Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you back to yet another chapter of "A Quincy's Fairy Tail!". My dear readers, I'm rather happy with this chapter. To be quite honest, I think it's one of my all-time favorites. I'm quite positive that you'll all enjoy it too. Why is that? Well, I don't want to give away the surprise! There's only one real way to find out, and that is to read! Once again I give a big thank yo to m friend who helped write a large portion of this chapter, it really helped out alot.

I'm especially eager to get your thoughts on this chapter, so please feel free to leave a review to let me know what you thought of it. I'm truly looking forward to it.

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy Tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and Weekly Shounen Magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!


Atop the Tower of Heaven was a throne room, one that belonged to Jellal Fernandes. It was his solitary chamber, the one in which lived his life in supervising the ascent of his life's dreams. It was an arduous project, yes, but every time a new floor was constructed, he would rise higher so as to remain the closest thing to God his friends would know. The closest thing to God until Zeref was revived and walked among mortals once again.

However, it was not simply a new room built and purposed to his desires. No, it was the same brick and mortar, the same architecture was torn about and reassembled. Jellal was rarely quite so meticulous, at least for his own selfish needs, but the room sparked the desire from him. For it was more than just his home.

No, it went further back into his past than that. Every brick that made up the walls, every panel that adorned the ceilings and floors, all of it had once been part of the room his life had forever changed.

The room where he had been tortured, just as Erza Scarlet had been. The room where he had been brought to his breaking point. Where his will had faltered. Where he had lost all hope... until he appeared.

Zeref.

How else could Jellal keep fresh in his mind both his purpose in life and the savior he had pledged himself mind, body, and soul? Around him were memories, bitter and sweet memories, painful ones, ones born of salvation. For a man who pledged himself utmost to his cause without hesitation, his chamber was nothing but a contradiction.

One contradiction was playing out in this very moment. For while Jellal kept to himself in the room, not even his dearest subordinate friends allowed entry, he was not alone. It was an outsider to the Tower of Heaven, the leader of the assassins guild that Ultear had brought under Jellal's employ.

"You deeply disappoint me, Dyspute," Jellal said, using a chess piece of a lady in white to knock down another of a monstrous owl. "You and all of Death's Head Caucus. Ultear spoke so very highly of your guild. Yet I see no dead fairies. Wizard, angel or reaper alike, they all remain. Though perhaps you will disappoint me further still..."

Jellal's eyes peered out from the darkness of his hood, one eye ablaze with an eerie red pattern.

"I half expect your guild to finally win a battle to the death, but cost me Erza in the process," Jellal hissed. "An unlikely outcome, yes, but I begin to expect the worst of you. Tell me, am I... mistaken?"

The guild master looked over his shoulder, a frown adorning his face. "I will admit, Fairy Tail has given my guild a far greater challenge than expected. Fortunately, however, all of my heavy hitters are still on the board so to speak. As am I...and I think you're well aware of just how powerful I am."

"Your reputation does proceed you, yes," Jellal replied, the dark man leaning back in his seat. "I just hope you and yours live up to it soon. For your sake as well as my own."

Dyspute could only sigh. "I suppose you have a right to be disappointed. However, I believe I have a solution to...even the odds so to speak."

"Oh?" Jellal felt his heart skip a beat then, the man enticed by the possibilities. "Do make me privy to what you intend."

"As you're well aware, the one you need to revive lord Zeref is quite close to her guildmates," Dyspute said as multiple shadowy voids appeared before him, each showing off a member of Fairy Tail. "And she's not the only one. From what I understand, the entire guild is quite close with one another. This one in particular-"

As he said this, all the images vanished, except for one, in particular, a young mage with blue hair and brown eyes "Seems to be held close to the hearts of many of the guild members here, especially one of the Quincys. Kill the dragon slayer, and Brunette's will to fight will crumble. Take care of her, and the other two Quincy will follow suit. Eventually, the whole lot of them shall fall into despair. Unable to fight even close to their full potential." He then grinned. "It's like a domino effect really. Topple one...and the rest will surely follow."

A chuckle began to echo forth from Jellal's hood. A low and quiet one, it nonetheless began to reverberate outwards. "Another loss of family for the Queen of the Fairies? Perhaps then Erza will finally accept at last that I am all that she has. No grandfathers, no fairies, just... me."


Bambietta was moving through the Tower of Heaven, a spring in her Hirenkyaku fueled step as her spiritual senses spread out before her and scouted ahead. No, not simply before her, but all around her.

She could feel the battles throughout the so-called heavenly tower, Bambietta homing in on two in particular: Levy was fine, God rest her soul, Bambietta having felt her heart seize up when she had first sensed the battle with one of the former Stern Ritter. For a moment had visions of her dear friend pinned to a tree danced before the mind's eye of Bambietta. However, she need not have been worried or considerate of the agony she would have bestowed upon Shaz.

Then there was Lucy, her beloved girlfriend having awakened a power Bambietta had never dreamed would naturally occur in this world. It had filled her with pride, even despite the Hollow nature of the ability. She still wasn't quite as strong as the likes of Natsu or Gray, but the fact remained that her lover had closed the gap rather considerably with her recent power-up. For too long had Bambietta worried about Lucy's own ability to defend herself in the midst of battle should a foe manage to get around her celestial spirits. But now Lucy was stronger than Bambietta herself was when she first arrived in Earthland. Odds were she could probably defeat the likes of Erigor now with little trouble. In fact, she was even stronger than Totomaru and Juvia were.

Bambietta couldn't help but beam at the prospects. I can see it now, me and Lucy fighting side by side through hordes of monsters or dark mages, or any jackass from back home for that matter! Bambietta thought with a smile on her face. Maybe I can start training with her after all.

"Well, figures I'd run into you before anyone else."

Bambietta looked over her shoulder only to see Candice Catnip slowly catching up to her with Hirenkyaku. "Not that I'm complaining though, it'll make getting the fuck out of here all the easier. So, I take it you sensed your girlfriend getting her power-up?"

Bambietta rolled her eyes before answering. "Candi, I'd have to be spiritually blind to not have sensed that kind of an increase. I'm just glad I can relax knowing she and Juvia are just fine. Honestly, I was kinda having a panic attack when I sensed how badly things were going, but it all worked out in the end."

Candice chuckled. "I know the feeling, Jade had me a little worried at first, but I knew she could pull it off in the end, and Lil...well I didn't have to be there to know that was one hell of a one-sided beatdown."

"I mean are you really surprised?" Bambietta asked her as the two took the next corner to go up to the next floor. "Lil's always been the prodigy among all of us. Becoming a stern ritter only 1 year after graduating from the Vandenriech Academy is practically unheard of. Frankly, her getting the S class nomination before either of us just makes sense when you think about it. Hell, come to think of it, I recall she was stronger than you were during the war with the soul reapers."

Candice couldn't help but scoff. "Yeah well, I don't plan on letting her outshine me forever. Things are a lot different here than they were back in Silbern, so now I'm the stronger one. I'm gonna make S class before either of you, just you wait."

Before Bambietta could come up with a witty retort, however, the two Quincy immediately found themselves stopping right in their tracks as a shadowy void appeared right before them, completely sealing off the rest of the hallway. "Oh, come on, what gives!?" Bambietta yelled.

"Forgive the sudden intrusion." A voice called out from the dark void. "But I've simply decided that it was about time that things were...spiced up a little bit. Jellal grows tired of this current affair after all, so I believe it's high time things started to turn around."

"Yeah, says the guy whose guild has been getting their asses kicked this whole time." Candice retorted. "You don't scare us!"

Bambietta couldn't help but join in on Candice's snark. "I gotta say, Candi's right. For the so-called "best assassin guild" in Fiore, you're sure giving us a poor showing! How's about you guys run with your tail between your legs, and we won't let everyone in Fiore know just how spectacularly you failed!"

"A lively bunch, aren't you two?" The voice called out to them. "We'll see if you can keep that spark alive in you after you bear witness to the death of one of your most precious comrades."

"As if you could kill anyone of us," Bambietta said with a shrug. "At the rate, this is going, I half expect one of your so-called pro assassins to accidentally kill themselves before the day is... over..."

Bambietta could see the shadowy form shift and change, no longer showing the guild leader but a representation of Wendy wandering about. Unknown to her, however, a lone figure was slowly sneaking up on her. One that sent shivers down Bambietta's skin.

It was Shrieker, the serial killer from her old world.

"Yes, we'll see how flippant you are once one of your own has died," the guild master continued. "Slowly and painfully at that. After all...I'm sure you know how Shrieker operates, regardless of who his foe is."

"You... sonuva..." Bambietta grit her teeth, catching her tongue in the process, leaving some blood to fall from the corner of her mouth. "If anything happens to Wendy, I will kill you! you son of a bitch! I swear I'll kill you! I'll split you up the fucking middle and rip out your God damn heart do you hear me!?"

"Hahaha! It seems I've found your weakness after all!" The voice taunted her.

Bambietta clenched her fists then before she began to walk back down the hallways, the stern ritters face full of anger.

"Oh? And just where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going off to save Wendy, obviously!" Bambietta called back. "Do you really think I'm just going to sit back and do nothing while she's in danger?"

"A fair point, but should you get involved...I'll see to it personally that the celestial mage perishes by my hand."

Bambietta froze then, not taking another step forward as she slowly turned around. "What?"

The guild master chuckled before he spoke. "I'm so glad we've reached an understanding. I'll just leave you two to enjoy the carnage that is about to begin."

Bambietta was shaking then as she watched on. Half in uncontrollable anger...and half in unprecedented fear. "Wendy...I-I-"

"You need to have faith in her is what you need," Candice told Bambietta as she put a hand on her shoulder.

"Faith? Faith!? You saw who she's going up against!" Bambietta said as she turned around to yell at Candice. "It's that mother fucker Shrieker! Shrieker! He's gonna kill her Candi, and there's nothing I can do, or else Lucy will-"

"Bambi!"

Bambietta's rant was stopped as soon as her green-haired friend interrupted her. Having gotten the explosive Quincy to stop her rant, Candice continued. "Listen. I know how protective you are of Wendy. I get it. Everyone in the guild looks out for her, even me. But just who the hell do you think Wendy is? She's not nearly as helpless as you think she is. She's a mage. A dragonslayer. Last I checked those were a pretty big deal. Besides Rukia has been training her for a while now Bambi, Rukia. The woman who killed the 9th Espada. If she thought Wendy was ready for this kinda danger...then you just gotta have faith she'll pull this off."

"But...But...But she's-" Bambietta began to stutter before Candice wrapped her hands around her in a hug.

"She's stronger than I think you give her credit for." She whispered into Bambietta's ears before she turned Bambietta around to look into the void. "I think she'll surprise us both. You just...gotta believe in her."


It had been well over 30 minutes since Wendy had been separated from the others. To say she was uncomfortable with the situation was an understatement. At least when she was with the others, she was confident she could rely on her newly learned support spells to assist in the battles to come. Now, however, alone and afraid, she was starting to think that perhaps Bambietta had been right to ask her to not come along. An audible gulp escaped her before she took a breath to calm herself. "It's going to be fine. I just got to find the exit, is all," she said with an attempt at sounding confident before walking in a slouched stance and spoke fearfully again. "And hope I don't run into any enemies along the way."

She walked quietly along, looking to and fro at her surroundings for any sign of her friends while also trying to stay on guard for possible enemies. She hadn't run into anyone just yet, but the rattled feelings coursing through Wendy never stopped and she couldn't help but mutter to herself. "There's no easy way to tell where anything is. No signs or clear paths. It's just a mess of machinery. How am I supposed to find my way around? Oh, I wish I at least had Carla with me!"

"Awww. What's wrong little girl, are you lost?" a menacing voice said, making Wendy jump before she turned around in trembling fear as the one who spoke to her emerged from behind a pillar and spoke more snidely. "Well, then you shouldn't have come to a place like this."

Wendy stepped back, more afraid when she saw the person who revealed himself. "You… I remember you from that casino. You're Shrieker!"

"I am. So nice of you to remember me," the man said in mocking sarcasm, slowly drawing his zanpakutō which took on the form of a butcher's knife. He charged at her, laughing with a crazed smile on his face. "And now...I gt to have some fun! !"

A scream of horror came over Wendy as she tucked and rolled out of the way of the slash. Just as she got to her feet, however, Shrieker emerged behind her with Sonido. Right as she turned around, Wendy just barley dodged backward in time to avoid being stabbed and jumped back to get some distance. She started running away then, but with her lack of experince, she couldn't help but look back as Shrieker chased her down, the Arrancar catching up with her fast. "Why are you doing this?! Why do you wanna kill me?!" She demanded.

"Because we're enemies, you little twerp!" Shrieker said with the same deadly smile as he got closer, trying, again and again, to cut Wendy up, each strike coming dangerously close. "Though frankly, even if we weren't, I'd probably kill you anyway!"

"What?! But why!?" Wendy asked, not certain she wanted to know. "I haven't done anything to you!"

"I didn't always have an appearance like this or have all the powers I have now!" Shrieker said, still striking at Wendy with wild abandon, the knifes tip just narrowly missing Wendy's skin. "I was an ordinary guy who was infamous from the world I originally came from. A serial killer who was over all forms of social media. Seeing people squirm and cower for their life was such fun."

Wendy looked back at him in shock, swerving another way before almost hitting a wall, Shrieker almost slamming into it but the Arrancar managed to stop his momentum as he used his other hand to stop himself. He turned to Wendy as she shuddered from fear.

"Hurting and killing people is something you enjoy? How can you be so cruel?" Wendy demanded.

Shrieker huffed with laughter. "You're a frail little one, ain't ya? The kind of person you are would normally be my favorite," he said before a sour frown creased his face with a furrowed brow. "But the fact you're a kid outright pisses me off. It makes me think of this one brat who ended up being my undoing. I'd probably still be alive and killing more people if he hadn't made me fall twenty whole stories of a building!" His anger made Wendy step back more until Shrieker took a breath and smirked. "Despite that, I did end up like this. Now I can kill more people, easily. Silver lining, I guess."

Wendy almost fell back. Her legs were paralyzed with fear, even though she was mentally telling herself she needed to get away, her body wouldn't respond. This wasn't like the occasional monster or bandit she had thought before, this was an experienced murderer! She wasn't sure if she could handle somebody like him. But just as he closed in, her mind wandered back to the distant past.


Wendy lay on the ground, barely up on her hands and knees as Rukia stood across her, the soul reaper currently wielding a wooden sword instead of her zanpakutō as they trained deep inside of the East Forest. Carla floated in the air, looking slightly concerned at her best friend.

"Are you alright?" Carla asked Wendy as she floated next to the dragon slayer.

"I'm… fine…" Wendy panted, the wizard trying to adjust to her situation. "I'm just trying to catch my breath, that's all."

"Wendy," Rukia spoke, grabbing the young girl's attention. "You have to try harder than that. You're a dragon slayer just like Natsu. That means you can be just as incredible a fighter as he is."

"Are you sure?

"I don't know." Wendy hung her head again. "I just don't think–"

"That," Rukia interjected, making Wendy look up to her again, wondering what she meant. "That right there. 'I don't think.' 'I'm not sure.' I just can't,'" Rukia went on as she went out of her fighting stance. She slowly approached Wendy. "Where I come from, words and sentences give strength. But they can also bring weakness. Not in terms of physical strength, but mentally. Every time you have some form of doubt, you're putting weight onto yourself. A weight that slows you down and hinders your capabilities. If you keep thinking negatively, eventually you'll be totally encumbered. What you're lacking isn't power Wendy, it's confidence. If you start saying things like 'I can' or 'I will' instead, you'll remove that hindering weight off you."

"But, I–" Wendy tried to speak before Rukia interrupted her.

"Just who do you think you are, Wendy?" Rukia asked her. "You're not just some run-of-the-mill mage, you're a dragon slayer who's part of one of Fiore's best guilds. I've seen you fight monsters before Wendy, so I know you can fight just fine when you believe in yourself. Trust me when I say I know what it's like to doubt yourself, but you're capable of so much more than you realize. So the next time you're in a fight, don't worry about the worst possible outcome. Think about the best possible outcome. You, winning. Give yourself the courage you need." She then gave Wendy a small smile. "If you do that, then you'll never lose."

"She's absolutely right, child," Carla agreed. "Constantly doubting whether or not you can do something isn't good for your confidence. You need to learn to have faith in yourself."

Wendy looked over towards Carla before she slowly nodded. "I… I'll try."

"Will the three of you stop making a racket!? I moved into the forest for some peace and quiet, not to deal with you annoying humans!"

Wendy and Rukia's eyes widened, surprised at the unexpected elderly voice calling out to them. They both turned towards the source, as an old woman with pink hair and red eyes approached them.

"Who are you?" Rukia asked.

"You're... Porlyusica!" Carla exclaimed. "She's a friend of the Fairy Tail guild. She helped us a lot during the battle with Phantom Lord."

"And it's something I'd rather avoid doing ever again, if I can help it," The elderly woman said before she reached into her dress. "Now, get out of here, all three of you! I'm trying to relax, and I can't do that with all the noise you're making! No, go on! Scram!"

Rukia bowed. "My apologies. I had simply thought this would be the most ideal place to train. I never thought we would be disturbing someone all of the way out here. We'll take our leave."

Rukia turned then, slowly making her way out of the forest. "Come on Wendy, we'll find somewhere else to-"

"Why?"

Rukia stopped in place, surprised by the tone of voice in which Wendy questioned her decision. Confused, the reigai turned around, only to quickly realize that she was not the one being questioned. The dragon slayer took a step forward then, then another as her eyes began to tear up. "Your voice. Your scent...It's just the same as Grandeenys! Why!? Why is that!?"

"What!?" Rukia and Carla exclaimed.

Wendy took another step forward as she approached Porlyuisa. "Are you...are you actually, Grandeeny?" She asked tearfully, trying her best not to choke on her tears. This was simply too much to bear! This was supposed to be nothing more than just a training session, but now, here and now, it was almost as if she had come face to face with the human personification of her own mother!

Carla flew right next to her best friend. "Wendy, are you absolutely sure about this? That she smells and sounds just like your mother?"

Wendy weakly nodded, before she covered up her face with her hands. "Yes...it's exactly the same!" She sobbed just a bit more, before she looked Porlyuisca in the eyes. "So, please, tell me...are you?"

Porlyuisca could only stare at the young mage, and her scowl seemed to fade. However, after a moment of silence, she finally spoke. "No, I'm not your mother."

"But you have to be!" Wendy objected. "I know Grandeeny's voice! I know her scent! There exactly the same as hers so you must be-"

"I am not your mother!" Porlyuisca shouted, snapping the dragon slayer back into reality. For just a moment, the briefest expression of shock, and perhaps even regret etched itself onto the Elderly womans face before it quickly turned back to her usual scowl. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm not the person you think I am."

"But...but..." Wendy began to whimper. Once more did sadness briefly work its way onto Porlyuisca's face, before she quickly turned around and began to make her way back to her cabin.

Carla, however, wasn't willing to let her go so easily.

"Now hold on just a minute!" The white cat exclaimed quite vehemently before she flew in front of Porlyuisca. "We came all this way out here to train so Wendy could get stronger, only for you to show up and throw everything into disarray! If you wish for some peace and quiet, that's one thing, but you should at the very least answer her question!"

Porlyuisca stared at the flying white cat, her expression unwavering before she simply walked right past her without saying so much as a word.

Carla huffed in response. "How rude! Honestly, who does she think she is to com barging in like that and refuse to answer your questions!? Even that Bambietta woman has more manners than her!"

Wendy fell to her knees then, tears falling down her face in a steady stream before she began to cry. "Oh no! What did I do!? What if that was Grandeeny!? W-what if she hates me now!? I messed up! I really, really messed up!" She continued to cry, as Carla slowly floated over towards her. "Wendy, she-"

However, before Wendy could hear her best friend say anything more, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her before she was placed into a tight embrace. She blinked several times in an attempt to dispel her tears, before she finally got a good look at the one responsible. "Miss Rukia? I-"

"I can't begin to understand how you must feel right now, Wendy," Rukia said into Wendy's ears as she held her tight. "I never knew my parents. All I ever had was an older sister, and I know next to nothing about her. All I've ever had was the friends that I grew up with in the Rukongai, so I can't say that I know the pain your going through. But what I do understand is that you're going through great sorrow...and for that, I'm truly sorry."

Wendy sniffled. "You're sorry?"

"Yes," Rukia told her. "I was the one who choose this place for our training. I felt that the forest atmosphere would help you relax and get into things, but I never would have imagined that it would have opened up an old wound like this." The shinigami pulled back as she looked into Wendy's eyes. "I may not have experienced the same kind of pain that you are now, but I have experienced the pain of having old wounds reopened. It's a terrible feeling that no one shoul have to go through, and for that, I sincerely apologize."

Wendy felt her hands reach out to one of Rukia's then, before she covered it with one of her own. She sniffled a few more times but tried to manage her best smile. "No, you don't have to apologize. You were just trying to help. I came to you to get stronger, right? So, there's nothing you need to apologize for."

"She's absolutely right," Carla chipped in as she floated down to their level. "All you've done is do your best to be helpful. You shouldn't have to apologize for anything." Her eyes then narrowed as anger flashed through them. "If anyone should be apologizing, it would be that nasty old woman."

Wendy looked over towards Carla. "Are you sure? I mean, we were the ones to come here."

Carla folded her arms. "Even so, she didn't have to be so rude. At the very least, she could have answered your questions!"

"I'm afraid it may not be so simple," Rukia said as she got up to her feet, helping Wendy up along with her.

Carla wasn't having it though, her hands on her hips. "How on earth could you be defending her?!"

"Because rarely are thing's so black and white," Rukia responded. "Sometimes there are things about a person's past that are best kept to oneself," Rukia. "There could be a lot of reasons why she didn't want to tell us more. It can be for many reasons. Anger at oneself. The loss of a loved one. Perhaps both, or many other things could be playing a factor. Maybe she doesn't even know. However, for her sake, and for the sake of not making things worse, it's probably for the best to leave things as they are."

Wendy slowly nodded. "Yeah… I think I get it now," Wendy replied as she slowly whipped away her tears. She could still recall how sad Bambietta had been when she told everyone else what had happened to her mother. Of how she hated to go into detail about her own it was for a similar reason that Porlyusica wished to remain silent.

Rukia smiled before she nodded. "I'm glad you understand. Now, come on, if we find somewhere else more suitable, we should be able to-"

"Wait."

The three of them turned around, only to see Porlyuisca slowly making their way towards them.

Carla floated in front of Porlyuisca, looking quite cross with the woman. "Now what do you want? Haven't you caused enough suffering today!?"

"Let's just say I'm here to perform a task entrusted unto me," Porlyusica answered. She reached into her robes and retrieved what appeared to be a bound collection of looseleaf pages. Without a word, she then thrust it towards Wendy, much to the young mage's surprise. After a moment, Wendy took the coverless book. As she flipped through the pages, her eyes widened.

"These spells," Wendy whispered, surprise coating her voice. "They're Sky Magic. I don't understand, why would you have this?"

"I received it from your mother."

Wendy's eyes widened further, certainly not expecting that revelation. "M-my mother? But how? Do you know where she-"

Porlyusica raised up her hand, silencing Wendy. "Before you ask, no. I don't know where your mother currently is. Nor where she was when we first met. Our meeting wasn't a traditional one. She spoke into my mind by way of telepathy. Though, despite that..." The elderly woman smiled, if ever so slightly. "I suppose I have a lot to thank her for because of that."

"In what regard?" Rukia inquired.

Porlyusica shook her head. "Some matters are best left private. Let's just say that Wendy's parent is one of the few people you could say I'm amicable with. Regardless, seeing as how you're trying to gain some power, I figured it was time I handed you this. It contains among them the Sky Dragon spells Milky Way and Shattering Light - Sky Drill. Two of the dragon slayer secret arts Grandeeney never got a chance to teach you."

"I...I don't know what to say," Wendy murmured, the surprise of this most recent revelation still sinking in. "Grandeeney really did this?"

Porlyusica nodded. "She asked me to give it to you should you ever come to visit. When we first met, time was of the essence, and I didn't have it with me. Now, however, it seemed as if the time was right," the pink-haired woman then looked Wendy right in the eyes. "For whatever it's worth, I'm truly sorry that I can't point you in the right direction for finding your mother. However, from what she did tell me, I know at least this much."

She then turned away, as she began to make her way back towards her cottage. "Your mother truly does love you."

Wendy felt it once again, tears trickling around her eyes. But this time it was different. These weren't tears of sadness, caused by fear or confusion. No, these were happy tears, as her heart filled with newfound joy. For so long now, ever since the day Grandeeny had abandoned her, she had wondered if she had done something wrong. Had she been the one to push Grandeeny away? Did she even love her anymore? Was it all her own fault? It had been a question that had come and gone over the years, and one she never truly had an answer for. She had not admitted this to anyone, not to Master Robal, to Jella, Rukia, Lucy, Bambietta, or even Carla. She had started to wonder if she would ever have the answer.

But yet, here and now, it seemed she finally had the answer she had desperately sought all along.

She then bowed, her head almost reaching her knees before she shouted at Porlyusica. "Thank you so much, Miss Porlyusica! I'll become strong! Strong enough to fight all on my own!"


As this memory began to fade, Wendy's fear shrunk away. Rukia's words from the past now serving to give the dragon slayer a rush of determination. Rukia was right. I just have to believe. I can do this. I can't let myself be weighed down by doubt, she thought before clenching her fists and prepared to fight. Remember your training with Rukia. I'm the one who wanted to be on this mission, I'm the one who told Bambietta I could do this. No more running away! I can and WILL win!

(Song of choice: Setting Suns Great Melee. Fairy Tail Dragon Cry OST)

Shrieker noticed Wendy's sudden change in posture and attitude, raising an eyebrow in slight confusion before he spoke with a disappointed tone. "So now the kid is acting tough now huh? Aw damn it. I much prefer it when my victims beg for mercy." However, he wasn't going to let this mild disapoint disrupt his fun any further. He then vanished from Wendy's sight with Sonido once more, blade poised to strike. "Let's see how tough you are when you're dead!"

Rushing forward, Shrieker tried to swing his zanpaktou down in an effort to slice the young mage in half, but to his surprise, Wendy jumped up into the air as she prepared to strike back.

"Sky Dragon's Talon!"

Her foot kicked him across the face, sending him back several feet. Frowning from her counterattack, the Arrancar used sonido once again to appear behind her, but Wendy quickly spun around and yelled "Sky Dragon's Roar!", blasting him with a powerful gale of wind from her mouth and sending him hurtling backward. Despite landing a direct hit, however, he appeared to have taken little damage, only a few scratches appearing on his chest. That did little to quell his anger, however. "Damn brat, I'm gonna enjoy slicing you up!"

He vanished from sight yet again, but Wendy closed her eyes and feeling the disturbances in the wind itself, she was quick to duck below a thrust of his blade meant to impale her through her throat. Wendy quickly felt her hands engulf themselves with wind then before she cried out "Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!" and decked him across the face, forcing him into the sky before he landed on his feet. Slight cuts were not present on his face, but he grinned regardless. "Sorry squirt, but if that's all you got then your shit out of luck. My Hiero makes sure your attacks aren't going to do jack shit!"

Covering his blade with reiatsu, he rushed forward cin an attempt to cut her head in two.

Wendy tensed up at her approaching opponent, but her fear was only temporary as she prepared to utlize one of the new spells she and Rukia had devised.

"Momentary Wind!"

As gusts of wind formed at the bottom of her feet, Wendy moved in a forward burst of speed right as Shrieker's knife missed her right cheek. Once she was far enough away, Wendy turned in her momentum and slowed to an eventual halt as her spell wore off before she stood again, gesturing her body with arm movements, her right arm above and behind her head, and the left near her feet. Wind billowed around her then as she spoke. "O swift wind that dashes through the heavens! VERNIER!" A magic symbol emerged below her. However, all that seemed to happen was her body was encased in a light shade of blue.

However, it seemed Wendy wasn't done just yet.

"O strengthen of arm to cleave the heavens! ARMS!" The magic symbol emerged behind her once again, as her body lit up red just as it had with the earlier shade of blue.

Shrieker couldn't help but chuckle at the display. "What are you doing? Putting on a light show?"

Despite Shrieker's sarcasm, Wendy didn't respond and simply used yet another spell in the same way as the other times. "O shield from the heavens that repels all! ARMOR!"

Shrieker's expression quickly deadpanned, the Arrancar quickly getting bored. "If you're just gonna mess around, I'm gonna kill you right here and now."

He pointed his right hand at her, red colored energy started gathering at his palm as he began to charge up a cero. Wendy flinched as fear over came her once more, but it was only for a moment, as she took up a stance ready to fight once more. The energy collected in Shrieker's hand gathered more until it formed into a big ball that shot out like a red wave hurtling towards Wendy. The attack quickly made impact, leaving a crater in the wall where Wendy once stood, the dragon slayer wizard's body nowhere to be seen.

Shrieker smirked. "Well, too bad for you little girl. My cero's pack quite the punch. Looks like you won't even have a body to bur-"

'BAM!'

Before he realized what happened, Shrieker was hit from the left side of his head, forcing him to topple over from the blow. "What the Hell?!" he groaned, looking towards his left as he winced in pain...only to notice Wendy floating in front of him and reeling a foot back she kicked him under his chin.

"Leading Sky Arrow!"

The attack was much stronger than any of her previous spell as it sent him rolling back until he hit a wall. Just as Shrieker got to his feet, ready berate Wendy once more...Only for to yelp instead as her fist filled his vision. He dodged out of the way at the last moment but quickly found himself gawking as he saw Wendys punch left a fist sized hole where his head once was.

"Shit! Where did THIS strength come from?!" Shriekers demanded, his eyes wide and his mouth a gap before Wendy closed the gap between them and began to deliver barrage of punches on his stomach. Each one felt like he was being hit by a hammer, and despite her small size, she didn't seem the least bit tired from the attacks. "Why you-Guh!"

His face was then stricken upwards by Wendy's right fist before she then stuck at him with her left hand with her Sky Dragon's Crushing fang once again, the Arrancar spewing blood from his mouth as he fell to the floor. Looking down at the ground as he tried to get up, the serial killer saw not only his blood adorned the floor but several teeth had been knocked from her powerful strike!

I don't get it, she wasn't able to hurt me all that much earlier, so how is she so strong!? The Arrancar wondered before he narrowed his eyes at the dragon slayer. Wait a minute, don't tell me that light show from earlier was her giving herself a power boost!? Well whatever, all I need is one good hit to kill her anyway!

Using sonido once more, he appeared before Wendy and attempted to slice her with a downward strike with his short zanpaktou, thinking nothing of Wendy's attempt to stop his oncoming strike as she raised her arms above her head. Dumb kid, you can't just block my weapon with your bare hands! However, much to his surprise, his zanpaktou clanged against her skin harmlessly, only leaving a shallow cut! "What the hell!?"

"Sky Dragon Wing Attack!"

Her hands now engulfed with wind, the arrancar was slammed by the air current and felt himself being lifted up into the sky as he felt his body being battered and bruised by the gale before he fell to the ground. Shaking his head as he got to his feet, he quickly inspected the damage he had just taken. To his surprise, his body was covered in cuts. No doubt about it, the damn twirp gave herself an upgrade! the arrancar thought.

"Alright, fine then," He yelled out before he pointed his right hand at Wendy, his palm slowly glowing with red energy! "Let's see how well you like one of my cero's?!"

The red energy attack erupted from his hand and went straight towards Wendy. However, rather than trying to dodge it, Wendy instead took a deep breath before she responded with an attack of her own.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!"

Her mouth spewing out a powerful gust of wind, the two attacks collided mid-air and before they exploded, neither having the power to overwhelm the opposing move. Sheriker's eyes winded in surprise yet again as he saw his attack fail to destroy her. "What the hell!? She actually has enough power to stop a cero!?" This was getting ridiculous! "Damn it all, just who the hell are you girl?"

Wendy couldn't help but gasp when she saw what she had just done. I can't believe I had enough power to actually stop that! Wendy thought before she smiled. Rukia was right, all I really needed to do this whole time was believe in myself! Oh, I wish Bambi could see this!

Little did Wendy know, however, about the captive audiance taking it all in.


Bambietta couldn't believe what she was seeing right now as she looked on through the shadowy portal, staring in amazement at how far the little Dragon Slayer had come since they had met back in Clover.

"I was so wrong," Bambietta whispered, her eyes beaming, "you can handle this battle, Wendy. I... I should have known that in the first place. You... gave me strength when I needed it desperately. You who stood against that Hollow back in Clover when you had no chance..." Bambietta hadn't had faith in herself to save everyone back then when she was faced with that hollowfied monster...but Wendy did. And that faith was what ultimately pushed Bambietta to make the decision she needed to save everyone. By believing in the little girl who believed in herself.

"See?" Candice said with a grin. "I told ya you weren't giving her enough credit! I knew she could handle herself when I went on a few missions with her!"

Bambietta began to smile then, the Quincy happy to have been mistaken, a rarity for her, but a welcome one at a time like this. She raised up a clenched fist then, wishing that Wendy could hear her still. "Show that Arrancar what it really means to face off against a member of Fairy Tail and then we can all go help Erza! Stand up, be strong, and kick his ass back to Hueco Mundo if you have to!"


Shrieker groaned in annoyance before using his sonido to gain distance from Wendy at the other side of the room. I can't believe this damn brat has pushed me this far! The Arrancar thought before he snarled. " Damn it all! Normally I'd take my time to play with my prey, but you're making it far too annoying for me to enjoy it! Well fine! You're not the only one who can make themselves stronger, you brat," Holding his knife out, he spoke as if he had found a newfound desire to kill. "Stab, Criatura Alada."

His whole body was immersed in smoke for a moment, making it impossible for Wendy to land another attack. When it cleared, Wendy was taken aback at Shrieker's appearance, He had a more animalistic appearance, looking much like he had when he first did battle with Rukia with the only real difference being that the bottom half of his mask was gone, and his colors had gone from green and brown to white and black. From what she could tell, his power had increased drastically.

What...is this? Wendy thought. Is this that ressurecion thing that Liltotto mentioned?

"Scared, little girl?" Shrieker said with a sinister chuckle. "Cause you should be."

Before Wendy had a chance to properly defend herself, Shrieker had already tackled the small dragon slayer with incredible speed. Wendy tried to pry herself free, kicking at his stomach as much as she could, but it was a futile effort, the Arrancar's heiro now much stronger than it was before. Grabbing Wendy by her hair, he then kicked her hard in the stomach as he could, Wendy letting out a scream of pain before he grinned. "Yes, that's it!" He said before he kicked her once more, a painful crunch echoing throughout the room. "That's the sound I love so much!"

"S-Sky Dragons Roar!" Wendy was barely able to yell out before a gust of wind erupted from her mouth, hitting Shrieker dead on. The Arrancar grunted in annoyance as he was forced to let go of Wendy, but to her surprise, the attack had done little to no damage! "What!?"

Wendy tried to gain some distance, but the serial killer had already snuck up behind her with Sonido and slammed her face down on the ground before he grinned. "Oh no, I can't have you running away, the fun's just starting after all!" He raised her head up before he slammed it into the ground over and over, each time electing a loud scream of pain from Wendy. Finally deciding to try something else, he lifted her up and looked at her battered and bruised face, as blood dripped from her noes. "Ah, this is much better don't you think?"

"Sky Dragons-"

Wendy tried to utter her spell, before it was painfully interrupted when Shrieker threw a powerful jab at Wendy's face with his right hand, the dragon slayer sent careening away through some rubble and pain rang through her once more. The Arrancar began to slowly walk over to her as she struggled to get back to her feet, the man man enjoying her suffering. "Oh, don't stop now. I haven't even begun to rip off any of your fingers yet!"

Just as Wendy finally managed to stand, Shrieker used sonido to appear from behind and slashed her across her back with his claws, blood spewing from the young mage's back as she squealed in pain. Before she could even turn around, however, her face was slammed into the ground just like before. However, this time Shrieker was far from finished and began to run across the room as he dragged Wendy's face through the pavement. Wendy kicked and squealed in protest, but there was nothing she could do until Shrieker finally lifted her off the ground and casually tossed her body as if she were a sack of potatoes before she hit the ground.

Wendy slowly got to her feet as she could feel blood pour from her face. Never before had she been through such pain, her body trembling. There was no doubt about it. She was downright terrified, the dragon slayer feeling far more fear than she had before. Then, screaming in desperation, her arms then clad themselves with wind before she ran towards Shrieker, in a desperate attempt to take him down.

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!"

The gust of wind hurtled towards Sheirker, but with a single flap of his wings, the Arrancar took off into the air, dodging her attack with ease. "Really, is this all you got?" He asked her mockingly. "You really are pathetic!"

Using sonido to appear right in front of Wendy, he grabbed her face and slammed her to the ground before he threw a powerful punch towards her. Turning her body at just the nick of time, Wendy was barely able to dodge his oncoming strike, only for Shrieker to strike down at her again and again, the dragon slayer forced to roll to avoid the oncoming attacks. Still not having given up, Wendy's right foot clad itself with wind and she cried out "Sky Dragon's Talon!", striking Shrieker across the head and allowing her to somersault onto her feet. Sheirker was momentarily disoriented, but he soon leaned forward as he gave her a terrifying grin. "Was that supposed to hurt? Because I hardly felt a thing."

Oh no...None of my attacks are working! Wendy thought as she felt her legs wobble with fear. Ever since the madman had transformed, she hadn't been able to make any headway in the fight. Not only were her attacks barely enough to make him flinch, but she couldn't even run away. Rukia, Bambi...what am I supposed to do!? Wendy screamed internally.

Shrieker let out a burst of maniacal laughter as he glared at Wendy with sadistic glee. "Well, I can't say it hasn't been fun, but I'm pretty sure my boss doesn't want me to play with my food too long, so I better end it quickly. So, say hello to my little friends." Out the furred sections of his body then came out several miniature hollows under his command, Wendy flinching in fear as they all hopped out and around the arrancar, while he gazed at her with malicious intent.

Oh no. Are those the little creatures Liltotto told me about? Wendy thought, the dragon slayer now fully trembling. If she was losing already, then how on earth was she supposed to turn things around now!?

The frog-like creatures leaped at Wendy and she quickly let out a yelp of fear before trying to get some getting some distance. Wendy quickly recalled Liltotto's advice, that avoiding them was the best course of action. As they closed in, however, they released large leeches out their bodies in a stream of green, translucent slime from their heads. For Wendy, such an attack was both unnerving and disgusting. She dodged the first wave of attacks with a jump...only for her ears to pick up a sinister chuckle from Shrieker.

"You should really watch where you're going."

For just the briefest of moments, Wendy wondered why he was warning her, but as she quickly took in her surroundings, the reason became obvious. Leeches surrounded her at every corner, with no possible hope of escape. She was trapped in a metaphorical minefield. "Oh no!" She screamed. "I-"

'Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Sticking out his forked tongue, Shrieker released a soundwave that reached the small insects, causing all the leeches as well as the creatures that called them out to explode. The gathering explosions became one and Wendy let out a scream of agony as she was caught in the middle of it, smoke covering the room as Shrieker laughed in maniacal victory until the smoke cleared, seeing the bloodied young mage laying down face first on the ground.

"You're still alive? Quite a durable little lass aren't you" The Arrancar mocked her. "If it wasn't for those spells you used earlier I'm sure you'd be nothing more than a smear on the floor!"

Wendy could only groan in pain on the ground, as she tried to prop herself up with her hands, her body now covered in small burns and bruises as she panted heavily. As badly as she was hurting, however, she realized something even worse had occurred. The magic from her enhancements was gone now, much to her horror, "No! My magic!"

Her revelation only made Shrieker laugh even more before he slowly marched over to her, several of his miniature hollows emerging from his skin before they surrounded Wendy. "Oh, now you don't even have those handy power-ups for yourself? That's wonderful! Well now you're gonna die, for sure this time! Say goodbye, girly!"


Bambietta Basterbine knew the misery of defeat. She had experienced it first hand from a man who had given himself not to fight for his chance to live, for others to live, but for achieving revenge. He had become an unkillable and unstoppable monster, one that had turned Bambietta's own power against her, leaving her on the edge of death herself.

However, that trio of pain, fear, and misery, in light of the very concept of her own mortality had not stung nearly as much as what Bambietta was seeing now: those very things being inflicted on someone she cared for more than herself.

Wendy Marvell was losing. She was losing badly, the Arrancar thrashing her to and fro. It was enough to make Bambietta's skin crawl, to see Wendy's hopes be dashed as they were. Because, deep down, Bambietta knew she had not been a good person. She had perhaps brought a similar fate upon herself, the second chance she had now none withstanding. But Wendy? She was a good kid who wished for nothing but the best for anyone, and Bambietta knew that Wendy of all people did not deserve this.

"I'll kill him, I'll kill him, I'll kill him..." the Quincy hissed between grit teeth as she began to clench her hands so hard that they began to bleed. It was a quiet whisper, but one that Candice could hear nonetheless. She had to wonder if her friend meant the Arrancar or perhaps Jellal Fernandes himself.

"We'll do it together," Candice said, the Quincy feeling quite upset at the scene herself. "If... if she..."

"No," Bambietta reached out then, her hand touching the shadow mass that displayed the brutality. "He'll be mine. And I'll... I'll carve out his throat and stab him again and again and again and again until he begs me to blow him up. To leave him nothing but ashes in the wind. I won't just kill him, Oh no, I'll destroy his everything!"

Bambietta shuddered then as tears began to fall from her eyes. "I just...I just...can't watch this anymore. I just wish I could tell her...how much she's done for me."

Wendy was thrown to the side then by the Arrancar's miniature hollows, her body skidding across the floor. However, she spoke then, catching the Quincy off guard.

"Bambi?"

Bambietta's voice got caught in a throat, a veritable lumping forming as her heart sank. Was Wendy asking for her, begging for help? Apologizing for her defeat? However...

"Bambi, was that... you?"

Bambietta's eyes went wide. "She can hear me... It's..."

The Quincy smiled.

"They thought this would break our hopes by broadcasting this to me, but... It's a two-way street! It goes both ways! It's... it's a two-way street... And that means... Wendy!"


From her sight, everything Wendy was seeing seemed to go slower. Shrieker was slowly approaching in wicked glee towards her, ready for the kill. She could have sworn she had heard Bambietta earlier, but she must have been mistaken. She was all alone now, with no one to help.

No… this can't be it, can it? she thought, hanging her head and filled with more fear now than she ever had been in her entire life up to this point. Bambi was right! I never should have come here! I wasn't ready! I should have known better! I'm not a fighter, I'm just a healer! I should have just stayed at the hotel! And now...and now...I'm going to...I'm going to-

Die. She was going to die. All she could do now was close her eyes, and hope it was painless as possible.

(Song of choice: Moles are mere moles, Right! Gurren Lagann OST)

"WENDY! DON'T GIVE UP!"

The Dragon Slayer's eyes widened in shock as she heard the voice call out to her. That voice...it can't be... The dragon slayer thought before she spoke. "B-Bambi? Is that you?" Wendy weakly called out as Shrieker stopped his approach.

"Hey, what gives!?" The Arrancar called out, the bestial man looking all around him for the source of the voice.

"It's me, yeah!" the voice continued to call out. "I'm right here with you, in spirit at least!"

"But... but how?" Wendy stammered.

"This guy's guild master thought he could break me and the rest of Fairy Tail by showing your fight, but that dumba- that jerk forget one very important thing! It's a two-way street! It goes both ways! I might be able to hear and see everything, but so can you if I just try to control this thing!

"Bambi?" Wendy asked.

"Wendy, just listen to me," Bambietta continued, her head back in the game. "You know what I was thinking when I saw you fighting that maskless freak? It wasn't fear. It wasn't anxiety. No. I saw you put up the fight you have and... I am so very proud of you!"

"You're...proud of me?" Wendy weakly asked as she slowly forced her head to look up.

"Darn straight I am! You're a Fairy Tail wizard, Wendy! A fighter! And that's why you can't give up! Not now! Not ever!"

"But...but he's way too strong," Wendy cried out. "I can't beat him! I tried, but nothing's worked!"

"Nothing's worked?" Bambietta shook her head, even if Wendy could not see it. "You're still alive and breathing, so that moron hasn't won yet!"

"But-"

"Oh my," Shrieker mocked. "Talking to yourself? Don't feel bad, girl. Everyone one of my victims does in the end. Babbling about the things they regret, the people they want to see one last time. Why sometimes they just crack up and babble under the stress. Like you, talking to your imaginary friend. It happens." He knew full well she was somehow communicating with her guildmate, but if he could make her doubt her friend's words for even further pain, then why not lie a little?

"Shut him out!" Bambietta shouted. "You can't just give up because things look impossible! You need to fight right to the bitter end! That's the hard life of a warrior and I know you can handle it!"

"But I can't do it!" Wendy said as tears fell from her eyes. "I'm not ready for this, you said it yourself!"

"And I was being an idiot!" Bambietta called out to the Dragon Slayer. "I was so very wrong! About you, about everything! You know what the old me was really saying? 'Oh, I'm a paranoid Quincy who doesn't know what she's talking about!' That's what she said! But now? I'm saying you are a strong wizard, Wendy. So either you pretend you're not and wait for the end or you can get up and put that monster in his place and kick his ass with your fighting spirit!"

"But fighting is... fighting is..."

"Wendy, the whole point of fighting is that you don't want to die. That... you'll be killed if you lose. And I... I couldn't bear it. The mere thought of losing you, it...it hurt. But I can't let that hold you back anymore! So please... win this for me! I know you can!"

"I can't!"

"YES, YOU CAN!" Bambietta called out. "Just who the hell do you think you are Wendy!? You're not some run-of-the-mill mage, you're a member of Fairy Tail! And do you know what Fairy Tail members do? We do the impossible! Wizard, Quincy, or Reigai, we can do anything as long as we put our minds to it! If you won't believe in yourself, then believe in me! Believe in the Bambietta who believes in you! Believe in the friends you've made in this guild! Those who would miss you if you weren't around! Believe in Fairy Tail!"

"You...believe in me?" Wendy said as she slowly got to her feet.

"You're damn right I believe in you!" Bambietta yelled. "Trust your feelings, blow away this Arrancar and we can go home! So get on your feet, grit those teeth, and show this guy just who the hell you are!"

"Enough of this dribble! Shrieker, finish her off!" Dyspute called from the void. The void on Bambietta's end was completely closed off then, the Quincy no longer able to see what was going on, nor impart any more words of wisdom.

"I couldn't agree more myself sir." Shrieker said as he slowly cracked his knuckles as he made his creatures made Wendy stand up. "Normally, I prefer to kill my victims much more slowly than this, but orders are orders after all. But I suppose I'll have fun with your other friends once I'm done with you. Any last words?"

"Just...Just...Just-" Wendy stammered out as she began to slowly intake wind into herself.

Shrieker let out a burst of maniacal laughter as he heard Wendy stutter her words. "Just what, twirp!? Spare your friends!? You're wasting your breath! We're going to kill every last one of them! I'll see to it that they all die slowly, begging for mercy, so save your breath, because-"

"JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM!?"

A powerful gust of wind kicked up around Wendy's body, like a small tornado, the creatures holding onto her shredding into pieces from the sheer force of the wind before she launched herself forward and landed a powerful blow across Shrieker's face, sending him flying across the room. Crashing into the wall, Shrieker quickly turned to face Wendy, who was taking a long, deep breath...and Shrieker finding it harder to do so himself.

His eyes widened as he quickly put two and two together. She's...sucking almost all of the air out of the room!?

The miniature storm of wind then finished as Wendy stopped sucking in the air, her hair now having two streaks of pink going down her blue hair before she glared at Shrieker with determination.

"Who the hell you are?" Shrieker roared repeating her earlier question, his voice struggling to pierce through the raging winds. "Throwing a tantrum doesn't change the fact that you're still a damsel! Nothing more! Just a stupid kid! And I refuse to be stopped by another one! So let's just end- HWACK!"

Shrieker was caught in the face by a tiny fist encircled by ferocious winds, the arrancar sent sailing back. His body hit the far wall with a ferocious crack, stone shattering behind him. He fell to the ground, head tilting to the side.

"Wh-what the hell was that?"

(Song of choice. Happily Ever After by Shoko Nakagawa)

"I won't give up," Wendy said beneath her breath, the wind causing her two-toned hair to whip around her. "I... am Wendy Marvell of Cait Shelter! Wendy Marvell of Fairy Tail! And I...I will fight because I don't want to lose! I don't want to, no I will not die! Because if I die, everyone will suffer because of it, and I won't let you use me to hurt my family!" Wendy's voice began to trail a bit as Shrieker stood up. "I won't let down someone's pride in me. I can't! Bambi might not be able to cheer me on anymore or see what's going on, but she's right there on my back and here in my heart! Because her fighting spirit will always be with me!"

Wendy looked at Shrieker then, eyes narrowing as her wind kicked into a fury. "AND I WILL DEFEAT YOU!"

Wendy's upper body lunged forward, her mouth falling open with a tremendous show of power, her pink locks glowing with radiate sparks of energy.

"SKY DRAGON'S ROAR!"

The powerful gale of wind began to hurtle towards the arrancar. However, it left Shrieker undeterred. He did not simply wish to stop the attack in its tracks, but to obliterate his foe in the process. To that end, he fired off a Cero with the intent of piercing through the road and incinerating the Dragon Slayer.

"Nice, try, but it's over!" he cried out, the attack firing from his hand. "Now you- WHAT!?"

Shrieker could only watch on as his attack and not Wendys was destroyed, the wind moving towards him unopposed. Still, the Arrancar was not going to rest upon his laurels, using Sonido to dodge it at the last second. He took a moment to catch his breath, the wind tunnel directly past him.

"That kid almost got me..." he whispered under his breath. "That... that was just a last-ditch effort. No way she's got anything left in the tank." His confidence moving away from the brink, Shrieker let bravado come to the fore. "Oh, look at that, the wimpy little Dragon Slayer got a bit stronger and she thinks THAT will stop me? Hah! Don't make me laugh! I'm going to eat your soul, then shit it ou- Hmm?"

Wendy was suddenly gone from his sight, her very being vanishing in a flash. Shrieker did not imagine it worked at all the same for wizards, no doubt it be the more traditional speed at play, but he had seen similar techniques with all the Soul Reapers he had once evaded. "Wait, if that's not Sonido, or flashstep." Shrieker went into a complete panic. "SHE'S JUST THAT DAMN QUICK ON HER OWN!?" As he cried out in surprise, Shrieker could see a shadow around him. Turning to look up, he was greeted by the sight of Wendy Marvell in midair, her fist barreling down at him.

"SKY DRAGON'S IRON FIST!"

Wendy's tiny fist slammed into his face, the blow sending him hurtling to the ground. The entire room shook as he cracked his back against the ground, bouncing slightly before he rolled away several times before coming to a complete halt.

"D-damn it!" he hissed as he lay there for a moment. "My Hierro barely withstood it... but..."

Looking up, Shrieker could see Wendy starring at him. It was not entirely the look of a fierce warrior, but something else. Oh, there was a steely determination etched upon Wendy's face, but her eyes... her eyes still showed some degree of shock and concern over the injuries she had just inflicted.

And that... that infuriated Shrieker beyond reproach.

"Don't you dare pity me, you damn stupid kid! I WON'T LET ANOTHER BRAT RUIN EVERYTHING I HAVE GOING FOR ME!"

Shrieker moved with Sonido, rising up to his feet and getting behind Wendy in one quick step. He reached for her then, intent on firing a Cero within point-blank range. Surely he thought she could not hope to dodge that. However, she need not do so.

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Wendy had moved faster still than Shrieker had expected, the young girl leaping up into a spin, a wind-covered kick lashing against his face and sending him back.

"You're starting to piss me off, but try dodging all of this!" Shrieker raised his right hand up, a series of smaller red bursts of energy balls firing off. "A Cero, maybe, but let's see how you handle my Bala!"

Wendy saw the myriad number of attacks coming, noting that they seemed several times faster than the Cero. She bit her lower lip, unsure of what she could do, but also knowing that she would have to try. So she pushed herself, the wind carrying her within a blink of an eye.

"Impossible... Simply impossible..." Shrieker hissed under his breath, watching as Wendy bobbed and weaved through his Bala, crimson explosions littering the arena as they missed their target. The Dragon Slayer kept vanishing from sight, reappearing a little bit closer to the Arrancar each and every time.

"Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!"

Right as she got up in his face, Wendy smashed her knuckles into it, once more sending the arrancar back. Shrieker flipped in midair thanks to the force of the blow, steadying himself on invisible platforms he made from magic particles.

"Again and again, you wretched little brats just keep getting in the way of my killing..." Shrieker began to shake as he looked down at Wendy, the winds swirling around instill. "I was going to make a name for myself back home and I was well on my way until a kid like you killed me by accident... By accident! And I was going to make my name in the afterlife when some punk teenagers ruined that too! It won't happen again, do you get me? I'm going to kill you, then all your friends, then anyone I damn well, please! Whatever will get me my infamy! So come on, let's see some Dragon Slayer blood! Right here, right no-"

"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" Generating two powerful whirlwinds in each of her hands, Wendy then sent them hurtling towards Shrieker.

"DAMN IT! Were you not listening to a word I was saying, girlie!? That tears it!" Shrieker managed to slip between the twin onslaughts, closing in on Wendy. "And now I'm going to tear you apart, bit by bit!"

Wendy saw him fast approaching, but she met the charge head one. Power clashed then and there, the purity of a Sky Dragon and that of an all-devouring nature of one who was nothing but hollow. They danced across the arena, sparks of magic bursting forth as the winds and physical prowess carried them along. And while both fighters' attacks were fierce, Shrieker's were the more barbaric and vicious.

However, they were no having the effect he wanted. For Wendy's attacks were calmer, more serene, leaving hers to strike home more and more often as she slipped through his attacks. The longer it went on, the less Shrieker could see his attacks connecting. "You little wretch! What's next, you going to try and walk between rain drops or some nonsense!? Well, I'll- AH!"

A solid strike caught Shrieker head-on, sending him back. He managed to stop his momentum, feet skidding against invisible particles. Grunting, he spat out a bloody tooth. He was losing ground, yes, but his mind was turning like a broken and twisted clock.

"Fine, I'll give you that round, but..." the arrancar grinned, an empty socket breaking up his smile. "Let's go another round."

Wendy looked at him suspiciously. "You're up to something."

"No, no," Shrieker laughed before he whispered under his breath. "Nothing you need be privy to just yet..." He began to blast a volley of Bala towards Wendy once more, not giving her another moment's respite.

Wendy rushed forward then however and she quickly grabbed his clawed hands with her own. "You won't fool me! I know you have some trick up your sleeve!

"So do I," Shrieker hissed, his forked tongue slipping out, "You fool!"

"What...?" Wendy felt something tighten around her. Glancing down, she could see leech bombs grasping at her tightly. And she remembered well what she had seen them do once before.

"And now... it's over!" Shrieker's tongue vibrated, sending the command to his forces. They detonated them, covering the space Wendy occupied in smoke and fire. "Good riddance, you damned brat- WHAT!?"

Wind began to cause the smoke to part and the flames to be smothered. Shrieker could see it then, Wendy standing there completely unharmed.

"You've got to be shitting me!" he screamed in frustration. "You can't... can't be that strong!"

"Sorry," Wendy said, strong yet timidly at the same time. She shook her head. "N-no, I'm not sorry! You won't be able to hurt me with those anymore!" Luckily for Wendy, she had at the last second managed to put up a wind barrier, slipping it right between her and the leech bombs."

"I... I..." Shrieker stood up, his left hand clasping at his right arm above the elbow. "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!"

Wendy's eyes widened in horror as Shrieker ripped his arm off, blood spilling out as muscle and bone were broken and exposed.

"Wh-what are you doing!?" Wendy cried out, one hand covered her mouth in shock and revulsion. "That's..."

"Painful?" Shrieker grinned through the agony regardless. "Oh yes, but as my benefactor told me, sometimes victory is worth any pain! And I... I have chosen this pain! Anything was better than the pain of Hell..."

Wendy took a step back. "H-Hell?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong," Shrieker said, holding his torn-off arm. "It was the kind of place a demon like me was longing to go to someday! It was the final stamp of approval that I had done what I'd set out to do! But even still... I was so very happy to escape it for keeps after a failed attempt... A god came to me and brought me to this work! No doubt like those Quincy and that wretched Soul Reaper you hang out with! And I was given this new form as a gift for my god's little game! But it was not their only blessing..."

The discarded arm levitated above Shrieker's outstretched hand, breaking down into magical particles, ones that shined with an azure light.

"He gave me a crossroads, arrancar train their entire afterlives to obtain... power or regeneration..." Shrieker hissed. "And I chose power beyond my own means! Even if it would cost me every limb, I can grow stronger still and use this skill beyond my own ability!"

The azure light dropped into his palm and the arrancar pointed it at Wendy.

"GRAN REY CERO!"

Wendy saw the unholy light fire towards her then, leaving her to take a step back. "No, I can't... I can't win... Not even after-"

Wendy paused then. If she fell, she would be used as a weapon to bring Fairy Tail's morale down. She knew she could not let that happen. Her right foot, hanging precariously in midair, having frozen in midstep... it moved forward then. Wendy held her ground, the Sky Dragon Slayer gritting her teeth. Her mind went to the past for but a moment, drifting into a recollection of a town called Clover where she had met Bambietta and the rest of Fairy Tail for the very first time and their brutal struggle for survival against the hollowfied S class monster.


Then there was Bambietta, standing between Wendy and Gisbourne. The Quincy's cloak was beginning to settle down, the high-speed movement of Hirenkyaku finally starting to settle.

Bambietta kept her back to Wendy, the Quincy's right arm raised high, her trademark sword held within a tightened grip. Yet it was the hand itself that truly caught Wendy's attention. The white glove that Bambietta normally wore was gone, the sleeve of the Quincy's coat rolled down to right under her elbow. Despite that, there was no bare skin for Wendy to see.

No, there was simply the glove that Bambietta had shown her not two hours earlier, the cloth extending to her elbow, a blue stripe running down the center. Blue magic was swarming into the glove, as if drawn to it at an incredible rate.

"But why?" Wendy asked. "You said you couldn't... wouldn't wear it..."

"Does it matter what I want?" Bambietta looked over her shoulder at Wendy, trying to give her a comforting expression. "Everything will be all right, Wendy. I promise you that much."


"Everything will be all right, Bambietta. Because... this time... IT'S MY TURN TO PROTECT ALL OF YOU!" A magic circle formed beneath Wendy, illuminating her very being as the wind began to encircle her hands. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art... Shattering Light..."

"Try all you want!" Shrieker roared, keeping his own remaining arm outstretched to empower his sacrificial attack. "It's over!"

Wendy simply paid him no mind. "SKY DRILL!"

Her pink strands of hair glowed with an awesome power then, one that Wendy could feel within her very being, whispering to her to defeat the Arrancar. She nodded and took on that task, letting loose a furious attack like known she had ever known. A tunnel of concentrated wind and magic fired forth from her, meeting the Gran Rey Cero head-on.

Power clashed against power, one born of a willingness to protect, the other from a desire to kill and maim as it pleased. The resulting shockwave caused by the collision causing the entire floor to shake and shudder as the surrounding walls began to crack. However, the result, in the end, was clear. The azure light of the Gran Rey Cero began to shatter and splinter cracks forming and allowing the wind to pierce through it. Then did the attack burst apart into nothing more than harmless particles, allowing Wendy's own to fly towards Shrieker unimpeded.

"No..." Shrieker saw the magically infused wind cut through his ultimate attack and descend upon him. Then, within the briefest of seconds, he was caught in the attack, wind, and magic exploding around him. "NOOOOOOOO!"

Wendy watched on, the dragon slayer taking several deep breaths trying to catch her breath. Then finally, the dust cleared. Shrieker was still, laying on the ground, breathing but otherwise unmoving. "I... I did it...?" Wendy felt joy wash over her then, the Sky Dragon Slayer tilting her head back as she shouted. "I DID IT! I..." The pink locks in her hair vanished then, returning to blue, as the Sky Dragon Slayer fell upon her back. Still, she smiled.

"Bambi... I did it..."


MPFS:

Wendy: 790

Shrieker (Base): 1100

Wendy (Enchantments) 1600

Shrieker (Ressurection): 2200

Wendy (Proto Dragon Force): 3160

And so there we have it, ladies and gentlemen! Wendy Marvell has grown from a timid, doubtful, and unassertive mage, to a self-confident, proud, and powerful Dragonslayer!

In canon, we got brief glimpses of this from her supporting Natsu and Gajeel during their battle with Faust, the fight with Hades, and her battle with Cheilia until her true moment of badass where she defeats Ezel and she only continued to be a strong mage ever sense. Now let me be clear. There was absolutely nothing wrong with how Mashima took his time with developing her, and I'd even say it was the right move to do it progressively as the series went on.

But Much like with Lucy, characters from Bleach fight in a much, MUCH more brutal, and lethal way than most mages do (especially the villains. Case and Point, Shrieker.) If Wendy was going to survive and be relevant for this story, she would need her "moment of triumph" much sooner.

Now let me be clear on something else while I'm at it. This was not Dragon Force that Wendy used in this chapter. Rather, you can look at what she did as a "Proto Dragon Force" much akin to Sting and Rouge's "Drive Modes" that they used briefly against Natsu and Gajeel before using Dragon force. However, the "Drive" forms could admittedly be a third-generation dragon slayer-only technique, thus I'm sure the term "Proto Dragon Force" is more appropriate for Wendy.

If that doesn't suit your needs, then simply think of it as being more akin to Goku's "False Super Saiyan" that he used against lord slug. A precursor to the real thing.

As to how she got this power...well, remember what the Tower of Heaven actually is. It's actually all just one big, gigantic Lacrima. I'd say odds are the air within it would have to be quite special.

Now some of you who may have seen a certain anime may have caught onto plenty of the references I put to Gurren Lagann in this chapter. This was very much intentional. Now some may say I might have gone a little too far with how much I paid homage to it (even recommending to play a certain song from the anime) but I have my reasons.

Erza Scarlet maybe my favorite character in all of Fairy Tail, but Wendy Marvell is the one I can relate the most to. The thing is, I suffer from anxiety and a lack of confidence, and there was a point in time when it became so overwhelming that I even considered taking my own life. But, as luck would have it, as my own emotions spiraled out of control, I found Gurren Lagann and it changed my life. It inspired me, gave me hope to keep on moving forward and to have faith in myself. This anime, more than any other, means so much to me for that reason.

Seeing as how I related to Wendy so much, I only figured it was a fitting tribute to fit in this chapter. Perhaps I went overboard, but Gurren Lagann is anything but subtle, and I was mostly trying to go for a "rule of cool" approach than anything else.

It is my sincerest hope that, despite this, or rather because of this, that you were able to enjoy this chapter. I practically poured my heart and soul into this chapter, so I really, truly do hope it came out well. Please, do let me know what you think by leaving a review. It truly would mean so much.