A week later, Wendy goes to the request board to look for a job and a companion, as Mira suggested. While Levy and Lucy try to figure out whether Wendy will temporarily join with Team Natsu or Shadow Gear, Aira approaches Natsu.
"Natsu!" Aira called out his name. Natsu and Elfman turned their gaze towards him.
"What is it?" Natsu questioned.
"Aira... Now that I think about it, I haven't seen you for a few days." Elfman claimed.
"I heard a crazy story, Natsu." Aira responded.
"What?" Natsu asked.
Aira takes a step closer. "Somebody outside the city says she's seen a dragon." Natsu widens his eyes at this. Wendy, Gajeel, and Satsuki listen closely.
"That's some incredible info, Natsu." Happy said.
"Yeah." Natsu jumps out of his seat. "Dragon? Is it Igneel?"
"Or Kaito?" Cain asked.
"I don't know the details, but I know that it isn't Kaito, for sure. He normally sticks to places where it rains constantly." Aira answered.
"Did you meet the person who saw the dragon?" Natsu then questioned.
"No." Aira responded. "I just heard the rumors going around town. Someone named 'Daphne' talks like she knows all about dragons. It's not just that she's seen one. It sounds like she actually met one recently."
"Really?" Natsu glances over his shoulder. "That's the truth, right?!"
Aira turns to look at him. "Why would I lie about something like this? It might pay to find out for sure."
"Where is she?" Happy asked.
"In the wilderness to the west, at an Inn named 'Rise'." Aira responded.
"All right! Let's go, Happy!" Natsu quickly leaves the bar.
"Aye, sir!" Happy jumps off the bar table.
"I'll go, too! That dragon might be Grandeeney!" Wendy said.
"I suppose I'll tag along. I'm quite curious myself." Cain stated.
"Then let's check it out!" Natsu said. "You comin' too?!" He asks Gajeel and Satsuki.
"No way." Gajeel answered. "It's obviously a sham."
"How can you know that?" Natsu argued.
"And how many times have you said that and gotten tricked?" Gajeel countered.
"Stories about dragons are for luring people! You're being used! Try learning a little." Satsuki added on.
"You both want to see yours too, right?! You want to see Metalicana and Daichi!" Natsu questioned.
"And then what?" Gajeel said. "He just disappeared without sayin' nothing. I don't care one bit!"
"Same goes for me." Satsuki agreed. "Daichi just left me to rot. To hell with her!"
"Gajeel-san, Satsuki-san..." Wendy mumbled.
"Well, those two are like that, but they both really miss them." Lucy whispers to Levy.
"I think so, too." Levy whispered back, agreeing with her.
Natsu turns to Wendy. "Let's go, Wendy."
"Right!" Wendy agreed. "I hope it's Grandeeney, Carla!"
"But I think you shouldn't get your hopes up." Carla commented.
"Thanks for the decent tip!" Natsu said.
"My pleasure." Aira replied. Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Cain run to the location of the inn where the person who saw the dragon is. Aira walks out of the guild as he watches them run away.
In the meantime, Erza is in a cake shop. She orders fifty cakes, forty-eight for her and two for Fairy Tail's new members, much to the baker's surprise. As she leaves the shop, Erza looks around with a cautious expression and begins to head into an alleyway. Erza is then attacked by a hooded being, but she dodges their attack. Erza then requips two swords and prepares to fight. She shatters the hooded being's blade and then the hooded being requips two swords just like her. The two battle for a while and then Erza notices that its presence is gone.
Natsu, Wendy, Happy, Carla, and Cain arrive at the inn. It looked deserted at first glance, but upon further inspection, the five of them arrive in front of a strange-looking door. The door opens after Natsu knocks and Daphne introduces herself. She tries to sell her diet food called Metamo-chan to the five and begins advertising it through different methods. While Daphne does so, an irritated Natsu tries to ask her about the Dragons that Aira told him about.
Erza returns to the guild and recounts her battle with Makarov and the other guild members. Erza comments that her attacker smelled like a beast and did not seem to be breathing like a human. Elfman concludes that another group is probably behind the attack. Makarov agrees, saying that they should just leave things as they are since the group will reveal themselves in time. Erza tries to protest but Makarov tells her that they should just take precautions and to not worry too much.
Daphne says that the Dragon story was a lie to give her business a boat. Disappointed, Natsu begins to leave. He kicks the door open and sees that the outside world is gone. The room is surrounded by barriers and they find out Daphne is a Mage who is looking for Dragon Slayers. The five continue to try to escape. As Natsu hits a wall, water appears from it.
"Water?!" Happy exclaimed.
Aira appears in front of Natsu. "Aira!" Natsu shouted.
Aira glares at him with a deadly look. "Well, look at you, Natsu."
"Aira-san!" Wendy called his name.
"Where did you come from, Aira?" Happy questioned.
"Hey, Aira!" Natsu stood back up. "This info you got was a sham! There's something wrong with this Daphne chick."
Aira walks towards him. "It wasn't a sham, Natsu." He goes over to Daphne's side. "Well, I brought him here." He asked.
"Yes-yes-yes-yes!" Daphne responded. She rests her arm on his shoulder. "You've done just what I've asked, Airavata Mizuki."
"You're... You know each other?" Natsu questioned in shock.
Daphne strokes Aira's cheek with her hand as she smiles. Aira kept his eyes closed, showing no reaction.
"Ooh, she llllikes him!" Happy teased.
"Aira, what is the meaning of this?!" Natsu demanded.
"Natsu... We've gone at it a whole bunch of times, haven't we?" Aira questioned. Natsu was still confused about the whole situation. "I was thinking... Maybe it's time we finally settled this, once and for all."
"What the hell are you saying?" Natsu asked.
"Until now, I've been bringing myself down to your level. But I'm sick of it." Aira turns his back to Natsu. "I'm going to do things my own way. I'm not sticking with you any more."
"Aira..." Natsu muttered.
"Yes-yes, just as you heard. Airavata Mizuki is mine." Daphne said. "I want that Dragon Slayer. Crush him."
"Aira, you're acting weird!" Natsu said.
"You're the one that's weird." Aira prepares an attack. "Later, Natsu!"
"Aira-san?" Wendy questioned, confused about Aira's behavior.
"What's wrong with you, Aira?" Happy asked.
"Stand back, Wendy." Natsu warned. Wendy obeys him as she backs away. "He's being serious." He looks at Aira who's smirking evilly.
"Aira, what's wrong? Do you have a stomachache?" Happy asked.
"That's obviously not the problem!" Carla said.
"Water Dragon's Arrows!" Aira makes the first move. Natsu is able to dodge them.
Wendy collapses to the floor. "Natsu-san! Aira-san!"
"What's going on?!" Carla asked.
"Aira! Why are you attacking Natsu?!" Happy was still surprised about Aira.
Daphne laughs out loud. "Yes-yes-yes... I bet you are surprised. But you have no time to stand there slack-jawed. Airavata Mizuki, finish them off!"
"That's just what I was planning to do." Aira claimed.
"What are you doing, seriously?!" Natsu questioned.
"Nothin' at all." Aira responded. "Are you going to fight back, or what? I'm starting to get bored." Aira attacks again with his arrows, but Natsu dodges them.
"Stop it, Aira-san!" Wendy pleaded.
"Wait, isn't he a fake?" Carla asked. "Something similar happened before."
"That's right! There's something different about Aira this time..." Happy agreed.
"Something different?" Wendy mumbled.
"Like what?" Cain questioned.
"Well, for starters..." Happy thinks for a second.
However, Aira's body got covered in water. "Water Drive!" He shouted. "Let's do this for real already, Natsu."
"He activated his Drive! He really is Aira!" Happy finished.
"That's what it was?" Wendy, Carla, and Cain were not amused.
"You bastard... You're seriously going for it?" Natsu said.
"Here I come, Natsu! Water Dragon's Roar!" Aira uses his breath attack.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu counter attacks it as it creates a smoky explosion. Aira uses this as an opening to punch Natsu before kicking him.
"Yes-yes, that's the way. He's not a fake, absolutely not. He is the honest to goodness Airavata Mizuki, in the flesh!" Daphne said. Aira gains the upper hand as he punched Natsu away. "And just so you know, I promise I'm not controlling him or anything cliche like that. He is doing this simply because he wants too!"
"You don't need to tell me that." Natsu said, wiping his lip. "No one's punches could piss me off the same way as the real Aira's!"
"You let me hit you so you could make sure?" Aira questioned. Natsu then charges at Aira, punching him in the abdomen.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu sends him through a hole. "I'm not done yet, buddy!" Natsu goes after him.
"Natsu!" Happy called out.
"Overdoing it, as always." Carla commented.
The two square off in the hallway. "Had enough? Explain what's going on already. What the hell are you thinking, Aira?" Natsu demanded.
"A city without sound." Aira muttered, giving a phase as his explanation.
"Huh? A city without sound? What are you talking about?" Natsu asked.
"I doubt you would understand. But it doesn't matter anyway! Just die already!" Aira spits out a tornado of water at Natsu, but spits back fire.
Happy, Carla, Cain, and Wendy are surprised to see that they are on the same level. Daphne comes saying that Aira volunteered to assist her of his own will and now he is her partner. Carla calls Aira a complete traitor, but Wendy and Cain don't believe it.
"That means Aira and Daphne really do..." Happy flies next to Daphne. "...lllllike each other!"
"Maybe." Daphne said.
"She didn't deny it!" Happy flaps his arms. "Wait until Satsuki hears about this!"
"Honestly, you are so annoying! Stop butting into every conversation!" Carla complained, getting irritated with Happy.
"I'm sorry..." Happy flies away.
"What is the 'city without sound' that Aira-san is talking about?" Wendy wondered, trying to figure out the meaning of the phase. "Why were you investigating Natsu-san exactly?"
"Yes-yes!" Daphne takes out 6 more of her Metamo-chan. "Hold all your questions for later! Why don't you have a snack, yes?"
"Don't be silly! Now is not the time!" Carla pointed out.
"Well, maybe just one more..." Happy said. He takes a bite of it.
"Don't eat them!" Carla scolded.
Happy's entire face turned bright red. "Hot!" Fire comes out of his mouth.
"That's the spicy flavor." Daphne said. "Would you like one?" She offered to Wendy.
"What is with her?" Wendy thought.
Natsu's hands are engulfed in flames. "I'm gettin' fired up! If you're being serious, then so will I! I'll beat the reason of this outta you!" He charges at Aira who smirks at him.
Back at the Fairy Tail Guild, Erza is wondering why Natsu is late. Lucy says he only went to ask about the Dragons and that shouldn't have taken him long. Erza, worried that they might have been attacked by the things that attacked her before, asks Lucy to come with her to look into the matter.
"Water Dragon's Geyser Wall!" Aira makes a wall of water to protect himself.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Natsu breaks through.
Aira jumps down a couple of the steps, standing in front of the stairs. "Water Dragon's Blade!" Aira cloaks his hand with water, making his hand into a makeshift sword as he swiped at Natsu, sending him back a few feet. "Take that!" He attacks with streams of water.
"Take this, you!" Natsu counters with his flames.
"Water Dragon's Roar!" Aira used his breath attack once more.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu counters it.
"Wow..." Wendy watches the two fight each other with immense strength.
"Neither of their attacks can finish it!" Happy said.
"At this rate, they'll both use up their energy and collapse!" Carla informed.
"Aira, why are you doing this?" Cain thinks to himself, wondering why his best friend was attacking Natsu.
"You can do it, Natsu!" Happy encouraged.
"Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!" Natsu elbows him in the abdomen which causes them to go through a wall and land in an indoor pool.
"A pool!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Wait, this isn't good. Now Aira has the field advantage." Carla commented.
"This'll do!" Aira jumps up. "Water Dragon's Prison!" Natsu gets trapped inside a water prison.
"Hey, you! No fair! Let me out!" Natsu yelled, pounding his foot. Aira lands on top of the cage.
"Yes-yes... He used the water from the pool and trapped him, yes? He is quite the genius!" Daphne said.
"Look at you now, heh." Aira taunted, smirking at Natsu.
"I'm not some animal!" Natsu argued. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu breaks through the prison, but smoke clouds his vision. "Damn it! I can't see!"
"You fell for it, Natsu!" Aira lands behind Natsu.
"Crap!" Natsu quickly turns around.
"Water Dragon's Double Blade!" Aira summoned a pair of twin katanas made of water and slashed at Natsu, sending him through another wall. "I always planned on settling things with you one day. And today's the day!"
"You bastard..." Natsu growled. "Fine by me!"
"Stop your chatting." Aira prepares to stab Natsu with one of his katanas.
"You're the one who needs to shut it!" Natsu uses his Magic to destroy the floor as they fall together.
Wendy and the others follow them. Wendy says that if this continues, she must stop the two of them with her Sky Dragon's Roar.
Happy then goes over to a window in attempt to get help, but fails because of Daphne's Concealment Magic. They are within Hidden Darkness' illusory Inn. Daphne then sees Erza and Lucy arriving and tells Wendy that her friends have arrived to pick them up. Wendy and Happy try to call out to them, but they cannot see them.
Erza tells Lucy to take caution and the being that attacked Erza before appears from the ground. Erza requips her Heaven's Wheel Armor and questions the attacker's purpose and attacks him. Lucy then summons Virgo to help Erza, but as Virgo is heading out, another one of those beings appear.
Virgo and the monster then have a brief battle, and Lucy summons Loke in her stead. Another monster appears; this one, resembling Loke and his Magic. Erza wonders if they are mimicking them and tests the theory.
Wendy then cries out to Lucy and Erza, but Carla remarks that they cannot hear them. Daphne states that she is the one that made the Lizardmen and why she created them.
The battle continues as Natsu and Aira are exhausted. "Sheesh, you're one majorly tough bastard, you know that?" Aira taunted.
"That's my line, damn it." Natsu said.
"You can do it, Natsu!" Happy cheered.
"Yes-yes-yes... That's enough talking. It's about time, Airavata Mizuki!" Daphne ordered.
"No need to tell me that twice!" Aira growled, his body being covered in water.
"Bring it!" Natsu, his body covered in flames, charges at Aira.
"Natsu!" Aira charges at him. Aira's fist meets Natsu's forehead. His fist begins to steam as it surprises Aira.
"Aira!" Natsu screamed. He is able to overpower him and send him through a wall.
"Natsu won!" Happy exclaimed.
"He isn't called the Salamander for nothing." Carla commented. Both Wendy and Cain have suspicious looks on their faces.
"Indeed, impressive." Daphne mumbled.
"How'd you like that? I win, Aira." Natsu chuckled, seeing Aira spawned to the floor. "Aira? My bad! I hit you somewhere I shouldn't?! Just kiddin'... Hey, how long are you gonna play..." When Aira doesn't respond to his jokes, Natsu decides to check on him, but ends up being trapped by Aira's Magic. "I can't move!"
"I told you." Aira opens one eye. "You're too naive."
Daphne enters through the hole in the wall. "Yes-yes-yes... Thanks for your hard work... Hidden Darkness!"
"Wh-What's this?" Natsu disappears through a Magic Circle underneath his feet. Natsu gets trapped into another dimension.
"Good work, Airavata Mizuki." Daphne congratulated him. "You pass muster as my assistant."
"Thanks." Aira said. "Took a bit of work, though."
"You planned on leading us here from the start, didn't you?" Carla questioned.
"Yeah. Plan worked like a charm, I think." Aira replied.
"Don't talk so big when you just lost the real fight!" Happy insulted.
Aira grabs Happy by his fur and holds him over the dimension. "I'll toss you in there, too!" He threatens as he's not afraid to throw Happy in there.
"Yes-yes. Please refrain from doing that." Daphne said. "I've finally caught the Salamander. Don't add anything unnecessary to the mix."
Aira listens to her. "Somehow, I'm offended..." Happy muttered. Aira throws Happy to the side.
"Was that your goal?" Wendy asked.
"Yes." Daphne responded. "With this, my research will be complete."
Trapped inside Daphne's prison, Natsu recounts his searches for Igneel and remembers venturing into a City without Sound. Suddenly, however, he is electrocuted and Daphne later activates her Dragonoid, extracting Natsu's Magic Power and causing him great pain.
Suddenly, the ground shakes a bit. "Now things really begin." Daphne said.
The battle continues outside between Lucy and Erza against the monsters continue. Erza then uses Requip and the monster mimics her, but she changed her armor again and says that the choice of weapons and armors is something only experience can bring. Lucy replaced Loke by summoning Plue, who defeats the monster by exhausting it. Daphne then lifts her Concealment Magic, revealing the Dragonoid, which Erza and Lucy are shocked to see. Inside the Dragon, Daphne plays on her piano to control it and to absorb Natsu's power. Wendy, Happy, Carla, and Cain appear and explain the situation to Erza and Lucy, who are surprised about what Aira had done.
"Aira!" Lucy looks at Aira who is standing on top of the Dragonoid's snout. Aira had his hands placed in his pockets as he glares at the rest with a deadly look.
"Aira!" Erza called his name. Aira jumps down to another rock. "If you've really betrayed Fairy Tail, then you must have some reason!"
"Nope. No reason." Aira responded, giving them a dirty look.
"What?" Erza said.
"Aira..." Lucy muttered.
Natsu is now trapped within the Dragonoid's core where his Magic Power is being sucked. The more he struggles to break free, the more his powers get sucked. While Natsu's powers are being drained from him, the Dragonoid begins charging.
"You want to get in her way? Just try it. Although even with your powers combined, I highly doubt you can hold out long enough to see it fully charged." Aira claimed.
"Aira..." Erza scowled.
Daphne explains what she did with the "City without Sound", the place where she first tested Dragonoids and their destructive ability. The people there all used "Hidden", which hides one's body in order to avoid her and her experimental Dragons. However, Daphne used a spell which made their Magic permanent. She left the city shortly afterwards. As she explains this, Natsu remembers himself as a child walking through the very same city, looking for Igneel.
"Ever since then, it became known as the 'City without Sound'. I continued my research, and it finally dawned on me. I needed the power of a Dragon Slayer to activate Dragonoid." Daphne said. "Yes-yes-yes, Natsu Dragneel! Salamander! Keep working until you drop dead! For me, and my evil ambitions! Get fired up!" Daphne tries to check the mobility of her Dragonoid, almost crushing Lucy and Wendy in the process.
Erza looks at Aira who's just standing there doing nothing. "Aira... Is this what you wished for?"
Suddenly, Wakaba, Elfman, Satsuki, and Macao arrive using the Magic Four-Wheeler just as Daphne begins testing the Dragonoid. "Aira, you bastard!" Macao yelled.
"You've gone and done it this time!" Wakaba added on.
"As real men, we're going to drag you back to the guild!" Elfman claimed.
Satsuki charges at Aira and punches him in the stomach, rendering him unconscious. "Don't think ill of me, Posiedon. These were Master's orders." She said.
Master Makarov's order is to bring Aira back for questioning. As the Dragonoid starts flying and heads to Magnolia Town, Erza orders Lucy and Wendy to warn Fairy Tail while she distracts the Dragonoid.
Erza, Macao, Elfman, Satsuki, and Wakaba then use the vehicle to try and chase the Dragonoid while Lucy and Wendy are carried by Happy and Carla back to the town. Once the vehicle is under the Dragonoid, Erza tries to jump onto the Dragonoid but is stopped by a Lizardman. She quickly gets rid of it using her Black Wing Armor, but she gets on top of the Dragonoid she is met up with five of the Lizardmen, each having different Erza armors.
Meanwhile, Elfman, Wakaba, Macao, and Satsuki are stopped by four Lizardmen.
Back in Magnolia, Lucy, Wendy, and the rest of the guild are trying to bring all the citizens of Magnolia in the safety of the Fairy Tail guild. They catch sight of the Dragonoid coming to Magnolia.
Elsewhere, Elfman, Wakaba, Macao, and Satsuki begin their fights against their respective Lizardmen. Wakaba is quickly beaten and Macao is on the brink of defeat when Elfman uses his Beast Soul to protect them all, Satsuki aiding him with her Earth Dragon Slaying Magic.
Erza is having difficulty beating the Lizardmen.
While inside the Dragonoid, Natsu hears the voice of someone familiar to him. He then suddenly remembers the promise he made to the people of the City without Sound: to defeat the one who controls the Dragons. Natsu then begins to release a lot of Magic Power in order to get out. This causes the Dragonoid to shake a bit, but Daphne just reconfigures it to suck up Natsu's Magic Power at a more reasonable pace.
Back at the guild...
Mira is sitting at a table thinking to herself. Levy soon comes in. "We've got trouble! Elfman and the others came back, but..."
Mira immediately runs outside with Levy. "Elfman!"
"Take Wakaba, Macao, and Satsuki to the back! See to them!" Cana ordered.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Mira asked, checking on Elfman.
"Nee-chan... Take it from here... Save Natsu!" Elfman answered. "He's..." A flashback of him and Natsu standing at Lisanna's grave occurs.
"Okay. Leave Natsu to me." Mira agreed as Elfman collapses. "Elfman!"
"I'll heal him with my Sky Magic!" Wendy said.
"Please, Wendy." Mira pleaded.
Aira watches them with his hair covering his face. Gray turns to Aira and grabs his shoulders, roughly shaking him. "Hey! You awake, Aira?! What the heck's going on? This is no time for sleeping!" Aira doesn't take a glance at his face.
Alzack and Bisca arrive with their guns. "I think he gets the message, Gray." Bisca said. Gray lets go of him as Aira stands up.
"You're takin' me to see Gramps, right? I doubt we have time to sit around and chat." Aira remarked.
"Yeah. Come with us." Alzack said.
"Just don't try anything funny. I'm watching you." Bisca added. Aira follows them to Master Makarov.
Wendy uses her Magic to heal Elfman. The whole guild then decides to do their best to save Natsu but Master Makarov tells them they should prioritize saving Magnolia first.
Erza continues her fight with the Lizardmen. She then tells Natsu that he is not the type of Mage that would lose to the likes of Daphne. Erza then uses her Sword Magic and vows to bring Natsu back to her. Erza defeats her enemies and attempts to go after Daphne, being too late as the Dragonoid lands in Magnolia. She then falls off the Dragonoid and is about to be stepped on but is saved by her fellow Mages.
"It's begun..." Master Makarov looks out of a window. "Explain yourself..."
Aira sits on a chair while facing away from the Master. "I take full responsibility for this..."
"I said explain yourself, Airavata!" Master Makarov looks at him with an angry expression, confronting him.
Aira slightly flinches at the use of the Master using his full name. He only really did that when he was angry with the male. "Gramps..." Aira glanced up at him. "Only Natsu can defeat that Dragonoid!"
As the Dragonoid starts to raise his foot to crush Erza, the others arrive and start attacking the creature. They tell Erza about the Master's order. They ask Natsu, who is inside the Dragonoid, for his opinion before they start attacking, and Natsu replies with, "Bust this thing up and me along with it!"
"I heard a rumor while out on a job. That someone was trying to make an artifical dragon... That's how it started." Aira explained.
"And you secretly met with this fool?" Master Makarov asked.
"She said she was going to capture Natsu and use him as the dragon's power source. And during our meeting, I learned that only the power of a Dragon Slayer can destroy it, and that it can only be destroyed from the inside. I figured it was a job that only Natsu can do." Aira replied.
"I see. But if you hadn't handed Natsu over, that monstrosity wouldn't have been able to activate, yes?" Makarov questioned.
"No, there was more to it than that. Unless Natsu defeats it, all those citizens will be..." Aira muttered.
"Citizens?" The Master repeated.
"That idiot forgot the promise he made to the city without sound!" Aira remembers when he was following Natsu in the city a couple of years ago. "Man, he doesn't know when to control himself so I sometimes checked up on him at his job sites. But he always gets distracted when the topic of Igneel comes up!"
"I'm not telling you to forget about Igneel, but you can't forget your duty as a guild wizard either... Correct?" The Master said.
Aira tightens the grip on his hands. "I know I'm not strong enough to be called a Dragon Slayer. But him... Natsu can surpass anything! Even his own dragon! That's who Natsu is! If he doesn't destroy that thing..." He clenches his fist as he stands up from his seat. "Then he can't become stronger and will make my fights with him not worth it! Let me go out there, Gramps."
Master Makarov thinks for a second. "Alright." He then turned his gaze towards Aira. "Here's a little trick that will help." Aira listens closely.
Daphne recalls her past when she was young.
She was picking up some flowers in the pasture while she was feeling a heavy wind. Daphne looked up and saw a big shadow of a Dragon. She was impressed by the appearance of the Dragon and hopes it would come again, but it never arrived and she decided to create her own. In her youth, Daphne told the people about the Dragons but they didn't believe her.
She then says that she finally has been able to unveil a copy of a Dragon and wants to show it on everyone. Daphne declares that she will crush the city and then the continent.
She starts attacking Magnolia Town with her Dragonoid at the expense of Natsu's power.
Erza looks over and sees that Aira has finally arrived. "Aira!"
"Okay, I'll be the first to admit I screwed up. But listen, Gramps told me the plan... You are free to trust me or not." Aira told everyone.
Now with 6% left to fully charge the Dragonoid, Natsu begins to get exhausted and delirious, spawning two smaller versions of him talking to each other as a result.
Lucy turns pale as she sweat drops. "H-How could he forget a promise like that?"
"Urgh! Does he ever change?" Erza clenches her fist as she trembles with anger.
"There wasn't another way. But right now, we need to do something about that Dragonoid." Aira informed.
"Do something? What do you have in mind exactly?" Carla questioned.
Wendy looks at the ground and sees a person collapsed. "Someone's collapsed!"
"That's the owner of the cake shop!" Erza informed.
"He didn't evacuate fast enough!" Levy said.
"Yes-yes! Lizardmen 3.1 show yourselves!" Daphne activates her Lizardmen to attack the Mages.
"Crap! There ain't no end to 'em!" Bickslow said.
"What were you doing here?" Erza asked.
"My shop's been crushed... But at least I saved this..." The Baker shows her the strawberry cake he baked from her request.
"For this, you..." Erza looks at the cake.
"You're welcoming newcomers, right? So don't get that lousy monster get the best of you." The Baker said.
"I'll heal you." Wendy offered.
"Hold on, Wendy! You're out of magic power!" Carla protested.
"It's okay. I took a short break." Wendy begins to use her Magic to heal the Baker.
"I'm counting on you, Wendy." Erza said.
"Right." Wendy responded. After she takes a break, she looks at Erza. "Umm... I'm not fond of pickled plums." She revealed.
"Pickled plums?" Erza repeated.
"Yes... They're like, my weakness. Everyone has one. A weakness, that is. I've only just joined Fairy Tail. I've only started pretty much everything..." She goes back to healing the Baker. "But I want to laugh more with Natsu-san, with everyone... Cry with everyone, get mad with everyone... I want to high-five Natsu-san once again!" Everybody smiles at her. "Please, save Natsu-san..." Wendy collapses after using up her Magic.
"Wendy, you dummy! I tried to warn you!" Carla scolded.
Mira touches Wendy's forehead. "It's okay. She's only fainted. But she used up so much magic power..."
Erza turns to look at the Dragonoid. "Only Natsu can defeat it. But Master told us to attack the Dragonoid... I see!"
"Erza, Gramps told me what we need to do..." Aira said.
"Yes. I know exactly what you mean." Erza interrupted him. "You don't have to tell everyone." She requips into her Heaven's Wheel Armor. "The rest of you, eliminate the Lizardmen with everything you got! I will take down the Dragonoid!"
"But, Erza..." Lucy said.
"What's going to happen to Natsu?!" Happy asked.
"This is the master's will, therefore it is Fairy Tail's will." Erza responded. "Listen, we must protect this city at all costs! For the guild's spirit and pride! For ours!"
"Erza..." Aira muttered.
"I know... I'm a Fairy Tail wizard too, after all... But..." Happy trembled.
"He-cat..." Carla looks at him.
"Juvia, come with me." Gray has a plan in mind. Juvia blushes a bit.
Erza attacks the Dragonoid with her Blumenbatt but the attack is ineffective and the Dragonoid power is almost fully charged. Erza then continues to attack the Dragonoid searching for its weak point.
Elsewhere, Juvia and Gray arrive at the rooftop of the town's toy store. Gray then turns to Juvia and tells that he needs her help to save Natsu. Gray then tells her his plan, wanting to cast a Unison Raid with her.
The other members of Fairy Tail continue to attack and destroy the Lizardmen. Meanwhile, Carla, looking at the Dragonoid, feels that she saw something like this before. The Dragonoid then screeches again and everyone hears Natsu's voice. With his Figure Eyes, Bickslow senses that the Dragonoid is absorbing Natsu's soul. Erza tries to come to Natsu's aid but finds her path blocked by multiple Lizardmen. However, she easily dispatches them. Natsu starts to argue with himself, causing confusion to everyone.
Gray asks Juvia if she would lend him her power, with Juvia agreeing and taking his hand. With their hands together, the two cast Unison Raid. The Magic causes thousands of ice needles to rain on the Lizardmen, destroying them.
Lucy senses that the Magic is a combination of ice and water. Happy is overjoyed that Gray and Juvia did it.
Gray thanks Juvia, who manages to find the strength to tell him she loves him but Gray suddenly vanishes, much to Juvia's surprise.
Natsu then continues to argue with himself more, causing even more confusion.
"Listen up, you pink-haired freak!" Aira shouted.
Inside...
"Aira?!" All three Natsu's said in unison, hearing his voice.
Outside...
"You're completely helpless! Pathetic! You're nothing but talk, slanty-eyes!" Aira insulted. "How long are you gonna keep up this one-man comedy bit inside that oversized body?!"
"What'd you say?!" Natsu angrily yells at Aira.
"What's gotten into you?! That's mean, Aira!" Happy commented. Something finally clicks within Happy's mind.
"You know a real Fairy Tail wizard never breaks a promise! You're making the guild look like we're a bunch of liars!" Aira continued to shout at him. "Wreck that dragon-wannabe already, will ya?!" The Dragonoid sweat drops at him. Something finally clicks in Lucy's mind as well.
"Yes-yes... So that was your goal, Airavata Mizuki?" Daphne questioned. "But you're too late. The Salamander's body and his magic power are nearly fully absorbed."
Happy and Lucy soon realize what Aira is trying to do, following his lead and beginning to yell at Natsu as well. Erza joins them, telling Natsu that he has already given up. Enraged, Natsu releases Magic Power which causes the Dragonoid to breathe fire. Erza continues, saying that Igneel will not accept Natsu for the way he is acting while requipping into her Purgatory Armor. Due to such actions, Natsu manages to regain control of his feelings and the Dragonoid as a result.
"Oh, man. Talk about simple-minded." Aira rubs the back of his head.
Erza then attacks the Dragonoid's red core, not having enough power to destroy it.
"What, is that all she's got?" Aira questioned out loud.
Natsu becomes enraged once more and releases a huge amount of Magic Power that causes the Dragonoid to malfunction and release Flames of Emotion.
Suddenly, Gajeel appears. "Man, the guy's crazy." He commented. "I warned him too..." Gajeel comes out of the dust.
"Gajeel!" Everyone exclaimed.
"What an idiot." Gajeel continued as he jumps in the air. "Quit wastin' my time! Dragon Slayer's Secret Art!" A Magic Circle appears from Gajeel's feet. "Karmic Demon: Iron Spiral!" The attack manages to get into the core. He then orders Lucy to give Natsu fire so Lucy summons Sagittarius. She then asks her fellow guild mates to help her send fire. With everyone's help, Lucy is able to send a large amount of fire towards the Dragonoid, destroying it and replenishing Natsu's strength.
Master Makarov states that he told Aira to make Natsu angry, and that Erza must've figured it out on her own.
With his power raging, Natsu manages to find Daphne and deliver the final blow.
"You dragon freak! I'm really pissed off now!" Natsu heads over to Daphne. "Let's see you use your hiding technique now, I'm brimming with power! More power than your magic can ever hide!" An image of Igneel shows up behind him. Daphne starts to cry as she's overjoyed of seeing a Dragon again.
"You owe Igneel and the other dragons a big apology! You stupid dragon-wannabe!"
With his final blow, Natsu destroys the Dragonoid and defeats Daphne, finally breaking the spell over the people in the City without Sound, being grateful to Natsu for fulfilling his promise.
"In the end, the Dragonoid's weakness..." Gajeel began.
"...was its source of power itself: Natsu." Aira concluded.
"Seems like it!" Mira said.
Natsu throws Daphne to the side and starts arguing with Aira. "Aira! You dare put me through all that!"
"It's your fault to begin with!" Aira argued back.
"No matter how much we argue, no matter what happens, everyone in Fairy Tail needs everyone else! We can't be without a single member! When somebody needs help... everyone is there to respond. That's why... I love Fairy Tail!"
In the Fairy Tail guild, Master Makarov is lecturing his guild members about what it is to be a Fairy Tail Mage and to celebrate their work done for the past year, they will hold the long-awaited Hanami Party. A pre-celebration begins, and Mira tells everyone to take it easy. All over the guild, everyone is excited for the Hanami party and about the annual Bingo. There is a shortage of jobs since clients also know of Fairy Tail's resting period during the Sakura season. However, Team Natsu along with Wendy and Carla are gone since they accompanied Wendy on a job.
In Mt. Hakobe...
"Open, Gate of the Clock! Horologium!" Lucy called out, summoning her clock spirit.
"I ended up in light clothes again... It's too damn cold!" Horologium speaks for Lucy as she shivers while sitting inside him. "...she says."
"I-It is cold..." Wendy shivers as well, walking in the deep snow.
"Oh, come off it. This isn't bad. You're embarrassing yourself." Carla scolded.
"Wendy, come inside too! You'll catch a cold." Horologium said. "...she says."
"Really? Then I'll take you up on that offer..." Wendy accepted. "How about you, Carla?"
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you." Carla declined. "Personally, I think cold is something you can manage if you mentally prepare yourself."
"The weather seems to be clearing." Erza informed.
"I'm starving! Is there any fire 'round here?" Natsu questioned.
"It's warm in here!" Wendy finally joins Lucy inside Horologium, but Lucy continues to tremble even though she had a blanket wrapped around her.
"I wanna go home now!" Lucy pleaded.
"Crap... It's hard to walk when it's piled up this high." Aira complained, wearing his usual attire.
"Aira, can I have your scarf please?" Horologium said. "...she says."
"Not a chance." Aira answered.
"Hey, Natsu... You think there really is a herb as useful as that?" Happy asked.
"Who knows? The request bill said it was here, so it probably is, you know?" Natsu responded.
"But that part about how steeping it as a tea or baking it into a cake can temporarily magnify a wizard's magic power, I think it's just a bunch of malarkey." Happy said. "You know what they say: there's always a tasty fish to catch!"
"You mean to say 'there's always a catch'." Erza corrected.
"Erza corrected me!" Happy jumped back in surprise.
"Whether or not it is effected, the request was to gather the herb from the mountain." Erza informed. "And if we gather quite a lot, we can use it as a prize for tomorrow's bingo. Everyone will be pleased."
"Hey, herbs! If you're out there, say somethin'!" Natsu shouted.
"As if, idiot." Aira muttered.
"What'd you say?!" Natsu exclaimed in anger.
"Don't just say whatever pops in your head!" Aira said. "And I don't even know what the hell you're saying, idiot!"
"You're gonna get it, water breath!" Natsu growls at him as he clashes his forehead into his.
"Shut the hell up, pants-wettin' flame freak!" Aira growls back at him.
"Enough!" Erza easily breaks up their fight. The two Dragon Slayers jump back in surprise but they obey Erza's orders.
As they travel, Lucy and Wendy talk about the upcoming Hanami inside Horologium while the other three, Natsu, Aira, and Erza, beat up the Vulcans that ambush them. After Horologium disappears, Wendy and Lucy hug each other, complaining about the cold.
"Oh, man..." Aira's not amused with them.
"You two should go search now!" Erza gets irritated as she orders them to help the team.
"But..." Lucy began to whine.
Natsu picks up a scent. "I can smell it! That's definitely the smell of herbs!"
"Just as good a nose as usual." Happy commented.
"Wait... Have you ever smelled these herbs before?" Carla asked.
"Nope. Never smelled 'em, but I'm sure." Natsu starts to run towards them. "Let's go, Happy!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy flies after him.
"H-Hey!" Lucy watches him disappear in the distance.
"Man, who lit his ass on fire?" Aira mumbled.
"Anyway, let's follow him." Erza said. "His nose is nothing to sneeze at."
"My nose is just as good as his..." Aira told her.
"Then why didn't you smell them in the first place?" Lucy sweat dropped, mumbling under her breath.
"Maybe it's my imagination, but I have a really bad feeling about this." Carla said.
"Your instincts are usually correct, Carla." Wendy commented.
Natsu runs up a mountain; when he reaches the top, he finally finds the herbs. Natsu and Happy cheer together.
"That was fast." Lucy commented.
"Fast is good." Aira added.
"Impressive, as always." Erza praised.
"Yup, he's a beast." Carla muttered.
"Right then. Let's pick these and get home." Natsu is about to pick the herbs, but a large shadow flies over them. A Blizzardvern, also known as a White Wyvern, appears. It uses its wings to send Natsu and Happy flying away from its favorite food, the herbs.
"What a nice break. We can kill two birds with one stone." Aira said as his fists got covered in water. "Did you know that White Wyvern scales go for a lot of money?"
"All right then! After we get those herbs, we'll strip all its scales off!" Natsu said.
"Leave this to us. Lucy, Wendy, stand back!" Erza approaches them.
"I'll fight, too!" Happy volunteered.
"Requip!" Erza requips into her Lightning Empress Armor. "We'll draw it's attention. While it's distracted, you all go and gather the herbs!"
"Right!" Wendy replied.
"I suppose so." Carla agreed.
"Wait... Isn't this the most dangerous job of all?" Lucy questioned.
"I'm counting on you!" Erza shows her scary side to Lucy.
"Right! We'll do it, gladly!" Lucy shrinks back, frightened of Erza.
"Here we go, Natsu, Aira!" Erza and the Dragon Slayers charge at the Blizzardvern while Lucy, Wendy, and the cats crawl towards the herbs.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" Natsu throws the large fireball at the Blizzardvern, but it deflects the attack back with air pressure. The fireball attacks towards where Lucy and Wendy are.
"Water Dragon's Gale Force!" Aira attempts to attack it, but the Blizzardvern defects it as well. It lands straight down at Lucy, almost drowning her.
"How about this?!" Erza attacks with lightning using her weapon, but it misses.
"Hey, whoa there..." Aira watches the lightning aim for something else.
"Wait, you!" Natsu screamed. The lightning hits Natsu and Aira, electrifying them.
"Fools! You should have dodged!" Erza shouted.
Aira's body is short-circuiting. "Uh, how about a little, you know..."
"Apologize first, damn it..." Natsu weakly said. The Blizzardvern then charges at Erza, but she shields herself by making a lightning shield.
Seeing her team fight, Lucy promises not to give up.
The Blizzardvern charges at Aira, who sends a wave of water at it. "Now!"
Erza attacks with lightning while Natsu attacks afterwards. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" As they defeated the Blizzardvern, Lucy manages to grab the herbs. However, the sound of the attacks cause an avalanche that buries Lucy.
"Is everyone okay?" Erza asked. Natsu suffers from motion sickness as he lays on top of the Blizzardvern.
"Guess it has to be expected after going all-out like that." Aira commented.
"Yup, they're beasts..." Carla muttered.
"Huh? Where's Lucy-san?" Wendy questioned.
"Lucy, where are you?!" Happy called out.
Lucy's hand, carrying a herb, pops out of the snow as she shivers. "Cold..."
The Next Day...
Lucy caught a cold from being buried in the avalanche and so she isn't able to attend. Natsu and Happy leave Lucy's house to let her rest. They feel bad for Lucy since she was really looking forward to the festival.
Later, the festival starts. Everyone is having fun, drinking, eating, and laughing. Natsu explains Lucy's condition to the others. Happy suggests that Wendy should cast a healing spell on her, but it turns out Wendy already did and Lucy should be fine by tomorrow. After a while, the traditional Hanami Bingo tournament begins. Everyone except Natsu is participating and attempting to win. Happy tries to persuade Natsu to play Bingo, but he refuses.
During this time, Lucy lies in her bed at home, thinking about all of the experiences she had since the day she met Natsu back at Hargeon Town. She wishes that she attended the Hanami. Before she falls asleep, she thanks Natsu and the entire guild for being there for her and concludes that she joined a really great guild.
Later that night...
Lucy wakes up due to a commotion outside. Lucy opens the window to see what's going on and is surprised to see a Rainbow Cherry Blossom tree floating on a boat at the river right in front of her house.
The Next Day...
Natsu and Happy are Happy to hear that Lucy's cold is cured. Master Makarov is asking who was responsible for digging up the Rainbow Cherry Blossom tree, saying that the Mayor is really mad about it. Lucy realizes that it was Natsu and Happy who were responsible and thanks and hugs them. Meanwhile, the citizens of Magnolia look in wonder at the Rainbow Cherry Blossom tree that seemed to have been replanted.