Fairy Tail: Eien no bōken o kakinaosu
Chapter 7: Fire and wind
Back inside the station, Erza had tied many of the Eisenwald members up and held one of the defeated members by the collar.
"Forget it! It's impossible! You know we cannot undo the magic barrier…" spoke the dark-haired wizard weakly.
"Erza!" a voice called from above.
Erza turned her head to her right side to see Gray on the second floor, his hands on the banister.
"Gray! Wasn't Natsu with you?!" Erza asked.
"We split up! But never mind that for now!" Gray replied. "Eisenwald's real target is the town up ahead!"
"What?!" Erza gasped in shock.
"Gramps' and the others' conference!" Gray confirmed. "They plan to use Lullaby there!"
Erza looked back at the rave-haired wizard; an angry fiery expression was on her face.
"Is that so?!" she roared, causing the wizard to scream in fright. Erza looked back at Gray and replied, "This station is surrounded by a Magic Wind Wall, though."
"Yeah, I saw it," Gray replied. He walks down from the top floor to the bottom floor to find Erza had released the wizard and was now clutching her arm. "Try and break out and it'll turn you into mincemeat."
"I already tried," Erza stated, still holding her arm.
Gray gasped to see her nursed arm. "Erza, Your arm…!"
"It's nothing…" she responded calmly. "But as we speak, Erigor is nearing the masters." Erza paused, realizing something. "Come to think of it, there was some in Eisenwald named Kage." Erza look back to Gray, "He managed to break Lullaby's seal all by himself."
"A dispeller…" Gray thought aloud then realized, "A spell-breaking Wizard?! He can remove the Magic Wind Wall too!"
The raven-haired wizard grunted in anger, turning his head from Erza and Gray.
As Natsu was still being followed by Kageyama and the Dragon Slayer still on the pursuit of Erigor, Erza ordered from where they were, "Let us find him! Catch Kage!"
"Right!" Gray replied and left the room to find and capture Kageyama, followed by Erza. After leaving the room, the raven-haired wizard spoke aloud to someone.
"Karacka… How long are you going to hide there?"
Appearing from a magic circle was the green-haired wizard Karacka, his hand on his head. "S-Sorry…" He replied apologetically.
"They're going after Kage. Go." The raven-haired wizard commanded.
"I'm sorry, I cannot. I cannot back him up!" Karacka stammered.
Both wizards witness the raw strength of the two wizards who best the dark guild on their own without even a worry. How could he, Karacka stand up to five wizards?
"No…" the raven-haired wizard's eyes sharpen his tone more serious than before. "This'll be a simple job."
Karacka looked a bit confused. What was this job he must do?
Still, through the corridor they were walking through, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, Lisanna, Lucy, and Happy, the three were now in a long hallway of large armor statues and packages scattered all over.
"We completely lost him…" Lucy confirmed in defeat.
"Aye..." Happy agreed.
"I swore he went this way. He got the best of us." Lisanna groaned, hands in her pockets.
"I knew Dark quilds were crafty, but they can't be this quick," Aspen said, hands behind her back.
"Still, this isn't a super big station, you can't hide anywhere," Setsuko said.
"What do you guys say we head back to Erza for now?" Lucy requested.
Lisanna and Happy screamed in fright. Is she serious? Newcomer or not, she should know disobeying an order is bad. Even Setsuko, Aspen, and Shiro knew already that Erza might be mad if they came back empty-handed, especially with Erigor on the loose.
"What's with that reaction?" Lucy asked, seeing the shock looks on their faces.
"E-Erza said to go after him." Happy stammered. "You got to be gutsy to ignore an order from her… I do not want to see her do it to you, too…"
Lucy was now scared, hands to her face in fright. "Wh-What's she going to do to me?!"
Lisanna had a drained look on her face. "Unless you like pain, that is all I can tell you. Please reconsider, Lucy."
"A-All right! We will look! We will look until we find him!" She stammered, arms flailing.
"Thanks, Lucy, at least you're learning." Happy replied. "Now, shall we go?"
"Right!" The two girls nodded as they and Happy continued through the hallway.
Explosions were coming from the station as the Fire Dragon Slayer was destroying the hallway where he was standing. Arms surrounded by his red-orange flames.
"Erigor, where are you hiding?!" Natsu roared.
Using his Fire Dragon Iron fist, Natsu continued busting down wall after wall, searching for the wind wizard.
Meanwhile, Kageyama, who was in pursuit of Natsu, was far behind the pink-haired Dragon Slayer, watching his display of destruction to the station's hall, looking for Erigor.
"Has he ever heard of door?!" he asked annoyed, seeing the dust and rubble of Natsu's destruction.
Dust picked around Natsu and he panted, his flames gone from his arms. "Damn!" he growled. The Dragon Slayer looked around, and still no Erigor had shown up. Behind him, Kageyama was right behind him, rising from the ground.
'He poses no threat, so I could just let him go.' Kageyama decided. 'But… I will not feel satisfied if I do that!
Natsu turned around slowly to see Kageyama for a quick second before being punched by multiple shadow punches. Natsu was sent crashing into a grate, pieces of wood flying around.
Kageyama chuckled, a smile on his face. "I owe you for earlier, you motion-sick fly!"
Kageyama walked closer, eyeing Natsu's legs falling around as he struggled to break free of the wreckage. Finally, Natsu emerged from the wreckage, his head stuck in a poster.
"It's you!" Natsu roared, seeing the knot-haired wizard from the train and station.
Kageyama laughed slightly, seeing the Dragon Slayer's head in the poster. "It suits you."
"Shut up, toupee!" Natsu spat.
"Not 'Toupee'! It is Kage! Kageyama!" Kageyama reacted, losing his calmness.
"Oh, that so?" Natsu responded calmly. 'What's his deal, he and the Eisenwald guild calls us flies.'
"Whatever, though. I have got your magic figured out." Kageyama replied; now back to his calm expression. "You increase your destructive power by adding fire to your body. That is rare magic!"
Natsu finally ripped the picture off his neck, his head now on fire, making his features more monstrous. "I really want you beat you up, but there this no time for that!" He pointed his fist at the knot haired wizard. "Where is Erigor?!" he demanded.
"That is a good question. I will consider telling you if you beat me." Kageyama smiled. A dark purple magic circle appeared under Kageyama's feet as he announced, "Knuckle Shadow!"
Shadow emerged from the circle that resembled arms that formed punches that sent Natsu back, but the pink-haired Dragon Slayer shielded himself with his arms crossed over his face as he slid back. Kageyama grunted in shock that Natsu shielded himself from his attack.
"Oh, you're gonna tell me after I give you a beating?" Natsu responded cockily. "That's great! Two birds with one stone!" A determined smile was now on Natsu's face. "Now I'm all fired up!"
(Cue Natsu's theme— Fairy Tail Volume 1 soundtrack)
Back with Lucy, Aspen, Shiro, Setsuko, Lisanna, and Happy, the six could hear and feel rumbling coming from above. Bits of the ceiling fell from where they stood. Happy was floating while the girls were surprised. First the weird explosions, now this, what was going on?
"What is this shaking?" asked Lucy.
"It must be coming from above us," Lisanna confirmed. "Why do I have this feeling I know where it's coming from."
'Let's check it out!" Aspen ordered. The girls and Happy nodded, running to where the explosion was.
Back above Natsu, the Dragon Slayer was dodging and evading Kageyama's Shadow Knuckles with not only ease but an excited look on his face. Kageyama grunted in anger. "Nimble bastard, but…!"
Kageyama crouched down, his hand to the ground as not only another purple magic circle, but dozens of Shadow Snakes emerged from the magic circle, giving the room a purple eerie look.
"You can't dodge my Snake Shadow!" he continued. "It'll follow you wherever you go!"
The purple snakes lounged at Natsu, but the Fire Dragon Slayer wasn't fazed. In fact, he slammed his fists together as flames swirled around him as he leaps into the air, two streams of flames swirling around Natsu's arms.
"I will shatter you! Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" he exclaimed.
Like mighty fire wings, Natsu's attack collided with the Snake Shadow, creating a cloud of smoke. Kageyama shied himself as the smoke whipped the helm of his jacket he jumped back and gasped. Wood from the crates was also picked up from the explosion. Kageyama couldn't believe his eyes. And there was Natsu standing in the aftermath, the smoke and flames making his eyes glow red and his features dark.
"Impossible! He destroyed my Snake Shadow with one blow!" Kageyama responded flabbergasted. "This destructive force! Wizards like this cannot exist…!"
"Want another Fly Punch?" Natsu asked, flames forming in his left hand.
"Y-You're a monster!" Kageyama admitted his eyes widened as all he saw was a flash of orange light.
With Erza and Gray, the two wizards were running through a corridor when they heard and felt the explosion coming from Natsu's fight with Kageyama. They stop for a second to look back.
"Is that…?" Gray realized.
"Yes." Erza agreed.
At the same time, Lucy, Happy, Aspen, Setsuko, Lisanna, and Shiro, they too (although Lisanna realized it from the start) realized where all that was coming from.
"Natsu!" Lucy gasped, turning her head around.
Smoke and falling rubble covered Natsu as he walked closer to the now defeated Kageyama.
"You made me cause even more destruction." Natsu told him. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Natsu stood feet from Kageyama, his head hung low, back against the wall and scratches on his jacket.
"Well, I felt better, at least." Natsu smiled. With his arms folded, he added, "Looks like I win, Kage."
"Damn you." He spat weakly.
"All right! Tell me where Erigor is like you promised!" Natsu demanded, pointing his hand to him.
Kageyama chuckled, laughing at Natsu for believe Erigor was here. "You fool! Erigor's not in this station anymore… "
"Huh?" Natsu questioned.
"Natsu!" a voice called to him.
Natsu blinked when he saw Erza and Gray running up the stairs to him.
"That's enough! We need him!" Erza explained.
"Way to go, fire freak!" Gray commented.
Natsu was confused by what Erza said, why then did they need him? Natsu's confusion then turned to fear as he saw Erza lunging at him, her eyes glowing red and her sword in her hands.
"Wait! I-I dunno what I did, I'm sorry!" he exclaimed panicking.
But Erza's target was not Natsu, as his eyes widened. Erza had slammed her sword to Kageyama, causing the wizard to jump in fright and Natsu to look stunned. Kageyama screamed (girl like) as Erza spoke to him with a dark tone.
"You will shut up and remove the Magic Wind Wall for us!" she declared darkly.
Kageyama 'Eek' in fright, seeing the gleam of Erza's blade nearing his face. Gray stood there watching the frightened Eisenwald wizard as Natsu was scared tremendously.
"That was not funny at all! You really are dangerous, Erza…!" Natsu admitted, trembling.
"Shut up!" Gray commented, seeing the frightened Dragon Slayer.
"Understood?" Erza asked her tone less forcefully.
"A-All right." Kageyama agreed, not wanting to be killed by the Queen of the Fairies.
Kageyama then gasped as he felt something hitting his back, no, not his back… through his back. Erza realized something was wrong with this picture and stepped back, sword in hand. With his hand covering his chest, a yellow magic circle appearing on his chest as a bloody hand reaches out of it. Kageyama's mouth was wide open as he was shocked at this. Behind his back, a hand had gone through his stomach, shocking Erza, Natsu, and Gray.
"Wh-Why…" Kageyama simply said, gasping in pain.
The knot-haired wizard then collapses to the ground, revealing what attacked him from behind. Karacka, the green-haired wizard was the culprit. But there was not a smile on his face, but a look of fear. He was trembling, remembering the words from the raven-haired wizard.
'This'll be a simple job.' The wizard's words echoed through his mind. Karacka was to mortally wound Kageyama so that Natsu's group wouldn't use him to dispel the barrier. But this was their comrade, why would he do this to him?
"Kage!" Erza gasped, seeing the knot haired wizard fall to the ground, blood coming from his wound.
'Eliminate Kageyama.' Was his request, this was the job he had to do. Fear filled the green-haired wizard at the crime he just committed. Natsu stood there, his mouth ajar.
"Damn! He was our way out!" Gray exclaimed. Gray and Erza crouch down to Kageyama's still form, the blood coming from his wound and Erza screaming out to the wizard.
"Kage, stay with us! We need your help!" Erza exclaimed, holding him in her arms trying to wake him up.
"Damn it, I can't believe this!" Gray added anger in his voice.
"You're the only one who can remove the Magic Wind Wall. Don't die!" Erza yelled. But there was no response, was Kageyama still alive or dead?
Natsu was now furious, his fist clenched together. "He's one of your comrades…!" Natsu growled in anger.
Karacka gasped as flames surrounded Natsu, anger boiling in the Dragon Slayer. "He's a member of your own guild!"
Erza and Gray were speechless in shock as Karacka sunk lower into the wall in fear. With his fist surrounded by red-orange flames, Natsu leap at the wall Karacka was in, screaming, "You bastard!"
With one punch of his Fire Dragon Iron Fist, Karacka was sent through the wall he had materialized from and into around room.
"Is that just how your guild is?!" Natsu added, pieces of the wall flying around.
Back with Erza, the scarlet-haired wizard was trying feverishly to wake Kageyama up to no avail.
"Kage, you have to stay with us!" Erza shouted.
"It's no use, Erza! He's unconscious!" Gray told her, unfortunately.
Erza gritted her teeth in anger and started to shake the wizard awake, his head banging the ground while Gray watched with a sweat drop on the side of his head.
"We can't let him die! He has to do this!" Erza yelled.
"Come on. He can't use magic in his condition." Gray assured her.
"He has to do this!" Erza retorted, still angry.
Finally, Lucy, Happy, Shiro, Setsuko, Aspen and Lisanna turned to find a piss-off Natsu starting at a hole in the wall, Gray and Erza with one of the Eisenwald members, and the room completely damaged.
"Um, did we come at a bad time?" Lucy asked, eyeing the scene.
"Natsu pissed, Gray shocked, and Erza harming an individual? No, this normal even for their standards, Lucy." Lisanna assured her.
"Aye…" Happy agreed solemnly.
Meanwhile, in Clover Canyon, Erigor stood on the train tracks, looking at his destination from the distance, his hand to his scythe.
"The town of Clover is where the guild masters gather, its close." Erigor said to himself. "And the magic energy I used up creating the Magic Wind Wall has almost fully replenished." he chuckled. "Guess I'll speed things up now." A purple glow appeared under the wind wizard as he added, floating in the air over the tracks, "You fools took away our work and our rights. Now I am coming for you!"
Like a rocket, Erigor shot foreword through the wind and valley, adding, "The Reaper's cleaning is nigh!"
Back at the station, Gray and Erza filled the five wizards (Natsu, Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lucy), Shiro and Happy in on what was happening that Erigor's real target was the Guild Masters' meeting in Clover and the wind wizard was going to use Lullaby to kill them. Lucy gasped and so did Natsu, Lisanna kept calm about this but was worried. Aspen was terrified, so was Setsuko, the pair realizing they could lose their master if they did not get out of here.
"What?! Erigor's real target is the Conference!" Lucy asked.
"Gramps!" Natsu realized.
The group and Kageyama were now on the top of the station's floors, their eyes on the wind barrier blocking their way out.
"They cut off our only method of reaching Clover," Erza added. "Erigor headed there through the air."
"Doubt anyone my Takeovers can pierce it. Phoenix and Tigress are too weak to even tear it and Rhino would leave me shredded. What can we do?" Lisanna asked.
"Aspen, try to use your weather magic to dispel it," Setsuko suggested. Aspen shook her head.
"You think I have not tried? That Erigor is crafty, only a stronger magic dispeller can break this, and unfortunately, he is out of commission to use his magic. So, my magic is useless," she said sadly, feeling awful about herself. She finally felt confident of her magic, now she could not even help.
"We can catch up to him in the Magic-Mobile. But unless we do something about this wind barrier, we're stuck here." Gray sighed.
"You can't be serious…!" Lucy replied.
(Cue Fairy Tail Main Theme - Slow ver. — Fairy Tail Volume 1 Soundtrack)
Natsu, his fist wrapped in flames, ran to pun through the barrier but was pushed back forcedly by it. Lisanna caught the wizard before he fell to the ground.
"Natsu, that won't work," Lisanna assured him she would get back on his feet. "And not even my Phoenix Soul can break through it. We got to find some way to break out, but we need to save our magic energy for Erigor."
"I know that Lisanna, but Gramps will be dead if we don't get out of here!" Natsu replied to her.
"I'm worried for the master too, but our top priority is getting out of here," Lisanna reassured him, her eyes closed.
Natsu stared at his friend and understood she was correct. If they could break through, they shouldn't waste their magic on the barrier; their strength needs to be saved for Erigor.
"Okay." Natsu nodded, calming down a little.
While the pair talked, Erza was still trying to wake Kageyama up. "Kage! Please! Help us!" she yelled.
"We must try something. Gray, can't you freeze with you magic?" Lucy requested.
"I already would have if I could, but you saw Natsu, he was sent back, and Lisanna can't break through it without risking her life." Gray told her, "Aspen's weather magic is too weak, and Setsuko's magic can't freeze it either, we're screwed if we can't break through,"
"We have to find a way," Lisanna said, looking at Gray, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lucy. "Makarov, all the Guild Masters, they count on us to save them."
"Damn! What do we do?!" Erza spat, holding the now bandaged Kageyama up for support.
Natsu pondered for a second and exclaimed, "I got it!" He came up to Lucy with a smile on his face. "Lucy, your spirits!"
"Huh?" Lucy questioned.
"Remember in Everlue mansion, when Lisanna, Setsuko, and I were teleported by going through the Celestial Spirit world?" Natsu explained.
"Normal people would suffocate and die if they went through, though," Lucy explained. "Plus, the gates only open where there's a celestial wizard."
"Huh?" Natsu added confused.
"If we wanted to pass through the celestial world to get out, we'd need one celestial wizard outside the station!" Lucy continued, holding up both her index fingers to explain things to Natsu.
"You're confusing me. Just hurry up and do it." Natsu interjected while Gray and Erza watched.
"I just said I can't!" Lucy yelled as Gray sighed in disbelief. "Besides, the very act of a human entering the celestial spirit world is a serious breach in contract!"
"Lucy, I'm not saying Natsu's plan is bad, but we have no other options," Lisanna reassured her, coming to Lucy as well.
"But Lisanna, that was different, it was Everlue's key." Lucy retorted.
"I don't understand it all, just try," Natsu ordered.
While his three friends were talking, it finally came back to Happy.
"Everlue's key…"
Happy started screaming, causing his friends and Gray to jump in shock at the young cat's outburst. Happy came running up to Lucy, panic stricken and sweat coming from him. "I just remembered, Lucy!"
"Remembered what?" Lucy asked, looking back at the blue cat.
"What I was supposed to tell you on the way here!" Happy screamed, causing Lucy to fall.
"Yeah, you mentioned something and called me weird." Lucy remembered.
"This is it!" Happy announced, pulling out a gold Gatekey from his bag, and showing it to the celestial wizard.
"Wait, a moment, that's Virgo key." Lucy pointed out, remembering the event well. Lucy then snapped, grabbing Happy's mouth and pinching it tightly. This made Lisanna mad, stilling her 'son' get harmed like this. "You know it's wrong to steal!"
Natsu, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, Setsuko, and Gray just stood by one another, as Lisanna was this close to jumping in and stopping Lucy from hurting Happy.
"No! Virgo told me herself!" Happy pleaded.
"Huh?!" Lucy said, reacting to Happy's rebuttal and releasing.
"Ugh, this is no time for this nonsense," Gray said, arms folded.
"Virgo?" Natsu repeated. "Oh, that gorilla maid?!"
"Everlue was arrested, so apparently their contract was annulled." Happy explained, waving the key around to Lucy who kneeled to the cat's level and listened in. "She visited us later and said she wants to make a contract with you, Lucy."
"'It' did?" Lucy asked, an image of Virgo popping into her mind. "I'm glad to hear it, but there's no time for that. We need to figure out a way out of here!"
"But…" Happy interjected, but Lucy was furious and started to grab Happy's checks very roughly and stretching his face, a dark glare on her face and Happy scared out his wits.
"Shut up! Enough Talking! Just stick to meowing!" she said darkly.
"Wow, she's scarier than Erza," Gray stated.
"And powerful too!" Natsu chimed in.
This finally set Lisanna off. Her hands balled into tight fists, eyes narrowed in anger, and she finally yelled.
"Let him go!" She shouted. Everyone looked at Lisanna, who was breathing heavily and was furious at Lucy for trying to hurt Happy. Her blue eyes look sharply at Lucy.
"Happy is trying to help you; all you are doing is hurting him. Release him or I will not regret what I do next."
"Lisanna..." Setsuko and Shiro breathed, never seeing her made like this.
"Hey, calm down," Aspen assured her.
Lucy saw her expression and knew she was not kidding, but then again, she did go overboard with Happy. She released Happy's cheeks and stood up to face the Takeover wizard.
"I'm sorry." She bowed.
"Lucy, you didn't have to hurt me." Happy cried, tears in his eyes. "I figured since Virgo can dig through the ground, maybe could go under the wind barrier to get out…"
Everyone gasped.
"Wh-What?!" Erza said in disbelief.
"Are you serious?!" Gray added too.
"Uhh." Natsu said simply .
"Oh! Right!" Lucy realized remembering the spirit could do that. She grabbed hold of Happy and shook him up and down in a cheerful way. "You are so smart, Happy! Oh, why did not suggest that sooner?"
"Because you were pinching me and made momma Lisanna upset." Happy said tonelessly.
Lucy got on her hands and knees and started to apologize to the two wizards. "Sorry! I'm sorry! I will make it up to you two later somehow! I promised! Just please let me have the key!"
Natsu and Gray just stood, completely speechless, out what was going on and a sweat dropped down the back of their heads.
"Aye! We look forward to your full apology." Happy said cheerfully, finally feeling better. Happy then gave Lucy the key.
Lucy stood from her comrades, each of them nodding their heads with Lucy nodding back. She backed and chanted, key held forward, "I am connected with the path to the celestial spirit world." A golden light appeared under Lucy as she added, "Heed my call! Pass through the gate!"
(Cue Celestial Spirit Magic— Fairy Tail Volume 1 Soundtrack)
"Open, Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" Lucy announced as a blue magic circle appeared and burst from the ground, but it was the large gorilla maid from before, it was someone different. Instead of a large woman, it was a much petite looking maid with shackles around her wrists, short pink hair, and blue eyes. Just like Virgo, she wore a typical black-and-white maid's outfit. She greeted Lucy at once emerging with a curtsy, left arm across her chest.
Lucy was confused. Did she summon Virgo or not?
"You called Mistress," she asked.
Everyone stood there in confusion, but Lucy was the most confused on the bunch.
"Who are you?" she asked in confusion.
Lisanna, Setsuko, and Natsu got closer to the maid spirit and observed her carefully.
"It's great to see you again Virgo, you shimmed down." Natsu pointed out.
"The pleasure's all mine. I apologize for causing you two so much trouble." Virgo responded calmly.
"Shimmed down?! More like a different person!" Lucy exclaimed bug-eyed.
"A different person?" Gray repeated, looking at Lucy in confusion.
"Why do you look like that…?" Lucy asked, eyes widen,
"I'm a devoted Celestial spirit." Virgo smiled. "I take whatever form my master prefers."
"That would explain a lot," Lisanna said, like Natsu's arms folded.
"Societal definition of beauty is bull, but I can't believe someone would agree to that," Setsuko said, crossing her arms
"Tell me about it, this Virgo looks way nicer than that gorilla," Aspen pointed out.
"But her power will help us, so I think this Virgo will help us out," Shiro said, sitting on Setsuko's shoulders.
"We are in a big rush, Virgo. Can the contract wait until later?" Lucy asked.
"Of course, mistress," Virgo replied calmly.
"I don't like being called mistress," Lucy responded her arms folded with a sigh.
"'Queen', or 'Dominatrix', then?" Virgo added, eyeing Lucy's whip on her belt.
"No!" Lucy declined at once. Lisanna and Aspen giggled.
"Princess?" Virgo requested.
"That's more like it," Lucy replied, turning around, left hand to her cheek, and smiling.
Natsu, Gray, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lisanna each had dark shadows over themselves.
"How's she a princess?" Gray asked.
"I don't know," Lisanna replied.
"Just hurry up," Natsu added.
"We need to go 'princess,'" Aspen mocked.
"Very well, then." Virgo understood as her blue eyes glowed red and with a bow, she dug into the ground.
"Oh! She went down!" Gray stated excitedly.
"Good thinking, Lucy," Erza said, bringing the blond-haired Celestial wizard into a one-armed hug, Lucy hitting her breastplate.
"All right. Let us go through the hole." Gray ordered the group.
Gray turned around to see Natsu slinging the knot-haired wizard onto his shoulder. "What are you doing, Natsu?" Gray asked.
"Having him die after fighting me would leave a bad taste in my mouth," Natsu explained.
Kageyama's one eye started open slightly as Erza gasped. She then smiled at the pink haired Dragon Slayer's nobleness. Together one by one, Natsu (with Kageyama), Lucy, Gray, Erza, Aspen, Shiro, Setsuko, Happy, and Lisanna all jump into the hole. Finally, they escaped the Magic Wind Wall outside the station. The group could see the Magic Wind Wall from the distance, their hair and clothes whipping in the wind.
"We're out!" Gray yelled through the whipping winds.
"Let's hurry ahead!" Erza ordered.
"The wind is so strong!" Lucy pointed out her hair and skirt whipping in the wind.
"It's like a tornado!" Setsuko yelled, her kimono hem and sleeves flapping in the harsh winds.
"I knew it would be bad because we were in the eye of it. Once Erigor is defeated, this magic will go!" Aspen informed.
"Okay, but...?!" Shiro exclaimed, looking at Lucy.
"Princess! Your underwear might show!" Virgo exclaimed, holding down Lucy's skirt while her own was moving the wind.
"What about yours?" Lucy asked, looking at her while Gray could see her skirt.
"Oh, man…" Gray realized, face blushing.
'Glad I choose to not wear a skirt.' Lisanna thought, her jacket flapping in the wind.
'Glad my skirt's long,' Setsuko thought.
'Skirts and high winds don't work for me as a weather wizard," Aspen thought as well.
While his eyes were still closed, Kageyama spoke to the team.
"It's no use…" The six turned to him.
"There is no way you can catch up with him now… We win…!" he added,
Erza looked to see one, no two of their numbers were gone. "Where's Natsu?"
"Huh?" Lucy responded, looking around.
"Happy's gone too." Gray realized.
"You don't think?" Aspen asked.
"He went after Erigor on his own?" Setsuko finished.
"Well, if Natsu gets to him, he delays Erigor before we get to him. Come on!" Shiro ordered.
Meanwhile, while Erigor flew through the canyons, he could see the town off in the distance.
"There is the town. Hold on, you old geezers!"
The wind wizard then heard someone roaring behind him as he turned to hear a voice.
"This is Happy at max speed!"
Erigor realized who it was. Natsu was flying with Happy, his white angel wings out, and was flying at high speed, catching up to Erigor. Finally, Natsu landed a fiery blow on Erigor, knocking him off course as Natsu released Happy. A midair explosion was caused by Natsu's attack at the Dragon Slayer landed on the train tracks, back facing away from the crash of Erigor as Happy landed into Natsu's arms, his magic spent.
"Happy!" Natsu exclaimed.
"I can't fly any farther." Happy said tired.
"Thanks for the help!" Natsu smiled. "We manage to catch up to him!"
"Y-You..." spoke Erigor, getting Natsu's attention as he looked at him rising from the crash. "You are that Fairy Tail member… What are you doing here?"
Natsu placed Happy down and faced Erigor, flames surrounding and circling his fists, his left eye hidden in the shadow. "I'm here to beat you, you breezy bastard!"
Erza, Lucy, Lisanna, Gray, Aspen, Shiro, Setsuko, and Kageyama (who they had taken along) were on the train tracks, trying to catch to Natsu, Happy, and Erigor. Kageyama sat inside the Magic Mobile, staring at the three wizards who were looking at him while Erza drove. Aspen and Setsuko kept their weapons held at the ready if Kage tried anything, Gray had his arms folded and sat near Kageyama and Lisanna while Kageyama faced the two girls and cat.
"Why? Why are you taking me with you?" Kageyama asked calmly, his eyes closed.
"The town is empty; we're taking you to a doctor in Clover!" Lucy explained.
"Consider it a peace offering from us 'Flies'." Lisanna mocked, saying the word in disgust.
"Lisanna's right, you should be grateful." Lucy scoffed, turning her head.
"Letting you die just wouldn't sit right with us, dark guild member or not," Setsuko said.
"No," Kageyama replied calmly. "Why are you helping me? We are enemies." Lucy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, and Lisanna eyed the Shadow wizard.
"Ah, now I get it. I am your hostage, and you are going to make a deal with Erigor. Forget it. He is cold-hearted to the core. He will not give a damn about me." he muttered.
"So gloomy," Lisanna commented.
"If you want to die, we can kill you," Gray said, causing Lisanna to flinch.
"Hold on, Gray!" Lucy interrupted.
Gray looked at him, his eyes narrowed and staring sharply at Kageyama. "There's more to the world than just life and death." Kageyama's mouth was ajar, "Live a lot more positively. All of you." he muttered.
"Gray's right." Lisanna chimed in. "I lost my parents when I was young, and a certain event made me almost lose more important people in my life. But you cannot feel like the world's given up on you. You must keep your spirits high and move on the best you can. Sure, sometimes you feel bad and dwell, but you must keep being positive." Lisanna smiled. "That's something I'm learning myself."
"My dragon Mashiro vanished seven years ago. I do not have memories of my parents, all that their faces I do not remember anymore," Setsuko said, "But I am not going to give up until I find her again. I know what Lisanna feels on positivity," Setsuko said.
Kageyama looked solemnly down to his hands, thinking about everything Lisanna, Setsuko, and Gray said and taking it all in. Suddenly, the Magic-Mobile hit a bump in the train tracks, causing everyone to fly off their seats.
"What the…!" Gray cried as Lisanna fell to the door (while it was locked), Setsuko had Aspen and Shiro land on her back, and Lucy to fly butt first into Kageyama's face.
"Erza!" Gray and Lisanna called.
"Sorry! It is all right!" Erza apologized, getting back on course.
"I'm sorry!" Lucy called from inside the Magic Mobile.
"Could your butt be any bigger?!" Kageyama stated annoyed, handed to his face.
Lucy screamed, veins throbbing on her head. "Sexual harassment! Gray, Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen, kill him!" she ordered, looking at the four wizards.
"Don't make our sage moment go to waste now." Lisanna, Setsuko, and Gray said, pale in the face.
"Erza, you, okay?" Aspen asked.
"You didn't recover enough between your fight, be careful!" Shiro called out from outside.
Back outside with Erza, her eyes were getting heavier as she saw her vision starting to lose sight of the track.
(Cue Fist of Flame— Fairy Tail Volume One Soundtrack)
'My vision is blurring… I must have used up more magic energy than I thought… Natsu, stop Erigor.' Erza thought she continued the track.
"It's all up to you until we get there…!" Erza added.
Back with Natsu and Erigor, the wind wizard was back on his feet; facing Natsu who still had his flames surrounding his fists.
"Bring it on! I will burn you and that dangerous flute together!" Natsu exclaimed.
"You broke out the Magic Wind Wall, huh? What an annoying fly, you are," Erigor replied. With a stern look he added, "You are in my way. Begone." With his right hand up, a light purple magic circle appeared, creating a powerful rush of wind that blew Natsu's flames away, causing Natsu to shield his arms in front of his face, his vest blowing in the wind as he struggled to keep on his feet.
"This is nothing!" Natsu shouted, removing his arms from his face, and screaming to the wind wizard, still on his feet. An explosion happened next, covering Natsu and in a cloud of dust. Erigor looked up to see something shoot up into the sky. From below it looks like a red star, but in the sky, it was Natsu. Not only were his fists covered in flames, but his feet were covered in flames too, resembling dragon feet. Natsu crashes his into Erigor, but Erigor dodge, Natsu's fist hitting the tracks, causing it to break up a bit, wood, stone, and metal flying around. Natsu strikes again, the wind wizard using his Scythe to block his attack. Erigor smiled at first and was shocked by Natsu.
"What?! He uses fire to jump and to strike?!" Erigor thought as he floated up into the air as Natsu leap down to ground. 'And his strength! There is nothing like a wizard's punch!"
"Damn!" Natsu spat. "You cannot fly in the air! That is not fair! Come down and face me!"
"Don't get cocky, fly!" Erigor growled in anger. With his right hand out again, he conjured another light purple magic circle and a powerful wind hit Natsu causing him to scream. Natsu was inside a tornado as Erigor announced, "Strom Bringer!"
The Fire Dragon Slayer was now swept up from his feet and spinning around inside the tornado.
"Natsu…!" Happy gasped from the track tracks he led on, one eye opened. Happy closed his eyes and struggled as a light green magic circle appeared over his back, his white angel-like wings struggling to pop out. But to effort, they would not appear, and Happy laid flat on the track. "It is no use! I do not have enough magic energy!"
Finally, Natsu was sent falling into the canyon below, with no Happy to rescue him. Erigor chuckled. "I doubt even your fire could bring you up here!"
"Natsu!" Happy cried, but he could not hear a response from his pink-haired companion.
Down in the canyon, Natsu crossed his arms and legs as he started to fall headfirst into the bottomless canyon.
"O-Oh crap! This is not good! What do I do…?" Natsu asked himself as he was plummeting into the canyon.
Natsu finally came crashing into rock after rock, getting bumps on his head as he reached out to the light.
"Gramps," Natsu said dimly, his eyes closing, and his mind went blank until he remembered something from back then.
(Cue Fairy Tail theme—Slow version— Fairy Tail volume 1 Soundtrack)
"Sheesh, all right." A younger Macao said and held out his index finger, purple flames swirling on it while his other hand was holding a jug of beer. "Watch closely, now. See!"
"Whoa. Cool!" a younger Natsu from about four years younger was amazed by Macao's flame.
"It's called Purple flare, and it can do a lot more than just burn stuff!" Macao explained, the flames moving around on his index finger.
"My fire burns everything, thought…" Natsu pointed out.
"You just change the fire's properties," Macao replied. "If you ask for it from deep down, the fire will respond on its own."
Natsu looked up at Macao, his eyes and mouth opened and taking in what he said as he added, "Do that, and not even water or wind can beat it!"
"I don't understand it, but I'll try to remember." Natsu nodded.
(Cue Fairy Tail Main theme— Fairy Tail Volume one Soundtrack)
From below the canyon, a powerful rush of fire shot up from below and into the sky, giving where Natsu was and the area an orange glow. Erigor stood there in shock as the fire then formed into a hand. Without even melting the tracks or burning the wood that suspends the tracks, it grabs onto the tracks, pulling something up from below. It was Natsu, who had taken his fellow member's advice and changed the property of the fire.
"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed happily; glad to see his friend was all right.
Natsu landed his feet back on the tracks, sighing in relief. "That was close!" with his left arm flexed, his hand balled into a fist he added, "Change the fire's properties, indeed…! I did it, Macao!"
Erigor gasped, still flabbergasted from what he saw. "Wh-What was that just now?!"
"You must be cold naked like that," Natsu called from below. "Want me to warm you up?!"
"You're just as unclothed as I am!" Erigor retorted.
Back on the tracks, Natsu slammed his fists together as he exclaimed, "This will blow you away! Fire Dragon Roar!" From his mouth and the orange magic circle, a powerful stream of flames spews out from his mouth and travels its way to Erigor.
"Storm Wall!" Erigor countered and a purple magic circle conjured a wind wall to protect him as the two collided with an explosion, covering the two wizards in sparks of flames and smoke. Erigor emerged from the smoke, now floating in the air, baffled from Natsu's display.
'I cannot believe this guy… Nothing he does makes any sense!' Erigor thought. 'Is this what Fairy Tail wizards are like!?' Erigor chuckled. "I underestimated your strength. What do you say we fight for now?"
Natsu smiled. "Now I'm all fired up!"
Erigor held his scythe at the ready once more.
"Storm Wail!" he announced, while spinning his scythe rapidly, a purple magic circle appeared and a powerful gust of wind appeared and formed into a wind Twister, "Here I come!" he added.
Erigor's Storm Wail was flying to Natsu as Natsu leaped into the air to punch the wind with his fist wrapped in flames. But Natsu was pushed back and stared at the wind surrounding Erigor as he taunted, "What is the matter? Is that all you have?"
Natsu was back on the train tracks and grunted. "Damn! You just had to wrap yourself in something annoying!" Natsu slammed his fist together again as his left fist was wrapped in flames again. "This will tear it right off! Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" and leaps forward to punch the wind surrounding Erigor but his fist will not connect with the wind as his flames spread away from the wind until finally, they were gone.
"What?!" Natsu exclaimed in shock. "What is going on?! My fire went out!"
"Just as I thought." Erigor observed. "Your destructive strength comes from your fire alone. You do not affect me."
"What?!" exclaimed Natsu.
The wind twister spun more rapidly causing Natsu to shield himself from the wind. Natsu was sent back, his vest blowing in the wind as Erigor added, "The wind in my Storm Wail is always blowing outwards. Understand what that means? Fire does not blow against the wind!"
Natsu growled in anger. "What?!" Natsu growled.
The Twister rose, showing limps like a person. "Fire can't beat wind!"
Natsu was at a disadvantage, his friends were making their way to him, but it is up to him to stop Erigor from reaching Clover. Natsu must best this foe and save the Guild masters. But can fire beat wind?
Too be continued in Chapter 8: The Strongest Team
Michael: making a lot of progress in fixing up a lot of the two what-ifs, mostly in the grammar and fixing up where one name should not be there, as both what-ifs are the same until Galuna starts the divergence. There you see differences like Sorano joining here and Cyan's sister as well a live Ur that really shakes up not only Lyon but Ultear too. the number of characters in the early team are still roughly the same number
Fairy Tail: Eien no bōken o kakinaosu : Natsu, Lucy, Lisanna, Happy, Erza, Gray, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, Sorano
A Different Fairy Tail: Lisanna, Sting, Lucy, Happy, Lector, Kyuri, Erza, Gray, Cyan, Luke, Byakko, Ur
Not including Wendy for later in both stories, their allies in A Different Fairy Tail, and a new character I am working on for A Different Fairy Tail, there is a lot of characters I need to develop fairly and not have one overshadow the other or they do nothing. Something I have seen in a lot of rewrites is how some try to think they are better than the official writers, making their favorite characters overshadow everyone. As many people wish X got more screen time, what is better, putting characters where they need to be without taking away from the plot or do the opposite because of bias? I love Fairy Tail but I will never see myself better than Hiro or A-1.
One thing besides the OCs and Ur in A Different Fairy Tail, is how Lisanna is developed in both stories. Both stories are very affected by the quest that affected her life. In one story she feels awful for what happened to Natsu, and here, she has 'scars' that cannot heal. After taking two psychology courses, I really want to dive into how Lisanna reacts and how her trauma is not as obvious as how Mirajane and Elfman are. Mira is traumatized for what happened and loses her strength, Elfman is taking the blame for what happened to Lisanna and is afraid to use a full-body takeover. Lisanna's trauma, and how she hides feelings of lapse of PTSD is trying to get stronger. When she hears Natsu has gone on an S-Class Request, it is like all this pain is surface and she is trying to keep calm. Both stories set Lisanna fighting Laxus who does not care about harming Lisanna, just sees her weakling who pals around with Natsu.
Once I am finished re-editing both stories, expect chapter 15 hopefully soon, I do want to finish Galuna Island, and I feel I will as the biggest difference is A Different Fairy Tail, with no Natsu, someone must set up facing Ultear in the future, for now at least. But be there for Erza once I get to the Tower of Heaven. But I do hope to make progress, it will take time.