Fairy Tail: The Next Chapter

The Power Beyond The Stars

The train journey had gone smoothly after the unexpected stop, Well. As smooth as a journey could go with two sick dragonslayers. There was no more unexpected stops and they reached their destination rather quickly.

With a swift movement, Layla was in Storm's arms and Silver was in Nikos'. Asuka preparing the map of the area as the two slightly younger members carried out the dazed wizards. "Where to, Asuka?" Nikos asked enthusiastically. Her eyes beaming with the excitement that came from being in an area she had yet to explore.
Asuka studied the map for a few seconds before deciding on a location. "Well the last mention of Eisenwald's hideout in our records was around here..." She says gesturing to an area on the map surrounded by hills. The gunslinger pondered which direction was which before pointing south. "This way!" The thing about Asuka was, no matter how mature or developed she seemed. She was still relatively childish like her younger self was.

They all followed behind her. With the dragonslayers getting back onto their own feet halfway through the journey. They approached a building that looked abandoned and destroyed. Years of neglect were not kind to it, the wizards got closer so they could scout out the area. See if it was truly abandoned.

They spent hours, just searching the massive guild hall, they found nothing. No traces of any person being there in the past twenty years.
"Well this blows!" Layla shouted, kicking over a table in frustration. "This was a massive waste of time! We came all the way out here for what?! A couple of destroyed rooms!?" She was obviously losing her cool and would soon be burning the place down if she wasn't calmed.

"Relax, Layla. All we have to do is find one of their new members. Which should be easy if we check out all the popular bars that dark guilds go to." Silver explained. Knowing all about how these types of guilds operate from the countless books she read, and a small bit of inside knowledge from her father.
"Right...Whatever. This just feels like a mission we weren't meant to complete...First the train delay and now this..." Layla got rather disappointed with herself. "It's almost as if someone wants us to fail."

A creak, from one of the rooms in the upstairs area of the guild hall. Then the creaks were more frequent, more...purposeful. They wanted to be found. But they were coming closer, then suddenly. Nothing.

"What in the-..." Nikos began before something emerged from the wall and grabbed her by the throat. What looked like pure darkness was holding her. But it began taking from.
"It..It's them! The one who tried to stop the train!" Asuka yelled. Recognising them the instant they fully materialised.

"Excellent work, Fairy Tail...but I'm afraid your at the wrong base. Our new one is much more hidden and less known. Perhaps this lovely blue flower can show you the way once she escapes...If she ever gets out." Chains resembling shadows formed all over Nikos' body while others coated the other wizards legs. Sticking them in place
"Let go of her!" Storm screamed. Summoning an ice-cannon that then began to fire high-pressured water at the shadow-user. A wall of darkness formed around both her and Nikos. Then...

They were gone. Both of them. Without even a trace. "Nikos!!" Storm called out once the shadows left his legs and he could move.

Minutes later, at Eisenwald

Her eyes cracked open just a tad. The travel here had knocked the wind out of her. She quickly scanned the area, not at all recognising it. "Where have you brought me, speak up!" She declared with as much dominance in her voice as possible. Standing. Notably, the chains had all vanished.
"Oh come on, my precious blue flower. I already told you...This is Eisenwald." The shadow-user approached her and carefully placed a hand on her cheek. "I should introduce myself. My name is Ciara Orland." She pat the bluenette's cheek and backed away. "Now. Nikos Scarlet. Fight me." She stated calmly and formed a blade solely out of darkness.
"Well aren't you a charmer...I don't have time to waste...Requip! Armour of the Heavens! Mars!" She called out as her armour was replaced with a full body armour suit that came with a nice broadsword that was leaking pure magic power. She began channeling all of her power into the sword which caused it to glow red, then blue, then white.
"Ohhh? What's this? A magical sword? You going to smite me down with one hit? Don't make me laugh!" Ciara raised her arms. "Just try and hit me! I dare you!"
With that, Nikos unleashed her all out strength, slashing towards the shadow-user. She was left panting and out of magic.
Ciara just smirked. The attack having gone right through her body as if she wasn't there at all. "Foolish girl. You've clearly never tried to fight your own shadow."
Nikos' armour returned to normal and she fell to her knees. Only to have the shadow-sword shoved through her chest.
"That was for Minerva..." She hissed. Then moved back and raised her hands to her mouth. "Shadow dragon....ROAR!" She exclaimed and gave it her all. Darkness overtaking the room.
The armoured wizard fell unconscious. Her body weak and her magic depleted. "That one. Was for Sabertooth..." Ciara mentioned as she adjusted the bluenette's position so she could lean against the wall. "Be safe, my sweet flower. I shall return for you shortly." She ruffled the woman's blue hair and left her alone in the room. Locking the door behind her. The room had no windows, only one door, and was made of the toughest bricks known to wizard. There was no escape.

"I take it you captured one of the flies..." The man with the scythe asked as he waited in the hall.
"Yes. The daughter of Erza Scarlet. She's our prisoner now. I plan on taking full responsibility over her. To prove my worth to the guild." Ciara said, talking without hesitation as if she had this conversation all planned out.
"Perfect. Excellent work, Dragonfly. You might survive after all." He grinned to himself as he made his exit. "Tell the rest of the guild I'm going to hunt some fairies. Without their strongest member. They'll have no chance!" He laughed manically.