Chapter 26
Regulus
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback / Mindscape
Location / Date / Time Skip
Kardia Cathedral
"So, Erza's been revived and Mystogan has returned..." Laxus said as he looked at the runes above him. "Counting me, that make three of Fairy Tail's top wizards going head to head. Well, can't have a proper festival without a main event, can you?"
With Erza
The red head ran down the streets, looking for any of the four usurpers. "Erza, what are you doing in that getup?" A townsperson asked, making her stop.
"We saw some of your guild mates earlier." Another said. "Think you could ask them not to wreck the town?"
"Please, forgive them." Erza begged. "They're just preparing for the big parade."
"What does that have to do with fighting?" The first asked.
"Trust me, it will be a good show." Erza said.
"Okay, I'll take your word." He gave her a thumbs up and she continued her run before jumping back as spears flew down from the sky, exploded on the ground."
"Well, that's odd." Erza looked up at Evergreen with a scowl. "If I'm right, I turned you into a pigeon magnet. Well, it doesn't matter. This give me an excuse to further torment you."
"You want to fight me, Evergreen?" Erza asked.
"You really irritate me." The brunette said back. "Calling yourself Titania, Queen of the fairies." She opened her fan over her mouth. "What a farce. I am the only Fairy Queen." She flipped over a sign on the building, allowing dust to fall off her. "Fairy Bomb: Gremlin!"
The dust exploded and Erza jumped out of the explosion, a sword in each hand. She swung at Evergreen who flew out of the way, letting the red head slice through a steel smokestack. Both landed on opposite buildings and glared at each other.
"We have a score to settle." Evergreen said.
"This saves me the trouble of hunting you down." Erza said back before launching forward. "The sooner I beat you, the sooner everyone will be turned back to normal!"
"Careful, overconfidence is a dangerous thing." Evergreen lifted her glasses and activated her Stone Eyes.
"Not this time!" Erza shouted as she swung her swords and Evergreen flipped back.
"So that repulsive false eye of yours actually does something?" The brunette asked as she summoned her wings. "Then let see how you like this." She crossed her arms as allege amounts of dust surrounded the limbs. "Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!" She swung her arms and beams of dust launched at Erza who effortlessly dodged them.
She swung her swords again but Evergreen jumped out of the way, leading Erza on a chase as she avoided more shots. "You've managed to dodge all those needles, I'm impressed." The flying brunettes began to glow in the same light as her dust. "But let's see you dodge twice that much!" She doubled her needles and Erza struggled to block them.
Evergren laughed as the shots tore Erza's dress and leggings. "From this day forward, I shall be called Titania! I am the one true fairy!"
Erza jumped off the roof and removed her boots with her magic, summoning swords in between her toes. Slicing through the shots with all four blades, she threw her foot blades and pinned Evergreen against a stone stack. "You may be intolerable, but you're still a member of Fairy Tail." Erza said as she landed. "I shall honor that. If you want to call yourself Titania, go ahead. I don't even know how I got that name in the first place."
Evergreen glared at Erza with pure rage. "If you stop this ridiculousness and return the others to normal, then no harm will come to you."
"A little naive, aren't you?" Evergreen chuckled. "My Stone Eyes have one more power, you know.. Erza walked forward uninterested in what Evergren was saying. "Remote control." Those two words made her stop. "Drop to your knees and bow to me! If not, I'll use my eyes to topple your statues and shatter them! Tell me, how much do you think Natsu will hate you, knowing you're the reason Laki is dead!?"
Erza stood wide before she activated her Requip. Evergreen smiled until the glow died and Erza was in her Heaven' Wheel armor with about a hundred swords pointed at her. "I'm impressed. If you feel that winning or losing is more important than your own life, then so be it. In taking your life, I will avenge the souls of the other girls."
Evergreen stared flabbergasted before she screamed in fear. Erza walked work are and punched her in the face. "If you're going to bluff, than at least make an effort."
"Alright... You win..." Evergreen conceded, muffled under Erza's fist.
Guildhall
The statue of Lucy shattered, freeing her from her prison. One by one, the other girls were freed as well, all confused.
"They're back to normal!" Natsu cheered as he jumped on to the stage and hugged Laki.
"Um, Natsu..." Laki said with a blush. "Could you not do this when I'm wearing this?"
"Oh, sorry." Natsu let go of his friend.
"Come on girls, let's change." The purplette suggested as she, Juvia, Cana and Bisca went behind the curtain.
The runes popped up in front of the guild entrance. "Erza vs Evergreen, the winner is Erza!" Makarov read with joy. "Sorry, Laxus. No more hostages. Can't keep this game going now, can you?"
Kardia Cathedral
"You've failed me..." The blonde growled as he looked at the runes in front of him. "I put my faith in you, Evergreen and this is what happens? When the hell did you become weaker than Erza?"
"Erza is stronger than you think." Freed said from behind. "You should have sent me or Bickslow after her."
"Why are you here instead of fighting out there?" Laxus asked without turning around.
"Because the game is over." Freed explained. "We cannot force the masters hand if we no longer have any hostages." Laxus turned and glared at the greenette as an arc of lighting shot by, tearing the ground up.
"This isn't over yet." Lightning shot off the blondes headphones. "If you don't want to follow me, then get lost. My Fairy Tail has no need for weaklings."
Guildhall
"The battle of Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked after the slayers and Makarov explained the situation.
"He's really out done himself now." Cana added from behind.
"That doesn't matter anymore because it's over." Makarov said. "Now that you've all been de-petrified, Laxus can't keep this ridiculous game going anymore."
"Master, we can't let him get away with hurting our friends." Mirajane somberly said.
"She's right!" Bisca shouted. "If we don't teach him a lesson, what's to stop him for doing this again!?"
"I say we shove hornets down his pants and staple them shut." Laki suggested with a wicked smile.
"That might be a bit much." Happy said from the top of her head.
"Oh, don't worry about that." The master chuckled. "I'll give him a punishment he'll never forget. He should know better. Messing with me is fine, but don't ever mess with my guild."
"Hold on a second." Natsu spoke up. "I don't know about taking hostages, but I don't see any harm in finding out whose the strongest." The girls just stared blankly at him. "In the end, I bet he was just trying to have some fun for the festival. Give him a break."
'I don't know what I'm gonna do with you, Natsu...' The older wizard thought.
"So, in other words, let's stop talk and let's start brawling!" He cheered. "We got enough people here! Let's start round two!"
"What?" Bisca, Lucy, and Levy shouted in shock.
"Not a chance, nincompoop!" Makarov shouted.
"Come on! I have to do something with all this pent up energy." Natsu begged as he shadowed boxed in front of Lucy.
"Coming from you, I can't tell if it's a joke or not." Lucy huffed.
"You wanna fight that badly, then bring it on, Natsu." Cana suggested.
"I think I've had enough fighting for one day." Bisca huffed.
"Natsu..." Laki walked up from behind. "We have more important things to talk about. Like what you said when I was a statue..."
Natsu froze before turning around. "What are you talking about? I never said anything..."
"Not true!" The other girls shouted. "We all heard you!"
A cold shiver ran down his spine as Laki glared intensely at him. "Uh, well uh, you see..."
Juvia looked over and noticed the serious look on Gajeel's face. "What's wrong?"
"Its nothing..." He said back.
"This guild is rather fun, isn't it?" She asked, trying to get a response.
"I'm just glad it ain't boring." He huffed back.
Mirajane looked at the door and noticed the runes were red and flying off the wall. "What's going on?"
"Great, he's not done yet." Cana complained. The runes floated above them and took the form of a giant skull.
"Can you hear me old man?" Laxus' voice boomed out of the creation, making his grandfather gasp. "The rest of you better listen up too."
"The hell do you want!?" Laki asked.
"One of the rules has been thrown out the window." The voice continued. "That's fine. I'll just add a new one. Since I would hate to end the battle of Fairy Tail early, I've decided to activate the Thunder Palace..
"You what!?" Makarov shouted. "Are you out of your mind!?"
"You've got one hour and ten minutes left." Laxus ignored the shout and continued. "Better get moving if you wanna win, unless you wanna hand the guild over to me, 'master'." With a sick laugh, the skull exploded and the runes dissipated.
"This game has gone on for long enough, boy!" Makarov shouted enraged. "I won't let drag innocent people into this!" Suddenly, he grabbed his heart, confusing everyone.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked as the old man fell to the floor.
"I'll get his medicine." Mirajane said as she ran up the stairs. The others surrounded him in concern.
"Just what the heck is this 'Thunder Palace'?" Natsu asked.
"Guys, look outside!" Mirajane shouted as she came back, medicine in hand. The others ran to the balcony and looked out at orbs of lacrima floating over the city.
"Just what are those?" Natsu asked.
"Lightning lacrima, maybe..." Levy said.
"That means Laxus did this." Cana explained.
"They're floating all over the town?" Lucy asked. "Why?"
"Every one of those lacrima crystals are overflowing with lightning magic." Cana continued. "Let's just hope he doesn't set them off."
"Could this be the Thunder Palace?" Juvia asked.
"Yeah, and its surrounding all of Magnolia." Cana nodded.
"If those things are full of lightning, what will happen if he activates them?" Lucy asked.
"Everything with in it will be burnt to a crisp..." The brunette grimly said.
"I won't let that happen!" Bisca shouted, holding her rifle. She took aim as a magic seal appeared at the end of the barrel. "Target locked. Stinger Shot!" She pulled the trigger and fired, destroying one of the orbs.
"Nice shot!" Lucy cheered.
"Lucky we've got a sniper on our side." Cana added with joy.
"I'll take down every last one of those-" Lightning shot down and zapped Bisca, knocking her out.
"Why did she get zapped?" Laki asked.
"Must be Body Link Magic." Cana said, looking up.
"What's that?" Lucy asked.
"Its a type of spell that's been cast on the Lacrima." The card mate explained. "If you hit one of them, then the magic energy used in your attack will be reflected back at you. In layman terms, if we try to destroy them, we'll be risking our lives in the process."
"What should we do?" Levy asked, helping Bisca up. "Those things could wipe out the whole town!"
"We have to take down Laxus!" Cana declared.
"In the meantime, me and Laki will help the citizens evacuate." Lucy declared before they ran down the stairs.
"I'm coming too!" Happy added.
"Bickslow and Freed are still out there, so be careful!" Cana shouted before following them and Juvia followed her.
Natsu and Gajeel looked up at the orbs, unhappy with their current situation. "This was fun and games at first, but now you've crossed the line!" Natsu shouted as he jumped over the railing, and slammed into the same wall at the door. "Coward! If you wanna be master so bad, then come here and fight gramps for it!"
Natsu slammed his head into the wall, trying to break out. "When I get out of here, you're gonna pay for this!"
"Calm down!" Levy shouted.
"How do you expect me to do that!?" Natsu shouted.
"You can't punch your way out of this!" Levy explained.
"Stupid invisible walls are everywhere!" Natsu complained as he gave it one final kick.
"Its an enchantment, right?" The bluenette asked.
"We knew that already." Gajeel said from the side.
"That's a form of script magic." She continued. "I might be able to do something about this spell."
"Seriously?" The pinkette asked.
"Of course." She nodded back. "And once I do, you guys can go and track down Laxus."
"Uh, Natsu!" Cana shouted from below. "You might wanna come down here!"
The pinkette jumped down the stairs and looked at the same scene the girls were. "What the?" Laki was stuck against the wall as Lucy tried to pull her out.
"I know you're not a statue, and you can't be over eighty!" Lucy mumbled. "So why.. are you... stuck?!" With one final push, both girls fell to the ground.
"Great, you're stuck here with us." Natsu huffed, walking over and helping her up. "It's the same with me and scrap face. Don't worry, Levy's working on getting us out."
"Great, now, we can talk." She pulled Natsu into a corner as the other girls left.
Kardia Cathedral
Laxus laughed when he read the runes saying one of his orbs was destroyed. "How do you like that, old fart? Now the whole population of this town is my hostage!"
"I think you're taking this too far..." Freed said.
"Too far, huh?" The blonde chuckled. "I decide how far is too far. This is a fight to the bitter end! It won't be over until one side is completely wiped out!"
"We can still win." Freed said, trying to calm Laxus down. "We don't need hostages. Please, stop this."
"What are you still doing here?" Laxus asked. "Shouldn't you be out there hunting Fairies with Bickslow? The old man is counting on Erza, so I'll deal with her. The same goes for Mystogan. So you get out there and take out Cana and that phantom bitch. I don't need them in my Fairy Tail. Feel free to kill them."
"Kill them?!" Freed asked in shock. "Even if they're our enemies, we're still in the same-"
"When I give you an order, you'd better do what I say!" Laxus shouted. Freed starred in horror as he let out a sigh.
"If that is the path we must take, then so be it." He said. "There's no turning back at this point. As you wish, I'll follow you, no matter where that goes." Laxus glared at him as the greenette turned around. "If you want me to kill them, than I will. But their blood is on your hands, not mine."
Laxus smiled as Freed walked to the door. "Like you said, we've chosen our path. Freed the Dark, time to show them your real power."
Guildhall
Makarov and Bisca laid on the infirmary beds, unconscious and battered, as Levy knelt on the floor, surrounded by books. "If I break down logue letter sequence data into basic component blocks, then pinpoint the terms used to make up the rules... I get L, O, S, U. Now if I can break that into guile grammar..."
"Wow, you're something else..." Gajeel mumbled as he watched the girl work. "We're speaking the same language, but I don't have a clue what you're saying."
"Wait, hold on!" Levy shouted. "Wait, that's it! The L and S are just bluffs! Then the keycode must be ARS!"
"Uh, okay..." He said back.
She turned back to her work and brushed some hair from her eyes. "Don't worry, I almost got it. I'm gonna get you guys out of here."
"It's no big deal to me." Gajeel huffed.
"It is to me." She looked up and the two locked eyes. "You have to stop Laxus." A crackling drew their attention as Natsu slammed his head against the rune wall.
"Quit stalling!" Laki shouted. "Answer the question! Why did you say what you did?"
"Man, she is one scary Slayer..." Gajeel mumbled. "I almost feel sorry for Salamander."
With Cana and Juvia
"Damn it! Where could he be!?" Cana complained as the two looked around the city.
"Is there somewhere in town with a sentimental value to him?" The rain woman asked.
"Well, we've known each other for years... But with the way he's been acting, it's like he's closed off his heart." Cana confessed.
With Lucy and Happy
"Why can't we just warn everyone over the guild's loudspeaker?" Happy asked as he walked on the railing next to the two.
"There's an enchantment on that will only let the master use it if he chooses to surrender to Laxus." Lucy explained as the two looked out over the railing. "They worked really hard to stab their friends in the back. We'll just have to warn people about this on our own."
"Lucy, I'm starting to think it be better if they didn't know." Happy said.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"There are tons of people from other towns here because of the Harvest Festival." The cat explained. "So the towns jam packed and everyone is worked up. If they find out those things are full of lightning magic, they might panic and hurt each other."
"Okay, but still, what should we do?" The blonde mumbled as she started to think.
"Yeah. What should we do? What will you do!?" Three totems asked as they floated behind and surprised Lucy.
"Lucy, move!" Happy shouted as he lifted herout of the of lasers the dolls fired.
"What are those things!?" Lucy shouted in a panic.
"Bickslow's minions!" Happy shouted as he placed the blonde on a roof.
"Yo." Both looked up as Bickslow landed on the roof of a toy shop. "So you must be the newbie everyone's talking about."
"Is that so?" Lucy asked back as she stood up. "Wanna tell me what they're saying because I'm dying to know."
"Just that you're into whips, playing dress up, and bossing people around." He chuckled back.
"They make me sound like a pervert!" Lucy shouted in disgust.
"So, now you're supposed to be a cheerleader?" Bickslow asked as his dolls ogled her.
"This is just..." She mumbled.
"Alright babies, take them out!" His dolls obeyed and fired their lasers at the two. "Too bad. You know, I should go easy on you're still a newbie, but seeing as we're in the middle of a war, losing is not an option."
"Do you really think the master is gonna let you get away with this!?" Lucy shouted.
"Makarov can go suck it, for all I care!" He shouted back. "Once this game is finished, Laxus will be calling the shots!" The dolls fired more beams and the loyalists rolled out of the way.
"Those flying things are really annoying." Lucy complained before she pulled out a key. "Open, Gate of the Archer - Sagittarius!" A ding dong later, the spirit appeared and saluted her.
"Oh, a Celestial wizard?" Bickslow actually sounded intrigued. "So you're spirits like to wear costumes too?"
"Oh, shut up!" Lucy shouted. "Take down those flying things, got it!?"
"As you wish, m'lady." He took aim and shot down the totems one by one.
"My babies!" Bickslow shouted. "Getting frozen was bad enough, but now this!?"
"Alright!" Happy cheered.
"No, my babies!?" Bickslow wept before looking up. "Gotcha." A beam shot out from no where and struck Sagittarius.
"No, Sagittarius!" Lucy shouted.
"I'm sorry, but I have to return to the Spirit World." He said as he vanished in a light. "Toodle loo."
"Where did that come from!?" Lucy asked.
"This isn't just a toy store, it's an armory!" Bickslow shouted as five toys floated around him.
"You're controlling the toys?" Lucy asked.
"Don't be stupid." He said back. "They're just tools. Blast as many as you want, but you can't destroy their souls."
"Seriously?" Lucy didn't know wither to believe him or not.
"Bickslow's Seith magic allows him to move dolls into objects and then use them to fight for him." Happy explained.
"Only one thing to do..." She pulled her key-ring off her belt and a doll grabbed it. "Give them back!"
"I got them!" Happy took to the sky and got a gpfoot to the face. The dolls flew around Lucy before they took out her legs, sending her to the ground.
"Too bad, little lady cheerleader." Bickslow mocked. "Looks like the game went into sudden death. But I'll be sure to take extra care of your soul. Baryon Formation!" The dolls lined up and spun in a circle, charging a beam until it fired at Lucy.
"Lucy, run!" Happy shouted in a panic, unaware that a figure snatched Lucy up and carried her out of harms way. The dust settled and Bickslow looked in shock at the new arrival.
"Its weird, isn't it?" Lucy looked up at her savior. "For some reason, I'm the only one who has no problem with coming here with you summoning me. That means the wall between our worlds has been erased. Together, we broke it down with the power of our love."
He set Lucy down and she stood up. "The power of love? What are you talking about? That's not funny."
"Wait, I know you!" Bickslow shouted. "Loke!"
"So the time had come to fulfill my promises, huh?" He asked, gripping his right wrist.
"Well, I'll be... You really were a Celestial Spirit after all." Bickslow chuckled. "I've kept your secret all this time and this is the thanks I get?"
"Wait, how did he know?" Lucy asked.
"He has the ability to see souls as well as control them." Happy explained.
"So now the spirit wants to join the battle of Fairy Tail, is that right?" Bickslow asked.
"Honestly, I don't care about Laxus, this battle or any of your crap." Like said back. "The only reason I'm here is to protect Lucy. Hurting her is the one thing I can't forgive!"
"Can't forgive!? That rich!" Bickslow chuckled. "Are you forgetting that you haven't beaten me once?! Hell, I was going easy on you, cub. Babies, lets remind him of the old day!" His dolls obeyed and flew over.
"You stay back, Lucy." Loke ordered.
"Not a chance!" Lucy pulled out her whip and held it taunt. "Any decent Celestial wizard treat their spirits as partners, not shields!"
The two smiled at each other as Happy watched. "Cute couple..."
"We are not!" Lucy shouted back as the dolls fired their lasers, forcing them both to dodge.
"I'll handle these toys!" Loke shouted. "Once I've made an opening, go for Bickslow!"
"Got it!" Lucy nodded.
"Regulus, lend me your strength!" Loke chanted as he bathed in a golden light. He pulled back his first and destroyed all the dolls at once.
"He punched them with a lion of light!" Happy cheered.
"Just give up." Bickslow teased. "You can't punch a soul! I can just move them over to some thing else. Meaning I get new babies! Get them!" Five more dolls shot out from the toy store and flew at Lucy, only to be blocked by Loke.
"Send as many as you want! I ain't gonna let one touch her!" Loke shouted.
"Let's go, Happy!" Lucy shouted as the cat picked her up. She pulled back and swung her whip, forcing Bickslow to jump back.
"Feisty, little cheerleader, ain't ya?" He teased, angering Lucy as she landed.
"Lucy, go ahead and take him out!" Loke shouted as he was surrounded by the dolls. "You're stronger than him!"
"Say that to my face, I dare ya!" Bickslow shouted as Lucy whipped his face. "Crap, guess it's time for the big guns..." He reached for his mask and pulled down his hood, showing his blue hair and a black shikigami tattoo on his face. "Figure Eyes!"
"No body look at them!" Happy order as the three covered their eyes. "Every member of the Thunder Legion has a magic they can use with their eyes! Evergreen can turn people into stone, but if you look at Bickslow's, he'll turn you into a doll and control your soul!"
"Not good." Lucy said.
"So the cats the smart one, huh?" Bickslow chuckled as his dolls flew around him. They pummeled the two as he watched with a sick grin.
"Keep you're eyes closed!" Happy shouted.
"There's no one in the world who can beat my ultimate combos of Human Possession and Figure Eyes!" Bickslow chuckled.
"Lucy, close my Gate!" Loke ordered. "Then hide inside of Horologium for a while."
"Great idea, but my keys were stolen so I can't!" She shouted back. "Now come on! I'm trusting you here, so do something about him!"
"Alright, let's try this!" He shouted back. "When I give the signal, open your eyes and hit him with everything you have!"
"Shouldn't I keep them close!?" She shouted back as the two bumped into each other.
"I thought you trusted me?" Loke asked, making the blonde nod. A magic circle appeared under him, confusing Bickslow. "Zenith of Regulus, Lion Brilliance!" The seal exploded into a screen of light.
"My eyes!" He shouted in pain as he covered them!
"Now!" Loke shouted as Lucy opened her eyes. She flicked her whip and wrapped it around him.
"There's no way... I'm losing to you..." He said as he struggled to break free.
"I'm not the same as I used to be." Loke said walking forward, glowing in an aura of light. "Since I've met Lucy, my true power of a Celestial Spirit has return. I'm stronger than I ever was before. We spirits are not like your ridiculous puppets! Love is what makes us strong!" He summoned a seal and a lion of light shout out of it. "Regulus Impact!" The lion hit Bickslow and sent him flying into town, defeated.
"Kapow!" Happy cheered.
"Thanks, Loke." Lucy said to her Spirit.
"I did it for this." He raided his hand and the words 'I Love Lucy' shined off his ring.
"When's the wedding?" Happy teased.
"Shut up..." Lucy sat down exhausted. "I am so beat..."
"Opening up two zodiac gates would take a lot out of someone." Happy nodded.
Like leaned down and handed Lucy her keys. "I'll be there any time you need me."
"Thanks..." Lucy said.
"It's not like that!"
Recently, I got a PM'd by some guy named ThePolicyOfTruth. I've heard about him from Kript, since I Beta read for him, and this guy is some kinda troll. He said one of my 'violates the terms of the cite', but like the troll he is, he didn't tell me which and now he's saying he's gonna 'report me'. So I have a simple request, it's just a way to mess with him, feel free not to; fav and follow ALL of my stories.
On a serious note, however, it is with a heavy heart that must inform you that David115, someone who I beta read for, has passed on. Who do I know this? It has been one year since he updated any of his stories or sent me anything to look over. Now I have a favor to request. Please, adopt his stories. Let his legacy live.
Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.