Chapter 55

What Are You Doing Here!?

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

Makarov stared at the grave of the first master, disappointed in himself. "A red flare..." He mumbled. "Here of all places, and under my rule. Mavis, have you ever been in my situation? I bet you're clawing your way up to me now. I brought enemies to our sacred ground. It's all my fault, and I will take full responsibility. Just... promise you'll protect the children."

With Natsu and Happy

"That doesn't sound good..." Natsu mumbled.

"Did the enemy already get here?" Happy asked.

"I say we check it out." The pinkette replied. The two started running before a smell caught his attention. "What the?"

"What's wrong, Natsu?" Happy asked.

"I know that smell..." He mumbled before stopping in front of a tree. "Laki? Is that you?"

The tree started bulging before Laki popped out of it. "Uh... hi."

"What are you doing here, Laki?" Happy asked. "It's against the rules for you to be here if you aren't part of the trial."

"I know, I know." She replied. "But Carla had vision and asked me to come along to make sure nothing happens."

"Wait, Carla is here too!?" Happy asked. "What are we waiting for, we gotta help them!"

The cat took off and the couple raced after him. "Hey Natsu, what happened to your scarf?"

With Wendy and Co.

"Why would you do that?" Wendy mumbled in fear after watching the ships explode.

"Those people had nothing to do with this!" Rose shouted.

"No one man should have such power..." Mest mumbled.

Azuma merely glared at the group before Pantherlily charged, swinging his fist. "Brevi." Azuma whispered before holding out his hand. A golden dome of energy shot out of his palm and covered the cat. Pantherlily was merely singed as he punched Azuma backwards.

The dark wizard merely glanced and small dots appeared around Lily and detonated, launching everyone else back. The dust settled and Pantherlily was on his knees. 'If only I had a sword...' He mumbled.

"Hold on, Lily." Wendy said as she stood up. "Oh swift winds, that cleave through the heavens! Vernier!" A seal appeared under Lily and he started glowing.

"I feel so light." The cat mumbled.

"I call upon the might to cleave the heavens! Arms!" She added before a new seal appeared and added more strength to Pantherlily.

'So this is support magic...' The cat thought as he grew his wings and flew forward. Azuma held out his hand again and more glowing orbs appeared. 'These explosions are nothing.'

"Mest, I have a plan to beat this guy." Wendy said to the council spy. "I just need your help to do it."

"Did you not hear me?" He asked back. "I'm with the council, not your guild."

"Do you really think that matters right now?" She asked back. "All I care about is keeping Fairy Tail safe. So help me!"

"The only reason I came to this island was to shut you people down so I could move up!" Mest shouted.

"And you'll fail like everyone else!" Wendy shouted. "Fairy Tail won't ever be beaten!"

Lily ducked as a curve of explosions went off over him. "Lily! Head up!" Rose shouted.

The big cat followed the order and took to the sky. "No matter where you run to, my explosions will hit you." Azuma declared as he held up his hand.

Mest and Wendy teleported behind the wizard. 'Taking out this guy is more important than anything at the moment.' Mest thought.

'I've got one shot.' Wendy told herself as she filled her mouth with air.

'You're done.' Lily thought with a smirk.

'Sky Dragon Roar!' Wendy roared in her head.

"A pathetic attempt..." Azuma mumbled before holding out his arms. "Gold Tower Burst!" The new spell was a massive explosion taking the form of a tower that hit all five.

With Natsu and Happy

"What is that?" Natsu asked.

"Looks like some kind of pillar of fire." Happy said.

"No one in the guild uses that kind of magic." Laki added.

"Guess we found the enemy." The pinkette mumbled as the two continued towards the smoke.

With Wendy and Co.

The two humans and the cats laid on the ground in pain as Azuma glared down at them. Lily groaned as his body reverted back to the standard Exceed size. 'The rumors of the seven Kin aren't remotely accurate... they're way stronger...' Mest thought as he looked up at the dark wizard.

"Is this guild only made up of cats and children?" Azuma asked.

'There are six more of these monsters?' The council member asked himself. 'We don't stand a chance...'

With Cana and Co.

"Where is this meeting place?" Lucy whined as the four raced through the forest.

"Back at the base camp." Gray answered as the forest turned into old ruins. "Didn't someone tell you this?"

"It's quicker if we go through these ruins." Loke added.

"How did this even happen?" The blonde asked. "I thought we were supposed to be looking for a grave."

"Who cares about that right now?" Cana asked. "Why are they attacking now?"

"I don't know." Lucy replied.

Grimoire Heart Airship

Ultear zipped up her battle suit completely as she rejoined the other Kin. "Oh, you're unusually pumped up, Ultear." Zancrow mumbled.

"Zancrow, take this seriously." Caprico told the blonde. "We're entering baaatlle at any moment."

"Tonight the fairies enter the world of dis." Rustyrose said.

"I...uh... k ok..." Kain mumbled.

Meredy glanced over to the main window and went wide eyed. "Ur, look!" She shouted.

The purplette glared over at the girl. "NEVER call me that again." She said.

"I'm sorry..." The younger girl replied.

"You have to stop being so nervous all the time." Zancrow said as he walked over. "So what did you see?"

"Our goal..." Meredy replied, making everyone look forward. "Tenrou Island."

Ultear gasped as a massive figure grew into view. "The hell is that thing?" Zancrow asked as even Hades went wide eyed.

"A giant?" Ultear asked.

"This is a joke, right?" Zancrow asked.

"Makarov..." Hades smirked.

"Leave here!" Makarov bellowed out.

48 Years Ago

Fairy Tail GuildHall

"Hold on, either you're pulling my leg or you just said I'm the next master." A much younger Makarov said in shock. "Go get someone to do it."

"There's no one else who's more fitted for it, boy." The second master said.

"Quit calling me boy!" Makarov shouted. "I'm freakin forty, not four."

"I know that you doubt yourself, but your compassion and trust make you the most qualified." The master said. "You will protect this guild like no one else can. Mavis gave the role to me, and now I give it to you. Take great care not to disappoint her."

Present

"Turn around or be destroyed!" Makarov shouted as Hades glared at him. The ship not moving, Makarov raised his massive fist and cracked it into the ship. Everyone on it panicked as the grunts reported the damage to it. The giant threw another punch that missed as the ship moved to the side.

"Prepare the Jupiter Cannon!" Hades shouted as the cannon barrel popped up. Aimed at Makarov's head, the blast began charging before it shot at him. The third master blocked it with his arms, at most burning his arm. Makarov raised his foot and delivered a kick that rattled the inside and out. "Do it now, Ultear!"

"Right away." She responded. "Arc of Time - Restore." Her eye went sci-fi in look as the ship pulled itself back together.

"Caprico, get all of our men on the island." Hades ordered.

"But what about you, master?" The goat man asked.

"I'll personally handle Makarov myself." He replied.

"Very well." The furry clapped his hands and the grunts and the other Kin vanished. Seconds later, he shot out of the ship on a jet pack.

"I'll find you no matter where you are." Makarov bellowed out as he turned back to the ship. Raising his hands, he summoned a ball of light. "You have until the count of three to begone from my site, or else you'll never see tomorrow."

"The supreme magic that takes out all the casters heart deems a threat." Hades said as he stood up from his throne. "Fairy Law."

"One!" Makarov shouted.

"Let's see how it holds up!" Hades said, almost daring Makarov.

"Two!" The giant counted down.

With the D.S. Couple

"What happened here?" Natsu asked as the two Slayers and Happy arrived at the battlescene. "Wendy, say something!" He shouted as he and Laki tried to wake up the girl.

"Lily! Carla! Rose!" Happy shouted, concerned for his fellow Exceeds. "They must have taken that spell we say! Please be okay!"

"Someone's gonna pay for this..." Natsu growled as he looked over to Mest. "It was you, wasn't it!?"

"Start talking, right now!" Laki shouted as she shook the spy. "Don't make me bring out my art collection!"

"Dude, trust me. Do what she says." Natsu said, unknowingly acting as the 'good cop' in the situation.

'No... the memory manipulation has worn off.' Mest thought in fear.

"Natsu... Laki... Mest is member of the council..." Wendy groaned out.

Natsu imideitly screamed in fear inside his head. "Nice outfit..." He mumbled as he patted the coat. "Wait... The magic council is attacking us!?"

"We're doomed!" Happy shouted as he hugged the pinkette.

"No... it was Grimoire Heart..." Carla groaned out. "A dark guild..."

"From the Balam Alliance!?" Natsu asked in shock.

"How are we supposed to fend off an entire dark guild on our own!?" Happy asked.

Pantherlily groaned as he looked up to see something flying through the air. "What is that?" He asked, making everyone look up. Caprico flew above them before he waved his arms and orange orbs started falling out of the pack.

One orb fell to the ground in front of Lucy, who jumped back as the orb shattered. The grunt inside swung his sword, making the blonde jumped back. Soon all the orbs began to shatter as the grunts fell from the sky. "The hell is going on here?" Loke asked.

"Where'd all these people come from?" Lucy asked.

"I think we found the enemy..." Cana mumbled.

"Then that means all those orbs are enemies!?" Gray asked in shock as the island soon became infested with dark wizards, surrounding every Fairy Tail wizard they could find.

Azuma looked up to the sky and spotted Caprico. "Wonderful... the noisy ones have shown up."

Zancrow laughed insanely as he fell to the ground. "The underworld shall soak in blood tonight." Rustyrose said as he pushed up his glasses.

Meredy landed in the ground and looked up. "Let the mission begin." She said as on another part of the island, Kain crashed to the ground like an idiot.

Ultear walked through the island, a blush on her face. "At long last, I've found you Zeref..."

Under a tree, Zeref sat against the trunk. "So, it's time for another war..." He begrudgingly mumbled.

With Makarov

The light began to increase in shine as Makarov shifted his hands. "Three! Time is up!" He clasped his hand and began to cast the spell. "Fairy Law!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Hades said from the deck of the ship. Makarov looked to see a dark version of his own spell being cast. "Grimoire Law! Both spells are destructive beyond compare. If we cast them at the same time, we'll scar the world forever."

Makarov let go of his spell as he stared in shock. "No... that's not possible..."

"It has been a while, boy..." Hades smirked.

"It can't be..." Makarov mumbled in shock. "Master Precht..." The two masters stared at each other as Makarov trembled in shock. "H-how... why?"

Hades merely held out his hand and a pair of chains latched onto the giant. Like an oversized puppet, Makarov was flailed around before reverting to his normal size. Hades jumped off the ship as Makarov flipped back and Requiped into his wizard saint outfit. "So, your heart is now as dark as your robes."

"Good and evil are human constructs." Hades said. "If you can't understand that now, then you haven't matured as much as I thought you have."

"Like I care what you think of me now." Makarov growled out. "I know the constructs of enemy well enough to fight you."

"Looks like you finally learned to talk like a man, boy." Hades chuckled out.

"I despised that nickname." The short man said, clenching his fist in anger. "Every time you called me that, I wanted to hit you. But I have no heartfelt desire to fight you. Leave before you do something we'll both regret."

"I'm afraid I won't do that." Hades replied. "Who would have thought that I would be the one who would bring down Fairy Tail?"

"Only over my dead body!" Makarov shouted, his body glowing in magic energy.

"You took the words right out of my mouth." The dark master replied before doing the same. Their magic powers flared before both started waving their arms, casting their spells.

"A rain of light pierces the dark!" Makarov chanted before a volley of light shot forward.

"Swallow the light and cast the darkness!" Hades replied, blocking the light magic before firing a stream of darkness. The spell hit Makarov and launched him back.

"Take-" The midget started before gasping at the spell in front of Hades. "The Amaterasu formula 28!? How is he so fast!?"

"Bow to your superior!" Hades shouted before the spell was cast. A pillar of darkness shot to the sky and enveloped Makarov. The dust settled and showed Makarov had survived by a ball of light. Hades quickly summoned his chains and hooked Makarov before sending him crashing along the tall trees that surrounded them. "I bath in darkness. You cannot hope to defeat me."

Makarov pushed himself to his knee before noticing the magic spell around him. "Maximum Defense Circle: Three Pillar God's!" He chanted before three pillars rose out of the ground.

"Amaterasu Formula 100." Hades said, triggering the spell. The magic seals around the short man exploded, making everyone on the island turn to the direction of the spell. The dust from the blast settled and Hades walked forward to see Makarov barely standing from the blast.

"I had hoped no less from my successor. Now I know why you've held the guild together for fortyeight years." A tinge in Makarov's chest caused the third master to grab his arm. "I see something wrong, boy? Looks like time is catching up to both of us. Almost fifty years have gone by. Looks like this is the place where fate intends our story to come to an end."

"Why...?" Makarov asked, looking up. "You spoke of harmony and walking down the path of light. What changed in you?"

Hades glared down before raising his arm and clenching his fist, making Makarov crash to the ground. "In the time before history magic was created from darkness, and those who used it were fear and worshiped. But now, magic is an everyday occurrence, so much that we've made it part of our culture."

He turned on his heels and began walking away. "But my research showed me that it keeps leading back to one man: Zeref. And that is when I found the source of magic. Sleep well, boy. Soon your guild will join Mavis."

A roar caught his attention and he turned to see Makarov charging him. Hades merely held up his hand and fired a magic bullet through Makarov. 'It's not over... the successor of my will...' He thought as he fell backwards.

With the Dragon Slayers

"Take this!" Natsu shouted before smashing a group of masked goons with his magic.

"Come and get me." Happy teased as he fled from his own pursuers. "Now!" He flew straight up and Laki used her Whip spell to send the four flying into the ocean.

Pantherlily turned back into his fighting form and knocked four more away before collapsing to the ground, returning to normal size. "You shouldn't push yourself." Rose said as she raced over. "Save your strength and just get better."

"If only had I more magic power. Then I could help them." The black cat mumbled in anger.

"Calm down." Carla replied. "Wendy can heal wounds, but not magic power."

"Hey, did anyone see where Mest went?" Wendy asked, looking around.

"Just put him out of your mind." Carla replied.

"Go ahead and heal your wounds." Pantherlily said.

"She can't do that." Rose told her crush.

"You guys need to find a place to hide." Happy cried out. "The three of us can handle them, no problem."

"Okay, good luck then." Carla deadpanned at the bravery Happy was showing.

"You're serious?" The bluenette asked.

"With these kind of wounds, we don't have much of a choice." Pantherlily explained as Happy bragged about being a hero. "Can I please hit him?"

"Not now, later." Carla replied.

Natsu and Laki worked in tandem as they crushed any dark wizard that got in their way. "Seriously, that's all you've got?" The pinkette complained. "I still have plenty of anger after what happened to my scarf. So get back up and fight me!"

The masked men complained about being fodder as a horned one landed behind the Slayers. "How about I turn ya two into ash!? Fire Bullet!" A stream of fire hit the two before it was sucked up into Natsu's mouth.

The mob of dark wizards began to panic as Laki pushed up her glasses. "Shall we?" She asked Natsu who nodded as she held out her arm. "Wood Dragon Splinter Shot!" Spiked logs shot out of her seal as Natsu pulled his head back.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" A torrent of flames hit the logs and set them ablaze before they hit the dark wizards.

"Crap! I know these two!" One masked man shouted out. "That's the Salamander and the Green Woman! The Dragon couple!" The mob began mumbling in fear as the two Slayer glared at them. "Let's get out of here!"

"Quit your whining." The dark wizards looked up to see Zancrow walk forward. "This is getting painful to watch. Leave the two love birds to me. You go look for Zeref."

"Thanks, Zancrow." The mob said as they walked away, mumbling about how strong the two were.

"Hold on a damn second!" Zancrow shouted, scaring the masked men. "These two pathetic weaklings actually scare you?" The mob began mumbling in fear as Zancrow glared at him. "No guild is stronger than Grimoire Heart." He burst into black flames, catching Natsu's attention. "If you think their so strong, then Grimoire Heart doesn't need you. So burn!"

Black flames ripped out of the ground and torched the masked men into nothing but ash. "Those were his guildmates!" Pantherlily shouted, horrified of what he had see.

Zancrow laughed as the dust from the attack settled. "The hell is wrong with you!?" Laki asked. "Those were your friends."

"I don't have any friends." The blonde replied. "And I would keep my mouth shut if I were you!" He waved his arm and black flames shot towards the Dragon Slayers.

"Seriously? Fire won't hurt me." Natsu shouted as the flames grew closer.

"Natsu, Laki! Stay away!" Wendy shouted in concern. "Those flames are giving me a bad vibe!" The flames hit the two older Slayers and Natsu tried eating them, only for the two to start burning from the heat.

"What's wrong with these flames?" Natsu asked, looking up.

"Fine, take this!" Laki tried to shot the blonde, but her spiked logs burned up in an instant. "What the?"

"This is what happens to cocky little dragons." Zancrow tease. "Now, let's have a real fire!" He threw a black fireball and it exploded into a massive pillar.

"Natsu!/Laki!" Happy and Rose shouted respectively.

"Shouldn't Natsu be able to eat any flames he encounters?" Carla asked.

Zancrow laughed as he jumped down in front of the two Slayers. "That's what you get for trying to eat more than could, dragon hunter. Those divine flames taste okay?"

"Divine flames?" Natsu asked, confused.

"Yep, my magic is ten times stronger than yours ever will be." The blonde bragged. "You two are fighting against a God Slayer!"

With Lucy and Co.

"Crap... I'm almost out of magic power." Gray huffed as the four were surrounded by masked men.

"Yeah, but we took most of them out." Loke pointed out.

"Then let's take out the rest of these goons and look for everyone's else." Cana said.

"But what if they're fighting these guys too?" Lucy asked.

"We'll figure that out when the time comes." Gray replied.

"Hold on, do you guys sense that?" Loke asked before a clap caused the masked men to disappear. "They vanish... was it because of him?" They looked up to see Caprico standing above them.

"It's a waste of time fro them to fight, so I will defeat you." He said.

"A goat?" Lucy asked as Loke stared up in shock.

With Erza and Juvia

The two girls raced through the swamp before coming to a stop sensing magic power. "Who is there!?" The knight asked as they both turned to see Meredy behind them.

"The enemy is within my sight." She said without any emotion. "I shall destroy them both."

"It's a child?" Juvia asked confused.

"Don't be followed." Erza replied. "She's full of magic power."

With Elfman And Evergreen

"...What's up with him?" Elfman asked as he and Evergreen stared at Rustyrose holding a flower after beating the grunts.

"Don't know, but he reeks of cheap cologne." Evergreen replied.

"Tonight, the devils and fairies dance in disparity." Rustyrose said, making the two fairies confused. "May these stone walls serve as our ballroom."

"Can I please punch him?" Elfman asked.

"Only if I don't get to him first." Evergreen replied.

Base Camp

"Come out here, now!" Mirajane shouted as she and Lisanna turned to a tree, the grunts on the ground beaten.

"First cars and children and now two women?" Azuma asked as he emerged from the wood.

"Lisanna, this guy is dangerous. So stay behind me." The older sister said.

"I can help fight too." The youngest Strauss replied.

With Hades

The dark master stood on the beach, flag firmly planted in the ground as his ship stayed in the shallows. "Makarov's children don't stand a chance against my Seven Kin." He mumbled to himself. "The years I spent teaching them powerful magic from the abyss itself. Lost magic is there's to command, and Fairy Tail will fall."

Well, Laki is here now. Hope that gets you guys excited for the rest of this arc. Yes, I skipped a lot of the grunt fights in this chapter. The reason - they're grunt fights and have no real meaning to the story. See you guys next time.

Beta read by JBallinR12.