Chapter Sixty-Nine

"What the hell is that?" Alzack screamed over the sound of his clan's weapons firing. Gildarts grunted as he was hit by something black and forced onto his back. PantherLilly swooped down, his sword cutting a wide swatch through the darkness, reflecting the lightening like a mirror.

From the interior of the third shuttle; the darkness kept oozing out like a slow blob of thickened engine grease.

Gajeel was hard to spot in all the darkness; his own dark metallic sheen blending in during the flashes of light from the storm. Levy was crouched behind a boulder she had summoned and throwing words out trying to find something that did anything to the threat that was advancing. Unfortunately nothing did more than create a dent that quickly was pushed out and expanded upon.

"Don't know, don't care. Don't like it!" Gildarts muttered as he got to his feet and threw his hands forward. A white light shot out; creating a grid-like pattern and it rushed through the darkness. The ooze turning into cubes.

"Gajeel! Jump!" Levy shouted as it moved through the darkness. She saw a bright flash erupt and watched as he black flipped to the ground next to Gildarts. He wiped at the silver blood running down from his lip.

"It ain't solid. I can't do more than move it around." He muttered and stared at it.

"It looks like oobleck." Levy muttered as glanced at him around the boulder.

"What the hell is that?" He asked looking at her.

"it's a non-liquid liquid we created. It's like liquid when it's calm, but when force is enacted on it; it because solid."

"What the hell kind of shit were you all doing down here Shorty?" He asked and she laughed despite herself.

"Gajeel, its used more as a toy than anything negative. If I told you the worst humans did you'd be even more concerned."

"Why are we saving your planet then?" He demanded and grunted as he was struck from behind. Gildarts grabbed it and it exploded in light and then into thousands of little pieces.

"Because I like having a home planet that is inhabitable." She shouted back and threw a word. There was a loud hissing sound that made Gajeel and PantherLilly cover their ears. The darkness turned red where the word had landed and it didn't regenerate.

"What did you do?" One of Alzack's people asked and she looked over the boulder.

"Light." She said and looked back at them. "I sent the word light at it."

"Switch to light ammunition rounds!" Alzack shouted and there was the unmistakable sound of cartridges being both ejected and inserted into weapons. Quickly the darkness started to hiss and scream as the light rounds pierced it. Gajeel cackled and twisted a weird red band onto his forearm.

"Burning Steel Fusion!" He screamed, raising his arm as fire leapt from the band and then turned from red to black and silver. He ran forward, swinging his engulfed limb wildly. It had been shaped into a wide blade; and it cut through the oozing darkness, the pieces that fell off didn't move when it hit the ground.

"Light! Light! Light!" Levy screamed; pointing at all the places where it was trying to get to the members of Fairy Tail that were fighting it. She picked off piece after piece; sweat pouring down her face and neck. She had tired to cast the light silently; but it wore her out more; and so she kept screaming; even as her voice started to get sore.

"Levy!" PantherLilly shouted and she turned and leapt out of the way as the ooze smashed into the boulder; missing her by inches. She scrambled through the mud; the weather shield had fallen as she started using other words after the darkness had exploded when Gildarts had knocked on the shuttle's door.

"Look out!" A female sniper shouted and raced forward. The dark ooze leapt into her open mouth and she started to convulse; and Levy's body went limp. Black veins appeared; and her dark skin started to turn almost gray; and the bright light of her eyes faded. As her eyes closed her weapon fell to the ground.

"Mal'ray!" A voice shouted in pain and Levy watched as the darkness retracted itself and her body went still before jerking again like a marionette on strings. She spun around, her eyes black.

"Die!" The voice was masculine and filled with hatred.

"Mard Geer." Levy gasped; and the zombie-esque form moved towards her. She lifted her hand, her heart hurting as anger filled her.

"Die worthless runt!"

"Purify!" Levy shouted as Mal'ray's body lurched towards her. A bright light hit her head on; engulfing her and making her impossible to see. Gajeel appeared next to Levy and wrapped her in his arms and she winced at the heat from the now extinguished arm. She looked over his shoulder as the light faded.

Mal'ray's body hit the ground; but her skin was once again the shame dark shade as Alzack's, no black veins to be seen. One of her clan appeared beside her and touched her; their head sagged lower before they threw their head back and howled. Levy shivered and Gajeel swore.

"I was too late." Levy murmured, tears filling her eyes.

"You gave her back her own body…so it couldn't be used in death. That's important." Alzack said, surprising her, and she realized he was standing beside Gajeel and picking off the darkness as it started to advance on them again.

"It's aiming for Levy!" Gildarts shouted and Gajeel snorted in anger.

"Obviously!" He looked down at her; and she looked up; expecting anger but instead saw unabashed fear in his eyes. He was petrified for her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder. She took a deep breath. Then an idea hit her. She started to push away from him, but his arms held her.

"You have to let me go. I know how to end this!" She cried and he looked at her. "Please, trust me!"

"I do…but I ain't losing you again Levy." He shook his head, and her heart twisted to the point she nearly gasped. She grabbed his hair and pulled his head close to hers.

"Then you have to trust me. We can't beat this if you don't. I have you here, I can do this!"

"I ain't leaving you." He whispered and she nodded, releasing his hair. He pressed his lips to her forehead and she felt her heart flutter. He spun them around; kneeling so she was standing but he was wrapped around her like a cloak.

"Everyone fall back behind me! NOW!" She shouted and they did; grabbing their fallen as they retreated. Once PantherLilly and Gildarts got behind them she looked at the advancing darkness. She took a deep breath.

"Please, Mavis…Help me." She whispered; and Gajeel stiffened.

"Levy…no…" He started to shout but she lifted her arms. "Fairy Glitter is too dangerous in your weakened state!"

"It's not Fairy Glitter." Gildarts said and his voice was filled with awe. Gajeel watched as the small ball of light started to form between her hands.

"Is that…?" Alzack asked pushing towards the front of the line.

"Fairy Law." Gildarts said in astonishment.

Gajeel felt his blood freeze in his veins. He'd seen Gramps use Fairy Law once; to buy them time to get off of an overran planet the couldn't save. Gramps had nearly died in the process; and he'd been at full strength.

"Damn it you stubborn woman!" He shouted as he watched as cracks formed on Levy's hand. The spell she was using too much for her soft body. Her blood swirled with the light; tinging it orange. He put his hands around hers; burying his face into her neck. He couldn't watch her rip her body apart to try and save them…him. He searched for the growlkin link between him and her; and it was there; surprisingly strong considering how long he'd been denying it. He pushed his life force into it; hoping it helped her to hold together.

"What's happening?" Someone murmured behind them but noises started to fade so he couldn't hear anything after that. He breathed in her scent; surprised there was no pain or fear in it. Something light; something burning hot; and something calming was all he smelt. And then, even with his eyes clenched closed and buried against her; he saw the light through his eyelids.

Everything faded to white.

"What was that?" Wendy gasped as the Magi-Hover rocked violently side to side.

"Fairy Law." Alfie stated and everyone in the Magi-Hover fell silent.

"Fairy Law?" Bixlow asked, looking around and then shook his head. "But Gramps isn't…"

"Levy performed it." Alfie stated; and Wendy released a strangled cry as tears fell from her eyes and she shook her head. The Exceeds on the table in front of her stared in confusion; and the female who was beside Lisanna looked uneasy. A panel lit up and they watched as a video of something dark; quickly advancing towards Levy and others. They saw the small light starting in her hands; saw Gajeel wrap himself around her; lining his hands up with hers and burying his face in her neck. The slightly orange light took on a silver sheen as his hands lined up with hers. Then the ball grew exponentially and shot forward towards the darkness. Then the screen was nothing but white. The panel went dark and Bixlow slammed his fist against the wall.

"What happened?"

"I do not know. The light has not yet receded." Alfie's voice was light, soft as if barely whispered from grief.

"What is Fairy Law?" Lisanna asked and Wendy shook her head, her tears choking her. Bixlow snarled but couldn't speak.

"It's one of the three strongest spells in all of Fairy Tail." Minerva said stepping forward. "Fairy Law, Fairy Glitter and Fairy Sphere."

"And all three bear heavy tolls on the casters." Bixlow bit out and Lisanna's mouth started to tremble. She shook her head and he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. Frosch's eyes started to water.

"But…Levy will be okay. Right?" He asked and Lector saw the way that Wendy and Bixlow's faces tensed even more. "Frosch needs to know!"

"Frosch…" Lector shook his head and the small Exceed started to cry. Minerva, to the surprise of everyone; picked him up and held him close as he cried. She looked at the human female; who looked unsure of what was happening.

"This is the price of the war that Mard Geer brought to this world. Innocents make the ultimate sacrifice. Be glad you are in the presence of those who have someone so selfless in their flock."

"I…" The woman looked at Lisanna and then at her son. "I'm sorry."

"It's not…" Lisanna shook her head and sobbed into Bixlow's side. He turned, pulling her into a full hug and lifted his head; his expression pained.

"Gajeel is going to go into a stasis."

"Negative. Both his and Levy's readings are far from stasis levels." Alfie stated and everyone went still.

"You can still read their trackers?" Wendy asked, her voce breaking hopefully. A different panel lit up and they saw the two stacked on top of each other. Levy's was bright orange while Gajeel's was silver.

"Their…their hearts…." Lisanna hiccuped. Alfie projected the two heart rates and overlapped them.

"They're in sync." Wendy wiped at her face. "That has to mean…"

"A Unison Raid." Rufus stared at the information he was seeing. Even the other metrics were lining up. "I heard during a Unison Raid the two involved become this in sync but didn't think I'd ever see proof."

"Levy and Gajeel are performing a Unison Raid?" Wendy sounded so surprised; and a little hopeful.

"If they aren't it the closest thing I've ever seen." Minerva shook her head. She hadn't figured the female was that strong; yes she'd gotten the surprise jump on her and she'd taken a few forceful punches; but she'd quickly lost intensity. The power and strength it took to perform a Unison Raid was high level. "It may be fatal for the female you all call Levy."

"No…Gajeel can't lose her." Wendy shook her head and jumped up. "I have to get out there…they're going to need healing."

"You can't go out there. Whatever that is; is such a threat that Levy used a Guild Spell." Bixlow objected and Wendy spun on him, her jaw tense. He reared back as her hair lifted around her.

"And I will not sit in here and regret being too scared to do the one thing I'm best at." She shouted. Her eyes darkened as her anger rose. "I'm not weak just because I'm young or an Air Dragis. So don't get in my way or you will regret it!"

She started to turn to gather supplies when the video panel lit up. She froze and turned, waiting to see what she'd be getting into.

"What's going on?" Lucy asked, looking at the panel that lit up; startling everyone. They all turned, and even the hybrids stuck their heads out of the opening.

"Zoog." Jellal snarled violently; surprising them all as the screen came to life.

"What?" Erza asked and he pointed at the screen.

"Zoog. Zombification ooze. It's a vicious substance that kills its host and takes over its body. Mard Geer found a way to control it."

"Of course. Zombies. Should have put that on my apocalyptic bingo card." Cana muttered, crossing her arm and watching while biting her lip.

"Whose that with Gajeel and Levy?" Lucy asked Natsu and he pulled her into his chest as they watched in silence.

"The ones firing weapons are our sniper core. The large male is Gildarts. The rest are the team that traveled with him." He said and shuddered as Gajeel barely got out of Gildarts' attack's path.

"Oh my stars." Lucy shook, watching as the sniper female was infected. She turned way briefly before looking back. She watched as Levy sent light at her; and Gajeel got her out of harms ways. "What…what's going on. What did Levy say? It upset Gajeel."

"You will see." Alfie answered sullenly. They watched as Levy and Gajeel shifted position; and she lifted her arms.

"No!" Gray screamed and lunged for the screen, Juvia grabbed him worried he'd cause damage and Alfie wouldn't be able to finish showing them what was happening. "That's Fairy Law! Levy is in no condition to try that spell!"

"Fairy Law?" Erza's brow furrowed. "I thought I did that on Solarium?"

"No. You did Fairy Glitter, the second most powerful Fairy Tail spell. It's Fairy Law, Fairy Glitter and then Fairy Sphere." Jellal explained, his expression tense.

"Fairy Law was originally even more powerful than the current spell is; so powerful it nearly killed Mavis. She destroyed the original spell's instructions and created a new one; but it's still super draining on the caster."

"And Levy is still weak from being tortured." Lucy gasped; realizing Gray's horror. She watched as Gajeel wrapped himself even more around her friend; his hand cupping hers. "He's letting her…he's…."

"Trusting her." Natsu whispered and she bit her lip. "We have to trust Levy. She's smart; she had to have known the risks and…"

"Natsu she doesn't think she's strong enough; and that she's a dead weight for all of us. If she thought her death would save everyone in more than one way she'd do it!" Lucy cried and he stiffened even more and he shook his head.

"Damage calls to damage." He whispered and she looked up at him. Confused but he shook his head and looked back at the screen. They watched as the light was tinged with orange and silver and then shot out; the screen going white and then turning off.

"No…show us the rest!" Erza demanding, jumping to her feet.

"The light has not yet dissipated." Alfie informed them and she snarled.

"Get us there, now!"

"It is not safe to move with the hybrid's shelter attached…"

"Chirp! Growl! Groirp!" The hybrids shouted in unison.

"Leave us…save them." Happy translated; sniffling and his lip trembling.

"Wendy is preparing to go; it is best you all stay. Blue Pegasus' shuttle is coming here. Moving would…"

"Damnit!" Cana shouted. "Logic isn't needed Alfie. Our friend just performed suicide!"

"Her metrics show she is steady." Alfie produced the metric of both Levy and Gajeel and they looked at them. While elevated slightly; they were still not showing massive pain or trauma.

"They're…syncing up." Erza said watching the metrics move across the screen.

"Affirmative." Alfie said. "Rufus believes Gajeel and Levy are performing a Unison Raid."

"A…really?" Lucy wiped at her face and looked at the metrics. Every readout was starting to match. "Did…Wendy and I do this during our Unison Raid?"

"I cannot attest as there were not trackers implanted at the time. But it is a good possibility." Alfie stated and she leaned back into Natsu and shook her head.

"A second Unison Raid in such short time?" Ultear whispered, perplexed.

"Third." Alfie corrected and everyone froze.

"Who was the second?" Natsu asked and Alfie hummed but didn't answer. "Alfie?"

"Laxus has restricted the information."

"Fucking Lighting Bug." Cana swore and Erza flipped her down to muffle the hurricane of words that were coming out of her mouth.

"Three Unison Raids; in this amount of time… What is going on on this planet?" Ultear looked at Jellal who shook his head. He had never heard of that many Unison Raids happening in such close succession. They were so rare to start with; he looked at the Earthland females around him and felt a shiver run down his spine. It was no mistake Mard Geer personally came to this planet. He was sure of it. This…he realized…this planet held power. It might be dormant; but it held power.

"I will restart my surveillance once the light is gone." Alfie stated and they all shared looks.

Laxus, Freed and Mickey stared at the screen as it turned white; none able to breath let alone speak.

"What was that?" Another voice asked from behind them and Freed turned. It was one of the older males.

"One of ours…performed a Guild Spell. Fairy Law. She's probably de..de…"

"The spell was adjusted so that the caster…" Laxus started to object and Freed looked at his leader.

"She wasn't fully healed. You know that. I know that."

"She…she died to save those people with her?" Mickey asked, thinking of the young face she'd seen on the screen. Full of confidence as she stared down the advancing darkness.

"Not the first time she risked it all for others." Laxus growled and worked his jaw a few times. Mickey saw tears in his eyes that he was fighting not to shed. She turned to Freed who had tears running silently down his face. She wrapped an arm around him and he instantly broke; his sobs loud.

"We're supposed to protect the inhabitants of this world!" He shouted; his hands pressing hard into her back.

"You can't protect those who want to protect you back." She said and patted his back as he sobbed. She looked at the man behind them. He shook his head and then dropped it, crossing himself.

"What was Gajeel thinking? Letting her do that?"

"She asked him to trust her." Alfie stated and Laxus instantly deflated. He shook his head. Gajeel wouldn't be able to object to her request due to the forced bite. Even if he hated what she was going to do.

"Any update on their metrics?"

"They are in the midsts of a Unison Raid per their readings." She stated and Freed instantly stilled and Mickey stiffened as he jerked away from her.

"Are you sure?"

"Their metrics are in perfect synchronicity." She produced the metrics and they all stared.

"What is that?" Mickey asked and Freed looked at her, hope flaring in his eyes.

"When two people's energies merge for a united attack. Its super rare. I've only seen two in my entire life; one recently with Lucy and Wendy and it was unintentional."

"So…she might survive?"

"It's possible." Alfie offered and Freed sagged against the wall. The man put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at him.

"I'll pray. It's all I can do. I wish there was more I could do to help."

"Faith is important." Laxus said and nodded at him and he turned to walk away.

"I will resume transmission once the light is gone." Alfie said and Laxus nodded and looked at Freed and Mickey. They both looked as drained as he felt. He wondered if this is how his grandfather constantly felt while all the crews were out on missions. He closed his eyes, thinking of his grandfather sent pain zinging through his heart.

"What's happening here?" Evergreen asked as the screen turned on.

"Can't be good if Alfie didn't warn us." Ren sulked and they watched in horror.

"Zoog." Eve spit out hatefully as the ooze attacked the female who had tried to get to Levy.

"Mard Geer has that in his arsenal? We can't win against that." Habiki gasped and they watched as Levy and Gajeel spoke and then she turned and lifted her arm. Evergreen gasped and turned away, her spin putting her against Elfman's chest.

"What? Evergreen what is that?"

"Fairy Law." She bit out and Eve closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Why is it always Levy!?" He screamed and Evergreen started to sob. Mirajean looked at them and then to Habiki who sighed.

"As weak as she is…that attack will kill her. Even a forced bite like what Gajeel did…won't…"

"Oh Levy!" Mirajean shook her head, her hand covering her mouth. "You didn't have to prove anything; especially not like this."

"She and Gajeel are currently alive and safe. Their metrics show they have entered a suspected Unison Raid." Alfie offered and they all sagged against one another. She showed the metrics and Elfman wiped at his tears before giving Evergreen's waist a squeeze.

"For now…but by the end?" Eve looked up; and shook his head. "I can't factor the odds but they aren't favorable."

"But if there is a chance…I believe in Levy making it." Mira said, she shook her head. "I won't believe anything else. We almost lost her once. We won't lose her a second time. I won't let that thought take root."

"We will be at the Magi-Hover with the others in a skrit. The others are informed as well." Alfie offered and the screen went dark. "I will resume the transmission once the attack is over."

"Than…thank you Alfie." Mirajean said and shook her head and bit her lip. She folded her hands together in front of her.

"Shuttle attached." Alfie stated and everyone watched as the opening and ladder appeared. Ren and Habiki entered first; followed by Evergreen and then Mirajean who immediately ran to Lucy for a hug. Elfman followed, dropping down disregarding the stairs. Jellal stared up at him, surprised by the size of him. Eve followed and the shuttle disengaged and everyone was silent.

"Shmndpp dshdllush." Cana's card started to rock side to side and Erza flipped it back up.

"Are you done cursing like a drunken sailor?"

"For the moment." Cana said and her eyes were red and Lucy started to sniffle. "Don't cry for me Lucentina."

"It's Argentina." Erza and Lucy chided and Cana rolled her eyes.

"What?" Juvia asked looking confused.

"It's…a reference to a piece of performance art." Lucy answered and looked up at Mira who struggled to smile.

"Your planet had performance art?" Juvia asked and Mirajean nodded.

"We had lots of different kinds. Pretty much if you could do it; someone considered it performance art." She looked down for a moment, lost in memory. "I miss playing the guitar."

"I miss that too." Elfman said and grinned. "You can't carry a tune to save your life but you can play pretty well."

"Rude mister. Very. Very. Rude." She glared at him and he grinned at her.

"What is a guitar?" Juvia tilted her head and looked between the siblings.

"There are many types." Alfie stated and produced images of them. Mirajean pointed at one.

"This is called an acoustic guitar. It's the most basic form. The majority that Alfie was showing could be plugged into amps…amplifiers," She said seeing the confusion at the abbreviation. "Boxes that made the noise produced louder."

"Impressive for a primitive planet." Ren muttered under his breath.

"Can you still play?" Alfie asked and Mira looked down at her hands.

"I would hope so…but I haven't had a guitar in years…I was scared it would attract the dragonoids so I left mine behind…with a lot of other important things." She sighed and shook her whole body. "But one day I'll find one. And play again."

"Today can be that day." Alfie said and from the ceiling a light started to emanate a soft vibration and she tilted her head.

"I remember this from when you produced the tracker."

"It's a creation processor. My Magi-Hover is not equipped with one." Natsu said in confusion. Alfie hummed.

"I borrowed it from the shuttle during the stacked landing; just in case." Alfie sounded almost proud of herself.

"What is ours is yours." Eve cracked a smile and watched as Mirajean gently stroked the long neck of the guitar as the creation of the instrument finished. She carefully picked it up and held it against herself. She tested the strings, and started fiddling with the small paddles at the top of the neck. Then she strummed, fiddled, strummed, and fiddled until she was content with the sound the strings produced. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

As the first strains of sounds echoed around the room; the hybrids stuck their heads out of the opening. Ren jerked, the small one's head right next to his. It unfurled its tongue and licked up the side of his face and his eyes widened; horrified. Rouge and Sting chuckled under their breaths.

"Beautiful." Meredy whispered so softly, it could have been missed if someone had breathed too loudly.

"Heaven Needed a Hero." Elfman whispered and sighed heavily.

"Fitting." Lucy sighed; a tear escaping from her left eye. Natsu wiped it away and started to sway with her in his arms. Happy leapt at her and she caught him; the three swayed together as the notes encircled everyone. Cana closed her eyes; breathing raggedly. When Mira started the song over; Cana started to sing. It sent shivers down the spines of everyone not from Earth. The humans started to hum in harmony.

"Oh what was that?" Meredy asked when the music ended. "I shivered the entire time."

"Earth music." Mirajean shrugged. "Seems like we have musically inclined people on here."

"If Kinana and Yukino were awake; they sound better." Cana said and put her arms behind her head. She sighed. "Man I wish I had some whiskey in here. That song dragged me down."

"Sorry." Mira grimaced and Cana looked contrite.

"I didn't mean that as a dig." The brunette scrunched up her nose but the eldest Strauss waved her off.

"I understand. It's just what called to me."

"I understand that." Cana sighed. She cleared her throat.

"Any changes in our two crazy idiots Alfie?" There was a low hum.

"Negative. But the light appears to be starting to fade."

"That's promising." Gray said around the claw he was chewing on. Lucy looked over and Juvia reached up and grabbed his hand. He looked at her and she shook her head and he sighed, puffing out his cheeks.

"Let's try and relax. We may need it for what's to come." Happy suggested and the hybrids started to chirp and stamp their claws.

"I think that was unanimous." Natsu chuckled and squeezed Lucy's waist before starting to move away from her.