A/N: I do not accept art commissions and/or comics for this story or any of my other stories. As this is a SYOC story with other people's OC's, I am not the type of author to give the 'okay' to someone to draw OC's that don't belong to me. I've already blocked the person who asked, but this message is for any future artists who have the same question.
Episode 280, Opening 23.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER SEVENTY: AVATAR
Village of the RAIN BRINGER...
Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Happy, and Carla were all outside in the rain. "Juvia-san's asleep now." Wendy informed.
"So how do you intend to find him?" Carla questioned, referring to Gray.
"Even I lost track of him while keeping tabs on everyone." Lucy admitted.
Natsu remained silent. "What's with that scary look, Natsu?" Happy asked.
"Hmm, they're not too far from here." Natsu suddenly spoke as he turned around to look at Lucy. "We're visiting Sabertooth."
"Huh?!" Lucy spoke in shock.
In a dark forest, a crumbled castle stood alone with brambles and trees growing out of it.
"The Oracion Seis, Grimoire Heart, and Tartaros..." A masked man holding a staff spoke up. "The fall of the Balam Alliance has marked the end of the dark guilds' era. Now begins the era of Avatar."
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / HIGH PRIEST ALOK.
"Our gospel is a world ruled by the dark wizard Zeref. The time has come."
A tall, older gentleman with blue eyes and a very prominent, bushy eyebrows and a thick goatee remained silent. His companion next to him had a small body, and was clothed fully in a blue cloth adorned with black rings, similar to the spots on a leopard. He also wore a green scarf around his neck and his face was much like a clown's.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / GOMON.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / ABEL.
"We must purify the world of wizards who dare oppose Zeref. Everything we do, we do for Zeref."
A tall man covered from head to toe in black armor also remained silent as he listened to Alok. His face was covered by a silver mask with a single large red circle in the middle of it and filled with seven smaller black circles inside it. A fairly tall, curvaceous, dark-skinned woman with white lipstick, brown eyes, curly eyelashes, and thin eyebrows was sitting next to him.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / D-6.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / BRIAR.
"Everything we do, we do for Zeref." A man with unkempt, shoulder-length blonde hair and orange eyes spoke.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / JEROME.
"Everything we do, we do for Zeref." A petite young woman with cropped short pink hair that only reached her shoulders and large gold eyes spoke after Jerome.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / MARY.
"(Smile!)" Mary smiled at the two people across from her.
"Everything we do, we do for Zeref."
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / GRAY FULLBUSTER.
"Everything we do, we do for Zeref." A man with light brown and slicked back hair and amber eyes was the last one to speak.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT / ATLAS WARDNORTH.
Wendy was trying to use her Healing Magic on Juvia. "It's no use. Not even my Healing Magic can reduce her fever one bit." She informed.
"I wonder if they've reached Sabertooth's guildhall yet." Carla commented while staring out of the window, looking at the rain coming down.
Juvia continued breathing heavily. "We'll take care of things here, Natsu-san. Just please hurry and bring Gray-san back!" Wendy said to herself.
Natsu and Lucy were currently riding on an animal while Happy was flying.
"There it is!" Happy announced.
Lucy spotted the Sabertooth guild building with a large Sabertooth tiger on the roof. "Wow! It's so big!" Lucy exclaimed before addressing Natsu. "Hey, Natsu. Are you sure Sabertooth will have info on Gray?"
"Can't talk about it." Natsu responded, confusing Lucy.
"What do you mean you can't?"
Natsu soon turns around to face Lucy. "Listen, Lucy." He began.
"Whoa! Take the reins! Look forward!" Lucy spoke frantically while sweatdropping.
"I trust Gray. But the only way to get info on Gray this time is to stop trusting him." Natsu finished.
"You're not making any sense, but just look forward!"
"I gotta stop trusting him for now, but only until we find him again. That's what I mean."
"That makes no sense!"
"Lucy." Natsu leans forward towards Lucy. "I will get Gray and bring him back. I promise. So don't ask any questions until then."
Lucy looks down before turning Natsu's head back around. "Look forward, dummy!" She scolded.
SABERTOOTH...
"Oh! Natsu-sama! Lucy-sama! Happy-sama!" Yukino greeted as she sees the three walk into Sabertooth's guildhall.
"Yukino! It's good to see you! How've you been?" Lucy asked, waving to her.
"Very well, thank you!" Yukino replied.
"Yeah, 'cause we got all the work Fairy Tail used to get." Orga commented.
"Business has been booming so much, we've had to share our workload with God Pegasus, as my memory tells it." Rufus added.
"U-Uhh, that wasn't what I meant..." Yukino spoke nervously.
"Oh, I know. Besides, Fairy Tail is coming back." Lucy tells her.
"Really?!" Yukino tears up. "I can't wait!"
"You don't need to cry, you know..." Lucy deadpans.
"That voice brings back memories!"
"That it does, yes!"
Natsu and Happy turned to see Sting, Lucas, Lector, and Ace. "Oh? It's Natsu-san and Lucy-san!" Sting exclaimed.
"And Happy-kun!" Lector added.
Lucy had a look of disbelief on her face. "Who are you?" She questioned.
"Hey, Sting! Lucas!" Natsu greeted.
"Wha...?!" Lucy exclaimed, shocked at this news.
"You haven't changed one bit!" Sting tells Natsu.
"You neither!" Natsu laughed.
"He's changed many bits!" Lucy shouted as Sting winked.
"So, what brings you here today, Natsu-san?" Sting questioned.
"If you came to have fun, we welcome you." Orga stated.
"If you can assist us with work, we welcome you even more." Rufus added.
"Oh, no. We're too busy, unfortunately." Lucy tells them.
"Oh? Is Carla not with you?" Lector asks Happy.
"Likewise. Is Frosch not here?" Happy questioned.
"Frosch is out on a job with Rogue and M'lady." Lector answered.
"Where did they go?!" Natsu suddenly exclaimed, grabbing onto Lector's cheeks.
"What are you doing to Lector, Natsu-san?!" Sting asked.
"Natsu-sama?" Yukino questioned.
Lector was frightened. "I don't know, but they only just left. They might be at the city entrance." He explained.
"Great!" Natsu said, setting Lector back down as he takes off. "Thanks, Lector!"
"Hold on, Natsu!" Lucy calls out.
"Wait for us!" Happy shouted.
"Sheesh..." Lucy muttered.
Sting walks next to her, his slim figure back. "What is he here for?" He questioned.
"Beats me." Lector responded as Lucy looked at Sting before quickly doing a double take.
"You're back to normal!" Lucy exclaimed.
"He wasn't quite himself, so I used Libra's power." Yukino explained, holding Libra's gate key.
"I'll forever be grateful for you, Yukino." Lucas sighed before turning to Lucy. "We better catch up with the idiot."
Lucy nodded as her, Lucas, Happy, and Ace headed out.
Natsu was running through the town, finally spotting Rogue, Minerva, and Frosch in the distance.
"Rogue!" Natsu screams his name, making Rogue turn around.
"Natsu?" Rogue questioned as Minerva turned around as well.
Natsu grabbed him by the throat. "Come with me! We gotta talk!" He informed, rushing off.
"What's going on?!" Rogue exclaimed.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Lucy called out, making Minerva turn to see her, Lucas, Happy, and Ace.
"Natsu!" Happy shouted.
"You're..." Minerva trails off.
"I'll talk with you!" Frosch hops up and down.
"Everyone stay there! This is just between us two!" Natsu shouts at them.
"Sheesh, what's his problem?" Lucas questioned.
Lucy was trying to regain her breathing before looking at Minerva, who looked back at her.
"It's been a while." Minerva says to Lucy.
"Yeah." Lucy agreed. "I'm glad your guild took you back."
"Oh, did you visit our guildhall?" Minerva asked.
"Only for a moment." Lucy replied. "What happened to Sting, by the way?"
"Mm. Our guild's customary 'Tiger, Tiger, Tiger!' eating festival took place a few days ago, you see..." Minerva began to explain.
"Ah, and he went all-out, huh?" Lucy guessed.
"Even so, I won in the end." Minerva said.
"Oh, is that why you skipped the Grand Magic Games?" Lucy questioned.
"The tournament is too dull without Fairy Tail around. That's what Sting, our guild master, believes." Minerva answered.
"Fro thinks so too!"
Minerva looks down. "Incidentally... I'm sorry about last year's tournament." She apologized.
"Huh?"
Minerva recalled how she had tortured Lucy during the Naval Battle.
"It's no big deal." Lucy reassured. "After all, we were just two guilds going up against one another."
"Even so, I went too far." Minerva argued.
"No. It really doesn't bother me." Lucy tells her.
"It's a shame Fairy Tail is gone. It was truly a wonderful guild." Minerva stated.
Lucy holds up her arm, showing the pink Fairy Tail guild emblem on the back of her right hand before she smiles. Minerva glanced down as Lucy touched her chest.
"It's not gone at all. Fairy Tail will always be in our hearts." Lucy claimed, making both Minerva and Lucas smile.
"I have one too!" Frosch exclaimed, showing his black Sabertooth emblem on his back.
"Same here!" Happy said, showing his green Fairy Tail emblem on his back.
Natsu and Rogue were now in a maze. "What's your deal?! Is this your idea of a reunion?!" Rogue questioned.
"Show me your job flier!" Natsu orders.
"Huh?"
"Just do it!"
Rogue reaches into his bag. "Here..."
"Give it!" Natsu snatches the flier from him as he scans the contents. "'Destroy Avatar'... So this is it?"
"I'm taking this job." Natsu informed.
"Huh?! This is our job! Besides, you don't even belong to a guild!" Rogue argued.
"You're wrong. I'm in Fairy Tail." Natsu declared. "Listen, Rogue. I'm taking over this job. In exchange, you can have all the reward money. Just promise me... you and Frosch won't leave town until I get back... no matter what."
"This is crazy talk." Rogue mumbled as Natsu took off. "H-Hey!"
Natsu grabs Lucy, Lucas, Happy, and Ace. "Wh-What the...? Natsu?!" Lucy questioned in confusion.
"Let's go, Lucy, Happy, Lucas, Ace!" Natsu exclaimed. "Minerva! Keep an eye on Rogue and Frosch! Don't let them leave town!"
"Listen, Natsu-san."
"What was that about?" Rogue wondered.
"I've no idea." Minerva replied.
"Fro neither." Frosch added as Natsu recalled what Sting had told him.
"This is what Rogue told me. He said to tell the other him to protect Frosch one year from now."
The group soon arrived in a forest. "Hey, Natsu. What's this 'Avatar' thing Rogue was on his way to?" Happy questioned as he was looking at the flier.
"Beats me." Natsu answered, chewing on a piece of grass.
"It's a Black Magic cult." Lucas spoke up, getting their attention. "It rose up after the dark guilds collapsed. They're Zeref's followers."
"Zeref?" Natsu repeated, spitting the piece of grass out of his mouth.
"I don't know if he's personally involved, but the cult members basically worship Zeref as a god." Lucas explained.
"So they're Zeref's cronies, huh? Now I'm fired up!" Natsu grinned.
"Anyway, what makes you think Gray is a member of Avatar now?" Lucy asked.
"I don't get it either." Happy agreed.
Natsu puts his hand on his chin in thought as he stood up from the rock he was sitting on, leaning against a tree and still humming to himself.
"He's deep in thought for once." Happy commented.
"I guess he really can't tell us." Lucy added.
"No. I'll tell you. Sting explained it to me." Natsu revealed.
"Sting did?!" Lucas repeated in shock as Natsu recalled his conversation with Sting.
"Natsu-san, we need to talk. The Future Rogue said something to me. He informed me that Frosch dies." Sting tells Natsu while leaning on the wall.
"Did he say who kills him?" Natsu asked.
"Gray, apparently." Sting replied.
Natsu's eyes widened at the news. "Are you positive?" He questioned.
"That's what the Future Rogue told me. He said a year from now, Frosch dies. And he told me his killer." Sting responded.
"But... for it to be him?!" Natsu exclaimed.
Sting shrugged. "He's not my guildmate, so I thought informing you was the best choice. After all, you guys are close, right?"
"Something like that..."
"Why are you suddenly quiet, Natsu?" Lucy questioned, snapping Natsu out of the memory.
"What did Sting say?" Lucas asked.
Natsu walks towards them. "A year after the Grand Magic Games - now, in other words - we apparently run into Gray as an enemy." He revealed.
"An enemy?!" Lucy and Happy repeated in shock.
"So I'm thinking Gray might be where Rogue's job takes place." Natsu continued.
"But we changed the future that version of Rogue came from. Will it really happen again?" Lucy asked.
"I'm not actually sure, but this is the only lead I have to go on." Natsu replied.
"Still, being our enemy..." Lucy trailed off.
"You heard Juvia. Gray had a black pattern all over his body. He had it during his and Natsumi's fight with Mard Geer too." Natsu tells her. "I think learning Devil Slayer Magic so quickly caused Gray to get taken over by some devil-like thing."
"Makes sense. According to Atlas, it was the same way with Natsumi when they met." Lucas said.
"Oh, no..." Lucy mumbled. "Why did he keep this a secret all this time? Gray and Rogue must end up fighting at some point, and Natsu knows how it ends. And that's why..."
Natsu places his hand on Lucy's head. "Don't worry. Gray is one of us, no matter what." He reassured.
"Yeah." Lucy said.
"Aye, Sir!" Happy agreed.
AVATAR BLACK MAGIC CULT...
Briar and Jerome left Alok's chambers and came face to face with Mary. "Now, now! Given how hardheaded Grandfather is... I bet we'll have company soon enough. (Smile!)." Mary said.
"Quiet, Poison Tongue." Briar snaps at her.
"How mean! Quit giving people weird nicknames all the time! They're all terrible anyway!" Mary complained.
"If the Council has learned of the Purification Plan, it'd be 'might-tea' bad." Gomon informed.
"Is that a play on 'mighty'?" Mary asked with her mouth covered. "What a terrible pun. Just terrible! (Smile!)."
"Which way will fate go...?" D-6 questioned.
"All I care about is having fun." Abel commented.
"The problem is not the Council itself, but how our plan leaked out." Jerome informed.
"In other words, there's a Council spy among us..." Gray starts.
"...and you wanna point the finger at us, yes?" Atlas finished.
"Icy and Mad Titan..." Briar muttered.
"You both are from two of the continent's greatest guilds (LOL), after all." Mary claimed.
"We've done our homework, Gray Fullbuster. Your family was killed by a demon of the Book of Zeref. Not only that, your master and her daughter also perished for reasons relating to Zeref." Jerome informed.
"So you're actually smart, Jerome? Shocking." Atlas comments sarcastically.
"Don't think I've forgotten about you, Atlas Wardnorth. When we tried looking you up, we came upon a dead end." Jerome continued.
"It's true they're both the most suspicious, but why is that an issue now?" Briar questioned.
"Those two have been fellow members for over half a year." D-6 agreed.
"Neither of them have absolutely no reason to revere Zeref." Jerome responded.
"You didn't do your homework enough, 'Dark Sword' Jerome." Gray claimed. "Ur's daughter Ultear isn't dead."
"I like my privacy, what can I say, Jerome?" Atlas added.
Jerome steps forward, looking at both Gray and Atlas. "There's no reason for either of you to be here." He informed.
"Enough, Bushy." Briar scolded him.
"It's fine, Briar. This is my chance to make things clear." Gray tells her. "My goal is the Book of E.N.D. That's why I'm here."
His statement shocks the group. "All I want... All I want is that book. Nothing else matters to me!" Gray continued.
"Such blackness..." Briar thinks to himself.
"My guild is a thing of the past. Getting that book - no, defeating E.N.D. - is all I live for now. And I'll gladly use you or whoever else to achieve that goal." Gray continued.
"His lust for revenge has blackened both his body and mind..." Briar thought.
"Until then, I'll be part of your little group." Gray finished as he turned and walked away with Atlas following him.
"There's no way guys with such dark magic power could be Council spies!" Mary claimed. "They both are kinda hot, though."
D-6 only nodded in agreement. "I wonder. Briar, after thinking it over... I find 'Bushy' acceptable." Jerome claimed, making Briar get taken aback.
Natsu, Lucy, Lucas, Happy, and Ace finally arrived at Mikage Forest where Avatar was supposedly located.
"There it is." Natsu informed as the group sees the crumbled castle with brambles and trees growing out of it. "That's the place."
"It looks like an old, abandoned church." Lucy observed.
"What's the plan, Natsu?" Happy asked.
"Take it by storm, of course!" Natsu grinned, making Lucas sigh.
"I have a feeling this is going to go horribly wrong." Lucas commented.
"Yeah..." Lucy and Ace agreed.
"Captain. We're nearing the Mikage Forest, where Avatar is based."
"Got it."
"Unfortunately, I'm also afraid to inform you... that our spy has confirmed Gray Fullbuster's affiliation with the cult."
"Gray?" The man grinned. "Hell if I care. Arrest everyone. That's our job as the Council's Custody Enforcement Unit."
MAGIC COUNCIL / GAJEEL REDFOX.
A/N: And the Avatar Arc begins!
Thanks for reading!
~ Kaleb.