Chapter 46 – Cornered

Hi guys! I haven't got much to say, so let's get this chapter under way!

To Recap:

At base camp, Nic ponders about Mest, about not knowing him. He gets a search party out and soon finds Levy, who takes them to Gajeel. They soon learn that Zeref is on their island, and Grimoire Heart had come to exterminate them. Nic and his group fend off against many soldiers, as to where Makarov quarreled with Hades, who was revealed to be Master Precht, Fairy Tail's Second Master. Makarov is easily defeated, but the fight was far from over.

Chapter 46 – Cornered

An explosion of fire rattled the damp landscape, soldiers flying away and out of sight. Many had already scurried off and a majority had been lying around in pitiful defeat. Many had gashes, some damp, some had scratches and scrapes, and the barrage kept on going.

"Charizard, Heat Wave!" Nic commanded.

Charizard brought his wings back slowly. "This'll show'em we're not messin' around!" Charizard brought his wings forward, letting loose a very powerful, hot wind with searing flames swallowing the landscape ahead. The ground quaked as the area ahead, trees and all, exploded in a brief, flashy wildfire.

As soon as it cleared out, enemies were seen lying the water, and the tree trunks were charred, quite a few reduced to nothing. The one on the sides, the ones that weren't swallowed in Charizard's Heat Wave, were converging.

Nic jumped back and he looked around, seeing how a few were still remaining. He and Erza and everybody else were found surrounded once more. The numbers were very small, but that didn't stop Nic in the very least.

"Vanessa, does Goomy know Muddy Water?" Nic asked, almost sounding demanding.

Vanessa nodded in confirmation.

Nic then looked ahead. "Then use it. We're gonna swamp the rest out." Nic glowed and flashed, revealing to have shifted into the Splash Plate. Nic managed to get the girls behind him, and Goomy was on the other end, both staring out ahead. Charizard flapped his wings and ascended so as not to get hit.

Nic spread his arms out, a large ring of brown, muddy water enclosing him and Goomy. The water kept gushing in place, building up, and Nic looked back at Goomy.

"You ready Goomy?" Nic asked.

Goomy tensed up. "Y-Yeah! Let's flush them out!"

Nic looked ahead and saw the enemy getting nervous. "Hit them with everything out have! We have to finish them now!" The two then paused as they both readied their combined attack.

"Muddy Water!"

The ring of brown water then expanded and created an omnidirectional tidal wave that surprised the enemy from all angles. Every member shook and quivered, many ran for their lives, but Muddy Water caught up and they were whisked and washed away Many screams and gurgles were heard as they were all hit by a wall of water, and none stood a chance.

Muddy Water settled down, and Nic looked around and saw that the enemy soldiers were no more. The combined Muddy Water assault was enough to drive and wash them away.

"Was that the last of them?" Juvia asked, feeling optimistic.

Erza looked all around. "For now. We need to hurry and move!"

Krokorok looked rather angry…not that he always was. "Come on! I was just getting started!"

Vanessa turned towards her two Pokémon, directing her attention to her Krokorok. "What the heck are you talking about Krokorok? You're covered in scratches."

Krokorok looked down at his body and saw signs of exhaustion. His arms were covered in a few scratches, and his tail and abdomen sustained some as well. Apparently getting physical has its downsides.

"I can handle more, just watch!" Krokorok shouted.

"Everybody quiet!" Charizard shouted from above, getting everyone's attention. "It's clear we have to vacate, so let's do so." He turned away. "I wouldn't stick too long in one place if I was you."

"Charizard's right." Nic said in his normal form, looking at an open direction. "Everyone get moving, now!"

There wasn't any time to argue or make a strategy. Their objective was to get back to the others and regroup as quickly as they possibly could. As Nic and the girls ran in the shallow swamp water below, Charizard carried Goomy and Krokorok on his back, seeing as how they weren't as fast as he was. They made way west for a short while, and no sign of enemies from Charizard's low altitude.

Vanessa looked worried. "I still can't get why Grimoire Heart is after some guy that's possibly not on this island." She stated.

Juvia looked back at her. "I understand, but that's not what matters now. Grimoire Heart is here, and we have to find Wendy and the others." She then looked ahead. "Hopefully Sophie is doing her best to fend the intruders off as well.

Upon that moment, Vanessa looked down and frowned heavily. 'Hope she's okay as well.'

Nic and Erza both led the charge, as always. They kept the group at a fast pace until Nic and the redhead picked up a quick yet mighty disturbance. Upon sensing Magic from behind, they all turned around.

"Who goes there?" Erza called out.

Everyone was on guard as they encountered a girl, perhaps no older than Vanessa herself. She had pink eyes (Just to fit her appearance in the GMG Arc) and short, pink hair that went down to her shoulders. She had golden wing-like accessories on both sides of her ears. She had a red cloak with the Grimoire Heart emblem on the left side. The cloak covered her pink and black battle suit. She had on long, black stockings and boots, and she also had black gloves.

Charizard descended to the waters, looking with discomfort and defense as the pink-haired girl looked intensely at them.

"The enemy has been engaged." She announced. "I shall dispose of them at once."

Juvia was left a little surprised. "A child?"

Erza tightened her grip on her sword. "Don't let your guard down. There's a strange feeling about this girl."

Nic looked intensely at the enemy. "Yeah, I can feel Magic through the air. She has a lot of it."

Krokorok jumped off of Charizard's back and landed in front. "Let me tell you something! Pink-haired girl who acts like a robot designed to destroy us! The only thing that will be in the air, is your flying body!"

The pink-haired girl gave no immediate response. "I am Meredy, and my objective is to defeat the enemy at once."

"Defeat this!" Krokorok was outlined in white, and many gray rocks formed above him in the shape of a ring. He roared aloud, sending his Rock Tomb attack flying at Meredy.

Meredy brought her right arm around, creating teal blades in the air. "Maguilty Sodom!" Her teal blades then went after Krokorok's Rock Tomb attack. Much to everyone's surprise, the teal blades all pierced every rock, shattering them in the air. The remaining blades bypassed the shattered fragments and attacked Krokorok, making him shout as he sailed backwards into the water.

Vanessa looked with shock. "Krokorok, no!"

Goomy looked with surprise and gurgled an awe in her freight as well. Nic, Juvia, and Erza all looked hesitant as Meredy's blades pierced Krokorok's attack like it was nothing.

"So scissor beats rock huh, never thought I'd see it with my own eyes." Charizard figured.

Krokorok got back up, despite being a little hazy in vision. "Krokorok doesn't remember how that game goes, but who cares?!"

Goomy swallowed hard. "S-She's strong."

Nic put his two hands together and swiped his left one out, making a long, white needle for Cut. "Everyone be careful. She's very serious."

With Lisanna and Mira

The two seemed to have stopped the goons as best they could, and they were sure they had it easy, but they were wrong when they felt a powerful Magic from afar.

"You feel that?" Mira asked Lisanna.

"Yeah." Lisanna turned her head to look at a thick tree close by.

The tree had no response, but a protrusion began to prod out slowly, resembling a human face. "Humiliating." A deep male voice announced. "First cats and children, and now girls."

A figure made of tree bark slowly separated from the tree and began to take shape. The bark shaped and transformed into a tall, muscular man with tan skin and a black marking over his brown eyes. His hair was like brown confetti that jutted out in all directions. The sideburns connected is small beard to the hair. He had silver earrings that resembles Deep Sea Scales. He had green shoulder armor with Grimoire Heart's yellow emblem on the left shoulder. His upper body was covered in light green armor that defined his pectorals and abs, with the V-shaped collar looking black. The shoulder pads also ran down his sides and continued onward as a waist guard that was bind by a brown belt with white zigzags and brown X. The long sleeves and pants were both orange, and below the knees, they were strapped by green bands. He also had white boots.

Mira got very defensive. "Get behind me Lisanna. This guy's serious trouble."

Lisanna thought otherwise. "Come on sis, we can beat him together."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Might as well make introductions while we can. I am Azuma. I am a member of the 7 Kin of Purgatory." He announced. He paused a short moment. "It seems that I always have to step in thin twigs rather than logs to get across."

"What does that mean?" Mira said.

Azuma sighed. "Well I don't mean to offend you, but after fighting colored cats and children, I would expect much tougher adversaries than young ladies." He said.

Mira did some quick puzzling before she came to a conclusion. "If he played with colored cats and children, does that mean he…"

"He must have fought Happy and Wendy's team." Lisanna finished.

Azuma then intervened when he stuck out a hand. "I don't see who I fight concerns you. Your real worry is yourselves."

Lisanna and Mira both crouched and saw golden glints sparkle in front of them. The glints could only mean bad news, as they both jumped away as the area in front was engulfed in a vast explosion, shaking the land underneath them.

Dust blew in all directions, and when it settled, Mira and Lisanna were seen on some shattered ground, but didn't sustain any injuries.

Mira turned towards her sister. "Lisanna, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." She responded. "But his Magic is so strong." She muttered.

"This Mage is powerful."

Lisanna counter-argued. "Yeah, no kidding. But I know we can defeat him!"

Azuma scowled lightly in mockery of Lisanna. Lisanna jumped and used her Take Over, transforming her arms into Harpy wings and her feet became giant magenta talons. She flew right in to attack with her talons, but Azuma grabbed the claws with one hand, not even budging an inch.

"Take Over Magic. Wasn't expecting that." Azuma admitted.

"Then try this!" Then she glowed, which made Azuma's eyes widen slightly. "Penguin!" She then became a giant penguin with pink cheeks, and Azuma jumped and dodged her incoming orange foot that pressed on the ground.

Mira looked on with surprise. 'Lisanna's switched to a different Take Over. When did she learn to do that?'

Lisanna glowed and shifted her Take Over into another animal, which was the big, purple bunny. "Don't take me lightly. I'm young, but I'm just as tough as the other's in Fairy Tail."

Azuma extende his two palms out. "Bleve!" The area in front of Azuma exploded. The earth shook a little, and yet from the smoke, Lisanna as a giant bird with a long neck twirled out, fairly unscathed. Azuma was a little impressed, but didn't see her much of a challenge just because she dodged that attack.

In mid-air, Lisanna shifted into her cat form, which was a black and gray-striped bikini with a long tail, bra, and her hands and feet resembles a wild cat. She descended down and slashed. Azuma easily dodged her attack, and continued dodging Lisanna's slashing. He found room to use Bleve and make the area between them explode, which Lisanna flew back and landed on the ground with a thud.

"Lisanna!" Mira shouted.

Lisanna got up and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I told you, I got this!" Lisanna then glowed once more, her form being one that made Azuma blink with surprise. The next thing he knew, he was grabbed by both sides.

"What's this? A different Take Over?" He saw Lisanna in her Drapion Take Over, and he felt the crushing grip. Lisanna used her tail and had the pincers glow purple. She leaned in and her tail went over her head, her Night Slash jabbing Azuma's armor chest, which made him skid back.

Lisanna then crossed her arms in the shape of an X. "There's more where that came from!" Her X shape emanated a purple cross comprised of poison. "Cross Poison!" Shen crossed her arms, shooting the poisonous X at Azuma. Azuma used his Bleve again and made an explosion ahead of him, shielding him as he nullified Lisanna's Cross Poison.

"Pin Missile!" Azuma heard her battlecry as he saw white orbs streamed in green shoot after him through the dispersing dust. He dodged and shifted left and right, evading the ever-shooting assault. He saw a missile head right for him, and he covered up as he took it. The attack exploded, but it only was minor compared to what he could do. He was even shoved back a foot.

Azuma uncovered to see that Lisanna was standing on her four feet in preparations for her next move. Azuma narrowed his eyes and extended his rams out again. "Bleve!" He let loose another barrage of explosions in front of Lisanna, in which she covered up and was swallowed in.

"Lisanna!" Mira cried out once more. Her worries were increasing, but they were brought to a stop when she saw the explosion clear out, showing Lisanna shaking and sustaining a few scratches.

Lisanna kept her balance as she continued battling. "Don't worry, I'm still okay-!" She stopped when Azuma appeared in front of her through the dispersing dust, giving Lisanna only enough room to gasp before he drove a fist into her armored abdomen, making her skid back several feet and grunt.

Azuma opened and closed his clutched hand. "Most formidable. I never would've guessed you would use an armored Take Over." He then glowed a green aura, signaling his Magic power emanation. "However…" He extended both palms out. "I cannot lose. Burst Claw!"

Lisanna felt the ground shake and she looked down, and she was held victim to blade-like beams shooting up at her simultaneously. Lisanna screamed as her weak point was hit and she was seen flying in the air, twirling and twirling until she landed on her side with a thud, tumbling away to a stop.

Mira rushed over towards her injured sister. "Lisanna! Lisanna!" She shouted, with the young Strauss sibling budging slightly as she glowed and reverted to herself. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah…I can manage." Lisanna reasoned, slowly standing back up. "He got me in my blind spot, and I didn't see it."

Azuma crossed his arms and huffed. "Battles can't be won over sentiment alone, for it takes honed skills. Mine clearly outweigh yours."

Mira clenched her fists and looked seriously at Azuma. "You wouldn't understand. Our guild holds nothing back, and we've come this far because we put our very emotions into play."

Azuma paid no heed. "Your ideals are something I couldn't care less about."

Mira then began to hum in escalation of the fight and she let a purple aura engulf herself. "You hurt our family, and you'll live to regret it."

Azuma, surprised by this power increase, was caught blinking. 'This is a first. Before, I didn't sense any Magic power from here; now, I sense a tremendous spike.' Azuma snickered. "Two against one? Then this means I don't have to hold back." He immediately extended an arm out. "Bleve!"

The area in front of Mira and Lisanna exploded once again, as massive as always. They jerked back as they tried to avoid the explosion, which rattled the earth and threw them off balance. Azuma's Bleve then sparked some more, making more explosion which made them both scream as they landed on their backs with thuds, rock flying right past them.

Azuma snickered once again. "If you say your one big family, then it's fitting you all fall together."

Lisanna struggled to get up, turning towards her sister. "Mira…you gotta use Satan Soul."

Mira paused as she hesitated to speak, but came clean. "I'm still recovering. I can't seem to do it right now."

Hearing about Mira's Satan Soul, and her name in general, Azuma began to piece the information together. "Wait...I know you. You're both sisters; Fairy Tail's Strauss family. In that case, then you must be the one nicknamed The Demon."

Mira frowned. "…That's who I once was."

"You too weak to fulfill my wish to fight with the strength you once possessed?" Azuma asked, punching his own palm.

Lisanna clenched a fist. "I'll take you on again!"

"No Lisanna." Mira said, getting her sister to stop and turn towards her. "You need to go, now."

Lisanna was shocked. "What? No, I can't leave you to fight him!"

"You don't have a choice." Her tone sounded dim and meek as she looked at Azuma. "…you can't beat him."

A sudden wind blew as tensions rose against all three were at a standstill. Lisanna was unsure what had to be done. She didn't want to leave her sister to fight, but not much of an option was given, but she was stubborn. It was a tough choice.

Azuma saw the dilemma and took matters into his own hands. "I preferable dislike doing this, but you've left me no choice." He extended an arm out, making the ground under Lisanna burst with green vines, entangling her and keeping her confined. Lisanna yelped as she was constricted. On the outside of the vines, a clock with the number 180 showed, counting down every second.

Mira panicked and Lisanna struggled. Mira rushed on over as the countdown went on and the roots didn't budge. Despite struggling, Lisanna was trapped and Mira couldn't get her out.

"In three minutes." Azuma started. "Those roots will detonate. Pulling the roots won't work, for your only hope of stopping the countdown is to defeat me!"

Mira stopped pulling, seeing as how Azuma was right. "She turned towards him anxiously. "Coward!"

Azuma's eyes narrowed. "You accuse me, and yet I'm the one who isn't trembling."

Seeing there was no other way, Mira spread her legs apart and pressed her hand on the ground. A dark Magic seal appeared over her as she transformed into Satan Soul with her devious smirk of retribution.

'I don't have much Magic left. I have to hit him hard and fast.' She thought. She crouched and sprung ahead at an incredible speed. Azuma aged as Mira stretched out her right leg and nailed him in the chest.

Azuma had a twisted expression as he sailed back. "At last, a worthy foe." He skidded back to a stop, and smirked as he used Bleve in front of Mira. Her eyes widened as she had no room and was swallowed up by the attack, the land rumbling as she flew backwards from the vast smoke cloud.

She glanced back at Lisanna, worries taking over, and that left her open when Azuma extended an arm over his head. Green vines shot up from the ground and coiled around Mira's ankles and legs high above the ground. "Chain Burst!" Azuma snapped his fingers, detonating the roots from the ground up, making a line of explosions that reached Mira and swallowed the area above in a vast explosion.

Above, Mira escaped by spreading her wings and getting away at the last second, gaining brief altitude before diving in through the smoke cloud towards Azuma. She punched forwards when she flew in front, but Azuma blocked with his own fist.

They soon began close-range combat, Azuma parrying al of Mira's vast and swift punches and kicks; all while having a smirk on his face. Mira kicked and punched in rapid succession, but Azuma leaned in all directions and blocked with his arms.

'Her strength. Her ferocity. It's just what I was looking for!' He thought in glee as the clock had surprisingly reached the one-minute mark. Mira was so engulfed in combat, she failed to take into account how much time has passed.

When Mira looked away to see the time, Azuma scoffed. He moved his arm in an arc and roots shot up and struck Mira's abdomen, sending her soaring into the air. "Never take your eyes off of your opponent! Burst Claw! A barrage of blades then went about in the air and converged onto Mira, making full contact and exploding.

"Mira!" Lisanna shouted, seeing her sister fall from the sky. "No!"

Mira steadied herself with as much willpower she possibly had, making a sphere of darkness in front of her palms. "Evil Explosion!" She then thrust the dark sphere at Azuma, unleashing a beam at him, causing a catastrophic explosion.

Mira settled herself on the ground, huffing as she exhausted a lot of her own Magic. She was sure to have seriously wound him…

The smoke cleared, showing Azuma barely scratches as his tree shield was destroyed, taking the hit for him.

Mira gasped in shock as her last attack didn't do anything. Lisanna also gasped, and she looked down with horror to see thirty seconds left. Mira looked back and shook heavily.

Azuma dispelled his tree shield. "Impressive. I'm enjoying this all too much, let's keep going." He said, sadistically wanting more fight.

As Azuma smirked, Mira was left at a stalemate. This isn't what I hoped. He's way too strong.' Mira looked back at her sister once more, seeing the desperate plea in her eyes as the clocked reached fifteen seconds. Mira's own heart beat faster as she snapped and turned and flew turned her own sister.

"Are you running away from me?!" Azuma shouted in disappointment.

"Mira-!" Lisanna was stopped when she felt arms wrap around her neck, holding her tight. Lisanna's eyes slowly widened in shock.

Azuma looked displeased. "Stand and fight. It's the only way you'll save your sister." He reminded.

Despite his warning, Mira kept her back to him. She glowed and reverted back to herself, still hugging her sister. "…I'm sorry." She whispered. "I just…don't have enough power left." Despite her mood, she kept smiling. "The way I am now…we're too weak."

Lisanna's eyes shook. "You're giving up?" She squealed, as the clock struck ten seconds.

Mira hugged her tighter. "No matter what…I won't give up hope. I know someone in our guild will stop them…I know."

The clock slowly ticked and Lisana was beginning to tear up, seeing as how Mira and herself were gonna go down as together. Azuma looked on patiently as the clock was about to hit zero.

"I'm sorry, forgive me…"

Before the clock could strike zero, a miracle happened…

"Memorize!" A voice called out. "And…forget!"

Suddenly, the clock stopped, and Mira and Lisanna were completely still as the roots glowed and sparkles into nothing, dispelling almost immediately.

"What's this!" Azuma exclaimed. "My spell was nullified?!" He looked around himself and saw he was surrounded by a chain of memories. He turned left and right to see himself covered in all directions, and the ground beneath crumbled and shot up jagged stones with yellow energy that exploded in an electrifying manner.

Mira and Lisanna were still in shock, but even they heard Azuma's screams of pain, and dust blew here and there. Mira and Lisanna both looked ahead, seeing the smoke and electricity clear, revealing Azuma scratched up quite a bit.

"Who did that?!" He demanded. From the remaining smoke, a lone figure stood in between the Strauss siblings and Azuma.

"Sophie!" Lisanna exclaimed.

Sophie looked with a serious gaze at Azuma. "It was a good thing I got here just in time. I heard explosions and rushed over here." She turned to look at them both. "Are you both alright?"

Azuma gave a glowering expression. "So, it seems this one can dispel my Magic, and attack at the same time. Let's see what you can possibly do since The Demon called it quits."

Sophie clenched her fists. "Mira. Lisanna. You two find Levy and Gajeel. They should be around here somewhere." She explained, giving a cold glare at Azuma, almost threatening-like.

Lisanna and Mira weakly stood up, surprised and concerned at the same time. "But what about you?" Lisanna asked.

Mira looked at Lisanna. "Lisanna…we can't stay here. We're low on Magic power." She looked ahead, slight fear in her eyes as well. "I'm afraid Sophie has to cover for us."

"What are you standing there for? Go!" Sophie yelled back, and the Strauss siblings slowly stepped back and soon broke into a run, away from the fight, much to their own dismay.

"You're not getting away from me, cowards!" Azuma shouted, extending an arm out and making explosions.

As they glint in front, Sophie made a chain of memories. "Not so fast! Memory-Make: Jagged Barrier!" A large rock wall with ice spikes shot up from the ground behind her, blocking Azuma's visual of the Strauss siblings as they escaped, keeping the explosion from detonating fully as they were little bursts in front of the barrier, which only made small bits of it chunk off.

"Your opponent is me now." Sophie warned.

"Hmph. Never should've expected Fairy Tail to be cowardly. I expected more from her, so you better suffice while you're being obliterated."

Sophie spread her legs as she readied herself. "Fairy Tail isn't cowardly. We just know when to be smart, unlike you sadistic swine."

Azuma scoffed at her remark and punched his own palm once more. "Hope you prove to be interesting." brief silence blew and they paused a short while. "…Let's begin."

Azuma extended his arm out, initiating Bleve. Sophie quickly pressed her right hand on the ground and another, less wide, Jagged Barrier arose in front of her, taking the blow and keeping her safe, only to feel the ground shake from the explosion.

Azuma pressed his arm on the ground. "Linear Explosions!" A straight line of small explosions that made way towards the barrier, soon reaching it and ultimately generating enough force to shatter it completely. Sophie was seen a safe distance away when the barrier was destroyed, using it as cover to gain some distance so she would be safe when it shattered.

As the smoke cleared out, Sophie pointed her finger at her head as a focus point and a chain of memories emerged. "Memory-Make: Pyro Saucer!" She released tons of saucers engulfed in rapid-spinning flames that went after Azuma through the smoke. Azuma slammed his hand onto the ground, making a shield made of roots. Sophie narrowed her vision. "Don't think that'll stop me!"

The razor-sharp fire saucers all sliced through the roots like bullets through targets, striking Azuma as he used his arms to lessen the cindering blows. He grunted as he was pelted for a few moments, skidding back to a stop as the attack stopped. He looked ahead to see his shield was reduced to cut and charred pieces.

"Memory-Make: Stone Lightning!" She made another chain of memories, and from above, Azuma saw an incoming lightning bolt and jumped back to dodge, seeing the spot in front and nearby rots get turned to stone upon getting shocked. He reset himself and jerked left to avoid another downwards bolt, and then back right once again to avoid one last one.

Once he stopped, he showed discontent. "Impudent brat!" He extended an arm forwards, unleashing a barrage of roots at her. Sophie saw the massive flow of roots heading after her, and she used her Pyro Saucer once more, extending her arm out ahead and cutting the individual roots once more, sparring her.

Azuma and Sophie found themselves at a standstill, but that didn't hold up for that long, as Azuma narrowed his eyes and clasped his hands together. Sophie shook a little as the ground rumbled with such vast intensity. She almost lost her balance and stumbled a small bit.

Azuma then inhaled. "Burst Claw!" The ground underneath Sophie then burst with blade-like beams that shot straight under her, making a powerful explosion under her feet.

Sophie screamed as the ground below crumbled and she was found spiraling in mid-air from the explosion underneath. Sophie grunted and straightened out in the air, looking down at Azuma. "I got that one memorized now." She muttered.

Azuma scoffed and extended his right arm upwards, making tree roots emerge from the ground and entangle Sophie's wrists and ankles. "Chain Burst!" Azuma snapped his fingers once more, and the line of explosions went after Sophie.

As they traveled towards her, she looked calm. "Memorize…Then…" Her eyes widened. "…Forget!"

In that instant, the explosions ceased just before they could get within her range. The roots themselves that kept her in the air began to glow and be reduced to green sparkles that quickly dispersed, letting her land on the ground below.

She looked back up at a surprised Azuma, her serious glare staring down his shock.

She got back up and extended her arms ahead. "Azuma, wasn't it? I take it you're with the 7 Kin of Purgatory."

Azuma was over his shock and settled down. "Yes, and if I remember correctly, you're one of Fairy Tail's most recent recruits. Sophie, right?"

She spread her legs apart once more and pointed at her own head. "Yeah, looks like we're acquainted."

"Indeed. Your Magic seems to cancel out my spells, but let's see if you can keep up." He paused. "Bleve!" He had a hand out and an explosion beamed after Sophie, to which she readied herself for.

A chain of memories was made and she made several ice mirrors assemble in front of her. "Memory-Make: Mirrors of Cold Retribution!" From all of the mirrors, dark green energy beams traveled through the air at the incoming explosion wave. When both attacks collided, a small glint was seen in between the two Mages, which escalated into a full-scale explosion that beamed upwards into the sky.

With Mira and Lisanna

"Can you keep going Mira?" Lisanna asked.

Mira nodded. "Yeah. We have to find everyone else."

The injured sisters supported the other as they were both wounded from their battle with Azuma. They had no Magic power left, so running into an enemy would be a big problem for them; but more importantly, they were too weak to continue fighting, and they had to leave Sophie alone to fend against Azuma.

Both sisters frowned, knowing they didn't have a choice. All they could do was have faith.

They saw a huge beam-like explosion rise from afar, looking like an intense attack. They both gasped and turned around, seeing just where the direction came from.

"What was that?" Mira shouted, seeing the explosion dwindle.

"That must have been Sophie's battle!" Lisanna shouted. Both sisters wanted to stay, but…they knew it'd be a bad idea. Lisanna looked back ahead. "Come on Mira, we have to find everyone else."

Mira could only nod and follow through with what Sophie told them, feeling slight remorse that they had to go through with leaving her like that.

With Sophie

The smoke and dust blew away, revealing a shattered terrain in between Azuma and Sophie. They waited patiently for the other to move, for the next move could either be their opening, or their demise.

In a few brief moments that followed, Sophie pointed her finger at her forehead. A slow chain of memories flowed all around her. She and Azuma stared at the other coldly as the blonde tried to think of something.

'This guy's Magic reservoir is large. I managed to erase a few of his attacks, but I can't take my chances. I have to strike hard and fast and keep him moving, and then corner him so that I can strike.' Her resolve was set, and her eyes narrowed. "Memory-Make: Stone Lightning!"

The same attack from earlier shot down, the lightning bolt crackling as it struck where Azuma was standing. He dodged once again, evading the stone-morphing attack again, jumping left and right.

'This attack again? Doesn't she know it won't work?' Azuma wondered. When the attack finally stopped, he looked ahead and saw Sophie pointing her finger at her head again.

"Memory-Make: Baryon Lightning Impact!" Sophie extended her arms out and let loose a light green beam that was coated in lightning. The attack zoomed at Azuma, who extended an arm out.

Azuma kept his arm out, but when he tried to make a shield of roots, he noticed that they weren't showing up. "What's this-?!" He looked at the ground ahead of him, and he saw that the whole ground was coated in thick stone. 'Did she use that attack to slow down my defenses? Most impressive.' He was left hit directly, enveloped in an explosion of green with thousands of yellow sparks surging. The energy expanded as Sophie hair flew about, but she remained still as she saw the attack envelop her enemy.

When the explosion subsided, there was a large smoke cloud in front of her, yet her guard wasn't dropped. "…I think that should have weakened him." She quietly figured. "I managed to hold him off that one point, but-!"

Her eyes widened when she felt a large Magic spike. The energy she felt was very large, much larger than from a few minutes ago. She grunted and remained calm as best she could, but her focus was of when a barrage of projectiles went barrowing through the dispersing smoke, resembling seeds. Sophie covered up as she was hit by the sharp barrage, flying back and skidding backwards to a stop on her two feet.

She huffed and looked ahead, seeing a figure walk through the clearing smoke. "You truly are formidable, and your attacks are highly valued." Sophie could hear Azuma's voice ring about as he stepped out of the smoke, covered in scratches, but giving a cool glare of a fierce warrior.

Sophie had hit him with a lot of Magic within that time span, and yet his Magic was overwhelming, though she saw this in the very beginning. Her eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth.

"Folium Sica!" He moved his arm in a swiping motion, and a massive funnel of leaves went after Sophie.

Sophie saw the leaves head towards her, and she easily used her Pyro Saucer to stop the attack. Her attack launched a vast barrage and the Folium Sica kept on coming. She kept it up until it finally settled, and her Pyro Saucer stopped.

When the last bit of the two attacks ceased, Sophie looked to see that Azuma was no longer there. Sophie looked around, turning her head. "Where'd he go?"

She narrowed her eyes as she could still feel his Magic, so he must still be around. If she remembered correctly, Azuma's Magic was that to the earth in a way. "He shields with roots, makes explosions…it just doesn't add up-!"

She caught a glimpse of something behind, but it was bad news. She pivoted and jerked away from a sudden Linear Explosion Spell, which caught her off balance. When she landed, she caught glimpses from behind her back. She turned her head and gasped.

Azuma's Bleve exploded behind her back and she yelled as she flew ahead into a tumbling thud, soon rolling onto her side and her vision got all dizzy.

"If you are wondering, my Great Tree Arc is a unique Magic." Sophie could hear Azuma's voice echo through the clearing, but no precise point was given. Sophie huffed a little and slowly stood up. When she got to her two feet, she turned to look at where the strongest point of Magic came from.

"Futile." Sophie heard Azuma's voice ring again, and she turned to where it came from, only to receive Bleve, which exploded on her right. She flew into the air and yelled again, landing on her abdomen.

Azuma's face was embedded into a nearby tree. "The key to defeating an opponent is knowing their weaknesses, and you clearly lack the knowledge of my weaknesses, as to where yours is that you can't keep up to erase my attacks." His entire body then slowly emerged from the tree, walking towards Sophie, who was at a disadvantage.

Sophie slowly got to her knees, struggling as she gawked at the ground beneath. She heaved a bit as Azuma walked towards her again, stopping about twenty feet from her as she slowly got to her feet again and turned towards him.

Sophie was exhausted. "You think…you can defeat us?" She huffed with a serious tone. "Slichah, but you're far from ever defeating Fairy Tail."

Azuma scoffed again, extending his arm forward towards her. Vines from the ground emerged and darted after her, lashing her ribs and cracking them and making her shoot back with a thud on her back, making her gag.

Sophie was having trouble breathing. She gagged as she got back up to face him.

"I won't…have Grimoire Heart…ruin our family…never to the likes of you." She growled before coughing.

Azuma just stared at her. A brief pause before responding. "This family business is what is your weakness to all of you. Your care and concern is what makes one coward away, just as The Demon had done."

Sophie huffed as she clenched her ribs. "…Or maybe…it's our greatest strength…what we hold dear…is something that makes us…stronger than the forces of darkness." Azuma had no response to Sophie as her face was covered in scratches, her ribs cracked, and she used up too much Magic power.

"…You knew you didn't stand a chance, yet you fought me anyway." Azuma concluded.

Despite her pain, and her condition, Sophie gave a smirk. "Yeah…you're right…but I did it to buy time…" She huffed a moment before returning to speaking. "If you think that I'm…throwing myself away…you're dead wrong."

Azuma's eyes widened slightly.

"I knew full well that your Magic was superior, and yet…" She wobbled a bit while looking at him with dead seriousness. "…I chose this way, for no one should bear the burden of throwing themselves for another sibling. What Lisanna and Mira have…is something Nic and Vanessa have; a family bond, one that knows no bounds."

She huffed some more as her ribs were cracked, and Azuma's eyes remained blank. He slowly walked ahead and he gave a powerful kick to Sophie's abdomen, sending her sailing into some large, broken roots. She gagged some more as Azuma took a few steps ahead before stopping.

Sophie tried to support herself with the root, and were knees shook as she was exhausted, but she still kept trying.

"The memories I make…I told dear…the anguish…the burdens…the risks we all take. It's all for one, and one for all…" She got her focus back and narrowed her eyes. "Meeting with Nic and everyone else…we may be a crazy bunch…but we got it where it counts, and in the end, we won't fall…ever."

Azuma slowly extended his arm out. "…we'll see. Bleve!"

Sophie quickly used whatever will she had and turned to leap over the root, her feet planted and she turned around as the Bleve exploded, the area in front of her exploding, and everything went flying, including her.

Sophie flew back grunting heavily and coughing. The dust blew right past her as she skidded on her feet and came to a stop. She was shaking heavily, but she kept her balance.

Her vison imagined Fairy Tail and everyone in it. Nic, Erza, Vanessa, everyone. Seeing them made her resolve that stronger. narrowed. "If Fairy Tail is at risk, then it's one's obligation to put his or herself on the line for their family."

Azuma was still on the other side of the smoke that was clearing. He heard Sophie's voice, and he blinked. He then saw a brief flash of something from the other side, and then he stiffened slightly. 'I feel a lot of Magic power. Just what is she using?'

The smoke cleared out, and Azuma's lips parted slightly as he saw Sophie with a serious gaze as she had a pressurized arrow made of dark energy, and spiraling ice around it. The Magic she was using was pretty massive, which could mean the attack may very well be her last.

Azuma clenched his fists. "So I see you chose to take the risk huh. I'll praise you for fending me off this long, but…it's over now." He extended both arms out, and he emanated a grand swell of power.

Sophie, smirking in defeat once more, narrowed her eyes. "I'll never go down without a fight. You may be strong, but I'll remember this, and you should too…I never underestimated you…for I learn from my mistakes…I will continue fighting until I can stand no more."

Azuma actually started grinning. "Then come!"

Sophie then felt Azuma's Magic channel beneath her, and she then unleashed her assault.

"Memory-Make: Piercing Frigid Darkness!" The lock on Sophie had flashed, and she move her arms in opposite arcs, releasing the spear at high speed.

Azuma made his chance as well. "Tower Burst!"

Sophie's arrow shot through the air at the speed of sound, time slowing down as the spear made brief contact in Azuma's abdomen, just as he engulfed himself in flames; at that instant, Azuma gagged as the arrow exploded in an icy-green flash that shook the ground even more. The explosion Azuma made then became heavily unstable, and he screamed as he was engulfed in a cool, dark explosion as his shot outwards.

The flaming explosion was reaching Sophie, and she only looked and smirked, as she gave him a parting shot.

Everything grew silent and white.

'…I hope I gave the others enough time to find each other. Nic, Vanessa, Erza…don't worry guys, this fight is far from over…and also…Ani lo ohevet tevah…'

Everything in that instant was swallowed in a disastrous explosion of flames, dark green, and light blue, which shot up in a monstrous tower up into the sky, echoing all through Tenrou Island.

With Levy and Gajeel

Levy continued to haul Gajeel over her shoulders as she dragged herself through the bushes and through the area. Sophie gave them some cover from before, and now they were on the run from any goons, but they were still in no condition to put up any sort of fight.

"Just hang in there Gajeel, we'll find the others and get help." Levy assured

The bushes close by shrugged, meaning there was something nearby. Levy swallowed hard as she didn't have any strength, but to her relief, it was Lisanna and Mira, both battered.

"Mira! Lisanna!" Levy exclaimed, glad to see the two okay.

The Strauss siblings ran up to Levy and saw her injuries, and they saw that Gajeel had it worse than her. "Levy, what happened to you two?" Lisanna asked in concern.

"It was Grimoire Heart. They attacked us." She faintly said, shaking a little. "Gajeel could barely handle them…and I…couldn't do much of anything."

Mira knelt down to her. "Hey, it's okay." She soothingly said. "We'll get through this. Come on." Mira helped support another side of Gajeel, giving some relief to Levy. The three were gonna go find the others, but the ground shook and they turned their gazes upward to see a tower of flames, black, and ice blue shooting up in the sky. The Magic power they sensed was tremendous.

As it settled and the rumbling stopped, Lisanna and Mira both looked with distraught gazes at the direction where it came from, their worries beyond recognition.

"What was that just now?" Levy asked. "Was that an enemy?"

Lisanna could've sworn she hiccupped once and looked as though she was gonna break down, and Mira wasn't faring any better.

Mira's face had grief written all over it. "…Sophie…no…"

With Sophie

Azuma stood in the middle of a leveled terrain. The ground cindered and everything was reduced to ashes or shattered into pieces beyond recognition. He had his arms out and panted heavily, his eyes open wide.

In front was Sophie, her hair all messy, her shirt torn in a few spots, her entire body full of scratches and scrapes, and she laid on her back, unconscious and lips parted.

Azuma panted some more and soon stood affirm, but his victory was short-lived when a pain went through his abdomen and he gripped it. He winced as he tried to let the pain settle. He looked down to find that his entire abdomen armor was no more, and his actual abdomen had a faint wound on his abs, leaving it nearly blue with bruises.

If he hadn't used Tower Burst, the damage could've been much worse.

He composed himself and slowly turned away, disbelieved that Sophie's parting blow was that drastic. He silently walked away since no one else was present, yet he mentally grinned, knowing that Sophie truly was a commendable adversary.

Meanwhile…

Ultear, adorned in a skin-tight battle suit, walked through the forest, deep into the unknown, her goal being absolute.

She stopped for a short while, looking down with a smile. "I'm so near to him." She muttered, her cheeks blushing a light shade of pink. "This path I've walked, full of turmoil, pain, and exhaustion, and now I'm near the end."

She looked at her hands, palms facing her. "And once I find Zeref, my soul can be at peace…"

A pair of footsteps was heard from afar, appearing out of the shadows from behind her.

Ultear immediately turned in defense. "Whoa are you-?!"

She stopped in mid-sentence and gawked, her eyes shaking ever so heavily as she thought reality was confusing her. In front was the one person she longed to find. Zeref. The very man Natsu encountered earlier.

"You must be one of the many that have come here." He said, Ultear unable to comprehend what she was seeing. He walked a few paced towards her. "You must be a part of those who sow the seeds that sprout conflict."

Ultear could only smile in joy.

"It's tragic…for you have made me quite angry." His black, innocent eyes from before showed red. Red of bloody anger and retribution.

As he had stated his claim, the sun in the sky was starting to set a little, and the sky was a light orange hue.

As Zeref glared at her, Ultear couldn't help but get all misty in the eyes. Her eyes were all shaken up, and a solemn tear dropped to the ground.

Zeref continued his cold glare at her. "You have come to indulge in meaningless conflict. Conflict and fighting that only harms more lives."

Ultear dropped to a knee. "It was your presence that we sought for, Lord Zeref."

A long silence weighed down on the two, Ultear and Zeref remaining quiet. Zeref was the one to break it.

"I will not allow myself to indulge in mankind's affairs. Not for this era." He stated. "I have no desire to see war break out. This planet and its inhabitance always indulges in violence that can provoke a cataclysmic stasis that none can ever hope to redeem for. I order you to stop your attack and leave this island at once!"

Ultear's eyes widened in slight disbelief. Everything she knew about this guy…wasn't right.

'This can't be right.' She thought. 'War and death disinterests him?...he seems conscious, but maybe he's unaware.' Many questions rang through her. 'Is this state of rest? This can't be him.'

"Your presence, it infuriates me!" Zeref announced, glowering down at her, his red eyes beaming disgust. Ultear gasped as she felt a strong sense of gear take over in every cell of her body. She cringed in place as fear was taking over.

Ultear slowly looked up to see Zeref materializing a black sphere of energy. "W-What is that?" Zeref threw the sphere at her, forcing her to react by dodging in haste. The sphere kept on moving ahead, boring straight through a rock. The sphere went through, leaving an open circle.

Ultear looked back at the opening of the rock and stood thinking. 'If that'd touched me, there'd be nothing left of me.' She looked back ahead and saw Zeref materializing another black sphere. 'Lord Zeref's capture is at stake. I have to take the risk.'

Zeref threw the black sphere once more at her, but Ultear countered. She used her Arc of Time Magic and made the rock behind her shatter into tiny fragments. By using her Telekinesis, she sent the pieces at the incoming sphere, but the sphere continued through the rocks like they were nothing. Ultear kept sending rock ahead, and the black sphere expanded, making Ultear skid back, thankful she wasn't hit as it exploded before it could touch her.

She got to her knees and huffed. Zeref readied another sphere of death energy. Ultear extended an arm out while still low to the ground. "I will make you come with us!"

Using her Magic once more, a small root grew from underneath Zeref. The root soon grew immensely and he found himself enclosed in a rooted tree trunk, which made him stop his attack.

"Now I got you!"

Zeref's eyes shook heavily. "N-No…here it comes…" Ultear was taken by surprise by Zeref looking distraught again. "Death Predation!" Zeref then expelled a vast veil of darkness. Zeref screamed as he felt a lot of pain as he emitted a lot of darkness. The tree that restrained him withered into absolute nothing. Nearby plant life and trees were dead and reduced to nothing.

As the attack made way towards Ultear, she had to act fast before she got swallowed up and died. She reached for an orb she had and held it out. Using it, she had it swallow up the attack, but she still was very much hesitant and struggled endlessly. She was shoved back several feet, but the orb kept absorbing the ominous attack. Soon enough, the wave of death stopped, and the orb she had had absorbed the heinous components. She huffed a lot as the orb in front of her crack and fall apart before her.

Ultear panted as she looked at Zeref, seeing how he was sitting back and panting as well. He no longer had those red eyes, but they were the innocent black again. Ultear had to act fast.

"Please tell me! Who are you?" Zeref called out. His only response was Ultear using her Arc of Time to fix her orb, returning it to its original form and color.

Ultear threw the orb over Zeref's head. "Luminous Minutes!" The one orb glowed and divided into several more glowing orbs. They all then shot down, striking Zeref as he was defenseless. Zeref screamed as he was pelted endlessly.

Ultear panted as Zeref fell forward and shook, unable to move. Ultear got to her feet. "This pitiful state you're in, it's no match for me. Do not underestimate the leader of the 7 Kin!" As Zeref was unable to move, Ultear smirked. "But Lord Zeref." She said softly. "With you, we can finally awaken you."

Zeref opened his eyes and looked at Ultear. "Please…stop." He then finally blacked out, leaving Ultear satisfied.

"At long last…" She walked on over and she slowly stared at him, giggling a little. She then slowly picked him up and supported him, a smile of glee and a blush over her face. "You are mine. Mine alone."

Near the shores…

Near the shores, perhaps a couple miles off, a fleet of ships were on standby. The ships however…weren't as shabby as one would've imagined.

The ships were all tarnished from Azuma when he arrived on the island earlier. Sails were torn, ship repairs weren't available, and some needed serious medical attention.

Men were rushing here and there; orders being given to act as they tried to keep calm with their ships out of commission. "Stay alert, everyone!" A certain voice of a man that was familiar.

"Get the wounded to the tents along the reef on the double! Ship repairs can happen once we secure the island!"

The man was from not too long ago, and if his name were heard from afar, Nic would surely go into an immediate tantrum. Lahar, the very same man responsible for arresting the Oracion Seis, Richard, and Jellal. He was now in charge of the Battle Fleet, and giving orders swift and stiff.

"We're gonna attack on the island at once!" Lahar ordered. "Anyone who can hold a weapon…" He trailed off when he sensed someone, a familiar face that he knew. Lahar turned around to see the person. His eyes met Mest, or in this case…

"Doranbolt?" Lahar was surprised to say the least. He saw the many injuries that he sustained when he briefly encountered Azuma. "What happened to you?"

"Don't worry about me." He responded, slight discomfort in his voice. "How is everyone? Are they okay?"

Lahar hesitated a little. "We're all fine. Some were injured, but no significant casualties."

"And the Communication Lacrima?"

"Still intact. Now, can you debrief me on what happened?" Lahar asked.

Doranbolt then explained. "I was doing fine; the next thing I knew, a full-scale, three-way war between Fairy Tail, Grimoire Heart, and Zeref boomed like an explosion." As Doranbolt looked back at the island, Lahar looked with surprise written on his face. "The ships being assaulted was Grimoire Heart."

Doranbolt failed to notice Lahar shaking in place.

"Where's the Communication Lacrima?" Doranbolt asked. "The Council needs to know what's going on…"

"This can't be coincidental." Lahar's expression was all shaken with anxiety and anger. "The Magic Council's biggest threats are all gathered in one spot? If I were a gambler, I'd say we were all played for fools!"

Lahar looked at the flooring and was unable to comprehend anything going on. "This won't suffice. The Chairman won't be pleased. You know how he hates Fairy Tail. With an opening like this at hand…he might decide an Etherion blast."

"Are you serious?!" Doranbolt exclaimed.

A short pause took hold before Lahar looked back up at Doranbolt, or Mest, whatever the heck his name was. "If the Chairman makes the order, we must and will obey."

"THAT'S BULLCRAP!" Doranbolt shouted to his face. "I know the Council hates Fairy Tail, but they don't deserve such a fate as the other two! Not ever!"

Lahar looked down with remorse and determination. "…If I am ordered to kill them, I shall."

Doranbolt gasped in horror. His memory of the S-Class trials he took part in, Wendy especially, hoe she helped, and her being hurt in the fight against Azuma, all of that innocence she had, he couldn't allow such a thing to happen; not ever.

All he could do was stand still as he didn't know what to do.

With Nic and Co.

"Juvia Lockser; former member of Phantom Lord's Element Four. Erza Scarlet, also known as Titania. Nic Pularis, known also as Luminous, the one responsible for Phantom Lord's Guild Master Jose's defeat. His accomplice is giant dragon that breathes fire. The other accomplice is a young girl with a walking crocodile and an amoeba." Meredy recited.

"Well you've done your research." Juvia said. 'I know I have to focus, but…I can't help but want to help my beloved Gray.' Juvia began to fantasize about Gray leaning against a tree, Loke unable to help and he handed him to Juvia, the two gazing lovingly at the other.

"You need to snap out of it!" Erza demanded.

Juvia snapped back to reality. "R-Right, sorry!"

Vanessa extended an arm out. "Watch out for her swords guys! She can materialize them! Krokorok, Crunch! Goomy, Dragon Breath!"

Krokorok's jaws then glowed and elongated, and he rushed ahead. Goomy made a round of loops and she fired a blue beam ahead.

Nic spread his feet out. "I'll keep her on her toes! Everyone look for an opening!" He shouted. "Hyper Voice!" He inhaled and exhaled rippling shockwaves that went after Meredy. Meredy jumped as the blast wave engulfed the small island she was on, making some small waves rage and the island shattered.

Meredy saw Dragon Breath and she narrowed her eyes. She once again used her Maguilty Magic to make Magilty Sodom. She thrust them all ahead. The attack went shooting like spears at Dragon Breath. Some were cindered, but a majority cut straight through. Goomy screamed as she got the indirect impact and flew backwards.

"Goomy!" Vanessa shouted.

Meredy landed, and that's when Krokorok went in for Crunch. "KROKOROK IS GONNA-!"

Meredy waved her arm, and use Maguilty Sodom once more. Her teal blades went shooting after Krokorok, which he got hit with and his Crunch was unable to do anything. He yelled as he flew backwards and splashed.

Krokorok got up and shook off the water. "THAT'S…nothing…ugh…" Krokorok was huffing as he was all scratched up. He was at his limit due to exhausting himself too much fighting the goons, yet he rushed in. "GRAAHH! SHADOW CLAW!"

Meredy extended her arm and teal blades attacked Krokorok once more. Krokorok swiped vertically and hashly, deflecting and stopping Meredy's attack. Meredy paused when Krokorok retracted Shadow Claw and panted, soon getting to knees.

"Krokorok, hang on!" Vanesa shouted. "I gotta help, and fast." She extended an arm out. "Goomy, Dragon Breath!"

"Swift!"

Nic and Goomy both fired their two attacks. The stars and the blue beam went racing side-by-side, soon becoming a blew beam with a star spiral. Water split apart as the attacked trailed at high speed at Meredy.

"Maguilty Rays!" She swung her arms ahead, and yellow blades that were longer than her teal ones materialized. She sent the blades at the incoming attack, directing at one point. At contact, there was an explosion that shook the ground, everything flashing as waves were violently streaming.

Everyone covered up as the explosion made them all skid back, but Krokorok was still too close, and he was unable to keep his footing. He screamed as he felt violent torrents and waves strike his face. He flew back and he barely retained footing upon skidding back.

As the smoke cleared, everyone saw teal blades bore right through the smoke. Meredy gave no room for a counter. Vanessa gasped as they were aimed at Krokorok, who was unable to move.

"Krokorok!" Goomy shouted.

A clashing sound came and went. Krokorok was sure he was finished as he didn't have the strength, but he opened his eyes to see his savoir. Nic's Charizard had used Dragon Claw to deflect them in one fell swoop, saving him.

"Charizard!" Vanessa exclaimed in surprise.

Charizard looked back at Krokorok, who was thankful, but unable to respond. Seeing his condition, he looked back at Vanessa. "Get Krokorok into his Poke Ball! He can't go on like this!" Just as he said that, he looked down and grunted as Krokorok caved in and fell blacked out, dropping into the water.

Vanessa was worried sick. She pulled out Krokorok's Poke Ball and returned Krokorok. She bit her lip in frustration as she looked forward, with Goomy loking up at her Trainer with worry.

"I'm not liking this." Goomy muttered.

"Everyone look alive!" Charizard warned. Everyone readied themselves as they got into fighting stances.

Meredy used Maguilty Sodom once more. Erza, Nic, and Charizard all easily dodged with sift movements, and Vanessa, Goomy, and Juvia barely dodged.

Juvia thought she was in the clear. "My body is made solemnly of water. You can't-!" She was stopped suddenly when she felt pain in her right arm as a sword grazed it. She screamed.

"Juvia!" Erza shouted.

Vanessa and Goomy were both grazed as well, Vanessa's left shoulder getting a small cut as she tried maneuvering, but a squeal escaped.

"Vanessa!" Nic shouted.

Goomy was hit as well, but she didn't get cut since she was slime. She screamed as she sailed backwards. Everyone stood affirm as Vanessa clutched her left shoulder and Juvia clutched her right arm, and Goomy looked tired.

"I'm okay." Vanessa assured.

"I don't understand. She was able to hit me?" Juvia was completely confused.

Meredy gave a cold glare. "My blades don't do as much physical damage as they do emotionally and spiritually; blades of sensory as you would put it."

"Damn you." Nic scowled. He glowed and shifted into the Dread Plate and he extended his arms out and spread them apart, making a purple blade, via Night Slash. "7 Kin or not, hurting family will be the reason to your end!"

Charizard stepped right by Nic's side, readying himself. Erza and everyone else readied themselves as Meredy emanated a purple aura, which signified her Magic.

The fight was only beginning.

Fairy Tail Base Camp

Under a tent, two bodies laid unconsciously and wrapped in bandages; the two being Gajeel and Sophie. Gajeel was covered all over in bandages as to where Sophie didn't have much of anything but patches on her cheeks and her abdomen and ribs covered in bandages.

Mira looked down to see them both breathing soundly, but the odds of them getting back up again anytime soon was fairly slim. "They'll be okay, but they just need some rest is all." Her tone was hollow, and not at all joyful.

Levy and Lisanna looked down at their sleeping forms. Their looks had sadness and grief.

"They'll pull through, but…I can't believe Gajeel and Sophie went down so easily." Levy faintly muttered.

Lisanna looked down at her own knees. "They both did do a good job though." She clenched her fists tightly. "If it wasn't for Sophie…"

Mira looked like she could quiver at any moment. "I feel…like it's our fault."

A pair of footsteps was heard from behind. They sounded deep. "No, it's not anybody's fault." A manly voice said.

Recognizing it, the Strauss siblings and Levy all turned around to see an upset Elfman, holding an unconscious and defeated Evergreen's body. He looked up at the sky, almost choking in regret of having his valuable partner defeated.

"I hate to say it, and it's not manly…but we don't stand a chance!" He hollered, tears in his voice.

Lisanna and Mira looked to see Elfman crying, and they both had small tears in their eyes as well.

"I'm a sad excuse of a man!" Elfman cried. "I let my sisters and my partner get hurt by those monsters!"

As the Strauss siblings shed tears, Levy looked with sadness at the ground, but she wasn't as sad, but more resolute.

"…it's time we all come together." She said.

"Levy…" Lisanna didn't have much to say.

Mira sniffled and wiped her eyes. "No, she's right." Mira slowly stood up and her focus was on Sophie. Seeing her in such a state, she couldn't help but be responsible. She was shaking hard. "We have to come together, just like she said. We can't have Sophie's sacrifice be in vain."

Tears swelled Mira's eyes. "She risked herself, knowing the fate she'd face. And now look at her." She paused as Lisanna's lips quivered and Sophie was still unconscious. "We have to come together. It's now or never."

Levy took over. "We all wanted to become S-Class." She sounded more composed than Mira. "We wanted to be S-Class so badly that we all diverse, keeping us from being together."

As Elfman looked on at Levy, Evergreen's eyes slowly opened and she remained quiet as Levy continued.

"We can't do this, not anymore." Levy looked up, tears flowing. "Our enemy may be monsters…but we're…we're Fairy Tail!"

Mira tried to compose herself as best as she could. "Everyone, we…we need to fight as one! We have to pour our hearts and minds together for the ones we love and cherish!"

"For the ones who fought for us! We can't have their pain be for naught!" Levy shouted to the skies, referring to Gajeel, Sophie, and Evergreen. "I'm begging you all!"

Mira and Levy shouted in unison. "Fight as one, Fairy Tail!"

I gave Sophie a lot of credit this chapter. I tried portraying as much emotion as I possibly could, though I hope the feels were strong enough. The next chapter will be out soon, and it'll be as intense as any Fairy Tail fight.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys like the changes I make, the conveying I pull off, and the fights in general.

Next Time: Raging Storm