Chapter 62
Crashing Thunder
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
Base Camp
The rain continued to fall around the injured members as Lucy looked up at the sky. "This rain just doesn't wanna stop, does it?"
"I don't like it anymore than you do." Levy said next to the blonde.
On the ground, Lily was shaking in fear as he held his ears close. "You okay there, Lily?" Rose asked.
"You're not seriously scared of lightning, are you?" Carla asked, making him tense up.
"He looks kinda cute like that." Happy teased.
"I am not cute!" The black cat shouted.
"Okay..." Natsu stood up from the stump and turned to the group. "I'm gonna go kick the crap out of Hades. Anyone else wanna come?"
"Yeah!" Happy cheered.
"Uh, I guess." Lucy mumbled.
"Don't be like that, Lucy." The blue cat replied. "We're a team, remember?"
"I know... but isn't Freed a better pick than me?" The blonde asked.
"I need to stay behind to set up the defensive spells." He replied.
"The two of us will spearhead the defenses." Bickslow added.
"I can't heal them anymore, so I'll come with you guys." Wendy said.
"You will not." Carla protested.
"We need all the power we can if we're gonna beat Hades." The Dragon Slayer pointed out.
"I...I'll come along too." Pantherlily said, still shaking in fear from the lightning. "Someone one needs to make him pay for Gajeel." Rose nodded behind him and Carla reluctantly agreed as well.
"I'll stay to help Freed with the defensive spell." Levy spoke up.
"I'm not gonna leave Mira and Elfman alone." Lisanna said.
"Then the plan is set." Freed said.
"We'll stay behind for the wounded." Bickslow said.
"Careful out there." Levy told the blonde.
"Don't worry." The key keeper replied. "Most of my magic power has recovered."
"The only one left to beat is Hades." Lisanna mumbled.
"Looks like we just need to beat him to end this." Wendy said.
"We'll help out too!" Happy shouted.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Carla told him.
"Exceeds squad, get ready to move." Pantherlily said as he hugged Rose in fear of the lightning.
"LET'S GO!" Natsu roared before they sprinted for the coast.
"Lucy, stop for a second." Lisanna said before she reached the blonde. "Stay by Natsu's side. The more he fights besides people he cares about, the stronger he gets."
"Got it." Lucy nodded before sprinting after the others.
With Meredy
Juvia continued to drag herself after Meredy who was still just terrified. "Stay away from me!" She shouted in fear.
"Give! Me! Zeref!" Juvia shouted with each crawl.
"What happened to all the talk about love!?" Meredy asked.
"I'm not going to fight you." The rain woman replied. "Just give me Zeref."
A flash of black fire caused them to stop as Zancrow stood in front of them. "Zancrow." Meredy cried out.
"You know that the ship is on the other side of the island, right?" The blonde asked.
"I'm sorry, I got lost." The pinkette replied.
"Bullshit." Zancrow shouted back. "You follow Ultear around like a stray dog. If she told you to jump off a cliff you'd do it."
"That's not true." Meredy replied.
"As of this moment, you're kicked out of Grimoire Heart!" He launched a stream of fire at her that sent her crashing to the ground. "That's what happens to people who try to steal from us."
He leaned down and picked up Zeref. "Stop..." Meredy reached out to him. "Without Zeref... Ultear's dream... her happiness... will never happen."
"You seriously think that Ultear gives a crap about you?" He asked.
"Thats a lie!" She shouted with tears in her eyes. "She promised me that if I help her reach the Grand Magic World, I could go back to my home before it was destroyed."
"Seriously, that shithole?" Zancrow asked. "Hate to brake it to you, but Ultear is the one who lead the attack there."
Meredy went wide eyed at the statement as Juvia glared at the blonde. "...That... can't be true..."
The blonde laughed at the naiveté shown before Zeref finally spoke up. "Ac... no... log... is..."
"You say something?" He asked the black wizard. The captive opened his eyes, now red with pure anger, before the Predatory Death spell activated. Zancrow fell backwards dead as the plant life withered away and Zeref stood up..
Meredy and Juvia stared in shock of the pure destructive power they just witnessed. Zeref stared down at the blonde before letting out a sigh. "Forgive me... I never even knew your name. But the darkness on my shoulders just continues to grow." He leaned down and closed Zancrows eyes.
The Black Wizard glanced over to find Meredy and Juvia passed out in exhaustion. "Well, it looks as though those two are fine. As for myself..." He turned and began walking away from the three. "I didn't want to be an ally or an enemy to anyone. But even as neutral as that, if the era is about to end then I should be the one to do it." His eyes turned red again as he walked past some dead trees. "I was hoping for you to beat me before that... Natsu..."
Behind one of the trees, Doranbolt watched and listen in pure horror. 'He didn't... did he really just say Acnologia?'
With Gray
Gray hobbled forward as he clutched his gut in pain. 'Crap... this isn't good.' He thought as he held his wound. 'My visions getting fuzzy...' He started falling over as he looked on the side. 'This is... the end.' Two arms grabbed him and held him up. "Laki? What are-"
"It's a long story." Erza replied. "But She is going to be serverly punished when we get back to the guild."
"You sure you wanna talk about that Erza?" Laki replied from the left. "If It wasn't for me, I'm not sure you'd be here."
"Looks like we all need to be saved by someone every now and then." Gray huffed.
"Guys!" The three turned to see Natsu, Lucy, Wendy and the Exceeds in front of them.
"Who's up for a fight?" Natsu asked. The three smiled at him before the group began moving towards the coastline.
They broke through the forest and stared at the ship. "I never thought that the Seven Kin and even Bluenote would be defeated by you." Hades said as he looked over them from the ship. "I guess I should give Makarov more credit. Then I guess I shall be your opponent now. The devil plays with the fairies one last time. Let's have some fun, Fairy Tail."
He turned around and walked back into his ship, angering Natsu. "Get back here and fight us!"
"He's going to pay for everything he's done." Gray said.
"There's no doubt about that." Erza nodded.
"All we have to do is beat him and the council won't fire the Etherion on us again." Wendy spoke up.
"And then they can swim back for all I care." Laki added.
"Happy, I need you guys to do something." Natsu said, making the cats turn around. "Find out whatever makes this thing flies, and smash it to pieces."
"Yeah, it would be a problem for you if it started flying." The blue cat replied, making Natsu look the other way.
"Don't worry, we got this." Rose said.
"And just to be safe, I'll cast Troia on you." Wendy added before casting her motion sickness spell.
"I'm getting sick and tired of waiting." Gray said before slamming his hands to the ground, creating a staircase of ice appear. "Let's go!"
The two groups began running up the stairs with anger in their eyes. "Be careful, he's even stronger than Makarov." Erza warned. "We need to fight him with everything we have and then some."
"Got it!" Wendy shouted back.
"Like I would do it any other way!" Gray added.
"We need to make him pay for everything he and his guild have done!" Lucy added.
"This our turn to beat him up!" Laki roared.
"Knock, knock, Hades!" Natsu shouted as they reach the top of the stairs. "Fairy Tail is here!" He fired a blast of flames and Hades just held out his hand, making the flames flow around him.
"You're going to need more than that!" He replied before the flames died, showing Erza and Gray in the air.
Erza glowed before she entered her Blackwing Armor. "Moon Slice!" She swung her sword and an 'x' of energy fired at him.
"Ice-Make: Cold Excalibur!" Gray crafted a gaint sword of ice and swung it.
Laki grabbed her arm as Natsu jumped into the air. "Wood Dragon Splinter Shot!" A barrage of spiked logs shot forward.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu unleashed a breath of flames that combined with the logs and hit Hades.
"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull- Taurus!" The cow appeared and swung his axe at Hades.
"With the winds of the north, strike quickly and be free from harm." Wendy chanted before waving her arms. "Arms x Armor x Vernier!" The group began glowing in powe as Erza and Gray began swinging their blades.
Hades dodged the swings before jumping back Erza. "Aren't you the nimble one?" He asked before firing a chain at her and flung her over his shoulder into Gray.
Natsu jumped into the air as Laki charged forward. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack! Wood Dragon Shield!" The whips of fire hit Hades into the air before Laki bashed him with her shield arrm. Hades fired another chain at Natsu before launching him. Laki sliced the chain with her Grain Blade before he jumped off of a hammer Gray made.
"Sky Dragons Roar!" Wendy pulled her head back and shot a tornado out of her mouth.
"Open, Gate of the Scorpion - Scorpio!" Lucy summoned the spirit and he fired a tornado.
The two twisters merged and shocked Hades. "A Unison Raid!?"
They surrounded Natsu befor ehe ignited himself. "Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" He speared Hades in the gut and send him crashing into the wall. All six stared at the impact with hope only to watch as the smoke slowly faded.
"Young people call the mistakes they make 'experience'." Hades said as the group went wide eyed in shock as he walked out completely fine. "But true mistakes do not garner experience, instead they create a horror for people. And taking me on as your opponent was the biggest mistake any of you could have made."
"Impossible..." Wendy mumbled in fear.
"It's like we did nothing..." Lucy whispered in a panic.
"We put everything we had into our attacks!" Gray shouted.
"Laki... his magic power has changed..." Natsu whispered.
"This is bad..." Laki said.
"Well, I suppose it's my turn." Hades said as magic began pouring out of him. "Katsu!" With a roar of magic the whole ship began shaking. Wendy began to glow before her body vanished from sight, letting only her clothes fall to the ground.
"Wendy!" Natsu shouted in anger.
"Trust me when I say that was mercy." Hades spoke up. "From now on, each of your deaths will be more painful then the last."
"Wendy..." Lucy mumbled in shock.
"What did you do!?" Gray shouted at the old man.
"She can't be gone." Laki said gripping her fist tight.
"'Don't worry, everyone. I'm fine.'" A voice spoke up, shocking everyone. "'I'm up here.' She says with relief." Everyone looked up to see Horologium hugging the ships ceiling.
"Horologium?" Lucy asked in confusion.
"That's great." Gray cheered as Natsu and Laki sighed.
"My 'Danger Detection Mode' went off so I rushed in as soon as possible." The spirit explained.
"Is that right?" Lucy huffed out, thinking back to her time on the island. "Hate to say it, but I think that more needs an upgrade."
"My apologies, but your life was never truly endangered during this event." The clock explained. "'Thank you very much, Horologium. That was too close.' She says with relief."
"Guess he's not just a vessel after all." Gray said.
"Now why are her clothes are the ground?" Laki asked.
"Due the nature of the emergency, I only had time to save her body." He explained.
"But that means..." Gray mumbled.
"'Ahhh!' She exclaims in embarrassment." Horologium explains for Wendy. "Don't worry, I will give her a change of clothes."
"We're just glad that she's safe." Erza said.
"I'm afraid this will be the only time I will be able to save anyone." The spirit explained. "Take care." He disappeared in a puff of smoke as Wendy dropped back to the floor in a new outfit.
"We'll be fine now." Lucy said before Wendy landed on the floor.
"So this is Makarov's Fairy Tail?" Hades asked. "This is certainly entertaining, I'll give you that."
"Hold on, does that mean you know Gramps?" Natsu asked back.
"Don't you know?" The dark master replied. "Was my name stripped from the guild's library? No matter. I was Fairy Tail's second master, Precht." Everyone stared in shock at the statement. "I'm the one who passed the mantle along to Makarov."
"Thats a damn lie!" Natsu roared. "You think we'd believe that someone like you could be a member of Fairy Tail!?" He charged at hades who waved his hand and summoned a sphere of runes that exploded in front of Natsu.
"Natsu!" Laki cried out before a blast hit the others. A pair of chains wrapped around Laki, Lucy and Erzas arms before they tied the women up and detonated. Natsu charged again before a magic bullet hit his knee, making him stumble.
Hades laughed as he continued to fire blasts from his fingers hitting everyone of them. "Now this is entertainment." The six wizards were blasted to the ground as lightning crashed outside the ship.
With the Exceeds
Lily shook in fear as the lightning hit his ears. "Why is it so loud? Shouldn't a ship be soundproof?" He complained.
"You know... you could hold on too me if it I'll make you feel better." Rose suggested with a mild blush. Instantly, the black cat was wrapped around her, making her scream in joy internally.
"Don't worry, we're safe from it inside the ship." Happy said as he and Carla ran ahead of the two. "Now let's check this way."
"Come along, you two!" Carla said behind her.
"Coming!" Pantherlily shouted before the two raced after the others.
Council Warship
"I'm not crazy..." Doranbolt said to Lahar. "I know what I heard... and it horrified me to my core."
"You're sure Zeref said Acnologia?" The specticaled captain asked. "You can't make this mistake?"
"I'm pathetic." The spy said with his hands in his face. "I was paralyzed by fear and couldn't do anything!"
"Snap out of it! Did he say Acnologia!?" Lahar shouted, only for Doranbolt to sink further into his hands. "Move! We need to get everyone out of here now! All forces retreat! Our survey is done!"
Everyone began panicking as they started preparing to leave the island. 'There's nothing I can do...' Doranbolt thought as he stared back at the island. 'I'm sorry...'
Grimoire Heart Airship
All six laid on the ground in pain as Hades stood over them. "Tell me, do fairies have tails?" He asked. "It's an unanswered mystery, and there for it's an adventure to find out. That is how the guild's name came to." He walked over to Natsu as he forced himself to look up. "But your adventure will end crushed underneath my boot."
He slammed his foot down and pressed Natsu's face into the floor. "Mavis, the first master trusted the role onto me. And I in turn entrusted it to Makarov. But that was my biggest mistake. Makarov changed the guild, made it something else."
"And what's wrong with that!?" Natsu asked.
"He brought too much light into the world of magic." Hades replied.
"Thats just how we are!" The pinkette roared back. "We're not heartless bastards like you and your guild! We care about each other! We live like everyday is our last! So if you don't feel like going into the light, that's your problem!"
"You'll pay for that disrespect." Hades pointed his hand and fired another blast at him.
"Natsu!" Laki cried out as she tried to crawl over.
"If you're going to be angry, then be angry at Makarov." Hades said as he continued to blast Natsu. "It's his fault that you have to suffer and die like this." Laki reached Natsu and threw herself on top of Natsu to protect him. Hades paid no attention and started blasting her as well.
"Leave them alone!" Erza shouted.
The blasts stopped as the two Slayers panted. "At least... we go together..." Laki panted as she gripped Natsu's hand.
"Small comfort for two about to die." Hades replied before charging his magic.
A bolt of lightning ripped through the ship and struck Hades' arm. Everyone stared in front of Natsu as a cloaked figure stood between hades and the couple. "So this is the dinosaur that beat up Makarov?" The hood of the cloak fell down revealing spiky blonde hair and some spiked earphones. "Interesting."
"Laxus..." Natsu mumbled in joy.
Hades stared at the blonde in shock as he saw a young Makarov staring at him, letting Laxus headbut him back.
"No way..." Gray mumbled.
"I never thought I'd see him again..." Lucy groaned out.
"Isnt he the masters grandson?" Wendy asked, not having been around for the fighting festival.
"Yeah, he is." Laki nodded.
Erza just stared on as Hades recovered from the attack. "Now I get it... you're a part of Makarov's bloodline." Hades mumbled.
Laxus sparked a few times before glancing back at Natsu. "Pathetic...you two finally get together and now you look like a pair of torn rags."
Natsu looked up and chuckled. "Yeah... I guess so." He replied.
"Why are you here, Laxus?" Erza demanded.
"I came here to pay my respects to the first master." The blonde explained. "Don't forget, I was once a part of this guild. I just wanted to stop by Mavis' grave, and to my surprise I find the second master. Since you're already here, how about I make a grave for you now!?" He asked before sparks started rolling off him.
"Such a shame that Makarov has a loud punk for a grandson." Hades said before he started flaring his own power.
The downed fairies stared up at the massive magical energy being unleashed. Laxus vanished in a blur of lightning before slamming his knee into Hades jaw before throwing a punch that knocked him back. Hades flew back before Laxus slammed him into the floor. Hades rolled out of the way of the second punch and stood back up.
"I must admit, I'm impressed by your magic power." Hades confessed. "It seems that the boy has more than one like Gildarts."
"Huh, that reminds me of something the old man once said." Laxus said. "When you're facing a tough enemy, standing up to them is what's important. Ain't that right, Natsu?"
"Pure nonsense." The dark wizard said back. "That's nothing more than a weaklings excuse. Let's see if you're really strong enough to face me."
"If you say so." Laxus replied.
Tenrou Island Base Camp
Freed moved his sword along the ground, creating runes with every swipe. "Be through with these enchantments." He told Levy. "We can't allow any gaps in our defenses. Understand?"
"Yeah." She nodded before glancing back at Gajeel. "Now it's my turn to protect you."
"What did you say?" Freed asked, making her gasp in shock. "If you have something to say, speak up."
"It-it's nothing." She replied.
Under the tent, Lisanna was rewrapping Elfmans bandages. "There, now I don't want you moving around too much." She told him.
"No way." Her brother replied. "I've done more than enough lying around for today. I need to do something."
Lisanna smirked as she turned away a little. "While you were asleep, you just kept mumbling 'Evergreen, Evergreen'."
Her brothers face turned red in embarrassment. "That's not what you think it means."
"I'm just kidding." She chuckled before slapping him in the injured chest.
Bickslow walked back into view with an annoyed look on his face. "Would you all just get serious?"
"Like you have room to talk!" Elfman shouted. "Where were you?"
"Getting rid of that dude with that glasses." The masked man chuckled. "We can't risk him waking up and attacking us."
"Good work, Bickslow." Freed said.
"I really think you two should get some rest." Levy spoke up. "You must be exhausted."
"You kidding me? I feel great." Bickslow chuckled. "After that clown, we can take on anyone." He gasped in pain as a giant kanji ripped through his body.
"Bickslow!" Freed shouted.
"Eastern Solid Script?" Levy asked. Bickslow fell over and showed Yozamu behind him. "Oh, no."
Kawazu chuckled as he entered the camp as well. "Heavy Egg Rain!" He Shot out w storm of eggs and blasted the camp, only for the enchantment to kick in.
"An ambush..." Elfman mumbled.
"They must have traced us somehow." Freed added.
"Didn't Gajeel beat them earlier?" Levy asked.
"Guess not." Lisanna said.
Yomazu slid behind the group and waved his arm. "There is no need for battlefield honor for one who lost his sword." A kanji flew and destroyed the enchantment.
"We need to defend the wounded." Freed shouted.
"Let me help..." Elfman groaned out.
"No, you're too hurt." Lisanna said before her brother was blasted back by a stream of light.
"If we don't beat these guys, then master Hades is gonna be angry." Kain said with sweat rolling off his face.
"That won't happen." The dog man shouted as he and his partner raced forward. "And with all the annoyance you've caused our guild..."
"We'll get promoted to the Seven Kin once we kill you and your friends." Kawazu finished before jumping overhead.
"We need to restore the enchantment." Freed told Levy. "Bickslow, get up."
"Sure... no problem." The masked man said as he stood back up. "Leave 'em to me and my babies!" His dolls flew forward and pummeled the chicken. They then flew at yomazu who blocked them with a kanji.
Lisanna charged at Kain and turned into her tigress form before unleashing a blinding flurry of scratches. "Get off me!" Kain shouted before palming her away.
"Man, this guy is tough..." Lisanna mumbled.
"Yeah, cause I'm reinforced." He chuckled before holding up a doll.
"I thought Happy threw that thing into the ocean." Lisanna mumbled.
"I always care around a spare Mr. Cursey." The fat man replied. "And I even managed to grab one of your hairs." He chuckled before placing a white hair on the doll. "Okay, curry number two. Turn into iron."
Lisanna gasped in shock before noticing her body was fine. Kain mumbled something crazy about getting back together before swinging the doll. Elfman, now completely iron, started flying at his sister and she screamed as she dodged them. Elfman hit her and dug himself into the ground.
"We're... not going to lose..." Lisanna groaned as her Take-Over faded. "We're Fairy Tail..."
"You know... you two aren't that bad..." Bickslow confessed as his masked was scuffed up.
"That's what happened when you mess with Grimoire Heart." Kawazu replied.
"Flattery will get you nothing. Now die!" Yomazu shouted before glowing cards cut him off.
"I've had it with punks..." Cana said standing up with cards in her hand. "You've hurt my friends... you've destroyed our trial... and you're attacking my friends... I'm gonna make you pay..."
"Go and help Lisanna." Freed said as he walked past her. "The enchantment should hold for now. Right now, we need to deal with these invaders now. You ready, Bickslow?"
"You bet." The masked man nodded.
The final push of Tenrou has begun. We all know what's going to happen next chapter, and then it's going to be a whole lot of fun. See you then.
Beta read by JBallinR12.