Fairy Tail: Homecoming

Steel Determination

Author's Note 1: First new chapter of 2017! Last time, we saw the gals kick major ass! Now it's the guys turn!

Chapter 5: Steel Determination

With the massive ring of yellow lacrima known as the Thunder Palace circling above Magnolia, there was a sense of unease all over Magnolia. Many of the citizens had retreated to their houses to avoid the golems walking the streets, and now the sudden appearance of these mysterious rotating objects was doing little to ease their worries. And for the wizards in the Fairy Tail guildhall, those who knew the true nature of the Thunder Palace, they felt the sting of betrayal and a burning anger.

"You know what's up those lacrima, Master?" Gray asked Lyle, who, alongside Makarov, seemed to have some knowledge of the devices based on their reaction after spotting them.

The Absorption Wizard nodded before answering. "The Thunder Palace was a weapon concept that I thought up alongside Ivan Dreyar."

Those who recognized the name scowled, but none noticed the look of familiarity that was on Gajeel's face for a mere second.

"The idea was to fill up a series of lacrima with massive amounts of concentrated lightning magic. They would then be sent up into the air and circle their target. And with a single mental command, all of the lightning would explode at once, utterly vaporizing anything in its sphere of influence."

Thanks to the mental link, all of the still conscious wizards (aside from Laxus and Freed) heard this detail and variety of emotions overcame them. Mostly ear at the purported power of the Thunder Palace and anger that Laxus would betray them to such a degree.

"Oh, hell no!" Ur scowled, the floor under her freezing over as she started charging a spell. "Ice-Make: Saucer!"

With a powerful yell, the Ice Master fired a large spinning blade of ice high into the sky. The ice spell managed to make contact with one of the floating lacrima, slicing it in half.

"Woah, that was amazing!" Macao shouted.

"So we can't physically pass through the barrier, but our magic can." Makarov stated as a few of the guild members celebrated the destruction of the lacrima. However, the celebration only lasted a few seconds as a bolt of lightning suddenly struck Ur, causing her to scream.

"MASTER!" Gray shouted before catching his now smoking teacher.

"What the hell was that?!" Gajeel asked in confusion.

"Body Link Magic." Lyle deduced with a scowl. "It blasted her with the same amount of magic she used to destroy the lacrima."

"So even if we destroy the Thunder Palace, we'll get zapped too?! Shit!" Wakaba cursed before blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Laxus has gone too far!" Elfman shouted, clenching his fist in anger. "A real man wouldn't resort to such cowardly tactics!"

As the various members of Fairy Tail voiced their anger, Natsu held his head down, and his body began to shake. His mind conjured up an image of the Thunder Palace destroying Magnolia, the townspeople, and his fellow guildmates.

"Not again." He whispered as his mind drifted back to his childhood home burning, an image that confused everyone in the mental link.

"Natsu?" Gray asked in concern for his rival, which grew even more as a fire started to dance around the dragon-slayer.

"Not again!" Natsu said once more, clenching his fists as his mind thought back to the morning Igneel disappeared.

"I WON'T LOSE ANOTHER FAMILY!" The salmon-haired wizard shouted, the fire exploding around him and turning into azure flames. With a burst of fire, Natsu blasted from the guildhall's rooftop and straight into a horde of nearby golems.