Chapter 62 – A New Destination
I left you all emotionally shocked last chapter, for it is now time for the Celestial Siege Arc! I've been waiting for this arc for some time, and to finally make it to this point is an achievement. Hope you guys enjoy as always.
Natalie: I won't be doing the Tartaros Arc in this story. This story will have a sequel; and no, I won't make openings.
Guest Valvrave: I might not include every Legendary Pokémon because there's so many, but in the sequel you'll see a few more as well.
On with the first chapter of the new original arc!
To Recap:
Nic and friends found themselves saved by Blue Pegasus, and Lucy learned that they weren't supposed to get the clock pieces. Later on, as they formed a strategy, Nic was forced to go into reboot for Arceus, meaning he was vulnerable for a whole day. Erza insisted Nic stayed behind, but since she didn't give a reason, the two got into a bitter fight; and though Pavo and Greninja broke it up, Nic complied and walked away. Later on, Cana, Pavo, and Sophie try and cheer Nic up, and as they succeeded, Pavo grew ill due to lack of Magic. He finally confesses that he's a Celestial Spirit and tells them all that Lysandre started a Celestial Spirit genocide, and chained up the battered Zodiacs and King. The group then heads to the Celestial Spirit World, where Pavo reunites with Lupus, Corvus, and Volans. Meanwhile, Lysandre sits on his throne with the Spooky Plate in hand, excited to have Nic arrive.
Chapter 62 – A New Destination
Volans stepped forward at the exit, facing away from everyone present. "Now, let's get the matter settled. Once we leave this dome, there's no going back." His fists clenched tight. "However, with his whereabouts and reliable forces, there's no point in hiding. Lysandre had maimed too many; he must be rid of, no matter what the cost." His brief speech was effective as Lupus clawed the ground in excitement, Corvus clenched his fists with an excited grin, and Pavo took an excited pose.
Volans raised a fist high. "Today, we set out and take back what is ours!" Everyone was aboard with his speech, and all raised fists and wings to honor them all. Once everyone settled, Volans cleared his throat and became stern once more.
"Now…the prime objectives: To stop Lysandre, and free the Zodiacs and our King." Nic and Greninja, whose eyes were blank, looked around to find the Celestial Spirits swallow at the mention of those two objectives. "To free the Zodiacs, we must overcome Lysandre…and with Nic telling us of this 'reboot phase', we'll have to occupy as much time until he regains the power to stop Lysandre."
"So what you're saying is that we must avoid as many of Lysandre's forces as we can while on the run." Lupus bluntly asked.
Volans nodded. "Yes. And with your sense of smell, you should be able to be our radar."
Corvus looked relieved. "Phew! I was worried we'd have to fight an army! Thank goodness we're avoiding that kind of stuff!"
Lupus looked up a little. "Well this should be easy since we all know where that tyrant is."
Sophie raised a brow at him. "Er, we don't. We just got here." She deadpanned.
Lupus looked down at her and groaned towards the ground. "Uuugh, fine." He thus explained. "Lysandre is far away, in a place known as the Hell Field. At the end lies his thrown. But to get there, we have to climb a tower known as the Andromeda Tower, and unfortunately we don't have the keys to get there."
"Keys?" Greninja asked.
"Yes, keys. Unfortunately the key to Andromeda Tower is locked up in another location. We need to head there first." Volans stated.
Corvus clenched a shaky fist. "Then we'll have to stay alert. Getting to that key isn't going to be easy."
Pavo took another dramatic pose. "Ah, but we all agreed that with this risk comes possible sacrifices, and we shall get to Lysandre yet!"
"Pavo's right." Nic announced, the floor all his. "I've quarreled with Lysandre many times in the past; even beyond that. He's cunning. Like his plan with a weapon, he needed keys. It's more than likely he hid the key on purpose so no one can reach it, but if it's for that reason, then that we shall find him yet!"
"Well then what are we waiting for, ya big sissies! Let's get moving!" Cana shouted. With that, everyone roared and Volans moved the large blood red crystal out of the way. With Lupus taking the lead, he sniffed the pungent air and flinched. They all took it as a good sign though, as it meant Lysandre's lingering trail was easily traceable. Lupus began his run and everyone followed behind.
Lysandre sat on his throne, continuously spinning the Spooky Plate out of boredom. He felt the light that was coming after him, and he wanted to snuff it out so bad, but alas he'll have to wait. However, those behind him were more enthusiastic than him.
"H-heh." Scorpio, his tail projectile nearly destroyed, chuckled.
"Scorpio, no." Aquarius pleaded, her body all battered and bloodied like the rest of them.
Lysandre disappeared into shadows from his throne and manifested in front of Scorpio. His appearance and bloodthirsty eyes made Scorpio cough and pale even more. Lysandre showed no mercy as he shoved his right claws into Scorpio's left arm that was chained and cuffed to the wall. Scorpio had to hold back the urge to scream, despite how he felt so rotting in his arm. He coughed up a little blood and he winced. Lysandre pulled his claws out, covered in fresh blood, much to his pleasure.
"Mind telling me the amusement?" He asked, his demonic tone making Aquarius shudder.
Despite his concealed cheering, he didn't want to lose his heart or a body part. Scorpio lowered his head, a half-grin on his face. "…nothing."
Lysandre backed away, sparing Scorpio. "I know what you all are thinking, but know this…" His teeth began shaper and blood red. "I-will-slaughter! I can maim your heads right now!...but I have more important matters to deal with."
He leaned in close to Aquarius and Scorpio, his voice going into a harsh whisper. "And if you try stepping out of line, any of you…" He held up a dense and corrosive Shadow Claw up to their necks, the very tips barely touching and making their chins burn and rot. They both gawked and had small tears fall from the pain. Lysandre then pulled back. "…you'll lose more than just your lives."
With that warning, he disappeared into shadows and reappeared on his throne, looking out again. "Give them a nice, bloody welcome, my slaves."
The group reached an area where there were dead trees, something uncommon in the Celestial World. Yet Lysandre messed the entire realm up just for kicks. Regardless, Nic and everyone made way through the small forest of blood red crystals and black, dead trees.
Cana turned towards Lupus and Corvus. "So~, you guys in this little cause too?"
Corvus turned around towards Cana and blinked. "Yeah. I mean, this is our world, but I'm ready to take it back."
The brunette raised a brow. "Really? Cuz your shaky feet say otherwise."
"Huh?" Corvus looked down as he walked, and noticed with a nervous expression that his feet were trembling as he slowly walked. It was clear he was scared, and he wasn't good at hiding it. Lupus even chuckled and snickered in amusement.
"Are you a crow, or are you a chicken? I forget." Lupus joked.
"S-shut up!" Corvus protested. "I got this!"
"As do I!" Pavo agreed, though his face showed discomfort as he trudged on.
Nic and Greninja kept moving along, and he turned towards Volans. "So Volans?" Nic asked. "How did this whole rebellion start anyway?"
Volans kept his gaze forward. "…Hmmm. Nic, Greninja, it started with only us four. We are the only ones that started this rebellion."
"It must take a lot of pride and honor to stand up against him." Getting a morose note, Nic looked ahead instead of Volans. "To put your pride above all else and standing up to that enemy. It's admirable."
Volans could hear the slight hint of uneasiness in Nic's sentence. With his experience, the Flying Fish Celestial Spirit could tell Nic had a neutral opinion on Pride. He looked like someone who would throw his pride away to fight for what was precious to him, something that Volans respected, yet remained uneasy of.
"Thank you." Was all he said.
Sophie felt chills running up her spine as she went on with a serious face. "This dead forest, it's like walking through death row." Her eyes grew steady as she saw rotting branches on and below the trees. "…it's like a garden of pure evil."
"This is what becomes of any residual life lingering from Lysandre." Corvus said.
Pavo grit his teeth. "To think he would slaughter not just Spirits, but everything else. What did we do to deserve this?"
Nic looked down at the ground. "That's who he is now. He'll kill for sport. He seeks to darken the void…" His voice was cut trailing off as he could've sworn his instincts picked up some very weak sounds. Greninja's blank eyes turned serious and ready as he too had the same feeling.
Lupus stopped in his tracks and began sniffing the air. He raised his head high and sniffed towards east. Everyone present began to stop as Lupus was picking up something.
"Lupus?" Pavo asked.
Corvus swallowed. "What is it?"
Nic and Greninja took a step towards east and narrowed their eyes. The sound was getting somewhat louder and from the darkness of the dead trees, in the shadows from afar, they saw dark yellow eyes. They heard some howling, and that's when Lupus backed away.
"Oh no." He muttered. "Oh no!"
Nic turned around towards Lupus. "Lupus, what is it? What's up ahead?" He demanded.
"No time! RUN!" Corvus screamed. Instantly, Volans spread his hulking white wings, and Corvus's attached black wings flapped with his arms. Both took flight and everyone else began turning and running behind them.
As they ran, Sophie looked back to see the figures approaching. Despite the seemingly large distance, they were closing in fast. "Oh crap! What are those things?!"
What she was looking at that were tailing them was a pack of maybe no more than fifteen dog-like creatures. Like Lupus, they had no pupils, and had plain dark yellow eyes. Their fur was a spiky brown, and their legs had black armbands on the ankles and forearms. They all had a light green vest on with blood red markings on the back and front. They were seemingly out for blood.
Corvus screamed as he flapped for his life, and Pavo wailed with arms over his head as he ran close behind. Nic and the group were moving as fast as possible through the black, dead trees.
"Greninja, the trees!" Nic shouted as he ran with speed as always.
"Right!" Without hesitation, Greninja followed Nic's lead and the two saw a fallen tree up ahead, sloping up a little. It wasn't much, but enough for them to run up it and jump to reach for a fellow branch. The two grasped one, and flipped up and their feet landed on the tree branches. They moved fast and quick, their feet leaving the branch, only for the dead branches to fall to the ground once they left them.
Cana was moving as fast as she could, but even she felt uneasy with all of the dogs from behind catching up. "We have to shake them!"
"That won't work!" Volans argued within the upper part of the trees. "They have a hyper sense of smell, just like Lupus! They'll pick us off one by one if we divide!"
"Then what do we do?!" Sophie exclaimed.
Volans turned towards Corvus. "Corvus, can you divert them long enough for us to by some time?"
"Leave that to me! I'll keep them occupied!" Volans slowed down and turned around, facing the pack of savage dogs chasing them. He spread his arms out and flapped. "Alright, try hunting these! Daze Wing!"He flapped hard, sendinga black wind that wend rapidly towards the dogs.
The dogs were all engulfed by the attack and they all growled as they momentarily lost their footing. As the him passed on, they stopped and began looking around. Their eyesight, normally black and white, was now all jumbled up, and when they looked at each other, they saw blurry black images. Each one growled at the other and their noses twitched. They smelled familiar, but their visions were so screwy that they weren't sure. They were all looking at the other and growling in uncertainty.
Corvus smirked and turned back ahead, a snicker escaping him. "That should buy us some time."
As Nic was leaping from branch to branch, he looked back at Corvus. "What did you do?"
"I'll explain when we get somewhere clear. Keep running!" Corvus insisted.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Pavo picked up his pace and everyone followed behind with pants in their breaths.
After several minutes of escape, the group soon came to a secluded area of trees. With the repulsive air and bark, they were sure to blend in, but to be safe, they all stayed close and began to catch their breaths. They all panted and the ones not on the ground descended or climbed down.
Pavo panted heavily. "I think…we bought us…some time."
Lupus sniffed the air, but the dead bark was mostly in the air. "Yeah, it seems we were able to get away, for now."
Cana rested a hand against a tree and looked down. "Man, just what the hell was that back there."
Lupus looked out with stern eyes. His tail wagged once like a whip. "Canes - Gate of the Hunting Dogs, and Lysandre's little elimination squad."
Greninja crossed his arms as he looked at everyone with blank eyes. He grew unsound as he saw Lupus and the other Spirits grow uneasy from the mention of Lysandre again, but Lupus seemed the most bothered as his claws were clenching.
"Nic?"
Nic nodded. "Now's not the right time. We'll have to wait until everything is clear." Nic knew exactly what Greninja was thinking. Something was off about the whole team. It wasn't that they were getting along by any means, they seemed just fine. Volans has an ideal on pride, Corvus is a complete coward unless he is needed, and Lupus somehow brings an uneasy wave among Nic and Greninja.
Trying to pick up another note, Nic turned towards Corvus. "So Corvus, what was that you used back there?"
Corvus turned towards Nic curiously, and then sheepishly put his hands behind his head. "Oh, that? That was my Black Wing Magic." He answered.
"Black…Wing?" Cana inquired. It was then that Lupus began to sniff the air.
Corvus rubbed the back of his head. "W-well yeah. It's nothing to be proud of really. My black winds and feathers can create illusions and leave opponents dazed, but some damage can be done." He put his hands to his sides. "After all, I may be weak, but I can get us out of a lot of-!"
"RAWR!" A sudden pounce from the shadows behind Corvus sprung and bit into his shoulder. The Crow screamed in pain as one of the pack members of Canes sank his fangs into him and the Crow tumbled and rolled like crazy.
"Corvus!" Greninja rushed in and let out a harsh grunt as he elbow-hammered the hunting dog on the back, making him gawk and left for the ninja frog to throw him back into the shadows. Another dog pounced out at Greninja, but in a flash grabbed the dog's mouth and threw it at another dog that was coming after him.
Nic and everyone turned to find more dogs slowly emerging from the shadows, snarling as their paws tapped the ground. Corvus grunted as his shoulder was hurting with small amounts of blood, but he did his best to ignore it and grew weary as Canes surrounded them.
Pavo's eyes bulged out of his head. "GGWWOOOOH! They found us so quickly!"
Sophie grunted. "Remember? These guys and Lupus have a keen sense of smell. They just picked up our trail while this secluded area kept us from doing the same!" She looked back as the pack of fifteen slowly converged.
"Guess we have no choice then." Greninja readied his Water Shuriken.
Pavo took a pose. "You're right, froggy! We have no choice but to fight our way out!" He gave a gesture for them to attack. "Come and get us!"
Nic took up a defensive stance as the dogs went running after them. 'I have to be careful. All I can do is my hand-to-hand combat.'
Canes then pounced. They all individually went to sink their fangs, but Cana acted by shooting her cards at the few targeting her, making the cards explode upon contact. The dogs shot back and hit the ground with a thud. Sophie used a familiar Memory-Make Spell and made jagged blades of yellow stone shoot up, making a yellow explosion when hitting the dogs coming at her.
Pavo did a fingertip jab and shot a dog away, but one dog bit into his legs. He felt pain and he raised his other foot and stomped on the dog's head. The dog pouted and backed away and he saw another dog head after him.
"Glory's Integrity!" He did a 360 kick, kicking one of the dogs that went after him, and the other one that pounced was swatted by his cape that followed into the kick, hitting both.
Corvus dodged the dogs pouncing at him and raised his arms to take flight. When above, he flapped downwards. "Take this! Dusk Shower!" He flapped his arms once, sending a barrage of black feathers like bullets coming down onto the dogs, making explosions upon impact.
"Water Shuriken!" Greninja threw compressed stars of water at some incoming dogs. The dogs pouted as they felt the shredding attack and thudded against nearby trees. He turned around and saw Nic falling onto his back and doing a Circle Throw motion, despite not using the actual move itself. He threw the dog overhead onto another dog and flipped back to his feet. Nic spiral kicked a dog and the corner of his eye caught a dog pouncing overhead.
"Dark Pulse!" Greninja covered Nic as the trainer used one arm to throw the dog he kicked upwards towards the pouncing dog, and both ended up being engulfed in a dark explosion.
"Nice cover, Greninja!" Nic hollered before back-kicking a dog in the lower jaw without looking.
Volans's palm was surrounded in deep blue water and faced an incoming dog. "Abyss Palm!" He did a palm strike, and the deep blue water erupted violently upon contact. The dog shot back and hit yet another dog. Volans grunted and turned away, swatting his fish tail at another dog.
"They're relentless!" Pavo wailed. He screamed and ducked to avoid another pouncing dog.
Nic dodged a dog and then jumped. When he looked down, he stomped down on the dog that he jumped to dodge. He landed and threw the dog into another one. "They're just not stopping!"
Lupus snarled at a fellow dog, but this dog was slightly different from the others, for the one Lupus was against had a darker vest on, and the ears were thicker and had more air. Lupus snarled at the member of Canes, and vice versa. The dog pounced and bit into Lupus's arms, but all Lupus did was swat him off. The wolf bared his claws, and that was enough to make the dog uneasy.
As if a chain reaction occurred, Canes began to grow uneasy. With this, the dogs all began to slow down on their assaults. Cana looked over and saw Lupus snarling at the one dog, of whom lashed out with another vengeful bite to the arm. Her eyes widened as the dogs quickened their pursuit yet again.
"Lupus!" Cana shouted.
"Shut up and cover your ears!" Lupus howled. Everyone turned towards Lupus and did as told. He opened his mouth and unleashed a sonic howl-like attack. The attack shot midnight blue shockwaves and the dog Lupus was using it against felt the full force. The dogs all around pouted and covered their ears from the sonic howling.
As the howl echoed, everyone else uncovered their ears and saw that the dogs were all wincing. Nic then got the idea. "Sensitivity to hearing. Great idea!" He turned towards Greninja next. "Greninja, get us cover! Smokescreen!"
Greninja did as told and he took in a deep breath before huffing out a huge thick cloud of smoke. The attack engulfed the whole area, and the dogs pouted wildly as the smoke was making their noses burn. With the sensitivity to hearing and the Smokescreen riling them up, they all scurried and began a hasty retreat.
As the smoke cleared, Nic and the group was gone as well.
"Did we lose them for good?" Cana asked.
Greninja nodded. "It sure seems like it. We should be safe to travel for a little while now that we know they dislike loud sounds and my Smokescreen."
Nic turned towards a wincing Corvus. "Are you okay?"
Corvus let go of his shoulder. "Yeah, I should be okay. That attack surprised me out of nowhere."
The group was currently in another section of the dead forest, where blood red crystals were scattered all around them. They were catching their breath once more from the sudden assault, and once it was clear and they recovered, Lupus stared out the direction they came from.
"What's up with him?" Sophie asked. "Lupus?"
The wolf looked over his shoulder back at Sophie. His stare was as blank as a sheet of paper. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just…you seem a little off." Sophie inquired.
Cana stepped forward with some suspicion on her face. "I don't know what's going on, but it's clear that you and those dogs have some sort of history."
Pavo turned and shook his hands as a gesture for her to back off. "C-Cana, don't go there!"
"Why shouldn't I? After all, I noticed that the one dog he fought was different from the others, and the other dogs reacted because of him." She turned back towards Lupus. "And also, they seem to fear you, and I don't think it's because you're just a wolf."
Volans closed his eyes. "Miss Cana, sit down."
"But-!" She was stopped when Volans shot a death glare at her, and the brunette reluctantly complied and sat down, along with Nic and the group Pavo group. She grew silent as Lupus gained stares.
The wolf's claws grinded against the other, and his feet claws gripped the ground. "Geez, this is so annoying." He sighed and sat down on a fallen tree. After composing, he spoke.
"That dog I fought is the key to Canes. That dog is the Beta of the whole pack." He explained.
Nic crossed his arms. "If that one is the Beta…then who is the Alpha?"
Lupus's head lowered. "…you're looking at him."
Shock was all over the others faces, and their mouths were left open. They were startled to say the least, and Sophie got up.
"Wait, you mean to tell us that you…you…" Sophie was getting the idea, and she didn't like where this was going.
Lupus looked even more ashamed. "The truth was…I used to work under Lysandre."
"So that's why you guys know his whereabouts and that we need a key!" Cana accused. "Just what the hell are you expecting to gain out of this?!"
"SHUT UP!" Lupus barked, silencing Cana. Nic and Greninja both had narrowed eyes filled with suspicion, but they remained the most silent and allowed Lupus to explain himself.
Pavo grieved. "I suppose we can help you with this…" He was stopped when Lupus held out a claw.
"No, it's my story. I'll explain." The wolf insisted. With a pose, Pavo slowly spun off to a dead tree fallen over and sat down. "Now, where was I?" Lupus looked up at the dark Hell-like sky. "Well to be more accurate, I was their Alpha; that is, until I quit and left the pack."
"Left the pack?" Sophie wondered.
Lupus nodded. "Yes. You see, Canes always needs an Alpha to lead them; without one, they'd be left to take orders from the Beta, but even so, not much order would be established. When Lysandre started killing off so many, he spared me and my pack, offering us a position, so I was forced to comply." His claws were embedding into the fallen tree. "Things were decent. We were allowed to live, as long as he hunted and killed off our victims…but…when we ended up failing a few times, Lysandre would kill one of our own."
Sophie felt a bomb drop. "He what?"
"He would end up ending one of Canes's lives, just because of one mistake. He's such a tyrant. Pretty soon my pack and I began to fear him, and the dogs would begin to do as he said under fear. In a way, he's a bloodthirsty Alpha, something I never wanted."
"Then what happened?" Cana asked, easing up a bit.
He lowered his head. "I took a long thought, and this wasn't what I wanted. My pack was taking orders from a monster, and not me! They always followed my orders! And then he changed it all…" He shook his head. "I just couldn't take it anymore. This constant ordering by fear, it drove me away." He looked at his armbands and chest attire with the red claw marks printed on them having a gash across them. "And so, I cut my ties with his forces, and I quit and left my pack."
He turned towards Pavo, Volans, and Corvus. "Soon enough I found myself joining the club with these weirdos. Through it all, we came to an understanding."
Volans bowed his head. "We may have different perspectives, but that's no reason to be open-minded. We all lost something precious to us, whether it'd be a necessity or not."
"Whether we liked it or not, we all came together to live with the little peace in mind we had." Corvus explained. "We're all so different…but we four shared an understanding to take back what is ours, and soon enough we found each other to look after."
Nic half-grinned. "Like a small family?"
Pavo took a pose. "YES! And so we went on running and running! We were still left to die, and so, much to my reluctance, I headed for Earth Land approximately a year ago!"
"Now it makes sense. So regardless of what you guys went through, you all came together to bound whatever hope you could." Greninja stated.
Attention was back towards Lupus as he held up a clawed hand and clenched hard. "I swear; I will get my pack back once that bloody beast is gone. They won't take orders by fear anymore. But for now, they are my enemy; and if they get in our way…then I will do everything in my power to stop them."
Cana and Sophie got it, but Nic and Greninja had it from the very beginning. They knew full well, due to experience, that Lupus was being serious. This wasn't a lie. He was telling the truth. He wanted to right what was wrong, just like Jellal and Magnezone. He wanted to make up for what he did wrong by staying good. It was this ideal that Nic and friends had some respect for Lupus, as for Pavo and the others.
After a long silence, Volans stood up. "We should hurry. They'll be coming back for us."
"Right." Nic and everyone thus began their march towards Lysandre once more.
Back on Earth Land, things were bad. The sky was dark due to the Infinity Clock being unleashed, and the Oracion Seis had captured Lucy, with the help of Michelle, whose real identity was the sixth member of the Reborn Oracion Seis – Imitatia.
Everyone was currently assessing the situation as Elfman looked down at the ground. "I couldn't save Natsu or Lucy. I'm but a sad excuse of a man."
His self-pity was the last thing the guild needed. Warren told everyone via Telepathy that Nic, Cana, Sophie, and Pavo all went missing awhile back, which left them all on edge. This left so many worried, especially another Pularis sibling and a familiar redhead.
Mira was doing her best to stay calm, but even the situation was too grim to perk up. "C'mon Elfman. This isn't anybody's fault."
Wendy looked around and noticed that something was off. "Hey, does anybody know where Erza and Vanessa went?"
Gray crossed his arms, sulking downwards. "Knowing after that, I can bet Erza's run off to blow some steam. I can also guess that Vanessa isn't too far behind either."
"There's too many problems going around." Makarov frowned in sorrow. "There's the calamity with the Infinity Clock, the apprehension of Natsu and Lucy, and the sudden disappearance of Nic and others; whatever happened, this wasn't a coincidence."
Mira looked down at him. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Excuse me." Everyone turned to look at the sudden appearance of arrivals. It was none other than Jaune-Luc. "Fairy Tail, hello…"
Erza ran into the direction she saw Nic walk off too awhile back. She ran with swiftness and worry through the bushes and her heart pulsed with guilt.
'I have to find him! I have to see that he's alright!' Her mind was going ballistic as she darted right into the small clearing, where she came to a slow stop. Her eyes widened when she saw that a few destroyed trees laid around, no doubt Nic's handiwork.
"He was here, I knew it." She was having worry flood her mind. Throughout her battle with Cobra, with the help of Vanessa, Evergreen, and Max, she was left unable to focus as guilt and regret clogged her mind over Nic, which left Cobra to use that against her. And when she learned that Nic went missing, she snapped and ran off to see if he was okay, only she'll never find out now that he was gone.
She swallowed hard. "…I did this."
"Erza!" The shrubs and foliage behind Erza rustled and the redhead turned around to find Vanessa catching up to her. The single blonde-banged girl huffed as she finally reached Erza.
"Erza, what happened?" Vanessa questioned. "The second we showed back to the guild, you just took off."
Erza turned her back towards her. "I'm sorry."
Vanessa's words were as hard as an Iron Defense by an Aggron. "Well sorry won't fix what happened to Nic."
Erza grew stiff and grunted. "This isn't about Nic."
"Don't lie Erza." Vanessa calmed down greatly, getting a gentler approach at hand. "Look, I know you're ashamed of what you did, but that doesn't mean that the guilt should get you all jumbled up."
"Really, I'm fi-"
"Then why did you lose focus against Cobra? Normally you'd be level-headed and swift, but you were all so…"
"He just caught me off guard."
"He caught us all off guard."
"I know. I just…" Erza was starting to fumble on her choice of words.
"Erza…why did you do what you did?"
Erza continued to have her back turned. "You…you wouldn't understand, Vanessa."
Vanessa grew offended. "Actually, I do understand."
Erza looked back at her. "How could you-" She was cut off by Vanessa.
"Erza, listen." Vanessa's tone was harsher, yet as calm as she could get. An uneasy silence fell between the two as Vanessa was getting an upper hand in the argument.
"Do you know how angry I am right now? Heck, I feel downright upset with you! I look up to you, everybody does. As Nic's younger sister, I have the right to know why you did what you did. I worry about him just as much as you do. He's my brother, and he loves you…and how did you repay him? By fighting him and keeping him from helping? You should know just how wrong that was."
Vanessa's words were hard; we were talking Rock Throw hard. Erza never heard Vanessa being so hostile in her wording before. And every point she made was dead on.
"Nic wasn't mad because he didn't get to help Erza, he was mad because you didn't trust him enough to try with his own capabilities and Pokémon. I trusted Nic my entire life, and I respect him above anybody else because he's family and protected me from the day I was born. I owe my brother and idol everything! Up to this point, things looked fine between you two. Did you trust Nic?"
Erza turned back to face her in defiance. "Of course I do! I respect your brother with all my heart! I've always trusted him, and I never doubted his power! I trusted him with my life and he never let me down!"
"Then why? Why did you turn him away like that?"
Erza turned around to face where Nic was before, and it took a long time. Her fists clenched and she shook. Finally, she turned around to face Vanessa, and the look made Vanessa's heart sink. Erza, one of the strongest mages ever known, the mightiest female in Fairy Tail, the one person that everyone admired…was downright scared. Her eyes showed fear…fear that could break her at any given moment, the fear that could leave you a living trash heap, the fear that keeps one from moving forward.
"I don't want Nic to get hurt. I don't want anything to happen to him." She confessed. "When he shined that light, when he was rendered powerless, I just couldn't take it anymore. I lost it. When he almost died by Lysandre's hand those few times, I was broken. If I lost him for good, I…I don't know what I would do." Her head turned downwards as she shuddered. "I know it was selfish of me, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't risk Nic getting hurt before my eyes again. He has such a heavy burden, and he has to protect us, even if it means…" She remembered back to when he lost his eye and right side. "I just want to protect him, like he has all this time."
Vanessa took a moment of silence, and then she grinned. "Erza, it's fine. I felt the same way you did."
"What?" Erza looked at Vanessa in shock.
"He protected me his whole life, and I couldn't take it anymore and I got a beat down, but did that change things? No, he still went ahead and protected me regardless." She looked at Erza with gentle eyes. "We get to make our choices, but Nic gets to make his own too, right? When he decided to go on a journey, I wanted him to stay so bad, to see him finally relax and learn what a real family should be like, but he made his own choice to leave, and I trusted him to care for himself."
Erza's eyes widened in realization. Vanessa was dead on, and her experience backed her up. She couldn't deny it. Ever since she bonded with Nic, she became more trusting of him, yet tried her best to protect him, but it was him who always protected her. She left Nic capable because of his Pokémon powers, but even without them, why should she leave him behind when he had Pokémon of his own? She was right, she was being selfish when she should've considered his family of Pokémon. Her pride was too much, and that overshadowed her trust.
Realizing this, Erza grinned. "You're right. I was such a fool. I was just thinking of Nic and not the hard work he's put into himself and his Pokémon. They could look after Nic just like he was with them." Her fists unclenched,
Vanessa smiled. "That a girl."
"But…" Erza frowned. "That still doesn't make up for what I did. Nic went missing, and so did Cana, Sophie, and Pavo. I'm still angry at myself for what I've done, and Nic has every right to be too."
Vanessa looked down at the ground. She did have a point, and she had to help Erza restore what she had broken. "Then, how about you apologize once he comes back?"
Erza looked away. "But I don't know if he'll be back."
"He'll be back." Vanessa sounded so confident. "This is Nic we're talking about, right? He'll come back."
Erza continued to look down at the ground. "Still, I don't think I can apologize."
"What do you mean?"
"I was never the best with apologies. I don't even know what to say if I ever saw him again. I might just end up making things worse between us." The redhead huffed.
"Don't beat yourself up anymore. Okay?" Vanessa turned her back to her. "Nic has faith in you, and vice versa." She looked over her shoulder. "You can work on an apology after we stop the Infinity Clock and get our friends back. For now, just have some faith that he and the others will be fine."
Erza smirked at the motivation Vanessa was, ironically. But she was right yet again. She'll apologize when this is all over, and if Nic ever turns up again. For now, she'll have to stay focus while hoping Nic will forgive her.
She and Vanessa both walked out of the clearing with guilt easing up for the redhead.
Lupus sniffed his way out to where the trees began to clear us, as were the blood red crystals that were around the area. Everyone followed behind, and Nic grew unsound by the recent revelation of Lysandre from before. Him revealed inside the Celestial Spirit World is a shock beyond comprehension.
Pavo was just as uneasy. He was in Hell for two years, while his companions stayed behind for an extra year. To have them waiting so long is basically unforgiveable, but to lose hope after so long would be even more unforgiveable.
Volans was following behind Lupus as the wolf was leading them out the forest. Trees became less in numbers, giving way the rugged black terrain. "We should be closer than before."
"Volans." Greninja asked behind him. "Just where exactly are we heading off to?"
"Somewhere that'll get us away from Canes for the time being." He stated bluntly. It was a short intermission before he started to speak up again. "No, Nic."
Nic turned to Volans. "Yes?"
"I was told that you have numerous battles against the monster. Is this true?"
"…yes, and the best I've managed so far was by wounding him enough to drive him off." He sounded regretful in retrospect that he was completely vulnerable. Without the Plates now, he would be open.
"I see." Volans sounded so stoic it was almost frightening, but Nic nor Greninja were fazed. "Again, I thank you for coming along. These three years have been bloody Hell."
"How did Lysandre know of this place to begin with? A better question is why he decided to attack this place to begin with?" Sophie wondered.
Cana walked with arms over her head. "Save those questions for the monster. For all we know, he wanted something to kick."
Pavo continued walking, but he was more than uneasy. His eyes widened when he heard some howling from the south. He turned around and gawked with fear. "Gah! Oh no! It's Canes, and I bet they're not alone!"
"What?" Nic inquired as they began to run.
They all began to make way in high sprints outwards and came to where the trees were no more. They were fully out of the forest and Were running on black ground.
"When they howl like that from before, it means their Alpha had given them an order." Lupus explained.
Sophie kept running. "Well I don't wanna find out who it is!"
Behind them, Canes was tailing them, and their distance was closing in fast. Their snarled and barks were escalating and they were tailing the group. Soon enough they were also out from the tree line, and everyone saw their images far behind.
Nic grunted as he glanced back. "They're persistent I'll give them that." He reached back. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
Greninja followed his command and threw several stars of compressed water behind him. The spinning stars gained speed as the distance closed and Canes saw the attack coming in. Immediately the dogs all jumped away and the Water Shuriken exploded as they hit the ground.
Corvus grunted and jumped. He flapped his arms and turned around in the air. "Try this again! Daze Wing!" He flapped his wings, sending a black wind after the dogs. The wind blew right past them, and the dogs all began to sniff the air and snarled at each other.
"Heh! Boy are they easy to fool." Corvus commented as he flew in the air.
Volans kept on running. "Maybe, but their noses are sharp. Something like that will only make them all the more relentless. Move faster!"
"Can't you see we're trying!" Cana hollered out. "You're yelling isn't helping!"
Everyone went on as the disoriented dogs sniffed about and growled. They were all discombobulated from Corvus's Black Wing Magic and they didn't seem like they were gonna be disoriented for much longer. Sooner or later, they all found a brief hiding spot where black rocks secluded them. Their stale smell should cover them; this time, Lupus can smell them incoming.
"So, anything?" Volans asked.
Lupus sniffed the air and looked down. "They're not here for now, but they're close."
"Then what are we waiting for? We have to hurry!" Pavo insisted.
Sophie seemed more than a little confused. "Hold on guys."
"What?" Corvus asked hurriedly. "We got so little time! What is it?"
Nic grew weary as he looked around. "Corvus, don't you remember what Pavo said?" The Crow tilted his head. "…I don't think they're alone."
Lupus's nose twitched as he caught a whiff of something – and it was coming in fast!
"Oh no." Lupus said as he stepped back. "Guys, their Alpha is closing in!" He turned towards the shocked faces. "Hurry, get mo-!"
"HARROOOO!" A blood red sonic-like howl blasted the rock shielding them to bits. Scattered rock remains flew and the group covered up so as not to get hit. They all stepped back and felt a foul odor polluting the dust-filled air.
As the dust began to settle, a snarling voice echoed. "So, the traitor and his new pack. You'd think you could escape with me in the chase?"
Volans grunted and Lupus snarled and growled violently as the dust finally blew away. Greninja and Nic grew extra cautious as the figure wagged his tail ominously, with Canes behind him.
The figure was tall, dark brown, dog-like creature. It was hard to tell if he was a hyena or a super wolf, but regardless a dog. Hs sharp fangs were complimented by the blood red claw mark over his left eyelids that housed actual feral eyes with dark yellow pupils and feral slits. On his upper body, forearms, and whole lower body was armor. The wrists had black armbands, and the abdominal armor had blood red claw marks. His claws were black, much like Lupus, only they were much longer and sharper. His back plates had dark ridges that were part of the neck trimming. And black trimming was on the forearms too.
His teeth salivated. "Finally something we can sink our fangs into."
Cana reached for her cards. "So, that's their apparent Alpha?"
Lupus growled angrily some more at the other dog. "Yeah. He's even nastier than you think. The Alpha of Canes; Sirius – Gate of the Great Dog."
Sirius's claws embedded into the rock below, cutting through it like knives. "I must say, you left a great position open for me. Lysandre was very generous in having me become the new Alpha in exchange for slaughtering every soul not on his side." He looked down at Canes as the dogs all slowly crawled up towards their prey.
"I should thank you, but it'd be much more entertaining to kill you all! Do what you do best!"
Immediately Canes went in for the attack. They all snarled with open mouths as they individually pounced.
Nic swiped his arm. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!" Greninja crouched and swiped at the incoming dogs ahead, sending compressed stars of water at them. Water Shuriken exploded upon contact, making light blue explosions, and dogs with shredded fur flew backwards.
The other dogs pounced, and Pavo took a fighting stance. "Try this to sad little pooches! Glory's Integrity!" He did a 360 kick and his huge folded cape followed, swatting the dogs that went at him.
Cana were side-by-side; one holding up cards and one pointing a finger to her own head. "Ready?"
Sophie's eyes were set on her targets. "More than you can imagine!" The dogs darted for them, and Sophie made a quick chain of memories. "Memory-Make: Mirrors of Cold Retribution!"
"Thunderbolt's Fate!" Cana held up her cards high and hundreds of small bolts electrocuted the incoming dogs while a few beams of darkness originating from mirrors made of ice blasted several others away.
Nic jumped, as did another dog. Both were in midair and the dog's savage look sure didn't back it up as Nic twisted in the air and axe kicked it on the head, sending it crashing into the diseased ground below. He landed and felt two more dogs rushing at 4 and 8. He did a handstand and back kicked their jaws, driving them onto their backs.
He twisted his body again and pounced back to his feet. "Greninja, Bounce!"
Greninja heed Nic's command and sprung into the air above. Nic found the Beta of Canes running after him, and that was the perfect opportunity. He rushed after the Beta and grabbed the paws, barely inches away from the snapping teeth in his face.
With the Beta incapacitated, Nic spiraled and threw the dog. As the dog as immobile, Greninja shot down like a meteor and stomped on the Beta's back while in midair, crashing the dog into the earth. The frog jumped again and landed by Nic's side. Both were seen back-to-back as they saw themselves surrounded.
"It's just like before." Greninja said.
"Then we'll have to hit them harder!" Nic lunged forward into the fray, as did Greninja.
Volans punched a dog, knocking him into other dogs. However he was caught off guard from behind when a dog sank his teeth into his leg.
"Lousy mutt!" Volans kicked the dog off of him, but with his back turned once more, another dog sank his fangs into his thick shoulder. He turned angrily towards the dog but found his left arm bit into next, which left him angered greatly.
"Trench Shredder!" With his patience low, the sharp, pointed ends of his elbows glowed a bright blue. The dogs close by all pouted as they were knocked away by Volans spinning his body fully around and dust was also sliced by his attack, like a Gallade using a Slash or Leaf Blade.
"Dusk Shower!" Corvus shot down several black feathers and the dogs all barked and pouted when they were hit. The crow huffed in relief as the smoke cleared, but was short-lived when a dog pounced up at him. His eyes bulged out and he screamed franticly as he raised his crow legs and the dog missed. "Why do dogs hunt crows?! Why?!"
As for Lupus, he growled at Sirius and vice versa. Both had their claws bared and their teeth show great friction.
"You savage mutt." Lupus cursed softly yet angrily. He ran on all fours at Sirius. "You're going down!"
Sirius charged again. "I doubt that since we use the same Magic!" Both of their legs met, coated in midnight blue and blood red, which was their Sonic and Dark Sonic Magic colliding. The area all around them shattered as the sonic waves rippled through the cracked ground.
Sirius gained the upper hand when he used his other leg and kicked Lupus's abdomen, the sonic kick moving and sounding faster than what the wolf could trace. He skidded to a stop at the end of a trail.
"You're forgetting that I'm the strongest of the pack. I can't be beat with your petty Magic." Sirius's taunting only agitated Lupus. The wolf ran up to bite into Sirius, but the dog raised an armored forearm and Lupus bit into that instead. Sirius grew a cocky smirk and Lupus let go.
The wolf drew a claw back, and it was coated in midnight blue. "Sonic Slash!" A midnight blue slash motion was made towards Sirius, but the armored dog swatted it away. A second passed and the dog smirked; that instant, the large rocks behind Sirius shattered, catered to the deflected Sonic Slash.
"Not too bad." Sirius commented. "Sonic Magic is fast, and has a faster sound wave acceleration than Sound Magic so those with that Magic won't hear it coming…but when you have Dark Sonic Magic like me, your Magic isn't just the loudest or swiftest!"
Lupus opened his mouth wide. "We'll see about that!" The inside of his mouth became a bright midnight blue. To match that, Sirius opened up his mouth, and blood red light shined from within.
"Sonic Howl!"
"Dark Sonic Howl!"
Midnight and blood red sound waves met in the middle, and around them the ground completely shattered and quaked violently from the sonic vibrations and waves rippling. The entire area was echoing in sonic shockwaves and the dogs and Nic's group covered up from the shockwaves. Soon enough dust spiraled and everyone was assessing the situation.
"GAHH!" Corvus screamed. "Just what kind of power is that?!"
Pavo grew weary. "This isn't good. We have to retreat again."
The dust began to settle, though the sound waves still filled the air. Lupus was seen on a knee while Sirius was standing without hesitation. It was clear who the advantage belonged to, and Sirius chuckled in amusement.
"You're even more persistent than that dumb pack I lead, but no matter, I do give credit where credit is due though." His claws glistened as he held them up. "End of the line, Lupus!"
Nic extended his arm out. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
"On it!" The Water and Dark-Type shot compressed stars of water that spun at the downward claws aimed for Lupus's face. The Water Shuriken made it in time and with swiftness and the claws were deflected to the ground mere feet to Lupus's left.
"What?" Sirius didn't have much time to think before Nic gave another command.
"Greninja, Smokescreen!" Greninja followed the order given and he gave cover for them by shooting out a thick cloud of black smoke yet again. The Smokescreen engulfed Canes and Sirius alike, and left Lupus to be assisted by Corvus and Sophie.
Corvus helped in getting Lupus away and turned towards him. "Are you okay?"
"He should be fine once we get somewhere far away!" Sophie assured. "He doesn't look too bad, but the last attack left him pretty banged up."
Lupus groaned as he was assisted by Sophie and Corvus on both of his sides. "Gnnngh. Damn mutt."
Nic turned around and swiped his arm. "Everyone make an escape! Hurry…" Nic's sensory caught something and his reflexes made him turn to see Sirius diving out of the smoke cloud after him. He looked pissed and had a blood red Dark Sonic Slash with his name on it.
Nic made an attempt to scoot back, but he began to lose traction on the ground and the claw was bound to reach him.
"NOOOO~!" Pavo lashed out fiercely and swift as possible, kicking Sirius as possible, but he was caught even as he was slashed maliciously across the chest. The blood red slash left an open gash and Pavo gagged as blood spilled from his abdomen.
Nic's eyes shot wide with horror, with Pavo saving his skin. Cana and Sophie both gaped and looked horrified as Pavo fell backwards.
"PAVO!" Nic shouted.
"Pavo!" Cana and Sophie screamed.
Greninja looked at the fallen peacock man and back at the dog, who had his breath taken from that sudden blow to the vulnerable midsection. Greninja angrily put his arms together. "You bastard!" He shot Dark Pulse with all his might and struck Sirius, engulfing him in a dark explosion.
Sirius was heard grunting as the explosion settled, but when it cleared, he was met with a punch to the gut by Nic, who had anger in his eyes. Following through, he punched Sirius back into the thick Smokescreen, and hearing other pouts made them realize he was knocked into a few members of Canes.
Nic looked back and knelt down to Pavo, who winced at his wound across his chest diagonally downwards. "Pavo! Pavo!" Nic called out. "The hell were you thinking?!"
Pavo coughed as winced as he struggled to stand. "I…I know…" His eyes showed no regret. "…but that's what friends *cough cough* do!"
Cana rushed on over and helped Nic in getting Pavo back to his feet. "Damn fool!" The brunette was holding back the small tears for her friend's condition. "You just have to play the fall guy!"
Nic growled and looked back. "Greninja, once more! Smokescreen!" The frog did as told and turned towards the Smokescreen behind him and thickened it some more. With that cover, he turned back ahead and retreated as fast as his legs could carry him. Volans hauled Lupus and Sophie with his muscles, Corvus could barely haul Cana, and Nic and Greninja moved as fast as they could while supporting their injured friend.
They were down a slope, hiding inside a concave rock to seclude them for a short while. With the close clear, Greninja traced back inside and looked at the wounded Pavo. Nic, Sophie, and Cana also gathered around to aid Pavo in whatever ways they could, which was very little.
"Oh man, that attack was way too serious." Cana said in worry.
"*cough cough* Don't be silly!" Pavo insisted. "I can still stand, I just to lie down for a bit."
Volans looked down with a still gaze. "I'm afraid we don't have a bit. Sirius and his pack will be on our tail again soon."
Nic grew a scowl. "This is getting redundant. At this rate, we can only run so much. It'll be an endless chase until Sirius and Canes catches us."
Greninja had his arms crossed. "If we could somehow get away faster, or find a method to reach Lysandre without foot or a way for them to hear or smell us, then we'll be less occupied with them."
Pavo winced as his gash was still hurting. Sophie looked down at her panting friend and grew worrisome. 'Come on. I gotta us my head…' Looking at Pavo again, she grew a small idea in a flash.
"I'm no Wendy, but I think this'll do the trick." She reached her arms out and closed her eyes. "If I remember Wendy's Healing Magic, and Juvia's Water Magic…" A small chain of memories encased her hands, and materializing around her hands was turquoise water. Her eyes opened. "Let's see what this can do. Memory-Make: Seabed's Miracle."
She pressed her hands onto Pavo's gash, and when the water touched Pavo, a sharp sting made his eyes nearly bulge out. It felt awful at first, but then it felt like a puffy cloud was washing away the pain. His gash was slowly fixing itself and soon enough the wound was gone.
The water flashed away and Sophie put a hand on her head. "Nnngh. That left me with a little headache."
Pavo sat up and looked down at himself. "I'm okay?" His attention was directed towards Sophie. "You…Sophie!" A big smile got on Pavo and he happily hugged Sophie, much to the latter's discomfort because if her headache. "Thanks you for saving me! All of you!"
Sophie nervously smiled. "That's great Pavo, but can I have my space back now?"
Corvus cried waterfalls down his sides. "Sophie is our hero! The heavens have blessed us!"
Cana huffed. "Alright, save your praise until we all are in the clear. We're still being pursued you know."
"She's right. We're still not in the clear." Nic informed. "If we run into them again, it would mean we'll be cornered. Volans." Nic's attention went towards the stocky build fish man. "Do you know a route?"
Volans turned out towards the exit, looking at the dark purple sky. "There is a way."
Lupus turned towards Volans. "You mean that route?...yeah, that might be the only way."
"What way are you guys talking about?" Sophie asked, her headache calming down.
Corvus stood up and walked towards Volans and Lupus. "With the entire realm in chaos and all, a large majority of it erupted with water, just like the trees back there. And with that…" He remembered what the little rebellion smuggled. "Means new ways across."
Pavo's eyes widened and he looked enthused. "Oh right! I forgot we had a ship made! It's been so long!"
"A ship?" Nic asked.
Volans nodded. "Yes. For us to get to Lysandre, we'll have to cross the sea made. The location Lysandre and the key are being by sea."
Cana grew intrigued. "Guess we're taking the party off land for awhile. Let's get moving!"
"Right!" Everyone followed Volans and Lupus, who made sure that the coast was clear before leaving their safe place. They all began their arduous trek, but Cana mistook it for an excursion and thought it'd be 2 miles away, not two hours.
The brunette was getting tired and she was ready to ask if they were close, but then she saw something up ahead. Sea. It looked a little filthy in terms of water, but if it was the sea, then their destination wasn't too far. "I think we're almost there!"
"Yes, we're closer than before…" Corvus trailed off when howling was heard far away, and he immediately stiffened. "H-HAAAAHHHH! NOT AGAIN!"
Lupus ran on all fours. "They're picking up on our trail again! We have to get there fast!"
Pavo ran with arms over his head in a wailing fashion, but he was seemingly slower from before and he was panting a little. It was evident that he still wasn't fully recovered from Sirius's attack. He was trailing behind everyone else, but was doing his best to keep up.
"Just a little farther now!" Pavo and everyone found themselves on the rocky shores, and Volans saw a humungous pile of rocks. Turning towards the rocks, he ran ahead in haste and everyone followed.
"Where is he going?" Sophie asked.
"I think he's leading us to where he hid the ship." Nic answered.
Volans came to a stop in front of the giant slab. "This is it." Everyone stopped behind him and watched him take in a deep breath. Once he exhaled, he slowly retracted one of his palms. With a swift yet soft palm strike, Volans struck the giant slab. He slowly stepped back and waited patiently for the aftershock.
It was a light rumble and everyone stepped back. The whole black slab began to piece apart, and it was like an entire layer fell off. A thin layer of rock crumbled away, revealing something hidden away inside.
Inside, there it was, a big ship. It wasn't beautiful by any means, and it looked like the ship Nic took during the journey for the clock pieces, but it looked like it was in good condition.
"A ship?...Inside a slab of rock?" Cana inquired.
"H-how did they even get it in there?" Sophie added.
"We can worry about that later. Right now, we have to get it into the water and away from Sirius and Canes!" Nic announced.
Volans took a step forward and faced the ship. He took a moment and clenched his fists tightly. He gathered some Magic Power and pressed his hands to the ground. "Deep Geyser!"
Underneath the ship, the rocky ground rumbled with such a magnitude. Everyone grew weary as they felt some pressure below. Nic and his group looked down to find the ground cracking up a little. A multitude of cracks emerged underneath the ship and then deep blue water spouted like a geyser that shot all around the ship. A massive geyser line sprouted closer and closer towards the sea until reaching it.
They all then saw that once the deep blue water cleared, and to their shock, Volans made a small slope. The ship creaked as it slowly tilted down the sloped, where it descended into the sea and floated atop.
"Impressive." Nic remarked.
Volans turned around. "Deep-Sea Magic. Unlike normal Water Magic, my Magic is a colder temperature, and is far more pressurized like the deep depths."
Corvus raised a fist high. "ALRIGHT! ON TOWARDS THAT KEY AND LYSANDRE!"
"ONWARDS, BRAVE FRIENDS!" Pavo cheered.
Everyone began to hurry up as the howling afar began to get louder. They all hurriedly reached the ship, but as Volans was advancing towards the ledge, he felt something off. He turned towards the sea, where he felt a very ominous Magic going around.
"…" All he did was stare. He was getting a bad feeling, and he was getting this overwhelming anticipation.
"Volans, something wrong?" Greninja looked down and asked.
The Spirit slowly turned away. "…no, we're going now." He spread his wings and he slowly ascended up to wards the ledge. As he was placing his feet onto the deck, his head, Nic's, and Greninja's all jerked towards the sea.
They saw sudden blasts of deep blue water bombs aimed at them. Everyone got down as fast as possible and Volans jerked out of the way while in midair. The water bombs continued their course and blasted the slab, making it crumble and collapse upon itself.
"Gh-gh-WHHAAATTT?!" Corvus screamed.
"That giant slab was blown to bits! What the hell was that?!" Pavo shouted.
Volans eyes were wide. "This Magic…no! It can't be!"
A deep blue water swirled in front, and then a geyser arose before everyone. They all gaped their mouths as they were blocked by something that sprung up and stood in the shallow water.
Out came a humanoid monster. To be accurate, he was seemingly reptilian. He had green scales all over his body, with light blue skin underneath the arms and abdominal region. Like Volans, his scaly elbows had protrusions that resembled long fins with a light blue membrane. He had scaly feet and hands, with razor-sharp claws. He had a super thick neck, bulky build like Volans, and the gills were there as well. His mouth was huge with sharp teeth, with a huge fork tongue. His eyes were yellow with feral black slits. His nose and hair was just like Volans; big and black. He had three green fins on his top with light blue membrane, the middle one being the longest. His green tail was long with black spikes, and had find on the end. His attire was deep blue pants and a tattered vest that was black and became blood red when going up.
The monster smirked maliciously as he saw the startled Volans's face. "Volans, quite some time, has it not?"
Volans's eyes dilated. "…Cetus."
Cetus's smile widened and showed all of his teeth. "Think you can still fight the power?"
Cana grew weary. "Okay, just what are we dealing with now?"
Volans's eyes dilated when he looked at Cetus's, whom was excited and brimming with power, dark power. The two had a long stare, and the two were slowly giving off a great pressure.
Lupus stared outwards, seeing the vile energy and the stern look on Volans. "That…is Cetus – Gate of the Sea Monster." His eyes narrowed. "Trust me, I can't say anymore."
"What? What do you mean?" Sophie questioned.
"Have Volans explain when we make it out of this! We gotta move!" Lupus heard the howling and turned around. They all began to grow restless as the howling and barking grew louder. Atop of the slope high above, Sirius and Canes stood, scoffing down at their prey.
"GWWAAAHHHH! We only have a few minutes!" Corvus and Pavo screamed in frightening unison.
Volans flapped in the air and glowered down at Cetus. "Should've known you'd be here. What do you want?"
Cetus held up a hand, which materialized deep blue water. "Isn't it obvious? Since Sirius led you here…" He brought his ram back and punched forward, sending a stream of deep blue water at Volans. "I get to have some fun old man!"
Volans's elbow protrusions glowed and he swiped, the attack went straight through the stream down the middle and the two streams digressed onto the shore, making the ground burst.
The Spirit slowly descended onto the ground, folding up his wings. "Holding back against an enemy?" Volans taunted with hatred. "I have the right to label you as a coward!" His fist reeled back and was coated in deep blue. He punched forward and sent a stream at Cetus. The enemy Spirit covered up and took the attack. He swiped his arms and appeared unscathed.
"Look who's talking. C'mon, I barely felt that one!" Cetus sprung out of the water with great speed and his elbow fins spread out and shined dark blue. "You're the real coward!"
Volans brought his hands together and grabbed the fin blade with great timing. He restrained him for only a few moments before Cetus jerked back and swatted his mighty tail, striking Volans on his side. The Spirit regained footing and threw a right hook that Cetus blocked. Yet Volans didn't ley up as his left elbow protrusion glowed and slashed as before, making Cetus skid a few feet back.
When Cetus uncovered, he looked amused. "Hardly felt that." He heard Volans grunt, and the monster had a palm with deep blue water in front. "Face it! I'm stronger!"
Volans brought his palm around and he had deep blue water in front. "Abyss…"
"…Palm!" Cetus and Volans made contact square into the other's palm, and simultaneous eruptions of pressurized water erupted in between them both. Everyone aboard covered up as shards of water passed them.
The two were seen far away. Volans was seen on a knee while Cetus was seen knocked back into the water. Both looked unscathed, and their menacing glances were more than just scary.
"Come on, we both use the same Magic. I know your tricks inside and out! Every technique!" Cetus's eyes narrowed, and Volans's fists clenched. "After all-!"
"Summoned Lightning!"
The voice belonged to Cana and Volans looked with shock as green bolts of lightning infiltrated the water and electrocuted Cetus. The enemy Spirit screamed as strong electricity shot through him. Once the electricity stopped, Cetus grunted and shook himself.
"Dark Pulse!"
A Dark Pulse went shooting at Cetus, who recovered in time and clasped his palms together, making a geyser of deep blue water shoot in front and intercept Dark Pulse.
"Miss Cana! Greninja!" Volans shouted.
"Volans, we can't stay any longer! We have to go!" Corvus shouted. "Daze Wing!"
Cana swiped her cards again. "Let's a little Thunderbolt's Fate!" She sent bolts of lightning that combined with the black winds Corvus had shot. Black wind and yellow lightning blasted and engulfed Cetus, who wasn't at all budged, but was left annoyed.
"What the?!" The winds settled for him, and he found himself twitching slightly. That hazardous wind made him see blurry images and he was stiff in all the wrong times.
"Volans, we have him stunned! Hurry up!" Nic exclaimed.
Though heavily reluctant, Volans knew better. This was a terrible time to fight. Fighting Cetus anymore would be an exhaustion of energy and time. This was very important, but the matter with Cetus would have to be solved another time. With fists clenched hard and nearly shaking, Volans growled viciously and spread his wings.
"Very well. We'll settle this when the time is right." Volans flapped his wings and ascended up to the deck. With Volans aboard, Corvus pulled down the rope and the vermilion sail stretched. The group thus began to feel the ship move slightly outwards.
Cetus couldn't see, but he felt their Magic going off in a direction. "I knew it! I knew you were a coward! Running away from greater power than embracing it is what a weakling would do!" He shouted, unable to chase due to being exceedingly stiff.
Volans looked back at him. "Call it what you want. I'm not willing to pick unnecessary fights when there are bigger fights ahead. Patience and wisdom is something you clearly lack…Cetus."
Sirius and Canes all made it to the shore, but they stopped in their tracks. They all barked violently and snapped their jaws as the ship was already out at sea. The dogs all growled low and Lupus looked back and snarled, to which Sirius snarled back in a cocky manner.
Volans and Lupus both turned their backs and faced forward, their eyes closed and each seemingly filled with something they knew from before – regret. It was a bitter feeling, but it couldn't be helped.
"Volans?" Pavo sounded concerned, but he turned back ahead and Volans opened his eyes.
"We're fine. Let's set sail!" Volans walked with haste and grabbed the steering wheel. With his hands on it, he steered the ship forwards towards the dark seas ahead.
Nic and Greninja both looked at each other. "Greninja…"
Greninja nodded. "Yeah, I agree. When the heat dies down and we collect ourselves." He looked on over to Pavo resting against a barrel, his dress shirt torn from Sirius's attack; Lupus's ears down and his tail not waging; Volans looking ahead rather than seeing the land shrinking in the distance.
Cana sat down at ease right next to Sophie. The two girls looked up to the mast, where they saw Corvus peeping out at the top over the vast distance. "Cana?"
"Yeah Sophie?"
"Just what did we get ourselves into?"
A long silence fell before Cana answered. She looked up at the dark skies above. It all happened with Nic's nemesis. She looked at Nic, who was sitting right beside Greninja with his earbuds in his ears. She then looked at her knees.
"A huge mess that we'll clean up, no matter what."
The foul winds filled the air as the ship sailed with a straight course north.
How was the first chapter of the Celestial Siege Arc? Startling? Entertaining? The sheer friction between Volans and Cetus will be answered. Bet the craziness back on Earth Land with Erza was startling as well. Again, this is following the same timeline as the Keys to the Starry Sky Arc, so the end of the anime arc will be like the end of the Celestial Siege Arc, though time is slightly altered a bit, though not much.
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Next Time: Dark Waters