Chapter 28-29

Meanwhile, Mira and Master Makarov are making preparations for the Fantasia Parade, and after learning that Laxus is in town, Master Makarov recalls the time when Laxus was young and remembers his love and respect for Fairy Tail.

The Day of the Fantasia Parade...

Natsu struggles to walk, stating that he will eat all the food at the festival. Lucy, Gray, and Juvia meet with Warren Rocko, a Fairy Tail member with telepathic abilities. He speaks of the Miss Fairy Tail contest, and Lucy remembers that she is late for it.

At the guild...

"Everyone, I'm so glad you could make it! The battle of beauty between our female Fairies... Let's start with the Miss Fairy Tail Contest! I am Max, the sand wizard, and I will be your host!" The audience cheers on, waiting for the beautiful girls to come out.

Aira, Gray, Natsu, Cain, Happy, and Elfman are all sitting at one table. "You don't care about this stuff, right?" Gray asks Natsu who is peacefully eating his bread.

"He's a man!" Elfman commented.

"Entry #1: The exotic beauty with a bottomless pit for a stomach, Cana Alberona!" Max introduces her as the audience cheers on. "Now it's time to appeal to the audience with your magic!" Cana takes out her cards as it circles around her. "The cards are hiding Cana's body..." She changes into a swimsuit. "A swimsuit!"

"I'll take that beer-money, thanks." Cana smiled.

"A swimsuit?! No fair!" Lucy peaks at the show, hiding behind the curtain.

"I see... That's a good idea!" Erza peaks as well.

"You're participating too, Erza?!" Lucy asked.

"When I hear there's a contest, I can't help but get motivated." Erza replied.

"My rent is slipping away from me..." Lucy whined.

"Entry #2: She might be a newcomer, but her abilities are S-Class! Rain or shine, this woman will steal your heart! Juvia Lockser!"

"May these feelings reach to you, Gray-sama!" Juvia changes into a swimsuit as well.

"Oh look, Gray. Your girlfriend is putting on quite a show." Aira commented.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Gray exclaimed.

"She put on a performance that matches her swimsuit!"

"Gray-sama, did you see?!" Juvia's eyes sparkle.

"Another one going for sex appeal?!" Lucy complains as Erza nods in agreement.

"Entry #3: Everyone's favorite poster girl of the guild... Her beauty is known throughout the land! Mirajane!" Most of the audience were waiting for her. "Now, appeal the audience!"

"My specialty is transformation magic, so I'll transform!" Mira transforms her head into Happy. "Head-only, Happy! Aye!" This turns the audience off. "Head-only, Gajeel-kun!" Gajeel freaks out when he sees Mira appear the same as him. Happy dies of laughter.

"You're the only one happy about this, you know." Gray commented.

"Nee-chan..." Elfman has his mouth wide open.

Lucy snickers under her breath. "The crowd's favorite just shot herself in the foot!" Erza nods again.

"Entry #4: She needs no explanation... Titania!"

"There's my cue!" Erza makes a grand entrance, doing a couple of flips and landing in the middle of the stage.

"Erza Scarlet!" The audience gets more excited.

"She's really popular!" Lucy watches the crowd go wild.

"I will show you all a very special requip." Erza changes into a gothic look.

"G-Goth Loli?!" Lucy exclaimed, shocked to see this type of appeal.

"That decided it." Erza smiles at the crowd.

"That's really different of her." Macao commented.

"Entry #5: The little fairy with cures an intelligence... Levy McGarden!"

"Levy!" Jet and Droy cheer from the crowd.

"Solid Script!" Levy uses her magic to summon the words "Snow, Metal, Butterfly, Flower".

"Levy!" Jet and Droy fall in love with her even more.

"Entry #6: The sexy sniper Bisca Mulan!" Bisca is wearing a purple swimsuit, she has four gold coins between her fingers. She throws them in the air so she can shoot at them.

"Requip! The Gunner!" Bisca requips her gun into a sniper, shooting exactly in the middle of the four coins in a row. "Yeehaw!" She catches the coins, exciting the crowd even more.

"How cute!" Alzack's eyes turn into hearts.

"Everyone's really amazing..." Lucy is amazed at the girls' talents.

"Entry #7: Our guild's super rookie! This upcoming star will sparkle with the guidance of Celestial Spirits! Lucy Heart-"

"Don't say my last name!" Lucy interrupts him. "If they found out who my dad is, they'll never award me the 500,000!" She smiles and waves at the crowd.

"Now, appeal to the audience!"

"Um, I'm going to do a cheer dance routine with my Spirits!" Lucy takes out her pink pom poms.

"Entry #8!" A woman interrupts Lucy's performance.

"Hey! I'm not done appealing yet!" Lucy starts to cheer.

"If you want a Fairy, then you want me." A woman said. "If you want beauty, then you want me. Yes, I am all you want! The winner is obviously me, Evergreen! Okay! The idiotic contest is now over!" Everybody else didn't expect her to come. Master Makarov is mostly worried.

"Hey, don't get in my way! My rent is counting on this, you know!" Lucy complains to Evergreen.

"Lucy, don't look into her eyes!" Aira warned.

"What's with this kid?" Evergreen removes her glasses and looks directly into Lucy's eyes. The Magic effects Lucy and turns her into stone.

"This is bad... Everyone, quickly escape!" Max warned. Immediately, everyone starts running away from the guild.

"What are you doing, Evergreen?! Do you plan on ruining the festival?!" Master Makarov asked, furious with her.

Evergreen chuckles to herself. "You need entertainment for a festival, yes?" The curtain behind her rises and shows all of the girls who participated in the contest, turned into stone.

"Nee-chan!" Elfman cries out for his sister.

"Even Erza!" Happy pointed out.

"You fool! Return them to normal at once!" Master Makarov demanded. A lightning bolt strikes down on stage.

"Hey, Fairy Tail weaklings!" Laxus appears from the lightning bolt. "This festival's just getting started!" Not only that, Freed and Bickslow are in the guild right now.

"The Raijin Tribe..." Macao muttered.

"Laxus' personal bodyguards!" Wakaba stated.

"Let's play, old man." Laxus grins at Master Makarov.

"Enough of this foolishness! Return them to normal at once!" Master Makarov demanded.

"I wonder how many will be left to be in Fantasia?" Laxus strikes a lightning bolt next to Lucy, nearly hitting her. They get worried and scared when they see the lightning bolt. Laxus wraps an arm around the stoned Lucy. "These women are my hostages. If you break the rules, I'll shatter them, one by one. I told you, remember? This is entertainment!"

"This isn't funny, Laxus!" The Master argues with him.

"I'm being serious." Laxus said.

Freed jumps down on the stage. "Let's just see who's the strongest in Fairy Tail."

"Time for fun!" Bickslow shouted. His five dolls repeat after him. "Fun, fun!"

"The rules are simple! The last one standing is the winner!" Laxus explained. "Battle of Fairy Tail!"

Natsu slams his fist on the table. "I like it! Simple! I'm getting fired up!"

"I like that eager spirit of yours." Laxus said.

"It's a festival, Gramps! Let's do this!" Natsu walks towards Laxus.

"Don't you remember when you got beat by Laxus before?!" Warren reminded him.

"I was just a kid!" Natsu replied.

"It was last year!" Warren pointed out.

"I was a kid last year." Natsu jumps at Laxus.

"But I hate that you have no sense of flair. So cool down." Laxus easily electrifies Natsu.

"See what I said?!" Warren covers his face with his hand, sighing at Natsu.

"What a Man..." Elfman commented.

Natsu falls back down on the ground. "Aww, and he had just recovered..." Happy watches Natsu sizzle.

"If you want these girls returned to normal you must defeat us!" Evergreen said.

"There are 4 of us, and around 100 of you, right?!" Bickslow cackles. "100 on 4!"

"You have 3 hours! After that, they turn to dust, I'm afraid!" Evergreen stated.

"The battlefield is Magnolia. When you find us, the battle begins." Laxus explained.

"Laxus... Stop this foolishness!" Master Makarov turns into a titan.

"Now, now! I said to cool down! It's the entertainment for the festival, see? Let's have fun!" A bright light shines throughout the guild. "Battle of Fairy Tail... begin!" Laxus and the rest of the Raijin tribe disappear.

"So we have to play tag in Magnolia?!" Macao asked.

"Damn it! We have to save my sister and the others!" Elfman and the rest run out of the guild to search for the Raijin Tribe.

"Bisca, I'll save you. Just you wait." Alzack leaves the guild after everybody.

"That fool..." Master Makarov starts to run. "I'll... I'll stop you!" The Master runs into an invisible wall at the entrance.

"Master!" Gray hears the Master crash into the invisible wall.

"An invisible wall?!" Master Makarov tries to get through.

"Don't be silly! There's nothing there!" Gray picks up the Master and helps him get through. "What's going on?!" He looks up and sees weird writing. "What's this?! There are characters floating in the air..."

"Freed's runes?" Master Makarov recognizes them. "A type of barrier. Anyone who steps in its boundary is bound by the rules. If you don't obey them, you can't get out. Establishment Magic!"

"What's written?"

"Those older than 80 or stone statues may not pass." Master Makarov reads them out loud.

"A magic where the guy who sets the rules wins?" Gray asked.

"It takes a long time to write the runes. It is not suited for a sudden battle, but when it comes to setting traps, there's nothing better." Master Makarov explained.

"Can't you break it down, Master?" Gray asked.

"The rune's rules are absolute!" Master Makarov replied.

"Man, they planned for everything." Gray sighed. "So I guess we'll have to handle it ourselves. I don't care if he's your grandson or whatever, I ain't holdin' back! I'll get Laxus." He runs away from the guild.

"Is there anyone who could beat Laxus? Erza might be able to... But in her condition..." Master Makarov thinks to himself. He notices someone hiding behind a pillar. "Who's there?! Reedus?"

"I-I'm scared of Laxus..." Reedus replied.

"Fine, fine... Instead, I'd like you to pay a visit to Porlyusica in the East Forest. She might have some potion that'll cure petrification." Master Makarov ordered.

Natsu jolts up from where he was, confused about everything. "Huh?! Where's Laxus?! And wait, everyone's gone!"

Master Makarov notices Natsu alive and kicking. "If Natsu really got serious, then perhaps..."

"Gramps, where did everyone go?!" Natsu asked.

"Should I count on his latent ability?" The Master thinks for a second. "Natsu! The festival started! Laxus is somewhere in Magnolia! Get out there and beat 'im!"

"All right! Just you wait, Laxus!" Natsu runs to the entrance, but runs into an invisible wall just like the Master did earlier. They're all surprised to see that happen to him. "Why?"

Jet and Droy meet up with Alzack somewhere in Magnolia while looking for Laxus. None of them had found them yet. Alzack kicks a nearby crate and expresses his anger over Bisca being turned to stone. Jet and Droy tell him to calm down but he claims that he cannot. Suddenly, symbols appear on the floor and surround them. They realize that it's Freed's work and that there are probably runes like this all over town. The rules of the runes read that only the strongest mage can come out, meaning they have to fight one another. Jet and Droy view this as a cheap trick by Freed. Alzack looks down, mutters an apology and claims that he will save Bisca.

"What's going on here?! Natsu! Are you 80 years old?! Are you a stone statue?!" Master Makarov asked. Happy flies in and out of the wall.

"As if!" Natsu struggled.

"Current Status Report. Jet vs. Droy vs. Alzack?" Master Makarov reads the rune. "W-What's this?!"

"Why are they fighting each other?!" Natsu asked.

Jet uses Falcon Heavenwald and speedly advance toward Alzack and land a powerful kick on him. Alzack dodges this by jumping up. Droy attacks him with Knuckle Plant while Alzack's in mid-air but he quickly evades the thick vines coming at him from Droy's magic. When the vines have gone, Alzack activates his Guns Magic: Tornado Shot and shoots both Jet and Droy, defeating them.

"Winner: Alzack. Jet and Droy: Out of action." Master Makarov read out loud.

Laxus is shown asking himself how long Master Makarov will be able to stand seeing his "children" fight one another.

"The hell with this, Laxus!" Natsu roared.

The townspeople start to notice that the Fairy Tail members are fighting against each other.

As they speak, Vijeeter breaks out of a wall, and is apparently fighting Nab. Vijeeter doesn't want to fight, but is faced with the fact that they are forced to. Elsewhere, battles between Max and Warren, Macao and Wakaba, and Laki and four other girls.

"Max vs. Warren. Winner: Warren. Vijeeter vs. Nab. Winner: Nab. Laki took out four, Macao vs. Wakaba's battle is in progress." Happy reads the results.

"Enough! Stop this, you foolish children!" Master Makarov expresses his anger.

"Rune traps have been set up throughout the city. And the ones who are trapped inside are forced to fight. That's the Battle of Fairy Tail that Laxus talked about!" Happy explained.

"But why?! I don't get it!" Natsu grits his teeth in anger. "I wanna join, too!" He slams himself against the invisible wall.

"That's what he's upset about?!" Master Makarov and Happy shouted.

"What's with this invisible wall?!" Natsu pants as he pulls himself away from the wall.

Master Makarov slaps his head. "And what do you plan to do by joining in?!"

"It's a tournament to see who's the strongest!" Natsu replied.

"How is this a tournament?!" Master Makarov added. "This is all just Laxus' plan to get us to wipe each other out! Unless we can defeat the Raijin Tribe within the time limit, Erza and the other girls will turn into dust. Everyone is doing whatever they can to prevent that. I'll need something more than our usual way of thinking to take control of the situation! At this rate anyone who was turned to stone will crumble into dust. There won't be any way to restore them."

"Laxus acts bad, but he ain't gonna go that far." Natsu stated. "Yeah, he gets on my nerves, but he's a fellow guild member. It's a bluff obviously." Master Makarov thinks for a second. Natsu slams himself at the wall again. "This is just a fighting festival! But then why can't I get out?!"

"I can go through normally!" Happy flies in and out of the invisible wall.

"People over 80 years old can't pass through... Does that mean I'm over 80?!" Natsu panics to himself.

"I don't think you are, but..." Happy commented.

"You call Laxus your fellow guild member? You don't believe that he'll go that far?" The Master thinks about Natsu's words about Laxus.

"There's 2 hours and 18 minutes left. And there are... 42 people left!" Happy reads the time and amount.

"42 people?! More than half are gone after infighting!" Master Makarov exclaimed.

With only two hours and eighteen minutes left, forty two people are left. Macao and Wakaba begin to battle and Macao, using his Purple Rain, attacks Wakaba. Unfortunately, for Macao, that was one of Wakaba's Smoke Fake that he attacked. Wakaba, standing behind Macao, says that he is getting rusty, and has been too soft on people.

Reedus is running towards Porlyusica's House, but he is stopped by an invisible wall. He notices that Freed's runes are set up around the entire city. Freed teleports and appears in front of Reedus and tells him that he will not allow anyone to break his rules. Freed states that Laxus made it clear that the battle field was the entire city and tells Reedus that if he is a mage, then she should fight. Reedus gets ready to fight.

In the city, Gray faces off against Bickslow while Elfman battles Evergreen.

"Evergreen vs. Elfman. Winner: Evergreen. Elfman: Out of commission." Master Makarov reads the results.

"I can't believe Elfman got beat!" Happy commented.

"Gray's fighting Bickslow! I wanna join in!" Natsu shouted.

"Reedus is fighting Freed, too! The Raijin Tribe has started to make their move!" Happy stated.

Reedus is defeated by Freed, while Elfman is defeated by Evergreen.

"Reedus was beaten!" Happy exclaimed.

"I figured Freed could do it! Look at him go!" Natsu cheers for Freed.

"Is this really the time to be impressed?! Now we can't get any help from Porlyusica!" Happy yelled.

"We don't need any!" Natsu crosses his arms. "The whole turning to dust thing is a bluff."

"You think I'm bluffing, Natsu?" Laxus appears as a Thought Projection.

"It's a thought projection!" Happy pointed out.

"So why are you still here, Natsu?" Laxus asked.

"I can't get out!" Natsu yelled.

"Your members... Well I guess you can call them your children. I bet you can't stand watching your children destroy each other, can you?!" Laxus taunted. "Natsu and Erza can't join in... There's no one left who could defeat my Raijin Tribe, is there? Gonna give in?!"

"Gray's still in there! He's very strong, too! He ain't gonna lose to no Raijin Tribe!" Happy stated.

"Gray?!" Laxus chuckled. "I wouldn't put much faith in that brat."

"Don't underestimate Gray, Laxus!" Master Makarov agrees with Happy.

However, Gray is defeated by Bickslow.

"Gray is out of commission. 28 people left." Laxus reads the results. He laughs out loud. "See, didn't I tell you?!"

"Liar! I'm sure that he used some dirty trick!" Happy argued.

"So who will beat the Raijin Tribe now?" Laxus asked.

"Aira will!" Happy yelled.

"But where is he? He's not seen anywhere?" Laxus asked. "I guess he still has a cold heart."

"We also have two other Dragon Slayers, Gajeel and Satsuki!" Happy stated.

"Too bad. Doesn't seem like they're participatin'." Laxus assumed. "They don't actually give a damn about the guild anyway."

"Well, I'm still here!" Natsu yelled.

"If you can't get out, it won't do you any good." Laxus said.

"Fine, enough! I surrender." Master Makarov finally gives in. Natsu's shocked for a second. "Now, stop this Laxus."

"Can't do that." Laxus replied. "The high and might Master of Fairy Tail can't go surrendering at a time like this! But if you insist, then how about you give up your position as Master to me?!"

"That's playing dirty, Laxus! You scared of me, huh?!" Natsu said.

"You fiend... Was that your goal all along?!" Master Makarov shakes in anger.

"It's only one and a half hours until the statues crumble." Laxus stated. "If you want to retire, use the guild's loudspeakers and announce it so the whole town can hear. Say, "I'm giving up my position as Master of Fairy Tail to Laxus!" Think about it well. Which is more important, your position or your friends?"

"Hold it, damn it!" Natsu charges at Laxus, but he goes through him, crashing into a pillar. "If you won't fight me, how are you the strongest?! How can you be the master?!"

"I don't care about being master." Master Makarov said.

"You're okay with it?!" Natsu asked, yelling at the Master.

"But I cannot entrust Fairy Tail to Laxus! He doesn't understand the eight of the position! He lacks conviction and heart!" Master Makarov said.

"But at this rate Lucy and the others will turn into dust... Someone has to defeat Laxus and his gang, or..." Happy sees someone sit up from the corner of his eye.

Aira jolts up from the ground, sitting up while holding the right side of his face. "Man, people should watch where they're running..." He groaned.

"Aira, that's where you were?!" Natsu asked.

"We're saved!" Happy waves his arms in the air, crying tears of joy.

"What happened?!" Master Makarov asked.

"I was gonna go run after Laxus, but people ran over me. I think one of them stepped on my head." Aira replied, getting back up on his feet and helping his brother up.

"Are you gonna go after him?!" Happy asked.

"Yeah. Just leave him to me." Aira walks to the entrance, but he crashes into the invisible wall. They all scream in shock when they see that happen. Aira punches the invisible wall.

"Are you also 80?!" Natsu asked.

"No, obviously!" Aira yelled.

Evergreen releases some dust that head towards some unnamed Fairy Tail Mages, and then attacks with Fairy Bomb: Gremlin, defeating them. With the unnamed Mages defeated on the floor, Evergreen decends to the roof of a building and calls them weak.

Nab, while running away from Bickslow's dolls, turns his head and tells Bickslow to stop his attack against him and Laki because they are allies. Bickslow, hanging upside down from a wire, tells him that he is not on the side of weaklings and beats them with just one attack from his dolls.

"Nab and Laki, too?!" Natsu looks at the results.

"Bickslow is strong..." Aira commented.

"Laxus' gang is winning so far... This means..." Happy hears someone munching behind the bar. Gajeel and Satsuki appear from the bar, surprising them.

"Gajeel?!" Natsu didn't expect him to be in the guild.

"Satsuki?!" Aira said at the same time.

"Don't eat the dish ware!" Happy commented.

"Will you participate?!" Master Makarov asked.

Gajeel jumps over the bar with Satsuki following him. "We've got a bone to pick with him. We'll take him." Suddenly, they walks into the invisible wall just like everybody else. This surprises and confuses everybody.

"What the hell?!" Natsu screamed.

"You too?!" Aira exclaimed.

Alzack, standing next to a wall badly wounded, tells Freed that because of his runes he has been forced to hurt his friends. He also mentions that since the beginning, he has been telling himself that he has been doing this to turn Bisca back to normal. Alzack attacks Freed with his Guns Magic, but Freed cuts his attack in half easily with his sword. Alzack, astonished, remarks that his Tornado Shot was sliced apart and suddenly falls to the ground running out of oxygen. He questions Freed whether he has some other type of Magic besides his runes and then falls to the ground. Freed begins to walk away, saying that he only used his runes to their greatest effect and that once his rules are in effect, no one can defeat the creator.

Only 4 left?!" Master Makarov's shocked with the results.

"Why can't you get out, either?! Stop copyin' me!" Natsu shouted.

"How should I know?!" Aira shouted back.

"Now I'm hungry, you bastard!" Natsu furiously waves his arms up and down.

"I really don't know!" Aira gets irritated with Natsu. Gajeel and Satsuki just watch Natsu and Aira argue.

"Four?" Master Makarov looks at the four Dragon Slayers. "Just you four?!"

"And I wasn't even counted?!" Happy commented.

"Calm down." Cain told him.

"I have no more wizards left to fight." Master Makarov said.

"I guess that's it... Oh, well. Guess I better revive Erza." Natsu sighed.

"What?!" Happy and Master Makarov exclaimed.

"And I thought I could finally show up Erza..." Natsu heads to the stage where the stoned girls are.

"Hold it!" Master Makarov called out. "What are you gonna do?"

"Won't she melt if I heat her?" Natsu asks in curiosity. "You know, the stone she'll..."

"Don't!" Master Makarov argued.

"Erza and the others have turned to stone completely!" Happy stated.

Erza is laid on the ground. "We won't know 'till we try, right?!"

"Stop it! You want to kill Erza?!" Master Makarov asked.

"Boil her nice and good..." Natsu lights both of his hands on fire.

"Are you going to rub her with flames?!" The Master asked with his hair sticking up.

"Hey, buddy. Not so frisky." Gajeel commented.

The stoned Erza starts to crack. They scream and panic when they see the crack on her forehead. "Crap, she broke! Glue, glue! Happy, get the glue!" Natsu holds Erza as he tells Happy to look for supplies.

"Aye, sir!" Happy flies away.

"You idiot! You think that'll fix her up?!" Aira argued, angry that Natsu broke Erza.

"Use your flames on my iron and we'll weld her back together!" Gajeel turns his hand into an iron pillar. The crack turns worse.

Natsu starts praying. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Soon, the stone cracks away and Erza seems fine.

"It's hot..." Erza angrily glares at Natsu with a scary face. "Was it you, Natsu?!" She punches him along with Aira. "What were you trying to do?!"

"Erza's back!" Happy excitedly said.

"Thank goodness. But, how?" The Master asked.

"I don't really know. Perhaps it's because of my right eye." Erza touches the right side of her face.

"I see! The artifical eye must have lowered the effect of magic." Master Makarov thinks about the Magic effect.

"Erza, do you know what's going on?" Happy asked.

"Yes. Even though I was turned to stone, I could hear you." Erza replied.

"Go! It's time for a counter attack!" Master Makarov said.

"5 remaining." Happy reads the runes.

"With me restored, the number remaining changed appropriately. How elaborate." Erza said.

"Those five are Natsu, Aira, Gajeel, Satsuki, and Erza, right?" Happy said. The number on the runes changes into a 6. "Six remaining?"

"It increased?" Gajeel questioned.

"Who?" Natsu turns around to see who else is participating.

"Everyone is still stone... Then who?" Master Makarov wondered.

Erza smiles to herself. "There's one more out there remember? Outside of the city."

"You don't mean..." Natsu gasped.

"...him?!" Aira exclaimed, knowing who they are referring to.

"No way!" Happy knows who they are talking about.

"Does this mean he's back?!" The Master asked, hoping it's him.

"Looks like the real war is about to begin. This is getting interesting." Erza stated.

"Who are you talking about?!" Gajeel asked in annoyance.

"Yeah, I wanna know who too." Satsuki agreed.

"Another possible candidate for the strongest in Fairy Tail..." Erza replied. "Mystogan!"

Laxus notices that there are now five participants, but Mystogan arrives, bringing the total to six.

Departing to take place in the battle, Erza leaves the contest hall first and is the one who runs into Evergreen.

No one seems to gain the upper hand, since Evergreen cannot petrify Erza because of her artificial eye, and Erza cannot reach Evergreen, who keeps flying away. Evergreen continues her attack, and since Erza is always able to evade them, she doubles the number of needles. Erza is scratched by some of the needles, and summons swords on her feet. Evergreen is flabbergasted by this, and is soon driven into a corner.

Erza demands for the hostages to be freed, but Evergreen states that her stone eyes have another power: remote control, meaning she is able to turn the hostages to dust from where she stands, and tells Erza that if she doesn't kneel before her, she will turn the contestants to dust. Erza then requips into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, and calmly threatens Evergreen, stating that if her friends are indeed turned into dust, she will avenge their souls by killing her. Evergreen, terrified by the threat, turns the girls back to normal, as Erza punches her in the face and tells her: "That's how you do a real bluff." Revealing that she not only knew Evergreen was bluffing about the remote control, but that she too, was bluffing about killing Evergreen.

All of the contestants of the Miss Fairy Tail contest then return to normal.

"What happened to Juvia?" She asks herself.

The guys run up to the girls. "You're back to normal!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Lucy!" Happy flies into her for a hug.

"Erza vs. Evergreen: Erza wins." Master Makarov reads the results on the runes. "Well done! The hostages have been freed! What will you do now, Laxus?"

Laxus learns of this, he appears behind them, and tells him that Evergreen's defeat was not unpredictable, as for Erza to be defeated, Bickslow or himself should have been Erza's opponent. Laxus then asks him why he has returned, to which Freed replies that the game was over, since there were no hostages. Laxus retaliates by shooting a thunderstrike in his direction, and by saying that the game is not over. But if he wants to leave, he should do so, as he was not needed in his Fairy Tail.

"Battle of Fairy Tail?!" Lucy asked.

"Laxus did all that?!" Cana added.

"But it's all over now." Master Makarov replied. "With you back to normal, there's no need to play Laxus' stupid game anymore."

"But what about everyone who was hurt in Freed's traps?" Mira asked, concerned about the injured Mages.

"Yeah! Laxus will never learn unless we teach him a lesson!" Bisca stated.

"I realize that! I will personally give him punishment of the highest grade letter!" Master Makarov agreed. "Curse you, Laxus! This time you will not get off easily!"

"Hold on." Natsu puts his hand in front of him. "I can't help but agree with Laxus' idea of finding out who the strongest person in Fairy Tail is."

"Huh?" The girls look at him in confusion.

"So don't be too hard on him, Gramps!" Natsu smiles at him.

"Natsu... You're such a..." The Master thinks about Natsu's feelings.

Natsu laughs, grinning at everyone. "So... Let the second Battle of Fairy Tail begin! Bring it on, all of you!"

"Wha...?!" Lucy, Levy, and Bisca are surprised about his idea.

"Stop!" Master Makarov yelled.

"We didn't get to do anything, you know?!" Natsu punches his fist for a warm up. "C'mon! Let's battle!"

"Stop it. It doesn't sound like a joke, coming from you." Lucy commented.

"If you really insist, then I'm not against taking you on." Cana agrees with Natsu.

"Cana. Don't encourage him." Bisca said.

"Natsu. I don't think fighting a girl would count as a battle." Happy claimed.

"Guy, girl... Makes no difference to me." Natsu sighed.

"Ugh! That look really ticks me off!" Happy scowled.

"Fight me instead, slanty eyes!" Aira crashes his forehead into Natsu.

"Bring it on, bluey!" Natsu pushes his forehead against him. In a split second, they start fighting again.

"What's the matter, Gajeel-kun?" Juvia asked.

"Nothing." Gajeel replied.

"It's a fun guild, isn't it?" Juvia said.

"It's a screwed up one." Gajeel confessed.

"I have to agree." Satsuki added.

The runes start to react differently. "Huh? What is that?" Mira asked.

"Is he up to something else now?" Cana asked.

"This time you're dealing with us!" Bisca said. Freed's runes fly in to make the shape of a skull.

"Can you hear me, old man?" Laxus speaks through the skull. "And all you other guild people... One of the rules has gone out the window, so I'm adding a new one now. I've activated Thunder Palace in order to keep the Battle of Fairy Tail underway."

"The Thunder Palace?!" The Master asked.

"You have one hour and ten minutes." Laxus mentioned. "Do you have what it takes to beat us? Or will you give up instead, Master?" As the skull disappears, Laxus laughs out loud, fading away.

"What are you thinking, Laxus?! Are you trying to drag innocent bystanders into this too?!" Master Makarov feels a sharp pain in his heart. He collapses to the ground.

"Oh no! His usual medicine!" Mira mentioned.

Bisca rushes to his side. "Talk about bad timing...!"

"Master! Please hang in there!" Levy's worried for the Master.

"What's this "Thunder Palace"?!" Natsu asked. Master Makarov grunts as the pain gets worse.

"Everyone! Look outside!" Mira runs down the stairs to inform them.

They go outside and see lacrimas floating in the sky.

"Lightning lacrimas...?" Levy assumed.

"What are they doing up there?" Cana asked.

Outside, the townspeople also notice the Lacrimas, but do not understand the gravity of the situation.

"They're floating all over the city!" Lucy pointed out.

"An incredible amount of powerful lightning magic is stored inside each of those lacrimas." Cana stated. "Could these be what he means?"

"Is this what 'Thunder Palace' refers to?" Juvia asked.

"He's making Magnolia resemble one..." Cana said.

"Wait, what happens if those things discharge?!" Lucy asks, pointing to the lacrimas.

"Countlessw lightning bolts will rain down on the city..." Cana replied. They think about the lacrimas striking lightning at Magnolia, destroying buildings and injuring people.

"I won't let that happen! Sniper rifle requip!" Bisca has her sniper rifle, ready to shoot. She aims at one of the lacrimas. "Target locked on! Stinger Shot!" She manages to destroy the lacrima.

"All right!" Lucy is relieved to see the lacrima destroyed.

"Way to go, Bisca!" Cana complimented.

"I'll take care of all these-" Out of nowhere, lightning strikes at Bisca. They cry out for her as she is being electrocuted. Bisca is knocked down as Levy rushes to her side.

"Hey! Say something, Bisca!" Aira said, worried about her.

"Bisca! Stay with us!" Levy holds her carefully, trying to wake her up.

"What the...?! What's going on?!" Lucy wonders why the lacrima counter attacked.

"Body link magic! There's a spell on those lacrimas that links the damage they receive to whoever causes the damage!" Cana explained. "In short, if you attack them, the same amount of damage will be directed back at you."

"Oh no! If we don't do something, all the citizens will be...!" Levy gasped.

"We have to take down Laxus! Let's go!"

"I'll try to evacuate as many townspeople as I can!" Lucy volunteered. Happy flies after her to help her evacuate the citizens.

"Cain... Go with them." Aira said. His partner nodded as he flies out to follow Lucy and Happy.

"There are still two Thunder Legion members out there! Be careful!" Cana runs after her along with Juvia. The Dragon Slayers are left behind at the guild.

"What is that bastard thinking?!" Natsu jumps over the railing, but he runs into the runes again. Natsu bangs his head against it. "You've gone too far! If you wanna be master so bad, then just fight Gramps!" He continues to hit his head against the runes. "I've had enough of your crap, Laxus!"

Levy thinks that Natsu's going too far. "Natsu! Calm down!"

"I can't!" Natsu punches the ruins.

"Just listen!" Levy walks up to the railing.

"Damn! There's an invisible wall here too!" Natsu kicks it.

"It's an enchantment." Levy said.

"We already knew." Gajeel said.

"It's a type of script magic. I might be able to do something!" Levy stated.

"What?!" Aira now puts his faith into Levy.

"Really, Levy?!" Natsu asked.

"I have faith that you guys can stop Laxus!" Levy said.

Master Makarov and Bisca are resting in another room. Levy goes through her books to figure out how to break the spell. Gajeel sits beside her, watching her work. "If I break the Logue letter sequence data in component blocks and pinpoint the terms to devise the rules... I get L, O, S, U... And if I convert that into Geel grammar..."

"You're really something... I don't understand a thing you're saying." Gajeel's impressed on how she works.

"No! The L and S are bluffs! The key-code is 'Arth'!" Levy exclaimed. Gajeel agrees with everything she says. "Don't worry! I will get you guys out of here!"

"It's no big deal to me..." Gajeel looks away.

"Please... stop Laxus!" Levy said. They look at Natsu who's still banging his head against the runes.

"Stop it, Natsu." Aira just stands there with his arms crossed, not bothering to stop Natsu.

"I'm itchin' to fight...!" Natsu growled.

Freed looks intimidated and absolutely against Laxus' ways, but concords with his decision and leaves. He decides to follow him even to pits of hell, while Laxus boasts that he will take out Erza and Mystogan.

Erza goes to a place where Laxus is located, according to Evergreen. Erza is tricked by Evergreen into entering a public bath to look for Laxus. All she finds are men and boys taking a shower.

Cana and Juvia head out to look for Laxus while Lucy leaves with Happy and Cain to evacuate townspeople.

Afterwards, Lucy is found by Bickslow and they begin their battle. Lucy, with the help of Loke, defeats Bickslow. Loke gives Lucy her keys (once more), but not before showing her an "I love Lucy" sign. Seconds later Happy rolls his tongue to say He liiiiikes you, much to Lucy's annoyance.

"Oh! Lucy won!" Natsu reads the results on the runes.

"Are you serious?! That cheerleader can fight?!" Gajeel asked in surprise.

"Lucy's pretty tough!" Aira replied.

"You gotta be kidding me! She's a cheerleader!" Gajeel said.

"Cheerleaders are tough, man!" Natsu stated.

"Way to go, Lu-chan!" Levy cheers for her best friend. "I won't let them outshine me, either!"

"Haven't you heard the race between the cheerleader and the tortoise?" Natsu shows him a puppet of a green tortoise.

"You mean hare, not cheerleader! And the hare lost in that story!" Gajeel shows him a puppet of a pink rabbit. Aira just watches them argue.

"If I can just reword this part... to rewrite the enchantment..." Levy gets irritated when she can't concentrate "But this is the toughest part..." Something finally clicks in her mind. "That's it!"

"What's what?!" The Dragon Slayers exclaimed.

"Yes! You're supposed to decipher the two grammars at separate rates!" Levy quickly writes everything down. "You take the integral number of synchronized letters in a single pass, transform them into Geel grammar, and then translate that into Logue!" The Dragon Slayers listen to her. "I got it!"

"Oh!" The Dragon Slayers cheer for her.

"Hang on! I'll rewrite the enchantment!" Levy said. The Dragon Slayers wait patiently for her. "Natsu... Aira... Gajeel... Satsuki... Are you all set? You're about to join the Battle of Fairy Tail!"

Natsu lights his fist on fire. "I'm all fired up!"

"Bring it on!" Aira agrees as water covers his hand.

"I'm gonna go to town on 'em!" Gajeel grinned.

"We'll show him!" Satsuki added, smirking.

Elsewhere, Mira finds a wounded Elfman on the ground. She apologizes to him, feeling that during Fairy Tail's crises she was unable to help, and is reduced to tears. Elfman tries to calm her down by telling her to smile at everyone when the battle is over, but is ineffective and Mira sobs, feeling guilt-ridden.

Meanwhile, Cana and Juvia are looking for Laxus, when they encounter Freed. He traps them inside his Jutsu Shiki, and forces them to fight each other, if they want to leave. Juvia sacrifices herself by attacking one of the Lacrimas in the air, releasing the Jutsu Shiki. In her last conscious words, she expresses that she just wanted people to accept her as a member of Fairy Tail, but Cana says they already have. She cries that she is her friend and an amazing Fairy Tail Mage, which makes Juvia happy, as she faints, and makes Cana furious and attacks Freed.

Meanwhile, Natsu, Aira, Gajeel, and Satsuki have split up and are looking for Laxus.

Natsu looks above town, sitting on top of a chimney. "Damn! There's too many people! I can't pick up Laxus' scent!"

Aira runs around town, trying to look for Laxus. "That bastard is tough to find."

Past...

"Listen, Natsu, Aira, Gajeel, Satsuki. It's all over if all of you get caught in one of Freed's enchantments. You'll need to go separate ways once you leave." Levy explained.

Present...

Gajeel talks through a Shikigami to Master Ivan, and he responds that for the time being his mission is to gain the Fairy Tail members' trust, and to not be discovered. He orders him and Satsuki to act as full fledged Fairy Tail members, and adds that Fairy Tail's punishment will soon come.

Freed, after fighting Cana, fights and tortures Elfman in front of Mira's eyes. With her brother facing death, Mira unleashes her dormant Magic Power and with it, she fights Freed. When she approaches to deliver the final blow, Lisanna's face and last smile flash through her mind, and Mira deactivates Satan Soul. She loses the will to fight, and reminds Freed of their relationship as nakama and that they are from the same Guild, meaning that they are family. Freed, realizing that he dearly treasured the bonds his Guild has given him, begins to cry, admitting that he never wanted to take part in Laxus' plan.