Thanks to the guest who pointed out that mistake I made I was honestly wondering when I would slip up with that one I say it often enough.
I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.
The Opening Shots
/Crime Sorciere Headquarters/
It had been half an hour since Natsu left Wendy's mind and only now was she beginning to wake, immediately Natsu was given a hug and a shower of thank you for letting me speak with her.
Getting up the two went over to where Elise and Erza had Jason practicing dodging purely off sound alone, coughing to get their attention they quickly stopped what they were doing and walked over.
"Alright now first thing I need to know where are Mira and Laxus?"
"Mira should be around here somewhere she was fighting against two of the Avatar S Class mages so she's either sleeping, training or wandering around the headquarters with Seilah. Laxus and the Thunder Leigion have been out rounding up all the old guild members according to Jellal."
"Right that's another thing I have to do dump the Guild Master title back onto gramps," Natsu sighed as everyone snickered at the comment.
"Anyway why do we need so many people to take on three people," Erza asked as Natsu shook his head.
"No member of the Spriggan or Leichart 12 is weak Erza strong people like me just make them look weak, plus they will be accompanied by heaps of Alvarez soldiers who are above average for soldiers. Come on let's go find Mira and see if Seilah will come too."
Team Natsu made their way back into the hall and began to look around while Natsu just summoned Seilah and told her to wait, sitting down in a meeting room it didn't take long for the others to find Mira and they returned.
"Natsu you're looking much better than the other day!"
"Yeah I read my supposed injury list, anyway we've got a serious job to do if you're interested in helping out it involves the First Master."
"What's this about the First Master," Makarov asked as he made his way into the room.
"You know how we haven't seen her spirit around much well I found out she's been taken captive by Alvarez due to her moniker as the Fairy Tactician … among certain other things if you catch my drift."
Makarov's eyes widened considerably knowing exactly what Natsu was referring to before frowing.
"A rescue mission then?"
"I have their location I just need to brief the others, by the way Laxus is rounding up the rest of the guild so now is the best time to make you the Tenth Master."
"Normally I would throw a fit but given the circumstances I understand, I accept the position … begrudgingly."
Natsu smiled at the old man's words as he began to fill the others in on how Mavis was captured and gave them an idea of what to expect.
"I'll be taking on Jacob because of his unique ability, his ability could trick any one of you but it won't fool me in the slightest making me the perfect opponent. The rest of you will probably have to pair up to take on Alvarez and the two Leichart members depending on who they are. Now the Alvarez military use airships that's why it is crucial I land a crippling blow on the ship as soon as we arrive and if any of you can do the same you definitely should."
"Once you get Mavis is that when we retreat," Elise asked as Natsu nodded.
"Yeah we can't risk her soul falling back to Alvarez again so we'll be pulling out the moment I free her, hopefully you can kill the Leichart members but it's ok if you can't."
"While the lot of you are away I'll get the guild prepared back in Magnolia to expect your return," Makarov added as the group nodded.
"By the way gramps since I'm a former Master of the guild am I still able to add people to the guild?"
"Of course you are my boy was there someone you had in mind?"
Walking over to Seilah who seemed surprised the rest of the group realized she hadn't been inducted into the guild yet.
"So Seilah where do you want your guild mark?"
"Oh um place it on the centre of my stomach please in black."
Natsu nodded and placed a hand on her exposed stomach as the mark appeared in a flash, nodding in approval he flashed her a small grin.
"It's only fair you be officially inducted into the guild alongside the others."
"Thank you Master," Seilah replied with a curt nod as Natsu turned his attention back to Makarov.
"Make the others in the guild aware of this please gramps that we have some new members."
"I'll be sure to do that and to explain the situation, all of you be careful and know that Fairy Tail is with you!"
Natsu nodded as he snapped his fingers and a black portal appeared in front of him making him cock his head slightly.
"Ah must be because I'm a Hybrid now …"
One by one the group went through the portal until it was just Makarov left.
"So they've gone to rescue Mavis," Jellal asked as Makarov nodded. "Did you tell Natsu about the meeting that was called in Crocus?"
"Not yet he's got enough on his mind as it is I'll tell him when they return to Magnolia, besides taking out one of their ships before it even gets here is bound to give Natsu points in the eyes of the Kingdom."
"Well if what the King is offering is to be believed then he doesn't really need them does he?"
"I suppose not but it's always worth having public opinion in your favour," Makarov replied as the two left the room.
/Unknown Island/
Arriving on the island Team Natsu could immediately feel several powerful magic presences and made sure to suppress their own.
"Alright so those must be the Leichart and Spriggan members right Natsu," Elise asked as Natsu shrugged.
"The soldiers also have magical talent and each Spriggan and Leichart member is accompanied by at least two Commanders who each are highly skilled, anyway don't get overconfident when fighting anyone as of right now this is war," Natsu replied as his clothes formed into his old attire from Fiore as he summoned his scarf from his requip space wrapping it around his neck.
The group took off at a running pace quickly reaching the other end of the island and finding the airship Natsu was talking about.
"So are you just going to roar at it or something?"
"Nah that's not gonna quite cut it I've got a guaranteed way to make sure this thing doesn't fly again just get ready for a fight," Natsu said with a small smirk as his eyes began to glow and he suddenly vanished.
"Where'd he go, Elise can you see him with your sight?"
"Master has already gotten on board the airship and is placing a strange yellow flame onto the thrusters of the ship," Seilah said making all heads snap to her.
"How can you see Natsu?"
"As his second I know what he's doing so long as he allows it, in addition he can bolster my own skills by granting me his own abilities until he needs them."
They were about to ask more questions when suddenly all four of the large thrusters on the airship suddenly exploded sending the airship crashing to the ground signalling the start of the battle.
"Guess it's time to start this," Erza said as she summoned a sword into her hand alongside Elise as they both charged into the enemy camp.
"I shall team up with you Mirajane if that is fine with you," Seilah said as Mira nodded.
"Well I'm sure a bunch of Demons like us can clear this place out right girls?"
Mira's body began to glow as one by one her Take Overs began walking out of her each looking amused at the situation.
"My my Lord Natsu never rests does he, wherever he goes such beautiful destruction follows in his wake," Sitri said as she stretched.
"Indeed such qualities make him the perfect Demon Lord," Halphas added as Yuki Onna pushed her out of the way.
"Make room Halphas you know we can only exit Mirajane from the front …"
"Take your own advice Yuki I've been itching to fight since last time!"
"Mira are you sure Alegria is really necessary for this," Wendy asked as Jason just stood there gobsmacked at what was going on.
"Natsu said not to fool around so I'm not," Mira said as she began to morph into Satan Soul however it was vastly different from what it used to look like.
Her new Satan Soul was now an embodiment of all her Take Overs with bits of Halphas, Sitri, Yuki Onna and Alegria mixed into her original Satan Soul form to create a beautiful yet terrifying Demon.
Her hair was divided into five different styles according to how her other Take Overs had it, her wings were the largest of the group being nearly four feet long however they were tucked into her back for the moment. Her outfit style resembled Sitri but was multi coloured with bits of aqua blue, dark blue, maroon, white and black mixed in. She had four horns protruding from her head representing the Take Overs outside of her body; her claws were black with dried blood marking them and were as sharp as any blade.
Grinning at Wendy she showed off a set of razor sharp teeth with two prominent fangs like a Vampire coming out of her mouth slightly as she gazed at the group with bright red eyes.
"Come let's go see if we can find one of these Leichart members," Mira said as she, her Take Overs and Seilah disappeared leaving just Wendy and Jason the latter being left gaping like a fish.
"How does someone that nice turn into something as awesomely terrifying as that …?"
Wendy just shook her head as she slapped him a few times to bring him back to reality, the two then charged into the battle looking for a decent fight.
/Natsu's POV/
"Looks like Mira figured out the little trick though she probably had help from the Demonesses, an interesting form for her to take though I wasn't expecting that. Anyway enough screwing around I'd better find Jacob," Natsu said as he began walking around the ship calmly as it fell from the sky.
Walking around he easily dispatched any panicked soldiers he came across as he made his way towards what he assumed was the command deck, looking up at the window he saw his target looking right at him with an almost blank expression.
"Well he isn't running gotta give credit to the man …"
Walking up the stairs the back half of the ship hit the island shaking the rest of the ship as the other half followed moments later, Natsu seemed oblivious to this as he walked up the final set of stairs being met with the blank face of Jacob Lessio.
"I was told by Lord Zeref you would probably come for me if you ever found out what I'd done, so tell me who was the rat?"
"There was no rat I just know you have Mavis," Natsu replied coldly.
"Doubtful but within acceptable parameters I suppose though your lack of respect towards us leaves me with little in the way of respect towards you no matter how smart or intelligent you claim to be."
"Hand over Mavis Jacob this is you're only warning and I'm sure Zeref already told you that your ability to simply vanish from perceived existence won't work on me so it isn't worth fighting me."
"Be that as it may Natsu Dragneel I see no reason not to kill the ghost within my own space and spit back her corpse, I know that I stand no chance here that is why the Leichart guards assigned to me weren't higher up on the list."
"If you harm Mavis you harm Zeref's ultimate plan and you won't risk angering your King," Natsu said as he saw Jacob's eyes flash the briefest hint of surprise. "Oh yes I know what Zeref truly wants with Mavis and I won't allow that to happen."
"And how did you find out that information?"
"I have my sources but that isn't anything you need to know about, hand over Mavis Jacob things aren't going to end well for you."
"I am an assassin," Jacob said as he began to pace the destroyed command deck. "I use my magic to serve Lord Zeref as his faithful hidden blade dispatching any who dared to oppose him when a true statement was to be made. Though you are indeed much more powerful than I in the life of an assassin that statement rings true for most targets, assassins often kill those who are stronger than them using stealth and subterfuge to do it so what makes you think the loss of one ability prevents me from doing the very same to you?"
Natsu smirked as he felt a blade up against his throat as Jacob looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"Because the ability of an assassin is only as good as the tools he is given take even one away and their effectiveness drops quite drastically, I've heard about you back when I was in Scarlione. They said you were the one who would off Kings, S Class Mages, Council Members or any other official near the top of the food chain and always were left unseen with the only trace of you being your calling card. In all that time not once have you ever been caught unable to fight without your ability to walk up to an opponent's face and insert a blade into them and that Jacob is why you cannot beat me."
Jacob leant up against one of the bulkheads as a small smile appeared on his face.
"You raise a valid point Natsu Dragneel I have never been forced to fight because of that very reason however there is something you failed to take into calculation, if indeed I am that good and have built a reputation of assassinating some of the strongest individuals in multiple kingdoms then ask yourself this … how many abilities do I have that no one has ever seen before?"
Natsu's eyes widened as he quickly dispatched what appeared to be a version of Jacob however this one was a strange reflection of the original that vanished as soon as Natsu moved his head back making the knife that was at his throat hit the ground embedding itself next to his foot.
"The art of shadows Natsu Dragneel are best used for stealth purposes, as soon as I discovered my unique talents I knew just how to employ them. You believe killing members of the Emperor's Swords and Shields will be an easy task however I shall prove to you today that each and every one of us is more than capable of holding our own …"
Natsu watched as Jacob slipped into a nearby vent as his body turned to shadow.
"Let us play a game you and I who will be the one to live or to die?"
Natsu activated his eyes and tore open the bulkhead using raw strength as he began to walk down into the darkness of the destroyed ship eager to hunt down Jacob for forcing him into this game of cat and mouse.
/Wendy And Jason's POV/
"You know you aren't too bad at fighting," Wendy said to Jason as she kicked a group of soldiers towards Jason who burned them all to a crisp.
"Growing up in Alvarez you learn quickly how to defend yourself," was his reply as he launched himself in the air and released a torrent of blue flame onto the soldiers below.
Wendy and Jason were a force to be reckoned with, Wendy's Crash Magic was more than enough to shatter any attempts the soldiers had of putting up magic barriers and Jason's flames were like a flood quickly washing away the soldiers before they had a chance to really do anything.
The two were making quick work of the soldiers when a large blast separated them and the soldiers with a decent sized gap in the ground separating them.
"I think that's quite enough of our soldiers you two have harmed …"
Split Second Shogun
11th Sword Of The Alvarez Empire
Aster Lucile
The man had medium length straight brown hair, piercing green eyes and a small goatee. He wore a pair of long blue pants with many pockets, a blue undershirt and brown trench coat that went to his ankles.
"Looks like we got one of the Swords Wendy," Jason said as he focused his attention solely on the man before them who had smoke coming off his index and middle fingers. "That's Aster Lucile he uses a unique form of Bullet Magic."
"You must be the kid Lord Zeref told us about that ran off to Fiore with E.N.D, traitors get put in the ground real quick you know?"
"I was barely a citizen anyway the Empire destroyed my real home and killed my family," Jason shot back his eyes full of fury.
"Then they probably deserved what they got, most likely case was they stood up to the Empire when they should have just rolled over and accepted their fate."
"What was that," Jason growled as the man smirked.
"You heard what I said kid they got what they deserved," Aster said with a sadistic smirk.
"And who are you people to decide that my family were good people before Alvarez killed them!"
"We are the Swords and Shields of the Emperor who runs what will soon be the only form of rule on the planet the right to decide that is already ours, children like you don't understand the importance of purging undesirables-."
Jason made a move to attack Aster but an attack pierced through his skull and came out the other side faster than he could dodge, Wendy who could have prevented it had he not moved was horrified until she noticed he didn't fall.
Aster raised an eyebrow as he blew smoke off his fingers as he looked at Jason who has blue flame filling the hole in his head.
"It'll take more than a crappy attack like that to kill a Phoenix Slayer," he growled as the hole was gone as soon as the flames dispersed showing both Wendy and Aster that he was unharmed.
"Such an interesting ability a shame I'll still have to kill you," Aster said as he raised his hand which was shaped like a gun.
Moving his thumb as if he was cocking it back Wendy had already begun moving and had her hand up in front of both her and Jason.
"Crash Barrier!"
An attack that Wendy assumed was the same attack Aster used earlier hit the barrier and shattered into small cubes, looking at Jason the two nodded and began to rush the man who grinned and began to levitate slightly and drift backwards holding both his hands like guns.
"This ought to be some fun," he said with a grin as he pointed one hand at each of them and opened fire raining down bullets onto the pair as they began to try and dodge them or block when they could.
/Seilah And Mira's POV/
"Well it seems the kids get to have the first fight," Mira said with a stern expression as her and her Take Overs gutted the soldiers before them leaving none standing.
Every now and then a massive group of soldiers would simply disappear and reappear thanks to Seilah and were out of commission usually with their throats torn out or missing limbs, Seilah and Mira were fighting as all Demons do, without mercy.
"Lord Natsu has begun fighting the third opponent however it seems this one isn't like the others instead relying on stealth and assassination techniques," Halphas said as she gazed at the downed airship casually blocking a sword strike with her arm and firing a blast of Dark Magic at the attacker without even looking at them.
"Does Master need any help," Seilah asked as the other Demons shook their heads.
"Even if Natsu did need our help we wouldn't interfere, in the end there isn't much Jacob can do to avoid his fate," Sitri added as they finished butchering the soldiers around them.
The Demoness' were still tensed as they felt a spike in Etherious giving them a not so subtle hint that the next opponent would be far tougher than their previous ones.
"This one is powerful," Yuki Onna whispered softly as the others turned their attention towards the approaching opponent who had a smirk on her face.
Adjucator Of The Great Demon Tenets
Sixth Sword Of The Alvarez Empire And Co Commander Of The Books Of Zeref
Willow
"I can feel a great power within her not even Mard Geer in his Etherious Form felt this powerful," Seilah muttered as the Demoness' immediately took up their respective fighting stances.
The Demon before them had long flowing white hair with the Alvarez mark stamped on her forehead, her eyes were a bright orange colour matching her yukata which had dried blood all over it.
"Lord Zeref told us you would come," the Demoness said softly as she stopped twenty metres before them. "Aster can keep the younger ones busy and the older humans are out playing with the soldiers which lets us settle this in house."
"We are here for one reason only," Mira said sternly as she stood at the front of the group being the S Class mage and the one in control of the other Take Overs.
"Yes I know you are here for the immortal child's lost soul but we won't be allowing you to take it without a fight, standing orders from Lord Zeref are to crush all opposition with the exception of Lord E.N.D himself who was to be captured."
"Natsu wouldn't be beaten even by someone of your power even you must know that," Mira shot back as the Demoness smirked.
"That may be true however you underestimate who I am so a small lesson of sorts is in order, I am Willow of the Leichart 12. My position among the Leichart is unique as I stand as the polar opposite to the Sixth Shield Bloodman as we both share a duty that being the Commandment of the Books of Zeref."
Waving her hand a book appeared in front of her shocking the others as she began to flip through its pages, smiling she placed a finger onto a certain page.
"This is the book of Yolanda Rawley a civilian we killed and converted years ago in Scarlione, now a civilian human does not possess much power however when combined with Etherious and the improvements from Lord Zeref …"
The book began to float as a pitch black stream of aura began to leak from the book and pool on the ground in front of the group, the black aura began to morph and take shape as Willow continued to speak.
"Every book has a name and a Volume Number with Yolanda's being XLVII which stands for the number forty seven, forty seven times our Lord has improved this basic civilian into what she now is before your very eyes!"
The aura had formed into a woman of around twenty years of age however she no longer appeared human, her hair was a faded blonde colour and her skin was pale. Her eyes were devoid of all emotion with the blue colouring barely noticeable in them, her body was also covered in patches of the same tendrils Natsu could conjure as well as patches of black scales like the ones Natsu got when he used his E.N.D abilities with his Dragon Force.
The moment the girl had fully formed she let out a screech as wings sprouted from her back and fangs began to form from her mouth, her arms began to form fin like protrusions that were razor sharp as did the back of her legs. Her skin also darkened considerably to a sickly green colour as Etherious erupted from her body.
"Do you not see the perfection Lord E.N.D brought this disgusting human, is it not the most wondrous thing you have ever witnessed and there are plenty like her!"
Waving her hand several more books appeared before her all with titles that didn't bode well for the group.
The Book Of Rick Latimer Vol XII
The Book Of Ellie Ford Vol XXVII
The Book Of Kent Rutherford Vol VII
Each one emerging did the same thing the others did as they began to morph from a human like appearance to one that barely resembled even a beast, some did look like actual beasts with some turning into Demonic wolves or birds whilst others like Yolanda turned into a humanoid being exerting far more power.
Something the Demoness' noted was that the higher the Volume the more humanoid in appearance the Demons were and the more Etherious they emitted, with this information they knew which ones to dispatch quickly however they were fast becoming outnumbered by the strong ones as Willow continued to produce an almost endless supply of books.
"We must fight now there are already far too many as it is," Alegria growled as the others nodded in agreement.
"Just take out any that stand before you and remember there will be many opponents," Sitri said firmly as the Fairy Tail Demons also began to exert power that to any normal mage send them packing however these were not humans they were Demons and savage ones at that.
Seilah had also begun to connect her mind to Natsu practically beginning to beg for something to use, Natsu's magic responded by looking through her eyes at what the situation was and nearly recoiled setting off an explosion on the downed airship.
Moments later Seilah felt an ungodly amount of power begin to surge through her as Natsu's knowledge of Demon and Gravity Dragon Slayer Magics came through for her to use.
"I promise to make good use of your powers Master I know you probably needed them," Seilah said as she began to enter her own Etherious form before standing tall next to Halphas.
"Oh look at all that power I had no idea there were still Demons around with this much power," Willow said in amusement. "I shall enjoy breaking you all one by one, all of you converge at once on the traitors!"
The savage Demons let loose roars, squawks, screeches and battle cries as the group was soon embroiled in one of the first battles that would go down in history during the war.
/Natsu's POV/
The amount of Etherious in the air was stunning Natsu beyond belief, he could feel two equal forces of Etherious clashing just outside the downed airship and after what Seilah had shown him he'd nearly had a heart attack.
He was currently searching through the decks of the ship for Jacob, he had nowhere to run and no backup so the hunt was on in full force with Natsu using everything he knew to find the assassin.
Jacob seemed to possess the ability to use Shadow Magic along the lines of Rogue from Sabertooth however his was actually more advanced which honestly surprised him seeing as he would have had to have mastered human based magic to rival the Dragons something not really ever seen.
With that in mind he knew underestimating this man would mean death, being the best assassin in the world meant Natsu was already taking things seriously of course however Jacob had chosen the location for this little game and his magic prevailed here so of course he would be doing his utmost to end it as quickly as he could all the while trying not to have his throat slit.
"I've heard Demons can taste Etherious Natsu Dragneel so tell me what does this much taste like?"
"Sadness and a lot of it," Natsu replied as he rolled out of the way of a barrage of throwing knives.
"So you can taste emotions?"
"To a degree it's not like you walk up and lick someone's tears and can tell why they are sad it's just the pressure of the magic conveys their emotional state, Zeref ruined these people and their magic tells me that."
"Better a life under Lord Zeref than one under corruption …"
"These people don't see it that way; they had lives and must have enjoyed them enough to wish for it to return or to be put to death. This is why I will never side with Alvarez because you force your kingdom and its ideals, laws and armies upon them."
"That may be but once the world is united under one banner such pain would no longer exist, do you not think that is a wonderful alternative?"
"Not really because it is being forced not offered, if people were really unhappy they would simply revolt against their governments and monarchies yet no such thing has happened anywhere with the exception of Bosco."
Dodging a set of saw blades that flew out of the roof and impaled themselves into the wall Natsu tore open another bulkhead only to be hit with several shadow kunai right in the chest.
"Damn assassin," he growled as he forced the kunai out using his aura since it was merely a shadow and he couldn't physically touch it.
"I see you have a way to somewhat counter my shadows however it isn't a solution so the game must continue until you manage to capture me …"
"Well actually I planned on killing you and removing you from the war," Natsu replied as Jacob cleared his throat wherever he was.
"I suppose that is to be expected but that begs the question why not take me prisoner?"
"Because I know that if you die then everything in your personal space gets forcibly ejected, alongside Mavis who knows what else you have."
"A valid point however that begs the question who told you such sensitive information?"
"No one you need to know," Natsu growled as he punched a wall sending the shadows receding down the corridor.
Natsu knew this wasn't going to be over anytime soon he just hoped his friends were having better luck than he was …"
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!