Kia could have sworn that dragon eggs had an incubation period, but these little suckers weren't waiting around. The Fairy Tailers turned to face their new enemy that had just appeared all around them.
"Just great," Verani grumbled loudly as she began shifting her attention between Atlas Flame and the new arrivals. "This just keeps getting better and better, huh?"
The sound of rapid sparks filled the air before a figure encased in lightning rammed into the side of Atlas Flame.
"It's Laxus." Romeo's face lit up.
"Quit gawking." The Lightning Dragon Slayer landing between the dragon and the others, "Or did you not notice there are dragons to slay? I'll take the big guy myself."
Romeo's eyes widened, "You can't do it alone!"
"He's not." Freed stepped up, with the rest of the Thunder Legion at his back.
Evergreen smirked, "We've got his back."
"The Thunder Legion will handle this."
"We'll leave all the babies to you guys!" Bixlow grinned.
The First Master nodded in agreement, "The rest of you, keep away from the big ones. Remember what Natsu told us. Only Dragon Slayers can beat them. Laxus, Thunder Legion, good luck!"
The others began to scatter, heading toward their own groups of the newly hatched army. Kia continued to hover just behind the other two Mythics. Her eyes scanned the area, though she didn't rise more than a few feet off the ground.
"V, stay and help out here."
"What?" the blonde spun around to face her, "Why?"
Kia shook her head, "You can help support Laxus and boost his attacks even if you aren't a Dragon Slayer. Amber, stick with the main forces and help with the hatchlings."
The dark-haired girl raised a brow, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to help from above." The pinkette began to rise, "I'll thin out the large waves before they can reach anyone."
The two exchanged a look as Kia gave them no room for debating. She knew that they would have tried to stop her from going off on her own because they were worried about the time sickness, and she knew they didn't have time for that. That was why she needed to go off and be productive elsewhere, so they weren't glancing over their shoulders constantly to make sure she was alright.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Amber said.
Verani grumbled, "I got one the minute that damned Gate was mentioned."
The Blood mage extended a fist, "Just do your thing. You know she has too many things left to accomplish before she lets anything take her down."
"Damn it, but still." V tapped her knuckles against Amber's, "You do the same. See you at the end."
They nodded at one another before turning and taking off in their opposite directions.
||~x~||
Verani still couldn't believe what had happened back there. Happy had just dropped Natsu out of the sky before the Fire Dragon Slayer announced he was going to eat the Hellfire Dragon. As shocking as it was, she still couldn't help the amusement that wanted to well up inside her at the thought. This was Natsu, and he's been known to do the craziest things at some times. V could say with some certainty that it ran in the family. Kia was known for doing crazy things herself.
The blonde's mood shifted at the thought of her best friend flying the skies overhead. She knew that the Phoenix Slayer had no business relying on her magic to fly right now, especially knowing that time was in such a state of flux. Kia would be screwed if her magic just decided to stop working or worse, she completely passed out in mid-air.
V shook her head as she tried to shove the thought aside. She stomped, an electric current running from her foot to a few of the hatchlings that had just sprung up in front of her. Laxus had just charged on ahead in his Lightning Body form to get to the castle faster. Even if they were making good time, all five of them felt better knowing that he would get to the young Sky Dragon Slayer sooner.
"Fairy Machine Gun Leprechaun!"
A dazzle of what some would say resembled angry glitter pasted over Verani's head from her left, cutting through a half dozen more approaching hatchlings off to her right. Evergreen buzzed by after her attack, ready to send a second wave after any stragglers she had missed in that direction. Freed's rapier clashed off a few to V's left, before a flash of purple runes appeared before him.
"Dark Écriture: Slay."
His next slash sent the hatchling sprawling into its siblings, a cavernous dent in its chest as the ground under them both crackled and began to crater from the force. A chuckle came from behind Verani.
"Having too much fun over there, Freed?" Bixlow kicked one hatchling back as two more were plowed over by his Tikis. The wooden totems soared back to spin around his head for a second before splitting off to their next targets.
"Just clearing the path." the green-haired man responded, knocking back a few more with a slash of his rapier, more magical runes appearing in the air. A small forcefield formed with the runes, exploding as soon as a hatchling touched it.
"If you say so, buddy."
"Flash Bolt!"
A single bolt of lightning zipped behind Bixlow's head, colliding with an incoming blast of magic the Seith mage had not noticed.
Verani growled, "Bixlow! Pay attention!" She spun back on her heels, sending sparks back in the direction she was supposed to be attacking. "You can pick on everyone else once this is over!"
"That include you, Little Spark?!"
The blonde growled again, muttering under her breath. The hatchlings weren't showing any signs of thinning much more, but they were still making steady progress toward Mercurius.
"I don't care! Just shut up for now!"
||~x~||
"Move!"
Amber ignored the warning as she just spun around, slashing her enchanted dagger across the pouncing hatchling's chest. It whined as it fell backwards as the Blood mage quickly chucked a smaller blade into the mouth of the next one.
'How the hell did I end up with this jerk?!'
Amber wanted to curse the world, but the help was honestly needed. The barrier she had been using earlier hadn't been a small one. Even with channeling everything through her blades instead of herself, it had taken more out of her than she would have liked. A small part of her figured she and Juvia might find the two Ice-Make wizards together when the other girl insisted on finding her beloved to make sure he was alright. Now they were slowly being pushed back down one of Crocus' many streets as the hatchlings continued to swarm forward.
Jumping up, she was able to avoid a blast that had been headed in her direction. Twirling in the air, Amber was able to throw a few more small daggers, taking out a hatchling per blade.
"Ice-Make Shield!"
A shiver ran up her spine as the solid sheet of ice formed behind her, stopping the extra attack she hadn't noticed. She landed on the ground beside its caster, slightly surprised.
"Thanks."
Lyon nodded as he slammed his fist against his other palm again, "Try this. Ice-Make: Snow Tiger!"
The frozen creature sprung to life out of the pale blue magic circle around his hands, roaring as it leapt forward. It's charge was soon cut short as it shattered against a few hatchling blasts. Gray didn't give the creatures a moment to continue.
"Ice Cannon!"
He fired condensed ice blasts, only for them to meet the same fate as Lyon's Tiger. He growled as he turned to his old friend, "I don't know about you man, but I'm getting sick and tired of this underdog crap. Let's take 'em out together!"
"Sounds good to me!" a smirk crossed Lyon's face as he stepped up with Gray, both bringing their hands together.
"Ice-Make: Freeze Lancer!"
"Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!"
The Snow Dragon soared through the frozen lances, its body growing harder and wings sharper. It roared out as it easily slammed into its targets. A sigh of relief left the small group, but was short lived.
"They just keep coming." Gray said as he counted over the new hatchlings that were climbing the rumble.
"Come on, we should fall back and take cover." Lyon immediately stepped away, his eyes scanning the area of possibilities, quickly trying to determine which one was their best option.
Juvia stepped up to the other Ice wizard, "Gray, we have to go!"
"Yeah I get it!" he grumbled as they turned to follow.
Amber went to follow, but paused when the twinkle of the charging attacks caught her eye. "Guys!"
She turned, ready to drag her dagger across her palm. There wasn't much time as more beams began to charge.
A large ice shield came up around the four of them as Gray and Lyon landed in front of the girls. The two ground their teeth at the force clashing with the shield. Juvia watched nervously between the Ice wizards and the magical attacks.
Amber's jaw clenched before running her blade along her palm. Her blood splatter on the cobblestones, the movement not going unnoticed by her oldest friend.
"Amber!"
But the Blood mage ignored the startled tone in Juvia's voice as she leapt over the frozen barrier, the red magic circle already sprouting from her bloody hand.
"Blood Wave!"
Amber swiped her hand across, sending an arc of crimson out that only expanded the further it flew. Reminiscent of Juvia's Water Slicer, the other three stared as the entire front line of hatchlings fell to the ground in pieces. The giant ice shield crumbled in time with her feet hitting the ground. Panting, Amber turned, grabbing Juvia's wrist as she moved away from the fighting.
"If we're moving, we need to do it now."
||~x~||
Kia paused in her loop around this half of the city, her eyes landing on that familiar head of long dark hair as Ultear just sat there, seemingly unaffected by the chaos around her. The Phoenix Slayer's eyes quickly caught a glint from nearby firelight reflecting off one of the hatchlings as it jumped into the clearing near the clocktower.
"Phoenix Cry!"
The sudden shout pulled Ultear from her thoughts in time to see the flaming tornado smash into the silver draconic creature that had been coming her way. She didn't react as the pinkette landed on the ground in front of her.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Ultear's glaze faltered, making Kia's brow quirk. It was almost like she could hear the Phoenix Slayer, but her mind wasn't fully comprehending that she was saying words.
"Hey!" Kia's tone came off firmer and just a little louder, but still nothing. "HEY!"
The clacking babble of hatchlings reached her ears as soon as she had fully raised her voice.
'Well they know where we are now.'
"Kia?"
Half-dazed crimson eyes moved up to meet her onyx ones in mild confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I was trying to ask you that question." She put her hands on her hips, "You do realize this isn't the best place for taking a break."
Ultear shook her head, "I have to fix this. That's all I can do."
Kia paused, taking in the broken tone in the older woman's voice, "What do you mean?"
But her attention was quickly snatched away as the scrapping of claws on stone reached her ears. Kia pivoted, taking in a quick breath.
"Phoenix Cry!"
The trio of hatchlings vanished back behind the mound of rumble they had been scaling, but she could see more coming.
"Well whatever you're planning, we have maybe two minutes to get moving before this area is swarming with those little assholes."
Ultear's gaze had fallen again, scanning over the rumble and ruin that lay around them. Her mind playing through the times in her life when she left this type of destruction and heartache in her wake. How had she ever condoned taking innocent lives? Why had that been her first thought when explained the situation with Future Rogue?
'I can never atone for all the wrong I've done.'
"This isn't the time for-"
But Kia abruptly stopped. Multiple shivers ran up her spine as small flickers of warmth and light tingled in the back of her mind.
'The feathers are going off...'
||~x~||
Hope you guys are all enjoying things as we quickly approach the peak of battle with the dragons!
See ya Monday!