Chapter 135
It's A Family Thing
"Speaking"
'Thoughts'
"Flashback"
"Magic"
Location/Date/Time Change
The entire guild cheered as they routed the invading army, Mavis at the helm. Mirajane blasted Jacob in the chest with dark magic, finally knocking him out. Her transformation faded as she caught herself on her hands. "I wonder why he kept his eyes closed the whole time? It was weird… but it saved me."
In another party of town, Elfman and Lisanna panted as they stood over Ajeel. "I-is he really down?" Elfman asked, hopeful the fight was over.
"I hope so, it took both of us…" Lisanna added.
"Not yet… I can still…" Ajeel struggled to stand as Yajeel stepped forward.
"Ajeel, your fight is over…" The older man declared.
"Grandpa…" Ajeel's words caught the Guild Wizards off guard.
"Both sides are losing what is precious to them in this war." Yajeel realized. "It should not go on…"
"THIS war?" Elfman asked, surprising the pair. "This happens in all wars. You've been so busy winning all the time, you never bothered to pay attention to the countries you conquered."
"Please, take my life if you wish, but spare my grandson, I beg you…" Yajeel requested.
"Don't lower yourself like that, Grandpa!" Ajeel shouted, trying to stand up.
"My brother and I don't murder the people we fight." Lisanna declared.
"Brother?" Ajeel asked back.
"Everyone in Fairy Tail is family, but Lisanna's my sister my blood." Elfman proudly declared, pulling his sister in close.
Ajeel stared at the two and chuckled. "You two look nothing alike…"
Lucy's Apartment
"I'm glad we're back in Magnolia, but where is everyone else?" Laki asked as she looked around. "Carla, Rose, Porlyusica, Evergreen and…"
"Us." The two turned to the side to see Lucy and Brandish standing there, the vernette holding a shrunken Dimaria in one hand.
Natsu leaned into the shrunken blonde, who flinched in fear. "Sorry about before, I don't remember much but, I guess I got carried away. See, I thought Laki was dead and-"
"Randi, save me!" She begged.
"Well, we'll take our leave now…" Brandish declared as she turned around.
"Where will you go?" Lucy asked.
"After all that's happened, I'm not in the mood to become your enemy again." The mass manipulator explained. "But I have no interest in becoming your ally either."
"I see… I hope we meet again." Lucy said with a smile.
Brandish glanced back at the blonde before walking away. "You're such a pain…" She mumbled as she continued to walk away.
"Natsu! Laki!" Evergreen called out from behind as she carried Juvia over. "Lucy too?"
"Porlyusica and Carla are here too!" Rose cheered as she reached out to her oldest friend.
"We've been searching, but Gray is nowhere to be found!" The white cat declared.
"If he's up and moving around, then he must have a death wish!" The healer growled in annoyance.
"Gray is-" Lucy could say no more as the ground started to violently shake.
"What's happening?" Happy asked, clutching Natsu's leg.
Natsu and Laki sniffed the air before they turned to the cathedral. "Someone's at the top…" They mumbled.
"O, CHILDREN OF THE EMPEROR! O TWELVE, PRIDE OF THE EMPIRE! PREPARE TO OFFER YOUR FLESH AND SOUL TO HIS MAJESTY!"
The cathedral started crumbling under is his magic power before he quickly blocked a punch from Gildarts, the church breaking apart from the shockwave. "I just busted up a church." He chuckled as guild wizards cheered.
As the pair landed on the ground, August thrusted his staff forward, firing a blast of magic. Gildarts dodged to the side and the blast soared out of town. "Let me handle this guy."
Natsu smirked from across the town before he took off in a sprint. "Let's go! We're headed straight for Zeref!" Laki soon joined after him, Hapoy and Rose flying next to them.
"What about Gray!?" Lucy shouted.
"It's okay! I know where he is!" Natsu declared. "I can smell him!"
Fairy Tail Guildhall
"I never thought that you'd be the first one here." Zeref declared, sitting in the guildhall. "I was predicting Jellal or Laxus. This is a real shame."
"Ain't it time for you to run along home?" Gray asked, clutching his ribs. "See, you're sitting in my spot."
"You've just put yourself in a situation that will cause Natsu the most grief." The Black Wizard chuckled. "You're one of Natsu's closest friends at this guild. Your parents were killed by Deliora, a demon that I created. Years later, your master fell to him as well. I'm sure you must have a burning grudge against me."
"Shocking that you know so much about people who mean nothing to you." Gray mumbled.
"It's basic strategy in any war." Zeref replied. "Laki Olieta, Natsu's fiancé. A kind, honest soul who has played a large part in Natsu's growth. Happy, Natsu's partner and closest friend. The two have a great bond of trust and an unbreakable partnership. Erza, Lucy, Gajeel… I've done my best to learn I can about the key players."
"And yet, for some reason, we can't find any real information on you." Gray chuckled. "Start by telling me what you really want."
"Surely you must know that much by now." The Emperor teased. "I want to Mavis' magic power, and you and your guild want to protect her. There in lies our conflict."
"You an army at your command, not to mention, immortality, why go through all this trouble?" The ice wizard questioned.
"I need it to defeat Acnologia." Zeref answered, shocking Gray. "I have spoken no lies. My resolve to take down Acnologia is as strong as anyone's. However, my ultimate ambition is to achieve something far more grand than that…"
In the rubble of the church, Gildarts flung his cloak off before charging at August. The two traded near blows before Gildarts managed to get behind the 'Magic King'. "Right here!" The Ace thrusted his hand forward and August broke into small blocks as he fell apart.
"I find this kind of magic fascinating…" August confessed as his body reformed.
"You gotta be kidding!" Gildarts cried out before the older man delivered a punch to the gut, launching him back.
"You should realize that it is impossible for someone like you to defeat me." August declared.
A series of cards suddenly shot forward and forced him back from the explosions. "My old man has a real gift for making the impossible possible." Cana said, cards between her fingers.
"Don't Cana! You need to get away from here!" Gildarts shouted.
"Father…?" August mumbled as a smile grew on his face. "So you're father and daughter…"
Fairy Tail Guildhall
Gray stared in shock as Zeref finally stood up. "You what?"
"You're actually the first one I've told my plan to." Zeref confessed. "Not even my faithful 12 have any idea. The Fairy Heart has the potential to make it happen. I've told you this because when Natsu gets here, you'll be dead. He'll be so furious that his dear friend is dead it will be my final chance to fight him at his full power, setting my plan in motion."
"Not gonna happen. When Natsu gets here, you'll be long gone!" Gray snapped back.
"That isn't possible. I am immortal. No one can kill me." Zeref declared. "Besides, even if you did somehow manage to kill me, it would mean Natsu-"
"I know." Gray cut him off. "I don't care what he 'really' is. Natsu is Natsu, and he's still my friend. And that's why I'm going to take you down." Ice crept onto the ground as Gray crossed his arms. "There's a way to defeat you without killing you." He crossed his arms as the palms faced down. "Iced Shell."
"That magic will cost you your own life." Zeref replied before he felt a shift in the magic. "A Lost Aspect?"
"I don't need to be remembered." Gray declared as his limbs started icing over. "So to save my friends, I'll erase my existence from my friends memories. I'm turning my life and existence and memory into magical power! Lost Iced Shell!"
Zeref was stunned ice built up around him. "Where could you have-"
"It was a crap job, but I got something out of it…" Gray mumbled.
"Applying the Lost Aspect multiplies the spells power several hundred times over." Zeref said. "But the cost is that users existence is erased from the world!"
"Nobody will even remember me, right?" The ice user asked. "That means nobody's gonna be sad over this! I've seen enough tears!"
Ice crept onto the Black Wizard, locking him in place. "My body… won't move…"
"It ends now, Zeref!" Gray shouted as he broke the cross.
"You're paying with the erasure of your very existence… but this magic only imprisons your opponent!" Zeref snapped back. "It won't kill me!"
"If I kill you, Natsu dies!" Gray declared. "So I'm gonna lock you up for all eternity!"
"Nothing is eternal! The ice will melt someday! I will be reborn!"
"But until that time, there will be peace, right?" Gray chuckled. "That's a win for Fairy Tail!" Icy wind erupted from Gray before it suddenly died as Gray was pinned to the ground by Natsu, the Fire Dragon Slayer melting the ice.
"The hell is your problem, ya dumbass!?" Natsu shouted. "I already told, I wasn't going to let you cast that spell!"
"If I don't do this, you'll-"
"Win or lose, your life is over." Zeref spoke up. "It is a cruel destiny."
"I ain't gonna die!" Natsu shouted as Laki, Rose and Happy stood at the door. "Destiny!? I'll take your destiny and burn it down!"
"And I'll be right there with you!" Laki declared, stepping forward.
"Burn down destiny, huh?" Zeref chuckled as he threw off his sash. "What a charming expression. Because I am a person who has come to accept his cursed destiny. Do you two know why I did that? Because I had no other choice. That's what destiny means."
The trio charged forward and blocked each other's fists before Natsu pushed his brother to the ground. He threw another punch to the ground, but Zeref rolled to the side and kicked Natsu towards a wall, only for a whip of wood to wrap around the pinkette. Laki pulled him in close and he came to a stop in her arms. "As I predicted… the power Igneel granted you is gone, and now you have no chance of defeating me."
Natsu burst out of the rubble and burst into flames. "We can still beat you without it!"
A pulse of magic froze everyone in the room, Zeref visibly shaken. "Irene managed to buy me quite a bit of time. But it's finally run out… I can't afford to play around with you anymore, Natsu. For the sake of this world, lay down your life to me."
Fairy Hills
"Erza, can you walk now?" Wendy asked as she helped the redhead up.
"Your healing powers are really amazing." Erza said with a smile.
"If I had been with the master at the time, then maybe…" Wendy mumbled.
"No." Erza cut her off. "When he used that magic, he accepted that he'd burn up his life." A sudden rise of magic power caught them both off guard. "Wh-what is this magic power!?"
A heavy force hit the ground next to them, kicking up dust and debris. As it settled, a wild looking man with blue hair and dark skin rose up, his body covered by a black cloak. "I'm bored! I am bored with the whole world, Black Wizard!"
The man rose up from the small crater he made from impact and passed the girls before stopping in front of Irene's body. "I thought this day would never come. But here before me lays the woman who gave humans the power to slay dragons." He rolled the body over to its back before lifting his foot. "The source of my sin!" The man started stomping on the body and laughing as the two women stared in horror.
"Time is up." August declared as he stood over Cana and Gildarts.
"No freaking way…" Cana mumbled in fear.
"Acnologia has arrived." The Magic King confirmed. "The plan was to absorb the Fairy Heart before his arrival. I don't believe that has happened yet. Something must have interfered with it."
"You're really gonna give up that easily?" Gildarts asked.
"We're doomed. His pitch black wings will darken all hope humanity has." August said.
"Looks like you two have the same goal after all." The Ace of the guild declared.
"His majesty's goal is ensure humanity's future." The older man replied.
"You think we actually buy that crap!?" Cana shouted. "Listen, geezer! I don't give a damn what you think you're doing! Where I'm standing, you're just a bunch of heartless conquerors! So many people on both sides have died in this war, even our own master! You can think you're on some grand mission all you want, but you're only causing pain! All we want is to live in peace!"
She raised her hand and a red mark appeared on her forearm as golden aura swirled around him. "No matter what we face, Fairy Tail never gives up the fight! Zeref, Acnologia, or whoever, we don't back down! We protect our guild and our home! We'll cause our own calamity if that's what we have to do! Fairy Glitter!"She slammed her arm down and a massive pillar of light erupted out of the ground underneath August.
Gildarts covered his arms from the light as the dust settled, only to find August still standing. "Not even a scratch on him…!?" Cana was in shock as she dropped to her knees.
"Girl…" August spoke up. "Do you care about your father?"
"What kind of question is that right now!?" Cana shouted back.
"And what about you? Do you love your child?" He asked Gildarts.
"Course I do!" The father instantly replied.
"I've travelled the world, and learned all its forms of magic, but there is one thing I've yet to understand." August confessed. "The love shared between a parent and their child. For example, if the girl was to perish before your eyes, what exactly would you feel?"
Gildarts felt the vein pop out of his neck in anger. "What…? You try and lay a finger on Cana, and I will show you a hell that will make death look like a walk in the park!"
"Don't fall for his bait!" Cana shouted, only to watch as her father rush forward and throw a punch. August caught the fist before throwing the ace to the ground.
"A child loves his child… And a parent loves his child?" August questioned.
"Of course they should!" Gildarts shouted, only to the find the staff at his chest.
"Then why has the emperor never loved his child?" The older man asked before blasting the Crash Mage with magic.
"Gildarts!" Cana rushed forward and threw her cards at the battle, forcing August to jump back. "I'm a grown woman, now. So cut the over-protective dad crap."
The father chuckled as he stood back up. "I don't think so. You'll always be my little girl…"
"Why did the emperor never love his child?" August asked himself.
Guild Hall
Zeref clocked Natsu in the face before the pinkette returned the favor with a body blow. He inhaled and shot an inferno out of his mouth, only for a black shield to cover Zeref. He then blocked a flaming bicycle kick from his brother as the others watched in worry.
'Gray! Laki! Rose! Happy!' Mavis' voice echoed in their head, catching them by surprise. 'You need to leave right now! I'm almost at the guildhall. I need you to join up with me!'
"But… Natsu…" Laki mumbled. "We can't just leave him…"
'Trust in Natsu, and in me." Mavis replied. 'Natsu's fate depends on you! I can explain better in person, we don't know if the enemy is listing to us!'"
"Let's go!" Gray shouted as he hobbled towards the door. "We'll just be in Natsu's way here, anyway!"
"Natsu…" Laki mumbled as she turned around. "Don't you dare lose this fight!" She ran out of the guild hall and joined the others in retreat.
Natsu grabbed Zeref by the wrist and slammed him to the ground in an inferno, only for Zeref to jump back to his feet. "This is fun, Natsu." He chuckled. "Unless I take you down here and now, humanity has no future… so why is this so much fun? Perhaps this is part of my curse of contradiction… I don't really understand how I feel."
"You talk too much." Natsu declared before he suddenly started wobbling. "Wh-what is this?"
"Sleep…" Natsu glanced behind him to find a beaten blonde walking over.
"Larcade…" Zeref mumbled in surprise.
"Father… I made it in time…" Larcade mumbled in joy. "Now this is your chance… Hurry! You can kill him now! Free yourself from this curse your brother holds! Let his white soul ascend to the heavens!"
Zeref held out his hand and a beam of black energy shot forward. The beam crashed into Larcade's gut, spraying blood everywhere to the shock of the other two men. "Do not interfere."
