Hey guys, I'm finally back with another update for this story. I apologize for the long wait for this chapter, but I've been extremely busy lately and haven't had a lot of time or motivation to do any sort of writing. I also managed to snag an Xbox Series X, so that has been eating up a lot of my free time as well. I appreciate you all being patient with me. Well, I won't keep you waiting, so let's get to the fic.
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Magic
Flashback
"Thought Projection"
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.
"Can anyone hear me!? Please, someone, respond! If you're fine, please reply!"
"Hibiki!? Is that you!?" Erza exclaimed in a surprised tone, before setting Jellal and Wendy down. "I'm glad to hear your voice!"
"Erza-san!? And Wendy-chan is with you too! You're both okay, right?!"
"I'm all right too...more or less...meeen..." Ichiya's exhausted voice echoed out through the telepathic link.
"Senpai! Thank goodness you're okay too! The wings were damaged, but with Lyon-kun's ice magic, Sherry-san's doll attack magic, and Ren's air magic, we managed to get the ship afloat!"
"I've never tried to control something...this large..." Sherry said in a strained tone, using all her focus to keep Christina from falling apart.
"I-It's not like...this thing...is heavy...or anything..." Ren said as he began to pant slightly, doing his best to keep up his tsundere persona.
"We used Eve's snow magic just now to attack Nirvana."
"I managed to combine all of Christina's cannons into one attack..." Eve explained while also checking on some wiring within the ship. "But...even with all that...we only managed to take out one leg. I'm sorry everyone...but I've used up all my magic..."
"Thank you...all of you..." Wendy said as she tried to wipe away her tears, sniffling several times. "Even if it's just a little...you bought my guild some more time."
"As you heard from Eve...we're at the limits of our magical energy...we cannot launch any more attacks from here." Just then a small explosion rang out and Christina began to lurch and slowly descend out of the sky.
"Please forgive me..." Sherry said in an exhausted tone as she fell onto her knees. "I can't... anymore...I just can't..."
"Don't push yourself too hard!" Ren said, crouching down next to Sherry and resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, which caused a light blush to spread across her face. "I'm worried about your safety too!"
"Hibiki!? Are you all okay up there?!" Erza exclaimed in a worried tone, watching as the large ship began to fall towards the ground.
"Don't worry about us right now! But there is something I have to tell you all before we crash! It took a damn long time to locate, but I finally found it with my archive! The way to finally stop Nirvana!" Everyone who could hear the transmission was surprised by this new revelation. "Nirvana has six legs, but those legs are actually pipes that suck magical power from the earth itself! There are lacrima crystals near the base of each leg that store the extracted power! A simultaneous attack that destroys all of them at once should stop Nirvana! But it has to be at the same time! It will repair any damage if it's not simultaneous destruction!"
"How are we supposed to coordinate something like that?!" Erza said biting her thumb as she started to feel a creeping sense of hopelessness.
"I would love to guide you all...but I don't think I'll last much longer..." Just then Christina slammed into the ground and Hibiki's telepathic link was briefly cut off. "I'll have to upload the timing into your heads...I know you'll be able to do it! I believe in you all!"
"What is this?" Erza muttered, a small display popping up in front of her eyes. "We have twenty minutes?"
"I see that too." Wendy said as a similar screen appeared in front of her. "That's not much time."
"You're wasting your time." A new menacing voice echoed out, hijacking Hibiki's telepathic link. "For those of you who don't know, I am Zero, Oración Seis' master! Before I say any more, I must applaud whoever among you has archive magic that rivals even Brain's own. But I digress, mages of light, listen closely! From this moment forward, I will destroy everything in existence! I've already destroyed three of your friends...the pink-haired one proved to be a particular thorn in my side!"
"Natsu!" Wendy breathed out as tears began to pour from her eyes once again. "It can't be true...Natsu can't be...he just can't..."
"He's not dead." Erza said, before tightly balling her fists, her voice laced with barely contained rage. "I can still sense Natsu and Lucy through their mate marks...but the sensation I'm feeling...it's not very strong...especially for Natsu..." A few drops of blood fell from Erza's palms as her nails pierced the skin. "I'll make that bastard pay for hurting them...we'll grind this place into dust!"
"Erza..." Wendy muttered as she stared at the scarlet-haired knight, surprised by the anger and determination in her eyes. "So this is the bond shared between a dragon slayer and their mates...it's amazing...I hope I can experience that one day..."
"You mentioned something about destroying lacrima in a simultaneous attack? Well, I am currently standing in front of one of those lacrima! HAHAHAHAHA! And as long as I stand, you will never be able to destroy them all at once! So, how about we play a little game?! Whoever finds me first, gets to die first, sounds like fun!" With that final menacing message, Zero cut off his telepathic link.
"You guys have a one-in-six chance of running into Zero...and I hate to say it...but Erza and Natsu are the only matches for him."
"Wait a minute! We don't have six people to take out the lacrima!" Carla exclaimed in a panic, her eyes widening in fear. "And Wendy can't-"
"No, Carla..." Wendy said as she slowly stood back up, wind swirling around her arms. "I can fight! I'll help take out one of the lacrima!"
"Wendy..." Carla breathed out, staring at Wendy as if she was an entirely different person. "You've grown up so much in such a short time..."
"That's three of us..." Erza said as she glanced between Jellal and Wendy. "Is there anyone else who can help us?!"
"I will be of assistance." Ichiya's voice rang out through the telepathic link. "As soon as I untie myself."
"This isn't good...my telepathy...and my magic...are about to..."
"We need at least two more! Some else please respond!" Erza exclaimed as she felt a sudden pulse from her mate mark. "Natsu...Lucy...Gray...please answer us..."
"Gray..." Lyon said in a pained tone, his voice weak over the telepathic link. "Get up right now...you have to uphold your honor of being Ur's disciple! That means you can't be beaten so easily!"
"I really hate Lucy..." Sherry's voice sounded off this time. "She's really cute but lets it go to her head...she stupid and clumsy...and can be really weak sometimes...but...she always gives everything her all..."
"Natsu..." Wendy said as she fought back tears, clasping her hands together. "Please...we need your help..."
"You can do it Natsu..." Erza said, rubbing her mate mark once again. "I believe in you..."
"Natsu-kun...please...hear our...call..."
(Same Time: With Natsu's Group)
"Yeah, we hear ya!" Natsu's voice boomed over the telepathic link as he slammed his fist into the ground, veins bulging on his arm. Flanking Natsu were Gray and Lucy, both mages looking battered and beaten. Lucy looked the most unscathed, with Natsu having blocked most of the damage she would have taken. Natsu on the other looked the worst off, his body covered in blood and lacerations. With a throaty growl, the pink-haired dragon slayer stood up on shaky legs and tore off his tattered shirt, revealing the large burn-like injury covering his back. Coating his hands in brilliant blue flames, Natsu slammed his fists together. "We're gonna burn this fucking place to the ground!"
"We'll destroy all six lacrima..." Gray said in a strained tone, grunting as he steadied himself on a wall. "At the same time..."
"And one of us will be lucky enough to punch that bastard Zero in the face..." Lucy said as she stared up at Natsu, watching the blue flames flicker around his fists. "We'll make him pay."
"We've only got eighteen minutes left..." Happy said, rapidly shaking his head to clean off the debris he was covered in. "We need to hurry and protect Carla and Wendy's guild!"
"This connection...it's about to fade...so I've transmitted a map to all of your heads...each of the lacrima is marked by a number...before the connection break, each of you pick-"
"I'm taking lacrima number one!" Natsu growled without hesitation as his eyes narrowed, his entire practically shaking in anger. "I think you all know why...don't even try to stop me."
"Tch, no one can stop your stubborn ass when you've got a stupid idea in your head." Gray teased with a chuckle, sweat pouring off his brow as he fought to even stand upright. "I'll take lacrima number two then."
"I'll take number three..." Lucy said as she stood up and gently gripped Natsu's fist, the intense blue flames feeling only lukewarm to her. "Please Natsu...kick that bastard's ass and come back to us."
"You can count on that, Luce." Natsu said, turning his head and flashing his mate a toothy grin. "That son of a bitch is gonna pay for threatening Wendy's guild."
"I shall handle number four! My perfume tells me that one is the closest to my location, men!"
"I'll go for number five then." Erza's voice echoed through Natsu's head, causing him to perk up slightly.
"Erza!" Natsu exclaimed as a wave of relief washed over him. "I'm so glad you're still okay!"
"Yes, it was all thanks to Wendy. Oh! Wendy is also with me right now, so you don't have to worry about her!"
"I suppose I'll take-" Natsu quirked an eyebrow when a familiar voice was suddenly cut off. The pink-haired dragon's slayer's eyes narrowed slightly as he took a guess who the voice belonged to.
"Erza...is Jellal with you and Wendy..." Natsu asked, which lead to an uncomfortable silence falling over the telepathic link. After not hearing a response for several seconds, Natsu released a heavy sigh. "I'll take that as a 'yes' then..." Clicking his tongue, Natsu began to rub the back of his head. "Damn it...Erza, you know how I feel about Jellal...especially after what he did to you at the Tower of Heaven...but...I know how close you two were...and I know you want to try and repair your relationship. I trust your judgment Erza, so I'm not going to try and stop you...just...please be careful. Don't let that son of a bitch hurt you again."
"Natsu...thank you...thank you for being so understanding..." Hearing Erza's slightly shaky tone, Natsu could tell that she was holding back tears.
"I have one condition though..." Natsu said, wincing slightly as a sharp pain shot up his back. "Jellal is coming with me to the first lacrima."
"Natsu, I don't think-"
"It's fine Erza, I shall go with him."
"If Jellal is going with Natsu, then I'll take out the sixth Lacrima!" Wendy's slightly nervous tone spoke up over the telepathic link. "I may not be the strongest, but I'm sure that I can take the lacrima out!"
"Great, let's get-" Natsu stopped mid-sentence when he noticed that the telepathic link connecting everyone had been cut off. "Shit...we lost connection."
"Hibiki really was at his limit..." Lucy muttered, before walking up next to Natsu and resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Natsu...are you sure about letting Erza get so close to Jellal?"
"Even if Erza is my mate now, she is still a grown woman and can make her own decisions..." Natsu said as he released a heavy sigh, his shoulders slacking slightly. "I have no right to tell her who she can and can't see. But I swear to god, if Jellal hurts her again...I don't know if I'll be able to hold myself back." Quickly smacking his cheeks to pump himself back up, Natsu took off running down a nearby hallway. "Alright everyone, let's do this! We have to stop Nirvana once and for all!"
(A Few Minutes Later: Lacrima #1 Chamber)
"Finally made it..." Natsu groaned, wincing slightly as another painful pang ran down his back. Stepping into the lacrima's large holding chamber, Natsu wasn't surprised to see Zero smirking darkly at him. "Looks like my sense of smell is still working, I knew you'd be here."
"And I knew that you weren't dead." Zero said as he clasped his hands behind his back. Scanning the pink-haired dragon slayer from head to toe, Zero chuckled when he saw how battered and bruised Natsu really was. "Do you really think that you can beat me and destroy the lacrima in your condition? It looks like you can barely stand."
"Trust me, I've got more than enough strength left in me to take you both out." Natsu growled, tightly balling his fists, engulfing them in crackling orange lightning. However, before Natsu could charge towards Zero, he heard footsteps coming from the hallway behind him. Turning around, Natsu wasn't surprised to see that Jellal approaching. "Heh, I'm beat to hell and I still got here before you."
"I apologize Natsu...but a sudden realization struck me on my way here, and it gave me pause..." Jellal explained with a small smile as he stopped next to the pink-haired dragon slayer. "The name Natsu Dragneel...and the hope that comes with that name. You are a fire and lightning dragon slayer, whose powers are amplified by eating your respective elements."
"Tch, seeing you here, I was hoping that your memories had perhaps returned, but it looks like you're still spouting nonsense." Zero said in an annoyed tone, scowling at Natsu and Jellal. "What a disappointment."
"My goals have not changed, Zero!" Jellal exclaimed as he fiercely glared at Oración Seis ' leader. "I will stop Nirvana!"
"Memories..." Natsu parroted, quirking an eyebrow in confusion. "What the hell is he talking about?"
"I have no memories of my life before I was awakened..." Jellal confessed which caused the pink-haired dragon slayer's eyes to widen in shock. "I've been told that I was a truly horrible person, who hurt many people...but I have no recollection of doing such awful things. From what I've heard, I am personally responsible for deeply hurting you and Erza...but now isn't the time for that. Right now, I want to protect Wendy's guild and stop Nirvana. I want to lend you my strength."
"Don't fuck with me!" Natsu roared in rage, lashing out and punching Jellal in the face. With a fierce growl, Natsu dashed forward and grabbed Jellal by his collar, pulling him in close. "I'm willing to let Erza try and rebuild her relationship with you, but how fucking dare you forget all the terrible things you did to her! All the despicable things you did to her friends!"
"Please Natsu...I beg of you..." Jellal said as he reached up and gripped the pink-haired dragon slayer's wrist. "You have every right to be upset with me...but I truly do want to help you...so I ask that you accept my help. Didn't you say that you trusted her judgment?"
"I..." Natsu paused when he heard this, his grip on Jellal's collar loosening as some of the rage faded from his face. "I do trust Erza...I'd trust her with my life...but I can never forget her tears...the tears that she shed because of you." Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Natsu released Jellal and stepped away from him. "Alright...I'll accept your help...but I don't forgive you...I don't think I can ever forgive you."
"I must admit..." Zero finally spoke up in an irritated tone, a vein visibly bulging on his forehead. "Being ignored by you two worms is quite annoying! It really infuriates me!" Extending his arm, dark energy began to pulsate and swirl around Zero's fingertips. A split second later, Zero fired a beam of black magic at Natsu. "Now disappear from my sight!"
"Natsu!" Jellal exclaimed as he pushed the pink-haired dragon slayer out of the way, using his own body as a shield. Zero's attack his Jellal square in the chest, causing him to scream in pain. Natsu stared at Jellal in shock, an image of Simon flashing through his mind. With a gasp, Jellal collapsed to the ground, his chest singed and smoking. "Good...I'm glad I managed to protect you..."
"You idiot!" Natsu yelled in a worried tone, before crouching down next to Jellal. "Why would you do that!?"
"I'm in no shape to fight...you must be the one to defeat Zero..." Jellal said as he reached and gripped Natsu's hand, pulling it closer to him. The pink-haired dragon slayer was surprised when his hand was suddenly engulfed in brilliant golden flames. "I will give you the power you'll need."
"Golden...flames..." Natsu muttered, staring at the flickering golden fire with wide eyes. "I've never seen anything like it."
(Same Time: Lacrima #6 Chamber)
"Wendy, are you absolutely sure you can do this?" Carla asked in a skeptical tone as she gazed up at her blue-haired partner. "I know you said that you'd destroy one of the lacrima...but can you even use offensive magic?"
"It's no problem, Carla..." Wendy said, before taking a deep breath to calm herself, her eyes closed as she tried to concentrate. The blue-haired dragon slayer's hair soon began to flutter as a flurry of wind began to gather around her. "This is something I have to do...don't forget, I have the power of a dragon inside me..." A small smile spread across Wendy's face as she sensed both the poison and sky dragon slayer magic swirling inside her. "I guess it's two dragons now." Suddenly Wendy's eyes snapped open, revealing that her irises had turned into slits. A shiver ran down Wendy's spine as she felt poison magic coursing through her body, fusing with her sky magic. "Natsu believes in me...the power I have within me!"
"Wendy..." Carla muttered in awe as she sensed the blue-haired dragon slayer's magical power spike drastically. "When did you become so strong?"
"I have to do this! I have to protect my guild!" Wendy exclaimed, her hair turning dark purple, scales forming on her skin, and her nails elongating. With a confident glint in her eyes, a burst of wind exploded around Wendy. "And I will use the power of the dragons within me to do it!"
(Lacrima #3 Chamber)
"Lucy, are you sure you're okay to do this?" Happy asked as he walked beside the blonde celestial spirit mage, noticing the slight limp in her step as she hugged the wall. "You look really worn out."
"I'm fine, Happy..." Lucy replied with a reassuring smile, before stepping into the large lacrima's chamber. "Natsu protected me from Zero's attack earlier, so I'm not hurt too badly...but I barely have any magic left." Instead of grabbing one of her gate keys, Happy was surprised when Lucy unrolled her whip. "I may not have much magic left, but I do still have an ace up my sleeve."
"But you're not wearing any sleeves, Lucy." Happy pointed out as he hovered next to the blonde celestial spirit mage, causing her to sigh in exasperation. "And I don't think a whip by itself is going to be able to destroy that lacrima."
"Oh, don't worry Happy..." Lucy said with smirked, cracking her whip as the mate mark on her shoulder began to glow vibrantly. "I have the strength of a dragon." Feeling a familiar sensation, Lucy watched as her whip became imbued with Natsu's fire and lightning dragon slayer magic. "Good thing Natsu topped me off after I fought Angel."
As Lucy continued to tap into Natsu's magic and prepared herself to take out the lacrima, she didn't notice two small figures watching her from an adjacent hallway.
"Even with so little magic, she still musters the strength to help her friends! She truly is a special person! Pi~~ri! Pi~~ri!"
(Back with Natsu)
"These are the flames of my regret..." Jellal said with a small smile as he tightly gripped Natsu's hand, watching as the golden flames crept up his arm. "I won't ask you to forgive me Natsu...I just want to give you the strength to defeat Zero." Jellal locked eyes with the pink-haired dragon slayer and released his hand. "I believe in you...just as Erza and Wendy believe in you...I will too."
"You're right, I can't forgive you..." Natsu said, his entire body becoming engulfed in roaring golden flames. Inhaling deeply, Natsu began to scarf down the golden fire. "But I will accept your help."
"It's all up to you now..." Jellal muttered just before he passed out.
"Thanks for the meal..." Natsu said, wiping his mouth, smoke lingering around his body. The pink-haired dragon slayer's entire body began to tingle, power welling up inside him. Natsu soon felt his fire and lightning magic begin to fuse, similar to what had happened when he ate Etherion in the Tower of Heaven. Staring down at his arms, Natsu saw scales forming across his skin. Inhaling deeply, Natsu unleashed his new power, his entire body becoming encased in golden flames and purple lightning. "I won't let this strength go to waste, Jellal."
"Oho, now this is truly interesting..." Zero said with a smirk as he mockingly shrugged his shoulders. "The legendary power of dragon force...said to rival a dragon itself...I've never seen it in person."
"Well consider this your lucky day..." Natsu growled, tightly balling his fists as golden flames and purple lightning raged all around him. "You'll get to witness the strength of a dragon..." Glancing at the timer Hibiki had provided, the pink-haired dragon slayer saw that he had less than a minute left. "As I take you down in an instant!"
"I'd like to see you try!" Zero laughed as he fired a spiraling beam of dark magic at Natsu. "Now die you worm!"
"Lightning Dragon's Flash Step!" In a split second, Natsu's entire body had morphed down into a streak of electricity. Before Zero could even realize what was happening, Natsu reappeared directly in front of him. Zero's eyes widened in shock as he reflexively stepped back. With a growl rumbling in his throat, Natsu lunged forward and tightly gripped Zero's face. "Lightning Flame Dragon's Flash Bomb!" A small, condensed sphere of fire and electricity rapidly formed in Natsu's palm, before it exploded in Zero's face. Zero roared in pain as he fell onto the ground, his entire face dangerously red and smoking slightly. Dashing forward, Natsu grabbed Zero by his shirt and hurled him into the air. Leaping off the ground, Natsu encased his body in flames and electricity once again. Using the explosive power of his golden flames, Natsu rocketed towards Zero. "Dragon Slayer Hidden Art - Sparkling Lotus: Rising Phoenix Blade!"
A spiraling wave of golden flames and purple lightning surrounded the pink-haired dragon slayer as he shot towards Zero. Letting out a ferocious, dragon-like roar. Natsu slammed his shoulder into Zero's stomach, before wrapping his arms around him. Zero screamed in agony as his body was scorched by golden flames and shocked by purple electricity. As Natsu carried Zero through the air, he glanced at the timer, seeing that he only had a few seconds left. Pumping as much magic into his legs as he could, Natsu unleashed another burst of flames, drastically increasing their speed. With a violent gold and purple explosion, Natsu slammed Zero into the lacrima. The power and speed carried Natsu and Zero clear through the lacrima, which crumbled to pieces behind them. Still flying forward, Natsu's momentum was finally stopped when Zero's back slammed into a wall, causing it to cave-in slightly.
Panting heavily, Natsu glanced back to see that the lacrima was destroyed. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard five similar explosions ring out from all across Nirvana. This meant they had likely been successful in taking out all the lacrima simultaneously. Suddenly, Nirvana's entire structure began to shake violently and fall apart. More explosions went off around Nirvana as the ground began to tremble. With a grunt, Natsu landed back on the ground and slowly made his way back over towards Jellal.
"All right ya bastard, let's get going." Natsu grumbled, before crouching down and lifting Jellal onto his shoulder. Using the last of his remaining strength, Natsu slowly began to carry Jellal out of Nirvana as it fell apart around them. "God damn, you're heavy."
"You should just leave me." Jellal muttered as he weakly attempted to free himself from Natsu's grasp. "You'll be able to easily escape without me."
"Would you shut the hell up already!?" Natsu yelled in frustration, adjusting Jellal's position on his shoulder. "Erza would never forgive me if I just left you behind! So just be quiet and let me save you!" However, Natsu's progress was halted when the ceiling in front of him suddenly collapsed, sealing off their exit. "Son of bitch, we need to find another way out!" But when Natsu turned around the way they had come from was now blocked off as well. "Well shit...I'm out of ideas..."
"Can't you punch a hole through the wall?" Jellal suggested as he gestured towards a portion of the wall with several cracks in it. "You should be able to break right through."
"Normally I'd be all on board with that, but I'm out of magic..." Natsu said, the entire structure beginning to shake once again. "We need to come up with an idea fast, we're running out of time."
"Perhaps I can help." A familiar voice spoke up from behind Natsu and Jellal.
(Several Minutes Later: Forest Surrounding Nirvana's Wreckage)
"Damn, that was close!" Gray exclaimed as he emerged from a cloud of dust and debris. Plopping himself down onto the ground, Gray gazed at the lingering cloud of smoke. "Did everyone else make it out okay?"
"Gah! Damn smoke and dust is getting in my eyes!" Lucy whined, coughing up a fit as she appeared out of the lingering dust, being carried by Happy. Quickly spotting Gray, Lucy landed next to him. "Gray, I'm glad to see that you're okay!"
"Is that Lucy I hear?!" Erza called out with a smile as she waved to her nakama. "I've been looking all over for you guys!"
"ERZA-SAN! I'm so glad you're safe!" Ichiya yelled, frightening the scarlet-haired knight as he suddenly burst out of the smoke in his muscular form. "I followed your delightful perfume!"
"Oh god, please don't smell me..." Erza muttered as her entire body shuddered in disgust. Erza made her way over towards Lucy, sitting down next to her fellow mate. "Have you seen Natsu?"
"Not since he went off on his own..." Lucy replied, slowly shaking her head. "But I'm sure he's okay...he promised he'd come back to us."
"There you all are!" Jura said as he finally arrived, carrying Wendy and Carla, both of them looking quite battered and exhausted. "I managed to save these two before the chamber they were in collapsed."
"Lucy! Erza!" Wendy exclaimed, perking up instantly when she spotted Natsu's mates. After Jura set her down, Wendy darted over towards Lucy and Erza. "Have you guys seen Natsu and Jellal!? Jura-san and I didn't see them on our way out!"
"Sorry Wendy, we haven't-" Erza was stopped mid-sentence when the ground beneath her began to tremble. Both Lucy and Erza yelped in surprise when a mound of dirt started to rise beneath them. Eventually, the mound grew so large that Erza and Lucy were forced to hop off it. After a few moments, the dirt began to fall away, revealing that the mound was actually Hot Eye. The friendly member of Oración Seis had a large smile on his face and was currently carrying Natsu and Jellal in his arms.
"Natsu!" Wendy cheered as her eyes instantly lit up, tears of joy forming in her eyes. Despite her exhaustion, Wendy still managed to sprint towards the pink-haired dragon slayer, launching towards him with a massive smile on her face. With surprising strength, Wendy wrapped her arms around Natsu, burying her head into his chest. "I'm so glad that you're okay! And you kept your promise!" Wendy sniffled several times to hold back her tears. "I can't thank you enough Natsu! You saved our guild!"
"It wasn't just me Wendy..." Natsu said with a smile, reaching down and gently patting the blue-haired dragon slayer's head. "We all did our part! Especially you Wendy, you were amazing!" Crouching down slightly, Natsu was now eye-level with Wendy. "You helped save your guild too. So, don't ever doubt your own strength again Wendy, because you're stronger than your think."
"Looks like you two didn't kill each other..." Lucy teased as she approached Natsu, nodding her head towards Jellal. "I was half-expecting you'd leave him behind."
"I couldn't do that to Erza." Natsu explained, glancing over at Jellal, a conflicted look on his face. "I can't forgive him for what he did...but I'll trust Erza's judgment...he did really help me beat Zero."
"Are you sure he's not a threat though?" Gray asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets, warily looking at Jellal. "How do we know he won't try to attack us when he has an opening?"
"Don't worry, he's not the same Jellal we fought against..." Erza explained, before wrapping an arm around Natsu's waist, pressing herself close to him. The scarlet-haired knight could tell that Natsu was still upset with Jellal, and she couldn't blame him. But despite his apprehension, Natsu was still willing to let her try and mend her relationship with Jellal, and that couldn't make Erza happier. With a soft smile, Erza rested her head on Natsu's shoulder. Leaning in, Erza whispered into her mate's ear. "Thanks for giving Jellal a chance Natsu."
"It looks like Jellal lost his memories." Wendy added which caused Gray to quirk an eyebrow. "Jellal is like a completely different person now."
"I'll be back..." Erza said, placing a loving kiss on Natsu's cheek, before making her way over towards Jellal. "I wanted to thank you for everything you did today...especially helping Natsu out."
"There's no reason to thank me..." Jellal muttered as he slowly shook his head, doing his best to avoid Erza's gaze. "I was just doing what I thought was right."
"What are you going to do now?" Erza asked, before sitting down next to Jellal. "I'm sure you've got a lot of things to work out."
"I...have no idea..." Jellal replied as he clasped his hands, trying to stop them from trembling. "I'm...I'm terrified of what will happen if I get my memories back..."
"Don't worry, I'll be..." Erza stopped herself, sparing a glance over at Natsu and all her other friends. "No...WE'LL be here for you. Even if we end up as enemies again...I can't just abandon you...not after everything we've been through." With a soft smile, Erza placed a comforting hand on Jellal's shoulder. "We'll-"
"You guys, hold on a second!" Natsu suddenly exclaimed which stopped everyone in their tracks. "Something isn't right..."
"What's up Natsu?" Lucy asked in a slightly concerned tone, resting a hand over her gate keys, ready to fight any potential attackers. "Is it Oración Seis again?"
"No, this is something else..." Natsu said as he crouched down, his eyes narrowing slightly. Wiping away a patch of dirt, the pink-haired dragon slayer's suspicions were confirmed when he spotted several magical symbols hidden beneath. "I knew I sensed some magic..." Reaching out, Natsu wasn't surprised when his hand hit an invisible wall. "We're trapped in a barrier."
"When the hell did that happen?!" Gray growled, tightly balling his fists in frustration. "Is this some kind of sick joke?!"
"It must have happened while we were distracted reuniting with each other." Erza suggested as she did her best to remain calm and collected. "We need to be prepared for whoever did this."
"Someone's coming..." Wendy said, perking up as her enhanced hearing caught the sounds of footsteps and clacking armor. "There are at least two dozen people."
"Gah! Would you let us out!" Ichiya exclaimed as he pounded his fist against the invisible barrier. "You can't keep us trapped in here!"
"Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting any of you...I just need you all to remain calm and in place for a while." A new voice spoke up, just as dozens of what appeared to be soldiers stormed out of the treelines, surrounding the trapped mages. The person who had first spoke approached the barrier. He was a slim man of average height with long, tied up black hair; two bangs framed his face and an unruly tuft covered his forehead, though his lavender eyes were still visible behind his circular lensed glasses. The outfit he wore was that of a high-ranking Council associate's, which consisted of a long, blue jacket with pink edges and strapped cuffs over a high-collared shirt bearing the Council's signature ankh-like symbol. His attire also featured white pants held up by a simple belt, white gloves, a white cape held closed by a gem-decorated buckle, and distinctive shoes, bearing a serpentine pattern. "I'm the new head of the Fourth Press Obligation Force of the new council. My name is Lahar."
"Since when was there a 'new' council?" Lucy asked as she quirked an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "I didn't hear anything about that."
"We were reborn in order to uphold law and justice." Lahar explained, taking a moment to adjust his glasses. "We will not allow any existing evil to walk free."
"But we haven't done anything wrong!" Happy yelled as he flew over towards Lahar, practically pressing his face against the barrier. "In fact, we just stopped a bunch of bad guys!"
"I know. I actually thank you all for handling the situation." Lahar said, before performing a slight bow. "But we're actually here for the members of Oración Seis you defeated. That man standing next to you..." Raising his arm, Lahar pointed towards Jura. "Code name Hoteye, please step forward."
"Please wait!" Jura pleaded as he held his arm in front of Hoteye and took a step toward Lahar. "Richard-dono helped-"
"It's fine, Jura." Hoteye said with a smile, placing a hand on Jura's shoulder. "Even if my good nature has been awoken, it won't erase all the sins I've committed. I think my best course of action is to just start my life over."
"I see..." Jura said with a light sigh before a small smile spread across his face. "If that is your decision, then I shall search for you brother. What is his name?"
"Really!? I can't thank you enough!" Hoteye exclaimed with a joyful smile, clapping his hands together. "His name is Wally...Wally Buchanan."
"Wally..." Erza parroted as her eyes slowly widened, realizing she knew exactly who Hoteye was talking about. "Excuse me, but I know your brother."
"What?!" Hoteye proclaimed, whipping around to face Erza, a stunned look on his face. "You knew Wally?!"
"Yes, he's a friend of mine." Erza said with a smile as she placed a hand over her heart. "Last I heard, he's traveling across the continent with some companions."
"This...this..." Hoteye managed to say, before collapsing onto his knees with tears pouring from his eyes. A wave of relief washed over Hoteye as he continued to sob. "This must be a miracle bestowed upon those who live in the light. I cannot thank you enough. Thank you! Thank you!"
"I'm sorry to rush you, but it's time to go." Lahar interrupted as he gestured towards a prison carriage. "Now please come peacefully."
"Yes...of course..." Hoteye said, wiping his tears and getting back onto his feet. As Hoteye approached the barrier, Lahar allowed him to pass through. Holding out his hands, Hoteye allowed magic-sealing restraints to be placed on his wrists. However, before Hoteye stepped into the carriage, he turned back towards his former enemies. "I'm truly glad to have met you all..." With a final wave, Hoteye disappeared inside the carriage. "I hope we'll see each other again one day!"
"I kinda feel bad for him..." Lucy muttered as she rested her chin on her palm. "He ended up being a pretty nice guy."
"Well, there's nothing we can do." Gray said, shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe he'll get lucky and they'll be lenient with his sentence."
"We're not finished yet...there is one other among you who we're here for." Lahar said as he adjusted his glasses once again. "For infiltrating the council...causing its destruction...and firing Etherion...there is an evil far worse than Oración Seis." Both Wendy and Erza gasped when Lahar suddenly pointed at Jellal. "I'm of course talking about you, Jellal! Surrender now! If you resist at all, we have permission to kill you!"
"Wait! That's not right!" Wendy exclaimed, stepping protectively in front of Jellal. "You must be mistaken!"
"Wendy..." Natsu said in a sympathetic tone as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Looking back, Wendy saw that Natsu was slowly shaking his head. Seeing that look in Natsu's eyes, Wendy knew that what Lahar had said was true. With tears forming in her eyes, Wendy rushed over and buried her head into Natsu's chest. Sighing softly, Natsu gently stroked Wendy's head. "Everything will be fine Wendy."
"That man is beyond dangerous." Lahar said, glaring fiercely at Jellal. Saying nothing to defend himself, Jellal simply stared down at the ground. "We will never allow him to roam this world freely." Wordlessly, Jellal began to walk forward, eventually reaching the invisible barrier. Seeing that Jellal wasn't going to resist, Lahar allowed him through and had magic-sealing restraints placed on him. "Jellal Fernandes, I officially place you under arrest for the crime of federal treason."
"But Jellal lost all his memories..." Wendy weakly protested as she still clung tightly to Natsu, her grip on his vest tightening slightly. "He doesn't remember doing any of those things."
"I'm sorry child..." Lahar said in a surprisingly gentle tone, finally dropping the barrier and approaching Natsu and Wendy. Leaning down, Lahar made sure that he was now eye-level with Wendy. "But under Article 13 of the penal code, memory loss is no cause for pardon."
"B-But..." Wendy muttered as tears formed in her eyes once again. "Jellal deserves-"
"It's okay Wendy...I don't intend on fighting this..." Jellal said, turning to face the blue-haired dragon slayer. "And I really must apologize...I never did manage to remember any of you."
"You and Natsu saved Wendy quite a long time ago." Carla explained as she crossed her arms over her chest. "It was before I met her."
"I see...I have no idea how much trouble I've caused you all..." Jellal said, releasing a light sigh and staring down at the ground. "But it makes me happy that I managed to save at least one person." With a small smile, Jellal raised his head and turned his gaze towards Erza and Natsu."Both of you...thank you for everything..."
"Jellal...he's going to be gone..." Erza thought as her legs began to tremble slightly, balling her fists to stop her hands from shaking. "Just when he was finally released from his terrible dream...should...should I try to stop this?"
"Are you sure that's all you want to say?" Lahar asked, the guards stopping Jellal right next to him. "If you wish, I could give you a couple more minutes."
"No, I've said everything I want to..." Jellal replied as he slowly shook his head. "I would only cause more grief the longer I stayed."
"Just so you know..." Lahar said, staring directly at Natsu and all the other mages around him. "It is almost certain that you will either receive the death penalty or life in prison. I acknowledge your help in stopping Oración Seis, and I will bring that up with my superiors. Perhaps they will give you an easier sentence. But in all likelihood, you will never see any of these people again."
"That's so unfair..." Lucy gasped as she cupped her hands over her mouth. "Jellal doesn't deserve that."
"No..." Erza thought, gritting her teeth in anger as her eyes hardened. "I can't-"
The scarlet-haired knight was suddenly pulled from her thoughts when she felt someone gently grab her hand. Looking over, Erza saw that Natsu was gazing at her, his eyes telling her that he knew exactly what she was thinking. With a sympathetic look, Natsu pulled Erza close and hugged her tightly. Her mate's warm embrace seemed to comfort Erza, but the gravity of the situation also slammed down onto her all at once. Unable to hold back any longer, Erza buried her face into Natsu's chest, tears flowing from her eyes as she began to sob. It didn't take long for Erza to feel another pair of arms wrap around her and she didn't even need to look up to know that it was Lucy. Her fellow mate was sniffling heavily to fight back her own tears.
"I know it doesn't seem that way right now, but everything will be okay, Erza..." Natsu whispered as he stroked Erza's head, doing everything he could to comfort her. Managing to stop crying for a few moments, Erza looked up and locked eyes with Natsu. With a soft smile, Natsu leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Erza's forehead. "You will see Jellal again one day, and I'm sure you'll be able to repair your relationship." Tears welling up in her eyes once again, Erza hid her face in Natsu's vest. Looking back up, Natsu turned his attention towards Lahar. "You can take Jellal away..."
"Of course." Lahar said with a slight bow, before turning around walking towards the carriage. "Try to stay out of trouble, Fairy Tail."
"Thank you for stopping her Natsu...I know she wanted to fight..." Jellal thought with a small smile as he reached the steps of the prison carriage. However, before he took another step, several images flashed through his mind, a particular color being the main thing he saw. "Of course...how could I forget the color of her hair..." Chuckling to himself, Jellal stepped into the back of the prison carriage. "Farewell Erza."
(Two Hours Later)
"Have any of you guys seen Erza?" Happy asked, floating over and sitting down next to Lucy. "I haven't seen her in a while."
"Natsu already went looking for her." Lucy replied as she released a heavy sigh, staring up at the sky overhead. "She needs some alone time right now...but you know how Natsu is. If Erza is in pain, even if she wants to be alone, he'll be there for her."
The scarlet-haired knight was much closer than Lucy or Happy knew. She was only a few dozen yards away, sitting near the edge of a cliff as she watched the sunrise over the horizon. Erza's knees were tucked into her chest as she recalled the day's hectic events. As she thought about her reunion with Jellal, her mind began to wander back to when they had first met in the Tower of Heaven.
"Jellal Fernandes? That's a tough name to remember!"
"That's funny coming from someone named Wally Buchanan. I'm totally going to forget that one!"
"What about you, Erza?"
"I'm just Erza."
"That's kinda sad, you need a last name!"
"Hey! Stop messing with my hair!"
"Why? It's such a beautiful scarlet color! Ah! That's it! How about we call you Erza Scarlet!?"
"Erza...Scarlet...I like it!"
"Heh heh! It's the color of your hair! That way I'll never forget it!"
"Jellal..." Erza whimpered as tears once again began to pour from her eyes. Soon the scarlet-haired knight was sobbing, not even trying to hide how heartbroken she was. It wasn't long before Erza sensed another presence next to her. She knew it was Nastu without even looking at him. The pink-haired dragon slayer said nothing, simply sitting beside her. Natsu didn't say a word, didn't touch her at all, he was simply content to be there in case she needed him. If Erza wanted him to hold her, he would have embraced for as long as she needed. If she wanted to talk, they would have talked until there was nothing else to say. But right now Erza just needed to cry and let her emotions out, so he was fine with just sitting beside her until she had cried all that she could. As the two Fairy Tail mages sat side-by-side, they didn't know that one other person was watching them.
"They're so close...without even saying a word to each other...they truly are mates for life..." Wendy thought, clutching a hand over her aching heart. "Some day soon...I hope I can be like that with Natsu too."
(Several Hours Later: Cait Shelter Guild Hall)
"Wow! This outfit is so cute!" Lucy cheered, doing a quick twirl as she happily stared down at the clothes Wendy had provided her. "You did a great job picking this out, Wendy!"
"I can assure you that I look far cuter." Sherry teased as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, fixing her disheveled and messy hair. "Those looks like rags on you."
"Now, now, let's not fight..." Wendy said with a light chuckle, hoping to diffuse any tension before it could even start. "This whole community is apart of Cait Shelter and fabric working is one of our specialties."
"Well, I love their work!" Lucy said, smiling brightly as she clapped her hands together. "I'll have to thank them before we leave." Spinning around, the blonde celestial spirit mage practically bounded over and sat down next to Erza. The scarlet-haired knight appeared to be in a slightly better mood, but Lucy could tell that she was still quite glum. "Why don't you try something on too, Erza? You'd look absolutely beautiful." Leaning in close, Lucy whispered into Erza's ear. "And I'm sure Natsu would love it."
"Yes...I suppose you're right..." Erza said with a small smile as she perked up slightly, a faint blush spreading across her face. Standing up, Erza went over towards a rack filled with clothes and started to pick out her own outfit. Once Erza had selected some clothes she liked, she stepped behind a changing curtain. "Thanks Lucy, I'll be back out after I put this one."
"I must ask Wendy...how long has Cait Shelter been a member of the union of guilds?" Sherry asked, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "I feel kind of wrong saying this...but I'd never heard of Cait Shelter before this mission began."
"Is that so..." Wendy said as she chuckled once again, awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot. "Wow...guess our guild isn't very well known."
"If you're all done chatting..." Carla interrupted, flying into the room. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"Alright, let's get going then! Erza we'll meet you out there!" Lucy said in an energetic tone as she made her way towards the door. However, she was stopped dead in her when the door suddenly opened and she was met with a familiar face. Her own face actually. Squeaking in surprise, the blonde celestial spirit mage leaped away from the door, clutching a hand over her racing heart. "KYA! What the hell!?"
"We finally found you." The doppelganger said with a smirk, before stepping into the room. "It took some time, but after seeing your strong and compassionate feelings, we knew we had to track you down."
"Lucy...what's going on here?" Wendy asked in a confused tone as she cocked her head slightly. "Do you have a sister you haven't told us about?"
"NO!" Lucy exclaimed, her face tinting red in embarrassment. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Lucy rested her hands on her hips. "No...but do think I know who this is...Gemini, that's you two right?"
"Correct." The fake Lucy said with a smile as she poofed into a cloud of smoke. When the smoke dissipated, it revealed two small spirits performing a strange dance. "Pi~~ri! Pi~~ri! You caught us!"
"What are you doing here?" Lucy asked, crouching down in front of the celestial spirits. "I'm sure Angel is looking all over for you guys."
"That's the thing...since Angel has been arrested, our contracts have been canceled!" Gemini explained which caused Lucy's to widen in shock. "We spoke with Scorpio and Aries...and we all came to a decision! Yep, yep!" Lucy gasped when Gemini suddenly held up three golden gate keys. "We'd like you to be our new owner!"
"A-Are you sure?" Lucy asked, feeling tears sting the corners of her eyes. "This is all so sudden."
"Yes, all three of us are sure..." Gemini said as they began to hop up and down, waving the golden keys at Lucy. "We know you're worthy to be our new owner!"
"I...I...don't know what to say..." Lucy said, a massive smile spreading across her face as she sniffled to fight back her tears. Reaching down, Lucy took the golden keys from Gemini, clutching them tightly against her chest. "I guess the only thing I can say is...thank you!"
"Please take good care of us, owner!" Gemini cheered before they disappeared in another poof of smoke.
"Of course." Lucy said, beaming with joy as she clipped the new additions to her spirit family onto her keyring. "Take care of me as well. Scorpio, Gemini, Aries."
(Five Minutes Later: Outside of Cait Shelter)
"Fairy Tail. Blue Pegasus. Lamia Scale. And of course you, Wendy and Carla." Roubaul, Cait Shelter's guild master, said as he stood in front of the rest of the guild's members. "We must congratulate you all on defeating Oración Seis and stopping Nirvana. As the local representative for the Union of Guilds, I offer you my thanks."
"You are most welcome! Master Roulbaul!" Ichiya boisterously exclaimed as he performed a quick twirl. "The conflict with Oración Seis was just one fierce battle after another! It was no easy task!" By now, the other members of Blue Pegasus had joined Ichiya in his bizarre dance. "But our bonds of comradeship ultimately guided us towards victory!"
"God, do those idiots always have to be the center of attention?" Gray muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation.
"Did Ichiya-san actually beat anyone..." Lucy whispered which caused Gray to smirk in amusement.
"Well, at least it's all over." Sherry said with a light sigh, clasping her hands behind her back. "It was quite the ordeal."
"Those Oración Seis fools didn't stand a chance." Lyon said, grinning as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Both of you did an excellent job." Jura added as he placed a comforting hand on both Lyon and Sherry's shoulders. "I'm also glad neither of you was seriously injured."
"I think it's time for a party!" Natsu said with a toothy grin, wrapping an arm around Erza and Lucy's shoulders, pulling them both close. "We deserve to let loose!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy cheered as he leaped into the air.
However, before any sort of celebrations could begin, or even be planned, Natsu and the rest of the group noticed that the members of Cait Shelter weren't sharing in their excitement. In fact, it looked as if Roubaul had been waiting for a chance to speak, a troubled look plastered on his face.
"My friends...I must humbly apologize to you all..." Roubaul said, before performing a slight bow, using his cane to balance himself. "We hid the truth of Nirvit tribe from you."
"That kinda killed the whole mood..." Natsu muttered underneath his breath as he shrugged his shoulders. "It's fine man! None of us mind, right guys?"
"I don't mind, master..." Wendy said, walking up next to her guild master. However, she was surprised when he suddenly released a heavy sigh. "Master...is something wrong?"
"Everyone...please listen carefully to what I'm about to reveal..." Roubaul said as he tapped his cane onto the ground to get everyone's attention. "To begin...we are not actually descendants of the Nirvit tribe. We ARE the Nirvit tribe. The man responsible for creat Nirvana four years ago...was I." Natsu and the others looked like they were about to speak up, but Roubaul swiftly raised his hand to stop them. "I will explain everything...four hundred years ago...in a desperate attempt to end all the wars that ravaged this world, I created the magic of reversal, Nirvana. Over time, Nirvana became our home and nation, a symbol of peace for many years. But of course, an immense power will always be opposed by another. As Nirvana turned darkness into light, it began to take more and more darkness upon itself."
"Ugh, I'm having a hard time following..." Happy groaned in a confused tone, gripping his head.
"It is all a matter of balance. We soon found out that it was impossible to simply change a person's nature from dark to light." Roubaul explained, placing a hand over his heart. "When darkness is born, so must be light...and vice versa. The darkness that had been lost from the targets of Nirvana were soon settled within the Nirvit themselves."
"N-No..." Wendy choked out as her entire body began to tremble. "I-It can't be..."
"It was hell on earthland." Roubaul said with a dark look in his eyes, staring down at the ground. "We constantly fought amongst ourselves...almost to extinction...I was the sole survivor. Sorry...I suppose that is no longer accurate. Even my own body perished centuries ago. I remain here a little more than a spirit. In order to atone for my own sins...and in order to find someone with the power to destroy Nirvana. I have watched over this place for almost four hundred years. But thanks to you...my task is finally over."
"T-That's just...it...it can't be..." Wendy said in utter disbelief, tightly balling her fists. "Master you must be-" Wendy stopped mid-sentence when she saw several of her fellow guild members disappear in bright flashes of light. "Magna! Papel! What is going on!? Why is this happening!?" One by one, Wendy watched as her guildmates vanished, all of them smiling at her. The blue-haired dragon slayer began to panic, rapidly spinning around to face whoever was disappearing. "No! You can't disappear! You can't!"
"Wendy...I am truly sorry for deceiving you...I hope you'll forgive me one day..." Roubaul said with a sad smile as his body began to glow faintly. "All the members of this guild...were an illusion that I created." Wendy stopped dead in her tracks when she heard this revelation, tears instantly forming in her eyes. "As I watched over Nirvana, I lived in this abandoned village alone. But seven years ago, a boy named Jellal came before me and asked that I take care of you, Wendy. I was surprised by the earnest look in his eyes and couldn't help but agree. Even though I swore to live a life of solitude...I created this guild full of love and life to keep you company."
"He created...an entire guild just for Wendy..." Lucy muttered as she cupped a hand over her mouth, feeling an ache in her heart. "I don't believe it."
"NO! I don't want to hear this!" Wendy screamed, covering her ears so that she wouldn't hear anything else. "This can't be true! You can't all be illusions!"
"Wendy...Carla...you longer need illusions to keep you company..." Roubaul said as he pointed towards everyone standing behind the blue-haired dragon slayer. "You have found yourselves real companions." A large smile spread across Roubaul's face as he winked at Wendy. "And it seems to you've been reunited with the man you love." Roubaul's body was now completely engulfed in light as he began to disappear. "Your futures are just beginning..."
"MASTER!" Wendy yelled with tears in her eyes, sprinting towards Roubaul. "You can't go!"
"Everyone...thank you so much..." Roubaul's voice echoed out as he completely disappeared. "Please take care of Wendy and Carla."
"N-No..." Wendy said, collapsing where Roubaul had been standing only a few moments before. Unable to hold back any longer, Wendy began to sob uncontrollably. "MASTER! PLEASE COME BACK! MASTER!" It wasn't long before Wendy felt a hand on both her shoulders. Slowly turning her head, Wendy saw that Natsu and Erza smiling at her. "Natsu...Erza..."
"Wendy...I know it's always sad to part with someone you love..." Erza said in a sympathetic and understanding tone, leaning in and hugging the blue-haired dragon slayer. "But your nakama will help you through that pain and sadness."
"We'll always be there for you Wendy, whenever you need us." Natsu said as he kneeled down in front of Wendy, gently gripping one of her hands. "So, come with us, to Fairy Tail."
And done! This chapter was enjoyable to write and concluded the Nirvana arc of this story. I know some of you may have expected a long fight with Zero, but let's be honest here, he was really a lot of bark and not much bite. Out of all the major villains Natsu fights, Zero may be one of the weakest and least threatening. So, at least to me, Natsu with lightning magic and a power boost from Jellal should absolutely steamroll Zero. The next chapter will pick up where this one left off and will start the Edolas arc of this story! So, look forward to that! Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and PM me ideas you might have for any of my fics. So until next time, I'm outta here!