Scenario IV-Where Memories Wait

Chapter I-Forgotten

Lucy continues on her journey with Gajeel, but still finds no clue to a crystal.

In the western lands, they find themselves cornered by the manikins…

Gajeel scowled as they stared out across the Hidden Leaf Village as the manikins encircled them. Inhaling, Gajeel scowled, then exhaled a stream of iron shrapnel, which tore apart the manikins, leaving a bloody mess.

"No one's around. Just these damn creatures." Gajeel spat.

"We have to inform Cosmos of these manikins. Let's hurry, Gajeel." Lucy said, and the two continued on their way…

Lucy stared around as she lowered the whip in the Soul Society, having defeated a manikin. "How odd. I could have sworn this was the right way. And where's Gajeel? Did we get separated? What should I go?" Lucy paced back and forth.

"Gajeel? Gajeel, where are you?" Lucy sighed. "Better find him." Raising two fingers to her mouth, Lucy whistled loudly. "GAJEEL!" she called out. There where footsteps. "Gajeel?" Lucy said eagerly.

It wasn't Gajeel. A boy of seventeen wearing a pink scarf that looked like it was made of scales, and tan pants, and had light pink hair, and reptilian likes eyes, with a symbol like a bird tattooed on his right shoulder stood there. His bare chest and back revealed muscles and scars.

Lucy's eyes widened. "It can't be…" she whispered.

The boy spotted her. "Who are you?" he said. Then he shrugged. "You shouldn't hang around here. This place is kinda dangerous." Then Natsu blinked. "Did we…meet somewhere before?" Then he shook his head. "Sorry. Really gotta get going." he said, and ran off. Lucy watched him in silence.

"That's him. No mistaking it. that's really him. Natsu, wait!" Lucy shouted, chasing after him. However, there was no sign of him. She stared sadly at the ground. "You weren't at Sanctuary with the others. That means…you're a warrior of Chaos. Have you forgotten about me? About Gajeel? Even Fairy Tail?" Lucy stood in silence. Then she looked up. "I've got to catch up to him. I'm sure he'd remember everything if we talked." she said, and ran off.

Natsu… You seemed to be searching for someone. Are you searching for Gajeel?

Chapter II-Summoned Beast Battle

Gajeel's eyes widened as he stood in Magnolia Town. "You… What're you doin' in a place like this?"

Natsu scowled. "Taking you down. What else would I be doin' here?"

Gajeel smirked, his red eyes narrowed. "Is that it? They call you here to try and beat me, did they? You just can't get enough of chasin' after me, can ya, boy?"

"Can the talk! Bring in on! Or are you too scared?" Natsu shouted, flames engulfing his hands.

Gajeel scowled. "Stupid kid… Gone and gotten yourself brainwashed. Well, you asked for it, Salamander!" Gajeel shouted, drawing back his own fists."

"Wait!"

Gajeel stopped suddenly. "Lucy!" he gasped, as she ran past him.

"Wait! Please, just wait!" Lucy pleaded.

"Don't worry, I can handle him on my own. You hang back and keep safe." Gajeel said.

Lucy shook her head. "No! I won't let you. He'll understand if I explain. He'll remember, I know he will! Please…just give me a little time."

"You sure?" Gajeel asked.

Lucy was silent, as she stepped forward. "Natsu… It's me, Lucy. Remember?"

Natsu scowled. "I don't know any Lucys. Now get outta my way! This's my fight. It's got nothin' to do with you!" he shouted.

"Yes it does! It has a lot to do with me. You…remember our journeys together, don't you? And Fairy Tail? Even I don't remember all of it. But… I do remember you. I'd never forget you." Lucy said.

Natsu looked confused. "I don't—"

"You fought to keep me safe. You were there with me. You were the one who brought me into Fairy Tail." Lucy continued .

"I… I don't what you're talking about, okay. I told you—get outta my way! Don't make me go through you!" Natsu shouted, looking torn, as the flames on his hands grew larger.

Lucy shook her head. "I'm not moving. I know you won't hurt me."

"What are you talking about?" Natsu said furiously.

Lucy stepped forward. "Natsu… I…I've wanted to see you for so long. If you just remember, there won't have to be any more fighting. I'll stay with you, and keep you safe until you do. So please…come with us." Lucy pleaded.

Natsu stood there, breathing heavily. "Look, I—"

Suddenly there was a gust of wind, and a figure appeared next to Natsu. He had a slender, yet fairly muscular build, with a melancholic appearance, fairly short, messy black hair, pure paper white skin, a black upper lip, and green eyes with slit-shaped pupils similar to a cat's, appeared from the shadows of a room in the building. One of his bangs falls between his eyes and he has distinctively thick eyebrows. He has teal lines that descend from his eyes, making it appear as if he is crying, and an expressionless face. He wore a white jacket with oversized collars that protruded half an inch past his face and long coattails, a black sash with a slender sword sheathed into the sash and a white hakama. He had pointed ears, somewhat similar to a bat's, with a helmet-like appendage with a single horn, resting on the left side of his head. His jacket was open down to his upper abdomen, exposing his torso and a black hole in the middle of his chest, right where his heart would have been.

Ulquiorra pointed a finger at Lucy, and a sphere of green energy appeared at his fingertips. Then it fired at Lucy, who stared in fear. "Look out!"

Natsu shoved Lucy aside. Suddenly, the beam of energy engulfed him.

"Natsu!" Lucy screamed.

"Hey! Stay with us!" Gajeel shouted, running forward and kneeling next to Natsu. Ulquiorra lowered his finger.

"What a miserable sight." Spoke a hissing voice. Suddenly, the air split apart on either side of Ulquiorra, and two more figures appeared. Both figures wore the same garbs as Ulquiorra. The figure on the right had short, spiky sky blue hair, with four strands falling over his face, a skeleton of a right jaw seated on the right side of his face, green eyes with green markings on the outside like a panther, and wore his jacket open, revealing a muscular torso with a large scar across his chest, and a hole in his abdomen.

"Completely pathetic." Grimmjow spat.

The other figure had long black hair that framed his face, wore a white cloth on the left side of his face that covered his left eye, pointed boots, and a spoon hood collar. His visible eyes was narrowed and slanted, and he had a permanent grin that revealed every one of his large, horse-like teeth. In his right hand he held a long staff with two crescent moon shaped blades. "Natsu, you are pathetic, having the enemy care for you." Nnoitora spoke in the hissing voice.

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed on Lucy. "You seasoned ones are a troublesome lot. Awakening memories in others better left forgotten." he said coldly.

"You… You're for Chaos." Lucy scowled.

Grimmjow laughed. "Amusing, isn't it, that the kid summoned her to slay Gajeel would fall defending another of his own enemies."

"If not for your meddling, we may have borne witness to a more ironic tragedy here." Nnoitora sniggered.

Lucy sat silent for a moment. "Gajeel… Take Natsu someplace safe." she said, getting to her feet. Gajeel nodded, and picked up Natsu, slinging him over his shoulder, and ran off. Lucy reached behind her, and unstrapped the whip on her back. Then she reached to her belt and removed the key. "You will pay for this. I'll take you down myself!"

Nnoitora roared with laughter, and pointed his zanpaku-to at her. "You intend to fight all three of us? You, a worthless human girl?"

Grimmjow smirked, drawing his own zanpaku-to.

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed into a sinister leer as he unsheathed his own zanpaku-to. "You do not wish to be with him as he dies?"

"He won't. I'll make sure of that!" Lucy said. There was a silence between the four.

"You little bitch! You're mine!" Nnoitora shrieked, and charged forward, his sword dragging across the ground, the two blades gouging the earth. Then he swung it. Lucy somersaulted backwards, and the blades passed under her. With a flick of her wrist, the whip cracked loudly. Then she swung it.

"So, you like to play rough?" There was a tug on the whip, and Lucy looked up to see Grimmjow standing in midair, holding the whip. He smirked, and pulled. Lucy yelled as she was yanked off her feet. Grimmjow spun around, raising a knee. Lucy quickly held up a key.

"I open the Gate of the Bull: Taurus!" she shouted. There was a burst of light, and a large, minotaur-like figure carrying a large battle axe appeared. Nnoitora's eye narrowed, and he placed a finger in the ground. A beam of energy traveled from his finger to Taurus. His eye widened.

"Grimmjow, you ass! Get out of there!" Nnoitora shouted.

Grimmjow's eyes widened, as with a bellow, Taurus swung the axe. "You think some overgrown cow can beat me?" he shouted, and swung his zanpaku-to, countering Taurus's attack. Then he grabbed Taurus's head. "Bye!" he grinned, and fired a blue cero, which swallowed Taurus's head.

"Taurus!" Lucy shouted. Suddenly, there was a green light, and Lucy turned as Ulquiorra fired his own cero at her. Lucy pulled on her whip, which Grimmjow released, and swung it. the whip sliced the cero in half, and both halves charged towards Nnoitora and Grimmjow. Nnoitora smirked.

"Try this!" he shouted, and swung his zanpaku-to down, shattering the cero. Grimmjow merely swatted it aside into a building, which exploded, sending debris raining down around them. Lucy held up another key.

"Aquarius!" she called, and a mermaid burst forth in a blaze of light.

Gajeel scowled, as he sheltered Natsu from the debris, while the fighting continued. "I hope Lucy can handle herself…" he muttered. Then he turned back to Natsu. "Come on, Salamander! This is the real deal! Don't go dying on me here, kid!"

Natsu struggled to open an eye. "Gajeel… Take care of…Lucy…"

Gajeel snarled, baring his teeth. "None'a that now! Damn kid!" Suddenly, a orb of energy engulfed his hand. "Why don'tcha take this?" he shouted, and placed his hand on Natsu's chest. At once, the orb sank into Natsu. Gajeel stood there for a moment.

Then he keeled over, breathing heavily. "Tellin' me…to do stuff for ya…when you're gone… Like I'm gonna let you die…and take care of people for ya… Psh. And no more savin' you're skin… Pull some punk stunt again, don't look at me… Next time…it's on you…" Then Gajeel fainted.

"Why you wench!" Nnoitora raged, as Lucy's summon attack blew him backwards into a building, tearing off his spoon hood and one of his sleeves. Grimmjow scowled as well, while Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed.

"Let's finish this." He said, and held out his finger. Grimmjow held out his hand. Nnoitora's tongue snaked out of his mouth. A sphere of green energy appeared at Ulquiorra's finger, while gold energy swirled around the tip of Nnoitora's tongue, and blue energy encompassed Grimmjow's hand.

"Gran Ray Cero Tres!" the three Arrancars shouted, and fired their energy attacks. Lucy held out two keys.

"I open the Gate of the Lion, and the Gate of the Ram: Leo, Aries!" she shouted, and two figures appeared in a burst of light. One was a man in a black suit and tie, with a lion-like look due to his slanted eyes, and mane of spiky brown hair. The other was a young woman wearing wool, with ram horns protruding from her pink hair.

"What a predicament you've gotten yourself into, Lucy-chan." Leo said, pulling on a pair of sunglasses, as the three ceros drew closer.

Aries glanced over. "Leo, let's do this." she said, and they took each other's hands. Then they held out their remaining hand.

"Spirit Burst!" they shouted, and fired a beam of dazzling fold energy. The four beams met in the middle of the town, and exploded. Lucy screamed as buildings shattered around her. Leo and Aries wrapped their arms around her, shielding. Grimmjow held up a hand, shielding his face. Nnoitora yelled as he was blown backwards, and Ulquiorra crouched down, eyes narrowed against the wind. Then it quited down. Ulquiorra scowled, getting to his feet. Then his eyes narrowed.

"Nnoitora, Grimmjow, go." he said.

"But, that—" Grimmjow began, but Ulquiorra silenced him. Grimmjow scowled, and vanished into a portal as the air opened up.

Another portal opened, but Nnoitora didn't enter. He glared at Lucy, and pointed a finger at her. "Hey, little bitch. Next time we meet, I'll stain my blade with your blood." he cackled, and stepped into the portal which closed.

Ulquiorra smirked. "It seems events have taken a rather interesting turn." Lucy followed his gaze, and gasped.

"Gajeel!"

"He has given his own strength to his enemy. The man's body is bow but an empty vessel. I've acquired quite the unexpected boon." Ulquiorra chuckled, and snapped his finger. Gajeel's body vanished. "It's time we part ways, my dear." Ulquiorra said, bowing.

"But, our battle isn't over!" Lucy shouted.

"No, but the war may as well be. Your hands will be full enough fighting manikins." Ulquiorra said. His gaze turned to Natsu. "Let that one fall before them, just the same. If that is what he wishes." And with that, Ulquiorra vanished. Lucy ran over to Natsu as Leo and Aries vanished.

"Natsu! Natsu…open your eyes!" she pleaded. Natsu remained motionless.

"Lucy!" Lucy looked up, to see Ikki, Miroku and Alphonse standing amidst the rubble, hurrying towards her.

"Hey, you okay? What happened?" Ikki asked.

Lucy stared at the ground, as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Where do I even start?"

"It's okay. Just take a deep breath." Alphonse said.

"Take your time and fill us in." Miroku said. Lucy nodded, took a breath, and began to explain. When she finished, Miroku crossed his arms.

"Alright, I get it now. Nothing to go getting upset over, though. I mean, I he got taken away, that means he's still alive, right. And Natsu over there is sleeping like a log." Miroku said.

"I bet a good punch'd wake him right up." Ikki grinned.

"Is there any reason to go that far?" Alphonse said.

"Tactful as a stubborn feudal lord, aren'tcha kid? So, Lucy. Kicking and punching aside for the moment…" Miroku began.

"I didn't say we should kick him." Ikki muttered.

"Whatever we do with him, the three of us still have some fighting to do with all of Chaos's other warriors. So what we probably shouldn't be doing right now is sitting around her, getting all glassy-eyed and glum about things." Miroku said.

"Yes… I suppose you're right." Lucy said, wiping her eyes.

"The only thing we can do is keep moving forward, now." Alphonse said.

Lucy nodded, smiling. "Right.

Chapter III-The Warrior of Chaos

Fire rained over a barren wasteland title Edge of Chaos. The sky and clouds were red and black from smoke pouring out of volcanoes. In the middle of the wasteland was a stone staircase that led to a throne. As a rumble of thunder died out, footsteps sounded throughout the landscape. Ulquiorra walked up a set of steps to a large throne, carrying Gajeel under his arms. Crocodile sat on the steps above him, smoking a cigar.

"And what do you bring forth? Is he not a warrior of Cosmos?" Crocodile said, getting to his feet and joining Ulquiorra.

"He was a warrior of Cosmos. Bat that is of no importance. I've matters to discuss with the God of Discord." Ulquiorra said, and they continued up the steps. At last, they came to a throne made of human skulls. A figure sat in the throne, shrouded in black and red smoke. All that was visible was his gleaming red eyes, and a pair of bat-like wings that rustled slightly. A deep, haggard breathing sounded from the smoke.

"A powerless pawn, drained of its former strength… This is your offering?" Chaos growled, his eyes narrowing.

Ulquiorra nodded, bowing as he set Gajeel's body before the throne. "It is. This pawn once sat on Harmony's board. But now…now, he is but an empty vessel. Chaos-sama, my lord and master! Will you not grant unto this man a pittance of your own divine power?"

Crocodile stared. "What?"

"You need but fill this vessel, and we gain for ourselves a might new ally to serve your will in this campaign." Ulquiorra explained.

"Insolence! At what do you plot?" Crocodile demanded.

Ulquiorra smirked. "Is that jealousy or contempt I hear in your voice? I thought we both wished for one thing, Crocodile: victory for the God of Discord."

Chaos laughed suddenly. "Very well. I shall give this pawn a taste of the power of discord." Suddenly, a clawed hand emerged from the smoke, and picked up Gajeel. Then, Chaos exhaled. A thin stream of black energy emerged from the smoke, and snaked down Gajeel's throat. A black aura engulfed him, and his body fell to the floor.

"Let us see him returned to the board." Chaos growled.