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.

41. Life & Death - Part I

Chapter 41 – Life & Death – Part I

Before you start reading, just know that I got a chapter of Fairy Academy's Light, so please check it out and Favorite, Follow, & Review please. Thank you!

We're near the end of the Kalos Arc, and just like any good Fairy Tail Arc, I want to make this Arc end with a bang. Since last chapter was such a scorching it (get it?), I'm hoping this one will keep you on the edge of your seat, we'll see.

To Recap:

On Route 19, Nic and the group accidentally encountered a Trainer, where Nic was forced to improvise and use Lily against a Trainer's Roserade, which turned out successful. Later on, a surviving Drapion was near the brink of death, and Lisanna was force to save it with her Take Over, and they later find out that the cause of the near-death Drapion was because of a tainted Moltres, whose heat nearly burned anything around her. Despite everyone's efforts, only Nic's Charizard could stand a chance and defeat the tainted Moltres, returning her to normal.

---

Chapter 41 – Life & Death – Part I

Now in Route 21, clashing echoed about through the area. It sounded like two steel edges clanging and if you looked closely, you saw two figures trading blows. Sparks surged as the edge of their blades met. You would think it'd be two swordsmen, or possible two Honedge or Doublade, but no. In this case, one was a swordswoman and one had scythes.

How the heck Erza got into an encounter with a wild Scyther nobody wants to know nor find out. The point is that Erza and the wild Scyther were locked in combat while everyone watched.

In her Heart Kreuz Armor, the redhead slashed, only for it to scrape along Scyther's scythes and deflect her blow, leaving for Scyther to slash diagonally with its right scythe, making Erza jerk back to avoid the attack.

Erza huffed. "It's impressive." She said, poising her sword to strike. "I never knew there were these kinds of Pokémon. Perhaps maybe if we weren't in such a rush, we'd probably have more time to know more about them." She said with a grin, and then dashed right into the fray.

Nic and everyone watched from a distance as they saw both warriors trade blows with their sharp edges. They really didn't have any say in the matter, but Vanessa was turning towards Sophie.

"You surprised that Scyther are a match for her?" She asked the blonde as Erza slashed and Scyther blocked it with a Night Slash, making the ground below get sliced up instead.

"Yeah, no kidding." Sophie huffed. She turned and saw Erza flip behind and slash, but the Scyther flapped its wings and took flight and dodged the incoming sword.

Lily crossed his arms, looking intrigued as well. "Scyther are admirable indeed. If I had a sword, perhaps it would make for excellent training.

"Come on, you guys know Erza's got this in the bag." Natsu said. "Come on Erza! Take it down already!" He cheered on. He watched Erza skid back as she had just took an X-Scissor that she blocked with her swords, and grunted as she ducked and evaded a horizontal Night Slash.

When Erza jerked back for room, she glowed, requipping into her Flight Armor. With immense speed, Erza dashed at Scyther, slashing her two swords with accuracy and speed which made Scyther fall black and only block.

Erza continued her onslaught of slashing swords, and Scyther had no room to counter as it had only the option to block. Finally having enough, Scyther unleashed a swift X-Scissor attack and intercepted the two swords, giving it enough room to flap its wings and get back into the air. Erza narrowed her eyes and grunted as Scyther was several feet in the air once more and saw the wings glow light blue, and Scyther let loose its Air Slash. The multiple sawblades of air trailed towards Erza, but the S-Class Mage noticed that this Air Slash was nothing compared to the tainted Moltres from before, and slashed in a furious blur nonstop.

"Sonic Claw!" Erza slashed faster than the eye could blink, and all of the Air Slash attacks were sliced in half, not even grazing her. With a startled Scyther in the air, Erza went in zigzags upwards, slicing up the Air Slash as they rained down along the way.

Within a matter of seconds, Erza was at equal elevation with the wild Scyther and then slashed in rapid succession, damaging the Bug and Flying-Type, making it fall backwards downwards. Erza landed on her feet while Scyther landed on its back with a thud.

Erza poised her swords as she saw the Scyther get back to its feet slowly and then saw it ready a Double Hit, the blades glowing purple. The Scyther rushed forward and Erza did the same. Both let loose battlecries and then they slashed in the blink of an eye, both posing right behind the other.

Nic and everyone there stood still, but not much to anticipate as they knew the results.

Only a few moments passed before Erza stood upright and requipped into her Heart Kreuz Armor. A couple seconds later, the Scyther that was still in place fell over with a loud thud, fainted.

Erza grinned as she turned towards the group. "I apologize for taking so long. It was much more persistent than I had realized."

Vanessa cheered happily, as did the other girls. "Yay Erza!" "I knew you wouldn't have trouble!" "Wow, your sword skills are amazing."

Erza then made way towards the group and huffed. She then looked at Nic. "I must say, a friendly warning would've been nice."

Nic snickered with his sunglasses on. "What can I say? Figured you'd take the first-hand experience."

"True." Erza and Nic shared a small chuckle before Vanessa coughed to get their attention.

Vanessa grinned with amusement as she rolled her eyes. "And on that note, take a look." She turned towards the west, where they saw the sun was surprisingly low, and they had to get moving. "The last bits of sun is gonna be gone in two hours. We should move while we still can."

With that said, the group of individuals made way through the woods close to the path, where Nic had taken the opportunity to get to the trees and go on ahead to scout until night fell. As dusk approached, Nic was turning his head left and right in the trees on a sturdy branch.

He stood straight up with perfect balance, turning around to the group a hundred feet away. "It's fine. No sign of enemies or wild Ursaring so far!" He shouted, and turned and leaped through the trees ahead like a Grovyle.

"Wow." Vanessa said, marveling at her brother's ability. "Nic said he could climb trees, but I never imagined he'd be that limber."

"That's better than all of us put together." Sophie said, watching Nic hop from one tree, landing silently like a Noctowl. "He's like a ghost from above."

Natsu scoffed. "Big whoop. I can do that." He looked for the closest tree and he latched onto the tree trunk. "Come on, come on." He repeated as he inched up the tree, bit had veins on his face, showing struggle.

"There he goes, just showing off." Lucy said. "He's gonna hurt himself doing that."

"I give him thirty seconds tops." Happy said.

"Oh real supportive there, pal!" Natsu shouted from above. He grunted as he finally made it to the lowest branch there was, and he got his body up on it. Natsu arose to his feet, but couldn't help but feel heavily off balance.

Though unstable, Natsu stood tall on the tree branch. "HA! Ya see that?! I can climb these the-AAHHH!" Natsu slipped and he fell downwards towards the ground.

Vanessa flinched when Natsu landed with a thud, as to where everyone just stood as if it didn't faze them. "Ehhh…" She saw Natsu on the ground, and twitching. "You know, for some reason, I somehow saw that coming."

"Big surprise?" Sophie sarcastically asked. She then turned towards Happy. "Oh, and by the way, that was twenty-two seconds."

Nic looked from above with a groan, shaking his head. "Natsu. Lesson one: Balance." He said. "We should be safe to camp guys."

Not long after Nic said that, it was dark and camp was set up. The group sat around a big campfire, where they indulged themselves with food, Natsu primarily. Happy still dined on anything but fish since he heard Magikarp didn't count as food, and they could evolve into 'giant monsters', which left him bewildered and sulking.

Nic, away from the happy campers, was with his Pokémon, all looking up at the night sky. The seven looked up and saw only midnight in the sky. Just that one color. No stars. The seven were at the edge of the tree line, and stared coldly upwards.

Nic, out of all of them, didn't feel too comfortable looking up at the sky without thinking of earlier that week. He forced Arcus to heal him, and in turn, Arceus condition looked grim…well, grimmer.

"I know you're back there." Nic called out without turning, still gazing up at the sky.

In a few moments, rustling was heard, and Erza appeared in her armor. "Still as perceptive as ever." She stated. Nic's Pokémon didn't give threatening vibes, but accepting vibes. They allowed Erza to come up to Nic's side as the black sky didn't even reflect off of his sunglasses on his V-Neck.

She frowned, knowing how Nic felt, but tried to keep a light touch to the mood. "You know everyone's having a joyful time at the camp. Vanessa's Krokorok sure knows how to rile things up."

Without looking back, the two could hear Krokorok yelling, though only Nic and his team understood.

"(Let me tell you something Natsu Dragneel! Krokorok does not like cooked food! Krokorok likes his food animal style!)"

"I don't know what you said pal, but I'm ready when you are!"

"Hey, you guys, why now?!"

Constant faint shouting was heard, and Nic snickered at their rowdiness. He didn't mind, at least he knew they were still Fairy Tail. If it wasn't for them, he guessed he'd still be secluded with his Pokémon. He was glad to have been to Fiore…

"Still." He said. "We only have one day left." He said with dejection. "I could only get small bits upon to this point, and they shut down before I fully sense them." He balled his fists and sighed. "I can't believe it. What am I doing? If I don't get something tomorrow…"

Erza put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Nic, it's okay. We're here for you." She assured.

Looking down at the ground, Nic couldn't help but think to when they all got hurt by that man and those past Legendaries. "I know. It's just...it's difficult knowing how you guys are having a hard time here."

Erza looked down. "Yes. Legendaries are beyond formidable. We see that now." She then looked at Nic with a pause. "But as long as there's hope, we'll keep getting up and try again. It doesn't matter how long it'll take, just know we'll be by your side, thick and thin. Okay?"

Hearing her petite soliloquy, Nic was left with a touched expression, and his dismay about this adventure was lightened to an extent. Nic smiled and nodded. "Thanks Erza. I needed that. You're nice to have around."

Erza turned around as she made way back towards camp to the escalated fight, her face full of satisfaction upon having Nic happy with her. Keeping herself heading back, her tone was filled with energy. "Be sure to get back to camp soon."

"I will." Nic said. When Erza left, Nic looked up at the sky, now with a half-grin. "Well guys…?"

"(Not much to say really. We should rest up.)" Greninja said.

Kecleon tilted her head. "(The night beckons for our eyes to go blind.)"

"(…I would advisssse a little resssst.)" Arbok said.

Nic turned towards everyone and saw them grinning. He smiled again. "Alright, but you do realize what we'll be doing tomorrow morning, right?"

---

At daybreak…

The sun was rising and everyone stirred about, yawning and Natsu's snoring rattled nearby ears, which only led to aggravation. Eventually, Gajeel and Wendy awoke with their dragon hearing, annoyed with Natsu snoring.

"Salamander…" Gajeel growled, wanting to shove an iron column down the Fire Dragon Slayer's windpipe so bad.

Wendy sighed. "It's no use Gajeel. It's morning anyway." Wendy got up and yawned. She gently had awoken everyone she saw, and the last person she had awoken was Vanessa. "Vanessa? Vanessa?"

Vanessa stirred in her sleep. "Mmmmm. Not now Braixen, I like my sleep." She sleep talked.

Braixen, who was over by Vanessa's awakening Pokemon, giggled at how silly her Trainer's oversleeping ways were. "(Wait until she finds out.)"

"(H-huuuh?)" Goomy gurgled, still feeling drowsy.

Happy scooted over by Vanessa's ear. "HEY VANESSA! TIME TO GET UP!" The blue Exceed screamed into her ear, shooting her eyes wide open.

Immediately, Vanessa jerked upright, her black hair and single blonde bang all messed up. Her face looked as though she'd been in a disaster. "What happened?! What did Krokorok destroy this time?!" She shouted in panic.

As everyone laughed at Vanessa's reactions, Krokorok pouted. "(What? I didn't break anything?)" He said as his teammates looked at him. "(…at least not that I knew of.)" The team shared a laugh of hysterics how Krokorok was handling this, and basically everyone laughed.

Soon enough, the laughing stopped when Sophie noticed something off. She turned her head and noticed something missing. "Uh, guys?" She warned. "Where's Nic?"

Carla had hands to her hips. "I suppose the hooligan must have gotten up way before any of us did."

"I wonder where…" Lisanna was cut off when they saw a glint in the distance, and they all saw some figures up ahead. "Wait, are those…?"

"Yeah. Pokémon." Gray warned, with no shirt. "It's up in that clearing!"

The team ran ahead, into the woods and through shrubs, and when they reached the forest edge, they saw something that left them baffled.

Vanessa and her Pokémon looked on with frozen and shocked expressions. "Nic?"

Nic was apparently shirtless and coatless, leaving his toned upper body exposed, with his phone with the metal music on high in his pants pocket. He backflipped and evaded Garchomp's Slash, and pivoted upon landing to use his arm to block Greninja's hand. He brushed it and did a jab, but Greninja jerked right and tried to chop downwards, but Nic spun out with his arm and tried to sweep Greninja off his legs. Greninja jumped away and Nic saw Garchomp coming at him at high speed again, and the guy with sunglasses then blocked and deflected every possible claw and fin, and maintained his ground, barely keeping his footing. Garchomp's relentless assaults left him with no defense from behind when Charizard came at him with a knee.

Using his instincts, he ducked and lunged left for room, leaving Garchomp to block the knee from Charizard. Nic then saw Staraptor swooping in and using Aerial Ace, and he had his hands out and grabbed the wings, but the attack still pushed him back several feet. He then rolled onto his back and gave Staraptor a shove with his leg, almost doing a Circle Throw motion sort of speak. The avian quickly straightened out and went back with a Steel Wing, with Nic lunging and dodging.

Eventually, Arbok went lunging, and then Kecleon, and eventually everyone from the trees saw it was a one-on-six spar. They all witnessed in awe how the metal just kept on rocking away and Nic was moving so fast that it was almost impossible as he deflected and blocked, and also lunged and ran, and a whole bunch of agility that caught them by surprise. They were even startled when Charizard used Flamethrower and Greninja used Dark Pulse, and Nic still dodged them.

He was all over the place, and nobody dared to even move, for he might catch their attention and break his concentration. "Check it out." Gray said in deep awe, seeing Nic's Pokémon move insanely fast in close combat. "I've never seen Nic do something like this."

"He does that kind of training? For three years?" Lisanna said with slight disbelief.

"Oh wow, Nic's more acrobatic than I thought." Sophie said. "And he's easy on the eyes."

"Silence!" Erza ordered, making Sophie zip her mouth as she struck a nerve, seeing how jealous Erza was, Sophie giggled, as she said that last bit on purpose to see how Erza would react.

Everyone could see Nic's violet-colored Fairy Tail emblem on his back, in between his shoulder blades. He was working so hard, that sweat poured down his face and body as he continuously blocked, deflected, and even started going on the offensive. Everyone there was impressed how Nic was holding his own, and after ten or so minutes, Nic huffed and his team did too. Unfortunately, that was all they had time for and Nic stopped the blood-pumping metal on his phone.

They turned and saw the Fairy Tail members, and Vanessa and her team, looking from the tree line. Nic and his team was momentarily shocked, but they all saw the shocked grins on their faces as they appeared from the trees.

"That was very impressive." Erza admired with her smile.

"(YOU GOTTA SHOW ME THAT STUFF!)" Krokorok declared.

"(I don't know whether to think that was awesome or insane.)" Mawile stated.

"I-I've never seen training like that. You do that every day?" Vanessa asked.

Nic huffed as he was still catching his breath and he nodded. "Yes, every single day. We meditate, we run, and we spar. Every. Single. Day. My reflexes and movements are all second-nature at this point."

"If that isn't crazy, I don't know what is." Lucy sighed with a smile.

Nic looked back at his team. "Well, you caught us on one of our more normal days. Some days we meditate all day, sometimes we just run fast to no end, and sometimes we fight with blindfolds or no hearing."

Happy nearly jumped. "Heh?! Seriously?!"

Nic grinned. "Believe me when I tell you, the very first day with Froakie was something…"

Route 2, a seemingly easy and passive Route. Quite a bit of Pokémon here and there, some Fletchling and Zigzagoon, but nothing too major. Nic had just became a Trainer earlier, and he was walking alongside his new Froakie, which seemed curious of Nic.

"(…I don't know who you think you are, but I hope things are interesting.)" Froakie warned, being the one who liked to have some interesting things happen.

Nic and Froakie ventured into the Route, and before they could reach the tall grass, Nic stopped, as did Froakie.

Froakie looked up at Nic. "(So, shall we venture and battle?...hello?)" Froakie looked with suspicion as Nic's sunglasses shielded his gaze.

Nic narrowed his eyes as a lone wind passed by as he looked out. Already, he saw nearby Pidgey and quite a few Scatterbug, but someone stopped him from choosing that path.

"…" Nic couldn't find the right words. "Froakie…ask yourself."

"(Hm?)" Froakie wondered.

"Ask yourself…what benefits would I get? I wouldn't get physically strong or capable of protecting the ones I love just by sitting around and having you gain while I order." He shook his head. "To me, something about that feels wrong."

"(…I…I guess so.)" Froakie shrugged, but Nic did have a point that Froakie related to. He wanted a Trainer who would understand, and was this really happening?

Nic made a decision. He turned towards nearby woods. "Come." With that, the duo went off to a nearby forest, where they had some space, and Nic faced Froakie. Froakie tilted his head.

"(So I take it I'll be having trees as my opponent then?)" Froakie asked. All he saw was Nic spreading his legs, and reaching into his pocket and turning on some metal. "(Huh, I like this.)" Froakie admitted, bobbing his head up and down a little. "(I feel energized.)"

"Froakie…your training…is fighting me." Nic said, which made Froakie get a shocked expression. "Listen. My sister was hurt, and I want nothing more than to be a better protector and an ally. To do that, I have to get inside your head, and understand how we can coincide with our fighting styles. I see it. We both want to be swifter. Faster. Stronger." He balled his fists. "To do that, we must both fight together!"

Froakie's world just got interesting. "(I see…)" He smiled. "(I think we're gonna get along just fine.)"

"Come at me!" Nic shouted, and he ran at Froakie. The two went at the other with Nic going for a straight jab that collided with Froakie's Pound. Frokaie landed on the ground and Nic went for a knee, which struck Froakie in the face, which send the Water-Type back several feet.

Froakie rubbed the back of his head as he got up. "(Owww. Man, you think they call this abuse, but it's not.)" He clenched his fists and looked serious. "(This is training! And I'm following this path to greatness with you!)" Froakie jumped and twirled in the air, coming down with a Pound, but Nic leaned back and put his arms up and blocked. He lashed his arms and Fraokie landed back on the ground and jumped back towards Nic…

Nic looked back at Greninja as he put on his shirt and coat. "Remember that day?"

Greninja nodded. "(The day that you set yourself apart from other Trainers. Yes. The day you decided to become a fighter, and not feel others gain from your commands. The day you swore to train and understand Pokémon and learn to have us and yourself master hand-to-hand combat.)" Greninja smiled.

"(It was a long and arduous road, but that's exactly what we wanted. You could understand battles better, and think what we think.)" Charizard added. "(For me. For all of us. I think it's what makes you who you are.)"

Nic smiled. "I couldn't ask for a better team to train with. Take a rest guys." Nic returned all of his Pokémon back to their poke balls, and then turned back towards Vanessa and the group.

"Nic, so that's the training style you've adopted. To be a better fighter and person." Vanessa said with a smile.

Nic grinned. "It's the path I've chosen, and I have no regrets."

Erza smiled, happy that Nic made that choice. Three years, and he's come this far, and he's beyond S-Class combat suited. Nic looked at the group and Vanessa's team and smiled still.

He then blinked, and his grin faded away. He was feeling kind of odd all of a sudden.

Nic was stiff and transfixed as something reacted from inside, something strong and familiar. And no, it wasn't his stomach.

"Luminous?" Gajeel asked. "Are you alright?"

Sophie looked at Nic with suspicion. "Wait. I remember that. Nic did that before." Sophie said. She and everyone saw Nic shooting body straight up and he let a slow and low growl lurk and turned his head sharply here and there.

"Wait, wasn't that when…" Lucy was cut off when Nic turned his back from the group, and looked west, which was where they were intended on going.

"Yeah, I think Nic's got something this time." Wendy said.

The Plates inside Nic were going wild, as the spacial energy sensed was near, and very strong, meaning it had just opened. Nic looked up slightly and twitched. "I sensed it. A portal just opened!"

Everyone gasped and Nic could hardly contain himself. He knew they had to make it. Today was the last day that Dialga and Palkia's powers would remain effective. If they missed this shot, they'd be stuck in Kalos. So, Nic started his mad and fast dash with no delay, just like that, and everyone knew food would have to wait.

"Everyone move now!" Erza shouted, requipping into her Flight Armor and catching up in a flash.

Natsu grinned. "Right behind ya!" The Dragon Slayers were hoisted up into the air by their respective Exceeds and were on the move. Vanessa got her team back into their poke balls and everyone else had to move as fast as their legs could carry them, and the race had begun.

---

In another dimension…

Hoopa looked too excited as the group was heading towards the portal. "Heheheheheeeeee." He giggled. "This is too perfect!"

"Hoopa, control yourself." Darkrai said. "I'm as anxious as you." He clenched his fist. "Soon they'll encounter terror on another level. Nic shall surely perish."

"I just can't help it! I live for mischief! This trap is too perfect!" Hoopa jittered. "I can't wait! I want to see some mayhem now!"

Mewtwo growled as he peered down the dimensional portal. "…may they feel the increased wrath of our revenge. We've held back long enough, and I never like to hold back. The ones before were nothing. The ones now, those shall show we're serious."

Mewtwo then looked at Giratina. "Your antimatter effect those two?"

Giratina remained silent, as the darkness around thickened, and Giratina gave a monstrous bloodlust smirk.

---

With Nic

Nic moved with such haste and such speed with Erza right by his side, the two being followed by the flying Dragon Slayers and everyone else. Nic ran right by the path, which didn't stretch too long and he made way into a rather large gate.

"Nic, wait up!" Sophie shouted. Along with everyone present, Sophie was getting exhausted. Nic and Erza were moving too fast, with little room to catch up. They were given great relief when they saw the duo in the gate, looking north at a staircase.

Everyone there panted as they finally caught up. They all saw Nic staring upwards towards the staircase, where the stairs leading towards the light were. As everyone caught their breaths, Nic was left still, as he looked conflicted.

"Guys." Nic warned. "This isn't good."

"Heh?" Lucy wondered.

Nic's eyes narrowed under his sunglasses. "Up ahead is Victory Road, the toughest place to be in all of Kalos. There lies ahead, the most difficult labyrinth and the toughest of Pokémon in all of Kalos."

Natsu grinned. "Now you're talking! I'm ready for some serious smack down giving!" He cracked his knuckles in readiness and Gajeel followed suit.

"I can't wait to see what these suckers throw at us."

Nic turned his head back. "You guys, no matter what happens. Stay by me. You can't go rushing into this place. There is a portal, and I can feel it." He then turned back forwards. '…but that's not the only reason why I stopped.'

Already, Nic was having a very bad feeling, and when something that bad is what he felt, then it's beyond devastating. 'What lies ahead, this energy is starting to get nostalgic.' He took a few steps forward, but couldn't help but feel the goosebumps beginning to come around. 'This foul energy, I can sense it from here. If what I sense is true…'

"Is something holding you up Nic?" Wendy asked.

"…nothing." Nic shook his head and he began to trudge ahead. "Let's just hurry." He then began the long climb up the stairs that seemed to never end. It was extremely exhausting, but Nic ran up like it was nothing.

Erza wasn't buying it. Nic looked uneasy, and from the way he seemed hesitant, there was something not right. Even she felt goosebumps, and she knew Nic was making haste. Something was up ahead, something. Whatever it was, it was making everyone uneasy as they sensed this energy. If it was that powerful, then Arceus knows what is waiting.

The group made haste, getting through the Gate grove and getting through the first cave, thanks to Nic leading the way. Of course, when it came to the waterways, Gray had to step in with his Ice-Make: Floor, and allowed passage. With nearby rock and boulders, Gajeel and Natsu happily complied.

Of course when it came to the Pokémon, such as the wild Graveler and Gurdurr, it was clear that Nic's Pokémon took care of it. And Nic made that very clear when Gajeel and Natsu tried to attack, which resulted in them getting bumps on the head.

Time flew by quick, but they were certain that they were making progress. Nic's radar was getting stronger, yet the energy that was so negative kept pouring throughout the area. They needed to get to the portal quicker, so Nic started running again, but slow so the guys could keep up, much to his dismay.

When they made it to the first grove. The west side was a massive cliff that overlooked the entire misty forest below. They just ran over a bridge that went over a wide river that was connected to a wide waterfall just before the bridge.

"Wow." Wendy basked in the waterfall and the ever-spreading scenery to the west. "Kalos's scenery. This is amazing."

"Child! We must keep moving!" Carla shouted. Wendy and Carla then saw a shadow covering them, which then made them stop moving.

Immediately, Nic took note and Nic's sunglasses caught a glint of the shadow covering Wendy and Carla moving slightly around in circles. Nic's feet stopped and he pivoted and skid forwards. His eyes narrowed. "Looks like we got company."

"Huh?" Vanessa, Lucy, and the other girls and guys got their guard up as they were growing uneasy, and then saw something high in the sky.

Nic slowly looked up. "Hope it's a Fearow or Skar-!" His eyes widened when he saw something. Something very bad. "Oh no."

Everyone looked up to see the giant creature before them, and their pupils shrunk as they looked up as the dragon roars, making them cover their ears. The sunlight overhead made it look like a shadow, but Nic saw it being a three-headed dragon with six wings, red treads on the blue belly, and had fuchsia-colored collars.

"This is bad." Nic said. He immediately pivoted and ran and jumped in front of his team, having arms out to his side. "Everyone, get ready!"

The dragon roared again, the roar shaking the air and everyone's ears. Nic cringed at the piercing roar. He grunted. "I should've known this could've happened. Guys, this is one of the toughest Pokémon there is in Victory Road. Hydreigon.

"W-W-W-What?" Lucy shook. "That's a Pokémon?"

"Oh great merciful Kingdra. Just what in the world is going on?" Vanessa said, slightly distraught with all of the formidable creatures as of late. She reached for her Pokedex and analyzed Hydreigon for all to hear.

"Hydreigon, the Brutal Pokémon. It responds to movement by attacking. This scary, three-headed Pokémon devours everything in its path!"

Natsu stepped forward and grunted. "Looks tough. Bet this one's gonna give us a run for our jewel."

Hydreigon roared, and everyone saw the three heads fixated on them. "I do not mess with those things!" Nic shouted as a warning. "Natsu! You have no-!" By the time he turned around, Natsu was already leaping towards the Dark and Dragon-Type, with Gajeel by his side.

"This guy's looking for a fight!" Ntsu shouted as he was getting closer.

"Then we'll give it to him!" Gajeel shouted. As Gajeel said the last part, Hydreigon emanated a red aura and then his Attack and Special Attack got boosted, via Work Up.

"Take…THIS!" Natsu punched with a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist and Gajeel swung with an Iron Dragon's Sword. The two Hyrdeigon heads on either side opened their mouths and caught Natsu's wrist and Gajeel's iron sword, startling both.

"Say what?!" They shouted in unison. Hydreigon's middle head roared in their faces, making them wince and feel distraught. Their hearings were shot slightly as all they heard was ringing. Hydreigon then slammed them both into the other and everyone from below saw them falling.

Hydreigon then dived down as Natsu and Gajeel were still in shock and smashed his abdomen into their bodies, continuing onwards like a meteor and smashing them into the ground in front of them, making a crater and dust scatter, via Body Slam.

"Okay, ouch." Sophie winced. When Hydreigon lifted his body and back into the air, Sophie looked to see them both distraught. "Something tells me they're gonna feel that in the morning."

Nic clenched his fists and huffed several times over. "What did I just tell them?" He shook his head in disappointment and Hydreigon looked and noticed Nic shaking his head, which caught his attention. In a matter of seconds, Hydreigon went after Nic, and Nic took notice.

"Nic! Look out!" Vanessa shouted.

Hydreigon flew at a low altitude and Nic narrowed his eyes in concentration. He ran ahead after Hydeigon. He lunged ahead and time slowed down as Nic seemed to have gotten in mere inches away from the Hydreigon. Everyone, especially Erza and Vanessa, watched with anticipation and worry as Nic was confronting the beast.

In a flash due to his reflexes, Nic delivered a downward blow to the middle head, making Hydreigon yelp as the abdomen struck the ground below, the force making the ground shake. Nic then drove a knee to the lower jaw of the same head, making the Dark and Dragon-Type soar backwards.

"Oi. What the-?" Natsu rubbed his head as he could still hear ringing, and his body felt as though it was smooshed by a Vulcan's foot.

Gajeel grumbled. "You're not the only one hurting. I haven't felt this low to the ground in-!"

Both Mages were cut off as they sat up, and then they were suddenly hit with a very heavy force that was Hydreigon, comically making them gawk as they were hit from behind and flew face-first into the dirt, with Hydreigon above them.

Nic sweatdropped. "Sorry!"

The wild Hydreigon got up immediately back into air, showing a smooshed Natsu and Gajeel, again. The Dark and Dragon-Type went after Nic, and Nic ran and engaged in combat once more. The heads tried to nip at Nic, but Nic used his arms to block and deflect, and with an opportunity, he grabbed the necks of both heads and he drove a knee to the middle one, making the dragon soar up and tumble in the air once.

Nic huffed. "Okay, it looks like some more nostalgia is required." He skidded back to gain distance as the Hydreigon shook its heads and glared down at Nic as he threw a poke ball. "Garchomp! Do your thing!"

Garchomp emerged from the poke ball and soared after Hydreigon. "(With pleasure!)" He shouted.

Nic made a slashing motion. "Use Slash!" Garchomp obeyed, and in a matter of seconds, he slashed with his glowing claws faster than the blinking eye, and Hydreigon roared as it took damage. It jerked backwards as Garchomp got the upper hand, and then it surrounded itself in draconic dragon-shaped energy and went after Garchomp.

Sophie gasped. "I remember that! That's Dragon Rush! Look out!"

"Wait for it…" Nic said. Garchomp patiently looked intimidatingly at the incoming Hydreigon, the air breaking upon it coming ahead. "Now! Dual Chop!" Garchomp then had the claws and fins glow green and zoomed at Hydreigon. With precision timing, Grachomp slashed horizontally at the middle head, stopping the Dragon Rush in place, and then with the left fin, slashed downwards, making a ripple in the air upon impact.

The wild Hydreigon yelped as it felt the full force. As it fell, Nic's Garchomp zoomed at blinding speed. "Slash!" Nic shouted, and Garchomp let loose one last Slash, making Hydreigon scream and everyone saw the force caused Hydreigon to soar over the cliff and down below in defeat.

Vanessa clasped her hands with a big smile. "Alright Nic!" Vanessa exclaimed. "That's showing it!"

Garchomp landed on the ground, making a subtle shake within the earth. Nic walked up to his pal and gently pet his head. Garchomp didn't fuss as he loved to be pet on the head. "Nice job there Garchomp."

"I'm surprised Garchomp didn't take that thing down in one blow like the rest." Gray said.

Nic turned back towards Gray, looking somewhat annoyed. "Gray, what did I just say before we entered Victory Road? I told you these guys are to never be taken lightly." He said in an obvious tone.

Garchomp raised his claws at a scared Gray in defense. "(Do you know nothing?!)" He shouted. He then took a brief pause and looked at his surroundings, and it brought back some memories. Garchomp smiled. "(Now I remember.)"

Nic grinned and crossed his arms. "Remember Victory Road? This is where we found your Garchompite. Wasn't that a surprise huh?" He then remained looking up at the increasing altitude of the caves and the groves that lied ahead. "To think we spent a whole three months here before deciding to take the Elite Four and Diantha on. Felt like yesterday."

Natsu and Gajeel then got up, cracking their joints and bones and groaning. Nic and Garchomp turned towards them. "Ah yes, those two."

Natsu was ready to fume. "Gah come on! That wasn't even fair!" He complained. "That guy had three heads for crying out loud!"

Gajeel clenched his fists. "Damnit. I guess Luminous was right."

Nic's eye twitched. "Ahem!" He coughed, getting their aggravated attention. When Natsu and Gajeel turned angrily, they suddenly cringed upon seeing the scary look on his face, despite the sunglasses that covered his eyes. He had a death-like aura.

"Natsu…Gajeel…" He growled aggressively. "You impulsive meatheads must be dealt with. I told you thoroughly to not mess with them! And now…" Nic's Garchomp crouched and Nic raised an arm. "You must be given your punishment!"

When Nic snapped his fingers, Garchomp roared and went after Natsu and Gajeel. Many, many painful screams and earth-shaking agony was dealt in the next three minutes.

---

Later…

Natsu and Gajeel were battered and looked as though they fought against two Laxus. They were almost unrecognizable, and they were fortunate Garchomp only left minor gashes and not tear their limbs apart. They were making it out of the next cave that escalated higher, and Nic was picking up the signal. It was strong. Very strong, but the fact that they've been traveling through Victory Road as fast as they could and given the time they had taken to reach it, Nic wasn't certain how much longer until the portal closed.

In haste, Nic picked up the pace to his fast speed, and burst out of the cavern with everyone following. They had made it to the highest grove there was, and it face north, where everyone was tons of damaged walls, broken boulders, and destroyed monuments.

Everyone there saw the massive landscape unfold before them, how it looked all green and there was a giant lake to the northeast, how there was massive ice to the north. They couldn't believe the massive view from above, and even Nic was feeling too nostalgic this day.

"Oh wow. I'll remember this view." Sophie said.

Everyone there seemed blissful and the fact that they've been traveling for a week in Kalos made them think of how fast that time went by. "I have to admit Nic, Kalos sure is an interesting place to be." Erza commented as she looked right beside him. "I wish we still had more time, but we can't."

Nic sighed. "No, I'm afraid not Erza." He then turned and the foul negativity flowing was fluctuating, and that was making him very much uneasy. 'Why was the energy dialing down earlier? Was it a false…no, something has to be close by.' Nic then began to lead them to where he was picking up the portal's energy. It was very strong, and he knew they were going to make it.

In fifteen minutes, he slowly came to a stop as the sky was partly cloudy. Nic huffed while everyone behind him panted. They saw how he stopped and they were glad to have been given a break.

Nic was left silent as they were only a mere two-hundred feet from the stone table, as they all stood right outside the ruins of what seemed to be a large establishment or fortress.

"It appears that Nic has finally found yet another one." Lily confirmed, seeing the portal on the stone table. There, the partly cloudy sky expanded.

Nic was feeling very much uneasy, and it wasn't just because of the foul negativity nor the fluctuation of the portal energy, but something a little more concerning. He looked back at Vanessa, who looked ecstatic about the portal. This time, if they got lucky, they would all go to Kalos.

And that's what worried him the most.

"Something the matter?" Lisanna asked.

Nic blinked and shook his head. "Uh, just spacing out." He turned back towards the portal that lied ahead, such as the sky was covered in clouds. "We should make haste. Let's move." He said with little emotion. The group was starting to make way with energy, and Nic could hear them speak from behind.

"Finally, we get to go home." "Kalos was something, but now I know not to mess with those things." "Aye sir!" "I must say that this pit stop was exciting. This is something to share when we get back." "Vanessa, you ready for Fairy Tail?" "Yes!"

This bits of the discussion turned to muffles as Nic's uneasiness grew. "…" He remained silent as he ventured closer towards the portal. 'Vanessa, I don't know…should I really-?!' Nic was brought out of his head when he suddenly felt a strong heartbeat and he gasped briefly and stopped in his tracks.

"Hm? Hey, what's with the sudden halt Luminous?" Gajeel asked. "You catching somethi…" Gajeel and everyone else then felt a certain energy rise. "Wait. This feeling."

Sophie nodded. "Yeah, my memory was right. This is the same energy that tainted that Zygarde and Moltres, only this time…"

"It's stronger. Much stronger." Erza finished. She and everyone else started feeling their spines shake massively as they could hardly keep still with the energy looming around like a fatal ghost.

"Hey guys, something tells me that something bigger than before is coming." Lucy warned.

Wendy was shaking out of fear. "We have to get to the portal!" She shouted, and everyone turned towards said direction and then everything then grew silent.

Nic's eyes sharpened. "Wendy, I fear that we're too late." He said. Nic caught something. This energy was different. Not only was it stronger, but something about it was all too familiar. It sparked something in his memory, as if he recognized this odd feeling somewhere. 'It's like…I don't know. I know it, yet it's different.'

A dark and hollow wind blew about and silence continue to creep all around them, making them fear the deadly hollows of the wind. 'I can't even hear voices like before. This foul air, this energy, I can't hear any warning…'

Nic blinked and then he picked up something from the dark, cloudy sky above. He went wide-eyed and saw a monstrous Dark Pulse making way down from above, quickly spreading clouds apart. "Everyone move! Now!" Nic shouted.

Everyone glanced briefly above and saw the large Dark Pulse making way. Everyone ran in various directions away from the impact and they all turned tail and the Dark Pulse struck the ground from where they once stood, making a sudden boom sound.

Everyone was sent flying and screaming as rock and earth shattered under the intense force. The nearby walls cracked to a severe level and everyone suddenly found themselves groaning as they were beginning to sit up.

"What was that?" Lucy shouted, having a few scratches here and there.

Lisanna got up to her knees and saw something in the skies above, and it looked pretty big. "What's that red thing in the sky?" She asked.

Nic practically shuddered. "Wait, red?!" Then everything clicked inside his head. "Now it makes sense. Why this energy is so similar." He then looked down at the large crater and back at the group. "You guys! It's-!"

He was cut off then there was a screech in the air that bellowed, shaking up the ground and everyone covered their ears at the ear-splitting screech and they glanced up to see a giant demonic avian descending below the clouds.

Nic and everyone there looked beyond terrified as their goosebumps skyrocketed. The avian had blood red coloring, and the black markings on the underside was pitch black, as was the rest of the black on the body. The eyes were blood red, and the feathery ruff around its neck was a sullied gray. The bird-like legs had giant talons and the tail and arms alike made it have the shape of a 'Y'. The pointed beak-like snout was as black as the rest of the black on the body, and the horns that extended forward was as such. The five claws on the end of the hands were massive, and everyone below could feel the dreadful aura from him from above making the ground wilt.

Gajeel's eyes shook. "N-No way."

"Is that a…" Wendy was unable to find the words as her arms gave out from shaking too much and she plopped to the ground.

Nic gulped. "I can't believe it." Nic muttered as the massive bird-like draconic thing descended so it was several feet in the air above Nic and friends. "It's Yveltal!"

Yveltal screeched and the air shook violently. Yveltal brought his wings and tail forward, and then in the center, a huge jumbled ball of black and purple arose. The Destruction Pokémon let loose a catastrophic Dark Pulse once more, making the air scream and the force making nearby debris fly out of the way.

Nic grunted as the catastrophic attack was aimed for him. He put his arms in front of himself and made a turquoise shield, effectively blocking the Dark Pulse. The attack continued to rampage, and Nic skid back as he kept up with Protect. The attack made the ground under Nic wilt and crack as the violent tempest made his sleeveless coat flap violently. Nic grunted as the attack came to an end at last and Protect had finally deactivated. Nic fell on his behind with a thump sound and huffed as the landscape around him was all cracked and ravaged.

"Nic! Look out!" Lucy shouted as Yveltal then unleashed yet another Dark Pulse attack that rippled through the air again.

Nic grunted and got his feet under himself as the attack made way towards him. "Guys, get back!" He shouted. He then saw the attack and then glowed, shifting into his Stone Plate. Nic quickly stomped on the ground, and then a rock column from below shot Nic upwards to a high altitude. From below, Nic saw the rock column get obliterated into dust from the Dark Pulse attack.

As he looked at Yveltal, his sunglasses reflected the blood-red beast's image. 'I can't believe that I'd be fighting Yveltal once more.'

Xerneas and Yveltal unleashed their Megahorn and Dark Pulse attacks. Verneas's multitude of horns glowed green and grew in size. Yveltal launched Dark Pulse. The Megahorn went after Greninja while Dark Pulse went after Gabite.

"Dodge!" Nic shouted. Gabite lunged right and evaded the explosive attack that shook the lab chamber. Xerneas thrust the horns, but Greninja treated it like tree-hopping training with Nic, and effectively avoided the horns and hopped above them and above Xerneas, where Nic shouted for a Water Pulse, which scored a powerful blow on the head, where Xerneas screamed.

Gabite dashed about towards Yveltal, his Speed going crazy as Yveltal unleashed Snarl, a black soundwave echoing about and struck Gabite due to the soundwave being such a wide range. Gabite flew back, but regained footing quickly and dashed ahead.

"Slash!" Nic shouted. "Greninja, Smokescreen!" Greninja provided cover by unleashing a thick cloud of smoke that obscured Xerneas and Yveltal, and Gabite used the sea of smoke to use Slash on Xerneas's legs, making the giant Fairy-Type wince. Gabite then shot like a missile and got Yveltal's legs, making the Dark and Flying-Type yelp.

Yveltal gave one giant flap of the wings, blowing away the smoke and Nic and his two fighters skid back several feet. Nic went wide-eyed when Yvelyal ascended and wings grew violent, and blue electricity was emerging and a violet energy surged in Yveltal's center.

Nic, Greninja, and Gabite all readied as Yveltal's violent Oblivion Wing was launched at them, shattering nearby cables that weren't broken from before.

Nic remembered all too well that the battle was extremely tough, and his Gabite evolved into Garchomp because of that battle. This was different. The stakes were much, much higher. Yveltal was stronger than last time.

"Power Gem!" Nic made many gems that glistened around him in hard, light purple energy. He thrusted his arms forward in midair, launching the Power Gem at Yveltal. The Dark and Flying-Type flapped his wings and ascended, dodging Power Gem.

Nic landed and saw Yveltal circling overhead. "That's not the same Yveltal I remember." Nic said to the group, keeping his gaze fixated on Yveltal above.

"Wait, you mean you fought against that thing?!" Gray exclaimed.

Nic swallowed. "Yeah. It was roughly two years ago. If you remember the incident with Nirvana, I mentioned them when they were used in operating 'The Ultimate Weapon'."

Vanessa blinked. "I heard about that. It was all over the news. You stopped it?!" She exclaimed in deep awe at her brother.

"Yeah, and it wasn't easy. Those two put together nearly destroyed everything around us. It was extremely tough, but we managed, barely. Now Yveltal's been tainted, and it's far stronger than it was before."

Natsu flamed up a fist. "Then let's roast that thing! We're gonna get back home if it's my last breath!" Natsu put emphasis on the last bit as he unleashed a Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame at the circling Yveltal.

Yveltal looked and noticed the fireball heading his way. He turned and remained positioned in place as the attack went after him. His eyes then turned light blue, glowing. The Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame was then outlined in light blue, and then it stopped moving when it was just mere feet away from making contact.

Vanessa gasped. "I-It knows Psychic?!"

Yveltal screeched as he sung his wings forward, making the fireball shoot back at Natsu with more force behind it. Natsu gasped as his attack was repelled and increased in force. Natsu made a quick counter attack with a Fire Dragon's Roar. The two attacks collided, making fire surged about around Natsu. Everyone nearby jerked away and covered up so as not to get swallowed up in fire. Unfortunately, Yveltal's Psychic won and Natsu was swallowed in his own fire, making him scream and fly backwards, skidding and leaving a trail on the ground.

"Ice-Make: Saucer!" Gray conjured up a giant saucer and then fired it at Yveltal. The humungous avian saw the incoming saucer and made no attempt at moving. Gray smirked, thinking the attack would hit. Yveltal unfolded his body and emanated more of his menacing aura from his body, shattering the ice.

"You've gotta be kidding!" Gray stammered.

"The ice didn't even touch it!" Wendy shouted.

Gajeel clenched his fists. "Alright birdy, let's see you fly after this! Iron Dragon's Roar!" Gajeel fired his powerful and energized roar at Yveltal, the attack shredding up the air.

Yveltal continued to keep silent and he let loose Dark Pulse at the attack. The Dark pulse went through the air like an unstoppable meteor and easily went straight through Gajeel's roar, splitting right down the middle. Gajeel was hit with the attack head-on, and screamed when he was engulfed in a terrific explosion of darkness.

"Gajeel!" Sophie shouted, seeing Gajeel shoot back as Natsu lunged forwards. Erza joined in and requipped herself into her Black Wing Armor. As Erza flew up to attack, Happy grabbed Natsu and flew upwards towards Yveltal.

Erza slashed, but Yveltal took notice of her and used his right talon to grab her sword without even flinching. "What?!" Erza was left stuck as Yveltal's aura around his body was corrosive, and she could feel herself weakening. She hasn't felt like this since the assailant several days ago. Yveltal moved his leg and let go of Erza, tossing her back to the ground.

"Erza!" Natsu shouted as he saw a weakened Erza fall.

"Erza!" Nic shouted. He stomped on the ground, making a column of rock shoot him towards Erza. Nic made it to her in time and grabbed her bridal style and got his feet under him as he fell, getting into a crouching skid and looked at Erza as she winced. Nic looked up at Natsu, who looked down at him. "She's alright!"

Natsu then turned back towards Yveltal. "Damn you! Happy!"

"Aye sir!" Happy soared closer towards the giant Yveltal. The duo was making way as fast as they could, but Yveltal screeched, the shockwave making the duo stop in midair. Natsu cringed as Happy struggled a bit.

With them stuck momentarily, Yveltal's eyes glowed light blue and outlined them both in his Psychic. Yveltal then lashed his giant wings and Natsu and Happy sailed back with massive force.

"Natsu! Happy!" Lucy shouted.

Wendy got up and ran towards the falling duo outlined in Psychic. "I can weaken the fall! Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy pivoted and shot her massive wind at the falling Natsu and Happy, making them slow down immensely.

Yveltal narrowed his eyes and shot them wide open, increasing the power of his Psychic, making Natsu and Happy shoot straight through Wendy's cushioning wind and slam right into her, making all three scream and tumble towards the ground.

"Wendy!" Carla shouted getting to Wendy's side. She looked and saw Wendy struggling to move, as was Natsu and Happy. They had many scratches and bruises from that attack.

Lucy pulled out a key. "I'll buy some time. Open: Gate of the Scorpion – Scorpio!"

From out of thin air, Scorpio emerged with sign hand signs. "Alright! Let's get wicked!" Scorpio then smirked and he aimed his tail at Yveltal. "I'll make that overgrown chicken get marinated in my sand. Sand Buster!" Scorpio fired his swirling vortex of sand at Yveltal, the swirling attack making way and made a direct hit, making Scorpio chuckle.

Yveltal simply flapped his arms casually, feeling absolutely nothing from the sand buster. The attack felt like a Ground-Type move, which didn't affect him one bit.

"What's this?" Scorpio sounded startled. Lucy gasped. "It appears my attack isn't doing anything!"

"Come on Scorpio! Try adding more juice!" Lucy shouted.

"You got it Lucy!" Scorpio shouted, and he added even more power to his Sand Buster, making more sand gush and strike Yveltal's abdomen, expanding slightly, but even so, absolute zero affect. Yveltal screeched and flapped his wings once, the force making the sand disperse like that. Scorpio and Lucy were too distraught to have made a counterattack. The monstrous bird then flapped yet again and the horns on his head glowed blue. He was then engulfed in draconic energy and then rushed at Lucy and Scorpio from above, via Dragon Rush.

"Lucy! Scorpio! Run!" Nic shouted. "Ancient Power!" Nic glowed and an afterimage of himself was made, and the afterimage swirled into a silver sphere with a green core. Nic's attack shot at the impending devastating attack that Yveltal was coated in. The Ancient Power shot at the incoming Dragon Rush. The Rock-Type move managed to make contact, yet it only vanished into nothing upon touching the dragon-shaped energy that shot towards Lucy and Scorpio.

Scorpio slammed his hands to the ground. "I'll stop him! Sand Wall!" Scorpio then made a giant wall of thick sand to stop Yveltal. The Dragon Rush continued and shot into the Sand Wall, shattering through it like it was nothing. Surprised, Lucy and Scorpio screamed as Yveltal's Dragon Rush smashed into the earth, making debris, rock, and wilted grass fly in all directions, including Lucy and Scorpio.

"No!" Nic shouted.

"I can catch them!" Lisanna shouted, with one eye open as Lucy and Scorpio were shot their way. Lisanna huffed as her body started to change. "Take Over!" Lisanna glowed and she became part Harpy, with wings and talons of one. As winds raged and the earth shook. Lisanna flapped her wings and reached out her talons and snagged both woman and Celestial Spirit. The force was still too much for Lisanna to handle as the shockwave swallowed her, but she managed to catch them. All three skid back and tumbled.

Upon landing, Lisanna groaned and reverted to herself, and Scorpio slammed a fist to the ground as he was outmatched in this fight and was forced back to the Celestial Spirit World.

Nic growled and then unleashed Power Gem once more at Yveltal from where he was at. Yveltal, on the ground, had his back turned and was hit in the ruff, making a small explosion that made him stop moving. He turned around, staring coldly at Nic, feeling nothing more than a puff shot.

Yveltal turned his body, still refusing to say anything. It was then that Erza, now back on her feet, slashed out of the blue, right in Yveltal's face, which made him narrow his eyes.

"Memory-Make: Piercing Frigid Darkness!" A voice shouted. Erza and Nic turned around just in time to see Sophie launch a spear made of darkness that had spiraling ice all around it. The zooming arrow zoomed at an alarming rate, which made Nic and Erza leap out of the way as Yveltal spread his wings. The arrow smashed into Yveltal's abdomen, making a flashy explosion of ice and darkness engulf the Legendary.

Yveltal screeched as he fell onto his back from the sheer power. The abdomen was covered in ice and Sophie smirked. She turned back towards Vanessa. "Think you can do better?"

Vanessa put her hands to her hips. "Haha, very funny." She said with dry sarcasm. "This isn't a competition." She then looked at Yveltal shaking off the ice and roaring to the sky, flapping once more, making strong winds surge that made Nic and Erza and everyone else standing skid several feet back.

Yveltal arose to the skies and everyone that was able managed to see Yveltal screeching from high above. Nic blinked and then gasped.

The menacing violet beam soared at them, and the three managed to dodge the devastating ray, but then saw a line of explosions occur from the Oblivion Wing, and Nic and Greninja and Gabite flew in various directions, hitting the walls and landing with consecutive thuds.

Xerneas emanated a powerful energy and then energy gathered in front and a pink sphere was made, and it was very large. Xerneas fired Moonblast at Greninja, who was still recovering from indirect damage from Oblivion Wing.

Greninja gasped and quickly jumped. He used Bounce to get a safe distance and watch the Moonblast explode violently, making a pink explosion occur from below. Greninja looked down and saw Nic and Gabite back on their feet and Nic extended his arm out. "Dig!" Nic's Gabite then dove into the ground below, leaving a Gabite-sized hole.

Greninja dove downwards and dived on Xerneas, who looked up. Below Xerneas, Gabite emerged, and struck the distracted Xerneas from below, dealing an uppercut that made him yelp. Greninja then came crashing down of the back, making Xerneas yelp as his body had hit the earth.

Both Gabite and Greninja met back with Nic and they saw Xerneas get back up and Yveltal fired a Dark Pulse that the three dodged, which made a powerful explosion.

Nic saw Yveltal creating a transparent violet sphere with blue electric-like energy in it, and he then gasped. "It's Oblivion Wing! Everybody run!"

Yveltal screeched as he then shot a violet beam of energy that unleashed a brutal shockwave upon firing. The beam shot with such intensity that the entire earth shook and Nic and everyone looked with shocked eyes.

Everything went blank for a brief moment as loud boom sound engulfed everything. The only thing that was possible to see was white, and bits of debris if possible. The entire grove just lit and the earth rattled violently.

Nic suddenly found himself on the ground, wincing as he had a few scrapes and scratches here and there. He heard his ears ring and his vision from under his sunglasses returned. He panted as he saw the entire landscape around him was a disaster.

The grass all around was dead, the rocks walls, including the stone table, was reduced to bits of rock, and dirt and craters were set everywhere. The only thing untouched was the portal. Nic scouted around, seeing everyone trying to get up, and they all had scratches and scrapes as well.

"D-Damn. That thing. I can barely move." Gajeel murmured.

Lily winced. "It's like Yveltal is far stronger than the ones before. This aura it's giving off, I can feel my skin tingle with dread and it won't stop."

Erza winced as her Black Wing Armor was battered and damaged, cracks everywhere. "Curse this thing."

Vanessa winced as she had a few scratches. Nic took noticed and looked over at Vanessa. "Vanessa!"

Vanessa winced as Sophie finally got up. "Don't worry! I'm okay!" Vanessa exclaimed to her brother.

Nic turned towards Yveltal, who was looking down at the ravaged landscape he made out of the grove, screeching. He clenched his fists and shook. "Damn you…" Nic then let loose a battlecry and he then hurled a fist into the earth, making several rows of columns spring upwards in a row like a stretched staircase. "If it's me you want, then come at me!"

Yveltal screeched again, he looked down at Nic. Nic stomped and a column shot from under him, and he hopped from one column to the next, escalating until he was at a high enough point. When he was a hundred feet up and on the last column, Nic then glared at Yveltal's blood red eyes. "Rock Slide!" Nic put his hands over his head and ripples were in the sky, where gray rocks fell from above and Yveltal looked up and got a rock to the head, making him yelp and lose balance in the air. He was then bombarded with more on the wings and the back, making the colossal beast descend while taking damage.

Nic then had the front half of his sleeveless coat glow, and then unleashed a Rock Blast, making silver rocks in the shape of his coat emerge and blast Yveltal's face rapidly as he fell, making the Dark and Flying-Type screech yet again. The monster was plummeting head first all the way, and when it went just past Nic and descended even more, Nic made one more move.

"Stone Edge!" Nic hurled a fist into the column he stood on. The ground beneath Yveltal then erupted with large glowing stones, and Yveltal saw that he was about to hit it. As the Rock Slide continued falling, Yveltal spread his wings, and kept himself in position as his eyes glowed and Psychic activated, making the remaining rocks from above ceased movement. Yveltal regained altitude and then faced Nic at a higher elevation. Yveltal screeched as he then brought his wings and tail forwards, making the Psychic-influenced rocks head his way.

Nic leaped backwards back down the columns and when he jumped along the way, he pulled out a poke ball. "Greninja! Water Shuriken!"

Greninja emerged from his poke ball just then and unleashed his compressed stars of water at the incoming Rock Slide that smashed into the columns. Greninja's Water Shuriken easily sliced the rocks and debris from the columns and Rock Slide with ease, leaving them unscathed as Nic and his compadre were unharmed.

Yveltal flapped in the air, silent still, but even so, the eyes widened very little. "(…)"

Nic narrowed his eyes. As did Greninja. "What is it?" Nic asked.

"(I don't know, but…he looks like he's stopped.)" Greninja pointed out, seeing how Yveltal ceased movements and looked fixated.

"What is it…wait, you feel that?" Nic blinked and sensed something powerful, something that was tingly, and something that was equally corrosive. Yveltal's head looked up above Nic.

Everyone turned around and saw a massive pink sphere that destroyed the ground as it made way towards Nic. Everyone went wide-eyed as they had to keep down and Nic and Greninja used their individual reflexes to dodge and run, avoiding the immense sphere of pink that completely destroyed the area where the two stood, and then some.

Nic and Greninja skid on their sides from the force, but both flipped and skid on their feet. They stopped several feet afterwards to see the area they were standing was now a giant shallow crater. Nic and Greninja both slowly turned their heads to see where the attack came from, and when they saw that lied from a peak nearby, their chances dwindled even more.

Erza and everyone gasped, while Yveltal was indifferent. Vanessa swallowed. "Y-You've gotta be kidding me." She muttered.

Nic and Greninja, out of all of them, were horrified. They all saw a dark blue creature with blood red eyes with 'X'-shapes inside. It was quadruped and the front legs had plates that were a fainted yellow. The antlers were heavily majestic, yet they were pitch black and the spots on the antlers were blood red, making contrast to the dark, tainted coloration of the figure.

"No way." Nic said.

Xerneas.

The Life Pokémon let loose a screech that echoed, making nearby small rocks and debris shatter. Nic and Greninja's eyes were shaking out of intense fear, and both then went wide-eyed and turned in time to see Yveltal at the attack again.

Yveltal went to strike with the talons, and Nic and Greninja jumped and dodged, the earth shaking as Yveltal's talons crashed into the ground. Nic and Greninja landed several feet away, then they turned their heads and saw Xerneas at the far distance, reeling back slightly and then pounced into the air. The force made the ground where he stood shatter, and everywhere he landed as he made way down towards Nic, the rocks and ground shattered. One big pounce and Xerneas flew over Nic and Greninja's heads and landed right in front them, making earth fly upon landing and made Nic and Greninja jerk back.

"This is bad. This is very bad." Nic murmured. The bloodlust gazes looked solemnly at him. 'Those two are beyond reason. Zygarde and Moltres's power from before, they were a fraction of what these two are. Just Yveltal alone was bad enough.' Nic remained calm as he narrowed his gaze and stood affirm. 'I'll have to take a different approach.'

Nic then glowed, and from the light, he shifted into his Zap Plate. The two beasts glowered down at him, and Xerneas made the next move, reeling the head back and the antlers glowed green and expanded in size, via Megahorn. Xerneas then thrusted the head forward.

"Wild Charge!" Nic was coated in electricity and he then made a mad dash forwards, where he let loose a battlecry. Nic's attack collided with the horns, and there was an immense shockwave that smashed rocks and leveled the ground, shaking violently to no end.

Ultimately, Nic's attack was no match, and the Megahorn flung Nic into the air, making him spiral and tumble. "(Nic!)" Greninja shouted. He then gasped when he felt an ominous presence behind and turned his head back and saw Yveltal coated in Dragon Rush and the air shattered as Yveltal rushed for him. Greninja crouched and he leaped, but Yveltal's crash into the desolated grove sent a violent shockwave all across the area, and Greninja and Nic were swallowed up in it as they sailed in the air backwards.

Within that space, Nic and Greninja's minds went silent as they heard something other than booming and rocks shattering. '(You…)' One voice said.

'(We remember…)' Another voice echoed and Nic and Greninja's eyes shot open. They gasped and then they landed on the ground with their feet, skidding back and panting.

"You hear that?" Nic asked.

"(Yeah. All too well.)" Greninja said. "(It looks like they're trying to tell us something.)" they both retained focus, and Nic and Greninja were back-to-back and looked forwards, firing a Thunderbolt and a Dark Pulse attack, both assaults leaving trails and cracked ground as they trailed towards Xerneas and a now flying Yveltal. The Thunderbolt struck the tainted Xerneas and the Dark Pulse struck Yveltal, both grunting but shook their bodies to rid both attacks.

Vanessa was close by Erza and Sophie. She had to think. She had to help out somehow. She clenched her fists. 'Drats! I can't sit by anymore, but those Legandaries got Nic cornered. I have to at least lend support somehow!" Vanessa protested mentally. 'Wait! I know what'll work.'

The Pularis sibling then slowly reached for a poke ball, where she then called out her Goomy. Goomy gurgled as she saw the catastrophic battle that was before her, seeing Nic and Greninja charge for the two monsters. "(O-Oh no.)"

Vanessa looked and saw Goomy sweating like crazy, cowering in fear. "Goomy, it's alright." Vanessa assured, putting a hand on Goomy's shaking head, calming Goomy down. "I don't want you to get hurt. All you need to do is use Rain Dance and that's it? Think you can do that?"

Her voice sounded slightly stressed, but sincere, like a mother encouraging a child. Goomy's shaking settled and she looked back at Nic and Greninja. Though hesitant, Goomy narrowed her eyes and glared out. "(Y-Y…Yes! I can do that!)" Goomy assured.

Goomy then raised her slimy head, and the cloudy skies above thickened slightly even more. As Nic and Greninja tumbled back from a powerful blow they managed to evade, they regained footing and they felt a small drop on their heads, making them blink. Another drop fell, and then another.

"Rain?" Nic wondered. In the corner of his eye, he saw Vanessa returning her Goomy, and she looked back at Nic with a smile. Nic grinned in understanding. 'I see, thank you sis.'

Nic then turned forwards. "Alright Greninja, let's have at them! You get Yveltal, and I'll take care of Xerneas! Hold Yveltal off until I deal with Xerneas!" He shouted raising his arm up into the air.

"(Got it!)" Greninja then dashed at blinding speeds, reappearing in front of Yveltal. The large avian was caught slightly off guard, and Greninja used this to his advantage. "(Water Shuriken!)" Greninja made more compressed stars of water that expanded slightly and threw them at lightning-fast speeds into Yveltal's face, making aquatic explosions erupt upon impact, making Yveltal screech as the sharp and powerful Water Shuriken collided into his face, making him jerk back several feet in the air.

Above Xerneas, thunderclouds boomed, and yellow lightning was seen. The rain kept pouring down and Nic focused on Xerneas, who hooved the ground, making it quake briefly. "Oh Zap Plate, may your shining lightning electrify all that stands in my way! May your power leave the enemy stunned and bring down justice upon them!" Nic then brought his arm downwards as Xerneas charged. "Thunder!"

The Thunder then came shooting downwards towards Xerneas, and the giant beam of lightning struck its mark making Xerneas screech loudly as he was engulfed in an explosion of electricity that rattled the ground entirely.

"Thunder!" Nic did the attack once again, and another bolt of beaming lightning shot downwards on a recovering Xerneas. Xerneas's bloody gaze looked up and raised his head. As the Thunder shot downwards, the top of Xerneas's antlers was where a pink sphere was being formed, and then the head tilted forwards and dust flew rapidly and the earth shook once again. Xerneas's Moonblast shot into the sky, colliding and plowing straight through the Thunder attack and shooting upwards, straight through the storm clouds and completely left a large, gaping hole in the sky, completely stopping Rain Dance and the clouds disappeared.

Vanessa went wide-eyed. "No way! Just by shooting Moonblast into the air?!"

Greninja looked up as he was in midair after launching his Water Shuriken. He too was startled as sun was peering downwards. He was then caught off guard as Yveltal screeched, the shockwave making Greninja fly backwards and hit some debris on the ground.

Nic grunted as the clouds quickly came back when Yveltal stretched his body when ascending, and watched him flap as the clouds were like they were from before Rain Dance. Greninja emerged from the debris and grunted as he had more than a few scrapes. He didn't care as he continued onwards and used Dark Pulse, the Dark-Type move attacking Yveltal, but Yveltal flapped once and completely stopped the Dark Pulse, much to Greninja's shock.

"Damnit, they're too strong." Nic grunted.

'(We remember…)'

'(We ask for help…)"

Nic and Greninja gasped slightly, hearing those same voices. "Greninja, you think…?"

Greninja nodded. "(Yeah.)" They both looked back up at the two tainted Legendaries. "(It's them.)"

Natsu punched the ground and stood up, along with everyone else. "That's it!" He shouted. "We're not lying down anymore! We're gonna get back home! No matter what! Everyone get ready!"

Nic looked back at Natsu and the group with absolute shock. "No guys! Stop-!"

"Dragon Slayer Secret Art – Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"

"Ice-Make: Lance!"

"Memory-Make: Baryon Lightning Impact!"

"Requip!" Erza glowed and turned into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. Several swords spun around her and she swung the sword in her hand forwards. "Circle Sword!"

"Open: Gate of the Archer – Sagittarius!" Lucy summoned Sagittarius, who immediately unleashed rows upon rows of arrows.

"Iron Dragon's Roar!"

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

"Magnezone, use Zap Cannon!" Vanessa called out her Magnezone, who then unleashed his brutal Electric-Type move.

All of the attacks went sailing towards Yveltal and Xerneas alike. As the attacks went towards them, the Legendary duo weren't even fazed. All they did was watch as the attacks zoom their way. They were both struck with the attacks, of which caused a high-scaled magnitude and an explosion that everyone looked on to see. They all were beyond baffled as the energy they put into their attacks was tremendous.

When the majority of the dust settled, a big chunk of the grove was reduced to dust and there was still a fairly large crater. Natsu gave a serious gaze as his scarf flew about. He still smelled something very off as the dust cleared. "…no."

"Huh? Natsu, did you get them?" Lisanna asked.

Natsu sank his knees to the ground in sheer shock, as he then saw Yveltal's wings and Xerneas's tainted horns emerged from the dust cloud. Everyone went wide-eyed and loked with sheer torture as the duo screeched ever so harshly, making violent winds and shockwaves echo and ripple about, making dust disperse and everyone flew back and tumbled, screaming in agony. Sagittarius returned to his world as he crashed, and Magnezone landed with a thud, as did everyone else.

Erza looked up, barely hanging on. "Incredible. Not even a scratch. Is this true Legendary power?"

In the air above, Yveltal ascended and then converged transparent violet energy with blue electricity-like energy. Yveltal screeched as he then unleashed his Oblivion Wing with no warning. Everyone there went wide-eyed and filled with horror as they all were seeing white.

A massive boom like before, and the entire grove of Victory Road was swallowed in an explosion, the ground shifting and going as crazy as tidal waves, rocks being vaporized, and nobody could hear themselves scream as they weren't directly hit, but felt agonizing pain.

When everything settled, the grove, the entire grove, was but leveled dirt. No grass, no broken walls, no nothing. Just dirt. Everyone on the ground was barely conscious as they could hardly move, including Nic and Greninja. The duo could barely stand as everyone else had a few bloody scrapes. If they were directly hit by that Oblivion Wing, they'd be vaporized.

Nic panted as he and Greninja were the only ones that were able to stand. The duo was nothing but exhausted. They looked back and saw everyone lying down behind them, groaning and full of scrapes, including his sister.

"Vanessa…" Nic was caught off when he and Greninja heard some more thoughts.

'(We remember you.)' The one voice said.

'(You saved us, and we are fighting once again.)' The second voice said.

Nic and Greninja turned forwards and they found themselves in a faint field of nothing. They were left in shock briefly, but then saw the right side get shrouded in darkness, and the left side get covered in crystals and light.

"W-what is this?" Nic wondered.

"(I-I don't…I don't know.)" Greninja said.

They then went wide-eyed as they then saw faint images of Yveltal and Xerneas, with Yveltal's image on the dark side, and Xerneas's image on the light side, both normal colored.

"Xerneas? Yveltal? What's going on?" Nic demanded.

'(Nic Pularis. We remember you. You and your Greninja, and that Garchomp.)' Xerneas said.

'(We are sorry, we cannot control our actions.)' Yveltal said. '(You must defeat us. It's the only way to stop our blood…lust…)'

"Xerneas? Yveltal?" Nic shouted, but their images faded, and then everything went back to normal. Nic shook his head, and he looked and saw Greninja on his right side and both looked forwards, seeing the tainted duo standing before them.

Nic narrowed his eyes under his sunglasses. "Now I get it, they were trying to use whatever conscience they had to communicate." He said.

Greninja stood affirm. "(We have to stop them both, just like they asked.)" Greninja then crouched. "(Same as before! I'll stall Yveltal!)"

"Right!" Nic then coated himself in his electricity, where he then fired another Thunderbolt at Xerneas, as to where Greninja made a swift dash towards Yveltal. The Thunderbolt shot through the air, but Xerneas blocked with his horns, swatting it away like the attack was nothing.

Greninja went and shot Water Shuriken at Yveltal, but Yveltal flapped and ascended, avoiding Greninja's attack.

Vanessa returned Magnezone as he was injured. Though on a knee, Vanessa could still see the battle. "Nic! The portal won't have much time! We need to run!" She shouted.

However, this got Yveltal's attention as he saw Vanessa. He turned his head, glaring a bloodlust gaze at her. Immediately, Vanessa's heart pulsed in fear and Yveltal turned and fired his Dark Pulse at Vanessa.

Nic looked with extreme horror and fright as the Dark Pulse raced towards his sister. Nic lost all reason and he ran as fast as he could. "VANESSA!" He shouted. The Dark Pulse tore through the sky, heading at a fast pace.

Nic ran as fast as his legs could push him, and he zoomed like there was no tomorrow. "VANESSA!" He was getting closer as the electricity within him surged with such intensity it felt like turbines were moving, and his speed accelerated even faster.

Vanessa was paralyzed in fear as the Dark Pulse was so destructive that she'll perish for sure if this were to hit. She looked at her brother once more, seeing the desperate look through his sunglasses. 'Nic…'

The Dark Pulse continued to get closer, and Nic gave a powerful sprint as electricity started going wild around him, flaring like crazy. "VANESSA!" He shouted once more, finally getting in front of her as his blood temperature felt like it dropped and sparks flared like crazy.

It was as if time slowed down, and Nic's mind was racing so fast and his body felt cold. 'Vanessa, I've been the best brother I could've been. I left you alone for three years, and I won't allow myself to lose you again. That's why…' The Dark Pulse was several feet away from him and slowly coming closer. Nic felt the electricity surge even more, and his body started giving off a freezing chill, the ground freezing under him. 'My ideals as a good brother will keep you from harm! I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE!' Nic was then coated in a frigid field of electricity that make the ground shake and Vanessa covered up as she sailed back from the energy her brother was giving off.

"NIC! NO!" Erza shouted as the Dark Pulse struck its mark, and there was a massive explosion of black and purple. Vanessa looked with horrific eyes as Nic took the attack and was on her hands and knees, looking to see nothing as dust and winds surged.

"N-no…not again…" Vanessa squealed, thinking that Dark Pulse finished him.

Greninja was also baffled, but blinked as he was sharp, and knew Nic better than that. Nic would never go down so easily, and that's when the dust cleared that Greninja's eyes narrowed.

Vanessa, Erza, and everyone there saw the dust clear, and the temperature around them dropped drastically all of a sudden.

"No way…this power…" Erza said.

"I remember this smell. It's terrifying, and so cold. It's like my nerves got paralyzed." Natsu murmured.

"What are you talking about?" Gray wondered. Everyone there then saw a faint light from within the dispersing dust cloud, and they all went wide-eye when they saw the ground in a ten-foot radius frozen solid with stalagmites. The air was full of sparks of blue electricity.

Yveltal, Greninja, and Xerneas all were surprised when electricity flared as a creature took Nic's place, and the ice continued to increase in output, making more stalagmites.

"Nic?" Sophie wondered.

Nic roared very loudly, making even more electricity flare and the ice shattered, showing tremendous power and shockwaves made everyone stay down on the ground. The earth shook massively from the roar and the energy given off, and Nic then glared coldly.

"Legendary Force – Black Kyurem!" Nic declared, roaring once more into the sky, making a tremor and a shockwave of electricity and ice occur.

Xerneas reared back and Yveltal grew startled; that is, until Yveltal was struck from the side with Dark Pulse, making him jerk back into the air and shift his attention towards Greninja.

"Nic! I got this! You stop Xerneas!" Greninja shouted, launching his Water Shuriken at Yveltal.

Nic growled and glared at Xerneas, who remained immobile. Nic roared, and he let loose a monstrous Ice Beam attack, which froze the air and made ripples of ice scatter about as the attack shot like a missile. Xerneas was struck right in the face, making him screech harshly as tons of ice shattered and crashed into him, making him skid back several trembling feet and then Xerneas wailed as he then fell on his side, making the desolate grove shake.

Xerneas got his legs under him and slowly got back up. His face was slightly blue from the Ice Beam, and Greninja grinned briefly as he was in midair, dodging Yveltal's talons. '(Nic's Legendary Force. With that, he has the equal power of the Legendary he takes the form of.)' He then frowned. '(However, he only has so much time before all of his power is exhausted. He has to hit Xerneas and Yveltal with everything he's got!)' He then landed and backflipped to dodge Yveltal's mighty tail.

Nic stepped forward, making ice cover the ground beneath him. He clenched his icy clawed hand. "Now we have a fair fight! Come at me!"

Xerneas screeched and Nic roared, both monsters ready for the real battle to begin.

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How's that? I know some would've preferred for Nic to use another Legendary Force, but at this point, only Black Kyurem and White Kyurem are available. I have something intended later on for Nic to be gifted with new Legendary Force Forms.

I noticed that most, if not all, Fairy Tail Arcs end with a big battle, so I made it so that this could be that enormous battle. Getting everyone involved was such a hassle, so I minimized it so it was just Nic and Greninja against the Legendary duo.

A lot happened this chapter, but there is one more chapter left in this Arc, and I'm ending it with a monstrous bang, or at least the most epic battle up to date, either way, I'm gonna make it so that this Arc/battle is the highlight of this story.

Lisanna's Drapion Take Over will debut in the Tenrou Island Arc, so hang tight until then. As for the Tenrou Island Arc, I got huge plans there, but I'm still working them out. For now, let me know what you think of the Kalos Arc and the battles so far.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys are ecstatic about the final chapter of the Kalos Arc coming up, the insanity of the battles, and the epic suspense that makes you want to beg for more.

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Next Time: Life & Death – Part II