Well guys, here we go! If we get eleven reviews, we will break 1000. quadruple digits. Let's go!
Enjoy!
"For the survival of the human race, Nashi Dragneel must die."
"I told you." Zeus ignored Athena's scolding tone as they watched Apocalypse carry on. The foolish former torturer had seemed to be under the impression he was not being watched, and he was a fool for thinking that. "What did I say? He would not succeed."
"Fairy Tail's destruction was a secondary goal." Zeus replied without his eyes leaving the transmission screen. "Apocalypse can still succeed."
"How? His target isn't at the guild."
"He could strike the Etherion on Silverridge." Silence filled his office after these words, and when Zeus looked over at Athena, shock was plastered on her face. "Something the matter?"
"I...I just thought that you'd want that guild gone..."
"Do you honestly think I care about a guild we could crush in a millisecond, Athena?" Zeus asked. "We have power to rival that of Gods, a puny guild should not be threatening to you."
"They still have END." Zeus tried not to flinch at these words.
"And? He's dormant, that's why we're going after his daughter."
"Still, if you predicted she would live the blast, why would he not? How could he not be a problem if he found out? Say Apocalypse does fire the cannon on Magnolia, and END survives. Then what? Your plan is riddled with holes and you're trying desperately to play them off."
"I do not pretend to know the tune fate dances to." Zeus replied. "Variables like Apocalypse luring away our true target so that she would not be affected by the blast was certainly one I did not consider. However, as with most things thus far, there is always another way."
"What are you saying Zeus?" Zeus pressed a button, and the camera switched to one sitting in an elevator, the pinkette sitting inside it as it descended.
"She's going after Apocalypse." He replied. "She intends to defeat him."
"And? Even I, the master strategist, cannot see what you're aiming for."
"Exactly, and that's the beauty of it." Zeus smiled darkly at Athena, who grimaced. "As a wise man once said, the game is no fun without any twists and turns."
"Kronos does not count as a wise man..."
"Have faith, Athena. No matter what happens this day, no matter if Apocalypse uses the cannon or not, we will succeed. Etherious Nashi Dragneel will be ours."
Having the Adamantine armor on made Simon considerably slower but, at this rate, it may have helped. Lennix was too used to him being faster, so slowing down a bit might help. So far the Phantom Dove member had done nothing more than retreat since he'd put it on. Chasing him through the streets, Simon did his best to keep his eye on Lennix, which was difficult, seeing as the man was dodging through alley's and buildings. He couldn't spare a moment to see if he was hurting anyone on his way, because then he'd lose sight of him. Rounding another corner, he heard Lennix chuckle.
"You're a fool, Simon." Before he could ask what that meant, he felt an impact strike him in the chest, which made him lose his balance and fall sideways. "What sort of combatant blindly chases their opponent through the streets?"
"I didn't have much to worry about with this armor." Simon replied with a grin. "Damn near impenetrable."
"Oh? Is that why there's a crack in the chest piece?" Simon froze at these words and slowly looked down. Sure enough, dead center of his chest piece, was a small crack. It was barely noticeable, but it was definitely there.
"How the hell...?"
"Must be pretty shitty Adamantine if I was able to crack it." Simon growled and launched himself at Lennix, who easily blocked his advance and struck him with another blast of Impact magic. "And now you're attacking blindly. Atta boy, Simon."
Simon was getting far to stressed out about this he needed to focus. You know, because the only thing on the line was the Olympians gaining control of an Etherion cannon that could fire basically anywhere and cause a huge problem.
Nope, never mind. He was perfectly stressed out about this.
I need to hurry up and finish this, or Apocalypse is going to fire that cannon and it'll be too late...But how the hell do I get around this guy?! He's far to calculating for me to rush in blindly, but even then a concentrated attack wouldn't do much either, seeing as he's had all the time in the world to figure out my attack pattern and what I intend to do. All he does is sit and wait on the defensive, because he knows I'll come to him as, if I don't, Apocalypse gets to the cannon. He won't come to me because he doesn't have too. But if he doesn't, I can't win. It's simply out of the question with his calculating. Even with meteor and the Soaring Armor, I'm sure he'd adjust to that as well...
"Something the matter, Simon?" Lennix asked hauntingly, Simon ignoring him. "Thinking over the strategy I've figured out completely?" Simon didn't waste his energy replying, it would've been stupid for him to do so. Why is he wasting our time by not finishing me off? He's had all the time to.
"Do you really not know what the plan is?" Simon asked after another moment. "I mean really, are you shitting me?"
"I don't know the plan, no." Lennix replied. "What I do know however, is their target." Simon felt his stomach drop at these words. Lennix knew what it was the Olympians were aiming for.
"What is it?" Simon demanded. "Era? Crocus? The castle? Answer me!"
"Why the hell should I?" Lennix barked. "It won't make a difference in the end, because no matter what I say, Apocalypse will get control of the cannon. Game over." Simon growled and charged, boosting forward with meteor and got locked into a stall fight with Lennix, both of them pushing as hard as they could to gain the upper hand.
"Tell me!" Simon shouted angrily.
"No." Lennix replied. "You have your hands full already." Simon was about to ask what he meant before he heard a crack. Lennix had started applying incredible amounts of Impact to his hands, causing the armor to crack even more.
I really need to buff this armor up a bit...
It took a few moments for it to register in Ultear's head. When it finally did, she tried her best not to laugh.
"Your...arm...?" She asked, trying not to giggle. Ramin then returned to his human form and, just like he'd said, he was missing an arm. There was no blood or anything, it just wasn't there. He also happened to be holding some ice, which Ultear assumed was the arm she'd frozen.
"Unfreeze it!"
"Bwahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Come on!"
"A-Alright...H-Hold still..." Ultear turned the ice in Ramin's hands back to water, which allowed it to turn back into mist and, in turn, Ramin's arm reattached.
"Thanks a lot..."
"N-No problem...Now," Ultear concentrated, ice forming around Ramin's body, keeping him frozen in place. Ultear kicked him over and stood over him, glaring at him. "tell me what your plan is."
"And what if I do?" Ultear made a face.
"Wait, do you really know?" Ramin chuckled and grinned darkly.
"I'm not supposed to, technically, but being able to turn into mist really helps in some situations." Ramin wiggled his eyebrows. "Would you like to now, sweetie?"
"Call me sweetie again and I'll start snapping off limbs."
"Okay damn! I'll tell you." Ultear waited as Ramin sighed, looking around. "Like you know, Apocalypse is after the Etherion cannon the council built underneath Silverridge."
"Yes, that's been established. Continue."
"Well, once Apocalypse gains control of the cannon, he's to aim it at, well, think about it."
"Tell me."
"Well, something that's been a thorn in the Olympians side, that would help in the long run in taking over the world...Come on Fullbuster, you aren't that dumb."
"Crocus? The castle? Era? Tell or the arm goes off again."
"Wow, maybe you are that dumb." "Ramin grinned and put his head back, maniacal grin still plastered on his face. "He's going to blast it to pieces."
"What is it?!"
"Apocalypse is going to fire the Etherion cannon on Magnolia. Specifically, your guild hall."
Ultear froze at these words, staring down at Ramin as she tried to gauge how serious he was. The grin never left his face.
"...What?" She asked weakly. Ramin laughed again.
"It's aiming for Magnolia!" He shouted, "Your precious family and home is going to get torn apart by pure magic!"
"Don't lie to me!" Ultear shouted. "Where's it aiming?!"
"I just told you for fucks sake! Do you really think I'm going to lie while you're threatening to rip off my limbs?!" Ultear tried to gauge if he really was lying or not, but there was no deceiving look on Ramin's face. Ultear's focus slackened as she tried to not stress out, enough for Ramin to slip free of her icy trap. Before she could re-trap, him, he dissipated into mist and started to float away.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Ultear demanded. "Get back here and fight me!"
"As if. Consider this your win, Fullbuster. I've got more important things to do." Ramin laughed darkly. "Like watching you run around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to stop Apocalypse! Bye!"
"You bastard!" Ultear shouted, blasting ice up into the sky, but to no effect. "This is bad, this is bad, this is bad..." Ultear looked around her position, trying to pinpoint where exactly she had to go to get back to the airship. "I have to tell Mami and the others, they have to know, everyone has to know..." Ultear took off to the north, carrying vital news. No matter what, she had to tell the others.
Once the elevator stopped, Nashi looked around the dark tunnel cautiously. No signs of life anywhere right in front of here, which was good. Her entire body was still barely operating, and she was now seriously doubting her strength to do anything. Why had she taken off again? Bravado? Pride? Something else? She'd forgotten, she'd just done it.
Well, too late now...
Stepping out of the elevator and down the tunnel, Nashi kept a look out for anything that could let her know that Apocalypse was waiting for her. Well, he probably assumed she was lying unconscious somewhere, so he probably had no idea. No use not being suspicious though.
"I wonder what he's after down there, I mean, what the hell could be down here?" Nashi asked no one. "Oh well, guess I'll fund out eventually."
"Nashi!" Nashi jumped and looked around, far faster than her injured form let her without pain.
"K-Ken?" Nashi asked, looking around the empty tunnel. "Was that you?"
"Thank God I got through to you! Where the hell are you?! Akio went to check on you and Elise and you were gone!"
"Y-Yeah, well... I am, uh..."
"Yeah, I'm sure it's really important for you to sneak out and leave. Where are you?"
"Underground."
"Undergrou...? Why?"
"I'm going after Apocalypse." Nashi heard Ken choke over the archive connection, and she waited for him to reply, walking down the tunnel once more.
"What?! You're going after Apocalypse alone?! In your condition?! Are you completely insane?!"
"Not that I know of, no. Why is it that big of a deal?" Nashi knew it was a stupid question, but she'd gone ahead and asked it anyway.
"Oh well, maybe because you're really injured, Apocalypse is a madman, and you stand no chance? Nashi, seriously, wait for someone else to catch up!"
"I'm already close. What's the big deal?"
"Nashi, you were out, so you don't understand the gravity of this situation. So, uh, how can I put this lightly?"
"Just tell me, no point in telling my lightly."
"Alright, well, everyone else is currently fighting members of Phantom Dove, Apocalypse is after an Etherion cannon, and we don't know what he wants with it. As of now, you are the only, even if slightly, semi-able person to chase Apocalypse."
"..."
"...Nashi?" Nashi didn't know what to say. Etherion cannon? Everyone else fighting? What was he talking about?
"Seriously?" She asked weakly. "An Etherion cannon?"
"Jura told us when we tracked them to Era. Silverridge was only built for the council to make weapons secretly and, well, there's an Etherion cannon. That's what Apocalypse is after."
"Mavis..."
"Yeah. Listen, I'm not for you taking on Apocalypse yourself, but if you can get me some information on the launch so I can run simulations, it could help a lot."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I don't know if you'll be able to, but it'd help a lot. Also, try and stop the launch if you can. Just be careful, would you? With the strongest of us in combat, no one useful can come to help you if Apocalypse finds you."
"R-Right...All I have to do is find the launch info, sneak past Apocalypse, try and stop the launch, and slip out again. Piece of Cake."
Not really, Nashi. Let's get eleven reviews, guys! It'd be my second story to get over 1000 reviews! So, I hope you enjoyed!