Chapter 6: Of Course, Flute Of Death

Previously...

"When I was traveling, I heard some things that worried me. Usually, I'd ask about these sorts of things to the master, but he's not here." Erza faced the two. "You are the strongest wizards here. I could really use your help."

"Wait," Mirajane put a hand to her chin. "Natsu, Gray and Erza working together? This could be the strongest team Fairy Tail has seen!"

Currently...

Lucy sat down on the station benches, head in her hands. Natsu and Gray were fighting again, in public.

"This is the worst idea ever!" Natsu screamed. "Why, outta all people, do I have to team up with you!?"

Gray scowled. "Blame it on Erza! It was just stupid of her to add a loser like you on the team!"

"Oh yeah?" Natsu growled. "Why don'tcha go and ask her then?"

"And they're back at it again." Lucy sighed into her hands.

"Yo." Piped up a friendly voice.

Lucy glanced to her left. "Oh it's you, Ramza."

"Yeah." He then frowned at Lucy. "Wait a sec, why're you here?"

"Mira told me to come along to watch over these two." Lucy pointed at the two guys arguing with her thumb. "How about you?"

"Same." Ramza said. "Looks like that they're drawing quite the crowd."

Lucy looked at Natsu and Gray, who had definitely a bunch of people around them now. "Oh, great. Let's just pretend that we don't know them, okay?"

"At least it's fun to watch." Ramza sat down beside Lucy. "And that they don't actually whack each other with weapons and stuff."

"Speaking of weapons," Lucy raised and eyebrow at Ramza's equipment. "Didn't you have like a bow last time I saw you?"

"Got sliced in half." Ramza explained.

"Oh." Lucy said.

"Am I late?" Came a feminine voice.

Ramza turned toward it. "Not so much..." He then blinked, seeing the package that she was carrying. "Uh, isn't that a little too much luggage?"

"A little!?" Lucy said. "More like a small mountain!"

"It's time to embark on our exciting job!" Said Gray enthusiastically with sweat dripping down his face.

"A-aye!" Natsu pumped his fist up nervously.

"Hey! Just one Happy is enough!" Lucy exclaimed.

Erza seemed oblivious to the boys' acts. "It's definitely nice to see you two getting along." She then looked towards where Ramza and Lucy sat. "And what are your names? I think I saw you guys at the guild a few days before."

"Hi, I'm Ramza."

"And I'm Lucy. We just joined the guild recently."

"Yeah." Ramza said. "Mira told us to come with you guys to learn a thing or two."

"I hope that's alright." Lucy put in.

"That's quite alright. I'm Erza." She smiled. "I heard you guys took out a mercenary gorilla effortlessly. It'll be nice to have some powerful wizards with us."

"Uh, yeah!" Lucy sweatdropped.

"And I also heard you helped out Levy and her team yesterday." Erza glanced at Ramza. "They say you shoot quite well."

"Yeah, but my bow broke on that mission." Ramza said. "And there wasn't enough time to get a new one."

"A shame. A marksman on the team would be quite beneficial."

"Eh." Ramza shrugged. "I'll make do with my blade."

Erza raised an eyebrow. "A swordsman as well?"

"Hey, Erza!" Natsu called.

"Yes, Natsu?"

"I'm only doing the mission on one condition!"

"And what would that be?"

"A rematch." Natsu then put on a wide grin. "I've become stronger, so I'm sure I can beat you!"

"You wanna die or something!?" Gray called out.

The edge of Erza's mouth twitched. "Yes, I see you've become stronger. But on the account of actually beating me, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Challenge accepted."

"Alright!" Flames spewed from Natu's mouth in excitement. "I'm all fired up!"

Soon, the five of them had paid their tickets for the train. They boarded it and picked a few rows of seats to sit on. Once the train had started moving however, Natsu turned a sickly shade of green.

"Welp, looks like he's got that motion sickness again." Ramza piped up.

"That's so pathetic." Gray snorted. "One moment he's super aggressive and then he becomes like this."

"Must be a pain for him to travel." Lucy frowned.

"He'll be fine." Erza smiled. "Come and sit with me, Natsu."

"Y-yeah..." Natsu managed.

Lucy then traded seats with him so that he could lean on Erza's shoulder. "Now relax." The red head whacked Natsu's gut, making him faint on her lap. "Isn't that better?"

"Doesn't look too comfortable to me..." Lucy muttered.

"She just conked him out with a punch!" Ramza whispered.

"Hey Erza? I think it's time you told us what we're doing." Gray stated.

"Of course." Erza looked at the three of them seriously. "I've have reason to suspect that the dark guild Eisenwald is planning something big. I don't know what exactly, but it's got something to do with 'Lullaby'."

"Hang on, did you say Lullaby?" Ramza raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't those guys that got Happy before mention that?" Lucy said.

"Guys that got Happy?" Erza asked.

"Yeah." Gray said. "Some guys took Happy and was going to cook him, but we saved him. One of the goons that we captured mentioned Lullaby, but before he could answer, a dark shadow took them away."

"Are they part of Eisenwald?" Erza asked.

"Not sure. But they've some connection to them, probably." Ramza said.

"They sound like members who dropped out - people who didn't want any part of whatever they were planning." Erza reasoned.

"So this must be bad enough that people run away from the guild." Gray pointed out.

"This is only a guess, but I think that guy who dragged those guys away was part of Eisenwald." Erza hypothesized. "They don't want their plans to roam around."

"Any idea of what this plan is?" Lucy asked.

"Let me start from the beginning." Erza put her hands together. "I was just heading home from a job where I dropped by one of the pubs where wizards meet quite often. There I overheard from a group that they had found out where this 'Lullaby' was, but it was sealed shut. Then this man named Kage said they shouldn't worry because he would break the seal and bring it Erigor in a few days."

"Lullaby..." Lucy pondered. "Isn't that for making kids sleep?"

"Yes." Erza nodded. "But since it was sealed, it must have been powerful magic."

"You sure that the guys at the pub were in Eisenwald?" Gray asked.

"I'm positive. I can't believe I was such a fool that day to not remember his name." Erza sighed. "Erigor, the ace of Eisenwald. He only accepts assassination requests, which of that had earned him the nickname 'Erigor the Reaper'."

"This guy kills for money?" Said a shocked Lucy.

"When the council outlawed assassination requests, Eisenwald decided not to follow." Erza lectured. "As a result of their actions, they were kicked out of the guild league six years ago. However, that did not faze them as they are still active today."

"I want to go home..." Lucy sweatdropped.

"How could I have forgotten him!" Erza slammed her fist on Natsu's head in frustration. "I could have stopped them at that pub!"

"Hey, don't get so worked up. That's why we're on this train, right?" Ramza reassured.

"If I got the info straight, Eisenwald's got a plan with that Lullaby and you want to stop them." It was not a question. Gray looked at Erza in the eye. "Because you overheard that it was something big."

"That's right." Erza confirmed. "And I'm not so much of a fool to take on an entire dark guild by myself. That's why I asked you and Natsu for backup. We're breaking in the Eisenwald guild."

Gray smiled. "Great idea. I'm in."

"I really should have stayed back at Fairy Tail..." Lucy wailed.

"No turning back now, Lucy." Ramza said.

A lady with the food cart rolled by and the crew bought a few snacks while waiting for the train to arrive at their destination. As Lucy bit into her sandwich, a question came to mind.

"If I can ask," Lucy said. "What kind of magic do you use, Erza?"

"Good question." Erza replied.

"I know that it's really pretty!" Happy put in. "She makes people bleed!"

"Okay, that's a skeptical kind of pretty." Ramza gazed at the cat with uncertainty.

Erza only chuckled. "If you want pretty, you might want to ask Gray for that."

"Oh, like this?" Gray then put his two hands together as a magic circle appeared. Mist then spewed out from his fist as he opened it to reveal a logo of Fairy Tail, made entirely out of ice.

"I use ice magic." Gray explained.

"So that's why you two don't get along!" Ramza piped up.

"You use ice and Natsu uses fire!" Lucy said. "Talk about not mixing very well."

Erza smiled in amusement. "Never thought about it that way before."

"Nope. I just hate his guts." Gray countered.

The train arrived at Onibas station, where the team got off. As they stepped out of the train, they looked around for signs of the Eisenwald guild.

"So, they're still in this town?"Gray asked.

"Not sure, but this was the last place where they were spotted." Erza replied.

"Hang on, aren't we forgetting something?" Ramza questioned.

"Natsu!" Lucy realized. "We've left him on the train!"

The three of them looked towards the train, which had already left the station and was heading to the next one.

"Oh, great." Ramza muttered.

"We were so busy talking we must have forgotten him!" Erza exclaimed. "One of you must hit me in compensation for my actions!"

"That's a little too much..." Lucy commented.

"So how are we going to catch up to him?" Gray raised the question.

"Here." Erza then walked up to a lever and pulled it down. "Problem solved."

"Isn't that the emergency brake?" Ramza said.

"Hey lady!" A grumpy employee walked up to Erza. "You can't do that!"

"Sorry, but our comrade is on that train. I hope you understand." Explained Erza.

"Are you serious?" A vein was now visible on the employee's forehead.

"Now, can you please bring our luggage to the hotel?" Erza pointed at her mountain of stuff.

"I'm not a bellhop, y'know!" Complained the employee.

"Okay, everyone in the Fairy Tail guild is insane." Declared Lucy.

"Not everyone." Gray protested.

"Bro, you're naked." Ramza pointed out.

"Gah!"

The four of them then hopped on a magic-mobile that Erza had rented to catch up with the train that had stopped a few kilometers ahead. She put on the siphon and pushed the lever, making it accelerate. For some reason, Gray lay on the top of the magic-mobile as Ramza and Lucy preferred to sit inside. They sped up on the dirt, now parallel to the locomotive.

"Natsu!" Lucy yelled.

The pink haired dragon slayer bust out of a train compartment, screaming as he was tossed to the winds.

Gray noticed the fast approaching Natsu, "Uh oh." who slammed right into him. Both of them were knocked out of the vehicle.

Erza pulled the magic-mobile into a stop. "Are you alright?"

"J-just fine..." Natsu groaned.

"That hurt, you idiot!" Gray complained.

"Shut up, ice freak! You guys left me on the train!" Natsu protested.

"At least you're safe." Erza sighed. "I apologize." Erza then embraced him tightly against her steel armour.

"It's okay..." Natsu murmured, rubbing his head from the impact. "Just a little shaken. Some weirdo on the train attacked me."

"Oh?" Ramza raised an eyebrow.

"It must be that guy that dragged away the guys that were gonna eat Happy." Natsu put a hand to his chin. "Said he was with Eisenwald."

"You fool!" Erza suddenly slapped him in the face. "That's who we're supposed to follow! Why didn't you chase after him!?"

"What?" Natsu frowned. "Never heard about following someone..."

Erza scowled. "I explained everything on the train! Didn't you listen?"

"Well, you kinda knocked him out." Ramza pointed out.

Erza ignored him. "He was on the same train as you, correct? We must follow him."

"What did this guy look like?" Lucy asked.

"He didn't look like he came from a dark guild. He did have a strange flute; it had had a skull, but with three eyes." Natsu answered.

"Creepy..." Gray muttered.

"Hang on, a three-eyed skull?" Ramza asked.

"You've heard of it too?" Lucy said.

"Yeah." Ramza nodded his head. "Lullaby, the cursed song. It's death magic."

"A cursed song?" Gray wondered. "Like an incantation?"

"There are deadly spells that wizards are forbidden to use." Lucy said. "Cursed, dark spells that kill the person it is cast on."

"Though Lullaby is much, much worse." Ramza gravely said. "Its' song is so deadly, it kills anyone who hears it."

"Then we must hurry!" Erza quickly put on the siphon and accelerated as soon as everyone was inside.

Gray was still on top of the vehicle, bouncing up as the magic-mobile rode above rocks and indentations. "Slow down Erza! You're using too much magic energy!"

"We must hurry!" She insisted. "If Erigor gets ahold of that flute, countless lives will be lost!"

...........................

Soon the team had reached Kunugi station, where numerous people were gathered, likely due to the Eisenwald attack. As they peered from above, they saw that the station was surrounded by soldiers of the Fiore army.

Ramza listened to what the people were complaining about. "Looks like the people over there are saying that the Eisenwald guys took control of the train."

"But that's not a really good getaway vehicle." Lucy said. "A car or boat would be good, but a train only goes on the tracks."

"Yes, that's right. However, they are moving fast." Erza put in.

"Guess it's up to us to find out what they're up to, then." Decided Gray.

"The military's already here, so it's only a matter of time before they're captured, right?" Said Lucy hopefully.

"Let us pray that that is the case." Erza then pushed the lever forward, making them continue moving towards the Eisenwald guild.

The five of them now sped through buildings, startling the people that were in their way. They were now moving so fast that dust billowed from the magic-mobile's wheels.

"Erza! You're using too much magic energy! You might blow up the SC plug!" Gray warned.

"I have no choice but to go faster!" Erza shot back. "Each second counts as a lot of lives are at stake here!"

"At this rate, you're gonna run out of magic power before we get there!" Gray said.

"That's why I've got you and Natsu as backup." Erza gave him a small smile, then went back to driving.

Inside the vehicle, Happy was pondering on something.

"I feel that there was something that I needed to tell you, Lucy." Happy said.

"What is it?"

"I don't remember, just something important." Happy answered. "Um, your-"

"Pretty sick..." Natsu groaned.

"That's it!" Happy said.

"For real?" Lucy said, irritated.

"Urgh..." Natsu then put his head out of the magic-mobile in an attempt to cure his sickness.

"Dude, be careful!" Ramza said. "You might fall out!"

"That's what I'm going for..." Natsu said weakly.

"So if it wasn't that Lucy's sick, then what is it?" Wondered the cat. "Must be something weird like that..."

A vein appeared on Lucy's forehead. "Why're you saying that I'm weird?"

"Wait, what's that up ahead?" Erza said.

Smoke billowed from what looked like a train station. A crowd of people were at the entrance, despite the pleads of the announcer through a megaphone. Erza parked the magic-mobile at a corner and approached one of the announcers.

"What's going on?" She asked.

The announcer snorted. "Why would I tell you?"

He promptly got a punch in the face as a response. Erza then walked up to the next one in line and asked the same question. The announcer was paralyzed in fear and gave no answer. Erza headbutted him.

"What's going on?" She asked each announcer that came her way and pummeling them if they didn't answer her.

Lucy looked on the situation with a bemused expression."Her questioning methods are-"

"Unorthodox?" Ramza offered.

"Definitely."

"That's Erza's own way of getting her info." Gray said.

Erza punched the last of the announcers. "The Eisenwald guild is inside. Let's go."

"Wait, so I have to carry this guy?" Lucy pointed at the unconscious Natsu on her back.

"It helps build character." Ramza said.

The team then entered the station, moving quickly to meet the dark guild. As they were running, they saw soldiers slumped on the floor and walls, beat-up and knocked out.

"They're all wiped out!" Lucy exclaimed.

"This is the small army that was sent in." Erza said. "A force this small couldn't have stood a chance against an entire guild."

They then entered a large, spacious area where a large group of people stood;the Eisenwald guild. A creepy man sat on a ledge in the middle of the group, wielding a wicked looking scythe.

"So you've come, Fairy Tail flies!" The man boomed.

"Whoa! There's so many of them!" Lucy observed.

Erza glared daggers at the man. "I assume you're Erigor?"

One of the crowd spoke up, "Hey you!" He pointed at the pink haired dragon slayer. "It's your fault I'm in hot water with Erigor! Get up!"

Natsu promptly stood up upon hearing him. "That voice... I know that voice."

"We aren't threatened by you!" Erza shouted. "Tell me your plans for Lullaby!"

Erigor chuckled sinisterly. "So you haven't heard yet? What do all train stations have?" He then flew into the air, as if he were floating freely.

"He flew!" Ramza said.

"He must be a wind mage!" Happy realized.

Erigor then sat on a pole with speakers on its' side. Erza gasped. "You're going to broadcast the Lullaby song!?"

Erigor sneered. "Thousands of onlookers flocked to this station to see a piece of the action. Who knows, maybe I can kill the entire city with Lullaby!"

"What reason do you have so do such a bastardly crime against the innocent people of this town?" Erza snarled.

"This is to cleanse all the fools out there who take for granted the rights that they hold so dear, ignorant of the pain of those who do not have them!" Erigor spread a hand to emphasize his point. "They have sinned, so the reaper has come for them!"

"Killing won't bring back your rights, it'll only make it worse!" Lucy said. "That's the entire reason why you were kicked out of the wizard league in the first place!"

Erigor scoffed. "At this point, we've given up on regaining our rights. We want power. With that, we will be able to remove the past and take control of what will happen in the future!"

"You're all insane!" Lucy yelled.

"A new age of darkness is coming!" The one who called out Natsu a while ago put a hand to the floor. "But by the time it arrives, you'll be long gone!"

Shadows streaked the floor towards the team of five. They then leaped into the air, took the form of dark fists and flew towards them. It did not land, however, as Natsu had intercepted it with a flaming hand.

"Eisenwald guy! I knew I recognized that voice!" Natsu grinned.

"You're back!" Lucy exclaimed.

Natsu glanced at the Eisenwald guild. "So it's a party, huh?"

"Natsu, these are the guys we have to fight!" Lucy said exasperatedly.

"As I said, it's a party!" Natsu punched his fists together, letting out a burst of flame.

Lucy then looked at the crowd of dark guild members in front of her. "This is the strongest team Fairy Tail has to offer, you better be ready!"

"I leave them to you! Show them the power of the dark guild Eisenwald!" Erigor said before vanishing into thin air.

"Natsu, Gray. Go after him." Erza said. "With the might of you two combined, not even Erigor the reaper can stand a chance against you. I'm trusting you two."

The duo agreed and left to find Erigor, but not before glaring at each other and Erza scolding them.

"I'll get them." A man said as he swung in the duo's direction, ropes lashing out from his fingers.

"I'll go with you. I have a score to settle with salamander!" The one who pointed at Natsu put his hands to the floor and disappeared into the shadows.

Erza watched as they chased after her two allies. "We'll catch up with them after we're finished with these guys, okay?"

"Just the three of us against an entire magical guild?" Lucy faltered.

"Even I don't like those odds..." Ramza said, hands on his wakizashi hilt.

"Hey you!" An Eisenwald member said. "Get away from the ladies, we'll have some fun with them!"

Erza ignored him. "Let's do this!" She put her hand in front of her, to which a blade was conjured as she gripped it tightly.

"A magic sword!" Lucy said.

"So this was why you were interested in me as a swordsman?" Ramza piped up.

Erza looked at Ramza with a small smile, but returned her withering gaze at the Eisenwald guild. "If you insult the Fairy Tail guild again in my presence, I swear you won't live to see tomorrow!"

The guild then drew their weapons: sword, knife, spear, and leaped into battle. A group of them struck at Erza, but with two swipes of her sword, they were quickly defeated.

"Ramza, with me!" Erza said as she jumped into the fray.

"On it!" He unsheathed his blade and positioned himself behind Erza.

With a coordinated slash, the two of them sent guild members flying. One of them recovered and made a magic circle in his hand. "I'll show you!" He then fired a beam of light alongside two others at them.

Erza and Ramza jumped on opposite sides, evading the magical attack. Ramza landed on a guild member, hilt first into the enemy's face. He then backed up, guild members closing on him. "Get him!" One of them yelled.

Ramza deflected the first strike with his blade and then smacked the guy with the flat of his blade. He twisted when another struck at him with an axe, kicking the enemy aside. The third trust a spear at him, but Ramza just snapped it in half and he backed off. Ramza then brought his wakizashi back and swung hard, sending the enemies that came at him tumbling.

Erza on the other hand switched her sword for a spear, probably her requip magic, Ramza thought. She struck downward, knocking the guild members off their feet. She swung it another time, taking out more enemies, then requiped the spear to twin swords. Slicing through anyone who came at her, she was untouchable.

An Eisenwald member gawked at the chaos Erza was making. "I've never seen someone requip as fast as her..."

"Requipping?" Lucy asked.

"It isn't so different from your celestial magic." Ramza explained as he swung at another enemy. "They store weapons in a dimension and summon them to fight. When they change weapons in battle, that's where it's called requipping."

"That's incredible!" Lucy marveled.

"That's only the tip of the iceberg." Happy said with an intimidating face. "Erza's just warming up!"

"Erza!?" Exclaimed a guild member.

"It's about time I joined the fight!" Lucy took a golden key from her waist and put it in front of her. "Open, Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"

The spirit materialized beside her. "You need me to fight these guys, baby?"

"Yeah!" Lucy ordered. "Take them out with style!"

"What a stupid spirit!" The guild members taunted as they attacked Cancer.

"Hmph." Cancer dodged the weapons with surprising ease. He then moved forward, his scissors flashing. The Eisenwald members were shocked to see that their weapons were cut in half, but more so that their hair was no longer existent.

"We're bald!" They wailed.

"That match your style, baby?" Cancer one-lined.

"Impressive, Lucy." Erza smiled.

"Thanks!" Lucy grinned back. "Alright, I scored some points with her!"

"That's what you were going for?" Ramza blinked.

"But the way he calls you baby," Erza contemplated, "It unnerves me."

"Points unscored..." Lucy said dejectedly.

"Woah, ba-ma'am." Cancer stuttered.

"Yikes." Ramza commented. He then looked to the enemies, noticing that their numbers were still high. "There's still a lot of them, by the way!"

"You're right." Erza agreed. "It's annoying, but I'll wipe them out."

"What do you mean?" Ramza said.

Her armor then glowed bright, lifting her into the air. The armor she was wearing dispersed into golden particles of light and the Eisenwald members forgot whatever they were doing to turn their heads at this event.

"Woah, her armor's disappearing!" The men said with perverted glee.

"I have absolutely no idea what's going on." Ramza said, the he glanced at Happy. "Do you?"

"Yup!" Happy answered. "Most swordsmen only have the ability to swap weapons, but Erza can switch her armor to ones that can enhance her magical ability too. It's a talent that only she has, a technique called: The Knight!"

Erza floated proudly in the air, her armor changed to one that resembled an iron angel. She was covered in shiny metal scales, making her skirt one of iron plates. Wings constructed of intricate metal feathers were on her back and and in each hand she wielded a blade which shined brightly.

"Oh wow!" Lucy clasped her hands in excitement.

"That's so cool..." Ramza said with his jaw open.

"Now dance, my swords!" Erza shouted, and multiple swords appeared at her sides, forming a circle. They then spun, edges flashing against the light.

"I knew it!" Exclaimed a guild member. "It has to be her!"

"Circle sword!" Erza slashed, and the circle of blades came spinning at the Eisenwald members. Only a few of them were spared from the attack; everyone else was sent flying, rendering them unfit for battle.

"She just defeated nearly all of them in one attack!" Lucy said with a tremble of fear.

"Dang, she's pretty powerful..." Ramza murmured.

"You're dealing with me now!" The one who had cast the light spell earlier charged at Erza, his hands glowing with power.

"Don't do it!" Urged the other member. "Don't you know who she is!?"

A single swipe, and Erza knocked him down.

"She's queen of the faeries, Titania Erza!"

Erza's armor then glowed again as they reverted to their original form.

"I think I'm in love!" Lucy said with hearts in her eyes.

"And I think I'm in awe..." Ramza said while still gawking at Erza.

"And I think I'm all outta here!" The guild member then ran off, escaping them.

"He'll probably look for Erigor." Erza said. "Lucy, you go after him."

"Wait, how about Ramza?" Lucy pointed out.

Erza glared at her. "Just do it!"

"Yes ma'am!" Lucy cried as she went the way the guild member escaped.

Erza sighed, but then suddenly dropped to her knees.

"Erza!" Ramza said, concerned.

"Gray was right, I've used up too much energy on the magic-mobile..." Erza muttered. "Please boys, don't fail me..."

"Can you stand?" Ramza asked.

She grunted as she got to her feet. "I can. Let's go warn the people about what's going on."

"The top balcony is where we can address them best." Ramza nodded. "We have to get them out of harm's way."

They then walked up the stairs to the top balcony and found some employees of the station barking at the crowd of people to settle down. They used megaphones, which of one Erza snatched out of an employee's hand and held it to her mouth.

"If you value your lives, you will leave this place at once!" The crowd grew restless, but Erza spoke into the megaphone again. "This station's been taken over by evil wizards and are planning to cast a spell that will kill anyone nearby! I urge you to run as far as you can!"

The crowd of people in front of the station promptly dispersed, running for their lives in multiple directions. Seeing that the people would be safe for now, Erza sighed in relief. An employee came and got back the megaphone that she had taken.

"The heck was that for?" The employee complained.

"We just saved their lives, for now." Ramza replied. "You guys have to get out of here too."

The employees quickly scrambled for the stairs, overtaking one another. Another sigh from Erza meant that she was exasperated with them.

"So, what now?" Ramza asked.

"We'll do a sweep of the place to ensure everybody isn't left in here." Erza said. "Then we'll look for Gray, Natsu and Lucy. Hopefully they've taken them out already."

"Alright."

The pair then split up to look for anyone who's been left behind in the station. Surprisingly, nobody was left inside and they met up at the entrance of the station.

"Found anyone?" Erza asked.

"Nope. You?"

"None."

"How 'bout the guys? Or Lucy?"

"Haven't seen them."

"Well, I guess - wait, what's that?" Ramza turned his head to see some sort of wind cocoon surrounding the station. "It wasn't there a minute ago!"

"A specialty of my wind magic." Drawled a familiar voice.

"It feels weirdly familiar..." Ramza murmured.

"Erigor!" Erza scowled at him. "What have you done!?"

He just scoffed at her. "I have no time to answer your questions."

Erigor then lifted his palm and a magic circle appeared, pushing Ramza and Erza through the wind.

"Why you!" Erza ran at the wind, but it was moving so fast that it knocked her back to the ground.

"Your attempts are useless against my wind barrier!" Erigor mocked. "It only blows one way, so if you try to escape, you'll get cut to pieces!"

"What is the meaning of this, you rabid dog!?" Erza shouted, while clutching her pained arm.

"I've wasted enough time here." Erigor then started to drift into the air. "I must go."

"Come back here!" Erza challenged, but to no avail. Erigor had already left. "I swear, I will find a way to stop you!"

"The thing is, he wasn't targeting this station." Ramza put a hand to his chin. "So what is his plan?"

"We'll find out somehow." Erza went back inside the station.

"Alright then." Ramza followed her inside.

They then walked back to the place where they had battled the Eisenwald members, which was still littered by their unconscious bodies.

Ramza scanned the floor. "I still can't believe you took out this many..."

Erza smiled at him. "Don't forget, you and Lucy helped me out too."

"So, what'dya wanna do here?" Ramza looked around. "There isn't much left here."

"I'm going to interrogate these foes of ours." Erza picked up the body of an Eisenwald member. "Wake up!"

"W-what?" The member blinked himself awake and screamed when he saw Erza. "Titania!"

"Listen here, you!" Erza shook him. "How do we remove Erigor's barrier?"

"You can't."

Erza punched him. "Tell me!"

"It's no use. You guys are stuck here." The member answered.

"Ramza! Erza!" A voice said from above.

"Gray!" Ramza exclaimed.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay with Natsu!" Erza said.

"We split up, but that's not important! I found out that Eisenwald's true target was Clover, the next town from here!" Gray said.

"Wait, why Clover?" Ramza asked.

"The guild masters are having their conference there!" Gray's answered. "They're planning to use Lullaby there to kill them!"

"Why didn't you tell me!" Erza glowered at the guild member.

He just shook in fear. Erza removed her grip on him and stood.

"We have a problem. The station's been covered in a wind barrier." Ramza stated.

"I know. Saw it earlier." Gray crossed his arms. "If you try to cross that thing, it'll make mincemeat out of you."

"I've already tried that." Erza gripped her injured arm tighter.

Gray noticed her movement. "Is your arm okay?"

"Save it for later. Let's focus on getting out of here now." Erza said. "We must stop Erigor before he reaches the conference."

"Hang on, how about that Kage guy you mentioned before? Didn't he break Lullaby's seal?" Ramza suggested.

"A dispeller? A seal-breaking wizard! Maybe he can take down the wind barrier!" Gray said.

"I hope so. Now let's start searching!" Erza ordered.

"Right!" Ramza and Gray said in unison.

They walked through the station, but they found no signs of the man. That is, until they heard a loud BOOM! from above.

"Why's it shaking?" Ramza said.

"Must be Natsu..." Gray muttered. "He may have destroyed the place already, so let's hurry!"

The three of them saw Natsu atop the stairs, with Kage slumped on the wall. The walls were blackened, mostly due to Natsu's flames. Some rooms were also reduced to rubble, courtesy of Natsu as well.

"Natsu! Do not harm him!" Erza shouted at him. "We need him alive!"

"Great!" Gray said in mock excitement. "Just fantastic, ya flame brain!"

"Huh?" Natsu seemed bewildered to what was happening.

"There's a wind barrier outside and Kage's the only guy who can dispel it." Ramza explained.

"That's right!" Erza took out a sword and glared menacingly at Natsu's direction.

"Don't hurt me!" Natsu wailed.

Erza then thrust her sword forward, missing Natsu and nailing the wall an inch from Kage's face. "You will dispel the barrier and will do so without complaint!"

Kage only raised his hands in surrender.

"Just do it man! Erza's a monster!" Natsu said with a look of fear on his face.

"Shut up Natsu!" Gray scowled.

"Understood?" Erza did not relent her sword.

"Fine!" Kage said. "I'll do i-urgh!"

Suddenly, a hand appeared from his chest as Kage threw his head back in pain. "Argh... Why, Kuraka..."

He then slumped to the floor, laying still.

"Kage!" Erza cried.

"No! He was our ticket outta here!" Gray growled.

"Hang on!" Ramza said in worry as he felt his arm for a pulse.

Kuraka was still in the wall, frozen from what he'd just done.

"Don't you die on us, Kage!" Erza clutched his arm. "We need your help, do you hear me?"

"I think we're losing him!" Gray said.

"You're the only one who can dispel the wind barrier!" Erza had a fraught look on her face. "Stay with me!"

"How could you do that to your friend!?" Natsu said, anger evident in his eyes. "He's a member of your guild and you tried to kill him!"

Kuraka disappeared into the wall as Natsu slammed a burning first right where he was before. "Is that how you dark guild members treat each other?"

"Kage! Just hang on!" Erza urged.

Ramza sighed in relief. "The guy's only unconscious."

"Well, he's of no use right now..."Gray muttered.

"We need him now!" Erza shook Kage. "We can't have him unconscious!"

"He can't use magic in this state though..." Ramza pointed out, but Erza still tried to wake him.

"If I force him, he will!" Erza snapped back.

"Did I come at a wrong time?" Lucy asked as she looked at what was going on.

Soon, the team moved to the entrance of the station. Ramza and Lucy bandaged Kage's wounds as Gray and Erza filled the others in on the information that they had gotten.

"What!?" Lucy exclaimed. "They're going to use Lullaby on the guild masters!?"

"We have to stop them!" Natsu gnashed his teeth.

"Easier said than done. Erigor's cut off our only way to Clover and is getting there by air." Erza said.

"We could use the magic-mobile, but there's this barrier blocking us from it." Gray sighed.

"How do we get out?" Lucy wondered aloud.

"Hah!" Natsu sent a burning fist at the wind barrier, but it did not budge. He was knocked back into a wall.

"That's what happens if you try to bust through." Gray said, scoffing at the dragon slayer's antics.

"Kage, wake up! You're our only hope right now!" Urged Erza.

"I've gotta break through!" Natsu yelled, his body on fire.

He punched and kicked at the barrier with his fire, but he was knocked back again.

"Cut it out Natsu!" Gray said. "Brute force isn't gonna do it any good."

"Isn't there anything you can do?" Lucy pleaded.

"Cut it out... What if..." Ramza murmured. He then walked up to the wind barrier, just close enough to not get hit.

"Hey Ramza! Get outta there! You're gonna get hurt!" Gray shouted.

"Do you feel that?" Ramza said back.

"Feel what?" Gray asked.

"The wind. Do you feel the wind?"

Gray raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I feel the wind wants to blow this way. I should just convince it to do otherwise."

Lucy snorted. "Yeah. Let's be nice and ask them to move over."

"No, I wasn't talking about that." Ramza put his hands to the barrier. "I was talking about magic."

From Ramza's palm emerged a magic circle, which donned a rotating triangle with a circumference of magic glyphs. It glowed a powerful violet, then expanded. As fast as the magic circle appeared, the tornado that encased them inside the station disappeared. Soon, the wind returned to just a gentle breeze.

"Finally!" Ramza laughed loudly. "I knew I could do it!"

His friends' jaws dropped. "You're an air mage!?"

"I just found out!" Ramza grinned. "I thought about everything, from Natsu's fire to Gray's ice, but nothing clicked! But when I saw Erigor's wind barrier, something about it made me feel familiar inside! Must be because we control the same element!"

He laughed again. "So what d'ya think I can do next? I thi-" Ramza's eyes turned foggy, then he fell to the ground.

"Ramza!" Lucy was the first one there and cradled him in her lap. "You okay?"

His eyes were closed. "Must be magical exhaustion." Erza said. "For him to remove that wind barrier as his first magical act, it took a huge toll on him."

"Is he going to be okay?" Lucy asked with concern.

"He'll be fine. Ramza will just be sleeping for a while." Gray smiled at the sleeping figure.

"Alright! We got another mage on the team!" Natsu whooped.

"Aye!" Happy agreed.

...........................

And for his magic, Ramza slept the entire morning until nighttime. When he woke up, he found himself inside the guild masters' conference building, at the infirmary. Lucy filled him in on what happened: Natsu had managed to defeat Erigor, but Kage had escaped with the magic-mobile and had dropped him out as he drove away. The team caught him, still asleep, and brought him here to the guild masters' conference hall. They've already informed they guild masters what had happened, and were proud to have a new air mage with them. Ramza turned pink at the news.

"I also got the a golden key from Happy, he said he got it from the Everlue mansion as we left!" Lucy lifted it for him to see.

"Virgo the maiden?" Ramza inspected the key. "Hopefully she isn't that behemoth of a maid."

Lucy giggled. "Nah, she's fine now! She kinda looks like your regular maid, but she calls me princess!"

"Cool!" Ramza smiled, but then looked to the side, abashed. "Look, sorry about passing out."

"It's no biggie! Erza said that since you took out that giant barrier, you must have used up a lot of your magical energy." Said Lucy.

"Me, an air mage..." Ramza looked up at the ceiling.

"I know, pretty cool right?" Lucy smiled at him.

Ramza smiled back. "I guess it is."

"Do you feel better now?" Asked Lucy. "After your nap?"

Ramza stretched out his arms. "Yep. I feel like I could run a hundred miles."

"How about a nighttime walk?" Lucy offered. "Everyone else in the team is going, you know."

"Sure." Ramza got up from his bed. "What could go wrong with that?"

They walked out of the infirmary, just to see Natsu and Gray stuffing their faces with food from the buffet. Erza came and scolded them for being gluttons, but noticed Ramza.

"I see that you are well." Erza smiled at him.

"Ramza!" Natsu forgot whatever he was chomping on and rushed to see the woken up mage."Our air mage!"

"Congrats, Ramza." Gray said as he munched on chocolate marshmallows on a stick.

"C'mon guys, aren't we going out for a nightly stroll?" Lucy piped up.

"She's right boys, let's take a walk outside." Erza then grabbed Gray and Natsu by their arms and dragged them through the conference hall's doors. Ramza and Lucy followed suit.

The team trudged up a small hill, complete with Gray and Natsu arguing, Erza reprimanding them and Lucy complaining she had to live with this. Ramza chuckled to himself and gazed up at the moon, when he heard a familiar voice. They others must have heard as well since they quieted down.

"I guess one song couldn't hurt." The familiar voice sighed.

"It's master Makarov!" Exclaimed Erza.

"Be careful to listen carefully!" Said another voice.

"Kage..." Natsu glowered.

"Shhh..." Some person came out from the bushes wearing some pinkish clothing with wings at the back. "We're just getting to the good part!"

The group jumped back at the sheer creepiness and weirdness this person gave, except Erza.

"Master Bob." Erza greeted the stranger.

"Oh Erza, you've really grown!" Replied Bob.

"He's the master of the Blue Pegasus guild?" Said Lucy sceptically.

Makarov spoke up. "Well, I can't wait all night, young man."

Kage brought the Lullaby flute to his lips.

"Oh no!" Erza said, shocked.

"Can you guys keep it quiet over there?" A man with a spiked collar said. "As Bob said, we're getting to the good part."

"Isn't that..." Ramza started.

"The master of Quatro Cerberus?" Lucy finished.

"That's their master, Gold Mine." Erza said.

Makarov's voice piped up. "Well?"

Kage didn't answer, looking at the flute. A short while passed, and Makarov sighed.

"Nothing will change." He began. "You cannot change the fact those who are weak will forever remain weak. Now I don't know if it's just me, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I mean, we humans are weak creatures by nature. Our insecurities are the reason guilds even exist."

Makrov turned to face Kage. "And that is why we have friends. When we're surrounded by allies, it's easier to stay positive about the future. Think of it this way: If we're clumsy, we may stumble and bump into things, but as long we have faith in our future and continue marching forward, our inner strength emerges on it's own. But we have to choose that path and pledge to live our lives to the fullest. Don't let that silly flute get in the way."

Kage dropped to his knees, Lullaby flute no longer in his hands. "I surrender."

At this point, the team ran towards their guild master, happiness in their faces.

"Master!"

"You stopped him!"

"Good job, gramps!"

"Wait, why are you guys here? I thought you kids were inside!" Makarov frowned.

"Master, your words touched me so dearly that I was nearly moved to tears!" Erza hugged the master to her iron chestplate.

"Oww..." Makarov groaned.

"Looks like gramps talked his way outta another one." Gray smiled.

"Mwahahaha!" Came an ominous voice. "I've grown tired of you cowardly wizards and your antics!"

"What was that?" Asked Ramza.

Suddenly, a large magic circle appeared in the sky, with black smoke trailing behind it. "I can no longer hold back! I shall come forth to devour you myself!"

Out from the magic circle came a monster of epic proportions. It seemed to be made out of wood, but it didn't make it any less menacing. It's legs created craters when it walked. It's hands spiked out at wicked angles. And worst of all, it wore a skull with three eye sockets, which glowed darkly with power.

"Erigor never said anything about it turning into a monster!" Kage trembled.

"We're in a pickle..." Commented Bob, master of Blue Pegasus.

"That must be a demon from the book of Zeref." Reasoned the master of Quatro Cerberus.

The monster loomed evilly above them.

Lucy shook in fear. "Why'd it turn into a monster?"

"That's Lullaby's true form." Answered Gold Mine. "It's dark magic: Living Magic, Zeref's specialty."

"Living Magic?" Erza questioned.

"Zeref? He was like, an evil wizard before our time, right?" Ramza said.

"Yes." Agreed Bob. "He was very powerful, but never once did I think his legacy would pop up back again."

"So, which of these delectable souls shall I dine on first?" The demon said it as if it were browsing a menu at a restaurant.

"Delectable, huh?" Natsu's face turned into one of wonder. "Do you think souls are really that tasty?"

"How should I know what they taste like?" Gray grumbled.

"Always thinking about eating!" Lucy commented.

"Natsu and Gray! Get everyone to a safe place!" Ordered Erza.

"Quit barking orders!" Natsu complained.

"Yeah, you ain't the boss of us!" Gray agreed.

"Just do it!" Erza said with a glare.

Gray and Natsu walked off together. "Aye!"

"Another Happy impression!?" Lucy said, her eyebrow twitching.

"Hang on, is that an army?" Ramza pointed at the large squadron headed towards Lullaby.

They shouted something, but everyone else couldn't hear. Apparently, it angered Lullaby since it shot a magic attack at a nearby mountain, making it into two smaller mountains with a wide 'U' in between them. The army shouted again and moved, but this time in the direction away from Lullaby.

"I have no need for those pathetic humans!" Lullaby declared. "I have interest in a wizard's soul and I will devour all of yours!"

Natsu piped up. "I'd like to see you try, big guy!"

"Good luck..." The council of guild masters cheered half heartedly.

"Can they just beat Lullaby on their own?" Ramza said.

"I was thinking of the same thing..." Lucy said.

"You guys should help them!" Happy suggested.

"Uhhh, nope." Lucy immediately shot down the idea.

"Why not?" Asked Happy.

"None of my spirits are available right now..." She said offhandedly.

"How about you Ramza?" Happy glanced at him.

"I'm kinda new to this whole 'air magic' thing of mine. If I'm not careful, I might conk out again." Ramza reasoned.

"Good excuses, you guys." Happy snickered.

"Shut it, cat!" Ramza and Lucy said in unison.

Lullaby then screamed into the sky, casting a magic circle. It's roar sounded for miles.

"Argh, my ears!" Lucy cried.

"It hurts!" Ramza covered his ears with his hands, but the sound was just as bad.

"Lullaby's preparing to attack." Stated Gold Mine.

"It's now or never." Erza glanced at Natsu and Gray. "Ready?"

"Yeah!" The two boys said simultaneously.

The three of them then dashed, fast as light, towards the monstrosity known as Lullaby. Erza requipped her armour to the iron angel, took flight, and slashed at Lullaby's side. Gray took a stance, then sent countless frozen lances at the demon. Natsu lit his fist on fire and punched Lullaby right in the face. The council and others watching gawked at this stunning display of magic power.

"You are making me angry!" Lullaby yelled as it smashed at the three wizards.

They nimbly dodged, and struck again. Erza struck at the monster's flank once more, while Gray summoned more ice weapons to fire at Lullaby. Natsu put his two arms back and flung them forward, sending two streams of flame at the demon.

"Woah, their combination attacks are so powerful!" Said Kage.

"They're absolutely insane!" Marveled Lucy.

Lullaby put it's head to the sky, then the magic circle disappeared in it's mouth.

"This isn't good..." Ramza muttered.

"Here comes it's song!" Happy braced for impact.

Lullaby shouted, then the plants around them started to wilt.

"The plants - They're dying!" Lucy realized.

"Lullaby's sucking the life out of them!" Ramza said.

"Your souls are mine!" Lullaby roared, but only sounds resembling a mistuned whistle came out.

"What." Ramza deadpanned.

"Nothing happened!" Lucy exclaimed.

"I don't understand..." Lullaby growled. "Why can't I play my melody of death?"

"It must be from those attacks!" Kage pointed out.

"It put so many holes in that thing that it totally messed up it's sound!" Lucy added.

"Welp, that was anticlimactic." Ramza summarized.

"You dare mock me?" Lullaby kicked at a mountain. It then stared at the council, it's eye sockets glowing.

"Ice make: Shield!" Gray cast his spell before the attack hit, preventing anyone from being hurt.

"That boy's maker magic is just spectacular!" Commented an old wizard.

"Maker magic?" Lucy tilted her head.

"It's users make magic a physical form." Ramza answered. "Thing is, there's another type of magic that can destroy it."

"I will kill you all!" Screamed Lullaby.

The fire from it's attack seemed to be getting sucked in somewhere; it was Natsu, eating up the flames!

"Now I've got a fire in my belly!" Natsu grinned.

"You're no human, you're a monster!" Lullaby sent a fist at him, only for Natsu to jump over it and run up it's hand.

"Like you can talk!" Natsu shot back as he sped up it's arm.

"Stop climbing me!" Wailed Lullaby.

"Requip!" Erza passed through a magic circle, and her iron angel armour was changed into one of leathery wings.

"Her armour is lovely..." Commented a spectator.

"It's called black wing armour, and it amplifies the strength of her attacks!" Said another.

Gray took another stance and sent an icy disk at the demon, blowing a hole in it's side. "Ice Make: Saucer!"

Erza swooped in and cut a deep gash on Lullaby's cheek. "Natsu!"

"Now!" Called Gray.

"I've got this." Natsu cast a magic circle and lit both his hands on fire. "I have the flames on my right hand and the flames in my left hand. Put them together, and this is what you get: Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"

A giant fireball converged at the tips of Natsu's hands. Tossing it as hard as he could, he aimed at Lullaby's face. When fireball contacted face, an explosion erupted, sending a light at the clouds up above. A pause, then a windy shockwave swept everywhere.

Makarov put his hands behind his back. "Well done."

"Amazing!" Bob clapped his hands together.

"You kids make defeating Zeref's demon look easy." Said Gold Mine.

"Wow..." Lucy looked like she was seeing stars.

"I can't believe how strong they are!" Gawked Kage. "Woah, are all the Fairy Tail wizards this strong?"

The smoke cleared to reveal Natsu, Gray and Erza, walking out of the ashes triumphant from their battle with Lullaby.

"There's no doubt about it!" Lucy celebrated.

"This is Fairy Tail's strongest team!" Ramza grinned.

"We're an awesome guild aren't we?" Makarov said with pride.

"I can't exactly say I know what just happened," Gold Mine paused. "But it's obvious we owe this victory to the Fairy Tail guild."

"Wait, we do?" Said a wizard.

"Even so..." Piped up another.

"They went overboard!" They said simultaneously.

The trio turned their heads to see the landscape with a crater in it, alongside the disappearance of the conference hall.

"The conference hall's gone." Ramza pointed out.

"Some mountaintops are also missing!" Chimed in Happy.

Master Makarov stood still for a moment, before something came out.

"Oh look, master's soul is going out." Gray said.

"Haha!" Natsu laughed. "We really messed up the place, huh?"

"Master, please come back! Forgive our actions!" Erza chased Makarov's soul, trying to put it back in his body.

"Chase them!" Yelled a wizard.

"Whoops, time to go!" Happy said.

And so, the Fairy Tail wizards were chased down by very angry ones who wanted payment for the obliteration of the conference hall.