Chain Link Magic
The members of Fairy Tail busted out of the guild hall. "What's going on?" They looked out over their town. "Why is the city red?" Levy asked.
A red mist filled the city. Smoke came from a building near the edge of town. "How could an explosion from so far away be heard from way over here?" Jet questioned. Another explosion went off near the edge of town in a different direction.
"I wonder." Bolt held out two fingers. "Light Write." A white magic circle with runes around it came out of his fingers and expanded in every direction when it reached up to the second level of the Fairy Tail building the runes shattered and disappeared. Purple magical circles with markings on them appeared on different spots throughout the city.
"I thought so," Bolt said, looking at the sheer number of them all. "This is Chain Link Magic, a type of magic that hasn't been invented yet, but is a lot like body link magic however the difference is that when each of these circles active to cause their affect it immediately sets off another one. In this case it was set up to blow up different areas in Magnolia by gathering the natural magic in the air to blow up their targets."
Natsu held up his fist, setting it on fire. "Then let's just wreck these things."
"That's not a good idea," Layla said.
"Oh, come on why not?" Natsu shouted, throwing his hands about.
"Because this type of Chain Link Magic will only gather the magic you attack it with to help it blow things up," Bolt explained. "The explosions will grow more powerful with each blast until it finally reaches here." Bolt looked back at the Fairy Tail building that had three purple circles around the guild hall on three different levels.
"Using Fairy Tail as one big bomb that will completely wipe out the entire city," Bolt continued. "The only way to stop this link magic is to find its caster or casters and take them down. The problem is a caster only has to be in range of the city for the magic to work so they don't have to actually be in town."
"Why couldn't we sense it earlier?" Cana asked.
"Chain Link magic takes some time to set up and can easily hide itself unless it comes into contact with other magic," Bolt answered.
"That's why you used your Light Write spell," Freed inquired.
"But why did they set it up now?" Wendy asked.
"Probably because three days ago we took down two of their A class," Bolt answered.
"That's enough for now," Makarov said. "Spread out and find Crime Spree we must protect our city."
The past members of Fairy Tail quickly charged forward and spread out in different directions with their teams. Gajeel went with Shadow Gear, Team Natsu went in another direction, Laxus and the Thunder Legion ran through another part, and everyone else went in other places as well.
Bolt looked over at his sister. "Layla, can you get your bird out so we can get a sky view of the situation."
Layla simply nodded. "Open Gate of the Eagle, Aquila." The large eagle appeared and the twins climbed on. Layla looked back at the sixth master. "Master Makarov, stay here. We're report what we can."
Makarov nodded in understanding.
Aquila took flight.
Aquila flew through the city as more explosions went off in different parts of the city. Bolt looked around at the sight. "It looks like the explosions are spread out between each other by about one minute."
"So how long will it take for it to reach Fairy Tail?" his sister questioned.
"I can't tell how many there are from here, but I estimate about two to three hours," he answered.
People ran up the hill to the edge of town when they were stopped by a rune barrier. Dark wizards stepped up to the barrier, smiling wickedly. People banged on the barrier. "Hey, let us out. Please!"
The dark wizards only laughed.
More purple rings went off.
Natsu ran in the front of his team. "Is it me or are those blast going off even faster?" Natsu questioned.
"No, you're right," Erza said. The S class wizard looked up. "What is that?" The others looked up to see a transparent purple dome form over the town.
Bolt and Layla looked up at the dome. "Is that," Layla started.
"Damn it," Bolt said. "I'm calling the old man this is worse than we thought."
"I didn't figure they go this far," Layla said.
Makarov sat in the guild hall next to a communication lacrima. He sat with his eyes closed, head down and arms folded across his chest clearly unsettled about the situation. He then heard a voice shouting through the lacrima. "Old man!"
Makarov looked over at the lacrima to see his great grandson's face. "Bolt?"
"Old man, I need you to listen to me we have a serious situation out here," Bolt said.
"What's the matter now?" Makarov questioned.
"A Dome Trigger," Bolt answered.
"Dome Trigger?" Makarov questioned.
"Its high level spell that surrounds its target in this case Magnolia and shorten the time it takes to active the chain link spell," Bolt explained. "The explosions aren't just helping to create destructive energy, but a panic so when people reach the boarder their help with destroying the very city they're in by pounding on the barrier, transferring their energy. It's like a huge self destructive bomb."
Sweat came down Makarov's face as he stood there in disbelief. "What exactly are we dealing with?"
"This is some high level stuff," Bolt said. "They much have several casters to pull this off. Can you get over the loud speaker and try to calm down the people."
Makarov nodded. "Hopefully, you can find the casters soon."
"That's the problem," Bolt said. "They're mostly outside of the dome that's keeping us all inside."
"Is there any way to break it?" Makarov questioned.
"We'll figure something out," Bolt said before he cut off communication.
"Good luck my boy," Makarov said.
Bolt putted away his communication lacrima. His sister looked back at him. "Bolt, you know as well as I do a Dome Trigger can't be broken from the inside."
Bolt looked over at his sister. "Can't one of your kings do something about this?"
"Good evening, Magnolia," a female's voice came over the city.
Bolt and Layla looked up to see a lacrima screen above them with Myra standing in it. Several screens suddenly appeared throughout the city along with at the edges where people had run to escape. "Should have known it was that bitch," Bolt said.
Myra had the back of her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face. "How are you enjoying your last day on Earth Land?"
"You won't win," Bolt shouted at the screen.
"Citizens of Magnolia if you're asking who you should blame for your demise you should blame Fairy Tail," Myra said. "This is all their fault."
"Our fault?" Natsu yelled.
"Myra is just as low as she's always been," Erza stated.
People at the border of the town screamed. 'This is Fairy Tail's fault', 'we should have known they're always causing trouble', 'now we're all going to die'. People banged harder on the rune barrier that surrounded the town.
More explosions went off.
"Enjoy your final moments," Myra said before she cut of the communication.
Bolt glared up at where the screen was and bared his teeth. "Damn her." A purple glow caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye. He looked to his left to see a purple circle that was about to go off. He then spotted a certain symbol on the circle.
"That might work." Bolt held out two of his finger together and snapped, releasing a bolt of lightning at the circle.
"What are you doing?" Layla shouted.
The lightning struck the circle, bouncing around it. The ring slowed down to a stop and faded away. "That's it." He stuck up two fingers. "Light Write." White runes shoot up toward the top of the dome.
"What are you doing you can't break the spell with your spell," Layla said.
"I'm not trying to break it, I just need to hijack part of its powers," Bolt told her. His runes struggled to connect until he finished writing the phase he needed. "Finally." A lacrima screen appeared in front of him. His face appeared on the other lacrima screens that had disappeared.
"Stop all that banging, you idiots you're only going to kill all of us," Bolt yelled. His face and voice instantly frightened the people on the border into silence. The Fairy Tail looked at the sight not understanding what was going on. "You should know Fairy Tail isn't some pussy guild when have they ever not been able to pull out of a situation so stop helping the enemy by freaking out and just wait. We have a plan."
The screens at the borders went out.
"Bolt," Layla said to scold him.
"I don't have time to be nice, Layla," Bolt told his sister. "I figure out a loophole in the spell. Old man, Erza, Cana, myself, and Levy if she can use a lightning script can use our lightning magic to short critic the explosions just before they go off. Flame head, the stripper, and Juvia can all put out the fires while everyone else is useless."
"Bolt," Layla shouted at him.
Bolt shut his eyes. "I wasn't finished." He opened his eyes. "You're useless in helping us disarm the bombs; however there are two more jobs that need to be done. First I need some of you to go to the border to calm down the citizens I have a feeling my little speech didn't go over to well.
"Also as soon as we finish deactivating the bomb the barrier should come down so I need you to take down the caster before they can escape," Bolt continued. "The second is for the rest of you to scoot out where circles are about to explode so we can aim our lightning at those places and get any citizens out of those areas. Split yourselves up accordingly. Now let's do this so we can save our town."
The lacrima screens went off again.
"That jerk, who does he think he is?" Natsu complained.
"However, he's come up with a plan for us to save our town," Erza stated.
"He shouldn't be a jerk about it though," Gray said.
Natsu stomped about. "But I want to fight."
"Natsu, you eating flames could very well save people's lives don't forget that," Erza scolded him.
"Fine," Natsu said.
Erza looked over at the other male wizard in their group. "Gray."
"Yeah, I know what to do."
Erza then looked over at Lucy. "Lucy, I want you to focus on getting people out to safety."
Lucy nodded. "You got it."
Erza requiped into her Lightning Empress armor. "Now let's go, we much protect our town."
Natsu, Happy, Gray, and Lucy raised their fist. "Yeah!"
Laxus looked back at his team. "You heard my brat, get moving and tell me where to direct my lightning."
"You can count on us, Laxus," Freed said. He and the rest of the Thunder Legion flew up into the air and flew in different directions.
Laxus then faced forward. "Tch, that brat should have figured that out earlier. Oh, well at least we have a plan now." Sparks of lightning flew off of his body with a smug smile on his face.
Mirajane and her siblings ran through the city. "We need to get to the edge of town. We'll help with keeping the crowd calm," Mirajane told her siblings.
"And beat those Crime Spree jerks," Elfman said.
"We won't let them get away with trying to destroy our home," Lisanna chimed in.
Cana looked over at Romeo and Macao. "Can you two look for circles so I know where to aim my magic?"
The father and son nodded.
Bolt walked back to the end of Aquila's back. "I'm off now."
"I'll help with locations," Layla said.
"No, we need to make sure at least one strong person is there at the border," Bolt told her. "There's no telling how the others will split themselves up, especially if Myra might be out there."
"Yes, you're right."
Bolt turned into lightning and leaped off of the giant eagle.
Shadow Gear, Gajeel, Team Natsu, Thunder Legion, Romeo, and Macao all signal the lightning wizards where to use their lighting while also rescuing people along the way. The Strauss' siblings and Layla had all made it to the border, working on calming down the people.
Several areas Erza, Levy, Cana, Laxus, and Bolt weren't able to reach blew up.
Bolt landed in front of the Fairy Tail guild hall. Shortly after him came Laxus and Erza. Erza looked up at the three magic circles that surround the guild hall. "Are these the last ones?"
"They should be unless-" Bolt didn't get to finish as a ring of explosions went off in the streets around Magnolia. The three lightning wizards along with Makarov looked back in utter shock. "A hidden row of explosives."
They then turned back to the guild as each of the three rings started to glow. "We each need to release a steady stream of lightning on each of the circles to deactivate these types of rings. I'll take the middle ring."
"I got the top ring," Laxus said.
"Then the bottom is mine," Erza stated. Erza stuck out her staff while the Dreyar boys stuck out their hand. Each fired a stream of lightning at their targeted ring. The rings began to decrease in speed and the light slowly faded.
A purple circle glowed below Bolt's left foot and went off, blasting him to the ground. Bolt let out a monstrous scream. Erza and Laxus looked at the sight. "Bolt!"
Bolt dropped on the ground, holding himself up with his free hand while he kept his stream of lightning going. He shut one eye. "Forget me, focus on the guild or all four of us are dead."
Erza and Laxus pushed down their worry to focus on, shutting down the spell. Bolt clenched his teeth as he tried to keep focus on the task at hand. His leg was badly mangled. He accidently pushed out too much magic at the end when the spell rings finally faded. His lightning struck through the second floor of the guild that made the guild collapse in partly.
Bolt let out another yell and fell down on his side. He grabbed his leg. Erza and Laxus bent down beside him while Makarov stood in front of him. "Bolt, are you alright?" Erza asked. She then looked at the damage done to his leg. She looked up to Laxus. "We need to get Wendy as soon as possible."
Laxus looked Erza in the eye. "Yeah."
A woman stepped up to them with her hand on her hip. "Well, I knew that plan wouldn't work." The group looked over to the sight to see who it was. Myra smirked. "But master was insisted on it, luckily I planted an explosive circle where I knew it could do some damage."
Lightning shot out of Laxus' body as he clenched his fist and teeth. "Myra, you bitch."
"Wait, Laxus it's only a thought projection," Erza said.
"Like I would personally come to see this plan fail you must be joking," Myra replied. "Besides I knew better and I knew how this little plan could work in our favor. Didn't you even question why lightning magic was able to work?"
Bolt opened his eyes in realizing. "Wait, you're saying-"
Myra snapped her fingers. A purple symbol appeared on Erza, Laxus, and Bolt's body that quickly spread over their bodies. They lifted their heads, screaming in pain. Makarov opened his eyes in shock. "What are you doing to them?"
Cana grabbed the sides of her head and screamed out in pain as she was covered in glowing purple. "Cana," Romeo and Macao screamed.
"Levy," Droy and Jet yelled.
"Shrimp," Gajeel said. The iron dragon slayer held Levy as she screamed as glowing purple consumed her body.
"Open Gate of the Western Wind, Byakko," Layla shouted. A tornado formed in the middle of town. Byakko appeared with Layla, standing on his head. "I should have figured it out earlier. I'm so stupid."
Gray, Lucy, Happy, and Natsu looked over at the sight from where they were in the town. "What the-?" Natsu said.
"Why did Layla summon Byakko?" Gray questioned.
Wind blew through Layla's hair. "Byakko, I need you to scatter the magic around the city away."
"If I do that you and the other wizards won't be able to replenish the magic you've already lost for some time," Byakko informed.
"That doesn't matter, I'll explain later but if the magic is gone now my brother and the others will die," Layla said.
"As you wish." Byakko shot out a gust of wind in every direction, blowing away the magic that was in the air. The wind blew pass those covered in the glowing purple, breaking it off and freeing them from the spell as well as getting rid of the thought projection.
Byakko then looked up at Layla. "I think it's time you explained."
"Myra added body link magic to those explosive circles," Layla explained to the guild. Everyone was gathered together in front of her back at the guild hall. Wendy had fixed Bolt's leg even though it still hurt, but was greatly exhausted just like everyone else. The red mist and barrier were both gone.
"She added a forbidden spell that uses the magic in the air to devour those who have been attached to it through body link," Layla continued. "I believe she knew Bolt would figure out how to disarm them so she set it up to try to elimated some of the strongest wizards."
"Why not make it so we could all disarm them?" Gray questioned.
"It would be too obvious," Layla answered as she turned in the shirtless man's direction. "It's hard to protect a spell against all magic so she chose one for it to be weak against."
Lucy hugged herself. "This is getting even scarier. It seems each attack is worse than the last."
Bolt punched his fist into the ground. "Damn it, she set us up and I fell for it."
Layla looked at her brother. "It's not your fault, Bolt. You did stop the city from exploding it's just this is Myra we are talking about here."
"No man can beat her," Bolt said as he narrowed his eyes. "Ha, I can't even out think her."