Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. Anything I write in this story is purely from my thoughts


Chapter 33

Naruto had never been an academic.

He was a hard worker. He can learn anything as long as he put his mind into it. He can learn the katas of the Taijutsu by repeating them over and over. He can learn nature manipulation by spamming close and practicing the exercises. Genjutsu was a little iffy even with his clones, but if he had a teacher he was sure that he can get the hang of it.

But despite his hard work, there was one thing that he cannot master no matter how much time he puts into it. And he was looking right at it.

"Break down the rogue characters…" Levy droned on as she tried to break down Freed's Dark Ecriture.

Naruto ignored everything else that was going on in the guild hall as he tried his hardest to focus on Levy's work and learn as much as he can. As much as he wanted to learn, his mind wasn't up to it. He felt his mind going numb as he tried to make sense of Levy's ramblings. Little by little, he felt himself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

That was until…

"THAT'S IT!"

"What, wait, I'm here! I'm awake!" Naruto was startled into wakefulness from Levy's outburst.

"What's happening?" Gajeel was suddenly interested in the situation.

"You're done?" So was Natsu.

"Sit tight guys. I will be able to get you out it a bit," Levy pleaded. She was close to the solution to the puzzle that kept them trapped in the building. She looked up briefly to the three boys itching for a fight. "There's just one thing I ask of you. Stop Laxus."

"With pleasure," Gajeel grinned.

The two others took it in silence.


LUCY VS BICKSLOW

It was unusual to see this kind of set up. It's not only unusual, but I think you will only see this with this particular pair.

Lucy cracked her whip as moved in tandem with Leo the Lion, her latest Celestial Spirit.

Leo powered up his ring. "Oh Regulus! Grant me strength!" He chanted as the glow extended from his ring, destroying the four annoying toys that Bickslow's magic controlled. Lucy, seeing the opening, flew towards Bickslow with the aid of Happy's Aera magic.

Her attack almost landed, but four more annoying toys formed a blockade around Bickslow. They got destroyed in the process.

"Woah, you've got some force on those kicks, lady," Bickslow complimented, his tone almost mocking.

Lucy couldn't believe it. Naruto had worked her like a mule during training. This is the first time she had seen the results of her training; those toys were hard, she had to admit.

"Woah, Lucy, have you been training?" Happy asked, in awe.

"Well, yeah," She rubbed her head sheepishly.

"The both of you may be able to destroy my babies, but you can't destroy the souls inside them!" Bickslow continued. "They'll–"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence, as Lucy lunged towards him and slugged him in the face, his head whipping to the side.

Bickslow took in the punch. His head slowly turned to glare at the Celestial Spirit Wizard, his eyes glowing red through the holes of his helmet that was now dislodged from its place.

"My, I actually felt that…" He slowly took it off. "You're better than I thought. I guess its time to get serious."

"LOOK AWAY!" Leo warned.

With no questions asked, Lucy shielded her eyes, afraid of what his magic might do to him. "What's going on?"

"All the Thunder Legion members have one thing in common," Bickslow explained. "You tried firsthand what Evergreen's eyes could do, now it's my turn…Look into my eyes, I dare you."

"Lucy, don't! If you make a mistake in looking, he'll turn you into a doll and steal your soul!" Happy warned.

"Tsk tsk, why'd you tell them, you stupid cat," Bickslow clicked his tongue. "That would be spoiling the fun."

'He looked at his opponents. "Now then, closing your eyes huh? I wonder how long you can keep them babies!"

"Aahh!" Lucy shrieked as four of the toys rammed into her unexpectedly.

"Lucy! Ack–" The same thing happened to the Celestial Spirit.

"HAHAHA! My combination is unbeatable! Figure Eyes and Human Possession!"

The toys ran circles around them. Without the benefit of sight, the two were not able to land a single hit on them. One or two hits were able to get close, but the possessed toys were able to glide out of the way to absorb them.

In just a few seconds, Loke and Lucy were both beaten. But these two couldn't just give up easily. Not only were their lives on the line, but also the townspeople who were held hostage by the Lacrima floating above the city.

The two staggered to their feet, ready for another round.

"You two must enjoy getting beaten up," Bickslow taunted. "Are you sure you can continue?"

Leo was on his feet. His legs wanted to collapse. He never had beaten Bickslow in a fight, but he had to continue for the sake of his master. He raised his hand over his cheek and wiped the blood pooling around his mic.

"I can do this all day," Leo said confidently, ready for another bout with Bickslow's toys.

"If my Spirit can continue fighting like this, I can too!" Lucy declared. 'We'll do this together!"

"Hmmm…your shining brilliance gives me the strength to face any foe, no matter how strong they are," Even in this situation, Loke was still able to flirt with his master.

Just then, an idea struck.

"Lucy!" Leo the Lion called out. "When I give the signal, open your eyes and attack with all you've got! Trust me!"

"You think I'll let you?" Bickslow countered, hearing the plan.

Both light sources glowed, one from Leo's ring, while the other was from the dolls floating into formation.

"Baryon Formation!"

"Regulus Zenith: Lion Brilliance!"

The light sources glowed brilliantly, blinding everyone who was not aware of what was going to happen.

"My eyes!" Bickslow screamed as the brilliance seared into his retinas.

"Lucy, now!" The leader of the celestial spirits commanded.

Lucy lept into action as he heard Leo's beckon. Her hand to hand combat was sloppy, and her combinations left a lot to be desired but she was doing damage.

Bickslow clenched his teeth. He caught Lucy's punch with a grunt and held on tight.

"You think I'll let you win that easily!"

"We're not done yet!" Loke was already charging up an attack whilst their opponent was distracted.

His hand was cocked back, like he was about to get a punch of his own, but a ball of light was surrounding his hand.

Lucy smirked, batting away the hand that caught her fist. She leapt out of the way as the head of a lion made of pure light collided with Bickslow, destroying everything else in its wake.

The duo stood triumphantly as Freed's magical announcer declared their victory.

Bickslow is defeated.

Winner: Lucy


WITH MIRA

A certain barmain was scouring the streets, worried about her brother's condition.

She entered one of the streets. Her heart sank with what she saw.

Her brother was lying face first into the ground; his eyes were drifting alternately from unconsciousness to wakefulness.

Memories of her trauma resurfaced. A pair of wizards about to get killed by a giant hulking monster, and the subsequent savior who had beaten their brother into the ground to calm him down, only to lose her younger sister to a strange light that pulled her into the sky.

Fearing the worst, she rushed to Elfman's side.

"Elfman," her voice trembled.

"Nee-san," Elfman croaked. His eyes focused on her sister. "I'm so glad you're back to normal."

Tears welled along Mira's eyes. She couldn't help it anymore. For two of Fairy Tail's major events now, she had been pushed to the sidelines and made a hostage twice, making her feel incredibly useless. She couldn't do anything for the guild nor her family.

"Don't cry, Nee-san," Elfman tried for a smile. "You've done so much for us already. All you have to do is sit back and wait for everyone with a smile.

Elfman's words only made his big sister cry. Her tears fell like rivers.

"Nee-san, please don't cry," Elfman pleaded. "It wouldn't be manly for me if my big sister cried."


CANA AND JUVIA

The Card Magic user banged on the wall of the Dark Ecriture limits.

"LET US OUT OF HERE, FREED!" She demanded. "ARE YOU A COWARD TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND YOUR ENCHANTMENTS?!"

Freed remained calm, "I only wish to minimize the blood on my hands. That is all."

Behind her, Juvia began channeling her magic throughout her body. "If that is what you wish, then so be it." Her body was now a raging current, water instead of flesh.

Cana looked back at the guild's newest member. "Juvia, you can't be serious."

"We have no choice," Juvia said. "One of us has to get out of this to fight him."

The rain woman's water body surged towards Cana. The latter braced herself for the impact, knowing she won't stand a chance against one of Phantom Lord's S-class. But, Juvia surged upwards, the water colliding with the wall. Not giving up, she continued on upwards, hitting each wall on the way up.

"Go as high as you wish," Freed loftily said as she watched the girl's futile efforts. "There is no way out."

Juvia did not listen. She was still as determined as ever. She surged upwards using her magic, with her goal in sight.

Cana's eyes widened in horror as she saw Juvia's goal.

The Rain Woman collided with one of the Thunder Palace's Lacrima. Electricity coursed through her body, being amplified by the minerals her water body possessed. She screamed in pain as the body link magic fried her to the core.

Both friend and foe alike were shocked at her decision, that they just stared at her as she fell from the sky.

Juvia was knocked out in a self K.O

Cana wins by default.

Cana immediately went to her aid, ignoring the announcer's words. There were more important things to worry about.

"Why?" was all she could ask.

"Juvia loves everyone in the guild," She mewled. "I promised myself I wouldn't hurt my new family ever again."

With that, she fell unconscious from her wounds, slowly losing the energy to stay awake.

Cana raised her head, giving Freed a murderous glare.

Cana activated her magic at full power as she got ready to engage.

A new battle commences.

Cana vs Freed


FAIRY TAIL GUILD

"You're the best, Levy!" Naruto praised the bookworm.

The girl blushed at the praise. She didn't understand, but the more she watched the blonde save and protect the guild these past times she was beginning to see him in a different light.

But that wasn't important at the moment.

Her three guild mates had a job to do.

"Are you ready, you three?" Levy got serious this time.

"YOSH! Time to get some payback!" Naruto declared, igniting his hand in a blaze of fire.

"I couldn't agree with you more, Salamander," Gajeel said, turning his hand into pure iron.

"You guys wanna take on the dragon," Naruto ordered. "I'll make sure the others are okay, then I'll come to you."

"Dragon? Where?" Natsu looked around, looking for the giant creature he grew up with.

"There ain't anymore dragons, blondie," Gajeel scoffed.

"Oh, I see," Naruto was taken aback that the two dragon slayers were not able to notice. "Mr. Big Man will explain it to you."

Before the two could protest, he gave the two a two-fingered salute and disappeared in a flash.


MIRAJANE AND ELFMAN

"It's okay, Nee-san," The man said weakly. "I can walk on my own now."

"I wasn't able to do anything for any of you," Mira answered. "At least let me do this much."

CRASH

Cana broke through the bridge with her body. She was battered and bruised after. Her fight with Freed was not even close, not even her anger brought her close to the same power level.

The two siblings noticed this, and instantly became wary. They purposefully passed through the side streets to get away from the fighting, but it seems that they were out of luck today.

"You're a tough woman to break," Freed said from above. "I should have expected that from you."

"I will not break easily against the likes of you," Cana spat.

"Why do you insist on defending the Phantom Wizards?" Freed asked. "Weren't they who destroyed the guild?"

"Where the hell were you when they attacked, huh? At least they're here now, ready to protect the guild against the likes of you," Cana argued "You have no right to outcast them. They have as much right to be in the guild, unlike you freaks!"

"Are you done?" Freed said, unfazed. "You talk too much."

Suddenly, Cana grabbed her throat. She gagged and spat out blood, until she fell into unconsciousness.

"Cana!" Mira cried with worry.

"What's going on here?!" Elfman growled. He stepped forward to engage the master of the runes.

"Oh?" Freed raised an eyebrow. "Are you my next opponent, Elfman? You have no right to return to the game. You have already been eliminated."

"SHUT UP!" The shapeshifter barked as he prepared for combat once again.

"Why are you doing this, Freed?" Mira questioned. "Aren't we on the same side?"

"You are correct," he said dodging the battered man's swing. "At one point. But now, we are trying to restructure the guild, build it into an institution that will be known all throughout Fiore."

His sword point touched the younger Strauss's chest, and runes snaked their way onto his skin.

"Elfman," he regarded the man. "Rulebreakers like you are scum. I have a special kind of punishment for you."

He pointed his sword at him, and the runes glowed.

Elfman wasn't able to quip back as he was affected by unbearable pain.

"Dark Ericture: Pain!"

"Dark Ericture: Fear!"

"Dark Ericture: Suffer!"

"Dark Ericture–!"

Freed widened his eyes. He was about to end things here, but she felt power building up in the vicinity. His head swept to the girl down below the bridge. There was nothing unusual with her. It was just her mourning her brother. She did not look like she was building power, so why did it feel like her power levels were increasing.

Mira held her head in between her palms. She couldn't bear to see Elfman like this. But there was nothing she could do. She had not gotten used to her power yet. It hadn't grown back to the peak she had been used to when she was younger. What if she lost control? What if she did more than she intended? What if she couldn't save Elfman? What if…

"Mira…"

She heard Naruto's voice in her mind.

She looked up, but she was greeted by a different scene.

*FLASHBACK*

Demon!

Monster!

You killed that priest, didn't you!

Get out of our town!

The villagers' hurtful words rang out in her mind. She had never truly gotten over her past, and her failure just brought out some unhealed trauma.

It had been years since she managed to take control of her magic powers, but ever since that incident, her magic just regressed into the deepest recesses of her being.

She had become scared of her powers, and rightly so. The last time she went out for a quest. She couldn't do anything despite being called an S-class Wizard.

Perhaps her past townsmen were right. Maybe she was just a useless demon. Maybe, she should have been consumed by the demon she had fought long ago. Maybe…


"Nee-san, nee-san!" She was broken out of the dumps she had dug herself into when the scene in her mind had changed. It was a scene of Elfman running excitedly into the guild hall. Her brother had been constantly disappearing these past few days, and he would come home dead tired.

The wizard excitedly ran towards her as she tended the counter.

"What's got you worked up?" She asked the man.

"I have been training all month now, and I finally did it!" He bragged to his sister.

"Beast Soul!"

The wizard called out his magic, causing the barmaid to widen her eyes.

"Elfman, don't–"

She was about to stop her brother, but the transformation had pushed through. Her brother had started changing into the dreaded beast that attacked them all those years ago.

She shook in fear as the beast towered over her, its gaze boring into her.

She closed her eyes in fear as she tried to hide against the monster in front of her, but all her fears were washed away when the beast spoke.

"Isn't this great Nee-san?" The beast spoke in the same way Elfman addressed her.

"Elfman?" She asked warily. "Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me!" Elfman answered and moved around to prove his point. "I'm in control now!"

"B-but how?" She asked, still not able to process the information.

"It was Naruto," Elfman answered. "He helped me master this. Now I'll be able to protect you and make sure you won't cry ever again!"


The scene changed again. She was back in her own mindscape. She saw three figures under some kind of light source from above.

One of them was visible to her. It was a blast from the past, a transformation she had used to become one of the strongest wizards of Fairy Tail. The other two were shrouded in darkness, transformations she kept as trump cards in her possession. But one thing was common among them. They stood there motionless, like they were in a state of suspended animation.

She hesitantly approached.

This power scared her. Too many what ifs played in her head.

Just then, Naruto's voice played out of nowhere.

It was hard wasn't it? You thought that those cold stares wouldn't affect you. They thought that we couldn't hear their harsh words.

'Naruto…'

You shouldn't be afraid of your own power. If you were, you're only proving them right.

'But what if I fail again?'

There's nothing stopping you from making yourself better. Harness your power. Work with it. Make it your own. The stronger you get, the better you can protect your family.


Naruto's words rang through her ears as she felt herself well up with magic power.

Protect…

Family…

Control…

She steeled herself.

In her mindscape, she resolved herself. She walked forward and touched her old transformation and once again took form.

Her body glowed a bright gold as she was exuding so much magic energy. The rubble around her was lifted off the ground by the amount of pressure she was exuding. And the cherry on top, a black magic circle appeared above her signaling the activation of her long dormant magic.

Freed's eyes widened into dinner plates as she stared at the eldest Strauss.

"Freeeeeeed!"

The Thunder Legion Member stared at what only could be described as a demon. This 'demon' shrieked out his name before disappearing in a blur.

He raised up his guard. It had been a miracle that only a few strands of hair were shaved off his head.

"Dark Ecriture: Wings"

The wizard flew into the air, trying to put as much distance from the she–devil as he could.

The demon let out a shriek. Wings sprouted from her back, lifting her off the ground. The distance between them suddenly turned useless.

With one swipe from the demon, Freed was sent careening towards the bridge. Luckily for him, he was able to right himself before he hit the cold hard stone, allowing him to take to the skies once again.

But he wasn't given time to recover. The she-devil was once again behind her. He couldn't even keep up with such speed.

Freed turned to face her. All that was in his mind was: "Th-this is…the power that made Mirajane S-class, Satan's soul."

Mirajane raised an arm aimed at Freed. A magic circle formed in front of the aimed palm where dark energy shot from onto the Thunder Legion Member. Try as he might, he tried to maneuver through the spell. Trying to fight back was useless, as the Darkness Stream knocked him back down.

Deciding to fight back, he casted one more spell to hopefully ascend to her level.

"You're not the only one with powers like this," Freed swiped his sword. "Dark Ecriture: Darkness!"

Freed transformed just as Mira did. He turned into a dark-colored, demonic creature, with horns coming out of their head and their right eye covered with scales.

Their fists met, creating a shockwave. They reared both of their fists, charging it with dark energy.

More blows were exchanged between the two of them, and for a time, it looked like they were evenly matched. They clashed in the air, bouncing off each other as more of their attacks collided with each other. It was pretty much an even fight at this.

Somehow, in the heat of battle, Fried was able to knock Mira back down in the waters below. He let out a breath of relief, as this fight was the hardest he fought in his life.

But to his shock and horror, the waters of the river started swirling around in a cyclone. Fried hovered above the expanse of water to see what could have caused the phenomenon.

And there she was, lo and behold, it was Mira, drawing the water around her and forming a ball of compressed magic in between her hands.

"You're finished," Mira said with a deathly tone, "Evil Explosion."

The attack shook the city. The explosion was so immense that the civilians were able to see it despite their distance from the central district, worrying the Fairy Tail Wizards, especially those that knew Mira's glory days.

In the battlefield, as Fried lay there broken and defeated, his Dark Ecriture rang out the announcement.

Freed has been defeated.

Winner: Mirajane.


Kardia Cathedral

"USELESS!" Laxus raged as he heard the announcement. "I ENTRUSTED THIS ALL TO YOU, YET THE THREE OF YOU FAILED ME!"

As Laxus raged at the defeat of his men, the massive doors of the Cathedral opened. He briefly turned to see Mystogan.

"I see you've found me," Laxus said. "I would never imagine you, of all people, would be interested in joining my little game. This is my lucky day."

Mystogan ignored his comment and proceeded to get on with business. "Deactivate the Thunder Palace at once and you may still pass this off as a part of the festivities."

"There's no bantering with you, huh Mystogan?" Laxus shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, have it your way. At the very least, one of Fairy Tail's age old questions will be answered. Who is strongest in the guild?"

"I have no interest in such trivial things," The masked man said. "I am here to put a stop to this nonsense and that's that."

"Come on Mystogan, old chum," Laxus said mockingly. "Aren't you even a little bit curious?"

"Not even a shred, but to answer that question, I would propose it was Gildarts, but with Naruto in the picture, who's to say?"

Laxus cackled. "The old man? Have you seen him around the guild lately? No, that guy is not coming back. As for Naruto, someone as weak-willed as him can never hope to contend with the big guys. And then there's Erza, she holds promise, but as it stands, she's still weak."

"You must be blind if you think Naruto and Erza are weak."

"Look Mystogun, I'm complimenting you here. Right now, one of the guild's strongest is standing in this room."

"Is strength all that your eyes can see?"

"We have a one in a million chance here. Let's settle who's strongest right here, right now, Mystogun…"

Laxus' expression turned mischievous. "...or should I say…Je–"

BOOM!