2/2

"Lady, giving up isn't in my vocabulary, neither is amphibology, for different reasons!" Nic proclaimed. He shot out of there with Aqua Jet and went straight up, putting some distance in between.

"Hydro Pump!" Nic then created a mirror of water that unleashed a large volume of water that went at Juvia. Juvia then made her counterattack as the Hydro Pump came at her.

"Water Nebula!" She then created two columns of water and they rotated around each other, forming a giant helix. Juvia then unleashed the helix at the Hydro Pump and the two attacks had collided. The two eventually cancelled each other out. Nic landed on the ground, but was short lived as he was blasted with an aquatic beam at blinding speed. Nic yelped as the attack pressed onwards and he slammed into a cart and smashed right through it and finished with a massive thud.

Nic laid there and tried to relieve his pain, but he was repeatedly stricken by Juvia's onslaught of Water Canes. She pounded and lashed at him consecutively. Nic grunted as he got up while being lashed at. He wasn't taking much damage from the lashing since the Splash Plate was active, but the attacks were still too overbearing.

"Lady…you've…left me…no choice." Nic growled, making Juvia stop her attack in curiosity.

"How so?" she asked. The rain was still coming down and the battle was intensifying.

"I didn't want to use this, but I can see that I'm going to have to short cut my way through this fight." Nic said, grasping his arm from the lashing he had sustained. He then shifted into the Zap Plate, making Juvia recoil from said transformation.

Juvia didn't know what to do next. What could he possibly do? There was only one way to find out. She then used Water Slicer, but Nic easily dodged by ducking. He then showed his power of electricity and he shot forth a Thunderbolt at her.

Juvia tried to counter with a Water Nebula, but the water only conducted the electricity, making it trace back to Juvia. Since her body was water as well, she conducted the entire Thunderbolt. She screamed as the electricity was so painful. She fell to her knees and Nic approached.

Juvia looked up and used her Water Beam to keep Nic away, but that wasn't the best move to use.

"Thunderbolt!" Nic, once again, used his Thunderbolt attack and he shocked Juvia, making her Water Beam useless. Juvia slowly got back up and started shaking. She was boiling with such rage. Nic could feel the rain intensify as she was starting to show off some steam. She gradually turned into water and then began to charge at Nic.

"You're not beating me! Never! Sierra!" She shot up in the air and then lunged at Nic from an angle, flying in and coming at him with a scalding body of water. "Graaahhhh!"

Nic stood perfectly still. He knew how this was going to end, but he had to follow through with it regardless. Nic just glared as he saw Juvia come at him.

"I call upon the powers of the Zap Plate to finish my foe and relinquish her from my sight. Let it be known that the power of electricity can surge through the violent torrents of cruelty and shock them to their senses!" Nic then had a large thundercloud over the battle and then lightning surged about.

"You're finished!" Juvia shouted.

"Thunder!"

Nic then unleashed a huge thunderbolt down on Juvia at high speed. She was only five feet away when the bolt had struck her. As the powerful bolt rained down on her, she screamed in agony. She felt every nerve in her body give in after being exposed to so much power.

Juvia fell to the ground with a thud. The Thunder attack ceased and Nic stared down at the barely conscious Juvia. She was back to being solid rather than her Water Body. Nic knew Juvia couldn't get up after such a devastating blast.

With one opponent out for the count, Nic then looked to see that Staraptor was still doing battle with Sol. He was well aware of how stubborn Staraptor is, so having himself thrown into the mess wouldn't make things better.

'Staraptor's got this.' Nic thought. He was simply respecting his pokémon as she continue her quarrel with Sol.

Sol adjusted his monocle, seeing Juvia defeated. He shrieked in horror.

"Non, non, non! C'est impossible! Ma accomplice has been defeated!" Sol shrieked. "Tres mal! This is not good!" He then looked and saw Staraptor using Aerial Ace again, and Sol took the hit and skid back a few feet. He got down to one knee, exhausted from his quarrel with Staraptor.

Staraptor flapped in place and glared Sol down, of whom was now shaking from being intimidated by his adversary.

"So tell me, is that the best that you can do?" Staraptor asked, quite unimpressed by Sol's efforts. Sol took offense to said question and got back to his feet.

Sol bend his body. "My, my, what a predicament that I am in, non? Well mademoiselle, you est tres formidable. I shall reward you with my most powerful spell." He then made a seal in front of him, which was rather large. This got Staraptor on edge.

"Take this! Platre Sonata!" A large clenched fist that was made of plaster then went soaring straight into Staraptor. She saw the fist coming at her with such velocity that she was narrowed down to only a few options.

Her most obvious choice, and most common, was taking the hit. She extended her talons and blocked the attack with her legs. The fist went flying at her with such strength that it pushed her back with ease. She grunted as she pressed on with extending her talons so that her entire body doesn't suffer. With what she could manage, she used the momentum and grabbed two fingers with her talons and she mustered up every bit of strength to send it flying past her with a summersault. The fist exploded when it was only twenty feet away from her. She huffed and puffed, tired from the amount of strength that she had to conjure up. She was lucky that the attack didn't explode right in front of her; otherwise, she'd be a fried chicken.

"That…took a bit of…effort." Staraptor admitted, trying to regain her breathing. She looked down and saw Sol using Roche Concerto yet again. With no time, she used Double Team and managed to avoid the attack.

"You are looking rather drained, now let me finish you!" Sol then used Roche Concerto one more time, and rocks flew up and Staraptor managed to avoid it once again, only to have all of the illusionary copies destroyed.

Staraptor was just about finished, she sought to end it with her most powerful attack. She flew down at an angle and dived right into Sol. Sol countered with his Platre Sonata, sending another large plastered fist into Staraptor. She dodged with a twirl around the fist and she came at Sol at high speed.

"Non! Je suis in big trouble!" Sol was shuddering as Staraptor was in front of his face, almost making him wet himself.

"Close Combat!" Staraptor then unleashed a massive barrage of wing strikes, talon strikes, beak strikes, all repeatedly slaming and bashing Sol like a punching bag. Sol gagged and yelped after every consecutive strike, unable to process a single strike until another two or three are delivered with more force.

After a repeated beating, Staraptor gave it one final strike with her wing and Sol soared into the earth, all battered and broken. Sol laid there for a few moments before slowly moving his body and crawling. Staraptor flapped in place and saw Sol slowly crawl over towards Juvia, barely able to stand. Staraptor flew back to Nic's side and the two watched as Sol got Juvia and then put her arm around his shoulders to support her. Juvia was barely conscious, but had no strength.

Sol looked up and took a good look at the all mighty adversaries that bested him and Juvia. After a good long stare, Sol adjusted his monocle.

"You shall obtain this victory once more, but rest assure that we will not be laying down like this. Until then, I bid you adieu mes adversaries." Sol said. His body then slowly began to merge with the ground, taking Juvia with him for an escape. Nic and Staraptor watched as the two made their getaway and disappear by Sol's Earth Magic.

The rain then ceased, revealing the sun once more in less than ten seconds. Nic looked to see the light shining bright on him. This felt good.

Nic shifted back to normal and stood there, processing the situation.

"…why were those guys after Lucy?" Nic said, slowly remembering what they were saying. Their target was Lucy Heartfilia, an "heir" and her father wants her back. This required an explanation, and he knew just where to get one.

"Nic, I don't think things are going to get any better after this point." Staraptor stated. Nic turned to face his Pokémon. She was right. The odds were that they'll just keep coming until Lucy is finally captured. This was disturbing, but he had to focus on the situation at hand.

"…Yeah. We better be prepared for the worst…" Nic said, looking forward at the alley that they've fought in. Puddles were everywhere, reflecting the sun shining ever so brilliantly. Nic then returned Staraptor and turned around. "Time to get some answers."

The Guild Hall basement

Mira was tending to Lucy and her health. Lucy told Mira that she was fine and that Nic was handling the situation.

"Do you think Nic will be alright?" Lucy wondered, sitting in a chair at a table with Mira standing right by her.

"Hope so. Nic's strong…Lucy, who exactly were your assailants?" Mira was curious, but also concerned with whom Nic might be fighting. Lucy tried to remember. She looked up into space and tried recounting the events.

"Let's see…" Lucy was starting to piece it all together. "…I think they were Juvia, and the other guy with the French accent was Sol."

Mira gasped at this shocking development. She stepped back in shock.

"You mean two of the Element Four?!" Mira asked. Lucy looked down at the table and stare off into the unknown.

"Yeah." She paused before speaking again. "I'm not sure why Phantom wanted to kidnap me, but I all I can say is that it wouldn't be good for any of us. Not that this situation is already."

Mira turned around and looked worried. "Well, Gajeel is considered tougher than the Element Four, but even two of the Element Four should be as tricky if not tougher. I hope Nic knows what he's doing."

It was only a minute after that they heard footsteps from above. The two indicated that it could be a member of Phantom, so they had to take precaution. Lucy got up and reached for her Zodiac Keys. The two of them then proceeded to the stairs and then they heard the steps going downwards very slowly. The two were anxious, but were relieved to see Nic coming down.

"Nic!" Lucy said, glad he's still okay.

"Are you okay?" Mira asked. They got no reply as Nic was staring down the entire time at the steps that he was taking. He slowly went down, step by step, until he'd finally reached the bottom. Nic then turned around and pointed at the staircase.

"Ha! Think you could fool me twice, well think again! I have triumphed over you!" Nic proclaimed, not forgetting the last time when he came down the stairs. "I told you you've made a powerful enemy!"

The two girls looked on, dumbfounded that Nic was yelling at the steps. After a bit of gawking at Nic's stupid rivalry with a staircase, the two proceeded towards him.

"Uh, Nic?" Mira got his attention. He looked up and turned around to see Lucy and Mira staring at him in disbelief.

"Uhhh…hi." Nic said, getting back to reality. He noticed that besides Levy and the two injured in the hospital, Lucy, Mira, and himself were the only ones who stayed behind as the rest of the entire guild went to fight and kick booties.

"Are okay Nic?" Lucy asked. She notice that Nic was a little banged up from his battle and that he was lightly bruised all about.

"Yeah. My Pokémon and I were able to defeat them and drive them off as well." Nic then saw the shocked look on their faces. They were both stunned to hear that two Element Four members were defeated.

"You took down Juvia and Sol?!" Mira sounded like she was in deep shock, but who wouldn't.

Nic nodded. "Yeah, but I doubt that they'll accept this defeat. They said that they wanted Lucy, and I doubt that they'll stop until they have her." He indicated. Lucy looked down and couldn't help but wonder.

"I don't get it. Why is it that they want me?" Lucy narrowed her eyes, unable to solve the puzzle in her head.

Nic took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay Lucy. It's time for some answers."

Lucy and Mira looked at Nic with confused faces, wondering what Nic was asking for.

"Answers?" Lucy asked. The three then gathered and sat at a nearby table to hear what Nic had to say.

"Those guys told me that you were an 'heir' and that your father wanted Phantom to bring you back to him." Nic explained. Lucy's eyes were wide with shock as her father was pulling strings.

"H-how could my father do this?!" Lucy stuttered. She was clenching her fists in anger. Mira took noticed and looked concerned.

"Lucy, what is it about your father?" Mira asked her concerned friend. Lucy took a moment before answering.

"The truth is…I'm a runaway." She said. Nic went wide eyed that Lucy was a runaway as well. Mira looked on in curiosity. Lucy continued. "My family was rich, and my mother died when I was ten. My father was more concerned with his own business and money than me. He neglected me, and I took off about a year ago and he hasn't cared. Now he wants me back?! I hate him! He asks Phantom to do all this stuff and torture my friends just to get me to come home! He's a horrible man!"

"Lucy…" Mira saw a few tears fall from Lucy's face. Mir went to get a small towel to dry Lucy's face. Lucy continued to look down and let a few tears fall for awhile. Nic looked down at the table and drifted off into a pitiful thought.

He and Lucy were in the same boat. They were both runaways, both were neglected, and both were wanted to be taken back. After Mira came back with a small towel for Lucy, Nic turned to face Lucy.

"I get it." He said, making them both look at him. "Lucy, you and I had the same past. Let me tell you something…my parents hated my guts. They repeatedly beat me senseless as they simply pampered my little sister. I protected my sister, regardless of what happened. They always blamed me and that I don't deserve to be called a big brother or a son."

"Oh my god…" Mira and Lucy were horrified by Nic's story.

"At fifteen, I took off and started on my journey the night after my parents have almost destroyed me. It didn't take long for the authorities to find me, but I told them what they did to me, and I said it while my parents were there. On the spot, my parents threatened to kill me and my dad tried choking me. The two were sentenced to life in prison and my sister id being taken care of by the neighbors. She's doing far better now that she didn't have to see her big brother take the beating for her."

The two looked on with a mixture of shock and horror that Nic had it far worse than Lucy. Aside from the potential death Nic faced every day, his past was similar to Lucy's.

Lucy stopped crying and looked at Nic in pity. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay. I almost died a few times and suffered multiple scars that are barely noticeable on my back. Aside from that, I was fine. I did anything to protect Vanessa, even if she did it by accident."

A short silence eroded and Nic got up. "Well listen Lucy, you stay here and have Mira look after you. I need to check something out. Your father's gonna pay. This isn't your fault, remember that." Nic said. Lucy nodded slowly, still thinking none of this would've happened if she had just stayed home.

But that wasn't important. Right now is what mattered. Nic proceeded to get up and go back up the stairs and out of sight from the two girls.

Nic went out and back into the forest. The Plates from within him were at a slow vibration, starting up again after the battle. He walked a little bit as he had found the spot he was sitting previously and then sat back down in cross-legged form. He closed his eyes and let nature do the rest.

Phantom Lord

Fairy Tail was in a hasty retreat after Master Makarov was defeated and depleted of all of his magic. Despite wanting to get revenge, Natsu had to retreat because Erza urged him. She felt so useless and weak with the Master defeated. The entire guild ran off with Phantom chasing them away.

"Well, they're off." Gajeel noted, being upside down a wooden beam and observing Fairy Tail's retreat.

"They're retreating with sorrow in their eyes." Aira noted. He was a tall man who had a blindfold on. He had a green hat and a green cape that went over his yellow shirt. Aria also had a purple scarf going about his neck from both ends of his coat.

Gajeel flipped over and was right next to him. "Aria, I see that you're as creepy as ever, but I commend you on taking down their Master." The Iron Dragon Slayer commented.

"I was just following Master Jose's orders" He then started to cry. "It's so sad!"

"Why are you always crying? It's getting annoying." Gajeel said. "So, what's the staus?"

Aria stopped crying. "No word." The two then went away using Aria's Magic. They made their way over towards Phantom Lord's headquarters. It wasn't far from Oak Town, and it resided on a rocky hill. It was a large building that had an entrance that was topped with ornamental parts, with an arc held by two square pillars, completed with arched windows below it, and placed above the smaller arc of the door itself. To the right was an angled zone with several orders of large arched windows. To the left was a hexagonal tower fused with the building, with very high ornamental windows in groups of three in the lower part, with smaller and more numerous windows in its upper part. Each of the tower's angles was marked with a long, round pillar with bulges in correspondence to the architect of the building. The top ended with three long bulges. The top itself was a dome that consisted a protrusion similar to the columns. Behind the dome was the central part stood one more dome, smaller and topped with the guild flag on it. On the right of said dome was a flat and round platform. The most distinct qualities were the pair of towers on its sides of the front. They were very high and had many floors, eight to be more precise on each side. The top of the towers ended with pointed tiled roofs. There were four towers in all.

Inside, Gajeel and Aria met up with Jose, who was rather pleased with the results of the battle.

"Well, we've won this round." Jose noted.

"Yes, and we have them on the run. What do you want us to do?" Aria questioned.

Jose paused. "Wait until Sol and Juvia have returned with our targets…" They all then saw Sol and Juvia emerge from the ground right near them. To their shock, they were beaten to a pulp. Gajeel and Aria looked on in shock. Jose was wide eyed to see them all torn up.

"What happened?" Jose ordered. Sol and Juvia both got their knees and on their hands, trying to catch their breaths. After a few moments, Sol was bowing repeatedly as to where Juvia was still recovering her strength.

"Oh, monsieur. Je suis tres desolee! We have been defeated and mercilessly thrashed about!" Sol said. The others looked on in disbelief. Gajeel growled, thinking he knows who did this.

"Let me guess, was it him?" He asked.

Sol then got back to his knees, stopping his bowing. "Oui. He was much too powerful, and just as you have said Monsieur Gajeel, he had his set of monsters helping him. He and his large bird were much too formidable pour moi. Juvia was beaten hopelessly and I could not keep up with his accomplice. This is a disaster!"

Jose gritted his teeth, now in deep curiosity of what this guy was. First, Gajeel, and now two members of the Element Four. Jose was curious, but also annoyed.

"Did you capture our target?" Jose asked, trying to keep his cool.

"Ah, non! He made Mademoiselle Heartfilia make the getaway. He got there just as we were recovering her!" Sol explained.

Now Jose was annoyed. Now magic was surging all around him. Everyone took notice of this change of mood.

"Very well then. Master Makarov and his pose are left defenseless, but they still had their trump card hiding out back. I'm anxious to see what this guy has to show me. Get ready for battle! It's time that we finish this!"

Fairy Tail

Erza cursed herself for the umpteenth time already. She felt guilty that she wasn't there to aid Makarov in his battle. She felt a small tear run down her cheek, but quickly wiped it away so that she didn't look weak in front of everyone, of whom felt the same.

They all made their way back in the guild basement, they all were dejected and melancholy. They had suffered a defeat and they all gathered to tend to any injuries as well as formulating battle strategies.

Erza was in the shower, clenching her fists. She couldn't let go at the fact that she couldn't do anything with Makarov being tended at Porlyusica's place, which was a tree. She knew Jose must have done something to drain his magic, and she had to do what it takes to avenge him.

When they all got back, Lucy explained everything about how she was their target all along. How she was the target and her father wanted her back. She sat on a storage box with Natsu leaning on a wall right next to her.

"Being target by people are just one of the downsides of being rich, at least you're in the presence of a real man, like me." Elfman boasted.

Gray turned back, annoyed of Elfman's comment. "Hey, shut it already." Gray berated him.

"I've gotta say, I was shocked to hear you're a runaway." Happy said.

"There's no way I could've said that I was a runaway in casual conversation. I've been gone of a year and now my father wants me back. He's done all of those horrible things just to get me to go back. He's a monster…still, if I haven't run away in the first place, none of this would've happened." Lucy said, about to go on the verge of tears.

"C'mon, don't be ridiculous. Your dad's the one to blame." Elfman said.

"Idiot!" Gray said.

"Eh, I meant it was Phantom's fault!" Elfman corrected himself.

"No, it's my fault. All of this happened because of my selfish choices." Lucy wasn't feeling lifted at all by this situation.

"So what?" Natsu said. "I wouldn't picture you being the princess in her mansion. Laughing with us in the Guild Hall, going on adventures even when you freak out all the time. That's you. No running, because you belong with us. You're Lucy of Fairy Tail." Natsu had a fist in the air, proclaiming Lucy's stay. Lucy then started to cry.

"Oh please, no waterworks." Gray wined.

"Yeah. Real men are weak to tears." Elfman shuddered.

"I'm sorry!" Lucy cried. Loke looked on at Lucy from a distance, seeing her upset which made him bring back some painful memories.

Meanwhile, Cana was trying to locate Mystogan through her cards, but had no luck. She threw the cards all about.

"C'mon! I can't get a reading on where Mystogan is!" Cana complained. Mira looked back from her communication lacrima at the disturbed Cana.

"Oh dear, you did your best." She said.

"We've got too man wounded to put up a fight if Phantom comes back to get Lucy. And where the heck is Nic?"

"He said he needed to check something out." Mira said.

"Why is it taking him so long? I mean, if it's rest then it's understandable since he defeated Gajeel, and two of the Element Four, but to check something out isn't a suitable thing to go by." Cana noted.

"Mystogan is nowhere, and Master is wounded. You're the only one left. Please Laxus." Mira pleaded to the communication lacrima, which had Laxus communicating on the other end.

He looked annoyed. He then put a hand over his head. "Oh man, Gramps is freakin pathetic. Hahahaha. I don't see how this is remotely my problem. You're a big girl, so deal with it yourself!"

"So you're not gonna help us?!" Cana asked.

"Course not! Why would I?! Why would I clean up your guys' mess?!"

"Please Laxus, they want Lucy." Mira noted.

"Who? Do I even know her…oh wait, it's that blonde chick right? Tell you what, you talk her into being my woman and if Cana strips for me I'll do whatever she asks me to do." Laxus bargained.

"You pig!" Cana shouted.

"You wanna talk that way to a guy you're begging help from. Do me a favor, if that geezer lives, tell him he's out of his league and he should hand the guild over to me! Hahahaha!" Mira then shattered the lacrima out of anger. She then had tears running down all over her face.

"Why are people so cruel?" She sobbed.

Cana looked at Mira with deep concern. "Mira…"

"I don't understand. How could someone from Fairy Tail be so cruel?" Mira then turned around started to walk off. "I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to fight!"

Cana then tried to stop her. "I understand Mira. But even though you were an S-Class Wizard, you shouldn't put yourself in harm's way."

"I don't care. I want to protect Lucy and Fairy Tail." Mira said.

In the shower, Erza was still feeling down, but it wasn't like she could instantly cheer up. She then realized that she hasn't seen Nic ever since she got back. This left her even more discomforted. She was hoping to see Nic so that he could cheer her up, but no.

Meanwhile, in the forest…

Nic had been in the forest for a long time. He was becoming ever so slow in breathing. He was as still as a rock. Absolute zero movement, taking in everything that he could. Everything was just flowing into him. The wind, the air, the atmosphere. There was no limit as to what Nic could feel. He felt the earth beneath him vibrate with such life. He felt the grass against his jeans. He felt his Plates absorbing the energy and springing to life from within.

He felt himself getting more energy from earlier. Back from before he fought Juvia and Sol, he felt nature lending him a helping hand, and his Plates reacted ever so lively.

Nic had a pretty good assumption as to what might become of him if he kept this up.

One minute passed, and he felt as though everything was one. He now felt the energy blooming all about. His Plates vibrated ever so violently, and suddenly it stopped. Nic kept his mind with nature as he felt himself glow…

Fairy Tail

They felt the earth shake not too long after. Erza was just about finished in the shower when the entire still started to shake.

"What?" Erza wondered. She got out of the shower and wrapped herself in a pink towel. She then proceeded back to the basement, where the others were starting get all shaken up.

"What's going on?" Erza demanded.

"We don't know!" Elfman stated.

"Everyone outside, let's go!" Gray shouted. With no time to spare, everyone gathered whatever supplies they could get and went outside.

With Nic

Nic had his sunglasses on, with his V-neck now a jungle green t-shirt. His shoes were now sturdy jungle shoes. His jeans were now camo pants. His sleeveless coat was light green and the bottom had green grass going up to the back of his thighs.

His sunglasses glowed white while the rest of him was glowing green and sparking all over. Almost immediately, he was no one hundred percent full health. His calf and injuries from earlier were gone and now he was full of energy.

He felt the atmosphere change, sending a chill down his spine.

'Phantom Lord, huh.' Nic had a feeling it was them. They were coming up by the shores and he could sense it from where he was at.

He got up on his two feet and stretched.

He smirked. "Guess it's time to join the fight."

How was that for foreshadowing? Don't get me wrong, you guys are putting a lot of ideas out there, but I want no Legendaries participating.

I can't do any updates for the rest of the week because I got exams coming up. Add the fact that I alternate between stories.

Don't be afraid to let me know if you have an idea as to how Jupiter might be stopped, but I hatched an idea Friday night. If you guys have any say, let me know. Otherwise, I'm going with said idea.

So now you know four of Nic's pokémon, and another will be shown soon.

Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you liked it.

Review!

Next Time: The Forces of Nature