For The Big Hearts [2]

[19] Yeah, the truth is stranger than my own worst dreams

        Kat looked around the room with wary eyes, floating next to Lily in case he fell. Jellal had lead her and the other exceed through the kingdom to underneath the castle. Of course, the room screamed that it was suspicious but it had a powerful aura as well. It made Kat want to fly farther away anyways. But she already knew what room this was. 
         Mind-reading is sometimes a blessing for someone oblivious as herself. They walked across the long platform towards the middle of the room, where a machine stood. It towered over them, a lacrima-ball in the middle and at the top sat crystals.

              "This is. . .the room that produces the anima." Lily spoke slowly, looking around. Jellal said nothing, as did Kat, while they walked closer to the middle of the room. "Your highness, just what are you-"  

              "He will explain it to you if you stop talking." Kat interrupted, crossing her small arms. PantherLily narrowed his eyes and sent a sharp look towards the ex-princess but stayed quiet. True to her words, Jellal started to talk.
               "I've observed Earthland for a long, long time. Though there's conflict there as well, it's an abundant world. Surely they'll be able to take it in." 
         PantherLily gaped at the prince, eyes wide. "Y. . .You couldn't be. . ."
               "I don't agree with him completely, but its probably for the best." Kat looked away, glaring at the ground. 

                "No matter the circumstances, that's too absurd!!" LIly exploded, taking a step forward. 
                "There's no other way to quell the conflict here. Like Kat said, it's for the best." Jellal turned towards the two exceeds. "I'll create a world in which people can face each other properly. "

                "Don't bring me into this. . ." Kat grumbled to herself. 
                "I'll open the Anima in reverse," Jellal declared. "And annihilate all of this world's magic power."

     ♥♥♥ 

                 "This is getting fucking annoying." Crystal stated, groaning a bit as she hit the ground. She could literally feel  the magic getting sucked out of her. The bluenette as honestly never been in a fight longer than fifteen minutes and this one seemed to go on for hours. Granted, she hasn't seen a clock or anything, but it felt like it. 
                  "Gather more magic power!!" The king roared. "Ye sky, ye Earth!! Give your magical power to Doroma Anima!!" 

                  "I'm tired of this!" Crystal declared, taking out her pen and spinning it a bit. "I'm summoning a spirit!" 
                  "How do we know its going to work?" Wendy questioned, leaning on her knees. 

                  "We don't!" Drawing a cube quickly in a ice blue color, she cried out; "Articuno!" The giant, blue, ice bird appeared in a flash of blue, hovering over the four dragon slayers. 
                  "Seems like you gotten yourself into another mess, huh?" Crystal opened her mouth to defend herself but was stopped by the bird herself. "Don't explain. Keldeo already told everyone there."
                   "Good, then I need to know if you can make a mark on that piece of scrap." Crystal pointed towards Doroma Anima and turned towards her allies at the moment. They all stared at the legendary bird with wide eyes. 
                   "What is  that?" Gajeel gawked. 

                   "A friend!" The bluenette answered shortly before turning back to Articuno. "Use Ice Beam!" Complying to the girl's command, Articuno opened her beak and charged up the attack. As she ice-colored sphere grew to a certain size, she released it as a beam, hitting the machine dead-on. 

          Smoke rose and the king's dragon stumbled back but it quickly disappeared. "W-What was that?!" He spat, messing around inside the head. 
                    "It didn't do much damage. . ." Crystal concluded, a bit sadly, but smirked. "We can use it."
                    "I'm not an it. " The bird barked, narrowed her gaze at the younger girl. Gajeel whipped his head towards Natsu, coming up with something. 
                    "Salamander, use you breathe!!" He ordered as the said man stumbled up. "You two, brat." He turned towards Wendy and looked at Crystal. "Make your bird shoot some kind of beam and use your roar as well."
                    "He does realize I can hear him." Articuno mumbled. 
                    "But you don't let anyone else listen to you." Crystal shortly replied, standing a bit. 
                    "The four of us at once?!" Wendy exclaimed, not counting the ice-type bird. 
                    "We've been holding back since we don't know what'll happen." Gajeel started to take a deep breathe, preparing for his roar. "But we've got no choice!" 
                     "Understood!"
                     "Yeah!"
                      "Articuno, Use Ice Shards!!" Crystal ordered, leaning her head back slightly as she took a deep breath. The air around them seemed to waver slightly as they all started gulping on the air, preparing for a big attack.