Chapter 77 – Memories
Hey guys! Here's chapter 77 of this incredibly long story, and still going. We're nearing the end!
To Recap:
On the day of rest, everyone headed for the water park nearby, but after some distraught realizations, Nic, accompanied by Erza and Vanessa, all left early and headed for the catacombs, where they headed deep down and found a Dragon Graveyard, and later returned with the Dragon Slayers. They talked to a Dragon soul named Zirconis and learned the graveyard was of murdered Dragons by Acnologia, the same Dragon that lost to the Weather Trio. Arcadios led them to the Eclipse Gate, but Darton tried apprehending them, but Nic and Vanessa used Charizard and Braixen to escape, consequently leaving Lucy's keys and Yukino behind. The next day, on Day 5, Gray and Sophie fill in for Nic and Natsu as they went on a rescue mission with a small group and headed towards Mercurius while everyone is focused on the games.
Chapter 77 – Memories
The group led by Nic traveled down the hollow streets, free from any eyes that were amongst them. With everyone centered in the Domus Flau colosseum, this was their chance to initiate the operation.
"We're getting close." Vanessa warned. "I'm getting a copious of aura a few blocks ahead."
"Alright!" Natsu exclaimed in brash excitement. "I've been dying to punch a guy or two. Let's get moving!"
Mira turned towards Nic as he was a little bit ahead of her. "Do you know how we can get in, Nic?"
Nic kept his eyes on the prize. They turned another corner and headed up said street. "…I think I got one."
"That fast?" Lucy asked as she ran close behind.
"Does it involve kaboom?" Natsu wondered, hoping so.
"No, that never solves anything." Nic berated, disregarding Natsu's dismay. "This mission requires levity, and not brute force. If we're gonna infiltrate, we'll have to blend in."
"What does that mean?" Wendy asked.
"Just follow Mira and my lead." Nic explained. As they ran on ahead, Nic thus began elaborating once more.
Back in the colosseum, Erza saw the ground shaking from the excitement shrilling through the air and land alike. Deafening screams of a mixture of anticipation and excitement filled all ears, but Erza blocked it all out as she faced the participants, along with her team. 'Nic, be sure to return safe.'
"Alright participants! Show us what you're made of! Your Magic! Your skills! And your comradery!" Lola yelled. "This last day is a survival game! Let's get things underway!"
The whole stadium had a shining light at the participants' feet. They all remained stoic and set on the prize. When the light faded, each team found itself elsewhere.
Team Fairy Tail looked around, figuring out that the surroundings was within the city of Crocus. The streets were desolate, leaving all six teams scattered in random places.
"Surprise!" Mato's voice was heard over the mic and echoed through the city. "For today's survival game, the battlefield itself is the city of Crocus, pumpkins!" He said.
Yajima took over. "The teams have dispersed and are layered all around. They are on standby."
"Here's how it works." Lola added. "The teams split up ad look for any enemies around. Once they encounter one, a battle with erupt. The winner shall get 1 point; however, there's a special twist." He included. "Each team is allowed to elect a leader, which is worth 5 points, but no one will know who the leader is, oh~, a mystery!"
"And so the total one team can get is 45 points, which means fair game, pumpkins!" Mato cheered.
Erza turned towards her group. "Listen, we must win."
"Don't have to tell us twice." Gajeel said.
Laxus had a smirk. "Well it's the least we can do for those guys who've been dragged on their heels for seven years. Let's give them what they deserve."
Sophie and Gray nodded in confirmation with Laxus's statement.
"And now…" Fireworks went up to the sky. "Let the battle…BEGIN!"
The fireworks went off, allowing the games to begin.
The fireworks were seen even from Nic's point of view. He turned around and saw the games begin. "It looks like they started." He said, wearing a Rune Knight's uniform.
Mira was in the same uniform. "Let's give it our all like they do too."
The two knights in the alley were left in their undergarments and were sizzling, catered by an overzealous Natsu, who had taken the liberty of dishing out the pain. Once Nic and Mira had 'borrowed' the uniforms, they were set to go in. Mira used her Transformation Magic to poof into one knight, while Nic use Transform and applied the same concept.
The plan was disguise and infiltrate. Simple yet effective.
"Why do I have to be the captive again?" Natsu pouted as a disguised Mira carried him and Wendy, while Nic carried Lucy and Vanessa.
"Just do it, would ya?" Lucy barked. "Besides, we have enough attention as we do now. So just play the part."
Natsu gave a grumpy pout as Mira hauled him off. It wasn't his style, which was setting ablaze everything. He just had to hold up, for everyone's sake.
They made it to the castle, and two guards were posted outside the entrance. They seemed a little occupied with talking about the games, but Nic and his group being presented got their attention.
One guard turned towards them. "Hey, who are you?" He asked.
"They're intruders." Mira said, her voice disguised to represent a man.
"They were probably in hopes of rescuing this one's keys." Nic held Lucy up, his one-arm strength hauling her up like she was a bag of groceries. "What do you propose?"
"Fairy Tail?" A guard asked.
"His Majesty and the Minister of Defense are on pretty high ground after last night. I'm not sure what to think of this." The other guard looked to the other and back at the situation. "Just throw them in the dungeon for now. We'll handle with them later."
"Roger." Mira said.
The guards watched the two pass with their 'captives', keeping a worried eye as they entered inside. "Hey, uh, the dungeon's that way." He pointed to the other side of the wall, which was open.
Mira and Nic both turned around and realized they were in the wrong direction. "Uh, sorry." Mira nervously laughed. "We were just recently posted here."
Nic and Mira headed off inside to the dungeon. While they had their backs turned to the guards in the distance behind them, Nic and Mira both lifted their methods of transformation, keeping their disguises, but their faces were confident, with the Exceeds snickering underneath Mira's attire. Everyone had confident smirks as they headed down the stairs that were lit by the torches.
"Hang on, we're coming." Lucy muttered, hopes high.
Overlooking the Grand Magic Games, a young woman with jade-like hair and a tiara looked out the window. She had a smirk on her face, but not one of mischievous intent. She actually seemed sound, despite the news of the incident last night revolving around Nic Pularis and his group escaping with knowledge of Eclipse. She leaned over the balcony and watched as Quatro Puppy was eliminated, and Sabertooth was back in the lead.
"This is interesting." She said. "This year's games are not what I had in mind. Fairy Tail is full of surprises." She found herself chuckling as the lacrima-vision in front of her caught sight of all the Fairy Tail members opening their eyes in unison and diverging, finally making their move.
"And after such a period of time, Fairy Tail is on the move!" Lola announced.
"Princess Hisui." A guard presented himself to her. "It's time."
Hisui lifted herself from the balcony and turned around, still smirking. "Yes." She answered calmly. "It's time. The news of Eclipse won't hold out long, and now we move on to…Eclipse 2."
Erza rushed through the streets with grace and diligence. She, along with the rest of Team Fairy Tail, held out their patience according to Mavis's strategy. The redhead and her comrades went through the streets to their designated checkpoints, where they remembered well of Mavis's calculated strategy, and the steps to proceed on after that. To be honest, it was a lot to take in, but nothing they couldn't handle.
'According to Mavis, Rufus is said to make a move right about now…' Erza thought.
Her eye caught sight of a shooting star approaching from an angle that traveled across the sky. Her eyes narrowed as she counted. 'One…two!' She took a leap, and actually dodged the star that almost struck her, leaving the Requip Mage unscathed and sprinted on ahead northwest.
She cut a corner and slid to a halt, intercepting a shocked Jenny. The blonde turned around and winced at the redhead's Magic Power.
"E-Erza?!" Jenny squealed.
Erza put a hand to her hip. "Well, seems the First Master's spot on."
"Uh…" Jenny turned away and leaped off in her dress. "Strategic retreat!"
Jenny ran away, but was cut off by Erza blitzing right pass her and blocking her off. Jenny squealed as Erza slashed with no hesitation, sent soaring and thudding. She fell in capacitation.
Erza couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction. Now she got back at Jenny for flirting with her lover. Revenge was well worth it, and the lesson was by no means the easy way.
Erza kept her smirk as she headed off again, cutting another corner to her right and moving onto her next destination.
The lacrima-vision was showing Gajeel completely destroying Eve and Ren of Blue Pegasus, leaving Hibiki in the hands of Gray, who left him in ice. Everyone was following the precise orders that Mavis gave out, and not a step out of place, shocking everyone as Fairy Tail was suddenly back in the lead with 50 points, putting them back into 1st place.
"With a succession of points, Team Fairy Tail had curb stomped a number of opponents, putting them in the lead again!" Lola announced, much to the audience's delight and enjoyment.
Jet looked in sheer shock and excitement. "First Master, this strategy is so awesome!"
"How come you never told us?!" Droy exclaimed.
Mavis ignored the peanut gallery behind her, keeping her eyes set on the lacrima-vision that had all Fairy Tail members scurrying. "Sophie, take the rear and secure a perimeter for enemies at your next checkpoint! Laxus head to point F8! Erza, an enemy is on point S5!" She gave out orders left and right, calculations that surpassed Hibiki's Archive Magic by leaps and bounds. Such a thing was beyond astronomical.
Makarov's eyes widened as he watched Mavis gave orders. By watching her in action, it was like a bomb went off. "I just remembered, you had a nickname." He said in bewilderment. His gaze looked back at the lacrima-vision as his mind was set on the stories told long ago.
"A long time ago, wars broke out. Strategies were devised, and many were better than others. With your eyes filled with a gift of genius, you won so many wars!" Realization made him nearly jump. "The Fairy Tactician!"
Macao sobbed tears of joy. "First Master has blessed us!"
"We're never gonna take ghosts for granted for as long as we live!" Wakaba joined in the victorious sobbing.
"So that's why they didn't move at first. They were waiting for the positions to be taken." Lisanna realized.
"Man, for a ghost, she's got credit to be given to." Cana commented.
The battle raged on, with Ichiya, and Blue Pegasus's dreams, getting crushed by the might of Jura. Chelia also scored some points by eliminating Risley of Mermaid Heel, tying Sabertooth and Lamia Scale for 2nd place, with Fairy Tail still ahead of them by one. Even though they held the lead, Fairy Tail was far from secure.
"A battle shall commence. Sophie, take your position at point C6." Mavis ordered.
On the lacrima-vision, Sophie ran down the street, far from enemy reach. She seemed to be heading off somewhere, but it was hard to tell where exactly given the point of view being a bird's eye close up.
"Gray, cover her position and secure the rear." Mavis ordered.
"May, First Master." Cana asked. "Have you given any idea on how to handle Jura?"
Mavis took a pause, pondering with no coherent conclusion. "…to be honest, no. That's how formidable Jura is. If Nic was here, I'd have him set, but in this predicament, I'll have everyone follow with the strategy and keep themselves far from Jura's reach until a conclusion is made.
Cana turned towards the lacrima-vision. She was well aware of how Kagura, even Jura, were spooked from Day 4. Nic's Legendary Force was unlike any level of strength that could possibly be measured. Cana herself gets a shiver every time she even thinks of Nic's raw force. Kyogre first, then came Groudon. It was like a wave of dismay washed over her.
The brunette put a hand to her hip. "This stinks. Better get some booze if this takes too long." She huffed.
Cold footsteps reverberated off the walls, echoing through the small crevices and enclosed space of the dungeon. Torches lit up the halls as empty cell after empty cell was passed. It seemed as though little to no inmates were present, catered to good behavior around Crocus.
Yukino was lying on her bunk, contemplating heavily. She was so distraught that she didn't seem to mind how much time came and passed on by. "What did I do?" She mumbled. 'This Eclipse is making everything and everyone flip. Why'd they try and kidnap me and Lucy? This isn't right, not to any of us.' Yukino turned over to her side, her eyelids barely open. 'Is this Eclipse really a good idea if the past will change the present? I wish I knew, honestly. I want to help instead of be a burden. I…'
Knocking was heard on her cell, which got her to shake off her fatigue. "Who's there?" She looked up, and the residence caused her to spring up to her feet out of shock.
"Hey, get some sleep? Because you've got energy to make it out now!" Natsu, along with the rest of Nic's group, had successfully found Yukino. Natsu had his trademark smile, and everyone else seemed satisfied while Yukino was in shock.
"You guys? What are you doing here?" Yukino asked.
"Stay there, this'll only be a moment!" Natsu gripped the iron bars caging Yukino. His Magic began to burn up the bars and heat them to the point where he ripped them apart, allowing Yukino a way out. "You coming?"
"Uh, sure…" Yukino wasn't sure whom to side with due to the confusion around, but what mattered was that being confined wasn't gonna be of any use for her. She had to take advantage, and she stepped out of her cell. "Thanks."
Lucy gave a perky smile. "Don't mention it."
"Now that the one priority is out of the way, that just leaves for us to retrieve the keys." Lily said.
"Aye!" Happy cheered.
Carla, however, didn't seem so convinced. "I don't think the matter is that simple. How else could we have gotten down here so easily?"
"Yeah, good question." Wendy said, realizing the situation. "Do you think everyone was focused on the games rather than guard the area?"
Nic looked at the group, his gaze serious. "Carla has a point. It's like we took bait."
"If that's true, then how come we're-!" Vanessa was cut off when a click was heard. She and the group looked down as the floor opened down like a latch door and everyone screamed as they fell into the darkness. The latch door-like flooring then closed back up, leaving just heated bars scattered among Yukino's now empty cell.
Everyone hit the ground hard, with Natsu being the cushion for all to thud down upon. Everyone tumbled off of him and sprawled onto the ground.
Natsu got up and rubbed his head. "Ow, what the heck happened?"
"My butt hurts." Lucy groaned.
Nic got up to his two feet. He tilted his head and the bones cracked, relieving him of pain. His little chiropractic therapy set, he realized skeletons, and an endless array of them, were scattered all around a green cavern. In front of them were two massive statues that led to the underground territory that was piled with skeletons.
"Another…graveyard?" Nic asked, slightly disturbed.
Vanessa looked around and looked at the skeleton sprawled nearby, the head dislocated out of place. She recoiled at the site and looked around nervously. "Wherever we are, it really is bad on our end."
"You are now in Hell Palace." A feminine voice told.
"What the…?" Natsu looked around. "Show yourself, coward!"
"You are in your last trap." The voice said.
"Last trap?" Happy parroted.
"Look around you." The voice continued. "Among you are the hundreds of criminals who have been sentenced to rot for their misdeeds. Escape is inevitable for you." The group turned around, where the image of a jade-haired woman with two guards looked menacingly at them. The princess's eyes were resolute. "Rot down here, you criminals!"
Natsu pointed at the screen. "Who are you?!"
"I am Hisui E. Fiore, the princess of the Fiore Kingdom." She answered.
"The princess of this palace?" Mira inquired.
"W-wait! We're not criminals!" Lucy reasoned.
"LET US OUT OF HERE!" Natsu bellowed to her. "You're gonna be sorry!"
Hisui's image was disconnected, leaving the screen to fade.
"The princess has us under a death penalty sort of speak." Lily confirmed.
Vanessa stepped around. "There doesn't seem to be an exit."
"Well she did say escape was inevitable." Yukino pointed out.
Nic looked up at the two statues looming overhead. They were like gargoyles that were gonna watch and enjoy their last breaths. This Hell Palace certainly lived up to the name. It was ugly, no other words could justify the grotesque nature and pungent odor. They had to get out of there, and fast.
Sophie walked through the narrow steer, free from any enemies for the time being. She had but one objective: To head to her designation that was the library. There was a certain someone there that she's been waiting to confront for the longest time, and it was high-time that came to fruition.
'I've been waiting years to make you see your faults.' She thought. 'I won't let you to forget this either…' She stepped inside of the library, where her foe was to be waiting. She approached the inside and past the doors. She made way down the dark hallway and into the light, where in the center of the cylindrical library was a lone man with a book in hand – Rufus.
Sophie stood there in silence as Rufus closed his book. "Ah, so you've found me."
"Well I remember First Master's orders and directions by the letter." She reasoned.
Rufus didn't even budge as his smirk was still on his face. "Must I recall you from somewhere?"
Sophie raised a brow. "Now is that really how you're supposed to treat family…cousin?"
The audience seeing and hearing the lacrima-vision got spooked by Sophie announcing their affiliation.
"Oh my goodness! It looks like we have ourselves a little family brawl amongst us!" Lola announced. "Two Memory-Makers are gonna make some noise in the library, and I'm sure they are not gonna turn their volume down!"
"I'm still shocked that they're cousins." Elfman sweat dropped.
Levy looked past Elfman and focused on First Master. "So First Master, did you plan this?"
Mavis retained a steady composure as she watched the lacrima-vision above her. "Not exactly, I doubt that this can be our favor."
"What are you saying?!" Warren exclaimed. "You mean that those two are neck and neck?"
"They both possess the same Magic, a Lost Magic that can make an infinite realm of new Magic. If Sophie makes one false creation, she'll lose." Mavis warned. "But, it is critical that she wins, even if it means defeating her own blood. Rufus is the key to our victory and Sabertooth's fall."
"I betcha Gray wasn't too thrilled." Max interjected.
First Master nodded in confirmation. "In a way, yes. However…"
The only ones left in the bar were Team Fairy Tail. Everyone else had left after Nic explained the strategy that Makarov agreed to, and so they went to get some early sleep for tomorrow's skirmish. However, First Master had to keep Team Fairy Tail with her to go over the strategy for the games, and her first point was Rufus Lore of Sabertooth.
"You serious?" Gray asked. "Rufus has to be taken down first?"
Mavis nodded. "Yes, indefinitely. Rufus has the ability to track us at all times. It'd be difficult for us to navigate knowing he'll be watching our every move with his perception, which is why we must strike him before pursuing the rest of Sabertooth."
Gray got his chance at payback. He stood up and looked at her dead in the eye. "Let me fight him! I owe him a good thrashing for what he did. He's gonna pay!"
Mavis, however, seemed to be thinking otherwise as her frown went to the ground. "According to my calculations, you're at significant disadvantage." It's not that she didn't have faith in Gray and his emotions, it's just that she's a calculative warrior and relied on her wits rather than will, for the most part.
A hand slammed down onto the table. Gray rebuffed yet again. "I don't give a crap!" He yelled to her. Mavis remained stoic in spite of Gray lashing out at her. "You know full well that I'm a proud member, so let me settle the score with him!"
A blonde blur whisked itself besides Gray. The Ice-Make Mage turned to see that Sophie was standing with no resolution to move. Her green orbs looked solemnly at him; not Erza, Gajeel, or Laxus. Just Gray.
"No." She said to him bluntly.
"What?" Gray asked, his eyes widening.
"You heard me, Gray, I said no." Sophie repeated. "If anyone's gonna fight Rufus, it's going to be me."
Gray stepped to the side and looked at Sophie, showing his opposition clearly. "I'm telling you, I can handle hi-!"
"Gray Fullbuster, you listen well because I am NOT repeating myself again!"
The whole room went silent as a grave. Gray felt like an inferno was before him, because he could only stare in sheer shock at the firm tone. Erza, Gajeel, even Laxus were wide-eyed. Never before had Sophie been so firm and demanding in her tone. She not only said Gray's full name, but she said it all with an aggressive viewpoint. She was beyond serious with what she had to say.
"Rufus is my cousin! My problem to straighten out! My responsibility! He's been a real sore in my family and I have to see to it that he learns that his Magic is not meant to be a discarding tool. Memories are supposed to leave you scarred, so you can learn from them, but he doesn't bother with that. It's my job as a fellow Memory-Make Mage to make him swallow his pride, and I am also doing it in favor as his cousin." She narrowed her eyes. "Now let me ask you, how many demands have I've given? This, I need to do…alone. This, is personal."
She had a point. Not only were they cousins, but fellow Memory-Make Mages share the same abilities more or less. Gray was still in shock from how Sophie just owned him. Never had she used the tone or reasons in such a manner. This was the first time she was resolute, and knowing her acting like this, she wasn't gonna take no for an answer.
Gray relented, and lowered his head. "…just get a good hit in for me."
Sophie nodded.
"Man, remind me not to get on her sassy side." Gajeel noted.
"Guess we now know the extent of how serious this feisty one is." Laxus pointed out.
Gray looked up at the lacrima-vision close by, seeing Sophie and Rufus in the library. He remembered the fire in her eyes last night, which he never saw before. It wasn't a grudge Sophie held for Rufus per se, but a matter left for her to settle nonetheless. He could relate with Lyon in a manner of speaking, so this was to be settled by her hands He ran off to find a target after seeing Sophie's green eyes set on Rufus.
Rufus stood up, placing the book in hand onto the stand right beside him. His smirk was like a confident composer's who had written a masterpiece with great reviews, a melody in which he would proudly present to his one-woman audience.
"Ladies first." He insisted.
Sophie stood with a stance, a finger at her forehead. "Very well, but I am not a haste-makes-waste kind of woman, if you remember correctly." A chain of memories began to flow from behind her. "Memory-Make: Pyro Saucer!"
Saucers made of fire were fired and raced through the air in the library. Rufus immediately jumped and dodged, leaving the chair he sat in to be reduce to a burning crisp and sectioned by the saucers. Rufus landed on the ground and seemed unfazed, his smirk unwavering.
"Memorized." He said.
Sophie kept a battle-ready stance. "Now, with the song comes the composure ready to instigate the chorus, as you would put it?" She asked, putting a manner of speaking to challenge Rufus to offer what he had to give.
Rufus snickered at his cousin's remarks. "Glad you see things my way. Memories are but a powerful weapon. After all, knowing is half the battle. Or in a Mage's case as for you and I, knowing is the entire battle." He reached his arm out. "Memory-Make: Shrine of Turbulent Fang!"
Rufus thus created several medium-sized twisters that blew through the library, throwing books into a whirlwind. The twisters honed in on Sophie as she extended her arm out. "Memory-Make: Scorn of the Armored Winds!"
In Sophie's case, she generated iron twisters of medium size as well. The heavy iron twisters raged like a maelstrom and clashed with Rufus's version. Sophie's heavier version of the attack made Rufus frown as the tempest backfired on him, forcing him to take precaution and backflip up to the balconies as the raging iron-like winds had everything beneath scattered at Sophie's feet.
"You're not the only one with an imagination, Rufus." Sophie reasoned. "I have memories that I hold dear."
Rufus's hat shielded his eyes, yet his grin returned. "How feeble-minded you are, Sophie."
"What?"
"Memory-Make is a powerful Maker Magic. It's a tool, not a mere treasure. Memories are a powerful weapon that you can use to turn one's Magic into your own. Whatever spells you don't find necessary, you can easily forget. That is what separates us." He put a finger to his forehead again and a chain of memories went around. "However, to understand, how's about I give you a preview. Memory-Make: Sword of Frozen Black Lightning!"
Rufus raised his arm overhead, summoning black lightning that struck down to the ground. Sophie dodged as the back lightning tailed her, making ice jut out from the ground. Sophie leaped back to gain some distance, where she put a foot back and had a finger to her forehead.
"I have that spell memorized." She said. "But now, forget!" The black lightning and ice suddenly vanished, leaving only wrecked ground. Rufus didn't seem at all fazed, as if he expected her to pull such a trick.
"My point exactly." He stated. "Memory-Make: Soaring Falcon's Red Dawn!"
A mass of black winds diverged with points looking like falcon heads. The attack streamed like a Pin Missile and Sophie covered up as the winds pushed her back. The heavy black winds made her lose sight of a red wave that followed. The red wave struck Sophie, strong enough to send her soaring and landing on her back with a booming thud.
"And Rufus has launched an array of Memory-Make attacks onto Sophie!" Lola commented. "How will Sophie respond? Can she even get up?"
"Come on, you got this." Makarov cheered anxiously.
"Memory-Make is pressuring Sophie's originality." Mavis said. "I doubt she can generate new Magic without seeing new ones in action."
Cana turned towards her, arm crossed underneath her buxom. "No offense First Master, but I've known Sophie way more than you." Cana had the upmost confidence with Sophie and her abilities. Since Dahlias, the two have really bonded to being super good friends, proving so during the Celestial Spirit incident. They're like an inseparable force, and both knew the other's capabilities. "Underestimating that girl is the last thing you want to do."
Sophie got up and got her feet underneath. Her finger pointed to her head again. "Memory-Make: Pyro Saucer!" Fire-like saucers were launched at Rufus, but he only chuckled.
"Cat and dog, back and forth. Forget." He announced. With his memory of Pyro Saucer forgotten, he nullified Sophie's Memory-Make by making it vanish into thin air, much like what Sophie did with his spell before.
Rufus snickered and jumped down from the balcony, landing without a fault in his footing. "Now you get it. There is a certain tune that must be followed. Whenever you wish to forget about something, it's not easy to rid of because it's a mental pain, but with this Magic, all is fresh as a flower. And now I bloom again! Memory-Make: Line of Ancient Master Swordsmen!"
Mavis's eyes widened. "No way, he combined Gray's Ice-Make…with Ancient Magic?"
"That can't be!" Makarov exclaimed.
Sophie found herself pinned by an army of soldiers made of ice. They all had lances and shields and looked a lot like Escavalier. Sophie looked around as they all closed in, jabbing their lances at her.
"Memory-Make: Firestorm Halberds!" She announced.
Raining down from above, Sophie summoned a shower of compressed fire shaped into halberds. They crashed down onto the battlefield, piercing and melting the army that Rufus had just created. A big cloud of humidity shrouded the ground, leaving Sophie unable to see her target.
"I know more than just a few spells that can lay waste in terms of fire." Sophie pointed out through a random direction through the humid cloud.
"So it would seem." Rufus's voice echoed. "However, I know more aggressive approaches. Take this for example."
A flash could be seen from Sophie's point of view. "Memory-Make: Blade of Flashing Lightning!"
Sophie stepped back as she felt what was a large presence. The humid cloud was suddenly blown away by a swing of what was a giant mounted in ice, wielding a weapon shrouded in black lightning. Before could make a move, the giant slammed his mighty weapon down onto her. The womanly blonde felt the bone crushing weapon crack the ground and her body had more than just a bruise or two.
"And Sophie was hit yet again by a bone-crushing force of Magic! Is she able to keep it up?!" Lola announced.
"Man, just how much power does this guys have?" Max wondered.
Makarov looked grim as Sophie ascertained more damage than Rufus. He turned towards First Master. "First Master, so are you sure this is the strategy Sophie is following?"
Mavis shook her head. "No, she's not following any strategy."
"What?"
"She's letting her emotions and experience be her guide. Sophie knew the risks, and she took them with no regrets. She wasn't gonna have this personal matter settled any other way."
As Gray looked back at the monitor, he grunted as Sophie was pounded and down on the ground. As much as he wanted to go back and help, and teach Rufus a thing or two, he knew better than to have the matter be settled by family itself. 'Sophie, don't make me doubt you.'
The blonde slowly got up, pain flaring in her bruises. She kept her focus set on Rufus as she made another chain of memories. "Memories can't just be for combat purposes."
"And so the flower refuses to wilt in the drought. How touching." Rufus gestured. He pointed fingers at his forehead again, making a chain of memories once more. "Then if you really want to insist, I'll be your requiem!"
"Mirrors of Cold Retribution!"
"Soaring Falcon's Red Dawn!"
Mirrors of ice materialized and fired dark green beams at Rufus, as to where the mentioned summoned black winds with ends shaped like falcon heads followed by a red wave. The attacks collided in the middle, generating a powerful explosion that could be seen from a distance along the city. The audience shriveled at the power wielded by the two as the explosion could even be felt from where they were.
When the smoke past, shelves were crumbling, and books were scattered about. Rufus stood a few paces away with his attire slightly tattered, the same with Sophie as she also covered up. Sophie brought her arm around, not wanting to give Rufus an edge. She had to make this next attack fast.
She spread her feet apart, using her Magic to mold darkness into a long arrow with spiraling ice chunks. "Piercing Frigid Darkness!"
She swiped her arms in opposite arcs, letting the massive arrow fly like a missile. It closed in with great accuracy.
What was off, however, was that Rufus was still smirking. It was like he could take it, which is when Sophie realized her mistake.
The arrow went straight through Rufus, continuing on and blasted the stairs behind him to shambles that erupted into smaller and reduced chunks. Ice layered the space that was the stairs, and the cold air was like a wave that was supposed to be a shivering dread, and yet Rufus didn't even budge. Instead, he vanished.
"An afterimage." Sophie groaned. "I should've known he'd use an evasive spell."
"Memorized."
Sophie looked up on the second floor balcony, where Rufus was sitting along the railing with his smirk on his face, his attire completely unhindered. "I must say, I must thank you, cousin. Because of your share of Memories, I've been able to experiment with all new spells. Though I do love myself a good catch-up with you, I'm afraid this isn't the time nor place."
His smirk grew insidious, something that made Sophie step away.
"I wonder, what would happen…" Sophie's circumference was blocked off by an array of spiraling streams of black winds that looked like thick masses of feathers. "If you combine God Slayer Magic, with a Unison Twin Dragon assault?"
"He wouldn't!" Makarov screamed.
"H-Hey! That's Chelia's move!" Jet stammered.
"And did he just say Twin Dragon's Unison Raid?!" Droy exclaimed.
"Sophie, get out of there! NOW!" Cana yelled to the lacrima monitor, despite how it was of no use.
Sophie had no way to escape. She was enclosed by the spiraling streams that would reduce her to ribbons if she ventured to close. 'He's got me trapped!' The floor beneath her spiraled with light and shadows, almost like a pool of light and dark swirling within the perimeter. She was gonna feel this one.
The whole library shook from the Magic Power being unleashed. It was beyond massive, and Rufus had it all at his disposal. "No hard feeling. Memory-Make: Holy God's Devine Judgment!"
A pillar of light and shadow fused together shot upwards, breaking through the ceiling of the library. The rupture cracked the walls, blocking out Sophie's screams of pain. The raging assault was so strong that the shockwaves broke the balcony railings Rufus sat on and he jumped down as the black feathers and light/shadow unison slowly dissipated.
Rufus turned around, tipping his hat down with a frown as Sophie hit the ground face down.
The audience gaped at the awe displayed. Some cheered for Rufus, some booed, and most felt a tinge of dread when Sophie wasn't moving. Fairy Tail shuddered as Sophie had taken the biggest toll ever, Elfman clenched his fists so hard the blood stopped circulating, Levy crossed her arms tightly, and Mavis lowered her head in shame.
"I do apologize cousin." Rufus said with a tinge of regret, his back still facing her. "I know you mean well…but alas you see the truth in this requiem's meaning."
Rufus began to walk away from the scene, his footsteps growing weaker and weaker.
"The song's not over."
Rufus suddenly recalled the voice and he turned around, shock overwhelming him as Sophie was on her hands and knees, slowly getting up. The audience gave out screams of joy as Sophie was still able to keep going on.
"She's up! Sophie is up!" Lola yelled, adrenaline getting to him. "Despite Rufus's efforts to defeat his cousin, Sophie remained conscious and able to keep going!"
Sophie stood on her two feet, using her thumb to wipe away the dirt from her lipstick and chin. Her makeup was the last thing she was worried about as of this moment. She'll find time to fix it, after she fixes her cousin.
"You! That's not possible!" Rufus shouted in desperation. "How can you still be active, even after that spell?!"
Sophie had a light shadow over her eyes. "…are you through with the crap you're trying to give?"
"What's this?"
"You don't know what I've felt throughout my life. You're just being a bookworm like you have been all your life. While you seclude yourself in spells and other reads, I enjoyed what was freedom, the key to the full extent of Memory-Make. I joined Fairy Tail. I went on adventures. All the good and bad I never had forgotten, not even once, because that's what made me who I am today. No amount of pain or fear you dish out can compare to what I had went through!" Her eyelids shut and began wincing. "I saw all evils dished out on Nic. I battled against so many formidable foes. I went to places I never even dreamed of. I lost a valuable friend one day…" Her eyelids opened up again, the fire burning brighter than ever. "That is what I refuse to forget for as long as I live."
Rufus still had his frown, taking a step back. "So, you allow your emotions to be integrated into your Magic, thinking it'll give you strength, huh? Well then, show me!" A chain of memories erupted, and a sphere of hot waves expanded out from him. Around Sophie was a bunch of rock that prodded up from nowhere. "Memory-Make: Karma of the Burning Land!"
A pierce hot explosion rattled beneath Sophie, engulfing her in a field of molten flames. The area around her was cindering, and Rufus held onto his hat as the hot winds raced past him. He watched the attack fade, but only saw that Sophie wasn't there.
"What? She memorized my afterimage?!" He exclaimed.
"Firestorm Halberds!"
Rufus looked up as raging hot halberds made solemnly of fire. Rufus covered up as the halberds crashed down, making explosions of fire erupt and quake the library yet again. The floor was layered in ashes from cindered books and binders stocked full of content now gone. Rufus reared back as he got to a knee after being consumed in the halberd flame explosion.
Sophie dropped down from out of the blue, landing in front of Rufus ten feet away. "I've been molten land before, powerful enough to reshape the world. You can't compare to that with those flames."
Rufus got back to his feet. "And how are you proving your point? We're still even, cousin. What about your memories? Are they truly that powerful?"
Sophie spread her feet apart and put her arms out. The fire she had was fierce, and she glared at Rufus, enough to make him recoil. "How's about I show you."
A sudden shift in pressure loomed in the atmosphere. Rufus felt what was an immense wave of Magic Power, and it was extreme. It was enough to make him almost stumble back. ''Dear lord, what is this Magic pressure?' He looked as Sophie's hair shifted about, her eyes showing that mad fire. 'This is how much Magic Power she's been wielding all this time? I don't recall so much before!'
Sophie made another chain of memories, which continuously expanded out and around her. Rufus could feel so much intensity from the elongated chain, and it kept on growing until it was like a small tornado. The chains of memories seemed to be infinite, and ever so expanding and spiraling faster and faster. The more she remembered, the more she recalled Fairy Tail, the more she poured her blood, sweat, and tears, the more power and speed the tornado of memory chains received. As the chains became solid, Sophie kept her focus on Rufus and his shocked expression.
"W-what sorcery is this…?" Rufus was actually beginning to see the memories become visions along the chains. The audience was in awe as Sophie's memories were visible, and with it came the emotions. Flashing randomly were images of her joining Fairy Tail, battling against Racer, and the bone-shrilling torture of Nic getting gutted by Lysandre in Kalos. Then came the painful battle where she was defeated by Azuma, the painful final shot being seen, then came Nic's right side getting torn, the horrors and pain never ended, and Rufus even felt the bitter frustration and despair when he saw an image of Pavo's death, and Sophie defeating Apus. All of those memories flooded at once, and Rufus's own memory just couldn't keep up. She had so many emotional memories of sadness and tears, joy and relief, guilt and anguish, everything.
"I'll forget it all!" He announced. He pointed his fingers at his forehead and his eyes widened. However, the memories didn't disappear. "What?!"
"You can't forget these! These are my memories! The burdens and pain that you always try to forget are what I always hold onto!" Sophie bellowed through the raging tempest. "And now you learn those emotions through the experience of my memories!"
Sophie spun around and let out a cry. Rufus felt the emotional memories whisk him up.
"Memoir Hysteria!"
Rufus screamed in violent agony and pain as Sophie memories hit him all at once. The spiraling tempest of memories smashed straight through the ceiling, rattling the entire library, engulfing it in a bright flash. A massive rupture made light and smoke explode, being seen from afar. The rattling and quaking caught everyone's attention, and they all turned to look at the nearby lacrima-vision monitors to see what happened.
Sophie stood with eyes closed, facing away as Rufus's hat floated down to her, where she caught it with one hand and smirked. She put the hat on and tipped it, covering her eyes as Rufus fell to the ground, surprisingly clean from the debris of the destroyed library.
Fairy Tail cheered in glee over that astounding display. They never saw anything like it in person. The crowd whistled at Sophie's display, as for her looks with the hat. She winked at the monitors, making a few groups of men fall over.
"And Sophie takes a memento from her cousin! Fairy Tail wins, and Rufus is down!" Lola announced. "That brings Fairy Tail to 51 points! It looks like Sophie won the Memory-Make showdown!"
"I-I can't believe Rufus lost!" Mato exclaimed in disbelief.
Yajima nodded with a smile. "What an amazing battle."
As Sophie exited the library doors, which were still intact, Gray looked through the monitors and smirked. He had it right to give her a chance, and it all worked out. Seeing Rufus getting owned by his own Magic was the best treat he had all day. He turned away and resumed his trek.
"Now that's our girl!" Cana cheered.
"Wait a go!" Lisanna cheered.
Elfman raised his fists overhead. "Alright Sophie! Way to show them how manly you are!"
"Well First Master, looks like it was best to put Sophie in favor over calculations." Makarov said.
Mavis had a placid grin and nodded. "Sophie's inner strength resonated with her emotions. She could channel the pain from the past and bring that memory to life. The Lost Magic that gives one to bring memories to reality, a creation of endless emotions to test another. Sophie has made us proud."
Makarov's happy expression turned serious again, changing the mood to what was the real focus. "Everyone's strength must be superior in order to overcome this. For Nic and his group as well, the battle has just begun. Let us bring Fairy Tail to victory!"
Elsewhere, 'Minerva' smirked. "So, Rufus has been defeated. What an interesting turn of events." She continued walking on. "Let's see how this goes. Will we remain as predators, or become the prey?"
Hell Palace was immense. As the group traveled through the underground cell of doom, time seemed to be moving rather fast. It felt like forever for the guys as they trekked, with Natsu's nose being the guide. Sadly they only seemed to have gotten more lost.
"I think we've been here before." Yukino said, referring to the statue on her right.
"Huh? Hey Natsu, your sniffer's leading us in a big circle!" Happy pointed out.
Natsu looked over and looked at the statue. "Heh? Oh crap!" He stomped on the ground as his teeth gritted. "This sucks! My nose gots nothing down here!"
"Maybe we should let Nic take the ropes on this one." Mira suggested.
"Yeah, good idea!" Lucy agreed. "His powers with that Earth Form should really help us!"
Natsu crossed his arms and grunted. "Could've done that sooner ya know."
Vanessa shook her head. "We tried, but you absolutely insisted you knew the way." She repeated.
Nic stepped forward in front of everyone. Glowing a bright light and transforming into his Earth Plate Form. "This will only take a moment."
He took a deep breath and exhaled, calming his senses. He lifted his left foot up and closed his eyes. With everyone having expectations o be met, he knew he had to find the exit. He stomped on the ground lightly, and invisible ripples went through the ground at speeds that were ecstatic. The radar was similar to echolocation, as Nic could sense the entire area around him, and he saw what was large entrance points off near the north.
Nic opened his eyes and looked towards his right. "That way."
"That's our champ!" Happy cheered.
"Well I hope it works." Wendy hoped.
Nic took careful steps ahead. "Wendy, I've been active in my Earth Plate in the training dimension for an extensive period of time. I know what I'm do…ing…?" Nic was taking steps forward when he stopped. Something was wrong. He lowered to the ground, taking what almost seemed to be a running stance. "Wait a minute." He said. His eyes shut again, the Earth Plate Form getting more feedback. "We're not alone."
"You mean someone's down here with us?" Carla questioned.
"But I thought it was just us." Happy figured.
"Whatever Nic's sensing, we can't leave it be. Maybe it's someone who needs to get out just like the rest of us?" Vanessa said.
"Let's just take precaution when we go on ahead." Yukino asked.
The group headed on with Nic as the leader. However, as they departed for the exit and the force nearby, a flower bloomed and opened up, revealing an eyeball, zooming in on the group as they walked away.
In another enclosed location in Hell Palace, several figures were shrouded. One with long, pink hair held her hand up, where a flower bloomed and the middle was a glass orb, showing Nic's group walking off. The holder of the flower chuckled at the large group before her.
"Beautiful." She singed. "Wilted flowers that are such an easy prey."
Another female figure had a purple attire with darker, less wild hair. She seemed more at ease than the other. "Not let's not get ourselves carried away. I get something off from that leader figure. He knows where the exit is. You can imagine what skill it takes to handle such power."
A larger fellow with a bottle held with purple liquid snickered. "Guess that fella be them heavy-carrier."
"Shall we target him first?" The second woman asked the shrouded leader with scythes crossed that had hand structures on the ends that made a prayer.
"Now hold on just that minute!" Another man, more vacation-looking with black hair in a ponytail and a red shirt stammered. "Them other fish be our catch as well! The whopper's got them guppies all tidied up, so we as well haul them in too!"
"Uosuke is right." Kama said, his deep voice shrouded by the mask he wore. "Their judgment must not be waited. We strike them down at once. Garou Knights, do not hesitate, and let their sentence be unleashed! Go!"
Nic's group made way through the area and got to a point where the area seemed different compared to when Natsu led them earlier. They looked around to see more rock than before, and the area seemed to divert more to an open terrain full of cliffs.
"I think we're getting somewhere." Happy said.
"About time. We better find something to eat while we're at it. I'm starving." Natsu commented, holding his stomach as it grumbled like a growling dragon ready to feast.
"I know you have such a pitiful appetite, but could stop thinking with just your stomach for five minutes?"
Natsu stopped in his tracks all of a sudden, his eyes widening. "Hold on a second." He began to sniff the air. Something seemed wrong, just like what Nic said from before. There was another presence among them, but this smell he was picking up, it wasn't new by any means. "What's that smell?"
Vanessa looked a little surprised as she looked ahead. Like her brother, Vanessa was getting an aura of pain. It was close, but not faint. Whoever was down here was not only close, but was in anguish. At least from the appeal of the aura that it was similar with what Natsu said.
"Yeah, I sense something up ahead as well." Vanessa said.
"Look! Dead ahead!" Lily pointed out.
Everyone followed his eyes and looked down below the low cliffs. Who was down there was someone they never had expected, not in the slightest. Lying on his back with bruises and tattered regular clothing was something they got acquainted with from before, more specifically last night. Arcadios.
"Arcadios?" Yukino gasped.
"Is he okay?" Wendy worried.
"Just what did this?" Nic questioned. He slid down the cliff side with the others, reaching Arcadios and tending to his wounds. He looked beaten up, but the question was who did such a thing. "Are you alright?"
"Wakey, wakeys." Natsu said.
"He took an odd place to have a catnap." Happy said. He took a moment to look around for any reasons why this happened. "Does anybody know what just happened?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out." Carla belittled him.
Arcadios's shoulders were being treated by Wendy's Magic. He felt a little of his strength return, but only enough for his eyes to open. His blurry vision cleared out to see Nic's group treating him. His eyes suddenly widened at the realization dealt with.
"You guys." Arcadios grunted.
"Arcadios." Yukino said.
"Stay still, you're not fully recovered yet." Mira warned him, asking him to relax.
Arcadios looked at Nic, seeing the eyes of a battle-ready warrior, yet someone who would stick to something to the bitter end. However, what Arcadios was about to say will not be what anyone had expected.
"…run."
"What's that?" Natsu wondered.
Nic had a bizarre look, but when he felt something looming behind. He took action almost immediately. "Everyone get away!" He yelled. Nic pivoted and shifted into his Iron Plate Form. Without a second to spare, he crossed both arms and blocked an acid-filled punch.
"SPLOOSH!" The hulking man bellowed.
Everyone jumped away as acid spilled from bouncing off Nic. They all retreated away with extra caution as the acid sizzled and ate at the ground, creating baseball-sized craters.
Lucy looked down at the ground in shock. "Whoa! Acid?!"
"That would've burnt my skin off!" Wendy shuddered.
The hulking guy had the bottle of liquid in his mouth as though it was like a cigar. He raised a brow as Nic's iron-hard muscles were sizzling, but the attire nor any part of him was burning away. He was initially shocked, and Nic swatted his arms, causing the Acid Magic user to slide back several feet.
Nic stepped forward, his shoes sliding into a combative stance. 'Acid is like Poison, so I was safe, but that acid is strong.' His eyes diverted to purple paper flying through the air, spiraling and converging to the man's side. "We seem to have an obstacle amongst us." He said.
The purple paper turned into a smirking woman. A sudden green mass appeared right beside her and a large carnivorous plant opened up, revealing a woman inside, smirking as well. Stepping out from the shadows was Kama and Uosuke, all of them gathered and ready to take action.
"Who are they?" Mira asked.
"Are they…?" Yukino looked worried as she seemed on edge from the opposing presence.
Nic kept his gaze set on the opponents. "Yeah, they must be the ones responsible for Arcadios's condition."
Arcadios grunted as he tried sitting up. "Get out of here. You're all in serious danger." He warned through his pain.
"And why's that?" Natsu questioned.
"Garou Knights, commence operation 1,500." Kama initiated.
"The hidden forces of the Fiore Kingdom. Those who live amongst us and serve us to rid of the wrong-doers. Bloodthirsty executioners who show no mercy to their prey." Arcadios shuddered. "The knights that kill off all criminals down here – The Garou Knights!"
"Garou…Knights?" Lucy asked.
"They don't look the part, but if the rumors are true, we're in the presence of top-class Royal Executioners." Yukino informed.
"Is this the reason no one has ever escaped?" Vanessa questioned.
"By the authority granted to us by the Kingdom of Fiore, the Garou Knights sentence you to death." Kama ordered.
Everyone had a subtle stare down, a grim force against one another. However that didn't last long when Natsu suddenly broke out into a laugh, catching everyone by surprise. He laughed uproariously and pointed at them, unable to contain himself.
"Uh, Natsu?" Lucy warned. "This isn't exactly the time to go crazy."
"Sorry!" He wheezed. "But you can't blame me, just look at them! Especially that one!" He pointed to Uosuke, who felt offended by Natsu's remark.
Mira tilted her head to the side. "Well now that you mention it, you do have a point, Natsu." She said. "It is a little digressive."
"Hauling armors ain't how we work, hotstuff." Uosuke informed. "We're an undercover squad, so we can't be getting' attention it no needed."
Nic looked behind. "Lucy, Yukino, take Arcadios and get to safety, we'll buy some time." Nic ordered.
Although they were rather reluctant, the Celestial Mages saw his point. Without their Spirit Keys, they're no match and are vulnerable. They didn't hesitate as Happy and Carla joined up with them, leaving Natsu, Vanessa, Nic, Mira, Wendy, and Lily, who transformed, to ready for battle.
"What are they doing?" Arcadios questioned. "Suicide?"
"Don't worry." Lucy said. She looked back at Nic and Natsu one more time, seeing the backs of their heads with their fists clenched. "Don't underestimate Natsu, and Nic's fought far worse than what you can ever dream of."
"Everyone, ready yourselves!" Nic shouted.
The girl with pink hair walked ahead a step raising her arm. "Allow me to make them beautiful. I, Cosmos, will make it so!" She pushed her arm out, and vines began to gather around everyone.
Kamika waved her arms, sending purple paper at them. "Let's see how you like these!" She waves her arms around and at Nic and friends.
Nic spread his arms out and light gathered at his mouth. His eyes were set on the papers gathering around. "Flash Cannon!" He let loose a beam of shining light and moved his head all around, blasting and obliterating the papers.
Lily jumped and lengthened his Musica Sword. "I've been waiting for a chance like this! HRAH!" In one fell swipe, he cut down the vines that were about to rain down onto them.
"Hey there, big kitty!" The hulking man exclaimed. "SPLOOSH!" He slugged a punch infused with purple acid. Lily blocked with his sword and the shock from the Acid Magic reached the ground, creating cindered waves.
Lily shot back from the attack and slid along the ground, keeping his feet from touching the sizzling trails in the earth. 'That acid is menacing.'
Mira glowed, shifting into her Take-Over: Sitri. The Magic Power she had a was immense, and she generated a dark sphere and fired beams from it. The attacks raged on, and Kamika make gray paper materialize and become a shield. Even so, the attack was brutal enough to shoot her back a few feet.
"Heavy Slam!" Nic shouted. He was outlined in yellow and he lunged straight ahead with all weight upfront. Kama grabbed his two scythes and looked calm.
"Very well." He sliced at Nic, but to his shock, Nic's iron-like body wasn't fazed. He stood there, blocking the scythe. "Inconceivable!"
"Don't doubt the power of Pokémon! HRAH!" Nic slugged a Heavy Slam punch right into Kama's gut, making him gag and shoot back and slide into the earth, making a massive trail in which Kama slowly got up from, albeit shaken badly.
"So much…power." Kama remarked. "This force is more than just Magic! Garou Knights, fasten the hunt!"
Cosmos swiped her arm. Making more vines erupt from around Wendy and Vanessa, who both were back to back. Both the Aura Magic and Sky Dragon Slayer looked at the numerous vines all around. Vanessa made a quick move by creating a dome of teal aura.
"Aura Guard!" She shouted. The vines all went and attacked the dome, but they all bounced right off. Vanessa looked down, feeling more energy arise. "Down beneath!"
She and Wendy both dodged what was a giant carnivorous plant that snapped up its mouth. The two landed on the ground, but they only ended up being snared by the vines set by the plant, much to their astonishment.
Comsos snickered. "Don't worry, my lovely beauties." She assured. "A nice meal for my plants and you'll be reborn into beautiful flowers."
Vanessa and Wendy were hung overhead, upside down. Both girls found themselves incapacitated and slowly hauled down to the open mouth.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes. 'I gotta think! Maybe…' Her eyes widened at her epiphany. 'Yeah, Flying against Grass!' She turned towards Wendy. "Wendy, blow a roar!"
Wendy nodded and aimed her head straight into the mouth. "Sky Dragon's Roar!" She blasted a tornado straight down, the strong turbulence generating an impact so strong that it shredded it the mouth, leaving bits and fragments remaining.
Both girls fell, but Vanessa and Wendy straightened out. Vanessa fired a teal beam of aura from her hands. "Emanation Beam!" Her attack was shot and Cosmos jumped away, evading a beam that caused a teal explosion.
Natsu jumped high into the air, seeing the melee down below. His smirk was wide. "Alright! Let's kick this to eleven!" He generated more fire, creating a huge fireball that caught everyone's attention. They all looked up as a flaming brightness was coming down onto them, and Nic and the others were more than a little shocked.
"Natsu! Natsu!" Lucy shouted.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
"NATSU!" Nic and Vanessa screamed.
A flaming explosion erupted, engulfing everything in a vicious explosion. The area rattled immensely, letting loose a shockwave that caused what was a catastrophic turbulence. Everyone covered up as everything went black.
And there's that. I added my flavor of uniqueness this chapter, like I did with the Edolas Arc and Phantom Lord Arc; I omitted a few canon bits since you all got the idea, and rather made more appealing parts. Hope Sophie against Rufus was intriguing. I got lazy with the Garou Knights, so if it looked OP and brief, it's because I don't find them too big to write about since it's so long in my opinion, plus I can always make a few good battles next chapter with one or two members seen against them.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys enjoy the memorable battle of Sophie among other parts of the read!
Next Time: Garden of Turbulence