Nightmare at Midnight

Some distance away, lay Cait Shelter, and the two it was part of. Though it may have been more accurate to say that the town that was part of Cait Shelter lay some distance away, since the entire town was part of the guild.

"We got trouble!" one guild member yelled, "Its Nirvana!" Everyone in the guild heard that.

"The Allied Forces mission failed?" one girl asked.

"Even though they had Erza Scarlet and one of the Ten Wizard Saints?" another guy said.

"Master! What do we do?" The master of Cait Shelter, whose name was Roubaul, was a short, bearded man, with a large feathered headdress. He took a swig of bottle, as he looked over his guild.

"Is that true?!" he demanded, alcohol spilling out of his mouth.

"Swallow before talking!"

"Nirvana is heading this way," the guy who first announced it explained.

"I hope Wendy and Carla are safe," one mage mentioned.

"Yeah, I'd hate to think what would happen if they got caught up in all of this.

"Don't worry," Roubaul said, more alcohol spilling from his mouth, "Light isn't gone yet, and if anything, its shining even brighter than ever."

"Could they know our true identity?" someone else asked.

"Why else would they be coming here?"

"We should evacuate!"

"Our barrier can't work on Nirvana!"

"No way!" Routable yelled, "There are people fighting to stop Nirvana! We need to believe in them! And if fate decrees that it be time to pay for our sins, then so be it."

(at Nirvana)

It didn't take long for Erza to remember who the guy was. Midnight of the Oracion Seis.

"Stand back, Erza," Jellal instructed, "I'll deal with this man."

"No way," Erza said, "You're no where near in the right shape to do this."

"I honestly don't care," Midnight answered, "Both of you are going to die anyway, so who dies first isn't that important to me personally."

(with Lucy)

"No," Lucy whispered, as she covered her mouth in shock, as tears began to well in her eyes.

"Natsu!" Happy cried, as he swooped down with Lucy. The moment Lucy was close enough, she shook herself free, and ran towards the rubble of the explosion.

"Natsu!" she cried, as she started to digging through the rubble, "Damn it you are not allowed to die!" As she continued to dig, she began to visibly cry.

"You promised me, you promised our baby," Lucy mumbled weakly, "You promised you'd come back." She then fell to her knees, as she began to sob.

"GAH!" Lucy was never happier to hear that grunt. Natsu then burst out of the rubble.

"Damn, it got me!" Natsu said.

"Natsu!" Lucy cried, as she launched herself into his arms, "I'm so happy you're okay!"

"Of course I'm okay," Natsu answered, "Gray and I got buried under all this rock."

"Where'd all this even come from?" Gray asked as he emerged as well. As the dust began to clear, they noticed a figure.

"Damn! I'm getting old," Jura said, as he fell to his knees.

"Old man!" Natsu yelled.

"He protected us," Gray said.

"I was coming up…. to join you, when…. I noticed the trap," Jura said weakly, "Maybe… if I was faster, I'd be able to…. to save myself as well. But…" He then looked back, smiling at them.

"But you're alright, that's… the important thing." He then collapsed to the ground, defeated.

Old man!" Natsu cried.

(with Wendy and Carla)

"I'm sorry Wendy, but I'm getting tired, I don't think I can carry you much longer," Carla said.

"That's okay," Wendy said, as she let Carla set her down, "I can maybe track Jellal by scent, but his smell is somewhat different. Not by too much, but its still there."

"Are you sure he can stop Nirvana?" Carla asked.

"Its worth a shot, and I'm willing to try just about anything," Wendy answered. I just hope he's going to be safe.

(with Erza and Jellal)

The standoff between Erza and Jellal, against Midnight seemed as if it was lasting forever.

"I'm a patient individual," Midnight said, "I'm willing to wait. But the question is, are you willing to wait?" Erza knew they probably couldn't wait. Nirvana was moving, and every second they waited, it was getting closer to a populated area. The red head knew that waiting was dangerous, and something they couldn't afford to do. With that in mind, Erza struck.

"Erza!" Jellal called. Erza slashed at Midnight, only for the attack to twist away from him.

"So we're going to straight to business?" Midnight asked, "Very well, this seems like it would be more fun anyway." Erza slashed at him again, only for the attack to be deflected again. Midnight then flicked his wrist, sending Erza careening away.

"I won't let you fight alone!" Jellal declared, as he sprung at Midnight. However, Midnight just sneered, as he held up his hand. Jellal was blasted away by the magic, creating several magic gashes in his body, and blasting him back.

"What?" Jellal muttered.

"Not only are your memories gone, you're skill is apparently gone as well," Midnight noted, "I guess that's to be expected. But it wouldn't matter, I'd be able to take you no matter what." Erza then jumped up at Midnight again, but he merely glanced at her briefly.

Erza's armor suddenly began to twist and contort coming around her body as if it were some kind of massive snake. She let out a pained grunt as she felt the armor starting to twist her body.

"What is this?" she grunted.

"He's using her armor as a weapon!" Jellal noted. Erza managed to break free by requipping into her Flame Empress armor.

"So that's what you can do?" Erza inquired, "I've heard about Reflector Magic, but I can't say I've ever really seen it in use before."

"How observant of you," Midnight said, "Indeed, I use Reflector. It allows me to distort anything in my range."

"Apparently that includes both magical, and physical attacks," Jellal muttered, "Damn, this won't be easy."

"Frankly, I don't give a damn," Erza answered, "One way or another, you're going down!"

"I'd me with your best shot, but that would imply that it might have an effect," Midnight said with a snort. He then gestured for Erza to come, which she did. With a yell, the knight held up her sword, and swung her blade of fire at Midnight, only for it to easily to be deflected, as all the others were. Erza then swung her blade at Midnight's neck, only for the blade to bend away.

"Its useless," Midnight said, as he flicked a finger at Erza. Erza's armor then spiraled, bringing her arms in, like she was being trapped in a cocoon. Erza then re-quipped into her Heaven's Wheel.

"Twist my armor as much as you want," she said, "I can just re-quip into a new one."

"Likewise, re-quip into a different armor, and I'll just twist that one."

"Then I'll just have to defeat you, and stop you permanently!"

"Good luck," Midnight sneered.

"I don't believe in luck," Erza said, pointing her sword at Midnight, "Only skill."

"Trust me, soon you'll be wish for better luck."

(with the main group)

"You better not be dying old guy!" Natsu said angrily.

"If only Wendy were here, his wounds are serious," Lucy said.

"What should we do?" Happy asked.

"I don't think there's anything we really can do," Gray said, "None of us have the magic."

"This is sure a pity." Everyone stopped, and looked around.

"Who said that?" Lucy asked

"Is someone practicing their ventikrolism?" Happy asked.

"I think you mean 'ventriloquism", and the answer is no," Lucy answered.

"Brain really is a fool, wasting his power on single trap, that still failed to take down a single enemy," the voice continued.

"Look!" Happy said, pointing.

"What?" Natsu said. Everyone looked up, and saw… Brain's staff?

"Eh?" Lucy asked.

"Oh well, as long as Midnight's still up and about there's nothing to worry about," the staff continued, "I might as well deal with you myself."

"The staff is talking!" Gray said.

"Yes, I'm talking, and soon…" The staff was silenced when Natsu grabbed him, and started banging him against the ground.

"Stop this giant city you stupid stick!"

"Stop it!" the staff yelled, it swatted Natsu in the face with its brunt, and floated put to face the group, "I am the seventh of the Oracion Seis! I'm Klodoa, and I'm…."

"Tell me how to stop this place!" Natsu said, as he started hitting him on the ground again.

"I said stop it!" Klodoa yelled.

"Wait, if there are seven members, why are you still called the 'Oracion Seis?" Lucy asked.

"Are we factoring out that he's a talking staff?" Gray said.

"You're thinking about it too hard!" Klodoa protested, "You guys are such punks! The Cait Shelter guild will be on the horizon soon, but first I should clean things out first for all of you."

(with Erza)

"Dance of Twenty Blades!" Erza declared, as she launched her blades at Midnight, but as with all, they bent out of the way, back towards Erza. Erza managed to deflect all of them.

"Really, that's it?" Midnight asked.

"Far from it," Erza said, "That was just the second level of my Dance! Now, Dance of Thirty Blades!" Another many blades launched at Midnight, but they bent out of the way as well. Midnight then thrust his hand at Erza, twisting around her armor, tightening it so hard it felt like it was crushing her bones into a powder, while it was nearly shattering the armor.

"Dance of Ten Blades!" she forced out. Of her Sword Dance technique, it was the weakest, but it was the only technique she could do from this position. Midnight didn't even need to deflect any of them, as he dodged.

"Not too bad," he admitted, "But still bad. Spiral Pain!" A torrent of magic energy surged up, nearly shredding Erza to pieces. She then fell to the ground, barely conscious.

"Don't tell me it was that easy," Midnight said.

"Damn you!" Jellal said, as he tried to get up, only to fail.

"Don't die just yet," Midnight said, "If you do, I won't have anything to past the time before we get to Cait Shelter."

"Cait Shelter?" Jellal asked.

"That's what I said," Midnight answered.

"What's the point of that? What's so special about Cait Shelter?" Midnight grinned maliciously.

"Nirvana was created by the Nirvites, in their ploy to end war. Unfortunately, Nirvana turned far more dangerous than they had thought. To prevent it from potentially destroying everything, they sealed it away. However, they continued to watch over it…"

(with the main group)

"A guild made up entirely of the descendants of the Nirvites came into existence," Klodoa said to the others, "That guild is known to others Cait Shelter."

"What?!" Natsu yelled.

"Carla's guild helped create Nirvana?" Happy asked.

"No, their ancestors did," Klodoa answered, "They possess the power to seal Nirvana away. For obvious reasons, we have to destroy them."

(with Erza)

"Doing that would undo all our handwork," Midnight said, "And this will teach the Nirvites the pain of neutrality." He then looked to sky, holding his arms out.

"With Nirvana, we will turn their hearts to darkness, and have them destroy each other! It will be amazing!"

"You're despicable," Jellal hissed.

"That's ironic coming from you," Midnight said, grinning, "You are no less despicable than me."

"That's not possible," Jellal answered.

"Is it now?" Midnight said, "Let me describe to your past. You forced children to labor, you killed one of your closest friends, and, here's my favorite, you even tried to kill Erza!" Jellal took that all in, as he just stared at Midnight.

"There are more people than can be counted were cast into misery by you. You are quite like us, so why not join us? You would be a superb member of the Six Prayers." Jellal clenched his teeth, as he took that all in. Was I really such a monster? he thought Am I meant to be evil?

"I refuse to believe that." The two looked at Erza, who rose to feet, as a violet mist slid over her body. A naginata appeared in her hand, as a purple robe wrapped around her body

"Erza," Jellal whispered.

"So, you're still able to move?" Midnight said, "I'll admit I doubted the rumors, but clearly my doubt was unfounded." He then looked towards Erza, as he smiled.

"You are certainly worth obliterating," he said.

"Not before I obliterate you," Erza said firmly.

"Very well," Midnight said, gesturing, Let me see your power. Not to say it will do anything." Erza sprung at him, twisting the naginata through her arms. She's so fast! Jellal thought.

"Speed doesn't matter when it comes to my power," Midnight said. However, instead of slashing at Midnight, Erza thrust the polearm into the ground, and pole-vaulted into the air. As she was doing that, she kicked Midnight in the face, sending him careening away into a wall.

"You have two critical weaknesses," Erza said, "Number one, you can reflect magic and weapons, but you can't do it to the body. If it did, you could've snapped my neck no problem."

"Pretty good," Midnight said as he rose to his feet, as he dusted himself off, "But there is more than one way to kill a person." He then held up his hands, twisting Erza's robe.

"As for number two," she said calmly, "Dance of Forty Blades." Midnight looked up, to see swords cascading down upon. As the dust got kicked up, he emerged wounded.

"You had to dodge my sword while bending my armor," Erza explained, "That means that you can only really react a single area at any given time. That area is either around you or your enemy. And while casting it on said enemy, you can't use it on you."

"Damn you!" Midnight hissed. This is amazing! Jellal thought He saw through him no problem.

"Besides, my Robe of Yuuen is elastic, so your magic isn't going to do a thing against this armor," Erza said before thinking briefly, "I guess that creates a third weakness."

"Its a shame," Midnight said as he rose to his feet slowly.

"For you perhaps," Erza said, "Seeing as I'm clearly the victor here."

"No, its a shame because you had to live long enough to see this," Midnight said, as he looked up the sky, spreading his arms. His body then turned black, as it seemed to twist and contort like his magic.

"At midnight, my refraction reaches its peak!" Midnight said proudly.

"What's going on?!" Jellal said, "What kind of power is this?!" A massive, black skinned demon appeared in Midnight's place.

"Now that things are determined, I don't care how they happen!" Midnight said darkly. With that, he sprung at Erza, dark magic gathering in his palm, thrusting it down at Erza. There was a massive explosion, that rocked all of Nirvana. A large tentacle shot out his palm, impaling Jellal, before another one impaled Erza.

"Oh? Looks like I overdid it," Midnight said, "I was hoping to toy around a little more, but I guess the impalement won't kill you immediately." With that, the tentacle forced its way through Erza's body harder.

"ERZA!" Jellal called, as Erza screamed, and Midnight laughed.

"Dance of One Blade!"

Midnight fell to this knees, as Erza took a breath, as she set down her naginata. The demon was gone, as were all the wounds. Jellal stared at it all in shock. It was all… fake?

"My illusions failed?" Midnight asked, "That…. that shouldn't be possible."

"Illusions have no effect on me," Erza said, her left eye closed, and her artificial right wide open.

"Its not… possible!" Midnight said, "I'm the most powerful…. of the Oracion Seis. I'm stronger than my father. I can't be… defeated."

"People who derive pleasure from the sufferings of others are the weaker ones," Erza said, "You are far from strong." Midnight reached to to the sky.

My prayer…. I only wanted to sleep… in a quiet place.

"This… is what she can do?" Jellal muttered. Erza panted, as she looked at Jellal.

"The first step to being strong is knowing your weaknesses," Erza said, "That, and having kindness."

(with Brain)

The last symbol began to fade.

Note: A problem with Midnight, as that his magic doesn't lend itself to much in the way of a real battle. It mostly turns into an exchange of attacks than a trading of blows. But I hope this was good for people.

Another reason I'm going so fast, is that I want to get to some certain arcs that I think may be more fun to write. Not saying this isn't fun, its just other arcs might be more fun. One that I'm actually really looking forward to is the Grand Magic Games arc, because I've got serious plans for that arc, including some possible OCs.

Be sure to review.