So sorry for the wait everyone. This chapter was harder to write than we thought it would. Thankfully, we're now back in action! I do hope that you all enjoy it. The fight at the end is something i really hope you all like in particular.
Please feel free to leave us your thoughts on this chapter. We REALLY want to know what you have to say. It would mean alot to us!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively to Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magizine. This is just for fun!
Ankoholic Disclaimer: As you can probably imagine I do not own the Fairy Tail or Bleach series or any of the characters that appear in either. The honor of being the man behind Fairy Tail belongs to the one, the only Hiro Mashima. Oh, and Bleach's creation rests solely on the shoulders of some other guy. Oh sure, I've purchased plenty of manga, DVDs, video games and maybe a few too many action figures and statues of Erza Scarlet and some Bleach character (though only the Fairy Tail merchandise remains at this point), but the series themselves? Oh no, they're certainly not mine. You'd know if it were me in charge. Though to explain how different Bleach would be... Well, to detail that would take a higher word count than this story will eventually end with. Though oddly enough, little would actually change about Fairy Tail. Huh. Go figure.
Jose Porla could not recall a time when he had been more irate. He had tried to be reasonable, he had tried to allow Fairy Tail to simply walk away from this battle, yet they had turned him down. Worse, they had destroyed one of his prize possessions.
"Oh," Jose said as he looked out from the tower of his guild hall and down at the smoldering remains that lay on the ground, "my Jupiter Cannon."
Already on the edge as he was, Jose's heart began to fall further into darkness. The Jupiter Cannon had been a treasured asset to both himself and Phantom Lord, a novelty that they could hold high over the heads of every other legal guild in Fiore. Now it was nothing but garbage, an expensive wreck that Fairy Tail had laid at his feet.
"This," Jose hissed, his teeth gritting together as his lips curled back, "changes nothing."
Jose tried to take a deep breath but it availed him not. All that escaped him was a ragged gasp of air, his whole soul quaking with anger.
"You damned pests!" he at last screamed. "You think you've won? The game's not over yet, Fairy Tail!"
Jose whirled around then, his eyes settling on those who called his guild their home. They remained quiet and stalwart, as if his rage was not something that surprised them in the least. Most of them remained unflinching save for Hanza, the shinobi dropping to one knee. Aria, meanwhile, simply bowed his head."
Jose noted the actions, his anger subsiding slightly at the show of respect. Still, it did not quell his desire to wreak vengeance upon Fairy Tail. "Prepare the Abyss Break."
Bambietta Basterbine was feeling weak and tired, her spiritual powers spent for the time being. It would not last long however, the Quincy drawing at the magical atmosphere around her, replenishing her strength. For now she simply kept her body propped up against a building of Magnolia's her back against the bricks and wooden frame. Her legs were shaking still, her heart racing within her bosom, but it did not matter.
For Bambietta was simply ecstatic.
The reason was two-fold, yet one dwarfed the other. The realization that she had for all intents and purposes reenacted one of her favorite movie scenes ever by sheer chance was simply delightful, yes, but it paled in comparison to what Bambietta had come to realize of Fairy Tail.
Behind all the promises and had been a simple truth: the guild truly was a family. No matter how much Bambietta had doubted it, her feelings on such subjects had led her astray. Fairy Tail was not simply too good to be true. It simply was good. That was more than enough for the Quincy now.
"Hey, Bambi."
The Quincy snapped to attention then, her eyes peeking out from beneath both the bangs of her hair and the visor of her hat. She could see Wendy approaching her, the ever-present Carla by her side. "Hey, Wendy. What's up?"
"N-nothing," Wendy suddenly stuttered. "I just wanted to... wanted to..."
"Good heavens, child," Carla said as she gently pushed Wendy forward. "She won't bite. Now go on."
"Not bite, huh?" Bambietta muttered under her breath. "Askin would so disagree." The Quincy began to speak at a normal octave then as she began to say something she actually wanted Wendy to hear. "No, no; no need to say how awesome that was. I know that shot was one and a million, Wendy."
"But you were amazing," Wendy said as she twisted one foot in the ground, her hands held behind her back. Her face began to redden as she looked away from Bambietta nervously. "I wish I could be just like you. You're so confident and strong and... big."
Bambietta raised an eyebrow to that last part. "Huh?"
"Oh." Wendy's face became redder still. "It's nothing..."
Bambietta was not sure entirely what the Sky Dragon Slayer was getting at, but for the moment she did not let it concern her. She knelt down beside Wendy and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know this has all been scary for you, Wendy. That jerk Jose and his big stupid Jupiter Cannon especially. But I just want you to know that I won't let anyone, not a monster or even a Wizard Saint, hurt you."
"I wasn't scared," Wendy said softly, a faint smile overcoming her mouth. "Because I knew you and Natsu and Erza would save us all."
Bambietta gasped then as Wendy leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the Quincy's shoulder, holding her tightly. Unsure of what to do in response for only a moment, Bambietta returned the hug. "Of course," the Quincy whispered. "I'd never let... anything... hurt... you..."
Wendy could hear Bambietta's voice trailing off, the Dragon Slayer becoming concerned. "Bambi?"
Wendy pulled away and could see a look of shock on Bambietta's face. Turning around, Wendy could also see the rest of Fairy Tail looking in the same direction, their heads craning upwards. Wendy did the same then, her own eyes widening in response.
Phantom Lord's fortress of a guild hall was changing. Stone structures were moving about, shifting and altering in their structure as if the complex possessed a mind of its own. It was a slow process, one heralded by the massive creaking of wood and the turning of gears, all of which echoed across the land and Magnolia itself. Bambietta and all those of Fairy Tail simply watched on in awe as the fortress's side fell out to the side forming arms, a head enshrined in a helmet rising from the rooftop as if it were a tower.
"Okay," Bambietta whispered, "so there's more than meets the eye with Phantom Lord's guild hall."
Shock gave away to anger and Bambietta stood up and ran towards Totomaru, Hirenkyaku kicking up dust as she appeared directly before him. Bambietta grabbed him by the front of his shirt with both hands and began to shake him.
"What the hell, man? Your old guild was annoying already with that stupid Jupiter Cannon on a mobile guild hall, but now they've gone from suck to blow!" Bambietta gave Totomaru no chance to properly respond, her shaking of the wizard continuing. "A robot? A freaking robot? What is this? Oh no, I get it! You Phantom Lord jerks may be a bitching big guild but your guild master ran you into debt buying all this ridiculous shit! That's why you need whatever reward the Heartfilia family will pay for this job request! That's why you morons have taken it this far!"
"This is madness," Totomaru responded, trying his best to keep his composure despite Bambietta's own rattled nerves and the madness of Jose resorting to what he had. "To bring out the Super Mage Giant Phantom... He only ever had it put to use when he had the Element Four practice... oh no."
Bambietta saw it then, a look of fear and rage upon Totomaru's face. Her patience at its limit, the Quincy shook Totomaru even harder. "Practice what? come on!"
Totomaru continued to ignore the grief that Bambietta was putting him through, his eyes staring only at the Super Mage Giant Phantom. "First the Jupiter Cannon and now the Abyss Break?"
Bambietta paused for a moment, allowing Totomaru to stop his forced movement. "Abyss Break? The hell's that?"
"It can't be..." Totomaru's expression was truly blank then, his thoughts lost to him. "Maser Jose, have you truly gone so mad?"
"Hey!" Bambietta began to shake Totomaru once more. "You don't go and reference something called the Abyss Break and not explain it! It's got to be bad with a name like that, so spill it already!"
"The Abyss Break," Erza said under her break. "He truly would stoop to any level, wouldn't he?"
"Again with the Abyss Break and yet I'm still not getting an answer." A part of Bambietta wanted to go over to Erza and try and shake an answer out of her, but she knew that would be a bad idea. So instead she shook Totomaru some more. "What the heck is it?"
"An ultimate spell that draws on all the powers of nature," Liltotto said simply enough as she approached, her words finally getting Bambietta to let go of Totomaru. "Either a wizard would have to be able to use all four elemental types or four separate wizards would have to channel their magic through a single point."
"Juvia and I," Totomaru began to whisper. "No, the Element Four, we were to do just that through the Super Mage Giant Phantom. But how... how can it happen now without us?"
Totomaru's eyes began to narrow. The mage quickly grabbed the lapels of Bambietta's coat and began to shake the Quincy without thinking.
"That bastard replaced us?" Totomaru shouted. "I'll kill him!"
"You know, I just want to make one thing clear, Totomaru," Bambietta began to say, trying her best to ignore the incessant shaking, "I get where you're coming from, being stabbed in the back by someone you trust and all, and that's absolutely the only reason I'm letting you return the favor of rocking my world like a maniac."
Totomaru began to calm down then, whether because he was truly feeling better or because of the thinly veiled threat hidden in Bambietta's words. He let go of her then and closed his eyes for a moment as he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
Bambietta felt her stomach churn a little bit, the shaking having not done it any favors. Still, she managed to talk. "Good enough for me... I think. Like I said, I get what you're feeling. Heck, I'm sure my little buddy here does too. Isn't that right, Lil?"
Bambietta received no response, leaving the Quincy to repeat the name.
"Lil?"
Again there was nothing. Bambietta quickly turned her head and looked over her left shoulder. She could see Natsu standing right there, Happy flying about, but there was no sign of Liltotto anywhere. Bambietta's left eye twitched in response, the veins on her forehead beginning to press outwards from underneath her skin.
"Where'd she go? Where'd she go?" Bambietta was upon Natsu then, the Quincy's fingers wrapped into his open vest as she shook the Dragon Slayer harder than she had Totomaru. Bambietta practically screamed as she did so, her temper flaring up to a degree that for the briefest of moments she was happy not to have the Explode at her beck and call. "We get into a bit of a scrap and she runs off leaving me high and dry again? Again? Oh my God, typical Lil! Typical Candi! Typical Meni! Typical Gi-" Bambietta paused a moment, only for her to scream even louder as she shook Natsu once more. "I am going to-"
Whatever Bambietta had to say, whatever she would regret speaking in front of Fairy Tail after it had proven its value to her, was lost to time. Her words were cut short, the sound of Natsu throwing up echoing across the landscape.
"Oh hell no." Bambietta instantly let go of the Fire Dragon Slayer, his lunch freshly adorning her boots. He fell back and away from her, his eyes practically swirling.
"No, Igneel, I don't want to go on the Ferris Wheel again," Natsu whined as his back hit the ground, his cheeks puffing out as if he was on verge of vomiting once more. "Please don't make me..."
Bambietta stood with eyes wide open, the Quincy looking down at her ruined boots. "That's just... just..."
Bambietta knew she simply wanted to scream, but she also knew what would happen. Liltotto would berate her for causing this problem herself. Bambietta knew it was true; she had been shaking a man who suffered from motion sickness after all.
"Lil." Bambietta remembered then what had sparked this entire scenario, her friend having abandoned her on the field of battle again. She wanted to scream even more, to curse to the heavens. Bambietta began to open her mouth then, her rage beginning to take control of her.
Yet then did Bambietta see Wendy, the young Sky Dragon Slayer looking visibly nervous. Bambietta's face twitched again, her anger boiling beneath the surface. Then did she force her expression to appear calm, Bambietta shrugging.
"Oh, fudge my life. My friend has gone and left me behind again and now my favorite pair of boots has been destroyed. Gosh darn it; I just need to roll with life's punches."
"What friend left you?"
Bambietta turned around and could see Liltotto standing behind her, the young lady holding in her hands a small wooden case in one and a bag in the other.
"Lil?" Bambietta began to smile a bit then, her heart rate slowing down.
"Wait a minute." Liltotto looked at Bambietta, taking a step closer. "You... you didn't think I ran off and left you and Fairy Tail holding the bag? Bambi, I..." Liltotto's voice lowered. "Bambi, I... I said I'd keep you safe when I joi-"
Liltotto gasped then, the Quincy never expecting Bambietta to close the distance between them and give her a hug.
"Not another word," Bambietta whispered. "Just... bad memories, all right?"
Looking around, Bambietta could see that all eyes were on her and Liltotto then. The Quincy quickly pulled away from her friend and stuck out her chest, trying to act as confident and boisterous as possible. "So where'd you run off to, huh?"
Liltotto stood up on her toes to look over Bambietta's shoulder, catching sight of the dazed Fire Dragon Slayer lying on the ground. "What happened to Natsu?"
"Just me being adorably hysterical," Bambietta said. "Though my boots paid the price, not that you noticed; thank you very much."
"She's..." Natsu managed to gasp out. "She's wilder than any form of transportation."
"Wow," Liltotto said as she lowered the back of her feet to the ground and looked up at Bambietta with a smirk. "What? Right in front of everyone? Was he... askin' for it Bambi?"
Bambietta folded her arms across her chest and scowled. "You're not funny, Lil."
"I wholeheartedly disagree," Liltotto replied. "Now as for where I ran off to..."
Liltotto turned her attentions to Totomaru and Juvia, beckoning them to come forward. She knelt down then, opening up the wooden box she had collected.
"I need you both to tell me how this where you Element Four guys are supposed to be in that Super Mage Giant Phantom thing to charge the Abyss Break."
Totomaru and Juvia did just that, walking towards Liltotto. The fire mage stared down at the wooden box that the Quincy had opened, taking not of the porcelain objects that were within. "Is that... a chess board?"
"She tends to us that when planning things out," Bambietta offered. "We're both quirky little Quincy, okay?"
"What's up with the bag of..." Juvia strained her eyes for a minute, looking right at what lay beside the chess board. "A bag of chips?"
"I get hungry when I plan things out, okay?" Liltotto replied. "Now again..."
"This is ridiculous," Totomaru countered. "The Abyss Break took us all ten minutes to charge, thirty when we were still getting used to casting it in sync. We don't have time for-"
"Give her answers," Erza said as she approached. "For the sake of both our guilds and the town of Magnolia."
Totomaru stared at the S-Class wizard, mulling over his options. "Fine. I was stationed at the center of the Super Mage Giant Phantom to do my part in casting the fire magic necessary for the Abyss Break. Aria was always on the top floor, while Juvia and Sol were stationed at the shoulders."
"All right, so..." Lil mouth extended out, took a potato chip and ate it. "So all that remains of the Element Four is Aria and Sol. I suppose one of those Arrancar we just saw could cover for Totomaru. But water... Maybe Kusaka is using his Zanpakuto's ice abilities to fill the void. If that's the case..."
Liltotto began to arrange the chess pieces on the board, the Quincy arranging them as they should.
"So Jose's the king and I guess Kariya's the queen, being a wild card and all," Liltotto continued, almost whispering to herself. "I guess Aria and Sol are the knights, Hanza and Kusaka the bishops and Yin and Yang the rooks. Then there's Jose's Shades. I guess they're the pawns. So then..."
"Seriously!" Totomaru shouted, his temper flaring. "We can't just plan out a strategy on a chess board Is this how you Fairy Tail wizards-"
Whatever he was about to say was cut off, Erza laying an armored hand on one of his shoulders. "Thirty minutes, yes? Give her time."
"This is absurd," Totomaru retorted. "We don't have time for-"
"Got it."
Totomaru simply blinked, his rant having been interrupted by the voice of Liltotto. He looked back down and could see the Quincy smirking as she herself stared down at the chess board.
"Well," Totomaru began to say as he folded his arms across his chest, "that's just stellar."
Bambietta grinned a bit as well as she worked her past Totomaru, patting him on the shoulder as she did so. "Don't let it get you down. This is just how Lil likes to plot ahead, that's all. She loves her chess."
Liltotto took another mouthful of potato chips, her jaw having once more extended out to the bag. As her mouth retracted back, she wiped her lips with the back of a gloved hand and began to speak. "Lucy's the key to this whole situation and it's all over if Phantom Lord gets their hands on her. I suppose that makes her the king."
"Not cool," Bambietta muttered under her breath. "It's my hands that should get on her. And vice versa..."
If Liltotto heard what her compatriot had just said, she did her best to ignore it. "Erza's obviously the queen, so that leaves myself and Natsu as the knights, Wendy and Elfman the bishops, and then Bambi and Gray as the rooks."
"Hey," Bambietta said as she crouched down beside Liltotto, "how come I'm not a knight like you? I mean come on, its right in our tittle. Stern Ritter?"
"One," Liltotto whispered back, "we're not Stern Ritter any more. And two, I made Natsu a knight, so..."
Bambietta caught sight of Liltotto's cheeks beginning to redden.
"You have an interesting way of flirting," Bambietta replied. "I bet you want Natsu to realize that knights can only move in L shaped patterns. Isn't that right, Lil?"
Liltotto said absolutely nothing else in return, at least not to Bambietta. "Now I hope nobody takes offense to this, but that makes everyone else in Fairy Tail technically the pawns on the board."
"Well now," a voice called out from above, "I have to wonder what you all are plotting."
Bambietta cast their gazes to the sky, following the sound of the voice, and were greeted with a most worrying sight. Jin Kariya was hovering above them, his long coat billowing about him as his hands remained firmly burrowed within the garment's side pockets. His red eyes glared down at Fairy Tail, his expression betraying none of his intent.
"Oh, look who it is," Bambietta said, trying to keep her composure. "We got ourselves a queen visiting us. Isn't that nice?"
If the statement angered Kariya he did not show it. The man simply shook his head for a moment and focused his eyes on Liltotto. "A chess board? How quaint. Though I suppose Master Jose's orders are more straight-forward than whatever plan you are concocting."
Erza kept her eyes locked on Kariya, unwilling to give him even a chance to make a move without her being ready to counter it. "And what plan is that?"
"The Abyss Break is going to lay waste to this entire town you call home," Kariya replied, "and while that wouldn't phase me in the slightest once upon a time, I do have to worry about my reputation in this world I'm in. With that in mind, I feel its best I take Lucy Heartfilia off your hands and put an end to this unpleasant situation."
"That's right, you come down here acting all big and bad," Bambietta shot back, "but get this through your head, flat top! Lucy's staying right by my side!"
Bambietta paused for a moment, her eyes widening a bit.
"Yeah, you heard me! Right by Fairy Tail's side!"
There was a chorus of yelling from those who made up Fairy Tail, there defiance leaving Kariya growing irate. "You miserable, failing clods. I can't speak for Master Jose, but I truly did want to end this without any further bloodshed. However, is this is how you want it, then-"
Kariya's eyes suddenly widened then, a massive spear suddenly flying towards him. His sight looked over the edge of the blade then, catching sight of a determined Erza Scarlet standing in a golden armor, her right arm extended outwards.
"Such fools." Kariya removed both hands from his coat pockets, allowing the wind to circulate around them. He clasped the palms of his hands against the sides of the spear, fully intent on stopping it. "What?"
Flames suddenly burst forth from the sides of the metal blade of the spear, an unnatural momentum suddenly coming into being. The Bount suddenly felt his position in the sky threatened, his body flying back.
"Damn you," he shouted, "Erza Scarlet!"
Erza watched as Kariya was pushed far and away, his body heading towards the castle. She allowed her magic to flow once more, her Giant's Armor switching out for the Black Wing Armor. She looked towards those she called her guild and family, a solemn expression on her face.
"No doubt Aria is the one helping fuel the air magic for the Abyss Break," the S-Class wizard said. "I'm trusting you all to take care of the Element Four. I'll keep this Kariya busy and buy you all some time!"
The wings of Erza's armor began to move then, allowing her to take flight. She summoned twin sets of ebony swords and flew to meet Kariya, the Bount's momentum coming to an end as the Giant Armor's spear began to power down. It faded from sight then, returning to Erza's armory.
"So you intend to defy me?" Kariya asked as he flew towards Erza, the sky itself at his beck and call. "So be it, Erza Scarlet!"
Bambietta watched from the ground below, the Quincy catching quick glimpses of the clash between Erza's swords and Kariya's wind blades. Bambietta was all but ready to leap into the sky herself, fully intent on joining the battle so as to sate her desires, but she stopped when she felt Liltotto's hand clasping against her forearm.
"I know you want to fight, Bambi," Liltotto began to say, "but I need you to stay put right here."
"Come on," Bambietta pleaded. "If I don't get to fight on the front lines, then I can't get to the other side of the board and become a queen too."
Liltotto blinked. "Oh my God."
Bambietta was confused. "What?"
"First you mention how knights move, then you bring that up." Liltotto was simply astonished. "You... you actually do know how chess works."
Bambietta scowled in return. "Hey, unlike Candi, I actually paid attention when you and Meni played board games. Don't go lumping me in with Shock Tarts for Brains!"
"I want you to stay close to Lucy," was all Liltotto had to say. "I want you to keep her safe in case anyone else from Phantom Lord comes out here to capture her. And I figure you'd be more than okay with that since you are the one who was going on about how no one else was going to be getting their hands on-"
Bambietta quickly covered Liltotto's mouth with one hand, gently patting her on the back, a nervous sweat on her brow. "Yeah, great plan, Lil! I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! Let's do it!" Bambietta lowered her face down by Liltotto's shoulder then and whispered. "You totally heard that, huh?"
"Uh huh," Liltotto mumbled through Bambietta's hand.
"Never going to hear the end of it from you now," Bambietta said as she removed her hand from Liltotto's face, all the while shaking her head in frustration.
"So it looks like our queen and Phantom Lord's queen are already engaged in battle," Liltotto continued, trying her best to ignore Bambietta's sudden bout of laughter," and that's fine. So that just leaves the Abyss Break. Hopefully Wendy's own air magic could be a counter to Aria's, then-"
"Wait a minute!"
Liltotto felt herself cringe then, as if Bambietta's sudden voiced outburst had shifted the world around her. "What?"
"Look, I was totally down with naming the little Dragon Slayer a bishop because that's cool and all," Bambietta continued, the Quincy quite exasperated, "but there's no way I'm having her go up against that Crying Game of a wizard by herself! I'm going with her at the very least!"
"But," Liltotto countered, "you're guarding Lucy. That's why-"
"Then she's not going!" Bambietta shouted, cutting Liltotto off. "I-"
"I want to help, Bambi."
The Quincy paused then, feeling a tug on her cape. She looked over her shoulder to see Wendy by her side, the Sky Dragon Slayer's eyes all but pleading.
"I can do it if I need to," Wendy continued to say, her voice low. "I mean, you all need my help, right?"
Bambietta sighed, pausing for a moment. "Wendy, I-"
"I'm going to be by her side," Liltotto suddenly said. "Bambi, I know I can take Aria but I'm going to need some backup that can counter his specialty. And-"
"He took out Master Makarov," Bambietta countered. "And-"
"I said I'd protect you," Liltotto interrupted. "You and everything important to you, Bambi. I promise."
Bambietta was quiet for a time, finally relenting with her next words. "All right. She turned and knelt beside Wendy then, placing her hands on the Dragon Slayer's shoulders. "I want you to listen to absolutely everything Lil asks of you, okay? She tells you to stay back, she tells you to run away, you do just that?"
Wendy simply nodded her head in acknowledgement much to Bambietta's relief.
Liltotto could see things were going to be all right, her thoughts returning to the plan at hand. "Now then..."
"Please tell me you want me to face off with that masked guy!" Natsu's voice quickly caught Liltotto off guard, the Quincy turning to see him all but raring to go into battle. "He wants to settle a score and that's fine by me! He's got me all fired up!"
"Kusaka?" Liltotto furrowed her brow. "That's not a bad idea, but..." The Quincy grew worried then. She could not fight by Natsu's side and she knew that Kusaka was a dangerous Soul Reaper, possessing a Zanpakuto worthy of a squad captain. "Natsu, I... I know you aren't going to like this, but... I want you to fight the Soul Reaper side by side with Totomaru."
"What?"
It was not one voice but two that had spoken the objection, Totomaru having shouted alongside Natsu. They looked at each other then, clearly annoyed.
"I can handle myself just fine!" Natsu shouted. "Bambi totally wrecked a reaper back during the whole Lullaby thing and I know I could have done it too!"
Bambietta's ears perked. "That guy was no Soul Reaper, let me tell you."
"Let him fight the newbie Phantom Lord guy himself!" Totomaru yelled, his annoyance at the situation becoming too much for him to bear. "I have better things to do! I'm going after Jose and going to talk some sense into him!"
Liltotto could hear it all, the Dragon Slayer she wanted to protect boasting of his abilities, and Totomaru demanding he go face his own former leader himself. It was too much for the normally reserved Quincy to take. "Damn you both."
Bambietta could hear the sudden influx of emotion in Liltotto's voice, the Quincy turning to look at her comrade. "Lil?"
"You are not going to be a one man show, Natsu!" Liltotto shouted, her body shaking. "Not when I say you're not! And Totomaru? You want to go charging off to face down the man who you think has betrayed your guild's ideals? You're going to end up on the floor in a pool of your own blood!"
Bambietta was dumbstruck, the Quincy unable to recall a time she had ever seen Liltotto so angry. Bambietta knew that the Quincy was attached to Natsu, protective even, but her statement to Totomaru had been unexpected.
Then Bambietta remembered what Liltotto had said, of how she had died in their old world. Feeling her heart slowing, her skin growing cold, Bambietta reached out and gently placed a hand on Liltotto's shoulder.
"You're going to work together," Liltotto whispered, her emotions beginning to fade into her normally calm demeanor, "and that's that."
A silence hung over the assembled wizard and Quincy, one that was broken soon by Juvia. The water mage approached Liltotto then, trying to get her attention. "If Totomaru is going to stop this, then I wish to help as well. My powers should be more than a match for Yang's fire magic."
"Thank you," Liltotto said as she looked up at Juvia. "But I know enough about her. No doubt Yin's going to be by her side as well. You can't fight them both alone. You need someone who's magic would complement your own."
Liltotto snapped to attention then, her gaze settling on a nearby Fairy Tail wizard.
"Gray, your Ice-Maker magic should work wonders with her water techniques, right?"
"I suppose so," Gray replied, his fingers rattling against his crossed arms. "Long as we get this show on the road I'll team up with anyone, unlike Natsu here. Not like you're asking me to get married or anything."
"Then that just leaves Sol," Liltotto continued to say. "I know this is a lot to ask, Elfman, but I think we're going to need everyone else out here to evacuate the town in case things go south, so I can't offer you any back-up until someone else finishes a fight."
"A real man doesn't need any assistance!"
Liltotto simply blinked, watching as Elfman quickly ran towards the mechanical monstrosity that the Phantom Lord guild hall had become, the wizard moving faster than Liltotto had ever expected.
"Well," Liltotto said, trying to get past her initial shock, "I guess that's our cue to move."
Bambietta watched then as Liltotto and the others began to move away, heading towards the Phantom Lord guild hall. It did not sit well with Bambietta to not be a part of the upcoming battles with the remaining Element Four and the vaguely familiar denizens from the world she had once called home. She wanted to fight, oh yes she did, but she knew that there was something more important to do.
Moving close to Lucy, Bambietta made sure to stand by her side, looking towards the Phantom Lord base, ready for anything. A part of her wanted for something to attack, a member of Phantom Lord of even a dark remnant of Jose's magic, but Bambietta quickly felt a twinge of guilt at such a desire. She had to protect Lucy, that was all that mattered. The desire for a good fight had no place in this situation; none at all.
Yet then something took hold of Bambietta's attention, focusing it on Lucy entirely. The Celestial Wizard's body was shaking, her face wet from the eyes down.
Bambietta moved closer still, slipping an arm across the woman's shoulders. "Lucy?"
"This," Lucy whispered, "is all my fault, isn't it?"
"Hey." Bambietta would have nothing of that and she was quick to make the point clear. She circled around Lucy and gently raised the wizard's chin up with the index and middle fingers of her right hand, making certain that Lucy's eyes were looking into her own. "You do not own this problem, you got me? Just because other people are acting like monsters to get you, that doesn't make any of this your fault. It's on the shoulders of Jose and anyone following him through on this damn mad fool quest, okay? So don't go continuing to take all the blame."
Lucy sniffed back a bit. "But Bambi-"
"No buts," the Quincy interrupted, putting both her hands firmly on Lucy's shoulders. "I don't want to hear any more self-doubt, okay? Fairy Tail is going to fight for, I'm going to fight for you. And if the monsters at the door want you, Fairy Tail's going to kick the door right down on them. And me? I'll gladly kick their teeth in for good measure. And you know why? Because we're... Because Fairy Tail is a family, you got it?"
"Once a team finishes their battle, they should come assist me?"
Elfman was simply incredulous over Liltotto's strategy. Yes, he was not an S-Class wizard like any of the Element Four were purported to be, but he was an A-Class wizard of the most well-known guild in Fiore. He could handle his own he was sure of it.
At least that was what Elfman continued to tell himself over and over again as he ran through the halls of Phantom Lord's mechanized guild hall. His objective was in sight, the doorway to no doubt the earth element charging station for the Abyss Break.
"I can win this on my own!" Elfman shouted as he slammed through the doors, swinging them open. "Yes! I can do this because I'm a real man!"
Elfman quickly found himself standing in the room, catching sight of a rather gaunt individual possessing green hair.
"Such an uncouth barbarian, interrupting a gentlemen such as myself in the middle of a spell," Sol of the Earth said as he looked over his shoulder at Elfman, the Fairy Tail wizard's reflecting in his monocle. "I suppose I'll have to teach you some manners."
"You're totally doing it wrong, Yang."
Yin was exasperated, watching as her Arrancar twin sister continued to fail at completing her portion of the Abyss Break. Yang, much to her credit, was trying very hard, but it proving incredibly difficult.
"Well excuse me, Yin," Yang said, once more closing her eyes and focusing on her innate powers, flames bursting around her. "This is my first time and I can assure you that combining the spiritual power of Hollow with a Soul Reaper and the magic of this world isn't exactly child's play. And..."
Sighing, Yang raised her right knee up before tilting her upper body to the left, throwing her arms out to the side and extending out her index fingers. A blush formed on her cheeks.
"I feel like such an idiot doing this pose."
"It can't be that embarrassing," Yin said softly as she paced around her sister. "I mean, only I'm here to see it and you know I won't tease you too much about it."
"Thanks a lot," Yang replied, rolling her eyes before concentrating on her powers again. She felt her spiritual strength flow through her body, reaching the tips of her index fingers. It began to flow outward again, the Arrancar feeling a spark in air. "I think... I got it."
Yang's eyes suddenly opened wide, the Arrancar feeling an influx of power in the space around her. One so very familiar, the spiritual nature of Kusaka, but two others she did not recognize immediately.
"You really got it?" Yin asked, tapping her left foot a bit as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Yeah, I think that must be those Sol and Aria creeps," Yang said as she slowly resumed a more normal form. "Man, I'd hate to see them doing that pose."
"So the Abyss Break's a go then," Yin said. "Well good. I'd hate for it to be our fault that it couldn't work out."
"My fault you mean," Yang replied, her head lowering.
Yin looked to her sister, peeking out from beneath her dark blue bangs. "Oh, don't be that way."
"I failed Master Kusaka once before," Yang continued to say. "If I had been a better companion, we would have conquered the Soul Society. We wouldn't have met our ends. He... wouldn't have died."
"But we're here now," Yin said as she held her sister close, trying to console her. Her forehead made contact with Yang's own, their Hollow masks scraping against each other gently. "It's our second chance. And... I failed him as much as you did. So please, don't go shouldering this burden on your own again. You know I can't stand when people act all gloomy, you especially. So please, give me a smile."
"All right," Yang began to reply. "I'll tr-"
Yang never got to finish her sentence, the Arrancar feeling her sister pushing her away. She had no idea why at first, watching in a split second as Yin used Sonido to take a step back, but then she saw a blade of water fire through the space they had been occupying.
"Thanks," Yang said as she steadied herself and gave her sister a little grin. No doubt had Yin noticed the spark of magical power, something Yang had been incapable of separating from all of the elemental magic she had connected to through the Abyss Break. Her attention focused now however, she looked to the doorway. "Damn, now there's someone who's gloomy."
Yin could see it as well, Juvia Lockser standing at the doorway of the chamber. The water mage was clearly looking distraught, the accusation of her being a gloomy individual having clearly gotten to her quickly. It was not something Yin liked to see, even in regards to a comrade who had betrayed the guild they all called home. "Oh, I don't know. I kind of like the rain she brings with her everywhere."
"You would," Yang spat back. "Can't have a little rain without some lightning. Jeez, why don't you just go and marry her."
"Man, you can be so cranky about the littlest thing," Yin replied. "But I guess we would go well together, huh?"
"Please," Juvia interjected, trying to put an end to this ridiculous conversation the Arrancar were having. "I'm simply hear to stop the Abyss Break. So for all our sakes, won't you stop powering it up?"
"Orders are orders," Yang answered with a shrug, "and if Master Kusaka is going to follow them, we will too. Now why don't you and Yin go off and play in the rain or something, okay?"
Yin glared at her sister. "Yang!"
"I'm not interested in romance," Juvia replied rather simply. "I just-"
Juvia stopped for a second, another wizard walking by her. He was of Fairy Tail, Yin and Yang could tell that much. He was the ice wizard known as Gray Fullbuster; the dark, unkempt hair and his casual choice in clothes a dead giveaway. What was surprising to the Arrancar however was how Juvia was reacting. They could see it clear as day, a pink blush forming on her normally pale face.
"Oh my God," Yang said in disbelief. "Looks like someone's got a little schoolgirl crush."
Yin was quick to comment on it as well, a smirk playing on her face. "Like, is our favorite little rain lady falling in love? That's so sweet."
"What now?" That was all Gray had to say on the matter, the wizard looking at the Arrancar twins in clear confusion. "Whatever. Listen, if you two aren't going to back down, then me and Juvia are just going to have to stop you the hard way."
His body acting like it had a mind of its own, Gray's hand tore at the center of his shirt, ripping the buttons that held it shut. With one swift motion that defied both a sense of decency and physics, he threw the white garment away, standing before his would-be opponents naked from the waist up, the Fairy Tail emblem on his chest clear for all to see.
"Is that... a transformation?" Yin asked, rather perplexed. "I didn't anyone in Fairy Tail had clothing related power ups, or a lack thereof, in Fairy Tail besides Titania Erza."
"Maybe he was wearing weighted clothing," Yang added in, all the while running her eyes up and down Gray's torso. "You know, to keep his power and speed in check."
"An interesting strategy if true," Yin mused. "To make nudity a part of a fighter's strategy."
"Wait a minute..." Gray could tell all eyes were on him, the ice mage quickly glancing down and taking note of his exposed upper body. "Oh, crap! Not again!"
"Then again," Yang began to say.
"Maybe he's just a forgetful idiot," Yin finished.
"Oh, well," Yang continued. "He's got nice abs."
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" Gray exclaimed as he retrieved his shirt and slipped his arms through the short sleeves. "Listen, Juvia, I'm sorry for making a fool out of myself just now. You and me both got more important things to worry about then-"
"Gray, darling!"
Gray suddenly felt Juvia's body against his own, her arms wrapping around him. "Huh?"
"Clearly you noticed my infatuation and were trying to raise my fighting spirits before battle!" Juvia shouted as she hugged him tightly and rubbed her cheek against his chest. "Oh, that is so considerate of you!"
"Well, I know it did wonders to light a fire under me," Yang said quite suddenly, raising her hand as she did so. "Like so."
A crimson ball formed in the space near the palm of Yang's hand, the concentrated spiritual energy suddenly catching fire.
"Move!" Gray did as Yin had to her sister earlier, pushing Juvia away. He threw his hands to the ground and began to access his magic. "Ice-Make: Shield!"
Ice sprung up almost instantly, spreading out in a diameter of several feet to protect both Gray and Juvia. It was just in time then as Yang finished charging her own attack.
"Let's see how that silly wall of your handles a Cero!"
A hellish sound echoed across the chamber as the orb of crimson flame extended forward, becoming a beam that crossed the chamber in nothing less than a second. It struck Gray's barrier sharply, leaving the ice wizard to panic.
"No way!" he shouted, watching as his barrier began to crack and melt. "That's-"
Gray did not even get the chance to finish his sentence. The beam tore right through his barrier then and there. It collided with him in immediately after and, despite having lost power due to the thick ice, it still smashed into Gray with enough force to send him flying back. He cried out as his body struck the stone wall, the wizard feeling a rib crack under the pressure.
"That's better!" Yang said, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"There you go, getting all hyped for pain," Yin said with a sigh. "You never change, Yang."
"Oh, not that," Yang replied. "If I went all out with that Cero, this stud muffin wouldn't be breathing. So I went easy on him... and I got what I wanted."
Torn and burnt as it was, Gray's white shirt began to fall off his body as he dropped to the floor, the better part of his upper body's outfit reduced to so much ash.
"There we go," Yang said, running a tongue across her upper lip. "I love me some man service."
"You... hurt Gray to see his body?" Juvia took one step towards the Arrancar, her eyes practically going white. "You wanted to see his body? I have a love rival?"
"Is she getting mad?" Yin asked, the Arrancar unable to remember Juvia doing anything but sulk off in a corner. "Yang, what did you do?"
"A love rival," Juvia said, her steps become unstable, her pattern of walking not falling a straight line. Her eyes remained lifeless, as if she was lost in a world that no one could truly understand. Then quite suddenly did she stop her advancement, her teeth coming together, her eyes narrowing. Steam suddenly began to burst out from the space around her, as if her very watery body was boiling. "Yang must not be allowed to live!"
Gray could hear it, the rage in the voice of his would-be ally. The ice wizard shook his head and began to stand, trying to ignore the pain searing through his torso. This was crazy, to be fighting with people with such power while working alongside a woman who was leaving him worried about her shifts in personality. "What the hell did that Liltotto girl get me into?"
"Did she just... threaten me?" Yang asked rather incredulously.
"Well, you did make a move on her boyfriend," Yin answered matter-of-factly. "I guess it's to be expected."
"Hey," Gray muttered as he began to make it back to his feet and move towards the conflict at hand. "Don't I get a say in any of this?"
Whether Juvia even heard Gray's words the ice wizard was unsure of, his ally completely lost in her rage. Yin however had heard what he had said and she gave Gray a wink. "Hush, Fairy Tail wizard. Juvia's apparently speaking for you."
"Okay, that's it." Gray was growing frustrated with the debacle he was in, bringing into existence a weapon forged from his Maker magic. "Ice-Make: Cannon!"
Holding the weapon across the length of his left arm, Gray watched as an orb of ice fired forth from its barrel, flying towards Yin with enough velocity that he hoped she would not be able to doge it in time.
Then, without warning, a column of fire burst forth from the flooring in front of Yin, quickly incinerating the orb of ice.
"That's impossible!" Gray shouted in return, watching as the fire died down, catching sight of a wicked grin on Yang's face. "Not even Natsu's flames could melt my ice that fast!"
"Poor little stripper," Yang laughed. "You have no idea who you're dealing with, do you?"
"Then maybe we should educate these fools." Yin quickly undid the hilt of her Zanpakuto from the position it held in her braided hair. As she held it by her side, an arc of electric spread out from the bone white weapon, forming a whip of sorts.
Yang did the same, a sword of crimson fire jutting out from her Zanpakuto. "I'm ready, sister. Let's show them what an Arrancar can do."
"Now what?" Gray watched as the twin sisters vanished from sight. "There's no way!"
Gray saw it then, Yang appearing behind Juvia. The Arrancar attacked quickly, too fast for Gray to issue a warning, but he soon realized that he did not have any reason to worry.
Yang fist passed through Juvia's body, soon joined by the Arrancar's entire body. Yang fell past her then, Juvia's form having taken a watery consistency for a moment.
"What the heck?" Yang turned around in a fury. "Seriously!"
"My body is like water," Juvia replied simply. "As long as I wish it, you will not touch me. And I won't let you touch my darling Gray either."
Gray was about to say something, to speak up about his opinion on the matter, but he knew he had something else to worry about. He turned around, ready to attack the Arrancar that would appear behind him like Yang had with Juvia, but he saw no one there.
"Since when were you under the impression I'd appear behind you?" Yin asked as she suddenly stood behind Gray, her Sonido complete. "That would have been so boring, don't you think?"
Gray screamed then, an electrified Cero slamming into his body. He pitched forward, his muscles twitching. Despite the pain he could hear Juvia call out his name, but that was not all. He shouted as well, tugging at his power. "Ice-Make: Hammer!"
Slamming his sparking right fist into his open left hand, Gray forged the hammer above and behind him, swinging the massive weapon down.
"Well, that's an interesting way to attack me from behind." Yin quickly stepped out of the way, Sonido once more taking her out of sight. The hammer hit the floor hard, shattering into chunks of ice that began to quickly melt.
Gray gasped for breath, trying to recover from the shock both his body and his system had received. He knew Yang would try that trick again, no doubt appearing in front of him.
No, that was not it. She was smart, Gray had figured out that much. She would realize he would defend his front and so she would appear behind him this time. Then again, perhaps she would realize that he had caught on and would appear in front of him after all.
"Damn."
Gray shook his head. He had to get a grip on her. If he froze her body, Yin would be unable to move at high speeds, let alone continue to fight. However, he simply did not know what angle she would attack from.
"The hell with it!"
Gray threw his right arm forward, his left behind him, and hoped for the best.
He saw Yang suddenly appear in front of him, catching him completely off guard. However, he felt someone behind him as well. "Couldn't hurt Juvia, so you both came at me together, huh? Fine by- wait... Did I just-"
Gray could see that Yang's cheeks were blushing, leaving the ice wizard to glance down. Sure enough, he could see that his hand was pressed firmly atop her surprisingly robust chest.
"Oh my," Yang was saying. "How forward of you."
A sweat drop dripping down his face, Gray began to look over his shoulder. He could see the same result of his plan of attack there as well. Yin was blushing, her eyes wide with surprise, as Gray's hand firmly held one of her breasts. However, he could also see that she was angry. "I insist," Yin began to say, her teeth gritting together, "that you unhand me, good sir."
"Hey! This so wasn't intentional!" Gray shouted as he quickly let go of both of the Arrancar. "I totally didn't mean to-"
"My darling Gray," Juvia whispered, covering her mouth with her right hand. "He... He..."
"Hey now," Gray pleaded. "It was a total accident, okay?"
"Don't either of you dare sully his majestic hands with your filthy bosoms!" Juvia went into a rage again, swing out her right arm. "Water Slicer!"
Yin and Yang both quickly stepped away from Gray with Sonido, evading Juvia's attack altogether. Instead it harmlessly flew through the air. However, as it had been only mere inches away from Gray's face, he was hard-pressed to consider it harmless.
Then did Gray hear the sound of Juvia screaming. He turned to the side and saw the most unsightly of visages. The rain woman was crying out, electricity arcing around her body. She was clawing at her throat with both hands, a cord of lightning wrapped around it. Behind Juvia stood Yin, a sadistic smile evident on the Arrancar's face.
"That's right," Yin hissed. "Scream and beg. It's better than hearing you act all mopey."
"Juvia!" Gray was about to run to her aide, to attack with his ice magic, when he paused. If Sonido had taken Yin behind Juvia, then Yang was no doubt about to do the same to him. Turn quickly, Gray could see it, the Arrancar appearing in the space behind him, Yang raising her flame sword high. "Damn!"
"My name..." Juvia whimpered. "He... He called my name and..."
"What's that?" Yin asked, moving her mouth towards one of Juvia's ears. "I can't hear you..."
Juvia paid Yin no mind, her attention entirely on Gray. She could see he was in danger, Yang about to attack him with what could be a fatal blow. Such a visage made one thing plainly clear to Juvia. The pain her body was experiencing thanks to Yin would pale in comparison to losing this man she was growing so infatuated with. So she surrendered herself to Yin's lighting, extending her hands outwards instead. "Water Lock!"
An orb of blue water quickly surrounded Yang, ensnaring her and keeping her weapon locked in place above her head so that it could not strike Gray. The ice wizard could see steam issuing forth from the water, the sound of Yang's screams of pain only adding to the sight. The Arrancar's eyes were peering out from the boiling water, infused with fury. The Arrancar could generate fire, yes, but the heat of the steaming water was another matter altogether. Yet trapped as she was, Yang could do nothing. However, Gray's thoughts were elsewhere. "Juvia..."
He turned fast, knowing that the rain wizard had protect him now, and he could see that she had done it at the expense of herself. She was still caught by Yin, the electricity arcing through her vulnerable body, and it left Gray infuriated.
Yin was just as mad as him, the Arrancar shouting at the water wizard. "How dare you attack my sister! I'll make you pay a thousand-fold, do you hear me? I'll pump so much voltage into that strange body of yours that you'll beg me for death!"
"The hell you will!" Gray shouted as he swung a fist into the opposing hand. "Ice-Make: Hammer!"
The hammer came down with brutal force, the ice cracking and shattering as it crashed upon Yin's head and shoulders. The Arrancar cried out in pain and dropped to the floor, her electrified whip slipping away from Juvia. The water mage stumbled away then, gasping as her body's convulsions began to slow. "Gray, you..." She looked at the Fairy Tail wizard, her eyes practically beaming despite the torment she had endured. Before Gray knew it, Juvia had him held in a tight embrace, the side of her face pressed firmly against his chest. "You saved me!"
Gray was stunned for the moment, the young man's hands hovering around Juvia's back. He rightly had no idea what to do, Gray unable to recall a time he had ever even met someone who hugged him, let alone the first time they had met him. "Well, uh, you did save me first, so all's fair, right?"
Gray suddenly panicked as he felt steaming water splashing against his back, a roar of outrage threatening to deafen him. He quickly held Juvia tightly, eliciting a squeal from her, and quickly leapt to the side. A burst of fire shot through the space they had once occupied, Yang standing on the floor, soaked from head to toe and steam continued to rise from her body.
"Damn." Gray and Juvia kept their distance, the ice wizard and her standing side-by-side. Yang was glaring at them and soon so was Yin, the electrified Arrancar back on her feet. Then, just like before, they were gone from sight.
Gray knew he could not counter this technique like Natsu had against Bambietta back at Mount Hakobe. He was nowhere near as fast in close quarters combat as Natsu. However, there were other methods at his disposal.
Gray dropped to one knee, slamming his hands to the ground. "Ice-Make: Floor!"
A thick sheet of ice quickly spread out across the arena, covering a diameter of fifteen feet around Gray and Juvia both. The Fairy Tail wizard was confident that this would work. He did not need to react to the Arrancar's sneak attack if he could counter it before it was completed after all.
"Whoa!"
"Son of a-"
Soon enough Gray heard both Yin and Yang shouting and he and Juvia both looked over their shoulders. The Arrancar were lying on the ice in complete disarray, their Sonido having taken them directly on to the slippery surface.
"This is absolutely ridiculous," Yang hissed as she lay on her back and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm really starting to lose my love for this guy."
"That... hurt." Yin was practically upside down, her shoulders on the ice, her back leaning up against the wall. "That was unpleasan- Hey!"
Upside down as she was, Yin quickly reached her arms up and grabbed her blue skirt, the garment having hung down at the behest of gravity. She glared at Gray then, her cold, blue eyes a stark contrast to the rosy color on her cheeks. "You saw nothing."
"I'm pretty sure that's the case," Gray calmly replied, Juvia's right hand covering his eyes. "Seriously, I could have just looked away."
"I will not have you waste my dear Gray's eyes on your questionable choice in undergarments!" Juvia shouted, her temper flaring once again.
"You know what?" Yang let loose with a blast of fire, melting the ice around her as she stood up to her feet.
"I think we've both had just about enough of you two," Yin added as she rolled on to her feet and stood as well.
"Should we conclude this game, sister?" Yang asked, giving Yin a knowing wink.
"Hell yes." It was unbecoming of the calmer of the two sisters, but Yin's annoyance was beginning to eat away at her. "Strike, Relampago!"
Yang joined her sister then, a shout escaping from her as well. "Ignite, Fuego!"
The twin Arrancar closed their eyes for a moment, blue and red spiritual power emanating from their bodies and flowing about them. They began to scream then, the force of their innate powers beginning to push Gray and Juvia away.
"What the hell is this?" Gray shouted as he brought an arm up before his face, trying to shield himself from the nearly blinding light. "This... this isn't magic!"
Gray felt himself continue to fall back, the soles of his shoes skidding across the floor as the oppressive force generated by Yin and Yang continued to press against him. No doubt it was the same for Juvia, but for the moment Gray had to correct himself. Of course this was not like any magic he had ever seen before. Nothing these Arrancar had done had felt like magic. Not the way the attacks had hit, nor the energy he had felt in the air. It was just the same as it was with Bambietta and Liltotto, leaving Gray to wonder if there was any connection.
Juvia, meanwhile, was simply concerned for Gray's wellbeing. She had not expected Yin and Yang to be as strong as they were, the wizard having suspected they were beneath the power of the Element Four. Now, however, she was beginning to wonder what strength they possessed and, if they were as powerful as she feared, what kind of monsters the likes of Kariya, Kusaka and Hanza were.
Then she and Gray suddenly felt the pressure against their bodies subside, the light fading. Their bodies both pitched forward, their attempts at resisting the auras coming back to haunt them.
However, what was most concerning was what they were facing. Yin and Yang were still before them, yes, but the twin Arrancar had changed in appearance drastically. The majority of their bodies had become encased in white armor, their faces covered by helmets that resembled misshapen skulls. Most telling of their inhuman status however was their arms. Both were wrapped in massive plates that very nearly dwarfed the rest of their bodies, the bone-like armor moving high above their shoulders. Then there was the most worrisome part. From the wrists of Yang's armor extended twin blades of fire, while from Yin's hung two whips of corded lightning.
"How absurd," echoed a distorted voice that echoed out from Yin's mask. "To think we'd be reduced to using our Resurreccions against mere humans."
"Hey, I'm fine with it as long as we get to make a mess of them," Yang countered, her own voice similarly altered.
"Is this some kind of Beast Take Over?" Juvia asked, moving closer to Gray.
"No way," Gray replied. "Elfman's transformations are nothing like these two. Something just feels... wrong about them."
Juvia, to her credit, refused to be intimidated by the strange powers her enemies possessed. She swung out her arm, pouring as much of her magical power into it as she could "Water Slicer!"
The attack closed in on Yang yet, much to Juvia's dismay, the water blade simply broke apart on the Arrancar's armor plating, the liquid harmlessly splashing against Yang.
"What?" the Arrancar asked. "That's it? Poor little wizard."
"Ice-Make: Sword!" Gray lunged at Yin, the frozen blade gripped tightly with both hands. The Fairy Tail mage lunged for the Arrancar, intent on bringing her down. "I don't care what kind of power you two are wielding! Your guild threatened my family and my home and I'll-"
Gray's voice died down, his eyes widening as the sound of shattering ice filled his ears. The sword had broken apart into dozens of shards the moment it had made contact with Yin's armored shoulder.
"What?" the Arrancar asked. "That's it? Poor little wizard."
"Ice-Make: Sword!" Gray lunged at Yin, the frozen blade gripped tightly with both hands. The Fairy Tail mage lunged for the Arrancar, intent on bringing her down. "I don't care what kind of power you two are wielding! Your guild threatened my family and my home and I'll-"
Gray's voice died down, his eyes widening as the sound of shattering ice filled his ears. The sword had broken apart into dozens of shards the moment it had made contact with Yin's armored shoulder.
"And what?" Yin simply asked. "Come on. Don't be shy. Finish your silly little threat."
Gray hesitated for a moment, his composure nearly as shattered as his blade. The power he and Juvia faced, it left his skin growing numb from the fear. That was disconcerting in of itself, Gray having found solace in the cold. He was quick to understand it then. This was not an unnatural reaction of his body to the freezing temperature he had commanded to create his weapons. No, this was fear.
Gray had fought many a monster and fellow wizard, his life on the line. This however was different. The source of Yin and Yang's abilities, their transformations, was a different sort of beast altogether, reminding him instead of the creature from Clover Town, the one Bambietta had referred to as a Hollow. This power was clawing at him, as if it desired not just his death but to take his soul, to devour it whole.
His hesitation suddenly broke, the fear dissipated. It was not with conviction however. No, it was replaced with pain. Searing pain, a white hot agony spreading across Gray's torso. The wizard cried out then, his gaze falling. He could see it, Yang having moved close, one of her heat blades have punctured his torso above the waist.
"He who hesitates and all that," Yang rasped. "Guess you couldn't stand the heat."
"Damn it, you and your puns are... are..." Yin said, shaking her masked head as Yang retracted her sword from Gray. "You know what? Forget it. We're winning."
"Damn..." Gray grasped at his side with one hand, feeling no trace of blood. The intense heat of Yang's weapon had punctured him, yes, but it had also cauterized the wound. "This... can't be the end."
"Gray!" Juvia ran forward then, intent on helping him. She was too slow however, left to watch as the jaw of Yin's mask cracked open, a bolt of blue energy encircled by lightning bursting forth. It struck Gray with such force that the wizard was sent hurtling back, his cry of agony echoing in Juvia's ears.
"Oh, not bad," Yin said as she began to approach Gray. The Arrancar's massive arms began to rotate, her electrified whips tearing against the floor over and over again, all but scorching it. "But I kind of prefer a more direct approach."
Yin swung both of her whips forward then, intent on lashing them against Gray and leaving him convulsing in agony. She was not granted her desire however, Juvia quickly stepping in the way.
"You'll make a lovely consolation prize."
As the whips wrapped around Juvia, Yin did not find herself the least bit concerned that the woman's sacrifice had impeded her attack on Gray. Pain was pain after all. So she unleashed the full brunt of her power, sending volts of electricity flowing through the cords and directly into Juvia.
Her screams tore at Gray, the wizard looking up from the floor. He wanted to help so desperately, yes, but his body was betraying him. His right hand clutching at the wound Yang had caused, he tried desperately to make it up to his feet. His legs collapsed from under him again, however, and he could only faintly reach out with one hand. "Stop it... Stop it!"
"Oh?" Yang peaked around to look at Gray, her curiosity piqued. "What's this? You want to be a knight in shining armor? That's so sweet..."
"Phantom Lord picked this fight with Fairy Tail," Gray hissed as he tried once more to get up to his feet, Juvia's screams becoming his motivation. "And she's... a member of your guild, so leave her alone! You're fight is with me!"
"I'm sorry," Yin said in a rather melancholic tone, her masked head lowering a bit, "but she's betrayed Phantom Lord by helping your guild. Conversely, she's betrayed Master Kusaka and for that... I cannot allow her to live for that!"
Juvia's scream intensified then, the lightning arcing into her body increasing in direct response to Yin's sudden outburst.
"Damn you!" Gray grit his teeth and stood at last, his legs shaking and threatening to give on him at any moment. "Ice-Ma-"
Whatever Gray had planned, it was not to be. A Cero composed of flame struck him then, leaving the wizard to cry out in pain as he fell to the floor once again.
"I've had enough of you." Yang knew she wanted to enjoy a little carnage, but now even she was worried. Yin was always the calm one, the collected one. Yet now she had let her temper slip and was very clearly torturing Juvia. Kusaka meant so much to them both, she understood that, but this was going too far. It was meant to be ended quickly, if violently, but not like this.
To that end, Yang attacked Juvia. The woman's senses were alight with pain, her body unable to keep its watery composition, and that was exactly what Yang was counting on. Her Cero struck Juvia then, engulfing her in fire.
"What?" Yin pulled her whips back and watched as Juvia fell beside Gray, both their smoking from the attacks. Yin looked to Yang then, unsure of what she was doing.
"I'm getting bored," Yang replied with a shrug before using Sonido to step back several yards. "So let's just end this quickly, sis. Okay?"
Yin felt her temper begin to die down, the Arrancar wondering what had just come over her. She moved beside Yang then, their eyes locked on the downed Gray and Juvia. Both Arrancar began to charge a Cero each then, the mouths of their masks cracking open.
"There won't be anything left of either you," Yang hissed, her voice echoing over the sound of the twin Cero.
"I promise you that much," Yang added on, watching as both the Cero of flame and the Cero of lightning began to combine. "This is the end!"
"Is that," Gray began to say weakly, his body struggling to move, "a Unison Raid? No, it... it can't be. Not with their powers..."
"A Unison Raid?" Juvia's voice was low, cracking with pain, but she managed to speak those words regardless. That was it. Their only chance at defeating Yin and Yang. Fighting any agony she felt, Juvia moved her scorched hand towards Gray, her fingers slowly threading their way between his own. She weakly gripped his hand then and speak. "Gray, my darling... We can stop them with... our own Unison Raid..."
"You make it... sound so easy," Gray simply replied. "Our magic might be compatible, but... we'd have to be in perfect sync with each other. Completely. You know how long it's taken some people to manage that?"
"Do any spell you want," Juvia whispered. "Feel however you want. I promise I'll match it perfectly, my darling."
Gray was not seeing any other option. He was unwilling to go down without a fight, to die without struggling, and he was willing to take whatever opportunity he could to live. That was what Ur would have wanted, right?
"All right," Gray whispered back as he squeezed his hand tightly around Juvia's own. "We'll do it your way."
Juvia's pale face began to redden as she and Gray both forced themselves to their feet. Their legs wobbling, they held their enclosed hands outwards, closing their eyes and they began to call to their magic powers.
Juvia could feel Gray's power flowing out from her, yes, but there was something else. Something much more important to her. Their chests pressed together, she could feel his heart beating slow and steady, a sign that he was no concerned despite their present circumstances. Did he have faith in her? Did he truly?
Juvia was excited, so very much so, but she knew she had to match Gray's emotional state. She forced herself to calm down, her breathing and heart rate slowing to match his. He had said it was hard and yet she could not understand why. It was so simple to connect with him on a magical level, their powers becoming one.
It was so with their magic, so with their feelings, and it was also so with their voices. "Magic Fusion! Unison Raid!"
As Yin and Yang's combined attacked fired forth, the Cero obscuring them from sight, a massive magic circle formed before Gray and Juvia. From it fired forth a veritable onslaught of freezing, magical charged water. Within it were hundreds of ice shards gleaning in the light of the Arrancar's attack.
The combined powers on both sides collided on the spot, threatening overwhelm each other. Gray and Juvia poured all of their power into the fusion of water and ice, trying with all their heart and soul to overcome the adversity before them.
Yin and Yang were the stark contract, the twin Arrancar assured of their victory. "That's right!" Yang shouted. "Struggle all you want! It'll make your end all the sweeter for us!"
"No who's being sadistic?" Yin whispered under her breath. "My sister, the big old hypo- What?"
Yin and Yang both saw it then, Gray and Juvia's attack tearing through their own, the Cero dissipating as the razor-sharp shards of ice tore it asunder. The water struck them both then, quickly freezing and becoming a jagged tower of ice that held them in place.
"True love,' Juvia began to shout, "conquers all!"
"What she said," Gray added on before quickly looking down at Juvia. "Wait, what?"
The tower of ice that held Yin and Yang aloft quickly shattered, the twin Arrancar crying out in pain as it did so. They fell to the floor then, their armor cracked and damaged.
"What was that?" Yin asked rather hoarsely.
"We couldn't have been beaten," Yang gasped. "Not by... mere humans..."
Azure and crimson light engulfed both Arrancar for a moment, soon fading. Their Resurreccion forms were no more, both Yin and Yang lying unconscious on the floor in their more human-like appearances.
"Mere humans?" Gray looked at the defeated Arrancar. "Then what the hell are... they?"
His voice had paused for a second, Gray stumbling down to one knee. Juvia was quick by his side, helping him back up. "It doesn't matter. We won, my darling. Now we... we need to get to that Wendy girl. She can heal you, right?"
"Yeah," Gray answered. "And she can heal you too. Then we can help take down that Aria guy. Or head off to help Elfman take down Sol."
Gray took a deep breath, thinking over the possibility of assisting Liltotto in the battle with Aria. At first he had questioned just what she had gotten him into by splitting everyone up into the teams she had, but now he was content with it.
"Hey, Juvia," Gray began to say. "You're not half-bad, so... tha- What's this?"
Gray suddenly felt something against his hand, something soft and warm. He turned around quickly and caught sight of Juvia holding his hand against one side of her bosom. The water mage's eyes were closed, her lips perking up into a slight smile as her cheeks remained rosy. "Oh, my darling Gray. You never needed to touch Yin or Yang's unworthy chests. You needed only to ask me."
"Well, that's... nice." Gray looked away for a moment, trying not to enjoy the situation he was, and whispered to himself. "I hope things aren't quite so extreme with Natsu and that other Phantom Lord member..."
"All right! Let's do this!"
Natsu Dragneel threw open the double doors to the room Totomaru had directed him to. This was it, the chamber responsible supplying water magic energy to the Abyss Break. The Fire Dragon Slayer was raring to go, intent on putting an end to the spell that threatened to destroy his guild and his home. All he had to do was win one fight, to defeat one man.
That man was not far away, the masked individual known as Sojiro Kusaka leaning against the far wall. He titled his head up to get a good look at the intruder and grinned beneath his mask. "I've been waiting for, Salamander. We meet again at last."
"Hey, you said you wanted to settle things outside, so here I am!" Natsu replied. "And careful what you wish for, because I've got a fire in my belly that I'm ready to roar your way!"
"There's something about you," Kusaka said as he stood to his full height and placed a hand upon the grip of his sheathed sword. "It makes me feel the same. Perhaps it's simply that impetus spirit you possess. It's so different from any I've ever faced in battle."
"Ain't that nice," Natsu exclaimed. "It's nice to have an opponent who's going to enjoy losing as much as I'm going... to enjoy... winning..."
Natsu's voice trailed off suddenly, the Fire Dragon Slayer's senses coming alive as he felt sheer power emanate from both Kusaka and his sword. In response did Natsu all but bite his tongue, a faint bit of sweat slipping down the sides of his face.
"So that's it," Kusaka said, the power suddenly flowing back into him. "A slight pause and nothing more is all you do in light of my Spiritual Pressure. I suppose you will truly be a worthy opponent after all."
Kusaka reached up with his right hand, removing from his head the Hollow mask he had grown accustomed to. He allowed Natsu to see his face then, a jagged scar running across one side.
"What happened to you?" Natsu asked, genuinely surprised.
"You see me for what I am," Kusaka replied, gently touching the scar on his face. "A damaged man, forever tarnished by the friend he was forced to fight and die to twice over."
"Killed... by a friend?" None of it made any sense to Natsu. How could this individual stand before him alive and well if he had died twice before? That was odd enough. However, it was another thing that Kusaka said that concerned him. "What kind of friend would kill one of his own?"
"That riles you up, yes? To know that two friends were forced to fight to the death for no justifiable reason? Yes, I suppose that's something we have in com-." Kusaka stopped and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. It never did."
Natsu disagreed vehemently. "What the heck are you talking about?"
"Don't ask such questions, Salamander of Fairy Tail," Kusaka replied. "You came here to fight for the sake of your so-called friends, yes?"
That was a question Natsu could answer without the slightest amount of hesitation. "Heck yeah!"
"Then I will not deny you what you seek." Kusaka unsheathed his sword then, his voice beginning to bellow throughout the chamber. "Reign over the Frosted Heavens, Hyorinmaru!"
The sheath dissolved completely before Natsu's eyes, a chain adorned by a crescent star forming off of the sword's handle. However, that was not the most disconcerting part. No, the power that Natsu had felt was coming back in full force. No, it was even stronger.
"You know, I wasn't too happy Lil had you come along for the ride at first," Natsu shouted as he tried to stand his ground, "but I'm kind of glad you have my back now, Totomaru!"
Natsu waited for a boasting of the Phantom Lord wizard's power, or perhaps a sarcastic reply. He received neither.
"Totomaru?" Natsu turned around then, ignoring Kusaka for the moment. All the Dragon Slayer was greeted with was the sight of Happy floating in the air, the cat shrugging his shoulders. "Where the heck did he go?"
"After he pointed you in the right direction, he kind of took off down another hallway," Happy explained rather simply.
"Say what?" Natsu's eyes narrowed. "That's not cool! Here we are going into a major battle and he goes and takes a potty break? He should have done that before he left home!"
Happy sighed. "I'm pretty sure this is home, Natsu. And I'm pretty sure that's not what he's doing."
"So why didn't you tell me he took off?" Natsu asked.
Flying through the air around his friend, Happy began to wave his paws about. "I just thought you noticed he ran off!"
"You know me better than that!" Natsu replied. "Oh well, it's not like I really wanted to fight by his side anyway! I guess I should have expected someone from Phantom Lord to abandon me before a fight! I bet that lady Gray's with probably left him high and dry too!"
Natsu turned around to face the approaching Kusaka, the Dragon Slayer slamming his knuckles together and allowing fire to spark outwards.
"I'll take this jerk done by myself and show that jerk who's the real fire wizard around these parts!"
Hanza Nukui stood before Jose Porla, the former shinobi of the Soul Society listening well. He wished to earn his guild master's trust, to take back what he had lost thanks to the debacle in regards to taking care of Gajeel Redfox. He would do whatever it would take. So he kept his eyes on the guild master, taking note of how his demeanor had changed since his return to the guild.
Gone was Jose's peculiar choice in fashion, his clothes befitting a warlock gone without a trace. The man was dressed from head to toe for war, a dark blue uniform befitting a military unit adorning him and a violet cape hanging from one shoulder. It was a stark comparison to the man who had taken Hanza in not that long ago.
"This situation has truly deteriorated," Jose rasped, "and all because those fools from Fairy Tail insulted my offer for peace. The Abyss Break will destroy them for that, but there is another matter to attend to."
"Lucy Heartfilia," Hanza said solemnly. "Do you wish for me to-"
"Of course!" Jose shouted as he turned to face Hanza. "You are to go out there and bring her to me by force if need be! By force even if it is not required! I give you permission, Hanza, to slaughter any Fairy Tail wizard that stands between you and Lucy Heartfilia!"
The shinobi bowed then, his body fading into the shadows of the room as he made his leave. "I suppose I should hope that I run into that damned Quincy then..."
Jose watched as his subordinate vanished without a sight, the guild master moving back to his throne. He took a seat and closed his eyes for a moment, the recent events getting to him. He had not slept since he had arranged for Makarov's defeat, his glee too strong to rest through. He needed sleep, yes, it called to him, but he was determined to see this battle through to the end no matter what.
Then did he hear the doors to his chambers burst open, the Wizard saint feeling a tremendous heat throughout the room. He hissed through grit teeth and opened his eyes to see a familiar face standing at the doorway, flames shifting around his body.
"Master Jose," Totomaru said as he took one step forward, "we need to talk. It's not too late to end this madness."
"Totomaru the Conflagration of Phantom Lord." Jose stood up from his throne and took one step towards the young man. "Totomaru of the Element Four."
Jose stopped then, closing his eyes once more. They opened quickly, however, but had changed. They looked at Totomaru, the orbs having become dark as night.
"Totomaru," Jose said softly, his voice quickly escalating and becoming a scream of pure rage, "the traitor!"
Quite a chapter wasn't it? I do hope you all enjoyed that alot. Personally, I think that having Grey and Juvia working together is a great way to have them start a relationship. Granted, their not an item yet, and wont be for a while, but its a better start if you ask me.
I know that some people may be confused as to how Grey and Juvia pulled out a victory despite being on the losing side at the end, but its actually really simple. The Unison raid is a VERY powerful technique, and is more than capable of taing down opponents that are far stronger than the user is. If Lucy and Juvia were capable of using it in the tower of heaven, then Grey and Juiva should be more than capable to pull it off.
Oh, and yes, we decided to give Yin and Yang resurrection forms. We figured that would be a nice little treat for you readers. Their not as powerful as any espada, but they ARE strong.
Anyways, i do hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. I cant wait to see what you all have to say.
Before i go, here is this chapters MPFs:
Grey:1450
Juvia:1420
Yin and Yang (Base):1435
Yin and Yang (resurrection):2880
Ying and Yang (Cero):3200
Unison raid:5000
