In another part of the forest
"Ice make Lance!"
"Ice make Tiger!"
"Go my tree Puppet!"
Angel's eyes widened at the three oncoming spells, at the rate of speed each spell was sent she could only watch as they came and hit her head on, the impact of them sending her on her back.
"All I wanted…was to become an Angel" she thought before losing consciousness.
"Well that takes care of the angel chick." Gray said, looking at the motionless celestial mage in front of them.
"Like I said, if the blonde buffoon could take her then so could we." Sherry said with a smirk, as her tree puppet used its roots to tie up the dark mage.
Leon merely smirked at his two friends, proud of their success in taking down one of the Oración Seis. Thinking of his master he knew she would be proud of her disciples working together.
"Impossible." Zero clutched his head as another tattooed line on his cheek faded. "Angel has been defeated... the second of the six pillars have fallen. Not that it matters but our forces dwindle."
"Uh I don't mean to be rude father, but I believe that would be third, remember Altor." Midnight interrupted.
Zero rolled his eyes at the reminder of the extra. "It seems I have underestimated my opponents..." He growled. "To think I would have to use you. Midnight!" He snapped. "Eliminate every last one of them!"
"Very well." The teen agreed, standing up. "As you wish, Father."
"I know you are there." Jura intoned calmly. "Show yourself!"
He frowned when the ground under him turned into soft earth, churning around him causing him to slightly lose his balance.
"As expected from a Wizard Saint." His attacker observed calmly.
Jura scowled and sent two rock missiles at the man, who made a V-sign and melted them.
"My magic deals with softening earth, while yours hardens it." He stepped forward. "The question is which is stronger, yes?"
"A mage with a strong conviction shall always come out on top." Jura told him.
"Not true." Hot-Eye countered. "No matter the strength, the ones who come out on top are the ones with the money, yes?"
"Actually, that is not true. As I recall the Ishgar Demon lived with little money but is far stronger than you and I combined."
Hoteye stared at the wizard saint. "Shut up."
Natsu was in the middle of finding Lucy's scent when a second scent practically slapped his face, just the smell of this familiar scent caused his anger to rise.
"What the hell is Jellal doing here?!"
"I don't know but I found him in the cave when I rescued lil' dragon." Lucy answered popping up next to Natsu. Natsu, Charle and even Happy couldn't help falling backwards in shock of the appearance of the newcomers. Their friend really was excellent at sneaking around.
"Luce! Where the hell you'd come from and how'd you sneak up on me without me noticing?" Natsu said happily, clapping the blonde's shoulder and grinning at the bluenette on Lucy's back. "Sup Wendy!"
"Hi Natsu." Wendy said tiredly, after all that's happened, she was beginning to come down form her adrenaline high.
Lucy grinned toothily at her partner, "Hoboki gave me a map to follow in my head but I got lost."
"Of course, the dense fool did." Charle sighed exasperated.
"Shaddup cat, I don't see you leading me to the place I need to go to!" Lucy countered.
"That's because I don't even know where it is!" Charle yelled back.
"Then I guess we're at an impact!"
"It's impasse you buffoon!" Charle yelled, smacking the blonde on the head.
"Why you!" Lucy growled back baring her fangs.
Natsu, and Happy looked back and forth at the two arguing mages, unsure whether they should interrupt the two's arguing, while Wendy laid her head on Lucy's back chuckling. It was only when a dark light began erupting from the middle of the forest into the sky that Lucy and Charle paused in their fighting and went back to focusing on their main mission. Charle quickly climbed off Lucy's head embarrassed for her loss of composure, while Lucy rubbed the back of her head where it was sore from Charle smacking her.
"Err, is that normal around these parts lil' dragon?" Lucy asked confused. She hadn't been in these parts of the woods in so long that she wasn't sure what had changed, maybe this light show was some new addition to attract more people.
Wendy sweat dropped at her friend. "Err, no that light has nothing to do with the forest."
"Alright then towards the ominous light!" Natsu yelled.
"To the omnipotent light!" Lucy cheered, running after Natsu with Wendy on her back.
"Ominous you idiot, not omnipotent!" Charle screamed chasing after the three. "And how do you even know that word?!"
"Pfft, Lushie's funny." Happy laughed.
A few minutes earlier
What's up with this guy? Cobra wondered, watching Jellal wander around. I can't hear him... if I could hear his inner voice, there wouldn't be any need for me to stalk him like this... wait, why'd he stop?
His eyes shot wide when he noticed the huge chain-bound structure Jellal was looking up at. What the... there was a place like this here? How the hell did we miss this?"
Jellal placed his hand on the construct and a pillar of light shot up around it.
Cobra was ecstatic at the turn of events that had occurred. They had achieved their goals of activating Nirvana, now they just had to rid those idiot light guild members, and everything would continue to go according to plan.
Hibiki was wide-eyed at the sight before him. "That's..."
"Is that nirvana" Erza wondered, as she jogged through the forest alone towards the dark pillar of light that erupted out of nowhere. With no sight of Midnight anywhere she decided her best bet of finding anyone else from the Oración Seis would be where that light was coming from.
"Mavis, I'm becoming like the dumb demon heading towards danger." Erza groaned, not stopping in her pace.
Zero stared at the light smirking. "There's no doubt about it."
"Congratulations father." Midnight smiled. "Now I will proceed to eliminate every one of those mages before night arrives."
Zero turned to Midnight frowning, "I thought I told you to leave a while ago, what are you still doing here?"
"I just thought you would want the company until- "
"Leave already!"
"Apologies father!" Midnight yelled running off.
"What do you think that light is?" Eve asked, pointing at it.
"Take a look." Ren motioned to a tree. "Whatever it is, it seems to be sucking out some weird substance from that black tree."
Eve paled. "What exactly is going on?"
Ren gasped. "You don't think that's where Nirvana is hidden, do you?"
"Wait..." Eve was in shock. "That would mean someone found it already!"
"But was it our alliance or Oración Seis?" Ren put two fingers to his head. "Hibiki! What's going on? Can you hear me? Hibiki!"
"That magical force must be blocking our telepathy." Eve frowned, looking around.
"We should head back to the clearing and see what's going on, if I know Fairy Tail they will already be heading towards that light." Ren said to Eve.
"That's true and if I'm right then we might be able to find Hibiki and Ichiya… lets go then!"
"Shit." Gray scowled. "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm not sure but I'd say whatever that light is, isn't a good sign." Leon drawled.
"No shit sherlock."
"Now now boys, no need to fight. Let's find the others so we can find out exactly what that light is and if anyone needs our help." Sherry said.
Gray and Leon stared at each other shrugging. "Fine." Then running towards the direction of the light they went on their way to find out what was going on.
"Well then that was a short-lived fight. I guess my earth magic was superior in the end." Jura sighed.
"Money…it was supposed to be superior to everything." Hot-Eye groaned, from the pain that was inflicted on him.
"As I said before money is not every-what on earth?"
The wizard saint barely had time to cover his eyes before he was blinded by a dark light which passed over his entire body. "Was that Nirvana? Did someone activate it already?!"
"You were right Wizard Saint Jura. Wealth is not power…no, I was a fool to think so."
Jura quickly turned around to stare at the downed mage trapped in his rock magic. The dark mage looked at him with remorse in his eyes as he continued to speak.
"I was desperate to find my lost younger brother you know... thinking if I had money, I would be able to find him..." Hot-Eye sighed. "But now I can see it was all a mistake."
"Money was never the answer."
Jura stared at the former dark mage confused, this change of attitude was befuddling to the wizard saint. He couldn't help but think it was a ruse to make him lower his guard and attack him when his back was turned.
"Leave me and find your friends. They will need your help now that Nirvana has been activated, the dark mage said, feeling as if a giant weight was lifted off his shoulders.
Jura's eyes widened at Hot-Eyes words. Nirvana has been activated!
Jura looked back to the dark mage before leaving, using his rock magic to trap Hot-Eye, the earth magic user left the Oración Seis mage behind in search of his other light guild members. "I will be back for you Hot-Eye, do not worry."
Hot-Eye nodded at the wizard saint content with his capture.
Erza gasped at seeing the person ahead of her. It had taken a while but once she reached the pillar of light, she was faced with the one person whom she had thought to have died.
"Je-Jellal?"
Jellal turned from his position in front of the pillar of Light to face Erza, raising an arm at the armored mage and shooting a beam of magic at her or so she thought.
"Lucy if you can hear me, I'm moving from my original location and heading- "
"You got it Henry!" Lucy shouted aloud, much to the confusion of Natsu, Wendy and the others.
" Who's Henry?" Natsu mumbled.
"I think she meant Hibiki." Wendy whispered back.
"Blonde buffoon." Charle sighed.
"Lushie's a weirdo."
"Harold just told me where he's going so let's keep on heading towards that weird light and I bet we'll get a really strong bad guy to fight Natsu!" Lucy cheered.
"And I probably should've told you all this earlier but it's about Nirvana, Lucy. It's dangerous, very dangerous." Hibiki explained.
"What do you mean?"
"It's an extremely dangerous form of magic." Hibiki sighed. "It makes light and darkness switch places."
"Wha? Like when me and Natsu switched bodies?"
"Uh... no, not exactly. Basically, you'll no longer be you're goofy self, but that's only the final stage." Hibiki continued. "The first thing that happens when the seal is removed is the black light we see now. It causes those with feelings between light and darkness to switch alignments completely. That means the people on the side of the light who are experiencing powerful negative emotions fall to the darkness."
Loke's face drained of color at Hibiki's words. Thankfully he could hear everything his master was hearing and at the Blue Pegasus explanation of what Nirvana did he was very worried. He knew, despite Lucy's happy demeanor right now, she was still angry about Jellal's reappearance.
"Oh Lucifer." Loke mumbled.
"Hibiki" Loke called. "What about Lucy? Is her rage going to turn her?"
"I'd doubt it." Hibiki frowned. "Her rage is a mixture of protectiveness for Wendy and not liking what the Oración Seis is doing. Then again, it's a toss-up, so we'll have to just wait and see."
Loke nodded, worried for his master.
"What should we do?" Happy moaned. "I don't get it..."
"Because you're stupid." Charle shot back. "Basically, because the seal on Nirvana was broken, anyone wavering between good and evil will go through a major change in personality."
"The reason Hibiki didn't say anything about it before is because once people started thinking about stuff as either good or evil, bad feelings would pop up all over the place." Lucy said, reciting Hibiki's words about Nirvana to the others.
"So, all of us will turn bad if Nirvana is completely activated?" Wendy asked, shocked.
"But wouldn't it work both ways?" Happy asked. "Wouldn't the guys from dark guilds turn into good people?"
"Err, Hoboki said it's possible. But what sucks bout Nirvana is it can be controlled. So, like if they wanna use the thing on one specific guild than they could and start an all-out war. Whoever controlled Nirvana could make those things happen with great chee-oh my bad ease."
Hibiki couldn't help slapping his face, if only he could get his telepathy through to everyone else, he wouldn't have to have Lucy recite back what he was saying.
"We must put an end to this without delay, or the world's light guilds will be annihilated." Charle said, as the group continued to run towards the giant beam of light.
"Lucy-san!" Hibiki called as he caught up to her. "I can't believe I actually caught up to you!" He huffed trying to catch his breath.
"I know specially since you don't look that athletic."
Hibiki stared at the blunt girl before turning to the others smiling. "Wendy, glad to see you're alright."
"Thanks to Lucy!" Wendy said smiling.
"Well now that we're all here I figured I should let you know that Nirvana isn't actually that far from us now. I've already sent the map to you guys so you should have an easier time finding it, from there you can tackle the source."
"What bout you?" Lucy asked.
"I have a different objective that involves getting you more help which I'll be taking care of." Hibiki said before running off.
"Alright then good enough for me! Lucy answered, trying to figure out how to decipher the map Hibiki had downloaded into her brain.
Wendy shook her head in amusement before a feeling of disappointment hit her. "We need to go this way Lucy", She sighed.
Lucy glanced to her lil' dragon before taking lead. "Yeah, yeah, I knew that!" she grinned, "Now follow me…with Wendy in the lead!"
"Dense fool." Charle mumbled.
Midnight stared at Eve and Ren calmly. "With this, the hunt begins."
"What is this guy?" Eve muttered, struggling to muster up energy to stand. "My magic can't even touch him!"
Ren looked in horror at his teammate and back to Midnight.
"Still alive?" Midnight raised an eyebrow. "I'll change that right now."
Eve screamed.
"Eve! Ren yelled.
Midnight turned to Ren with a creepy smile on his face. "Don't think I forgot about you."
A simple wave of his hand and Ren was falling to his knees clutching his face, trying to stop the blood that had begun spurting out of several gashes on his face and body.
"That makes two." Midnight observed as Ren collapsed next to Eve's unmoving body. "How boring... is there no one stronger?"
As Natsu and Lucy walked ahead of the group, Wendy lagged. The smaller dragon slayer couldn't help beginning to feel depressed at the fact she hadn't been able to do anything helpful while part of this mission. Not only had she gotten kidnapped, but so far, she'd gotten herself injured and not contributed at all to the group plans.
"Maybe it would have been better if I never came." Wendy sighed.
"Are you really saying that?" Charle scowled. "Don't think that way or Nirvana will cause you to lose your heart to darkness."
"But I haven't done anything yet!" Wendy protested, only to feel a slight smack on the back of her head. Wendy quickly turned around to see who would do such a thing, coming face to face with a toothy grin. "You're just talking nonsense lil' dragon." Lucy smiled. "You coming here reunited me with you didn't it?" Lucy said happily.
"Well…yeah." Wendy said sheepishly, "But I haven't done much fighting and even got kidnapped!" Wendy yelled, receiving yet another smack on her head.
"Stop not smiling. An upside-down smile does not belong on your face." Lucy said grumpily. "Besides you're not fighting unless you really need to while I'm around. You're my kin ya know." Lucy grinned toothily.
The dense demon slayer's words warmed Wendy's heart.
"And you may not think it, but in a way, you did fight during this mission. Staying strong during all the torment those jerks did while they had you captured, that's what being a fighter is." Lucy said, as she ruffled up the little girl's hair.
Wendy began to cry at her goofy friends' words. "I love you Lucy!"
"Pfft, I already knew that, but love you too."
"This is sweet and all but, I have a question." Charle frowned. "You seemed to know who Jellal was back there Wendy. Is there anything you can tell us about him?"
"Jellal." Lucy growled.
"Wait, Jellal is back?!" Natsu yelled grabbing at Lucy's shoulders.
"I know crazy right; I was the same way when I saw him! And not only that, he attacked me!"
"Oh man, we can't let Erza see that guy."
Lucy gasped; she didn't even think about what her mate might do when seeing Jellal. "Oh man if he does anything to her, I swear to Luce!"
"Don't worry Lucy no one's gonna take Erza away from you, that's a promise! Now Wendy tell us how you know Jellal."
"Uh, well" Wendy hesitated, slightly confused at the hostility towards the man from Lucy and Natsu, "Jellal was the one who had saved me after my dragon disappeared." Wendy sighed, remembering a boy with blue hair and a red mark, carrying a staff on his back. "He was lost on the road as well, so we ended up traveling aimlessly together for about a month. But then one day he randomly mentioned something. Whatever caused him to panic was an 'anima' or something."
"Animals?" Lucy frowned in thought.
"No Lucy, anima." Wendy corrected. "I still don't know what he meant back then, but he said it would be too dangerous for me to stay with him, so he left me at Cait Shelter for my safety. I never saw Jellal after that, not until today."
"I had heard rumors of a council member who looked just like him doing all sorts of terrible things. But the Jellal I knew was incredibly kind!" Wendy defended. "I just wonder if he still remembers me."
"Hmm, better not remember my girl, because he touches her, I'm a hurt him. Can't kill him cause my promise but hurt him, oh, I can do that" Lucy grumbled. "Put a hole in my stomach and get away with it, that's what you think." However, Lucy couldn't help but feel slightly off about Wendy's story.
"Wait a sec…Jello couldn't have been with you back then since he was busy being a crazy villain in the tower of heaven."
Natsu instantly perked up, "Yeah Lucy's right, which means that it was someone else who was with Wendy!"
"Really? Then, who was with me all that time?" Wendy asked.
"Beats me." Lucy shrugged.
Erza's eyes widened, letting out a sigh of relief when the smoke in the cave cleared and she showed no signs of injuries. However, she still couldn't get over seeing Jellal in front of her.
Erza? Cobra frowned. How did I not hear her approaching? I can't let her take out Jellal until Nirvana is activated!
"Jellal..." Erza muttered.
"Erza?"
"Why are you here?!" She shouted.
"I don't know." He muttered. "Erza...Er-za that word is all I can remember."
Erza's eyes widened as he clutched his head.
"Could you tell me... who am I? Do you know who I am... and who this 'Erza' is? I can't remember anything." Jellal looked up with tears forming in his eyes.
Cobra paled. This guy... lost his memory?
"Jellal." Erza stepped towards him.
"Stay back!" The man panicked, sending another blast of energy at her that did almost no harm to the armored mage.
"Don't." He hesitated. "Don't come any closer."
"Then you come to me." Erza ordered. "I am Erza. Now come here."
His eyes shot wide.
"Your name is Jellal." She explained. "You were once my comrade. But then, you lost your mind. You desecrated the dead, hurt our friends, destroyed the council, and almost killed the idiot who constantly proclaims their love for me."
"If you're going to say you don't remember any of it, I'll use my sword to make you remember!" Erza shouted. "Now come! Stand here before me!"
"I..." Jellal trembled, trying to cover his tears. "My friends. How terrible I was. What have I done? How can I fix this?"
Erza looked at Jellal slightly worried. It's almost as if he's...
A few moments later Lucy's head shot up when two familiar scents had appeared in the air causing Natsu and the others to instantly back up once they noticed the feral look on Lucy's face. Before any of them could ask her what was wrong, the dense slayer was already speeding off leaving a burnt path behind.
"Wh-where's Lucy going Natsu." Wendy asked, scared.
"Princess has found where Jellal is and has gone to confront him. She has requested I come out and protect lil' dragon." Virgo answered, scaring Wendy and Natsu.
"Ahhh!" the two yelled.
"Apologies for the scare but princess left in a hurry because it turns out her mate also happens to be with Jellal. Please feel free to punish me for her leaving."
Natsu shrugged. "That's alright Virgo, but guess makes sense her leaving. Well Wends' just me and you in search of Cobra and Nirvana!" he said smiling.
"And I." Virgo interrupted, causing Wendy to giggle.
"Yeah and Virgo." Natsu laughed.
Just as Natsu, Wendy, Virgo and the exceeds were about to leave their spot in search of the last Oración Seis member, Gray entered their surroundings.
"Yo flame brain. Where's Lucy?" Gray asked casually before noticing Wendy's presence. "Oh, hey Wendy, what's up?"
"Sup Frost dick. Lucy found Jellal and went to stop him from going anywhere near Erza, while Wendy and I find Nirvana and that Cobra guy." Natsu explained.
"Sounds like Lucy."
"Lucy got me safe and sound!" Wendy said proudly. "Well I did get cut but Lucy made sure Brain paid for that!"
"Also sounds like Lucy."
"Where's Leon and Sherry, I thought they were with you?" Charle asked.
"We ran into Hibiki who asked for them to follow him for some plan he has. Then he told me where you were so I could find you guys." Gray explained.
Natsu and Wendy looked to each other before nodding, "Alright then! Let's go look for Cobra and Nirvana!" Natsu cheered.
"Well, well, I understand that you lost your memory." Cobra observed, revealing himself. "No wonder I couldn't hear your thoughts."
Erza grit her teeth. "Damn it, Oración Seis."
"How did you get here?" Erza demanded, turning her attention back to Jellal. "And why did you unseal Nirvana?"
"I heard someone's voice in my sleep..." Jellal muttered. "It told me to get Nirvana... I faintly remembered the magic and this place, but it was enough... this is a dangerous magic. I can't hand it over to anyone. That's why I unsealed it – so that I could destroy it completely."
"You did what now!?" Cobra was aghast.
"Did you say you'll destroy it?" Erza asked, hoping to confirm it.
"I already placed a self-destruct magic circle on it. Nirvana will soon disappear." Jellal motioned to purple lines spreading around the tower rising out of the ground. "Only I know the canceling code."
"You bastard!" Cobra rushed past him and examined the lines frantically. "Dammit! This code-"
"Jellal." Erza stared at him in disbelief.
"It's too complicated." Cobra growled, trying to override it. "Nirvana will be destroyed in no time!" He spun towards Jellal. "Tell me the deactivation code!"
Jellal sighed. "Erza. I remember kindness linked with that name... kindness, brightness and warmth." He coughed up some blood.
"It's very likely that you'll hate me in the future. However, hatred will take away your heart's freedom and destroy you from within." Jellal smirked as a self-destruct circle appeared on his chest. "I cannot allow that."
"Be released from this Jellal." He intoned as he felt his strength fade. "I'll take your hatred and sadness with me."
"This self-sacrificing asshole" Cobra grit his teeth. "He placed a self-destruct circle on himself!"
Erza's eyes widened when the man collapsed. "Jellal!" She cried out, tears streaming down her face at the sight of the man in pain before her.
Cobra watched as she ran over to the man. He's planning to take the cancellation code to the grave with him.
Lucy couldn't stop the frown that appeared on her face at the sound of her mate crying over the man who almost killed them. She was just about to hurry to where her mate was but felt herself pause at hearing her mate begin to plead for Jellal to stop. She honestly couldn't understand how Erza could cry over him, when she received such an angry look while attacking Racer.
"I don't understand my mate, Loke." Lucy sighed, slightly heart broken.
Loke put a hand on his princess's shoulder. "Look, no one said love was easy. You just gotta remember to fight for it right? Even Lucifer fought for his mate."
Lucy perked up at her spirits words. Even though it still hurt, she knew Loke was right. Having only known Erza for a short while, the slayer knew it was more than likely going to take longer than a few months for her to truly win Erza over.
"Yeah, you're right! Mate did mention something about wanting porridge."
"Marriage, Princess, she said marriage." Loke sighed, he really needed to talk to Levy about giving his master more tutoring sessions.
"I cannot let you do this!" Erza screamed, shaking Jellal. "You've committed too many crimes. Don't think you can rest easy without knowing anything! Don't expect for those you've hurt to forgive you! Live, and struggle with all you've done! JELLAL!"
"Erza..." He rasped weakly. "Why are you crying?" He smiled. "You're so kind."
"Pull yourself together, Jellal!"
"What's all this?" Zero asked as he slowly walked in, still injured from earlier. He looked up at the light and the tower within. "A self-destruction circle, how interesting."
"Jellal cast it!" Cobra shouted. "This is bad. At this rate, Nirvana will be destroyed!"
Zero smirked, well more like grimaced. "Relax, Cobra. Y-you should already know why my code name is Brain. My counterpart worked in the Magic Research Bureau once. During that time, I used my knowledge to create several hundred types of magic. One of these just happens to be the self-destruction circle."
He glanced at the weakened man. "I taught it to you, Jellal. Or have you forgotten?"
"Even without the canceling code…" He waved his hand and the circle shattered. "I can easily negate this thing." A detail caught his attention and he frowned. "A circle on yourself too? Did you intend to die with the cancellation code?"
"His memory is damaged by the events regarding Etherion." Cobra explained, smirking. "It appears he forgot he was ever evil."
"Well lucky Jellal" Lucy mumbled while running towards her mate and the man she currently hated with all her being. "Guy doesn't remember almost killing me or Erza so I guess we can just count him innocent of all crimes right Loke?"
Loke chuckled at his master's sarcastic words, "Now, now princess."
"Really now..." Zero burst out laughing, clutching his ribs while doing so. That blonde really did a number on him. "What a pity! In that case, I'll take Nirvana for myself!"
Erza charged at him. "I won't let you!"
"Awaken!" Zero yelled. "Nirvana!"
The ground under them began to quake and crumble.
Lucy, already feeling the signs of motion sickness, reached out to Loke. "Lo-Loke…help."
Loke sighed at his poor master, such a strong mage, yet so weak on vehicles. He helpfully put Geminis key in his master's hand allowing her to summon the twins.
"Bleurgh, Gemi-We-ndy… spell. Me." she whispered.
"Piri, piri! You got it." In a flash the twin spirits transformed into the little sky dragon and cast Troia on the demon slayer, easily fixing her motion-sickness.
"Lucifer, do I owe Wendy and Gemini my life." Lucy said breathing heavily.
"I can hear it!" Cobra cheered. "Our future! The sounds of the light collapsing!"
"Jellal!" Erza quickly changed course and sped towards the falling man in hopes of catching his hand. Her eyes began to burn, tears falling upon just missing his hand. " Nooo!"
Her heart dropped at the thought that she had lost her former friend.
While that was happening, six huge pipe-like things began to rise out of the ground all around the forest. With a large rumble and sounds of falling earth everywhere, a huge city-carrying platform supported by six legs stood over the entire area.
"Finally, it's mine! The greatest weapon against the light, the reversal magic, Nirvana!" Brain cackled triumphantly. "The light guilds' strongest weapons, trust, unity... all will be useless from this moment Ahhh-, Cobra get me some pain meds I feel like I'm about to pass out.!"
"On it!"
"Ugh..." Erza panted as she clutched a wall edge with both arms, slowly trying her best to pull herself up while crying for the loss of Jellal.
"You know when Jello shot a beam through my stomach I didn't see you crying for me this much?" Lucy grumbled, pulling up the knight mage with one arm while holding the blueberry haired man over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Lucy!" Erza shouted.
"Hmm." The slayer grunted towards her mate, not at all looking at the armored mage. Instead she tossed Jellal at her and walked to a far corner of the tall moving building.
While Erza wanted to address Lucy's attitude she knew she had to get rid of the self-destruct circle on Jellal's body.
"Please, Jellal! Cancel the self-destruct circle you put on yourself." She told him. "Even if you're weak, or dark... fight for your life!"
"I..." Jellal looked away. "I couldn't stop Nirvana. It's all over." He sighed.
Lucy rolled her eyes, still pouting. Summoning Gemini she had the spirit turn into the only person who knew how to undo the circle on the self-sacrificing idiot.
"Piri, piri. Excuse us former villain who is hurting our master's feelings. We're here to help you since you think sacrificing yourself is noble but is just cowardly." Gemi-Brain said, quite bluntly.
Jellal and Erza were speechless as Gemi-Brain waved his hand over the former crazed mage, instantly canceling the spell on his body. Lucy and Loke watched, laughing at her spirits words.
"Pfft I love Gemini."
"Err, thank you." Jellal coughed. Gemi-Brain stuck their tongue out at the former dark mage before vanishing.
"Well, then we should probably get back to fighting." Erza pointed out looking at a cloud of smoke moving up one of Nirvana's legs.
"This is bad." Gray sighed when Natsu began to act sick. "Happy, fly up with him. I'll enter through that hole up ahead.
"Aye, sir!" Happy nodded and picked Natsu up before shooting off.
"Wait, Happy I can help Nat-su." Wendy tried yelling, slumping over when she saw the blue cat was already gone halfway up the moving building.
"I don't know what you were gonna do to help flame brain but you're gonna stay by my side because I already know if something happens to you then Lucy is gonna kill me."
Wendy pouted at being told she couldn't run ahead but nodded her head in understanding.
"You did it, Zero!" Cobra cheered. "We have Nirvana! This is great, Cubellios."
The snake hissed in affirmation.
"Take a look, Cobra," Zero slowly motioned, so as not to upset his injuries, to the city beneath them. "At the world that will unravel beneath us."
"This ancient capital is the true form of Nirvana." Zero explained. "As I am king, by my will this land shall move where I wish it to."
"Move?" Cobra repeated. "Is this thing going somewhere?"
"We can't see our target from here." Zero told him. "That guild..."
"Our first target, huh?"
"We can call it the first land to have lost its light." Zero intoned, swinging his staff in a wide arc and causing a magical control center to appear around them. "Go forth, ancient city! May the light change with my darkness!"
Both men looked up when Natsu shot out of the sky, spitting fire at them. "I'm gonna stop you guys!"
"You..." Zero grit his teeth as Natsu started to tear up the place. "Cobra! Don't let him go wild here!"
"Understood." Cobra nodded. "Now, Cubellios!"
The snake hissed and smashed its tail into Natsu, pushing him back. Happy caught him and both watched as the purple snake sprouted wings.
"The snake is flying!"
Cobra scowled. "I heard that you get sick on vehicles."
"Happy isn't a vehicle!"
"Aye!"
"I see then." Cobra muttered thoughtfully. "That's why you're always flying. You can't stand being on Nirvana."
"Move it!" Natsu ordered him. "I'm going to stop this thing!"
"Try it if you can." Cobra smirked. "I'm not letting you get near Zero. Now come, Dragon Slayer!"
Within seconds Natsu and Happy were zooming past Cobra heading for their actual target Zero.
"My real target is actually him!" Natsu yelled as he and Happy sped past a surprised Cobra. "He's the one controlling this thing!"
"Cubellios!"
Before Natsu and Happy could react the snake's tail was crashing into his midsection and knocking him back.
"I can hear everything." Cobra chuckled. "Your movements, your plans. You can't win."
Natsu glared at the cocky villain.
"That's more like it!" Cobra smirked. "Let's have some fun."
"Cobra." Zero scowled. "Finish him off already."
"Roger!" Cobra grinned. "They'll be a good snack for Cubellios!"
Natsu grit his teeth as Happy dodged the snake. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He swung at the serpent and missed widely, getting hit in the face by the snake's tail as retaliation.
"I said that I can hear your movements." Cobra sighed. "Your attacks won't hit me."
Cubellios barreled into the two and knocked them into the ground harshly. "Now go to hell!"
"Happy!"
"Aye!"
The Exceed quickly picked up the two and righted his flight path, allowing the two to speed away down a city street. As soon as they were out of Cobra's sight, they hid behind a wall allowing them a quick reprieve.
"Here they come!" Natsu grinned, leaping out as he heard the wall nearby crumble. He frowned as the smoke cleared, revealing nothing.
"How many times do I have to tell you I can hear you." Cobra laughed, kicking him from behind.
"What is this place?" Gray frowned, looking around. "Looks like a city..."
"That's absolutely right. The city of the ancients, Nirvana." Jura announced, standing nearby.
"Shit, Jura you scared the hell out of me! How'd you even get here before us?" Gray asked still partially terrified.
"I ran from where I defeated Hot-Eye as soon as I saw the ominous light in the sky. That led me to here. And you?" Jura asked.
"I ran into Natsu who explained what exactly the Oración Seis is after. From what Hibiki told Lucy this city was once inhabited by some ancient race hundreds of years ago. During that time the world was ravaged by wars though, so this tribe the Nirvits created some ancient power to stop it since they believed in neutrality. Hence what the Oracion Seis are after, Nirvana- some extreme magic that switches the light and the dark."
"While that was very informative, how are we supposed to stop this?" Jura inquired.
Seconds later a bright light appeared, and Gemi-Lucy was right in front of Gray and Jura. "Piri, piri. We know how! We were sent by Lucy to tell you that Zero is controlling this thing from a place called the King's Square! Also, it seems he cannot use magic while he's controlling it, so right now is the best time to attack."
"When Lucy says moving..." Gray frowned. "This thing is headed somewhere?"
"Exactly." A new voice remarked from a building roof. "Only I know what my father is planning."
Gemi-Lucy looked up at him. "Piri-piri, you were supposed to be eliminated already."
Midnight rolled his eyes, "Well obviously I wasn't if I'm standing right here. Which means I will be eliminating you."
"No thanks', we'll be eliminating you." Gemi-Lucy said.
"No, I will! Now shut up and take this!"
Midnight swung his arm. Everyone but Gemi-Lucy gaped as an invisible force sliced though the buildings nearby causing them to fall on the group. Jura prepared them for the impact by activating his earth magic, however upon not feeling any impact he relaxed the rock magic, gawking at the sight before them.
"Wait a sec. Did Gemini really just melt all that?" Gray asked, eyes wide. It seemed that all the debris that was supposed to fall on them all but melted into nothing.
"It seems they did. Just how hot is Lucy's fire." Jura asked, nervously.
Gemini turned to Jura and Gray before answering "Lucy's fire is so hot that she has to make sure she always regulates the temperature before using it otherwise she could burn a building to the ground within seconds."
"Amazing." Jura said, speechless.
"There's no-I mean you gotta be exaggerating a bit, right?" Gray asked slightly scared.
"Piri, piri. Nope. Celestial fire is very hot. Oh, you can head towards the King's Square now." Gemi-Lucy said smiling. "We'll finish this easy!"
Gray and Jura left without another word, knowing that Gemini had everything handled.
"They're leaving a spirit to fight me." Midnight intoned calmly.
"We may be a spirit, but we use our masters magic and she's a god of Ishgar." Gemi-Lucy bragged. "You should be very worried, piri piri."
Midnight rolled his eyes. "Very well."
"Dammit!" Natsu cursed. "Why can't I hit him?"
"Can he read our movements with magic?"
"You really are stupid, cat." Cobra sighed in exasperation. "How many times do I have to say it? That's exactly what I'm doing!"
"It's a listening magic." He told them. "I can hear what you're thinking, so I know where you'll attack from."
Natsu frowned in concentration. Cobra stood still for a moment, before bursting into cackles.
"Good one!" He crowed. "That one was funny!"
Lucy, who was still standing by her mate, had heard everything the wannabe slayer was telling her best friend and immediately brightened up at the thought of an idea that might be able to help Natsu. "NATSU, HEY NATSU, DON'T THINK!"
Natsu turned to Lucy confused. "What?"
"Yeah, don't think just do! Like instead of thinking of what you're gonna do next...just go for it!" Lucy yelled, sitting on the side and enjoying some celestial food. She really wanted to join Natsu and fight Cobra but felt Natsu wouldn't apricot that.
"Appreciate Miss Lucy." Capricorn corrected.
"Semantles." Lucy thought.
Natsu's frown soon turned to a giant grin, it took him a few seconds but eventually he understood Lucy's confusing words. It was really that simple, wasn't it? If Cobra can hear everything he's thinking, then he would just stop thinking.
Cobra's eyes widened when Natsu's left fist slammed into his gut. "Ignite!" The boy shouted, creating a small explosion and knocking Cobra off his snake.
This can't be! He screamed inwardly as Natsu assaulted him with a series of punches and kicks. This guy... he's not thinking about anything!
"This is a first..." Cobra observed, landing on his snake and catching Natsu's last punch. "Guess I can't use a cheap trick on him."
His arm turned scaly and a crimson aura surrounded it. Natsu pulled back with a yell of pain.
"Now I'm serious." Cobra intoned, revealing his dragon-like arm. "Poison Dragon Cobra is here."
"No way..." Natsu grit his teeth, watching as Cobra sprouted a scales along his body. "This guy... he's a dragon slayer?"
"Nah, he's a wannabe slayer!" Lucy heckled.
Cobra rolled his eyes at the blonde heckler before slamming a miasma-covered arm into Natsu's chin. "The strike of a poison dragon decays all that it touches, destroying it from within."
"Ahh!" Natsu yelled, the pain from the poison catching him off guard.
He then blocked Natsu's next punch and kicked him viciously, knocking him several meters down. Cubellios hissed and spat out poisonous mist, which Cobra proceeded to eat.
"He's eating poison?"
"That doesn't sound too healthy..."
Cobra smirked. "Poison Dragon's Roar!"
"Celestial Guardian Shield!"
A huge beam of crimson energy collided with Lucy's golden shield causing Cobra to back up shocked. He never expected the blonde to have such a spell in her arsenal.
"Woo dodged a big bullet there Natsu! You and Happy go on back to fighting that wannabe slayer alright! I'm a keep an eye on my mate and Jello!" Lucy yelled.
"I thought I told you I'm not your mate." Erza sighed, rolling her eyes when she sees Lucy ignoring her to focus on Natsu's fight.
"Alright! Thanks Luce!" Natsu and Happy cheered. Natsu immediately got back on the offense and began attacking Cobra again.
Cobra's eyes widened as he dodged a fiery swing and retaliated with a sucker punch to the jaw.
" Tch, you forget I can still hear your movements." He chanted gleefully. "You're not bad for an old generation Dragon Slayer."
Natsu shook the dizziness away and growled. "Old generation?"
"I am a second-generation Dragon Slayer." Cobra told him. "I obtained my powers by implanting a dragon lacrima into my own body."
"He's like Laxus!" Happy realized. "He's not a real Dragon Slayer!"
"A real Dragon Slayer?" Cobra repeated. "Normally, there's no way for humans to learn dragon slayer magic; it's a skill restricted to dragons themselves. If you ask me, your magic is more questionable than mine." He smirked. "After all, there are no dragons in this world."
"Igneel is out there!" Natsu protested.
"He is not!" Cobra crowed. "The dragons are extinct! Poison Dragon's Twin Fa-ahh!"
Natsu looked from his position to see Lucy standing over Cobras body flames burning bright.
"I'm sorry for taking this fight over Natsu but this guy ticked me off." Lucy growled, turning her back on her friend to face Cobra.
"Now listen here fake dragon slayer, Igneel is out there and so is Lucifer got that! Me and Natsu we're the real deal when it comes to being slayers, you, you're just a discount fake that no one would ever believe is even close to the real thing! And if you even think for a second you may be an autentac dragon slayer- let me tell you YOU'RE VERY WRONG!" Lucy yelled kicking the wannabe slayer in the stomach.
"Autentac?" Aquarius groaned.
"Come on even you knew that was too big of a word for her" Loke chuckled.
"Ugh!" Cobra screamed, flying backwards a couple feet. "Natsu and I are gonna find our dads and then we're gonna show you how wrong you are!" Lucy growled.
"Natsu… you really wanna be a strong as me then burn, burn as hot as you can and kick Cobras ass all the way to next week." Lucy said grinning.
Natsu nodded not wanting to let his partner down. "Alright Luce, you got it!"
"It doesn't matter how hot he burns; he'll never get past me! POISON DRAGON FA-"
Lucy turned around, sucker punching Cobra in the stomach. "I'm talking to my partner, so shut the fuck up and wait a sec while Natsu heats up."
Natsu winced at the second gen slayer but listened to his partner. Slowly he felt his body burn hotter and hotter, a surge of power within him began to reveal itself that he had never felt before.
A smirk grew on Natsu's face as he prepared himself "I'm all fired up now! Let's finish this Luce!" Natsu yelled.
"Yeah!"
Cobra watched with wide eyes, fear clear as day, as Natsu shot towards him. What are they doing, I can't hear their thoughts! No, wait he's going for a punch, yeah, yeah, I can dodge that!
"Fire Dragon's Iron's Kick!"
"What?!" Cobra yelled as he felt a searing pain erupt in his chest. Tumbling backwards Cobra tried to hurry and get up to prepare his own attack when something collided with him, making it feel as though his entire body was breaking.
"Demon Fire punch!"
Where did she come from?" Cobra thought, feeling an unbearable pain brought on by the two slayers.
"Heh" Natsu chuckled. "Looks like you can't hear that good."
"Impossible..." Zero was in shock. "They defeated Cobra by not thinking?"
"Yup!" Natsu yelled, before falling over groaning. "veh-icle." Natsu groaned.
Cobra tried to slowly lift his body up in order to retaliate, falling back down from his injuries. Suddenly a blast of green energy crashed into him, sapping him of his energy and causing the slayer to slowly lose consciousness.
"Zero?" Cobra choked out. "Why..."
"Enough of this embarrassment." Zero sneered. Weak. I don't need someone like him in the Six Generals... just a fake dragon slayer. What trash. At least I still have Mid..night? They defeated him as well. Eh, not like I really needed any of them.
"Damn you." Cobra's eyes widened as he heard Zero's thoughts. "All I wanted was to hear the voice of my only friend." He reached out towards his snake. "Cubellios..."
Lucy began to burn bright gold, her cloak fluttering in the wind. She felt her fingers begin to dig into her skin as she clenched her fists together, the anger she felt from seeing Zero's betrayal was almost too much for her to hold back her demon side. "He was your ally and you tossed him to the side."
"Ally? He was a means to an end." Zero scoffed.
"That's not true at all!" Natsu growled, struggling to stand up, unfortunately his motion sickness was beginning to overtake him. "He. Trusted yomm."
"You're lower than scum, abandoning a comrade." Lucy whispered.
"Tsk." Zero grinned. "The power of Nirvana will provide me with all the allies I need."
"Dat's not comade." Natsu moaned. "just a mindless Ughh puppest."
"Don't be so hostile. I've taken an interest in both your powers." Zero smirked. "You're both going to be the firsts of my puppet slave."
Lucy's fist tightened at Zero's words. She would never be anyone's' slave; she ran away from that life.
"The hell if I'm letting you have me and Natsu as slaves!" Lucy roared. However just before her fist could connect with Zero, the man vanished with Natsu who was still on the ground groaning from the moving building.
"DAMN IT!" Lucy yelled, pounding a fist into the ground. She only stopped once Erza settled a hand on her shoulder, calming her down.
"Don't worry dumb demon, we'll get Natsu back." Erza said smiling, within seconds Lucy was tossing an arm around her mate smirking at Jellal. The blue haired man confused as to why he was receiving such looks.
"Stop." Erza deadpanned.
Did I just finish another chapter because I want everyone who's quarantined to be entertained...yes, yes I did. I know we're all gonna be bored and despite still having to go to work I want everyone else to have something to pass the time, so please enjoy, comment follow and like. another chapter to follow.