Ice Dragon Slayer/Chapter 6: Thunder Palace

Kardia Cathedral
"So, Erza's been revived and Mystogan has returned..." Laxus said as he looked at the runes above him. "Counting me, that make three of Fairy Tail's top wizards going head to head. Well, can't have a proper festival without a main event, can you?"
----With Erza
The red head ran down the streets, looking for any of the four usurpers. "Erza, what are you doing in that getup?" A townsperson asked, making her stop.
"We saw some of your guild mates earlier." Another said. "Think you could ask them not to wreck the town?"
"Please, forgive them." Erza begged. "They're just preparing for the big parade."
"What does that have to do with fighting?" The first asked.
"Trust me, it will be a good show." Erza said.
"Okay, I'll take your word." He gave her a thumbs up and she continued her run before jumping back as spears flew down from the sky, exploded on the ground."
"Well, that's odd." Erza looked up at Evergreen with a scowl. "If I'm right, I turned you into a pigeon magnet. Well, it doesn't matter. This give me an excuse to further torment you."
"You want to fight me, Evergreen?" Erza asked.
"You really irritate me." The brunette said back. "Calling yourself Titania, Queen of the fairies." She opened her fan over her mouth. "What a farce. I am the only Fairy Queen." She flipped over a sign on the building, allowing dust to fall off her. "Fairy Bomb: Gremlin!"
The dust exploded and Erza jumped out of the explosion, a sword in each hand. She swung at Evergreen who flew out of the way, letting the red head slice through a steel smokestack. Both landed on opposite buildings and glared at each other.
"We have a score to settle." Evergreen said.
"This saves me the trouble of hunting you down." Erza said back before launching forward. "The sooner I beat you, the sooner everyone will be turned back to normal!"
"Careful, overconfidence is a dangerous thing." Evergreen lifted her glasses and activated her Stone Eyes.
"Not this time!" Erza shouted as she swung her swords and Evergreen flipped back.
"So that repulsive false eye of yours actually does something?" The brunette asked as she summoned her wings. "Then let see how you like this." She crossed her arms as allege amounts of dust surrounded the limbs. "Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!" She swung her arms and beams of dust launched at Erza who effortlessly dodged them.
She swung her swords again but Evergreen jumped out of the way, leading Erza on a chase as she avoided more shots. "You've managed to dodge all those needles, I'm impressed." The flying brunettes began to glow in the same light as her dust. "But let's see you dodge twice that much!" She doubled her needles and Erza struggled to block them.
Evergreen laughed as the shots tore Erza's dress and leggings. "From this day forward, I shall be called Titania! I am the one true fairy!"
Erza jumped off the roof and removed her boots with her magic, summoning swords in between her toes. Slicing through the shots with all four blades, she threw her foot blades and pinned Evergreen against a stone stack. "You may be intolerable, but you're still a member of Fairy Tail." Erza said as she landed. "I shall honor that. If you want to call yourself Titania, go ahead. I don't even know how I got that name in the first place."
Evergreen glared at Erza with pure rage. "If you stop this ridiculousness and return the others to normal, then no harm will come to you."
"A little naive, aren't you?" Evergreen chuckled. "My Stone Eyes have one more power, you know.. Erza walked forward uninterested in what Evergren was saying. "Remote control." Those two words made her stop. "Drop to your knees and bow to me! If not, I'll use my eyes to topple your statues and shatter them!"
Erza stood wide before she activated her Requip. Evergreen smiled until the glow died and Erza was in her Heaven' Wheel armor with about a hundred swords pointed at her. "I'm impressed. If you feel that winning or losing is more important than your own life, then so be it. In taking your life, I will avenge the souls of the other girls."
Evergreen stared flabbergasted before she screamed in fear. Erza walked work are and punched her in the face. "...And that, is how you do a real bluff."
"Alright... You win..." Evergreen conceded, muffled under Erza's fist.
----Guildhall
The statue of Lucy shattered, freeing her from her prison. One by one, the other girls were freed as well, all confused.
"They're back to normal!" Natsu cheered.
"What's going on?" Sarah asked after returning to normal.
The runes popped up in front of the guild entrance. "Erza vs Evergreen, the winner is Erza!" Makarov's read with joy. "Sorry, Laxus. No more hostages. Can't keep this game going now, can you?"
----Kardia Cathedral
"You've failed me..." The blonde growled as he looked at the runes in front of him. "I put my faith in you and this is what happens? When the hell did you become weaker than Erza?"
"Erza is stronger than you think." Freed said from behind. "You should have sent me or Bickslow after her."
"Why are you here instead of fighting out there?" Laxus asked without turning around.
"Because the game is over." Freed explained. "We cannot force the masters hand if we no longer have any hostages." Laxus turned and glared at the greenette as an arc of lighting shot by, tearing the ground up.
"This isn't over yet." Lightning shot off the blondes headphones. "If you don't want to follow me, then get lost. My Fairy Tail has no need for weaklings."
----Guildhall
"The battle of Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked after the slayers and Makarov explained the situation.
"He's really out done himself now." Cana added from behind.
"That doesn't matter anymore because it's over." Makarov said. "Now that you've all been de-petrified, Laxus can't keep this ridiculous game going anymore."
"Master, we can't let him get away with hurting our friends." Mirajane somberly said.
"She's right!" Bisca shouted. "If we don't teach him a lesson, what's to stop him for doing this again!?"
"We need to pay him back for this." Drake insisted.
"Oh, don't worry about that." The master chuckled. "I'll give him a punishment he'll never forget. He should know better. Messing with me is fine, but don't ever mess with my guild."
"Hold on a second." Natsu spoke up. "I don't know about taking hostages, but I don't see any harm in finding out whose the strongest." The girls just stared blankly at him. "In the end, I bet he was just trying to have some fun for the festival. Give him a break."
'I don't know what I'm gonna do with you, Natsu...' The older wizard thought.
"So, in other words, let's stop talk and let's start brawling!" He cheered. "We got enough people here! Let's start round two!"
"What?" Bisca, Lucy, and Levy shouted in shock.
"Not a chance, nincompoop!" Makarov shouted.
"Come on! I have to do something with all this pent up energy." Natsu begged as he shadowed boxed in front of Lucy.
"Coming from you, I can't tell if it's a joke or not." Lucy huffed.
"You wanna fight, bring it on, Natsu." Nicholas suggested.
"I think I've had enough fighting for one day." Bisca huffed.
"Natsu, you shouldn't pick on girls." Happy said. "Especially when their your friends."
"Guys, girls, friend, foe, I don't care." Natsu shrugged his shoulders before he started chasing after Lucy. "Come on, Lucy! Let's go for it!"
"Leave me alone..." She begged as the other girls and Nicholas laughed at the sight.
Juvia looked over and noticed the serious look on Gajeel's face. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing..." He said back.
"This guild is rather fun, isn't it?" She asked, trying to get a response.
"I'm just glad it ain't boring." He huffed back.
Mirajane looked at the door and noticed the runes were red and flying off the wall. "What's going on?"
"Great, he's not done yet." Cana complained. The runes floated above them and took the form of a giant skull.
"Can you hear me old man?" Laxus' voice boomed out of the creation, making his grandfather gasp. "The rest of you better listen up too."
"What do you want?" Drake glared at the voice.
"One of the rules has been thrown out the window." The voice continued. "That's fine. I'll just add a new one. Since I would hate to end the battle of Fairy Tail early, I've decided to activate the Thunder Palace..
"You what!?" Makarov shouted. "Are you out of your mind!?"
"You've got one hour and ten minutes left." Laxus ignored the shout and continued. "Better get moving if you wanna win, unless you wanna hand the guild over to me, 'master'." With a sick laugh, the skull exploded and the runes dissipated.
"This game has gone on for long enough, boy!" Makarov shouted enraged. "I won't let drag innocent people into this!" Suddenly, he grabbed his heart, confusing everyone.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked as the old man fell to the floor.
"I'll get his medicine." Mirajane said as she ran up the stairs. The others surrounded him in concern.
"What is this Thunder Palace supposed to be anyway?" Sarah asked.
"Guys, look outside!" Mirajane shouted as she came back, medicine in hand. The other ran to the balcony and looked out at orbs of lacrima floating over the city.
"Just what are those?" Natsu asked.
"Lightning lacrima, maybe..." Levy said.
"That means Laxus did this." Cana explained.
"They're floating all over the town?" Lucy asked. "Why?"
"Every one of those lacrima crystals are overflowing with lightning magic." Cana continued. "Let's just hope he doesn't set them off."
"I'm guessing that's a bad thing." Drake assumed.
"You don't know how bad." The drunkard said. "If he sets those things off, the town will be engulfed by a storm of lightning strike. He'll blow Magnolia off the map."
"I'm not gonna let that happen!" Bisca shouted as she summoned her rifle. "I'll take them all out from here."
"Wait. This looks familiar. We've encountered something like this in the past while we were being hunted." The Ice Dragon Slayer held his hand out to stop her from firing. "If I'm right, those orbs are protected by a Living Link spell."
"Living Link?" The greenette asked.
"Any shot fired at it would be redirected as lightning." Drake explained.
"So we can't even take them out!?" Levy shouted annoyed. "What do we do?"
"We have to take down Laxus!" Cana declared.
"In the meantime, me and Bisca will help the citizens evacuate." Lucy declared before they ran down the stairs.
"I'm coming too!" Happy added.
"Bickslow and Freed are still out there, so be careful!" Cana shouted before following them and Juvia followed her.
The slayers growled up at the orbs, unhappy with their current situation. "This was fun and games at first, but now you've crossed the line!" Natsu shouted as he jumped over the railing, and slammed into the same wall at the door. "Coward! If you wanna be master so bad, then come here and fight gramps for it!"
Natsu slammed his head into the wall, trying to break out. "When I get out of here, you're gonna pay for this!"
"Calm down!" Levy shouted.
"How do you expect me to do that!?" Natsu shouted.
"You can't punch your way out of this!" Levy explained.
"Stupid invisible walls are everywhere!" Natsu complained as he gave it one final kick.
"Its an enchantment, right?" The bluenette asked.
"We knew that already." Gajeel said from the side.
"That's a form of script magic." She continued. "I might be able to do something about this spell."
"Good to know. Get it done, please." Drake told her.
"Fine, but when I do, you three better take down Laxus." She huffed.
----Kardia Cathedral
Laxus laughed as he thought of his grandfathers reaction. "How do you like that, old fart? Now the whole population of this town is my hostage!"
"I think you're taking this too far..." Freed said.
"Too far, huh?" The blonde chuckled. "I decide how far is too far. This is a fight to the bitter end! It won't be over until one side is completely wiped out!"
"We can still win." Freed said, trying to calm Laxus down. "We don't need hostages. Please, stop this."
"What are you still doing here?" Laxus asked. "Shouldn't you be out there hunting Fairies with Bickslow? The old man is counting on Erza, so I'll deal with her. The same goes for Mystogan. So you get out there and take out Cana, the criminal, and that phantom bitch. I don't need them in my Fairy Tail. Feel free to kill them."
"Kill them?!" Freed asked in shock. "Even if they're our enemies, we're still in the same-"
"When I give you an order, you'd better do what I say!" Laxus shouted. Freed starred in horror as he let out a sigh.
"If that is the path we must take, then so be it." He said. "There's no turning back at this point. As you wish, I'll follow you, no matter where that goes." Laxus glared at him as the greenette turned around. "If you want me to kill them, than I will. But their blood is on your hands, not mine."
Laxus smiled as Freed walked to the door. "That's a good little lapdog. Freed the Dark, its time to show them your real power."
----Guildhall
Makarov laid on the infirmary bed unconscious as Levy knelt on the floor, surrounded by books. "If I break down logue letter sequence data into basic component blocks, then pinpoint the terms used to make up the rules... I get L, O, S, U. Now if I can break that into guile grammar..."
"You got any idea what she's saying?" Gajeel nudged Drake.
"No I don't."
"Wait, that's it! The L and S are just bluffs! Then the keycode must be ARS!"
"Uh, okay..." They said back.
She turned back to her work and brushed some hair from her eyes. "Don't worry, I almost got it. I'm gonna get you guys out of here."
"It's no big deal to me." Gajeel huffed.
"It is to me." She looked up and the two locked eyes. "You have to stop Laxus." A crackling sound drew their attention as Natsu slammed his head against the rune wall.
"Let me out..." He growled.
----With Cana and Juvia
"Damn it! Where could he be!?" Cana complained as the two looked around the city.
"Is there somewhere in town with a sentimental value to him?" The rain woman asked.
"Well, we've known each other for years... But with the way he's been acting, it's like he's closed off his heart." Cana confessed.
----With Lucy and Bisca
"Why can't we just warn everyone over the guild's loudspeaker?" Happy asked as he walked on the railing next to the two.
"There's an enchantment on that will only let the master use it if he chooses to surrender to Laxus." Lucy explained.
"Those guy's really thought of everything." Bisca complained as they looked out over the edge.
"Either way, we still need to warn people about this mess." Lucy added.
"Yeah, that might not be the best idea." Bisca said.
"Why do say that?" The blonde asked.
"Well, thanks to the festival, there are tons of people visiting from other towns and this place is really busy." The greenette explained. "If we tell them, it would cause a panic and more people might get hurt."
"Okay, but still, what should we do?" The blonde mumbled as she started to think.
"Yeah. What should we do? What will you do!?" Three totems asked as they floated behind and surprised Lucy.
"Lucy, move!" Bisca shouted as Happy lifted them both out of the of lasers the dolls fired.
"What are those things!?" Lucy shouted in a panic.
"Bickslow's puppets!" Bisca shouted as the two landed on the roof.
"Lucy, you need to lose some weight." Happy complained.
"Shut up cat!" The blonde shouted.
"Am I interrupting something?" The three looked up as Bickslow landed on the roof of a toy shop. "So you're the newbie everyone's talking about."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Lucy asked back.
"Just that you're into whips, playing dress up, and bossing people around." He chuckled back.
"They make me sound like a pervert!" Lucy shouted in disgust.
"So, now you're supposed to be a cheerleader?" Bickslow asked as his dolls ogled her.
"This is just..." She mumbled.
"Alright babies, take them out!" His dolls obeyed and fired their lasers at the group. "Too bad. You know, I should go easy on you're both smoking hot, but seeing as we're in the middle of a war, losing is not an option."
"Do you really think the master is gonna let you get away with this!?" Bisca shouted.
"Makarov can go suck it, for all I care!" He shouted back. "Once this game is finished, Laxus will be calling the shots!"
The dolls fired more shots and they rolled out of the way. "Alright, those things are really annoying." Lucy complained as she pulled out a key. "Open, Gate of the Archer - Sagittarius!" The spirit appeared and saluted her.
"You know, Lucy, this isn't gonna help with that 'not being a pervert' campaign." Bisca said.
"I didn't make him wear this!" She shouted back. "Look, just focus on taking out those things!" She ordered her spirit.
"With please." The spirit drew his bow, only to have the doll shot before he fire.
"Sorry, but this is my specialty." Bisca said, holding her rifle.
"We shall see..." He fired his bow and hit another.
"No, my babies!" Bickslow wept as the rest were destroyed. "First you get frozen, and now this!? It's not right! It's not fair!"
"Not a bad shot, horse boy." Bisca said.
"Thank you, my lady." He bowed. "So, ready to give up?"
Bickslow smiled at the spirit. "Psych!" A beam fired from nowhere and Sagittarius pushed Bisca out of the way, taking the beam himself.
"No!" Lucy shouted.
"Sorry, but I must skedaddle back to the spirit world..." He groaned before he vanished in a flicker of light.
"This isn't just a toy store, it's an armory." Bickslow said as five toys floated up. "You can destroy my dolls as many times as you want, but it's not gonna stop the souls I control."
"What's he talking about?" Lucy asked as Bisca tried to shot Bickslow.
"He control souls and put them into objects." The greenette summarized as Bickslow dodged the shots.
"Alright, let's try-" She reached for her keys and a doll snatched them away. "Hey, give those back!"
"I got them!" Happy flew into the air and chased the doll, only to have another kick him in the face."
"That's right." Bisca mumbled as she lined up the shot. "Fly into my crosshairs, you overgrown building blocks." She pulled her trigger, and the gun flipped over and whacked her on the head. "Oh, come on! Not my rifle too!?"
"Sorry, not!" Bickslow mocked as the gun knocked her into Lucy sending the both to the ground. "No escape for you now. Don't worry, I'm sure Laxus will put your souls to good use. Baryon Formation!" The dolls and gun spun in a circle, creating a giant beam that shot at the two.
"Run!" Happy shouted as a figure ran over and grabbed the both of them and carried them out of the way.
"Now, I wonder why it could be?" The figure asked, making both girls look up. "It looks like I alone have the power to pass through the gate whether you call me or not. Maybe it's because the borders between our worlds crumble at the power of our love."
"Okay, that was cheesy." Bisca said as she stood up.
"Yeah, don't joke around like that." Lucy added.
"Wait, you're-!" Bickslow shouted. "Loki!"
"So it's time for me to fulfill my promise?" The spirit asked as he cracked his knuckles.
"Well, I'll be... You really were a Celestial Spirit after all." Bickslow chuckled. "I've kept your secret all this time and this is the thanks I get?"
"Wait, how did he know?" Lucy asked.
"He has the ability to see souls as well as control them." Happy explained.
"So now the spirit wants to join the battle of Fairy Tail, is that right?" Bickslow asked.
"Honestly, I don't care about Laxus, this battle or any of your crap." Like said back. "The only reason I'm here is to protect Lucy. Hurting her is the one thing I can't forgive!"
"Can't forgive!? That rich!" Bickslow chuckled. "Are you forgetting that you haven't beaten me once?! Hell, I was going easy on you, cub. Babies, lets remind him of the old day!" His dolls obeyed and flew over.
"You stay back, Lucy." Loke ordered.
"Not a chance!" Lucy pulled out her whip and held it taunt. "Any decent Celestial wizard treat their spirits as partners, not shields!"
"And I'm not gonna let my friends fight with out me!" Bisca added as she summoned two shotguns.
The three smiled at each other as Happy watched. "Cute couple..."
"We are not!" Lucy shouted back as the dolls fired their lasers, forcing them both to dodge.
"I'll handle these toys!" Loke shouted. "Once I've made an opening, go for Bickslow!"
"Got it!" Lucy nodded.
"Regulus, lend me your strength!" Loke chanted as he bathed in a golden light. He pulled back his first and destroyed all the dolls at once.
"He punched them with a lion of light!" Happy cheered.
"Just give up." Bickslow teased. "You can't punch a soul! I can just move them over to something else. In fact..." He glanced down at Bisca and her guns were pulled out of her hands. They floated behind Bickslow where they joined the rifle and two new dolls before they floated over to Lucy.
Loke got in front of her and destroyed the toys as the guns floated out of the way. "Then I guess I'll just have to keep breaking them!"
"Come on, Happy!" Lucy shouted as he picked her up and floated her over to Bickslow.
"Of course, your guns are a lot tougher than toys." Loke said to Bisca as she summoned her machine guns. "And some how a lot more faster. This isn't gonna be easy."
"Wait, I have an idea." Bisca said as the guns in her hand were possessed and whacked her.
Lucy pulled back and swung her whip, forcing Bickslow to jump back.
"Feisty, little cheerleader, ain't ya?" He teased, angering Lucy as she landed.
"Lucy, go ahead and take him out!" Loke shouted as he was surrounded by the guns. "You're stronger than him!"
"Say that to my face, I dare ya!" Bickslow shouted as Lucy whipped his face.
"No more playing around..." He growled. "Give me a Victory Formation!" Lucy panicked and waited for the weapons to come but nothing happened. "What the?" Bickslow looked around confused. "Where are my babies?!"
"Not here anymore!" Bisca shouted as Loke landed with her. "They might be your souls, but they're still MY weapons. So I just put them back where they belonged: my storage dimension!"
"What!?" Bickslow shouted angered.
"Since you didn't pull them out, the souls are stuck in there until I say so." Bisca bragged.
"Good looks and a brain." Loke added. "I can see why Alzack likes you." Lucy swung her whip and hit Bickslow in the face again.
"Crap, guess it's time for the big guns..." He reached for his mask and pulled down his hood, showing his blue hair and a shikigami tattoo on his face. "Figure Eyes!"
"No body look at them!" Happy order as the four covered their eyes. "Every member of the Thunder Leigon has a magic they can use with their eyes! Evergreen can turn people into stone, but if you look at Bickslow's, he'll turn you into a doll and control your soul!"
"Not good." Lucy said.
"So the cats the smart one, huh?" Bickslow chuckled with a sick grin. He launched forward and started pummeling the group. "Even without my babies, I'm still tougher than any of you. And with all the pain you're in, it won't belong until one of you opens your eyes! I'll have myself a brand new baby in no time!"
"So what do we do!?" Lucy asked.
"Bisca, any other tricks up your sleeve!?" Loke asked.
"Just one, but it might not work!" She shouted.
"We don't have much of a choice!" He shouted back. "When I give the signal, use that ace and Lucy, open your eyes and attack him!"
"But I thought that was a bad thing!?" The blonde asked.
"Just trust me!" He shouted, making the blonde nodded. "Bisca, now!"
The gunner summoned a pistol and fired. "Flash Bang!" An explosion of light blinded Bickslow, letting Lucy open her eyes and tie him up with her whip.
"There's no way... I'm losing to you..." He said as he struggled to break free.
"I'm not the same as I used to be." Loke said walking forward, glowing in an aura of light. "Since I've met Lucy, my true power of a Celestial Spirit has return. I'm stronger than I ever was before. We spirits are not like those ridiculous puppets you keep! Love is what makes us strong!" He summoned a seal and a lion of light shout out of it. "Regulus Impact!" The lion hit Bickslow and sent him flying into town, defeated.
"Kapow!" Happy cheered.
"Thanks, Loke." Lucy said to her Spirit.
"I did it for this." He raided his hand and the words 'I Love Lucy' shined off his ring.
"When's the wedding?" Bisca teased.
"Shut up..." Lucy sat down exhausted. "I am so beat..."
"Yeah, me too." Bisca added.
"Opening up two zodiac gates would take a lot out of someone." Happy nodded. "Same with summoning all that weaponry, even if it just got possessed.
Loke leaned down and handed Lucy her keys. "I'll be there any time you need me."
"Thanks..." Lucy said.
"It's not like that!"