So... the baby has not come yet. This chapter just gave me a lot of trouble. But, here we are, finally.
I hope everyone enjoys!
Chapter title taken from the song of the same name by We Came As Romans
KEEPING SECRETS CHAPTER 30- EVERYTHING AS PLANNED
Sand and lightning collided in explosive bursts as Ajeel and Laxus exchanged magic, each clash rumbling through Hargeon. The air was thick with static and grit, the charged atmosphere crackling with a promise of devastation.
Ajeel's smirk widened as he held his ground. "You're no pushover, that's for sure! But let's see how you handle a real storm! SAND WORLD!"
With a thunderous roar, the entire town seemed to dissolve into a massive sandstorm. Swirling dunes enveloped the streets, blotting out the sun and reducing visibility to a grainy haze.
Laxus narrowed his eyes, the sand stinging his skin, but he grinned in defiance. His dragon enhanced senses clearly picked up Ajeel through the chaos swirling around them. He's betting I'll lose sight of him. Too bad for him, I don't need to see to land a hit!
Crouching low, Laxus let his magic surge through him. Sparks danced along his figure, building until his body became a literal lightning bolt. He launched himself into the storm, tearing through the sands in a brilliant flash of gold.
The sandstorm dispersed as Ajeel's stunned form was struck, the sound of thunder splitting through the air. The Spriggan flew through the walls of a nearby house, the structure groaning before collapsing into a pile of rubble.
Laxus landed smoothly, standing tall amidst the dissipating sands. He didn't relax, though; he knew better than to think a member of the Spriggan 12 would go down with one strike.
Sure enough, the rubble shifted, and Ajeel pushed himself free, laughing as he did. Shaking off the debris like it was nothing. A wide smile stretched across his face, even as sparks danced along his singed skin. "Damn! That actually hurt! I knew fighting you was gonna be sweet!"
"Pffft. Wish I could say the same." Laxus spat, his tone cold. "You're here destroying our home, and you're running around like a kid in a candy shop. Forgive me if I'm not thrilled about it."
Ajeel's smirk didn't waver as he dusted himself off. "Oh, lighten up, man! Orders are orders. I gotta do what I gotta do." He casually gestured at the rubble around him, his voice dripping with mockery. "But I just wanna point out, you're the one who trashed someone's house here, not me..."
A vein in Laxus's forehead twitched. "Quit with the smartass remarks or all they'll have left of you to send back to Alvarez is a bag of sand!"
Without warning, Laxus surged forward again, his magic sparking around him. "Lightning dragon, iron fist!"
His electrified punch drove towards Ajeel, but this time, two giant hands of sand erupted from the ground to intercept him. The sand absorbed his lightning, dulling the attack before pushing him back.
Ajeel crossed his arms, a smug grin plastered across his face. "Oh no, no more iron dragon fists for me!" He said mockingly. "Learned my lesson the first time with those!"
Laxus straightened back up, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Learned your lesson?"
"Yeah," Ajeel said, his tone almost casual. "We got our own dragon slayers back in Alvarez, ya know. They like that little move too, and I lost against one of 'em last time because of it, partially. But I ain't dumb enough to let the same thing beat me twice. If you wanna break through my sand, you'll have to come up with something better than that!"
Laxus growled, his frustration bubbling over. "Better than that, huh?" His lips curled into a sinister grin. "Alright, sandman. You want something better?"
The air thickened with electricity as lightning crackled fiercely around them. The yellow glow of Laxus's lightning began to shift until it took on a dark red hue. Ajeel's eyes widened, and for the first time during their battle, his smirk faltered as he felt the oppressive surge of raw power radiating from the Fairy Tail mage.
"Congratulations," Laxus said, voice low and full of intensity. "You're about to be the first to witness my new technique! I call it Red Lightning Dragon Mode!"
Ajeel's awe quickly transformed into exhilaration. "Sweet! I knew you weren't gonna let me down lightning boy!"
Sand erupted from beneath Ajeel, swirling around him faster and faster until it coalesced into a massive sand golem that towered over Laxus, its eyes glowing with an eerie golden light, and its steps causing the ground beneath them to tremble.
Laxus's eyes widened briefly at the sight of the enormous golem, but his stance remained unyielding as crimson lightning surged around him, arcs of energy scorching the ground. "I made this spell in honor of my great grandfather. Lightning magic runs in my blood. Let's see how your dry- ass pebbles hold up to this!"
Dark red lightning gathered around his fists, sparks flying off them as he crouched low. "Megaton- Red Lightning!"
He launched himself skyward, a crimson bolt streaking straight for the center of Ajeel's massive golem.
"Oh no you don't!" Ajeel roared, his sand golem's gigantic arms moving to intercept Laxus. Its fists successfully closed around the dragon slayer, trapping him mid-air.
For a moment, Ajeel was confident he had him- only for the golem's fists to explode into dust seconds later, unable to contain the sheer force of Laxus's lightning.
"No way!" Ajeel yelled, his confident smirk replaced by genuine shock just as Laxus pierced through the front of the golem. The construct disintegrated into a cascade of falling sand as Laxus struck the Spriggan head on, flinging him out the back of the collapsing golem.
Laxus landed back on the ground heavily, skidding across the debris- strewn street. The crimson lightning surrounding him flickered and faded, leaving only faint wisps of smoke.
He staggered, his chest heaving as he felt his exhaustion build. He tried to catch his breath but suddenly was overwhelmed by a splitting pain in his lungs. The world tilted slightly, and he felt liquid rise in his throat, and he gagged. A sick, bitter taste filled his mouth, before he vomited blackened blood everywhere, its acrid stench filling the air.
He had pushed himself too far. Damn bane particles... His legs buckled, but he forced himself to remain upright. At least he had taken out the Spriggan 12's Desert King.
However, his eyes widened as the sand swirling loosely before him suddenly solidified into a humanoid form. He tried to move, but his aching body refused to obey- his muscles burned, and every breath felt like inhaling fire.
"Ant lion pit!"
The ground beneath him shifted and a pit of sand swallowed him whole. He hadn't fallen far- just enough to be trapped in a deep pothole surrounded by crushing sand. His limbs were pinned, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free.
"WOW!" Ajeel exclaimed, fully reformed as his body emerged from the sands. He looked down at Laxus, grinning ear to ear. "I knew your power was sweet, but not THAT sweet! You almost had me there, lightning boy!"
Noting the blackened blood streaked across the dragon slayer's face, he quipped, "Looks like you might've pushed yourself a little too far there, though."
Laxus scowled, spitting at the sand near Ajeel's feet. "If my lungs weren't filled with these bane particles, your damn sand wouldn't have stood a chance against my lightning!" He spat.
Ajeel's smirk faltered, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait… Did you say bane particles? As in the anti-magic particles that are supposed to kill someone if they inhale too many?" His surprise was quickly replaced by something resembling awe. "HOLY FUCK! You're walking around with that crap in your lungs and still throwing out hits like that?" He grinned, shaking his head. "I take back everything I ever said about Ishgar being full of weaklings. Hell, how are you not a wizard saint?"
Laxus let out a bitter chuckle, his voice rough and strained. "You think I'm strong? You're dead wrong. I'm weak. Any strength I have- it's not mine. It comes from my friends and family." His eyes burned with defiance as he met Ajeel's gaze. "You might've beaten me today but mark my words: You and the rest of Zeref's minions don't stand a damn chance against what we have!"
Ajeel's smirk softened into something more genuine as he listened to Laxus's words. Then, he closed his eyes and chuckled softly. "You know, if this had been a year ago, I'd be on the ground laughing at your sappy little speech. But now…" He opened his eyes, the glint of a warrior's conviction shining in them. "I believe you. Bonds like that- yeah, they're powerful. And that's why I know we're not going to lose. Because my bonds with my loved ones are what keep me going."
Ajeel leaned closer, serious expression forming on his face and the conviction in his voice unwavering. "And I ain't Zeref's minion, either. I'm a soldier of Emperor Spriggan, and I took an oath to serve the Empire. That's what drives me- my love for my home, my family, and my people!" He straightened, his grin returning as he towered over Laxus. "So tell me, Fairy Tail wizard: What happens when two people with bonds that strong clash?"
Laxus glared at him, scowl deepening, but said nothing in response.
The sands surrounding him tightened. His tone becoming more playful, Ajeel continued, "Before, I might've just killed ya. But hey, I respect your conviction. Still can't let you get in the way. So, sorry pal, but I gotta make you take a dirt nap for a little bi-"
"White dragon's Holy Breath!"
A blinding beam of white light tore through the air, slamming into Ajeel with devastating force. The Desert King was blasted off his feet, sent flying down the sand filled streets. The grip of the sand around Laxus loosened, and he felt his body go slack.
His vision swam, darkness creeping into the edges, but before it overtook him completely, a hand tightly gripped his arm and hauled him upright.
"Here ya go, big guy." A familiar voice came.
Blinking through his hazy vision, Laxus finally made out the figure of Sting Eucliffe, the white dragon slayer and master of Sabertooth, hoisting one of his arms around his shoulders.
Sting flashed a confident grin. "I know we're a little late to the party... but you didn't think we'd let you have all the fun, did you?"
As Laxus's vision stabilized, he saw their allies getting back to their feet, with Minerva having restrained the Spriggan that had caused everyone else to collapse in hunger earlier... that smelled suspiciously similar to Natsu. The other Spriggan, the blonde woman, was held by Rogue's shadows.
Dimaria growled in frustration, struggling against the shadow dragon slayer's magic. "Damn it, Larcade! Why the Hell did you-" She cut herself off as she saw her comrade trapped in Minerva's territory bubble, realizing the Fiorian mages must have got the jump on him. Looking over at Ajeel, she saw him lying face down in the sand. That new dragon slayer must have gotten lucky and knocked him unconscious.
Rogue's shadows tightened around her, his expression dark and unwavering. "Don't make me hurt you." He said, voice sharp as a blade.
Dimaria's hand twitched, testing her restraints. To her great delight, she felt the cool handle of her dagger that was strapped to her hip. A smirk crept back onto her face as she met Rogue's eyes.
"Hurt me? Well, aren't you adorable." She said, her voice dripping with mockery… but her eyes burned with a dangerous light. "You're all better than I thought, I'll admit… but this battle's far from over. The real fight starts now."
Her sinister smile widened. "Time's up."
Her teeth clicked together, and the world froze.
Wall's doll and Jenny stared each other down, confident smirks plastered on each of their faces.
"To be honest, Miss Realight, I am intrigued." Wall said, his voice cool and measured. "It's rare to meet a human with such a deep appreciation for machines."
Jenny crossed her arms, her armor gleaming in the sunlight. "My dad was a mechanic. I spent my childhood helping in his shop helping him fix cars, lacrima powered machines… you name it. It's something that's stayed with me even though I chose a very different career path than my old man. Who would have thought though, it'd come in handy during a showdown with one of the infamous Spriggan 12?"
She flexed her metal encased arm, and grinned. "My magic takeover spell- Machina Soul- lets me control anything mechanical. And while machias are supposed to be a mix of biology and machinery... you said that's a doll. So, in other words, all mechanical. Which means it's only a matter of time before I make you my plaything, you over-glorified bucket of bolts."
Wall let out a cold, metallic laugh. "You? Override me? How adorable. I assure you, Miss Fiore, I am far more complex than the drooling masses you call your fans."
Jenny's smirk widened. "We'll see about that!"
Wall chuckled. "Indeed, we shall."
Jenny launched herself at Wall, a blur of motion as she closed the gap between herself and the Wall in an instant. So quickly, that Wall wasn't able to dodge in time, his heavy armor slowing him down. Jenny's own armor coated hand clamped down around his arm.
For a moment, Wall froze as a host of error messages flooded his vision and interrupted his doll's systems. His body locked up, and his sensors blared with warnings. A human that understands machines so intimately... fascinating. A bit too intimately, however.
Quickly analyzing the situation, Wall made a quick calculation. "Contact based takeover spell detected. Sacrificing left arm for a 90% higher chance of success rate for victory.
Jenny lost her balance as Wall's body suddenly detached from his immobilized arm. Before she could recover, Wall delivered a powerful blow to her stomach with his remaining fist, which, despite her armor, sent her flying backwards, the impact knocking the wind out of her.
"Machine Takeover is a very fascinating spell, Miss Realight." Wall said, his expression smug as Jenny struggled to her feet. "But I'm afraid my alchemy is far superior. As long as I am standing, I can re-shape my internal mechanisms into whatever I need to achieve victory."
At that, several missile pods sprouted from his shoulders, each one glowing ominously. "Let's see how well you handle this."
The missiles fired in a rapid volley, streaking straight towards Jenny. Her eyes widened in alarm.
Shit... I really thought I'd have him on the ropes for longer than that... hopefully he's not rewritten his coding this quickly... She quickly activated her machina- enhanced scanners, which locked onto the frequency controlling the missiles. She rapidly overrode the missiles' guidance systems and redirected them back towards Wall.
The missiles collided with Wall's doll in a massive explosion, shrouding their immediate surroundings in smoke and debris. Jenny smirked, confident her quick thinking had turned the tide.
But when the dust cleared, Wall emerged unscathed, his body encased by a glowing ray shield. With a flick of his wrist, the shield dissipated.
"Very clever, Miss Realight." Wall said with a coy grin. "However, that is the last time your little hacks will work. This battle's outcome is already decided. I am the elite of the machias race, and I won't let some human tinkerer get the better of me."
He stretched out his complete arm, a sphere of concentrated magic power forming in his palm, glowing brighter with every passing second. "Allow me to show you the overwhelming difference in our power. Vortex assault!"
Jenny was in awe of the sheer amount of magic power in the machias's hands and barely managed to dodge in time. The blast slammed into the ground, the resulting shockwave obliterating everything in its path. The force threw Jenny into a nearby building, pieces of her armor cracking under the strain.
Coughing up blood, Jenny struggled to stand, her body screaming in protest. More pieces of her armor chipped away, and she felt her magic energy draining rapidly. Her still active enhancements sparked, and flickered, warning her of the damages. Damn… I really underestimated just how strong one of the Spriggan 12 could be…
Her ear protectors that also served as hearing enhancers picked up Wall's footsteps approaching. Quickly, she scrambled for a place to hide. To her great delight, they had ended up in a factory of some sort. As she ducked behind a stack of industrial equipment, she flipped several activation switches, firing up some of the facility's massive machinery.
Wall stepped into the building, his heat vision scanner illuminating the chaos of the waking machines. His smirk almost faltered as he realized Jenny had done this to mask her location. "Very clever Miss Realight, but you can't actually think that's going to stop me from finding yo-"
Wall's words were cut off as a forklift, which roared to life behind him, rammed into him, its tongs piercing through his armor. Wha-
Before Wall could recover, the entire building turned against him. Overhead cranes swung down, crashing into him. Automated arms flung heavy machinery at his head. Despite his attempts to dodge, damage the forks had done to his body slowed him. Sparks flew from his joints as he was assaulted from every angle.
Hovering above the chaos on rocket powered boots, having patched her damaged battle suit with machinery from around the factory, Jenny grinned. "I'm a bit pissed you damaged my suit. I had to patch it with these scraps. But... I'll say thank you for knocking me in here, it's made a great playground for me!"
She turned to a large vat, steam hissing as molten metal bubbled within. Extending her hand, she took control of the locking mechanisms at the base of the vat and promptly tipped it over. The molten metal surged across the floor, straight towards Wall.
Wall realized they were in a diecast plant a few milliseconds too late. "NO-"The machias's voice was cut off as molten metal consumed him. Activating a high-powered cooling device Jenny had attached to her arm, she sent a stream of icy air at the molten flood and in seconds, the entire factory floor was encased in solid metal, trapping Wall.
Jenny dropped back to the ground, and unequipped her battle suit. Her breathing was labored, but a victorious smile stretched across her face. It had taken everything she had, but she had taken down one of the Spriggan 12.
But Her smile slipped off her face as the floor began to shift. The metal twisted and groaned, reshaping itself into the shape of her opponent. She grimaced as Wall completely reformed, looking entirely unharmed.
The machias's smirk returned as he flexed his new arm. "Impressive, Miss Realight. Your ingenuity is quite... enchanting." His voice betrayed a hint of admiration. His arm morphed back into a railgun, glowing with energy. "Unfortunately, we are at war, and I must ensure His Majesty's plans come to fruition... goodbye, Miss Realight, I wish we could have had more time together."
Jenny grit her teeth. She had nowhere to run.
Wall's railgun hummed as it charged. But suddenly, his sensors began to register something strange. The environment around him seemed to distort, shifting at an impossibly fast pace. Which made no sense, unless-
"Illusion magic." Wall grumbled. He spun around, attempting to locate the source... and his scanners barely had time to register a heat source approaching him at an unbelievably fast pace.
So fast it smashed through his arm, shattering it and its attached railgun.
Wall staggered back and grit his mechanical jaw as two figures approached- a young man in a brown tunic with black and white hair, and another with a blonde mohawk, red tracksuit, goggles, and an extremely long nose.
"Looks like we made it just in time." The one in the tracksuit said, smirking.
"Well." Wall spat. "Looks like I've attracted some cockroaches."
"All crush!"
A wave of Gildarts' magic surged outward, colliding with the dark energy spiraling towards him. The black magic shattered into thousands of tiny cubes before dissolving into nothingness.
Zeref paused, raising a curious eyebrow, seeming genuinely surprised for a moment. Then, that eerie smile returned.
"Impressive. Seems our sources weren't exaggerating your power, Gildarts Clive. Hmmmm..." A mischievous glint entered his smile, and his tone turned almost playful as he said, "What a waste of talent. If I'd discovered you years ago, you would have made a remarkable Shield of Spriggan."
Gildarts scoffed, his smirk brimming with defiance. "Sorry, but your legion of doom ain't really my style, old man."
Zeref chuckled, the sound hollow and unnerving. "What a shame. I could have helped you refine that power of yours- polished it into something truly extraordinary. But no…" His smile darkened. "I see it suits you as it is: Wild, chaotic, and too destructive for your own good."
The dig hit its mark. Gildarts' smirk twisted into a scowl. Without another word, he slammed his palm to the earth, unleashing a massive Crush spell. The ground beneath them groaned and shattered into massive cubic fragments, which surged toward Zeref like a tidal wave of destruction.
Zeref teleported at the last possible second, with only the end of his sash joining the mud and stone in their cube forms. He reappeared a few feet away and calmly brushed the dust from his robes.
"Oooh, did I strike a nerve?" Zeref's smirk widened as he launched a barrage of dark, bullet sized projectiles at Gildarts.
Gildarts countered instinctively, casting Crush on the incoming bullets. To his shock, they detonated on impact, blanketing the battlefield in fiery explosions. Forced to dodge the sudden blasts, he didn't notice Zeref materializing behind him, who sent a stream of dark magic towards the Fairy Tail mage. Gildarts was barely able to cast a counterspell in time to stop the black magic from enveloping him.
"No need to panic." Zeref said, his voice calm and mocking. "This is all a game to me, Gildarts. That spell wouldn't have killed you, just knocked you out for a while."
"Gee, you're awfully considerate of your opponents." Gildarts spat as he caught his breath. "Sorry that I can't say the same for myself!"
Gildarts slammed his palm to the ground again and unleashed a storm of debris at the dark mage, engulfing the battlefield into a maelstrom of stone and dirt.
Zeref quickly whispered a speed enchantment onto himself and weaved through Gildarts' onslaught with elegant precision. Still, the Fairy Tail mage's assault didn't let up. Zeref had to admit; he was impressed with the man's raw power. He obviously stood no chance against the black mage, but Zeref once again couldn't help but consider the possibilities if he had Gildarts or his magic at his disposal.
He was so distracted by his daydreaming that a chunk of debris, charged by one of Gildarts' crush spells, struck Zeref's arm. Despite being an immortal that healed almost instantly, he winced from the searing pain as his arm disintegrated into hundreds of small, flesh-colored cubes. He grit his teeth and instinctively went to hold his wound.
Gildarts took advantage of Zeref's distraction and sent a massive chunk of earth straight for the black mage, which collided with him and knocked him on his back.
"Not so untouchable now, are you?" Gildarts said with a smirk.
Zeref sat up, scowling. His missing arm had reformed, and he flexed it several times. He felt the other wounds to his body heal up, and he wiped the dirt from his face as he stood back up and addressed Gildarts, his smile replaced by a scowl. "I admit, you're stronger than I expected. But raw strength without control is meaningless. Let me show you what true mastery looks like."
To Gildarts, Zeref was entirely still for just a moment, but before he could move, Zeref was standing directly in front of him, moving at a speed Gildarts couldn't believe. In truth, Zeref had frozen time and closed the distance between Gildarts.
Zeref's first strike was a blur, slamming into Gildarts' stomach with enough force to crack stone. The Fairy Tail mage staggered, barely catching sight of the second blow- a brutal uppercut that sent him flying backwards.
Zeref didn't let up there, his speed clearly having overwhelmed Gildarts, allowing him to land a series of devastating strikes that he thought would have made his brother proud. Seems those months in the wilderness truly had increased his physical abilities.
Well, he also had enchantments amplifying his strength active, but he wasn't going to mention those when he shared the story of this battle to Natsu.
Gildarts was flung back from Zeref's blows. He attempted to use crush again, but the black mage had gotten too fast. He settled for using it to attempt to slow the other man down, though it wasn't turning out as successful as he would have liked.
Not far away, Cana struggled to keep track of her father while fending off her own opponent. As much as she hated to admit it, it was becoming more and more difficult. Especially with the freezing air around her burning her lungs, a constant reminder of the power the Winter General commanded.
"Taking your eyes off your opponent is a grace mistake." Invel said, the frost in the air seeming to intensify with his words.
Turning back to him, Cana smirked, despite the chills running across her skin. "Ohhhh, thanks for the tip. Really though, you henchmen are all the same. Giving these lectures like you're some big deal when you've got no clue what you're actually up against. You all act tough, but one good card gets thrown in your face and you're out of the game."
With a flick of her wrist, Cana unleashed a volley of enchanted cards at Invel, which exploded into bursts of fire and lightning, lighting up the frozen battlefield.
However, they failed to hit their target as Invel calmly conjured a wall of ice which absorbed the attacks. Adjusting his glasses, he spoke in his usual impassive tone- "This is not a game, and I am not 'acting tough'. You are reckless, unfocused, and nowhere near my equal. Surrender now, and you will not suffer."
Cana's smirk faded slightly, and her brow furrowed in irritation. "You think you're so cool-"
"I am." Invel deadpanned.
"-but you're about to see what Fairy Tail is made of!" she snapped, launching another handful of cards at him. These were more varied, combining elemental blasts, binding spells, and shimmering illusions that seemed to dance across the battlefield.
Invel narrowed his eyes as he sidestepped most of her attacks and dispelled the rest with precise bursts of ice magic. I admit, she's more resourceful than I would have guessed. He admitted to himself. But she's still no match for someone of the Twelve's level.
"Ice lock." Invel declared, as icy chains coiled around Cana's wrists, pulling them tight. She struggled as the ice slowed her movements, her breath coming in sharp gasps as Invel approached, a cold smirk forming on his face.
"You most certainly have talent, but it's wasted on haphazard tactics. You lack discipline. Hmmm. Like father, like daughter, it would seem."
Cana jaw tightened at his words, her teeth grinding together in frustration. However, a moment later, her smirk returned. She moved quicker than Invel anticipated, and he didn't have time to stop her as she opened her palm to reveal a card she had placed there earlier. It fell to her feet, and a blazing inferno hot enough to melt his ice erupted. Invel even took an instinctive step back and shielded his face as the flames singed the edges of his coat.
"Nice try Ice man. You won't get me that easily."
"It seems I've underestimated you. My mistake." Invel said, as a wave of chilling magic burst from his body, causing frost to spread around them. He couldn't help letting a smirk return to his face as he saw Cana's eyes widen at his magic energy. "True- Ice Kamui!"
A dense mist surrounded him, and when it cleared, he stood clad in a fearsome suit of armor made entirely from ice, every piece radiating deadly cold, his silhouette looming over Cana like a frozen war god.
"This unholy ice freezes anything- even other ice." Invel declared, his voice echoing unnaturally through the battlefield. "Surrender now, Miss Albarona. You stand no chance against me."
Cana gulped, her fingers twitching nervously at her side. For a split second, doubt flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.
"You don't get it, do you?" She said, voice rising. "Fairy Tail doesn't give up!" With that, she charged, throwing everything she had at Invel that could buy her time or slow him down.
Lucky for her, she knew something even unholy ice couldn't stand up to.
Makarov and Jura could sense the other titanic magic auras of the other wizard saints, but there was one that overshadowed the rest.
God Serena.
It was almost laughable how his insufferable personality belied the sheer scale of the man's overwhelming power.
Warrod, Wolfheim, and Draculos stood battered and panting, glaring at the traitor.
"Oh, more annoyances on the way." God Serena sneered as he spotted Makarov and Jura approaching, his grin as wide and arrogant as ever.
"You two sure took your sweet time!" Wolfheim growled.
"Not the most gracious welcome there, Wolfheim." Warrod muttered, his usual jovial demeanor absent.
"Thank you for coming, Makarov, Jura." Draculos said, his crimson eyes locked on God Serena, who was making one of his signature poses. "We weren't going to last much longer."
"We're here now, so we'll take him down together." Jura said, readying himself for battle.
God Serena brought his hand down from his face. "Ah, more of my former associates. Forgive me, I don't remember your names. Not that it matters. You'll be out of the picture soon enough."
Makarov's jaw tightened. "We'll see about that, you filthy traitor!"
The five wizard saints surged toward God Serena in unison, their combined magics exploding with tremendous force- only to be nullified in the blink of an eye.
"Cavern Dragon: Terraform!" God Serena bellowed, slamming his hands to the ground. Warrod's roots that were heading for the dragon slayer were impaled by jagged spikes of stone that erupted from the earth.
Wolfheim roared as he transformed, his body beginning to morph into a monstrous beast, but midway through his transformation God Serena turned his attention to him. "Lightning Dragon's Tears Of The Heavens!" A devastating bolt of electricity struck Wolfheim, sending him crashing to the ground, his body convulsing as he completely returned to human form.
Draculos moved like a shadow, closing the distance between himself and the former number one wizard saint. God Serena turned his attention to his successor. "Luminous dragon, ROAR!" A concentrated light blasted towards Draculos, only for the man to vanish in a cloud of mist just before the light attack reached him.
Unfazed, God Serena switched magic without missing a beat. "Sea Dragon King: ROAR!" A massive torrent of water surged forth, swallowing Draculos's mist form, the now number one wizard saint being pulled under the waters, unable to maintain his intangible state against the deluge.
God Serena turned his attention to Jura, who summoned towering stone walls around himself in defense. With a flourish, the Wizard-saint-turned-Spriggan summoned his next attack: Gale Dragon's Tempest: Snow, Moon, and Flowers!" The cyclone's winds shredded through Jura's walls like they were paper, sending the Wizard saint flying backwards.
Makarov growled and unleashed his giant form, his body quadrupling in size as his magic energy spiked. "I don't care how powerful you've become, God Serena, I won't let you destroy our home!" He swung a colossal fist down at the traitorous Wizard Saint.
-Only to be blocked by a diamond shield. "Diamond Dragon: Shield Of Victory!"
Makarov grimaced as he pulled his fist away.
God Serena leapt high into the air, a malicious grin on his face. "You all are BORING! Wizard saints? Bah! You're nothing compared to a god, like myself!" Swirling cyclones formed in his hands as he shouted, "Gale Dragon's Tempest- Snow, Moon, and Flowers, times two!"
A devastating storm ripped across the battlefield, sending the Wizard Saints scrambling to hold their ground.
"Grab on!" Makarov yelled over the howling blast, anchoring himself to the ground with one arm while Jura formed rocky anchors to hold the giant guild master in place.
God Serena's smile just grew wider as the winds howled around them. "And now... Purgatory dragon, roar!" A blast of dark, crimson flames descended on the wizard saints. They had almost no time to react due to the speed of God Serena's winds as an inferno engulfed the battlefield. The wizard saints screamed as the flames washed over them, while God Serena laughed maniacally as he descended back to earth.
Oh, right. His Highness said not to kill them.
"Sea Dragon King: ROAR!" God Serena shouted as he flooded the fiery battlefield with another torrent of water. When the waters had receded, he saw the other wizard saints laying burnt and injured, but alive.
"Haha! As you can see, I am a magnificently gracious god. Now do you understand your place, peons?"
Wolfheim coughed out blood as he glared at God Serena. "Does it feel good, looking down on us? To betray your comrades? To spit on the home you once fought for... Michael?"
God Serena's grin vanished in an instant. His expression darkened, and his voice became uncharastically serious, devoid of inflection and its usual flamboyance. "What the Hell did you just call me?"
"You… you're my mother?" Erza stammered, her voice trembling with shock and disbelief.
"Indeed." Irene said coolly, her tone softening only slightly. "I was the one who left you in Rosemary Village, alongside His Majesty." Her voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible hint of regret.
Erza's expression darkened at the mention of Zeref. "So, you abandoned me just so you could serve as Zeref's lapdog?"
Irene scowled deeply, her eyes narrowing. "Abandoned you?" She hissed. "You have no idea of the sacrifices I've made. I left you for reasons far beyond your comprehension. And you dare to speak so flippantly about matters you know nothing about?" Her tone grew colder, more biting. "After all, without His Majesty... you would not even exist."
Erza's breath hitched as her mind raced. Is she saying... Zeref is my FATHER?! Is THAT why she follows him? The thought was staggering, but she forced herself to shake it off, her expression hardening with determination. She raised her voice, cutting through the emotional storm. "At this point, I couldn't care less about who gave me life. My true family is Fairy Tail- the people who saved me, raised me, and gave me purpose. All you gave me was abandonment! I need no clearer proof of that than the fact you've only revealed yourself now, using my face and name to terrorize innocents in the name of Zeref and his empire!"
A mixture of emotions flew through Irene. At first, it was hurt- she didn't know why she would be hurt, after all, this wasn't the best way to drop the news of their relation on her estranged daughter- but also, she was angry. After all, His Majesty's reunion with his brother, while not without its problems, had gone fairly swimmingly, from what she had seen. She'd hoped their reunion would evoke something- recognition, curiosity, maybe a hint of warmth- but all she saw in her daughter's eyes was disdain.
"That said," Erza continued, her voice filled with conviction, "I will thank you for giving me life. Because of that, I was able to find my true family. And know this- anyone who opposes my guild is my enemy!"
Irene lips curled into a dark, sinister, smile. A chilling chuckle escaped her as her magic power surged, the air around her growing heavy. "Oh, Erza." She said, her voice low and mixed with sinister glee and malice. "Yes, you are most certainly my daughter. Here I was, foolishly hurt by your lack of care for me, but now…". Her smile widened, and her gaze gleamed with pride. "Now I see it! Yes, you are so much like me it makes me proud."
The surge of Irene's magic made Erza falter, her stance wavering for a split-second. Her magic power is on a whole other level! Can I really hold out against her?
Irene's smile grew razor sharp. "Because the way you feel about your guild- this chosen family of yours- I feel exactly the same about anyone who opposes His Majesty and the empire!"
Erza's grip on her sword tightened as she steadied herself. Her crimson hair fell across her face as she lowered her head slightly, then looked up with fierce resolve. I have no choice. For my friends, for the guild- I have to defeat her!
"Come now, Erza." Irene taunted. "Show me what you've learned in that guild of yours. Show me the strength of your so-called family!"
Erza's eyes blazed with determination as she raised her sword, her voice ringing out with conviction. "Fairy Tail has taught me more than you could ever understand! I'll show you the strength of the bonds you discarded!"
With a battle cry, Erza dashed towards Irene, sword gleaming as it cut through the air.
Natsu tugged at the spandex suit he was wearing. Jacob had insisted all four of them wear black body suits and face obscuring goggles to, in the unlikely case his concealment spell was interrupted, give them a better chance of moving through the guildhall's basement undetected.
All it reminded Natsu of was one very uncomfortable encounter with a group of 'unforgettable' villains.
"I just wanna say I hate these suits. They make me feel like I'm in the Jiggle Butt Gang." Natsu telepathically grumbled.
..."The what?!"
"What in the name of all that is holy and decent is the Jiggle Butt Gang?"
"And I thought I had seen everything..."
Natsu struggled not to laugh at Rusty's, Jacob's, and August's reactions. "Oops, I guess I never shared that story. They were these three guys that dressed kinda like this, and they said they were bandits but... they weren't exactly good at it. I think their main attack was… uh, some type of fart-based thing..."
"Please stop, Your Highness, if you say anymore, I'm going to start laughing and give away our position." Rusty projected, clearly amused.
"I must agree… Perhaps now isn't the time to regale us with tales of... the Jiggle Butt Gang..." August conveyed, his tone a mixture of humor and disbelief.
"I second that. Actually, with all due respect Your Highness, please never mention them again. To think such… horrors exist in this world..." Jacob projected; his stiff unease almost hysterical to the others.
As the group, minus Jacob, tried not to laugh, they reached a door with a sign that read: 'KEEP OUT, PRIVATE- MAKAROV' and in smaller, hastily scrawled l letters beneath it: 'Especially YOU, Cana!'
"Gramps' liquor closet... I have a feeling this is it." Natsu declared confidently.
"Really?" Rusty sounded skeptical. "A source of unlimited magic is hidden in... someone's booze cellar?"
"It would seem consistent with what Natsu has told me about Fairy Tail's eccentricities." August said, surprisingly sounding somewhat amused.
"How indecent..." Jacob said, though it was unclear if he was referring to the cellar or his mind still processing the existence of the Jiggle Butt Gang.
Natsu turned the door handle, revealing a modest liquor closet lined with shelves that were packed with bottles of various shapes and sizes.
The group quickly entered, closing the door behind them as they began to inspect the shelves, looking for anything out of place.
On the shelf on the far wall, August's keen eye caught an old wine bottle labeled Year X686- the year Fairy Tail was founded. It appeared empty, yet when he tried to move it, he realized it was stuck in place.
"Hmmm…" August gave it a firm tug, and the bottle shifted forward, pulling with a neatly cut section of the shelf along with it. A low rumbling sound echoed through the room, and the shelf swung outward, revealing a hidden lever embedded in the wall.
As August pulled the lever, the wall groaned and cracked, the shelf fully sliding away to expose a dark staircase descending into the unknown.
"That was quite loud." Rusty observed, tension in his tone.
"Indeed." Jacob agreed. "Even with our presences concealed, any dragon slayer still here certainly would have heard that." Jacob agreed.
"They're all gone." Natsu said. "Erik from Crime Sorceire was the last one unaccounted for on the battlefield, but I saw him leave the guildhall right behind Gramps and the others. Thank God for that, the fact he could read thoughts was a problem we couldn't just seem to plan around."
August smirked. "I may have… quietly projected a thought to him." He said, his tone sly. "Something about Kianna- the Fairy Tail mage he seems so smitten with- needing his help. All it took was a little nudge to get him to act on it."
Natsu was again thankful August had inherited his mother's affinity for tactics.
"Well, I for one am very pleased to hear that." Jacob said. "As much as I'd like to see if my presence concealment spell extends to thoughts, I would much rather wait for a far less critical situation to find out."
Natsu stepped towards the staircase, expression hardening as he stared into the darkness below. "Come on, everyone. Fairy Heart is waiting for us."
Their group descended down the staircase in silence, the air seeming to grow heavier with each step. After a few minutes, they reached a massive pair of double doors, radiating magic energy that seemed to vibrate through the air itself.
August stepped forward, placing his hands on the enchanted doors. His fingers glowed faintly as he channeled an anti-magic spell into the intricate seal. The spell seemed to resist at first, but August's overwhelming power prevailed, and the seal disappeared with a low hum. Slowly, the doors creaked open, revealing a vast, otherworldly chamber.
The room was far larger than they had anticipated- an infinite abyss of darkness with no visible ceiling or floor. In the center, suspended at the end of a narrow pathway, stood Fairy Heart. Its radiant, purplish glow was a stark contrast to the blackened void surrounding it, a pulsating beacon of immeasurable magic.
"This... certainly is different from what I remember. Perhaps the sheer power of Fairy Heart has warped the space around it?" August privately projected to Natsu.
"You'd know more about it than me, but that tracks." Natsu said. "To be honest, it doesn't matter to me as long as we can accomplish our mission."
"Right."
The group stopped at the edge of the bridge leading to Fairy Heart. "I'll have to drop the concealment spell temporarily while you and August retrieve the package." Jacob said, clapping his hands softly, causing Natsu and August to reappear.
Natsu let out a shaky breath. August rested his hand on his shoulder, firm and reassuring as they both faced Fairy Heart.
"For family." August said, his tone heavy with purpose.
"For family." Natsu echoed, his resolve hardening.
He strode up to Fairy Heart, the weight of the mission pressing on his shoulders. Reaching the massive lacrima, he placed his hand against its surface. The overwhelming magic power radiating from Fairy Heart made his entire body buzz, a visceral reminder of the power they sought.
Taking one last deep breath, Natsu shot a blast of concentrated curse power into the lacrima. The foreign energy crackled, darkening the lacrima for a moment, casting the room in an ominous red light before the lacrima stabilized and returned to normal.
Natsu quickly stepped back from the lacrima, to where Jacob and Rusty hastily joined him and August on the bridge. Jacob quickly re-cast the presence concealment spell.
And not a moment too soon, because only seconds later, Mavis's thought projection appeared in front of the lacrima, her eyes scanning the room like a hawk.
"I know you're here!" She declared, her normally small voice cutting through the oppressive silence. Her gaze darted around the room, and though try as she might, she was unable to track down the source of that strange power she had felt moments earlier.
His hand on his uncle's shoulder, Natsu felt August stiffen beside him, his nephew's reaction unmistakable. This was the first time in nearly a century August had seen his mother, even if it was only her thought projection.
Natsu inhaled sharply. "August... Do you see her?"
"Yes." August replied, his tone strained with emotion. But then August's arm began to glow, and as the power of Fairy Glitter built up around him, he uttered three more resolute words.
"For His Majesty."
Upon hearing August's words, Jacob dropped the spell.
Mavis's eyes widened in shock as four figures materialized out of thin air. She opened her mouth to shout for her guildmates, but the sight of a certain spell racing toward her left her momentarily frozen.
Fairy Glitter struck her thought projection, and Mavis let out a piercing, heart-wrenching scream.
Natsu winced, the cry cutting through him like a blade. He heard August grimace as well. They knew there was a high probability of Mavis feeling pain from Fairy Glitter but talking about it in theory and seeing it happen was quite different.
Come on, August…Natsu thought to himself. You're strong enough to make this quick!
As if in response to Natsu's thoughts, the lacrima containing Mavis's body began to crack. The fractures in the crystal spread like spiderwebs until, with a shattering explosion, the lacrima burst apart.
Mavis's unconscious body tumbled from the debris, and her distraught thought projection vanished from existence.
August moved faster than Natsu could see to the base of where the lacrima once was and caught his mother's falling body. His hands trembled as he checked her neck for a pulse.
"I feel her heart beating!" He exclaimed.
Sure enough, Natsu heard the faint, rhythmic sound of Mavis's heart. Relief flooded through him, washing away the crushing tension he had felt since the mission had begun. They had done it.
He didn't need to see the others' faces to see they were ecstatic as well. August held his mother close, tears glistening in his eyes as he looked down at her peaceful face.
For a fleeting moment, everything felt right.
But that moment was short lived.
They had been careless, caught up in their success. They weren't thinking about the fact that if Mavis had felt the curse power surge under the guildhall, others would have too.
Namely a certain ice devil slayer, whose speed was faster than their intelligence had suggested.
One moment, Natsu was smiling, reveling in their victory.
The next, an excruciating, icy pain, erupted from his torso. He slowly glanced down in shock as a jagged blade of darkened ice burst from his chest, its edges slick with his blood.
The blade withdrew as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Natsu gasping for air that wouldn't come. He heard the horrified shouts of his comrades as his legs buckled beneath him.
The last thing he saw before darkness completely overtook him was a glint of light on Gray's blood covered ice blade.
Yeah, so... I KNEW when I started writing this, I would be using this particular cliffhanger at some point... but I didn't plan on it happening when my posting has slowed down. Eh heh, sorry... I hope I can get the next chapter written a bit faster...
Now, special thanks to a few people...
Valeska001 for beta reading!
Spot of Tea for giving me the idea of Zeref's magic aura from chapter 28 (sorry it's taken me this long to credit you!)
And whoever suggested Erza misunderstanding Irene and thinking Zeref was her father. I apologize that I cannot remember at the moment! If it was you, please remind me!
Finally, everyone who's read, favorited, or commented, thank you :)
I'm gonna take one more page out of Spot of Tea's book and tell you the title of the next chapter XD. So I'll see you next time for chapter 31, 'A Raincheck On My Demise'!