~*****~

Ballad tugs at the braid resting on my shoulder. "So, if there isn't a pilot seat or control panel where we can stop this thing, what are we gonna do?" She asks curiously.

"Destroy it, of course," Natsu retorted.

"Leave it to us to demolish a city, right?" Lucy sighs.

I hum delicately and tilt my head. "Isn't that kinda what we Fairy Tail wizards do?"

"Not to sound pessimistic, but that's a pretty tall order." Gray mentioned.

"Before that, we should see if Brain knows how to stop Nirvana." Jura states.

"I doubt that brute would share such information with us." Carla comments.

"If he won't tell us, maybe Jellal will know." Wendy hummed almost inaudibly.

I hum in response, my gaze swinging out to the city below. "Is everything okay?" I hear Lucy ask.

"Think of something that'll help?" Gray asks.

I turned my gaze onto Wendy as she began to fidget with the sleeves of my overcoat wrapped around her shoulders. "Well, I'm not quite sure." She mentioned lightly. "But it may be the best option we have, so I'll do my best to find it!"

"Wendy? Where are you going, child?!" Carla called as she flew after her.

"Hey!" Gray exclaimed.

I snort. "She sure is determined," Lucy hums.

Jura hums in response before a voice echoes through my head. "My friends, can you hear me?" I palm my ear and wince. Who the hell was that? "It is I, the wizard known as Hoteye."

"You guys hear that too, or am I goin' crazy?" Lucy stammered.

"I heard it," Natsu retorts.

"Yeah, so did I." I nod.

"Did you defeat Midnight, Richard?" Jura asks.

"I tried my best, but in the end, it seems my magic wasn't simply strong enough to trump his. Do not concern yourself with my rescue. You must work together to bring Midnight down for good." Hoteye explains. "If you succeed in defeating him, Nirvana's source of magic power will be rendered dry and the city will cease its destructive path."

"Am I supposed to know this guy?" Natsu asks irritably. I snort in response, equally confused.

"So, we can stop Nirvana without destroying the whole thing?" Gray asks.

"He's directly below you, just outside of the royal throne!" Hoteye says. "His power is not one to be underestimated. Please, be cautious, my friends!"

"The same to you, Richard!" Jura exclaims.

"What are we waiting for?" Lucy asked.

"Nice!" Gray beamed. "This mess just got a whole lot easier!"

"I'm all fired up now!" Natsu exclaims. "We're comin' for you, Sleepy Head!"

"Come on, I know you can do better than that." Happy commented.

"All right, how about Sir Snores-A-Lot?" Natsu asked.

"Nope, that's your nickname." I comment dryly.

"At least I don't drool ice cubes!" Natsu exclaimed, his face flushing in response to my tease.

"Only one of the six prayers still remains on the battlefield. Every ounce of my trust and confidence belongs to you, my friends." Hoteye explains. "Defeat Midnight and stop Nirvana once and for all! Oh yeah! I wish you luck, my faithful comrades!"

Hoteye makes a strangled noise before he goes silent. "Sir Richard!" Jura called out.

"Let's get going!" Natsu chirped.

"I dunno, this kinda sounds fishy," I hum delicately as I run after him.

Ballad hums in agreement. "He should be through there!" Gray shouted as we ran down the stairs to a very old looking door.

"Let's do this thing!" Natsu chants as he kicks at the door ineffectively. He grasps onto the handles and tries tugging it open. "All right, Freak! Time for a dirt nap!"

"Get down!" I shout as I shove Natsu down and cover his body with my own.

My mind blanks as the hottest imaginable pain washes up my back. "Aria--" I hear Natsu call for me as the ringing in my head stops. "Wake up! Come on!"

I grimace and palm at my head before I hiss and reach around, trying to cup my back. "Have we always been this stupid?" I ask irritably as steam hisses from the wound on my back, the skin freezing over to soothe the large burn.

"Yeah, we're in Fairy Tail. I can't believe we fell for that trap so easily." Lucy sighs. She makes a pained grunt as her head conks on the small cave around us.

"We're also dumb enough to get buried alive." Gray comments.

"What? But if that's the case, then where's Jura?" Lucy asks.

I peer up, lay on my back before slinging my legs upwards, cracking open the shell. Natsu and I struggle to peer out before the other and end up squished in the hole, gazing at Jura in shock. He stands there, arms spread out in front of a large wall of iron rock barriers. "No!" Gray shouts.

"Are you okay?!" Ballad squeaks.

"He risked his life to protect us!" Lucy stammered.

His barrier disintegrates as he releases a shuddering breath. "Pops, hang in there!" I chant.

Jura slowly turns his head to us. "The strength and courage you possess-- Your guild is a lucky one. It brings me great relief to know you're still alive." Jura gasps as he falls backwards.

"Pops, no!" Gray shouts.

"You can't go like this!" Lucy sobs.

"Please, don't die!" Happy cries.

"Jura!" Natsu shouts.

I leap out of the dome and hurry to him, my palms pressing against his face. "Oh, man, he looks bad!" Lucy stammers.

"Hang in there, pops! We'll get help for ya!" Gray exclaimed.

Ballad sobs loudly as she desperately presses her paws against him, trying to use her magic, but to no avail. "What are we gonna do?" She asks me shakily.

"Ridiculous." A strange voice echoes out. "Brain is such a fool. He used the last of his power to lay his trap, yet only one of you fell in its snare!"

"WHO'RE YOU?!" Gray shouts.

"Over there!" Happy exclaims, his paw pointing off past Jura.

Our gazes fly over. "He was a pitiful leader, a disgrace to the six demons!" It was... a staff. "But our goal has not fallen out of reach. As long as Midnight stands, we shall be victorious! Since he's busy at the moment, there's nothing keeping me from disposing of you myself."

"THAT CANE'S TALKIN' TO ME!" Happy screams.

"As a talking cat, I wouldn't think you'd find it all that surprising," Lucy commented.

"I guess." Happy sighs.

The staff begins giggling as it rises into the air. "That's crazy!" Gray gasps as I stand up. "It's the staff that Brain was carrying around!"

"Okay, I'm freaked out now!" Lucy whimpered.

Natsu simply grasps the staff, and starts bonking it against the ground. "Would you stop laughing already, I've already got a splitting headache thanks to your boss--" Natsu snaps at it, causing me to start laughing. "Stop this city right now, you piece of rotting driftwood!"

"How dare you insult my family legacy!" The staff snaps at Natsu. "I come from a long line of proud cedar, so show some respect!" Natsu glances up at me, his brow raised in confusion. I shrug in response. "Before you is the venerated seventh member of the Oracion Seis. Emerged from his slumber to destroy you all--"

Natsu grabs him again and starts to bonk him against the ground again. "I've heard just about enough outta you!"

"Let go of me this instant!" The staff cries.

"Wait, wait," I wave my hands. "I thought there were only six members. You can't be saying a stick is one of 'em. I mean, it's in the name! Seis means six!"

"Who cares what the number might be, this cane is talking about kicking our butts!" Gray exclaims.

"Look on the bright side, it can't really kick our butts since it has no feet." Happy shrugs.

I plop my fist in my hand. "Oh yeah, he doesn't."

The staff slips from Natsu's grasp. "Uncivilized neanderthal! It won't be long until their wretched guild is within our sights! Then we can finally begin to cleanse this world of refuse." The staff says as it... gazes out on the horizon. I guess.

"You mean you're already that close to Cait Shelter?!" Lucy gasped.

"Indeed we are!" The staff snaps. "Once they're stamped out, we can truly begin our crusade of darkness!" The staff starts to laugh again. The staff begins to explain why Nirvana is going to Cait Shelter. "They are the only people in all of existence with the power to seal Nirvana once more. Therefore, the Nirvit Bloodline must end."

"Hey, Natsu," I hum as I stare at the staff. He hums in response. "Want me to grab it so you can burn it?"

"Oh, hell yeah!" Natsu chanted.

~*****~

This staff was annoying. It was going around and around with us. "A bunch of annoying kids!" The staff snorts as it lifts high above us. Lightning cracks from the orb in its mouth. I gazed irritably at Gray as he suffers from the attack.

"Your magic is ice, you know, electricity shouldn't travel that well through your body." I comment dryly.

"My organs aren't frozen most of the time, you freak!" Gray snapped at me through a groan.

"Ha! Poor babies. You may be young, but you've got a lot to learn if you want to beat me!" The staff chirps. "Who cares how young you are! So if you wanna go flaunting your toned, limber bodies around like that, fine. But this is what happens!"

"Sounds like somebody has some serious age issues around here," Lucy comments.

"Aye," Ballad and Happy sigh.

The staff snaps his gaze onto Lucy. "Now what?" Natsu groaned.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" Lucy taunted.

"I don't think that's it," Happy mentioned.

"Oh, no! This cannot be!" The staff gasps. "They all have fallen! I can't believe it! The six demons have been defeated!" The staff drops the orb out of pure shock. "The horror! It's imminent! The great one is coming!" He shudders and panics in the air.

I blow out a puff of air. "Big deal? Who the hell is the great one?"

"I bet whoever this great one is, it's not gonna be so great for us!" Happy complained.

Ballad begins to tremble in her spot. "Oh, no-- what if the great one likes to eat cats?!"

"Why would he like to eat cats?" Lucy commented dryly.

"The horror!" Ballad and Happy cry.

I pinch at the bridge my nose before waving at the staff to get his attention. "Hello~ Who's the great one!" I ask him loudly.

"He's getting super juicy!" Happy commented.

"That's sweat, ya dope!" Lucy snapped at him.

"It's Brain--" The staff shudders.

"What?" Gray asked incredulously.

"That old bald bruiser already put that creep on the ground," Natsu retorted.

"I'm aware of that but what you don't know is there's another personality lurking inside of him." The staff commented.

"Well, they make therapy for that," I mention.

The staff ignores me, although, I do sense a loathing aura around him. "You've seen the outer one-- Brain, the name for the calm knowledge seeking persona at the surface. But there is a hidden face that craves only destruction. They call him Zero!"

"Brain was bad enough for me," Lucy stammered.

"Zero's worse?" Happy asked nervously.

"He possesses incredible power paired with an unquenchable thirst for destruction. But Brain was able to seal him away, using six magical keys." The staff explains.

"And those are the Oracion Seis," Gray says.

"Correct!" The staff nods. "Bound together using Body Link Magic. And once those six demons fall, Zero will once again be free to roam the land, annihilating everything with the misfortune to stand in his path!"

"That sounds like a challenge to me!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Don't hog the entire fight again!" I hiss at him.

Just as Natsu and I prepare to play a game of rock paper scissors to see who fights first, one of the walls of the room bursts open, and in walks Brain, or I guess, Zero. The staff whimpers in utter fright before bowing repetitively. "Master Zero, I humbly welcome your return!"

"Master Zero?" Lucy echoes.

"Thinks have taken quite an interesting turn, haven't they, Klodoa?" Zero hums. "Even Midnight fell in battle."

"Please sir, I beg you to grant me forgiveness!" Klodoa cried.

"You misunderstand me. I'm not displeased. On the contrary, It's been far too long. This feeling I have-- This flesh, this power. I've longed for it!" Zero explains with a wide grin on his face. "It's time for me to begin the task for which I was summoned!"

"Yes sir!" Klodoa squeaks as he leaps out of the way.

Zero throws his cape off, baring his toros before it's covered in a strange, military style uniform. "You scum." Zero simply growls. "You've done an admirable job in destroying my guild. But as it's master, I am bound by my obligation to take my revenge."

"No way--" Lucy stammered. "He's the true leader of the Oracion Seis?"

"'Fraid so." Happy says in an equally terrified tone.

Ballad squeaks something indecipherable before backing up to hide behind my leg. "His power's making the ground shake..." Lucy whimpered.

"So, are you dragons ready to go?" Gray asked, a wide grin on his face.

"The guy's got some crazy magical power goin' on. I can't wait to take him down!" Natsu exclaims.

I clench my fists. "Yeah, it's already looking like it's gonna be fun." I comment.

Zero hums as that smile lifts even more. "That's it! I'll begin with the bald one who harmed this body while Brain was in charge of it! Him first!" Zero growls as he holds a large mass of green magical energy.

Gray's quick to defend him, using his ice shield to stop the blast. "You'd really attack somebody who's not even able to move?" Gray asked loudly. "You're a coward!"

"Nonsense! Spare me your foolish ideals." Zero retorts.

His shield begins to crack until he's ultimately blown away. "You guys!" Natsu gasps.

"Oh no!" Lucy yelps.

"I take great pleasure in destroying many things that do not move. Why should that man be an exception?" Zero asks.

Natsu and I charge in for an attack. And he's strong. We're thrown back like a couple of rag dolls. I can't even move after the counterattack. My legs were shaking violently as I try to get up to defend myself against him. My head throbs in time with my racing heart as I try to find where he's at. I vaguely hear someone talking, but my body wants to refuse to get up. My legs twitch again and I'm slowly shoving myself upwards, my body dragging against the gravity forcing me down.

I force my magic forth, my skin rippling with my ice scales and shoving me up into the air for a moment before I slam back onto my feet unsteadily. My breathing remains erratic as I finally hear Hibiki in my head. "If you hear our voices, please respond!"

"Yeah--" I grit out.

"We hear you--" Natsu says as he forces himself up.

"Aria, Natsu," Hibiki sighs.

"Destroy," Gray pants. "All six Lacrima at one time--" Gray manages to right himself.

"So, who's fighting Zero?" Lucy asks as she leans against my side, helping herself up using my strained arm. "Cause we'd like another crack at him. Right, guys?"

"Eighteen minutes left. We've gotta hurry!" Happy snaps.

A sudden flush of warmth coasts through me, and my body feels lighter. "Yeah! We owe it to Carla and Wendy to protect their guild!" Ballad chants, her little paws lit up from the magical energy she's using to heal our wounds.

"Guys, my telepathy's about to cut out. A while ago, I uploaded a map to each of your minds. I numbered the Lacrima so you could find them. Everybody chose a number, okay? Someone is gonna have to pair up." Hibiki explains breathlessly.

His voice cuts out almost immediately after. "We'll take one," I snap to Natsu. He nods immediately.

"Two!" Gray snaps.

"Guess I'll take three. Please don't let Zero be there," Lucy groaned.

"Then I shall take number four--" Ichiya says. "I can tell it's closest to me, thanks to the smell of it's parfum."

"You mean, because you see it on the map?" I retort irritably.

"My honey, why do you insist on making a fool out of me?" Ichiya asks in utter disbelief.

"I can take number five!" Erza states.

"Erza!" Natsu cheers. "Guess you're feeling better, huh?"

"Yeah, it's all thanks to you guys," Erza says.

"That leaves me with--"

"You're left with number six." Erza cuts off a familiar voice.

"Whose voice did I hear just now? Is someone there with you?!" Natsu exclaims. Then, everything goes silent. "What happened?"

"We lost our connection!" Gray exclaims.

"That means..." Lucy trails off softly. "We lost Hibiki."

"Okay guys! It looks like we've got the six-- or seven-- people we need." Happy states in a serious tone. "Let's go and if you run into Zero, take that jerk down! Cause were all gonna be too busy destroying those Lacrima!" Happy exclaims.

"You stay with Lucy!" I exclaim to Ballad before Natsu stumble down the hallway. My wings fold against my body as we stumble through the narrow hallway. While she healed some of the minor wounds, my body still felt heavier than usual. My muscles were aching, but I couldn't stop. Not when Cait Shelter needed our help. Just as we enter the room for Lacrima number one, I can't help but feel that maybe we're either lucky or unlucky.

"Fancy meeting you brats here," Zero comments as we stare down at him. "You looking for a fight? You found one."

"I wonder which one of us will make it out of here alive!" Natsu exclaims after he begins to grin.

"I'll take a bet if you want--" I chirp in an excited tone.