Chapter 80 – War
Okay, so I admit that the recent chapters have been boring, and that's supposedly because I've been following the canon a majority of the way. However, after the Grand Magic Games end, that's when things get serious. After this chapter, mayhem shall break loose, and you'll see what I mean soon enough. Thanks for following me for 80 chapters, so here it goes!
To Recap:
Erza and Kagura are forced to battle to get to Minerva, in which the two realized they knew the other from their childhood, and that Kagura was Simon's little sister. Erza manages to defeat her at the cost of a broken leg, and is mortally shocked when Kagura was stabbed by Minerva and sets Millianna free, but the feline was defeated and brutally tortured by the possessed Minerva, sending Erza into a rage. Gray is met up with Sophie as they team up to take on Lyon and Chelia. Orga and Laxus briefly confront until Jura intervenes. Gajeel and Rogue fight, and Rogue gets possessed by a 'shadow', backing Gajeel into a corner until he eats the shadows and becomes an Iron Shadow Dragon, overwhelming Rogue and forcing 'shadow' to retreat. Elsewhere, the Future Nic and Lucy take the others to another part of the castle, where Future Lucy tells the terrible truth of the future of 10,000 Dragons and how only a handful survived; however, only Future Lucy spoke of the tale, leaving Future Nic's side a mystery. They make it to a hall, where Arcadios was found missing and they had to fend against the Rune Knights.
Chapter 80 – War
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
"Regulus Impact!"
In consecutive fashion, Natsu and Loke blasted fire and light at their foes, falling and sending Rune Knights soaring and incapacitated. Still, hundreds, perhaps countless, reinforcements comprised of Rune Knights kept pushing forward. It was a wager of Magic against numbers, and with every spell used, Mira, Wendy, Vanessa, and everyone else were getting depleted.
Vanessa blasted a group with teal aura, incapacitating them. After firing, she felt ware in her body due to Magic loss. 'I used too much against Cosmos.' She grunted. Men were starting to run up to her again, and she snapped back upfront to move her arm in an arc, sending another wave of teal aura that knocked them down like bowling pins.
'I gotta get help…' Vanessa pulled out a Poke Ball and tossed it up into the air, much to everyone's confusion. "Magnezone, come out!"
The Poke Ball opened up, revealing Vanessa's Magnezone. The large magnet-like creature startled the knights, but Magnezone paid no heed to their shock.
"Vanessa, I am ready." Magnezone assured.
Vanessa nodded in understanding and extended her arm forward. "Mirror Shot!"
Magnezone obeyed dutifully and his body emanated a rippling light blue aura that concentrated into an orb in front of his body. He fired the Steel-Type move into a bunch of knights at once, knocking them all away.
"What is that thing?!" One knight stammered.
"I don't know, but keep charging! For our kingdom!" Another knight shouted, leading others in tow.
Vanessa swiped her arm again. "Magnezone! Spark!"
Magnezone was floating right in front of her, hearing his trainer's call. "Don't worry. I'll hold them off until you get your energy back!" His body sparked and crackled until he was within a field of electricity. "Have at me!" He charged right in, his electrified form electrocuting knights as he passed on through.
Wendy was in her own battle. "Sky Dragon's Roar!" She blasted knights and sent them in a massive whirlwind, blasting them far off elsewhere.
Pisces and Virgo were holding up the lines for the knights well with power and size on their side. Lily provided cover for the Future Lucy and present Lucy, and elsewhere, two certain individuals were causing a crazy maelstrom.
Future Nic, pivoted, unleashing a cyclone of leaves and green wind that was his Leaf Tornado that expanded outwards, causing the nearby windows to shatter open once more. Knights incapacitated fell onto more knights incoming, and as the reinforcements ran up to attack from behind, Future Nic turned around towards them with a glare that caught them stiff and immobile.
"Leaf Blade!" Future Nic's forearms sharpened and became green blades. In one fell swipe, he cut down the massive row in front.
"Shadow Claw!" Nic speed like a bullet, his feet leaving and hitting the ground like a top-speed Heliolisk. He jumped and spun in midair, kicking down knights in the face and slashing his black aura claws for a greater range. Simultaneously, the knights fell like toppling buildings as both Nics sped further with their immense speed, blindsiding many soldiers and using their reflexes to dodge, evade, and jump onto weapons and knee strike, upside-sown spiral kick, and uppercut foes. Through their advances, not a single fault was in their execution.
Both Nics were seen back to back as Rune Knights were backing up from them. Thye never anticipated such raw power and skill. "This is starting to get tedious." Nic said. "Let's knock them down with full force."
Future Nic pulled out his Poke Balls. "I couldn't agree more. Time isn't on our side."
"What?"
"…" Future Nic kept his eyes on the enemy. "I'll explain later. Let's handle these guys as a priority!"
Though skeptical, Nic kept a mental note to be wary. He knew this army they were against has massive numbers, and so they had to deal with them. Understanding, Nic pulled out his Poke Balls.
All the Rune Knights went blind when a flash of light came when the Poke Balls were thrown. The next second, they were all suddenly blown away, crashing into walls and rattling the entire hall, making ripples through the earth.
"We haven't got time to deal with you!" Nic declared, his Pokémon all out.
"Because we've got a future to reshape!" Future Nic added on, his Pokémon out.
Together, their intimidating presence of fourteen left everyone to wait for the pain to come.
Having left the group, Arcadios was in an undisclosed area. His tattered clothes were no longer adorned, and instead a wardrobe was comprised of a white armored helmet with yellow hair. He put the helmet on last, over his white armor. His gauntlets were secured and his yellow cape had an intricate insignia. If you saw him before yourself, you'd see a battle-ready white knight, who had a menacing demeanor set on his foes.
The large doors to the chamber opened, and Arcadios stepped out. The white armor clanged with each step taken, echoing down the hall of knights stationed.
They looked to where Arcadios was walking down the hallway, stoic and gave off a demeanor that left them spooked.
"Is that…?" One knight started.
"Kernel Arcadios?! But I thought…?" Another knight trailed off.
Another knight recognized the armor as Arcadios was advancing. "Wait, that armor. Is that the battle armor? The White Lily Armor?!"
Arcadios stopped in front of a knight, staring him in the face. "Where is the Princess?" He demanded, slowly as his eyes moved around and looked at the intimidated knights beneath him. "I'm ordering you."
"S-sir! She's on the top floor!" A knight spatted.
Arcadios walked pass them all, leaving them bewildered and confused. He walked down the hall, his mind in heavy contemplation. 'I know for a fact something isn't right.' His mind flashed back to Hisui's explanation of Eclipse 2, and then skipped to the conversation Future Lucy had with her group. 'Those tears shed by that girl, they were no way belonging to a liar. If anyone is not being honest, it's the Princess.'
Laxus and Orga stared at Jura as they felt the Magic Power resonating at a very brutal level, enough to show Orga looking uneasy, as to where Laxus was looking calmer than the God Slayer, but the Thunder God Tribe could see how nervous he was.
"The Thunder God Tribe's got your back, Laxus! We have 100 percent faith in you!" Freed yelled.
"I've never seen him so on edge before." Evergreen noted. "The only other time, was Nic against Lysandre."
Master Obaba had a smirk as her arms went in circles. "Hehehe, Lamia Scale won the second Jura was picked to participate in the games."
"Rawr! This ain't fair!" Toby barked, having been knocked out near the beginning.
"Quiet! I'll spin you!" Obaba barked. Spinning her finger in circles, Toby's eyes got dizzy spirals and spun so fast that his whole world didn't even have any direction to it.
Jura stood between Laxus and Orga, grinning. His presence was still overwhelming, and yet Orga got a sneer on his face. "Alright, I'm up for this." He gestured for Jura to come at him. He then joined his hands, where black lightning was surging. Thunder and crackling could be heard loud and clear. "I've been wanting someone like you to join the party."
"Oh?" Jura rhetorically inquired.
"Let's see if you have the stones to back up your title. I have to wonder if you got the stones to stop a God Slayer? Are you up for it?" Orga challenged. "You can walk away right now."
Jura seemed quite calm. "Very well. I accept."
"Looks like we got ourselves a battle pitting Jura against Orga folks! Who will be proven stronger; God Slayer, or Wizard Saint?" Lola riled up the crowd further.
"Here it goes!" Orga yelled. "Lightning God's Charged Particle Cannon!" He exerted what was a massive voltage of pure black lightning. The attack raced on ahead, and in half a second, everything went to being ripped to sunder.
Laxus gawked at the speed of what happened. Thunder boomed throughout the vicinity and the black lightning began dissipating, but the attack vaporized only the top of a building, leaving a hole right through it. As to where the reason being was Jura face palmed Orga into the ground, making the earth quake with vibrant force. Everyone had no pupils as they were at a loss at how fast and mighty that one blow was.
The dust settled, and all were feeling dread as they saw Jura's monstrous stance, palm out as Orga was in a crater, unconscious. "I remember you now." Jura said. "You fought on the first day…that ended with one blow as well."
The audience soon broke into a cheer for Jura getting Lamia Scale to 50 points. "And now we all see why Jura is a Wizard Saint!" Lola said.
Makarov's mouth gaped open, startled. "He's screwed!"
"Master!" Evergreen chided. "You've gotta have faith in Laxus!"
"Laxus! You can win!" Freed cheered.
"C'mon buddy!" Bickslow shouted. At this point, any and all cheering could be useful, as the lacrima-vision zoomed in on Laxus as his face contorted with uneasiness as Jura's attention went towards him.
"And then there's you." Jura told him.
Obaba couldn't help but snicker in excitement. "Makarov, you fool, this is over for you. While you were gone over these seven years, Jura's Wizard Saint ranking became the 5th. He is now the human Wizard Saint." She paused. "I dare say only but a few words of those above him, those that are labeled the 'Ishgar 4'. They can't be human because of their almighty god-like powers. Lamia Scale's won."
"Jura Neekis, the one that's been giving me the most anxiety." Mavis said. "All we can do for Laxus…is pray for the best."
Jura took a few paces forward. "I was hoping to spar with Makarov's grandson…"
"Okay, you can put the brakes on right there." Laxus rebuffed. "You can forget about being called a Wizard Saint, and who I'm related to. As far as you and I are concerned, we're just two men." Laxus's massive coat dropped to the ground, lightning crackling around him. His gaze intensified.
Jura returned the gaze. "So be it!"
A long, harsh breeze went past the two. A vibrant and heavy anticipation went into the atmosphere until some leaves shifted in between the two. Laxus was engulfed in lightning and he sped like a rocket into Jura, thunder booming as he moved swiftly. His roar bellowed like a dragon's ore thunder roaring.
However, Jura silenced the raging beast by a chop to the back. Laxus felt an intense shock drive him into the pavement beneath, shattering it and leaving a crater his size. A gag was heard from him, and Jura kept a smirk.
Everyone watching was left without words. The Thunder God Tribe hung their mouths open, Makarov despaired, Obaba sneered, and Lola and the other commentators gawk in disbelief.
"L-Laxus's lightning was struck." Lola said, still traumatized by the shocking display.
"I don't know what to say." Yajima mumbled.
Mato's shock was equal. "He stole his thunder."
Jura looked down at the crater as Laxus's head was facing dirt. He seemed unfazed as Laxus seemed unmoved. "In this world, someone's stronger than you."
"…yeah."
Jura's eyes widened when Laxus began to move. He was slumped forward and yet his gaze was menacingly up at Jura.
"But what you've seemed to have forgotten…is to pay attention…TO WHO'S AT YOUR FEET!"
Laxus cloaked in lightning and unleashed a devastating uppercut to Jura's chin, sending him flying backwards. The audience awed while Obaba was gaping her mouth in disbelief. She never expected this, and the Thunder God Tribe was overjoyed with excitement, especially Freed.
Jura smirked with adrenaline as he skidded back to a halt. He flung his huge black coat into the winds, finally getting serious. Jura got his footing back and made hand signs with his fingers. Underneath Laxus, a large, flat rock shot up from beneath, sending him into the air.
Laxus steadied himself and got a clear shot at Jura. A massive abundance of lightning gathered in his right hand and made a halberd. "Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd!" He fired the halberd at Jura.
"Talus!" Jura summoned rock pillars from the earth that shielded him. The rock pillars blocked the lightning halberd, generating a harsh explosion of crumbling rock and lightning that roared like thunder.
Through the dust that was like a massive cloud, Laxus cloaked in lightning and he zoomed right through. He dealt a blow to Jura's forearm, which was so hard that Laxus's attack bounced off. Jura put two fingers up and he summoned rock pillars again, making Laxus weary as he was forced to back away from one appearing beneath; however, he made use of the rock pillars and began bouncing off of them and went after Jura again with a draconic roar of thunder.
Jura let out a harsh cry as he viciously dealt Laxus's head with a palm strike. Laxus was seen on his feet still and dealt a massive fist to Jura's face, in which Jura smirked at. The Wizard Saint blocked Laxus's arm swing and kick in consecutive manner, and then dealt a massive punch to Laxus's cheek, sending him into the ground again.
The audience was thrilled beyond words as they saw Laxus go head to head with Jura.
"No way! Laxus is on par with one of the Ten Wizard Saints?!"
"Well he did take out all of Raven Tail in front of our eyes with one blow each."
Makarov's eyes were wide as he watched the screen overhead, watching his grandson get back up. Seeing him against someone perhaps his level was what was so staggering. "Laxus…"
"Are you surprised? He is your grandson after all." Mavis smiled. "All of your children are gifted and talented in their own ways. They've grown so much."
Laxus brought an arm back with a savage roar. The arm cloaked in lightning and he punched the ground. A shockwave mixed with lightning raged in the cracks, blinding Jura with raging thunder booming his ears and static flying. Even so, there was a massively happy look as he slid back.
"I'm so excited!" He admitted. "I haven't felt this alive in years!"
Laxus's lightning seemed exhausted as small static was around his body. He huffed and panted. "The rumors are true, go are a monster. Geez." He caught his breath, and his eyes closed. 'Come on, think. What would Natsu say, or what would Nic do…?'
The inspiration came and Laxus got a smirk on his face. Lightning crackled in his left fist as he looked at Jura. "I'm fired up."
"Indeed. May the better man be left standing when this is all over!" Jura yelled.
In another part nearby, another exhilarating battle was unfolding. The dust brewed and shifted, revealing Lyon and Gray in stances against the other. Both seemed to have a few scratched on their bodies, but that didn't deter them from beating the other and showing who was at the top in their rivalry.
"Try this, Gray!" Lyon fired a lot of eagles make of ice that soared after Gray. As his attack was sailing after Gray, a sudden array of Pyro Saucers spun in and sliced into the eagles, leaving nothing but sparkles in front of a grinning Gray.
"Nice save, Sophie." Gray thanked.
Sophie nodded nearby, where she turned back towards Chelia as she lashed her arms at her. Sophie made a chain of memories that surrounded her. "Memory-Make: Jagged Barrier!" A huge slab of thick rock arose in front with tons of sharp ice spikes. The large and wide barrier shielded Sophie from the strong winds and deflected them elsewhere. When the barrier was lifted, Sophie has seen with a straight glare at Chelia. "Your God Slayer Magic's powerful, but I memorized it."
Chelia smirked. "So it would seem, but I'm winning this to get Lyon's heart!"
Sophie raised a brow. "What?"
In the stands, Juvia was using every nerve to refrain from banging her head against the balcony, with help of Cana and Levy spotting her. "My darling and I should be as one! Why must Sophie be robbing my love away from me?! Gray, you win this! Because our love shall give you strength, and not by that blonde right there!"
"Uh…" Cana and the others despondently stared at Juvia's love-crazy antics, and only resorted to diverting their attention back towards the battle.
Lyon glared at Gray. "Now Gray, for my live, I shall take you down right here!" He put his arms up overhead and a large, spiraling serpent arched overhead. "Ice-Make: Water Serpent!" His attack was successful as it struck Gray, sending him sliding back with ice all over his body from the serpent attack.
"Gray!" Sophie made a chain of memories behind Gray. "Memory-Make: Jagged Barrier!" Sophie, once again, made a large, towering dark stone wall of ice spikes. Gray looked behind as he slid back and snickered. He jumped and landed atop of a spike, thus jumping from spike to spike all the way up to the top.
"Great save, Sophie! Now I get back at him!" Gray jumped at the pinnacle, putting his hands together. "Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" Gray made a hand-held cannon made of ice and aimed at Lyon. The cannon fired a blast of ice that went right at him, but he fell short a hit when black whirlwinds from Chelia erupted, intercepting and breaking Gray's attack.
"Well done, Chelia." Lyon praised.
"Lyon, get your head in the game!" Chelia barked. "There's more people here too, like Sophie! Why don't we just take them out together?" When she said 'together', she got a small blush, but Lyon ignored it.
"Hurting girls is not a wise thing, Chelia. I find it barbaric for a gentleman as myself to harm girls."
"C'mon Lyon, stop being stubborn and get our points! We can just go all-out and be done in no time; and you get hurt, I can heal you!"
Sophie looked distressed. "I remember her Healing Magic."
"Great." Gray had immense sarcasm. "Just our luck."
Lyon snickered. "It would seem my memory is a better advantage I have over you, another sign that I shall win over Juvia's heart."
"Lyon, stop showing off and take them out already! We gotta get more points like right now!" Chelia barked.
"I'm not showing off, they're facts! And I thought I told ya I got Gray while you take out Sophie!" Lyon argued.
Sophie blinked and was a little startled by their poor coordination. She looked towards Gray, who had a smirk on his face. Seeing his smirk, and then looking back ahead, the blonde smirked as well, which glistened on her pink lipstick.
"I think we just found their flaw." Gray said. "And it's gonna be their downfall."
Sophie nodded as Lyon and Chelia kept bickering. "There's a reason why Fairy Tail always triumphs; we have an understanding of another, which is what Lyon and Chelia lack. Gray?"
"Yeah, we're ending this, now." He held his palm out to Sophie. "With your memories and my ice, we're not gonna lose this, because we've endured the pain of a thousand burdens already. Let's go!"
"Right with ya!" Sophie's palm met Gray, their fingers connected. The other could feel their Magic Power converging with their palms shining a small chain of memories around a shining light blue light.
Juvia had a dark aura as a chunk of the balcony was crushed by her grip. "Love rival! Must eliminate!"
Chunks of ice and chains of memories flourished all over, getting Lyon and Chelia's attention. They felt and immense Magic Power and saw Sophie and Gray's palm separate. In between the two was a concentrated light blue and ring of memories.
"Bastard!" Lyon exclaimed. "You take advantage of us?! Be that way, we're no longer holding back!" He turned towards Chelia. "Chelia, get ready…"
However, Chelia was in a daze. She was distracted by the beauty of the attacks combining. "So pretty…"
Lyon shook her horrendously. "Snap out of it and heal me!"
"Ice-Make: Ice Geyser!"
"Memoir Hysteria!"
By the time Chelia snapped out of her trance, she was at a loss for words as Lyon looked behind and gasped as a raging cyclone of memory chains that were light blue by the ice spiraling around as well went after them. The raging cold and memorable cyclone made Lyon and Chelia scream as they had nothing to defend with and were sent flying off far over the city.
"This is all your fault!" Lyon yelled.
"Sorry!" Chelia apologized before the two became separate glints in the sky.
The attack left golden and light blue sparkles raining down as Sophie grinned in satisfaction, as did Gray as they showed Lamia Scale who was the boss. The score went from 52 to 54, putting Fairy Tail behind Sabertooth by 1.
"That's 2 points for teamwork." Gray commented.
"And for the guild…" Sophie looked despondent as she sweat dropped. "Although…I think this false implication is gonna make Juvia drown my hide." She grimaced.
Gray blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Of course, why did I bother?" Her mumblings left Gray even more confused. Unaware that in the stands, Juvia was sparkling with determination and a fire in her eyes.
"My love rival may have won a point today, but no matter what, I won't give up! The underdog always gets the prize! My love, I shall make you open your arms for me yet!" Juvia declared uproariously, much to her guild mates' confusion.
"Oh geez." Lisanna groaned.
"Well that's our Juvia." Cana's thoughts, as well as everyone else, cascaded their attention towards another lacrima monitor, revealing another part of the city where Laxus was still in a clash of titans against Jura.
Mavis smiled. "Fairy Tail has a new era upon the horizon. An era where hardships are what keeps us persevering through the dark days. They'll shine on, keeping our hopes and dreams alive."
Laxus's arm roared with compressed lightning. Thunder boomed so loud the ground quaked. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art – Roaring Thunder!"
Laxus punched forward with all of his might, landing a devastating blow of lightning that discharged at point-blank range. Jura was electrocuted and his mouth was gaping widely as he was pushed away. The Wizard Saint slowly fell back from the devastating Dragon Slayer move, leaving Laxus barely breathing as static depreciated over his arm.
Jura smiled. 'I lost.' He landed on his side with a thud, defeated.
The Thunder God Tribe shouted loudly with heavy excitement, especially Freed. The audience screamed with shock at the top of their lungs as they could never block out what was just history being made. Makarov's eyes were filled with shock and happiness as he saw his grandson overcome a Wizard Saint.
"After Gray and Sophie's finish with Lyon and Chelia, things just got nuts!" Lola screamed. "The Wizard Saint, Jura Neekis…HAS FALLEN TO LAXUS! THE WIZARD SAINT LOST! THE WIZARD SAINT WAS DEFEATED!" His tone was shrilling adrenaline, and the points got to 59 for Fairy Tail.
Obaba was devoid of any happiness. "W-we lost?! Even with Jura?!" Her body was shivering with hyper energy. "No…NO! I'M GONNA SPIN!" She spun so fast and screamed with disbelief as her team and guild was out of the competition, much to everyone's horror.
"Master, calm down! You're gonna spin your head off!" Sherry reasoned.
"That just leaves Sting and Minerva against all of Fairy Tail." Mato said. "Will Sabertooth make their comeback with their last two members still out there?"
"Although nobody saw Sting in hours." Yajima commented.
Elsewhere in an alley, Sting was sitting alone, waiting it all out. After taking down Bacchus, getting 5 easy points for Sabertooth, he fled off and remained hiding for the remainder until the last few competitors were tired. That was his plan. 'Lady Bellona, you fight real dirty.' Sting thought in heavy scorn, his eyes to the cement. 'But I'm gonna get Milady and Lector back.'
"You all want a beat down that bad?! Come on!" Natsu set is fists ablaze and swatted down on foe after another. He punched left and right, not letting up after each turn and pivoted.
Wendy panted as she used up a lot of Magic. She looked over towards Lucy and Yukino, who were both panting as their Spirits disappeared back to their world. "Hey, are you two okay?"
Lucy looked at Wendy, though very fatigued. "Yeah, we're fine."
"We used up so much Magic Power today. It's hard to tell if we have enough to last much longer." Yukino warned.
Future Lucy looked on from safety as Lily swiped his sword in front, knocking down a row of knights. He adjusted his stance and grunted. "There's so many!"
"We can't give up!" Mira insisted. "Everybody is counting on us to…to…" She trailed off when shouting was heard down the hall, and knights were either heading in that direction or running away, scared. The melee was a sudden shift in dynamics as the knights were ignoring them, dealing with what was a massive threat down the hall.
Vanessa looked in the direction where the ceiling was cracking and knights were mowed down like bowling pins. "Is that…?"
A vicious shockwave started to come after them, and it was hot. Magnezone hurried and got to Vanessa's side, and everyone else saw the shockwave rage and cinder statues and burst open windows. They realized the attack was but a brutal Heat Wave.
"Everyone down!" Vanessa shouted. "Aura Guard!" She swiped an arm up and over, making a dome of translucent teal that shielded everyone so as to avoid the melting attack. The Heat Wave passed on by, leaving the walls cindering and everyone unconscious from the attack.
The dome was lifted, but the air was still extremely hot, almost burning to the touch.
Loke adjusted his tie. "Well I say that was something."
Lucy smiled. "That's gotta be Nic!"
On the other side of the hall, all of the forces were gathered to take down the biggest threat – two Nics and twelve Pokémon. They all ran up to attack with weapons set, but tail whacks and backwings from two Charizard knocked so many away. The soldiers were completely helpless as rows were plowed down by a double Staraptor Aerial Ace. The birds were so fast that the soldiers had no time to blink before they lost consciousness the next second. Then came the stealthy duo of Kecleon. The camouflaged pair used Slash, becoming white glints that past countless other soldiers, even using their Thief move to pound soldiers and turn their weapons on the others in the blink of an eye. Soldiers elsewhere were smacked down after being stunned by a double Arbok Glare, and earning tail smacks that sent them flying with broken bones. They both hissed violently and snobbishly at the soldiers and caused them to back away before being back-hooded by the Arbok duo. The Greninja duo were almost as invisible as Kecleon, punching and upside down spiral kicking down soldiers. Their double Water Shuriken showered and split their weaponry and shields in two. No one was safe when Scald was unleashed. Then came the duo of Garchomp. Roars bellowed violently, causing many to fall down just from hearing them. In a flash, the duo was ripping and tearing into armor and weapons with Dual Chop, fins out and running at Mach speed, making blades of wind knock down many as they slashed and left more than a few gashes on the heavy numbers they've fell.
All the Pokémon were soon seen with backs to the other, as were the two Nics as they glowed and shifted back into themselves. All around them, hurt or not, were the Rune Knights that were stationed inside of Crocus…and had all fallen.
Both Garchomp roared violently, their bellowing reaching down the halls and making ripples that sent fallen men flying off again. Their bellowing was followed with how they had all defeated what looked like nearly a thousand at least, and they didn't even had so much as a few scratches to prove.
"That was fun." Garchomp said.
"Would've been better if there were double that amount." Future Garchomp insisted.
"That thrill ride was a blast." Future Charizard said.
"Thesssse punksssss got another thing coming if we can be taken down that eassssily by numersssss." Arbok sneered. "We crush numberssss."
"I a manner of speaking." Staraptor pointed out.
Future Nic looked away at something. "There's just something else we need to take care of."
Nic looked in the same direction. "And what might that be?"
Nic's Pokémon and Future Nic's Pokémon all looked out into the hallway ahead of them, their eyes narrowed and they either growled or snarled at what was coming down the hall. They saw the silhouettes unfold as they all were battered, but up and ready to fight.
"Hey now, looks like we got ourselves ruffians." The hulking fellow said.
"So ugly…" Another said.
"They won't last against all of us put together." Another female voice said.
"We shall see, because these fishes are like sharks!" Another said.
The one leading them was out of the shadows, revealing himself to be Kama, with the Garou Knights in tow, all smirking. "No matter the odds, they shall never escape justice." He wielded his scythes with the palms in contact. "We shall now collect your heads, all of you."
Erza requipped a fresh sword and struggled to stay on her two feet, especially since her ankle was alreadt broken. The pain she was feeling was beyond comprehensive, but the drive of avenging Kagura and Millianna was what made her persevere.
Minerva, her sadistic smirk never leaving her face, had no doubts in her mind. "That injury looks like it hurts, shall I put you out of your misery?" Her arms were encompassed by greenish spatial energy yet again. Erza's ankle was in the same Magic, and the redhead was suddenly lifted off the ground.
"Aaaah!" Erza was whipped through the air by the stretched orbs around Minerva's arms. When Minerva swiped her arm, the stretched connection flung Erza into a pillar, followed by another. Her screams of anguish were heard clearly though the crumbling fragments of the pillars. Erza fell with a thud to the ground with a devastating thud, making the audience wince. Kagura and Millianna looked on as Erza was in pain, but they despaired as that was all they could do.
"Minerva is just plain brutal!" Lola shouted. "She used her Magic and throws Erza around like ragdoll!"
Snickering, Minerva watched as Erza surprisingly tried standing up once again. It was amusing for Minerva to say the least.
"I'm surprised you're still getting up with that injury." Minerva said. "If anything you should've stayed down long ago."
Erza faltered and nearly fell over from her ankle being uncontrollable, but she kept her foothold, no matter how painful it was. "It's just as I said to Kagura. I'll keep getting up until you stay down. As long as I am up, I will strive to have the battle won." Her eyes dilated, showing her ferocity. "You've chosen to declare war on Fairy Tail, and took pleasure in torturing Millianna and Kagura. Unforgiveable."
"Hmph, I can declare war on whoever I want. No one scares me; besides, I can annihilate the weak and leave only myself to rule. Nobody's worth it." Minerva backlashed. "Besides, anger may give you wrinkles."
Erza adjusted her footing. "For what you did, my anger is beyond controllable."
"And what of Nic?"
Erza's eyes widened and she gasped.
"Your boyfriend and lover if I'm right? He's quite the charming fellow with all the power imaginable. Perhaps after I kill you and throw away Milady's body, I think I'll take him all for myself. A king fit for a queen." Minerva licked her lips, savoring what thoughts of unholy wretch awaits if she had Nic to surmount over.
Erza's teeth clenched so hard that it could bend steel. "You…you can say all bad things about me, but if you take him away, I will rip out your soul!"
Minerva raised a brow. "You'll try, but that won't happen. Milady's Territory will turn everything on site into a landmine! I'll give you a demonstration!" Her arms were encompassed by the orbs again. Erza's sides were engulfed by explosions, and she was forced to leap and dodge backwards. She evaded the two explosions, but another explosion erupted behind her, making her lose balance and get shot forward. Minerva had her arms out and she chuckled maniacally as she went as far as creating explosions on the ceiling to show off her powers, which proved her point.
Minerva made more explosions, watching Erza leap back and dodge everyone, leaving her overwhelmed with explosive scattering dust in front of the manipulated woman. Her eyes narrowed as her smirk darkened. "Territory, a most powerful Magic. Milady is very helpful."
The dust obscured her vision, but a figure was seen lunging through. The figure was revealed to be Erza as she erupted from the dust cloud, with two blade-like kunai in her hands. She slashed at Minerva, making the Sabertooth Princess back away to avoid the weapon.
"You missed me!" Erza yelled.
Her smug expression now an angry look, Minerva covered her hands in Territory Magic again and proceeded to jab Erza, but she dodged left, then right, and another set of left and right, evading each jab. Soon finding an opening, Erza slashed her, cutting into Minerva and making her back away.
"Damn you…!" Minerva growled.
"This anger I hold is not mine, it's all of Fairy Tail!" Erza declared. Minerva recoiled as she felt an incredible swell of Magic Power erupt to immense levels. "Second Origin, release!"
"Second Origin?!" Jet exclaimed.
"Alright! I knew she had an ace in her sleeve!" Levy cheered.
"She's been hiding it?!" Droy shouted in disbelief.
Erza had a look of a vicious warrior as her Magic Power was so immense that small rocks levitated. It was giving off a bright white light from underneath Erza as Minerva was left uneasy and backed up as the dust engulfed Erza. Her figure was seen manifesting a new armor, one that wasn't seen before.
She wore an elegant armor with a blue robe trimmed in gold, opening up largely in the middle to reveal large parts of her chest. The waist was held by a simple red ribbon tied by a gold bead. The robe had elegant multi-layered trimming; the gold trimming was implied to her two blue gloves. Said gloves had gold dots and red ribbons embroidered. On her shoulders were golden pauldrons that resemble lions with open mouths. The design on her gloves were like the leggings, with golden dots and overall color, and the leggings had gold greaves. The knees had a similar pattern like the tiara she adorned. The tiara itself was two rhombus-shaped pieces with a blue triangle center; each piece had a gold ornament. Her hair strands framing her face were held by golden beads. Behind her was a white sash over her head and ended with golden beads on each end. She had in hand an intricate and huge halberd.
"Nakagami Armor!"
Minerva looked in hysterics, very agitated. "Ro hwaset! Ro hwasetya!"
"It's over for you, invader!" Erza challenged.
"I ragd!" Minerva fired a blast of her Territory at Erza, engulfing her in a powerful explosion. The earth shook again, but Minerva was left shocked as Erza cut right through her attack, being completely unfazed.
"But that's impossible!" Minerva retorted. "You should be in the dirt! No, dead!"
"I said it before, I'll keep getting up until you're down. You've caused great pain to others, and now I repay for all of our sakes."
Minerva slowly began to step backwards. "N-no…"
"However, the biggest insult you can possibly conceive, is threatening Nic. I shall eradicate and awaken the Minerva we all know!"
"No! You can't! I'm the queen! This is my game! I'm the strongest! I…I…"
"WAKE UP MINERVA! Nakagami Starlight!"
Erza rushed right through Minerva with immense force from the slashing halberd. Minerva's clothes were shredded up and she was spinning in the air, soon landing on her side with a harsh collision and slid. She stopped on her front, grunting and wincing from the immense pain felt that left her incapacitated. Kagura and Millianna looked on with small smiles as Erza stared at the fallen Minerva.
"Meow…" Millianna quietly purred.
Erza and the three girls all stared at Minerva as her body violently twitched, which left Erza uneasy. She and the other girls watched as dark matter began to manifest from Minerva and migrated from her body and off to the side. The dark matter materialized, forming and revealing a battered and exhausted Bellona.
Kagura's eyes widened. "What…?"
"Who is she?" Millianna asked.
The audience's eyes widened in sheer shock.
"Whoa!" Lola shouted, his mouth gaping with Mato's. "What on earth had just happened?! Another participant of Sabertooth?!"
"I-I don't know!" Mato exclaimed.
"It would seem that Minerva was being a puppet this whole time." Yajima confirmed. "I thought that there was a change in her Magic as of recently."
Minerva's eyes opened up weakly as she shifted over to her side, "Gnnngh…what…happened?" Her body winced. "GAH! Why do I feel pain?!" She grunted in agony and tried her best to recall the events that played out. "The last thing I remember…was talking to Bellona…and then all I saw after that was…darkness and wailing."
Bellona balled her fists as she slowly got up. "You…"
"So you're the one who possessed Minerva. Now it makes sense, that dark Magic Power is coming from you." Erza confronted her, much to Kagura and Millianna's shock.
Bellona stood up, her pain in all of her limbs. Her eyes had a hysterical look. "You sickening pawn…" She growled viciously. "How did you surpass Minerva? She was the strongest, and you took her out?! I won't tolerate this! You hear me?!"
"Erza…" Minerva couldn't say much due to her injuries. "Bellona, she's the devil's daughter."
She was suddenly stepped on the ribs by a heel by Bellona, a dark distaste on her face. "Silence, that's the queen's demand!"
Erza's aura radiated, getting Bellona's attention. "Bellona, it's over! You lost!"
"NO!" Bellona bellowed frantically. Her eyes had a sadistic look to them. A crazed-psycho vibe was radiating off of her as dark galaxy-like spirals went around her arms. "Sabertooth will be victorious! I will make it so, no matter how it's done! Sabertooth will remain the highest noble on the board! I will have victory!" The dark spirals in her arms shrunk to cloak her cloves. "I WILL NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT! NEVER!"
"Repent for what you've done! HRAH!" Erza swung her halberd, cutting and blocking off Bellona's Nightmare Magic. The darkness in Bellona's arms vanished, and Bellona screamed violently as she spun in the air, smashing through a pillar as Erza passed her.
Bellona felt time slow down as she fell with the shattered pillar remains. 'But I never got to touch her with my Magic…' "HYAAAAAAAAH!" Bellona screamed louder as she slid along the ground, landing in a pile of rubble. Minerva, with one eye open, watched in shock as Erza had a steady glare on Bellona as the dust settled.
Bellona tumbled off the pile of rubble, thudding in her stomach with tattered clothes. Her body was barely numb, and tears went down her faced. "I deserved victory." She whimpered weakly. She crawled away weakly, like a weak insect that went to hide under a rock. "Me…me…I always win…"
Erza and the girls watched as Bellona whimpered as she crawled out of sight, good riddance to them. Erza slammed the end of the halberd into the ground, standing proudly as she won. Her armor requipped away, becoming her sarashi and hakama again. She had a sword requipped and put the end to the ground, using it as a cane for her support as she panted.
"Erza…" Minerva muttered.
Erza grinned at Minerva. "Minerva, how are you feeling?"
"Like I was crushed by a train and screamed in the face by a rabid Vulcan." Minerva looked away and frowned. She didn't have the strength to get up. "I was so weak. I allowed myself to become that demon's puppet to take control. If only…" She trailed off as she could only wallow.
Erza felt pity for Minerva as she saw the same predicament she was in. The same time someone else was but a puppet, someone who was manipulated and he didn't realize it. Jellal. It was a tough pill to swallow, but Minerva was going to live with the pain she had inflicted, and Erza could see the resentment in her eyes.
"I don't blame you." Erza comforted. "I'm sorry for what happened, and what had to be done…but there was no other way to force her out of you."
Minerva grinned as her head turned towards Erza. "It seems I was saved again."
Erza nodded.
Minerva turned away, a small despondent grin on her face still. "I can't go on like this, I'm incapacitated…thank you."
The audience cheered as Minerva conceded after that incident. Fairy Tail went all the way up to 64 points. The guild grew very happy from that display as they had big smiles as they had a major advantage.
"Well Mr. Yajima, what do you think this should count as?" Lola questioned, not knowing how to assess the situation of the sudden Bellona.
"Hmmm…" Yajima looked puzzled. "Well from what know, Minerva was possessed against her will, thus making it a second hostage by Sabertooth. But both actions were by the likes of Bellona. Since this was the situation and was settled in the end, we can allow it to pass since Minerva conceded and incapacitated."
Mato looked grumpy. "Sabertooth's been dirty because of that player."
"We'll have a great discussion of these situations with the committee after this." Yajima nodded.
"That now leaves just Sting left against all 5 members of Fairy Tail." Lola announced. "They just might win this folks!"
Droy had tears in the corners of his eyes. "Did you hear that…?"
"Even though we started in last place...kind of…we might win?!" Jet was shuddering with glee.
Macao sniffled. "Knock it off! You're gonna make me cry!"
The audience themselves were having themselves on the edge of their seats. Fairy Tail had so much support now that they were being chanted. "Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail!" They all cheered.
In an alleyway elsewhere as the sun went down, Sting looked down at the ground, staying hidden and silent. 'Milady's back. That's a relief.' He grinned. "But still…"
Kama had both scythes held, his eyes set on the fourteen before him. "You shall all fall, no matter what the convictions. Your crimes against us are unforgiveable."
Neppa raised a brow while having a soda bottle clenched in between his teeth. "Don't worry, I'll give them a taste of my a-GWUGH!"
To all, even Nic's shock, Future Nic had dealt the hardest punch right to the stomach of Neppa, the force of Extreme Speed had him in a green zip and unable to have been seen until hitting Neppa so hard that the big guy fell over.
"Wha? That ain't good-GAH!" Uosuke was struck hard by a tail slam to the back of the head, instantly knocking him so hard into the ground it cracked. Future Arbok towered above, hissing in retort.
Cosmos swiped her arm. "I'll take care of them at on-!" She was cut off when Future Staraptor delivered a talon kick to the abdomen, the shock being so hard that Cosmos gagged and shot back, tumbling violently and falling to the ground, unconscious.
Kamika swiped her arms, sending purple papers at Future Charizard. "I'll stop them fast!"
Future Charizard opened his mouth and fired Flamethrower. The molten burning attack was so hot that the paper burned away when it was twenty feet away. The stream of rock-melting, giant glacier-destroying fire. Flamethrower struck Kamika, burning her clothes to a crisp and leaving her to scream through the flames as she sailed backwards, lying unconscious on her back.
"T-the Garou Knights…" Kama was wide-eyed with disbelief. In front of him were six deadly figures les by a menacing person who had no time to deal with someone like him. Nic and his six Pokémon were just as shocked as their Trainer. It was startling at how immense those blows of near-death were.
"Whoa…" Charizard muttered.
Kecleon tilted her head. "They punched their tickets for the pain train, hard."
Kama stepped back from being startled, and when he received a glare from Future Garchomp, he was more than paralyzed by fear. "What sorcery is this?!" He bellowed. "Your crimes, you dare not repent?! I shall have at you!"
He swung his right scythe at Future Garchomp, but all the dragon did as open his mouth and the teeth glowed and elongated. "Crunch!" He snapped his jaws down on the scythes, completely shattering it like it was glass.
During the 3-month training regiment, Garchomp had acquired a new move in his arsenal, replacing Slash. The move was Crunch, and with it, he's been sinking his immense jaws into so many things and tearing them in two.
Kama's eyes were wide in horror. "So much ferocity…!" He yelled in pain when Future Garchomp swung his tail from the side, smashing into the other scythe still intact and shattering it with so much force. Kama felt the shock and tumbled back from the tail smack, thudding against the ground that left to his unconsciousness.
"We don't have time for you." Future Nic glared menacingly. "We have a role to carry out. We didn't come back from there to have ourselves stalled." His tone was firm and dead serious, a somber aura as his mind flashed forward to what was a terrible premonition.
"Nic…?" Nic asked his future self, his tone calm but uncertain.
An uneasy silence fell between the two groups, even the Pokémon were feeling some somber from their future counterparts, which was never a good sign.
Enough was enough. Nic finally stepped forward. "Alright, what's the dilemma?"
Future Nic's gaze went around towards his Greninja and others. They all looked at their Trainer and nodded in agreement. Future Nic turned back towards Nic, his eyes looking towards the ground. "I guess it's best to warn you before I get myself and the Pokémon into a maelstrom, huh?"
"That ship has already sailed." Nic said, his tone far from humorous.
"Since it's just us down here, it's fine." Future Nic continued, "What the Future Lucy foretold, she wasn't wrong…but she wasn't right either. She went through the Eclipse Gate at an earlier time period."
Nic and his Pokémon's eyes widened. "Are you saying…"
Future Nic nodded. "Yes. We all come from a further time period, sometime further in the future. Lucy's prediction was what she thought was the end of everything, to her era that is. From where my time, it was after the Dragons invaded. Many of the population had already perished by the Dragons, but the catastrophe levels seemed immense as they already were, until the true end erupted."
"'True end'?"
Future Nic's eyes turned hollow. "Nic…you know what happened."
Nic looked uncertain as to what his future-self meant. He knew? There wasn't much of a hint on that. Nic can recall the Dragon King Acnologia almost destroying them, though he was still unconscious at the time, but what could be worse than…
Nic looked into Future Nic's eyes, seeing what was the end of everything. As if realization arose, Nic knew what he meant. His eyes widened and the pupils dilated from horror. A wave of goosebumps overcame him as his knees felt slightly weak. He backed up a step, his skin nearly pale.
"You mean…?" Nic's voice itself was trembling.
Future Nic's eyes were still hollow. "Yeah…the one thing worse than everything ever known in the universe."
A shrilled silence fell before Nic composed himself and he and Future Nic spoke the name in unison. "Lysandre."
The name brought back the frightening memories the man befell onto them. The bloodthirsty gut-shredding, the right-sided scar, the left eye lost, nearly falling every time to that inhumane monster, all of it was a bitter reality that was to unfold into an even more shocking, living Hell.
Nic narrowed his eyes. "What happened? Start from the beginning."
Future Nic thus told his tale. "After the events of what Future Lucy foretold, only a handful of people survived, Vanessa and Erza included. I was able to get Vanessa and Erza to safety before a Dragon's Roar…" He closed his eyes, shame falling down. "But I was too late to save Lucy or Natsu or anyone else. I then had Dialga and Palkia assist me in wiping out the Dragons. Using their powers, they summoned the Legendary Pokemon to this world, where the odds were all against the Dragons. The Dragons were easily overpowered and fell one after another due to them being of no match against them all." He looked towards his Future Greninja. "And then after most of the Dragons were wiped out, it happened."
"And by 'it', you mean Lysandre?"
Future Nic nodded. "Yes. We all never saw it coming." He could remember the Future Lysandre and his demonic features, all completely altered and unlike the present day Lysandre, with greater power than before. "The hatred, anguish, and every little negative emotion between our world and Earth Land had finally accumulated to a point where he was no longer of no heart, and instead became a void of eternal darkness and rotting existence all around. He was dubbed – Ragnarok Lysandre. With the infinite darkness by his side, the seals to the Dark Legendaries was broken, and all the negative energy was unleashed in one go. Giratina and the others led waste and left nothing. Darkness engulfed and reduced the land, air, and all that was essential to life into inexistence. The remaining lives in the world were ripped away in one go. The cataclysm was so immense that it blackened even the strongest light. Ragnarok Lysandre had the power to destroy all, and that included…Arceus." Future Nic could still remember how Ragnarok Lysandre engulfed the sick God in darkness and wiped him from existence, and it was shown all over Earth Land and our world. Dialga and Palkia barely were alive to send me back in time a short jump before they were terminated with the universe." His eyes shut and his fists clenched tight. "It was all gone…the universe…our worlds…I even had to watch Vanessa…and Erza…" He never finished as he remembered the final farewells of the two before being sent back in time, tears in their faces, but smiles brimming with hope. He saw them get swallowed in the destruction of darkness as he traveled back to the past. Nic could see his eyes mist. "All gone…I made it to Lucy's time, and she managed to open the Eclipse Gate and I followed behind. She didn't know I came farther from the future." His gaze was towards Nic; the Future Pokémon gave mournful but determined looks.
"I had to watch Erza and Vanessa die…I was the only hope left. Acnologia was easy picking, Zeref's immortality meant nothing when Ragnarok Lysandre reduced him into nothing, every unstoppable force in Earth Land, the Mages who could reshape the land and seas, even bring back the dead, be dead themselves, even Lumen Histoire…they all fell by him, no contest. Nic, Greninja, Charizard, Kecleon, Staraptor, Garchomp, Arbok…we're all that's left to save the universe."
Nic looked at his six Pokémon, how they all had a sense of pressure put on them, and how they were basically the only hope of survival for all light in the known universe. This was a role that they had to accomplish, no matter the cost. It was aggravating to know what Future Nic went through, with leaving Erza and Vanessa to their fates. He too would feel guilt.
Nic looked back at his team, all of them looking at him as well. They knew the task foreshadowed was gonna involve holding nothing back. Lysandre was solemnly after him and him only. In the future, it looked like he was above that and had the power to slaughter even Arceus. They had to make their move now, before the Dark Legendaries gathered the negative energy to end it all.
Nic and his team looked at Future Nic. "Okay, so what do we do?" Nic asked his future self. "You know what'll happen."
"Yeah." Future Nic said. "This has gotta be only us, nobody else. If I told Lucy this, she'd be in despair and just accept the inevitable end. And though it pains me to say, Vanessa and everyone else must be excluded."
"What's that going to accomplish?" Nic questioned.
"She'll be fine for now, and Erza I'm sure, but we must make haste. The Eclipse Gate is gonna backfire."
"Backfire?"
"Yes. And so we must be prepared for the worst. We'll gather the troops, and prepare for the biggest war in Pokémon and Earth Land history."
Nic raised a brow. "That's a tall order, but I understand."
Charizard stepped forward, huffing flames with a half-grin. "Well wherever you go, we'll sure as hell follow."
"Nic-sssssama, we shall fight to the death." Arbok said.
Kecleon tilted her head. "We'll cover up the metal so it won't rust."
Garchomp growled with a smirk, his fangs showing. "I rather see a tomorrow, so let's smash them all into a million pieces!"
"I'm not backing away. We're fighting this fight. One way or another." Staraptor said.
Greninja crossed his arms and nodded. "You guys have nothing to fear. Lysandre is a monster, but as long as we fight together, nothing is gonna stop us. We're all in this together."
Nic smiled as the vicious loyalty of his Pokémon, feeling a great deal of proudness from his heart. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way himself.
Future Nic and his Pokémon stared at them, hollow smiles on their faces and looked at another. 'We're in this…for the last time.'
Nic closed his eyes. 'Dialga. Palkia. Answer my beckoned call. Please help us. We must ready for what is to come.' Nic telepathically announced. "Hear us, for we must ready. Transcend time and space, and take us back to the world where we came from."
There was an exciting silence, anticipation on a steady level. It seemed like nothing was unfolding, but then a tear in space appeared in between, a large one, big enough to fit everyone. They could see the distortion waves travel in and out of the tear. One jump and they'd be back in their world, more precisely a location near cliffs and ruin.
"You all ready?" Nic asked.
With nods, everyone, all fourteen, jumped through the tear, heading back to their world to ready for what was to be the most intense fight of what will come. The tear then closed shut behind them, looking as though nothing had happened.
On the opposite end of the hall, everyone was around fallen soldiers, unaware of what transpired. Mira looked around, noticing how both Nics were still gone separated from the group. The Future Lucy seemed uneasy, and Vanessa and Magnezone had no clue what transpired other than the fact that Nic had just demolished the countless soldiers. Wendy, the Exceeds, Yukino, Lucy, and Natsu all looked around as well, not noticing that what just happened would determine their fates.
Night had fallen onto the stadium, and the spectators were still in their seats. The scores showed Fairy Tail with 64 points, but something didn't seem all that grand. One of the spectators gasped when he compared Sabertooth's score with Fairy Tail's.
"What is?" Another spectator asked.
"It's nothing." He said. "It's just…look at the scores. If I remember right, Sting is all that's left, right? But, what if he did beat Fairy Tail unexpectedly?"
The spectator in question counted in fingers. "The leader is worth 5, the others are 1, so…!" He then gasped at the realization.
"9 points, that's the total Sting would get is he can somehow defeat all of Fairy Tail by himself." Lola speculated. "It's possible, but unlikely."
"But if that were the case, then Sabertooth would be tied with 64 points with Fairy Tail." Yajima said. "But since Fairy Tail wouldn't have anybody left, that would leave them out of the competition, meaning Sabertooth could make a come-from-behind victory."
"He planned this?!" Mato exclaimed.
In the center of Crocus, a light went up in the sky, exploding like white fireworks. All of the remaining members looked up to see the white flare, and they knew who was the culprit.
"Alright Fairy Tail, let's go!" Sting declared.
All around the city, Gajeel grunted as he lethargically got up and started walking. Laxus made a slow haste for the area, and Gray supported Sophie as she took more damage than him throughout the day. Erza had found a stick somewhere and used it as a cane, making her move slowly but paced towards the center. Everyone watched with silence, including Fairy Tail as they saw all five members gathered underneath the large, full moon.
Sting stood in front of all five members with a grin. "Finally. Look at you guys, you look like you're gonna keel over."
"Enough chitchat." Gajeel growled. "We don't need sympathy or make pals."
"Who's it gonna be?" Gray questioned.
Sting shrugged. "Why not all at once? I doubt one on one will be any good, not with those injuries."
Sophie got her feet underneath, managing to stand on her own without help from Gray. "Don't underestimate us. Just ask your comrades."
"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm actually giving you guys the respect you deserve." Sting protested. "That's why taking you all out at once seems more appropriate." There was an arrogance in his gaze. "I'll show you all! I'm doing this all for Lector!"
"Is that so?" Gray questioned.
"You wanna fight us by yourself? Are you serious?" Laxus inquired.
"'Course I'm serious!" Sting lashed out. "Losing Lector meant more than pain for me, I also gained power! For my best friend. I'm gonna win it all!"
Erza approached with support of her cane-like stick. "If that's the case, we shall honor your decision. If fighting us all is what you want, so be it. We'll give you the fight you yearn for."
The others' gazes were as determined as her own. They will follow through with the fight, and win, no matter what, for everyone's sake.
Sting chuckled as light began to spiral all around him. "Now you're talking! Prepare to witness the power of an awakened Dragon Slayer!" His White Drive activated, surging all around him with power. 'This is gonna be a piece of cake. I'll see him again, and so, her I-!'
To Sting's shock, the Fairy Tail Mages before him were all lined up, standing tall and proud. Despite their injuries and the pain they've felt, they radiating a pride and insurmountable aura. The five had the same stoic glare set on their solemn target. Sting felt his power slip away from just looking at them, leaving his White Drive meant for nothing.
His eyes shook. 'Why am I hesitating? They're bruised and beaten to bloody pulps.' He reasoned to himself. Despite his shuddering, he managed to clench his fists tight. 'What's the matter? Get ahold of yourself! You can knock them all down. After all, they're probably wiped out of Magic Power. Just do what Lady Bellona told you…' He found it hard to move as his teeth clenched and sweat ran down his face. He tried and failed to put one foot in front of the other. 'Just, beat them…to see Lector again.' However, his body was still uncontrollable. Something about the five standing before him, and kicking them down as they are, just seemed wrong, and the back of his mind was urging him to stop; which succeeded.
He fell to his knees, his head looking down at the ground. He couldn't even look at them in the eye. Everyone watching, Fairy Tail, the spectators, fans, Hisui, and Darton all saw through the monitors and looked on as Sting was on his knees.
"I can't win. I can't beat you." Sting admitted. "…I surrender."
The score thus changed to 65 for Fairy Tail.
Jet and Droy had tears in their eyes. They looked each other with smiles. The members of Fairy Tail who were left behind for seven long years were left shocked and slow to process what just happened, but it dawned onto them that they won. The pain and heartache was all worth it in the end, and their tears became joyous and prosperous. Cana and the guild had huge smiles on them, cheering beginning to become deafening as Fairy Tail won. Macao hugged his son as Romeo began to cry. For the first time in a long while, Fairy Tail was finally on top.
"It's over!" Lola announced. "The winner of the X791 Grand Magic Games…IS FAIRY TAIL!"
The audience cheered and confetti flew in the air. They never saw it coming as Fairy Tail had won and not Sabertooth. It was a real crow-pleaser to say the very least. Fairy Tail cheered with prideful smiles as they had finally won. Erza, Laxus, Gajeel, Gray, and Sophie all smiled as they made their guild proud.
Erza crippled her way towards Sting as he was still in shock from his actions. She looked down with nothing to support nor put against his decision, still, she was genuinely curious. "Sting, why did you back down from the fight?"
Sting kept shuddering, unable to look up. "I was sure I could win, that's all I had to do. If I did that I could see him again." His teeth clenched tighter. "But all of a sudden, it was like I lost hope. I don't know why, but I can't have your guys' strength. Even if I did win, I don't think I deserved to see him again."
Erza softly smiled at Sting. "Not exactly."
"What?"
"Erzy!" A familiar voice called from behind, revealing it to be Millianna, holding something in her arms.
Sting looked up in curiosity. His eyes opened wide as his mouth gaped open. He was nothing more than speechless as Millianna was holding Lector, cradled in her arms.
Sting's mind was out as his body moved instead. As Lector's eyes slowly opened up, he saw the first thing to be spotted was Sting running frantically after him; continuously near-tripping in the process. Sting desperately ran for Lector.
"Lector!"
Lector struggled as he tried to get to Sting. Millianna saw the struggle and knelt down so that Lector could run towards Sting. "Sting!" Lector had tears in his eyes and a huge smile as he ran for Sting. "Sting!"
"Sting was crying with a huge smile. "You're okay! Lector!"
Erza looked back with a smile. Gray, Sophie, Laxus, and Gajeel looked at the touching scene with smiles on their faces.
"Sting!"
"Lector!"
Lector jumped into Sting's open arms. Both embraced with all their heart, holding the other close with smiles and heartfelt sobs running down their faces. The scene wasn't excluded from the others as Rogue and Frosch looked at a monitor and smiled with happiness.
Though watching, Mavis soon frowned. Her worries were off, way off. Things weren't all that they may seem. Her senses knew that there was something dark and foreboding; so foreboding that her frown thickened. 'This dark power I sense, what is it…?'
Arcadios rammed open the doors to the top floor. "Princess!" He ran inside, looking inside the empty room with open windows. "Princess Hisui!"
To his horror, the Princess and Darton were no longer in the room where they monitored the Grand Magic Games. He looked back from where he came from. "Don't tell me…she's already on her way?"
Footsteps echoed as Hisui and Darton walked down a flight of stairs and into the darkness that lied beneath. Hisui took the lead as she and Darton headed for where the Eclipse Gate was. The Games' end was as they feared.
"Fairy Tail had won; Sting surrendered to them." Darton confirmed.
"As I feared, the unpredictable has been predicted." Hisui said, the duo finding themselves now walking down a dark hallway of tall columns on the sides. The same hallway that led to the Eclipse Gate. "Now I know that my advisor is from the future and what is told is true. The future shall become our terrible present soon."
She and Darton stood in front of soldiers as they stood in front of the Eclipse Gate. "The battle for humanity begins! Move the Eclipse Gate above ground!" She ordered. "It's time for our move!"
Okay, now that the games are over, this is where things get very intense. I've mainly followed the anime for the most part, but now the climax will be peaked. It's probably gonna be the biggest battle in the entire story, perhaps bigger than Weather Trio VS Acnologia, but I don't make promises.
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys are looking forward to the anticipation that is to boil up to the finale.
Next Time: Past & Future Collide