Witching Hour

Natsu was trying to make his way through the forest, only to find that his wing arm was getting in the way. It would get caught in branches, or catch air and slow him down. It was getting really annoying, but despite his best efforts, he couldn't make the wing go away.

"Damn it!" he cried.

"Natsu, wait up!" Happy cried, as he flew after his friend. Natsu was looking for Lucy; in a time like this, he had to know where she was, or he'd probably lose his mind. The Dragon Slayer was tempted to assuming Dragon Aspect, and just fly around looking for her, but knew it had to be saved for the time. So for now, Natsu would look the old fashioned way: with his eyes and nose.

Meanwhile, sitting on a branch, Mavis and Zeref watched Natsu and Happy move past, away from their gaze. Mavis was in Zeref's lap.

"So that's him?" she asked.

"It is." Mavis looked at Natsu carefully.

"I can see it," she eventually said," You must be proud."

"I am," Zeref answered, smiling as he watched Natsu run past.

"I'll admit, I'm tempted to help them," Mavis said, "It is my guild after all."

"This is their fight," Zeref said, "Who are we to take that from them?"

(somewhere else)

Ultear was sitting against a tree, staring at the sky. Generally, she prized herself as being of great clarity; she knew what her goals were, and she acted upon them. But for the first time in as long as she could remember, she was questioning everything. This Mavis girl (though Ultear had a feeling that "girl" was substantially older than her), had somehow gotten under Ultear's skin, something very few people were capable of, and the black haired woman didn't like it.

Hearing someone approaching, she stood up. Out of the bushes, stumbled Natsu, landing face down.

"Damn this wing!" he snapped. Ultear looked closer, and took notice large scaled wing in place of his arm. Natsu then looked up, and saw Ultear.

"Who are you?" he asked. Ultear was silent as she glared at Nastu. She remembered him from Galuna Island. It took over a week for that welt on her face to go away.

"Natsu!" Happy said as he fluttered through the bushes, and then saw Ultear, "Who's that?"

"You aren't in Fairy Tail," Natsu said, as he took a battle stance (or best he could with his wing), "So that means you from Grimoire Heart."

"How observant," Ultear said, rolling her eyes slightly. Natsu sniffed the air, as something came to him.

"I know your smell!" he said, "You're that guy from Galuna Island!"

"Yes, that was me," Ultear said, putting her hands on her hips, "What about it?" Natsu then paused, as he rubbed his chin with his claws.

"But that was a guy, then," he muttered, "So if you're a guy…" Ultear was going to correct him, but then Natsu came to a "realization".

"You're a crossdresser!" he declared, pointing. Ultear's jaw dropped, as her eye twitched.

"I'm not a crossdresser!" Ultear snapped, "I'm a woman! I've always been a woman!"

"But then…"

"I used magic to disguise myself as a man," Ultear explained, "I was looking for keys, so I used Lyon to manipulate Deliora and…"

"So you are a crossdresser?"

"I'm not!" Ultear declared, shaking with anger. She didn't know why she was acting like this, normally she had more control over her emotions.

"But you dressed and made yourself look like a guy, right?"

"Yes.. but… I…," Ultear shook her head, "It doesn't matter! I can't let you get in my way!" She then pointed at Natsu.

"Arc of Time!" she spoke.

"Natsu! The ground!" Happy said. Natsu looked down, and noticed something staring to emerge from the ground. Within an instant, a fully grown tree erupted out from under Natsu's feet.

"Where the hell did that tree come from?" Natsu demanded.

"It as always there," Ultear answered, "It used to be just a tiny sprout. But I pushed it forward." A sphere then appeared, hovering over Ultear's open hand. Natsu knew that sphere.

"I am the one who bends time to my will, I'm Ultear Milkovich, I'm the leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory."

"I don't care," Natsu said, "The only thing I care about is getting you off this island."

"Oh, I won't be able to do that," Ultear answered, "Not until I have…." She paused for an instance.

"Until I have Zeref." That pause frightened her. It shouldn't have been there.

"Zeref?" Natsu asked.

"I think Zeref was around a long time ago," Happy said.

"I won't leave until he's in my grasp," Ultear said.

"I couldn't care less about some old story about some ancient dark mage," Natsu said, "You invaded our island! And now you're keeping me from my son! Now unless you take a hike, I'm going to have to incinerate you!" His chest lit up in demonstration.

"Quite the talker, aren't you?" Ultear sneered, "Well, no matter. You'll be dealt with in short order." She then waved her hand, and the orb floated up to Natsu.

"You think one little ball's going to be able to stop me?" Natsu asked.

"Of course not, so its a good thing I have more than one," Ultear answered. She then waved her hand, and suddenly, the one orb seemed to multiply into countless other ones.

"The hell's this?" Natsu said.

"The future, or perhaps more accurately, futures," Ultear answered, "They all represent potential possibilities. But all these possibilities have one destiny. And that possibility, is you." She then snapped her fingers. Within an instant, all the orbs began pummeling Natsu, as he cried out.

"Natsu!" Happy cried. The Dragon Slayer tumbled to the ground, before getting back up, his eyes and chest glowing.

"You're an enduring man," Ultear said, "But it doesn't matter. Not in the least."

(at Fairy Tail base camp)

"This is my fault," Lisanna said, "I wasn't strong enough."

"Don't beat yourself up," Gajeel said, "If I had been stronger…"

"You only barely won your fight," Levy said, "Its not your fault either."

"Its not anyone's fault." The group looked over, and to their horror, saw Elfman approaching them. He was carrying an unconscious Evergreen.

"Elfman!" Lisanna cried.

"These guys are strong," Elfman forced out, as he came forward, "Way too strong." As she watched Elfman gently lay Evergreen on the ground, Levy clenched her fists. She looked at all her friends, beaten and shamed.

"Its not over yet," she said firmly.

"Levy," Lisanna said softly.

"If there's one thing this guid has taught me, its that as long as we stand together, we can't lose," Levy said, before taking in a breath, "So I won't give up! I won't let Grimoire Heart get its way!" Everyone looked at her in silence.

(with Cana)

Cana had been making her way forward. Since they got interrupted by Grimoire Heart, Lucy couldn't finish the explanation as to the way to get to the grave. She largely had to guess at this point. Taking a breath, Cana sat down, and looked up.

"I'm probably just talking to thin air," she said, "But if you're there, Mavis. Can you please help me?"

Unbeknownst to her, though, Mavis was floating over her, looking at Cana carefully. There were aspects of this girl, that reminded Mavis of another. One from the past… She then floated down behind Cana, and Mavis whispered one word. Cana then jerked up. In an instant, she knew where to go. Not bothering to ponder about it, she ran down the path. Mavis just smiled.

(with Lucy)

Despite her dress, Lucy didn't have much trouble running in it. If anything, running was easier in this dress, as she could run far faster. Lucy was looking for any of her fellow guild members, no one in particular, but admittedly she would've been very happy to find Natsu.

"I wonder if Natsu will like this dress," she mused to herself. Maybe this would be the dress she could get married in. Would certainly be easier than buying a new one. The thought made the blonde blushed. She didn't know why, considering how she now and a son with Natsu. But something about marrying him…. just made her feel strange. The girl eventually stopped, and pondered to think.

"Now, where would they be?" she asked herself. She knew here the base camp was, but she wasn't so sure where she was in relation to it. Knowing Natsu, at this point, he may have been looking for her, but Lucy couldn't wait for him to come find her. She needed to take action herself. Then, all of a sudden, Lucy could hear the sound of rustling.

"Whose there?" Lucy demanded, turning, and clenching her fists. At first there was no response, but then Lucy saw what looked like a man hiding by the tree. He had pale skin, and black bushy hair. He peaked out nervously.

"If… if you think acting tough will make go away, you're wrong!" the man said, "I… I… I'm one of the Seven Kin, Kain Hikaru. I'm really strong!" Lucy looked over this guy, and took a fighting stance.

"I already took on one of you guys, and won!" Lucy declared, "Let's go!" She got ready to fight, as Kain finally made his way out.

"Alright then!" he said, fishing in his clothes, "Let me show my Witching Hour Curse Magic! And with it I'll beat you!"

"Can't say I heard of it," Lucy said. Eventually, Kain pulled out a small rag doll.

"This is Mr Cursey! Now can I have a strand of your hair?" he asked. Lucy paused, blinking.

"Come again?"

"I need your hair so that I can curse and beat you," Kain explained.

"My hair?" Lucy asked.

"You see, with the Witching Hour Curse, after I put your hair on Mr Cursey, then I can control you," Kain explained, "So can I have your hair?"

"You think that's going to make me give you my hair?" Lucy asked, "Are you just plain stupid?" That got Kain angry, which got Lucy nervous for a time but then…

"Do… Don't think that just because you're saying all those things I'll go out with you!" he forced out.

"Wait, what!" Lucy said, "First of all, I've already got a boyfriend, and second, how do you even get any of that out of what I said?"

"Fine!" Kain said, before pulling out a hair of his own, "Let me show you how my magic works!" He then stuck the hair onto the doll's head, and… handed it to Lucy.

"Go ahead and try it out," Kain said. Lucy just looked at the doll with a blank expression.

"You see…" Kain didn't get a chance to finish, as Lucy slammed the doll's face into the ground. At the same time, Kain got face planted into the ground. Lucy cackled as Kain pried his head out of the ground.

"Hey, what was that…" Lucy pulled the doll's legs apart, causing Kain to do the splits.

"Why are you doing this?!" the dark mage cried out in pain. Lucy put the doll into all sorts of poses, which Kain mimicked exactly, as the blonde laughed.

"Will you cut it out?" Kain snapped, as he was doing yoga poses.

"You know this is pretty fun," Lucy said, "Maybe I'll bring this home. I'm sure my baby will like playing with it." Finally, Kain managed to get free, and snatched the doll from Lucy.

"Alright!" he said, "Now you can really forget asking me out!"

"I already told you I have a boyfriend!" Lucy said, "Hell, didn't you hear me say I've got a baby?"

"Now I've got to finish you!" Kain said, as he put the doll on his belt, "Let's go!" With that, he charged, like a train, going right through the trees as Lucy ran.

"What am I supposed to take from this?!" Lucy cried, as she fled.

Note: One fight I definitely won't omit is the fight between Kain and Lucy/Natsu. I really like this fight, since it has so much potential for comedy. Next chapter will obviously continue it. Take note "Witching Hour" comes from the English Dub, since the translation of the magic's actual name is "Shrine Visit at the Hour of the Ox", and is based on a Shinto curse. Obviously that's a real mouthful, so I can't put that in.

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