Okay so… I figured the fights out like three days after that little note I posted about it. But I was struggling to get inspired. As I mentioned this chapter is the set up for the fights, so it's going to potentially feel rushed due to jumping around. It might also feel rushed because I didn't actually take that long to type it up, though that's because I kinda had to force myself to stay on task and didn't stop to re-write sections like I normally would. So it might even feel like it's a lower quality compared to other chapters.
Oh and uh, if anyone else wants to try and take a crack at this story, go for it. But send me the link so I can read it and continue to fuel my bibliophile nature and feed my inner book goblin. Anyway, here's the disclaimer now.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail. I do not own these characters. I do not own the story idea, at least not entirely. Then again, someone else may have had the same ideas I did. Eh, how about I don't own anything in this story. Is that a good enough disclaimer?
Chapter 23.
The Battle Begins
"Well, at least we have a warning before they attack…."
Gray muttered to himself as the guild watched the approaching airship that was clearly marked with the symbol of Grimoire Heart.
Just to be sure that it was heading towards them and not just passing by, Makarov had the guild gather and watch for a few minutes. But once they were sure the Dark Guild was targeting them, he sighed.
"Listen up!"
He shouted to get the guild's attention on him.
"It's obvious that they're trying to scare us by make their approach so slowly. But we can use it to our advantage. For now I want Erza, Freed, Gray, and Mira with me. The rest of you get started on evacuating the citizens."
Since it was standard protocol for the strongest of the guild to gather and make a plan while the others got the towns people to safety no one questioned it. Not even if they noticed how calm the four the guild master had pointed out were being about the situation.
As the guild hall emptied out leaving just those that were already in the know, they all let out a collective sigh. Just because they knew the attack was coming didn't mean they were ready for it. So to see that Grimoire Heart was aiming for an intimidation tactic, it meant they had a bit of breathing room after all.
"So far so good."
Mira commented as she thought back to the plans that had already been made.
"Yes. But now comes the rough part. We have to sit back and wait. If the intel that I was given is true, then it's the full might of Grimoire Heart that is being aimed at us. Which means that we have to treat this the same way we would when dealing with a smaller Dark Guild."
Everyone present had been involved in taking down a Dark Guild before so they knew what the guild master meant. They knew that he was referring to the fact that Dark Guilds always used the same attack or defense method. That method being to use the weaker members to distract or soften up the opponent, so that the stronger members had a better chance of winning.
"We expected as much when we created the plan though master. That's why I haven't sent the signal to bring back Natsu and Gajeel yet. It was decided not to do so until it was confirmed that at least three of their Seven Kin of Purgatory were in combat."
Freed pointed out.
"Just because we expected it, doesn't make the waiting any less nerve-wracking."
The oldest mage pointed out, which got agreeing nods from the two females.
They watched for about fifteen minutes, before making their moves. Mostly because it seemed that Grimoire Heart had caught on to the fact that Erza, Mira, Gray, and Freed (as well known powerhouses) weren't in the fight yet and were trying to draw them out by finally deploying their full might. Even Makarov was rushing out the door once he heard the voice of Grimoire Hearts leader.
"I have to confront their guild master. Which means someone needs to deal with Bluenote. Erza, Mira. I don't know if you could fight him on your own, but together you should be able to fend him off. Go!"
The diminutive man ordered his two S-class before they could split off. Erza nodded, though Mira frowned.
"I'll go aid Elfman and Lisanna then. Hopefully enough of their forces will be embroiled in fighting that they can't retreat, so I'll send the signal for Natsu and Gajeel to return the moment I get into combat."
Freed offered, knowing what Mira had wanted to do. Which drew him a small smile of thanks from the white haired woman. It also got a nod of agreement from Makarov, since they needed him to be able to send the signal for the two dragon slayers.
Since he didn't hear his name being mentioned, Gray rushed off at that point.
-XxxxXxXxxXX-
Since they were going to ask other guilds to help defend the civilians, the S-class took a few days before implementing their counter plan for Grimoire Heart. During that time, Natsu did warn Wendy and Cana. Cana needed to know so she could be somewhere safe, yet still be able to defend her their daughter. After all, the only people anyone in the guild trusted to watch over the baby were other guild members and Selene. So Cana couldn't just find a person and say "Please watch over my baby while I join the guild in fighting off these dark guild mages." In Wendy's case it was so he could tell her that he trusted her as part of their den, and that he knew she was capable of protecting Cana and Koharu.
So the two of them had just settled for staying at Natsu and Cana's home.
"I don't sense anyone coming our way just yet. How about you?"
The brunette asked her fellow Fairy Tail member (and adoptive little sister in her eyes).
"Not yet. But I don't think we'll be able to avoid being noticed. Especially since I can feel several powerful magic signatures on that airship still."
"Yeah. There's a few I'm not confident I could fight off on my own."
That was when they heard the airship speakers crackle to life.
"As always, you Fairies prove your strength. Well no more. You have only been dealing with the low ranking members up to this point. Now I turn loose the Seven Kin of Purgatory, as well as our Deputy Commander to join the fray."
The moment the speaker stopped, Cana and Wendy felt all but one of the powerful magic signatures on the airship move. A few were moving at a rapid pace, with one coming directly at them. Glancing at her younger friend and getting a nod, Cana moved back into her home and set Koharu in her baby swing, then the Cards mage moved back to the front porch and stood there defensively.
The two had planned for Cana to stay back and only join in if she was needed, or if an opponent tried to get past Wendy to go for Koharu. So defending the house was her job. Wendy however just moved into the front yard, far enough from the house that unless someone aimed that way specifically, the debris or stray attacks wouldn't reach Cana or destroy the house and harm Koharu in any way. Not that they would anyway since Cana would be ready to block and deflect anything that came her way.
"Oh, it seems you knew I was coming." A man whose body resembled a goat spoke as he landed just in front of Wendy.
But the blue haired girl didn't reply. She was glaring at him, but didn't make any moves of her own. He was a threat yes, but without knowing what he was capable of, she felt it best for her enemy to make the first move.
"You seem to be taking this situation rather seriously then… Well the least I can do is be polite and tell you the name of your soon to be killer."
He spoke again, but still didn't get a rise out of the Sky Dragon Slayer.
"I am Capricorn."
"No you aren't. You are a mage who has a magic that lets them posses another's body and you used it on the Celestial Spirit Capricorn."
Wendy finally commented with a snort. While she wasn't exactly close with Lucy, Wendy had spent enough time around her and her magic to get a feel for it. So she wasn't exactly caught off guard when she noticed that one of the magics she could feel coming from the man was similar to the blondes.
"You must know a Celestial Spirit mage in order to tell that just by feeling my magic. But while you are correct about me possessing the body, you are wrong to correct me. My name is the same as the person or being whose body I possess."
Capricorn retorted as he got into a battle stance.
"Now let's get started, shall we?"
-XxxxXxXxxXX-
"Target found."
A young feminine voice reached his ears just in time to warn him to dodge an attack, so following his gut, Gray jumped to the side. He watched as a teal blur smashed into the ground where he'd been standing.
"Man am I glad I did some speed training with Jet the other day."
He muttered as he began to weave himself around wave after wave of teal blades.
"Stop dodging and die!"
"Why? I mean if the situation were reversed and I was attacking you, would you stand still and that the hit?"
Gray shot back as he finally saw the person sending the magic swords at him. It was a child around the same age as Wendy but with pink hair and eyes.
"Shut up and die so I can tell Ultear she doesn't have to worry about you anymore!"
That made the Ice Make mage stop in place and stutter "U-Ultear?!"
"So you do know the name of the one you replaced."
A new voice, one that sounded rather bitter cut in. Both Gray and the pink haired girl turned to find a stunningly beautiful woman with dark purple hair. She looked so much like his mentor that it felt like a knife slicing through his chest at the sight of her.
-XxxxXxXxxXX-
"The legendary Titania, and the former Demon. Let's see if you truly live up to your reputations."
A tall man taunted as Erza and Mira defended their guild-mate and friend Reedus from his attack.
"Reedus, let us handle him."
"Yeah. Master's orders are for us to handle him anyway."
The redhead and white haired women commented.
"Handle me? Even if you're reputations truly do match up with your power, you are both still far to weak to match me. I am a Grand-master on par with your Ace, Gildarts."
That made the two S-class share a look. Both knew that Gildarts reputation was earned using on a part of his full power, but they didn't know just how much. Yet they knew better than to underestimate Bluenote Stinger.
"You'll have to prove to us that you're on the same level as Gildarts."
Erza finally told the man as she used her magic to summon a sword to her hand.
"While I agree he has to prove it, he is an S-class level threat according to the Magic Council so I suggest you get more serious than that Erza."
Mira told her guild-mate even as she activated her Take Over magic. She was still a bit rusty with it, But if the man was even close to Gildarts level then it meant she couldn't afford to take it easy and skipped right over her normal Satan Soul to use Satan Soul: Halphas.
"I'd complain that Master Makarov forbade you from using that particular Take Over, but you do have a point. Re-equip: Purgatory Armor!"
Erza chuckled before calling out her Re-equip, and being surrounded by a bright light for just a moment.
"That's more like it. But it's still not enough. Fall."
Both Fairy Tail wizards felt the force of gravity slam into them. But they remained standing.
"Ho-ho. It seems the two of you might actually be able to back up your bark with a decent bite. Let's find out."
The dark mage grinned savagely.
-XxxxXxXxxXX-
"Elfman, Lisanna. Leave this one to me."
Freed ordered the two as he arrived just in time to use his Runic magic to cancel out whatever spell was controlling Elfman's body and making him attack his sister.
"But it's not manly!"
The taller and more buff Fairy Tail wizard replied.
"Are you sure about this Freed? This guy's magic is pretty dangerous."
Lisanna wondered even as she shifted to be able to leave the fight to go help someone else.
"I'll be fine. Besides we can't afford to fight 3 on 1 right now. There's still some of their low level mages running around and if my senses are correct at least 2 of their 'Seven Kin' aren't in a fight. From what I saw this guys magic is a poor match up against me so I can beat him quicker than you two could. Leave him to me and find someone else so we can end this quicker."
The green haired man answered even as he used his sword to etch even more runes to create a barrier preventing the Grimoire Heart member from leaving the street they were standing in.
"He's got a point. Come on Elfman."
Lisanna told her brother, knowing that the tone of voice she was using would make him follow along and not argue. As the two left his runic barrier, Freed let out a sigh and tapped on the specially made signal remote he had in his pocket.
"You seem to be underestimating me and Mr. Cursey. But that's fine. We'll just kill you and track those two down again."
The dark wizard taunted. But Freed just chuckled.
"Just as your guild is underestimating Fairy Tail. You are going to lose even if you do somehow manage to beat me."
-XxxxXxXxxXX-
"Damn this is boring."
Natsu commented to his den mates as he looked at his cards. It was Gajeels' turn as the dealer in their game of blackjack.
But before he could decide if he was going to stay or try and get one more card, he felt his pocket heat up.
"And there's the sign from Freed."
He told them, pulling the rune-stone from his pocket. It was glowing in the same dark purple as Freed's Dark Écriture and hot to the touch, though to the pink haired man it felt quite nice.
"Very well. Let's get going then."
Selene stated as she stood up. Placing her right hand on Gajeel's shoulder, and her left on Natsu's, she activated her teleportation spell.
In a flash the three of them were standing right in front of the Fairy Tail guildhall. They were close enough to hear, the fight between Makarov and Hades, though they didn't see it as the two were in Grimoire Heart's airship which had landed in the large open space of the nearby park.
"Grandmother, the guild master has heart problems. While I know he's strong, would you please be ready to back him up if need be?"
The Fire Dragon Slayer questioned, feeling a bit worried for his guild master.
"Since you asked, sure."
The silver haired woman waved him off as she moved towards the airship.
"Go bust some heads Gajeel. It's time once again to show the world why Fairy Tail is number 1, and why you don't fuck with us."
Natsu suggested to his fellow Dragon Slayer. Of course he was growling a bit as he could sense Wendy was fighting, which meant one of the dark guild wizards had gotten close to his home. As he could sense the same, Gajeel knew and understood why Natsu was pissed, so he just nodded in agreement.
"Let's do this."