Hey guys, I'm finally back with a new chapter for this fic. I apologize for the long wait for this chapter, but I've just been so preoccupied with school and work lately, especially since I'll be transferring to a four-year college next semester. So the past few months I've just been exhausted and had very little motivation to do any serious writing. Just know that I'm determined not to abandon any of my fics, and that I will do my absolute best to get a chapter out, even if it takes a long time. Well I've finally managed to update my Pokemon, so now I can focus on this fic for a while. Like usual I will update this fic a few times before I move on to work on my Akame ga Kill fic. This chapter will pick up immediately where the previous one left off and will really get the Battle for Fairy Tail arc under way. This story is almost at...*Looks at follower and favorite counts* that can't be right...*Double checks to make the numbers are correct* Oh my God...I'm literally speechless right now. This fic is almost at 2,000 followers and is closing in on 1,900 favorites. I can't really find the words to describe how happy I'm feeling right now. I'm shocked so many people are reading my silly little fic that I created on a whim over 2 years ago. I guess the only thing I can really say to all of you is thank you for sticking with me for this long, and thank you supporting me and being patient with my slow ass.
P.S. Have you guys been keeping up with any of the anime this season? There are so many great series going on at once! Renai Boukun (Probably my favorite anime this season, because I love the manga), Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Flat, Boku no Hero Academia Season 2 (This season is fucking fire rn), Eromanga Sensei, Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteriu Darou ka Gaiden: Sword Oratoria, and Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records, just to name a few of my favorites. So, if you haven't been keeping up with this season's anime, I highly recommend you check them out, because there are some real gems. Also I'm really late telling you guys this, but I do have a account now. My username on there is the same one as my pen name on this site, so check out my profile if you want to see all the anime/manga I've read/watched, am reading/watching, how I rate them, and some of my favorite characters and series.
P.P.S I'm sure that most of you are aware that the Fairy Tail manga will be ending very soon. This final arc has been full of extreme highs and lows, but despite some rushed and forced moments I'm still really enjoying Fairy Tail's final chapters. I want you all to know that even when the manga ends, that I will continue to write this fic and do my damnedest to see it all the way through. Fairy Tail has become such a huge part of my life, and even when it's over I still want to contribute to this amazing fandom, I want Fairy Tail to stay alive for years to come. After being massively let down by Naruto's ending, sort of feeling betrayed in a way, I almost completely gave up on anime and manga entirely (At this point I was only really watching/reading Naruto, it was my gateway into this medium). I just didn't want to feel so disappointed and let down again. But then one day on a whim I decided to check out a series called Fairy Tail that I had heard about before. And all I can say is that Fairy Tail has completely changed my life. Fairy Tail completely reinvigorated my interest in anime and manga, and has led me to hundreds of other amazing series. No other series I've watched/read has gripped me as much as Fairy Tail. No other series has made me care so much about its characters, even the minor ones who appear a few times. No other series has made me cry more, laugh more, smile more, care more, make my blood pump more than Fairy Tail. I wish I could somehow meet Hiro Mashima in real life, give him a massive hug, and just thank him for creating such an amazing world full of fantastic characters. With Fairy Tail heading towards its finish line, I have faith that Hiro Mashima will deliver a satisfying conclusion and I'm looking forward to whatever story he has planned next. What about you all? How has Fairy Tail affected your life? Are you sad to see it go? Happy it's finally over? (Lol, I know some cynical people out there are rejoicing that Fairy Tail is ending) Will you read Hiro Mashima's next series? Do you think it'll be as good as Fairy Tail? (I think Fairy Tail is Hiro Mashima's masterpiece and that he'll never surpass it. But I'm still excited to see what he's got in store.) Please share your thoughts with me.
Well that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Magic
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, or any of its characters.
"Alright you son of a bitch!" Natsu roared, orange lightning exploding off his body, as he glared daggers at Laxus. "I've been promising you an ass kicking for a long time now Laxus, and it's about time that I deliver!"
"Hold on Salamander..." Gajeel said, as he walked up next to Natsu. The pink-haired dragon slayer turned around to tell Gajeel off, but he stopped when he saw the look in the iron dragon slayer's eyes. "I've got a bone to pick with this asshole too. So I'm not gonna let you have all the fun."
"Okay, you can back me up Gajeel." Natsu said, turning back around to glower at Laxus. "You hear that Laxus!? Me and Gajeel are coming for you! By the end of today we'll know who the strongest lightning dragon slayer is! This battle doesn't end until there's only one lightning dragon left standing!"
"Heh, you're always up for a good time, aren't cha Natsu?" Laxus asked with a cocky smirk, as he crossed his arms over his chest. "That's one of the few things I've always liked about you."
"Natsu..." Makarov said quietly, walking up next to the pink-haired dragon slayer. "Are you sure about this? Laxus is different from most of the opponents you've faced so, he's incredibly strong."
"This has been a long time coming jii-chan...and I've grown stronger as well..." Natsu said, as he tightly balled his fists.
"There's no denying that." Makarov said, lowering his head as a small smile spread across his face. "You've grown so much in such a short amount of time."
"Besides..." Natsu said, as he flashed Makarov a toothy grin. "This is a festival right?" Punching his fist into his palm, Natsu charged towards the stage, orange lightning crackling with every step he took. "Let's go!"
"I've got your back Salamander!" Gajeel exclaimed, following closely behind the dual dragon slayer. "Let's kick this bastards ass!"
"I wouldn't be too hasty if I were you Natsu..." Laxus said with a twisted smile, as he pointed a sparking finger at Lucy, who was still encased in stone. "One wrong move and I'll waste this blonde bimbo, then all the other girls."
"Luce!" Natsu exclaimed, skidding to a halt right in front of the stage. The pink-haired dragon slayer's eyes were alight with fury, as he glared up at Laxus. "Don't you lay a fucking finger on her!"
"I know that this broad is special to you Natsu." Laxus said with a smirk, as he crouched down to get face to face with Natsu. "I bet it's just killing you that you can't save her now, isn't it?"
"Hurt Lucy, or any of the girls..." Natsu growled, fighting every urge to leap onto the stage and murder Laxus. "And I swear to you, that I will tear off your arm and beat you to death with it!"
"Oho, aren't you scary." Laxus taunted, as he stood back up and back over to where Lucy was. "But as long as I have these girls hostage you can't do shit Natsu. Now...why don't you kneel down and listen to the rules of the little game we have planned."
"Fuck you!" Natsu roared, slamming his electrified fist onto the stage. "Let the girls go and fight me like a man!"
"You better calm down Natsu..." Laxus warned in a serious tone, as he pointed his sparking hand at Lucy. "Because I'm not playing around!"
"You son of bitch." Natsu snarled, begrudgingly kneeling down in front of the stage. "You better pray I'm not the one who fights you."
"And order your lackey to back down as well." Laxus ordered, as he glared at Gajeel.
"Oi, I ain't Salamander's-"
"Or do you think you're fast enough to save her this time?" Laxus asked, as he moved his electrified hand from Lucy to Levy. Gajeel's eyes shot open in a mixture of rage and worry. "Stand down tin man."
"Gajeel..." Natsu said, turning his head to look at the iron dragon slayer. "Just do as he says for now. If we make any stupid moves he'll hurt all the girls up there, and we can't let that happen. I don't like this situation, but we'll just have to take this bastard down when the time comes."
"God damn it." Gajeel growled, as he kneeled down next to Natsu. "I'm going to kill this motherfucker."
"Good, I'm glad to see you're both compliant little dogs." Laxus taunted, before he walked back towards the other members of the Raijinshū. "Evergreen, explain the rules to everyone."
"Listen up everyone, because I'm going to explain this once." Evergreen said, making her way to center stage. "If you want to free all these lovely ladies, you'll have to defeat us first. There's only four of us and almost a hundred of you. I'd say you guys have quite the advantage, no?" Raising her hand into the air, Evergreen held up three fingers. "The time limit shall be three hours. If you cannot defeat us all before the time limit...the girls shall be reduced to sand." This earned several outcries from various guild members.
"I won't let that happen!" Natsu thought, as he tightly balled his fists. "I'll take them all down if I have to!"
"The battlefield will include all of Magnolia." Evergreen explained with a smirk, resting her hands on her hips. "The moment any of you finds us, the battle begins."
"Don't you brats screw with me!" Makarov roared, as he grew to the size of a small house. "I will not-"
"I thought I told you all to calm down, didn't I?" Laxus asked with a smug smirk, just as a blinding white light filled the entire guild hall, making everyone shield their eyes. "Let's all enjoy the festival. Let the Battle of Fairy Tail...begin!" When the light died down, Laxus and the Raijinshū had vanished.
"That absolute moron!" Makarov said in an irritated then, as he shrunk down to his normal size. "He has no idea what he's doing..." Fairy Tail's master turned to glance at Natsu and Gajeel, both dragon slayers now back onto their feet, looking read to kill. "He's just incurred the wrath of two dragons."
"RAH! I've gotta save nee-chan and the others!" Elfman roared, charging through the guild's front doors, a mob of his guild mates following after him.
"Bisca..." Alzack said underneath his breath, as he stared at the petrified cowgirl. "I will definitely save you, no matter what."
"That damn brat..." Makarov said, releasing a heavy sigh as he walked towards the guild's entrance. "I guess I'll have to teach him a lesson before Natsu and Gajeel kill him." However, Makarov was stopped dead in tracks when he ran face first into an invisible wall blocking the guild's entrance. "What the hell..."
"What the hell are you doing jii-chan? Trying to be a mime or something?" Gray asked, as he walked over to where Makarov was. "Because this isn't really the time."
"If you have time to be a smartass, then help me!" Makarov exclaimed, pushing against the invisible barrier that was blocking his path. "I cannot go on any further! There's some kind of invisible wall!"
"What the hell are you on about, you senile old man!?" Gray yelled, as he put his hand through the barrier that was supposedly blocking Makarov. "I don't see any barrier here and look, my hand went right through!"
"Well you wouldn't be able to see an invisible barrier you idiot!" Makarov grunted, continuing to push against the wall that was blocking him. "Just shut your trap and help me!"
"Tch, whatever." Gray muttered, as he grabbed Makarov's waist and tried to pull him forward. However, Gray was surprised when he wasn't able to pull Makarov past the guild's front doors. "What the hell is this shit?! You weren't kidding jii-chan!"
"I know, not let go of me!" Makarov exclaimed, slapping Gray's hands away. When Makarov looked back up after dusting himself off, he was surprised to see writing floating in the middle of the doorway. Makarov's eyes widened when he recognized the inscriptions. "These are...Freed's enchantments!?"
"Enchantment?" Gray parroted in a confused tone, as he quirked an eyebrow.
"Yes, it's in the form of a barrier." Makarov muttered, stroking his chin as he continued to inspect the words. "Enchantments are a form of magic placed upon a location, designed to trap someone once they step inside its boundaries. The enchantment has to inscribed in these rogue letters all around the guild hall. Those who stray within the enchantment are placed under certain 'rules'...and if they're not followed, escape is impossible." Walking back up to the barrier, Makarov pointed to a specific set of letters. "Look here boy. It says, 'Rule: Those above the age of 80, and stone statues, may not pass.' Which is why I'm not allowed to leave the guild. It take quite a while inscribe and enchantment this extensive, which means it's practically useless in combat, but a very effective trap."
"What the hell is up with this cheap magic?!" Gray yelled, as his eyes widened. "It's like some little brat saying, 'because I said so,' and it's actually working! Can't you destroy this barrier or something?! I mean come on!"
"I'm afraid to say that an enchantment's rules are absolute." Makarov said, slowly shaking his head. "And this specific barrier encompasses both age and substance. Damn you Freed...when did you learn to create such powerful enchantments?"
"So in other words, that bastard never intended to let you participate in this fight...He's a sneaky one." Gray said, as he grit his teeth in irritation. "Well I guess we have not other chose, we'll just have to give it our best shot."
"Wait! Gray!" Makarov exclaimed, pounding on the invisible barrier.
"I'm not gonna show that bastard any mercy just cause he's your grandson..." Gray said, as he took off running towards the center of Magnolia. "I'm gonna take Laxus down!"
"What the hell is Laxus thinking?!" Makarov thought, lowering his head. "He may be a stubborn idiot, but his strength is the real deal. Is there anyone who can stop him?" Turning around, Makarov gazed at the petrified girls on the stage, focusing specifically on a certain scarlet-haired knight. "Erza could definitely stand a chance...but with things the way they are now..." Makarov then turned his attention Natsu and Gajeel, both dragon slayers staring at the stone encased maidens. "Gajeel is very strong, but I don't think he's strong enough to handle Laxus on his own...and Natsu has grown tremendously over the past few months, but is really powerful enough to handle Laxus now? Maybe if both of them were to work together..." Just then, Makarov noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Peeking his head out from behind the guild's front doors was Reedus.
"I-I'm sorry master..." Reedus apologized, as he hung his head in shame. "It...It's just that...I'm really scared of Laxus..."
"Reedus! Good, you're still here!" Makarov exclaimed, an idea popping into his head. "You know where Porlyusica lives in the eastern forest, right?" Reedus simply nodded his head in response. "She may have some type of medicine to cure petrification. Can you go speak to her for me?"
"Right! I'm on it!" Reedus said, before her ran out of the guild hall.
"Alright, I think we've stood around long enough Salamander." Gajeel said, placing a strong hand on Natsu's shoulder. "I know you don't want to leave your mates here, I sure as shit don't want to leave Levy while she's in this state, but we can't set them free unless we beat these assholes."
"*Sigh* You're right, it's time we head out." Natsu said, as he took one last look at the petrified girls on the stage. "Don't worry Lucy, Erza, Juvia, and Mira. I will save you all." Turning away from stage, Natsu made his way towards the guild's entrance, with Gajeel right at his side. Natsu cracked his knuckles, a fierce look in his eyes. "Let's get out there and kick Laxus' a-" Natsu was cut off mid-sentence when he and Gajeel simultaneously slammed face-first into an invisible barrier. Both dragon slayers fell onto their asses, clutching their sore noses. "OW! What the fuck is this?!"
"Why the fuck can't we walk through this damn door!?" Gajeel roared, charging into the invisible barrier with his shoulder. "I've got some serious fucking frustration I need to vent, and Laxus' face is the perfect punching bag!"
"Calm down you idiots!" Makarov exclaimed, as he slapped Natsu and Gajeel upside the head. "There's a barrier surrounding the guild...but it is strange that it's keeping you two trapped here. It's only supposed to work on stone statues and those over 80 years old."
"That's a load of bull, I sure as shit ain't over 80!" Gajeel exclaimed, huffing and crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe this barrier is defective or something."
"Well for whatever reason you two are stuck here..." Makarov muttered, as he stroked his chin. "This situation just keeps getting more frustrating by the moment."
"Sorry jii-chan, but I can't just sit around on my ass and let all the others fight..." Natsu said, walking back up to the guild's front door. Coating his arm in searing blue flames, Natsu cocked his fist back. "I'm busting through this damn barrier! Then I'm gonna kick the shit out of Laxus!"
"Wait you idiot! There's no way-" Makarov's warning was too late and Natsu had intention of listening to him. The pink-haired dragon slayer's flame coated fist launched forward. Natsu's flaming fist collided with the barrier and sent out a small shockwave. But just as Makarov had predicted, the barrier seemed completely fine. "See I told-" Once again Makarov was cut off when Natsu let a roar of defiance, increasing the amount of flames coursing off his arm. As Natsu continued to push against the barrier, Makarov's eyes widened when he spotted several thin cracks starting to spread outwards from where Natsu's fist was hitting. "I...I don't believe it...he's actually...breaking Freed's enchantment? Just how strong has Natsu become?" The cracks slowly began to further extend outwards, growing larger in size. Eventually the cracks filled the entire doorway, and it seemed like Natsu was actually going to destroy the barrier. But the dual dragon slayer was expending magic far too quickly and he was rapidly losing steam. Moments later the flames around Natsu's arm began to die down, before burning out completely. Standing on shaky legs for a few moments, Natsu eventually collapsed to the ground, panting heavily and covered in sweat.
"God *Pant* damn it *Pant* I *Pant* almost had it..." Natsu struggled to say, catching his breath.
"You alright Salamander?" Gajeel asked, as he crouched down next to Natsu. "Cause you look like shit right now."
"Yeah, I just used way too much magic too quickly." Natsu said, wiping the sweat off his brow and slowly getting back onto his feet. However, Natsu stumbled and almost feel back down, but he was caught by Gajeel. The iron dragon slayer lifted Natsu up and helped him over to a nearby table. With a huff Natsu plopped down onto the seat. "Thanks Gajeel."
"Don't mention it Salamander." Gajeel said, as he sat on top of the table next to the Natsu. "But that was pretty damn impressive, you almost smashed through that barrier."
"Yeah...but it looks like it was all for nothing." Natsu muttered, watching as the barrier quickly repaired itself, the cracks disappearing entirely. "I'll give it to Freed, that is one tough fucking barrier."
(Same Time: Unknown Location Within Magnolia)
"BWAH!" Freed panted, as sweat dripped off his brow. The green-haired member of the Raijinshū clutched his head, as he experienced a severe headache. "Damn it!"
"What's wrong Freed?" Evergreen asked, placing a hand on the green-haired man's shoulder. "You started acting weird all of a sudden. Are you in pain?"
"Someone...almost broke through my barrier..." Freed said in between breaths, which shocked both Evergreen and Bickslow.
"How can that be possible?!" Evergreen exclaimed, her eyes widening. "The only ones who should still be in the guild are Makarov and those petrified girls."
"I don't know myself...but it took all my strength to keep that barrier intact..." Freed said, as he slowly shook his head. "But I do know that whoever tried to break through my barrier must be incredibly powerful."
(Same Time: With Alzack, Jet, and Droy)
"Did you find anything Alzack!?" Jet exclaimed, running up to the cowboy, with Droy trailing right behind him.
"I haven't found shit!" Alzack replied, as he stomped his foot in frustration. "How about you guys?!"
"We haven't found a trace." Droy answered, shaking his head.
"RAGH! Those bastards! I'll never forgive Laxus and those other assholes for doing that to Bisca!" Alzack yelled, as he kicked over a stack of crates.
"O-Oi, calm down Alzack!" Droy said, trying to quell the cowboy's anger.
"How the hell can I calm down!?" Alzack shot back, as he whipped around to face Jet and Droy. "If we don't find and beat Laxus in the next three hours-" Alzack stopped mid-rant when he noticed symbols encircling them. "What the hell is this now?!" The symbols began to glow brightly, before two barriers materialized, trapping the three mages. "An enchantment! You've gotta be kidding me?!"
"So that bastard Freed put up enchantment traps up all over the city..." Jet said, staring down at the symbols on the ground. "Then we should definitely take him out first."
"Guys..." Droy said, as he got Jet and Alzack's attention. "We have a problem."
"What are you-" Jet stopped talking when he spotted writing appear on the barrier in front of them. "Rule: Only the strongest mages trapped within may escape...you're joking right...are they expecting us to fight amongst ourselves?"
"That's cheating Freed!" Droy exclaimed, shaking his fist in the air.
"I'm sorry guys..." Alzack muttered, as he aimed his magic revolvers at Jet and Droy. "I have to save Bisca. I can't afford to be waisting any time."
(Back at Fairy Tail's Guild Hall)
"What's this now..." Makarov said to himself, noticing that words were appearing on the barrier that was blocking their exit. "Battle of Fairy Tail progress report...what does that mean?" Just then another series of words materialized on the barrier. Makarov's eyes widened when he read the progress report. "Jet vs. Droy vs. Alzack...What the hell is going on here?!"
"Why are they fighting amongst themselves?" Natsu asked, as he walked up next to Makarov. "This isn't the time to be bickering with each other." Moments later the progress report changed once again. "Alzack...beat both Jet and Droy? And there's only 81 members of Fairy Tail that can still fight?" Natsu tightly balled his fists, as he reread the progress report. "Just what the hell is going on here?"
"This...this can't be right..." Makarov said in a shaky voice, seeing dozens of similar progress updates popping up on the barrier. "Stop this! Stop fighting amongst yourselves you fools?!"
"What the hell are they doing?!" Gajeel growled, as he slammed his fist into a wall. "There has to be a reason they're all fighting each other!"
"There must be enchantment traps spread all throughout the city...and the people who get stuck in them have to fight each other." Happy explained, watching as the number of remaining Fairy Tail members seemed to be dropping by the second. "This is probably what Laxus mean by the Battle of Fairy Tail."
"NGHH! That son of a bitch!" Natsu growled, as he pressed his hand against the invisible barrier. "I need to get out there!"
"You need to calm down Natsu." Makarov said, extending a hand onto Natsu's shoulder. "Nobody seems to be thinking straight out there. Our comrades' lives are on the line right now, so we can't have you losing your cool too. At the rate we're going, everyone who's petrified will turn to dust, and they'll never come back."
"*Sigh* Jii-chan...Laxus may be a massive ass that seemingly lives to put other people down, and he never ceases to piss me off, but I don't think he'll really kill anyone. I'm definitely worried about the girls, but I don't think they're in any immediate danger. Laxus is just using them as bartering chips right now, which irritates the hell out of me." Natsu said, much to Makarov and Gajeel's surprise. "He can seem like the world's biggest piece of shit sometimes, but he's still a member of our guild." Crossing his arms over his chest, a grin spread across Natsu's face. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still gonna kick the everliving shit out of him for touching a hair on those girl's heads, it's the least he deserves."
"Natsu..." Makarov thought, staring at the pink-haired dragon slayer in shock. "All these years you and Laxus have constantly been at each other's throats, but deep down you still considered him a comrade, even now after everything he's done. You actually believe he wouldn't go that far..." Gritting his teeth, Makarov balled his fists. "I just..." Before Makarov could finish his thought, a new progress report flashed onto the barrier, and Makarov's eyes widened once he read it. "Forty-two remaining?! Just through nakama fighting each other...there's already less then half left..."
(With Reedus: Eastern Outskirts of Magnolia)
"*Huff* The eastern forest...the eastern forest..." Reedus repeated to himself, as he ran in towards where Porlyusica's home was. "I have to find Porlyusica-san's house...I have to get out of the city..." But just before Reedus could leave the city limits, he ran into an invisible barrier blocking of the town's exit. "What the...Don't tell me there's an enchantment around the entire town!?" Reedus' eyes widened when he felt an ominous magical presence approaching. Spinning around, Reedus spotted magical characters gathering in front of him.
"I will not allow any violation of my laws. The incident we had earlier was startling enough." Freed's disembodied voice echoed out, the magical characters beginning to circle in a specific spot.
"W-What's this...the characters are..." Reedus said, as a pair of legs began to form from the characters.
"Laxus made it abundantly clear." Freed said, suddenly appearing in front of Reedus. "That the battlefield is to be Magnolia, and only Magnolia." Freed pointed at Reedus, magical characters swirling around his extended finger. "If you're a mage then fight. Show me your true power. That I decree as law."
(Back at Fairy Tail's Guild Hall)
"We're dropping like flies out there..." Makarov grunted, as he watched new progress updates project onto the barrier. "Damn it...looks like Elfman was just defeated by Evergreen."
"Even that mountain of a man was defeated..." Gajeel muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Things aren't looking good right now."
"And it looks like Gray is fighting Bickslow right now." Natsu added, as he glared at the words on the barrier. "Looks like the Raijinshū is finally making their move."
"No..." Makarov said, watching as the number of combatants went down once again. "They took out Reedus...this isn't good, it would have been quite the advantage to have Porlyusica helping us."
"It's fine jii-chan." Natsu said, as he walked up next to Makarov. "Like I said, Laxus is just bluffing."
"Oho? You think I'm bluffing, Natsu?" A familiar voice said from behind the dual dragon slayer. Whipping around, everyone was surprised to see Laxus crackle into the room.
"Laxus!" Natsu exclaimed, instantly coating his fists in orange lightning. "Did you just come here to taunt us?!"
"Calm down Natsu..." Happy said, as he flew up next to the pink-haired dragon slayer. "That's just a magic projection."
"Oi, what the hell are you two idiots still doing here?" Laxus asked, glancing back and forth from Natsu to Gajeel. "Shouldn't you guys be out there fighting?"
"We would be, but this damn barrier your lackey put up is keeping us trapped here for some reason." Gajeel growled, as he slammed his fist against the invisible barrier.
"Laxus, just stop this foolishness already." Makarov urged, stepping towards the imposing man. "This has gone too far."
"Your nakama...no you usually call them 'brats' don't you." Laxus said, as he smirked at Makarov. "Well, tell me how it feels to watch your brats beat each other into the ground. With Erza, Natsu, and Gajeel out of the picture, I guess there's nobody out there with the power to stand up against the Raijinshū. So old man...do you surrender?"
"There's still Gray!" Natsu exclaimed, glaring at Laxus. "The ice princess is pretty damn strong! He'd never lose to the Raijinshū! I won''t expect anything less from my rival!"
"Hah, you're pinning all your hopes on that weakling?" Laxus asked, as he laughed haughtily. "Then I hope your prepared to have those hopes dashed!"
"I wouldn't underestimate Gray if I were you Laxus." Makarov said, doing his best to look confident, but on the inside he was full of worry. "Please Gray! We need you pull off a miracle!"
(Five Minutes Earlier: Magnolia's Shopping District)
"Where the hell are these bastards?" Gray muttered to himself, as he walked through an abandoned clothing store. "I've been searching all over for these guys and I haven't found anything yet." However, Gray would get his wish when he peaked past a rack of clothes, spotting one of the people he was searching for. "So this is where you were hiding?"
"AH! It's Gray!" Bickslow cheered, letting out a boisterous laugh. "Hey...how about we have some fun?!"
"If you consider getting your ass kicked fun, then I'm all in." Gray said, as he slid into a fighting stance, ice flakes swirling around him.
"YAHOO! I can tell this gonna be a blast!" Bickslow exclaimed, charging towards Gray without warning. Laughing manically, Bickslow attempted a low sweep to kick out Gray's legs. But, the Gray reacted quickly and jumped over Bickslow's kick. "YEAH!" Raising his arm, Bickslow's wooden dolls gathered in front of him. "Fly, my babies!" Mimicking Bickslow's maniacal laughter, the wooden dolls quickly encircled Gray. Moments later the wooden dolls began to fire magical beams at Gray.
"Damn it, these things are annoying!" Gray grunted, as he struggled to dodge the rapid firing lasers.
"Line Formation!" Bickslow commanded, his wooden dolls quickly stacking on top of each other. The dolls' eyes began to glow, firing a large vertical beam at Gray. The ice mage's eyes widened for a moment, before he dodged the laser, using a nearby mannequin to spring into the air. "HA! You're not bad for a punk, Gray! Now my babies, Victory Formation!" However, Bickslow was surprised when his babies didn't follow his orders. Bickslow quickly quickly turned to where his wooden dolls should have been. "What's wrong, babies?!" Bickslow gasped when he saw that his babies were frozen completely solid. "What!? When did he-" Bickslow was cut off when Gray sprang into action, smashing his knee into the armored man's face. Head snapping, Bickslow collapsed to the ground.
"Ice Make: Hammer!" Gray exclaimed, as tightly balled his fist, causing massive hammer formed from solid ice appearing over Bickslow. Gray slammed his fist into his palm, making the ice hammer fall towards Bickslow.
"X Formation!" Bickslow ordered, forming an 'X' with his arms. Gray was was shocked when four mannequins gathered around Bickslow and stopped the ice hammer from hitting him. "Phew! That was a close one!"
"What!? But I froze your wooden dolls!" Gray said, as he grit his teeth in frustration. "Just what the hell is going on here!?"
"My magic 'human possession,' allows me to implant souls into my dolls." Bickslow explained with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. "You can freeze their bodies all you like, but you can't freeze their souls. I can simply transfer them into new bodies whenever I want."
"Then I guess I'll just have to freeze you instead!" Gray exclaimed, as he charged towards Bickslow, ice shards swirling around hands.
"Come and catch me if you can!" Bickslow cheered with his tongue lolled out, before turning around and running out of the clothing store.
"Oi! You're not getting away!" Gray yelled, as he attempted to freeze Bickslow in place. But his attempts were stopped when several mannequin blocked his attack. "You son of a bitch! Stop running away!" Without a second thought, Gray began to chase Bickslow through the streets of Magnolia. "Stop right there, Bickslow!" Bickslow merely laughed maniacally in response, taking a sharp turn down a narrow alley. "Damn...this asshole." Turning into the alley, Gray was surprised to see that Bickslow wasn't there. "Where did he-"
"Where ya lookin buddy!? I'm up here Gray!" Looking up, Gray's eyes widened when saw Bickslow high above, doing the splits to hold himself up.
"What the hell are you trying to pull?" Gray growled, as he balled his fists. "Why did you take me on this wild goose chase through town?"
"I told you didn't I?" Bickslow asked, taunting Gray by sticking out his tongue. "I just want to play! My babies want to join as well!"
"What the hell are you babbling-" Gray stopped mid-sentence when he noticed magical characters appear on the ground around him. "An enchantment!?" Gray felt his heart sink when he what appeared on the barrier. "Until this battle is over, those trapped in this barrier may not use magic..." Lowering his head, Gray tightly balled his fists. "So all that running around was to lead into some cheap trap?"
"It's times like these that remote-control type magic really comes in handy!" Bickslow said with a grin, just as two mannequins appeared in the entrance to the alley. "Looks like this battle is over, Gray. It was fun while it lasted."
"Shit! The mannequins!" Gray exclaimed, as he instinctively raised his arm to try and freeze the dolls. However, Gray quickly remembered that he couldn't use his magic because of the barrier. The ice mage's eyes widened when the mannequins fired beams of magical energy at him. Gritting his teeth in frustration, all Gray could do was raise his arms and try to block some of the magical beam. Gray released a pained scream when the beams hit him, encasing his body and most of the alley is smoke.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Bickslow laughed manically, staring down into the dust and debris. "That's too bad for you, man! I guess even the great Gray is useless without his-" Bickslow stopped when he saw a silhouette burst out of the smoke and leap towards him. "That's not possible!"
"I'm not going down before I've landed another hit!" Gray roared, as he smashed his fist into Bickslow's face, sending both mages crashing to the ground.
"Damn, that kid has a solid right hook..." Bickslow grumbled, rubbing his sore cheek before he got back onto his feet. "But I will admit that was pretty impressive...still getting up after taking all that damage from my babies..." With a smirk on his face, Bickslow walked over to Gray's motionless form. Bickslow crouched down next to Gray and prodded him with his finger. After a few moments of not receiving a response, Bickslow's smirk widened. "Well, whaddaya know...the fight's already over!"
(Back at Fairy Tail's Guild Hall)
"No way..." Natsu breathed out, as he read the latest progress update several times over. The dual dragon slayer's shoulders were slightly shaking, as he tightly clenched his fists. "Gray...lost..."
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Laxus laughed boisterously, pointing at Natsu. "What the hell did I tell you idiots!? That punk is such a weakling!"
"No way!" Happy exclaimed, as he flew up next to Natsu. "You guys pulled some type of dirty trick! None of you are fighting fair!"
"So, who's going to defeat the Raijinshū now?" Laxus asked in a cocky tone, crossing his arms over his chest.
"We've still got Natsu and Gajeel!" Happy said, as he gestured to both dragon slayers. "They'll beat all of you!"
"And what are they going to do shut up in this place?" Laxus questioned with a smirk, stopping Happy in his tracks.
"All right...that's enough." Makarov said, as he hung his head, releasing a heavy sigh. "I surrender. So stop this useless violence, Laxus."
"Jii-chan!" Natsu snapped, whipping around to face Makarov. "You can't just give up so easily!"
"Enough Natsu...there's no point-"
"He's right, this just won't do." Laxus said, as he sneered at Makarov. "I can't accept the great master of Fairy Tail being so pathetic and accepting his defeat this easily. No...No, if you really want to resign...you do it after you hand over the title of master of Fairy Tail to me."
"That's a dirty fucking trick Laxus!" Natsu growled, slamming an electrified fist into a nearby wall. "Stop these damn games and fight me like a man! Or are you so scared of me that you have to run off and hide like a pussy?!"
"You better watch your tongue Natsu." Laxus said, as he glared at the pink-haired dragon slayer. "Keep this up and I'll have Evergreen kill those girls right now."
"You son of a bitch..." Natsu snarled, tightly balling his fists. "I'm gonna make you pay for threatening my nakama."
"Why you...so that's what you were after..." Makarov muttered, as he hung his head.
"There's just an hour and a half until those women crumble to dust." Laxus pointed out, a twisted smirk on his face. "You better start thinking, because the clock is ticking! If you want all of this to end, all you have to do is use the guild's megaphone and announce to the whole town that Fairy Tail's new master is me. What's more important to you old man? You position, or the lives of your guild members?"
"Just get the fuck out of here!" Natsu roared, hurling a large ball of blue fire at Laxus, causing the projection fizzle and disappear. Panting slightly, Natsu sat down at the closest table. "That bastard..."
"Natsu, that was just a thought projection." Happy said, as he sat on the table next to Natsu.
"I know buddy, but I couldn't stand listening to that guy's voice any longer." Natsu said, running his hands through his wild pink hair. "He was seriously pissing me off."
"Tch, I can't stand this asshole." Gajeel muttered, as he sat at the table across from Natsu. "Everything he does irritates me."
"To be honest, I wouldn't mind stepping down as master." Makarov said, surprising both Natsu and Gajeel. "However...I cannot trust the future of Fairy Tail in Laxus' hands. He is far too lacking in both conviction and heart. He has no right to take this seat from me."
"But at this rate..." Happy said, as he turned his head to look at the petrified female fairies on the stage. "They'll all be turned to dust."
"This is really bad..." Natsu said, watching as the number of combatants still fighting started to plummet drastically. "Alzack...Nab...they're all dropping like flies..." The pink-haired dragon slayer's eyes widened in shock when the number stopped dropping. "Two? There's only two people left?" Turning his head, Natsu locked eyes with Gajeel. "Looks like we're the only ones left standing."
"Yeah, but we can't do shit when we're stuck in here." Gajeel grumbled, as he drummed his fingers on the table. "We're running out of options here Salamander."
"Have all of my children fallen because of friend fighting friend, and the Raijinshū mopping up the rest?!" Makarov thought, tightly balling his fists. "We have no mages left to fight...is this really the end?"
"Alright, things are looking desperate and we've got no plans." Natsu said, as he stood up from his seat and made his way onto the stage. "Looks like I've got no other choice."
"What are you planning to do Natsu?" Makarov asked, quirking an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm going to revive Erza." Natsu said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "The stone should come off if I burn it, right?"
"What are you talking about you idiot!?" Makarov exclaimed, storming over to the stage. "You might end up killing her!"
"We won't know unless we try!" Natsu cheered with a grin, as he pressed his flaming blue hands against Erza's shoulders. "Don't worry jii-chan, my magic can't hurt Erza any more." Natsu's blue flames quickly encased Erza's entire body, bathing her in the intense fire. For several moments nothing seemed to be happening, but as soon as Natsu began to pump out more magic a bright light began to glow on the crook of Erza's neck. "The mate mark?! It must be reacting to my magic! Okay Erza, come back to me!" Natsu pushed out even more flames, the fire was so harsh that everyone else present had to shield themselves from the heat. "Come on, Erza! I need you by my side!" Moments later, the stone encasing Erza began to crack.
"Hold up Natsu!" Makarov exclaimed, watching as the cracks began to spread. "She's going to fall apart!" Makarov tried to rush onto the stage, but he was stopped when someone grabbed his shoulder. Whipping his head around, Makarov was surprised to see that it was Gajeel who had stopped him. "Gajeel, what are you-"
"Just slow down for a second ya old geezer." Gajeel said with a smirk, gesturing back towards the stage. "Cause you're about to see something amazing."
"Come on, Erza! We need your help!" Natsu thought, as he tightened his grip on the scarlet-haired knight's shoulders. Leaning down and closing his eyes, Natsu pressed his head against Erza's. However, Natsu was surprised when instead of stone, he felt his face sink into something much softer. The dual dragon slayer's eyes shot open and he saw that his face was now buried in Erza's strawberry scented hair. Natsu instantly stopped his flames and hugged his mate tightly. "Erza! You're back!"
"W-What?" Erza murmured in a confused tone, gazing at her surroundings. "I remember Evergreen turning me to stone, then everything went dark for so long. But all of a sudden I felt this incredible warmth wrap around me and take all my worries away." It was then that Erza noticed that someone holding her. Tilting her head back, the scale-haired knight wasn't surprised to see that she was in Natsu's arms. A smile spread across Erza's face, as she pressed her head against Natsu's chest. "I guess I have you to thank for saving me."
"Well I couldn't just abandon my knight when she's in trouble." Natsu said with a grin, as he hugged Erza a little tighter.
"Erza..." Makarov said in a shocked tone, as he walked onto the stage. "How did this happen?"
"I don't really know myself..." Erza said, gently getting out of Natsu's grasp and standing back onto her feet. "Perhaps it had to do with my right eye...and a little help from Natsu." With a small smile, Erza placed a hand over her mate mark. "Master doesn't need to know about us just yet."
"Of course! That makes sense!" Makarov thought, as he nodded his head. "Since half the magic was taken in through her artificial eye, the effect was halved!"
"Erza, do you understand the situation?" Happy asked, flying up next to Erza. "Because we're in a really tight spot right now."
"Yes, I was able to overhear everything." Erza replied, as she crossed her arms underneath her chest. "And I'm not too pleased with Laxus' attitude."
"Yes, we can do this!" Makarov thought, a grin spreading across his face. "Now's our time to strike back!"
"But before I head out..." Erza said with a smile, tapping Natsu on the shoulder and gesturing towards Lucy. "Since you freed the knight, you might as well free the princess too."
"Heh, you're right." Natsu said with a chuckle, as he walked over to Lucy, his hands coated in bright blue flames. "Time to free you too Luce!"
And done! I felt that this was a good stopping point, and we'll really have things start to ramp up next chapter! Will Natsu be able to free Lucy from her stone prison? Will Fairy Tail finally be able to mount their counter attack? Find out in the next chapter, which will pick up right where this one left off. Well this arc is really getting underway, and things aren't looking good for Fairy Tail. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I should hopefully have the next chapter out soon. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed this fic, PLEASE REVIEW (Come on guys, there's almost 2,000 of you reading this fic, we should be able to get more than 30ish reviews for each chapter. I really want to hear your feedback), PM me any ideas you have for any of my fics, and check out my profile and other fics if you haven't already. So until next time, I'm outta here!"