The Fairy Contender

by Insane Dominator

One day, Nic Pularis is drawn into a sub-dimension, where he encounters Legendary Pokemon. He is entrusted with Plates by Arceus, and send to the land of Fiore, where he encounters Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza. He must go through multiple perilous journeys with his Pokemon and Fairy Tail, and triumph and endure hardships to master all eighteen Plates and save the universe. OCxErza.

48. The Two Infernos

Chapter 48 – The Two Infernos

Last chapter got quite some praise in regards to Vanessa learning Aura Magic; the details will come later on. I am certain that this chapter will be just as thrill-inducing as the last, and these two fights going down are only the tip of the iceberg compared to what'll come later on.

Pokenerd: It's a long story short actually. I just read some manga and was left to shape it in my image. Mega Evolution for Venusaur and Mawile is a possibility later on, but the others evolving won't happen until after the story is over.

Hope you're gripping to your seats, because the action in this might make you jump!

To Recap:

As the battle escalates, Vanessa finally snaps when Nic is threatened and she unlocks her Aura Magic. Vanessa, Juvia, and Goomy all fend off against Meredy while Nic, Erza, and Charizard escape. Through Sensory Link, Meredy was able to hurt Gray and Nic through Juvia and Vanessa, all taking damage. Goomy soon intervened and evolved into Sliggoo, helping the two save Meredy and they all live on for the ones they love, but they all fall backwards in defeat, lifting the Sensory Link. Nic is unable to thoroughly locate the Plate as an immense Magic surges and sends Charizard to fight, despite it raining. Charizard and Gildarts began their quarrel with Bluenote, as to where Nic and Erza both confront Azuma.

---

Chapter 48 – The Two Infernos

The massive Tenrou Tree above shielded them from the rain. Though the air was still damp, you could feel the pressure from within. Azuma glowered down at Nic and Erza as they clenched their fists in readiness for the formidable Mage.

Azuma had his footing atop of large, overgrown roots as they were all at the base of the Tenrou Tree. He smirked as he saw hints of frustration and determination from both Titania and Luminous. "Are you going to try and avenge your fallen comrades? At least prove to me you can do so." He challenged.

Erza glowed a bright light, requipping out of her black bikini into her Flame Empress Armor.

Nic glowed a shining light of his own, shifting from his Splash Plate into his Toxic Plate.

Azuma clenched his fists. "Looks like it's my lucky day. Two trophies from this glorious hunt: Titania and Luminous!"

Nic and Erza both jumped after Azuma, and the menace lunged after them both. With no delays or need for words, Azuma swiped his arm in midair, making roots shoot up from an angle on their right. Erza turned and slashed, cutting them with ease, but that distraction was enough for Azuma to dive down at her.

Just a split second before any contact, Nic used Poison Jab and thrust his right fingertips into Azuma's chest, driving the air out of him and shot him back into the tree root he jumped off of. Nic and Erza both landed back on the ground and Erza jumped again at Azuma while Nic found some nearby low-ground roots to climb.

Azuma was embedded into the root when he saw Erza lung and had her dark-red sword ready. Quickly prying his right arm, he reached out to her. "Bleve!" The space in front of Erza exploded, and she was sent flying back with a shout.

Azuma pried himself completely and flipped back onto the top of the root. He turned to his right and saw Nic leaping and climbing the connected roots like he was naturally born to do so. When he was close enough, Azuma unleashed another Bleve, which exploded close in front of Nic, forcing him to jump back and grip onto the top of a root to keep himself safe from Bleve's range.

When he stopped skidding and maintained a grip on the root, Nic opened his mouth. "Sludge Bomb!" He fired a purple and filthy ball of sludge at Azuma. It was easily intercepted by another Bleve, to which an explosion of flame and purple erupted in between the two.

Distracted, Azuma was hit by a slash from Erza on his left, causing him to lose balance and forced to jumped off. In midair, he turned down towards her and saw a wave of fire shoot from her sword, as well as Nic firing a purple gush that was his Venoshock. He put his arms out in front and a huge wall of roots shot out from out of the blue. The root shield took the flames and the Venoshock, giving him room to land on another root.

He grinned. "Not bad. They're coming at me at the same time…" He then heard some sizzling and saw steam from the other side of the root shield. "Hm?" He saw the middle of the roots dissolve, soon leading to one half toppling over.

Nic was seen on the other side, his mouth dripping with Acid. Erza sped in immediately when the shield dissolved apart and requipped into her Flight Armor. In mere seconds, she was in front of Azuma and dealt a horizontal slash with her sword across the chest, making him jerk back as it bled.

"Cross Poison!" Nic vertically flipped overhead and after Azuma, keeping him distracted for a short time for Erza to horizontally swipe her sword and made him grunt, jerking back again. He recovered fast enough to use his arms to block Nic's poisonous purple X as he crossed his arms coming down.

Azuma held his ground as he took the Cross Poison in the forearms. Nic ceased and he brought his legs up and used Azuma's forearms as a springboard and backflipped. As he backflipped, he glowed and shifted into his Icicle Plate. He skidded upon landing and was right next to Erza on a knee.

Nic got to both legs. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, but his durability is commendable. He can still fight with that wound on his abdomen." She noted.

She rushed at him at blinding speed. "Let's keep the pressure on!"

"Right!"

Erza went right past Azuma, cutting him in his left shoulder. Nic then rushed in and dealt a physical knee strike to his abdomen, making Azuma's eyes widen as he gagged. Nic then drove a right uppercut and sent the man soaring a few feet in the air.

Azuma recovered quickly in midair and landed on both feet. His eyes widened a little and used his Magic to send roots from behind Nic after him, almost like a massive swarm.

Feeling a strong force behind, Nic turned around and saw the roots attacking. "Blizzard!" He shot a vicious counterattack from his mouth, which swallowed up the roots in a maelstrom of snow and cold winds, almost chipping and freezing upon impact and covering a large amount of area behind him.

Azuma, surprised, was hit in the back by Erza's left knee. In a flash, Erza slashed at him three times, all different angles. She posed behind as Azuma grunted while holding up his arms that he used to cover up with.

"It seems that this is going to be a challenge for me." He smirked. "And I like challenges this way."

---

Gildarts started off with a destructive punch that Bluenote blocked while smirking, but violent winds surged and the ground boomed at the force. Charizard came from above and stomped on Bluenote's head, making the Mage fall forward on the ground and made it shake.

He kept his foot pressed on the side of Bluenote's head, but Charizard's force applied didn't seem to faze him. With wide eyes, all Bluenote did was turn his glance up towards Charizard and unleashed a gravitational field that expanded outwards, making Gildarts skid back harshly as to where Charizard was seen soaring back into the air. The dragon-like Pokémon straightened out in the air and spread his wings for balance.

Charizard looked down and opened his mouth. "Flamethrower!" He expelled a stream of fire down at Bluenote, though still weakened by the rain. Bluenote jumped back and dodged the scorching attack and saw Gildarts run right past it and let loose a battlecry as he drove his right fist forward, to which Bluenote grabbed with his left palm.

With his right elbow, he swung and struck Gildarts left arm that he used to block. Charizard spiraled down with a tail slam, his long tail slamming downwards. Bluenote took note and with his hands tied up at the moment, he used his Gravity Magic and let loose another field of gravitational force all round, making more rubble and Gildarts skid back once again, as well as Charizard repeating from before.

"Grrr. This isn't getting us anywhere." Charizard scowled, flapping in the air.

Gildarts wiped his mouth with his hand. "I know." The two glared at the wide-glaring Bluenote. "He's one sick bastard."

Bluenote gazed at his two opponents; one in the air and one below. He took notice at how Charizard was able to fly, which intrigued him.

"I see that you can fly." Bluenote said to Charizard casually. Slowly, he extended his left arm out. "…then fall."

A force of gravity was directed over Charizard, and the Fire and Flying-Type felt a sudden increase in gravity. He yelled as he shot down from the sky and landed on his two feet with great force, making the ground under him crack.

Charizard felt Bluenote's Fall Spell make his body feel weighed down, but that didn't keep him from slowly turning towards the opponent with a grudge on his face.

Gildarts rushed after Bluenote, but Bluenote used his spare arm and reached out, making a Magic seal above Gildarts, increasing gravity for him. Gildarts felt the weight of the world slowing him down.

"Tch!" Charizard aimed at the ground and opened his mouth. At the same time, Gildarts began to emanate a white aura, signaling his Magic. "Flamethrower!" Charizard gushed out his attack at the ground, as to where Gildart's Magic made the ground all within the caved-in area crack. Charizard's Flamethrower ran through the cracks, including under Bluenote.

"What in the-?!" Bluenote felt the earth shatter underneath, and fire burst from it as well. The entire area had rocks flying and the ground engulfed in bursting flames. He lost his concentration as he covered up.

As flying rocks and fire spewed from below, the Magic seals over the two were lifted, and with Bluenote distracted, Gildarts pressed a foot on the ground and sprung ahead. Bluenote looked just in time to be dealt with a punch across the face, one that could've crushed a normal man's skull.

"GAH!" Bluenote gagged as he felt flaring pain as he fell backwards.

In a quick blur, Charizard roared as he lunged in, using his speed and momentum to zoom past Gildarts's right and drove his left knee into Bluenote's abdomen, the immense force knocked the air out of Bluenote as he shot back and crashed loudly into the leveled ground several feet back.

Gildarts and Charizard both glared viciously as dust was clearing out from Bluenote's crash into the earth. The Mage's figure was seen rising as the dust began to settle.

Bluenote glowered at Charizard and Gildarts, his dark Magic encasing his body. He didn't seem at all discouraged; in fact, his face showed the exact opposite. His eyes were wide and he had on a very devious smirk.

"You two..." He started, still maintaining his smirk. He then made a mad dash ahead, cracking the ground from where he stood before his lunge. "I have been waiting for a long time for worthy adversaries such as you!"

Charizard bared his claws and growled. Gildarts began his charge towards Bluenote, their foreheads colliding with the force that made the ground shatter beneath them.

Gildarts maintained his ground as veins popped out of his face, his eyes shooting into Bluenote's as their foreheads smashed and tried to suppress the other. "You…bastard…" Gildarts growled.

As Bluenote's face was completely dark, his smirk widened. He suddenly felt a great force hit his gut and he gagged, stuttering back a few paces. His eyes caught Charizard's tail being the culprit, and was rendered helpless as Charizard pressed his left arm on the ground and spun, swirling his tail once again and smacking Bluenote's right ribs, sending the evil Mage soaring to his left and skidding to a halt.

He took damage, but showed no visible signs of fatigue as he glowered darkly as Charizard's running speed went up to him. Charizard sped ahead like a missile, both claws flashed light green with Dragon Claw. Bluenote shot his left arm out and made a Magic seal, which shot a gravitational shockwave at him, shaking the ground.

The massive gravity wave struck Charizard, but the lizard was a glutton for punishment. He had his feet dug into the earth as he had Dragon Claw out, keeping him from getting directly hit. The Dragon Claw cut straight through the middle, but he couldn't advance.

Despite the rain, Charizard didn't back down. "Heat Wave!" Charizard brought his wings back and then forward, unleashing a very hot wind that was like a blazing tempest that countered the gravity force Bluenote used. The Heat Wave and gravity blast Bluenote was using was at a complete stalemate, both attacks on par despite the rain weakening Charizard.

Bluenote looked shocked. "But how?!"

"ALL THE WAY!" Charizard roared. He released even hotter flaming winds and expanded slightly. His fiery will kept him gushing out the flames until the gravity blast and Heat Wave finally gave in, releasing a hot shockwave that made Bluenote and Charizard jump away as the area before them was swallowed in the burning shockwave.

Charizard grunted while Bluenote huffed as the area before them was reduced to leveled, sizzling rubble from the heat.

Bluenote looked startled. "Such fire power." He muttered in surprised. "Nobody's ever stopped my Gravity Magic with intense flames."

Charizard's tail burned even hotter as he got into a fighting stance with his claws out, Gildarts joining him. "The rain is against me, but I never stop exhausting my fire!" He shouted. "There's more flames to come!" He and Gildarts then lunged at Bluenote once again, the two men punching while Charizard used Dragon Claw, the two-on-one attack making the sizzling ground shatter as the three gave anxious and powerful vibes.

---

"Folium Sica!" Azuma swiped his arm in a long and fast arc, sending a funnel of leaves at Nic and Erza. While Erza, now adorned in her Heaven's Wheel Armor, slashed in rapid and consecutive fashion, Nic exhaled Icy Wind, making the funnel of leaves heading their way slow and disperse with ease.

Nic ran ahead at his high speed, glowing as he ran along the root, shifting into his Insect Plate Form. He took a big leap and became airborne. Looking down at Azuma, Nic called out his attack.

"Silver Wind!" Nic flapped his dragonfly-like wings and released a silver-powdered wind that swallowed up Azuma. Azuma covered up as he took the attack, but remained unmoved.

As he took Silver Wind, he moved his left arm in a swipe, which manipulated the tree roots and they shot at Nic from below, grabbing his leg and stopping his attack. The roots lashed Nic and sent him spinning away, quickly regaining balance. He maneuvered and dodged several more roots that went shooting for him in all directions.

Running out of room to maneuver due to the roots, Erza slashed her two swords in hand, cutting right through the roots taking up space. The two were airborne and right next to the other, glaring at Azuma.

"Not bad." Azuma admitted. "Tree Fist!" Azuma made a punching motion. The wood from the tree root he stood on then protruded a massive fist that stretched up to attack them both.

Erza readied a counteroffensive by summoning several swords around her.

"Blumenblatt!" Erza slashed her two swords in hand, sending the many other swords at the incoming fist. The swords pierced the incoming attack, but it was so thick that it didn't stop; the swords didn't even slow it down.

Erza gasped as the attack was coming at them both.

Nic abruptly shoved her out of the way and took the full blunt. He felt not just the crushing force of the wood and roots, but the pommel of every sword wedged in it. Nic had to suppress a gag as he felt a pommel drive into his abdomen. He shot back and crashed back-first into a root high above, yelping upon impact.

Erza turned in shock. "Nic!"

Azuma scoffed. "Hmph."

Erza looked back and shot daggers at Azuma. She shook angrily. "Damn you!" She swiped her swords and glowed, revealing her to have requipped into her Purgatory Armor.

Azuma narrowed his eyes with a scoff. He slammed his hand down on the ground. "Linear Explosions!"

A line of explosions traveled across the root towards Erza. With one mighty swing of her mace, she pounded the root under her, sending a shattering shockwave all around, which not only stopped Azuma's attack, but caused the root to completely shatter into fragments. Erza and Azuma jumped off as the root was destroyed and landed on the one right next to them, directly below a still-embedded Nic.

Nic's eyes opened as he glanced down below, seeing Erza lung and swing horizontally, though Azuma jumped and dodged. 'I gotta do something.' Nic thought, slowly prying himself from the root. He dislodged completely and flapped his wings rapidly and looked down at the fight some more, seeing Erza jump back from Azuma's Bleve that she tried to evade.

'Knowing guys like him, he's probably testing us. He's not going to hold back at this rate, especially with that wound, meaning he'll be putting in extra effort.'

Nic was well aware of what kind of guy Azuma was; a warrior of sheer will and honor; giving his all in battle and not praising those who don't give effort. He had to think of some way to incapacitate Azuma.

Soon enough, he got an idea.

Erza let loose a battlecry as she brought down her mace, to which Azuma blocked by using his Magic to make thick roots zoom in from his right. But that didn't stop Erza as she used her mace and sliced through in diagonal fashion.

Seeing how she continued to advance, Azuma reached outwards. "Bleve!"

Erza jumped to attack, but she saw a great wall of explosions arise before her. She consequentially lunged at it, only to be blown away and skid back harshly on her back. She found herself several feet back from Azuma when the smoke cleared.

Seeing Erza sitting back up, Azuma found this to be the best opportunity. "Now…"

Azuma was stopped in midsentence as a red powder was released from above. He and Erza both looked up to find that the red powder was coming from Nic, whom was engulfing Azuma in his Rage Powder made from his wings flapping.

Azuma suddenly felt his nerves assert aggression and his eyes became bloodshot. As he took in Rage Powder, his teeth grit and he glared angrily at Nic above. Nic's calm expression made Azuma angry, but he didn't know why. Everything about Nic mad him angry and veins popped out of his head.

Azuma extended an arm up, shooting roots after Nic. Nic maneuvered and dodged with ease. Nic looked back down at Azuma and he let loose a pepper-like powder from his wings that engulfed Azuma.

"That should just about do it." Nic muttered quietly. He turned towards Erza. "Erza. Attack him while you still can! Rage Powder won't last long, so hit him while you still can!"

Though Erza hadn't the foggiest idea as to what Nic did, she understood that this was her chance while Rage Powder was in effect. She crouched while Azuma continued to look up at Nic and lunged ahead with excessive force. With a battlecry, she swung her mace across, driving the heavy weapon into the man's abdominal region.

Azuma's red eyes shot wide as the attack embedded into his abdomen, where the bruise was already inflicting heavy pain. He gagged a little blood as Erza's swing shot him like a rocket and crashed into a huge root, shaking it a little.

Nic descended right next to Erza, the two looking at the other for a few moments before glancing back at the clearing dust. They saw Azuma groan as he slowly stood up on the root, looking scratched up in a few places. The pepper-like substance was still peppered all over his body.

He glared at the two, his red eyes no more. "I see you both have teamwork on your side. I can't seem to recall such efforts overpowering me so easily. I don't see how this is fair at the level of strength I'm using." Azuma said with deep authority.

Erza and Nic both just stared as Azuma then clasped his palms together and spread them out. Almost immediately, the area began to shake. The two felt a sudden Magic spike that came from Azuma; not only was his power gonna increase, but this next attack could cause a lot of damage.

Nic didn't smirk, but knew that Azuma fell for the trap.

Azuma stood affirm as Nic and Erza didn't move. "Tower Burst-!" The second he began to engulf himself in the explosion that was supposed to follow, the pepper-like substance all over his body sparked, and he was swallowed in a fireworks-like explosion that swallowed up a small area. The dense explosion boomed, not only echoing Azuma's screams of pain, but the root he was on was destroyed.

Erza and Nic watched as the explosion subsided and Azuma was seen falling on his back down below on another root, looking even more scratched up as his armor on his upper body was no more.

Erza turned towards Nic. "What happened?" She asked in surprise.

Nic turned towards her, but kept his mental focus on Azuma down below. "I used Powder to absorb the explosion he was about to set off. I used Rage Powder to get his attention and to give you a chance to attack."

As he explained, Azuma winced as he slowly arose.

"While he was focused on me, I recalled him using explosions, so I used Powder so he would take the full blunt."

Erza couldn't help but he impressed by Nic's crafty maneuver. Not only did he remember that Azuma could control nature in a way, but he also could explode the air around them. He turned Azuma's own attack against him.

"Now! Let's make this next shot count!" Nic lunged down at Azuma, with Erza following with her mace. The two went sailing after Azuma as he looked up and saw them incoming. He grunted as they were seen coming from an upward angle at a high speed.

He extended his arm out. "Burst Claw!" Green blades went gliding from Azuma and headed right for them.

Nic extended his arms out ahead, making little green orbs that turned into Combee-shaped creatures that shot multicolored energy beams from their eyes, via Attack Order. The multitude if energy blasts intercepted the incoming blades, making explosions in between the three.

"Go, Erza!" Nic shouted.

Erza dove through the explosion, creating a hole in it. She let loose a battlecry as she dove at Azuma and swung down. The Grimoire Heart Mage jumped at the last second, evading the swing that smashed the root that he was on, sending strong winds all about.

While Azuma was in midair, he felt a strong force from above. He looked up and saw that the explosion cleared out, revealing Nic dive-bombing on him in a rapid spiral.

As he spun, Nic's hands were put together as a spinning light blue cross with magenta outlining was made. "X-Scissor!"

Nic let loose a screech as he drove his spinning self into an airborne Azuma, driving his attack into his abdomen. Azuma screamed as the attack was like a drill that got his entire abdominal region. There was a small light blue flash in between him and Nic before the force of the spinning X-Scissor shot him back several yards into a tree connected to the Tenrou Tree.

Azuma crashed, a loud sound echoed as Nic landed on the ground. He looked at Erza to find her giving a soft smile, to which actually made him feel warm.

Her smile always brought him to feel a warm and comfy feeling; even in not so good times, looking at her smile and eyes made him feel better. Fighting by her side was really enjoyable and nerve-racking at the same time.

"That was well played Nic." Erza complimented.

"Thanks Erza." He then looked forward, seeing Azuma affirm with clenched fists. He frowned. "But we're not done yet."

Azuma stared at the two before him. He watched as Nic glowed, switching from his Insect Plate into himself again. His demeanor was left unchanged as he felt the power emanating from both, yet they were so different, primarily Nic's.

"Well now." Azuma started. "It seems that I've clearly underestimated my chances." Through it all, his frown lightened slightly.

"What's this realization all about?" Erza asked.

"You were outmatched from the very beginning." Nic informed. "Two-on-one is the most basic form of disadvantage, especially when said two are equal on offense and defense."

"It's not so much of a realization as it is a fact." Azuma said. "I see two warriors of the same valor is rather unfair. I don't see honor in such a feature." He paused but for a brief moment. "I've heard many tales of your individual battles, far and wide. Titania, her warrior's prowess ever so might; and Luminous, the same man who took down Jellal and Jose, not to mention quite a few demons."

Nic growled for a few seconds, his core telling him something bad is arising.

"We three share the concept that facing strong warriors makes us stronger, for fighting is what drives us."

Nic looked down and shook his head. Erza lowered her head a little, showing her disapproval as well.

"You got it all wrong." Erza stated. "All Nic and I ever wanted was to find the strength to protect our love ones and family."

Nic added to that. "For as long as we both stand, we'll put everything on the line if it means keeping the other alive."

Though Nic's original intention was a meaning to everyone, it was more of himself and Erza. The two fought side-by-side before, and with all the experience they've accumulated, seeing the other suffer an agonizing pain would be heart-stomping.

Erza softly smiled at Nic, his words touching her heart as they were true.

Azuma scoffed at his foolishness. "You're both interesting, I'll vouch for that much. But this fight isn't exactly how a real warrior sees it."

"And just are you proposing?" Nic asked. Just as he finished asking, his and Erza's eyes widened a little as the land began to shake. It wasn't feeling like an earthquake, they weren't close to an epicenter. It must have been…

Azuma stayed still as he glowered at the two. "I wasn't pushed this far so easily. Looks like a new stage has been entered." The roots from around the area had begun to slowly move in different directions. The earth shook nonstop as Nic and Erza tried to keep balance. The ground far below began to crack as roots were running through like water beneath the surface.

Erza and Nic looked around, maximum caution at hand. "What's happening?" Erza asked hastily.

"Great Tree Arc is my Magic. I can not only control the land, but…" He reached both arms out. From both sides, Nic and Erza saw the bog roots and little roots all shine glints before getting destroyed in explosions. "I can channel the explosions of the earth, and manipulate it however I see fit."

Nic's mouth opened as he saw Azuma's very feet become one with the tree root they were standing on. More explosions were erupting and roots were scattering below. They both continued to look forward as Azuma's entire body began to not only channel extraordinary Magic, but his veins pulsated all over his body, the energy swelling within.

"I can channel and use the energy of this very island to however I see fit! This is why I was to arrive first!"

"What's going on! Tell us!" Nic demanded as more eruptions and tree roots corrupted. The two were starting to lose their balance as they felt lopsided. Nic and Erza maintained their hold as Azuma began to disappear into the root, merging completely.

---

Natsu and his group screamed as they saw the humungous tree explode at its roots, and they saw the entire tree tilting as rain poured down on them.

"AHHHH! WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING?!" Natsu shouted.

Wendy looked back. "The Tenrou Tree! It's beginning to fall!"

Carla looked back. "Don't look back child! Keep running!"

"We gotta keep back to base camp now-!" Natsu suddenly felt his entire body give in. He came to a sudden halt and drop to his knees as he had an unconscious Master Makarov on his back.

"W-What the…" He choked out.

Lucy fell down as her energy was depleted just like that. "Guys, I don't have the strength."

Happy fell to the ground, his power drained. "What's going on?"

---

The three looked in the same direction to see the giant tree in the distance falling down, shocking them all. Gildarts suddenly felt himself getting fatigued. His breathing became fast as he became exhausted.

He panted as he was about to get to a knee. "Damnit. What the heck?" He panted some more. "It's like…my energy just up and went."

Charizard turned towards him. "Say what? You gotta be kidding me, old-timer!" He exclaimed in shock. "You're really out of power?" He looked back up at the falling tree, where Bluenote looked.

The ground still shook a little. "My god, what is Azuma doing? Master Hades, just what did you ask him to do?"

---

On his ship, Hades looked through his windows, feeling the small quake in the land as the glorious view of the Tenrou Tree fell before him. The entire tree falling put a smirk of triumph on his face.

"I was surprised at first that Bluenote was suppressed by someone other than Makarov. What's startling even more was that Gildarts was accompanied by one of Nic Pularis's pets. I never imagine Bluenote having trouble so easily."

He still kept his smirk on his face as he saw the tree fall further down. "But the Magic Power of Fairy Tail is now ours." His eyes narrowed. "And so, Fairy Tail's survival finally falls to zero."

---

They felt everything tilting, and Nic was only thrown off balance, making him fall to a knee. "Damnit! What in the world…?"

He noticed how Erza was using her mace as support, but that didn't do much of anything as her knees were shaking. It was as if all of her strength was being sucked away. Erza was shaking as she struggled to keep support.

"What's this…my Magic energy, it's…" Erza was cut off when she glowed and was seen in her white blouse and blue skirt, falling to her knees.

Nic rushed over to her side. "Erza!" He crouched down once beside her, overlooking the exhausted Mage. "Are you alright? Speak to me!"

Erza struggled as she had little strength. Nic balled his fists tighter than ever. He growled as he sprung back up to his feet, daring for Azuma to show his face.

"Master Hades has a vast amount of knowledge of Tenrou Island and its properties." Azuma's voice echoed from Nic's left. He turned his head and widened his eyes a little when he saw the man's face merged with a nearby tree.

Azuma's face glowered down at Nic as he was still confused as to what was happening as everything was still shaking.

"Tenrou Tree itself is centered on the island. The tree has the power to protect those wearing the guild's emblem from harm and casualty. In addition, it amplifies their Magic power."

Nic looked down in pondering. "That would explain why Master Makarov had the trials here." A thought then hit him and his eyes shot wide with realization. "Wait! You just deracinated the Tenrou Tree!"

"Very wise of you, Nic. Not only has every spell the Fairy Tail Mages been nullified…" He looked away, slight smug plastered. "Your Magic Power will rapidly drain from your bodies, leaving you defenseless."

He looked away from Azuma and down towards a distressed Erza, who was unable to act. Her helpless figure made Nic even angrier as Azuma was doing this to her. His eyes shrunk and his pupils sharpened, showing his rage as he whipped his head back at the enemy in the tree.

"You…" Nic snarled. "You sick filth. You infuriated me!"

The tree's foliage atop fell into the ocean. Nic and Erza were on that tree at its base; apparently they fell over with the tree, now seeing the island some ways away.

Azuma's face and neck began to protruded. "While this tree shall die, all of Fairy Tail shall suffer the same fate…" His upper body began to protrude. "However…"

His body detached and he set his feet on a root high above. "For some reason, you're still standing. All of the Magic is supposed to be drained, yet yours is still intact."

Nic gasped, realizing that he's not affected because he doesn't have Magic, but the Plates.

"It would seem fate had decided to give me a different path, though it'll lead to the same location." Azuma crossed his arms. "I originally wanted to have Titania's Magic reserved, but seeing as how you're unaffected, I shall have you to fight."

Nic's eyes kept their daring gaze with anger infused. He kept still as Azuma stared down as there was a huge jungle of roots around them.

"Azuma of the 7 Kin, am I correct? I take it you're under orders from Master Hades?"

"Yes, Nic Pularis, this is my mission." He responded. "Felling the tree would be the easiest way to send you all to Hell…but I'm sure you know that you're now the only one who can stop me."

Nic kept a cool head, but his discomfort radiated. "I'm aware. And seeing as how you said earlier about a fair fight, it seems that I have no choice in the matter."

"So, I finally get my fair fight? One fierce warrior against another? No interference?"

Nic and Azuma both paused and looked at each other, their faces giving the answer the other sought.

Nic glanced down at Erza, seeing the struggle, but one soft, brown eye looking up at him. That eye was like a window to her heart, telling him to be careful.

He turned towards Azuma. "If a fair fight is what you desire, then I would expect all of my friends saved." Nic bargained.

Azuma made no hesitation. "You have my word, but if you fall before I do, Titania shall be next."

A cold sting ran through Nic as Erza was next in line. There was no way he was going to let that happen, but he couldn't resent; only comply.

"…very well, but know this…" Nic's eyes narrowed as the atmosphere became dense. "…I won't fall."

---

Gildarts was lying on his stomach, fists clenched as he couldn't find the strength to move. He mentally cursed himself as he was completely out of power.

Charizard grunted as he looked back at Gildarts. His claws clenched. 'Damnit. He's down.' He turned and looked in the distance. 'Is the tree involved? Did that suck up powerhouse's strength?'

Bluenote looked away from the fallen tree and back at Gildarts, a smirk crossing his face. "So, it seems the Tenrou Tree was uprooted." He heard Gildarts grunt. "Good…" He dashed off right into Gildarts, a sadistic smirk wide and uninviting. "The invincible Gildarts reduced to nothing! This'll be too easy!"

"Damnit." Gildarts used his forearms to lift himself and saw Bluenote come ever so closer.

A knee strike into Bluenote's gut made him stop advancing, making him gag at the sudden attack from out of the blue.

As time seemed to have slowed down, his eyes slowly looked over to see that Charizard dealt the blow. His eyes widened at the recollection. 'I forgot about him!'

Charizard was still in midair when he then spun clockwise, swinging his tail into Bluenote and making him yelp as he smashed into some piled rubble close by, making dust fly.

Charizard kept a calm yet serious face as he stared at the rubble that Bluenote was buried under. "You don't attack a man when he's down. This isn't amateur hour." He scolded.

He didn't get a verbal response. The rubble crumbled as it blasted in all directions, leaving Bluenote standing. The rain continued to fall, yet the pressure emanating was intense.

Bluenote's cold stare didn't faze Charizard as he stood in front of Gildarts, prepped for battle.

"I see. It would appear that you're not affected by the Tenrou Tree." Bluenote remarked. "I was planning to finish off Gildarts there and then…" He smirked. "But you've held up this long. Let me see what else you can do against me."

Charizard looked back and saw a struggling Gildarts, a small pause before he turned back towards Bluenote, his neck lowered slightly. "It looks like I'm flying solo." He remarked faintly.

Bluenote clenched his fists, anxious eyes darting at Charizard. "You cannot defeat me, puny lizard!" He rushed ahead, a heavy lung leaving the ground from where he stood cracked. "Fairy Tail is done for, so you might as well join your little friend while you still can!"

Charizard's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to let out a roar. Despite his leg size, his land speed was remarkable, catered by Nic. He rushed after Bluenote, right claw and right fist colliding, sending a shockwave that rumbled the earth beneath.

Charizard grunted as Bluenote's pure strength was impressive, but he had more usage of his combat skills. With their fists still connected, Charizard opened his and grabbed Bluenote's fist and reeled him in. He let go and used the same arm for a punch straight across Bluenote's face, having Bluenote jerk back a few feet.

"Impudent fool!" Bluenote extended his arms out and a Magic seal appeared. His Gravity Magic directed a strong shockwave towards Charizard, making the ground shatter as it flew towards him.

Charizard spread his wings and took flight, lunging into the altitude as the shockwave flew right under him. Stopping at a certain point and looking at Bluenote, the Fire and Flying-Type darted in at an angle. "Fly!" He flew in at a sharp angle towards Bluenote at high speed.

Bluenote barely had time to register the incoming adversary. He reached both arms out as Charizard slammed into him completely, a small shockwave rippling and the ground shook abruptly. Bluenote grunted as Charizard was much tougher than he had originated, given he was more focused on Gildarts.

Charizard landed on the ground in front and darted his right elbow ahead into Bluenote, but he shifted right and turned his body to throw a left hook. Charizard swung his neck back to evade the hook and spun in the same spot, hitting Bluenote with the back of his left wing and making him lose balance and fall forward. Using this to his advantage, Charizard quickly crouched and drove a left uppercut into Bluenote's gut and not even a split later he threw a right jab, sending Bluenote back stumbling to a halt.

Bluenote wiped his mouth and looked ahead, but was given no time to counter when Charizard drove his left knee right into his face, the cracking sound echoing through the area and making nearby birds fly away.

"Gaaah!" Bluenote fell on his back with a thud as Charizard backed away for some distance. Bluenote grunted as he sat back up and slowly got to his feet. His expression looked anything up amused.

"You…how could you read my attacks so easily?!" He demanded.

Charizard's tail shifted from his right to his left, still burning to no end. "It's too predictable. Your combat style is just like powerhouse back there; you both are straight forward with punches and headbutts, as to where I'm more nimble."

Bluenote looked with heavy dismay to see that hand-to-hand combat won't work considering Charizard was much faster and had even strength. Still, Bluenote still had his Magic, which lightened his mood.

"Fine, then try this!" He reached out at Charizard. "Fall!"

Charizard saw a huge Magic seal above him, and when he looked up, he was hit with an intense gravitational force that rendered him immobile. People like Natsu and others would've fallen completely, but Charizard remained on his two feet and grunted as he felt like he was being hit by a heavy waterfall.

Gildarts looked on as Charizard was doing all the fighting, seeing the tide beginning to turn. "D-Damnit." He cursed. "He should've gone away like the rest."

Though struggling, Charizard remained affirm. "Flamethrower!" He let loose his melting attack that blasted through the damp air, striking Bluenote and swallowing him in a fiery burst that shook the ground. This act caused Fall to be lifted, and Charizard felt far less pressure.

The fire and smoke was swiped away by Bluenote, his white coat was tattered and charred in a few places. He looked angry, as seen by the veins on his face.

He flung off his coat. "Even with heavy pressure, you can still deal damage with fire." He scoffed. "You really are a glutton for punishment."

---

Azuma looked down as Nic's fists tightened. Nic saw him extend an arm out and shoot a root at him from the one he stood on. Nic jumped as the root pierced the spot he was on. He landed on the root and darted right up, much like a bridge.

"Chain Burst!" Azuma snapped his fingers and the root began to create explosions, starting from the base. Before they could reach and touch Nic, he jumped above and put his two hands together, spreading them apart to reveal a white needle, via Cut.

Nic drove the needle into the root Azuma was on to keep himself from falling as he didn't make it on. With Cut's needle on the side, he put both hands on it and flipped twice; the first to gain momentum and the second to get into the air, doing another flip and planting his feet on the root, finally face-to-face with Azuma.

"Swords Dance!" Nic spread his legs apart and closed his eyes. Blue illusionary swords circled around him for a few moments and then crossed above his head. When they vanished, Nic felt a great surge of strength. "Slash!" His fingers glowed white and became claws, elongating and he went after Azuma.

Azuma brought his right arm across and swiped. "Ramus Sica!" A flurry of sharp branch blades went darting ahead after Nic. To Azuma's surprise, Nic slashed excessively and still advanced, sustaining little damage as he darted through the sliced blades. Nic closed the gap between in a matter of moments and swiped his right arm diagonally upwards, slashing Azuma's chest and a loud grunt escaped.

Azuma landed a few feet back and slammed his right hand against the ground. Nic felt a quick rumble and looked down. His eyes caught a tree-like fist shooting up in an uppercut. He backflipped to dodge and skid back a few feet. Once regaining footing, he dashed towards Azuma. Azuma, in return, let loose a battlecry as he punched forward. Nic shifted right and drove a left hook into his face. Azuma stepped back but kept his ground.

He growled as he looked back at Nic, only to receive a right uppercut to the chin, which left him open for Nic to put his fists together and drive his left elbow into Azuma's wounded abdomen, making Azuma gag out some blood as he fell on his back and skid to a stop.

Nic stood still as Azuma slowly got back up. When he stood, he couldn't help but be impressed. "Not bad, Luminous. Your close-range combat is formidable. You're just the kind of warrior I was hoping to fight."

Nic paid no heed, but persisted. The two engaged in more hand-to-hand combat, trading blows, every punch and arm blocked and intercepted by the other. This held up for a good thirty seconds; after that, Nic started to get a few good shots of his own in as Azuma started to wear down. Nic soon drove a right hook and got Azuma across the face.

Azuma, seeing as how his wounds were catching up to him, jumped away.

"Bleve!" Azuma made the area in between the two explode, forcing Nic to jump away.

As the explosion cleared, Nic saw Ramus Sica being launched. He countered by using Cut as an offense. He slashed and clashed against as many as possible until the attack stopped. His hands glowed blue, via Crush Claw, and darted in to strike down Azuma.

The Grimoire Heart Mage saw Nic advancing and extended his arm out, using Bleve to cause a great explosion; this time, instead of just in front, it was all around Nic, startling him.

The glints then became explosions, bursting in every direction possible.

"Nic!" Erza shouted as she was still down.

Azuma looked on as the explosions settled. To his surprise, Nic was still standing, clad in his Flame Plate Form.

He breathed rather heavily as he was still covered in a few scratches. 'That was too close. Luckily I shifted into the Flame Plate to absorb the explosion so I didn't get cindered.'

"Most intriguing." Azuma stated. "No one is for sure if you do a Requip of sorts, but your skills and experience are just what I've been looking to test. I heard many tales of your valor, and I've been waiting for this for quite some time."

Nic didn't show any interest. "Your ambitions are foolhardy."

"Your combat skills are swift and very excessive, but there's something that troubles me still."

"Oh really, and what's that?" Nic asked.

Azuma gave a stern stare. "I've heard once that your anger is above any suppressor. Your being swells with such distaste that your prowess is amplified. I want to see it."

Nic swallowed a bit as he felt very uncomfortable. If he went crazy, he could seriously hurt himself…and besides, he doesn't want to take his chances. Last time didn't turn out pretty for him.

"I want to see your full power. Show me just what strength you used to stop the Oracion Seis and Nirvana!" Azuma extended his left arm out and his Folium Sica began to funnel after Nic.

Nic was looking at the funnel ahead, but when Azuma mentioned Nirvana, the first thing came to him was Jellal. The thoughts came flooding back, and he couldn't help but shake when he remembered how he hopelessly let Jellal be arrested, which provoked a surge.

The failure that he just thought of in a few seconds made him uneasy and hostile, and he opened his mouth as he gushed out a torrent of spinning fire that swallowed up the entire funnel. Fire Spin easily won out due to his emotions.

When the Fire Spin stopped, Nic inhaled.

'Interesting.' Azuma thought. 'A reaction to his past.'

"Inferno!" Nic screamed out a torrent of blue flames that were so hot that the space between them cindered, including the root in between.

"Tower Burst!" Azuma spread his arms out and a huge rumble shook the earth as a massive tower of explosions expanded outwards, colliding with the Inferno. Everything felt not just hot, but everything and everyone went blind for a few moments.

Erza screamed as she felt the strong force from afar, and she fell down onto a root below, still unable to move.

At the same altitude, everything cleared out. Roots were reduced to charred, shriveled pieces, and Nic and Azuma stood atop of two roots right next to the other, both ten feet away from the other.

"It would seem we're even." Azuma stated.

"I wouldn't be too sure." Nic jumped after Azuma and missed when he jerked out of the way. Using the momentum, he got to a handstand and pivoted. His feet lit ablaze and he used a spinning handstand Blaze Kick and struck Azuma's face, making him feel his cheek sizzling.

Despite the Blaze Kick, Azuma was still standing where he was. Nic flipped back upright and brought his right arm back, coating it in Fire Punch. He drove it forward in a fast motion, but Azuma was able to catch it by grabbing Nic's wrist just before contact.

"What's this?!" Nic found himself open as Azuma had his wrist clutched. He saw Azuma smirking as the land began to rumble some more.

"Tower Burst!" Nic had no chance to retreat as Azuma began Tower Burst, swallowing him up.

Erza's eyes widened in horror. "No! Nic!"

Nic grunted heavily as he found himself swallowed up, but fortunately he wasn't being incinerated or burst into flames. He felt himself spinning as he felt some sort of pressure, meaning he was falling. He saw the roots below and fell onto his side with scratches all over the body, apparently sizzling at the same time too.

Azuma stood twenty feet away from a groaning Nic. He watched him wince as he slowly got up. "Tell me, are you even trying?" He mocked.

Nic found his feet under himself and he got back up, feeling a little dizzy from that blow. If this keeps up, the outcome could very well go either way.

---

Bluenote extended his arm out. "Let me see you fly!"

Charizard felt an uprising gravitational force that shot him up like a rocket, unable to act against it. Though he felt like hammers were pounding under him, his brain got to work, figuring he could use the gravity to his advantage.

He managed to spread his wings and flap, ascending greater than ever, with the gravity being a tailwind.

Seeing this, Bluenote shot his hand down to bring him back down. Charizard reached a certain point before feeling no gravity, and then felt gravity shooting him down. As he fell, he caught site of Bluenote below.

"Fly!" Using the gravity to his advantage again, he shot at astonishing speeds downwards right onto Bluenote.

"What's this?! He's using my Magic to his advantage?!" Bluenote was baffled as Charizard shot like a meteor and crashed his entire body down onto his face, feet pressed against the entire upper body as he came down with the force that shattered the ground, making large stones and ground jump.

After the dust and stones dropped back down, Charizard was seen growling with his mouth closed as he stood over Bluenote, a foot pressed against his chest. Bluenote felt such pressure on his chest and from Fly and he coughed, grunting soon after as he found himself immobile.

Charizard pointed his right claw at him. "Do you concede? I expected someone of powerhouse's level to have more stamina." He stated.

Offended, Bluenote's eyes widened and Charizard felt the entire land all around shake. His nerves began to feel immense pressure building up and his teeth showed. He looked back down and saw the crazed look in Bluenote's eyes.

Bluenote's eyes closed and reopened, glowing red. That instant, an omnidirectional gravity wave exploded all around. The shockwave shattered the ground completely, rocks and all. Charizard was seen flying and yelping as he was hit head on.

Gildarts wasn't directly hit, but the shockwave was strong enough to make him fly back and hit his back on a rock behind him.

Bluenote, standing up, saw Charizard crash into the ground, rocks falling all around him. With a smirk, he watched Charizard groan as he opened his eyes, scratches all over his body.

"Uuugh. I'm gonna feel that in the morning." Charizard groaned. He slowly got up and felt a few bones crack. "Correction; I'm gonna feel that all day tomorrow."

Bluenote chuckled lowly first, but the chuckle blossomed into full-blown laughter, to which sounded maniacal. After twenty seconds, he shot a frightening glance at Charizard.

His eyes weren't red, but the pressure emanating was still massive. "What nonsense! Your pathetic guild will be reduced to dust before the sun comes up! You don't have a prayer!" He extended his arm out, and a Magic seal appeared on either side.

Charizard turned his head both left and right to find the Magic seals present and was hit with gravity from both ends, both equal force. He felt his sides being crushed as the strong force kept him from moving.

Charizard roared in pain as the gravity blasts gave tremendous pressure onto him.

Bluenote's smirk enlarged. "And now…"

He dashed after an immobilized Charizard, running right up to him. Charizard was too immobilized to act as Bluenote appeared in front of him. With a dark expression, he thrust his right arm forward almost point blank range. A Magic seal appeared in between his hand and Charizard.

Charizard's eyes widened. "Oh god!"

Bluenote let loose a cataclysmic gravity shockwave that rattled the entire caved-in area. Nothing but sheer dust and rock flew in all directions. Gildarts didn't have the strength to cover up as he helplessly watched rock and wind fly right past him. He felt violent winds flood all around and the dust and rock settled.

Bluenote frowned, but still remained anticipated. In front of him was a shattered and reduced landscape, completely loose ground. Fifty feet away, embedded into the wall, in a crater, he saw Charizard. Charizard was completely covered in dirt and chunks of loose gravel. His entire body was embedded and he was seen with closed eyes as he didn't seem like he was gonna move.

At first, Bluenote didn't act. Soon, he smirked and broke into a chuckle that exploded into a psychotic laughter. He laughed up into the air as Charizard remained still. He soon stopped and glanced back at him.

"I must admit, you gave me one heck of a challenge." He admitted, a slight huff in his voice. "You did quite a number on me, but the end was still inevitable." He looked away, turning and walked over towards Gildarts.

Gildarts couldn't struggle as Bluenote approached. At this rate, he'll be crushed completely by Bluenote, just like Charizard was.

"That lizard was a nice warm up, but now the real prize is right before me." Bluenote was thirty feet from Gildarts and closed the gap between slowly.

---

Nic jerked left and right, dodging Azuma's roots that were springing up in all directions. He began to jump from root to root, jumping like he would in the trees. His light feet landed and pounced with swift reactions as he began to close the distance on Azuma.

Azuma let loose a battlecry and sent a Bleve straight at him. Nic fired a Flame Burst, the two attacks bursting into sheer flames when they reached in the middle. Nic dove through the exploding flames with a sudden Flame Charge, leaving a hole in the explosion. Azuma was wide-eyed as Nic dove right through and dealt a powerful blow, driving Azuma several feet back and on a knee.

As Nic regained footing and prepped to advance, he found himself pinned by the ankles. He budged but his legs didn't listen. He looked down to find roots wrapped around his ankles.

"What the-?!"

"Chain Burst!" Azuma snapped his fingers and the roots exploded entirely, the root they stood on shaking a little.

Erza watched from afar as the two were clashing. She wanted to help, but found her Magic was sapped entirely, meaning it was all up to Nic to do the job. "Nic, please make it out alive."

Azuma's smirk disappeared when the smoke cleared. "What's this?!" He found the very spot Nic to be in gone. He turned his head slightly both left and right. "I sense him, but where?"

He stiffened when he felt a sudden energy from behind. He was struck by Nic's knee and he fell forward. Nic landed, his form changed to the Mind Plate, having used Teleport to escape at the last second.

Azuma had to admit that Nic was clever, but this wasn't the time to praise. He shot back up and turned around. He extended his arms out, sending Ramus Sica after him. Nic extended his arms out.

"Psychic!" Using his Mind Plate's powers, he reached out and stopped the incoming branches in mid-air, much to Azuma's surprise. Nic grunted, sending the entire attack right back. Before it could connect, however, Azuma swiped his arm, making a shield made of roots to take the blow.

Nic rushed ahead. "I won't ever let you harm my comrades! I'm gonna finish you so Erza doesn't suffer!" He swiped his right arm across in an arc, unleashing Psycho Cut. The pink crescent slice straight through the root shield, making the top half fall over.

To Nic's surprise, Azuma wasn't there. "What?!" Nic stammered back a few feet and calmed himself. He felt his presence, but he couldn't seem to find out where.

"So I take it that Titania is your conviction." Nic heard Azuma's voice ring all around. Suddenly, Azuma appeared right under Nic, merging from the tree root and delivering an uppercut to his gut, sending him flying back and skidding to one knee.

Azuma stood before Nic, his defiant expression unmoving. "So, you're giving it your best so that Titania doesn't have to suffer the same fate you will, right?"

Despite the truth to his words, Nic remained silent.

"I see, but tell me, do you know of her history?"

Nic managed to stand. "Yeah, she was a slave in the Tower of Heaven, among her friends."

Azuma paused, his stern glare remaining plastered. "I would assume you know Jellal as well?"

Hearing the name, Nic didn't want to hear anymore. Without a verbal response, he shot purple beams at Azuma, his Psyshock beaming towards him. Without moving a finger, Azuma summoned a funnel of leaves, his Folium Sica colliding with the beams until both attacks gave in at the same time.

Nic showed some signs of wearing down, as did Azuma. The wound on his abdomen seemed to have made him feel discomforted briefly before talking again.

"I take it that your act of arson is a yes. There's no need to be alarmed, for I am making but a brief statement."

Nic still took offense. "What are you talking about?"

"Jellal was in the Tower of Heaven, and I would think Titania knows him as well."

Nic looked away, discomfort written all over. "I'm afraid so. They were childhood friends." An image of Jellal taking a hit for him in Nirvana arose, and then him being taken, and then seeing Erza crying on the cliff at daybreak. His fists clenched as his ferocity reappeared before him.

Azuma remained composed, despite his breathing. "My condolences for that news. It wasn't Jellal's fault. It was Ultear's doing."

"Ultear…?" Nic remembered that uncomfortable excuse of a woman, the same one who helped defile the Magic Council. His eyes shot open. "Wait! You mean because of her, Jellal became obsessed with Zeref, and tortured Erza?!" Azuma could hear the anger in his voice, even seeing him shaking. "Erza suffered all of those years, because Jellal was possessed not by Zeref, but Ultear?!"

"Master Hades wanted a low profile for us, so we had Ultear make a diversion."

"A diversion?! An innocent man with a sense of justice was mortally scarred, and now he's suffering in prison because of you sick low-lives!" The extreme cold tone he gave at that instant made Azuma stammered back as he felt Nic's anger.

Though far away, Erza was able to hear every word. She was in shock that Grimoire Heart, specifically Ultear, took over Jellal. She was saddened to say the least, but what concerned her even more was Nic's vile confliction. She hasn't seen him this aggravated about the concept of Jellal, mainly since nobody ever talked about it.

Nic shook violently as he glared at Azuma. "Jellal is in prison because of what you started!" He lunged at Azuma. "Erza's childhood friend is gone, and I'd sooner have my own bones ripped from my insides than see her cry over him again"

Erza's eyes widened and gasped in utter surprise. "Nic…"

Azuma huffed and had Nic come closer. When he was close enough, he used Bleve from underneath, exploding right under Nic. Nic felt his legs sting as he was shot skyward, mentally cursing at the same time for being overtaken by his ambitions.

Azuma extended his arm up, shooting roots up after him. The roots grabbed Nic's legs and drove him onto the root again, making a crashing sound. He got on all fours, but his legs weren't so easy as to listen.

'Damnit, my legs!' Nic felt his legs sting heavily from that Bleve. He struggled to his feet, but managed; not without sliding a little of course. As he stood, he felt like his legs were going to cave in.

Azuma saw the advantage before him and reached out, shooting roots at Nic from all directions. They all closed in on him and he wasn't able to move as quickly. He resorted to using Psychic to stall and deflect all of the incoming roots at Azuma.

"Nice try." Azuma swiped his arm and shot Folium Sica at the roots. He successfully managed to slice through all of the roots and come out unscathed. He looked out and saw Nic standing still, the serious look still on his face.

Nic saw what Azuma was trying to do. 'So that guy wanted to get me angry to catch me off guard. He deliberately told me of what happened, and I fell for it.' He would've chide himself for falling for a classic emotion-sweeper, but his legs trembled as his balance was off and he lost footing for a moment.

Azuma's eyes widened. "This is it for you! Raaagh!" Extending both arms out, he made the area of root in front of him dart out a multitude of small fists after Nic.

Erza's eyes widened. "Nic, watch out!"

'I don't want Erza to suffer from Jellal anymore. I freed her from his reign, and I watched him be reborn.' Nic remained still as the attack continued its way towards him. 'I'll get the answers I want after I defeat him, for now…' A shining glow appeared from him, one that shined brighter than ever.

Azuma and Erza saw with huge expressions of shock as the fists completely stopped just mere inches from Nic's face. Azuma and Erza both gaped their mouths as Nic had transformed once more into his Meadow Plate Form.

'I'll stop him from harming Erza and Fairy Tail!' Nic mentally declared.

"But how?!" Azuma shouted. Nic thrust his left arm out to his side, the roots being directed elsewhere, hitting another large root from afar. Azuma was too in shock when he saw Nic extend his arms out and light greens rays shot out and snared Azuma, coiling him.

"Grr. What is this?!" Azuma shouted.

"Giga Drain!"

Nic made the light green energy attached shine bright, sapping away energy from Azuma as the latter was unable to pry himself from his energy sapping away. Azuma was soon freed and the Giga Drain retracted back into Nic.

The Great Tree Arc Mage was on a knee when Nic rushed in and drove his left knee into his face, his legs having been healed from Giga Drain. Azuma sailed back and landed on his back but quickly got back to his feet.

"Folium Sica!" Azuma sent a funnel of leaves after Nic. To his surprise, Nic swiped his own arm, countering with Razor Leaf. The entire space between was a turbulence if sharp leaves slicing and parrying against the other. Through the carnage, Nic received a few cuts on his cheeks while Azuma got a few on his forehead and shoulders.

The two attacks ended, leaving both fierce contenders to draw their next moves.

"Ramus Sica!"

"Seed Bomb!"

Both attacks went at the opposite foe, meeting in the middle. Branches met with exploding seeds. The attacks didn't let until a green explosion erupted in between, causing them both to jump back.

Azuma swiped his right arm, sending roots after Nic. He easily deflected them into another direction using his Meadow Plate powers and jumped. In midair, he vertically flipped and crossed his arms in an X shape as the forearms glowed and extended with sharp edges.

"Leaf Blade!" Nic shouted, coming down on Azuma.

Seeing the attack, Azuma quickly merged with the root, giving Nic no defined target. Nic crossed his arms, the Leaf Blade attack slicing straight through, missing Azuma completely. As he fell, Nic shot his arm up, sending a Vine Whip at a nearby branch. He bungeed a little before reeling himself up and setting his feet onto the branch.

Without looking, he could feel Azuma's presence through the natural energy. "I know you're there." He warned. "I can sense your movements through the roots."

"Very perceptive of you." Azuma protruded out of the branch across from Nic's left. He turned and saw Azuma very eager. "That form must give you the same powers I do."

"You can run, but you can no longer hide." Nic said. He held his right forearm up and made a Leaf Blade.

Azuma growled. "Come at me!"

Nic lunged at high speed, forearm across. He went after Azuma as the latter shot more Ramus Sica. Nic's Leaf Blade blocked it as he still went in to strike. When he landed in front of Azuma on his branch, he sprung forward once more.

Azuma showed resentment as Nic began to close the distance. If this shot were to hit, it'd be bad news.

Azuma's eyes widened as he swelled up power, making the area shake some more. This caused Nic to temporarily stop his advancing and shake a little.

"The energy, I sense a great swell of it!" He exclaimed aloud.

"Tower Burst!"

Azuma let loose a towering explosion that thundered upwards, the attack causing Nic to fly back from the sheer force and smash into the tree he jumped off of, his legs sprawled ahead on the branch.

Azuma was seen panting as his attack finished, but his smirk never left. He was truly enjoying this. Nic was worthy to be such an opponent. His caliber was grand, his speed was beyond his, and his combat experience is unparalleled. Defeating Nic would be a milestone.

Nic made it back to his feet as he was panting. Both Mages seemed exhausted.

"Nic Pularis. Luminous." Azuma said proudly. "Your power sure has given me a run, but it's time to face off against all of Tenrou's power."

"What?" Nic wasn't sure until the ground beneath them was beginning to quake at an extreme level, flames beginning to bide from below. Nic's eyes sharpened as worry swelled his gaze. "This energy…oh no, he's serious."

From afar, Erza was struggling, but she too saw the ground beneath surge, bit it was more over to where Nic and Azuma were above and beyond. "What the…this is bad…"

'This isn't good. The range is far too great! He's gonna release it all at once!' Nic saw Azuma clasped his hands and palms together as he concentrated.

Azuma's fierce glare shot right into Nic. His power was beginning to quake even more, the land below beginning to swell. "This is it for you! Now! Terra Clamare!"

The entire area shook violently as all of Azuma's Magic was released within the earth, making a disastrous explosion erupt that swallowed up all of the roots in the given area. Nic's eyes widened as the explosion expanded and swallowed up everything too quickly. Nic hollered as the attack closed in.

Nic screamed violently as he was swallowed up as he was caught in shock, feeling his entire body feel an immense pressure and cinder. His scream echoed all around as he was hopelessly taking the full blow.

"NIC!" Erza screamed helplessly. The shockwaves reached her and she screamed as she was blown off from the energy Terra Clamare was giving. She screamed as she began to crash on root after root, tumbling down with no hope of climbing back up until she hit the bottom.

Erza groaned and quaked as she struggled. "N-Nic…" She muttered. Something then caught her eye. A faint glow was seen not too far off from her right, seemingly under some scattered rots. The energy this glow had somehow reached out, and her eyes blinked.

She crawled over with whatever strength she had and used whatever power she could to brush the roots off. To her eyes and her disbelief, there was some sort of mud brown plate, but even she knew what it was.

Her face shot back towards the area above, her eyes catching the entire root forest smoldering and sizzling. Branches and roots' ends were reduced to ashes and sizzled. To her horror, she saw Nic falling.

"…NO!" She screamed as Nic crashed on some unbroken roots, his back slamming against the roots.

Azuma looked down with hints of triumph in his smirk. "You fought valiantly Luminous, but even the greatest has their limitations."

Erza began to shake and quiver, seeing Nic's eyes closed and his skin all scratched and damage to a great degree. She couldn't feel anymore helpless.

"You…" She growled weakly, tears beginning to scroll down as her fierce glare shot at Azuma. "You…took Nic away from me!"

---

Inside of a rectangular cell, Jellal only had his pants on as guards glowered down at him. He hasn't eaten much, so he's lost quite a bit of weight. He didn't complain. He accepted his fate. If it was to make amends, so be it.

His face frowned as he felt something off. His expression was meekly as he could somehow feel something wrong miles away.

A pain went through him as he recalled two people. "…Erza…" Jellal muttered under his breath. "…Nic…you have to keep going…for her…"

"Hey, keep it down in there!" A frog guard shouted from afar, somehow his sensitive ears catching Jellal's muttering.

Jellal paid no heed. "Nic…you have to keep fighting…for the ones you love…for Erza…make her keep her smile and…happy."

---

Nic was seeing black, and a sound echoed through his head. '…Nic…you have to keep going…for her…'

'That voice.' He thought weakly. 'Is that…?'

'Nic…you have to keep fighting…for the ones you love…for Erza…make her keep her smile and…happy.'

'…Jellal?' Nic was confused. Why was he hearing Jellal's voice at a time like this? Sure, they're both on good terms, but there was no way he could be using Telepathy when he's in prison. Was it some sixth sense? Whatever the case, it wasn't the voice as it was the words that provoked him.

Nic had to do whatever it took to keep Erza alive. He almost died on several occasions, and it was clear that if he fell right here. Erza would not only never forgive herself, but her and his sister alike would very well be crying for the rest of their days; and leaving hearts broken is something Nic would never tolerate.

His eyes shot open, surprising Azuma and a gasping Erza down below. Nic got to a knee and planted a fist into the ground, panting as he was catching his breath. He was so exhausted that he was honestly dizzy. Every cell on his body was aching, but the thought of letting Erza and everyone else down was an even bigger pain that made him stand back up, his foot stomping as he had fists clenched, a shadow over his eyes.

'I won't fall, no matter what. Charizard, everyone, if you're out there, remember what you're fighting for.'

---

Charizard was in a similar situation. All he saw was black, and he heard and saw somethings that came before him. 'This feeling…it's like…Nic's almost down.' To his own shock, he couldn't believe that he was feeling his trainer's pain. 'Wait…I know Nic. He won't take this lying down. Why the hell am I doubting him, and myself?'

He mentally blinked as began to sense something.

'I won't fall, no matter what. Charizard, everyone, if you're out there, remember what you're fighting for.'

'That's…Nic's voice!' Charizard mentally exclaimed. '…Tch. That guy sure knows how to push me. We've been through Hell and back, gym battles left and right. Hand-to-hand combat. We all shared this trait.'

Charizard began to see consecutive images of himself as Charmander, seeing the small struggle with combat against Froakie when they were out of Lumiose City. He saw himself evolving into Charmeleon not long after, and the moves learned, and the battles fought, everything piled on…but the ones he treasured the most were of Nic and the other Pokémon.

Nic. Greninja. Kecleon. Staraptor. Arbok. Garchomp. All of them, a valuable and upmost importance to Charizard's development and life. If it weren't for his family and team, he wouldn't be sure just where his strength would come from. All of them played an important role, with Nic teaching them all combat, including himself. Greninja with his attitude just like Nic's. Kecelon's weirdness. Staraptor's no-fear, upfront determination. Arbok's snobbish yet extreme loyalty. Garchomp and his ferocity and terror. All of them; if he were done here, the team would never be the same.

He's made it this far, and he'd sooner lose the power to breathe fire than see one of them die.

His eyes flashed open, and he could feel his limbs again.

Bluenote, close by, began to raise a foot onto Gildarts's head. His face was so dark that it was terrifying to look at. "I'm going to enjoy squashing you along with your guild."

"D-Damnit." Gildarts muttered.

Before Bluenote could finally stomp down, he felt two things: A searing heat, and rocks crumbling. Feeling a strong energy strong behind, he slowly retracted his foot and cautiously turned around, his eyes widening as he saw Charizard dislodging from the wall.

The Fire and Flying-Type felt the rain continue, but that didn't stop him. Small rocks crumbled and fell as he pried himself from the wall, setting his feet down. Charizard was literally steaming as he was giving of an extreme amount of heat, the rain evaporating as it touched his scaly skin.

Bluenote's gaze turned astonished as he felt the intense heat from where he stood, as did Gildarts. The pressure Charizard was giving off was tremendous, and the steam and heat signified that. His tail flame burned brighter and hotter than ever; and this wasn't Blaze, but this was his pure resolve.

Charizard tensed up before letting loose a very loud and hot draconic roar, making the ground shake and winds surge, causing Bluenote to cover up.

"Impossible! He's not even worn out!" The Grimoire Heart Mage exclaimed. "I was sure that attack would've finished him!"

Charizard stepped forward, the ground shaking and sizzling from his body heat. He growled as the heat given off expanded, in which spread about like crazy.

Bluenote felt the rain all around evaporating. He looked down at his arm. "What's this? This heat given off is so potent that it actually evaporated the rain in the area?"

Gildarts was beyond surprised. "Just what kind of creature is he? He's on a whole other level compared to Natsu. To be able to take that much gravity and still stand after such attacks." He muttered.

Bluenote shook in anger as he reached his arm out. "Fall!"

A Magic seal appeared over Charizard, exerting great pressure onto him. However, Charizard didn't even budge. He tensed up even more and let loose another roar, the same shockwaves and winds flowing, making Bluenote skid back a few feet.

Angered, Bluenote rushed after Charizard. "GRAAAHHH!" Bluenote went to punch with his immense strength, but Charizard's superior reflexes beat him to it, driving a backhand into Bluenote's face, sending the Mage to Charizard's right, crashing into the earth several feet away and making rock fly.

Bluenote slowly sat back up, the heat still highly formidable. "This power…what kind of thing is he? He even hit me with Fall active?"

The Magic seal above Charizard diminished and the lizard turned towards Bluenote, a serious look plastered onto his face. "I'm not even close to done." Charizard warned. "I was just warming up."

---

"Impossible! He still stands…" Azuma trailed off as he gagged blood, his wounds catching up to him. He got to a knee and panted.

Nic looked up at Azuma, his warrior's glare looking dead at Azuma.

Azuma stared into them, seeing the look he wanted to see after a long time. 'Those eyes.' He thought as he panted with a smirk. 'The eyes of a pure warrior.'

"Do you really want to know why I feel uncomfortable talking about Jellal?" Nic asked, no shame bared.

Slightly intrigued, Azuma stopped panting as his breath caught up to him. "How so?"

Nic remained composed as he went through, despite his body trembling from the pain. "After Nirvana, Jellal was taken prisoner. It wasn't fair; not to him, not Erza, not to anyone. I tried desperately to hold back, but I couldn't. I tried and fought back, and I completely ignored Erza's shout to stop, because I saw that she needed him, perhaps more than she needed any of us."

Nic was completely disregarding Erza, whom was down below and hearing every word. Nic wasn't even aware she could hear, and her eyes were wide with realization. Nic continued.

"Despite my efforts, he was taken, and I watched Erza cry. That pain still haunts me to this day, and it'll be there forever. She needed her childhood friend and lover, and I felt too ashamed to even face her for a failure I was."

"…Nic…" Erza couldn't find the words.

"I was beyond heartbroken, because I thought she needed Jellal more than me, but you know what…" He crouched the sunglasses on his shirt glowing light green while the rest of his body glowed white and gathered some energy with Synthesis.

Azuma listened heartily to Nic and he saw the pure-hearted resolve in his eyes. When he saw Synthesis end, he saw a few scratches and scraped were no more.

"…I don't care. Erza and I have been through a lot, and the one thing we'll never bear is the other gone. Too many have already left, and seeing her cry over the ones she loves brings agony to me. If she loves Jellal, then so be it! I'll still fight for the sake of her being! Even if it means getting maimed in the process!"

Nic shot an Energy Ball he stored up on, the attack charging at Azuma. He shot his arm out and made a large root shoot up to take the hit. The root absorbed the attack, but shook violently. Azuma had a few moments to recover the root was horizontally sliced by an incoming Leaf Blade. Nic deactivated it and drove a punch as he fell forward, hitting Azuma across the face and making him fall down onto another root.

Nic was above where Azuma was, looking down. "I want to keep Erza safe; and though I don't make promises anymore, I will do anything to keep a smile on her face. Seeing her vulnerable from before made me feel angry, because she's a pure-hearted person who doesn't deserve to be in that state. I will use every bit of my power to end you here."

Erza had no idea what she was feeling. Something in her heart screamed for joy, but a pain went through her as well. Her eyes shook as they looked soft and disheartened. She had no idea Nic felt that strongly. Looking down at the Plate in her grasp, she remembered when Nic apologized in Edolas. Back then, he gave a false reasoning. He lied so no one but him would feel the sheer guilt.

"Nic…" Erza didn't know what to say or do. Nic was heartbroken beyond recognition when he thought she needed Jellal. A part of her thought the same thing, but that was only a very minor side. She and Nic were both wrong, and Nic's proclamation made her realize just how much she needed him more than Jellal.

"Nic…if only I told you sooner." She had this feeling start maybe after Lullaby. At that point, it was respect, which came to actually liking him around the Tartaros Magic Bomb incident. When the Tower of Heaven incident rolled around, Erza realized she more than just liked him.

She thought everything was fine, but it turned out Nic was hiding his broken heart from her. She could've hit him if she had the will or if he was Natsu, but she would hit the pinkette anyway; honestly, this little realization made her see a small resolve in her brown eyes.

---

Bluenote grunted as he was baffled, but he didn't stand around like a statue. He shot a shockwave from a Magic seal that went after Charizard.

Charizard leaned forward and gushed forth a raging Flamethrower; so hot that the very rocks that went flying at him melted and the shockwave was being easily blocked off compared to the struggle earlier.

"What's this? It's like his flames became hotter." Bluenote noted. "Does it have something to do with the rain?"

After the shockwave and Flamethrower ended, Charizard roared, making the land shake. He flapped his wings and went soaring after Bluenote. Bluenote shook violently as Charizard zoomed in closer and made a counter.

"Fall!"

Bluenote made gravity enhance above Charizard making the Flame Pokémon stop soaring, but his running speed wasn't slowing down. He pressed on and let lose a burning roar, driving his right leg into Bluenote's left ribs. The cracks echoed as Bluenote was sent crashing into the caved-in walls behind, leaving him in a crater.

Charizard stomped forward once more, shaking the ground as the heat he gave off kept even Gildarts dry. "So tell me, are you pushing yourself?" He asked.

Bluenote pried himself free and his scowl turned into a sinister smirk, his red eyes reappearing. "This is what I've wanted all along! Pure strength; our highest potentials reached! Let me see what else you can do!"

---

Azuma looked up at Nic. "So, you really do want to save Titania. She's that important to you."

The resolve was clear within Nic. "That's why I won't let you beat me!" Having that said, Nic jumped down at Azuma, his right arm glowing green and sharp, long green needles extended. "Needle Arm!" He brought his arm down like an axe, but Azuma jerked right to dodge, gaining some distance in between.

He extended his arm out once again, firing Ramus Sica at Nic. Using his Needle Arm, Nic intercepted the incoming branch blades, but the attacks prowess still made him skid back a few feet. Nic soon swung his arm, riding the rest of the incoming blades.

"Impossible!" Azuma shouted, but winced as blood began dripping down his mouth and winced in pain. He clutched his abdomen and began to feel uneasy.

Nic rushed ahead as Azuma. "There are others than Erza that are fighting right now!" A brief image of Vanessa smiling, and then Charizard holding out a fist bump, appeared in front. With those two images, his speed went up even more, and he drove a vicious uppercut in Azuma's chin, making the Mage fly skyward a few feet.

"I have a sister who's out there, fighting. And I have another family member who's always going that extra mile, pushing his strength beyond reason!"

---

Bluenote extended both arms out and released a Magic seal that made a powerful gravity shockwave. Charizrd stood his ground and grunted as he was swallowed up in it, but he never faltered. With his sheer strength, he stomped forward through the attack, debris flying right past him.

Bluenote added more power, which was enough to finally make Charizard stop advancing. Bluenote was giving it as much force as possible, using the same level of power he used from before. To his surprise, Charizard maintained his ground, a fire in his eyes as his feet were clawed into the ground.

"Heat Wave!" Using his mighty wings, he flapped forward, a violent maelstrom of heated winds surging all around like a veil. Much to Bluenote's shock, the attack surged in the same spot and kept Charizard in place as the immense shockwave pressed on.

The shockwave soon stopped, and the Heat Wave was leaving a huge area around Charizard in sizzling and burning rock, steam erupting from all over the place.

"He…he withstood my Gravity Magic at its greatest? With just super-heated fire to shield?!" Bluenote shouted. Charizard suddenly appeared in front and drove an uppercut into Bluenote's chin, hearing the bones break as the ground shook from the force. Bluenote was sent soaring into the air and smashed back down into the earth several feet away.

Charizard glared coldly as Bluenote got his feet.

"I have others that I won't let down." Charizard stated. "My trainer and the other Pokémon, we've been through many things, and this is no different." He started to slowly advance ahead. "I fought against a Legendary who had hot flames that could burn rocks with ease, and you know what, my flames trumped theirs, because the experience and intensity I swell up will always burn away any darkness around me."

---

Azuma extended his arm out one more time, shooting roots after Nic. The Multitype Mage maneuvered and jumped on every incoming root, heading after Azuma without getting hit. He dashed right in and he kicked Azuma across the chest, but Azuma remained still.

Azuma grunted and backed a foot away and proceeded with hand-to-hand combat, their blows cancelling the other out. Nic managed to get a few good shots in as they progressed and shot his right fist into Azuma's abdomen, making his eyes shot wide and gag.

"I won't lose!" Nic shouted, bringing his right arm around and activating Needle Arm, swinging it across and hitting Azuma's right side, making the man scream as he was shot off the branch.

He crashed on his side, several yards away on another root. He struggled to his feet as Nic stomped his foot onto the root he was on, making smaller roots shoot from below him and acted like a springboard. He shot at Azuma, who used his Magic to shoot roots after Nic.

"That won't work!" Nic swiped his arms across, deflecting the roots that went after him, leaving an opening between him and Azuma. I won't let Fairy Tail or my family fall to scum lime you! That's why…"

---

"That's why…" Charizard shifted right to avoid a punch from Bluenote and spun in place, swatting him with his right wing. Bluenote was seen flying backwards and doubled over, landing on his back.

---

"WE WILL NEVER BACK DOWN!" Nic and Charizard yelled in unison, their voices conveniently in sync.

He drove his knee into the Great Tree Arc user's chest and sent him falling backwards. Nic then stomped again, making roots shoot at Azuma from the one he stood on as the Mage feel backwards. Azuma had the air knocked out of him as the roots stretched so far that he crashed into yet another root fifty feet away.

Azuma coughed some more as he slowly struggled. He went wide-eyed as Nic stomped once more, having roots under him and shoot him towards Azuma like a mobile bridge.

Azuma was feeling something he hasn't felt in a long time: Fear. As Nic let out a battlecry and was seen advancing, Azuma tried to make several walls of roots. Still advancing, Nic's Leaf Blade was active in both arms, slicing straight through all of the walls and closing in.

"Nic Pularis!" Azuma shouted. "You will perish here and now!" He had no choice. This was his last shot. He began to make energy surge, the land rumbling once more.

Nic eyes narrowed as he felt the same surge of power from before; this time, he was prepared.

"Begone! Terra Clamare!" Azuma exerted a huge explosion wave all around, the monstrous attack expanding violently as Nic rushed in, but showed no visible fear as he dove on.

Down below, Erza's eyes widened as she saw Nic get swallowed up in the attack. She could've yelled, but she no longer had the strength to do anything as she laid there with a shining Plate in her arms as Nic was swallowed up in the attack.

Azuma thought he had achieved victory as the explosion began to reach its end, everything still engulfed in the attack. "I win! And you lose, Luminous!"

There was no response, but Azuma saw some sort of projectile darting right through the explosion. It looked green almost.

"W-What in the-?!"

"Hyyaaaaahh!" Nic let loose a battlecry as he charged right through Terra Clamare, his Spiky Shield in front and acting as his defense as he dove through.

Azuma and Erza's eyes widened as Nic dove through the destructive attack, unharmed and giving it his all.

---

At the same time Azuma was using his attack, Bluenote Stinger wanted to end the fight. He smirked as he started to gather a lot of energy from all around.

Charizard felt a strong energy surge around Bluenote as the man closed his palms. A dark orb appeared in front of Bluenote. The gravitational force the attack had was so strong that Charizard actually felt himself sliding forward bit by bit.

Bluenote smirk grew darker. "This is the ultimate form of my Gravity Magic! No one can escape it! Black Hole!" The orb expanded a little as small rocks and winds were drawn inside. The heat from all around began to get drawn in, and Charizard grunted as he felt himself getting pulled in.

From afar, Gildarts looked with a shocked gaze as he saw Black Hole activate. He felt himself getting pulled a little, but since he was far away, it only made his cape fly ahead but no detach. "What kind of Magic…is that?" He muttered faintly.

Bluenote laughed. "This is your fate, lizard!"

Charizard growled at Bluenote, defying him. "Oh yeah? Let's see about that!" He opened his mouth, gushing out his super-hot Flamethrower attack. The stream of fire went into the Black Hole, getting sucked in entirely. Charizard continued to pump more of his melting flames as he gave it even more power.

Bluenote laughed. "I see you don't have the skills to stop gravity, lizard! You may have been a thorn, but you are formidable!" He commended.

"You wanna know something?" Charizard muffled as he continued to gush Flamethrower at its high temperature. He brought his wings back. "I've fought tougher!" He roared loudly, his Flamethrower gushing out even more crazy power and his wings were brought forward, firing his extremely hot, almost skin-burning, Heat Wave. The maelstrom of fire altogether converged onto Bluenote's Black Hole, the melting force being sucked in.

Bluenote kept his smirk as Charizard continued his Flamethrower and Heat Wave attack. The two super-heated assaults gushed on, the Black Hole taking it all in.

"What is that supposed to do, fool…" Bluenote trailed off as his smirk began to fade. He saw the Black Hole fluctuating as all of the fire and excess heat get sucked in. The matter inside was starting to heat up, and the Black Hole actually started to emanate heat. "What's going on?!"

"Grraaaaagggghhhh!" Charizard gave it all the power he could, the ground-shaking firestorm getting sucked in some more, and the more he used it, the hotter the Black Hole got. The dark orb began to change color, going from dark to lava-like color as the articles getting sucked inside expanded and the Black Hole looked more like a small sun.

"What?! That's impossible!" Bluenote shouted. "The Black Hole absorbed so much heat that it became so hot that it became a ball of gas?! How?!" His eyes widened. 'Wait! The particles getting sucked inside are rapidly expanding from the heat, making the Black Hole's space almost lava-like! That lizard heated it up so high that the lava-like space began to create ever-burning gas that swallowed up the Black Hole itself, making the matter expand from corrupted into gas!'

Charizard let out as much force and the gravitational pull was no more. The lava-like orb finally gave in and expanded into a small supernova, expanding into a fiery explosion that Bluenote had to jump away from.

When he landed and looked back, his eyes were wide as the ground between him and Charizard was completely melted. An extreme amount of heat was excessed and the ground sizzled, making Bluenote feel unbearably warm, as to where Charizard across was snarling. He looked a little out of breath, but he was fighting through the pain with everything he had in him.

Bluenote was to I shock, and he was almost out of Magic. "No…this can't be!"

Charizard roared, sending ripples of heated air into the sky above and at Bluenote. With a battlecry, he brought his wings forward. "Heat Wave!"

The firestorm went raging after Bluenote, swallowing everything in between them in a vicious and melting wind of fire.

Bluenote let out a battlecry as he extended his arm forward, a Magic seal appearing and he gave it everything he had left. A gravity shockwave went ahead, picking up pieces of the super-heated earth. The two attacks were like a violent swirl, an insanity of gravity and rock and heat colliding at once.

When it cleared out, the ground was shattered thanks to Bluenote's Magic, but as the Heat Wave dispersed, Bluenote went wide-eyed when Charizard was seen flying in at high speed with light blue claws coating his own, and the attack was coated in the hot winds that he ploughed right through.

His Dragon Claw engulfed in Heat Wave went flying after Bluenote. "If you think you can weigh me down, you're wrong!" He dove after him, his speed making the heated air all around trail on both sides.

---

Azuma was wide-eyed as Nic close in, Terra Clamare finally dispersed. Nic spread his arms apart, deactivating Spiky Shield.

Azuma saw Nic glowing brighter as he began to bide up purified energy. He couldn't help but acknowledge what was to come.

'I hit him with all of Tenrou, but he still fights on! His power, it's beyond terrifying!' He thought. He saw Nic several feet away as the pure light intensified. 'Is this the strength of Fairy Tail? Is the strength of his resolve to keep Titania safe…?'

Nic's eyes pierced through Azuma as he shined even brighter, time slowing down.

'It looks like Nic Pularis truly is a part of some great guild. We were fools to believe they could be stopped.' He grinned. 'Well done, Nic.'

"Legendary Arts: Seed Flare!" Nic unleashed a light green explosion of pure energy.

Azuma was engulfed by the attack, his mouth gaped as the light radiated from afar.

---

Charizard let loose a roar as his Dragon Claw with Heat Wave trailing behind then. Bluenote was left too horrified and out of power. Charizard's will and pure strength alone was too much and he screamed as he saw the Dragon Claw slash.

"GRRRAAAH!" Charizard slashed in a swift motion, light blue and fire trailing in an arc as he pivoted and posed in a slashing motion, with his Dragon Claw deactivating while still crossed on his left side. He looked away.

At first, nothing happened, but a few seconds later, Bluenote's abdomen had a diagonal gashes of light blue and fire that exploded in a ground-shaking eruption that sent dust flying, but Charizard still remained as he was.

At the same exact time Bluenote was swallowed in the attack, Nic's Seed Flare was seen from afar.

Gildarts's eyes were wide with extreme shock as Charizard had unleashed an extreme amount of power out of resolve. He saw the explosion happen behind Charizard's back and was left dumbfounded. "But how?" He muttered.

Charizard didn't look back as the explosion settled, as did the dust. It showed Bluenote in a ten-foot wide crater, not too deep. His eyes were deprived of pupils as his upper clothing was seared and charred, and he had a large, diagonal slash mark across his entire upper body, sizzling.

Bluenote laid there, defeated.

Charizard slowly stood back up as the heat given off began to subside., the rain starting the pour back down as the sizzling all around was dampened once again. He turned his head back and looked at the defeated Bluenote, his burned slash mark sizzling from the rain.

Charizard stared for a minute before turning back, He roared up to the skies, shaking the ground a little from his triumph.

Gildarts was still unable to move, but he was too awestruck to have seen such a fight. He never saw something so intense before. "…Just what is he?" He muttered.

Charizard stood there, but got down to a knee as his body was seen with scratches all over. He began panting, but still remained able-bodied. Through his panting, he smirked. 'We did it. We both went beyond any mile that could be reached.'

---

Nic smirked, having feeling what Charizard was saying. He was on a knee as he too was flat-out exhausted. 'As Charizard would say, I went beyond any mile attainable.'

Nic was on a knee on a low root as the ones above were destroyed from Seed Flare. His exhaustion began to catch up and he started to slowly fall off the root and landed with a thud on his abdomen, fifty feet away from Azuma, whom was lying face-up on the ground.

"Nic!" Erza finally called out. While still holding onto the Plate, she screamed mentally as she used her will power to squirm towards him, albeit very slowly.

Nic soon got his feet under him, struggling a little as he soon got his footing. His panting slowed, meaning he was recovering a little.

Azuma remained on the ground, and his back and arms began to sprout some green, as to where some of his parts were sprouting little sprouts.

"Congratulations Nic Pularis, it seems you've won." Azuma declared.

Nic narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What's going on? It's like nature is swallowing you." He saw the sides of his face turned green like the grass as well.

The sprouts began to grow even more and his whole right side was green. "You see, Lost Magic has a high price."

Nic only remained baffled as Azuma was sprouting roots from his legs.

"As to the fair fight we had, I shall honor my word; all of your friends Magic and power shall return to them."

Nic looked down. "Thank you."

"I apologize for my behavior. It seemed too brash of me to explain of Jellal's reasons that was of Ultear's handiwork." Azuma said as the roots ascended. "It's hard to find someone so willingly to give their life for another warrior. Perhaps if I fought Titania, maybe things would've been the same."

Nic glowered down, unmoved as it was all too true.

Azuma looked at him as he was sprouting even more. "Tell me, what is more important to you: You and Erza, or Erza's happiness?"

His question did bring some curiosity as Erza began to slowly crawl forward, twenty feet away from Nic. She stopped for a little as she too was contemplative.

Nic wasn't sure, but he knew what his heart said. "…the latter." He said sullenly.

"I see, so if she picked Jellal over you, you would live with that?"

Nic didn't respond, but the mood he gave off was clear.

"…very well. Perhaps you two are destined for the other, but if you let Titania choose who she wants, then no one will stop either of you."

Nic looked back up. "Thank you, again."

Erza had a soft smile on her face, despite barely able to move.

"Tell me, why did Ultear do that to Jellal?" Nic asked, changing the subject.

Azuma's entire body was engulfed in growing roots and green, continuing to grow. He answered. "It was all elaborated by Master Hades to keep the Magic Council diverted while we schemed. Her skills are very terrifying and troublesome; perhaps that is why Master Hades keeps her close."

Nic still sought just a few more things. "Azuma, why does your guild wish to find Zeref?"

His whole right side of his face was sprouting a trunk. "So as to get closer to the Primordial Magic; the very Magic that has been around since the beginning." He choked a little as his whole body was sprouting even more tree trunks.

"Primordial Magic…from the beginning…"

"Nic…Jellal had dreams…of paradise." Azuma muttered as trees sprouted taller, but through it all, he kept his grin.

Nic looked down, remembering Jellal being taken and Erza crying. "…I know."

Azuma snickered. That was the last sound that came from him before he became silent. He looked on with a straight face, seeing Azuma completely transformed into a tree.

Nic just stayed still, looking on silently as the Tenrou Tree glowed a golden light to his side. He looked up and saw the tree shining briefly before fading.

Erza as struggling as she crawled, but then she suddenly felt her power come back, all of her strength returning just like that. "My Magic Power…it's back." She muttered. She suddenly had the strength to stand, and she arose and felt like nothing had happened.

She got up and advanced slowly. Feeling a very strong energy, Nic curiously turned around to find Erza. "Erza!" He said in surprise. He went wide-eyed when he saw that she was holding onto a shining Plate. "Wait, is that…?"

"I found it as you two were fighting. Apparently it was uprooted along with the tree." Her serious face, grew soft as she presented it to him. "Here."

When she held out the Plate, the shine from it got brighter, and Nic's abdomen shined a light of its own. The Plate levitated its way over towards Nic and Nic accepted it, keeping still as the shining Plate entered his body and there was a grunt.

There was a brief flash of light, to which Erza covered up. After a few seconds, the light faded away. She looked back and found that Nic was still in the same Meadow Plate Form, but the content look on his face showed that the Earth Plate was fully integrate into him.

Erza and Nic smiled at one another, though Nic was completely unaware that Erza heard everything as he was too focused on his fight. Personally, Erza wasn't at all angry, but content.

She finally saw the truth in Nic. He loved her, but was too ashamed after the Nirvana incident to admit it, especially after what happened to Jellal. Despite this, she was happy to know that Nic would be fine, no matter what she chose, heartbroken or not.

"Nic..." Erza started. "Your battle, it was amazing."

Nic looked down. "I couldn't have done it without you guys and my family." Nic thought of Erza, Vanessa, and Charizard, and figured how proud they would be, as he would be of them. "It seems your Magic Power has returned at last."

Erza nodded. "Yes, and I don't sense Bluenote's Magic either."

Nic smiled. "I knew Charizard would never fail. I never doubted him, ever."

The two then looked back at the tree Azuma turned into, staring at it as the rain began to become a light drizzle, settling down a little.

Erza then looked back at Nic, a soft smile on her face. She was very proud of him; not just for fighting by himself, but for saying the truth, despite not knowing she heard it from afar.

She now realized that Nic would give up everything for her, and in turn, she would as well. It was decided at that instant. After the fighting is finally over, she was gonna tell him.

She wanted to for some time, but things kept getting in the way, but she was sure that after Hades is done for, she would tell him her choice. But to her, her choice was all too clear, and her smile glistened even more.

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I know the chapter was ridiculously long, but glad I got this posted! I would imagine some of you would be angry for not having Erza continue the fight, but at least consider my defense. Having Nic and Erza both fight would be a bit much, since they are clearly powerful enough on their own, and beating Azuma in his state would seem op; and considering Nic doesn't have Magic, the scenario played out as it did.

I tried extra hard on this chapter to get the fight scenes just right. I wasn't trying to speed my way through or cram the brawls in, because the key to making a good fight scene is being able to picture it clearly. Please leave a Review on your opinion on the fights this chapter! Feedback would really help me consider writing the next couple of fights coming up.

Many would have guessed it would've been the Pixie Plate, but I have different plans for said Plate. The Earth Plate, being under the Tenrou Tree, felt more appropriate. As for the Black Hole part with Charizard heating it up, that's debatable. Many would've wanted another way, but I figured that if Gildarts's Crash Magic could stop it, I figured Charizard's heat could do the job as well.

Guest: Sorry, but I don't think I'm planning on doing a holiday chapter for this story. However, in EDventures in Kalos, I might be able to squeeze one in. If you read that story, then be prepped for a holiday chapter then.

The next chapter will be the big battle against Hades; and as for afterwards, you will be extremely shocked to say the least.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys absolutely loved the fights and the ongoing story's battles.

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Next Time: A Flash of Redemption