Mama Mirajane-28
Carla was completely and utterly confused. She pretty much watched what was assumed to be an ancient form of confession go through, and somehow it released whatever spell or potion was controlling Scythe. Then she remembered Shirou mentioning Brain having designed the potion to break at a kiss from one's true love, like some sort of fairy tale ending.
"A-Anyways!" Scythe coughed, but still having a slightly red face. "You mind explaining what's going on? I don't have much recollection of what's been going on lately."
"You were under Brain's spell, or more accurately, the potion he created to control the mind." Iskandar said walking up to the duo. "We brought you here for a battle that would release you from his grasp. It was your grandparent's idea."
"They're alive?" Scythe asked.
"Yes. You didn't kill them." Hercules smiled, holding his right shoulder as he came walking towards them.
Scythe smiled, as he began to shed tears of joy from hearing that news.
"Though, now that you're back you must return to Fiore. Time flows slower in this level than in the real world. It's been hours there, while it's only been a half hour here." Iskandar explained, holding up a crystal ball that showed current events. "Right now, Brain is controlling the unleashed Niruvāna, and is heading for the Cait Shelter guildhall. The others are doing the best they can against them, but it's not enough."
"Brain." Scythe growled. "Let's go."
"Scythe is back." Wendy cheered. "Hold on. What was that loud roar we heard?" She asked turning to Hercules and Iskandar.
"That would be the beast on the training level blow this one. Trust me, it's not something you wanna see right now." Iskandar explained.
"Even I have trouble with dealing with this thing." Hercules stated.
"We'll talk about what's scarier later, right now, we need to return to the fight." Scythe said. "Hercules, Iskandar, rest up, heal your wounds. You've earned the break."
Grabbing hold of his hand, Wendy and Carla vanished with him from the Celestial Armory's second training level, leaving both Iskandar and Hercules alone.
"I know that look in your eyes Hercules." Iskandar stated. "I hate lying to him as much as you do."
"Then why are we doing it?" Hercules asked.
"Because we don't have a choice." Iskandar hissed. "You know as well as I that if the young lord found out his sister Eska, from the alternate timeline, is the beast that roared, he'd be more than a little upset. He'd be furious, and would unleash his wrath upon us all."
"But why is she even here?" Hercules questioned. "She brought the apocalypse in her timeline, and we still rescued her before Amaterasu's destruction spell could take her."
"Because she's going to play an important role in the future. One we cannot keep her from accomplishing." Iskandar explained. "Those are the orders of Shirou and Rin, and those are the orders we'll follow."
~With Grey and Lucy~
"So, any idea what this place is?" Grey questioned.
"You mean aside from ruins on the back of a giant monster?" Lucy asked. "No clue."
"I thought Niruvāna was some kind of powerful magic, not a bunch of broken down buildings and rubble." Grey said, unaware of the trio that arrived behind them.
"It's actually a magic absorbing weapon." Wendy stated, spooking them.
"Wendy, Carla…" Lucy smiled before she gasped at who her company was. "Scythe… are you still…"
"Under Brains control? Hell no." Scythe smiled.
"Wendy, what do you mean Niruvāna is a magic absorbing weapon?" Grey inquired.
"According to my grandfather, Niruvāna was designed to create world peace and absorb all the negative energy in the world, however there was a definite flaw in its designs when it made to be a city." Scythe explained pulling out a small book in his pocket. "Thank goodness gramps is good with sleight of hand, I didn't see him slip this into my pocket. I left it in my pocket when under Brain's control, because I didn't think it a threat."
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"An instruction manual on how Niruvāna works, as well as its history." Scythe explained. "With all the negative energy stored away within its core, the energy had nowhere to go, except into the citizens who lived on Niruvāna's back. But it can be used for the opposite as well, turning it into a weapon of darkness. Which was one of the reasons it was sealed away so long ago. They didn't have the foggiest idea on how to actually destroy it, but we just might be able to."
"But wait if it's a city, then what happened to the people?" Lucy asked.
"An excellent question, oh yeah."
"Seeing you here puts the odds in our favor. Especially you, young Godslayer."
They all turned to see Jura and Hoteye standing there, both with smiles on their faces.
"Let me guess. Hoteye switched sides?" Scythe asked as the duo came down.
"Indeed. Hoteye is now our faithful allay." Jura smiled.
"He is?"
"All you need is love. Oh yeah." Hoteye smiled.
"No way." Grey and Lucy said in unison.
"Isn't this the guy who'd do nothing but scream money this, and money they, before?" Lucy inquired.
"Yeah I think so. Baldy must have beaten some sense into him huh?" Grey speculated.
"We were about to duke it out, when he had a change of heart." Jura explained.
"Ah, we just went through the same thing with Sherry. Except she definitely changed for the worst." Grey explained. "Lyon wound up jumping off a cliff with someone from one of the dark guilds that follow the Oracion Seis, just to keep us from getting hit from the blast of a bomb, but she returned to her normal creepy self when Lyon revealed he was fine."
"Yeah lady love pretty much went psycho on us there for a bit."
"What, is she okay, where is she?" Jura asked.
"Relax, she's safe with Lyon." Grey explained.
"In any case, now that Niruvāna has been activated, it presents a clear and present threat to the entire world. We must do everything in our power to destroy it." Hoteye explained.
"Which I might know how." Scythe stated. "I've been using my lightning magic to comb through this manual, and found that Niruvāna has six large lacrima power sources. If we can take them all out, then we can win. We should relay this message to everyone else."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Grey stated.
"Hold on, Niruvāna is heading straight for my home." Wendy stated. "We can't let it get there and destroy it."
"Why would Brain go straight for the Cait Shelter right after resurrecting the weapon?" Grey asked.
"I know why." Shirou explained appearing in a burst of light with Rin.
"Grandma, Grandpa." Scythe cried, hugging them tightly. "I'm so glad I didn't destroy you both."
"We can see that." Rin smiled.
"Now as I was saying. The people of the Cait Shelter Guild, are the descendants of the Nirvits, who I helped to lock Niruvāna away long ago." Shirou explained. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but I even helped them with building this thing."
"Brain never mentioned this to the rest of us." Hoteye exclaimed.
"Not true." The group looked up, and to their shock, they saw another member of the Oracion Seis. "Father never trusted the rest of you." He stated glaring at Hoteye.
"Hello Midnight." Hoteye said calmly.
"He's the guy that's always napping." Lucy pointed out.
"You betrayed." Midnight exclaimed, jumping down. "I didn't think you had the guts." He stated, suddenly behind Hoteye. "Scythe, kill them all."
"Enough of your illusions Midnight." Scythe groaned, after a moment of silence.
"What? You're under father's control, thus my control now kill them or…"
"I AM UNDER NOBODY'S CONTROL." Scythe shouted looking at Midnight, the sclera of his eyes obsidian black, with his mask appearing out of nowhere. "I am free of your father's curse, and will end you."
Raising his hand, Scythe vanished from his sight before suddenly reappearing right in front of him, slamming an iron fist into Midnight's chest, knocking him back, and into a building, crumbling the wall, while the force of the hit, traveled past Midnight, and destroyed several dozen buildings behind him.
"Whoa, so fast, and so strong." Lucy gasped.
"He's down for the count." Scythe exclaimed as his mask disappeared.
The dust around Midnight dispersed, revealing he was out cold, and wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
'My word.' Jura awed. 'He took out one of the Oracion Seis, and with only one strike at that. I had trouble with facing off against Jura, and to top it off, Midnight is the strongest member of the Oracion Seis, second only to Brain. I was wrong in my assessment of him earlier. His power isn't on par with mine, he far surpasses my power tenfold.'
"You all get to the Throne Tower, I'm going to the Cait Shelter Guild. Hoteye, stay here and keep guard over Midnight, restrain him in a ball of stone if you have to, I don't care." Scythe stated, entering Satan's Soul. "Just make sure he doesn't get away. Grey, Lucy, Jura, Wendy, explain my plan to the others when you find them. I'm out of here. Carla, you and Wendy take care until I get back. Grandma Grandpa, return to the Celestial Armory, I doubt those forms will last much longer out in the real world."
"You can count on me." Carla saluted as he flew off.
"I can take care of myself you know. I did just beat you in a fight when you were still under Brain's control." Wendy shouted, much to Jura, Grey, Lucy, and Hoteye's shock.
"Then she kissed him and broke the curse he was under." Carla teased.
"CARLA. YOU'RE SO EMBARRASSING." Wendy shouted her face red like a tomato.
~Cait Shelter Guild~
It was bleak in the Cait Shelter Guildhall, and all the members were gathered around their master, waiting for directions from him, until one of their members came running through.
"I've got terrible news everybody. Niruvāna's been activated, it's heading straight for us."
"Seriously?"
"Not even the coalition could stop that monstrosity?"
"How could they fail with both Erza and Jura on their side, not to mention that kid with the Etherion Godslayer Magic?"
"Master." The man who came in with the bad news exclaimed.
"Naburra." He said pouring himself a glass of sake, before drinking strait from the bottle.
"Why pour a glass if you're gonna chug from the bottle?"
"Naburra."
"Please tell us sir, Niruvāna will be here any minute." One of the members exclaimed.
"Don't tell me that infernal thing is headed our way." He said spilling all the sake in his mouth.
"Would you please swallow before you speak master?" One of the guild members shouted.
"Niruvāna has set its waking eyes upon us. Could this be fate or coincidence Naburra?" The master asked.
"If the collision failed, what do you think happened to Wendy?" One of their members asked.
"Don't know, I'm not sure the answer to that question would sit well with any of us." Another member said as their master was chugging from the bottle once again.
"Wendy is just fine."
Everyone in the guild turned to see Scythe standing there, breathing somewhat heavily as if he just ran 10-Kilometers in five minutes.
"It's you. Scythe, right?" One of the members asked.
"Yeah, it's me." Scythe stated as he accepted a glass of water one of them offered him. "Thank you. Now I've got some urgent news. If any of you want to see tomorrow, then you must evacuate."
"Evacuate?"
"But this is our home, where will we go?"
"I know all of you are scared, but I can help you all with settling into a new home, nothing to it." Scythe exclaimed.
"I refuse." Their master exclaimed, none of them seeming surprised by this.
"But sir, if you don't then…"
"Then we'll be absorbed into Niruvāna's core, and nothing else." He stated. "By now your grandfather has told you we're descendants of the Nirvits, correct? The truth is, we're the Nirvits themselves."
"What?" Scythe asked, before noticing something he should have noticed a long time ago during their first meeting. "I see. You're nothing more than a spirit, projecting the rest of the members with a rare and special type of illusionary magic."
"I am indeed." He stated.
"Does Wendy know about this?" Scythe asked.
"No, she doesn't. A young boy came with a sick girl one day, seven years ago, and I've taken care of her ever since. She seemed upset, but I tried to make her happy, with creating the guild she knows and loves. When Niruvāna is destroyed, we will all vanish, and that is when I'll reveal the truth to her. I only pray, you will be there, to comfort her in her time of need."
"I can promise you I will be there. After all." Scythe exclaimed moving his neck to show the marks of both a kiss and a bite. "I am her mate."
"So she marked you with a kiss, and sealed it with a bite."
"Thus breaking the hold the leader of the Oracion Seis had on me, after kissing me that is." Scythe sighed, rubbing his neck as he turned and walked away. "But now. I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to make sure Niruvāna is destroyed."
Sitting outside, Scythe took a meditative position and began to prepare himself for the fight to come, only to feel the presence of someone to his right.
"I can feel you there Yan." Scythe exclaimed, not bothering to open his eyes and look in her direction. "Care to explain why you're starring with a murderous intent?"
"Why are you here, are you still under Brain's control?" Yan questioned.
"No, I'm not. Wendy broke me free of that curse." Scythe sighed leaning back, figuring he wasn't going to get any meditation done tonight. "What are you wanting?"
"To know what you plan to do to this town. Because I don't believe that Wendy was the one who broke you from Brain's control." Yan explained.
"I plan on fighting Niruvāna, nothing more, nothing less, until this job is done." Scythe exclaimed as he lit a cigar. "My plan for this town however, is to protect it, down to the final grain of sand."
"You do seem different than when you killed your grandparents." Yan exclaimed.
"They ain't dead." Scythe chuckled. "They managed to return to the Celestial Armory before I could take them out. To which I am grateful for, as I no longer need years of therapy for that trauma. Though to be honest, I am still pissed at Brain for making me his puppet."
"I bet you are." Yan smiled relaxing as she sat down beside him, only to jump up and tense her body as the ground shook. "What was that?"
"Niruvāna." Scythe sighed standing up keeping the cigar in his mouth. "It's now within firing range of Cait Shelter. I don't plan on letting it hit once."
Stepping forward, Scythe took in a big puff of smoke, burning the cigar down to the butt, and exhaled after spitting the remains of the tobacco roll out, releasing the smoke within his lungs, making it look like there was something burning in front of him.
"Yan, if I don't make it out of this, could you do me a favor? Travel to Magnolia, and tell my mom, I love her. In fact, tell it to Wendy to." Scythe exclaimed. "I might have full magic power on me, but I'm running low on stamina, so I won't be able to use the healing factor I inherited from my grandfather, Logan."
"Scythe what are you doing?" Yan questioned as a light enveloped him.
"I'm keeping my word." Scythe stated, as the light shattered like glass to reveal his Satan's Soul form.
Without another word, Scythe launched himself into the air, hovering directly within Niruvāna's crosshairs.
"Hibiki, you there?" Scythe asked.
"Scythe, is that you?" Hibiki's voice resonated within his head.
"If you have the power, connect me with everyone on the coalition." Scythe stated. "I've got something to say."
"Of course." Hibiki said before Scythe felt the connection.
"Can everyone hear me?" Scythe asked.
"Scythe, is that you man?" Natsu asked. "It's so good to hear your voice. Glad to know you're not under Brain's control."
"Me to Natsu. Do me a favor, and kick Brain's ass for me." Scythe chuckled before the light of an attack caught his attention, missing what Natsu said about already beating him. "Listen everyone. I don't have a lot of time before Niruvāna fires."
"What are you talking about Scythe?" Shirou questioned.
"Glad you're still there gramps. Yan will explain the details later, but I'm going to try and cancel out Niruvāna's attack on the Cait Shelter guild." Scythe explained. "I don't have a lot of magic left, I kinda lied to Yan about having a full tank, and I'm still tired out from my fight with Iskandar, Hercules, and Wendy in the Armory."
"Scythe, get out of Niruvāna's crosshairs. I can see you from the top of the tower." Rin shouted.
"This attack of mine is going to take everything I have. I don't know if I'm going to make it after it cancel out the attack from Niruvāna." Scythe explained.
"Hold on my boy, there's no need for you to do anything drastic." Jura's voice echoed.
"I just wanted to take a moment to say something. You all have your strengths, and your weaknesses. Alone you're strong, but together you're unstoppable. I believe in you all." Scythe stated holding up both his hands. "Grandfather, I have you to thank for this spell, you're the one who created it with Fiore magic after all."
"Scythe don't use the spell I think you're suggesting on using." Shirou shouted.
"LOTUS BARRIER." Scythe screamed at the top of his lungs, creating the largest lotus barrier he's ever made, just as Niruvāna fired, blocking the attack, with cracks already forming in it.
Scythe could feel the pressure of Niruvāna's attack, pushing him back, even as he used his wings to try and stay put, only for it to be of no use, as Scythe found himself pressed against one of the ears of the Cait Shelter cat ears.
"Not… gonna… give up…" Scythe grunted as he angled the barrier to where the beam slid over it, and pierced the mountaintop, all the while the damage on the barrier reflected on his body, ignoring the pleas of those who were still connected to the mental link Hibiki still had up.
Pushing himself higher, Scythe pushed back with all his might, without missing a beat, though feeling drained, before there was an explosion on the side of Niruvāna's back ending the beam, just as the barrier shattered, Scythe's eyes looked to where the explosive came from, and found the destroyed Christina, flying in on a wing made of ice, before he lost consciousness, and began to fall, as his Satan's Soul vanished, leaving him freefalling down to one of the pointed ears of Cait Shelter's roof.
~Fairy Tail Guildhall~
Mira looked up instantly, as a chill ran down her spine, and she could feel her heart break into a million pieces.
"Mirajane? What's the matter my child?" Makarov asked, seeing the distraught look on her face.
"I just got the worst feeling of dread, and I feel like my heart has just been shattered." Mira explained. "I don't know how, but it feels like Scythe is gravely injured."
"You got that feeling to huh?" Miia asked looking to her mom, with the same look on her face. "My chest just got a whole lot tighter."
"Dearest me. I'm suddenly regretting choosing him to go on this job." Makarov exclaimed.
~Cait Shelter Guildhall~
Yan starred on in horror as she witnessed Scythe become half impaled from the front, on the right ear of the Cait Shelter guildhall.
"NO." She shouted, then howled in her kitsune form, gaining the attention of everyone in the Cait Shelter building, who rushed out.
"Is that…?" One of the members asked.
"How did he get up there?" Another inquired.
"That rumbling we felt earlier, do you think he stopped Niruvāna's attack, and he ended up there as a result?" A third asked.
"Someone get him down from there." The guild master shouted.
To their horror, the sound of squelching could be heard from the unconscious, if not dead teen, on the roof, before it intensified and he fell to the ground, before he was caught by a figure in red, who appeared out of nowhere, but the gathered group recognized instantly.
"SCYTHE." Rin screamed before gasping in horror as Shirou knelt down and laid Scythe on the ground, revealing the ear on the roof, had peeled his flesh off from the waist up to his collar bone, revealing the ribs, his organs, and his beating heart, as his blood pooled around him from his open wound and skinned arms and legs from the damage of the Lotus Barrier.
Several of the guild members, looked away, or ran off to bring up their diners away from the scene of gore.
"No, this can't be how it ends. Why isn't his healing factor taking effect?" Shirou questioned as Yan trotted up, before taking human form.
"He told me he had full magic on him, why did this happen?" Yan asked kneeling next to him.
"He might have lied about it." Rin exclaimed. "His heart's still beating, but it won't be for long if we don't do something."
Yan looked at both Shirou and Rin, and around at the villagers, and saw they were all frantic and nearly hysteric, on trying to do something to heal him, but coming up with nothing except frantic panicking. There was something she could do however, though it meant at a cost, one she would gladly pay, as she saw the future held within this boys hands.
Putting her hands on both the dying sorcerer's cheeks, and placed her forehead against his, with a soft smile on her face.
"Live on Scythe. This world still has need for you." Yan smiled as she began to glow.
~Natsu and Zero Lacrima Number1~
"Jellal." Natsu growled as he lifted his head in pain.
"Well, hello. I take it, your memory has returned." A tall man, with white hair, wearing a green jacket, with red sclera, and black pupils, questioned looking at Jellal. This was Master Zero, or the Oracion Seis, who is actually Brain's second half, as he suffers from DID.
"Yes." Jellal stated after a moment of silence.
"You shouldn't have come here." Natsu exclaimed as he picked himself up. "JELLAL."
"Stop." Jellal stated, raising his hand as he threw a burning ball of fire at Natsu.
"Did you forget flames don't work on me?" Natsu questioned.
"Ye briefly. But I remembered just in time." Jellal smiled, much to Zero's confusion. "Only you, can stop Zero."
"What?" Zero questioned in shock, as Natsu was confused as well.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but as a fire Dragonslayer, doesn't the power of flame amplify your magic?" Jellal questioned.
Natsu looked at him for a minute before he realized he was correct.
"Yeah that's true, but why?" Natsu asked.
"Liar, judging by your actions your memory has not been restored." Zero exclaimed.
"I didn't lie to you." Jellal stated. "Only my memories of Natsu have returned. I'm determined to stop Niruvāna. Whether or not the rest of my memories return, will not affect my goal."
"I don't get it. What happened to ya?" Natsu questioned.
"When I awoke, it's as though my memory had been completely wiped clean. Although I have no recollection of behaving like a vile cretin, it seems that was the case. I've brought harm upon not only you, Erza, and Scythe, but all of Fairy Tail. It's time to make amends. I wanna help you protect Wendy's guild, I want to stop Niruvāna. I know we can do it as long as we work together." Jellal exclaimed.
"I don't believe you." Natsu shouted punching Jellal. "You're saying you forgot everything you did to us? Quite pretending to be on our side or you'll pay."
"Natsu, please, just accept the flames I gave you and move on." Jellal stated.
"You may have forgotten what happened in the past, but the rest of us haven't." Natsu exclaimed lifting Jellal up by his coat. "I still remember, everything. I'll never forget that you made Erza cry."
"How pathetic, if you're going to argue, must you do it in front of me?" Zero questioned. "Quit wasting my time." He exclaimed sending an attack at them.
Seeing this, Jellal acted fast and dashed in front of Natsu, taking the full force of the magic spell Zero sent at them.
"Ah." Zero said in fascination.
"Why Jellal?" Natsu asked.
"Just go ahead and kill me, if that's what you have to do. I'm already battered and torn to shreds." Jellal exclaimed. "But first, let me give you the power you need to defeat him." Jellal stated as a golden flame lit in his hand.
"I've never seen… such a golden flame." Natsu exclaimed in awe.
"This is… the flame of rebuke." Jellal exclaimed.
"What's the flame of rebuke?" Natsu questioned.
"I'm not asking you to grant forgiveness, all I want, is to give you strength, because I believe in you." Jellal stated. "Erza trusts you more than anyone, and so, I shall as well."
Natsu hesitated for the slightest second, before grasping Jellal's hand, the golden flames of rebuke climbing up his arm, and engulfing him. Natsu stood up as Jellal laid flat on his back, and began to devour the flames, regaining his magical energy, and strength.
"You've made a grave mistake. By eating the flame of rebuke, you now share the sins of your mortal enemy." Zero smirked.
"A couple of sins ain't gonna scare me. Everyone in Fairy Tail's got their share. But the real sin is turning your back on someone when they just want to help." Natsu exclaimed. "Especially when they give you the power to fight evil." Natsu shouted running at Zero at a speed he was unable to defend against.
Slamming his fists into Zero's chest, Natsu grabbed him by the belt and collar of his jacket, before throwing him into the ledge near one of the chamber entrances.
Zero picked himself up, and launched his emerald green and crimson red, fire attack at Natsu, who deflected it with his left arm, much to the shock of Master Zero. Without missing a beat, Natsu ran to Zero, and punched him in the face, allowing him to land several more strikes against the Zero, before he retaliated and landed several blows himself. A big strike was an upwards kick to the underside of Natsu's chin. Taking the momentum from that kick to his advantage, Natsu placed one hand on the ground and kicked his right foot into Zero's torso. Giving off a maniacal smirk, Zero backhanded Natsu across to face, only to see Natsu's cheeks puffing up.
"AAAAHHHHHH." Zero screamed as Natsu's roar hit him in the chest, and sent him flying into the ceiling, with the golden flames of rebuke. 'So much power. No, it couldn't be, Dragonforce.'
"Oh man, it's like when I ate all that Etherion. Awesome, all of a sudden it feels like my strength's been doubled, maybe even tripled." Natsu said in awe.
"I'd never thought you'd have it. Dragonforce is the final form of Dragonslayer Magic. From what I understand, it give a slayer destructive power. Comparable to that of the most formidable dragon." Zero said after picking himself up, and smiling. "I'm intrigued. So show me."
"I already knew all that stuff about Dragonforce you dumbass. Scythe may not look it, but he does study up on the different types of slayer magic there are, and everything about them, and by his estimate, there four different types of slayer magic. But there's one fact you don't know about Dragonforce." Natsu exclaimed before his face went wide like he had just seen a ghost.
"Hmm? What's wrong boy?" Zero asked.
From Natsu's point of view, he could see a picture that was downloaded into his brain, and was gruesome at that.
~Grey~
"What is this?" Grey asked, feeling like he was about to throw up from the horror of it. "Scythe, you dumbass." Grey cried out in grief and anger.
~Lucy and Happy~
"Blood, there's blood everywhere, and he's not moving." Lucy exclaimed as she threw up in the passageway to the lacrima.
"His insides, they're completely visible, and they're pulsing." Happy said in horror.
"Why isn't his healing factor kicking in? Is he out of stamina, is that why?" Lucy asked, in horror.
~Erza~
"Scythe, you brave fool. How could you have gone and done something so reckless, and stupid?" Erza cried, tears streaming down her face as she slammed her fist into the concrete. "Now what am I supposed to tell Mirajane and Elfman? I don't think they could handle burying another from their family."
~Ichiya~
"This spell, it's called Sight Sharing. Allowing whoever the caster connects with, to see what they are currently seeing or a memory of what they saw." Ichiya exclaimed as he was crawling along the ground. "Young man, you were a brave soul, and for that, I will not fail in destroying the lacrima."
~Wendy and Carla~
"Scythe… no." Wendy gasped, seeing the horror of Scythe's shredded body.
"Child, I am so sorry." Carla cried, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"It's not fair. Why'd he have to risk his life to save our guild?" Wendy cried, falling to her knees.
~Natsu and Zero~
"Let me guess. An image of something just popped into your head didn't it?" Zero asked with a smirk. "I bet it was the remains of that foolish boy who thought he could save the Cait Shelter guild all on his own."
(Cue Music… Not Gonna Die: Skillet)
"You…" Natsu growled, the image he saw, was indeed of Scythe, and what had happened to him, but what Zero just said, made his blood boil. "Shut. Your. Face."
"C'mon boy. Show me your power." Zero mocked.
"You sure you want me to do that?" Natsu asked, in an almost eerie calm tone.
"Yes. Let's see the dragon's power, and maybe you can avenge your little friend while at it." Zero smirked.
"Alright, but I warned ya." Natsu shouted, running to Zero, with a fury in his eyes.
The attack struck and his power clashed with Zero's. Jumping back for a mere second, Natsu sent himself towards Zero, and tried to elbow him, only for the attack to be blocked by Zero's arm.
Pushing Natsu back, Zero raised his right hand filling it with magic power, which kept Natsu on guard.
"You're no match for Dark Gravity." Zero shouted slamming his hands on the ground, causing it to crack, while light began to emit from the spell.
The ground beneath Natsu shattered, and he was sent falling to the ground, with the rubble shattering through the base of Niruvāna's underbelly.
"Don't tell me I've already defeated the mighty Dragonslayer." Zero said before jumping down. "Well?"
Down at the base, Natsu was laying on the ground, mere centimeters from the hole Zero's attack made, looking down at the forest below.
"Yikes, that was close." Natsu said with a sigh.
Sitting up, Natsu jumped out of the way, evading an attack from Zero, right before the multiple green tendrils coming from the magic circle struck.
Landing on the ground, Zero went running after Natsu, with his signature attack.
"Zero Slash." Zero shouted sending a whip of his green and red fire at Natsu, to which the Dragonslayer was acrobatically evading each strike.
Take in a deep breath, Natsu sent another roar at Zero, engulfing him in flames. Jumping back, Natsu looked intently at his flames, while still keeping his guard up until Zero dispersed of the flames, and went for another attack on Natsu. This attack was extremely powerful, as Natsu was having a hard time with fending it off, as all he could do was block it. Using the dust in the air as a cover, Natsu jumped to the side only for Zero to jump out and send another attack at him.
"Dark Delete." Zero shouted, sending multiple disks of green flames at Natsu.
The Dragonslayer ran, evading the attacks, as much as he could, while playing a trick on Zero as he stopped for a second, and jumped back a few inches, allowing the attacks to strike the spot he once stood at, building up a smokescreen. Once it died away, it was revealed Natsu was still standing, and was still pissed. Zero sent an attack at him, and it hit Natsu dead center in the chest, sending him flying into a wall before Zero send another barrage of Dark Delete at him.
(End Song…)
From out of the smoke, Natsu jumped through the air, and towards Zero. Smirking at seeing Natsu still having some fight in him, Zero leapt at him, meeting the pink haired Dragonslayer half way, and slammed his fist against Natsu's, causing a shockwave of magic energy, resulting in Natsu laying on the floor, unconscious.
"Pathetic." Zero exclaimed as he landed on the ground, close enough to Natsu to kick him to a pulp. "Are you telling me that's the best your Dragonforce can do?" Zero questioned. "Dragons once ruled this world, and that's the extent of their power? What a travesty."
After several minutes of ruthlessly beating on Natsu's weakened state, Zero ended it, and walked off, before turning around, to see Natsu had crawled away from his place in the ground.
"You cannot hope to defeat the mast of the Oracion Seis." Zero sighed. "I'm more powerful, than a lowly guild Sorcerer like you could ever hope to be."
Natsu didn't care what this guy had to say, as he tried to pick himself up, but wound up on his hands and knees instead.
"It's a shame your friends aren't here to help you because you don't stand a chance against me on your own." Zero taunted. "I doubt even your Godslayer friend could have beaten me, but he would have lasted longer than you."
"I'm not on my own." Natsu declared as he began to push himself up. "Everyone's reaching out to me. I could hear them, loud and clear. I hear everyone's voices, and they're telling me, no matter what. I can't give up the fight. They're what keeps me going, they're the only reason I'm still standing right now. They're so strong, I can feel my friend's determination and strength pulsating through me."
"If there was some way, if I could harness the power of your Dragonforce for myself." Zero exclaimed in awe of Natsu's power, as he began chanting a spell. "Unfortunately, that's not possible, since I have no use for you, I shall use my ultimate spell, and return you to the nothingness from whence you came."
"But most importantly, I can feel him." Natsu declared, ignoring Zero's threat. "I can feel Scythe's life force. His strength and will to live on and defeat evil, protecting the world he cares for. I'm going to make you pay for harming him. Dragonslayer Secret Art: Flame Lotus Exploding Flame Blade."
"Genesis Zero. Now it's time for you to return to nothing."
Natsu went rushing at Zero, enraged, and ready to strike him down.
"History will come to an end before my eyes, a new era of nothingness shall be ushered in." Zero declared clapping his hands together. "Genesis Zero: Now open portal of the demons wale."
The portal of darkness expanded, and the creatures of shadow emerging from within it, nullified Natsu's attack, dragging him in to their cold and lifeless embrace.
"Go travelers of the void, I want you to consume that man's soul and his memories, consume his very existence." Zero shouted as the travelers of the voice kept a tight grip on Natsu. "Devour him. Do it for the sake of your master."
The creatures of the void began to consume Natsu, and turn him into one of them as they returned to the void.
"Now you to, are a traveler of the infinite void." Zero said with a smirk. "I apologize, but I piggy backed on the spell The Dragon of Fiore had used, and I must say, those kinds of injuries, are ones that cannot be healed easily if at all."
"Wanna bet?"
Zero's eyes widened in shock as he jumped back with a twist, seeing an uninjured Scythe, standing there behind him, with a glare, and a fire burning in his soul.
"You, standing and alive? But how you were on the brink of death, with the front part of your torso skinned of like a fillet fish. Your organs were all exposed to the air. How are you still alive?" Zero asked.
"I owe my life, to a friend. A friend, I could never repay that debt to." Scythe exclaimed raising a fist, extending his claws. "Because of her, my healing factor was given a jumpstart, and my magic was restored instantly." Scythe stated marching towards Zero as the, claws in his other hand elongated.
"What kind of monster are you?" Zero asked, sending a barrage of Dark Delete at him.
(Cue Music… Dragonforce Theme Music)
"Me?" Scythe asked, slicing through every single one of them. "I'm the son of Acnologia, the Dark Dragon of the Apocalypse."
Zero's eyes widened as he felt a pair of claws pierce his right shoulder, and cut downwards diagonally, leaving a trail of three bloody claw across his pectorals.
"Natsu… I know you can hear me." Scythe shouted. "Fight back, Igneel would be heartbroken if you were to die here and now."
As if on cue, the spot where the travelers of the void returned to their plain of existence, sparked, and opened up revealing a pissed off Dragonslayer.
"No it can't be." Zero shouted before the golden flames of Natsu's emotions raged forth, and incinerated the travelers of the void, as he marched forward. "How did he come back from the void? Such brilliant burning flames, my magic is being burnt away."
"Here's what you don't understand Zero." Scythe smiled, holding the back of Zero's neck to keep him there. "Natsu's power, is limitless. He is a true Dragonslayer, raised by a Dragon, and loved by a Dragon. Anything you throw back at him, will be useless."
Natsu roared his mightiest, as the silhouette of Igneel appeared above him, roaring alongside him, as his golden flames continued to burn on.
"Oh, and if you think his Dragonforce is weak, then you don't even know. There are three stages to Dragonforce, not just one. What you see right now, is the power of the first stage, basically giving him the power of a six month old hatchling." Scythe exclaimed.
'That must have been what the Dragonslayer meant when he said I didn't know one thing about Dragonforce. How could I have been so ignorant?' Zero questioned. 'His lost magic gives him the power of a dragon, and in turn, the power to defeat one. This boy is a true… Dragonslayer.'
Natsu came rushing at Zero, with faster speed than he's ever seen, and slammed the Master of the Oracion Seis, square in the nose with his fist, creating a shockwave that knocked him back, as Scythe had moved out of the way.
"I'm done playing games with you pal." Natsu exclaimed as the golden flames around him began to glow brighter. "Dragonslayer Secret Art Hidden Fire Form: Flame Lotus Phoenix Fire Sword."
Natsu jumped from the ground, leaving Scythe to stand there and whistle in amazement as Zero and Natsu slammed through the ceiling, and several levels of stone, and slammed into the lacrima destroying it for good, as all the other five, shattered simultaneously.
The resulting rumble resulting from it, was the body of the weapon/city, detaching from its six legs, and falling to the ground.
"Crap, didn't think about this part." Scythe exclaimed. "I might have just enough magic left for this."
Clasping his hands together, Scythe concentrated on one aspect of his magic, and put everything he had into it.
"Shadow-Deity: Evacuation Free Fall." Scythe chanted as his shadow expanded around the entire body of Niruvāna, enveloping any living thing standing, or lying around within its parameters. 'Crap, I'm still too drained. I know I told Zero my full magic power returned but that was a bluff to intimidate him.'
(End Song…)
Feeling all living things passing through his shadow, Scythe brought it in and enveloped himself in it, before passing through as well, landing in the area everyone else was in while they were all just confused as to what had happened, until Scythe fell to the ground panting heavily, propping himself up with his hands and arms.
"Man, I'm exhausted." Scythe sighed as everyone who was conscious began untangling themselves from one another. "Never thought that spell I made would come in handy."
"Scythe." Wendy cried embracing him with a smile as she began to cry.
"Okay, I'm glad to see you to Wendy." Scythe smiled. "Now please get off, my torso is still a bit sore from regeneration."
"But, how are you still alive? With what we say, you should be…"
"Dead?" Scythe asked finishing Lucy's question as Grey used his magic to bind the members of the Oracion Seis that were there, minus Hoteye as he surrendered peacefully. "Yeah. I was close to it. But, a friend of mine saved my life, kick started my healing factor, and helped me to regain some of my magic, most of which I used to get back to Niruvāna. The rest I used up when I evacuated everyone from the crashing ruins."
"Wait, you mean that kitsune lady?" Wendy asked. "Is she okay?"
"She's…"
"My handsome face." Everyone looked up to see the musclebound Ichiya having tried to walk away, but ran into an invisible barrier.
"Huh?" Natsu inquired.
"There a problem meathead?" Grey asked.
"I wanted to go make a letter of the alphabet, but I ran into an invisible wall." Ichiya exclaimed.
"Look, there's weird writing on the ground." Wendy stated.
"No it can't be." Jura said placing his hand against the wall.
"Yep…" Scythe sighed.
"An enchantment." They all said at once.
"I've really gotta pee you guys." Ichiya stated.
"Too much info there bub." Scythe stated.
"Who'd do such a thing?" Wendy asked.
"How come we didn't notice them cast it?" Happy inquired in a panic.
"If I had to guess, I'd say it's Freed's work." Grey stated.
"Impossible. It's Tuesday, he's at the old folk's home volunteering around this time." Scythe exclaimed standing up.
"You're right, plus this magic is much more powerful than his could ever be." Grey stated.
"Oh great how are we gonna get out?" Lucy questioned.
"Okay, who did this? Show yourself." Natsu shouted.
As if granting a wish from a genie, dozens of Rune Knights surrounded them, with the leader of the group wearing a high ranking officer's uniform.
"Who are all these people?" Wendy asked.
"There's no need to panic we mean you no harm." The leader of the group said walking up to them. "Sorry about this, but we were forced to do something to restrain you."
"Who the heck are you?" Happy shouted pointing a paw at him.
"I am the captain of the new Magic Council's fourth custody enforcement unit. Lahar, and this is my army."