Chapter 16: Historia of the Dead Part 2
Back at the battlefield.
Franky was on his knees bawling his eyes out. "Tom! I thought you were dead!" Tears fell from his eyes down to his cheeks. "How can this be!?"
Nami was stunned. "He's Tom alright, but, wasn't he dead?"
Usopp was puzzled at the situation. "No joke, that guy was taken away by the Government jerks, and now he's standing in front of us."
Chopper was just as confused as his friends were. "Something's wrong, Tom should still be at Enies Lobby."
Tom pulled back his arm and threw a punch at Franky's face sending him rolling across the battlefield until he crashed into the Brachiosaurus tank.
"Franky!" Chopper and Usopp exclaimed.
"How could he just hit him?" Nami questioned.
Franky was wondering the same thing unlike the last his mentor punched him it was because he didn't want to accept his ships anymore. "Tom, why did you hit me again?"
Tom sighed. "Listen, I'm just as confused as you are." Then a small smile on his face appeared. "However, I'm glad that you're doing well." He even looked at the tank. "I must say, I knew you had an idea of building ships, but, this is more than I could've imagined."
Franky stood up and wiped his eyes with his arm. "Sniff...yes...also, I managed to build a ship for my new captain." Tom's eyes were filled with delight and excitement. "Is that so, do you mind telling me how you built it?"
Franky had a proud grin on his face. "Tom, I didn't just build it, Iceberg and some other employees of his helped me build the Thousand Sunny."
Hearing that made Tom more intrigued, he recalled that back when Franky and Iceberg were growing up and always headbutting each other due to Franky's desire for building battleships. He would always laugh it off. "It was quite an experience, I'll never forget us working so hard building that ship, and on top of that, Iceberg is a mayor of Water 7 as well as the head president of Galley-La, which was organized by Iceberg himself after bringing other shops together as one."
Tom laughed proudly while placing his hand on his chest. "Tahahahaha!~" Franky had more to share. "Also, Iceberg is planning to make Water 7 float in other words he plans to build the entire island into a boat." He even remembered how he reacted to Iceberg's idea. "I admit I was a bit shocked so I asked if he could do that and he said I quote "We grew up with a man that made the impossible possible and I'm going to do the same thing"."
Tom couldn't more proud of his students. "I see, sounds like you boys have been doing a lot lately." As much as he would ask about Franky's new appearance, he knew he had to put that question aside. "Anyway, I'm sorry, but, right now, I think it's time we get down to business." Franky wondered what he meant but before he ask anything, Tom threw a punch at his student only this time Franky caught it with his left hand. "Tom, what's the big idea!?"
"As you know you and your friends are at war!" Tom reminded as his serious look didn't leave his face. "I'm sorry but I have orders, I hope that you forgive me but let's fight!"
Franky couldn't believe what he was hearing as several flashbacks flowed through his mind remembering the hard work he along with Iceberg, Kokoro, and Yazuma did to work to build the sea train. The times they ate together and even the time he first met Tom as a child and told him about his former parents leaving him.
"Old man, help me out! My no-good-for-nothing parents ditched me!"
Franky remembered the time after the judge gave Tom ten years to build the sea train and he felt towards his mentor being accused like that.
"What happened to Tom was so unfair, those jerks don't know how hard is it to sail on the Grand Line, they couldn't sail with a raft if their lives depended on it! Tom is the greatest shipwright that this world offers and they treat him like garbage!"
Even the time that Spandam and his government goons framed Tom and his students for the attack on the traditional ship. He then to Scrap Heap Island and found Tom along with Iceberg injured and got blamed for the attack. "You did this...it's all your fault. Listen we create powerful weapons but they are met to hurt people and even after all this you still think your hands don't have blood on them! If Tom gets taken away...if he hangs for this...I swear on my life...I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
What hurt the most is when he found Tom's condition.
"Tom, oh no...the harpoon, these are one of the ones I created once it pierces its target there's no way to pull it out...I'm so sorry!"
Even after all that and Tom's prideful speech about building ships, Franky didn't want to build ships after the damage it caused. But, later, his passion for building ships came back to him after defeating Cipher Pol and Spandam. "I knew deep down Tom was right...about taking pride and feeling proud of every ship I make. Regardless I felt so bad for what happened and even if Iceberg was right. I still didn't want to do anything with ships but he knew I wouldn't stop forever. He realized it was my passion to build ships and never deny them as Tom said."
But, right now, he's facing his old mentor and he's an enemy now and it's hard to swallow. "Tom...I know if Iceberg saw this...it would break his heart more than ever and pains me to be fighting against someone that I looked up to." Franky's head was lowered as he said that.
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper were getting a bit worried about their crewmate's situation. "Franky..."
Leone was shocked at what people she was meeting. She remembered a cold rainy night. She saw Mine returning from a mission with Sheele, only that the sniper genius returned alone with a broken arm and no Sheele. "Sheele...Sheele...has been killed." Even everyone's reaction including hers was still fresh in her mind.
That wasn't the only tragedy, Leone recalled Tatsumi's report of his fight against the Three Beasts and how Bulat lost his life. "Bro...he's gone."
Losing them was hard for her even Levy, who became close to Sheele due to their reading habits. She even remembered that Levy was going to share some of Earthland's books with Sheele. Sheele sacrificed herself for Mine and Bulat gave his life to protect Tatsumi. He even thought that the new rookie would surpass him someday which he did. "How is this happening, they're supposed to be dead!" There's one thing she noticed. "Their aura isn't there, how can I sense their aura?" The blonde assassin recalled one of the other instances this happened before. "It's like Kurome using puppets again, but, the only difference is they're able to talk which Kurome's undead didn't."
Sheele, in her typical fashion, seemed distracted by their surroundings and was confused. "Where exactly are we, this doesn't look like the capital."
Bulat looked around and thought the same. "Hey, you're right, This isn't the capital's harbor either. The last thing I remember is that Tatsumi was running at me when we were abroad the Ryusen." Mentioning that Sheele recalled that she used the last of her strength to help Mine escape just before Seryu's Imperial Arms devoured her completely.
Sheele looked back at Leone, who continued to look at her and Bulat in disbelief. "Hey, Leone, where are we, this doesn't look at the capital, but more importantly, where is everyone, Gray, Juvia, and Taran along with Gajeel's team?"
Leone clenched her hands tightly as she was right all along. Emotions continued to flow inside her body. "Leone, tell us, what has become of our friends and those from Earthland?"
Leone shuddered a little while lowering her head with her bangs covering her eyes. "We're...in Earthland, the world where Gray and his friends come from?" Sheele and Bulat were quite surprised to hear that but still, they were confused at first, but, putting the pieces together they realized that Gray and his friends must've returned home safe and sound. Though, one question is why was Leone here in Earthland.
"Lastly, we defeated the Empire too," Leone's words were great news to Sheele and Bulat. "That's not all, Akame, Chelsea, and I went with Gray along with his friends to their world which we are now." Leone couldn't keep all the details away. "Also, we went to another world."
Bulat and Sheele were even more surprised. "Wait, there's another world?"
Leone smiled at their reactions. "Yes, the world we ended up in was filled with pirates and all kinds of crazy crap." She explained as much as she could about the world of pirates and the creatures called Fishmen, different tribesmen, and Minks. She even told about them about the Straw Hat Pirates. Telling each detail about the Straw Hats and their background stories. Including the enemies they encountered and the corrupted nobles as well as merciless navy officers.
Bulat wasn't too surprised. "Not every place or people are perfect, but, to think the world of pirates has people buying people as slaves." He felt the pit of his stomach turn inside out in disgust. "An orgiznation called the World Goverment, talk about insane."
Sheele was intrigued by the woman named Nico Robin, who studies ancient history even Poneglyphs. "Sounds like you and the others had quite an adventure. You even made new friends." She then got a little confused by the new teammate Chelsea. "Who is Chelsea?"
The blonde chuckled softly at the question. "Oh, right, you never met her. Chelsea and another guy named Susanoo were called in as backup after we lost Bulat. Su, he's a kinda has a stick up his ass but he's cool and on top of that, he's an Organic-type Imperials Arms and is a good cook." She had more to share. "We even got new guild mates for Fairy Tail." She had good news to share. "Another thing, Tatsumi and Mine are together, no doubt that Lubbock is together with Najenda too."
Sheele breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing what happened to Mine after her death. "Mine...it looks like my sacrifice wasn't in vain. Glad that Tatsumi and you are together."
Leone looked at Bulat with a proud smile. "Bulat, you were right about Tatsumi, he's gotten a lot stronger than ever, I wished you were there to see him now, but, I can say he's truly surpassed you as you knew he would."
"Well, isn't that something, but, I didn't doubt that for a moment," Bulat spoke chuckling softly. "I'm glad Gray and his friends made it home that you along with Akame and this Chelsea girl are living in a peaceful time. I wish Sheele and I traveled with you guys in this world of pirates, sounds like a true adventure." His expression changed to a more serious one. "However, as much as we like to catch up with you, you ultimately know what we have to do." Leone had a feeling that would happen and grimaced at the mere thought.
Think once again, Leone would have to be in an Imperial Arms battle and this time she would be against two of her old friends. One thing was clear to her. "Even if they aren't like Kurome's puppets, either they kill me or I kill them." The mere thought sickened her, no doubt Akame and Najanda felt the same way when they had to fight their old friends too. "Even if it's two-on-one, I'm way stronger than I was back in the Capital." I should be able to take them on no problem."
Just as she was about to make the first move Sheele lift Extase above her. "Trump Card activate, Extase: Blinding Light!" A brilliant shining light emitted from Extase and Leone got the full brunt of it.
Leone closed her eyes and shielded them from the light with her right arm. "She's using Extase's Trump Card already!?" Leone's first instinct was to jump away to safety from her two teammates. However, she was falling back, the blonde felt something sharp cut her arm. The light started to fade, and Leone opened her eyes. Only to discover that her left arm was missing and noticed that it was laying on the ground not too far from her. She heard the hard thumping of her heartbeat the longer she stared at her severed arm. Leone screamed and gripped what was left of her missing arm.
She turned to see that Sheele was standing behind her and saw there was blood on Extase, her blood. "Incursio!"
Leone heard a loud noise from her and turned back to see Bulat with his Incursio armor. "Damn, I forgot what Incursio looked like when Bulat equipped it."
Bulat summoned out Neuntote and charged at the blonde and thrust his weapon forward at her. Leone dodged to the right to avoid the attack but as she did, Sheele was in the air again and swung Extase overhead at her. As soon as the blonde's foot touched the ground, she jumped again away to avoid the next attack before it struck the ground where she was previously a second ago. Sheele chased after Leone relentlessly while swinging Extase just before her former teammate jumped to avoid the attack. This strategy was working until she reached an edge there was nothing but water. Doing this kind of thing would leave someone driven into a corner. She looked in front and saw Sheele coming at her with Extase ready to cut her down. Leone scowled and had to bet on one chance to counter.
Noticing that the blonde was leaning her body slightly forward and that alerted her. She stopped and put Extase in front of her and in time as Leone rushed at her other girl and kicked the Imperial Arms protecting Sheele. Extase took the brunt of Leone's attack, but it was still powerful enough to blow Sheele back away. Leone breathed a sigh of relief, but, it was short-lived when she saw Bulat high in the air and spun Neuntote around.
Bulat yelled as he swung his weapon down and powerful force came out of the swing. It headed straight toward Leone quickly. The blonde barely avoided the attack by a hair's length both figuratively and literally as small strands of her hair were cut off. Bulat's attack was strong enough as ever and enough to cut through the ground and caused the water to explode behind Leone. Seeing the water refilling the void where Bulat's attack struck wasn't surprising to Leone but she knew if that attack landed on her, she would be met a gruesome fate. "He's strong as always even when he had his armor off. However, I can't die even with one arm." Leone removed her hand gripping her arm and grunted loudly. Her muscles what remained of her arm contracted to make sure there was no bleeding. "Good! Take Over: Lionel Beast Soul Combination!" Her hair color changed into white as snow and her tail changed into the same color. Her face became more feline with sharp fangs but her human body stayed the same though she grew white fur on every inch of her body with sharp claws on her feet and fingertips. "Primal Lunar Beast!"
Bulat spun his weapon around before setting it on his shoulder. He was impressed with what his former teammate had done. "Well, it seems you got some new tricks up your sleeve while being in Gray's world."
"And I'll gladly show you how much I've improved too!" Leone raised her only arm up as bright white light shined above her former teammate and shot down countless beams of moonlight energy at him. "Lunar Moon Slash!"
Bulat began to dodge them as parts of his armor were shot leaving cracks on some parts. "That was strong, Leone..."
"I ain't done!" Leone's entire snowy-like fur began to emit a powerful glow. "Lunar Gleaming Light!" A strong gleaming flash completely struck Bulat even more dealing additional damage and causing his armor to crack even more and felt intense pain within his body causing him to grunt in pain. "Sorry, Bulat, I hope you can forgive me..."
Leone sensed Sheele charged at her from behind again ready to cut her. "I ain't falling for that again!" She quickly transformed differently. "Take-Over: Lionel Beast Soul Combination!" Her hair changed into silver and her body was covered in steel-like armor. On her only forearm was a steel armor plate and one with a yellow star was on her forehead. Her face resembled an Armadillo. Her feet were metallic.
"Silver Armadillo Beast!" She blocked the blade of Extase using the only forearm she had and it was able to block but barely. "That was close, but, it's my turn." The steel plate on her forehead opened and a cannon was seen inside. Then the cannon fired a magic energy ball. Sheele jumped away as the magic ball got close but she managed to block it. Once she landed on her feet she sighed in relief. "That was close...if I didn't jump away in time, that attack would've finished me."
"I got this form while hunting down a beast with armor that most strong combat fighters and even those with magic that lower defense powers weren't able to take this monster on. However, I realized if I didn't defeat this monster I could take it for myself." She recalled how tough it was to take over the beast. "I admit he was a stubborn bastard, but, I managed to make it my own. Its armor is strong steel much like Extase and Gajeel's magic power."
Sheele got up from the barrel she crashed in. "I admit you know my weaknesses well, Leone, I guess you can use your head once in and while."
Leone stuck out her tongue. "At least I didn't buy so much sugar!" She remembered how much she laughed her butt off. Getting off track, she got a serious look on her face. "Regardless, I will win this fight, and defeating you both is the only way I can see another day."
Bulat was more impressed than he was before. "You've grown a bit, Leone, I'm proud that you're using your head." He had a grin as he quickly vanished from the spot he was on.
Leone quickly began to look around where Bulat would appear and realized what he just did. Then he quickly reappeared as he disappeared and delivered a kick right into Leone's chest sending her crashing into a building's wall leaving a big hole as dust foamed from the crash.
Leone immediately jumped from the building through the hole she crashed in. "Silver White Ball !" The plate on her head opened its hatch and fired a silver-white ball of energy.
Sheele got in front of the former Imperial Soldiers and blocked the attack. Despite she was able to block it she felt her feet being pushed back.
Leone continued to push forward until Bulat took the bottom of Neuntote and slammed the bottom handle right into Leone's side causing her attack to stop he delivered a slash on her chest though the silver plate was destroyed, she felt her chest seemingly feel the blade of Neuntote.
Leone felt her chest and saw a slight gash on her chest seeing some blood leaking out as she knelt down on her left knee while placing her right hand on her wound. "Damn, if I didn't have this silver plate on my chest that attack would be more fatal." She saw that Bulat used Incuriso's, Trump Card. Sheele and Bulat stood beside each other looking at her.
"We're sorry, Leone."
"But this is the end for you."
Leone could only growl as her situation couldn't be worse than ever.
Somewhere on the battlefield where Gray and Lyon were, they were approached by their former master Ur, who had confidence and wasn't all impressed with how her students were fighting thus far. "How pathetic, is that all you boys got after all these years? It's obvious that you'll never surpass me."
"Ur..."
Gray gritted his teeth. "Lyon, that isn't Ur!"
Lyon could understand that. "I realize that, but, still..." Ur did the same stance. "Ice Make: Rose Garden!" She unleashed giant ice vines and roses erupted from the ground and struck her students.
Outside of Hargeon, the battles raged on and Meredy sent multiples of her magic swords at Zancrow, but her former guildmate continuously burned them away. "You died! You never made out of that island!"
"Yeah, I died on Tenrou Island, and that's why seeing you..." He moved his arms around and his black flames followed. He sent his flames to surround Meredy and screamed in pain. "And finding that you survived totally pisses me off!"
Juvia was surrounded by Keyes' Ban Particles. "The voices of the dead once reverberate across the battlefield. Now I find myself as the puppet in this scene." He smiled creepily. "How fascinating."
Juvia covered her mouth from being infected by the Ban Particles. "The dead shouldn't be playthings for anyone!"
Zepo dashed towards Pango. Then he pulled back a punch and delivered it at Pango. "I'm sorry, but, I have orders to stop you!" Pango was sent rolling across the road.
"Zepo..." Tigress couldn't believe that the Polar Bear Mink that was once a friend is fighting against them. "How could this happen?"
The Polar Bear Mink looked at Tigress. "Tigress...I'm sorry, but, I can tell you've grown...so has Pango...I'm glad that you guys have lived through our tough times." He smiled proudly. "I congrats that you found a new place to call home." His proud expression changed to serious again. "However, I'm afraid this fight will have to continue."
Wendy was shocked to see Ezel. "Chelia, take Carla and run!"
Cheila was against that idea. "No way, I still have my magic, I can help you!"
Ezel didn't care which he had to fight. "This is good for me, I hope to kill you all, especially you runt!" He slammed his root-like legs at Wendy sending her crashing to the ground.
Wendy's held her leg in pain. "Oh no...I can't...move..."
"I won't let you hurt her!" Chelia declared as she gathered her magic inside her palm. "Sky God's Boreas!" She sent a black whirlwind at the Demon.
Ezel used his arms to defend himself from the attack. "Not bad, but, it'll take more than that little runt!" He then slammed his legs at Cheila too and sending her crashing hard into the ground. "Oh no, my leg too..."
In another area, Luffy was running through the town.
Laxus was struggling against the former guild master Precht/Hades' attacks.
At the ship, Erza was barely holding against the former enemies she fought before and was getting pushed around by each of their attacks. "I can't believe the pitful show that Dimaria and Wall put on. Overpowering these fools is easy at least for me."
Erza continued to struggle against her opponents being hit by their attacks as she slide on her knees as looked to see the three standing before her. Neinhart noticed the look in Erza's eyes. "That spark in your eyes...I have doubt that you'll make a good Historia once we're finally done with you."
"Azuma dear, hold her up," Kyouka commanded.
Roots wrapped around Erza's wrists and legs. She was strung up with her arms tied together and legs slightly spread apart. Kyouka walked up to her with a smile on her face. "This really brings me back Erza, to our times in my torture chamber." She did remember the pain she was inflicted on the red-haired woman. She gently placed her claw under Erza's chin and her face neared the other girl's. "You remember my loving caresses, do you?" She then smiled maliciously as Kyouka took a step back and extended her finger to become a whip-like weapon again. She lashed out at Erza's side. "I amplified your sensitivity to pain," Erza screamed in pain as she felt her body being whipped which took off a large chunk.
Azuma was growing tired and impatient. "Such improper conduct for such a lady like yourself, miss Kyouka." Ikaruga just giggled at the sight.
Kyouka had her claw-like hand on Erza's stomach gripping it tightly. "I wonder if I should raise the sensitivity of pain even more." She had a different idea and gripped Erza's breast instead. "Or should I introduce pleasure instead?"
She leaned forward in front of Erza as she giggled. "I'm starting to believe I might've actually missed you, Erza." She removed her claw from Erza.
Erza panted heavily from the pain she felt earlier and her body trembled from the pain. She had to admit it this was truly painful, however, she wasn't defeated yet. "Is that so...because I'm quite weary of this little reunion." Her words surprised Kyouka and the others. "It's true that you three once were powerful foes and obstacles to my progress...however..." She lifted her head and looked at the three former enemies and a deep red aura surrounding her body was the manifestation of her spirit. "All of you fell by my hands!" Something else was also beginning to emit from her spirit and a loud ringing-like sound was heard unleashing soundwaves with powerful force.
From afar, Jula heard this. "What was that...that...sound...it seemed familiar." She would look closely in the direction she heard the sound. "Erza...was that you?"
Kyouka, Ikaruga, Azuma, and even Neinhart were affected by the power that Erza unleashed which caused them to knee down on one knee but was more astounding that she was still raring to fight despite the state she was in.
Kyouka panted heavily. "I don't know what you did...but...I'll be sure to give you more pain now!" She whipped Erza multiple times all over her body again.
Even with all those whippings, Erza didn't flinch not once not even sound of this time. Erza gave all three of them a terrifying glare with her eyes filled with determination. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, YOU DAMN GHOSTS BEFORE YOU FEEL THE BITE OF MY BLADE AGAIN!" Her aura and an intense power within it expanded from her body and went through her enemies.
Azuma and Ikaruga froze in fear as well as Kyouka did. Each was feeling the sheer willpower and the unknown power that Erza was giving off. "Such...ferocity..." Kyouka screamed as she began to disappear along with the others. "DAMN YOU, ERZA!"
Neinhart had never seen anything like this happening. The Historia disappeared right before his eyes. "How could this have happened, she defeated with mere immeditation...no...there was another power I sensed, but it wasn't magic...who the hell is she?!"
Erza eventually was released from the roots that trapped her as Kagura and Jellal arrived on the deck. "Erza!"
Hearing that name suddenly got Neinhart's attention and the more he stared he realized something familiar. "Wait.." His body began to tremble but it wasn't something more. "Her name...that...scarlet hair of hers...but, there's no way...she can't be...Lady Irene's..."
Kagura held up Erza in her arms. "Erza...Erza...wake up!" She then sensed a feeling of intense anger and massive magic power as she turned to see Jellal, who was looking towards the Spriggan Twelve member who had put her in such a state. "Sorry, but, I shall commit one more sin."
Suddenly the other ships nearby were suddenly hit by strong waves of water and one was slashed in four separate parts and a few others were caught in a water whirlpool.
Neinhart's fear was replaced with confusion now of what was happening to his reinforcement's ships. "What going on with the other ships!?" He then saw Jula, Thorn, and Angela swimming out of the destroyed ships. "What the hell are they?" The next thing everyone saw Hargeon saw that not only the clouds parted rapidly, but the entire sky turned into night.
Then a phenomenon made Nienhart stand up. "What happened to the sky!?"
Kagura was puzzled at the sudden nightfall. "Why is it nightfall?"
"The stars harvesters of blessing or misfortune..." Keyes presumed.
Juvia was just puzzled. "What's going on?"
Meredy had one conclusion. "This is Jella's magic!"
Zancrow scoffed. "Who in the hell gives a crap about the stars in the sky!"
Meredy offered her arm which had the link chain. "Juvia, link up with me." Juvia looked at her with confusion. "Will that work?"
"When people trust each other share their senses their power multiple too." Juvia liked that idea. "So, that's something good."
Keyes just laughed at that statement. "What you call mutual trust is nothing more than pitful dependency."
Zancrow gathered more black fire. "That means you two will feel more damage when I roast you alive!"
Gray and Lyon continued their struggle against their former master.
"Ice-Make: Gesyer!" Gray slammed his hands to the ground and waves of ice traveled to his former master.
However, Ur slammed her hands to the ground as well. "Ice-Make: Volcano!" Gray and Lyon were blasted away by a massive powerful eruption of ice underneath them.
They tumbled away from their teacher but managed to stand back up. Even with their best effort, Lyon's doubt continued to grow within him. "We can't win, not against Ur."
"I told that thing isn't Ur!" Gray's outburst made Lyon look at him. "Ur is dead, you hear me!" He glanced at the other ice wizard. "She's dead and it's my fault, you of all people know that!"
Lyon remembered that well and he did feel justified in those feelings he felt that day. "You took a long road to get where you are today. That road took you to a place where you heal yourself and get over what happened with Ur." Hearing those words, Gray remembered those times of training even when he moved forward which lead to fighting different opponents and different experiences helping him in the shape of the person he'd become. Lyon, he didn't have that kind of feeling himself. "That road I never took it."
Gray wouldn't deny his friend's words, however... "This is your chance to take that road and don't let it go to waste! Listen, the journey I took didn't just happen, I just kept pushing forward not even stopping, so you can too." Lyon stared in disbelief as he felt Gray's words bore into his core.
However, their former master thought they still didn't have what it took to surpass her. "Why bother, you should just give up."
Franky continued to hold Tom's fist. "Listen, Tom, despite what you told me about taking pride and being proud of the ships I made, I still felt heavily responsible for what happened to you. I decided to stop building ships to atone for my carelessness." He choked like he wanted to cry again but he kept his composure.
"But...regardless, the passion I felt for building battleships was my thing and it still is to this day!" He stood proudly and looked at his former boss. "I want to keep building ships because I love it and Iceberg realized that as well. More importantly, it was because we realized our passions for being shipwrights that we continue to build what we love and to take great pride in it!"
Usopp and Chopper cried tears of joy absolutely touched by the cyborg's speech. "Franky!"
"You lug, your speech is bringing me to tears!"
Nami just smiled at her crewmate's statement.
A big proud smile formed on Tom's face and he began to laugh proudly. "Franky, I'm so happy and proud to hear that. You and Iceberg have made me so proud!"
He looked at his former student with a regretful expression. "I know it hurts that we have to fight each other, however, to make this fair, let's just battle with our fists, what do you say?"
Franky had no qualms with that. "I say, bring it!"
The two started to throw punches at each other like boxers.
Zepo and Tigress were in a hand-to-hand combat pose. As they were, Tigress explained the situation and what was going on with her and the others that were with her. "I see...that's what has been going on and Whitebeard is dead. He sighed. "Well, that's quite sad, but, he did what he could. I see, that you've gotten a lot stronger than the last time I saw you." A smile formed on Zepo's face.
Tigress smiled in return. "You're just as strong as ever." Then she felt something powerful coming behind her but instead of being worried look, she had a smile. "Though, my friends and I have grown even stronger together!"
She jumped out of the spot she was in which confused Zepo until he saw Pango rolling towards him at high speed. "Electro Panda Rolling Ball!" He used his Mink electro non-magic rolling ball technique and rolled against the Polar Bear Mink sending him flying away. "Zepo, we're not the children that you once remembered, we've grown and with the guild that we're part of it, we'll protect with our human friends, I know it must hurt that we have to fight, but, we know what we were getting into like when you did when you became a pirate."
She wasn't done. "And we plan to keep our new home safe!" She gathered electricity in her hands.
Zepo stood back up and gathered a lot of electricity around his body. "Is that so, then, show me how much you've grown!" Tigress punched her fist into her palm. "I...no, we intend to, Zepo..."
Leone still kneeling on one leg while panting heavily as she felt her chest bleed a little.
Sheele and Bulat looked up at the sky and were enthralled by what happened. "Did it just become night?"
Bulat laughed as he was actually impressed by this. "Gray's world is something else than I imagined." Blood trickled alongside the polearm of Neuntote and drops fell to the ground. Leone's gash that he slashed was still bleeding. "I see that this is the end for you, Leone."
Leone began to remember what she was discussing with Rayleigh.
F
In Shakky's bar, she was having a drink with Rayleigh. "What, you want to know about Observation and Armament Haki?"
Leone got on her knees and bowed her head. "Yes, I know we just met but, I heard so much of your stories and the power you have. Not to mention you trained this Luffy boy to use Haki."
Rayleigh took a sip of his booze. "That may be, but, I'm not sure if you have two Haki let alone one." He wiped his mouth. "Haki isn't something you just pick up easily, you need to train hard and have high spirit energy to use it. Even the slightest doubt can make you lose control of Haki."
Leone just remained in her position. "I don't care...I need to be sure if I can learn how to, even if I just have one Haki power like Observation, that's okay with me, if it means I can use it to protect those that are important to me, then I'll take the chance!"
Rayleigh saw the determination in the former assassin's eyes and sighed deeply. "If so, I can train you a little, but, if I don't see no improvement, then, we'll stop, is that understood?" Leone grinned. "You got it, old man!"
B
Leone then glared at Bulat before her scowl turned into a smile and began to laugh. Bulat didn't understand what was so funny to the blonde, especially the situation she was in now. "What's with the laughter?"
"I realized if I'm going to become stronger than ever, I must become smarter and make better use of the magic I required." Leone quickly stood up while still in her Armadillo Beast form. "Iron Body!"
Bulat swung Neuontote and its blade was about a few inches away from making contact with Leone's remaining arm. Just then the attack was seemingly stopped.
"What the hell?" Bulat didn't understand what just happened and he noticed that Neuontote's blade was not cutting through Leone's arm. "Why isn't your arm cut off?"
Sheele was just confused as her teammate was. "How did Leone's arm withstand that attack?"
Leone snickered at her former teammates' reactions. "That was a new technique I learned from a friend but..." She pumped up her remaining arm which seemed to be covered in armor(invisible). "I also learned something else." She kicked her feet off the ground and delivered a punch right into Bulat's torso which seemingly broke the armor.
Bulat was perplexed about how his former teammate was able to break through Incursio's armor but that wasn't he also noticed. The blonde's hand embedded her claws into his armor. "Not only that, as I mentioned before, my magic also has another trick!" Her hand began to glow a green light which appeared.
The green light blinded Sheele, so she had to cover her eyes with her arm.
Bulat tried to move away but before he could Leone wrapped her legs around his waist tightly. "W-what are you doing!?"
"Didn't you hear me?" Leone tighened her hand onto Bulat's armor chest. "My magic has another trick and one that can do what other Take-Over Magic can do. Tyrant Dragon is a beast type which means I can require a new power!" The light became brighter until it enveloped all three of them. A powerful wave of magic power erupted from within the light and it blew away Sheele and Bulat.
They both crashed into the ground and Sheele groaned as she sat up. She opened her eyes and gasped in surprise when she Bulat. "Bulat...your armor..."
Bulat groaned as well as he placed his hand on his forehead and realized his armor was gone, rather, he was out of it. They both heard a deep growl and looked toward where it came from. Bulat and Sheele gasped at what they were seeing next, a figure wearing white-armored similar to the one that Leone was previously using was improved and was a humanoid version of the Tyrant Dragon. The headpiece had two long protrusions coming out from the sides with wild long silver-grey hair coming out from the bottom of the headpiece and two skirt tails coming from behind the waist. A star cross marking was located just above the breasts. It was obvious that Bulat was who it was. "Leone...what...did..." He feared what the blonde had done and was trying to do. Leone let out a frightful ear-piercing screech that terrified both Bulat and Sheele.
"I heard that Elfman did the same thing when took over a Beast and he wasn't able to control the power, not at first..." Leone thought feeling her subconscious was in pain and her bare figure screamed into an endless black void. "Damn...at this rate, I'll lose control..." Behind her was Tyrant Dragon, growling and waiting patiently to take over its new host and bared its sharp fangs at the woman. "Such host..." It opened its frightful jaw even more and closed it around Leone. With this, it would finally be resurrected and wreak havoc once again.
"I...won't...LET YOU!" A golden light appeared from the confines of its mouth and erupted from within. "Elfman was able to control his new beast form and I intend to do the same thing!" The Tyrant Dragon had no other choice but to spit out what it ate and took several steps back. It saw Leone still standing and was confused as to why she didn't succumb to it. Leone turned around and narrowed her eyes at the Danger Beast. "If you think I'm becoming your host, then you'd better think again you bastard! I'll make sure you'll obey me and only me even if I have to beat the ever-lasting crap of you!"
The Tyrant Dragon just continued to stare at Leone. He never thought a human like her would speak to him like that. Tyrant Dragon's history is that it would devour anything that would get its way. Then the black void turned to white and it saw multiple beasts appearing behind Leone. Two were large lions, one with red hair and orange hair(Spiky Pyro Beast and Lion Apelio Beast), one with white snow-like hair(Primal Lunar Beast), one with silver-like armor(Silver Armadillo Beast), and Black tiger(Black Devil Tiger). Each one that Tyrant Dragon saw surprised him, the human that was talking down at him had taken over a few beast-type creatures. Suddenly a strange wave of energy was released and blew right into Tyrant's face. He felt like he was being controlled and was starting to kneel down before his new master. He struggled but, Leone who was unleashing the strange wave of energy was making the beast bow down.
Bulat didn't understand what was going on, but, whatever power he was sensing, it wasn't anything he'd ever seen. "What...kind of power is she using?"
The Tyrant Dragon looked at Leone and her gaze didn't change a bit, she was even angrier than before. "Like I said..." She slightly raised her right foot and stomped. The sound reverberated throughout the void. "OBEY ME!" The Tyrant Dragon snarled at her as it wouldn't succumb that easily to a mere human. That was all Leone needed as an answer. "Well, if that's how you're going to act..." Her body transformed into her original beast form and gave the S-Class Danger Beast before her an unwavering look. "Then, I'll beat the crap the out of you!" She jumped straight at the Tyrant Dragon and it responded by opening its mouth once more and teaching this human woman what happens to those that oppose it.
Back in Hargeon, Wendy and Chelia were in pain and were barely able to move an inch. "Oh no...my leg...still won't move."
"My legs won't move either!"
Ezel slowly approached the two slayers while cackling at his soon-to-be victory rather than double victory. "Looks like you runt and your little friend are out of gas!"
Carla attended to use her transformation magic to fight. "Oh no...my magic...is almost gone..." She realized that she didn't have much for a transformation. "I can still fly...but, I can only carry one person at a time."
"HEEEEYYYY!" The two slayers looked up at where the voice was coming from. There was Luffy on a nearby building's rooftop. "You guys, don't let this jerk push you around, kick this bastard's ass otherwise, I'll come down there and beat some sense into you!"
"My word, he's got quite a mouth!" Carla scowled with an anime vein.
Ezel snarled at the Straw Hat boy. "Hey runt, can't you see I'm about to seal my victory!?"
Luffy narrowed his eyes at the Demon. "Listen you jerk, my friends are going to kick your ass! I know because I believe in my friends!"
Those words inspired the two slayers and they surprisingly stood up on their feet. "Chelia..."
"I'm alright, but, let's make this count and finish this guy off!"
The two dragon slayer gathered their magic in their arms. "Let's show this jerk the power of the God and Dragon Slayer!" They gathered enough of their magic power which was given off strong magic power.
Laxus slammed his head against Hades's and refused to be defeated by a mere ghost. "You belong in the past you old geezer! So, apologize to the first master and go back to hell!"
Juvia and Meredy clapped their hands together as Juvia's water magic circled around their hands.
"Ready?"
"Let's do it!"
Gray and Lyon stripped off their shirts. "Here's the first step!"
"Oh yeah, and we're going to take all the way!"
Gray and Lyon sued their strongest attacks on their master at the same time and overwhelmed Ur with Gray's attack with a long katana made of ice and Lyon's lurching forward arms spread out and multiple feathers made of ice hitting their teacher all at once. "ICE DEMON'S ZEROTH LONGSWORD!"
"ICE BLADE: SWAN WINGS!
Laxus' clasped his hands together and struck the top of Hades' skull right to the ground with lightning ripping through the ground. "LIGHTNING DRAGON'S JAW!"
Juvia and Meredy's combined attacks created a large spiral of water and managed to blow away Keyes and Zancrow high into the sky. "MAGILTY=WATER!"
Wendy and Chelia unleashed a new Unison Raid. "Sky God Dragon's-" A black cyclone stormed across towards Ezel and the front of the attack took the shape of a black dragon resembling Gradneey's face. "Black Cyclone!" The attack surrounded Ezel as he screamed in pain and began to vanish into thin air.
"Pango!" Tigress prepared to deliver a kick but not on Zepo, which Pango understood what his friend's strategy was and curled in his ball form. "Tiger Kick Panda Lightning Ball!" She kicked Pango and he was sent flying across with incredible speed and electric magic power that slammed right into Zepo's stomach and sent him crashing into a building's wall.
Franky and Tom were throwing punches like boxers each dealing damage to each other. "You're strong as ever Tom."
"You've grown a lot stronger too, Franky!"
"You can win, Franky!" Chopper cheered.
"Yeah!" Usopp added with tears.
"I think it's time we finish this!" Franky pulled back his arm and with all of his energy, he delivered another punch and another with his other hand. "Franky Iron Boxing!" Soon he was unleashing fast boxing punches which dealt multiple damage with his large metallic fists. With one more final punch, Tom was sent flying away and landed on his back which caused him skidded away about few yards away.
Bulat knew it was only a matter of time before Leone went on a rampage. They had to kill her now before it was too late. "Sheele, kill her now before she loses control!"
Sheele understood clearly and rushed toward the berserk Leone. She drew her Extase and was ready to cut her former teammate down.
As Sheele drew in close, Leone quickly sensed the danger and turned around to let out an extremely powerful roar and the force behind it blew Sheele back to Bulat. She quickly stood up and was ready for another strike, but she and Bulat noticed a change in Leone's behavior. She wasn't in berserk mode anymore, she was the opposite, her head was lowered so it made it hard to see if she was still berserk. "I warned you not to take me lightly, bastard..." She raised her head and looked at Bulat and Sheele with red eyes with a star cross in the middle. Leone moved her only arm to the side and a strong gust of wind blew through her former teammates. "Imperial Arms Magic! Takeover: Lionel Danger Beast Soul Combination! Tyrant Dragon Beast!" Leone let out a mighty roar.
Sheele had a question for her former teammate. "How were you able to counter my attack?" Leone looked at her former assassin and was glad to answer that. "What you saw was Observation Haki, the first type, which an ability to sense enemies that either far away even ones that are invisible."
Bulat couldn't believe his eyes with what he'd witnessed never he thought it would be possible. "I can't...believe, she managed to take control of Tyrant Dragon!" He noticed something different about her armor. It was changing pure blackness replaced the silver as blonde spoke... "Armament Hardening..."
Bulat was baffled at the newly black armor. "Armament Hardening...I never did that when I had Incursio..."
Leone saw the reaction on Bulat's face and grinned. "This is the second type of that power. Better known as Armament Haki which I can use to make my attacks stronger and able to put as invisible armor. Also, that skill I used known as Iron Body, it makes my body has hard as an iron wall and additional I combined it with my Armament."
Sheele clearly understood why her attack wasn't able to cut her remaining arm. "That explains how her arm wasn't even scratched...I never saw the armor since it's invisible. It's clearly that this world of pirates has quite handy abilities."
Bulat was surprised, he's never heard of such a thing. "I'm impressed than that I was before, Leone, you've improved more than I thought."
Leone then pulled her arm back before she looked at her teammates. "Yes, but, I'm afraid I'm going to have to end this little reunion of ours!" Leone disappeared and flew past them without Sheele and Bulat noticing and reappearing behind them. Her arm was in front of her and several sparkles of light appeared on their bodies briefly before a massive pillar of light erupted beneath them and developed them entirely. "TYRANT OVERLOAD!"
Jellal put one of his hands on top of the other and aimed them directly at Neinhart. "You shall be judged by the Seven Stars!"
Neinhart panicked as he knew there was one thing that could protect him from his enemy's attack. "Oh Jellal, we all seen your Historia today!" He moved his arm from one side to the next and Simon was summoned in front of him. "Simon, your old friend! The one you murdered after all he'd donefor you!" Kagura let a small gasp.
"You can't do it again! How could you, the guilt, could you live with that burden!?" His plan was obviously working because Jella was hesitant to attack his old friend. However, to everyone's surprise, Kagura was the one who cut Simon down with her sword. "This thing...isn't my brother!" Simon smiled at his younger sister before disappearing completely. "Jellal, strike him down!"
With nothing in his way now, Jella's magic power skyrocketed. Seven enormous beams of light shot out of the sky and all of them targeted the ship Neinhart was on. "GRAND CHARIOT!" All seven lights struck the ship at once and caused huge waves to appear along with destroying the nearby ships and sending them into the air. Neinhart screamed as he fell spiraling down to the water and crashing into it.
Jellal exhaled in relief. Kagura smiled and the others reacted the same way to their victory. Successfully celebrating their well-deserved victory.
Erza was on the port resting smiling.
Thorn, Jula, and Angela arrived at the port. "Erza!"
"You three...I'm glad you're safe," She smiled.
"Whoa, you took a beating," Thorn exclaimed with a gaping mouth.
"Nevertheless, we're glad you're okay," Jula added with a relief expression.
Jellal was trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Hold on, who are you guys?"
Kagura put her hand out. "It's fine, they're friends, their also new members of Fairy Tail." Jellal took her word for it but he was surprised that Simon's sister was speaking to him.
Soon the sky returned to normal revealing a sunset.
Laxus was sitting down leaning his back against a building's wall finding the sight warming despite how strange it was. "It was just the middle of the night and now it's sunset."
Jula had to admit the sunset was a sight to see. "So beautiful."
Thorn smiled. "Sure is."
Angela had to agree. "I wish the others on Fishman Island were here to see this."
"The sky...scarlet...lovely..." Erza whispered with a warm smile and passed out.
Tom was laying down on his back badly bruised and beaten some blood on his body and face. "Tahahahaha...Franky...glad to you know that you're doing great these days."
Franky smiled at his former teacher. "Tom..." His eyes started to feel sad again.
Tom shook his head. "No need to apologize or anything...it couldn't be helped...I'm proud of what you accomplished and for making that man Spandam pay for what he did. Like I said, I couldn't be more proud of you..." He smiled widely as he coughed a bit and his body began to slowly disappear. "I have a favor...if you see Iceberg and-"
Franky already knew what he was going to say. "I will, Tom, I'll let him and the others know including your brother Den..." His lips curled up as tears fall down his cheeks again. "Good-bye...Tom..."
Tom laughed weakly and he had one more thing to say. "Remember, Franky, to keep your head held with gusto!" Those words touched Franky as his tears dropped to the ground. "See ya, Cyborg...Franky..."
With that, Tom completely vanished just as his eyes formed tears which blew into the air and Franky began to sob once more knowing that his mentor was gone once more. "Uhhhh...uhhh...uhhh..." Deep down he was happy to have the chance to talk to his mentor one last time.
Zepo was inside a building laying on his back after taking serious damage and his glasses were broken too. He then lifted his head to see Tigress and Pango looking at him. "You two have gotten stronger...I'm proud of you both..."
Pango held his head high as tears formed in his eyes. "Zepo...I'm glad that we got to see you again."
Tigress turned her head away a for second but she would rather see him off before goes. "Zepo...we'll miss you...and we'll never forget this last moment."
Zepo chuckled with a smile. "Nor I...if you see Usagi and Temukai, tell them I said "hi"."
Pango nodded and he had another idea. "You got it...also, we'll tell Pekoms and Pedro, that you said 'hello"."
Tigress nodded in agreement. Zepo's body began to vanish quickly. "I'm happy...I'm at peace now than ever..." He closed his eyes and smiled peacefully. "Now, goodbye my friends, and good luck in Fairy Tail." At that moment, he was gone again.
Tigress had her paw-like hand on her face sobbing softly.
Pango held his head high and was crying with tears of joy. "Zepo...see ya, old friend."
Leone sighed tiredly as she exited out of her Tyrant Dragon Over Form. "She'd never felt so fatigued before and thought it must've been the drawback for using it. She remembered when Tatsumi wore it it took a toll on his stamina which means she probably had to do some workouts like he did not to mention she still needs to learn to control her Armanment and Observation Haki now.
Behind her were Bulat and Sheele on the ground severely damaged and they both started to disappear. "Leone..." Bulat spoke with a weak voice. "When you see the others..."
Leone didn't need him to say the rest due to his weak state and she knew what he wanted her to say. "Don't worry, I will."
Sheele smiled and so did Bulat before they disappeared and she had her piece to say. "Tell Levy I said hello too."
Leone looked at the sky and sniff sharply as she rubbed her arm on her eyes so she wouldn't cry. "Yeah, good seeing you two again." In a way, it was a blessing in disguise to see and talk to her former teammates once more, no doubt, the other Night Raid assassins including those from Fairy Tail would've loved to see them again.
Luffy was carrying Cheila on his back while Carla was carrying Wendy, who looked at Luffy. "Did our allies capture Dimaria?"
"Yeah, from what I heard the goddess lady is in chains," Luffy replied.
Carla was relieved. "Good to know, anyway, let's return to the others." Luffy nodded but a gaping mouth appeared on his face and looked mad. "Hey, I don't take orders from you!"
Carla couldn't help but sweatdrop. "Geez, he's a more child of than Natsu," Chelia and Wendy couldn't help but laugh.
Suddenly two figures appeared to be slowly approaching the battle. "Looks like we made it too late," Jackal spoke.
"No matter, they'll probably be exhausted from their fight, once, night arrives, we'll launch a surprise attack," Syka said with a sinister smile with a creepy giggle.
Neinhart is defeated, Leone obtains Observation and Armament Haki along with Tyrant Dragon Beast, and the enemy is defeated. Jackal and Syka arrived too late, but, they'll be launching a surprise attack.
Anyway, review, but, bad ones won't be tolerated.
End of chapter
