Hello everyone! I'm back! Yes, I know it's been a while, but I decided to take some time off from writing to re-energize myself before I burned out. But now I'm back from my unannounced sabbatical with another chapter for you! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! Read at your own risk. There's still original stuff in here, but if you haven't gotten to this point in the anime/manga, then some things may be ruined for you. I advise catching up to the anime/manga if you haven't already (for more reasons than just reading my story)! Thank you and enjoy!
Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon
Chapter 88
Inside the National Magic Council building, news had spread that the Oración Séis had escaped and appeared in the ruins. A small group of employees had immediately sought out Chairman Gran Doma and Org to inform them of the details. They were currently meeting in one of the halls, where Gran Doma was staring off into the distance through the window.
"The Oración Séis? But how?" one of the employees cried.
"They should still be imprisoned!" another shouted.
"What's going on here?" a third member shrieked.
"First the Half-Dragon and now the Oración Séis. Can we no longer restrain prisoners?" a fourth muttered under his breath.
"Who else is at the site?" Org asked one of the employees.
"The Fairy Tail wizards, for one," the employee replied.
Gran Doma slammed his staff on the hard stone floor. His rage could be felt in the air and it made the employees shudder. "Fairy Tail again?" he growled.
"B…But ever since that guild got a new master, I don't believe they've caused any major trouble!" one of the employees stammered.
"Oh, you didn't hear?" Org asked. "Makarov Dreyar and all of their members have returned."
The employees went pale.
"I've heard that as well," Gran Doma said. "Honestly, the moment he returns, something like this happens." Org chuckled. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Org said as he looked through the window as well. "I was thinking that this is just like him."
"That's nothing to laugh about."
Another employee walked towards the group and bowed. "The Captain of the Detention Corps is here."
"Let him in to the meeting room," Gran Doma said. "We'll be there shortly."
A few minutes later, the Council Heads were all gathered in the meeting room. Before them was Lahar, who had his hand over his chest and head bowed as he greeted the Council Heads.
"Speak, Lahar. Tell us what you've discovered," Gran Doma said.
Lahar stood straight. "Yes sir. I shall give my report."
Gran Doma lifted an eyebrow. "Your expression tells me that the Oración Séis that appeared in the desert is the genuine article."
"Your discerning eyes astound me, Chairman," Lahar said. "I regret to report that those who should be in prison—Midnight, Cobra, Angel, and Racer of the Oración Séis along with the one they later acted with, Erigor—have all escaped from confinement. Simulacra made from magic were in each of their cells."
"Simulation Magic to make copies of themselves?" Org asked. "Magic shouldn't have worked in any of the cells."
"We believe that someone helped them," Lahar continued.
"They were imprisoned for seven years," Org stated. "Was there someone who had contact with the Oración Séis?"
"Yes sir. Just one person; a priest sent over by the Archbishop of Zentopia," Lahar replied. "He came to visit them at certain set times to take their confessions and help them to atone for their sins."
"Who is this priest?" Gran Doma asked.
"There's no record of him."
Gran Doma narrowed his gaze. "That's not possible. And even if there is no record, there must be surveillance lacrima, yes? There must be footage of the priest."
"The other day all of the surveillance lacrima in the prison were switched out simultaneously, so everything related to this was disposed of."
"Follow the disposal route," Gran Doma ordered. "Find the footage and verify the person's identity."
"Pay Zentopia a visit as well," Org added.
Lahar bowed his head. "I shall meet with the Archbishop."
Gran Doma nodded. "At the moment, our only clue is that priest. Tread carefully, Lahar."
"Yes sir."
"Oración Séis?" Ash repeated. "Who are they?"
"They're bad news," Lucy replied. "They're a Dark Guild."
"Dark Guild?" Sky breathed. "Are they evil?"
"They're the worst of the worst," Lucy answered with a nod.
"How have we never heard of these kinds of things before?" Gracie asked Nikolias.
Nikolias's teeth were clenched as the clock continued to sound. "We haven't exactly been dabbling in the whole magic world for long. Must have slipped past our intel somehow. I'm taking it that you guys have met these freaks before?"
Gray nodded. "Yeah, we've fought before. But don't they seem a little different?"
"Yes. And there are some new members as well," Erza noted.
A strange figure wearing a large bear mask laughed maniacally as it pulled down on a lever attached to its torso with its robotic arms. The three slots on its torso began to spin before each landed on the characters for "Oración Séis". "Three in a row! It really is the Oración Séis!" it exclaimed. "Actually, scratch that. This is the reborn Oración Séis! We are pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Reborn Oración Séis?!" Team Natsu exclaimed simultaneously.
"Yes indeed," a young man replied. He had long, dark, thick spiky hair with a thin white braid draped down to his shoulder. He wore thick, dark lipstick and eyeliner that made his cold red eyes all the more lifeless. He closed his eyes as he played with his braid. "We are in fact the reborn Oración Séis."
"You're Midnight, aren't you?" Natsu asked.
The young man opened his eyes. "That name belongs to the distant past. Please remember me henceforth as Brain II."
"What are you even talking about?" Natsu barked. "You bastards just strolled in out of nowhere. What do you even want?"
"I have but one wish," Brain replied coolly. "To carry out my father's will. To destroy everything that has a form."
"How deranged are you?" Gracie spat.
"You're still spouting that nonsense?" Erza asked.
Brain chuckled as all of the members of the Oración Séis held up one of their hands. "Legion Platoon, Fairy Tail, your missions are now over." The clock behind them began to glow green and rang once more. On each piece of the now completed clock, the characters for "Oración Séis" appeared in green and black lettering.
"What is that?" Dan asked.
"Dan! Don't let them get it!" Byro ordered.
"Understood, yeah!" Dan said as he lifted his shield and lance. He and Byro then charged the Oración Séis members.
"Shut up! That's our line!" Natsu barked as he followed suit.
"Niky, let's move!" Gracie said as she re-summoned her katanas.
"You got it!" Nikolias growled as he and Gracie took off running.
"Stay out of our way!" Dan cried.
"Oh, bite me!" Gracie shot back.
Brain sighed. "The maggots are swarming." He lifted his hand and a purple magic circle quickly appeared. Green and black magic began to collect inside of the circle with a loud roar before shooting out in a swarm of magical bolts.
Dan stood his ground and held up his shield. "I'll knock it right back to ya, yeah!" The bolts collided with Dan's shield before collecting into an orb and exploding. With a cry, Dan was sent sprawling backwards.
"No way," Coco breathed. "The shield didn't repel it?"
Byro held out his hand to Natsu and Gracie, who had stopped as well to read the incoming attack. "Stay out of my way," he ordered. "To me, all forms of magic…" However, he was unable to finish his sentence as a strange pressure surrounded his staff. More green and black magic bolts swarmed him, Natsu, and Gracie before exploding.
"I thought he could neutralize all magic?" Gray asked in shock. "What happened?"
"He refracted the range of Byro's magic and attacked simultaneously!" the strange robotic figure explained. "That's why we call him Brain!"
"What extraordinary, menacing power," Wendy said softly.
Gracie and Natsu slid back and out of the cloud of dirt. "Shit," Gracie hissed.
"Ownership of the Infinity Clock is determined by the wizard that carves his seal upon it," Brain said. He instantly teleported to the top of the large clock and sat comfortably upon it. "Therefore, just now, this clock has become our property." The clock rang loudly as if in response.
The young woman with flowing, silky white hair cupped her ear with her hand and smiled. "Ah, what a lovely sound."
"Hey! Suddenly coming out of nowhere and snatching it away is cowardly!" Lucy shouted.
"I can hear your indignation," a man with a scowl and arms crossed replied. He had spiky, dark red hair and pointed ears. A long scar ran down the right side of his face and over his eye so that it remained closed. "You're all in a state of confusion."
A lanky man squatted next to him. He was wearing a fully black body suit with twin red stripes running vertically down it. It also covered his head, letting just twin tufts of yellow hair out. His eyes were covered as well and his nose was long and angular. He smirked and chuckled before his face returned to a state of emotionlessness. "Laughable," he replied.
The beautiful young woman with the white hair and feathered garments that barely covered her breasts spoke up. "People of darkness like us aren't even permitted to touch this clock. That's why we gathered you. Do you see now?"
"It was our plot!" the robotic figure cried.
Byro staggered on his feet after the latest attack he took. "Y…You…"
"We were used," Lucy breathed.
Ash clenched her fists. "Damn it all."
"Annoying," Sky pouted.
Lucy turned to Michelle, who was looking at the Oración Séis. 'Then why did my father…?'
"These guys are scary!" Happy said.
"The magic that I can feel coming off of them is intense," Erza said.
"It's on a whole other level than what they had before," Gray noted.
"Who gives a damn about that?" Natsu barked as he punched his palm.
"You danced like puppets for us," the red haired man smirked. "Think of it as an honor."
"Shut the hell up!" Natsu roared as he fired a pillar of flames from his mouth at the Oración Séis.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, one of the members appeared before the attack. He was dressed in nothing but loose, raggy pants and a billowing cloak that had a hood that covered his face. In his hand he had a large scythe with a skull carved into the top of the handle by the blade. Strange blue markings were on his shoulders and moving down his bare torso. A large purple magic circle immediately appeared before him, summoning wind that completely blocked off Natsu's attack.
"It stopped Natsu's fire!" Gray exclaimed.
"That's Wind Magic!" Wendy said in surprise.
"Wind…," the man rasped. "Nothing as gentle as that." The hood covering his face blew back to reveal a bald headed man's face. He had similar blue markings underneath each eye and his eyes were gray and soulless. Natsu's flames and the man's wind disappeared. "It's a storm. A storm is coming."
"That voice, that face…," Happy began.
"You're…!" Natsu started before he was interrupted.
"You saw right through him!" the robotic figure cried while pulling on his lever. The three slots then stopped and all depicted a man's face. "This man was a former member of Eisenwald! He is Erigor!"
"More names I don't understand," Gracie mumbled.
"My name is Grim Reaper," the man who used to be Erigor replied.
"People sure do change, huh?" Happy said.
"Whatever! Come down here so that I can beat the crap outta you!" Natsu barked.
"Brain, how long are we going to waste time here?" the red haired man asked.
"We have a grand aim, don't we?" the white haired woman said with an angelic voice.
"I know," Brain replied, "but there's Fairy Tail. I can't forget the humiliation from seven years ago. I suppose we'll play with them a bit..." he looked at the red haired man "…Cobra." He looked to the lanky man beside him. "Racer."
"Quick question before we play," Gracie spoke up. "What happens if you guys all get your asses kicked? Do you lose ownership?"
"I feel no need to answer that question," Brain said. "Why would you even ask such a ridiculous question?"
Gracie smirked. "I feel no need to answer that question."
As if on cue, Nikolias sprang out from behind the Oración Séis, shadows swirling violently around his body. With a roar, he descended upon the gathered members.
The white haired woman turned and smiled. "Interesting."
Cobra turned as well and smirked. "I can hear it."
"Pointless," Racer commented.
The Oración Séis members all leapt away with plenty of time to evade.
"Run all you want; it won't save you from me!" Nikolias roared as his shadows intensified. "SHADOW DRAGON SHOCKWAVE!" He collided with the ground that the Oración Séis had been standing on and after a second-long delay, a powerful, concussive wave of shadows shot out in all directions. Rocks shattered. The ruins crumbled to the ground. Debris filled the air and fell like rain. However, even with this attack, the Oración Séis members were able to dodge somehow. "Shit. They dodged that?"
"I have to say I'm impressed," the white haired woman said. "I couldn't have predicted that much power from one person." She put her hand to her lips. "I'm very intrigued."
"Whether he's stronger than the rest or not is irrelevant," Cobra said. "I could still hear everything. Not even he has any chance against us."
"Is that so?" Nikolias's shadows continued to grow in intensity. "Then let me give you the chance to be proven wrong."
"Let's get started," Racer said as he suddenly vanished.
"Here they come," Erza said as she requipped into her Robe of Yuen armor. "Engage them!"
"Right!" Natsu, Gray, and Gracie cheered as they charged forward. However, they were all suddenly knocked backwards with cries of pain.
"What was that?" Happy asked. "I didn't see what happened."
Erza, Gray, and Gracie skidded back. "What the hell was that?" Gray asked.
"That must have been Racer," Erza said. "But he was never that fast before. It's like he's an entirely different person in both speed and power. What happened to the Slow Magic that he had before?"
Racer reappeared on a stone arc before disappearing again, this time striking down Sky and Ash before they even knew what was happening.
"I don't think he's using Slow Magic this time around," Gray muttered.
"He's like a wild beast hunting his prey," Erza breathed.
Gracie smirked as she rose to her feet. "Interesting. This speed is really something. This'll be a challenge."
Meanwhile, Cobra walked up behind Wendy, who was preoccupied worrying about her guild mates. "Yo." Wendy whipped around with a gasp. "It's been a long time Shrine Maiden of the Sky." His gaze grew cold and menacing. "There's something that I want to ask you." He stopped, as if listening intently to something only he could hear. "What, you don't know the answer?" A dark aura suddenly surrounded him as his power activated aggressively. "Then begone!"
"I can't move!" Carla said.
"What is this overpowering feeling?" Wendy said softly with dread.
"Wait, Cobra!" Natsu roared, fire engulfing his fist. "Your fight is with me!" He leapt at Cobra with a mighty cry.
"Enough," Cobra growled. "As always your voice is abrasive." He snapped his fingers and suddenly Natsu's voice was echoing loudly in the tomb. The vibrations from the voice created strong winds that suddenly burst in an explosion of dirt and stone. Everyone in Fairy Tail and the Legion Platoon was blown away from the blast.
"What was that?" Ash rasped.
"The sound became an incredible wall of pressure," Wendy said.
"Natsu's voice hurts," Sky whimpered.
Natsu wobbled on his feet. "Damn it, Cobra."
"I can hear your despair," Cobra said, arms crossed with boredom. "Be destroyed by your own voice."
"You think you're pretty tough shit," Nikolias growled as he stood protectively in front of his fallen comrades. He clenched his jaw, sharp teeth glistening. "I hate to break it to you, but you've got nothing."
"Another one who talks too much," Cobra grumbled. "Your voice is just as grating as the Salamander's."
Nikolias smirked. "Oh? You think my voice is annoying, huh? Then maybe I should make your opinion truth."
Cobra glared at him. "I can hear exactly what you're planning. You're going to yell and disorient me, aren't you?"
Nikolias's smile twitched. 'What the…is he a mind reader? How could he have known?' He chuckled. "It doesn't matter if you know it's coming. You can't stop it." He took a deep breath. "SHADOW W…" However, before he could release his attack, he felt a strong blow strike him in the jaw. He was sent off of his feet and landed roughly on his back.
"Nikolias!" Ash rasped as she tried to push herself up. However, between her injuries from fighting Byro and the new injuries from Racer and Cobra's attacks, she couldn't move all too well.
Nikolias shook his head and pushed himself to his feet. "Damn it…I never saw him coming."
Erza, Gray, and Gracie all charged Cobra, looking to aid the others, but suddenly Erigor appeared before them to impede them. Without a single motion he sent out powerful gusts of wind that pushed the three back with ease. Wind danced around him. "A gale force wind from the fore…becomes a tornado." The gusts of wind picked up power and speed, trapping Erza, Gray, and Gracie in a tornado. The tornado then threw them out, sending them crashing to a lower floor and into the stones below.
Lucy stayed close to Michelle's side. She couldn't believe that everyone was being beaten so soundly. "Everyone…"
Off to the side, Dan stood beside an injured Byro and Coco. He gritted his teeth as he watched the Fairy Tail guild—the guild that had even managed to best him—being handled with ease. The member of Oración Séis with incredible speed, the one called Racer, was rocketing around the tomb with inhuman speed, knocking out every single member with one blow. He took a small step forward. "Coco, hurry down the escape route with Lord Byro."
Coco looked at him with shock. "But Dan, I…"
Dan turned to her with a serious expression. "Now's not the time to argue, yeah! Can you not see how strong they are? The outcome is painfully obvious."
"What are you planning on doing?" Byro asked.
He turned to Byro. "There's still something that I can do here, yeah!" He looked back to the fight at hand. "Since I was born a man, there's still something I can do, even if it puts my life at risk." He walked forward, putting himself in front of Lucy and Michelle. He lifted his lance and pointed it at the Oración Séis members who still stood upon the cliff. "You people!" he bellowed. "You have something that doesn't rightfully belong to you! Even if there's a difference in our strengths, I won't take a single step back!"
"Dan," Lucy breathed.
"He can be so brave and decent," Michelle said with wonder.
The white haired woman raised a hand to her face. "Even though it's pointless. Such a dull-witted fellow."
Dan looked to the woman and froze. Suddenly, with no warning, he threw his lance and shield into the air and cried, "You are my Rosslyn!" With inhuman speed that could rival Racer, Dan was up the hill with hearts in his eyes. He took the woman's hand. "What's your name?"
"Angel," she replied. "And I hate men that act too familiar."
"Lightning bonus," the robotic figure said monotonously. He pulled down on his lever and blue lightning appeared to strike Dan. The knight yelled in pain.
Dan fell from the cliff, his whole body burnt. "It made my whole body shudder," he coughed. "Definitely a presentiment of romance, yeah." With that, he drifted into unconsciousness.
"Except I zapped you," the robotic figure sighed.
Byro and Coco could only look on with looks of disbelief, shame, and expectancy. They really should have known that would happen.
"The difference in power between us is clear," Angel said. Cobra and Racer leapt back up to the cliff beside the other Oración Séis members.
"You're wasting your time," Cobra said.
"Fairy Tail is weak," Racer added.
"Let's get going," Brain said. "Angel, get rid of them."
Angel smiled darkly. "Understood." She raised her hands to her chest and clasped them together. "The cost is 30." From between her palms, a bright light began to leak out.
Nikolias growled and spat blood off to the side. He raced towards the cliff. "Like I'll let you!"
Angel separated her hands. Floating in her extended right hand were three gold coins. "You may have caught my eye, but you cannot hope to stop me. For you see, I am an angel and you walk through shadow. You think your darkness can stand up to an angel?" She lifted her hand to the air and the coins glowed brighter as they ascended to the sky. "Allow me to show you some beautiful Angel Magic." The light expanded outward like an expanding star.
Nikolias skidded to a stop to shield his eyes. "What the…?"
"Look at the power that comes from the light in my own name!" Angel cried. "I summon the angel that calls forth victory; Barakiel!" From the light appeared a massive white winged creature surrounded by white light. Its head had three stoic faces. Its hair billowed upwards and stretched high. Its disfigured and unevenly shaped arms were crossed. A flowing white garment was wrapped around its thin, bony body. "Protect the seal and seal away this burial ground!"
Upon Angel's command, the white light expanded outward, consuming everyone in the tomb.
Shadows danced around Nikolias's body. "SHADOW WALL!" he roared as shadows poured from his outstretched arms. An enormous wall of darkness stretched across the tomb to block the incoming attack. He pushed his hands against his wall, giving it as much support as he could.
And then came the explosion.
Crossing the sandy dunes of the desert, Sugar Boy, Hughes, and Samuel saw a large cloud of black smoke rising into the blood-red sky.
Hughes froze. "That's…"
"No!" Sugar Boy cried dramatically. "What in blazes is going on here?"
Samuel analyzed the smoke, the scene before him reflecting off of his large glasses. "My bad feeling turned out to be correct."
"What do you mean you were right?" Hughes asked. "You're not telling me that you predicted this."
Samuel narrowed his eyes. "Can't you feel it? That presence of evil, like you've never felt before."
"Where are Lord Byro, Coco, and Dan?" Hughes asked. "What the hell happened here?"
Natsu groaned as his eyes slowly opened. His thoughts were a blur. His vision began to focus and he slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "What happened?"
"Natsu!" Happy cheered. "You finally woke up!"
Natsu looked around. "Where are we?"
"Blue Pegasus! Don't you recognize it?"
Natsu looked around again. Sure enough he was inside of the Blue Pegasus guild hall. He could see that all his guild mates who had been in the tomb were there as well, sitting at tables or on sofas. "Yeah, would you look at that."
"Do you remember my parfum?" Ichiya asked as he strode over to Natsu. The short orange haired man struck a pose and smiled.
Natsu blinked. "So you saved us? And how is everyone? What about Lucy?"
Ichiya jumped up on a stair railing and motioned to some of the Fairy Tail wizards. "Worry not. No one is seriously injured, so they're just resting. Men!"
Natsu stood. "I see."
"Natsu is awake now!" Master Bob cooed from behind the guild's bar.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried with a smile. She had been sitting at the bar with Gray, Erza, Gracie, Sky, and Ash, but as soon as she noticed that Natsu was up, she ran to his side and embraced him. "You're okay! Thank goodness. I was so worried. You've been unconscious for so long."
"Seriously, how long were you planning on sleeping?" Gray muttered.
"Make sure you express your appreciation, Natsu," Erza said.
Natsu wrapped one arm around Lucy and scratched his head with his other hand. "I would if I actually understood what happened."
"Turns out Ichiya saved us from the wreckage of those ruins," Gracie said. "Pretty impressive considering how buried we were."
"Oh really?" Natsu said with surprise. He turned to Ichiya and flashed his signature grin. "Thanks a bunch!"
Ichiya changed his pose. "We're comrades who have fought together. There is no need for thanks. Besides," he changed his pose to one that resembled deep thought, "it was made far simpler to rescue you because of one of your friends."
"One of our friends?" Natsu asked. "What are you talking about?"
Ichiya looked seriously at Natsu. "The young, strong man with the parfum that lacks magic yet contains incredible power. When we came to rescue you, we found him supporting an impressive and odd wall of shadow. He had clearly blocked a vast quantity of the damage. Men!"
"So what you're saying is…," Natsu began as he tried to piece things together.
"Nikolias protected us," Sky breathed.
"He managed to block most of the explosion's blast," Ash said.
"Oh, I was so thrilled to finally meet the infamous Nikolias," Bob squealed. "What a looker he is! Too bad he and so many other gorgeous men in your guild mix it up with women." He twirled over to Gray and wiggled in place. "You know, I looked after you personally, Gray honey."
Gray was shuddering violently from fear and discomfort. "Please don't call me 'honey'."
"I'm grateful, Master Bob," Erza said with a smile.
Happy snickered. "You lied down next to him, too, right?"
Master Bob shrieked in fake embarrassment.
Gray grabbed his head. "Don't tell me that!"
Juvia glared darkly at Master Bob from behind a stair railing, cracking the stone with her death grip. "Master Bob can't seriously be another love rival!'
Gracie giggled as she poked Gray in the cheek. "Don't react like that. I bet you loved it while you were sleeping, mister body pillow."
"Don't make things up!" Gray begged.
"While I'm thinking about it, where is Nikolias?" Natsu asked.
"He's outside with Mira," Gracie answered. "They're resting with some fresh air on the roof."
"And what about your posy, Ichiya?" Natsu asked. "I don't see them around."
"Hibiki and the others are in a different land for other matters. Men!" Ichiya replied.
"How about Lyon?" Gray asked.
"Ichiya dropped him off at Lamia Scale," Erza answered.
"And the Legion Platoon?" Natsu asked.
"You Fairy Tail folks were the only ones I saw there," Ichiya said while striking another pose.
"I see," Natsu said sullenly.
"What's wrong?" Lucy asked.
He clenched his fists. "Oración Séis…they were just toying with us, damn it. Next time, we'll kick their asses for sure!"
"Cheers to that!" Gracie cried while lifting a drink in the air.
"We'll get revenge for sure," Ash nodded.
"I've also heard of Oración Séis's resurrection," Ichiya spoke up. "You have my support. Men!"
"I know we can rely on you," Erza said.
Lucy looked around. "Hey did anyone see where Michelle went off to? She was here not too long ago."
"She said something about getting fresh air," Gray said.
"Got it. I'm going to look for her," Lucy said as she jogged to the exit.
Nikolias leaned back on the roof and sighed. "I see. So that's who the Oración Séis are. So they're no easy mark."
Mira nodded, eyes fixed on Nikolias's spaced expression. "Are you feeling any better?"
He closed his eyes. "Yeah. I've calmed down."
She took his hand. "I'm glad.
"I need to get stronger, Mira." He turned to look at her. "Soon."
She could see something in his eyes; fear or sorrow, maybe both. "Nikolias, you are strong. One of the strongest people I know."
He smiled slightly. "But why do I feel so weak?" he whispered, gently squeezing Mira's hand. "I feel like I get bested every time I fight these days."
"That's not true," Mira assured him. "Besides, you've protected so many of us on multiple occasions. Believe me, you are strong."
Nikolias exhaled sharply and pressed his forehead against Mira's. "You are my strength, Mira. Thank you."
Mira gently placed her hand against his cheek. "A girl does what she can for the one she loves."
Near the Blue Pegasus guild hall was an old, broken down church. Most of the roof had long since caved in and lay in stone slabs on the floor. The windows were cracked and caked with grime. The unattended lawn of the church was littered with countless headstones.
Standing at the church's altar by a large stone statue was Michelle. Her spaced gaze was on the old, winged statue, seemingly lost in thought. This was where Lucy found her and she cautiously approached her so as not to startle her.
She was about to speak up when Michelle suddenly spoke. "It's my fault," Michelle spoke softly, almost inaudibly. "If I hadn't brought you that clock hand…"
"It's not your fault," Lucy assured. "Please don't think that."
"But so many people have gotten hurt and the problem only seems to get bigger."
"We'll solve the problem. I'm sure of it. You'll see." Lucy stepped closer and smiled warmly at Michelle. "Besides, even if the only good thing was being able to meet you, I'm happy."
Michelle turned to Lucy, eyes shining as tears began to form. "Big sister Lucy…"
"So no more blaming yourself, okay?" Lucy said with a big smile, her hands folded behind her back.
Michelle couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They began to flow gently down her flushed cheeks. "Yes. Big sister…I love you so much." She fell forward into Lucy's chest and cried. Lucy gently pet her head to console her.
As she comforted Michelle, Lucy looked through the sunlit windows. There was sadness in her eyes. "Father…why did you entrust the clock hand to me? I have no idea what you were thinking. And what did you want to tell me with Key of the Starry Heavens?'
It was then that Lucy recalled her vision back in the tombs; the message from the girl from the cover of the Key of the Starry Heavens.
"I told you…not to…"
And then it clicked.
"What's wrong?" Michelle sobbed, wiping her tears away. She had felt Lucy tense up and when she looked at her big sister she could see a look of shock on her face.
"Maybe…," Lucy began before trailing off. "I'm going to try reading the Key of the Starry Heavens again."
"But why?"
Lucy began running back to the Blue Pegasus guild hall where the book still was. "I want to try thinking one more time about what my Father was trying to tell me!"
With a look of complete fear and disbelief, Lucy's hands went limp, allowing the Key of the Starry Heavens to fall onto the table with a bang. This caught the attention of everyone who had been waiting to hear what Lucy had to say.
"What's up, Lucy?" Nikolias asked. "You don't look so good."
"Lucy?" Natsu asked worriedly, leaning forward in his seat on the adjacent sofa.
"We…we were wrong," Lucy breathed.
"What?" Erza asked.
"I understand now," Lucy said as she stood up. Her body was trembling and her head hung. "It meant for us not to collect them!"
"Come again?" Gracie asked.
"What do you mean, Lucy?" Gray asked.
"I'm telling you we weren't supposed to collect them!" Lucy cried desperately. "That's what the true message in this book meant."
"I'm still confused," Sky admitted.
Lucy refused to lift her head. "We were never supposed to collect the pieces of the clock!"
"Don't tell me that we…," Michelle began.
"We were doing the opposite of what we were supposed to do?" Wendy asked.
"So that's what that Angel bitch meant," Ash said with clenched fists.
"They were waiting for us to gather the pieces," Mira said sadly.
"So it would seem," Carla said. 'So that image I saw was a warning after all.'
Lucy covered her eyes with her hands. Her body trembled even more. "I tried to solve it and got all cocky." Tears leaked from behind her hands and dripped from her chin onto the table. "I'm sorry…everyone…Father…I'm so sorry!" Her voice was raspy and her body was wracked with intensifying tears.
"It sounds like the outcome was truly bitter," Ichiya said.
"Too bitter," Lucy said as she looked at Ichiya through blurry eyes. "I just know something bad is going to happen now! I mean, after all…"
Natsu pulled Lucy into a hug, pressing her face into his broad shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up over this."
"Your old man beat around the bush way too much," Ash said with a shrug.
"Super confusing," Sky agreed.
"That anagram thingy was so roundabout," Happy added.
"All he had to do was tell us not to collect the clock parts," Gray said.
"There are people out there who work themselves sick from thinking about something too much," Erza said with a smile.
"Some people try to be too cryptic and just can't handle it," Gracie said with a shake of her head. "A sad truth."
"You say that like you're a puzzle master," Nikolias sighed.
"Heh?" Gracie gasped, her hands on her hips. "Are you insinuating that I, the great master strategist Gracie Amier, am not a puzzle master?"
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I meant to state it outright."
"Screw you."
Lucy giggled, forcing everyone's attention to her.
"Are you laughing, Lucy?" Wendy asked with a smile.
Lucy sniffed as she nuzzled Natsu's body. "I can't help it. You're all so weird."
"There's not much point in being overly upset about it," Natsu said.
"Like they say, 'Fortune comes in by a merry gate'," Carla said.
"You're all trying to cheer me up," Lucy said. "This is the Fairy Tail I know and love. Thank you so much everyone."
"Everyone makes mistakes. But then you have to recover," Ichiya said. "Look at all of the friends you have here who adore you. It's hard for anything to change that. If you can keep that in mind, you should be able to get back up again and again."
Lucy nodded. "Yeah. You're right."
"Now then, since you're all up and well rested, why don't I take you back home on the Christina?" Ichiya offered.
"That would be very much appreciated. Thank you," Erza said with a smile.
Inside of Zentopia's main building, the Legion Platoon stood before Cardinal Lapointe.
"Please let me enter, Your Holiness," Byro said. "I have urgent news that the Archbishop must hear."
"I'm afraid not even you can enter his chambers, Duke Byro," Lapointe refused. He stood atop the staircase that led to the Archbishop's chambers. "Right now the only one allowed to have an audience with the Archbishop is me. But fear not; I shall pass along your message."
"Every second counts!" Byro begged. "The Infinity Clock was stolen by the Oración Séis! They're going to…!"
"I am aware of that fact already," Lapointe interrupted harshly. "Don't lose your head, Duke Byro."
"How could he already know?" Hughes muttered.
"Didn't see that comin'," Sugar Boy said with a small thrust of his hips.
"Not a fan of people like him," Dan huffed softly. "You can never tell what they're thinking."
"The Archbishop chose him from the local parish since he was an influential person, but I can't bring myself to trust him," Samuel said while adjusting his large spectacles.
Byro took a step up the stairs. "Well? What did His Grace say in response to this news?"
"He gave the Legion Platoon a new duty," Lapointe replied.
Byro narrowed his eyes. "A new duty?"
Coco sniffed to try and hold back her tears. All around her she could hear anguished screams of the prisoners that were trapped in Zentopia. She gripped the cloth that Lucy had used to mend her wound tightly in her hands. "Princess…I'm scared."
"Coco. You betrayed Legion."
The young girl turned to see Lapointe standing in front of her crudely made prison cell door. He stood with his back to her. "Your Holiness…"
He looked at her over his shoulder with an icy glare. "Apparently you turned your back on the faith while a member of Legion. Are you prepared to face the consequences?"
More anguished screams echoed in the dank pit of prison cells. Still Coco, with Lucy's cloth held to her chest, steeled her resolve. "Do what you must. I have no regrets."
Suddenly, the sound of a loud clock rang out. Surprised, Coco ran to her cell door. "That sound…it can't be!"
Nikolias gripped the railing of the Christina tightly, his sharp teeth clenched. He looked out over the mountains in the direction where his keen hearing told him the sound was coming from. "It's that damn ringing again."
"The Infinity Clock," Natsu said. "It's ringing from somewhere."
"But where?" Ash asked. "It could be anywhere."
"For now let's not worry about it," Gracie said while crossing her arms. Her expression was serious, seemingly thinking things through. "First things first; we've got to regroup."
"I agree with Gracie," Erza said. "Once we're back at the guild we can formulate a new plan of action."
"But what can we do?" Sky asked.
"That's a great question," Gracie sighed while closing her eyes and furrowing her brow. "What can we do?"
