Naruto x Fairy Tail: Fairy's Shadow

Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones

"Normal Dialogue"

'Inner thoughts'

[Year X791]

~ With Max ~

Ten mages stood in a loose semicircle around the destroyed bell, their Twilight Ogre colours revealing their allegiance. Max didn't recognize any of them, which was strange. He'd lived in Magnolia his entire life and knew most of the members of the other guild by sight, if not by name.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Max demanded, stepping fully into the square. "That bell has stood there for countless of years. It's part of this town's history."

The apparent leader of the group stepped forward, a tall man with dark hair and a cruel smile.

"History..." He said, his voice carrying a mocking tone. "How sentimental. Don't worry, sand mage. You'll be joining it in the past very soon."

"Answer the question. Why would Twilight Ogre break the peace? Why attack in broad daylight where everyone can see?" Max spoke, though one could hear the restrained rage within while the leader laughed.

"Twilight Ogre? Is that what you think this is about?" He gestured to the colours he wore. 

Max felt his blood turn to ice. "You're not from Twilight Ogre."

"Very good. No, we're not. We're from many places, actually. Many forces in the dark that have long desired Fairy Tail's complete eradication." The leader's smile widened. "But you've been so hard to reach. When we've finally decided to act, Fairy Tail was always protected by your little S-class pet, always surrounded by guild members with just enough power to make direct assault... inconvenient."

"But now?" Another mage spoke up, his voice eager. "Now most of your strength is gone. Missing or dead. And the few who remain are spread thin. Don't think for a second that we didn't notice that 3 of your main fighters are away."

The pieces clicked together in Max's mind. 'These aren't misled guild members or opportunistic rivals. They are dark mages, infiltrators who had been planning this for months. Maybe even years.'

"What did we ever do to you? What did Fairy Tail ever do to deserve this kind of hatred?" Max asked, though he was already preparing for battle.

"Does it matter? You exist. That's enough of a reason for any of us."

Without warning, the leader thrust his hands forward. A wave of searing flame erupted from his palms racing toward Max. Max responded instantly, his sand rising to form a protective barrier.

Sand Magic: Sand Wall!

The sand compacted into a curved wall just as the flames struck. Steam hissed where fire met earth, and Max felt the heat washing over him even through his defence. But the wall held.

The other dark mages didn't wait to see the result. They began casting in unison, their various magical abilities combining into a coordinated assault. Lightning crackled from one mage's fingers while another summoned razor-sharp wind blades. Rock projectiles launched from a third while a fourth created waves of slightly acidic mist.

Sand Magic: Aegis Shield!

Max expanded his wall, forming a large Shield as sand flowed like water to cover more ground. The barrage struck his defences with tremendous force, each impact sending shockwaves through his shield. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he poured more power into the spell, reinforcing weak points even as new attacks found different angles.

The sound was deafening. 

When the assault finally stopped, Max was still standing. His shield was riddled with holes and scorch marks, and the front of the guildhall behind him bore the evidence of attacks that had slipped through. But he had held the line.

"Impressive. You're stronger than the reports suggested." The leader said, though his tone suggested he wasn't particularly concerned.

The leader then raised his hand in surrender. The dark mages began to raise their hands in apparent surrender, but something about their laughter made Max's blood run cold. This wasn't defeat. This was the beginning of a setup.

"But with this kind of strength alone, it won't save you" The leader smirked as the dark mages lowered their hands and laughed at Max's situation. Max tensed and was about to go on the offensive when the leader sensed the change in his movements.

"I wouldn't act too rashly if I were you." The leader continued, his smile taking on a predatory quality. "Not if you want your precious guildmates to survive the next few minutes."

As if summoned by his words, the front doors of the guildhall burst open. The heavy wood splintered and crashed to the ground, revealing four more dark mages. They emerged slowly, clearly, making sure Max could see exactly what they were dragging with them.

Heralded together were the members of Fairy Tail who Max had told to retreat through the back exit. However, most notably, both Jet and Romeo were missing from the bunch.

"Where are the others?" The leader asked his subordinates.

"Had two fighters with these bunch. They put up more of a fight than expected. Took down three of our guys before we put them down." One of the new arrivals spat on the ground.

The words sent a chill down Max's back. 'Put them down.'

The casual way the dark mage said it, like he was talking about sick animals instead of people Max had known for years.

Romeo. The kid who'd been trying so hard to fill shoes that were too big for him. Who'd pushed himself to exhaustion trying to become strong enough to protect everyone. Jet. The speedster who'd never met a challenge he wouldn't take head-on, who'd stood by his friends through everything.

"You bastards..." Max whispered, his voice shaking with rage.

But then the full scope of the trap became clear. The combined assault earlier hadn't been meant to kill him. It had been meant to destroy the guildhall, to bury whoever might be hiding inside. These dark mages had been willing to sacrifice their own comrades, to kill their own allies, just to make sure Fairy Tail was completely wiped out.

It was all a smokescreen. A distraction while the real attack happened from within.

"Now then. You have a choice to make, sand mage. You can fight us, and watch as we slowly torture your friends to death in front of you. Or you can surrender, and die knowing that you at least spared them unnecessary pain." The leader said, his voice sickeningly cheerful. 

Max looked around the square. People were watching from windows and doorways, too afraid to intervene but unable to look away. They would see whatever happened next. They would remember it. And when the dust settled, they would believe that Twilight Ogre had attacked Fairy Tail. The real masterminds would disappear, leaving the legitimate guild to take the blame.

"If I surrender," Max said quietly, "you'll let them go?"

The leader's grin widened. "Of course. You have my word as a gentleman."

It was a lie. Max knew it was a lie. These weren't the kind of people who honoured bargains or showed mercy. But what choice did he have? He couldn't fight fourteen dark mages while they held hostages. He couldn't protect his family while defending himself.

Slowly, Max began to lower his sand defences. The magical constructs dissolved, returning to ordinary earth that scattered in the wind. He raised his hands in surrender, his heart breaking as he did it.

"I said I'd spare them, but I didn't say I wouldn't do anything to them before I let them go and join you in the afterlife. Especially those two beautiful fairies you have there." The leader revealed seeing Max fall into a false sense of hope.

The dark mages began to laugh. Their eyes turned toward the two women of Fairy Tail with an expression that made Max's stomach turn. 

Max tensed once again, preparing to throw everything he had into one last desperate attack. He might not be able to save everyone, but he could make these bastards pay for what they'd done.

Then Warren's voice cut through his thoughts, clear and urgent despite the telepathic connection.

"Max. They're here. They've finally come home."

Confused, Max held his stance as the rest of the dark mages continued laughing and leering, unaware of Warren's telepathic abilities. He then tilted his head up slightly, and there in the sky, a red dot appeared above them, falling fast. Realizing who it was, Max finally exhaled slowly and smiled.

'Welcome home.'

~ End of Chapter 79 ~

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OKAY FINALLY WE ARE THROUGH WITH THE THREE BORING 20 CHAPTER ARCS! NOW WE GET BACK TO THE MAIN STORYLINE!