Tower Run

The entire Fairy Tail guild stood crammed in the less than accommodating cargo hold aboard the flying ship Christine, Ichiya and the Tri-mens having boarded them once they had reached the outskirts of Magnolia. Makarov had brought up the danger of the resurrected Oracion Seis at his last guild master's meeting and Master Bob was more than willing to loan them the flying vessel. Although it was more than a little stifling, most of the guild enjoyed being so high in the air. It kept their minds off of the battle ahead.
Erza walked to the upper deck and found Natsu, to her mild surprise he was perfectly fine. She approached him.
"Wendy cast Troia on you?"
"Yeah, she said it would fine since she had gotten stronger and-" He turned around was surprised to see Erza behind him. "Erza?! What are you doing here?"
She gave him a confused look, "I'm here to fight of course. Why would you ask such a dumb question?"
"Well you fainted the other day and-" He replied concerned.
"I was just exhausted from training." She said cutting him off with a smile.
Natsu grabbed the side of her arms suddenly, causing her to blush. She looked into his eyes, they were filled with worry and concern.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine Natsu don't worry. Besides what kind of Fairy Tail wizard would I be if I didn't fight because of little sickness?"
Natsu let go and smiled satisfied. "Okay if you say so, just don't push yourself too hard."
Erza smirked at him, "You fool. You should be the last person to tell me that."
They started to laugh, "Yeah I guess you're right." Natsu said putting his hand behind his head.
"My honey." A booming voice called from behind Erza. The bass filled tone would have made any other woman swoon, but all it did was fill Titania with a sense of fear. Her body began to shiver and she produced a cold sweat. She turned around and sure enough Ichiya was walking up to her. She jumped back behind Natsu, the Dragon Slayer giving her a confused look.
"Man. Here you are Erza. I knew it was your parfume I was following." He said with a smile on his face and his sniffing nose in the air as he looked at Erza.
"What do you want Ichiya?" Erza asked a bit uneasy.
"We are approaching our destination, you should head down to the cargo hold." He motioned to the door in the floor. "Man."
"I-I see." Erza said standing next to Natsu, "Thank you for telling us. Let's go Natsu." She hurriedly pulled the bewildered dragon by the arm as they made their way through the door in the deck and down the ladder to the cargo hold where the rest of their guild mates were squished like sardines. They then heard a voice come over the ship's PA system.
Aura smirked when she heard the voice. Hibiki.
"We are approaching Oracion Seis' stronghold." He told them as he saw the large field come into view.
Everyone in the guild looked at the large lacrima in the middle of the hold that showed the outside, in hindsight the reason why everyone was so crowded was to make room for the crystal. The image showed on the lacrima was of a huge forest with an enormous but empty clearing.
"There's nothing there." Fried commented
"I don't see anything!" Bickslow yelled irritated. "You sure this is the right place pretty boy?!"
"The stronghold is being protected by a concealment spell, so it's hard to see from this high up." Hibiki explained as the ship began to slow down before stopping a bit short of the clearing. "We can get you close enough to not be spotted, but we can't touch down."
"Are you saying you're going to drop us into the forest?" asked a frightened Lucy. "Not all of us can fly you know.
"Come on it's not that bad." Natsu said looking at Lucy nonchalantly.
"I don't see anything wrong." Wendy added innocently.
"Yeah quit complaining." Gajeel said irritated.
"Of course it's not bad for you three, you have flying cats!" Lucy yelled back at them.
"Don't worry Lucy, we knew this would happen." Erza reassured Lucy as she put her hand on the scared blonde's shoulder. "Aura, are you ready?"
Aura came up from the crowd with a determined nod. "I'm ready."
"Ok everyone!" Erza began to yell, quieting her guild mates. "We're going to descend into the enemy's territory. This is your last chance to leave if you are having second thoughts, the Christine would be happy to take you back to Magnolia. So does anyone want to leave?" Erza looked around at her guild mates none of their faces wavered, all of them were just as determined as when they started.
"You're really asking if we're backing out after coming this far?" Gray asked with a confident smirk.
"Backing out now wouldn't be manly at all." Elfman commented.
"We fight together or we don't fight at all." Levy added with a determined look in her eyes.
Erza smirked, happy at her families resolve.
Hibiki spoke over the PA system again, "We've reached the drop zone."
"Thank you Hibiki." Erza replied.
"No problem. Good luck Fairy Tail."
"Give them hell." Ren said over the PA next.
"Come back safe." The last well wish coming from Eve.
"Return safely my honey." Ichiya's well wish sent a chill up Erza's spine.
"Let's go Aura." Erza commanded under her breath.
Aura chuckled a bit at Erza's uneasiness. "Okay mom." She then looked around at her guild mates. "Alright everyone get as close as you can, I'm going to port us down!"
Everyone huddled as close as they could as Aura closed her eyes and began focusing her magical energy. Everyone felt the wind shift, slowly whisking their hair and clothing. A purple magical circle appeared beneath their feet and everyone began to fade.
She opened her eyes, which were now completely devoid of pupils.
VULGUS VEHO (Mass Teleport)
In a flash of purple light, the entire Fairy Tail guild was gone. Seconds later they appeared on the ground just before the clearing, the trees concealing their presence.
Everyone separated a bit and found a position to stand. Some were happy to still be in one piece, others were amazed that Aura had so much power in her. She must have transported at least 200 people.
"Wow she did it." Macao said astonished.
"Who knew the little lady had so much power in her." Wakaba added. "Her parents must be some powerful wizards."
Lucy smiled as she looked at Aura. You guys have no idea.
Aura gave Lucy a weak smile and a thumbs up before collapsing.
"Aura!" Lucy yelled worriedly running over, Wendy overhearing ran over as well.
Before she hit the ground Aura caught herself by extending her leg out. She looked up at Lucy, giving her a weak smile. "I'm fine, just need to rest for a bit." She laughed weakly.
"Do you want me to heal you?" Wendy asked concerned as her hands began to glow.
"No." Aura protested slightly exhausted. "Save your strength for the fight. I'll be fine after a few seconds." She slowly stood up and walked to where the others were gathered. She saw Erza and kneeled next to her.
"Are you alright." Erza said with a stern face.
"Yeah I'm fine." She said between breaths. "How are we going in? We can't just storm the place can we?"
"That seems like the best option since there are no guards in the area, but I had Happy & the others check just in case."
As if on cue, the three Exceeds descended into the trees and in front of Erza. "Did you find anything?"
"Nothing." Pantherlily reported. "There are no guards and no traps laid in the area."
"I don't like the feeling of this." Carla commented worriedly.
"Maybe they don't know we're here." Happy added with a nervous smile.
"No." Erza said sternly, "It feels like they want us to come in."
Panther Lily nodded. "That's what I was feeling as well. How shall we proceed?"
"We're not going in there are we?" Happy began to shake, Carla looked at him and let out a frustrated sigh as she rubbed her paw on her forehead.
"Well-" Erza began.
"Rrrrgh! I'm sick of waiting around! I'm going!" Natsu yelled cutting her off, jumping out of the forest and racing towards the cloaked tower.
"Natsu wait!" Erza yelled in vain, but Natsu was already out of earshot. "Dammit! That Idiot!" she yelled angrily.
"Natsu's right, I'm sick of waiting around." Gray said as he too jumped out of the trees as well, startling Juvia who was standing next to him.
"Gray!" Juvia yelled after him.
"Salamander's right, all this waiting is starting get on my nerves." An irritated Gajeel was the last to leave, following the fire dragon slayer and the Ice wizard.
"Gajeel come back!" Levy also yelled.
"Those idiots, we need a plan before charging in." said Erza gritting her teeth in annoyance.
The three young men raced towards the tower, ready to get the fight started.
"Probably should have asked this earlier, but do you have any idea how we're supposed to get in?" Gray asked Natsu.
"Easy, we just break through the front door." Natsu answered with a smirk.
"Sounds good to me." Gray agreed with a shrug.
"Heh, sounds like fun." Gajeel added with a smirk.
As they approached the tower, they were astonished to see the cloaking spell dissolve and the front door being opened.
"Nice of them to open the door for us." said Gray.
"Good." Gajeel commented. "Now I don't have to waste energy breaking the door down."
Natsu's smirk turned into a grin of anticipation. "I'm going to be the first one to the top!" He declared causing both Gray & Gajeel to grin as well.
"Not before me you're not." Gray said.
"You're both gonna be eating my dust." Gajeel added soon after as the three of them entered the tower. They reached the ground level and were happy to see people waiting for them. There had to be at least 800 wizards staring them off, but this only excited the Fairy Tail Wizards.
A white mist began to form over Gray's hands, Gajeel cracked his knuckles, and Natsu slammed his fists, now engulfed in flames, together. "Looks like Oracion Seis threw us a welcoming party." Gray looked around with a smirk.
"Well let's get this party started!" Natsu yelled, the three of them rushing head long into the crowd.
The rest of the guild watched them enter the tower and Erza let out an irritated sigh.
"What do we do now Erza?" Levy asked concerned.
"Well, it looks like we have go after them." She replied irritated as she stood up. "Those Idiots won't last long if we leave them there too long." She summoned one of her swords and pointed it towards the tower.
"Fairy Tail, attack!"
Fairy Tail emerged from the trees and ran into the tower like bats out of hell, clashing with Oracion Seis forces.
"Nice of you guys to show up." Natsu said with a smirk as he watched his comrades do battle.
BAM!
"Ow! Why did you do that Erza?" Natsu groaned as he grabbed his head where Erza struck him.
"You idiot, I told you to wait."
"Sorry." He said with a smile.
"Natsu look out!" Erza yelled pointing above him revealing three enemies coming down on him with swords.
GUNS MAGIC: SPREAD SHOT
Three magical bullets struck the three attackers, sending crashing to the ground. Natsu and Erza looked over to see Alzack lowering his gun.
"Thanks Alzack!" Natsu yelled, Alzack giving him a thumbs up before returning to battle.
"Would you two quit flirting and start fighting?!" an irritated Elfman yelled as he pushed back two more enemies.
Erza blushed as she requipped into her flame empress armor, "We were doing no such thing!" She denied vehemently as she began fighting, Natsu following her lead.
"Where are the members of Oracion Seis?" Juvia asked as she and Gray stood back to back surrounded by dark wizards. "I don't know, maybe their higher up in the tower." Gray replied as he froze some of the attackers.
"Go Taurus!" Lucy yelled at bull sprit as he tore through the enemy hordes with his giant axe. "That's right kick their butts!" she yelled excitedly. 'What's that?" she looked over at the wall once the crowd had cleared some and noticed a door. "Hey guys I found a door!" she yelled, but she was being drowned out by all the fighting.
Happy noticed Lucy waving her arms around. "Hey, I think Lucy's trying to say something." He told a still battling Natsu.
"Oh yeah? What's she saying?"
"Warren, can you link everyone together with your telepathy?" Erza asked in a commanding tone, overhearing Natsu & Happy's conversation.
"Yeah, just give me a second." He began to focus his energy as Erza kept the enemies away from him. "Alright I got it."
Ok everyone, we're now all linked with Warren's telepathy. She broadcasted to all the members of the guild while they fought. Lucy, what did you find?
What? Lucy thought surprised before realizing what was going on. Oh yeah I did, sorry I'm still not used to this talking with my mind thing. I found a door here by the back wall, I think it might lead to the top floors of the tower.
That must be where Oracion Seis is hiding. Levy deduced as she dodged a magical attack.
FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST.Well what are we waiting for? Let's go up there and kick their ass. Natsu thought anxious as he punch a group of dark wizards.
No. Erza shut him down. We need a plan this time. She requipped into her red and yellow hakama pants and continued to fight. There are only 6 of them so we don't need everyone going up at once. Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Wendy, Gajeel, Aura, & I will go. Everyone else stay here and continue fighting, make sure no one follows us. Erza delegated.
Right! Everyone shouted telepathically, fully accepting of the mission plan. Erza then raced towards Lucy's position, the rest of her squad following her lead.
"Alright!" Natsu yelled excitedly as he burst through the crowd.
"Heh, finally I get to test my training." Gajeel said pounding his fist into his palm and heading towards the door.
Be careful Gajeel. Levy thought to herself concerned.
Juvia watched Gray race off as well. Come back safe.
Wendy tried to move but she found herself surrounded by dark wizards. "Oh no, I'm not going to meet up with the others." Suddenly the crowd began to fly in all different directions, surprising the young girl. She then saw a woman approaching her and a smile graced her face.
"Aura!"
"What are you doing playing around with these losers Wendy? We have a job to do." The red haired girl teased.
"Right." Wendy nodded. "Let's go."
The assembled Fairy Tail members so rendezvoused with Lucy by the door, all of them with confident smiles on their faces. Natsu slammed his flame fist into his palm, what are we waiting for? Let's go!
He punched the wooden door, turning it into ashes and peeked his head inside. Sure enough there was a staircase. "Hey guys, there are stairs here."
"Just like Levy said. Come on, we have to go." Erza led the charge as the others followed her up the stairs. Lucy was soon the last one to go up.
"Where do you think you're going girlie?" Lucy turned around to see a group of dark wizards behind her, each of them out for blood.
"You ain't goin anywhere princess. You're staying right down here with us." One of them said with a sly smile.
"Now that's no way to talk to a lady." A voice called as a glowing figure appeared between Lucy and her would be attackers.
The glow began to fade and a smile appeared on the Celestial wizard's face. "Loke!"
"Hey beautiful." He said with a smile as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "You didn't expect me to stay out of this fight did ya?"
Lucy smiled at her friend, "No I guess I didn't."
"Hey who the hell is this guy?" one of the dark wizards yelled in an agitated tone.
"Isn't that Loke?"
"I used my own power to get here so you should be able to fight with no problem. Now go with Erza and the others, I'll hold the door and make sure no one follows."
Lucy smiled softly, "Thank you Loke." She then ran through the door and up the staircase after the others.
Once Lucy was gone, Loke turned his attention to the crowd in front of him. "Now, let me show you guys what happens when you mistreat a beautiful woman."
…
Lucy soon joined the others as the continued ascend the staircase. "Where were you?" Natsu questioned.
"Sorry, some guys stalled me, but Loke is handling it."
"You summoned Loke?"
"No he came here on his own, so I should still have a lot of my magic power."
"I see the door to the next floor." Erza said pointing a little ways ahead of the group. They reached it and burst through the door, to their collective surprise the room was empty.
"There's no one here." Wendy stated as she looked around.
"Nonetheless be on your guard, they could be waiting to ambush us." Erza warned as the group began to make their way across the seemingly barren floor. About half way across the room Lucy spotted another door in the corner. "Hey look another door, it must go further up." She ran towards it but Gajeel smelled something was off.
"Something doesn't smell right here."
Erza's eyes widened when she noticed the rocks on floor cracking. "Lucy!" She yelled causing the blonde to turn around confused.
BOOM! The spot where Lucy was standing began to depress as if someone heavy had stepped there. The dust settled but Lucy was nowhere in sight.
"Lucy!" Natsu yelled, but received no answer.
"Lucy where are you!" Wendy yelled afraid.
*cough* *cough* the group turned to see Lucy behind them coughing because of the dust in her lungs, she was being held by Aura.
"Thanks Aura." Lucy said with a weak smile as the wine haired wizard helped her stand.
"Thank goodness you're alright." Erza said relieved as the rest of the group ran over to the pair.
"What was that?" Gray asked looking back at the wreckage. "A trap?"
"I don't know." Erza answered, "But we should-"
"Damn, I thought for sure that was going to hit you guys." A silver voice called from the dust as the members of Fairy Tail got onto their guard. As the figure emerged from the dwindling cloud, Erza and Natsu's eyes widened with surprise.
A man now appeared before them, his white hair slicked back revealing his rather sizeable forehead. His oblong face accented by his square jaw and his eyes were a deep shade of blue. He was easily as tall as Elfman, but that may have been attributed to the boots he was wearing which increased his height by a few inches. His long arms both muscular as if he spent all day doing push-ups, his right forearm was adorned by Oracion Seis' emblem, the mark also on the front his beige shirt which was cut off at the sleeves and on the leg of his slacks.
"Hey you're that guy we fought in Auron!" Natsu yelled.
"Nice to see you remember-"
"Sparrow!"
The man's face turned blank before he snapped back to reality. "My name is Cardinal you idiot!" he yelled at the Dragon Slayer.
"So you're a member of Oracion Seis." Erza said gripping her sword ignoring their exchange.
"You guessed right. I was on what you call a tryout when we fought in Auron." Cardinal said with a sly smirk. "You're looking fine as ever Titania."
"Scoundrel."
"Ah you wound me madam." Cardinal said sarcastically as he placed on his hand on the spot where one's heart normally is. "Just for that I can't let you pass. Midnight's got some big things planned and I can't let you guys mess them up."
"We don't have time for this." Gajeel said irritated, "Let's just beat this moron and go."
"No, you all go on ahead." Erza said plainly "I'll fight him."
"But Erza we can get this done quicker if we a fight him together." Lucy pointed out.
"But in turn we would be wasting our time if we all stayed. I assume this was their plan from the start, stalling us by making us fight each of them on the floors. That's why I picked 7 of us to go, that way at least 2 of us would make it to the top floor."
"But it makes more sense, if you were at the top." Gray commented.
"It doesn't matter who makes it there, as long we all can join them later. So go!" she commanded, the group reluctantly leaving her and going to the door. Lucy stayed behind.
"But Erza in your condition, you should have one stay behind and-"
"I'll be fine Lucy. I'll finish this quickly." The blonde simply nodded and reluctantly followed the others.
"Where do you think you're going?" Cardinal said with a smirk as he extended his hand to the group.
"Eyes front!" Erza yelled rushing Cardinal, now in her black wing armor. Cardinal managed to block the attack by catching her blade as Erza looked defiantly into his eyes. "Your opponent is me."
…
The remaining group ascended up the next flight of stairs. "I think one of should go back and help Erza." Lucy said worriedly as they approached the next door.
"She knows what she's doing." Gajeel said earnestly.
"Yeah but-"
"If we go back then that means we don't trust Erza to get the job done. She'll be back, I know it." Natsu said not looking back.
Natsu.
"Here's the next door. I wonder who's behind this one." Gray said as he opened it. The group walked through it and were surprised to see a very spacious blue and white bed room with a chandelier in the middle of it.
"Is this someone's room?" Lucy asked looking around.
"If it is they have a pretty unique taste." Aura commented looking around at the various paintings of birds adorning the walls.
"I think it's pretty." Wendy said with a smile.
"Finally, I was beginning to think you guys would never make it." A honeyed voice called from the ceiling.
Everyone looked up to see a woman swoop down from the top of the bedroom. The woman sat on the bed across from them and crossed her legs as she laid back on her hands and an alluring smile on her face.
Lucy's eyes widened as she recognized the white haired woman. "Angel."
Angel laughed aloud. "Nice to know I wasn't forgotten by you blondie. Tell me, how are the spirits you stole from me?" She mocked.
"They came of their own free will!" Lucy yelled back. "You didn't deserve to be a Celestial wizard."
"Whatever." Angel scoffed, "I have better magic now anyway." Her hand began to glow as three golden coins floated from her palm.
"What is that?" Lucy asked slightly frightened and astonished.
"Just some a new type of holder magic I came across after you defeated us last time." She said ominously.
Lucy stepped forward to face her "Well fine if you want a rematch I'll-"
"No." Gray cut her off.
"Gray."
"We need you to save your strength and cast that sealing spell if they free that Draven guy." He explained. "You shouldn't waste your time on her."
"But one of us needs to stay behind and fight her, otherwise she won't let us leave." Lucy pointed out.
"I'll stay." Wendy said confidently stepping forward.
"Wendy?" Lucy said surprised, "But-"
"I want to be helpful to everyone. Erza stayed behind so I'll stay and fight too." She looked back at her friends. "Don't worry."
"Wendy."
"We'll leave it to you then." Gray grabbed Lucy and followed the others towards the door. "Don't lose."
Wendy smiled until her friends were gone, she then turned her attention back towards Angel.
"They left the little girl to fight me?" she said mockingly, "How weak do they think I am?"
Wendy's energy began to swell, slightly whisking the things in the room and catching the attention of Angel. Wendy shot her a determined look. "Don't underestimate me because I'm small. I'm a dragon slayer too."
…
The reaming five opened the next door atop the next flight of stairs and emerged into what looked like a casino floor room, filled with roulette machines and other games.
"Wow this is awesome!" Natsu yelled excited as he looked at all of the set pieces and played the slot machine.
"Stay focused doofus!" Gray yelled, "We don't have time to play games. There's probably another Oracion Seis member in here."
"Fine." Natsu sulked and stepped away from the machine.
This place seems kind of familiar. Aura thought as she looked around the room.
"Hunh." A gruff voice grunted with a slightly surprised tone. "I certainly wasn't expecting to see you so early…Arana."