Haha... Yes, Libby. Vaati DOES KNOW ALL (JUST KIDDING HE ISN'T OMNISCIENT). But anyway, Vaati is still very smart here. And yes, he did in fact screw over Zant last chapter. Vaati's a beast.

Also, I'd just like to say that I don't appreciate you guys hounding me on my other stories to post a new chapter of this one. I'm free to post a chapter for whichever story I like whenever I like. I post on those other stories to hear feedback on those, not to see a review saying "Hey, you should really post a new chapter of Courage of the Earth." It's rather disheartening to see that as a decent bit of your reviews. So for future reference, just stop. I'll get out new chapters when I can, and for which stories I feel need more chapters.

Chapter 36

The Frozen Emperor

"Well," said Lana in otherwise silent surprise, "That merely adds to the list of Hylian Gods."

"There's a whole list of them?" asked Natsu in confusion.

"Only kinda," Lana clarified. "I mean, there are a lot though. There's Din, Farore, Nayru, Hylia, the Goddess of Time, Oni, Kage, Majora, Minora, I guess Ganondorf, and now Vaati. Thankfully, only Ganondorf appears to be our enemy at this point."

"Now, hold on," said Lucy as she finished thinking about everything that just happened. "Didn't Vaati say that Ganondorf had something that let him kill Link in another timeline? A cannon or something, right?"

Lana shook her head. "No. Ganon. Ganondorf is merely the name of his human form, which doesn't even begin to come close to how powerful Ganon is. Ganon isn't even a beast, but a Demon, no, a Demon God. And from what Cia knew, that wasn't even his final form. But even she didn't know what it was that could possibly surpass Ganon."

Gray had been ignoring all of them and focusing on Deliora.

"What was it that Zant said about Deliora?"

Lana looked to the massive Demon encased in ice and shrugged. "I think he said something about Moon Drip, and how it could melt the ice."

"What?" said Gray in horror. "Why would anyone want to free Deliora?! This thing has ended lives, torn families apart! Who would free it again?!"

"I've read up on Fiore a bit since I joined the guild. Apparently, there are Zeref-worshiping cults that worship his Demons, too. They might see its imprisonment as humans just disgracing them," clarified Lana as she flipped through her tome.

"Well, I don't care who they think they are. All I know is that this this Demon can't be freed. And if it is... Then I'm going to have to crush Deliora."

OOO

"Hurry up, Link. We can't let them get themselves killed. This is an S-Class mission," proclaimed Erza as she marched down the docks, trying to find a boat to take them to Galuna Island.

"I get that much, Erza," said Link in slight annoyance, "But they have both Gray and Natsu with them, and Lucy can summon Ghirahim and Zant to protect herself. Are they really in that much danger?"

Erza angrily turned to Link and sighed. "That's not the point. Powerful or not, they aren't yet worthy to take S-Class quests without an S-Class Mage with them."

Link shook his head and cracked his back. "I've always found that rule to be rather stupid, to be put bluntly. If they are strong enough in their own rite, then they should be able to take quests that they believe they can accomplish. Master never frowned upon it when I went on S-Class quests, even without an S-Class Mage with me."

"But, Link you do- Wait, WHAT?! You were allowed to go on S-Class quests alone?!" Erza asked in rage. She was never allowed to do that until she was promoted.

Link, however, nodded. "Even SS-Class. I have a God in my soul, Erza. Because of that I had to be stronger. Regardless of my rank, Master knew I was stronger than everyone else. Even when I wasn't S-Class, I could match Laxus. And don't you dare tell me it doesn't mean anything to be able to evenly fight against Laxus. Other than Mystogan or Gildarts, he is easily one of the strongest in the guild."

Erza tried to find a flaw in his argument, but couldn't. Link was easily tied for second place with Mystogan and Laxus. But because of Oni, he may well be the strongest person in the guild, even the country.

"But they aren't you, Link. They don't have the skill of entire armies, the strength of a dragon, the soul of a god."

"But they're part of Fairy Tail, Erza. Isn't that enough for you? It is for me. Those four managed to fight Ganondorf and survive. That alone proves to me that they are ready to do this. But what would prove them to you?"

Erza was speechless. He had a very valid point.

"Well... Fine. But I'm going to bring them home safely, even if they have finished the job or not."

Link shook his head. He knew that Erza's mind was set. "At least give them a chance to finish their job. Give them this once. If I can do it, I have faith that they can do it too."

Erza finally agreed, but still had one problem.

"I can't find a boat to take us," said Erza in anger.

Link looked around, spotting something far off in the sea.

"Is that a... Pirate Ship? Goddesses, there are really pirates in Fiore as well?"

Erza looked to the ship and smiled. "I don't mind. Besides, we might have just found our way to Galuna Island. Just try to keep up, slowpoke."

Erza quickly Requiped into her Flight Armor and dashed her way over the sea and to the ship before Link could ask her what she meant.

Link merely smirked in determination before his Coat of the Black Moon King was seen around his body.

"I might not be as fast as you at Requipping, but by the Goddesses I'm not letting you beat me in a race!"

Erza looked behind her and saw that Link was closing in fast, though he slowed to her speed when he caught up.

"What's wrong, Titania? I thought I was too slow!"

Link quickly left her sight, managing to get to the ship first.

"Even the Queen of the Fairies can't best a God," was all Link managed to say before his motion sickness caught up to him, the pirates finally finding him on their ship.

"What the Hell? Where'd this scallywag come from? Gut 'em, boys!"

One tried to cut him, but his sword merely broke against his skin. Another with a flintlock pistol attempted to shoot him, but the bullet simply ricocheted off of his skin and hit the offender in the foot.

"Damn it! This kid's skin is even bulletproof!"

Link opened his eyes and looked at them in anger, shakily standing to his feet.

"Who shot me? I know someone shot me, I felt the bullet hit me."

One pirate merely aimed a blunderbuss at him and fired with that, but the bullets still did nothing.

"Hey, stop that."

"Then got off my damn ship, ye landlubber! Fire the cannon!"

Link turned around to see that a few pirates had aimed a cannon at him.

"Really?"

They wasted no time in letting loose a loud shot that they had assumed would finally get rid of Link, but when the smoke cleared, they could tell it failed, mainly because he managed to catch the cannonball with his bare hand.

"I told you to knock it off!"

Link then threw the round back at the cannon, drilling into the barrel and back out the other end, effectively destroying the cannon.

"Erza, I'll leave the rest to you. I'm not feeling too good..." said the knight before sitting down, his motion sickness getting violent at that point.

Erza got to the ship shortly afterwards, noticing the hostility of the crew.

"What, can't handle them by yourself? Your sword must have lost its edge."

"My blade remains sharper than yours, Titania..."

Erza rolled her eyes and Requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, turning to the Pirates.

"As of now, you all work for us. Anyone who doesn't find these terms agreeable can fight either of us, your choice," stated Erza adamantly.

A few of them stepped forward, but only one chose to challenge Erza. Drawing a sword and pistol, he aimed at Erza and smirked.

"Damn wench thinks she's better than us! Show her a thing or two about a pirate's life!"

He fired, hoping to get a head shot, though Erza just cleaved the bullet in two and shook her head, calling multiple sword around her in a ring.

"Heaven's Wheel."

She threw the ring of blades at him, though she made them hit him blunt, sending him flying into the ocean.

The few who chose to fight Link were still failing miserably to pierce his skin.

"I'm really getting tired of this. You know what? I'm done."

Link quickly got up and roundhouse kicked them all straight off of the ship, sitting back down while gagging. It was then when the pirate captain finally took note of the emblem on Erza's arm.

"Gah! She works for Fairy Tail! Lads, hold off her! And the boy must be one of their mages, too! What do ye want, lassie?"

"You're taking us to Galuna Island. No discussion," was all Erza said as she Requipped back to her typical Heart Kreuz Armor.

"Well, why didn't ye say so? Hoist th' sails! To Galuna Island!"

Link looked around, seeing that the pirates were still looking at him weird, and he took that time to notice that he was still wearing his Coat of the Black Moon King.

"Hey, V-Volvagia, mind giving me a lift? I can't handle ships that well right now..."

The Lava Dragon crawled out of Link's coat and changed to his true form, Link crawling onto his back lazily. The nearby Pirates were terrified by the presence of a real dragon, and backed away. Once Link was in the air, his motion sickness subsided, so he was free to Requip back to his standard equipment.

"Thanks, Volvagia. You can always help me out in a pinch."

The dragon smiled in agreement, followed by Erza calling the two's attention.

"So, are you set to go? They're willing to take us to Galuna Island."

Link merely nodded, Volvagia absentmindedly staring the pirates down.

"Alright, Captain, get this ship moving."

The captain wasted no time in grabbing the wheel. "Move out, lads! Set sail to Galuna Island!"

OOO

"I'd say we should head topside," stated Lana, flipping through her tome. "They said something about some "Frozen Emperor," or something to that effect."

"Yeah," agreed Lucy, who was absentmindedly playing with her keys, "We need to see who it is that would want to free a demon like this."

Gray simply nodded and headed towards the cave the three had come from, deducing that it was the way to the top. He needed to see exactly who it was that would try to free a Demon of Zeref of all things. Wasting no time, the other four followed after him, interested as well, Natsu cracking his knuckles in anticipation for a fight.

Upon finally reaching the top, and reminding Natsu not to stop on the floor just because he felt like it, they came across what appeared to be a ritual consisting of many masked people bowing and chanting around a pillar of purple light which Lana identified as Moondrip.

"That's definitely the source," said Lana as she opened her book to an earlier page, signifying a simple spell. "I can probably block it off for a while with a Barrier, though not forever. We'll have to find a more permanent sollution. But in the meantime, Barrier: Blockade."

Unknown to all of the cultists, a barrier had formed right underneath the hole leading to the cavern beneath the temple, blocking off the light. However, she was surprised as the barrier quickly dissapated, regardless of her ability to use the spell.

"What the? I made sure the spell was strong, but why did it only last a few seconds?" asked Lana in confusion.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Gray as if it were obvious. "Zant went on about how Moondrip's main use is as a dispelling agent. Unless the spell is extremely strong, it won't last that long. The only way to stop it is to either block it with something that doesn't need magic, or stop the ritual."

"I might have an idea or two," said Natsu, looking around at the temple beneath them. If stomping on it took out a floor, then...

"How much progress are we looking at?" called a new voice.

Everyone's attention was brought to the group of three that they had seen earlier, and they were being approached by a man wearing rather regal armor with a helm that bore a reasonable resemblance to Deliora itself.

"Not too much, Sir," replied the man with the absurdly large eyebrows. "If any ice even has melted, then we can't tell. The Moondrip should be working, but it's taking it's time to do so."

"That's not what I wanted to hear," replied the armored man, crossing his arms. "Though I suppose it cannot be helped. What of the village?"

"They're beginning to learn about our presence. Also, we recently thought we heard sounds from Deliora's chamber, though we didn't see anything."

"I see. They might be hiring off-islanders to try and fix their problems. Soon, I want that village destroyed through whatever means you see fit. Just make sure it gets done."

"Yes, Sir," said the three before two of them headed off, the girl staying.

Natsu had enough. "Oh, no you don't!" yelled the Dragon Slayer, hands lit ablaze. "No villages are getting torched on my watch!"

The girl turned to the pink-haired source of the noise, and she grew rather annoyed.

"How dare you use that tone on the Frozen Emperor, my love~" She said, scowling at Natsu.

"How dare you go around tryin' to free a Demon, destroying an innocent village in the process?!" Natsu retorted.

"That is none of your concern," replied the armored man, the 'Frozen Emperor.' "I alone will be the one to defeat that Demon and prove that I'm the best."

And that was the turning point for Gray.

"Do you seriously think you can stop a Demon like that?!" yelled Gray as he rose from his hiding place, hands placed together in standard Ice-Make stance.

"Ice-Make: Lance!"

The multiple frozen projectiles flew towards the Frozen Emperor, though he merely smiled as he rose his hand, a shield made of many panels of hexagonal ice forming between him and the attack, easily defending against the frozen lances.

"I see. So you're here as well, Gray," said the Frozen Emperor, his smile still ever-present. "It's been a long time, Fullbuster."

"What the Hell are you talking about? Who the Hell are you?!" demanded Gray, readying himself for yet another spell.

"Oh, don't waste your time," the emperor laughed, waving off his attempts at combat. "We both know that you've never beaten me, and never will."

"Listen up, pal," said Gray, walking forward towards the Frozen Emperor, "I have no idea who you are, but I'm not letting you get away with whatever you're trying to do. Freeing Demons? That may well be the dumbest thing I've heard of! And even then, you intend to fight it?! You're going to get yourself killed trying to do that! Now, just make it easy on yourself, and stop all of this before I kick your ass seven ways 'til Friday!" finished Gray, now standing face-to-face with the Frozen Emperor.

"Ha! Do you honestly not remember me? You really were such a kid," said the Frozen Emperor as he reached up to his helmet, Gray's eye widening as he removed it.

"Gray, what's going on?" asked Lana as she walked forward.

"You..." said Gray in horror.

"It's good to see you, Gray."

Well, makes you wonder who this Frozen Emperor guy is, you know? Of course, I know. (Why wouldn't I? I watch Fairy Tail too, dang it!)

But once again, I ask that you guys refrain from leaving reviews on my other stories about updating this one. Regardless of how long it takes, there will always be a new chapter in the making, so just understand that. I love to write, I really do, but it's when I see reviews like that that I get a bit... deterred from continuing. So in the future, if you ever get tempted to leave a review telling me to update a story completely unrelated to the one you're reviewing on...

Just don't. Seriously, it's annoying.

OniHelix out!