It was a busy week for those in Magonlia High. Their prom was coming up and they wanted everything to be perfect. Erza was part of the committee to work on the prom. While she was working on the decorations, Lucy came walking in with a few supplies.
"Hey, Erza. I have the paint, some flower samples, and I found a great website for the D.J. to use to play the music." Lucy said as she placed it all down.
"Thanks a lot, Lucy." Erza said. "Everything is coming together so well."
"So has Jellal asked you yet?" Lucy asked and got Erza to blush a little.
"Actually yes." Erza said. "He came over to my house while I was alone and spelled out the question in red roses."
"That is so sweet!" Lucy said. "Gajeel and Levy are looking forward to it and Gray told me he's going with that Juvia girl. She practically fainted when Gray asked her.
"What about you?" Erza asked as she was starting to smirk. "Has Natsu asked you?" Sadly, Lucy couldn't say the same things about her. The downcast she had on her face said it all. "You know, Natsu probably doesn't know how to ask a girl out. He has been on the road and on his own since he was a child."
"I know, but now that you've brought it up, I don't seem to get him." Lucy said. "I thought Natsu made it clear he liked me when I met that Wendy girl, but nothing has really happened between us since."
"I reemphasized my point. He's been on the road for years and probably doesn't know anything about a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship." Erza said. "Maybe instead of beating around the bush, you should just go with the direct approach."
"You really think so?" Lucy asked and Erza nodded her head.
…..
Zeref
Zeref was focusing his magic power in a meditative position. He was placing it in the same miniature graves that Keyes used when he created Graveviver.
"Lord Zeref, what may I ask are you doing?" Keyes asked.
"With Kyoka gone, we must gain some ground over the rangers." Zeref said. "I have a plan that will trap them in a nightmare." The graves were raised by his magic and spun around. Then, it flew off into somewhere into the cube. "It's almost set. All that is needed is for some to step in and stabilize the power."
"Allow me." Tempester said as he stepped forward.
"So eager, Tempester?" Keyes questioned.
"I want my chance at destroying the rangers. I want to be sure to fight them even if I end up being destroyed." Tempester said.
"Willing to fight even if you know you will be destroyed." Zeref said. "The others weren't aware or accept that possibility and they met their end. You just might be different, Tempester." He focused his power and placed a Z mark on Tempester's chest. "All that's left is to lure in the prey."
….
Lucy
Lucy decided to take Erza's advice and go straight forward to Natsu about her true feelings. She walked down the hall and spotted Natsu at his locker. She took a deep breath and marched right over.
"Natsu!" Lucy called out and got his attention.
"Hey! What's going on, Lucy?" Natsu asked.
"Listen, there's something I need to tell you." Lucy said. "I'm tired of playing this game we have going and I think it's time I put an end to it."
"What are you talking about?" Natsu asked. Lucy was about to say it, but Natsu clutch his head as a great amount of pain came out of nowhere.
"What's wrong?" Lucy asked.
'Natsu!'
"That voice! Zeref, is that you?" Natsu said as he looked around, but he didn't see him anywhere. "Where are you?"
'I'm speaking to you through telepathy.' Zeref said. 'Are you tired of this constant battle our two teams have going? Do you want to finish it once and for all? If you do, you and your friends come to the center of the city.'
"Natsu, what's the matter?" Lucy asked.
"It's Zeref. Looks like he wants to settle this once and for all." Natsu said. If it's a chance to get to his brother, Natsu is not going to wait around.
…..
Magnolia
Natsu gathered the other rangers and all of them went for the destination Zeref said.
"You all are aware that we might be walking right into a trap, right?" Gray said.
"I don't care." Natsu said.
"If Zeref is set to finish this for good, we must take it." Erza said.
"She's right. We can't let Zeref escape this time. We bring him down, this all comes to an end." Rogue said. All of them arrived at the destination, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"So where is he?" Gajeel questioned.
"Keep your eyes open for anything." Jellal said. All of them really didn't need to look so hard because a bolt of thunder came down and knocked them all off their feet. All of them looked up and saw Tempester making his way to them.
"Tempester? Where's Zeref?" Gajeel said.
"You have other matters to worry about." Tempester said.
…
Rangers' Base
Mirajane and Mavis were monitoring the fight. Natsu warned them about what was going on and wanted to keep a close eye out. They were wondering the same as the rangers.
"Why is Tempester there alone? I thought Zeref would be there as well." Mirajane said.
"Zeref doesn't arrive when he was the one who issued a challenge, but Tempester does." Mavis said as she tried looking at all angles. "An obvious trap, but what are they trying to do. Also, what is that mark on his chest?"
….
Magnolia
"No more waiting around. It's time you rangers were taken care of for good." Tempester said.
"Don't kid yourself. There's no way you can beat us. You'll end up like all the others before you." Natsu said. "Let's do it you guys." All of them lined up and were ready for the fight.
"Magical Energy, Unleash!" All of them morphed and were ready for this fight.
"Got you!" Tempester said. The mark on his chest glowed and all of them were surrounded in a magic circle.
"What is this?" Rogue said.
"What is he doing?" Jellal said.
"I can't move my feet." Sting said. All of them were trapped as they felt they were sinking into the circle and vanished with Tempester going with them.
….
Rangers' Base
Mavis and Mirajane saw what happened and couldn't believe it. Mirajane tried tracking them down, but she couldn't find a signal of any of them anywhere.
"They're gone! Where did they go?" Mirajane said.
"Keep trying." Mavis said as she tried using her magic to find them. "They just have to be somewhere."
…
The Rangers
The magic circle appeared in thin air and all of the rangers fell through. They landed on a floor and saw they were in some sort of mansion.
"What the heck?" Gray said as they all got up and looked around. "What is this place?"
"Where in the world are we?" Lucy asked.
"Welcome." All of them looked up a set of stairs and they saw Tempester was standing up there.
"What's going on, Tempester? Why have you brought us here?" Natsu asked.
"Do you like it? You should feel honored." Tempester said. "You are among the first humans to set foot in the home of the etherious."
"You mean we're in The Cube?" Jellal said as he looked around. "I don't remember being in a place like this when I was connected to Mard Geer."
"Lord Zeref just recently created it." Tempester said. "He's also invited some new friends." Tempester waved off his hands. All of them saw dark clouds form and all the enemies they've face before have returned.
"Hey, rangers!" Motororo said.
"Did you miss us?" Spiderrot said.
"We're back!" Venap said.
"You've got to be kidding me. These guys again?" Gajeel said.
"You figured they would have learned by now." Erza said. Tempesterr jumped down the stairs and landed across from the rangers.
"Attack!" Tempester said and all their enemies attacked with the rangers doing what they can to hold them off. Natsu took on Tempester as he tried kicking him, but Tempester grabbed his leg and flipped him back. Natsu tried a couple jabs, but Tempester block them and hit Natsu in the gut.
"Let us out of here." Natsu said.
"Not a chance." Tempester and breathed out some flames and blasted Natsu with them. All the other rangers tried fighting off their old enemies, but they were starting to get overwhelmed.
"There's too many of them." Jellal said. "We've got to get out of here." Rogue took out his sword and slashed against Yakdoriga and Guitaroo with him clearing the way to a hall.
"This way!" Rogue said. All of the rangers fought back and all of them made a run for it.
"Get them!" Bloodman said as all of them went after them.
"Hurry, keep going." Sting said as he and rogue hanged back. They both used their blasters and kept the monsters back. Both of them held out their blasters and aimed for the roof and caused it to collapse and cut the two groups off.
"That should hold them for a while." Rogue said as they kept running.
"You can't run forever." Mougoat said.
"We'll get you!" Samurong said.
…
Rangers' Base
Mirajane and Mavis continued to search for the other rangers, but neither of them were having any luck on finding them.
"I don't get it. It's like they just disappeared from the planet." Mirajane said. When she said that, that helped formed a theory for Mavis.
"That's it. They might not be on Earth anymore." Mavis said as she gathered a few ingredients and stir them into a pot.
"What are you going to do?" Mirajane said.
"I'm going to open a rift in the dimensions. Zeref must have sent them to a dark dimension or somewhere." Mavis said. "This should allow me to communicate with them and hopefully we can find a solution to get them out."
….
The Rangers
"Where's the dang exit?" Gajeel said as they all moved across a balcony. They all continued to find a way out, but the place was like a maze. They couldn't figure out how to get out and there old enemies could be around any corner.
"Found you!" Raveoy said as he appeared in front of them. He tried attacking, but Jellal got a hold of him and tossed him over railing and he hit the floor. "Hey! I found them!"
"Move it!" Jellal said as all of them got moving. They all kept moving so their enemies couldn't catch them, but they also heard their communicators go off.
'Rangers, can you hear me?'
"Mavis! It's so good to hear your voice!" Lucy said.
'What happened? Where are all of you?' Mavis said.
"We're all behind enemy lines." Natsu said. "Tempester sent us here and Zeref created some sort of trap where all our enemies are revived again."
'I see. I think I know a way out.' Mavis said. 'Tempester is the key to getting you out of there. Defeating him will allow me to form an opening to form, but only for a short while. It's the only chance you have."
"Got it. We've got to find Tempester." Jellal said as all of them kept moving.
"I'm down here." Tempester called out and they all saw he was right below them. "Come and get me."
"You got it." Sting said as he, Rogue, and Jellal jumped over the railings and came down with their swords. However, Tempester blocked each of them and shoved them off. All the other rangers jumped off and went to attack.
"Swoosh!" Tempester created blasts of wind and shoved them all against the wall. "The other monsters will be here soon and you all will be over powered."
"We'll beat you before that." Natsu said as he took out his shooter and blasted Tempester with it. Gray pulled out his trident and slashed against Tempester, but Tempester grabbed the trident and tossed him away. Lucy used her whip and got it around his arm. Erza jumped up and slashed her sword against him as she came down. Tempester pulled Lucy in and tossed her against Erza.
"Guys!" Gajeel said as all the monsters were arriving.
"Enough is enough. Dragon Armor!" Natsu said and he formed his armor. "All fired up! Red Fire Dragon! I'll take Tempester!" Natsu flew over and tackled Tempester into the wall. As Natsu was fighting him, the others were trying to hold off the other monsters. Tempester knocked Natsu off, but Natsu flew up to the air.
"Rumble!" Tempester had a bolt of thunder come down and blasted Natsu to the ground. Tempester walked over and lifted Natsu up, but Natsu kicked him back. "You rangers just don't know when to call it quits."
"You better believe that." Natsu said.
"You even willing to go against your own brother. I wonder, do you have any loyalties?" Tempester said.
"Shut up!" Natsu shouted as he brought flames around his fists and slammed them against Tempester.
"Why haven't you even tried to stop him? Is it because deep down you want this or know you can't beat him?" Tempester said. Natsu wasn't going to stand there and let him talk how he couldn't fight his own brother.
"Fire Dragon: Exploding Flame Blade!" Natsu unleashed his best attack and blasted Tempester with it. As a finishing touch, he flew in and smashed his fiery fist against the Z on Tempester.
"You know it's true." Tempester said before he fell back and was destroyed. With Tempester's destruction, the other monsters vanished away and a portal of light opened up for the rangers.
"There's the portal!" Rogue said.
"Let's go!" Gray said as all of them ran for the portal, but Lucy hanged back and saw Natsu wasn't moving.
"Natsu, what are you doing? Let's go." Lucy said.
"No." Natsu said. He took what Tempester said, having the struggles against him constantly haunting him and failing to stop his own brother, and he's not letting his brother go. "I'm going after my brother. I have a chance to reach him and I'm taking it."
"What are you talking about?" Lucy said.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going back." Natsu said. He grabbed Lucy and was about to throw her in.
"Natsu, no!" Lucy said before she went through and the portal closed with Natsu heading off into the base.
….
The Rangers
All of them crashed into the ground as they landed back in Magnolia and demorphed from their ranger uniforms. Lucy wasn't happy as Natsu didn't make it out of there.
"Natsu!" Lucy shouted.
…
Zeref
"Lord Zeref, Tempester is gone and your revived monsters have been vanquished." Keyes said.
"That's perfectly fine." Zeref said. "I can sense that Natsu stayed behind. He must be looking for me. The other rangers will distraught with their leader gone. That is the chance to strike. Time to begin the endgame."