Chapter 58: The Ice Family
In the snowy mountains, where Vulcans and Wyverns roamed the hills and sky. There laid a simple village, they lacked any form of guild or army. And the nearest Rune Knight outpost laid nearly fifty miles outside of the village. But, just slightly away from the village by a small frozen lake. Laid a simple cabin, where the only wizard for miles lived. Her power rivaled that of a Wizard Saint, on numerous occasions she had turned down the position. Known by the locals as the strongest mage North of Fiore, Ur the Ice Maker Wizard sat in her cabin preparing a stew boiling in a pot in her fireplace.
Gently and lightly humming, Ur continued to stir the pot. "Ultear, dinner!" Ur called out, and the sound of tiny footsteps came running. Little Ultear, a spitting image of her mother with her dark hair.
Mother and daughter sat at the dinner table, with Ultear sneaking a look at her mother every now and then. Her mind thoughtful, and filled with various questions. She had recently started school, and one of the other kids had pointed something out to her that had bothered her slightly. "Mama, who is my papa?" Little Ultear asked innocently, and Ur in shock ended up swallowing her food down the wrong pipe.
Ur entered a coughing fit, and poor little Ultear looked startled. "Wh-What? Your papa? Why ask about him all of a sudden?" Ur looked to her child, seeing her gaze filled with curiosity.
"Well… all the other kids have a papa. But I don't have one… Why?" Little Ultear asked softly.
Ur sighed and stood up from her seat and walked over to her daughter. Kneeling down to her daughter's eye level, Ur got a little quiet and awkward about this sudden question. "You… do have a papa. But he left on a journey some time ago."
"Why would he leave?" Ultear asked, her childlike curiosity rising at the idea of learning more about her father.
Ur groaned and sighed. "Your papa… well. He was a traveling man, looking to explore the world you see… And well, he stopped by our village for a while where he met me and uh… B-Before he knew about you, he had left to continue his journey." Ur tried her best to explain to her young daughter why her father was absent. In truth Ur didn't know herself. She did know Madara intended to travel and see the world, so when he hadn't returned, she had assumed he left to continue his journey.
"So, papa doesn't know about me?" Ultear asked sounding confused and a little sad.
"Well… no. But I'm sure he will come back… one day." Ur mumbled, smiling even as she didn't even seem to hold a grudge over the absence of her child's father.
"But… who is my papa?" Ultear wanted to know, who was her father? What was he like?
"Your papa's name is Madara. Your papa, is a really strong guy with a big heart. Although he always looks grumpy." Ur said with a big cheeky grin as she remembered all the times she would tease Madara.
"But… where is papa? When is he coming home?" Ultear grew more curious of her father the more Ur continued to speak of him.
"… Truth is sweetie, I don't know where papa went. But what I do know. Once he comes back and sees you, mama knows papa is going to love you a whole lot." Ur picked Ultear up from her chair, holding her daughter close. "He might not smile a whole lot, but that is just what kind of a guy your papa is. He shows love through strength."
Little Ultear smiles brightly, and then in her childlike innocence asks a troubling question. "Mama, do you still love papa?!"
"Ugh…" Ur froze up, and awkwardly blushed a little. "Mm, you bet mama still loves that grumpy idiot!" Ur brushes off her embarrassment and shows a big confident smile. "That's why mama knows, papa will come back." Ur said with great confidence, or at least seemed hopeful of her beloved's return one day.
And behold, over 2 decades later a grown Ultear jumped between Madara and Gray. Her eyes locking with her father's face for the first time ever. Madara stares at her in baffled shock. "Ur?!" He blurts out in his confusion as Ultear was the spitting image of her mother. Ultear then thrusted her arm forward unleashing giant ice rose vines blasting into her father's chest launching him backwards.
Madara groaned, his armor frozen and cracked from Ultear's attack. Picking himself back up, he stares in bewilderment. 'Ur…?' Madara thought to himself, there stood a woman. Identical to his beloved, but with longer darker hair. And her eyes, they were burning red. The Sharingan, standard three tomoe pattern. Getting a closer inspection, Madara begins noting the small differences between this woman and his beloved. "Ah, I see…" Madara smirks to himself. "That's some nice eyes you have there, child." Madara's face returned to a stoic look, as he took in the full view of his daughter. His eyes peering beneath the layers, and seeing her energy. 'A perfect mixture of chakra and ethernano. She is indeed the one…'
"Why did you come here?! I told you to run!" Gray called out to Ultear, who stood before him like a defensive older sister.
"Yeah, like I would leave you all alone like that. I thought you knew me by now Gray." Ultear stubbornly remained in place, and got a good look of the man that was her father.
"… You are so damn stubborn, just like-"
"Just like her mother." Madara cut Gray off, his face unreadable making Gray all the more nervous as to what Madara's next move would be. "You so freakishly look like Ur, it's almost haunting." Madara sighed and smirked. "I see, so she bore me a daughter and not a son… All this time, I had thought one of those two to be mine and Ur's child." Madara said as he looked to Gray and Lyon, as all the info he had on Ur's life after he was taken by Zeref, was that one photograph of Ur with her two students, and that Ur had ended up giving birth to his child. "Well, that is fine, luck certainly seems to be on my side. Instead of having to continue to search for my child, she came to me instead. All be it for the sentimental reason of saving her friends."
Ultear glared at her father with contempt. "Mother told me you struggled to express your true feelings, but that you still had ways of showing your love for her. But looking at you now, father… I can't believe mother ever loved you."
Madara didn't visibly react to his daughter's harsh comment, instead he looked down and cracked a smirk. "I expected as much. You have quite the sharp tongue on you child. You have your mother's looks… and her stubbornness. But I can tell you have my wit and resilience. But it seems your eyes are lacking. The Sharingan are known as the eyes that reflects the heart. For you not to be able to perceive my feelings, shows you are lacking. But they show promise nonetheless. How many illusions have you tried to put me under by now? Ten? Fifteen? My eyes are far more matured than yours, child. I can see right through them. And I can see your feelings quite well. I can tell you are anxious… resentful… angry… confused."
"Get down Ultear!" Gray pushed Ultear out of the way, as Madara has instantly closed the distance between them. Ultear gasped as she hadn't even noticed her father make a move, but Gray thankfully was able to react and slap Madara's hand away as he tried to grab her.
"Ultear? So, that's your name. Yes, it is quite lovely. Ultear Uchiha? Hmm, has a nice ring to it if I do say so myself." Madara and Gray traded a series of blows, each causing a vibrant shockwave across this snowy landscape. "Don't interfere with me and my daughter, boy!" Madara hissed as he did a series of backflips to avoid spikes of ice rising from the ground. Then Madara rushed forward, and locked forearms with Gray in a powerful clash.
"Get him Gray-sama!" Juvia cheered for her boyfriend, while Lyon bitterly looked from the sidelines. This fight was beyond them. And even though Gray could keep up with Madara, and even match his current power. It was obvious Madara wasn't going all-out yet, he was still playing around with Gray. It became clearer the longer the battle went on, Gray was only barely able to dodge Madara's deadly attacks. And with his Devil Slayer magic, he was able to slightly weaken and even dampen Madara's demonic power. Madara took a little damage whenever Gray landed a successful blow, but overall. Madara was stronger, faster and way more experienced than Gray.
Gray was knocked to the floor as Madara dealt a high kick to Gray's chin. Gray felt his teeth rattled. He tasted the blood in his mouth as he faced the Ghost of the Uchiha. Madara had the same powers as Itachi, but their fighting styles couldn't be any more different. Madara's approach was far more direct, as he enjoyed the sensation of groaning flesh clash against his fists. Whereas in contrast Itachi preferred to fight at a distance and to find ways to end a battle as quickly as possible.
Madara morphed the darkness around his arm, creating a long sword of darkness. As he slashed it towards Gray, Gray's third demonic eye on his forehead pulsated and Madara ended up cutting through an ice statue of Gray instead. As Gray teleported behind Madara, standing between him and Ultear. 'His ability… it reminds me of Sasuke's Rinnegan power. And if he is a Devil Slayer, that makes his abilities troublesome for me to deal with.' Madara's eyes fell on Ultear behind Gray. It was a strange sensation. Even though he had never met his child until today. Looking at her, Madara felt a strange feeling tugging at his heart. 'Is this the love a parent feels for their child? I see… Hashirama… I wonder. If your child had ever turned on Konoha. Would you truly have been able to end their life if they ever threatened the village? It certainly won't be easy… but at the end of the day. My goal is for Ultear's own benefit as well. If she stands against me and my goal… I will do what I must.'
Gray let out a chilling breath, as he created a long sword out of his ice. "Ice Devil: Zeroth Long Sword!" Taking a gigantic spinning leap forward, Gray swung his ice sword against Madara's Demonic sword of Darkness. Gray pushed forward, his sword slicing through the darkness of Madara's blade.
'His Devil Slayer powers weaken my Demonic darkness, as one would expect. But locking yourself in close quarter combat with me is none the less foolish.' Madara pushed on, moving at great levels of speed as he created a second Demonic sword of darkness around his left hand.
Gray struggled to hold back the storm of dark slashes as Madara began pushing him back. Madara then swiftly dealt a kick to Gray's chest, knocking him off balance as he was about to slash the boy in half. Gray's third eye pulsated with power, and Madara slashed through a statue of ice instead. 'He's fast!' Madara reacted as he felt the chill down his spine, he sprung forth demonic wings of darkness from his upper back. The long majestic wings pushing into Gray, and launching him several feet into the air.
Madara gazed at Gray from the corner of his eye, seeing Gray switch his ice sword in the place of a bow and arrow. "Ice Devil: Zeroth Destruction Bow!"
As Gray drew the bow, Madara's Rinnegan pulsated. "Limbo!" Gray fired off the arrow, only for it to clash with something invisible and bounce off into a nearby mountain. Once the arrow hit the mountain, it exploded and the mountain was reduced to rubble and replaced by a gigantic ice geyser.
Gray suddenly choked as he felt something grab onto his throat, and lift him into the air. 'What?!' Gray visibly panicked, as his third Demonic eye widened and glowed light purple. 'There's something in front of me… a dark demonic shadow.' Gray's third eye was able to perceive some kind of dark shadowy entity before him. In fact, it detected multiple and seeing them move towards Lyon, Juvia and Ultear. 'Crap! They can't see it!' Gray was unable to speak as the shadow continued to squeeze at his throat.
'As I thought. His third eye is able to perceive the darkness of demons. My Limbo clones all hold the same Demonic Darkness as I, so he must be able to see them because of that. I will be taking Ultear with me now.' Madara gleamed in silence, as his Limbo clones all rushed at Juvia, Lyon and Ultear.
"Gray! What are you doing up there?!" Lyon shouted, as they all looked genuinely confused on why Gray was just floating midair, and not attacking.
"Something's wrong… Juvia can feel something is harming her beloved Gray-sama." Before Juvia or Lyon even knew it, something hard hit them. Both of their eyes bulging nearly out from the intense pain, their very bones rattling. Juvia unable to convert her body into water to absorb the damage in time, was launched backwards along with Lyon through a series of trees.
"Huh?!" Ultear looked in panic, as unknowingly three of Madara's Limbo clones were rushing towards her at this very moment. The Limbo clone at the front, was mere inches away from grabbing Ultear. When suddenly a wall of ice erupted between them. The ice wall blasting Ultear back, and trapping Madara's Limbo clone.
'What?!' Madara glanced up at Gray, but the boy was still struggling to loosen the grip of his fourth Limbo clone from his throat. Then who cast the ice spell? Something jumped in like a meteorite, crashing into the snow causing it to blow up into a smoke screen.
"Ice-Make: Ice Volcano!" A feminine voice called out, as the ground beneath them suddenly morphed and changed, as a volcano took shape and erupted into a giant frozen blast.
The blast reached Gray in the sky, and froze the remainder of Madara's Limbo clones, and also caused Madara to take a giant leap backwards to avoid the erupting ice. The entire terrain changed into an icy landscape, spikes of ice crystals surrounding them like a combat arena.
"Who did he make me attack now…?" The woman mumbled, her voice trembling with grief as she glanced around her. And could only gasp as she recognized the man frozen within her ice geyser. He had certainly grown up, but that hairstyle and that scowl on his face was unmistakable. "Gray…?" Her voice trembled, sounding like she was genuinely about to cry over Gray having been caught up in her attack.
The ice around Gray began shaking however, cracks erupting around him as it suddenly broke. Gray was inhaling the ice, devouring the crystalized ice prison around him. Taking a few deep breaths, Gray felt his power swelling. "Man, that caught me off guard… who-?" Gray stopped himself, as he glanced down and saw the new attacker.
Her skin was pale, and had these cracks in them. Her eyes dark, with a glowing light purple iris. "… Ur?" Gray whispered, as before him stood his reanimated deceased master.
"Gray…" Ur whispered back. But then her attention was quickly drawn elsewhere. As another section of the ice exploded, and the clanking sounds of armor echoed as he walked through it. Now Ur's eyes were wide in disbelief. "Madara…?"
Madara dusted off his shoulder pads, and then it was his turn to look in disbelief. "Ur?" Madara locked eyes with his beloved, she was a reanimated zombie. Clenching his fists, Madara's eyes looked absolutely furious. "Neinhart!" Cursing out the name of the Historia Tensei user of the Spriggan Twelve. Madara wished he could only kill that sniveling coward again. 'That sneaky rat, he reanimated Ur to try and use her against me. I can only assume August has taken control over her now.'
"It… it really is you, isn't it?" Ur whispered, her expression showing a great deal of conflicting emotions. "Bastard… Where the hell did you run off to?! I was worried sick!" Ur instantly began cussing him out, the sound of her voice had Madara slightly flinch from the shock of hearing it again after all this time.
"… It is a long story my love. I am sure you already know what this is?" Madara looked calm as usual, this wouldn't put a wrench in his plan. No, in fact seeing Ur, and hearing her voice again. Only strengthened his resolve.
"We're at war, right?" Ur replied, as she had noticed the various knights and wizards she had been forced to fight and kill on various battlefields.
"Indeed. The Alvarez Empire has invaded Ishgar. And one of their wizards have resurrected you as a reanimated warrior to fight on their behalf." Madara revealed, and it was as Ur herself had guessed.
"Don't try and gloss over the fact you are also fighting against us in this war, bastard!" Gray snarled as he glared down at Madara.
"What?" Ur sounded shocked, and looked to Madara for answers. "What the hell does that mean? You are fighting for the Empire?"
"Heh, no. I am fighting for myself, as always. I am at war against both Ishgar and the Alvarez Empire." Madara crossed his arms, looking with a confident smirk.
"Ice Make: Snow Tiger!" Rushing out from the woods, were Lyon and Juvia. Lyon riding atop of a giant ice tiger that came rushing in at Madara, and Juvia soaring on a stream of water as she landed next to Gray.
"Gray-sama! Are you alright? Juvia was worried! Juvia could feel someone was harming you!" Juvia frantically checked on Gray, who lightheartedly smiled at her.
"Yeah, I was nearly choked out by some invisible shadow or something. But I'm fine now." Gray assured as he rubbed his hand around his sore throat. Ur took a moment to notice the closeness between Gray and this blue haired woman, looking shocked but simultaneously happy.
Lyon jumped off his ice tiger, and performed a second spell. "Ice Make: Ice Dragon!" Creating a long snake ice dragon, Lyon jumped in to attack Madara with both of his creations.
"Hn." Madara scoffed at the effort, as he kicked the incoming ice tiger in the chin shattering its entire head. The Demonic darkness around his right hand expanded into a giant claw as he grabbed the ice Dragon by the snout and squashed it to pieces. "I must say Ur, at least one of your students are powerful." Madara then speed blitzed Lyon, and kneed him in the stomach.
Lyon's face was twisted and converted with pain, as he felt like he might puke out his lunch. "Be thankful I held back my punches on you, boy." Madara said as he slapped Lyon to the ground in one swift motion.
"Lyon?" Ur's voice called out to her first student, and Lyon visibly flinched as he laid there in the snow groaning in pain.
"N-No way… Ur?" Lyon was in disbelief. "Y-You were the ice wizard we were looking for?" Lyon mumbled as he instantly figured Ur had to be the enemy ice wizard with powers that rivaled that of a Wizard Saint, he was sent out here to intercept.
The ice around them then suddenly shifted, leaving Ur herself speechless as someone melted her ice away into steam in an instant. "Arc of Time: Flash Forward." Ultear was out of breath, as she walked through the steam leftover from the melted ice. Ultear then locked eyes with Ur, and the two stood there in absolute silence.
Ur was shaking, raining snow fell against her face and into her eyes. The melted snow dripping down from her face like tears. It took a moment, but Ur instantly noticed this woman looked identical to herself. And something inside her cried out to her, she knew who this was despite not having seen her since she was a child.
Ultear then breaks the silence in a quiet whisper. "M-Mother…"
Ur swallowed a lump in her throat, choking up with intense emotions as she fully took in Ultear. "Ultear? My baby… is that really you?" Ur's voice sounded so shaken, she would cry if she could. Shakingly, she reached her hand up, holding it out towards Ultear. She wanted to touch her face, hold her. "You are alive?"
"Yes… I have so much I want to tell you, mother." Ultear looked visibly stricken with emotion, tears rolling down her face.
Madara in silence observed the situation with great interest, particularly as he noticed Ultear shedding tears for Ur. "Ultear… I am certain you can understand me now." Madara called out to his daughter, who visibly flinched and looked to her father. "I want you, to join me daughter. Help me, and I can make your dreams come true. I can bring your mother back to life, and we can start over. I can give you the childhood you deserved. The life, you deserved. All you have to do, is take my hand." Madara reached his hand out to Ultear, and he could tell she was intrigued by his words and curious of his plans now.
"What are you talking about?" Ur asked, looking to her beloved. "Why are you fighting against Ishgar in this war? What are you after?"
Madara cracked a smile. "It is simple. This war, is about who can obtain Fairy Heart first. Me or Zeref. Who can obtain the mightiest source of infinite power first? Both Zeref and I, intend to use Fairy Heart for something quite similar. However, his way doesn't benefit me at all. Zeref wants to use it to go back in time, and prevent himself from ever getting cursed. However… if he does that, I would never exist in this world." Madara pulled his hair aside, revealing the Demonic markings on his face. "Something I never told you, Ur. I am a Demon of the Book of Zeref. The Demon of War he calls me. Heh, but I was a human man before that. From a different world from this one. I died, and Zeref reincarnated me as a Demon for the sole purpose of killing him."
Ur was caught off guard, but she knew Madara wouldn't joke about these kinds of things, and knew when he was honest. She knew he was telling the truth. Madara then continued. "The day I left you. Zeref forcibly sealed me back inside of my book. He kept me sealed for decades… and when I woke up again. You were dead. And by the hands of another Demon of the Book of Zeref none the less." Madara chuckled to himself at the humorous irony of it all. "I learnt you had a child, our child. When I searched your old hut, I only found a photo of you and these two boys. I initially thought one of them might be my son. But as I learnt mere moments ago, you bore me a daughter."
"… I see." Ur smiled warmly for a moment. "So, you didn't leave… because you wanted to?" That fact somehow comforted her soul, but still she couldn't let one thing stand. "That still doesn't answer me, why are you fighting Ishgar? Why do you want this, Fairy Heart?"
"I told you. My plan is a lot similar to Zeref. However, I have discovered a way for me to stick around. I intend to use Fairy Heart, go back in time before Zeref was cursed with immortality. And kill him. With the infinite power of Fairy Heart, I can resist the time changing currents as a result. And thus, still be around, and with the divine power of Fairy Heart, I will be immortal. I shall become a God of this world, and change everything. All threats shall be dealt by me. And I shall make the world safe until you arrive. I will meet you again. Fall in love with you again. And start our family." Madara revealed, and Ultear and Ur visibly flinched. To which Madara smiled. "That is right, Ultear. Like I said, I will give you the life you deserve my daughter. A peaceful life of love and joy. Now, join me daughter. And we shall make the perfect world for us." Madara stretches his hand out for Ultear to accept. But she is hesitant.
Ur herself looks devastated, as she could tell one thing from hearing Madara's plan. Her death, had greatly hurt him. Ur knew better than anyone, just how much love Madara had for her despite his demeanor. She wanted to try and convince him of otherwise, but she couldn't muster the words. Madara's plan didn't lack its issues.
And Ur wasn't the only one who had noticed those flaws. "Change history to make your life better? That is some selfish shit!" Gray voiced out, and Ultear snapped out of her own thoughts on considering her father's plan. "Do you not realize what the consequences of changing history is?! Many people that I care about this day, will not exist as a result of your plan. If Zeref dies before he becomes immortal, Itachi wouldn't exist. Natsu wouldn't exist. Mirajane would never meet Itachi, and their unborn child would never have a chance to be born. I wouldn't have joined Fairy Tail, and I wouldn't have met Juvia." Gray shakingly clenched his fists with anger, and screams out. "Restarting everything?! Change history to prevent you from ever experiencing pain?! Would I be happy that my mom and dad were still alive?! Of course! Would I be happy that Ur survived?! No question! But would I make myself happy by throwing away the happiness of everyone else?! Hell no! That is some bullshit cowardly move! Everyone experiences pain! Everyone goes through hardships! That is life! It helps us grow! And we end up meeting new loved ones that we wouldn't want to lose for anything in this world! An ideal world for you…! Is not an ideal world for everyone else! This world! Is not yours to control! Get off your high horse! If you want happiness, then don't look to the past! Move forward!"
Madara visibly grew agitated by Gray's words, listening as the boy continued his rant. "You could have searched for Ultear much sooner! You could have built a relationship with your daughter! Been a part of her life! Instead, you looked to the past and continued to run away like a coward! Ghost of the Uchiha?! Yeah, right! And like a ghost all you can do is linger to the past and not move on!"
Gray finished his rant, and breathed heavily as he kept his glare on Madara. Ur looks to her student, feeling a great sensation of pride. She was happy hearing that Gray was able to move past his pain and find new love. Ur looked at Juvia, seeing how close this woman was with Gray, it made her even happier that Gray has found love.
Ultear looks slightly ashamed, ashamed that she had for a moment considered accepting Madara's hand. All Ultear thinks about, is all she has been through life. Most of her life, she had been too caught up in her own hatred and lingered onto the past instead of moving forward. She was so caught up in her own hatred, she didn't hesitate to destroy the lives of others around her. Ultear looked at her father, and backed away. She silently walked over to Gray, and stood with him against her father. She had done it long ago, broken the curse of hatred within her through the help of various people like Gray, Itachi, Jellal, Meredy.
Madara however, he couldn't move on. Deep down, in a strange way, Madara felt there to be some truth to Gray's words. But at the same time, having lost everything over the course of two lifetimes. He could not bear to lose it again.
"Madara…" Ur called out to him, her voice only further opening the wound of his ice-cold heart. "Please, this is not the way. Things… didn't work out for our lives. I know that. And after you left, I had a long time to accept it. My only wish, is for you and Ultear to go on in life being happy. I wish for Gray and Lyon to be happy as well. So please, I beg you… stop this. And instead go be a father to Ultear. And leave me behind in the past. I will wait for you on the other side when the time comes."
"…" For once in the duration of this whole war, Madara looks regretful. His once stoic mask cracks and expressed emotions of remorse and regret on his face. But those emotions were consumed by hatred and longing. "It's too late." Madara's emotions died down, and his resolve intensified. And with it, his aura kept on rising and the entire terrain shook as a result.
"Madara-!" Ur suddenly stiffened up, standing up straight as her body began moving on its own. August was commanding her to attack. "No! No! I will not fight my own daughter and students!" Ur looks troubled, as she lost full control over her own body. "Ice-Make: Ice Current!" A large current of ice moved in sideways following Ur's arm motion.
"Water Nebula!" Juvia leapt in, countering the sideways current of ice with a blaster current of water. The water moving at such speed it shredded the ice to pieces, both attacks reaching a stalemate. "Water Slicer!" Not letting up, Juvia motioned her left arm as if it was a blade and created a series of slash waves. The water slashes cleaved clean through the ice, and even through Ur's body.
Gray, Lyon and Ultear both gasped, a little disturbed at seeing Ur's body cleaved in half. "To spare Gray-sama the burden over having to fight his teacher! Juvia shall take on the role!"
"Your name is Juvia, right? Thank you… I'm so happy to see grumpy lil' Gray having found such a cute girlfriend~" Ur mumbled out, sounding a little bit like an overbearing mother, as her body began reattaching itself. Juvia smiled with joy over being called Gray's girlfriend.
"Mother…" Ultear was left completely shaken, unable to move. She had chosen to stand against her father, but she still couldn't bring herself to make a move. And now she wasn't only forced to fight her father, but also her mother. It almost became too much to bear. Collapsing to her knees, Ultear held her arms around herself as she sobbed. Her eyes glistening red, as the Sharingan began slowly morphing.
Madara however, wasn't wasting time on reunions anymore. And instead rushed straight for Gray as he was the strongest opponent here. Madara at the speed of light flashed the hand seals, and puffed his cheeks. "Fire Style: Grand Fireball!" Madara spewed out a colossal blazing ball of fire, it looked like the sun itself had been dragged down from the heavens and came crashing towards them.
"Shit!" Lyon quickly moved in, and generated a blizzard wave of ice to try and counter the flames. But his ice melted in the face of Madara's fireball. Ultear was too petrified to move. Then a chilling sensation exploded around them, as Gray had charged up enough power.
"Subzero!" With a mere motion of his fingers, Gray used the power of his Devil Force form to instantly freeze Madara's fireball into solid ice in the blink of an eye. Gray leapt at the now ice ball, and threw a heavy hit into it that launched it flying back towards Madara.
Madara's eyes were wide in shock, as he took a summersault into the air. He flashed some more hand seals. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!" Spewing out a series of fireballs the shape of Dragon heads, the flames roared as they soared towards Gray. Yet these Dragon fireballs, also froze instantly into sculptures of ice in the face of Gray's chilling aura.
Madara was shocked, and quite impressed. 'He froze my fire style that I pride myself upon. That boy's anger… is quite something. Reminds me of myself as a youngster.' Madara sadistically gleamed as he saw the look of rage in Gray's three eyes. "Gray Fullbuster, you thoroughly have impressed me boy. I've decided, when I rewrite the history of this world. I shall make sure you still become Ur's student. And thus, my student."
Gray in responds snarled at Madara. "I told you already! I am not interested in cowardly changing history!" Gray declares as he sends hundreds of gigantic ice lances flying towards Madara.
Madara scoffed with a smile, as a blue fiery aura exploded around him and took the shape of his Susano'o. The four-armed spectral giant formed four flaming swords of energy. "Yes, good. Keep on dancing!" Madara gleamed with joy, as his Susano'o slashed through Gray's onslaught of attacks. "Entertain me as long as you can. For this battle is already decided. For you see, as long as I have my goal. I am free from any weakness you have." Madara with a sadistic gleam formed several spinning beads of energy around his Susano'o "Yasaka Magatama!" Launching a wide spread fire of his Yasaka beads, Madara targeted the whole area. Including the ones around them like Ur, Ultear, Lyon and Juvia.
"Ice-Make: Ice Shield!" Gray spread his arms out, and generated a giant shield that blocked out the sky and took on the ferocious rain of Yasaka beads. The series of explosions cracked, and broke parts of the shield mid-bombardment. But it held.
"Such weaknesses are very exploitable." Madara's Rinnegan pulsated, as Gray was suddenly pulled in by some invisible gravitational force towards Madara. Gray groaned and cried in pain as Madara's Susano'o grabbed and squeezed onto his body. "For you see, as long as my plan succeed. This reality won't matter anymore. It will cease to exist. Your concern for those friends of yours, is your greatest weakness. Your worry over Itachi and the other Demons Zeref made you've befriended existences. Once I make my new world, you won't care as you won't even remember them."
Madara smirked as he locked eyes with the struggling Gray. "Still, I'm not heartless. I can understand why you struggle and worry for them now. However, certain sacrifices are needed to be made. Truth is, in theory, I could decide to go back to a time after Zeref has reincarnated Itachi to this world. But honestly, I don't want to risk it. For you see, even though Zeref has proven a Demon can permanently injure him. That doesn't mean one could kill him. Do you have any idea how many of those Demons he has made have tried to kill him over the years? And every single attempt failed. Let me put it like this, if I killed Zeref as he is now. Who is to say he won't return? After all, if he is truly immortal such things can't kill him."
"Y-You think of such things… yet you don't consider what the implication is to changing history?!" Gray groaned, coughing up a little blood.
"Oh, foolish boy. I have thought about it. For the past decades I have thought about it. Let me describe a different what-if scenario to you. What if, instead of going back in time to kill Zeref. I go back to before Ur died, and kill Deliora so she doesn't have to die. Well, then I would be in a time period where I already exist. And who can tell what sort of consequences that will have for reality. Is my desire selfish? I won't deny it. For you see child, I have lived through two lifetimes worth of suffering and loss. I don't intend to live through another. I am inclined to be selfish." Madara lectured, but Gray was still defiant of course.
Gray's third Demonic eye pulsated with power, and suddenly the Gray in the Susano'o grip was replaced by an ice sculpture. The snow in the air changed directions, as Gray appeared behind Madara and his Susano'o. Madara took notice of this, and smirked. 'I see, he moves with the snow itself.'
"Ice Devil: Zeroth Destruction Fist!" Gray's fist unleashed a giant chilling aura of ice, as he slammed it into the back of Madara's Susano'o. And the spectral giant broke apart, cobwebs of crack forming around it. "And I'm inclined to stop you!" Gray let out a battle cry, as his fist rocketed towards Madara.
"Shinra Tensei!" Madara responded with his Rinnegan, unleashing a giant shockwave push of gravity that annihilated his own Susano'o from within and blasted Gray flying backwards.
Gray's Demonic eye pulsated again, and he was replaced by an ice sculpture again. A giant gust of snow blew in Madara's direction, as Gray suddenly appeared in front of him with his fist already raised. Gray threw a punch nailing Madara straight in the mouth.
Madara groaned, as blood escaped from his lips. Blocking off Gray's next hit with his forearm, Madara threw his head forward and headbutted Gray in his third eye, blinding it momentarily. 'His eye also has a shorter recharge time than Sasuke's Rinnegan had with its ability. I'm starting to figure out the workings of your abilities more, Gray.' Madara's combat skills were too much for Gray to keep up with, as Madara outmaneuvered him eventually with his Taijutsu and double kicked Gray in the chin. Using his body as a springboard to launch himself backwards, Madara gained some distance and spewed out a wave of fire into Gray at near point-blank range.
Once again however, the flames froze in ice, and Gray rushed through the frozen ice sculpture like a rocket as he rushed at Madara. 'Once again, he froze my strong fire element. And his attack was even able to break through my Susano'o…' Madara stops his train of thought, as Gray suddenly teleports behind him again. Madara had to admire the intensity of the boy's fighting style.
"Ice Devil: RAGE!" Gray unleashed a breath attack at point blank range, and it clashed directly into Madara's back. Madara groaned, and blood erupted out from his mouth as Gray's attack pierced tiny ice shards into his lungs.
"Hehehe…" Madara chuckled as he was mid backflip. Wiping away some of the blood from his mouth, as he let his Demonic darkness heal him. Gray doesn't let up, and continues his assault throwing his arms back.
"Ice Devil: Zeroth Destruction Sword!" Gray swung the blade at Madara's upper body, although came to a halt. As Madara grabbed onto the blade, with his hand coated in the fire of his Susano'o.
"That's enough playing around." Madara smirks as the Demonic darkness on his body only continues to spread, and with it his muscle mass increases. "You are quite strong, I imagine once I recreate this world you would make a perfect apprentice. Gray Fullbuster, you fight with the rage of an Uchiha. Heh, you are almost like my own son. With such rage and ferocious attacks, yes, you will make a splendid student. You and Ultear both, I look forward to meeting you both again in the new world I will create."
Gray growls, and feeling like the pressure was really building up. Finding Madara actually pushing his sword back, Gray was at a loss. As it seemed whatever attack he threw at Madara, he enjoyed. Madara was taking some damage, but he didn't seem to care about it. "If master Ur really loved you. You can't be all too bad of a person. Master Ur knows how to read people… she read me like an open book when I was younger. And knew my pain right away. No matter how angry I got with her, she never gave up on me. And fighting you… got me thinking. Maybe she got so good at reading people like me, because of you…"
"Heh, starting to accept the fact we are more alike than you cared to admit?" Madara cockily smirks as he squeezes Gray's ice sword to the point where it shattered.
"… No!" Gray snarled as the image of Master Makarov flashed before his mind. "I'm still nothing like you! Once upon a time… I might have been. But now… no! I'm not the type of man, who willingly will kill everyone to achieve his goal! I won't let you destroy this world! No matter what! And I will never forgive you for what you did to Gramps!" Gray throws his left hand back, generating a huge cold wave of air as he thrusts a second attack at Madara.
However, the ice attack was swatted away by the hand of Madara's Susano'o. "I see, too bad. I would hate to kill any of you, you being Ur's beloved student and all. But since you will be alive in the world I create. It really won't matter if I kill you here, I suppose." Madara stretches his hand out, pointing his finger straight in Gray's face as at the tip of his finger, he creates a dark glint of energy.
Before whatever attack Madara was preparing could fire, a tsunami wave of water suddenly clashes into them. Washing Madara and Gray both away, but Gray was yanked out from the water as Juvia came to his rescue. "Thanks Juvia!" Gray smiled at his girlfriend, as she pulled them out of the water. And Gray instantly used his power to freeze the water and Madara with it.
Inside a frozen mountain sized sculpture, Madara glanced through the ice at Gray and Juvia. Seeing Gray suddenly at the snap of a finger, create a series of ice cannons, launching a series of cannon fire. 'Smart move, restricting my movements and then attacking me… I have to credit this boy. His level of power, he is probably stronger than Zeref. Play time really is over.
The ice around Madara suddenly cracks, and then shatters in an instant. As a wave of demonic darkness washes over Madara. "Making me enter Partially Transformed state… that is no small feat." Madara complimented as his armor was replaced by a black robe. And black horns grew out from his forehead. "If none of you will be joining me, then I suppose all that is left for you is death."
Lyon in the meantime was doing his best against his former teacher. After all this time, Lyon had managed to reach Ur's level of power when she was alive. But now with her being reanimated, she had endless stamina and magic power. There was little to no limit to what she could do with maker magic. And any damage he dealt her, would just regenerate itself.
"You've grown so strong, Lyon…" Ur praised. Despite being forced to fight her student, she was happy to see his growth.
"Not as strong as Gray." Lyon said in bitter defeat. His younger sibling disciple, had far surpassed him and their master.
"Gray is Gray, and you are you, Lyon. You've both come a far way from the last time I saw you. I'm proud of you both." Ur created a giant ice foot that stomped down on Lyon's ice tiger. The ice foot suddenly vanished, and Ur had to look to the person she was the happiest to see. "And Ultear… my sweet baby. I'm… so sorry for not finding you. If you were alive this whole time… I should have searched for you longer. Fought back harder."
"…" Ultear looked down with grim silence, crying tears of sorrow. Ur saw the Sharingan eyes Ultear had, it really showed she was a product of both her and Madara.
"Your father is a stubborn ass… I'm sorry. If I hadn't died… if I had looked for him too, I don't know. Maybe… things wouldn't have turned out this way. I am a really pathetic mother and woman, aren't I?" Ur was then forced to go in on the attack, going straight for Ultear. But Lyon stepped in-between and held Ur back. Seeing Ultear wasn't able to fight her mother like this.
"You… looked for me. You thought I was dead and despaired… Thanks to Gray's efforts… I know that now. But for so many years of my life… I resented you. I once managed to escape… I walked back home. And I saw you with Lyon and Gray… you were smiling. Happy… I thought you had abandoned me. So, willingly I went back to be tortured. Have my powers grow. Then, one day… we came into conflict with Gray's guild. I tried to kill him… but he beat me. And he… helped me see the truth…"
Ur mid her clashes against Lyon, had a hurt look on her face as she took in her daughter's words. Telling her how her life had been up until now, filling Ur with even more guilt. "And right now… right now I wish I could just hug you mother." Ultear locked eyes with Ur, tears rolling down her eyes as her Sharingan began changing. Ultear's Sharingan took the shape out a red rose with black outlines. She had awoken her Mangekyou Sharingan, overwhelmed with such intense emotions from this family reunion.
However, this change was unusual, at least for Madara who was experienced. Sensing the shift in the air, Madara looked to his daughter who was the source of it. 'That pattern… Mangekyou Sharingan? But how? Did the hatred she feel for the Empire for using Ur spark such intense emotions?' To Madara who was used to hatred and despair being a source for the awakening of the Mangekyou, he couldn't grasp this concept. As Ultear hadn't awoken her Mangekyou from a feeling of despair and hatred, but sorrow and love. She was an Uchiha, free from the curse of hatred.
Ur gasped as she looked at her daughter's face. She was smiling lovingly at her, whilst shedding tears. Suddenly Ur's body stopped moving. And elsewhere, August visibly flinched as he was mid battle himself. 'What was that? What just happened?' August was in disbelief. He had lost control over his last reanimated warrior.
Ultear unconsciously, had used her Mangekyou ability to stop her mother. "Please… stop fighting." Ultear cried.
Ur then rushed past Lyon, and rushed towards Ultear. "Dammit! Ugh!" Lyon groaned as he had used up too much magic power in this fight. But instead of attacking, Ur rushed in to embrace her daughter.
Ultear herself looked shocked, as Ur held onto her tightly while trembling. "I'm sorry…" Ur sounded like she was sobbing, as she continued to hug her daughter. Ultear smiled, as she wrapped her arms around Ur as well. "Amatsu-mikaboshi." A genjutsu ability that overwrote the commands in Ur given to fight. And instead to fulfill her daughter's request of a hug. A bit like the infamous Kotoamatsukami of Shisui Uchiha, but a weaker version that required direct eye contact to use. Through this Genjutsu, Ultear had freed her mother from the control brought upon by the Historia Tensei spell.
"I've missed you… mother." Ultear sniffled her tears, as she held onto the reanimated body of her mother.
"I've missed you too baby… I've missed you so damn much." Ur wept, fully in control of her body, she could stop this nightmare of being forced to fight her loved ones.
Madara and Gray had both stopped their battle for a brief moment to take in this new development. Gray looked visibly happy at seeing the mother and daughter hug each other like this. Madara, although stoic, visibly winced. His eyes, locking with his daughters for a brief moment. What Madara perceived with his eyes, was nothing more than pure love. But what Ultear was able to now perceive from looking into her father's eyes, was a sense of longing and love buried underneath all that darkness and hatred.
Madara sensed his daughter trying to peel through the layers of his emotions, and pushed back. Her eyes, had grown considerably powerful. This world, and it's air of Ethernano. Already Ultear's eyes felt as strong as the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. As Madara was occupied pushing back his daughter on the mental plane, Ur had long since parted from her hug with Ultear. And jumped into action. "Ice Make: Gattling Gunner!" Ur formed a gatling gun of ice, that blasted Madara with crystals of ice.
Grunting Madara with mild annoyance, blocked off the attack with a wall of darkness. And emerging out from Madara's back, were six truth seeker orbs. One of the orbs swirled around him, and went straight for Gray and Ur. Ultear gasped, and yelled. "Stop!" She commanded, and suddenly discovered time was frozen. If Amatsu-mikaboshi was the power of her right eye. The power of her left eye, Kuninotokotachi, has the power to freeze time for a brief period.
Not sure how long time would be frozen for, Ultear acted and launched two ice shields that protected her mother and Gray. And then shortly after, time resumed itself. "What?!" Madara grunted in shock, as his truth seeker orbs clashed against ice shields.
Ur and Gray noticing the truth seeker orbs being held off by the ice shields, took this chance to jump back as the ice shields were about to break. "That was close…" Gray breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Ultear, was that you?" Ur asked with genuine amazement, as to her it appeared as if Ultear's ice making magic was instantaneous.
"Y-Yeah…" Ultear held her tongue, not wanting to reveal such an important ability openly with Madara listening.
But her father was quick on the uptake. 'There is no mistaking it. That ice belonged to my daughter. But for her to create such durable shields that quickly… is impossible. I see, she must be using her other Mangekyou ability. Heh, she is my child after all, discovering her powers that quickly.' Madara smiled with a hint of pride.
Gray, Ultear, Ur, Lyon and Juvia all stood together now, against Madara. The Ghost of the Uchiha crossed his arms, and with a carefree smirk said. "Hn, my own family wishes to fight me? Very well, dear old dad will show you how to dance properly~"
"Enough you stubborn ass! Stop this already! It's not too late!" Ur continued to try an appeal to her beloved. But her efforts were ultimately in vain.
"No! To achieve my perfect reality… I am willing to sacrifice whatever I need to achieve it. Be it my friend, my brother, my lover, or my very own child. I will not let anything stand in the way of my dream." Although Madara's determination is solid, he still says this with a heavy heart. "Well? If you wish to stop me, then let the battle commence!" Madara's brows furrowed in anger.
Ultear gazed at her father's eyes, and once again she was able to get a read on his feelings. "You feel betrayed by us?" Ultear mumbled, and Madara visibly flinched.
"Ultear-" Ur was about to ask her daughter something, but Madara without responding to Ultear's question flashed a hand seal.
"Sage Art: Light Fang!" Madara spat out a thin beam of energy, moving it diagonally like a sword. Until it clashed with a light purple fiery aura. Madara narrowed his eyes, as he looked at what only could be a Susano'o. A light purple fiery spectral warrior.
Ultear looked with a troubled expression on her face, as she looked upon her father with great pity. Her rose shaped Mangekyou flared. And Ultear's Susano'o took form. Unlike a regular Susano'o, Ultear's had a more feminine shape. It looked thinner and had a more feminine figure. "Wow…" Ur commented as she and the rest looked around as they were within Ultear's Susano'o. In it's left hand, it wielded a shield shaped like a rose, and in its right a scythe.
Madara gazed upon this Susano'o with a hint of curiosity. Normally an average Susano'o shouldn't be able to take his Sage art jutsu. What made Ultear's so special? That is when he noticed. From Ultear's back, grew these black fire markings and it coated her Susano'o. 'Demonic darkness?' Madara cracked a smile. "Ah, naturally. You have quite the exceptional visual prowess child. All thanks to me." Ultear was his daughter after all, and it seemed she had inherited more than Madara's visual prowess. But also, the Demonic power that was a part of him now. 'Also on closer inspection… She has Hashirama's chakra as well.' Madara brushed his hand across his chest area, where the cells of Hashirama he had claimed all those years ago resided. All Madara had, Ultear seemed to have inherited.
"Ugh!" Ultear groaned, as the demonic markings spread on her body. She wasn't used to it, but she was already feeling its effects. Right now, she was stronger than most of the Twelve. She was as strong, if not stronger than Erza and Mirajane currently.
"Ultear, are you okay?" Ur worriedly tended to her daughter. Giving light nods to her mother, Ultear hissed a little as if she was feeling a burning sensation run down her back. Her Susano'o continued to evolve, its upper body gaining the tengu-like armor. And growing an extra set of arms, that both held onto crystal balls.
"I feel fantastic…" Ultear mumbled as her Susano'o tossed the crystal balls into the air, causing them to swirl around her Susano'o like moons in orbit of a planet.
Feeling she was finished, Madara only scoffed with a chuckle. "Impressive for your first use of Susano'o. Still, not quite perfected though." Madara's Rinnegan eyes reverted back to his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. "Seeing as you are my daughter. I will offer you this once in a lifetime experience. A battle against two Mangekyou Sharingan users."
The crystal balls of Ultear's Susano'o moved around to the front facing Madara. "Arc of Time: Infinite Sphere." The two giant crystal balls then multiplied into a near infinite amount that blocked out the very sky itself. "Luminous Minutes!" All of the giant crystal balls suddenly glowed with great intensity, and in a series of brilliant flashes shot forward blast waves at light speed.
Madara tilted his head aside as he avoided the first blast, morphed his hand into a demonic claw to backslap the second. Taking backflips to avoid a series of other blasts, then one finally nails him through the shoulder and the other his chest. Madara groaned as blood erupted from between his gritted teeth. Then his Eternal Mangekyou began rotating, and time itself was rewind backwards for a total of 10 seconds. To before Ultear had managed to fire off her blasts.
And now, Madara was prepared as he instantly formed the Susano'o around him just before the first blast hit. "Perhaps you inherited the same ability as I? I don't tend to use it that often, but I have one visual Jutsu that allows me to rewind time back." Madara crossed his arms, as his Susano'o formed a series of Yasaka beads and threw them into the crystal balls.
"Tch! Not quite!" Ultear groaned as the Yasaka beads created a giant wall of fiery explosions as they took out her crystal balls. "Restore!" After the bombardment, Ultear simply restored the broken crystal balls back into place.
"Ultear, I have an idea, lend me your ear." Gray whispered to Ultear, making sure to conceal his lips from the view of Madara's Sharingan to prevent him from reading what Gray said.
'They are scheming something… no doubt involving Ultear's ability. Lost Magic, Arc of Time. A complicated ability to be sure.' Madara made a mental note, as he prepared his counter attack. And once again, Ultear resumed her bombardment. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Madara sprayed them with a gigantic wall of fire, only for the flames to be snuffed out as Ultear sent it forward to time. 'It allows her to affect the elements itself. However, she doesn't seem to hold any effect over living things. Nor spiritual like the Susano'o.'
"Ice Devil: RAGE!" Gray from within Ultear's Susano'o, unleashed a violent breath attack. Although it wasn't aimed at Madara, instead he sprayed it into Ultear's crystal ball. And then, all of Ultear's crystal balls unleashed an endless wave of Gray's attack.
'Clever brats! Unleashing an endless amount of Devil Slayer attacks onto me!' Madara smirked as he clenched his fists to push his Susano'o into further evolution. However, in that moment, Gray appeared behind Madara inside of his Susano'o. Barely with time to react, Madara gasped as he turned around in time for Gray to land a direct hit to Madara's face. The hit sending vibrations shockwaves across Madara's face, rattling his teeth as he was launched out from his Susano'o and into the direct line of fire for the endless wave of Devil Slayer ice attacks.
Madara glared at the endless wave of attacks, as he was suddenly consumed and his Susano'o was torn apart. The blast wave launched Gray flying backwards, but Ultear, Ur, Juvia and Lyon within Ultear's Susano'o were fine as the shockwave blew over them. "Such intense destructive power!" Lyon groaned, as he struggled to remain standing even within the Susano'o that shielded them from most of the blast.
Ultear bled from her nose, as she focused her Arc of Time magic to contain as much of the blast as possible. Not wanting to destroy the entire northern Ishgar continent. Ur held onto her daughter, to try and keep her standing. All while looking amazed at the sheer power her daughter and student wielded.
Juvia squinted her eyes, trying to look through the storm to find her beloved Gray. "Gray-sama! Are you okay?!" Juvia called out, and then the storm was suddenly blown away.
A shaking hand was lifted up from the heavy blanket of snow gathered, showing a thumbs up. As Gray rose up from the snow. His body a little tattered, and to conserve energy he had reverted back to base form. "Hehe…" Gray smiled victorious, although then the snow behind him exploded as a hand shot out towards Gray. "Huh?" Gray turned around, as he was then grabbed by the throat and lifted into the air.
Panting, and a little out of breath. His body torn, bloodied and missing his left arm. Madara had an amused look in his eye, his face all bloodied as he squeezed Gray's throat. "You really had me going for a minute there." Madara chuckled, revealing his Rinnegan active. And his skin was now pale white, and as was his hair. He had entered his Demon form to tank the blast. Darkness grew out from his left stump, and shot out to somewhere in the snow picking up his missing left arm. The darkness along with the arm, retracted, and steam emitted from the arm as it reattached itself.
"Is there no way to stop him?!" Lyon looked agitated, and frightened. How was he supposed to help Gray in this situation. What could he do in this entire fight? That is when he looked to his master, and an idea clicked in his head.
"Gray!" Ultear snapped, her eyes turning bloodshot as she cried tears of blood from her left eye. "Kuninotokotachi!" And thus, time was briefly frozen, and Ultear flung one of her crystal balls to intercept the time frozen Gray and Madara.
Then, after 10 seconds, time began restarting. But to Madara's his right arm was hit by Ultear's crystal ball, which exploded upon impact. "Argh!" Madara groaned as the blast carried leftover energy from Gray's ice Devil Slayer beath attack.
Gray now loose, quickly entered his Devil Force state, and teleported himself over to the others. Gray was a little out of breath, he was beginning to feel the toll this form was taking up on his body. "Fucking great… that wasn't enough to bring him down, ugh!" Gray could barely stand.
Lyon seeing the situation was dire, as Gray was running on fumes, and Ultear was still not used to her new abilities. Lyon only had one card to play that might work. "There is no choice!" Lyon ran forward a few steps, and then quickly entered the stance while Madara was still a little stunned. Crossing his arms, Lyon generated and intense amount of cold around him as the air itself shifted in his direction.
"That stance! Lyon! Don't!" Ur called out to her student, but was met with an ice tiger in her path.
"This is our last bet to stop him, master! Like you once did for us! Now it's my turn to do it for you!" Gray looked at Lyon with wide eyes, as he and Ur knew that stance all too well. It was Iced Shell. "Lyon! Are you crazy?! Don't do it!"
"Your friends are right boy… It would only be a waste." Madara having recovered, stood before Lyon not even making a move. He wasn't even attempting to dodge Lyon's attack.
"Lyon! Stop! I'll do it! I'll use Iced Shell!" Ur pushed forward, but was pushed back by the ice tiger.
"You can't use it! You know as well as I do, Iced Shell requires a living sacrifice! You are already dead, master! I have to be the one to use it! Gray and Ultear, are too important for this war!" Lyon's body began cracking, as he swung his arms ready to cast the spell.
"Lyon! No! Stop! I beg you!" Ur cried out, and Gray tried to force himself up, but only collapsed back down.
"Shit! Lyon!" Gray cried out.
"I'll… I'll just stop time and-! Ugh!" Ultear clutched her hands onto her eyes, feeling the effects of using these brand-new abilities she wasn't used to.
"Lyon-sama…" Juvia mumbled with deep sadness. She clutched her eyes shut, and held Gray tightly, knowing there wasn't anything she could do here.
"Lyon!" Gray shouted one last time, as he tried to build up enough power.
"ICED SHELL!" Lyon swung his arms forward, casting the spell as a giant blizzard storm hit Madara dead on.
Madara looks with visible discomfort, as he notices Lyon's eye crack. Madara clicked his tongue as he notices his body started to freeze. "I would rather not do this, as you are my beloved Ur's student. But like I said, I am willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to accomplish my goal. You should have heeded my warning, child. I will try and make it up for you when I see you in my perfect world." Madara's eye widens as the air around him shifts. "Shinra Tensei!" The air around Madara expands, and pushes out in a giant shockwave. It tore off the ice that had set to freeze around his feet, and blew away the ice storm. Making the ice itself form a dome around the dome of air pressure.
Then the storm vanishes, and the ice dome is slashed apart by a flaming blue spectral sword. And four arms push the ice dome down, as Madara is revealed at the epicenter of it with his arms crossed. "What a wasted effort." Madara scoffed.
Lyon stood there with a look of disbelief, turning around he faced the horrified expressions of Gray, Ur, Ultear and Juvia. Lyon's body cracking, and rupturing from within. "G-Gray…" Lyon manages to utter, before his body shatters into crystals of ice.
Gray is visibly shaken, his mouth agape in disbelief. "L-Lyon… LYON!" Gray cried out the name of his sibling student.
"Pity, but I did warn the boy." Madara sighs, showing a hint of genuine remorse for Lyon's death.
"A pity?" Ur mumbles, grinding her teeth as she is visibly shaking. Watching as Lyon's ice tiger collapses without its master to guide it. "A pity?!" Ur screams as she runs out. "Bastard! I won't forgive you! Never!" Ur screamed in genuine anger. "Ice-Make: Infinite Rose Garden!" Taking advantage of her infinite supply of magic power from being a reanimated wizard, Ur caused the entire area to explode into a giant expanding garden of ice thorny vines and roses.
The endless growing ice rose garden pushed into Madara and his Susano'o, dragging them further away. "You three! Get out of here now!" Ur looked to Gray, Juvia and Ultear.
"M-Mother we can't leave you here!" Ultear wasn't even able to keep her Susano'o up any longer, as the spectral giant collapsed around her.
"Master, I will stay and fight him with you! Juvia and Ultear, go bring Itachi here! We'll kill this bastard here and now!" Gray with his Devil Force power, added to Ur's spell with his Devil Slayer powers, increasing its effect on Madara.
"Gray-sama… Juvia won't leave you!" Juvia being stubborn, didn't wish to leave her man. Not after they had just officially started dating. And not with Gray having to deal with the pain of losing Lyon. She couldn't leave him alone now.
"Sorry Gray… this is between me and him." Ur whispered, and directed her hand out towards Gray, Juvia and Ultear. And a giant ice rose grew underneath their feet, and pushed itself far into the sky and dragged them with it far away from the battlefield.
"Ur!" Gray cried out in panic, for once feeling like he did back then as a child watching his master sacrifice herself for him again. His hand stretched out towards Ur, as Ur's ice vines pushed him, Ultear and Juvia away. They went flying, the ice vine carrying them at such great speed in no time at all they crash landed outside of Magnolia. All the way from the mountains, and to Magnolia. What would have been usually a week-long trip, lasted but a few moments.
"Dammit!" Gray wept in frustration, as he slammed his fist to the ground. His Devil Force state vanishing as he reverted back to base.
"Mother…" Ultear as well wept, looking to the mountains in the distance. Where her reanimated mother was facing off against her father.
"What do we do now?" Juvia asked defeated, putting a comforting hand on Gray's back. Knowing that Ur's sacrifice, not to mention the loss of Lyon burdened him a great deal.
"We find a way to kill that bastard!" Gray snarled, digging up the dirt beneath his fingernails. Looking towards his guildhall, and sensing the feeling of death which could only belong to one man, Zeref. "And I think I know just how we're going to do it…!"
"How?" Juvia asked out of curiosity, how could they possibly kill that monster?
"His book…" Gray snarled as he picked himself up, clutching his hand over his wounds.
"Book?" Ultear asked in bewilderment.
"Madara is a Demon of the Book of Zeref. Like Itachi and Natsu… Zeref must have Madara's book. That book is like his life essence. If we get that, we can find a way to kill that bastard once and for all!" Gray looked to towards the guildhall where Zeref's presence lingered like the chilling sensation of death itself. And with purpose, he marched towards the guildhall.
"…" Ultear went quiet, sitting there for a moment as she watched Gray walk away with the support of Juvia who had instantly gone to his side. Ultear in silence looked back towards the mountains in the distance. A feeling of conflict rising in her chest, could she go through with killing her own father?
That's the end for now!
What? You all thought Madara was going to turn into a big softy at being reunited with Ur and seeing his daughter for the first time? Well then you don't know Madara Uchiha! XD The man is as pragmatic as they come, and broken to the point where just having a small part of what he wants isn't enough. I'm going to say this now, Ultear cannot change Madara. No one can. His goal, to use Fairy Heart to go back in time to change history, means he has no qualms with who he kills in this war. As most of them will just be alive in the new world he will create. He kills Ultear in this war, she will be alive again in the world he remakes to his ideal image. Where Ur is alive, she falls in love with Madara again, and they start a family so Ultear is born. To Madara the current reality is a failed one.
List of deceased:
Ishgar: Master Goldmine (killed by Jacob), Master Bob (killed by Bloodman), Edolas Jet & Droy (killed by Blitzkrieg), Edolas Elfman (killed by Historia Tensei Rustyrose), Edolas Levy (killed by Bloodman), Sherry Blendy (killed by Dimaria), Ren Akatsuki (killed by Dimaria), Wolfheim (killed by God Serena), Fiona (killed by God Serena), Mitsurugi (killed by God Serena), Noel (killed by God Serena, Hyberion (killed by God Serena), Warrod (killed by August), Jura (killed by August), Rufus (killed by Samuel), Loke (killed by Dimaria), Porlyusica (killed by Madara), Makarov Dreyar (killed by Madara and Acnologia), Macao and Wakabe (killed by August), Lyon Vastia (killed by Madara).
Alvarez: Ajeel (killed by Kisame), Bakel and Kareem (killed by Laxus and Mirajane), Linda (killed by Beatrice), Marin (killed by Brandish), Grim (killed by Lyon), Bloodman (killed by Gajeel), Heine and Juliet (killed by Mirajane), Blitzkrieg (killed by Elfman and Edolas Mirajane), Wall Eehto (killed by Laxus), 4 unnamed Knights of Neinhart (killed by Erza Knightwalker), Neinhart (killed by Madara), Arthur (killed by Gray and Juvia), God Serena (killed by Beatrice), Lugh (killed by Bacchus), Jacob (killed by Kakuzu), Samuel (killed by Yukino), Larcade (killed by Sasori and Itachi), Irene Belserion (killed by Acnologia).
Anyway, leave a review!
-Later!
(Responds to reviews):
Hyaenodon: What I am planning? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. But I can say for sure Irene is very much dead.
SilverSoulmmc: Well, Jellal certainly gained the look of a Super Saiyan.
lelosetyabudi: Thank you, glad to hear you are taking an interest in some of my other stories as well.
Shadow Joestar: Glad to see you enjoyed it. Irene and Erza's fight in the manga always felt slightly lacking to me. It had its moments, but something was missing.
InfiniteShadow3: The disease mainly served that kind of purpose, that is true. But it remained in continuity of the story overall. As I even revealed in the flashback of Natsu and Zeref's backstory, that Zeref was trying to find the herbs needed to cure Itachi's sickness. And all the way back when Itachi's sickness was first discovered by the guild, and Itachi revealed he had come across only dead fields of the final herb. And we see in the flashback of Natsu and Zeref, that Zeref accidentally killed those fields with that herb with his curse. Which explains why it was never found in Earthland, and why they only found it once they got to Edolas. So, it's not like it wasn't just for that purpose, as it overall remained as a plot point in the story.
keybladelight: Oof, sorry to say Irene is dead. Notice how she didn't switch bodies with Wendy this time around, meaning her spirit isn't latched onto Wendy. Also, Ultear getting the Perfect Susano'o right on the spot after awakening her Mangekyou, is a bit much. But clearly, she will have an easier time than most, being Madara's child. And, my plan for the Acnologia fight, eh, I have to say it will play out a bit differently.
silverhawk88: Glad you liked it, sadly I don't think Irene made it out of this one. Feel like her story is sort of done. And I do hope the father-daughter meetup didn't disappoint.
Triston Stewart: Thanks!
kuroshiragami0: Thanks!
Gabriel Sanchez3: Thanks!
Oscar Jacquot: Thank you for the kind words. And theoretically, yes one way for some characters to come back to life, is if Madara uses Rinne Rebirth. But one thing I loved about Madara as a character, is that in the end he kind of stuck to his guns and didn't fall victim to talk-no-jutsu. So, if someone is to redeem him, I feel that will be nearly impossible. Even if that person is his daughter. Also, I don't think it is in Madara's character to reveal Itachi's past to anyone. He has no reason to, and doesn't really care. The only reason Obito did it was to get Sasuke on his side. Like, what would Madara telling Ultear Itachi's past even accomplish? I doubt she would think less of Itachi, considering her own list of sins.
Patback: Sorry for the long wait!
Guest: Ah yes, the curse of all guild masters, especially Fairy Tail's one, the insane mountain of bills for property damage.