*Disclaimer: neither duodragoon nor I own/have any affiliation with Fairy Tail; all rights go to Hiro Mashima. Seriously, we just do this for fun*
The New Fairy Tail
Guild Alliance Arc
Chapter 25: Fighting Back the Unknown
*Jellal stands on the cliff above the council as it is being surrounded by the shadow gargoyles. A few seconds later, a zip sound rings out behind him*
Jellal sighs, "Finally I thought you were gonna-" He turns and sees Mest accompanied by Luvistia and Wrath who are holding up the limp body of Metalico. Shocked and confused Jellal snaps, "WH-WH-WHAT IS THIS? YOU WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BRING ONE!" Mest starts sweating, "Well you see…"
*Flashback*
A dark slim hallway with lit rooms on each wall comes into view. The rooms are small and have little space in between them. The walls shake, causing debris to fall. Luvistia screams at the top of her lungs, "LET ME OUT! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!" A grouchy, deep-toned voice yells in response, "SHUT UP!" Right across from Luvistia is Wrath, "If it's our time, it's our time." Luvistia, tears streaming down her face, sobs, "How can you say that!? Don't you value your own life?" Wrath shrugs, "If it's my time, I'll accept it graciously." Luvistia then looks over to the cell next to Wrath, "What about you, boss man? Ready to talk, Excel?"
Excel is laying against the wall motionless, his eyes lifeless. Luvistia sighs and falls to her knees, "I guess you're right Wrath, no one is gonna just pop in and save us." Just as she finishes her statement, Mest pops in the hallway between them. Luvistia jumps up quickly, "Oh, my savior! Come to save his dam-!" Mest completely ignores her and walks over to Excel's cell. Luvistia's jaw hits the floor in shock from being ignored and begins banging on the cell, "Hey don't just leave me here; let me out too!" Mest puts Excel on his back and walks out of the cell. Luvistia is incoherently yelling and banging on the wall while all this is going on. Just as Mest is about to leave Wrath yells, "SHUT UP!" Suddenly, purple energy flashes around Luvistia, Wrath, and Excel. The energy knocks Luvistia on her butt and sends Excel flying off Mest's back. There is an awkward pause, then Luvistia smiles up at Mest, "Soooo, you gonna let us out?"
*Flashback ends*
Jellal looks past Mest, "I'm assuming you guys are a package deal?" Luvistia nods her head rapidly, while Wrath is calmer in his response with a single nod. Jellal shakes his head, "Mavis, I know I was never a Fairy Tail member, but please help me."
*Meanwhile inside Erza's office*
Levy's face is the purest expression of amazed horror. Hikari is in Dragon Force, the room trembles under the pressure she is exerting. Levy's mind flashes between seeing Hikari in front of her and Gajeel in his Iron Shadow Dragon mode. Levy begins to walk forward slowly, almost trancelike, but is stopped by Erza who puts her arm in front of her. Levy snaps out of it and turns to Erza who shakes her head.
Hikari has not broken focus on the stranger this entire time. "SPEAK NOW!" She yells at the woman who is unmoved by the show of power, but sensing the seriousness she puts her hands up, "My name is Angel. I'm an ally to the council and a friend to your guild. I heard that you guys were looking for a certain book that I had acquired in my travels, so I've brought it to you." Hikari's gaze shifts from Angel to the book. She deactivates her power and walks over to her. Hikari grabs the book before looking at Angel, "I may not be finished with you, but we've got more pressing matters to take care of." She scrambles over to the table and begins tearing through it, Levy soon join her. Seeing the two hard at work, Angel heads towards the door. As she reaches for th handle, a knife zips through the air and lands with the blade lodged in the door. She quirks an eyebrow and turns to see Hikari still looking at the book, but hand aimed towards her, "You can leave when I'm finished with you. Now sit and behave." Like a child on punishment, Angel sits and pouts. Erza looks out her big window and gives a slight grin.
On a mountain not too far from the Council, Jellal is looking through binoculars focused on Council HQ as Mest (with Metalico on his back), Wrath, and Luvistia walk by him. He puts the binoculars away, "Package: delivered." He then follows the others up the path.
*A wicked sandstorm is raging as we hear the cries of sand demons. One particular sand demon received a fist through its face. Dead, the sand that made the demon is carried away by the wind. As for the owner of that fist, Jarvan is less energized and more exhausted*
Jarvan looks around the battlefield: Jania has two golems protecting her as she flings rocks at the demons. Jarvan frowns, 'She started with five golems. That's concerning.' Next, he looks at Jasper who has now pulled gauntlets out of his bag and is wearing them. From one hand he shoots a fire ball and from the other a wind spell, causing a fire tornado. Jarvan remembers hearing about that invention one night at dinner; they're supposedly able to cast any spell, mainly simple ones, but to see them in action makes him proud of his brother. Lastly is Tia, or what Jarvan assumes is her. She's more of a blinding, flashy blur that cuts through the sand demons like cheese.
Jarvan glares at the enemies, 'Even though we've been fighting for hours, the sand demons' numbers aren't shrinking. At this rate, we'll burn out before we even get to the pyramid; gotta act fast.' Jarvan looks around and thinks of an idea. He shouts, "Jania!" She looks over, annoyed, as Jarvan continues. "Bulldoze!" he yells and points towards the pyramid. Her eyes widen and nods her head. Two more golems rise out of the sand and join the other two as they begin clearing a path to the pyramid, "Everyone let's go!" One by one they follow the train of golems. Once the golems get to the pyramid, they crash into the wall and shatter. Once the group gets to the wall, they stop and Jania begins to panic, "Well what now genius!?" Jania and Jarvan begin arguing when a loud explosion rocks the pyramid next to them. They look over and see Tia leaning out of a hole, Jasper scrambling in behind her, "No time for a lovers' quarrel; we got a job to do." Jarvan and Jania look at each other and rush inside.
*Akiko and Aria stand side-by-side, ready for whatever comes out of the darkness*
As the eyes get closer the girls step back, weary of the monster that may be looming. The eyes move out of the darkness to reveal…Marco and Lokore? Only, they look like a CapriSun® pouch after it's been sucked of all its juice [N/N: Okay, that's back I guess…]. Aria sighs, seeing no threat, but Akiko on the other hand… "ZOMBIES! STAY AWAY!" Aria continues to sigh and shake her head as she walks over to the two guys. After a second, green magic circles appear on her hands and green light surrounds the boys. Slowly, they start regenerating. Seconds later, they both collapse. Marco looks up, "Dear god, thank you. I thought I was gonna die a-… never mind. What's going on?"
Akiko steps forward, "Apparently we're being detained by a secret cult bent on ruling the world by stealing the life energy of the wealthy and distracts them with girls in little maid outfits and well-prepared food. Stop me if I'm wrong, Aria." Aria is on the other side of the cage looking around as if she's lost something. She pauses her work to look at Akiko and give her a thumbs up. Marco hops up, "Alright, then I guess the first step is to break out." He stretches for a few seconds, then gets into the standard Ice-Make two-handed style stance, "ICE MAKE: Grand RAM!" Nothing happens, except his stomach growling loud enough for everyone to hear. Marco stands up straight, dusts himself off, then turns to Akiko, "Ahem, I'm out of ideas."
Akiko snaps, "THAT'S IT?! YOU'RE THE BEST OF LAMIA SCALE?" Marco replies, "Oh I'm sorry, I haven't eaten in a day and a half so my tank's a little empty. What's your excuse!?" They continue arguing as Lokore walks over to Aria, "Sooo, what are you doing sweet thing?" Immediately, a knife is pointed at his throat. "Woah woah, I'm sorry. Didn't take you as the easily offended type." Aria rolls her eyes and flips the knife over, pointing the hilt towards him then pointing towards the opposite side of the cage. Confused, he takes the knife and walks to the other side.
Lokore turns back to see Aria holding a knife that looks the same as the one she gave him. She throws it into the top of the cage. Lokore, still confused, does the same. Aria quickly walks over to Akiko and Marco (who are still arguing) and pulls them to the center. Lokore quickly joins them. A second passes, then the knives begin to glow before exploding, blowing the top off the cage in the process. Akiko, Marco, and Lokore all look at Aria confused by what just happened. Aria jumps up and out of the cage, then opens the door for the rest. Akiko looks at the other two, "So guys, you ready to smash this cake?" Marco and Lokore look at each other more confused and follow her out.
*Inside a dark cave, only the light of the blue flames resonating off the dogs provides visibility. Roxina, Lucio, Kaizer, and Gin stand in the middle of a pack of dogs lighting their way*
Gin, not feeling too comfortable, leans over to Kaizer, "Any clue what's going on here? Do we have to kill these things to get the people back or is there some hive room where they keep them for eating." Kaizer turns to him, "You've been reading too many horror stories." "Have you opened your eyes!? This is straight out of a horror story!" Gin quickly retorts. Kaizer looks around, noticing all the glaring eyes from dogs scattered around the cave and shudders, 'Well he's not wrong.' They continue a little farther into the cave and come to a fork in the road; the left going down, the other going up. The four huddle up. Roxina is so pale now Kaizer and Gin notice. Gin opens his mouth to speak when she stops him, "I'm fine. There's still a job to do. You two go up the right path, Lucio and I are gonna go down the left path. Are we good?" The group nods. Kaizer and Gin diverge to the right path. The pack of dogs that were guiding them follow Roxina and Lucio down the left path, leaving Kaizer and Gin alone to follow the right path.
They go along the path for some time until they enter a huge room, and in the middle of the room sits a dog that basically fills up half of the room. Gin smiles, "Finally, the mom. We kill her and this whole thing is over. HEY STUPID!" He yells as he begins to walk over. However, Kaizer's face is in pure calculation mode. Once he realizes the situation, a panic washes over him, "GIN WAIT!" Gin glares at Kaizer, "For what?!" He turns back to see the giant dog head rise…then another…then another. The dog stands up to reveal the three heads are in fact connected to one body. Kaizer rushes over to Gin's side as they look up to the beast and it howls, summoning average sized dogs with flames shooting off their bodies. Back to back, an annoyed Kaizer asks, "Do you ever stop to think, or is it one gear with you?" Gin replies, "Fight now talk later!"
*On the other path*
Roxina and Lucio follow the path in relative silence. Lucio decides to break the silence to try to ease the tension, "So, you're pretty high up in Rune Knights, aren't you?" Roxina emotionlessly responds, "High enough to get my own specialized squadron." Lucio then asks, "Is that why you left, 'cause you wanted to lead your own squad and didn't want to be in anyone's shadow?" Roxina stops, "We're not doing this. You wanna know why I left? Ask your fearless leader, I'm sure between her womanizing and reckless abandonment, she'll be happy to answer any personal questions that you may have." Lucio rolls his eyes in annoyance, "Is whatever it is so important that you had to leave your guild, your family, and enlist in the army that hates them the most?" Roxina turns towards him, "Jeeze, why won't you let it go!?" Lucio snaps back, "Because I've seen how a torn family ends up! And I refuse to let this one fall apart."
Roxina's jaw drops slightly and she blinks a few times. Lucio walks past her, "Whether you like it or not, Fairy Tail is still your family and you don't give up on family." They walk a little farther and a blue light begins to light the end of the cave. Once they reach the end, they are shocked by the scene. Scattered throughout the room are hundreds of pods filled with pale people. All the pods have glowing blue veins going into the ceiling. Roxina whispers, "What the-" when suddenly a howl fills the room. Their "guide" dogs turn towards them and growl as more begin to file in. Lucio draws one of his swords and Roxina gets into her fighting stance. Lucio, half joking half worried, chuckles, "Guess we found the queen."
*Through the forest, three figures can be seen rushing down a path. Silvia followed by Duo and Yuka are heading up the road, back towards the camp they help set up with one slight difference…it is now on fire and they can hear the wolves howling. Probably not the best sign*
The trio arrives at the camp to see it has descended into chaos: soldiers fighting wolves, more soldiers trying to put out fires, and researchers just running about. From face to face, a look of surprise, acceptance, and anger appear on Yuka, Duo, and Silvia's faces respectively. After assessing the situation, Duo nudges Silvia, "Mist cloud please." Silvia looks at him, a bit calmer since it's Duo, and nods. She puts her hand up and takes a deep breath. The camp site becomes surrounded in a thick mist, where several wolves yelp as the fires around camp begin to die down. Once the mist clears, Yuka is standing by herself while Duo and Silvia are standing in the middle of camp, a mound of wolf bodies in between them. Duo yells out, "Okay, what happened here!?" No one answers. He sighs and mumbles, "I do not feel up for this," then shouts, "WHERE IS LUKE?" Everyone then points to the pyramid. Duo nods, "Thank you. Tend to your injured, hide your weak, and do something about these." He points to the wolves and walks off, "Yuka, are you coming or what?" Yuka snaps out of her trance-like state and rushes forward.
When they get to the pyramid, a door is opened that was not there the first time. Duo inspects it, "Great. Seems like someone left the front door opened for us. Now guys be careful, I'm pretty sure this place is-." Without warning, Silvia steps in front of Duo, "I'M GOING TO KILL-" then the ceiling caves in and smashes Silvia, leaving a decent sized puddle beneath the rubble. Yuka and Duo look over her and Duo finishes, "-booby trapped." Silvia starts to reform. She is steaming, but Duo taps her on the head with his fist, "Cool it. If you lose your head now, you may actually lose your head in here." The steam lessens, and she nods. Duo looks down the hall then turns to Yuka, "Can you check for any more traps on this floor?" Yuka nods then puts her hand on the ground, a shadow covers the floor and triggers several traps: everything from floor spikes to poison darts activates.
Once the traps deactivate, the shadow retracts and she gives Duo a thumbs up. They cautiously walk forward. Yuka looks at Duo noticing he's even paler than before. Before Yuka can say anything, Duo puts his hand on the wall then immediately pushes the girls back as a wall comes down and separates the group. Through the wall, Duo yells, "You guys alright?" For a moment there is silence before Silvia's faint voice responds, "Yeah we're fine. Go on ahead, we'll catch up." Duo slams his fist on the wall, "I'll break it." "There's no time. Just go, we'll be right behind you!" Duo then rushes up the stairs. On the other side of the wall, things are much different. Yuka is unconscious. Silvia is face to face with a pack of wolves. There is even a poison dart sticking out of her leg. She pulls it out, "No one ever said this would be easy. Come on mutts! I got enough anger for all of you. Oh my, I sound like Akiko."
*In a cave deep in the mountains, the sounds of battle echoes throughout*
We see Namika and Raiu back-to-back, surrounded by shadows. Both look tired and sweaty, but both have big smiles on their faces. They leap forward knocking shadows everywhere. Roagan swings his arms, knocking huge amounts of shadows away with each swing. Junshi is zipping about, knocking down quite a few shadows as she goes. Once she's in the middle of the room, she takes a deep breath and a huge magic circle appears below her. She then gets into a stance and yells, "Ancient Zodiac Style: Gōngjī de Xuánzhuǎn Lóngjuǎnfēng." She spins, and a huge tornado begins to form, sweeping up the shadows. Namika stabs her sword in the ground as to not get swept up. Raiu is sent flying, but luckily Namika grabs her just before she is out of reach. Roagan stands still as his clothes blow left and right from the wind.
After a few seconds it dies down. The rest of the group walks up to Junshi, who is still spinning and has swirls in her eyes. Raiu pats her on the back, almost knocking her over, "Good job. I could have done it, but I'm glad you're taking the initiative." Namika pats her on the head, also almost knocking her over, "Yes, quite the display. You may be a fine warrior after all." Roagan walks over, looks down at her, then picks her up and puts her on his shoulders. Junshi's head is spinning as she mumbles, "Thanks big guy." They then walk down the hall.
As they walk deeper into the cave, it starts to get drastically darker. Namika nudges Raiu, "Could you give us some light please?" Raiu puts her hand out and summons a ball of electricity, which lights the path ahead. Everyone is focused on the path ahead, well everyone except Junshi who is curiously looking around. Something catches her eye and she taps Roagan, who stops in response. Junshi then yells to Namika and Raiu, "Uh girls, you may want to look at this!" The two come over and look at the wall. On the wall is a mural depicting the story of the village just as they were told. The concerning part is what's assumed to be the end. The village is still pictured, but it has been destroyed and a giant stands over it.
A shaken Raiu asks, "So you think this is a prophecy or what?" Namika shakes her head, "This painting looks hundreds of years old. If this guy could make armies of shadows like we saw in the other room, there is no way he'd wait for a prophecy just to get his revenge. Safest bet is that the town we just left was full of s-." Raiu cuts her off, "No don't you dare say it. Let's just keep going," and she rushes down the hall. Namika takes one last look at the wall then follows suit. Junshi pats Roagan on the head, "Do not worry. I'll protect you from any bad ghosts, friend." Roagan nods and starts walking down the hall.
Once they get to the end of the hall, they enter what seems to be a gigantic throne room with a giant-sized throne. They look around the room and the owner is nowhere to be found. Raiu takes a step in, "Where the heck is this guy? I mean, this room is big, but he's supposed to be huge. I don't-!?" A large bolder crushes the group, as a large shadowy figure with glowing eyes appears.
N/N: Okay. Well here we are, just a little later than I expected. I hope your holidays were fun and food-filled, and hopefully everyone is enjoying their time off from school and/or work. AND I hope you all enjoyed this week's chapter! I really do not know how much of this story is left, but I think we are getting to 50-60% complete. Maybe. I don't know. Ask Duo…the author, not the character. Anyhow, leave a review to tell us what you thought of the chapter; constructive criticism is always welcome.
Until next time FanFiction, this is
…
duodragoon & SkyFlameDragon
…
Signing off
