Fairy Tail 88

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Fairy Tail
Chapter 88: "Natsu Is The Bait"
[insert text: Let's use our magic and our personal skills... // ...to help other people out!!]
[bottom-right: Natsu's party piece: "Electric Fan"]

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Aquarius: I'm going on a two-week trip with my boyfriend, so don't you dare call me while I'm away. // Got that?
Lucy: ...Yes...
Aquarius: You should hurry up and get yourself a man too. / ...Well, easier said than done...
Lucy: Oh, just mind your own business!!!
Lluvia: Lucy-san, love is an important thing!
Lucy: At any rate...
[insert text: Lucy and Lluvia pull a miraculous victory out of the jaws of defeat! Trust and bonds are the ultimate "spice"!!]

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Lucy: Looks like we've taken out one of the bad guys. // Gérard's not going to get his way that easily!
Lluvia: No... you were the one who defeated him, Lucy-san.
Lucy: We did it... together. // You cried out "Lucy" back there, right? // It made me really happy, realising that we were finally getting along. // You don't have to use "-san" with me, you know. // We're nakama now, aren't we?

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Lluvia: Ahh...? / Lluvia... seems to be raining... from her eyes...
Lucy: [aside]ahahah!![/aside] That's a cute way of putting it. // But man, that whole thing has seriously worn me out...
Lluvia: Yes, Lluvia is also worn out.

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Gérard: Unison Raid...? // I've heard stories of priests who wasted their whole lives trying to achieve that... // ...only to never actually achieve their goal...... // Call it coincidence, but that's quite the little act to pull. / They may just be little girls, but I guess they are Erza's nakama, after all. // Heheh... // I guess it's my turn to advance a piece on the board as well...

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[box: ERA]
Councillor: On the matter of firing upon the Tower of Paradise with Aetherion... // ...there are four votes for, versus five against. / The result of voting: Aetherion will not be fired.
Sieglein: Wait!!! // Do you all truly understand the situation in which we currently stand?!!
Councillor: Stop this now, Sieg... the debate has gone on long enough. / There are peaceful ways to approach this matter, as well.

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Sieglein: Peace?! While we're standing here wasting time debating petty moral victories... / ...History is about to be altered forever!!! // Gérard is trying to resurrect the dead, for crying out loud!!!!
Councillors: You say that, but we still have no way of knowing whether R-System is even functional at the present time. // It is too early to resort to offense.
Urtear: ......
Sieglein: Can't any of you feel it...? // The dark magic welling up as we speak... the sheer horror of the man he is trying to resurrect...
Councillors: What's this, now...? // Sieg, what are you...?

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Sieglein: Black Mage Zeref.

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Councillors: Y... You... What did you just...?! // Sieg, how could you possibly know a thing like that?!!
Sieglein: ...... // I didn't want to cast any unnecessary suspicions upon myself, so I didn't mention this, but... // I know that man; the one known as Gérard. // And I know what he means to do.
Councillors: !!!! // Sieg... tell us everything.

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Natsu: Karyuu no...

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Natsu: ...KAGIDZUME!!!!
[TN: "Fire Dragon Claws"]
Fukurou: Whoo...
Natsu: Hmph...

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Happy: He's matching Natsu in a fight?! That owl's not normal...!
Shimon: Ugh...
Fukurou: I think it is time I brought the hammer of Justice swinging square down upon you. // MISSILE HO-HO-HOU!!!!
Natsu: !!!

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Natsu: Guahh!
Fukurou: Whoo!!!
Natsu: !!! // NGUAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

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Fukurou: Who-who-whoo...
Shimon: It's a crazy sort of technique, but certainly nasty...
Natsu: Unghh...
Happy: Oh... Oh, no...!
Natsu: Urghh... // Ulghh!
Fukurou: Oh, I am well aware of your weakness, Salamander.

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Happy: This is bad!!! That thing's a vehicle!!!!
Shimon: ?!
Happy: Natsu can't handle riding a vehicle to save his life!!!!
Shimon: WHAT?!
Fukurou: Now that my prey is weak, I can move in for the kill!!! // This is the essence of hunting!!! // Now!!!!

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Fukurou: CAPTURE HO-HO-HOU!!!!
Happy: !!!
Shimon: Wha - ?!
Natsu: ?!!!

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Natsu: Hey... // What the...?! // Mmmngf!
Happy: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!!!!
Shimon: Swallowing him whole...?!! What is he...?!
Fukurou: I can digest the magic of those I have eaten.
[bottom text: Next week, we have colour pages! Don't miss it!!]

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Happy: GIVE NATSU BACK HERE!!!
Fukurou: FIRE HO-HO-HOU!!!!
Happy: Ungh! // Fire?
Shimon: Hey!!! Are you all right?!! // "Digest"... // He can't mean he's actually absorbed Salamander's abilities?!

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Fukurou: Who-whoo...
Shimon: Th... this is the sheer level of an assassins' guild...
Councillors: Eight in favour, one against. // That will be all. // The firing of Aetherion upon the Tower of Paradise is hereby approved.
Sieglein: Yajima-san... you may find this difficult to accept... / But you can at least see that we must not allow Zeref's revival, right?
Yajima: It is no longer my place to resist...... // But I hope you are ready to take responsibility for the consequences, yes?
Sieglein: Of course... I will take full responsibility...

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Yajima: I am talking about people's lives here, Sieg!!!! // All the lives that are about to be lost will be upon your hands!!!!
[insert text: All of this is according to Gérard's plan...?!]
Councillors: Aetherion will be fired in one hour precisely!!! / Everybody, make the preparations!!!
Sieglein: You'll have your answer soon enough...
[insert text: The fatal scenario draws ever closer... an all-too-short time-limit has been laid upon everyone's lives!!]
Gérard: Erza... looks like you've lost your most powerful piece. // Now... what's your move? You're out of time... // It won't be long before the light comes crashing down...
[bottom text: To be continued in Chapter 89: "Armour of the Heart"]