Chapter 86

Love & Thunder

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"Flashback"

"Magic"

Location/Date/Time Change

Clutching his chest, Laxus had no time to react as Wall punched him in the chest. His arm opened and boosters shot the blonde into the sky. "Target's vital signs confirmed. Homing systems open." Wall declared before missiles shot out of his back. The projectiles hit Laxus and exploded before a laser shot off his wrist and hit Laxus in the chest.

"Railgun ready!" A massive cannon formed out of his back as electric energy arched off and shot forward, only for it to surge around the blonde. "Damnit! I forgot this guy thrives on electricity!" Laxus launched through the air and punched the robot in the face. "But electricity doesn't work on me!" His arm transformed and he fired magical shots.

Laxus avoided the barrage and closed the gap, managing to kick the automaton back. Wall rolled along the ground and stared at the blonde marching towards him, only to go wide-eyed as he collapsed, gasping for air. "Looks like time is up for you." Wall declared as the Dragon Slayer coughed up blood. "The Bane particles inside of you are probably at peak stage right now…

"You won't be able to move soon, and breathing will be painful…" Laxus collapsed to the ground, barely able to stay on his hands and knees. "Well, even if you could move, lightning wouldn't work on me. I think one would call this checkmate."

"D… damn it." The blonde growled as he fell face first to the ground.

Wall instantly stood up and pointed his cannon arm at the Dragon Slayer. "Let me do you a favor and end this. You should be happy that you won't be suffering any more…" The palm started as bright as a star, scaring Laxus

'Come on, move!' Laxus screamed at his body. 'The reason I came back was to protect the guild! It's been here for a 100 years already…'

"Etherion starting up… die." A massive magical circle appeared around the two, shocking Wall. "What is this!? A magic barrier!? When did something like this appear!?"

"Got it straight from Freed…" Laxus declared as he pushed himself up. "And in this barrier Bane particles are canceled!" Panting in exhaustion, he stood up and smiled. "No wizard can break your spells. And even if there was, the only way to do that is to cure me."

Wall spasmed in shock before Laxus shot forward, red lightning arcing off his body. "Did you forget? Lightning doesn't work on-" A punch landed on the body, causing it to stun the entire body. "What is this!? I can't analyze it!" Wall shouted as Laxus pulled his fist back.

"Red Lightning: Megaton!" The blonde screamed as he punched through the Machina, shattering the body into a thousand pieces.

Fairy Tail Guild

Natsu was still sleeping in the infirmary as Lucy rested next to the bed. "Natsu…" Happy mumbled, replaying the conversation he heard from Zeref. 'I lose you! I'll do whatever I have to…'

In the main hall, Mavis floated over to the telepath. "Warren, situation report."

"No movement from tZeref's main forces in the west…" He replied. "But seems to be a stalemate up north. It might be a little better once Gajeel and his crew get there."

"What about the east!? Any word from the Four Emperors?" Max asked.

"No status report yet…" Warren mumbled. "But I can see that one of the 12 vanished, and the other two are headed this way."

Mavis hung her head in worry as Makarov spoke up. "Any news from Erza and her group?"

"Looks like they've taken down at least one of the 12." Warren reported. "I don't know what's going on, but someone must have helped them."

"We're still open on the east…" Makarov declared. "And Zeref and his forces won't stay still forever." His words killed the rising morale from his guild. "We could really use your tactical prowess now, First Master…" Mavis merely remained silent, concerning the elderly man.

'The only thing I can do… to take down Zeref…'

Hargeon

Gray and Lyon froze a platoon in front of them as Juvia sliced more from behind. Warriors jumped up from behind and raised their blades, only for bolts of pink magic to knock them out of the air. "Phew, good to see you again." Meredy chuckled.

"Meredy!"

"What are you doing here?" Gray asked.

"Crime Sorciere is joining the battle!" The empath declared as she ran forward.

'She's adorable...' Lyon told himself.

Erza and Kagura ran through the town when two figures walked forward. Before they could say anything, the swordswomen rushed past them and launched them into the air. "I thought you were injured…" Kagura questioned the red head. A blinding light caused two bodies to fall unconscious, stunning the pair. "You…"

"Sorry I wasn't here sooner…" Jellal apologized, his hood flowing in the wind.

"You should hide your face." Erza declared.

"I'm done running and hiding…" He replied. "I've made the decision it's time for me to defeat Zeref once and for all."

"Jellal…" Kagura mumbled, covered in a cold sweat.

Wendy, Chelia, and Carla stared across the battlefield from the blonde invader. "If I wanted to, I could have killed you all in an instant, a blink of an eye really!" Dimira chuckled, a smirk on her face. "A split second would last an eternity." Time froze around her as people hovered in the air. "Now, this world belongs to me, all laid out before me."

She walked over and stared Wendy in the face. "My magic has the ability to stop time itself. Age Seal, got it? I wouldn't trade this power for anything in the world." She squeezed Wendy's checks in a toying manner. "I can do whatever I please now, it's a real rush." Drawing her blade, she stared at the three shorter women in thought. "Killing the three of you would be easy, but that sounds boring. I know, I'll kill the one who kicked me in the face first."

"Sweet dreams child." She swung her blade only to be surprised when the girl moved out of the way. 'What? How?' Chelia did the same before both kicked her in the face with wind, sending her sliding backwards.

"I swear I just heard a voice…" Wendy mumbled.

"So did I!" Chelia declared.

"You might think yourself a master of time..." The four turned to the side to see Ultear walking forward, her orb at her hip. "But unfortunately for you, this is my domain as well. It served as a temporal prison, and I'm here on behalf of Crime Sorciere to punish you."

"Ultear!?" Wendy asked in shock.

"Were you the one who undid my time spell?" Dimaria questioned, gripping her sword in anger.

"No, time is still in the state you left it." Ultear replied, looking around the battlefield. "I am one that lives in the passages of time. That means I only exist in this place you have made. And because you've stopped time, I, who cannot exist when time flows normally, may show myself."

"Are you telling me that you intend to corrupt this world of mine?" The blonde growled.

"Ultear, what is happening here!?" Carla shouted in confusion.

"Her magic was the ability to stop time." The chronomancer explained. "But when time stops, I can show myself. Therefor all it took was for me to free you with my powers."

"GET OUT!" Dimaria charged in anger, sword at the ready.

"I am nothing but a projection, so while I may not be able to fight with you…" Ultear declared as Wendy and Shelia countered the charge with their own spells.

The blonde blocked with her blade as the wind pushed her back. "Have you ever wondered why I could manipulate time? Well let me show you." Her armor shattered off her arm, the pressure wave blasting the Sky Sisters back.

"What!? What is this power!?" Ultear watched as the two slid to a stop as Dimaria stood before them, her body completely changed.

"Take Over: God Soul." The Ishgar natives stared in shock before the Spriggain screamed, a massive blast wave leaving only a crater. "Bow down, as I, Chronos, the god of time descends upon you."

"The power of a god…" Ultear mumbled, her 'body' crumbling. "To think she had an ace like that up her sleeve. How'd she even get that!?"

"An ancient god revered centuries ago long ago, has become one with me, a descendent of its vessel." Dimaria raised her hand and pointed her finger forward before a beam of energy shot forward. Carla quickly pushed Wendy out of the way, causing the beam to rip through her own side.

'I couldn't see her attack at all…' Ultear thought in a panic as Carla fell over.

"Carla, hang in there!" Wendy shouted as she held her oldest friend in her arms.

"All that defile my world will pay for it in their blood." The blonde declared, lowering her arm.

"She's still alive." Ultear told the crying Wendy. "I've sent Carla outside this irregularity in time, so this means her time has stopped. But this is really cutting it close… once time starts again, she will…" Gripping her fist, she looked up and glared at the blonde. "So you've got to take her down, and then use as much healing magic as you can. So answer me; do you have what it takes to use your powers from the future?"

"The future?" Wendy repeated in confusion.

"That's right… the powers that you will gain in the future." Ultear explained, holding up her orb. "The ability to use them all now. We won't be able to beat her if we don't do use it. But the down side is… once you use it, you will never be able to use magic again. That is the power of the future, the Third Origin. I realize it is a decision not to be made lightly. However, you have no hope of victory against this foe without this power."

"Please do it!" Both girls declared.

Ultear's body cracked even more as she smiled at the resolve. "You must choose between the two of you. Otherwise, there will be no one left to heal Carla after the battle."

"I'll do it." Chelia declared pushing Wendy aside. "If anyone should be the one to heal Carla, it's you Wendy."

"The entire reason I came here was to save you, Chelia." Wendy snapped back. "If I can't even protect you when you need me, I'll never forgive myself!"

"Spare me this juvenile angst…" Dimaria declared as she charged forward.

Wendy pushed Chelia out of the way and entered Dragon Force before charging forward. "Sky Dragon Talon!" A wind powered overhead kick was blocked as the Take Over mage glared at her.

"I shall state it once more. I am the god aho controls time." The blonde declared. "I will forcefully make you recall all the pain which time has etched into your body. Age Scratch!" Wendy's body glowed as her every part of her body screamed in pain. Forcing herself to throw a punch, it hit square on the face, but Dimaria didn't even flinch.

"You still do not comprehend it? The folly of a mortal attempting to so much as touch a god?" Another wave of pain hit Wendy as Dimaria fired a beam, puncturing Wendy's leg as she stumbled backwards. "Pierce through! Beyond the confines of time!" A second beam shot forward, only for Chelia to jump in front and swat the beam away.

"I… made it… in time…" Ultear gasped as her body fell apart.

"Leave the rest to me, Wendy. I'll teach her some manners!" The pinkette declared before charging, smashing her forearm into Dimaria's face, knocking her back.

An uppercut angered the blonde who punched back. "A lowly human dares defy a god!?"

"You're a malicious god!" Chelia shouted back, throwing a kick. "If you were a righteous god, you would surely love humans more! So my magic exists to put down corrupt gods like you!"

"God Slayer Magic!? That wasn't just a bluff!?" Dimaria shouted as her face returned to normal.

A mass of wind and feathers gathered around her as Chelia gripped her hands. "This is my last spell, and I cast it for the love of my friends! Heaven,y Gathering of Clouds!"

Wind smashed into Dimaira and destroyed her take over, ending her spell and knocking her out. Time returned to normal and Wendy rushed over to heal Carla, crying over her friend. "Don't cry, Wendy." The older girl declared. "Even without magic, I'll still live on. Magic doesn't hold a candle to love." Wendy nodded and hugged her friend.