The Phantom Schemer (Chapter 6)

I walk, fingers interlocked with Juvia's as we stand atop the highest peak in Oaktown. We overlook the city, the faintest of smiles resting on my lips. 

She is practically vibrating with excitement. 

"You did well, Juvia." I smile at her. 

"T-Thank you, Arthur." She blushes, looking bashfully away from me. "I-I just wanted to impress you." 

"Well, consider me impressed. You knocked a wizard saint off his feet." I compliment. "Heck, you did things that I didn't know you could..." 

"M-Mhm?" She continues. 

I pull her close, a hand falling to her hip as she stiffens slightly, her arms slowly wrap around me, returning my embrace, her head resting on my shoulder. "I've noticed your power changes with your emotions... when your angry, your magic boils... when you're sad, it rains... and you even manipulated the ice Makarov created." 

"W-Well... Ice is water, right?" She meekly replies. 

"I suppose you're right... but that begs a question... isn't the human body like eighty percent water?" I question. "I'm glad to see you are finally stepping into your potential. I know you are meant for so much more than a simple S Class, Juvia... I've only heard of one mage changing the very world around them just by existing... Gildarts of Fairy Tail... someone who by all means should be a wizard saint... and yet, while his change to the world at large comes from his sheer absentmindedness and lack of care at controlling his power. Yours is unintentional. Which means that if you can harness it, you have the potential to far surpass the likes of Gildarts or most of the wizard saints." 

She blushes at my praise, squirming in place slightly. 

"Here." I smile, a small box appearing in my hand from the storage ring on my finger.  

Juvia blinks twice and looks down at the giftbox. 

She quietly opens it, a gasp leaving her lips as she reveals an ornate bracelet with snowflakes on it. It radiates magical power. "What is... this?" 

"A gift for you." I explain. "You see, most people assume my magic is the ability to make swords, but that isn't... really the case. I have an ability to make powerful magical items called 'Sacred Gears' which are magic weapons which grow alongside their wielders. Only one other person knows about the true nature of my magic... and it's Master Jose." 

"This is the Ice's Embrace. Sacred gear that I made from the residual energy of one of Zeref's demons and the magical energy of an ice-maker wizard who was on par with the wizard saints." 

"It's beautiful..." The girl whispers. 

"That allows you to create and manipulate 'piercing ice'. Taking the ice magic skills of the wizard, and granting it the demon's cursed ability to pierce all magical defenses ranging from shield magic, to magically hardened armor." I continue. "With your affinity for water-based magics... it made me think of you."  

I gently cup her cheek with a hand, causing her to lean into it, a smile on her lips. 

I watch as she slips on the bracelet, and with a flash it disappears. 

A moment later it reappears, Juvia's eyes widening as a small diamond shaped ice crystal appears above her hand. 

"Wow." She breathes. 

"Do you like it?" I smile. 

"I-I Love it!" She whispers, eyes glistening slightly. 

I turn away, my smile becoming slightly mischievous. "You know... I could have sworn I promised you something for knocking Makarov down a peg or two... but it seems to have slipped my mind... whatever could it have been?" 

"Y-You." The girl blushes. It looks like steam is puffing from her ears. "It was- you promised to- heheheh." 

I let out a low thoughtful hum. "Oh! I remember now." 

I face her again, gently taking her chin and tilting her head up. Her lips press against my own as her arms tighten around my shoulders. 

[Split] 

I adjust my hood as I silently creep my way through a massive town... and I don't mean a city or anything like that, I mean a town... for giants. 

My body is obscured by darkness, the daggers in my sleeves doing a good job of that. 

A colossal fire rests in the distance. It's the size of a castle easily. 

A sweltering heat buffets my face as I gaze into the crackling inferno. 

"Atlas Flame." I call out and for a brief moment the crackling ceases. 

I can feel eyes peering from the eternal flame. 

"You..." A deep rumbling baritone voice, one that shakes the ground, quietly echoes out. "It's... you..." 

"Ah... I take it we meet in the future?" I question slowly. 

"Yes..." The dragon admits. "You... were quite strong then... I take it that it is time?" 

"Do you wish to be sealed?" I question.  

"You seek to turn me into a weapon... so you might be able to better combat the slayer that slaughtered the dragon race?" His voice echoes. 

"Yes." I nod once. 

"You seek to give me to Metalicana's spawn." 

"Yes..." 

The dragon is silent for a long moment. "His strength... while impressive... would not be enough... I saw it when he fought me... while he was comparable to a dragon... he wasn't quite there yet... nor can you consider that thing a dragon. Even with my strength... he will die to the black dragon." 

"Yes." I nod again. "He would... if he fought it alone." 

"I am not going to wax and wane about the powers of friendship. About how bonds can overcome any hardship. But. If one dragon cannot defeat Acnologia... what about two? Three? What if I go out and find every. Single. Last. Slain dragon and convert them all into sacred gears and outfit an army... I know of a guild to the continent of Guiltina. The dragon eaters. I also know of the six dragon gods who are said to be on par with the black dragon... what if I gain their strength? What if I gain access to that power?" 

I slowly clench my fist. "With enough time... with enough effort and work... I will build something that can kill Acnologia." 

The flames stare down at me. Silence echoing out. 

"Very well... the full might of the hellfire dragon shall return. But. I shall not leave this place without light... without warmth. This is a sanctuary I created. I will not abandon it without a suitable replacement... give me a moment." 

The fire crackles growing in scale. It shifts and rolls, like a curled up cat finally shifting and stretching. 

I begin casting the sealing spell, quietly waiting as the fire continues to flicker and move. 

"I'm ready."  

The flames are cut in half, returning to almost the same size they started. A glowing orange diamond the size of my head floats in front of me. 

"Hm... this isn't the gauntlet that I saw." The crystal flashes with each word. "Nor the armor it turned into." 

"Oh. I haven't even begun crafting your new housing yet." I shake my head. "At this moment you are merely in sort of a 'stasis'. Like a block of stone that has yet become a statue." 

"I see."  

"Besides, I'd imagine you'd like to see some more of the world for a bit while I mold your sacred gear so I won't be requiping you away." I turn and begin walking away. "Shall we go?" 

The crystal floats after me. 

"It has been a while since you've been out in the world, correct?" I ask. 

"Yes. Nearly three hundred years now." The crystal supplies. "I am vaguely interested in seeing how things have changed in that time." 

"I'd imagine a lot has changed." I nod slowly. "Have you ever been on a train before?" 

"A... Train?" 

I wonder if a crystal can be sick. 

[Split] 

"Fascinating... and this is powered by magic?" 

"I assume so. It'd also be possible to power one with coal but I'd imagine magic is just more efficient." 

The orange and black crystal with what looks like an inferno trapped within continues to float after me as I step out of the train. Two glowing yellow eyes peer from it. "To think that humans created something to move so swiftly... it's certainly not the simple horsedrawn carriages that I knew of." 

"You're also quite lucky. I've heard that dragon slayers and dragons get really sick on any form of transportation." 

"Ah yes, I remember watching Seadranis climb on a boat once... that was hilarious. We never let him live it down... until he died..." 

"I've heard that those who eat dragons to gain their power don't suffer that weakness." 

A rumbling hum leaves the crystal after a long moment of silence. "I wonder if I could convince Metalicana's spawn to kill some brats... after the black dragon has been slain, of course." 

"You won't have much difficulty. Those were pretty much his exact words upon realizing that those savages didn't suffer from motion sickness." 

I make my way through Oak Town, eventually returning to the guild. 

There's boistrous cheer, we still appear to be in high spirits after our loss to fairy tail. 

Well. 'loss'. We all know that if Makarov didn't step into the ring we would have won by a landslide and people know it. 

I read a newspaper on the way back... it didn't look too good for Makarov and Fairy Tail. 

But. People are talking about me. Phantom Lord's newest S-Class who beat Mystogan and fought on par with Erza Scarlet after that. 

I assume that was Jose throwing his weight around slightly for the article. I'm well aware with my leg injury that Erza would have picked me apart. But I did my job in making her waste most of her magic blocking my final 'all or nothing' attack. 

I approach the master's room, thudding the door knocker thrice. 

"Enter." 

I open the door and step inside, seeing Jose looking over some paperwork. 

"Ah! Arthur." The man smirks, gaze briefly flickering to the crystal behind me. "You have returned. Good. Some of the materials you have asked for have arrived. In particular, a dragon slayer Lacrima. It was quite difficult to get a hold of. Serena is quite ravenous for dragon slayer magics as you know." 

"Ah that's wonderful! I bet I could make a truly powerful sacred gear with that... but not at the moment, firstly I would like to introduce you, Master... this is Atlas Flame the Hellfire Dragon." 

Jose blinks twice. "Hellfire... Dragon?" 

"Greetings, mage." The crystal rumbles. 

"Oh? OHOHOHOHO!" He laughs. "Ah. Hello to you, Atlas Flame. I take it you have agreed to become a sacred gear if you are on speaking terms like this." 

"Yes." 

"Atlas Flame was slain many years ago by a black dragon, the eternal flame merely being his remaining spirit. I offered him a way to harness his remaining powers so we might be able to eventually kill said black dragon... I plan to give him to Gajeel. It should synergize well with his iron dragon slayer magic... plus... if it gives him even the slightest hint of what actual hellfire dragon slayer magic would originally give him... Natsu would never be able to beat him." 

"I see~" Jose grins. "Very well. Yes. Get on that." 

"Has anything large happened while I was out, Master?" I question. 

"No. Makarov's brat has been silent and Grimoire Heart has all but disappeared." The man frowns. 

"Ah. So, either preparing to spring Ultear or attack us. Wonderful." I sigh. "Oh well, I'll finish Atlas Flame's sacred gear so Gajeel becomes quite the threatening mage." 

[Split] 

"This is unusual." A large gemstone in the back of a orange and red metal gauntlet glows slightly. 

"I'm modeling you after one of the original sacred gear designs I had... the boosted gear." I note, looking over the gauntlet. "It was a gauntlet that could double the wielder's power every ten seconds or so." 

"D-Double?!" 

"Of course, the creature or item I'd be forced to use for that would be borderline apocalyptic in strength." I mutter under my breath. "But. You are strong enough that your power may be comparable to that. Or at least a substantial fraction." 

I blink suddenly, glancing towards a nearby calendar. "What day is it?" 

I stand up walking towards it. 

"Oh! I finished early... let's get you to Gajeel, then maybe I can find Juvia and ask her to go on another date." 

I gather my things and make my way to the guild hall, eventually rising up the steps and knocking on the master's door. 

"Enter." 

The door creaks open as I step inside. Jose's face lighting up upon seeing me. "Ah! Arthur... I take it that Gajeel's sacred gear is finished?" 

"It is." I smirk, gesturing to the gauntlet. "This... is Atlas Immolation. A sacred gear that naturally gives the wielder to manipulate fire akin to that fairy tail mage's ice-make. Creating swords, spears, and walls made of fire... but it also allows the user to create dynamic creations, like birds, reptiles, beasts, dragons." 

"In addition, this fire isn't your standard everyday fire. It's hellfire making it hotter and granting it some corrupting and tainting aspects that you might see in dark magics. Plus, as it was made from a dragon it has the capability to grant its wielder hellfire dragon slayer magic from the gauntlet as if they were implanted with a dragon slayer lacrima." 

"Atlas Immolation is completely resistant to all fires I have tested it against, and it can even absorb flames to recharge the wearer's magical power... Gajeel will never lose to Fairy Tail's dragon slayer ever again." 

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful." The man beams as I hear a thud on the door behind me. "I have already called him." 

"Enter!" He calls out causing the door to creak open revealing Gajeel himself. His eyes lock onto me. "Oh god. It's you. What now?" 

I lift the gauntlet. "Put this on." 

"What?" He blinks. 

"This gauntlet will ensure that you never lose to Natsu ever again." 

"Tch. Why would I need that? I can beat that loser whenever I want!" 

"Gajeel." Jose begins. "This is Arthur's magic at work... recently he found the soul of a deceased dragon. It will give you the ability to manipulate fire into objects or creatures and allow you to also become a hellfire dragon slayer." 

"Greetings, child of Metalicana." The gauntlet seems to glow. 

Gajeel's eyes dart downwards as it begins to float. "You're... a dragon?" 

"Correct. I am Atlas Flame." The gauntlet continues. "Your Artificer has made a deal with me... my power for your assistance in slaying the dragon of apocalypse... Acnologia." 

"Why the hell should I help?!" 

"Because Acnologia is the one who slaughtered all of the dragons... and is the one who struck down Metalicana nearly four hundred years ago." 

"WHAT?! BULLSHIT! That fucker disappeared less than ten years ago!" 

"Dragons are one of the strongest races... easily surpassing some gods. Even after being slain, we linger. I was the eternal flame of the Giant's village for the past several hundred years." 

Gajeel's fists slowly clench, his teeth gritting as he growls out. "How do I not know you're full of shit?" 

"If you bind to this sacred gear, Atlas Flame could reasonably show you a portion of his memories." I point out. 

"Arthur... a word after this." The guild master behind me states. 

"Yes sir." I glance over my shoulder. 

Gajeel glares as he snatches the gauntlet and puts it on. 

His eyes close for a long moment. 

"DAMN IT!" He roars, magical power surging wilding. 

He turns and stomps off, the door slamming behind him. 

I'm silent for a moment before I turn to face Jose, his lips turned down into a frown. 

"I am irritated with you for two reasons, Arthur... firstly? You did not tell me that sacred gears could have an effect on my mentality. Second? Now that we are out of the presence of that dragon, why have you agreed that we were going to help it?" 

"Firstly, your sacred gear cannot affect your mentality." I shake my head. "A willing creature inside of a sacred gear is a partner. An associate. A sacred gear with a willing creature is much stronger than one without as the creature can take some burden, offer more power, and give advice and assistance in day-to-day life. Lullaby was not willing. Thus, he is bound and gagged inside your sacred gear, chained down and his power forced to follow your will. Akin to being strapped to a magic mobile. While a willing creature is more so looking over your shoulder." 

I gesture with my thumb. "Atlas Flame can ease along some processes with Gajeel, maybe make things take less magical power to use and all that. I wasn't going to even humor the thought of turning Lullaby into something similar. It's too dangerous. As for why I agreed that we would help him... I said that we would help him... eventually... not today. Not tomorrow. Sometime. And I do plan to as that black dragon is probably still an issue that could very well devastate Fiore any time it wants." 

"Atlas Flame Helps Phantom Lord out... in exchange for something that we likely would be forced to do anyways." I finish. 

"Hm. Very well. I see your point of view and I find myself agreeing with them. However. I am going to warn you... Tell me if you are going to make any future agreements such as this. I agree with what you have done. It has given Phantom Lord an incredible power. Just... inform me." 

"Yes sir." I nod once. 

"You may go." 

"Yes." I nod again. "Oh... wait, before I go, can I have a day or two off?" 

"Hm?" The man hums waving his hand nonchalantly. "This isn't a standard job, you don't need my permission to take a day or two away from the guild." 

"I plan to take Juvia to Magnolia to enjoy their harvest festival." 

"..." 

"Why?" He slowly asks. 

"Laxus." I smile. 

"You believe he'd snap?" The man questions. "That he'd attack you?" 

"Either that... or attempt a power play to take over the guild." I shrug. "Even if he doesn't? It's a pretty good place for a date." 

The man ponders for a long moment. "Their guards will be down... if I was in his position that is when I'd strike as well." 

A grin appears on his lips as a large crystal sphere appears with a flash. "Very well, Arthur! Here. Take this communication lacrima. If you are attacked by fairy tail at all or if you see such a power play happening... call me." 

"It wouldn't do for him to get off with a slap on the wrist and a mere boot from the guild." I shrug.  

"Exactly. If all goes well, perhaps a magic council prison cell would be a new home for him!" The guildmaster gleefully grins. 

"Or as unlikely as it is, he does think similarly to us. There's a very- extremely- low chance that we could get him to switch sides. Unlikely that we're the guild who embarrassed his old one... frankly I'm not holding my breath, but he knows fairy law and the genuine irony and mockery of you taking Makarov's grandson under your wing would be incredible." 

"Oh. The pain that would cause Makarov would be delectable... sadly... it won't work. The boy is too prideful." 

I nod slowly. "I agree. It was just an idle hope. I'm not that hung up on it." 

"A crying shame." The man wistfully sighs. 

It truly is. 

But he's a prick so I don't really care that much. I just wanted to snatch fairy law from his hands. 

Actually... hm... 

"Actually... master." I begin quietly. "If he does start to use Fairy Law... I might be able to catch it with my sealing magic." 

His eyes sharpen, his grin sadistic and elated. "Oh?" 

"I was able to take that one dark mages magic, though I lost a lot refining it to my purposes." I mutter. "I'll attempt to grab the magic, but if it's too dangerous I'll pull back." 

"Yes yes. Value your safety over all else." The man agrees. "I will await your call. I do oh so hope that Laxus is that foolish." 

"Goodbye master." I nod my head as I turn to leave. 

"Goodbye Arthur. Have a nice date." The older man waves. 

[Split] 

"DAMN IT!" Gajeel roars as he punches through a tree. It creaks ominously, falling to the side as he takes a step forwards and grabs it before it can impact the earth. He spins, hurling it as hard as he can, the plant sailing end over end as it impacts the ground with a loud boom. "SO HE WAS JUST A GHOST THE ENTIRE TIME?! FUUUUUUUCK!" 

His knuckles darken, the dragon slayer smashing a fist into the floor that causes a massive plume of dirt to explode outwards. 

There's a shimmer as a gauntlet appears on his other hand. He glares down at it a low growl leaving his lips. "What was the name of the dragon that did it?" 

"Acnologia..." The gem at the back of the gauntlet glows a bright orange. "He was a Dragon Slayer much like yourself. However, after becoming a dragon and bathing in the blood of so many of my brothers... he became a dragon that devours Ethernano itself. No magic is good against him which is why I have accepted to turn into this. The sheer power I can grant you... it might not be enough, but it is more than I could have done on my own... it's more than either of us could do on our own." 

"BULLSHIT!" Gajeel snarls. "I'll train my ass off and I'll DESTROY that fucking bastard." 

"It will be incredible difficult... you do not have the full power of this gauntlet yet." 

"What?" Gajeel mutters. 

He swipes a hand, creating a wave of reddish flames. "What more is there to it than this?" 

"Oh... so much more." The dragon in the gauntlet states. "You see... we have met once before... or rather, I met you... in the future." 

"The hell are you on about?!" The iron dragon slayer scoffs. 

"Here. It'll be easier if I just show you the memory." 

Suddenly... Gajeel is elsewhere. He towers over nearby buildings. 

Smoke rises upwards, he sees total anarchy in the distance he can see six other towering figures around the city. 

Dragons. 

This... looks like the capital of Fiore... Crocus. 

Gajeel himself hasn't been over there very often, but some jobs do bring him close by allowing him to window shop in blacksmiths akin to how someone might visit a bakery to look at cakes or freshly made bread. 

There's a flash of light and a shriek of pain as a dragon spirals out of the sky, a titanic beam of energy slashing off a large grey dragon's wing. 

"Motherglare?!" His body seems to rumble, massive body tensing slightly as it begins to lift off the ground. 

There's a fash of pink light in another part of the city the heightened senses of the memory hearing a voice faintly roaring over the sounds of battle.  

"Balance Breaker! Ravelt Phantasma!" 

"OI! ATLAS FLAME!" A voice shouts, causing the dragon to pause. It looks down, seeing a young man with long black hair stood on a nearby building. "HELLFIRE DRAGON!" 

"What? How do you know my name?" The dragon questions. 

"Balance Breaker." 

"What?!" 

An orangish-red gauntlet on his fist rapidly creeps down his arm, his body eclipsed with a bright glow. 

Eventually the glow disappears revealing that the man had been covered from head to toe in armor. 

"HELLFIRE DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!" 

The armor is propelled forwards abruptly. Flames being spat from two jets upon its back. 

Atlas Flame is knocked flat as the armored figure torpedos into his throat and slams him down into the street. "GHRRRRK-" 

"I've been waiting for this moment a looong time geheheh." Gajeel chuckles under his breath in his armor. 

And with that... the vision clears. 

"What was-" Gajeel whispers. 

"We met once before... in the future for you but four hundred years in the past for me... from what I can tell, a magic item was used to send me forwards in time." Atlas Flame rumbles. "After it was broken... I was returned to the past. We must combine our strength against the enemy... despite you getting the jump on me in that moment... we were roughly even. Blow for blow. Acnologia far surpassed me when we fought... and I have no doubts that he has gotten stronger over the past four hundred years."  

"I'll think about it." The iron dragon slayer grumbles.