Chapter 47 – Raging Storm
Nothing to say, except enjoy Chapter 47!
To Recap:
While Nic and his group fought against Meredy of the 7 Kin, Lisanna and Mira were overwhelmed by Azuma. Before anything drastic happened, Sophie saved them and bought them time to find Levy and Gajeel. Though she put up a god fight, Sophie was defeated, but Azuma was left wounded. Mest, also known as Doranbolt, replayed what he'd went through and Lahar warns the Chairman might destroy the island. At base camp, as Gajeel and Sophie were treated, everyone there called for Fairy Tail to unite.
Chapter 47 – Raging Storm
Hades was sitting calmly in front of a table, stained glass windows behind him as he relished in the tide in his guild's favor. He chuckled amusingly.
A shadowy figure walked up to him. "It's comforting to know how pleased you are, sir." He said.
Hades took off his Greek helmet and placed it in front of him. His chuckles were less amusing as they were ominous. "Bluenote, of the 7 Kin, three have been defeated. It seems that Makarov has raised his children all too well."
"Do you want me to enter the fray?"
"Not yet." Hades answered. "I'm afraid this isn't your battle, so stand down."
The shadowy figure growled lowly as the ship vibrated with small intensity. "Master, forgive me, but I can't just have those beneath me have all the fun." The ship then began to shake immensely in conjunction to Bluenote's rage. "I can't risk my body going soft."
Outside, the ship was quaking to an upmost degree, the sand flying from the shores, and waves were being made. The ship even began to sink a little.
Hades wasn't at all surprised. "That's enough Bluenote." He stated calmly.
Bluenote then stopped using his Magic, and he seemed slightly irritated. "What's the matter? If we submerge the ship, they won't find us."
Hades understood Bluenote's logic, but it didn't suite him. "Makarov's children shall come aboard eventually, but little do they know, they'll be walking straight into the Underworld. The Devil's Heart will swallow them whole until there's nothing left."
Bluenote's shadow turned. "Ugh. That's what separates us; you like to have them take the bait, but I like the thrill of the hunt." Bluenote remained where he was, on the ship. Before he could leave to his domain, he turned back towards Hades.
"But know this, sir: If one more shall fall, I will enter the fray." He then vanished back into the shadows.
Hades only kept a straight face as Bluenote was being as thrilled as ever.
The skies above them had clouds gathering around, ominous to say the least. Rumbling was heard, which foreshadowed lightning and thunder; a storm brewing.
Meredy sent more teal blades ahead, with Nic using Night Slash diagonally to deflect the ones heading towards him. The ones that went right past him went after Vanessa, who covered up and tried to dodge, only to get a few more cuts as a result.
Goomy did her best to stay strong, not cowering. She took the teal blades and winced in agony, but she remained strong and she coated herself in a red aura, signaling her storing up energy.
Erza used her swords to block and deflect as many as possible, while evading and shifting all about. Juvia fared no better as she could only dodge in a couple directions since her Water Body wouldn't work.
Charizard did a vertical swipe of his Dragon Claw, which deflected the blades that went his way. When the blades passed by him, he opened his mouth. "Flamethrower!"
"Bide!" Goomy shouted, releasing all of her stored energy.
Goomy released a white beam that trailed through the water, and Charizard released his blast of fire that shot through the water, making it steam a little. Both attacks rushed with intensity at Meredy. The pink-haired Mage swiped her arms forward, using Maguilty Rays, sending yellow energy blades. The blades, however, were no match for Flamethrower, and Bide was barely strong enough to bore right through.
Meredy had to jump to dodge, the area beneath her exploding in white and fire. As she floated briefly, she looked ahead and Nic was in front with a Feint Attack, appearing just a few feet away and drove a punch across, which made her grunt as she felt her cheek nearly shatter. She flew back and skid in the water, coming to a halt.
Vanessa, who was behind Juvia and Erza, was slightly disheartened. Not by Nic's assault, but of herself.
She clenched her fists. 'Darn it. I feel so useless.' Though she had worry and resentment in her eyes, even the simplest of minds could tell that Vanessa was feeling some pity. Her brother was saving her skin, as to where she was to sit back…just like she always has.
Vanessa tried to concentrate as best as she could, but focus wasn't her thing. Juvia and Erza could use Magic so easily, and Nic was in sync with his Charizard and the Plates he was wielding, so where did that leave her?
Meredy swiped her left arm and extended her right, sending forth more yellow blades ahead. "Maguilty Rays!" Her attack went ahead, but Nic was ready for it.
"Night Daze!" Nic's arms and body were coated in a crimson aura. When he raised his arms, the aura thickened. He slammed them, sending a pink and crimson force field all around, expanding and completely obliterating the teal blades, making waves rock back and forth briefly.
Though Vanessa wanted to help, the best she could do was just order Goomy, but she would suffice with what she had for now.
Vanessa was reading the basics of Magic, reciting what she was reading.
"Okay…Magic is the physical embodiment of the spirit. When the physical spirit and spiritual flow of nature connect…" She trailed off as she read silently, the words all jumbled up inside of her.
Vanessa put the book down as she sat cross-legged on Sophie's couch, Braixen sitting right by her side.
Her index finger tapped her cheek. "I don't get it. I don't even know what spiritual energy I have, or what is really is."
"I wouldn't imagine it being easy to grasp." Braixen said, sympathizing with her frustration. "But you know, you have been reading ragged lately, and you keep re-reading the concepts."
"I know." Vanessa sighed and rest her forehead on the back of her hands, elbows on knees. "It's just…I can't be idle while you guys and Nic do all the work while I just sit by anymore."
A little silence in between the two was made, and Braixen could see the uneasy resolve Vanessa had. "Vanessa-"
"I don't want to be dependent on my brother anymore; I mean, I want to, but I have to save my own life. If I can just…" She gave upon reasoning as she stuttered, unable to think.
Braixen's expression saddened some as she looked at Vanessa and then the books in front of her. She looked back at the long, black-haired girl with the single blonde bang and tried to find a good simile.
"Well, it's not like you can get it so easily, but in a way, it's just like learning a new move." Braixen said, with Vanessa glancing over at her. She pulled out her stick wand from her tail fur. "I mean, watch this…" She lit the tip on fire, and she then willfully made the fire go out. "I don't know myself. It's an instinct and an experience. I don't know how exactly. It's something like an impulse or a reaction that I can feel and manipulate."
She then looked at Vanessa. "Perhaps soon an impulse will make you react to something soon as well. You just need to find an incentive."
Vanessa kept herself aware as Meredy sent teal blades again, dodging completely. Goomy did the same, as did everyone else.
Juvia lost her footing and she fell forward into water due to slight exhaustion.
"Juvia!" Erza shouted. She looked back ahead at Meredy, trying to think of an upside to the situation. "We may not have much Magic power left after the trials, we have the advantage in numbers."
Juvia was too exhausted to move.
"Number 14." Meredy said.
Erza glowed. "We'll handle her." Her armor switched into her Heaven's Wheel Armor.
Nic spread his arms apart and sheathed Night Slash as Charizard was right by his side. "Vanessa, Goomy, you two sit back. We'll take care of her."
Vanessa didn't respond as Nic, Charizard, and Erza all went after Meredy.
"Erza Scarlet, Number 5." Meredy recited.
"And what's with the ranking?" Nic demanded as he sped in with Night Slash.
Meredy swiped her arms. "It is your priority." She sent the swords at him and the others. "It's the order in which you need to be destroyed!" Her Maguilty Sodom went after the three. Erza and the other two stopped advancing and Erza slashed, as did Nic, and Charizard used his right wing to swat them away like they were nothing.
"That's nonsense!" Erza testified.
Charizard felt an odd forbearance and turned his neck around and saw teal blades coming in at above angles, raining down on Vanessa, Goomy, and Juvia. The three all gaped as they were about to be hit. Charizard dashed in with his surprsing speed and he managed to use Dragon Claw, swiping away the blades.
"Charizard!" Vanessa shouted in surprise.
Charizard turned towards Meredy. "Why are you attacking them?!" He demanded.
Meredy swiped her left arm. "Number 14 is trash, and must be rid of!" She continued her onslaught of teal blades, and Charizard continuously used Dragon Claw in rapid succession, defending Vanessa and the others while Nic and Erza slashed away with their swords and purple blades, fending and parrying every assault.
"Number 5 is Erza Scarlet!" She sent blades at her, but Erza dodged with angelic swiftness. "Number 4 is Nic Pularis!"
Upon hearing this, Vanessa jerked at Meredy with surprise, her being coming to a sudden halt. Her mouth gaped a bit. Charizard grunted and he turned and fired Flamethrower at Meredy. Meredy used her Maguilty Rays and spread her arms out, moving them to converge and make a barrier. The spoked barrier blocked Flamethrower, but that didn't stop nearby water from boiling. Meredy used that time to jump and evade as her barrier broke apart.
"Damn you!" Erza shouted, hearing Nic getting targeted, but all she could do was slash and deflect teal blades with little room to assault of her own.
Goomy was shaking as she was very nervous. All of these targets mentioned made her uneasy. She looked up and saw storm clouds coming in. She was shivering as she was very scared, flashes of Skorupi and Haunter scaring her back in Route 14.
Goomy soon enough, having an image of Vanessa, a person worth fighting for, and the very same one who took her in, snapped and had a still expression like Vanessa.
"Number 3 is Gildarts, but he's no longer on the island. Number 2 is Makarov, but Master Hades already took care of him." Meredy mentioned.
"What's this?! Are you saying there's a higher priority than Master Makarov?!" Erza exclaimed.
Meredy's gaze turned dark and resentful. "Number 1 is him…Gray Fullbuster!"
Nic and Erza, including Charizard stopped in place as they were surprised. "But why?" Nic asked in disbelief. "Why him?"
Juvia twitched as Vanessa still fairly in shock, as was Goomy.
"Why Gray?" Erza demanded.
Meredy's Magic was fluctuating as she clenched her fists in sheer anger and revenge. "Because…he has blood on his hands!" She looked with pain and monstrosity at them. "Ultear's mother died because of him!" She swiped her arms mercilessly and ton of blades surrounded her and went after Nic, Erza, and Charizard. "THE PAIN HE CAUSED WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN! I'LL TEAR HIM APART! AND EVERYONE ELSE AS WELL!"
Nic grunted at Meredy's resolve. "You've lost it!"
Vanessa's eyes were shaking heavily and her pupils were shrunk. Her brother was threatened right before her; last time she couldn't do anything because of him, but now that she had an opportunity, she had to do something.
Vanessa sighed and fell into her seat, looking at the ribs in front of her. The barbeque sauce slathered on made her mouth water, but Sophie's words made her face twist. Another day of not realizing her Magic has come and gone.
"I'm a little annoyed." Vanessa responded. "This stuff takes time Sophie, I know that, but the anticipation is making me nervous as heck.."
"…I guess." Sophie admitted, but she couldn't help but sigh. "I guess it can come at some point; mine wasn't by impulse or reaction, so I can't be sure around that area, but just know Vanessa." Sophie's gaze grew very serious. "It's important to use and wield it not to defend yourself, but the ones you hold dear."
Vanessa looked down at her tender ribs and sat there, staring. "…to protect what I hold dear huh…"
Vanessa's warm blue eyes turned feral red, a loud heartbeat echoed…
Nobody saw the next part coming. Giant waves washed and spiraled all around Nic, Erza, and Charizard, startling not just them, but Meredy as well. The spiraling water crashed and destroyed the blades surrounding them.
Meredy looked past the sudden spiral and saw a black sphere heading towards her. She panicked and shifted left, seeing the sphere go right by her and crash into the tree behind her, making a vburst of energy that made her jump away.
Everyone was confused and on edge as they had no idea what was going on. The mood around them suddenly went from hostile to something more…eerier and ominous.
The sky above darkened as thunder was heard. A drop, then another, until rain began to pour away, down onto them. The entire area was making everyone uneasy, and it all originated from behind Nic.
Two shadowy figures and a blob gave off a vile vibe, the shorter one giving off a tremendous vibe that could made dogs pout and scurry away. The blob having used Rain Dance as an instinct.
"You…" One of them said.
The other one growled as she had a dark shadow over her face. "You dare threaten to kill my brother. The same one that saved me…"
Nic and everyone turned around, only for them to feel all eerie and startled. They saw the three and the shorter one growled, her vibe not affecting the taller one as they both had red, demonic gazes.
"If you dare to kill my beloved…"
"If you slaughter my brother…"
Both stepped in unison ahead, one had a death-like aura, as to where one had a very thick, almost violent and savage aura. Meredy was left startled.
"I swear…"
The figures were Juvia and Vanessa. Juvia tilted her body and her gaze was wide-eyed and possessed, as though she was a zombie. As for Vanessa…
"You will never live to think of doing it again." Vanessa's gaze was monstrous and snarling, hearing her brother being threatened made her snap, and the vibe she gave off was terrifying, her aura extremely thick.
Goomy was unaffected as she felt the resolve of Vanessa, but she knew this wouldn't end well.
Meredy scoffed. "What's wrong with those two? Their ranking is low."
Erza was very unnerved by Juvia and Vanessa. "Wait…calm down you two." She said, nervous.
Nic, especially, was unnerved. "Vanessa…? You're creeping me out."
"Oh god." Charizard said, his gaze struck with unnerve. "This isn't gonna go well."
Juvia's head bobbed a bit as she walked ahead like a zombie, her vibe nerve-wrecking, but not as vicious as Vanessa. "How can I do that?" She asked in a monotone. "She plans to kill my beloved, and you think I should stay calm?"
"Well, no…b-but I, uhh…" Erza trailed off as she didn't like where this was heading.
A vicious snarl was heard from Vanessa as, unlike Juvia, stomped slowly and violently. "This situation needs no calm. She plans to kill us all, especially the only family I got." Unlike Juvia, her thick vibe began to give goosebumps to everyone, even Nic for crying out loud!
"I've never seen her this angry before." Nic muttered.
Juvia and Vanessa, and Goomy, though the last one was still a ways back, stood in front of everyone, facing a shaking Meredy.
"I'm afraid calming down is not an option, not now!" Juvia spread her arms out, her hands coated in water. "YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THINKING OF HURTING HIM!"
"GO DOWN YOU WITCH!" Vanessa's death-like, savage aura began to spiral and converge into her palms, and she threw it with ferocity. A violent blast of water and Vanessa's sphere made from her aura crashed into Meredy, sending her crashing into the tree behind her.
Juvia still looked possessed as to where Vanessa snarled. Juvia sprung after her with intensity, and Vanessa's thick aura concentrated into her limbs, coating her fists and legs in her aura. She sprung ahead, ferocity filling everything around her.
Erza, Nic, and Charizard all gasped in shock. They looked completely overtaken by resolve. Their eyes showed it.
Meredy was still too scared to move as Vanessa used an aura-coated uppercut and sent her flying. In mid-air, she was helpless as Juvia shot a massive water spiral straight up at her. "Water Nebula!" Meredy was struck by the violent torrent, and Meredy was helpless when Goomy inhaled from nearby, exhaling her best Dragon Breath. The blue beam blasted through the air, engulfing Meredy in a blue explosion in the air as the rain poured down.
Eza was left in shock. 'Amazing.' She remembered during the trials, with Juvia and Lisanna facing against her. The power she used was nothing like now. 'Juvia's a completely different person.'
As for Nic, he was just as surprised as Erza was, but took it more personal. 'Vanessa…is she…shaping her aura?' He was still left in surprise. His little sister had unlocked her Magic to protect him. 'I never would've imagined her power being this formidable so early.'
Charizard looked just as uneasy. "Looks like the Pularis rage is hereditary after all."
They all saw Meredy take a powerful beating from lashed from Juvia's water, sending her back, and Vanessa's aura-covered fist punched right into her back, making Meredy gag. Goomy then took aim and she made a powerful vortex around herself, and she let loose a Rain Dance-influence Muddy Water, a massive torrent of brown water swamping Meredy.
Nic and the remaining two swallowed as the uneasiness didn't settle, but they calmed down.
'Their power came from their emotions.' Erza thought.
"Vanessa." Nic thought. "She shapes aura to attack…incredible."
Juvia, no longer having the zombie-like look but a dead serious expression, looked back at Erza and Nic. "You guys, go on. We can handle her."
Vanessa, still looking a little foul in the eyes, turned back towards her brother, her aura coating her body. "Nic, Charizard, Erza, it's best you leave her to us." She persuaded, turning back towards Meredy, whom was on a brief knee. "Find the others as quickly as you can."
"Especially my beloved." Juvia added.
Erza requipped into her black bikini, as to where Nic shifted into his Splash Plate to accommodate to rain that kept pouring down.
"Very well." Erza said. "We will!"
Nic looked at his sister once more before turning away. "Be careful."
Just like that, Charizrd, Erza, and Nic took off, running in another direction. How Charizard is able to run? Simple: Nic trained him.
Meredy, seeing them escape, had teal blades ready. "Number 5 and 4! Get back here!"
Before she could send them ahead, Goomy used Muddy Water and Juvia used her Magic to make the water separate and then converged from both side of Meredy, bashing her from two waves colliding on both ends.
Meredy shot up like a geyser and she straightened out. She looked down and sent her Maguilty Rays spell at Vanessa. Vanessa's now teal aura became a swirling spiral around her. She pushed out, and the teal vortex expanded, erasing the Maguilty Rays. She pushed her arms out, and the aura vortex spun and converged to a point, becoming a vortex with a pointed, spinning front. Meredy covered up as she was hit by the attack.
While running, Erza looked over at Nic. "Is your sister going to be okay?"
Nic didn't bother to look back as he looked at Erza, his sunglasses off of his eyes. "I know my sister. She won't hesitate anymore, because…"
Vanessa rushed ahead, her aura coating her arms. Meredy was left helpless as her attack was so sudden. Vanessa's punch made contact, the force making small waves and Meredy skid back, huffing.
Vanessa's death-like, red gaze was gone for the most part, and her teal aura was her actual aura, as to where her black one from before was from her intense rage. Her mood was still defensive, taking up Nic's dead serious gaze.
"…she has the heart to defend anything she holds dear." Nic, Erza, and Charizard all went on ahead, leaving Vanessa, Juvia, and Goomy to settle the fight.
Meredy's breathing was a little heavy as she felt pain flare. She noticed from before that Vanessa's black and devilish aura looked more at ease, as if responding to her emotions. Aura that's strength varied on emotion.
Vanessa looked unsteady as she almost lost balance. Juvia looked over. "Are you alright?"
"Y-Yeah." Vanessa huffed. "It's my first time. You have no idea how exhausted I am." She panted a little, her rage and teal aura both beginning to dwindle.
Juvia turned to look at Meredy, but her glance was on Vanessa. "You just used Magic, and using such a copious amount like that can drain you drastically. Please, allow me to do most of the work."
Reluctantly, Vanessa panted, her aura coating her body gone. "Okay, but…she won't hurt Nic nor anyone else." Juvia glared back at Meredy as an agreement.
Meredy regained breathing and looked at Juvia. "It's very odd. We both think of the same man, yet one of us despises him and one loves him."
"It's only natural we feel different. That's what being human is all about." Juvia said.
Meredy looked away. "I have been sent here to kill Gray Fullbuster and my list downwards, and that is what I intend to do." Juvia's eyes showed heavy hostility and Vanessa growled. Goomy, yeah, she just sat in the water, trying to ready another attack if it called for it.
"And yet I encountered someone who loves him." Meredy added, glaring at Juvia. "It's those feelings alone…that'll bring you both from Heaven to Hell."
Juvia didn't quite understand. "What do you mean?"
Meredy pointed at her. "Picture him, your beloved. Feel how he makes your heart race."
Though considering it a trap, it didn't stop Juvia from doing so. Her heart under her tattered attire beat and her cheeks blushed a little, picture the one and only Fairy Tail nudist: Gray.
Seeing Juvia's blushed cheeks, Vanessa looked uneasy. "Juvia, stop. You're playing right into her-!"
"Too late!" Meredy shouted. "I got you! Sensory Link!" She pointed two fingers out, flashing pink. Juvia was coated in a pink light, which was very stinging. She screamed in sharp pain as she was inflicted with the spell.
"Juvia!" Vanessa shouted.
Goomy looked worried as well. "Oh no!"
As the pink light enveloped Juvia, a beam shot up from her and went off through the sky to who-knows-where.
Gray was hiding out behind a tree, patiently following Ultear, who had Zeref over her shoulder. 'Why does she look like Ur?' He wondered.
Before he could do anything, his left arm started stinging as a pink light enveloped it. He felt a sharp sting surging through his wrist and he had to use whatever will to keep his mouth quiet. He looked back at his hurting arm to find a glowing pink heart was on it.
"What the-?" Gray said. "What the heck is going on?"
"Sensory Link, complete." Meredy announced.
Juvia tried to relax. "What did you do?"
"I linked your sensation to Gray." She answered. "It can only be done when the two have strong feelings."
Juvia's face blushed a bright red and she steamed like crazy. She gasped in shock. "Y-You mean...my darling Gray and I are married?! We're living as one?!"
Vanessa failed to see the humor. "Juvia, I don't think that's what she meant."
Goomy turned back towards Meredy. "You jerk! What does this mean?"
Meredy only smirked. "Doesn't it feel nice? Your senses are as one."
Juvia was wiggling and stuck in her own world once more. "I-I can hardly contain myself! We're gonna have so many babies! 33 babies, here we come!"
All Vanessa did was face palm herself.
Meredy's face then grew mischievous. "Good, because now he can feel this!" She swiped her arm, sending a yellow blade at Juvia, slashing her left shoulder just like that. Juvia screamed in pain.
Gray felt a harsh, searing pain in his right shoulder, which made him yelp.
Ultear looked around to find where it came from, and Gray stayed behind the tree, clutching his left shoulder.
Vanessa looked mad. Her eyes showed just pow POed she was. "You witch!" Using her Aura Magic upon impulse, her body emanated teal aura, and it gathered in her palms. She threw her sphere of teal aura at Meredy, which scored a direct hit. Though after the hit, Meredy was still standing while Vanessa was struggling.
"I forgot about her." Meredy muttered. "Fine! Then how about we make you and your brother share the same fate! Sensory Link!"
In yet another pink flash, Vanessa was enveloped in pink and she yelped as her whole body stung.
Goomy looked with worry. "No! Vanessa!"
"Wendy?" Erza called out. No response.
"Natsu! Lucy!" Nic called out, but no answer.
"Hey guys, answer us!" Charizard shouted. Despite the rain, he remained calm, as he had trained in the rain a lot. He turned towards his friends. "It's no good, not at this point."
"You're right, we need to search else-!" Nic's eyes widened as he suddenly felt a pain course through his right arm. It wasn't like a needle, but a big poke sort of speak, given his heavy endurance.
Erza and Charizard saw Nic's discomfort. "What's wrong?" Erza asked, concern written all over her.
Nic's arm had a pink light that originated from the little pink heart on his wrist. Everyone looked with worry and curiosity as Nic's arm had the same Sensory Link.
"What's this?" Nic said, shocked to find a pink heart on his wrist. He looked around, seeing no enemy, and then he got a bad feeling. "…Vanessa."
Vanessa's arm continued to sting as she felt the Sensory Link with her brother. Meredy looked with a sadistic annoyance on her face. "I think it's only fitting brother and sister alike should share the same fate."
Vanessa growled as her fists clenched. Her annoyance and aggravation spiked. "You're gonna regret doing that!" Her teal aura beginning to surge once more around her brightly, making water escape her proximity. She charged after Meredy, her teal aura converging into her right hand in the shape of a gauntlet sword.
Juvia fared no better as she was just as angry, her zombie expression returning briefly. "You hurt my beloved through me?" Her power spiked and water palpitated close to her. In a flash, she zoomed after Meredy, her body boiling. "Sierra!"
Juvia dashed right past her, and Vanessa's gauntlet sword slashed, both now posing as Meredy was hit with aura and boiling water at the same time.
'Impossible! Their Magic power increased just by their emotions!' Meredy exclaimed internally. She grew very angry. 'They turned feelings into power. Fine, I'll just have to show them my power as well!'
Meredy swiped her arm. "Five Spread Sensory Link!" A pink stream from her wrist went and connected to Juvia and Vanessa as the Water Mage zoomed through the water like a jet ski and Vanessa remained behind to ease. Juvia conjured a lot of power as she let loose a battlecry. Driving her fist into Meredy's gut. Meredy screamed as she soared back and slammed into a tree – hard.
As Juvia and Vanessa saw Meredy fall down, they suddenly felt an extremely dense pain course through their gut. Their bodies shook violently before they too were sent into the air, screaming.
"Juvia! Vanessa!" Goomy squealed.
Juvia was stunned in the air. "Why did my body hurt like that?" She fell into the water on her knees as she huffed.
Vanessa fell on her side into the water, her insides feeling as they got hammered and pounded into oblivion.
Meredy huffed as well, exhausted. Vanessa, now up but completely depleted, was on a knee and panted. She never felt so strained from using so much focus in her life.
"For Ultear's sake." Meredy started. "I would give my life. Juvia, you and I are the link to Gray now; and Vanessa, I am linked to Nic. We're all connected now. Gray, Nic, Juvia, Vanessa, and myself."
Juvia and Vanessa looked up at Meredy, seeing the intensity as she looked at the pink glow on her wrist.
"With the spell I cast on us, we shall all perish…" She turned towards Vanessa. "But not before the Pularis siblings suffer first!" Meredy used Maguilty Sodom and sent the attack at Vanessa. Vanessa gasped as she was attacked so suddenly. "If Number Gray is to fall, so shall Nic and his sister beforehand!"
Vanessa screamed as she was hit by Meredy's attack, sailing back-first into the water and feeling cuts all over her body. Juvia gasped and she too screamed as she felt cuts all over her body. Meredy grunted as she inflicted pain, but remained stable and quivered a little as she knew the tide was already in her favor.
Nic felt as though knives were shot right past him; his arms and legs felt as if they were grazed and he grunted in pain, stumbling a bit backwards, his insides feeling pain as well.
"Nic!" Erza exclaimed, seeing Nic feel pain. She saw the pink bracelet around his wrist remain glowing and flashed when he grunted some more, his arms and legs and back stinging a little.
Charizard grunted as he saw the situation and found everyone in a tight spot. "This is bad. If what Nic says is true, then Vanessa is in more trouble than we'd thought."
Erza turned back towards him. "You're right. We need to head back and…"
Nic huffed a little and looked back. "No." Erza and Charizard looked back at Nic with surprise. "We gotta keep going. This is nothing."
"Nic…" Erza was cut off.
"Whatever's happening must involve Vanessa by any chance. I have to put my faith in her. Though she learned to use Magic, she can still take care of herself. I have to put faith in my little sister." He panted as he rested again a tree, the pain feeling slightly more tense than a few seconds ago.
Goomy rushed to Vanessa's side. "Vanessa! Are you okay?!"
Vanessa grunted and she slowly got up to her feet, exhausted from using her Aura Magic. She still had no idea how she shaped her aura into those couple of things, but it happened. The downside was that she was depleted completely.
Meredy looked coldly ahead at Juvia. Juvia was completely devastated at Meredy's decision. Her move was very risky.
Juvia feelings went from anger to despondent just like that. "You can't be serious."
It took a few moments for Vanessa to realize what was happening, and her anger died, fully depleted and into sorrow. "Wait…oh no."
"We all lose. No one will live; it'll be the end for us." Juvia reasoned.
Meredy looked unfazed. "And that's how far I'll go." Vanessa, Juvia, and Goomy all looked on with worry and despondent looks as Meredy was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Gray was feeling a lot of things, and it was all pain. 'The heck is going on? I feel like I've been nipped and snared everywhere, and why do my feet feel cold and wet?' Gray looked back down at his wrist, seeing the glowing pink heart. 'Is it because of this thing?'
As Ultear started to get away, Gray leaned over his shoulder and saw her walk off. 'Damnit. I can't lose her.'
Juvia felt some pressure on her back, as though she was leaning against something. 'What's this pressure on my back? Is this what Gray and Nic are feeling right now?'
"I can feel their sensation as well." Meredy stated. "There's no need to fight you, for in the end we'll die." Meredy spread her arms out and two teal blades crossed each other like a pair of scissors under her chin, as though like a guillotine.
Juvia and Vanessa gasped in horror as Meredy was gonna cut her own head to finish it. They saw the resolution in her eyes, but they had to stop her.
"No, stop!" Juvia shouted.
Vanessa was shaking to the core. She couldn't be anymore uneasy. "We have to stop her." She muttered, clenching her fists. "But…" She looked over at Juvia. "If I try and attack…"
Juvia looked over at Vanessa. "Vanessa, we have to stop her! If it means a little pain, then do it!"
"But…"
"Please Vanessa!" Juvia pleaded. "She's gonna die, and then Gray, Nic, you, and I…" She trailed off, thinking of the unpredictable. Seeing no other way, Vanessa tensed up and shook.
Regrettably, Vanessa looked away as she commanded Goomy. "Forgive me, Juvia! Nic! Goomy, Dragon Breath!"
Goomy cringed at the resort Vanessa had chosen, but there was no other way. Though she was gonna hate herself doing so, Goomy opened her mouth and a round of loops enveloped her. "I'm sorry! Juvia! Vanessa!"
Goomy fired a weak Dragon Breath at a low angle. She made sure her Dragon-Type move wasn't powerful, but enough to throw Meredy off balance. Dragon Breath hit her left leg, making her yelp as the blue beam made a very small burst upon impact. Meredy knelt and stumbled back, avoiding the blades that just crossed. Her concentration off, the blades went away.
Through Sensory Link, Juvia and Vanessa felt a sharp sting and yelped as they too stumbled back, feeling their left legs hurt. Goomy looked tensed and shriveled slightly as she didn't like what she did, but she had to; to defend the lives of her guild and friends.
Meredy was on a knee and she looked out at Vanesa and Goomy. "You dare hurt me, knowing that your friends would suffer as well." She stood back up and her eyes narrowed. "You're a risky girl and blob; which why you have to die as well, and all of us with you!" Meredy fired her Maguilty Rays at Vanessa, and as the blades traveled, the Pularis sibling was left helpless.
'Oh no! I don't have any Magic left!' Vanessa mentally cursed herself as she was unable to move due to exhaustion, and she was open. She covered up as she waited for the yellow blades to hit her.
Instead of her, something else was hit. Vanessa felt a few seconds pass by and she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes went wide in shock.
"Goomy!" Vanessa shouted, seeing the blades attack Goomy, her slimy form making the blades slick and deflect, not piercing her, but leaving her all damaged. Goomy was full of pain as she took the hit, but she remained able-bodied, but barely.
Goomy shook as she was very well exhausted. "I'm…I'm okay." Goomy assured, though not really. "I'll take a hit, no matter what it takes."
Vanessa was sad. "Goomy…"
Goomy looked back at Vanessa, seeing no cowardice in her beady black eyes. "I'll fight until I shrivel up, for the ones that I love and treat as family." She looked ahead. "I may not have been on your team for that long, but what we've seen and been through is something no ordinary Pokémon should go through, but I did it. Despite that I was scared!"
Vanessa was unable to find the words. Her little Goomy that she found scared at first back in Route 14, turned into something that's very courageous.
"This is what I want, and I want to fight with my Trainer!" Goomy shouted to the raining skies above, echoing her sentence.
Something then began to change in the atmosphere just then. Meredy, Juvia, and Vanesa all felt a strong flow in the air, all originating from Goomy. They all witnessed Goomy shining a bright, blue light, and an energy field enveloped her. Meredy and Juvia looked with surprise, and Vanessa looked with sheer astonishment.
"No way. Goomy?" Vanessa realized what was happening, as it happened to all of her Pokémon, exclude Mawile. Goomy's small, blob-like body began to sprout a long neck, stubby arms, and some sort of shell-like membrane on her back.
When the light exploded, sending a small shockwave around that made the girls cover up, they saw a snail-like creature with a dark purple underside with a lighter purple on top. She bad green eyes and larger horns. She also looked much like a snail, as she had a gooey shell-like membrane on her back.
"And this is how I intend to fight." The newly-evolve Dragon-Type stated, her gurgly voice slightly different in tone due to the change.
To say Vanessa was shocked would be an understatement. "Goomy, you evolved!" She exclaimed in shock. Vanessa got out her Pokedex that she still had on-hand and she analyzed her newly-evolved Dragon-Type.
"Sliggoo, the Soft Tissue Pokémon. Its four horns are a high-performance radar system. It uses them to sense sounds and smells, rather than using ears or a nose."
"Sliggoo…amazing." Vanessa faintly muttered.
Meredy scoffed. "Hmph. Did you think that some transformation will save you?" Meredy swiped her arms and lashed forth a multitude of teal blades. All aimed at Sliggoo, but Sliggoo remained still.
"Try me! Laying a blade on Vanessa will be the last thing you do!" Sliggoo made a vast and highly pressurized cyclone around herself, a ring of brown water engulfed the area around her. She used her Muddy Water and expanded the ring, making a cyclone that swamped the incoming blades, keeping herself and Vanessa out of harm's way.
Meredy grunted. "Fine, but my priority will be to end our lives!" She made a teal blade from above, pointed straight down at herself.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes. "Alright Sliggoo, use Dragon Breath and stop it!"
Sliggoo made around of loops and her mouth shot a blue beam, the attack actually larger than when she was Goomy. The intense beam bore right through the air and towards the downward teal blade, hitting its mark and shattering the blade.
Juvia stepped ahead. "Please, Meredy, enough!"
"No! This is the only way the ease Ultear's heart!" She retorted. "You don't understand." Her voice sounded less drastic and settled, but no less ominous. "Death is a door that is always open until you enter it. It's unavoidable. Fate always ends with death."
Juvia immediately testified. "No, that's not true and you know it! If you leave Gray alone then we'll all live."
Meredy stayed still, but still looked goal-oriented.
"I was a lot like you once. I was, that is, until I joined Fairy Tail." She said with passion. "I learned that even my enemies deserve to live!"
"Juvia." Vanessa muttered.
"It doesn't matter!" Meredy denied loudly, making another sword above her head. "I'll kill Gray if it'll mean saving the one I love!"
Juvia stumbled forwards. "If it means breaking my beloved's bones to stop your insanity, then so be it!" Juvia stumbled as quickly as she could forwards as the teal blade went down on Meredy.
"Sliggoo, Dragon Breath!" Vanessa shouted. "Stop her!"
Sliggoo followed commands and she made a round of loops and fired a powerful blue beam ahead. Vanessa mustered up as much strength that she had and she stumbled ahead like Juvia. The two Mages and the Dragon Breath went after a screaming Meredy, whom was awaiting the end.
The entire town, residence and all, was reduced to ashes and burned away. Buildings were tarnished and it was crackling and smoke in the air. Through it all, a lone girl, still very young with earmuffs and pink hair, was crying nonstop and weeping.
She lost everything, and all she could do was cry to no end. She dialed down as she opened her eyes to see an unknown woman slowly walking up to her.
The woman was Ultear, and her expression was far from sadistic, but more mournful and apathetic.
The little girl cried some more, and Ultear knelt down and she laid a comforting and gentle hand on top of Meredy's lead as she continued to sob.
"There's no need to cry anymore." She soothed with a smile. "No one's gonna hurt you." Though it didn't seem to help much, all the girl could do in response was sniffle. The girl looked up to se Ultear smiling at her.
A new face appeared right by Ultear's side, jumping in from out of the blue. He had long, blonde hair, the size and shape of Gajeel's. He had his guild mark on his right pectoral and went over his shoulder. He had canines and twisted, maniacal, red eyes. He adorned a yellow and blue skirt-like armor with a red waist ribbon.
He looked annoyed. "What's this? Who's the little brat?" Zancrow asked, irritated to say the least.
"She's a survivor." Ultear gently said.
On Ultear's left appeared a huge, overweight yet muscular man that was as white as a snowman. Belt-like collars crossed under his yellow cape, and he had superhero-like garments. He also had black boots.
Kain had a several-stacked ice cream cone with him. "Dinner is ready. Just kill her and let's eat."
The little girl blinked and she began to cry some more, not wanting to die. She wanted to live. Ultear frowned at the little girl, seeing her so sad and vulnerable. Seeing her like so, it made her think of herself. Someone who was helpless, yet had potential.
Ultear came to a decision. "…I'm going to have her come with us."
Zancrow showed some objection. "You can't be serious!" He chided. "Master Hades ordered us to find Zeref's key and wipe out the city; that means her included."
The girl sniffled and cried to no end, standing helplessly in front of Ultear. Ultear put on an accepting face, one that was as tender-loving as a mother.
"…she reminds me of when I was young." She said aloud, to which Zancrow and Kain looked at each other in confusion. Kain was also too stumped to see that his ice cream was melting as well.
Ultear held the little girl close to her, and in turn, she hugged Ultear as to cleanse onto something warm and gentle. Ultear held Meredy to her heart and smiled.
"I'll take full responsibility; besides, I think she deserves a chance."
"Uh, sure…" Zancrow trailed off in an uneasy silence.
Kain was the one to break it. "So…dinner?"
A couple years passed, and Meredy and Ultear were on the airship. Both were on the deck, seeing the glistening ocean water below, and saw the clouds roll by.
Ultera had a frown, which made Meredy worry. "Ur?" She asked. "Why do you always look so sad?"
Ultear looked down at Meredy, restraining her anger. She sighed and smiled ever so gently, the best one she could. "Please don't call me that." She asked gently. "Ur is my deceased mother, and the name Ultear died along with it."
"She's…dead? Meredy's innocent question hindered some sadness.
Ultear and Meredy then shared a silence among themselves as the winds shifted through their hair, making them flow like gentle streams in the air.
Ultear looked out ahead at the water and sky. "When you're older, I'll tell you."
Meredy leaned closer and she gently wrapped her arms around Ultear's left arm, making her look down at the comforting Meredy.
"You are my mother, now and forever." Meredy quietly said.
Ultear blinked and was actually very surprised, but inside, she couldn't be anymore happy. All she could do was smile. "Oh come now, you know I'm far too young to have such a caring child."
Meredy looked up and blushed, smiling at Ultear's joke.
Meredy heard a shattering sound from above, the Dragon Breath stopping her from killing her. She then felt two pairs of arms wrap tightly around her. Her eyes shot wide with sheer shock as Juvia and Vanessa were hugging her.
Meredy was left in shock. 'I don't understand…why are they crying?'
Juvia and Vanessa retracted, with Vanessa taking her own arms away and having Juvia clench Meredy's two shoulders. They had the Sensory Link with, but for some reason, they started starting to look misty in the eyes.
"You love someone, I can see it." Juvia pictured Meredy's face as she smiled at Ultear. "And they mean the world to you." She then pictured a smiling Ultear from what Meredy remembered.
Meredy's eyes were seen shaking as she looked into Juvia's crying eyes. 'How did she know? Did I share my memories with them through the link?'
Vanessa's misty eyes remained as they were. "Meredy, she took you in! You love her with everything you ever had!" She sniffled.
Sliggoo looked on silently as her Trainer and Juvia were being the kind souls they were always meant to be.
"You love someone. You love family. Just like I do!" Vanessa then pictured her big brother with his sunglasses on, how he was there for her through her childhood, how they made a teary reunion back in Lumiose City, and how they both went back to Kalos together, in which Meredy could actually picture, which surprised her and she blinked. "I can't bear to lose family again; it'd be the end of me! You have to live for the ones you hold dear!"
Juvia sniffled as she cried., staring into Meredy's eyes. "Please." She begged. "Please live. Live for the one you love. Like the person I love!" Meredy was too baffled and dazed to respond. "There's no choice. If you love someone, you must live."
"Love?" Meredy was stargazed as she was caught off-guard by that term.
Vanessa softly added in. "I love my family. I live for them. I live for my brother. He's my family, and I live for both of our sakes! Live for Ultear!"
Meredy's Sensory Link made her feel Juvia and Vanessa's crying plea. And her cheeks began to turn pink, her lips quivered, and most important, her eyes began to tear up. She began to have crying eyes like Vanessa and Juvia.
Meredy completely broke down, and love finally processed. She shed far more tears than she has in her life, and Vanessa and Juvia joined in to hug and comfort Meredy as the three collapsed. The three began to cry all together, all living for the ones that they held dear.
Sliggoo smiled and she too began to have tears at the corners of her eyes. She'll live because she loves Vanessa like family, and her team as well. Dysfunctional or not, she'll love them forever because they took her in.
Meredy's Sensory Link was lifted in the crying, and the three no longer felt the same pain, though they did cry on. With their legs all hurt and out of Magic, they all fell backwards.
"I'll live…for the one I love." Meredy muttered as she fell backwards in exhaustion.
Juvia smiled as she fell backwards. "My beloved…I'll live for him." She splashed backwards.
Vanessa followed, a smile graze onto her face. "Nic, we did it." Her Sliggoo went to her side and smiled comfortingly towards her.
Nic, feeling his hurt leg, was panting, and he was feeling tears down his face. Charizard and Erza were right by his side. They were very worried as the pink heart was inflicting pain.
"Nic, can you get up?" Erza asked, seeing him lean against a tree. Her lips parted when the pink heart on his wrist suddenly lifted itself and was no more.
"What the…?" Charizard was taken by surprise as well. "Did it just stop just like that?"
Nic's panting stopped and his breathing became normal. "Hm?" He felt his leg, and it felt as though nothing had happened. "What's this? The pain suddenly lifted itself as well?" Charizard and Erza stepped back as Nic got up on his own, albeit slowly, and he turned about and felt no pain. "The pain is gone. I guess that means…" He looked out past Erza, towards the forest behind him, staring deeply. A small smile crept on his face. "I think Vanessa pulled it off."
Charizard raised a brow. "Gee Nic, didn't think you'd be that emotional over your sister winning." He said in a teasing way.
"Huh?" Nic felt his face, feeling the remaining tears fall. He calmly wiped himself with his forearm and huffed. He then looked at Charizard. "I guess I am."
Charizard turned his head. "Yeah, yeah." The two shared a small pause, in which that timespan proved to be unsettling as something from afar was sensed. Charizard's serious expression arose and he turned his head towards the direction to where the Magic power came from. "You feel that?"
Nic grew uneasy quick. "Yes, it's very massive."
"Do you think it's the enemy?" Erza asked, as if she knew it.
Nic pause. "I would imagine." He then turned his sights at Erza. "In this scenario, we're left at a predicament. This Magic that I sense is very strong, and dense. We need to be aware that it's an enemy, but at the same time we're still trying to locate Wendy and the rest…what's more…"
Erza blinked as she waited for Nic to add on. "What?"
Nic remained quiet for a couple moments and looked at her. "What's more is…I've been sensing a Plate."
The redhead's eyes widened. "What's this?! You mean that a Plate is on Tenrou Island?!" Erza exclaimed in shock.
Nic looked away. "No doubt, but the Magic and nature flow here is so thick, it's cloaking the Plate, making it hard for me to pick up its location." Nic then looked at Charizard. "Charizard, I'm counting on you to deal with that Magic energy incoming."
Charizard spread his wings. "Like you have to ask." He then flapped and ascended greatly. Even without say, Charizard knew Nic would've wanted him to go check out the enemy. When he got past the canopy, he was left a little surprised at how there was a small gravitational beam that traveled a line with concentrated rain.
Even from where Charizard was at, he felt the great flow of power, but he was always one to go that extra mile, whether it'd be in Heaven or Hell; the rain was no exception. "This should be a blast." He figured, and flew off towards the strong energy.
Back with Nic and Erza, Erza looked at Nic with some distraught concern. "Are you sure it was wise to send Charizard?"
Nic looked up at the sky, rain pouring down his face as he saw his fire-breathing friend and family take off towards an unknown foe. "…No, but Charizard has the strongest will and strength of anyone I've ever come across." Nic informed. "Even in the rain, Charizard will fight, but don't get me wrong, he's part of my team, so he's very smart." His glance went back towards her. "He can take care of himself, I never doubt him."
Knowing Nic and how he doesn't doubt his Pokémon, Erza had to respect that. If she were in Nic's position, knowing how he'd had at least three years with Charizard, she wouldn't lose faith nor doubt. She remembered Charizard fighting the tainted Moltres back in Kalos, and Nic had put all of his faith in him.
The two then focused on their own goals; finding Wendy, and get that Plate. "Wendy!" Erza called out.
"Where are you?" Nic called out, but no response. "Can you hear us?" The two continued forward several paces, their heads swerving left and right, but nothing responded to them. "Where are they…" Nic began to trail off and stop in his tracks. He stayed completely still as he had a very strong feeling.
Erza noticed that Nic stopped several feet behind her and she turned around. "You sense them?"
Nic's eyes furrowed as he clenched his fists, turning away a little. "No, but…I feel something else. Something as worse as that energy Charizard went after."
"Very perceptive, Luminous." A deep voice echoed, catching Erza by surprise. "Your sensory is sharp. It proves just how aware you are."
"Show yourself!" Erza demanded.
From above, from a thick tree branch, Azuma slowly emerged, his upper body upside-down while his lower half was in the tree still. Nic and Erza both shot glares at him.
"Finally, warriors worthy of recognition." Azuma praised. "This Wendy you speak of is gone, I sought to that with my own hands."
Erza shook with fury. "We'll kill you." She threatened cold.
Nic took notice of the wound on Azuma's abdomen, which was from earlier. Nic remained silent as he tried to keep focus, but Azuma saw his glare and took a guess at what he was considering. "Luminous, it seems you've taken notice then. That girl, Sophie, she didn't go down as easily as I thought, giving me a little parting shot before I finished her off."
Nic was mentally horrified at what Azuma had done. Nic was clenching his fists so hard the bones could be heard cracking under the pressure. Nic gritted his teeth and his glare grew venomous. "You defeated Sophie? Then you'll suffer unimaginably."
"Hm." Azuma remained silent for a brief moment as the two-on-one stare down was under way, yet a small yet rumbling sound came from the distance, the direction where Charizard flew off to.
Nic and Erza looked back at said direction. "What was that?" Erza wondered.
"It would seem Master Hades has sent Bluenote in." Azuma warned. "Now that he's enter the fray, no one shall live."
"Bluenote?" Nic asked. He then thought to that incredible power he sensed. 'That must be what we sensed. It's that one person emanating such intensity.' He eased his clenched fists and grunted. 'Charizard, be careful.'
Bluenote had a very long ponytail, the entire thing in a green band. He had a white coat with the letters spelling out blue on his back. He had black hair that went into the long ponytail. He had sharp, triangular sideburns that pointed up to his mouth. His eyes were fixated and silver colored. He had a light purple sleeveless cloth that went down to his knees; the back being larger than the front. The cloth had a dark-colored sun adorned on it, and below the chest was a pair of dark wings, the feathers pointing in opposite, sideways directions. Below the cloth, Bluenote had a dark shirt with a high, round collar that had on a metal plate resembling a pyramid, and the sleeves reached down below his elbows. His legs had black, baggy pants with one white stripe on each leg, tall tucked into bright boots.
He looked at Natsu and friends, all suppressed by his Gravity Magic. "You impudent brats!" A dark Magic seal emerged in front of him and a powerful force of gravity shattered the ground as it sent Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Carla, and Wendy soaring, all screaming.
With Bluenote momentarily distracted, Cana was ready. "Nice job Natsu!" She shouted.
"Now Cana!" Natsu shouted as he was falling.
Cana stood back up as Bluenote turned to face her. "This amateur's gonna finish you off!" Cana held up her right arm, the forearm covered in a red tattoo with a strange Fairy Tail emblem with feather like extensions around it, making a V. "Now! Gather, O' river of light guided by fairies!"
The tattoo glowed a bright golden light, and Bluenote covered up as golden energy enveloped Cana and shot upwards into the skies above, straight through the storm clouds.
Bluenote looked up. "She's activating Fairy Glitter, but how?!" He exclaimed.
The clouds around cleared, and everyone around saw that there was moonlight, sun, and space seeing seen, but no stars, and it was vaguely due to Arceus's health. Cana still continued on.
"Shine! In order to perish the fangs of evil!" A large, golden ring enclosed above, and Cana aimed her arm at Bluenote. The mystical ring began to descend downwards and enclose on Bluenote. "Fairy Glitter!"
Cana let loose a battlecry as Bluenote was trapped in the ring and let a scream of pain emit. Everyone looked with sheer shock as a ton of light was gathered and enveloped Bluenote, making him emit pain as Fairy Glitter engulfed him.
Despite the attack, Bluenote was still able-bodied. He slowly clenched his fists and he pressed onto the ground. "Fall!" He then made the light heavier, and gravity pressurized around him, the light being unable to keep itself contained. Cana gasped and looked horrified as Fairy Glitter was being overpowered.
The light exploded, and a shockwave had sent everyone soaring, including Cana. She fell backwards with a thud, much to her disbelief.
Bluenote's face darkened as the residue light faded. "So, that's the skill to use Fairy Glitter." He guessed. "…pathetic." The skies above vanished and turned back into storm clouds, the rain pouring down once again. "It would seem ultimate power can be useless when in the hands of brats like you!"
Cana shook in horror. 'I failed, again.'
Bluenote face emitted a shadow of heinousness as he walked up towards Cana. "I'll take Fairy Glitter now."
Cana looked as though she was about to cry. 'My last chance, and I failed.'
"Cana!" "Run away!" No!" Natsu, Lucy, and Wendy all pleaded as a petrified Cana was shaking out of pity and failure, unable to act.
"The good news is that I don't need you alive." Bluenote slowly reached for Cana, who looked dejected and waited for her fitting end.
A sudden figure appeared in front, extending his right arm out. Bluenote was send soaring back from an immense force that shook the ground when the arm was extended and close to reaching him. Everything around everyone slowed down, and Cana was seen quivering.
A tattered-coated figure stood in front as Bluenote was in mid-air and his shocked gaze was unable to take in a high-speed projectile from straight above. The shadowy projectile crashed at a speed of 90 mph into Bluenote's abdomen, sending straight into the earth, making a crater and rock fly in all directions, the land thundering.
Everyone there looked in surprise at what just happened, with Bluenote getting attacked twice with no room to counter. The shadowy figure with a flaming tail sprung up and back, landing in a skid backwards to a halt right next to the tattered-cloaked figure, with his claws pointed at Bluenote as he slowly got up and growled.
A shadow was over Bluenote's face. "What?"
Cana began to shed tears as the figure before her was revealed to be the one person that's always on the run – Gildarts.
Right by him, by coincidence, Nic's Charizard had an offensive stance as he showed determination against Bluenote, giving little regards to Gildarts.
Natsu gaped. "I don't believe it!"
Happy jumped around. "Hooray! Gildarts is here!"
"And Charizard too." Lucy added in slight awe in her voice.
Cana had some tears drop. 'D-Dad.'
There was a two-on-one stare down, Gildarts' intense stare, and Charizard's burning stare, against Bluenote's anxious and voracious stare.
Bluenote broke the silence. "So, this is the legendary Gildarts. And what do we have here?"
Charizard only narrowed his glare slightly, feeling the ominous and heavy pressure emanating from Bluenote, but that didn't mean nothing as he kept the burning inferno in his will and strength.
Natsu smiled. "Alright! The old man came back!"
"Get out of here." Gildarts muttered, in which Natsu looked annoyed.
"What?!"
Gildarts emanated his aura, his white energy coating him and escalating into the air. Bluenote emanating the exact same level, only his was dark. As for Charizard, the flame on his tail began to burn with such intensity that a fiery aura was around him, showing his strength. Altogether, an exceedingly dense and hot pressure surround the massive crater they were all in, making Lucy shudder with sweat from the heat.
Without looking, Gildarts referred to Charizard. "As for you, stay out of this as well."
This bit of reluctance did absolutely nothing for him as Charizard remained planted and undeterred from his emanating strength and burning flame on his tail. Still looking at Bluenote's anxiousness, Charizard responded. "Old timer, you'd best learn to not keep me down, especially when I fight in the rain." He warned in a very cold tone.
"I said go!" Gildarts then rushed in without looking at Charizard, who ignored Gildarts. As Gildarts went after Bluenote, the latter saw Gildarts advancing and extended an arm out, using his Gravity Magic to make the area under Gildarts get lifted into the air and turned upside-down with him on it, his head now facing the ground.
Bluenote was left open as he looked ahead, seeing Charizard use Flamethrower, but when it came out of his mouth, the usual volume of fire was minimized slightly due to the rain. The Flamethrower attack, however, did hit its mark, and Bluenote was engulfed in a burning burst.
The Gravity Magic was stopped, and Gildarts was seen falling while still attached. He pressed his hand on the ground and used his Crash Magic and shattered the rock he was on into nothing, not even dust remained. He landed on the ground and he rushed after Bluenote.
Bluenote, recovered from that Flamethrower that diminished, saw Gildarts incoming. He clenched his fist and threw a punch, colliding into Gildarts' own punch and an immense shockwave and violent winds blew rapidly.
Lucy and the others on the sidelines all flew back and fell onto their sides, unable to take the sudden shockwave.
Even through the shockwave, Bluenote kept his concentration on Gildarts, not realizing that Charizard was on his right. Bluenote caught Charizard in the corner of his eye, but the Fire and Flying-Type was ultimately way faster than him, and pivoted and slammed his tail into Bluenote's gut, a bone-cracking sound being heard as Bluenote gagged and Charizard followed through with his tail swing, sending Bluenote back and crashing several feet away.
Charizard and Gildarts alike were staring down at Bluenote as the dust cleared, seeing him with both hands on his knees. He looked at them both with surprise. "They both overpowered me?!"
Charizard's physical combat skills was a trait he always worked with; not just his moves that he worked with, but his knee strikes, punches, uppercuts, and tail swings, all of which he had ascertained in three years. His physical prowess was going to be tested in this fight.
"Hey you." Gildarts said coldly to Charizard, still gazing at Bluenote. "You head straight through that shockwave and dealt a nasty blow…not bad."
Charizard snickered. "Not too shabby yourself."
Reluctantly, the ones on the sidelines saw that this was way too dangerous, and Lucy turned towards Cana. "Hey Cana…"
Cana had a shadow over her gaze. "…yeah, let's go. Gildarts and Charizard can handle this."
Lucy frowned and nodded, and Natsu was forced to go with them while carrying Master Makarov. Though he wanted to stay, he was dragged away to safety, with Wendy and Happy and Carla following, leaving the three to duke it out.
'Please, be careful Dad.' Cana hoped, and then walked away with the others.
Gildarts and Charizard stared down Bluenote, and Gildarts spoke. "You bastard. These kids were pushing themselves to the breaking point, just to make the future a batter place, and then you came and crush it completely!" Veins popped out of his face, which signified his anger.
Charizard only growled low as his face twisted with no words. Charizard was more than ready to challenge himself to use any training that pushed him to the breaking point and take on Bluenote. His blue eyes showed ferocity as Bluenote sneered and cracked his knuckles.
"I was waiting for worthy adversaries, now come!" The Grimoire Heart Mage shouted, a vicious smirk on his face.
Gildarts and Charizard both got into fighting stances, Gildarts with his fists up, and Charizard with his claws out with spread legs, both ready to destroy Bluenote with everything they had.
So far, I've been doing a good job in keeping the chapters under 12K and closer to 10K-11K. As I was making the chapter, Microsoft Word stopped responding, and then I had to work with the Auto-Saved document, but I managed to make it from that point on.
I hope you guys liked Vanessa's Magic. Luckily I got the inspiration a week ago and it was really the only decent option I coped with, and I wanted Goomy to evolve as well, so I hope you all liked this chapter. Leave a Review if it sufficed.
As you noticed as I did the scene changes, I cut out the "With etc…" in the beginning, just to make a little change-up. I wanted to experiment with how you guys would react to it; to see if you didn't mind or if you approve of it. If you guys don't like the change I made, comment and I'll re-edit them back in.
I apologize if this Arc isn't as what you intended. I've decided, just like I did with the Edolas Arc, that I'm gonna cut out the canon stuff that I left alone, just to save time and chapter space.
At least you know what two fights will be next chapter: Erza and Nic VS Azuma, and Gildarts and Charizard VS Bluenote. Be prepared for what I have in store for you!
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys enjoyed the scenes that I made, the combat, and the escalating intensity.
Next Time: The Two Infernos