Hey everyone. Welcome back to the next chapter of Alternate Tail.

I see that that there was one review from, stephanieeichie10… about my frustrated intro.

Well, no need to get all winded up about that. Thanks for the concern Steph.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the next chapter a little bit better.

Fairies Divided By the Wind, Part 4

Previously

"What happens now is a system of controlled chaos." Moreau's projection crossed his arms and continued. "You want this madness to end, hand over the Key Piece."

"Everything's going to plan, Ser Moreau," one of the Garten clansmen said to their commander. "All the prisoners inside are rioting." He stepped forward and pressed his hand against the air in front of the guildhall, making contact with a Jutsu Shiki barrier. "And the barrier will make sure no one can enter or leave beside us."

"Excellent, work," Moreau primly responded. "Our next step is to infiltrate during the chaos and liberate the Key Piece." He and his men stepped forward

"Stop right there!"

Annoyed at the command, he turned and saw a battalion of Rune Knights before them, and stepping forward was a woman with blue hair cut into a bob.

"You're responsible for why the prisoners are out of control in there?" she demanded.

"Does that really matter to you?" Moreau scoffed. "Take care of her."

"Yes, Ser!" two Garten soldiers charged forward towards the woman.

"Lieutenant Lulu, be careful!" one of the Rune Knights shouted. But the woman calmly smiled as she held up her right arm.

"Hold your ground men. Iron God's..." she chanted as her arm turned to iron. "Mjolner!" her arm turned into a box-shaped hammer, before slamming it to the ground. The ground shook and pushed her attackers to unbalanced, letting her charge forward and knock them out.

"Slayer Magic?" Moreau hummed in thought as he watched the debacle. "Now that is… hmm?" he saw Lulu's arm transform from its hammer state, but instead of a normal human limb, it instead turned into a dark blue arm with talons on her arm

"Heh," she sighed, practically feeling her fellow knights flinch behind her. "This new magic always messes up my transformation. Well," She shook her back and a pair of bat-light wings emerged. "Not like a friendly face will help things out."

"Hmm, you're clearly not human," Moreau mused as his fingers danced with delight. "No matter. Learning what I can about your Slayer Magic will help my research all the same.

"This is just great," Lahar grumbled, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Not only have the prisoners escaped, but

"My guild members," Zimbardo muttered, his forehead moistened with sweat. "They'll be killed out there. We have to do something!"

Doranbolt teleported back into the room. "I tried to teleport out, but it's no good. There's a Jutsu Shiki keeping us in. Thankfully it's also trapping the prisoners here too."

"Think you can break it?" Evergreen whispered to Freed. "Once we put the scumbags back in their cells."

"Once I understand its complexity, it should be no problem at all," he responded, before cupping his chin. "The problem is getting the prisoners under control."

"Yeah, we might as well be herding cats," Bickslow snarked.

"Herding? Bickslow, I never thought I would say this, but that might be a decent idea."

"Thanks… hey!"

"But the problem is time. We have dozens of prisoners to deal with, and it takes too much time to prepare a Jutsu Shiki large enough to hold them in, unless," his eyes fell onto Lahar. "Lahar-san, I have a proposition."

The Magic Council Commander faced him in return. "What are you talking about?"

"I can create a Jutsu Shiki strong enough to corral these vagabonds. However, it is a consuming task, and the process can go faster with help. I know from accounts that you are skilled with Rune Magic. Together we can prepare a Jutsu barrier as fast as possible."

"I can help as well," Zimbardo offered. "This is my guild, and prisoners are my responsibility."

Lahar was silent in thought for a second before staring at the Fairy Tail wizard straight into the eye. "This is against my better judgment. But right now, bringing these criminals to order is the highest priority," he sighed. "Very well. Doranbolt, assist Evergreen, Bickslow and any remaining guards in rallying these prisoners."

"We can do it in the courtyard," Zimbardo stated. "It's large enough to hold all of them. But if it doesn't work-"

"It will," Freed stated, a proud smile etched on his face. "Trust me when I saw that our guild is a master at making miracles."

Two guards were pushed to the guildhall's outer walls as three prisoners surrounded them. The two were trying to get out through the back entrance, but a Justu Shiki was keeping them from going through

"We got a couple of corned mice here," a tanned man chuckled as he swung the black bands of cable extending from his fingers. "How fun!"

"G-get back to your cell, Rayule!" one of the guards ordered, which failed between his stutter and his shaking knees.

"Look at that," Rayule laughed to his fellow prisoners. "This one's trying to be brave," a predator smirk crossed his face. "Let's end their misery." He stepped forward, only to step back to avoid a series of magic blasts at the ground before him.

"How cute," looking up, he saw a woman with mousy brown hair and glasses flying above them. "A bunch of scoundrels running about like wild dogs."

"What the- who the hell are you bitch?"

Evergreen merely grinned back smugly. "A fairy, obviously."

"F-fairy?" A vein twitched on his face as he remembered the feel of hundreds of ice ants crawling his body. "Those fairies!" he launched his black cables flying towards Evergreen. But all they got was her removing her glasses, and with a gaze of her eyes, they became as still as their petrified master and his cronies.

"That was far too close," she muttered as she put her glasses back on, before turning to the guards. "If you two are done cowering away, then take them back to the courtyard and dump them with the other prisoners."

"W-what about-"

"Me," she smiled in amusement. "I'll be hunting, of course."

"Getaway, getaway!" two prisoners screamed out in terror as two floating tiki dolls chased after them.

"Here's Johnny! Here's Johnny!" the dolls laughed.

"Who's Johnny?!" one of them shouted, before being blasted upon by a pair of green lasers from two more dolls.

"Good work babies!" Bickslow cackled as he held his elbow tight around a prisoner's neck with the last doll flying next to him. He frowned as the ape-faced prisoners struggled in his arm. "Hey, one question, how long I gotta hold him until he loses consciousness but before he dies?"

"Two! Three! Seven! Five! Four and a half!"

The remark only caused his victim to struggle more to break free.

"Eh, fuck it," Bickslow grumbled, before punching his captive in the nose to knock him out. "Well, that's good. You grab those blokes and get flying!"

His dolls obeyed and carefully snuggled underneath the fried and unconscious bodies, two under each, before floating upward and carrying them back to the courtyard with their master chasing after them.

Back in the courtyard, Bickslow found a pile of unconscious bodies (and a couple of statues) in the center. He and his dolls casually tossed their victims in the pile. "And that makes 25!'

"Hmm, that's it," Evergreen replied smugly as she landed next to him. "I have 27."

A flash of light appeared above as Doranbolt teleported over the pile with two unconscious forms on his back. "30," he casually said as he landed. "Found them on the second floor."

"Don't get involved, Doranbolt," Lahar reprimanded as he sketched a series of runes around the pile, with Freed and Zimbardo doing the same nearby.

"Sorry sir," Doranbolt quickly responded as he dropped his captives before jumping off the pile. "It just seems too easy to get caught in…"

"Doesn't matter," Freed interrupted as he finished making his markings.. "because our enemies are about to wake up. Indeed, a few prisoners were starting to stir awake, rubbing their heads and regaining their bearings.

"Is the Jutsu Shiki strong enough?" Lahar asked.

"There's no time to test it!" Zimbardo argued. "We have to act now!" he slammed his hand on the runes, causing them to emit a bright violet glow. "Jutsu Shiki!"

Freed and Lahar nodded and did the same to their own side, creating a glowing triangle of runes that generated a seemingly endless wall reaching to the heavens.

"Rule," Freed summarized. "No prisoner of Chained Ego is permitted to leave this space once they are inside."

"That was too close," Lahar spoke with relief. "A second too late and they could have interfered with the process," he turned to Freed, a measure of respect in his eye. "You're not so bad, for a Fairy Tail wizard."

Freed smiled back in return. "And you're quite compatible, for a Magic Council Agent."

"Is that even all of them?" Evergreen asked as she eyed the prisoners, who were trying in vain to break through the rune wall.

"We had about 103 prisoners within our walls," Zimbardo explained.

"Between the three of us, we brought in 82 before the Jutsu Shiki was up," Doranbolt added. "And that's not accounting whatever the remaining guards have brought."

"That should be easy to figure out," Freed asked, placing a hand on the Justu Shiki. On all three sides of the barrier, a single number flashed: 99.

"That means they're four left," Lahar summarized before his eyes widened in terror. "Wait a minute, are any of the Grimoire Heart prisoners inside-"

"Gah!" his question was halted by a loud shout, and the ensembled Magic Council and Fairy Tail wizards saw that Zimbardo was entrapped in a crystal cage.

"To answer your question," Thomas Ore taunted as he stepped out from behind Zimbardo, followed by the last three prisoners. "Yes, we have been waiting for you."

"Look at that," Erigor licked his lips in delight. "The Nebula Knights, members of Fairy Tail," a wicked gleam came from his eye. "Just like Black Steel."

"How ironic," Rustyrose mused in delight. "The prisoner has become a tomb for both the wicked hearted and their wardens. And now the demons can walk around and play for free."

"You guys are in for it now," Kain remarked as he cracked his knuckles. "The Kain Pain Train is back for a reunion concert!"

"What sort of metaphor are you trying to use?" Erigor snarked as he held out his hand, into which Rustyrose summoned a black scythe decorated with markings of broken skulls.

The five wizards stood ready. "If you think we are going to lose," Freed coldly stated as he raised his sword. "you are sorely mistaken. We've beaten you once, and we will surely do that again."

Lahar held out his hand to the side. "Requip: Aegis." Appearing on his arm was a bronze circular shield covering his entire forearm. He held it in front of him, revealing the design of a snarling wyvern head. "In the name of the Magic Council, in the name of Ishgar's balance, I will stop you here and now."

"Wow!" Lulu shouted as she avoided a blast of black fluid that corroded the ground around her. "Geez, what's with this guy?! He eats some paper and now he can spray acid?!"

Moreau was just as frustrated as he landed on the ground on all fours. "Hmm, for a demon she's quite versatile. Though that might be because of her God Slayer Magic. Even the acid records of the Desierto Bandit Clan are not enough. Perhaps…"

"Endge!"

"Yes, Ser!" one his men shouted as he traded blows with a Magic Council Knight.

"Prepare the Jutsu Shiki for transfer," he ordered as he pulled out a sheet of dry paper and subtly pushed it into his mouth.

Suddenly, a long chain with a blade at the end came towards him and wrapped around his neck, before pulling him towards Lulu.

"Okay, that's enough," she stated as she turned the chain-blade back into a claw, both arms now demonic and covered in a rhinoceros-like iron coating. She then gripped tightly on the man's neck. "You are coming with me, and you will tell us why are you attacking Chained Ego."

Moreau choked back, but within his wheezes, Lulu could make out a laugh.

"What are you…" she asked as he slowly lifted up an arm before it stretched out to touch the Jutsu Shiki surrounding the prison.

"What the-" those were the last words she said before everything vanish in a purple light.

Kain roared as he charged towards Lahar, his palm pulled back behind him "Dodoski!"

His hand shot forward like a bullet, but Lahar remained unfazed as he raised his shield, which brought the fist to a halt.

"W-what?" Kain's jaw dropped in surprise while he pushed with all his might. But he couldn't even move it by an inch. "But how-"

"Ruin enchantment," Lahar said coldly as a series of purple runes appeared over his shield. "Any object can be enhanced by the written arts."

"Keep him still, giant!" Ore shouted behind Lahar as several crystal gems floated around him, glowing bright with wild energy. "Rustyrose has charged my arsenal. All I need is-"

Suddenly, several magic blasts hit each and every one of them, causing them to erupt and coat him in flames.

"Sorry," Evergreen taunted as she adjusted her glasses. "Did you needed those?"

Ore glared at her with unmatched fury. "You insolent skank, I will- gah!" he then collapsed to the floor when Doranbolt appeared behind him and chopped his neck.

"Do you have to play with your opponents?" he asked.

"It's far too fun not to." Before she could say more, she suddenly heard a growling behind her and quickly activated her wings to fly forward before sword-like claws could cut through her.

"Hmm, so confidant," Rustyrose commented as his arm reverted back from its Black Jet Sword form. "I figured you might have been terrified without your lover-"

"Elfman is not my lov- err," she gritted her teeth, before regaining her composure. "Besides, I'm not alone in this fight."

"Damn straight!" Bickslow cackled behind the dark mage, causing him to turn around and see the Seith Mage and his dolls preparing their laser. "Fry him, babies."

"Fry, fry!" each one of his dolls released their lasers towards Rustyrose.

"From my Left Hand come a Golden Shield to block all!" with his chant, Rustyrose summoned a majestic golden shield to intercept the attack. And while he remained unharmed, the shield broke apart from the attack.

"Impossible!" he gasped. "Has these years in chains made me so weak?"

"Geez, pull it together!" Erigor roared as he traded blows with Freed, who countered every swing of his scythe with his rapier. "We're not losing to these Fairy Bastards."

Freed scoffed as he countered an attack and pushed Erigor backed. "If you're this wild and undisciplined, it must have been short work for Gajeel to best you, twice."

Erigor's face twisted into a vicious scowl as the air around him turned into a maelstrom. "You fucking… just die already!" with a swing of his scythe, he sent a whirlwind of air

"Dark Ecriture: Absolute Shadow!" turning to his armored form, Freed easily pushed through the burst of air and grabbed Erigor's scythe, snapping it into two before punching the Reaper, sending him flying into Rustyrose.

"Off, you sniveling mongrel," Rustyrose snarked.

"Watch it prissy pants," Erigor snarled back as the Nebula Knights surrounded them. "I thought Grimoire Heart wizards are supposed to be tough!"

'We're not exactly at the zenith of our might. Our only choice is to escape."

"Fat chance of that," Erigor shouted, before pointing at Warden Zimbardo, who was almost swallowed by the crystal prison. "Even with him as a hostage, and with that asshole out not for long, we can't leave this fucking place cause some third party is keeping all of us here!"

"What we need... is a Deus Ex Machina."

"And what's that supposed to be in-"

Suddenly, a ball of purple light appeared above them, causing everyone in combat to pause and look above. Before long, the light faded, and falling to the ground was a muzzle-wearing man and a female magic council soldier with metal-covered arms and bat-like wings.

"Well, that just happened," Evergreen lampshaded. "Wait a minute, that's the Clan Garten agent and-"

"Lulu?" Doranbolt exclaimed in shock as he teleported right to her and helped her up. "How did you get-"

"He had his men pulled him inside the Jutsu Shiki, and dragged me in with him," the brunette woman replied. "They might be as skilled as you are, sir."

"So seriously, who's the chick?" Bickslow asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"That arm," Rustyrose exclaimed in shock. "I know that spell. That's Iron God Slayer Magic!"

"God Slayer?!" Erigor shouted. "We're dealing with a brood that kills gods now!"

"WHAT?!" Kain shouted in pure panic, nearly sending Lahar flying with a swing of his arm. "But that's Damascus's magic! How she get it?!"

"When we captured your airship, we raided your entire library and records," Lahar explained. "Including books about Slayer Magic that the Grand Chairman was charitable enough to share to eager wizards like Lieutenant Lulu."

"You stealing bastards! That's against the law!"

Lahar raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You are literally the last person to be saying that."

"What a bothersome conversation," Moreau grumbled as he got up, crinkling his neck. He looked at battle-ready Lulu and Doranbolt with disinterest. "Are all Strainseir this odd? I thought you would have slaughtered each other by now."

"Wait a minute," Erigor muttered. "Is that guy, responsible for what happened?"

"Then that's perfect then," Thomas muttered as he got onto his feet, before slamming a fist into his palm. "Crystal Make: Thorns!"

Breaking out of the ground were several crystal thorns that wrapped around Moreau, though the Garten clansman remained unfazed.

"Stand down, Ore!" Doranbolt commanded, holding out a set of throwing knives between his fingers while Lulu transformed her hands into a pair of hammers

Then, Rustyrose's voice broke through the tension "Come forth, Belfast of the Hurricane!" From scattered dust and Ethernano came forth a gray-skinned wyvern, which roared at the two as it charged to devour them.

"Push through!" the two Magic Council soldiers stood against the creature blocking their path, allowing Ore to walk unchallenged.

"You created the barrier keeping us all in here, correct?" Ore questioned his prisoner. "Let us out or," he created a crystal knife in his palm. "I get to see what's under that muzzle."

Moreau was silent, but you can feel the anger radiated off him. "I would not try that, fool."

"Eh?" the crystal mage scowled. "Do you even realize what's happening? I am your captor, your superior"

"All I know... is that Rubber Clan's Text is still active," before Ore could reply, Moreau tucked his head into his chest, so deep it almost sunk in, before it popped out as his neck extended ten feet high in the air.

"W-what-"

And just as fast as it stretched up, Moreau's head sprung down, creating enough force to shattering his prison and sending shards that knocked ore back.

"Now then," Moreau said as he marched towards Ore. "You call yourself superior?" he held out his hand, and from it came a syringe filled with an amber concoction. "Let's prove it." And he struck the syringe into Ore's neck, before injecting him with the serum inside.

In the midst of destroying the Belfast, Doranbolt and Lulu spotted his action. "What is he doing?" Doranbolt asked.

"If it has something to do with his changing powers," Lulu added, holding back her anxiousness as he saw Ore's body squirming on its own. "It can't be natural."

Ore's body shook uncontrollably as his eyes dilated. "W-wha-wha-waaaa!" he let out a deep baritone scream as his muscles grew out, black veins popping out from beneath his skin. Crystal spikes came from his back like a line of spines, ending in a long spiked tail. His nails popped off his fingers as long crystal claws burst out in their place. And from his temple erupted a pair of curved horns

"What. The. Hell. Is that?!" Erigor shouted as the mutated Ore stumbled back to his feet.

"Huh?" Moreau said in a dead tone as he took a step back. "That… was worse than I feared."

"RAGGHHH!" Ore roared, before charging towards Doranbolt and Lulu.

"Oh crap!' Doranbolt shouted.

"Get back!" Lulu pushed him out of the way. "I'll need everything I got for this. Iron God's Vulcan!"

Two changes happened. First, her human body flashed with light before turning into a blue-skinned demon. Then, black liquid iron seeped from her palm and hardened into a hard clawed gauntlet over her hand. With them, she grabbed the mutant by his horns, slowing them both to a halt as a small trench was dug beneath her feet.

"So… strong…" she gritted as Ore pushed her further back. "What did that Moreau person did to this guy? Never mind that." She concentrated until a coating of black iron covered her forehead, allowing her to headbutt the beast and put it in a daze.

"That's should do it," she said as she let go, holding her hand into a fist. "Now, Iron God's- gah!" before she could do anything, she was suddenly tackled to the ground and screamed as she felt something jab into her shoulder.

"Your demon blood might contaminate it," Moreau muttered as he saw the syringe quickly fill with Lulu's dark red blood. "But Slayer Blood will benefit my research…"

"Keep away from her!" he quickly leaped away, pulling the syringe with him, from a furious Lahar before he could slam his head with his shield. Lahar quickly turned his attention to his subordinate. "Are you okay, Lulu?"

"F-fine sir," she muttered as she gripped to where the Clansman stung her. She winced as she clenched on it, before removing her hand and revealing a coating of iron over the wound.

"Thank goodness-"

"I found you!" both turned to the cry and saw Kain was charging towards them.

"Oh great," Lahar muttered as he got to his feet, holding out his shield to-

"Iron God's Mjolner!" Lulu crossed, transforming both of her hands to hammers, before spinning on her toes and slamming them into Kain, putting a halt on his rampage.

"What was that?" the giant stuttered as he tumbled around.

The demon sighed in relief. "That was too close."

"Wow!" turning around, she saw that Doranbolt was doing his best to leap away from the ramping crystal beast that was Ore, teleporting away before his sausage-sized, shard-tipped fingers could grab him.

Lahar gripped tightly on the strap of his shield. "I won't let that beast hurt Doranbolt! Lieutenant Lulu, move-"

"I'm not done yet!" Kain shouted as he shook his head. "I'm not afraid of porcupines or parrots."

"This is getting ridiculous," the commander griped

"Leave this to me, sir," Lulu spoke up. "I can deal with him."

"Are you sure?"

"He's a lot weaker after all these years in prison. Besides, no offense, but us demons are made of sterner stuff than you humans."

"I'm not scared of some blue parrot!"

Lulu's eyes twitched in annoyance. "And I really want to dent his face in for that."

The commander's forehead wrinkle in indecision, before speaking up. "Alright, but make sure to come out of that fight alive. And that's an order, young lady."

"Yes, sir!" she saluted before he ran off to help Doranbolt.

"You think I'm scared of you!" Kain shouted, picking up his knees and slamming each foot to the ground. "I'm not scared of some bird!"

"Look here tubby," Lulu snarked. "I am not a parrot. I am a demon of Galuna Island and a Lieutenant of the Rune Knights. And I'm not scared of some delusional criminal."

"Oh, it's on now! Dodoski!" he trusted his arm at Lulu, who managed to cover her body in iron in time but was still pushed back by his attack.

"Ow!" she winced in agony. She looked down at her waist where he struck her and saw the iron was dented. "How did he..."

Kain chuckled in amusement. "You might be a god slayer, but you're no Damascus."

"Oh, crap."

"Dodoski! Kick! Thrust!" with every hit, he pushed back against Lulu, leaving dents all over his body.

"This isn't good!" she thought through the bursts of pain from each hit. "He's still too strong. And he might be an idiot, but he'll know exactly what Iron God Slayer Magic can do." She slammed her back against the courtyard's wall, boxed in by Kain's girth.

"I always deliver the pain, little birdie," he chuckled.

"But he doesn't know what I can do?" she realized.

"Finishing smash!" he pulled his palm back, then threw it forward with the force of a cannon at the demon-girl. But before it could make contact, she suddenly vanished, leaving his hand to strike through the wall instead.

"H-huh, where she go!" he bellowed in annoyance as he searched the courtyard while trying to pull his arm free. "Come out and fight me!"

"Oh, I can do that." He suddenly looked up and saw that the demon-girl was flying above him with two batlike wings. "Now," she gulped in a huge breath of air. "Iron God's…"

"Oh no," Kain whimpered. He knew this spell. On a good day, he could easily tank such a hit from Damascus with barely a scratch.

But those good days he usually had Mister Cursey with him. And it's been seven long uneventful years since those good days.

"Bellow!" with a mighty yell, Lulu spewed out her iron-shard breath that easily swallowed the pale-skinned giant, who screamed in agony under the assault. After a few seconds, she stopped, and the shards fell off Kain to reveal him unconscious and covered in thousand of scratches and bruises.

"Knocked out but still standing," she muttered as she fell to the ground on her knees, pulling her wings back into her. "Grimoire Heart wizards are really something else, huh?"

"We have to do something about that beast," Freed said to his fellow Knights as they held their ground against Erigor's wind and Rustyrose's creation. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the Rune Knights struggling against the transformed Ore.

"Easier said than done," Evergreen snarked as she blasted away one of the Embodiment Mage's grim flies. "We can't exactly get past these two!"

"Then we just have to bring Ore here," both of them looked at Bickslow, who was backflipping away from Erigor's scythe. "Bickslow!"

"Finally, the fun part!" the knight cackled. "Babies!"

"Fun part, fun part!" his dolls flew out and swarmed around Erigor.

"The fuck- get away from me!" the wind mage yelled as he tried to sweep them away. "What is this anyway?!"

"Hey Ore!" Bickslow yelled, grabbing the crystal beast's attention from Lahar and Doranbolt. "Your mommy was a capybara and your daddy smelled like grapes."

"..."

"Also, Erigor thinks you're some stuck-up bitch that couldn't even beat a dainty little girl!"

"Really!" Freed shouted.

"Sorry!"

"Wait, I never said that!" Erigor yelled. "Ore, don't go believing-"

"Raagghh!" Ore roared as he charged straight to both Erigor and Bickslow.

The reaper's jaw fell to the floor. "Oh shit

"I love this part," Bickslow waved as he stepped back. "Later!"

Before Erigor could reply, he was thrown into the wall by Ore as the beast ran towards the knight.

"Oh, forgot that part."

"Bickslow!" he saw Freed and Evergreen flying towards him. "Maneuver Antaeus!"

"Got it!" with a wide grin the crazy knight rolled under the beast's punch, just as a cloud of golden dust flew by and surrounded Ore's feet, making it impossible to see beneath him.

"Fairy Bomb:" Evergreen spoke as she held up a hand, "Gremlin." A quick snap of her fingers and the dust ignited and propelled the roaring Ore into the air, with Freed waiting to slam him with both fists together, sending him straight into the box of prisoners.

"And that makes," Bickslow quipped as he threw the unconscious Erigor into the box. "101."

"You, you think you've won?" Rustyrose snarled, raising his hand up like a puppeteer. "The story has yet to end, and as long as I am conscious, my mind will find a path to victory."

"There's one problem with that," he turned around, only to get a shield slamming into his face. "You're not the protagonist of this tale." Lahar finished as he pulled his shield back.

"Thank you, Lahar," Freed said as the Nebula Knights came over to him and Doranbolt.

"I should be thanking you," Lahar argued. "You pulled that beast away long enough for Doranbolt to teleport me behind Rustyrose." He turned to his partner, who was holding onto his knees. "You okay?"

"Just give me a minute," he panted out. "I never teleported this many times in one day, and with so many bodies."

"So that's everyone?" Evergreen asked.

"Lulu's taking care of Kain Hakiru, so all that's left is-" the commander caught his breath in shock. "Is Moreau."

Separated from the other wizards thanks to Ore throwing him to the other side of the Justu Shiki box, Zimbardo wiped away the crystal shards that was once his own prison

"I hope the others are okay," he muttered as he wiped clean his suit. "Four of the most dangerous prisoners fighting them all at once."

"I would be more worried about yourself, warden," he turned around and almost fainted at the sight of the body-suit man from the projection lacrima.

"You- gah!" he was pushed to his back by the Garten clansman.

"Where is it?" Mercator questioned, as he pinned Zimbardo to the ground.

"I don't have it!" he pleaded. "My teacher never gave it to me! Just leave us all alone!"

"So our prize was never here," the Clansman said. "Nevermind," he held out his hand, and pulled from the air a glowing white runestone, before bringing it down towards his captive. "I have other orders regarding you…"

But before it could make contact with the man, a large, metal projectile flew threw the air and knocked the runestone away from Mercator's grip. The shield then flew back to Lahar's hand.

"Now, Freed!" Lahar shouted.

Freed quickly picked up the runestone, his right eye glowed violet as he spoke "De-enchant!" the white runes were painted purple by his touch, before fading away and leaving an ordinary, smoothed rock.

"No!" Mercator growled.

"End of the line, Mercator," Freed stated as the two rune mages marched towards him. "You've lost."

"Keh. Keheheheheh," Mercator laughed. "It is a loss, but," he felt the vial of blood pushed against his chest. "I have enough new data for my research," he placed two fingers to his temple. "Endge, if you are still active, full retreat."

"No, you don't!" Lahar charged straight for the man but was only able to grab onto white runes made from his disintegrating body. "Dammit!" he snapped. "If I could have grabbed him…"

"We worry about that later," Freed said. He held out his hand to Zimbardo and helped him up. "Are you alright, Zimbardo-san."

"F-for the most part," he muttered through chattering teeth, his body shivering with relief. "Though I think I was this close to getting a heart attack."

"At least it worked out in the end," Freed noted, spotting all the unconscious prisoners. "Now all that's left is cleanup."

Meanwhile, the soldiers of Clan Garten teleported back to their headquarters, with Moreau walking ahead of them

"Sir," Endge spoke up. "What about Zimbardo?"

"He did not have the Key Piece, and with the Magic Council involved he'll be too secure to reach. I'll take full responsibility for what happened this day in my report to the Chieftain.

"Still," he pulled out the vial filled with Lulu's blood. "It was not a complete loss. And the results of the Theriomorph Brew gave interesting results. Though I shouldn't be surprised. Not all magic users could handle it as well as I could"

An hour later, everything had gone back to normal. The building's security was brought back to life thanks to Zimbardo, and all the prisoners were sent back to their cells.

Though the only exceptions were Rustyrose, Kain, Erigor, and Ore. After speaking with Chairman Gran Doma, it was concluded that all four will be escorted to a maximum security facility outside the country.

"You think they'll be secure?" Lulu asked as she saw Ore being pushed into the carriage to join the other three. Once he woke up, the former tycoon regained his human mind, but his body was still trapped in his monstrous form, requiring extra-strong magic-sealing cuffs to keep him from breaking them off.

"They have to be," Doranbolt replied. "Chained Ego has been compromised, and while it's enough for the regular prisoners even with the warden being taken towards a secure location, it might not fare well if these four are still here."

"We were lucky that we were successful," Lahar stated, returning while holding onto a communication orb. "But because we won by luck we need to be more vigilant." he turned to the Nebula Knight. "It's the vow the council took seven years ago that we will uphold."

"Then I have hope that you are successful," Freed replied. "We might be able to faith in you three."

The good mood was then interrupted by a series of beeping. "What in the world is that?" Lahar questioned, his forehead wrinkling in annoyance.

"That's for us," Freed stated as he reached under his jacket and pulled out the small, flashing communication lacrima. "It's a message from Levy and- oh no."

"What is it?" Evergreen asked as she saw her teammate's eyes widened.

"Levy's team was just attacked by two Garten clansman, Mercator and Alexis according to her account," he gritted his teeth. "If that's true, we have to go and rescue them."

"No need to say it twice," the Fairy Mage replied firmly.

"Bring them on!" Bickslow cackled.

"You said Levy's team is in trouble?" Lulu asked as she walked towards them. "Levy as in a girl with blue wavy hair?"

The Nebula Knights looked at her in surprise. Freed was the first to speak "How did-?"

"Seven years ago, a team from Fairy Tail came to my home, Galuna Island," she explained. "You already know that I'm, well… a demon…"

"No biggie," Bickslow muttered. "Freed and the She-Demon can practically turn into them."

"But back then the entire island forgot that fact thanks to a cage of Moon Drip above our home. We forget who we were and thought we were humans that were cursed to become demons, and eventually go mad from it. If it wasn't for that team…"

"Now I remember," Evergreen said. "I heard that Gajeel and the others stole an S-Class job to the cursed island Galuna, right before Phantom Lord attack."

"That's why I have to come," Lulu spoke out, holding a hand to her chest. "If they're in trouble, then I have to save them as they saved us." She suddenly flinched and turned to Lahar, who was silent during the entire proceedings. "If... that's okay with you sir."

The commander was silent, but it was Doranbolt who spoke instead. "If Fairy Tail's in trouble, then I want to help as well," he looked straight towards the three guild wizards. "I know you might not trust me after I altered your memory and ruined your S-Class trial but," he clenched his fist. "I wasn't able to save Kag- to save any of you that day. I can't stand back and ignored this."

"That's… a reasonable offer," Freed stated.

"Wait, are you serious?" Evergreen spoke. "They're the council-"

"And this isn't a problem that Fairy Tail can solve alone. Though," he looked straight at Lahar. "The decision is up to their commander."

Lahar stared for a moment, before turning to one of his Rune Knights. "Dolon."

"Sir," a raven-haired Rune Knight saluted back.

"I leave you with escorting the prisoners," Lahar commanded. "In the meantime," he turned back to the Fairy Tail wizards. "I will be hunting down this 'Clan Garten.'"

Freed smiled. "Thank you, Lahar."

"Don't make this personal, Justine," the Rune Knight firmly replied. "Right now, this Clan Garten is a monumental threat to numerous mages across the country. I received permission from Councilman Org to do whatever it takes to bring them in, including working alongside you."

"That'll do, now then," Freed gripped on the hilt of his sword. "Let's move out."

And with that, the three Nebula Knights, along with their Rune Knight allies, took charge as reinforcements to their comrades.

Gah, the anticipation is increasing! What will happen next? Will they reach their comrades in time? Find out next time!

Oh, and don't forget to write down your thoughts on this chapter. I really need honest opinions on these.

Edit: I want to thank Warmachine375 for giving me the idea of Magic Council Lulu. And for being a good friend for talking with about my ideas.

Well, that should handle all the loose ends. Oh, wait...

Epilogue (Prison Truck):

"Well, this fucking great," Erigor snarked, cuffed to his seat next to his fellow prisoners.

"Ow," Kain muttered through his hundreds of bruises. "It hurt so bad…"

"Oh, quit your complaining," Ore snarked in a graveling voice.

"Like you were any help! After turning into some crystal freak you just slammed me into the wall!"

"I wasn't in my right mind, you ingrate!"

"Well, like you ever are, you jackass!"

"Cease your argument," Rustyrose interrupted. "The fault does not lie in us. Instead," his eyes narrowed in anger. "It lies with Fairy Tail. Every time they are a thorn to our side."

"Damn straight/Indeed/No kidding."

"It sounds like you all have a vendetta against Fairy Tail," a fifth voice spoke. They turned around to look at the Rune Knight that was set to guard them.

"What do you care?"

Dolon replied with a fearsome smirk. "Because we are more alike than you think." He formed a symbol of hand gestures in front of him before a flood of water covered his body. His physical shape changed from stocky and heavy-built to thin and nimble. The water vanished to a man wearing a dark-blue ninja uniform.

"Is that?" Kain gasped. "A samurai?"

"Were you dropped on your head as a kid?!" Erigor shouted.

"Wait a minute," Ore's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Pinyin? Elemental of Water-"

"Of Phantom Lord," Rustyrose finished coldly. "Did you come to finish us off?"

Pinyin said nothing at first, summoning a katana made of water in his hand, before using it to cut the magic-sealing cuffs off the four.

"We need to stay in here until we are a few clicks away from the prison," the ninja said coldly. "We must not draw suspicion."

"I don't understand," Rustyrose spoke up. "Phantom Lord might have been disbanded by the council years ago, but before your guild went after several dark guilds serving the Balam Alliance. We are natural enemies, so why did you come to the rescue."

"We released you for one reason. All of us have a trait that brings you together," Pinyin's blue eyes were as wild as a hurricane. "An undying hatred of a single guild: Fairy Tail."

Don't worry. They won't get involved in this arc. It's already a clusterstorm without them anyway.