Chapter 22: The Odds

A/N: Hey there everyone! So yeah yesterday was pretty crazy huh?

Natsu & Lucy: I-I-I'm married…

Uh yeah why aren't you together in the main series yet huh? (Both blush and look away from me) HAHAHA! Well today is a set up chapter for the week of battles! And who fights who is still kinda up in the air. I have some good ideas but definitely wanna make sure that they are good so don't be afraid to say a fight you wanna see! Shout outs to Ken106348 for the follow, favorite and review (favorite person of the day for me), and to sashaXmafuyuFOREVER, DeeTii, and GrayBlueEyedBelle for their reviews! Now without further ado… Enjoy Chapter 22!

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(Laxus POV)

I watch as the five who call themselves The Ronin leave and wait until they are gone. Then suddenly as they leave, so do the cages and a wall goes up around the church, trapping us yet again, forcing us to actually plan this out. I look around and see everyone else still looking at Lisanna in shock, still unable to process what had just occurred. 'Was that really Natsu? No way, there's no way he would kill Lisanna, right? Well she did hurt Lucy really badly and they are married now. Natsu. Married. Ha. What a weird idea, seems almost impossible, but he really has grown up. Grown into a cold, hardened killer that is, and I will stop him. Yes, it must be me, the future master of Fairy Tail.'

I am broken out of my reverie by gramps saying, "I will fight Natsu, only I will."

"WHAT?!" Everyone yelled, me included as I looked at him in disbelief, saying, "Jiji, you're way too old to do it, he will kill you, he's not that little boy that you took in all those years ago, he's a hardened killer. You heard Jura, he's the Boss of The Ronin. Hell's Judge for fucks sake! He is known for burning those who earn his ire ALIVE! And you and I know you have earned his ire, in a very big way." As I finish my rant I look and see a look I have rarely seen, anger and a new level of seriousness.

"YES. I know. He sees me as his enemy and he yes I know his new reputation, but as the master for today I must avenge our fallen member. He is my enemy and I will defeat him. I will use THAT spell…" My eyes widen at his words and look at him like he was truly crazy.

"NO! You can't use THAT spell. In you old age it will kill you!" I yell and everyone looks extremely concerned, as I continue my protest, "Besides, you have to see the person you cast the spell against as a true enemy, or else it won't work, trust me I tried that and all I was able to do was blind them for a minute before they looked at me like I just decided to put on a light show in the middle of a battle. You will have wasted your chance and he WILL kill you."

"I KNOW! And I do see him that way now." He said as I look at him eyes wide as the moon. "I see Natsu Dragneel as an enemy. And I will use Fairy Law to defeat him."

"Are you sure you see him like that?" I ask skeptical.

"Yes." He said, eyes determined and jaw set, yeah he did and I was now worried, he could and probably would die either way from using that spell. And then I would be the master, which I have always wanted but was not expecting to be without him as my advisor, I wanted him to be there for me and help me out. Now I was faced with him most likely dying and leaving me… No I would not let that happen.

"Jiji, let me fight with you! The two of us together might be enough to take him down!" I say looking at him with pleading eyes. "This way you won't have to fight him by yourself and most likely die from it."

"No it must be me. Laxus you may come and join me in case it fails and then you may fight him. But I must fight him on my own, to make up for my failure as master before this, I have done a lot wrong as master but today I will make things right!"

I look and can do nothing but nod at him, understanding his point and hoping he was right. "I'm going with you guys as well. I want my chance at Salamander and will do anything for it. You both have no clue how strong he really is, nobody does, so the more the merrier." Gajeel says surprising us as we turn and look at him.

"We'll go too, he killed Lisanna and we can't let that go. As long as we see him go down we will be ok I think." Mira said Elfman nodding his agreement.

"Ok, what about Lucy? She is still ridiculously strong too you know." Gildarts said as we all looked his way. "I will fight her but I don't know if I'll be enough…"

"Juvia and Gray-sama will fight with you! She helped ruin Juvia's wedding and was Juvia's maid of honor! I will never forgive her!" Juvia yelled as Gray looked disinterested but nodded his agreement. "Will anyone join us?"

"I must fight the one known as Padre." Warrod said as everyone looked at him confused. "The reason is… I was the one that helped trained him, a very long time ago."

"WHAT?!" They all said and looked at him confused.

"Yes, it was about 8 years ago when I left him, where I was for 10 years. I was contacted by a country that was having there land turned into a dessert, and they asked me to come and try and stop it's progress. I agreed and went to help. I arrived in a small town and that's where I met him, and Madre…"

FLASHBACK (WARROD POV, 18 years ago)

I walk into a small town call La Empieza, and ask for the mayor so I know where I can set up my house. As I walk around, not knowing the language all too well, and see a kid who is not exactly like the others. He has slightly lighter skin and is doing something remarkable, he is manipulating the elements around him, the rocks, plants, sand, dirt, anything but only able to move them slightly. I had heard of this magic, the magic known as the father of the earth, the ability to control the elements around you. And with him was a girl, and she was CREATING elements, I was floored, not only was there a person with the ability to use father of the earth, but one who could use mother of the earth, or create any element they so desired. I simply gawked at them before I regained my composure and asked the two, "Hey where are your parents?"

I was about to make a charade like motion about parents when to my surprise, the girl answered, "We're not related, and we're both orphans. We live out here by ourselves." Her Japanese was broken and not very good, but it was understandable.

"Oh, ummm where is the mayor's office?" I asked a little sad for them.

"Over there, the big one." The boy said in the same Japanese as the little girl, it was shocking to say the least.

"Ok, thank you! Hey would you two like to come and eat with me?" I asked as their faces lit up at the mention of food but they seemed apprehensive about the offer, "I just want to get to know you, I won't hurt you. I promise." They looked at me and then at each other before they nodded and we went on our merry way.

END FLASHBACK (POV Change to Laxus)

"After that I took care of them and trained them but really grew close to Padre. But he I did not call him Padre. His real name is Esoj Aneron, and the woman is named Nena, well I guess Nena Aneron now. I finished my work ten years ago however and have not heard about them since about five years ago. I would have heard more obviously, but they left their homeland and came here, for what reason I do not know. Also I left them when they were eighteen and they still went by there real names. I thought something happened to them but clearly I was wrong, they just changed their names so that I could not find them or anyone for that matter. Seeing as this is the case, I must fight him as I helped create the man that has attacked us here. I will defeat him!" He said and we all looked at him and knew he would be enough.

"I agree, you could defeat him actually, but the chances of everyone else… is not quite as good. But still this is our only chance." Mavis said as she somehow appeared before us. "I have numerous calculations and- and…" She looked away and bit her lip, not wanting to depress us, but we needed to know.

"Please, Mavis tell us the odds, we have to know just how bad it looks for us. We should know that before we go and put our lives on the line." Gramps said, surprising me by nit calling her First or First Master, just Mavis.

"Well I would put the odds of you surviving at around ten percent, and of you succeeding at around twenty five percent. The group taking on Lucy, should do just fine as long as Cana goes as well. I give them a ninety percent chance of success barring any surprises of course. Warrod you are about fifty percent, the same as Laxus and Gajeel. But be warned I can only guess their power, Mira and Elfman do not fight with Natsu or else he will crush you like bugs. Now I have a plan that should work but I am going to need every to listen closely for it to work. And I mean very closely, like missing even a single detail will cause the plan to fail and many of you will die. So please pay attention and don't be afraid to back to out, it's not worth dying for no reason other than to be brave, so if any one so wishes to do so, please speak now!" she said and looked at everyone.

"I will withdraw, Gajeel I hope you understand but some one must protect Levy and Joi if you are to die." Pantherlily said and Gajeel nodded his agreement and thanks for his friend's consideration.

"Is that all or what?" Mavis asked.

"Yes and we will join as the fighters as well." Said Cobra, who was standing next to Richard and Lyon, who looked ready and determined to fight with us.

"Hmmm ok. That actually helps us. Ok so are we ready to begin? Good now here's what were gonna do." She began as I feel the spirits of everyone rising as we heard the Fairy Strategist began to plot.

(POV Change to Natsu)

"Ugh, I hate waiting, why did I give them an hour?" I whined as Lucy then came and smacked me upside the head, "OW! What was that for?" I yelled annoyed now and got up to pout at her.

"Stop being so impatient! Baka! We agreed that an hour was needed to fully set up the arena!" She yelled and sighed, "It's been about fifty nine minutes so just got to your field and wait ok?" She placed a chaste kiss on my cheek, which was not enough as pulled her back before she left.

"Come back to me, ok?" I asked.

"Always, always." She said and we broke apart as we headed to our individual field. I hoped this wouldn't take too long, because I really wanted to be with my wife again, and stay with her forever this time.

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A/N: Awww! That ending! But still can they really stop them? Or will Natsu and company win? Wait for the first fight, Gōsuto versus… I still am a bit iffy on who he should fight so let me know if you have any ideas! PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! ADIOS!