Zero Hour

"I can hear Klodoa," Cobra said, "I feel sorry for them. That guy's insufferable." He looked over, and saw Cubelios staring at him.

"What?" Cobra asked. The snake just continued staring at him.

"Stop staring at me like that!" Cobra said, "What am I suppose to do? Help them take down Nirvana?" Cubelios cocked her head.

"Why would I do that?" Cobra demanded, "I don't owe them anything." Cubelios hissed in protest.

"Okay, so that guy saved the two of us, but why should I help him? Because he's going to have a kid?" Cubelios flicked her tongue at him.

"Tch. For once I'm glad I can't hear your voice. It would be nagging me non-stop." His friend thonked him in the back of the head.

(with the main group)

Natsu got hit in the face.

"Damn you!" Natsu said, as he glared at the stick.

"I'm just as strong as the other Oracion Seis!" Klodoa said proudly, "No one can beat me!" He then rammed Gray in the stomach.

"Muahahahahaha!"

"Natsu! Gray!" Lucy cried.

"Hm, pink with gold stars" Klodoa said as he looked up Lucy's skirt, "I'd peg you for that type."

"KYAH!" Lucy cried, pulling her skirt down. Natsu noticed that, and let out an angry roar, as he sprung at Klodoa.

"No one peeps on my girlfriend!" he yelled, "Especially while she's pregnant!" However, Klodoa jumped out of the way.

"This guy's not tough, but damn is he annoying!" Gray grumbled.

"But he's just a stupid stick!" Natsu said.

"I'm going to snap him in two!" Lucy said angrily.

"You'll never defeat me!" Klodoa said, "I'm…." He paused, as he looked around briefly.

"Wait a minute…," he muttered, "The six have… fallen?"

"The Oracion Seis have been defeated?" Lucy asked.

"GAH!" Klodoa cried, as he dropped the orb in his mouth, "He's going to show up!"

"What're you talking about?" Gray said as he got back up.

(with Brain)

As the last mark faded from Brain's face, he opened his eyes, but the colors were inverted. But instead of being black on white, the eyes were a sinister red.

(with the group)

"Brain has a second personality. There is the face we all know, who hordes knowledge like a dragon hordes treasure."

"I find that insulting!" Natsu protested.

"Don't interrupt!" Klodoa snapped, "But there's another face which cares about one thing, and one thing alone: destruction. He's known as 'Zero'. Due to the danger of the power of Zero, Brain sealed the personality away, using six seals."

"And the Oracion Seis are what keep those seals in place?" Gray asked.

"The Oraganic-Link magic that's used means that's used means that if the 'prayers' as they were called, Zero will…" The staff abruptly shut up, as he saw a figure appear in the shadows. In an instant, Natsu had put Lucy in front of him.

"Welcome back, Master Zero!" Klodoa said, as he bowed in submission. He's the Master? Lucy thought, as she moved close to Natsu.

"Klodoa," the figure said, as he approached, "It seems I've come at an interesting time, when even Midnight was taken down."

"Yes sir! I'm so sorry!" Klodoa said quickly.

"No matter," the figure answered, "I'm just satisfied to be out again. Its good to feel power flowing through my spirit." He then pulled over his cloak, as magic energy began to swirl around his body.

"I'll deal with these children," Zero said. He looked both exactly like, and completely different from Brain. He had pale skin, with deep set red eyes, and his hair was looser, and wavier. He was wearing a green suit.

"That's Zero?" Lucy asked.

"Stay behind me, Lucy," Natsu instructed, "This guy's magic feels sickening. You too, Happy!"

"Aye!"

"Of course!" Zero glanced over the group.

"You aren't enough to really expend the energy to fight," he said, "I'll just end thing's here." He then held up his hand, which was consumed with dark energy.

"Now be destroyed!" he said, as he blasted the magic at them.

"Ice Make Shield!" Gray said, as he held up his hands to create his shield. However, the shield was easily destroyed, blasting him away. Natsu jumped onto Lucy, grabbing Happy in his other arm, as he shielded both of them. When the dust cleared, the group was all on the ground, apparently defeated.

"That's amazing, Master!" Klodoa said, "You killed them so easily!"

"Oh they aren't dead," Zero said calmly, grinning.

"They aren't?"

"Can you see their bodies?"

"Uh…."

"If you can see their bodies!" Zero said maniacally, "They aren't dead!" He then sprung at them.

(with Cobra)

"Damn!" Cobra said, "I can hear Zero!" The last time he really saw Zero, was right before he was sealed away by Brain. He was still a kid when that was done, but from what he remembered, Zero was not someone he wanted to meet again.

"We gotta get out of here, Cubelios!" he said. The snake nodded in understanding, wrapping around him, opening her wings, and flapping out of view. He then listened carefully as Zero approached.

"I can see Cait Shelter in the distance," Klodoa said.

"So it is," Zero responded.

"Its the guild that can seal away Nirvana!" Klodoa said, "We gotta destroy that guild to protect Nirvana!"

"Why?"

"Eh? Um, because they can seal Nirvana away." Again he thought, because he dared not say anything that could be considered condescending towards Zero.

"Its meaningless," Zero said, as he grabbed Klodoa by the skull.

"Master Zero, what are you doing?" Klodoa cried. He could feel his magic being drained from him.

"All I want is destruction!" Zero proclaimed, "Everything in my path will be destroyed!" He then threw Klodoa off the tower, as the staff screamed.

For a reason, he didn't fully understand, Cobra caught him.

"Cobra?" Klodoa said, "I though you were dead."

"Sorry I'm not," Cobra sneered, "Let's go Cubelios!" Cubelios then flapped away. Zero didn't notice, as he was too focused on something else.

"This will be the first strike!" he announced, "It exists, and that is all other reason I need in order to destroy it! Let Cait Shelter be erased from all existence!" A large opening appeared on one of Nirvana's walls, as it began to charge some kind of cannon.

(with Erza and Jellal)

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jellal asked.

"I should be asking you," Erza said. The two were walking further down the city, hoping to meet with the others. Erza's hope was to find at least Natsu. Seeing Natsu could probably find a way to destroy the moon if given the opportunity, he just may have been to destroy Nirvana.

"Jellal!" Wendy called as she ran up.

"Erza too!" Carla said.

"Wendy!" Erza said, "I'm really glad you're alright."

"Who're you?" Jellal asked. So he really doesn't remember, Wendy thought.

"Jellal's memories are somewhat decayed," Erza said, "He doesn't remember anything really at this point."

"Did we know each other?" Jellal asked Wendy. The girl was tempted to say "yes", but figured she probably shouldn't.

"You better have a way to stop Nirvana!" Carla yelled.

"I don't," Jellal answered, shaking his head, "My self-destruction array was my initial plan, but its obviously not going to work now. I'm afraid I don't have any other options."

"I will NOT accept that! Are you expecting us to let our guild be destroyed?" Carla demanded. They could then feel Nirvana begin to shake.

(at Cait Shelter)

The cannon of Nirvana continued to charge, as the guild members cowered around their master.

"Its all over!"

"We're doomed!" Roubaul just watched in silence.

"What's with glamour?" he asked, "This is our fate! Let's just accept it, and be done with it!"

(atop Nirvana)

"Now let the light be crushed under the boot of darkness!" Zero roared, as Nirvana exploded with energy.

The beam soared through the air heading towards the guild. But just when it was about to to obliterate the guild, the beam suddenly twisted away, much to everyone's shock.

The entire city buckled suddenly, as one of the legs was blasted, causing it to briefly lose its balance.

"What happened?!" Zero demanded.

(with Erza)

Erza, who was holding onto Wendy, who was in turn holding onto Carla, looked up.

"Its Christina!" she said. Indeed, it was Blue Pegasus' magical airship.

"Can anyone hear me?"

"Hibiki?" Erza asked, "That's you?"

"Erza! And you're with Wendy!"

(on Christina)

"I'm here too, men!"

"Sir!" Hibiki said, "I'm glad you're alright!"

"What happened?" Erza asked, "Wasn't Christina shot down?"

"We managed to get back, many thanks to Lyon," Hibiki said, "He managed to make an replacement for the broken wing. And also many thanks to Sherry's Marionette and Ren's Air Magic we managed to stay airborne."

Outside, said two were focusing their magic on the entire ship, which, needless to say, wasn't easy.

"I don't think I ever had to control something on this scale!" Sherry said, her entire body tensed up.

"Just focus!" Ren answered, "But don't take it that I'm trying to carry you or anything!" But he was also clearly straining himself.

"That last attack was thanks to Eve's Snow Magic," Hibiki explained.

"I managed to combine my own power with Christina's armament," Eve said, "Though I only managed to cripple one leg. And I don't think I do much more after this."

"Thank you!" Wendy called.

"Unfortunately we're pretty much completely spent," Hibiki said, "I'm afraid there isn't much to do now." Almost exactly after he finished saying that, Christina began to fell. Sherry doubled over, panting.

"I'm sorry!" she said, "I… can't do… anything else." Ren managed to catch her.

"You pushed yourself way to hard," Ren said. Sherry just looked up at him.

"We're going down!" Hibiki said, "Don't worry about us, but I managed to figure out how to stop Nirvana!" Those words echoed all across the group in Nirvana.

"How!" Erza demanded.

"Nirvana has six leg-like structures," Hibiki said, "Those aren't actually legs, but more like valves that draw magic energy from the earth. There are lacrima crystals in each leg, which draw the energy into Nirvana. If all six can be destroyed, then Nirvana will cease to function. But you have to destroy them all at once! If you don't, the others will simply repair the others."

"How do we do that?" Erza asked.

"I'll give you a time limit," Hibiki explained, "Twenty minutes should do. Once the limit is done, you have to destroy it!"

"That's so futile I can't even laugh." Everyone froze at that voice.

"Who's that!" Lyon demanded.

"Its that Brain guy!" Wendy said.

"He's hijacked my link!"

"I am Zero, the Master of the Oracion Seis," the voice explained.

"This guy's the master?" Ren asked.

"I believe in giving credit where credit is due," Zero said, "I was quite impressed that someone could use the same kind of Archive as Brain. But it matters not. Your destruction has already begun. Three already are: the Dragon Slayer, the Ice-Maker, and the girl. There's also the cat, but who really cares?"

"NO!" Wendy cried, "There's no way that can be true! I refuse to believe it!"

"I don't care if you believe it," Zero answered, "You said that you would all destroy the Lacrima at once?" Very well, then come at me, here and now! I stand before one of the six, ready to destroy any who dares approach me!" With that, the connection ended.

(with Cobra)

"So they're all going after Nirvana, eh?" Cobra said. He managed to hear the telepathy, and now knew the people's plan.

"What are you going to do?" Klodoa said, "Are you just going to leave?"

"Of course," Cobra said, "Brain said he was planning on killing me anyway when this was all done. If I stay here, Zero will almost DEFINITELY kill me. I'm bringing you because you could come in handy later." Klodoa thought about that briefly, and nodded.

"That is probably smarter," he said.

"Let's go Cubelios!" Cobra said, but the snake wouldn't fly away.

"He said go you overgrown earthworm!" Klodoa said. Cobra swatted him.

"Don't talk about there that way!" he said, "Come on Cubelios! We gotta get out of here!"

"I… won't… leave…" It was that same voice again. Was it really Cubelios voice? Considering that she was looking straight at him, that had some credit.

"What do you want me to do?" Cobra said, "Help them." Cubelios nodded in response.

"You're kidding right?"

"HISSS!" Cobra and Cubelios stared each other down for a time, as Klodoa looked between them.

"Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to end favorably?" he said with a sigh.

(with Erza and Wendy)

"What do we do?" Carla asked, "We don't have enough mages."

"I don't think I can use any destruction magic," Wendy said, "I'm sorry."

"Well, we do have two people here," Erza said, "But I don't know who else can do it."

"You have me," Ichiya called out.

"Ichiya?" Erza asked.

"I may be weak, but my parfume is still strong, men!"

"Good, now we have three," Erza said.

"Make that four." Everyone turned, to see Cobra floating down on Cubelios, much to everyone's surprise. Everyone got ready to fight, but Cobra waved his hand.

"Look, I don't want to do this either, but Cubelios won't get off my back until I do something," he explained. Cubelios nodded in agreement.

"Why should we trust you?" Jellal said, "You're part of the Oracion seis."

"Not anymore," Cobra answered, "Brain made it clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. I'm not particularly inclined to forgive him for stabbing me in the back. So I'm not intent on letting him win." People all glared at him.

"And you don't have much of a choice, do you?" Cobra said, "The alternative isn't much better."

"I'll have it known I heavily protested this," Klodoa said.

"Isn't that the staff Brain used?" Wendy asked.

"Its a long story," Klodoa said.

"Fine then!" Erza said, "We don't have a choice. But once this is done…"

"I don't care," Cobra said. Erza glared at him again, but new she didn't have much of a choice at this current point.

"I can hold the connection for another few instances," Hibiki said, "But that's about it."

"Quick!" Erza said, "Sound off! Anyone who can fight!"

(on the ship)

"Damn it Gray!" Lyon muttered weakly, "Don't tell me… you've already given up… the ghost. If Ul would be here, she'd be humiliated to know that you lost to this scumbag." At the same time,Sherry lay collapsed next to Ren.

"Lucy…," she said, "I don't like you…you're stupid, clumsy, and weak…. but you always put everything into everything….I can't hate if you die…"

(with Erza and Wendy)

"Natsu," Erza said, "I refuse to accept that you went down. You've faced worse, and got through it. I know you can hear me, you have to get up."

"Please Natsu, please get back up," Wendy whispered, "Please… big brother."

(with the main group)

Lucy let out a grunt, as she slowly regained conscious. She noticed Natsu over her. You… protected me?

"Come on Natsu," she said, putting her hand on his face, "Don't tell me you've already given up. You promised me to come back to me, to our baby." Natsu was silent for a time, but he stirred.

"C'mon," he said, "Can't I sleep more?" Lucy smiled.

"I'm afraid not, lover boy," she said, "We got a bad guy to stop!"

Note: I can say with no regret that I actually really like Klodoa. I think he's one of the best examples of a talking item in manga/anime. I just find him hilarious. I hope you liked Cobra coming to help. I thought it would make for an interesting touch in the story. But he can't be like Gajeel, since he's a dark mage of an infamous dark guild. The Magic Council wouldn't let him go away no matter what.

I'm sorry if the ending felt slightly rushed, but I needed to get through it to get to better stuff.

I'm sorry that this is so close to canon, but there's an upcoming series of scenes which are MAJOR departures from canon, which I'm really looking forward to.

Be sure to review.