Chapter 33

Thunderstruck

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

Base Camp

The group stared up at the sky as the rain continued to fall. "The sky's really pouring down..." Lucy mumbled.

"I hate lightning..." Levy said next to her.

Pantherlily was on the ground holding his head in a panic. "What's wrong, Lily?" Happy asked.

"Don't tell me you're scared of lightning." Carla teased, making him tense up.

"So what? We're all scared of something." Slate pointed out.

"Sh-Shut up!" The black cat shouted.

Natsu stood up inside the tent, catching everyone's attention. "Now then, I'm going to defeat Hades. Lucy, Happy..."

"Aye, sir!" Happy cheered.

"M...Me?" Lucy asked in a panic.

"We're all on the same team aren't we?" Happy asked.

The blonde looked down at the cat. "I know, but wouldn't Freed be a better..."

"I still need to inscribe this area with an enchantment." The vernette interrupted.

"Leave the defenses to us." Bickslow added.

"I'm going to go with Natsu and them too." Wendy added.

"Wait, Wendy!" Carla protested.

"I think I would be able to provide some kind of support." Wendy explained.

"I...I'm going too." Lily said. "I need to make things right with Gajeel."

"Count me in." Brianna said. "After what they did, they need a thrashing." Slate hopped up next to her and nodded.

"I'm going to stay here and help Freed with the enchantment." Levy said.

"I want to stay with Mira and Elfman." Lisanna said.

"Then it's decided." Freed said.

"We'll protect everyone here." Bickslow said.

"Be careful, Lu." Levy told the blonde.

"Most of my magical power has recovered." She replied.

"The only enemy left is Hades." Lisanna said.

"This looks like the final battle." Wendy added.

"Hold on..." All glanced over to see Nicholas pushing himself up. "I'm coming too."

"No way." Brianna said, getting on her knees. "You're staying here to rest."

"Like hell I'm gonna let you fight this alone. Besides, I'm not that hurt." He replied before breaking off a chunk of rock next to him. "I just need a little snack." He ate the stone and swallowed it. "There, see? Good as new." He tried to stand up, but his wound hit him.

Brianna turned to Natsu who watched the whole scene. "If he can stand, he can fight." The pinkette said. "If not he stays here."

Gripping the ground Nicholas forced himself up, adrenaline blocking out the pain. "Fine... but I'm keeping an eye on you." Brianna told him.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." He replied before walking forward. "So, we gonna do this or what?"

"Let's do it!" Natsu roared before the group started running.

Lisanna glanced over to see Brianna helping Nicholas keep up, bringing a smile to her face. "Wait, Natsu." He turned around to see what she wanted, only for her lips to hit his. Everyone stared in shock of the action, except for Brianna who just smirked. She pulled away leaving Natsu in shock before winking at him. "That was for luck. Go get him."

"R-right." He stumbled back before breaking into a sprint.

With Juvia

The rain woman was still crawling on the ground after Meredy, looking like a mad woman. "Stop! And! Give! Me! Zeref!" She cried out with every crawl.

"Is this lady possessed!?" Meredy asked terrified.

"Just hand him over!" Juvia shouted.

"So was all that talk about love and life just a ploy to save your skin?" The pinkette asked.

"I don't want to fight any more than you." The rain woman replied.

A flash of fire caught their attention and they turned to see Zancrow in front of them. "Well, what do we have here?" He teased. "You do realize that the ship is in the direction, right?"

"No, I didn't." Meredy answered.

"Like I'd believe that." The blonde shouted back. "Everyone knows you follow Ultear around like a little lost puppy."

"You're wrong." Meredy replied.

"As of now, you're not a part of Grimoire Heart anymore!" He let out a bellow and blasted the two girls back, making Zeref fall to the ground. "That's what you get for trying to take something that doesn't belong to you!" He walked over and picked up Zeref.

"You can't..." Meredy groaned as she reached out to him. "If you take him, then you take Ultear's future. Not just here, but mine too..."

"You never learn, do you?" He chuckled back. "Ultear is just using you like she uses everyone else."

"You're wrong..." She cried out with tears in her eyes. "She promised me that when we reached the Grand Magic World, my village would go back to the way it used to be."

"That crappy place?" Zancrow chuckled out. "Why would you ever go back to it after me, Kain, and Lucian redecorated the place?" Meredy looked up in shock. "We weren't the only ones there, ya know? Your precious Ultear led the attack. She slaughtered even more people than the three of us put together."

Meredy went wide eyed in shock as Juvia glared at him. "That's not true..."

Zancrow laughed in sick joy as Meredy started crying. "Acnologia..." Zeref mumbled, shocking the blonde. The Black Wizard looked up with burning red eyes. The Predatory Death spell hit and blasted the area with the death magic. Zancrow fell backward dead as he gasped his last breath.

Zeref stood up with normal eyes and looked down in shame. "Forgive me." He said. "You didn't deserve such a fate. I bear now more darkness on my shoulders." He knelt down and closed the blondes eyes before glancing to see Meredy and Juvia unconscious on the ground.

"Thats some relief, knowing that those two are unharmed." He took a breath and started walking forward. "It's my solemn vow not to align myself with any cause in the current era. I will be neutral and isolated, neither friend nor foe. That said, if the current era is to end, I might take on a far more active role. I had hoped you would have destroyed me by then, Natsu."

He walked away from the clearing, unaware of the terrified Doranbolt hiding behind a tree. 'No way... tell me I misheard him... did he really say Acnologia?'

With Gray

The ice wizard stumbled around the forest in a wounded stupor. 'This isn't good... everything's getting hazy.' He clutched his wound before he started falling over. 'Is this, the end?' His fall came to a stop when Erza caught him. "You done showing off?"

"Nice to see you too." She chuckled.

"You know, getting saved all the time really gets annoying." He replied.

"Consider this returning the favor." She said.

Both looked over to see the rest of their team, Nicholas, Brianna and the Exceeds in front of them. "I'm glad we found you." Wendy said.

"Feel like getting some pay back?" Natsu asked.

The two smirked back and the group soon broke through the tree line to see the dark guilds ship. "I never would have imagined that the Nine Kin and Bluenote would be bested at the hands of Fairy Tail." Hades said to himself. "In the end, I suppose Makarov is a better guild master than I anticipated. Very well, I suppose I will have to deal with them myself. Play time is over for the fairies, now it's time to get down to business. You wish for the same treatment as your master? Then come and face me."

He turned around and walked back into his ship. "Hey get back here and give us a way up!" Natsu shouted.

"We owe him for gramps." Gray said.

"He'll answer for it soon enough." Erza told him.

"I can't wait to wipe that smirk off his face." Brianna said with Nicholas still hanging off her.

"Save some of that for me." He added.

"If we beat him in time, then the rest of them will leave and the council won't have to fire on us?" Wendy asked Lucy.

"Yeah, and if they have to swim back so be it." The blonde replied.

"Happy, I've got a job for ya." Natsu said as the cats turned around. "I need you to find whatever makes this thing flies and take it out of commission."

"Yeah, I'd guess it be a major problem for you if this thing started moving while you were fighting." The cat replied, making Natsu look away.

"We shall help him." Carla added.

"I'm always up for smashing something." Slate chuckled.

"I'll cast my Troia spell just in case." Wendy said before casting the spell.

"I think we've kept him waiting enough." Gray said before creating a staircase from ice. They started running up the stairs before the Exceeds split off from the group.

"Remember, his power surpasses that of our own master." Erza said. "Once we're inside, hit him hard and hit him fast."

"Okay!" Wendy shouted back.

"Dont worry, I wasn't planning on stopping until he's begging for mercy." Gray added.

"After everything he's done, he doesn't deserve any mercy!" Lucy shouted.

"Let's show him what happens when you mess with our guild!" Brianna shouted.

"I'm going to enjoy this." Nicholas said as he rounded out the pack.

"We're putting him down tonight!" Natsu roared as he jumped up to the top of the stairs. "Watch out, Hades! I've got a message from Makarov! Choke on it!"

Flames shot out of his hand and blasted Hades, who held out his own hand and forced the flames around him. "You'll have to do better than that."

Behind the flames, Erza and Gray jumped into the air. The red head glowed as she donned her repaired Blackwing Armor. "Moon Slice!"

"Ice -Make: Cold Excalibur!" He crafted a massive sword of ice and swung it at the same time as Erza.

Hades took the blast as Nicholas held his arms to the side. "Earth Dragon Morningstar!" They turned into twin maces on chains that he then slammed into Hades.

Brianna glowed as she entered her Scorpion-Man form and pulled her tail back. "Stinger Storm!" Poison shot out of the tail and blasted Hades, blinding him with the dark mist.

Lucy slid into position before pulling out a key. "Open, Gate of the Golden Bull - Taurus!" The spirit appeared and slammed his axe into Hades.

"By the grace of the wind, may you move swiftly and be free from all harm." Wendy chanted before crossing her arms. "Arms x Armor x Vernier!"Gray and Erza started glowing before they began swining there swords at Hades.

He dodged a swing from Erza before jumping back. "Nimble scamp..." He shot out a magic chain and it grabbed Erza by the neck. With a flick of his wrist, he sent her crashing into Gray.

"Eat this!" Brianna charged forward in her Minotaur form as above Natsu ignited his arms.

"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!" He swung his arms as Brianna tackled Hades, both launching him into the air. He summoned two chains and grabbed them both before flinging them back.

Erza sliced both chains before they landed on an ice and stone hammer, respectively. "Get in it!" Gray and Nicholas shouted at the same time before swinging their weapons, launching the two.

"Sky Dragon Roar!"Wendy shouted before shooting out a tornado from her mouth.

"Scorpio!" Lucy chanted before the spirit fired a blast of sand from his tail.

The two attacks merged and wrapped themselves around Natsu and Brianna. "A unison raid!?" Hades asked in shock.

Brianna glowed as she entered her Harpy form and began spinning. "Talon Dove!" She began spinning around as her claws glowed.

"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu shouted before igniting himself. Both crashed into Hades and sent him flying into the back wall of the ship as they all panted in exhaustion.

The smoke faded as waited nervously for the result. "I've heard young people refer to mistakes as 'life experiences'." Hades spoke up, shocking everyone as he walked out looking unharmed. "But true mistakes do not yield experience, as there is no coming back from them. Such as the case here. Your future consists only of the grave, there will be no lesson to learn here other than opposing me was the biggest mistakes of your lives."

"Oh, no..." Wendy mumbled in fear.

"This is bad..." Brianna said as she returned to her normal form.

"All of that and he wasn't even scratched?" Lucy asked in a panic.

"Come on! We poured everything we had into that!" Gray complained as Nicholas clutched his wound.

"His magic power is unreal." Natsu mumbled.

"Very well. Now that I'm all warned up, it's time to get serious." Hades said before the air pressure began to change. Everyone stared in shock as they prepared for the worst. "Katsu!" Hades screamed. Magic roared out of his voice causing Nicholas to vanish, leaving only his clothes and bandages to fall to the ground.

"Nicholas!" Natsu shouted in horror.

"Concider that a mercy kill." Hades said. "I put an injured man out of his misery. It's a shame that you all won't share the same fate.

Brianna dropped to her knees in disbelief, clutching the pendent in front of her. "What did you do to him!?" Gray shouted.

"'Calm down, I'm okay.'" A voice said, surprising everyone. "'Look. Up.' He says growing annoyed." Everyone looked up to see a clock hugging the ceiling of the ship.

"Horolugium?" Lucy asked.

"Nice work, old timer." Gray said as Natsu sighed and Brianna wiped some tears from her eyes.

"My automatic danger detection mode was activated just in time." The spirit explained.

"Really?" Lucy skeptically asked reliving her time on the island. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think your danger detection thing needs an overhaul."

"My apologies, but while you've had trouble on the island your life was never in danger." The clock explained. "'I owe you big time for this one.' He says graciously."

"I guess timing is kind of his thing." Gray chuckled.

"So why are his clothes in the ground?" Natsu asked.

"I only had time to save his physical body." Horolugium explain.

"Hold, that means..." Lucy mumbled before turning beet red.

"'Oh come on!' He complains in embarrassment." The clock says for him. "Do not worry, Vespa provided a change of clothes for you."

"We're just glad he's alright." Erza spoke up. "Thank you."

"Sadly this is the oh,y time I'll be able to offer my assistance." Horolugium added. "Please take care and good luck."

He disappeared in a puff of smoke before Nicholas hit the ground, now in an outfit matching Vespas. "So this is Makarov's Fairy Tail? Well I must say you're certainly entertaining." Hades confessed.

"Hold on, are you saying you know gramps?" Natsu asked.

"I'm surprised he never told you about me." Hades replied. "Was my name expunged from the guild's archives? I should have expected this. If Makarov is gramps, I supposed that makes me your great grandfather. I was Fairy tail's second master."

Everyone stared in shock of the revolution. "That's a filthy lie!" Natsu roared.

"My name was Precht back then." The dark master continued. "It was I who passed the mantle along to Makarov as the third guild master."

"Stop bullshitting me!" Natsu shouted before he charged Hades. The old man summoned a sphere of runes that exploded. He then created a wall of magic that blasted the others back.

Magic chains then shot forward and grabbed Erza and Lucy by the arm before detonating. Natsu charged again only to get shot in the leg by a magic bullet. He then started shooting the others as well, laughing as he did. "Now do you understand your mistake!?"

With the Exceeds

Lightning crashed outside the ship, scaring Pantherlily into covering his ears. "It's so loud! Who builds a ship with such horrible sound insulation!? It sounds like it's inside my head! Make it stop!"

"Keep that up and I'll throw you outside myself!" Slate replied.

"At least the lightning can't get us while we're inside." Happy pointed out as they reached a corner. "Okay, let's check this way."

"Don't get let behind." Carla told Lily as they followed the blue cat.

Council Warship Remains

"There's no denying it..." Doranbolt mumbled with his face in his hands. "At first I just thought I misheard him. But... I know what I heard."

"You're certain that Zeref said Acnologia!?" Lahar asked.

"I'm useless..." The spy mumbled. "How could I just get paralyzed by fear like that!?"

"Get a hold of yourself. I need to know that you're certain about what you heard!" The captain demanded, only for Doranbolt to sink further into his hands. "Prepare to withdraw! Our survey of Tenrou Island is negated!"

The troops began moving as Doranbolt just sat on his crate. 'There's nothing I can do... it's all over...' He took one last glance at the island as the ship sailed away. 'Forgive me...'

Grimoire Heart Airship

Hades smiled as he stood over the prone bodies of the seven wizards who challenged him. "Tell me, do fairies possess tails?" He asked them as they groaned in pain. "It's an eternal mystery, and therefore an eternal adventure. I believe that is how the guild's name came about?" He walked over to the prone Natsu and stood over him. "However, your adventure will end crushed under my boot."

He slammed his boot down and ground Natsu's head into the floor. "The first master Mavis entrusted the guild to me, and I inturn passed my will along to Makarov. One of my greatest mistakes. Makarov changed the guild."

"What nonsense are you spouting off now?" Natsu defiantly asked as he looked up.

"He brought magic out of the darkness and into the light." Hades explained.

"Thats how our Fairy Tail does things! Got a problem with it!?" He shouted back. "We don't have to live in the shadow like you heartless bastards. We live with our lives on the line every moment. So sit and stew in the darkness all you want! You don't have the courage to change a thing!"

"You should mind your manners." Hades said before shooting him in the leg repeatedly. "If you're angry it should be st Makarov. He's the reason you're about to leave this world in utter agony."

"I won't let you get away wiht hurting gramps..." Natsu defiantly said forcing himself up.

"You'll die like all the others foolish enough to face me." Hades replied charging another magic bullet.

Lightning crashed through the roof and zapped Hades' arm, making him groan in pain. All looked to se a sparking figure between Natsu and Hades. "So this is the fossil that took out Gramps?" The sparks died and showed a blonde with spiked earphones and hair. "Interesting..."

"Laxus..." Natsu smirked.

Laxus pulled his head back as hades saw Makarov. "The boy!?" A sparking headbutt hit the old man and made him slid back.

"It's Laxus..." Gray mumbled.

"I'd never thought I'd be happy to see him." Lucy said wiping a tear from her eyes.

"Isnt he the masters grandson?" Wendy asked, making Brianna nod back to her.

Nicholas just glared up at the blonde with anger. "Why is he even here?"

"I see... so you're a blood relative of Makarov?" Hades asked.

Laxus just stood back up as lightning sparked off him. "How pathetic... you guys got beat so bad you look like a bunch of tattered rags."

Natsu just smirked at the insult. "No joke..."

"What are you doing here, Laxus?" Erza asked.

"I came to pay my mistakes to the first master." The blonde said. "I was a member of Fairy Tail too, ya know. I was just planning to stop by Mavis' grave. I certainly didn't expect to run into the second guild master. Since you're already here, why don't I dig a grave for you?"

He started sparking violently as hades just chuckled. "What a shame... to think that Makarov would be burdened by such a pretentious grandson." His own magic started flaring up as the two stared at each other.

Laxus struck first with a knee to the jaw before throwing a punch that sent Hades flying back. The blonde charged after him and punched him into the grate of the ship. He threw another one but hades managed to dodge this one. "I'm impressed with your magic power, not to mention your courage. I never expected Makarov to have another on Gildarts level."

Laxus just stood up annoyed. "That reminds me of something the geezer used to say. Whenever you face a strong opponent, standing up to him is what's important. Ain't that right Natsu?"

"Yeah..." The pinkette said from the ground.

"Utter nonsense." Hades replied. "That's nothing but a weaklings excuse. Think you're strong enough to face me, then prove it."

"With pleasure." Laxus smirked.

Base Camp

Freed moved his sword over the ground and runes popped up up underneath it. "We need to triple check these defense enchantments." Freed told Levy. "The tiniest of holes can ruin them completely, understand?"

"Yes." She nodded before glancing back at Gajeel. "Now I get to protect you, lug head."

"What did you say, Levy?" Freed asked, over hearing the small conversation. "If you have something important to say, then please say it."

"It's nothing just forget I said anything!" She shouted back.

Lisanna tightened her brothers bandages under the tent. "Now just take some time to rest."

"No, I'm done resting." He said back. "Let me help with guard duty."

"You know you talk in you sleep, right?" She chuckled. "'Evergreen, Evergreen'."

His face turned red in embarrassment. "That's nit what I meant and you know it!"

"Can you really joke after what you and Natsu did?" Bickslow teased as he walked forward, making Lisanna turn red.

"What is he- hey, where were you ya slacker!?" Elfman asked.

"Taking care of that guy with glasses Brianna obliterated." The masked man replied. "Don't want him using his magic to alert his friends where we are."

"Good work." The vernette said. "We're almost done here."

"You two should really get some rest." Levy said. "You have to be exhausted."

"You kidding me?" Bickslow asked. "After dealing with that guy, this is a piece of cake." A kanji ripped through his body and he cried in pain.

"Bickslow!" Freed shouted.

"That's Eastern Solid Script!" Levy cried out.

The masked man fell over and showed Yomazu laughing. Kawazu slid in front of him and pointed his head to the sky. "Heavy Egg Rain!" Eggs rained down and blasted the camp.

"An ambush..." Elfman groaned out.

"I though Gajeel beat these guys already." Levy complained.

"Guess they got better." Lisanna said.

The dog man slid behind them and waved his arm. "Honor and ediquite mean nothing to a warrior who lost his sword!" A kanji flew forward and destroyed the enchantment.

"We must protect the injured." Freed declared.

"You have to let me fight." Elfman begged as he stood up.

"No, you need to rest." Lisanna told him before her brother was blasted away by a beam of light.

"We need to beat these guys or else Master Hades is gonna be really mad at us!" Kain shouted.

"Not a problem." The dogman said as he and his partner ran forward. "After all the trouble you've caused our guild..."

"We'll become the newest members of the Nine Kin!" Kawazu shouted before the two split up.

"Levy, we have to restore the enchantment!" Freed told the girl. "Bickslow, time to get up."

"One sec..." The masked man said as he stood up. "Get 'em, babies!" The totems flew forward and hit the chicken while the dog created a shield kanji.

Lisanna charged forward in her tiger form and swung her claws at Kain. A palm strike to the gut sent her flying through the air until she landed on the ground. "Why can't I cut him?"

"Because I'm reinforced now." Kain chuckled, holding a doll in his hands.

"Wait, I thought Happy stole that from you?" The animal girl asked.

"I always keep a second one handy just in case." The fat man explained as he reached into his cloak. "And I've already managed to steal one of your hairs."

"You jerk!" She shouted as she stood up. Kain mumbled something about getting back together before the doll turned to iron and Elfman now solid iron flew at her, forcing her to dodge until one hit her. Elfman was buried into the ground as Lisanna was forced to return to her normal form. "We won't... lose to you... we're Fairy Tail... we don't give up..."

Bickslow covered his mouth as dust blew past him. "Gotta say, you guys aren't too bad in a fight..." He confessed to the dark wizards.

"That's what happens when you mess with Grimoire Heart." The chicken clucked out.

"Now prepare to die!" Yomazu shouted before a flock of cards cut them off.

"I've had it with all these interruptions on our trial." Cana said from the side. "Now it's time to make you creeps pay."

"Go and help Lisanna." Freed said walking forward. "The enchantment is at its minimal defensive levels. Let's deal with these two right away."

"You got it." Bickslow said.

And the final push is on. If Lisanna kissing Natsu seems out of place, I refer you back to chapter 23 where Brianna told her to take the direct route with Dragon Slayers. What's more direct then a freaking kiss? That will be the pairing for Natsu because that's how my characters have impacted the story.

Beta read by JballinR12.