Chapter 38
Zero Hour
"Speech"
'Thoughts' / 'Telepathy'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
The staff finished its explication and dodged a raging Natsu swing before whacking him away. "Natsu!" Laki shouted before looking around for the staff.
"Very nice..." Laki turned and found the staff starring up her skirt.
"Pervert!" Laki reached around to grab it, only to have it trip her up and send her crashing into a wall.
"I've seen far better underwear on child than on you." The staff said before head butting Lucy for no real reason.
"I hate this thing!" Gray channeled his magic before getting headbutted by the skull.
Natsu reached up and grabbed the pole. "Laki, its feeding time!" The staff curved and head butted her. "Sorry." He looked over as Gray charged him. "Wait, hold a second." The staff squirmed out of his grip and Gray punched Natsu right in the face.
"You brats managed to beat the six demons?" The staff asked. "I don't know what's more pathetic. You or the fact you managed to-" He stared out the massive hole in the room as the slayers stood up. "The six... have fallen!?"
With Brain
The last line on Brains face faded as his eyes snapped open, and his sclera turned blood red.
Command Tower
The skull started shaking in fear as the orb fell out of his mouth and shattered on the ground. "This is bad! Now he's gonna come!"
"He who?" Laki asked.
"I'm with Laki, who are you babbling about?" Gray added.
"Lucy, stop juicing." Happy said to the blonde.
"That's sweat!" The blonde shouted back.
"Brain is..." The staff mumbled.
"That guy?" Rose asked. "Jura already took care of him."
"...just one half of a dual personality." The staff finished the sentence, confusing the light wizards.
"What does that mean?" Natsu asked.
"It means he's got another side to him." Laki explained.
"What, like left and right?" Natsu asked, making Gray facepalm.
"There is the side of him that loves knowledge and goes by the code name 'Brain'." The staff spoke up. "But then there is the other side that loves nothing more than destruction. His name is 'Zero'."
"Like the number?" Rose asked.
"With all the power at his disposal and his unquenchable thirst for destruction, Brain sealed him away using six sets of Body Link Magic." The staff explained.
"Wait, who was he linked with?" Happy asked, scared.
"Knowing our luck, it has to be the Seis." Lucy mumbled.
"Due to the nature of Body Link Magic, once the six demons were defeated, Zero would arise once more to destroy anything dumb enough to get in his path." The staff finished.
"Sounds like fun to me." Natsu said with a grin as the wall behind the staff exploded.
Footsteps terrified the staff as it dropped down and bowed down. "Master Zero! Your humble servant welcomes your return!"
"Did he say master?" Rose asked from behind Lucy.
"Things seem to have fallen out of our favor, haven't they Klodoa?" The master asked the staff. "Even the 'mighty' Midnight fell in battle."
"I'm begging you, please forgive me!" The now named staff begged.
"You mistake my intentions." The now pale skinned master said. "If anything, I'm thrilled. It's been far too long since I've been unleashed. This body, this power, I've longed for it." He gripped his hand tight before throwing off his cape. "I will take care of these meddlesome interlopers."
"Yes, sir!" Klodoa said, moving behind the master.
Green energy rolled off his body as his top half was clothed in a militaristic garb. "Insolent brats... you have completely destroyed my guild. As their master, I shall take my revenge on you all."
"This guy is... the real leader of the Seis?" Lucy asked in horror.
"Stay out of our way, icepunk." Natsu said as he and Laki stood side by side.
"I was about to say the same to you." Gray said back.
"This is the most vile magic I've ever felt." Laki added as Zero smirked at them.
"Yes... I'll start with him..." The dark wizard glared at the downed Jura. "The one who damaged this vessel whilst Brain was in charge. Him first!" He held out his hand and green energy shot out towards the Saint.
Gray jumped in front of Jura and blocked it with his ice shield. "You coward, attacking someone who can't even stand up."
"Spare me your foolish ideals!" The dark wizard shouted. "As long it can be destroyed, it doesn't matter if he can't move!" More of the green energy pierced the shield easily and sent Gray crashing into the wall.
"Wood Dragon Grain Blade!" Laki summoned her branch from her palm and swung it. Zero easily ducked it and delivered an uppercut that embedded her into the ceiling. Ten seconds later, Laki fell down and hit the ground before Zero stomped on her head.
"Bastard!" Natsu lit his fist on fire and threw a punch that Zero easily caught. Twisting it around his back, he kicked the pinkette back with enough force that he broke a boulder upon impact.
"No..." Lucy stared in fear as Zero turned to her and the cats.
"Don't just stand there! Do something!" Rose shouted before charging the dark wizard. The master merely picked her up by the tail and flung her around like a ragdoll before throwing her to Laki's side.
"I wanna help but... my body won't move..." Zero held out his hand and blasted Lucy and Happy with the same green energy he hit Gray with.
Zero and his staff stared at the downed wizards. "Excellent work, master Zero!" Klodoa said. "Absolutely splendid! Eliminating these annoying brats with such little effort!"
"It's not done yet..." the master said, confusing the staff. "Their bodies are still there, so they must be alive!" He picked up Laki by her arm and slammed her back down, a sick crack coming from her arm. "As long as your bodies are her, they can still be destroyed!"
"Um, master. I hate to interrupt your fun, but we still have things to do." The staff reminded as Nirvana stepped forward. The two left the broken bodies behind and marched up to the top of the Command Tower. "Cait Shelter is coming up on the horizon. Once they are destroyed, Nirvana will never be sealed away again."
"Pointless..." The master mumbled before grabbing the staff.
"M-master?" Klodoa asked before the master squeezed him in half. The skull fell to the ground and looked up as Zero raised his boot. "Master Zero! What are you-" The boot slammed down and broke the skull into pieces.
"All I want to do is destroy!" Zero laughed maniacally. "Destroy every last living thing!" The city began to morph as a cannon barrel extended out of the city. "This will be the first to be destroyed! As long as it isn't ash, I can still destroy it!" Nirvanas magic began to charge at the end of the barrel. "Fire away!"
With Erza & Jellal
"Jellal!" The former slaves looked over as Wendy and Carla ran over to them.
"Look who's here..." Erza chuckled. "I was worried about you two. You okay?"
Wendy nodded before looking over to the other bluenette. "It's good to see you, again."
Jellal looked back at her, confused. "Do I know you?"
Wendy had a look of minor shock on her face before it shifted to one of sadness. 'So he really doesn't remember me...'
"It's not you." Erza spoke up. "The ethernano did something to his memories. He doesn't remember me, let alone anything about himself."
'He's lost his memories?' Wendy asked herself before turning back to Jellal. 'So that's why...'
"If that's true, then that means you've forgotten how to stop Nirvana as well!" Carla shouted.
"No." Jellal said back. "I tired to stop it, but... my self destruction spell didn't work. I don't know what else to do. I failed."
"No way..." Wendy mumbled.
"Then what's going to happen to our guild!?" Carla shouted. "You can't just let it be destroyed because you failed once! The rest of our team is fighting to stop-" Nirvana began to shake around them as a bright light drew their attention. "No..."
They ran towards the light and stared in horror at the Jupiter-esc cannon. "So much light and magic power... They're going to fire Nirvana!?" Erza asked in horror.
Cait Shelter Guildhall
The whole of the guild was huddled into the main hall in a panic as Nirvana continued to charge. "What do we do, master?" One member asked.
"Calm down." Roubal answered. "Can you not see what this is? Our reckoning for all the heavy sins we've committed."
Nirvana
Lacrima Room
"Destroy, destroy, destroy!" Zero chanted with an almost religious fever. "Let all that is good and righteous perish before me!" The lacrima behind him began to crackle behind him as the energy pooled down the barrel. "Blow them away!" As of obeying him, the beam of energy fired its destructive payload as he laughed.
The pure unrefined magic power flew straight for the Guildhall. Seconds before impact, a different beam fell from the sky and hit Nirvana in one of the legs, making bend and change the shot angle, making it miss by a solid 15.5 degrees. (Yes, I did the math.)
"What!?" Zero growled in anger as the blast merely charred one of the ears on the Guildhall. Soon, the whole city was peppered by similar blasts as the beam died down. "Something hit Nirvana? How is that possible?" He looked up into the sky and growled at what he saw.
With Erza & Others
The group looked up as a massive shadow over took their own. "That's... Christina?" Erza asked in shock at the somehow flying mess of a ship.
"Is that an ally?" Jellal asked.
'Can anyone here me?!' A voice asked from inside Erza's head. 'Anyone! A gasp, just something!'
"That voice... Hibiki!" Erza shouted.
'Erza, Wendy.' Hibiki said with a joyous chuckle. 'You're both safe. That's good to hear. Oh, master Ichiya. Good to hear you too.'
"What's going on here, I thought Christiana was destroyed?" Erza asked.
'Damaged, not destroyed.' Hibiki corrected. 'We managed to get her back into the air, but not with out a little help. Christian lost one of her wings, so Lyon replaces it with his ice. But she's only really flying because of Sherry and Ren working together. Eve managed to fuse his magic with a few of the magic rounds that survived the blast.'
"All of you..." Carla mumbled.
"Thank you..." Wendy said, a few tears rolling off her face.
'Thats the deal...' Hibiki said back. 'But what you just saw was the last of our magic power. We can't use anymore of our power if we don't want to crash. But there's one last thing you should know. I've found a way to stop Nirvana!'
"Then tell us!" Carla shouted.
'Listen carefully.' Hibiki said. 'Those six limbs sticking out of the city aren't legs. They're like magical vacuums, sucking up the magical energy out of the ground. That inturn is used to power Nirvana. At the base of each legs are giant lacrima orbs used to regulate the magic. If all six are destroyed at the same time, Nirvana's control system will force it to shut down. But you have to destroy them all at once! If not, the other five will just repair the other one.'
"All six of them at once?" Erza repeated. "How do we do that?!"
"I'd like to lend a hand with the timing, but the best I can do is this.' Hibiki said before a clock appeared in the heads of the wizards on the ground. 'I'm uploading an exact timer into your heads.'
"Twenty minutes?" Wendy asked as the clock finished uploading.
'Thats when Nirvana will fire again.' Hibiki explained. 'if anybody can do this, it's you guys.'
'I don't think so...' Zero said, interrupting the conversation to the shock of everyone else.
"Who's there!?" Erza asked.
'How did he get access to this telepathy?' Hibiki asked.
'I am Zero!' The master declared. 'The true master of the Oraciōn Seis! Brain has been defeated. First, I must tell you I'm impressed. I've never met another wizard as capable of Archive magic as Brain. Now listen to me carefully! I will obliterate everything you hold dear! I've already taken out more that few of your friends. Two pathetic dragon slayers, an ice wizard, a celestial wizard, and a few worthless cats.'
'He got Natsu and the others!?' Hibiki asked in shock.
"No, Rose!" Carla shouted.
'You plan on destroying Nirvana's lacrimas, is that right?' Zero asked. 'Go ahead and try, but I'm guarding one of them right now, and I'm not going anywhere! As long as I'm here, you'll never be able to destroy them all!'
"It might look bleak now, but we can destroy all six." Jellal spoke up. "All we can do is split up and hope we strike at the same time. We have a one in six chance of running into Zero, but Erza's the only one who has a chance against him."
"Am I the only one who knows basic math!? Carla shouted. "We only have three wizards here and this plan of yours requires six!"
"I-i can't use any powerful magic..." Wendy mumbled before bowing to the other two. "I'm sorry!"
"Is there anyone out there who can help!?" Erza sasked through the telepathy.
'Im here to help!' Ichiya said back. 'Even if I am tied up.'
'That's there.' Hibiki said back with the last of his magic. 'Whose left?'
"We need three more people!" Erza shouted as Christina started to fall out of the sky. "Anyone speak up!"
The wing of ice shattered as Lyon fell backwards. "Gray, get up... You're a student of Ur, aren't you? You must keep fighting, for her name. Don't let these guys win."
Sherry lost her energy and fell back into Ren's arms. "Lucy... I honestly can't stand you. Acting so full of yourself because you think your cute. You're nothing but a stupid, clumsy little girl, but I can't hate you if you die on us. Please, stand up."
"Natsu, Laki..." Wendy mumbled.
"Rose, if you don't make that tomcat respond, I'll never forgive you." Carla said.
"Please... stand up." Erza said.
Control Tower
Natsu's fingers twitched as he pushed himself up. Laki crawled over and helped him up to his knees before he punched the ground as the other forced themselves up. "We can hear you..."
"Destroy... all six... lacrima... at once..." Gray panted.
"So, who's the lucky one that gets to punch Zero in the face?" Lucy asked.
"There's only eighteen minutes left." Rose mumbled. "No way, am I letting my guild get destroyed by a crazy person."
'Guys, this connection wouldn't last longer.' Hibiki spoke up. 'I've uploaded a map to all of you and numbered the lacrima. Everyone tell me your pick before we split up.'
"I'll-" Natsu started before looking down at Laki, who shot him a look of 'don't you dare leave me behind'. "We'll take number one."
"Two." Gray told,everyone.
"I'll handle three." Lucy said. "Just hope Zero won't be there."
"Me and Rose will go with you..." Happy groaned as the cats walked over.
'Then I shall take number four." Ichiya said. 'The parfume tells me it's the closest.'
"Bullshit." Rose spoke up. "You're just looking at the map, aren't you?"
'That was uncalled for.' He said back. 'But yes.'
With Erza & Others
"I'll take the fifth one." Erza said.
'Erza!' Laki shouted. 'Looks like Wendy did her job, didn't she?'
"She most certainly did, Laki." Erza nodded before turning to the young girl. "And a fine job it was."
"So I'll-" Jellal started before Erza cut him off.
"You'll handle six." She bluntly told him.
'Wait, who was that?' Laki asked. 'Who's with you?'
"No one knows about your condition." Erza whispered to him. 'If they find out you're here, they'll consider you an enemy. You need to keep quiet until they're made aware." He nodded back as Christina hit the ground.
Control Tower
"Hello!?" Natsu shouted.
"We've lost our connection..." Gray mumbled.
"So that means that Hibiki..." Lucy whispered.
"Look, we have six wizards now." Rose said. "So let's get to work. The lucky S.O.B. gets to punch Zero in the mouth. Cause you're gonna be on your own since we have our own lacrima to deal with."
Lacrima 1
The news pairing walked down the hallway the map told them to go down for the first lacrima. Sitting atop a large pillar was their prize, but on the ground before them was its guard, Zero. "So the worms still live, do they?" He glanced over at Laki, who used her Grain Blade and ribbon to make a makeshift splint. "I'm impressed you can still stand, but this is your end."
"Okay then, let's play a game." Natsu chuckled as Laki pushed her glasses up. "Let's see who makes it out of here alive, us or you!"
With Erza & Others
"If I had to guess, I'd say that Zero is waiting for someone at number one." Erza said.
"That's where Natsu and Laki are headed!" Wendy shouted.
"What makes you think she's with him?" Erza asked, making Wendy turn into a radioactive tomato. "I'm kidding. Those two were bound to get together eventually, but those noses are always giving them trouble. They picked that one because Zero is there."
"We need to help them!" Wendy shouted. "If we work together, then maybe-"
"Don't count them out just yet." Erza interrupted her. "Natsu sand Laki can handle themselves." She walked towards the direction of the fifth lacrima. "Let's get going. I've got number five. Jellal, you've got number six, okay?" A groan from Jellal turned her around. "Are you okay?"
"No, it-" He grabbed his head in pain as he turned around. "I'm okay..." He walked away before memories flooded his head. "Natsu... and Laki..."
Lacrima 1
Natsu charged Zero with their magic wrapped around their fists. The dark master ducked as Laki tried to hit him with a Tail Crush, only for that to miss. Both slayers unleashed their roars at Zero before they landed next to each other. "I admit, I'm impressed." Zero said, dusting off some of the ash from the roars. "You two are much more nimble than the last time.
He held out his hand and a darkness spell began to charge. "Dark Capriccio!" He pointed his hand forward and the spell shot forward, forcing the two to dodge it to either side. "Do you truly believe I'm as weak as Brain?" He waved his hand upwards and the spell shot out of the ground, hitting Natsu in the chin. With a chuckle he directed the spell back around at Natsu, who began dodging.
Zero laughed at the sight before noticing the other was missing. "Where is she!?" A tiny pebble hit his head, making him turn around to see Laki climbing the pillar. "Stay away from that!" Zero jumped up, grabbed Laki and threw her down at Natsu, who caught her.
"You asked who would come out of this alive?" He asked Natsu as the Capriccio hit the two again and again. "That answer should have been obvious from the beginning! It will only be me!"
The spell curved around the two as they channeled magic into their hands. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!/ Wood Dragon Redwood Fist!" Both braced themselves behind their fists as their feet dug into the ground. The spell soon faded away, leaving the two panting.
"Stopping a spell designed for penetration, I'm impressed." A ball of fire shout towards the two and hit Natsu square in the chest. "Show yourself!" All three looked over at Jellal standing in the doorway, smoke coming out of his palm.
"Jellal!" Natsu growled as Laki started shaking in fear.
"Well hello." Zero said to the bluenette. "I take it your memories have returned?"
Jellal stared at the dragon slayers for a few seconds before opening his mouth. "Yes..."
"You... shouldn't have come here..." Natsu willed himself to his feet before sprinting towards him. Jellal held out his hand and blasted him again. "Did you forget that fire won't work on me!?"
"No, I remember that." Jellal answered, confusing the three. "You and Laki... are the only ones who can stop Zero."
"What!?" Zero asked in shock.
"The power of a Dragon Slayer... am I right in remembering that eating their element increases their power?" Jellal asked, making Natsu stare at his flaming body.
"What's going on?" Laki asked.
"You didn't get all of your memories back, did you?" Zero asked.
"As I said, only my memories of Natsu and Laki have returned." Jellal said back. "Nirvana will be stopped! My memories returning has no affect on that goal."
"What are you talking about?" Natsu asked, anger soaking his voice.
"I have no memories before waking up in this place." He explained to the two. "From what I've been told, I was a horrible villain who brought harm not only to Fairy Tail, but my own friends. It's time I made amends. I want to help save Wendy's guild and stop Nirvana. I want to help you."
Natsu jumped forward and socked Jellal in the mouth. "I don't believe you! You just forgot everything you've done to us!? Don't you dare play friends with us!"
"Natsu... just take the flames I'm giving you..." Jellal begged him.
Ignoring the words, Natsu grabbed his jacket and picked the bluenette up. "You may have forgotten everything, but I sure as hell haven't! You made Erza cry... You damn near made Laki kill herself!"
"Natsu, stop it!" Laki raced over and tired to pry them apart. "I don't like him anymore than you do, but killing him is only gonna make you as bad as him. Don't stoop to his level!"
"How pathetic." Zero shook his head in disgust. "If you three must squabble around like children, keep it out of my sight." He held out his hand and a Capriccio spell shot out of his. "Don't you dare waist my time!"
Jellal ripped himself out of the grasp of Natsu and shot in front of the two and took the bullet. Natsu and Laki stared at Jellal and for a brief second, they could swear they could have seen Simon in front of them before Jellal fell down.
"What the hell, Jellal?" Natsu asked. "Why'd you do that?"
Jellal gasped in pain before looking over his shoulder. "You two can kill me any time you like. Im already beaten down like this. But..." He raised his hand and a golden flame hovered above it. "Take the power you need to defeat him..."
"I've never seen a golden flame..." Natsu whispered.
"This is... the flame of rebuke." Jellal groaned out.
Lacrima 6
"Are you sure about this, Wendy?" Carla asked as they stood in the room.
Wendy nodded in response. "I caused this mess, so I have to be the one to fix it."
Ten Minutes Ago
"You're not well, are you Jellal?" Wendy asked.
"No, I'm fine." He said back. "But you can use healing magic, right? Natsu and Laki are going to face Zero, and they'll need all the strength they can get. Can you do that for them?
"I..." Wendy started.
"Absolutely not!" Carla shouted back. "Using her healing magic is far to draining on her. Do you have any idea how many times this poor girl has had to use it today!? She cannot use it anymore, no matter how much you want her to!"
"I understand..." Jellal nodded. "I can replenish Natsu's power. To be honest, I was hoping you could do more for Laki then him." Both stared at him as he pulled his hand down from his head. "I remembered... the power of a Dragon Slayer. The power of hope." He walked over and bent down to look the girl in the eye. "Can you destroy the sixth lacrima for me?"
"But, i..." Wendy mumbled.
"Why do you doubt yourself?" He asked her. "You are a Dragon Slayer. That magic was developed to fight the most terrifying creatures in all of Earthland. Consume the air... no, the heavens. Unleash the power of the dragon that slumbers with in you."
Present
"Unleash the dragon in me... I'll do it!" Wendy shouted. "To protect my guild, Grandeene, lend me your power!"
Lacrima 1
"What the 'flame of rebuke'? Natsu asked.
"I think it means to scold someone." Laki explained.
"I'm not asking either of you to forgive me." Jellal said. "All I want to do is give you some strength. Because Erza trusts you two more than anyone, and so will I." Natsu grabbed his hand and gripped it as the flames spread to him before he started eating it. "Finish him off..." Jellal dropped his hand and fell unconscious.
Natsu wiped his mouth and stepped over him. "Thanks for the meal. But this doesn't make us even. Not yet."
"You've made a grave mistake." Zero said back. "By eating that flame, you now share the sins of your greatest enemy."
"Sins don't scare us." Laki stepped forward next to Natsu, purple veins growing on her face. "Everyone in Fairy Tail is used to sin. What the real sin is is when you turn your back on someone..." Both launched forward and rammed Zero in the gut. "And stop trusting other people!" Natsu picked up Zero and threw him into Laki, who kicked him away.
Zero stood up and fired a blast of dark magic at the two, only for Natsu to swat it away. Both slayers launched at Zero and unleashed an onslaught of punches before he raised his foot and hit Natsu in the face. Laki swept the other leg out from under him before Natsu kicked him in the gut.
Quickly recovering, Zero swung his arm at the two and they ducked before pulling back their heads and unleashing a double roar, sending him crashing into the ceiling. 'So much power... is this..." Zero watched as Scales grew on Natsu's face before both erupted into their elements as they took the shape of a dragon. 'Dragon Force...'
"Laki, what's up with your eyes?" Natsu asked looking over.
"I'll explain later." She said back. "Right now, lets kick his ass."
"You... have accessed a dragon slayers final form..." Zero groaned as he stood up. "Dragon Force gives a Slayer incredible power, comparable to the most destructive dragon." He licked his lips in excitement. "Intriguing... both of you show your power."
"You sure about that?" Laki asked as Natsu cracked his knuckles.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Zero answered. "Let's see the dragons power."
"We warned you!" Both charged Zero as he summoned a shield of his magic, creating a massive explosion.
Zero raised his hand and prepared to slam it down. "No matter who you are, you're no match for Dark Gravity!" He slammed his hand down and the floor shattered beneath the two.
"Wood Dragon Whip!" Laki turned her arm into a thorny branch, caught Natsu and flung him back at Zero, who had jumped down after them. The extra momentum increased the power of his Sword Horn as he hit the dark wizard. She jumped off of rock after rock before she landed.
Zero raised his hands and slammed them down on Natsu before a massive explosion of dark magic sent the pinkette flying down into Laki. Both tumbled back before they caught themselves on the ground as Zero landed, clutching his gut. "Zero Slash!" He swung his arms and a Capriccio like beam was flung at the two.
"Wood Dragon Bark Shield!" Bark grew on Laki's arm and blocked the attacks before running forward, bark chipping off until it was down to the size of a Roman Centurions. She swung the shield like she was slamming open a door. Zero dodged the large piece of wood, letting Natsu punch him in the face before letting out a Roar.
Zero jumped out of the flames before flinging his arms forward. "Dark Delete!" Thousands of dark magical balls shot towards the two.
"Wood Dragon Splinter Shot!" Laki braced her bad arm in the ditch of the other and summoned a matching amount of shards that met the blasts head on. The dust settled down and zero appeared behind them.
"Darkness Driver!" He shunt his hands together and drill of dark magic forced the two into the ceiling before he slammed down on the two with his feet. "This is the all you have!?" He asked, more angry than disappointed as he flung the two into the wall. Both slayers jumped out and threw their fists forward. Zero copied their actions and the result was an explosion of magic.
He then grabbed the two by the throats and slammed them down on the ground, cracking the stone before he took turns stomping on the two. "I thought dragon slayers were supposed to be much stronger than this! Dragons once ruled this world with their mighty power, and now you two weaklings claim the name of dragons? It's pathetic!"
Bored out of his mind with the senseless act of brutality, he walked off the two, stomping on their heads as a last insult. "I am Zero! Master of the Oraciōn Seis! You could throw a hundred wizards like you at me, and you still wouldn't beat me."
Laki reached out her hand and Natsu grabbed it before they both stood up. "We're not... done yet..." Natsu groaned. "And we're... never alone..."
"As long... as we're together... we'll never be beaten..." Laki added as they braced themselves against each other. "Our power... comes from our bond..." Their magic flared around the two, but Zero only chuckled at the words.
"If only I could harness your powers, I would. But I cannot." He waved his hands around in a circle as green magic twirled off him. "Since I cannot control either of you, I'll have no choice but to unleash my ultimate spell."
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art/ Poisoned Wood Dragon-" Both chanted as they crouched down, ready to charge before they launched forward. "Flame Lotus-Exploding Flame Blade! / Barbed Fangs!"
"Genesis Zero!" Zero slammed his hands together. "Open the gates of the roaring ghosts, and drag these two into the depths of nothingness. Consume their soul and memories until nothing remains of them!" Purple ghouls shot forward and overwhelmed the two slayers before pushing them apart.
"Laki!" Natsu shouted.
"Natsu!" Laki screamed back. She held her hand out and Natsu did the same. "We have to fight this!"
"Together!" Natsu willed himself through the ghosts until he was an inch away from grabbing Laki's hand.
"Together!" Laki reached out and gabbed it and the ghost began to burn away.
"No... my spell is being destroyed!?" Zero asked in shock as the slayers began to glow.
"Ashes to ashes." The pair chanted. "Fire begets new life and the cycle begins anew. Let the those who stand in the way of life feel the dragons bite! Unison Raid - Charcoal Dragon Smoldering Blast!" A dome of wood enveloped the two units exploded into a massive amount of wood shards and fire. The force sent Zero crashing up to the lacrima level before he fell back on the floor.
'This is the power... of a true Dragon Slayer...' Zero thought as Laki whipped the two back up. The two panted as Zero started laughing. "You're to late... time is up." A crack appeared on the orb as Laki smiled. "When did-" his mind traveled back to when Laki climbed up the tower. "You didn't."
"Oh, I did. Wood Dragon Uprooter!" A massive tree shot out of the lacrima, shattering it at once. "Let's hope it worked." The whole city began to shake and tilt to the side.
"I'm gonna go with yes." Natsu said before losing his balance and fell down a hole that appeared as the city began to crumble.
"Natsu!" Laki reached out and grabbed Natsu's hand before he fell to the forest beneath him. "This is bad... I'm out of magic power." The stone under her crumbed and she almost fell along with him before Jellal raced over and grabbed her leg. "Keep your head up, Jellal!"
Ichiya is an idiot! He's what I do if I'm tied up to a pole. I find a rock and slam the pole down on it until it breakers, then I run for it.
Last chapter I asked if you wanted me to do the Daphne arc and I was met with... mixed reviews. Most were about how not to do the 'Gray motivation' route. Let me tell you what I planed to do. Changed up the way she gets Natsu, no Gray. The whole part with Daphne will be one, maybe two chapters. Then MAYBE one more after that, then we start the edolas arc. Now tell me what do you think of it?
Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.