Coven Fairy
"How you holding up Sapphire?" Kali asked, petting her Palisman's pregnant belly.
("Like I'm gonna explode if one of my babies kicks too hard.") Sapphire said. ("I just wish they'd come out already.")
"I know it's tough waiting for them, just grow a bit bigger, and you'll be able to handle the kicking." Kali said. "Want anything on my way home from school?"
("A nap inside your storage stomach.") Sapphire said.
"Fine, but only after I finish my homework." Kali said. "You know, what you being in there does to me."
"Kali, you ready to get going?" Luz asked popping her head in.
"I'll be there in a second." Kali smiled. "See you later Sapphire."
("Wait Kali.") Sapphire called out. ("Please bring me with you. I'm tired of being bedridden all the time. It's driving me crazy, and you know that's not good for the babies.")
Kali just looked to Sapphire, before sighing and opening her bag, allowing for Sapphire to climb in.
"Fine, but don't do anything that could cause labor. I don't exactly wanna run out of class, and have to explain it to the teacher, or Principal Bump." Kali stated, as Sapphire climbed into her bag. "Hope you're comfy, because I gotta get going to school."
~Hexside~
"So, did you manage to figure out that plant Glyph?" Kali asked, walking next to Luz, Willow, and Gus.
"I did, and I'm happy I found it. Now I'll be able to do more with the Glyphs." Luz smiled.
"You know, you should try combining them." Kali said. "Who knows what kind of spells you could make combining the elemental Glyphs."
"That's not a bad idea. But I'm gonna wait and see if I can find any more Glyphs before trying that." Luz said.
"You probably only have one more to go." Kali stated.
"Maybe, but let's talk about something else." Luz said. "Something's different today. Did everyone get a hair cut?"
"Not likely." Kali said, playfully whacking Luz upside the head. "Eda told me about this, it's the annual tradition of Hexside."
"Oh yeah, I forgot you've never been here for the social event of the season." Willow said.
"Welcome to your very first…"
"Out of the way." Someone in a surgeons uniform said, as two of them passed through group with a gurney and saws in their hands, stopping at a young man with bat ears.
"What's going on?" Luz asked.
"Just watch." Kali said, as Sapphire's head popped out of the bag to watch the spectacle.
"Come with us immediately, your disease it's advancing." One of the 'medics' said as they put the young man on the gurney.
"Is there a, cur Doc?" The young man asked.
"Only one." The doctor said all seriously, before getting all mushy. "Finding the perfect date to Grom."
"If that's the only cure then…" The young man said as the gurney was pushed in front of Skara. "Skara, will you go to Grom with me?" He asked, holding up a beating heart, with Grom, written on the front of it.
"That heart is still beating." Kali said. "I'm impressed."
"AH, of course I will or whatever." Skara said happily, causing the others in the hall to cheer.
"You guys have a weird version of Prom, in the boiling isles?" Luz questioned. "I was kicked out of my last school dance for dressing as an otter, but maybe here, I could be your Grom queen."
"Grom isn't exactly like that Luz." Kali stated. "On the Boiling Isles, Grom Queen is a title people wish to avoid."
"Why?"
"Because it means you're the one who ends up fighting the creature known as Grom, sealed away under the gymnasium." Kali said. "Eda was Grom Queen once when she attended, and she barely survived her encounter."
"Yikes, guess that means whoever's chosen is the unlucky one." Luz said, before someone bumped into her from behind.
"Watch it nitwit." Amity groaned, before she realized who she was talking to. "Oh, hi Luz, Kali, and Co." She said. "Sorry about that."
"No problem, let me help you." Luz said, getting up from the floor with Amity. "Here, your note." She stated, holding the note out to Amity.
"Luz." Kali said, grabbing Amity's wrist before she could take it back. "The note's for you. Read it."
"For me? Alright." Luz said opening the note.
"What? No wait don't." Amity said.
"Will you go, to Grom with me?" Luz read aloud, before looking at Amity. "Of course I will." She smiled.
"Huh?" Amity was shocked, as Kali let go of her wrist.
"I mean, I'm not entirely sure how Grom is supposed to go, but yeah I'd like to go to Grom with you." Luz said enthusiastically.
"You're welcome." Kali whispered to Amity, causing the green haired girl to blush.
"Attention Hexside Students, this is your Principal Speaking." Bumps voice came over the speaker system.
"Oh man, this is it." Gus said nervously.
"He's announcing who will be this years Grom Royalty." Willow said, equally nervous.
"This year, I have the privilege of bestowing our highest Grom honor to, Amity Blight." Bump stated.
"Oh no." Kali said. "Amity."
Kali turned to see the green haired Blight had vanished. She sighed, when realized how Amity must be feeling.
"Luz, go talk with Amity, I've got a few things I need to take care of with Principal Bump." Kali said. "You can probably find her in the gymnasium."
"Yes Ma'am." Luz said.
~Gym~
"Very good, lower the streamers, fill the punch bowl, and how's my disco ball?" Bump questioned, overseeing the preparations for the Grom dance.
"Nauseous."
"Snaggleback?" Kali questioned, coming up next to Kali. "I haven't seen you since that rainstorm."
"Hi Kali." Snaggleback said.
"Principal Bump, I've been looking all over for you, can I talk to you for a bit?" Kali asked.
"Sure thing one sec." Bump said, before looking to Snaggleback. "You're doing great, just keep it up for 36 more hours."
"Are you even getting paid for this Snaggleback?" Kali inquired.
"Not unless you count scraps of food payment."
"I'll give you some money when Grom ends pal." Kali said, before turning to follow Bump. "Principal Bump, I need to talk to you about the Grom Queen." She said, as the duo passed Luz, just as she was coming into the gymnasium.
Despite her mission to talk with Amity, she could help but feel excited.
"Ah, my first school dance experience, on the Boiling Isles." Luz said. "I can't wait to get overdressed, take awkward photos, push all the buttons." She paused when she saw a button right next to her. "Hello. Don't mind if I do, boop." She smiled, pushing the button.
The moment she pressed the button, the floor began to shake, before opening up, revealing a hidden underground catacomb, with two walls of weapons popping up next to her.
"So these must be what's used for fighting Grom." Luz said. "I wonder which one Eda used."
"I guess you have something similar to Grom in the human world."
Luz looked around one of the walls, to see Amity sitting on the bleachers in the gym, looking upset.
"Kali told me you'd be in here." Luz said. "An' in the human world, we have Prom, but there's no monster fighting involved, unless you count someone trying to spike the punch with alcohol. Kali just gave me a rundown of what having the title of Grom Royalty means."
"Well then, let me give you a more, detailed explanation." Amity said, coming down the bleachers, just as a dark oozy creature seeped out of the ground, and sinking back in like a shark in water, circling its prey. "That's Grom, short for Grometheus, the fear bringer. It's a monster that lives under the school." She continued, drawing a circle of magic to show Luz the history behind Grom. "Every year, it tries to break out, and a student has to defeat it, before it can escape and make its way into town. Ever the optimist, Bump holds a party, and calls it tradition."
"So, what's so bad about Grom?" Luz inquired.
"The worst thing is, Grom can read minds, and shape shift into your worst fear." Amity said. "The stronger the fear, the more powerful Grom becomes."
"If it worries you so much, why don't you tell Principal Bump you want out of this death match biz?" Luz asked. "Kali's already talking to him."
"Thanks Luz, that's a good idea." Amity said.
"Put down a tarp, I'm gonna puke." Snaggleback called out.
Looking worried, both Luz and Amity ran out of there, before they could witness that horrifying scene.
~Owl House~
"I'm home." Luz called out.
"Ow!" Eda shouted.
"Guys?" The human questioned.
Luz poked her head into Eda's room, spotting the Owl Lady dressed in a nice suit, with a bow tie, while King wore an apron, with several sewing tools in the pockets.
"Careful with those pins." Eda said, looking at King.
"Why am I doing this, I don't even wear clothes." King stated.
"Hey, sweet duds Owl Lady. What's the haps?" Luz inquired coming further into Eda's room, before sitting on Eda's nest.
"I'm chaperoning Grom tonight, so I have to look sharp." Eda said.
"So you chose a suit, instead of a dress?" Kali asked, letting them know she was there as she leaned against the doorframe.
"All my dresses are not Grom or high school appropriate." Eda said.
"I do not need that mental image, thank you very little." Kali shuddered.
"An' Gus asked me to co-MC the fight." King said, showing the poster of him and Gus, back to back wearing sunglasses. "We're gonna turn this blood bath, into a fun bath."
"Ooh, have they announced the victim yet?" Eda inquired.
"Yeah, Amity." Kali said. "I tried talking Bump out of it, but he said unless someone volunteered to take her place, Amity was stuck as Grom Royalty."
"She was kinda freaking out though." Luz said.
"She can relax now." Kali sighed. "I volunteered to take her place. So now, you're looking at the new Queen of Grom."
"Kali, are you sure about that, what about your curse?" Luz asked. "It could activate at any moment during the fight."
"So what? King Toma informed me Zash escaped custody and is on the loose, and since my portal is still recharging after my last trip to Earthland, I can't go to Fiore and hunt him down, so I gotta blow off some steam somehow." Kali stated, pulling a giant spider off the back of Luz's head. "Grom seems like the right target for the job." She said, burning the arachnid to cinders with her flames.
"Do you even know what your greatest fear is?" Eda asked.
"I do, and even if I'm not prepared to face it, I will if I have to." Kali said, turning to leave. "I gotta go prepare for the fight tonight."
Once Kali was gone, Eda looked to King, a worried look on her face.
"I don't think she truly understands, what fighting Grom will entail." Eda said. "Even for adults, facing your worst fear is something you can't prepare for."
"Given all Kali's been through, can we really say she hasn't been forced to grow up, sooner then she should have?" Luz asked.
"Even so, it's not something to take lightly." Eda said, turning around a looking into the mirror. "Do you think I could pull off red eye shadow?"
"Girl, you can pull off anything." King said. "Up top, we're style geniuses." He stated, high fiving Eda.
"LUZ." Amity's voice echoed through the house, as the sound of Hooty's door slamming open was heard.
"Oh boy, this can't be good." Luz said.
"Before you go." Eda smiled. "Kali had the foresight to prepare an attire for you for tonights Grom. I think you're gonna love it."
~Kali~
"Seriously, why can't Eda have the smallest bit of faith in me?" Kali questioned, swinging her leg forward in a roundhouse, hitting the punching bag she'd set up behind the house. "I'm not some fragile, frail, little, GIRL!" She said, punctuating her words with a kick.
Throwing another lightning flame kick, Kali destroyed the chain holding the punching bag to the stand, before the shredded bag of sand fell to the ground, burning into a pillar of smoke. Sighing in annoyance, Kali used her Boiling Isles magic to make the ground consume the bag, before her magic produced another one.
"I'm down to my Palistrom Silk punching bag." She groaned, grabbing a towel and wiping off the sweat build up. "I really need to lay off the hard hits with the bags that can't handle it."
"What makes you think this one can handle your hits?"
Kali's head shot up, and she looked to her right to see Natsu with a smirk, holding Sapphire in his arms, while Happy flew above the salmon haired young man with his wings spread.
"Natsu, how the hell did you get to the Boiling Isles?" Kali asked.
"Sapphire used a couple of your emergency portal leaves to create a rift not only big enough for me to fit through, but powerful enough to cross realms to Earthland." Natsu said. "She stared pulling on my scarf, I don't even know why she dragged me here."
"It takes forever to make just one of those, why Sapphire?" Kali questioned, flopping down on the crate she had set up with her towel and water bottle.
"What's going on Kali?" Natsu asked.
"It's Grom." Kali sighed. "It's this annual dance Principal Bump holds in guise of its true purpose."
"Which is?"
"Grom is short for Grometheus. A creature who can shape shift into your worst fear, if it manages to get a hold of you, and read your mind." Kali said. "Amity was chosen as Grom Queen, but I volunteered to take her place, because Luz said yes to going to the dance with her."
"I'm guessing Eda wasn't all too thrilled about that?" Natsu asked.
"Not entirely." Kali huffed. "It's just frustrating that I'm being treated like some fragile girl, because of my curse. Eda's concerned I won't be able to handle it."
"Can you blame her? She's your grandmother, she has a right." Natsu said.
"Not really, since she wasn't there to raise Ivan properly." Kali said.
"Kali, you know that's not fair." Natsu said, neither of them aware of the back door to the owl house being somewhat open. "She explained to us that her curse would have killed her if she stayed in Earthland any longer."
"She still could have brought Ivan with her. Maybe then I wouldn't have been born, such an outcast." Kali stated.
"Is this really about Eda treating you like a fragile girl, or is this about you wishing you'd been born to a better life?" Natsu asked.
The silence Kali gave, was all the proof he needed.
"Kali, I know it can be hard for you, living in Magnolia with everything going on." Natsu stated. "But you're better then this. You're not some brat who can't handle herself, you're a strong member of Fairy Tail, so stop whining about being dealt such a crummy lot in life, and prove to Eda you're not as fragile as you think."
"Small problem, it'll be hella weird for me to go to Grom, without a date." Kali stated. "Thanks to my influence with the Multi-Track courses, I'm practically the most popular girl in school, and it I don't go I'm gonna be the laughing stock. But since word already got out that I took Amity's place as Grom Queen, no one is even attempting to come near me to ask me to Grom. Not that it would matter, since Grom is tonight."
"Not a problem." Natsu said. "You can still go, and you'll have a date."
"Who am I gonna find so last minute to go with me to Grom?" Kali asked.
"Me, I'll go to Grom with you." Natsu said.
"Aye sir, and I can stay behind and watch over Sapphire, making sure her and her babies are A-Okay." Happy said.
"Thanks you two." Kali smirked. "But neither of us, are going anywhere until we shower and get cleaned up."
"Quick question though." Natsu said. "What exactly am I gonna wear to Grom? Can I just wear my normal clothes?"
"Oh no, I've got something much more ideal for the Grom King." Kali smirked.
~Grom~
Amity was pacing around the floor in front of the entrance to the gymnasium, wearing a dress consisting of a dark purple top, with a magenta knee length skirt, puffy lavender sleeves, and a pair of dark abomination purple heels. She was nervous about whether or not Luz was gonna show up, but that wasn't the only reason as to why she was pacing. She didn't know where Kali was, and she was wanting to know why Kali would take her place as Grom Royalty.
"Amity, I'm glad I found you." Luz said, getting her attention.
"Luz, thank goodness you're here, have you seen…" Amity stopped talking, the instant she saw Luz.
The human was dressed in a white button up shirt, with a black tailcoat with a purple lining on the inside. She wore purple pants, connected to a pair of dancing shoes, with an egg shell white bow tie around her neck. Her hair was slicked back, making her look more debonair then she normally would.
"I haven't seen Kali. Not since she was talking with Natsu." Luz said, not noticing how Amity was blushing at Luz's attire.
"Uh, right. Where could she be?" Amity asked, as they entered the gymnasium.
"I'm not sure." Luz sighed, before changing the topic. "You, look beautiful tonight."
"Thanks, you look great too." Amity said.
"Kali's the one, who made these clothes for me." Luz said. "Seems she really knows what she's doing with that Palistrom silk Araña makes."
"Araña?" Amity asked.
"Her spider Palisman she keeps in her workshop." Luz explained. "She's apparently got a second form that I haven't yet been able to see."
"How many Palismen does she gave? First Sapphire, now this Araña?" Amity inquired.
"Technically Araña isn't my partner Palisman." Kali said, stepping up behind them. "She's just the Palisman that I made for converting logs of Palistrom wood, into spools of Palistrom wood sewing thread. That same thread is what I made Luz' clothes for tonight out of. It's also the same thread I used for the fabric for my battle gear."
"Kali I, whoa…" Luz stopped when she and Amity turned around to speak with Kali, before they stopped when they saw, who was standing in front of them.
Kali was wearing the same battle gear she wore when she fought the Greater Basilisk, with the minor addition of a gold trimmed black waist cloak connected at her hips, but what shocked them the most was what Natsu was wearing. He stepped through the open doors of the gymnasium, wearing a black suit, a white button up shirt with the top two buttons undone, and a pair of red tinted sunglasses over his eyes. The outfit was so simple, yet it made him look so dashing.
"Whoa, Natsu. You clean up nice." Luz said.
"Thanks Luz." Natsu smirked, raising his sunglasses to sit on his forehead.
"Where's your scarf?" Amity asked.
"It's wrapped around Sapphire, like a blanket." Natsu said.
"His scarf was knitted from dragon scales, so it gives Sapphire some peace of mind, and some comfort." Kali explained. "An' she certainly needs it. Though she's not the only one starting to get worried about why she hasn't been able to give birth as of yet."
"Kali, why did you volunteer to take my place as Grom Queen?" Amity asked.
"Because I knew you were upset to be chosen, and I wanted you to enjoy the dance with Luz." Kali said. "Who knows, maybe tonight will end in fun for the both of you."
Amity blushed when Kali said that, before Natsu just laughed and they went further into the dance hall.
"Hey Amity, you all right?" Luz asked. "It's not proper to arrive after royalty you know."
"Y-yes I'm fine." Amity said.
"Good, then let's head in before Gus and King start the show." Luz smiled, holding her arm out for Amity to take.
"Let's." Amity smiled, looping her arm through Luz's, before they both went further into the dance floor.
During one of the slow dances, Kali looked around to see Eda standing at the snack table, a look of annoyance, and sadness on her face.
"What do you think has her all upset?" Kali asked.
"My guess, she ate a bad party snack and can't get the taste out of her mouth." Natsu said.
"Gonna have to say no on that one." Kali said. "The fight isn't for a couple more minutes, I'll go talk to her."
"Good idea. I'll hang around the other end of the snack table. I'm interested to know what Boiling Isles food tastes like." Natsu smirked.
"You okay? Your cheeks are a little redder then usual." Kali said. "Think of something embarrassing?"
"Not really, but now that you mention it, they do itch a bit more then they used to." Natsu said.
"It's whatever, enjoy the snacks." Kali said, as they went their separate ways, to opposite ends of the snack table.
Kali made her way to Eda, wanting to know what was bugging her so badly.
"Eda, is everything okay?" Kali asked.
"Oh great, everything is just fine and dandy." Eda said.
"Really, because you seem like you're a bit miffed." Kali said, crossing her arms.
"Oh no, I'm just peachy. Just thinking about how I could have raised Ivan better if I'd brought him here with me, instead of leaving him with his father." Eda said.
"So that's what you're mad about." Kali stated. "You overheard my conversation with Natsu."
"I did, because I was coming out to talk to you, and heard what you were saying. I'm sorry I chose my son's future over my own need to be with him Kali." Eda stated. "I'm sorry if my own heartache, for abandoning the second of the only two men I'd ever loved, and leaving my son behind with him, ruined your life. I'm sorry if my postpartum depression after giving birth, became so bad I nearly ended it all several times, was a pain in your ass."
"Eda, this is not the time or place to have this conversation." Kali said. "You're causing a scene.
"Oh really, guess I better hightail it out of here, like I hightailed it out of my own sons life." Eda stated.
"You know what, maybe you should leave the dance." Kali stated. "I can smell the alcohol on your breath, and you are really acting immature, about a private conversation I had with Natsu, that you weren't even a part of."
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Eda scoffed. "Speaking of flame breath, you might wanna go over and rescue him from some of the girls hounding him."
Kali looked from Eda to Natsu, and saw Boscha and Skara talking with him. Boscha was laying the flirt on hard with him, and Kali found herself more then a little jealous.
"Thanks for the advice." Kali said, before storming off to where Natsu was.
With said pyro, Natsu was trying to tell Boscha no, but she wasn't having any of it.
"I'm sorry, but I already said no. I'm here with someone else." Natsu said, as Boscha tried pulling him to the dance floor.
"Oh come on, don't be such a stick in the mud." Boscha said. "I'm way more fun to be around, then that prissy Clawthorne girl."
"If you know who I'm here with, then you need to leave me alone." Natsu said, yanking his arm out of her grasp.
"Boo, why do you gotta play hard to get so much?" Boscha inquired.
"Boscha please, I know you've got a hateful rivalry with Kali going on, but I don't think trying to steal her date, is the best idea." Skara said. "I'm really sorry about her Natsu."
"It's no problem Skara." Natsu said.
"Skara, if you already knew him, why didn't you introduce us?" Boscha asked. "Actually, I've never seen him around here before, how do you know him?"
"Because I knew Kali was gonna kill you, if you tried making any moves on him." Skara said. "An' as for how I know him, Kali's birthday gift to me, was letting me join her guild, I got my Guild Mark in Bard Coven red. Did you know she's the granddaughter of Fairy Tail's Master?"
"I don't care who she is, that little slut will never be more popular then me." Boscha said.
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you Boscha." Natsu said, his fist igniting in flames. "I don't really think you wanna be pissing off a Dragonslayer."
"Easy Natsu, don't go burning the whole school down just because Boscha said something to piss you off." Kali said, smacking Natsu upside the head.
"Hey Kali." Natsu said. "I take from your expression, your talk with Eda didn't go so well?"
"She overheard us talking earlier." Kali said. "That's why she's moody."
"Let me talk with her, I'll see if I can't straighten things out." Natsu said.
"Thanks Natsu." Kali said, as the fire Dragonslayer made his way passed her.
"Ugh, you just had to step in, didn't you?" Boscha asked.
"Boscha, I am not in the mood to deal with your ego driven narcissism." Kali stated. "I am having a pretty bad night, and I do not need you to make it even worse."
"Why, trying to make your Ex jealous?" Boscha asked with a smirk. "He's over there, dancing with his sister Emira."
"I don't care who he's dancing with, and I don't care that he broke things off with me. I've moved on." Kali said.
"Right." Boscha said. "Is that why you chose to take Blight's place as Grom Queen? Couldn't she have found someone better to take her place?"
"You arrogant little…" Kali hissed.
"Boscha, you are on thin ice with her right now." Skara said, trying to defuse the situation.
With Natsu, the fire breather poured himself a drink, as he came over to Eda's side to talk.
"Come as the peace negotiator." Eda asked.
"I'm here, because I'm wanting you and Kali to maintain your relationship." Natsu said. "I understand you were listening in on our conversation earlier?"
"Where the hell does she get off blaming my leaving, for ruining her life like that?" Eda asked.
"She has her reasons for saying that stuff." Natsu said. "She might not have a complete understanding of the full picture, but she does have her reasons for feeling the way she does about you leaving. It affected her real bad."
"So what if Ivan didn't give her enough attention when she was little, that shouldn't reflect on me." Eda scoffed.
"You… you honestly have no clue what Ivan actually put Kali through, do you?" Natsu asked. "The horrors she's suffered through because of him and Laxus?"
"What do you mean?"
Before Natsu could explain any further, the lights went out, and Gus began speaking as he stepped up on stage.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, and assorted demons, it's almost time for our main Grom event." Gus said. "Please, please. Take a seat, and be aware that the first three rows are designated splash zones."
"Wow, Gus is really good at this." King said, as he joined Natsu, Eda, Luz, and Amity on the bleachers. "They're hanging on his every word."
"I see we have Principal Bump in the house." Gus said, introducing the Principal. "Now sir, I hope you won't throw us in detention, because ah, we're gonna raise the roof."
The spotlight shined on Bump, and he just acted casual along with Gus's performance.
"I uh, hope my material's up to snuff." King said, sounding nervous.
"Getting a case of the jitters little man?" Natsu asked. "Don't be so afraid, your performance can't be any worse then Erza when she's paralyzed with stage fright."
"Yeah, that was not a good performance at all." King said.
"Yet the show still sold out multiple times every day until we went home." Natsu chuckled. "Man that was an awesomely paid job."
"Now introducing our Grom Queen." Gus continued. "You know her, you love her, you've seen what she can do on the Grudgby Field, give it up for Kali Clawthorne."
Kali stood tall and confidently as she the spotlight came over her, while Boscha sat in the corner shadow, her middle eye swollen shut, with a tooth missing from her mouth.
"What happened to Boscha?" King asked, spotting the three eyed girl.
"My guess, she pissed Kali off one too many times." Natsu said.
Up on the stage, the button crawled towards Gus, allowing for him to press it, revealing the catacombs under the school. Opening up on either side of her, Kali was presented with the weapons, she'd have to use to fight.
"I've already got my own weapons." Kali said, holding up her knuckled armored forearm gloves in an X formation over her chest, before heading down to the catacombs.
"Going in unarmed, she if bold." Gus said.
"I certainly hope Kali knows what she's getting herself into." Amity said.
"You and I both." Luz stated.
Taking several steps away from the entrance to the catacombs, Kali instantly turned around, and with a swipe of her flame covered fist, knocked Grom away before it could grab her.
"How do you like my Vermilion Dragon flames Gromarama?" Kali questioned. "Not too scary."
"Kali, help me."
"Help me, I'm still human."
Grom took on the form of several sludge looking monsters, all of them pleading for help.
"Ugh, so weird and gross." She said before hitting them with a blast of her flames, causing the crowd to cheer.
"An' there she goes folks, using that characteristic magic from Earthland." Gus cheered on. "An' now let me hand things off to my co-MC, King."
"Hello Hexside." King said as he climbed the stage. "Get ready to party."
"Hey brat." The familiar voice of Zash said, as Grom took his form. "I'm here to make you pay for double crossing me."
"You're nothing more then a power hungry madman, who I shouldn't fear, because true strength, comes from within!" Kali exclaimed, slamming her fist on the ground, causing jolts of lightning to spear through the terra and pierce Zash's body, causing him to vanish in a burst of electricity.
"Kali has lasted surprisingly long. But what form will Grom take next?" Bump questioned.
"Let's finish this, Dragon Style." Kali smirked, cheering to the crowd before Groms actual body emerged from the ground. "Oh no." She said as she turned around to face Grom as it took on a somewhat Acnologia like silhouette.
Without warning, Grom sent a tentacle of its power at Kali, planting it on her forehead before her eyes began glowing blue, as Grom read her mind.
"What's Grom doing?" Natsu asked.
"That's how he reads, your deepest darkest fear." Amity said. "Kali's doomed now."
Removing its tentacle, Grom backed away from Kali, before it imploded on itself and took the form of a rift created by her portal blade. From out of the fake portal, stepped Makarov, a stern and somewhat disappointed look on his face.
"Gramps?" Natsu questioned, getting to his feet.
"Kali." The Grom Makarov began. "How could you?"
"No, this isn't real, it's not real." Kali said.
"I was a fool to believe I could trust you. With that curse binding your heart, you're nothing more then a monster." Grom continued, as another figure began stepping out of the portal. "For that reason, I relinquish custody of you, back to your father."
"Ivan?" Natsu gasped, spotting the Grom produced Ivan.
"That's my son?" Eda asked.
"Come now parasite. It's time for us to resume the operations." Grom Ivan said as Grom Makarov merged back with the portal.
"No, you're not real. This isn't real, this isn't…" Kali repeated, clutching her head as she fell to her knees.
"Come now, what's the matter?" Ivan questioned as Grom took on a monstrous form, with several tentacles producing operating tools, causing Eda's eyes to widen.
"No, I… I don't wanna go back. I don't wanna feel that pain anymore." Kali said, shuddering in fear as she hugged herself tight.
"You don't have a choice." Grom stated.
"Kali, snap out of it." Natsu shouted, jumping down from the bleachers to the ledge of the catacombs entrance. "Remember who you are. You're a proud and powerful wizard of Fairy Tail!"
Natsu's voice seemed to snap Kali out of her state of fear, before she instantly rolled back, and pushing off the ground with her hands, flipped through the air and back on her feet, narrowly avoiding being hit by one of Groms surgical blades.
"This arena isn't big enough for me." Kali huffed. "What's say we end your reign of fear and terror once and for all Grom? What's say we make this the final Grom Dance where anyone, has to fight you?"
"You cannot escape from me Kali." Grom stated.
"Who said anything about escaping?" Kali smirked before she turned tail and ran.
Grom gave chase, not wanting to lose its first actual taste of actual fear in so long.
"Why are you running from me Kali?" Grom questioned, following Kali down the hall.
"Grom has escaped." Bump said, as he and the other students followed with their gazes.
"Gimme." King said, taking the microphone from Bump. "Well folks, looks like our show literally just took off, just like how your local sports team would take off running after taking home the goal." That got the crowd cheering, as they all saw this as a chance to see the fight in the arena of the wide open world. "So let's follow Kali, and see how she's gonna take home the victory."
Hopping into Gus's arms, the MC's both took off running after Grom and Kali.
"Natsu, you know how to use these?" Luz asked, handing him several plant Glyphs.
"Glyphs, you just visualize what you want when you use them, right?" Natsu asked.
"That's right." Luz said.
"Works similarly to Grey's Maker Magic." Natsu said. "Let's follow them, and see what happens."
"Hold on Natsu." Eda said, grabbing the salmon haired teens shoulder, a dark look on her face. "I need you to tell me, exactly what it was that Ivan's done to Kali."
~Kali~
"That's it, keep following me Grom." Kali said, running through the forest. 'To be honest, I'm just winging it as I go here.' She thought.
Reaching a cliffside, Kali turned and skid to a halt, stopping just before she could fall over the ledge. Kali smirked as Grom came through the foliage, before she gripped her chest in pain, the gem on her chest going black.
"No, not now. Why's my curse acting up now?" Kali questioned, reaching for the pouch under her waist cloak, and pulling out a vial of her elixir.
Before Kali could remove the cork, Grom knocked the vial out of her hand, and pinned her to the ground.
"Now you're mine." Grom Ivan said.
"Fire Dragon: Iron Fist!" Natsu called out, slamming his fist into Groms arm. "Fire Dragon: Talon!" He shouted, hitting Grom with a powerful roundhouse kick, knocking it back.
"Kali." Luz gasped, coming to her, Amity grabbing the discarded vial of elixir.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Amity asked as she knelt down on one side of her.
"She will be if she drinks that." Luz said, kneeling down on the other side as she saw the scales growing on her face. Grabbing the elixir, Luz pulled the cork off. "Open her mouth for me."
Amity did as was instructed, before Luz poured the elixir down her throat, allowing for the Clawthorne girl to drink it. It was another second of waiting, before Kali began to cough as the scales receded back into her skin. Opening her eyes, Kali sat up with a groan.
"Luz, Amity?" Kali asked. "How'd you get here?"
"Natsu grabbed us, and used his flames to bring us to you. He followed your scent." Amity said.
"Natsu he… Natsu!" Kali gasped, looking straight ahead, with Luz and Amity joining her, as they saw Natsu standing in front of Grom, having taken the form of a fire dragon, with a hateful look in his eyes.
"You're a disgrace, and a disappointment Natsu."
"Stop this." Natsu said. "I know you're not Igneel. Just stop this."
"I wish I'd never found you. I wish I'd never raised you, or taught you Dragonslayer Magic." Grom Igneel stated.
"You're wrong. Igneel would never say those things about me." Natsu stated, hitting Grom with another flaming fist, forcing it to shrink back to a normal size monster, rather then a humongous dragon.
"Natsu, it's okay." Kali said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "That might be what you fear, as to why Igneel vanished, but that's not the reason why."
"I know." Natsu said. "But a part of me still fears it."
(Cue Music… There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back: Sing2)
"Then how about we finish him off." Luz said. "The four of us, together."
"I'd be down for it." Kali smiled. "Who's up for one final dance?"
Natsu, Amity, and Luz smirked as Luz and Natsu took the leads, with Amity and Kali following their partners movements, mirroring one anothers. Both duo's dancing with such grace and elegance through the moonlit night, as they evaded Groms attacks.
Grabbing the hips of their partners, Natsu and Luz tossed them into the air, towards one another as they moved passed Grom. With ease, Natsu caught Luz, and Amity caught Kali. The four of them were laughing and enjoying this fight, as they were throwing Grom for a loop.
"What in the world?" Eda questioned, as she appeared at the scene with the others in tow.
"What an upset folks. This one on one battle, has become a four on one. Grom doesn't stand a chance, against their dance battling skill." King said.
Now standing behind Grom, Kali and Luz switched back to their normal partners, moving out of the way of Groms next attack, before Natsu swung Kali around, hitting Grom with multiple kicks.
With Luz and Natsu dropped their partners to the ground, Kali and Amity did a split, before they spun around back to their feet in opposite directions of one another, drawing a couple of magic circles with their legs.
From out of the magic circles, came Amity's Abomination, and Kali's crystal golem. The two creatures merged into one, with both Natsu and Luz pulling out plant Glyphs, and with a spinning dip, slapped a couple of them onto the combined creatures forehead, before the four of them leapt from the magical summons head as they let it loose on Grom.
Without warning, as Grom charged at them, the magical creation lunged straight into its mouth. Grom was disoriented for a bit, before magic began welling up inside it, causing the nightmare monsters body to bulge out, like a bomb had gone off inside its body, as it shined brilliantly with green energy. All over its body, flowers and flora began to sprout through the nightmare monster. Landing on the ground, Natsu and Luz caught Kali and Amity before they struck their final poses and the nightmare monster, exploded from the build up of magic.
(End Song…)
In place of the monster, stood a tall sakura blossom tree, with pink and rainbow colored blossoms. With the defeat of Grom, a gem formed on each of their foreheads, before they grew and developed into three tiaras, and one crown.
"These are nice." Kali smiled, removing hers. "A little uncomfortable for me though, given how I'm stuck with a permanent circlet connected to my head."
"Rainbow cherry blossoms?" Luz asked, looking to the tree they created.
"Yep." Natsu said sheepishly. "The only plant I thought of when activating the Glyph, was the Sakura Tree in Magnolia Park. The blossoms are rainbow colored when in full bloom."
"Oh that's beautiful." Amity smiled, before turning to Kali. "Kali, I'm sorry."
"What for?" Kali asked.
"I should have fought my own battles." Amity stated. "This wouldn't have happened if I'd just stuck with being Grom Royalty."
"Hey, you didn't force me to take your place, so it's all good." Kali said. "Besides, Grom's gone for good now. Next year, it'll be just a regular old dance without the bloodshed death fight."
"I guess that is the best outcome." Amity smiled.
"An' there you have it folks, a happy ending for this years Grom. Let's give a big hand to our Grom Queens and King, Luz the human, Amity Blight, Kali Clawthorne, and Natsu Dragneel."
The gathered students began cheering at the victory of their Grom Royalty. Coming to them, Kali, Amity, Luz, and Natsu were raised off the ground, with the students parading them around.
"Aw yeah, this is so…" Natsu couldn't finish as he began to feel sick. "I think I'm gonna hurl."
"Seriously, but we aren't even on a vehicle." Amity said.
"Put us down, put us down, put us down." Kali said, trying to keep Natsu from vomiting on all of them.
~Owl House~
"Oh yeah, watch out for these three." Eda cheered, coming into the Owl House through the back door. "Oh you three did good kid."
"Thanks Eda." Natsu said, feeling a lot better.
"I'm gonna go to bed." Luz stated, removing her crown and tossing it to the ground. "Seeing Kali face her fears like that, really gave me a lot to think about." She said, before heading for the stairs, leading to the second floor.
"Now I am King and Queen, best of both things." King declared, putting Luz's tiara own.
"King give me that, and go to bed. It's way passed your bedtime." Kali said, taking the crown.
"Oh fine." King huffed, heading for the stairs.
"Brush your teeth first." Kali stated.
"Weh, I don't wanna." King called back.
"I'll go make sure he brushes his teeth." Natsu said, following King to the stairs.
"Kali, can we talk for a moment?" Eda asked, grabbing Kali's shoulder before she could head off for bed as well. "I wanted to apologize."
"First Amity, now you. What do you need to apologize for? I'm the one who should be apologizing for the things I said." Kali stated.
"After seeing Grom manifest into Ivan, and after you took off with Grom chasing you, I had Natsu tell me what Ivan did to you exactly." Eda said.
~Flashback~
"Ivan was obsessed with making Kali's power his own." Natsu stated. "After his wife died, he treated Kali like nothing more then a parasite, and would even cut her open, and dig through her body to find any secrets that it may have held to give him Boiling Isles magic. Nothing, was off limits to him, when it came to turning her power into a tool of gain for him. He's the reason why Kali ran away, before she was found and raised by Saphira. His abuse, knew no bounds."
~End Flashback~
"I can understand now, why you said what you did." Eda stated. "You've been through so much in your life. Maybe if I had been there in his life, Ivan wouldn't have…"
"Hey no, it's okay." Kali said. "Honestly, I just said those things in the heat of the moment. I was upset because I felt like you didn't have any faith in me."
"Oh, come here." Eda said, pulling Kali in for a hug. "We both said and did some stupid things. Let's just put it behind us, and move forward."
"Agreed." Kali smiled, hugging her back. "Though, I still can't help but feel I'm forgetting something important."
~Hexside~
"Wow, what a night." Snaggleback said, as he finished flipping through the photos taken of the dance that night. "Now, can someone let me down?" He asked, before everything went dark, as the light were turned off. "Anyone?"
