heated firestorm that raged about, startling the group.

"You're kidding. Even though the attack was weakened…" Gray started.

"…it still destroyed almost everything in front of us." Vanessa finished.

Natsu stepped forward calmly, getting by Nic's side. Nic's coat flapped about as the winds from the Heat Wave began to simmer down, and Nic didn't even have to look to notice Natsu beside him. "You think you can handle that fire?"

Natsu smirked. "No sweat. I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer, remember?" Natsu asked. "I can eat any kind of fire."

Nic was well aware that Natsu could do such a thing, but this fire was different. It wasn't the fire of the Underworld, but of the most tainted and purest hatred that could possibly burn anything.

Shaking any doubts, Nic grunted and opened his mouth. "Water Pulse!" Nic made a blue sphere and was shot straight through the purple flames that died down, clearing a path for Natsu. The Water Pulse didn't even get close to Moltres as it evaporated into thin air.

Natsu ignited his feet to get closer to Moltres. "Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu launched himself from the ground towards Moltres. Moltres did nothing as Natsu charged right for her and watched as he got closer. "Haha! That fire is going into my belly!"

"(Try and consume my flames.)" Moltres insisted. Natsu finally made contact, feeling the rotting and corrosive heat given from the sheer touch. Natsu flipped himself to get on Moltres's back and he looked at the head flame.

Instantly, he got a devilish grin, which Lucy saw. "Oh great, there he goes again with his recklessness."

"Salamander's gonna need some backup for this one!" Gajeel declared. He started dashing ahead and stood at the cliff edge and clenched his fists tighter. "Alright Salamander, keep nit steady!"

Natsu hardly paid attention as he thought the flames were going to be in his stomach. He opened wide and he sank his mouth into the flames on Moltres's head.

It was a bad idea.

Immediately, Nastu's insides were rotting and his stomach rejected the tainted and horrific fire. The fire not only tasted vile and worse than anything in his life, but the flames were filled with hatred and vile darkness, so much that Natsu screamed as he was forced to reel back and let go of Moltres, the Dragon Slayer falling downwards towards the swamp below.

"Oh no! Natsu!" Wendy shouted.

"Salamander!" Gajeel shouted downwards as Natsu plummeted. He angrily turned upwards. "Damn you!" Gajeel fired a column of iron at Moltres, but the air around Moltres intensified some more, making the column of iron become hot and Gajeel grunted and struggled until the column finally started to melt when it was ten feet away from Moltres.

"(Begone human!)" Motres fired another Air Slash attack at Gajeel and the Dragon Slayer went wide-eyed and morphed the iron column back into a hand, yet it felt like it was burned. Gajeel then tried to jump out of the way, but proved futile as the ground beneath him shattered and he was dealt indirect damage from Air Slash, his iron skin having multiple scratches and minor gashes, which surprised everyone, and Gajeel plummeted along with Natsu. Both Dragon Slayers falling down into the deep swamp below.

"Natsu! Gajeel!" Sophie shouted.

Vanessa rushed ahead and had a poke ball out of her big, brown purse. "Don't worry guys! I'm on it!" Vanessa then threw it. "Venusaur! Grass Knot!"

Venusaur appeared out of his poke ball and beside the cliff. He quickly took action as his eyes glowed light green. "(Don't worry, I'm on it!)" He shouted. Venusaur then stomped on the ground, where as far below, Natsu and Gajeel were still falling, and from the cliff side, light green glowing vines grew and twirled around the other and snared Natsu and Gajeel's feet, saving them from falling down further.

Sophie clasped her hands together. "Oy! Nice work!" She cheered.

Vanessa nodded and pointed below. "Now Venusaur, make haste! Nic and the others will stall!" Venusaur then nodded and he made many more Grass Knot attacks that began to stack along the cliff and go upwards. Soon enough, twirled vines were protruding like a ladder and the vine that had Gajeel and Natsu snared whipped them up by Venusaur's manipulation, where they screamed and their feet were repeatedly snared and their heads were spinning like crazy.

Vanessa sweatdropped. "They're gonna hate me for this. I just know it." She sighed.

Nic gulped and he looked back at Moltres. He glanced below, past Natsu and Gajeel being repeatedly flung and he narrowed his eyes as he looked and saw that from his perspective, the swamp water in the valley was all bubbly, but very lightly.

Nic looked up. 'This is bad. This dark fire is rapidly accelerating the temperature. If this keeps up, the entire Route will catch ablaze.' He thought. He gritted his teeth and then inhaled and then exhaled. "Scald!" The stream of boiling water went shooting at Moltres. Surprisingly, the boiling water didn't evaporate since it was already steaming, which caught Moltres off guard and she shield herself with her wings. The attack made contact, making steam erupt and everyone looked to see that Moltres emerged from the cloud, but narrowed her eyes, showing that it had an effect.

"How did that not evaporate?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Ani lo yodea! I hadn't memorized this before!" Sophie shouted.

Erza narrowed her eyes, ignoring the fact that Natsu and Gajeel made it back to the top with swirling eyes. "It seems that since Scald is already at such a high temperature, it isn't effected as fast as any other Water-Type attacks."

Natsu rubbed his head and Gajeel groaned as their conscience was beginning to straighten out. They rubbed their individual heads as Vanessa and Venusaur took a few steps back.

"Aw man, my head's never felt so lopsided." Natsu said. "Eh?" Natsu and Gajeel both turned towards Vanessa and looked in frustration. "Hey what gives?! That almost mad me sick!" Natsu shouted in her face.

"You've got some nerve little girl!" Gajeel shouted.

Vanessa nervously smiled. "I-I didn't see another alternative!" Vanessa then scooted back and she blinked in realization. "Wait…Natsu, why didn't you eat the fire?" She asked, changing the subject.

Natsu and Gajeel calmed down and Natsu looked own and clenched his stomach. He looked slightly distraught. "That fire…I couldn't eat it." He said. "That evil. It could've burned my insides."

Gajeel crossed his arms. "Luminous was right. That's fire from the same energy from those that came before this one."

Vanessa knew it was unsafe to have Venusaur around, so she looked at him and returned him. She glanced back up at the battle as Nic was trying. "Nic…I hope you'll be okay."

Erza looked to see Moltres bringing her wings back, which startled her greatly. "Everyone get back now!" She shouted. Everyone made haste to run as their chances were slim thanks to Natsu, who was actually hurt from the flames of Moltres, and was unable to consume them. The only one who wasn't running was Nic, who had to protect the group.

"Take this! Scald!" Nic unleashed a second Scald as Moltres unleashed Heat Wave, both attacks collided in the air, but the massive wind of dark fire was easily overpowering the Scald, making it weaken and evaporate at last. Nic tried to keep going, but the Heat Wave eventually got him, and he grunted as he was swallowed up in a raging firestorm that swallowed and melted the landscape around him.

"Nic!" Erza shouted, with Vanessa and every other girl gasping.

As the fire started to decrease, they saw a molten landscape with Nic in the center. The rock, grass, and flowers were all burning, and Nic huffed and puffed as he sizzled off a lot of heat. Much to everyone's surprise, he shifted into the Flame Plate in a flash before getting hit, so as to avoid being incinerated. Nic winced as his body felt as though it had been through a furnace. Nic uncovered himself and continued to huff. "That was superhot." He said as he composed himself. "I was right all along, these aren't the flames of the Underworld. Those are the flames of pure hate."

Erza and Vanessa both ran up to Nic's side in worries for him. "Nic!" Vanessa shouted.

Nic turned back towards them. "I'm fine! That attack was weakened a little, but I was still resistant to Fire!" He called out and turned back as Erza and Vanessa caught up to him. 'Even so, that Heat Wave was far stronger than normal. That tainted Moltres burns anything that gets close, and Natsu and I are left with a thin thread. I could cause heavy damage if I shifted into the Stone Plate, but that thing could possibly didge and melt the rocks, or even weaken or slice them up with Air Slash.'

Natsu clenched his fists. "Damnit. How do we beat this thing if we'll just get incinerated?" Everyone around was getting worried that they might they burned alive, and Nic was left with little options. He could try Rain Dance by turning back into the Splash Plate, but the rain wouldn't help much. He looked down at his feet, still left to ponder.

He was considering shifting into his Stone Plate, but one of his poke balls emanated a burning energy, and Nic immediately picked up on who it came from. 'Hold on…' As he looked at Moltres at that instant, something sparked in his head. 'If Natsu can't use his fire, then…'

Nic tensed up and the two girls behind him saw him in a state of epiphany. He then had a shadow over his eyes. "It seems like our mot liable option."

"Huh?" Vanessa was in question and Erza and everyone else was confused as well.

Nic took a deep breath and reached for the poke ball, and he looked back up at Moltres. "Moltres, I understand the torment you must be feeling. However, I won't overlook this. Your flames of pure evil won't outmatched what I have in mind. You're not the only one classified as the Flame Pokémon." He then turned back towards his friends. "This fight isn't up to us anymore."

"What are you saying? That you have an ace?" Gray asked.

Nic turned towards the front again and nodded. "Without a doubt, we must fight fire with fire!" Nic then swiped his arm in an arc. "Come out! Charizard!"

Nic threw his poke ball, and out came his strong-hearted Charizard as he roared up into the skies, making small ripples in the air as he was called out in the air.

Charizard flapped his wings as Moltres's eyes widened slightly, seeing another Fire and Flying-Type in the skies. The Fire and Flying-Type adversaries looked at each other as they saw seriousness swell their gazes.

"(I am the true Flame Pokémon. I shall see to that you burn by my fire!)" Moltres shouted, unleashing her Heat Wave that stormed towards Charizard. Charizard flapped his wings and remained quiet and still as the Heat Wave ravaged the air between them and closing in. Charizard waited for Nic to give the signal, and he narrowed his eyes at last.

"Charizard! Heat Wave!" Nic shouted. Charizard then flapped forwards, releasing a fiery wind of his own, his being normal instead of Moltres's purple fire, and the Heat Wave Charizard gave off was compressed and blocked the Heat Wave of Moltres, redirecting the assault around Charizard as his Heat Wave was used as a shield. Moltres looked with mild surprise as the Heat Wave melted and burned nearby rock, and when both attacks end, sparkles of fire were all about Charizard and Moltres, orange and purple filing the air as Charizard was unfazed.

"(I'm not the kind of guy to go that recommended routine. You see…)" Charizard spread his wings, ridding the air around him of the small embers. "(I always go beyond that extra mile!)"

Moltres scowled. "(Ha! You may think we're on equal grounds, but I am the Legendary Bird of Fire! I cannot be brought down by fire itself. Get close, and your body shall be consumed in burns.)"

Nic grinned. "If there's one thing I know full-well, it's to never doubt Charizard's skills. He'll burn that darkness away, no matter what!" He declared. He then extended an arm out. "Dragon Claw!"

Charizard then steadied his wings and both of his arms were coated in light blue claw-shaped energy and he readied to strike. Moltres, however, was certain she could outdo the flying lizard. "(You have a zero percent chance at victory. Let my fire burn you whole and-!)" She was cut off when she was slashed across the face in a painful manner and she went wide-eyed and screeched as she sailed back in the air several yards. '(So fast!)' She straightened out and flapped again, looking to see Charizard with a serious gaze.

"(There's something you don't know about me.)" He said in a menacing tone, pointing the tip of one of his Dragon Claws at Moltres. "(I am no pushover!)" Charizard then flapped and zoomed at a high speed that startled Moltres and she ascended quickly. Charizard change trajectory and he flew up at Moltres like a rocket, reappearing in front her face as they continued to sail through the air at a high speed. Surprised, Moltres was left open for Charizard to let loose his second Dragon Claw, slashing diagonally and making Moltres sail back and tumble through the air until she straightened out again. As she did, she let her blood red eyes get fixated on Charizard and she spread her wings out.

"(Very well. If you insist on getting in my way of Nic Pularis, you shall be eliminated!)" She shouted. Moltres then emanated multiple golden rings of energy that beamed upwards towards the sky. Charizard and everyone looked to see the clouds clearing up rapidly and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky as far as the eye could see, leaving a blue sky and a very bright sun.

Nic narrowed his eyes. "Sunny Day. I should've known." Nic muttered. Everyone turned towards him in question, even though they all started to sweat. "Sunny Day is a Fire-Type move that amplifies the power of Fire-Type moves. Moltres is powering up."

Charizard could feel the heat intensify all around him, to which didn't bother him one bit, but looked down and saw how Sunny Day was very harsh on the environment, as he noticed down in the swamp below, the murky water was starting to bubble, meaning it's at a boiling point.

Charizard looked at Moltres. '(Her heat is devastating. This immense pressure given off by the dark fire is burning away at everything. It seems I'm the only one resistant.)'

"(Air Slash!)" Moltres fired her Air Slash attack at Charizard. Nic's Fire and Flying-Type soared upwards and dodged the incoming attack with ease. The attack followed through and sliced through a nearby flower field and a few trees as if scissors on paper. Charizard remained focused as he went into a diagonal dive and moved incredibly fast, giving Moltres little room to counter.

"(Dragon Claw!)" Charizard then initiated Dragon Claw and dived down and slashed, yet it didn't make contact as Moltres shifted right to dodge, but she felt a strong wind from the force of Dragon Claw. She flapped and gained altitude to get over Charizard. Charizard swung his head in an upward direction and went after Moltres. Moltres continued in an upward direction and Charizard followed, catching up fast. "(Flamethrower!)" Charizard let loose a powerful stream of fire in the air with dead-on accuracy as he struck Moltres's backside, making an inferno erupt in midair and Moltres was caught off balance.

Moltres angled lower due to Flamethrower, but looked to see Charizard zooming in with a Dragon Claw, which was her chance to intercept. She used the momentum and went into a dive, to which Charizard came to a screeching halt in the air and chased after her again, his Dragon Claw still coming.

As they decended, they went down into the valley, where the combined heat given from Moltres and Charizard both made the rocks that they pass accelerate in temperature. Charizard was catching up, but Moltres with a sharp U-turn, but Charizard was no fool as he spread his claws out, his left one grazing Moltres as she passed him. She winced, but kept going upwards until she reached a fair height and she used Heat Wave, releasing a monstrous firestorm of purple fire at Charizard.

"(Heat Wave!)" Charizard tried to make a counteroffensive by colliding his powered-up firestorm that raged against the opposing Heat Wave. The two raging attacks surged throughout the gully they quarreled in, with everyone watching from the cliffs above. They felt the extraordinary heat given off as they saw actual rock melt from the sides and saw that even though the Heat Wave surged about violently, Moltres was unfazed, yet Charizard was pushed back towards the swamp water below, having a few sizzling scratches on his body, having said taking indirect damage while Moltres didn't.

"(Damn you!)" Charizard then spread his wings before he could hit the boiling water below, hovering over it and the water went crazy around him. "(I'm not through yet!)" He then bolted at a high speed flight over the water, making water shoot in opposite directions. Charizard made a 90 degree turn upwards and shot up at 90mph into the air, and Moltres jerked away so as not to get struck. Charizard continued his rapid ascent until he was almost a speck in the sky.

"Whoa! That was super fast!" Happy shouted.

"(Fly!)" Charizard then shot down like a meteor at a high speed, the sound barrier nearly shattering behind the speed and force of Charizard's descent. The Fire and Flying-Type roared as he was closing in on Moltres. Much to everyone's surprise, Moltres flapped het wings, jerking back and Charizard's Fly attack missed, continuing downwards and everyone gasped at how Moltres just dodged the Fly without much effort. '(She's fast.)' Charizard continued to plummet until he finally gave a massive flap of this wings, stopping his descent cold before he could hit the swamp water and the force of Fly's momentum made the swamp water violently surged like waves all about, the boiling water crashing against the burning cliffs.

Gajeel looked down at the force behind that Fly that made the boiling swamp water go crazy. "Boy, if only that were to hit."

Nic looked on with slight nervousness as Moltres fired an Air Slash down towards Charizard. "Make haste Charizard! Dodge that!" Charizard looked up and he saw the shower of sawblades coming down right for him. Charizard immediately turned and flew off, evading the showering Air Slash that pierced the ground under the swamp water and sliced any nearby rock. Charizard shifted left and right repeatedly in fast motions, evading the explosive sawblades. He picked up the pace and swerved a multitude of time, barely evading the sawblades and made another 90 degree turn upwards, fully evading the Air Slash.

Moltres watched Charizard barely avoid her destructive Air Slash. "(Burn already pest!)"

Charizard ascended at an upward angle and opened his mouth. "(Watch who you're calling a pest you overheated chicken! Flamethrower!)" Charizard reeled his head back and brought it forward, unleashing a stream of fire that shot downwards towards Moltres.

Moltres scowled and used her wings to block the Flamethrower, being budged no more than several feet backwards. She whipped her wings, knocking away the attack, much to Charizard's surprise. "(Burn for your insolence!)" Moltres then flapped her arms, unleashing her purple flames in her monstrous Heat Wave that went at Charizard. The Flame Pokémon saw no room and used his arms and wings to block. He was swallowed in the attack, everyone wide-eyed as they heard Charizard's painful roar through the Heat Wave.

Nic had small pupils as he saw Charizard get struck by a brutal blow. "Charizard! No!" He shouted. The firestorm settled, and Charizard was seen falling head first, multiple scratches on his body, and looked heavily damaged.

Upon his fall, Sunny Day came to a close. Even though the sunlight dimmed, the cloudless sky remained.

As Charizard fell, Moltres didn't let up as she let loose an Air Slash. It was a strong possibility that this could possibly finish Charizard, as his eyes were closed and struggled to open them.

"Oh no!" Wendy gasped as Air Slash was closing in on Charizard.

"Atem lo beseder! Move Charizrd!" Sophie shouted.

Nic gritted his teeth and his fists were shaking. "Charizard!" He called out. "Charizard!"

Charizard felt his body as though it had been hammered to no end. He had to admit that these flames were extremely hot and evil. He couldn't hear much of anything as his conscience was starting to go out, and he looked doomed for the Air Slash might finish him off.

'(Drats. I can barely move.)' He thought. '(I can't believe I'm bested by another Flame Pokémon…am I not a formidable Fire and Flying-Type?...Did I…did I not go beyond that extra mile…?)'

"Charizard!"

'(Wait, is that…?)'

"Charizard!" He heard his name called again, this time, much clearer.

'(That voice! It's…)'

Nic's shouting continued. "Charizard! I know you! You don't ever give up! Ever! You stood out from the Kanto Starters because you chose me and acknowledge me and Froakie that day! You remember! You wanted to choose our way of life, because you wanted to be with those who you thought as equals! Don't you dare turn your back on your family and what you stand for!"

Charizard's eyes slowly opened, seeing the Air Slash coming closer. That instant, he was images of Nic from a few years ago, and then images of them training, hand-to-claw combat, all those nights they slept out in various terrain with the other members, and leading up to the Champion battle and recent events in Fiore.

'(I won't…)' Charizard got feeling back in his wings and claws. '(I won't turn back. I will not leave my family, and the will to go that extra mile! Because…)' His wings twitched and shot his eyes open. "(I have the ever-burning will of eternal fire!)" His body reacted, and he straightened out faster than the eye could blink. He shot up into the air, avoiding the Air Slash that was so close to hitting him. He soared high, startling Moltres.

"(What?!)" She shouted.

Everyone smiled and looked relieved as Charizard was back in the air, and Nic grinned as Charizard slowed down and flapped as he came to a landing right in front of him. The Flame Pokémon smiled back towards his Trainer, both having fierce determination in their eyes.

"I never doubted you when you could pull that off." Nic said, holding out a fist.

Charizard snickered. "(Well someone's gotta be the inferno to backfire that tainted chicken.)" He said, extending his fist out and they did a unison fist bump.

Nic turned back towards Moltres, who wasn't gonna wait forever for Nic and Charizard to launch a counterattack. "Alright, let's have at her one more time!"

"Huh?" Gajeel came to a realization about something, something that could be proven to a vital asset. "Luminous, have your giant salamander do that transformation!" He shouted. Nic and Charizard both narrowed their eyes in unison.

Gray turned towards Gajeel. "Huh? The heck you saying now?"

Vanessa looked with shock. "Wait…" She then went wide-eyed. "You mean that Nic's Charizard can Mega Evolve?!"

Gajeel nodded. "Yeah. His other crazy dragon did it before, and it was ugly." Gajeel and the Dragon Slayers remembered Mega Garchomp's destructive force, and that almost made them pale, but they kept composed. "If Luminous could do that with this one, then we've got a…"

"No." Nic said flat, stopping Gajeel in mid-sentence. There was a brief pause as Charizard and Nic remained focused on Moltres.

"No Mega Evolution. We're winning without it. Charizard and I both know that wouldn't satisfy us. We want to make this a Fire and Flying-Type showdown. Nothing more." Nic looked at Charizard, who nodded in agreement in Nic's understanding. Nic then looked back at Moltres. "Charizard's pride as the Flame Pokémon is on the line, as well as his Types." He extended his arm out. "We won't fail!"

Charizard roared in agreement, and Moltres waited no longer and she waved her wings and golden circles went up towards the sky, via Sunny Day once more. As the sunlight was harsh and everyone could feel the intensity given off of Moltres's fire increase with Sunny Day.

"(Perish!)" Moltres fired her Air Slash attack once more, the sawblades heading towards Charizard. Charizard grunted and gave it every ounce of endurance he had and shielded himself with his wings. Charizard felt the Air Slash hammer him, shoving him back several feet in the charred ground. His wings felt as though they were being ripped apart, which made him feel unbearable pain. He powered through and stopped just a few feet in front of Nic, he uncovered himself and his wings were hurt, but Charizard paid no heed as he roared, making ripples in the air.

"We've made it so far, so why would we succumb to pain like that?" Nic reprimanded. "We've won without Mega Evolution before, so how is this any different?"

Charizard grunted and was caught uneasy, but he straightened up. "(For all I know, this is nothing!)" He declared. He stepped forwards. "(No matter what happens, I will always have faith in Nic! As he does me!)"

"(Then have faith in burning Hell!)" Moltres shouted, firing her molten firestorm that was Heat Wave. The incinerating storm raged towards Charizard, who remained still.

"We believe in the power we share together!" Nic and Charizard shouted in unison. Charizard then became engulfed in a fiery aura, and Charizard's tail flame expanded as he let loose a large roar as the melting attack went for him. Despite his feeble condition, he refused to quit and flapped his wings as hard as he possibly could, creating a powerful forceful wave of wind that actually slowed down the Heat Wave, as the heat given from Charizard increased dramatically. The Heat Wave ceased and Charizard was left untouched.

"(What?!)" Moltres shouted in shock. "(My flames have been pushed back?! What's going on?!)" She, along with everyone else, saw that Charizard was exerting a monstrous amount of heat. His tail flame increased, and was a bright orange. His fiery aura was far hotter than any of Natsu's Fire Dragon attacks, and he felt it.

"Whoa…this heat…" Natsu and everyone felt the intensity of Charizard's burning will and saw Charizard get back up into the air.

Vanessa blinked. "Wait…that's Blaze! Charizard's Ability!" She shouted. She paused. "When Blaze activates, Charizard's Fire-Type moves get a major power boost."

Sophie looked up at the sky as Charizard looked beyond serious. "Sunny Day plus Blaze…" She gulped. "This one cham showdown."

"(Futile!)" Moltres let loose her Heat Wave attack at Charizard, who was giving off incredible heat.

Nic moved his arm in an arc. "Let's do this! Flamethrower!" Charizard then inhaled and then exhaled, unleashing a beam of orange that was Flamethrower, which was the result of Sunny Day and Blaze, the attack making pyro ripples about.

Both Heat Wave and Flamethrower collided, and both monstrous attacks were at a standstill. The Heat Wave raged about, purple flames were kept at bay by a violent inferno beam.

"We can do this!" Nic shouted.

"(All the way!)" Charizard shouted as he pressed on with Flamethrower, eventually pulsating and driving the Heat Wave back at Moltres.

Much to her shock, she saw the brutal beam and went wide-eyed. "(No!)" She then screamed in searing agony as her Heat Wave was dispersed and was blasted right in the abdomen by a severely powerful Flamethrower. The beam kept pushing until Moltres smashed with earth-shaking force into the other side of the valley. They all saw the incredible burst of explosive fire she was engulfed in, and saw melted rock fall downwards into the boiling swamp water.

"…whoa." Lisanna muttered.

"That was sick. The fire almost made me feel burned from here." Gray said.

As dust descended like a waterfall, Moltres emerged and got back to the same elevation as Charizard. Moltres sure was a tough one, and Charizard was well-aware. Moltres angrily unleashed Air Slash at Charizard.

Nic made a claw-like motion. "Dragon Claw!" He commanded. Charizard unleashed a Dragon Claw with both arms. He let loose a harsh roar as he slashed in a fast and brutal motion, his Dragon Claw sliced the sawblades through, making them explode behind Charizard, startling Moltres.

"(Flamethrower!)" Charizard let loose another monstrous beam at Moltres, one that incinerated the particles on the air as it was like a massive cannon launched. Moltres screamed as she felt the extreme force once more, her body actually feeling as though it was being scorched. She was engulfed in a huge explosion and everyone covered up as they thought a volcano erupted, at least to what it looked like.

The tide had turned for Nic and Charizard as their bond and strength were overwhelming Moltres, and she fell downwards from the massive explosion of fire. She had multiple bruises and she felt really intense. Her eyes narrowed as she flapped and stopped falling went after Charizard.

"(You fool! I am the burning inferno! How could you possibly overheat me?!" She shouted.

Charizard didn't answer as he flapped and shot at 90mph upwards. He moved as fast as he could as Moltres stopped in place and looked with frustration as Charizard was above her at a monstrous altitude. "(Let's end this!)"

"Fly!" Nic shouted. "Let her have it!"

Charizard let an air-shaking roar escape and he zoomed downwards, looking like a meteor from before, but the air around him looked more orange than normal, as it was his fiery aura and his tail flame. He looked like a glowing orange glint in the sky, and everyone heard the sound barrier burning and shattering…possibly melting too.

"All the way Charizard!" Nic shouted. Charizard increased his speed and he shot like a massive meteor that could destroy anything upon contact. Moltres looked up with sheer shock as she was startled by the heat given off, which actually began to frighten her.

Charizard then went for that extra mile.

"(Heat Wave!)" He bellowed, his wings flapped, and he let loose an inferno that was from his wings that were integrated in the Fly. The Heat Wave looked like a plasma wind that engulfed the area around Charizard, and he screamed as he dived downwards as he was engulfed in his Heat Wave as power up.

"(No! Heat Wave!)" Moltres unleashed her Heat Wave of dark purple towards Charizard above, the massive wind colliding, but the dark purple flames. Charizard's destructive attack plowed downwards. He continued onwards as Moltres's Heat Wave was no match for the ultra-heated inferno that was the combination of Fly and Heat Wave. Moltres's purple Heat Wave was slowly beginning to undergo a reaction. "(What?!)"

Everyone went wide-eyed as the Heat Wave/Fly combo was absorbing the purple flames, which made Moltres freak out and everyone started to run far inland away from the cliff, but Nic stayed as he had the proudest smile ever. "GO CHARIZARD!"

The vermilion meteor that was Charizard shot downwards and Moltres screamed. Nic felt his skin peeling and burning as he was so close to this monstrous heat, as though he was in a volcano. Even in the Flame Plate Form, it was really tough. His Charizard smashed into Moltres, and the latter screamed in agonizing pain as the two continued downwards into the swamp valet below.

When they reached the bottom, everything went blank.

Nic suddenly found himself sparing several feet back and going on. Everyone screamed as they flew as well. Nic and everyone tumbled as explosions were heard, rock incinerated and shattered, and it kept expanding until it was as high as the cloudless sky, in which the sun finally dimmed.

Heat was all around when Nic groaned and opened his eyes. The temperature was like 110 Degrees Fahrenheit. He honestly thought he was sunburned.

'The Flame Plate keeps me from burning.' Nic reminded himself. He looked to see everyone groan and see that they were steaming. They weren't burned in any way, but their body temperatures were high, and they thought they were roasted alive.

"Aw man, what just happened?" Lucy groaned, getting up and feeling steam. She and everyone else got their feet, as steam and dust was all over the place.

"That level of power. It was beyond recognition." Lily said in shock.

Nic got to his feet and he narrowed his eyes as he made a step towards the cliff edge. Everyone followed suite and they peered downwards. What they saw startled them to no end.

The entire swamp water below, reaching an area close to three miles at least. All of that water evaporated, and the ground was searing heat and sizzling. The cliff sides were reshaped due to melting rock. Rocks and steam and even dust was around the area.

In the dead center, there were two figures. One was Charizard, and one was Moltres. Charizard's Blaze deactivated and his body got to a knee, seeing as how he was covered in endless bruises and scrapes that looked severe. He looked with slight content, seeing the unconscious figure twenty feet away.

Moltres's body was covered in bruises and burn marks that were beyond severe, and she was defeated by Charizard. Charizard had no roar, but he grinned as he had proclaimed the title of the true Flame Pokémon.

"Charizard!" Nic shouted from above. Charizard turned his neck upwards, seeing Nic smiling down on him. "You did amazing!"

"(No, we did amazing.)" He said. He slowly looked back at Moltres, seeing the unconscious bird in a massive crater and dark, foul energy seeped from her body. Charizard looked up, and everyone there narrowed their eyes as this energy was just like with Zygarde. They felt uneasy as the energy dispersed, along with the hatred and vile.

Charizard looked down to see Moltres's color returning to normal. The blue coloring changed to yellow, and the purple fire became red again.

Charizard stared a little bit and he turned his neck back up towards Nic and flapped his wings and ascended. He slowly made way up towards Nic and friends, landing on his feet with a thud and Nic smiled proudly.

Both Trainer and Charizard said nothing, but they knew no words could be exchanged. Nic pet Charizard's head, and grinned joyfully. "You went beyond any mile imaginable." He said.

Charizard snickered. "(I gotta say, we sure showed her. Don't mess with us.)" He said.

They all looked down, seeing the remaining stuff subside, and Moltres began to open her eyes. "(Nnngh. W-Where? What happened?)" She grunted and winced as her body ached like crazy. "(It's like I was only red and…)" She noticed the humans and Charizard above her at the top of the melted cliffs. With what strength she could muster, she weakly flapped until she was at a point where she barely reached the cliff and landed. She huffed and puffed as she looked like she was gonna pass out.

"(You shouldn't be moving in your condition.)" Charizard said.

Moltres huffed as her temperature was back to normal. She was back to her high-temperature self rather than the burning magma temperature. She actually felt in less pain than before. She looked and saw that Charizard was injured as well.

"(You. Are you accountable for my injuries?)" She asked.

Nic shifted into his Splash Plate and went by Charizard's side. "If you want to face Charizard, you'll have to deal with me!"

Moltres shook her head. "(No. I had enough.)" She paused. "(I don't know what happened…or why everything is burned…but I guess I should say…thank you.)"

Nic and Charizard looked at each other and back at Moltres. "You don't remember either?"

Motres shook her head. "(I saw darkness one moment, and saw blood red next. Everything after that is a big blur.)"

Nic paused. 'She doesn't remember like Zygarde. This energy, what's it doing to them?'

Moltres said nothing as she used whatever strength she could to get away. "(Humans and Fire-Type, I thank you. I apologize for any harm.)" Moltres turned and weakly flapped off, her bruises making her uneasy, but knew it was best to head north to find a hideout to rest.

As she was but a glint in the distance, Nic and Charizard turned towards the other and stared. Their bond really pulled through, and they couldn't be any more proud for the other. They both shared a fist bump and smiled.

Vanessa then intervened. "Ehhhh…Nic?"

Nic shifted back into himself, seeing as they weren't in combat anymore, and turned towards Vanessa. "Yeah?" Vanessa then turned with comical revelation at the damage to the valley, and everyone, Nic, Charizard, they all gawked and paled when they saw the steaming place they created. The battle actually reshaped the valley, and the bridge was destroyed completely.

"GAHHH!" Vanessa and Nic, even Charizard, gawked in unison.

Gajeel laughed and smirked. "Well now that's top-class Fairy Tail damage, I'll say that."

Sophie blinked with a nervous smile. "Even though I memorized that heated battle, this might bring up some concern."

Natsu turned ahead. "We can't stay here! C'mon!" Natsu happily led the charge away from scenery, and they were glad no one was around.

"That battle sure was something Nic. You really did train Charizard well." Erza admitted.

Nic smiled. "Thanks Erza." He then sweatdropped. "Though I don't think we should be coming through this Route again anytime soon."

"If anyone asks, Lucy did it." Happy said.

Lucy turned towards Happy. "WHAT?!" She echoed as they pressed on, laughing at the comical shenanigans after that heated confrontation.

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I was late with this update, but better late than never. You like the interesting first half with Lily against Roserade? I wanted something to catch your attention for sure, so leave a comment or Review if both battles were intense!

Shoutouts to epicvictory2025, RavenousEds, FrankZTank13, PokeguardianZ, kival737101, and DeoxysSpeed.

Funny thing; throughout this Arc, I was thinking of an opening, and I thought of opening music for it. The first thing that came to my mind was Mega Volt. Imaginations sure run wild…

At any rate, check out Fairy Academy's Light! Also, after this, there are 2 chapters left in the Kalos Arc, so prepare for a big finish to the Arc just like any other Fairy Tail Arc.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys love the epic battles, the ongoing plot, and the continuous chapters that make this story long.

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Next Time: Life & Death – Part I