Chapter 33: The Phoenix Priestess IV
*****Earlier*****
Lucy ran through the streets of Veronica in the hopes of finding her friend. Time was of the essence, and if they take too long in finding the stones then the Phoenix will be revived. She and her guildmates didn't want that so they spread out, hoping to cover more ground. The Celestial wizard was with Panther Lily earlier, but the buff Exceed stayed behind to fend off any Veronican soldier that might follow them.
"Hey, you!" a guard shouted at her. "Stop right there!"
The guard quickly got in front of Lucy's way followed by more soldiers gathering behind him.
"I don't have time for you jerks!" Taking out one of her keys, she summoned a Celestial spirit to aid her. "Gate of the Maiden, I open thee, Virgo!"
A quick shimmer of light was followed by the appearance of a young woman with pink hair in a maid outfit with chains attached to metal shackles on her wrists. With a salute, the girl addressed her master.
"I'm ready for my punishment, master!" she said rather jovially.
"How about you punish them for me instead!"
Virgo turned her gaze to the soldiers. "Will do, princess," she said with a salute before digging a hole through the ground.
"Don't let that woman escape, men!" the lead guard ordered. "Arrest– AHHH!" With a sudden cry, the leading guard fell into a human-sized hole under him.
"Captain– AHHH!"
"What in the– SHIIIIT!"
"Where are these holes coming FROOOM!"
One by one, the soldiers fell into the holes made by Virgo. They weren't deep, but they were deep enough that it would render the knights of Veronica incapable of doing anything.
Once the last soldier was out of the picture, Virgo pooped up in front of her mistress and bowed. "I have disposed of the soldiers as you requested. Now, may I receive my punishment?"
"Enough with the punishments already!" Lucy yelled in exasperation. "Honestly, we have more pressing matters to handle."
"So it would seem," concurred the maiden spirit. "Then, I wish you luck, princess." With a poof, the Zodiac spirit vanished.
"Thanks, Virgo." After thanking her celestial spirit, the blonde wizard proceeded to where she suspects Éclair was held.
Meanwhile, Erza was in a blade lock with a now-healed Coordinator. The Carbuncle mage was grinning madly while grinding the edge of her blade against the redhead knight's own sword.
"Still haven't learned your lesson, Titania?" taunted Coordinator. "We both know how this is going to end."
"Right… with your arm bent in the wrong direction again," Erza shot back. The redhead pushed her enemy away, gaining some space between them. Light covered her entire body and, once it dissipated, revealed her donning Heaven's Wheel armor.
Erza flew up above the houses and summoned her blades. With a wave of her hand, she telekinetically sent her blades toward Coordinator.
"This trick again?" the blonde Carbuncle mage, deflected the incoming swords before summoning her own set of armor. Snapping her fingers, she deactivated Erza's Requip magic, leaving the redhead in her white blouse and blue skirt. "As I said before, this will end the same way as our first encounter!"
When Coordinator willed her armor to vanish, the only thing left Erza could use was a sword from her Heaven's Wheel armor set. She used the aforementioned weapon to block an incoming slash courtesy of the Carbuncle wizard.
Coordinator pushed against the opposing blade and let it slide against her own. Swerving under Erza's guard, she managed to disarm the redheaded knight and followed it up with a flurry of slashes and thrusts.
This development forced Erza to resort to just dodging. However, she was waiting for the opportune moment for a counter. She waited for a few minutes until Coordinator overextended. Using that opening, she quickly grabbed her opponent's arm and slapped the sword away. The redhead then delivered a good punch to Coordinator's gut and a hook to her cheek.
"What the hell?" Coordinator spat, still rather shocked at the sudden counter.
Erza grinned at the look of surprise on her enemy's face. "I knew visiting Orihime's hand-to-hand combat lessons once in a while would come in handy."
"Oh… you think you're hot shit just because you got a few hits on me?"
"Why don't you come and find out."
That set off Coordinator bad. With an angry yell, the mage dashed toward Erza, intending to cut her up into ribbons. However, being the better swordswoman between the two, the redhead easily avoided the many slashes and attacks sent her way. This infuriated Coordinator more which resulted in another opening presented to Fairy Tail's Titania.
Ducking under a horizontal slash, Erza quickly took hold of her adversary's arm and elbowed her gut.
Coordinator's eyes grew wide as spittle flew from her mouth. She didn't get any reprieve when she was tossed over the redhead and slammed into the rooftops. Erza then stomped on the blonde's abdomen for good measure.
"Had enough?" Erza taunted. She jumped back and equipped her Flame Empress armor. "…Because there's more where that came from."
Pissed at the redhead, Coordinator kept glaring daggers and shouted, "I am going to wipe that confidence off of your corpse, Titania!"
"You can try!"
Not wasting any time, Erza shot through the air and clashed with Coordinator once again. The two exchanged blows as their battle went across the rooftops of Veronica.
Coordinator did her usual trick and shut down Erza's Requip. Taking the opportunity, she lunged at the red-haired knight only for her to suddenly lean back from a surprise slash.
At the last moment, Erza summoned Benizakura and made an upward slash which forced Coordinator back. She took this chance and engaged with the Carbuncle wizard again. Once their blades met, she quickly shifted the weight of her weapon to the right before back-fisting her enemy.
The attack made Coordinator stagger back. She managed to raise her sword in time to block a downward slash from Erza. However, she didn't predict a knee to the gut followed by a kick to the side of her knee, which forced her down to relieve some pain.
Tilting her head up, the Carbuncle mage rolled to the side to avoid an incoming attack from Erza. She tried to retaliate by thrusting her weapon. This attack amounted to nothing as Erza spun around the thrust and hit her hand, forcing Coordinator to let go of her weapon while clutching a now painful wrist. This was finished by a strong Spartan Kick that launched the wizard off the roof and into the streets.
Erza followed the downed mage by jumping off the roof and landing on the cobblestone streets of the city. Her body shone once more, and her attire changed into her Clear Heart clothing.
"I may be at a disadvantage when it comes to magic, but I still have the upper hand when it comes to sword skill." Erza held the demon blade at eye level and parallel to the ground with its tip pointing at the rising Carbuncle mage. "Stand down, Coordinator. None of us want the duke of Veronica to fulfill his twisted schemes."
"Like I care about that damn brat and his plans," said Coordinator while trying to stand. The stomp to her abdomen left a pretty nasty imprint on her skin as well as the added pain. Once upright, she glared at the redhead and changed into a set of golden armor with a massive scythe for a weapon. "The only thing I care about is the reward we'll get after this. To Hell with the world for all I care!"
This reply made Erza sigh in disappointment. It's people like these that make her question why some mages don't see the bigger picture and just focus on the money. There's nothing wrong with gaining a little reward but being raised in Fairy Tail meant that she and the rest of her guildmates were made aware that there is more out there than just the reward of the job.
"If that's the case…" In a flash, the knight vanished with such speed and quickly appeared before the scythe-wielding wizard. "Then I have no choice but to put you down. Benizakura Flash!"
Coordinator stood no chance as a multitude of precise slashes bombarded her body. It happened so fast that she wasn't able to put up her guard once the attack came. When it was all over, her intricate armor and weapon dissipated in a quick flash of light before she finally lost consciousness.
The battle now finished; Erza changed her clothing back to her Hearts Kreuz armor. Without missing a beat, she ran through the streets of Veronica, heading to the area where the ceremony was being held.
"Hang on, guys. I'm coming."
Juvia and Gray were face to face again with Cannon. However, said gunman's arm was recently lopped off courtesy of the Kurosaki family. Now, it has been replaced by a magic item that transforms into a cannon (pun intended).
"You two again?" questioned the burly man while aiming his arm gun at the water and ice duo. "I don't have time for small fry. I want that little brat that lopped off my left arm!"
Gray couldn't help but smirk at the guy, earning him a glare for it.
"The hell are you smiling at, pretty boy?"
"Trust me, you do not want to mess with that kid," Gray warned, and he truly meant it. "If you do, an arm isn't the only thing you're going to lose. Juvia and I would be more than enough to take out the trash."
"And my dearly beloved and I am looking at said trash right now," Juvia added.
A tick mark popped on Cannon's forehead due to the insult. His shoulder cannons emerged and aimed at the two Fairy Tail wizards. "I am going to fill you with bullet holes!"
A barrage of gunshots began erupting from the shoulder cannons, forcing Juvia and Gray to run in separate directions. The water mage sent a volley of Water Slicers at the gunner, but it was countered by another slew of magic bullets.
"Drats," Juvia swore. Luckily, her attack provided enough of a distraction for Gray to conjure a spell.
"Ice Make: Cannon!"
From a freshly constructed ice bazooka, a bowling ball-sized ammunition made of ice was launched toward the Carbuncle mage. Cannon was quick to counter when his left hand transformed into a cannon and fired a magic cannonball of the same size.
The two attacks collided and exploded, causing some minor destruction in the alley they were fighting in. From the dust cloud, the duo and lone gunner wizard emerged, ready for another bout.
Turning into liquid, Juvia attacked Cannon as a powerful stream, slamming into the man and throwing him into a nearby wall.
"Water Whip!"
A thick strand of dense water wrapped around the gun mage's leg. With a mighty heave, Juvia flung Cannon into the next wall.
"Your turn, my love!"
"Thanks for the set-up, Juvia!" Gray rushed to the Carbuncle mage before his guns could fire. "Ice-Make: Hammer!"
Not wanting to get hit, Cannon's shoulder armaments aimed at Gray and began firing again. This forced the ice wizard to disengage to dodge the storm of magic bullets.
"Run like the little shit you are, Fairy Tail pest– HUH!?"
Looking behind him, Cannon found Juvia scowling at him. The girl had her water whips wrapped around his hands while pulling hard on it.
"Nobody talks like that to my beloved Gray!" The water mage transferred the water whip from her left hand to her right, freeing said hand for her next move. "Water Slicer!"
The next thing Cannon knew, his shoulder guns were shredded to ribbons.
"My guns!"
"Your guns should be the last thing you'd be worrying about!" Gray yelled while running at the gun mage, ice hammer in hand. "Nobody messes with Fairy Tail and gets away with it!"
The raven-haired ice mage put the hammer down and smacked it on Cannon's cranium. The impact quickly got the effect of disorienting the large man. Gray swung his hammer again, this time in an upward direction and hitting the burly mage in the midsection. It was followed up by two vicious swings to the face.
Groaning in pain and irritated, Cannon held his arm cannon and blocked the next swing. The ice shattered and he took that opportunity to fire quick bursts of magic bullets. Unfortunately, Gray managed to jump back and erect a thick ice barrier.
The barraged was suddenly pulled away from Gray when Juvia had her water whip around the gun arm and yanked it to the side. A wave of water coming from the nearby canal surged on Cannon. It formed into a sphere that trapped the Carbuncle gunner inside.
"Water Lock. Gray, do it now!"
"On it!" Dashing forward, Gray froze the thin layer of water on the floor, reducing friction and increasing his speed. He cupped his hands together and summoned an impressive ice longsword. Upon reaching the imprisoned target, he delivered an ice-powered slash that finished this battle. "ICE MAKE: FROZEN EXCALIBUR!"
Instead of being sent away, Cannon was frozen inside the giant block of ice; his weapons shattered, and the arm cannon broke into chunks.
Both Juvia and Gray heaved a tired sigh. They stared at each other and smiled, admiring the teamwork and victory they just accomplished.
"Come on, Juvia," called the ice mage as he began running to the center of the city, "our job isn't finished yet."
"Right, my dear," Juvia replied, following behind her beloved.
Unlike the rest of his guildmates, Gajeel opted to take a more discreet route. Under the city, there was an underground tunnel system that led to the center of the city. He was hoping to reach his destination without being seen by the enemy, but…
Gajeel tilted his head to the side, narrowly avoiding a foot-long blade that pierced the floor. He turned around to find one of the Carbuncle mages standing in front of him, specifically the wizard with the shadow magic that abducted Éclair.
"It seems I stumbled upon a little dragon," the shadow mage, Chase, mocked. "Tell me, dragon slayer, how would you like to meet your demise?"
Gajeel wasn't intimidated, though. "Big talk for someone who likes to hide in the shadows."
"We'll see about that." The mage merged with his shadow, blending into the darkness of the dimly lit sewers. "See if you can catch me, cretin."
"Oh, I plan to!"
Turning his arms into steel beams, Gajeel struck the shadow of Chase. However, the black visage simply moved through the surface of the sewer walls. Again, Gajeel tried to smash Chase with his iron pillars, but the shadow wizard evaded and sent a barrage of steel blades.
Gajeel stood there and let the sharp objects bounce off of him. However, he wasn't aware that his arms were still solid steel and lodged in the walls. Chase used the shadows underneath Gajeel's arms to travel through. Before he could register what happened, the Carbuncle wizard's shadow was already on his shoulder.
"For a member of a prestigious guild, you are incredibly pathetic." Chase's shadow covered Gajeel's entire body and in an instant, several spikes emerged, impaling the dragon slayer. "So much for Black Steel Gajeel." He finished him off by making a blade pop through the dragon slayer's mouth.
Thinking that he had finished Gajeel, Chase released the dragon slayer from his hold and stood just a few meters away from him with a smirk behind his mask. Unfortunately for him, his supposed victim powered through the puncture wounds and bit through the blade in his mouth. Gajeel began chewing the steel weapon and swallowed it. Chase's weapons inadvertently gave the Iron Dragon Slayer a power boost instead.
"You must feel stupid, don't you?" Gajeel questioned with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Did you actually forget that I'm the frickin' Iron Dragon Slayer and I eat metals for breakfast?" He threw an iron-fisted cheap shot at Chase that sent him crashing into the wall.
Gathering his bearings, Chase quickly sank into his shadow and moved around the walls of the sewers.
"You may think you're untouchable in the shadows, but I know your weakness." Gajeel morphed his arms into giant serrated blades at buried them into eh sewer walls. "You need an even surface to move. All I have to do is tear everything down until you're forced to come out!" And then, he spun – dragging his massive blade arms around and tearing down the sewer walls.
Chase began weaving through the blades as Gajeel did a continuous spin cycle. But the longer this encounter took, the lesser flat surfaces he could use to move in. Eventually, the Carbuncle mage ran out of surfaces and was brutally struck by one of the blades. It brought him out of the shadows and threw him into the rubble. Before he could get up, Gajeel was already above him, chest puffed and eyes gazing directly at him with a punkish menace.
"Iron Dragon…ROAR!"
A powerful gust of wind with millions of iron shards slammed into Chase. There was nothing the shadow wizard could do but scream as the many metallic pieces ground against his skin.
Gajeel finally stopped the dragon's breath and examined the damage he caused. Suffice it to say, Fairy Tail wouldn't have to worry about shadowy figures making some sneaky shit.
"Serves you right for messing with Fairy Tail, asshole."
However, things weren't looking up for Natsu.
Faced with Dyst and a squadron of knights, the dragon slayer and his small animal compatriots were powerless against the telekinetic wizard. Despite all of Natsu's attempts, as well as Happy and Momon's help, the trio was completely defeated.
The son of Igneel groaned in pain, having been slammed multiple times to the ground or building walls. He tried to stand up, eyes defiant, while staring at the apathetic Dyst. He lunged at the wizard with his fists alight with dragon fire, but Natsu was quickly blown aside with a simple hand gesture. The telekinetic force sent him face-first into the adjacent wall, making an impression of his face on the brick structure.
Falling into a heap, Natsu lay beaten and nearly unconscious. Momon, who summoned every bit of strength to barely fly, was slammed into the ground. an audible crack from one of his wings was enough to make the nearby soldiers wince at the poor bird. Dyst didn't care, though. The bulbous avian was a nuisance and an irritation.
"That's…it!" Natsu, still defiant and stubborn as ever, pushed himself off the ground. "A lowlife like you, who likes hurting people, how many does it take…until you've had enough!"
"Let me see how taking one more life feels…yours."
The teal-haired mage was about to torture Natsu more when a newcomer entered the fray.
"How about I take your life instead."
A powerful beam struck Dyst his chest. The sudden force and impact colliding with his body caught him by surprise, making him spew out blood. He got sent through three buildings that were lucky enough to be empty.
The guards who saw what happened became alert, looking everywhere for the attacker. They didn't look far as the individual appeared in a flicker before them.
"Get out here, Natsu," Kazui told the slayer. "Our priority right now is rescuing Éclair and preventing the rise of the Phoenix."
"I…can still…fight," Natsu proclaimed, but it was far from what his condition entails.
"No, Natsu," the reaper argued. "You're too injured to be in battle condition and we're running out of time." Kazui then eyed the rubble which Dyst emerged from. "Let me handle this asshat."
"N-Natsu," Happy spoke, gaining the attention of the pinkette, "let's go. We need to stop the duke."
Looking at the determined gaze of Kazui and the pleading look of Happy, he accepted that the mission took precedence. Scooping the unconscious yellow bird, Natsu left the battle scene with his blue Exceed partner flying him to the location of the ceremony.
"Stop him!" one of the guards yelled. But, before he and his fellow guards could do anything, the same beam collided with them, shattering their armor, and leaving them in a charred heap but still alive.
As Dyst managed to fully stand, he glared at the orange-haired boy with contempt. "This is the son of Fairy Tail's death god. Dammit!" he mentally cursed. Just the power from that blast he took gave him an idea of Kazui's strength. "This boy can easily overpower me if he wanted to."
"What's the matter?" Kazui yelled. "You said you want to find how taking a life feels. Don't tell that was just false bravado from a coward!"
"You little brat! You're lucky that I have more important matters to attend to."
Dyst sent a powerful telekinetic pulse, scattering a large about of dust and debris. The act obscured the Carbuncle wizard's figure from Kazui, who quickly blew away the uplifted could with a swing with his sword. Once the obstruction was dispersed, Dyst was no longer there.
"Tsk… Coward."
Suddenly, the reaper felt a sudden surge of magical power – one rivaling that of a dragon.
"Oh no." without wasting any time, he quickly bolted from the area and headed to the source of the powerful magic, hoping that he and the others wouldn't be too late.
"Don't do this!" Éclair pleaded while trying to free herself from her binds. "You don't know the kind of catastrophe you're about to unleash!"
Duke Cream didn't listen, however. He was hellbent on bringing back the Phoenix to gain eternal life and power over the continent of Ishgar. He picked up the two pieces of the stone and grinned at the struggling priestess.
"DAMN YOU!" Éclair yelled, her voice filled with desperation and fury for the maniacal royal. "YOU'LL DOOM US ALL!"
"Now, to honor our beloved Veronica," Duke Cream shouted to the gathered masses who erupted in joy, "I will give her the gift that would sustain her WITHOUT END!"
"This is madness!" Éclair continued to struggle. "The Phoenix Stones must not be revived!"
"Oh… empire's divine pillar. Oh… twin so long adrift." Duke Cream presented the two stones to the crowd, the sight of the artifacts making their howls of joy even louder. "You shall again be made one!"
A guard walked up to Éclair and lit the stage she was bound to. The structure was set ablaze, reminiscent of the burning of witches on a stake.
"DON'T DO IT!" Éclair shouted before she was fully engulfed in flames.
The stones were pressed together. Light shined so brightly through the night, illuminating the already luminescent evening brought about by the pyre.
In the crowds, Lucy desperately ran through the many guards standing in her way, determined to reach Éclair before it was too late. Up above, Natsu was flown by Happy while he carried an injured Momon in his arms. His eyes widened when she saw the priestess crying in pain as the flames slowly burned her skin.
"Oh, you seemed to arrive just in time for the grand show," Duke Cream said to Dyst who appeared behind him. "Would you mind getting rid of some interlopers for me?"
Waving his hand, the wizard of Carbuncle sent out a powerful telekinetic pulse. It blew away everyone near the plaza indiscriminately. It didn't matter if there were civilians caught as long as the mages from Fairy Tail were removed.
Seeing that the intruders were taken care of, the duke gazed upon the now-complete Phoenix Stone as it radiated power.
"Mighty Phoenix," the narcissistic ruler of Veronica cried to the heavens, "come to me now and bless me with your blood that grants life eternal! Your blood in mine!"
It seemed like immortality was within his reach. However, he should've been careful whom he hired.
"What a wretched thought."
Duke Cream tilted his head to the person who spoke and found Dyst eyeing him maliciously.
"To imagine an ignorant child such as yourself full of vanity be granted immortality."
"What did you say?"
"You are not worthy," Dyst declared right at the duke's face. "This gift would not be wasted if it were given to me."
"Given to you– AHHH!"
Duke Cream's plans for eternal life were blown away, literally, when Dyst betrayed him and took the complete Phoenix Stone for himself. Now with the key to immortality in his hands, Dyst held the stone high as it beats with the power inside it.
"Now, gaze upon your new ruler!" declared the traitorous wizard. "One who shall endure forevermore!"
The light coming from the Phoenix Stone shined even brighter, becoming a powerful beacon that gained the attention of all. Within the brightness, the stone's pulsations became erratic. Suddenly, a bulbous mass bulged out of the rims of the artifact followed by another. Like cancer, more tumor-like bumps form around the stone that force it to grow to an immense size. The process continued until the stone became a gargantuan machine in the shape of a bird. The automaton, with its round body and small head, screeched into the night sky as it spread its wings and let forth a burst of the power it wielded.
*****Present*****
Every member of Fairy Tail who participated in the rescue paused when they gazed at the behemoth of an avian. They could feel the power emanating from the mechanized bird and the only comparison would be that of a dragon. That made them tremble as they remember the encounter they had with the reptilian beasts during the tragedy at Crocus.
Erza landed on top of one of the buildings overlooking the city. Her face bore trepidation and frustration while she eyed the monstrosity beginning to rampage across Veronica.
"Damn it," she cursed under her breath. "We're too late."
"I'd like to think otherwise, Erza."
The redhead turned to find Master Makarov holding a large case with the insignia of the Magic Council emblazoned on it. Beside him was Jet taking deep breaths looking like he came from the run of his life.
"Master, did the Magic Council agree to provide assistance?"
"They have," confirmed Makarov. "It took some time, but with a little convincing from Ichigo, they agreed to lend their forces in this fight."
"Not only that, most of our guildmembers have arrived just in time to bring that son of a bitch down," Jet added.
However, just feeling the power of the creature still made Erza doubtful. "I hope it'd be enough because, based on its power, the only ones that could defeat the Phoenix would be Ichigo and his family."
With a nod, Makarov replied, "I know." His eyes darted toward the Phoenix in its rampage. "Be that as it may, we have to bring the Phoenix down before further destruction could be incurred."
"Right!" yelled both Jet and Erza.
The Requip mage glowed and donned her Flight Armor. With a powerful jump, she dashed toward the direction of the beast.
The mages who were blown away by Dyst's attack managed to return to the center of the gathering. There they found the pyre still alight burning Éclair.
"Oh god!" Lucy gasped. "She's being burned alive!"
"Come on!" Natsu cried as he and the Celestial wizard ran to the priestess. "Let's get her out of there!"
"I'm coming, Éclair!" Momon yelled as he followed the Fairy Tail wizards.
Just as they were about to hear another screech of pain from the priestess, the fires surrounding her blew away before she was suddenly encased in a golden dome of light. Natsu and Lucy knew that there was only one person with this kind of power.
"Orihime!"
The Fullbringer was quick to form a dome over her when a great chunk of the palace fell. She was standing on a platform of light while she willed her pixies to heal the burns on Éclair.
Natsu and Lucy finally reached Éclair just before she stumbled from severe exhaustion. Momon flew right into the girl's arms and cried tears of happiness knowing that his friend was finally saved.
"Get out of here!" Orihime ordered as she continuously shattered many debris from falling to the ground. "Get to someplace safe. I'll be right behind you!"
"THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE!"
The cry of defeat from Éclair gained the attention of the three guild members and the two animal-like companions.
"Unless we stop the Phoenix, there's no hope for anyone we…hold…dear… Oh god!"
All eyes returned to the mechanical monstrosity. The Phoenix spread its wings and formed an unstable sphere of magic at the tip of its beak. With a deafening shrill, it fired the collected magic beyond the boundaries of the city. However, it wasn't able to wreak any damage when an opposing force collided with it.
"Getsuga Jūjishō!"
A cross-shaped blast of power met the Phoenix's magic sphere and neutralized it before it could do any harm.
The Phoenix noticed its attack countered and faced the figure that stood in its way. There, hovering over the city, was Ichigo Kurosaki with his twin blades drawn and sizzling from the reishi attack he just sent.
"Not today, you son of a bitch."
The automaton monster cried in defiance and powered up another sphere of magic. Ichigo knew what was coming and readied his zanpakūto. When the Phoenix let loose the magic attack, Ichigo flew straight to the sphere of power and slashed it with his sword. After a brief struggle, the sphere was cleaved in two; the halves harmlessly flying to the nearby wasteland and erupting in a blaze of fire and destruction.
"OOOH YEAH!" Natsu cheered at the sight of their guild's resident death god. "Ichigo is in the house!"
"Oh… thank goodness," Lucy sighed in relief with a hand over her chest.
Éclair, on the other hand, was gaping at the sight. The Phoenix, a machine built for destruction, finally met its match. What's more, the one standing defiantly against the man-made weapon was a god.
"He… He really is a god," muttered the priestess.
Lucy smiled at Éclair, one full of hope. "That he is. He is Fairy Tail's guardian deity."
"You bet!" Natsu added enthusiastically. "Alright, you girls get somewhere out of this mess. I still need to deal with that asshole on the Phoenix's head."
"You got it, Natsu. Also, make sure you come back in one piece. You don't want to worry Lisanna now, do you?"
"Then I'll make this quick!"
After his declaration, the fire dragon slayer consumed the nearby flames from the destroyed palace while the girls retreated somewhere away from the center of the fighting. With his belly full of fire, he was finally back in action and ready to pummel Dyst into oblivion.
"Let's do it, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!"
The blue Exceed swooped down to his partner and, together, they flew up to the Phoenix's head to confront Dyst and stop his plans.
Meanwhile, Lucy, Éclair, and Momon managed to get far enough away from the destruction. With the Phoenix busy fighting Ichigo and Natsu confronting Dyst, all they needed to do was find the others and plan what to do next.
"I sure hope the others are alright." Lucy wiped away the soot and ash from Éclair after covering her up with a cloak. "There… that should do it."
"I remember now…"
"Huh?" Lucy looked at Éclair in confusion.
"I remember everything." The priestess eyed the Celestial mage and said, "I remember the life I lived… how all of this began."
"What do you mean?"
"The Principality of Veronica was founded upon the ruins of Fire Village – the place where I lived… four hundred years ago."
Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief. "F-Four hundred years ago?"
Éclair nodded. "The night… I was given eternal light." She continued explaining. "My memory may have been wiped clean when I drank the blood of the Phoenix. I carried the stone with me without knowing why, wandering the countryside aimlessly. I drifted for what seemed like an eternity, marked only by the sea of graves of those whom I held dear."
"Now I understand," Lucy muttered, finally making sense of Éclair's disdain for magic. "When you said that magic brings nothing but despair, you meant the curse of immortality you carry."
Though with a sad smile, the priestess nodded. "Four hundred years – an expanse of time nobody should endure." Tears began to pool and flow from her eyes. The many people whom she met and saw perish, while she remained. It was more than anyone could bear. "This curse I carry was caused by magic and it has caused me nothing but pain."
"Oh Éclair," Momon sniffled at the state of his friend. He flew beside the priestess and leaned against her shoulder. "Éclair, you don't have to carry this burden alone. I'm here with you."
Lucy, feeling the same sympathy for the cursed woman, had her arms around Éclair in an embrace. The mage, though understanding of the priestess' plight, could never comprehend the length of suffering she had to go through. The only thing Lucy could do was be there for Éclair and lighten the burden she had to carry for centuries.
Blasts of telekinetic energy shot through the sky. Draconic fire fell to the back of the Phoenix as the creature dueled with the god of death. the many wizards from Fairy Tail who volunteered for the rescue mission did their best to bring the beast down, but their magic wasn't strong enough.
The Phoenix, in its rage, formed a ring of the same condensed magic sphere. The sight of multiple concentrated magic made everyone pale. With a loud screech, it blasted the many orbs of power in multiple directions.
"Shit!" Gray cursed as he fired an ice cannon at the monster. "Those spheres are going to destroy the city!"
"My darling watch out!"
Juvia's warning made the ice wizard turn his head only to find one of the orbs heading in their direction.
"Brace for impact!"
"GYAAAH!" Wendy yelled as she covered her eyes.
"Hadō #88: Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho!"
A powerful beam of reishi plasma shot through one of the magic spheres, dispersing it. The plasma ray continued its onslaught on some of the other orbs and overpowering them before finally disappearing.
Five massive bows formed in the sky, all aimed at the remaining spheres. The strings were pulled back, and spiritual arrows were now primed and ready for release.
"Sankt Bogen!"
The bows unleashed their payload. The arrows met the remaining spheres and obliterated them into oblivion.
Gray breathed a sigh of relief and gazed at the ones who neutralized the energy orbs. The unique spell and the arrows were clear indicators that it was Karin and Yuzu who did it.
"You guys look like you need a couple of helping hands."
The wizards turned around to see Cana and the other guildmembers standing at the ready.
"We came here when we decided to just chuck the small team idea out of the window," Macao said with fire billowing in his hands.
"A real man isn't afraid to get his hands dirty," Elfman declared.
"You're going to need some help taking down that monster," Wakaba added.
Yuzu and Karin flickered into view and grinned at the reinforcements. "Took you guys long enough," remarked the female reaper.
"You should take a look outside the gates," Mira, in her Satan Soul, jabbed a thumb into the city walls. "The Rune Knights arrived along with us."
"How'd you manage to do that?"
"They recognized that a repeat of Crocus wasn't a welcome prospect," Lisanna answered. "So, they quickly mobilized their forces to secure the perpetrators and assist in the evacuation of the citizens."
"I'm going to guess our brother had some say in this," Yuzu said. She got a nod in response. "Thought so. Okay, me and Karin will focus on neutralizing the magic spheres the Phoenix will create while you guys pound that thing to kingdom come."
"Sounds like a plan!" Gajeel grinned before leaping onto one of the rooftops and running at the beast.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Mira flew into the air and charged a blast of demonic magic.
The others jumped into action. However, before the twins could deal with their own assignments, they were stopped by Wendy who had a worried expression.
"Do you know where Kazui might be?" asked the blue-haired girl.
Karin had a small grin before pointing to the top of the Phoenix and answering, "I'm pretty sure he's doing his own brand of damage."
True enough, Kazui was flashing in and out of existence as he approached the peak of the Phoenix where Natsu and Dyst were fighting. The young hybrid could see the dragon slayer struggling against the Carbuncle wizard. While Natsu can get in a hit or two, Dyst was, for the most part, dominating the fight.
Kazui needed to get there fast and there was only one speed technique he knew that could do that. Combining the properties of Hirenkyaku, Bringer Light, Flash Step, and Sonido, only transcendent hybrids can perform this feat. The boy hasn't practiced this in a while but now would be a good time for a field trial.
"Godspeed!"
A powerful sonic boom exploded, indicating the breaking of the sound barrier. A chunk of the Phoenix's side blew away, leaving a gaping crater that stretched out to a fourth of the beast's body mass.
Beyond faster than light, Kazui blew past Dyst, hitting his outstretched left arm and vaporizing it as he flew by.
"GRAAAAARGH!"
The howl of pain made the boy stop in his track and turn around. Down below, he could see Natsu and Happy wide-eyed at the extensive damage he just did, not just on the Phoenix, but also on Dyst.
"Holy shit!" Natsu turned his gaze toward the hybrid. "You blew his fricking arm off!"
"MY ARM!" Dyst yelled out in agony while holding where his arm used to be. "MY ARM!"
"Serves him right!" Kazui remarked. "Hurry, put that bastard down before he gets any ideas!"
"On it!" Natsu's body was suddenly engulfed with draconic fire. The conflagrations swirled around his being while charging at the now one-armed Dyst. The fires swirled around him before converging into his fist. "You!"
Dyst, still in pain, managed to face the incoming slayer.
"A person like you who has no respect for life doesn't deserve immortality!"
"I will have life everlasting!" shouted Dyst. "I WILL HAVE IT!"
"No, you won't!" Once he got in range, Natsu's flames turned silver, becoming more powerful as he entered his Spirit Dragon Form. He then threw a devastating right hook – one that was powered by the fires gifted to him by his late daughter. "That's why I'll do whatever it takes to stop you! SPIRIT FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
The attack connected, the silver fire consuming Dyst in flames hotter than a dragon. He screamed much louder than before as the spirit fire burned the skin off his bones. Unable to fight back, the wizard of the Carbuncle guild eventually succumb to the raging inferno as the attack blasted him off to the ground below.
"Holy crap! Natsu just burned someone alive!" Kazui yelped before quickly covering his mouth with his hands. He scanned the area if his mother was nearby. He sighed with relief when he found no trace of Orihime. However, he still couldn't get the fact that Natsu managed to kill someone.
That said, The dragon slayer just watched as the burning figure of Dyst descends to the bottom. Natsu stared at his hands and let the silvery fires subside. He had to do it. Dyst was hellbent on becoming immortal and causing chaos in the world. Be that as it may, it made him feel sick. This would be the last time he would take a life. That was his promise.
Suddenly, the Phoenix roared to the heavens once more. Its wings reached into the sky. Energy began to gather at the tip of its beak, becoming a ball of fire that was growing exponentially.
The wizards fighting the beast felt oddly weak. Their magic didn't have the same power it had earlier.
"It's the Phoenix," Éclair said, her voice straining from exhaustion. "It's absorbing the magic from every living thing near it."
"What!?" Gray exclaimed after throwing an ice hammer at the Phoenix. "You mean to tell me we're having another Eclipse Gate situation here?"
"I'm afraid so."
"What's it going to do with all that power?" asked Wendy while trying to heal the priestess.
"It would destroy the world," Éclair revealed to the shock of the mages. However, she was far from finished. "It's how the Phoenix has always been. It plunges the world and itself in a sea of fire before emerging from the ashes of the old world."
"No." Lucy sounded defeated. "There has to be a way for us to stop it."
"There is."
Makarov stood beside Orihime, having been brought to the Phoenix Priestess through her Bringer Light.
"How?" Éclair questioned the diminutive man. "The people of Fire Village are gone. Their techniques to seal the Phoenix have long been forgotten."
"We won't be sealing it," Makarov clarified. "We will be destroying it with a magic created by your father, the great wizard Kalard, four hundred years ago."
Éclair gasped at the mention of her late father.
Makarov nodded. "This magic was entrusted to the council and should only be used when the Phoenix should ever be a threat again. Known as the 'Arrow of Evil's Destruction,' this will be our weapon to finally destroy that monstrosity. However, should the Phoenix perish, so will anyone who had consumed its blood."
Lucy's heart sank at this reveal. "She will?"
"Luckily," the guildmaster interrupted, "there is a way to circumvent such a condition."
"Correct," Orihime confirmed as she approached Éclair. "Your immortality is caused by the blood of the Phoenix flowing in your body, right?" The Fullbringer earned a nod. "Then, it makes things easier."
"What do you mean?"
"The Phoenix's blood is a foreign substance within her body, meaning it does not naturally exist within her. I could use my powers of rejection to revert Éclair back to a state where the Phoenix's blood didn't exist within her."
Hope had returned, not just to Lucy and Éclair, but to the rest of the mages present.
"You can do that?" Éclair inquired.
"You bet I can," answered Orihime with a smile. "If you want, I can reject the concept of your immortality out of existence for good measure!"
This innocent claim made everyone's eyes bulge. "Say what!?"
"Just relax. Everything will be fine." Standing up, Orihime summoned her pixies. The six little beings revolved around their master before two pulled away and flew towards Éclair. They formed a dome of golden light as it basked the priestess in its glow. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject!"
The dome's light increased in brightness. Within it, Éclair could feel a certain change happening inside her. She could feel the blood in her become pure as she continued to revel in the heavenly light. This pull seeped away the curse that burdened her for centuries and fully ebbed away when the light finally stopped.
"It's done," Orihime declared. "You're no longer immortal, Éclair. From now on, you will age like a regular human; so, treasure the years you have moving forward."
Éclair can't believe it. Her curse was finally gone! Tears of happiness flowed as she gave the white-clad woman her deepest gratitude.
"Thank you. Thank you… so much."
Orihime knelt down and placed a gentle hand on Éclair's head, giving her a pat. "No need for thanks. I'm just doing this because it's the right thing to do."
However, the wizards suddenly fell to the ground, merely supported by their hands and feet. They all turned to the sphere of fire and gasped that it was now the size of the city. But then, another force shuddered the atmosphere as the familiar malevolence and pressure fought against the Phoenix's power.
Ichigo stood with a glare directed at the creature. Now donning his Horn of Salvation, he grabbed the horn on his left temple and dragged his hand over it, leaving a trail of blood that coated the protrusion. He then placed his Khyber blade over it, and in an instant, an arc of highly dense spiritual energy formed.
It was reminiscent of a Getsuga Tenshō, and yet it crackled with more power. There were bolts of reishi sizzling and flailing rapidly near Ichigo's vicinity. The Transcendent put more power into the arc, and in doing so created distortions in the fabric of space. Sudden shifts and waves could be seen around as the energy it held became more condensed.
"What is he doing?" Éclair asked while eyeing the equally terrifying arc of energy forming across that of the Phoenix's sphere. "I can sense so much power… far greater than what the Phoenix is gathering."
"He's combining his Getsuga Tenshō with a Gran Rey Cero while in his hollowfied form," Orihime answered. She sighed and said, "This is gonna get loud."
"EVERYBODY, CLEAR THE AREA!"
Upon Ichigo's command, the Fairy Tail mages engaging the Phoenix vacated the vicinity. Considering the amount of power both the monster and the death god were gathering, it's safe to say that nobody would want to be caught between that.
In a last act of defiance, the Phoenix unleashed its all-consuming blast directed toward Ichigo. The reaper roared with a hollow-like viciousness as he, too, launched the amalgamated spirit attack.
"GETSUGA GRAN REY CERO!"
The two masses of power collided, sending shockwaves that tore the many buildings nearby. Rooftops disintegrated and the ground sizzled and melted from the residual heat and pressure from the struggling energies.
However, it was evident that the power summoned by the Phoenix pales in comparison to the unique spiritual attack of the Transcendent.
The massive sphere of raging magic and fire began dispersing as it tried and failed to fight through the dense arc of the Gran Rey Cero/Getsuga Tenshō fusion. This was an opportunity needed by the wizards to finally destroy this monstrosity once and for all.
Perched a good distance away from the raging powers, Erza had the de-spell arrow primed and ready for release. Aiming at the head of the mechanical destroyer, the arrow's tip glowed a brilliant blue, reacting to the presence of the evil it was meant to destroy.
"Seek out and destroy the evil!"
The knight let go of the string, letting loose the sacred arrow and hitting the Phoenix in its forehead.
Just as the de-spell weapon struck true, the Getsuga Gran Rey Cero finally overpowers the Phoenix's magic. The powerful arc of reishi collided with the beast's head, giving power to the arrow, and helping it push further into the creature.
After a tense moment of struggle, the arrow sank deep into the automaton's head before exploding into oblivion.
At last… the Phoenix was finally destroyed.
Its body began crumbling away – chunks of its metallic and stone makeup falling to the ground. the magic that it had stolen from the life near it began to ebb away, returning to the world that it had sought to destroy.
However, that very energy that was supposed to return to nature was being siphoned by an unknown entity. Erza and Ichigo, being the ones closest to the Phoenix in its final moments, realized that someone was collecting the magic energy for whatever reason. Erza leaped across the rooftops in search of the unidentified individual while Ichigo sent out a pulse of Pesquisa, quickly locating the one behind this theft.
"Where are they going?" Wendy asked as she watched Ichigo and Erza run off somewhere.
Nobody seemed to notice her though as the others continued their celebration.
At the edge of the city, two individuals had watched the battle between Fairy Tail and the mythical Phoenix. It was a spectacle to behold and the power the two sides unleashed was astounding. However, they had a mission to carry.
"Do you think they'll notice us?" one of the secret spectators asked.
"I have no doubt some would," replied the other. He was holding a strange orb in his right hand. The object was held aloft while it gathered the scattering energies of the Phoenix. "If it were any of the mages, even Laxus or Erza, then we don't have to worry about anything. However…"
"We'd be in trouble if Ichigo Kurosaki were to come here," finished the former.
No answer was needed as it was a given.
"Who are you, people?"
The strangers turned their heads to see none other than Titania Erza with her sword drawn at them.
"I won't ask a second time," Erza said menacingly.
It didn't deter the two, though. Instead, the one who held the stranger gave an order to his associate. "Put her to sleep."
Without saying a word, the other person was instantly in front of Erza, katana drawn and raised overhead. The female knight was wide-eyed at the speed but was quick enough to raise her own weapon to guard.
The two blades met. The katana easily shattered Erza's gladius and cut her right in the shoulder. She didn't get the chance to scream when she got kneed in the gut that dented her armor.
Erza staggered, clutching her pained abdomen while still standing defiantly at the mysterious duo.
"Wow…" the attacker was oddly surprised. "I expected a quick knockout but here you are… still standing."
"It'll take more than that to put me down," growled Erza. "Now, tell me who you are!?"
"Should I?" The assailant began walking towards the injured mage. "It won't really matter since I'm going to kill you right now."
Fortunately, he won't get that chance.
A sudden pressure gripped the two strangers' very being, making them pause in fright. The attacker turned around only to find a horned figure fully intent on cleaving him in half.
"FUCK! HE'S HERE!" He held his sword high, but it was useless when the Khyber blade cut both him and his sword. Blood spattered everywhere as the stranger put pressure on his massive wound.
When Ichigo slashed Erza's attacker, he managed to take off a good chunk of his clothing. What he found made him shocked. There, at the lower right abdomen was where the number "51" was tattooed. The number alone was enough for Ichigo to recognize who these individuals were.
"You're a Números!"
The one who held the orb cried for his partner in distress. "Leal!"
Now identified as Leal, the wounded Nùmeros knew that neither of them could win against Ichigo. "We've collected more than enough magic power, Fiel. Let's get out of here!"
"I'm not letting you out of here unless you answer my questions!" Ichigo shouted. "Which Espada are you Fracciónes to?"
"You'll soon find out, Ichigo Kurosaki," answered Fiel ominously. He flicked his hand to the side and a Garganta opened.
Ichigo eyes widened and quickly sprung into action. However, the two individuals were consumed by light, forcing the reaper to stop in his tracks. "Damn it! Negación."
"Ichigo," Erza called weakly. The reaper quickly went to her and tended to her injuries, applying Kaido to the slash wound. However, she deemed capturing the two Números more important. "I can handle myself. Capturing them takes more precedence."
Ichigo just shook his head. "No, it's too late. Once they're inside a Negación's light, it's impossible to stop them from escaping."
"Don't fret, Transcendent," Fiel said as his form and Leal's receded into the Garganta. "You will eventually face our master very soon."
The two had finally vanished into the void, the Garganta closing with their disappearance.
"Who were those people?" Erza questioned the reaper. "You seem to know what they are."
"I do," Ichigo admitted. "They're called Arrancars."
Ten days have passed since the incident with the Phoenix. The duke of Veronica, Cream, was arrested for his crimes along with the members of Carbuncle who were responsible for the attack on Fairy Tail. Chase, Coordinator, and Cannon were taken into custody while Tyson, Valeria, and Doronach were given their due punishment but unlike the others, they got a lighter sentence since their involvement wasn't as severe. As for Dyst, the Rune Knights found his body near the remains of the Phoenix. His left side was charred and the stump that used to have his missing arm was cauterized shut.
The citizens of Veronica were at a loss since that day was supposed to be a celebration. However, what they got instead was the destruction and death of the many friends and loved ones they have. The Magic Council offered assistance in rehabilitation. The Kingdom of Fiore even sent some supplies and manpower to help with the repair.
In Fairy Tail, the guildhall began repairs two days after the incident. Interestingly, Éclair had stayed with the guild and offered her help by serving some food and drink for the mages that labored in the construction.
Unlike before, she now had a bright smile while she interacted with the many guild members. Her curse of immortality was now gone. She could finally live a normal life without the burden of seeing everything she cared about wither away while she remained.
But alas, Éclair cannot stay within the guild forever. Now that her time in the world was limited, she made it a mission to find the beauty in magic, the very thing that had brought her suffering and, ironically, her salvation.
"You know, you don't have to go, right?"
Lucy stood at the edge of Magnolia looking at Éclair and Momon. The two were off on a journey but they first wanted to say their goodbyes.
"I know," Éclair replied. "That said, with my time no longer frozen, I need to go out and see the world. Also, I think it's time I look at magic from a different perspective; not just as what I have considered it to be for centuries but the path of beauty, progress, and unity that it was meant to be."
The blonde sighed. "I know I can't stop you; so, I wish you all the best."
"Thank you, Lucy." The priestess came closer to the wizard and gave her a warm hug.
Lucy returned the gesture happily. "I just wish the others were here right now."
"They're busy with the reconstruction of the guildhall." They then separated before becoming serious. Éclair then said, "Besides, there was that one incident that happened right after the Phoenix's destruction."
"That's right. I just hope that Ichigo and Master Makarov could get to the bottom of it."
"I hope so, too."
The two friends shared smiles for each other. Who knew that a chance encounter would lead to a friendship such as this.
"Thank you, Lucy, for being my friend." Éclair's sincerity made the Celestial wizard's heart feel all fuzzy.
"And thank you, Éclair, for being mine. I hope you return someday. Our doors will always be open for you."
"Oh, I definitely will."
Lucy's attention was now on the big-headed bird. "Momon, please make sure she stays out of trouble."
"Sure thing!" agreed the avian. "Although, that won't be necessary since this is Éclair we're talking about."
"Oh, hush, you!" retorted the priestess playfully. She and her bird companion set out, but before they got far, Éclair and Momon turned around and waved at the first friend she ever made in four hundred years. "Goodbye, Lucy! I'll see you soon!"
"Take care!"
The news Ichigo had given days prior was disturbing. These "Arrancar," as he called them, were able to quickly incapacitate Erza in mere seconds. Makarov was having difficulty comprehending how his best female wizard was subdued so fast. Sure, she was tired from all the fighting that day, but it would've taken more to truly hurt her. Luckily, the guild has two of the best healers the magic world has to offer.
The old man realized that that alone was enough to consider these new players to be a grave threat.
After a tiring day of overseeing the reconstruction of the guild, Makarov decided to retire to his office for a bit. He was lucky Ichigo was there to take charge. God knows Erza would just boss everyone around like some dominatrix taskmaster.
"Let us what the mail has this time," he muttered. Sitting on his chair, he sifted through the letters, barely looking at the address or the sender. Just before he was about to throw the next mail away, he happened to glance at the sender. His eyes narrowed, quickly tearing the seal, and pulling out the message from the envelope. He skimmed through its contents, eyes slowly widening the further he got. "No…"
There was a hint of anxiety in his voice. What was contained within the letter was a message from one of his hidden sources within the Magic Council. It was a warning that one of Fairy Tail's oldest enemies was making its return.
"This is bad." He crumpled the letter. "Phantom Lord has returned."
A/N: It's just one problem after another for Fairy Tail. However, this is good news for us, especially for me, because with the Phoenix Priestess arc done, I can finally proceed to the original arc that I've been waiting to do for a while now. And, it all starts with Makarov knowing that Phantom Lord is still active. So, tune in next time because this is where things take a much bloodier turn moving forward.
Don't forget to leave a comment or add this to your favorites if you enjoyed this story. I appreciate it very much, not just as an author, but also as a fan of...well, fanfiction.
Until next time.