Chapter 25

Solid Iron

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

Leaves crumbled in the air as Natsu and the man stared at each other. "Glad you showed up when you did." Evergreen said to the pinkette.

"Can you give us a heads up next time?" Elfman asked.

The man stared at the Dragon Slayer before Happy flew over. "Natsu, are you using the bush? I thought we're going to the top."

"Yeah, but then I got this bad feeling." Natsu replied.

"How'd all the trees die?" The cat asked in shock.

"Not just the trees, everything." Evergreen pointed out.

"He did all this?" Happy asked.

"He's no ordinary wizard." The bespectacled wizards mumbled.

"Look, this island is off limits to anyone not in the Fairy Tail guild." Natsu said. "So keep your freaky magic out of our trial."

The man just stared at the ground, ignoring his threat. "You've grown so much..." He mumbled, confusing the group. "How I've missed you, Natsu."

In a blind rage, Natsu launched forward and pulled his fist back. "Tell me who you are right now!" He shouted before throwing a punch that sent the man flying backwards.

"Cheap shot." Evergreen mumbled.

"He coldcocked him." Elfman added.

The man spun in mid air as he never took his eyes of Natsu. 'I see... nothings changed... he still can't break me...' He place does his hand down and landed on the ground unharmed.

"Tell me who you are right now!" Natsu shouted. "I won't ask again."

'I don't want to kill anyone else... but Natsu is the only one who can stop me...' The man thought as tears returned to his face. 'Are you still not strong enough? How much longer do I have to wait?'

"Why's he crying?" Happy asked.

"He's creep factor just went sky high." Evergreen mumbled.

The wind started picking up as the man gasped in pain. Black mist rose off his feet as he grabbed his head. "Run, all of you!" He shouted, making Natsu flinch. The man groaned in pain before the mist exploded into another sphere.

"It's the same black wave from before." Elfman said.

"It drains the life of anything it touches!" Evergreen warned.

"Get out of here!" Natsu shouted before the dome expanded.

Natsu tried to run but the magic was faster than him. "Natsu!" Happy shouted before Elfman grabbed him.

"Don't be stupid!" He shouted. "If you go back there, you'll get yourself killed." The two jumped back as the dome passed them, making the already dead trees crumble away.

Natsu groaned as he sat up, somehow surviving the blast. "Okay, that hurt."

"Natsu!" Happy cried out in joy.

"Where's the guy?" Natsu asked. "It looks like he lost control."

"He's gone." Evergreen said.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Elfman asked.

"Natsu! Your scarf! It turned black!" Happy cried out, making Natsu gasp.

Gripping his fathers gift, he growled in anger at the man. "He'll pay for this... next time I see him he's getting a flaming fist to the face!"

'Igneel gave Natsu that scarf... Maybe it changed colors to protect him.' Happy thought.

Deeper in the island, the man sat against a tree, looking up at the sky. 'How much longer will this world reject me?'

With Mest and Wendy

Mest went wide eyed as he turned into the island. 'This power... it belongs to him. He's here...' A sick grin covered his face, Wendy unaware as the flowers distracted her. 'He really is on this island... should I report now... no, I need more evidence...'

Above the Sea Near Tenrou

A massive airship floated through the clouds as Ultear spun around with her orb. "We found out quarry." She said. "And he seems to be sleeping. The time is upon us, Master Hades." She turned to the man on the throne who smirked.

"Finally, I'll meet the man who showed the world the true power of magic." The beared man said. "His horde of demons created chaos and disaster for years. The most foul magic user to ever exist, the champion of th black arts. The Black Wizard, Zeref. The day is upon us.

"It's time for us to work. Tenrou Island will run red with the blood of fairies." He smirked as the eight in front of him stared into the horizon.

With Natsu and Co

"Where is that creep?" Natsu mumbled, gripping his scarf. "Does he have any idea how bad he's gonna get pounded?"

"Sorry." Happy said.

"How does he expect me to walk around with a black scarf and vest combo!?" Natsu complained.

"Never thought Natsu was so concerned about fashion." Elfman asked.

"Me either." Evergreen agreed.

"So what are we gonna do about the trial?" The cat asked.

"With Mr. Doom and Gloom walking around, I think we should put it on the back burner." Evergreen suggested.

"No way am I ditching the trial!" Natsu shouted back.

"A real man would do both at the same time!" Elfman added before the two glared at each other.

"If I quit, I'd be breaking my promise to Gildarts." The pinkette said.

"As Mirajane's brother, it's my duty to win!" Elfman replied before they growled at each other.

"We can't just ignore that creepy tree killer." Happy said. "He was crying when he attacked. Like he didn't wanna do it."

"He could have fooled me." Evergreen mumbled.

"We've got a trial to win!" Natsu cheered before he and Happy took off.

"Let's go, Evergreen!" Elfman said to his partner.

"Don't order me around!" She replied.

Grimoire Heart Airship

"This is a glorious day." Master Hades said to his troops. "If it all goes to plan, we will reawaken the Black Wizard. The ambitions of Grimoire Heart will be made real. Now that we have the keys to Zeref, we will awaken that which is inside him."

"Master, I think you're overlooking our opponents." Ultear said, holding her orb. "If Fairy Tail decides to intervene, our plans will fall. They defeated one of the Baram Alliance strongest guilds, the Oracion Seis. Their strongest are currently gathered on Tenrou island."

"So what, that doesn't mean anything." The blonde said. "I have more power in this one finger. If they get involved..." He lit his body on fire in black flames. "I'll just turn every last one of them into a pile of ash!"

"Beware of over confidence, Zancrow." Ultear warned.

"We should not underestimate our enemies." A goat man said. "But I do believe we will win."

"Quite true, Caprico." A man in glass agreed as a large man mumbled. "At last our desires will be released. This will became the wardrum of our-"

"Rustyrose, will you all shut up with those euphemisms?" The pompadoured man looked over to see a man with spiky blood red hair and black eyes walk forward. He wore a black chamanto with a red and purple striped section that curved down from his left shoulder. Two leather plated gloves covered his hands as the guild emblem was placed on his right forearm. Tattooed on his face was an ancient symbol in maroon.

His chest was covered by leather straps that fed up to the poncho and his pants. The trousers were a dark grey with a pink and light grey strip that curved in opposite to the one on his shoulder. It passed the seam where the legs split and the pattern inverted. A patch stylized like metal was sewn into the left side and brown boots completed his look. "You're ruining my meal." He told Rustyrose as he swirled a glass of red liquid before bringing it to his lips.

"How does that actually taste, Chi?" The spiked haired man looked to see feminine looking man with spiked black hair in a ponytail and golden eyes. He wore a green and gray coat with red buttons and the Grimoire Heart Emblem sewn onto the front. His pants were a modified set of skin tight hakama in purplish red and his shoes were solid navy blue.

"Lucian, would you please put on a shirt!?" The tattooed man said.

"Can't, it's not ready yet." The ponytailed man replied.

"Iagreewithrustyrose." The fat man let out.

"You're talking too fast, tubby!" Zancrow shouted.

"Translation: I agree with Rustyrose." A pink haired girl said, making the fat man nod.

"Care to join our fight, Meredy?" Ultear asked.

"Yes..." She nodded.

"Doesn't this sound interesting?" Hades asked as he stood up. "Fairy Tail still does not know what true darkness is. We are the darkness which lurks in the abyss. For we are Grimoire Heart, and we walk the path of devils. Tonight demons and fairies will dance, and fairy blood will soak the land. I look forward to the agony on Makarov's face."

With Lucy and Cana

"Anything coming?" The brunette asked as the two rested after escaping the lizard.

"Not at all." Lucy replied. "How are we supposed to find the grave without any clues? My brain is on strike."

"I don't think we haven't been given clues." Cana replied. "The old man may be crazy with his tests, but in the four times I've been chosen there's never been a test that was impossible. I have a feeling he gave us all the clues we needed... Then again I could be giving him too much credit. What do you think?"

"It make sure sense." Lucy nodded. "The first round tested strength, so this one must test intellect. Maybe it's a riddle. He might have told us the clues when he told us the rules of the round. Like the word 'grave'. We assume it means a headstone or something, but it could also mean the end of someone's life. What if he wants us to find his body at the grave."

"That's way too dark." Cana mumbled before kicking a lizard away. "Just try thinking it as one of your Lucyisms. 'When you die, you become a shooting star'."

"Do I really come off that ditzy and corny?" Lucy asked disappointed before gasping in realization. "It's so simple. Corny or not, I just figured out where the grave is! Let's go!"

Cana raced after her, unaware that Loke and Gray popped out of the bush behind them, the latter holding the frozen lizard. "I told you she get it." The spirit told his partner. "Now we just follow them and pass the round."

"Good thing we ran into them." Gray replied. "Hate to do this Lucy, but I wouldn't be an S-Class wizard if I didn't use everything I had."

"Sounds like a relationship to me." Loke chuckled before they followed the two girls.

With Erza And Juvia

"I forgot how big this island is." Erza said as she and Juvia walked along the rocks. "It might take all day, but we'll find Mest and Wendy."

'I should have just waited until I had the chance to sneak away.' Juvia thought in anger. 'I need to ditch her and find my darling Gray.' Her mind fantasied about her and Gray being together.

"Are you feeling okay, Juvia?" The redhead asked. "You're looking flush."

"I'm fine, perfectly healthy!" The bluenette replied before they continued to walk. "You know, if we split up we could cover more ground."

"Stick closer to me." Erza replied. "The last thing we need if for you too get lost too. Listen Juvia, you're not afraid of me, are you? Please accept my humblist apology."

"Apology." Juvia repeated. 'Ah, she must mean during the trial.'

"I could have exercised more restraint, but it's my duty to make sure you understand what it takes to be S-Class." The redhead continued. "It's a grueling path filled with danger. I barely survived my own trial when I was chosen. All my years of training wer put to the test. People don't understand that the challenge of being S-Class doesn't stop when you achieve the rank."

Juvia listened to this the swordswoman ramble on. 'If I don't shut her up, I'll never find Gray.' "No need to apologize. I know you were just doing your job."

"Now that I think about, I might have been too hard on Lisanna." Erza continued. "However! It wasn't out of spite. I swear there was no ill will. Sorry, I just wanted to clear the air."

"It's no problem." Juvia replied. "Lisanna and I both knew the risks. So what do you say we split up to-"

"Thank you, Juvia! I'm so glad you understand!" Erza interrupted and shook her around. "Now what do you say we find Mest and Wendy!"

'I am the moon and Gray is the sun...' The bluenette weeped as she was dragged along.

Fairy Tail Camp

"Okay, I think it's ready for a test." Lisanna said.

"Don't mind if I do." Mirajane chuckled as she sipped the soup. "It's delicious."

"You really think so?" Her sister asked.

"I see your time in Edolas was well spent." The model replied.

"I learned a lot there. The other Mira was a good cook too." The little sister replied.

"It's hard to believe it's not a dream." Mirajane said. "The fact that your back is a miracle. Sometimes I'm afraid that if I blink you'll be gone."

"I'm not going anywhere." Lisanna said.

"So, what were you and Brianna talking about last week?" Mirajane asked, making Lisanna blush.

With Levy and Gajeel

"You don't scare me one bit!" Gajeel shouted as he punched an animal while levy looked on in disinterest. "I don't understand this trial! How does picking a route or finding a grave prove how strong you are?"

"Will you shut up!?" Levy demanded.

"I was hoping to beat the crap out of Rockslide, but of course he had to pick a safe route too." The Slayer complained.

"Oh, so it wasn't to help me get S-Class?" Levy asked.

"Why are you getting bent out of shape?" He asked.

"You just said the only reason your here is to settle some dumb rivalry you have!" The petite girl replied. "You don't care about me at all."

"Aw, is someone feeling left out?" He asked before petting her head. "You wanna get my attention? In that case, just get strong enough to actually put up a challenge."

"What you're saying is I'm not strong enough..." She mumbled.

"Not that this isn't fun, but don't we have more important-" Gajeel started before eating a purse to the face.

"Fine! Who need you, you jerk!?" Levy shouted before running into the woods.

"What was that for?" He asked.

'What's with him?' She asked as she ran. 'I was starting to think he was a nice guy until this. But he's not, he's the same arrogant jerk as ever.' She came to a stop and wiped some tears before a rustling caught her attention. "Leave me alone."

Two figures jumped out before the samurai looking dog sliced her headband off. "I don't think these are critters." The chicken picked her up and slammed her to the ground as the dog raised it's sword again.

"The first catch." He mumbled before stabbing down. In the blink of an eye, Gajeel appeared and blocked the blade while punching the chicken back.

"It's tough to track you when you run off." He said as the chicken stood back up. "Don't leave my side again." Levy nodded and stood u, back to back against Gajeel. "So, who are your friends?"

"They aren't my friends." She replied before looking st the emblems on them. "Grimoire Heart? Why are members of a dark guild here?"

"The old man's craftier than I thought if he put these two in the trial." Gajeel chuckled.

"He wouldn't do that." Levy replied. "They probably snuck on the island somehow."

"What ever." He chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "If there's one thing I'm good at, it's cleaning up messes. If you can't adapt, you can't make it to S-Class."

"They're in the most powerful dark guild, it's the head of the Baram Alliance." Levy reminded him. "We can't even fight them without the councils permission."

"That's the problem with being in a legal guild." The samurai chuckled out. "What's the point of joining if you're gonna be held back by the rules?"

"That's no way to fight a war." The chicken clucked out.

"Who are you, and what are you doing on this island?" Levy demanded.

"Just a couple of passionate hunters looking for the ultimate prey." The dog replied. "I'm Yomazu."

"And I'm Kawazu, his partner." The chicken replied.

"What's this ultimate prey you want?" Gajeel asked.

"So glad you asked." Yomazu chuckled before swinging his sword. A giant kanji appeared, blasting their eardrums with noise. "It's every member of Fairy Tail!"

Both covered their ears to block out the noise bombarding them. "Ain't this like your magic, Levy?" Gajeel asked.

"He's using the eastern version of solid script magic." She replied before seeing the chicken charge her. "Gajeel!" She shouted, but to no effect. "Gajeel!" She shouted again before turning around. 'He can't hear..." Thinking quick, Levy pulled Gajeel to the side and the chicken missed.

Kawazu turned and jumped into the air before pulling his head back. "Egg Buster!" He opened his beak and eggs rained down over the two.

Gajeel groaned in pain before looking up to see the samurai diving at him. He rolled out of the way and the rock under him shattered. 'Damnit! I couldn't hear him because of all the noise!' He jumped back from another slice before ducking third.

Levy took a knee to the face before waving her hand. "Solid Script: Silence!" A bubble word of her creation shot forward and crashed into the kanji, destroying both.

"The sound is back to normal." Gajeel cheered.

"You canceled out my word?!" Yomazu roared in anger.

"I heard that." Gajeel teased before slamming a club into the dogs gut.

Kawazu pulled his head back and launched more eggs at Levy. "Fire!" She chanted before her word toasted the eggs to ash.

Ths samurai slid along the ground before coming to a stop. "You shall pay!" He raised his sword and swung it, creating a giant kanji that sliced through every tree it touched. Gajeel barely managed to duck as Yomazu reversed his grip and swung again, this time hitting Gajeel.

Gripping his arm, Gajeel dropped to his knees as he activated his scale spell. "This guy is intense..." He panted out.

Kawazu pulled his head back and launched more eggs at Levy, who repeated the process as before. 'There's too many of them.' Her fired bunred some of them, but the rest of them still hit her.

"No, Levy!" Gajeel shouted before noticing a cut on his cheek armor. He turned and held his arms up as the samurai delivered thrust after thrust. 'I don't believe it... he's cutting through my iron scales...'

Yomazu pulled his blade back before delivering a thrust that pierced Gajeel's side. Gripping his side, he missed as a dark aura surrounded his opponent. "Dark sword..."

"No..." Levy groaned as she looked up.

"Naru-Kami!" Yozuma shouted before delivering a slash that tore through Gajeel's side. He sheathed his blade and Gajeel gasped in pain as he fell over, his scale spell fading.

"Gajeel!" Levy shouted as he hit the ground.

"If this is the level they're all at, then we can probably take care of them all before the main squad even arrives." The samurai said.

"Let's take 'em down." The chicken clucked out.

Gajeel panted as he flipped onto his knees. "Did you say... main force?"

"Looks like he's still breathing." Kawazu said.

"We're just a scouting party." The dog replied. "The entire guild of Grimoire Heart is on there way."

"The entire..." Levy mumbled in fear.

"Levy, Run..." Gajeel said, confusing her. "This isn't some mundane war. This is gonna escalate beyond your wildest fears."

"But... I can help..." She mumbled.

"You need to let everyone else know about this as soon as possible!" He shouted. "I can take care of these guys by myself! So move!" Tears in her eyes, Levy nodded and turned around.

"Don't let her escape!" Yomazu shouted before getting clubbed in the gut.

"Gajeel!" Levy shouted, concerned.

"What are you doing!? Hurry up and go!" He shouted before the word iron dropped in front of him. "Iron?"

'Please... Don't die!' Levy begged in her head.

Gajeel began chomping down on the word as the two hunters watched him. "Hey! You let the girl get away." The samurai scolded his partner.

"Who cares?" The chicken replied. "That'll just make the hunting more fun."

Gajeel slammed his fist on the ground, catching their attention. "You want a full-scale war with Fairy Tail?" Gajeel asked, standing up.

"He's standing up?" Yomazu asked.

"That reminds me... of that time..." Gajeel mumbled, thinking back to the guild war. "I'm gonna make you both feel the same."

Levy raced forward into the woods, trying to find anyone. 'I have to let everyone know that Grimoire Heart is coming. I don't know what they want, but things are about to get really scary.' She missed the root in front of her and tripped, tumbling down the hill before reaching the bottom. "Hold on, Gajeel..." She mumbled before falling over.

Minutes later, someone found the petite girl. "Levy, wake up!" The small girl opened her eyes to see Erza and Juvia standing over her."

"How'd you get so injured?" Juvia asked.

"It's you..." Levy said teary eyed as Erza helped her up. "We're in trouble, and he needs help."

With Gajeel

"Iron Dragon Roar!" Gajeel shot his breath attack forward at the two hunters.

"Defense!" Yomazu shouted back before blocking the attack with a kanji. Behind Gajeel, Kawazu pointed his head up and shot eggs to the sky, confusing Gajeel. "Look above your head, fool." The samurai chuckled as the Slayer did just that, only to see a swarm of eggs ready to fall on him.

"Heavy Egg Rain!" Those three words triggered the spell and the eggs rained down on Gajeel. The dust from the impact his Yomazu, who tried to stab Gajeel.

The Dragon Slayer turned his arm into a club and blocked the blade. "Keep dreaming, chump. That dull little butterknife ain't cutting through my iron!" He pushed the samurai to the side as the chicken prepared another spell. "Shut up with the clucking!" Gajeel shouted before hitting him in the gut, knocking him out.

"Pierce!" Yomazu shouted as Gajeel turned around. "I'll run you right through!" The samurai thrust his blade forward, only for Gajeel to block it with his club.

"Losing ain't an option for me." Gajeel chuckled as the two jostled for leverage. "It's not gonna happen!" The Iron club began to crack as the katana dig deeper. 'Taking on Fairy Tail like this... these idiots are just as stupid as I was.'

After Phantom Lord

In an abandoned city Gajeel sat on a pile of rubble, eating a piece of iron. "Hey there." A voice from behind caught his attention and he turned around.

"Master Makarov?" The Dragon Slayer asked aloud as the old man climbed the pile. "Did you come here to gloat?"

"A nice hello, indeed." The wizard saint mumbled. "Not bid on manners, are you? Your friend Juvia is the newest member of our guild."

"You kidding me!?" Gajeel asked in surprise.

"She was very concerned about your well being as well." The old man added.

"That chick has rain for brains." Gajeel mumbled in anger. "What is she thinking?"

"Have you figured out what your next move is?" Makarov asked.

"I don't know just yet... keeping my options open." Gajeel mumbled.

"I have another question for you." Makarov said. "When you reflect on it, what were your own reasons for going to war with Fairy Tail? What did being part of Phantom Lord mean to you? For that matter, what did the idea of a guild mean to you in the first place? What do you want to do with the power you have?"

"You sure got a lot of questions." Gajeel mumbled.

"They're all the same." Makarov replied. "What kind of man do you tell yourself you are, and is that the same man who lives in your heart? If Jose asked for it, would you take a life for him? Is his every wish your command? If that's the case, then you're nothing more than his puppet. But I don't get that from you Gajeel, you're not mindless."

"Would you quit flapping your gums and get out!?" Gajeel demanded.

"There is no reason to give up and plunge into darkness." Makarov said as the sun broke through the clouds. "Come with us, join the Fairy Tail guild."

"Are you crazy? Why would I do that!?" Gajeel asked, turning around.

"Time spent in ones own company is valuable, but no one can withstand total isolation." Makarov said, making Gajeel gasp.

"You know I destroyed your guild hall, right?" The Dragon Slayer asked.

"Water under the bridge." Makarov replied.

"And I hurt your three little friends." He added.

"I know." Makarov flared his magic and Gajeel gulped in fear. "A despicable act I will never truly forgive. But if I just left you to fall into the darkness when I could have saved you, I'd never be able to forgive myself." Gajeel turned to see the master offering his hand to him. "I cannot promise salvation, only point you down the path out of the shadows. Will you choice to walk that path?" Gajeel reached out and the two shook hands.

Present

The club exploded and showed the armored arm underneath. "I will not be defeated by scum like you! Because I'm a Fairy Tail wizard!" He twisted his arm and the blade snapped in two.

"Not my katana!" Yomazu shouted as Gajeel at the metal. "My soul is in that blade!"

Gajeel swallowed the last of it and magic power flowed out of him. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art:" He held his hands high and they turned into a massive blade. "Karma Demon - Iron God Sword!" He swung his blade and hit the samurai, knocking him out. Gajeel smirked before falling onto his side.

"Gajeel!" Levy shouted as she raced over with Erza and Juvia behind her.

"What happened!?" Erza asked.

"There he is..." Juvia mumbled looking at Gajeel.

"Please tell me you're okay!" Levy shouted as she crouched down over him.

"Told you I could take 'em." He chuckled out, making Levy smile.

Yomazu started laughing, making everyone turn to him. "You don't stand a chance. Our main forces are right on our heels. Wizards with powers far beyond my own. They are the Nine Kin of Purgatory."

"The Kin are coming?" Juvia asked as Levy gasped.

"We must put the trial on hold." Erza said as she fired a flare. "Condition Red! We must prepare for battle!" The flare exploded, catching everyone's attention.

With Makarov

"What? Who dares invade our sacred island!?" The master asked, looking up.

With Nicholas and Brianna

"Someone is actually attacking us here?" Nicholas asked.

"I have a really bad feeling about this." Brianna mumbled.

With Lucy and Cana

"A red flare?" Lucy asked.

Behind some rubble, Gray and Loke looks up as well. "You know what that means?" The spirit asked.

"Enemy sighted." Gray answered.

"Why does this have to happen now!?" Cana shouted. "I swore that this would be my last trial. If I don't make it this year, I'm leaving the guild forever. I won't give up! I'll see this through to the end!"

"Would you take it down a notch?" Both girls looked over to see Gray and Loke come out of the woods.

"Everyone feels the same way you do." Loke added.

"What are you doing here?" Cana asked.

"We've kinda been-" Loke started before Gray covered his mouth.

"It's a coincidence, okay?" The ice wizard replied. "That's not important right now. If we're under attack, we need to focus on that."

Loke pushed the arm away before fixing his glasses. "Let's get to the camp. We need to figure out what we're up against first."

"As if the trial wasn't hard enough..." Lucy complained as Cana huffed in annoyance.

With Elfman and Evergreen

"But what about the trial?" Elfman asked.

"Obviously, it'll be put on hold." The bespectacled girl huffed out.

With Natsu and Happy

"Could it be that guy?" Natsu asked, his jacket flipped inside out for better fashion sense. "The cry baby?"

"I don't think so." Happy replied. "A red flare means an enemy is coming. Must be somebody else on the way."

Natsu smirked as he punched his open palm. "Whoever it is, they're looking for a fight. And I say we give them one."

With Erza and Co.

Erza's body glowed as she Requiped out of her bikini and into her armor. "So what do you think we should do now?" Juvia asked the red head.

"First thing is to find Mest and Wendy." Erza answered. "I'm afraid they might be lost and unable to find our base camp."

"I'll take Gajeel and meet you there." Levy said as she helped the Dragon Slayer on her shoulders.

"Don't push yourself, small fry." Gajeel said as she carried him away.

Juvia watched the two with a small blush, having replaced them with herself and Gray. 'I'm sure my gray needs me as well.'

"Speak!" Erza shouted at the samurai. "Tell me why you've come here."

"Telling you that won't do me any good." Yomazu answered back, angering Erza.

*BANG!*

A massive lump appeared on his head where Erza hit him. "We seek the black wizard known as Zeref." He confessed, shocking the two girls. "He is here on this island."

"That's absurd!" Erza shouted back.

"I thought Zeref lived hundreds of years ago." Juvia mumbled.

"Four hundred years ago." The samurai corrected.

"You fool!" Erza roared. "Zeref has long been dead!" 'That's who Jellal was trying to revive.'

"He never died." Yomazu chuckled. "Zeref has been resting for 400 years. Master Hades deduced that he's been sleeping for all this time."

"I find this hard to believe." Juvia said.

"Once he's awaken, the entire world will be cloaked in darkness." The dogman added.

"Utter nonsense!" Erza shouted. "Don't you know this is our sacred ground!? The forces of darkness will not be allowed to defile it!"

"Believe what you will, but Master Hades and the Kin are coming." Yomazu said. "And I'd advise you not to take you lightly. The time wizard, Ultear... Rustyrose... My superior Caprico... Kain Hikaru... Zancrow... Meredy... Chi Akumu... Lucian Rubrum... and there's one more member who's already here."

Erza pulled her fist back and punched him out cold. "We need to hurry!" Erza shouted as then two raced into the woods. "I never imagined that Zeref would still be alive."

"I'm more concerned about Grimoire Hearts fighting force is heading here." Juvia said back.

"We need to find Wendy and Mest quickly!" Erza shouted.

With Wendy and Mest

"Hey, what is that?" Wendy asked as the two looked up at the flare. "Do you know what means?"

"Uh... it means..." Mest mumbled before biting down on a rock. "I have to know what that means!"

"It's okay of you forgot." She told him.

'I need to act now, before the main force arrives.' He thought after stopping the teeth grinding.

"Wendy!" Both looked to see the three Exceeds fly into view. "Get away from him!" Carla shouted as the three landed between Mest and Wendy. "Tell us who you really are!"

"What do you mean by that?" Mest asked. "I'm Mystogan's pupil, remember?" A fist and a kunai hit the rock behind him as he glared at Pantherlily and Slate.

"I find it hard to believe my price would take on a pupil in this world." Pantherlily said. "Now you were smart to use someone who doesn't live here anymore to back up your story. But are you gonna be smart enough to tell us the truth? Who are and what are you hiding?"

"What's gotten into you three!?" Wendy asked.

"Stay back, child." Carla said.

"Tell me who you are." Pantherlily threatened as Slate sat on Mest's shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Mest asked.

"You know what I think? I think you can use magic on people's memories." Slate said after pulling his knife out of the rock. "You used it to trick everyone to thinking your a member of the guild before the trial. Your story has way too many holes in it, including your connection to Mystogan." He then pointed his knife at the man's head. "And the icing on the cake is that you don't know what the emergency flare means. So please, talk your way out of that."

Mest glared at the cats before vanishing from sight, making Slate fall. "He disappeared!" Carla shouted.

'Teleportation magic?' Pantherlily asked as he turned around. Slate threw his knife at Mest before an explosion destroyed the cliff. The black cat popped out of the cloud with the other cats in his grasp. "An attack!?" He looked down and noticed the two humans on another cliff. "What's going on?"

The big cat landed only for a line of explosions to rip between them. 'He protected her? Why?' Carla asked, looking at the two.

"Who are you? Come out!" Mest shouted.

They followed the line of black smoke to a single tree as a face popped out of it. "Your senses are quite sharp."

"The tree attacked us?" Slate asked, pulling out some kunai.

"Come and face us!" Pantherlily asked.

"I'm from Grimoire Heart. Names Azuma, one of the Kin of Purgatory." The face said as the bulge grew.

"Grimoire Heart?" Wendy asked.

"A dark guild." Carla answered.

"So that's what the flare was... someone else must have run into one of these freaks." Mest mumbled.

The bulge grew even before shifting into an upper body and arms. "It's a bit late to be worrying about your friends."

"What is going on here!?" Pantherlily shouted at Mest.

"I thought if I was going to find dirt on the guild, this would be the most logical place to start." Mest answered. "But to find Zeref and Grimoire Heart as well... this must be my lucky day."

"Who are you!?" Slate shouted.

"Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm with the magic council." Mest answered. "I infiltrated this guild so I could bring you down for good."

"A spy?" Carla asked.

"But I've caught an even bigger fish now." The scarred man continued. "To think the Grimoire Heart guild would also be here... if I take them out, I'm a made man. I even have the councils entire battleship units on standby. Once the dark guild makes landfall, it'll be over for them. Today the devils heart stops beating."

"Those battleships... look so fragile." Azuma said before the ships exploded, shocking the group.

"All of those people!" Wendy shouted concerned.

Azuma then pulled himself out of the tree and stood up on the ground. "So, can I begin destroying everyone here?"

"Everyone stand back!" Pantherlily shouted as he and Slate stood between them and the dark wizard.

Did anyone else not take the scouting party seriously when they first show up? Seriously, a chicken and a dog? All we need was Taurus and we'd have the full barnyard crew.

Now, on to the two new OC's in Grimoire. Chi Akuma is an original character by me, and Lucian Rubrum was given to me by Antex-The Legendary Zoroark. Both are gonna use some original Lost Magic, so that's gonna be fun. I'll put their drawings up on deviantart one at a time.

Sorry for the late post. Beta read by JBallinR12.