Chapter 15: The Battle of Fairy Tail Part 1
The clearing outside Magnolia hummed with energy. Dawn light filtered through the leaves as Mirajane and Kizuna faced each other, both in battle stances. Around them, the aftermath of their training was evident—scorched earth, shattered rocks, and deep furrows in the ground.
"Again," Mirajane said, her breath visible in the cool morning air. "And this time, don't hold back."
A hint of concern crossed Kizuna's face. "Mira, we've been at this for hours. You should rest."
Her response was a swift transformation, darkness enveloping her form as her Satan Soul materialized. "The Hunters won't give me time to rest. Neither should you."
Kizuna nodded, understanding her determination. Ever since their encounter with Nexarius three days ago, Mirajane had been relentless in her pursuit of greater control over her demonic abilities. The revelations about the fragmented nature of her powers had shaken her, but also opened new possibilities she was eager to explore.
"Alright," he conceded, centering himself as his aura began to flicker around him. "But we work on control, not just power."
"That's what I'm counting on," Mirajane replied, her voice altered by her transformation. "Show me how to contain something that wants to break free."
The irony wasn't lost on either of them. Here she was, asking a Saiyan who harbored the most volatile power in their bloodline to teach her about control. Yet it made perfect sense—who better to understand her struggle than someone fighting the same battle?
Kizuna closed his eyes, focusing inward. When he opened them again, they glowed with emerald fire. His black hair began to rise, flickering between its natural state and the brilliant green of his legendary form. The ground beneath him cracked as his power level rose steadily—controlled, measured, deliberate.
"The key isn't suppression," he explained, his voice deepening as the transformation progressed. "It's harmony. You're not fighting against these entities for control. You're finding a balance where both of you can exist."
Mirajane watched intently, noting how Kizuna allowed his transformation to progress in stages rather than erupting all at once as he had during their battle with Nexarius.
"The legends about the Super Saiyan describe it as a response to need," he continued, muscles bulging as his power continued to climb. "But the Legendary form is different—it's a wellspring that never stops flowing. My ancestors who carried this power were consumed by it, becoming nothing more than avatars of destruction."
Green energy crackled around him, yet he remained perfectly still, perfectly centered. "I refused that fate. I had to find a way to exist with this power, not be ruled by it."
Understanding dawned in Mirajane's eyes. She reached within, not to command the demonic entities she'd absorbed but to communicate with them. For the first time, she truly listened to their individual voices, their fears and desires.
"They're afraid," she whispered, surprise evident in her voice. "Not just of the Primal Dark, but of being controlled... by me or anyone else."
Kizuna nodded, his transformation stabilizing at a point where his hair showed streaks of green but hadn't fully changed. "Fear drives resistance. Understanding breeds cooperation."
Mirajane closed her eyes, focusing on this new approach. Instead of imposing her will on the entities within her, she offered them partnership. Security. Mutual strength.
Her Satan Soul form began to shift subtly, the changes more refined than dramatic. Dark energy flowed more smoothly around her, responding to her guidance rather than her demands.
"I feel the difference," she said, opening her eyes to reveal a new clarity in their glow. "It's like... they're offering suggestions rather than resisting commands."
"That's it," Kizuna encouraged, a smile breaking through his intense concentration. "Now, let's see what you can do with willing allies instead of reluctant servants."
Their sparring resumed, but with a new quality to it. Mirajane's movements became more fluid, her powers more diverse as she accessed abilities she hadn't known the entities possessed. Kizuna matched her, using just enough of his legendary power to challenge her without overwhelming her.
From the edge of the clearing, Lisanna and Elfman watched with mixed emotions. Pride in their sister's growth warred with concern over the dangers she faced.
"She's different since that fight," Lisanna observed quietly. "More focused."
Elfman nodded, arms crossed over his massive chest. "Facing your demons is manly. Learning to befriend them is something else entirely."
"Do you think she's right to trust them?" Lisanna asked, voicing the fear they both shared. "What if these entities are just biding their time?"
"I don't know," Elfman admitted. "But I trust Mira. And surprisingly..." he glanced at Kizuna, "I trust him too."
Lisanna smiled. "Because he's manly?"
Elfman chuckled. "Because he sees her for who she is, not what she can do. That's rare for someone carrying his kind of power."
Their conversation was interrupted as Mirajane executed a perfect counterattack, combining darkness magic with a physical technique Kizuna had shown her. The resulting blast sent him sliding backward several feet, a look of genuine surprise on his face.
"Well done!" he called out, his aura flickering with excitement. "I didn't expect you to master that combination so quickly."
Mirajane's Satan Soul form smiled, revealing pointed teeth. "You're not the only one who can adapt."
Their training session continued, each push and pull revealing new facets of their abilities. For Mirajane, it was the discovery that the entities within her carried knowledge and skills from across multiple realities. For Kizuna, it was learning that his legendary power responded differently when used protectively rather than aggressively.
As midday approached, they finally called a halt, both reverting to their normal forms. Exhausted but satisfied, they met in the center of the clearing.
"Your stamina is improving," Kizuna noted, handing her a water flask. "You maintained your enhanced form nearly twice as long as yesterday."
Mirajane nodded, taking a long drink before responding. "And you kept your transformation under control the entire time. No incidents."
"We make good teachers," he said with a smile.
"And better students," she replied, returning his smile with one of her own.
Their moment was interrupted by a familiar voice calling from the edge of the clearing.
"Mira! Kizuna!" Lucy waved frantically as she ran toward them, Natsu and Happy close behind. Her expression was tight with worry. "You need to come quickly. Something's happening at the guild!"
Mirajane and Kizuna exchanged concerned glances. "What's wrong?" Mirajane asked.
"It's Laxus," Natsu growled, his fists already clenched. "He's back with the Thunder Legion, and something's not right."
"Not right how?" Kizuna asked, already moving to gather his things.
Happy hovered anxiously. "He's saying weird stuff about the guild needing to be stronger, and only the strong deserving to be members."
"That sounds like typical Laxus," Mirajane noted, though her brow furrowed with concern.
"It's more than that," Lucy insisted. "There's something different about him. His eyes... they're strange. And the Thunder Legion is acting like they're under some kind of spell."
"Freed wouldn't even talk to me," Natsu added. "Just stared through me like I wasn't there."
Kizuna's expression darkened. "The eastern forests," he murmured. "Mother said they were investigating Convergence disturbances there."
"You don't think—" Mirajane began.
"We need to move," Kizuna cut her off, suddenly urgent. "Now."
The Fairy Tail guildhall was in chaos when they arrived. Tables were overturned, drinks spilled across the floor, and several members nursed injuries of varying severity. Master Makarov stood in the center, his diminutive form radiating fury as he faced off against his grandson.
Laxus looked... wrong. His muscular frame seemed unchanged, but his skin had an unnatural pallor, and his eyes glowed with a purple light that didn't belong to any lightning magic they recognized. Behind him stood the Thunder Legion—Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow—each bearing the same strange glow in their eyes.
"This has gone far enough, Laxus!" Makarov shouted, his body beginning to expand with his giant magic. "I don't know what's happened to you, but you will stand down before I make you stand down!"
Laxus laughed, the sound hollow and echoing as if multiple voices spoke through him. "You're in no position to make demands, old man. The age of half-measures and weakness is over. Fairy Tail will be reforged into something worthy of the coming storm."
"What storm?" Gray demanded, ice forming around his fists. "What are you talking about?"
"The Convergence," Freed answered, his voice eerily flat. "The merging of realities that the weak will not survive."
"Only those with the strength to evolve will have a place in the new order," Evergreen added, her eyes glowing behind her glasses.
"And we're here to help you all evolve," Bickslow finished, his "babies" floating menacingly around him, their usual playful movements replaced by mechanical precision.
As Kizuna and Mirajane pushed through the crowd to reach the front, Laxus's gaze locked onto them, his expression changing to one of cruel amusement.
"Ah, the demon girl and the alien half-breed," he said, electricity crackling around him with a strange purple tint. "I wondered when you'd arrive."
"Laxus," Mirajane stepped forward, her voice calm despite the tension. "This isn't you. Something's affecting you and the Thunder Legion."
"Wrong," Laxus replied sharply. "This is me, finally seeing clearly. The Convergence showed us the truth during our mission. The barriers between worlds are falling, and only the strong will survive what comes next."
Kizuna moved to stand beside Mirajane, his eyes narrowing as he studied Laxus and his team. "You're not just talking about strength, are you? You've been touched by something in the eastern forests."
Laxus's smile widened. "Smart boy. Yes, we found something there—or rather, it found us. A fragment of greater understanding."
"A fragment," Mirajane repeated, alarm bells ringing in her mind. "Like the ones Nexarius was hunting?"
"Similar, but different," Evergreen replied. "Ours comes from the realm of pure thought, not darkness."
"It showed us the pattern," Freed continued. "The inevitable collision of realities that has already begun."
"And it offered a choice," Bickslow added. "Evolve or perish."
Kizuna and Mirajane exchanged glances, recognizing the danger. Whatever fragment had influenced Laxus and the Thunder Legion, it wasn't from the Primal Dark that Nexarius served, but it clearly had its own agenda.
"Where is this fragment now?" Kizuna asked carefully.
Laxus tapped his temple, the purple glow in his eyes intensifying. "Right here. Integrated. Enhanced. Unlike your fragments, Mirajane, this one doesn't flee from unity—it seeks worthy vessels."
"And what does it want?" Makarov demanded, still poised to attack if necessary.
"To prepare this world for the Convergence," Laxus answered simply. "Starting with Fairy Tail. The guild must be purged of weakness before it can be properly remade."
"That's not going to happen," Natsu declared, stepping up beside Kizuna and Mirajane. "Fairy Tail doesn't abandon its own, no matter how strong or weak they might be."
"Then you've chosen extinction," Laxus stated coldly. Without warning, he raised his hand, unleashing a bolt of lightning unlike any they'd seen before—crackling with purple energy that seemed to distort the very air through which it passed.
Kizuna moved instinctively, green energy flaring around him as he deflected the blast away from the crowded guild hall. The effort pushed him back several feet, leaving smoking furrows in the wooden floor.
"Everyone out!" Makarov ordered. "Clear the guild hall now!"
Most members didn't need to be told twice, rushing for the exits as Erza, Gray, Natsu, and Lucy moved to form a protective line with Mirajane and Kizuna.
"What's the plan?" Gray asked, his Ice-Make magic at the ready.
"We need to separate them," Erza replied, requipping into her Heaven's Wheel armor. "Divide their strength."
"No," Mirajane countered, her eyes never leaving Laxus. "This isn't just about fighting them. We need to understand what's happened. That fragment Laxus mentioned—if it's like the ones I carry, then there's a consciousness behind it with its own agenda."
"Mira's right," Kizuna agreed. "We need to subdue, not destroy. If we can break whatever control this fragment has over them..."
Laxus's laugh interrupted them. "Always looking for the peaceful solution. That's the weakness the fragment warned us about." He gestured to the Thunder Legion. "Show them the futility of resistance."
What followed was chaos. Freed's rune traps sprang up throughout the guild hall, but these were unlike his usual precise, rule-based magic. These runes shifted and pulsed with the same purple energy, warping reality within their boundaries rather than simply establishing magical laws.
Evergreen's Stone Eyes had evolved into something more insidious—a gaze that didn't petrify but seemed to drain energy from anything it focused on. Gray barely avoided it, throwing up an ice shield that withered and cracked upon eye contact.
Bickslow's dolls moved with frightening coordination, no longer the somewhat chaotic extensions of his will but a synchronized attack force that could predict and counter their moves.
And Laxus himself... his Lightning Dragon Slayer magic had taken on qualities they'd never seen before, bending around obstacles and homing in on targets with unnatural precision.
"They're stronger," Lucy gasped, narrowly avoiding a blast from one of Bickslow's dolls. "But it's more than that—they're fighting differently, like they know what we're going to do before we do it."
"The fragment," Mirajane realized, partially transforming to deflect one of Evergreen's energy-draining attacks. "It's not just possessing them; it's enhancing them, giving them access to knowledge or abilities they didn't have before."
Kizuna dodged a lightning blast from Laxus, his body moving with practiced precision. "We need to hit them all at once," he called to the others. "Something that will disrupt their connection to this fragment long enough for us to reach them."
"I have an idea," Mirajane replied, her eyes meeting his across the chaotic battlefield that was once their guild hall. "But I need you to trust me."
Something in her voice caught his attention. "What are you thinking?"
"The entities I carry—they responded to Nexarius's call because they were similar in nature. What if they could interfere with this new fragment's connection to Laxus and the others?"
Kizuna's eyes widened. "That's risky, Mira. We've only just started working on your control."
"Do you have a better idea?" she challenged, deflecting another attack.
After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head. "What do you need from me?"
"Power," she answered simply. "More than I can generate alone. I need you to channel some of your energy into me when I fully transform."
Erza, overhearing their conversation, called out, "We'll create an opening for you. Just tell us when."
Mirajane nodded gratefully. "On my signal, then."
The Fairy Tail wizards regrouped, shifting their strategy from offense to defense and distraction. Natsu and Gray combined their magics to create a steam cloud that temporarily obscured vision within the guild hall. Lucy summoned Gemini to create confusion with duplicates. Erza launched a barrage of swords, not aimed to hit but to occupy the Thunder Legion's attention.
In the center of this orchestrated chaos, Mirajane closed her eyes and began her transformation. But unlike her usual Satan Soul takeover, this was different—more deliberate, more communicative. She reached out to the entities within her, not commanding but requesting their aid.
"We need to save our friends," she told them silently. "Another fragment is controlling them. I need your help to break its hold."
To her surprise, she felt response—not resistance but consideration. These entities had fled the Primal Dark seeking independence; they understood the violation of being controlled against one's will.
As her transformation completed, Kizuna moved to her side, green energy already crackling around his hands. "Ready?"
She nodded, extending her clawed hands. "Now."
Kizuna placed his hands against hers, palm to palm, and began channeling his energy into her. The sensation was electric—raw power flowing between them, neither Saiyan nor demonic but something new entirely.
Mirajane felt her transformation shifting, evolving once more as it had during their battle with Nexarius. The entities within her responded to Kizuna's legendary power, not with fear but with recognition—as if his power spoke to them in a language they understood.
"Everyone down!" she shouted to her guildmates.
As her friends dropped to the floor, Mirajane released the combined energy—not as a destructive blast but as a wave that pulsed outward in all directions. It was visible as a ripple in the air, neither light nor darkness but something between realms.
The wave passed harmlessly over her friends but when it reached Laxus and the Thunder Legion, the effect was immediate. They froze in place, the purple glow in their eyes flickering as if disrupted. Laxus grabbed his head, a roar of pain and rage tearing from his throat.
"NO!" The voice that emerged wasn't entirely his own. "YOU CANNOT INTERFERE! THE PREPARATION MUST CONTINUE!"
"Fight it, Laxus!" Makarov shouted from where he stood protecting the younger guild members. "Whatever's controlling you, you're stronger!"
For a moment, Laxus's eyes cleared, the familiar blue-gray visible beneath the purple glow. "Gramps?" he managed, his voice strained but his own. "Something's... in my head..."
"Hold them there," Kizuna urged Mirajane, still channeling energy into her. "Your entities are disrupting the fragment's control."
Mirajane nodded, concentrating harder. She could feel the strange fragment within Laxus reaching out, trying to reestablish its dominance. It was powerful—perhaps more sophisticated than the entities she harbored—but their combined rebellion was keeping it at bay.
"Laxus," she called, pushing forward despite the strain of maintaining the interference. "The Thunder Legion. Listen to me. This fragment is using you. It doesn't care about making Fairy Tail stronger—it's using your own desires and twisting them to its purpose."
Freed was the next to show signs of breaking free, the runes he'd created beginning to fade. "Mi-Mirajane?" he stammered, confusion evident in his voice. "What... what's happening?"
"You've been influenced," she explained, keeping her voice steady despite the enormous effort of maintaining the disruptive field. "All of you. Something you found in the eastern forests."
"The crystal," Evergreen murmured, her eyes clearing momentarily. "The crystal in the cave..."
"It spoke to us," Bickslow added, his dolls dropping lifelessly to the ground as his control wavered. "Showed us... things..."
Laxus fell to one knee, fighting some invisible battle within himself. "Get... out... of... my... HEAD!" he roared, lightning crackling around him—yellow now rather than purple.
Kizuna, sensing a critical moment, looked to Mirajane. "I'm going to try something," he said urgently. "Keep holding them."
Without waiting for a response, he broke contact with her and moved swiftly to Laxus's side. Before anyone could react, he placed his hands on either side of Laxus's head and began channeling a different kind of energy—not the raw power of his legendary form but something more refined, more focused.
"What's he doing?" Lucy whispered to Natsu.
"Energy manipulation," Erza answered, watching intently. "It's a Saiyan technique. They can use their ki not just for attacks but for healing or, apparently, for this."
Whatever Kizuna was attempting, it was clearly taking tremendous effort. His body trembled with exertion, green energy flickering around him as sweat beaded on his forehead. Laxus continued to struggle, but gradually his resistance lessened.
"I can feel it," Kizuna said through gritted teeth. "The fragment. It's... not like anything I've encountered before. More ordered. More purposeful."
"Can you remove it?" Makarov asked anxiously.
"Not... entirely," Kizuna managed. "It's integrated too deeply. But I can... disrupt its connection to his consciousness. Break its control."
With a final surge of effort, Kizuna channeled a concentrated burst of energy directly into Laxus's mind. The lightning mage's back arched, a scream tearing from his throat—but when it faded, the purple glow in his eyes had dimmed to almost nothing.
Laxus slumped forward, catching himself on his hands and knees, breathing heavily. "What... what happened?" he asked, his voice rough but his own.
Before anyone could answer, the Thunder Legion collapsed as well, the connection between them and their leader—amplified by the fragment—suddenly severed.
Mirajane released her transformation, nearly falling before Elfman caught her. "Did it work?" she asked weakly.
Kizuna, himself exhausted, nodded. "Temporarily, at least. I couldn't remove the fragment, but I disrupted its control network. It will need time to recover and adapt."
Makarov approached his grandson cautiously. "Laxus? Are you yourself again?"
Laxus looked up, confusion and horror dawning on his face as memories returned. "Gramps, I... we..." He looked around at the damaged guild hall, at his injured guildmates. "What have I done?"
"It wasn't you," Mirajane said firmly, despite her exhaustion. "It was whatever you encountered in the eastern forests."
"The crystal," Freed murmured, sitting up with Evergreen's help. "We found a crystal formation in a cave. It was... beautiful. Hypnotic."
"It showed us the future," Evergreen added, her voice distant. "The Convergence consuming everything, only the strongest surviving."
"It offered power," Bickslow finished. "Knowledge. Evolution."
"And when you accepted?" Kizuna pressed.
Laxus's expression darkened with memory. "It... shattered. Became light. Entered us." His hand moved unconsciously to his temple. "It's still there, isn't it? I can feel it... waiting."
Kizuna nodded grimly. "Yes. But dormant for now. We've bought some time to figure out what it is and how to remove it completely."
"This is worse than we feared," Makarov said, addressing the guild as members began cautiously returning. "If these fragments are actively seeking hosts, not just being hunted..."
"Then the Convergence is further along than we realized," Erza finished, her expression grim.
Lucy helped Natsu to his feet, concern etched on her face. "What do we do now?"
Kizuna and Mirajane exchanged looks, both understanding the gravity of their situation.
"We prepare," Mirajane said simply.
"And we need answers," Kizuna added. "Mother and Narak should return from their scouting mission tomorrow. Until then, we need to secure the guild and make sure whatever influenced Laxus and the Thunder Legion can't reach them again."
As the guild members set about tending to the injured and repairing what damage they could, Mirajane found herself beside Laxus, who sat staring at his hands with an expression she'd never seen on his face before—fear.
"We'll fix this," she promised quietly. "Whatever it takes."
Laxus looked up at her, the faintest purple tint still lingering in his eyes. "You don't understand," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It showed me things, Mira. The Convergence, yes, but more than that. It showed me... the Architects."
"The Architects?" she repeated, the term unfamiliar yet somehow resonant.
"The ones behind it all," Laxus replied, a shiver running through his powerful frame. "The ones pulling the strings of both the Primal Dark and whatever fragment is now inside me. They're opposing forces in a game bigger than any of us can imagine."
Before Mirajane could ask more, a commotion at the guild entrance drew everyone's attention. Gajeel burst in, supporting a badly injured Levy.
"We've got trouble," the Iron Dragon Slayer announced grimly. "Big trouble. The library was attacked. Someone or something was after the ancient texts about the Convergence."
"Levy!" Lucy rushed to her friend's side. "What happened?"
The script mage looked up, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead. "They weren't after the texts," she managed weakly. "They were after the person studying them."
"Uruk," Kizuna said, the name falling from his lips like a stone. "They took my brother."
The implications settled over the guild hall like a shadow. With Laxus temporarily freed but still housing a mysterious fragment, Uruk captured by unknown forces, and the Convergence accelerating, their situation had never seemed more dire.
Yet as Mirajane looked around at her guildmates—battered but unbowed, determined despite their fears—she felt something unexpected: hope. Whatever came next, they would face it together, as they always had.
Her gaze met Kizuna's across the guild hall, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Their training was no longer just about personal mastery—it was about preparing for a war that would determine the fate of not just their world, but all worlds touched by the Convergence.
And somewhere in the eastern forests, a crystal cave pulsed with renewed purpose, sending out its silent call to those who would listen.
The game of fragments and forces had only just begun.
Power and Betrayal: The Magnolia Convergence
In the clearing outside Magnolia, dawn light filtered through the leaves as Mirajane and Kizuna trained intensely. The scorched earth and shattered rocks testified to hours of rigorous practice.
"Again," Mirajane said, her breath visible in the cool morning air. "And this time, don't hold back."
Kizuna expressed concern about her exhaustion, but Mirajane transformed into her Satan Soul form, determined to prepare for the Hunters who wouldn't give her time to rest. Since their encounter with Nexarius three days earlier, she had been relentlessly working to gain greater control over her fragmented demonic abilities.
"Alright," he conceded. "But we work on control, not just power."
Kizuna began teaching Mirajane a new approach to her powers. Rather than fighting against the demonic entities she'd absorbed, he showed her how to find harmony with them—just as he had learned to coexist with his volatile Legendary Super Saiyan power.
"The key isn't suppression," he explained as green energy crackled around him. "It's harmony. You're not fighting against these entities for control. You're finding a balance where both of you can exist."
When Mirajane reached within, she discovered something surprising—the entities were afraid, not just of the Primal Dark, but of being controlled by anyone, including her. Instead of imposing her will, she offered partnership, security, and mutual strength. The demons responded, making her powers flow more smoothly.
From the edge of the clearing, Lisanna and Elfman watched with mixed emotions, proud of their sister's growth but concerned about the dangers she faced. They discussed their trust in Mirajane's judgment and, surprisingly, their growing trust in Kizuna.
The peaceful training was interrupted when Lucy, Natsu, and Happy arrived with urgent news: Laxus had returned to the guild with the Thunder Legion, but something was terribly wrong.
The Fairy Tail guildhall was in chaos. Tables were overturned, members nursed injuries, and Master Makarov confronted his grandson, Laxus. But Laxus looked wrong—his skin had an unnatural pallor, and his eyes glowed with an eerie purple light. Behind him stood the Thunder Legion—Freed, Evergreen, and Bickslow—all bearing the same strange glow.
"This has gone far enough, Laxus!" Makarov shouted. "I don't know what's happened to you, but you will stand down before I make you stand down!"
Laxus laughed, his voice echoing as if multiple entities spoke through him. He spoke ominously about the "Convergence"—a merging of realities that only the strong would survive—and his intention to purge Fairy Tail of weakness.
When Kizuna and Mirajane arrived, Laxus immediately noticed them. "Ah, the demon girl and the alien half-breed," he said with cruel amusement.
Mirajane tried to reason with him, suggesting something was affecting him and the Thunder Legion. Laxus revealed they had found a "fragment" in the eastern forests—something that had shown them the truth about the Convergence and offered them evolution in exchange for serving its purpose.
Unlike the fragments from the Primal Dark that Mirajane carried, this one didn't flee from unity—it actively sought worthy vessels. It had integrated with Laxus and the Thunder Legion, enhancing their powers while controlling them.
When Natsu declared that Fairy Tail wouldn't abandon any of its members regardless of strength, Laxus attacked with lightning unlike any they'd seen before—crackling with purple energy that distorted the air itself.
The battle that followed was chaos. The Thunder Legion's abilities had evolved dangerously: Freed's runes warped reality, Evergreen's gaze drained energy instead of petrifying, Bickslow's dolls moved with frightening precision, and Laxus's lightning bent unnaturally to find its targets.
"They're stronger," Lucy gasped, "but it's more than that—they're fighting differently, like they know what we're going to do before we do it."
Mirajane realized the fragment wasn't just possessing them but enhancing them with new knowledge and abilities. She proposed a desperate plan: using the entities she carried to interfere with the new fragment's control over Laxus and the others. Though risky, it was their best option.
The Fairy Tail wizards created a distraction while Mirajane transformed, reaching out to the entities within her not with commands but with a request for help. To her surprise, they responded—understanding the violation of being controlled against one's will.
With Kizuna channeling his energy into her, Mirajane released a wave that disrupted the fragment's hold. For a moment, Laxus broke through, recognizing his grandfather. "Gramps? Something's... in my head..."
The Thunder Legion began to break free as well, and they revealed that they had found a crystal in a cave that had shown them visions of the future and offered them power before shattering and entering their bodies.
Kizuna, seeing his opportunity, placed his hands on either side of Laxus's head and channeled his energy to disrupt the fragment's control. Though he couldn't remove it entirely, he broke its immediate hold.
When Laxus regained consciousness, he was horrified by what he had done. The fragment remained within him—dormant but waiting. He revealed something even more disturbing: the fragment had shown him not just the Convergence, but entities called "the Architects"—opposing forces behind both the Primal Dark and the fragment now inside him, playing a game larger than any of them could imagine.
Before they could process this revelation, Gajeel burst into the guild supporting an injured Levy. The library had been attacked, not for its ancient texts about the Convergence, but for the person studying them: Kizuna's brother, Uruk, had been captured.
As the guild rallied to address these new threats, Mirajane looked around at her guildmates—battered but determined. Despite everything, she felt hope. Her gaze met Kizuna's across the hall, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Their training was no longer just about personal mastery—it was preparation for a war that would determine the fate of all worlds touched by the Convergence.
And somewhere in the eastern forests, a crystal cave pulsed with renewed purpose, sending out its silent call to those who would listen.
The Battle of Fairy Tail: Gine's Awakening
The tension in Magnolia hadn't dissipated with the temporary suppression of the fragment within Laxus. If anything, the situation had grown more complex. Though Kizuna had managed to disrupt the fragment's direct control, its influence lingered in subtle ways—whispering, suggesting, amplifying Laxus's existing frustrations with the guild.
Three days after the confrontation in the guild hall, Laxus stood atop Kardia Cathedral, watching the preparations for Magnolia's Harvest Festival with cold detachment. Behind him, the Thunder Legion waited silently, their loyalty to him undiminished despite everything that had happened.
"They still don't understand," Laxus muttered, electricity crackling around his clenched fists. The fragment's purple glow flickered briefly in his eyes. "Fairy Tail could be the strongest guild in Fiore—in all worlds touched by the Convergence. Instead, we waste our potential protecting the weak."
"What do you propose, Laxus?" Freed asked, his voice steady despite the concern evident in his eyes. He and the other Thunder Legion members were aware of their leader's increasingly radical ideas, yet their bond compelled them to follow.
Laxus turned, a dangerous smile spreading across his face. "A cleansing. A battle to determine who deserves to bear the Fairy Tail emblem and who doesn't." He looked down at the festival preparations. "And the Harvest Festival provides the perfect stage."
Gine helped Lucy hang lanterns along the streets of Magnolia, her tail swishing with excitement. Though she'd been on Earth-land for nearly two years now, this would be her first Harvest Festival, and she was determined to enjoy it despite the looming threat of the Convergence.
"You seem happy today," Lucy observed with a smile. "It's nice to see, considering everything that's happened."
Gine nodded, floating upward to secure a lantern to a high branch. Her control over her ki had improved dramatically under her son Kizuna's guidance. "We can't stop living because of danger," she replied, her accent still noticeable though her command of the local language had improved. "Saiyans understand this well—celebrate today because tomorrow may bring battle."
Lucy's expression softened. "Is that why you're so determined to participate in the Miss Fairy Tail contest? I never pictured you as the pageant type."
A slight blush colored Gine's cheeks. "I... I heard Laxus always watches the contest. Before the fragment, I mean."
Understanding dawned on Lucy's face. Despite her usual perceptiveness about romantic matters, she'd somehow missed the signs of Gine's feelings for the lightning mage. Looking back, it made sense—Gine had always found reasons to be in the guild hall when Laxus was present, always positioned herself to watch his training from a distance.
"You care for him," Lucy said gently. "Even after what happened."
Gine's expression became more determined. "The fragment isn't him. And I..." she hesitated, then continued more quietly, "I understand what it means to be judged solely by strength. On my world, I was considered weak for a Saiyan. My compassion was seen as a defect. Perhaps that's why I recognize when someone's harshness comes from pain."
Lucy placed a comforting hand on Gine's shoulder. "Just be careful. Whatever Kizuna did seems to have helped, but Laxus isn't fully free of that fragment's influence."
Gine nodded, her dark eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and resolve. "I know. But I won't give up on him."
The Miss Fairy Tail contest began with typical enthusiasm. Guild members and townspeople packed the hall to watch as Magnolia's most powerful female wizards showcased not just their beauty but their magical talents as well.
Erza requipped into an elegant gown, Juvia created a dazzling display of water magic, and Lucy summoned Aquarius for a spectacular (if somewhat reluctant) performance. Gine, waiting nervously backstage, adjusted the traditional Saiyan ceremonial armor she wore—modified slightly to suit the occasion, with softer edges and decorative elements that honored both her heritage and her adopted guild.
"You look beautiful," Mirajane said, approaching with a warm smile. "That armor means something special?"
Gine nodded. "It's what female warriors of the royal guard would wear for ceremonial occasions. I... was never ranked highly enough to wear it on my world, but..." she trailed off, embarrassed.
"But here, you've earned your place," Mirajane finished for her. "And you have."
Before Gine could respond, screams erupted from the stage. Both women rushed forward to see Evergreen standing center stage, her eyes glowing with power as Lucy, Juvia, and several other contestants turned to stone before the horrified audience.
"What a disappointing lineup this year," Evergreen mocked, adjusting her glasses. "Let's see if the remaining contestants prove more entertaining."
Laxus materialized in a flash of lightning beside her, the Thunder Legion completing their formation on stage. The lightning mage surveyed the chaos with satisfaction, the purple tint in his eyes more pronounced than it had been since Kizuna's intervention.
"Citizens of Magnolia, members of Fairy Tail," Laxus's voice boomed throughout the hall. "Welcome to the true festival event—The Battle of Fairy Tail!"
Makarov pushed through the crowd, his face contorted with anger and dismay. "Laxus! What is the meaning of this? You were recovering!"
Laxus smirked down at his grandfather. "Recovering? No, old man. I was seeing clearly for the first time. The fragment showed me how weak Fairy Tail has become under your leadership. Today, we change that."
With a wave of his hand, Freed activated rune barriers throughout Magnolia, the purple-tinged script spreading like a web across the town. "The rules are simple," Freed announced. "All Fairy Tail wizards must battle one another. The last one standing will face the Thunder Legion and Lord Laxus for the right to determine Fairy Tail's future."
"And if you refuse to participate," Bickslow added with a manic grin, his dolls echoing "Refuse! Refuse!" around him, "these lovely contestants remain as statues forever."
"You have three hours," Evergreen concluded. "After that, the statues will crumble to dust."
With a crash of thunder, the Thunder Legion vanished, leaving behind shocked silence and a furious Makarov.
"I won't allow this!" the guild master roared, growing to giant size—only to be repelled by Freed's runes as he tried to leave the guild hall. "What?"
Levy rushed to examine the barrier. "It's a rule trap," she explained. "Anyone over eighty years of age or who is a stone statue cannot leave the guild hall."
"What twisted game is this?" Erza demanded, having avoided Evergreen's gaze by chance. "Laxus knows Master can't participate now."
Gine stepped forward, her ceremonial armor forgotten as her warrior's instinct took over. "This isn't just Laxus," she said quietly. "The fragment's influence is growing again. Something's triggering it."
Kizuna, who had been watching from the back of the hall, nodded grimly. "She's right. The disruption I created wouldn't have failed this quickly unless something was accelerating the fragment's recovery."
"The Convergence," Mirajane suggested. "It must be strengthening connections between fragments."
"We don't have time to theorize," Erza said decisively. "We need to save our friends and stop Laxus before this gets worse." She glanced at Gine. "Are you with us?"
Determination hardened in Gine's eyes as she nodded. "I'll find Laxus. I can sense his energy signature—it's... different now, with the fragment, but still recognizable."
"No," Kizuna objected, concern evident in his voice. "Mother, Laxus is too dangerous in this state. Let me—"
"I'm not the weak Saiyan I was once considered," Gine interrupted, a rare steel in her voice. "And perhaps..." she hesitated, then continued more softly, "perhaps he'll listen to me."
The Battle of Fairy Tail erupted across Magnolia as guild members, initially reluctant, realized they had no choice but to participate if they wanted to save their petrified friends. Freed's runes created battle zones throughout the city, forcing comrades to fight one another while the Thunder Legion picked off the winners.
Natsu and Gajeel, in a rare alliance, fought their way through opponent after opponent, determined to reach Laxus. Their progress was slow, hampered by the increasingly complex and powerful rune traps Freed had set—traps that seemed beyond even his usual impressive capabilities.
"The fragment is enhancing his magic," Levy observed, tracking the battles from the guild hall using Freed's own rune network against him. "All of them are operating at levels we've never seen before."
Meanwhile, Gine moved through Magnolia with purpose, following the distinct energy signature that was Laxus's. Years of serving as a meat distribution worker had given her a unique sensory ability uncommon among Saiyans—she could distinguish individual ki signatures with remarkable precision, a skill that had seemed useless in battle until now.
She found him atop Kardia Cathedral, looking down upon Magnolia as the chaos of his "Battle of Fairy Tail" unfolded. For a moment, she simply watched him, noting the subtle changes in his posture, the unnatural stillness in someone whose power was lightning itself.
"I know you're there," Laxus said without turning. "Your son may suppress his power level out of habit, but you haven't mastered that skill yet, Gine."
She stepped forward, abandoning her concealment. "I wasn't hiding."
Laxus turned then, and Gine fought to keep her expression neutral at the sight of the purple glow dominating his eyes. "The fangirl comes to confront the monster," he mocked. "How predictable."
The words stung, but Gine stood her ground. "I'm not a fangirl, Laxus. I'm a warrior of Fairy Tail. And you're not a monster—you're someone fighting an outside influence."
"Fighting?" Laxus laughed, the sound hollow. "Why would I fight against clarity? The fragment showed me the truth—Fairy Tail cannot survive the Convergence as it is. The weak must be culled."
"Is that you speaking, or the fragment?" Gine challenged, taking another step forward. "The Laxus I've watched, learned from—he was harsh, yes. Demanding, certainly. But he never confused cruelty for strength."
Something flickered in Laxus's expression—confusion, perhaps, or the briefest moment of recognition. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by cold amusement.
"You know nothing about me," he said dismissively.
"I know more than you think," Gine countered, her tail twitching with nervousness despite her confident tone. "I know you train before dawn when you think no one is watching. I know you leave food for the stray cats behind the guild. I know you stood watch outside Asuka's window the whole night she had a fever, though you made sure no one saw you."
Laxus's eyes widened slightly, the purple glow faltering. "How did you—"
"Because I've watched you," Gine admitted, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Not as some obsessed fan, but as someone who recognized another outsider. Someone who understood what it meant to be judged solely by others' expectations."
A crash of thunder interrupted the moment as Natsu and Gajeel burst onto the cathedral roof, both bearing wounds from their battles through the city.
"Found you, Laxus!" Natsu shouted, flames already engulfing his fists. "We're ending this now!"
Laxus's moment of vulnerability vanished, the fragment reasserting control as the purple glow intensified in his eyes. "Perfect timing," he said, electricity crackling around him. "I was just about to give Gine a demonstration of true power."
What followed was a battle that shook Magnolia to its foundations. Natsu and Gajeel, already weakened from their fights across the city, nevertheless attacked with everything they had. Their dragon slayer magic illuminated the sky above Kardia Cathedral as fire and iron clashed with Laxus's lightning.
But Laxus, enhanced by the fragment, moved with impossible speed and power. He dodged Natsu's Fire Dragon's Roar with ease, countering with a lightning bolt that sent the fire mage crashing through the cathedral roof. Gajeel fared little better, his Iron Dragon's Scales providing minimal protection against Laxus's fragment-empowered attacks.
Gine watched in horror as her guildmates were systematically overpowered. When Gajeel crashed to the ground beside her, barely conscious, she knew she could no longer remain an observer.
"Enough, Laxus!" she shouted, stepping between him and the fallen dragon slayers. "This isn't strength—it's domination! There's a difference!"
Laxus paused, studying her with something like curiosity. "And what would a Saiyan know about the difference? Your race conquered worlds for sport."
"I know because I rejected that path," Gine answered steadily. "Just as Bardock did. Just as our sons have. Strength without compassion isn't strength at all—it's just power, empty and meaningless."
"Pretty words," Laxus sneered, gathering lightning between his palms. "But words won't save Fairy Tail from the Convergence. Only power will."
He launched his attack—a massive bolt of purple-tinged lightning that tore through the air toward Gine. She raised her hands instinctively, calling on her ki to create a barrier. The lightning struck with devastating force, driving her back several feet as she struggled to maintain her defense.
"You've improved," Laxus observed, sounding almost impressed. "But not enough."
He intensified his attack, the lightning becoming a continuous stream of destructive energy. Gine felt her barrier weakening, cracks appearing in the ki shield as she poured more of her energy into maintaining it.
"Why fight for them?" Laxus demanded, frustration bleeding through his controlled facade. "You, of all people, should understand! You've seen other worlds, other realities! You know what's coming!"
"I fight for them," Gine managed through gritted teeth, "because they fought for me! When I arrived here—lost, alone—Fairy Tail didn't see an alien or a potential threat. They saw someone who needed help!"
Her barrier shattered under the relentless assault, sending her sliding across the rooftop. Pain lanced through her body, but she forced herself back to her feet, refusing to stay down.
"And I fight for you," she continued, her voice stronger despite her injuries. "Because the real Laxus is still in there, fighting the fragment's control."
"The real Laxus?" he laughed, though something uncertain flickered in his expression. "This is who I've always been!"
"No," Gine shook her head, taking a step forward despite the lightning still crackling around Laxus. "The real Laxus challenges others to be stronger, not terrorizes them into submission. The real Laxus protects Fairy Tail, he doesn't threaten to destroy it."
For a moment, confusion crossed Laxus's face, the purple glow in his eyes dimming slightly. But then he snarled, gathering even more power.
"Enough talk! If you stand with the weak, you fall with them!"
The attack that followed dwarfed his previous efforts—a massive dragon of pure lightning, reminiscent of his Lightning Dragon Slayer magic but twisted, enhanced by the fragment's influence. It roared toward Gine with unstoppable force.
Time seemed to slow for Gine. In that moment, she saw not just Laxus, but everything he represented to her—the strength she admired, the complexity that intrigued her, the wounded soul she recognized beneath his harsh exterior. And she saw what the fragment was doing to him, twisting his natural desire to strengthen the guild into something monstrous.
Something broke within her—not her spirit, but a barrier she hadn't known existed. The pain of seeing someone she cared for corrupted, the frustration of being underestimated yet again, the determination to protect both Laxus and Fairy Tail—all of it crystallized into a single, burning point of need.
With a cry that was part rage, part grief, Gine felt power surge through her unlike anything she'd experienced before. Golden light erupted around her, her dark hair rising and transforming to a brilliant gold as her eyes shifted from black to teal. The transformation rippled outward, dispersing Laxus's lightning dragon and sending shockwaves across Magnolia.
The Super Saiyan transformation, legendary among her people, awakened not through battle lust or rage, but through love and the need to protect.
Laxus stared in shocked silence, the fragment's control momentarily forgotten in the face of this unexpected development.
"What... what is this?" he finally managed, taking an involuntary step back.
Tears streamed down Gine's face, glittering like diamonds in the golden aura that surrounded her. "This is what happens when you push someone who cares about you to their limit," she answered, her voice steady despite her tears. "This is what happens when you force me to choose between the man I admire and the guild that became my home."
The raw emotion in her voice seemed to reach Laxus in a way her earlier words couldn't. The purple glow in his eyes flickered uncertainly.
"You... care about me?" he asked, genuine confusion replacing his arrogance. "Why would you—I've never—"
"Because I see you," Gine said simply. "Not the grandson of Makarov. Not the leader of the Thunder Legion. You, Laxus. And what I see is worth caring about, worth fighting for—even when you can't see it yourself."
Laxus's expression twisted with conflict, the fragment fighting to maintain control. "It doesn't matter," he growled, though his voice lacked conviction. "This changes nothing. Fairy Tail must be purged of weakness, and I'll use Fairy Law if necessary!"
He raised his hands above his head, beginning the motions for Fairy Tail's ultimate spell—a magic capable of vanquishing anyone the caster considered an enemy. Light gathered between his palms, blinding in its intensity.
"Don't do this," Gine pleaded, not backing down despite the devastating magic forming before her. "This spell works on intent—your true intent, not the fragment's! If you cast it now..."
But Laxus was beyond reasoning, the fragment pushing him to complete the spell as his inner conflict raged. With a shout that held notes of both triumph and despair, he released Fairy Law.
Light exploded outward from Laxus, washing over Magnolia in a wave of magical energy so powerful it temporarily blocked out the sun. Gine braced herself, expecting the worst—but when the light faded, she remained standing. As did Natsu and Gajeel beside her. Throughout Magnolia, every member of Fairy Tail stood unharmed.
Laxus stared at his hands in disbelief. "Impossible. It failed? How?"
"Because," came Freed's voice as he landed on the rooftop, "your heart wasn't in it, Laxus. Fairy Law works on what's in your heart, not what you tell yourself." The rune mage approached cautiously, his own eyes clear of the fragment's influence. "And in your heart, you don't see Fairy Tail as your enemy."
The realization hit Laxus like a physical blow. He fell to his knees, conflict etched across his features as the fragment fought to maintain its failing hold.
Seeing her opportunity, Gine moved forward, her Super Saiyan aura still blazing around her. With gentle hands that now contained immense power, she cupped Laxus's face, forcing him to meet her eyes.
"Fight it," she urged, her tears still falling despite her transformation. "You're stronger than this fragment, stronger than anyone knows. Not because of your magic, but because of your heart."
Something shifted in Laxus's expression—recognition, clarity, and then determination. With what seemed like tremendous effort, he placed his hands over hers.
"Help me," he whispered, the words costing him visible effort as the fragment resisted.
Gine nodded, calling on her newly awakened power. Golden energy flowed from her into Laxus, not attacking but supporting, strengthening his own will against the fragment's influence. Where Kizuna had disrupted the connection, Gine was empowering Laxus himself to fight back.
With a cry of pain and effort, Laxus threw his head back, purple light erupting from his eyes and mouth as the fragment's control shattered. The light coalesced above them, attempting to flee—but Gine, acting on instinct, contained it within a sphere of her Super Saiyan energy.
"Freed!" she called. "Your runes!"
Understanding immediately, the rune mage traced complex symbols around the contained fragment, creating a prison of magical script to hold it.
As the last rune locked into place, Laxus collapsed forward, catching himself on his hands and knees. His breathing was ragged, but when he looked up, his eyes were clear—his natural gray-blue, with no trace of purple.
Throughout Magnolia, the effects were immediate. Evergreen's stone spell broke, freeing the contestants. Freed's battle runes dissolved, ending the forced conflict between guild members.
Gine's Super Saiyan transformation faded, her golden hair returning to its natural black as exhaustion overtook her. She swayed on her feet, the immense energy drain of her first transformation taking its toll.
Laxus reached out, catching her before she could fall. For a moment, they simply looked at each other—both changed by what had transpired, both uncertain of what came next.
"Why?" Laxus finally asked, his voice rough with emotion. "After everything I did—why fight for me?"
Gine's smile was tired but genuine. "Because that's what Fairy Tail taught me. We don't give up on our own."
"Even when they deserve it?" Laxus pressed, self-recrimination evident in his voice.
"Especially then," she replied softly.
Around them, guild members began to gather on the cathedral roof—Erza, Gray, Lucy with her keys ready, Mirajane in her Satan Soul form, all prepared to continue the fight if necessary. Their expressions shifted from battle-readiness to confusion as they took in the scene: Laxus supporting an exhausted Gine, Freed containing the fragment, Natsu and Gajeel picking themselves up with matching expressions of disbelief.
"It's over," Freed announced, though uncertainty tinged his voice. "Laxus is... himself again."
"And the Battle of Fairy Tail?" Erza demanded, not yet ready to lower her guard.
"A mistake," Laxus answered, his voice carrying despite its weariness. "One of many I've made." He looked down at Gine, something fragile and new in his expression. "One I hope to have the chance to atone for."
As the implications of what had happened began to sink in, the tension in the air gave way to relief, then to the beginning stirrings of celebration. The crisis had passed—at least for now.
But as Gine looked toward the contained fragment, still pulsing with malevolent purpose even within its prison, she knew this was just one battle in a much larger war. The Convergence was still coming, the Architects still moving their pieces across realities.
Yet in this moment, feeling Laxus's supportive arm around her waist and seeing the determination in the faces of her guildmates, Gine allowed herself to hope. She had found strength she never knew she possessed, revealed feelings she'd kept hidden, and helped save someone she cared deeply for.
Whatever challenges the Convergence would bring, they would face them together—not as the strong dominating the weak, but as allies supporting one another through their individual strengths and despite their individual weaknesses.
That, she realized, was the true strength of Fairy Tail. And perhaps, in time, Laxus would come to fully understand it too.
To be continued in Chapter 16: The Battle of Fairy Tail Part II