Natsu and Gajeel crouched in the shadows of an alley near Sabertooth's guild hall, dark clothes helping them blend into the night. Despite the serious situation, both dragon slayers wore matching grins.
"When Kai suggested this..." Gajeel shook his head, metal studs catching what little moonlight filtered down. "That guy is crazy."
"Right?" Natsu's grin widened. "And he came up with it in like, what, two minutes?"
"Guy's definitely got a few screws loose," Gajeel said with his familiar laugh. "Planning all this without even knowing what we're really up against."
Natsu bounced on his heels, barely containing his excitement. "Those guys won't even know what's hitting them."
A few alleys down, Erza and Mirajane blended into a tavern's crowd, sitting down at the bar counter. The establishment buzzed with evening chatter, perfect cover for their surveillance position. Erza maintained her stern focus, while Mirajane kept letting out small chuckles beside her.
"Would you please stop that?" Erza asked, her eyes scanning around.
"I'm sorry," Mirajane said, covering her mouth with one hand. "I just can't get over it. The way he laid it out so casually..."
"Focus, Mira."
"But don't you think it's hilarious?" Mirajane leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I still can't figure out if he's trying to provoke them or if this is actually a real strategy. The whole thing seems so..."
"Reckless? Stupid? A plan nobody would ever fall for?" Erza suggested, finally glancing at her companion.
"That's putting it mildly." Mirajane said, ordering two drinks to maintain their cover, still fighting back her amusement. "When he told us about it, I thought Laxus was going to electrocute him on the spot."
Speaking of Laxus, he stood on a hilltop overlooking Sabertooth's guild hall, arms crossed. The Thunder Legion flanked him - Freed to his right, Evergreen and Bickslow to his left.
"This has got to be the dumbest plan I've ever heard," Laxus muttered, his coat swaying in the breeze. "And I've heard plenty of Natsu's ideas."
Freed stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, there might be some merit to Kai's strategy. If our opponents are... well, complete idiots."
"Shut it," Laxus growled. "We're supposed to be keeping watch."
"But consider the psychological aspect," Freed continued, "The sheer audacity of the plan might catch them off guard. No one would expect something this... unconventional."
"You mean stupid," Laxus said.
"Well, yes." Freed admitted. Laxus just grunted, his eyes fixed on Sabertooth's guild hall below.
Kai and Wendy perched on a distant rooftop, watching Lamia Scale's main entrance. Other Fairy Tail members were stationed at various points around the building, covering every possible exits or entries.
Kai maintained his crouch at the roof's edge, his black hoodie helping him keep his head low the night. His eyes methodically scanned the area, checking and rechecking each potential entry points.
Behind him, Wendy stood with quiet confidence. "This view is perfect," Kai whispered, not taking his eyes off the guild entrance. "We can see anyone coming or going."
Wendy nodded, matching his hushed tone. "Are you sure this will work Kai ?"
Kai grinned in the darkness, his teeth flashing white. "Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one, Wendy. Nobody expects us to be this direct about it."
Makarov sat in his chair at the guild masters' meeting, holding Mirajane's letter in his hands. A slight smile crossed his face as he read through the details. Around the table sat Bob from Blue Pegasus, Ooba from Lamia Scale, and several other concerned guild leaders.
"Well?" Bob leaned forward, "What's this plan your new member has concocted?"
Makarov cleared his throat. "Kai's strategy is... unconventional. But I must say, it's rather brilliant in its simplicity."
"Out with it already!" Ooba spun her finger impatiently. "My guild could be at risk!"
"Kai has positioned our members around Sabertooth and Lamia Scale, both judged at risk." Makarov explained, his smile growing. "But instead of hiding their presence, they're being deliberately obvious about it."
The other guild masters exchanged confused looks.
Natsu tensed as he caught sight of movement in the shadows. A tiny figure, no taller than Makarov, scurried toward Sabertooth's entrance with childlike excitement. Gajeel caught Natsu's eye and gave a subtle nod. Without a word, both dragon slayers peeled away from their hiding spot to trail the suspicious character.
Makarov's expression remained calm as he continued his explanation. "There's no actual risk to any dragon slayers or god slayers. They have all been moved out from the guilds"
Inside the tavern near Sabertooth, Erza nudged Mirajane as the door swung open. A figure in an ornate mask stepped inside, drawing curious glances from people inside.
On their rooftop, Kai's eyes narrowed as he tracked a strange distortion along the guild wall. The magic signature writhed like a snake, slithering toward Lamia Scale's main entrance. Wendy shifted closer, ready to move at his signal.
"You see," Makarov said to everyone around him, his smile widening, "Kai deliberately left traces of various magic types exposed within each guild. Like leaving cheese in a mousetrap." He tapped the letter. "That boy has joined the game, but setting his own rules."
Natsu crouched lower in the shadows, watching the small figure dart between doorways. The childlike movements seemed deliberate, almost theatrical.
"They're searching," Erza whispered to Mirajane inside the tavern. The masked figure had begun tapping walls and examining window frames.
Mirajane nodded. "And getting frustrated by the looks of it."
From their rooftop position, Kai tracked the distortion as it probed around Lamia Scale's perimeter.
"They clearly are looking for something," Wendy whispered.
"Yep," Kai confirmed quietly. "As I want them to."
Each team waited for their exact timing. The targets were exactly where they wanted them - searching desperately for the wanted magic.
Makarov's explanation continued, drawing confused looks and curiosity from others.
"Freed's enchantments," he continued, "are masking all traces of magic. Sting, Rogue, and the others are perfectly safe in their secured locations. What our uninvited guests are sensing are… Let's say, not what they're looking for.
Makarov burst into laughter, startling some of the other guild masters. "I would pay good money to see their faces when they discover what those magic signatures really are!"
The small figure darted into the infirmary, practically vibrating with excitement. The sheets on one of the beds bulged suspiciously. Natsu and Gajeel watched from the doorway as the figure approached, cackling.
"Finally! A dragon slayer! This is so much fun!" The figure yanked back the sheets with theatrical flourish. But the maniacal laughter died instantly.
There, propped against the pillow, sat a stuffed dragon toy with button eyes and a stitched-on smile.
"As I was saying," Makarov continued, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, "Kai came up with quite the creative solution. Those magic signatures they're chasing? Nothing but crafted decoys. He took regular toy puppets and stuffed them with Lacrimas programmed to emit the specific magical signatures of our dragon god slayers."
Several guild masters bursted into confusion, their jaws hanging slack at the absurdity of the plan.
"This is ridiculous!" Ooba spun her finger wildly. "Only complete fools would fall for such an obvious trap!"
"Puppets? Stuffed toys?" Bob shook his head in disbelief. "Makarov, this is nonsense."
In the tavern, the masked figure crept toward a secluded corner where high-backed chairs circled an old wooden table. Magic energy pulsed from behind one of the seats. With a triumphant laugh, the figure grabbed the chair and flipped it over.
There, tied to the seat with a pink ribbon, sat a plush cat wearing dragon-scale armor.
Makarov's smirk grew wider as guild masters continued their protests. He raised a hand for silence.
"You're missing the brilliance of it," he said. "Kai developed this plan in minutes with barely any informations to work with. The boy spotted patterns none of us saw."
He tapped the letter again. "That's what makes him special. Once a hawk spots its prey, there's no escape. As I said, he's not playing the game, he's controlling it."
The small figure in the infirmary stumbled backward, confused, when its back hit something solid. When it spun around, two sets of menacing grins greeted it - Natsu and Gajeel, both holding predatory expressions that gleamed in the dim light.
Natsu cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the room. "Sorry to disappoint, but you got the wrong guys." His teeth flashed as flames began to dance around his fists.
In the tavern, the masked figure let out a furious hiss. It grabbed the plush cat and hurled it across the room in frustration. The toy sailed through the air but never hit the ground - Mirajane's hand shot out and caught it with grace.
The figure froze, thrown off. Its confusion deepened when cold steel pressed against the back of its neck.
"I wouldn't try running if I were you," Erza's voice came from behind, steady and menacing.
Kai and Wendy tracked the shadow as it slithered through Lamia Scale's main hall. They kept their distances, following its progress until it stopped at a worn leather couch.
The shadow twisted and stretched, taking on a vaguely humanoid form that seemed unable to maintain a solid shape.
The figure tore through the cushions frantically, tossing them aside one by one. Its excitement turned to confusion as it lifted the final pillow, revealing a small teddy bear with a red bow tie.
"Looking for something?" Kai's voice cut through the silence.
The figure's head snapped up toward the ceiling. There, perched on a thick wooden beam, two pairs of eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Makarov joined both hands in front of his face after receiving a message from Warren, eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
"You see," he said, silencing the room, "in a single and seemingly stupid plan, Fairy Tail has turned the tables around completely."
He spread his hands wide, gesturing to emphasize his point. "Our enemies thought they were hunting when they were being hunted. Three separate teams, three separate locations, and all of them caught in the same net."
"So," Makarov concluded, "shall we discuss what to do with our guests?"
The cold walls of the council prison only seemed to amplify Natsu's complaints as he slumped against the wall.
"Man, that was so boring!" He kicked at a loose pebble, sending it skittering across the floor.
The three figures in the cell remained silent. Kai watched them intently, arms crossed over his black hoodie.
Sting turned to Erza, brow furrowed. "Is it just me, or was that way too easy? I mean, we could of won against them."
"They relied too heavily on the element of surprise," Erza explained. "Their entire strategy hinged on catching you guys unaware and vulnerable. Once we turned their own tactics against them, they had no backup plan."
"Completely stupid," Rogue muttered from his position near the door. "They didn't even notice the magical signatures were fake."
Natsu groaned again, louder this time. "I can't believe I waited in that alley for hours just to fight someone who went down with one punch!"
Kai approached the cell bars. "Tell me everything you know," Kai said, his voice cold. "About everything, Morph Magic, who's behind it. Tell me, Jasper"
The figure's shoulders tensed at the name.
"You mean.. That's Jasper ?" Erza stepped forward, "If it really is, he has access to Morph Magic, why didn't he fight back?"
Kai's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Because he doesn't have Morph Magic. Not really. Just enough of a glimpse to create his possession magic." He tilted his head. "And there's only one reason for that - Morph Magic isn't ready yet, is it?"
A low chuckle emerged from the small figure, growing into an unsettling laugh. The figure lifted it's head, revealing Jasper's angular features.
"Well, well," Jasper's voice dripped with amusement. "It seems you're the only one with a brain around here, Kai Dawson." He stood up, dusting off his clothes. "You're absolutely right - Morph Magic wasn't ready." His grin widened, eyes gleaming with malice. "But now it is. And you'll all crumble under its power."
Kai's eyes narrowed as he gripped the cell bars tighter. "Let's try this again. Who's behind all this? What's the plan with Morph Magic?"
Jasper's laughter bounced off the stone walls, the same manic energy he'd displayed while possessing Gray. "Oh, you're so serious! Always so serious, little bird. Did joining a guild make you soft?"
"Answer the question," Kai's voice dropped lower.
"Or what?" Jasper pressed his face close to the bars, grinning. "You'll zap me? Torture me like your dear brother's people did to you?"
Natsu stepped forward, flames flickering around his fists. "Hey, watch it-"
"It's fine," Kai cut him off, never breaking eye contact with Jasper. "What about the dragon and god slayers? Why target them specifically?"
Another burst of laughter. "Why does anyone want anything? Power, revenge, chaos - take your pick! Though I must say, you already have that answer. Oh and about your little trap," He clapped slowly. "Bravo."
Erza moved beside Kai. "You're avoiding the questions."
"Am I?" Jasper's eyes danced with amusement. "Or am I simply enjoying this little chat?"
After several more attempts at questioning, each met with the same mocking responses and laughter, Kai finally stepped back from the cell with a heavy sigh.
"We're not getting anything useful out of him right now," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
The group trudged up the winding stone staircase, Natsu grumbling under his breath.
"At least we caught them," Erza said, "Even if the interrogation isn't going anywhere."
Kai remained silent, hands tucked into his pockets as they ascended. His mind raced through Jasper's taunts, searching for hidden meanings or slip-ups.
They emerged into the council's entrance hall where the rest of their group waited. Makarov stood with Gajeel and Wendy, while Lucy and Gray sat on a nearby bench. Mirajane and Laxus leaned against opposite walls, both looking equally frustrated.
"Well?" Makarov asked as they approached.
"The trap worked perfectly," Erza reported. "But Jasper isn't exactly willing to give out any information."
"He's just playing games," Natsu kicked at the polished floor.
Kai moved to stand near one of the tall windows, staring out at the council grounds. "He confirmed what I suspected about Morph Magic. It wasn't ready before, but apparently now it is."
"Did he say anything about who's behind all this?" Lucy asked, standing up from the bench.
"Nothing we can use," Erza shook her head.
Makarov stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Perhaps some time in the cells will loosen their tongues. The council has agreed to keep them secured here for questioning."
Most of Fairy Tail's members had settled into the nearby Inn, a modest establishment with creaky floorboards and warm beds.
Gray watched from a worn armchair as Kai paced the common room for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Would you just sit down?" Gray groaned. "You're making me dizzy."
"Something's not right," Kai muttered, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets. "It was too easy."
"Easy?" Gray raised an eyebrow. "It was supposed to be. You said it would."
Kai shook his head, turning on his heel for another lap. "That's not what I mean. Jasper's answers, his behavior - we're missing something obvious."
"Like what?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be walking in circles!" Kai snapped, then immediately looked apologetic. "Sorry. It's just... driving me crazy. Why tell us Morph Magic is ready now? Why practically confirm my suspicions? He's either incredibly stupid or..."
"Or they know someone with morph magic is around to get them out," Gray finished.
"Exactly." Kai resumed, his eyes and Gray's slowly opening.
"The cell" they called in unison, before rushing out in the cool night.
Gray and Kai raced through the empty streets. The guards recognized them immediately - after all, both were Fairy Tail wizards. They waved them through without question, though their faces showed confusion at the late-night visit.
Down the winding stairs they went, taking two steps at a time. The torches flickering shadows across the damp walls as they rushed by.
And their suspicions were confirmed when they arrived down the council prison's stairs. Empty. The cell was completely empty.
Kai sweared, punching the wall. "All three of them," Gray said, examining the lock. "Gone."
"No signs of forced entry," Kai muttered, running his hands along the cell bars. "No magic residue either. They just... vanished. Like Jasper did last time."
Gray and Kai burst out of the prison. They needed to warn the others - fast.
"We need to split up," Gray started, but before he could finish his thought, a dense purple mist materialized in front of them.
The magic pressure hit them like a wall, forcing both mages to plant their feet firmly on the stone street. The purple cloud swirled and pulsed, its magical signature unlike anything they'd encountered before. It wasn't just powerful - it sent a chill down their entire bodies.
Gray instinctively took a fighting stance, while Kai's hands crackled with lightning.
Through the purple curtain, a figure began to take shape. As the magic dissipated, it revealed a man, streaks of gray in his dark hair and lines etched into his face, yet he carried himself with an ageless grace.
His eyes glowed an unnatural purple, matching the magic that had announced his arrival. Despite the tension in the air, his attitude remained perfectly calm and relaxed. A slight smile played on his lips as he raised his hand in a casual greeting toward the two FairyTail mages.
"Ah, young Kai Dawson. What a pleasure to finally meet you in person," the man's voice flowed like honey, "And Gray Fullbuster as well. How fortunate."
Sweat trickled down Kai's forehead as he maintained his defensive stance. Every instinct screamed danger. And the man's presence alone was enough to confirm his instincts were correct.
The stranger took one deliberate step forward. Both Gray and Kai automatically retreated a step, maintaining the distance between them.
"Come now, there's no need for such hostility," the man said, spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture. "I've been following your progress with great interest, Kai. Your integration into Fairy Tail has been quite remarkable."
He adjusted his sleeves with meticulous care as he spoke. "I trust you're settling in well? The guild seems to have embraced you completely. Quite the change from your Blue Bird days, wouldn't you agree?"
The casual mention of Kai's past made his jaw clench. The man continued as if they were old friends catching up over tea.
"And I hear you've been making excellent progress tracking down those scrolls. Three in two years, was it? Quite the accomplishment."
"What the hell do you want?" Kai muttered through gritted teeth.
The man laughed. "Oh, come now. It should be perfectly logical at this point." He gestured casually with one hand. "The magic, of course."
His purple eyes gleamed as he continued. "You see, Morph magic is finally complete. But power demands more power. We need original sources to make it truly unstoppable." He began pacing slowly, each step deliberate. "Dragon slayer magic, god slayer magic..." His gaze fixed on Kai. "And naturally, Hawk magic."
Gray tensed beside Kai as the man's attention shifted to him.
"And while we're at it," the stranger added with an appraising look at Gray, "ice demon slayer magic wouldn't be a bad addition to our collection either."
The temperature around them dropped several degrees as Gray's magic responded to the threat.
The man let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher.
"Please, let's be reasonable here. You must understand that resistance against me is futile. Why not make this easier on yourselves?" He spread his hands in a placating gesture. "Simply allow me to take your magic. Quick, clean, painless."
Both mages' magic swirled around them, but the stranger continued as if he hadn't noticed.
"I've been methodically collecting every form of magic I can find. The process has been..." he paused, searching for the right word, "...illuminating. There are only a few remaining pieces needed to perfect Morph Magic to its ultimate form."
His purple eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched their reactions. Then, he added, "Oh, and of course, I'll be taking those scrolls you've collected, Kai. They'll make a fine addition to my own set."
Kai's entire body went rigid. The electricity crackling around his hands died instantly. The stranger's words echoed in his head - 'my own set.'
This man had more of the scrolls. The ones Kai had spent years searching for, the ones containing his mother's sealed magic.
"Your… Your own set?" Kai stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. The words had let him standing there in shock.
The man's smirk grew wider, more sinister with each passing second. His purple eyes glowed with malicious delight as he watched Kai process the information.
"Oh yes," he drawled, savoring the moment. "All eleven scrolls you've been so desperately searching for these past years. The ones containing your dear mother's sealed magic." He made a theatrical gesture with his hand. "They're all in my possession."
A cold laugh echoed through the empty street. "Did you really think you were the only one hunting them? While you spent years tracking them down, I was efficiently collecting the rest."
Kai's face had gone pale, his hands trembling at his sides. "That's impossible," Kai managed to say, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Is it really?" The stranger's voice dripped with mockery.
"How... how do you know all of this?" Kai asked, his previous confidence slowly shattering.
The stranger's smile grew even more predatory. "Ah, you can thank your brother for that. Poor Finn was quite helpful once I assisted him in recovering his memories." He adjusted his sleeve again with meticulous care. "You see, we made a simple trade - I gave him Morph Magic in exchange for every detail about Hawk Magic he could remember."
The man's purple eyes glinted. "Of course, I knew the magic would eventually destroy him. It wasn't ready yet, but Finn made for an excellent test subject." He gave a dismissive wave. "You actually did him a favor by ending it when you did. The transformation would have been... excruciating."
Each word hit Kai way too hard. His shoulders slumped, the weight of everything - his years of searching, his brother's death, his parents- seemed to crush down on him at once.
Kai's mind raced, but with no goal. No anger. No rage burst. Even sadness felt distant and hollow. Instead, there was just... emptiness. A vast void where his purpose had been just moments before.
Kai's eyes lifted from the ground when Gray stepped forward, placing himself firmly between Kai and the stranger.
"I don't give a damn about whatever scrolls or your morph magic," Gray's voice cut through the air. His stance widened, frost forming beneath his feet. "But you made one big mistake - you targeted Fairy Tail, and other guilds who are our friends."
The ice mage's magic swirled around him, his demon slayer markings beginning to show on his skin. "You think you can just walk in here, mess with people, and walk away?" Gray's eyes had turned cold. "You're about to learn why that's a bad idea."
The stranger didn't flinch at Gray's display. Instead, he let out another dramatic sigh and took another step forward.
Gray's confidence wavered. Despite his stance, the stranger's casual approach threw him off balance.
"Now then," the stranger said, spreading his arms wide in another inviting gesture. "You'll both be coming with me." His tone kept conversational, as if discussing dinner plans rather than kidnapping. "Don't worry about your guild friends. I'm not completely heartless - I'll leave them a perfectly clear note with our location."
Purple magic wisped from his fingertips as he spoke. "After all, I'd hate to waste energy hunting down the rest of the magic I need when they can simply bring it right to me." He shrugged, the gesture almost apologetic. "Call it efficiency, if you will. Or perhaps just laziness."
Purple magic surged forward without warning, faster than either mage could react. The next moment, they were both enveloped in a translucent purple sphere.
Gray slammed his fist against the bubble's surface, but his ice magic dissipated harmlessly against it. Kai's lightning crackled weakly inside their prison, unable to penetrate the barrier.
"What the-" Gray started, but his voice sounded distant and muffled.
Both mages felt their consciousness slowly slipping away, powerless to resist whatever magic had trapped them.
Then everything went black.