A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: GAROU KNIGHTS

The audience cheered as Gray laid defeated. "Alyssa Frostmourne won the Ice Magic showdown!" Chapati announced. "God Pegasus receives precious points here!"

"I knew you could do it, Frostmourne!" Zoey cheered.

"We're on a roll, and we better stay on it!" Olga claimed.

"Gray was defeated... Just like that?" Macao muttered.

"What is this guild?" Wakaba questioned.

Alyssa smiled as her durability spell wore off. "That was fun, Fullbuster. Let's fight again sometime." She said as she turned and began walking out of the library.

"Who knew Alyssa had that much power..." Lex mumbled.

"It's because we cannot afford to lose. For the sake of the others who went off to rescue Lucas. The battle is only getting started." Kaiba claimed. "God Pegasus will end up victorious."

"Now! Let's take a look at the current score!" Chapati announced as God Pegasus's guild mark appeared on the Lacrima Vision. "God Pegasus is in first place with 53 points! There are five people left, with the leader and four normals."

Team God Pegasus was shown, with Atlas being in the center — showing he was the leader.

"Fairy Tail is in second place with 50 points! Gray lost, but with the fluctuating points, there are three normals and the leader left-kabo!" Mato continued.

"In third place is Sabertooth with 49 points. There are three normals and the leader left."

"Tied for third place is Lamia Scale with 49 points. They've got two normals and the leader left." Yajima commented, the Lacrima-Vision showing Jura, Lyon, and Sherria.

"Mermaid Heel is in fourth place with 43 points. They've got the leader and one normal left." Chapati announced as Kagura was walking through the streets of Crocus with a determined look.

"Well, God Pegasus is alone at the top." Chapati pointed out.

"And all five members are in good condition." Yajima added.

"God Pegasus has gained the advantage-kabo." Mato commented.

Nero sighed to himself. "I've got to keep moving. I gotta defeat Minerva. I'm keeping my promise to Sting." He thought. "Erza and Kagura will be at the checkpoint as well. If I'm lucky, they'll exhaust each other out and Minerva will be the only one I gotta deal with."

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! We're the only ones on top!" Olga cheered.

"Keep 'em coming, guys!" Lex encouraged.

"They won one round, but we can't let our guard down." Rosaline claimed.

Rialle nodded in agreement. "There's still four healthy members of both Fairy Tail and Saber. Not to mention, Jura and Lyon as well." She added.

"Then the real battle is just beginning, huh?" Izumi questioned.

"I'm concerned about the Rescue Team, too." Kaiba admitted.

"It is taking them awhile." Lex agreed. "So we should probably assume they ran into trouble..."

Hell Palace...

"So, that's what happened..." Sting finished explaining what happened to Lector to Lucas.

"You as Sabertooth's new master? Suits you." Lucas smiled. "But you're an idiot. You're supposed to be out there at the tournament."

"It's like I said before, Luke. Once Ace told me you got abducted, my mind went into overdrive. All I cared about was saving you." Sting argued.

Lucas sighed. "Well, place your trust in Nero. That guy is a former Dark Mage. Lady Minerva is no match for him." He said.

"Yeah." Sting agreed.

"Natsu! Natsu, come on! Wake up!"

Sting and Lucas turned their attention towards Lucy, who was trying to wake up Natsu from the ground. "He's not even twitching." Wendy commented.

"Can't your magic do something, Wendy?" Mira asked.

"No. My power isn't strong enough to do anything." Wendy replied, covering her face. "I'm sorry! If only I knew more magic, this wouldn't have happened!"

"It's not your fault!" Lucy reassured.

"Come on, Natsu-san, you're upsetting Wendy!" Fera scolded.

"It ain't my fault! I'm so hungry I can't walk another step!" Natsu said.

"And nothing in here looks the least bit edible." Mira commented.

"If they're gonna send people down here, they should at least give us food." Drake complained.

"It's supposed to be Hell where they place criminals, why would they give them a luxury treatment?" Lucas sweat dropped.

"Will we end up eating... you know?" Lily asked, looking at a human skull.

"That's scary talk, so stop it!" Lucy scolded.

"Natsu!" Happy called out as him and Carla returned.

"Any luck, Happy?" Natsu asked.

"No. Even the ceiling is totally sealed off." Happy answered.

"I don't think there is an exit in here." Carla added.

"Dammit! After we walked all the way here!" Natsu complained.

"The hunters have become the hunted, huh?" Mira questioned sheepishly.

"Pitiful..." Wendy looked down.

"We've walked for miles, how big is this place?" Lucy wondered.

"I happened to overhear this. The underground area beneath the palace is ten times as wide as the capital, Crocus." Yukino replied.

"I didn't wanna hear that."

"If I'd known this was going to happen, I would've drawn a map on my body." Lily commented.

"We do have a master tactician in our presence." Fera informed, glancing at Lucas.

"I can't strategize something I've never seen, genius! Besides, I'm a war tactician!" Lucas shouted.

"Come to think of it, Natsu, what about the tournament?" Lucy asked.

"Juvia took my place." Natsu replied.

"He was all, 'I'm gonna save Lucy!'" Happy teased.

Sting smirked. "Seems we're more alike than I realized, Natsu-san." He stated.

"Yeah, well..." Natsu deadpanned.

"Oh, stop! You're making me feel bashful!" Lucy gushed.

"It's strange. Despite the circumstances, being with all of you makes me feel at ease." Yukino said.

"Maybe that's because you're with friends." Mira told her.

"Friends..." Yukino mumbled.

"I'll tell you one thing. I didn't forget about you either." Natsu told Yukino as the group began walking.

"Oh, you don't have to..." Yukino said.

"That reminds me... Sting, ever since we got trapped down here, you haven't uttered a word to Yukino. Almost like you're-" Lucas started to say.

"Avoiding her." Ace finished.

"Yeah, that." Lucas said.

Sting looked down. "What am I supposed to say? I didn't stick up for her when Jiemma humilitated her. The air around the two of us is kinda... awkward." He admitted.

"You're Sabertooth's master now. You can make Sabertooth a guild like Fairy Tail or even God Pegasus. A guild that cares about their comrades." Lucas said.

"You're right, Luke. After this whole mess is over, I'll talk with Yukino." Sting promised, making Lucas smile. Sting glanced at him. "With Jiemma gone, I could ask you to come back to Sabertooth. But... That'll just be selfish of me, huh?"

"Anyway, aren't you with the kingdom's Alpaca Pals or whatever club? Sorry if we got you involved in our trouble." Natsu's voice snapped Sting out of his thoughts.

"It's Arcadios!" Happy corrected.

"No. I'd always wanted to be in Sabertooth, so I truly was shocked when they kicked me out. Right now, I'm just a provisional member of the Royal Armed Forces." Yukino stated.

"It's also true that she has nowhere to go home to. Both of her parents passed away when she was a child and her big sister went missing." Lucy explained.

"I see..." Natsu muttered.

"That's why I felt so happy when I heard you fought on my behalf, Natsu-sama. Thank you." Yukino bowed.

"Wha...?! I don't need any thanks." Natsu said.

"After all, you didn't even remember doing it, right?" Lucy teased.

"Yukino Agria. She's quite a loyal girl." Lily said.

"You like making those kinds of pronouncements, don't you, Lily?" Happy questioned.

"You wanna have a little talk later, huh?" Lily threatened.

"No, I was just kidding. Sorry..." Happy apologized.

"No need to get defensive about it." Ace told Lily while sweat dropping.

"Hey, everyone, don't you think she kind of looks like Lisanna?" Mira asked.

"Now that you mention it..." Lucy trailed off.

"Who's Lisanna-sama?" Yukino questioned in confusion.

Mira gave her a close-eyed smile. "She's my little sister."

"Speaking of sisters, did we completely ignore the fact that Lucas-san here is a Prince?" Fera reminded.

"We didn't ignore it, that's just a whole 'nother issue that I prefer to address later." Lucas responded.

"Did you know?" Natsu asked.

"No. My earliest memories are with Zirconis. One day I just woke up not knowing where I was until he found me." Lucas answered.

There was a sudden snap as the ceiling started to crumble, getting everyone's attention. Natsu sniffed the air. "What's this?" He wondered.

"I feel flowing air." Wendy commented.

"Which means..." Lily began.

"We'll check it out!" Carla finished, flying next to Lily.

"Maybe a wall crumbled from that shaking?" Lucy guessed.

"This smell... I remember it from somewhere." Natsu stated.

"Everyone! There's a crevice over here! I think we can pass through!" Carla announced.

"Yay! You're my hero, Carla!" Happy exclaimed.

Everyone arrived at the crevice. "It seems more like it's been melted than a natural crevice." Lily said.

"We can just about squeeze through it."

"It is narrow..." Lucy mumbled.

"Are you okay, Yukino?" Mira questioned.

"Yes, more or less." Yukino responded.

Sting was moving through the crevice in front of Lucas. "Are you good, Luke? You got that worry look on your face." He stated.

"Is it just me, or does it seem like we're falling into a trap?" Lucas asked as Sting hummed in confusion. "The ceiling started to crumble out of nowhere and all of a sudden this crevice shows up?"

"It does seem suspicious." Drake agreed.

"You can do it, Natsu!" Happy encouraged.

Wendy and Natsu managed to get out as Wendy fell to the ground and Natsu fell on top of her.

"I'm stuck..." Lucy said.

"You probably gained weight." Natsu bluntly remarked with his arms crossed.

"I don't need your rude comments, just pull me out!" Lucy sweat dropped.

Natsu pulled Lucy out of the crevice as Lucy landed on Natsu's face. "It was accidental!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Everyone, somebody's over there!" Wendy announced.

The group rushed over and saw an unconscious Arcadios. "Arcadios-sama?!" Yukino exclaimed.

"I get it. It was this old man's scent." Natsu commented.

"'Old man' isn't nice!" Lily scolded.

"Hey, are you all right?! Wake up!" Natsu shouted.

"A white knight..." Carla recalled.

"What's he doing here?" Happy asked.

"He was dropped in here like we were." Lucy realized.

"But how did he get those injuries?" Yukino wondered.

"I'm totally confused right now. Who is this guy?" Sting questioned.

"It's a..." Lucas started to reply.

"...long story. Got it." Sting finished while sighing.

Lucas pressed his fingers to Arcadios's neck. "I feel a pulse. He's still alive." He told the group.

Arcadios opened his eyes as he groaned. "Run..." He warned, confusing everyone.

"Arcadios-sama, what happened?!" Yukino asked.

"Anyway, I'll heal him." Wendy said as she went to work on healing Arcadios.

"Don't worry about me! Get away from here!" Arcadios ordered.

The group suddenly got attacked as a hole was in the ground. "That's..." Lucy started to say.

"...acid!" Lily concluded.

"The ground is melting!" Carla exclaimed.

"Then the passage was..." Wendy realized, backing up.

"What a haul!"

Everyone flew up into the air, crashing to the ground while Sting and Lucas were swung at by a crystal-like axe, the two of them barely dodging on time.

"Ouch..."

"Who the hell are these guys?!" Natsu wondered.

Flowers soon sprouted up along with purple paper. "Now what?!" Mira questioned.

"Confetti?" Yukino added.

Two women soon appeared. "Arcadios-sama, is this..." Yukino trailed off.

"I told you to get away from here!" Arcadios informed, struggling to get up.

"Old man, do you know these guys?" Natsu asked.

"They're an independant unit that supports the kingdom of Fiore from the shadows. They're the kingdom's strongest executioners. And their name is..." Arcadios began to explain.

"...the Garou Knights. Mission 1500, begin."

All six executioners were shown.

"Executioners?" Natsu quoted.

"The kingdom's strongest?" Lucy added.

"I thought they were an urban legend. They run criminals to ground and execute them. They're the kingdom's execution machine, so to speak. That's the Garou Knights!" Yukino explained.

"It's impossible to get out of this Hell Palace alive because of them!" Arcadios added.

"We are Fiore's independant Garou Knights. And with the special authority granted to us, we will now execute the criminals."

Natsu soon bursted out laughing. "Hey, Natsu, at a time like this?" Lucy scolded.

"He really needs to learn how to read a room." Fera commented as Drake hummed in agreement.

"Oh, sorry, but these losers don't look anything like knights!" Natsu stated.

"Well, true..." Lucy agreed.

"And their outfits don't match at all..." Wendy pointed out.

"They have a kid on their team." Fera added.

"Aren't you also a kid?" Drake sweat dropped.

"Especially you!" Natsu pointed at one of the executioners.

"Normally, knights would all look the same..." Mira stated.

"With armor and a helmet..." Wendy added on.

"We've got individual freedom-tai. We're an independant unit that operates undercover. If we wore matching outfits, we'd actually stand out-tai."

"Did I touch a nerve, headband bastard?" Natsu questioned. "Then hurry up and bring it on."

"Hey!" Lucy shouted.

"Talking like that... will make me mad!"

"Don't be fooled by their appearance!" Arcadios called out as everyone looked at him. "The magic they use is designed to kill people!"

"Huh. Magic designed to kill, eh? Perfect! Our way outta here has come strollin' up to us!" Natsu stated.

"That's right. They can tell us where the exit is." Mira claimed.

"And if they refuse, we'll just have to beat it out of 'em." Sting stated.

"Lucy-san and Yukino-san, you don't have your keys, right? Please back away." Wendy told them.

"Get Arcadios out of here." Lucas ordered.

Lucy and Yukino walked away as they supported Arcadios. "It's frustrating just to watch at a time like this." Lucy said.

"Arcadios-sama, this way..." Yukino added.

"Happy, Carla, get back." Lily said as him and Ace stepped forward.

"I'm gonna fight, too!" Happy claimed.

"Better not." Carla said.

Both Lily and Ace got into their Battle Forms. "Been a while since I've been in battle. My blood is boiling." Lily stated.

"You and me both." Ace agreed.

"They intend to have it out with the kingdom's strongest executioners?" Arcadios questioned.

"Everyone, Natsu... Be careful!" Yukino wished them luck.

"I'm fired up." Natsu said.

"To show no fear before the Garou Knights betrays your ignorance, criminal. Return to the earth of the kingdom of Fiore."

"Leave them to us, first."

"Just two of you?! Then I'll take you both on myself!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Aw, I wanted to go first..."

"That's not fair! I'm gonna get mad!"

"Let's go, Cosmos."

"With our beautiful dance, right, Kamika?"

Kamika blew a red piece of confetti. "Confetti, Red Dance!" She shouted.

"Paper Magic, huh? You don't know who you're messin' with." Natsu claimed as he lit his fists on fire. "I'll burn 'em all to ashes!"

The fire was soon caught in the confetti. "What the hell?!" Natsu questioned.

"They aren't burning!" Lucy noticed.

"Red paper is the god of flames. Scatter!" Kamika shouted.

"If those are flames too, then I'm just gonna eat 'em!" Natsu said before he got punched by the flames.

"I thought you were going to eat them." Kamika taunted as Natsu was engulfed in flames.

"Natsu-san! I'll back you up!" Wendy shouted. "Sky Dragon's Roar!"

Wendy ended up blowing away the confetti. "Nice, Wendy!" Carla complimented.

"Go, go!" Happy cheered.

"Guess it can't be helped. Two against two." Natsu stated.

"Let's take them out." Wendy said.

"Beautiful..." Cosmos muttered.

"Let's jump in there!" Lily informed.

"Wait. Better leave it to Natsu and Wendy, and see what the other side does first." Mira told him.

"Let's go, Wendy!" Natsu took off running.

"Right!" Wendy agreed.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu attacks Cosmos and Kamika with his flames.

"Hmph! Dragon Slayer Magic, huh?" Kamika questioned.

Wendy appeared behind her. "Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!" She called out as Kamika blocked her attack.

"Long hair..." Cosmos mumbled as Natsu leaped behind her.

"Look over here!" Natsu shouted as he tried to attack her with a fire fist, but she ended up blocking it.

"You're not beautiful." Cosmos claimed.

"Huh?"

"I'm getting impatient-tai!"

"Are you playing over there?"

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

Both Natsu and Wendy attacked with their breath attacks. "Yes!" Lucy cheered.

"That was a great combo attack!" Yukino complimented.

"Both of them are gone. Vaporized?" Lily asked as Natsu and Wendy gave each other a high five.

"No. They're... hiding?" Mira responded.

A plant with red confetti showed when the dust settled. "A bud and red paper..." Wendy muttered.

Natsu and Wendy were raised into the air before falling to the ground. The bud opened to reveal Cosmos and Kamika. "Now this is a beautiful combo." Cosmos claimed.

"A fitting punishment for criminals." Kamika added.

"The one with the hat controls plants..." Happy pointed out.

"Paper Magic and Plant Magic?" Carla added. "Even though Natsu and Wendy should have the advantage over them..."

"My name is Cosmos. You'll be executed shortly, but remember that." Cosmos claimed.

"Red isn't the only kind of confetti I have." Kamika added as yellow confetti appeared.

Everyone shielded their eyes. "I can't see!" Mira exclaimed.

"She can use paper like that, too?!" Lily said.

"Gotcha." Cosmos muttered as Wendy was raised in the air.

"Wendy!"

Natsu was soon attacked by white confetti. "White paper is the god of blizzards!" Kamika stated.

"Dammit! What the hell?! My body is freezin' up! But this ain't nothin'!" Natsu said as he melted the ice. He soon got raised in the air, joining Wendy.

"Natsu-san!"

"Thank you for the beautiful support, Kamika." Cosmos thanked her.

"Dammit! I can't move!" Natsu stated.

"This is itchy!" Wendy complained.

"Two criminals have been subdued. Now all I have to do is execute them." Cosmos said as more plants appeared.

"Yuck! What is that?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Carnivorous plants!" Yukino said.

"Gross!"

"That's no good." Lily stated.

"Natsu, I'll get you free!" Mira informed.

"Wendy, I'm coming!" Fera added.

"Get back! This is just startin' to get interesting!" Natsu said.

"Say what?! This is no time for that!" Lily scolded.

"Just let me do it myself! Interfere and I'll punch ya!" Natsu told him.

"He's just full of bravado, isn't he?" Kamika questioned.

"There's no way they can escape from that position." Cosmos added.

"Wendy! Be sure to dodge!" Natsu told her.

"Anytime you're ready!" Wendy said.

Natsu used his breath attack, destroying the plants. "Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Wendy called out, releasing Natsu.

"Great! Just what I'd expect from a Dragon Slayer combo play!" Lucy praised.

"Lucas and Natsu's combo was really something too..." Lily commented.

"...but it looks like these two go well together." Mira finished.

"I feel like I should be offended." Lucas muttered as Sting pats him on the shoulder.

"Let's go, Natsu-san!" Wendy said.

"Okay, let's finish 'em off all at once!" Natsu exclaimed.

Wendy struck at Kamika while Natsu struck Cosmos. "As always, there's lots of destruction..." Carla sweat dropped.

"Wow! They're totally in sync!" Happy added.

"What kind of combo can overpower the Garou Knights?!" Arcadios asked.

"The combo made up of friends who have fought alongside each other time and time again. They have a pretty good idea of what each other is thinking." Lucy answered.

"Believing in each other, helping each other... That power is why Fairy Tail is so strong, isn't it?" Yukino questioned.

"No. They can't let their guards down yet. This isn't the terrible threat of the Garou Knights." Arcadios claimed.

"Knepper, Uosuke, Soren..."

The three executioners turned around to face their leader. "All right! Sounds like we're gonna get to go to work, too!" Knepper said.

"Those three are coming in! Then so are we!" Mira charged forward with Lily, Ace, Sting, Lucas, and Fera behind her.

"Leave it to me!" Lily claimed.

"Bumper catch-tai!" Uosuke shouted, blowing them away.

Knepper tried to attack both Lily and Ace as they dodged it with their weapons. "Hey! I thought it was supposed to be two against two!" Lucy exclaimed.

"I don't remember making that promise." Kamika stated.

"Our purpose is the execution of criminals." Cosmos said.

"We were just playing with you a little!" Uosuke added.

"That was a damn powerful force!"

"We can't let ourselves get close to him!"

Knepper laughed. "Come on! I'll melt you into nothingness!"

"Get your balance, Wendy!" Natsu said.

"Okay!"

"Though it was only an instant, you managed to disrupt our beautiful combo... You'll learn the seriousness of that crime the hard way! Especially the one that's not beautiful!" Cosmos claimed.

"Shut up!" Natsu shouted before he got thrown back by a plant.

"Natsu-san!" Wendy called out.

"This is no time for you to be worrying about anyone else." Kamika said as Wendy was looking at herself.

"An illusion? If I blow it all away at once... Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy shouted.

"Beautiful..." Cosmos said as Wendy was standing on a plant.

"When did that...?!" Wendy ended up getting closed into the plant.

"Beautiful dancing doll... It's a skeletal flower that blossoms in blood." Cosmos claimed.

"Wendy!" Natsu yelled.

A/N: Yes, I added an extra executioner for Lucas and Sting to fight.

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.