Time After Time

Long and tedious

{STORM'S POV}
As soon as Nova gives the order, Kori and I run as fast as we can away from the Way Back. Everyone's sudden withdrawal leaves it in a state of confusion, so it bucks. A huge fire blast emanates from the guild hall.

"Kori thinks that was Uncle Natsu's fire dragon's roar!" Kori yells over the whistling wind. We head towards the guild hall.

I look back at the Way Back. It's tree bark skin is burning, and it's making a terrible screeching sound. "Correction. It's Nashi's fire dragon's roar." I grin, feeling a sense of pride.

Why a sense of pride? It's not what Lexi would say it is. If I had to place it, I'd say it's because that flaming idiot wouldn't be half as strong as she is today if she wasn't always fighting me.

"Nashi finally learned fire dragon slayer magic!" Kori gasps excitedly. "Kori's so proud!"

See? Kori's proud to. Definitely not what Lexi would say it is.

We make it to the guild hall around the same time as the others who were also attacking. Us kids all crowd around Nashi.

"Congrats!" I praise. Her cheeks turn slightly pink, making me feel self conscious. Thankfully, no one else notices our embarrassment, instead pressing to get closer.

Rose agrees with me, nodding her head. "I don't wanna admit it, but that was definitely Nashi's win." For Rose, who hates losing, that's high praise.

Nashi scratches the back of her head and beams. "Thanks guys. You all were awesome too."

"It's not over yet." Nova warns.

We all turn to face the Way Back. Sure enough, it took significant damage from Nashi's attack, but it's still standing. The glint in its eyes is one of unadulterated fury.

"Nashi, can you do any more fire dragon slayer magic?" Gale asks.

Nashi chooses that tactful moment to faint, falling into the arms of the nearest person, who just so happens to be me.

"I guess not. We'll have to make do without her." Nova says. Kori and Mizu help me drag Nashi to the nearest table while the others make way.

Aunt Lucy and Uncle Natsu suddenly have us sandwiched. Uncle Natsu grabs Nashi under the arm and supports her. Aunt Lucy shifts Luke to her other hip, and supports Nashi's other arm.

Leaving Nashi in the care of her parents, my sisters and I rejoin the others, who are talking strategy.

"We'll go with what we were doing, and chip away at it's health." Nova fills us in.

Suddenly Mizu gasps. "Problem."

"What?" Everyone looks at her.

Mizu points. "That!"

The Way Back has figured out where we ran off to. It's charging at the guild hall, demolishing anything unlucky enough to be in it's path.

"For a half dead, smoldering monster with a boulder on it's back, that thing is pretty fast!" I say, wide-eyed. "Color me impressed."

"Don't get distracted Storm." Nova warns.

"Of course not. Kori!" I shout. She has the same idea I do. Together, we shout, "Ice make: floor!"

With our powers combined, a floor of ice appears on the ground beneath the Way Back. Running so fast, the big guy slips, but that doesn't solve our problem because now he's sliding uncontrollably toward us, and the guild hall will still be smushed.

Thankfully, Gale's a quick thinker. He makes a few motions with his hands. "Solid script: ramp!"

The word RAMP forms a giant slope, which the Way Back promptly skates towards, legs scrambling for a foothold on the slick ice.

Why ramp? Why not wall? Then I realize that with the momentum and mass of the Way Back, it would break through any wall Gale put up.

The Way Back slides onto the ramp. Our guild mates watch, mouths agape, as the giant, invincible monster sails over the guild hall like a flying cat.

We dash through the guild hall to the back door, just in time to watch the mighty Way Back land in the ocean with a giant splash.

Mizu raises her arms. "Whirlpool!"

Caught in a giant vortex of spinning water, the Way Back flounders helplessly. I'm beginning to feel sorry for the big guy. It just can't catch a break.

"Keep up the pressure!" Nova shouts. Damn, she's merciless! The fight continues.

Without Nashi's fire, which it's weak to, the fight is long and tedious as we chip away at it. The Way Back is definitely weakening, however us kids are weakening faster.

To make matters worse, Nova is also tired, so her healing and energy replenishment aren't as strong.

I pull Kori out of the way, just before it's tail slams down where she once was.

"Thank you." She pants. "Kori thinks that that was way too close."

"Pull back!" I hear Nova command. Grateful, I practically drag Kori back to the guild hall, where we meet up with the others.

"I can't keep doing this." Rose complains. Somewhere along the way, she lost her crown, and the tip of her sword is embedded in the Way Back's right eye.

"I know." Nova says, trying to catch her breath. "But we have to keep fighting."

"You've done enough. Thanks to you, we can finish this job and go home." A voice says.

All us kids gasp and spin around. The doors swing open, and there are the last people I expect to see. Everyone in the guild is shell shocked, as the six people walk into the guild.

One runs over to Nashi, peacefully sleeping at a table. She mutters something under her breath, and her hands glow with pale silver-blue light.

Groggily, Nashi opens her eyes and blinks. "This feels like Aunt Wendy's healing."

"That's because it is Aunt Wendy's healing." Aunt Wendy replies with a giggle.

Nashi bolts right up. Now fully awake, she looks back and forth between the frozen Aunt Wendy of this time, and the Aunt Wendy of our time.

She sputters incoherently for a few seconds, but she falls silent when she catches sight of the others. A sob lurches from her throat.

Four other very familiar people stand in the guild's entry, along with a stranger in a cloak with the hood up to hide their face.

The Aunt Lucy, Uncle Natsu, Aunt Erza, and Dad of this time stare open mouthed at the Aunt Lucy, Uncle Natsu, Aunt Erza, and Dad of our time.

My eyes burn, and I can't stop a few tears from leaking out. I'm not the only one. After all, our parents have come for us.