A/N: Episode 260.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: THE GIRL IN THE CRYSTAL

20 minutes to go off...

Natsu and Sebastian kept charging at Mard Geer, who kept dodging all of their attacks.

"The man that book is holding... It's the Book of END. Bring me that book with Atlas's son. You two are the only ones who can. Listen. Whatever you do, don't open that book. And don't you dare destroy it, either. Just steal it from him. Your reward is learning everything you want to know."

Igneel's voice rang in Natsu's head. "We'll do the job, Dad!" He promised.

"We're stealing that book!" Sebastian added.

Natsu and Sebastian stared at Mard Geer, who stared back. "Let's get 'em, Igneel!" Natsu exclaimed as Igneel roared before both his and Natsu's eyes flashed gold.

Natsu and Sebastian dashed forward. "I don't really care for overconfidence, humans." Mard Geer stated.

A bright light soon appeared, destroying everything. "I consider the dragons a nuisance. Not you two." Mard Geer claimed as Natsu and Sebastian appeared engulfed in flames.

"Fire Dragon's..."

"Hellfire Dragon's..."

"...Claw!"

Natsu sent a backwards flaming kick while Sebastian sent a straight flaming kick at Mard Geer, who caught their ankles.

"In the first place, neither of you are dragons." Mard Geer said as both Natsu and Sebastian got thrown to the ground, falling down a hole.

"Natsu!"

"Sebastian!"

Igneel and Atlas Flame both called out to their sons before flying out of the way of Acnologia's attack which lit up the sky.

"I'm surprised that not one, but two dragons exist. How disagreeable." Acnologia finally spoke.

"Oh? You finally speak, Acnologia." Igneel stated.

"I acknowledge you as my enemies. And I'm going to destroy the both of you." Acnologia declared.

"We'll see who destroys who first." Atlas Flame claimed as both Sebastian and Natsu continued falling down the hole.

"Begone, sons of the dragons." Mard Geer said, looking down in the hole. "Thorns."

Thorns surrounded Natsu and Sebastian, making the both of them dodge. Two were headed right for them until it was destroyed by a bright light as Sting and Rogue arrived.

"Sting! Rogue!" Natsu exclaimed, glad to see them.

"Long time no see, Natsu-san, Sebastian!" Sting greeted.

Natsu and Sebastian landed on the ground. "So it was you guys!" Natsu said as Sting and Rogue landed in front of them.

"We could tell you were here, but why?" Sebastian questioned.

"Our lady..." Sting began to explain.

"Whatever! No time for explanations right now!" Natsu interrupted, making both Sebastian and Rogue sigh in unison. "More importantly, where are Lector and Frosch?"

"With Erza." Rogue replied.

"You saw Erza?!" Natsu questioned.

"They're heading for the control room to shut Face down. Happy is with them, too." Rogue explained.

"I see. Well, knowing them, I wasn't worried." Natsu said.

The four Dragon Slayers looked up at Mard Geer. "Natsu-san, Sebastian, let's fight him together!" Sting suggested.

"The four of us can beat him." Rogue added.

"I would admit, things would go a lot smoother..." Sebastian started to say.

"...but we've gotta turn you down!" Natsu finished as Sebastian nods in agreement.

"What?!"

"Igneel and Atlas Flame asked us to do this job." Natsu said.

"It's gotta be just us." Sebastian added.

"Don't be dumbasses at a time like this!" Rogue scolded, stepping forward but Sting placed his hand against his chest, preventing him from going further.

"All right, let's do this. The Twin Dragons or the two Fire Dragons? Who can take that guy out first? It's a competition!" Sting suggested.

"What?!" Natsu and Sebastian both exclaim, lightning bolts went through them.

"You're not gonna beat him first!" Natsu shouted.

Natsu and Sebastian leaped into the air. "Like hell we'll let you!" Sebastian yelled as Sting and Rogue leaped into the air, following after them.

"I figured this was the only way they'd let us in on it!" Sting explains to Rogue.

"Good grief..." Rogue muttered.

Natsu engulfs his fist in flames, striking down at Mard Geer. Both him and Sebastian tried to attack him with flames but Mard Geer sent the both of them down. Sting appeared with his fists covered in holy light but Mard Geer struck him.

Rogue appeared from the shadows as flames appeared from below. Natsu sent a flaming kick to his jaw as Rogue punched him with shadows. Sebastian leaped into the air, covering his leg with flames as he spun around before striking down at Mard Geer, sending him flying through multiple pillars before he finally crashed into a rock.

"There are three dragons in the sky. There are four sons of dragons in front of me. There may be even more. Running around inside my castle... You make me recall a feeling I'd forgotten long ago." Mard Geer looked up with a crazed look in his eyes. "Anger."

Sting, Rogue, and Natsu immediately got into a fighting stance while Sebastian chuckled. "Congratulations. Now you've finally caught up to the humans." He smirked.

Acnologia fired another breath attack at Igneel and Atlas Flame, who both countered it with their own, sending blue fire Acnologia's way. A huge explosion soon appeared in the sky before it disappeared.

"We've been waiting patiently for this day, Acnologia." Igneel claimed.

"It's time to face retribution for the great misfortune you brought on us long ago." Atlas Flame added.

"I have but one aim. To destroy all dragons!" Acnologia exclaimed as him, Igneel, and Atlas Flame charged forward.

Doranbolt had teleported Wendy, Carla, Orion, and Raden. "We finally made it this far." Doranbolt announced.

"Look!" Carla exclaimed, pointing at the sky at Igneel, Atlas Flame, and Acnologia fighting.

"Looks like it isn't over yet." Doranbolt stated.

Carla glanced up at Wendy. "Wendy, do you feel all right?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Wendy replied before looking up at the sky again.

"I never thought we'd see Acnologia again." Carla claimed.

"I wonder what the other dragons are." Doranbolt said.

Orion widens his eyes in realization as Raden made the same conclusion. "Orion, you don't think..." Raden trails off.

"Yeah... The dragon covered in complete flames is Atlas, Sebastian's dragon father." Orion revealed, shocking Doranbolt, Wendy, and Carla.

"Sebastian-san's... father?" Wendy repeated.

"What about the other one?" Doranbolt asked.

"I don't know. Never seen it before. I only know Atlas from the stories Sebastian has told me." Orion replied.

Wendy looks at Doranbolt. "Let's hurry! I'm worried about Natsu-san and the others!" She informed.

"Right." Doranbolt said, placing a hand on her and Orion's shoulders before teleporting.

The multiple Lummy's were still crawling around as Lisanna kicked one of them down with her foot. Acnologia flew over them.

"I don't really understand what's going on, but I'm pretty sure it's nothing good." Jet stated, looking up at the sky as Igneel and Atlas Flame flew by, following after Acnologia.

"I hope Natsu, Lucy, and the rest are okay." Lisanna said.

"There's no point in us worrying about it here." Elfman claimed, picking up one of the Lummy's by the hair. "We just gotta do what we can!"

The multiple Lummy's eyes soon flashed gold.

"First, let's clean up this trash!" Elfman exclaimed, throwing the Lummy in his hand at the others.

"Agreed!" Lisanna said, kicking some more Lummy's away.

"We'll show 'em what we can do!" Jet commented.

"It's just too bad that Levy's not here to see it!" Droy added as Jet sped forward.

"High Speed!"

Jet knocked multiple Lummy's down.

"Knuckle Plant!"

The Lummy's were lifted into the air before falling to the ground.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" Lummy spoke to Warren. "Where're your guild's hot guys?!"

"Introduce us! Introduce us!"

"But secretly, so the others can't horn in!"

"I told you to look right in front of your eyes!" Warren informed.

"In front of my eyes where? Where are they?"

"I don't see any hot guys anywhere!"

"Hot guys! Hot guys! Where are all the hot guys at?"

Warren points to himself. "It's me, for crying out loud! I'm right in front of you!" He responded.

"Huh?" All of the Lummy's turned to look at him before they all started laughing.

Warren turned around as tears were streaming down his face. "That hurt my feelings..." He muttered.

Juvia was lying on the ground as Lucy and Levy were at her side. "Juvia, are you all right? Juvia!" Lucy shouted.

"Gray-sama..." Juvia mumbled.

"I think she needs medical treatment, and fast. Laxus, too." Levy informed, looking back at Laxus.

"Take them to Porlyusica-san with the medicinal ingredients. I think she can help them." Lucy told her before looking at Gajeel as did Levy. "Gajeel!"

"Huh?"

"Please take Laxus and Juvia. We have to escape this building." Lucy stated.

"Don't be an idiot. There are dragons out there, and I'm a Dragon Slayer. I can't leave now!" Gajeel argued.

"That could be... but maybe we'll just have to leave Acnologia to Natsu, Sebastian and the others." Lucy claimed.

"It's okay!" Levy reassured, causing Lucy to look at her. "You stay here, Gajeel. I'll carry Laxus. Lu-chan, you take Juvia."

"But are you gonna be okay?" Lucy asked.

Levy struggled to lift Laxus up. "I'm fine! I can handle him..." She reassured, stumbling a bit.

"Wait, Levy-chan!" Levy exclaimed.

"I'm fine! He's actually pretty light!"

Levy looked up and saw Gajeel. "I can't watch this." He claimed.

"Gajeel..." Levy muttered.

Gajeel lifted Laxus off of Levy, making her blush. "You support Juvia. I'll take them to Granny Porlyusica." Gajeel informed as an image of Belno appeared in his mind.

"Gotta protect the people who are right in front of you first, right, Granny?" He thought.

"Also, give Salamander a message." Gajeel told Lucy.

"What is it?" She questioned.

"'Don't forget the song that sings my glories.'" Gajeel responded.

"Got it!" Lucy said.

Minerva and the Exceeds looked at the timer which was at 19 minutes.

"Hurry, Erza! She really is speeding up the countdown!" Happy warned.

Erza charged forward with her sword in her hands as Kyoka blocked her attack. "You are powerless before my Etherious form!" Kyoka claimed.

"Her strength is increasing! There's a world of difference from before!" Erza said as Kyoka pushed her back and Erza skidded on the ground.

The timer was now at 18 minutes.

"Erza! Hang in there!" Happy reassured.

"But I don't think she's invulnerable! There must be a way to beat her!" Erza stated, charging forward once again.

The multiple Lummy's eyes continued to glow as they swayed back and forth. Both Elfman and Lisanna got into a fighting stance. Elfman punched a Lummy out of the way, crashing into the other Lummy's.

Lisanna then kicked some more, crashing into the rest of them.

"We did it!" Lisanna gave Elfman a high five.

"All right!" Droy pushed two of the Lummy's aside.

"High Speed!" Jet sped by a group of Lummy's.

"You've got this, everyone!" Warren encouraged as he was hiding behind a rock.

"Give us a hand, Warren!" Jet shouted in irritation, pulling one of the Lummy's cheeks.

'Yeah, but look, my Magic isn't for fighting.' Warren spoke telepathically.

"I know, so say it out loud!" Jet yelled.

Warren looked away as a light shined on him. 'And my feelings are still hurt...' He spoke in Jet's head.

"Like I care!"

Lisanna attacked one of the Lummy's, making her collapse to the ground.

"This is..." Elfman slammed a Lummy to the ground. "...the last one!"

"If I had to lose, I wanted a hot guy to beat me..." Lummy complained as tears fell down her face.

"I hope that took care of it." Droy said.

"Jeez, she was annoying." Lisanna complained.

Lucy soon arrived. "What is this?" She asked before glancing up. "Everyone! Lisanna, too! Thank goodness you're safe!"

"Lucy!" Lisanna exclaimed.

'Another sexy outfit!' Warren telepathically said.

"Are you alone?" Elfman asked.

"Your thoughts are leaking out." Droy told Warren.

"I was with everyone, and then we split up..." Lucy replied, recalling how she had to sacrifice Aquarius.

"What's wrong?" Lisanna questioned, seeing the dejected look on her face.

"Nothing! I'm fine." Lucy reassured her.

"What happened to the rest of 'em?" Elfman asked.

"Gajeel and Levy-chan are carrying Juvia and Laxus to Porlyusica-san, along with the medicinal ingredients." Lucy explained.

Levy was carrying Juvia as Gajeel carried Laxus.

"Gray-sama..." Juvia mumbled.

"Steady there, Juvia." Levy told her.

"You know the way there?" Gajeel questioned.

"Yeah." Levy responded, looking at the markings. "The markings are still here, so it should be this way."

Gray was walking through the corridor when he noticed something on the ground.

"What's this doing here?"

"He said Gray got incredible power somehow. Natsu and Sebastian are, um... How can I explain it?"

Acnologia, Igneel, and Atlas Flame continued battling in the sky.

"The dragons fighting in the sky..." Lisanna started to say.

"One of them is Igneel, the dragon Natsu's been searching for all this time. And the other one is Atlas Flame, Sebastian's dragon." Lucy explained.

"Where'd it come from?" Elfman asked.

"Um..." Lucy trailed off, not sure how to put it into words.

"Anyway, if they're allies of Natsu and Sebastian's, it's on our side too, right?" Warren questioned.

"It's evenly matched with Acnologia, isn't it?" Jet questioned.

"I think we've got a little bit of hope here!" Droy exclaimed.

Orion and Wendy soon arrived with Doranbolt, Raden, and Carla. "Face is still a danger." Orion announced.

"You're from Black Sun!"

"Wendy?!"

"Carla! And you, from the Council..."

Jet, Warren, and Droy noticed Wendy's short hair.

"But wait! What happened to your hair?!"

"More importantly, we've got to deal with tons of Face bombs." Raden informed.

"Tons?!"

"There are thousands of them. And if we don't stop them somehow, Magic all over the continent will be eradicated." Doranbolt stated.

"And then the Curse power that Tartaros uses will take over the world." Carla added as the clouds covered the moon.

"Man, he is one heavy bastard." Gajeel complained. "I'm gonna make him come up with a song later that glorifies me, too."

"Hey, what are these songs you're talking about?" Levy questioned.

"Salamander's gonna make a song that praises me. This guy, too. I busted my ass for them, so it's the least they can do in return." Gajeel answered.

"Then maybe I'll have you create a song that glorifies me, Gajeel." Levy teased as Gajeel looked at her.

"Huh?"

"I saved you before, right? So in exchange..." Levy trailed off as Gajeel stared at her, making her nervous. "What? Are you mad? I was kidding! Only kidding!"

Gajeel sets Laxus down. "Shoobie-doo-ba! Sha-la-la!" He began, snapping his fingers. "A demon and I were underwater... I was fightin' while blowing air bubbles. The shark bastard's exterior was tough as anything, but hardly a match for me. Sha-la-la! But then I ran out of breath, shoobie-do-ba! Crap! Crap! I thought I was a goner... Doobie-doobie! Fade-in on a little form. That woman gave me air..."

"Y-Y-You really don't need to make one up!" Levy interrupted as her face was bright red.

"What? That could've become a classic." Gajeel commented.

"I mean, Gajeel's sense of music really is..." Levy mumbled to herself.

Gray continued walking down the corridor. "I have a feeling everyone's in danger. Better meet up with them soon." He said to himself.

Sting, Rogue, Natsu, and Sebastian were still facing Mard Geer as another explosion erupted in the sky from Igneel, Atlas Flame, and Acnologia's fight.

"Emotions only dull one's thinking. I intend to keep mine in check for as long as possible." Mard Geer stated. "Master END, please wait a short while."

Mard Geer sets the Book of END down, making both Natsu and Sebastian narrow their eyes. "The emotion called anger is especially bad. Sometimes it makes one lose sight of oneself. I wonder what would happen if my 'self' were to change. Just thinking about it fills me with dread." He claimed, sitting down on the throne.

"Mard Geer is Mard Geer. I am called the Underworld King and the master of Tartaros. I must forget this emotion again. Along with your existence..." He finished as he was engulfed in a light and the ground began to tremble.

"W-What the...?!" Natsu said.

"I sense and ominous force." Rogue informed.

The trembling suddenly stopped. "So you've finally gotten serious, huh?" Sebastian questioned.

"Here it comes!" Sting warned.

Thorns soon erupted from the ground, surrounding the four Dragon Slayers. "Dammit!" Natsu exclaimed as him and Sebastian climbed up the thorns.

Natsu and Sebastian were both engulfed in flames as they charged at Mard Geer. However, Mard Geer sent the both of them flying.

"Natsu-san! Sebastian!" Sting called out to them.

Roses soon appeared on Sting and Rogue's chests before they were sent skidding back.

"This guy..." Sting started to say.

"...is strong!" Rogue finished.

"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!" Natsu shouted, head butting Mard Geer.

"Doesn't work, does it?" Mard Geer asked.

"Hellfire Dragon's Roar!" Sebastian releases his breath attack.

"Sting! Rogue!" Natsu and Sebastian shouted in unison.

"Natsu-san and Sebastian want an assist!" Sting exclaimed.

"So they admit we've got a formidable enemy here." Rogue said.

Sting and Rogue began powering up their attack.

"Holy Shadow Dragon... Flash Fang!"

Sting and Rogue sent their Unison Raid right at Mard Geer. "Light and darkness, eh? It's beautiful. However..." Mard Geer captures the attack in his palms. "...I will extinguish it within me."

"No way!" Sting exclaimed.

"He absorbed it!" Rogue spoke in shock.

Natsu and Sebastian leaped into the air. "Then Lightning Flame Dragon's Firing Hammer!" Natsu called out.

"And Hellfire Dragon's Jaw!" Sebastian shouted.

Natsu and Sebastian both struck down at Mard Geer, who smirked and sent them both crashing to the ground. Mard Geer soon landed back on his throne and crossed his legs.

"If that's your limit, you might as well give up now." Mard Geer taunted. "I haven't shown you my Etherious form yet."

Natsu, Sebastian, Sting, and Rogue all gritted their teeth.

"In other words, Warren will use his telepathy to call on wizards throughout the continent to destroy the Face bombs?" Elfman asked.

"I understand the plan, but it's impossible. My telepathy can't reach any further than 5 km out. Wizards all over the continent? There's just no way." Warren replied.

"Oh no..." Wendy muttered.

"Thousands of Face bombs..." Lisanna mumbled.

"They're already turned on. And set to go off any time now." Doranbolt informed.

"If Kallia was around, perhaps she could help Warren." Orion spoke up before sighing. "Then again, she's still in training and can only speak to 2 people that are within 10 ft of her line of vision. So that would most likely not work."

"What do we do?!" Elfman questioned.

Warren began sobbing. "Dammit! Dammit! My lame power is just pathetic!" He yelled.

'No. Don't give up so soon.'

"That voice!" Lucy exclaimed.

'I still have an ace up my sleeve. Fairy Tail's ultimate weapon! Lumen Histoire!'

Makarov appeared in front of a large crystal encasing Mavis's body.

A/N: Another chapter is completed!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.