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'Who is Keyes?' Harry thought soon after Mard Geer and Voldemort left. 'I know he's a demon, but did Zeref tell me about him? I don't think he told me about each individual demon.'
His eyes trailed up, spotting the giant cube with land masses covering each side. On top was a building. Harry thought it looked like a castle. It was boxy, nothing as grand as Hogwarts. 'It looks more like a fort than a castle now that I think about it.'
Since the cube was close, Harry reached out his senses, wanting to check on his guildmates. He picked up hundreds, maybe more, life forces clustered together on the cube. But there were a handful of life forces that were like Zeref's.
'Those must be the demons,' Harry hummed, tapping his chin. There was one life force that drowned the others. It was as strong as a wave and as big as a whale. Harry searched for where it was coming from on the cube, but it was difficult to pinpoint with all the other forces.
Fawkes pulled on his hair, ripping his attention from the enemy base. "Ow! What was that for?" he asked.
The phoenix trilled, {The huge life force you're feeling is coming from the cube itself.} Harry gasped, returning his attention to the flying guild. {Since I was up there, I was surrounded by it. It was all around me and under the ground. That's how I knew it came from the cube.}
Harry sighed and pressed a hand to his face. A growl came from beside him. Natsu was gritting his teeth, fist balled, causing his knuckles to turn white.
"We need to save our friends," he said. "Harry, get Fawkes to teleport us up there."
Harry nodded, turning to Fawkes with the request on his lips. But a young female voice stopped him from saying anything. He scanned the area. The guild was rubble, not even a wall remained standing. The voice sounded again.
Natsu pounced on a pile of rocks and shattered beams. He threw chunks of debris away, allowing Harry to hear the voice clearer.
Harry strolled over to stand beside the dragon slayer. As Natsu finished clearing the rubble, Harry saw a communication Lacrima. It laid on the ground with Lucy's face projected on it.
"Lucy, you're okay," said Harry, a smile stretching his face. "I thought the demons may have captured you and the others."
Lucy blinked her wider-than-normal eyes. "Captured? What in the world happened? Also, why did Natsu have to remove a giant chunk of rock from the Lacrima? Last I checked, everything was fine at the guild," she asked.
"While you guys were gone, Tartaros attacked the guild," said Natsu, his teeth grinding. "Voldemort sent all our friends to their dungeon, so now we need to go save them."
Lucy hummed, resting her chin on her hand. "Is it possible that Face is a distraction to get Natsu?" Her eyes narrow into a scowl. "No, that doesn't add up. Why bother attacking the current Magic Council then without warning?"
Harry's brain began to blank out. "What are you talking about? What is 'face'?"
Lucy perked up. "Oh, Michello said that Tartaros must be looking for Face because it's the last weapon the Council has. Face has the power to wipe out all magic from the area. It was sealed away, but Tartaros is looking for former Council members because three of them are using body-link magic on it."
"Like the Oracion Seis keeping Zero sealed," said Natsu.
Lucy nodded. "Exactly. It makes sense to go after it, but what is the purpose if they are after Natsu? Do they want both? But why? Why do they want Natsu?"
'I know why, but I can't tell you,' thought Harry. "All I know is, Voldemort doesn't agree with Tartaros. He wants to kill Natsu. I guess he's the one who truly sees Natsu as a threat."
Natsu punched the ground, forming more cracks. "If only that other guy didn't show up. I would have beaten that snake-faced jerk."
Harry shook his head. He wanted to scold Natsu for damaging the guild further, but it wasn't the time. He returned his attention to Lucy. "Contact the others and let them know what happened here and to return to the guild as quickly as possible. Natsu, Fawkes, and I will try to come up with a plan to rescue our friends while waiting for you."
Lucy nodded, her expression firm. "Got it." The Lacrima turned black.
Natsu bounced his heel on a piece of rubble, looking out toward the edge of town. 'Where are they?' His eyes trail to Fawkes, who stayed perched on Harry's shoulder. The stick wielder waved his wand around the guild, repairing some of the damage. But the bits and pieces were slow to react and mend. Harry's eyes narrowed, jaw tight as he watched the slow progress.
Returning to Fawkes: the bird was Natsu's only way to get to Tartaros. Since Happy wasn't here, it meant he was captured along with everyone else. That thought caused the dragon slayer to growl.
Harry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's only been ten minutes, Natsu."
"Feels longer," said Natsu. "Can you just have Fawkes teleport me up there so I can start burning those jerks? It would make it easier for you and the others to get through."
Harry shook his head. "No. Tartaros is after you, remember? Not only that, but Voldemort wants to kill you. They will send their strongest on you the moment you step foot on that cube. It's best if we just wait for our friends to get here. Besides, we're supposed to be thinking of a plan."
Natsu scoffed, plopped onto the rock, and leaned his chin on his palm. What good was a plan when it never worked out as intended? The best plan was to charge forward with blazing fire.
He let out a throaty growl, scanning the horizon again when a scent hit his nose. From the corner of his eye, Harry's head snapped up. 'So he felt something,' Natsu thought.
Coming from behind a semi-repaired wall was the dark-haired man from Tenrou Island. Natsu's teeth ground together as he got up and stormed toward Zeref.
"Are you responsible for this?" he demanded, pointing at the cube in the sky. Harry took a step closer, his hand outstretched, and mouth opened.
"No," said Zeref. "I'm here to help take down Tartaros as per my agreement with the King of Fiore."
TBC
Harry was about to do something reckless like he always does. But then after learning some of his friends were still free, he decided to play it smart. He doesn't want to repeat the mistake that took his godfather.
Natsu: Oh... Sorry for being reckless, Harry.
Harry: It's okay. Since Voldemort is there, the chances of seeing you die is a little too much for me.
Voldy: *scoff* It was Bellatrix who killed that mutt.
Enj/Dark: And you are more powerful and skilled compared to her.
Zeref: Changing the subject before Harry or Enjali ends someone. Am I going to be in the story from now on?
Enj/Dark: Yes. :) I've been waiting for this day.
Natsu: Welcome to the party! XD
Voldy: It won't be much of one once your guild finds out who Zeref really is.
Enj/Dark: That's why I had Makarov know about him sooner.
Natsu, Harry, Voldy: ?
Zeref: I see.
Enj/Dark: Also, Tommy, it's your turn.
Voldy: WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?! DX
Everyone -Voldy: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! XD
Voldy: Please review while I AK this dragon!
